The Order of the Pheonix
Chapter One
Central City
Military Cemetery
Funeral of Rebecca Havoc
Jean Havoc stood between Roy Mustang and Heymans Breda, protected from view for the most part. Alex Armstrong was standing next to Breda, making it nearly impossible to see the rest of the group. Edward Elric, Winry, and their children stood next to Roy. Roy's younger children stand next to Winry, with Riza on their other side. Kain Fuery stood last in the row. This was the first time any of them had been seen in public since the border breech.
Reporters had gathered at the edge of the cemetery, wanting to ask questions but not wanting to step on toes. It hadn't been so long that they had forgotten Bradley's rule after all. Jean honestly did not pay very much attention as the ceremony continued, he stared at the coffin unsure how he felt. Mostly, he was numb. The council had decided on the charges against Black. Rebecca's death had been ruled killed in action.
Soon enough everything was over, and the cemetery was slowly emptying as people made their way out. Fuery, Armstrong, and a group of soldiers surrounded Riza, Winry, and the kids as they were lead to the cars. Breda, Roy, and Edward waited for Jean as he said his goodbyes privately. Once he stepped away and joined the others, he wanted nothing more than to be alone so he could cry in peace. Breda nodded to the others and lead him away.
"Sir, what will happen to this Black person?" "How did he get into our borders?" " Are your children safe now?" Were all asked at once as Edward and Roy left the cemetery, both men ignoring the reporters aside from Roy's singular comment to wait for the press conference in the morning.
After they climbed in the car, Edward sighed deeply. He had sent Winry and the children on ahead, as had Roy, because they still needed to discuss what the council of twelve had decided as well as Remus Lupin. "I need to speak to Remus. We need him to know that we understand he wasn't betraying our trust." Edward frowned. He understood Remus' reaction, his shock. He was honestly still angry at the defense Remus had given, but on the other hand he felt the man to be honest when he apologized. "I can go there when we arrive back at the mansion to talk to him in person, but I'm also worried about Havoc's reaction. He isn't going to be happy to have Remus around any time soon."
"I will speak with Havoc on the matter. Honestly, I'm also worried that he will react poorly to the council's ruling on charges." Roy pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. "I do understand where he's coming from. If anything happened to you or Riza I would be livid. I would want revenge. However, the council is not wrong, Rebecca was in a combat situation with a hostile force. We knew there could be injuries."
"Taking murder off the table opens the door for expulsion from the country. We can't allow that Dad. He already escaped their prison once; we cannot trust they can keep him detained." Edward frowned. "Rebecca was my friend. I want justice for her, I want my son to be safe. I want this Black to understand that his actions caused all of this."
"Under our laws, she wasn't murdered…but I agree. I can overrule the council, and I will, should they try to return him to England." Roy assured. "Now, you go deal with Lupin, I'll handle the rest."
Unknown Location
Albus Dumbledore was not happy. He knew that somehow someone was tracking him. He had left the rented room late last night when he sensed someone lurking nearby. Now he was back in the forest, considering his next move. It would depend largely, he decided, on whether it was the locals or Death Eaters that had found him.
If it were the locals, it was easy to dismiss, obviously a stroke of luck on their end to have spotted him. If it were Death Eaters on the other hand, they could very well be after the boy. The idea of it sent a surge of anger through his body. Had Elric just surrendered the boy as he should years ago this would not be an issue.
Instead, here he was, trying to track the boy down while CAMPING and down to his last bottle of scotch. Soon he would have to venture into town to gather supplies, and there was a chance he would be spotted again. Somehow someone had noticed him even with the Polyjuice potion active after all.
Albus needed a plan. He needed to get the boy, find a way back to England,
Central City
Court House
Trial of Sirius Black vs Amestrian Government
Sirius sat in front of the Council of Twelve, with the Fuhrer and Lt. Fuhrer sitting behind them. He had been assigned a lawyer, a soft-spoken man named Jameson, who promised him the Fuhrer and Council were fair, but Sirius had his doubts. Everyone was somber but not hostile to his surprise, as a man who appeared to be some high level clerk read from the form. "Sirius Black, accused of violating the closed border. He is further accused of the intent to abduct one Yuery Mustang-Elric, minor son of Lt. Fuhrer Edward Elric and grandson of Fuhrer Roy Mustang. It is of note that the intended abduction was not believed to be with the intent to intimidate, coerce, or otherwise exploit the child's political connections and therefore we are not seeking higher sentencing. Finally, Mr. Black has been accused of the misuse of magic as explained by the English Advisors of the Fuhrer."
"Thank you, Private Armin. The Council recognizes the defendant is not Amestrian nor was his intent political. Mr. Black do you wish to speak on your own behalf during these proceedings?" General Alex Armstrong said clearly but remained seated. The man was huge, nearly the size of a half giant by Sirius' estimation.
"Yes sir, I would." Sirius spoke quietly. Finally, he would be able to explain that he HAD to protect his godson. He had some doubts it would do much good, with the child's kidnapper sitting in judgement, but perhaps he could finally make them see it had been wrong to take the child as they had, and worse, to leave him so exposed to threats.
"Very well, you will have your chance to counter the arguments against you." Armstrong nodded to Private Armin who seemed to jot down a note, before standing to walk through a door off to the side. "Our first witness will begin shortly; would you like to say anything before they arrive?"
"I never wanted to hurt anyone." Sirius said calmly, "I simply wanted to save my godson."
"We will now listen to evidence as given by wizards on the matter of the misuse of magic." The giant, Armstrong said. Sirius grumbled under his breath. They had asked for his motives yet seemed to disregard them altogether when he answered.
He wondered who would be called in to explain the laws of magic, likely Snape. He seemed to have his hand in everything around here. They didn't know Snape was a Death Eater, or they didn't care. Either way, it was frustrating to think the man in anyway would have a say in this trial. As long as Snape was involved, they would not be fair.
He was surprised however, when instead of Snape, Professor McGonagall entered the courtroom. Along with McGonagall came Professor Flitwick Sirius remembered him from school. Instead of sitting in the back or coming up to the front as McGonagall had, Flitwick sat calmly next to Sirius. "I'm here to represent you along with your assigned lawyer. I don't know their laws well enough to help that part, but I know ours." Flitwick whispered before he shook hands with the young man who had been silent so far in the trial. Sirius had nearly forgotten the lawyer was there at all.
"Mr. Jameson, good to see you again." Flitwick added quietly as he and the lawyer shook hands, before they returned their attention to McGonagall.
"I was asked, as impartial party familiar with European wizard laws, to explain to the best of my abilities laws Mr. Black is accused of violating." She explained as an opening to her testimony. "Mr. Black, as we understand it from the events recorded, used all three Unforgivable Curses, though the worst of the three, the killing curse he used only once…and from the way it was explained to me possibly without prior intention."
"I see. Should he attend trial in Europe, would the lack of premeditation be weighed in the events?" Armstrong asked calmly.
"That would depend largely on the events around the events and the location of the trial. Some areas have more leeway than others. Should he go to trial in England, no, not unless someone vouched for him as happened once or twice during the Death Eater trials." She said with a sigh. "I knew Mr. Black when he was a boy as one of my students. While I agree what he has done is unacceptable, I do not believe he is beyond help. He is misguided, in my opinion, not evil."
"Thank you, madam. Stay in the area please, in the event we must call upon you again." Armstrong replied.
Malfoy Manor
England
Early Evening
Lucius stared broodily into the unlit fireplace. He had assumed when learned from a reliable source that all students attending Xerxes as exchange students were being sent home that Narcissa and Draco would have no choice but to return. If not to the Manor, at least to the country. He had waited and sent out feelers to ensure he learned quickly of his son's return.
It had become apparent however that the boy and his mother had not returned. All of the other children had arrived weeks ago now, yet Draco was still gone. Clearly something was amiss, they should not have been allowed to stay when everyone else was sent away. He had been sitting here for the majority of the day when one of his sources, a man who was once loyal to that idiot Takeshi Zhao, that the border had sealed completely. To only be lifted by the spell casters once certain unknown conditions were met. It was likely connected to Sirius Black. People still believed that arrogant idiot a death eater.
A knock on the door interrupted his brooding as he hefted himself out of his chair with a growl. The lack of staff was annoying, he was tired of having to prepare his own meals and answer the door. On the other side of the door stood the hunched and exhausted form of Peter Pettigrew. In Pettigrew's arms was a small bundle cradled as if it were a child.
"Returned from the dead then?" Lucius asked drily, blocking entry.
"Not quite as dead as some would hope." Rasped a voice inside the bundle, surprising Lucius. It was weakened certainly, but he knew the voice of the Dark Lord anywhere. He quickly stepped out of the way, gesturing for Pettigrew to enter.
Once he had lead them back into the sitting room he lit the fire, it wouldn't do make his master wait for anything after all. Peter settled carefully into the sofa before placing the bundle next to him. Lucius waited patiently as they settled before he offered tea. "I require my next dose actually." Voldemort rasped. Peter cringed slightly but withdrew a flask from his bag that seemed to hiss loudly when shifted. "Let her out, I'm sure there are plenty of rats for her to find around here."
"Well, I would take a tea if you don't mind. It's been a long trip." Pettigrew said as he fed the bundle, taking care not to expose the body inside.
Lucius nodded with a sneer as he left for the kitchen. He had no desire to host that sniveling little rat of a man, but he would if that was what the Dark Lord desired. He had hoped all along that Voldemort had lived somehow of course but had long given up hope of ever being contacted. This could be the break he had hoped for to get his son back. Surely, he would be rewarded for his aide and loyalty.
Once he had returned to the sitting room, Voldemort wasted little time explaining why they had arrived. He needed to restore his body, and Malfoy Manor was to become his base of Operations at least until he had done so.
