Chapter 68: Leaving the Courtroom
Amelia smiled lightly. "Susan did say you were charming, Harry. Now, may I ask why you are not staying with your relatives?"
Harry frowned slightly. "I'm sure Susan has told you about them and their treatment of me. I fear how they would react taking me in after I had been away to school," Harry said.
Amelia's expression turned dark. "So you decided not to return to them?" she asked.
"No. I feared what they would do. I sent them a letter telling them I would not return and got a note back telling me good," Harry explained.
Dumbledore interrupted at that. "Come now, Harry. I'm sure they're missing you. They are the last of your family, after all."
Harry frowned. "Blood does not make family, sir. I consider my friends family: Neville, Hannah, Susan. I consider Remus family and most likely Sirius once I get to know him. The Dursleys are not my family."
"But my boy, they are your family. They looked after you for ten years," he tried again.
Harry sent Remus a look. "No, they abused me for ten years," Harry said firmly, making Sirius, who had been silent up to this point, gasp.
"What?!" he said, anguished.
"It's okay, it's over. I'm okay now," Harry said, looking into his eyes for the first time.
"Mr. Potter, Harry, those claims are serious. I had hoped to talk to you when you visited in the summer about them; however, if you are willing and able to provide evidence, I can take your statement now," Amelia said, her face sad but supportive.
"Now see here, is that really necessary? Harry, do you really want to get your relatives into trouble?" Dumbledore asked, staring at Harry intently and ignoring the outrage on the faces of the other adults present. A few of the members of the Wizengamot had, at this point, returned and were listening in - including Lucius, who was staring with disbelief and anger at Dumbledore.
"I would be happy to talk to you, Madam Bones - however, could we perhaps get Sirius sorted first? I'm sure he is not comfortable in those robes and he could probably do with a meal or two," Harry said.
"That would be fine, Harry. Why don't you come in tomorrow, with Mr. Lupin? You're staying with him, I gather?" she asked.
"We're staying at the Leaky Cauldron," Harry said.
"Now, see here. Harry really must return home," Dumbledore said indignantly.
Amelia seemed to have had enough and turned to the old man. "Albus, if what Harry says is true, you are insisting he return home to his abusers. He is perfectly safe with Mr. Lupin, who I know to have been friends with his parents; however, if you are that worried I will have them return to my home tonight. I'm sure Susan would love that, anyway," Amelia said.
Dumbledore opened his mouth again, but closed it. "Very well," he said, before turning and dramatically walking to the doors.
Harry turned and looked at Remus and shrugged lightly before turning to look at Sirius and Amelia.
"Sorry about that," he said softly. "I don't know why he takes such an interest in me."
"It's quite alright, Mr. Potter. Now, the offer does stand if you would like to come back to Bones Manor; you're more than welcome," she said.
Harry thought about it before he spoke, "That's okay. Though I would love to see Susie, I fear if I turned up now she would beat me for keeping all of this from her."
Amelia smiled, "Want me to warm her up for you?"
"Please? Maybe mention how much she would miss me if she killed me for keeping secrets?" Harry added.
Amelia smiled and approached Harry. "You are always welcome at our home, Harry. And about our conversation tomorrow, I will expect you at noon in my office," she said.
"Thank you, Madam Bones," Harry said.
"Oh, and please, call me Amelia when it's nothing official," Amelia said.
Amelia turned then and walked out of the doors Albus had vacated from. Harry walked closer to Sirius and offered the man a smile. Sirius launched himself at Harry and pulled the boy into a tight hug, mumbling "thank you's and I'm sorry's" in between kisses to Harry's head.
"It's okay, Siri - you're okay, I'm okay," Harry reassured the man.
Remus cleared his throat after a few minutes, pulling Sirius out of his mind and back to the real world.
"It's good to see you, Pads," he said hesitantly, before Sirius pulled him down into the hug.
Eventually, Harry wormed his way out and saw that the room had been cleared.
"I think we should probably leave," he said to the two men.
Remus pulled himself up and offered Sirius a hand.
"You're staying at the Leaky," Sirius said, his voice still a bit croaky. Harry watched as Sirius stood and looked down at himself, reminding Harry of what he was wearing. Seeing this, Harry nudged Remus and smiled as the wolf stumbled to pull out the robe he had brought for Sirius.
Sirius smiled and pulled the robe on over his prison clothes; it was dark grey and slightly too big, but it was clean and new.
"Come on," Harry said, "I think we still have to sign some things before we can leave."
....
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