Separated By My Traitors

Believe me

TW: Emetophobia (vomit) - brief mention, not explicit, no detail
ED - bad habits, common to those with anorexia (at least with me), Remus kinda skips over it like it's normal-and it's not- so I just want you all to be aware, but he does mention getting professional help

--> Please tell me if I missed any, or if you feel something should be included.

P.S. I don't study law, or anything like that and this is also set in a fictional universe, in a complete alternate setting to ours, so nothing is fact/has any validity. Just wanted to point that out lol.

_ _ _

21st of December 1981

The muscles in his calves shook beneath his body weight. The nerves in his nest convulsed. His heart pounded in his ears. Walking forward across the empty courtroom floor, excluding Sirius at the centre, James went and sat in the chair that had been placed a metre away from his best friend. Hardwood dug into his spine, but it wasn't nearly as uncomfortable as it was having a hundred pairs of eyes focused on him. Dumbledore was talking with Moody, and James could tell the auror wasn't backing down.

As if hearing James' encouragement Alastor made quick strides to stand on the left of his chair, facing the Wizengamot. His auror robes settled around him, and comforted James in a small way. To have someone with confidence, authority, and his trust, supporting him through this. He was glad Moony had been mentored by Alastor when they first graduated, at first they were all a bit hesitant, but it seemed to have been a good decision in the long run.

"Minister Bagnold, Wizengamot. I would like to ask James Potter, resident and owner of Potter Manor, a few questions, to defend Sirius Black during this criminal trial."

The Minister stared at him but Moody held his gaze strong.

"You may proceed."

He gave her a curt nod before turning to face James. His face softened, lightly enough so James could tell, but it was still scary.

"Mr. Potter-"

"Wait, shouldn't I take the potion as well? Veritaserum?"

Moody's eyes widened, but James didn't want special treatment, and he wanted everyone to believe him. The auror cast a quick suspicious look over James that said, are you sure you want to do this? He returned a look of his own. I need to.

"Very well then. Could we please administer Veritaserum for Mr. Potter?"

The same lady came out and carried over a small vial with clear liquid. When she opened it there was no smell, and when it landed on his tongue there was no taste. It could have been water. Except for the fact tht everything went weird for a short second. The light got brighter and darker at the same time, and a gust of wind drowned out the voices behind him. Then it was back to normal. Everything is perfect. The witch asked him to try and lie as he answered her questions but he couldn't. When she asked his name he was trying to be funny and say Minerva Mcgonagall. But all that came out was, MinerJamesPotter, and then he said his own name clearer. After that it was harder to lie as the potion set in.

The witch gave the all clear and returned to her spot beside the Wizengamot. Bagnold told Moody to begin questioning and James prepared himself to answer. It was pretty simple stuff, mostly about meeting Sirius and sharing a dorm with Sirius. Growing up together, sharing summers, Sirius' adoption process.

He explained how when he first met the heir he was a posh ponce, but so was James. They got on well enough, more than well enough to be honest, they were basically attached at the hip. He did begrudgingly share how Sirius used to use the wrong terms when it came to muggleborn and half-bloods. Then he had to explain it was just the environment he grew up in, he had spent his whole childhood hearing those names. It was Remus, James and... Peter, who would educate Sirius about how the Black's were blood supremacists.