Chapter Fourteen: Trials and Truths - Part Three

The Hit Wizards had stopped him from talking to Hermione and Ron, even Lupin had been dragged away from him. They'd been separated into small chambers, a guard posted outside the door and left to wait. When he'd been trapped there all he'd wanted was to get into the courtroom, but as soon as the doors opened, he wished more than anything he was back in the cell-like room.

He'd only ever felt that way once, the day his name had been pulled from the Goblet of Fire. The way everyone had looked at him as if he were the newest curiosity, a zoo animal, and he had been forced to take those arduous steps.

As he walked into the small semi-circle, he felt every eye upon him. Even Sirius' gaze was fixed on his slow ascent up the room. Sirius, who was sitting there as his life was decided for him. The godfather he'd always longed for, about to be freed or ripped from his grasp for good. This was a mistake. They shouldn't have done it. They should've found Pettigrew. They should've waited.

But they hadn't.

He looked in the crowd for Daphne, hoping that her face might make his heart stop beating so fast, but instead of salvation, he found only his own fear looking back at him. Then he noticed something black crawl up her arm and sit on her shoulder. The Horntail. Somehow, despite everything, he couldn't help but smile.

He was shown to the small chair everyone else had sat in. The Wizengamot practically gaped at him, even the scratching of reporters' quills fell silent. They were waiting. The suspense seemed to balloon around him, prompting doubt, inspiring insecurity and tending to his fear.

The spell broke when Minister Bones spoke.

"You are Harry Potter of Number Four Privet Drive, Little Whinging, correct?"

"Yes."

"We've heard a lot about you Mister Potter," the Minister boomed. "Quite a lot indeed."

"All good things, I hope."

The courtroom chuckled. Was that good? Was laughing good? Daphne was rubbing off on him. The Minister's face remained stony.

"First, I am going to ask you to walk us through the events of Mr Black's escape as you remember them. Then, and only then, will we ask questions. They will be extensive, Mr Potter, do you understand?"

"Yes. I do."

"Very well," Minister Bones nodded. "Please, from the beginning."

They didn't interrupt. They just listened intently. Harry felt himself stumble once or twice, aware that this was probably the fourth time they'd gone through this exact sequence of events and conscience of Sirius behind him. Sirius who he'd put in this position. Not Matthias or even Daphne, it had been him. He was the one who'd convinced his godfather to come, to take a chance on freedom.

Whenever he tripped, he felt his eyes drift to Daphne. It was calming, seeing her there, even if she looked like she was on the brink of a heart attack. If he pretended to only be speaking to her, suddenly it didn't feel quite so impossible.

"Thank you, Mr Potter. Now, we have spoken repeatedly to your friends about the altercation you described with Professor Snape."

"Right." He didn't like where this was going.

"Why did you attack Professor Snape?"

"He was going to kill Sirius."

"By handing him over to the authorities searching for an escaped prisoner."

"It was still killing him and it wasn't 'cause he was trying to do the right thing. Snape hated Sirius. He wanted to catch him. He wanted to give him to the Dementors because of it. Not because it was the right thing to do, if it was he wouldn't have snuck in to gloat."

"You don't seem to like Professor Snape very much," Minister Bones observed.

"No, I don't. But he doesn't like me either. That's got nothing to do with it though. I didn't - I didn't want him to kill my dad's best friend. Not without knowing."

"If he deserved it," Minister Bones finished.

"Very few people deserve to die, Minister."

"Would you say Peter Pettigrew deserves to die?"

Harry didn't even need to think. The word escaped his lips before his brain had even really registered he was speaking. "No."

"Yet according to you, he betrayed your parents."

"He did. He killed those muggles too. I just don't think we should sink to his level. That's all."

"Speaking of Mr Pettigrew, you say that you saw him?"

"I'm not saying I saw him," Harry replied, a little more hotly than he wanted to. "I did see him. We all did."

"And what was he like?"

"Scared. He was scared. And, he tried to talk to me about my dad. He said he, my dad, wouldn't have wanted Sirius to kill him. That's why we were trying to take him to the castle."

"Pettigrew could've just as easily been hiding from your parents' killer, Mr Potter," Scrimgeour interjected. It was the first time he'd spoken. Unlike Bones, his voice was cold, calculating even. He fixed Harry with an owlish stare through thick lenses.

"Then why didn't Sirius just kill him before Hermione and I got there? Why let him transform? Besides, Pettigrew told us what he'd done. We're all telling you what he did. Why can't you believe that?"

"It is our job to be thorough Mr Potter. We're only seeking the truth. The facts are that Mr Black is a convicted mass murderer."

"Actually, Rufus, I believe that, per the parameters of this trial, Sirius is an accused mass murderer." Dumbledore crossed the room so that he was standing beside Harry. "He was never given a trial, as I am sure you are well aware. I had noticed your comments earlier, but thought them a mistake of habit."

"Suspected, convicted, the point is we are trying to come to the truth."

"Pettigrew got my parents killed!" Harry shouted, unable to stop himself. "He's a Death Eater. He resurrected Voldemort! I've seen him, more than once. He's out there, right now, it's him the aurors should be hunting. Not Sirius."

He was dimly aware that the room had fallen completely still. It was only then that he remembered he'd never mentioned Pettigrew to the Ministry before, that he'd omitted his presence in the graveyard to try and protect Sirius.

"I didn't mention it before because I knew you'd have said I was mad," Harry continued before the Minister could ask him the question that was so clearly on her lips. "But Pettigrew was there that night. Ask Crouch. Ask Malfoy or any of them. They were there. They saw him."

"We will discuss this at another time," Minister Bones said eventually, although it was clear from how her voice didn't ring across the halls that she was suppressing quite a considerable amount of rage. "For now, Mr Potter, you say that Peter Pettigrew confessed to betraying your parents."

"Yes," Harry said, before hastily adding, "Minister."

"And after this revelation, you said that Mr Black wished to seek revenge for your parents, but that it was you who convinced them to take Mr Pettigrew to the castle?"

"Sirius hadn't killed anyone. I didn't want him to start. Besides, no one would listen if we just turned up. People already thought they knew the truth."

"Very well. It was this, then, that pushed you to protect Mr Black from the Dementors?"

"They were going to kill him."

"And it is it true that you were able to produce a Patronus?"

"Yes."

"A corporeal Patronus?"

"Y- A what?"

"It was solid. Not just a wisp."

"Oh, right. Yeah. It's a stag. It's always a stag. Like my dad."

"Very impressive. Quite impressive indeed."

"The boy's magic isn't our concern," Scrimgeour said sourly. "The fact remains that you, Mr Potter, willingly flouted several laws in order to protect a fugitive, not least lying to a Ministry inquiry into the return of You Know Who."

"I didn't lie," Harry snapped. "I just - would you have believed me?" Scrimgeour's silence was answer enough. "I didn't mean to do anything wrong. I just wanted to help Sirius."

"Because he is your godfather?"

"Because he didn't kill anyone."

"So he claims."

It was like trying to tell Uncle Vernon Dudley actually went around hitting nine-year-olds for fun. "Look. Pettigrew's alive. He's alive. Sirius didn't kill him. He hid for all those years, it's because he knew being alive would be enough to free Sirius. He ran because he's a Death Eater. Sirius doesn't even have the Mark."

"It could be to hide the fact he was a spy. And where is Peter Pettigrew?"

That was the question, wasn't it? What Harry wouldn't give to drag the rat through those doors. "I don't know."

"Exactly. Without him, this is a story, Mr Potter. A very nice one, but a story."

"It's the truth!" Harry wanted to laugh. Why couldn't they just listen to him? "Why didn't Sirius just kill me? He had the chance. Snape didn't arrive for ages. If he was working for Voldemort, that's what he'd have done right?"

"Harry," Sirius said gently, speaking for the first time. Harry turned to face his godfather. Slumped in his chair, shackled, bound, he looked every bit the man who'd been so desperate to escape Azkaban. This was his personal hell and, to make it worse, he had to watch Harry have a breakdown in front of the entire Wizengamot. "It's alright."

"Mr Black, please refrain from speaking with the witness," Minister Bones called, not unkindly. "Mr Potter, we appreciate your opinion and will take it under advisement when making our deliberations. I would like to turn your attention to the article published by the Daily Prophet last week."

Harry was passed a copy of the Prophet by a Hit Wizard who looked almost thrilled to be interacting with him. The effect was jarring.

"Please can you read the headline and who was attributed as the author?"

"Sirius Black: Traitor or Martyr? By Aurora Greengrass."

The entire room had probably read it. Everyone else had. The world had once again leapt on Aurora's writing and she'd been sent even more owls than before, to the point that Matthias had set runes up on the house to stop any incoming mail for a few days. Prior to the hearing, Aurora had been summoned to give testimony on the publication and asked, rather pointedly, to reveal Sirius' whereabouts.

"What is your relationship to the Greengrasses, Mr Potter?"

"Daphne's my girlfriend."

"And is it true that you spent a large portion of last summer with them?"

"Yes."

"And you yourself were interviewed by Aurora Greengrass that summer, correct?"

"Yes."

"Did you suggest the article?"

"Which one?"

"Both."

"No, they were Aurora's idea."

Percy, who had been furiously writing everything, looked like he wanted to explode at this rapid-fire exchange.

"But you were aware that she was speaking to Mr Black?"

"Yes."

"Was it your intention to sway the outcome of this trial?"

"No."

"Then, if you please, Mr Potter, could you enlighten us to the purpose?"

"To make sure there'd be a trial. If Sirius'd just shown up the Dementors would've taken him back to Azkaban. He just wanted to give his side. We all did."

"That's quite noble of you."

"No," Harry was sick of people saying he was noble, or brave, or courageous. He was sick of living in a world where doing the right thing was some kind of surprise. But worst of all, he knew this wasn't the right thing. "It's not. It's just what Sirius deserves, that's it."

"If I may say, Mr Potter, you and your friends have all referred to the accused as 'Sirius'," Scrimgeour began, looking down at his notes and then back at Harry. "Quite interesting, wouldn't you say?"

"Not really."

"Mmm," he paused. Harry refused to fall for it. It was a trick Aunt Petunia always tried when he'd accidentally blown something up or regrown his hair or whatever weird thing had happened to him. She always gave him chance to take the blame, expecting his guilt to fill the silence. "How did you feel, when you first found out who Sirius Black was?"

"Mr Scrimgeour." Dumbledore's patience was wavering because the old grandfatherly mask seemed to slip.

"My apologies, let me rephrase. When you first discovered who Sirius Black was believed to be at that time."

"Angry. I wanted - I wanted to find him."

"And why was that Mr Potter?"

"Why do you think? I thought he killed my parents."

"And how do you feel about Mr Black now?"

"I - he's my godfather."

"The only magical family you have left?"

Taking a deep breath, Harry nodded.

Scrimgeour once again considered his notes. "Would you describe yourself as a reckless person, Mr Potter?"

"I - I don't know." What did that have to do with Sirius?

"No need, allow me to state some facts. Your school record shows that you have been in the Hospital Wing far more than the average student of your age. You were involved in the slaying of a Basilisk, drove back more than a hundred Dementors, by your own admission today, and competed in the Triwizard Cup."

"I didn't want to -"

Scrimgeour held up a hand. "Yet you did. Minister Bones may consider your actions noble and perhaps they are, but I would state they are also evidence of a rash mind. One who rushes headlong into danger without fear of the consequence. It is this mind, Mr Potter, that stands before us and tells us to simply take the word of someone whose friend believed him to be a spy, a man this court has repeatedly heard wished to kill Peter Pettigrew."

"Intent does not make a crime," Dumbledore said before Harry could explode.

"No, but it points to a certain type of person who is capable of committing such acts. I am merely trying to state that Mr Potter may have been tricked and that Sirius Black is, as we all believed, truly responsible for the demise of his parents."

"But I wasn't. I'm telling the truth!"

"You are telling what you believe to be the truth. Yet, it is just as possible that you are blinded by your desire for a family."

"Then how come I saw Pettigrew in that graveyard? Sirius didn't make that up. Pettigrew's alive. Sirius didn't kill him, or those muggles, or my parents. Pettigrew did!" Scrimgeour didn't reply, so Harry, unable to stop himself, continued. "Sirius isn't who you think he is, alright? Just because his family is full of dark witches and wizards, you think he'd just abandon his best friends?

"Yeah, his name's Black, but is that all we are? We're more than just where we came from. And Sirius, he's better than any of you could ever be. He was locked up for twelve years, trapped with those things and he has every right to hate you. Every right. But he's here, he's here and he wants to be free. If Sirius was a Death Eater, he'd be with Voldemort, he'd have killed me. He definitely wouldn't be here listening to this. So how about you stop clinging to a story and just listen!"

"Mr Potter! That is enough." Minister Bones had risen from her seat. "Professor Dumbledore, I believe you are presenting your final -"

The Hit Wizard walked towards him but something forced Harry from his seat. Forced him to stand. Forced him to carry on talking.

"He didn't have to come."

"Mr Potter."

"Minister, I'm sorry, but I just -" The Hit Wizard had drawn his wand, but Harry ploughed on, the words almost tripping over themselves in his rush. "I asked Sirius to come. He didn't want to. He didn't trust you to do the right thing. All I'm asking is for once, just for once, you don't fail him. Please."

He could feel every eye upon him. Judging him. Mocking him. Laughing. It didn't matter. He could be the screaming kid, the tantrumming child, because he didn't matter. The only person who did was Sirius.

The Hit Wizard wasn't gentle, but Harry didn't care. He was taken, not to the chamber, but to a larger room. A Ministerial member of staff was waiting and read through what had been said and asked for him to verify if what he had said was true. He nodded. Signed whatever paperwork was stuck in front of him and was then shown to another room.

This one had much better company. Hermione, Ron and Lupin were gathered around a small fireplace. Hermione was pacing. Ron's hair was a mess. Lupin seemed calm. The details flittered into Harry's mind, but he couldn't quite manage the whole picture. Every time he tried, his mind was dragged back to Sirius.

"Harry!" His vision was blocked by a mane of curly brown hair. The hug should've comforted him. It did the opposite. His gut twisted as if someone were trying to drain it of every last drop of liquid. Bile rose in his throat.

"Give him a minute, Hermione." Ron was impatient. That wasn't good. "Alright, Harry. How'd it go?"

"No idea."

"Us too," Ron said sourly. "That Scrimgeour's a right prat."

"He was only doing his job," Lupin added. "Sirius understands that. They have to be thorough."

"Still a git," Ron snapped, his leg bouncing violently as he looked at Lupin. Hermione finally let Harry go and resumed her pacing. "How long d'you reckon we're stuck in here for?"

"That depends on Severus," Lupin answered. "It shouldn't be more than a couple of hours."

"Hours?!"

"Ron!" Hermione shouted.

"What?"

She didn't say anything but Harry didn't miss the small nod in his direction.

Right. Poor little Harry. Too broken to be angry. Too distraught to be trusted with feelings.

"It's fine," Harry said quickly before Ron could get into any trouble on his behalf. He let out a breath he hadn't realised he'd been holding and moved further into the room. "I'm fine. We've done what we can."

"Yeah. Yeah. They'll listen. Right? They're gonna listen." It sounded about as confident as Harry felt, but despite it, he nodded. They were clinging to the same small candle of hope, desperately trying to keep its flame alive and none of them could bare to be the one who blew it out.

All they could do was wait.

Snape's testimony took just over an hour. Harry didn't move from the spot he'd taken up next to Ron. The others did, but Harry remained still. It wasn't that he didn't want to shout. He did. He wanted to be angry and frustrated and hurt, but all of that meant they'd lost. If he let himself think like that, Sirius was locked up, so he stayed silent because Hermione was right. He couldn't be trusted with his feelings.

He kept remembering every inch of his godfather's face. Scared, slack, empty; as if the longer he was trapped in that chair the more of Sirius Black seeped out of him. When Harry had yelled at Bones, he'd expected a smirk, maybe even pride. All that had looked back at him was a husk of the man he was fighting for.

And who did Sirius have to rely on but Snape? Snape who'd always loathed Sirius, who had tried to kill him by proxy. They were all counting on him. Dumbledore had trusted him, but the thought of Snape being relied upon to tell the truth, especially when he was still undercover with Voldemort, it was like relying on a chocolate cauldron.

Harry's reverie was broken when the door opened and Daphne was ushered in by a Ministry official. She glared at him, because of course she did. She lashed out when she was nervous and Harry had to stop himself wondering if that meant there was bad news.

"You lot look cheery," she said by way of introduction. Joking wasn't great either.

"What's happening?" Hermione asked.

"How's Sirius?" Ron demanded. "He's alright, isn't he? Have they said anything? They didn't -"

"No, Bones asked for a break. They'll call us back in a minute." She moved to take the spot vacated by Ron. Where Hermione was filled with grand gestures, Ron was muted, only Daphne felt like an anchor. She didn't need to hug him for him to feel her presence, for her to bring him back to Earth.

"What did Snape say?" Ron's feverish questioning was unrelenting. "I bet he had a go at Sirius. He did, didn't he?"

"Ron! He's a teacher." Hermione snapped.

"Doesn't mean he's not an oily little -"

"Actually, he said he made a mistake," Daphne explained. "Chasing you lot down, not hearing Sirius out. Not that he doesn't still hate Sirius. And you actually, Harry."

"Nothing new there," Ron snorted.

"He didn't actually see Pettigrew though, so that's a problem. But he said you all believed the rat was Pettigrew, which at least shows you've not just made it up. They also asked him about the war, whether he knew if Pettigrew or Sirius was the spy."

"If he knew Dumbledore would've freed Sirius years ago," Hermione said.

"Ten points to Gryffindor," Daphne smiled sadly. "He says he just knew someone in the Order was leaking information. Voldemort kept it to himself. And that was it really. Some stuff about the Dementors again, nothing new really."

"And that's it?" Ron asked.

"That's it," Daphne confirmed. "You should probably get back, they're letting witnesses back in now."

Everyone knew what she was hinting at and no one argued. Ron patted him on the shoulder. Hermione hugged him one final time. Lupin offered a thin smile that did little to lift Harry's spirits. It was only when the door shut behind the aged werewolf that Daphne turned to him. Her blue eyes searched his face, looking for some kind of answer.

"You okay?"

"I put him in there," Harry answered. "That's all I keep thinking."

"You're allowed to want him in your life, Harry."

"And what good'll it do if he's…" He couldn't bring himself to finish the sentence. "You know, I think I wanted this because of Christmas. The prophecy. I think, I think I needed him to be fine. I needed him to get over this because if he can, maybe I can… maybe there's… I want to take it back. Daph. I need to. I need him to be okay."

The tears he hadn't let fall in the courtroom cascaded from him. Sobs tore themselves from his chest, wracking his body as finally, the pain of the weeks and months could free itself from his mind. He felt Daphne move so that she was crouched before him, her hands gripping his tightly.

"We did the best we could. You did the best and I - I'm so proud of you, okay?" Gently, he felt her hand move from his legs to his face. It was smooth, warm, soft. Everything his world wasn't. She brushed some of the tears away with her thumb before lifting his face slowly so that they were looking at each other.

"When you were talking about him, I wished I could be with you. Down there. But I - I know - crap. I'm not very good at - You were so just you. If they ignore that, if they put him away, Harry, then they're not human. You haven't done anything wrong, so don't think that. Sirius could've said no."

"But I -"

"Asked. You asked. That's all you did. You gave him the idea, but he did this. He walked in there. He sat there. He took everything they had to throw at him. He wants to be free. If they give him this, it's more than just freedom. It's absolution. He doesn't blame you, he loves you. I love you. It breaks my heart seeing you like this, really." She hesitated when he didn't speak. "God, where's Granger when you need her? What can I do? Is this helping?"

"Just, don't leave, okay?"

"You're stuck with me, Potter." Interlacing her fingers with his, brushing her lips against his knuckles. It felt like an electric shock, sharp against the background of the crashing emotions coursing through his mind. "As long as you want me."

They stayed together for a few minutes until he was ready, Daphne didn't say anything, she didn't have to. Just having her there was enough.

The official led them back to the courtroom, where they were greeted by the others. Below them, Sirius was talking to Dumbledore, their hushed conversation unheard by the rest of the courtroom. His dark eyes shot up to where they were sitting and even from they were, Harry saw his godfather force a smile. It somehow only made him feel worse.

The Wizengamot slowly trickled back into the room and at their centre sat Minister Bones. Harry took Daphne's hand. He wasn't even aware of doing it until she started rubbing the back of his hand.

"Before we reach our decision, I would like to ask Professor Dumbledore to first answer two questions and before presenting his final statement. " Dumbledore inclined his head in assent. This wasn't supposed to happen. Matthias had said the witnesses gave their testimony and then the court voted.

"Professor, when you first heard of Sirius Black's arrest, how did you react to the news?"

"I admit to feeling surprised, although, I had been informed by James Potter that Sirius was his Secret Keeper. While I may have struggled to comprehend what had happened, it appeared to me that there was no other alternative. At the time in question."

"And do you truly believe the claims you have heard here today that Peter Pettigrew is alive?"

"I do," Professor Dumbledore said. "It is my belief that everything you have heard today has been nothing but the truth. Sirius Black did not kill anyone, although he may feel the guilt of Peter Pettigrew's actions due to his own role in the Potters' decision to alter their Secret Keeper. It is this guilt which kept him in Azkaban."

"Mr Black? What do you have to say?"

Sirius tried to straighten in his chair but was stopped from reaching his full heigh by the shackles on his wrists. "I as good as killed my best friend and his wife. My choice left their son orphaned and all I could think about was revenge. It wasn't just Lily and James' deaths that kept me in Azkaban. I gave their son to Hagrid when I should've been the one to protect him. If you want the truth, Amelia, I deserved what I got but I'd like that chance to put that right."

Harry could only stare at Sirius. He'd never heard his godfather say any of that.

"Professor Dumbledore. Your final statement."

"Thank you, Minister." Dumbledore stepped forwards, addressing the room more like a showman than anything. After all, he was meant to be up there. He should've been. But he'd taken his place beside Sirius, sacrificed a sure-fire vote to help. Whatever he needed to do, Harry couldn't hate him for it, even if the sight felt bizarre.

"What happened to Sirius Black was a tragic misfortune. You have heard testimony that proves Peter Pettigrew survived, his life tells the truth of what happened on the night of Lily and James Potter's murder. I ask you this, should a man be condemned to the Dementor's Kiss on evidence that is at best circumstantial and at worst says he was innocent all along?

"You have heard that he is not the man we have been led to believe him to be. I implore you to consider the alternative to the story you already know. Sirius Black is not a mass murderer, as Rufus Scrimgeour described him, nor is he mad. He is simply a man unfortunate enough to fall through the cracks of his own making. We should not allow him to slip through them again."

Sirius' head had sagged forwards, his eyes locked on the floor. As Dumbledore's words died around them, Harry wanted to call out to him, to tell him it was going to be alright, but it never came. He could only watch helplessly, his heart burning in his chest, aching as he desperately tried to hope but found the candle had burnt out.

"Those in favour of clearing Sirius Black of all charges?" boomed Minister Bones. Hands shot up, Matthias Greengrass first, faster than anyone, his jaw set and his sparkling eyes firm. Then more and more until only a handful of people remained resolutely still. Even Scrimgeour's hand rose.

"Excellent. It is my honour to say that Sirius Black is cleared of all charges."

AN: And there we go, I hope that you like this and that you enjoyed what I had to say on this. I've always thought the technicality that proving Sirius' guilt, versus just accepting a story, should be enough to set him free in the first place. In the books, obviously, there were factors that meant they couldn't go to the Ministry with it because they were so inept, but here I like to think this is how it would go down. Close, to the wire, but ultimately the right choice.

I've had quite a few people either hating Scrimgeour or loving this version of him. To me, he's just the detective trying to come to the bottom of things with his own prejudices colouring how he treats Lupin. But ultimately, he just wants to get to the truth. That means seeing both sides and that's what I wanted to put across. Anyway, this is it for this section. I've loved writing it over the last week or so and I really hope you like it as well!