Lord and Ladies

Sirius

The Prophet didn't change overnight. That was almost impossible and would also seem highly suspicious. Most articles, those that weren't last minute news, were normally prepared a few days before publishing, and the editor couldn't change that so quickly, although subtle changes could be noticed, if one cared to look for them. There was no more libel and no badmouthing, and opinions were clearly labeled as such. A week later, it became more evident.

Rita had some minor articles published, dealing with information that should have been public yet held back by the current administration at the ministry. Although applying better journalism, they were not out of line for this reporter, and yet they were the precursor for her upcoming articles, intended to uncover corruption and misconduct within the ministry..

They met with Rita a few days later, and Hermione briefed her on muggle methods of "bugging". It was not said explicitly, but Rita was clearly going to use some of them, with appropriate modifications for Magic, in her investigations.

It was almost three weeks after the takeover, when the first article about the minister himself was published as a front page item. Several questionable decisions were presented. Among them, and not emphasized in any way – the dismissal of Potter's testimony about Petigrew and Black. The minister was not explicitly accused of anything, yet his decisions, the way they had been taken and the circumstances were all depicted with utmost details. Only the ending paragraph was different. "Each of these decisions, while checked individually, may not seem too much out of line, yet when viewed as a whole, they do cast some heavy doubts on the way decisions are taken. Does the minister act on a whim or does he consider every aspect of a problem before deciding? Does he act for the benefit of the wizarding public or does he have some other agenda? This reporter does not have the answers, but is sure looking for them. Hopefully, the answers will prove our worries out of place, but we still need some answers."

Harry and his wives were content. While this was not too blatant, not quite a "declaration of war," it was clear that the minister's decisions were now under scrutiny, as well as his motives. It didn't come for him as a surprise, that the minister's right hand – undersecretary Dolores Umbridge – visited the offices of The Prophet a few hours after the publishing. Some well placed "bugs" gave him and his wives all the information they needed about the way that the Ministry used to manipulate the newspaper until then. Umbridge used blatant threats along with bribery to try and get her ends. A short time after she left, Andy visited the office to get a full report of the previous visit and to make sure it affected nothing, yet it was all documented with recordings and photographs.

Rita published the next article a few days later. Along with discussing some other decisions of the ministry, none of them concerning either Harry or Sirius, it also contained a full report of Umbridge's visit, including some photographs and selected conversations. Umbridge was fired the next day.

"Doesn't the minister see that it's his responsibility, just as much as Umbridge's?" Harry asked.

"That's politics," Susan explained patiently. "As long as he can blame others, he'll do it, even if he has to turn his back on his most loyal accomplices. Don't worry, though. He won't be able to keep his post much longer."

With the pressure on the minister mounting, Harry thought it was wise to give him some direction that would benefit Sirius. He asked Madam Bones to visit her nephew, or rather, Susan asked her aunt to come and visit.

"Is everything alright?" was the first phrase as Madam Bones came in.

Susan hugged her tightly. "Much better than alright. Come, stay with us for dinner and we'll give you all the details."

Some hours later, Amelia Bones was wondering why Harry and Hermione had been sorted to Gryffindor, as they could give some lessons in cunning to many Slytherin graduates. "I'll let the minister understand that it's not a sign of weakness to change one's opinions based upon newly found information. He probably knows that Mr. Black had never had a trial, but if I present it as something I've just discovered, and it's the fault of the previous minister, then he will be able to save face when changing his mind."

Harry smiled. "I'm sure that Sirius will appreciate your help."

"He still needs to prove his innocence," Amelia said sternly.

"Will interrogation under veritaserum and viewing of his relevant memories suffice?"

She gave it some consideration. "If the memories can be shown un-tampered with, then I believe it should be enough."

Harry's smile widened. "Just make sure he gets a fair trial, We'll handle the rest."

Three days later, the ministry put a large advertisement in The Prophet, asking Mr. Sirius Black to come forward and stand trial, promising a fair and honest trial, open to the public, and no punishment for escaping prison, if he comes of his own will.

Harry considered this to be a very nice birthday present, yet his wives tried to make that day even more special for him. They spent the whole morning in bed, making sure that Harry felt loved by each and every one of them. Hermione had already made reservations for a musical play – another first for Harry and the other girls – which they all enjoyed very much in the afternoon. They continued their celebration with a big chocolate cake that Thimble prepared, as well as some delicious ice-cream, and finished the day as usual, with another series of intense copulations. Harry considered this to be one of the best days in his life, rivaled only by the day he found himself married to his three sexy, gorgeous, beautiful and loving wives. He made sure to thank each of them with words, first, and then with explicit actions, making them enjoy it no less than he did.

They thought it was time to pause the public investigation concerning the minister and turn the spotlights somewhere else, not to antagonize the minister too much until Sirius was acquitted of all charges. Harry met Rita the day after his birthday. "I want you to check some of Malfoy's doings since Voldemort's demise, along with those of other supposedly imperio'ed death-eaters."

Rita seemed quite enthusiastic to do this. Harry wondered if she liked to fight corruption or simply to find anything others were trying to hide. He was glad that she was working for him now, remembering just too well his previous experiences with her.

Sirius gave himself in a few days later, in front of many reporters and photographers that he specifically invited to report on this. It was a kind of safety measure, in case the minister changed his mind. He arrived to the Ministry, accompanied by his Godson – Harry Potter, and his solicitor – Andromeda Tonks.

His trial took place the next week. Harry and Hermione sat in the audience on the first row. Ron, whom Harry asked to come along, sat with them while Susan and Daphne sat with the Greengrass family, a bit farther. Nobody could suspect anything unusual about the teens.

Although it took many hours, it was basically a straight-forward case. Sirius's memories and his testimony under veritaserum proved him innocent of all charges, incriminating Peter as both the betrayer and the killer, as well as for framing up Sirius. Testimonies by the aurors who had caught him then, only supported this. Eventually, Sirius was declared innocent, his social and political positions reinstated and he was even offered some monetary compensation for his time in Azkaban. It was a kind of anticlimax, when Sirius hugged Harry with tears in his eyes, and the moment was recorded by multiple photographers.

Harry invited Sirius to stay with his family for the night, but Sirius preferred to stay with Andy and her family. "I don't want to be in your way," he said, winking at him. Luckily, Ron didn't hear any of this.

Harry and Hermione only escorted Ron to the floo before the other wives joined them. They were going to celebrate Sirius's freedom at home, in bed.

With Sirius free, Harry refocused on the minister, not leaving alone the other investigations. Rita was working hard and liking every moment of it, as piles of evidence against most of her subjects were accumulating.

They visited Amelia bones for the next weekend, giving the stern woman a chance to show her motherly side. They still had to answer a lot of questions, but they were all asked in good faith.

They spent the next weekend at Greengrass Manor.

"We've also invited Madam Bones and the Grangers," Mr. Greengrass informed them as they arrived, using the floo. Harry felt Hermione's reaction through their bond – she was very glad to have her parents around. Susan seemed quite as glad to see her aunt. Both girls, although now married women, still enjoyed the company of their closest family.

The only thing that bothered Harry was actually Daphne's sister – Astoria – who proved to be quite a pest, trying to find some more about Harry's adventures, as well as seeking for more details about the marriage, which nobody wanted to tell. Still, Astoria enjoyed being related to The Boy Who Lived, and was smart enough to know that Harry was much more than that unwelcome title.

The Grangers were fascinated. "Do all magical families live this way?"

Hermione smiled. "Not all of them. The Weasley have no house elf and their house is quite small, barely adequate for the family, although they do own a large terrain around it."

"The Weasley are quite poor. They're the poorest family among the old ones, although they once were quite prosperous. Some other branches of the family still are," Mr. Greengrass noted.

"But magic can give you practically everything," Mrs. Granger said.

"Not quite. Magic has limits. One can't create gold with just magic and even most foods can't be created with magic. It does give us some advantages, but not as many as non-magical folks tend to believe. For that matter, most magical people think that living without magic is awful, yet most of the world does just that and people are happy and prosperous and achieve great things."

Harry was surprised to hear such an opinion. "I thought..." he started.

Mr. Greengrass stopped him. "My family likes the traditional way, but we do most of our business with muggles and we're very aware of their way of life. It's not better or worse. It's just different."

Hearing this made the contract signed between his parents and Daphne's more understandable.

They had another surprise, when the floo flared after dinner, bringing Lord Black for a visit. "I'm sorry I couldn't join you for dinner. There's so much to do, after having the family business neglected for more than a decade!"

Harry was enthusiastic to see Sirius free and happy, as was Hermione, and Sirius hugged them both as if they were his children. The weekend turned to be the happiest Harry could remember for a long time, with all his in-laws and with his godfather. Even Astoria couldn't change that feeling.

Urged by Sirius, the Potters spent the rest of the summer vacation on visiting their various continental holdings: a castle in Normandy, a villa near Nice, a beach-house at Ibizia and a cottage in the Swiss alps. The girls enjoyed the beaches, where they could wear only miniature bikinis, like most of their age-mates, making many young men envious of the boy who seemed so close to them, not knowing the four were married.

They returned to their apartment on Diagon Alley for the last few days of the summer vacation. Hermione made sure that they all did their shopping for school, and were ready for the new term.