Chapter 4: Black's Long Awaited Trial
Petunia checked the time and rounded up the boys from Quality Quidditch and then found Severus at the Apothecary, they hurried back to the M.O.M. and down to Amelia Bones' office. Once there she escorted them down to the Wizengamot courtroom. Once there they chose which press members they wanted and the list of questions they wanted asked. As soon as Xenophilius Lovegood and Rita Skeeter were there the courtroom was sealed and Sirius was brought out.
"Today is July 1st, 1991. The whole of the Wizengamot and board of Governors are assembled to pass judgment. This is the trial of one Sirius Black, suspected death eater and follower of He Who Must Not Be Named, current inmate of Azkaban Prison for the murders of Peter Pettigrew and twelve muggles. I, Cornelius Oswald Fudge, Minister for Magic, am presiding over the proceedings today. The accused and all witnesses shall be dosed with Veritaserum to ensure a complete and honest testimony."
Petunia was called to the stand first.
"Auror Bones, administer the Veritaserum now."
Once Petunia swallowed the liquid the questioning began.
"For the record, what is your full name?"
"Petunia Stuart Evans"
"What other aliases have you gone by?"
"Petunia Dursley
"What are your titles?"
"Lady Petunia Evans"
"What is your blood status?"
"I am a half blood"
"Where is your primary residence?"
"I won't say. It is under the Fidelius Charm to protect all members of my family. I would rather die than betray them."
"Where did you get your wand?
"Olivander's"
"What is your gender?
"Female"
"Do you know what the Fidelius charm is?
"Yes"
"Are you aware of anyone using it?
"Yes, several."
"What are their names?
"I am the secret keeper for my primary residence as I have already mentioned; as for the others only the secret keeper can tell"
"Who/what are they protecting?"
"Can't say. Only the Secret Keeper can tell."
"Who performed the Fidelius charm for the Potter's?"
"Sirius Black did"
"What town did the Potter's live in?"
"I wasn't their Secret Keeper. I can't tell."
"What street did they live on?"
"I wasn't their Secret Keeper. I can't tell."
"What was their house number?
"I wasn't their Secret Keeper. I can't tell."
"Was Sirius Black their Secret Keeper?"
"No."
"Do you know who their Secret Keeper was?"
"Yes."
"How do you know this?"
"I was there when the Fidelius Charm was performed."
"What was the Secret Keeper's name?"
"I cannot say."
"Why not?"
"James Potter put a hex on me so that as long as the Secret Keeper is alive I cannot say his name."
"Can you give us clues?"
"Yes."
"Was the secret keeper a friend of theirs?"
"They thought he was but it was a lie. He was actually a death eater."
"Tell us what you can."
"In school Sirius ran with 3 friends. They called themselves the Marauders. Their names were Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, James Potter and P… Pe… I can't say his true name, though the rest of the Marauders called him Wormtail."
"Do you have any more information that is pertinent to this case?"
"No."
Auror Bones then administered the antidote. Petunia stepped down and joined her son, Harry and Severus in the stands.
A team of Aurors proceeded to cast Patronuses that then patrolled the room as Sirius was brought into the room along with two Dementors.
Petunia let of a small wail and started to cry. Sirius bleakly looked around the courtroom. His eyes slid past Severus and halted at the tear filled brilliant emerald green eyes staring at him. They were Lily's eyes. He swallowed hard. He glanced at the sobbing woman next to the boy and his heart nearly stopped. There next to Lily's son was his beautiful Petunia. Her eyes opened and locked with his. Petunia sat straight up and slid her arm around the blond boy next to her. She blew a kiss at him and called out, "I love you Sirius, and this is our son Dudley. I am free Sirius. I will wait for you. You promised to marry me and I am holding you to that vow."
"SILENCE! Auror Bones, administer the Veritaserum now."
Once Sirius swallowed the liquid the questioning began.
"For the record, what is your full name?"
"Sirius Black."
"What other aliases have you gone by?"
"Padfoot."
"What are your titles?"
"To my knowledge I hold no titles."
"What is your blood status?"
"I am an inbred Pureblood."
"What do you mean by inbred?"
"My mother and my father were cousins."
"What is your birth date?"
"September 30, 1959."
"Where is your primary residence?"
"Azkaban."
"What estates do you own?"
"None that I know of. I used to have a house but it was confiscated by Millicent Bagnold after I was taken to Azkaban."
"Where have you lived in your life?"
"Black Manor, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Potter Manor, Canis Manor and Azkaban. "
"What organizations have you belonged to?"
"I was a member of the Order of the Phoenix."
"Where did you get your wand?"
"Olivander's."
"What is your gender?"
"Male."
"What is your sexual orientation?"
"Heterosexual"
"What is your sexual history?"
"I've not been a virgin since my 5th year at Hogwarts."
"Do you have a vault at Gringotts?"
"Yes."
"What is your vault number?"
"711"
"Did you know your parents are both deceased?"
"No"
"What form does your Patronus take?"
"An Irish Wolfhound"
"Do you know what the Fidelius charm is?"
"Yes"
"Are you aware of anyone using it?"
"Yes"
"What are their names?"
"Only the secret keepers can tell"
"Are you a secret keeper?"
"No"
"Who/what are they protecting?"
"Can't say. Only the Secret Keeper can tell."
"Who performed the Fidelius charm for the Potter's?"
"I did"
"What town did the Potter's live in?"
"I wasn't their Secret Keeper. I can't tell."
"What street did they live on?"
"I wasn't their Secret Keeper. I can't tell."
"What was their house number?"
"I wasn't their Secret Keeper. I can't tell."
"Did you betray the Potter's to You Know Who?"
"No. I was not their secret keeper. Only a secret keeper can tell anyone about whatever is concealed by the Fidelius Charm. They were my friends. I would have rather died than betray them."
"Why did you kill Peter Pettigrew and 12 muggles?"
"I didn't. Peter did it. He blew up a gas main just before he fled down the sewers."
"Why were you chasing him down?"
"I was going to kill him."
"Why did you want to kill him?"
"He betrayed James Potter, Lily and her son."
"What is your opinion of Voldemort?"
"I hope the bastard is rotting in Hell."
"What was your line of work before you were sent to Azkaban?"
"I was in training to become an Auror."
"If you're cleared of all charges would you require financial restitution?"
"No."
"What will you do if you are released?"
"Marry Petunia, bathe, get a haircut and shave, put on my own clothes, and then start to look for Peter."
"Witches and Wizards, all those in favor of clearing this man of all charges raise your hands."
Everyone in the room raised their hands.
"Sirius Black, you are hereby cleared of all charges and forthwith are a free man. You can pick your wand up in the Auror's office on your way out. Here are your release papers. Members of the press, you will file and send out Special editions of your papers proclaiming Sirius as an innocent and free man."
Petunia leapt over the railing and ran straight up to Sirius. She was hugging and kissing him all over his face. He was still in a kind of stupor. Petunia pulled back and called out to Auror Bones.
"Madam Bones! Are you going to administer the antidote before you leave? It would not be prudent for a man of Sirius's status to be walking around dosed with Veritaserum now would it?"
Amelia flinched and hurried back over to where they were and gave Sirius the antidote. She pulled off her gloves and transfigured them into a set of clothes and robes for Sirius.
"Being your father is passed you are now the head of the House of Black. I would recommend going to Gringotts and completing the proper paperwork. Lucius Malfoy has been acting as the proxy head of your family. Due to his knowledge his son being the only living male heir not incarcerated."
"Oh hell no! Thank you for getting me this trial."
"Don't thank me, Lady Evans here, is the one that brought it to our attention that you were still waiting for your trial. If not for her you would still be there. I do apologize for it taking so long."
"I accept your apology. I however request that the Ministry do a complete audit of prisoners at Azkaban. I am sure I was not the only person sent there without a fair trial. I also recommend that the ones found guilty by irrefutable evidence and testimony be given the kiss. Not all the guards are abiding by their job descriptions. I myself was beaten several times."
"Yes we do need to do that. I hope no other innocent witches or wizards are stuck there. I hope the rest of your life is everything you want it to be."
Sirius accompanied Petunia and the boys to Gringotts where the goblins had him complete and file all necessary paperwork for him to be declared the Head of the House of Black. Once that was done Sirius and Petunia had the head of the British branch of Gringotts preform a goblin marriage bonding ceremony for them. Sirius then summoned Kreacher.
"You is out of Azkaban? How is that happening?" The shocked house elf asked.
"Kreacher, Sirius did not do what they said he did. He finally got a trial." Petunia said after she knelt down and looked into the elf's eyes.
It took a minute for Kreacher to recognize her. Once he did a huge grin spread over his face and tears welled in his eyes as he threw himself into her open arms sobbing. "M-Missy Toony has been so long. Where has you been hiding? Kreacher is being glad you is back. Is you here to stay?"
"Yes Kreacher, I am here to stay. Sirius and I just got married."
"You is new Mistress Black? I's have new family to care for? When is you two giving me babies to care for? I's also needs help with house. It be much infested with pests. Kreacher is just one elf, a nursery elf. You needs more Elveses. One for cooking, one for laundry, one for housekeeping, one for gardening, a personal elf for each family member, and ones for me."
"Kreacher, where did all the other elves go?" Sirius asked.
"You's parents beheaded thems before they's died. Old Mistress Black is having Kreacher to care for her and house until cousin Narcissa's boy be taking Headship. I's been alone for six years, with only Portraits to talk to and take orders from." Kreacher sadly said as he hung his head.
"Mum? We need to hurry. I'm sure Uncle Severus is anxious to go find the girls." Dudley said.
"Mistress Toony, is him being a Black?" Kreacher asked as he eyed Dudley with hope in his eyes.
"Yes, Kreacher this is Dudley Regulus Corvinus Black. He's our son." Petunia said as she gestured to herself and Sirius.
Kreacher started jumping up and down in excitement as he clapping and squealing. Dudley just smiled and pulled the excited elf into a hug.
"Mum, I've thought about it and have decided I want a new name. I want to replace the Dursley with Stuart. That way Great-grandfather's line will continue. Is that okay with you?"
"Yes that is okay with me. In order for that to happen you'll have to have a hyphenated last name."
"Sounds good to me. Would you mind dad? My na..."
Sirius's eyes teared up and he pulled Dudley into a hug right after he called him dad.
"Kreacher, I want you to go get washed up and into a clean uniform like Petunia made you before. Remember, the uniform belongs to me. You are to keep it clean and in good repair. I want you to clean and pack up all the portraits in the house. Take them to Black Estate. We shall be moving there. I want all new furniture in all the bedrooms at the estate. I shall be procuring more house elves. You shall be in charge of providing uniforms for them and making sure they know MY rules in regards to their responsibilities as Black family house elves. You will need to get the house elf quarters ready for them. Be sure you have enough sleep and take breaks to eat a full meal every four to five hours. Do you understand?"
"Yes Kreacher understands."
"Excellent, you are dismissed."
Sirius then went with Dudley back over to the head goblin and stated he needed to claim his heir. Just a couple of minutes later his account manager hurried over and had Sirius and Dudley fill out a form. Dudley took extra care writing his new name into the paperwork.
"Congratulations Mr. Black. Your listed heir to the Black fortune is Dudley Regulus Stuart-Black. His Hogwarts letter will be addressed to either name, or possibly both. Is there anything else we can do for you?"
"I would like to purchase enough house elves to staff Black Estate. Make sure they are young ones. Unless there are enough free house elves that are in need of a family to bond with. I trust your judgment. Notify me either way please. I need the estate gotten ready for my family to move in as soon as possible. Once it's ready I would like them to clean up #12 Grimmauld Place. I will be making it available for sale as soon as everything in it is moved to the Estate. Any dark or cursed items should be moved into a secure vault. At a later date I will come in and audit the artifacts to find out which one's will be given to Gringotts to deal with. Is that acceptable to you?"
"Yes, quite acceptable."
"Thank you. I shall be seeing you later then. May you have an extremely profitable lifetime."
The goblin stood there staring in shocked wonder as they left Gringotts.
Once they were outside they made their way to The Leaky Cauldron where they rented a room. Sirius got cleaned up and then they went to Twilfitt and Tattings. Sirius had his measurements taken and his colors done. He then told the seamstress that he needed an entire wardrobe in current styles made and sent to him at Stuart Manor in care of Petunia Stuart Black nee Evans. They then went into muggle London and purchased enough clothes for all of them to be gone for two months. Severus then checked the time and announced that in order to make their flight they had to hurry. At that Petunia realized that there were not enough tickets for Sirius to go with them on their search for the girls.
"Sirius, we have to go search for my cousin Perseus. He has custody of Harry's sisters."
"Lily had no other children."
"Yes she did, she just hid that fact from Potter. I am Harry's real father." Severus quietly said as he glared at Sirius.
"Oh. Well, we'll just have to have our honeymoon once the kids are in school, if that is okay with you Tunie?"
"That sounds wonderful. It will give you the chance to personally oversee the obtaining of the house elves. Also, I think what Kreacher meant by one for him is a mate. Do let him have one." Petunia said after kissing Sirius.
"Black, be sure to find out discreetly if Narcissa wants to stay married to Lucius. If not maybe you could annul their union and have her move into Grimmauld Place. She is your family as is her son. I guarantee you that Lucius is not a kind man. I have seen bruises on both his wife and child on many occasions."
"I shall do just that. Take care of my family Snape. Should anything happen to them…"
"yes, I realize that I shall lose my life if that happened. I would let you."
"Mum, can I stay and get to know dad?" Dudley asked as he gazed longingly in his father's direction.
"Yes you may. Be sure to stick to whatever meal and work-out plans he gives you."
