Hermiones choice
Harry Potter and the rights thereof never have been and never will be mine! (runs away sobbing)
And a message to the Fan Fiction Reading group at Warragul Macca's. Wow! I didn't know I had fans like you! Thank you. And you had no idea that the lady at the next table, commenting on some of your thoughts, was the author. Some were right and others were WAY off! Wait and see which ones. (Grin)
This is a continuation of the same day in the last chapter.
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Amelia Bones knew that her day had just gotten even longer. After she had finished questioning Peter Pettigrew, Amelia had all of the Weasley's present checked by Healer Whycroft and was very thankful that they were found to be free of any contaminations. She then invited the Weasleys to watch the trial before Ron and Percy were taken back to school.
As they were walking to the Wizengamot chamber they encountered Harry and Hermione making their own way to the courtroom with Professor McGonagall.
"Hi Ron, Hi Percy. I am glad to see you are alright." Hermione said, smiling at Ron.
"We were all worried about you both." Harry said. "Some of the older students explained what had happened and what it all meant."
"I'm fine." Ron said quietly. "Nothing bad's happened. But we are going to see the trial."
"Harry has to be here for something else. Do you want to sit together? Professor McGonagall said I could be here to help Harry. Maybe you can too?" Hermione asked shyly.
Seeing that Hermione was trying to offer an olive branch to Ron, Minerva said quickly "That would be a good idea. Mr. Percy Weasley, perhaps you could explain what is happening for the others? They may not understand everything otherwise."
"Yes Ma'am." Percy said quietly. He had been shaken to realize how easily he and his family had been taken in by that imposter. As they found seats Percy started to explain in his best lecture voice. "The Wizengamot is made up of fifty-one seats. That way there is always a two faction majority…."
Harry, Hermione and Ron sat with long suffering looks on their faces, obviously praying for the start of the trial, as the adults tried to hide their amusement.
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Everyone stood silently as Albus Dumbledore walked into the chamber in his role of Chief Warlock. "I hereby call this emergency session of the Wizengamot to order. Madam Bones, as you called this meeting, please state the agenda." He intoned formally.
"Thank you Chief Warlock. I have several issues to raise today. I wish to begin with the trial of a man who was presumed to be dead. I am calling for the trial of the Ministry of Magic verses Peter Pettigrew."
"Hem hem! Excuse me, did you say that we are having a trial for a dead man?" Deloris Umbridge interrupted.
"Madam Umbridge is out of order! Clearing your throat is not an approved manner of asking to speak to the assemblage and I, again, remind you that you are here as a courtesy to assist the minister and not as a member. You will remain silent, as will all non-members!" Dumbledore said, frowning at the errant witch. "Please continue Madam Bones."
"Bring in the prisoner!" Amelia ordered.
Once Peter was confined to the prisoners' chair she continued. "As Mr. Pettigrew has been declared deceased, he is to be questioned under the influence of Veritasirum."
"Agreed!" Dumbledore stated.
Peter was quickly dosed with the potion and Amelia began the interrogation.
"What is your full name?" Amelia asked.
"Peter Patrice Pettigrew." He replied in a monotone.
"Patrice?" She asked with a suppressed smile.
"My mother wanted a daughter."
"Have you ever committed any crimes?"
"Yes"
This caused a stir among the crowd.
"What are the most serious crimes you have committed?"
"I am an unregistered animagus, I know of two other unregistered animagi and have not reported them, I have stolen food and money from many people, I have killed and raped several people, I framed Sirius Black for the murder of James and Lilly Potter and several muggles and I betrayed James and Lilly Potter to my Lord Voldemort."
There were several gasps and muffled screams at the final confession.
"How did you betray the Potters?"
"I was the secret keeper to their location. I told my Lord the secret and led him to the house."
Harry was shaking with anger hearing that. There were too many people to get through for him to try and leave the room so Hermione, seeing his distress, did the only thing she could think of to calm him down. She hugged Harry and then held his hand tightly. Professor McGonagall saw this and smiled approvingly.
Amelia continued the questioning. "Were you aware that your actions could and probably would lead to the deaths of all three Potters?"
"Yes. I wanted all of them dead."
Harry and several witches and wizards jumped to their feet yelling.
"Order! Order! Any more outbursts and I will clear the court!" Dumbledore shouted, pounding his gavel repeatedly. People sat quickly, as they did not want to miss anything here today.
"Mr Pettigrew, why did you want the Potter family dead?" Amelia asked.
"James always had anything he could have wanted. Good looks, the family that everyone envied, a 'best friend' that he loved so much that he named Black godfather to his brat rather than ME, money… I wanted that too but couldn't get it. Who would want me if you can have James bloody Potter instead? So I got rid of him." Peter started giggling insanely.
Harry was sickened by what he was hearing but bravely sat listening to the bile coming out of the traitor's mouth, trying not to react. Hermione and Ron moved as close as possible to Harry to offer their silent support.
"How did you frame Sirius Black?"
"When he cornered me in Blackpool I yelled that he betrayed the Potters and cut my finger off and cast a 'bombarda' at the ground. I think I hit a gas pipe or something because it was a big explosion. Much bigger than I expected. I turned into my rat form and ran away. I thought it was funny you imprisoned the wrong person for so long."
"How did you live after that?"
"I found a family of wizards after a few days and one of their brats kept me as a pet."
"Who did you murder?"
"Marline MacKinnon, Edgar Bones and Robert McGonagall."
"How did you kill them?"
"I used the Killing curse."
"Why?"
"Because I thought it necessary and for fun. Marline was engaged to Sirius Black and I knew she was a virgin. I wanted to spoil her for him. She was such a screamer. She would have been able to identify me so I got rid of her. Bones, because he saw me when my mask fell off and I didn't want him to identify me and McGonagall was because he was in the area and I knew who it would hurt most."
"Who are the other unregistered animagi that you know of?" Amelia asked, needing to concentrate on anything else other than her brother's death.
"James Potter was a large stag. Sirius Black is a black dog that looks like a grim."
"I see… lords and ladies of the Wizengamot. Do we need to hear any more? Or should we pass judgment now?" Amelia asked turning to the assorted members. "The crimes this person has confessed to this far are enough for a sentence of life in Azkaban, if not the Veil!"
"I think that we have heard enough. The DMLE can question him further at their leisure to see if you can close any unsolved cases." Dumbledore said firmly. "Does anyone object?"
There was total silence in the courtroom.
"We will vote now. Please light your wands for 'Guilty' and leave your wand unlit for innocent." Instructed Dumbledore.
The chamber was suddenly very well lit.
The clerk announced "Three unlit, forty-eight lit."
Dumbledore look solemnly at the members. "With a clear majority, the vote is Guilty. As the prisoner has confessed to multiple counts of using an Unforgivable, murder, rape and theft I now call on you for sentencing. Please vote with your wand in the following ways. Raised lit for the Veil of Death, raised unlit for Azkaban or do not raise your wand to abstain. Please vote now."
The room again lit up but not as bright as before.
The clerk stated "One abstention, thirty-six lit and fourteen raised unlit."
"Very well. The Prisoner, Peter Patrice Pettigrew, shall be remanded into the care of the DMLE for further questioning and then shall pass through the Veil of Death on the last day of this calendar month. May Magic have mercy on your soul!" Dumbledore intoned as he struck the gavel. "Take him away."
After Pettigrew was led out of the room Lucius Malfoy, as proxy for the Black seat, stood to speak.
"After hearing that persons' testimony, I have seen that we have several other charges to hear today. As he cannot answer to this court I vote that we fine the Potter estate for James Potters crime of being an illegal animagus." Lucius said. "And also…"
"OI!" Harry shouted, jumping to his feet. "Haven't you people ever heard of the statute of limitations? Or remember that my dad has been dead for the last ten years? What about the fact that this looks like you, Sir, are personally trying to steal from a prominent family, that just happens to be headed by an orphaned child?"
There were cries of support for Harry throughout the courtroom from members and audience equally.
"Order! Silence in the courtroom." Dumbledore thundered. In a softer, but still firm voice he continued. "Heir Potter, please try to refrain from any further such outbursts. Madam Bones, what is your view on this matter?"
"Heir Potter is correct that we cannot charge James Potter posthumously, especially when the 'evidence' is hearsay. We can question Sirius Black personally about his animagus abilities later." Amelia said firmly.
Whispers between the members were getting louder as she stated "I now call for the next case. The Ministry of Magic verses Sirius Black!"
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As they were waiting for Sirius to be brought in, Ron turned to Harry and said "Harry, mate, I am so sorry. I didn't know any of that! And he slept in my bed! Just think, he could have hurt you and we wouldn't have known until it was too late, if ever!" Ron was horrified at the thought.
Harry just held out his hand and said "None of us did. If all of the adults were fooled why should we be different?"
"I know. Just… I have been a prat lately. I'm sorry. You too Hermione. I shouldn't have called you names. I'm sorry." He finished, looking ashamed of himself.
"Forgiven… this time!" Hermione replied.
"Yes, I forgive you too. But if you do it again, all bets are off!" Harry said sternly. He then laughed and pulled Ron into a hug. "If you do, I might even sic the twins on you!" You could count the freckles on Ron's nose with how pale he went from Harry's threat.
Arthur and Minerva watched approvingly. They hoped that this may be a new start for the three friends.
"Ron," Arthur said quietly. "This is the sort of change I was asking you to make. I won't be sending you to Aunt Muriel's, but I want to see you continue to try and improve. Professor, I would like to keep receiving Ron's progress reports. I have been very happy reading them."
"Certainly Arthur. I think that I am even happier writing about the improvements I have been seeing." Minerva said with a smile as Ron sagged with relief.
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Sirius Black was having trouble believing that he was finally getting his day in court.
After confronting Peter Pettigrew, he had no memory of anything until he woke up in Azkaban. He had always known that he did not deserve to be where he was but after waiting for several months to even be questioned, he gave up hope of being given a trial. He knew that there had been too many catastrophes caused by his family to keep hoping that the system would be fair to him, just because of his last name. Guilt by association sucked!
The day that he had been taken from his cell he had thought was to be his last, until he had seen who was there to escort him to the ministry. Alastor 'Mad eye' Moody would never let a prisoner be mistreated no matter who or what they had done. Sirius may live to see another day.
He was quietly taken to a cell in the detention block of the ministry of magic. It wasn't much but Sirius thought it palatial compared to Azkaban. It had a proper bed with a warm blanket, a table with a slightly padded chair and, luxury of luxuries, a shower! Alright, four showers a day might have been a little excessive, but it was so good to feel clean! He had been lucky to get a bucket of questionable water and a rag to wash with once a week before. He was fed real warm food three times a day rather than cold thin gruel once a day and, most importantly, there were no Dementors.
Then after twelve days of sitting in the cell, it was finally time.
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This day is TBC