Here's a surprise update. It's my birthday! (3/12)
Jacob Pearson was Sirius' attorney for the trial. According to Remus, he was a few years above them in Hogwarts. The man wore classic wizarding robes yet carried a muggle briefcase.
Pearson stepped up to the lectern first and began. "Madam Bones, my client here, Sirius Orion Black was wrongfully incarcerated in Azkaban under suspect of being a Death Eater, a follower of the Dark Lord and the murder of one Peter Pettigrew. He never received a trial and has suffered for ten years because of it."
Barty Crouch Sr. was the barrister on behalf of the Ministry. "Sirius Orion Black murdered an innocent man after betraying who the British Wizarding Community believed was his best friend, one James Fleamont Potter. He deserves the time he has spent in Azkaban and more."
"Do either of you wish to question the witnesses?" Madame Bones wrote something down on a sheet of parchment when Pearson and Crouch declined. She looked towards Sirius and said, "Mr. Pearson, does your client consent to the use of Veritaserum during this trial?"
Pearson looked to Sirius who nodded his consent. "He does Madam Bones."
"Very well. We will take a brief recess while we prepare the serum" Bones wove her wand in a sharp formation, causing the bang of a gavel to resound throughout the room.
Harry and Remus stood up and approached Mr. Pearson and Sirius as they left the courtroom to wait for the trial to resume.
"Remus! I missed you so so so much. I didn't kill Peter. I didn't betray Prongs. Please believe me. Please! Please. PLEASE believe me. Pup? Is that you?" Sirius stopped talking in shock.
"Yes Sirius. It's me. It's great to meet you again." Sirius went to hug Harry but was stopped by Pearson.
"Sirius, you can't talk to one of the witnesses. Just this is a stretch but allowed because of his relationship with you."
"I understand. I'll see you guys later, hopefully."
After a few more minutes of waiting around, they were signaled to return to the courtroom.
"This case is now back in session. Potions Master Mayne, you may now administer the Veritaserum."
Potions Master Mayne was a man of average height. His potioneer robes were not old but definitely well-used. The veritaserum was held in an opaque bottle, most likely due to the fact that many of the ingredients lost their potency after exposure to sunlight. Mayne took the top off of the bottle and placed two drops of the potion onto Sirius' tongue. He stepped back and waited for Madame Bones to give the signal to start the questioning.
"What is your name?"
"Sirius Orion Black."
"Did you kill Peter Pettigrew on the night of October 31, 1981?"
"No. I wanted to but I did not." Murmurs began throughout the room but were silenced with a glare from Madame Bones.
"Why did you want to kill him?"
"He betrayed the Potters."
"How so?"
Sirius opened his mouth to answer but no words came out. "Charm."
"A charm? The fidelus perhaps?"
"Yes! Yes. Supposed to be me but changed last minute. Too obvious."
"Peter Pettigrew was the secret keeper?"
"Yes! Betrayed Prongs!"
"Are you a Death Eater? Willingly or otherwise?"
"No. Never one of them"
Madame Bones spoke up, deeming the interrogation over. "Thank you Potions Master Mayne. You may now administer the antidote. We will begin the voting procedures momentarily, once the Wizengamot has come to a decision."
After a few moments, some wizard, Kingsley Shaklebolt, Harry believed, stood and raised his wand and spoke, "Due to the evidence given in front of this gathering of the Wizengamot, it is undeniable that Sirius Orion Black did not commit the crimes he was incarcerated for. Raise your wands if you agree that this man should be set free and given one thousand galleons for every year spent in Azkaban and paid treatment in St. Mungo's Mind Healing ward until the healers release him and deem him healthy."
Out of the fifty-something lords and ladies, thirty of them raised their wands, a slim win. If this was a full Wizengamot meeting, a thirty house vote would not pass. However, Harry was prepared to vote if need be. His multiple heir and lordships having enough power to sway the vote to his side.
Madame Bones raised her wand once again to use the gavel. "By the power vested in me, I hereby announce Sirius Orion Black innocent of all crimes and to be given reparations in the form of 10000 galleons and paid care in St. Mungos. Thank you. This session of the Wizengamot is concluded." The gavel sounded once more and she stood and left the room as the other lords and ladies began to leave their seats to discuss the happenings of the trial.
About two hours later, Remus and Harry had made their way to St. Mungos. They were directed to the fourth floor, The Janus Thickey Ward. There were no beeps or murmurs of machines like Harry expected from a hospital. No, there was soft piano music playing over the sound of healers casting spells over their patients. However, then they neared Sirius' room, some muggle rock music was heard. The door to his room was open slightly. Remus knocked gently on the door and walked in.
Sirius looked much better despite being out of Azkaban for only a few hours. He was still pale and gaunt but his face had some more color than before. He had showered, or the Healers used many cleaning charms on him. His hair was brushed. No longer a matted, dirty mess. He wore a pair of what could only be sweatpants and a grey shirt. He was laying in the bed but propped upright with pillows. Sirius smiled towards Remus and Harry. He was about to speak but was stopped with a coughing fit that left him bent over and red in the face.
"Pads. It's ok. Take it easy. Do you need anything?" Remus asked, walking up to his bed, putting his hand onto Sirius' shoulder. Thumb resting atop a mark that rested on the junction of neck and shoulder. Both of them breathing in each other's distinct smells. They stayed like this for awhile. Until Harry spoke up.
"Hullo Sirius. It's great to see you."
"Prongslet, come here. You're part of the pa-family too." said Sirius, refraining from saying pack, not knowing how much Harry knows about them.
"Thank you Sirius. Remus has told me lots about you."
"All good things I hope."
"Mostly. I hope you know that normal people don't go around eating dog biscuits."
Sirius faked a look of offence, "For your information, it was only because of a dare."
"According to Remus you said, 'someone dare me to eat these.' and then dared yourself." Harry deadpanned.
"Mooonyyyyyy. Why'd you haveta tell him that part?"
"He asked for stories Pads. You would have done the same."
Just then, one of the healers, wearing lime green robes entered the room. "I'm sorry but visiting hours are ending soon."
Harry cast a tempus and said. "Yeah, Rem. I gotta get back to school."
Sirius gasped, " I forgot to ask about school! How could I? I'm a terrible dogfather."
"It's fine Sirius. We can write to each other and during the winter holidays, I can come visit you too."
"Fine" Sirius huffed.
Together, Remus and Harry left St. Mungos through the public floo and returned to Flitwick's office just in time for Harry to head down to the Great Hall for dinner.
It was strange returning to Hogwarts and no one talking of the trial, The Prophet would not be publishing anything about it until the next morning. While Harry was glad that he didn't have to do crowd control right now, he definitely didn't want to do it tomorrow morning. He pulled out a piece of parchment from his bag that he left in Flitwick's room during the trial and wrote a quick note then cast a spell to send it to the Gryffindor table.
A pair of red heads looked up towards Harry for a brief moment and nodded slightly, grins growing on identical faces. Now that that was dealt with, Harry returned to his dinner. Not noticing a blonde girl's eyes on him.
'Soon my Mate. Soon, we'll meet."
Hope you enjoyed. I'll be trying to post more often than once a month, but we'll see how that goes.
Gimme your WolfStar headcanons. I need ideas
At this point, the poll seems cursed. Tied at 13. At this point, ill need to decide on my own soon.