Chapter 7: The Hearing
The next morning Sirius was rudely awakened by one of the Aurors guarding his cell. He couldn't have expected much else though. Since when has anyone been kind to a man on trial?
His hands were magically handcuffed behind his back as he was led out of his ministry holding cell and escorted downstairs to the trial. Everything, he noticed, had been repaired since it destruction last week. The whole Wizengamot was scheduled to be there. Sirius took a deep, nervous breath. This was it, the day he'd been waiting years for. Saying he was anxious was an understatement.
They entered the room and Sirius immediately noticed a chair in the center. It was covered in chains, and Sirius wondered if he would be chained down during the trial. The thought of this increased his anxiety and he proceeded with his head slightly down, avoiding the gazes on the people in the room. Some were on his side, he knew, but others still thought him guilty. Most of these were supporters of Fudge, no doubt. Sirius was glad to hear that Umbridge was still in St. Mungos and therefore would not be able to attend the trial. This meant Fudge had one less supporter, a factor that Sirius knew could change the outcome of the trial in case of a close vote.
Sirius looked up in time to catch a glimpse of Remus, who gave him a supportive thumbs up. He let out a sigh of relief seeing Harry was not with him. Although he'd agreed that Harry could come, it had been a very reluctant agreement. He wondered, though, why Harry had not come after all the fuss he'd created over the week.
As Sirius was led into the chair in the center of the room, he overheard the voice of Dumbledore, "That will not be necessary, Cornelius." The chains on the chair, Sirius noticed, had glowed a bit but remained intact. He mentally thanked Dumbledore as he situated himself into the chair, a bit self-conscious that all eyes were on him and he had not bathed in days.
"Right," said Fudge. "The accused being present, let us begin. Disciplinary hearing of the seventh of July concerning offenses by Sirius Black, escaped convict. The charges are as follows: betrayal to Lily and James Potter, blowing up a street and killing twelve muggles, murdering Peter Pettigrew, escaping from Azkaban, aiding in the release of ten Death Eaters from Azkaban and attempting murder on Harry James Potter."
Fudge babbled on more, but Sirius was no longer listening. He just wanted this to be over. He wanted to see Harry, start a life with him, and be a part of his family. At the same time, he wished he could go murder that filthy rat right now. Fudge's bellowing voice interrupted his thoughts.
"You are the escaped convict, Sirius Black?"
"Yes."
"And you were accused fifteen years ago of betraying James and Lily Evans Potter, as well as murdering Peter Pettigrew and a street full of muggles?"
"Yes."
"And you were accused two years ago for escaping from Azkaban and also aiding in the release of ten other Death Eaters from Azkaban?"
Sirius' eyes darkened, "Yes."
"And finally, you have been accused numerous times of attempting to kill Harry James Potter?"
"I have, but-"
"You were friends with the Potter's during the time of You-Know-Who's reign, were you not?"
"Yes."
"Yet you still betrayed them?"
"No."
"Sirius Black, are you denying the charges made against you fifteen years ago?"
"I am."
"And you are fully aware that witnesses saw you kill the street full of muggles and Pettigrew?"
"He's alive."
"Narrowly surviving the fate you'd brought upon him!"
At this, Sirius stood up, anger flashing through his sunken eyes, "I never got to kill that rat! I spent twelve years in Azkaban for nothing!"
"Sit down, Mr. Black. Tell us, why only twelve? How did you escape? Who helped you?"
"I acted on my own accord."
"Impossible. It was You-Know-Who himself who helped you out, wasn't it, Black?"
"Never!" Sirius was shouting now. "I'd never join his side!"
Fudge shook his head, "Denial, I see. I think that will be all, Mr. Black. Shall we vote now? All in favor of clearing the accused of all charges?"
Only a few hands went up, and Harry and Sirius both felt their hearts drop. Harry would not let this happen; he couldn't. Remus gave him a nudge, and he whipped off his invisibly cloak. Luckily, no one saw him, too transfixed on the man in the center of the room.
"And all in favor of-"
"WAIT!" Harry was sprinting down to the center of the room. Sirius turned around and looked at his godson in shock. He'd been here all along. He should have known.
"What is the meaning of this?" Fudge asked.
"Sirius is innocent!"
Gasps escaped from around the room as people recognized the Boy-Who-Lived. Publicity concerning him had been positive since the return of You-Know-Who.
"What proof do you have of this, Mr. Potter?"
"I saw Peter transform two years ago. He was my friend Ron's pet. In his rat form, I mean. He really is an unregistered animagus. And he confessed that night, confessed that he betrayed my mum and dad. And Sirius has done nothing but protect me for the past two years. He risked his life for me in the Department of Mysteries last week. The only reason he is here right now was because he came to protect me!"
"Are you willing to take Veritaserum to prove these claims?"
Harry looked around the room. His eyes went from Remus to Dumbledore, finally resting on his godfather. "Yes." His voice was powerful, without doubt.
Whispers broke out across the room. Fudge was talking in hushed tones with the Wizengamot. Harry heard bits and pieces such as "telling the truth" and "innocent" and he hoped things were an optimistic as they appeared to be.
"Quiet down, everyone," Fudge said. "We will be re-voting. All those in favor of clearing the accused of all charges?"
Harry watched as hands went up around the room, one by one. One-fourth of the room, a half, three-fourths… soon only a few hands remained down, one of which being Cornelius Fudge's. Harry's heart raced, and he knew Sirius' was doing the same.
"And those who find the defendant guilty?" The few hands went up, including Fudge's, but Sirius knew it was over. He had won. They had done it. He was free.
"Very well," Fudge said, flabbergasted. "Sirius Black, you are hereby cleared of all charges."
Fudge had hardly closed his mouth before Sirius had leaped from his chair, embracing Harry in his arms. Tears were welled up in his eyes. "We did it, Harry. We did it!" Harry returned the hug full-heartedly.
"And my godson?" Sirius asked the minister, drying his eyes.
"I will need to see the proper legal documents, Mr. Black."
"What?!" Sirius was at loss for words. He didn't have the documents anymore. Everything he owned had been lost when he was sent to Azkaban.
"I have them here, minister." It was Remus.
Fudge glanced over the papers carefully, trying to find a loophole, but his effort was futile. "Very well, Mr. Black. You are hereby granted custody of Harry James Potter."
Sirius gave a very childish whoop of joy at this and Remus smiled. It was good to finally have his old friend back. The trio began to exit the room, knowing all eyes were on them. Sirius didn't care anymore though. He was with the two most important people in his life and he was free. He could finally walk through the ministry without the fear of getting a Dementor's Kiss.
Once they were out of the room, Sirius turned to his fellow Marauder. "Thanks, Moony. You were always the smart one, always thinking ahead. I don't know what I'd do without you."
He was grinning from ear to ear and Remus didn't hesitate to embrace him in a big, brotherly hug.
"It's great to have you back, Sirius."
"Sorry to interrupt, Mr. Lupin, but I have a few matters I wish to discuss with Sirius concerning Harry." It was Dumbledore.
"As you know, Voldemort is back on the rise-"
"I assure you the proper wards will be in place, sir."
"And you will have to speak with his relatives."
"I will."
Dumbledore seemed satisfied with this and retreated, his robes billowing behind him.
"Let's go home," said Harry. His grin was, if possible, larger than Sirius'.
"Home," Sirius mused. "After all these years, we're finally going home."
Author's note: Thank you to everyone who patiently awaited my updates on this story. I had originally intended to make this last through Harry's summer, but now I'm not sure that will happen. I may one day continue this, but as of now, this is the ending of Hopes and Dreams. I apologize if it seems rushed.