Chapter 32- Bringing Justice to all
Remus couldn't see what solution the headmaster could possibly have. Umbridge had arranged it so no witch or wizard could legally hire him, not even Dumbledore, as well as eliminated the chance of getting a muggle job again. But he was willing to listen to any possible idea.
"The new legislation says that nobody in either our world or the muggle world can give you a job," Dumbledore started to say. "But there's no law that says you can't be self- employed."
Remus only gave the headmaster a confused look. This didn't seem to make any sense.
"What exactly did you have in mind? I don't know anything about starting a new business or anything like that."
"Not a business," Dumbledore said "A school."
That was definitely a shock. Starting a whole new school.
"But how could I-"
"Before I answer that, I was wondering if you could tell me just what your feelings were about coming to Hogwarts when you were a child, Remus?" Dumbledore asked
Neither Harry nor Remus had any idea what that had to do with starting a new school, but knowing Dumbledore had his own way about giving information, Remus decided just to answer.
"I always wanted to come to Hogwarts of course. I never thought I would get to come, and couldn't have been happier when I got the chance."
"And yet I seem to remember you were also afraid."
"That I was. I was afraid of the other students finding out about my problem and being rejected by them or expelled once their parents found out."
"My point exactly," Dumbledore said. "Ever since you came to Hogwarts, I was hoping other children who've been bitten might decide to come. So far none of them have. They've all been afraid, the same way you were. And now with the new legislation, werewolves will be less likely to trust than ever. I had thought that if Voldemort ever returns to power we could use you to try to convince them not to join him the way many did last time. But since you have a son now and infiltrating the werewolves could be dangerous I think I have a better idea."
Remus was beginning to think he knew what this was leading too, but didn't say anything.
"Lately, there have been more children bitten than usual," Dumbledore continued. "The Ministry has traced them to a werewolf named Fenrir Greyback. Does that name mean anything to you, Remus?"
Remus nodded and Harry noticed at the mention of Greyback Remus had the same angry expression he had when Umbridge had came. "He's the most vicious werewolf alive. He actually goes near children before transforming on purpose so he can curse them to be werewolves too. He targets young children and then brings them up to hate anyone who isn't a werewolf."
Harry knew the thought of doing such a thing was absolutely repulsive to his dad. No wonder Remus had such contempt for the other werewolf. But Dumbledore had one more reason for Remus to feel that way.
"And he's the werewolf who bit you," Dumbledore said slowly. "I've heard reports that he's been bragging how he bit the werewolf who raised Harry Potter, and saying that you're foolish to believe anyone who isn't a werewolf would ever accept you."
Remus didn't let that last part bother him. He knew Harry didn't care that he was a werewolf, and that Sirius, most of the teachers at Hogwarts, and the Weasleys and Hermione didn't care either. Or a second he found himself wondering what a certain pink haired witch would think if she knew, but pushed the thought from his mind. The part that bothered him most was knowing if Greyback was the one who had bit him, that meant he had been bitten on purpose. Even worse was the thought that Greyback might be contaminating more children than ever so there would be more werewolves raised to think having a normal life was an impossible dream.
"Those children he's bitten, and perhaps even some of the adults who never had the chance, would love to have an education, I'm sure," Dumbledore finally said. Now Remus was sure where this was going.
"Are you suggesting I start a special school for werewolves?"
"Something of a combination of school and safe house, actually. It would give the youngest children a place to go other than to Greyback." At those words, Remus thought about how truly lucky he was. Many parents whose children were bitten either didn't know how to deal with having a werewolf for a child or didn't even want to try. That was how Greyback had been able to bring up so many of them. "Of course, it's not a perfect solution. Eventually we would want them to trust people enough that they could come to Hogwarts the same as any other student. But for now it would be a solution to two problems, keeping them from Greyback's influence and giving you an income from the ones who would be paying tuition."
Thinking it over, Remus said "It all sounds like a wonderful idea, but where would I teach them? How could I afford a building large enough to start this? Would any of them even come when the Ministry is making it look like they have no chance of ever getting a job? Where would we get the supplies we'd need? And how could I run a place like that by myself?"
"I think the first two problems you mentioned have solved themselves. Before you went to see him, I asked Sirius what his plans are once he's free. He mentioned one of the first things he's going to do is get rid of Grimmauld Place."
Sirius' childhood home was definitely large enough for what they were planning.
"I could borrow some money from the werewolf support service at the Ministry to buy it if he wants to sell it that bad," Remus said.
The Werewolf support service sometimes lent money to werewolves. Very few werewolves ever used it though. The "support service" expected to be paid back, and as hard as it was for werewolves to find a job even before the new legislation, everyone knew paying the money back was almost impossible. But for now it looked like the best option.
"I wouldn't be surprised if Sirius simply gave Grimmauld place to you," Dumbledore said. "And it wouldn't be charity as badly as he wants to be rid of the place, so don't worry about that."
Remus was starting to see hope for the plan, but there were still problems.
"What books would I teach them out of? I couldn't let Flourish and Blotts know to have them on hand for the students like any other school would. If the Ministry found out about this it would only be a matter of time until they passed more legislation to stop it."
"Your library at home is full of books, Dad," Harry put in. "A lot of them would make perfect textbooks if we made copies of them."
"Still, how would I get enough people to teach them?" Remus asked. "I could teach them defense, but I can't teach every class." He gave Harry a sad smile. "And not many people are like you and accept that werewolves are people."
"I know a few people who could be depended on for their help," Dumbledore said. "So that only leaves the problem of how to convince them to come. I'm guessing you know some werewolves who could be trusted to contact those who would be interested."
"There are a few I'd trust," Remus said, finally agreeing to the idea. "I still have my doubts about whether or not this will work. But it looks like the only answer for now."
"I wish you luck at it, Remus. I will be sorry to see you leave. More than one student has told me you're the best defense teacher they ever had."
"Let me get in one good curse on her, Moony. One good curse once I'm freed, that's all I ask."
To say the least, Sirius was not happy with what Umbridge had done.
"It won't do anybody any good," Remus said. "Anyway, I told you we're already hoping to get our new project going. The tuition won't be much and of course some of them will need to come for free, but if this works we'll be able to get by. I hope."
"I'll do all I can to help. And you can have Grimmauld Place."
"You mean you'll sell it to me?"
Sirius laughed.
"Sell it? I'd be willing to pay you to take it. I don't ever want to go near the place again."
Remus smiled thankfully.
"What will you do once you're officially free?"
Sirius was thoughtful a moment before saying "I don't really want to be an Auror again. Not if it means answering to Fudge after all he's had me put through. It's not as if I need a job anyway. I'm thinking I could just help out more with the new school you're starting for now."
"I think we should start calling it something other than 'the school,'" Harry said. "I think it should have a name. Something that won't give away what we're doing."
"That's a good idea," Remus said, and for awhile the thought up different names they could use for it.
"What about Phoenix House?" Harry finally suggested.
"Phoenix House? That could work," Remus said "It is sort of a rising again and a new beginning, isn't it? For us and the people there."
They all agreed that was a good choice, and then Sirius asked "Do you have anyone besides yourself to teach? Maybe I could teach something."
Remus laughed at that.
"You? A teacher?"
"Why not? "
"You just don't seem like you'd be willing to spend all day in a classroom or looking over papers. But if you're willing we'd be glad to have you. "
"I'm willing," Sirius said smiling.
"And you're sure you won't mind coming back to Grimmauld Place? You said you didn't want to ever come near it again."
Sirius only grinned.
"I said I didn't want to be near Grimmauld Place, didn't I? I never said I didn't want to teach at Phoenix House."
"Sirius Black, you are accused of murdering twelve muggles and the wizard Peter Pettigrew, betraying Lily and James Potter, being a Death Eater, escaping Azkaban and being an illegal Animagus."
Fudge read the charges against Sirius, who was finally getting his trial.
"I can't deny I escaped Azkaban or that I'm an Animagus, but I would never-"
"So you admit your guilt?" Fudge asked, smiling in a self satisfied way.
What was going on? Harry watched the mockery of a trial in disbelief, his dad sitting beside him. Even though they knew their testimony probably wouldn't be listened to, they hoped that by being there they could help keep Sirius calm. The Ministry had delayed his trial as long as possible, no doubt hoping that he'd end up loosing his temper, which was Remus and Harry's biggest worry. At least since school was out for the summer Harry could testify, however little good that would do. And he wouldn't have blamed Sirius for loosing his temper. He was an inch from loosing his own. So much for the trial being fair.
"No I don't admit guilt to any of the other charges! I never betrayed or killed any of them and I've never been a Death Eater! If any of you would ever have bothered to check, I don't even have the Dark Mark."
"Nobody even checked to see-" Amelia Bones started to say, surprised that the very obvious mark of whether someone was a death eater or not hadn't even been thought of.
"The Dark Lord might have never branded Black so it would appear his most faithful servant was still on our side."
"If you knew anything about Death Eaters, Fudge, you'd know all of them had the mark. And I don't."
He turned his left arm to show it was clear, but Fudge only said
"Of course a Death Eater would say that. And would know about Death Eaters even if you were never branded, wouldn't you?"
"I fought enough of them."
"I'm not talking about that. I believe Mrs. Lestrange is a cousin of yours, and your brother was a death eater as well?"
That shouldn't even have been brought up, Harry knew. The people you were related to didn't necessarily affect who a person was. He knew that much just from being related to the Dursleys.
Sirius took a deep breath and said through clenched teeth "I've never been like the rest of my family. I can't change what they are, but that doesn't mean I'm one of them."
"I must agree, Minister, that it is Black on trial at the moment, not his family," Madame Bones said. "Until the night the Potters died, Black was completely trusted even though everyone who knew him also knew what his family was like. It shouldn't make a difference one way or the other now."
"Hem hem."
Harry had thought he couldn't hate Umbridge more than he already did. He was wrong.
"If you never betrayed your friends Black, why did you laugh when you were arrested?" She asked it as if she were speaking to a two year old. "Surely you would have been upset at the loss of your friends, not laughing?"
Clenching and unclenching his fists several times Sirius answered.
"I was upset. So upset I was almost unhinged at the time. I'd just lost two of my best friends and been told my godson was being sent to live with people that I knew hated him. And then when Pettigrew blew up the street , cut off his finger and transformed into a rat, I realized it would be almost impossible to prove I was innocent. It was just too much for me to stand and I snapped."
"So you're admitting you're mentally unbalanced."
"No! At the time I was in shock. Anybody would have been after going through that."
Thankfully Madame Bones took that chance to speak.
"Wait- you said it was Pettigrew who did all those things?" Fudge must not have let her know the whole story.
"Yes," Sirius said, relieved someone was finally listening. "And he's still alive. Even Fudge knows it. He saw him, and so did other people."
That got everyone talking. Fudge was quick to cover for himself though.
"It is my opinion that what looked like Peter Pettigrew was either someone using Polyjuice potion or an Inferious. And I only saw a rat run by that night."
"What!" Sirius was through with keeping his temper. He tried to get to his feet, but the chains on the arm of the chair sprang to life and clamped tight on his wrists. "That's a bloody lie Fudge and you know it! You know that rat was really Pettigrew too. You're just trying to cover for the fact that you're the one who let him escape."
"I never let-" But now it was Fudge's turn to be cut off.
"You must admit neither of those possibilities is likely, Minister." Harry, Remus, and Sirius were all feeling very grateful Madame Bones was seeing reason. "Where would anyone have gotten a piece of Pettigrew to use in Polyjuice potion? The largest bit that was ever found of him was his finger, which would make sense if it were cut off. And if Pettigrew was blown to pieces, how could there have been enough left of him to make an inferious with, would there?"
"Hem hem." Harry felt his hand move to his wand as Umbridge spoke. It was taking incredible willpower not to hex that toad. "No doubt the Dark Lord taught Black a few tricks. Who knows what he's capable of?"
Harry wished he could have done accidental magic again. He would have loved blowing Umbridge up the way he had Marge. But he remembered anything like that would probably be blamed on Sirius and tried to force himself to be calm. A look at his dad told him Remus was having a hard time staying calm too.
After that, things seemed to go back and forth for their side. Ron and Hermione tried telling what really happened, but when Ron was questioned, Umbridge brought up the night Sirius had been over his bed with a knife and that he had broken Ron's leg.
"But it was Scab- I mean Pettigrew he was after. He wasn't trying to hurt me or Harry or anybody. That's the whole reason he broke out of Azkaban. He found out the real traitor was hiding at Hogwarts and knew Pettigrew could have attacked any of us if You- Know-Who ever returns to power."
Harry had hoped he would get to speak, but after they were finished with Ron, Fudge only said the word of thirteen year olds wasn't to be accepted as convincing anyway. Remus never got to speak either, but everyone had already known the Ministry wouldn't listen to a werewolf, especially not one who was friends with Sirius.
But then McGonagall and Flitwick said they were both there and saw Pettigrew brought to the castle alive. Snape hadn't been asked to testify, but Harry could guess that wouldn't have been a good idea anyway. Dumbledore told the same story as the other teachers, and told them what he had heard when Sirius had been questioned under Veritaserum, that Pettigrew had indeed framed Sirius for everything. That Sirius had asked the Potters to switch secret keepers in an attempt to give them better protection. Fudge actually tried suggesting Sirius had known Pettigrew was a Death Eater and had plotted the switch to keep from being blamed. But surely everyone could see how insane that story was, couldn't they? And they had to listen to what the professors had said
Everything that could be said had been said, so now all that was left was for them to find Sirius innocent and let him go free, Harry thought. They couldn't send him back to Azkaban. But Fudge wanted worse than that.
"The dementor's kiss has already been authorized for Black if he is found guilty today. I ask that you do justice to the memory of the Potters and Peter Pettigrew by allowing that sentence to be carried out. And don't be fooled by the stories of those Black managed to confound. We can't allow a condemned criminal to be free."
This was insane! They just couldn't give him the kiss! Fudge had said he would be released! Harry was about to say so when Madame Bones said
"Minister, if Black is freed today, I know it won't be justice, because it will only be the removal of an injustice. He should never have been arrested in the first place from what I've heard." There was plenty of whispering, and finally she said "Those in favor of clearing Sirius Black of all charges?"
Harry, Remus and Sirius held their breath as they watched to see how many hands would go up.