HPWW51-60

Chapter 051

"But, why?" she plaintively asked. "If Dumbledore's been Obliviating her left, right and centre she's really

not at fault for any of it."

"According to Madam Bones her mind's been too badly compromised," he replied. "Plus, she also apparently asked to be allowed to retire and move to one of the colonies. She's utterly mortified Dumbledore was able to do to her what he did. It seems she's lost complete faith and confidence in herself."

Hermione sighed and nodded. "That makes sense, I guess."

"Of course, there's also Sirius's trial to slot in there somewhere," he continued, returning to the letter. "She has a Senior Auror by the name of Shacklebolt and an Auror Second Class by the name of Nymphadora Tonks on the case of finding him. She's also asked if we have some way of finding him."

Confused, he looked at her and asked, "Haven't these people got a lick of sense? Just send him a bloody

owl! How do they think I get in contact with him?"

Harry heard the auror standing closest behind him suddenly groan in dismay.

When both teens turned to look at him he was staring back at Harry and shaking his head in exasperation. Without a word he then cast an almost silent Patronus and said to it, "Madam Bones, Potter suggests sending an owl to Black."

The Patronus, a small bear, then galloped out through the wall, heading south.

Harry just snorted in amusement and said, "Really? Is everyone in magical Britain that daft?

"Won't he have up owl redirection wards?" asked Hermione.

"Any and all wards, including an owl redirection ward, can only be set up on a place - a fixed position," he

replied. "As Sirius is on the move, he will have no such ward set where he is; unless, of course, he's passing through one at the time."

Turning to the auror again, he asked, "You realise that, since you can cast a corporeal messenger Patronus, you could also send him one of those, right?"

The look of pain on the auror's face was, in Harry's book, 'priceless'.

Not waiting for a reply, Harry turned back around, Hermione was only a fraction of a second behind him.

"That's daft," she muttered.

That's when Harry caught out of the corner of his eye a second corporeal Patronus gallop out through the wall.

"They're also forgetting they could use a house elf to take a message to Sirius, as well," he snarked loudly

enough for the auror to hear him.

"Oh, for Merlin's sake!" the auror exclaimed.

Neither teen bothered to look, they just smiled at each other.

That had a third messenger Patronus sent.

Realising she had another issue to raise, Hermione asked Harry, "Any word on when classes are going to start again?"

Surprised at the question, though he knew he really shouldn't be based on the girl's personality, he replied, "Well, a lot of it depends on which staff members find themselves cleared of the charges; somewhat cleared of the charges, but ordered to give up their teaching positions; flat-out dismissed by the School Board anyway or even incarcerated. Only the first of those will see them returned to teach. Based on that I cannot see more than one or two, if they're

lucky, returning to be professors.

"For the rest, they'll need to source and contract replacements. According to this, Madam Marchbanks of the WEA - that's the Wizarding Examinations Authority within the Ministry - has been tasked with immediately finding replacements for all the positions, just in case. She's now working with the School Board to recruit those replacements.

"Well, if she's not now, she will be starting as of Monday."

"That could take months," she whined.

"It could," he shrugged. "But that's only to have all the positions filled. They may choose to recommence classes if they have... say... all bar two positions filled. We don't know.

"Actually, I wouldn't mind having someone like Madam Marchbanks come and teach here for a while,"

he added. "I dare say she has a great deal of knowledge she could share with us. She's one of the very few people I know of who's actually older than Dumbledore.

"Plus, she apparently thinks rather poorly of our so- called esteemed Headmaster. That puts her as someone I believe I can like, right there."

_ ̳_ ―==(oIo)==― ˇ

Having just arrived and now sitting in her office, even if it was a Saturday, this time more closely reading Lord Potter and Miss Granger's official statements and taking notes, the Patronus of a small sun bear leapt into her room through the wall.

It spoke with the almost ethereal voice of one of her aurors; one she knew to be currently stationed as one of Potter's bodyguards, "Madam Bones, Potter

suggests sending an owl to Black." Before it faded away.

Giving her own groan of exasperation, the Director of the DMLE set aside the statements she was reading and notes she was taking and practically face-palmed herself before she pulled a sheet of parchment before her, together with quill and ink, and set to writing.

A few seconds later, a second sun bear Patronus entered the room from the direction of the first.

"From Potter again, a messenger Patronus should also reach him."

That time she definitely face-palmed herself and groaned. "Damn. Bugger. Shit. Damn!" she vehemently muttered.

It took her a good ten to fifteen seconds before she could return to her writing.

Then the third Patronus entered.

"Potter also just suggested using a house elf to take Black a message."

"Oh, for Merlin's sake!" she more vehemently sighed, unknowingly echoing her auror's own remark. "This is getting ridiculous!"

Once she'd finished writing she pushed the rune stone button on her desk that would summon her personal aide to her.

When the young woman entered Bones said, "If they're in, please send in Shacklebolt and young Tonks."

The aide softly said, "Yes, Ma'am." And walked out, closing the door behind herself again.

Two minutes later, there was a double knock of knuckles on her door before the door opened and

both aurors walked in.

"Yes, Ma'am?" asked Shacklebolt in his deep baritone. As senior auror of the two, he spoke first.

"Have either of you thought to send Black an owl asking him to come in?" she asked.

The look of surprise on both faces before they sheepishly glanced at one another gave her the answer. "No, Ma'am," they both replied.

Looking sternly at both, trying to wilt them with her eyes, she then asked, "Do either of you know how to send a messenger Patronus?"

"Errr... yes, Ma'am," replied Shacklebolt as Tonks silently shook her head.

She then waited to see if it would twig to them what she was getting at.

The looks from both of sheepish confusion told her they didn't.

"If you can cast a messenger Patronus, have you thought of sending Black one of those?" she sarcastically asked.

That was the first time she'd ever seen a black man blush in embarrassment.

She knew she shouldn't be hard on them. After all, even she hadn't thought of that communication option. She was just dirty on herself for not thinking of it; and having a fourteen year old school kid, who wasn't even in his OWL year yet, reminding her of it.

"On top of that," she snapped, "What about giving a note to a house elf and having the house elf deliver it?"

Again, both aurors blushed back.

With a sigh, she handed the sheet with the letter she wrote to Black to Shacklebolt and said, "Send this to him using an International owl. The man might not even be in the country, at the moment.

"Then, once you've done that, send him a messenger Patronus and a house elf with a written message."

"Errr... yes, Ma'am," he quietly replied. And both exited again.

She muttered to herself, "We're looking like complete idiots before this young man. And it's our own bloody fault."

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Chapter 052

That morning's Weekend Daily Prophet was again filled with the happenings regarding what Harry had caused to make known; just as it had been for the past few days. However, little of it was of any real substance.

Information contained in the newspaper alluded to a lot, but it was practically all 'hearsay'. And it was also clear the reporters writing the stories were getting quite frustrated with how well Madam Bones was making sure the information leaks were being kept to as small a minimum as she could manage. They were attacking her for it.

As such many of the student body were trying to figure out ways to approach Harry to get information. And he was quite thankful the aurors stationed in the castle, especially the two he always seemed to have specifically guarding him, were keeping those approaches to a tiny fraction of what he could have expected.

Now the students were getting sneaky in their approaches.

As the two teens were slowly heading back to Gryffindor Tower tailed by Harry's two bodyguard aurors, they'd just walked out of the Great Hall when one of the Slytherins in the year above them, Scarlett Lympsham, approached and offered to teach him about what it meant to be a Lord of a Noble and Most Ancient House. In return, all she asked for was, 'the occasional titbit of information he'd be willing to share to someone who was going out of her way to help him'.

The female auror shadowing him at that moment gave a firm clear of her throat and frowned at the girl. Lympsham immediately backed off and said, "I only meant information otherwise available to the public, of course."

Before the auror could scoff back, Harry said, "Heiress Lympsham, I thank you for your offer. And I

may take you up on it once the current... unpleasantness... is suitably dealt with. However, for now, I must decline. Please pass on my respects to your grandfather, Lord Lympsham, when next you have opportunity to communicate with him."

With the bare twitch of her left eye showing she was surprised by his response and his intuitiveness in 'suggesting' it was her grandfather who pushed her to approach him, she replied, "Of course, Lord Potter. I shall do so and look forward to the time when I may assist." Then she gave a slight curtsey before heading off again.

However, while her tone and expression was pleasant, Harry knew she was somewhat miffed he'd so handily discounted her; or that he'd immediately guessed it was her grandfather and Lord of her House who encouraged her to approach him. After all, she'd appeared to have gone to some effort to make herself visually appealing to get her way. For the first time he'd seen her since they first bumped into each other

a few days after he first entered the school - and she'd sneered at him, looking down on him as if he was beneath even her contempt - she was not wearing a buttoned up blouse with a school tie. Instead, she was wearing 'civilian-wear' with a blouse that had a neckline low enough he could see down to between her bra-encased breasts, together with a loosely- pleated skirt that ended above the knee. As she spun away to leave he saw how it flared out, displaying her legs quite nicely.

Hermione, who was with him at the time, softly exclaimed, "Well! I... never!"

He turned to her with amusement on his face and twinkling eyes. "The single ladies of the castle have now had it pretty much driven home to them that the Harry Potter they thought they knew was only a mask. And that the real Harrison Potter is a Lord of a Noble and Most Ancient House, single and... I hope... quite attractive."

"Quite attractive, are you?" she scoffed.

Harry laughed, reached out, grabbed her and dragged her in close to lay a big hug on her.

After an initial exclamation of shock at being suddenly grabbed and hugged, Hermione was a few seconds before she relaxed into it.

It was a long few seconds more before she declared, with a voice muffled by his robes, "It's going to take me a little while to get used to you actually being more the touchy-feely type than I thought you were. Well, not touchy-feely; more... willing to initiate physical contact with someone else."

Still grinning, he turned his head a little and kissed her on her forehead. "Hermione Granger; my slave in the chariot."

She gave a snort of amusement before pulling away again. "I guess I shouldn't be surprised you know that

reference and what it means."

As they continued to walk, heading up the stairs, he said, "I'm not surprised it was a Slytherin who was the first to approach that way; or that it was an Heiress of a Noble-ranked House. Once the rest of this lot get their minds around just what type of person Harrison James Potter truly is, that's going to happen more and more often."

"What do you mean?" she asked, curious.

"I'm the Head of a Noble and Most Ancient House," he shrugged. "That puts me at the top of supposed wizarding society here in Britain. In a way, you can class me as someone around the level of Marquess in the muggle world. Next are the Noble and Ancient Houses - Earls, Noble and Elder Houses - Viscounts, non-noble Ancient Houses - Barons and non-noble Elder Houses - Baronets. After that you have the 'higgledy-piggledy' of other Houses, who've earned a Life peerage on the Wizengamot - Esquires. The

Magical House of Malfoy wants to be one of those, but is really not."

Hermione had stopped without a word to say she was going to and Harry had walked on a bit before he realised she was no longer beside him. He turned back, curious as to why she'd stopped. She was looking at him in stunned shock.

"Hermione?" he asked.

"You're... you're... a Marquess?!" she stuttered out, that last bit in a high-pitched squeak.

"No," he immediately replied, gesturing her forward again. "Actually, a better representation would be 'Marcher Lord' since Marquis is really the French equivalent. While Marcher Lords no longer exist in the muggle world, the wizarding world had already separated from their muggle cousins by then and the Potter holdings are mainly located in the south of Wales."

"Plus, as I said, I really only called them that so you had some idea as to the ranking system of the Houses in wizarding Britain. I could, of course, have used military ranks, but the Houses are more about hereditary peerages than military ranks. The major difference between Wizarding Britain and the United Kingdom is we do not have a monarch. Well, not one that's recognised, at any rate."

Frowning she asked, "What do you mean by that?"

"I, for one, happen to believe Her Majesty, Elizabeth the Second, is our liege monarch whether in muggle or wizarding Britain or not," he shrugged with a small smile. "But, that just might be me coloured by my muggle upbringing."

"It probably is," she quietly sighed.

_ ̳_ ―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

Sirius had actually arrived back in wizarding Britain late on the evening of the 23rd of November. As soon as he'd learned from Harry his name had come out of the Goblet of Fire, he immediately made the decision to leave the unplottable Black 'holiday' island in the southern part of the North Atlantic near the Azores and made all haste back.

He knew, though, that Harry didn't know that.

He'd also tried to get in to watch the first task, but the security was so tight he knew he'd be caught for sure if he made the attempt.

Instead, he'd headed back to 'his' cave out the back of Hogsmeade and used the last couple of days since then to gather intelligence. Almost immediately after the first task he'd learned from the Daily Prophet just what had gone on. It was all over the front page... and the second... and the third! Actually, it was all over the

front page for the next few days.

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Chapter 053

From that he'd also learned that Harry had reported that he, Sirius, was innocent; and that both the Minister and the Chief Warlock had received irrefutable evidence of such and not acted as they should have done. The paper also covered the arrests of Fudge, Umbridge, Dumbledore, McGonagall, Snape, Sprout, Hagrid, Pomfrey, Barty Crouch Senior, Molly Weasley and Lucius Malfoy. To add insult to injury, it also reported that the person who posed as that year's DADA Professor, Alastor Moody, was actually a supposedly dead Death Eater, Bartemius Crouch Junior. He too was also arrested at that time.

'Twelve people arrested!' he thought. 'Of them, the Head of the Wizengamot and Headmaster of their premier school, the Head of the Ministry and his Senior Undersecretary were included!'

"And this was all because of Harry?" he muttered.

He'd been living in the now 'refurbished' cave for just over a week, still collecting intelligence, when the Patronus form of a lynx cat appeared out of nowhere and leapt into the mouth of the cave.

It so badly startled the crap out of him he had his ill- gotten wand raised and pointing back at the Patronus before he even realised he had reacted. However, his hand shook so badly it would be pure luck if he'd actually managed to get a spell off, let alone hit anything.

While he was trying to get his hammering heart and shakes back under control the lynx spoke in a deep man's voice.

"Black. Auror Shacklebolt. We know for a fact you are innocent. We need you to turn yourself in so we can give you the trial you should have had and clear your name."

As the first one faded away a second one jumped in of the same Patronus form. And the voice continued.

"I swear on my magic, if you turn up at the Three Broomsticks at noon on any day I will ensure your safe transport to the Ministry to await trial. Leave a white rose on a table and I'll know you accept."

As he took time to calm down again, even choosing to chug one of his on-hand calming potions to quickly achieve it, he began to calculate the risks involved and how to minimise them.

It took him hours to think about it - he really had nothing better to do at the moment - while he thought it through.

And that's when the Ministry owl glided in and alighted on the ground in front of him.

After a puzzled frown he checked to ensure there were no illicit, or otherwise unwanted, charms on either the bird or its letter before he then used a charm to drop the letter away from the owl.

As soon as the owl was free of its load, it moved to perch on a rock nearby.

Again frowning, he cast more detection charms over the letter and only found the one - a standard mail package shrinking charm. He quickly had that cancelled and the letter unshrunk. There were no other charms.

Carefully opening the letter he realised it also contained a blank sheet of parchment and a self- inking quill. Both had been wrapped inside the letter.

Setting them aside he began to read... ~# ~

Lord Sirius Orion Black III

of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black Lord of the House of Black

Lord Black,

I, Amelia Susan Bones, swear on my magic I mean you no harm. I further swear I am ready to give you that trial you were denied and, if you hand yourself over to one of my aurors, they are under orders not to harm you and to bring you before me with all alacrity. As I write, so I swear, so must it be.

I have tasked two aurors specifically with finding you and bringing you in unharmed. One is Senior Auror Kingsley Shacklebolt; and the other is your cousin, Auror Second Class Nymphadora Tonks.

If you find them before they find you, I beg of you, hand yourself in!

We know you're innocent of the crimes for which you were unlawfully tossed into Azkaban, Lord Black. Together, we will right this wrong.

If you would prefer we come to you at a place of your choosing, please use the attached quill and parchment to write me and let me know. The owl has been ordered to remain to allow you to mail back. Otherwise, please simply order it to return to the Ministry.

Sincerely Yours, .

Madam Director Amelia Bones

of the Noble and Ancient House of Bones Director of the DMLE

Regent of the House of Bones

~# ~

Shocked yet again, Sirius simply sat there unsure of what to do. Did he go ahead with the 'white rose' concept? Or, did he write to her and have her or someone else meet him at a place of his own choosing, as she suggested?

He also found himself completely believing what he'd been sent. He already knew Ami Bones was a witch of her word and had no doubt she'd do her best to keep him safe and see to him getting the trial he needed.

The question was: Was her best going to be good enough to keep him alive? He knew there were forces out there that would like nothing better than for him to reach a state of 'dead' before he even had a chance to walk into that courtroom.

He was certain Malfoy would be one of them. And had the financial capital and incentive to organise it.

What to do? This bore some deep thinking. Plus, knowing the trials of Fudge and Umbridge, at least, were starting the next morning, he knew he'd need to do what he was going to do pretty quick. Or, he'd have to wait until after the trials and move then.

But, if he did turn himself in either that afternoon or the next morning, would they be able to fit his trial in before or during the trials of those already organised, anyway?

He spent quite the few hours more thinking on it. And, suddenly, he had an idea. As far as he was concerned, his idea was both brilliant and worthy of being titled one of the most brilliant and daring pranks of all time.

It would definitely be one for his memoirs, if he every got a chance to write one.

_ ̳_ ―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

At Riddle Manor 'Babymort, the homunculus' was having another tantrum, though mainly in his head.

There was a great deal going on in the wizard world at that moment and he was effectively out of the information loop. The only information he was receiving was via the Daily Prophet and Pettigrew. And, as far as he was concerned, neither was a reliable source of information.

He already knew that one of the two of his minions currently aware of his existence and location was once more behind the walls of Azkaban. The other, Pettigrew, was a poor choice of servant. His only redeeming quality was his animagus ability and form. That he was a common brown rat allowed him to infiltrate places very few could hope to enter. However, besides his animagus ability and loyalty to him, he had very few redeeming qualities. And being a representative of his powerful self wasn't one of them.

"Wormtail!" he called.

When Pettigrew scurried in, he tentatively asked, "Yes, Master?"

"My potion!" snapped Riddle. "And be quick about it!"

Oh, how he wanted to cast the Cruciatus curse on the fat little sniveller. But, he couldn't. He needed Pettigrew to have a steady hand while making him his potions. And the Cruciatus curse would rob the man of that.

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Chapter 054

The next morning, right on 8.00am, a rather nondescript man walked into the offices of the Auror

department at the Ministry of Magic carrying a small bouquet of white roses and a wide smile on his face.

He approached the counter and immediately rang the little bell placed there for someone who wanted to make either a complaint or an enquiry.

Though it was a Sunday and most of the aurors were off for the day, he was approached from the other side of the counter by a young wizard auror.

"Yes?" asked the auror.

"Good morning!" replied the man. "Could you please ask that dear, sweet lady who Heads the Department if she's got time for a very dear friend. And please let her know I bring with me a bouquet of her favourite white roses."

"It's a Sunday. What makes you think she's in?" asked the auror.

"Oh, she'll be in," the man grinned. "She has plenty of court cases she needs to prepare for, for her not to be in."

The auror frowned and hesitated a moment before he gave an almost imperceptible shrug, then walked away towards the Director's office at the back of the 'bullpen'.

The man, Sirius under a glamour, watched as the young auror walked up to the door of what he remembered to be the Director of Department's door and knocked. A moment later, he walked in.

Sirius surreptitiously drew his wand and held it with only the tips of his thumb and index finger before himself by the middle of the shaft as he laid the roses on the counter off to one side. So far, besides the young auror, no one had paid him the least amount of attention.

About five seconds later there was a short, sharp

klaxon sound and the doors leading back out slammed shut. Sirius just stood there with his hands up and wand still held with thumb and index finger of his off hand and a grin on his face.

Like little meerkats, what few aurors were in the bullpen shot to their feet and were looking about, with their wands drawn.

Then the office door slammed opened with Bones storming out with her wand held ready and a determined scowl on her face. The young auror was right behind her, also with his wand at the ready; a little scared, but backing 'The Boss'.

She took one look at Sirius and strode towards him. "Don't. Move!" she quietly but firmly ordered.

"I have no intention to, Ami my love," he grinned as she still strode towards him.

Once she was about ten feet short she stopped and

said, "Gently now... place the wand on the desk."

As he complied, Sirius whined, "But I thought it was my turn to be the auror when we played, sweetheart!"

"Be silent!" she barked. With a glance at the young auror she said, "Auror Williamson. Handcuff him."

"Ooohhh... kinky!" grinned Sirius.

"I said, be silent!" she snapped at him again.

The auror was quick to duck around the counter and, by the numbers, affixed magic-inhibiting manacles to Sirius with his hands behind his back. Sirius made no move to hinder the young man.

Once manacled, Bones ordered, "Bring him! We're going to Interrogation Room 2."

As Sirius was led through the bullpen, he called out to the still watching on-duty aurors, "Next time we're

playing 'Haughty Healers and Wicked Medi-witches'!"

That's when Bones hit him with the threatened silencing charm.

As he was practically frog-marched through the bullpen and out another door, one Sirius knew led to the interrogation and interview rooms, he turned back to Bones and pouted at her. However, the twinkle of mirth didn't leave his eyes.

"Shacklebolt, Tonks and Robards!" barked Bones. "With me! Bring a Dicta-quill with you!"

After only a short walk past two doors, one opposite the other on either side, Sirius was hustled into an interrogation room. Once he was manhandled by the young auror into a seat, his cuffs were transferred from behind his back and threaded through the ring in the table top, before they once again secured him by his wrists.

Then the young auror stepped back awaiting his next order.

A moment later Robards led in Shacklebolt and Tonks, with Tonks carrying a Dicta-quill.

Bones turned to the young auror and said, "Alright, Williamson; you're done. Thank you. And not a word of this to anyone."

The young auror gave a single nod and left without a word.

Then Bones, still staring at Sirius, asked, "Are you willing to undergo interrogation under Veritaserum?"

"Yep," he immediately replied. "Actually, I think I'd have to insist on it."

She then glanced at Tonks and said, "Tonks. Set up the Dicta-quill. I take it you have qualified competence in its use?"

"Yes, Ma'am," replied Tonks, as she set to work.

Then she glanced at Shacklebolt and said, "Shack, go get a vial of Veritaserum."

"Yes, Ma'am," replied the burly dark-skinned auror before he ducked out and away.

Then she turned her full attention back to Sirius and asked, "What are you using; Polyjuice or a simple glamour?"

"Glamour anchored by a rune stone," he immediately replied. "You'll find it on a cord around my neck."

"Gawain," she quietly said.

The Master Auror quietly moved around behind Sirius and, feeling the back of his neck which Sirius aided by bending his head forward, found the cord and pulled it off over his head.

As it cleared Sirius's skin his form seemed to shimmer a little as the glamour dropped away.

Tonks let out a gasp from where she was now monitoring the Dicta-quill

"Sirius!" she quietly exclaimed.

"Hello, Nymmie," he grinned at her. "Look at you, all grown up."

She scowled back and said, "Don't call me that. I prefer 'Tonks'."

"Even for me, your favourite cousin?" he grinned. "Even for you," she scowled.

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Chapter 055

"What in Merlin's name possessed you, Black," asked Bones, "Just to walk, bold as brass, up to my auror counter to turn yourself in?"

"Well, after all the different ways you sent me messages," he replied. "I thought you really wanted to see me. So, here I am!"

"I wanted to keep the fact we were trying to capture you, rather than sic a Dementor on you, quiet," she sighed.

"And you still have," he impudently grinned back. "The only people who currently know who I am are you, dear little Nymmie here, Robards and... probably... Shacklebolt."

Shacklebolt took that moment to walk back in. As

soon as he spotted Sirius in his unglamoured form he stopped, blinked once and walked over to Bones while keeping an eye on him. He handed her a small vial.

"For the record," she said. "Senior Auror Shacklebolt has just returned from the auror department apothecary, where I sent him to collect one vial of Veritaserum. He was just returned with that vial and I now hold it in my hand. I confirm that the seal is unbroken and the vial untampered with. It is vial number three fifty two."

Turning to Shacklebolt she handed it back and said, "I return it to Senior Auror Shacklebolt for him to administer the recommended three drops onto the tongue of our Interviewee, Sirius Orion Black the Third of the House of Black."

Shacklebolt walked around the desk to stand just behind Sirius. He then cracked the seal and looked to Sirius, "Are you willing to tilt your head back and stick out you tongue, Black?"

Sirius didn't say a word. He just did it.

After the three drops were administered, Sirius pulled his tongue back in, tilted his head back down and smacked his lips.

After a long few moments Bones spoke again. "I now begin an informal interrogation under Veritaserum of Sirius Orion Black the Third of the House of Black..."

The interview only lasted for a few minutes. At the end of it, Bones dosed him with the counter-agent herself. As Sirius began to shrug off the effects of the powerful truth potion, he looked at Bones and grinned.

"So, Ami," he said. "About that trial."

"First things first," she said. "Shack; remove his manacles."

As Shacklebolt stepped forward with a specially designed ward stone key, she went on, "Now we need to find somewhere to stick you until I can arrange a trial for you."

"I'll ask Mum if he can stay with us," piped up Tonks. "Neither my Mum or Dad ever thought he was guilty. So, it won't take me much to convince them he's been interviewed under Veritaserum and found innocent."

"Check with them," said Bones. "Go use the floo in my office."

Tonks immediately left.

"In the mean time..." She looked back to Sirius. "Will that rune stone on that cord return your glamour if you put it back on?"

"It will," he nodded.

"Gawain. Give it to him," she ordered.

The elder auror immediately handed it back. And Sirius slipped it back over his neck before dropping the stone down the front of this robes.

A moment later his form blurred for a moment before he was again the man who had appeared at the front counter less than a half hour ago.

"Good," she stated, once the change was complete.

Turning to her junior auror, she said, "Gawain; take the Dicta-quilled statement, make two copies of it, put the original and one of the copies on my desk. Black gets the other. Not a word of this to anyone. Tell Tonks the same, but it excludes her parents.

"Shack; the same ban applies to you, too. Not a word of this to anyone."

Finally, she turned to Sirius and said, "You'll be following me to my office and remain there until Auror

Tonks returns. Got that?"

"Yes, Madam Bones," he more formally replied. It was now clear she was going out on a limb for him and he'd not carry on with the prank because of that.

_ ̳_ ―==(oIo)==― ˇ

At Hogwarts, as Monday morning's breakfast was winding to a close, the owls entered as per usual. As soon as they began to glide down from the owl windows high in the rafters Hermione was focussing all her attention on trying to spot Hedwig through the illusion of the blue sky with small puffy clouds of outside.

As usual, Harry was the first to spot her, but he remained silent to let Hermione think she spotted her first.

"There!" she cried, seeing the owl and almost jumping out of her seat in excitement.

Of course, Hedwig knew where to find her 'pet', Harry, so was already on a gentle banking glide coming in over the head table, when Hermione first spotted her.

Expecting it, Harry watched as she landed with a light touch down between the plates in the middle of the table before Hermione. And immediately offered her leg.

Hermione was so nervous in trying to untie the bow that held the muggle paper envelope to Hedwig's leg that she nearly caused the bow to knot so badly it would need to be cut off. Harry had to reach over and gently untie it himself. And Hermione quickly scooped up the envelope.

Of course, she was so busy trying to rip the envelope open to get at reading the note from her parents she completely forgot to reward Hedwig for doing a good

job. And the bird let her know it.

"Prek!" barked Hedwig, glaring at the bushy-haired human.

Hermione gave a start, blushed and quickly offered the bird two strips of bacon. "Sorry, Hedwig. I was so excited I forgot about you."

Obviously that didn't impress the bird, as she simply snatched the two strips of bacon out of the girl's fingers and flew off without an acknowledgement.

Harry chuckled and said, "You'll have to apologise better than that to her if you expect her to carry any more mail for you."

"They said yes!" Hermione suddenly exclaimed. "Mum and Daddy are both looking forward to properly meeting you and said you can stay for as long as you like.

"The only thing they want to know is when they can expect us; and do they need to go to Kings Cross Station to pick us up.

"I'll have to write back to them to tell them we'll be arriving by portkey in the house, direct. And explain what a portkey is, I suppose. So, they won't need to pick us up.

"Plus, we don't know what day we'll be arriving, as I don't think much will be decided until we know the results of the trials. And those are going to take a few days, at least."

"Woah, Hermione," Harry tried placating her. "I know you're excited. But, as you said, we don't know when we can leave or how we're going to get there yet.

"I suggest writing to them again and telling them we hope to know the when and how in a few days. And that the 'how' will very likely not require them to pick us up from anywhere, as the magic used should see

us delivered right to their home.

"If the trials go as quickly as I think they will, then the 'when' will likely be within the week."

"This time, please also ask your parents if they are also willing to house a few aurors for the duration I'm there. I cannot see Madam Bones rescinding her order for aurors to shadow me at all times, just because I'm no longer in the castle. And it wouldn't be fair to them to be shut out of the house. If necessary, I'll pay for their lodgings with my own funds, so your parents are not out of pocket."

"Oh, sorry," she said as she blushed. "I didn't want to worry you about it... and I already figured aurors would follow us there... so I included that in my first letter. But I'll add that you'll pay for their lodgings as Daddy did ask about that and I was going to ask before sending my response. There's an unused servants' quarters on the lower ground floor they can use."

The female auror standing behind them this time gave her throat a little clear to gain their attention. When both teens turned to look, she said, "Thank you, Miss Granger. That would be far preferable to standing out in the cold all night; especially if it is raining."

Hermione sent her second letter off early that afternoon. And Harry included an attached letter thanking them for the 'invitation' and assuring them he had more than enough money to pay for the lodgings of the aurors and himself for while he was there.

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Chapter 056

That evening, as soon as she arrived home,

Andromeda Tonks found Sirius sitting in the kitchen nook chatting with their only house elf, who was busy trying to cook dinner.

As soon as he saw her, Sirius rose from his seat with a smile on his face and was immediately knocked back into it when she practically tackled him a massive hug.

"Gods, Sirius!" she exclaimed, holding him tight. "It's good to see you alive!"

"Hello Andi," he smiled back.

She stepped back and gave him a good once-over with her eyes before she seemed to switch into Healer mode. "Let's see. After I give you a full physical... and you won't be fighting me on that... I can already see you're in desperate need of nutrition and muscle building potions, a teeth repair potion and probably Skele-grow to go with it. However, all that is going to have to wait until after the physical."

"Andi―" he tried.

"Hush!" she demanded. "Don't argue with your Healer."

"And who decided you're my Healer?" he asked.

"I did, of course," she replied. "Don't argue."

Dragging him with her off hand into the lounge she quickly conjured an examination table complete with padding and ordered, "Hop up and lay down."

With a sigh, Sirius complied. But she noticed it took a fair bit of effort on his part to comply.

Once he was lying down she pulled her Healer's wizard-spaced bag before her she'd brought home with her and started pulling things out.

First came a long sheet of parchment with an Auto-

quill and wand. Setting that up she used the wand to begin carefully scanning him. The quill was zipping along writing things down.

Once she was finished with her scan she had to wait quite a while for the Auto-quill to finish. And stood watching it finish with a frown on her face.

Sirius used the opportunity to sit back up again, swinging his legs off the side of the table.

"Well?" he asked.

"In a moment," she almost distractedly replied.

She began muttering, "Nutrition, muscle-rebuilder, teeth-rebuilder, Skele-grow, vitamin enhancer, diet enhancer, dementor exposure restorer... no, a mild wit sharpener... I'll have to wait on the dementor exposure restorer until after your trial... and a memory restorative draught."

Looking at him directly she said, "For someone who's spent eleven years in that hell-hole, plus another fifteen plus months on the run, you're looking pretty good."

"I've been self-medicating for some of that time on the run," he replied. "It wasn't much, but I did what I could with what I could find."

With an almost thunderous expression she snapped, "With the amount of damage your body's taken that was bloody dangerous!"

"I had no choice!" he snapped back. "What else could I have done?"

"You could have come and seen me!" she growled.

"Not when your daughter's an auror, I couldn't," he sighed.

She stared at him for a long few moments before she

changed the subject. "When's your trial?"

"No idea," he replied. "Bonesy's going to have to fit it in around the trials she already has going on. I think she's going to slip it in between two of the high profile ones."

"Yours will be a high profile one," she put.

"Yes, but she doesn't want wind of it getting out right up until I'm brought into the courtroom."

"Did she give you any idea of about when that is likely to happen?" she asked.

"Tomorrow, I think," he replied. "She's going to try and slot it in immediately after Fudge and Umbridge."

With a nod she said, "Then there's little I can do in the time before then. However, I can at least get you halfway presentable for your trial."

"That... would be for the best, I think," he sighed.

She wrote a few things down on another sheet of parchment and called her house elf. "Benny!"

With a pop the elf appeared at her side. "Yes, Mistress?"

Handing the elf the parchment she ordered, "Take this to Mister Tattings of Twillfit and Tattings and tell him it's somewhat of a rush order. I want to be picking it up no later than ten a.m. tomorrow morning."

"Yes, Mistress," the little elf replied taking the piece of parchment, giving a little bob of respect and popping away.

"Twillfit's, Andi?" asked Sirius.

"Since Uncle Arcturus passed, you are the Head of the House of Black," she firmly replied. "When you walk into that courtroom you will be dressed the part, even

if I won't have time to get your health up to scratch."

"I was disowned," he frustratingly returned. "There's no way―"

"Unlike me, you were never disowned, Sirius," she replied, cutting him off. "Aunt Wally, blasting your name off the family tapestry, had nothing to do with it. No matter how much that old harridan demanded it, I know for a fact Uncle Arcturus refused to do it."

"How do you know that?" he asked, quite curious.

"Just because Uncle Arcturus was forced into the position of having to disown me, did not mean he no longer talked with me," she replied. "He and I kept up both a correspondence conversation with the occasional secret meeting, where we could talk directly.

"According to him it was his opinion I was one of the few family members he had left that he felt he could

both respect and trust. You were also on that very small list."

"I... didn't know that," said a very surprised Sirius.

She smiled back and said, "I dare say there's a lot you don't know. However, now that you are Lord Apparent, we need to get you cleaned up, made healthy again and brought up to date with the business of the family."

Casting a critical eye on his cousin, he asked, "Did Arcturus manage to bring you back into the family, before he passed?"

"No; he couldn't," she replied. Not looking Sirius in the eye she said, "He told me he hoped you would when your innocence was finally proven and you took up the Lordship."

Giving a firm nod back he said, "Then it will be the first thing I do as soon as I don the ring."

Looking at him more directly, she softly said, "Thank you"

After a moment, she appeared to straighten herself up, mentally refortify herself and said, "Now. Though we cannot do much about your health between now and your trial, it does not mean we cannot make a start on that.

"The first thing you're going to do is take a bath. No offence, cousin Sirius; but, you stink."

He just gave a snort of amusement.

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Chapter 057

"While you're bathing, Benny should return and we'll have a set of decent robes for you to wear. We've kept those robes of Ted's that he can no longer wear due to increasing a bit of girth... shall we say. You're of similar height that what height difference there is will be unimportant. What you're wearing will be burned.

Sirius gave a second snort of amusement when Andromeda referred to her husband's gaining of weight as increasing his girth.

As he was about to head to the bathroom, he asked, "Who sits as proxy for Black on the Wizengamot? By rights it should be Cassiopeia."

"No one," she replied. "Lucius Malfoy has convinced Fudge his son, Draconis, is the next Lord Black. And then had himself installed as Regent for the House of Black."

Sirius spun on the spot just as he was about to walk out of the room. His expression quickly morphed from

shocked surprise to fury. "He what?!"

"You heard me," she scowled. "Lucius Malfoy is currently sitting the Black seat as Regent. However, Gringotts has not given him access to the Black vaults in his self-claimed role, because they know damned well he is not. And Malfoy has kept that quiet from the Ministry."

"That will be the first thing I rectify at my trial," he all but snarled.

"Yes, but because he has claimed regency and it therefore allows him a seat on the Wizengamot when he otherwise would not hold one, have no doubt that he will be pressuring the Minister to have you 'Kissed' at the first opportunity," she explained. "It also explains why the order for dementors to be sent out from Azkaban to hunt you down and 'Kiss' you exists. And why Bartemius Crouch Junior was not 'Kissed'; but, instead, just returned to his cell.

"That is why it is imperative you being given a trial is to remain a secret right up until you walk into the chamber for your trial."

"And that is why Bonesy sent me to you to be put 'on ice' until the trial, rather than kept in a holding cell in the auror department," he nodded. "I wondered why, but was just happy she didn't choose that option."

"That is why," nodded Andromeda.

_ ̳_ ―==(oIo)==― ˇ

Also that evening, as soon as he was able to separate himself from Hermione, Harry quickly drafted a letter to send to his Account goblin in Gringotts. He had a warding job he wanted to done, 'toot sweet', and wanted the best erected he could get while also considering the environment in which they were to be erected.

He also wanted it done in secret, with even the occupants not aware of it happening. And the goblins were the only ones who would do that. Gold was gold and it was none of their business if the humans would be disagreeable or not.

_ ̳_ ―==(oIo)==― ˇ

The next morning and very shortly after breakfast, Harry and Hermione were approached by four aurors, two of whom he recognised, just as they were leaving the Great Hall.

With a quizzical frown, he asked, "What's going on?"

"I'm Master Auror Robards," said Robards. "Madam Bones has requested your presence at today's trials, after all. We're your escort."

"Just me?" he asked.

"No, Lord Potter," he replied. "Miss Granger, as well."

After Harry glanced at Hermione for a moment he turned back and sighed before looking at his current two auror shadows. "You recognise these four?" he asked.

"Yes, Lord Potter. They are who they say they are," replied the senior of the two.

"Very well," he said, turning back to Robards. "Well, it's not as if we've got anything better to do."

Robards smiled and gave a nod. "Then, let us be off," he said, indicating the main doors.

"Not yet," said Harry. "Both of us need to change out of our everyday wear before we go. It would be unseemly to appear in the Wizengamot chambers in anything but our best."

"There's no need―" started Robards.

"... To hurry there," Harry cut in. "I know. Give us fifteen minutes and we'll be ready to go."

Robards gave a sigh of minor frustration before he nodded.

And both teens hurried up the stairs to the Gryffindor Tower. And both were back down in just under the time Harry gave them to get changed. Both were wearing wizarding robes for their gender, with Harry wearing quite good quality robes. Harry also knew the robes Hermione was wearing was her only set of non- Hogwarts robes.

"Ready?" asked Robards, as soon as he saw them come down the stairs.

"Yep," replied Harry.

"Then, let us go," he said. "We're now running a little behind schedule."

"Then you should have allowed for that in your scheduling, shouldn't you?" Harry shot back.

Robards chose to ignore the question.

_ ̳_ ―==(oIo)==― ˇ

Before the trials started, the two teens were taken to Madam Bones's office. There, she explained that she was unable to develop sufficient evidence to see Lucius Malfoy face trial.

"We all know he's guilty," she agreed. "However, yours is the only testimony containing any evidence against him. And, while you're obviously quite the clever young man, you were still only twelve years old at the time he tried to cast the Killing Curse at you. His

stated reason for that, by the way, was just to scare you. He claims he was never going to do it. And, under wizarding Britain law, threatening it is not the same as actually doing it.

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Chapter 058

"However," she continued, "I have sufficient evidence to have him removed from being a sitting member of the Wizengamot for prejudicial behaviour. I informed him he either voluntarily stepped down from that body, or I would take him to trial and have him permanently stripped from ever being allowed to sit upon that body, anyway. I think I had enough for that.

"As he still has the dream of the Magical House of Malfoy being elevated to Noble status within his

lifetime, I know he would not want to jeopardise that. I made it quite clear it would not happen if he tried to force the issue and still try to demand sitting on the 'Mot; I'd charge him, anyway."

"Damn!" scowled Harry. "However, he could still try to force it later, once he felt sufficient time had passed and you wouldn't then be able to push for his trial, anyway."

"Nope," she smiled. "I forced him to make an oath he would not try to sit on the 'Mot until the House of Malfoy was elevated. And let him think there was still a chance of that. I'll be making damned sure there isn't."

"So, he's decided to play the 'long game' and wait, rather than force the issue and risk losing everything," he sighed. "At least he's showing the Slytherin mindset his son utterly lacks."

"Just so," she agreed with a nod.

_ ̳_ ―==(oIo)==― ˇ

Because of the secrecy surrounding Sirius turning himself in, not even Harry was made aware his Godfather's trial would be that day. Actually, the only people who knew of it were Sirius himself, Amelia Bones, Gawain Robards, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Nymphadora Tonks, Andromeda Tonks - who was now his self-appointed healer - and Ted Tonks, who would be acting as his Law-wizard for the trial. That was until that morning, moments before the trials started and Harry and Hermione had already left to be taken down and 'snuck' into the chamber. Then she'd summoned the aurors who would also be in the courtroom into her office and briefed them.

Having already met Edward 'Ted' Tonks on a couple of occasions previously and his opinion of the man now impressing him even more, Sirius had decided he

would both accept the man as his Law-wizard for the trial and - unknown to anyone else just yet, including the man himself - would be retaining the muggleborn wizard as his Law-wizard of Record for the House of Black at the immediate conclusion of the trial. Sirius had no idea who was the current Law-wizard of Record for the House of Black, but knew whoever it was hadn't done their job by ensuring he received a trial in the first place. He suspected Malfoy's interference in that.

The first trial up that morning was of Cornelius Fudge, as expected. Harry and Hermione were escorted in just as the Members of the Wizengamot filed in.

Three days previously, Madam Bones herself sent the owl to Fudge informing him of his trial. In that notice she also informed him that if he didn't turn up in person before 9.00am that morning, precisely, then he would be tried in absentia. And, as such, would not have opportunity to speak in his own defence.

Further, if he didn't turn up and was found guilty of any of the crimes for which he'd been charged, then he would be considered to have escaped lawful custody. Then reminded him that it was he, on his own authority, who ordered the dementors out to hunt down Sirius Black and immediately apply him with the 'Kiss', just because he had 'escaped lawful custody'.

She expected it was enough to ensure the man was in court and she was right. When the current Chief Adjudicator, Madam Augusta Longbottom - who still had not stepped down as Regent for the House of Longbottom - banged her gavel and called for 'The accused, Mister Cornelius Fudge' to step forward, a similarly portly man to him almost reluctantly came forward from the very full visitors' gallery.

"And, who are you, Sir?" she asked.

"Minister Cornelius Fudge," he replied. "I've taken Polyjuice to ensure I safely arrived before someone tried to murder me... again."

"Again?" asked Longbottom.

"Someone tried to enter my home, without invitation, the night of my... arrest... six days ago," he replied. "I informed Amelia by owl I was then immediately moving to a safe house known only to me for my own safety."

When Longbottom turned to Amelia, the stern woman nodded back and replied, "I was so informed."

Turning back to Fudge she said, "Very well. Take a seat." And indicated the accused's chair with its golden chains. "At least you have enough honour to come here today."

Though he looked at the chair with some fear, Fudge manned-up and sat. As soon as he did, the chains leapt to life and firmly bound him to the chair. He gave a quiet yelp and slightly jumped when they did.

Fudge's trial then went through quite quickly. Each of Harry's memories were displayed, as they were in the first task, of Fudge's behaviour regarding being informed of Sirius's innocence. Together with other memories the man himself reluctantly submitted. The trial was quickly moving ahead.

Harry and Hermione were not asked to give testimony, but were ready to do so if they were. They'd already been told they'd be there for each trial those memories were shown, just in case. They sat together off to the side apart from the general public and the media. They were watched over by two aurors, Robards and Hammer, who kept their eyes scanning the room looking for trouble.

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Chapter 059

It did not pass the notice of either teen that they were right alongside a door that led out of the chamber, but not out to any public area they knew of. Harry suspected it was through to the Members' area behind the tiers.

When the charges were read out it was clear the man was not unaware of them. He then immediately pleaded guilty to all bar one. That one dealt with the acceptance of bribes. Fudge's Law-wizard was clearly under orders not to fight the charges too hard, only the evidence given for the taking of bribes and only seek to clarify matters when he felt evidence was skewed.

When directly asked why he pleaded not guilty to the charges of accepting bribes, he said he did not see them as such and firmly believed them to be donations for each of his re-election campaigns as they arose.

However, he pleaded guilty to failing to report evidence that suggested Sirius Black was innocent. But tempered it with saying, while it was three teenagers who stated that without providing their own evidence, a Master Occlumens informed him he believed the three to be under the effect of Confundus charms. And a second wizard later told him he believed the same.

When asked who those two were, he replied, "Severus Snape was the first; and Albus Dumbledore was the second."

That led Harry to almost snarling in anger. Hermione just gave a sob and leaned on Harry's shoulder, softly crying. It was apparent that Fudge's testimony just drove another nail into the coffin of her respect for the old man.

Unknown to him, she'd still held out hope that Dumbledore's actions were either unintentional or misconstrued. Fudge's evidence burned that forlorn

hope away.

"You were aware, were you not, that at the time you ordered the dementors to be brought in to administer the 'Kiss' to Sirius Black that he was already back in custody," pressed Longbottom, "And that he was also the Lord Apparent of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black?"

Fudge gave a visible gulp and began to shake a little. "It... had not occurred to me, at the time."

"Considering you held the highest political position in magical Britain at that time, I find that very difficult to believe," she glared back at him. "However, we have no proof, either way, on whether or not you're telling the truth."

"Ignorance of that is not a defence, Chief Adjudicator Longbottom," Prosecutor Scrimgeour piped up.

"No, it is not," nodded Longbottom. "However, if he

truly did not know, it offers explanation."

"And, yet, proof was available to him," argued Scrimgeour. "While those under-aged cannot be asked to give a vow as to the truth of their verbal remarks, they can give memories."

"Memories can be tampered with," argued the Defence Law-wizard.

"Only by those who are, themselves, Master Occlumenses," Scrimgeour argued right back. "And, if you argue they are Master Occlumenses, then you must also accept they could not be under Confundus charms. You cannot argue both."

"Alas, such memories were not offered at the time," he argued back.

"Nor asked for."

"Enough!" snapped Longbottom. "This argument will

lead nowhere."

The court case wrapped up soon afterwards after almost an hour and a half.

The sentence was the immediate and permanent stripping of Fudge of his position as Minister, being able to hold any position within the Ministry ever again, being able to sit upon the Wizengamot in any capacity ever again, fined a total of one hundred thousand galleons and sentenced to Azkaban's light security wing, dementor free, for five years.

_ ̳_ ―==(oIo)==― ˇ

Next up came Umbridge. The stupid woman tried to bluster her way out of her own trial citing she was acting under her authority as Senior Undersecretary. And that what she did was because of matters the court was both not privy to and could not be told.

Longbottom immediately shot that down by stating, "If you do not tell us those reasons then they cannot be used by you in your defence. That has been a precept of law for centuries."

Her Law-wizard tried to argue her case was special and should be exempt from that precept due to her position, but failed to sway the Members. Even when he demanded a vote for it, which he'd lost, he still tried to argue for it. It took Longbottom having to tell him that if he continued to push for it he'd be ordered from the chamber for hindering the trial before he finally shut up about it.

It was then quickly clear to all that it was now clear to him he'd lost the case right at that point. From then on he was arguing for leniency.

However, the Members were not in a lenient mood. She was sentenced to ten years in Azkaban in medium security and led from the chamber in chains still

demanding she was in the right and the Members were wrong.

Looking to the Members, Harry could see many of them were both relieved and or a little smug about her getting her comeuppance. Harry suspected that many of those she blackmailed were sitting in those tiers.

_ ̳_ ―==(oIo)==― ˇ

Once Umbridge was led out Longbottom ordered, "Bring in the next accused!"

Everyone expected it to be Barty Crouch Senior. However, that's not who came in.

Instead, yet another wizard stepped down from the visitors' gallery and walked forward. He appeared quite thin. He was also accompanied by another man at his heel. This one was a little more stocky.

It wasn't until he was walking forward, turned and winked at where he knew Harry was sitting with a smirk, that Harry realised who the slender wizard was.

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Chapter 060

'Sirius!' he thought, in shock.

It was Hermione's gasp that alerted him that she knew who it was, too. "Harry," she whispered to him, "Do you know who that is?"

"I do now," he whispered back. "Now, please be quiet and don't give the game away. This should prove interesting."

Looking around, Harry could see that all the aurors had tensed up, with many already having their wands out and were closely watching everyone and everything.

"Bartemius Crouch Senior?" asked Madam Longbottom.

"No, Ma'am," he replied, before reaching up and removing the rune-stone 'necklace' from about his neck.

As soon as the stone cleared his skin, his form blurred a little before settling on Sirius's normal form. Unlike the last time they saw him, however, he was wearing robes of the finest cut and materials, plus his robes showed the Black family crest on his right breast. "Sirius Orion Black the Third," he continued.

That had near pandemonium in the chamber, both from within the Members' tiers and the visitors' gallery.

Bones immediately fired a cannon blast charm and bellowed, "Be silent!" That she obviously also pumped her magic into amplifying her voice a little was a given, as Harry could not believe someone could be so loud without magical or technological help.

That, pretty quickly, had everyone settle back down again.

"Aurors!" she called, more quietly. "Anyone who doesn't settle down immediately when ordered to do so is to be escorted from the chamber, unable to return!"

As aurors began to move, everyone immediately went silent. No one wanted to miss this, so the threat was a 'biggie'.

Once she had quiet again, Madam Longbottom firmly asked, "And just why do we have Sirius Black

stepping forward as an accused?"

"Because the man has never had a trial," replied Bones. "He was summarily tossed into Azkaban, thirteen years ago, without one. Today, we are rectifying that gross miscarriage of justice."

That had murmurs again rising both among the Members and the visiting public.

Sirius calmly walked forward and was about to sit in the chair when he stopped and said, "For this moment and before I take a seat I will first inform you I have both a wand and a portkey on my person.

"My wand is in a holster on my left wrist and a portkey in the form of a bracelet is on my right wrist." And carefully moved his arms out and away from his body.

Kingsley Shacklebolt immediately stepped up behind him and relieved him of both. Then, before stepping away, scanned him.

Looking up at Bones he clearly said, "There are no other magical devices on his person, Ma'am."

"Very well," said Longbottom. "Please take a seat, Mister Black."

"Actually, as I have not yet be found guilty of a crime, you should be addressing me as Lord Apparent Sirius Black of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black, Chief Adjudicator Longbottom," he firmly corrected. "Or, Lord Apparent Black in the short form."

She gave a nod back and said, "Lord Apparent Black, then. Please take a seat."

With his own nod back, Sirius sat in the chair. The chains, almost lazily this time, wrapped about him. The wizard with him stood just behind his left shoulder.

"For the record," he said, before anyone else could

speak. "I swear on my magic and my life I do not now carry on my person any portkeys or other magical foci. In effect, I am unarmed. As I say, so I swear, so shall I be judged."

He gave a slightly muted flash as magic accepted his oath.

'Clever,' thought Harry. 'Now no one can curse him and use the excuse they thought he was going to attack them or use magic to escape.'

As he sat, Madam Bones handed Madam Longbottom a sheaf of parchment.

The gentle-wizard with Sirius then said, "Law-wizard Edward Tonks, acting for the defence."

As she read through it Longbottom stated, "For the record, I have just been handed by Madam Director Amelia Bones of the DMLE what appears to be a Dicta- quill-taken testimony of Lord Apparent Black taken in

the presence of both Madam Bones and three of her aurors. According to the testimony, Lord Apparent Black gave the testimony while under the effects of Veritaserum given with his permission."

Turning to Madam Bones she asked, "Do you, Madam Bones, so attest that this testimony was, indeed, taken both by a properly functioning Dicta-quill and while Lord Black was under the effects of Veritaserum?"

"I do, Chief Adjudicator," replied Bones.

Longbottom then gave the documents a swish with her wand and suddenly copies of it flew to each sitting Member.

Turning to Sirius she asked, "Lord Apparent Black, do you, of your own free will, assent to the use of Veritaserum being used upon you at this time and in this place?"

"I do, with conditions," he replied.

"And your conditions?" she asked.

"That such questions directed to me are only asked by yourself, Madam Bones and Law-wizard Tonks," he firmly replied.

"I can accept those conditions," she replied. "In that case, bring forth a sealed vial of Veritaserum."

A rack of vials was quickly produced, checked for tampering and a single vial taken to Sirius. Auror Fleming was the one to administer the recommended three drops, which Sirius willingly accepted.

After the test questions were asked they got right into the relevant ones.

Twenty minutes later those Members who didn't already know, together with the visitors, were left stunned and appalled.

Sirius was proven under Veritaserum not to be the Potters' Secret Keeper on that fateful night; Peter Pettigrew was proven to be the Secret Keeper as he verbally gave Sirius the Secret - which, unlike if it was written down, could only be done by the Secret Keeper; Pettigrew had also verbally given the Secret to Albus Dumbledore - which meant Dumbledore knew it was Pettigrew, not Sirius, who was the Secret Keeper; Pettigrew escaped that street in Manchester by sending a blasting curse at a gas main, which killed the muggles; he willingly cut off one of his fingers to leave it behind as evidence purporting he was also blown up by the gas explosion, but escaped; and that he escaped from Azkaban - not to kill Harry Potter, but to protect him, as he had evidence Pettigrew was at Hogwarts in his animagus form posing as the pet rat of a young boy from Gryffindor.

That took quite the while to explain and, by the end of it, the Veritaserum was wearing off. Sirius was also quick to alert Madams Longbottom and Bones of that

fact, too.

After a long few moments and a long sigh, Madam Longbottom said, "I think we've heard enough to prove Lord Apparent Black's innocence. Any objections against us immediately moving to the vote?"

"I object!" called Caracticus Nott, one of those Death Eaters who claimed he was under the Imperius curse while serving Riddle. "It is obvious Prisoner Black has taken a counter-agent to Veritaserum. And, therefore, he has been spouting nothing but lies."