A/N: if anyone would like to request a fic for me to do then please feel free to let me know. Either on Private Messaging or reviews.
Disclaimer: Nope still don't own it.
The security in the castled had been increased tenfold since Sirius Blacks double attacks on Gryffindor tower. Mr. Filch was to be found boarding up any holes, from mouse holes to cracks in the walls.
The teachers had charmed the windows to be unbreakable, McGonagall had done a bit of tricky transfiguration on the suits of armour, so if Black did attack then the suits of armour would detain him. Professor Flitwick was seen teaching the front doors to recognise a huge picture of Sirius Black.
Harry had been extremely nervous and edgy that week. He had been summoned to a hearing as a witness of the events that had transpired that fateful Christmas eve. At that present moment in time, Harry was sitting in professor Lupins office, nervously twiddling his thumbs. His feet banging out a rhythm on the wooden chair legs.
"Stop Harry, you'll be fine." said Remus, reaching over and putting a hand on Harry's knee.
"I know, I know. It's just a stupid hearing." said Harry, smiling weakly at Remus.
"Harry it's all right to feel nervous." said Remus gently.
"I'm not nervous." said Harry quickly, too quickly for Remus' liking.
"Harry, it's not healthy to hide your emotions." said Remus slowly.
"I'm not!" said Harry, but his voice raised as he did so.
Remus just shook his head and smiled slightly. He knew Harry was lying because he pulled his left ear like James always did.
"How are you feeling physically?" said Remus carefully.
Harry pondered this for a moment.
"All right I guess. Better than I have done. Madame Pomfrey said my white cell count is up." said Harry, deciding it was best to tell the truth.
"That's great Harry!" exclaimed Remus, eyes twinkling merrily.
Harry smiled shyly. "Yeah I suppose it is."
Remus chuckled. "Right, you go and get some dinner. Don't stay up too late. I'll be coming to get you early tomorrow." said Remus in a businesslike tone.
"Okay," said Harry nervously "um"
"What is it Harry?" said Remus gently.
"What if I cant sleep?" said Harry, rubbing the back of his neck nervously.
Remus smiled reassuringly at Harry. "I'm sure you will be but if you can't you can use your dreamless sleep."
Harry nodded, seeming a little less nervous. He bid his guardian goodbye and exited the room.
-xxx-
Harry woke early next morning, vaguely aware of someone gently shaking him.
"Harry wake up, you need to get ready to go." whispered Remus.
Harry swallowed nervously and climbed out of bed. He took the robes Remus had offered him and went to the bathroom to get dressed. Harry emerged five minutes later, smartly dressed but extremely pale.
"Are you OK Harry?" said Remus, eyeing Harry in concern.
"I'm fine." Harry shrugged him off.
Remus sighed and shook his head slightly.
"Come on then. Let's get going." said Remus, smiling wanly at Harry.
Harry took in his appearance, he seemed to be limping, he was pale and had large bags underneath his eyes. He hadn't taught on their last DADA lesson either.
"Are you all right Uncle Remus?" Harry finally said as Remus led Harry through the Hogwarts grounds and out of the large gates.
Remus turned and smiled at Harry as they entered Hogsmeade.
"I'm fine Harry. We'll talk about it later OK?" said Remus, making it quite plain that the matter was closed at the moment.
"Are you ready Harry?" said Remus, as they stepped into the Three Broomsticks, ready to Floo to the ministry.
"Y..yeah I'm fine." said Harry, stumbling over his words.
In all honesty, Harry felt like he'd swallowed a box of toads. Remus looked doubtfully at Harry, but said nothing.
"After you Harry." said Remus, smiling kindly at Harry and handing him the pot of Floo powder.
Eyeing it apprehensively, Harry took a pinch of the fine powder and threw it into the flames. The flames roared to life and turned emerald green. Taking a deep breath, Harry stepped into the hearth and cried out "Ministry of Magic!".
He was whirled away in a blur of colours and speeding fireplaces. Harry caught a glimpse of numerous wizarding fireplaces as he spun towards his destination. The whirling flames were making him feel sick, so he shut his eyes tight.
Finally, after what seemed an age, Harry was spat unceremoniously out of the fireplace into a bustling, marble atrium. Harry smiled in spite of himself as he took in his surroundings. Thousands of witches and wizards raced to and fro. He caught glimpses of interesting conversations. One particular one he found rather amusing.
"Some evil bugger has charmed the muggle underwear in a department store to bite. One poor man has now lost his goolies."
Harry got such a fit of the giggles that he didn't hear the fireplace roar to life again, but he felt it when Remus slid into his legs, causing him to fall backwards into Remus, who had just come out.
"Oops! are you all right Harry?" said Remus, helping Harry to his feet and brushing the soot off of his robes.
Still giggling, Harry nodded. Remus shook his head at him and took Harry's hand, causing him to glare at Remus.
"I'm not a child you know." said Harry, as Remus led him through the crowds towards the large golden grilled escalators at the end of the hall.
"You are actually," said Remus, chuckling "But I don't want you to get lost." he admitted.
Harry nodded sulkily but inside, his heart was warm. Remus really cared about him.
"In you get then Harry." said Remus, gently pushing Harry towards the lifts. Nervously, Harry entered, closely followed by Remus.
The lift started moving suddenly, causing Harry to stumble into an old man with a beard that would rival Professor Dumbledores, who glared at him indignantly.
Remus wrapped an arm around Harry to keep him steady as the lift worked it's way downwards.
Finally after what seemed like an eternity, the lift ground to a halt and the cool female voice said "The Department of Mysteries."
"That's us Harry." said Remus, taking Harry's hand again and leading him out of the lift. He then led him down a marble corridor, turned left and they came into a high ceilinged passageway, lit with torches on the walls.
Finally, they came to a large metal door. Smiling at Harry, Remus pushed the door open and ushered Harry inside. The room was cold and spacious. The walls were adorned with the same torches in brackets as the corridors outside. The side they had entered was lined with numerous wooden benches.
There was a large throne like chair set up high above the others, Harry assumed that it must be the judges bench, to the right of the judges chair was what Harry only assumed to be the witness box.
Down below them, sat two hard, wooden chairs, with chains on the arms and legs. Harry eyed those chairs apprehensively. Soon those chairs would be occupied by his attackers.
Remus led Harry to one of the benches and indicated for him to sit down. Harry complied, albeit nervously. Remus sat down next to Harry and put an arm around his shaking shoulders. Just then Dumbledore, who had been having a conversation with some official looking wizards, who were seated across the other side of the room strode over, looking grim.
"How are you Harry?" he said, gently, surveying Harry over the top of his half moon spectacles.
"Fine thanks." said Harry, wiping his sweaty hands on his robes.
Dumbledore looked doubtful but did not push it.
"I'm sure you will be fine Harry." said Professor Dumbledore kindly, and squeezing Harry's shoulder, he lifted himself from the bench and seated himself nearer to the judges chair.
One by one, more witches and wizards filed in and took the benches. Conversing in loud whispers. The last to enter was Cornelius Fudge, the Minister for Magic.
Harry took a deep shaky breath and leaned into Remus' side.
"Bring in the accused!" barked Fudge. Suddenly the room grew cold and two dementors entered, hands wrapped tightly around the two bound wizards, that Harry didn't recognise.
Harry shivered and buried his face in Remus' shoulder. Remus squeezed his shoulders
comfortingly.
The cold, depressing feeling left the room and Harry slowly looked up. The dementors had gone and now the two people they had flanked, were bound and snarling in the chairs.
"Disciplinary hearing on the 13th of January." Fudge began "Into offences committed under the illegal spell act 1679 by Antonin Dolohov and Thorfin Rowle. Residences unknown."
"Interrogators Cornelius Oswald Fudge, Minister for Magic, Amelia Susan Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Witness for the Defence Lucius Malfoy."
Harry's head shot up alarmed at the last part. Lucius Malfoy? With the influence he held over the Ministry, Harry had no chance.
"Offences committed are as follows, not only did they knowingly and in full awareness of their actions, perform the cruciatus curse; one of the unforgivables on a minor, they also performed several spells that could have resulted in severe injury."
The witches and wizards in the courtroom looked disgusted and indeed some of them even shouted obscenities at the two bound men.
Fudge turned to the two wizards, who were scowling up at them.
"Fetch the veritaserum." Fudge barked at his assistant, who jumped up immediately and reappeared moments later, holding a phial of clear liquid. He proceeded to tip it down the two men's uncooperative throats.
"You are Antonin Dolohov and Thorfin Rowle. Am I correct?" said Fudge, gazing coldly at them
"Yes, and we enjoyed every minute of torturing that filthy half blood brat" snarled Rowle.
Cries of outrage filled the courtroom and Dumbledore jumped up angrily.
"Well there's a confession if ever there was one.," said Dumbledore coldly. Eyes blazing with anger "Therefore that means that Harry here does not need to testify?" he enquired, turning to fudge.
Fudge nodded and turned to eye the two men coldly. Lucius Malfoy looked as if he had swallowed something rather unpleasant. Harry however at that instant, felt like a huge weight had been lifted from his shoulders.
Remus squeezed his shoulders again and smiled at him.
"Antonin Dolohov I hereby sentence you to 15 years in Azkaban prison with no chance of parole. Thorfin Rowle I hereby sentence you to 15 years imprisonment in Azkaban prison with no chance of parole. Take them away." Fudge barked.
The dementors swooped in again and Harry buried his face in Remus' shoulder once more. As the familiar coldness and despair swept the room and the two Death Eaters were lead away, screaming obscenities.
"Court dismissed. Members of the Wizengamot thank you for your time today!" Fudge barked, banging the gavel upon the smooth wooden surface of the desk in front of him.
The people in the courtroom started filing out. Muttering about how strange the court case had been. Many of the witches and wizards cast furtive looks in Harry's direction as they passed.
"Come on Harry, lets get out of here." said Remus, gently rubbing his back. Harry nodded and followed Remus over to the door, Remus passed by Professor Dumbledore who smiled proudly at Harry before engaging in a hushed conversation with Remus.
Remus bade Dumbledore goodbye, wrapped an arm around Harry's shoulders again and led him out of the courtroom.
As soon as they stepped out of the fireplace in Remus' office, Harry found himself being pulled into a tight embrace by Remus.
"I'm so proud of you Harry." Remus said into Harry's messy hair.
"I didn't do anything." Harry muttered."Yes you did. You were extremely brave. Not many people could go in there and face their attackers." said Remus, tightening his hold on Harry.
Harry shrugged and let out a long breath. Yawning loudly, he smiled sheepishly at Remus.
"Are you still tired Harry?" said Remus, pushing Harry's hair from his face. Checking the clock, he saw that it was just past 9AM.
"Why don't you go for a sleep? It's a Hogsmeade weekend so you can sleep for as long as you want." Remus said gently.
"I don't really want to go back to Gryffindor Tower. I'll be fine." said Harry, just as he let out a huge yawn.
"No you're not. Come on, stay in my spare room." Remus said.
Harry smiled gratefully at Remus and allowed him to lead the way. Pulling back the covers on the big double bed, Remus beckoned Harry to get in. Harry slid in to the warm sheets, not even bothering to change into his pyjamas.
He laid his head down on the pillow and closed his eyes. He was slightly embarrassed when he felt Remus tucking him in but said nothing. He fell asleep to Remus running his hands through Harry's dark hair.
Some of the dialogue is taken from the book, just edited a little to suit my story. Enjoy!