Chapter Three, Sirius's Trial

As promised Madam Amelia Bones worked long and diligently over Sirius's case, or lack thereof, for the last few days since her meeting with Charlus and Dorea Potter. So it was as no surprise to the Potters and the Aurors who had been picked by her to help her on this case that the morning of November 2nd 1981, that an emergency trial was called into session for eight thirty the very next morning November 3rd to be precise (and consequently Sirius's 22nd birthday). To the Potters and all those on the Wizengamot it may have been a rush the following morning to ready themselves in time for start of the trial, but they wouldn't have it any other way if Sirius, a Lord of a Most Ancient and Most Noble House was going to get the justice he so rightly deserved.

"Are you sure you don't mind?" Mia asked Roxanne and Lyle, double checking they didn't mind staying within Potter Manor with Morgause, as she and Monty slipped on their plum robes while Charlus and Dorea had already left to meet with Dorea's elder sister, Cassiopeia, who ran the Black family business 'Black and Black Solicitors' and would be Sirius's lawyer, and Andromeda who was training under her aunt.
"Of course we don't." Lyle assured. "Just make sure to bring Sirius home."
"Of course. We will keep you informed as often as we can." Monty promised, before he and his wife left for the Ministry.
"Now, how about we go play in the gardens, my little cherub?" Lyle asked, rubbing his nose against Morgause's making her giggle and clap her hands.

***

Upon arriving at courtroom ten, Mia and Monty took note of Sirius sat besides Cassiopeia in the middle of the room with Andromeda just behind them conversing in very low tones as the room started to fill up with Wizengamot members and Madam Bones in the judge's seat normally reserved for Minister Bagnold (who had not only been struck off but had been placed in the holding cells along with Barty Crouch and Dumbledore earlier that morning for their serious lack in judgement and failure to uphold the law). Amelia, like the majority of the Wizengamot, fully believed that Sirius had been sent to Azkaban completely innocent by the three aforementioned people, and the lack of trial had been to cover their tracks. In the witness and guest stands were Charlus, Dorea, Remus Lupin (who all the Potters and two Evans were disappointed in).

There were also a handful of reporters who had been handpicked by Amelia with security charms placed over them so they could report nothing without Amelia's say-so and it would be the truth no matter what damage is done to the Ministry itself. After all, they had brought it upon themselves. Lastly, as they took their seats beside Augusta Longbottom née Abbott and her husband Lord Archie Longbottom, they noticed several Aurors patrolling around the edge of the courtroom with two stationed by the doors.
"This is ridiculous." Augusta hissed to Mia and Monty after she and her husband greeted their friends, waving a hand to the flimsy so-called file Madam Bones had made sure each Wizengamot member had with them which pertained the complete and utter injustices done to Sirius.

"Dumbledore has a lot to answer for." Archie agreed, just about refraining from rolling his eyes and scoffing by the skin of his teeth. However, before anymore could be said Madam Bones called for the start of the trial.
"Order!" Madam Bones called, banging her gavel a few times, effectively silencing everyone in the courtroom which was: Courtroom One. "This trial is now in session. Before you today I bring forth two trials, both of which are related. The first; Albus Dumbledore, former Minister Millicent Bagnold and Bartemius Crouch Sr against Lord Sirius Orion Black the third, for ignoring the Wills of a Lord and Lady, and aiding and abetting to sending an innocent man to Azkaban without trial.

The second; standing at numerous crimes committed by Albus Dumbledore, the worst of which are: encouraging the child abuse of Heiress Potter-Black and endangering a minor." Madam Bones spoke gravely to the stunned courtroom. After questioning Sirius under Veritaserum revealing the truth of the matter, whispers were darting around the courtroom, as Albus Dumbledore had been brought in, tied to the chair and force fed Veritaserum.
"What is your full name?" Madam Bones asked the standard tester question.
"Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore." Dumbledore replied in a monotone.

"Did you know Sirius Black wasn't the Potters Secret Keeper?"
"Yes."
"Did you know who it was?"
"Yes, it was Peter Pettigrew. I knew he was a traitor."
"And yet you said nothing and allowed this to happen. Why?"
"I needed Morgause Potter-Black to grow up unloved and downtrodden, so she'd be so thankful to the Wizarding World, but mainly to me. I couldn't have her more powerful than I, and she already is at fifteen months old akin to the same power levels as Merlin, himself. I also need to make sure that she would sacrifice herself to defeat Voldemort once and for all and 'rid' herself of-" Dumbledore made a choking sound as he tried to stop himself from revealing anything more but the potion would not let him.

"Go on." Madam Bones prompted. "Rid herself of what?"
"Rid herself of the Horcrux in her scar." Dumbledore revealed, inciting pandemonium within the courtroom as a number of people became suddenly sickly pale.
"You were going to have her raised like a lamb for slaughter!" Augusta shouted horrified.
"Madam Bones, I'd like to clarify to the court that we found this out via a scan from Gringotts along with all her magic being bound via the Headmaster. All of which has been rectified courtesy of the Goblin Healers. You should have the documentation in front of you." Fleamont stood and informed the court, glaring dark holes into Dumbledore along with his brother and the Blacks who were sitting in the witness stands together ignoring Remus for the time being.

How he could ignore a decades worth of friendship and believe Sirius was guilty of the heinous crimes was anyone's guess.
"Yes, I see. Thank you Lord Potter, I have the documentation here." Madam Bones boomed in a loud voice, over the shouts that were directed at the aged man tied to a chair, waving her wand so the document was copied and placed in front of each Wizen member. An audible sigh of relief filled the courtroom when they read that Morgause was free from all restraints.

"You allowed this abomination to stay within a child? So you know then that Voldemort isn't really gone but is reduced to a wraith?"
"Yes, I know he's alive and said nothing. Because of the prophecy she needs to die to defeat Voldemort and she has too much power and will have more than me once she's of age, I can't have that. Just like I know Gilderoy Lockhart is a fake and Obliviated the real witches and wizards of his feats in his books. I need him to test Morgause when she starts Hogwarts and not teach her or any of the students much." Dumbledore explained, a smirk on his face.

"Aurors, arrest Gilderoy Lockhart and have him brought here for a trial, we will get to the bottom of this and there will be no more injustices. Send an owl to Minerva informing her she needs a new Headmaster or Mistress as well this year." She ordered, satisfied when a team left she turned back to the trial at hand.
The trial had been going on longer than anyone had planned or even expected as the deeper Madam Bones questioned the more they realised how deceitful, and manipulative the man before them was and how deep his crimes and injustices went into not only today but also into their past as well.

After four hours, now late afternoon, Madam Bones finally brought the trial to a close.
"Albus Dumbledore for nearly reducing an Heiress minor into forming an Obscurus, among your other grievances you are hereby stripped of your wands and all titles effectively immediately! Your monetary will go to all those who you have hurt with your fake greater good scheme, including your own brother for the murder of your younger sister and all those who have died, or who were seriously injured during the war due to your inactions. Your wand will be snapped and you shall hand over the Elder Wand you won off Grindelwald where it will be returned to the rightful owner, Lord Potter, and your magic bound. I hope it was all worth it, for you will spend the remainder of your days in a high security cell across from Grindelwald in Numenguard." Madam Bones said, banging her gavel. "Take him away." She ordered.

***

Later that afternoon, Sirius was admitted to a secret and locked ward in St Mungo's to be healed by the best Healers and Mind Healers at the expense of the Ministry. While Sirius was being treated and demanding to see his precious, precious daughter who was also his Goddaughter, an emergency issue of the Daily Prophet was sent out that very same night to the shock of the Wizarding World.

SIRIUS BLACK FOUND INNOCENT

Yes dear readers, you read the headline correctly. Was it the esteemed Aurors who found out that Sirius Black was innocent and sent to Azkaban without trial nearly four days ago? No it was not. It was his family through his Blood-Adopted and Sworn Goddaughter Morgause Dalisay Potter-Black, Lord and Lady Potter along with Mr Charlus Potter -Lord Potter's younger brother - and Mrs Dorea Black-Potter (Sirius Black's paternal great-aunt) who found this out. Now we all know that Sworn Godparents cannot harm their charges in any way which is proof enough he did not betray the Potters whereabouts to You-Know-Who and if that is not enough, dear readers, then this will be: he was not the Secret Keeper to the Potters. He was at first but it was switched to Peter Pettigrew so Sirius Black could be the diversion.

Black never killed Pettigrew or those Muggles, it was all Pettigrew after which he cut off his finger and turned into a rat and escaped. Readers be aware that this rat is a fading mousy brown colour with a toe missing on his front left paw, if you see this rat make sure he does not escape and contact the DMLE immediately. Now, on to more troubling news; Albus Dumbledore was the one to cast the Fidelius Charm both times and sent an innocent man to Azkaban while he allowed the real murderer to remain at large. But why do you ask?

It was a part of Albus Dumbledore's plan so young Morgause Potter-Black would be sent to her Muggle relatives, her aunt and uncle to be precise, relatives he assured us she would be safe at. That was not the case. Young Heiress Morgause Potter-Black would never be safe there. After being left on her aunt's doorstep in the middle of the night after her parents were killed, via the former renowned Headmaster of Hogwarts just wrapped in two measly blankets and nothing else, and a cursed letter to enhance her aunt and uncle's hatred of her and all things magical. It is here my dear readers that we find out what may have happened if the aunt hadn't dumped her niece on her parents doorstep upon finding her the following morning. Not taking care of how she got her baby niece to her old childhood home.

We have found out my dear readers, that Petunia Dursley had placed Heiress Potter-Black carelessly on the floor of the car endangering her life and causing further injury and trauma to the already distraught and injured child. If she had opened the cursed letter before taking this course of action the Headmaster would have ensured that not only would the young Heiress be separated from both sets of grandparents (Lord and Lady Potter, Mr and Mrs Potter - Lord Potter's younger brother and sister-in-law - but also her Squib maternal grandparents), he set her up to be abused for ten years before Hogwarts, as they would have tried to beat the magic out of her.

She would have been starved, locked in a cupboard and beaten extensively, the only thing that would have kept her alive - if she was lucky as over half of her magic was bound leaving her with over 50% was you guessed it; her magic. I have been informed dear readers that if she had been subjected to this she would be on an extensive Potion Regime for most likely the rest of her life and it would have been only thanks to her power levels - on the exact level as Emrys Merlin - that she would have survived if not turned into an Obscurial. It is only thanks to the combined efforts of her grandparents, great-uncle and great-aunt that she was spared this trauma and has full access to her magic once again despite only being fifteen months of age.

Sirius Black is staying in a secure ward at St Mungo's and is being treated by the best Healers and Mind Healers money can buy at the expense of the Ministry, which the Minister has tried to dispute but has been unsuccessful and called into question by Madam Bones who is set on re-writing the wrongs and injustice that has plagued our community since the last war. However, we at the Daily Prophet hope that Heiress Morgause Potter-Black and Lord Sirius Black get the justice they deserve and wish them well in their long and extensive recovery.

As soon as Arthur had finished reading the article he rushed upstairs to Percy's room and cast a number of extensive charms so the rat could not escape from his cage and Apparated away from his home to the Ministry. He would answer the questions when he got back, but for now he needed to act and act now.

***

After the trial was over, Monty sent word back to Roxanne and Lyle informing them of the trial and that they would be back soon after seeing Sirius settled into the ward at St Mungo's; in other words, reassuring him they weren't angry with him and that he hadn't failed Morgause, James or Lily. While Mia pulled Remus Lupin aside and told him it would take him time to regain their and Sirius's trust after just believing Dumbledore's word over ten years of friendship with Sirius. Once the last of the Lupin line reached his little cottage that Sirius had actually purchased for him in the Devon countryside, Remus fell to his knees in a scream of agony as his magic burst from him, as he was overcome with emotions over what had happened to his Cub and his dear friend who was so much more than just a friend.

All he knew was, that he had failed Morgause. He had failed Sirius. He had also failed James and Lily. He hated to see such disappointment come from the elder Potters who had been like another second set of parents for him. He swore then that he would do better for her; no matter what.