Chapter 12: Freedom
Peter Pettigrew was about to be tried for his crimes. To make sure he'd not try to escape, he not only was chained the same way Death Eater Igor Karkaroff was when he was taken to the Wizengamot to reveal the identities of fellow Death Eaters in exchange for a lesser sentence but also had Animagus restraints so he'd not use his Animagus form. "The court is in session." Minister Fudge declared. "The defendant, Peter Pettigrew, has been charged with accessory to the deaths of James and Lily Potter; accessory to the attempted murder of Harry James Potter; the murder of twelve muggles; faking your own death; deliberately framing an innocent for the previously mentioned crimes; and being an unregistered Animagus. How does the defendant plead?"
"I w-w-w-was forced to." Pettigrew cowardly replied.
"The defendant pleads not guilty on grounds of coercion." Fudge stated. "Mr. Pettigrew, who coerced you into doing everything you did?"
Pettigrew repeated the same excuses he gave back when the Aurors caught him and this defense tactic had as much of a chance at the Wizengamot than a snowball in Hades. "First things first." Fudge said after allowing the rest of the Wizengamot time to express their disgust at Pettigrew's cowardice. "Peter Pettigrew's confessions establish Sirius Black to be innocent of all crimes he was originally arrested for and it's our duty to make it official. All in favor raise your wands." Everyone with voting power at the Wizengamot voted in favor of this motion. "Motion approved by unanimity. Now it's time to deliver Peter Pettigrew's verdict." Once again, it was unanimous. "Peter Pettigrew, you have been declared guilty of all charges. Do you have anything to say before being sentenced?"
"I know names!" Pettigrew desperately said. "I can tell about other Death Eaters."
'And to think Potter and Black used to call me Snivellus.' Severus thought as he was watching the court proceedings. 'I haven't seen such a display of cowardice ever since Igor Karkaroff was brought here. Seeing him squirm would've been funny if not for the gravity of the case.'
"How can we be certain you won't lie?" A Wizengamot member asked.
"I'm willing to use Veritaserum to confirm what I know!" Pettigrew loudly declared.
"We appreciate your offer, Pettigrew." Fudge officially replied. "Unfortunately, we don't have an available batch at the moment so you'll be retained in one of our cells until we can produce one." Actually, he just wanted to give his friend Lucius Malfoy enough time to make sure the rat wouldn't speak.
Once that court session was over, Headmaster Dumbledore went back to Hogwarts, where he ordered Phineas Nigellus Black's portrait to report the good news to Sirius Black. Professor McGonagall then entered his office. "Excuse me, Albus, but Severus Snape is here and he wants to meet Mr. Potter."
"I already expected it, Minerva." Dumbledore calmly replied. "Bring them here. It's Severus' right since he's still Harry's guardian."
"Do you really think Sirius Black will take Harry away from a guardian who's been doing such a good job raising him?" She asked in reply. "Of course, I also had my doubts once I got word of Mr. Potter's living arrangements but the boy is as well-adjusted as expected given his fame. I don't think it's a good idea to suddenly change these arrangements."
"Minerva!" Dumbledore exclaimed. "Sirius would never allow a child of James Potter to be raised by Severus and neither would James."
"All of this is because Sirius is more likely to let you be a part of Harry's life outside your duties as Headmaster of Hogwarts, isn't it?" Minerva accused Dumbledore.
Before Dumbledore had a chance to respond, Professor Flitwick brought Harry and Severus and left. "Severus, what do I owe you this visit?" Dumbledore cordially asked.
"I wanted to see Harry to check how he's been affected by the latest development." Severus explained.
"Do you mean about my original Godfather being innocent?" Harry calmly asked. "Was he already tried?"
"With Pettigrew having already been tried and convicted for the crimes Sirius Black was originally arrested for, he'll no longer need a trial to regain his lost freedom, Harry." Severus explained. "Now it's just a formality."
"And then he'll take you away from me?" Harry sadly asked.
"A mind healer will have to declare him sane before he can even try and hopefully he'll see reason by then." Severus reassured his godson.
"What if he doesn't?" Harry asked in worry.
"Then we'll have a custody hearing at the Wizengamot, Harry." Severus answered. "Don't worry about it."
"Severus, I think Harry will be better off with a Godfather chosen by his parents." Dumbledore commented.
"I disagree, Headmaster." Professor McGonagall replied.
"Since I'm here, Harry, is there anything you'd like to tell me?" Severus asked.
"Like what, Uncle Severus?" Harry asked.
"Anything you'd be writing to me in a letter but now have the opportunity to tell me in person." Severus explained.
"Hogwarts' Potions Master isn't as good as you." Harry replied and then turned his attention to the Headmaster. "No offense."
"Harry, while I know the current Potions Master is no Horace Slughorn, we're still talking of someone who's focused on teaching several kids." Severus sternly explained. "I might be able to do a fairly good work tutoring only one or two kids but I don't imagine myself teaching a whole classroom."
The next morning, Sirius Black went to the Ministry of Magic, where several reporters were surrounding the Minister. "What's happening?" He asked no one in special.
"Minister Fudge is claiming Peter Pettigrew tried to escape custody and was killed during the attempt." A reporter answered and then recognized the person asking the question. "Wow! It's Sirius Black!"
Sirius was then surrounded with several questions.
"How do you feel about being finally free?"
"Are you going to press charges against Bartemius Crouch for your wrongful imprisonment?"
"Will you take custody of Harry Potter?"
"Are you really an Animagus?"
Answering the last question, Sirius turned into his animal form and ran towards Minister Fudge. Sirius then resumed his human form. "Minister, we need to have a talk in private."
The two of them and Amelia Bones were later at Fudge's office to discuss Sirius' legal status. "Mr. Black, being an unregistered Animagus is the only thing you're really guilty of and you've been an Azkaban inmate for longer than any time one can be forced to as punishment for it." Amelia Bones formally stated. "Let's just say that you already served your sentence and any compensation you're entitled to for wrongful imprisonment is solely for the time you spent in Azkaban after the sentence. Agreed?"
Sirius nodded. They eventually agreed on his sentence and a compensation and Fudge and Bones issued a document. "Present it at Gringotts and they'll transfer the agreed amount to a vault of your choosing, Mr. Black." She said and then gave him a box. Sirius opened the box and was happily surprised with its contents. "My wand? I thought it had been snapped."
"Crouch and Bagnold intended to but they forgot about that by the time they were convinced your family couldn't use any technicalities to get you out of Azkaban." Fudge commented. "The Blacks must have figured you're innocent since they didn't do anything to help you."
Amelia Bones didn't know what shocked her the most: Fudge's comment about Sirius Black's family or Sirius agreeing with it.
"I remember having a wand holster with me back when I was arrested, Minister." Sirius commented. "What happened to it?"
Amelia Bones produced a bigger box. "All personal belongings with you back then that weren't seized as evidence are placed here." She explained. "He'd have handed them over to your next of kin but nobody claimed anything. Your wand holster must be here."
Sirius opened the box and not only found the holster but also his clothes from the day and everything else he had with him back then. "Yes, it's all in order. Now we have to discuss my godson. I must take him in as soon as possible."
"Yes." Fudge replied while Amelia Bones said "No." The two men then stared at her. "Mr. Black, innocent as you turned out to be, we have your sanity to be concerned of. A mind healer must confirm that you're sane before we can even consider allowing you to raise a child even if it's your godson. Do you even have a place to live?"
"I can have something ready by the Christmas holidays." Sirius dismissively answered. "The important is to rescue my godson from Snivellus."
"What's wrong with Severus Snape?" Amelia asked.
"Snivellus is a slimy snake who probably taught my godson to hate James." Sirius explained. "I'm worried just from thinking about how he'll treat Harry now that he became a lion."
"The same way your parents treated you?" Amelia asked while figuring out Sirius' real worries.
"No comments." Sirius hesitantly answered.
"I must insist that you seek a mind healer before you're allowed to take your godson in." Amelia Bones sternly stated and Sirius begrudgingly accepted.
The next day, Harry was having lunch at the Great Hall when an owl delivered him a message from Sirius.
Dear Prongslet,
Congratulations for becoming a Gryffindor in spite of that false Godfather of yours. Snivellus must be really upset with this. I'd like to rescue you right now but Bones insists on making me subject myself to a mind healer. Don't worry. If I'm not able to take you in by the time of the Christmas holidays, you can opt for staying at the castle and Snivellus won't be able to punish you for not becoming a slimy snake like him. Pull as many pranks as possible especially against those who deserve it.
Signed
Sirius "Padfoot" Black a.k.a. your real Godfather
P.S.: If you ever find a blank piece of parchment at Filch's office, point your wand at it and say "I solemnly swear I'm up to no good".
Harry was upset at Sirius' letter. "I'll ask Uncle Severus how to send a Howler." He commented to Neville. "Look at the letter Sirius Black sent me."
"Why did he call you 'Prongslet'?" Neville asked, unwittingly drawing the attention of a pair of redheaded twins.
"My father used to be part of a team of pranksters known as 'marauders'." Harry explained. "He was 'Prongs', Sirius Black is 'Padfoot', Remus Lupin is 'Moony' and that traitor who led my parents to their deaths was 'Wormtail'. Uncle Severus was their favorite target."
They then heard Ron saying something that seemed to sound like 'he probably deserved it' but they couldn't be certain since Ron was speaking with his mouth full of food.
End chapter.