Separated By My Traitors

Finding broken things

CW: swearing, court kind of setting

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11th of November 1981

A week had already passed and they were making great progress in terms of issuing a trial for Sirius. They knew the media would have a field day once they caught word. Even if everyone believed Sirius Black to be a traitor, a murderer, James knew his best friend, there had to be some sort of explanation.

Remus was still reluctant to leave James by himself, and the latter was forever thankful for his friend's compassionate nature. He had no idea what he would have done these last couple of weeks if he had been left to his own devices, and he didn't even want to imagine it.

In terms of Sirius' trial, Remus had owled one of his old mentor's, Alastor Moody, an auror for the ministry. Neither James or Remus wanted to turn to Dumbledore after all that had occurred. Remus trusted Moody, and so James found trust in him too.

It was Moody who talked to Minister Millicent Bagnold, convincing her, with the help of his team, to order a trial in which Sirius pleaded his innocence. James and Remus were in charge of research. Moody had not stormed into the Minister's office unprepared. No, the pair of friends had found newspaper clippings, from that day Sirius was arrested.

There were many witnesses who reported hearing Black screaming,

"She's my friend! My friend! It wasn't me! It wasn't me!"

Moody clearly stated that this wasn't proof. But it may help Sirius' case as he didn't provide a confession. They also had to research how to request a trial, and how it would run. Remus and James were not allowed to speak to Sirius until a verdict was made, or if the Wizengamot allowed them to be character witnesses.

James sidealogned with Remus as he apparated them to his family home in Scotland. Potter Manor was abandoned. Too quiet. Too cold. The once warm welcoming Gryffindor finesse that encompassed their home, was laid away in the dark shadows. It was in moments like these where James felt the full weight of his parents death. If only his mum was here to engulf him in one of her crushing hugs. To talk and cry while his father rubbed soothing circles into his shoulder. Just as they did the night Sirius was disowned.

Sirius. That's why they were here. Leading Remus into his father's study, James sorted through the drawers until he located the piece of paper, which had been coated in six years worth of dust. Sirius' adoption papers. It wasn't much, but it was enough to show that he wasn't the Noble House of Black's diligent heir, everyone still believed him to be.

They apparated to Moody's office directly from Potter Manor. It was there that James handed over all the files, documents and research, contained in a single large envelope. Alastor took it and double checked everything was correct before heading out to talk with Minister Millicent Bagnold.

When the auror returned he looked surprisingly, happy? It was odd and could only mean one thing, for James had never seen him with more than a snarl etched on his face.

"We did it then? There will be a hearing of some sort?"

James couldn't help the excitement in his voice. His best friend would soon be a free man again. Then they could rest, take some time to properly grieve for their losses.

"Admittedly, Bagnold was much more lenient when I approached her. Once she discovered James Potter, the father of 'the boy who lived', had put in the request, of course."

This startled something within James. Harry had been placed in the care of his friend, Mary McDonald, for the past week. With Remus and James running around and exerting themselves trying to save Sirius they were not fit to take care of a baby. They visited him at least once a day, if only for five minutes on some occasion when they were extraordinarily busy. James made it a priority to see his son, he wanted him to know he was loved unconditionally. Moony had told him about how his son had somehow defeated the dark wizard, Lord Voldemort, and James didn't know how to feel about that.