A/N: So I hid a subtle joke in this chapter. See if you can find it. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.
The next morning, after breakfast and Hadrian's daily nutrient potion, the Dunmar-Slytherin family received a visitor. Though not expecting anyone, Sable still wasn't surprised by the identity of their visitor, Remus Lupin, as he comes by at least once a week.
Remus, affectionately called Remy or Moony by his friends and family, was shocked after being brought into the informal sitting room. The reason for his surprise was simple, there hanging above the mantle, was the portrait of Lily and James. And, speaking to the portrait was someone who could only be Marvolo.
While Remus was speechless, Hadrian walked in the room practically dragging Severus by the hand and addressed his fathers and mother. "Mum, Papa, Dad, Father. I found Sev nearly dead on his feet near the kitchen." Leading Severus over to a couch and gently pushing him onto it, Hadrian sat down next to him and looked in interest at Remus.
Remus was stunned again! First Lily and James, then Marvolo. And now, the only person who could call the Potter's Mum and Papa was little Harry, but this child barely looked like him. Though, he smelled very similar to Harry. Just what exactly has he missed in the past few days?
Hadrian, who was still watching Remus, noticed he looked slightly faint. So, he got up and led him to the spot next to Severus.
Once he had sat, Remus looked around the room at the people (and portrait) present. Becoming increasingly confused by the second, Remus looked to Sable for explanation.
Seeing Remy practically beg for answers, Sable chuckled then sat down and started telling the story of the past few days.
After Sable was finished speaking, Remus had to control his wolf to not go off seeking revenge for all that Hadrian went through. Both Moony and Remus have always seen Hadrian as their cub. And when something put their cub in danger, it would be hard to hold back from attacking the threat. Needless to say, Dumbledore had a lot of furious adults after his life for what he did to Hadrian.
(Unfortunately for Dumbledore, all those after his life were ferocious duelists who were able to work completely in sync as they had known each other for so long)
(R.I.P. Dumbledore)
During the storytelling, Severus fell asleep with his head resting on Remus' shoulder. And Remus just slowly adjusted his position to be more comfortable for Severus. It was at that point that Hadrian realized just how close knit the family was. Even someone as closed off and cautious as Sev trusted his family of choice enough to fall asleep resting against whoever was next to him at the time.
Thinking back, Hadrian noticed how often someone in the group would accommodate another of them without a second thought. It seemed to be second nature to them. And, Hadrian realized, they had included him as part of that group since the second Sable brought him back here. Though, most likely, they had thought of him as family since he was born. That's just who they were and Hadrian was proud to be a part of that.
Later that evening, just before dinner, Regulus Black showed up at Dunmar Manor. He had been floo called by Narcissa about the events of the last few days and wanted very much to meet Hadrian. So, Regulus and Hadrian spoke over dinner and got to know each other.
After dinner that night, Marvolo, Sable, Hadrian, Remus, Severus, and Regulus settled down in the sitting room to relax.
After a few minutes, Marvolo asked Sable a question that had been on his mind since he came back. "Sable, where's Nagini?"
Sable looked up from the game of chess he was destroying Regulus in and answered, "She should still be at Slytherin Manor. I had brought her there to hunt in the forest surrounding the property the morning of the day I went to pick up Hadrian. I decided it might be best to let Hadrian adjust to living here before introducing him to a snake that's bigger than he is."
Nodding in understanding, Marvolo spoke, "I'm going to go retrieve her. I'll be back soon." No sooner had he said that, did Marvolo leave the room to apparate to his family Manor.
Returning minutes later with Nagini splayed across his shoulders, Marvolo spent the rest of the evening introducing her to Hadrian and Kallisto.
The next few days sped by. Madam Bones came over to collect Hadrian's memories and any statements from the group to help in freeing Sirius. She even asked the Portrait of Lily and James a few questions.
Then the Dursley's trial came upon them. While Hadrian stayed home with Marvolo and a small group of others, Lucius and Sable attended as members of the Wizengamot. The trial was done quickly and Dumbledore was blindsided, having shown up unaware of exactly who was on trial. That being the case, he had no time to prepare a way to keep the Dursleys out of jail. Eventually, Vernon and Petunia were sentenced to 30 years in the maximum-security wing, as child abuse is one of the worst crimes you can commit in the wizarding world. Dudley was obliviated and put up for adoption.
Even though, at that point, everyone knew the trial was for the abusers of Harry Potter, no matter how often Dumbledore asked, no one would tell him where Harry was. Even when he played his 'I'm his magical guardian' card. Actually, that only caused Amelia Bones and others to question why Dumbledore had never checked up on Harry over the years. And, once they were done ripping Dumbledore to shreds over his incompetence, Amelia proceeded to inform him that he was no longer Harry's magical guardian. Not that she would ever tell him why, though.
Immediately following the Dursley's trials, was the Trial for Sirius Black, which again, shocked Dumbledore as he had not been expecting Sirius to ever get a trial. Sirius was given Veritaserum and the truth came out. He told the members of the Wizengamot about how Pettigrew was the Secret Keeper for the Potters and how Sirius himself was framed and never given a trial in the first place before being thrown in Azkaban. Following Sirius' testimony, Madam Bones read the testimony she obtained from Lily and James' portrait and their Last Will and Testament. Dumbledore, seeing how the evidence to prove Sirius innocent was piling up, refrained from saying anything during the trial. Though inside he was seething.
After Sirius was declared innocent and given reparations from the Ministry, Lucius casually mentioned to the Minister that he should give the others, who were imprisoned around the same time as Sirius, trials to make sure they were truly guilty. After all, if he corrected mistakes the previous Minister made, the public would adore him.
While Minister Fudge nodded his agreement with what Lucius told him, Sable had rounded up Sirius and accompanied him to collect his wand before he directed Sirius to the apparition point. Lucius joined them a moment later.
When the three apparated to Dunmar Manor and entered the large doors to the entryway, they were met by a small group of their anxious friends and family.
Remus, being the first to sense the three arrive, noticed Sirius and ran over to envelop him in a hug. After Remus, everyone else who was waiting crowded around the three and began welcoming Sirius back.
Eventually the group made their way to the sitting room where Sirius was shocked by the sight of Lily and James' portrait and broke down crying when he was introduced to Hadrian and told how his life had been. Sirius' cub was safe and with family. That was Sirius' last thought before he drifted off to sleep on the couch next to his Remy.
The Minister listened to Lucius' suggestion and held trials for all the living inmates who had been placed in Azkaban around the same time as Sirius. Over the next two weeks, those who had been falsely imprisoned were released, given reparations, and returned to their families. This meant that the Lestrange's were freed and, like Sirius, on their way to recovery from their time in Azkaban.
While this was going on, Marvolo made his reappearance in public and the Wizengamot as Lord Slytherin. He explained his five year absence by saying he went on a sudden journey to find himself. Of course, Dumbledore tried to make him out to be a villain but Marvolo stumped him by taking an oath stating, "I swear on my magic that I'm not, nor have I ever been or considered myself to be 'Lord Voldemort'." Performing a simple Lumos, Marvolo proved to everyone he was not Lord Voldemort as Dumbledore had been trying to make him out to be. In the process, Dumbledore was made out to be a liar and when the news hit the papers, Albus' credibility and reputation dropped drastically.
News of his part in placing Harry Potter with abusive muggles and then never checking on the boy in five years, thereby neglecting his status as Harry's magical guardian (which he wasn't anymore), made the papers just days before. Add in his stunt with trying to frame an innocent man and the enraged public was questioning Dumbledore's job as Headmaster of Hogwarts. After all, if he neglects to watch over the so called 'Savior of the Wizarding World', what's there to say he wouldn't do the same with those at Hogwarts.
Of course, Dumbledore managed to barely keep his position as Headmaster through his connections (though many had distanced themselves from him and only his diehard fans remained as his supporters).
While the group of friends and family were happy with everything that happened recently, they knew it would take quite a bit of time to completely discredit Dumbledore. They were just glad they had their family back.