Chapter Two: Trial
Betrayer of the Wizarding World Caught
Special Correspondent Rita Skeeter
Betrayer of the Wizarding World, Peter Pettigrew, was caught today by a one friend and confidant of Sirius Black. Sirius Black, second in command of the Aurors, had led a team of Aurors to a muggle alley in London. They trapped him where he started to throw the Dark Arts to the Aurors.
The Aurors ran for cover before Sirius Black started to duel him. Sirius was injured by a few cutting curses before stunning Peter. He had tried to frame the Head Auror for the incident that happened at the house. He denied all accusations and asked Peter why he did it. His answer was not surprising to hear that is was for power and money.
Peter Pettigrew is currently at the Ministry of Magic awaiting trial for betrayal, attempted murder on an Auror, the use of the Dark Arts, and being a Deatheater. His trial hasn't been announced to the public but I, Rita Skeeter, have found out that he is going to have his trial this morning in a closed court session where I will give an exclusive account of events that are going to take place.
"James, is it true that the trial is today?"
"Yea, Lils, we have been summoned to give testimony against our old friend Peter."
"When?"
"At ten this morning, I have already arranged that the boys will stay with Minerva, since Arbella has been summoned, too."
Lily looked down at the sleeping forms of her world. She started to tear up and James held her. She cried and told her concerns and worries to James. He listened and said that everything will be all right. Nothing would happen to her children. They heard a knock on the door. James went over to see Minerva McGonagall in the doorway. James motioned for her to come in. Lily had went to dress for the trial.
"They haven't woken up yet, Lily says."
"Good luck James. I know that this will be difficult for the both of you."
"I will, I just now have to worry about Sirius. He wants a chunk of Peter when I talked to him this morning. It took every self-restraint he had not to kill him."
"I know I would want to kill the man that tried to kill my godchildren."
"I want to, too. However, I have Lily and the boys to think about."
"How mature of you. James. I bet you'll make an excellent father."
"I can only hope."
Lily came back into the room and was ready. They exchanged pleasantries before the two went to the fireplace. They left in the bright green fire when the twins woke up. They saw Minerva and began to cry.
When the couple arrived at the Ministry of Magic lobby, there were swarms of reporter that came over to the Potters. They kept the hands together and gave no comments to the press. They were lead to the elevator by Sirius and Remus. They arrived to take their seats when Dumbledore and the other members of the Wizarding Court arrived. They all took their place before Dumbledore stood up at his head chair.
"Good morning everyone, I wish we weren't here but celebrating and going home to families but this is not the case. This morning we have the accused, Peter Pettigrew on trial for attempted murder on Ministry officials, betrayer of the Potters, being a Deatheater, and providing the secret location of Potter Mansion on the intent of killing Messrs Evan and Harry Potter as well as Ms. Arbella Figg. Bring out the accused to the charges mentioned earlier."
Two Dementors brought in the pale, but fat form of Peter Pettigrew. He was placed in the chair where the chains came alive and retrained him. He looked worn with his dead, blue eyes and pale complexion. He tensed when he caught the sight of his former friends. Sirius looked like he could kill, Remus was cracking his knuckles menacingly, Lily had her lips pursed that looked like her older sister Petunia, and James had a glare that if looks could kill, he would be six feet under and his soul was burning in Hell. His attention was diverted back to Dumbledore when he spoke.
"Peter Pettigrew, you stand accused to the following charges listed from the most recent to the least: Attempted murder on several Ministry officials, use of the Dark Arts, betraying the secret location of Potter Mansion, and finally being a Deatheater. How do you plea?" Peter thought for the moment then spoke.
"Not guilt on the account of the Imperius Curse." The court was in an uproar. Sirius was yelling at him for lying. Dumbledore finally took out his wand and pointed it in the air. Red and gold sparks flew out of his wand. "SILIENCE!" He gave a glare at Peter for causing the chaos.
"Very well, you will get to plead your case after the other testimony where you will be give a truth serum and some one reading your mind to make sure you are telling the truth. Sirius Orion Black, if you would please step forward to give witness of the event of his capture."
Sirius rose from his seat and gave his wand to Dumbledore before a chair was provided before the court. An orderly came forward and gave three drops of truth serum to Sirius. Sirius's eyes became unfocused before Dumbledore started the questioning.
"What is your full name?"
"Sirius Orion Black."
"What position do you hold in the Ministry of Magic?"
"I am second in command of the Aurors to the Ministry."
"What happened this morning at the time of six o'clock until the time the accused was brought into the Ministry of Magic?"
"We had heard reports from several informants of spotting the suspect in the Leaky Cauldron. I gathered a team of Aurors for his capture. We entered the Leaky Cauldron just as the suspect was about to leave through the muggle exit. He spotted us and ran out the door. We gave chase for several minutes until we cornered him into a Muggle Alley where there was a dead end. I placed a anti-apparating ward to prevent his escape. We then tried to approach the suspect but back off when he started to throw the Dark Arts at us. We then started to throw stunners at him only to be pushed back further. I ran towards the suspect and we started to dual. He started to shout out accusations of my betraying the Potters to the Dark Lord. I denied all accusations. I was nicked by several cutting hexes and barely missed the Killing Curse before I had stunned him. I gathered the wounded and the stunned suspect. My partner made a portkey for the team to evacuate. I stayed behind for the obviators. When they arrived, I told them of the area that needed modified memories before I came back to Headquarters."
"Are the accusations of being in league with the Dark Lord Voldemort true?"
"No."
"That will be all. Thank you." Dumbledore gave the antidote and gave him back his wand. Sirius glared at Peter before going back to his seat in the court.
"Arbella Figg, please come forward to give the next testimony."
Arbella released her hand from Lily's before going to Dumbledore and giving her wand to him. She sat down in the same chair as Sirius had once taken. Dumbledore nodded and the orderly gave the serum to her. Her eyes became like Sirius before, unfocused.
"What is your full name?"
"Arbella Sara Moody Figg."
"What is your position in the Ministry?"
"I am third in command of the Aurors to the Ministry of Magic."
"What happened the night that Dark Lord Voldemort attacked?"
She gave the same information as before when she spoke to in the Potter's Mansion. Everyone gasped at her revelation of being under the Imperius Curse and forced to show where the boys' room was.
"Thank you, Ms. Figg." She was given the antidote and given back her wand. She was shaking of remembering last night. Lily gave her friend a confident squeeze to her hand.
"May I next have James Potter to the stand?" Dumbledore asked. James stood up and walked up to Dumbledore. He gave his wand before sitting. He was given the truth potion before the questioning started.
"Please state your full name."
"James Harrison Potter."
"What position do you hold in the Ministry?"
"I am head of the Department of Mysteries and the head of the Hit Wizards in the Ministry."
"Who was the secret keeper of the Potter Mansion at the time of the attack?"
"Peter Pettigrew."
"Why him?"
"Sirius had convince Lily and I to switch secret keepers before the ritual had taken place."
"Who was supposed to be the secret keeper?"
"Sirius."
"Why did he make you change so soon before the ritual?"
"He said that he was to obvious of being the keeper and said that no one would suspect of Peter of being our keeper."
"How long ago was the ritual was preformed?"
"Three days before."
"Thank you, James." He was giving the antidote and his wand back.
"May I next have to testify, Lily Potter."
She gave her wand and sat in the chair. She was then given the potion and started to be questioned. She gave the exact same information as her husband. She was released from the potion and given back her wand. When she had sat beside her husband and best friend, Dumbledore rose.
"We have heard all the testimony against Peter Pettigrew and now is the time of truth. Peter Pettigrew, you will be given the truth potion and will have myself watching in case of lies. The deputy mistress of the courts will question you. Madam Bones, if you would please."
"Thank you, Mr. Dumbledore. Please give the potion to Mr. Pettigrew and I'll begin."
Dumbledore went down in front of Peter. He took the chair and faced Peter. Peter was giving the potion and was directed to look directly at Dumbledore's eyes. Dumbledore told them that he will speak when Peter is lying. Madam Bones began the questioning.
"What is your full name?"
"Peter Julius Pettigrew."
"Did you fire upon Aurors when approached?"
"Yes."
"Did you run away from Aurors when spotting them from the Leaky Cauldron?"
"Yes."
"Is all that was testified earlier by Sirius Orion Black the complete and whole truth?"
"Yes."
"Were you James and Lily's secret keeper at the time of the attack?"
"Yes."
"Were the testimonies from James Harrison Potter and Lily Amanda Evans Potter completely and whole truths?"
"Yes."
"Did you give the key to the location of the Potter's Mansions to Dark Lord Voldemort?"
"Yes."
"Did you betray the Potters?"
"Yes."
"Are you a member of the Deatheaters ranks and a follower of Dark Lord Voldemort?"
"Yes."
"Were you persuaded by power and money to join the ranks of the Deatheaters and follower of the Dark Lord Voldemort?"
"Yes."
"Were you in any shape or form under the Imperius Curse when you became a follower of the Dark Lord Voldemort?"
"No."
"Did you freely give all information and act upon your accord while a Deatheater?"
"Yes."
"Why did you become one in the first place?" Wormtail struggled. He was fighting against the potion. Dumbledore took a sharp intake of breath of what he found out to be the reason. He relented a few moments later to give it up.
"I became one because I was promised to be given Lily Potter and all of the Potter's fortunes. She was to be my wife. I was going to raise her sons to be the Dark Lord's followers. I was to become undersecretary to the Ministry of Magic. He told me that he had the Minister of Magic in his ranks already and that I could become an assistant to him."
The crowd was in an uproar again. They were all shocked to hear that the Ministry of Magic was in league with the Dark Lord Voldemort. Madam Bones immediately called for the arrest of the Minister of Magic. Sirius Black had jumped out of his seat to the call of the next arrest. He ran out of the courtroom. When the deputy was able to get control again she went back to the questioning.
"Are you saying that the Minister of Magic is a Deatheater?"
"Yes."
"Who else do you know that are Deatheaters?"
"Lucius Malfoy, Vincent Crabb, George Goyle, Rookwood, Avery, Nott, Lestrange, Barty Crouch Jr., Severus Snape, Kataroff, Zabini, Greengrass, Shenlong Chan, Undersecretary of the Ministry, Ludo Bagman, Head of Department of Transportation, and Undersecretary of the Department of Mysteries."
"Dumbledore, are all of these true?"
"Yes, Madam Bones. I'm afraid it is."
"In that case, Ms. Figg, please inform Aurors Headquarters. Mr. Potter, please inform the Hit Wizards. I want these men alive unless it is deemed too dangerous. If that is the case, eliminate them." Both of them nodded before leaving the courtroom. Remus came over and sat with Lily.
"Thank you, Mr. Pettigrew. That will be all." She nodded and the orderly gave him the antidote. Then the orderly helped the headmaster back to his head seat of the court. The headmaster looked very tired right at the moment but continued on with the trial.
"Ladies and gentleman of the jury, I let you go now and go over what you have heard now. When you have come to a decision, send the orderly back and we will reconvene the trial. Ladies and gentleman of the jury, you are dismissed. Everyone else, we will take an hour lunch then recess until the members of the jury decide the fate of the accused. Guards."
Two Dementors came back into the room and took Peter out of the courtroom. Everyone else started to flood the way to the door. Dumbledore, Lily, and Remus stayed until the crowd cleared up to get through to Madam Bone's office where she had lunch waiting for them. They ate quietly until there was a knock on the door. James, Sirius, and Arbella were in the doorway. They sat down and began to eat before James spoke.
"I'd caught my spy before he was able to leave the room and had sent out for the arrest of Lucius, Vincent, and George. They were going to be the most difficult so I chose them."
Sirius spoke next. "I'd caught the Minister off guard when I had arrested him. I also took in the undersecretary since she looked suspicious too. Good thing to it seems since I left there was arrest warrant for her too."
Then Arbella spoke, "Alastor had sent all their teams for the rest of them. He knows that Severus is a spy for the Light but is bringing him in anyway. He is sending Sirius and I on the chase for the Lestranges. He also mentioned to tell you James if he could have some of the Hit Wizards to come with us. I agree because of the Lestranges' reputation."
"Sure, I send a team to you."
Madam Bones finally spoke, "Barty Crouch Senior is heading the next court session. He already called it before even a case was on the docket. He'll get the Minister of Magic, the undersecretary of magic, the undersecretary of Department of Mysteries, and the Head of the Department of Transportation. By the end of that case, he would become the most like man in the Ministry of Magic. Since we currently don't have one, it is my duty to be temporary Ministress of Magic until there has been one chosen by the votes."
Another knock on the door, this time Sirius answered the door.
"Sorry to disturb your lunch but they have reached for a decision."
"Thank you Mark, we'll be out in ten minutes." Madam Bone said. Mark nodded then walked out closing the door behind him.
Ten minutes later, everyone was finished with their lunch and headed back to the courtroom. Dumbledore and Madam Bones took their spots at the bench. James, Lily, Arbella, Sirius, and Remus all took their previous spots from earlier that day. When the courtroom had all of the occupants, Dumbledore stood.
"Bring in the accused." Two Dementors came in dragging Peter.
"Peter Pettigrew, you have been accused of the charges earlier mentioned. Do you have anything that you wish to add or comment before we hear the jury's verdict?"
"All I wish to say is how sorry I am." The group glared at him before Dumbledore took possession of the floor again.
"Ladies and gentleman of the jury, have you reached a verdict in the matter of Mr. Peter Pettigrew?" Dumbledore asked.
One middle aged woman stood up, she had flaming red hair and had a motherly look to her. "Yes, we have sir. In the matter of the verdict of Mr. Peter Julius Pettigrew, we find him guilty on all count."
"So you one, so say you all?" Dumbledore asked. The jury nodded. "So be it. Mr. Peter Julius Pettigrew, you are hereby guilty of all charges. You will serve a lifetime sentence in Azkaban. Since you have provided names of fellow Deatheaters, you will not be given the Dementor's Kiss. In this matter of the Wizarding World against Mr. Peter Julius Pettigrew, this case is closed."
Peter was kicking and screaming from the Dementors' grips. It did no good since he was still being lead out to Azkaban. Dumbledore, James, and Lily all went back to Hogwarts to move on with their lives.
A/N: What do you think about this chapter? Read/Review Please. I wanted something more to do with Wormtail then just the first version of killing himself. I still need him later on.
Next Chapter: Harry's younger years and siblings