Sirius groaned as the sound of chains clattered against the flagstones below him. These inconsiderate bastards had hoisted him from his, not very comfortable, sleeping position and proceeded to drag him across the cold stones until he could feel his toe nails burning from the friction.
They had said something about a trial, or something... Maybe they had found the traitorous little cunt known as Peter Pettigrew? It was little consolation for him since he'd spent almost 11 years on Azkaban. He could feel the coldness and dread still pooling like an acidic oil stain within his brain and nerve endings. Say what you want about dementors, the truth of them was scarier than any words could accomplish. He was just lucky he was an Animagus...
His eyes dipped a touch as a wand was placed against his forehead. No matter what this trial was about he only wished he could have spent all of this time with his pup... A sleeping charm discharged against his temple, his brain lethargically recognising the spell before he softly diminished into a full fledged snore... The most peaceful sleep he'd had for a long time.
...
As we waited, Lun and I talked over the magical theory he had been working on.
~Sis, I think that magic itself is shaped by our mental impression, in other words, our intent. From that intent, emotions are derived and those derived pieces fuel the magic in some way to achieve what we want. I think that occlumency isn't a 'branch' of magic... It's the basis for all magical control. That is why dad was super powerful, since he could control his mind to the point where he could remember the details of an insect mid-flight~
'Wait, so you are saying that to get more powerful we need to enhance our occlumency?'
~Exactly! But it isn't purely about power... The idea that we all have cores is sort of ridiculous and most likely came from pre-conceived notions of potential and such.~
'You're saying that the entire wizarding world is under the impression that 'cores' are all important but in fact it is just a misunderstanding based upon their pre-conceptions on magical power differences... Damn.'
~Mhm, mhm! Now, I believe that occlumency isn't a purely mental art. Instead, it is intrinsically linked to our souls and that, that, part of us is where occlumency interacts with magic; allowing us greater control~
'It would sorta make sense given the fact that dad was a master in occlumency. Dumbledore was as well... Mother too, to a certain extent... Holy shit. Aren't all truly powerful people somehow powerful in occlumency?'
~Yep. Now my working theory, not fully finished mind you, is that occlumency itself is only one facet of this control. The mind is a powerful organ... Alongside the soul it could create numerous wonderous abilities~
'Are you suggesting this is where Metamorphmagus powers originate from and any other unique power?'
~It is possible. As I said, it is a theory. But what I am truly talking about is the potential for other methods... Occlumency is focussed purely on defence while Legilimency is the art of attacking. These are very combat orientated however. Imagine, for instance, a skill in this greater art known simply as 'magic' that focusses purely upon learning. What of understanding? Healing? Creating? Bonding? The possibilities are endless!~
We smiled as I considered the potential of my brother's thought process. While he considered the purely academic perspective I considered the power that we could manifest within seemingly mundane witches and wizards with this new idea of magical potency. Lun's thought process was matching eerily with how things have always been; as explained to us by our father.
Some people were raised in horrible conditions and left to the streets or for the dogs to scrounge upon... Yet those people who rise from that become some of the most powerful figures usually. I considered, now, if that was due to the intense mental fortitude required of people in those conditions. The thought of re-creating conditions without the threat to survival was salivating... Just thinking about training an entire legion of wizards, like father had, to be extremely powerful. A shiver ran up our spine as Lun glared at me mentally.
~Are you listening!?~
'Sorry brother... I was just considering the, ramifications, of your discovery.'
~Huu, I said it was a theory. Anyway, as I was saying, we could try to make a new version of occlumency; or should we call them Mind Arts? I digress, we could try to make this new version about magic itself... Our connection to it, our sensing of it...~
'How would we even go about beginning that?'
Lun coughed a couple times before answering.
~L-let me ponder it some more and experiment a little~
I rolled my eyes at his antics just as the large Wizengamot doors opened to reveal the bedraggled and tortured form of one Sirius Black. His dark hair curled and crested down to his pecks, matted beyond anything reasonable and glimmering with the wetness of Dementor ice. Lordly robes, torn and ripped in numerous places, billowed around him as his prison clothes sat just underneath. It was as if they were trying to placate the Lords and Ladies that were already showing their rage at the situation.
Whether they were all angered at his lack of trial or the fact that he was in their presence, didn't matter. So long as she was here, no harm would come to him. Magically she was still only an eleven year old, but, power-wise? She was close to a 3rd year in potency. Given what she and Lun had spoken of before she considered if that 'level' system was purely based on the maturity of one's mind and how it affected the magical control of the person.
The Aurors dragged him to the centre of the room, his feet dragging behind him upon the hard stone floor. Amelia grimaced at his appearance and glanced over to us, her gaze hopeful and just a slight bit apprehensive. I couldn't blame her for that reaction since, to her and the world, I was just another Grindelwald. As of this moment they had all buried their reactions and feelings to that reveal, but it was definitely there... Dumbledore was proof of this as he didn't move his eyes off of them for a single nano-second.
"We have retrieved the prisoner as requested Director." The auror's voice was strong and resolute as Amelia simply nodded, her eyes now gluing themselves to the accused before them all. She gulped slightly in nervousness. After a few moments to stabilize herself she continued, her firm control slipping onto her mind and soul once again.
"I, Amelia Bones, Director of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, hereby begin the Emergency Trial for one, Sirius Arcturus Black, as requested by his vassal lord... One, Lady Emyrs..." There was a slight pause to allow the scribed to keep pace with her words. They then finished that section and she continued. "Let it be known that the date is, 27th of August 1990."
"The prosecution for this trial shall be the Ministry of Magic of Britain. The defendant has the right to select a lawyer or represent himself. Lady Emyrs, I would remind you that you can stand as his lawyer due to your status over the Black family."
We grinned evilly at that, Lun and I straightening our clothes before walking down from the semi-circular seating arrangement into the centre of the floor.
"I shall take up Sirius Arcturus Black's defence as his lawyer and liege lord." Amelia nodded as the scribe below her finished singing off these few starting minutes of the trial; which would be included as a subsection of the greater session's minutes.
"Very well. Persecution, who will represent your case?" Fudge, the slug, stood and raised his arm into the sky. Lun snorted into his metaphorical hand at the ponce's arrogance. I happened to agree, he was far too sure of himself.
"I will." he declared with all the pomp of an ass.
"Understood. Let it be known that the Minister of Magic will become the prosecutor for this trial and that Lady Emyrs will act as the defendant's lawyer." Every party nodded in ascent as the scribed finished off the starting statements... Finishing rather quickly due to their proficiency.
"Now, I would liked to state that each party will be given a chance to give their evidence, provide explanations and of course question each other's formal admittances to this trial. Besides this, I will have the Wizengamot act as the jury of peers in leu of an actual panel of wizarding peers." Both sides nodded again.
"With all explanations out of the way..." Amelia paused for a breath, this trial seemed to be of particular meaning to her as she continued to glance at Sirius every now and then. A fact we only realised because of our training by mother. "Let us begin. The prosecution will begin and then the defence will get a chance to cross examine." She slammed Dumbledore's gavel; the tool being subverted of its role in the session for the emergency trial.
...
(Augusta's Perspective)
Augusta Longbottom had never seen an eleven year old hold herself with such grace and confidence. It was a rarity amongst any children to be learned in politics, let alone as proficient and downright Slytherin as she was with the concept.
Questions of the girl's lineage popped up within her mind... But none of the families she knew had connections to the Emyrs, LeFay, Nightingales and the Grindelwalds. Unfortunately she didn't have the time to go search through a genealogy book at this stage, since that same eleven year old was about to take up the defence of the poor lad who hadn't received a trial. It was almost enough to make her cry, considering the damage she had seen Azkaban inflict to those only present within its boundaries for a few meagre months.
Shaking herself from those thoughts she watched as the bola-wearing nonce of a man settled himself arrogantly upon his podium, the phallic shape of it not missed by any in the chamber if the snide comments were anything to go by.
"Sirius Black... Would you feel comfortable drinking veritasium for this trial?" The young Lord grimaced but nodded quickly, his eyes dragging tiredly over the elven year old that stood beside him in self-deprecation and dread. The man was probably considering the trial a farce to ensure he stays in Azkaban for good this time.
"We need a verbal response Black!" Fudge yelled much to the frowns of several Lords and Ladies. This was a dark mirror for many of them... What if they were where Sirius was in the future? This exact thought crossed their minds as they considered the horrible manner in which one of their possible colleagues was being treated, by the minister of magic no less...
The response came out choked, almost gasping in its desperation. "Yes...!" He huffed as the little Lady nodded her head in respect. Augusta felt that the little 'Firestarter' would one day become a real pain in the ass for those that needed a good flogging. A smile curled on her face as she considered the mental image that idea conjured. Lucius being slapped several times over was indeed a good image to go to sleep to...
"Understood. Let it be known for record that Sirius Arcturus Black has agreed to the use of Veritasium." The scribe wrote furiously as Lord Greengrass nodded powerfully. He may have been frustrated or angered by the vassal status of his house, but, this was a different matter and he'd always been a fair man in every deal Augusta had conducted with him.
Lucius and his cronies were a different matter as many of them had their hands held tightly and their faces set in the unmistakeable state of occlumency. They were no doubt dreading something about this coming trial, that fact bringing a hunger to Augusta that hadn't existed since the first Death Eater trials during the blood war.
The Aurors quickly strutted up to him, opening his mouth forcefully, before pouring in three drops of veritasium. An effect was immediately noticed as the man's worn but still steely grey eyes dulled into a trance-like state. Fudge's grin was predatory as he witnessed Sirius become a puppet to the truth.
"Let's get this over with shall we!?" Many people nodded around the room whilst Amelia asked basic questions like his name and date of birth to confirm his condition under the truth-serum.
"Sirius Black, did you betray Lily and James Potter?" Silence reigned in the courtroom for but a moment as Sirius's voice echoed out dully soon after.
"No."
Fudge sputtered, caught in a trap he hadn't foreseen coming. Augusta rolled her eyes at the cretin's lack of intelligence.
"W-well... Did you kill Lili and James Potter?"
"I could be blamed for their deaths, but physically I did not kill them."
"HAH! We've got him!" Many lords and ladies frowned at the weird answer as the Emyrs girl stood forwards.
"Madam judge, if I could, would I be able to ask a question that could possibly alleviate any confusion?" Amelia nodded.
The Emyrs girl circled around before Sirius and smiled at him, her gaze oozing empathy for his plight and his mental state.
"Sirius Black, did you, in any way shape or form, during the entire duration of the war, intentionally plan to kill Lily Potter and James Potter?"
"No. Never have I ever thought that." He droned in the same robotic voice.
"Good, now, to clarify something... Do you feel responsible in some way for their deaths despite having no part in it?"
Sirius twitched an eye but he still answered truthfully.
"I feel responsible due to the fact that I was supposed to be the secret keeper but let Dumbledore convince me, to convince Lily and James, to make Peter Pettigrew the secret keeper for the Potter Fidelius Charm."
Shouts and cacophonous protests blithered through the chamber as many looked on at Dumbledore with an almost righteous fury. The old man was fucked. If the Emyrs girl could get Sirius to reveal something more it would potentially open up a full blown inquiry into Dumbledore. Fudge tried to speak up but was silenced as the Emyrs spoke a question again, the entire chamber falling silent at her question.
"This is going to be a long string of questions... Firstly, who was the person to cast the Fidelius Charm upon Godric's Hollow? Secondly, did you kill Peter Pettigrew? Thirdly, have you ever been a death eater? Fourthly, you arrived at Godric's Hollow on the night of Voldemort's defeat, did you abandon Harry Potter or did you give him to someone... And if you did, who was it and who were they sent by?"
Sirius began struggling against the veritasium at this stage but was interrupted by the aurors pouring two more drops down his throat... Any more and he would suffer brain damage.
"Dumbledore was the one to cast the Fidelius upon Godric's Hollow. I did not kill Pettigrew, I chased him with that intent, after he betrayed Lily and James... But he escaped by using his Animagus form and a violent bombarda maxima against a nearby gas main. No, I never have been or will be a death eater. I did not abandon my pup, he was safe in the hands of Hagrid... He was sent by Dumbledore."
Dumbledore paled profusely as several Aurors lifted their wands and pointed them at him, Amelia glaring hard at his dulled eyes.
The Emyrs Girl asked one final question, a question many had failed to ask during the last war...
"Why did Lily and James Potter decide to move to a lesser warded home, instead of staying behind Potter Manor's war wards?"
Sirius grimaced but stayed under the truth-serum just long enough to answer the question fully.
"Dumbledore suggested that Potter Manor would be too much of a target and told them that he suggests moving to Godric's Hollow where he would place a Fidelius and ensure their safety." He finally snapped from the Veritasium, his eyes hardening from the previous haunted quality to an eerie, vengeful, glow. "And I wondered that at the time as well... Be-before... What happened?" Soft gasps resounded through the chamber as the Aurors marched down Albus Dumbledore, defeater of Grindelwald.
With a flaming snap the old wizard raised his hands and flamed out of the courtroom, his phoenix's flames dully burning light itself as his eyes flickered in hatred towards the young Lordess, the young Lord Black and the Lady Rosier...
A final whoosh of sound went past as every lord and lady lost their marbles. The British Wizarding World was just flipped on its head and all by the machinations and power of one little, eleven year old, girl...
'I have to tell Neville to befriend her!'
...
"So, I'm free?" Sirius gazed longingly at Amelia, his only love, the love of his life...
"As of today Sirius Arcturus Black is declared innocent of all charges. He will be given one million Galleons for each year served in Azkaban, including free visits to St. Mungo's and a Mind Healer for the remainder of his life. All titles and statuses are hereby returned to him and he is to be given Guardianship over Harry James Potter. If these are acceptable, Lady Emyrs?" Sirius turned to the little girl that had represented him in his trial, his eyes leaking his emotions like sieve as she just smiled and nodded.
"Of course Madam Bones, Sirius Arcturus Black is the Lord of the Black family and is thus responsible for his own self and family up until the point that any contracts and such are needed to be made or any massive political moves are to be made, as the contract states, as magic decrees, so mote it be." A flash of light pin cushioned out of her wand before disappearing, the smile on Amelia's face looking akin to an angel's song to the slightly delirious, slightly confused, Padfoot.
Reality took a little to settle in, in the moment, but eventually the recently freed Black screamed at the top of his lungs in excitement. "I'm FREE!!!! AND I CAN SEE MY PUP!!!!"
Numerous people in the room smiled at the display, except for the dark faction; Lucius Malfoy grimacing at the little girl beside the man who had just taken his greatest chance of taking the Black Fortune...
~You were awesome Sol!~
'You too little bro.'
~We are the same age!!!!~
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