The Life of Hadrian Black

Chapter 2- The Trial

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"Sirius Black, you have been taken from the Azkaban Fortress in the plea of one Remus Lupin, who believes you deserve a trial."

Sirius Black's mind shot into focus at the Minister's mention of his beloved's belief in him. His eyes frantically searched for the green eyed werewolf who absolutely adored books and oversized jumpers. As soon as their eyes met, Sirius was overcome with emotion, and swallowed thickly. Remus did this for him? Then he set eyes on the two women seated next to him; Amelia Bones, an acquaintance through all those bloody balls his damned Mother forced him to attend in his youth, and his old Transfiguration teacher, dear Professor Minnie. If Sirius weren't still incredibly overwhelmed, he would've grinned; a terrifying trio, if he'd ever saw one.

"In the absence of one Albus Dumbledore, current Chief of the Wizengamot, I, Cornelius Fudge, will be authorising this trial. Charges consist of man-slaughter and the breaking of the Stature of Secrecy." The sound of self-writing quills scratching information into parchment filled the room. "Sirius Black, how do you plead?"

"Not guilty." His voice was horse and quiet from three years of disuse, but still managed to echo around the hall mockingly. Fudge frowns with disapproval, clearly believing that Sirius was lying. The Lords and Ladies of Court all mutter to themselves vigorously, and it became apparent to him at that point, that they were all present simply for entertainment. 'Well once I'm free to kiss my Moony senseless, I'll be the one laughing then.' The thought of kissing his boyfriend again pleased him more than he'd ever admit.

"The Wizengamot will be asking you a series of questions, and you will be forced to answer them with complete and utter truthfulness under a heavy dose of Veritaserum." Fudge nods to one of the four Auror's guarding by him. Gordon Wild, a man he had worked with on a regular basis when he himself was an Auror, forcibly tipped his head back and all but dumped the required dose of truth serum into his mouth. Sirius wills himself not to choke before the potion took effect.

Taking note of Sirius's now vacant gaze, Cornelius Fudge speaks again. "What is your full name?

Sirius spoke, inwardly cringing at the dull monotone his voice held. "Sirius Orion Phoenix Black." Merlin, he sounded like a Neanderthal.

"How old are you?"

"Twenty-four."

Fudge sits back, satisfied that the potion was working as it should. "The potion is in affect. May the first witness present themselves."

Sirius's heart clenches almost painfully as his Professor and secret mother figure gets to her feet, a steely epression on her face. Although, his lips do quirk upwards when he notices the entire Wizengamot sit straighter: Minerva McGonagall may not be a politically powerful figure, but she'd taught nearly half of the people present, and went to school with the rest. It was simply common sense to look as respectable as possible, lest she turn lioness on you. "My name is Minerva McGonagall, and I am Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts."

"Begin." Fudge prompts.

"I taught Sirius for seven years before he became an Auror, and in that time frame I learnt a good many things about him; One, that he is a dramatic wee devil." Most of the Wizengamot mutter in agreement at that, and Sirius doesn't know whether to be proud or disgusted with himself. "Two, that he really is rather clever despite his reputation as 'the bad boy'. And three, he is increasingly loyal to his friends."

"One cannot be friends with You-Know-Who." Lord Macmillan put in really rather uselessly, and Minerva subtly sends him 'the look' for it before continuing her speech. She was interrupted a good number of times by curious Wizengamot members, asking things completely irrelevant to what the Court has gathered for, and it was obvious that the woman's patience was wearing thin.