Sirius had made sure that by the next day he was ready to go to the court and they had no choice but to continue.
On the second day, he remained headstrong, trying his best not to think about Remus and how he'd always rubbed nose when he was nervous and how his smile was slightly crooked and he…. (no, he mustn't think of that now) He took a deep breath and looked back up the minister again.
"Would all who find the accused guilty of the crimes of sex with a minor, rape and crimes against the Ministry, raise their hand." Sirius's eyes looked across the room. More than half the hands were up. His stomach dropped. No, not now, not ten years more years in there. His breathing got harder and his heart beat faster.
"Mr. Sirius Orion Black, we, the Wizengemot of Britain, find you guilty and sentenced to te—" He stopped as the door banged open, someone rushing over to him.
"Minister, this trial must be stopped. It is ineligible." The person said out loud to the room.
"What? Who are you to tell me not to sentence a guilty man?" He spluttered. The man stood up straighter, pulling his shoulders back and speaking proudly.
"I am Fredrick Pillson of the ministry laboratories of Wizard research. We have received a case of The Jayden-Regatraé files."
"And pray tell, what are the 'Jayden-Regatraé files'?"
"The Jayden-Regatraé law of 1892 states that in the case of a minor and an adult caught in the act of copulation, the adult shall be arrested and tried." He paused for a second. "However, if one, specifically the minor, is parturient at the time of trial, the condemned must be set free on condition that they unify before the bearing." Everyone sat in silence for a moment.
"Could you please explain that more clearly so we can all understand?" The minister said, clearly irritated. The cocky scientist sighed in annoyance.
"If the one not arrested is, in the family way, you have to let the prisoner go." He said and there were gasps. Sirius's stomach rose. In the family way…. Did that mean?
He looked over a Harry, sitting in the front row, who nodded, smiled and put a hand on his stomach. He was sure that his heart had stopped for a moment. There was a flash and they were sure the moment would end up caught on film in the Prophet tomorrow.
"The case was reported in the evening of last night and it was confirmed in testing this morning. Mr. Black is the father."
"How does that work out? He's been locked up for over a year with the strict regulations of no visitors!"
"Records show that regular visits have been made both to Azkaban and The Edaro Psychiatric hospital over the fourteen months." The whispers grew louder and stronger and Sirius didn't listen to Scrimgeour's protests. He was lifted a few moments later, his arms freed. The Auror standing nearest looked at him.
"You're free to go, we have no legal right to keep you here, Sirius." Sirius smiled widely.
"Thanks, Kingsley."
The day had been long and after going through a whole lot of papers, they were still required to return the following day to sort it all out.
It was late afternoon when they got home and Harry prepared them a simple dinner, letting Sirius go upstairs and rest while he cooked.
Sirius blinked, rubbing his eye and sitting up. He'd forgotten how comfortable this bed was. It was dark already and he wobbled on his feet as he tromped downstairs. Harry was lying on the couch, reading a book and mumbling something to himself.
"You know talking to yourself is the first sign of madness." He looked up and snorted.
"Like you're one to talk, Mr. Strait-jacket?"
Sirius laughed and Harry put his book down, standing up and taking Sirius's hand as they walked to the dinner table. After a meal of chips and sausage, they headed upstairs and Sirius sat down on the bed, lying back, propped up on pillows with his arms behind his head.
"So it must have been in the hospital when it happened, then? You took the potion with out telling me? So it gives us about six or seven months to plan everything."
"Not exactly. It turns out I didn't have to take the potion again for it to work." Harry blushed as Sirius's brain caught up, his face showing his shock. "But it's not exactly seven months to plan…. Slightly less."
"No problem then. How long was it? You can't be more than three months…" Harry didn't speak but opened his robe and let it drop to the floor, leaving him naked except for the pair of yellow undies. Sirius fell off the bed in shock.
"I can't believe it. I didn't see it. And you. You didn't tell me!" Harry shrugged and let Sirius continue kissing his shoulder and chest.
"You had dumped me and then, when I saw you again, you had enough problems to worry about." He gasped and Sirius growled, nipping at his flesh harder.
"Six months. Six bloody months! Well over half way into it… and I didn't even know."
"Well you know now, so stop complaining and get on with it." Sirius kissed his body, running his hands down it and resting on the baby. It moved under his hand.
"I had you how many times in that room, how did I not see this…. It's so obvious." He was still in disbelief, but the bump, no, it was more than that.
The way it stretched Harry's skin, forming a small red mark on the underside already (he kissed it, making Harry shiver), the way it had changed his entire figure (from positively tiny to having this massive tummy sticking out…. he loved it already), the way Sirius couldn't wait to see what would happen next (A baby. Three months. A tiny, living, breathing baby in three short months), it made everything more real, more believable.
Despite the surprise and everything running through his head, there was at least one coherent thought.
"It's there. A baby." He spread his across the top and Harry touched it. Sirius looked at him.
"Not just a baby. Our baby…."
One more chapter...