Ch 92 we have been betrayed

James and Lily looked down from above on Harry as he lay in a basket on her sister's doorstep. "We've been betrayed," they both said to each other with resignation at almost the same time.

"Really doubly betrayed," James added sadly. He guided the broom down to land in front of the house. The two climbed off his broom they'd used to follow Hagrid to try to keep near Harry. The noise from Sirius's motorcycle had covered their arrival nicely plus the broom had made their approach completely silent. They had caught the conversation between the other three who'd just left by sitting unnoticed in a nearby tree as most people tended not to look up.

Lily rushed to the doorstep and checked their baby. "He's been spelled asleep. At least there is a Warming charm on the blanket and basket. Oh, there's a note."

James waited patiently and looked around. Dumbledore had turned the street lights back on, but it was late and he didn't see lights on in any of the houses around them.

"I'll get the old goat," Lily swore venomously. "It does a good job of guilting Petunia into taking Harry in, but that's only going to happen over my dead body."

"That won't happen if I can help it," James said with a hint of mirth, "I happen to like your body as it is."

"James," she said with a hint of reprimand, "this is not the time for that."

He sighed, "Sadly no. However, now that we know who the betrayers are, it's time to go to phase two of our plan. Back to Potter Manor for the moment. We can get at least a little sleep tonight, or rather this morning. You can go first."

Lily nodded and stood up with basket in hand and Apparated away; James followed a few seconds later with his broom in hand.

As they walked into the old family house, Lily said with great relief, "I'm glad that phase is done. I simply hated the idea of pretending to be dead and letting others take Harry, even if it was only for a couple of days."

"I agree, dear, but ever since you had that special uneasy feeling we had to find out who we could trust and who we couldn't," he told her as they walked upstairs to the small bedroom next to theirs. "Have you done any diagnostic spells on him yet? I didn't notice any."

"No, I'll do that now," she told him as she pulled Harry out of the basket and laid him in his crib.

James watched as he mused on their ruse. He'd disliked the part of how he'd faked their deaths, but it had apparently worked.

In addition, the tiny tracers they'd put on Harry and all of their friends seems to be working, mostly because no one knew they were there. It helped they weren't spells, so no one thought to look for it, though a spell would allow them to locate whoever they needed. James felt a little bad about spiking the drinks of his friends to cause them to pass out and to allow him and Lily to put the tracers in their bodies. He wasn't nearly as bothered by that now considering their fears had been found to be justified. He was upset at himself for not checking the arm of Peter for a Dark Mark when he had the chance.

Lily stepped back. "He's going to be very hungry when he wakes as he hasn't been feed much in the last day – the bastards."

"They had him for nearly two days!" James exclaimed.

"I know," she said, her look promising pain for someone. "Fortunately, I don't see anything else wrong with him. Your booby trap for the Dark Lord worked well, and staging his body near my fake one and Harry was a good idea."

"Yes, that takes the focus off of us." James smiled, "That's four times we've fought him and won, plus Harry wasn't marked. That should invalidate the stupid prophecy Dumbledore brought to us, if it was ever real."

"We can hope," Lily agreed. "Let me get some milk and a little food ready, then I'll wake him and feed him before we get at least a few hours of sleep."

James nodded absent mindedly as he considered their next step. The most important thing was that Harry was safe with them again.

— — —

It was late morning and both parents were feeling a little tired but better with the three of them together again. Harry was awake but quiet and bundled up as they Apparated to Longbottom Manor. James pulled the chord that rang the gong to announce visitors. He smiled as usual as he'd always liked that. He'd have put one in at their house but Lily wouldn't let him.

The door opened a crack to reveal half of Frank's face and his wand pointing at them.

As surprise registered on their friend's face and before a spell could be cast, James spoke up quickly. "Yes, it's really us, Frank. We pretended to be killed to flush out the betrayers."

Frank hadn't moved nor had his wand. "What happened the last time our boys were together?"

James laughed. "You and I were changing their diapers and both boys made a fountain at the same time. If you'd like a better proof, the first and last line of the prophecy says: The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies."

Frank blinked and shook his head. "It's really you. Get in here quick before anyone sees you." He pulled the door open and the couple hurried in.

Alice was standing behind her husband with her wand out. "Lily? Oh, Lily!" she rushed forward and hugged her friend, mindful of the bundle in Lily's arms. "I think I cried all day after I heard. I wanted to go to your funerals yesterday but we were afraid. How did you stay alive?"

"Let's go into the parlor," Frank said. He called out for tea and their house-elf had the tea service in place by the time they sat down. Alice had veered away for a moment and returned with Neville. Both boys were put on a blanket in the middle of the room along with a few toys. They each made a few happy noises at the other and picked up a nearby toy.

"Lily had a strong feeling of unease not long after Dumbledore came to us about the prophecy," James started. "I won't say it was a vision or something like that, but we took her feeling like it was a possibility because the more we thought and talked about it, well..."

"I thought it was possible," Lily filled in. "It took me a while to convince James, but my feeling was so real that we would be betrayed I couldn't ignore it; plus there have been the rumors of a betrayer in the Order. I couldn't tell who, but the list of potentials wasn't long."

Alice nodded and admitted, "I've been uneasy too though it's been hard to say why."

"Lily and I developed a booby trap that would be very lethal if we could ever get a certain Dark Lord to step into it. Albus finding the Fidelius for us was useful, but we weren't going to put all of our faith in that. Then assuming we'd really be betrayed, I..." James hung his head for a moment in his hesitation. "I don't like admitting this, but I stole a couple of recently dead bodies from the Muggles after I'd replaced them with transformed copies. Then I brought the bodies home and transformed them to look exactly like us and then put them in stasis."

Frank looked shocked and Alice had her hand over her mouth.

"I know it's distasteful and none of us can tell anyone," James said to their expressions, "but I needed to fool everyone and a real body was required for that. The Muggles buried my creations and should never know any difference. Since Dumbledore hurried our funerals along, apparently no one knew about the switch for us either."

"No one detected the switch that I've heard," Frank told him. "That took more guts than I have," Frank said, "but I can see how it would work effectively. I can tell you who betrayed you; the spy in the Order is Sirius."

Now the Potters looked surprised. "Excuse me?" James was the first to react. "Why do you say that?"

"You mean he's not?" Frank reacted and looked at Alice, who also looked surprised. He pulled his wand out and did a spell; a newspaper flew into the room and then his hand. He handed it over to his friends.

James stared at the headline in disbelief as Lily read, "Sirius Black Kills Potters and Muggles". I don't believe he would have killed Muggles, but he certainly didn't play a part in killing us."

"But it says he gave the location of your secret hiding place to You-Know-Who," Frank protested.

"He couldn't have," James retorted, "because he wasn't our secret keeper."

"Then who?" Alice asked. "Who betrayed you?"

The Potters shared a look before Lily said, "There were actually two betrayers."

"Sirius wasn't our secret keeper," James told them, "Peter was. We switched at the last minute and left everyone thinking it was Sirius to protect Peter. He must be a Death Eater and the leak we've had in the Order." James shook his head.

"We'll help you find him," Frank said confidently. "I'm sure Sirius will help after you testify at his trial."

James shrugged and looked at his wife who said adamantly, "I think we'll let him sit in jail for a few days to think over his bad decision to go after Peter rather than trying to take care of Harry like he should have."

Alice's expression showed her agreement with that, while Frank looked at his longtime friend who shrugged again. "He did screw up pretty badly and a few days in a Ministry holding cell won't kill him," James said.

"Wait," Alice said looking puzzled. "You said there were two betrayers. Who's the other one and what did he do?"

While both Potters looked upset, it was Lily who went off like a Canon Blast charm. "He ensured Harry would be taken away so Sirius couldn't take him as he should have. He ignored our will and I know he knows we have one since he told us all to create one. And he endangered Harry by leaving him on a doorstep in a Muggle neighborhood in the middle of the night so anyone could take him!" She growled the last one.

The Longbottoms looked at James with wide eyes and a questioning look.

James just nodded to confirm it was as his wife said and added quietly, "Dumbledore."

Alice gasped and her hand flew to her mouth again. Frank just blinked and looked back and forth between the Potters. He finally cleared his throat and managed a "Those are some serious charges."

"It doesn't make them any less true though," James said with resignation. "Listen, we came over here so you'd know we were still alive and you're about the only ones we fully trust at the moment. Well, I still trust Sirius, but he has his head up his arse right now and I still trust Remus even if he is avoiding us."

Lily cleared her throat loudly.

"All right, we mostly trust Remus, but he's been distant lately and that makes us wonder a little. I," he looked at his wife pointedly, "attribute that to his wolf problem, but I can understand that he needs to give an accounting for himself. I believe it will work out fine."

"I believe it probably will too," Lily said, "but I need to hear it." It was obvious they weren't in 100 percent agreement even if they each did trust Remus in their own way.

James looked back at Frank. "Sorry for getting side-tracked, but we came over because we trust you and to strategize. We have some ideas on what we want to do, but more people thinking about this can only make it better."

The Longbottoms nodded and each said, "Thank you."

Frank added, "We'll be glad to help. I have the rest of the week off, so I'm sure we can figure something out by then."

Harry made a face and then a noise and looked at his mother. James laughed while the Longbottoms smiled.

"Why don't you change him," Alice said. "It's getting close to time for lunch. We can start to strategize, as you say, after lunch."

— — —

It was dark outside, and had been for a couple of hours, but they were only now wrapping the planning up.

"I like it," Frank said with a smile. "I think you have everything covered along with alternatives based on what others might do." He chuckled. "I can hardly wait for some of this to happen; it's going to be very amusing."

"Parts of it, but other parts?" Alice sighed. "It's going to rock our world."

That sobered James and Lily. "It will," Lily said finally, "but I think it needs to happen."

"Probably so," James said and stretched, "but tomorrow is soon enough." He bent down and picked up a sleeping Harry and handed him to his wife while he grabbed the bag for the toddler. Frank helped Alice with Neville.

"They're so cute this way," Alice said fondly as the four walked towards the front door. Apparating was safer than using the Floo Network these days and especially with each family in hiding.

"We'll be back tomorrow," James said.

"I'll enjoy watching Harry," Alice told them.

"While I'll enjoy helping you find Peter," Frank said with enthusiasm.

"Good-" James started and shut up instantly as a familiar whoosh was heard in the other room.

"No one should be using our Floo," Frank whispered as he whipped his wand out and turned to creep quietly towards the room with the fireplace. James followed right behind after setting the baby bag down.

Lily mouthed "Please?" at her friend and Alice shifted Neville to one arm before accepting Harry from Lily. Lily pulled out her wand as they all heard a shrieking female voice shout, "Where he? What have you done with the Dark Lord?"

James immediately cast two transformations and furniture became lions and jumped. Lily animated a lamp and a set of chairs to help out. Frank just cast Blasting Curses as fast as he could with the Potters joining him after their initial support spells.

Alice stood in fear huddled in a corner near the front door with nowhere to go. She'd have run outside but she feared Death Eaters would be out there waiting. As quickly as she could, which wasn't nearly as fast as she'd have liked with two arm full of large babies or rather small toddlers, she managed to pull out her wand and cast a silencing spell on each baby then the Disillusionment spell on herself. As the cold sensation ran over her, she looked down and saw herself and the babies disappear, giving her a very small measure of relief. She run outside to Apparate away as a last resort if forced and hope there was no one out there.

Frank had moved into the room fully to get a better angle. He was faring well because of his shield, but that was negated by a fourth assailant he hadn't seen at the back who cast "Crucio!" While that went thru Frank's shield, Lily switched from her assailant to that fourth person who was wide open and muttered, "Imperio! Attack your friends!"

Lily had to jump to the side to avoid a spell from her previous assailant, but now they had more help as she resumed her attack as did Frank. It didn't take long after that before the three over powered the attackers and took them down as numbers were on their side.

While winded, Frank took the opportunity to shut down the Floo. James and Lily started examining the attackers and making sure their wands and anything else useful to them were removed before they were trussed up. Or at least three of them were.

James looked down at the one witch with a Death Eater mask next to her, it having fallen off when her magic ended. "I dislike killing them because of how I feel after, but I don't think I'll lose any sleep over this one."

Frank and Lily walked over, as did a now visible again Alice, who handed Harry over to his mother. "Bellatrix Lestrange."

"Plus her husband and his brother, but who's this one?" Lily asked, pointing to the one she'd cast the Imperious on.

"Crouch Jr," Frank said as he moved the man's head so his face was more visible. Blood also started to come out of his neck at a frightening rate.

Frank raised his wand, but Lily stopped him. "Don't save him."

"Why?"

"When he cast the Cruciatus Curse on you, that made me so angry that I..." Lily paused. "Well, it seemed like all the gloves were off, so I use the Imperious on him; that's how we were able to end it so quickly after you were hit. I'd rather he didn't remember that and I don't trust Obliviation for that."

Frank looked at her than at Crouch and nodded finally. A flick of his wand uncovered the man's arm and they could all see the Dark Mark even if it was lighter. "One less who can buy his way out too." With a nod as if saying he was sure about this, Frank turned from the quickly dying Crouch and looked at his friends.

"Thank you for helping out. That would not have turned out nearly so well if it was just Alice and myself against them." Frank hugged each of the Potters. "You should go as I'll have to call the Aurors."

"Send a Patronus message to Moody and tell him they came in through the Floo and see if he can catch anyone at the Ministry," James suggested.

"Good idea," Frank agreed and lead them to the front door again. He opened it and looked out carefully. Being more cautious, he cast a spell and nodded at the results. "All clear."

"Tomorrow," James said quietly and led his wife out.

A moment later they were back at Potter Manor.

Soon, Lily put a still sleeping Harry down in his bed before noticing the silencing charm. "Good one, Alice," she whispered to herself before removing the charm.

Back with her husband as they readied for bed she asked, "Can you believe this day?"

"Barely," he replied. "This week has been unbelievable to me, like something out of fantasy story."

"Tomorrow will be better," she said, "it has to be."

— — —

The next morning after breakfast, the Potters returned to Longbottom Manor. Frank hurried them in again. As Frank led them to the dining room where Alice was finishing feeding Neville, James asked, "How did it go last night?"

"Quite well," Frank replied. "Moody caught a Death Eater at the Ministry. Also, Alice had an idea that we went with."

"Actually it was an old idea of yours, Lily," Alice said as she cleaned Neville's face. "Remember your idea to give those we know to be Death Eaters something so that if they buy their way out it won't be for long?"

Lily's eyebrows went up in surprise. "You really gave them a poison? I didn't think you would."

"I didn't like it, but I magicked a few poisonous leaves into them from our greenhouse. While it might be discovered, I doubt it and in about thirty days it'll be over for them. Even if they figure it out, it's already starting to do damage internally," she explained. "Hopefully they'll be in Azkaban by then and their death will be blamed on that; but if they somehow get out of that, well, the result is the same and they can't hurt anyone ever again."

James snorted and looked at his wife. "I like it, but why didn't you ever tell me? I would have suggested it on some others."

Lily looked down. "Alice and I talked about not long before we finished with Hogwarts and I'd forgotten about it. I'd have to really know they're guilty first, but the Lestranges are well known to be guilty not to mention what they did last night."

Alice nodded. "That's the only reason I did it."

"Enough of that, let's take care of today's business. Even if you can find Peter easily, we need to be done before the Wizengamot meeting in three days," Frank urged.

Both boys were squirming and trying to get together, so Alice said, "Lily, if you'll help me get them to the playroom, I'll watch them while you three go out. Don't worry about the Floo either; it's turned off. If that bothers Augusta, well, she can Apparate over here and tell me, but I doubt she'll bother herself enough to do that."

"I doubt it as well," Frank added.

A few minutes later, Frank, James, and Lily had transfigured their clothes into something Lily said a construction worker would wear, including a hard hat. She had a clipboard with some blank paper on it.

"Yes," Lily said, "people will ignore us because we'll look like we're supposed to be there. We've checked and Peter's tracer is still in London, so this is our disguise. Let's Apparate to the outside door of the Leaky Cauldron and we can go check and go from there."

A moment later they were in London. In the area outside the Wizarding Pub where Muggles glanced over everything, Lily did the tracking spell and pointed. "He's that way."

An hour later, they'd narrowed the location down and it was under them in the middle of the block. "Lovely," James said quietly with heavy sarcasm, "he's in some pipe in his rat form."

Frank had been told about the group's Animagus abilities yesterday. "So we find an opening and summon him. What does an opening look like?"

Lily had been looking around. "There's usually a covered hole in the ground; some of the really old ones might have small doors, I think. We need to look around."

It was another half hour before they found a covered opening in an alley and opened it up. The stench almost knocked them out. "Gah!" James coughed out as he made an face that looked like he wanted to retch as he backed away. The other two weren't much better.

"I suggest," Lily said, "we hold our breath as we go in then once out of sight do a Bubblehead charm."

"How are we getting down there?" Frank asked quietly. "We can't conjure a ladder, there's too many people around."

"I think I see a ladder over there." Before anyone could stop him, James walked over behind a dumpster next to a building and stood there for a moment before he reappeared holding a ladder, which he brought over.

Lily's head was swiveling around. When he came back, she hissed, "That was foolish, but I don't think anyone noticed. Let's hurry."

James lowered the ladder and he'd guessed the length well because there was about a yard sticking up into the edge of the alley they were standing in. James took a big breath and went in first. They saw him stop about halfway down into the large tunnel and cast a Bubblehead charm on his head before he continued down. Frank went next.

Lily went last and cast another charm on her body so that when she stood in the "water" it didn't get on her boots or pants.

"Why didn't you do that for us?" Her husband complained.

"I didn't think of it before I saw you were all wet," she replied. "Now let's hurry. He's probably already heard us."

James turned and to get extra power verbally cast, "Accio Wormtail!"

They heard a squeak from down the long straight tunnel (or at least as far as they could see it was straight). Lily cast an area lighting spell and Frank put up a Shield spell to block the tunnel behind them. James didn't even try to catch the rat, letting it hit the shield and bounce to the floor of the tunnel with a small splash. James levitated the rat while Lily pulled out a cage, enlarged it, and opened the door so James could drop in the slightly dazed rat who was struggling to breath from being submerged in the sewage for a moment.

"That's him," James said as he looked at the very familiar rat form.

"Don't try to change," Lily said to the rat, "the cage has an unbreakable spell on it." She cast a Water conjuration spell on the rat to wash and clean him off. "Let's go."

James started up and stopped when he was above the foot deep "water". "Lily, can you get this off me? I can't tell you how gross this is."

She laughed but cast several charms on him so he at least looked clean. "That will hold you until we get back." She did the same for Frank before she went up the ladder, the muck sliding right off of her.

When no one seemed to be looking, James just vanished the ladder and then replaced the cover. They walked to a hidden area and then Apparated back to Longbottom manor.

Frank took them around to the back and had their house-elf go retrieve two sets of his clothes as he and James just vanished their pants, shoes, and socks, before they conjured some soap and started washing their lower half in their underpants – causing Lily to laugh as did Alice when she came out.

Lily conjured a bucket, soap, and water before dunking and swishing the rat in his cage around in it and then rising it off. The rat did not look happy. Lily didn't care.

"That's him?" Alice asked.

"Yes," answered Lily, who was giving the rat a death glare. "We trusted you Peter but you betrayed us. You're going to pay for that – I guarantee it."

"Let's go put him up somewhere safe," Frank said. "I'll find Amelia Bones and get her here day after tomorrow. She's Head Auror and one of the most honest ones I know."

"Agreed," said the other three.

Lily stunned the rat and muttered, "I think I need to go brew a slow poison."

— — —

Amelia Bones, Head Auror, sat down on the offered chair with a questioning look.

"Again, thank you for coming," Frank told her. "As I mentioned we have some very important news and we need your help. Perhaps the news first. Please don't pull your wand on them, but I have a couple of good friends who'd like to talk to you."

Amelia nodded but her hand moved near her wand anyway because he'd said that.

"You can join us!" Frank called out.

A moment later James and Lily Potter walked in, carrying a squirming Harry.

"But they're supposed to be dead!" Amelia's wand started to come out anyway.

"Wait!" Frank commanded and sprang out of his chair to stand in front of the Potters. "They really are James and Lily and Harry Potter. They faked their death because they thought they might be betrayed in order to catch the betrayer. Sadly, they were right … mostly. There were actually two betrayers."

"We can vouch for them," Alice added. "They know things that only James and Lily would know."

"It took us this long," James said, "to come to you because we knew it would take unassailable evidence. We have it for most of the charges you can bring up. That should be enough to force Veritaserum to get the rest of the evidence."

Amelia snorted and said bitterly, "They won't allow that because most of them don't want the truth to come out. Bagnold doesn't care either and Dumbledore doesn't really help. Only Crouch would care and he's on his way out now because of his son coming here and being found to be Death Eater."

"We might be able to help you more than you think," James said as sincerely as he could. "Perhaps we could sit down and tell you our story and the evidence we have?"

It took two hours to tell the story with lots of questions and answers, including bringing a rat in a cage out, who was stunned and removed from said cage before being forced back into a man to show he wasn't really dead either. His Dark Mark was also plainly visible though faded some. Lily applied a number of voiced compulsion charms to tell the truth when revived and Amelia received more answers. The man was stunned again and turned back into a rat and returned to the cage for safe keeping.

At the end, the Head Auror thought about what she'd been told and considered it all. "This would have been easier before Barty was forced to step down yesterday."

"But you're the leading candidate to take his place," Frank pointed out. "As the Director of the MLE you can make a lot happen. Can you convince Bagnold to do that before the meeting tomorrow?"

"Unlikely but I can try," Amelia replied. "I can put Sirius Black's trial on the agenda."

James shook his head. "No, it would look better not to, to show that they hadn't planned to do that."

"Perhaps," Amelia allowed. "Let me think on that. I need to get back and talk to Bagnold about a promotion." She smiled mischievously. "You didn't hear it from me, but Bagnold will probably step down as Minister very soon. I'm not sure who's going to run to take her place, but if you have a favorite candidate who's not me, you should prepare him or her."

"We'll work on that," Frank said with his own smile.

Amelia Bones nodded and left.

The Potters left a few minutes later with a rat. Once home and Harry was given to their house-elf to watch, Peter was stunned again before taken out of his cage and returned to human form. Lily force her newly brewed potion into Peter Pettigrew. It was a poison that would be hard to detect and act very slowly at first, but about 90 days from now Peter Pettigrew would never betray anyone ever again. James returned him to his rat form and to his cage to await legal justice …. Potter justice having been just dispensed in case legal justice failed them.

Sirius Black was confused and even a little angry. He had been in the high security area of Azkaban for the last three days, or that's what he thought. It could have been four or five as it was a little hard to tell time here.

It hadn't taken very long for him to learn that when no guards were around that his Padfoot form was the best way to deal with the Dementors that were constantly patrolling, as well as the best way to keep warm. His dog form was also the best way to stomach the stuff they called food here.

His keen canine ears picked up the sound of boot leather on stone, so he changed quickly back to his human form. He also tried not to get his hopes up they were coming for him. To his amazement, two guards stopped in front of his cell.

"Don't think it's worth the effort, but orders have been given for you to go to the Ministry," the slightly taller one said. "Get over here and hold your hands out near the bars. If you try anything at all, Fenton here is within his rights to kill you."

Siriuis noticed the slightly shorter guard had his wand trained on him. With a nod, Sirius walked over and did as he was told. Manacles where placed on him before the door was opened and he was walked out under wand point.

An hour later, the manacles had been removed and he was sitting in a Ministry holding cell, grateful for slightly better food and a warmer place. He was very grateful for being away from the Dementors. Not being told anything, no matter how he'd asked, he could only speculate what would happen and when.

"Order!" Albus Dumbledore shouted as he banged the gavel. The Chief Warlock did his mostly ceremonial job with ease, having done it for over ten years now. Only a few were talking and they quieted down quickly as did the visitors in the gallery. Two couples sitting together looked on with great interest.

"I still say this wig and these big heavy glasses makes me look stupid," James whispered to his wife.

"I'm suffering in the same way and shush, they're starting." Lily whispered back. She wished she had Harry with them, but it was better he wasn't she thought. For today, the two toddlers were hidden in a secret room in Potter Manor with a house-elf from each family as further protection.

To help a little more, Augusta Longbottom has been pulled in at the last moment and sworn to secrecy before the session; she holding the Longbottom seat until Frank was old enough.

"This is mostly a judicial session," Dumbledore's voice was heard easily. "First on the agenda we have an announcement from Minister Bagnold."

The older witch stood and used a spell so her voice would be more easily heard. "As probably all of you know, I've accepted the resignation of Bartimus Crouch as department head of Magical Law Enforcement for personal reasons."

"Personal reasons my arse," Frank said quietly before he was elbowed in the ribs by his wife so he'd not say more. The Potters looked at each other and fought a smile.

"I have promoted," Bagnold continued, "Amelia Bones, former Head Auror to be the new director of Magical Law Enforcement." Bagnold turned to the woman in her early forties that was next to her and started to clap. Many others joined in and Bones stood and bowed her head to the Wizengamot and then to the gallery before she sat down.

Bagnold continued standing. "I also have a petition for an Order of Merlin sponsored by Cornelius Fudge for one Peter Pettigrew for his sacrifice to help catch Sirius Black after his betrayal of the Potters and killing of twelve Muggles." She waved her hand towards Fudge who stood and smiled as he waved in friendly manner at everyone.

A number of people gave their applause for that and for Fudge while Minister Bagnold smiled. "I submit this for consideration and vote at the next gathering of the Wizengamot, as is tradition. Thank you, Chief Warlock," Bagnold said with a bow of her head to the man before she sat back down.

"Oh, this is going to be priceless," James said softly to his wife and two friends, all of whom were smirking as he was.

"Thank you, Minister," Dumbledore said. "The petition will be copied and distributed for all members to look over for our meeting next month.

"Madam Bones, you have my congratulations on your promotion. It looks like there are three trials scheduled for today. I turn the court over to you to prosecute them." The Chief Warlock took his seat.

Bones stood and nodded to her Aurors who exited a side door before she addressed the Wizengamot. "Honorable Witches and Wizards, the first two trials will be held together. The defendants are Rabastan Lestrange and Rodolphus Lestrange, criminals we have been after for some time."

James heard the gasps and saw several scowls. It infuriated him that some of the old traditionalists were so supportive of Voldemort they didn't care what happened to others, even if they were other Pureblood families like his. But why should they be concerned he thought bitterly, they knew their family would never be attacked since they supported the movement.

The two prisoners were brought in by a pair of guards for each and placed in a defendant's chair, where the chains automatically wrapped around each of them to hold them in place.

After their crimes were listed, several witnesses were called, including Frank Longbottom as they'd been attacked by the pair in their home. Their Dark Marks were also shown to all. The trials didn't last all that long and they were found guilty before being sentenced to life in Azkaban. Not surprisingly, despite the clear evidence, a few of the Wizengamot members voted for not guilty.

When those two were taken away, Bones gave a nod to the Aurors again and the next one was brought in in a cage with glass with small holes added to the outside. "The unusual cage, honorable Witches and Wizards, is because we've found that our next defendant is also an illegal Animagus, able to turn into a rat. This is Peter Pettigrew."

There were a number of gasps. James wasn't sure which was funnier, the look of abject surprise on Dumbledore's face, or the look of loathing on Bagnold's and Fudge's face.

"Amelia kept this trial a surprise, but it looks like Bagnold didn't tell anyone about the Order of Merlin either," Frank said, with his wife and friends nodding, almost chuckling.

Dumbledore had to bang the gavel multiple times before he pulled out his wand and did a Cannon Blast charm to restore order. He looked at the new head of the DMLE. "Are you certain?"

"I'm not sure what you're asking about, Chief Warlock," Bones answered, "but we have evidence of wrong doing. First, let the defendant's left arm be shown. There were gasps when the Dark Mark was revealed on Pettigrew.

"I was forced to take it, I'm not a Death Eater!" Pettigrew shouted. "Sirius Black is the Death Eater."

Bones turned towards the Wizengamot. "He does bring up a good question. I have searched and found no trial for Sirius Black, while all other Death Eaters have been given trials. Why has Black been thrown into Azkaban without a trial?"

"Crouch did it," someone shouted.

Bones nodded. "Yes, the paperwork is very interesting." She noticed that Dumbledore looked uncomfortable. "I've sent for him to be questioned just before these trials started, but it seems we still have a question. Aurors, bring in the other prisoner."

Two more Aurors brought in a dark haired young man in manacles and forced him into the prisoner's chair, where he was secured by chairs.

"This is Sirius Black. Show his left arm," Bones ordered.

James looked up a Acturaus Black in the Wizengamot who was paying very close attention and then nodded when the deed was done.

"As you can all see, Black does not have the Dark Mark, which means Pettigrew is lying," Bones shouted over the gasps and murmurs. "I ask for Veritaserum for Pettigrew!"

That was debated for a few minutes before Dumbledore called for a vote. The motion won by two votes.

Bones breathed a sigh of relief and nodded to the Auror in charge of potions, who administered the truth serum with the help of other Aurors who opened the door to the cage and ensured Pettigrew took it.

While that was done, she walked down to the main floor and put up a sound barrier around Pettigrew's cage plus a couple of meters. Now, Pettigrew could hear only her but everyone in the room could hear her questions and his answers.

"What is your name?" Bones asked the man in the cage.

"Peter Pettigrew."

"Are you a Death Eater?"

"Yes."

"Did you become one willingly?"

"Yes."

"As you can see," she address the Wizengamot, "he lied before."

"Yes."

She smirked. She hoped this worked and it didn't get thrown out. "Pettigrew, can a person be forced to take the Dark Mark?"

"No."

Someone cried out, "Foul, that's not part of this trial." A few others made angry sounds.

"Order!" Dumbledore said and banged his gavel. "Madam Bones, you must stick to his trial."

"Of course, my apologies Chief Warlock," Bones said with a nod, but she was smiling on the inside as the damage was done and public.

"Well done, Amelia," Lily said softly. The others nodded and continued to pay rapt attention as the rest of the crowd was doing, including a number of reporters.

"Pettigrew," Bones continued, "it's been said the Potters were hidden with magic that had a secret keeper to keep them safe. Who was the secret keeper?"

The man struggled for a moment but finally said, "I was."

Bones smiled at the answer and murmurs. "Did you tell the Dark Wizard where the Potters were so he could kill them."

"Yes," was said in a slightly breaking voice.

"Describe what happened the next day when Sirius Black confronted you in London?"

"He had been chasing me all day. He finally trapped me in London. I shouted, 'Lily and James, Sirius! How could you!' so people would think he did it. He fired a spell at me which I dodged and then I cast a Blasting Hex at a sewer so I could escape. The gases in it exploded, which cut me; I also cut off my finger so it'd look like he did kill me. I dropped my bloody robes before I changed into my rat Animagus and escaped in the confusion."

Bones stepped out of the sound deadened area. "Honorable witches and wizards, there you have the story. It was this man," she pointed at Pettigrew, "who betrayed the Potters to the Dark Wizard and he also killed the Muggles. Therefore Sirius Black is actually innocent. We could further prove that by looking at the last spells on Sirius Black's wand, except that Cornelius Fudge, Junior Minister in the Department of Magical Catastrophes," she looked at him who shrunk back in his seat," snapped the wand against the DMLE's regulations so that's impossible. I will suggest a fine for that later.

"Chief Warlock, I move that Peter Pettigrew be charged and found guilty being an accessory to murder for James and Lily Potter by betraying their location to the Dark Wizard who calls himself Lord Voldemort, for the murders of the twelve Muggles, a magical assault on Sirius Black, and be fined for being an unregistered Animagus."

"How did you catch him?" Dumbledore asked. "No one has said."

"I'll address that after the vote," Bones said simply, hopeful that could wait as it'd be explosive.

Dumbledore nodded. "Very well. The Director has placed charges on Peter Pettigrew and obtained a confession. Please vote on the charge of murder of twelve Muggles. On the assault on Sirius Black. Now on being an unregistered Animagus."

Everyone watched that almost all wands went up on the first two charges; the few exceptions abstained on voting he was innocent, knowing they'd look foolish if they did. The Potters and Longbottoms, as well as most others knew those that didn't vote for Pettigrew being guilty looked foolish anyway even after he'd admitted it. It was unanimous on him being an unregistered Animagus, which carried a 1000G fine.

A quick debate happened and Pettigrew was sentence to life in Azkaban.

When it looked like Dumbledore was going to speak again, Bones quickly said, "Now that Pettigrew has been shown to the real criminal and there are no formal charges against Sirius Black, I move that Sirius Black be set free."

"Seconded," came the immediate backing by Arcturus Black.

The vote was unanimous for releasing him.

Dumbledore looked back at Bones and asked again. "So how did you catch him?" Everyone quieted to hear the answer.

"The Aurors didn't. He was turned over to us by his former friends." Bones turned and looked into the gallery to see a couple moving down the aisle. As they reached the opening in the railing to join her on the floor, they pulled wigs off of their heads and cast the ending spell on their faces to reveal a couple everyone thought to be dead.

James and Lily Potter walked across the floor to gasps and shouting, and a very pale Albus Dumbledore who dropped heavily into his seat. James also transfigured his glasses back into his normal looking ones.

Meanwhile, Sirius Black, though now unchained in the prisoner's chair, still sat in it and looked shocked at the ones he considered he'd helped kill with his bad decision. Amelia Bones quietly left the lower floor and returned to her seat in the front row Wizengamot that was reserved for the Director of MLE.

Standing in the middle of the lower floor and a little behind Sirius Black, James Potter looked up at the Wizengamot. He was comforted by his wife standing next to him though a few inches behind as tradition held while he appealed to those in front of him, hopefully looking like a peer. "Members of the Wizengamot, while I am not yet old enough to take up the family seat, I beseech you to hear my pleas and to bring justice."

Many heads turned towards the Chief Warlock who still sat with a stunned look at the couple. After a long moment of silence, Amelia Bones broke protocol and answered the traditional question with the traditional response, "What are your pleas Head of House Potter?" That snapped Albus Dumbledore out of his shock and he gave the woman a piercing and slightly angry look, but he was unable to say anything as James Potter continued.

"Members of the Wizengamot," James said clearly, raising his voice so he didn't need an Amplification Spell, "I must first thank you for justice in bringing the direct betrayer of our family to justice." He gave a scathing look at his former friend who shrunk back in his special cage. "I know you've sentenced him to life in Azkaban, but because of his ability to change into a small animal, I would suggest you consider throwing him through the Veil of Death to ensure safety for all."

Many murmurs broke out for the unusual request.

James let that go for a few seconds before he raised his voice again. "My suggestion aside, I ask for two things. First," he clamped hand down on the shoulder of his friend in the chair, "I ask for an investigation into how Sirius Black - an innocent - was thrown into Azkaban without a trial. There must have been paperwork and people agreeing, resulting in laws which were broken. I ask for those who betrayed the House of Black to be investigated and brought up on charges before this body."

"Seconded!" Arcturus Black called out loudly and many others nodded and murmured agreement. Bagnold and Dumbledore looked a little shaken at the swiftness of all of this.

"And second," James called out and paused as the other voices quieted to hear him, "I want our second betrayer of House Potter to stand trial for what he did to us. He ordered our son, our heir, kidnapped and placed with people not our own and not specified in our Last Will. In fact, he ignored our Last Will for his own purposes!

"Some may castigate us for faking our own death," James shouted over a low mumble from the crowd, "but we felt we were being set up for betrayal and so took steps to find out who it was, not knowing who we could fully trust outside of our own family of three. When our family was attacked, we took care of the intruder, faked our deaths, then watched for a short time to see what happened and who was working against us.

"Our friend," again he patted the shoulder of Sirius Black, "tried to do the right thing by taking our son as we asked him to do, but he was prevented from doing so by another. Another ordered our son taken to where he was not fed for most of a day then left on the doorstep of a Muggle home in a basket with a note threatening the Muggles to take him in. Our Last Will was ignore completely even though he knew we had one!"

"Who?" Someone from the Wizengamot shouted. "Tell us who!"

James smiled ever so slightly at having pulled them to his side as he turned his head a bit to the side and looked right at a pale Chief Warlock. "Albus Dumbledore is who ordered the kidnapping and placed him with Muggles against our wishes."

As Dumbledore started to move, Bones was ready and lifted her wand and summoned the old man's wand to his further shock. "Dumbledore, do not call your phoenix if you value him or yourself. Aurors, take him into custody for an investigation and you are authorized to use lethal force on him if he tries to escape! Put him in the small holding cell that limits magic," she ordered.

The room was abuzz as her orders were carried out.

An older man whose hair was gray and turning white at his temples stood and stepped forward, taking Dumbledore's place. Picking up the gavel as Dumbledore left the room in disgrace, Thadeus Ogden banged it a few times. "Order! As Chief Warlock pro-tem, I will finish this session per our charter."

When the room was mostly quiet again, Ogden looked down. "Mr Potter, while your actions were highly unorthodox, I'm not aware of them being illegal. Madam Bones?"

"No, Chief Warlock," she replied, "I'm unaware of them breaking any laws."

Ogden nodded. "Then since it is only a request, a vote is not needed, but I shall call for one anyway. All in favor of the two requests of House Potter be carried out, light your wands." He looked around and smiled at all of the lights. "Because it's required, all opposed." Not a single wand was lit. "Then by authority of my position as Chief Warlock, I request the DMLE investigate both questions raised by House Potter and bring the answers to us at our next meeting."

James Potter gave a half bow in respect. "Thank you, Chief Warlock and Director Bones."

"We might as well address his suggestion at this time," Ogden announced, surprising many. "It seems cruel to me to confine a man to such a cage for years - a man who has confessed his crimes of attempted murder of an entire House, the framing of an Heir of House with intent to send him to Azkaban for life, and the murder of twelve Muggles. We have a request to send him through the Veil. Do I have a motion to do anything beyond his current sentence?"

Several shouted, "I make a motion for the Veil!", quickly followed by several "Seconded!" While it was almost impossible to say who had said what, it wasn't really needed.

"All in favor of sending Peter Pettigrew through the Veil of Death today?" Ogden called and counted. Many but not nearly all wands lit. "Opposed?" A number of wands lit and it was a mixed crowd, not split by "light" and "dark".

Ogden turned to look at the man in the cage. "Peter Pettigrew, the Wizengamot has voted 32 to 18 to send you through the Veil of Death for your confessed crimes. May Merlin or whomever you believe in, have mercy upon your soul. Madam Bones, your department is authorized to carry out this sentence before the end of today.

"Our agenda is complete; this session is adjourned!" Ogden banged the gavel and then slumped into his chair as if exhausted.

That seemed to finally release Sirius from his self-imposed stay in the prisoner's chair and he rose. "James? Lily?"

James stepped forward and gave him a hug before he made a face. "You really stink, you mangy old dog."

Sirius pulled back and laughed for a moment. "I probably do." He sobered quickly though. "What really happened?"

James had to restrain rolling his eyes. "Go get cleaned up, then go get a new wand before you come over to the family home. We'll have retrieved Harry by then and will tell you the whole story."

Sirius nodded before he thought of something and walked over to the cage with Pettigrew in it, before it was about to be taken away. The Aurors waited, having expected something like this. James and Lily followed.

"You were our friend and you betrayed us," Sirius said to the cowering man in the cage. "It's a good thing for you that I don't have a wand." He turned suddenly, obviously having to control his temper as he looked down and clenched his fists.

James stepped forward slightly and gave his old friend a cold look. "You were our friend and we trusted you. Rot in hell, Peter." He turned and took Lily's arm, who was giving Peter a death glare, and the couple walked away, letting the Auror's levitate the cage and man out of the courtroom to be taken to the Department of Mysteries and his final destination in life.

Sirius finally turned and sought out his grandfather, who was waiting on the side of the chamber for him. He'd have a few words before taking care of a few things before meeting James and Lily. As expected, he was told he was a disappointment. Surprisingly, it wasn't because he didn't side with Voldemort, but because he'd put himself in the position of being betrayed. Arcturus told him to go get himself in order then come see him next week.

A much cleaner and well-groomed Sirius Black sat beside his friends in the gallery of the large courtroom and watched the proceedings with amusement, or at least now it was; he'd already expressed his displeasure viciously at great volume and privately.

The Order of Merlin for Pettigrew had been silently dropped by Bagnold the day after his trial – no surprise.

The trials for the other Death Eaters that had been caught in the last month had been interesting because Ogden was less lenient than Dumbledore was and had actually pressed the DMLE to file as many charges as possible, which Bones had been happy to do. Even Igor Karkaroff, who'd spilled names of other Death Eaters, wasn't set free but only given a reduced sentence. His cousin's husband, Lucius, would probably be having a difficult time at his own trial soon.

It looked like Bagnold was going to be leaving office in disgrace, having been found to have signed the order to send him (Sirius) to prison without a trial. Barty Crouch was in the same position. However, other than disgrace and a hefty fine, they each had managed to avoid Azkaban because they each had confessed under Veritaserum (voluntarily taken) that they'd been talked into doing that by Albus Dumbledore.

Sirius watched the man he'd once trusted so much have his own trial. Besides sending Sirius to Azkaban without a trial, Dumbledore was changed with not following the Potter's Last Will when sending little Harry to his Muggle aunt's house, kidnapping as the investigation had shown Hagrid was acting under Dumbledore's orders and didn't know what he was doing was wrong (though Hagrid received a strong warning), and finally with child endangerment (again for his actions with Harry).

All of his friends applauded with Sirius as Dumbledore was found guilty, stripped of all of his positions, and sentenced to ten years in Azkaban. Sirius would have preferred the time had been longer, but he supposed that unless Dumbledore had an Animagus form no one knew about, it was possible Dumbledore wouldn't leave there alive.

The last item of business had been to make Thadeus Ogden the new Chief Warlock, with a new pro-tem to be selected in the next session.

Going with his friends, they all went to Longbottom Manor this time, and were even joined by Amelia Bones and her young niece – whom she'd received custody of when little Susan's parents were killed in September. Augusta joined them also.

As Harry, Neville, and Susan all played together on a blanket, the adults talked.

"I'm glad that's over; it's a dark day in our history," Augusta commented.

"Yes, but it had to happen," James commented. "Dumbledore may have been trying for the greater good he's always going on about, but at what price? The price of my family and son?" He shook his head and looked at his son.

"Why would he do it though?" Sirius asked. "One could say he had everything already."

"I think that's the answer, or at least a large part of it," Amelia Bones answered. "He had all of that power and it corrupted him. He never should have had all of those positions. I'm not worried about the ICW. I think Ogden will do a better job as Chief Warlock as he's a tough one and a stickler for the law."

"Like you?" Augusta said with a smirk.

"Perhaps," Amelia allowed with a smile. "He's considered more neutral and I think that will be good for the Wizengamot. As for Hogwarts, I don't know what will happen. Griselda Marchbanks told me the other day that while Minerva is temporary Headmistress, there's talk that someone else may take over next year. I suppose Minerva has this year to show what she can do and that she doesn't think like Albus."

"I heard something new at the Ministry when I was there the other day," Augusta told them, causing everyone to look at her. "I heard that Cornelius Fudge had aspirations to be Minister after Bagnold, but after the Pettigrew affair, no one will give him even the time of day."

They all laughed. The children thought it was funny and giggled too. Harry held up his hands and a ball in the middle of the children levitated. It was suddenly pulled towards Neville, but before it could get there the ball shot towards Susan who caught it and giggled again while Harry and Neville looked at each other, trying to figure out what had happened.

"Oh," Alice said with wonder.

"Wow," Lily commented.

"That's my girl," Amelia said smugly, causing the adults to all look at her and then laugh again.