Veritaserum—or in other words, truth serum—was a highly regulated magical concoction, strictly controlled and monitored by both the ICW and individual magical governments around the world.

  Only after meticulous review and explicit approval from the very top of the ladder—high councils or the Minister himself—could this potion be legally administered.

  Its reliability was unquestionable. No wizard or witch in their right mind doubted its accuracy. And when the hoarse, heavy voice of Sirius Black, full of remorse, echoed through the cavernous courtroom under its influence, an eerie silence fell over the Wizengamot and the audience above them.

  In that moment, all uncertainty vanished. No one could deny the truth anymore. The real traitor stood exposed, and his guilt was undeniable—the potion had stripped away every last lie.

  Crouch demanded that Peter Pettigrew also submit to Veritaserum and recount the events from his own perspective. But the rat refused outright, panicked and trembling, and under ICW regulations, the potion couldn't be forced without the subject's consent—so the courtroom got no testimony from him.

  But it hardly mattered. Sirius's words, given under Veritaserum, had already laid everything bare beyond doubt, and Crouch insisting that Peter take the potion was little more than a formality.

  "Peter Pettigrew," Crouch's voice boomed across the chamber, cold and unflinching after Pettigrew's final refusal—even when offered leniency for cooperation. "You stand accused of the most heinous and unforgivable crimes… revealing the secret whereabouts of the Potters to He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, an act that directly led to their brutal murders; and the wanton, unconscionable killing of multiple innocent Muggles."

  "For these cumulative crimes against the wizarding world and its very values, the recommended sentence is…" He paused, sweeping his gaze first over the cowering rat, then across the councilors, before finally declaring, "Execution!"

  As Barty Crouch's chilling words reverberated through the Wizengamot chamber, an eerie, drawn-out silence fell over the courtroom. Many in attendance stared in disbelief at Crouch's stern, unyielding face, their expressions a mixture of shock and dawning comprehension—including the stunned Sirius Black, seated on the opposite side.

  So many Death Eaters, guilty of heinous and unforgivable crimes, had been tried and sentenced—always to life in Azkaban's soul-draining confines—and Sirius had expected the same fate for the rat as well.

  Yet here was the very same Bartemius Crouch, the man who had personally condemned many such dark wizards to Azkaban, including himself, now proposing that Pettigrew face the death sentence. Sirius stared at him, caught between disbelief, resentment, and… gratitude he couldn't yet name.

  Maverick, watching from above, was also taken aback by the sudden call for execution, since he, too, had assumed the worst Pettigrew would face was life in prison. Besides, he didn't want the rodent dead just yet; he still had plans for the rat, and if Pettigrew were killed, he would have to overhaul a good part of his blueprint.

  His expression grew increasingly cold as he contemplated the implications, wondering whether to ask Jameson to object to the sentence. But realizing that the jury—or the council—would first have to vote in order for the sentencing to pass, he brushed the thought aside for now and glanced sideways at Dumbledore beside him.

  Surely the old man wouldn't be okay with execution—he was Albus Dumbledore, after all.

  Sure enough, he saw that the old man looked just as surprised by the sentence, one brow arched at the Adjudicator's chair below.

  "Headmaster..." Maverick asked, carefully wording his thoughts and speaking only loud enough for the three at their table to hear. "I've never known the Wizengamot to hand down death sentences. Even over a decade ago, those ruthless fanatics only got life in Azkaban... never execution. What do you make of this?"

  "Indeed…" Dumbledore murmured, stroking his chin. "It may be that Sirius Black's wrongful imprisonment—a grave mistake, a blemish upon Barty Crouch's record, second only to the shame his own misguided son brought upon him—has driven him to severity in this case. Yet I doubt the council will follow him so far. Let us wait and see what the assembly decides."

  "Your Excellency, the Adjudicator. According to the established laws and precedents of the British Magical Constitution, he should be sentenced to life imprisonment, not execution."

  It was Rufus Scrimgeour who broke the silence first. Shaking off his stunned daze, he rose sharply from his chair and voiced the objection.

  At once, the full impact of Bartemius Crouch's unprecedented sentence rippled through the chamber. Since Maverick had first entered these chambers, he had not yet seen such uproar—not even when Fudge had been stripped of his seat—as a cacophony of voices erupted from the assembled witches and wizards.

  He wondered why they were so against the death sentence, as a lot of these politicians weren't exactly saints—some were outright former Death Eaters—and yet they acted as if executing a convicted murderer was some unspeakable taboo.

  He scoffed at the spectacle, watching the pathetic drama unfold. Politicians were all the same, muggle or magical, always trying to put on a saintly face.

  "What is your opinion on this matter, Speaker Dumbledore… will the council approve… or…" Lord Greengrass also inquired, his gaze flicking briefly toward Maverick.

  Jameson was fully aware of Maverick's plans for Peter Pettigrew—what had been arranged for the rat once he was sentenced to life in Azkaban. But with Dumbledore present, he couldn't speak his mind freely.

  Nonetheless, he wasn't worried, because from the looks of it, Crouch's recommended sentence wouldn't pass, and Pettigrew would likely receive life imprisonment instead, just as Maverick had expected.

  "The death penalty is a punishment of grave and irreversible finality, one that has lain dormant for many years within our British wizarding world. To set such a precedent with Peter Pettigrew would be to invite a torrent of unforeseen consequences and bitter controversies—burdens that, I fear, you, Mr. Minister, could ill afford."

  "Headmaster is right, Jameson," Maverick added. "If I were you, I wouldn't risk letting this happen—not with laws so loose and full of loopholes in the Constitution. There's a high chance more cases like this could follow."

  "You're right…" the new Minister of Magic murmured after a moment's thought. But just as he was about to raise an objection, Barty had swiftly cut him off. Perhaps he had noticed, from the corner of his eye, the discussion unfolding—the frown on Lord Greengrass's face—and guessed the minister might take a controversial stance.

  Better to get it over with quickly, Barty decided, and with an insistent gesture, he called for an immediate vote from the assembled council members, allowing no further discourse or debate on the matter.

  "Now, let the esteemed members of the council cast their votes without further delay!"

  And sure enough, barely any of the councilors raised their hands in favor of the death sentence. Only a handful did, mostly those considered radicals when it came to notions of right and wrong. Needless to say, none of the pureblood fanatics' hands went up—they certainly didn't want to be next in line if, somehow, they were to face such a trial in the future.

  But Bartemius Crouch didn't seem unhappy with the outcome, almost as if he had expected it. Or perhaps… this was merely a performance. Barty Crouch never truly expected the members of the Wizengamot to approve execution for Peter Pettigrew; he only wanted to assert his firm stance.

  Meanwhile, Pettigrew's muddled mind finally began to clear as the implications sank in. He covered his face with trembling hands, not daring to look but too afraid to hear the outcome, wanting to know first. Fortunately for him, his miserable life was spared—for now—and his wailing subsided, if only momentarily.

  "Very well then…" Barty Crouch declared, his stern face betraying no hint of emotion or disappointment at the outcome. "Those in favor of sentencing Peter Pettigrew to lifelong imprisonment, raise your hands accordingly."

  This time, the vast majority of the Wizengamot raised their hands in solemn affirmation, supporting the more measured proposal of a lifetime behind bars for the rodent.

  Upon witnessing this, Peter broke into wails once more—not out of fear of execution this time, but out of sheer terror at the thought of spending the rest of his life under the merciless watch of Dementors.

  With the council having decided his fate, the rat was promptly seized and dragged away by the grim-faced Aurors who had been guarding him, to be escorted first to the chamber that housed the portkey to Azkaban.

  Now that Peter's fate had been settled, it was time for the sentencing of Sirius Black. After all, he was still a convicted criminal.

  Maverick, watching from above, had assumed the trial would wrap up quickly now that Peter Pettigrew, the true traitor, had been sentenced to life in Azkaban. All that remained was to clear Black of the wrongful charges against him.

  But Bartemius Crouch Sr. seemed to have other ideas and suddenly changed gears, unveiling a brand-new accusation aimed squarely at Sirius Black.

  "Sirius Black," he said, turning his stern gaze on the dejected figure, "although your wrongful imprisonment was a grave mistake by the Ministry, that does not absolve you of all crime, nor excuse you from accountability. Therefore, you shall face an additional charge, brought forth by this seat as Chief Adjudicator: the unlawful study and unauthorized practice of the Animagus transformation!"

  Once again, the hall erupted in murmurs, camera flashes, and whispers.

  To Barty's credit, if one were to ask what most concerned the Ministry of Magic in this affair, it was neither the long-overdue revelation of Sirius Black's innocence nor the exposure of Peter Pettigrew as the true traitor. No, the Ministry's foremost worry was far simpler, and far more damning:

  How had Sirius Black escaped from Azkaban in the first place?

  Azkaban, the fortress prison guarded by soul-sucking Dementors—those dreadful, spectral beings whose mere presence could unravel even the strongest mind. It was a place designed not just to contain, but to destroy—a black pit of despair where time and hope withered.

  To the wizarding world, and especially to Britain's magical community, Azkaban was hailed as more than just a prison. It was a symbol, a warning, a weapon—a grim reminder of the British Ministry's absolute power. Loathed by all who knew of it, it nonetheless stood as the Ministry's sharpest blade, cutting down resistance not through justice, but through fear.

  And now, a wizard had somehow managed to shatter Azkaban's legend by accomplishing the seemingly impossible—a successful escape from its clutches. This unprecedented feat had, to some extent, shaken the very foundations upon which the Ministry's authority rested, casting doubt on the security of their most potent instrument of control.

  It was also one of the main reasons why the former Minister, Fudge, had resorted to such extremes— even sending Dementors to patrol the grounds of Hogwarts in pursuit of Sirius Black. In doing so, he had also issued orders to the Ministry directors, demanding that every resource at their disposal be used to uncover how Black had managed to escape.

  Only after Black had been taken into custody was it made clear to then Minister of magic, Cornelius Fudge. Together with Amelia Bones and Rufus Scrimgeour, he had, in fact, spoken to Barty just before the trial began—advising him to let the matter rest as compensation for Black's long years of wrongful imprisonment.

  However, the agreement had been made hastily and only verbally, since Black had turned himself in at the last moment. With nothing in writing, perhaps Barty saw an opening to twist the situation to his advantage—harboring plans of his own about the matter.

  —————————

  "I have been advised, Adjudicator, that an understanding had been duly reached with my predecessor—had it not? To let this matter rest, as compensation for Mr. Sirius Black's twelve years of wrongful imprisonment..."

  Barty Crouch's recommendation to press the charge of illegal Animagus transformation did not catch many in the assembly off guard.

  In fact, when recalling the events of the night the Potters were killed—and when he had chased and confronted Peter Pettigrew—Sirius, under Veritaserum, had inadvertently revealed he was an Animagus, making the charge technically valid and its addressing inevitable.

  However, the matter had already been communicated to the Ministry before Sirius turned himself in, since, naturally, how he escaped Azkaban would come up and he had to be forthcoming. The then-Minister, Cornelius Fudge, was, of course, shocked by how anticlimactic it was, but regardless, he had promised that the matter would not be pursued.

  Fudge, along with Rufus Scrimgeour, the Director of Magical Law Enforcement, had personally vouched that the charge would not be pressed—at the very least, as a small compensation for Sirius's wrongful imprisonment of over a decade. This had also been addressed to Barty Crouch, and he had verbally agreed—but it now appeared that may not have been the case.

  So when Barty began going off the rails, Minister Greengrass immediately rose to his feet and addressed the assembly, loud and clear, effectively cutting off his attempt. While the deal may have been communicated with Jameson's predecessor, the agreement was still with a sitting Minister of Magic.

  Below, Amelia Bones and Rufus Scrimgeour both furrowed their brows, eyes fixed on Barty Crouch. After all, they had been the ones to mediate between Black and the Ministry before he ultimately turned himself in. To see their former supervisor act unilaterally, blatantly ignoring the agreement they had all reached, left them visibly displeased.

  Barty, however, seemed utterly oblivious to the Minister of Magic's argument and to the pointed scrutiny of his two former top employees. His cold, impassive gaze was fixed instead on Sirius Black, who stood in the witness dock looking equally caught off guard. For the first time that day, things had veered off the script he had been given, and he had no idea what was happening.

  "Sirius Black, I assume you are aware that the Ministry of Magic has long enforced strict laws regulating the dangerous and complex Transfiguration magic of Animagi, correct?"

  "Yes, I'm aware…" What else could he say to answer such an obvious question?

  Having answered Crouch, he couldn't help but glance toward the three highest seats, brows furrowing as they landed specifically on Maverick. He wasn't sure whether this was part of the plan or if something had changed that he wasn't aware of.

  His confusion only deepened, seeing Maverick sitting so coolly beside Dumbledore, utterly unfazed by the turn of events.

  Could it be… that I've been set up? he thought, if only for a brief moment.

  No… that can't be. He quickly brushed the thought aside. Besides… there's no benefit for that kid in this—so this must be a variable in the plan.

  Sirius wracked his brain, trying to make sense of the situation, but nothing came to him—until he heard Minister Jameson Greengrass repeat his earlier remark.

  Crouch acknowledged the minister this time, at least, but then his face turned sterner than ever before he answered.

  "The acknowledgment you speak of between Sirius Black and the Ministry," he said, turning from Greengrass to Sirius, and finally to the assembly below, "holds no legal weight here, Minister!"

  "Absurd!" came the voice of Amelia Bones from below, almost as if she could no longer contain herself.

  "The courtroom has conducted many such proceedings with convicted criminals," she emphasized, "whether for intelligence or otherwise, and has compensated them by lightening their sentences. In fact, I recall you, Chief Adjudicator, presiding over many such hearings... so why are you being different with this case?"

  As soon as Amelia finished, Scrimgeour rose next.

  "I must object as well," he said. "Besides, it is now blatantly obvious that Sirius Black is not guilty, even if the council has not yet voted. And don't forget… we, the Ministry, held him captive for thirteen years in Azkaban. If anything, this so-called compensation that is overlooking his unregistered Animagus status is, quite frankly, a joke in my opinion—thirteen whole years we took from him!"

  Following Scrimgeour, more and more councilors rose to their feet, voicing their objections, and Minister Greengrass, having made his point, no longer addressed the assembly.

  The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  At first, Maverick was taken aback by Crouch's sudden, rogue move, but Dumbledore, wise as ever, seemed to understand the motive behind it and quietly explained it to himself as the one-sided debate unfolded.

  Dumbledore believed Crouch basically just wanted to go out with a bang. Unlike Fudge, who had struggled to repair a tarnished reputation, Crouch's name had never truly been sullied, but the stain left by his worthless son simply hit him too hard, affecting his psychological mindset.

  And he had been brooding over it for more than a decade, and perhaps had moved on, but he had no desire left to remain in politics. At the same time, he didn't want to fade into irrelevance, and he intended his final hearing to be remembered in history.

  First, he had overseen proceedings when Fudge was impeached—the first time ever a Minister had ever been kicked out from the Wizengamot. And now, he was determined to make this final trial as fair as possible—at least from his side.

  Besides, he knew the council would not vote against Black for something as minor as being an unregistered Animagus, especially after being wrongfully imprisoned for over a decade. The only reason he brought it up was to make a point: that he was just and fair as an Adjudicator.

  After the arguments against his recommendation had been voiced by over a dozen councilors, Crouch addressed the assembly once again.

  "I do not believe there are any substantive issues with the conclusions I have drawn," he began, still pressing. "Perhaps… you may think I act out of personal grievance, given that I wrongfully sentenced him to Azkaban. But I ask you all to remember: throughout my long career, there is ample evidence of my consistent and unwavering loathing for those who choose to break the laws we have sworn to uphold."

  "Of course, it is not a problem to waive the charge as compensation for the many years Mr. Black has spent wrongfully in Azkaban… but my point is this: I want it addressed here, rather than brushed under the rug. Lawbreakers—regardless of their position or perceived justification—have always been the object of my deepest scorn."

  It was just as Dumbledore had guessed. Now, Crouch looked less like a judge, and his actions could only be described as an attempt to redeem himself for past errors while simultaneously scoring points for his image before retirement.

  Perhaps if Fudge were still the minister, he would have shouted the obvious, but Greengrass let him go on and made no objection once he understood what was happening.

  Had the setting been more fitting, he might have even applauded Barty Crouch Sr.'s performance.

  "So I leave the decision to you, esteemed councilors," Crouch continued, his eyes alight with a passion. "I urge each and every one of you to give serious consideration to my statements regarding Sirius Black. Do not allow the truth to be obscured by sentiment or misplaced sympathy!"

  While Barty's words and actions that day may not have deceived the truly intelligent and discerning among those present, he still managed to hold the people's hearts and the steadfast support of the masses—within the Wizengamot, the Ministry, and across wizarding Britain. He would reture as a man of the law, someone who wouldn't budge for anything.

  And frankly, that was all he wanted at this point, and that was why he was putting on such a show, playing rough with Black's case.

  "Headmaster, I think you should voice your opinion too…" Maverick said to Dumbledore.

  "I believe so," the old man replied, rising to his feet. "First, I firmly believe that Sirius Black bears no legal responsibility for the tragic affair involving the Potters. On that account, he should be cleared of all charges and deemed innocent."

  "Of course, we are all agreed that he is indeed an unregistered Animagus, having used this ability without the Ministry's leave. Yet, as many of you, esteemed councilors, have already observed, he has borne the weight of thirteen years' wrongful imprisonment. In light of that grave injustice, I, too, stand by the decision of the former administration—that no further punishment should be sought for so small a matter."

  "Very well, then—" With the wisest voice in the chamber having spoken, Crouch pressed on, offering no further argument on the matter.

  Then his tone rose, booming across the chamber:

  "Let us put this matter to a vote by a show of hands! First—those in favor of declaring Sirius Black innocent and pardoned for the offense of practicing as an unregistered Animagus, raise your hands!"

  From the very top, three hands shot up almost immediately, followed by more, row by row, until over forty hands were raised high into the air within the allotted time for voting.

  "Sirius Black!" Crouch declared, his expression unchanged, as he looked down at the man before him. "You are hereby declared innocent by the Wizengamot for practicing as an unregistered Animagus. That said, let me remind you: the very first thing you do, should you walk out of this chamber a free man, is ensure your registration as an Animagus with the Ministry."

  Sirius scratched the back of his head, nodding repeatedly, when Crouch's voice rose once again, carrying through the hall:

  "Next—those in favor of declaring Sirius Black innocent and pardoned of all charges, including, but not limited to: the breach of the Fidelius Charm to He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, the indirect deaths of James and Lily Potter, the deaths of over a dozen innocent Muggles, and the destruction of public property—raise your hands!"

  Contrary to what many had expected, he was the first to raise his hand this time, a decisive gesture of support—swiftly mirrored by Maverick, Dumbledore, and Jameson.

  Then, it was like a tidal wave sweeping through the chamber. From the front row to the back, one by one, the assembled witches and wizards rose to their feet, hands shooting skyward in a united show of backing.

  Sirius, watching from his place below, swallowed hard. Each raised hand made his heart pound harder against his ribs, a forceful drumbeat of hope.

  Fresh from his ordeal in Azkaban, Sirius had once been indifferent to the prospect of either imprisonment or freedom. But in the time he had spent with Maverick and Remus, the embers of hope had slowly reignited within him. After all, he had a responsibility, did he not? James and Lily's son—young Harry—was still waiting, yearning for the care and guidance that only Sirius Black, his godfather, could provide.

  "Fifty-five in favor, six abstentions!"

  "Sirius Orion Black!" Crouch's voice rang out, his gaze sweeping over the now flushed and exhilarated man below. "Let it be known—henceforth, all charges against you are dropped! By the authority of the Wizengamot, you are declared innocent!"

  —————————

  The moment Barty Crouch proclaimed Sirius's innocence, the somber atmosphere that had weighed over the Wizengamot lifted, replaced at once by a surge of energy. The great chamber grew alive with murmurs, camera flashes flickered in every direction, and the councilors—along with the guests watching from the stands above—leaned toward one another, whispering and debating about the string of unbelievable events they had just witnessed.

  Where once the hall had looked at Sirius with suspicion, doubt, or uneasy curiosity, their gazes had now changed, sharp and calculating, filled with interest. To them, Sirius Black was no longer a wrongly imprisoned man, but an opportunity itself. And politicians, whether muggle or magical, always had an instinct sharper than any beast when it came to the scent of wealth and power. Standing before them now was the sole heir of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black, and now that his freedom had been restored, it was only a matter of time before he also claimed his rightful place as a council member in this very chamber.

  But it was not just the name, nor the political power tied to it, that made their eyes gleam. It was the fortune—vast, untouched, and now fully under Sirius's control. The House of Black, after all, was not only one of the oldest but also perhaps the wealthiest and most aristocratic of all wizarding families in Britain. And with no other heir to claim it, that immense inheritance now lay entirely in his hands.

  Councilors argued in hurried whispers, some thinking carefully before speaking, while others spoke without thought and rushed straight toward him. Up in the gallery, dignitaries speculated wildly, their voices clashing and overlapping like a noisy market. The press was no different, cameras flashing as they pushed closer, desperate not only to capture the moment but also to get a single word from him. Even Crouch's formal call to close the assembly was drowned out, his voice swallowed by the uproar. And the truth was, no one seemed to care.

  Meanwhile, Maverick, rather than approaching Sirius just yet, slipped out through the private entrance with Lord Greengrass and Dumbledore. If he went to him now, it would only add fuel to the fire, and he had no interest in mingling with the press.

  "Please give my congratulations to Sirius Black, Professor," Dumbledore said softly, a trace of melancholy in his voice. "And… if it is possible, extend my invitation for him to visit the school. I have… long-overdue conversations to have with him, and apologies I ought to offer."

  "I'll deliver your message," Maverick replied evenly. "But the apology… you will have to give yourself, Headmaster."

  Dumbledore inclined his head without protest. Then, after offering one last congratulation and a courteous farewell to Lord Greengrass, he departed, leaving Maverick and Jameson alone.

  "Don't look too smug, Jameson. We're only getting started," Maverick said, long noting the older man's struggle to contain his grin, as he paused near the private entrance to the auditorium to wait for the kid he had brought. "You know what comes next."

  "Yes, leader." Greengrass straightened at the remark, catching the full meaning behind it. "It won't be long before I have the Ministry completely under my control."

  He knew well that election as Minister of Magic was only the beginning. The Ministry itself—its departments, its machinery, its far-reaching influence—would need careful shaping, and the right people placed in the right positions. Only then could he truly claim control.

  "Take your time," Maverick instructed, his voice calm but edged. "Don't rush, but don't be soft either. And once everything is in order, call a cabinet meeting and inform me. Also, keep Bones and Scrimgeour close. Do not put chains on them, and let them do as they will."

  "I understand. It will be done," Greengrass assured him. Yet a flicker of doubt crossed his face. "But, leader… can they really be trusted? Will they cooperate all the way?"

  Maverick's eyes glinted coldly. "They have no choice. I gave them the chance to walk away, but they chose to stay tangled in this. There's no turning back now—least of all by standing in my way."

  Greengrass swallowed hard. That's right, he thought. His leader hadn't forced them to do anything, and it was their own insistence that had pulled them into the grand plan. Taking control of the Ministry was only the first step; it was meant to ensure that the events planned for a year later would unfold smoothly, without any authoritative obstacles. Both Bones and Scrimgeour had been fully briefed, and they could have walked away, leaving only a blank memory of the plan behind. But they hadn't. They had wanted to see if everything would fall into place as intended.

  The outcome, after all, if everything fell into place, was simply too good to ignore, tempting even hardliners like them. So with that thought, any lingering reservations he had vanished under the certainty in Maverick's words. Anyway, even if Bones or Scrimgeour wavered, he trusted that his leader would handle it—decisively.

  Maverick gave him a few more instructions to follow up on until their next meeting, and with that, the new Minister of Magic left, no doubt heading straight into the swarm of reporters waiting for him.

  Meanwhile, Maverick stayed by the door where he and Harry had parted ways when they first arrived, and not long after, Kingsley appeared, leading little Potter in from the other side.

  "Apologies if I kept you waiting, Speaker," Kingsley said with a wry sigh. "He's been pestering me to take him to Sirius Black, but there are simply too many reporters out there…"

  "I was wondering why it was taking so long…" Maverick said, waving a hand in a gesture that meant there was no need for apology. "Anyway, you did the right thing. Thank you, Mr. Shacklebolt..." With that, he dismissed Kingsley, and once the Auror left, he turned to Harry.

  "Let's go…" he said, starting to walk back the way they had come. Clearly, the boy's emotions were tangled up inside him—and for good reason. During the hearing, it had already been made clear that Black had been very close to Harry's parents, and Harry was simply eager to ask him about them.

  "Professor…" Harry said quickly, falling into step beside him.

  "I know you want to meet Sirius Black now, Potter… and don't worry, you will, today. But first—did Mrs. Weasley say anything?"

  "Lots of things, Professor! Did you know… Sirius Black is my godfather? She said he and my parents were really good friends. And—oh! My mum, my dad, and her… they were all part of this, like, ultimate group of Aurors back then, fighting Voldemort's Death Eaters!"

  Harry rambled on, and Maverick raised an eyebrow at the mention of the "ultimate group." He hadn't expected Mrs. Weasley to speak so freely about the Order of the Phoenix to a child. Was it Arthur's idea? he wondered, then shrugged.

  "And what do you think about Sirius Black now?" he asked.

  "I…" Harry hesitated, then blurted out again, "I want to meet him. I have so many questions about Mum and Dad I need to ask him. Mrs. Weasley said if there's anyone who knows them best, it's Sirius Black… And… even though Aunt Petunia is my family, Sirius Black should be my only magical relative. So I want to know him… to know my parents through him."

  Well, you can't blame the kid, Maverick thought inwardly. They moved along the corridors and soon reached the VIP elevator, where Maverick first turned them invisible before stepping inside. When they emerged, the Ministry was a chaotic mess, crowded with press and the bustling public. And there he was—the man in question—standing in front of his lioness, giving a live interview, while reporters flashed cameras and scribbled notes furiously.

  Maverick smiled, seeing Isabella living up to her ambition. He wanted to check on her, make sure everything was fine—after all, this was probably the first live event her news network had covered outside of sports—but she was clearly absorbed, in the middle of her interview, so he let her be. After this, she would be free, and he already had most of the rest of the holiday planned with her.

  Harry, meanwhile, wanted to rush forward, but Maverick placed a hand on his shoulder. "Be patient, kid," he said, before heading toward the exit. "We're going to meet him later, without a swarm of cameras, and you can talk to him as long as you want."

  Harry thought for a moment, then reluctantly nodded and followed Maverick. They left the Ministry the same way they had entered—via the ridiculous phone booth—and once outside, Maverick placed a hand on Harry's shoulder and apparated from the spot.

  A moment later, somewhere in North London—

  "Where are we?" Harry asked, glancing around the unfamiliar neighborhood, while holding back the uneasy shudder from the jump through space.

  "This is where your godfather has been staying. We'll wait until he arrives," Maverick replied, then walked to the house in front. Taking out the key, he opened the door and saw someone already in the living room, watching Magic Vision, and it was the interview with Sirius that Isabella had been conducting before they had left.

  "Professor Lupin?" Harry said, surprised to see his DADA professor there.

  —————————

  Author's Note:

  Hi everyone! That wraps up the Sirius Black and Ministry Trial arc. It turned out longer than I expected, but honestly, I'm really satisfied with how it came together.

  Next up is a Marvel-themed arc, which will be around 30 chapters. You can either save them and binge-read over a month or enjoy them one by one.

  I can't wait to share and continue this journey together, and I'm hoping it will be very interesting for many of you.

  I'd love to hear your thoughts... whether you're satisfied or have suggestions, your feedback means a lot.

  You can find this story on Webnovel, Fanfiction, and ScribbleHub, all under the same author name: RyanFic. Updates drop first on Webnovel!

  P.S. From now on, the Marvel side of the story will start to pick up more.