Finally, it came time for the Flying Lesson with Madam Hooch. It was a beautiful day, clear skies and sunny with a slight breeze. Perfect flying weather.
Neville and Rose walked down to the practice pitch after lunch on Friday, one nervous and the other excited for the new class.
"Gran's never let me on a broom before. She says I'm too clumsy on the ground, and I don't need to go off doing something reckless midair."
Silently, Rose agreed. Neville was clumsy and slightly uncoordinated at best.
"I've never been on a real broom before, but I have pictures of myself riding a toy broom as a toddler."
Well, that wasn't a complete lie. The green-eyed witch did recall her parents and Uncle Sirius taking many, many pictures of her as she zoomed around their small garden.
Most of the students were there by the time the two Gryffindors made it down to the pitch. Unfortunately, they would have to take the class with Slytherin. While Rose had no outstanding grudges against anyone in Slytherin (yet), the same could not be said for the rest of her housemates. Already tension seemed to be brewing between the two Houses, which wasn't really surprising considering their history.
After glancing at the remaining unclaimed brooms, Rose grabbed Neville's hand and dragged him off to two of what she thought were the better looking brooms.
Not a minute later Madam Hooch, an older looking witch with gray hair and striking yellow eyes, arrived. She began to lecture them on safety before instructing them to summon their broom.
"UP!"
Rose was one of the few students whose brooms immediately jumped to their hand. Others were slightly successful, with their brooms shooting up then falling halfway to their hands. Then there were those whose brooms just rolled on the ground or didn't even move at all.
"Come on now, you've got to say it with confidence. On three, one, two, three-"
"UP!" This time nearly everyone's jumped to their hands, with a few unfortunate students getting smacked in the face by their brooms.
"Very good. Now I will teach you how to mount your brooms, properly I might add."
And so she went down the line correcting each student. Rose heard some of the Gryffindor boys snigger when Madam Hooch corrected Malfoy, saying he'd had been practicing the wrong grip for years.
"Now, when I blow my whistle, you kick off from the ground hard. Keep your broom steady, rise a few feet, and then come straight back down by leaning forward slightly."
Rose could tell Neville was nervous. Just as the flying instructor finished her countdown, the brown-haired boy shot off from the ground like a bottle rocket. His best friend could only watch in horror as he steadily rose higher and higher before starting to veer towards the castle.
"NEVILLE!" Rose shouted in panic as she saw the boy lose his grip on the broom. He fell to the ground with a sickening crack, and Madam Hooch quickly made her way over to him.
The green-eyed witch faintly heard the teacher mutter something about a broken wrist as she inspected her student.
That's when Rose noticed Neville's Remembrall lying in the grass near her feet. It must have fallen out of his pocket as he took off on the broom. She knew it was fairly useless, but Rose still grabbed the object and slipped into her own pocket just as Madam Hooch left, warning them to not fly or there would be severe consequences.
Madam Hooch soon came back down to the practice pitch and informed them that class was over. Rose spent the rest of her afternoon catching up on homework and rewriting some essays (it was bloody difficult to write with a quill).
She visited Neville, where she learned that while the broken wrist had been fairly easy to fix, he'd still have to stay the night so that the matron could ensure it healed properly.
The young Gryffindor sat alone at dinner, that is until a certain bushy-haired witch sat down next to her.
"I'd like to apologize for earlier this week. I get what you meant when you said flying wasn't something I could pick up from a book." Hermione had an unsure expression on her face, as if she was afraid of Rose's reaction.
Rose sent a kid smile to the skittish girl and waved her off. "No harm done. Actually, I was planning on heading back to the quidditch pitch later since our lesson was cut short. Would you like to join me?"
"Is that allowed? I wouldn't want to get into any trouble. I heard earlier that Professor Snape deducted some points from Weasley after he argued with Malfoy about quidditch."
Rose considered her words for a moment "I guess it's allowed, as long as we're in by curfew. I'm fairly certain the broom shed is kept unlocked, but if it's not, we'll have our answer."
Hermione still looked unsure. "Only if you're sure we won't be punished."
The raven-haired witch smirked. "Well, there's only one way to find out."
So that's how the two Gryffindor girls found themselves later that evening. Rose had discovered the broom shed was indeed unlocked, and she quickly picked out two of the nicer brooms for herself and Hermione.
"I guess we should go over the basics again." Rose pointed out, kind of unsure as to how to instruct the other girl. Sure, they'd both read about flying, but they'd received very little practical instruction.
"I read that brooms are imbued with ambient magic, meaning they take on somewhat of a personality. That's why some people find it so difficult to summon it in the first place."
"It was kind of instinctual for me. I guess you have to show you're not scared of it, but not arrogant and bossy to the point where it won't listen to you."
"Treating it as a pet? I don't think I'll ever get used to magic."
The two girls softly laughed, finding common ground in their Muggle upbringing.
First the girls started off with mounting their brooms correctly, and then they moved onto hovering a few feet above the ground. Soon Rose saw herself rising higher and higher on purpose, unlike Neville earlier.
"Rose, do be careful. I don't think Professor McGonagall would be pleased if another one of her first years was injured by flying." Hermione called out from the ground. Whereas the green-eyed witch loved soaring around the practice pitch, the other girl preferred to have her feet planted on solid ground.
"Don't worry, Hermione. I'll be fine." With that reassurance, Rose attempted some other tricks. Loop de loops came naturally to her, and barrel rolls were shockingly simple to pull off.
Unbeknownst to the two girls, the Gryffindor Quidditch team was making their way down to the stadium for their first practice of the season. The team consisted of Chasers Angelina Johnson, Alicia Spinnet, and Katie Bell, as well as beaters Fred and George Weasley and Keeper Oliver Wood.
Unfortunately, they were missing their seeker, a seventh year who had begged off practice in favor of studying for his rigorous N.E.W.T level classes. Seekers were hard to come by, and the Gryffindor was lucky that the seventh-year even agreed to play in their games.
"MERLIN'S BALLS!" The twins shouted in unison as they witnessed the spectacular dive made by the younger year currently taking over the practice pitch.
The small figure had to have been at least 60 feet in the air before turning a sharp 90 degree angle, straight towards the ground. At about a yard from the ground, the broom was once again put through the paces as it was sharply jerked upwards to avoid a crash.
"Who the bloody hell is that flying up there?" Oliver asked, now completely enamored by the flyer.
Hermione seemed to take notice of the quidditch team. She blushed a bit and managed to stammer out, "Uh, uh, that's Rose. We didn't mean to intrude on your practice. Our flying class ended early, so she was trying to teach me some of the basics."
"Those dives and rolls aren't exactly what I'd call basic maneuvers." One of the girls pointed out, though Hermione wasn't sure what her name was.
"Rose! Come down here." Hermione shouted at her dorm mate, for all the good that did her.
Rose, with the wind rushing in her ears, did not hear her friend. She instead continued to perform as many tricks as feasible with her limited flying experience, spurred on by the adrenaline rush that had taken hold the moment she first hovered on the broom.
She began to tire though, so she completed one last dive. The witch felt grass skimming her feet and she pulled out at the last second.
"Hermione! Oh that was magnificent. Much more exhilarating than the hovering we did in Madam Hooch's class."
Rose quieted down and blushed when she realized she wasn't alone with her friend.
"Uh, sorry about that. Didn't mean to take up your time. I'll just, uh, put this broom back and Hermione and I will be on our way."
"Do you know how to play quidditch?"
"If not, I'm sure we could teach her."
"Hey, not everyone can catch a snitch. Might not be able to teach her.
"She's just as good as Charlie."
"Maybe even better."
"We'd have to get her a decent broom."
"I know seekers should be smaller, but she could use a little more eating. Wouldn't want her getting blown off her broom."
The quidditch team let out an array of comments and questions, making Rose feel even more harried.
"Do you want to try out for the team?" The question took the green-eyed witch by surprise.
"I don't think I'm allowed, actually." At the captain's raised eyebrow, Rose elaborated, "I'm only a first year, and Professor Dumbledore said at the Welcoming Feast that quidditch trials were only open for second years and above."
Oliver only waved his hand dismissively in response. "I'm sure McGonagall could speak to Dumbledore and see if he can waive the rule for us."
"Ollie, why don't you ask her first if she even wants to play?" Angelina was the only player to realize they were making the young girl slightly uneasy.
"Do you actually want to play, Rose?"
The young Gryffindor definitely felt uncomfortable with all the attention on her now.
"Umm, I don't know how good I'd be, but I guess I could give it a try. But I don't want to take a spot from someone on the team! Only if you're looking for another player."
The Weasley twins clapped in unison. "Well I guess that settles it."
"Welcome to the team, Rosie my dear."
Oliver walked the two first years back to the castle, dropping Hermione off at the Tower before bringing Rose up to Professor McGonagall's office.
"How can I help you, Wood?"
"I think I found ourselves a new seeker." The older boy stepped aside to show Rose to their head of house, who frowned slightly upon seeing the young girl. "She's only been on a broom a few times and she's amazing. A complete natural."
"The rules state that first years may not try out for quidditch. That being said, if Miss Potter really is as good a player as you say, I speak to Professor Dumbledore to see if he'd allow special dispensation."
"Professor, she was doing 50 foot dives, barrel rolls, feints, and a bunch of other maneuvers that most third years can't do!"
"That is all well and good, but there are other requirements for seekers. Has she ever practiced with a Snitch?"
Rose decided to speak up for herself. "I haven't, Professor, but I'm willing to learn."
The older witch let a small smile cross her face. "Very well. Tomorrow is Saturday. Wood, I'll give you the day to teach her at least some of the basics. I'll come down with Professor Dumbledore in the evening, and he can be the judge as to whether she's allowed to join the team."
Amelia entered the interrogation room and looked at the man shackled to the table. His ebony hair was long and matted and hung around his face like a curtain. His robes were grimy and tattered. When he finally looked up, the auror could see his eyes were clouded and distant.
The gray-haired woman sat down across from the prisoner. She withdrew a metallic chip from her pocket and after setting it on the table, tapped it with her wand.
"September 21st, 1991. Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Auror Amelia Bones, is officially reopening Sirius Orion Black vs. The British Ministry of Magic.
We shall begin with the questioning of suspect Sirius Black. This testimony may be used in future court proceedings."
"What's this all about? I know damn well the Ministry didn't care about these formalities when they threw me in that hellhole."
Sirius's voice was gruff and scratchy, as if he hadn't used it in a long, long time.
"Recently, new evidence has come to light that you may not have been the Secret Keeper for the Potters."
The prisoner looked up in shock.
"Before you ask any questions, I have some questions of my own. Firstly, would you be willing to complete this interrogation under the influence of Veritaserum."
The suspect hesitated for a moment, considering the option.
"I…I will consent to being administered Veritaserum."
"Very well." The auror withdrew a small vial from her pocket and removed the stopper. Sirius, familiar with the use of the truth potion, stuck out his tongue for the Veritaserum to be administered.
The effects of the serum were immediate. The prisoner's eyes became glassy and even more distant, staring off at the wall.
"What is your name?"
"Sirius Orion Black."
"What is your date of birth?"
"November 3rd, 1959."
Amelia started off the interrogation with simple questions, ones that could easily be fact-checked. It was standard procedure, to make sure that the potion was effective and that the memories of the user weren't severely tampered with.
"Are you a Death Eater?"
"No."
"Have you received the dark mark?"
"No."
"Have you ever associated yourself with the Dark Lord Voldemort?"
"No."
"Are you related to any Death Eaters?"
"My brother Regulus Black received the mark, as did my cousin Bellatrix Lestrange. There are other Death Eaters I'm related to, but I do not know how closely related we are."
"Are you loyal to your Death Eater relatives or any other Death Eaters?"
"No."
"Did you support the Ministry during the Second Wizarding War?"
"I was training to become a Hit Wizard at the time of my arrest. I was loyal to the Light side, but I did not put all of my faith in the Ministry."
"Were you the Secret Keeper for the Potter family?"
"No."
"Do you know who was the Secret Keeper for the Potters?"
"Yes."
"Who was it?"
"Peter Pettigrew."
"Did you ever reveal the location of the Potters at any time?"
"The Fidelius Charm prevented me from revealing their location to anyone that did not already know of their location."
"Were you present when the Fidelius Charm was performed?"
"No. I was told later that day by Peter Pettigrew."
"Would you have done anything to harm the Potters?"
"No. James was like a brother to me. They made Rose my godchild."
"If you had been given the opportunity, would you have given the location of the Potters to the Dark Lord Voldemort?"
"No."
"Aside from Peter Pettigrew, is there anyone who knew of the Potters' house in Godric's Hollow?"
"Several former classmates, as well as Albus Dumbledore, knew of the house, but they would not have been able to share its location after the Fidelius Charm was performed."
"Did anyone else know that Peter Pettigrew was the Potters' Secret Keeper?"
"No. I was supposed to perform the charm, but we decided to use Peter instead as a decoy. The only people who knew of this were Peter Pettigrew, James Potter, Lily Potter, and myself. And technically Rose Potter."
"How did you find out the Potters had been murdered?"
"I visited Pettigrew's safe house, and he was not there. I rushed over to Godric's Hollow, only to find James and Lily dead. I found Rose crying in her crib."
"Why did you rush over to Godric's Hollow?"
"Pettigrew was not at his safe house. I assumed that something had happened at Godric's Hollow that required his presence. When I saw James and Lily, I realized that Pettigrew had betrayed us."
"Why did you decide to check on Pettigrew?"
"It was an arrangement we had established long ago. I visited both safe houses on alternate days, and they both Floo called me a couple times a week."
"How did you realize Pettigrew had betrayed the Potters?"
"He had to have. The Fidelius Charm prevented anyone other than him from sharing the location of the Potters' cottage."
"Was Peter Pettigrew a Death Eater?"
"I do not know."
"Did you ever see him with a dark mark or any other suspicious tattoos?"
"No."
"Had Pettigrew ever displayed any suspicious behavior that would've indicated his true beliefs or motivations?"
"Pettigrew has always been nervous and cowardly, sometimes overly skittish. I do not recall having any highly suspicious encounters with him that were terribly out of character. We did not suspect his true motivations."
"What did you do after learning Pettigrew betrayed the Potters?"
"After ensuring Rose was safe with Hagrid, I traced Petttigrew I used a tracking spell to find him."
"Have you, at any time, wanted to kill Peter Pettigrew?"
"Yes."
"When I first learned of his betrayal. I was consumed with rage. I wanted to make him pay for hurting us and leaving Rose an orphan."
This was the hard question. Amelia knew that this would seal Sirius's fate.
"Did you kill Peter Pettigrew?"
"No."
Amelia sharply inhaled. Things were about to become way more complicated.
"What transpired after you cornered Pettigrew in the alley?"
"He was backed up against a wall. As I prepared to kill him, he shouted out to the Muggles standing near the alley. He accused me of betraying the Potters and murdering James and Lily.
Before I knew it, Pettigrew casted a dark spell. I don't know what it was, but it caused a huge explosion towards the mouth of the alley. The explosion immediately killed the Muggles standing there.
He then used a severing charm to cut off his right index finger. He was sobbing in pain while he transformed into his Animagus form, a rat. He escaped through the sewers. Aurors and Hit Wizards arrived soon after and arrested me."
Amelia needed a drink. A tall, strong glass of Firewhiskey would suffice, but unfortunately, she still had to wrap up this interrogation.
"Did you know that Peter Pettigrew was an Animagus?"
"Yes."
"How?"
"In our fifth year, Pettigrew, James, and I became Animagi. Pettigrew's form is a rat, James was a stag, and I am a dog."
"Were any of you registered?"
"No."
"Is it possible that Peter Pettigrew is still alive?"
"He was alive when he escaped the alley that day."
"Do you know his whereabouts?"
"No."
There were so many more questions the auror wanted and needed to ask, but those could wait for another day.
Amelia withdrew from her robe a second vial, this being the antidote for the Veritaserum. She administered it the same way and waited a few minutes till Black seemed coherent.
"Thank you, Mr. Black, for your cooperation. Later today, you will be transferred from your holding cell to a private room at St. Mungo's Hospital. You will receive proper care and attend daily sessions with a mind healer. An armed guard will sit outside your door 24/7, though you will be afforded privacy as long as you don't try pulling any funny stuff.
There are additional questions I need to ask you, but those will come once I gather more evidence. Your official trial should be less than three months from now. During this time you will stay at either St, Mungo's or here in the Ministry's holding cells. If the Wizengsmot decides not to convene at the end of the three months, you will be transferred back to Azkaban to further await your trial. Clear?"
"Crystal." Sirius still had enough spunk left to sound snarky.
"Any questions, Black?"
"Why now? Why are you going through all this? I know the Minister didn't give a rat's ass when they first threw me into that hellhole."
The head auror sighed, knowing she couldn't give him the full truth.
"It's been several years…and let's just say you have someone in your corner now. Someone who wants to fight for you, because they know some of the truth, and they care for you.
That is all, Mr. Black. Another auror should be by in a bit. I hope you don't mind Portkey travel." With those final words, Amelia left the suspect to ponder just who that mysterious person could be.
Saturday practice with Oliver was grueling, but it was worth it. Rose was officially the Seeker for the Gryffindor Quidditch Team.
(A/N) Remember, I love hearing your comments and suggestions! In fact, I wanted to set up a bit of a poll in the comments. I'm trying to follow canon timeline for Rose at Hogwarts, but I really have no reference for how I should space out Sirius's arc. Please comment which option you like best.
1. Sirius's trial is in December during Winter Break (so Rose can attend). After he is deemed innocent, he goes back to St. Mungo's for additional treatment and does not 'meet' Rose till Easter Break.
2. Sirius's trial is at the same time, but he and Rose do not meet until the summer. They do, however, exchange letters.
3. Sirius's trial is pushed back to the spring (around Easter break) and does not meet Rose until the summer.
