Chapter 4: The More Things Change, The More Things Change

Wow! That was an explosion of people reading this! Getting added to a couple collections apparently really helped speed things along. Welcome new readers! I was getting ready to write this chapter when I realized that the aspects of my story meant that something that had happened canonically didn't really make sense within this world of mine. So I'm not the biggest fan of this turnout, but I'll roll with it! Anyway, without further ado, let's get into it!

It took about a day for the information to really start to spread. The evening of November 1st found Rubeus Hagrid in the Three Broomsticks, raising a glass to the deceased Potters. A couple other patrons joined him but were confused when he added that at least it was all over. When questioned, the half giant hesitated for a moment before revealing that You-Know-Who was gone.

After a few more drinks, it was revealed that it wasn't the young couple who had done it, rather it was a killing curse reflected off of their infant son. And thus the legend of the Boy-Who-Lived was born. The news travelled past the doors of the bar quickly and the days, plural, of celebration began. Caught up in the excitement of it all, no one thought to ask what had happened to their young saviour.

It was a few days after this secret came out that a new shocking fact came to light. Splayed over the front page of the Daily Prophet was a headline that shocked many readers who had known those involved.

Sirius Black Betrayer of the Potters

According to the article, Sirius Black had been arrested after killing a large group of Muggles and another friend of the Potters and himself, Peter Pettigrew, leaving naught but a finger. It was inferred from Black's mumblings at the scene that there had been a Fidelius cast upon the couple to protect them from Voldemort and that black was quoted as saying "It's my fault." Bartemius Crouch Sr., head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement at the time was well known for tossing suspected Death Eaters into Azkaban with no trial. Even if they were from more respected families, no one wanted to speak up and implicate themselves as opening the Dark Lord..

And in another world, perhaps this would have gone unquestioned. After all, it appeared as though Black had confessed to the crime and had clearly committed murder in broad daylight in front of several other Muggles. However, in this world, Arcturus Black had taken more of an interest in his family, all facets of it and not just those who squawked… erm, shouted… the loudest. In this world, Lord Arcturus Black feared no such repercussions from Director Crouch.

And so it was that Sirius Black was brought before the Wizengamot.

A full meeting of the Wizengamot was called at Lord Black's dema- request. A man respected, or at least feared, by most members, it was hard to ignore a call, especially one that pertained to the current Heir Black who had been sent to Azkaban.

The 21-year-old Black sat in a chair with chains circled around him in the center of Courtroom 10, already looking worse for wear despite only having been in Azkaban for a few days. Around him sat a number of Lords, Ladies, and Ministry-appointed representatives wearing mauve robes and hats, the public gallery full of reporters and curious watches-on.

At the front of the chamber sat Chief Warlock Albus Dumbledore, looking on with a small twinkle in his eye, his grandfatherly smile no longer as forced as it had been at previous meetings. Beside him sat Barty Crouch, Sr. glowering between the young man on trial and his grandfather who sat in his normal seat but without his mauve robes so as to remain impartial.

The Chief Warlock stood holding his hands up and the chamber quickly fell into silence as he gazed around the courtroom.

"We are gathered here today for the case of Sirius Orion Black vs the people of Wizarding Britain. Auror Bones are you ready?"

Amelia Bones would be administering the veritaserum at Arcturus Black's request. He had gone out of his way to arrange this trial for his grandson, and whether or not he was actually guilty, Arcturus wanted there to be no doubt.

The younger auror who was already looking like a shoo in for a senior auror position nodded, the bottle of potion in her hand. "Then please proceed."

She nodded and took the dropper from the bottle. Sirius stuck out his tongue, smiling tiredly at the woman who had been a few years ahead of him at school. She remained neutral, dropping the correct three drops on his tongue and watched his eyes get glassy "He is ready chief Warlock"

"Very good. Director Crouch, please proceed with the questioning" Crouch sighed but nodded.

"Are you Sirius Orion Black?"

"Yes."

"Did you graduate from Hogwarts in the year 1978?"

"Yes I did."

"Was the Fidelius charm cast upon James and Lily Potter?"

"It was"

"Were you the Secret Keeper?"

"No."

Hushed whispers started rushing through the public gallery and the Wizengamot alike before Dumbledore finally banged his gavel, silencing the voices, glancing to Crouch, who looked decidedly less annoyed and confident than he had moments before.

"Did you kill Peter Pettigrew and twelve muggleson November the fourth?"

"No"

Crouch hesitated for a long moment "Who was the Secret Keeper of James and Lily Potter?"

"Peter Pettigrew"

Now the whisper came back in full force, a few camera shots going off and it took quite a few more bangs from Dumbledore to actually quiet them once more"

"What… what did happen on November the fourth as pertaining to this case?"

"When I learned that James and Lily were dead, I realized that Peter must have given up the secret to You-Know-Who. I started tracking him down and finally caught up with him that day. He fired some sort of hex that caused the explosion and killed the muggles. I don't know if it actually got him too or not."

In an attempt to save face, Crouch asked "Why did you say that you had killed James and Lily Potter?"

"It was my idea to make Peter the secret keeper. They wanted to choose me, but I knew that everyone would think they would have if it got out they had used the Fidelius. So I told them to make Peter the secret keeper."

Despite the chaos surrounding him, Lord Arcturus Black sat calmly, watching his grandson, though internally he was smiling. He might not be as… boisterous as the ex-Gryffindor, but he enjoyed tweaking someone's nose every once in a while.

"Do you… do you have any more information that might help confirm whether Pettigrew survived the blast?"

Sirius hesitated for a moment but eventually gave into the potion's effect "He's a rat animagus. James and I are animagi as well. We learned how to do it in school. He could have slipped away in his rat form but I was in shock and didn't see."

It took even more bangs from Dumbledore's gavel to finally reclaim the silence. "Very well then. In light of Mr. Black's testimony under veritaserum, I will now call a vote. All of those who think Sirius is innocent of these crimes light your wands now"

Around the room, lights lit up in nearly a unanimous vote. Veritaserum wasn't perfect and could be combatted, but Sirius's willingness to take it - and perhaps the thought of angering Lord Black - lead them to voting on the young man's innocence.

"Very well. I declare that Sirius Black is not guilty of his crimes." The antidote was quickly administered and Sirius smiled brightly as the chains were lifted off and he stood, his wand being returned by another auror.

"In light of what has just occurred and Voldemort no longer menacing us, I move that we once again return to actually giving a trial to all those suspected of any illegal activities" Dumbledore intoned, flinches circling the room at the use of the man's name. The verbal slap to Crouch was also not missed.

Sirius Black Innocent! Peter Pettigrew the True Traitor!

Andromeda let out a shaking breath as she held the new copy of the Daily Prophet in her lightly shaking hands. She could hardly believe that her cousin would ever have turned on his best friend, not to mention them and actually serve Voldemort. There would have been a much higher chance of him finding out about Leo's abilities if that had been the case. Still to think that a friend of theirs had still been the one to turn on them…

"Sirius didn't do it!" she called happily. Ted entered the kitchen with a British Shorthair doing it's best to balance on his shoulders, their daughter, currently sporting short navy blue hair, following behind. The cat hopped down and turned back into Leo who grinned brightly.

"Course he didn't!" He proclaimed happily. It was hard for the five-year-old to really understand just what had nearly happened to his mother's cousin and especially what had happened to the Potters. But he hadn't known them very well since he was too young whenever they had been over before. Tonks on the other hand happily hugged her mother, also sporting a large grin.

"Did you ever find out what happened to Harry?" Ted asked quietly as he sat down across from her at the table, Leo hopping up into his lap.

"No… I'm sure Sirius will be looking into it now if Alice hasn't already been. As far as I'm aware, she and Frank are still keeping a low profile with a lot of his followers still running around. He told me that James and Lily had a will and that we might fall into it, but I'm sure we're behind his actual godparents."

"It'd be cool to have another boy around!" Leo announced excitedly sticking his tongue out at his older sister.

She smirked and stuck her tongue right back out at him before changing her features to match his, causing him to yelp and her to giggle as well as their parents.

"I don't know Leo, you're quite a hassle as is!" Ted announced, squeezing his son around the waist tightly, causing the young boy to yelp and wiggle in his grasp.

After Sirius Black's mess, a mass of trials took place, including for others that Director Crouch had tossed into Azkaban without receiving one. For the most part, those that had been arrested were actually guilty but there were a couple who agreed to be tested under Veritaserum and were found to just be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

It was Lucius Malfoy who was the first to use the "Imperius Defense." As a pureblood he had the right to refuse Veritaserum and in doing so claimed that the mind-controlling spell forced him to join the terrorist group. After it… along with a Malfoy donation to St. Mungo's… worked for him, quite a few other members of more prominent families claimed similar defenses at their own trials.

Things had finally started to calm down when once again tragedy struck. Augusta Longbottom floo called the auror department in a panic about there being an attack at her son's home, but by the time they got there it was too late for the young auror couple, their young son thankfully safe, though crying, in his bedroom upstairs.

It was another blow to Director Crouch when it was discovered that one of the Longbottoms' attackers was his own son. The director prosecuted him just as harshly as the three Lestranges, perhaps even more so, but by then it was too late. Once the trials were done, he was 'politely' asked to step down from his position by Minister Bagnold.

Sirius sat down across from Dumbledore's desk in Hogwarts, slightly more put together now that it had been a month. After being given his trial and an all clear at St. Mungo's, he had officially joined the Auror academy. He had also spent some more time with his grandfather now that he was officially the Heir to the Black Family and felt… less opposed to the idea. Now though, he needed to focus on what was most important since Halloween night.

"Alright Professor, where's Harry? I didn't immediately start hounding you because I knew that Alice would have first rights to him as his godmother but as his godfather, he's supposed to go to me now. Or potentially Augusta Longbottom, but she doesn't know where he is either!"

Dumbledore let out a long sigh, his face the perfect mask of grandfatherly concern. "Harry is perfectly safe where he is Sirius, my boy. I took him to his muggle aunt's home where he'll be safest and away from all of the fame."

Sirius's eyes widened in shock "That's not your call to make Professor! Besides, I know for a fact that Lily and James specifically didn't want Harry going to his aunt's! She and her husband are uncomfortable around magic! I'm the boy's godfather and he should be with me! He should've been with Alice, even if it's a good thing he wasn't at the time."

Dumbledore let out a long sigh "Well, I did not particularly want to reveal this for safety's sake, but he is under specialized blood wards. There was some sort of blood protection around him which I believe to be connected to Lily sacrificing her life for him. Taking that I was able to turn the protection into wards around their home through her sister and him. They'll of course only work there, therefore he must live with his last living relatives."

Sirius's eyes narrowed "Having Hagrid take my godson away wasn't something you should've done either. I figured you would get him somewhere safe, not ship him off to the muggle world! And another thing, I went to Gringotts to ask about James and Lily's will and apparently you decided to keep them from being read! None of your positions should give you the power to do that!"

Dumbledore sighed sitting back in his chair "I just want what's best for young Harry, Sirius. If he were to grow up in our world, he would be surrounded by people that would make him feel invincible, not to mention the Dark Wizards who would do all they could to avenge Voldemort." The Dark Lord's name did cause Sirius to flinch, but not nearly as bad as many of the Wizengamot members. "And as for the will reading, I made an agreement with the goblins to delay the reading until Harry is attending Hogwarts so that the Durselys don't needlessly have to come into the Wizarding World and endanger Harry."

Sirius's eyes narrowed "While I appreciate the intentions behind your decisions, you still had no right to make them. You insult both myself and Alice's parenting skills with your assumption that he'd get big-headed and I can handle myself against any dark wizards we might run across. You withholding the will doesn't just hurt Harry. I know for a fact that the Order is one of the beneficiaries should Voldemort not have been killed, and if nothing else, Remus could use the gold I know James left him. Now then, I want my godson and I want the will reading to go off as it should have"

Dumbledore let out another long suffering sigh. Already the plans he had started creating for the young prophesied hero were going up in smoke. It wouldn't have been good if Sirius had to rot in Azkaban, but he obviously knew best how to see that the prophecy came true. Now though…

"Very well Sirius, my boy. You will find young Harry at Number 4 Privet Drive in Little Whinging… I will let the goblins know to go ahead and send out the invitations to the pertinent parties for their will reading.

Early December found the Tonks-Black family sitting in a room in Gringotts once again. The mood however was much less strained, even if it was somber. Along with them were Augusta Longbottom, Remus Lupin, Sirius Black, and Albus Dumbledore. At the front of the room stood Lagnus, the Potter's account manager with both James and Lily's wills.

"I, James Henry Potter, being of sound mind and body declare this to be my last will and testament as of August 25, 1981, rendering all previous wills null and void.

However things might have gone down, I certainly hope that I gave the bastard who got me as good as he gave me. Lily I hope that you're still here to look after Harry, but if not then I'm trusting you Frank, or at least Sirius, or heaven forbid Ted to be the father that I won't be able to be for Harry. Sirius, if it is you, you should take this as a kick of the pants to finally get tied down you wild dog."

First off I leave 5,000 galleons to Peter Pettigrew. I hope you see the end of this my friend. I know that you're not the best fighter, but if you get past this I'm sure you'll come into your own.

Next, I leave 10,000 galleons to Remus Lupin as well as the Potter cabin in Aberdeen. Moony, you can't refuse this. You know how hard it'll be for you, so I want you to be just a bit more comfortable while you find a place to really apply yourself.

In case Lily is also gone, then whoever is Harry's new guardian will have a monthly allowance of 500 galleons for the next sixteen years until Harry reaches his majority. Thank you for caring for my son.

To Sirius Black, I leave 20,000 galleons. You were my brother in all but blood and even if you're not his guardian, I hope you can still give Harry that Marauder spirit. You too Remus, Peter.

If the organization should still exist, then I leave 30,000 Galleons to the Order of the Phoenix in order to help the fight against You-Know-Who. If he's gone, then more power to us.

What's left of the Potter fortune, properties, and artifacts will go to Lily if she still lives or if not, then to Harry. Until Harry reaches his majority he'll have a trust vault that automatically refills with 1,000 galleons.

Lily, Harry, I love you both so much. I hope you'll both live long happy lives even if I won't be a part of them anymore."

Lagnus set down James's will to the side, reaching for Lily's next. Remus and Sirius were both staring at the table, mourning the loss of their best friend, Remus's cheeks slightly red from James's chastisement. Dumbledore had perked up a bit when the Order was brought up, but with Voldemort defeated, then the money would remain with Harry.

""I, Lily Alana Evans Potter, being of sound mind and body declare this to be my last will and testament as of August 25, 1981, rendering all previous wills null and void.

I still can't believe I honestly have to create a will at twenty-one, but I'm sure it's for the best. James, if you're still alive, please don't blame yourself for my death. I know how you think, and I need you to be there for Harry, not beating yourself up over me. Harry, if we're both gone, I'm so sorry and I love you so so much.

The only other monetary arrangement I need to make is that we're leaving Neville Longbottom, my godson, a 10,000 galleon a year trust vault. Alice and Frank, I hope that if we can't you'll look after Harry well.

On that note, I'll get into the specifics of where Harry is to go should neither James nor I still be alive or able.

First and foremost are Alice Longbottom and her husband Frank. She is Harry's godmother and I know she will love Harry like Neville.

Failing that, he'll go to Sirius Black, his godfather. Sirius, you had better get your act together. I do not want my Harry turning into a bully. He can have fun of course, but make sure to take it in moderation.

If neither of them can take Harry then he'll go to the Tonks-Black family. I know that Andromeda and Ted will raise him well and having Dora and Leo to play with will do him some well.

If it's all gone horribly wrong and none of them can, then he is to go to any Wizarding family that'll take him, but an arm check will be mandatory before he's given to them. Failing that, he'll go to a Wizarding orphanage.

He is most definitely not to go to my sister Petunia Dursley. She and her husband have made it clear how they feel about magic and my son and he is not to stay with them.

I leave ten galleons converted to pounds to Petunia and the rest of my vault's contents will go to the main Potter vault for James or Harry.

I hope that I'll be able to update this once again and that it never actually comes into effect but if you're hearing this, then just know that I love you so much Harry, James.

Sirius and Augusta both turned their glares towards Dumbledore during the will reading who was specifically staring at his hands at the time.

Lagnus set the will down "Madam Longbottom, as Harry should technically have already gone to Alice and Frank Longbottom before… recent events, his guardianship would technically go to you. However, since they did name Heir Black, he also has a claim to him if you would like to decide one way or another."

Augusta nodded looking to Sirius "Frankly, I've never even met the boy and I'll have enough trouble taking care of my Neville. You are more than welcome to have Harry as your ward."

Sirius nodded appreciatively "Thank you very much Madam Longbottom. I'll do my best to raise him well. I hope that he and Neville can become close even without their actually being brothers."

Andromeda snorted "Yes, well Sirius, you know our floo call for when you start panicking."

Sirius chuckled weakly but nodded "I'll probably bring him over for you all to meet later yes."

After being ignored and having nothing to collect, Dumbledore had decided to start heading off. "Just a moment Chief Warlock" Augusta called over. "I don't appreciate the liberties you took with young Mr. Potter. I don't feel like bringing up criminal charges against the 'Leader of the Light' right in the midst of rebuilding after the war, but I warn you to keep your nose clean regarding our young charges."

The old man, one fear of Dark Lord Voldemort, defeater of Dark Lord Grindelwald, flinched. Augusta Longbottom was a force to be reckoned with by any standards. He nodded cautiously before leaving the room, already wondering just what this might mean for the prophecy.

So yeah, Sirius went free! I realized that my version of Arcturus would never stand for his heir getting tossed away without the key. While writing this I came across some weird anomalies within canon like how anyone actually knew what happened the night of Halloween with Lily sacrificing herself and how people found out about Frank and Alice getting attacked. I'm trying to keep this as canonically sound while making my changes but it's... rough. Almost like it's different from canon or something. Anywho, see you next time! Thanks for reading.