Chapter 14:

August 2, 1991

As the young pair reveled in the feeling of a newfound connection, the two adults and the goblin in the room were blinking rapidly to clear their vision. Amelia adjusted first, since the other two had eyes better adapted to darkness. What she saw erased the majority of her doubts about Harry. She saw was a young boy making a friend and falling in love all at once, and it was as beautiful as it was adorable.

She had no doubt Harry would have kept his word, leaving aside his magic for her niece. From what she had gathered, Harry had not been blessed with a fairytale life, and this budding relationship was probably treasured by him as much as it was by Susan. They would do well together, if they allowed things to happen naturally. The multiple marriage was a nasty shock, but not the end of the world. At least Harry would be able to choose the two others. Susan would be able to influence his decision, and maybe even find companionship or love with them as well.

The one question Amelia Bones had was shared by nearly everyone in the room. What had happened between the two children, and what would it mean for them in the future? After all, the adults were familiar with magical oaths, and that magical pulse was not the same. It was something stronger. A promise that bound more than Harry's magic to his word.

While their parents were mulling over the morning's events, Harry and Susan were still living them.

"You didn't have to do... whatever it was you just did."

"I know, but I wanted to. My magic was pulling me toward you, and it felt like the right thing to do. I want you to know how happy I am to have a friend who will always be there for me."

"But we're going to be married someday!"

"I know that, but it doesn't mean we won't still be friends. My dad says that people who get married should be best friends first, and best friends after too."

Susan paused to think that over. Right now she only had a few close friends, and none closer than Hannah Abbot. If being with Harry meant having another friend like that, it was even better than she dreamed about when she thought of marrying her knight in shining armor. And the feeling she had when Harry's magic touched her was amazing, too.

"So we should be friends first, before we start dating?" she clarified.

"Definitely. Would you be able to spend some time together before school, so we can get to know each other? Maybe once Moony and your aunt stop staring at us, we can ask," he finished, turning to the others with a cheeky grin.

Madam Bones smiled and gave her permission, with Remus nodding in agreement a moment later. Since Amelia had the political scandal of the decade to contend with at work, the young couple decided to owl each other until they could arrange a time to meet again. With both parties wishing they could have more time together, they said their farewells, and left the bank using the same portkeys from earlier.

As soon as Harry and Remus arrived at home, They were met by Jonas. Remus took his leave, apparating to St. Mungos for work when the coast was clear.

"Big day again, huh, squirt?"

"you don't know the half of it. Do you mind if I write a letter before we do anything else?"

"Are you writing a certain young lady?" Harry blushed, giving the answer as clearly as possible. Jonas chuckled and shooed Harry toward his room.

"Go on then. Merlin forbid we keep the poor girl waiting a whole ten minutes."

Harry rolled his eyes at the teasing, but hurried to his desk anyway. Dipping a fresh quill into the ink, he began.

Dear Susan,

It was so nice to finally meet you. I feel like I waited forever, even though I only learned about the contract two days ago. Things have been crazy since then. I hope you are well, and still happy with what happened earlier. I've never had a real friend before, and I hope you can be the first and best one. When school starts, promise we will still talk? Ron Weasley told me that the different Houses keep to themselves, so I hope we are sorted together. Which House are you hoping for? I think all of them sound neat, so I suppose I'll go wherever they send me.

I have to go now. I'll tell Hedwig to wait for your letter.

Love, from, Harry

Harry showed the letter to Balthasar before sending it. Whether or not Susan liked snakes, Balthasar would be meeting her soon. If she was going to be with Harry, she would have to accept his familiar.

With his beautiful snowy owl winging her way to his betrothed, Harry and Jonas spent the evening in comfort, with the healer recounting his fondest memories from his Hogwarts days. Much to Harry's embarrassment, Jonas seemed to dwell on the romantic encounters he had, or at least those suited for an eleven year old's ears.

"Jonas?" Harry interrupted, late in the evening.

"Yes, Harry?"

"What happens if I get put in Slytherin? Everyone I know says it won't really matter, but I know that's not true. Ron hates Slytherins because Voldemort was one, and most of the Death Eaters were too. The Marauders pranked Slytherin most, and you've never mentioned any Slytherins in your stories who weren't nasty to you."

"Can I ask you something first?" Jonas asked. Harry nodded.

"What are the qualities associated with that House?"

Harry rattled them off from Hogwarts: A History. "Ambitious, cunning, and resourceful."

"And what's so bad about those? If you end up in Slytherin, it will because you want to be the best you can be, and know how to use your skills to get there. Voldemort's ambition was evil, plain and simple, and he used his skills to get there. The difference between good and evil is a choice, Harry, and I know for a fact that you will choose good. If you end up in Slytherin, then use your ambition to raise the whole House with you."

Harry sat quietly with his hot cocoa, and Jonas let him think in peace.

"Do children usually end up in their parents' House?"

"Usually, but not always. It has a lot to do with how each child was raised. For example, two Hufflepuffs would raise a child to believe hard work and loyalty were important qualities, so the child would be hardworking and loyal, and be sorted into Hufflepuff. Most of my friends at school were like that. Muggleborns obviously don't have the same benefits, so they are harder to place. You'll notice the sorting takes much longer for muggleborns, generally.

Harry supposed that made sense. He also assumed that his own sorting would be difficult to predict. Sure, he had Gryffindors as the majority of his new family, but he knew Pettigrew had been in that house, and now it seemed that he had been just as despicable as any other Death Eater. Susan had been raised by a Hufflepuff who exemplified hard work, and Jonas himself was another fine representative of that house. Ravenclaw and Slytherin were both without representation, but Harry imagined they would be somewhat like the goblins he had met, cunning, calculating, and ready to seize the moment. At least he lacked the same bias as Ron had toward Slytherin House.

"Thanks Jonas. I guess that makes me feel a bit better. I just don't want to lose anyone over some silly rivalry."

"Worrying means you suffer twice. Whatever happens, just do your best. Anyone who can't see past the color of your robes is none of your concern."

The two settled into a comfortable silence, as they often did. Neither felt compelled to pass the time with idle chatter. When a distraction finally came, it was in the form of an owl alighting gracefully on the windowsill.

"Hedwig!"

Harry rushed over to relieve his owl of her burden before smoothing her feathers in appreciation. With a wave, Jonas sent him off so he could read Susan's reply.

Dear Harry,

I didn't expect to hear from you so soon, but I'm glad you sent your owl. She's very beautiful, by the way. I'm sorry I waited so long to reply. I simply couldn't find the right words to say. I am still very glad to have finally met you, and I hope you feel the same. I know that some of the things you've learned about recently have come as a shock. I've known about the contract for years now, but I am still coming to terms with it.

I would like to meet, as friends, as soon as we can. You said you needed to be free earlier, but free from what? As for the other parts, well... I can't say I like the idea very much, but it doesn't hurt like it did at first. My best friend Hannah said having three wives probably scares you a little too, and that you probably weren't being selfish when you accepted that. I still hope you can tell me more in person. Until then, know that I'm happy to have a new friend, and I think someday we'll be good together as more than that. I can still feel my magic better than ever before, thanks to whatever you did today. I feel connected to you somehow, and it feels nicer than words can describe. I'm lucky to have met you, Hadrian Potter.

Love,

Susan

Harry folded the letter with a small smile. He had a friend, and he had a bright future ahead of him. With the letter tucked snugly under his pillow, Harry Potter fell asleep.

August 8, 1991

Amelia Bones was an extraordinarily patient witch. Even so, the last week had been, as one of her more astute underlings had put it, fucking insane. Discovering that an innocent man had suffered the presence of dementors for nearly ten years was somehow less shocking than the fact that he seemed relatively sane. Distant and pitifully frail, perhaps, but sane. Amelia herself believed dementor exposure was more cruel than death, and few inmates were truly deserving of it.

The traitor Pettigrew himself was of little use to any investigation beyond clearing the name of his former friend. He knew nothing of the Dark Lord's plans or reasoning for the attack on the Potters. It quickly became apparent that he had only followed the rest of the Mauraders at Hogwarts while they had had a reputation as bullies. While the rest matured, Pettigrew had only grown more sadistic as the years dragged on. His own magical weakness had led to an inferiority complex which he had never shaken. He was approached shortly after his graduation by a cloaked stranger and tempted with a bit of gold to spy for the Death Eaters. No doubt he would have been killed or obliviated had he refused. That act had led to a greater success than the Death Eaters could have imagined with his betrayal as the Potter's Secret Keeper. It also led to their greatest failure with the miraculous survival of Harry Potter and the banishment of their master.

She tapped her wand on her desk absently. Amelia admitted to herself that she had let her other duties suffer in order to correct past Ministry mistakes as quickly as possible. Her niece had been left wanting for her attention ever since the Gringotts incident. Madam Bones was grateful that Harry was now taking some of that demand for himself, as it were. Still, a day for family would be a welcome break. Perhaps after tomorrow's trials. At the moment, she had to make her statement to the press.

The next morning, magical families all over Britain received a shock as they noticed the headline of the Daily Prophet

Sirius Black Framed by Animagus Peter Pettigrew! Emergency Trial Today!

Special Report from the DMLE

In a series of fortunate events, our own Harry Potter, The-Boy-Who-Lived, took part in the detection and capture of Peter Pettigrew while exploring Diagon Alley on the first of the month. Under the influence of veritaserum, the true traitor told all. Unbeknownst to most, Pettigrew had been hiding among us for years in his animagus form of a common brown rat. Luckily our Hero was not so easily deceived by this treachery.

Many of us remember events near the end of the war against He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, once thought to be the act of the infamous Sirius Black, Heir to the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black. They will remember the posthumous Order of Merlin bestowed upon Pettigrew himself shortly after his murder at Black's hand, or so the record shows. They will remember, most importantly, how Sirius Black was branded a traitor and declared responsible for the attack at Godric's Hollow by He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, which led to the death of Lily and James Potter.

How, we ask, was such a grand deception and gross miscarriage of justice allowed to take place? Who is responsible? Why did it take a boy of eleven to unveil a lie a decade in the making? We at The Prophet hope to learn the answers to these questions and other details at the emergency session of the Wizengamot called by Amelia Bones, Director of the Department for Magical Law Enforcement.

What is currently known from anonymous testimony of various officials within the ministry is that Sirius Black has been taken from Azkaban Prison to stand trial today alongside his former friend, Peter Pettigrew, and it is likely only one will walk away a free man.

Remus rubbed his eyes tiredly as he read the article before him. He had been awake most of the night after being informed of the trials by Amelia Bones herself. He was surprised by the move, if only because emergency trials were exceedingly rare, but he was glad for it all the same. Assuming as Remus now was that Sirius was innocent, he only wished it had been sooner. Nobody deserved the horrors of Azkaban, and certainly no one less than an innocent man.

Remus would be present at the trials, in the event he be asked to testify regarding Pettigrew's capture. Rehearsing his presentation had also been part of the reason for his restlessness. At the boys insistance, and with Lupin unwilling to have another argument on the subject, Harry would be in attendance as well, under the watchful eye of Jonas Prim.

"All rise for the Honorable Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot!"

Few, if any, in attendance that day could remember seeing Dumbledore looking as bone weary as he did now. He looked as if like his century and some odd years of life had very qucikly caught up with him.

In truth, Albus' mind was elsewhere, still reeling at his failure with Harry, and wondering where on earth he might be. He had, of course, seen the article this morning which claimed the young boy was responsible for Pettigrew's capture, but it struck him as unlikely. Still, odds were good that he had at least been in Diagon Alley that day. At least he was safe.

Had Dumbledore had the presence of mind to look to his right, a great burden would have been lifted from his shoulders. As it was, he failed to notice the pair of emerald green eyes folloeing him with calculating coolness.

"Be seated!"

The rumble of hundreds of wizards and witches settling into postion was enough to bring Dumbledore back to the task at hand. He banged his gavel, calling the session to order.

"Thank you, and welcome. As you are all well aware, this Emergency Session of the Wizengamot has been called by Madam Amelia Bones of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Therefore, our only orders of business for the day are the trials of both Petter Pettigrew and Sirius Black. I would remind our esteemed members that any publications up and until this point on the matter are considered heresay, and not necesarrily the truth. Only the evidence presented today will be admissable in the proceedings of this court of law. Without further ado, let us bring in our first defendant, Petter Pettigrew."

Strangely enough, Pettigrew actually appeared to be in better condition now as he faced the consequences of his actions than at any point in the past 11 years. He had clearly bathed, for one, and he was wearing clothing that was not stained or threadbear. He almost could have looked respectable, if it hadnt been for the obvious terror in his expression. As he took his place in the defendant's chair and chains sprung from the floor to restrain him, his terror only increased. He looked for all the world a guilty, traitorous rat.

Dumbledore spoke again, looking to the documents before him. "Peter Pettigrew, you stand accused of twelve counts of murder, one count of violation of the International Statute of Secrecy, two counts of accessory to the murders of Lily and James Potter, one count of conspiracy to murder their son, Hadrian Potter, one count of involvment with a known terrorist organization, and nine counts of fraud, for every full year since you were pronounced dead." It was common practice to file multiple charges, in the unlikely event that only some could be proven beyond reasonable doubt. "How do you plead?"

"Guilty as charged, Professor."

There was a moment of shocked silence before pandemonium broke out. In the fourth row by the door, Jonas Prim raised one brow. "Huh, I didn't see that coming."

It took several loud minutes for Dumbledore to be heard again. Even then, whispers continued until he banged the gavel so harshly the head snapped off and rolled to the floor in front of Madam Bones.

"Reparo." The offending piece flew back to its place and order was restored.

"Madam Bones, does the prosecution have anything to add before we proceed with sentencing?

"No, your honor"

"Very well. Members of the Wizengamot, Peter Pettigrew has pleaded guilty to all charges. In light of this, I move to reduce the sentancing to thirty-five years, instead of the maximum of life in prison. All in favor?"

Not a single wand was raised. As predicted, Pettigrew had burned every bridge. Too familiar was the fate of traitors and turncoats. He would rot in Azkaban till the end of his days. To some, that would never be enough.

Dumbledore sighed in defeat. "Very well. Lead him away. We will take a thirty minute recess before the trial of Sirius Black" He was interrupted before he could abuse the gavel again.

"Chief Warlock?"

"Yes, Madam Bones?"

"I move to hold the trial now, in light of recent events."

"I second the motion!" Unsurprisingly, it was Madam Longbottom who spoke. As one of the few female members of the Wizengamot, she was always quick to support Amelia.

"All in favor?" a clear majority raised their wands. "The motion passes. Aurors, please escort the defendant to the floor." No point in the chair this time around; the trial was a mere formality at this point.

The difference between Peter Pettigrew and Sirius Black was like night and day. Whereas Peter had looked as guilty as his plea, Sirius strode into the room on his own power. His gaze swept across the room, unintentionally reinforcing his positive image as his eyes lit up with hope when he saw interest rather than hostility on many faces in the crowd.

His passive search came to a halt when he recognized a familiar scarred face smiling down at him from the witness benches.

"Moony!" He cried. He moved toward his long-lost friend only to have Madam Bones step in his way.

"Later, Mr. Black. Remus asked me to tell you that both he and your godson will meet you only after this is over. I promise it won't be but a moment. The rat already cleared your name."

His godson? Harry was here? The thought of seeing little Harry nearly broke the man. His greatest fear, that Harry was in danger, fell away, and the guilt he felt for abandoning him fell with it. He searched furtively until he saw a tuft of messy black hair by the door, and the spitting image of an eleven-year-old James Potter stood proudly before him. In that moment, Harry seemed to feel Sirius watching and looked away from his companion to meet his gaze. For the second time, those emerald eyes brought a Marauder's smile back for the first time in many years.

The gavel knocking ended the moment, though it could not knock the smile from Padfoot's face.

"Sirius Orion Black, you were brought here on charges laid against you nearly 10 years past. Less than an hour ago, another claimed responsibilty for those crimes. However, his guilt raises more questions which you may hold the answers to. Please indulge us." Dumbledore turned to his peers among the Wizengamot. "If I am correct in my reading of the assembly, I say we restore this man's good name before proceeding with a new line of questioning. Under my authority as Chief Warlock, I move to drop all charges against Sirius Orion Black by general acclamation. All in favor raise your wands and say 'aye'."

"Aye!" it was unanimous. Truthfully, anyone who would not have voted to acquit under normal circumstances would have looked stupid, and they knew it. Thus,

peer pressure amongst the magical peerage cleared Sirius' name.

"The motion passes."

Sirius' eyes widened comically as cheers broke out around him. The press went mad, having witnessed the two shortest and most important trials in recent history. The special edition of The Daily Prophet was likely to sell out its planned run. None of that mattered to Sirius. He was free. He felt a firm hand on his shoulder and allowed Bones to lead him out of the chamber.

Still dazed, Sirius allowed himself to be patted on the back and have his hand shaken by well wishers and opportunists alike until he found himself in the strong embrace of his only surviving friend.

"Moony?"

"Im here, Padfoot. It's good to have you back"

That was all it took before reality overwhelmed him, and Sirius Black let out a broken sob.