As the trial was resuming, Hermione was hiding as much of her lower body below her desk as she could, robes hiked up as she copied down what she'd scrawled across her thighs onto a piece of proper parchment. It was awkward, and her handwriting had smeared in several places, but Hermione thought she'd at least gotten most of it right.
Mrs. Lovegood to Xenophilius and Luna Lovegood:
A bridge of bloods will bridge the realms
A tree of power will hold her house and seat.
When she hides in the trees of the she-spawned she,
the blood that runs will lay at her feet
Let the blood run, yea, let them bleed
For it will weaken those in power
The bridge will bridge the realm and realms
She is the last bridge, and none will come after
Old man (a.g.e.) to Xenophilius and Luna:
At the Solstice will come a new dawn
Born of fire and forged in flame
The coven-child cares not for rules
And will entirely reset the game
Deaths shall die a fiery death
and contradictions shall resolve
The she shall respect the no man
and together make Magic evolve
investigate: s.p.t to a.p.b.w.d re: dark lord and (?) harry potter
She read over her notes, scanning for clues.
The first, she had no idea why she or Luna had been on the label. There was no identifying information in that prophecy that made any sense to her. The one from the old man at least had an identifier – "the coven-child". With her current plans for the upcoming summer solstice, this one, Hermione was relatively confident was actually about her.
Not that it made any sense, but there it was.
Rather annoyingly, she found herself more obsessed with the one about Voldemort and Harry Potter. What had been prophesized about them? Had it been why Harry had been targeted as a baby? Had Dumbledore ever told Harry? Who had made the prophecy, for that matter?
Hermione paused, dwelling on the initials.
What was Professor Trelawny's first name…?
Her thoughts were interrupted by Dumbledore calling everybody back to order, instructing them all to take their seats.
Dumbledore welcomed back the Wand and the Defense. When the Wand rested their case, Beryl Farley looked smug, gesturing, and there was a murmur as the guards escorted Sirius Black to the stand, securing his hand shackles to the witness box. Sirius sighed heavily with exasperation and rolled his eyes repeatedly through the whole thing, making a scene of it. Amused, Hermione fixed her robes and paid attention.
"If you would give your name for the court?"
"Sirius Orion Black," Sirius said. He smirked. "Or Sirius Black the Third. Whichever works."
Beryl got straight to the point.
"Sirius Black," she said, "have you ever murdered a muggle?"
"No," Sirius said flatly.
"Have you ever accidentally killed a muggle?"
"No."
"Did you kill Peter Pettigrew?"
"No," Sirius snarled. "The rat bastard's still alive."
"Then," Beryl said, "please tell us what you know of the day in question."
"Peter Pettigrew betrayed Lily and James Potter to Voldemort," Sirius said grimly, and there was a stir him saying Voldemort's name aloud. "I know he did – he was their Secret-Keeper. He was the only one who could—"
"The day in question, Sirius," Beryl said sharply, and Sirius scowled.
"The night they died, I'd arrived to check on Peter, make sure he was still safe, but when I arrived at his hiding place, he'd gone. Yet there was no sign of a struggle." Sirius's voice was heavy. "It didn't feel right. I was scared. I set out for the Potters' straight away. And when I saw their house, destroyed, and their bodies… I realized what Peter must've done…" His voice broke. He took a moment before resuming. "I tracked Peter down. When I cornered him, he yelled for the whole street to hear that I'd betrayed Lily and James. Then, before I could curse him, he blew apart the street with the wand behind his back – killed everyone within twenty feet of himself – and sped down into the sewer with the other rats…"
"I'm sorry, rats?" Beryl asked.
"Peter Pettigrew is an unregistered Animagus. He turns into a rat," Sirius snarled. "Should have known from the start never to trust him – what kind of person turns into a rat?"
"When you were arrested, what happened?"
Sirius grew quiet.
"Sirius?"
"I don't know," Sirius said, his voice quiet. "It's very hard to remember, now. The Dementors… they kind of suck everything out of you that's good and happy. I remember the betrayal and confronting Peter because they're such bad memories. I think…" He paused, dwelling.
"Do you remember your arrest?" Beryl prodded.
"I—I think," Sirius said. "I was in the street. I couldn't move, I couldn't believe it—that Peter had been spy for Voldemort, and he must have been for over a year—and then he'd murdered all those muggles—" He shook his head. "I don't remember, but I believe it when they tell me I was laughing like a crazy person. In that situation, laughing at the despair of it all was probably all I could do…"
"You did not hurt Peter Pettigrew that day?"
"I meant to, but he got away," Sirius said bitterly. "But no. I've never killed anyone. I am innocent."
There was a murmur as the Truth Circle didn't react. Beryl held her head high.
"No further questions," she said, stepping down.
Dumbledore looked to the other side of the room, and Alexandra stood.
"Sirius Black," she said, stepping forward. "If you were innocent, why did you not tell someone?"
"I did," Sirius snarled.
That caught Alexandra off-guard. She paused.
"What do you remember of your arrest and detainment?" she asked carefully.
"I was out of it for a while," Sirius admitted. "I was just so devastated. James was my best friend, my brother in magic—I was lost without him, and combined with Peter's betrayal…" He cleared his throat. "When I came out of it, I told the guards. I told them it was Pettigrew. I told them I was innocent. They laughed at me and did nothing. They told no one."
Alexandra raised an eyebrow. "Crouch just testified that you never claimed you were innocent."
"Barty Crouch was doing fuck-all with me," Sirius snarled. "He was supervisor, and busy trying to handle the fact his own son was a bloody Death Eater. He just had the reports of the underlings he assigned to me, and they lied."
Alexandra paused.
"Do you remember who those people were?"
Sirius thought back.
"Scabior was one," he said. "Olive Snyde was another – she had those purple eyes. I don't remember the third." He made a face. "Probably another Slytherin."
"Why would they not tell Crouch the truth?" the Wand of the Realm asked.
"Objection! Calls for speculation!" Beryl declared, slamming her hands on the desk. "That calls for—wait—Sirius—" Her eyes grew huge, and she hurriedly sat down. "Objection withdrawn!"
Alexandra rolled her eyes.
"If I had to guess," Sirius said reluctantly, "they might have been some of the Slytherins who I was mean to in Hogwarts."
"'Mean to'?" Alexandra repeated.
"I was a bit of a dick in school, alright?" Sirius snapped. "We all did it – pushed around the junior Death Eaters, got harassed in the halls by the Slytherins right back—"
"You think three people essentially condemned you to a life sentence in Azkaban for schoolyard bullying?" Alexandra said, her tone skeptical.
"I don't know. Ask them," Sirius snarled. "But I told them I was innocent. And I was thrown into Azkaban anyway."
Alexandra paused. The pause grew in the chamber, becoming almost a tangible thing, the room vibrating with a silent tension. Finally, Alexandra stepped forward, facing the rows of the Wizengamot members, her back to Sirius.
"Esteemed members of the Wizengamot," she began, "the Realm has no further witnesses for you. The accused denies his crimes within the oldest Truth Circle of the Ministry without pause. And his claims have merit – Peter Pettigrew is in a Ministry cell at this moment." She looked them all over. "With this, the Realm cannot prove their case against Sirius Black. The charges must be dismissed."
A murmur broke out, members quickly whispering to each other. Hermione was stunned. She'd presumed they would vote, and he'd be declared innocent – but a dismissal…?
"What's that mean?" Sirius wanted to know, still on the stand. "Does that mean I can be tried again?"
Alexandra paused.
"I'm not actually sure what view the Ministry would have on double jeopardy in this case," she said, frowning. "But dismissing—"
"No, I want to be innocent," Sirius declared. "I want to be declared innocent of all charges. If you didn't prove your case, then they should all just vote for me."
"Sirius Black, that is not how it works," Alexandra said, aggravated. "If the charges are dismissed—"
"The Defense rejects the dismissal of charges!" Beryl declared, slamming her hands on her desk. She stood up. "Closing arguments now!"
"I don't need a closing argument if we're stopping the trial—" Alexandra said, patience wearing thin.
"If she doesn't need a closing argument, I'll go!" Beryl interrupted, leaping forward. "The Ministry has not proved its case against Sirius Black! He is innocent! You must vote for him to go free!"
"We are not—"
"I want to finish my own bloody trial," Sirius snapped at the Wand, cutting her off. "I've waited twelve years for this, for everyone to know - let me be declared innocent, you bloody girl—"
The Wizengamot seemed to have accepted that it was, in fact, closing arguments now, as members began raising their paddles as the arguing continued. Hermione raised hers as white, and she was pleased to see everyone in her row raise theirs as white as well.
"—dismissal of all charges means that we're not—"
"—is innocent, so declare it so!"
"—need to be declared not guilty so I can sue the bloody Ministry into oblivion—"
"—not a witch hunt—"
It didn't take long; there was a loud DONGGG, and everyone rapidly fell quiet, but Hermione was grinning. Even without knowing the count, as she looked around, she could see the number of white paddles overwhelmed the room.
"Sirius Black, by a vote of 47 to 2…" Dumbledore intoned, his voice ringing out in the chamber, "…the Wizengamot has found you innocent."
Sirius, who had still been on the witness stand, leapt to his feet in a cheer, chains clanging loudly as he did, and some of the people in the Wizengamot cheered with him.
"You are cleared of all charges and free to go," Dumbledore said, banging his gavel. "This trial is adjourned."
Conversation immediately broke out, and Hermione watched as Alexandra stormed off to the side of the room, glowering and muttering to herself. Hermione wondered if she'd pushed for a dismissal instead of a verdict so this loss wouldn't taint her record, or if it had just been the fact a verdict was unnecessary and legally ridiculous that had offended her so.
"So! Peter Pettigrew next, yeah?" Era said, her eyes bright. "The drama of it all. Can you believe it?"
"It'll have to be scheduled," Hermione murmured, her eyes on the courtroom floor. "Amelia Bones will have to get the right witnesses in place, but yeah—pardon me—"
Hermione clambered down the stairs to the floor, skimming along the outside of the area. The guards were finishing unlocking the shackles around Sirius' wrists, and he grinned widely as they fell from his hands.
Sirius went to Narcissa Malfoy first, whereupon he immediately horrified her by sweeping her up in a tight embrace and spinning her around, eliciting a sharp shriek of surprise, and Sirius laughed.
"Free! Free, Cissy, free! We did it!"
When he settled her back down, Narcissa's face was pink, and she adjusted her robes in the most dignified manner possible.
"I'm glad of your innocence, Sirius," she said. "The Black family legacy will be stronger with you returned to us."
Hermione didn't know what any of that meant. She watched as Lucius approached Sirius, moving to stand at Narcissa's side.
"Congratulations, Black," Lucius said finally. He inclined his head, and Sirius snorted.
"Thanks," Sirius said. He grinned. "Your wife was a great help."
"Yes, well…" Lucius' tone was dry. "I trust you'll have no need of her now."
"She might not be Regent for much longer, but she's still my cousin," Sirius said, eyes glinting. "We'll see each other at family gatherings, now, Lucy. We'll be the best of friends."
Lucius scoffed audibly, disgusted, and he and Narcissa drifted away together, united in public once more. Sirius watched them go, his smirk softening into a smile, and Hermione smiled to herself as well. The public 'acceptance' had been scripted, she suspected, and Sirius had done a fair job of it.
But now, Sirius turned, and Hermione held her breath.
"Dumbledore…"
This had been what she wanted to see.
Sirius' voice was so pained, so hurt, so anguished, and as Dumbledore stepped forward toward Sirius, Hermione could see his blue eyes brimming with tears behind his half-moon glasses.
"Sirius, I am so sorry," Dumbledore said, his voice choked with emotion. "I didn't know. I would have never left you—"
"You never checked," Sirius said. "How could you think I would ever betray James—"
"With you as Secret-Keeper, it was the only possible conclusion," Dumbledore said heavily. "I never realized you hadn't had a trial. I was preoccupied at the time, trying to save Frank and Alice. I didn't know, Sirius. I am so sorry."
Sirius looked at Dumbledore for a long moment, pained.
"I lost twelve years," he said. "I was your man, your soldier, and I lost twelve years of my life."
"You did," Dumbledore said quietly.
"I can't forget that," Sirius stressed. "I trusted you, trusted you to protect me, and that trust has been broken."
"I know," Dumbledore said. "I know."
The two men looked at each other for a long moment, the silence stretching between them. Eventually, Sirius took a step forward, slowly extending a hand to Dumbledore.
"We'll have to pick up the pieces one by one, then," he said, a faint, bitter smile on his face. "Together."
The sudden, blinding joy on Dumbledore's face caught Hermione entirely off-guard, and Dumbledore beamed at Sirius as he took Sirius' hand and shook it.
"It might have cracks, but we'll do our best to mend what was broken," he said cheerily. He grew somber for a moment. "I may have let you down, Sirius, but with this second chance, I will do my best to not do so ever again."
"Excellent," Sirius said. His eyes glinted, and the smile he gave Dumbledore was almost predatory. "Then… I want to see my godson."
Dumbledore faltered. "Ah…"
Hermione had to clap her hand over her mouth to stifle her laughter. There was no way Dumbledore would want Sirius to see Harry right now. Dumbledore hadn't had time to 'debrief' Sirius in any way, or any time to prime Harry for meeting his godfather, meaning he would be entirely out control of the situation if it happened.
And yet, he'd just promised not to let Sirius down. To refuse such a reasonable request, right after giving his word…
Hermione grinned from the sidelines, and Sirius shot a grin at her as Dumbledore scrambled, clearly caught off-guard. Sirius may have been a Gryffindor, but it was clear that being around Slytherins for a while had rubbed off on him.