Elektra Black I

Chapter 20 | Sirius' Ministry Hearing

Sirius, Remus and Arthur sat alone at the long black oak dining table, each finishing off their tea and coffees that Kreature had prepared. They were going over every single minute detail about what to expect at the Ministry within the next hour. Sirius was trying to hold together his nervousness, Remus' hands were sweating profusely under the table and Arthur was more than positive about the next few hours.

"Just promise me if it goes south, you'll keep looking after Elektra and Harry." Sirius practically begged from across the table at where Remus was sat. He nodded his head, "You know I will, but it's not going to happen." Remus had been reassuring Sirius for the past two hours, the man was barely keeping it together at the thought he could be thrown back in Azkaban with the Dementors sucking on his soul every so often. "What do the Muggles say? Ah! The truth will out!" Arthur announced, standing up from out of his seat and dusting his tweed jacket off. Sirius forced some sort of small laugh out from within but in reality, he just wanted to be tucked away by the fire with Elektra in his arms, listening to her over-enthused self, telling him some sort of mystical creature that so happened to live in the Black Lake. Arthur patted his shoulder, "Let's go. We'll get there early, show them we mean business!" Sirius nodded, downed his last bit of coffee and pulled whatever positivity he had left out of himself but he couldn't get past the deep dread that chilled him to his very bones. They all walked over towards the dust-filled fireplace, Arthur went first, then Sirius and then Remus, all calling out "Ministry of Magic." With a green whoosh of flames, they disappeared via the Floo Network.

Bang, bang, bang!

The Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, slammed his gavel down onto the high stone marble desk he was sitting at to quieten the court, who were wearing black and red gowns with matching hats. Sirius trembled inside when he looked up towards the marble ceiling, from the entrance where he was stood, and saw the black-cloaked figures swirling around in a mist-like pool, waiting to feed hungrily on the depressive intrusive thoughts of the living. He thought back to the times that they had come in to feed off of him in his cell and shivered at the idea that this would be his life from now on. Remus nudged his tense body slowly, whispering, "Just don't look up at them." Sirius nodded his head but it was no use. He'd already started to get flashbacks that seemed all too real.

"Take a seat, Mr Black. Don't mind the dementors, they're used as a safety measure. Although, I'm sure that you are well acquainted with them." Fudge called out. Sirius could have sworn he saw a hint of a smirk from his lips but he was too far away from him to fully notice. Sirius took his hands out from his emerald green velvet coat pocket and pulled out the small metal chair that was sitting in the very centre of the room. He noticed that his rough hands were shaking, unnoticeable from where the court sat, but up close it was too obvious. He didn't want to be there. The ever so cocky and charming Sirius Black was terrified. He quickly scanned the room for Remus taking note of where he was sat and calmed down slightly at the normalcy that Remus projected. His old scratchy cardigan underneath his brown cloak, the sewn patches in his shirt and the second-hand tie that Sirius had given to him when they were- he hesitated, realising Albus was not sat anywhere within the walls of the courtroom. He began to panic slightly underneath his cool exterior, concentrating back towards Remus who had smiled at him encouragingly.

"This is a Court Hearing of Sirius Black's plea on the twenty-fourth of September for why he believes he is innocent for the murders of James and Lily Potter, Peter Pettigrew and his possible connections to the Dark Lord. Interrogators, Cornelius Oswald Fudge, Minister for Magic-" Fudge's voice boomed loud, echoing throughout the tiled room but stopped short as a familiar voice spoke up from behind Sirius. "Witness for the Defence! Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, Kingsley Shacklebolt and Nymphadora Tonks." Sirius felt his heart slow down with the comfort of knowing his two witnesses had shown up. He knew Kingsley very well from the original Order and he knew of Nymphadora somewhat as she was his second cousin. "You- you got our letter then? To let you know the time and place of the new hearing?" Stuttered Fudge, trying to hide his very clear guilt that had settled on his taken aback face. Someone had it out for Black. He just hoped that the outcome would be in his favour. "I must have missed it. But by a happy mistake, I arrived at the Ministry three hours early." Dumbledore called out calmly as ever, winking softly at Sirius before taking his seat with the others. "The charges against the accused are as followed. The killing of twelve Muggles, the murder of Peter Pettigrew, his connection to the Dark Lord and that same connection that led him straight to James and Lily Potter." Cornelius finished, peering over his glasses sternly at Sirius Black. "Do you deny these charges?" He added on. Sirius had to stop himself from jumping out of his seat, "Of course I deny them!" He spat, clinging onto the armrests of his chair. Cornelius lingered on his eyes for a second, looked to his left at an old woman who appeared to be forcing herself to seem positive and he whispered something that Sirius could not hear. It put Sirius on edge. More so than he already was. "Bring out Nymphadora Tonks for the defence." Cornelius cried, raising his arm slightly at Nymphadora who was a little reluctant to stand up but Remus pushed her slightly out of her seat. She was just as nervous as Sirius was!