Chapter 1
1st November 1981.
Alphard got up, hearing someone ring the doorbell continuously. He checked the time: 11 o'clock in the morning. He groaned: why had he decided to go to a Muggle village? Why did his neighbours have to celebrate that damned Halloween party with music blasting? Was it really that hard remaining in his bloody cottage?
Nevertheless, somebody was ringing his doorbell. He had to get up. He padded to his door, opening it. Andromeda, his second niece, disowned like him, was at the door crying.
“What is it?” he asked, alarmed, with a thousand bells ringing in his mind: the family? The Death Eaters? Nymphadora?
“Sirius… he is in jail!” Andromeda was able to say, before hugging her uncle tight and crying.
Alphard wrapped his arms around her, rubbing her back with a hand.
“Shhh… calm down, and try to tell me what happened.” he said, doing his best to remain calm.
“I got an owl from the Ministry, - Alphard was able to walk her to the living room, while she was explaining - apparently I was Sirius’s emergency contact. Sirius got in jail for killing 12 muggles and Peter Pettigrew. And yeah, also, betraying James and Lily, who are now dead!”
He nodded to say that he was still listening, and then frowned.
“12? 12 muggles? Merlin… that's so out of character. - he said, mostly to himself. - What about the Order? Dumbledore? What does he say?”
Andromeda chuckled dryly. “Apparently he is too preoccupied with Voldemort’s defeat! Because that is his biggest problem! Something that apparently he didn't even do it but Harry Potter!”
Alphard pinched the bridge of his nose, thinking for a moment. His fingers played with the ring on his right hand, turning it around his finger. “What about a trial? Have they given him a trial?”
“What is a trial? Our dear old cousin Barty choosed to send him off immediately to Azkban.” she chuckled again, without mirth
“The bloody bastard… - Alphard muttered. He took a deep breath to try to calm himself, and sat down on his armchair. - I don't believe it. I don't believe Sirius would ever do such a thing.” He said, his eyes looking towards a point blank of the wall..
“People are celebrating the defeat of the Dark Lord. acceptable, I am happy too. but…” Andromeda said, looking still mad, with tho a bit of happiness
“…But not under any circumstances would Sirius ever betray James and Lily. He would sooner kill himself, and probably take a few others with him, as well." Alphard finished, clenching his jaw.
“Precisely!”
He sat back and stared at the void while he thought.
“I'm going to do something.” he said after a long moment.
“What?” she asked, hopeful her uncle would plan something.
“I'm going to get Sirius out, of course. If Barty had time to throw him into Azkaban, then I should have time to get him out." Alphard said, turning to look at her.
“With what money?” she asked, aware he was, like her, short of money from the Black
"I have money." Alphard said, sitting up straight. He was offended: he may have been disowned but a Black never ran out of money.
“Uncle, you are barely managing. You had to buy a place in a filthy muggle town!” she had to remember him
“I still have money.” He retorted.
Yes, he was living in a small house that was secluded from the rest of the wizarding world, and he lived in a muggle village, but he was still a Black.
He huffed before continuing. “…I just need some help.”
“Oh no… you are not saying…” Andromeda realized her uncle’s words.
Alphard just gave her a little guilty look. He knew exactly what she was thinking. “Yes: I have to talk to the Main Branch and get a trial going for Sirius.” He muttered, avoiding her gaze.
“Uncle…” she tried.
It was a suicidal plan, something that would have never worked out.
Alphard sighed, his shoulders drooping.
“I know, I know... I don't like talking to them either, but it's our only shot if we want to get Sirius out. At the moment at least…” he said, looking down at his hands.
“Fine, give it a shot. - she said - I have to go check on Nymphadora, I left her with Ted’s mum as soon as I found out.”
“Sure, Andy go. I’ll tell you later what they told me.”
Notes:
here is a genealogical tree of the House of Black
I changed Pollux and Cygnus' year of birth (nope, they don't have kids at 13)