Chapter 12: Chipping away at the base
For disclaimer and author notes please see chapter 1.
1986-02-24 09:00 UTC, Hogwarts
Sirius had cannily asked Minerva, not Dumbledore, for a meeting, though Dumbledore was the end goal. Minerva was somewhat reluctant to meet, because of the mild taint of having been merely pardoned instead of being properly exonerated. A taint that lay much more heavily against the real death-eaters of course, but Sirius was a victim of guilt by association. Minerva was honest enough to admit to herself that that was all it was, thus enabling her to accept his request and ask him to come in via the floo.
When he entered her office, the first thing he said was "Minerva: magical oath, veritaserum, or pensieve? Or any combination of the above?"
Minerva was now very glad she had not rebuffed him when he had asked for a meeting. But she still needed to make sure. "What are you talking about, Mr Black?"
"The world may or may not know that I am innocent of pretty much everything that has been laid at my door except bad judgement, but I need you to know for sure".
"Pensieve is best, I think", she said. "Let us go see Albus and ask to borrow his pensieve".
So they both walked over to Dumbledore's office, chatting amiably. Sirius called her "Minnie" a couple of times to tease her, but her mind was on what she would see and did not react too much.
When they entered, they saw Dumbledore had a visitor. "Oh excuse us, we can come back later", sad Minerva.
But Sirius had seen who the visitor was, so he said, "I don't mind if Kingsley sees my memories; in fact I'd have asked him anyway."
Dumbledore had a pretty good idea what Sirius was going to show and decided to nip this in the bud. "Sorry, Minerva, Kingsley and I are very busy and just cannot spare the time. Whatever Mr Black has decided to waste your time with, needs to wait."
That "waste of time" comment did him in. If he had not added that snide remark, Minerva might well have retreated and come back later; she definitely would not have reacted like this:
"Are you telling me I cannot judge when one of my lions is wasting my time or has something important to say? Do not forget, Albus, that I still teach all the kids in school, as opposed to merely seeing them at mealtimes from a distance". Turning to Sirius, she said "come on; we'll go to Grizzy's office at the WEA and use her pensieve".
This was even worse. Griselda Marchbanks was an old friend of Augusta Longbottom. While most people would say "yeah, old", as if that was the operative word, Dumbledore knew that "friend" was the real one there - the two old women met regularly and exchanged news almost instantly (but you could not call them "gossip-mongers" because the topics were always serious and important, not "gossipy").
As such, if whatever Black was showing Minerva was seen by Marchbanks, then Madam Longbottom would eventually hear about it. If she wasn't already with her that is.
But Dumbledore could not back-track now; he had - most unusually for himself - failed to leave himself an out when he said, so emphatically, that they had no time. Even if he tried to, Minerva would see through it, and - annoyed at him already for the snide comment about wasting time - would give as good as she got.
The only saving grace was that if Kingsley did not see it, then Amelia would not hear about it (after all she was his boss!); thank God for small mercies.
1986-02-24 10:00 UTC, Madam Marchbanks' office
Unfortunately, God was not in a mood for mercies, at least not the smaller kind.
If Dumbledore had known that Amelia was in Professor Marchbanks' office at the moment Minerva and Sirius entered, and that Madam Longbottom was also there, he would have definitely kicked Shacklebolt out and invited Minerva and Sirius in. As it was, four of the most powerful and influential women in their world were going to see Sirius's memories now.
Sirius was ecstatic. Thank God I decided to start with Minerva; this is working out much better than I thought it would!, he mused. He knew that Dumbledore had a lot to answer for in his case, and he suspected he was only one part of the old man's game. His biggest worry was his godson - rumour had it he was with muggles, which meant Petunia. That would not do, not while he had anything to say about it.
Rumour also was that Dumbledore had sealed the Potters' wills.
In any case, Dumbledore was too powerful to bring down with a direct attack. The statue's base, figuratively speaking, had to be chipped away in several vital spots and only then could you hope for the whole thing to come down.
Sirius showed the four ladies the Fidelius being cast by Dumbledore, then the confrontation with Peter.
Then he paused and told them, while facing Amelia specifically, "I am guilty of a minor crime, one which does carry a thousand galleon fine. But I would like to beg your indulgence in this, because it could prove to be the difference between life and death if the dark bastards ever come back to power. I assure you it does not harm anyone else."
Amelia looked at him carefully, judging what it could be. Then, the previous two memories having probably put her in a frame of mind sympathetic to Sirius, nodded.
So Sirius showed them memories of himself, James, and Peter becoming animagi in order to keep Remus company. The fact that Remus was a werewolf was also a bit of a shock but only to Professor Marchbanks and to Amelia. (He wondered who had told Madam Longbottom, but let it go for now; no point bringing up painful memories for her, considering what he had learned of her son and daughter-in-law's current state.)
Then he paused again. This time the looks were more challenging, especially from Amelia. Apparently one "illegal" secret was bad but, if you pleaded with her, she could overlook it. There had better not be one more such secret, her eyes seemed to be saying.
"This memory was sent to me in a vial, by a note that was merely signed 'the Phantom'".
They all dutifully raised their eyebrows (a younger and more gossipy bunch would have gasped, he thought), but said nothing.
He had seen it of course; it was only a few seconds long - the rat, missing finger and all, poking out of the pocket of what could only be a Weasley child, judging by the hair.
"The note burnt up as soon as I read it, so you have only my word for this. But in that note, he takes great pains to explain that the Weasleys have no clue what that rat is and are not to be blamed for this in any way whatsoever. He also said the rat is no longer there; he has captured it and kept it in a safe place. The day I have a proper trial, the Phantom will supply the rat direct to me."
"And you believe all this?", asked Amelia.
"I have no reason not to", he said. Then, "Amelia, you know Fudge's order to free all death-eaters did not actually include a list, so how did the warden know whom to release?"
Amelia gestured for him to go on, intrigued by the apparent non sequitur.
"It was implemented by Malfoy standing there and calling out names. Now, do you really think he would have called out my name, knowing what you know now, and knowing that, as far as he knows, the only other male of Black blood is his son?"
"So how did you get out?", asked Minerva. Again, a younger and more gossipy bunch would have latched on to the "as far as he knows" and asked if I have a by-blow or two hiding somewhere, but not these ladies!, he thought.
"I have no memory of that. I found myself in Grimmauld, with the Black house-elf Kreacher taking care of me. He said the Phantom dropped me off. He also left a note for me which explained how Malfoy had gotten all the real death-eaters out, and left only me - among the prisoners that were considered by the public to be death-eaters - back there."
Augusta laughed. "That right there is proof that you're a good guy I guess, if Malfoy did indeed leave you behind! But we can't know that for sure, simply because this Phantom says it is".
Amelia chipped in, "oh it's definitely true. When Malfoy found out Sirius got out, he went into a royal snit and made Fudge call me in and order me to arrest Sirius!"
"Speaking of Malfoy", Augusta interrupted, "whatever happened to that issue with Macnair being found dead on Malfoy's hippogriff preserve?"
"Nothing. They simply claimed complete ignorance of the event, and that at the time they heard they were actively looking for Macnair to have him arrested. And their word is law, with Fudge, so that's that unless I can actually find some evidence. The more interesting result is that, if rumours are to be believed, some of their own are asking uncomfortable questions, especially Flint, who was Macnair's cousin. The law may have been forced to ignore this, but their own cohorts are unlikely to!"
She paused a bit to reflect on that, then turned to Sirius, "Back to your case, he wanted you pushed through the veil, as - according to him - you were the only one who escaped from Azkaban, while the others were properly released. I told him what Reiter said - there was no list. I was actually hoping he would incriminate himself by admitting his role in the actual selection, because he is not an employee of the ministry in any capacity and has no right to do that. But he's slippery as an eel; he merely went red in the face and walked out".
Sirius settled himself more comfortably in his chair, and gave them all a serious look.
"Dumbledore has my godson somewhere. I am going to ask him in your presence first", indicating Minerva, "and if he doesn't come clean and hand Harry back to me, I will have to sue him. I heard he has sealed the Potters' wills; is that true?"
"Yes, but at that time no one thought it was a big deal. It was clear that the boy-who-lived would be in danger, and hiding him away was something most of us were OK with, and in fact would still be OK with. You'll need a pretty strong case to go against that sentiment from the light side people", said Augusta.
"Well, we shall see", said Sirius, and, after making an appointment with Minerva for 4pm that afternoon, they all dispersed.
1986-02-24 16:00 UTC, Hogwarts
Minerva met Sirius at the main entrance, and led him to the headmaster's office. She had not informed Albus that Sirius was coming, not wanting to give him the chance to make some excuse and disappear. She was surprised at herself, that barely a few hours after seeing those pensieve memories, she had started becoming suspicious enough of Albus to take precautions like this.
Of course, as deputy, she did not have to wait for Dumbledore to permit her to come in, so in she walked, with Sirius right behind. Dumbledore appeared to be in a good mood, but it noticeably dampened when Sirius walked in.
"Albus, I think it is time we took Harry out of those horrible muggles' house now that Sirius has been exonerated", said Minerva. She knew he was technically only pardoned, but she wanted to see what Albus would make of such a statement.
"He was only pardoned, Minerva, not exonerated. There is still a cloud of suspicion about everyone who was released the other day."
"What cloud, Albus? You cast the Fidelius yourself, so you know I was not the secret-keeper!"
"I know you were not the secret-keeper on that day. Since you went around boasting all over the place that you were the secret-keeper, I have to assume they changed their mind later."
Minerva looked at Sirius askance. He explained, "Decoy, Minerva. We wanted them to come after me and leave Peter alone. Too bad we did not know that Peter himself was the traitor."
"So you see Minerva, the suspicion is still there", said Albus.
"Well, Filius and Poppy were with me when you said several very noble things about second chances and bringing them back to the fold or something like that. What better person to start with than Sirius?"
"Giving everyone a second chance is something I am all for, Minerva, and that will happen. But there are some risks - a risk to the saviour of the wizarding world, for example - that are beyond even that noble purpose."
Sirius decided to speak up. "Albus, as his magical godfather, I have the right to raise him. I intend to pick him up tomorrow. Grimmauld Place is clean, and has been made ready for a child. All the dark artefacts have been destroyed too."
"I must ask you to see things from the point of view of what would be best for the wizarding world's safety, Sirius. The saviour of our world must not be put at risk. You will not be able to approach the place without breaking through my wards. I cannot say any more, and I will not. This discussion is at an end."
"No it is not; it has just begun. You must understand, Albus, that I have a responsibility, and I must fulfill it."
Albus was fast losing his temper, which in itself was unusual. He was also beginning to realise just how much Minerva was on Sirius's side, and that was making him lose control like had not happened for decades.
"Sirius, if you persist in this, I will have to take appropriate action to prevent you, upto and including having you sent back to Azkaban. I am that serious about this."
He turned his gaze onto a totally shocked and speechless Minerva. "I repeat, this discussion is at an end. Prof McGonagall, the next time you presume to tell me what is the correct thing to do for anything other than a school matter, I will not be as willing to listen as I have been today."
Sirius and Minerva left quietly. Neither of them so much as nodded goodbye - one was too angry, and the other too shocked and angry, to do so.
1986-02-24 23:00 UTC, 12, Grimmauld Place
Late that evening, Hobby, in the form of the adult Harry Potter, paid a visit to Grimmauld, popping straight into the kitchen after checking that Sirius was not around.
The muggles and muggle-borns who were rescued from the various dungeons about two weeks ago, were all gone, having recovered as much as they could here, and having their memories fixed up so as not to remember the horrors they went through.
Now Hobby just wanted news of Sirius, and Kreacher dutifully told him everything that had happened today.
"How do you know all this?"
"Master Sirius told me while he was having dinner."
To which Hobby could only stare in wonderment, trying to reconcile the hatred that had existed between then in his time, with what he was seeing here.
Anyway, it was time to up the ante. Things were going too slow, and he had to deal with the most vicious and dangerous of the death-eaters first, while their arrogance and complacency gave him the advantage. As he killed, or rather arranged the deaths of, more and more of them, it would become harder. Best to get the big fish out the way first.
But even before he did that, the Phantom would have to force a little meeting.