Hi! So, some interesting thoughts from you all from the last chapter. A lot of people were upset with how Sirius was treated. I feel like I need to tell you guys that the characters in my story don't know everything going on like you guys do, they are living and discovering it for the first time here. A lot of stories on here like to have people just move along with crazy things because we the readers know they are true. Harry had NO reason to believe Sirius and no logical or intelligent person would either. Don't forget that the characters in the story don't know the story by heart like a lot of you do, they aren't going to figure everything out in an instant or instantly go along with crazy things because you know they're true. Dumbledore is a literal genius and has an incredible memory if it's not photographic it's damn near, so he would put the pieces together fast.

Also, there are a lot of cringy stories on here that have characters act how the author wants them to rather than how they would actually act. Don't forget what's headcanon and what's real.

That being said let's get back to my AU story!

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.

Department of Magical Law 17. October 1992

As the roaring cheers of the now believed criminal started to die down, Andromeda snapped out of her shock and surged forward to pull Harry into a hug, with repeated thanks being whispered into his hair. Harry reciprocated the hug and waited for her to calm down.

"This is fantastic!" Cheered Sirius while whipping tears from his face, "I can't believe it! I'm getting out of Azkaban! So where are we gonna go?"

Andromeda let Harry go and gave Sirius the same treatment.

"First thing for you, is that you can't get too ahead of yourself, Sirius." Cautioned Harry with both hands raised, "First is that Peter being alive gives credence to all of your claims and casts tremendous doubts on your guilt. But you're not free yet."

Andromeda sat back down with a sigh, "He's right, you will have to go through a trial, and we need to present all of the evidence on what happened and then prove that it did happen in that way. Sirius, just because Peter Pettigrew is alive doesn't mean that you're going to be able to leave."

Sirius looked between them in surprise, "What are you both talking about? I'm innocent, the rat proves it!"

Harry sighed tiredly, "That's not how the law works, you not being guilty is great but we have to prove that to the Department of Magical Law and the prosecution, not to mention how this will look publicly for a lot of people that were in power during your initial arrest."

"He's right, but thankfully the head of the department is outside of the room, likely talking to Dumbledore about your case. What did you and he talk about, Sirius?" Asked Andromeda.

"A lot of things, first he made me give my side of the story like I did to Harry, describe Peter's Animagus form in as much detail as I could." Started Sirius leaning back in his chair, "Then he voiced similar points as Harry, but he was far gentler about it!" He shot at Harry.

"What! To me you were the deranged lunatic who betrayed my parents! Did you think I'd just believe you at your word?" Harry said with disbelief, "I'm not stupid and until we found Peter, your story, despite somehow being the truth, was the most idiotic thing I've heard in a while."

Sirius sagged, "I know," he muttered.

"And!" Continued Harry, "You did absolutely no favors shouting that 'you killed them, and it was your fault!' That's a confession and with an open and shut case such as this, means they were able to throw you in jail without worry! Dumbledore and Mrs. Tonks have told me how crazy it was in those days, Crouch was on a warpath to take down Death Eaters, most of whom had considerable amounts of money to buy their innocence, so one openly and publicly confessing to his crimes was enough to imprison you! It wasn't right and I hate it the more I think about it, but that's what it is."

"Ok Harry that's enough." Andromeda said before either Sirius or Harry could continue, "And I've told you to call me Andy, you're family!"

"I keep forgetting, sorry Andromeda." Harry apologized.

"Andy!"

"Right sorry," Laughed Harry.

Sirius breathed out a sigh and rubbed his forehead, "So what do we do in the meantime? I really don't want to wait for a trial in Azkaban."

"You won't have to." Answered Andromeda, seeing both Sirius and Harry looking at her in confusion she continued, "People involved in ongoing cases where their guilt is in question or yet to be determined, are allowed to wait for their trial at home or in a holding cell here in the ministry, depending on the circumstances. You and Pettigrew will be put in cells here since both of you are flight risks."

Sirius nodded in resignation, "Well that's better than the Dementors."

"But we need to clean you up." Harry said suddenly, "You look like a criminal which won't do, we need to try and undo some of the Azkaban."

Sirius snorted, "Yeah well, Azkaban isn't good for hygiene. What do you have in mind?"

"I know someone who's a doctor, or rather, I know someone who knows a doctor that I trust. Let me ask her for some help."

Andromeda frowned, "You trust them to keep this quiet? This will go a lot smoother if we keep the public away from it as long as possible."

Harry nodded, "Yes, a friend of mine, Tracey Davis, her mother is a muggle-born that is a doctor in the muggle world. She trained as a healer but stayed away due to the war. I'll ask Tracey to ask her mother."

Sirius perked up, "Oh! Got a girlfriend?"

Harry rolled his eyes, "No, no girlfriend just a friend of mine."

"What else will Sirius need?" He asked Andromeda.

She looked down for a moment to think, "Better clothes for the trial, he'll need a haircut: we won't be able to save those ends," Sirius stuttered but she continued, "Medical attention to make sure there aren't lasting effects from Azkaban and for him to put on some weight."

Harry nodded, "Bill me." He looked over at Sirius, "I'll do all I can to get you out and make sure this is all righted, I promise."

Sirius sagged and gave him a smile, "I…thank you Harry."

"With that I'm going to see what-" Before Harry could finish Dumbledore and Madam Bones entered the room. Madam Bones looked pensive while Dumbledore looked the same level of pleasant as always.

"We have much to talk about Mr. Black." Started Madam Bones, "Recently, interesting truths have been brought to my attention." She received a snort from Sirius, "Mr. Pettigrew is going to be held in a cell with containment wards that have been personally drawn by Dumbledore, you will as well."

"What? Why!" Sirius shouted in surprise.

"Think Black!" She growled, "Even if you are innocent, I'm not taking chances that you could run away or try to leave! Both of you are Animagus which means that you have means of escape that the means of stopping aren't standardized."

"It's for the best," chimed in Andromeda, "If you cooperate, then it will look better during your trial." she said giving him a stare.

"Fine." Sirius relented.

"Don't worry," Harry said, "Everything we talked about will be happening as best we can."

Harry looked to Madam Bones, "What happens now?"

"I have a general layout of the situation from Dumbledore, he will need someone to represent him in court, we need to compile all the evidence for the trial, we not you all – the department will still be acting as the prosecution until he is completely proven innocent." She explained, "I will have to go through all the proper channels to set up the trial, I expect something in November, these things can't be rushed."

"I will be a testifying character witness, so I won't be presiding over the case." Dumbledore chimed in, "I believe either Madam Bones or another high up in the Department will oversee your trial. For now, I and Harry need to be returning to Hogwarts. If anything comes up, please notify us."

Harry walked over to the door, "Did you already set up the cells?" He asked the Headmaster.

"Yes, didn't take too long, the holding cells are close after all."

Harry nodded, "Then let's get back. Sirius it was good to meet you, in the end." He said with a smile.

Sirius shot him a grin, "Sure was! Don't be a stranger! You're always welcome in my cell!" he said with a laugh.

With that Harry followed Dumbledore out of the room, Andromeda stayed behind to keep speaking with Sirius while Madam Bones went through all the procedures for the trial and what the two of them needed to do as barrister and defendant.

"What are the odds of Sirius getting acquitted?" Harry asked as they made their way back to the elevator.

Dumbledore hummed, "Very good, we have Pettigrew in custody with a pair of Aurors getting his statement at this very moment."

"Are they, um, trusted Aurors?"

Dumbledore sighed, "Yes, I recommended Auror Kingsley for this task and his partner in this case is one of very high esteem."

"Well if you're sure," Said Harry, taking Dumbledore at his word, "Who is it, anyway, the other Auror?"

"Alastor Moody, and old friend of mine whom I trust implicitly." Dumbledore answered, "Also, Alastor was a member of the Order of the Phoenix, he helped Sirius and your father prepare for combat. So, after hearing the circumstances of this case in its entirety he may be even more interested in the situation."

Harry nodded and stepped into the elevator along side Dumbledore. Mulling over what the Headmaster said, when another thought came to mind.

"I've never really thought about it till now," muttered Harry, "My parents were really young, weren't they? Joined you in the war right out of Hogwarts."

Dumbledore looked pained for a moment before slowly blinking, "Indeed they were. Your father and his friends, alongside your mother joined in the summer after their graduation. I had Alastor and a few other experienced combatants give them enough training to get them ready before allowing them to actively take missions. Your parents were only 21 when they died." He said sadly with a watery eye.

"But your father, Sirius, Remus and your mother were very capable fighters. Your father was perhaps the most powerful fighter among them with Sirius being the better duelist of them all. Not that your mother and Remus were incapable, my standards were very high when recruiting, both of them were as good as any Auror."

Harry frowned, "Remus?" he asked.

"Oh, you've never heard of him?" Dumbledore asked in slight surprise.

Before they could continue, they were let off the elevator and bid Roberts, the operator, goodbye for fourth time in the day.

"He was a part of the foursome of friends that included your father, Sirius, and Peter." Continued Dumbledore, "Although he is a troubled man, no luck or fortune and similarly to you, he lost everything that night 11 years ago."

"I don't think I've heard of Remus before," Said Harry with a frown, "But I will reach out to him so that he knows what's going on."

"Perhaps it would be better if I reached out to Remus," Dumbledore said with a slight frown of his own. Harry made to comment but they arrived back at the floo hallway.

They entered the floo and left for Hogwarts once more.

Arriving back in the office Harry went to stand in front of the Headmasters desk and waited for Dumbledore to get situated.

"Sir, I've been meaning to ask but wanted to wait until everything with Sirius is done with." Started Harry with slight nervousness.

"You want to know more about the diary." Finished Dumbledore with a knowing look in his eye.

"Yes, sir."

Dumbledore sighed, "First I will say that I have made tremendous headway in the subject and a few questions were answered that have been plaguing my mind for some time. I will also say that I am still not going to permit the use of the diary, by you or anyone, until I know that it is not going to be dangerous.

"I spoke with Ms. Weasley and I wish to congratulate you on your skills of deduction and observation, you were right on nearly all accounts regarding the diary. However, Ms. Weasley was not holding out until the night you found her, she was in fact already losing herself for days if not weeks leading up to it, that was only the first night that Voldemort physically took control. Also, she doesn't have any memory of him taking control, nor did she notice the strain on her body the diary placed."

Harry sagged, "So she was already lost when I found her, not beginning to lose." He hadn't realized how far gone she was and it made the danger of the situation far more real.

"Indeed," Dumbledore said softly, "It was a fortunate event that you stumbled across her that night, otherwise I fear what would have befallen Ms. Weasley in the future with Voldemort in control of her."

"Then I will wait," Said Harry resolutely, "When you decide to do something please tell me. Also, what did you find out from it?"

Dumbledore's face hardened to stone at the question, "That Voldemort delved into magics darker than I thought to preserve his life in the case of his demise. For years I knew he did, but I now know the method he used."

"So, the diary is something that kept him alive?" Harry asked.

"Yes," answered Dumbledore, "But you will have to forgive me if I don't feel comfortable divulging the precise method used in this instance. I am myself, very unsettled and do not wish to pass on the same feeling. You will have to trust me in that I am doing all I can to fully uncover the secret of Voldemort's continued existence."

Harry looked like he was ready to argue for a moment before sagging, "Ok."

"Now I believe enough of your Sunday has been taken, go enjoy yourself." Dismissed Dumbledore.

Hogwarts 22. October 1992

Harry walked into Defense Against the Dark Arts with trepidation. He was not in the mood to hear Lockhart go on about his feats, imaginary or not.

In the past couple of days nothing has changed for the most part, he was working on a list for he and his group to work on during the weekend. He was also going to also see about working Lockhart for something that may be beneficial for scoping out potential friends.

The Slytherins and Gryffindors all filed into the room taking their customary seats. Harry, instead of moving toward one of the tables in the back, went and sat in the front and center desk with a reluctant Blaise plopping down next to him.

While waiting for Lockhart to burst out of his office in a grand jester or showmanship, one that lost all grandiose after the first time, Harry took a few deep breaths and went over how he was going to proceed.

The door to Lockhart's office slammed open and the man himself swept out with gaudy pink and blue robes and his megawatt smile. Most of the girls were still enamored with the man and Harry swore he heard Lavender sigh behind him.

"Welcome!" He said while rushing to stand in the front, "I have a marvelous day planned! We're going to go over my triumph against the dark wizard Blorin!"

Lockhart was going to continue when he spotted Harry sitting front and center. He moved over with a picture-perfect smile and a gleam shining in his eyes.

"How marvelous! Harry please step forward to assist me in demonstration." He called and gestured for the front of the class. "I will of course play myself while you will play the Dark Wizard!"

Harry reluctantly got up and moved in front of the room, he noticed most of the class looking at him with various levels of amusement, the Gryffindors in particular were looking excited.

"Hopefully your teachings benefit me." Harry said with a smile.

Lockhart looked as if he was given the greatest present, "Why it is always nice to be recognized for the caliber of wizard I am! Especially by one such as yourself Harry! Now dueling is a very precise art, Harry, everyone, one must always know what they're doing. Aim to disarm but never forget the basics."

"So, Harry I will have you try to disarm while I will counter! Everyone pay attention to my counter spell, one I made myself!"

Harry took out his wand and felt himself cringe at what he was going to have to do, he would rather drink glass than praise this fool but here he was.

Lockhart got into a ridiculous and completely impractical stance with his hip cocked, hand on his hip, and wand held to the side not even pointed forward. Harry held his wand forward and crouched a bit lower to decrease his opponents target. Standard dueling stance, something he and Tracey have been working on.

"Now!" Lockhart started, not even looking at Harry but rather smiling towards the class.

Harry tried to keep the bored look off of his face but pointed his wand at Lockhart then moved slightly over Lockhart's shoulder so that his spell would pass right by his head.

"Expelliarmus!"

A red bolt of magic shot true and missed Lockhart by inches and splashed harmlessly against the back wall. Lockhart laughed uproariously, before placing his wand back into his pocket before clapping and walking forward.

"As you can see my spell has made it so that the young and talented Mr. Harry Potter's spell missed me! Although as I casted silently you didn't notice until the spell missed!" Lockhart announced with a grin, much to the adoration of many of the girls in class and even some of the Gryffindors who were gaping at the man's show of skill.

"You can't be serious," muttered Harry to himself. He had thought the man would use some spell or dodge or anything. He just stood there and hoped for the best! Harry peaked around and noticed that all of the Slytherins looked so unimpressed that Harry almost laughed.

"Well done my boy!" Congratulated Lockhart, "I say if you had been listening to me you might have even hit me! But you can't expect to be able to hurt an Order of Merlin Second Class that easily!"

Harry felt his teeth grind and had a sudden regret of not hitting him with his spell. But this was his chance.

"Sir," Interrupted Harry before Lockhart could continue his self-congratulatory monologue, "I think you've shown your skill in dueling many times during our class. I felt that we at Hogwarts could benefit greatly from a dueling club, and with a man of your pedigree, perhaps you could bring it up to Professor Dumbledore. You could start a whole new competition! Something that rivals quidditch!"

Harry caught Blaise waving him down out of the corner of his eye – he was laying it on too thick, understood – but he turned back to Lockhart with a pleading expression.

"I know everyone, not just the class but school, would love a chance to learn dueling. Especially from you."

Lockhart's hands shook slightly before he calmed and steadied himself, Harry had to give him that, he had remarkable control over himself when he needed to.

"Yes! I will speak to the Headmaster tonight!" He declared and all of Slytherin smirked or grinned, Harry and the others having let them in on the plan this morning, while the Gryffindors looked excited and were whispering back and forth.

Lockhart continued, "For now, let us all go over the spell that the young, talented and inexperienced Harry used."

Harry went back to his seat while his eyes rolled to the back of his head in annoyance. This idiot was too much and he was tired of listening.

"You do realize that if this dueling club is headed by Lockhart that it will be incredibly unhelpful, right?" Daphne asked for the fifth time as she laid out some books for them to look at.

Harry sighed tiredly, "Yes, I don't expect us to learn anything worthwhile, but we can see some of the other students and what they are able to do."

Before Daphne could retort, or Harry continue, they heard the sound of crashing and looked to the other side of the room with an apologetic Tracey and a soaked Blaise.

"I'm so sorry!" Shouted Tracey moving forward to help Blaise.

Blaise raised his hand and shook his head, "No, I can fix this." He waved his wand and muttered an incantation that Harry couldn't hear that dried and fixed his clothes.

"Household charms are very useful, such as the drying charm." Explained Blaise, "Tracey, you'll need more practice with the water summoning charm, you still don't have the control to limit the power and size of the water streams you produce."

"I know!" Groaned Tracey while pulling her hair, "But I'm learning this very quickly! Don't compare me to Harry who makes all of this look easy!"

"No one would think to compare you to Harry." Daphne put in with a smirk, "But both of you have a bit to go before you are at the appropriate level for U17 duels."

Blaise gave a nod of agreement while Tracey did so begrudgingly.

"I don't plan on trying until after third year at the earliest, but I do plan to see some of the duels this coming summer." Harry agreed, "For now I want Tracey to get the spells I listed for her down so that she and I can practice."

He looked over to Blaise then to Daphne, "Both of you could learn them as well, I know you don't want to be duelists but knowing how never hurts."

"I've been practicing," said Blaise with a shrug.

Daphne nodded, "Me too, I just don't put that much focus on it."

Harry shrugged; at the end of the day it wasn't important that they learned it. It was really just to give himself more people to practice on. Both Blaise and Daphne have been helpful in gathering the necessary materials to learn about enchanting.

"Can we continue," said Daphne with a frown toward Harry, taking his attention from Blaise and Tracey, "Enchanting is difficult, and I was trying to explain what I know already before Tracey and Blaise interrupted."

"Sorry, please continue Daphne."

Daphne smiled, "Good, now the most basic definition of Enchanting is giving something a spell or the effects of a spell for a period of time and the targeted object being able to sustain the effect without the focus of the enchanter. For example, in Diagon Alley there are many lanterns that light the area at night, but they are not lit by fire but rather the Lumos spell and enchanted to be sustained for hours at a time every night on their own."

"So, I could give a rock the Lumos spell and it will be shine without me sustaining the spell, and that would be an enchanted rock?" Asked Harry.

"Yes, exactly." Answered Daphne, "That is the most basic application of enchanting and the one used to teach beginners. Now the most advanced and incredible example of enchanting would be Hogwarts itself, which has had so many spells, enchantments, and just so much magic poured into it over the last millennium that it has become nearly sentient. Hogwarts is an achievement of four genius centennial wizards working together for decades and added on by some of the greatest Witches and Wizards for centuries before achieving what it is now."

Harry nodded, that was incredible when he thought about it. What were the odds that such incredible people were not only born at the same time but worked together for something? Hogwarts was the example of what could be achieved by something like that.

"Centennial?" Asked Tracey as she and Blaise joined them.

Blaise answered, "It's a term that came about in Merlin's time, he was called a Wizard that came around only once a century. Now extraordinary Witches and Wizards are given that title if they prove themselves to be above and beyond everyone else. Dumbledore and Grindelwald are the most recent examples."

"Wow!" Shouted Tracey in surprise, "I had no idea!"

As they continued talking Harry turned inward, he felt that Blaise forgot someone. Tom Marvolo Riddle was indeed a centennial wizard. He was, by Albus Dumbledore's own admission, the most brilliant individual to come through Hogwarts in the old Wizards time teaching at the school. His achievements, feats of magic and sheer reputation prove that he was indeed a centennial Wizard even if no one wanted to acknowledge it. Harry knew that before the end, he would have to stand on that level if he had any hope of surviving the man and making it out alive.

He was brought out of his thoughts by Blaise.

"Who knows, Harry here may be a Centennial Wizard one day." He said with a grin.

Tracey looked impressed and Daphne tilted her head around as if she were tasting the idea. She didn't comment but hmmed to herself.

"I don't know about that," Harry said with a bit of embarrassment, "But I'm certainly going to see just how far I can go."

He fully planned on getting to the same stage as Tom, as Dumbledore, as Grindelwald. But he had a long way to go, the staircase that lead toward that summit was still being revealed, but he was sure that he was making progress towards it.

End Chapter

A short one I know but it's more of a transition chapter that finished off the Sirius first meet. Also showed Harry's life goal for the story, becoming a centennial wizard, like the chapter title.

I don't know when the next chapter will come out, I have been working on my Pokémon story with about 9.5k words into the next chapter and it is not even halfway done. So that and this will get work.

Also, I hope all of you are safe and indoors, this virus is no joke and I don't want anyone getting it. I'm unfortunately "essential" in my job and my college (that I have 5 classes) is going hard with the assignments. You know the whole: If we can't teach, flood them with assignments!

So somehow, I'm even more busy these days…

Anywho! Stay safe!