The next day, the trial finally came. It was a long and hard first week, many people judging him for what was none of their business, calling him all sorts of things that made him want to beat their faces in or interrogating him harshly, not even letting him think.

If Sirius hadn't been able to see Harry sitting in the group watching him, the look in his eyes encouraging him not to break down again, he might have just given up.

He'd not been released from the padded cell in the 'loony bin', as Harry called it, just yet, but the main administrator on the floor had taken a liking to Harry and every night after the trial, he'd been letting in, spending the night with him. That also helped him a lot.

Finally, it was Harry's turn to give witness. He'd answered everything unprotestingly, but seemed to lose his patience eventually.

"How many times did Mr. Black molest you before his arrest?" Harry's eyes narrowed.

"Never."

"Mr. Potter, do not make us administer you with truth serum. The pictures on the front page of the daily prophet on the first of August 1996 prove against your statement."

"No they don't. I was never molested. It was consented."

"That is irrelevant. You were still under the legal age at the time."

"Yes, and need I remind you that that was over a year ago. So it cannot be used as evidence according to the law of 1902 of Umbard J Barclay vs. Howard C. Morcray." The minister looked down at the papers in front of him. They must have expected Harry to read up on the laws. At least more than Sirius had.

"But according to the autopsy report conducted on the March 26th, cause of death: Beleris Traxonus ingested as an abortive potion, sex: girl, father, according to a previously collected DNA sample: Sirius O. Black. Therefore, sexual contact, while you were still underage, occurred less than a year ago and convinced the child."

Sirius, his own shock registering, realized by Harry's face that he hadn't known it had been a girl either. He recovered easier because he looked at the minister again firmly, his eyes angry.

"That autopsy was performed without consent of either of the parents, so it also becomes void."

"Consent was given by Remus J Lupin." Harry had not been expecting that either.

"That would not count as consent. Mr. Lupin," His voice shook. "Is deceased and had no legal rights over what was done with foetus. If anyone should be arrested minister, it is you." The minister opened his mouth but could not find an argument and the crowd started to whisper to each other.

Harry was taken down with 'no further questions' and never called back to witness again.

Sirius meanwhile, sat in shock, not believing what exactly had happened.

He was still not moving that night as Harry turned up.

"Moony?" Harry looked at him sadly before kneeling next to him.

"I'm sorry Sirius, I didn't know how to tell you." He hugged him comfortingly as he whispered.

"How?"

"The attack on Hogwarts. Greyback got to him. He was in the forest on the Full moon when they attacked. We didn't know until Hagrid found his body on his doorstep the next morning… I'm sorry." Sirius knew he was being stupid as he detached Harry's arms from around his chest. What could Harry have done? But he didn't care.

Moony.

Moonymoonymoonykins.

Remus was dead.

Harry watched him sympathetically and put a hand on his shoulder.

"Don't touch me." He snapped and Harry pulled back, clearly hurt. "Just go…"

Understanding that he was grieving, Harry picked up his stuff and left. Sirius sat for about hour in silence, his mind blank. He didn't what to think. Every conversation and memory seemed to have left him. Then he started to get lonely. Maybe this was a punishment. He hadn't listened to Moony's advice and now….

He didn't get angry this time. He didn't scream and he didn't break anything. He just sat, staring straight ahead of him. He didn't care. Why was getting free so important anyway? He was going to die someday, whether it was in Azkaban or outside. He didn't care enough to eat his breakfast the next morning and he didn't care that he was dragged out to his trial once again the next morning.

It was two days before his change in condition was noticed by the healers. He was dragged off to see the psychiatrist, who he told in plain English to 'sod off'.

He stayed this way, once again retreating into the dark corners of his mind. The only time he ventured out, still not saying anything, but his eyes following every movement, was when Harry came to see him.

He'd been put in a room where he could be properly supervised and once again, tied up in the stupid robe to keep his arms still. Despite him not doing much, he still visited almost religiously every single day.

He wanted to come back into the world, to answer him when he asked how he was feeling or told him that he loved him, but something, he didn't know exactly what, maybe a last respect for Remus, maybe just grieving, was holding him back.

"You probably aren't hearing a word I've been saying, but I don't care, I want you to come out of this so badly." Harry spoke with his head looking down at his lap, his eyes closed and tears brimming. "They're talking about postponing the trial again and I don't think I can handle that again. It's been so long and I just… you have no idea how much I need you. You needed me and I stayed for you. It's all my fault for getting you into all of this and if anyone should have been arrested, it should have been me. I'm just… I'm so sorry."

Something in his mind changed. He blinked, his eyes focusing more clearly on Harry. Tears were now silently falling and for the first time, Sirius really saw how all of this had taken its toll on him, not just physically, but mentally as well.

A hand touched his cheek and Harry looked up, his eyes going wide. Neither needed to say anything. Sirius pulled him up into the bed and held him against his chest, wrapping his arms around him tightly. He wasn't sure if Harry was crying from relief or sadness, but he kissed the top of his head, his nose against the messy dark hair, and knew everything would be okay.
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