Christmas at home was nice. Harry got a few presents, similar to Dudley's, as well as a present from Hermione and another from Neville. He was quite surprised to get presents from the three girls he had met at Longbottom Manor, though, and felt ashamed of not sending them presents as well. He later faded to the Granger house and spent a few hours with them, feeling just as much at home.
They all spent the new year's eve at the traditional ball. Harry enjoyed dancing all evening with Hermione. Dudley also found a few partners for dance, but still spent most of the time talking with some boys.
They spent the train drive back to school with Neville, Susan, Daphne, and Hannah, barely noticing the passage of time. When reaching his dormitory, Harry found another present waiting for him, his father's invisibility cloak. Harry wondered if this cloak, had it not been lent to another, could help save his parents. He also suspected he knew who had kept it for so long, but he had no proof.
\/\/\/
Harry was glad to have some friends at other houses. His housemates didn't mind the Hufflepuff girls, but frowned about Daphne, when she wanted to sit with Harry and Hermione. Ron was the loudest. "Why do you allow this snake at our table?" he said with disgust.
"I don't see any snake here," Harry replied after looking around and under the table, as if searching for one. "I only see a beautiful young girl who is our friend. If you don't like her, you can sit elsewhere."
Ron moved promptly to the other end of the table. Daphne pretended not to notice. A moment later, Fred and George came to apologize. "Don't mind Ron. He's an idiot, although he is our brother. You are welcome whenever you wish to join us."
Neville seemed to enjoy the company of the girls the most. As they had all been his childhood friends, it was no surprise.
Being busy with schoolwork and friends, Harry almost forgot his conversation with Lady Longbottom. He was quite surprised when he got a letter from her.
"Dear Lord Potter,
As per our discussion, I tried to find records of Mr. Black's trial. I found nothing. Some additional checking with people who were supposed to know gives me the distinct impression that he was never put on trial. Regardless of his innocence or guilt, he should have had a trial. I intend to make the ministry put him on trial as soon as possible. If he's innocent, as your parents' will suggests, then he should be set free immediately and compensated for the time spent in prison.
I hope you agree with this plan and give it the political support needed. Neville can instruct you about what political support may mean.
In addition, I started a discreet investigation about who took part in this injustice and who could benefit from it. I'll let you know as soon as I get the results.
Respectfully yours,
Augusta Longbottom
on behalf of
Lord Frank Longbottom."
Harry and Hermione found this information quite unsettling. "Based on what we already know about Dumbledore and the position he has in the Ministry, it will not surprise me to find that he was involved in this," Harry told her.
"Why do you think so?"
"He could only become my magical guardian if I was deposited with a muggle family. Any of the other guardians suggested would have deprived him of access to my possessions."
Hermione frowned. "Do you know who cast the Fidelius charm, making Peter the secret keeper?"
"I think it was Dumbledore, as my parents stated that he knew who the real secret keeper was."
Hermione's frown deepened. She felt like she should be able to trust authority figures, yet the more she learned about "The Great Leader of the Light", the darker he seemed to her. "I think we should learn from Neville about what political influence you may have and how to use it," she finally said.
Neville wasn't surprised. "Gran told me to expect this. She also made me rehearse all that I've learned so I'll be ready when you ask me," he told them.
It was a new experience for the shy boy. He had always been on the receiving end of tutoring. Now he felt some hidden pride at being able to give his friends something of value. Using mainly the library, where Hermione was quick to find all relevant books, and some unused classes on forgotten corridors, Harry and Hermione learned about the political power play and how to use the Potter political and financial powers to achieve their goals.
While Neville proved to be a knowledgeable and efficient tutor, neither Harry nor Hermione liked many of the aspects he uncovered for them. The more they learned, the dirtier the political game seemed to them, yet both became determined to change the rules as soon as they were able to. Neville was unsure of his abilities, but he promised to support them. They were becoming too aware of the corruption, the bigotry, and the pureblood interests. "We're still too young to do any significant change, but we can start small – by helping Sirius get justice – and make things move in the right direction, even if quite slowly at first," Harry concluded.
"We may get some help from Daphne and Susan," Neville suggested. "Both are politically savvy, even more than I am, and Susan's aunt is the head of the DMLE. I'm sure she'd like to find the truth."
"What's DMLE?" both Harry and Hermione asked.
"That's the Department of Magical Law Enforcement."
"So, it's like the police," Harry stated.
"Or even more than that," Hermione added.
Both girls were then told the basics and both promised to help.
"My Dad is not a member of the Wizengamot, but he has some connections there. I'm sure he will do something to help you, but probably not openly," Daphne said.
"Auntie will be appalled at hearing that your godfather didn't get a trial. She's also close to Lady Longbottom. I'm sure she'll help, especially if I ask her to," Susan added.
Harry also let Lady Augusta know that she could count on his help, although he might need some more specific instructions at times. He was glad to be able to make a difference.
For Harry, things seemed to have stalled after that. He was busy at school, enjoying his friends and spending the nights cuddling with Hermione. An occasional letter from Lady Augusta didn't change that feeling.
Yet things were changing. Madam Bones was the first to be involved. She did her own checking within the ministry, verifying all the data she had been presented with. She was not surprised to find that it was all true. Sirius Black had never been given a trial. He had been sent to prison based on what the Aurors who took him into custody heard him mumble. He hadn't even fought the Aurors, which was very different from any death-eaters they had ever captured. It was a ministerial decree to send him to prison, counter-signed by the chief warlock – Albus Dumbledore.
Lady Longbottom also informed her friend about the Legilimency attempts suffered by her grandson and his friends. This didn't make Madam Bones any happier. Using her resources as head of the DMLE, she started a discreet investigation of her own, trying to find what the chief warlock was trying to achieve.
Harry let her make a copy of his parents' will and also gave her access to the bank records that showed suspect withdrawals from his account. He also let her interview his house elves, to learn about what had been taken from his non-monetary possessions. Yet all these investigations only took a minuscule part of his time and his attention.
When lady Longbottom asked him to let her vote in his stead during Wizengamot sessions, he gave her the appropriate letter with no hesitation.
It was mid-March when Harry received an official letter requesting his presence at the ministry for the trial of Sirius Black. He wasn't surprised to be called to the headmaster's office a day before the trial.
"Mr. Potter, you're probably wondering why you've got an invitation for Sirius Black's trial," he started. Harry kept his expression neutral.
"Mr. Black used to be a very close friend of your father, so close, that he was made your godfather and then their secret keeper when they went into hiding. Unfortunately, he wasn't worthy of your parents' confidence. He betrayed their secret to Voldemort and then, when Peter Pettigrew – another close friend of your father – confronted him, he killed him and twelve muggles before being captured by the Aurors. The only reason he's getting a trial now is that the head of the DMLE found some disorder in the proceedings."
"I know this is the official standing," Harry responded.
"Do you doubt it?" Dumbledore asked, barely keeping from frowning.
Harry shrugged. "I've learned to suspect everything that is supposed to be common knowledge unless I got sufficient proof. I'd like to know what proof there is to the accusations and if there is any evidence against them. Isn't that the right way to judge?"
"Quite true, my boy, yet the evidence against Mr. Black seems to be overwhelming."
"That's why I need to hear it all before I decide, and the judges should always form their opinion only based on the evidence presented, not on rumours or anything else. That's the way it works in the Muggle world, at least."
Dumbledore tried to hide his displeasure at this response. "Would you like me to accompany you to the Ministry tomorrow?" he offered.
"Thank you, sir, but I accepted an offer to be escorted by an Auror. I think it's better that way."
Dumbledore would have liked to use Legilimency and probe the boy's mind, but he refrained, remembering all his failed attempts. He would only try it again if he felt he had no choice. This didn't seem to be the case.
"Well, I hope it won't be too difficult on you. I suggest you go early to bed so you'll be fully alert in the morning."
Harry accepted this advice, yet he felt too anxious, and even cuddling with Hermione took much longer to calm him enough to get some sleep.
Harry became even more anxious in the morning. He wished Hermione could come with him, yet she had no official standing and no recognized personal interest. She still tried her best to calm him during breakfast, which he barely ate, until a wizard in dark blue robes came in and looked around.
"Harry, your escort," Hermione told him, pointing at the Auror.
"Yea, sure." He stood up. "I wish you could come with me," he told her.
"It wouldn't be wise, and you know it."
He shrugged. "I know, but I'd still feel much better if you came along."
She smiled reassuringly at him. "It will be fine, you'll see."
Harry nodded and then turned and walked to the Auror.
It was one of the longest days Harry could remember. The different people who talked, asked questions, gave answers, presented documents and so on... He barely understood anything at all, yet one thing was clear – Sirius had not been his parents' secret keeper and had not betrayed them, nor had he killed Peter, the real traitor, as he wanted to capture the traitor and bring him to trial. It was past dinner time when the verdict was given: Sirius Black was not guilty of any of the crimes for which he had spent more than ten years in prison.
And then, he could only hear Sirius ask, "Is Harry okay? Where is he? When can I meet him?"
He wasn't even aware of leaving his seat and walking to Sirius, until he was engulfed in a big hug as Sirius cried, "Please forgive me, Harry, for not being with you as I promised your parents I would."
Harry still used a bit of Legilimency to see if the man was trustworthy. Being acquitted didn't guarantee it, he knew. He found Sirius trustworthy, but his mind looked in shambles, just like his body. Sirius would need some treatment to restore both his mind and his body.
He was surprised as another man joined the hug, one he could not check over with Legilimency. This bothered him a bit, but the man seemed to know him and Sirius, so he assumed it was one of his parents' friends, although he didn't know much about any of them.
It was Sirius who presented the other man, though. "Harry, this is my good friend Remus Lupin. He and I were very close friends with your father, and later – with your mother too."
"I'm so glad to meet you, Harry. I've wanted to visit you many times, but I was always stopped. I'm glad to see you're such a fine lad," Remus told him.
His Auror companion approached. "I'm really sorry to break this reunion, but it's my duty to bring Harry back to Hogwarts before curfew, and there's little time left until then."
Sirius lifted his head. "Shack?"
The tall dark man smiled. "Didn't change my name. Let me know where you're going to stay and I'll come and visit, but I really must bring Harry back to school now."
When Harry finally got back to school, he found the common room practically deserted. Only Hermione was still waiting for him, looking tired and worried. She rushed to him as soon as he came in. "How are you, Harry? Did you get anything to eat?"
Harry smiled at her. "I'm fine, really. Sirius was found innocent and I've met another friend of my parents. And my Auror escort did give me some food, although I didn't eat most of it."
She checked him over quickly. "You're exhausted. Go to bed now. I'll join you in ten minutes."
When Hermione faded into his bed, he was already half asleep. He just cuddled with her and they both fell asleep peacefully.