Chapter 8
House-Elves and Horcruxes
Author's Note: Sorry for the delay. This chapter fought me a lot, mostly because it feels like filler. Even the title fought me, which is why it is kind of lame. Thank you all for the amazing response to this story so far! I am very grateful!
Warnings: Severe Character Bashing: Dumbledore; Ron, Ginny and Molly Weasley; Manipulative!Dumbledore plotting
Saturday, June 26th, 1995 – Hogwarts – Early Morning
Hermione Granger awoke on Saturday, and for a few moments, was rather confused about where she was. She was used to waking up and seeing the mahogany curtains around her four-poster bed. But there were no curtains. Suddenly, she felt the bed shifting beside her, and she looked to her left. She nearly jumped as she saw Harry Potter laying beside her, sleeping. She then recalled what happened last night. How she ended up here.
She had agreed to spend the night with Harry, because she didn't want to go back to her dormitory last night. For two reasons. The first was Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil. She didn't want to endure more questions about her new relationship with Harry. The questions they had asked during breakfast yesterday was nothing, she knew, to what they would ask once they would get her alone.
The other reason was similar to Harry's reasons. The Weasleys: Ron and Ginny specifically. She didn't want to put up with Ron's attitude, and Ginny's... jealousy. Also... well... she didn't know if Harry could hold his temper around them yet. Which was probably why he didn't want to go back to the Gryffindor Common Room. And since he hadn't wanted to go last night... neither did she.
But now, now that she was awake, and had a clear mind, she started to realize something. What if her roommates, and Harry's roommates, noticed they hadn't returned last night? Would they tell McGonagall, or worse, Dumbledore? Would she and Harry get in trouble?
"You don't need to worry, Hermione," Harry said.
Hermione jumped and turned to Harry. He was laying on his side, and looking at her. She hadn't even heard him wake up.
"You don't need to worry," Harry repeated. "Nobody knows we were here last night."
Hermione stared at her boyfriend – boyfriend! She loved that word! – for a moment, then looked at her finger and wrist. Her ring and bracelet were still there – they hadn't fallen off while she slept.
"If you keep doing that," Hermione said, "I'm going to have a really difficult time believing you were telling me the truth about this enchanted jewelry protecting me from even you reading my thoughts."
"I didn't read your mind, Hermione," Harry said. "It was pretty obvious what you were worried about. I'm just surprised it took this long for you to even begin worrying about it."
"We broke curfew, Harry," Hermione said, "No, we didn't break curfew. We destroyed it!"
"And yet nobody will know we did," Harry said.
"How?!" Hermione demanded.
"With a little help, from a little friend," Harry said.
Hermione stared at Harry for a moment. Then she realized who he was talking about. She remembered him talking about Dobby, and how Dobby had saved him and her in the future, but had died in the process.
"Dobby?" Hermione asked.
"I called him to my side last night," Harry said, "while you were freshening up in the bathroom I requested alongside this room. I asked him to cast Illusion and Confusion spells on both of our beds. If our roommates wonder about us, they'll believe we're asleep in our beds, and that they shouldn't bother us. I also asked for him to get me back the Marauder's Map from Impostor Moody's old office. He came through quite nicely, on both counts."
He hesitated for a moment.
"Hermione, I need to tell you something," he said. "About... SPEW and what I learned in the future."
"SPEW?" Hermione asked. "Did that ever kick off? What did I do with it?"
"You disbanded it," Harry said, "Because of what you discovered in your seventh year here. House-Elves, Hermione, will die if they become free. All it takes is... about a year for a free elf to die. You saw Winky. She was wasting away."
"But... but Dobby!" Hermione said, her eyes misting over, "He's a free elf, ever since you freed him from Malfoy! That's... two years now!"
"He isn't a free elf," Harry said. "He's my elf. I'm his Master."
"What?!" Hermione asked. "Harry James -"
Harry placed a finger on her lips. "Listen... please."
Hermione sighed and stared at him with narrowed eyebrows.
"I didn't find out until long after he died," Harry said. "When I helped him get free of Lucius Malfoy, I became his Master. Dobby isn't a free elf. He lied to me because I was happy about the thought of him being free. All he ever wanted, was for me to be happy. I... I am planning on meeting with Winky later today, and asking her to become my elf too. She'll need time, and Dobby's help, to recuperate. But if I don't do this, Hermione... she'll die before the end of the summer."
Hermione frowned. "Oh. Why didn't anyone tell me? If it was that serious... if my goals would have killed off so many elves... oh, god! Why didn't anyone try to stop me?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Harry aked. "You're a Muggleborn witch. One of the smartest witches in Great Britain."
"Are you trying to tell me that people wanted me to fail, so I would... what?" Hermione asked, "Get discredited about being so smart?"
"More like... you would either get exiled or sent to Azkaban," Harry said. "Or worse. And it would be completely legal for them to do so. No offense, Hermione, but a good share of people in this society do, and always will, see you as an 'uppity Mudblood'. Why would they tell you the truth, when the latter would see you gone... which is exactly what they want?"
"Oh," Hermione said, "I suppose that makes sense. It is horrible but... it makes a lot of damn sense. So, let's change this depressing subject. What are your plans for today? It doesn't sound as if you want to go to the Ministry to be there for Sirius' trial. You didn't ask either Director Bones nor Dumbledore attend, nor did you say anything about it to Sirius."
"I didn't ask because I need to be here when Dumbledore isn't," Harry said.
"Oh... why?" Hermione asked.
"Remember what I told you and Sirius about the Diadem Horcrux?" Harry asked.
"Ooh, right," Hermione said, nodding. "It is in this room. Well, another version of it."
"Yes," Harry said. "With Dumbledore gone, there's no risk of him discovering I'm retrieving the Diadem. I will take it, put it in a protective casing, and put it in my trunk. I will deal with it later this summer."
"How?" Hermione asked. "I know you said the Sword of Gryffindor and basilisk venom would destroy it. Are you... are you intending on breaking into Dumbledore's office to get the Sword too? Or going down to the Chamber of Secrets like... Weasley and I did in your future, to collect the fangs?"
"No," Harry said, "I have other means to destroy it. Just not available here at Hogwarts. I'll only get the Basilisk venom, or the Sword if I have no other options. I'll wait to get the Diadem until this afternoon. Do you want to have breakfast in the kitchens, instead of the Great Hall this morning? I can help Winky while we do."
"Sure," Hermione said. "Sounds nice."
"But first," Harry said, "Shall I ask Dobby to get us each a fresh pair of clothes?"
Hermione nodded. "I'd like that. But first, I'm going to take a shower. And then you can."
"Are you saying, I stink?" Harry asked.
"Well, your breath does," Hermione said, grinning playfully. "I was going to give you a kiss, but I think that can wait."
Harry pouted, causing Hermione to giggle. She kissed him on the cheek, then rolled out of bed and headed off toward the bathroom.
Saturday, June 26th, 1995 – Ministry of Magic – Morning
Director Amelia Bones yawned as she stepped into her office, and made her way to her desk. She usually never came into work this early on a Saturday. But today was important. There were three very important trials this afternoon. One, in Amelia's opinion, more important than the others: the trial of Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew. She had faith that Sirius would gain back his freedom today. And when he did...
Well... she would worry about that later. She needed to focus on the trials – especially Sirius and Pettigrew's.
As she sat down in her seat, behind her desk, she nearly jumped back out of it, as a bright, orange flash of flame appeared atop her desk, followed by a phoenix. The phoenix, Fawkes, dropped a scroll of parchment on her desk, then disappeared in another flash of flame.
"Damn it, Dumbledore!" Amelia growled. "Why can't you send me letters through owl post like everyone else?!"
It had taken a considerable amount of restraint not to arrest Albus Dumbledore the previous evening. She kept telling herself that she needed more evidence. She didn't say very much to Dumbledore the previous evening. However, she did say one thing to him, in private, after the Victory Ceremony.
She accepted his invitation to join the Order of the Phoenix. Dumbledore looked shocked and... even a little disappointed. Did he hope she would tell him no? Amelia, of course, quickly realized the answer to that. He probably knew she was investigating him. He probably also knew the real reason she wanted to join the Order of the Phoenix... to watch him. Which was why she was so shocked that the only thing he said to her was "Then I welcome you into the Order, Director Bones. You will be a most welcome member."
Amelia unrolled the scroll of parchment and began to read it.
Director Bones,
Once again, I thank you for joining the Order of the Phoenix. I will contact you soon about what I am sure will be the first of many meetings. This is not why I have written the letter.
I have some information for you, but also a request.
As I will be leading all three criminal trials this afternoon, the first beginning at noon. I will bring Sirius Black with me at eleven-o-clock this morning. I know his trial is the last of the three scheduled. I have been informed that Ted Tonks will be waiting in the Ministry's Atrium for Sirius and I. Ted will be Sirius' lawyer during his trial. I assume he will be keeping an eye on Sirius until his trial, and preparing him for what is to come.
As for my request... well, I am sure you remember two nights ago, when Harry Potter informed us that he used a Confundus Charm on both Peter Pettigrew and Bartemius Crouch, Junior, so they would not tell anyone about Voldemort's return. I believe we should continue his good work. I ask you, no, I beg you, to cast the Confundus Charm on Pettigrew and Crouch before their trials, so they will not inform everyone that Voldemort is back. If you do not do this, I believe all will be lost, when it comes to the coming storm and future war against Voldemort.
You might believe I am asking you to do this, because I want you to get caught, and in trouble, removing you from your position as Director of the DMLE. That is not my intention. Without you, and your position to assist us, the Order of the Phoenix would lose a great advantage in our fight against Voldemort.
I merely ask you this so that only a few important people know of Voldemort's return. So we can get a great head start on the war, before Voldemort delivers his first strike. Perhaps... just maybe... we could even prevent that first strike from even taking place.
Thank you for your considerations, and once again, for joining the Order,
Your humble friend,
Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore
Amelia tapped the letter with her wand, and the parchment burned into ashes. She then vanished the ashes.
Even though the idea was coming from Dumbledore, of all people, she knew she would go along with it. She would place a Confundus Charm on Crouch and Pettigrew so they wouldn't mention Voldemort. But she wasn't doing it for Dumbledore. She was doing it for Sirius, and his godson, Harry Potter. Harry was the one who had originally Confound Pettigrew and Crouch and had done it for a good reason. The same reason she would. If Fudge found out about Voldemort, he would hide his head in the sand, and would make things difficult for her, Harry, Sirius, and Dumbledore and his Order. If the public found out, it would create a lot of panic. Which would likely create problems for her, the DMLE, and the Auror Department. Problems she couldn't afford.
So yes, she would accept Dumbledore's request. But not because Albus Dumbledore asked her to.
Because it would continue the path to Voldemort's final end. She would do anything make sure Voldemort could never hurt her loved ones ever again.
Saturday, June 26th, 1995 – Hogwarts – Morning
Harry and Hermione were currently making their way toward the kitchens for a private breakfast. They were dressed in casual clothing – since they were leaving on the Hogwarts Express the following morning, they had no reason to wear their school uniforms anymore.
As they arrived at the portrait of the bowl of fruit, Harry tickled the pear. The pear giggled and wiggled, and the portrait swung open, revealing the entryway. The many-numbered house-elves Harry saw bustling around the kitchens were someone he expected to see there, of course. It was the two humans sitting at a table whom he hadn't expected to see: Sirius Black... and Luna Lovegood. Sirius' eyes lit up as he saw Harry and Hermione walking over to the table.
"Godson! Godson's girlfriend!" Sirius greeted them the same way he did the previous day, "What a wonderful surprise to see you here! Come sit down! Do either of you know Miss Luna Lovegood yet? She was just entertaining me with the most wonderful stories in the latest edition of the Quibbler!"
"I'm afraid we haven't had the pleasure," Harry said, as he and Hermione sat down together at the table, "Miss Lovegood, it is nice to meet you."
"It is nice to meet you too, Harry Potter and Hermione Granger," Luna said. "I am happy to see that the infestation of wrackspurts I usually see around the two of you vanished as of yesterday morning."
Sirius looked bemused, and Hermione, of course, looked as if she wasn't sure what to think of the girl. For Harry, it was simply the same old Luna Lovegood he was used to. Even marriage and becoming the mother of twins hadn't changed Luna's personality in the future. Of course, the fact that her husband, Rolf Scamander, grandson of the famous magizoologist, Newt Scamander, shared her dreams of finding proof that her fabled creatures existed, only aided in her eccentricity. Following in his grandfather's footsteps, Rolf had even written a book about every single one of the creatures Luna often spoke about.
"And what are wrackspurts, Luna?" Harry asked.
"Ooh, they are microscopic creatures, sometimes mistaken for moths or fleas," Luna said. "They fly into your ears and make your brain go all fuzzy. I am guessing it was due to the infestation of these wrackspurts that caused the two of you to miss out on the obvious that everyone else was seeing – that you two are wonderfully compatible for each other. I believe when the two of you had your first kiss, it made the wrackspurts flee."
Harry shrugged. "Makes sense to me. I haven't read about wrackspurts in any books, but that might just be because no books about them exist yet."
Hermione's expression of disbelief toward Luna wilted and her expression softened, as her gaze switched between the girl and her boyfriend. Obviously she realized Harry knew Luna in his future.
"Ooh, my Daddy's thought about writing a book about wrackspurts," Luna said, "But he believes the Quibbler does a better job about focusing on wrackspurts and other creatures, and a book would only detract from the Quibbler's focus."
"You could write the book, Luna," Harry suggested.
"Ooh, I'm afraid my writing talents are more for articles in the Quibbler," Luna said. "I am sure I can find someone out there willingly enough to write a book about the creatures."
"I am sure you can too," Harry said, smiling.
"Thank you, Harry Potter," Luna said. "I must be going, I'm afraid. I have misplaced my favorite pair of shoes, and I must find them before we leave tomorrow. Goodbye, Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Stubby Boardman. I suspect we'll meet again this summer."
Harry frowned as he noticed Luna was barefoot as she left the kitchens. He had forgotten about how students had bullied her and stolen her belongings. He couldn't do anything about that now, as they would be leaving the following day, but he wouldn't let Luna be treated that way starting in September.
Then he realized... there was something he could do.
"Dobby?" Harry asked, "Are you here?"
Dobby appeared from a crowd of house-elves bustling about, and walked over to the table.
"What can Dobby do for Harry Potter?" Dobby asked, "Is Harry Potter and his Hermy be wanting breakfast?"
"Give us a platter of the common menu items available for breakfast this morning, please," Harry instructed.
A platter with bowls and plates of various breakfast foods appeared on the table, as well as jugs of orange juice and water.
"Thank you, Dobby," Harry said. "Do you know where Winky is today?"
Dobby's ears drooped. "Winky be weak, Harry Potter. Winky be resting these days. Dobby is afraid Winky be moving on to the great meadow where all elves must go before the end of July."
"Unless she has a new Master," Harry said. "I would like her to be another member of our family, Dobby. Can you bring her here, please?"
Dobby jumped up and down excitedly. "Dobby can be doing that!"
He vanished a moment later.
"Winky used to belong to the Crouch family," Harry explained to Sirius, who was looking at him questioningly. "She was given clothes last August. She's been here ever since, and I suspect the fact that she was able to work as a kitchen elf here saved her from dying a few months ago. But then she started binge-drinking Butterbeer, which isn't good for house-elves. She's depressed, because she has no official Master, and I suspect it is due to her depression that she is wasting away."
"And you hope if she becomes your elf, she'll become healthier and better," Sirius said, nodding.
"Well, she could either become my elf... or yours, Sirius," Harry said. "Kreacher an old elf. He won't die for many years, but I'm afraid the locket horcrux, and your mother's portrait has corrupted him, and will continue to do so until both are gone. Twelve Grimmauld Place is a mess, because of Kreacher's refusal to clean it. Kreacher will be fine once these bad influences are away, but Winky would be a good elf to pick up the pieces until that happens."
Sirius nodded, thoughtfully, and said nothing while he took a couple more bites of his breakfast.
"I'll do it," he finally said. "If all goes well today, I'll be a free man by the end of today. Twelve Grimmauld Place will soon be the headquarters for the Order, so I do need to get the house cleaned. The help of a new house-elf would go a long way."
Before Harry could reply, Dobby returned with a small cot, where Winky the house-elf lay in it.
"Sorry it took so long, Harry Potter," Dobby said. "Winky is against having a new Master. Winky believes she does not deserve it."
"You do deserve it, Winky," Hermione said; seeing the weak state of the house-elf seemed to have made her feel much better about the whole 'house-elves need Masters' thing. "You did not deserve what happened to you. It wasn't right. You were wronged, Winky."
"Winky," Sirius said, "I would like you to become my elf. My own house-elf Kreacher, has been remiss in his duties toward the Ancient and Most Noble House of Black. While I do not wish to replace him, I find I need a younger elf to keep him on his toes, and to help me with repairing the ancient seat of the House of Black. It is a lot of work to accomplish, and I need a good house-elf like you to help me."
"Lord Black... wants... Winky?" Winky asked, weakly.
"I want you to get healthy, Winky," Sirius said. "Then I want you to become a member of my family."
Winky... Winky accepts," Winky said.
Harry thought Winky would have been a bit more disagreeable. Or perhaps it was because Sirius was a good pureblood wizard, and she wanted to work with someone similar to the Crouches?
Harry and Hermione watched as Sirius and Winky completed the bond, cementing Sirius as Winky's new Master.
"Winky, over the next few days, I want you to heal, rest and recuperate," Sirius said. "As soon as you feel up to the task, come find me. I will tell you what to do next."
"Yes, Master Sirius," Winky said. "Winky promises to do so."
"Thank you, Winky," Sirius said, "You are excused."
Winky, who was now standing, placed a hand on the cot, and vanished along with it.
"Dobby, there is one last thing I need you to do for me," Harry said. "Can you please find Luna Lovegood's missing belongings and place them on her bed in her dormitory? Luna is a friend of mine. Place enchantments on her bed and trunk so that nobody else can get her belongings but her. If you find her belongings in the possession of other students, write their names on a piece of parchment and give it to me when I call upon you later."
"Dobby can do this for Harry Potter and his friend," Dobby said.
"Thank you, Dobby," Harry said, "You are excused."
Dobby bowed and vanished.
"Luna's shoes were stolen, weren't they?" Hermione asked.
"I'm sure you've noticed Luna's behavior and personality is a little... eccentric?" Harry asked; Hermione blushed, frowned and nodded. "There are some girls in Ravenclaw – her year and other years – who dislike her because of her personality. They bully her and steal her belongings. I first met her in my original timeline next year. Once when I met her, she wasn't wearing shoes, and she was outside, feeding Thestrals, in her bare feet. I can't recall if it was snowing, but it was very cold. At this time next year, during my last timeline, I found Luna looking all around the castle for her belongings. A pair of her shoes were tied to ceiling lamps in one of the corridors far away from Ravenclaw Tower. And that was just a pair of shoes.
"I can't do anything about her bullies right now. But I won't let it happen next year."
Hermione sighed. "I wasn't very nice to her originally, was I?"
"Not at first, no," Harry said. "The first time you met her, you didn't know her name, and you found she was reading the Quibbler. You called it a nonsense rag, full of rubbish, or something like that, and she told you her father was the editor. But you weren't as bad as you could have been. You didn't call her names. The first time I met Luna, Ginny introduced her to me, only she called her 'Loony Lovegood'. Ginny and Luna used to be friends when they were kids, and Ginny still called her 'Loony'."
"That's horrible," Hermione said, frowning.
"The Lovegoods – though they are only a Minor House – are part of the Great Alliance, and are allies of House Potter," Harry said.
"Which is why Luna believes you'll meet again this summer," Hermione said.
"Yes, especially if I bring together the Great Alliance," Harry said, nodding. "Several of our classmates are members of the Great Alliance, and because of Dumbledore, I knew nothing about the Great Alliance until after I defeated Voldemort. Dumbledore had somehow convinced, coerced, or manipulated – probably through Compulsions or worse – the members of the Great Alliance – including their Heirs, Heiresses and children – to ignore me when it came to the Great Alliance. People like Neville Longbottom, Parvati and Padma Patil, Susan Bones and Hannah Abbot, among others, all of whom were our classmates in our year. Neville and Parvati, as fellow Gryffindors, were the closest to me during all my years at Hogwarts. Both Neville and Luna were good friends of mine over my last couple years here. But because of Dumbledore, none of them mentioned the Great Alliance, or the fact that their families were Allies of mine."
"Because, as you said yesterday, Dumbledore fears the Great Alliance and its power," Hermione said.
"Yes," Harry said. "Dumbledore didn't want me – his great weapon and martyr - outside of his influence. The Great Alliance would have done wonders for me during the last timeline. They would have made my life a hell of a lot easier the last time around, especially during my years as a student here."
"I have already promised to help you all I can this summer," Sirius said, "when it comes to destroying Voldemort, his Death Eaters, his Horcruxes, as well as Dumbledore and those few Weasleys who wronged you. That help also includes bringing the Great Alliance together. James had plans to bring in the House of Black into the Great Alliance, my grandfather refused. Even then, he made me an official ally of the Great Alliance. As the new Lord Black, I'll take the lead in bringing the Great Alliance together, until we can officially bring you back as the new Leader."
"Sounds good to me," Harry said. "So do you know when your trial is today?"
"I don't know the exact time," Sirius said. "It will be the last of the three trials. So probably late in the afternoon. I received a letter from Dumbledore that I am to meet him in his office a few minutes before eleven-o-clock this morning, so he can escort me to the Ministry. Ted Tonks will be meeting us there, and he'll be... babysitting me... until the trial takes place."
"I didn't know Ted very well, I'm afraid," Harry said. "I met him once. But he was killed by Snatchers during the last months of the war. I knew Andromeda quite well, and also their daughter, Nymphadora. Though don't ever let her hear you call her by her first name."
Sirius laughed. "Yep, you knew her well then. Even as a little girl she hated her first name. Her hair turned the most adorable shades of red when I called her by her full first name. Her eyes though... it is creepy when she turns them red... or black!"
Harry laughed and nodded. "Definitely."
Harry, Hermione, and Sirius continued their breakfast, talking of inconsequential and random topics. The main topic was Sirius just wanting to get to know his godson's new girlfriend.
Saturday, June 26th, 1995 – Hogwarts – Early Afternoon
Harry and Hermione were making their way through the seventh floor corridor toward the Room of Requirement. Harry was currently holding open the Marauder's Map. Lunch was currently going on in the Great Hall, though, once again, Harry and Hermione decided to avoid eating there, if only to avoid Ron and Ginny Weasley again. Most of the students were now in the Great Hall, but a few were either in the Common Room, the corridors, or elsewhere in the castle.
Including a couple of students Harry had been looking for. Fred and George Weasley just so happened to be heading down the corridor in their direction. They came upon the Weasley twins a minute later, and Fred and George grinned when they saw Harry and Hermione.
"Well, look who it is, Fred!" George Weasley said, "The cutest new couple in Hogwarts!"
"Fred, George," Harry greeted. "Nice to run into you two."
"Did you - run into us?" Fred asked, "Or were you looking for us? That is the Marauder's Map you're holding, is it not?"
"It is," Harry agreed. "And yes, I was looking for you."
"Oh?" George said, "I suppose you wanted to know how our youngest siblings are reacting to the news that the two of you are now a couple?"
"Actually I have another reason," Harry said, "But let's start with that topic first. How did Ron and Ginny react?"
"Ginny was upset, understandably so," Fred said, "I mean… she's always had a bit of a fancy for you, you know."
"But then again, her reaction was a little confusing too," George said. "I mean… she went to the Yule Ball with Neville Longbottom, and now she's dating Michael Corner. If she was so interested in you, why did she want another boy to be her boyfriend?"
"We asked her that," Fred said, "And Ginny just said she didn't think you were interested n having a girlfriend right now."
"When we asked her if she was going to apologize to Corner for her little episode in the Great Hall yesterday," George said, "She just told us to shut up, and she ran out of the room in tears."
Harry nodded. He wasn't so surprised at that. Obviously Ginny didn't want to tell her brothers that she was just using Michael Corner to try and make him jealous, and make him take notice in her.
"And Ron?" Harry asked.
Fred and George looked at each other and grimaced.
"Ron was a mess," Fred said.
"Was he crying?" Hermione asked.
"Probably would have been better if he was," George said. "No, he was ranting and screaming."
"Let me guess," Harry said in a deadpan tone, "'Potter has everything he could ever want. Money, fame, good looks… and now he had to take the girl too'? Did he also say that we betrayed him?"
"That was most of it, yes," Fred said.
"Did he also say anything like… Hermione was supposed to be his?" Harry asked.
George winced. "Yeah… he did say something like that. How did you know?"
"Just a bit of a running theory I have," Harry said. "Well, it is funny that he thinks we betrayed him, when he betrayed us first, in the first place. Thinking I put my name in the Goblet of Fire and not talking to me for the better part of a month because of it? Then the git didn't even tell me about Charlie being in the area, which would have been a great big hint about Dragons being in the first task."
"Let's not forget that he never once apologized for any of it," Hermione said, "He's never said anything like 'I'm sorry' to you."
"True," Harry said. "Is Ron planning on confronting us?"
"We warned him not to," George said, "But you know how he is. Stubborn and stuff. He probably won't listen to us. We'll keep an eye on him and Ginny, and corral him into sitting with us on the Hogwarts Express."
"Thanks," Harry said, "Now, onto the other reason I was looking for you. Fred, George, I know all about your troubles with Ludo Bagman and the Leprechaun gold he paid you. Let me guess… he isn't going to pay you back, because he doesn't have any money. He bet on me to win the Tournament, and because of some excuse - maybe, due to the use of Unforgivables, or how Crouch, Junior was helping me get through the maze - the Goblins he did the bet with said he lost the bet, due to cheating. Maybe they accused him of cheating too."
Fred and George's jaws dropped.
"Yeah… that is basically the gist of it," Fred said.
"How did you know that?" George said.
"You're not the only two people who know how to get his hands on information around here," Harry said, grinning. "What you should be asking is this: why am I talking to you two about it. Well, that is simple."
Harry removed the money bag of Tournament prize winnings from his belt.
"Take it," he said, and he thrust the sack into George's hands.
"What?" said Fred, looking flabbergasted.
"Take it," Harry repeated firmly. "I don't want it."
"You're mental," said George, trying to push it back at Harry.
"No, I'm not," said Harry. "You take it, and get inventing. It's for the joke shop."
"He is mental," Fred said in an almost awed voice.
"Listen," said Harry firmly. "If you don't take it, I'm throwing it down the drain. I don't want it and I don't need it. But I could do with a few laughs. We could all do with a few laughs. I've got a feeling we're going to need them more than usual before long."
"Harry," said George weakly, weighing the money bag in his hands, "there's got to be a thousand Galleons in here."
"Yeah," said Harry, grinning. "Think how many Canary Creams that is."
The twins stared at him.
"Just don't tell your mum where you got it," Harry said, "although she might not be so keen for you to join the Ministry anymore, come to think of it..."
"Harry," Fred began.
"Look… put me in for a quarter ownership of your new shop when you buy one if that is what it takes to accept that money," Harry said, "But I am not taking the money back. I do not need it. I am going to be Lord Harry Potter of the Ancient and Most Noble House of Potter by the end of the summer. Do you really think I need a thousand Galleons on top of the fortune I already have?"
Fred and George gaped and stared at each other..
"Well, when you put it that way," Fred muttered.
"Quarter ownership it is," George agreed. "We'll make sure we don't waste this money away."
"Good," Harry said, "And no more betting! And… no testing your new products on first year students!"
"Harry!" Fred gasped, "We'd never!"
"Actually… we would, Fred," George said.
Fred pouted. "I suppose we might have been thinking of bringing in some gullible firsties next year for testing. Fine, Harry. You got it. No testing on first years."
"Deal," Harry said.
He shook Fred and George's hands.
"Good luck with your new shop," Harry said.
"Harry, thanks," Fred said.
"Don't mention it," Harry said, "Just watch Ron and Ginny this summer. Make sure they aren't going to try to do anything nefarious like trying to break me and Hermione up."
"Sounds like something they'd do," George muttered.
"We'll keep an eye on them," Fred promised, and George nodded.
"Good," Harry said, "Well, we need to get going. So we'll see you later."
"See ya, Harry, Hermione," George said.
"Thanks, Harry… thanks a lot," Fred said, motioning to the money bag.
Harry nodded, and walked off with Hermione. Hand-in-hand, the new couple made their way toward the Room of Requirement. Harry paced back and forth against the vacant wall, asking for the place where things are hidden. He smiled when the door appeared, and he opened it. Hermione gasped when she saw the large room full of stacks and stacks of thousands of lost items and other objects.
"Welcome to the Room of Hidden Things," Harry said, "Basically a very large Lost and Found box, where everything someone has lost and couldn't find was put in here. Tom Riddle found this room and placed Rowena Ravenclaw's Diadem here."
"This place is huge!" Hermione gasped, "It is like a huge maze! How do you know where the diadem is?"
"Was one of the memories I studied in the Pensieve before I traveled back in time," Harry said. "I found this particular room in my sixth year, and I saw the Diadem too. Only didn't know what it was at the time. Come on."
Harry took Hermione's hand, and, using the same tactics he used while perusing the maze during the Third Task, he headed off toward where he knew the Diadem would be. Soon they came upon the bust of the old warlock. There it was, sitting on top of the statue's head.
The Diadem of Rowena Ravenclaw, and one of Voldemort's Horcruxes.
"Accio Mokeskin Pouch!" Harry exclaimed, taking out his wand and pointing it in the air.
"Harry, no!" Hermione gasped.
Harry realized his mistake - and why Hermione had screamed at him - almost immediately as he saw at least a dozen small bags heading in his direction. He immediately put up a shield around him and Hermione, just in time as dozens of small mokeskin bags slammed into the shield and dropped all around them onto the floor. There had to be over thirty bags scattered around them by the time they stopped coming.
Harry dropped the shield around him and Hermione, and winced as he saw the annoyed look on Hermione's face.
"In all the years you must have used the Summoning Charm," Hermione growled, "You never once realized that if you aren't descriptive in your Summons, you might summon more than one object?!"
"Yeah," Harry said, "Sorry, I forgot about that. I was focused more on the Diadem, and didn't think about it."
"Harry James, you big goof!" Hermione said, smiling and shaking her head.
Harry smiled and picked up one of the nearest mokeskin pouches.
"Alright, Hermione," Harry said, "Please stand back. I don't know how the Diadem will react. Last time, I had nothing to do with its destruction. It got burned up when someone set the room on fire with Fiendfyre."
Hermione's eyes widened. "Fiendfyre?! Harry, that's -"
"Very Dark magic," Harry said, ""The worst kind of magical fire there is, and really difficult to extinguish. Yes, I know, Hermione."
Hermioe smiled waspishly. "Of course you know that. Sorry, Harry."
"It is alright," Harry said. "Now, back away a bit."
Hermione nodded and backed away a few feet. Harry cleared his throat and used a simple Levitation Charm to lift up the Diadem. He held the mokeskin pouch wide open and levitated the Diadem slowly into it. He breathed a huge sigh of relief when the Diadem was safely deposited inside the bag, He placed some anti-Curse enchantments around the mokeskin purse so the Diadem inside wouldn't affect him, and he put the bag around his neck.
"Is it… safe?" Hermione asked.
"Those enchantments I used on the pouch ensures it won't be able to affect anything outside the pouch," Harry said. "It is safe inside the pouch, and I can safely wear the pouch around my neck without anyone noticing it. I'll put it in the bottom of my trunk when I get back to my dormitory. Shall we get going?"
"Yeah, sure," Hermione said. "Two Horcruxes down then?"
"Three," Harry said, "Diary and Nagini are both destroyed, and the Diadem will be destroyed soon as well. The rest will be destroyed over the summer."
"And Voldemort will be mortal again," Hermione said.
"And I'll be able to kill him again," Harry said. "You don't need to worry about that."
Hermione nodded and smiled. She held out her hand, and Harry took it. Together the new couple headed out of the Room of Requirement, and back toward Gryffindor Tower.
Chapter finally finished! Sorry about the big delay! When my old computer died, I thought I lost the first nine - yes, nine - pages of this chapter. But I was able to retrieve them recently and finish the chapter. Let's just say that everything before Harry and Hermione speaks to Fred and George was lost until I was able to get it back. So yeah… it was a lot!
I wanted Beauxbatons and Durmstrang leaving to be in this chapter, but that will probably be in the next chapter. I'm still deciding whether or not I'll write any of the trials. We'll see.
Edit: I realized I made a mistake when it came to Bagman's bet, which Harry explains to Fred and George. I changed it to make it a different outcome with the same results.
Chapter 9
The Trial of Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew
Author's Note: Last chapter, I realized I made a mistake when it came to Bagman's bet, which Harry explains to Fred and George. I used the book version, with Cedric taking the cup with Harry, and obviously that didn't happen in this story. I changed it to make it a different outcome with the same results. So if you didn't read the new version of the explanation, be sure to check it out. Sorry for the mistake and confusion.
The first scene takes place very shortly after the last chapter ended. The first few lines in this chapter are for those of you who were upset that Harry and Hermione didn't collect a few more of those mokeskin pouches.
Parts of the trial in this chapter were taken shamelessly from my story "Yule Ball Drama".
Saturday, June 26th, 1995 – Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry - Early Afternoon
"Damn!" Harry suddenly exclaimed, as he and Hermione walked hand-in-hand toward Gryffindor Tower.
"Language, Harry James," Hermione admonished, "What has you so upset all of a sudden?"
"Sorry, I just realized something," Harry muttered, "We could have collected a few more of those mokeskin pouches in the Room of Requirement. They could have been useful for us and our friends."
"Well, you were rather distracted with the Diadem Horcrux, so you weren't really thinking about that, were you?" Hermione replied, "We can always go back and take a few of them later if we think about it. I would like to go through that Room of Hidden Things sometime in the future, though. We might be able to find a lot of useful stuff in there that has been lost over the years, and doesn't belong to anyone anymore. Just think of all the books that must be in there!"
"Well, that is something we can do during fifth year," Harry said, with a smile. "If all goes well with my plans this summer, we shouldn't have to worry about someone like Dumbledore trying to rub his nose into our business starting our fifth year."
"Sounds wonderful to me," Hermione said.
"Sorry for my verbal explosion there," Harry said, "It was just a thought that came to my mind all of a sudden."
"Apology accepted," Hermione said.
"You're going to have to give the Fat Lady the password, Hermione," Harry said, with a lowered voice, as they turned the last corner on the journey to the Gryffindor Tower, "I just realized this is the first time I've been back in Gryffindor Tower in several years, and the passwords weren't exactly something I remembered."
"Can't the Marauder's Map tell you the password?" Hermione asked, slyly.
"It could," Harry said, grinning, "But I am sure you know it, so I don't have to go through all the fuss of figuring it out."
"I do," Hermione said, nodding. "I was just teasing you, Harry. It is fun to know I can still tease you, even when part of you is almost three decades older than me."
Harry scoffed good-naturedly. "Three decades?! I wasn't that old! I really have missed this side of you, Hermione. You were… not the same under the Potions. Neither of us were."
"I understand," Hermione said, smiling softly.
They came upon the portrait of the Fat Lady and Hermione gave the password ("Fidelity!"). The Fat Lady accepted the password with a nod, and her portrait swung open. Harry was relieved to find that the Common Room was completely empty of students, aside from the two of them, when he and Hermione stepped into it. He knew Ron and Ginny were still in the Great Hall, dining on lunch, as were most of the Gryffindor students. He didn't want to be crowded up on, by those wishing to congratulate him personally for winning the Triwizard Tournament.
"I imagine Beauxbatons and Durmstrang won't leave until after dinner," Harry said, "There will probably be a combined Leaving Feast, with Beauxbatons and Durmstrang leaving afterward. So, how about we hang out on the Grounds, at our spot, until dinner, after we're done here? Better to avoid Ron and Ginny that way."
"And maybe we can discuss more about what will happen this summer?" Hermione asked.
"Sure," Harry agreed.
"Sounds good to me then," Hermione said, "I'm going to change my clothes, and I'll meet you back here. Twenty minutes?"
Harry agreed, and smiled when Hermione kissed him on the cheek. He made his way up toward the Fourth Year Boys' Dormitory, which he hadn't been in, in two and a half decades. It still looked - and smelled! - the same as he remembered, and he was able to identify which bed he had slept in solely because he remembered what his trunk looked like.
He walked over to his trunk, knelt down next to it, and proceeded to bury the mokeskin pouch with the Diadem at the bottom of the trunk. After taking a new outfit out of the trunk, he placed some protective enchantments on the trunk, so nobody but him could get inside it. He proceeded to change into his new outfit, which was simple casual wear that would see him comfortable out on the Grounds in the early summer Scottish weather, but was also a nice outfit for the Feast that evening.
He then made his way downstairs, and only had to wait for Hermione for a couple more minutes. She arrived, looking pretty in a nice casual outfit that showed off her curves well.
"Everything is taken care of," Harry said, at Hermione's questioning look.
"Good," Hermione said, "Let's go spend some quality couple time together on the Grounds then."
Harry agreed, and took Hermione's offered hand. Hand-in-hand, the couple headed back out of Gryffindor Tower.
Saturday, June 26th, 1995 – Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry - Early Afternoon
From his usual seat in the Slytherin Table in the Great Hall, Draco Malfoy frowned as he searched the Gryffindor Table for the fifth time in several minutes. Harry Potter and his Mudblood girlfriend, Granger, hadn't shown up to the Great Hall for lunch, just as they had not shown up for breakfast. It wasn't like either of the Gryffindors to not show up for two meals in a row.
He hadn't been able to find Potter and Granger all day, and he had really been wanting to taunt them about Sirius Black's trial, and how the man should be Kissed by a Dementor, whether or not he was proven to be innocent or guilty. If he had it his way, the man would have been Kissed before he even got to the Ministry for his trial.
He had written to his father, demanding for something to be done about Black, so he would become Lord Black just as he'd been promised by his parents for several years now. He had received a response from his father that morning, and he was still reeling from the letter. Instead of his father promising him that something would be done about Sirius Black, his father had told him to grow up and stop demanding things from his parents. His father had told him that he was now fifteen years old - his birthday having taken place during the first week of the month - and he should start acting like it. His father had never talked to him in such a way.
The other odd thing in his father's letter, was that his father had told him that he loved him. He had actually written the words "I love you, son". His father hadn't verbally expressed such a thing in years. It just wasn't something the man did. Draco knew his father loved him, but it was usually represented in unspoken ways.
Draco wondered what was up with his father's behavior, and why he had decided to say something like that, when it was so uncharacteristic of him. It was starting to worry him, and he hoped to find out what was going on with his father, when he reunited with the man the following day.
Draco shook himself of these thoughts. He really wished he could find Potter and his Mudblood girlfriend. A good taunting about what a disgusting couple they made would be a nice distraction from the thoughts going through his head. He could taunt Weasley about Potter and Granger getting together - it was pretty obvious that the ginger idiot wasn't very happy about his two friends becoming a couple - but it just wasn't fun to taunt the idiot when Potter and Granger weren't there to be a part of it.
Where the bloody hell were those two? Probably somewhere snogging or whatever.
Draco pushed his plate away at that thought. The idea of Saint Potter soiling himself further by hooking up with that Mudblood, the thought that they might be well into the Bonding phase of their relationship by the end of the summer, had put him off his appetite.
Saturday, June 26th, 1995 – Ministry of Magic - Late Afternoon
Amelia Bones, Director of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, was sitting at the Chief Interrogator's Table in Wizengamot Chamber 9, in the bottommost level of the Ministry of Magic. Along with Amelia, the Chamber was crowded with Wizengamot members - who were seated in their usual chairs - media representatives and other interested parties, as they waited for Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew to make their way into the Chamber. It would be the third and final trial of what had been a long and interesting afternoon.
Amelia had been Chief Prosecutor in the first two trials of the afternoon, but in this trial, her role was officially Chief Interrogator, because she was only interested in prosecuting Peter Pettigrew. She firmly believed Sirius Black was innocent, and therefore she had no reason to want to be a Prosecutor against him.
The first trial was for Bartemius Crouch, Junior. The trial wasn't exactly a very long procedure. The man had escaped Azkaban - whether involuntarily or not - and had not served his sentence. So he was already guilty for several crimes. The new crimes were escaping Azkaban - of which was a relatively newly developed crime, and had been meant for Sirius Black; the murder of his father, and Ministry Representative, Bartemius Crouch; Senior; kidnapping a former member of the Aurors for several months, and keeping him prisoner, as well as impersonating said man; and also using Unforgivable Curses, among other crimes. He had been found guilty in less than an hour, and had been sentenced to death, via the Veil of Death.
Between the first and second trials, Amelia had gone to the Department of Mysteries - accompanied by Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge, Chief Warlock Albus Dumbledore, Head Auror Rufus Scrimgeour, and a contingency of Aurors and Unspeakables who had been Crouch's escorts - and into the Chamber of Death. She witnessed Bartemius Crouch, Junior as he was pushed through the Veil by two Unspeakables.
She could still remember Albus Dumbledore's words after Crouch, Junior had vanished into the Veil and Death: "And so ends the Most Noble House of Crouch. We will never see its like again." Amelia knew such words were basically a customary thing, and not one of sincerity. Bartemius Crouch, Junior was probably one of the worst members in the family tree of the Noble House of Crouch. While Bartemius Crouch, Senior had some respectable titles and jobs in the Ministry, Amelia knew he wasn't exactly an individual clean of crimes. Taking his son out of Azkaban, and keeping him under an Imperius Curse for several years, was just some of the bad things he had done. And then there was that whole business with Sirius Black being sent to Azkaban without a trial. Bartemius Crouch, Senior's fingerprints were all over that plot, though he wasn't alone in the conspiracy, Amelia knew.
The second trial of the day was Dolores Umbridge. Amelia knew Umbridge was probably guilty of many things, but she was only on trial for a few crimes. Still, they were some very serious crimes. Several hundred counts of endangering a child; two illegal orders of the Dementor's Kiss; and illegal usage of Potions - the Anti-Veritaserum Potion she had taken was a restricted substance.
The trial had taken nearly two hours, and most of it was just pandering and character witnesses chosen by Umbridge's lawyer. Lucius Malfoy was suspiciously absent from the trials, so Amelia couldn't involve him in the trial, even though she knew Malfoy had been involved in the plot that saw the two Dementors at Hogwarts.
Dolores Umbridge was found guilty on all counts, and was sentenced to twenty-five years in Azkaban, mostly for endangering so many children at Hogwarts. Umbridge was back in a Holding Cell in the Ministry at the moment, guarded by four Aurors. She would be escorted to Azkaban - along with, Amelia hoped, Peter Pettigrew - shortly after the third trial of the afternoon, by Head Auror Rufus Scrimgeour and a contingency of Senior Aurors, all of whom were chosen by Amelia and Rufus themselves for the role.
Amelia looked over her shoulder from her seat, as the iron double doors of the Chamber opened. Peter Pettigrew was soon being escorted into the Chamber by four Aurors, including Kingsley Shacklebolt and John Dawlish. Bulbs from the media cameras flashed as pictures were taken of the man who had, until recently, been thought to have died thirteen-and-a-half years ago. Peter Pettigrew wasn't being represented by any lawyer, and Amelia couldn't blame the Defense lawyers for not taking the job. It was plainly obvious that Pettigrew was obviously guilty of something, and the lawyers knew they'd lose the case.
As Pettigrew wasn't being represented by a lawyer, he was forced to sit in a chair in the middle of the empty floor. As soon as Pettigrew sat in the chair, magical chains bound him to the chair. The man was already wearing magical steel cuffs that prevented him from turning into his Rat Animagus.
The same four Aurors turned and left the Chamber, then returned moments later, escorting Sirius Black and his Defense lawyer, Ted Tonks. Once again, camera bulbs popped and flashed, and guests and Wizengamot members alike muttered and whispered to their neighbors as they looked at Sirius. Sirius Black did not look like someone who had been on the run for nearly two years. He was bathed, clean-shaven, had a nice hair-cut, and was wearing wizard's robes that would look good on any respectable Lord.
Amelia knew that Ted and Andromeda Tonks both wanted the message clearly sent that Sirius was 1) a man innocent of the crimes he had been accused of, and 2) Lord Sirius Black of the Ancient and Most Noble House of Black. They wanted the Wizengamot, the media, and the general population to realize that one of the Lords of their society had been wronged for many years.
Unlike Peter Pettigrew, Sirius Black was allowed to sit at a table, with his hands and feet free of bindings. Amelia was rather surprised there were no arguments about Sirius not being bound to a chair, but maybe it was because of how respectable he looked. Or perhaps it was because he had come into the Ministry under his own power, and therefore was of no risk to escape.
In his raised Chief Warlock seat, Albus Dumbledore smacked his gavel moments after Sirius Black and Ted Tonks were seated comfortably in their chairs. The Wizengamot, media and other guests quieted down and Albus rose to his feet.
"Seal the doors!" Albus ordered.
As per usual, a spider-web of crisscrossed enchanted steel chains covered the exits of the Chamber, barring anyone from entering or leaving the Chamber during the proceedings.
"So begins the Criminal Trial on this, the twenty-sixth day of June, in the year nineteen-hundred and ninety-five," Albus said, "The first Accused is Peter Patrick Pettigrew. The Crimes of the first Accused are as stated: Breaching the Statute of Secrecy; Conspiracy to Commit Murder of James and Lily Potter; Two Conspiracies to Commit Attempted Murder and Assault of Harry Potter; Murder of Twelve Muggles; Being an Unregistered Animagus; Assault and Kidnapping of a former Auror, one Alastor Moody; and Kidnapping of a Minor, one Harry Potter.
"The second Accused is identified as Sirius Black, the Lord Apparent of the Ancient and Most Noble House of Black. The Crimes of the second Accused… well, that is another story. It was assumed that Sirius Black was accused of a number of crimes, but recent events have come into light that might tell us that he was never responsible for any of those crimes. Ladies and Gentleman, thirteen-and-a-half years ago, Sirius Black was arrested, and while he was taken to Azkaban, he never had a trial in front of the Wizengamot. This is the first trial he has ever had. Because he was never found guilty of any crimes, his stay in Azkaban is officially considered voluntary. Therefore, he cannot officially be accused of escaping from Azkaban. The reason Sirius Black is on trial today, is so that we can clear up what happened thirteen-and-a-half years ago.
"Representative for the Defense, Ted Tonks. I ask you to be honest with myself and the Wizengamot. Do you believe your client, the Accused Sirius Black, should be on trial for any crimes?"
Ted Tonks stood up. "My client freely admits that he is an unregistered Animagus. He agrees that five of the twelve years he spent in Azkaban were for the crime of being an unregistered Animagus, therefore he believes he was unfairly a prisoner in Azkaban for seven of those twelve years. Escaping Azkaban, while a crime, is a crime my client doesn't believe he should be guilty of, because he should have been released some eight years ago."
"Very well then," Albus said, as Ted Tonks sat back down. "I suppose we will discover if the Accused Sirius Black is guilty of any other crimes before this trial is over.
"Roll call for the Representatives for the Wizengamot. Chief Interrogator: Amelia Susan Bones, Director of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Secondary Interrogators: Chief Warlock Albus Percvial Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, Minister of Magic Cornelius Oswald Fudge, and Rufus Sebastian Scrimgeour, Head of the Auror Department. Court Scribe..."
As Albus listed the other representatives, Amelia mentally prepared herself for what she considered her most important trial ever. Her main objective at the end of the trial was to see Sirius Black become a free man.
"Law Officer Tonks, your opening statement, please," Albus said, after he finished the roll call.
Ted stood up and cleared his throat. "Chief Warlock Dumbledore. Minister of Magic Fudge. Lords and Ladies of the Wizengamot. Media representatives. My client, Sirius Orion Black, should not be here. This trial should have taken place thirteen years ago. Sirius Black should have never spent twelve years in Azkaban. Just like we will prove today, it would have been proven thirteen years ago that Sirius Black is, indeed, innocent of all charges he is facing.
"My client spent twelve years suffering the horrors of Azkaban due to negligence and misrepresentation of justice, five for the guilt of being an unregistered Animagus, and seven years which he did not deserve. He has suffered greatly for his time in Azkaban, due to Dementor Exposure. If – when – he gains his freedom today, it will go a long way to make sure my client can heal – if not completely – from the injustice he has had to suffer.
"When this trial is done and over, it will be clear exactly what happened in the events surrounding that tragic Halloween in 1981. It is appropriate that the Chief Warlock and the Wizengamot seem to be confused about what crimes my client is accused of. Those original crimes he was thought to be accused of should have been given to another man, and today they have been given to the one responsible for those crimes: Peter Pettigrew. Peter Pettigrew being here, alive and well, should tell everyone here that my client has been wrongly accused of the crimes that sent him to Azkaban unjustly, and without a trial.
My client is an innocent man. He was guilty of only one crime, and he did his time for that crime. My client is an innocent man now, and I hope that he will be welcomed back into the society which has cursed his name for the past thirteen years, and has kept him from having the life he deserves with those he loves."
Amelia smiled as Sirius looked her way, after Ted said the last line. Ted sat back down in his chair, singling that he was finished. Now it was Amelia's turn.
"Thank you, Law Officer Tonks," Albus said, "Chief Interrogator Bones, if you are ready, you may begin.
Amelia nodded once, and stood up. She walked over to the clear space on the floor a few feet to the left of the chained Peter Pettigrew.
"Chief Warlock, Minister Fudge, Lords and Ladies of the Wizengamot, media representatives and concerned citizens," Amelia said, "For thirteen years, the magical society of Great Britain - and much of the magical world - believed they knew the story that happened when it came to the events on that fateful Halloween in 1981. It was believed that Sirius Black was guilty of a sinister betrayal, and had a part in the tragic events that took place that evening and the hours that followed. It was believed that Sirius Black was the Secret Keeper for James, Lily and Harry Potter. It was believed that he had betrayed the Potters to He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, which allowed the Dark Wizard to attack the Potters, and murder James and Lily Potter. It was believed that Sirius Black then murdered Peter Pettigrew and twelve Muggles with one curse."
Amelia walked over toward Peter Pettigrew, and stood five feet from his chair, and looked down at the pitiful, shaking man.
"The proof that the story that everyone believed might have happened differently sits chained up in front of me. Peter Pettigrew is alive and well. He is not dead, as he made everyone believe for thirteen and a half years.
"Two evenings ago, during the Third Task of the Triwizard Tournament, Harry James Potter took the Triwizard Cup in the center of the Maze, and disappeared from the Grounds of Hogwarts for a few minutes. When he returned, he was not alone. He brought back Peter Pettigrew with him, having just dueled the man, overpowering him and cutting off his hand with a Cutting Curse."
Amelia knew that part was untrue, but she knew this was the story she had to go along with, so that the truth of what really happened two nights ago wouldn't come to light. Amelia glanced up at Albus, who was smiling down at her in approval of her tale.
"Peter Pettigrew's appearance in front of the maze shocked everyone who witnessed the event," Amelia continued. "Peter Pettigrew was not dead, a corpse for thirteen and a half years. No… he was alive and well! He had just taken part in kidnapping and attempting to assault and murder Harry James Potter. So if he was guilty of that crime, I wondered what else he was guilty of. I began to wonder how Pettigrew was alive, and what truly happened thirteen-and-a-half years ago on that Halloween. So I placed Pettigrew under arrest. I discovered - thanks to Harry Potter - that Peter Pettigrew is an unregistered Animagus, taking the form of a common garden rat. Ever since that revelation, Pettigrew has been cuffed with Anti-Transformation Cuffs, so that he would not escape custody. Shortly after his arrest, I interrogated Pettigrew, and finally learned what truly happened on that Halloween night, and the hours after, in 1981.
"Chief Warlock, Minister Fudge, Lords and Ladies of the Wizengamot, Sirius Black is not responsible for the terrible and tragic events in 1981. Peter Pettigrew was the Secret Keeper for James, Lily and Harry Potter. Peter Pettigrew told He Who Must Not Be Named the Secret that led the Dark Wizard to the Potter's door in Godric Hollow. Peter Pettigrew is responsible for the murders of twelve Muggles and framing Sirius Black of the crimes."
Amelia turned away from Pettigrew and walked over to Sirius Black and Ted Tonks.
"But I won't force you to listen to the deceitful tongue of Peter Pettigrew," Amelia continued, "I believe that Sirius Black should tell us what happened to him back in 1981, so that we can all finally know his story.
"Sirius Black, will you tell the Court your story?"
"I will, Director Bones," Sirius said, with a smile. "In the days and weeks before that Halloween in 1981, I visited the Potters several times. I was witness to Peter Pettigrew becoming Secret Keeper. It was, after all, me who had suggested to James and Lily Potter that Pettigrew become their Secret Keeper. In turn, I would make it known in the public eye that I was the Secret Keeper, so that nobody would suspect that it was actually Pettigrew. I thought it would be an extra step in the protection of the Potters. Anyway, during one of my visits to the Potters, I placed an Alarm Charm rune on the doormat on the front step of their house. This was so I could know if something bad happened at the house.
"My Alarm Rune that was keyed to the Rune under James and Lily's doormat suddenly started going berserk. I realized something was very off at James and Lily's House. I tried to Apparate, but I couldn't. I couldn't even Apparate from my flat. So I had to use my motorcycle. It has a flying enchantment on it, and an invisibility enchantment, so no Muggles could see me. I flew to Godric's Hollow and landed in front of James and Lily's cottage. The whole time I knew I would be too late.
"And I was. When I arrived, I came to an odd scene. Rubeus Hagrid, Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts, walked out of the house, holding little Harry in his arms, tears rolling down his cheeks. Little Harry was fussy and crying too. I asked Hagrid where James and Lily were. He told me they were dead. That was when I saw the hole above where I knew Harry's nursery was at. Smoke was billowing out of the roof. I ran inside yelling for James and Lily. I nearly collapsed when I saw James… dead… dead on the floor at the bottom of the stairs. I yelled for Lily and ran up toward Harry's nursery. She was there on the floor, dead. There was some type of ash on the ground. It definitely wasn't dust, or the debris of the ceiling. I could tell it was ash of some type. It was in front of Harry's crib.
"I made my way back out of the house and told Hagrid to give me Harry. I told him I was his godfather, and he was now my responsibility. Hagrid refused. He outright refused to give me my godson. He said Albus Dumbledore ordered him to bring Harry to him. I… I don't know why I agreed to that. But I did. I even gave Hagrid permission to use my motorcycle. As soon as Hagrid and little Harry vanished into the sky, I… I went mad with grief and rage.
"I knew at that moment that Peter Pettigrew was a traitor. I knew he had betrayed by best friends. I wanted to find him."
"Did you want to kill him?" Rufus Scrimgeour, one of the secondary Interrogators, asked.
"No!" Sirius insisted, "I wanted to bring him in! I wanted to contact Amy – Director Bones. She was an Auror at the time. She would be able to bring him in. But I wanted to be the one to find him. So I apparated to the road where I knew his flat was. I made the next of several mistakes. I screamed his name, calling for him. My voice echoed around the neighborhood. Muggles started coming out of their houses, wondering what the commotion was. If I hadn't screamed for him… those Muggles might be alive today.
"All of a sudden Pettigrew came walking down the road toward me. Then he started screaming at me.
"'James and Lily are dead, Sirius Black!' he screamed. "You betrayed them! How could you do it?!"
Sirius paused in his story, and glared over at Peter Pettigrew, who had been looking down at his lap throughout much of the trial.
"It was then I realized – he was framing me," Sirius continued, "How could Peter Pettigrew pull a prank… on me? Then I watched in horror as he sliced off a finger on his hand, with his wand, then pointed his wand at the road between us. Next thing I knew there was a loud explosion, the Muggles were screaming and the road had blown up. Debris was flying everywhere. But I was focused on searching for Pettigrew. That was when I saw him. He transformed into his Rat Animagus and scurried down into the sewer like a coward. I looked around at the scene. Muggles dead or dying. Other Muggles crying for their loved ones. Then cracks of Apparation from Aurors and others.
"That was when I started laughing, I think. Laughing because Peter Pettigrew framed me. He pranked me. The biggest prank he had ever done. Not just to me… but to the world."
"Thank you, Sirius, for that story," Amelia said.
"I've been wanting to tell my story for thirteen-and-a-half years," Sirius said, "I am glad, and relieved, that I can finally tell everyone what happened. Something I should have been able to do thirteen years ago."
"Yes," Amelia said, "You should have. Do any of the Secondary Interrogators have any questions?"
"No," Rufus Scrimgeour said, "But I do believe I need to apologize to Sirius Black for my part in what happened in the hours after his arrest. I was a Senior Auror at the time, and I realize now that a lot of things went wrong back then. Had I been responsible for taking part in the investigation, I might have realized some things were off about the entire thing. It was reported that all that was left of Pettigrew was his finger. Well, now I can see that this doesn't make sense if the man had truly been killed by an explosion. Brain matter, blood, other body parts, and other things would have been found of Pettigrew. The Aurors certainly had found much of this of the Muggles on the scene. Now it does seem rather obvious that Pettigrew had sliced his own finger off.
"So, Sirius Black, as Head Auror I wish to apologize for my Department's shoddy representation back then when it came to the scene of the crime. I had assumed that, once I heard you were in Azkaban, enough evidence had been discovered and found to prove your guilt. I had not know you weren't even given a trial."
Sirius didn't say anything in response to Scrimgeour. Amelia didn't blame him. She, too, felt the same guilt Scrimgeour did. She had been forbidden to get involved Sirius' case, because of how close she was to him. But even then, she should have figured it out over the years. She hadn't even looked back at Sirius' case once in the past thirteen years.
"Peter Pettigrew," Albus said, in the silence of Sirius' refusal to respond to Scrimgeour, "Sirius Black has given us a very nice tale of the events that took place back in 1981. Yet I have noticed you haven't spoken a word since you entered the room. Do you have anything to say in your defense?"
Amelia glanced at Pettigrew, and so did everyone else in the room. But Pettigrew didn't say anything. Amelia wondered if the Confundus Charms that had been placed on the man had anything to do with it. But the Confundus Charms only prevented Pettigrew from mentioning Voldemort's return or what really happened two nights ago. It didn't prevent him from saying anything about the crimes he was accused of.
After a full minute, Dumbledore sighed and shook his head. "Well, it appears the Accused, Peter Pettigrew, has nothing to say in his defense. Are there any more questions from the Interrogators?"
Amelia, Fudge and Scrimgeour shook their heads. Amelia debated bringing up questions about Albus Dumbledore's part in the entire thing. Like why he had sent Rubeus Hagrid to Godric's Hollow that Halloween night in 1981. But she didn't want to bring her accusations to voice yet. She had theories that Albus was involved a lot more than he had admitted when it came to Sirius Black's imprisonment. She just needed to find more proof. She wouldn't get that proof today though, she knew.
"So be it," Albus said. "It appears this will be the shortest trial of the afternoon. Chief Interrogator Bones, you are finished with your duty, you may be seated in your chair on the Council."
Amelia bowed and made her way to the Bones chair amongst the Great Alliance, sitting beside Augusta Longbottom.
"Lords and Ladies of the Wizengamot," Fudge continued, "You have ten minutes to make your decision and go over the evidence and statements that has been given today. We will reconvene in ten minutes."
Albus slapped his gavel on the surface in front of him, then relaxed back in his chair, signaling the beginning of the recess.
"No offense, Amelia," Augusta Longbottom said, "But I thought this trial would be the most exciting of the three this afternoon. That was downright anticlimactic."
"No offense taken, Augusta," Amelia said, with a smile. "I agree with you. I expected Pettigrew to cause more of a fuss. But since he did not, and since Black told a convincing story, I suppose Albus decided the Wizengamot had heard enough. Pettigrew's crimes, those that he committed in 1981, are enough for him to be given a life sentence. So we really didn't need to go through the most recent crimes - kidnapping Harry Potter and such. Especially since Potter got the upper hand of that event."
"Yes," Augusta said, "The Potter boy must have been very courageous that evening. It seems he has some skill when it comes to dueling magic, if he could take on a Dark wizard like that Pettigrew fellow and win.
"It seems he does," Amelia agreed.
"So, Amelia," Augusta said, "Enough of the dreary happenings in this even drearier room. Let's move on to happier things. I seem to remember you and Sirius Black were quite close before that tragic Halloween. My son and his wife talked about it all the time. They always wondered when you and Sirius would get married and have some babies of your own."
"You old gossip, Augusta!" Amelia said, smiling, "What are you asking? What do you wish to know to tell your knitting club for the next meeting?"
Augusta huffed playfully, then smiled. "If – sorry, when – Sirius regains his freedom. Can we expect wedding bells and baby showers in your future?"
Amelia blushed. "We'll see."
"Oh, Amelia," Augusta said, smiling, "You know if he asked you to marry him, the moment Albus says he's a free man, you'd say 'about time!'"
Amelia's blush went deeper. "I need to talk to Sirius about that kind of stuff before we do anything."
"Oh, tosh!" Augusta said, waving a dismissive hand away. "I look forward to hearing about a wedding this summer between you and Sirius. Do make sure Neville and I are invited, won't you?"
"You have always been a faithful part of the Great Alliance, Augusta," Amelia said, "even when it seemed as if it was dead and gone. And you have always been a faithful Ally and friend of mine. I wouldn't dream of not inviting you to my wedding."
"Very good, dear," Augusta said, patting a gentle hand on Amelia's knee.
A few minutes later, Albus smacked his gavel three times.
"Lords and Ladies of the Wizengamot," he said, "It is time to make a couple of decisions. Raise your wand if you believe Peter Pettigrew is guilty of the charges put forth in front of him today."
Amelia raised her wand, and so did a very large majority of the Wizengamot representatives. After the wands were counted, Albus asked for those who voted for Peter to be cleared of the charges. Very few wands raised, and most were in the Dark Alliance.
"Peter Patrick Pettigrew," Albus said, "You have been found guilty of all charges. A sentence has already been decided upon, and you, Peter Pettigrew, are sentenced to spend the rest of your life in the maximum security section of Azkaban prison."
Pettigrew finally reacted and started breaking down and wailing in his chair. Albus and the rest of the Wizengamot ignored him, though the media camera took a few more pictures of the pitiful scene in front of them.
"Lords and Ladies of the Wizengamot," Albus said. "Raise your hand if you believe Sirius Black should be cleared of all charges. Please remember that Sirius Black has already spent the required years in Azkaban, or not registering his Animagus."
Amelia immediately raised her hand as did most of the Light Alliance around her, including all of the Great Alliance. Most of the Neutral Alliance raised their hands, and so did a few of the Dark Alliance, surprisingly. Cornelius Fudge raised his hand, and Albus did as well, though Amelia - who was watching him - noticed he had waited until he saw the good majority had done the same.
"Raise your hand if you believe Sirius Black is guilty of any or all charges," Albus ordered.
Much of the Dark Alliance raised their hands, but they were the only ones.
"By an obvious majority," Albus said, "Lord Sirius Orion Black, Head of the Ancient and Most Noble House of Black, is cleared of all charges!"
Amelia stood up immediately and applauded, as did most of the Wizengamot, and several people on the floor. Sirius hugged Ted quickly, then turned and hugged Andromeda Tonks, then Remus Lupin - who had been sitting next to Andromeda - the longest. Remus was obviously emotional as he hugged his friend.
"Lord Black!" Fudge said, standing up and making himself heard.
The room silenced as Sirius turned to Fudge.
"As Minister of Magic," Fudge said, "I believe I speak for the majority of the Wizengamot, the Ministry, and our society in whole, when I say I deeply apologize for the pain and suffering you had to endure because of the clear miscarriage of justice. This will never happen again. 800,000 Galleons will be placed in a Vault of your Choice – 100,000 Galleons for every year you have suffered under this miscarriage of justice. I know it can never be enough to make you completely forgive the Ministry of Magic. But I hope it will be enough to help you move on."
"Thank you, Minister Fudge," Sirius said, "Thank you for giving me what your previous administration did not."
Fudge looked relieved as he smiled and started a round of applause. Amelia rolled her eyes, knowing Fudge was applauding the fact that Sirius was basically not putting any blame on him.
"Go see him, Amelia," Augusta said. "Go see your man."
Amelia smiled and didn't need to be told twice. She hurried down the steps and made her way over to Sirius. He stared at her for a moment, then a smile crossed his face. Amelia caught a sob in her throat, then lunged forward, wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him square on the mouth. Sirius kissed her back as camera flashes erupted around them.
Amelia did not care. She was finally able to be with the man she loved again. And she would never let him get away from her again.
Yes, I finished the trial in the same way I finished the chapter in "Yule Ball Drama", but I figured it should be the same type of scenario. I know, I probably could have done a lot more in the trial scene. But I just couldn't figure out more to do. I knew I wanted Pettigrew to be utterly silent throughout the trial, and that Sirius would obviously be cleared of charges. I've just written so many versions of this trial that it gets tiring to do.
Draco's scene in this chapter was written for one reason. It sort of foreshadows a scene I'm going to be writing in a couple of chapters or so concerning the Malfoys.
Next Chapter: Sirius and Amelia have a discussion, and at Hogwarts, there is a Leaving Feast where Dumbledore announces the results of Sirius Black's trial to the students, and it is time to say goodbye to Beauxbatons and Durmstrang.