1 September 1989.
Ministry of Magic.
Hall of the Wizengamot,
London, UK
8 am.
Augusta Longbottom was not a believer in chance. She never was to start off. On this day, however, chance and change took the place by storm. A member of the Wizengamot, who had been absent for at least three decades, entered the room and challenged the enclosed chamber by not only his presence but by his request to question the innocence of his sole heir.
Lord Arcturus Black stepped in, and the members of the dark faction began murmuring. A nonentity at his mature age. The man was known for being neutral in his stance. That was the consensus before this day. It would never be the same after.
When allowed to present his query, he asked for the trial transcript of his heir, Sirius Orion Black. Albus Dumbledore tried to deny the action, but Lord Black rebuked.
"Is my request that uncomfortable, Chief Warlock, or is the file not available?" asked Lord Black.
Augusta nodded and said, "I second the request. I wasn't there when Sirius Black got sentenced, my son and daughter-in-law were hospitalised, but I too would like to see the transcript of the trial,"
Adrian Greengrass said, "It's true, I was overseas when Sirius Black went through his capture and sentence, but we didn't hear of his trial, When was that?"
Soon enough, the room filled with requests for the file to be brought up. Albus turned to Lord Black and said, "It's a closed case, and your grandson is an escapee,"
"Open the trial transcript or be part of the query. You were part of the process, were you not, Chief Warlock?" asked Lord Black with a glint in his eyes.
The dark faction inside the chamber smelled blood, and just like sharks, a frenzy began building.
"Answer to Lord Black, it is his right!" said Lord Malfoy.
Lord Black kept his counsel and after a tense exchange. Chief Warlock Dumbledore complied. He sent for the transcript of the court trial and sentence of the wizard, Sirius Black. Amelia Bones was in charge of getting the file.
Madam Bones returned to the chamber. Not with a box, but a single manila folder. The blood fever inside the chamber rose.
The head of the dept for Law Enforcement presented the folder to Lord Black. Lord Black took the single sheet of Sirius's capture and order to Azkaban. He turned to Augusta, nodded to her, and then to Greengrass.
Then he said, "Sirius got captured saying he did it. After this, no trial, and just an order to be shipped to Azkaban, Madam Bones, do you have my grandson's wand?"
The dark faction inside the chamber reacted, the sharks, kept circling in search of the body.
Amelia Bones's face paled, nodded. She surrendered the wand. Lord Black questioned the head of Law Enforcement, "Did you find any malicious magic residue on the wand?" Amelia went from pale to red in seconds. She denied it and replied," No, Lord Black, I did not,"
Lord Black nodded and said, "Thank you, Madam Bones. I know this is not your fault. You were training overseas when my grandson was taken prisoner. Could I ask one more favour?"
Amelia nodded, and Lord Black said, "Would you be so kind as to pass this document and its copy to Madam Longbottom and Lord Greengrass?"
When the document was in the hands of Lady Regent Longbottom and Lord Greengrass, Lord Black said, "This is the copy provided by Gringotts of the Potter's will. I highlighted the part where my grandson became the godfather of one Harry Potter. His oath to magic and the Potters and the name of the Secret Keeper for the late Potters. A man called Peter Oliver Pettigrew."
The frenzy knew no limits as everyone in the chamber began shouting for justice. Dumbledore protested that the will had been sealed to avoid the controversy, to which, Lady Augusta Longbottom rose to the occasion. "You dare? You admit you had a hand opposing the will of James and Lily Potter?"
"Chief Warlock, all I want from this chamber is to have my grandson's name cleared and an explanation or a solution to his unjust incarceration. Can you do that?" asked Lord Black with contempt.
After banging his gavel to have the place return to a semi-state of civilness. The chief Warlock nodded and said. "Of course, Lord Black,"
Sirius Black was exonerated. Rita Skeeter, who was present at the time, turned to the old Lord Black and noticed he was far from done. So did Augusta Longbottom and Adrian Greengrass.
Lord Greengrass said, "Due to the disservice Lord Black and his heir received, I request that he gets compensation for the years Sirius Black served in Azkaban,"
The room went up again in a roar. Again, the Chief Warlock's gavel banged until minutes later when Amelia Bones set off a cannon blast charm, and everyone went mute at the sudden noise.
"Thank you, Madam Bones," said the Chief Warlock "I'm afraid that prisoner Sirius Black's escape is responsible for the death in that wing of Minister Fudge, the Prison's Warden, and one guard, plus all of the prisoners in that wing, including Bellatrix Black," said the Chief Warlock.
"Do you?" retorted Lord Black.
It was quite the achievement to witness all of the Wizengamot, remain eerily quiet when Lord Black directed his stare at Dumbledore.
"I have in my power a document with your seal for the incarceration of Sirius Black. One more, a notice with the official seal of the Wizengamot on the Potter's will. Plus an acknowledgement by Petunia Evans Dursley with a letter that you, Albus Dumbledore, wrote, leaving an orphan child named Harry Potter at her doorstep on November 1st, 1981. Yes, let's talk about responsibilities, Chief Warlock. Members of the Wizengamot, I move to a vote of no confidence to the Chief Warlock Albus Dumbledore,"
It was a historic thing. The chief warlock had not been under such scrutiny in centuries. However, it was a member of House Black, that made everyone turn the tide and question if they had all been stupefied into following Albus Dumbledore. Albus got the boot as Chief Warlock, and that was only the start. Lady Regent Longbottom was named Chieftainess Warlock instead of Dumbledore.
When Lady Longbottom took the gavel and place of Albus, she said, "Seal the room,"
After Dumbledore was sitting at his chair for the minor house of Dumbledore, Augusta continued with the session.
"The request to compensate Sirius Black for his unjust incarceration will be submitted to a vote," said Augusta in a no-nonsense tone.
Once the motion passed, Augusta made a note on the air marking numbers, and at last, a sum in gold lettering shone, and it marked close to a quarter of a million galleons was acknowledged by the room. Lord Black looked impassive but nodded his acceptance.
"Because Sirius Black was incarcerated unjustly, actions such as his escape and being framed for the death of ministry workers fell into the double jeopardy clause. The charges will be dropped, and a letter of apology for the misunderstanding will be sent," added Augusta Longbottom.
"Can I ask one more thing?" asked Lord Black.
The room went quiet again. The chieftainess warlock nodded and answered, "If possible, in my office, I will help,"
"I would like to name my grandson, Sirius Orion Black as the one to take the mantle of service to house Black on the next session by the Wizengamot," said Lord Black.
"Very well, we will mark our calendar for the meeting of October's session, and with that, this meeting is over, it is good to see you again, Lord Black," said the Chieftainess.
Lord Black nodded, and without teeth, he regaled Lady Augusta with a mischievous smile and gave a friendly nod to Amelia. Both ladies blushed. The old Black charm was back in place.