A/N: As of the time of writing, this story has surpassed 100 followers! I'm truly humbled to see so many of you interested in this random idea that popped into my head after a night out. Thank you for the support! As a few of you pointed out, there were some formatting issues in chapter one. Those should hopefully be squared away as I get better at uploading within the framework of this site. I plan to upload once a week, but I am working full time and a full time college student as well, so bear with me on any unforeseen delays. See chapter one for the full disclaimer but spoiler alert I don't own Harry Potter or DxD, all credit to the creators.
Sirius appeared in the hall of Black Manor with a muted pop. He stood, head bowed with the small bundle in his arms, feeling numb. He wanted nothing more than to tear into the man who'd killed his best friend and robbed Harry of his parents, but it would have to wait. The sleeping child in his arms was his world now, he owed that to James and Lily. The door into the hall opened, and a beautiful blond peered in. Seeing Sirius, she bowed her head. "My lord, we weren't expecting you to return until later. If you give me a moment, I can get the kitchen staff to put together a late dinner-"she paused, seeing the grief on Sirius's face and crossed to him urgently, putting a hand on his arm.
"Sirius, what's wrong?" the woman asked quietly, staring up into his dark eyes with her piercing blue ones. In response, Sirius shifted his burden, allowing her to see Harry's face. Her eyes widened in shock. "That's Harry isn't it? Did something happen to James and Lily?" Hearing their names was enough for Sirius, and the emotion of the night finally overwhelmed him. Slowly at first, but gaining speed, tears began to well from his eyes as he told her of everything that had happened that night. By the time he finished his retelling, tears shone in her own eyes.
"Don't worry my lord," she murmured in comfort. "Let us help you, it's what your peerage is for." She gently took Harry from Sirius's limp arms and called out "Mary! Hannah!" Two more women appeared in the hall and dipped their heads to her in respect.
"How may we serve, Lady Amanda?" The speaker was the taller of the two women, a brunette with proud features and a body, that even under her robes, hinted at musculature. The other woman, a tiny redhead gazed upward with a fierce fire in her eyes. Amanda gently handed Harry to the taller woman, who made a noise of surprise.
"Mary, please get a room together for Harry. He's to become Sirius's new ward." She raised a hand to forestall the questions the woman was clearly about to burst with. "Right now, Sirius needs Harry cared for and a hot meal. Hannah, please notify the kitchen to prepare food for both of them and see Harry is fed." The two women disappeared to carry out their assigned tasks, and Amanda turned her attention back to Sirius. She gently led him into a large sitting room. A fire was crackling in a large stone hearth, throwing flickering shadows across the walls. Generations of Blacks watched curiously from their portraits, framing a large Black family crest on the wall. Sirius flopped onto a loveseat, staring moodily at his ancestors.
"I always hated this room, hell this whole damn manor," he laughed bitterly. "But for Harry, I can put up with it. As long as my mother doesn't decide to poke her beak into my life here." Amanda said nothing, letting him vent. Sirius's relationship with his parent was well known to his peerage, who shared a strong dislike of his mother. His father, the current Lord Black, was not a bad man but was too weak to stand up to his wife. Orion, by all accounts, had no reservations about making Sirius his heir but his mother's meddling had kept the man from making Sirius's status official.
A tap on the glass startled both of them, and they turned to see a barn owl staring impassively at them through the window with a letter clutched in its beak. Getting up to fetch the missive, Amanda noted the seal of the Wizengamot on the thick envelope. She passed it to Sirius before settling back at his side, peering curiously at it. "What do you think it could be? Surely those old toads have better things to do tonight than snipe at each other." Sirius opened the letter with a snort and began scanning its contents. With each line his eyes narrowed and his grip on the parchment tightened until Amanda was sure he would tear it in half. He finally looked up with a growl and stood angrily, tossing the letter aside. Amanda picked it up and scanned it quickly.
Dear Lord Black,
It has been confirmed by Ministry Aurors that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named was destroyed tonight after an attack on the residence of Lord James Potter and his wife, Lady James Potter. As the Potters' lives were lost in the attack but their son, Harry James Potter, now Heir to the House of Potter, lives on, the Wizengamot has called for a reading of the Potters' Last Will and Testimony to establish the guardianship of Heir Potter. If you wish to cast a vote regarding this matter, please be present in the Wizengamot chambers by 12:45 am on November 1st, 1981. If you or a chosen representative cannot attend, your vote will be counted as an abstention.
Sincerely,
Chief Warlock Albus Brian Percival Wulfric Dumbledore
"He's trying to force through a shadow vote to revoke my guardianship of Harry!" Sirius exploded. Pulling out a pocket watch, he checked the hands and swore again. "The vote's in less than an hour, and Mom and Dad are in the underworld!"
Amanda placed a hand on his and smiled up at him. "Then it falls to you to represent your family, my lord." She leaned up and kissed him softly before stepping back. "Do your house proud, my lord." Eyes filled with a barely suppressed rage, Sirius nodded rigidly before stepping back and disaparating away.
The Ministry was like a madhouse, which Sirius reflected, was an appropriate metaphor for the way the place was usually run. In the normally ordered atrium, bedlam reigned. Some wizards were passing around a bottle of firewhiskey, singing a rather creative version of "Odo the Hero", while fireworks exploded randomly around the marble room. Everywhere he looked, people were either laughing or crying at Voldemort's demise. He felt sick seeing the revelry around him, knowing the true cost of their celebrations. Pushing through the crowds, he came to the reception desk where he was greeted by a bleary eyed witch who smelled strongly of alcohol.
"Sirius Black, here as representative of Lord Orion Black to the Wizengamot," he snapped, glancing at his watch. He had less than fifteen minutes to make his way to the chambers, something he was sure Dumbledore had done on purpose. As he impatiently waited for the witch to clear him, he cursed the old man for what felt like the hundredth time that night. Once she finally waved him through the gate, he all but sprinted to the lift, skidding to a stop inside. The lift seemed to sense his impatience and be all the more determined to move slower to spite him. The second the gates were wide enough he pushed his way through, storming towards the looming doors of the Wizengamot.
Marching into the chamber, he held his breath as he cast his gaze toward the raised benches where the members presided. Muttering a curse, he saw that less than a third of the seats were filled, and many that had occupants were occupied by fervent Dumbledore supporters. The old man himself looked up from his conversation with Augusta Longbottom and flashed a kindly smile at Sirius.
"Ah, Sirius. Judging by your presence, I assume Orion found himself otherwise occupied?"
"Lord Orion is handling Black family business abroad, Chief Warlock," Sirius growled. "I speak with his authority on this matter." He moved to the raised daises and took a seat alongside Cyrus Greengrass, who nodded politely to him. Dumbledore glanced at his own watch and rose to address the assembled witches and wizards.
"Esteemed members of the Wizengamot, I hereby call this session to order." He leaned forward onto his podium. "As I stated in my summons, let me first confirm the rumors that are swirling right now. Lord Voldemort does seem to have been destroyed." Cheers and clapping sounded at this announcement as Dumbledore raised his hands to call for silence. "This victory was not won without a heavy price. Very few here today can say they have lost no one to the cruelty of the Dark Lord or his followers. I must inform you with a heavy heart that Voldemort's final victims tonight were James and Lily Potter."
Sirius bowed his head, feeling a fresh wave of grief rise up. If he had been looking at Dumbledore at the moment, he would have seen the old wizard's eyes dart to him and flash with anger. To his side, Cyrus stood up and addressed Dumbledore.
"James and Lily were good wizards, and better people. The world is a darker place for their loss. They would be overjoyed knowing that Harry still lives, but isn't calling a session of the Wizengamot to read the will a little much, Dumbledore?"
"I agree, Cyrus," Dumbledore cleared his throat. "I am about to ask this body for something rather unprecedented, but necessary in the extreme. I ask this body to seal the Last Will and Testament of James and Lily Potter." He sat down as nearly every wizard in the room began shouting and arguing among each other. One of the only ones not yelling, Sirius sat stunned, staring at his former headmaster. Such an insane move would never be approved by the older families. Finally, Amos Diggory managed to shout the others down and turned to Dumbledore with an incredulous expression on his face.
"Chief Warlock, with all due respect, what grounds could you possibly have to want that Will sealed? The Potters are a Pillar family, and disregarding their final wishes could have repercussions I think many of us would rather avoid." A general consensus sounded at these words, until Dumbledore again rose.
"Amos, I do not propose we indefinitely seal the Potters' final wishes. However, in my investigation into the attack tonight I uncovered sensitive evidence that I fear allowing the Will to enter the public record will expose. The Potter Will unintentionally includes an oversight that could inform Voldemort of a crucial weakness he has not yet realized. I propose simply that their Will not be executed until Harry begins his magical education at age 11." Sirius had heard enough. He leapt to his feet and jabbed an accusatory finger at Dumbledore.
"Bullshit, old man!" gasps erupted around the chamber at his remarks, but he ignored them. "Members of the Wizengamot, Dumbledore is defiling this sacred chamber with lies and half-truths! The reason he wants the Potters' will sealed is because he wants to control where Harry is placed. James and Lily made me Harry's godfather, and Dumbledore is seeking to remove him from my care." Seeing impassive and confused faces around him, Sirius decided it was time to go for the jugular.
"Dumbledore is trying to interfere in the succession of a Pillar house. As the representative for Britain's other Pillar house, I can assure you this would not be a wise move. We answer to more than the Ministry of Magic, and were I to involve any of the four Devil Kings in this, I'm sure it would be decided in my favor quickly but probably not bloodlessly." Sirius allowed his words to sink in a moment before forging ahead. "I didn't come here today to threaten this body, but I will not allow the memory of my friends to be trampled over by an old man who thinks he can play at being a god. If Dumbledore is allowed to set the precedent of deciding matters of succession for a Noble house, do you really think he'll stop with the Potters?"
Sirius sat back down, feeling smug. Dumbledore's face had drained of color as soon as he had threatened to involve the underworld, and Sirius knew the rest of the Wizengamot would want to protect their own hides. Despite passionate pleas from Dumbledore, the final vote was nearly two-thirds against his motion to seal the Potters will. When the Will was read, even many of Dumbledore's allies were giving him cold glares. The Potters had left all their worldly goods to their son, and stipulated Sirius as the first choice to raise him.
When Dumbledore tried to argue that Harry would be better off away from the world of magic, there was a conscious air of annoyance with his antics throughout the chamber. After insinuating that Sirius had betrayed the Potters to Voldemort, the annoyance developed into real anger. Frank Longbottom, sitting beside his mother, laughed in incredulity at the notion.
"Albus, you saw those two at Hogwarts. Sirius gave his statement that it was Pettigrew who was Secret-Keeper and it's in the hands of the DMLE now. Frankly, this whole session is starting to stink of Hippogriff shit."
With that, the session was voted to a quick close leaving Dumbledore no closer to his goals. As he left the chamber, he was mad enough to spit fire. Sirius was being unreasonable and getting in the way of his carefully laid plans. Harry Potter needed to be of the right mind when he finally came to Hogwarts, and someone like Sirius could get in the way of Dumbledore's attempts to get the boy to see the nobility of his destined path. It was time for Sirius Black to be removed from the equation.