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.
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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.
Thanks so much for all your support!
P.S. From now on, the Marvel side of the story will start to pick up more.