Hi All! I am so sorry for the very very very long wait. I had a hell of a past few months! I'm back to writing, it might be slow going but I'm hoping to pump out a few chapters for you all! Thank-you so much for your patience and understanding!
Much Love!
-Jwall
Chapter 6.
"So, we get to go too dad?" Harry asked his father excitedly.
James got the owl that morning that Peter sang like a canary, and they already had Sirius out of Azkaban and in a holding cell at the Ministry.
"Yes son, it's important for you to be there, Hermione and her parents are coming along to support you as your mother, and I will be needed in the trial. Remus will also be there to protect you all if need be."
"What would we need protection from?" Hermione asked with a hitch of fear in her voice.
"Nothing too bad Hermione," James said softly "Purebloods happen to be a tad snooty from time to time and view your parents as scum on the bottom of a pond due to their heritage. It's something my family was working on getting rid of until the rise of Voldemort."
Hermione nodded; she had already experienced those same prejudices at school. She didn't want her parents to be treated poorly but knew they would bring comfort to Harry. She did intend to forewarn them beforehand though on what to expect.
Sitting down for breakfast Hermione realized she need not worry about that, James, Lily, and Remus all explained in great detail what to expect. Lily made it known that they would probably be the first muggles to ever attend a Wizengamot trial.
Remus went as far as to explain his own fight for equality being a werewolf in the community. Hermione was outraged, she vowed to study up to help with the fight in her free time.
Janbey offered to show Harry and Hermione the quidditch pitch on site while James, Lily and Remus went off for a meeting with the Minster of Magic. Harry who was super excited dragged Hermione and her parents out the door, this was one aspect of magic that they could share with her parents.
/*-/*-/*-/*
"Amelia why on earth did you insist upon me clearing my schedule this morning, you just said yourself that we have a huge trial for this afternoon, one which was last minute, and I know nothing about." Cornelius Fudge said with a sour tone added to his already high-pitched voice.
"As I told you Cornelius it is a matter brought forth from an Ancient and Noble house, this same house is heavily involved in the trial this afternoon so you may want to pay attention." Amelia said as there was a knock at the door.
Bollocks thought Fudge, there were only a handful of Ancient and Noble families left, and several did not have a head to the family thanks to the war. Who in the hell could want to see him so early and have a hand in the trial later?
It didn't take him long to figure out the answer to that particular question. Three people, two of which in all rights should be dead, just entered his office. Fudge turned pale white and feinted.
Coming round several minutes later, Fudge found himself already in his comfy armchair facing the two people he least expected to see, alive anyway, and Remus Lupin sitting just behind them.
"Is this some sort of joke Amelia?" Fudge asked quickly.
"No Cornelius, I told you to pay attention, there was an incident at the school involving Voldemort, again."
Fudge gasped at the name and Amelia pinned him with a hard stare.
"The Potters had started a ritual the night Voldemort" another gasp from Fudge, "Oh would you please grow up, you cannot be hurt by a name. Now like I said, the Potters started a ritual that normally would see the enemy dead, if Voldemort; DON'T DO IT!" Amelia glared at the chubby spineless man, taking a deep breath before continuing.
"If Voldemort hadn't already set up a ritual to bind his soul to the earth it would have worked. He's back Fudge and we need to get our shit together in order to handle him."
Fudge turned a puce color, "He cannot be back, he's dead, he died when Harry Potter reversed his killing curse." He spat.
"Fudge would you listen to yourself, we are supposed to be dead you blundering idiot" Lily fumed, "Yet here we are sitting in front of you telling you the git isn't dead." Then after a short pause she added, "And you believed a toddler would have the ability to reverse a killing curse, do you know how ridiculous that sounds? Who came up with that load of rubbish anyway?"
Fudge backed down like a beaten dog. "Who's on trial then today? Surely not he-who-must-not-be-named!"
"Oh for Merlin's sake man just say the damn name, Voldemort! If you can't spit that out, then go with his given name Tom Riddle." James spoke with anger lacing every word.
"For your own good Cornelius, I shouldn't tell you anything about the trial. I will however tell you who is on stand as there will be two parts needed today." Amelia said looking towards James to make sure he was on board with this.
A simple nod of his head allowed her to continue, "Peter Pettigrew is on trial today, secondary to him will be the exoneration of Sirius Black. And before you put up an argument, take another good look at the Potters. People, especially in our world can be brought back from the dead."
Cornelius Fudge gulped hard. It was him who had awarded the Order of Merlin, third class, posthumously to Peter Pettigrew. This trial will make him look a fool.
"I know what you're thinking Fudge." James' said with a smile, one Remus recognized from his childhood. "I can help you turn your shit around. In turn I need a vow from you."
James let the bait sit there in front of them. Knowing Fudge only cared about his image and keeping office, the simple vow he was asking for should be, in theory, no big deal.
"What are the conditions?" Fudge, now as green as his famous bowler hat.
"That you drop your support of Lucius Malfoy and any of his cronies immediately. He's a death eater on his own free will, you'll find out in the trial today that death eaters cannot get the mark without giving their consent, they have to want it. On top of that he was at my house the night Voldemort attacked, I can show my memories if you need proof."
Fudge turned from the yucky shade of green to a ghostly white then back to green as the words James Potter was saying hit him. He'd thrown his hat behind Lucius and several of his friends after their plea of being under the imperious curse.
"What can you offer me?" Fudge asked apprehensively, worried about the price. Lucius would be having a field day in Potter's position.
"Not money like Lucius that's for damn sure, I will not be a part of bribing, I simply want to go about my trial without interference from you or them with backing from you. We can and will publicly support you to the press, saying how you did what you believed right at the time and will be making amends now that the facts are all out in the open." James held back a smile, he knew he already had him.
"On top of that, you weren't in office when Sirius was flung straight into Azkaban without trial, if my research is correct that was the last thing Bagnold did as Minister before you took over. We can clear your name and give you good press."
Fudge thought long and hard about it. As he was thinking Lily gave him something else to chew on. "Strange Amelia, how do you suppose the diary of Tom Riddle got into the hands of a department heads daughter? The same diary that had possessed the girl and unleashed a sixty-foot basilisk onto Hogwarts?"
Fudge's eyes widened. He could already guess where this was heading. Did she say sixty-foot basilisk? He thought to himself just as Amelia went to answer her question.
"Funny you should ask that Lily, I spoke with both Ginny Weasley and her parents, it seems the day her father got into an argument with Lucius Malfoy in the bookstore he had picked up one her books from the cauldron. Arthur and Molly are both giving me their memories of that day to review, however that seems like a sweet spot to dump a book without suspicion."
Amelia was watching Fudge now. "If I should see a certain loyal death eater, who claimed to be under the imperious curse slip said diary into her caldron then I would suspect him of a lot more than endangering the children of Hogwarts."
If Fudge turned any paler, he would blend in with the pristine white walls of his office. "I accept your proposal Lord Potter." He said formally.
"Excellent, then we shall see you at trial. Please ensure that none of Lucius cronies find their way anywhere near my son, his friend, or her muggleborn parents." James said with authority.
"I'll handle that, James; I'm having Estelle sit next to your group as well for protection. She's newer in the aurors corps but extraordinarily talented at blending in and not bringing unwanted attention to herself." Amelia confirmed.
James bowed his head to the Minister and Head of the Aurors then escorted his wife out smiling. So far things were going his way.
/*-/*-/*-/*
Harry had just convinced Jean to hop on his broomstick after twenty minutes of reassuring her that he wouldn't let anything bad happen to her. Hermione had volunteered to go first to show her parents they had nothing to worry about.
This surprised Harry because of her hatred of flying and his favorite sport Quidditch, which he swore she watched through her fingers.
Dan was a natural when it came to riding, he enjoyed the speed and thrill of it far more than the female members of his household.
Jean finally relented just as James and Lily walked out onto the pitch. James had a broom over one shoulder and a quaffle held in his hand. Harry didn't speed up his slow and steady pace to meet with his father, he wanted Jean to enjoy herself and not get scared.
Lily headed straight for Hermione and used her magic to transfigure a blanket to sit on from Hermione's jumper that was laying on the ground. She was ready to talk house elves and find out what her interest in them was.
Jean joined the witches after she landed, explaining that it wasn't as bad as she thought, so long as Harry didn't speed up any faster than he had gone. This made Hermione giggle as she explained quidditch to her mother and a play by play of Harry's daring prowess on his Nimbus.
Jean watched through her parted fingers covering her eyes as James and Harry threw around what almost looked like a red partially deflated football several feet in the air.
Dan was cheering them on with a huge smile on his face as Remus explained the finer points of quidditch to him, explaining that Harry and his father were both seekers, and don't have much experience with the ball they were playing with, which just served to make Dan even more enthralled in the magic that was before him.
After roughly an hour, everyone had both feet back on the ground after James took Dan up for another ride. The boys needed a shower before dressing for the trial that was set to start at one o'clock.
When James and Lily popped back to the manor, they decided that they wanted to make an impact at the trial so used Amelia's office to get into and out of the Ministry without being seen. Once home they had asked a house elf to round up a couple Potter crested robes for them to wear later. James and Lily still had theirs, but they wanted to protect Jean and Dan even more so they would be fitted with some as well.
They and Hermione had the Potter crest on their sleeves to signify they were under the protection of that house, while Harry's and theirs had it on their chest and sleeves to show them as members of the house.
Remus, now in clothes that weren't so tatty, also had on a protection crest robe. He had made a fuss about the new clothes and robes, but James wouldn't hear it. "Moony, you're my brother and have taken care of my home in my absence without asking for anything, your family best get used to it."
Remus stuck his tongue out at his best friend but was smiling the whole time. Gods, he had missed him and soon Padfoot would be back in his life too. Things were finally starting to look up.
/*-/*-/*-/*
Sirius couldn't believe it, he had just taken his first real shower in years, the hot water felt amazing, soothing his aching muscles and bones. Showers in Azkaban normally contained a bucket with room temperature sea water, he didn't even think they purified the water before giving it to them.
He was given a decent meal that was made up of fresh bread and butter accompanied by some sort of broth. Amelia stopped by when he was just about to dig into his soup, she warned him that the light fare was due to adjusting his stomach back from the crap they dished out on the island.
Sirius appreciated the warning and treaded lightly while eating his soup and bread, careful not to eat too fast least he get an upset stomach and lose the only good food he had.
"What's this about Ami?" Sirius asked seriously for once.
"You're not guilty Sirius, that's what this is about. We have proof of this sitting a few cells over from you in a very small cage."
Sirius' eyes grew wide, "You caught the rat?" Then he thought about how she presented it, no one knew about their forms. "How did you know?"
"An old stag helped me out." She winked.
"That's impossible." Sirius cried. "Now is not the time to be playing games Ami, I need to know how you know!"
"Because I told her Pad." James said while walking into the holding cell.
Sirius looked up and forbid himself to feint. He had dreamed about being able to apologize to his best friend in the whole world forever. Even in his dreams the dementors never allowed him to see James' face.
"Am I dead?" Sirius asked Amelia softly while pinching his arm trying to determine if he was dreaming a good dream for once.
"It's real Paddy" came Lily's beautiful voice from behind James as she peaked around his shoulder.
Sirius lost it then. Due to protocol he had to be chained until proven innocent by the Wizengamot, however that didn't prevent Lily from running forward and wrapping him in a tight hug.
Sirius cried, he cried hard, gut-wrenching sobs into Lily's shoulder. He didn't care how it was possible, he only cared that he wasn't dreaming, and that they were alive. James replaced his wife embracing his best friend and brother.
Whispering in his ear James gave Sirius more hope, "We've come to get you out Sirius. We will explain everything after the trial, I promise."
"Harry?" Sirius had a hard time speaking after crying so hard, but he needed to know.
"He's safe, you'll see him in the stands with Remus." James informed him. "Now, we have to go, you're only allowed visitors for thirty minutes and you've spent most of that blubbering, which I don't blame you. Lily has been tearing up and hugging everyone too."
Sirius smiled. He had to be awake, this was too good of a dream to be in Azkaban.
/*-/*-/*-/*
Albus Dumbledore was cranky. He had a migraine from hell after waking up from being petrified. He was glad that no one got hurt, but his pride was bruised from getting bested by not only a ghost but a ghost of a school aged Tom Riddle.
How was he supposed to be the greatest sorcerer of all time when he was bested by a boy's snake? I guess it could be worse, I could have died. He thought to himself.
Outside of his pride he was mad at his deputy for allowing Harry to return to the Granger residence, he would have to go collect him at the end of the week as he needed to spend some time at Private drive in order to recharge the blood wards.
He knew Harry wouldn't be happy about this, so he had to come up with a plan to get him back there, it was for his own good.
He looked down at his docket and noticed that it was pretty much blank. He was to open the session and hand it off to Amelia Bones, per the Minister himself. Since when did Cornelius do anything without running it by me first? This week was just not his week.
Alas, Albus stood once everyone was seated, he noticed to his surprise that Harry was in the spectator stands with Hermione and her parents and … Remus Lupin? Now how in the hell did that happen? He had given explicit instructions to Remus not to approach Harry, he now had something else to add to his ever growing to do list.
Maybe I could use this to my advantage, Harry already knows Remus now, maybe he can guilt him into taking up the Dark Arts position. Use his threat to arrest him to secure him in the position.
That was an idea he would have to toy around with, for now he had to open the session. Albus Dumbledore had overlooked what Harry Potter and his guests were wearing if he would have noticed he might have become a little more worried than his current state.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, may I have your attention please. I would like to welcome you to this session of the Wizengamot. I would love to advise about what's on the agenda for today, but I see that I have been left out of the loop, as I'm sure many of you have been as well."
Albus paused for effect, hoping these people noticed the injustice of the head of the Wizengamot not knowing something he should. After a few beats he continued, irked by the groups non-plussed attitudes.
"At this point I am to turn over the trial to Madame Bones. Please proceed Madame."
Amelia thanked Dumbledore for turning the room over to her, it was show time. She couldn't wait to see everyone's face when the Potters walked through the door.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, we are here today to right a wrong that was done a little over a decade ago. Well two wrongs that is." Amelia signaled to a guard at the doorway. He opened one door and Kinglsey Shacklebolt walked in with a cage that held an unconscious rat.
"I would like to present to the Wizengamot Peter Pettigrew, Shack will you do the honors please?"
Shack enlarged the cage and put mesh wire around the bottom half small enough so a rat couldn't escape. Once everything was set in place he nodded to Amelia and together they changed the rat into a balding lump of a man that was missing a single finger. Shack then revived the stunned man.
The gasps that came out from members of the Wizengamot was drowned out by the shocked gasps from the viewing parlor.
"Everybody calm down, we have a lot to get through today and this is only one of the items we have on the agenda for today's trial." Amelia tried; however, the roar of the crowd didn't dim one iota.
Albus, wanting to show Amelia up as much as he wanted to know about Peter set off a noise maker charm into the air, grabbing everyone's attention and quieting the room down.
"Thank-you Albus." Was all that Amelia said, not wishing to give him a big head for something she herself was contemplating on doing.
"Okay, members of the Wizengamot, may I present to you a very much alive Peter Pettigrew, as you can clearly see he is missing the only bit of him that we found at the site of his supposed death."
The crowds' murmurs were welcoming to Amelia's ears, so she continued.
"Now, I did some digging after I was pointed in the direction of Mr. Pettigrew's hiding spot by friends who I will introduce in a bit, as it turns out on his left arm you will find the dark mark."
Amelia cast a low powered cutting curse to knock off the sleeve on Peters left arm, reveling his mark to the room.
"On top of this, I find it very strange that Sirius Black, the man accused of this, again obviously alive scum bag, didn't even get a trial for nor carries the mark himself. Strange, even the likes of Bellatrix LeStrange received a trial; even though everyone in their right minds new she was guilty of all her crimes."
The murmurs continued as several of the darker members of the Wizengamot turned pale.
"As luck should have it, we pulled Sirius Black out of Azkaban to finally stand trials for his crimes. He has willingly agreed to trial under veritaserum, he has already gone through the purging process to ensure he wasn't slipped an antidote by a Wizengamot approved healer."
Amelia paused to let this sink in, she followed the law by the letter and by damn they will know about it.
"Before we begin this trial to remove Pettigrew's Order of Merlin, third class, and charge him for his crimes of killing thirteen muggles, along with countless other crimes I'm sure, I'm guessing that you all would like to know my reliable source as to who pointed out his rat form?"
Multiple mutters of yes surrounded Amelia. She smiled as she nodded to the auror stationed at the door once more.
"Alright, I guess now is as good of time as any to re-introduce to society the heads of the Ancient and Noble house of Potter, James and Lily you may come in please."
As Amelia expected there were several gasps, a few loud cries of happiness, and some sounds of disbelief at the Potters arrival.
Amelia called the room to attention once more, they actually listened this time, everyone hanging on every word she said.
"The Potters have agreed to confirming who they are under veritaserum as well, they knew as well as I that it would take this much to make you all believe that they are truly back. They too have gone through the purging process to ensure no potions were administered that may interfere with the truth serum and for double protection agreed to make a magical vow as well."
Nods of agreement and murmurs of approval came from all sides of the room, both members and galley viewers.
"Madam Pomfrey would you please stand up and testify that these potions were administered to all involved and the results came back in good standing for us to administer the truth serum please."
Poppy stood, out of all the healers in magical Brittan she was the top of the list, trusted by all both dark and light alike, Poppy was known for her honesty and non-bias when it came to healing. She had made a vow before taking the position at Hogwarts all those years ago that trumped any other vow she could ever take.
Only the most dedicated healers take the vow, and she is one of only a handful who swore to honesty when it came to healing, the healers equivalent to an unbreakable vow.
After Poppy testified that both Sirius and the Potters cleared their tests with flying colors, she was instructed to give the potion to Peter in front of everyone. He would either test clean or the potion would purge out anything that would prevent the veritaserum from working in front of the entire room, thus needing no testimony.
Peter initially refused the potion, he begged James to stand beside him, trying his best to explain that Sirius was the killer, that he was simply hiding out of fear and loneliness, that he was attempting to be a spy for them within the Death Eaters.
"Quiet Pettigrew, you do realize we still have memories from the night your master came to Godrics Hollow with you in tow. You will meet your fate today chap whether you like it or not." James said with venom in his voice.
Peter paled and his mouth dropped open in shock. Poppy took advantage of the situation and poured in the required amount, slammed his mouth shut and forced him to swallow.
"All set." She said as she walked to sit in her assigned chair.
"Thank-you Madame Pomfrey, now before we begin with questioning, I think it's only right to have Sirius Black out here as well, Shack if you please?" Amelia asked politely as Kingsley flicked his wand and a chair rose out from the floor with Sirius chained in it.
Harry growled, he didn't want to see an innocent man in chains, even if he never met him. Jean squeezed his shoulder and Remus whispered for him to calm down. Harry took a deep breath and turned his attention back to the trial.
"Madam Pomfrey would you please provide the required 3 drops of veritaserum to Sirius, James and Lily please." Again, Amelia was being formal and playing by the rules.
Each of the three opened their mouth willingly and accepted the three drops administered by the Hogwarts healer.
"Thank-you" Amelia stated, then started the questioning with the Potters.
"James would you please state your full name for the chamber."
"James Fleamont Potter" was his reply.
"And in short can you please state you are who you say you are."
"Yes, I swear on my life and magic that I am James Fleamont Potter, head of the Ancient and Nobel house of Potter, married to Lily June Potter so mote it be." James then took out his wand and performed the lumos charm, proving his vow worked.
"Thank-you, you may take a seat."
Amelia then turned to Lily, "Lily, would you please state your full name?"
"Lily June Potter"
"Thank-you and would you please state you are who you say you are for the chamber."
"Yes, I swear on my life and magic I am Lily June Potter, nee Evans, married to James Fleamont Potter, head of the Ancient and Noble house of Potter so mote it be." She also took out her wand and performed the light spell as well.
"Thank-you, you may take a seat next to your husband please." Amelia then looked around the chamber, "Ladies and Gentlemen is there anyone here who wishes to dispute that this couple are who they say they are?"
Waiting a full minute for someone, anyone, to speak up she continued.
"Sirius, would you please state your full name to the chamber please."
"Yes, I am Sirius Orion Black"
"Thank-you, and did you partake in the killing of thirteen muggles in an alley way roughly eleven years ago?"
"No"
Sirius' one word answer was given with such authority that even without the serum he would be believed.
"Could you please explain to the chamber what you were doing there that day then?" Amelia asked.
"Certainly, I had a bad feeling the night James and Lily were thought dead, they had made Peter the secret keeper and I hadn't heard from him in a few days, I was getting antsy. Unable to quell my anxiety I swung by Peter's place only to find it empty along with signs that it's been empty for a while. With a bad feeling in my gut still I decided to pay Godric's Hollow a visit to discuss things with James and the family when I discovered the door blasted open and James's body lying on the stairs."
Sirius' voice cracked both from non-use for eleven years but also from the emotion in his voice of reliving his nightmare for an audience.
"I was rushing past his body when Rubeus Hagrid came walking down the stairs with a crying baby Harry in his arms. He was under the instruction from Albus Dumbledore to remove the child from the rubble and get him to safety. I assisted with calming Harry down and lent him my bike to get Harry away safely."
Amelia glanced at Dumbledore who looked unfazed then back at Sirius.
"I didn't want to let Harry go, but figured that Dumbledore knew best, I was so angry at Peter, I tracked him to his parents flat, which was the building that alley way was set by, I had him trapped, anti-apparition wards were in place before I had confronted him, I knew that he could turn into a rat, he had figured that out in Hogwarts and never registered like James and myself. I figured the alleyway would be the easiest trap, I didn't anticipate the storm drain."
Sirius shook his head, he was still mad at himself for letting his anger get the best of him, he should have used his head and taken Harry back to the manor.
"Peter aimed his wand at the wall behind me and cast an extremely strong explosion spell causing the wall to fall, he then aimed at the bystanders that were around now looking to see what happened. It was at this time he threw an explosion spell at them, causing body parts to scatter different directions, killing the lot with one spell."
Jean was tearing up at the thought of what this poor man went through, what he witnessed. She squeezed Harry's shoulder in a comforting way and continued to listen.
"After that he cut his pinky off and threw it near a random body part, a foot I think it was but I'm unsure of that." Sirius looked up at Amelia who nodded for him to continue.
"Well, he then turned into a rat and ran away through the storm drain. Aurors were on site within a matter of minutes from the heavy spells being thrown around in a non-magical sector. They didn't care that I was an Auror, they didn't care that I was pleading with them to listen about Peter. Robards and Isaacs were intent on throwing me in a cell."
Sirius took a few deep breaths, the injustice of it all still made him rile up after all these years, but now was not the time to lose his cool.
"Robards stated he was under the orders of the Minster for Magic at the time, Millicent Bagnold, to throw me straight into Azkaban without a trial, stating there were enough witnesses that explained what happened before they got obliviated."
"WHAT?!" Came an uproar from all around, this was a grave injustice that no one knew about.
"And that's where I remained until yesterday evening." Sirius finished up.
"Thank-you Sirius, now Madam Pomfrey would you please administer the serum to Mr. Pettigrew please."
"Absolutely"
Peter tried to avoid it, he shook his head all about, clamped his mouth shut, but in the end was no use to an experienced healer, particularly one who deals with children daily. She had his mouth opened with magic and three drops of the truth serum on his tongue before retaking her seat.
The chamber grew silent as they waited for Amelia to start the questioning once more.
"Mr. Pettigrew will you please provide the chamber your full name."
"Peter Pettigrew." He said through gritted teeth, knowing the truth was going to come out.
"And are you a death eater by choice or force Mr. Pettigrew?" The chamber went completely silent waiting for his response.
"By choice."
By this point James' eyes left Peter and were already scanning the room, he knew several of the members in the Wizengamot were former death eaters. He was looking for any signs of movement that would mean trouble for his family. In particular he was keeping a rather close eye on Malfoy and MacNair.
"Mr. Pettigrew, can you tell the chamber if you can be forced to take the dark mark?" Amelia asked hoping beyond all hope that the dunce knew.
"To my knowledge..." Peter didn't get to finish Lily had cast a protection charm around him as Remus had stunned a man in the balcony.
There was mass confusion on what was happening, multiple people were yelling, Remus after stunning the man with the green light starting to form on his wand then refocused his attention on the surrounding areas. He almost missed the red light coming his way, the auror who was on duty shielded him from it.
Estelle, it seemed, had eyes in the back of her head, as soon as she deflected the curse away from Remus, she pushed Harry down and punched a man who was grabbing for him from behind then promptly stunned him as well.
She continued to survey the area as she pushed Harry and Hermione together with Hermione's' parents in-between herself and Remus. He nodded in thanks for protecting his family then continued to look for threats.
An auror had already gotten the man who Remus had stunned handcuffed and out of site, most likely in a holding cell, another one had popped up and grabbed the man who Estelle stunned.
A sickening green light shot past the group once more, heading straight for Amelia. Remus tried to shout but before he could he saw a desk levitate in front of the deadly curse and explode right in front of Amelia.
Just as James moved the desk in the nick of time Lily set up a shield to protect Amelia from the splinters. She heard Estelle yell got em from the balcony and another one of her Aurors popped up and grabbed the man.
At the same time James and Lily sent stunners towards Lucius and MacNair, Estelle from her vantage point sent one at Parkinson as well. All three dropped into their seats.
Dumbledore sent up a noise blaster and amplified his voice to tell everyone to sit down. Shockingly everyone listened.
A group of aurors surrounded the downed Wizengamot members and popped them away to a holding cell.
"Will everyone please remain seated as we take care of this situation, please." Amelia said calmly.
Her aurors had done their jobs, they blended in flawlessly with the crowd and didn't bring attention to themselves. She had in turn flooded the chamber with none the wiser.
"Members of the Wizengamot, as we have seen here today there is a severe corruption in our society. If you could please join me in the back chamber so we may decide what to do about the trial." The members that were left all raised to their feet and shuffled single file into the back discussion chamber.
"James and Lily please follow me, Sirius I'm sorry but you will need to return to your holding cell I will be with you shortly.
With everyone nodding Shack came up to escort the rat through the floor into a cell and brought Sirius with him.
James looked up at the public gallery and saw his son and guest surrounded by Estelle and Remus. James' eyes locked onto Remus, he nodded. The kids and Grangers will be taken home.
Together as one the Potters rose and followed Amelia into the chamber, they both assumed that they were there more for protection, but also because James technically had a seat on the Wizengamot.
Walking in the chamber that was rather loud quieted down immediately upon the Potter's arrival.
"Amelia what the hell happened out there?" Augusta Longbottom asked.
"Why the hell did these two," the man pointed at the Potters, "and one of your aurors decide that it would be appropriate to stun three members of the Wizengamot?"
"Because Nott" Lily spat at the balding man, "They were the ones behind the chaos out there, I'm assuming you don't use your eyes very well, because if you did you would have noticed their subtle wand movements and them muttering curses."
James stood, and it had the desired effect that he was going for, everyone who would have said something to Lily immediately backed down.
"We had several people in the crowd stunned, multiple people could have been injured in the chamber, and your biggest concern is that we stunned a couple of death eaters? Would you like to lift your left sleeve and let us see for ourselves if the rumors are true then Nott?"
The man in question went pale and sat back down. Amelia was out for blood though, if it wasn't for the Potters, she'd be dead.
"What I want to know is how the hell we want to proceed with this trial. We have heard Sirius' argument and already heard Peter willingly took the dark mark, apparently some members didn't want the knowledge that death eaters have to be willing to take the bloody thing out to the public. I need your votes on whether we free Sirius and charge Peter. Please raise your wand in favor."
Everyone in the room had their wand in their hand and lit up in the air.
"Thank-you. Next form of business, how do we want to charge Peter Pettigrew. Honestly I would have been perfectly fine with him getting the green light to the chest if I didn't need him for other trials that will now take place."
"May I give a suggestion Madame Bones?" James asked.
"Of course, James." Was replied before he moved to the head of the table.
"A rat can escape from extremely small spaces. He is much too great a flight risk. My suggestion would be to have him passed through the veil. He has heinous accounts on his hands, all of which Amelia questioned him on the night she had him arrested. I'm sure she would be okay with giving a memory sample."
Amelia nodded and James continued. "We obviously have a lot of clean-ups to do afterwards I think it would be the best-case scenario. Obviously, the forces that be already want him dead, let's give them what they want."
James felt sick to his stomach even thinking about killing his once upon a time best friend. But after the situation that the rat had put him in, and endangered his son, he couldn't have him escape. All his points were valid.
"All in favor of the veil, please raise your wand." Amelia asked.
This time it was a mixed package, Amelia did a quick count and then spoke. "The chamber lands in favor of the veil. We will pass Peter Pettigrew through at midnight tonight after we make sure we have the testimonies needed in place."
"Thank-you all for your input, before we depart for the day, I would like one more matter brought forth" Seeing the nods Amelia continued.
"There were several members of the Wizengamot and the Public gallery that were stunned tonight, normally a member of this body would be able to forego Veritaserum as their word should be taken. Due to the corruption that we saw tonight I would like to vote this option out for all involved."
As she expected she was met with some hostile stares and accusations. Nevertheless, she continued.
"I know you feel this is wrong, however it is not pertaining to the group as a whole, I'm asking for an exception to the rule as we need to find out what the hell is going on and why we almost had a mass murder on our hands in our very own chamber."
Amelia now heard murmurs of agreement.
"Please raise your wand in favor of this exception to the rule."
Again, it would need a count as not everyone had agreed, but same as last time the votes were in favor of the exception. Amelia would finally get some truth serum down Lucius Malfoy's throat, be it hell or high water.
/*-/*-/*-/*
Sirius Black was sitting on a rather comfortable bed, considering the straw he had been laying on for the last decade the thin mattress was incredibly comfortable to his weary body. He wasn't worried, he knew James and Lily would get him out. He was helpless to protect his nephew for a second time, he saw the smaller boy in the stands next to Remus, he was the spitting image of James only with Lily's eyes.
He could have died today, and Sirius would never have forgiven himself. He did notice a female auror was protecting the group and was working well with Moony. He thought he saw something familiar in the auror, he also thought he saw a spark between Moony and her.
But that was all something to chew on later, right now he needed to be cleared and meet the young man who won his heart all those years ago, and his bushy haired friend who was just adorable.
These Potter men and their luck with women. He thought to himself smiling.