Chapter 38

When James and Sirius returned to Grimmauld Place they found Lily and Harry laughing over a photo album in the drawing room.

"Oh, and then Sirius and your father decided to feed each other cake. I was so mad at them because they got so pissed at our wedding reception, but I was laughing so hard I just couldn't yell at them. Of course I was a little tipsy at the time as well."

"I can't believe you're telling him about us getting drunk!" shouted James. Sirius sat back and laughed.

"You have to admit, Prongsie, that was a fun night," he chuckled.

"Oh lighten up, James," said Lily. "He wanted to know more about our wedding. He has a bunch of pictures, but no stories to go with them. Look, he has the picture of you and Sirius sharing a bite of cake and me and Remus laughing in the background. He had no idea what this was about."

Harry was sitting next to Lily holding half of his photo album, laughing with tears running down his cheeks.

"Sirius, why didn't you ever tell me about this?" asked Harry when he caught his breath.

Sirius walked over and took a look at the photo before bursting out laughing. As he had looked at it, he'd seen the faked 'in-love' look he'd given James as James shoved an enormous piece of cake into Sirius's mouth, missing and getting his whole face. The photo paned out a bit so they could see James holding his stomach as he bent over from laughing, Lily and Remus were holding each other up in the background, and Sirius was opening his eyes and his blinking, licking the cake from around his mouth and before lunging for James to give him a huge wet smooch on the cheek, likewise covering the groom with cake as well. Just as Sirius began to shove an even bigger slice of cake into James trousers, the photo started over with Sirius's love-struck gaze.

"Why do you think, kiddo? First of all, look how embarrassing that is for your father, I would never want to mock my dear dead friend. Second, I was completely pissed that night, you really think I remember doing that? Didn't quite remember it until right now, after seeing it again. Ah good times…" Sirius wiped a fake tear away as he sighed dramatically. James reached over and smacked the back of Sirius's head.

"You know I think we should be getting ready, my dear friend. We have a press conference to go to. We need to be reintroduced to the world!" he said loudly.

"Oh, yeah. I completely forgot about that. Dad, you, mum, and Sirius all need to be in a disguise before we head to the Ministry. I've got to change into my Auror Academy robes before leaving. We will have to be debriefed before going to the conference room. We'll be giving Kingsley evidence that you two changed the plan for secret Keeper from Sirius to Peter. I'll be giving evidence and a memory for them to see Peter, several times since my third year. Since I'm now a Ministry employee, my evidence has more standing with the Wizengamot—"

"Wizengamot? I thought this was just a quick thing? No one said anything about the Wizengamot," said Sirius quickly, a frightened look on his face.

"Don't worry, Sirius, Kingsley is on our side, besides we have definitive proof that you're innocent. In this case, Kingsley has the over ride power of the Minister. He is allowed to pardon you on his own, the Wizengamot is only coming into play so it looks like we trying to do this the 'right' way, instead of the Interim Minister abusing his powers. Either way, you're free by the end of the conference. The press will know the truth, and in turn the public will know also. Okay?" Harry said calmly. Working with Kingsley had its benefits. Harry was learning many good qualities of keeping the victims and suspects calm in a situation, and tested it out on Sirius.

"Oh, well, that's good," Sirius said calming down. Harry fought a grin before he sent off Lily and James to get dressed. He'd had Molly find dress robes that would fit his parents and Sirius still had some from his wardrobe.

Twenty minutes later Harry and the others were gathered in the entrance hall and Harry was helping his mother apply her disguise while James and Sirius 'helped' each other.

"No, I think you should have blonde hair, and brown eyes," said James as he waved his wand and transfigured Sirius's hair and charmed his eyes.

"And I say no, I should have brown hair, and blue eyes," said Sirius as he waved his wand and reversed the spell work James had applied and did his own spells. "And you should have red hair and green eyes! You'll look like a very masculine Lily!" he said laughing. Suddenly James was looking very feminine with fake breasts and long, curly red hair down to his buttocks.

Harry and Lily burst out laughing, along with Sirius. Harry whipped out his wand, placed James in a body bind, and Accio'd a camera from upstairs. He snapped a picture as soon as Sirius undid the body bind. Harry's picture showed James looking down at himself in shock, and then looking at Sirius in anger, before chasing his mate up the stairs and changing Sirius into a similarly female appearance. Lily and Harry ran after, one snapping pictures and the other screaming at the 'boys' to finish getting ready.

Finally, five minutes later, and several dozen pictures later, they were all ready to leave.

They arrived in the Ministry atrium and Harry walked them through security by waving his badge and saying, "They're with me." James and Sirius grinned stupidly, while Lily rolled her eyes.

They walked to the lifts and took them to the Auror floor and checked in with Agatha who was waiting for them.

"Mr. Potter, Kingsley said you'd be here about now. He said I was to just bring you and your guests up to his office," she said harshly as she turned. They took her abrupt turning and walking away as they were to follow her. When they got to Kingsley's office he thanked her and then opened the door to the office and let Lily, James, and Sirius into the room before entering himself.

As soon as he looked up he saw that Kingsley wasn't alone. Nobuyuki Mori, the Japanese Minister, was sitting across from Kingsley with a smile on his face. Kingsley answered something in Japanese before standing up and smiling at Harry and the rest.

"Come in, come in! Harry, I must say, you made quite an appearance on those other Ministers this morning. Please have a seat everyone, pastry? Tea?" Harry smiled at Mori as he sat. James and Sirius took up the offer for a pastry and each of them took two while Lily sat quietly.

"Everyone, this is Minister Mori from Tokyo. Mori-san, this is Lily, James, and Sirius, and you met Harry earlier. You guys can remove your disguises. I've told Agatha we're not to be bothered from now till the conference." They all looked at Mori before removing their camouflage.

"So, the first things first. I've told Mori about everything. Harry I should fill you in on what happened after you stormed out of that international meeting this morning, but I think I'll wait for our weekly meeting to do that."

"What do you mean International meeting?"

"You stormed out of an International meeting?

James and Sirius both shouted at the same time, spitting chunks of pastry all over. The others in the room burst out laughing.

"Yes, I stormed out of a meeting where the Ministers were all, or almost all, fighting over which country 'got me' to come fight their problems for them. I got the feeling that Mori-san wasn't here for the same reason." Harry looked towards the elderly Japanese man who smiled.

"Your deduction skills are proficient. I came to this country for two reasons, Potter-san. One, my cabinet pushed me to come and attempt to 'get' you as you so eloquently stated. Two, I wanted to catch up with a dear friend." He nodded towards Kingsley. "I never thought that buying your abilities was an appropriate way to win your help. Truthfully, I agree with you. A country should not have to go to outside forces for assistance, unless the situation is extremely dire. This only makes the country asking for help look weak. But I am told that this is a thought left more for the Old Japan. We must be more modern they say. So I came more for the chance to see my protégé." Kingsley smiled at Mori before looking at Harry.

"We should get started on this meeting. You got here a bit early, and I told the press it wouldn't start until three o'clock. So we have a bit of time. First, James, Lily I would like for you two to tell me about the night you placed your home under Fidelius charm, then talk about Albus's plan he came up with."

James and Lily started to speak at the same time but stopped and James gestured for her to begin.

"Well, Albus came to us and told us a Prophecy was made in 1979 about a child born who would have the power to defeat Voldemort. The child would be born in July, the end of July specifically. We knew it could have been Harry or Alice and Frank's child, Neville.

"When Harry was born, Albus told us, he wasn't positive, but he thought Voldemort would come after both boys just to be sure it wasn't either/or, which ever lived. So he wanted us to go into hiding. He gave us a few days to tell our friends and family that we were going into hiding, and say our goodbyes. Then he told us to pick a Secret Keeper for the spell."

"Naturally our first choice was Sirius," James stepped in. "Then Sirius told us we should make it someone less obvious. Like Peter. No one would suspect Peter, insignificant, poor magical skills, he was the perfect choice because if everyone would suspect us of picking Sirius—"

"That would keep Peter safe as well," Sirius butted in with his part. "It was the perfect plan. Besides the fact that Peter was already working for Voldemort."

"Anyways, the final plan was to have Peter do the spell. Albus tried to urge us to use him as the Secret Keeper, but we trusted our friends. We were worried about Remus. Voldemort was recruiting Werewolves at that time, and he was getting suspicious. But right after the spell was done, he came and visited us, and told us he'd been seeing this girl, Christi. He had wanted us to meet her but the spell was already done. We couldn't leave and only certain people could come to our house after the spell was done."

"I'm sorry to butt in," said Kingsley. "But I'll need a list of the people in on the Secret, who could come and go to your house as they pleased."

"Ah, well. Our small family, Sirius, Remus, Peter, Albus, James' parents, Alice and Frank, Hagrid, Minerva…oh who else?" asked Lily.

"Your sister could come, but I think that was it, because you didn't want your parents to know you were going into hiding because Harry was in trouble. We had Peter come with us and just happen to slip up in front of just Petunia so she'd know where we lived, in case of an emergency. Other than that, I think you had it about right."

"Okay, I know you said it, but I want you to state for the record, who was your Secret Keeper of the home Godrics Hallow?" asked Kingsley.

"Peter Pettigrew was our Secret Keeper," stated James and Lily at the same time. Harry grinned.

"Alright. Now, explain to me what happened the night Albus came to you, before Halloween in 1981."

James and Lily shared the story telling of this as well, splitting off and finishing each others sentences.

Harry had already heard it all, so he didn't focus very hard on what was being said. Instead he and Sirius had an intense staring contest. Every time one would blink the other would smile in success.

Eventually, Harry and Sirius were staring for over a minute, paying so much attention to their contest they didn't notice everyone watching them and smiling. James raised his wand to create a wind tunnel, but Lily stopped him.

Sirius blinked and Harry stood up and cheered loudly.

"What was that you were saying, Sirius, about not staring down a mutt?" he taunted. James burst out laughing which stopped Harry, who had abruptly remembered where he was and sat down quickly, blushing to the roots of his hair.

Kingsley shook his head and chuckled.

"Okay, now that we're all paying attention again," he said looking at Harry, who again, blushed. "Sirius, I'd like you to tell me about the day James and Lily 'died'. What did you do? How did you find Pettigrew? And what actually happened in that crowded Muggle street?"

"You don't ask much do you, Minister?" Sirius joked. "Well, I was supposed to check up on Peter in his safe house that night. When I went there at about midnight, Peter was gone. I looked all over, and I figured, maybe he stayed the night at James and Lily's house. So I headed there.

"When I got there I…found the house still burning. Hagrid was outside holding little Harry and weeping. Harry was screaming and bleeding, holding onto his little stuffed Hippogriff, the one we called Wings, and was wrapped in his little blue Quidditch Balls blanket. James and Lily's…bodies were still inside, but the house was burning too bad for us to go in and retrieve them.

"I'd wager that Albus was out there watching us, the one from the future, to make sure no one went inside the illusion of the fire. James and I checked out the house earlier today and once we passed a certain point, the ruin of a house disappeared and the real house showed up. We backed up and it became a ruin again. We figured Albus's spell was actually an illusion ward, since it was very close to the house itself.

"Anyways, Hagrid and I talked. He told me Albus gave him specific instructions about Harry, so I loaned him my bike. Then I Apperated to find Remus. I told him about James and Lily, and that Peter betrayed them. He tried to calm me down to think rationally, but I told him if I found Peter I'd…er…I said if I found him, I'd kill him."

Kingsley smiled and waved at him to continue, telling Sirius that he knew the phrase was one of passion and not a confession. Sirius sighed and continued.

"Remus tried to stun me, but I left. He didn't want me to get into trouble, since I was supposed to be Harry's guardian. But I wasn't listening to reason. That bastard killed my best friend, my brother. I wasn't going to let him get away with it.

"I went back to Peter's place and ransacked it, looking for him in human or rat form."

"Please specify for the record, what you mean by Rat form," said Kingsley.

"Er, Peter was a Rat Animagus. He took the form of a standard grey rat. Anyways, he wasn't there and neither was his clothes or wand, or anything important. So I went to Diagon Alley. I asked around for him, finally one man pointed towards the Leaky Cauldron. I saw him enter the pub from afar, and I started to run. By the time I got to the Pub he was standing by the entrance. He saw me enter and saw the rage on my face and knew that I knew what he'd done.

"He ran and took off into London. I followed him through the crowded streets until he stopped in front of a large office building. I opened my mouth to yell at him, but he started screaming, 'James and Lily, Sirius. How could you?' I saw him whip out his wand behind his back and grunt in pain, before he smiled at me.

"I tried to stun him, but just as my spell flew at him the street under him blew apart. A huge crater in the ground deep, cutting into the sewer below. I just stood there. All the Muggles around me were screaming and moaning in pain. Several were instantly dead, others were dying, many more in pain and injured. And I just stood there. No one else had seen the man who yelled, smile and turn into a rat before the explosion. It all happened to quickly. Almost simultaneously.

"I walked over to the crater and saw the rats milling around the entrance to the sewer. I knew I had lost him in there. I was so lost. James and Lily were dead, Peter was a traitor…I felt like…like I was lost. I was so desperately lost, I cracked. I lost it. The last thing I really remember of that day was standing in the middle of all the chaos and laughing. Everything else is a blur even to today. The Aurors and Hit Wizards and Obliviators all showed up, took me to a cell, and left me there for hours." Sirius paused. James and Lily were both watching their friend sadly. Harry was listening raptly he'd never heard this all in so much detail.

"Mad-eye was the one who came to my holding cell and read me the decree saying 'Life in Azkaban, Solitary confinement, High level security, no trial, thirteen murders'. All of it didn't really register in my mind. I didn't actually hear him say I was the one being accused of being the Secret Keeper for the Potters based off what Peter had yelled. But since they had no definite evidence on that, they could just go on the murder of Peter and the twelve Muggles and I'd still get 'Life'.

"Then he handed me the portkey to Azkaban, activated it, and the rest is history as they say."

Everyone sat in silence for a few minutes. Sirius had sat forward resting his head in his hands, his elbows on his knees.

"Sirius, I know this must be difficult for you to go over, but I need to know for the record how you escaped Azkaban." Kingsley gave him a sad, apologetic smile when he looked up.

"I'm an Animagus. A big, black Newfoundland to be specific. The Dementors can't sense animals as well as humans. Animal souls feel weaker and less prone to happiness or sadness. To the Dementors an animal just seems like…a human who's almost dead. When I was in my dog form, I could rest. I wasn't as attacked by the effects of the Dementors in my animal form, so I stayed in that form most of the time.

"Fudge had it right when he said I seemed very normal when he visited. That day was our extra slice of bread and cheese day with our bland pasta dish, and so I was well fed. He also sent orders that he didn't want an excess of Dementors in the areas he would be visiting, so there was only one guard on our floor that day. One Dementor compared to the dozen or so we usually had was nothing. We were all feeling a bit cheery that day. Me more than others since I could become a dog and was better off anyways.

"Fudge came in and saw me, I asked for his paper since I wanted to utilize my good mood and do something different. I also knew asking him something directly was almost taboo, so it would freak him out a bit. That paper was the one with the Weasley family portrait in Egypt on the front page. Ron had his pet Scabbers on his shoulder in the picture. I knew that rat to be Wormtail, Pettigrew's nickname. I'd helped him so many times to become that damn rat, how could I not know him. Besides the fact that he was missing a toe, the same toe Peter had cut off before exploding the street.

"I knew I had to get out and get to him, he would be in the same room as Harry at school. Who knew what could happen to my Godson, with that traitor sharing a room with him. So, a few nights later when the guard opened my door to slip in the food tray, I slipped out past him in my dog form. I swam to the shore, and went as a dog until I made it to a safe place to become my human form again and Apparate away. I mostly stayed in the Shrieking Shack, and a cave outside the edge of Hogsmede."

Sirius sighed.

"Kingsley, it's almost time for the press conference," said Harry. Kingsley looked at his watch and sighed.

"I'm sorry, Sirius, I thought we could get through all of this today before the conference, but I didn't get to Harry's memory evidence of Pettigrew alive and well. We can bring back James and Lily today, but you will probably have to wait a few days still. Alright?" Sirius nodded. "Alright, James, Lily, Sirius, don your disguises. Sirius when we get down there, I want you to just take a place in the front row. You get to watch the circus. Harry, you keep your parents behind the curtain and when I call you out, I want you three to enter the stage, still in your disguises, and walk to the center of the stage. I will be doing most of the talking, but I will ask you two to verify that everything I say is correct.

"Remember, we aren't saying anything about the time turner, or the actual spells of the comas. Just that he placed you in these comas to protect Harry. Alright?" he asked. They all nodded and stood up.

"Mori-san, will you be joining Sirius in the audience?" asked Harry. The elderly Japanese man smiled serenely.

"I must return to Tokyo now. I would love to stay and watch, but I should have returned with my Assistant a few hours ago. My cabinet will be wondering where I am. I would not want them to send anyone here to retrieve me like an animal. That would be disgraceful. So I must take my leave. Sayonara and gokoūn o inorimasu." He bowed low to them, and they all returned the bow.

"I learned some Japanese from a pen friend when I was younger, lets see if I can remember how to say a traditional goodbye." James cleared his throat. "Watashi no hobākurafuto wa unagi de ippai desu. Ichiroheian o inoru." Kingsley smiled and held back a snort. Mori just smiled and replied to James politely.

"Dōmo arigatō, gokigen yō."

He turned and walked to the fireplace and called out the name for the Foreign Ministry, before stepping in and leaving.

As soon as the flames were orange again, Kingsley burst out laughing.

"James do you know what you just said?" he asked, still laughing. Sirius was chuckling knowing James had to have messed something up. Lily and Harry were just smiling.

"I said good bye the traditional way," James replied.

"No," Kingsley said shaking his head. "You said, and I quote, 'My hovercraft is full of eels. I wish you a smooth road.'"

a/n: Wow, this chapter kicked me right in the tush...I wrote it THREE times!!! First time, my mom closed my laptop when I was out of the room, and it shut my comp down...I hadn't saved and I had only written to the part where they enter Kingsley's office. The Second time I wrote it, I finished it...went to the bathroom and came back and started editing it, only to have my computer shut down for auto-updates...Apparently it had warned me while I was on a potty break, and the Vista pop up went away after the 10 minute warning. I came back none the wiser. So that's why I'm so late in updating! I'm sorry, but after loosing it twice in three days, I was very upset and didn't want to write for a while....But I finished it, and forced myself to update today, for you! And I learned a valuable lesson...I, just me, must save after every paragraph...lol. Yes, that's what I did while writing it the third time. I also made it double the usual length!!! Be happy, I won't be doing that again! On this story at least. I hope everyone had a Happy Halloween! I know I did!

I got an 85% on my US History Exam! WOOT! Now I just need to do better on my quizes...*rolls eyes* If anyone wants the translations of the Japanese phrases, leave a (signed) review and I'll get them to you. The first person (If anyone) who gets the tv/movie reference in this chapter, gets to read the next chapter early! Make sure you leave me a way to reply to your review, usually by logging in to review is easiest.

REVIEW!!! THANKS!