Chapter 10
Chapter 10
"Keep far from a false charge, and do not kill the innocent or the righteous, for I will not acquit the guilty.
Exodus 23:7
Loud murmuring could be heard throughout the room. Excitement swelled like a living entity within the hearts of the men and women in the court. Witches and wizards of all classes were seated in the circular chamber.
The Malfoys, Weasleys, Longbottom, Remus Lupin, Amelia Bones, and more sat amongst the court.
Reporters salivating in the stands by the large double doors of the entrance. High vaulted ceilings rose above the magicals, a thick opaque barrier of magic ten feet above their heads. Giant black hooded figures swarmed and writhed behind it like a great hungry beast.
Frost gathering at the edges of the barriers. A high-backed chair sat in the middle of the room. Chains surrounding it.
In front of the empty chair rose a high seat that a pudgy man sat in. He had beady eyes and a thinning head of dark hair. Sweat gathered at his brow as he observed the people in the courtroom.
To his right sat the House of Lords made up of the ancient and noble houses. To his left was the House of Commons.
Made up of the commoners in the wizarding world who climbed their way up the ladder to power. A large creaking sound thrummed through the room as two large doors opened in the chamber. The sounds of chains were rattling as a man in a prison uniform was brought in.
His face was gaunt, his body thin, hair scraggly and he had a beard growing on his face. The man looked to need a shower badly. Defeat lined every part of his body.
The man was docile as the Aurors who brought him in sat him in the chair in the center of the room and chained him up. One of the Aurors took a potion from his pocket and held it up to the people of the court.
"Prisoner 8649, also known as Sirius Black, Lord of the Ancient and Noble House of Black, will now be administered three drops of veritaserum. We are gathered today to see the truth of what happened on October 31st of 1981. So begins the trial of Lord Sirius Black!"
With that said, the auror lifted the chin of Lord Black and dropped three drops of the clear potion into his parted lips.
Sirius' dead eyes glazed over as the serum took full effect. The auror looked about the room.
"The wizengamot recognizes Lord Black has been administered the truth serum. I will now demonstrate that it is in effect." The auror turned back to Black.
"What is your name?" Questioned the auror.
"Sirius Orion Black." Came a flat voice from the seated man.
"When were you born?" The auror asked.
"June 7th, 1959," Black replied with glazed eyes.
The auror turned back to the Wizengamot.
"The prisoner is ready for questioning." He said then he walked to the doors where he came in and stood at rest with his wand at the ready with the rest of his team.
Cornelius Fudge stood from the high seat and addressed the Wizengamot.
"The court acknowledges the readiness of the prisoner. Madam Bones will now begin questioning Lord Black." Madam Bones stood from her seat, straightening her robes and then walking down from the stands to stand in front of the prisoner. Clearing her throat, she adjusted her monocle and began.
"Lord Black, on the night of October 31st1981, did you betray the location of the Potters to he-who-must-not-be-named?"
"No" Black replied in a flat voice. Murmuring rose in the stands.
"Were you not the secret Keeper of the Potters?" Bones asked.
"No" the voices grew louder
"Then who was the secret keeper of the Potters?" Questioned Amelia.
"Peter Pettigrew." Shouts of denial echoed in the court.
"Peter Pettigrew? He betrayed the Potters?" Asked Bones relentlessly.
Her lips pursed in disbelief.
"Yes," A sudden hush fell over those in the courtroom.
"Please explain to the court what happened that night when the Potters were killed." Bones requested as she rubbed her temples.
"I am little Harry's godfather so I have a magical connection to him. When I felt fear coming from our bond I took my motorcycle to their house to find it in ruins. James was dead when I got there.
"I went up to the nursery only to find Lily lying by the crib where Harry was crying and reaching for her. I picked him up and then Hagrid arrived. He said that Dumbledore ordered him to take Harry somewhere safe.
"Upon seeing my friends' dead I was filled with such rage I gave Hagrid Harry and went after the traitor," Sirius explained, his glazed eyes tearing up. Water staining his cheeks.
His face was dead of all other emotion but the tear tracks.
"You were found in a street surrounded by 12 dead muggles and Peter Pettigrew's finger. Even if you are innocent of the Potters' deaths you still killed all of those people?" Vicious denial tour from Black's throat as emotion showed through the potion, such was the power of Sirius' rage against Pettigrew.
"No. It was all Peter. He lured me into the street and shouted out that I had betrayed James and Lily and then he blew up the street killing all those people. Cutting off his finger before he turned into a rat and went into the sewer!" Sirius' voice echoed in the room.
His last words bouncing off the walls and whispering in Lupin's ears. Disbelief was warring with relief followed by anger in the werewolf as he continued to watch the trial and the world as he knew it fall apart.
"He was an animungus?" Inquired Amelia.
"Yes, he could turn into a rat." Sighed Black.
"He was not registered in the ministry?" Bones queried.
"No he wasn't, none of us were." Replied the prisoner.
"None of you?" She worried.
"Yes, James and I and Pettigrew. We were all animungi. We learned in our time in Hogwarts to help a friend." He responded.
"If that is the case why were you found shouting that it was all your fault that the Potters were dead?" Questioned Bones.
"I was the one that suggested we switch secret keepers so it was my fault they died. If I had been the secret keeper like we originally planned they would still be here." Answered Black.
Madam Bones turned to the people of the court.
"I have no more questions." With that Bones walked back to her seat and Fudge stood.
"Very well due to the new evidence in that has been presented here today I motion that Lord Black be cleared of all charges even though he is an unregistered animungi through his confession. The sentence for that is two years for being unregistered. Therefore he has overstayed in Azkaban. So I motion for his innocence. All in favor."
More than half the room rose their hands.
"Then it is settled. Lord Black is as of this day found innocent of all charges and will be given 10000 gallons for every year he has suffered in Azkaban. Administer Lord Black the antidote."
"Lord Black shall be required to have a full check mental and physical work up at Saint Mugos due to long exposure to dementors. The court is adjourned."