Harry Potter

The Aftermath

Chapter 5

Help me Save Him

December 16, 2017

Marie laid her head back against the building she was leaned against while watching Peters flat. She was tired physically and emotionally. First last night James and Lily had died then while checking on Remus he had attacked her. After much thought on the subject Marie had convinced herself that Peter was the Potters secret keeper, there was no other way around it. First Sirius would have never given up the house where James and Lilly were living, second he had, had no contact with any death eater over the last week, and third Peter had been missing since at least Wednesday when they had gone to check on him before their mission.

'Where in the bloody hell could that rat be?' Marie thought then sighed as she turned her eyes back over to the house of her quarry.

Screams erupted into the town square as well as sounds of falling brickwork and concrete a few blocks away Marie was instantly ready with her wand out running towards the devastation as muggles ran away impeding her way.

Laughter, a mad laughter resounded around the empty square as loud pops rang out in the area encircling a young man. Marie pushed her way through the line of who she noticed were Aurors. "What's all this then?" she asked curiously then her eyes landed on Sirius looking down at a pile of clothes with his wand on the ground.

"We just got here Marie where did you come from?" a young Cornelius Fudge asked curiously he hadn't seen her on the duty roster today.

"I was watching Peters house trying to locate him he's been missing since Wednesday." Marie said as she looked down at the clothes and she walked over to them picking them up slightly. "Peter..." she mumbled as she looked around curiously then back at a new fit of laughter from Sirius.

"That was our little rat friend." Sirius said madly as he continued to laugh.

"This isn't funny Sirius what's going on?" Marie asked sternly as she looked up at him, there was a time and place for jokes but this isn't one of them. The clothes were covered slightly in blood and a finger was laying there beside it.

"That man killed the other one and destroyed half the town square!" one of the muggles yelled as he pointed over at Sirius. The young man was red faced and angry he didn't care that it was impossible to do the things that had just happened but he had seen it.

"Arrest him!" Cornelius said pointing at Sirius with his wand making sure Sirius didn't make any funny moves trying to escape.

"What! No wait! Sirius tell us what happened!" Marie said standing up sharply and moving in-between Cornelius and Sirius trying to get to the bottom of this. She couldn't believe this was possible.

"He had to know... if the Dark Lord didn't kill him... We would..." Sirius mumbled as he looked over at Marie with wild eyes ready for the hunt.

"Out of the way Marie!" Cornelius said as he shoved her over to the side. She watched as two Aurors grabbed Sirius one on either arm. One of them managed to kick Sirius' wand away in the process.

"Cornelius stop he's no death eater I'm sure of that!" Marie said as she reached out for their boss trying to bring some sense and reason into this situation.

"Marie keep it up and I'll arrest you too! Go home!" Cornelius said forcefully turning on Marie with his wand as well.

"This is some kind of misunderstanding I'm sure will be cleared up during the investigation and trial." Marie said defeated there was no way she could keep Sirius from getting arrested so she put her wand away with a sigh then started to turn and walk away.

"They'll be no trial or farther investigation he's admitted to his crime you heard him plus all these witnesses and dead muggles some one has to pay. Sirius Black is to be taken straight to Azkaban Prison." Cornelius said as he turned back to Sirius who had started to struggle slightly.

"What? You can't do that! You can't be judge and jury Cornelius I won't let you! I'll go as high as I need to go to get him his fair treatment!" Marie said angrily as she spun back around to face Cornelius only to find his wand and three others in her face she backed up slightly tripping over her own foot causing her to fall onto her butt and stare up wide eyed at the four Aurors in front of her. Her hand grazed a wand and she instinctively closed her hand around it.

"You will not stand in the way of justice Miss Willis. You need to leave. Now!" Cornelius said as he pointed his wand up singling her to stand up and leave.

"This isn't any justice, don't fool yourself Cornelius, this is a lynch mob!" Marie said angrily as she glared up at Cornelius.

"Marie don't..." Sirius said softly as he looked over at her sadly finally coming around to his senses. "Go home..." he said and nodded away from them all since his arms were being held.

"Sirius..." Marie said with tears in her eyes as she ignored the Aurors in front of her and looked over at her fiance Sirius Black being dragged away to be taken to Azkaban Prison.

"Don't worry about me I'll be alright!" Sirius said just before disappearing from sight with both Aurors and a loud pop.

"I'll legally fight for his rights Cornelius you've not heard the last of this!" Marie said angrily as she glared over at her boss then stood up quickly then disappeared as well.

Marie appeared in Diagon alley like always, she pulled her hood up and slunk into the shadows of the buildings taking in the large number of people out celebrating the downfall of Voldemort. The tears that had built up before she appeared were now spilling down her face as she ducked down an alleyway. 'Lily, James, Peter dead, Sirius in Azkaban, and Remus... Remus thinks I'm some sort of traitor... Oh little Harry orphaned...How can they be so happy when this has been nothing but tragedy during the last 24 hours...' Marie thought as she wiped her face.

Old habits die hard as Marie slipped through the allies shadow to shadow building to building until she finally reached the end of Diagon Ally where she watched people curiously for a few moments then darted to their house. She slipped inside then rebuilt the enchantments. "I've lost everything..." she said softly as she leaned against the wall by the door staring at a picture of all of them happily together right after graduating Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. She took the picture off the wall then slid down to sit and stare are all her friends while she cried.

After a while she stood back up putting the picture back on the wall then walked up the stairs to go to bed it had been a very long couple of day's she couldn't remember the last time she had slept. She was hungry too but just wanted to go to bed to sleep and wake up tomorrow with all this being a nightmare.

The next morning Marie woke up to an owl pecking at the window impatiently. She stood up groggily and opened the bedroom window on the second floor. The owl flew in over the bed snapped his beak shut causing the Daily Profit Newspaper he was carrying to fall onto the bed then the few back out the window.

He Who Must Not Be Named

DEFEATED!

This paper has it on good authority through the ministry

that the Dark Lord has been defeated. On October 31, 1978

James and Lily Potter were murdered in their home after their

Secret Keeper Sirius Black betrayed them to The Dark Lord.

Albus Dumbledore himself has confessed that he preformed

the Fidelius Charm for the Potter's under the understanding that

Sirius Black, James Potters best friend since his first year at Hogwarts

School of Witchcraft and Wizardy, would be the Secret Keeper.

The Potters were survived by their son Harry James Potter 1.5 year

old baby. No one is sure how the young boy survived after the Dark

Lord attacked the young boy also trying to kill him like like his parents,

many calling him "The Boy Who Lived".

On November 1, 1978 Sirius Black attacked another of his old

school mates and several muggles in a fit of rage after his master

had been defeated by a mere baby, Harry Potter. Peter Petigrew was

destroyed by Black all that was left of the poor man was a finger.

13 muggles also lost their lives to this mad man and a whole town

square had to be repaired after the damage caused by Black killing

his long time friend. Black was taken directly to Azkaban Prison for

his crimes. Black's Fiance Marie Willis on the scene right afterwards

was heard defending Black stating "There must be a misunderstanding.

This isn't justice! I'll fight for his rights you've not heard the last of

this!" Miss Willis left after being informed she would be arrested

as well if she didn't leave according to Aurors on the scene. More

to come as information becomes available.

"Ugh... Bloody baboons..." Marie said in disgust as she threw the paper down after reading the front page and seeing one picture of Voldemort, one picture of Sirius black with is prison number and lastly a smaller picture of her and Sirius happy together at James and Lily's reception. She ate a quick breakfast then left going straight to Hogsmead.

Marie looked up at the old school sure she could get some reason out of Dumbledore. And she started up the long drive she stiffened slightly as she saw Remus making his way down the drive.

"Marie?" Remus asked as he stopped several feet from her looking at her curiously.

"What Remus?" Marie asked coldly as she looked over at her long time friend.

"What are you doing here?" Remus asked as he stepped closer to her noticing her stiff appearance and her hand clinching inside her robes supposedly around her wand. He couldn't blame her the last time they had met he had attacked her unprovoked.

"Going to speak to Dumbledore." Marie said plainly as she started up the drive again intent on just walking past him. She knew he hurt as bad as she did but in that moment her anger at him over rode her sympathy.

"What for?" Remus asked curiously as he turned to watch her walk up the path past him.

"To get the Ministry to see reason and give Sirius a trial." Marie said as she just continued to walk. She could feel his eyes on her all the way up the path yet she refrained from looking back at him it took all of her resolve but she managed it.

Once up on the Castle grounds Marie walked into the massive front doors just to hear. "What can I do for you Miss Willis?" McGonagall asked icily watching Marie from the stairs curiously.

"I would like to speak to Professor Dumbledore please Professor McGonagall." Marie said with a soft sad smile.

"I believe the Professor is busy at the moment with Remus Lupin actually." McGonagall said coldly in a dismissal of Marie.

"I passed Remus on the path up to the Castle from Hogsmead would you like to blow me off a different way Professor or can I go see Dumbledore now?" Marie asked just as coldly staring up at McGonagall she had the distinct feeling that McGonagall believed that Sirius was a traitor and with her being Sirius's fiance she was also a traitor. Guilty by association or so the saying goes.

"Dumbledore is a very busy man Miss Willis." McGonagall said as she walked down the rest of the stairs to stare at Marie face to face. Truth be told she had loved all of them they had been the best students she had ever seen in Transfiguration able to learn and adapt quickly to new situations but this business with Sirius killing all of his friends except her and Remus gave her serious pause about both of them.

"Yes like an Auror has nothing to do Professor, I'm rather busy myself so if you would get out of my way please I need to see Professor Dumbledore so we can stop wasting all of our times." Marie said as she frowned at McGonagall.

"It's alright Minerva. Come along Miss Willis." Dumbledore said from the top of the stairs then turned and began his way back up to his office.

Marie smirked over at McGonagall then turned and walked up the stairs behind Professor Dumbledore quickly catching up to him. They walked all the way up to his office in silence making their way through the kids changing class, the kids parted in respect to Dumbledore and his guest with exception of a few students.

"It's that woman with that traitor Sirius Black... I saw them together not that long ago here at the school..." One student whispered to a small group that they passed. "Really why would Professor Dumbledore allow her to be in the castle?" another asked curiously as they all watched her and Dumbledore down the corridor. "She's the one from the Daily Profit today that murder lover..." a different group of students were mumbling about her as they passed. Marie for her part ignored the students and walked behind Dumbledore almost regally.

"Key Lime." Dumbledore said as he stopped in front of the statue that guarded the entrance to his office. Then they made their way up the stairs. "Have a seat Miss Willis. I have an idea why you are here but lets be safe and let you tell me why you are here." he said as he walked in and made his way around his desk to sit down as well.

"Professor I have a favor to ask you in regards to Sirius." Marie said as she sat down on the edge of her chair watching him as he sat down himself.

"I'm well aware of the altercation that happened yesterday afternoon Miss Willis and the Minister herself stopped by to inform me last night to stay out of this matter that it is Ministry business, and that they had enough evidence against Mr. Black to put him to death if we had a death penalty." Dumbledore said with a sigh as he weaved his long fingers together in front of him.

"Have enough evidence my bloody foot. They have no evidence. Sirius isn't a death eater Professor, I know that for a fact. Sirius would never betray James, there is no way he could have I was with him from the moment you cast that spell till after James and Lily were killed. He didn't do it!" Marie said seriously as she balled up her fists in her lap.

"You can honestly say that at no point did you fall asleep, could have been given a potion, or took your eyes off of him for a moment?" Dumbledore questioned curiously.

"Well no... we slept together... besides he wouldn't have betrayed James more or less me, that goes against his personality. He's loyal to a fault Professor it had to of been Peter who betrayed James and Lily." Marie said as she leaned up bracing herself against his desk.

"Peter? When I cast the spell James and Lily told me their Secret Keeper was to be Sirius." Dumbledore said staring at her over his half moon glasses.

"That was the point I believe a double bluff. We all knew there was a spy leaking information to Voldemort from inside the Order. Sirius was the natural choice among us only Sirius could match James. Who would believe that they had chosen worthless Peter? No one not even the Death Eaters or Voldemort would have guessed that." Marie said seriously pleading with Dumbledore to hear her out and not just dismiss her idea's.

"I most certainly wouldn't have guessed Mr. Petegrew. Do you have proof of this?" Dumbledore asked curiously as he leaned up against his desk intrigued by the proposal.

"Well...no...no I don't have proof. But thinking back on Sirius' behavior it points to Peter being the Secret Keeper. We were to go check on him every Wednesday and when we did Peter was gone Sirius was worried but we had a mission for you to do. We did our mission as fast as we could, all he could think about was getting back to Peter's flat. When we did get there Saturday night he was still missing, Sirius was practically frantic, we went straight to James and Lily's house because he was so worried. Sirius sent me to check on Remus and he went after Peter once we found out they had been killed." Marie said hoping he would at least think on this information.

"That's not going to change the Ministries mind that he killed Peter and those 13 muggles." Dumbledore said as he leaned back in his chair again.

"Maybe not but it should be enough to at least get him a trial where he can tell us what happened. Maybe Sirius went to confront Peter for betraying James and Lily. We'll never know if we don't get him to tell his side of the story." Marie said hoping beyond hope that Dumbledore would agree with her.

"Miss Willis as I stated when you came in the Minister has asked me not to intervene in this matter. You may be right, or your love could be blinding you from the truth. I suggest you try to convince the Ministry." Dumbledore said with a sigh. With this war going on he had spent too much time away from the students here at the castle and was unwilling to get involved in another lengthy battle this one about legality not actual war.

"But you started the Order of the Phoenix we were on one of your mission's when James and Lily were compromised. I need your help, you are the only one with the prestige to try and get Sirius his rights to a trial." Marie said as she fell back into her chair looking at him shocked.

"You've given me no proof that Mr. Black is innocent. In actuality you, yourself admitted that he may have went there to confront Mr. Petegrew. When I cast the Fedilius Charm Sirius Black was to be the Secret Keeper I see no need for a trial especially after Mr. Black's statements when the Auror's caught him." Dumbledore said as he watched this young woman. He could tell this news was breaking her heart but there was nothing to be done about it.

"Dumbledore that statement he made was 'He had to know if the Dark Lord didn't kill him we would.' Voldemort was on the opposite side of the war. The way I understand that statement is if Voldemort didn't kill him for not giving up the Secret then we would if he did reveal the Secret. And if I knew that Peter had been the secret keeper and James and Lily were murdered in their home I would have searched for him to for betraying my friends." Marie said as she stood up suddenly angry that Dumbledore wouldn't help her more or less give Sirius the benefit of the doubt.

"I would be careful saying things like that Miss Willis that may get you put into Azkaban with him." Dumbledore cautioned.

"So be it." Marie said then spun on her heal and made for the door.

"I don't believe you understand the gravity of this situation Miss Willis." Dumbledore said softly as he stood up behind his desk before she could reach the door.

Marie stopped with one hand on the door she looked back over her shoulder at him angrily. "I understand alright. My best friend murdered, her husband murdered, her son orphaned, my fiance in Azkaban, my friend Remus believes I'm some sort of traitor, my ex-friend Peter is in hiding or dead, my parents murdered, my brother murdered. I have nothing left. I don't think you or the Ministry understand the gravity of the situation Dumbledore! I will fight this sentence they've given him till my last breath if I have too, all I want is him to get a trial to tell us what happened." she said as she glared back at Dumbledore then opened the door and left the office.

Marie walked down the empty and lonely hallway and stairway's to get down to the castle grounds. She walked down the drive to get to the entrance gate once through she looked back at the tall amazing castle where she had forged all her friendships, where they had enlisted into the Order of the Phoenix, and now where her plea's for help had fell on def ears. She closed her eyes, turned around, and opening her eyes she continued down the drive towards Hogsmead.

Remus watched Marie from his apartment window as she made her way down from the castle. He was tempted to go to her cause he knew she had to feel as bad as he did. They had both lost everything, though he didn't believe in Sirius' innocence like she did. He noticed that she stopped walking at the point where the path split one going into Hogsmead where the businesses were on the main street the other down to the residential area of the village.

Marie looked at Remus' apartment for a few long moments really wanting to go to her long time friend. He had lost just as much as she had, with him being a werewolf he had no friend other then them and he was unemployable. James had been paying for his place to stay she knew his rent was caught up till the end of the year then he would loose that as well. She took a few steps down to the apartment then stopped again.

Remus watched her curiously from his curtained window was she wanting to reach out to him like he wanted to reach out to her? He watched her look up at the sky for a few moments like she was trying to decide what to do and when she looked back down at his apartment she looked so broken and defeated it tore at his heart as he watched her turn around and go back up to where the path split so she could go into the main street of Hogsmead.