AN: I decided to continue, please R&R!

Harry walked down the Hogwarts corridors to the Headmaster's office late in the night reflecting on what had happened a week ago. After the successful ritual, Sirius was very weak; it wasn't exactly a smooth trip coming back from the dead but he would be alright. That night was a blur to Harry, he had taken Sirius back through the forest and to the Hospital Wing. Dumbledore was immediately called there to face an emotional Harry and Sirius.

When Harry arrived at the entrance to the headmaster's office, Sirius greeted him there. Harry hugged him, he was glad to see that Sirius looked much better, the colour had returned to his face and he looked happier.

"Come on Harry, Dumbledore has some important news," Sirius said.

They walked into the office finding Remus Lupin and Dumbledore at his desk, "Sit down you two," he said with a smile and a twinkle in his eye.

"I have good news; we have now provided the Ministry with enough evidence to clear you of all charges Sirius."

"That's great!" said Harry, smiling at Sirius.

"Yes, Harry you need to go to the Ministry for the trial, there you will be questioned and so will Peter Pettigrew-"

"What, you found him?" Harry asked.

"No," said Lupin, "He turned himself in to the ministry,"

"Why?"

"We are not entirely sure," said Dumbledore "He turned himself in for exchange for protection, this way he can't go to Azkaban. As you know Voldemort's followers want him dead because they think he contributed to his downfall."

"So if the ministry protected him, he wouldn't have to worry about hiding," said Lupin "And he wouldn't have us on his trail,"

"Harry, the trial will be next Saturday," said Dumbledore, "Make sure you remember what happened in your third year especially,"

Harry nodded.

"Remus will accompany you there,"

Sirius walked with Harry back to Gryffindor Tower, "I'll try to spend as much time as I can with you now Harry,"

"That would be great," said Harry, not knowing what else to say, he was still getting over the shock of having Sirius around again.

"Although these are very bad times, you know what you have to do and you have my support all the way,"

Harry stopped walking as they had arrived at the tower and hugged Sirius once again. "Thank you Sirius," he said with tears in his eyes.

*~*~*~*

The next Saturday, Harry met Lupin in the entrance hall early in the morning. They walked to Hogsmead, and then travelled to the Ministry in London. The two of them talked about the events that happened in Harry's third year to refresh his memory, they decided to conveniently leave out the part about Sirius wanting to commit the crime that he was imprisoned for in the first place.

They arrived in the courtroom on time finding Sirius and Dumbledore already there, Peter Pettigrew was in chains and he looked very nervous.

The trial commenced and Sirius was questioned first.

"You are an unregistered Animagus?"

"Yes,"

"And this is how you escaped from Azkaban?"

"I had to escape," Sirius said, he could see where this was going, "I was innocent, I had the chance to escape and I did,"

"Very well then, you were not hiding Lily and James Potter?"

"No, that was Peter Pettigrew,"

"Did you trust him at the time?"

"At the time I thought it was a good idea, I knew Voldemort would be after me,"

"Regarding the killing of thirteen muggles, what exactly happened?"

"I approached Peter about his betrayal, I was extremely angry, he panicked and blew apart the street, he cut off his finger before going into his animagus form,"

This was the end of Sirius's questioning for now; Peter was to be questioned.

"You are also an unregistered animagus?"

"Yes," said Peter who was quite restless and rattling his chains in the process.

"What is your animagus form?"

"A rat,"

"I see, this allowed you to flee to the sewers?"

"Yes,"

"Do you agree with what Sirius said?"

"Well, I…..yes," he hung his head in shame.

Peter was questioned some more but this didn't make much progress.

Harry was then called for questioning.

"Three years ago, you saw Peter transform from his animagus form to a human?"

"Yes,"

He was then asked to recap on the events that happened that night.

The court then made their decision, they didn't take very long.

"The court finds Sirius Black cleared of all charges. Peter Pettigrew will be placed under the Ministry's protection."

Sirius, Remus, Dumbledore and Harry made their way back to Hogwarts together. They were all extremely happy.

"I do think that Peter deserved a harsher punishment," Sirius said.