Saturday, June 26th, 1995 – Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry - Early Afternoon
"Damn!" Harry suddenly exclaimed, as he and Hermione walked hand-in-hand toward Gryffindor Tower.
"Language, Harry James," Hermione admonished, "What has you so upset all of a sudden?"
"Sorry, I just realized something," Harry muttered, "We could have collected a few more of those mokeskin pouches in the Room of Requirement. They could have been useful for us and our friends."
"Well, you were rather distracted with the Diadem Horcrux, so you weren't really thinking about that, were you?" Hermione replied, "We can always go back and take a few of them later if we think about it. I would like to go through that Room of Hidden Things sometime in the future, though. We might be able to find a lot of useful stuff in there that has been lost over the years, and doesn't belong to anyone anymore. Just think of all the books that must be in there!"
"Well, that is something we can do during fifth year," Harry said, with a smile. "If all goes well with my plans this summer, we shouldn't have to worry about someone like Dumbledore trying to rub his nose into our business starting our fifth year."
"Sounds wonderful to me," Hermione said.
"Sorry for my verbal explosion there," Harry said, "It was just a thought that came to my mind all of a sudden."
"Apology accepted," Hermione said.
"You're going to have to give the Fat Lady the password, Hermione," Harry said, with a lowered voice, as they turned the last corner on the journey to the Gryffindor Tower, "I just realized this is the first time I've been back in Gryffindor Tower in several years, and the passwords weren't exactly something I remembered."
"Can't the Marauder's Map tell you the password?" Hermione asked, slyly.
"It could," Harry said, grinning, "But I am sure you know it, so I don't have to go through all the fuss of figuring it out."
"I do," Hermione said, nodding. "I was just teasing you, Harry. It is fun to know I can still tease you, even when part of you is almost three decades older than me."
Harry scoffed good-naturedly. "Three decades?! I wasn't that old! I really have missed this side of you, Hermione. You were… not the same under the Potions. Neither of us were."
"I understand," Hermione said, smiling softly.
They came upon the portrait of the Fat Lady and Hermione gave the password ("Fidelity!"). The Fat Lady accepted the password with a nod, and her portrait swung open. Harry was relieved to find that the Common Room was completely empty of students, aside from the two of them, when he and Hermione stepped into it. He knew Ron and Ginny were still in the Great Hall, dining on lunch, as were most of the Gryffindor students. He didn't want to be crowded up on, by those wishing to congratulate him personally for winning the Triwizard Tournament.
"I imagine Beauxbatons and Durmstrang won't leave until after dinner," Harry said, "There will probably be a combined Leaving Feast, with Beauxbatons and Durmstrang leaving afterward. So, how about we hang out on the Grounds, at our spot, until dinner, after we're done here? Better to avoid Ron and Ginny that way."
"And maybe we can discuss more about what will happen this summer?" Hermione asked.
"Sure," Harry agreed.
"Sounds good to me then," Hermione said, "I'm going to change my clothes, and I'll meet you back here. Twenty minutes?"
Harry agreed, and smiled when Hermione kissed him on the cheek. He made his way up toward the Fourth Year Boys' Dormitory, which he hadn't been in, in two and a half decades. It still looked - and smelled! - the same as he remembered, and he was able to identify which bed he had slept in solely because he remembered what his trunk looked like.
He walked over to his trunk, knelt down next to it, and proceeded to bury the mokeskin pouch with the Diadem at the bottom of the trunk. After taking a new outfit out of the trunk, he placed some protective enchantments on the trunk, so nobody but him could get inside it. He proceeded to change into his new outfit, which was simple casual wear that would see him comfortable out on the Grounds in the early summer Scottish weather, but was also a nice outfit for the Feast that evening.
He then made his way downstairs, and only had to wait for Hermione for a couple more minutes. She arrived, looking pretty in a nice casual outfit that showed off her curves well.
"Everything is taken care of," Harry said, at Hermione's questioning look.
"Good," Hermione said, "Let's go spend some quality couple time together on the Grounds then."
Harry agreed, and took Hermione's offered hand. Hand-in-hand, the couple headed back out of Gryffindor Tower.
Saturday, June 26th, 1995 – Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry - Early Afternoon
From his usual seat in the Slytherin Table in the Great Hall, Draco Malfoy frowned as he searched the Gryffindor Table for the fifth time in several minutes. Harry Potter and his Mudblood girlfriend, Granger, hadn't shown up to the Great Hall for lunch, just as they had not shown up for breakfast. It wasn't like either of the Gryffindors to not show up for two meals in a row.
He hadn't been able to find Potter and Granger all day, and he had really been wanting to taunt them about Sirius Black's trial, and how the man should be Kissed by a Dementor, whether or not he was proven to be innocent or guilty. If he had it his way, the man would have been Kissed before he even got to the Ministry for his trial.
He had written to his father, demanding for something to be done about Black, so he would become Lord Black just as he'd been promised by his parents for several years now. He had received a response from his father that morning, and he was still reeling from the letter. Instead of his father promising him that something would be done about Sirius Black, his father had told him to grow up and stop demanding things from his parents. His father had told him that he was now fifteen years old - his birthday having taken place during the first week of the month - and he should start acting like it. His father had never talked to him in such a way.
The other odd thing in his father's letter, was that his father had told him that he loved him. He had actually written the words "I love you, son". His father hadn't verbally expressed such a thing in years. It just wasn't something the man did. Draco knew his father loved him, but it was usually represented in unspoken ways.
Draco wondered what was up with his father's behavior, and why he had decided to say something like that, when it was so uncharacteristic of him. It was starting to worry him, and he hoped to find out what was going on with his father, when he reunited with the man the following day.
Draco shook himself of these thoughts. He really wished he could find Potter and his Mudblood girlfriend. A good taunting about what a disgusting couple they made would be a nice distraction from the thoughts going through his head. He could taunt Weasley about Potter and Granger getting together - it was pretty obvious that the ginger idiot wasn't very happy about his two friends becoming a couple - but it just wasn't fun to taunt the idiot when Potter and Granger weren't there to be a part of it.
Where the bloody hell were those two? Probably somewhere snogging or whatever.
Draco pushed his plate away at that thought. The idea of Saint Potter soiling himself further by hooking up with that Mudblood, the thought that they might be well into the Bonding phase of their relationship by the end of the summer, had put him off his appetite.
Saturday, June 26th, 1995 – Ministry of Magic - Late Afternoon
Amelia Bones, Director of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, was sitting at the Chief Interrogator's Table in Wizengamot Chamber 9, in the bottommost level of the Ministry of Magic. Along with Amelia, the Chamber was crowded with Wizengamot members - who were seated in their usual chairs - media representatives and other interested parties, as they waited for Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew to make their way into the Chamber. It would be the third and final trial of what had been a long and interesting afternoon.
Amelia had been Chief Prosecutor in the first two trials of the afternoon, but in this trial, her role was officially Chief Interrogator, because she was only interested in prosecuting Peter Pettigrew. She firmly believed Sirius Black was innocent, and therefore she had no reason to want to be a Prosecutor against him.
The first trial was for Bartemius Crouch, Junior. The trial wasn't exactly a very long procedure. The man had escaped Azkaban - whether involuntarily or not - and had not served his sentence. So he was already guilty for several crimes. The new crimes were escaping Azkaban - of which was a relatively newly developed crime, and had been meant for Sirius Black; the murder of his father, and Ministry Representative, Bartemius Crouch; Senior; kidnapping a former member of the Aurors for several months, and keeping him prisoner, as well as impersonating said man; and also using Unforgivable Curses, among other crimes. He had been found guilty in less than an hour, and had been sentenced to death, via the Veil of Death.
Between the first and second trials, Amelia had gone to the Department of Mysteries - accompanied by Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge, Chief Warlock Albus Dumbledore, Head Auror Rufus Scrimgeour, and a contingency of Aurors and Unspeakables who had been Crouch's escorts - and into the Chamber of Death. She witnessed Bartemius Crouch, Junior as he was pushed through the Veil by two Unspeakables.
She could still remember Albus Dumbledore's words after Crouch, Junior had vanished into the Veil and Death: "And so ends the Most Noble House of Crouch. We will never see its like again." Amelia knew such words were basically a customary thing, and not one of sincerity. Bartemius Crouch, Junior was probably one of the worst members in the family tree of the Noble House of Crouch. While Bartemius Crouch, Senior had some respectable titles and jobs in the Ministry, Amelia knew he wasn't exactly an individual clean of crimes. Taking his son out of Azkaban, and keeping him under an Imperius Curse for several years, was just some of the bad things he had done. And then there was that whole business with Sirius Black being sent to Azkaban without a trial. Bartemius Crouch, Senior's fingerprints were all over that plot, though he wasn't alone in the conspiracy, Amelia knew.
The second trial of the day was Dolores Umbridge. Amelia knew Umbridge was probably guilty of many things, but she was only on trial for a few crimes. Still, they were some very serious crimes. Several hundred counts of endangering a child; two illegal orders of the Dementor's Kiss; and illegal usage of Potions - the Anti-Veritaserum Potion she had taken was a restricted substance.
The trial had taken nearly two hours, and most of it was just pandering and character witnesses chosen by Umbridge's lawyer. Lucius Malfoy was suspiciously absent from the trials, so Amelia couldn't involve him in the trial, even though she knew Malfoy had been involved in the plot that saw the two Dementors at Hogwarts.
Dolores Umbridge was found guilty on all counts, and was sentenced to twenty-five years in Azkaban, mostly for endangering so many children at Hogwarts. Umbridge was back in a Holding Cell in the Ministry at the moment, guarded by four Aurors. She would be escorted to Azkaban - along with, Amelia hoped, Peter Pettigrew - shortly after the third trial of the afternoon, by Head Auror Rufus Scrimgeour and a contingency of Senior Aurors, all of whom were chosen by Amelia and Rufus themselves for the role.
Amelia looked over her shoulder from her seat, as the iron double doors of the Chamber opened. Peter Pettigrew was soon being escorted into the Chamber by four Aurors, including Kingsley Shacklebolt and John Dawlish. Bulbs from the media cameras flashed as pictures were taken of the man who had, until recently, been thought to have died thirteen-and-a-half years ago. Peter Pettigrew wasn't being represented by any lawyer, and Amelia couldn't blame the Defense lawyers for not taking the job. It was plainly obvious that Pettigrew was obviously guilty of something, and the lawyers knew they'd lose the case.
As Pettigrew wasn't being represented by a lawyer, he was forced to sit in a chair in the middle of the empty floor. As soon as Pettigrew sat in the chair, magical chains bound him to the chair. The man was already wearing magical steel cuffs that prevented him from turning into his Rat Animagus.
The same four Aurors turned and left the Chamber, then returned moments later, escorting Sirius Black and his Defense lawyer, Ted Tonks. Once again, camera bulbs popped and flashed, and guests and Wizengamot members alike muttered and whispered to their neighbors as they looked at Sirius. Sirius Black did not look like someone who had been on the run for nearly two years. He was bathed, clean-shaven, had a nice hair-cut, and was wearing wizard's robes that would look good on any respectable Lord.
Amelia knew that Ted and Andromeda Tonks both wanted the message clearly sent that Sirius was 1) a man innocent of the crimes he had been accused of, and 2) Lord Sirius Black of the Ancient and Most Noble House of Black. They wanted the Wizengamot, the media, and the general population to realize that one of the Lords of their society had been wronged for many years.
Unlike Peter Pettigrew, Sirius Black was allowed to sit at a table, with his hands and feet free of bindings. Amelia was rather surprised there were no arguments about Sirius not being bound to a chair, but maybe it was because of how respectable he looked. Or perhaps it was because he had come into the Ministry under his own power, and therefore was of no risk to escape.
In his raised Chief Warlock seat, Albus Dumbledore smacked his gavel moments after Sirius Black and Ted Tonks were seated comfortably in their chairs. The Wizengamot, media and other guests quieted down and Albus rose to his feet.
"Seal the doors!" Albus ordered.
As per usual, a spider-web of crisscrossed enchanted steel chains covered the exits of the Chamber, barring anyone from entering or leaving the Chamber during the proceedings.
"So begins the Criminal Trial on this, the twenty-sixth day of June, in the year nineteen-hundred and ninety-five," Albus said, "The first Accused is Peter Patrick Pettigrew. The Crimes of the first Accused are as stated: Breaching the Statute of Secrecy; Conspiracy to Commit Murder of James and Lily Potter; Two Conspiracies to Commit Attempted Murder and Assault of Harry Potter; Murder of Twelve Muggles; Being an Unregistered Animagus; Assault and Kidnapping of a former Auror, one Alastor Moody; and Kidnapping of a Minor, one Harry Potter.
"The second Accused is identified as Sirius Black, the Lord Apparent of the Ancient and Most Noble House of Black. The Crimes of the second Accused… well, that is another story. It was assumed that Sirius Black was accused of a number of crimes, but recent events have come into light that might tell us that he was never responsible for any of those crimes. Ladies and Gentleman, thirteen-and-a-half years ago, Sirius Black was arrested, and while he was taken to Azkaban, he never had a trial in front of the Wizengamot. This is the first trial he has ever had. Because he was never found guilty of any crimes, his stay in Azkaban is officially considered voluntary. Therefore, he cannot officially be accused of escaping from Azkaban. The reason Sirius Black is on trial today, is so that we can clear up what happened thirteen-and-a-half years ago.
"Representative for the Defense, Ted Tonks. I ask you to be honest with myself and the Wizengamot. Do you believe your client, the Accused Sirius Black, should be on trial for any crimes?"
Ted Tonks stood up. "My client freely admits that he is an unregistered Animagus. He agrees that five of the twelve years he spent in Azkaban were for the crime of being an unregistered Animagus, therefore he believes he was unfairly a prisoner in Azkaban for seven of those twelve years. Escaping Azkaban, while a crime, is a crime my client doesn't believe he should be guilty of, because he should have been released some eight years ago."
"Very well then," Albus said, as Ted Tonks sat back down. "I suppose we will discover if the Accused Sirius Black is guilty of any other crimes before this trial is over.
"Roll call for the Representatives for the Wizengamot. Chief Interrogator: Amelia Susan Bones, Director of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Secondary Interrogators: Chief Warlock Albus Percvial Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, Minister of Magic Cornelius Oswald Fudge, and Rufus Sebastian Scrimgeour, Head of the Auror Department. Court Scribe..."
As Albus listed the other representatives, Amelia mentally prepared herself for what she considered her most important trial ever. Her main objective at the end of the trial was to see Sirius Black become a free man.
"Law Officer Tonks, your opening statement, please," Albus said, after he finished the roll call.
Ted stood up and cleared his throat. "Chief Warlock Dumbledore. Minister of Magic Fudge. Lords and Ladies of the Wizengamot. Media representatives. My client, Sirius Orion Black, should not be here. This trial should have taken place thirteen years ago. Sirius Black should have never spent twelve years in Azkaban. Just like we will prove today, it would have been proven thirteen years ago that Sirius Black is, indeed, innocent of all charges he is facing.
"My client spent twelve years suffering the horrors of Azkaban due to negligence and misrepresentation of justice, five for the guilt of being an unregistered Animagus, and seven years which he did not deserve. He has suffered greatly for his time in Azkaban, due to Dementor Exposure. If – when – he gains his freedom today, it will go a long way to make sure my client can heal – if not completely – from the injustice he has had to suffer.
"When this trial is done and over, it will be clear exactly what happened in the events surrounding that tragic Halloween in 1981. It is appropriate that the Chief Warlock and the Wizengamot seem to be confused about what crimes my client is accused of. Those original crimes he was thought to be accused of should have been given to another man, and today they have been given to the one responsible for those crimes: Peter Pettigrew. Peter Pettigrew being here, alive and well, should tell everyone here that my client has been wrongly accused of the crimes that sent him to Azkaban unjustly, and without a trial.
My client is an innocent man. He was guilty of only one crime, and he did his time for that crime. My client is an innocent man now, and I hope that he will be welcomed back into the society which has cursed his name for the past thirteen years, and has kept him from having the life he deserves with those he loves."
Amelia smiled as Sirius looked her way, after Ted said the last line. Ted sat back down in his chair, singling that he was finished. Now it was Amelia's turn.
"Thank you, Law Officer Tonks," Albus said, "Chief Interrogator Bones, if you are ready, you may begin.
Amelia nodded once, and stood up. She walked over to the clear space on the floor a few feet to the left of the chained Peter Pettigrew.
"Chief Warlock, Minister Fudge, Lords and Ladies of the Wizengamot, media representatives and concerned citizens," Amelia said, "For thirteen years, the magical society of Great Britain - and much of the magical world - believed they knew the story that happened when it came to the events on that fateful Halloween in 1981. It was believed that Sirius Black was guilty of a sinister betrayal, and had a part in the tragic events that took place that evening and the hours that followed. It was believed that Sirius Black was the Secret Keeper for James, Lily and Harry Potter. It was believed that he had betrayed the Potters to He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, which allowed the Dark Wizard to attack the Potters, and murder James and Lily Potter. It was believed that Sirius Black then murdered Peter Pettigrew and twelve Muggles with one curse."
Amelia walked over toward Peter Pettigrew, and stood five feet from his chair, and looked down at the pitiful, shaking man.
"The proof that the story that everyone believed might have happened differently sits chained up in front of me. Peter Pettigrew is alive and well. He is not dead, as he made everyone believe for thirteen and a half years.
"Two evenings ago, during the Third Task of the Triwizard Tournament, Harry James Potter took the Triwizard Cup in the center of the Maze, and disappeared from the Grounds of Hogwarts for a few minutes. When he returned, he was not alone. He brought back Peter Pettigrew with him, having just dueled the man, overpowering him and cutting off his hand with a Cutting Curse."
Amelia knew that part was untrue, but she knew this was the story she had to go along with, so that the truth of what really happened two nights ago wouldn't come to light. Amelia glanced up at Albus, who was smiling down at her in approval of her tale.
"Peter Pettigrew's appearance in front of the maze shocked everyone who witnessed the event," Amelia continued. "Peter Pettigrew was not dead, a corpse for thirteen and a half years. No… he was alive and well! He had just taken part in kidnapping and attempting to assault and murder Harry James Potter. So if he was guilty of that crime, I wondered what else he was guilty of. I began to wonder how Pettigrew was alive, and what truly happened thirteen-and-a-half years ago on that Halloween. So I placed Pettigrew under arrest. I discovered - thanks to Harry Potter - that Peter Pettigrew is an unregistered Animagus, taking the form of a common garden rat. Ever since that revelation, Pettigrew has been cuffed with Anti-Transformation Cuffs, so that he would not escape custody. Shortly after his arrest, I interrogated Pettigrew, and finally learned what truly happened on that Halloween night, and the hours after, in 1981.
"Chief Warlock, Minister Fudge, Lords and Ladies of the Wizengamot, Sirius Black is not responsible for the terrible and tragic events in 1981. Peter Pettigrew was the Secret Keeper for James, Lily and Harry Potter. Peter Pettigrew told He Who Must Not Be Named the Secret that led the Dark Wizard to the Potter's door in Godric Hollow. Peter Pettigrew is responsible for the murders of twelve Muggles and framing Sirius Black of the crimes."
Amelia turned away from Pettigrew and walked over to Sirius Black and Ted Tonks.
"But I won't force you to listen to the deceitful tongue of Peter Pettigrew," Amelia continued, "I believe that Sirius Black should tell us what happened to him back in 1981, so that we can all finally know his story.
"Sirius Black, will you tell the Court your story?"
"I will, Director Bones," Sirius said, with a smile. "In the days and weeks before that Halloween in 1981, I visited the Potters several times. I was witness to Peter Pettigrew becoming Secret Keeper. It was, after all, me who had suggested to James and Lily Potter that Pettigrew become their Secret Keeper. In turn, I would make it known in the public eye that I was the Secret Keeper, so that nobody would suspect that it was actually Pettigrew. I thought it would be an extra step in the protection of the Potters. Anyway, during one of my visits to the Potters, I placed an Alarm Charm rune on the doormat on the front step of their house. This was so I could know if something bad happened at the house.
"My Alarm Rune that was keyed to the Rune under James and Lily's doormat suddenly started going berserk. I realized something was very off at James and Lily's House. I tried to Apparate, but I couldn't. I couldn't even Apparate from my flat. So I had to use my motorcycle. It has a flying enchantment on it, and an invisibility enchantment, so no Muggles could see me. I flew to Godric's Hollow and landed in front of James and Lily's cottage. The whole time I knew I would be too late.
"And I was. When I arrived, I came to an odd scene. Rubeus Hagrid, Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts, walked out of the house, holding little Harry in his arms, tears rolling down his cheeks. Little Harry was fussy and crying too. I asked Hagrid where James and Lily were. He told me they were dead. That was when I saw the hole above where I knew Harry's nursery was at. Smoke was billowing out of the roof. I ran inside yelling for James and Lily. I nearly collapsed when I saw James… dead… dead on the floor at the bottom of the stairs. I yelled for Lily and ran up toward Harry's nursery. She was there on the floor, dead. There was some type of ash on the ground. It definitely wasn't dust, or the debris of the ceiling. I could tell it was ash of some type. It was in front of Harry's crib.
"I made my way back out of the house and told Hagrid to give me Harry. I told him I was his godfather, and he was now my responsibility. Hagrid refused. He outright refused to give me my godson. He said Albus Dumbledore ordered him to bring Harry to him. I… I don't know why I agreed to that. But I did. I even gave Hagrid permission to use my motorcycle. As soon as Hagrid and little Harry vanished into the sky, I… I went mad with grief and rage.
"I knew at that moment that Peter Pettigrew was a traitor. I knew he had betrayed by best friends. I wanted to find him."
"Did you want to kill him?" Rufus Scrimgeour, one of the secondary Interrogators, asked.
"No!" Sirius insisted, "I wanted to bring him in! I wanted to contact Amy – Director Bones. She was an Auror at the time. She would be able to bring him in. But I wanted to be the one to find him. So I apparated to the road where I knew his flat was. I made the next of several mistakes. I screamed his name, calling for him. My voice echoed around the neighborhood. Muggles started coming out of their houses, wondering what the commotion was. If I hadn't screamed for him… those Muggles might be alive today.
"All of a sudden Pettigrew came walking down the road toward me. Then he started screaming at me.
"'James and Lily are dead, Sirius Black!' he screamed. "You betrayed them! How could you do it?!"
Sirius paused in his story, and glared over at Peter Pettigrew, who had been looking down at his lap throughout much of the trial.
"It was then I realized – he was framing me," Sirius continued, "How could Peter Pettigrew pull a prank… on me? Then I watched in horror as he sliced off a finger on his hand, with his wand, then pointed his wand at the road between us. Next thing I knew there was a loud explosion, the Muggles were screaming and the road had blown up. Debris was flying everywhere. But I was focused on searching for Pettigrew. That was when I saw him. He transformed into his Rat Animagus and scurried down into the sewer like a coward. I looked around at the scene. Muggles dead or dying. Other Muggles crying for their loved ones. Then cracks of Apparation from Aurors and others.
"That was when I started laughing, I think. Laughing because Peter Pettigrew framed me. He pranked me. The biggest prank he had ever done. Not just to me… but to the world."
"Thank you, Sirius, for that story," Amelia said.
"I've been wanting to tell my story for thirteen-and-a-half years," Sirius said, "I am glad, and relieved, that I can finally tell everyone what happened. Something I should have been able to do thirteen years ago."
"Yes," Amelia said, "You should have. Do any of the Secondary Interrogators have any questions?"
"No," Rufus Scrimgeour said, "But I do believe I need to apologize to Sirius Black for my part in what happened in the hours after his arrest. I was a Senior Auror at the time, and I realize now that a lot of things went wrong back then. Had I been responsible for taking part in the investigation, I might have realized some things were off about the entire thing. It was reported that all that was left of Pettigrew was his finger. Well, now I can see that this doesn't make sense if the man had truly been killed by an explosion. Brain matter, blood, other body parts, and other things would have been found of Pettigrew. The Aurors certainly had found much of this of the Muggles on the scene. Now it does seem rather obvious that Pettigrew had sliced his own finger off.
"So, Sirius Black, as Head Auror I wish to apologize for my Department's shoddy representation back then when it came to the scene of the crime. I had assumed that, once I heard you were in Azkaban, enough evidence had been discovered and found to prove your guilt. I had not know you weren't even given a trial."
Sirius didn't say anything in response to Scrimgeour. Amelia didn't blame him. She, too, felt the same guilt Scrimgeour did. She had been forbidden to get involved Sirius' case, because of how close she was to him. But even then, she should have figured it out over the years. She hadn't even looked back at Sirius' case once in the past thirteen years.
"Peter Pettigrew," Albus said, in the silence of Sirius' refusal to respond to Scrimgeour, "Sirius Black has given us a very nice tale of the events that took place back in 1981. Yet I have noticed you haven't spoken a word since you entered the room. Do you have anything to say in your defense?"
Amelia glanced at Pettigrew, and so did everyone else in the room. But Pettigrew didn't say anything. Amelia wondered if the Confundus Charms that had been placed on the man had anything to do with it. But the Confundus Charms only prevented Pettigrew from mentioning Voldemort's return or what really happened two nights ago. It didn't prevent him from saying anything about the crimes he was accused of.
After a full minute, Dumbledore sighed and shook his head. "Well, it appears the Accused, Peter Pettigrew, has nothing to say in his defense. Are there any more questions from the Interrogators?"
Amelia, Fudge and Scrimgeour shook their heads. Amelia debated bringing up questions about Albus Dumbledore's part in the entire thing. Like why he had sent Rubeus Hagrid to Godric's Hollow that Halloween night in 1981. But she didn't want to bring her accusations to voice yet. She had theories that Albus was involved a lot more than he had admitted when it came to Sirius Black's imprisonment. She just needed to find more proof. She wouldn't get that proof today though, she knew.
"So be it," Albus said. "It appears this will be the shortest trial of the afternoon. Chief Interrogator Bones, you are finished with your duty, you may be seated in your chair on the Council."
Amelia bowed and made her way to the Bones chair amongst the Great Alliance, sitting beside Augusta Longbottom.
"Lords and Ladies of the Wizengamot," Fudge continued, "You have ten minutes to make your decision and go over the evidence and statements that has been given today. We will reconvene in ten minutes."
Albus slapped his gavel on the surface in front of him, then relaxed back in his chair, signaling the beginning of the recess.
"No offense, Amelia," Augusta Longbottom said, "But I thought this trial would be the most exciting of the three this afternoon. That was downright anticlimactic."
"No offense taken, Augusta," Amelia said, with a smile. "I agree with you. I expected Pettigrew to cause more of a fuss. But since he did not, and since Black told a convincing story, I suppose Albus decided the Wizengamot had heard enough. Pettigrew's crimes, those that he committed in 1981, are enough for him to be given a life sentence. So we really didn't need to go through the most recent crimes - kidnapping Harry Potter and such. Especially since Potter got the upper hand of that event."
"Yes," Augusta said, "The Potter boy must have been very courageous that evening. It seems he has some skill when it comes to dueling magic, if he could take on a Dark wizard like that Pettigrew fellow and win.
"It seems he does," Amelia agreed.
"So, Amelia," Augusta said, "Enough of the dreary happenings in this even drearier room. Let's move on to happier things. I seem to remember you and Sirius Black were quite close before that tragic Halloween. My son and his wife talked about it all the time. They always wondered when you and Sirius would get married and have some babies of your own."
"You old gossip, Augusta!" Amelia said, smiling, "What are you asking? What do you wish to know to tell your knitting club for the next meeting?"
Augusta huffed playfully, then smiled. "If – sorry, when – Sirius regains his freedom. Can we expect wedding bells and baby showers in your future?"
Amelia blushed. "We'll see."
"Oh, Amelia," Augusta said, smiling, "You know if he asked you to marry him, the moment Albus says he's a free man, you'd say 'about time!'"
Amelia's blush went deeper. "I need to talk to Sirius about that kind of stuff before we do anything."
"Oh, tosh!" Augusta said, waving a dismissive hand away. "I look forward to hearing about a wedding this summer between you and Sirius. Do make sure Neville and I are invited, won't you?"
"You have always been a faithful part of the Great Alliance, Augusta," Amelia said, "even when it seemed as if it was dead and gone. And you have always been a faithful Ally and friend of mine. I wouldn't dream of not inviting you to my wedding."
"Very good, dear," Augusta said, patting a gentle hand on Amelia's knee.
A few minutes later, Albus smacked his gavel three times.
"Lords and Ladies of the Wizengamot," he said, "It is time to make a couple of decisions. Raise your wand if you believe Peter Pettigrew is guilty of the charges put forth in front of him today."
Amelia raised her wand, and so did a very large majority of the Wizengamot representatives. After the wands were counted, Albus asked for those who voted for Peter to be cleared of the charges. Very few wands raised, and most were in the Dark Alliance.
"Peter Patrick Pettigrew," Albus said, "You have been found guilty of all charges. A sentence has already been decided upon, and you, Peter Pettigrew, are sentenced to spend the rest of your life in the maximum security section of Azkaban prison."
Pettigrew finally reacted and started breaking down and wailing in his chair. Albus and the rest of the Wizengamot ignored him, though the media camera took a few more pictures of the pitiful scene in front of them.
"Lords and Ladies of the Wizengamot," Albus said. "Raise your hand if you believe Sirius Black should be cleared of all charges. Please remember that Sirius Black has already spent the required years in Azkaban, or not registering his Animagus."
Amelia immediately raised her hand as did most of the Light Alliance around her, including all of the Great Alliance. Most of the Neutral Alliance raised their hands, and so did a few of the Dark Alliance, surprisingly. Cornelius Fudge raised his hand, and Albus did as well, though Amelia - who was watching him - noticed he had waited until he saw the good majority had done the same.
"Raise your hand if you believe Sirius Black is guilty of any or all charges," Albus ordered.
Much of the Dark Alliance raised their hands, but they were the only ones.
"By an obvious majority," Albus said, "Lord Sirius Orion Black, Head of the Ancient and Most Noble House of Black, is cleared of all charges!"
Amelia stood up immediately and applauded, as did most of the Wizengamot, and several people on the floor. Sirius hugged Ted quickly, then turned and hugged Andromeda Tonks, then Remus Lupin - who had been sitting next to Andromeda - the longest. Remus was obviously emotional as he hugged his friend.
"Lord Black!" Fudge said, standing up and making himself heard.
The room silenced as Sirius turned to Fudge.
"As Minister of Magic," Fudge said, "I believe I speak for the majority of the Wizengamot, the Ministry, and our society in whole, when I say I deeply apologize for the pain and suffering you had to endure because of the clear miscarriage of justice. This will never happen again. 800,000 Galleons will be placed in a Vault of your Choice – 100,000 Galleons for every year you have suffered under this miscarriage of justice. I know it can never be enough to make you completely forgive the Ministry of Magic. But I hope it will be enough to help you move on."
"Thank you, Minister Fudge," Sirius said, "Thank you for giving me what your previous administration did not."
Fudge looked relieved as he smiled and started a round of applause. Amelia rolled her eyes, knowing Fudge was applauding the fact that Sirius was basically not putting any blame on him.
"Go see him, Amelia," Augusta said. "Go see your man."
Amelia smiled and didn't need to be told twice. She hurried down the steps and made her way over to Sirius. He stared at her for a moment, then a smile crossed his face. Amelia caught a sob in her throat, then lunged forward, wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him square on the mouth. Sirius kissed her back as camera flashes erupted around them.
Amelia did not care. She was finally able to be with the man she loved again. And she would never let him get away from her again.