Chapter 11
Fudge watched as Kingsley Shacklebolt administered the veritaserum precisely. He knew there was nothing to worry-it was one of Severus’ brews. Worth every gallon in his opinion. He easily saw the tell tale signs and once the first two identifiers were asked, Sirius Black was ready for questioning.
His lawyer, Worthington stepped directly in front of the man, ready to begin.
“Let it be known that veritaserum was administered at eight twenty five at and that Lord Sirius Orion Black had answered the identifiers correctly. You may begin, Worthington.”
Andromeda laced her fingers together, watching Worthington as he approached Sirius Black on the stand. She remembered him-quite well in fact. He’d always been a boot licker, with rumors of a terrible gambling debt from dealings with goblins. She was surprised he was even allowed to practice and half expected his head mounted on the entrance at Gringotts. Although, she remembered him as a portly man with a piggish nose and permanently ruddy cheeks. This man was tall, slim with a short crop of disgusting blond hair, if one could call it that.
Perhaps this was another Worthington. The family had produced so many of them and all boys too. She often wondered if they ever produced a female, would the poor girl look like a pink piglet in a dress?
“Lord Black, what occurred the night of October 31,1980 at Godric’s Hollow?”
Harry perked up, even though he’d asked Ombric before, he had never heard exactly what happened that night. Even Severus was quiet about it, though Harry suspected it was more in shame than anything else.
“I only know what occurred once I got to Godric’s Hollow. My best friend James was lying half on the stairs going up and I could hear Harry crying upstairs.”
“Did you go check on your godson?”
“No. I knew my friends-the Potters-had been compromised so I gave Hagrid my flying motorbike and apparated to find Peter.”
“The court wished for clarification on this Peter, Lord Black,”
“Peter Pettigrew,”
“What was Peter Pettigrew’s role in all of this?”
“Peter Pettigrew was the secret keeper for the Potters.”
A cry came from the audience as Dowager Pettigrew fainted, slumped over in her chair. Several members of the crowd rolled their eyes, while a few stood and tried to get a better look. Harry couldn’t understand it.
Why were the wizards so nosy? It made no sense to him. His Da had taught him that privacy was important to everyone and he should respect it. Why on earth were the gawking at this poor elderly witch who clearly needed help?
Harry sighed and stood, quickly tapping his foot and jumping in. More screams of surprise filled the room, while Fudge sat with his mouth open. His gavel hung limply from his fingers and he watched several Aurors attempt to gain control.
“Oí! Which way ta the Saint place?!”
Harry had Dowager Pettigrew half on his back, but it’s a struggle. She’s partially dead weight.
“St. Mungo’s dear child, is a few blocks away from here. It is hidden by complex wards,” Dowager Longbottom states, seeing the youth strain under the woman’s weight.
Still he doesn’t even attempt magic or ask for help….what kind of child is this?
“Much obliged,”
Dowager Longbottom watches as he taps his foot twice and disappears with Dowager Pettigrew without another word.
It’s when the tunnel closes up that chaos erupts. Dowager Longbottom watches as several Aurors attempt to control the crowd and the overly questioning press. For the most part, Andromeda and her clients are calm.
Dowager Longbottom purses her lips, if the child was indeed raised by that creature then why even show up to this trial when they could’ve run? It was obvious that no wards stopped them.
They have honor.
It’s the most surprising thought she’s had. She knows that while honor is upheld in the wizarding world, it’s not necessarily taught. Dowager Pettigrew was a perfect example. Shame was often more detrimental to one’s family than their honor was.
The shame of what Peter had done to his family hurt far more than his so-called honor he had for his friends. She had spoken to Dowager Pettigrew herself. The woman was ashamed that her only son had gone off to the dark side, instead of his disgrace in the face of his friends.
“Edelweiss, where is he?!”
“Off ta Mungo’s obviously,” Aster commented, too busy drumming his nails on the wood. Jack was content to float just above the table and if Aster had snuck glances at Jack’s rear, well no one was stopping him.
The sound of a chair scraping against the floor rang throughout the courtroom. Harry felt every single pair of eyes on him as he sat down. He took a chance to glance at his lawyer, pleased to find the man struggling to keep his face neutral. Cornelius Fudge however was slowly taking a very Dursley shade of red.
“Mister Potter,” Fudge seethed in anger, spittle flying onto the documents in front of him. Distantly, Aster growled, hands clenched on the wooden table. He could hear both Jack and Andromeda placating the man.
“You do not leave this courtroom! Dowager Pettigrew was not the concern!”
Harry growled, teeth gnashing together as the young teen stood up knowing his chair back in fury. “That Sheila wa’ injured! She-“
“Was not your problem! What is your problem is this court’s decision of your living situation from here on out!”
Harry wanted to lunge for Cornelius but a firm hand on his shoulder stopped him. Nott Sr. shook his head slowly and gently sat him down once more.
“Keep your client stable, Mr. Nott.”
“Yes, your honor,”
A sound of a quill breaking in two caused Fudge to gaze at Aster, who deliberately ignored the man and the three broken quills on his desk. Jack and Aster swore Cornelius Fudge would get nothing except ice storms and rotten eggs for the rest of his days.
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Sirius Black had watched the entire show with a slightly deranged glee. The veritaserum made him monotone but not caged in from the world around him.
It was almost like that muggle drug James had dared him to try once.
Slowly he could feel more, like he was coming up from the depths of an ocean. Slowly, his mind was waking up, and suddenly the courtroom came into focus like a rush of bombardas. It was jarring, to say the least, as everything slid sharply into bursts of colors and sounds.
Sirius slumped forwards briefly, catching himself and righting his body.
He nearly fell out of his chair; while he knew that being raised by a creature often led to different behaviors, he hadn’t expected his godson to growl.
Did rabbits growl?
His godson looked murderous. His mossy green eyes were fixated on Fudge and his hand kept twitching, grasping for something that wasn’t there.
Sirius felt his stomach bottom out. What in Merlin’s name had happened to his godson? He had to do better. He couldn’t leave his child with some creature and expect him to be human. To be normal.
James had trusted him with his son. Lily had as well. He had to right this wrong. Worthington appeared and helped him out of the chair, walking him back to his seat.
“The jury calls Edelweiss Aster Bunnymund to the stand!”
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Severus Snape had been watching the trial from a shadowed area away from the press. He suddenly wished that he’d spent time teaching Harry about wizarding customs. He would have been more prepared when Pettigrew fainted. The child had no idea that Aurors would come and transport her to Saint Mungo’s. He took a steady breath and hoped that the Wizenmagot would not use that against the child.
With Aster on the stand, he knew that Fudge would ask questions that would deliberately aggravate both Harry and Aster. It would take all his energy to reign himself in. Severus knew that the trial was staged to be in favor of Sirius.
It had been this way for every creature that had been found to raise any wizarding child. He could only hope that both Harry and Aster would keep their heads.
“Never did like you, Snape,” Mad Eye growled roughly as he passed the man, his cane thumping on the stone floor.
Severus said nothing, merely eyeing the other Wizard with contempt.
“Jus’ cause I don’t like you, don’ mean shit. I do know a good man when I see one. Remember, constant vigilance!”
Severus watched the man hobble off into the darkness without another word.
At least, he figured, he could Mad Eye.
For now.
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“The court will now begin the questioning of Edelweiss Aster Bunnymund. Due to the nature of the accused, veritaserum is unavailable for use. Questioning will commence now!”
Aster watched as both Worthington and Andromeda approached him.
“What is your name?”
“Edelweiss Aster Bunnymund,”
“When is the date of your birth?”
“March 20 of yer calendar and I believe some thousands of years ago. Afraid I’ve lost count after the ‘undred.”
Worthington stepped towards Aster, fully intent on breaking the thing down. Andromeda spoke first, physically pulling Worthington back.
“Mister Bunnymund, is it true that by Healer Promfrey’s records you saved the savior of the Wizarding World from the brink of starvation and physical abuse?”
“Aye,”
“Furthermore, you have also proven yourself these past years and sent the young savior home cooked nutritionally dense meals and snacks, despite the distance?”
“Aye, he’s my kit. He’s growin’ and-“
“When did you kidnap Mister Potter?!”
Worthington quickly spoke over Andromeda, who gave him an icy stare.
“Mister Worthington! Contain yourself!”
The man had the decency to look shamed, before nodding and took a step back.
“You were also instrumental in the odd occurrence two years ago, weren’t you?”
Aster sighed, but nodded.
“A verbal answer is preferred, Mister Bunnymund,” Fudge sneered.
“Aye,” he snapped back.
Andromeda ignored both males. If only they were more like her Teddy. Calm and quiet but fiery when the occasion called for it. Still, she had a job to accomplish.
She cleared her throat and continued.
“You also saved the young savior from certain death in the chamber of secrets just last year didn’t you?”
“Aye,”
Andromeda turned to the members of Wizengamot, “How will you, Lords of the Wizenmagot, see anything else of this man who has done nothing except be a wonderful father to our young savior? He has proven himself to be more than his guardian status. He has provided Mister Bunnymund with an education, a roof over his head, clothing and food,”
Andromeda paused, taking a sip of water from her glass and continued, “Is it not enough that he has saved our savior time and again?”
Andromeda saw several members of the Wizenmagot nod and a few others looked almost ashamed.
“Have you anything to say, creature?”
“Oí! Watch yer-“
“Harry!”
“Don’t you call him that!”
“Jackie, hush up!”
Lord Diggory looked almost pleased. Dumbledore had been right, the thing may have looked human but there was no denying it. Andromeda could have killed Lord Diggory-the man practically worshiped the ground Dumbledore pissed on. She had to regain control of this farce of a trial, no matter what. Turning to Lord Diggory, she gave him a sweet smile, “have you anything intelligent to say, Amos or are you going to leave us all in suspense?”
“Far be from me to leave a woman in suspense, Andy.”
“That’s not what I’ve heard, but we’ll leave your bedroom shenanigans for another time. Your question or your silence.”
Amos rose, directly making eye contact with the creature. He briefly glanced to see both Jack and Harry with looks of desperation and anger.
Such savages.
“Was it not due to your involvement that this proud community is mourning over the death of
one esteemed Rhonda Goyle?!”
Aster looked confused-he knew Rhonda Goyle. The woman liked his dark emerald green googies and she had been a wonderful powerful child. He’d seen her marry an equally wonderful man-he was proud of her. He was proud of all the children.
“Wha?”
Amos slammed the desk with his fist, continuing, “Rhonda Goyle was found, her remains magically placed in stasis in the rumble that was once Hogwarts! You have done nothing for this country except destroy and kill! You call yourself a guardian-“
“SHUT UP! YE DON’ KNOW MY DA!”
The wizengamot watched as Harry tore himself free from Nott Sr., fury in his eyes. With every step, plants spring up, thorny vines and large carnivorous plants, snapping at the ankles of any Auror that attempted to get close to the teen. Amos backed up, nearly knocking another Lord down. Harry ran right up to him, using the desks as platforms. He cursed the suit for its restrictive nature but he would make due.
“Petrificas Totalus!”
Sirius had fired the spell, making Harry fall with a thud mere feet away from Amos was. The man had gone pale white and collapsed in fear.
Andromeda paled and swallowed hard. Harry had possibly doomed them in his heartfelt defense of his Da. Perhaps, she could save this and show them how-
“We shall take a recess and adjourn in fifteen minutes. I shall pass my decision then.”
“Now wait just a minute! You haven’t heard from-“ Jack stood up, fingers pointing at Fudge.
“ENOUGH! Take your recess and go!”
The gavel slammed down in finality.
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Harry struggled to move, but everything in his body refused to respond. He heard footsteps, briefly excited to be wrapped up in his Da’s arms once more. He could already smell the fresh scent of Spring that permeated his very being. He felt strong arms slowly turn him over and found himself face to face with Sirius Black. He tried to growl, but the man cheekily waved his wand in front of him.
“I’m gonna let you go and you’re not going to punch me, got it Prongslet?”
Harry narrowed his eyes at the man; Sirius sighed and honestly hoped for the best at this point. He did not want to get punched in the face.
As soon as he canceled the spell, the teen shot up and ran out of the room.
“Better than expected,” Sirius laughed. The man went to rise but found himself stuck in a patch of grass that hadn’t been there before, “that son of a marauder-“
Sirius Black said nothing else, because in the next moment, a strange bulbous cactus shot out from the grass and punched him directly in the nose.
The sound of Lord Black’s prone body echoed throughout the nearly empty room.
“Ten points to Slytherin,” Severus chuckled and walked out.
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