Disclaimers and Notes: Good Gad, you get it by now!
Before I say anything, I KNOW I missed the deadline, but you can't blame me! I thought I had another month.
Just so you know, this isn't the end! I've changed my mind after reading book 5, The Order of the Phoenix. After learning more about the REAL past between Sirius, James, Lupin and Snape, I decided this story hasn't reached a real conclusion until that is dealt with. I have already written a few things regarding this, however it will be changed slightly. Sure, James is nice now, I like him and all, but once upon a time...
SNAPE LOVES BE PRAISED!!!
Geuna~
This chapter is dedicated to crazyForJamse for being my beta for this chapter. Thank you so much!
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Author: Lady Geuna
Official Editor: Giesbrecht
Sub Editor: crazyForJames
This Chapter Rated: PG-13 for the usual scariness
Summary: You should know by now. ^__~
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"..." - speech
'....' - thoughts
/..../ - with italics means a part of a flashback.
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Noble Sacrifices Part 2 of 2: Coming to the Rescue
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"And isn't [your soul] such a small price to pay for the life of your only family? You're only son?"
~ The Entity, Fanfiction "Charmed Curses", The Final Game Part 1, by Lady Geuna
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It hadn't been long since Parvati and Lavender had arrived. They were very displeased by what they had found in their room- their things thrown about. Having no success with looking through Hermione's things, they all had thought that it was worth a shot looking through everyone's things.
Ginny luckily had prevented the girls from hexing Neville and Ron right out the window. Literally. Girls, they discovered, can either be very reasonable, or very unreasonable. Hermione was certainly in the middle.
Lavender stood to the side throughout the whole ordeal, being rather good natured about it. Or perhaps, she was just holding back for later. Parvati, on the other hand was ranting at Ron for searching through her trunk and closed the lid abruptly, barely suppressing the urge to slam it more violently down on his fingers.
Ron, in turn, backed away quickly, waving his smarting hands about and yelling right back at Parvati, totally overlooking Neville, who was looking around Hermione's bed again. Ron crashed right into him.
With a small yelp Neville stumbled forward and bumped into one of the end banisters of Hermione's bed, then proceeding to latch onto it in an attempt to stop his fall. The bed gave a hard lurch, scraping against the floor from the weight pushing against it. In spite of his efforts, Neville found himself flat on his stomach, face down on the floor, but at least he didn't land as hard as he would have, had be not at least tried to break his own fall. Ron heard him groan dejectedly. "Why me...?"
Ron went directly back to Parvati, yelling, "That's a fair stunt - you trying to smash my bloody fingers off!?"
He barely heard Neville muttering behind him, still on the floor.
"I found it..."
Ron jumped, spinning around. "You found it?"
Neville was reaching for something under the bed. "It got knocked loose, it was jammed here, I think." He pulled out a square of carefully folded, old, yellowed parchment.
"HE FOUND IT!" Ginny whooped excitedly as Ron snapped it away, quickly unfolding it. "Brilliant, Neville. Really, truly brilliant!"
"Found what?!," Parvati screamed, looking torn between hexing them and being seriously confused. Of course they couldn't have told her what they were looking for! It was top secret!
"GREENHOUSE!! He's in the greenhouse!! But Harry's there, too, and Mr. Potter!"
"What?"
"Are you sure, Ron?" Ginny asked excitedly. "Are you sure!?"
"Of course, I'm sure!"
Lupin was there on the map, too, as well as Sirius, Snape, and Hagrid. They were close by, very close.
Mr. Potter's marker seemed to be the only one moving in Greenhouse Three, however.
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James could feel it inside him... It wasn't bothering to hide now. Why should it? He could feel it telling him what to do... like little hints or bits of thought... He found himself reaching into his robes, pulling something out.
The Invisibility Cloak.
He had initially forgotten about it. James had confiscated it from Harry while they were in the presence of Dumbledore. He had meant to give it back, but once they were on the move, it had slipped his mind completely. The creature had never known about it, had obviously not seen it in Harry's mind, but now James could feel its glee.
What better way to slip off into the sunrise than becoming invisible, after all? All he needed to do was get his wand from Harry, just in case, then…
A low groan was heard just behind him, interrupting his thoughts.
"Urgh... Dad...?"
James blinked and turned around only to see Harry sitting up on the floor... The entity had just released him, allowing the boy to the fall to the ground in a heap. He seemed to be suffering from a minor headache, as James had been earlier, his expression shriveling, his fingers mercilessly rubbing at his temples. James didn't feel such pain now... He felt dull, like one feels when they've cried or screamed or released their anger and sorrow until there is a sort of emptiness, all that energy spent.
"Dad... where are you going?"
No suspicions. That was part of the deal, after all. Act like there's nothing wrong. "I'm going for help, Harry. You're hurt, I'm sure, just stay there where you are."
"I can go with you," Harry insisted hurriedly, patting himself down, looking for injuries while starring oddly at the wand in his hand, probably wondering how it had gotten there. He stumbled in the effort to get to his feet, displaying energy that can only come from being youthful. The thought made James' heart ache... "What happened back then...? What knocked us out? I can't remember… was it Fred?"
There it was again, at the back of his mind... It didn't care what Harry thought now, it had the cloak.... It wanted James to use it and leave immediately... But... He couldn't say good-bye.
James smiled sadly at this thought, physically unable to prevent the tears from slipping from his eyes even though he was sure Harry hadn't noticed.
'Good-bye, Harry...'
He raised the cloak over his shoulder as he felt his control and humanity slipping away.
Before a cry shattered the silence.
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"Harry!"
Harry jumped, spinning around clumsily, still disoriented and nearly tripping over the trash on the ground, thinking to himself briefly 'when did that get there?'
Leaning on a plant bench for support was Fred, eyes wide and burning, but totally awake, and looking furious. Harry hadn't noticed him, and was about to say something when Fred started yelling again.
"It's in him! The coward's trying to sneak about - Don't let him get away, Harry!"
Harry's heart leapt into his throat at these words and all of a sudden the room filled with an icy chill. Turning back around, he saw his father's face had grown hard and angry as he slowly backed toward the door. Only his head and a sliver of his midsection were visible with the cloak nearly covering him.
James hissed, and in a flash he had disappeared altogether.
Harry got over his shock quickly and followed in pursuit through the Greenhouse, following the footprints in the soft soil. Though he knew it wouldn't work, he cast stunning charms on the creature, everything he could think of. Each spell hit whatever it was though they failed to stop it. "Wait, dad, wait!"
They had almost reached the door of the Greenhouse, and Harry knew that when that happened, he would have no hope of catching it. He would never see his father as a human again, just a Dementor. Something that would no doubt take his soul, for he would have no strength to fight it. How could he stop this?! He couldn't even stall it!!!
"STOP!"
It flung open the door...
But it would seem an unexpected obstacle was in the way.
"Snape!"
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Remus heard the cries from a distance, and upon following the sound, he found Snape had gotten there first. He heard Harry yell the potions professor's name even before Remus got there, soon followed by Sirius and Hagrid who had been looking elsewhere in the other greenhouses.
"Severus!"
Yes, Snape lay there on the ground, seemingly tangled in his robes. His arms grappled onto some large form none of them could see. Harry ran into view, standing in the doorway of Greenhouse Three. In a moment, he had flung himself toward Snape, joining him in his struggle, holding onto an invisible figure. "Hang onto him, but don't let him touch your skin!"
"I know this, boy!" Snape snarled at him through gritted teeth, probably preventing them from chattering as it became colder and colder. The creature wasn't pleased at all, but it couldn't escape. Surely it couldn't take them all at once this time. Snape didn't appear to attempt to be the least bit gentle or careful in his part, actually sending his elbow down hard on James when he nearly threw Snape and Harry off.
"CAREFUL!" Sirius barked, seething when he saw this. Harry didn't utter a word, however, seemingly unable to get a coherent sound out as he became pinned under James' invisible figure, his arms still tightly clamped onto his father, or Harry simply didn't notice what Snape had done it at all.
Remus shivered, watching the scene. Even if they wanted to, they couldn't get a good shot at the creature if he was covered like that. There was only one option. Sirius seemed to have the same idea, yelling out to Remus to get on the other side of the struggling forms, ordering Hagrid to get out of the way as he was powerless without his wand. Sirius then bellowed, "Snape, Harry, you have to get away from him, get the cloak away from him, but don't touch him.... NOW!"
Harry did as he was ordered, diving to the side, and surprisingly Snape did the same. Harry, keeping the cloak firmly in his grip, managed to tear it from James' grasp. So, the four of them stood surrounding a single figure in the middle, who for a moment lay deadly still before it moved, glaring heatedly at all of them. The only one who seemed to glare back with any sort of intensity was Snape, now looking like he was simply itching to hex James. "What do we do with it now?" Snape sneered, looking tauntingly down at James, looking full of himself now that he had James easily within his sights and felt he had every right to cast any sort of nasty spell on him should he attack. "So, Potter, still as weak minded as ever, I see?"
"Shut-up, Snape," Sirius across from Remus, to Snape's left. "This isn't James, we need to get this thing out of him."
"Aren't I?" the creature hissed, glaring out at him. His eyes wandered to Harry, who seemed to tense but never let down his guard. He growled as Fred Weasley appeared from the Greenhouse they stood next to. Harry, after a moment, motioned him over and handed him a wand. Fred thought it looked like James' wand, though he wasn't sure how Harry got it and he held it up gratefully, joining the circle between him and Remus.
"Brings back memories, doesn't it, Snape?" James called out, laughingly. "Just like old times! SNEVILLUS!" He laughed a cackling sort of laugh.
Remus felt like a bucket of ice water was just dumped over his head as dread hit him and he looked quickly to Snape, whose face was turning a livid red. "Severus, don't…"
"Don't tell me what to do, MONSTER," Snape snarled, by no means holding his angry back but had yet to act on it.
"SHUT YOUR MOUTH, SNAPE," Sirius yelled viciously.
The name didn't affect Remus at all, but he went on, ignoring Sirius. "He's just trying to egg you on! He's like a Dementor, he's just trying to get a rise out of you... so..."
He trailed off... and realization dawned.
'Dementor...DEMENTOR! OF COURSE!'
"Harry! The Patronus Charm!"
It only took a moment to see the look of understanding spread over the boy's face before they both acted as one, with Sirius joining them, while Snape and Fred could (as in Snape's case, simply didn't) do nothing at all to aid.
"Expecto patronum!"
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It was going so perfectly... so perfectly, then it all came undone. It had the cloak, had the man, and now…
And now the white beasts were streaking towards him, the sound of hooves striking the ground in even gallops...
The entity came to a complete stop, hoping that it would remain unseen, even to such beasts. Formless silvery things came towards him, seeming so horrifically beautiful and so terrifying in their strength.
But the animal, the great white stag didn't falter, didn't stop, and only circled him once, leaving the faintest traces of glowing-white mist before it's long prongs plunged into the entity's chest.
A blood-curdling shriek could be heard even from inside the castle itself...
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They all simply stopped moving, taking in the awesome sight before them. The silver forms danced there; eerily silent except for the large animal, one very similar to James' own Animagus form. Snape, unlike them, seemed to stiffen in remembrance at this sight, his hand coming up to a seemingly specific location on his own chest where bloodied stab wound had once been.
Sirius remembered Snape saying something about James attacking him weeks ago in the tunnels, thought he couldn't honestly say he cared. James, at the moment, look terrified by the creatures surrounding him; one of them being Sirius' own formless Patronus, weak due to lack of practice but still useful.
Then all at once the stag seemed to plunge itself right into James, antlers first then it's who body. As though following in its lead, the other shapeless forms followed in suit.
James let out the most horrified noise before collapsing, still screaming, and the stag only continued to attack. At first, Sirius had been shocked at this response. That scream had shaken him to the core, but he saw that there was no blood, that the ghostly forms seemed to be going right through James, but he looked to be in so much pain.
"Oh God, I killed him, I killed him!" Harry tried to move forward but Fred was there first, grabbing him and holding him back while still staring in awe at the scene, muttering something to himself and Harry that Sirius couldn't hear.
Then a dark form rose... Actually- didn't rise, but rather just appeared floating above James. And, almost as soon at it had arrived, James' body stilled.
Snape took a step forward when he saw it, raising his wand, and with a quick upward motion the black mist was gone as though carried away by the wind.
That was the creature... It was gone...?
Sirius heard Snape talking offhandedly to Remus. "Of course... Interesting... So closely resembling a Dementor that it took a Patronus to force it out. Ordinary hexes don't work on Dementors..."
"A Patronus must have attacked the boy in the book," Remus said breathlessly, "that's why they never knew what was wrong with him- why he lost consciousness. The creature wasn't IN him anymore, because it was caught in the crossfire with the Dementors in the mines..."
"Very interesting," Snape trailed off, though pointedly ignored Remus after this.
Harry had rushed to his father when Fred let him go, trying to rouse him, speaking so rapidly that Sirius couldn't honestly make out a word he was saying. He went over to the boy, pulling him away and saying loudly, "Harry-HARRY! Dammit, boy, you didn't kill him! He's just knocked out!" Harry didn't calm down much after he said this, thought Sirius couldn't say he felt very calm about it, either. He wanted to be just as panicked as Harry was, but he had to be the adult, the serious, strong one. Dammit...
"I heard it," Fred was saying, rubbing dried blood from his face, scowling at no one. "I woke up, I played dead, and it didn't see me. Knocked you all out, I think. Took over both of you in the end, but I couldn't do anything without my wand..."
Then Harry asked all of a sudden, "I-I don't understand, why didn't it know about the cloak before? It went into me, you say, but… I-I thought I knew about it, he had it, why did it...?"
Remus shook his head, mystified. "Maybe... maybe it could only look at a few thoughts at once... or what Harry would've been thinking if he were in control. The mind is a very complicated thing, isn't it? Even when inside, one can only see the surface of one's thoughts. It takes time to delve deeper."
"Look!"
It had been Fred who spoke and they turned to see him pointing toward the castle. George was running toward them, wearing an entirely different set of robes and white striped pajamas underneath. When George got a clear shot of Fred, he broke into an all-out dash, running like Voldemort himself was chasing him. He would have collided with Fred hard enough to give him a concussion if Fred hadn't braced himself first.
"How did you…?"
"Ron tipped us off- dad's coming!" Indeed, Sirius could see Arthur in the distance, running to them as well. "He's coming too, Fred! You're normal right!? RIGHT!?"
"Yes, he…"
"You idiot! YOU STUPID BLOODY IDIOT! AND YOU…"
"It wasn't my fault, you stupid prat…"
"…SCARING ME HALF TO DEATH…"
"…I'd like to see how you handle that; me, an IDIOT!"
Sirius turned away from them, trying to hide a knowing smile and tried to help Remus get James' mouth open enough to get chocolate in there without letting him choke. Harry had become silent; staring, not saying a word while occasionally glancing over to Fred and George, not looking very happy or sad or anything at all. Hagrid had cautiously stepped over to Harry, looking worried that he was in the way of everything, looking extraordinarily guilty for some reason, mumbling something to Harry and patting him on the shoulder carefully, thought at first his hand jumped back as if he'd been shocked. Harry smiled to him thought, seemingly thankful, muttering "Thanks, Hagrid half-heartedly under his breath, but still meant it. Hagrid's chest swelled them, patting Harry's head with more gusto.
Arthur had reached them then, out of breath, but looking hardly relieved. Instead he looked around wildly. Not far off, Sirius could make out a large group coming toward them, though he had no idea who they could be. Sirius, however, could tell that one of them was Dumbledore, based on his robes and pointed nightcap.
"Sirius, you can't be here," Arthur hissed then he saw him. "The Ministry, the Ministry came!"
Sirius felt like someone had shocked him, and he jumped to his feet. The Ministry, the MINISTRY was here!? "What do you mean, what…"
"Lucius Malfoy's son," he hissed again, eyes burning with fury, "he used the fires, he told his father what had happened, he overheard professors talking in the halls, he must have."
They came too quickly, much too quickly. Sirius knew better then to change into a dog in front of them. That would only be more he would have to answer for.
However, if his years of being on the run had taught him anything, is was that the Ministry wasn't his friend. They didn't want him to be innocent; they would do away with him as soon as they could.
Remus was looking at him in alarm, and Sirius could see in Dumbledore's eyes as they came closer, that it was too late.
'Running would be stupid. '
'Staying would be smart.'
'Not running would be in his favor.'
'Staying would be letting them win.'
It was this last thought that made him turn and run for it, his wand still clutched in his hand, ready to take down any Ministry official necessary. He dived for the Invisibility Cloak.
"Sirius, DON'T!"
"SIRIUS BLACK!"
"Halt, NOW!"
"Wait, he didn't-"
"STUPEFY!"
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The Ministry had come only moments before. Ron had been there, he'd gone straight away to find the first teacher he could, and he found his father and George. He told him where to look, he told him where everyone was.
He didn't know that Dumbledore was around the corner, trying to talk to a group of rather agitated Aurors, Minister Fudge and Lucius Malfoy. Why he was there he had no idea, but his father looked at him defiantly upon his son being questioned.
George had run off immediately, followed by their father. Soon after, Dumbledore couldn't keep them away any longer, and he left as well. Ron went to Hermione in the Hospital Wing after that, telling her what had happened, his own screw-up. He heard from her, however, that Madame Pomfrey had been taken away for questioning.
Later, they found that the Aurors had apprehended Sirius.
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Percy heard later about everything that went on... He couldn't believe it, he couldn't stand it, and in the end he could only find one person to blame for it all.
Dumbledore…
That... That FOOL! He had been in charge of Hogwarts, he had known all along that… that THING… had been running loose! And look what happened? His brothers were nearly killed in the process of a totally unorthodox and ill-planned search.
Not only this, but Sirius... SIRIUS BLACK! At Hogwarts the whole time- right under his nose! Guilty or not, to be storing a man who had been given the Ministry's full pardon until he could prove himself to a fair court!
Of course, they would be having the trial soon. Very soon, in fact, now that they had Black in their grasp. He would have to answer as to why he kept running after all this time.
No, Percy didn't trust in the Ministry as he used to. After the Dementors had attacked not long ago, how could he? But that was just a slip up, a fluke. Of course, the Dark Lord couldn't be around.
He couldn't be.
Percy rolled over in his bed, staring at the wall. He lay there for hours, blatantly ignoring his mother's cries of joy as she left for Hogwarts with Bill. Percy didn't want to go... He didn't want to think about it anymore. He didn't know whose side he was on anymore.
He did know, however, that none of this had started until James Potter had come back.
After all, there was an obvious connection to be made. Maybe he wasn't who he seemed to be? None of this started until he arrived, the world turning upside down with the sound and smell of death and chaos-
"Percy..."
The voice came for behind his closed door, this sound muffled. After a moment it opened and Charlie stepped in. "Percy... Are you okay?"
"Of course I am," Percy answered quickly, glad that his older brother couldn't see the scowl in his face. "I was just thinking."
"Everything's okay now," Charlie said, "Fred and George are alright, no one was hurt…"
"Barely... only by luck… sheer, dumb luck."
There was a pause, then Charlie spoke with a bit of malice evident in his voice. "Look, all mom was looking for was a bit of support. You know very well how much we all mean to her and dad. And all you do is come up here and start staring at the wall like some rotting zombie."
"I'm not allowed to be on my own for a bit, now am I?" Percy replied hotly, still without turning around, wondering what was making him so angry to begin with. He really wanted to be alone to think. Charlie was older that Percy, but none the wiser, why did he.. they… ALL have to consider him such a child, even now?
Pushing away the vehement thoughts, Percy mentally collected himself and spoke again, calmly. "I'll come and talk to you later, Charlie. Maybe we'll go and follow mother to Hogwarts and see is everything's truly okay."
"Of course it's okay," Charlie said, his voice suddenly soft again, as it had been when he first opened the door. "Dumbledore said so, we all…"
"I'll talk to you later," Percy said again, curtly, his voice barely controlled. He waited, and after a minute he heard the door close without another word from Charlie. He was grateful for that.
Everyone believed Dumbledore, everyone TRUSTED Dumbledore.
Percy honestly thought he couldn't trust anyone anymore.
With these thoughts on his mind, he eventually drifted off, only to find his dreams just as dark and menacing as reality seemed to be.
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"I thought you wanted to stay out of their way," Draco insisted. "But now you've…"
"That's none of your concern," his father sniffed, a hand behind his back as he examined one carefully manicured fingernail. He didn't look as... collected as Draco was used to. It didn't seem to be something very serious, but there was something different about his father. Something be couldn't quite put his finger on, but he could easily say he didn't like it at all. Draco hated being pushed around... "I told you to keep tabs on them and you have, and what a fine job you did as well." Lucius looked up then, grinning. "I shall reward you this Christmas, surely."
Draco forced a smile, though only flashed it briefly. "You really got the Potter's this time, didn't you, father? They thought they were above you, did they?"
Lucius sniffed. "They should have learned long ago, Draco, to never allow themselves to believe evil has no power over them. They will always get what's coming to them."
Draco stiffened then, tightening his mouth as thought to will his frown away. He didn't want to make his father angry, he would regret it like he always did, but he was a Malfoy. And like all Malfoy's they don't like being left in the dark. "You're not telling me anything anymore," he insisted, "I hate…"
"Draco, I honestly don't have to time to hear your whining. Isn't my praise enough for now? You're simply not yet old enough to be told everything."
"What are you afraid of?"
The look his father gave him then made Draco regret he had said a word...
"Afraid?" Mr. Malfoy pronounced carefully. "Do you think me afraid, Draco...?"
"No.... No, of course not, I was…"
"Then what do you mean?"
'I mean… what does Potter have against you?!'
The conversation might have gone on, but at that moment someone came down the hall. It was late, horribly late, and the sun had already begun to rise. Surely school would be called off that day because no one could sleep last night, knowing something was going on, but not knowing what. Draco, however, knew. He heard some professors talking about it from his Dormitory...
Professor Snape appeared, seemingly melting from the shadows as he approached them, his steps coming carefully and evenly before he stopped before them. "Mr. Malfoy," he said, nodding curtly to Draco's father, then, "Draco, you should be in your room."
"I was just talking to him for a moment, Severus," Mr. Malfoy said easily, casually. "I was here, so I thought I would take the time to say hello to my dear son."
Draco looked between the two rapidly. He could tell something was going on! It wasn't fair that he didn't know! It wasn't!
"Well then, I best be off." His father looked to him, giving him a rough pat on the head, mussing his hair. It annoyed him, but Draco didn't say anything. "I shall write to you later, Draco." Then he was off, striding away without so much as another glance at Snape.
Draco, in turned watched his potions professor, looking for any kind of reaction. Snape was watching his father leave, his face blank. He expected to see him skipping or something. His father had told Draco long ago how much Snape hated Sirius Black. He knew that Black wasn't what people thought, that he was one of the goodies. One of the worst sort.
In an instant, Snape's head snapped back to Draco, his mouth set in a tight frown when he saw the boy watching him.
"To your room, Mr. Malfoy!"
Draco jumped, absolutely shocked at his professor's tone, but he obeyed. Though he seriously wondered what his problem was. After all, Lucius was doing him a favor.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0
To be continued in...
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Hm... To think I was going to end here and make it nice and lighthearted. But I'm never that easy.
Yes... NOT the end. Do you believe it? I was originally going to put an epilogue after this, but I found that Snape's situation in book five deserved a good bit of... pages... chapters... (sighs)
Raise your hands if you think I should! Please email or write in a review what you think!
Geuna~
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NEXT TIME:
Hard times aren't over, and Sirius and the others will be forced to face the unfair trial that the Ministry has to offer. Will Sirius get off? Or will he be given the Kiss no matter how strong his defense is?
The Ministry learns of Neville's attack and Werewolf Control is sent in to apprehend Lupin, and all are confronted with the possibility of a double trail.
Harry learns of the Ministry insiders on Dumbledore's side.
James comes clean about his past with Harry, about his true behavior in the "old days". While Harry is able to accept this, Sirius admits there is little that he regrets. James wishes to make up for the past, but is it even possible for what he and the others put Snape through? Will Lupin ever forgive himself for not trying harder in the first place? Will Harry ever be able to look at is father in the same light ever again?
When Snape is brought forth to testify for both Sirius and Lupin, even the slightest word against the two could easily sentence them to death, or worse.
James Potter is accused of being at least partially responsible for the Dementor attack at the time of his reappearance, and for being as "crazed" as his own son.
TEASER: (Pardon nasty typos, I JUST wrote this)
"I don't understand," Harry said desperately, becoming annoyed. "How can they do this? I thought Sirius was to be treated fairly and they go and hunt him down like this!"
Dumbledore looked to him evenly, then said, "Harry, I will be honest with you. The Ministry isn't always out for justice."
"What else could they possibly do?" Hermione asked snappishly, as upset about this situation, though Harry knew that it was much worse for him. His father was being accused as well. "They're supposed to be fair, and…"
"Of course, this is true," Dumbledore said patiently, "it is not always justice they are looking for, but control."
"Then, how does that make it any different than Voldemort?" Harry bit out, ignoring the way the others shivered, though Dumbledore stared back at him in an almost calculating manner before nodding grimly.
"How is it very different indeed...?"
Remus' breathing was becoming heavier, labored. He could feel his lung aches from the very effort, but at least satisfied that they hadn't done worse. Werewolves didn't usually receive good treatment, especially when but on trail. The chains were very painful. Remus wondered if they were under the direct control of someone in the room, and who that might be.
"Remus Lupin," Fudges voice boom in a seemingly failed effort to create a presence like Dumbledore had done. He waited for the Minister to continue, but that was only after a long pause, where he could feel all their eyes on him... watching him, examining him, looking to see if he did anything wrong, acted even a little strange.
Out of the corner of his eyes he was Sirius, held in the corner, looking barely able to stand on his own two feet and hating himself for it. James, who he saw after taking a quick glance behind him, sitting next to Dumbledore and a few others he know from the Order...
When he turned back Fudge and few others were looking at him suspiciously, following where he had glanced moments before.
Then a voice came from nowhere and everywhere at the same time, and he would have jumped in his seat if he were able to. "Minister, do you really think in necessary to chain Mr. Lupin like this. As I understand it he is to be questioned, not put on trail himself."
Fudge didn't look at all happy that Dumbledore had spoken out of turn, his left eye twitching. "That remains to be-please so not speak out of turn! And for your information, Dumbledore, he us as trail as much as that man." He pointed juttingly at Sirius, who snarled at him.
"Sir," Remus said politely, "if I may speak?"
Fudge looked at him and after a moment he nodded.
"Sir, may I ask what I am on trial for, if not to speak for Sirius."
A shiver when through the court, and Fudge nodded to the door as if signaling someone. "Of course, Mr. Lupin, it's not fair to keep you in the dark, is it?" 'Strange, he doesn't seem very sorry at all...'
The door opened to Remus' far left, and someone walked in. Two people. A man and a boy.
Remus' heart sunk into his stomach then...
"Neville Longbottom, if you would please come forth."