Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any characters from either book or movie.

Raised by a Death Eater?

Chapter 1: The Release of Sirius Orion Black

SIRIUS BLACK ACQUITTED

By Rita Skeeter

With the strong evidence held against Sirius Black and the well-known fact that the Imperius Curse cannot be used to force Secret-Keepers, it was believed he wouldn't be able to talk his way out of punishment. However, his deviousness and his creativity were underestimated. Albus Dumbledore's testimony was about a conversation he held with James and Lily Potter before they asked Black to become their Secret-Keeper and Black took advantage of the 'before' detail to claim he refused to become the Secret-Keeper and instead became a decoy as part of a failed attempt to protect the real Secret-Keeper's identity. When asked what he had to say about the witnesses who claimed to overhear Peter Pettigrew calling him out on his betrayal, Black had the nerve to claim Peter Pettigrew was the real Secret-Keeper and only shouted the accusations against him to mislead the witnesses. Black even managed to explain away his confession and his hysterical laughter at the crime scene by claiming he was mad with grief and only blamed himself for the deaths of James and Lily Potter because he was the one who convinced them to make Peter Pettigrew their Secret-Keeper and for the deaths of those muggle bystanders because Pettigrew wouldn't have killed them if Black didn't try to catch him. That's right, readers. Black got away with mass murder by accusing a victim. He also claims Peter Pettigrew didn't die. He explained away the fact Peter Pettigrew's finger was all they found of him by accusing Pettigrew of cutting off that finger and leaving it behind to fake his death. Unfortunately, the Aurors who arrested Black at the crime scene forgot to check his wand and Pettigrew's for spells to establish who performed which spell and the Council of Magical Law had no choice but grant Black the benefit of doubt. Black's only punishment was a fine for being an unregistered Animagus. He confessed that to make people believe Peter Pettigrew was one as well.

For more details on why the Council of Magical Law wouldn't accept findings from Black's and/or Pettigrew's wands being examined after being taken away from the crime scene, see Page 2.

For details on James Potter's, Sirius Black's and Peter Pettigrew's supposed animal forms and how they helped Black to convince the Council of Magical Law that Peter Pettigrew faked his death, see Page 3.

For details on laws regarding Animagi and why wizards and witches who decide to become so must register, see Page 5.

"At least they didn't mention Black's status as Harry's Godfather." Albus Dumbledore sadly commented.

"Is it still standing, Headmaster?" Hogwarts Deputy Headmistress Minerva McGonagall asked. "One would think it'd be magically revoked upon his betrayal."

"The Ministry cannot do that unless Black is proven guilty of betraying the Potters, Minerva." Headmaster Dumbledore replied.

"Actually, Black and the Potters took a magical vow to prevent Death Eaters within the Ministry from tampering with the Godparenting without proof." Charms Professor Filius Flitwick explained. "I know because I acted as the binder."

"Then how did Black get away with breaking the vow?" Professor McGonagall asked.

That's when Potions Master/Double Agent Severus Snape decided to enter the conversation. "A common point seemingly present between Death Eaters who believe Black to be the Secret-Keeper and those who believe Pettigrew was the Secret-Keeper is that the Dark Lord was the betrayed one."

"How come, Severus?" Professor Flitwick asked.

"They believe James and Lily Potter sacrificed their lives to stop the Dark Lord and the Secret-Keeper, be him Black or Pettigrew, knowingly led him to his demise thanks to some ancient magic known to the Potters." Professor Snape explained. "That would explain Black's actions not being magically regarded as oath-breaking. James and Lily Potter wouldn't be betrayed if both of them accepted their end and consented to it and Black had good reason to believe it'd be for the brat's benefit as it did turn out to be."

"It seems plausible, Severus." Professor Flitwick agreed.

"Except that it doesn't excuse Black for blaming Pettigrew." Dumbledore replied. "Had this theory been true and Black confessed to it, I'd let him go unpunished for the Potters' deaths since it'd mean they sacrificed themselves for the Greater Good." He then noticed the others staring at him. "I'd still have Black punished for the mass murder even if he talked the Council of Magical Law into seeing Peter Pettigrew's death as an act of self-defense."

As Harry Potter's Godfather, Sirius Black requested (read: demanded) full custody and guardianship of the Boy-Who-Lived. Believing Black to be guilty, the Ministry employee in charge of evaluating the request's (demand's) validity didn't want to hand over the Boy-Who-Lived to him but, as a Ministry officer in charge of enforcing laws regarding child welfare, he was oath-bound to follow those laws and found no grounds to deny Sirius Black his godson. He even consulted Bartemius Crouch, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, in hopes that Crouch would know of some detail he was missing. However, not even Crouch knew of a reason to deny Black his rights as Harry Potter's Godfather and guardian and he only could hope his adversaries wouldn't know of it on time to use it to prevent him from becoming Minister of Magic. Guardianship matters are handled by the Ministry with extreme confidentiality so, naturally, everybody would know within two days.

End chapter. I'm sorry for those who were expecting the fifth year of 'Removing Dudley from the Equation'. I still plan to do this but I wanted to write a fic with Sirius raising Harry despite being believed to be a Death Eater where his reputation is restored later than it did in 'Three Dursleys, a Potter and a Black'.