Chapter Nine

The news of an up coming trail for Sirius Black shoved the story of Professor Dumbledore's failings to protect The-Boy-Who-Lived to the back section of the paper. The trouble was Harry was now front and center. Remus was worried about Harry's safety so, he hired Mad Eye Moody as a personal body guard for Harry and Petunia agreed to it. Harry didn't mind either. He liked the old Auror as did Dudley. The boys enjoyed having him around. The only problem Harry had with him was he wasn't able to get away with anything with Mad Eye around.

Harry and Dudley both had tried to sneak outside several times while Mad Eye was watching them and it never worked. The guy wasn't even in the room and he still knew what they were doing. The day of the trial of Sirius Black, Harry and Dudley were sitting in the living room being forced to work on schoolwork. Petunia had set up study lessons for Dudley during the time Harry had to work on his summer homework. Neither boy liked it but they were forced to do it. It didn't help having Mad Eye watching over them this morning as they worked. He didn't put up with their goofing around. He kept both of them busy with schoolwork.

Harry was almost done with his Potion's homework when he noticed Mad Eye pull his wand. "Do you know someone with bushy brown hair and buck teeth?" Albus asked Harry and Dudley.

"Hermione," Harry said rushing to the door.

"Hold it, boy. It might not be her. Tell me something that only she would know," Mad Eye said.

"That is a lot," Harry said smiling but the smile faded when Mad Eye gave him a dirty look. "Okay, ask her how many points I lost when we saved her from the Troll. The answer should be none. Professor McGonagall gave both me and Ron five points each for sheer dumb luck!"

"I'll have to ask Minerva about that the next time I see her," Mad Eye said smiling and he limped to the front door to answer it.

Harry and Dudley stayed in the library trying to listen in on the conversation in the hall but Mad Eye put a spell on the door that kept the boys inside also prevented them from hearing anything that was going on the other side. Finally the door opened and Hermione walked in, looking over her shoulder giving the strange man she just met a bizarre look. Her attention suddenly went from Mad Eye to all the books that lined the bookshelves. "Oh, Harry, this place is perfect," Hermione said.



Harry giggled as only Hermione would love a library. "How was your trip?" he asked.

"It was great but I wish I could have been here with you. Your letters left me with millions of questions that I couldn't ask you until I saw you," Hermione said and she was off. Hermione started to ask question after question that has been on her mind since this mess started. "What happened to your Uncle? How can you forgive your aunt after everything she did to you? What do you mean you can't trust Professor Dumbledore any more? What else did you find in your mother's diary? And who is that strange man that I just met?"

"How can she talk so fast?" Dudley asked.

Harry laughed. "Dudley, this is Hermione the smartest witch in my class," Harry said introducing his cousin to his friend. "Hermione this is my cousin Dudley and to answer some of your questions. "The man you just met is my bodyguard Mad-Eye Moody. He used to be an Auror and my father's old boss. He is just a bit over protective right now because of the trial," Harry said and he went on to explain the rest Hermione. She listened taking in all the facts.

"I can't believe the Headmaster would do something like that but after hearing what you said. I have to believe it. I always thought he cared about everyone. I guess I was wrong," Hermione said sadly until she noticed the books near by. "Um, you wouldn't mind if I check out the library?"

"No, go head. I have some homework to finish anyways," Harry said.

"Thanks," Hermione said and a moment later she was going the books before her with dreamy smile on her face. Dudley couldn't help but laugh. Harry was right Hermione was a book nut. The boys went back to their schoolwork and Hermione found a book that interested her. She sat beside Harry only talking every now and then when she found something interesting in the book before her.

As for Mad-Eye, he was in the hallway watching out the front door and keeping an eye on the kids at the same time. He spotted something that caught his attention a very strange bug crawling on the railing of the stone steps that led up to the front door. He was looking at it because this beetle shouldn't be out in this time of day. It was more of evening bug then a morning bug. "Um," Mad-Eye said to himself as he stood inside the home watching the beetle making his way towards the house.



Remus had used some of the connections he had through the Potter Estate to find someone who was willing to take on Sirius' case, and shockingly enough the person turned out to be Sirius Black's favorite cousin Andromeda Tonks. She had met with Remus and Petunia several times over the course of the past few days asking questions and getting a clear picture at what was going on. She even went to talk to Sirius in Azkaban. Andi reported back to Remus that Sirius had thought this was a joke that the Ministry was playing with him and he didn't tell her much.

This didn't surprise anyone and they went on with the case anyways for they knew the Sirius Black they once knew could be long gone.

Andi insisted before Sirius was going to be given Veritaserum at the trial, he was going to be checked over by a Healer from St. Mungo's Hospital to make sure it wouldn't harm him. The check up had taken most of the day because Sirius was not very cooperative. He fought them for most of the day until they finally wore him out to finish things up.

The Healer had reported that truth serum wouldn't harm Sirius. But if got out he would need intensive medical treatment for the long-term effects of exposure to the Dementors, along with malnourishment and bad case of fleas.

Remus had to laugh at the idea of fleas and couldn't help wonder if Sirius could still turn into Padfoot. He was going to have to ask him that once they finally met but first came the trial.

The trial was held in the dungeon area of the Ministry and Sirius was led in chained up. He still wore his prison clothes and his hair was wildly matted down. He looked around with wide, crazy eyes looking at everyone around him. His eyes locked on Remus and Remus tried to read his friends facial expressions but it was no good. Sirius' face was unreadable.

Andi Tonks walked over and stood beside her cousin. She told the court of where the letter was found and asked formally for Sirius to be given Veritaserum to learn the truth of who was the secret keeper was for the Potters. This caught Sirius attention for he started to realize that this was no joke and he was really getting a trial. Before Sirius could say or do anything else, his head was pulled back and three drops of Veritaserum was put on his tongue.

Sirius then was asked several main questions that everyone had agreed on before hand. It was Albus that did the questioning. He wanted to make sure that all Sirius answers would not have his name brought in them. The first were normal questions like: What is your name? How old you? Who were you parents? These were done to make sure that the prisoner was answering truthfully. Once these were asked, he started harder ones like were you the Potter Secret Keeper…

"No," Sirius said in a robotic sounding voice.

"Who was?"

"Peter Pettigrew?"

"Did you kill Peter Pettigrew?"

"No," Sirius said.

This caused everyone in the entire room to start speaking at once and demanding answers. Remus quickly wrote something down and handed it to a clerk on the floor to give to Andi. He suddenly had a very good idea on what had happened the day Sirius confronted Peter in the streets. If he was right, he finally understood Sirius uncontrolled laughter when he was arrested.

Andi took the note and then spoke up as Albus finally got control of the courtroom. "Chief Warlock! Sir, information has been just brought to my attention and I ask to be allowed to ask my client a few questions. I think it will clear up his last answer," Andi said.

"Go head," Albus said turning the questioning of Sirius over to Andi.

"Sirius, are you an Animagus?" Andi asked.

"Yes," Sirius answered.

"Were James Potter and Peter Pettigrew ones as well?"

"Yes."

"What is your form?" Andi asked.

"A dog," Sirius said.

"What were Mr. Potter and Mr. Pettigrew's forms?"

"James was a stag and Peter was a rat," Sirius answered.

"What happened when you confronted to Mr. Pettigrew in the street November 1st the night after the attack on the Potters?" Andi asked.

"I found Peter in the streets but before I could say anything he yelled 'You betrayed James and Lily!' He cut off his finger and did a spell destroying the streets around us and killing the muggles standing near by," Sirius said.

At this the potion had given out and Sirius dropped lifelessly in the chair he had been chained too, Andi bent low to check to see if he was okay before going on. "I request that Peter Pettigrew and Sirius Black's wand be brought before this court and tested on the last spells that were done with them," she said.

Albus nodded and quickly two pages ran from the room to find the wands. While they waited, the court went into intermission allowing Andi to check out her client. Remus had left his seat and went to Sirius side. "How is he?" Remus asked Andi Tonks.

"He is okay but I think it really drained him. I don't have any chocolate on me or I would give him some," Andi said.

"That I can do," Remus said as he reached into his pocket pulled out a large chocolate bar broke out a section putting a piece into Sirius mouth.

It took a while but finally the chocolate melted doing its job in reviving Sirius. Sirius lifted his head and opened his eyes. "Remus?" Sirius said feeling like he was waking up from a bad dream but as he looked around the room. He realized that he was still having that bad dream. "What is going on?" he asked.

"We are on recess while they get your wand. You do remember us telling you that you were going to get a trial right?" Andi asked her cousin.

"Yes, I remember but I thought you were kidding me. I thought…" Sirius stopped talking as the room started to fill up.

"Hold that thought, we will finish this later," Remus said and he went back to his seat just as the rest of the court room filled up.

Petunia leaned in close to Remus and asked, "How is he?"

"Better, but he still has a long way to go," Remus said wishing they had done this sooner or maybe never do it at all. Albus might be a good wizard but he sucked at human understanding or that is how Remus was seeing things right now.

The rest of the trial went rather quickly. The wands were tested and it proved Sirius had been telling the truth. The only spell Sirius had done was a communication spell. It didn't tell what he reported but Remus thought it could be that Sirius had been the one to find James and Lily and reported to the headmaster about their deaths.

The members of the Wizengamot who were selected to judge Sirius stood up and walked from the room to talk. They were gone for less then an hour. When they turned, it was hard to read their faces. Albus waited for the judgment to be handed to him and then he read it once to himself and the other time to the room.

Andi stood beside Sirius as the judgment was read. "Sirius Black, we the members of the Wizengamot find you innocent of all chargers. You will be fined for being an illegal Animagus and a year in Azkaban prison which you already served. . You are free to go," Albus said smiling his famous smile.

Sirius stood there stunned. "That is it? I loose ten years of my life and that is all you have to say!" he started yell.

"Shut up, Sirius," Andi said as the chains were removed from Sirius hands.

"He…" Sirius started to say but the look Andi was giving told him shut him up.

"He is only doing his job, I'm working on legal briefing right now to make sure that the Ministry pays for not giving you a trial sooner. Now, let's get going," Andi said.

"But…" Sirius started to say but she gripped little bit too tight before dragging him out of the room.

Andi Tonks knew of the diary and the deal Petunia had with Professor Dumbledore. She agreed to it only because she knew if the truth would get out, It would cause havoc in their world that everyone would pay for in the end. So, she agreed to not say anything. The only person that didn't know about the deal was the one could have blown it all. This was Sirius himself; he was hot head enough to tell it all. It was up to Andi to get him out of there before he opened his big mouth and destroyed their plans.

She got him out of there and took him into a side room where he stood venting. "He knew!" Sirius yelled.

"I know," she told him. "But listen, there is a lot you need to know but you can't find out here. Remus and Petunia be in here shortly. They will tell you everything once we get the paperwork done."

"But…" Sirius started to say.

"Sirius Black for once in your life shut up and do what you are told. We will finish this at home." Andi snapped at Sirius.

"Home? Not my home I hope?" Sirius said thinking the only place that was worse then Azkaban was the Black family home."

"No, not that home. You will be staying with Ted and me for a while until you get cleared by the Healers at St. Mungo's," she told him.

"Healers? Why?" Sirius asked said not liking any of this. He thought he would free do what he wanted and killing the headmaster was one of them. He didn't like the idea about seeing a healer or staying with his cousin and her husband. He loved his cousin but he didn't need looking after.

This wasn't what everyone else thought and no matter how much Sirius argued with them he ended up at Ted and Andi Tonks home. It was a few blocks away from Rosewood Hall and Remus promised as soon as the healers okayed it he would take Sirius over to see his Godson.



Sirius was about to argue with this but he found that the trip from Ministry to the Tonks home wore him out. Remus helped him undress and put him to bed as Sirius started to drift off. He could hear Remus say, "See, you are not at 100 Padfoot but you will be, just give it time."

Sirius yawned and said, "I call still beat you Moony." Just as he closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.

Remus laughed and left Sirius alone to sleep. As he walked down the hall to go into the Tonks lounge area he ran into the same bubble pink hair girl he had a few days back when Harry was attacked. It finally dawned on him that her last names was Tonks. "You are Andi's daughter?" Remus said.

Tonks stood there stunned. The cute guy she had seen when she was at Lord Potters home was here talking to her. He knew her mother. "Ah, yes," Tonks said. "I'm Tonks."

"Her name is Nymphadora," Andi said walking from the lounge area to check on Sirius and Remus.

"Mother, I hate that name," Tonks said.

"It is your name and is improper to introduce yourself to someone by your last name," Andi said giving her daughter a dirty look. "Remus this is Nymphadora Tonks, my daughter. Nymphadora this is Remus Lupin. He is a friend of your cousin Sirius. He was just helping him to get settled in our guest room." Andi said formally introducing the pair.

"Hello," Remus said.

"Hi," Tonks said her hair turning a bit red. She was not happy with her mother.

Remus just smiled and turned to Andi. "Sirius is asleep. He should stay that way for a while now. I better be going. You can tell him that I will be by tomorrow to see him," Remus said.

"Sure, and thank you," Andi said.

"No, thank you for everything you have done. I don't think we could have done it without you," Remus said and he waved Tonks before heading out.

Tonks waited until he was gone and was just to start yelling when her mother stopped her. "Don't even start, I know you hate your first name and I don't care. It is improper introducing yourself to a gentleman only using your last name and you know it! Now, Sirius is asleep and I want him stay that way. So, lets leave him in peace," Andi said and she guided her daughter out of the hallway towards the kitchen where She would put her daughter to work to help get supper ready.



This was a bad idea on Andi's part because after Tonks dropping the pans for the fifth time. A sleepy eyed Sirius stepped into the kitchen rubbing a hand through his wild unkempt hair. The sight of Sirius made Tonks drop the pans again. "So, you are the one making all this noise," Sirius said walking into the kitchen.

"Sirius, you should be asleep," Andi said.

"It is hard with you throwing a pan banging party for me," Sirius joked as he sat down at the kitchen table.

Andi lived in a muggle neighborhood. She worked at a law firm that dealt with muggle and wizard clients. She not only was asked to help get Sirius out of jail but she was Petunia's lawyer in her divorce case. So, the kitchen they were working in was more muggle like then wizard like. Sirius was finding the room very interesting. The item that caught his attention the most was TV that was on the wall. He picked up the remote and started hitting buttons. The problem was the first thing he found was the volume button.

The sound went so loud that Sirius dropped the remote and covered his ears. Andi picked up the remote where Sirius dropped it and turned the sound down. She held out the remote and said, "This is the up button and this is the down button. It his how you change channels," she said.

"Oh, this is one of those TV's," Sirius said remembering what Lily had told him was the short term for televisions.

Tonks laughed but stopped when her mother shot her a dirty look. "Yes, it is," Andi said and she went back to cooking.

Sirius picked up the remote and started to change channels. He was watching TV when Ted walked in. "Hi, my dear, how was court today?" Ted said and then he stopped. "Sirius!"

"Hi, Ted," Sirius said standing up offering Ted his hand.

"Hi, Sirius," Ted said shaking Sirius hand. "Come on, let's go into the lounge and watch the TV. We can get comfortable."

"Sure," Sirius said and Ted grabbed a beer from the fridge for him and Sirius. Sirius slowly started to relax and enjoy the evening. It wasn't until Andi started to notice fleas jumping off her arm that things got interesting.

"Sirius, did you take a shower this afternoon?" Andi asked.

"Yes," he said.

"Well, I think it didn't work," Andi said scratching her arm.



Sirius smiled at her scratching his own head and said, "I don't have fleas."

"You don't but I have a bet your dog form does," Andi said smiling at her cousin.

Sirius started to whimper as he noticed her coming towards him. "Come on Sirius, time to turn into that dog form of yours. I know a canine that needs a flea dip!"

"Oh, come on Andi," Sirius begged getting up and backing away from her.

Andi Tonks ignored him pulled out her wand summing the flea dip that she had used on her own dog from the upstairs bathroom. Sirius stood there shaking his head saying over and over again. "Padfoot is not getting a flea dip!"

Padfoot got a flea dip!

Albus was alone in his office thinking about the day's events waiting for Severus return from the Malfoy Estate. He knew what he had done to Sirius could be call cruel but it had to be done. Harry was more important at the moment then anyone. It didn't matter who else died as long Harry lived long enough to full fill his destiny. After that it didn't matter if the boy lived or died. It was fate decision on that, not his. Albus sighed deeply as he realized others did not see things as he did.

He was loosing members of the order because of his decision and found it hard to replace them. No one realized that he was not doing any of this to harm the boy. It just had to be done. Albus wished they could see this. No, they were seeing things with their hearts not with a clear mind. This was why he was the Leader of the Light and they were not.

Albus noticed Severus walking put winding staircase leading to his office. The man looked upset about something. Albus wondered what could cause him to look as worried as he did. He didn't have to wonder long for Professor Snape walked into the office and said, "Lord Voldemort is at Malfoy mansion. He is still in sprite form. For how long, I don't know."

"Did he give a clue on what had happened to him?" Albus asked.

"No, and I did not ask. I only listen when Dark Lord is around. It is not wise to bring attention to yourself," Severus said.

"I see. So, Severus your trip to Malfoy's was a bust. Well, please keep me in formed. The more we know how he became this way the better it will be for all of us," Albus said.

"I will," Severus said and he turned around leaving the room with his robes flying behind him muttering something that sounded like… "Old Goat!"