Chapter 060

As people jumped up in arms as to his gall in stating such, Madam Longbottom had to bang her gavel a couple of times to restore order. As soon as she got it, but before she could say anything, Sirius piped up.

"I Sirius Orion Black the Third, swear on my magic and my life I have taken no such counter-agent to Veritaserum. As I say, so I swear, so should I be judged!"

Again, there was the muted flash of light signifying the oath as given and accepted.

"As I'm still alive, I'm obviously telling the truth," he snapped back.

"Yes... well," said Madam Longbottom. "That puts paid to that."

She then turned to Nott and said, "And one more remark out of turn from you, Lord Nott, I will both evict you from these proceedings and encourage Lord Black to sue you for slander!"

Nott immediately fell silent, but fumed in his seat.

When the wizard shut back up Madam Longbottom then called the vote.

It was a very clear majority, almost three quarters of those present, that voted Sirius not guilty.

And only a few of the dark Houses, including Parkinson and Nott, who voted him guilty.

As soon as the vote was decided, Madam Longbottom then said, "Lord Apparent Sirius Orion Black the Third of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black, having been found not guilty by a clear majority of the Wizengamot of all charges this day, you are declared not guilty. You are free to go."

"Aurors," called Madam Bones. "Release Lord Black of the chains. He is a free man."

As soon as they did so, he stood, closed his eyes and took a deep cleansing breath before turning to look in Harry's direction with a twinkle in his eyes and a wide grin on his face.

"Further," called Madam Bones. "The 'Kiss on Sight' order against Lord Apparent Black for the dementors is hereby immediately and unequivocally revoked. Further, all dementors not having already been returned to Azkaban are to also be immediately recalled directly to that place.

"Auror... Sampson; go, right now, to the Department for the Control of Magical Creatures and see to that immediately. The first order is to have been removed and the second invoked by no later than thirty minutes from now."

"Yes, Ma'am," nodded one of the younger aurors before he spun about from his place along one of the walls and hurried from the room.

"Chief Adjudicator Longbottom," called Tonks. "As Lord Black was unlawfully incarcerated for twelve years, plus had to suffer for a further year on the run while dodging dementors sent to suck out his soul, it falls to Ministry to compensate the man. The defence claims the sum of one hundred thousand galleons per year pro rata for that insult and the harm he has received.

"Further, the defence demands Lord Apparent Black be recognised by this body as the rightful godfather of Lord Harrison James Potter, as per the wishes of his parents. Lord Apparent Black, as per the parents' wishes of Harrison James Potter, was supposed to be the rightful guardian of the then infant Harrison James Potter on their passing. A position the defence believes was usurped by Albus Dumbledore, when it has now become known Albus Dumbledore knew Lord Apparent Black was then the infant Harrison James Potter's rightful guardian, magical or otherwise."

"So ordered," stated Madam Longbottom. "You are aware, are you not, that since Lord Potter's name came out of the Goblet of Fire for the Tri-Wizard Tournament that he has been recognised as an of-age student and, therefore, an emancipated minor?"

"The defence is aware that Lord Potter has been declared of-age; not an emancipated minor," he stated back. "He cannot, legally, be both."

Harry knew that but was thankful this Tonks man made it a matter of Record. He wondered what Longbottom was trying to accomplish by having him recognised as an emancipated minor and not of-age. She was up to something there, as she scowled back for a moment.

"In that case, Lord Apparent Black, unless there is anything further, you are free to go," she said.

"There is one piece of business I have before this body that I consider most urgent, Madam Longbottom," said Sirius.

"Oh?" she asked. "And what might that be?"

Turning to the Auror Shacklebolt, who had taken his wand earlier, Sirius asked, "My wand, please?"

After the auror quickly checked with Madam Bones he had permission to return it to the man, Shacklebolt silently handed it back.

"Thank you," said Sirius, turning back around.

Immediately holding the wand in the grip to give oath, he said, "I, Lord Apparent Sirius Orion Black the Third of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black, hereby remove Lucius Abraxas Malfoy from unlawfully holding proxy, or claimed regency, of the Seat of Black; and demand he no longer hold that role, from this very moment forth!"

With Malfoy out of the way, at the moment, no one sat the Seat. Malfoy did not sit a Seat in his own right, because the House of Malfoy was not a Noble one, as he often tried to publicly state.

"Done," declared Longbottom.

"Now," continued Sirius. "Who sits as regent or proxy for the House of Potter?"

He watched as all eyes in the Members' tiers swivelled to stare at Elphias Doge, who was staring at Sirius in shock.

"Elphias Doge," asked Sirius. "Do you currently claim regency or proxy for the House of Potter?"

Doge blanched, nodded back and replied, "Albus Dumbledore, as Mister Potter's magical guardian, appointed me as proxy with him as regent." The man seemed to have suddenly broken out in a cold sweat.

"Since I was never convicted of a crime that would require it, I was never stripped of being the rightful guardian of Harrison James Potter and I never appointed Albus Dumbledore as Regent of the House of Potter in my stead," Sirius argued right back. "Therefore, Albus Dumbledore was never in a position where he had any right to claim Regency or appoint you as Proxy for the Seat of Potter.

.

.

.

.

.

🎉The novel is available in PDF with more than 400 chapters, visit us in our Ko-Fi store🎉

🎉ko-fi.com/shihao123🎉