Born from the Ashes (A Harry Potter Fanfic)

Chapter 4

Alya stood in her signature black dress the silver embroidery in her cloak being the only pop of color in her outfit. 

Walburga stood at her side as they watched people file into the courtroom around them. With their heads raised and their backs straight they watched as the judge, Cornelius Fudge stepped into his place at the front.  

A few moments later two Aurors escorted Sirius Black into the room. Walburga along with everyone else gasped at the state of the once lively Sirius Black. He was sickly pale and thin. His greasy black hair stuck to his face and his beard grew long and scraggly. His silver eyes searched the crowd for a little matching pair. 

When his eyes met Alya's it was as if life was breathed back into him. "MY BABY! Oh, my star! My beautiful star! Look how big you are, my princess!" Tears fell down his face as he moved to race toward his daughter only to be stopped by the Aurors.

A few eyes grew damp at the desperation on Sirius' face to hold his baby girl. 

"It's okay, daddy. Je t'embrasserai, quand tu seras libre! (I'll hug you, when you are free!)" 

He began sobbing at hearing her little voice, posh and proper Londoner, just like him. Even her French was British. 

His gaze fell slightly to her right, Zisby stood proudly, having followed orders to protect the little mistress for ten years until his return. 

Then his gaze shifted left, eyes widening in horror as he recognized the woman holding his baby's hand to be Walburga Black, the Blythe of his nightmares, his mother. 

"No.No.No.No.No... Please don't... don't tell me..." He whimpered in terror.

His childhood was hell. The crucios, the screaming, the pureblood bullshit. He wanted his daughter to have a good life, better than his. Now she was his mirror image in more ways than one. They both were raised by the demon Lady Walburga Black.

He wanted to be there when she learned to fly a broom. And they could go get their ears pierced together so that Daddy could show her it wasn't scary. 

He wanted to experience a thousand memories with his little girl, things he never had. 

But he knew, he just knew that Walburga had gotten her hands on his precious princess and made her as miserable as he was. 

He started sobbing even harder, falling to his knees as he sobbed. The Aurors tried to catch him, holding onto his arms as he collapsed onto the pristine marble floor. 

"Your honor, permission to approach the defendant!" Alya called out, looking at Fudge who nodded, "Granted."

She raced to Sirius hugging around his neck the moment she was in front of him. Like a venus fly trapped his arms slammed closed around her little body, pulling her into his chest and cocooning her in his much larger form. 

"Baby. My baby. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. It's all my fault. I'm sorry." He whispered again and again as he held Alya close to him. 

Alya basked in the warmth, she had never had a father in her previous life so she held onto Sirius like a lifeline. He was her dad, the only one she ever knew. 

"Je t'aime papa," Alya whispered into his ear, ignoring the wretched scent coming from him as she buried her face in his neck. 

"Je t'aime." Sirius whispered back. 

Many around them cried at the heartbreaking display, including Cornelius Fudge who was having a hard time deciding whether or not to break them up and start the trial. 

"It's okay, Daddy. We can be together again after you're free. Just take the potion and tell the truth and we'll go home!" 

They broke apart, Sirius smiling at his little girl as he caressed her soft baby cheeks with his thumb. "It's all gonna be okay, princess." He whispered, struggling back to his feet as the court was in order. 

"The trial of Sirius Black is now in session... do you Sirius Orion Black, consent to taking Veritaserum, a colorless, odorless potion that forces the drinker to tell the truth?" Fudge asked following the script of court proceedings. 

"I do," Sirius' gravelly voice echoed through the chamber. 

With the consent they handed him a clear vial of truth serum, waiting for him to take it before asking their questions. 

"As the law dictates you will answer yes or no to the following questions... Is your name Sirius Orion Black?" 

"Yes"

"Did you aid or commit in the murder of Lily and James Potter?"

"No."

"Did you kill Peter Pettigrew?"

"No."

"Did you harm any muggles on the night in question?" 

"No." 

"Are you or have you ever been affiliated with the death eaters or He-who-shall-not-be-named?"

"No."

"Let the record state that he has truthfully denied all accusations under the Veritaserum truth serum. Now in your own words explain to the court what really happened on the night in question." 

"On the night in question, October 31st, 1981, Peter Pettigrew, that fucking rat, the secret keeper to the Potters betrayed them and gave their location to Voldemort. After I arrived at their house and found them dead, I took Harry Potter with me, finding Hargid along the way. I gave Harry to Hagrid, along with my flying motorcycle so that he could take Harry to safety. I went to find Pettigrew to confront him. When I found him, he began screaming about how I betrayed Lily and James before cutting off his own finger, creating an explosion with the bombarda maxima spell, and escaping in the sewers as a rat. I was then arrested and taken to Azkaban without trial." 

As Sirius finished, the cameras flashed and pens scribbled at the gossip that would surely be in the papers the next day. 

"Viewing the evidence brought by Miss Susan Bones and Heiress Alya Black, his statements are factual and his memories have not been altered. Based on the evidence and the accounts of Sirius Black, I find Sirius Black not guilty on all counts. He shall be restored his freedom and wand effective immediately. 50,000 gold coins will be given to the family of Black for every year that Sirius Black remained imprisoned. He will also be granted access to the ministry's mind healers." The moment that gavel hit the podium, it was as if time started again for Sirius. 

He jumped over the divider, pulling Alya into his arms and holding her close as he laughed brightly. 

He was completely free!