On Monday, November 4th, 1991, Sirius was brought before the Wizengamot for questioning.
"Witches and wizards of the Wizengamot, " said Amelia clearly, "It has recently come to our attention that Sirius Black may not necessarily be guilty of the crimes he has been in Azkaban for. Sirius, I am going to ask you a few questions."
"Okay, Amelia, " said Sirius calmly.
Amelia was relieved that Sirius was staying calm as the hearing started. She knew this was a key for Sirius to gain the trust of the witches and wizards of the Wizengamot. She could prove his innocence via Veritasiurium if necessary but there was an opportunity that she hoped to procure for Sirius that she could only even think about asking for if the Wizengamot had gained his trust.
"Who were your best friends at Hogwarts?" Amelia asked Sirius.
"James Potter, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew, " answered Sirius calmly.
Amelia felt good now. If Sirius could remain calm while saying the name Peter Pettigrew, then he could remain calm throughout the whole hearing.
"Did you remain close with them after Hogwarts?" continued Amelia.
"Yes, " said Sirius matter of factly, "And after James married Lily Evans, I became close to Lily as well."
"Were you at any time a Death Eater?" Amelia grilled Sirius.
"No, " said Sirius matter of factly, "My parents were bigoted pure blood supremacists, but I despised their views and what they stood for. I would never have served Lord Voldemort in any form. I actually ran away from home at sixteen and went to live with James to get away from my parents and their pure blood mania. I always despised any and all forms of the Dark Arts."
"Were you ever the Potters Secret Keeper?" inquired Amelia.
"At the beginning of the period where James and Lily knew that Voldemort was after them, I was. However, and this is where I made my fatal mistake, I convinced James and Lily to change the Secret Keeper to Peter at the last minute. I thought it was the perfect bluff. I thought Voldemort would come after me and would never think that James and Lily might use Peter. I got James and Lily killed because I outthought myself. If I had stayed Secret Keeper, James and Lily wouldn't have died and Harry would have grown up with his parents. Peter told Voldemort where to find James and Lily and.."
Sirius retained his calm, but a sincere look of hurt had come upon his face and a few tears leaked out of his eyes, facts that were noticed by the witches and wizards of the Wizengamot.
"What became of you after James and Lily died?" continued Amelia.
"Peter yelled for whole the street to hear that I'd betrayed James and Lily and cast a spell that tore apart half the street while killing twelve muggles. He then cut off a finger and transformed into a rat. He escaped into the sewer lines and in essence framed me for both the murder of the twelve muggles and his own faked death.'
"I know, " piped up Patricia Patil, "That the only part of Peter Pettigrew that was found was a finger. That actually makes more sense after listening to Mr. Black's version of events."
"Do you know what became of Pettigrew?" Amelia asked Sirius.
"Not for sure, " said Sirius honestly, "My best guess is that he went into hiding out of fear of Voldemort's old supporters. While I've been in Azkaban, I've heard them muttering about how they feel Peter double crossed them under the premise that Voldemort met his downfall after going after James and Lily on Peter's information."
"It's all starting to fit, " said Patrick Patil briskly.
"Mr. Black, " explained Augusta Longbottom, "We already know of your innocence due to something Dumbledore let slip under Veritasiurium during his trial. Dumbledore spilled that he put the Imperius Curse on you to make you make James and Lily change their Secret Keeper to Peter."
'This is true, " confirmed Amelia and she showed the memory of what Dumbledore had said about the matter at his trial.
"So, " said Amelia clearly, "You've heard the stories. If you are in favoring of acquitting Sirius Black on all charges he has been serving time in Azkaban for, then please raise your right hand."
Every witch and wizard on the Wizengamot raised his or her hand.
"Cleared of all charges, " said Amelia happily.
"If I may offer some input, " piped up Sirius, "When it comes to tracking down Peter, look for a rat with a missing toe."
"Thank you, Sirius, " said Amelia, "I have some ideas for what to do about that, but there is another issue to address here."
"Yes?" replied Sirius.
"While I want you to remain at Abbott Manor for the foreseeable future, I believe that perhaps in a couple of years you could be allowed to adopt children. This could be a big thing for you not next summer but summer after, " revealed Amelia.
"Oh, " realized Sirius, "I am Harry's godfather. Are you saying that I could become Harry's actual legal guardian?"
"Yes, " answered Amelia with a genuine smile, "Under Wizarding Law, a wrongly convicted criminal who is later acquitted after a mistake is discovered can have his or her right to adopt children restored. However, this can only occur with a super majority vote from the Wizengamot. So, witches and wizards of the Wizengamot, raise your right hand if you vote to allow Mr. Black to have his right to adopt children restored. "
Again, every witch and wizard on the Wizengamot raised his or her hand.
As Amelia had hoped, Sirius's having been consistently calm and professional during the hearing had won him the trust of the witches and wizards of the Wizengamot.
"So, when the time comes, I can adopt Harry and become his official legal guardian?"
"Yes, " smiled Amelia.
Amelia now turned to gathering as a whole and said, "Wizengamot dismissed," and in a few minutes and a few nanoseconds it was just Amelia and Sirius in the courtroom.
"Sirius, " beamed Amelia, "Yes, you can adopt Harry when the time comes. But I didn't say child. I said children."
"Is it your wish that I adopt a second child as well when the time comes?" Sirius asked Amelia, now sounding slightly confused.
"Hannah has Heather, Susan has me, and Harry will have you, " replied Amelia, "But Amy has no adult to call hers. "
"You know, " said Sirius thoughtfully, "I really respected what Harry told us about Amy last night when we were talking about how much was lost during the Wizarding War. Hannah lost her dad and Harry and Susan both lost both their dads and their moms. But Harry said that Amy has it the worst of all. Remember that Harry said that he couldn't imagine how it must feel to have your parents alive and healthy and have them not want you. "
"Especially when you consider their reasons for not wanting her, " added Amelia, "Abandoning her at birth because she is an albino was bad enough, but then to find out that they would have abandoned her later anyway because she is a witch is far worse."
"The Alworths did seem to have a very Dursleyish attitude towards witches, wizards, and magic when it came to it, " said Sirius in a disgusted voice, "And that part about Amy not having an adult to be able to call hers makes it worse."
"That's where this is ultimately going, " said Amelia matter of factly, "I wish for you to adopt Amy when the time comes. You and Amy already have a great relationship started up so it should work out nicely."
"I would like that, " said Sirius brightly with a broad grin across his face, "Harry and Amy my wards? Well, if I wish upon a star maybe it'll really happen someday."
"It will, " promised Amelia, "Just be patient."