After a few moments, the seats refocused and Amelia retook her chair. Harry sensed eyes on him and looked up. Lucius inclined his head towards Harry slightly before he refocused on Amelia. Harry was pleased and intrigued by the new dynamic in his relationship with the Malfoys.
"Mr. Black, we, the members of the Wizengamot, do hereby find you not guilty of all the charges laid against you. You will be immediately released from Azkaban prison and are also to be given two million galleons in compensation. Any medical treatment you also require will be covered by the ministry for the gross injustice you have faced. I know nothing can be done to recover the time you have lost, but the ministry will do its best to compensate you in any way we can," Madam Bones said. "There will also be a trial for Peter Pettigrew, who is now in ministry holding cells, which you are invited to attend to ensure that justice is done correctly this time."
Harry watched as Sirius sagged in relief. "Thank you," he whispered.
Harry and Remus shared a relieved look and stood when the court was adjourned. Instead of going back out the way they came though, they went down to where Sirius was standing with Dodge and Madam Bones. Dumbledore was also there, but he was off to the side, most likely trying to gain some composure.
"Mr. Black, might I introduce the young man who attained me for you and brought to light the injustice of your sentence," Mr. Dodge said, moving so that Sirius and Amelia would see him approach.
"Harry?" Sirius whispered, shocked at the boys appearance and his involvement.
Hearing Harry's name, Dumbledore turned sharply and Harry saw his face tighten and eyes grow hard. Dumbledore moved quickly, jumping in front of Harry with surprising amount of agility for a man of his advanced years.
"Harry, my dear boy, what are you doing here?" he asked, full of grandfatherly concern.
Harry narrowed his eyes and barely stopped them from rolling. "As Mr. Dodge said, I hired him for my godfather. I would not have missed the trial for anything."
"But my boy, what about your relatives? Surely they wouldn't have allowed you to come," Dumbledore said.
"I'm not staying with my relatives," Harry said.
"What?!" Dumbledore barely managed not to shout. "Harry, my boy, you must. I really do insist you return to them immediately."
"Why, headmaster?" innocently.
Harry
asked "It is not safe. You need to go back to them for your own protection. I insist."
"I'm sorry headmaster, but I feel a lot safer now than I have ever before and, anyway, where I spend my summers or any holidays really doesn't have anything thing to do with you," Harry said.
"That is enough. Harry, you will come with me and I will return you to your aunt," Dumbledore said, taking a step towards Harry and making him step back.
At this point, Amelia, who had been watching, took a step forwards. "Albus, like Mr. Potter has said, where he lives during the summer is not your concern. If you fear for his welfare, then it is a ministry issue." She then turned to Harry and said, "Good morning, Mr. Potter. My name is Amelia Bones, I think my niece Susan has told you about me." She offered him her hand.
Harry smiled, taking her offered hand and kissing the air above it. "Good morning, Madam Bones. And, please, call me Harry or Harrison," he said.
Amelia smiled lightly. "Susan did say you were charming, Harry. Now, may I ask why you are not staying with your relatives?"
Harry frowned slightly. "I'm sure Susan has told you about them and their treatment of me. I fear how they would react taking me in after I had been away to school," Harry said. Amelia's expression turned dark. "So you decided not to return to them?" she asked.
"No. I feared what they would do. I sent them a letter telling them I would not return and got a note back telling me good," Harry explained.
Dumbledore interrupted at that. "Come now, Harry. I'm sure they're missing you. They are the last of your family, after all."
Harry frowned. "Blood does not make family, sir. I consider my friends family: Neville, Hannah, Susan. I consider Remus family and most likely Sirius once I get to know him. The Dursleys are not my family." "But my boy, they are your family. They looked after you for ten years," he tried again.
Harry sent Remus a look. "No, they abused me for ten years," Harry said firmly, making Sirius, who had been silent up to this point, gasp.
"What?!" he said, anguished.
"It's okay, it's over. I'm okay now," Harry said, looking into his eyes for the first time.
"Mr. Potter, Harry, those claims are serious. I had hoped to talk to you when you visited in the summer about them; however, if you are willing and able to provide evidence, I can take your statement now," Amelia said, her face sad but supportive.
"Now see here, is that really necessary? Harry, do you really want to get your relatives into trouble?" Dumbledore asked, staring at Harry intently and ignoring the outrage on the faces of the other adults present. A few of the members of the Wizengamot had, at this point, returned and were listening in including Lucius, who was staring with disbelief and anger at Dumbledore.
"I would be happy to talk to you, Madam Bones - however, could we perhaps get Sirius sorted first? I'm sure he is not comfortable in those robes and he could probably do with a meal or two," Harry said. "That would be fine, Harry. Why don't you come in tomorrow, with Mr. Lupin? You're staying with him, I gather?" she asked.
"We're staying at the Leaky Cauldron," Harry said.
"Now, see here. Harry really must return home," Dumbledore said indignantly.
Amelia seemed to have had enough and turned to the old man. "Albus, if what Harry says is true, you are insisting he return home to his abusers. He is perfectly safe with Mr. Lupin, who I know to have been friends with his parents; however, if you are that worried I will have them return to my home tonight. I'm sure Susan would love that, anyway," Amelia said.
Dumbledore opened his mouth again, but closed it. "Very well," he said, before turning anddramaticallywalkingtothedoors.
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