Chapter thirteen
On a dark night (even though it is always dark here), on a small island in the north sea sat a ragged looking man on an even more ragged looking mattress. He had long black hair that was matted with dirt and grease. His face was covered in a dirty beard and he was clothed in tattered garments. What was so special about this man you ask? He was in the high security ward of a place was aptly named a hell on earth. His name was Sirius Black and he was at Azkaban Prison.
You wouldn't immediately think that prison was that bad, but this was no normal prison. It was a prison for wizards and it was guarded by some of the foulest creatures known to wizard-kind, Dementors. They are dark creatures in every sense of the word. They have no physical features to speak of and they are shrouded in a black cloak. They don't walk, but glide across the ground. They suck all the happiness out of the area and make people relive their worst memories.
Sirius was here for what the wizarding world considered a severe crime. He betrayed the Potter family to the dark lord and then, when their friend Peter Pettigrew confronted him, Sirius filled him along with twelve muggles when he blew up a gas main in the street. All they found of Pettigrew was a finger. At least this is what the people believed. The truth was much worse and far more sinister
Sirius wasn't the secret keeper for the Potter family. In fact, it was Pettigrew himself that was. After Sirius got to James and Lily's destroyed house, and Hagrid refused to hand Harry over to him, Sirius went looking for Peter. It took him a couple of days, but he finally found him. Before sirius could even raise his wand Peter screamed out about how Sirius was the traitor and then blew up the side fo the street, igniting the gas main and killing the muggles. Peter survived by cutting his own finger off and shifting to his animagus form, that of a rat. The aurors found sirius on the ground silent and mumbling. Two days later he found himself in Azkaban without a trial. To this day he still hasn't had one.
Sirius raised his head up at the sound of approaching feet. He saw two men dressed in Auror robes approach his cell and look in on him.
"On your feet Black," one of them said.
"What's going on," Sirius asked, his voice rasping from lack of use.
"You're going to have a trial," the second one answered him.
"It's about time," Sirius said as he stood up.
One of the Aurors opened the cell door while the other one kept his wand trained on Sirius. The one that opened the door and place magic-restraining cuffs on him and walked him out of his cell. The two Aurors walk him to the desk and checked him out befor walking outside of the prison. Sirius's mind was racing with possibilities and dare he believe, hope. The Aurors must have saw the hope in his eyes because he snorted in disbelief.
"Don't get your hopes up Black," he said, "You will be right back in here soon. This is just a formality."
"You belong here with the rest of you-know-who's troops," the other said, "and you will be back shortly."
They walked him down to a small dock and a boat that had four other Aurors in it. They got him settled in the middle of them and they headed for the mainland.
Albus was in a panic at the moment because he had just found out that Amelia Bones had managed to scheduled a trial for Sirius Black. Somehow doing it without him finding out until it was too late to stop it. He was going to have to adapt and make sure Black went back to Azkaban. Sirius wasn't guilty, and Albus knew it, but he needed Sirius out of the way so that couldn't interfere with all his plans. If Sirius was free he would no doubt try to get custody of Harry and in that case, because Sirius was Harry's legal guardian, there was nothing Albus could do to stop it. At the most he might be able to slow it down because of Sirius's time in Azkaban, but it would happen eventually. He sighed wondering why people just couldn't leave well enough alone.
Th entire wizengamot was in attendence for this trial, as it was high profile and Amelia didn't let any of them skip out on it. She herself wouldn't be serving in it as she had taken it upon herself to defend Sirius Black as a favor to young Harry. She sat at a table with two chairs and not far from her was another table. Seated at that table was the man that was representing the ministry in the case aginst Sirius. His name was Lucius Malfoy. He was an aristocratic looking man with lond blonde hair and was dressed in very expensive looking robes. Amelia knew he was appointed to this position for this trial by Minister Fudge. She also knew Fudge was going to do anything he could for this to come out in his favor, no matter the outcome.
Amelia looked as Albus Dumbledore strode into the chambers looking like someone had just stole his kitten. She smiled to herself at the fact he looked so uncomfortable. She had done some digging and found some things that scared and worried her and they had name of Albus Dumbledore all over them. She worked hard and called in many favors to keep this trial secret until the last minute. It had been almost two weeks since Harry had told her everything, including the fact that Sirius had never had a trial. She was unsure, but had promised him she would look into it. She was horrified and perplexed to find out that he was correct. She reminded herself to have a long talk with him once this was over with.
Her musing was interrupted by the doors to the chamber slamming open and Minister Fudge walking in with a false air of superiority. He took his seat and nodded to Dumbledore to indicate that it was time to begin. He tapped the podium to get everyone's attention.
"We are gathered here for the trial of Sirius Black," he proclaimed.
The wizengamot started muttering at this and there was shouts of surprise and confusion.
An older woman stood up to address the chamber.
"Why is he getting another trial Chief Warlock," she asked, "has new evidence been found or more charges added?"
"Actually Madam Longbottom," Albus stated, "it seems that Sirius Black was never given a trial."
There was cries of outrage and fear at this statemen beacuse many of them were afraid that if one heir of a noble and most ancient family could be thrown in Azkaban without a trial, any of them could be. The ones that were afraid the most were the ones who had claimed to be under the influence of the imperious curse during the war and were pardoned after several substantial bribes...er donations to the minister.
Dumbledore banged his gavel after Madam Longbottom sat back down to regain silence.
"Bring in the accused," he said to the Aurors stationed near the rear doors.
One of them stuck his head through the door and a few seconds later Sirius was led into the chamber and was placed in the chair next to Amelia. He looked a lot better that when he was taken from the prison, but he was still sickly pale and thin. His eyes showed the most of the damage as you could see that he was haunted, but there was also a glimmer of hope if you looked close enough. Amelia stood to address the chamber.
"The defense request veritaserum be used in Mr. Black's testimony," she said.
Lucius was on his feet in a flash.
"I object as there is no reason for it," he said.
"According to Peliot's law of 1976, the taking of veritaserum is voluntary and a defendent can request it to aid in their defense," she said glaring at him, "as you are well aware of since you used that same law a few years ago."
Amelia smirked as Lucius withdrew his objection and sat back down.
"Very well request granted," Albus said, "is it known whether he was able to take any counter-agents for it?"
"I have sworn affidavits from six Aurors staing that he has not been alone since being removed from Azkaban and nobody gave him any," Amelia said handing the documents to the head warlock.
He looked at the papers and told one of the Aurors to fetch the ministry's poton master and have him bring a vial.
A few minutes later a middle-aged woman in light blue robes. She walked up to Sirius and dropped three drops on his tongue after telling him to open his mouth. A few seconds later his eyes became glazed over and she nodded to the chief warlock and went to stand near the back.
"You may procede Madam Bones," Albus said.
Amelia stood up and stepped in front of the table and faced Sirius.
"What is your full name," she asked?
"Sirius Orion Black," Sirius replied in a monotone.
"Were you the secret keeper for James and Lily Potter," she asked?
"No," was the answer.
"Are you now or have you ever been a Death Eater?"
"No."
"Who was the secret keeper for the Potter's?"
"Peter Pettigrew."
"Did you kill Peter Pettigrew and twelve muggles?"
"No."
"Who did?"
"Peter killed the muggles."
"Who killed Peter?"
"Nobody did."
"What do you mean?"
"Peter cut off his finger befor transforming and escaping."
"He was an animagus?"
"Yes. He, myself, and James became animagus while at Hogwarts."
"None of you are registered. Why?"
"We kept the information secret so none of our enemies would find out."
"What were your forms?"
"James was a stag, I am a big black dog, and Peter was a rat."
Amelia looked at Albus and ordered the antidote be given.
"You have heard the testimony given under veritaserum," Albus stated, "I now call for you vote. Lght you wand red for guilty and blur for not guilty."
A few seconds later he counted up the votes and then looked at Sirius.
"Sirius Black," he started, "you have been found not guilty of all charges."
Amelia smiled at this and Sirius smiled.
"You will be released immediately and given two thousand galleons for every year you were incarcerated," Albus added, "a fine of one thousand galleons will be deducted for being an illegal animagus."
With that he slammed his gavel down dismissing them and swept from the room.
Sirius stood up ans shook Amelia's hand thanking her profusely. She had him fill out the papers to register his form before leadin him to St. Mungos to be seen by a healer.
