After a few monts, the seats refocused and Alia retook her chair. Harry sensed eyes on him and looked up. Lucius inclined his head towards Harry slightly before he refocused on Alia. Harry was pleased and intrigued by the new dynamic in his relationship with the Malfoys.
"Mr. Black, we, the mbers of the Wizengamot, do hereby find you not guilty of all the charges laid against you. You will be imdiately released from Azkaban prison and are also to be given two million galleons in compensation. Any dical treatnt 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 ti 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 ti."
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 ca 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 so composure.
"Mr. Black, might I introduce the young man who attained for you and brought to light the injustice of your sentence," Mr. Dodge said, moving so that Sirius and Alia would see him approach.
"Harry?" Sirius whispered, shocked at the boys appearance and his involvent.
Hearing Harry's na, 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 co," 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 imdiately."
"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 sumrs or any holidays really doesn't have anything thing to do with you," Harry said.
"That is enough. Harry, you will co with and I will return you to your aunt," Dumbledore said, taking a step towards Harry and making him step back.
At this point, Alia, who had been watching, took a step forwards. "Albus, like Mr. Potter has said, where he lives during the sumr 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 na is Alia Bones, I think my niece Susan has told you about ." She offered him her hand.
Harry smiled, taking her offered hand and kissing the air above it. "Good morning, Madam Bones. And, please, call Harry or Harrison," he said.
Alia 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 treatnt of . I fear how they would react taking in after I had been away to school," Harry said. Alia'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 good," Harry explained.
Dumbledore interrupted at that. "Co 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 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 ti.
"Mr. Potter, Harry, those claims are serious. I had hoped to talk to you when you visited in the sumr about them; however, if you are willing and able to provide evidence, I can take your statent now," Alia 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 mbers 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 al or two," Harry said. "That would be fine, Harry. Why don't you co 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 ho," Dumbledore said indignantly.
Alia seed to have had enough and turned to the old man. "Albus, if what Harry says is true, you are insisting he return ho 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 ho tonight. I'm sure Susan would love that, anyway," Alia said.
Dumbledore opened his mouth again, but closed it. "Very well," he said, before turning anddramaticallywalkingtothedoors.
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