CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
Sirius Black, Guilty?
November 1st, 1981

Daphne looked out the window of her flat, trying her best not to hear James's muffled cries coming from her room. Harry was asleep in a poorly crib Molly had nicely given Daphne. Truth was, Daphne knew nothing about toddlers and how to handle them. Sure, she had taken care of Draco a few days but that was it and as much as she loved children, she was not ready for all the loud cries and the pleading to make it stop.

It had been a hard night. After Sirius had left, nothing much happened. Daphne didn't even know where he was because he never quite returned to the cottage or her flat. So, in the meantime, Daphne had taken care of James and Harry. James refused to leave the cottage until Lily's body was taken away to St Mungo's.

"Miss Rosier," a too familiar voice interrupted her thoughts as she turned to look at the wizard in her living room. "I imagine there is no need to ask you how you are..."

"No, not really," a bitter laugh escaped her lips. "Where is Sirius?"

"Ah, I am afraid Mr Black will not return home, Miss Rosier," he said, his tone of voice unphased as if he didn't care. Deep down, she knew he didn't care because the War was over and his side had won. Why would he care if Sirius wouldn't be returning home?

Daphne cleared her throat, brushing past the familiar feeling, "Why is that?"

"He killed Pettigrew and twelve Muggles," he announced as Daphne furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. "Mr black had been taken to Azkaban this night."

"Without a trial?"

He merely shrugged, "A trial was not needed. We had all the evidence we needed," he explained. "When we found him and told him all that was left of Pettigrew was a finger, he merely laughed. Doesn't he sound guilty to you, Miss Rosier?"

Her lips formed a thin line, shaking her head, "I'm sorry, Sir but I know exactly who gave the Potters away. It was Peter. If needed, I can go through a pensieve so all of those bloody idiots will see the truth," she muttered. "Yes, Sirius is reckless and has a short temper but he would never kill Muggles out of rage. So, pardon me for not thinking he is guilty."

Dumbledore released a short breath, closing his eyes for a moment then held his hand behind his back, "Very right," he said, licking his lips to continue. "I have also come to tell you that Harry must be sent away for his safety."

"And where?"

"Lily's sister would be able to raise him properly until he reaches the right age and gets his letter."

Daphne shook her head furiously, refusing, "I am not letting him go with these Muggles. As long as I'm aware, James is still alive and should have all the right to keep his child. Besides, I'll help him."

"Very well. I have nothing more to say, then," he told her quietly. "Until next time, Miss Rosier."

Releasing a breath, she walked over to her bedroom to see Harry who was starting to move in his sleep. James was on the bed, folded on himself as he held his knees to his chest. Daphne had never seen him that way–once again, they had changed and she remembered how miserable she was when Fabian died.

"James," she whispered. "Dumbledore just came. Sirius, he–he's in Azkaban."

"Bloody what?"

Daphne sighed, sitting on the edge of her bed, "Something like he killed Peter and Muggles."

James was as surprised as Daphne, "Bu...but he would never do that."

"I know, that's what I told Dumbledore but he wouldn't listen," she mumbled. "I'll get him out, don't worry."

To her surprise, he let out a dry chuckle, "I know you will. Isn't that fantastic? Daphne Rosier to our rescue!"

"James..." she started, trying to stop whatever he was going to say but he cut her off anyway.

"You know—none of this would have happened if you hadn't joined the Order. Lily and I would be safe, away from you and..." he stopped, burying his head into his hands. "I just wanted us to be safe."

"None of this is my fault. It's Peter's!" She blurred out, hurt that he could think so low of her. "I have done all I could to save you both. I did my best. I'm sorry for Lily, James. I really am. But, don't hold me accountable for someone else's betrayal."

James frowned, "Peter would never do this."

"Well, trust me, he did! I heard him at my last meeting with Voldemort. He was there."

"You can't prove it."

Daphne's eyebrow rose, "Can't I? Then tell me who's wormtail, James? Who did Voldemort call Wormtail?"

James's face turned pale as if he had just seen a ghost. Realisation hit him like a truck. How could Peter Pettigrew, his childhood friend, betray him? Surely he knew how much Peter hated feeling so small but could he really become a Death Eater?

"He...he would never."

"But, he did."

James looked out the window of Daphne's flat. He couldn't quite believe that he was standing there, in her flat with his son–after all they had been through. But despite his deep buried anger, he was grateful to have someone to take care of Harry like Lily. He remembered this conversation he had shared with his father, right after his granddad's funeral, he had said something that had struck him as a kid.

"Pain is only temporary, James. That's the thing about that vile feeling, it wears off–it always does."

Now, he was twenty-years old and all he could ask himself was: Did it ever wear off? Did the pain ever wear off?

"The pain does wear off," Daphne murmured, her back facing him. James couldn't blame her, he was too tired to keep his guards up. "I mean, no it doesn't but as you go on with your life, it becomes less painful."

"Is that why you still wear your engagement ring?"

Daphne snorted, "I have done nothing to you, James. I understand that mourning is painful and can make you grumpy but don't make me regret my decision to help you."

With that, Daphne left the room. Not long after, James heard the front door slamming which meant she had left the flat. James rose on his feet, walking over to Harry who was starting to wake up from his nap. He did have Lily's eyes.

"Hello, you," James whispered, taking him in his arms. "Had a good nap, yeah?"

Harry clapped his hands together, a huge smile playing on his face and James wondered when he would notice that Lily isn't rocking him to sleep every night anymore.

"What's this?" He asked as he spotted the gold and red snitch. Daphne's. The snitch opened when James's finger grazed her initials and he was surprised to see that she had kept it. "Daphne gave you a snitch? Brilliant."

...

"Today's your hearing?" James queried as he sat down at the table.

Daphne nodded her head, "Yes. Only took me five months to get it," she sighed. "Hopefully, Sirius will be out tomorrow or by the end of the week," Harry's face lit up at the mention of his godfather and Daphne chuckled, caressing his cheek. "Are you happy that we're talking about Sirius? Yes?"

"He loves him a little too much," James commented.

In five months, nothing much had happened. James had spent most of his days in bed but he was doing a little better now. Daphne had helped a lot with Harry but also with renovating the cottage. And, now she was getting ready to free Sirius. He asked himself how did she manage to have all this strength? To keep going the way she did?

The last time Daphne stepped foot in this place was the day Evan died. She had refused ever since to go there, to walk in the same hall where her brother had collapsed in her arms. A few months had passed, James was doing a tad better and Daphne had been able to let him with Harry so she could go and beg for her cousin to be released. Ignoring the clicking noise her heels made, she made her way to the elevator and pressed Level 10.

During those five months, Daphne had taken the time to work on her arguments and memories too. She had managed to somehow classify the important memories so she could prove her cousin's innocence.

"Judicial system," she heard and she snapped out of her thoughts rapidly. As she left the elevator, she couldn't help but feel nervous. Daphne had never been in front of Wizengamot, nor the Council of Magical Laws, and therefore had no idea how this worked.

Arthur Weasley appeared in front of her, "Ah, Daphne," he breathed out, relieved to see her. His arms wrapped around her frame and she let herself melt into his embrace. "How lovely it is to see you."

"It's lovely to see you too, Arthur," she smiled. "How's Ginny?"

Arthur let out a dreamy sigh, "Ginny is wonderful–she's calm and cuddly," he told her. "You should come home after this mess is over. The kids miss you."

"I will," she told him. "I miss them too."

There was no lies in her words. The Weasleys had become her family the moment she hugged Molly at Christmas Eve in 1979. Despite the twins being gone, Daphne had stayed and she had loved each one of them like they were still his family. Somehow, she knew Fabian would have done the same if she had died.

"So, are you ready?" He asked, leading her to the room.

"Of course I am," she replied. "I have everything in here," she added, tapping her brain with her index. Daphne checked Arthur's watch and gulped. "Alright, wish me luck, Arthur."

"Good luck, Daphne," he said tenderly. "I will be on the other side of the door when you are finished."

Entering the room, she was greeted by a domed chamber with high ceilings. There were some golden symbols that Daphne had learnt about in books–they represented magical law and wizarding history. The room was circular, and the walls were lined with shelves of ancient leather-bound books. Moving her eyes to the centre, she noticed a raised platform where the members sat and then below it were the floor that was reserved to the wizard.

Daphne walked there, standing before them, "Hello."

"Daphne Rosier, you asked for a hearing concerning the release of Sirius Black from Azkaban," one of them started.

Daphne nodded, "That is right. I come before you today to plead for the release of Sirius Black. I know he is innocent of the crimes he was imprisoned for, and I have evidence to support my claim."

"Do you?" A woman queried, her tone rather dry as if she was superior to Daphne. "Are you sure or do you believe Sirius Black is innocent?"

"I'm sure."

The members were sceptical, "Evidence, you say? Sirius Black was convicted beyond a shadow of a doubt for the murder of twelve innocent Muggles!"

"I am aware of that," Daphne started as she started to fidget with her ring. "But, he never got a trial and I spent hours trying to get a hearing–I have evidence, Sir and I'd be more than happy to plead for Sirius Black's innocence."

"Alright," he gave up. He brought the piece of paper closer to read. "It is stipulated here that you are a Death Eater–"

"Were, Sir," she corrected quietly.

He hummed, "Right, were a Death Eater. Albus Dumbledore wrote to the ministry on November 1st 1981 to say that you, Miss Rosier, had joined the Order in October 1978 and therefore had been an useful asset. Is this all true?"

"Yes, Sir."

"It also says that you've given information about attacks. How did Tom Riddle never find out?"

Daphne released a sigh, "I am skilled in Occlumency. No one can read my mind here, unless I let them," she admitted. "He never managed to get past my walls."

"Good, good."

"Anyways, I came here for Sirius Black, not me. As I was saying, I know who betrayed Lily and James Potter. It was Peter Pettigrew."

A woman frowned then gasped, "But, isn't Mister Pettigrew dead?"

"I presume but he was responsible for it."

"How can you be so sure, Miss Rosier?"

"Well," she pushed a lock of her hair between her ears. "I have my memories, Sir. If I am allowed, I'd like to use a pensieve."

Thankfully, he allowed it though stayed sceptical considering the mark on her arm. But they all watched curiously as brought her wand to her head. The method wasn't painful but she could feel a gentle probing sensation as she travelled her own mind to retrieve the desired memories. A few crystal vials were disposed of on the small table in front of her and with a twist of her wand, she guided the extracted memories towards the vial.

"This is it," she said, letting a man collect the memory. "All I want is him being free."

One of the members seemed to disagree with the idea, "He is guilty."

"Sirius Black, guilty?" She snorted.

Before she could utter another word, the minister spoke up, "Thank you, Miss Rosier for your help. Your evidence will be reviewed, and if they do hold merit, we will conduct a proper inquiry into the matter."

"Thank you," she breathed out, starting to let herself out but before leaving, she turned to face them again. "I want Sirius Black out by the end of the week," she then said as a buzz of whispers erupted. "You know, my Mother, Amalthea Rosier, would hate to come all the way here because the Ministry imprisoned the wrong person."

Smirking, she finally walked out. Once she was behind the doors, she let out a breath hoping the threat about her Mother coming would work. Amalthea Rosier was somehow highly placed at the Ministry. Evan and Daphne never understood why but she was very feared by the people here.

"How was it?" Arthur asked, rising off the chair.

Daphne shrugged, "Well, hopefully it went okay. Sirius should be out by the end of the week."

Arthur's eyes widened, "Blimey! By the end of the week?"

Daphne chuckled at his surprise, "Let's just say I know someone," she replied. "Thank you for being here today."

He waved her a careless hand, "I'm always here, Daphne," Arthur said, a smile on his face. "I have to go but never forget that our door is open, yeah?"

"I won't," Daphne answered, watching him as he walked the other way.

Just like that, Daphne headed home, full of hope that Sirius would be out by the end of the week. When she got home, the first thing she saw was Harry and James napping in the bed and without realising it, a smile graced her features. Perhaps, everything would be okay now.

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authors note, new chapter FINALLY!thank you so so much for 100k reads, it means the world!!! 💘💘💘💋💋💋