Harry was stunned. He never considered that the Pensieve was a very rare item and that the Minister or Amelia Bones didn't know about Dumbledore's. But then he remembered what Dumbledore had said the day he first came across it. "I was using the Pensieve when Mr. Fudge arrived for our meeting and put it away rather hastily," Harry shook his head slightly as he thought of that statement. Dumbledore was not the type of person to do anything 'hastily'. "He put it away quickly because he didn't want Fudge to know about it. Another one of his blasted secrets that other people needed to know about," He quickly sent his thoughts to Hermione who also sat stunned. They had expected to be able to offer memories today. That was the whole reason for getting the Death Eaters to unmask.
"I wondered why Dumbledore never offered to use my memories of that night Sirius escaped or of Voldemort returning," Harry replied finally to the Head of the DMLE. "Would my memories of those events help?" Harry asked. "They show Peter Pettigrew alive, and it will show why Professor Snape gave the testimony he did. He was knocked unconscious during that time."
Amelia Bones was looking off in the direction of a wall as she thought about the implications of the matter. Finally she looked back at the group. "Yes Mr. Potter I would like those memories," She turned to Fudge. "Cornelius, if Sirius Black is innocent we are going to have major issues with the public."
"With You-Know-Who back we are already going to have issues. I doubt I will have my job next week."
Harry knew it was time. "Sir, if there was a way to make it look better for you would you do it?"
Fudge looked at the young man with interest. "What do you have in mind?"
"I'm going to be speaking to the Prophet and the Quibbler later and what I want to say is I am supporting the current administration," Harry said. "I don't think changing Ministers right now is a good idea. For all I know the next one will be under the influence of Voldemort."
Fudge interest moved even higher but he was too much of a politician to think it would be free. "You say you WANT to support the current administration, which means you want something to do it," He stated wearily.
"Two things actually," Harry replied. "The first being justice. I want Sirius to be..." There was a knock on the door and a second later the same junior Auror poked his head in.
"I'm sorry ma'am, sir but Dumbledore is insisting on seeing you."
Fudge looked at Harry who shook his head. "Tell him it will be a few more minutes."
The Auror looked nervous but quickly said. "Yes sir," And shut the door.
"Thank you sir," Harry said. "As I was saying, I want Sirius to have his freedom."
"Harry, as Amelia pointed out, if we come out with Black being innocent right now, the public will lose all faith in the Ministry."
"No sir, I believe if you tell them the truth, they will listen. You tell them the truth and Sirius and I will give our full support in backing you."
"He'd do that?" The Minister asked.
"Sirius has no grudge against you personally Minister," Harry lied, though Sirius had promised to drop the grudge if Fudge agreed to the deal.
Fudge looked over at Amelia. "What do you think?"
"Cornelius, if Sirius is really innocent, the man needs to be free. I want him questioned under Veritaserum though and I'd like to see those memories," She said. "Right now I'm going to need every Auror working on You-Know-Who and Death Eaters, not chasing after someone who doesn't deserve it. I prefer the truth to anything else Cornelius; it makes life simpler."
Fudge turned to Harry and he was smiling for the first time. "I think we can manage it then. When can you get Sirius in here to be questioned?"
"If you will vouch for his safety, I will personally escort him here within an hour," Harry replied.
"Excellent," Fudge said. "Amelia, I want you to go with Mr. Potter and bring Mr. Black directly here."
Amelia Bones looked at Harry appraisingly but before she say anything the door burst open and the lurid robed figure of Albus Dumbledore stood there. "Minister I truly must insist that I am included in any discussion concerning Lord Voldemort and Mr. Potter."
Harry turned and looked at the Headmaster and then turned back to the Minister. "Sir may my friends and I go now?"
"Yes of course," Fudge said. "I'll see you back here in an hour with Mr. Black?"
"Yes si..."
"Black? Sirius Black?" Dumbledore exclaimed. "Now isn't the time to be discussing Sirius, we should be focusing all of our attention on Voldemort."
Harry turned and looked at the Headmaster. "Headmaster," He started, "would you like to tell the Minister and Madam Bones who my parents' secret keeper really was?"
"Harry," Dumbledore started. "Again this not the time to discuss this, there are so much more important things to deal with. Let's get you and your friends back to Hogwarts and then I can discuss what really matters with the Minister."
"It's a simple question Professor," Hermione said. "Who was the Potters' secret keeper?"
"Miss Granger," Dumbledore said. "This is a difficult topic for Mr. Potter and with the night he's had it really..."
"WAS IT SIRIUS BLACK!" Harry yelled to interrupt the Headmaster. "Yes or no?"
Madam Bones spoke up as well. "Albus, since you seem to want to avoid answering that question I will ask it. Remember that lying to me in regards to a criminal case is a chargeable offense. Was Sirius Black the Potters' secret keeper at the time they were murdered?"
The Headmaster's eye went from Madam Bones to the Minister until finally they came to rest looking into the green eyes of Harry Potter. He seemed to slump a little before he finally answered. "No. Sirius Black was not the secret keeper, it was Peter Pettigrew."
"Why didn't you offer to show our memories Headmaster?" Hermione asked. "In fact in the past two years there seemed to be many opportunities that our memories could have been shown to the proper legal authorities."
"Albus, these young people tell me you have a Pensieve," Madam Bones said testily. "I would like to access it to verify their information and to help proceed with other cases I have pending."
"As much as I would like to help Amelia," Dumbledore replied, "It is my personal property and I really need it right now especially with Voldemort returning. We can discuss the matter at a later time, shall we say three months?"
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