Time Astral | Sirius Black

6||The Ministry

August 12th, 1995

The walls were made of dark stone, dimly lit by torches. There was loud shuffling in the dungeons, making it hard to hear voices above footsteps. 

Just when everyone's gaze fell on Harry, each and every single one of them fell silent. 

"Take the chair." A voice called from the higher benches. 

There were at least fifty people wearing plum coloured robes, he felt as though he'd puke all over the floor. There was something extremely unsettling about being alone in this place. 

He closed his eyes for a fraction of second Best way to make the bad memories go away is to replace them with the good ones He thought of his first year at Hogwarts, thought of its delicious meals, of meeting Sirius, of knowing he had family, of the warmth of the castle, of being away from Privet Drive 4, of his photograph of James and Lily...

In the middle of the front row, sat Cornelius Fudge. Minister of Magic. 

"Very well. Are you ready?" He asked down the row.

There was a yes and Harry found Percy sitting nearby. Cornelius started, "Disciplinary hearing of the 12th of August... into offenses committed by Harry James Potter... resident at Number 4 Privet Drive, Little Whinging, Surrey.

"Interrogators: Cornelius Oswald Fudge, Minister of Mag..."

"Witness for the defense. Albus Percival Wulfric... Brian Dumbledore." Harry spun behind to find Dumbledore already there, rounding his chair to stand in front. 

The members begun murmuring at once, and Harry, despite everything he'd done, felt relief. At least he wasn't alone. 

The charges were announced and Harry tried his best to argue, talking about the dementors. But it was all crossed out saying there were no witnesses. 

"As a matter of fact - there are." Dumbledore intervened.

Harry turned to look at him with raised eyebrows. Had he gotten to know of Josephine? Perhaps Mrs Figg had ratted her out. She was a spy after all. 

He was soon declared wrong when Mrs Figg herself sat on a chair across from Harry, describing what the dementors were like.

"And was it only you and Dudley Dursley over there?"

She was quiet for a moment before shaking her head. Harry restrained the urge to curse. "There was another."

"Another?"

"A woman." She frowned. "Eyes so green, like the amazon. Hair so long, they reached past her waist. Black clothes, head to toe. She was there, when I found the boys. She helped the big one home before bidding goodbye."

"Is that so?" Cornelius turned to Harry. "Tell me more about her. What was she doing with you, boy?"

"She was a stranger." Harry said. "And old, old enough to be my mother's age. She was simply looking for shade in the playpark when the dementors attacked. It was kindness, that allowed her to help Dudley home."

Cornelius looked unsatisfied but thankfully, Amelia Bones intervened and spoke on his behalf. 

Votes were casted, and Harry, after a long wait, was finally discharged. He cast one look at Mrs Figg and knew she was hiding something. He made a mental note of having a chat with her once he had to go back to Privet Drive. Which would inevitably be sooner or later. 

***

On the way out from the Ministry, Harry's mind was mulling over every single thing that had happened.