J.K. Rowling still owns Harry Potter, but I own this story!!
Harry returned from the kitchens to find Ginny, Ron, and Hermione all sitting in his sitting room talking about the Horcruxes and the changes to the Ministry that Harry and Ron had engineered. "So much for a surprise breakfast in bed, huh Ginny?" Harry asked as he set the tin covered tray in front of her. He had to laugh at the reactions, Ginny smiled and rubbed her hands together, Ron was shocked, and Hermione was shooting envious looks at Ginny.
Ginny lifted the tin lid to reveal a large plate of cinnamon rolls and sausages. Ron reached out a hand for a roll but jerked it back after Ginny slapped it quite hard saying, "Mine! Go get your own." She then turned and offered a roll to Hermione just to annoy her brother. Needless to say it worked spectacularly. Hermione took a roll, tore it in half and gave Ron the other half as she ate the first.
"Now see Ron, that's why you don't play seeker. Your hands are just too slow" Harry said snatching a roll from the plate and laughing as Ginny tried to slap his hand but only hit air. Ginny closed her eyes as Harry fed her the roll and kissed the top of her head. Ron looked at Harry curiously as Harry fed Ginny. Harry smiled, "Rule one of a happy marriage, don't mess with a woman's food before ten a.m." Harry said causing everyone to laugh.
"I gotta tell you Harry, I love the breakfast in bed idea but the house elves got nothing on your breakfast" Ginny said eating another roll.
"Harry cooks breakfast?" Hermione and Ron said incredulously.
"Every day for the two weeks before we came here" Ginny replied. "And his cinnamon rolls melt in your mouth. You guys should drop by sometime on holiday for breakfast" she said cutting into a sausage.
"What about tomorrow?" Harry asked as he went to dress for the day.
"What are you talking about Harry?" Ginny asked, "I don't think the house elves are going to let you cook here tomorrow."
"No I don't think they will, so we'll have to go home for the weekend" Harry said from the bedroom. "Besides, I have to go help Sirius get ready for his hearing" Harry said calmly.
"What!!" Ginny screamed dropping her cinnamon roll. Ron tried to grab it from her plate but she silently slapped his hand again.
"Yes, the Minister sent me a note directly to let me know" Harry said. "So unless you want to stay here you need to pack. And I sent out a few letters earlier in the week, I thought we might just have a good old fashioned family gathering this weekend but this came up so..."
Ginny crammed the roll into her mouth while storming into the bedroom to confront Harry, "Just when did you expect to tell me this?" she asked angrily.
"Well… After breakfast" Harry said slowly, "I was going to surprise you with the party, and I would have told you about the hearing but you were sleeping so peacefully I didn't want to wake you." Ginny still looked mad but she wrapped her arms around her husband and held him tight.
"What can I do to help?" she asked his chest because that's as high as her head reached.
"Nothing, it's all up to Sirius and Bella" Harry said soothingly as he stroked her back.
After being told of the hearing and family get together Ron and Hermione had slipped out to pack themselves while Harry and Ginny quickly threw their toiletries into a bag, as they had plenty of clothes at the manor, and headed for the headmistresses office.
"What can I do for you two at this hour Potter?" McGonagall asked sharply after Harry had knocked on her office door. "Even Headmistresses like to sleep in on Saturdays Potter."
"Yes, ma'am. Sorry to disturb you this early but we needed to tell you that Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and I are all going to Potter Manor as soon as Ron and Hermione get packed" Harry said
"Very well, may I ask why?" McGonagall asked.
"Sure" Ginny replied, "The ministry has squeezed Sirius' hearing into the schedule today and we need to prepare."
"I see" McGonagall said thoughtfully "Well wish him luck for me and do try to be back at a reasonable hour tomorrow night."
"We will" they both responded as they turned to leave. They almost made it out of the office before they heard Professor Dumbledore's voice. They both whirled around frantically searching the room before they found his portrait behind the Head's desk. He was laughing quietly at them.
"You are not the first with that reaction, however I must say that yours was the best so far" the portrait said. "Harry please take my pensive with you to the hearing, if you think about my memories of Sirius Black you will be able to retrieve them to present as evidence. Also your mother wanted me to tell you that she and your father are most proud of the man and husband you've become and that they are indeed at peace and resting happily now."
Harry couldn't trust himself to speak, he had been having a bad enough time accepting Dumbledore's death that speaking to him again even a portrait was difficult for him. Ginny was the one to answer, "Tell them we appreciate the message sir, and thank you for the pensive tip I'm sure that it will be a great help."
Dumbledore seemed to look sidewise through the frame for a moment before saying, "I hope so Ginerva. Oh, by the way, Lily says she loves you and is very proud to have you in the family." His head seemed to jerk forward, "I mean James and Lily say that they both love you and are proud to have you in the family." He rubbed the back of his head muttering, "Did you have to hit so hard James?" Harry and Ginny laughed at the mental image of James Potter slapping the aged headmaster on the back of the head.
Harry finally found his voice after this. "Well, we must be going." He paused and looked down, "I'm sorry that I didn't see the trap that killed you Professor Dumbledore."
"Nonsense dear boy" Dumbledore said laughing, "I'm the one that taught Tom Riddle, I should have known that it was too easy. But that's by the by now and at least my hand doesn't burn here. Besides I really enjoy getting to spend time with your parents again you have no idea how I had missed them." Dumbledore smiled at him as Harry nodded mutely and led Ginny from the office.
The four teens arrived at Potter manor at eleven a.m. Harry went straight to the dungeon while Ginny raced up the stairs to find Sirius. She barreled into him at the second floor landing and found herself swinging wildly through the air in Sirius' arms making a full circle around him before he set her down. "Harry must have taught you that" she gasped grinning at him.
"No actually, I learned it from catching Bella when she came to visit. It's awfully handy though" He said laughing. "Now what can I help you with?" Sirius asked
"Your hearing is at two today, Harry and I came to help you prepare" Ginny said catching her breath.
"Oh, is that all?" Sirius asked amused. It wasn't until then that Ginny got a good look at him, she noticed that he was dressed in a very nice shirt and trousers and was carrying a black formal robe over his arm.
"He already told you didn't he?" Ginny asked sheepishly.
"Yeah, Hedwig showed up about an hour ago with Harry's note. But hey, at least I got to hold a pretty girl before I have to face the ministry" He added the last line because her face had fallen into an embarrassed flush. She lit up again under the compliment before taking his arm and heading back downstairs.
Meanwhile, Harry was in the dungeon with Bellatrix. "Bella you have said that you were changed by Sirius's death have you not?" Harry asked looking down at the kneeling Bellatrix.
"You have no idea" she said raising her face to his. "Sirius showed me the note about his hearing, what can I do to help him other than testifying that Peter Pettigrew was the mass murderer they want?" she asked calmly. Harry was shocked, he had expected to have to bargain with Bella to gain her cooperation. She laughed quietly at his expression, "Really Harry, I spent enough time in Azkaban to know that no one deserves that place. Especially Siri, He has never done anything but stick up for the weaker ones around him and uphold the law. Do you really think that I would condemn my favorite cousin to that place?" Harry just surveyed her with an interested gaze. Bella sighed at him, "Harry, Siri is the only loving family I have. I know that my testimony will not save me from Azkaban or the death chamber, but if I can save him than maybe my life will have been worth something." Harry turned at the sound of a sniffle behind him to see Ron holding a crying Hermione and a moist eyed Ginny leaning against Sirius. Harry walked up and put his arms around Ginny while Sirius entered the dungeon and gathered his cousin into a firm hug.
"Alright then," Harry said exhaling heavily, "We would do well to be at the ministry in" He checked his watch, "an hour's time." The two cousins just nodded at him. "Very well, Ginny and I have a Pensive to organize and I suggest that you Bella will need a shower. I have a formal set of robes for you, sorry had to guess at the size, I will leave them in Sirius' room. You may use his room to get ready." Bella nodded as they all left the dungeon.
An hour later found all six of them entering the largest courtroom in the ministry. Ron, Hermione, and Ginny squeezed Sirius' arm before making their way into the gallery to find seats. The gallery was packed, everyone wanted to see the mass murderer and Wanted Wizard number two receive his sentence. Harry stood straight, tall, and proud beside Sirius and Bellatrix at the side of the courtroom. Bellatrix sat on a rough stone bench in chains as she was a convicted death eater, still many people noticed that she looked far more radiant and beautiful than she ever had. At precisely two o'clock the Wizangamut filed in wearing their purple robes and taking their seats at the front of the gallery.
Amos Diggory spoke after seeing everyone seated. "Sirius Black you have been summoned to face the charge of mass murder of muggles some fifteen years ago at the corner of Chauncy and Lisbon boulevards, Do you understand this charge."
"I do sir" Sirius replied in a calm and sure tone.
"Very well, take your seat" Diggory said indicating the chair in the center of the room. Sirius walked calmly to the chair and sat down, chains flew from the chairs arms and quickly bound him to it. Bellatrix was beside herself with rage shouting that there was no need for this and that Sirius was a threat to no one. Sirius looked her in the eye and calmed her, he then sat back and tried to get comfortable.
"Very well" Diggory said sadly, "we know the charge is there any who will speak for this man?" He seemed eager to get this over with.
"I Harry James Potter, head of the Potter House and the House of Black come to defend the Accused." Harry's strong voice rang throughout the courtroom.
"What evidence do you bring?" Diggory asked leaning forward along with the rest of the courtroom.
Harry waved his wand and conjured a stand for the pensive, he held out his hand and a court official brought the pensive to him. "This pensive contains the personal memories of Albus Percivul Wulfric Brian Dumbledore. It is here at the request of his portrait at Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry." He waved his wand over the pensive and a ghostly Albus Dumbledore appeared above the pensive.
"I Albus Dumbledore, Supreme Mugwump of the Wizengamut do in sound mind and intent leave this memory in the hopes that someday one Sirius Black will be afforded the trial he was denied under Minister Cornelius Fudge" the image said. The memory that played after this statement showed many things. It showed James and Lily selecting Peter Pettigrew as the secret keeper when they went into hiding despite the very vocal protestations of Sirius, it showed Sirius distraught as he was told of the Potters death, it showed Dumbledore pleading with Fudge to secure a trial and failing spectacularly, and finally it showed Dumbledore viewing the memory he had taken from Sirius showing the entire confrontation between Sirius and Peter ending with The street blowing itself apart."
Harry waved his wand again and the memory rewound to just before the street blew up. "I would like the entire Wizangamut to focus on the wand of Peter Pettigrew for a moment" Harry said letting the memory play. There was a gasp as everyone noticed the small twitch of the wand at Pettigrew's side. Harry rewound the memory again, "Now let us focus on the wand in the defendant's hand" again he let the memory play to show that Sirius' wand never moved. "All of us know the mechanics of spell casting, the wand must move in order for that kind of destructive spell to be cast. As this memory shows Sirius Black held his wand motionless in the face of Peter Pettigrew." There was a rash of whispered conversations until Diggory banged his gavel.
"Is there anything else you wish to present Mr. Potter?" Diggory asked as the crowd fell silent once more.
"No sir, but I would ask the court to listen to the testimony of Bellatrix Black Lestrange" Harry said.
"Very well bring her forth" Diggory responded.
The court official helped Bellatrix to her feet and led her to the center of the room where Harry and just conjured a soft armchair next to her cousin.
"Bellatrix Lestrange your head of house had brought you before us to testify in the defense of your cousin Sirius Black, what evidence can you present?" Diggory asked her sounding every bit of his position of Minister of Magic.
"My testimony is that of a convicted inner circle Death Eater sir," Bellatrix began, "I have been in the service of the Dark Lord all of my adult life and therefore am privy to many things that others in his service are not. One of which is the gleeful boasting of one Peter Pettigrew. Pettigrew came to the Dark Lord mere moments after his return to boast that he had neutralized the Order of the Phoenix member Sirius Black, he went on to claim that he had lured Black to the corner in question, started an argument blew the street apart while cutting off his finger and transforming into a rat thereby framing Sirius Black for the murders of all the muggles on that street."
"This is lunacy" screamed a Wizangamut member at the end of the row, "the Ministry maintains strict records of all animagus wizards and Peter Pettigrew was not an animagus."
Diggory held up his hand, "This is a fair point, how do you respond"
Sirius spoke instead, "If I may sir, Peter is an animagus as am I and as was James Potter. The three of us perfected the skill in school to keep Remus Lupin the werewolf company while he transformed. We would have registered right after school in accordance with wizarding law but the first war with He–Who- Must-Not –Be –Named started right after we graduated. It seemed prudent to keep the skill quiet as we could use it to spy on the Death Eaters. Then of course James and Lily were murdered and the crime for which I am accused was committed. The ministry never gave me a trial so that is why you know nothing of any of this." Sirius finished in a calm but slightly bitter voice.
Diggory surveyed him in thought, "If you are an animagus as you say," he waved his wand and the chains holding Sirius disappeared, "Then please transform for the court." Sirius didn't bother to acknowledge the Minister, instead he blinked and a large shaggy black dog stood where Sirius had a moment before. "Very well, that proves that" Diggory said as Sirius returned to his human form and resumed his seat, "The court will deliberate if there is no further evidence to present." Seeing that no one made to present more evidence the court members filed out to deliberate. The court members were gone for maybe twenty minutes. They returned wearing somber expressions, after they were all seated Minster Diggory delivered the verdict. "Sirius Black this court finds innocent of the charge of murder, however we find you guilty by your own confession to the charge of practicing the skills of an animagus without proper registration. The sentence for this crime is two years in Askaban and a fine of five hundred galleons. The fine is waived due to the unfair imprisonment you were subjected to for ten years under Minister Fudge, two years again being deserved for being an unregistered animagus. Therefore in light of all the evidence presented today you are free to rejoin wizard society and the Ministry of Magic will pay you a settlement of ten thousand galleons in compensation for your mistreatment. Are these terms acceptable?"
"They are sir" Sirius said standing.
"Very well this court is now adjourned" Said Diggory as the Wizangamut got to their feet and left the room.
Harry gathered up the pensive and his traveling cloak preparing to leave when the minister touched his arm, "Harry, I'm going to seal the records of this hearing and place them in the ministry vault in Gringott's. I would also like to ask you to continue to hold Bellatrix Lestrange wherever you have been holding her because I think our prison guards would kill her before we could try her again if she were sent to Azkaban."
Harry nodded but Bellatrix spoke up quietly, "Sir if I may, Sirius' apparent death had a lasting impact on me. I am trying to reform myself into someone worthy of my cousin's love and support. I would like to speak with you privately for a moment. I have several names and addresses that I believe you will find helpful."
"Yes of course, Harry will you take Bellatrix to my office and wait for me there?" Diggory asked.
"I would sir but that might give the wrong impression, so instead I will take her home with me and you are welcome to drop by Potter manor at your convenience" Harry said as Ginny, Ron, and Hermione joined them.
"Very well, I'll try to get by this evening" the minister said before turning to leave.