Disclaimer: I own nothing but my spiffy new leather trench coat!
AN: Sorry this chapter took a touch longer to get out than I intended but what can I say, I was busy. Either way, here it is, the trial.
HAPPY HUNTING!
Chapter 13: What a Trial!
Harry woke up on the morning of the trial more anxious and scared than he was even before the first event of the Triwizard Tournament. Once Harry, Gohan, and Sirius were ready and sure they had everything they climbed into one of Bulma's capsule jets and took off. Hours later they arrived in Great Britain.
At 10:30 am Sirius walked into the Ministry of Magic carrying Wormtail in his jar with Harry on one side and Gohan on the other. As soon as they stepped foot inside chaos broke out. Photographers took pictures, reporters asked questions, and aurors rushed forward. When they finally got down to the Wizengamot meeting room 10 minutes later they were accompanied by about half the Department of Law Enforcement. As soon as Sirius, Harry, and Gohan were through, the doors shut themselves. They sat down at the table marked defense and waited for the others to come in. At exactly 10:45 am the Wizengamot walked in through a door behind their table and Madam Bones came in and sat at the table marked persecution.
Dumbledore tapped a book with his wand and said, "Can everyone please states his or her name and reason for being here so it will be recorded in the trial records book."
The Wizengamot went first each stating his or her name and that they were members of the Wizengamot. Then came the others.
"Madam Arielle Bones, persecution."
"Sirius Black, defendant."
"Harry Potter, to make sure justice is truly found."
"Gohan Son, here to ensure nothing happens to Harry or Sirius and moral support."
"Is that everyone?" (D)
"No, we also have this rat, Wormtail aka Peter Pettigrew. Here as evidence." (H)
There was a collective gasp heard throughout the room.
"Let's review the charges. You, Sirius Black, are charged with betraying the Potters to Voldemort, killing Peter Pettigrew, killing 13 muggles, and escaping from Azkaban. How do you plea?" (MB)
"I plea innocent to all but the last charge, escaping from Azkaban." (S)
"Would you care to explain why you believe yourself to be innocent of those charges?" (MB)
"I am innocent of those charges because I was not the Potters secret keeper. I convinced James to make Peter the secret keeper at the last minute because I though no one would suspect him all believing me to be the secret keeper making him safer. I didn't kill Peter, though I admit I still want to, because he shot a spell splitting the road behind his back killing those 13 muggles and disappeared down into the sewers in his animagus form of a rat." (S)
"How do you intend to prove these claims?" (MB)
"I will allow you to use Veritaserum to check the validity of these claims and only these claims. Harry and Gohan have offered to make sure you only ask these questions before applying the antidote." (S)
Madam Bones walked forward and gave Sirius three drops of Veritaserum.
"Mr. Black, are you guilty of any of the charges pressed against you?" (MB)
"Yes." (S)
"Which ones?" (MB)
"I am guilty of breaking out of Azkaban." (S)
"Is that it?" (MB)
"Yes." (S)
"Who was the Potters' secret keeper?" (MB)
"Peter Pettigrew, also known as Wormtail." (S)
"Why did the Potters tell everyone that you were their secret keeper?" (MB)
"So no one would think to capture Peter for the information." (S)
"Did you kill Peter Pettigrew?" (MB)
"No, he is still alive." (S)
"Did you kill those other 13 muggles?" (MB)
"No." (S)
"Who did?" (MB)
"Peter did." (S)
"What happened to Peter?" (MB)
"He transformed into a rat, his animagus form, after cutting off a finger and disappeared into the sewers." (S)
Madam Bones applied the antidote to Sirius.
"You claim you have Peter Pettigrew with you, bring him up here." (D)
Harry walked forward holding Wormtail in his jar and handed the jar to Dumbledore. Dumbledore enlarged the jar and cast a spell that made Wormtail turn back into Peter Pettigrew. He then cast a spell that made it impossible for Peter to turn into a rat and vanished the jar. Peter was forced into a chair and Madam Bones gave him Veritaserum.
"Are you Peter Pettigrew?" (MB)
"Yes." (PP) (AN: don't you think pp is fitting for Wormtail?)
"Were you the Potters' secret keeper?" (MB)
"Yes." (PP)
"Did you betray the Potters to He-who-must-not-be-named?" (MB)
"Yes." (PP)
"Did you kill those 13 muggles when you escaped from Sirius?" (MB)
"Yes." (PP)
"Did you cut off your finger?" (MB)
"Yes." (PP)"
"So you betrayed the Potters, killed 13 muggles, and framed Sirius Black?" (MB)
"Yes." (PP)
Madam Bones gave Peter the antidote and handcuffed him.
"All in favor of dismissing all charges against Sirius Black pardoning him?" (D)
"Aye." (Wizengamot members)
"All in favor of charging Peter Pettigrew with the betrayal of the Potters to Voldemort and killing 13 muggles?" (D)
"Aye." (Wizengamot members)
"Sirius Black, you are free to go. Peter Pettigrew, you are given life in Azkaban." (D)
Madam Bones walked up to Sirius and said, ""Mr. Black, the ministry would like to compensate you for your time in Azkaban by giving you 1,200,000 galleons, 100,000 for each year in Azkaban. We would also like to return to you the guardianship of Harry Potter. Off the record, could you tell us how you managed to escape from Azkaban without and outside help?"
"Off the record, I am an illegal animagus and escaped by walking past the dementors as they delivered my meal in animal form." (S)
"Would you mind telling me your animal form?" (MB)
"I am not going to tell you, I'll show you!" (S)
Sirius checked to make sure no one else was around and transformed into a big, black, grim-like dog.
"Sirius, come on, we need to go check with my friends and I don't want to wait here forever." (H)
"Yeah, yeah. I'm coming." (S)
AN: I'll post chapter 14 as soon as I'm done writing and then typing it. Seeing as it is 12:30 am I am aiming to update it by later today but don't get your hopes up. I tend to sleep in till around 11 or 12 and then I have a sleepover tonight starting at 4-5 ish. Then another one tomorrow at my Grandmothers! With my cousin who's 3.5 months younger than me! I love having a big family!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS! I LOVE FIREWORKS!