Note: I do not own 'Harry Potter' but do own my own characters...if anything doesn't seem to jive with the books, it's not meant to...Hope you enjoy it...
The day of the trial came and Pyx had been up since 6am. She was too nervous about what would happen. Thanatos hadn't come back with Wormtail yet so she clung onto the journal and the pouch.
"It will be fine, Pyx."
"I'm still going up against a Death Eater and Voldemort supporters. I know the shit you went through but you were one of them. I'm a blood traitor in their eyes and they will not hesitate to kill me," she told her father.
It was great that Snape kept vials of Polyjuice potion in his stores. He wasn't thrilled to be giving several vials to Sirius. Pyx pointed out that at least they were using someone else to impersonate and not him. An Order member had taken some hair from a Muggle barber shop. Sirius was now 6' 2 with sandy blond hair, a muscular build, and a goatee. He looked to be in his mid 20s and could have worked as a model.
"Damn, Uncle Sirius. If I didn't like Nev, you'd be seeing a lot of that Muggle if I ever found him."
Pyx, Sirius, and Remus headed to the Ministry. They piled into the red telephone booth, punched in the numbers 6-2-4-4-2, and gave their names for their visitors' badges. Pyx and Remus turned their wands in for inspection at the security desk.
"What about him?" the guard asked.
"Broke it. Gotta get another one from Ollivanders," Sirius grumbled.
The three of them headed to the lifts and headed down to Courtroom A. Kingsley got on at another floor and whispered into Remus' ear.
"It's been changed. Rather than a private hearing, it's in front of the entire Wizengamot."
"You gotta be shitting me," she whispered.
They headed down further into the depth of the Ministry to get to the large courtroom. Pyx followed behind Sirius and Remus but stopped when she saw Lucius talking to someone. They turned to look at her and she saw Cornelius Fudge, the Minister. She balled up her fists and her nails dug into her palms. Up ahead, Remus stopped because he could smell fresh blood. He turned and the scent was coming from Pyx.
"Are you alright?"
"He's up to something. If the plan doesn't work and I can't run away, I'd rather die than live with him," she seethed.
"Pyx?"
The girl turned and an instant later, she smiled. She threw herself into his arms and hugged him. Sirius and Remus watched the interaction between the two friends.
"What are you doing here, Danny?"
"I work here as a solicitor. The restaurant is just a hobby of mine. What about you?"
"Is it in another courtroom? Please tell me it's not the guardianship case."
"I can't do that. Wait. Are you the witch who is being fought over?"
"Yes. Did you know that I was a witch?"
"Your mother let it slip that she ran away from our world. I didn't know she was Lucius Malfoy's sister though."
"Whose side are you on?" she pleaded, hoping it was her side.
Danny looked at Pyx and sighed. He shook his head. She had always been tough, more so after her mother and grandmother's deaths. Now she seemed vulnerable and scared. The look he gave her said it all.
"Why would he want a wizard that lived in the Muggle world, who enjoyed Muggle things, to represent him?"
"I shouldn't even be talking to you. Excuse me."
Danny walked away and Pyx went over to Sirius and Remus.
"Let's just leave. I'm getting screwed over every way I turn. He hired the man who gave me my first job and who posed as my father to the Muggle authorities."
"It will be OK, Pyx. He'll have to excuse himself from the case. Our solicitor is waiting for us."
"If I knew he worked here, I would have wanted him. Not some appointed one who really could care less about what happened to me."
Sirius took a sip out of the vial and they headed into the courtroom. Their solicitor, Mr. Bayer, approached them and led them over to a table. Lucius, the blond woman from Platform 9 ¾, and Danny were talking at the next table. There was a third table set up for Sirius and his solicitor but everyone thought he wouldn't show up. His solicitor sat alone and staring off into space.
There were plenty of spectators. Rita Skeeter was there with her Quik-Quill ready to write whatever lies she wanted. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were there Even her distant cousin Andromeda Tonks was there with her daughter. The only people not there and those who Pyx desperately wanted to see were her friends. They were back at Hogwarts writing exams.
"This guardianship hearing is now called to order. It seems Mr. Black did not feel his niece's guardianship was important enough to attend," Fudge said.
"Asshole," Pyx breathed.
Sirius smirked at her comment and relaxed his fists. Remus looked over at his friend and waited to pull him back if he tried to do anything.
"Minister, it seems that I have a conflict of interest in this case. I knew Pyxis Malloy, sorry Malfoy-Black, before this. In order to receive a fair hearing, I will need to be excused," Danny said.
"Nonsense. Clearly you care for her and wish her to be placed in an appropriate home. Your presence here will be beneficial for her."
Bloody git. I was forced to be his representative. I couldn't even decline, Danny thought.
Danny stood up and walked in between the tables and the front platform.
"Mr. Malfoy is an upperclassman wizard with a wife and son. With his financial ingenuity, he has been able to raise millions of Galleons for St. Mungo's, other notable charities, and even backed part of the costs for the fountain in the lobby. Ms. Malfoy-Black will benefit if the Malfoys are given guardianship. She will have the opportunity to learn more about the magical world from one of the oldest wizarding families around."
Danny sat down and Fudge turned to Sirius' solicitor. The bald man stood but stayed behind the table.
"Sirius Black had been in Auror training until he was falsely accused and sent to Azkaban. He only escaped when the real killer was pictured in the Daily Prophet. Mr. Black is…"
"Enough. Sit down. This is only a formality. The Ministry stands behind its conviction of Mr. Black. Ms. Malfoy-Black only has one direct relative left. So unless there is nothing else she will…"
"Shut up. It's my life so don't I have a say in what happens to it? You may think Sirius Black is the one responsible for several deaths but what if I could prove that Lucius Malfoy is not the upstanding citizen you all think he is? What if I have proof that he killed a family of Muggles because they laughed at him? What if I could…"
Caw!
Everyone looked up and Pyx saw Thanatos. An Auror raised his wand at the falcon.
"If you shoot my bird, I'll kill you," she threatened, raising her own wand.
Thanatos flew down and hovered above her. She reached up and took the thing in its talons. Her hands clamped down tighter on it and she nodded to Sirius. She hadn't told them this part of the plan. Only Neville knew.
"What if I could present the one really responsible for betraying James and Lily Potter and who killed those Muggles?"
The eyes of every Order member went wide and stared at Pyx. She stood and left the table. She approached the Wizengamot but stopped.
"A man I knew to be alive and have caught to prove my uncle's innocence. I will need assistance in containing him."
"Where is this man? Invisible?" a member of the court asked.
"Before I turn him over, I want a Wizard's Oath that you'll free my uncle, wipe his record clean, and give him compensation. I also want it to be known that the real killer is an unregistered Animagus and will need a special cell in Azkaban."
"No," Minister Fudge said.
"Fine. Ms. Skeeter, please make it known to the public that Minister Fudge turned a murderer free because he couldn't get over his own pigheadedness. Also that he dismissed proof that Mr. Malfoy is a Death Eater and is a murderer himself. I do believe that they'll have your head on a platter before the evening is through, Minister."
"Objection. What proof could she be talking about? Ministry records clearly prove that my client was under the Imperius curse during the first war," Danny said, after Lucius glared at him.
"That's bullshit. The proof I have shows that he was not under the Imperius. I also have records that list several other Death Eaters by name. Now what do you say, Minister?"
"I will not do a Wizard's Oath but I will put it in writing that if your proof is found reliable, then the matter will be looked into."
"I also want a compensation package paid to Uncle Sirius, including a new wand to replace the one you snapped before you sent him to Azkaban without a fair trial. I also want a public apology and if he'd accept it, a job as an Auror. That's what he would have been if the Ministry hadn't gone all blond and stupid, convicting him without hard evidence."
While Pyx waited for Fudge's decision, she felt the rat bite her but only squeezed harder. Again it was Remus who smelled the blood first. He nudged Sirius and they both stared at the girl. Blood could be seen dripping from her clasped hands.
"Ms. Malfoy-Black, why is your hand bleeding?"
"Stupid rat bit me. If you don't hurry up and decide, he'll be squeezed to death."
"Rat?" a witch asked.
"Yes. I'll show you all if the Minister could bloody well hurry up. He's now digging at my palms," she said through clenched teeth, as more blood flowed.
"Alright. Yes. I'll add those conditions in. Weatherby, write it up and I'll sign it. Now show us."
"Not until you sign it."
They both knew that if the document was not signed, it wasn't legal and he could back out of the deal. Percy Weasley wrote it up and Fudge signed it quickly. The document was copied and levitated down to Pyx's solicitor.
"Like I explained, I'll need an Auror with his wand ready. He's a quick little bugger and he will try to make a run for it."
An Auror stepped forward and transfigured a button into a cage.
"If he is an Animagus, the cage will shift into shackles and cuffs when we change him back," he said.
Pyx wasn't too sure if she could trust this guy. She looked over at Remus and Sirius. Both nodded and she held her bloody hands over the opening of the cage. The rat dropped inside and the door clang shut. The Auror waved his wand and said an incantation. The cage glowed and the rat inside turned into a stocky man. The metal altered into the restraints.
"Oh, look. Peter Pettigrew is alive and pretty much well. I guess then Sirius Black didn't kill those Muggles. I guess you'll have to do that public apology and everything else you agreed to. How does it feel to be out smarted by a 16 year old?" Pyx asked.
The man looked around the courtroom and saw several people he knew. He saw Lucius so he was scared. The man looked ready to kill. At least he wasn't gripped in those talons anymore.
"Peter Pettigrew, you will be held and tried for killing 12 Muggles. Auror, take him away."
"There's plenty more that he's guilty for. Now I want to hear those 4 certain words before I submit the other evidence."
Fudge looked unsettled but he straightened his shoulders and leaned forward.
"Sirius Black is innocent."
"I told you that from the beginning," Sirius muttered.
Pyx pulled out the journal and the pouch of memories. She held them out for everyone to see.
"While it is true that my father was a Death Eater, he slowly realized it was wrong. He kept this journal and removed several of his memories to hide away. I have showed the journal and memories to several others so that if someone becomes creative and tried to alter them, it wouldn't work. Remus, if you could please duplicate the journal for me? My father included entries that weren't Death Eater related and I would like to hold onto his words."
Remus duplicated the journal and Pyx tucked the copy into her robes. An Auror came to her table and took the journal and the pouch to Fudge.
"We will adjourn until we have had a chance to look at his," he said.
The Wizengamot left and Pyx turned to the Malfoys. She raised her eyebrows and smirked at them before turning back to Remus and Sirius.
"Why didn't you tell us?" Sirius asked as Remus healed her hands with a quick spell.
"I wasn't sure if Thanatos would be able to find him. Rather than just discredit Malfoy, I set you free. You don't have to stay cooped up in the house anymore. Harry can live with you rather than go back to those relatives."
The other Order members approached them outside the courtroom. They were ecstatic that Sirius was free and clear. Pyx called to Thanatos and sent a note to her friends at school. Everyone headed to a wizard friendly restaurant in London to celebrate and to wait out the Wizengamot.
"Can you order me a butterbeer? I'll be right back," Pyx said, as she headed to the washroom.
When she exited the stall, she was hit by a stunning spell. The tall blond woman from the courtroom came into view.
"What you're trying to do will not work. You may have freed my cousin but you lost the Dark Lord a follower. He will reward us for bringing him a new one."
Narcissa Malfoy grabbed onto Pyx and apparated to Malfoy Manor. She left the girl stunned in a dungeon cell and made her way back upstairs.
Back at the restaurant, Sirius was wondering why it was taking Pyx so long to come back. He asked Mrs. Weasley to check on her. The redhead went to the washroom and looked everywhere. She ran back to the table and told the others.
"Where could she have gone?"
"Tonks, can you check it out with the tracking spell on apparition? Someone must have grabbed her," Remus said.
Tonks headed to the back and scanned the area with the spell. One spell told her someone apparated and another spell, only known to Aurors, revealed whom. She saw the name and ran back to the table, not knocking anything over on the way.
"Notify Kingsley and he'll send a team down here. I have no right being as I'm family," she said, falling into her chair.
"Who took her?"
"Narcissa Malfoy. We've got to hurry. I don't know where they went."
A Floo call later and a three man team showed up. Kingsley was the one in charge and he sent one Auror to check out the washroom and the other to talk with anyone sitting near the back of the restaurant.
"I believe Mr. Malfoy is still waiting at the Ministry for the ruling. I'm sure his wife will be there shortly if she hasn't already returned," Kingsley said.
"Please, Kingsley. Find her," Mrs. Weasley pleaded. "No child should go through as much as she has."
Their bill was paid, food not even ordered and they returned to the Ministry. Sirius was furious and wanted to talk to Lucius privately. He stormed through the lobby, by passing the security desk. The Polyjuice potion was wearing off and several wizards and witches screamed and ran. Sirius saw the tell tale blond hair of Lucius Malfoy and stormed up to him.
"Where the hell is Pyx? What the bloody hell did you do to her?"
Lucius allowed the man to yell at him for a moment. He knew of the turn of events but thought this scene was better. Narcissa exited out of the women's washroom and was soon face to face with Molly Weasley.
"Where is she? Why did you take her?"
"Take who? I have not left my husband's side. Our solicitor can attest to that," she said calmly.
Sirius kept yelling at Lucius and even had to be pulled back by Remus and Mr. Weasley.
"I have no clue as to what you're talking about, Black. Last I saw my niece is when she left with you. You must have done something to her."
Kingsley walked up to the group and asked if he could question Narcissa about Pyx's disappearance.
"Mrs. Malfoy, did you leave the Ministry to abduct Pyxis Malfoy-Black?"
"No. As I was telling her, I never left my husband's side except to use the washroom. Mr. Johnstone cane support that claim."
All eyes turned to Danny. He was worried for Pyx but it was true. Narcissa only left their side a few minutes ago. He told them this and Kingsley thought about it. To follow the group to the restaurant, grab Pyx, and hide her somewhere was longer than a few minutes. Realization slowly started to hit the others as they came to this conclusion.
A wizard approached and notified them that a decision had been made. Kingsley went ahead to let the Wizengamot know that Pyx had been taken. Sirius turned to the Malfoys.
"I know it was you. Now that I'm free, I won't rest until I have her back."
"You can start looking elsewhere, Black, because we don't have her," Lucius said, tapping his cane on the marble floor.
Lucius and Narcissa followed Danny to the lifts and headed down to the courtroom. The others followed and when Sirius saw the black Auror, he demanded that the Malfoys be given Veritaserum.
"It will have to wait until after the hearing. I will talk to Mr. Johnstone and see if he will still be representing them."
"They have a whole firm under their thumb and yet they decide to use Ministry representation? It doesn't make sense."
Everyone was back in the courtroom and Sirius sat at his table with his rightful solicitor. Lucius looked at him and tilted his head.
"We have reached a decision pertaining to the guardianship of Pyxis Malfoy-Black. It seems that the duplicating spell was not performed very accurately so the journal is inadmissible until the original is submitted to the court."
"That is the original," Sirius said.
"Clearly you are mistaken, Mr. Black We have not had an opportunity to validate the memories as of yet. Until a time when they have been reviewed, I am awarding guardianship to Mr. and Mrs. Lucius Malfoy."
Fudge banged his gavel and left. Sirius was beyond mad. Kinglsey approached Danny and talked to him. The solicitor shook his head and left.
"Mr. Malfoy, I would request your presence along with your wife's upstairs to the Magical Law Enforcement department. There are a few questions I would still like to ask your wife. I strongly recommend that you notify your private solicitor to meet us there."
"My dear, please owl Mr. Harding. Tell him where we'll be."
Narcissa, with one of the Aurors, headed upstairs and owled their attorney. Upon her arrival at the MLE department, she was greeted by an angry Sirius and a placid Lucius. They didn't have to wait long for Mr. Harding to appear.
"Auror Shacklebolt, why was this meeting arranged?"
"Pyxis Malfoy-Black has been kidnapped and a trace was done on the apparition signature. It identified Mrs. Malfoy and Ms. Mafloy-Black. We have grounds to question her under Veritaserum."
"I see. Has Mrs. Malfoy submitted a statement to these false accusations?"
"Not a formal one. If you agree to it, we can bypass the paperwork and go straight to the questioning."
Mr. Harding nodded and the four of them headed into a private room. Sirius paced while Remus sat quietly. Mr. Weasley had gone back to work while Mrs. Weasley was fretting in the chair beside Remus. After 10 minutes, Kingsley followed Mr. Harding and the Malfoys out of the room.
"It'll take a minute for the antidote to take full effect."
"If you find my niece, please let us know," Lucius said.
"Kingsley?"
"She did not take Ms. Malfoy-Black."
Narcissa was wrapped in her husband's embrace, still reeling from the after effects of the truth potion. Sirius turned to her and shot off a couple of questions of his own.
"Who took Pyx? Where is she? Are you and your husband Death Eaters?"
"I don't know. She's not here. We are…not," she replied, the antidote kicking in at the last second.
The Malfoys left and Sirius turned to his friends.
"They have her. Who else had an issue with her but them? They've already discredited the journal and it was the original. I'm not liking this."