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Chapter Three: Innocent Until Proven Guilty

If Albus Dumbledore was surprised to have Hazel Evans and little Sarah Potter burst out of his fireplace as he was completing the junior crossword in the Daily Prophet he gave no outward sign.

"Hazel," he smiled, blue eyes twinkling merrily. "Good morning my dear, and little Sarah too, what a pleasant surprise,"

"Sorry Headmaster, but this isn't a social call," Hazel informed him, tersely.

"Of course it isn't," he nodded. "I can only apologise for not being the one to inform you of James and Lily's passing."

"Not at all sir," terseness had become biting sarcasm. "I can't think of any better way to learn about my twin sister and brother in law's murder than through the Danish press, but that isn't why I'm here. I need to know why Sirius went to Azkaban without standing trial."

The twinkle vanished. "Sirius Black confessed to his crimes, Hazel. I am sorry that you lost such three such close friends, and your sister in one fell swoop but…"

"But nothing, sir," the redhead snapped, startling the child in her arms who began to cry. "Shh, baby I'm sorry. Shhh," when little Sarah was calm again, Hazel returned her mismatched eyes to her former headmaster and continued quietly, her tone waspish. "I went to the Ministry and they have no record of Sirius ever standing trial- you and I both know that that's illegal, hell, even Bellatrix LeStrange has stood trial." That trial had made the front page that morning. "And I'm sure you'll agree that her crimes were every bit as bad as the ones that Sirius was accused of- worse even, because her career as a death eater started before she even left school."

Dumbledore nodded, conceding Hazel's point. "So you want Mr Black to stand trial for his crimes?"

"Yes," she nodded. "It's the only way I will actually believe that he is guilty sir. Even muggles say that everyone is innocent until proven guilty."

"Very well, Miss Evans," Dumbledore said with a sigh. "I will see what I can do- though if I do this, you must do something for me,"

"As long as it doesn't involve giving Sarah back to Petunia,"

"Hazel…"

"Not happening," she said stiffly. "I only went to the house to visit Sarah, but when I saw Vernon looming over her with a belt I couldn't just leave her there. I can't and won't send her back there."

"I believe it would be better for her to grow up away from the wizarding world."

"I disagree, sir," Hazel retorted. "I don't see why she can't have both- tons of Halfbloods get it that way, so why can't Sarah?"

"Because every wizarding child in the country will know who she is- I think she is far better off growing up away from the pressures of her fame."

"You say that as if you expect me to spoil her rotten," a note of indignation began to colour her tone. "And, as I am Sarah's closest living magical relative, I think you'll find that you don't have a leg to stand on even trying to take her away from me."

She adjusted Sarah on her hip and glowered at him.

"Very well," Dumbledore nodded, though not without reluctance. "I will not ask you to return Sarah to live with your sister, although I would advise that you make arrangements with Petunia to have the child stay with them for at least three consecutive weeks each year until she turns seventeen. I placed wards over the house, and having Sarah stay on the property for at least that long will maintain them for the rest of the year."

"No," Hazel growled. "Sarah will not set foot in that house again, not after what Petunia allowed to happen to her. If blood wards are the only way to protect them then I will provide the blood, since I am a closer relation to Petunia than Sarah is, the wards will be stronger."

He had been in Azkaban for about ten days when they came for him. Upon hearing human feet approaching his cell Sirius Black had transformed back into his human form and moved to sit by the his cell window. It came as something as a shock to him when they opened his cell and cuffed his hands behind his back.

"Spring cleaning are we?" he asked cheekily as the trio of Aurors, none of whom he recognized, frogmarched him from the cell.

"Quiet Black," the one to his immediate left growled. "You can speak all you like at your trial this afternoon."

Trial? Sirius's heart leapt- he felt like he could fly. Someone out there loved him enough to see that justice was served.

"Well, better late than never I suppose," he quipped.

"Quiet Black," the Auror warned him, raising his wand threateningly.

If his hands hadn't been restrained as they were Sirius would have raised them in a placating gesture. He settled for a nod, taking care to press his lips together into a tight line.

He would never remember the journey to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement as anything more than an elated blur. Sirus had nothing to hide- not even the fact that he was an illegal animagus. Hell ten days in the company of the dementors was more than punishment for so petty a crime.

Sirius came down to Earth with a bump as he was led into the court room- the full wizengamot had assembled for this trial. Yes he was innocent, but that didn't stop him from feeling nervous. They were an intimidating bunch all sitting there stony faced in their red robes.

Without a sound he allowed his lips to be wet with veritaserum and was led to the interrogation chair and the chains curled around his limbs, restraining him.

"Please state your name," said the thin reedy voice of, Elvendork Rutlidge, the Minister for Magic.

"Sirius Orion Black." said Sirius. "Also known as Padfoot to a select few,"

"How old are you Mr Black?"

"Twenty one," he returned, knowing that these questions were a mere formalilty to ensure the potion was effective.

"You attended Hogwarts did you not Mr Black?" the Minister continued. "Which house were you sorted into?".

"Yes, and I was a Gryffindor."

The shock which followed his statement about his house surprised him- more than a few members of the Wizengamot had attended Hogwarts while he had been there.

"Mr Black," said Rutlidge, once the courtroom was silent once more. "You stand accused of the mass murder of twelve muggles, Peter Dennis Pettigrew, and of being a Death Eater, how do you plead?"

"Not guilty Minister," Sirius declared, proudly. "On all counts."

More ripples of shock ran through the assembled witches and wizards. One man cried a protest that the veritaserum was defective and he ought to be given a second dose.

"I will have order!" Rutlidge commanded, banging his gabble. When at last order had been restored, the elderly wizard continued. "Mr Black, it is well known that James and Lily Potter went into hiding with their daughter, Sarah-Rose Potter, under the protection of the Fidelius Charm. Were you, or were you not, their secret keeper?"

"I was," he announced. "But thinking that I was too obvious a choice, I convinced James and Lily to switch to someone else."

"If not you," said Rutlidge, clearly shocked by this revelation. "Then who?"

"Peter Pettigrew," Sirius said. "I was the one to perform the charm."

"So, am I to understand that, on discovering James and Lily Potter had been murdered you hunted down Mr Pettigrew and murdered him, and those twelve muggles in a fit of rage?"

"I didn't kill anyone Minister," said Sirius. "While it's true that I did hunt Pettigrew down," he could not and would not refer to that little worm by his first name. "I did not cast the blasting spell which killed those muggles- and had my wand not been destroyed, you might have been able to prove that."

"How convenient," came the silken purr of Lucius Malfoy from the second row back behind the Minister.

"Indeed," Rutlidge agreed. "However, since he speaks under the influence of Veritaserum that must be the truth. Now Mr Black, what spell did you cast to kill Mr Pettigrew."

"None sir, I believe that Pettigrew is still alive."

"How can he be?"

"Because he is an animagus," said Sirius. "A rat. He must have cast the spell and transformed, and made his escape into the sewer pipes."

"An animagus?" Rutlidge echoed. "And what makes you so sure of this Mr Black?"

"Because he and I learned the skill together," Sirius told him. "Along with James Potter and Hazel Evans." He swallowed, thickly, knowing that he owed Hazel and Remus huge apologies already- he didn't want to blow all of their secrets. "We learned between third and fifth year."

"Miss Evans has come forward and registered as an animagus," A witch announced. "She has paid her fine too."

"Very well," Rutlidge raised the gabble. "I declare the defendant innocent of all charges put to him, but he is required to pay a fine of three hundred galleons, for the crime of being an illegal animagus. Court is adjourned."

The gabble came down and Rutlidge rose and began to pick his way towards the back entrance of the courtroom.

Sirius only narrowly avoided the urge to crow in triumph as the chains fell away from his arms and legs. He was free. Innocent. Having to pay the fine was annoying, but he could manage it, what with his inheritance from Uncle Alphard. He stood and allowed a somewhat shamefaced Auror to lead him out of the courtroom.

"You can pay your fine on the way out of the department," said the Auror, helpfully.

Sirius nodded. "I'll do that."

Fifteen minutes later, fine paid and feeling lighter than he had done since he had realized that Pettigrew was the spy in the Order's midst, Sirius Black stepped out of the floo into his flat. He was greeted by the scintillating smell of Chinese food and the sight of Hazel Evans and little Sarah sitting on the sofa.

"Padfoot," Hazel beamed, rising to greet him and lifting Sarah with her. "I just heard- Esme Figg sent the word with a patronus. I knew you couldn't have been the spy."

Merlin, had she always been so beautiful? She'd always been pretty and they had been seeing each other before Dumbledore had sent her off to Denmark on a mission, but standing before him the kid sitting on her hip, Hazel Evans was about the most beautiful sight he had ever seen.

"Spitfire," he smiled, drawing close to her and dropping a kiss on Sarah's head. "Did you get any spring rolls?"

Next time: Sarah Potter comes across a very unusual owl

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