On the other side, Fudge arrived at Hogwarts with a team of Aurors.
He rushed into the Principal's office, not even having time to brush the dust off his robes.
"Dumbledore, you said Peter is still alive?" Fudge's voice rose several pitches.
"How is that possible! He died twelve years ago, and there was no body left!"
Dumbledore looked at him calmly: "His body is right here with me."
Fudge froze.
His mind raced. If Peter was truly alive, it meant the Ministry of Magic had locked an innocent person away in Azkaban and honored the actual criminal as a hero for twelve years.
Although he hadn't yet become Minister when the verdict was passed, this kind of scandal would drag the entire Ministry of Magic under.
The public wouldn't care who passed the judgment; they would only curse the Ministry of Magic for incompetence, and the current Minister would catch the blame too.
His public support was already low, and if something like this came out, it would be difficult to guarantee he wouldn't be impeached.
Fudge's palms began to sweat.
"I want to see it myself," he said.
Dumbledore waved his hand, and a body covered with a blanket appeared on the floor.
Fudge lifted a corner, and his face instantly turned deathly pale.
He recognized that this was Peter Pettigrew himself.
This meant that what Dumbledore said was likely true, and Peter Pettigrew was the one who defected to You-Know-Who.
At this moment, Fudge only wanted to cover the matter up so it wouldn't affect his career. As for the actual truth, he didn't care.
Fudge raised his head, forcing a smile onto his face:
"Dumbledore, you know, the Ministry of Magic has simply had too many things going on recently."
"So?" Dumbledore's tone was very flat.
"So if this matter were to be announced now..." Fudge wiped the sweat from his forehead.
"What will the public think? They will think the Ministry of Magic can't even tell the difference between the real killer and a scapegoat."
"That is the truth."
Fudge choked slightly, letting out two dry laughs:
"You can't put it that way. The case back then was certainly rushed, but what's important now is stability, is trust."
Dumbledore didn't reply.
Fudge cleared his throat and asked the Aurors to step out first. Once the office door closed, his tone became more direct:
"We can offer Black compensation. Whatever he wants, we can discuss it."
"Compensation?" Dumbledore's voice grew colder.
"Cornelius, he spent twelve years in Azkaban, accompanied by Dementors every day. Compensating him is only right!"
"Then what exactly do you want?"
Fudge was growing desperate. Do you insist on revealing the truth just to make me step down?
Dumbledore stared at him, remaining silent.
Fudge took a deep breath, lowering his voice:
"I apologize, Dumbledore, I lost my composure."
"But if you want me to announce your so-called truth... the court requires evidence."
He pointed at the body on the floor:
"What do you have to prove that this is Peter Pettigrew? What if it's just someone who looks like him?"
"How do you prove this body isn't fabricated? How do you prove he died recently, and that this isn't the original body preserved until now?"
Dumbledore was expressionless.
Fudge was somewhat intimidated by the sight, but still gathered his courage and continued:
"More importantly, even if this really is Peter, how do you prove he was the one who betrayed the Potters? Black killed thirteen people on the street back then; dozens of Muggles witnessed it."
"Your reasoning is sound—if Peter were a hero he wouldn't be hiding—but where is the evidence? Now Peter is dead, and there is no one to testify against him."
Dumbledore was silent for a moment, his voice becoming very soft.
"Cornelius, you don't need to concern yourself with the evidence. When the trial day arrives, it will naturally be presented."
Fudge's expression changed. He understood the meaning behind Dumbledore's words: Dumbledore had no intention of cooperating with him.
"Dumbledore, you are working against the Ministry of Magic."
Fudge's tone hardened, a rare occurrence.
"I am not opposing anyone. Everything I do is within the scope of the rules," Dumbledore said calmly.
Fudge took a deep breath, deciding to change his approach.
Since Dumbledore wouldn't cooperate, he decided to take Peter's body first.
As long as the body was in the Ministry of Magic's hands, he would have room to maneuver.
"Alright, we will take the body back for forensic examination first." Fudge said, about to signal the Aurors forward.
Dumbledore raised his hand and waved; the office door automatically closed, and frost even appeared on the doorknob.
"The body is safer remaining here." His tone was absolute.
"Before the trial, I also have the right to protect the evidence."
Fudge froze. He looked at Dumbledore, a wave of coldness washing over him.
Just imagine having such a formidable figure standing there; how comfortable could it be to hold the office of Minister?
But Fudge seemed to have forgotten that power always stems from strength.
Dumbledore himself represented absolute power in the magic world; it merely depended on whether he chose to wield it.
In the end, Fudge could only grit his teeth and leave the Principal's office, slamming the door shut violently as he departed.
The Aurors followed behind him, none daring to speak a word...
After class, Sirius found Charlie.
He held a small silver key and a piece of parchment in his hand, his expression somewhat complicated.
"Charlie," Black began, his voice a little dry.
"I'm here to fulfill my previous promise."
Black placed the key and the parchment on the table, pushing them toward Charlie.
"This is the House of Black's vault key at Gringotts, and the deed to the old Black family home. They are all yours now."
Charlie took the two items and examined them briefly.
The parchment felt very heavy, and the key was indeed for a high-security Gringotts vault.
"Furthermore, I myself will pledge my loyalty to you," Black added, his tone extremely serious.
Charlie deftly stuffed the key and the deed into his pocket.
while chuckling:
"Hey, why are you being so formal? I was just kidding back then, you actually took it seriously."
Black's mouth twitched. *Then why are you stuffing them into your pocket?*
"Is that everything?" Charlie blinked.
"These are the only items. Most of the assets are either piled up at the house or stored in the vault, however..." Black cleared his throat.
"Right now the properties and the vault are still nominally under my name, because the title hasn't been transferred yet."
"Transfer requires legal status," Black explained.
"And I am currently still a wanted fugitive, so I can't go to Gringotts to handle these procedures. Once the Ministry of Magic's trial is over and I have legal status, I can officially transfer all of this to you."
Charlie nodded, weighing the key in his pocket.
What else is there to say, brother? Just for the sake of this pile of assets, there's absolutely no way I'll let you go back to Azkaban.
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