Time to put his plan into action had come. It wasn't a terribly complex plan but it had to be well executed if they wanted this to succeed in any way. Mad Eye's paranoia hadn't helped matters any. The man was used to casting spells for half an hour before he would eat anything. Anything he would drink was from his flask, which Harry knew to be Polyjuice.
The plan was simple. Take Moody out of the Equation.
Harry didn't like a duel. There were too many unknown factors with that. His years fighting against Death Eaters had taught him that it was better to take a man out of fight via any mean necessary than to prolong it just to give a fair fight. That notion was absurd to him.
He knew that he could probably easily take care of Mad Eye on his own but he had decided to lay a trap for him. He would ambush him where he was the most relaxed. In his own quarters.
Not an easy plan, considering that he had to dismantle about two dozen wards and several muggle style traps before he could enter the place. He just couldn't hide anywhere either. His Invisibility Cloak was useless owing to the fact that Mad Eye could see through it. So he had to find a place where he could hide and easily target Mad Eye Moody. Once again an impossible task in front of a magical eye which could see through walls.
But everything had a limit and Moody's eye was no exception. So here he was, standing under a dozen or so powerful disillusionment charms, each one of a different variety to hide him from the magical eye. Still, any movement and he would be given away which would result in a long and tedious battle, which he wanted to avoid in the first place. So he was standing with his arm outstretched and his wand in position, waiting for Moody to come in.
He had been standing like that for about an hour, his arm sore from not moving when the door creaked. His body tried to go alert but with great difficulty he stopped any movement. He waited patiently as the door slowly swung open. Every second felt like a century to him.
A tip of a wand.
Fucking shit.
He dived away from his position as soon as he saw it, the curse that came still flew uncomfortably close to him. The second one struck his shield which he had conjured as soon as he fell.
"Good work Potter." Mad Eye finally came into view, his wooden leg creaking against the stone floor. He leaned on his stick, his magical eye going mad in its socket. "I had heard good thing about you from the Professors, they said that you were especially good at DADA. I intended to see it for myself this week when we had our first class."
"You dodged admirably." His wand was expertly trained on him and while his magical eyes was looking everywhere his real eye was still watching his every move. "And I must say those disillusionment charms were a real piece. Haven't seen work that good in ages. You ought to have been an Auror."
"And you ought to have been in Azkaban, but we don't always get our wishes do we, Barty?" Harry shot back.
Moody's magical eye whirred and focused on him. "Have you gone mad Potter?"
"It does seem weird when an insane man asks you that."
"What are you talking about?" Moody demanded.
"Still going to deny it? Well Plan A failed so time for Plan B."
Mad Eye whirred around but it was already too late. The stunner was too fast and he fell like a broken doll. Even if he had managed to dodge that somehow, he wouldn't be able to do anything about the other stunner that Harry had thrown on his back.
"Well that wasn't hard at all." Ginny remarked as she came inside the room, throwing away the invisibility cloak.
"Only because of my meticulous planning."
"Right, the planning that didn't include me and probably would have woken up half of the bloody castle."
"Details, details." Harry shrugged binding the stunned convict. "I was still the orchestrator of the original plan."
Ginny just shook his head. "So what now? Just hand him over?"
"Yup." Harry nodded.
"Doesn't make much sense. Wouldn't it be better to impersonate him?" Ginny questioned.
"For that we need to know quite a lot of details about Barty and we don't have the time for that." Harry sat down on a wooden chair. "Trust me, Voldemort wouldn't let his plan go down the drain just like that. He would certainly send another minion and since he is rather short on minions these days, it has to be Wormtail and that's when we strike. It's a good thing that Goblet would only be open for two days."
"All well and good." Ginny too sat down. "But when will those ruddy Aurors get here. I am bloody sleepy."
"Patience my dear." Harry gave her the look of a sage. "All good things come to those who wait."
Ginny blew a raspberry at him but the faint tinge that adorned her cheek didn't go unnoticed by Harry.
Might as well enjoy the shyness before she starts making me blush to the roots with her rebuttals.
He remembered quite vividly what the older Ginny would have replied, certainly not something that should be said in front of children but something that would help in creating them.
Too painful.
Thankfully, his attention was diverted by the clicking of several boots and a loud voice shrieking. Slowly, he stood up and stretched his arms upwards. He wasn't in any hurry to face that thunderstorm but he did sympathise with those who were weathering it right now.
As soon as he opened the door, his ears were viciously assaulted by a voice so loud that it would be considered an environment hazard, momentarily he had to cover his ears to regain his bearing.
"AUROR SHACKLEBOLT, I WOULD NOT HAVE THIS."
"Ah, Professor." Harry winced as the withering glare from Professor McGonagal fell on him. He could feel Ginny slowly backing away into the darkness.
Sly vixen.
"Mr. Potter?" Her eyes were like thin slits and her lips had completely disappeared. "And don't think I haven't seen you, Miss Weasley. What's the meaning of this?"
He would have smirked if he could as Ginny winced and came out as slowly as she could.
"If only you will come inside Professor." He answered. "Everything would be crystal clear."
"Mr. Potter." The Auror that he remembered as Kingsley Shacklebolt spoke. "You reported that a criminal has been caught on Hogwarts ground and yet none of the teachers here know about this?"
"A CRIMINAL?" McGonagall shrieked. "Potter, Explain now!"
"He's inside." Harry glanced inside. "And you have come just in time. I don't know who says that our Aurors are lazy."
"They are thirty-three minutes late, exactly." Ginny murmured under her breath.
"And what would that have accomplished?" Harry asked motioning to other to follow him. "They would have had to wait for half an hour."
"What are you two going on about?" Professor McGonagall demanded.
Harry grinned and spread his arm towards where he had left Mad Eye Moody. "Professor, I give you the late Bartemius Crouch Jr."
The wooden leg came out with a plop, the magical eye flew out of his socket. McGonagall gasped and Aurors drew out their wand.
"Holy Merlin's shitty underpants." One of the Auror swore. "That's Barty Crouch Jr." the next moment he was pasty white under McGonagall's glare.
"Minerva, you called for me?" Just as Harry was wondering where the esteemed head of the school was in this commotion? Dumbledore came in with his trademark twinkling eyes. There wasn't a change even in his posture as he took the stunned body of very much alive Barty Crouch Jr. in."
"Oh my!" Dumbledore murmured. "Minerva please remove the students from here."
"Not yet Headmaster." Kingsley turned towards Dumbledore. "They are key witnesses related to the case so I cannot allow you to take them away without questioning them."
"If you insist." Dumbledore smiled. "But please conduct the interview someplace else. I don't believe the environment is much suitable for the children."
"Alright, headmaster." Kingsley nodded. "You two take him away and make sure he's securely locked. Oh and relay the information to the head of DMLE and the minister. This is an urgent matter."
"Mr. Potter and Miss Weasley right?" at their nod he continued. "We'll take your account at Headmaster office."
"Um, I think Professor McGonagall's office would be better." Ginny interjected. At their raised eyebrows she continued. "It's the shorter route to our Common room and I'm really sleepy."
Kingsley started chuckling and even McGonagall gave a faint smile. "As you wish. It is Two in the morning."
It wasn't a long interrogation. Professor McGonagall wouldn't have let it go for a long time anyway since it was already late. After asking them a few basic question, Kingsley let them go. McGonagall escorted them back to the common and after giving them a stern warning to not wander late at night and to bring such matters to the attention of authorities, she let them go.
It was a good thing that it was a weekend night. They were asleep till late in the morning. When they did wake they found a summons from Headmaster waiting for them, delivered by one of the Prefects. They were to meet him after Lunch in his office.
"Holy Crap!"
They were standing just outside Dumbledore's office and Ginny was just about to give the password to the Gargoyle when Harry suddenly burst out.
"What now Harry?"
"We are meeting Dumbledore!"
Ginny raised her eyebrows. "I think the summons was pretty clear about that part."
"You don't understand." Harry looked at her with wide eyes. "Dumbledore's a master legillimens. I don't know if he uses it on students or not but it would be pretty bad for us if he found out about us."
Ginny gave him an exasperated look. "If you are talking about Occlumency then I have been practicing it."
Harry's mouth fell open. "B-but how?"
"Duh. I have my own memories you idiot!"
"Oh!"
"Can we go now?"
"Ladies first."
"Oh don't try to be a gentleman. You only want to stare at my ass."
The reply was immediately followed by a fierce blush.
Good bye my sweet shy Ginny. I am going to miss you!
"Fine, you can stare at mine!" Harry harrumphed and spoke the password to the Gargoyle. They opened to reveal the spiralling stairway which lead to the Headmaster's office.
"Come in." Like always, they didn't have to knock. As soon as they arrived on the landing, Dumbledore's voice came from inside calling them.
He was sitting behind his large mahogany desk, his face a picture of calmness and serenity that Harry had come to expect from the old Headmaster. His chin rested on his crisscrossed fingers and his eyes, ever twinkling were watching them with a kindness that he could now see through.
It wasn't as much that he had accidently discovered Dumbledore's manipulation. A part of him always knew but when he had found his diary, it was still a large shock. It was a good thing that he was used to such shocks by then, otherwise he didn't know what he would have done. He had considered him a mentor, a guide to always guide him through the obstacle of his life.
But the man that sat in front of him now wasn't a mentor. He didn't concern himself with the life of others. What mattered to him was winning, not the ways through which it was achieved. His regrets were only on the surface. Truth was he never once blinked on the decision of leaving him with the Dursleys. His decision to hold back the Prophecy wasn't because of his childhood but because it would have been a hindrance in his plan to make him a sacrifice.
His eyes weren't kind, they were cruel. His aura wasn't calming, it was manipulating. His face wasn't grandfatherly, it was uglier than Voldemort and more hideous than devil. He was like a spider intent on preying on the innocent flies to feed his image.
What was dangerous though that Dumbledore himself didn't know.
"You called for us, headmaster?" All thing considered, his social skills were lacking. Eight years alone can do that to you, not that he was much social to begin with.
"No need for such haste Mr. Potter." The gentle smile broadened. "You may sit; I assure you I didn't call you here to discipline you. I leave such unpleasant matters to your head of house. I believe she's more than capable of that."
A shiver ran down their spine as they thought of the lecture that they haven't gotten from Professor McGonagall yet.
"I'll try to tone down the punishment a bit." His eyes were twinkling. "Though, Minerva can be quite stubborn in her own way."
"It's alright sir." Harry replied. "We knew she's only concerned about our welfare."
"True." Dumbledore chuckled. "Though I myself am not averse to a little rule breaking here and there. A little adventure is never bad for your health."
There was a slight pause in Dumbledore's speech where he picked up a sweet from a bowl and presented it to them.
"Lemon Drop?"
Harry and Ginny shook their hand.
"On the notes of little matters, what you did last night wasn't such a little one." His expression turned serious. "I have been led to believe that you knew it was a hardened criminal that you were facing?"
At their nod he continued. "As admirable it is that you were able to take him down without incurring any injuries, I still feel duty bound to tell you that you should have brought the matter to the attention of your head of house or contacted me."
"I didn't think we had enough time to contact everyone." Harry replied. "He could have been holding anyone hostage. He was holding the Real Mad Eye hostage. So we only contacted the Aurors. We were monitoring his quarters when he ambushed us, forcing us to take him on. We assure you sir, we had no intention of fighting a Death Eater head on." His reply was rehearsed, the same one that he had given Auror Shacklebolt. A thorough answer which didn't leave any space for doubt.
"Hm." A slight frown could be seen on Dumbledore's face. "How was it that you were able to discern who he really was when, as much as it pains me to admit, he managed to elude all of us considering that Alastor is an old friend of mine?"
"Coincidence really Sir." Harry shrugged. "We simply happened to overheard a conversation while doing some extracurricular activities."
"What was the topic of this conversation?"
"He was talking about some plan." Harry lied without blinking an eye. He hadn't felt Dumbledore entering his mind yet, probably he didn't feel the need to use Legillimency. "But the part that caught our attention was how he was talking about the why they were keeping the Real Mad Eye alive. And the person called him Barty."
"Would you mind elaborating on those extracurricular activities?"
"Um."
"If you feel uncomfortable then it's alright." The twinkling had only increased in Dumbledore's eyes. "I can guess and something tells me I'll be obliged to tell Minerva about it if I knew about it." He gave the two of them a knowing look. "It's just a formality. You may go now and please inform the relevant authorities if you run into a stray criminal next time."
"Except the one that you know about."
Dumbledore chuckled. "You know what I mean Mr. Potter. Have a good day!"
Only when they were safely away from the office did Harry breathe a sigh of relief.
"Well, did you notice anything strange when looking into his eyes?" Harry asked.
Ginny shook her head. "No, not really. It was all pretty standard. Besides, he was looking at you most of the time."
"I don't think he tried to use Legillimency on me."
"Well that's a relief isn't it?" Ginny replied. "I guess he didn't feel the need for it."
"Well first phase of our plan is now complete." Harry smiled at her. "It's time to proceed to the second part."
It was a week after when the other two school arrived with pomp and grandeur. Durmstrang with its hardy looking students and Beuxbatons with its grace. Like he remembered before, the Hall was decked in the colours of the three Schools. The tables were enlarged to accommodate the foreign students. The feast was scrumptious and he managed to overstuff himself despite telling himself to go easy on the food. He sat with Ginny and some of her year mates during the feast.
As far as Ron and Hermione were concerned, they kept shooting him glances. Ron's concerned phase was over and he was already mouthing off to anyone who would listen about how ungrateful Harry was for throwing away his friendship like that. Hermione on the other hand had kept her distance but he had noticed bags under her eyes and when she thought no one was looking she was shooting Ginny some strange looks like she was trying to solve some mystery. He didn't like this at all.
"Hey Ginny!" Harry leaned over the table and whispered her name.
"Hm?" Ginny looked up and gave him a questioning look.
"Have you noticed something strange about Hermione?"
"Hermione?" She shot the older girl a look. "No not really. She had been keeping her distance and I heard she's spending most of her time in her library but that's normal for her isn't it?"
"Well yeah." Harry nodded. "But she keeps looking at you in this strange way which I don't like."
"Me?" She cocked her eyebrow. "Why would she be staring at me?"
Harry just shrugged. He had no answer to that.
"Are you going to eat that?" Just as they were finished talking, they were interrupted by a terribly familiar voice. He turned around to face Fleur Delacour, the girl who had bewitched everyone when she entered the Great Hall. Even now, there was silence all around him. Her Veela allure was at its full swing. Good thing it didn't work on those who were in love.
"Sure." Harry turned back towards his food and kept eating. He could feel a slight harrumph behind him before Fleur took the dish and walked away irritably.
"Show off!"
"Excuse me." Harry leaned back and gave her a look of surprise. "I have no idea what you mean."
"Right." The sarcasm was evident in her voice. "Like I would believe that you purposefully turning your back on a quarter Veela and speaking to her in as much of a cold voice as you could muster wasn't to show your immunity to the Veela charm?"
Harry stared at her innocently. "Like I said I have no idea what you mean."
Their conversation was interrupted by Dumbledore unveiling the Goblet of Fire. The tournament had officially begun.
Afterwards, when they were exiting the Great Hall after the end of Feast Ginny was separated from Harry in the throng of the student. She felt someone forcibly pull her out of the crowd and into a secluded spot a few meters away.
"Hermione?"
She had pulled Ginny away from the crowd but she didn't look particularly friendly. If only looks could kill.
"Hermione what's wrong?" Ginny questioned. She remembered Harry telling her about the looks that Hermione had been shooting her.
"What's wrong?" Hermione laughed. "Funny that you should be asking me that, you whore!"
"Excuse me!" Ginny's eyes narrowed. "It's about Harry isn't it? Well Miss Stuck up let me tell you I had nothing to do with Harry's decision to abandon your sorry ass."
She knew she was a bit harsh but she was famous for her temper and being unjustly called names would be a sure fire way to flare it up.
Hermione's cheeks coloured up a bit. "Don't throw that lame story at me. I have known him for the last three years while you were swooning over him. I know he would never break his friendship like that. You must have used some dark magic over him."
"Dark magic?" Her eyebrows were twitching, a dangerous sign. "You really should know better."
"Why?" It looked like Hermione had lost all grip on rationality. "Just because you played a helpless victim to the diary. You may have deceived all of us for the last three years but now I know all your plots."
"What?" Hermione sounded so absurd that all her anger had evaporated.
"Just stay away from Harry or else I'll tell everyone about you."
"Fuck you!"
The next moment Hermione had flown meters away and collided with a pillar. Her nose had split and bat shaped things were coming out of it.
"Try and come between me and Harry and I'll show you how dangerous I am." Ginny threw the older girl a look of disgust and walked away. She didn't want to believe her memories but this girl had made them seem believable.
She spied Harry sitting in a sofa as soon as she entered the common room. After noticing her, Harry waved to her motioning her to come.
"Where have you been?"
She sat down on the sofa opposite to him. "Hermione cornered me."
"I hope you didn't break too many bones."
"How violent do you think I am?"
Harry's eyes were twinkling with mischief. "With that temper, I don't think I have a scale large enough to measure it."
"You are incorrigible." Ginny sighed. "She only has a split nose. She was mouthing off about how I have used some dark magic to entangle you."
"Oh." Harry gave a mock surprised look. "I pray that she has a good plan to rescue me then. As it is I don't want to be rescued. Must be the effect of that dark ritual of yours."
By the time Harry had finished his sentence, he found himself facing the business end of Ginny's wand.
"Hey, Hey, Hey," Harry threw his hand up. "I was just kidding."
"Well I am deadly serious." Ginny gave him a glare. "And no Sirius joke."
Harry immediately shut his opening mouth.
"How's he doing by the way?"
"Hating his new house." Harry remarked. "But it's necessary. We are going to drop by on the first Hogsmeade weekend and make it safer."
"Sounds like a plan."
There was a companionable silence that followed. After the feast most of the students had retired to their beds, only a few couples and some stray students remained who were scattered all over the darkened common room. As such they were afforded the much needed privacy.
"How was the class with new Moody?" Harry asked after a few second.
"Panicky." Ginny shuddered. "Almost hexed me a couple of time."
After the capture of Barty Crouch, the real Mad Eye was rescued from his own trunk. Strangely the matter hadn't appeared in the newspaper. Harry suspected that Fudge was keeping a tight lid on everything. As for Mad Eye, he had insisted on returning to teaching only after a week despite the better judgement of Madame Pomfrey. The result was student walking on eggshells in the defence class. One wrong move and they might find themselves missing a few limbs.
"You plan on taking part in the TriWizard tournament this time around?" Ginny's voice was wavering a little.
"You know I can take care of myself." Harry gave her a small smile. "Besides I am not planning on participating. Dumbledore may believe in that Prophecy, personally I don't give a shit."
"I am just worried that Wormtail might just be able to slip your name in without us knowing about it."
"You know, our plan's fool proof." Harry consoled her. "He won't be able to escape at all."
"I guess."
"We should get some sleep." Harry suggested. "We won't be getting much for the next two nights."
Ginny nodded and got up. Harry followed her suit. For a moment they kept standing there in front of the cold fireplace staring at each other. Finally, Ginny reached out and gave him a small hug.
"Night Harry." She whispered.
A smile tugged at Harry's lips. This was the first time that Ginny had hugged him since he returned. He placed his cheek atop her flame coloured hair, relishing in their softness and silkiness.
"Goodnight Ginny."
It was all too short in Harry's opinion. When she let him go, her cheeks were tomato red but she still smiled at him, giving him a small wave before disappearing up the girls' dorm.
The next day dawned bright and clear. For Harry it was even better. The last night hug might have had something to do with that. There was a skip in his step and a smile that threw everyone off who were used to seeing a scowl on his face. Not that he cared. He stopped caring about other peoples' opinion ages ago.
That night Pettigrew was a no show. But that was to be expected. The rat wouldn't show itself till the last possible moment.
The trap they had laid for him was a complex one. It was a triggered induced sleeping gas spell. The trigger was an animagus entering the specific area in his animal form. They knew for a fact that the only registered animagus at the Castle was Professor McGonagall. There was no animagus in the new arrival from the two school.
It was highly unlikely that McGonagall would go near the Goblet in her animagus form. Still for added measure they had added an exception to her in the trigger. An extremely complex trap, that had taken them quite a bit of time to prepare. He even had to enlist Remus and Sirius help who were more than happy in helping the capture of their elusive backstabbing friend.
The next night seemed as bleak as before. There was no sign of Pettigrew. Even the Marauder's Map didn't show him anywhere near the Goblet. They almost fell asleep waiting for Pettigrew but finally they had a breakthrough.
"Ginny look!" Harry elbowed the near unconscious Ginny who was half asleep on her feet.
"Hm What?" She blearily looked around from under the cloak which was right now hiding the two of them.
"That's Cedric Diggory not Pettigrew." Ginny mumbled sleepily. "You must be getting sleepy."
"That's not it." Harry said irritably. "His movement looks a bit weird."
Ginny rubbed her eyes and stared at the guy who was walking towards the Goblet of Fire.
It wasn't just his rigid movement that was strange, it was also the fact that he had already put his name in the Goblet amidst a throng of students.
"He has already put his name. What's he doing here?" Ginny asked with furrowed eyebrows.
"What?"
"I said what's he doing here?"
"No, before that. Did you say he has already put his name in the Goblet?"
"Yup." Ginny nodded. "It was all over the castle, didn't you hear."
"Shit." Harry cursed. "Imperius Curse."
This time it was Ginny's turn to be befuddled. "What?"
"Wormtail must be using the Imperius Curse to control him. He must be waiting a safe distance away."
"What now then?" Ginny asked worriedly. "We can't let him put your name in the Goblet."
"Fortunately, we have the Marauder's Map." Harry grinned. "We can find out where he is. Our search area was too small the last time that's why we couldn't detect Wormtail."
"What about him?" Ginny motioned towards Cedric.
Without answering Harry twisted his wand and the seventh year Hufflepuff crumpled on the floor.
"He's just passed out." He answered Ginny's unasked question.
The rest of the work was easy. In a few minutes they had found Pettigrew hiding in a secret passage way and had taken the unsuspecting rat into custody.
Aurors were once again called, McGonagall once again lectured them and Dumbledore gave them another summon. But none of it changed the fact that they had captured Wormtail and Sirius would soon be free.
The next day dawned even brighter. The snoring was like music to his ears and he almost hummed in the shower.
Sitting on the breakfast eating the food with a gusto that wasn't even seen on the feast, he watched as the morning mail flew in. In them were owls carrying todays' newspaper.
"So What's in today's newspaper?" Harry eyed the newspaper that Ginny had deftly nicked after it was dropped in front of him by an owl.
But Ginny didn't answer. Her eyes were rapidly scanning the front page. Her face was contorting in with every line that she read and there were definite signs of anger.
Alarmed, Harry asked again, "Ginny what is it?"
"You aren't going to like it." She threw the paper in front of him and answered flatly. "It's official now. I hate the media."
"What could be so bad?" With a cocked eyebrow he picked up the paper. The Headline was enough to send him in a frenzy.
Pettigrew the True Criminal or another Victim of Sirius Black?
The article went in great fetial, twisting the facts, romanticising the escape of Pettigrew into the Weasley house to save himself from Sirius and how, he, Harry Potter, who was possibly under the influence of Sirius Black due to his contact with Remus Lupin, an old friend of Sirius Black and a werewolf.
"How the hell did they get the story out so fast?" Ginny asked with frustration. "Aren't newspaper finalised around midnight or so?"
"It isn't how they got the story that's bothering me." He folded the paper and placed it down. He looked to be in deep thought. "Who influenced them to write this piece and what could they get from writing it?"
"At least it isn't Rita Skeeter." Ginny commented.
"Nahh, she doesn't have anything against me yet. Though it would have made sense if it was her. Such stories seem to be her cup of tea."
"One of his pals maybe?"
They looked at each other and started laughing.
"Seriously, who could it be?" Ginny wiped the tears streaming down her face and asked.
Harry shrugged his shoulders. "I have no idea."
Next day, Harry had an even furious start to the day. There was an exclusive interview with Pettigrew published. He was claiming innocence to the charge of murder of murder of Lilly and James Potter and blowing up the street. He did admit that he was a death eater but only for spying.
The paper was explicit in posing Sirius Black as the bad guy quoting Pettigrew's early life about how he was borderline bullied by his three friends.
It even mentioned the incident where Sirius led Snape to the Shrieking Shack on the full moon, but the tale was spun in such a way that it seemed like a deliberate attack on Snape's life.
Severus Snape had also commented on the situation calling Sirius arrogant, Pig headed and a man with no brains capable of foulest deed known to mankind.
Harry turned page after page but the only thing on news seemed to be Pettigrew and Sirius.
"You know I was just thinking something." Ginny said after he had finished reading the paper.
Harry was leaning on the bench rubbing his temple with his eyes closed.
"What Ginny?"
"Maybe Fudge is behind all this?" She suggested. "He was involved in the original hearing and it would look bad on him if it came out that the Ministry had punished an innocent man.
"Hm." Harry frowned. "That's possible. He is a shallow person but I don't think he had the guts to do something like this. He might survive the Sirius fiasco but if it came out that he knowingly tried to punish an innocent man just for saving his own skin then he would be finished. He might even get thrown in Azkaban."
"If not Fudge then who?"
"It had to be someone who is ruthless and has something to gain from either Pettigrew's release or Sirius' imprisonment."
Ginny stared at him helplessly. "No one come to my mind."
"Mine neither." Harry sighed.
"On a happier note." Ginny spoke in a perky voice. "They are announcing the Champions tonight. It should be good not seeing your name in there."
"I have learned not to count my chickens before they are hatched Ginny." He answered. "I won't be breathing a sigh of relief till all three names have come out of the darned Goblet and it has been put away for good."
And right he was in not celebrating too soon, for as it was the tournament had a fourth champion and by luck, it was him again.
After whispering to Ginny not to worry he walked towards the small door where the other champions were waiting for him. Entering the room, he was subjected to intense stares for all around. Not the least bothered by them, he leaned against the wall opposite to the door and waited for Dumbledore to enter.
"What are you doing here? This is no place for little boys."
Harry sighed. Fleur just had to open her mouth.
"Oh for Merlin's sake, will you stop your blabbering for once." The answer was effective. Fleur was shocked into silence and the room had gotten so quiet that Harry was sure he could hear the non-existent wind.
It wasn't that the French girl couldn't come up with a retort. She was shocked because she wasn't used to such complete rejection from the member of opposite sex.
Thankfully, the stifling silence was over when Dumbledore and McGonagall entered the room.
"Mr. Potter." He waved the thin piece of paper. "Did you put your name in the Goblet of Fire?"
Harry sighed. "Could I have?"
"Wait just a minute." It was Ludo Bagman who interrupted them. "What do you mean by that?"
Dumbledore stared at Harry from atop his half-moon glasses. "It seems like we have a fourth champion."
The room immediately burst into noise in much the same way that he remembered. Something never change.
What was different though, was that he could feel someone's intense stare burning into his side, turning he found Fleur hastily turning her gaze.
What fuck did I just do?
Shrugging, he leaned back against the wall and stared at the adults bickering like children arguing about the most nonsensical things.
It took them about thirty minutes but the noise came to an acceptable level.
"Then it is final, Mr. Potter would be participating in the Tri Wizard Tournament." Dumbledore announced, his eyes landing on every single person in the room.
"Who said I would be participating?" His voice wasn't loud but the declaration was such that everyone fell silent.
Once again he found himself subjected to intense stares.
"It's a magically binding contract." Percy spoke authoritatively. He was here as an immediate replacement to Barty Crouch who was arrested soon after his son. "You don't have a choice."
"Percy." His voice was venomously sweet. "Do you want to me tell Penelope why you have doll with a hole?"
Percy went white as a sheet, his eyes bulging out of their socket. Sweat was rolling down like rivulets from his face.
"I thought as much." Harry nodded. "Like I was saying, I am not participating in the fucking Tournament."
"Mr. Potter." Dumbledore spoke calmly. "Mr. Weasley has a point. Once your name comes out of the Goblet, you have to compete, otherwise you will be stripped of your magic."
"Not my problem." Harry said unconcernedly. "I didn't put my name in the Goblet. I sure as hell am not taking part in a Tournament just because a Psycho put my name in.
"Right attitude Potter." Moody growled. "I smell a trap here Albus."
"Well you are the authorities here and I was told repeatedly to leave such matters to the authorities." He winked at Professor McGonagall who pursed her lips. "So I'll just remove myself here. Have a good time figuring out how to bypass a binding contract."
"Pray tell me Potter." He hadn't seen Severus Snape there. "Why would we waste precious tome pandering to the whims of an egotistical brat and not just watch in delight as magic leaves from your tortured body?"
"Oh you know why, Snivellus." Harry got into the face of the hated Professor. "It's the same reason you told the world why you stopped being a death eater."
He gave a glance towards the old headmaster who was for once so utterly shocked that his mouth was hanging open like a gaping fish.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, he made a beeline for the door.
"You are not a little boy." He heard Fleur's breathy voice as he passed her by. "You are a real man."
Oh boy!
Escaping from one interrogation, he walked into another one. It would be harder to get out of this once.
"How did your name end up in the Goblet?" Ginny demanded as soon as they sat down in the Room of Requirement.
Harry shrugged his shoulder. He had no idea.
"You aren't trying to show off again, are you?"
"Giving a Veela a cold shoulder in public is one thing, Ginny." Harry replied. "Intentionally putting myself in mortal danger another. I find myself in enough danger without trying to look for it."
"Then how?" She was literally pulling her hair out.
"It doesn't matter. I have no intention of competing."
Ginny's eyes bugged out of their sockets. "What?"
"I said…."
"I heard you the first time." Ginny cut him off. Have you left your mind in the future? It's a magically binding contract. You'll be a squib if you break it."
"I don't think fate has any plans regarding me losing my magic."
Ginny stared at him for a full minute. Harry was beginning to worry she had been petrified when she finally spoke.
"I don't know what's more reckless. "Intentionally breaking a magical contract or toying with Fates."
Harry was about to answer but Ginny held up her hand.
"No smart ass comebacks Potter." She growled.
Schooled, Harry just meekly nodded.
The first Hogsmeade weekend wasn't far away now but before Harry had something else to deal with. A Veela.
The day after the Chamions' selection, she had made her way towards his sitting place during breakfast.
"Can I sit here?" She motioned towards the empty lot on the side.
Harry squirmed and glanced towards Ginny who was calmly eating her toast. Way too calmly in his opinion. His sixth sense was telling him that something bad will happen if he allowed her to sit next to him. Thankfully, he was looking at the solution already.
"You can sit next to Ginny. " He kept his face down and kept eating his food. Better remain on the good side of Ginny.
"But I want to sit here." She insisted.
"Sit there or find someplace else." He said firmly.
Fleur stood there for a few minutes before she sat down next to Ginny with a huff.
"Hi." Ginny turned towards the elder girl and chirped. "I am Ginny, Harry's girlfriend."
Harry almost choked on the morsel. When did they reach that leve?"
"I am Fleur." He threw back her golden blonde hair and regarded with a cold look. "Harry has no need for little girls like you especially now that he has better option.
He always did hate that part of Fleur. He was about to reprimand her but Ginny shot him a look telling him to remain silent.
"Better option?" The smile on her face made Harry shudder. "Since when is a screeching bird a better option?"
Fleur's eyes became ablaze with fury. "How dare you?"
Harry could feel a headache coming. He better put an end to this before it could escalate any further.
"Enough you two." Harry said. "I didn't leave those two just to be caught in the bickering between you."
Ginny looked chagrined and Fleur confused.
"As for you Fleur." Harry turned towards the blonde beauty. "You'd better discard any ideas that you have about me. I am not interested in you remotely. I only love Ginny and on one else."
"Oh!" Fleur said softly. "I didn't.." She looked at Ginny ashamedly. "I am sorry."
Ginny's expressions softened. He could see companionship in her eyes. "It's alright."
"I'd better go then." She pushed back from the table. "Sorry for disturbing you."
Ginny grabbed her hand and forcefully made her sit down. "Come one spend a few minutes with us."
Fleur smiled at the younger girl. "If you want me to."
Since then his life had become a nightmare between two giggling girls.
Actually no, that was just Harry's imagination working overtime. Fleur rarely did spend any time with them. And when she was there, she was vying for Harry's attention. Surprisingly, Ginny didn't mind a bit. She would play along but only to rile Harry up.
When he asked Ginny about it. He received a horrifying answer cum threat.
"Oh I know you love your bits Harry. Don't want them to suddenly disappear do you."
There was also the small matter of there being rumours that he and Fleur were an item but he never did care much about those kind of things.
When Hogsmeade weekend arrived, he and Ginny apparated to the ancestral Black home. It was even more dingy and evil looking than he remembered. Guess Molly Weasley's slave driven cleaning did pay off in some way.
"Come to the kitchen." Sirius said after the pleasantries had been concluded. "That's the only place my ruddy house elf has kept marginally clean."
They made their way to kitchen where Kreacher was making some food that might just be for humans. As for Remus, he was sitting in a chair leisurely drinking a cup of tea.
"Hello Harry, Ginny." Remus greeted them as they took their sears on the kitchen table.
Harry and Ginny greeted him back.
"You are here to cast the Fidelius charm? Sirius asked.
"That and to discuss the recent articles in Prophet." Harry said. "Prophet is hell bent on throwing you back into Azkaban irrespective of your guilt or innocence."
"Me and Sirius were discussing who could be behind those articles." Remus added. "We thought it could be Cornelius Fudge."
"I think we need to discuss something else before that." Ginny interrupted. "The Tri Wizard Tournament."
"What about it?" Remus leaned forward with interest.
"Harry's name came out of the Goblet."
"But wasn't there an age limit as to who could enter?" Sirius looked towards Remus for confirmation who nodded.
"Someone confounded the Goblet into choosing four champions." Ginny answered. "And Harry' has the bright idea of breaking the magical contract just because fate send him back in time."
"Well, what do you want to do? Take part in it?" Harry protested.
"Something tells me it would be less dangerous." Ginny shot back.
"What's you plan if you do lose your magic?" It was Remus who asked.
Harry stared at him blankly. Admittedly, he hadn't thought that far.
"Well it's final then isn't it?" Sirius announced. "Harry's taking part in the tournament."
"Oh come on." Harry groaned. "It's such a pain in the ass."
"If Dumbledore comes up with a way to bypass the contract then it's fine." Ginny interjected. "Otherwise you are taking part in it."
"Only if Dumbledore begs me for it." Declared Harry.
"Good.: Ginny nodded. "Now onto the next item on the agenda."
"How do we know that it's actually Fudge who's behind these article."
At that Harry perked up. "I have an idea. I wasn't planning on bringing her in yet but she be much valuable to us now."
"Who?" Sirius asked.
"Nymphadora Tonks."
"Tonks? That name sounds familiar.
"Andromeda Tonks Sirus." Remus sighed. "Your cousin."
"Might be." Sirius shrugged. "Every pureblood's my cousin in a way."
"Really Sirius.: Remus was smiling slightly. "Then why wee you sulking for a week when she didn't you about the birth of her daughter."
"I wasn't sulking." Sirius huffed. "I just had a lot on my mind."
"Like your cousin not telling you about her daughter?"
"Fine!" Sirius conceded. "Alright, she hates my gut but a letter would have been nice. We two were the only sane members of the family. I thought that meant something."
"Now, Now Sirius." The mischievous twinkle had increased in Remus' eyes. "You can cry, we all adult here. We understand."
"Screw you moony.'
"Now we all appreciate good humour here." Harry interrupted. "But it's about time to get serious again. Sirius is already getting a media trial and popular opinion is against him. And I believe the person who is behind this can also influence Wizengamot so it would be in our faovourto weed out this person as soon as we can and neutralize him."
All there nodded their heads in agreement.
"For that purpose, we going to enlist the help of Sirius' cousin who's also an Auror and a metamorphmagus to boast."
"I guess I'll be the one to contact her since you two are in school and the last member of this group is a convicted criminal."
"Right Remus." Harry nodded. "You can convince her and if there are any doubts then I'll clear them up. She's going to be a valuable ally for us."
"No wonder." Sirius whistled. "A metamorphmagus. She'll be perfect for espionage and tracking this bastard down."
Harry smiled. Somethings are better if they are found out on their own.
"I guess I better go and cast that Fidelius charm." Harry stood up. "It's going to take a long time to set it up."
It was a good day that Harry spent with Remus and Sirius, formulating strategies for the upcoming trial which was yet to be announced.
They didn't have to wait for long. The very next day, Daily Prophet announced that the trial of Peter Pettigrew will be public and held before the full Wizengamot. If someone thought that the case wasn't important then that notion was removed now.
As it was, there were other things on Harry's mind. Something really strange had occurred during today's Transfiguration class.
"You will never guess what happened today."
Ginny who was busy examining the Quidditch league table critically in the Daily Prophet, Harpies had dropped to fifth after narrowly losing to Wasps, answered absent mindedly.
"Hermione failed a test?"
When Harry didn't answer, she slowly looked up from the paper.
"You must be joking."
"Nope."
"Is she dying?"
"Don't think so."
"Someone must be posing as her then." Ginny declared, dropping the paper. "She would never fail a test."
"I am just worried that she might be planning something against us." Harry frowned.
"Not even that could come between her and studies." Ginny replied and stole a glance at Hermione sitting far away, all alone. She and her brother had a huge fight just a few days ago.
She looked haggard. Her fingernails were unkempt and her hair messy. She never paid much attention to make up and such but she was always clean.
Her eyes narrowed and she stared at the older girl closely. And she was in that condition despite a dozen or so glamour charms. Her lessons with Harry had paid off. He had told that she was a natural at detecting magic and it seemed to be true.
"There isn't much we can do except keep an eye on her." Ginny sighed. "And hope she doesn't do something foolish."
"I have a bad feeling about this."
Fortunately, or unfortunately their attention was soon diverted away from Hermione. Dumbledore had summoned Harry to his office.
It was an hour long session in which Dumbledore kept asking him about his answer to Snape but he refused to explain. The other topic was Harry's participation in the Tri Wizard Tournament.
"So how did it go?"
"Made the old man beg on his knees." Harry gloated.
"Good for your ego." Ginny answered. "Now tell me the truth."
"After much grovelling an begging, I reluctantly agreed to take part in the tournament."
"Truth Harry." Ginny accentuated every syllable.
"That's the truth." Harry protested.
'Fine but you are taking part in the tournament?"
"Yes, yes I am."
By the time, the first task rolled out, Pettigrew's Trial was into its third hearing. There was a deadlock because Wizengamot refused to administer Veritaserum or the basis that it was not merited. The fact that Sirius hadn't turned himself in was being used against him. Sirius' testimony at the previous trial wasn't helping either. If this kept up, Harry feared Wormtail might get away with a slap on the wrist.
Remus had tried to contact Tonks, but being a member of staff deficient squad, her schedule was hectic. She was nearly never found in the ministry.
Last week though, Remus had succeeded in tracking down the pink-haired woman and convinced her to hear them out. They were going to meet her after the first task.
As for the tournament itself, Harry wasn't the least bit worried. Even sitting in the champion tent, he wasn't feeling nervous. He had to wonder where this confidence of his was coming from. Maybe because he had already completed these tasks?
Nor that any of the other champions looked worried. But that was because they were too busy ogling the magnificent beauty of a seventeen year old Veela who had wrapped herself around Harry. Her blue form fitting, skin tight suit left little to imagination. He made a mental note to aske her to give a similar suit to Ginny.
The lots were drawn and Harry once again found himself facing a Hungarian Horntail.
Cedric and Krum performed as they had before. Fleur performed a bit better but that was because he had told her as soon as the tournament started what the first task was. Be that as it may, she certainly didn't deserve the score that she received.
Old Perverts."
The horntail wasn't as difficult as he remembered but maybe that was because he was much stronger and his aim more accurate.
Incapacitating a dragon, a feat which should have taken a dozen dragon handlers should have earned him a perfect score but Karkaroff still gave him an eight. His reason, the spells were too dangerous and could have killed the dragon.
It was the celebratory hug that he received from Ginny that he enjoyed most. His hand had about managed to grab her gorgeous bottom but just a moment before he received a spectacular knee to his groin.
"Ginny!" whined Harry. "You are damaging your future husband."
"Well he should keep his hand under control." Ginny replied sweetly.
"I can't help it." His eyes were still glued to where they shouldn't be. "I deserve a congratulatory grope at least." He gave her his best puppy dog eyes.
"You can grope mind Harry." He winced as Fleur walked in, gracefully flicking her hair behind.
Ginny snickered. "There you go, your problem's solved."
"But only if Ginny wants it." She gave the younger girl a look of admiration.
He didn't know what magic Ginny used on the Veela but she was completely submissive to her, almost like a slave. She was stubborn to him sometimes, but Ginny, she listened to her without question."
"Aww." Ginny cooed patting the elder girl's cheek. "So sweet of you."
Their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of Remus and Tonks.
It didn't take long to enlist Tonks help. She slready knew that Pettigrew was given unfair treatment, which only confirmed their suspicion.
As Ginny engaged in a conversation with the older girl, the two had hit off almost immediately, Harry sidled up to Fleur.
"Ahem." Harry cleared his throat. "About the suit that you are wearing."
Days passed after the first task in November. After his defeat of the dragon students began to revere him more. The trial kept on going without moving forward and even after seven hearings neither them nor Remus Lupin, the people closest to the case had been asked to testify before Wizengamot. It was worrisome.
The wait didn't last much longer. The letter arrived on a Sunday, asking them to appear before court in the next hearing.
Dumbledore has arranged for them to be directly flooed into the level of ministry where the hearing was taking place so that they could get in and out of the ministry with minimal fuss.
Despite being called, they weren't asked to testify, only observing the proceeding of the trials from the benches.
Remus had also accompanied them to the court. The trial lasted only half an hour with the back and forth bickering of the two lawyers.
"William Joe Root." Remus whispered pointing to the lawyer of Pettigrew. "He is one of the best criminal Attorneys. How can Pettigrew afford him, I have no idea."
Pettigrew was there too trying to put on a brave face but cowering all the time nonetheless. Every time, the prosecutor will start to speak, his face will go pasty white and it would look like he could faint at any moment.
"He's the reason Veritaserum hasn't been used yet. He has shot down every argument." Remus added. "And it seems he might be able to get Wormtail with the minimal punishment and without Sirius' exoneration."
"A very worrisome situation." Harry noted. "We better get to the person pulling the strings."
"Sirius not turning himself in has also hurt his case." Remus continued. "He's continuously raising this point as proof of Sirius' guilt.
Harry sighed. "We had agreed that Sirius won't be turning himself in till whoever is behind this is neutralized."
"I know." Remus assured.
In the end, the problems just kept increasing. Tonks had no leads on who could possibly be pulling the strings behind the scene and the case was fast slipping out of their hands.
If that wasn't enough, someone had attacked Ginny from behind when she was in a deserted corridor. Thankfully, she was with Fleur and didn't sustain any major injuries.
Harry had his suspicions about who could be behind the attack. It was a long shot and he had many enemies but considering the recent patterns, there could be no one else.
Hiding under the invisibility cloak, he followed Hermione as she left late at night. Through many twists and turns and through more than a few stairs she reached an unused classroom.
Inside the classroom was a person who Harry never expected her to meet. Draco Malfoy.
"Where is it?" She demanded.
"Calm down." Sneered the blonde ferret. "I don't have any wish to endure you any longer than I have to but you have messed up."
"Fleur Delacour was there." Hermione scoffed. "I didn't realize she would be there."
"And they call you the smartest witch of our age." Draco shook his head. "More like the stupidest bitch of our age. How can you mess up a little ambush?"
"Run your mouth on your cronies, Malfoy." She retorted. "I am not here to trade insult with you. Just hand me the books already."
"Fine." He spat. Reaching inside the desk near him and brought out a brown paper bag.
"here." He shoved it into her hand. "Try better time or else." There was a mocking sneer. "We might just start targeting your precious potter."
"Yeah, Yeah." She nodded distracted bringing out a brown leather book. Looking at the title, his blood ran cold.
The very next day, Ginny was discharged from the hospital. Her injuries weren't serious and Madame Pomfrey had only kept her overnight to be sure.
While eating breakfast, they were approached by the redhead in Harry's year, Susan Bones. She gave him a dazzling smile and sat down beside him.
"Hey!" She greeted, more like gushed. "How have you been?"
"Um, good?" Her behaviour had caught him off guard and his answer came out in the form of a question.
"Will you meet me after dinner tonight?" She placed her hand on his and leaned closer.
"Why?" He cocked an eyebrow.
"I have a message for you from my aunt." She whispered. "And I'll prefer it if you are alone." She patted his hand. "I better get going now." She had leaned so close that her breath could be felt on his ear.
He watched her go, wondering what was all that about, when he heard Ginny.
"What was that bitch whispering in your ear that she to practically lick your ear."
He gave her a look. "She had a message from her aunt that she wants to relay to me alone."
"Aunt? Is it about Pettigrew?" Ginny asked, her demeanour completely changed from a moment ago.
"Has to be." Harry answered thoughtfully. "But she could have relayed it through Dumbledore I smell something here."
"Well you are not going anywhere without me." Ginny declared and after a moment added. "And Fleur."
So it was that Harry, Ginny and Fleur found themselves in an unused classroom where Susan had indicated to meet her.
The door opened and she entered wearing a long coat. She stopped for a moment and stared at Ginny and Fleur who were sitting in the far corner.
"I told you to be alone." She hissed.
Harry waved at her dismissively. "They aren't a problem just tell me what the message is."
"You sure you don't want to be sweeter to me." Her tone changed to a mischievous one as she started taking off her coat.
"Why?" Harry raised an eyebrow. "I don't think I am being rude at all."
"Well I am carrying an important message that could help in deciding the fate of Peter Pettigrew." She took off the coat and threw it on the desk revealing a provocative blouse and a skirt which could never be allowed at Hogwarts.
I know what I am getting Ginny for Christmas.
"You like it?" she leaned forward emphasizing her impressive chest, the biggest in their year according to some source that would remain anonymous, as she noticed Harry staring.
"Yes." Harry nodded distractedly. "That's a lovely dress."
Pleased with herself she thrust out her breasts a bit more.
"Well what's that message now?" Harry demanded.
"My aunt can get Veritaserum to be administered to Pettigrew." She leaned back crossing her toned legs.
"Hm." Harry frowned. "And what does she want in return?"
"She said that Fudge won't survive the scandal and there will be a new minister soon."
"She wants my supports for her run." Harry concluded.
Susan nodded, resetting her blouse. "She already as a good support but with your voice in her favour she would be assured of victory."
Harry shrugged his shoulder. "If that's all that she wants then I guess I am up for it. She can't possibly be worse than Fudge."
"Not like that." She shook her head and stood up, walking closer to Harry. She placed her right index finger on his chest. "She needs to be sure that you will give her your support."
"Harry will never go back on his word." Ginny's voice came from the back. She casually walked up to the two of them with Fleur trailing behind her. "You can tell that to your aunt."
"There's another way she can be sure of your support." She winked suggestively before picking up her coat. "I'll hope for a positive response."
Her walk out was as distracting as her clothes.
"What are you looking at?" Ginny rounded on Harry.
"Just wondering where did she get those clothes."
"What?"
"I think Amelia Bones might be behind this whole fiasco." Ginny answered, glaring at the shut door. "Her message just as we are at the end of rope signify that and her motive is as clear as day now. Strange though, Dad always said she was a just woman."
"And I thought your Dad was an upstanding man," muttered Harry.
Ginny heard him but she pretended not to.
"All of this a ploy to further one's political ambition." Harry sighed. "If she's behind this she can be sure that he career would come to a screeching halt."
"I'll ask Tonks to focus on Amelia Bones." Ginny suggested. "I am sure she's behind this.
"Aren't you a bit too fired up." Harry teased.
Ginny flicked her hair and huffed, oddly reminiscent to Fleur. "I can't let that slut get her claws into you."
Harry grabbed her around her waist and pulled her towards himself, eliciting a squeal from her. "And why's that?" he nuzzled her hair.
She squirmed in his and turned around blushing faintly. "Because you are mine." She whispered shyly.
"Well you haven't laid claim to your territory yet." He leaned closed nearly brushing his lips against her."
Ginny gasped, a passionate fire smouldering in her eyes. She grabbed the back of his neck and pulled him in. There was a pause as they stared at each other, old memories coming to the surface before their lips locked in a heated kiss.
The kiss took him by surprise., it certainly was different than the first kiss he remembered but no less pleasing. His hand came up threading into the silky red hair of Ginny, deepening the kiss and pulling her closer. They were practically moulded together, their hands caressing each other. The kiss had turned into a series of small kisses accentuated by their warm breaths and throaty moans.
Before the things could escalate any further into the territory which would embarrass any person with a bit of shame, Fleur tapped Ginny's shoulder, breaking them apart.
"What?" Ginny was flushed from head to toe and her eyes were red.
Fleur didn't look any different. Her eyes were a bit crossed, her breathing shallow and she seemed to be a bit wobbly.
"Should I go out?" Her voice was hoarse.
"No need," Ginny sighed, straightening her hair. She tried to move away but Harry tightened his grip.
"Stay like this please." He breather in her heavenly scent and placed a kiss on her exposed neck. "I haven't held you like this in so long."
Ginny moaned tilting her head further, giving him easier access to her neck. She could feel his arousal on her back and it excited her. She knew she should be slowing down, she wasn't old enough. But she wasn't exactly thirteen.
Fleur's breathing seemed to be coming in short gasps. She was rocking on her her heels, moaning slowly.
Finally, Harry stopped his kissing and sat on a desk pulling Ginny in and just placing his chin on top of her head. They looked like they had run a marathon. Fleur who had collapsed on a chair didn't look any better.
"We better send that letter to Tonks soon." Ginny reminded.
It took Tonks a week to pull out indirect contact between the defence and Amelia. She had covered her tracks well but Tonks had been trained by moody, despite her clumsiness. It was a small evidence but enough to prove that Amelia was behind this whole fiasco.
But they still needed her help in freeing Sirius, so a clever plan was devised as suggested by Ginny.
Harry met Amelia Bones on a weekend promising her his support. As a sign of proof, he signed a contract to marry her niece, Susan, after Amelia has been elected as Minister and both of them turned sixteen and Sirius had been freed from all wrongdoings.
When Fleur asked Ginny how were going to deciver Amelia. Her answer was simple.
"It's in the woring." She explained. "It's a betrothal putting the date of marriage after she had become minister but what if she never becomes minister?"
"Harry won't have to marry Susan." Fleur nodded.
The day before the next hearing, Sirius turned himself in to the authorities. He was placed in a solitary cell with explicit orders to not given any access to him even if it's the Minister himself.
On the day of hearing he was produced before the court. Not only that, Harry, Ginny and Remus were also asked to testify. They were cautious, giving as short and concise of an answer as they could so that the defence won't have anything to work with.
On the turn of Sirius, he asked to be administered Veritaserum.
"That's not necessary." The defence lawyer spoke. "His recorded confession is available and I believe that's enough."
Harry frowned. He thought Amelia had told the lawyer not to press the case anymore. He could see a subtle glare directed from her towards the lawyer.
"That was under extreme stress." Amelia noted. "Confessions under such state of mind is not admissible. Moreover, as per laws passed in 1850, A person has a right to ask for Veritaserum if there' he believes there's no other way to prove his innocence."
The Veritaserum was administered and much to the shock of the world, he claimed innocence and blamed Pettigrew, even though the defence tried to twist his question in a way that would make Sirius look guilty.
Following Sirius statement, Wizengamot ordered the administration of Veritaserum to Pettigrew. He fought and nearly wet himself but in the end truth came out.
When it came to Sirius exoneration, it was unanimous with Pettigrew barely getting a life sentence in Azkaban.
When the Wizengamot was about to disbanded, Minister Fudge stood up.
"Please members of Wizengamot sit down. The matter is not yet resolved."
"What is left now?" Grumbled one of the old men. "I have other matters to attend to."
"I don't believe Sirius black should be let go." Fudge stated. "I believe he has spent too much time in Azkaban, in the company of convicted criminal to be allowed to be integrated in society.
"One minister." Amelia corrected her monocle. "He looks perfectly sane to me as attested by the healers on his check-up when he turned himself in. Second you want us to punish him for a mistake that you made, when it should be you thrown in Azkaban for hastening the trial and resulting in the imprisonment of an innocent man?"
"Now, Now Madame Bones." Fudge had gone pale. "It was Bartemius Crouch who did that."
"You certainly didn't step up to help him and stand for the law."
"What do you want us to do Minister." A balding man said. "Throw an innocent man in Azkaban?"
"Lord Dresmond." Amelia stared at the man incredulously. "Surely you are not considering this?"
"Minister Fudge raises a valid point Madame." He said haughtily. "Azkaban is a dangerous place. Exposure to dementors and criminals of that level cannot be without effect. We cannot let our guilt blind us into making another mistake."
"This is preposterous." Another man stood up. "We cannot confine an innocent man just on hearsay. Let the healers decide."
"Lord Blackwood." Cornelius Fudge spoke quickly. "If only you will hear my proposal. I believe he should be monitored and outside interaction be regulated, till the healers can be sure of his sanity."
The room broke out in whispers. The noise level reached a new high in the trial room.
"Let's put the motion to a vote." Fudge declared hastily. "All those in favour?"
He looked around the room and nodded. "All opposed?" Once again hands were raised in the court. A few moments after the minister was handed a sheet and colour returned to his face.
"25-24. The decision has been made. Sirius Black will be confined to his house till ministry appointed healers have cleared him. The court is adjourned. Let the date be recorded as the conclusion go the Trial of Pettigrew and Sirius Black."
It looked like their problems were far from over.