Chapter 14
Sirius Black was miserable and furious.
James was dead. His brother was dead. Lily was dead.
Harrison and Harley thought he was a murderer and a traitor.
Peter was alive, the bastard, and Dumbledore fucking knew.
And Remus probably hated him, given Sirius hadn't gotten a single letter from the wolf.
An owl flew into his cell from the window, bringing a Daily Prophet and a Gringotts scroll. Sirius opened the Gringotts letter first, incredibly confused.
Fair Morn, Lord Black,
I have proof that you did not kill Mr. Peter Pettigrew because he is still alive. If you would agree to an in-person meeting, I can confirm that you did not reveal the Potter-Blacks' whereabouts to the Dark Lord Voldemort.
May the rivers run with the blood of your enemies,
Bloodfang
Potter-Black Accountant
Sirius blinked. Wasn't a goblin called Griphook James' accountant?
Well, it would be easier to track Peter if he were free. Sirius used wandless magic to conjure a pen, then quickly scribbled a reply.
Yes, I agree with having a meeting. Bring Veritaserum so the jackasses who put me in here can't make a fuss.
He rolled up the parchment and handed it back to the owl, who flew back out the window.
Bloodfang entered the wixen prison with a furious Amelia Bones on his tail. She'd been in a rage since he'd told her that Peter Pettigrew was alive, and that he couldn't find transcripts of Lord Black's trial. She kept muttering about 'obstructions of justice' and 'firing that asshole,' so she knew how Lord Black had been imprisoned wrongfully.
"What led to you discovering all this, xe goblin?" Head of DMLA Bones asked abruptly.
"I discovered that his godson, Heir Harrison Slytherin-Ravenclaw-Prince-Black, and his brother, Heir Harlequin Gryffindor-Hufflepuff-Peverell-Merlin-Pendragon, were being raised by unfit guardians," Bloodfang replied stiffly. "And those guardians weren't even supposed to raise them, anyway, according to the wills of all three parents."
James, Regulus, and Lily Potter-Black had all insisted that the boys never be given to Petunia Dursley in the case of their deaths, given her hatred of wixen. They'd listed a whole host of people instead, and James Potter-Black had even remarked that he'd rather Voldemort raised his twins than 'that homophobic, racist bitch.'
"Who gave them to unfit guardians?" Bones growled, hearing the unspoken words of 'they were abused.'
"Dumbledore," Bloodfang said angrily. "And don't say he didn't know about her hatred of wixen, he knew the content of their wills and had them blocked."
"WHAT."
"Griphook was beheaded for that," Bloodfang added with a sneer. "He'd been helping Dumbledore steal from the Mr.s Potter-Black, as well as several of Gringotts other clients."
"Do you have proof?" Bones demanded.
"Only Griphook's word," Bloodfang said in annoyance. "He's dead, and your government doesn't allow goblin memories as viable in court. Especially because it's bladvac Dumbledore."
Bones pinched her nose and muttered something about racists.
The human guard on duty, Auror Abbot, was a little startled when he saw Bones and Bloodfang approaching. "We have an appointment with Sirius Black, Auror Abbot," the head of the DMLA said sharply.
"What? But-"
"I was just told that the transcripts for Lord Sirius Black's trial don't exist," Bones snapped, "and that the goblins have proof that Peter Pettigrew is still alive. Get out of my bloody way before I fire you, too."
Abbot went gray, but let them pass, although not before checking their identities, as per protocol. Then he led them to Black's cell.
Sirius Black was pale, sickly, and exhausted. The clothes he'd worn for years hung off of his skin. But he still managed to stand when Bones and Bloodfang appeared, fire in his eyes.
Bones conjured chairs for the three of them, and Black collapsed gratefully into it. Bloodfang didn't blame him; the bed in his cell was nothing more than a slab of hay wrapped in a coarse cloth.
"Well met, Lord Black," Bones said stiffly.
"Well met, Head Auror Bones," Black rasped.
"Fair eve, Lord Black," Bloodfang greeted. "I am Bloodfang, son of Gornuk, Gringotts accountant."
"Fair eve, xe goblin," Black responded.
"Lord Black," Bones said coolly, "do you consent to the use of Veritaserum?"
"Yes," Black said hoarsely but clearly.
"What questions do you consent to answering?"
"Am I, or have I ever been, a Death Eater, or an unmarked follower of Voldemort," Black started, "and if I was the Secret Keeper when-" his voice cracked a bit "-when James and Lily died."
Bones raised an eyebrow.
"Since Peter's bloody alive, you don't have to ask me if I killed him," Black deadpanned.
"Do I have consent to asking whether that was your intention?" Bones drawled.
"Of course that was my bloody intention. He was the-"
"Veritaserum," Bones interjected warningly.
"Fine, whatever. You can ask who did betray my honorary brother," Black said.
Bloodfang handed the vial to Bones. The two humans stood and Bones administered three drops of Veritaserum onto Black's tongue. She used her wand to sit the man back down in his chair, and sat down again.
"What is your full name and date of birth?" Bones asked. This was standard, of course, to make sure the Veritaserum was working.
"Lord Sirius Orion Black, born 3 November, 1961," Black said blankly.
"Are you, or have you ever been, a Death Eater?"
"No."
"Are you, or have you ever been, an unmarked Death Eater?"
"No."
"Were you the Secret Keeper on the night of Samhain, 1981?"
"No."
"Who was?"
"Peter Pettigrew."
"Who betrayed the location of James and Lily Potter-Black to You-Know-Who?" Bones finished.
"Peter Pettigrew."
"And you know this how?"
"When I confronted him afterward. He mocked me for trusting him."
"May I have the antidote, xe goblin?" Bones asked, turning to Bloodfang. He provided it.
Once Black was out from under the Veritaserum, Bones asked, "Do you know how Pettigrew escaped?"
Black smirked. "He has an unregistered Animagus form, a rat. Do you want me to describe it in detail?"
Bones' eyes flashed. "Yes. In the meantime, I'll have the Prophet publish your innocence. You can come with me, but you should stay out of sight until the article is published."
The man nodded. Abbot rushed forward and unlocked the cell. Bones vanished the chairs as Black emerged, stretching.
"Black," a voice called in a rasping tone. It came from the cell across from Black's. Bloodfang recognized Rye Greengrass, imprisoned for being a Death Eater.
"What do you want, Greengrass?" Black asked tiredly.
"Can you tell my brother I'm sorry?"
"No messages," Abbot snapped.
"Sorry for what?" Black asked, ignoring Abbot. "You told me you were innocent."
"I am. My brother was really upset about my sentence," Greengrass said hoarsely.
"There is enough Veritaserum and its antidote here for another interview," Bloodfang said.
Abbot scowled, but Bones glared at him and jerked her head at Black, whose expression was unreadable.
"Very well," Bones agreed. "One more interview."
DAILY PROPHET
Sirius Black and Rye Greengrass Found Innocent!
Can We Trust the Ministry to Arrest the Right People?
DAILY PROPHET
A Manhunt for Peter Pettigrew Begins
Albus frowned. This wouldn't do at all. Pettigrew knew too many secrets.
A visit to the Slytherin common room, then. He'd plant evidence somewhere that Pettigrew had fled to a tropical island somewhere....
Ron stared at the description of Peter Pettigrew's Animagus form. "Uh... guys?"
"Yes?" Harrison asked, looking up from his breakfast.
"...why does this sound a lot like Scabbers?"
Harrison cursed. "He's missing his toe."
"All they found of him was his finger," Draco said in alarm.
"Can I-" Harley began, looking insane and furious.
"No."
"Does it bother anyone that he watches us change?" Blaise asked quietly, looking a little nauseous. The color drained from Nott's face.
"Maybe a little," Harrison amended darkly to Harley, who grinned maniacally.
"Maybe a little what?" Neville asked in worried confusion.
"Don't worry about it," Harrison said gently.
Ron watched as Harrison got up and walked over to Prime, speaking quietly in his ear. The King blanched, then looked infuriated. Harrison went up to the staff table and spoke quietly to Snape and Quirrell. Snape looked livid, and Quirrell pursed his lips.
"What's going on?" Hermione asked quietly.
"Dunno, but I don't think Harrison's going to tell us," Ron said honestly.
The two professors left the room swiftly, and Harrison returned to his seat. "I believe there will be another charge added to Pettigrew's sentence," Harrison said coolly.
Harley cackled.