The Courtroom was almost bowl-shaped with the presiding judge sat at a raised desk so that the defendant would have to look up from the floor. The assembled members of the Wizengamot (those who had actually answered the summons) sat behind desks arranged in rising ranks around the Courtroom, once again positioned to look down on the person on trial.
"Ladies and Gentlewizards," Amelia Bones stated, "We are here today to fulfill the requirements placed upon us by the Liberty Protection Act of Eighteen-fourteen. It has been revealed that Sirius Black, who was jailed for betraying the Potter family, was never given a trial. In the interests of justice, one shall be granted to him."
"Why?" One of the figures said. "We all know he's guilty."
"And that's why I'll be leaving the Wizarding World after my OWLs." Harry stated, earning a chorus of protests and shocked gasps. "If I cannot rely on the rule of law instead of the rule of rumor, then I will have nothing to do with the Wizarding World."
"He has a point." Another voice stated, this one that of an elderly male. "We are the leaders of the Wizarding World, we should hold ourselves to a higher standard. Let Black have his trial and his guilt will be proven."
"As the one most affected, I ask that I be allowed to interrogate him." Harry said and the Judge shifted.
"While not usual, it is not unprecedented. Very well, you may ask the questions of him, although he might choose not to answer."
"And may I ask that he be offered the use of Veritaserum." Harry pressed, causing a shocked susurration to echo around the chamber.
"…while not usual, it is not unprecedented." The judge finally admitted. "Very well. Bring a vial of Veritaserum."
One of the Auror guards seemed to vanish and Harry hid a smirk.
One way or another, he was going to find out what had happened that night.
.
The man that Shacklebolt and Moody escorted into the Courtroom was obviously malnourished, pale-skinned, grimy and dressed in what had at one time been a knee-length prison smock, but was now only a couple of snapped threads away from being a reason to be arrested for indecent exposure. As he staggered forwards, Shacklebolt used his greater size and strength to direct him to the Defendant's Chair, a wooden chair festooned with chains. As Black slumped into the chair, the chains sprang into life and wrapped around his limbs, holding him immobile.
"Hear ye, hear ye." The Judge intoned. "Let the trial of Sirius Black proceed. Sirius Black, you are here before the Wizengamot on the charge of betraying the Potters to He Who Must Not Be Named. How do you plead."
Black coughed a couple of times before answering. "…not… guilty…"
"The prisoner has entered a plea of not guilty. Prosecutor, you may begin."
Harry stepped forwards, holding out one hand and the Auror who had gone to collect the veritaserum placed it on his palm. Black looked up as Harry approached and his eyes widened.
"…James? No… no… Harry? How long has it been?"
Harry held out the vial and Sirius' gaze fastened on it, a grin forming on his face.
"Mr. Black…
"Yes! Yes, give me Veritaserum!" Black almost shouted and Harry could almost feel the shock that filled the coutroom. Black tilted his head up and opened his mouth.
"Three drops, Lord Potter." The Judge prompted and Harry carefully tilted the vial, letting three drops fall into Black's mouth.
"Can I have a glass of water?" Harry asked and a moment later, he was given one. Carefully placing it to Black's lips, he tilted it slightly and Black relaxed as he swallowed the cool liquid.
"How long before the Veritaserum takes effect?" Harry asked, but it was Black who replied, his voice almost a lazy monotone.
"It already has…"
The Judge nodded and Harry handed the glass back to the auror who had given it to him before starting his questioning.
"What is your full name?"
"Sirius Orion Black…"
"What House were you sorted into at Hogwarts?"
"…Gryffindor…"
"Are you now, or have you at any point in the past, been a member of the Death Eaters?"
"…no…"
A wave of shocked exclamations erupted and Harry waved for silence.
"Are you now, or have you at any point in the past, knowingly given information or aid to the one who called himself Lord Voldemort?"
"…no…"
Again, a wave of shock seemed to flow through the Coutroom.
"When my parents, James and Lily Potter, were in hiding, were you the Secret Keeper for the spell which concealed them?"
"…no…"
"When my parents, James and Lily Potter, were in hiding, who was the Secret Keeper for the spell which concealed them?"
"…Peter Pettigrew…"
"Why was Pettigrew chosen to be the Secret Keeper?"
"…because we knew that everyone would assume it was me as I was James' best friend…"
"Did Peter Pettigrew betray them to the one known as Lord Voldemort?"
"…yes…"
"Did you kill Peter Pettigrew?"
"…no, he got away…"
"How did he get away?"
"…Peter is a Rat Animagus… he cut off his finger, then he used a blasting spell… While I was recovering… he turned into a rat and vanished into the sewers…"
"How do you know Pettigrew is an animagus?"
"…James and I helped him learn…"
"Are you an Animagus?"
"…yes…"
Harry gave a firm nod, then turned to the Judge. "I am aware that the penalty for being an unregistered Animagus is a fine of a thousand Galleons and two weeks in Azkaban, the sentence increasing by a week per hundred Galleons that the perpetrator cannot pay. I suggest that the Court accepts that with his incarceration, Mr Black has indeed paid the penalty for being an unregistered Animagus and should be officially registered as one after the end of this session. Also, since by Veritaserum testimony and the fact that I was aware from my mother's journals that Mr Black, Mr Pettigrew and my father were all Animagi, a dog, rat and stag respectively, I can confirm that portion of Mr Black's statement."
The silence was so intense that Harry almost didn't need his enhanced hearing to listen to their heartbeats.
"As Lord Potter, I request that Mr Black be found innocent of betraying my parents and be remanded into my care until he heals from his unjust imprisonment." Harry continued as the chains binding Black shivered before uncoiling. "The Animagi fine will be paid in full… from the amount that ex-Minister Bagnold owes Mr Black for her reckless disregard of justice and liberty."
"So mote it be." the judge intoned, his wand tapping the bell mounted in front of him, then he leaned forwards. "Lord Potter, you are due back at Hogwarts in a week…"
"I have two House-elves at The Pottery who can look after him as he heals." Harry stated, then someone coughed near the door. Turning, Harry saw the brightly-clad figure of Albus Dumbledore.
"I believe that I can help." The aged wizard said almost diffidently. "Sirius' friend, Mr Remus Lupin, has been aiding me for the past decade, performing searches and missions on my behalf across Europe. I am certain that once I tell him that his friend was never guilty, he will return as quickly as he can."
Harry turned back to the Judge, who nodded.
"Very well, Lord Potter. Mr Black is remanded into your care and all charges against him are dismissed with the exception of being an unregistered Animagus, which shall be entered into his file as Sentence served. Madam Bones, please ensure that an Auror visits The Pottery within a week to register Mr Black's Animagus form. In addition, list Mr Pettigrew as alive and wanted on charges of betrayal, faking his death, the murder of twelve Muggles and being an unregistered Animagus."
"Of course." Amelia Bones stated from her own desk. "Mr Potter, do you need any help in moving Mr Black?"
"He's lighter than he looks." Harry said as he carefully helped Sirius to his feet, slinging one of his arms under his shoulders to help him remain upright. "Unless anyone objects, I'll take him now. He really needs a bath."
"…no, not a bath…" Sirius whined and Harry snorted with laughter.
"Well, that's proof of your other form, alright." He chuckled and several of those who had overheard smiled or laughed as well.
.
.
Sirius Black Innocent!
In a shocking turn of events, it was revealed in front of the entire Wizengamot that Sirius Black,
long held to have been the one who betrayed the Potters to You-Know-Who, was actually Innocent!
The true secret keeper and betrayer was none other than Peter Pettigrew…
.
Harry put down his copy of the Daily Prophet as Sirius ambled into the room, his apparently-lazy gait not quite managing to hide the fact that he was physically exhausted just from walking between his quarters (where he had spent the last couple of hours scrubbing and soaking with Gilligan watching over him to ensure he didn't drown) to the dining room where a hot meal was waiting for him.
"I can't remember the last time I actually felt clean." He sighed as Herriet appeared, whisked off the cover to reveal a bowl of mild curry and vanished again. "What's this?"
"Food." Harry snarked, earning a glare and a raised eyebrow. "Curry. A mild one that's not very spicy but quite filling. The drink's apple squash, I don't think that alcohol would be a good idea for a while yet."
"You're probably right." Sirius grumbled as he picked up a fork and used it to try a bit of his meal. "Wow! This is good!"
Sirius started eating rapidly and Harry tapped the paper in front of him.
"You made the front page and Albus said that he'll have another of my Father's friends here tonight, a Remus Lupin."
"Moony's coming?" Sirius asked eagerly and Harry nodded.
"He is. However, before he comes, there's someone I need to introduce you to. Jor-El?"
Sirius stared as Jor-El's avatar materialized, then he swallowed his mouthful of food.
"This is Jor-El, he's a… guardian spirit linked to the wards and The Pottery."
Sirius tilted his head and Harry noticed that his gaze was on the small symbol that Jor-El had placed on his sleeve, the symbol of the House of El.
"You're linked to the pod, aren't you?" he asked Jor-El and Harry gaped at him. "What? You did know that it was me who found you, right? Don't worry, I promised James that the only people I'd talk about it with were him and you, when you got old enough. Where did the pod come from, anyway?"
"That is a long story." Harry finally admitted.
"I'm not going anywhere." Sirius prompted, using his fork to scoop up more curry and rice.
.
.
"Wow." Sirius said as he relaxed in the living room, his hands clasped round a large mug of hot chocolate (topped with whipped cream, mini marshmallows, chocolate sprinkles and a dash of cinnamon). "Cool shape, pup. James and I managed our transformations after checking his archives, but it took us almost a full year to achieve it. It took you, what, twenty minutes?"
Harry returned to his bipedal form and grinned at Sirius. "Pretty much, and most of that was getting used to the new shape."
"Of course, now I need to give you a name." Sirius laughed before taking another sip of his chocolate. Pausing to wipe off the resulting cream mustache, he stroked his (recently-shaved) chin. "Let's see, I think…"
"Krypto."
Sirius blinked. "Krypto? How does that fit?"
"According to Jor-El, I'm a Kryptonian Battle Dog." Harry explained as he sat down. "Take the name of my original home-world and…"
"Krypto." Sirius repeated. "Well, I can think of worse. And while it's tradition that a Marauder is named by another Marauder, you did break me out of prison and get me a nice pile of cash into the bargain. Very well, Krypto it is! Padfoot and Krypto,animagi extraordin-aiyaaagh!"
A column of fire roared into existence in the center of the room, only to be engulfed in fire-retardant foam sprayed from several previously-concealed nozzles in the ceiling. The flames vanished in a cloud of foam, spluttering, protesting cheeps and the occasional swear word.
"Jor-El?"
"My apologies sir. It would seem we have visitors. Two humans and an avian of unknown provence. I am analyzing the energy pattern of the transportation method used."
One of the foam-covered figures finally managed to pull out a wand and a moment later, both men were foam-free, as was the highly-irritated bird perched on the older man's shoulder.
"That was a very interesting experience, although not one I am in a hurry to repeat." Albus chuckled. "My apologies, I asked Fawkes to bring us to you but I should have specified for him to bring us to just outside your home. May I present your Father's other friend and one who has been working for me for the last decade… Remus Lupin… Remus?"
"Moony!" Sirius shouted, pausing just long enough to put his mug down, then he lunged forwards and caught the newcomer in a rough embrace.
"Padfoot… you need to gain some weight." the newcomer joked, tears filling his eyes as the two men grinned at each other.
"I do believe that I should go." Albus said quietly.
"Thank you for bringing him." Harry replied just as quietly and Albus smiled at him before vanishing in a burst of fire. Harry turned back to see Remus helping Sirius back into his seat.
"How to warn them about SssSthss?" He chuckled to himself. "Or should that be should I warn them about SssSthss?"
.
.
Peter Pettigrew read the discarded newspaper and swore to himself, then he transformed back into his rodent-form and scurried into a convenient hole as the door exploded in a shower of sparks. Peering out, he saw Filius Flitwick and a couple of others who he couldn't quite identify from his hiding place enter the room, the Charms Master holding a stone from which a map was projected.
"It's having trouble keeping track of him, but he should be… there!" Flitwick pointed and Peter fled.
Hogwarts was no longer safe for him.
Leaving was a great pity, the Weasley Boy was the source of so much nice food, but the prospect of lunch in Azkaban did not appeal to him in the slightest.
It was time to leave the castle and return to his Master.
Besides, between Snape and Narcissa Malfoy, Voldemort wasn't going to be kept in the dark about what was happening.
Even if Narcissa still didn't know that the Dark Lord had returned.
And if he hurried, he could get there before the Dark Lord returned from whatever he had gone to Bulgaria to do.