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Chapter 1: https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003511265

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Chapter 2: The Hearing To Change Fates

Until Sirius was found a fit guardian, Sirius had to hand Harry over to the Dursley’s, which he did not like one bit. And despite Sirius and the Dursley’s already coming to an agreement, they would have to preach there cases all over again.

In the two days leading up to the trial Sirius spent it preparing his case, and preparing his tiny little flat for the arrival of his godson. The later proved difficult as he had been unemployed for quite sometime as he had focused all his efforts to fighting the Dark Lord and his deatheaters. He managed to get a secondhand crib, a small box of diapers, and a single container of formula mix before his money ran out. For the case preparations however he felt more confident, he had Dumbledore and Remus in his corner, as well as the Dursley’s agreement that they simply don’t want Harry.

Sirius was confident up until he stood outside the chaber where the Wizengamot would be soon deciding his fate and the fate of Harry Potter. He now felt overwelmed, the weight of the situation was getting to him. He probably would have started spiraling if Remus hadn’t noticed his distress and put his hands on his shoulders.

'Sirius, Sirius, are you ok?'

'I don't know Remus, what if this doesn't go well, what neither I nor the Dursley's get Harry, then he wouldn't be safe and it would be all my fault, and-'

'Sirius, calm down, its going to be ok. Dumbledore and I have your back. I am not going to let them take Harry, I am here for you Sirius.'

It just occurred to Sirius that he never apologized for breaking contact with Remus, and despite the months of silence here his best friend was, by his side. He was about to say something when the doors opened and a young assistant in all pink stuck out.

'They are ready for you Mr Black.'

It was not a big trial, only three judges. Sirius took his place at the podium while the others were of to the side. The judge in the centre of the three began.

‘Sirius Orion Black, you have been called here today to see if you truly are a fit guardian to raise the fifteen month old Harry James Potter. You will state your case, we will state the opposition, there will be a brief intermission, you will have a chance to make last minute additions, and then we shall come to a verdict. Do you understand?’

‘Yes, I do.’

‘Then you may now proceed.’

‘To start, in James Potter’s will, I am chosen to be Harry’s guardian. This is not including the fact that the secondary guardian candidates, the Dursley’s, have already written in writing that they do not wish to be Harry Potter’s caretakers.

‘For my character, I am a loyal friend, and a man who will fight for what’s right. I fought against You-Know-Who so that we can be free, and now I wish to fight to give Harry as happy and as normal a life as he can. If my word is not strong enough, you have in front of you two long written statements by the auror Remus Lupin, and Professor Albus Dumbledore himself, and they are here in person to clarify anything there written statement doesn’t say.’

‘Thank you Sirius Black. Now, we must state our concerns. Both your brother Regulus Black and your first cousin Bellatrix Lestrange were known deatheaters, the later just being arrested for the crime of using the Cruciatus Curse in two innocent people until insanity-‘

‘She did?!’

Sirius was in shock, he knew through the Order of the Phoenix that Bellatrix had indeed become a deatheater, but even then he never would have assumed she would ever do such a thing. The last light he held for his family dimmed.

‘Indeed, and you were raised under the same roof as these terrorists, we can’t hold you responsible for there actions, but we have to consider you potentially as dangerous. Speaking of which, on the first of November you were involved in an altercation that resulted in the death of twelve muggles as well as injured many more, and although you have been proven innocent of casting the spell itself, if you hadn’t tracked down Pettigrew in broad daylight for a wizards duel, those muggles would almost certainly still be alive today.

‘We will also be considering your history, you were a trouble maker all through your education, constantly in trouble and barely passed all of your classes, and then since school you have constantly been losing jobs, not holding a career for more than five months, how can we be sure you can commit to raising a child, let alone afford to care for it. Your vault in Gringotts is empty, do you plan on getting a job, if so who is looking after the child as you work?’

‘-I-‘

‘Finally, before the intermission, we must question your mental fitness.’

‘My what? Sorry-?’

‘Sirius, you have been fighting a losing battle with the Dark Lord and his forces ever since you graduated, which we thank you for, however that, and combined with the resent murder of your adoptive brother James Potter and his wife Lily Potter, you are almost certainly traumatized. Have you considered that you are mentally unfit at this time to look after another, let along yourself?’

Sirius just stood there, he didn’t know what to respond with, he had just been called out and he did not know what to say to make the situation more to his favour. The judges saw that he was frozen and took charge.

‘We will reconvene for final statements in an hour. You are temporarily dismissed.’

Sirius didn’t remember moving, but he found himself now standing outside the door, Remus right next to him. Remus was talking to him but he didn’t hear anything, he stopped him and asked a question.

‘Did you know about my cousin?’

Remus went red, ‘I found out when I arrived this morning, I didn’t want to alarm you or distract you, it was my mistake, I should have told you.’

‘It’s ok, you meant no harm. It doesn’t matter anyway, they are right, I got no money, I got no room in my tiny flat for a child, how did I ever think I could do this?’

‘Because you have to do this, Harry needs you, if his own flesh and blood doesn’t want him, then you are the only family he has left. Maybe I can help. I don’t make much but I could offer you any extra money that I make, to help you get on your feet.’

Sirius laughed, ‘Thank you Remus, but no. Two rents would be to expensive for you then just paying one.’

It was as though a little light came onto Remus’ face, an awkward smile lit him up.

‘What is it, what did you just think of?’

‘Well, what if I was only paying one rent? Our rent. If we moved in together we could pool our time and resources. I’ll pay for now, and you can look after Harry until you find a job, and once you do then we would have enough to hire a babysitter or a part-time nanny. What do you say?’

Sirius was in disbelief. ‘But Remus, you are a nomadic auror, to do this you would have to take a stationary position. And I have treated you poorly this last year, why would you derail your life for me and a child you technically hadn’t met until the other night?’

There was something in Remus’ sparkly green eyes, he opened his mouth to say something, but then looked as though he reconsidered, and finally spoke.

‘Because Marauders got to stick together, remember? No more debate, I’m doing this, let me get my boss as he’ll both sort out my new position as well as speak for my character.’

And before Sirius could protest, Remus had run off. The minutes ticked by and Sirius soon feared Remus and his boss wouldn’t make it, but one minute before the doors would open once more the two men turned the corner. The nearly seventy year old man was surprisingly in the lead.

‘Ok, we got a plan.’ Remus said out of breath. ‘Dumbledore, will you also speak to my character?’

‘I shall.’

And with that the doors opened, instead of Sirius taking the podium, Remus did, with Sirius, Dumbledore, and MacBones in the stands.

‘This is unorthodox, but state your case.’

‘I am Remus Lupin, and I have come to an agreement with Sirius Black to be co-guardian of Harry Potter with Sirius Black. I graduated in June of 1978, and immediately started the journey of becoming an auror. With the war getting more and more deadly I was allowed to finish my training early and I have been fully employed by the Auror Office for the past year, so I have a stable income. I was also close friends with James Potter, and was a Prefect with Lily Potter for our senior years of Hogwarts. If you let me and Sirius both have custody of Harry than I can financially support us while Sirius looks after Harry and finds a job.’

‘Let us hear from Albus Dumbledore and Vincent MacBones, on your character.’

Remus stepped down and stood next to Sirius, while Dumbledore took his place.

‘I was Remus’ Headmaster for his entire time at Hogwarts. He got in trouble far less then his friend group and had very high grades. As he mentioned, he was chosen to be a Prefect and he upheld his duties as required. In total Remus was hard working, smart, and a caring soul.’

‘Thank you Mr Dumbledore. Now Mr MacBones.’

Dumbledore stepped down, and MacBones took his place.

‘I have known Remus for over three years now. He was amongst the new recruits that I mentored and is now one of the aurors under my division. Even though he has only been on the job for a year, I can safely say he is focused, level headed, and as Dumbledore said very hard working. He is also incredibly loyal. If you allow him to take custody of Harry Potter the only thing I must say is he should switch from his more abroad duties to domestic ones here in England.’

‘Very well, thank you Mr MacBones.’

It was time for a verdict, Sirius was very nervous, if this goes wrong he wasn’t sure what he’d do. Suddenly a hand squeezed his own hand and he looked over to Remus who was giving him an encouraging look. Remus then let go and Sirius one last time took the stands.

‘Sirius Black, it is our decision, that if the following conditions are constantly met, that you and Remus Lupin will be granted joined custody of Harry James Potter.’ Sirius couldn’t believe it, he had done it, his heart was singing, it took all of his strength not to scream for joy.

‘You must actively try and find a job, you must not get charged with anymore crimes no matter the severity, and you must fulfill all the needs of Mr Potter and keep him healthy and Harry. If the previous conditions are not met Harry will be taken from both of your custody and given to the care of the muggle Dursley’s family where you will not be permitted to see him. One final thing, to insure no corruption, you and Remus Lupin will not be permitted to access Potter’s vault, nor will he be allowed to access his own vault until he is eleven years old. These are our conditions, do the two of you agree?’

‘Yes, thank you, thank you all so much.’

‘I also agree.’

‘Then we now pronounce you Sirius Orion Black and Remus Lobo Lupin the legal guardians of Harry James Potter.’

Sirius had done it, but he wouldn’t have succeeded without Remus’ help. Since he hadn’t really seen Remus in a year he wondered if he was ready to move in with him, or better yet if either of them were truly prepared for what parenthood entailed.