Chapter Eight

DAILY PROPHET

UPHEAVAL AT I.C.W CONFERENCCE

Sirius Black - Innocent?

By Brian Banks

In an unprecedented turn of events yesterday afternoon at the International Confederation of Wizards meeting, the Secretary of Magic for the United States of America, Cassandra Whistler, moved forward a motion to consider Wizarding Britain a danger to wizarding society. A motion that was seconded by Germany.

"Wizarding Britain has just finished a war and has done nothing to prevent another one. I don't care if Lord - is gone. What is stopping his followers from taking up the mantle? What is stopping another Dark Wizard from rising?" Whistler demanded of Milicent Bagnold, Minister of Magic for Britain. "Britain is a breeding ground for prejudice beliefs and hatred. It's just a matter of time before another Wizard tries to take it over."

Whistler accused the Ministry of Magic of taking bribes to let off known terrorists on the grounds of an imperious curse. She also accused the Department of Law Enforcement of imprisoning suspects without trial under the Criminal War Time Act without the needed substantial hard evidence, citing Sirius Black as one of them.

Sirius Black was charged with betraying James and Lily Potter to you-know-who. He was also charged with the murder of twelve muggles and the murder of Peter Pettigrew. Also on his record is a long list of misdemeanors, felonies, and battery charges. However, Sirius Black was never given a trial. Found at the scene of Pettigrew's murder, laughing and surrounded by the rubble, it was thought that there was no need for a trial. All that could be found of Pettigrew was a finger.

Not even six months ago, Sirius Black escaped from Azkaban Prison, the first ever to do so, and was thought to have fled the country. Auror's working around the clock were unable to find his trail and Black disappeared. Now it seems Sirius Black fled to the United States. A spokesperson for Whistler informed this reporter that Black was given a full trial under Veriterserum and found innocent of all charges. While the circumstantial evidence was incriminating there was no solid evidence tying Black to the murder of Pettigrew nor was there any evidence beyond hearsay of betraying the Potters.

"Circumstantial Evidence is all well and good to help lead an investigation in a direction, but it does not hold up in court," the spokesperson claimed. "All that is left is hearsay. Most telling of all is that Sirius Black, unlike every other follower of Lord -, does not bare the Dark Mark on the inside of his left forearm. Sirius Black has been cleared of all charges in the eyes of the United States of America and has been granted amnesty and protection."

Ambassador of the United States, Marcus Murray agrees with Whistler. "I am appalled by the standard the Ministry of Magic of Britain exhibits. Prejudice exists at every turn. There may not be a Lord- anymore, but he might as well have won the war. The outcome is far more subtle, but for some reason Muggleborns are paying the price when it was Pureblood Supremacists who caused it. No laws have been enacted to prevent another war, no laws have been enacted to stem the growing animosity between muggleborns, half-bloods, purebloods and creatures. I would have thought the lesson would have been learned after Grindlewald, I certainly would have expected it to have been learned after Lord -, but it seems Britain must be on the very precipice of extinction before it will do anything and some of us are not willing to wait till then."

Whistler has demanded that Sirius Black be cleared of all charges as the United States found him and that all Death Eater trials be revisited under the watchful eye of the International Confederation of Wizards. She also demanded that security measures be implemented to monitor bribery and lobbying along with a full investigation of the Ministry's staff for any kind of corruption or Death Eater affiliation, something she insists, should have been done from the very beginning.

Germany, France, Bulgaria, and several other countries on the continent had their own demands to add to the growing list. One of the largest demands, agreed upon by many of the countries in attendance was that more resources were put to use upholding the Statute of Secrecy with more Muggle Protection Acts and harsher punishments for those who break them, this was pushed to be implemented on an international level and not just in the United Kingdom.

In an effort to do damage control Bagnold has agreed to take the word of the United States of America that Sirius Black is innocent and has agreed to see to it that he is cleared of all charges. She has also agreed to give a trial to all those who have yet to receive one waiting in Azkaban. Bagnold refused to pay forward any restitution to Sirius Black however.

"I'm not going to argue when the most powerful country in the world tells me a man is innocent, especially when that country gave him a trial and I have nothing to prove his guilt except that we found him laughing at the scene of the crime," Bagnold said in an interview following the meeting. "Doesn't mean I believe he's innocent either."

Many changes are expected to be discussed through negotiations over the course of the next few months. Some of which include a standard Wizarding Cultural Course for muggleborns and half-bloods to be available at schools as well as a muggle studies class that will be mandatory for all purebloods. Other changes will include equality laws and reform bills.

Albus Dumbledore, the Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards made no comment on the case of Sirius Black nor on Bagnold's decision to clear Sirius' record. He did say that he looked forward to seeing what changes may occur in the near future.

Whistler was questioned by attending Auror's as to whether or not Sirius Black was in possession of Harry Potter. She denied knowing anything on the matter but claimed that were she to discover that Harry Potter was with Sirius Black it would hardly be the Auror's business as that would mean Harry was precisely where he belonged, with his legal guardian.

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The Order of the Phoenix meeting the following night was loud and boisterous as everyone tried to get in their two knuts. Each had their suspicions, each had their opinions, and each wanted their voice to be heard. That was how Albus found his office when he arrived and he sighed. He had no desire to pass on the news he had to impart, news that had not been mentioned in the article of the Daily Prophet.

"Quiet!" he bellowed over the noise. The quarrels stopped abrubtly as all turned to face Albus Dumbledore who stood in his doorway.

"What is the United States playing at?" Moody demanded as Albus approached his desk and slowly sank into his seat.

Albus sighed, "I have not the faintest idea. Their tenacity would suggest that Black truly is innocent, but I cast that charm on Black myself."

"And what of Harry?" Remus asked, his desperation to know that his godson was clear in the soft tones of his voice.

"Whistler, pulled me off to the side to inform me that Harry is indeed with Black. They are both in protection and that Black has made it clear he will not tolerate my presence anywhere near Harry," Albus explained.

"Bastard," Moody spat.

"Surely even Cassandra Whistler found that request odd," Arthur noted.

Albus nodded in agreement, "yes, I informed her of it."

"What did she have to say?" Remus asked.

"That the only reason I know Black has Harry is because Black insisted I be told," Albus sighed. "Apparently she was against telling me at all. As she clearly pointed out, I have absolutely no legal jurisdiction in Harry's life. I am not his legal guardian, nor am I the executer of their estate. Black has put up a restraining order against myself. I am not allowed anywhere near him and Whistler made it clear that if I so much as approach Harry well...They have gained American Citizenship and now the United States has legal jurisdiction."

"That doesn't sound good Albus," Arthur pointed out. "It sounds like you have lost your support from the United States."

"I thought so as well," Albus agreed solemnly. "However, she went on to discuss my influence in seeing that certain changes are made. I don't think I've lost her political support, but I'm fairly certain that I have lost what ever personal report she had towards me. Aside from the topic of Harry, she was quite friendly towards me. The question is, what has Black told her that what cause such a reaction?"

Arthur sighed, "That is a good point. Either way, that connection bares watching, I think."

"Yes, I agree."

"What will we do about Harry?" Remus demanded, redirecting the topic to what he deemed to be most important. "The United States might think he's innocent, but we know otherwise. My cub is not safe there!"

"I will have to think on this," Albus said leaning forward in his chair and pressing his fingertips to his temples. "Black is now a citizen of the United States, as is Harry. He is also Harry's legal guardian. Even if we could find him and take him away, the United States will never permit it legally and if we do it illegally we will break whatever tentative truce the United States has with the UK. For some reason the US is determined to make an example of us on an international level and is only allowing us this opportunity to fix ourselves because we have given Black his freedom and every other death eater will be under trial with the international confederation overlooking to make certain that all is up to snuff. The U.S. wants a reason to isolate the U.K. and Harry has something to do with it. Harry is an icon all over the world, and Black is now a pitied martyr, if something were to happen to either one of them the U.S. would have not only the political backing but the backing of the population to bring the U.K. to their knees."

"Merlin help us," Arthur gasped as Moody spit out every explicative he knew. Remus was pale as the implications of Albus' words sank into his mind.

"Black played his cards well," Albus agreed. "The Americans did an excellent job using the tool he provided."

"Harry?" Remus whispered.

"I will not let it go so easily Remus," Albus assured. "However there is no quick or simple solution to this conundrum. I will not stop trying to find a way to rescue him though."

Remus nodded, but his worry was not assuaged. The rest of the meeting passed by in a blur and with a heavy heart he left the office to make for home.

He was so exhausted from worry that it wasn't until he was unlocking the front door that he notice the tawny post owl sitting in the eaves. He called it in the house and once he had removed his coat he untied the letter. Heading toward the kitchen he read the address on the front and froze. His name was written across the center in a handwriting that was very familiar. With a shaky breath he dropped the letter on the kitchen table and stared at it for several minutes, a dozen thoughts racing through his head. Was the letter cursed? Was Sirius out to get him now, the last living marauder?

With shaky hands he tried to sort out his thoughts by making the tea, his eyes constantly wondering over to the mysterious letter. Once the tea was finished he sat down at the table, the letter before him and cautiously began casting different revealing and detection charms. When his repertoire was exhausted and he had found no signs of any spells, he wearily picked up the envelope and opened it.

Dear Moony,

Harry is safe.

I know that you won't believe this, I know that you will continue to worry and I can't stop you. I thought I would try. You really don't need more grey hairs.

No doubt you have heard from Albus by now. I wrestled a great deal with whether or not I should write this letter. In the end our friendship and rational reason won out over my emotions. I can forgive you for abandoning me, for believing that I was the traitor because I'm guilty of much the same thing. I had thought the traitor was you, what with your disappearances. I don't know what state your in, but I offer my apologies anyway. What I am struggling with is your abandonment of Harry. I know that you must have had a good reason, that logically there is something that kept you from checking up on him, and one day I expect you to inform me of what that was. I know that as a werewolf you would not have been able to raise him, but surely in four years you could have found the time to visit your nephew.

Harry sends his love and insisted that I send you the picture. He's a little Prankster in the making, I assure you. He's Lily through and through though. He loves reading, much to my marauder hearts despair, and I am sure to your joy. He looks just like Prongs though, except the eyes, which makes his enjoyment of learning that much more strange to witness.

I can't take the little pup anywhere without being swarmed by woman who just 'ooh' and 'ahh' over him and completely ignore me. I've been usurped by a five year old, the injustice! The other day, I took him out to a restaurant and he charmed the waitress out of a free Sunday ice cream with all the fixings, the little scamp. I only got one bite. I'm told that his eyes are the most beautiful anyone has ever seen and he'll grow up to be quite the heart breaker. Judging by the way a girl in his preschool class kissed his cheek the other day, I'm inclined to think he already is one.

You'll like this story. I took him out to the toy store the other day. I told him to pick out what he wanted and then followed him around the store. He got all kinds of things. Some miniaturized cars he can push around, some action figures, and these Lego things (you can build things with them). Anyway, we were in the stuffed toys section, there were all kinds; dogs, cats, bears, penguins. He pulled out this grey wolf and hugged it, then he held it out to me and said it's name was Moony. He's got it in the picture with him. He won't let the thing go. I have to sneak it out of his room at night to wash it.

Harry's got glasses now. I had to take him to the Ophthalmologist. His eye sight is bloody awful just like his dads. The Ophthalmologist prescribed some Vitamin A supplements and some vision exercises to help correct it.

I know you won't agree, but I don't care. I've set up an account for you at Gringotts. Use it, you prideful wolf. It's a small pension, just enough to get you buy in hard times. It's yours even if you don't use it.

Padfoot

Remus stared at the letter, dozens of emotions flitting through him as he reread the words. Anger surged at the forefront, but confusion flickered just beneath the surface along with amusement. He hated seeing Sirius' handwriting on the paper. Hated reading the words that proved Sirius was not insane, that somehow he had not changed. Remus had not talked to the man since his true loyalties were uncovered, but he had thought, had been so sure, that Sirius would have changed. He would no longer be the open and laughing man he had known, but something more sinister, something more arrogant like the rest of the high-class Pureblood population from which the man had been born. Never in his mind did he expect Sirius to sound precisely like his old friend from school and that confused him.

He looked at the picture that had been enclosed with the letter. Harry was smiling up at him, clearly happy. He had a grey wolf cuddled to his chest as he waved at the camera from his spot on the monkey bars. He was upside down and was laughing at something someone was doing out of the frame. As Remus watched, the little boy jumped down gave the camera a mischievous look and ran around to climb back onto the monkey bars to swing across before hanging upside down again. He was no fool. He didn't believe the picture for a moment. Harry's happiness was a isolated incident, one that was perhaps encouraged specifically for picture, but, despite himself, Remus laughed.