IX - The Trial
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The Wizengamot reconvened in the atrium, now with a rusting metal chair adorned with chains in the center. Dumbledore seemed to have regained his composure after the startling turn of events, while most other adults looked confused and fearful.
"Now that the short recess has been concluded, can the accused please be brought in?" Dumbledore stood and spoke over the chatter in the room. At his request, in walked Sirius Black, mass murderer and deranged criminal, escorted by Lady Bones and two young Aurors; he was gaunt and disgustingly thin, with greying hair and eyes devoid of any emotion. He struggled to keep pace with his escorts and tripped twice on legs not used to carrying his weight after over a decade in Azkaban. When he reached the chair in the middle of the atrium, he collapsed onto it with an audible huff.
The Aurors attempted to attach the shackles to him but were stopped instantly by a sharp word from Madam Longbottom and a pointed look from Harry, who took the opportunity to transfigure the harsh metal chair into a plush green armchair, much to Dumbledore's surprise.
"Sirius Orion Black, you stand accused of betraying the Potter family on the 31st of October 1981, as well as the murder of Peter Pettigrew and 12 muggles. How do you plead?" A female voice asked from beside Dumbledore.
"Innocent of all charges." He replied.
"Do you consent to questioning under Veritaserum?"
"I do." He answered slowly.
One of the Aurors who escorted him in stepped forwards and administered three drops to his tongue.
"What is your name?" she asked after the Auror stepped back.
"Sirius Orion Black"
"When were you born?"
"3rd November 1959."
"Were you the secret keeper for the Potter family on the 31st October 1981?"
"No, we told everybody that I was the secret keeper however that was too obvious so I convinced James and Lily to swap to Pettigrew."
Audible gasps rang throughout the room at this and some chatter as people came to terms with the confession.
"Did you kill Peter Pettigrew and those 12 muggles after the incident that night?"
"No, Peter blew up a gas line killing the muggles. In the confusion, he cut off his finger, transformed into his animagus form and ran off."
"Why did you confess after being captured?"
"I said it was all my fault because I convinced them to do the swap but I never confessed."
"Administer the antidote."
The same Auror stepped forwards once more and gave Sirius three drops of the antidote.
"Sirius Orion Black, we find you innocent of all charges, also we hereby revoke Peter Pettigrew's Order of Merlin. Mister Black as recompense for your unlawful incarceration you will receive 10,000 Galleons for every year you were imprisoned in Azkaban."
"Is there any more business we need to settle today?" Dumbledore's voice rang out.
"I would like to take up my Lordship for House Black," Sirius replied instantly. "I couldn't do it at the beginning of the session because of extenuating circumstances." He said with a brief smile towards the older wizard.
"Very well," Dumbledore sighed. He conjured a bowl and dagger onto a table in front of Sirius, who dropped his blood into the bowl and instantly adorned the head of house ring for the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black.
After Sirius' ascension to Lord Black, Dumbledore concluded the session and the members began to filter out of the atrium.
"Lord Black nice to see you again…" Harry said, approaching his godfather.
"Prongslet…" Sirius replied, turning to get a look at the younger wizard. "I take it I have you to thank for this?"
"Well me and a couple of friends… but that's unimportant." Harry said gesturing to Lady Bones behind him.
"Thank you," Sirius said, throwing his arms around Harry and bursting into tears.
"Come on, time to take you home," Harry whispered, taking Sirius' arm and leading him out of the room.
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As soon as the two wizards left the room they were immediately accosted by bursts of flashing lights and questions being shouted at them.
"Lord Potter-Gryffindor-Slytherin-Ravenclaw, how long have you known about your Lordships?" A woman asked from within the group of assembled reporters.
"I knew about three of them since late summer, however the Ravenclaw Lordship was unexpected." He said with a chuckle.
"As you have a majority Lordship over Hogwarts, what can we expect from you?" An elderly gentleman asked from near the front of the gaggle of reporters.
"Let's just say I intend to bring Hogwarts back to being the prestigious institution that it should be; I have a feeling there will be many changes throughout the castle." Harry strongly said.
"How were you able to take your Lordships at such a tender age?" Another voice called out.
"At the bequest of a trusted advisor, I took the Goblin's rite of passage which led to my emancipation and allowed me to take up three of my Lordships." He replied smoothly.
"The Goblin's rite of passage? What did you have to do to pass that?" A reporter asked.
Harry laughed at the reporter's question before flashing a bright smile at the man, "You wouldn't believe me if I told you."
Before Harry could leave another reporter stepped forwards, dressed entirely in green leather and brandishing an acid green quick-quotes quill. "Any hint of who your four wives will be?" she asked in a sickly-sweet voice.
Harry looked pointedly at her and ignored the question, which caused the reporters to focus on the figure beside him. Harry let Sirius answer a few questions before grabbing his arm, touching the Potter ring and activating the portkey to Potter Manor.
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"I think you need to explain everything Prongslet," Sirius said upon arrival, collapsing onto a recliner in the sitting room.
Harry nodded and called for refreshments from the house elves. "Where would you like me to start?"
"The beginning?"
"I'll give you the abbreviated version then I guess…" Harry said, taking a swig from a butterbeer bottle that appeared by his side. Harry then took Sirius through the entirety of his life so far, glazing over the more disgusting bits, like the extent of his torture at the Dursleys. Finishing up with his emancipation, training at Potter Manor and more recently the attacks at Hogwarts.
"Wow Pup, I'm so sorry for not being there," Sirius said, looking dejected.
"Not your fault Sirius. Besides now you can teach me too, so long as you clean yourself up a bit." Harry replied, with a smirk.
"Kid, if you're essentially Lord Hogwarts, couldn't your rings inform you of this chamber?" Sirius asked.
"Didn't think of that…" Harry said before focussing on his rings and asking the question in his mind. Hearing a definitive answer from the Slytherin Ring, 'The chamber lies in the second-floor girl's bathroom, it is home to Balthazar my Basilisk'. Harry recounted the information to Sirius who immediately made his way to the Potter library, with Harry following him.
"Dark Creatures of the Wizarding World." Sirius read handing an old book to Harry, who took the book and flipped to the Basilisk page.
"Average size is 50ft, it's venom is fatal, it's stare can cause petrification or death, and it susceptible to the crowing of a rooster." Harry read, "Sounds like the kind of thing Slytherin may hide away in his school. Now, all I need is a Rooster."
"You're not actually going to go face a Basilisk, are you? Kid leave it to the adults." Sirius said worriedly.
"Sirius, it needs to be stopped and you can only open the chamber if you speak. As an Omnilinguist, I can open the doors and besides if the crow of the rooster will kill it, I can claim the body." Harry replied with a small shrug.
"It's a fricking Basilisk Pup!" Sirius exclaimed.
"Killed a dragon before…. I think I can survive a Basilisk." Harry said before looking at his watch. "I've got to go Sirius; Flitwick wants me back soon. You look after yourself and get in shape before summer."
"I will do pup, don't do anything stupid, okay?" Sirius said, eyes filled with worry.
"Of course," Harry said, making his way out of the library and taking a quick detour to the master bedroom. He took out his holly wand and replaced it with his crafted wand that was hidden in his safe. "No need keeping this a secret any longer is there?" he mumbled to himself as he took the wand in his hand, revelling in the instant feeling of warmth that came over him as he touched the wand. With his new wand in hand, Harry flooed back to Flitwick's office, thanking the Half-Goblin for his assistance and heading off towards his quarters.
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The next morning, Harry ate breakfast once more with the 'Puffs. He was dreading the arrival of post this morning, knowing what the front page was likely to be. As always, the post owls flew into the hall in a flood of feathers, depositing copies of the magical newspaper on every table as well as packages and letters from home. Hedwig dropped the paper for him with a hoot, before nabbing a piece of bacon and flying out of the hall once more. Harry took the paper and began reading, knowing the article that was on the front page immediately.
The Lord-who-lived, Lord of Four Houses.
Harry James Potter, a boy of just 13 years, currently in his second year attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, ascended to his Lordship in yesterday's Winter Wizengamot session stunning the attendees.
As all our loyal readers surely know the only way to take up a Lordship is to be deemed of age by the Ministry of Magic, which is 17 years of age. However, the young Mister Potter took up his yesterday afternoon. Mister Potter was deemed of age by Gringotts Wizarding Bank during the summer months after partaking in the Goblin's Rite of Passage.
When asked about this rite, the young Lord refused to answer however using my contacts I have found that the young boy engaged in battle with the Goblin. He killed a horde of the creatures and threatened them into submission! This led to him being magically emancipated and therefore, deemed of age. However, this wasn't the most startling revelation of the day either as Mister Potter laid claims to four Houses: The House of Potter, the House of Slytherin, the House of Gryffindor and the House of Ravenclaw. With this claim, it has made him Lord Hogwarts. When questioned, he admitted to plans of taking over control of the ancient school during the summer months of this year.
Lord Potter-Gryffindor-Slytherin-Ravenclaw is now thought to be the richest wizard in Britain and maybe in the entire wizarding world. The only unknown aspect of the Lordships is who he will be taking as his wives for each house, However, I will be working diligently to find more on this earth-shattering story as it develops.
Rita Skeeter
Harry read the article and let out an audible groan; it wasn't well written as well as mainly being half-truths. That and it broadcasted his need for multiple wives to the world blatantly and promised that this was only the start of the nonsense articles that would surely follow regarding his love-life.
Harry continued reading, moving on to the second most prominent article on the next page.
Lord Black free after 12 years in Azkaban.
During yesterday's Wizengamot session a startling revelation was made by one Harry James Potter, who appealed to the assembled body to free an innocent man from within the depths of Azkaban.
Sirius Orion Black was condemned to a lifetime sentence in Azkaban prison for the betrayal of the Potter family on 31st of October 1981, as well as the brutal murder of Peter Pettigrew and 12 Muggles on the 3rd November 1981. Mister Black, however, didn't receive a trial and was left to rot in the prison for 12 years after the then Head of the DMLE (Bartimus Crouch Sr), the then Minister of Magic (Millicent Bagnold) and the Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot (Albus Dumbledore) sentenced him foregoing the trial that by law should've been afforded to Mister Black.
Mister Black consented to Veritaserum questioning and was found innocent of all crimes. He explained that Peter Pettigrew was the Potters' secret keeper on that fateful night after a switch for the safety of the family. Pettigrew then betrayed the Potters to the Dark Lord and faked his death attempting to escape from Mister Black three days later. Pettigrew killed the 12 Muggles, cut off his finger and ran away in his Animagus form.
Pettigrew's Order of Merlin (First Class) has since been revoked in lieu of this new evidence and a nationwide hunt for the criminal has been launched by Amelia Bones, the head of the DMLE.
Mister Black, having been cleared of all charges, then took up his Lordship as is his birth right and was paid 10,000 galleons for every year spent in the prison as recompense for his treatment.
Lord Black has since expressed plans to spend his time teaching his godson, one Harry James Potter, and making up for lost time with the youth.
It is unknown at this time where Lord Black and Lord Potter will be taking residence and how they will integrate themselves in our government. Especially considering the vast political power both men hold in our country, but I and everyone else here at the Prophet will be keeping you updated as the story progresses with these two figures.
Robert Wordsworth
Having read both articles Harry thought the Prophet was laying it on a little thick for the two men, but for now there was nothing he could do to affect the Prophet's stories on both he and Sirius. However, with his 'vast political power' there would surely be something he could do to rid the wizarding newspaper of the influence of one Rita Skeeter and her penchant for 'embellishing' slightly.
However, there was one thing throughout the hall that seemed to have every eye fixed on the young wizard, as well as one thought in almost every witches mind.
Who would he be taking for his wives? And how could they get that spot for themselves?
As always thanks to my Beta Haphne24
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