Chapter 2
Harry awoke with a start. As he opened his eyes his memory came back to him. It wasn't a dream! He had actually met his godfather. Sirius was getting an emergency trial today to clear his name and if that all went well, in one short week Harry would be living with him!
Remembering why the world was so blurry, Harry put on his rounded glasses and looked around the room. His dorm mates were still asleep.
"Tempus" It was only five in the morning and there were no classes as they were still waiting for their exam results. No wonder everyone was asleep, Harry thought.
Harry got out of bed and made his way to the showers. The hot water helped his stress, and after last night, he had a lot of stress to wash away.
Under the spray of the tap, Harry began to think. He thought of the past three years of his life. Discovering he was a wizard, getting away from the Dursleys less than perfect care of him. The friends he has made, and not just Ron and Hermione. He's made friends with Luna, Ginny, Fred and George and many others in Hogwarts. He loved his life as a wizard and never wanted to go back to the muggle world.
Harry shut off the spray and walked back to his dorm. As he began to put on his Gryffindor robes, as they were the only ones he owned, Ron stirred awake.
"What are you doing awake?" Ron asked after a rather large yawn.
"I dunno, mostly thinking about last night and what might happen today. Ron, you wouldn't understand but I cannot go back to the muggle world. If Sirius isn't found innocent…" Harry wasn't actually sure what he would do. Runaway? Apply for emancipation? Did wizard's even have that as an option? He knew he had more than enough money to support himself until he graduated.
"I know mate," replied Ron. "Let's go down to breakfast and see if we can't get a copy of The Daily Prophet and see what's been reported.
Harry gave Ron a look. It wasn't odd that Ron wanted to go down to breakfast. Ron loved food, and Harry couldn't blame him. The food at Hogwarts was amazing. But Ron never read The Prophet.
"Don't give me that look, Harry! Last night put a lot of things into perspective for me. Let's go down, maybe Hermione is up already too, probably already started on her summer work too!"
After Ron got dressed, the duo walked down the stairs leading from the boy's dormitory to the common room. As they descended the last step the unmistakable bushy haired head of one Hermione Granger came into view.
"See! I told you, she already has a book open."
Harry and Ron sat on either side of Hermione and Harry saw the title of the book that Hermione was so engrossed in: Magical Law & Magical Order: A Young Magical's Guide to the Wizengamot.
"Hermione, Magical Law isn't an elective you can take until 6th year. What are you doing reading this?" Harry was amused. Leave it to Hermione to learn things way above her year-level.
"Oh! Harry, Ron, I didn't hear either of you come down the stairs" Hermione jumped in surprise. "But if you must know, I've never actually thought about how the wizarding and the muggle worlds differ when it comes to the legal field. Did you know we still have lords, ladies, and noble houses?"
Harry was surprised. No, he didn't know that.
"'Course we do! Dad has been trying to convince mum to re-activate the Prewitt seat for ages, but she's always thought it was all silly." Ron chimed in.
"Your mom is from a noble house?" Hermione asked in a surprised tone.
"Well yeah, but when she married dad she had to give up any claims to the house but once my uncles died, she could've claimed everything back."
Harry always forgot that Ron had two uncles who fought and died in the war. Gideon and Fabian Prewitt. Almost everyone lost someone in the war, Harry reminded himself.
"Enough talk about noble houses and all that rubbish, let's go down and grab the paper." Ron suggested. His stomach growled and seemed to agree that the Great Hall was the best course of action.
The trio were the first students to sit down, there were few professors at the head table. Harry couldn't blame them for not being there, probably still grading all our exams he thought.
As the three loaded up their plates, Ron with eggs and bacon, Hermione with some toast, and Harry with his porridge, Hedwig came flying in with something tied to her leg.
"Hey, beautiful. How'd you know I was up this early?" Harry stroked Hedwig's wings. He always appreciated how smart she was.
Hedwig hooted with happiness and stuck out her leg. Harry untied it and found that it was The Daily Prophet. Somehow she must have picked up the Prophet and brought it for Harry to read. "Such a smart girl." Harry praised the bird.
Sirius Black Caught! Shocking Twist: Pettigrew Alive! Emergency Trial Set—Will the Truth Finally Be Revealed?
Written by Miranda QuickQuill
Harry smiled at the paper as his two best friends read over his shoulder. The article was well written and factual, if not given a flare for the dramatic. But then again, nothing this dramatic has happened in the Wizarding World since the death eater trials. People were itching for something new to gossip about.
"Harry, this is wonderful. I'm so glad fudge wasn't able to sweep this under the rug!" Hermione hugged Harry. Harry was grateful for that. He always loved getting hugs from Hermione.
"Oi! Mate, this is great, hopefully if all goes well you'll be well on your way to never seeing those rubbish muggles again!" Ron knew how much Harry hated his family.
Another owl came swooping in. This one was jet black and on the larger side. It dropped a letter right in Harry's porridge and flew away.
Wiping porridge off the envelope, Harry opened it and read aloud:
Harry,
Thank you for everything you've done so far. A trial! A real trial, finally. It's set for 9 this morning, and is set to last only three hours as it's really just a formality since they have the traitor in custody.
The guards finally gave me a quill and parchment to write you a letter explaining everything. I think Amelia made them do it.
"Who's Amelia?" Harry thought out loud. Hermione and Ron just shrugged and Harry got back to reading.
I'll give you the short version and we can talk more after my trial. When your mum and dad went into hiding I convinced them to make Peter the secret keeper instead of me. Obviously that was the worst idea possible but none of us knew it at the time. Peter was a death eater and gave away their location as soon as he could.
I went after him and he set me up. I guess he lived as a rat with the Weasley's for the past twelve years, I saw him in the paper!
"Wait….Scabbers has always been in my room, so that means, he's…he's….ewwwwww!" Ron didn't want to think anymore about the implications of Pettigrew living as a rat with his family. "Please just keep reading. I swear I'm gonna need a mind healer after all this."
Your parents named me your godfather and wanted me to have guardianship should anything happen. I know you don't know me that well but I do plan on taking up guardianship and we can get to know each other over the summer. I have my family's old place but….I think I will just buy us a nice house out in the country somewhere.
Once we get all settled I want to take up my place as Lord Black and train you to be Lord Potter. And probably Lord Black as well now that I think about it….
Anyways, hope to see you soon.
Your ever loving godfather,
Sirius
After reading the letter, Harry couldn't help but be excited.
"Guys, I'm going to be living with Sirius! This trial's just a formality…also, what does he mean Lord Potter?"
"I sometimes forget you two don't know everything about the wizarding world." Ron started. "Harry, since you're the last of your house, you will become the head of your House on your 15th birthday. And it sounds like Sirius is going to be naming you his heir…I wonder if that means he doesn't want any children of his own?"
"Ron, you make it sound as if we should be calling each other Heir and Heiress and bowing to each other all day long in school." Hermione shook her head, she didn't see any of that in the past three years.
"Well it used to be that way, in our grandparent's time. But once more half-bloods and muggleborns started attending, the culture changed a bit and people started realizing how silly it was for eleven year olds to be bowing to each other." Ron laughed at the thought. "Though the customs do exist in professional settings such as the Ministry, children who are future Lords and Ladies do start preparation around thirteen to enter that world."
Harry reeled back. It was like being told he was a wizard all over again. At least my training won't be starting eleven years too late like it did when I found out I was magical. Harry was kind of excited about this. He turned to see how Hermione was reacting.
"Harry, how do you keep ending up in these situations?" Hermione laughed. She seemed happy for him. Harry always appreciated how much Hermione supported him.
"Harry, do you want to go to the library and find a book on this? Keep you busy while the trial is going and you wait to hear from Sirius?" Typical Hermione, new problem, new book thought Harry. But not a bad idea. What else do I have to do right now?
"Yes, I would actually. Ron, do you want to come?" Harry looked over at Ron. Knowing he might still be bothered about the whole grown man in his room situation.
"No, I think I'm going to talk with Percy, after all he also had Scabbers as a pet." Ron walked out of the hall, presumably to go find his brother and get his thoughts on the situation.
"Well, let's go! Do you think Madam Pince will let me take a book or two home over the summer?" Hermione looked way too excited about this prospect, thought Harry.
As it turns out, no, Madam Pince would not let Hermione take books home over the summer, so Harry and Hermione were in the corner of the library both looking at the same book, Wizarding High Society: A Brief Introduction. As the pair poured over the book, their shoulders brushed up against the other. Neither of them seemed too upset about that fact. In fact, if you were to ask one Dobby the House Elf who was watching over Harry from afar, you would swear that you could see the two blushing.
A/N: Let me know what you thought!