Hey there folks! I am quite frankly blown away by the response to the prologue but couldn't be happier about it. The prologue is short, much shorter than what I prefer chapters to be. Most chapters from here on out will be somewhere between 2000 and 5000 or maybe more words long mostly because I feel flushing the chapters out only helps (to a certain extant), and I like reading longer stories so that's what I'm going to try and write.
A few story notes moving forward. 1) I am not a kid, that being said, I don't know how they speak so speech patterns will be decidedly more grown up.
2) Just because I'm an adult does not mean I have a solid grasp of the English language. If you see any spelling or grammar errors, I apologize. I would also appreciate if you would feel like pointing them out to me. It can only help all of us. My writing gets better and you all get a better story in return
3) I am a busy person, not really, I just have an unfixed work schedule so every week is a new adventure! What that means is that I never now exactly when I work week to week and so I don't have a fixed writing schedule. What this means for the story is that updates will be sporadic at best. I will try to update quickly, but quickly could mean anywhere from tomorrow to a month from now to six months from now. I hope not as that is WAY too long but I'm giving you the warning now.
And finally 4) I DO NOT own Harry Potter or any affiliated properties. This is purely a work of fan fiction and it in no way generates any income nor is it an attempt to make revenue off of Harry Potter or related properties. Any thing that you recognize in the story is from Harry Potter. I will try my damnedest to make this purely my own work but in some situations using parts of the books is unavoidable to help set up locations and situations.
So onward to chapter one! Enjoy!
Chapter 1
With a swish of a cloak and a small pop, Albus Dumbledore appeared at the end of a street that wanted nothing do with him. A small sigh escaped him as he gazed down Private Drive. Slowly reaching into a pocket on his robes, Dumbledore pulled what looked like a silver cigar case out. Sliding a catch on the case, he exposed something akin to a lighter in form, but its function was far more fantastic. Clicking the device, he watched as the nearest streetlight flared before a ball of light zoomed toward him and disappeared into the device.
Clicking the Put-Outter eleven more times, he watched as Private Drive was plunged into darkness. Walking slowly down the street, a stray thought raced its way into Dumbledore's mind; it should never have come to this. The thought made him immensely sad. He walked slowly down the drive until he saw a cat sitting on the wall of Number 4. Making his way over to the cat, Dumbledore sat down beside it.
"Fancy seeing you here, Professor McGonagall."
He turned to smile at the tabby, but it had gone. Instead he was smiling at a rather severe-looking woman who was wearing square glasses exactly the shape of the markings the cat had had around its eyes. She too was wearing a cloak, an emerald one. Her black hair was drawn into a tight bun. She looked distinctly ruffled.
"How did you know it was me?" she asked.
"My dear Professor, I've never seen a cat sit so stiffly."
"You'd be stiff if you'd been sitting on a brick wall all day," said Professor McGonagall.
"All day? When you could have been celebrating? I must have passed a dozen feasts and parties on my way here."
Professor McGonagall sniffed angrily.
"Oh yes, everyone's celebrating all right," she said impatiently. "You'd think they'd be a bit more careful, but no – even the Muggles have noticed something's going on. It was on their news." She jerked her head back at the Dursleys' dark living-room window. "I heard it. Flocks of owls . . . shooting stars . . . Well, they're not completely stupid. They were bound to notice something. Shooting stars down in Kent – I'll bet that was Dedalus Diggle. He never had much sense."
"You can't blame them," said Dumbledore gently. "We've had precious little to celebrate for eleven years."
"I know that," said Professor McGonagall irritably. "But that's no reason to lose our heads. People are being downright careless, out on the streets in broad daylight, not even dressed in Muggle clothes, swapping rumors."
She threw a sharp, sideways glance at Dumbledore here, as though hoping he was going to tell her something, but he didn't, so she went on. "A fine thing it would be it, on the very day You-Know-Who seems to have disappeared at last, the Muggles found out about us all. I suppose he really has gone, Dumbledore?"
"It certainly seems so," said Dumbledore. "We have much to be thankful for. Would you care for a lemon drop?"
"A what?"
"A lemon drop. They're a kind of Muggle sweet I'm rather fond of."
"No, thank you," said Professor McGonagall coldly, as though she didn't think this was the moment for lemon drops. "As I say even if You-Know-Who has gone – "
"My dear Professor, surely a sensible person like yourself can call him by his name? All this 'You-Know-Who' nonsense – for eleven years I have been trying to persuade people to call him by his proper name: Voldemort." Professor McGonagall flinched, but Dumbledore, who was unsticking two lemon drops, seemed not to notice. "It all gets so confusing if we keep saying 'You-Know-Who.' I have never seen any reason to be frightened of saying Voldemort's name."
"I know you haven't," said Professor McGonagall, sounding half exasperated, half admiring. "But you're different. Everyone knows you're the only one You-Know- oh, all right Voldemort, was frightened of."
"You flatter me," said Dumbledore calmly. "Voldemort had powers I will never have."
"Only because you're too – well – noble to use them."
"It's lucky it's dark. I haven't blushed so much since Madam Pomfrey told me she liked my new earmuffs."
Professor McGonagall shot a sharp look at Dumbledore and said, "The owls are nothing next to the rumors that are flying around. You know what everyone's saying? About why he's disappeared? About what finally stopped him?"
It seemed that Professor McGonagall had reached the point she was most anxious to discuss, the real reason she had been waiting on a cold, hard wall all day, for neither as a cat nor as a woman had she fixed Dumbledore with such a piercing stare as she did now. It was plain that whatever "everyone" was saying, she was not going to believe it until Dumbledore told her it was true. Dumbledore, however, was choosing another lemon drop and did not answer.
"What they're saying," she pressed on, "is that last night Voldemort turned up in Godric's Hollow. He went to find the Potters. The rumor is that Lily and James Potter are – are – that they're dead."
Dumbledore bowed his head. Professor McGonagall gasped.
"Lily and James . . . I can't believe it . . . I didn't want to believe it . . . Oh, Albus . . ."
Dumbledore reached out and patted her on the shoulder. "I know . . . I know . . ." he said heavily.
Professor McGonagall's voice trembled as she went on. "That's not all. They're saying he tried to kill the Potter's children, Harry and Ellie. But – he couldn't. He couldn't kill those children. No one knows why, or how, but they're saying that when he couldn't kill the children, Voldemort's power somehow broke – and that's why he's gone."
Dumbledore nodded glumly.
"It's – it's true?" faltered Professor McGonagall. "After all he's done . . . all the people he's killed . . . he couldn't kill those two little children? It's just astounding . . . of all the things to stop him . . . but how in the name of heaven did they survive?"
"We can only guess," said Dumbledore. "We may never know."
Professor McGonagall pulled a lace handkerchief and dabbed at her eyes beneath her spectacles. Dumbledore gave a great sniff as he took a golden watch from his pocket and examined it. It was a very odd watch. It had twelve hands but no numbers; instead, little planets were moving around the edge. It must have made sense to Dumbledore, though, because he put it back in his pocket and said, "Hagrid's late. I suppose it was he who told you I'd be here, by the way?"
"Yes," said Professor McGonagall. "And I don't suppose you're going to tell me why you're here, of all places?"
"I've come to bring Harry and Ellie to their aunt and uncle. They're the only family they have left now."
"You don't mean – you can't mean the people who live here?" cried Professor McGonagall, jumping to her feet and pointing at number four. "Dumbledore – you can't. I've been watching them all day. You couldn't find two people who are less like us. And they've got this son – I saw him kicking his mother all the way up the street, screaming for sweets. The Potter children come and live here!"
"It's the best place for them," said Dumbledore firmly. "Their aunt and uncle will be able to explain everything to them when they're older. I've written them a letter."
"A letter?" repeated Professor McGonagall faintly, sitting back down on the wall. "Really, Dumbledore, you think you can explain all this in a letter? These people will never understand them! They'll be famous – legends – I wouldn't be surprised if they get today named after them – there will be books written about Harry and Ellie – every child in our world will know their name!"
"Exactly," said Dumbledore. Looking very seriously over the top of his half-moon glasses. "It would be enough to turn any child's head. Famous before they can walk and talk, at least in Ellie's case. Famous for something that they won't remember! Can't you see how much better off they'll be, growing up away from all that until they're ready to take it?"
Professor McGonagall opened her mouth, changed her mind, swallowed, and then said, "I'm still not happy with that plan Albus. I could take them or we could raise them at Hogwarts or – "
"Enough, Minerva. They will be safest here."
"Safe from whom, Albus? How are the children getting here, Dumbledore?" She eyed his cloak suddenly as though she thought he might be hiding them underneath it.
"Hagrid's bringing them."
"You think it – wise- to trust Hagrid with something as important as this?"
"I would trust Hagrid with my life," said Dumbledore.
"I'm not saying his heart isn't in the right place," said Professor McGonagall grudgingly, "but you can't pretend he's not careless. He does tend to – what was that?"
A low rumbling sound had broken the silence around them. It grew steadily louder as they looked up and down the street for some sign of a headlight; it swelled to a roar as they both looked up at the sky – and a huge motorcycle fell out of the air and landed on the road in front of them.
If the motorcycle was huge, it was nothing to the man sitting astride it. He was almost twice as tall as a normal man and at least five times as wide. He looked simply too big to be allowed, and so wild – long tangles of bushy black hair and beard hid most of his face, he had hands the size of trash can lids, and his feet in their leather boots were like baby dolphins. In his vast muscular arms he was holding a bundle of blankets.
"Hagrid," said Dumbledore, sounding relieved. "At last. And where did you get that motorcycle?"
"Borrowed it, Professor Dumbledore, sir," said the giant, climbing carefully off the motorcycle as he spoke. "Young Sirius Black lent it to me. I've got them sir."
"No problems, were there?"
"No sir – house was almost destroyed, but I got them out all right before the Muggles started swarmin' around. She fell asleep as we was flyin' over Bristol."
"And where is Harry?" Dumbledore asked.
"I'm here," a voice said from behind Hagrid. Hagrid flushed and looked embarrassed before he turned around. Tangled in the waist sash of Hagrid's overcoat was a small boy with a mop of unruly black hair and piercing green eyes.
"How – how did he even get there?" Professor McGonagall stammered.
"Well, there wasn't much room left on the bike, you see. An' I didn't want to risk 'im fallin' off, so…" Hagrid said, trying to maintain a serious expression.
"It was awesome," Harry said with all the exuberance of a four year old. "But, why are we here?"
"We are here to leave you with your aunt and uncle. They are your family after all."
"But why aren't we going to stay with Uncle Sirius?" Harry asked.
Dumbledore sighed, not many people knew exactly what Sirius' involvement in James and Lily's demise was. "Harry, Sirius is a bad man. We can't risk sending – "
He was cut off by Harry shaking his head. "Mom said that Uncle Sirius would take care of us though. I want to go with Sirius." He said, his voice starting to rise.
"Harry, Sirius was the secret keeper for your parents. He betrayed them to Volde – "
He was again stopped by Harry shaking his head violently side-to-side. "Nuh-uh! I overheard dad and Uncle Sirius arguing. Uncle Sirius said that mum and dad should use Uncle Peter instead 'cause Uncle Sirius would be too ob – obvio – obvious." He said, looking proud that he had said the large word correctly.
Dumbledore immediately grew pensive. 'Harry is old enough and smart enough to understand that he and Ellie were supposed to stay with Sirius. If I am wrong about Sirius, it will turn the children against me. And if Sirius didn't betray James and Lily, then he is still loyal to the Order and the light. I could impose some conditions on him taking the children.' Dumbledore nodded suddenly. "Harry if you're sure," at which the boy nodded, "then we must find Sirius immediately. I must hear his story, you understand. What I know is contrasting with what you have told us Harry." Harry nodded again but Dumbledore could tell he was losing the boy.
"For now you will need to stay with your aunt and uncle, for your own safety. Hopefully we will have this all sorted by next week at the latest." Albus walked to the door with the others following and promptly rang the doorbell.
Mere seconds later they were met with a thunderous bellow that Dumbledore was sure would wake the neighborhood. "Who in the ruddy hell would be calling at this time of night!"
Dumbledore turned to look at Professor McGonagall who had an eyebrow raised at the exclamation. "I am sorry that I did not take your warnings under much consideration, Minerva. I fear that your assessment of them is correct, but my mind is made up." He said when Professor McGonagall started to open her mouth. "If Sirius proves guilty, we will raise the children at Hogwarts." Their whispered conversation was brought to a halt by the front door opening.
The man who opened the door was a very unflattering depiction of a Human Being. Thinning hair contrasted by a ridiculously thick moustache bordered his small, piggish eyes. His body seemed to be trying to either run away from him or fill the hallway, Albus wasn't sure which. He did watch with detached amusement as Vernon Dursley's face went from pale straight to puce in the blink of an eye.
"Freaks! No, you can just clear off, I won't have you darkening my doorstep. It's bad enough that one of your kind is related to my sweet Petunia, but that doesn't mean that you freaks can just come calling whenever you want to. Especially if you can't even dress civilly."
"Mr. Dursley, I am sorry to bother you at this atrocious hour of the evening, but I come with bad news. Earlier this evening a dark wizard," he ignored the choking noise that Vernon made at the word 'wizard' and continued, "arrived at the house of your sister-in-law and her husband. In the following attacks, James and Lily were killed but the wizard in question, Voldemort, was also destroyed."
"So what in the hell does this have to do with me and mine?"
"Well you see Mr. Dursley, your niece and nephew are in need of a place to call home for a short while – "
"And you better not be thinking about dumping them with me! I don't need to worry about some hussy's fuc-"
"Mr. Dursley," Dumbledore cut in furiously. "I ask that you do not use such language in front of you niece and nephew." It was at this point that Vernon noticed Harry peeking out from behind Hagrid and his face purpled once again. "They will be here no longer than a week while we seek more permanent lodging for them. While they are here, you will be safe from any attacks that may be directed at you from Voldemort's followers."
Vernon seemed to have a fierce mental debate before, "fine, I'll take the brats in but only for a week, not a second longer. If you haven't come back for them by then, you can pick them up from the orphanage."
After seeing Harry and Ellie off, the three turned to leave. Hagrid flew off on the borrowed motorcycle; and Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall continued on toward the end of the street in silence. After reaching the end of the street and releasing the streetlights from his Put-Outer, Dumbledore turned to look at Professor McGonagall.
"My dear Minerva, the next time that I let my god complex show and fail to listen to the advice of my friends, please remember to slap me on the back of my head. In the meantime, we must find Sirius before he acts, you may express your dissatisfaction with me then." Professor McGonagall gave a brief, curt nod and then she was gone with a soft pop.
Albus Dumbledore sat behind his desk in the headmaster's office of Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. A whole day of searching had turned up nothing on his search for Sirius. The man appeared to have dropped off the face of the Earth, which was not helping Albus doubt his guilt. Hopefully we can find him tomorrow. Perhaps a house elf could track him down. His musings were broken when his fireplace flared into life with green flames filling the grate.
"Albus, you have to come quick," Minerva McGonagall's head said from in the flames. "I was just talking with Frank Longbottom in the Auror offices. He said that Sirius had been captured and sent to Azkaban for the murder of Peter Pettigrew and 12 Muggles."
"Have they had his trial already? I wasn't informed."
"That's just it Albus, they didn't give him a trial. According to Frank, they tossed him straight to the Dementors after vilifying him. It worked too, because as Frank said, 'why waste a trial on trash like him. He turned out as black as his name.'"
"I had higher hopes for Frank and he and Alice should stay in hiding for a while yet, but I will have to talk to him about that later. Please clear the floo Minerva, I'm coming through immediately." McGonagall nodded and disappeared, the flames returning to normal when she did. Albus grabbed a pinch of floo powder and a moment later, he found himself in the atrium of the Ministry of Magic.
He quickly made his way to the top floor of the Ministry and demanded an audience with Minister Bagnold. Several minutes later Albus saw a tired looking woman making her way towards him.
"Albus," she said in a neutral tone. "I heard you wanted to speak with me?"
"Ah Millicent, a pleasure to see you again."
"I'm sure you didn't demand and audience with me, rather rudely if my secretary is to be believed, to exchange pleasantries Dumbledore."
"No, no I'm afraid that I didn't Minister. I came to discuss Sirius Black."
Albus watched as the Minister's face darkened at the name. "He's in Azkaban where he belongs. To murder all those people in the middle of the day no less."
"Could I at least see a copy of the trial notes? I thought I knew Sirius and yet then he goes and does this? I wish to know how I misplaced my trust so badly." He watched as her face ran through a myriad of expressions before she settled back into the neutral expressions favored by so many politicians.
"There wasn't a trial. When he was picked up by Magical Law Enforcement, he was standing in front of a crater laughing like a mad man. All the Muggles said that Peter Pettigrew was there and blamed Sirius for the deaths of the Potters. The evidence was damning and with the war just over, it was deemed easier on everyone to just wash our hands of it."
Even though it was the answer that he expected, Albus was still disappointed that due process could be thrown out the window so easily. "I see, well I seem to have a bit of a problem then. I was making sure that little Harry and Ellie were moved safely to their new living arrangements, a location that shall remain secret for their safety. Harry painted a very different picture. Harry overheard a conversation between his father and Sirius several weeks ago. Harry said that Sirius and James were arguing about who shall be the secret keeper for the Potters."
"Obviously it was Sirius. He and James were best mates all through their Hogwarts careers and then through Auror training."
"I thought so too. However, Harry said that Sirius was arguing for Peter to be the secret keeper for James and Lily. If that is true, and only Sirius would know now, then that calls into question what Peter Pettigrew is capable of. An innocent man may have been thrown to the Dementors without his chance in court."
"I don't quite understand what you want here Albus."
"If nothing else, Sirius deserves a trial. Whether that trial proves his guilt or innocence is not the matter here. Throwing him in prison without trial makes us no better than Voldemort and his Death Eaters," Albus said, ignoring the Minister's flinch at the name Voldemort. "This leaves a good legacy for you as well. It shows you as a fair Minister, one who does what is right over what is easy. This would be an easy trial too. As everyone is convinced of his guilt, then you can question him under veritaserum and be done with it."
"Albus you know that we don't trust veritaserum in court anymore."
"I am aware of that, as the potion forces one to tell the truth, but their version of the truth, thus if they are insane their testimony is not admissible. In addition, as the potion can be fought just as any truth potion . . . yes I am aware that the use of veritaserum has fallen out of practice. However, if you get Sirius in to trial, the Wizengamot will want to be done with him as fast as possible."
"Very well Albus, Black will have his day. I'll recall him from Azkaban tonight and get him in front of the Wizengamot tomorrow, but I want something in return. I want you to endorse this. Most of the population won't be happy with this move and I want you to put your spin on it."
"Of course Minister. I'll see you tomorrow in the courtroom then," and with that, Albus left the Ministers office. Inwardly he was grinning; he knew that he could secure Sirius' trial by stroking the Minister's ego and instill the thought of enough popular votes for a second term. Whistling a merry tune, he headed to the floo and back to Hogwarts, sure that everything would be resolved the next day
Albus arrived in the Atrium of the Ministry of Magic to a scene of utter chaos. Ministry workers were running around like so many chickens with their heads cut off. He had only just began to wonder what was going on when an Auror ran up to him.
"Albus, thank God! There's a situation in the courtrooms. They need you down there now!"
Dumbledore frowned, "Surely the Minister informed everyone that Sirius Black was receiving a trial today, didn't she?"
The Auror looked momentarily confused before recognition flashed in his eyes. "Black, no Black's trial was pushed back. This is about what happened to the Longbottems."
"I see, thank you for the message, I will head to the courtrooms immediately then." He said before promptly heading to the lifts and traveling down to the courtrooms. Albus walked in to courtroom eight to see three men and a woman chained to chairs facing the assembled Wizengamot. "Albus good to see that you have arrived." A voice called out, "I call this trial on the second of November to order. Presiding over the trial are Minister for Magic Millicent Bagnold, Supreme Mugwump Albus Dumbledore, and Chief Interrogator Bartemius Crouch. The accused, Rodolphus Lestrange, Rabastan Lestrange, Bellatrix Lestrange, and Bartemius Crouch Jr. are on trial for the torture and permanent incapacitation of Auror Frank Longbottem and his Wife, Alice, for information on the whereabouts of the wizard – " Albus toned out both Crouch and his son as Crouch Sr. went on with his crucifixions and his son screamed for him to believe he was innocent.
Twenty minutes later, Albus Dumbledore was sitting in the Ministers office nursing a brandy. "That wasn't a trial. The evidence was overwhelming of course, but that was more an excuse for Barty to show how much he hated his son."
"I agree," Millicent said from behind her own glass of Cognac. "Sirius will still receive his trial Albus. I gave you my word that I will see it happen, but I have to give the Wizengamot a day of rest in between trials. We are off of wartime policies now, you understand don't you?" There was a hint of a plea in her voice and Albus knew why. People were already starting to whisper about Crouch and with elections coming up on the New Year; Bagnold could smell the proverbial blood in the water. If she received his endorsement, and with Crouch shooting himself in the foot, she was a sure winner for re-election.
"I understand, even if it doesn't make me happy. I am working on a schedule but perhaps keeping the Wizengamot happy will help them make the correct decision based on testimony and not prejudice. I will be in the courtroom at ten to ten the day after tomorrow then Minister." Albus said before he finished his brandy in one gulp and left to floo back to his office in Hogwarts.
It seemed that he would not be able to find time to relax, as the first thing he saw was the stern expression of Minerva McGonagall staring at him. "Albus, I was not expecting you for an hour at least. How did Sirius' trial go?"
"I wouldn't know I'm afraid. It would seem that my fears about Frank and Alice coming out of hiding were justified. The Lestranges and Barty Crouch Jr. attacked the Longbottems last night."
Minerva gasped in shock, "Are Frank and Alice . . . dead?"
"No, but they might have been better off. The Cruciatus exposure has driven them both insane. They are currently in the permanent spell damage ward in St. Mungo's."
"That's horrible, and only two days after James and Lily."
"Yes, little Neville is quite safe with his Grandmother, but I can't help but feel that if I had gone to Frank before dealing with Sirius, this would not have even happened."
"Albus, you couldn't have known that those four would have gone on the attack, and if it hadn't been the Longbottems, it would have been a different family. As you asked me to remind you, you are not omnipotent. You cannot know every possible eventuality."
Dumbledore sighed heavily before responding, "Thank you Minerva. I am glad that I can call you my friend. Please go and keep an eye on Harry and Ellie if you could. If you see any signs of mistreatment, you may remove them from the Dursley's household. I have already agreed that they won't live there permanently, so a few days early couldn't hurt." Minerva nodded curtly and left Albus to his musings.
Two days later, Albus Dumbledore watched the Wizengamot chambers slowly fill with its representatives. His thoughts though were far from the Ministry, all the way in Surrey if he cared to be honest with himself. Minerva hadn't reported any blatant mistreatment, although she did say that she had heard some raised voices and seen Harry spend most of his day weeding the flowerbeds. While this wasn't necessarily troubling, it did give him cause to worry about what happened at Number 4 Privet Drive behind closed doors
Albus was broken from his trance by the sound of the Minister's voice starting the trial. "We are gathered here on the fourth of November to bear witness to the trial of Sirius Orion Black. Presiding are Minister for Magic and acting Chief Interrogator Millicent Bagnold, and Supreme Mugwump Albus Dumbledore." Sirius gazed up at the Wizengamot, his gaze guarded and untrusting. "You have been brought in front of this august body at the request of Albus Dumbledore and the approval of the Minister for Magic. You stand accused of the murder of twelve Muggles and Peter Pettigrew. As well as the lesser crime of using magic in front of Muggles and thus breaking the International Secrecy Statutes."
"You also stand accused of betraying James and Lily Potter to He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, which resulted in their deaths. Do you understand the charges that have been brought against you?"
"I do," Sirius said in a hollow voice.
"The use of Veritaserum has been approved for the benefit of expedience. Auror Scrimgeour, administer the Veritaserum to the accused." A tall man with a head of tawny hair and yellowish eyes walked out of the shadows next to the doors. From within his front pocket he withdrew a small crystal vial full of clear liquid. Stopping next to Sirius, he un-stoppered the vial and dropped three drops of the liquid into Sirius' mouth. After waiting for a few seconds, Scrimgeour nodded to the Minister and retreated in silence.
"We will now begin questioning the accused," Minister Bagnold said. "I would like to mention that two separate Legilimencers will be testing to see if the accused is attempting to fight the effects of the Veritaserum, now, what is your name?"
"Sirius Orion Black."
"Were you responsible for the murder of Peter Pettigrew and twelve Muggles on the first of November?"
"No." Uneasy murmuring filled the room at his answer.
"What did happen?"
"I was going after Peter with the intention of killing him. I had convinced James to use Peter as the secret keeper and I would be a decoy. I went over to Peter's hiding place on Halloween night to check in on him but his hideout was deserted; only there was no sign of a struggle. I felt uneasy so I headed to Godric's Hollow. When I got there, James and Lily's house was destroyed and they were dead. Hagrid was there and said that he was taking Harry and Ellie away to Lily's sister's house. I fought with him for a while but then I realized that Peter was still running around and that James and Lily deserved justice so I went after him."
"I caught up to him the following day and cornered him on a busy street. I knew he was a coward and I figured that he would come quietly if he didn't have an escape route. When he saw me, Peter started yelling about how I betrayed James and Lily to Voldemort then he cut off his finger and blew the street apart behind him. I was so shocked by his action that I failed to stop him when he escaped into the sewer."
"Escaped into the sewer? I'm afraid I don't understand what you mean." A member of the Wizengamot said.
"He turned into his Animagus form," Sirius said simply.
"Peter Pettigrew doesn't have an Animagus form. He's not registered." The head of the Department of Experimental Charms said.
"Of course he wasn't, none of us were."
"Explain that statement, Mr. Black." Bagnold said.
"James, Peter, and I were unregistered Animagi."
"How do you know that Peter escaped to the sewers, Mr. Black?" Albus cut in quickly.
"Peter's form was a rat. I watched him transform and scurry his cowardly ass out of there."
"What happened next, Mr. Black?"
"What happened next? Well, what happened next was the Aurors showed up and threw my ass in Azkaban."
"No further questions," Bagnold said. "Are there any members of the Wizengamot that wish to ask Mr. Black questions of their own?" An aristocratic looking man with shoulder length silver-blond hair stood from his seat halfway up the dais. Just as he opened his mouth, the Minister cut in, "Lord Malfoy, while I would normally be happy to yield the floor to you, I must remind you that as per the Wizengamot laws of 1674, all members of the Wizengamot accused of treasonous activity will be placed on a one month probationary period where they will have no say in matters of the Wizengamot."
Malfoy's face flushed and he sat down, grasping at his left forearm. Minister Bagnold looked at the assembled members of the Wizengamot one more time, but none of them raised any objections.
"Albus, did you sense any deceit through Legilimency?"
"No, Minister, I did not."
"And what about you Croaker?"
A cloaked man rose from the back row of seats and spoke from within the deep cowl of his hood, "No Minister, I could not detect any falsities from him."
"Very well. Based on the accused's testimony under truth serum and the agreement of two separate, recognized Legilimencers, I find Sirius Black innocent of all charges that have been leveled against him. However, Mr. Black will need to register his Animagus with the Ministry and pay a fine of 1000 galleons for being an illegal Animagus. I declare this trial concluded, Aurors, please release Mr. Black."
Scrimgeour and a second Auror walked up from the corners of the room and proceeded to wave their wands in complicated patterns over the back of the chair. After a minute, the chains that bound Sirius to the chair glowed gold and, with a loud clanking, retracted into the arms of the chair.
"You can collect your wand and other belongings from the DMLE after you register your Animagus Mr. Black." Sirius, who was still sitting in the chair, nodded numbly as the members of the Wizengamot started to leave. Albus was the last to leave the dais, and made his way to Sirius upon reaching the ground floor.
"You know Sirius, most men upon being pronounced innocent tend to leave the chair." Sirius nodded and stood up, but made no move to leave. Instead he fixed his gaze on Dumbledore.
"You got me a trial?"
"Truthfully Sirius? No. Had it not been for little Harry, I would have been quite content in the knowledge that I believed you to be guilty and paying for your crimes. I would have let an innocent man waste in Azkaban while the true murderer ran free."
Sirius blanched at that but quickly looked back into Dumbledore's eyes. "Regardless of the circumstances, I'm thankful," Dumbledore nodded briefly and Sirius continued. "What of Harry and Ellie?"
"At the moment they are living with Lily's sister and her husband. Were you found guilty we were going to raise them in Hogwarts but as you are innocent, custody of the children will be given to you. If I am not overstepping my rights, I do have some conditions about your living arrangements."
"I'd be happy to take suggestions Albus." Sirius said as they made their way to the lifts. Dumbledore waited for the doors of the lift to close before he spoke again.
"As evidenced by what happened to Frank and Alice, many of Voldemort's followers are still active. I would like it if there was a property that you could go to that is away from large cities. And the Fidelius Charm would be good to cast as well, with myself or you as the secret keeper."
Sirius was thoughtful for a moment before he spoke, the lift stopping on the level for the DMLE as he did, "Well, the best place to go would be Potter Manor-"
"Why didn't Lily and James hide there originally then?"
"James had only gained lordship of the family a year before you had them go into hiding. He was worried about the possibility of losing the manor and was also afraid that if the Fidelius was ever broken that it would collapse all the wards on the manor."
"It wouldn't have. So is that where you will take the children?"
"Unfortunately, no. The manor is protected in a way that only a Potter could find it now. James put the wards into lockdown and only the head of the family can reverse it. No one will be able to step foot into Potter Manor until Harry is of age and claims his titles. I was actually thinking of a Black home outside of Wales. It is a small cottage but should be quite comfortable. It also has the added bonus of having not been used by my family in the past century, although the house elves were tasked with keeping it habitable."
"So you will use that property?"
"Yes, it's the best option."
"Then let us go and collect Harry and Ellie and get the protections established over your new home." Albus and Sirius left the Ministry of Magic thirty minutes later and with two quiet pops disappeared from the streets of London.
With two equally quiet pops, the men appeared at the end of Privet Drive. Walking swiftly, they made their way to the doorstep of number 4 and knocked. They had only been there for a scant few seconds when the door was thrown open by Petunia Dursley. Taking in the appearance of the two men standing on her doorstep, Petunia contemplated throwing the door closed in their faces, until she realized why they were there. "You've come for the freaks then?"
Dumbledore sighed at her uncouth manner before he answered her. "Indeed Petunia, we've come to take Harry and Ellie to somewhere where they will be safe."
"Good, Brat, grab your sister and get out here! You're leaving!" A strange expression crossed Petunia's face but it was too late to un-say what she had said. The door to the cupboard under the stairs opened and a small boy with messy black hair emerged holding his baby sister. He looked up and his slightly dull, emerald green eyes instantly brightened.
"Uncle Sirius!" The small boy shouted before he raced toward his godfather. Harry didn't know it at the time but it was only him running to Sirius that prevented his Godfather from becoming a murderer for real. "I told them you weren't bad! Are we leaving soon? I don't really like it here."
Sirius took Ellie from Harry's arms and let the boy hug him. "Yeah Harry, we're leaving as soon as we can." Harry's face brightened some before he asked, "Could we go get some food first? I'm pretty hungry." Sirius frowned as it was well into the afternoon by now. "Didn't you eat lunch today?"
"Oh no," Harry said shaking his head. "Uncle Vernon said that Ellie and I don't get lunch until we're five and he said that they only had enough money for one of us to eat dinner so I've been giving my food to Ellie to eat." At his words, Sirius and Albus took a closer look at Harry. They were shocked to notice how thin Harry's face looked and how his hands were shaking. A growl came from deep within Sirius and Albus saw that his canines were starting to grow with his anger.
"Sirius," Albus said in a sharp voice. "Take the children to Hogwarts. Madam Pomfrey will look after them then we can move them to your home." Albus could see that the murderous intent in Sirius' eyes was fading but the grey orbs were still smoldering with anger. "We'll talk later Albus, come on Pup, we're leaving." Sirius grabbed one of Harry's hands and with a quick spin disappeared. Albus frowned, knowing that he had a headache in store for him later before he turned to Petunia.
"Why could you not have treated them as your own Petunia? You knew that the children were only staying for a week. Why did you have to treat them so poorly?"
"Why, Why? They're freaks! Both of them! Just like my dear, precious, perfect sister was! I wasn't going to take the chance of them infecting my Dudders with their freakishness!"
"You didn't seem to think magic was such a terrible thing when you wrote to me, begging me to let you come to Hogwarts. And now your sister, the last of your family is dead, Petunia. Even with magic there is no reversing death. Your sister, who loved you despite how you treated her is dead. And her two children, the last reminders of her, were thrown into a cupboard!" Albus said in the same quiet voice he always spoke in, but with power now flowing off him making Petunia cower in the hallway. "Rest assured Petunia, there will be consequences. With magic, I can push a child abuse case through your courts in next to no time."
"You're going to use your freakishness to get us thrown in prison without a fair chance?"
Albus turned to leave but paused on the doorstep. "Petunia, you and Vernon being in prison is no less than you deserve, and it might be the only thing that saves your life when your treatment of Harry and Ellie becomes public knowledge." With a soft pop he vanished and reappeared at the gates of Hogwarts. With a sigh, Albus started walking to the castle knowing that his long day was still far from over.