Amelia Bones frowned as she listened to Kingsley's report. The wand would definitely be useful in the investigation but the news that all the pertinent witness statements, reports and testimony's had vanished was troubling; the deeper she delved into the case the more irregularities and questions she found. Listening to her deputy's theories on the missing records she found herself agreeing with him. It definitely seemed that someone had a hand in the case otherwise it would all be far too much of a coincidence, no trial, papers missing and nobody doing basic checks and one thing years on the force had taught her was in cases like this there were no coincidences.
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As Kingsley finished his report the attention of the three in the office turned to the wand, at least one issue could be cleared up extremely easily, had Black cast the Blasting curse that had cost thirteen muggles and potentially Pettigrew their lives? They all seemed to be holding their breath as Amelia raised her wand and spoke, "Priori Incantatem."
Discover moreBooksChildren's BooksWriter communityAnimeWriting workshopsThe Ebony and Dragon Heartstring wand glowed golden for a few seconds then a smoky form condensed in the centre of the room. For a moment the three of them stared in complete and utter shock, slowly Moody began to laugh. "Doesn't exactly fit with the mass murderer image does it?" Amelia asked dryly. Kingsley just shook his head,
"An infant healing charm, well that was the last thing I expected." Amelia just nodded,
"This means he is innocent on that front, he did not cast the curse that killed those muggles so the only person could do that was..."
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"Pettigrew," Amelia said, her voice hard, "And an innocent man has been trapped in Azkaban for twelve years because somebody," the sarcasm was laid on thick, "decided he was so obviously guilty that he didn't need a trial."
"He still might have betrayed the Potters though," Moody added, "Although I'd admit it's looking more and more unlikely."
Kingsley tapped the tabletop thoughtfully with one finger, "It's interesting that the last spell is a healing charm though," he paused for a moment, "Particularly an infant healing charm," He left the sentence hanging. Moody turned to him, his good eye narrowing shrewdly.
"You think he might have healed Potter." It was a statement not a question, Kingsley merely nodded and Moody continued thoughtfully, "We don't fully know what happened that night; Black was one of Potter's best friends. If he'd gone to Godric's Hollow that night he might easily have healed Potter, after all the boy has that scar. Yes," Moody mused, "I can't think of any other young children Black would have had contact with just before we caught him. But that's something only Black could tell us."
Amelia nodded, "Very well gentlemen, lets watch the memories shall we?"
Discover moreAuthor toolsAuthor resourcesMobile fanfiction appMobile app developmentFictionPress integrationThe memories played slowly before their eyes, the Weasley boy being dragged into the Whomping Willow, Lupin's entrance, the explanation of why they had become animagi, then Snape's entrance, his refusal to listen and finally they reached the most interesting parts,
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"Harry...I as good as killed them, I persuaded Lily and James to change to Peter at the last moment, persuaded them to use him instead of me," and then the transformation, the irrefutable proof Pettigrew was still alive. "A head was shooting upwards from the ground; limbs were sprouting," There was no question it was Pettigrew. And still the shocks continued,
"You haven't been hiding from me for twelve years, You've been hiding from Voldemort's old supports...Sounds like they think the double-crosser double crossed them...I knew I was innocent...it kept me sane and knowing who I am...But then I saw Peter in that picture...I realised he was at Hogwarts with Harry...perfectly positioned to act, if one hint reached his ears that the Dark Side was gathering strength again...ready to strike the moment he could be sure of allies...to deliver the last Potter to them...I was the only one who knew Peter was still alive...Believe me...Believe me. I never betrayed James and Lily. I would have died before I betrayed them." JKR POA
A finally the confession,
"You sold Lily and James to Voldemort,' said Black, 'Do you deny it?' Pettigrew burst into tears.
'Sirius, Sirius, what could I have done? The Dark Lord ... you have no idea ... he has weapons you can't imagine. I never meant for it to happen ... He Who Must Not Be Named forced me –'
'DON'T LIE!' bellowed Black. 'YOU'D BEEN PASSING INFORMSTION TO HIM FOR OVER A YEAR BEFORE LILY AND JAMES DIED! YOU WERE HIS SPY!'
'He – he was taking over everywhere!' gasped Pettigrew, 'Wh-what was there to be gained by refusing him?'
'What was there to be gained by fighting the most evil wizard who has ever existed?" said Black with terrible fury in his face. "Only innocent lives Peter!" JKR POA
Each memory played for a little longer but all the crucial evidence was there, the proof of Black's innocence on all counts, a confession from Pettigrew, and each memory depicted the exact same events, albeit from the three different viewpoints and with each with their own emotional range. The one that had left her most shaken was Harry Potter's. Even though it was only a copy the memory had swung from rage and hate to an overwhelming sense of hope and joy despite the anger that still simmered under the surface, although this time it was directed at Pettigrew and she was more than a bit battered from the strength of the feelings which had washed over her.
As the three emerged from the final memory Amelia strode straight to her desk, uncovered the Firewhiskey and each had a stiff drink. Once they had recovered somewhat Amelia turned to face the two men. "I think that conclusively proves Black's innocence." Both men nodded although Kingsley shook his head in wonderment,
Discover moreMobile user analyticsFan fiction platformApp download campaignsWriting forum accessBook recommendations"If anyone had told me even two weeks ago that I'd sit here today and see conclusive proof of Black's innocence I'd have sent them to St Mungo's" he laughed wryly, "I think if I hadn't seen that I wouldn't believe it." Both Amelia and Moody nodded and the group sat for a moment in silence, eventually Amelia broke it,
"I'll notify Fudge and prepare a case for the Wizengamot in three weeks time," she let out a slow breath, "And my orders from last week still stand, if one word of this leaks to the press before I present my case, I will make damn sure whichever one of you leaked it will be on the graveyard shift and stuck in the office doing paperwork for the next ten years." Moody cracked a sly grin,
"They won't hear it from me boss unless they force feed me Veritasum." Amelia rolled her eyes,
"Out of my office you rascal."
Harry stared out of the window of the Hogwarts Express watching as the countryside flashed by. The last weeks at Hogwarts had felt oddly empty for some reason despite the exams and the revision that Hermione pilled on both him and Ron so he was at the point where he was working almost constantly. It wasn't just that out of all the people in the castle he was the only one who was not infected with the excitement that flooded the rest of the school as the holidays drew closer, he had always dreaded the summer holidays although he had to be frank with himself, it was the first year where he had anything like a normal end of term. In the first year he had spent most of the period worrying about Voldemort and then spent several days in the infirmary so he hadn't actually been able to worry about going back to Privet Drive and in his second year he had been so caught up in the elation of killing the basilisk and having Hermione back that he had paid hardly any attention to his impending return. He tried to tell himself that this subtle feeling of emptiness was just his worry at having to return to the Dursley's but deep down he knew it was more than that.
For half an hour, for one glorious half an hour he had believed that he had chance at another life, he had a hope that something would actually be different. Sure he had seen other families before and last summer at the Burrow he had envied what Ron had but he had never thought on it too much because by then he had accepted the fact that he would never be accepted, he would never have a person that would love him as a parent or a guardian would. But when he had met Sirius he had been offered that, maybe Sirius wouldn't love him but he didn't expect that, all he wanted was someone who would care for him. If he was honest with himself he knew part of the reason that he had been miserable for the end of term was that even though he told himself not to hope deep within him he knew there had been a faint possibility that it would have been Sirius waiting for him at Platform 9 and ¾ and the fact that it wasn't hurt him more than he let on. It was hard enough having to go back to the Dursleys but to go back to the Dursleys when he might have escaped was even worse. Was it kidnapping, he wondered suddenly, if you wanted to leave?
"Harry, fancy a game of exploding snap?" Yanking himself out of his thoughts Harry summoned up a smile,
"Sure Ron." As Ron began to lay out the cards Harry reminded himself that he wasn't going to see his best friends or enjoy anything from the wizarding world for just over ten weeks, so he had better enjoy himself now. The rest of the journey was spent playing increasingly crazy games of exploding snap, at one point even managing to get Hermione to put her book down and eating their way through their last supplies of sweets before they re-entered the muggle world.
"Moony!" The shout rang through the entire house. A slightly annoyed Remus Lupin waved his wand twice to repair the broken mug and clear up the coffee that had split on the table in front of him, "What is it Padfoot?" he demanded testily as Sirius Black charged through the kitchen door grinning like a madman.
"Letter from Malfoy," Remus tried and failed to suppress a snigger, this was the first (and probably last) time Sirius would ever be happy about anything Lucius Malfoy sent him. Sirius turned to glare at his friend but it didn't last long as his excitement soon bubbled to the surface again, "Amelia Bones has finished her investigation, found me innocent and is going to present her case at the Wizengamot in just under three weeks time."
Remus couldn't help the delighted grin that spread across his features, "You're finally going to be free and then you can go and get the cub." Sirius grinned even more broadly at the pronouncement but the smile dimmed somewhat, "Harry will have to go back to the Dursleys for that time Remus, I can't get him out of there in time." Remus placed a hand on his friend's shoulder, "It only for a few weeks Padfoot, you can go and get him the moment you're free. He has lived with the Dursleys for nearly thirteen years now, he will be fine for a couple more weeks."
"I know Remus," Sirius sighed heavily, "I just wish he didn't have to. I wish I'd actually thought before I went charging off after Peter, if only I'd thought about what I was doing..."
"Then it would have been the first time in your life Padfoot," the werewolf interrupted firmly, "You're here for him now and that's all that matters." Sirius smiled ruefully,
"I don't know what I'd do without you Moony,"
"Forget to breathe?" the werewolf interjected smoothly. Sirius's eyes narrowed as a grin spread across his face and soon the air was full of flying spells as a hexing war broke out. Several minutes later and after several extra limbs, interestingly coloured robes and other assorted jinks had been removed the animagus turned to his friend, "But seriously Moony, I need you here. Perhaps after I rescue the pup you'd stay for a while?" Remus frowned indecisively,
"I don't know Padfoot, I've got my own place after all..." Sirius snorted loudly,
"Yeah, one that you'll be kicked out of the minute they realise you're a werewolf." He continued on a slightly more serious note, " You don't have to stay permanently Remus,I know you haven't got a job at the moment and I'm going to need you to help me when Harry arrives," he ran his hand through his hair distractedly, "I have absolutely no experience with being a parent, I know I'm not James and I never could replace him but still I'm going to have to set rules and discipline him and," he let out a long breath, "I'm going to need your help when I muck up."
"You'll be wonderful with Harry Padfoot," Remus interjected, "James and Lily named you godfather for a reason and I've seen how much you love him, you aren't going to need me." Sirius waved his words away,
"Perhaps but Harry is going to need someone to teach him to defend himself," his eyes narrowed, "He has a price on his head Moony, Voldemort hasn't gone and even without Voldemort in the picture the Death Eaters would all like a piece of him. He needs to be able to defend himself. I can't say I like it, Merlin knows I hate it but it's the truth. I know I'm here now and I will protect him with my life but suppose I wasn't there or couldn't reach him in time, what then? I couldn't lose him now, not because he didn't know how to defend himself." His eyes were shadowed as he gazed out of the window looking at everything and nothing, "He was all I lived for in Azkaban, only knowing that he was still alive kept me going, if I lost him it would destroy me Moony. And besides," the blankness in his eyes receded slightly and a small smile curved on his lips, "He needs to get to know his Uncle Moony, not Professor Lupin." He waved his hand carelessly at the staircase, "It's not as if I don't have the room."
Remus shook his head, "I've got my own place Sirius, but if you want I can come over regularly. I don't have to tell you that I'll be thrilled to help with the cub, I'll only be a floo call away and I can come over whenever you need me." Sirius nodded, sensing his friend wasn't about to budge,
"Fine, but you are coming here on full moons and we can run around the grounds and you'd better visit regularly or you won't find life worth living." Sirius's voice was teasing but Remus could see he meant every word.
He couldn't really get to grips with the new responsible version of his friend and even after visiting him virtually every day for two and a half weeks this version of Sirius still managed to shock him every so often. It wasn't as if Sirius was radically different, more like he had eventually grown up, something he wouldn't have thought possible twelve years ago. Still, he thought grimly, twelve years in Azkaban with nothing more than their worst memories for company would make anyone grow up.