Chapter Five

Molly brought enough food over for five meals, even with her children joining us. And she was quick to offer to watch my boys while the rest of us were at the trial the next day, even if it did take some convincing that we were all going to testify for Sirius, not against him. His last name didn't do him any favours in her eyes, but she eventually conceded that we knew him better, and if we said he didn't do it, then she would trust us. "But I'll send Arthur 'round to pick up the boys, before he heads into work," she assured, even while chivvying her boys out the front door. "And it'll be alright in the end," she reminded me, with a gentle smile and a quick hug. "Fred, George, get in the car now! No, put the frog down. I mean it, Fred."

"I'm George," the tiny twin pouted.

"Oh, of course you are, dear, I'm sorry," Molly told him, brushing his hair back from his face apologetically.

"Kidding! I'm Fred!" he cackled, then skipped to the old Ford.

"It's Fab all over again," Lottie breathed, and I couldn't disagree, even for the tears prickling at my eyes. It was exactly what Fabian would have done, and even for the pain it brought, it somehow also brought a smile to my face, as well. Fab would have loved the idea of his twin nephews tormenting Molly. And Gid would have been slyly encouraging it.

…

Arthur, bless his heart, arrived promptly at seven-thirty the next morning and easily took both boys. They went with him readily, once they realised he would take them to play with his boys. "They'll be just fine with Molly and our boys, our kids," he assured with a smile. "You do what you need to do to get Sirius back."

"Pa-foo?" Harry asked, looking around for Sirius, now that he'd been mentioned.

"We'll get him back, my love, don't you worry," I promised, even though I probably shouldn't have. I didn't know how the trial would go, if the Wizengamot would even listen to what we had to say, or if they would simply convict Sirius on account of his family.

"Yes, we will, Harry, and then Uncle Padfoot will continue to spoil you rotten, just like he has for your whole life," Lottie told Harry, though I suspected it was more for my sake than his. She then kissed his forehead, then Dudley's, and sent Arthur on his way. Probably so I couldn't worry needlessly anymore.

"We'd better get going, too, Pet," Nic said, handing me my wand. "The Wizengamot waits for no witch or wizard."

I hadn't been to the ministry since I'd been to get my Apparition license, but it really hadn't changed much. Until people realised just who I was related to, and then the whispers started flying.

"She's all the family little Harry Potter has left."

"Poor thing."

"Do you think she'd let me see him?"

"I heard she was engaged to one of the Prewetts, before- well, before."

"Surrounded by death, it seems."

"Get outta the way," a gruff voice said, and I could see someone pushing the crowd aside. "Miss Evans, right this way," Auror Moody told me, glaring at the older woman who'd said I was surrounded by death. She cringed and found something else interesting to look at, across the entry.

Moody and several of his Aurors escorted the six of us down to the largest courtroom. "No one will bother you here," he said loudly, glaring at the room in general, almost as if he were daring someone to try it. Those coming in behind us gave us a wide berth after that.

"Thank you," I told him quietly. His face softened some, but he otherwise acted as if he hadn't heard anything.

"Shacklebolt, you stay here with Miss Evans. If anyone tries to get too close, well, you know what to do," Moody ordered, and the tall man stepped up next to us. "Good man. And no matter how the trial goes, you're to get her out of here as soon as it's over, make sure no one bothers her."

"Of course, sir," Shacklebolt answered in his deep voice, and Moody nodded once.

"I'll go bring Black and Pettigrew in," he sighed, turning to do so.

When he escorted Sirius and Pe-Pettigrew into the room, I wanted to cry. Both looked terrible, gaunt and pale and, in Pettigrew's case, trembling. And, even knowing what he had done to my Lily, James, and Harry, I couldn't stop myself from feeling pity. Merlin knew I wasn't strong, I wasn't a fighter, so who was I to say I wouldn't have done the same in his shoes? To protect myself, or someone I loved? What wouldn't I do?

The trial itself ended up being almost laughably short. After spending one night under the dementors' influence, Pettigrew had confessed everything to the Aurors, and then he repeated it to the Wizengamot. His confession not only exonerated Sirius, but condemned others. Others who hadn't been on the Ministry's list of possible Death Eaters.

"I was confronted in Diagon Alley," he explained, nervously twisting his hands together. "The Carrows-"

"Which Carrows?" a strong looking witch broke in. Nic whispered to tell me that it was Madam Bones, newly appointed Deputy Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.

"A-a-alecto and her brother, Amycus," Pettigrew answered, "along with Severus Snape."

"Snape?" I barely heard Madam Bones's question over the sudden banging of my heart. I'd known he likely was a Death Eater, but the confirmation hurt, if only for Lily. Nic grabbed my hand, and I was fairly certain I heard Remus growling. And Sirius, from his seat in that awful chair that kept him bound, looked ready to commit murder, even if it wasn't the one he was on trial for.

"Severus Snape was in fact a Death Eater, but he turned against the Dark Lord and proved himself a useful spy, as this council well knows," Professor Dumbledore said loudly.

"Then why did he not tell us about this Pettigrew fellow?" Madam Bones queried, one eyebrow raising while the other lowered, bringing it more tightly around her monocle.

"If he brought Pettigrew into the fold, there is no way he wouldn't have known about him working for You-Know-Who," another witch added.

"An excellent point, one which will need to be further discussed at a later date," Mr. Crouch, who was the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, pronounced. "But this trial is for Mr. Pettigrew and Mr. Black. Can we get on with it?"

Pettigrew finished his confession, then Sirius was able to tell his side of the story. By the time he was finished, there was hardly any need for the rest of us to testify, though we still did. And by lunchtime, Sirius was free, with us, and Moody was taking Pettigrew away. "Let's go home," I whispered, clinging to both Sirius and Nic.

Shacklebolt cleared the way for us all out to the fireplaces. "I hope to see you back at work soon, Sirius," he said, a kind smile on his face. "Now, go. I'll make sure no one follows you."

AN: I know it's been forever, but I was having the worst time trying to figure out how to make the trial work! But, Sirius is free! I promise, I will finish this story, but I don't promise when I will update. Thanks for reading, and a huge thanks to all of you lovely reviewers! Your kind words make my day!