Chapter 86: The Secret Keeper I

AN :

My friend's officially on typo patrol now, so expect fewer spelling disasters and grammar crimes. The writing's only going up from here!

So give me more power Stones ;)

...

Peter has agreed to be our secret keeper. He argued that Sirius would be the obvious choice, hence a far greater target for Death Eaters, not even Albus will know of the switch. After all, if Albus believes that Sirius is our choice, then the Death Eaters will as well. I must say it was a very cunning idea of Peter's, who knew he had it in him? So Sirius will act as a decoy... 

Reading rapidly over the next couple of pages, he realized the possible implications if what his mother's journal suggested were true. 

The charm has finally been cast; who knew it would take so much energy? No wonder it is rarely used, I almost knocked myself out cold doing it. We told the Order last night that Sirius was our secret keeper, so whoever the spy is, they'll inform You-Know-Who and will go after Sirius instead. I still feel wrong for endangering our friend in such a way, but these are troubled times. If Sirius is willing to shoulder this burden for our sake, I should acknowledge his courage. 

Harry looked up from the journal in shock, his godfather could be innocent! Then why was his godfather in jail? This needed to be investigated. After all, his godfather was meant to be his guardian, and if he was being falsely imprisoned then it was a serious miscarriage of justice. 

Over the next couple of days, he discreetly visited the Ministry of Magic and started looking around the Records Office, trying to track down any evidence of a trial or the man's guilt. He found nothing concrete, only Dumbledore's word that Sirius was guilty. By the looks of it, he was just thrown in jail through the use of emergency powers and was forgotten about. 

Not that he could really blame them. At the time everything was in meltdown, but you would think they would at least have a trial after everything calmed down just to tidy up loose ends. Even well-known Death Eaters had been given a trial for propriety's sake. 

Looking up at one of the big, charmed clocks to see he still had another couple of hours before his meeting with Rita, Harry decided to visit Madam Bones in person to make his case. 

Silently slipping through the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, unseen and unheard, Harry reached Madam Bones' office, where he de-cloaked much to the secretary's surprise. It was quite amusing really; one would think the head of law enforcement's office would be better protected. 

"I would like to see Madam Bones immediately please. I have evidence that could prove a man innocent of murder," he requested, trying to be polite, but forceful in such a way that was fitting with his station. 

"Do you have an appointment?" she asked. 

"No, because I came straight here," Harry replied, guessing that he was just about to get kicked out. 

"Then you have to come back next week Thursday, until then Madam Bones is busy," the secretary replied in an authoritative tone. 

"I'm not going anywhere until I see her, otherwise I can promise you I'll go to the Prophet with this story, and how do you think the public will react? You will be used as the scapegoat and kicked out of the Ministry faster than you can say Quidditch," he threatened. In truth he had no desire to go to the Prophet unless it was his last option since it occurred to him it could very well endanger Sirius' life. However, the secretary didn't know that. 

The staredown lasted God knows how long before he was eventually permitted to enter. 

Madam Bones presented an image that was as stern as her title suggested, giving a rather positive impression of a capable individual. "Madam Bones, I am Harry James Potter. You received a letter from me last Christmas," he said, causing the elder woman to look up from her papers. 

"How did you get in here? I wasn't supposed to be disturbed," she said, looking at her secretary standing in the doorway. 

"I intimidated your secretary into letting me in, since I have discovered evidence proving a man is innocent of murder. If she hadn't, I would have gone to the Daily Prophet," Harry answered, in his most serious tone, letting the secretary off the hook. 

"Leave us," she said to her secretary, before turning to face him. "So Mr. Potter, we finally meet in person. I trust my advice to you over Christmas was useful." 

"Indeed, I collected the necessary evidence and made an official complaint to the Deputy Headmistress, with my head of house present, so the Headmaster couldn't keep it quiet even if he wanted to. It also helped that the Headmistress was already annoyed with Snape, due to him having cost her the house cup this year. I made it clear to both of them that I would tell the press, like you suggested, as well as making several reasonable demands for my silence," he explained. 

"Did you consider that Dumbledore may cut you off from the press? How would you get your story out?" she challenged. 

Thinking over the point rapidly, the Prophet could only do so much, and Dumbledore's name and influence was legendary in Britain. However, couldn't he just send the story elsewhere? Plus, if he got Sirius free, then Sirius could be used to push the complaint forward, causing him to smile sinisterly as a plan formed. 

"Madam, I would take the story to the overseas press, such as France, and give their newspapers the story and all the necessary evidence. Eventually it would echo across the channel through political connections, leading to the story being heard anyway. 

Also, the simple fact I wasn't able to get the story out in Britain would add credibility to it, because my guardian tried to suppress the story. Plus with it being international, it would do much more damage than it could ever do in England alone, since the English press is considered a bit of a joke at times." He had a rather sinister smile at the damage he could do and how much his position would be strengthened, not even Daphne had thought of that idea. 

"Then, there's also the fact that Dumbledore is well respected in Europe, but at nowhere near the same level as in Britain and his influence is less there, which gives the story more chance of being published and spread." 

Madam Bones seemed to blink twice at that before she gave a chuckle, "Well I didn't expect that. I was personally going to suggest that you find another Lord or Lady to act on your behalf, but your idea seems to work better, and could do some serious harm." 

"Indeed Madam, the press will quickly pick up the story and there will be demands for Professor Snape to be questioned by many of the houses and factions, which can't be ignored and swept under the rug. At least not without the Headmaster losing his influence and respect, it would also upset some of his own allies. 

The average wizard and witch will call for justice since their own children will be either attending Hogwarts, or will do so in the future. Plus, it will help distract Dumbledore while I make a move to push this forward," he said while handing over his mother's journal, so Madam Bones could examine it. 

"What's this?" she said looking at the journal in a businesslike fashion. 

"It's my mother's journal Madam," he said respectfully, before offering an explanation of why it was so important. "She had it throughout the course of her life, right up until the time she was murdered. 

If you turn to the marked page, you will see that it talks about the Fidelius Charm and my parents' decision on who their secret keeper should be. That is the reason why I am here. The journal states that Peter Pettigrew was their secret keeper and Sirius Black was a decoy. I checked the records office and the man wasn't even given a trial. Even known Death Eaters such as Bellatrix Lestrange were given one," he stated, in a disapproving fashion. 

Throughout his whole summary Madam Bones stayed deathly silent and just listened, before frowning at finding out that there wasn't even a trial. "This is most serious. I'll have him questioned immediately, but he may still be guilty of killing several Muggles, even if he did not betray your parents." 

"I understand Madam, but I'd like to know the truth of the matter, since he is my godfather and accused of the murder of my parents. But I would advise discretion in handling this case, it could get bloody," he stated soberly, thinking over what could possibly happen. 

Madam Bones sent him a questioning look, obviously not seeing the bigger picture straight away. Then again, he had the last two days to think the issue over and all the possible plots and schemes. 

Trying to think of where to start with his explanation, Harry said, "Sirius is Lord Black as you know, but remember Lord Malfoy is currently holding the Black votes and seats. His wife and his son are currently the default heirs to the House of Black if Sirius dies without a son, or without declaring his own heir and successor. 

Lord Malfoy will undoubtedly make moves to counter or eliminate Sirius before he could ever be released and declare his own successor. Then, add the fact that Dumbledore may interfere; to prevent Sirius's release for a number of reasons. First, if Sirius is freed, the Headmaster loses the Potter votes and all the influence he gains as my guardian. Also, Sirius hates Snape, and will push for charges against the Potions Master." 

Harry briefly thought over the other side of the argument, why the Headmaster may aid the notion, before stating. 

"But the Headmaster may actually support the move if he believes that he can gain Lord Black's support and still manage to keep my votes through Sirius, due to Sirius once being part of the Headmaster's Order. Then, there is also the fact of the Lestrange votes. If Sirius is released, due to Bellatrix's marriage and him being her lord, he can act as proxy for Lestrange Family votes, which are also being held by Lord Malfoy through his wife's connection to the Black Family. 

Lord Malfoy cannot let Sirius become Lord Black, he will lose too much of his political capital. He would go from being a first-rate player, whose vote is worth the same as a dozen lesser households, to being the same as every other house of his status, who he has lorded his position over. 

It would tip the balance of power in the courts into the Headmaster's favour and Sirius, though acting as my proxy, will become the most powerful individual Lord within the Wizengamot. His single vote would be worth the same as a couple of small factions, not to mention if he marries a daughter of another house he could cement additional allies." 

...

Hey guys I really need some power stones to Elevate the ranking :)

...

if you want to read ahead of the public release you can join my p atreon :

 p atreon.com/loveran