The next morning, as I went through the various documents I had collected, I felt a bit more at ease. Sirius's case was moving forward—maybe even faster than expected. Lupin had been helpful as always, but the biggest surprise had been Severus Snape. I still couldn't quite wrap my head around the fact that Snape, the man who had a notorious hatred for Sirius, willingly gave a testimonial in his favor. It was odd, but it seemed there was more to him than I initially thought.
Rose had explained Snape's complicated history the day before, mentioning how he is her Potions teacher and how much she admired him. She spoke about him with an odd mixture of respect and something almost like fondness, which made me raise an eyebrow. She even said Snape was one of her favorite professors, right up there with McGonagall.
Thinking about it, Snape hadn't said much during his visit. He was civil enough, though his eyes had never stopped calculating. But the fact he gave a statement without hesitation was something else. "Maybe it's because Rose looks like her Mother," I mused to myself, recalling how much the older man had softened around her. It wasn't much, but it was enough for me to notice.
By now, I had all the documents I needed: the bank statement from Gringotts, testimonies from Lupin, Snape, and the Weasleys. Everything was neatly organized, and I made sure to duplicate all of them before sending the original to Madam Bones, the head of the DMLE.
"All set?" Rose asked as she peeked into the study.
"Yeah. Just finished sending everything to Madam Bones. Now we wait," I replied, leaning back in my chair.
Rose walked in and sat down across from me, her eyes bright with hope. "Do you think it'll be enough?" she asked softly.
I gave her a reassuring smile. "It's more than enough. The bank statement from Gringotts is solid evidence. And with all the testimonials we have, there's no way they can deny Sirius's innocence anymore."
She nodded, though I could see the anxiety bubbling beneath the surface. "I just… I want him to be free already. He's been through so much."
"Yeah, I get that," I said, watching her closely. "He deserves freedom after everything he's been through. And we're going to make sure he gets it."
Before we could continue the conversation, Sirius walked in, looking as disheveled as ever. "Are we ready to go to trial yet?" he asked with a grin, though his voice held a note of impatience.
"I sent everything to Madam Bones. We should hear back soon," I told him.
He sighed, raking a hand through his hair. "Soon. It feels like I've been waiting forever."
Rose smiled at him. "It won't be long now. You'll be free before you know it."
Sirius chuckled, his mood lightening. "I hope so. Because the moment I'm free, I'm getting out of here and living my life properly."
Rose grinned at that. "And what would that be, exactly?"
Sirius looked thoughtful for a moment. "Maybe travel. See the world. Or maybe even get a job teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts."
I raised an eyebrow. "You? A teacher?"
"Why not? You think I couldn't handle a classroom of brats?" Sirius replied with mock offense.
Rose and I exchanged amused glances. "I think the students would love you," Rose said.
Sirius smirked. "I know they would."
The conversation lulled, and we sat in comfortable silence for a few minutes. Eventually, I broke it with a question that had been bugging me for a while.
"Sirius, did you ever think it would come to this? That you'd be close to clearing your name?"
Sirius looked at me, his expression suddenly serious. "Honestly, no. After Azkaban, I didn't think anything would ever change. I was stuck in this cycle of hopelessness. It's thanks to Rose—and you, of course—that I have this chance now."
Rose blushed slightly but said nothing, while I simply nodded. "Well, don't worry. We've done everything right. This trial is going to be the turning point."
Just then, a loud knock echoed through the house, and we all turned our heads toward the window. Rose jumped up to open it, and moments later, she returned with a small owl perched on her shoulder, a letter in its beak.
"It's from Madam Bones," Rose said excitedly, plucking the letter from the owl and handing it to me.
I opened it, scanning the contents quickly. "Well, we have a date."
"When?" Sirius asked, his eyes widening with anticipation.
"Tomorrow," I said with a smile. "Madam Bones herself will oversee the trial."
Sirius looked momentarily stunned. "Tomorrow. That soon."
Rose beamed. "This is it, Sirius. You're going to be free."
He nodded, looking both excited and nervous. "Yeah. It's really happening."
We spent the rest of the day preparing for what would come next. I made sure all the documents were ready and triple-checked everything. Sirius was restless, pacing around Grimmauld Place, while Rose tried her best to keep him calm.
The evening came quickly, and after dinner, I found myself alone in the study, reviewing the case once more. Everything was perfect. We had the evidence, we had the witnesses, and Madam Bones was one of the most honest witches in the Ministry. She wouldn't let bias affect the outcome.
As I closed the file, I leaned back and stared at the ceiling, my mind wandering. Tomorrow was going to be a big day, not just for Sirius but for Rose too. She was about to witness the culmination of everything she'd been fighting for.
But for me? This was just another mission. Another case solved. Another universe, another battle. Still, I couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. Helping Rose had been… different. More personal.
I'd have to leave eventually, though. After all, this wasn't my world.
But that could wait until after the trial. For now, I'd focus on helping Rose and Sirius get the justice they deserved.
Suddenly, a knock at the door broke my thoughts.