"Let's proceed with the questioning." the minister says to the occupants of the room.
Harry hears that the questioning is about to start and is confused. 'What was the point of the questions he had already asked?' Harry thinks to himself.
Severus sees the confusion on Harry's face and wants to appease Harry. "What is your question Harry?"
Harry jumps slightly. "What?"
"What is your question? I can tell you have a question, what is it?"
"Oh. I was just wondering why he was asking those questions if they didn't have anything to do with the hearing?"
"He had to make sure that the Veritaserum was working properly."
"How can you tell?"
"You hear how monotone the voice is?" At Harry's nod he continues. "The monotone voice is a sign that it is working. When he answered the first question the potion wasn't working completely. When the second question was answered the voice was completely monotone."
"Like Professor Binns." Harry says.
Severus snorts in amusement. "From a professional standpoint I cannot agree with you, but as we aren't on school grounds, yes. Very much like Professor Binns."
The voice of the Minister cuts through the courtroom causing the conversation between Severus and Harry. "What caused James and Lily Potter to go into hiding?"
Harry stiffens at the mention of his parents. "Severus Snape told Dumbledore that Voldemort was going to go after Lily and James. They went into hiding under the fidelious charm."
"Were you the Secret Keeper?"
"At first."
"What do you mean at first?"
"I was the original secret keeper but I convinced them to switch it to Peter because I felt it was the obvious choice."
"Why did you go after Peter?"
"He sold James and Lily to Voldemort."
"What happened when you got there? When you met Peter in that street?"
"I confronted him and he started blaming me for sending Voldemort to them. He waited until I pulled out my wand before blasting the street. He cut off a finger and transformed into his animagus."
"Peter Pettigrew is not a known animagus."
"James, Peter and I became animaguses in our 5th year to help Remus during his transformations."
"So you are an unregistered animagus?"
"Yes."
"What form do you take?"
"A black dog."
"Last question. Are you or were you ever loyal to the Dark Lord?"
"No. I never was. I was disowned because of that. My entire family supported Voldemort and I didn't. I was turned against by my entire family because I didn't agree with them."
"When was this?"
"My 3rd year at Hogwarts."
"What did you do after that? You were a minor."
"Albus took me in. He was extremely kind and never forced me to talk about it."
The minister doesn't respond and just sits there in thought. The potion that Sirius was given was starting to wear off. After a few minutes the minister declares. "I find Sirius Black innocent of all charges. He cannot be sent to Azkaban for those acts he was accused of and there is no retrial, my decision is final."
Harry lets out a sigh of relief. Sirius is free. Severus puts a hand on Harry's shoulder and motions to go down to his godfather. Harry runs ahead of him and runs into Sirius's open arms.
"You're free!" Harry says into the older man's chest.
"I am. I can finally take custody of you that I should have had the entire time." Sirius says while stroking Harry's hair.
Albus watches the pair with a smile. He is happy that Harry and Sirius finally can be together. "Come boys. Let's go tell the others."
Severus falls in step with Albus, leaving Harry and Sirius to follow behind. They get to the fireplace that they were permitted to use to floo back to Hogwarts. Severus goes first so that he can open the network. Harry follows as he was told to by Sirius. Albus motions for Sirius to go after his godson. When Sirius is gone Albus steps into the emerald flames.
Once all four of them were at Hogwarts once again, they head down to the Great Hall. Harry doesn't leave Sirius's side the entire time.
They arrive at their destination; Albus and Severus claim their seats at the Head Table. Harry convinces Sirius to sit at the Gryffindor table with his friends. The meal was filled with conversations and laughter. Harry doesn't even notice when Sirius puts extra food on his plate.
Sirius is thinking about when Harry moves in with him and what they are going to do all summer.
He can't help but notice how little food Harry takes for himself. Harry takes less than half of what everyone else was taking, including the first years. He absentmindedly adds more food to Harry's plate when a question directed to Harry catches his attention.
"So, are you going back to your relatives?" Dean asks Harry.
Harry looks at Sirius. "I don't know."
"No." Sirius says, seriously.
"I won't?" Harry asks.
"No, what they have done to you is inexcusable and you will not step foot in their presence if I have anything to say about it."
"Where will I go?"
"You'll live with me of course. I am your godfather, aren't I?"
"Seriously?"
"That's my name isn't it? Of course. I would have taken you sooner but I was still running from the Ministry then and it wouldn't have been fair to you to always live on the run."
Harry's face lights up and he buries his face in Sirius's shoulder. "Thank you." He mumbles.
"Of course pup."
An/ Were you surprised that the Minister found Sirius innocent? I figured there was no need to torture you in this story. If you want a longer one go check out Harry's Best Summer or Harry's New Life. Wow, I actually updated within a week of the last. Go me.