"Order!"
The woman struck her gavel sharply. The murmuring died at once.
Her commanding voice rang through the courtroom.
"Today we reopen the Benjamin Street explosion case, as well as the charge of Death Eater affiliation against Sirius Black. Presiding Judge: Director of Magical Law Enforcement, Amelia Bones. Reviewing Officials: Minister for Magic Cornelius Fudge, Head of the Auror Office Rufus Scrimgeour. Court Recorder: Woolf Wiblin. Jury: The Wizengamot."
"Bring in Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew."
Harry leaned forward, eyes fixed on the side door.
It swung open.
A low hum of whispers spread across the chamber as several Aurors escorted the prisoners in. Peter Pettigrew and Sirius Black were seated separately under heavy guard.
Pettigrew looked far more haggard than before. A fresh, blood-red bite mark marred his face.
Harry barely glanced at him.
All his attention locked onto the gaunt, yellowed figure nearby.
Sirius Black.
Harry's godfather.
Sirius was so thin he looked as though a stiff breeze might snap him in half. His filthy, matted hair hung in tangled ropes, obscuring most of his face. Yet Harry could see his chest heaving violently as he hurled furious curses at Pettigrew. Every foul word echoed across the courtroom.
"Order!"
Bones slammed the gavel again. An Auror pointed a wand at Sirius before he finally fell silent, though his eyes still burned with hatred.
"Call the witness Albus Dumbledore."
Dumbledore rose from the jury section with a gentle smile and stepped down. He paused beside Sirius, placing a steady hand on his shoulder.
That simple gesture was enough.
Sirius's eyes reddened. He bowed his head and began to weep quietly.
Dumbledore did not offer comforting words. He knew what Sirius needed. Instead, he began to recount the truth in a calm, unwavering voice.
The betrayal of James and Lily Potter. The secret passing of information to the Dark Lord. The explosion that destroyed half a street, the severed finger left behind. The faked death. Eleven years spent hiding as a rat in the Weasley household.
Gasps rippled through the chamber as revelation followed revelation.
Snape was called to testify. Dumbledore even produced the Marauder's Map, borrowed from Tom at the cost of letting the boy "borrow" Fawkes for a time. The map revealed how Pettigrew had been exposed.
Once Dumbledore finished, questioning began.
Harry finally understood Snape's earlier warning.
The interrogations were ruthless.
Many questions were clearly designed to reassert Sirius's guilt. They attacked his decade-long silence, his escape, his failure to present evidence earlier.
Two figures stood out.
Rufus Scrimgeour, Head of the Auror Office.
And an elderly wizard on the Wizengamot: Barty Crouch.
They pressed hardest. Their voices sharp. Their arguments relentless.
More than once Harry nearly leapt to his feet.
Snape's stare pinned him in place.
What silenced even Scrimgeour and Crouch was Pettigrew himself.
He confessed.
Calmly.
Not only did he admit to betraying the Potters, he added details Dumbledore had not mentioned, including his role in revealing the Longbottoms' whereabouts.
Pettigrew had thought it through.
Even if he escaped Azkaban, the world outside was far from safe. Death Eaters, furious at losing their former glory because of him, would tear him apart.
Better to survive in prison. Lie low. Escape later, perhaps to another country under a false name.
But now, with the confession clear and uncoerced, even Crouch's demand for spell verification changed nothing. Pettigrew was not under enchantment.
"Those in favor of declaring Black not guilty and placing full responsibility upon Peter Pettigrew, raise your hands," Bones declared.
Hands shot up.
Fudge lifted his with theatrical enthusiasm, casting a smug glance at Crouch.
More than eighty percent were in favor.
Bang.
The gavel struck.
"Sirius Black is hereby declared innocent and released. Peter Pettigrew will be transported to Azkaban tomorrow to serve a life sentence."
Applause thundered through the chamber.
Dumbledore clapped gently.
As the Aurors removed Sirius's shackles, he threw himself into Dumbledore's arms, sobbing uncontrollably.
Under the cover of his cries, only Dumbledore heard his whispered plea.
"Let me kill him."
"Let me kill him."
"Calm yourself, Sirius," Dumbledore murmured, gripping his shoulders firmly. "Peter has received justice. Death is not the worst punishment. The Dementors will ensure he understands that."
Sirius's trembling gradually subsided.
Yet not everyone shared the celebratory mood.
Snape watched coldly as Pettigrew was led away.
There was no regret in Pettigrew's eyes. No fury.
Only the resignation of a gambler who had lost and accepted it.
Snape stepped slightly aside from Harry and pulled out his enchanted notebook.
He sent a message to his only "friend."
[I accept your terms. We move tomorrow.]
At the Riddle estate, Astoria lay asleep with her head resting on Tom's thigh.
Feeling the vibration of the notebook, Tom raised a hand. It flew into his grasp.
He read the message.
A slow smile curved his lips.
With a flick of his finger, words appeared.
[As long as the money's right, I'll even take down Dumbledore for you.]
When Snape saw the reply, his eyelids twitched violently.