Chapter 66: The Battle for Sirius Black's Freedom
Harry felt eyes on him and looked up to see Lucius was looking at him with inquisitive grey eyes. Harry nodded his head slightly to show he supported Sirius and watched as Lucius looked slightly shocked before his eyes blanked and he sat back, calming down those around him with a simple look.
Banging the gavel, Madam Bones called for order as Sirius was brought out. He looked bad, worse than Harry remembered, but not as bad as the first time Harry had seen him. His skin was white and shallow, hanging of his skeletal frame.
His hair was long and ragged and he had a scruffy beard, which looked almost patchy in places. The striped Azkaban robes hung of his frame and dragged slightly as he was walked to the stand. Harry felt awful for him; however, he had gotten him out as quickly as he could.
"Sirius Black, you are accused of the betrayal of James and Lily Potter to the Dark Lord V-Voldemort, who you assumedly served, resulting in their deaths and the murder of twelve muggles and Peter Pettigrew," Amelia said, slightly wavering in her naming Voldemort.
Sirius opened his mouth, but Edgar nudged him and sent him a look which Harry could read from where he sat which clearly said 'shut up'.
Edgar stepped forward. "My client was wrongly imprisoned without a trial, and is innocent of all crimes here accused. He has agreed to be place under veritaserum for the duration of his trial to prove this innocence."
The courtroom broke out in whispers again and Harry saw how Dumbledore stiffened slightly.
"Very well. Bailiffs, please administer the serum," Amelia said.
Watching as Sirius took the potion without complaint, Harry was relieved. He knew how hot-headed Pads could be.
"I will ask a few basic questions to ascertain the potion is working correctly. Please state your full name," she asked Sirius.
"Sirius Orion Black," Sirius said, his voice raspy but holding the obvious daze associated with veritaserum.
Madam Bones sighed. "Please provide the defendant with some water," she said.
Sirius looked grateful and took a sip when the glass materialised.
"Mr. Black, what is the date of your birth?" she asked.
"3rd of November, 1959," Sirius said, his voice still raspy but much clearer.
"And what is your blood status?" she asked.
"Pureblood," Sirius said.
"I believe the serum is working," Amelia said. "Therefore, I shall begin the questioning."
"Mr. Black, on the night of October 31st 1980, did you reveal the location of the Potter's address to the Dark Lord?"
"No." Sirius said.
"Did you give this location to him on another date?" Amelia asked.
"No, I never betrayed them," Sirius answered.
"You were found screaming 'It was my fault!". Why were you shouting this if you never betrayed them?" Amelia questioned.
"It was my fault-" Sirius said.
The courtroom broke out in shouts again.
"-because I told them to use Peter Pettigrew as their secret keeper. I thought they would be safe! I made them switch to him and he betrayed them. It's my fault!" he cried.
Amelia brought the gavel down and called for order.
"So you were never the secret keeper for the Potter family?" she asked.
"No. James wanted me to be, but I thought it would be obvious. I persuaded him to use Peter." Sirius said, his voice anguished.
"You had no idea Peter Pettigrew would betray them?" she asked.
"No, never! I would have died for James and Lily; I would never have betrayed them!"
"Have you ever been a supporter of Lord Voldemort, marked or otherwise?" Amelia asked.
"No. Never," Sirius denied.
"Very well. I believe we should move on."
The courtroom was whispering madly at this.
"Mr. Black, can you talk us through what happened on the night of October 31st 1980, in your own words" Amelia asked.
"I went to see James and Lily; I wanted to see little Harry. When I got there the door was blasted open and James-James was just - he was laying there, his wand just by his hand. He was dead. I ran to him but there was nothing I could do. He was just gone. I could hear something upstairs, so I ran up. I found Lily then, in the nursery. The room was trashed, it looked like magical backlash.
She was lying in front of Harry's crib. She was dead, too. There was a scorch mark next to her and Harry was in his crib. He was crying, trying to get out and get to Lily. I ran to him. He had a cut on his forehead - I couldn't believe he was alive. I was so grateful, but I heard something then.
"I grabbed Harry and his blanket and I ran downstairs. It was Hagrid. He saw me with Harry and he charged before I stopped him; he thought I had done it, but I convinced him it wasn't me. He said he would take Harry for me to Hogwarts, so Madam Pomfrey could look at him and he told me to go after Peter. I agreed - the cut wasn't bleeding badly, but I couldn't heal it and I knew I needed to stop Peter."
"I told Hagrid to take my bike and get Harry to Hogwarts - but I went after Peter. I found him a few hours later and we fought in the street. He cried out that he knew how I had killed them, before he blasted off his own finger and sent a spell at me, which misfired and caused a muggle electric box to explode. He then turned into his animagus form and escaped just as the aurors came then and I was arrested. I went a bit mad at that point I think - James and Lily were dead and Peter had gotten away. By the time I had regained my senses, I was already in Azkaban."
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