Sirius was confused. Actually, confusion was the general state of his mind these days. It started with Bella's spawn and his half veela girlfriend catching him while meeting Harry, and instead of capturing and turning him and turning him in, promised to help him get acquited. Despite Harry's optimism, Sirius didn't believe them for a second. Aries Lestrange was the person who's profit most from Sirius' death, as he had not got an opportunity to make a will.

Therefore, he was surprised to hear that Aries had somehow managed to arrange a trial from him and had got rid of the kiss on sight order. He was still wary, even after reading the announcement in the daily prophet, imagining scenarios of dementors swooping in on him as soon as he entered the ministry. The only reason he agreed to present himself before the Wizengamot was the pleading and hopeful look in Harry's eyes when he asked to go.

The trial itself was the most confusing event itself. As soon as Sirius was called to testify, he demanded veritaserum because if he was doing this, he was doing it right. There was a protest from Lucius Malfoy based on wasted court resources which was promptly shut down by Aries quoting Pureblood rights. Sirius was cought between being thankful and refusing special privilege on principle, but settled for grudging acceptance and took the potion. Amelia Bones, the Head of Department of Magical Law Enforcement, questioned him, and to the collective bewilderment of the Pureblood stooges assembled, recieved answers proving his innocence. Aries made the motion to declare him innocent, offering compensation for wrongful imprisonment, and to punish people responsible for his incarceration, including Barty Crouch and Albus Dumbledore.

This was followed by a debate whether Dumbledore was responsible or not, if he had not presided over the trial. Malfoy rallied his death eater pals for the motion to get Dumbledore impeached from his post of Chief Warlock, for neglect of duties. The vote would not have passed if Aries also hadn't voted against Dumbledore. 

Sirius had assumed that would be the end of his short lived amiable acquaintance with his cousin, as it was obvious he had gone right back to his baby death eater ways. Unfortunately, he was accosted just outside the courtroom, not only by Aries but also his half veela girlfriend. They offered him to house him in the Lestrange Manor till he got back on his feet.

Sirius was ashamed to say that, as much as he hated Bellatrix and the Lestranges, he despised the Grim Old Place even more, and that was he would be going if he didn't accept their offer. Later, he would tell himself that he only accepted to be in a position to spy on enemies, but that would not be true.

The Lestrange Manor was surprisingly not dark and dingy, quite unlike Grimmauld Place. Sirius was shown to a suite by a polite house elf and he excused himself to get a proper bath after thirteen years.

Yes, it was definitely better than Grimmauld Place.

"So, Lord Black..." He was broken out of his musings at dinner by the musical voice of the veela girl.

"Please call be Sirius." He smiled charmingly at her, though it might be having the same effect with all his teeth rotten.

"Sirius." She smiled back. "I am Louise, then. I noticed you weren't particularly happy at Aries' vote on Dumbledore's impeachment."

Sirius glanced at Aries who was looking at him in polite curiousity.

He cleared his throat. "Getting Dumbledore removed from his position might strengthen the death eaters." 'which you clearly support and I hate' was left unsaid.

"You think I am a death eater." Aries observed calmly.

Sirius was caught wrong footed at that. Normally, the snakes are never this blunt.

"I don't think you are one, now. What are you, sixteen? I think you are a dark wizard and want to become a death eater." He accused boldly, sneering at his host.

Louise made a sound at that. "Oh, I'm sorry." Sirius thought for a second that she was crying at the fact that her boyfriend was a dark wizard, before realising that she was laughing.

"You think this is funny?" He asked standing up, half yelling in outrage.

The next moment, a wand was pressed to his throat. "You will not shout at my fiance." Aries' voice was cold and dangerous. Sirius actually thought for moment that he was going to die, before Louise intervened.

"I think I should talk to Sirius alone." She told her fiance, who sent Sirius a glance before nodding and excusing himself.

"Would you like a drink?" Louise asked, turning towards him.

"A firewhiskey would be appreciated."

Two glasses and a bottle of firewhiskey appeared on the table, courtesy of the house elf.

"You are prejudiced against Aries and by association me." Louise commented casually, filling the glasses.

"Even if that was true, you have proved me right by your stunt at the Wizengamot today." He countered.

"So, you think that anyone who goes against Dumbledore is a Death Eater. You do realise that if Dumbledore had done his job you wouldn't have spent twelve years in prison and Harry wouldn't have to grow up in an abusive home."

Sirius was ready to retort that 'only death eaters would benefit from removing Dumbledore from power' when the rest of her sentence registered with him.

"What do you mean by that?" He whispered harshly.

"You have seen him. He looks twelve instead of fourteen, his bones are poking out, he dresses in rags and flinches when you make sudden movements. It isn't that hard to put the pieces together." She answered gently.

Sirius gulped down his glass. Yes, now that it was being pointed out to him, it was indeed not hard to see.

Harry was abused.

He didn't know why he had not even thought about something being wrong with his home life when he'd agreed to live with a man he'd known for five minutes. He lived with Lily's sister, that was a warning on its own.

"Dumbledore put him there, it you want to know. Assured the Wizengamot every year that he was safe and well cared for. If you don't believe me, you go to the ministry and see the records the Wizengamot sessions." Louise continued, pouring him another drink.

"Maybe he did it to keep Harry safe from the death eaters that got free. Lucius Malfoy for one, he's your fiance's Uncle if you weren't aware." Sirius was grasping at the straws.

He was having doubts about Dumbledore since her decided to send two teenagers with a time turner to save him, instead of giving him sanctuary, which was well within his rights as the Chief Warlock. Sirius had convinced himself that Dumbledore wanted to save that political capital for some emergency as the leader of the light, but it was a weak excuse. As Chief Warlock, it was Dumbledore's job to get him justice.

If Dumbledore wanted to play politics, he shouldn't be the Chief Warlock, which was an inherently neutral position.

"You are also related to the Malfoys. If you are judging Aries because of who his parents were, you should hold yourself to the same standard." Louise retorted to his jab at Aries.

"I ran away from my house at sixteen." He protested.

"And Aries hasn't seen his parents since he was four." Was the quick reply. "We are not your enemies, Sirius. Maybe you should take some time and think about that."

Louise got up and left the dining room.

Sirius sighed before rubbed his hand over his face, before leaving towards his room, taking the firewhiskey with him.