Chapter 8 - The Trial of Peter Pettigrew

Sirius' nerves betrayed him and he felt his heart racing and palms sweating as he entered the courtroom with Harry. It was a high ceilinged room with tiered seating and a long table where presumably the adjudicators sat.

The trial had certainly gathered a lot of press attention. The whole front row was occupied by journalists and their cameras. Sirius could make out Rita Skeeter with her quick quotes quill, as well as a wizard who appeared to be from a paper called the 'New York Wizarding Times', who Skeeter seemed to be eyeing up hopefully.

Members of the public began to filter in. Sirius scanned the crowd for faces he recognised. He didn't see any of Peter's family. He expected the bloke was probably still pretending to be dead. He would be too if it were him.

He felt someone grip his shoulders and he jumped and spun around.

"Mad-Eye!" He grinned, getting to his feet on recognising his old boss.

"Black." Alastor Moody grinned, and the two men embraced.

There was a furious flashing of lights as cameras clicked.

"Didn't think this was your scene mate." Sirius said to his old boss, trying to ignore the photographers. "Dumbledore said you'd taken retirement. Something about wanting a quiet life?"

"Alastor Moody! What's it like, being back at the ministry?" "Do you miss being an auror?" "How do you feel about the trial?" Journalists shouted from all directions.

"I wanted to see the scum who betrayed Lily and James Potter sent to Azkaban." He told Sirius. "I didn't get the satisfaction of a trial the first time round."

"Or the right convict."

"Well let's hope I'm satisfied on both counts today." He growled.

There was a sudden hush as Fudge entered the courtroom. He was accompanied by Amelia Bones and a short witch with a pink cardigan and mouse brown curls. "Dolores Umbridge. Senior undersecretary to Fudge." Moony explained to Sirius.

Behind the adjudicators came the Wizengamot. Dumbledore led the group, followed by around fifty witches and wizards wearing plum coloured robes with the letter 'W' embroidered in silver on the chest.

Sirius had forgotten that Dumbledore was Chief Warlock on the Wizengamot. He wondered vaguely how partial he could be, having taught and later fought with the two men whose trial he was attending.

When everyone had settled, the doors to the courtroom opened again.

Sirius felt his stomach lurch as Peter Pettigrew entered the court, accompanied by two guards. His eyes kept darting around the room as though looking for a crack in which to escape through. Once a rat, always a rat, Sirius supposed.

He was led to a tall, throne-like chair with iron chains which bound his wrists in place as he sat down in it.

"Peter Pettigrew." Fudge said, his voice echoing around the chamber. "You are charged with the murder of twelve muggles and the manslaughter of Lily and James Potter."

Sirius felt Harry stiffen beside him. He placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder, though he didn't consider himself in much of a position to be giving reassurance to anyone given how fast his heart was beating right now.

"You are accused of passing information to he who must not be named on the Potters and for working as a spy for he who must not be named. How do you plead?"

"Not guilty!" Came Pettigrew's squeaky voice.

Sirius felt his fists clench. How did he think he was going to worm his way out of this one exactly?

Amelia Bones, whose nostrils had also flared at Peter's words, leant forwards in her seat. "I think now would be a good time to consider the evidence we have gathered on the case. We know that on the night of 31st October 1981, he who must not be named murdered the Potters. We know that their whereabouts were kept safe by their secret keeper. We know the secret keeper betrayed them, and the secret keeper was believed to be, until two weeks ago, Sirius Black." She indicated Sirius, who felt the eyes of the court turn to him now.

"It transpired earlier in June however that Peter Pettigrew was not murdered by Black, as had been believed. Peter Pettigrew is alive, and attempted to avoid capture when confronted at Hogwarts castle. This has caused a reconsideration of the case, and Black has been granted release under guard until a new verdict can be reached. Black is willing to testify under veritaserum, though Pettigrew has declined to do the same. As is custom, we will hold a trial, reviewing the evidence, giving the defendant an opportunity to speak, before putting the case to the Wizengamot to decide. Madam Umbridge, if you would like to present the case for the defence please."

"Hem hem."

The woman in the pink cardigan got to her feet, though she was so short it didn't really make a huge difference to her height. "Thank you, Madam Bones." She said in a high pitched, girlish voice that made Sirius' skin crawl. "I do not think refusing veritaserum should count against a defendant and I would encourage the Wizengamot to consider the case against Mr Pettigrew on the evidence we have in front of us. Which is, in fact, very little."

She turned to Peter. "Mr Pettigrew insists he was not the Potters' secret keeper at the time their whereabouts was passed on to… you know who. He maintains that it was Sirius Black, as was the opinion of the ministry thirteen years ago. He managed to survive Black's attack on him, in which twelve muggles lost their lives, and has been hiding from the death eaters ever since to avoid revenge for having committed their spy to a life sentence in Azkaban."

Sirius opened his mouth to offer a retort to this ridiculous story but then remembered he was in court and this probably wasn't the best idea. He clenched his fists tighter and gritted his teeth.

"I would like to call Albus Dumbledore to the stand." Sang Umbridge now.

Dumbledore, who had been seated in the front row of the raised stands, inclined his head to her, got to his feet and made his way to the podium at the front of the court.

"Albus Dumbledore, you gave evidence thirteen years ago that Sirius Black was the Potters' secret keeper. Please tell the court how you knew this."

"Because Lily and James Potter told me so." Dumbledore said clearly. "Sirius Black was James' best friend and the godfather to their son. They had no reason to think he would betray them."

"Yet you had your doubts about the appointment?"

Dumbledore frowned at her. "I'm not sure that is a matter of public record."

"But you knew someone close to the Potters was passing information about them?"

"Yes."

"Did you mistrust Black at the time?"

"No comment."

There was an outbreak of murmuring from the audience and the members of the Wizengamot at these words.

"But that is not to say that I think he is guilty now." Dumbledore said. "I want to be very clear that I do not believe that."

"Do you believe it could have been someone other than Pettigrew or Black?"

"No."

"And why is that?"

"Because the others were either dead or accounted for."

"In this renegade organisation of yours?"

"In The Order of the Phoenix, yes."

There was another outbreak of muttering at that. Sirius wasn't sure how much was known about the group Dumbledore had set up to fight Voldemort in the first wizarding war. The ministry had fiercely disapproved of it, taking the same sort of attitude as Umbridge herself was taking towards it presently.

"What makes you think it wasn't Black now?"

Dumbledore's eyes met Sirius'. "I do not think it. I know it."

Sirius smiled at him. Whatever his issues with the man might be, he appreciated his support now.

"Thank you, Albus." Umbridge said crisply. "Mr Black, please take the stand." She said, addressing Sirius now.

"Good luck!" Harry whispered, and Sirius squeezed his shoulder before making his way to the front of the courtroom.

"Sirius Black." Umbridge said, turning her pouchy toad face to him. "You have been found guilty of the murder of twelve muggles and for acting as a spy for you know who. Why should the Wizengamot believe you are innocent?"

'Because it's the truth' was surely too obvious. "I'm afraid I'm not sure why Peter would pretend to be dead for thirteen years otherwise." He said instead.

"We have covered that." Umbridge said, shuffling the papers on the table in front of her. "It is because he feared retribution from you know who's supporters."

"Retribution for what? Chucking me in Azkaban? How did Vol- you know who's supporters suppose he'd done that exactly?"

There was a moment's pause.

"It's a ridiculous excuse." He continued. "I was sent to Azkaban for killing those muggles and betraying Lily and James. Why would Vol - you know who's supporters think Peter had led the ministry to arrest me for that?"

There was another confused pause.

"Sirius Black." Came Umbridge's voice again. "You were secret keeper for the Potters before they died. Do you deny it?"

"No, of course not. But they switched to Peter a week before their death."

"And can anyone confirm that?"

"Well no." Sirius said. "That would rather defeat the point, wouldn't it?"

There was an outbreak of tittering from the audience. Umbridge glared at him. "So we are expected to just take your word for it, are we?"

"I'm sure I wouldn't dare tell the Wizengamot what they ought to do."

There was some more laughter at this. Sirius thought he heard Dumbledore give an appreciative chuckle.

"It is not a laughing matter." Umbridge said crossly. "Quite honestly I'm astounded you have the nerve, Black. You have been granted extremely generous liberties by the ministry, which I have it on good authority you have been taking advantage of. I don't know how you have the audacity. Quite frankly, you should consider yourself lucky you weren't sent straight back to Azkaban."

Though Sirius quite wanted to ask this woman how she had the nerve to lecture him on correct behaviour when it was thanks to her ministry that he'd spent twelve years in Azkaban for a crime he hadn't committed in the first place, he said nothing.

"Madam Umbridge, do you have any further questions?" Said Fudge.

"No thank you, Minister." Umbridge said, sitting herself back down. "Only that I would ask the Wizengamot to seriously consider sending a man to Azkaban without there being a shred of evidence that he is guilty of the crime."

Sirius couldn't help but notice the Wizengamot look a little uneasy at these words.

"Thank you, Madam Umbridge. Madam Bones, do you have anything you wish to say?"

Amelia Bones got to her feet, a rather more impressive action in her case.

"Sirius Black, were you Lily and James Potters' secret keeper on the night that they died?"

"No."

"And would you swear it under veritaserum?"

"Yes."

"Mr Pettigrew, same question." She said, turning to the man in the defendant's chair.

Peter gaped at her. "I… I… I'm innocent!" He squeaked. "Sirius Black was the spy! Black was the secret keeper! Dumbledore knew it." He pointed at the man. "There is not a shred of evidence against me! No one who was in the Order at the time believed it was me. They all thought it was Black too."

"That's not true."

Sirius turned his head in the direction of the voice, which had come from the back of the room.

It was Remus. He was on his feet, and he looked grim but determined.

"Madam Bones, might I please be allowed to speak?" He said, his calm voice echoing around the now silent court.

Amelia Bones turned to Fudge and the pair exchanged words.

"I will allow it." Fudge said, turning back to him.

"Thank you." Remus said, making his way to the front of the court. He didn't look at either Sirius or Peter.

"My name is Remus Lupin." He told the room. "I was in The Order of the Phoenix alongside Sirius, Peter and James."

All eyes were on Remus now. He was a good speaker. Calm, yet clear. Sirius could quite see how he would make a good teacher.

"I've known Sirius and Peter since they were eleven. I would say I know Sirius as well as anyone could. And I thought I knew Peter too." He did look at Peter now but his expression was unreadable. "It has never been clearer to me that Peter was the spy than today. Looking back, I can see how it was him all along."

Sirius felt a wave of relief as Remus began to list the evidence against Peter from their days in the Order. The times he left early. The way the death eaters would show up at their meetings. The times he went to visit Peter and he wasn't there.

When he had finished, he turned back to his old friend. "I'm sorry Peter. But I know you were the spy. It's time to face the truth."

The expression on Peter's face was painful to see, even for Sirius.

Remus, out of all of them, had been the most patient and kind with Peter. How many times had he intervened to stop Sirius and James teasing him? He'd insisted Peter be included in the group, even if Sirius had often little patience for the slower boy, and he'd been loyal to him to the end.

But Remus was right. This was the truth. And, at long last, justice was (hopefully) being served.

"All in favour of acquittal?" Fudge asked now, having heard the evidence from both sides.

Umbridge raised her hand, along with one or two others.

"And all in favour of conviction?" Fudge said, and everyone else raised their hands.

"That's a majority." Fudge said grimly. "Peter Pettigrew, you are hereby sentenced to life imprisonment in Azkaban for feeding information to you know who about Lily and James Potter and the subsequent murder of twelve muggles. You will now be…"

But Sirius didn't need to hear any more. Shaking all over, he rushed over to Harry and hugged him.

He could feel Harry shaking too. "It's OK." He said, as much to himself as to his godson. "It's over."

Remus came over to join them.

"We got justice for them." He said, giving them both a watery smile. "Lily and James. The truth at last."

Sirius hugged him and Remus hugged Harry too.

"Oh bugger off!" Sirius swore loudly at the photographers who were now clicking madly at the three of them.

"Sirius!" Harry said, a little shocked.

"My godson's just had to witness the trail of his parents' killer! Can't you show a little respect for five bloody minutes?!" He shouted at the closest man.

"Geez, and I thought you Brits were s'posed to be polite."

"Ever so sorry to disappoint."

"That's more like it."

"It's sodding sarcasm!"

He turned back to Harry. "Do you want to go back to the castle?"

Harry looked from Remus to Sirius. "What are you going to do?"

"I've got to stay here for my hearing this afternoon." Sirius said.

"I'll stay with you." Remus told him.

Sirius smiled at his friend. He knew Moony would never let him down. Even though he might have suspected he was the spy temporarily in their youth (and Sirius was sure he had), he'd realised the truth in the end. They all had.

"Can I stay with you too?" Harry said. "I'd like to see your name cleared. And then I can be sure I won't have to…"

"Harry, about that." Sirius said, thinking it was best to be honest about the situation with the Dursleys now. "Dumbledore's…"

"Congratulations Sirius." Dumbledore said, coming over and clapping a hand on his shoulder. "I have no doubt they will acquit you this afternoon now."

"Thanks." Sirius grinned at him. "And for your evidence too."

"As Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, I do pride myself on my honesty. So, now that your name's for all intents and purposes cleared, I think we might be able to come to some arrangement for the summer."

Sirius stared at him. Was Dumbledore saying what he thought he was saying?

"Though Harry will need to still remain living with his relatives, I do believe it will be safe for him to stay with you for the vast majority of the summer holidays."

Sirius frowned. "I don't understand. Why can't he live with me?"

Dumbledore sighed. "Perhaps I can explain a little." Yes please…

"When Lily Potter died to save Harry when he was a baby, she set in motion a powerful protective charm. It is old magic, and one that Voldemort knows very little of. Not that he would be very interested in understanding it even if he did..."

"But what's that got to do with the Dursleys?"

"Harry's aunt is, besides Harry, Lily Potter's only living relative. As long as Harry can still call his aunt and uncle's house his home, the protective magic will continue to work. If he leaves for good, it will break."

"But I'm his godfather." Sirius said, for what was surely the thousandth time. "Why can't I protect him?" He put his arm around his godson's shoulders again.

"The magic borne of Lily Potter's loving sacrifice for her son is stronger than any other. It really is the best way to keep him safe. As you know, I never believed Voldemort was gone for good. If, and I mean when he returns, it is vital that Harry has the best protection magic can offer him."

Sirius frowned at him. "Why didn't you tell me all this before?"

For the first time, Dumbledore looked a little unsure of himself. And Sirius remembered something else Doge had said when he met him. Dumbledore was a brilliant wizard, but he liked to operate alone. Was this him thinking he knew best? That no one else could possibly understand what he did?

"I'm afraid I don't know." He said at last. "But I'm telling you now. And I hope you will understand. Harry need only return for a few days. As long as he can still call his aunt and uncle's house his home, the magic borne of his mother's protection will work wherever he goes."

Sirius looked at Harry. He didn't like it. He'd promised Harry a permanent home, and he meant it. He didn't like thinking he would have to return to the Dursleys at all if he didn't want to.

He remembered how it had felt after he'd run away from home for good. It had been wonderful finally cutting ties with his entire family (even if he did still have to see his brother in the castle from time to time). There was something symbolic about leaving a place never to return, but then he supposed that was Dumbledore's very point. Harry couldn't experience that true sense of freedom as it would mean the magical protection borne of his mother's sacrifice was broken.

"Sorry, Harry." He said to the boy, but Harry smiled.

"It's OK." He said. "I still think it's going to be the best summer ever."

Sirius smiled. He would make sure of it. And, some day, he'd find a way to rescue Harry from the Dursleys for good. There must be some way...

As predicted, Sirius' name was officially cleared that very afternoon.

Dumbledore allowed Harry to join him and Remus for a celebratory dinner at Grimmauld Place.

Sirius had invited Dumbledore (he felt it only polite to do so) but the man politely declined. "I'll leave you young folk to it. Now, I need a word with Alastor about something…"

Once he'd finished being congratulated by various aurors, members of the department of magical law enforcement and the lady in the coffee hut, he left the ministry with Remus and Harry, for the first time in thirteen years, as a free man.

If there had been journalists and public interest in the courtroom, it was nothing compared to how it was outside.

"Sirius! How does it feel, finally being exonerated?" "What was it like Remus, seeing another friend charged with murder?" "Harry, can you give us a few words?" They shouted as cameras clicked all around them.

"It feels great." Sirius said, pausing and grinning at them while the cameras flashed madly. "The ministry's always been a bit slow to work out the truth, but we get there in the end."

"And what about Peter Pettigrew? How do you feel towards him now?"

"What, now the whole world knows what he is?" He shrugged. "No different."

If anything, he felt less angry with the man. It had been infuriating knowing he was the only one who knew the truth. Now that every newspaper in the world would be publishing something of the story, he could almost begin to feel sorry that Peter was now going to be enduring the harsh realities of Azkaban himself. Almost…

"And what about you, Harry? How was it for you?"

Sirius put a hand in front of Harry. "Please don't ask him any questions. He gets enough attention as it is. Unless you want to answer them, of course?" He asked his godson more quietly.

Harry shook his head.

"Thanks for your support." Sirius told the press. "Now will you please let us have some privacy?"

"What are you doing to celebrate? How much compensation did you get from the ministry for your wrongful imprisonment? Will you write a book on life in Azkaban?"

Sirius snorted. "I don't think anyone in their right mind would want to read that." He told the journalist.

The journalist looked at him seriously. "I think you'd sell a thousand copies."

"Why are people so bloody morbid?" Sirius asked Remus and Harry as they walked home. "Surely no one wants to know what it's like in the inner sanctum of hell that is Azkaban?"

"I think it gives people hope to think you survived it." Remus said. "It's not morbidness, it's curiosity."

"I should invite them round to Grimmauld Place if they're so bloody curious." Sirius said, opening to door to his parents' house and quickly checking his mother was still covered by her curtains before letting Harry enter.

"Here's home." He smiled at his godson. "I'll tell you all about it some day. But right now, let's just enjoy ourselves."

He rather thought they all deserved that.

...

A/N: Lily's sacrificial magic seems to be being interpreted in several ways by people, but the way I write it in my story is my understanding of it. Harry is not able to move in permanently with Sirius as this would mean he no longer called his aunt and uncle's house his home (and as long as he can do this, the magic protects him anywhere). Furthermore, if Sirius adopts Harry in chapter eight and they all live happily ever after it would be quite a short story, and I hope most of my readers wouldn't want that.