Well, I'm a day late, but it's better than a whole week. My apologies.
CrystalKaouri: The way I see James is that after failing to protect his family the first time, he tends to be more on the protective side. So he doesn't have a problem with Harry getting into some trouble at school (like trying to duel Malfoy at midnight), but he's a bit more cautious when it comes to bigger things like the prophecy. Glad you liked it :) Remus is one of my favorite characters!
Unfortunately, Fudge agrees with you that having James and Lily, known war heroes, at the trial would be bad for him, so he's doing everything in his power to make sure they aren't there. The Ministry is pretty locked down and unreasonable at the moment; nobody really has a say in how its run. The good news for us is since most of this story is from James and Lily's pov, we won't have to see much of Umbridge.
As for deaths, well... I guess you're going to have to wait and see how evil I am :) I'm so glad you're enjoying the story!
While James continued to go to work as usual, Lily and Harry joined Grimmauld Place's permanent residents with cleaning the house. If cleaning really was the proper word. If they were waging war, the house was winning. The amount of dark objects and creatures found within its walls was frankly ridiculous.
The twins tried to sneak darkish objects that would help them develop their joke line, while Lily figured if she didn't actually see it, she didn't have to do anything about it. Molly waged her own war to try and keep the kids from overhearing any order business, which Lily neither helped nor hindered. Mostly, she was just glad Harry seemed happier than he had all summer. Sirius seemed more cheerful too, and Lily was happy they were able to spend more time together.
Nevertheless, Lily never quite lost the worry over what could happen at Harry's hearing. If it was all fair, then there would be no trouble. Of course, if it were all fair, there wouldn't be a hearing in the first place. It just so happened that James' day off fell on that day. Yeah, there was no way that was a coincidence. Still, as no one except Harry and his witness for the defense (who everyone agreed should be Dumbledore) was allowed into the hearing, there wasn't much James could do in any case. And, she knew, there was no way he would be able to concentrate on any kind of work while it was going on. So maybe it was for the best.
Sirius was not allowed to go either. Dumbledore had turned up two nights before the hearing to discuss order business and thought it was a bad idea when asked. Neither James nor Sirius thought much of this idea, but Lily agreed with him. She personally did not want Sirius anywhere near the Ministry of Magic.
Lily and James were downstairs so ridiculously early the morning of the hearing that no normal person would call it morning. Lily filled herself several mugs of coffee and placed them in a row next to her chair, so she wouldn't have to get up to get more. She drank while James talked with the others who were up. Harry came down at half past five and got toast from Mrs. Weasley.
The adults continued their conversation. "So, what were saying about Scrimgeour, Tonks?" Remus asked.
"Oh… yeah… well, we need to be more careful. He's been asking Kingsley and me funny questions…"
Lily zoned out as she watched her son and drank her coffee. He looked nervous, but that was to be expected, and very pale. He only picked at his toast.
She tuned back into the conversation in time to hear Tonks say that she wouldn't be able to do night shift tomorrow after being up all that night.
"I'll cover for you," James offered, running his hand through his hair, looking like he really needed something to do right then instead of the next night. "It's no trouble. I've got paperwork to finish anyway," with a grimace.
"How are you feeling?" Lily asked Harry.
He shrugged. "I'm ok," he lied.
"It'll all be over soon," Arthur said.
"Yeah, in a few hours, you'll be a free man," said James, bracingly.
"The hearings on my floor," said Arthur, "In Amelia Bones' office. She's head of the Department for Magical Law Enforcement, and she's the one who'll be questioning you."
"Amelia Bones is ok, Harry," said Tonks, "She's fair, she'll hear you out."
"Don't lose your temper," Sirius jumped into the conversation, "Be polite, and stick to the facts."
"The law's on your side," said Remus, "Even underage wizards are allowed to use magic in life-threatening situations."
Mrs. Weasley started using a wet comb to try and get Harry's hair to behave. "Doesn't it ever lie flat?" She sounded desperate.
Harry shook his head. "Don't bother Molly," Lily said. "Nothing every works, and I don't think the state of his hair will be taken into consideration."
"I think we'll go now," said Arthur, standing up, "It's a bit early, but it's better than hanging around here."
Harry stood up as well, followed by James and Lily.
"You'll be alright, Harry," said Tonks.
"Good luck," said Remus, "I'm sure it's going to be fine."
"And if it's not," said Sirius, "I'll see to Amelia Bones for you."
Mrs. Weasley hugged him, "We've all got our fingers crossed."
Lily hugged him as well, trying to put a lot of comfort into that hug, because it was too early to come up with something to say.
James hugged him last. "Everything's going to work out," he said, "You'll see."
Harry nodded, jerkily, and followed Arthur out of the house as if being led to the gallows.
Lily sank back into her chair and downed her third cup of coffee in one gulp. She doubted she could go to sleep right now even if she had stayed up all night like Tonks. Her stomach churned uncomfortably at the thought of the hearing. Despite what they had all told Harry, just because the law was on his side did not mean he was going to get off, and if he didn't… Lily didn't know what they would do.
Molly left the room, probably to clean something as a way of keeping her mind off things. James paced restlessly around the kitchen, and Sirius stared moodily at the table.
A huge and rather noisy yawn split the silence. "You should go to bed," Remus said, eyeing Tonks, reprovingly.
She nodded and hauled herself to her feet. "You'll let me know what happens?"
"Of course," said Sirius, and James nodded.
Remus stood as well and escorted Tonks out of the kitchen and probably to the door as well.
Sirius watched the pair leave with narrowed eyes. "Did you guys see that?"
"See what?" James asked. Lily looked up.
"That," Sirius said, eloquently, waving his hand at the door, "Them. Our Moony and my cousin."
"What about them?" James said, oblivious.
"They're totally into each other!" Sirius said, impatiently.
"He's just walking her to the door," James said. Then paused to think about it. Then he shrugged. "Completely innocent."
Sirius raised his eyebrows. "Completely innocent for now. I know my cousin, and she's making no secret that she likes him."
"You haven't even seen Tonks in fourteen years. You're imagining things."
"No, you're oblivious."
"Moony's not giving any sign that he likes her that way, and after seven years at school, I think I'd be able to tell. That's longer than you've known Tonks."
Sirius nodded. "I don't think he realizes yet," he said. "But he will."
James scoffed. "So, you know what Remus doesn't know he knows yet?"
"Oh, come on," Sirius replied, "It's not like someone can't be in love with someone and not know it. Lils, here, for example."
"Don't drag me into this," Lily said, raising her hands as they both looked at her. She wasn't fooled. They were using a cheerful debate to distract themselves.
"What do you think?" James insisted.
Lily sighed and took a sip of her last cup of coffee. "I think if they realize they are in love with each other, there's less of a chance of them ever acting on it."
"What?" Both boys asked at the same time.
Lily rolled her eyed. "You know how Remus gets about being a werewolf."
Sirius groaned, and James scowled. "Well, that's no reason to not get together with Tonks if they want to," James said, hotly.
"Yeah," Sirius agreed, "It's not like she doesn't know what he is."
Lily shrugged. "I'm not saying it's sensible, I'm just saying that's what will happen."
James opened his mouth but closed it quickly as the twins appeared with a crack looking for breakfast.