The month of August was both exciting and monotonous filled with days of reading, practicing and even more practicing. Late night practices lend way to early morning runs, with each day repeating over and over again. With each week passing, Harry's proficiency with his dagger progressed to the point that he began to feel confident that he would be able to defend himself. As such, he placed the dagger's holster in his ankle for it to ensure that he remained protected, even at the loss of his wands.
During some of the 'free days' that he allowed himself, Harry began to concoct plans regarding the organization he hoped would one day grow into fruition. The Vanguard, as its name implied, was to be the first line of defense for the British magical community, able to respond rapidly to any Death Eater attack and defend those unable to fight back. For this, Harry knew that a key component for the organization would be instant communication and an ability to determine when an attack would occur and implement a rapid counter-strike against the Death Eaters.
For this, he began to research spells that he hoped would be able to recreate a magical version of a handheld radio piece—allowing them to communicate privately between users within a specific area. During his reading, Harry was not able to find any established method that other witches or wizards used to communicate with one another, other than via owl, Floo or an advance form of the Patronus Charm—an advanced NEWT level charm that was used to protect the caster from the Dementors, a most horrible living demon that would force their victims to relive their worst memories and create a frozen tundra when remaining too long.
As such, Harry resolved to create a method that would keep him and others able to communicate. Keeping it simple, he chose to purchase several metallic clips that he worked for days etching small runes and embedding charms in them that would allow him to 'connect' a single 'master' piece to various other—linking them via magic to allow his voice to transmit to each one.
Multiple attempts and dozens of failures later, Harry was able to create a working set that seemed to be able to reach approximately 1.6 kilometers (or 1 mile) before its transmissions became spotty or stop working. Motivated by his success, he continued to create more and more sets, linking them all together with a single 'master' piece able to communicate with each one with him able to select with who he wished to speak. This ability proved more complicated than the creation of the linked magical ear pieces, due to the complexity of being able to select the correct piece that he wished to connect.
By the end of the month, Harry was able to create 15 pieces and a single 'master' piece. A few of these were already customized to be given for specific peoples…such as Neville, Terry, Hermione, Andy, Hrothgar, etc. Through these, he hoped he would be able to one day expand their reach to encompass the entire British isle.
As it was, its limited reach would allow him to keep constant communication between his friends in the castle.
Another facet to his plan was in the secured sites for his organization, or any who needed protection. Hrothgar, in keeping with his request in purchasing properties for him, had reached out to him in the middle of the month, informing him that he found two properties that matched his requirements.
One was located near Manchester, in a rural area with more farmland than people, it was a two storied home with a decrepit basement. Made from a stone foundation and wooden additions, Hrothgar mentioned that it would require several renovations before being secure enough for his purpose. Regardless, it's seclusion and structural bones were sufficient for him to agree to its purchase. Once its renovations were completed, Hrothgar would give him a tour of the home before the warding team would begin their job.
The second was near Edinburg, located by the sea, it was at the farthest end of a desolated street that had been left unattended by its former owners. The sea cottage was two stories, made of stone and had an underground tunnel that entered into the basement through a private channel. It was in even worse shape than the first house, but the underground tunnel appealed to Harry enough to authorize its purchase.
Along with the ear pieces and the properties, his studies and practices, Harry's time in August flew by so fast that the announcement of Sirius Black's trial and the sudden existence and capture of the formerly deceased Peter Pettigrew caught him off guard.
Set for the day before his return to Hogwarts, the 31st of August was quickly becoming the most talked about day amongst the magical community. Any time Harry walked through the streets of Diagon Alley, he could hardly walk without hearing someone talking about the upcoming trials. Rumors and gossip blossomed as each person attempted to figure out just how Pettigrew was still alive and why was Sirius Black, the notorious right-hand of Lord Voldemort, getting a re-trial.
That Sirius never had a trial to begin with was never mentioned, as most people assumed that he was already sentenced during his capture.
Ensuring that he was prepared to attend the trial with Andy, Harry had bespoke robes made especially for the occasion. Designed with the intention of cutting a sharp image, they were form fitting, demonstrating his increasing physique and lean muscles. Made from a rather thin layer of Hebridean Black dragon skin, its interior layers were made from acromantula silk providing both protection and comfort. The black robes were trimmed with a rich navy blue trim, highlighting his Ravenclaw roots. On its left breast rested the Potter crest, sewn with glittering golden silk, its colours created a rather dazzling sprinkle of colour.
Thanks to his strict physical regimen, at barely 12 years of age, Harry was taller than most of his classmates, standing at an impressive 5 and a half feet without any magical changes. His face, already beginning to lose its baby fat, presented a sculpted chin and jawline with high cheekbones that Andy would swear would cause many hearts to break when he began dating.
His eyes, a deep emerald colour, seemed to glow from an ethereal hue, causing his gaze to be both hypnotizing and intimidating. This glowing, however, was a conscious effort by Harry, who was attempting to create an impressive first impression upon the rest of the pureblood families and ministry officials that would be present in his first official public appearance.
Dressed to impress, Harry was scheduled to meet with Andromeda before the start of the trial, intending to present a united front before the eyes of the Wizengamot.
As such, the two Floo'd together from her office 30 minutes before the scheduled time of the trial. With a wave of his wand and a whispered spell, Harry vanished any soot that had fallen on both himself and Andy before getting his first glimpse of the Ministry of Magic.
They were standing at one end of a very long and splendid hall with a highly polished, dark wood floor. The peacock-blue ceiling was inlaid with gleaming golden symbols that were continually moving and changing like some enormous heavenly notice board. The walls on each side were paneled in shiny dark wood and had many gilded fireplaces set into them. Every few seconds a witch or wizard would emerge from one of the left-hand fireplaces with a soft whoosh; on the right-hand side, short queues of wizards were forming before each fireplace, waiting to depart. Halfway down the hall was a fountain. A group of golden statues, larger than life-size, stood in the middle of a circular pool. Tallest of them all was a noble-looking wizard with his wand pointing straight up in the air. Grouped around him were a beautiful witch, a centaur, a goblin, and a house-elf. The last three were all looking adoringly up at the witch and wizard. Glittering jets of water were flying from the ends of the two wands, the point of the centaur's arrow, the tip of the goblin's hat, and each of the house-elf's ears, so that the tinkling hiss of falling water was added to the pops and cracks of Apparators and the clatter of footsteps as hundreds of witches and wizards, most of whom were wearing glum, early-morning looks, strode toward a set of golden gates at the far end of the hall.
"This way," said Andy.
They joined the throng, wending their way between the Ministry workers, some of whom were carrying tottering piles of parchment, others battered briefcases, still others reading the Daily Prophet as they walked. As they passed the fountain Harry saw silver Sickles and bronze Knuts glinting up at him from the bottom of the pool. A small, smudged sign beside it read:
"All proceeds from the Fountain of Magical Brethren will be given to St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries"
Jostled slightly by the crowd, Harry followed Andromeda through the gates into the smaller hall beyond, where at least twenty lifts stood behind wrought golden grilles. Harry and Andy joined the crowd around one of them. A big, bearded wizard holding a large cardboard box stood nearby. The box was emitting rasping noises.
With a great jangling and clattering a lift descended in front of them; the golden grille slid back, and Harry and Andy moved inside it with the rest of the crowd. Harry found himself jammed against the back wall of the lift. Several witches and wizards were looking at him curiously; he flashed them all a gentle smile, offering a short bow to an aging lady. The grilles slid shut with a crash and the lift ascended slowly, chains rattling all the while, while a cool female voice rang out again.
"Level seven, Department of Magical Games and Sports, incorporating the British and Irish Quidditch League Headquarters, Official Gobstones Club, and Ludicrous Patents Office."
The lift doors opened; Harry glimpsed an untidy-looking corridor, with various posters of Quidditch teams tacked lopsidedly on the walls; one of the wizards in the lift, who was carrying an armful of broomsticks, extricated himself with difficulty and disappeared down the corridor.
The doors closed, the lift juddered upward again, and the woman's voice said, "Level six, Department of Magical Transport, incorporating the Floo Network Authority, Broom Regulatory Control, Portkey Office, and Apparation Test Center."
Once again the lift doors opened and four or five witches and wizards got out; at the same time, several paper airplanes swooped into the lift. Harry stared up at them as they flapped idly above his head; they were a pale violet color, and he could see 'Ministry of Magic' stamped along the edges of their wings.
"Just Interdepartmental memos," Andy muttered to him. "They used to use owls, but the mess was unbelievable . . . droppings all over the desks . . ."
As they clattered upward again, the memos flapped around the swaying lamp in the lift's ceiling. "Level five, Department of International Magical Cooperation, incorporating the International Magical Trading Standards Body, the International Magical Office of Law, and the International Confederation of Wizards, British Seats."
When the doors opened, two of the memos zoomed out with a few more witches and wizards, but several more memos zoomed in, so that the light from the lamp in the ceiling flickered and flashed as they darted around it.
"Level four, Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, incorporating Beast, Being, and Spirit Divisions, Goblin Liaison Office, and Pest Advisory Bureau."
"Excuse," said the wizard carrying a fire-breathing chicken and he left the lift pursued by a little flock of memos. The doors clanged shut yet again.
"Level three, Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes, including the Accidental Magic Reversal Squad, Obliviator Headquarters, and Muggle-Worthy Excuse Committee."
Everybody left the lift on this floor except Andromeda, Harry, and a witch who was reading an extremely long piece of parchment that was trailing on the ground. The remaining memos continued to soar around the lamp as the lift juddered upward again, and then the doors opened and the voice said, "Level two, Department of Magical Law Enforcement, including the Improper Use of Magic Office, Auror Headquarters, and Wizengamot Administration Services."
The lift continued down one more flight.
"Department of Mysteries," said the cool female voice, and left it at that.
"Follow me Harry," said Andromeda as the lift doors rattled open, and they sped up a corridor that was quite different from those above. The walls were bare; there were no windows and no doors apart from a plain black one set at the very end of the corridor.
They reached the bottom of the steps and ran along yet another corridor, which bore a great resemblance to that which led to Snape's dungeon at Hogwarts, with rough stone walls and torches in brackets. The doors they passed here were heavy wooden ones with iron bolts and keyholes.
Entering through a side entrance, permitted only by the Heads or their proxies, the duo entered into a small corridor that went in a curve, displaying openings that would reveal the different sections of the chairs for the different families. Making their way upwards to the second highest level, Andy and Harry appeared in a large hall, bigger and grander than any other place he had ever seen.
Making the Great Hall of Hogwarts appear small, this hallowed hall was enchanted to appear infinitely tall with a gentle blur of clouds that provided the illusion of a sky. It was a wide circular hall with walls that were filled with etchings and drawings of past events, demonstrating the inception of the Council and the eventual creation of the Ministry.
In gleaming gold, these images glowed a golden hue across the hall, illuminating the glimmering stone floor with a beautiful shade of muted yellow. Directly behind the highest chair, were ancient drawings, rudimentary in their design, telling the story of the Original 13 Families that founded the Council. In its center, was the likeness of Merlin, the celebrated wizard that transcended time as the greatest mage in history. Flying around Merlin, was a golden dragon, a representation of the Once and Future King, Arthur Pendragon and his influence of the magical community.
Below the high chair of Merlin Emrys, a ceremonial chair created in his honor, were the Most Ancient and Noble House's seats. Made from the original stone thrones that were the first to be created, they have been charmed throughout the millennia to demonstrate each family uniquely.
The Potters, formerly the Peverell family, held a rearing Threstal with its wings spread before a unique symbol that was later appropriated by Gellert Grindelwald—a circle within a triangle that held a single line cutting through. They were a reminder of the wonderful creations made by the three Peverell brothers—the Elder Wand, the Resurrection Stone, and the Cloak of Invisibility.
Beside it, a smaller chair rested to its right, smaller and less ceremonial than the Head of the House's chair, it was similarly designed the same—the Heir's chair.
Seating in the Lord's chair, as was his right, Harry took note that while it appeared to be uncomfortable, some mindful ancestor had ensured that it remained comfortable.
Seating to his right was Andromeda, dressed in a rather professional set of robes, with a small Potter family crest to her left breast pocket, her hair was let loose, revealing a cascade of curly black locks that emphasized the cold grey eyes popular within the Black family.
Seated nearest to the center of the hall, Harry noted that the Longbottom family seat was to his right and the Bones' family seat was to his left. Worthy families to be seated amongst them, he noted that Dowager Longbottom and Neville were already seated in their family seats.
Dressed in a rich blue robes with the Longbottom family crest, a roaring bear before a shield and axe, Madam Longbottom wore her customary Augurey hat. Neville, fidgeting with his hands, appeared nervous in what seemed to be his first public appearance.
Raising his eyes momentarily, Neville caught the gaze of Harry, who smiled to him encouragingly. Neville's eyes lit as he took comfort in seeing another familiar face near him.
Turning to face Madam Longbottom, Harry afforded her a bow of his head as he greeted her with a wink. A smirk grew from the corner of her mouth as Madam Longbottom returned a bow to him.
The Bones family seat, he noticed, remained empty of its head, as Madam Bones was standing near the center of the floor, in the desk provided to the prosecuting team. Seating in her chair, Supervisory Auror Shacklebolt was to her right with a younger wizard standing behind them with an arm full of files and scrolls.
To their left, in the defense team was an aging wizard that was dressed in old robes looking more worse for wear. In between both teams, there was a wooden chair, appearing uncommonly mundane, Harry knew that it had been heavily enchanted throughout the years to be nigh impossible to destroy and was entrusted with the safety and protection of the prisoner and the rest of the occupants of the Wizengamot Hall.
The majority of the seats and benches had been filled by their arrival. To his right, in a lower level, Harry noted that the Ancient Houses were all in attendance, with even Mr. Weasley appearing with old but finely cut robes.
To his left, Harry noted that the seats for the Ministry Heads and Elected Members were all full as well. Below him, in the lower levels, the seat for the Minister of Magic and the Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot were occupied.
In the very middle of the front row sat Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic. Fudge was a portly man who often sported a lime-green bowler hat, though today he had dispensed with it.
Turning his gaze to the entire hall, Harry spied another section above the seats of the Ministry Heads and the Elected Members, hidden behind a glass wall, this was the public seats that any member of the public would be allowed to sit in. Within the same room, to the side, were the seats for the news outlets.
The Daily Prophet, Witches Weekly, the Wizarding Wireless Network, and other news outlets from different countries filled each seat available, with even more members standing around any available space.
Dressed in a rather muted set of ridiculous robes, Chief Warlock Albus Dumbledore wore a deep purple robe with golden phoenixes, his silver beard glistened under the light of the chandeliers and the etchings from the wall.
With a rap of the gavel, Dumbledore caused any conversation to cease immediately.
"On this 30th of August in the year of Merlin 1992, we begin the case for the prisoner identified as the previously declared deceased Peter Pettigrew."
With a touch of his knotted wand, Harry felt the wards of the Wizengamot Hall blossomed in power as they took hold of the proceedings.
Standing before the entire Wizengamot, Madam Bones, Auror Shacklebolt, the unnamed assistant and the defense barrister turned towards the side of the chambers that contained a single door.
Through these doors, under the careful watch of two sternly faced wizards, was the enchained Peter Pettigrew. Dressed in thin grey robes, Pettigrew appeared to have lost some weight during his short incarceration. His back bent and his face facing downwards, Pettigrew shuffled at the prod of his jailors until he was seated in the center chair.
The Prisoner's Throne, a rather apt name for the chair, was the same chair used by the Wizengamot, and before that, the Council, that was used to weigh the guiltiness of the accused. It prevented the prisoner from the use of their magic, restraining their arms and legs with chains that grew from the ground around it, and was able to force the prisoners to comply to the Chief Warlock.
As his body seated upon it, grey chains slithered around his ankles and wrists, tightly restraining his extremities to prevent any movement. Pettigrew's back was straightened until his back rested firmly against the back of chair. His head, forced upright to face the assembled members of the Wizengamot, displayed his fear as his pale face lost any bit of colour.
"Criminal hearing into the offenses by the individual identified as Peter Pettigrew are as follows: that he did knowingly, deliberately, and in full awareness of the illegality of his choices, joined the terrorist group named the 'Death Eaters', passed along information that lead to the deaths of various Ministry officials and Aurors, played spy for the Dark Lord Voldemort before ultimately influencing the circumstances surrounding the deaths of James Potter and Lily Potter, and disguised himself in the illegal and unregistered form of a rat after framing a man and hiding his existence."
As Dumbledore continued through the list of offenses, the faces of the Wizengamot grew more and more severe, with several shaking their head and murmuring amongst themselves.
"Interrogators: Amelia Susan Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement and Supervisory Auror Kingsley Shacklebolt. Barrister for the Defense: Magnus Leavey. Mr. Pettigrew, do you understand the charges that has been laid against you?"
With a shaking nod, Pettigrew whispered, "Yes." A low voice that nonetheless carried throughout the entire hall.
"Mr. Leavey, what has your client chosen to plead?"
Standing up from his desk, the aging wizard had more trouble than strength to assist him in standing.
"My client has chosen to plead guilty to all charges."
A quiet hissing of whispers grew from everyone in the assembly. Pettigrew's sudden appearance and return from the dead was unexpected, but even more so was his own admittance to his association with the Death Eaters and guiltiness in the affair of the Potter's deaths.
A rap from his gavel, Dumbledore was able to maintain control and cease further conversations.
"The Wizengamot High Court thanks your client's honesty and will accept his plead of guilty to all charges. Madam Bones, from what I understand, you wish to submit into display the field interrogation performed by yourself and Supervisory Auror Shacklebolt, irrespective of the defendant's plea of guilt."
"That is correct. I believe that this court would find his interrogation enlightening and, as such, would petition for the court to display the memory of my interrogation."
Looking around, Dumbledore spoke as he looked at each member, "I put into motion the request from Madam Bones, whereupon, if the majority vote aye, to view the memory of Mr. Pettigrew's field interrogation. Voting members, I ask that you place a single tap on the corresponding crystal that lay before you in your seat."
A small resting place was available to each member, that could be used to write small notes during a trial. It also held two crystals that would be used to count the votes chosen by the Wizengamot. Two thin round crystal buttons decorated the top center of the chair's counter desk, pearly white and transparent, a small sign laid atop from it, 'For' and "Against.'"
With a single tap of his wand, Harry voted in favor of having the interrogation displayed, understanding why Madam Bones pushed the memory forward.
Several minutes were afforded to allow each voting member time to make their own choice. At its end, the final tally was finalized and displayed to Dumbledore.
"With a near unanimous vote in favor of viewing the memory, the court approves of Madam Bones' request. Auror Shacklebolt, please begin the DMLE interrogation crystal."
With a wave of his wand, Shacklebolt caused the crystal to float once more, now glowing a white hue that grew until a wide screen appeared. Within the screen, Harry saw that the crystal only demonstrated Madam Bones, Shacklebolt and Pettigrew.
During the transmission of the interrogation, Harry noticed more and more people become restless in their attempt to remain composed in the face of such treachery and backstabbing. In the end, when Sirius Black's innocence was put into question, many members were seen spitting in anger at the prospects of an innocent man being subjected against the Dementors for the past 11 years.
"Thank you, Madam Bones. The affair of Mr. Black's innocence will be addressed shortly…but before we do, I call the Wizengamot to put into vote the punishment for the defendant."
The silence that had permeated the entire hall seemed to have been blasted away as more members attempted to add their suggestion than there were those who remained quiet. Several minutes passed before Dumbledore began attempting to control their rowdiness.
Taking the time to press upon the light near the edge of the counter, Harry saw a similar light shine in front of Dumbledore, announcing Harry's desire to speak.
Said light, when seen by Dumbledore seemed to have caught him more off guard than the blast of screaming from the other members. Peering upwards, Harry saw that Dumbledore looked up at Harry quickly before returning to face the rest.
"The Court recognizes Lord Potter, Head of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Potter."
Whatever fire that had started beforehand seemed to have lost any air left as the mention of his name appeared to have shocked enough people into silence.
Standing up, Harry brushed away any small wrinkles his robes has gathered; standing tall and firm, his gaze turned to face the entire assembly before beginning to speak.
"Thank you, Chief Warlock. My fellow members, ladies and gentlemen…as the sole remaining heir to James and Lily, I am incredibly moved to see so many outraged against the injustice committed against my parents. That this…man, would be so callous as to betray them, leading his Dark Lord to their home for the purpose of seeking their death…I must admit that it springs a fire within me to demand justice on their behalf."
Harry noticed that his speech had enraptured everyone in the audience, with the members of the press writing feverishly in an attempt to capture his every word.
"That a man so treasured by my parents would be the reason for their death saddens me…for I can only imagine the anguish they must have felt in realizing…mere moments before their murders that they had been betrayed by a man they claimed a brother in all but blood. Furthermore, it anguishes me to have learned that the man entrusted with my care would be framed so horribly as to spend the last 11 years in the constant torture of the Dementors…in a twist of irony, I request to this august body that the punishment afforded to the innocent should likewise be placed on the guilty. As such, I humble ask that this man be sentenced to a lifetime in Azkaban in the maximum security ward as penance for his transgressions. It pains me to have to ask this, but I know that my fellow members will understand my plight. Thank you."
As he took his seat, he noticed that many members of the Wizengamot were fighting their own tears, moved by his impassioned speech. More, he saw, were glaring angrily at Pettigrew.
"Thank you, Lord Potter. I ask if there is any other who would like to submit a recommendation in punishment?"
Looking around, Dumbledore saw that whatever suggestions they may have had before, had been thrown away upon hearing Harry request.
"As we have no other suggestion submitted for vote, I put into motion the proposal set by Lord Potter. Members, please choose for yourself in favor or against."
Faster than the first voting, Harry saw that the vast majority, with only handful of nay in the mix, had voted in favor to his suggestion.
"The ayes have the vote. This court accepts and adopts the sentence set forth by Lord Potter. Mr. Pettigrew, in light of the guilty verdict accepted by your own admittance, and by majority vote of the Wizengamot, this court sentences you to a lifetime in Azkaban, where you will be kept in the maximum wing under a 24 hour watch by a pair of Dementors."
With a strong rap of his gavel, Pettigrew collapsed in the chair, the chains unwilling to provide him any respite or compassion. Crying, Pettigrew's body shook with his cries as he realized the severity of his sentence.
The Dementors, with their horrible aura, would cause many prisoners to lose their mind from overexposure…and with him being sentenced to life, well, then his eventual comatose state was inevitable.
The same two sternly faced Aurors lifted Pettigrew from the chair and dragged his crying body away through the same door whence he had arrived.
For several minutes, rapid conversation began throughout as everyone talked about the trial and verdict of Peter Pettigrew before Madam Bones said, "Chief Warlock, as the guilty verdict has been decreed and the truth has been revealed, I move to have the Order of Merlin, First Class awarded posthumously to Peter Pettigrew be retracted and any awards therefore be nullified."
"Are there who object?"
Looking around to the members, Harry noticed that not a single voice of objection was heard.
"Very well, with none in the Wizengamot objecting, the motion to remove the Order of Merlin, First Class is approved."
Turning to face a young witch seated to the left of the Chief Warlock chair, Dumbledore asked, "Court Scribe, would you please continue to the next agenda on the docket."
Standing upright, the young witch, a dirty blond with blue eyes, unrolled a scroll before declaring, "Next on the docket, on the 31st of August, is the criminal case for one Lord Sirius Orion Black versus the Department of Magical Law Enforcement."
Each member, sat taller with their faces looking deadly ahead as they witnessed the side chamber door opened once more. From within came a scraggly looking man, tall and skinny with barely any fat left on his visible bones, his hair was a mass of matted hair, his skin was waxy and stretched so tightly over the bones of his face that it gave him the appearance of a skull.
Walking upright and proud, a rather prideful look came across Black's face as he looked up at the assembly, his yellow teeth were bared in a grin. His gait changed from a shuffle to a swagger, appearing nonchalant before hundreds of faces—with more glaring in a mix of fear and anger.
Shoving away the prodding hands of the Aurors, Black stood still momentarily before the chair, turning his head and staring into the eyes of the Wizengamot. His gaze, turning upright, seemed to have honed onto Harry's. Black's silvery grey eyes connected with his emerald green, a well of emotions burst through as Black stared attentively at him. Somehow, in some way, Harry was able to feel the anger, sadness, bitterness, and anguish that rested within Black as everyone else seemed to melt away.
A small smile, more genuine that most he displayed, grew within him. Catching it, Harry saw Black's eyes begin to tear up, his smile growing in size before finally seating himself in the chair.
The chair that caused chains to materialize around the prisoners quivered upon his seating, but no chains appeared. Surprised, many within the Wizengamot had their eyebrows raised at what they witnessed.
"The criminal trial for one Lord Sirus Orion Black, Head of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black, on the 31st of August has begun. The charges are the following: that he did knowingly, deliberately, and in full awareness of the illegality of his choices, joined the terrorist group known as the Death Eaters, became a spy for the Dark Lord Voldemort, betraying the Potters and leading to their death by the hand of the Dark Lord Voldemort."
Black, sitting tall and proud, wrinkled his face in disgust at the listing of his charges.
"Lord Black, we understand that you have refused legal counsel and have chosen to represent yourself, is this correct?"
His voice was hoarse, sounding as though he had long since lost the habit of using it, "Yes, that's correct."
"How do you plead?"
"Not guilty to all charges!"
"Very well, let us begin. Madam Bones, if you will?"
With a nod, Madam Bones stood and walked to face Black before saying, "Lord Black, we have heard the testimony of one Peter Pettigrew, under the influence of the Veritaserum Potion, where he has taken full responsibility for the deaths of the Potters and his association with the Death Eaters and the Dark Lord. Is it your own testimony that you have never been a member of the Death Eaters, a follower of the Dark Lord, or assisted in any way their nefarious activities?"
"It is."
"Will you assent to the administration of the Veritaserum Potion to confirm the truth?"
"I do."
"Please let the record show, Supervisory Auror Kingsley Shacklebolt will be administering three drops of Veritaserum, in accordance with protocol."
Black, lifting his chin, opened his mouth and protruded his own dry tongue as the Auror dropped three twinkling drops. His eyes immediately glazed as the potion took hold.
"What is your name?"
"Sirius Orion Black."
"What is your date of birth?"
"3rd of November 1959."
"Are you, or have you ever been, a member of the terrorist group known as the Death Eaters?"
"No."
"Are you, or have you ever been, a loyal follower of the individual known as Lord Voldemort?"
"No."
"Did you reveal any secrets or the whereabouts of Ministry officials or Aurors that lead to their deaths?"
"No."
"Did you betray James and Lily Potter?"
"No."
"Did you have anything to do with the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the Potters?"
"No."
Turning, Madam Bones asked Dumbledore, "Are there any questions, Chief Warlock?"
Shaking his head, Dumbledore replied, "No, Madam Bones."
With a nod, she turned and gave a wave to Shacklebolt before saying, "Let the record show, Supervisory Auror Kingsley will be administering the antidote."
With a sip from a glowing blue liquid, Blacks glazed look vanished, leaving him alert once more. Black shook his head, his hair fraying back and forth, reminiscent of a wet dog shaking its fur, before looking forward with a face full of pride. His hands lifted until his fingers clasped together while he remained relaxed.
"Lord Black, is there anything you wish to declare?"
Clearing his throat, Black began saying, "Yes, I would," looking around, he took a long hard look at each one, "Eleven years ago I received no trial…thrown away in Azkaban to rot away while the world began to believe me some sort of dark wizard. The injustice of my illegal incarceration will be investigated, this I swear, and the person or persons involved will rue the day that they thought that I would lay this resting. I wish to express my thanks to Madam Bones, whose reputation as a fair and just Director do her no justice. To whomever found that whimpering rat…you have my deepest thanks. To the Wizengamot, my fellow Lords and Ladies…remember this, I am a Lord and as such, should have been granted a trial before my peers…that I was not, well, it will be remembered."
Finished, Black maintained his composure as many within the Wizengamot fidgeted as they turned to look each other, uneasy spreading amongst them. A small smirk grew in the corner of Harry's mouth as he heard Black's speech. Turning to face Andy, the two of them shared a look before he turned back to see Black.
As Dumbledore raised his gavel, Black interjected by saying, "One last thing! I believe that the matter of my unjust imprisonment must be discussed…due to the ineptitude of the Ministry or the intended actions of a few…for that, I request compensation for the years of life that were stolen from me."
Murmuring, louder and more clear than before grew as many within the Wizengamot were angry at Black's insults or his spirited demand for compensation. As it was, Harry felt that Black's request for compensation was fair, seeing as he was forced to be tortured every day for the past eleven years for a crime he did not commit after being denied his right to a fair trial.
Standing from the corner of his eye, Harry saw that a tall handsome man dressed in fine charcoal grey robes stood up. He possessed deep brown hair was rested on his shoulders, his eyes were a unique shade of blue—reminding him of a sunny sky—they were similar to his fellow classmate, Daphne Greengrass.
"The court recognizes Lord Greengrass."
"Thank you, Chief Warlock."
Looking around the hall, he stood tall and proud, his chin lifted and his face relaxed, "As we have all heard today, the man seating before us has suffered a grave injustice, one that was subjected to him in part from our failure in upkeeping the law that have all sworn to practice. I find that his request of compensation is just and warranted. His life was tarnished, his reputation left in shreds and any future will always remain besmirched by the failure of others. Therefore, I support his request and request that this court vote upon it."
Sitting down, Lord Greengrass looked at Black directly, who offered him a small bow of his head in return. With a press of his wand, Dumbledore began saying, "I put into motion the call to vote for the matter at hand. My Lords and Ladies, please vote whether compensation will be offered to Lord Black for the past eleven years of his illegal imprisonment."
Pressing his wand in favor of 'For,' Harry waited patiently as the rest of the members decided on their choice. This time it took much longer for the members to finalize their decision but in the end it was decided to award Black compensation. At the cost of 100,000 Galleons per year, Black would find himself receiving a good enough fortune into his vaults by the end of the week.
With the tap of one of the Auror's wand, the chains that were wrapped around the armrests near Black's wrist melted away, leaving him barren and free. Standing and making an exaggerated stretch, Black made a great joy of feeling the freedom from his chains.
"As Chief Warlock, I apologize to you, Lord Black, for your illegal incarceration and the time you have lost."
With a shallow bow, Black replied, "Thank you, Chief Warlock."
With a sharp rap of his gavel Dumbledore announced, "So ends the criminal case regarding Lord Sirius Black."
With their agenda at an end, Harry saw the Lords and Ladies, Elected Members and Ministry Heads make their way towards the back corridor, where a small room was found. This room was a private room designated solely for the Wizengamot and their security, whereupon they could converse in private and be allowed to mingle amongst themselves. Rectangular in shape, it was finely decorated with aging wood trims, leather seats, a multitude of chairs and tables, and several fireplaces scattered around the room.
"How marvelous to have within our ranks the House Potter once more. The Wizengamot is never complete without the Potters."
This voice, grave and aging, belonged to the former head of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Smith, Sir Bartholomew Smith, father of the current Lord Jonathan Smith and grandfather to his classmate, Zacharias.
A rather short and stout man, his hair was more greying than with color, he possessed a fading circle of hair. His eyes were deep brown with a wrinkly face; he used a cane, wooden and adorned with a diamond on its top, to support his slumping form.
Offering a short bow, Harry greeted him, "Well met, Sir Bartholomew, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance."
A short bow, something that worried Harry would lead to his fall, saw the old man showing a gummy smile with more spaces than teeth.
"A pleasure, Lord Potter. I must say, it's been far too long we were graced with your family in those chambers," he said, motioning his head towards the Wizengamot hall, "Your father was too busy running around playing hero to remember his duty to the Wizengamot."
His smile, a bit more forceful, nonetheless demonstrated nothing regarding his irritation as the old mans comment, "I agree, it has been far too long but rest assured that the Potter family is well and truly back with a dedication to the duties that we share."
"I wish you the very best, young sire. Politics is a hard mistress, unforgiving and relentless."
"Thank you, I shall take your advice to heart but rest assured that I have the very best counsel to aid me in my endeavor."
Taking a glance towards Andy, who was having a rather lightened conversation with a man that resembled an older and slightly chubby Cedric Diggory, "Yes, I have heard about your appointment of young Andromeda as your proxy. A rather spirited barrister, I am sure…but my Lord, I must caution you to tread carefully in your dealings with her. I am not sure if you are aware of her less than stellar background as a disowned daughter of the House Black, but I would be careful in allowing her too much sway away from our traditions…if you understand what I am saying."
With his own eyes looking at Andy, he took note of who appeared to be Cedric's father.
His hair the same light brown and more laughing lines than his classmates. Amos Diggory, Head of the Department for the Regulation and Care of Magical Creatures, was a rather average wizard in looks with a scruffy brown beard and a booming laugh. Andy seemed to have been stuck in a rather endless conversation with him.
Turning to face Sir Bartholomew, Harry flashed a small smile before saying, "Of course, my Lord. Rest assured that I intend to stay true to what my family had stood for in past times."
'You ignorant fool!'
The audacity of this old coot to believe that he could actually insinuated to him that Andy would actually lead him astray. Catching his eye, Andy seemed to have found respite from Mr. Diggory and made her way towards him. Offering a bow to Sir Bartholomew, Andy said, "My Lord Smith, an honor to see you once more."
Offering a kiss upon her knuckles, he replied, "The pleasure is all mine. I must express my own congratulations in becoming the newest proxy to the House Potter. I wish you the very best, although I am sure you'll be a smashing hit amongst us old men."
With a chuckle, Sir Bartholomew received a rather terse smile from Andy before she replied, "Thank you, my Lord. I look forward to working together in the Wizengamot but if you would not mind, I am afraid that my Lord Potter has a prior commitment to attend to…if you would follow me, please my Lord."
Stating his well wishes to the former Lord, Harry walked besides Andy as they exited the chambers and made their way towards the elevators. Entering the empty elevator, Andy broke their silence when she said, "So, just how bad did old Bartholomew speak of me?"
With a rye smile, Harry answered, "As you could expect from a member of the Smith family…I swear, that family has more ego than money. He actually had the audacity to insinuate that you would lead me astray and betray the family traditions just because of your disownment from the Black family."
"I did warn you, Harry. Irrespective, that old man is no longer head of the family. His son, Jonathan is a much more pleasant man to work with. As arrogant as they come, Jonathan is rather humble in comparison to his relatives."
"I'll take your word for it. But, what's this about a previous commitment you mentioned?"
Face becoming serious, her tone changed as she said, "Madam Bones was able to pass along a message through Amos. Diggory, that is. She mentioned that my old cousin has requested a private meeting with the two of us as soon as possible. He mentioned how she said she would be in her office if I had a question."
His breath stopped suddenly as he realized what she meant.
"You're telling me that Sirius wants to meet me, uh, I mean us?"
"Yes, that's correct."
"Should we? I mean, in what kind of mental state is he after the past decade in Azkaban."
"I am sure that Madam Bones would not have passed along his request if she did not feel it safe for us. As it is, with it being in her own office in the middle of the DMLE, we would be safe from any harm."
Clenching his jaw, Harry weighed the benefits.
On one hand, Harry had plans to include Sirius, with him being his legal and magical godfather, Sirius would be granted guardianship to him. As such, being on good terms with him would be beneficial, instead of remaining in animosity. The benefits of having another Lord of an Ancient and Noble House would help bring more power to him, lending way to building an allegiance with a powerhouse that was the Black family. Their reputation and money would be of great help to him.
But, as he had mentioned to Andy, what was his mental condition? As much as he would rather a positive relationship, Harry would not allow his plans to be ruined just because he wished to make amends with a man who was once as close to an uncle to him when his mental instability would lead him to ruin. His reputation now would make things harder for some of the more progressive families to be willing to help him, believing that his association with him spoke of a darker leaning.
"Very well, I guess we could at least entertain his request."
Turning a corner, they walked through a pair of heavy oak doors, and emerged in a cluttered, open area divided into cubicles, which were buzzing with talk and laughter. Memos were zooming in and out of cubicles like miniature rockets. A lopsided sign on the nearest cubicle read 'Auror Headquarters.' Harry looked surreptitiously through the doorways as they passed. The Aurors had covered their cubicle walls with everything from pictures of wanted wizards and photographs of their families to posters of their favorite Quidditch teams and articles from the Daily Prophet.
Making their way towards the back of the floor, Harry eventually saw a sea of office doors laden throughout the widened hall; decorated finer and more luxurious than the Aurors, its light came from several enchanted torches that glowed a brilliant hue of white, washing the peacock blue walls and causing them to glow.
In the center was a small desk that was adorned rather spartanly, only displaying a single lamps and a few pieces of parchment. Seated behind it, was a rather middle-aged witch, dressed sensibly in her uniform and a stern look upon her. Her greying hair was tightly wrapped in a bun that had naught a single hair loose.
Seeing them, the witch greeted them, "Lord Potter and Madam Tonks, Director Bones is waiting for you, please, enter."
Flashing a smile towards her, Harry entered the office of the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Appearing to be an extension of the rather severe and stern woman, her office had very few mementos that displayed her personal life. Instead, shelfs of thick binders and stacks of neatly arranged parchments were all that could be found.
Standing before her desk, Madam Bones leaned against it while she faced the recently pardoned wizard. Sirius Black, being liberated from the faded grey robes that he wore during his trial, was dressed in fine robes, deep black with a trim of rich purple. The Black family crest, three ravens with a single wand, adorned his left breast pocket. Standing tall, his formerly ragged hair seemed to have gone a transformation in the past half hour, now falling luxuriously, shining a glint from the light radiating from the fireplace. His skin, looking healthier and with more color, seemed to have been cleansed of 11 years of grime and dirt, leaving a fine layer of clean skin; his eyes, a mad grey, instantly honed on to Harry, piercing them with a hunger gleam to them.
With a bow, Harry greeted the former inmate, "Well met, Lord Black, it is a pleasure to—"
His greeting was unceremoniously uninterrupted when Black launched himself towards him, arms wrapping themselves tightly around him and a cry of 'Harry!' ringing into his ears. Caught off guard, it took Harry several seconds to process the sudden change in demeanor of the man.
Rapant whispering of 'I'm so sorry….I'm so sorry…I'm so sorry…" repeated endlessly with nary a single breath in between each. Bringing his own arms, Harry returned the hug hesitantly, not truly understanding the emotional response from the man before him, whose shoulders shook without care as Sirius continued his cries.
Coming around, Andy laid a gentle hand on Sirius' shoulders and said, "Sirius, please, control yourself! You're scaring the boy."
A gentle tug and an arm wrapped around Sirius by Andy saw him being released, his own shoulder now damp in tears. Directing him towards one of the chairs, Harry saw that Sirius' face was stained with tear marks, his eyes turning red from his crying and his previously brushed hair getting messed up.
Clearing his throat, Harry heard him murmur, "I'm sorry…that was not how I wanted our first meeting to go…you look so much like your father…James…it was like a blast from the past…please excuse me, I'm not usually so weepy."
Standing in the same spot as he had been when he was hugged, Harry brushed his hair in an attempt to collect himself before saying, "No, I understand. I'm sure going from Azkaban to suddenly finding yourself free is a lot to handle."
With a wet chuckle, Sirius replied, "I had initially thought it was some fever dream…finding myself away from the Dementors and then to find out that I was getting a trial. I'm glad that it was not."
With a gentle smile and a nod, Harry stood awkwardly.
Madam Bones, now seated behind her desk, motioned to the other chairs and said, "Andy, Harry, please take a seat."
Taking refuge from seating next to Andy, Harry tried to not show his own discomfort with the situation. His hands were lightly rested upon each other, his fingers lightly touching the fringes of his wand in it holster. The presence of his wands brought comfort to him and centered him further.
"Why don't we try this again…Uh, I am Sirius Black, well apparently Lord Sirius Black…I could have sworn that my mother would have disowned me when I ran away but I guess old man Arcturus refused to remove me from the will."
"Your mother tried to disown you, but grandfather refused to do so…even my parents could not understand why he remained so adamant in keeping you heir. Seeing at the state our family is in; I can't say that his foresight was wrong. As it stands, you're the only remaining male from the main line alive and able to lead the family."
With a scoff, Sirius said, "Sounds like grandfather, he always was a stubborn man, unyielding to anybody."
With a small smile, Andy said, "Yes, he was."
"What happened to him?"
Looking down, Andy whispered back, "He died alone. Your mother passed away several years ago but barely a few months passed afterwards before his aging body seemed to have caught up to him. I wanted to see him, at least one last time, but I was not sure how I would have been received. I chose to stay away but I've come to regret that choice."
"All he ever care about was the family…as stern and heavy handed he was, he was always fair, if not downright merciless. I'm sure he's rolling in his grave at the state of the family. Out of us all, only you, Cissy, and I remain alive and free. Everyone else is either imprisoned or dead."
With a shrug, Sirius said, "I can't say I am sad to hear about their deaths. The world is a better place without them."
Nodding, Andy said, "Unfortunately, I agree."
Facing Harry, Sirius said to him, "I am glad to see that Remus did such a great job in raising you. Knowing he was there with you gave me enough reassurance about your safety."
Eyebrows scrunched, Harry corrected him, "Uh-I do not know how up to date you are, but Remus did not raise me. In fact, I've never met him."
Eyes narrowed, Sirius asked, "What do you mean you've never met him?! Where did you grow up then?!"
A furtive look to Andy, Harry answered, "I was placed in the care of my mother's sister, Petunia and her husband Vernon."
Fists clenched tightly, Sirius' body tensed in anger as he croaked, "Who dared to place you with that woman?! Were they daft! That man is the worst sort of muggle! I swear if he were a wizard, he'd be as prejudice as the Malfoys. Your parent's will clearly stipulated that you were never to set foot in their house."
Leaning forward, Andy asked before he could continue, "Their will?! You know what they wrote?"
"Well of course! I was there with them and Peter and Remus. The three of us helped disguise them to enter Gringotts in order to update their will."
Clenching his jaw, Harry asked, "When was that? When did they update their will?"
Eye fluttering randomly, Sirius pursed his lips as he remembered, "I don't remember the exact date, but it was at least a month before they were killed. We had gotten word from Dumbledore that their location might have gotten discovered, so they wanted to do some last minute changes in order to prepare for the worst. I thought they were just being paranoid but seeing where we are now…I guess they must have known what was coming."
"Sirius," began Andy, her tone serious, "think clearly…other than the three of you and the Potters…was anybody else aware of the contents in their will?"
"No…well, no one other than the three of us and the copy I left in my vault."
"You have a copy?" asked Harry breathily.
"Yes, you father gave it to me just in case they had need of it, and they were unable to obtain theirs."
Before their conversation could continue further, Madam Bones chose this moment to interject by saying, "As enlightening as this conversation has progressed, I must regretfully ask that it be taken elsewhere. The discovery of your innocence has brought a mountain of paperwork that I have to deal with."
"Yes, ma'am," said Harry, "Perhaps we can continue this conversation in Gringotts? I believe that it might serve us better broach this topic further. Would you be willing to follow us Sirius?"
"Of course," standing, Sirius faced Madam Bones before saying, "Madam, you have my deepest thanks for your part in liberating me. It will not be forgotten."
With a bow, the trio made their way out of her office and walked towards the lifts. Landing in the atrium of the Ministry, they found a gaggle of reporters standing near the fountain by the fireplaces. A young man, with a heavy looking camera, had happened to be facing in their direction when he spotted their arrival.
"There! Sirius Black!"
His announcement might as well have been the report of a bomb with the way that they jumped, screamed and ran towards them. With barely any civility in their rush, the gaggle of reporters began to grab their attention, "Lord Potter!" "Lord Black!."
With a near quiet whisper, Harry said to his godfather and proxy, "I think it be best we put our best face forward and write our narrative before they go crazy."
With a wide smile and a spread of his arms, Harry walked ahead of them before greeting the reporters, "Ladies and gentlemen! Please, one at a time!"
However loud his suggestion was, each reporter fought to have their voice louder than their fellow. Unwilling to allow his frustration show, Harry maintain his smile while Andy removed her wand and caused a loud burst of noise to emanate from her wand in order to maintain some semblance of control.
With her rather appropriate use of a magical flashbang, their yelling ceased until only the flashing of their cameras could be heard.
Without anyone noticing the difference, Harry adjusted his height moderately to appear taller than his normal height and the glow in his eyes brightened. His teeth, pearly white and perfectly straight, glittered under the flash of each photo while his hair maintained the wind-swept appearance he maintained.
Standing straight but relaxed, Harry attempted to portray the appearance of being in his comfort and in control before saying, "Ladies and gentlemen of the press, fellow witches and wizards, it is with a happy heart that I stand before you today, standing besides a man whose horrible injustice has been corrected."
The scratching and scribbling of quills joined the flashing of their cameras as the reporters remained quiet during his speech.
"Sirius Black! A name for whom to many represents the worst of the worst! A name forever tarnished in the eyes of the community for the crimes of others! My godfather was framed and imprisoned without his due process. A man that fought alongside my father in the forefront of the war against Lord Voldemort—"gasped escaped the mouths from the reporters as the taboo name of the Dark Lord was spoken, "risking his own lives for the protection of you all. A selfless man who was injured multiple times during the line of duty was then cast away when others used him as a scapegoat. I stand bedsides him in his journey of recovery and I ask that you all join me in wishing him the very best."
At the end of his speech, a more calm rush of voices began as each tried to have their name called. Standing near the front was a middle-aged man, looking no older than in his 50s, dressed in simple but professional robes with a logo to his left breast pocket of a quill and a scroll.
Pointing at him, Harry said, "You there from the Daily Prophet, what is your name?"
"Joseph Kent, Lord Potter, a pleasure."
"Mr. Kent, what is your question?"
"Thank you, Lord Potter. My question is directed to Lord Black—" at this, Sirius' face turned in anticipation, "Lord Black, what do you have to say to the rest of the magical community who believed for the past ten years that you were a convicted dark wizard and a traitor?"
A smirk grew from the corner of his lips as Sirius took a look at the multitude that had grown from the reporters, now filling with employees of the Ministry and any remaining civilians who had attended his trial.
"I can understand that many within the community will find this discovery difficult to accept and indeed, I can understand their hesitation in accepting it."
Taking a step before Harry, Sirius took control of the crowd with the flair of a showman as he began, "My dear fellows, for the past decade you were deceived by a few who chose to imprison me, spreading lies and accusation against myself, leading you all to believe that I was something that I had sworn to never become. The Black family name has been tarnished in times past as a dark family, to whom the inclination towards the Dark Arts is all but certain and as such, should be accepted as an evil one. When I met young Harry's father in Hogwarts, he opened my eyes to the reality of our world, it's injustices and prejudices, and from that day forward I resolved to turn my back away from a family who continued to spew racial and hateful beliefs. I chose to embody the qualities of the Black family that cemented us as a leading family of progress and tradition; the same qualities that allowed us to be invited as one of the founding families of the Council. However unfair the reputation that I now hold is…I understand that the burden of proof now falls to me to demonstrate my sincerity and honesty to you all that I am not, nor have ever been a dark wizard. I hope that I can expect your willingness in accepting me as a fellow member of the community. As a victim of a corrupt administration, I take my role as the Head of the mine family seriously and as such promise to help any and all who have faced similarly unfair treatment. The days of corruption are over! The Blacks have been without their Head for too long and were left to wither away. Those days end now! Ladies and gentlemen, I thank you for your attention and wish you all a good day."
Synchronized, the three of them began to walk directly before the crowd, not even pausing to see if they would move out of their way. The crowd, however in shock they may have been, moved without sound, allowing them passage to the fireplaces.
Entering in the now empty hall of fireplaces, the trio vanished from the Ministry in a flurry of emerald flames.
The Leaky Cauldron
London, UK
The gust of air and a flash of flames announced to the sitting patrons of the Leaky Cauldron the arrival of three individuals. The sudden appearance of Sirius seemed to have triggered a Silencing Ward when any conversation immediately ceased, leaving the usually noisy establishment to remain as still as the victim of the Petrificus Totalus.
Standing behind the counter was Tom, dressed in drabby and dirty robes, he was polishing a glass with a rag when he laid eyes upon Sirius. His reaction, however, was opposite to his customers when his voice boomed across the room when he greeted, "Bless my soul! If it isn't that old scamp Sirius Black!"
The tension in Sirius' shoulder lessened as he took sight of another friendly faces. Tom, ignoring the glass, made his way around the counter before giving Sirius a strong manly hug.
"Merlin's beard! I see you've finally been set free. It's about damn time! How anybody would actually believe that you'd betray James. HA! You'd sooner chop off your own hand before even hurting Lily."
A teary smile grew from Sirius as he returned Tom's hug with the strength of a starving man.
"Thank you, Tom. You have no idea how good your words feel."
Releasing Sirius, Tom took ahold of his face, taking a stern look at his appearance before clicking his teeth in disgust, shaking his head.
"Look at you, old boy. Azkaban did a nasty number on you, didn't it…come, sit over here. You're clearly in dire need of a hot plate of good food."
Without any argument from Sirius, the three were led to a corner table, away from prying ears and with enough privacy from the rest of the patrons—who still remained quiet during Sirius' and Tom's reunion.
A flick of old Tom's wand saw two pitchers—one of water and one filled with Butterbeer—fly towards their tables where he conjured three tall clean glasses before their seat. Without a word, the old bartender made his way to the back of the counter, entered the door leading to the kitchen and returned with large platter filled with plates of steaming food.
Roasted chicken, steaming veggies, buttered bread rolls, bowls of soup, salads, and many more options rested before them.
"Well what are you waiting for?! Dive in, old boy!"
Without a repeat needed, Sirius took a big helping of everything, eating with a passion reminiscent of a starving dog. He bit, chewed, swallowed and drank with a near ecstasy of pleasure, hardly giving time for the food to reach his stomach before another swallow brought more food into his body.
Andy and Harry, showing more restraint and decorum, enjoyed their own plate at a more calm pace.
"So, how do you know Tom?" asked Harry mid-way through their meal.
With a heavy gulping swallow, Sirius answered mid-chew, "Well everyone knows Tom! He's been the owner for over 50 years, but we never really had much of a relationship until your father and I responded to a Floo call for a report of rowdy wizards who were drunk off their arse making a scene. Old Tom had tried to throw them out, but they started throwing curses at him and his customers. When we arrived, your father and I were able to arrest those drunks and stayed behind to help Tom fix us the damage. After that day, Tom would always give us a plate to go when he knew we would be working a double shift. Never let us go hungry, even on the job."
As if sensing that they were talking about him, Tom returned to their table and said, "I see Azkaban did nothing to your appetite," chuckling, he waved his wand at the empty plates, causing them to float away to the counter, "Although I am sure that much from Azkaban cannot be compared to our cooking."
Nodding his head, Sirius confirmed, "You can say that again, Tom. Any chance you might have a slice of your famous chocolate pudding pie?"
Chuckling Tom said, "Of course!"
A big slice of chocolate pudding pie appeared before Sirius, causing him to begin salivating at the mere sight of the sweet treat. With an impressive display of engulfing, the slice of pie vanished so fast that a Vanishing charm could have been used.
"Tom, you have no idea how great that was…you have my thanks."
"Nonsense, old boy. I'm just sorry I wasn't able to do anything to have help you. You know that not everyone really believed that you did it…it's just that most of us found ourselves confused with the sudden death of the Dark Lord…then to hear about the deaths of the Potters and your supposed betrayal…well, I guess it was just easier to accept it then to dig further…but that's no excuse for what you had to go through."
"No offense, Tom, but I doubt you would have been able to have done anything, but I appreciate the sentiment. I hate to have to leave but we were on our way to Gringotts. I'm sure you can imagine the amount of paperwork I have to deal with now."
Flashing a sympathizing smile, Tom said, "I wish you the best, Sirius. Those old goblins can be a nightmare about their paperwork."
Making their way through the portal, the trio were able to make their way to the pearly white building in record time, in part due to the reaction Sirius caused. It reminded Harry of the parting of the Red Sea in the way that everyone would jump and scamper away from them when they took sight of Sirius. For his part, Sirius did not let it affect his mood, walking confidently and with a respectful smile to each person.
Within the lobby of Gringotts, Harry was able to inform one of the tellers about his meeting with Hrothgar, before being led to his office.
Entering it, they found Hrothgar standing before his desk, dressed in his sharp black suit, standing next to another aged goblin. Standing at the same height of Hrothgar, this goblin was dressed in a body fitting dusky grey suit with a bronze tie, his hair was a deep black with stripes of silver glittering under the enchanted lights. His eyes, a cold brown, were focused intently at Sirius, who, upon seeing him, paled in nervousness.
Each goblin, bowing deeply, greeted their respective Head.
"Well met, my Lord Potter. Be welcomed under the rights of guest by my King."
"Well met, my Lord Black. Be welcomed under the rights of guest by my King."
Behind Hrothgar's desk were two throne-like chairs, each appearing no different from one another. To the left sat Hrothgar while the yet un-named goblin sat in the right chair.
"My Lord Potter, Lord Black, and Lady Tonks, may I present to you Master Dalgon, account manager for the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black. Master Dalgon, may I present to you my Lord Harry James Potter, Head of my own House, Lady Andromeda Tonks, and your own Lord Sirius Orion Black."
A deep guttural voice emanated from now known goblin named Dalgon as he said, "Well met, my Lords and Lady," remained deadlocked on Sirius, he continued, "Lord Black, it has been quite some time since our last encounter."
His hands trembling, Sirius swallowed before saying, "Yes, it has. Take no offense when I say that it was not the most pleasant of encounters."
With a display of his teeth, Harry spied finely sharp teeth in a shark-like smile from Dalgon. Within his throat, a deep rumble echoed throughout the office in what appeared to be laughter.
"As it should be. The presentation of Heir by the Lord to the account manager of said House is expected to be an intimidating experience. It's supposed to teach you humility, caution and ensure any inflated ego is eradicated. Your own father's presentation by the late Lord Arcturus went similarly to yours."
Narrowed eyed, Sirius said, "You're telling me that it was intentional?! I nearly wet my pants after that affair!"
"Of course, it has been tradition within your family for the past 13 generations as a way in ensuring a respectful and cordial relationship between the next Lord of the family and his account manager."
"If I may," began Harry, "What happened that left you so scared?"
With a disgusted look on Sirius and a hidden smile from Andy, Master Dalgon answered, "My Lord, when an Heir is brought to Gringotts to meet his future account manager, it is customary for the current Head to begin filling their heads with stories of supposed killing rituals and blood sacrifices. When they arrive, we, as account managers, adopt a harsh and cold personality, reinforcing the image of a ruthless warrior for the young child to fear. The presentation of the Heir's ring, as you may recall, can be a scary and painful experience to undergo, so that coupled with the image of a scary goblin wielding a large dagger has caused many Heirs to faint during their ceremony."
"I nearly shit myself when I saw Dalgon remove his dagger from the sheath, I swore that my father was about to have me killed. I nearly ran out of here when we finished. That encounter only reinforced my eventual decision to leave the family."
Fingers clasped, Dalgon said, "A decision, I hope, you're here to remedy. While your father did a poor job in demonstrating the family traditions, I hope we can begin anew and work together in returning the Black family name back to a place of respect."
Looking at Harry and Andy, his palms remained clammy as he said, "For years, I swore to never return to the family…indeed, even in the first few years of my incarceration I continued to swear against it. But, if this experience has taught me anything, is that if I ever want things to change for the better, than it is better I start with my own family. So, yes…I came with the intention of taking up the mantle as Head of the family and receive the Lord's ring."
With a satisfying look to his face, Dalgon said, "I am glad."
With a sharp snap of his fingers, a black ring box appeared before them. Opening it, Dalgon motioned Sirius forward.
A bead of sweat formed on Sirius' forehead; his hands shook as he attempted to control his own breathing. Reaching his hand to his forearm, Harry attempted to calm his godfather as he understood the fear in Sirius. A small smile of encouragement from Harry brought enough strength within Sirius to extend his hand and take ahold of the ring.
The silver band, filled with tiny runes, was rather nondescriptive, appearing no different from any other but the black onyx stone that rested upon seemed to have a pull of its own. The darkness of the onyx stone seemed to glitter under the light, casting a purplish hue to its edges.
Putting it on, Sirius seemed to freeze as the magic of the family ring began to weigh his worth. Remembering his own ring, Harry noticed that a different effect seemed to grow from the ring on Sirius, causing his body to seize up, his muscles contracting tightly taking control of his body. Rising in the air, Sirius seemed to float as a glow of silver grew from the ring, spreading like trickling water throughout his body until it completely encased him. The glow grew in brightness until it became too bright for them to witness, forcing them to close their eyes lest they incur eye damage.
As sudden as the effect took ahold of Sirius, so too did the effect vanish, leaving Sirius to drop like a sack onto the floor, his body still contracted. Knee bent, Andy waved her wand around Sirius, causing another glow to grow around him before flashing a muted white.
With a sigh, Andy sat in her chair before saying, "He is fine, it appears that the ring's judgment was simply too much for his mind to handle. He should awaken shortly."
The last word barely uttered when Sirius began to stir from his trance, his muscle loosening and relaxing as his eyes fluttered open. With a rush of air, Sirius began to stand.
In his left hand, the ring changed in size until it rested comfortably. With Harry assisting him, Sirius sat on the chair, accepting a glass of water from Master Dalgon. Taking a deep gulp, Sirius relaxed in the chair before saying, "Well that bloody well sucked!"
With a chuckle, both Harry and Andy sat in their chairs. From within his chair, Master Dalgon began to announced, "Welcome, Lord Black and may I be the first one to congratulate you on the ring's acceptance. Especially with such a resounding endorsement."
Confused, Harry asked, "What do you mean?"
Taking over, Andy explained, "Each family has their own magic and standard by which the Lord's ring judges any prospective Head of the family. For the Black family, those standard are quite strict with there being purity of heart in the intentions of the family. The glow you witnessed gives us just how pure Sirius' intentions were. Previous Heads have only caused a glow up to their elbow or shoulder, with a scattered few having the glow reaching their entire torso, but I can't remember the last time a Head of the Black family had their entire body encased in the glow…especially such a bright light. For Sirius to have had such a reaction…well it speaks volumes of his acceptance by the Lord's ring."
"The last case of the ring having fully accepted a Lord was in 1110 when Lord Cassius Black took up the mantle after the death of his father when he was leading the forces against the Dark Lord Deimos. He took up the fight against the Dark Lord before sacrificing himself in order to destroy Deimos and the majority of his men. An honorable and courageous man."
"I remember learning about him," croaked Sirius, "Grandfather Arturus always spoke greatly about him…said that he was someone who encapsulated everything that a Black should be…strong, wise, cunning, ambitious, and willing to take any extreme needed to protect the family. If I remember correctly, the reason he sacrificed himself is because the Dark Lord had just kidnapped and killed his wife. His children and siblings found his body hugging the tortured body of Elizabeth in the middle of all the destruction with a smile in his face."
"One of the few Blacks in history that was universally respected and honoured by the rest of the families. Their funeral was attended by every men he had lead and almost everyone able to attend from the community. I hope we can expect great things from you, my Lord."
Looking at Harry, Sirius said seriously, "I'll do my best to not disappoint."
Clearing his throat, Harry asked Hrothgar, "Would you be willing to allow us further use of your office to speak with both Sirius and Master Dalgon about that matter?"
Understanding his meaning, Hrothgar nodded.
"Sirius, how familiar are you with the circumstances surrounding the death of the Dark Lord?"
Confused, Sirius looked at both Andy and Harry before saying, "I can't claim to know very much. The same night that he was killed after killing your parents, I found myself arrested and left to rot in Azkaban. From what I could gather from other prisoners…they claim that your parents were killed by His hand, but he was destroyed by you. They claim that you survived the Killing Curse, causing it to reflect back to Him and destroying him."
Shrugging, Sirius continued, "I'd be the first to cast doubt in that story…the words from Death Eaters should be believed with a grain of salt but I can believe that your parents had something up their sleeve that they did in order to ensure your safety…Merlin knows that your mother spent every day trying to design a ritual to protect you."
"A ritual?!" asked Andy, "What ritual?"
Shaking his head, Sirius said, "I don't know. I remember Lily scouring the entire Potter Library in an attempt to find some historical precedent where the Killing Curse was survived but as far as I can remember, she never found anything. James must have spent thousands in ancient tomes, trying to find anyone who knew about something that could ensure Harry's safety. In the beginning, James would travel around the world, asking anybody they could find that was an expert of esoteric magic. They found some reference to an old Wiccan ritual that would be performed by a mother to their child to prevent any harm not natural to fall upon them, but I don't know if they ever found it. In the end, Lily began working a project to try and cast a protective ward around Harry. They even went to speak with the Oracle of Delphi in an attempt to decipher if they would be able to protect Harry."
Leaning forward, Harry asked, "And what did the Oracle say?"
"I don't know…but when they returned they stopped any further research and travel…instead they began to plan what would happen to you in the event of their deaths. They kept their vaults in stasis, the Potter Manor was kept under the old war wards, other properties were similarly kept hidden. Lily began to carve a trunk that was blood-keyed to you…supposedly to follow you and give you instruction about your family and your station. James began to purchase weaponry, battle robes and anything he thought would be useful in a fight. It was as if they had resigned themselves to dying…I thought they were just exaggerating but now…I can't help but think that perhaps they knew about their deaths."
"Perhaps," suggested Master Dalgon, "The Oracle divined about their deaths."
An uncomfortable silence fell upon them from the rather melancholic topic.
Choosing to return the topic at hand, Harry began, "I ask what you know about the Dark Lord's death because of the event that occurred at the end of my school year."
"Why? What happened?"
"For years," explained Andy, "everyone assumed that the Dark Lord was killed. Killed by Harry on the night that his parents were killed. But in some way, while his body was destroyed, the Dark Lord was able to exist in a sort of limbo existence. Neither dead nor fully alive."
His breathe quickened as his chest rose faster with each breathe as he understood what Andy was saying. His eyes widened, mouth fell agape as he croaked, "You're joking right? You're telling me that He is still alive! How?!"
"We have our suspicions," explained Harry, "but we have not yet confirmed them. What I do know for certain is that at the end of my school year, an attempt was made by the Dark Lord via the possession of my DADA professor Quirrell to steal the Sorcerer's Stone in order to restore his own body. Through luck and some unknown magic, I was able to prevent the Dark Lord from stealing the Stone and force him to flee after the destruction of his servant. The reason we wanted the both of you in the loop is because we felt that having you in our side would allow us to better prepare for his eventual return."
"Return?! What makes you think that he'll return? He could've just died somewhere else without anybody aware."
Shaking his head, Harry said, "No, somehow I have this feeling in my bones that he's going to return…stronger and worse than before. If it weren't for whatever freak accident caused his destruction the last time…the Dark Lord would have won and taken over. You fought against him, you know this better than I. The last decade has given him enough time to have planned what he would do to get his revenge. I don't know when that would be…actually, I don't even know if it'll ever come to pass but I will not waste precious time by just ignoring it. That's why I've been planning to create my own organization similar to the Order of the Phoenix but more proactive and willing to cause real harm. No offense, Sirius, but Dumbledore's method of stunning the Death Eater's was never going to succeed, not when the Death Eaters were ready to kill you."
Shrugging his shoulders, Sirius said, "I can't argue against that. You have no idea how many times your dad and I would get in trouble with Dumbledore. He thought that we should 'try to help them instead of killing them.' There were only a few of us in the Order who were willing to kill if necessary."
"Exactly! While I do not doubt Dumbledore's knowledge and power, I don't think he's the right one to be leading a warring faction against someone who was willing to torture and kill anyone in his path. What we are planning is to have a group that would be able to respond immediately to the area where any Death Eaters are fighting and neutralize the threat. If possible, I'd work to finding a method that would allow us to know where they will attack before the attacks occur. In the meantime, I've been working in laying the foundation; money, safehouses, material, and a rough outline of our methods. It won't be easy and I'm not about to skimp out of money in my effort—you get what you pay for, after all. We were hoping that you would be willing to join in the effort and that you would be willing to commit to our cause and stand ready to take the fight against them. The Black family is a treasure trove of powerful magic. That and the financial support would go a long way in helping us in our efforts."
His fist clenched and his jawline pulsing in anger, Sirius replied quite succinctly, "Count me in. If that bastard dares to shows his face, then he'll wish he'd stayed hidden. Your parents were like a brother and sister to me, Harry…I'll make sure they're avenged."
"Thank you, Sirius."
Entering the conversation, Hrothgar asked Sirius, "Lord Black, you mentioned that the late Lord Potter had hidden a cache of weapons and other items he felt useful in a fight…I must admit that I was unaware of this. Would you happen to know where it was hidden at?"
Leaning back on his chair, Sirius pondered quietly for a while before answering, "I think I remember where it was at…it was somewhere in Germany. Your grandfather's brother, Charlus, was friends with a German wizard who had fought with him in the war against Grindelwald. James had reached out to him and asked for his help in securing a cottage near Stuttgart, hidden away in some forest. I'll have to go and investigate where James hid that cottage. I only ever met Otto once so, if he's still alive, I'll have to see if he remembers me and is willing to help me."
"That will have to be something that is done after your medical care is completed," said Andy with a stern look, "Don't forget that you need to take care of yourself. You'll be of no use to us if you stay in his half-starve state. I've compiled a list of rehabilitation clinics that I believe could help you recover."
"Thank you, cousin. We'll have to take a look at that a later time."
"In the meantime, my Lord," said Dalgon, "the affairs of your family's estate must be organized. Would you like to continue this here or in my office?"
"No, we can continue here. When Harry was born, I made him my Heir and I wish for that to continue. Likewise, Andy is about the only family member that I trust. Anything you tell me can be said in their company."
"Verry well, sir. I'm afraid that since the passing of your grandfather, the properties were left in stasis. Your mother's home, Grimmauld Place, was left in the care of her personal elf, Kreacher, and has been left alone since her passing. Other than the personal vaults for Narcissa Malfoy and payments for interest charges, the family vaults have been left untouched. Over the years, I have been forced to subvert attempts by Mr. Malfoy to take control of the Black family vaults. In his error, Mr. Malfoy foolishly believes that his son should be the Heir to the family fortune through his mother. Due to the fact that you were never formally convicted, the family magic never allowed for the transfer of Headship to young Draco and Lucius' attempts were stopped. However, I would advice opening the vaults and begin investing in various businesses to have a steady income."
"I agree. Have the vaults open and compile for me a list of investment that you feel would prove wise. Likewise, arrange the process to restore the Black Manor to its former glory. I would like you to also compile the paperwork in restoring Andy and her family into the Black family. I will not continue my family's past errors to continue—it's high time that we allow Andy access to her rightful inheritance. Likewise, we'll begin the process in removing Bellatrix from the family and remove any access she has. That woman tried to kill me on multiple occasions, and I will be damned if I allow her the respect of keeping her in the family. We'll need to arrange a meeting with Cissy to determine if she will remain in the family or if I'll have to cut her out as well. I would also request an order of clothing from Madam Tattings—I'll need several bits of everything to recreate my wardrobe and several acromantula robes for official family business."
During this Dalgon quickly wrote down each request in a piece of parchment, somehow appearing excited with all the work that Sirius was laying on him.
"Also, we'll need to formally induct Harry into the Black family as my official Heir, that way old Lucius cannot argue against his rightful position. I will also need a bag with 1,000 galleons for some personal shopping."
"Sirius, are you quite sure?" asked Harry, confused about what that might entail.
"I am. We would only be performing something that I would have done with you had I the chance to properly raise you."
"Will there be anything else, my Lord?" asked Dalgon.
"No, that should be it for now. If I have anything else that comes to mind, I will send you an owl."
"Very well, I will begin as soon as possible, my Lord."
"If that will be all, Sirius, perhaps you'd like to come stay with us while we make arrangements for your treatment?" asked Andy.
"I wouldn't want to impose, Andy," said Sirius.
"And you wont be. I insist. That way I can ensure you don't land in any more trouble."
"Thank you, cousin."
"Hrothgar, I appreciate you allowing us use of your office. I'll send you an owl if I have need of anything," said Harry, standing and getting ready to leave.
"Of course, my Lord."
With their business done, the three made their way to the exit and returned to their respective homes.
