The next two months passed quickly. Fewer teachers took points off for Harry's name corrections, although Professor McGonagall was one of the ones who kept holding on, taking off a point for each correction she heard. Harry found a picture of his mum when she was his age on his bedside table the morning after his talk with Professor Snape, and he made sure to thank the man when he next saw him. Harry continued to hang out with his friends and found out that while Hermione was a bookworm, her favorite activity was actually swimming. It was too cold to go swimming in the lake unfortunately, or Harry would have asked to learn. Draco loved apples, especially green ones, and there were always a selection of apples at meal times. Neville was especially good at Herbology, and he was the one they all went to for help on it. Ron was extremely good at chess. It had gotten to a point where none of the first years would play him because he was just too good.
The professors hadn't seen an entire class ignore House rivalry in their entire time as students or professors like the current first year. Every student seemed to get mostly along with each other. Of course some students didn't like each other, but it wasn't because they were in a different House. The center of it all seemed to be Harry Potter and his group of friends. They had broken the barrier first by staying friends even after they were Sorted into different Houses. The professors didn't know what to make of Harry Potter. They had all expected a second coming of James Potter. Instead they got someone who wasn't James or Lily. Harry was his own person, and they were all glad of it.
Harry laughed as Draco whined that he hadn't been able to finish his Charms homework as they headed to lunch on Halloween. Harry was extremely excited. Today was the day he would meet Sirius Black. He didn't know what the man would be like, but he did know, instinctively, that he was innocent. He had one more class today, then would leave for the Ministry of Magic for the trial at 2 o'clock. The boys chatted through lunch, then hurried to class. They had it with the Hufflepuffs, so Harry and Draco sat next to Neville. Harry could barely sit still. The professor didn't bother asking him to answer any questions, knowing he was too distracted. The second class was dismissed, Harry said a hasty goodbye to his friends and headed towards the door. He was meeting Professor Snape in ten minutes and he had just enough time to drop off his books if he hurried. A voice called to him in the hallway.
"Portcullis! Good luck at the trial!"
Harry waved back at whoever it was and hurried on. He dropped his books off and practically ran to Professor Snape's office.
"Just on time, Potter," Professor Snape's voice drawled. "Let's go. We will be travelling by Floo. It is unpleasant the first time. You must say your destination clearly and with purpose. Repeat after me. Ministry of Magic Atrium."
"Ministry of Magic Atrium."
"Good. Do not stutter when you say it, or you will be tossed out who knows where. My fireplace is a bit too small for both of us or I would go with you, so I will have you go first. Say the address one more time."
"Ministry of Magic Atrium."
"Good. In you go." With that, Professor Snape unceremoniously handed him a handful of powder and told him to toss it down as he said the address. Harry did as told and felt himself spinning in place, unable to see where he was going. He fell out of a fireplace in an unfamiliar place, with a fountain in the middle of the room. There was a crowd of people and he quickly scrambled up and to the side. He wondered which of the multiple fireplaces Professor Snape would be coming out of. His question was answered a moment later as the professor's smooth stride walked out of a fireplace across from him. Harry hurried over to him, barely brushing anyone around him with the skill that could only come from walking through crowds many times. Professor Snape didn't seem surprised when Harry practically appeared beside him, simply striding quickly towards an elevator.
Harry followed quietly, just looking around. He saw many interesting things, not least of which was the paper airplanes that flew around carrying messages to people. They soon arrived at the room where the trial would happen, which was a circular room, with seats rising in a circle around the center of the room where a chair with chains was sitting. Professor Snape led Harry to a seat near the middle of an aisle and they sat down. There were already several people there, including an ugly woman who looked like a toad in all pink sitting next to an important looking man who Professor Snape informed Harry was the Minister, Cornelius Fudge, and Headmaster Dumbledore.
"Why is Headmaster Dumbledore here?" Harry asked Professor Snape quietly.
"The headmaster also holds several positions in the Wizengamot, which is the group meeting right now. They're basically the ruling group, even if Minister Fudge supposedly has more power. The minister is known for taking bribes." Professor Snape's voice was equally quiet as he answered.
Harry nodded and just watched. Exactly at two, a ragged looking man was brought in and chained to the chair in the center of the room. His black hair was unwashed and tangled, and he looked like he had just woken from several nightmares happening simultaneously. His eyes were haunted, and he looked around as if he thought that it was all just a horrible dream about to turn worse.
The trial began with several people standing up and making a huge fuss about Sirius Black's obvious guilt, including, Harry noticed with narrowed eyes, Headmaster Dumbledore. Eventually Madam Bones was able to get everyone to calm down and she turned to Mr. Black.
"You are getting a long overdue trial for the possible betrayal of the Potter family. Someone who heard the circumstances thought they sounded strange and looked into it. Do you consent to usage of Veritaserum?" Madam Bones' voice was loud and clear, with no hint of any emotion except, perhaps, the wish to get this over with quickly and correctly.
Harry looked at Professor Snape questioningly at the strange word.
"Veritaserum is a potion that makes the one who takes the correct dosage tell only the truth. They cannot lie under its affects," the professor whispered. Harry nodded and turned back to the front.
Mr. Black seemed to be taking a while to understand the question, but he finally said, with a voice hoarse from disuse, "I agree to the usage of Veritaserum in my trial."
Madam Bones nodded to an attendant, who was standing next to her with a potion vial that at first look was empty, but when looked at closer, simply had a clear potion in it, and an eye dropper. He stepped forward, pulled some of the potion into the eye dropper, and dropped exactly three drops into the open mouth of Sirius Black. Harry watched his eyes go dull and completely emotionless.
"What is your full name?" Madam Bones asked.
"Sirius Orion Black," came the monotone reply.
"What year did you graduate from Hogwarts?" Harry guessed the first few questions were control questions, to make sure the potion was working correctly.
"1978."
"The potion is in working order. I will now begin the questioning," Madam Bones said, proving Harry right. "I will begin at the end and work my way to the beginning. Did you kill Peter Pettigrew and twelve muggles
the night of October 31st, 1981?"
"No." Mr. Black's voice had no inflection, and Harry found it discomfiting.
"Did you try to kill Peter Pettigrew the night of October 31st, 1981?"
"Yes."
A murmur rose from the crowd at that answer, and Madam Bones held up her hand for silence.
"Who fired the curse that killed the twelve muggles on the night of October 31st, 1981?"
"Peter Pettigrew."
The courtroom was completely silent now, hanging on every word.
"Were you the Potter's Secret Keeper while they were in hiding at Godric's Hollow?"
"No."
The courtroom erupted in sound again, and Madam Bones silenced them all with her hand.
"Who was the Secret Keeper for the Potter's while they were in hiding at Godric's Hollow?"
"Peter Pettigrew."
"Very well. Administer the antidote," Madam Bones said.
They did, and Mr. Black blinked rapidly a few times, looking around. The Wizengamot conferred quietly for a few minutes, then Madam Bones turned back to the center of the room. "Is Mr. Black innocent? All in
favor, raise your hands."
The vast majority of the group raised their hands, and Madam Bones continued. "All opposed?"
Only a few hands went up this time, and Madam Bones nodded, satisfied. "Lord Black, you are released from Azkaban into the custody of St. Mungos. You will receive reparations of 1000 galleons for every year you
were in Azkaban, coming to a total of 10,000 galleons. You will spend as long at St. Mungos as they require you to be there for to ensure that you will suffer no long term effects from the Dementors. If you are
named physically and mentally fit by the healers there by the end of May, you will be granted supervisory custody of your godson, Harry Potter. I will have a letter detailing exactly what supervisory custody means
in your case if you are declared fit by the named time. Any medical issues, such as visitors, will be handled by St. Mungos."
Harry turned to Professor Snape with pleading eyes, and the professor sighed. "I will ask if you can spend a few minutes with Black before he leaves for St. Mungos."
"Thank you, Professor!" Harry exclaimed. Professor Snape walked up to Madam Bones as she was turning towards the door, Harry on his heels.
"Mr. Potter here would like to spend a couple minutes with Lord Black," Professor Snape said. "Can this be arranged? It would be now, before he leaves for St. Mungos."
Madam Bones looked at Harry and smiled softly. "I suppose a few minutes won't hurt anyone, and you and I will both be there if anything goes wrong."
"Thank you, Madam Bones!" Harry's voice had become slightly more childlike with his excitement, and his eyes glowed with a happiness Professor Snape hadn't seen from the child so far in the few months at
Hogwarts. Madam Bones led the way to Mr. Black, who had just been unchained and was being led gently to the door. Harry walked excitedly next to her, but slowed nervously as they drew closer to Mr. Black. He
hoped the man liked him. He hoped that if the man liked him he would take him away from the Dursley's.
His worries were thrown away the moment Mr. Black caught sight of him. The joy he showed was practically thrown across the room, it was so palpable.
"Pup!" Mr. Black called happily. "You've grown so much!"
Harry grinned. This was the voice he had thought he heard a few times in his dreams. "Padfoot!" he cried just as joyfully, running up to the man and acting more his age than he had in years.
"You remembered," Sirius breathed. "I wasn't sure you would, the last time you called me that was more than ten years ago."
Harry grinned, then wrapped his arms hesitantly around the older man. Sirius instantly hugged him back.
"Mr. Potter here is the one who asked questions about you, Lord Black." Madam Bones' voice came from behind Harry, who refused to leave Sirius' arms just yet.
"Tortoise," he muttered under his breath. Sirius looked down at him strangely.
"Did you just say tortoise?" he asked.
Harry reluctantly pulled back. "I don't like the attention my last name gives me, so I started a joke where I introduce myself to anyone new with a different last name. Then everyone just started doing it, and we all
started replacing my name in class."
Sirius barked a laugh. "Sounds like fun, kiddo. Now, what House are you in? Have you made any friends? Tell me everything."