A/N - JKR owns the idea, all of these characters, and pretty much
everything in England from what I hear. I only own the idea.
Chapter 26 Intense Interrogations
"YOU!" Sirius spat out as he rose to get out of his seat.
"Sirius," Dumbledore turned to him. "I must ask you to take your seat. We need to hear his testimony. You of all people know the importance of a fair trial." Harry remembered back in the cave last year when he had first learned that his godfather was never given a trial but instead sent straight to Azkaban for life. Harry couldn't imagine anyone to go to the wizards' prison without a trial. But then again, he couldn't imagine spending twelve years there for a crime you didn't commit. He wasn't sure what he thought his godfather would do next. He wondered if it was possible that Sirius hated that man more than Harry did.
Sirius slowly sat back down. From looking at everyone's faces, it was quite obvious to Harry who already knew about this suspect and who was just now seeing his face for the first time in many years.
The four ministry wizards led the guest to the stool in the space in the middle of the four tables. After seating their charge, each of the four of them backed away in to one of the four corners that the tables made. Although some people were whispering, everyone was watching the proceedings and staring at the man now sitting on the stool. When the talking subsided, Dumbledore finally spoke.
"Mr Pettigrew --- you are charged with multiple crimes against the wizarding world to include enabling the death of Lily and James Potter by Voldemort. What, if anything, do you have to say for yourself?"
Pettigrew was obviously at a loss. More than one person in this room told him that he would be killed the instant he tried to transform into a rat. And now that all these people had seen him he knew that he had no chance of going underground again. He couldn't stop thinking about his lack of options and so he just sat there --- crying. He was considering whether or not he should just go ahead and transform and end this. He was brought back to reality by his former headmaster's cold and demanding voice.
"Mr Pettigrew," Dumbledore continued. "Your sobbing is not a satisfactory answer. Does this mean that you have nothing to say for yourself?"
"P --- Pl --- Please. Protect me from my master, the Dark Lord. I'll tell you anything you want to know. I can help you. Just keep me alive. I know things. I can help." He was quiet for a second or two doing nothing except glancing around the room until he saw Harry. "Harry, please, tell them how you didn't let them kill me last time out of respect for your mum and dad. Tell them --- "
"Enough! Mr Pettigrew," Dumbledore's voice was terse and cold. "You will not speak to him. You will only speak to me and you will only speak to me if you have something useful to tell us, not to plead for your life. Now do you have anything useful to say to me?"
Dumbledore paused allowing Harry to look around the room without being afraid that he'd miss something. Hermione and Ron were dumbfounded. They had never had occasion to see the headmaster this mad before. Unfortunately Harry had as recently as the end of last year when the headmaster saved him from young Barty Crouch. Harry knew that Dumbledore could be even angrier. Dumbledore continued.
"Unlike in muggle courts Mr Pettigrew, we do not make deals here before we hear what you have to say. You will give us your information and then your fate will be decided. Need I remind you that besides the Potters, we know you kidnapped Bertha Jorkins and were instrumental in her death? We also know that you killed Bruno, a ministry security wizard this very fall. You have a lot of work to do to convince us that your life, or perhaps even your soul, is worth saving."
As Dumbledore said the word "soul", Pettigrew started whimpering uncontrollably. He knew that the old wizard was referring to the soul- sucking kiss that the dementors could place on an individual. He was starting to wonder which would be a worse fate, the dementors or the Dark Lord.
Dumbledore continued, "We do not have the time for this. We have more people to question. And I can guarantee, Mr Pettigrew, that the first person to talk will get the best sentence reduction. Now I ask you for the last time, do you have anything else to say to us or not?"
"I don't know. I c --- ca --- can't. He'll kill me."
"WE'LL KILL YOU!" Sirius answered from his seat. He was quieted by a glare from the headmaster. Harry noticed that although Dumbledore quieted his godfather, he didn't contradict what he had said.
"He'll t --- tor --- torture me. He'll --- "
"SILENCE!" Dumbledore commanded. "Security wizards, take him away. More will be joining him shortly, I can assure you." Pettigrew had no intention of going silently.
"But wait, Ron I was a good rat wasn't I? I was loyal to you and your entire family." Ron looked angry and disgusted. Mr and Mrs Weasley looked completely mortified. Dobby had just sat through the entire ordeal with his head in his hands. Pettigrew was looking around the table trying to find someone else to plead to. Unable to find any other people he thought might be sympathetic he turned back to Harry.
"PL --- PLEASE tell them that you think my life should be spared. You're a nice boy. You know that your dad wouldn't want me killed; you said it yourself. Tell themmmmm --- !" Pettigrew was still screaming that last word when the four ministry wizards dragged him screaming from the Great Hall. They could hear him screaming even after the doors were closed again.
Dumbledore turned to address the people seated at the tables. "As I have already said, many things have happened tonight. One of the things that happened is that Peter Pettigrew was captured alive and brought here for questioning. As you all have no doubt noticed, Sirius Black has joined us tonight. At my invitation he has actually been staying here at Hogwarts since the summer." Dumbledore paused while everyone turned to look at Sirius and then back to him.
He continued, "The most condemning evidence against Sirius was that he killed Pettigrew. Well as we all just saw, that could not have been the case. Minister Fudge declined my invitation to witness these proceedings for himself although he does know about Pettigrew. After much discussion, he issued this decree declaring Mr Sirius Black a free man and this letter of apology as well as a check as a small token of regret for the twelve years worth of unjust imprisonment this man faced. He not only lost his best friends but then had to suffer the injustice of being wrongly convicted for their death." He walked over to Sirius and handed him the papers and the check.
"Sirius, you're free! You're actually free. I can come live with you now." Harry was smiling from ear to ear. Hermione and Ron came running over and were almost as happy as Harry and Sirius were. Sirius, for the first time as a free man, was hugging his three favorite teen-age witch and wizards. Harry actually thought he was happier now than he had ever been, even happier than the day he found out he was a wizard. Dumbledore was trying to get the group's attention again. Finally he continued speaking.
"Yes yes. I assure you no one is happier for Sirius than I am but we must get back to business. While our young friends regain their seats I need to ensure that everyone in this room know how much Sirius has done in the last couple of years to fight against Voldemort. More than once he's risked his life and I can assure you all that he is not now and was not ever anything except a true friend to the Potters and the wizarding community as a whole. And when time permits, I think we all owe this man our apologies and our thanks."
Harry thought Sirius was starting to cry. He didn't blame him but he did Sirius the courtesy of looking away. Hagrid clapped Sirius so hard on the back to congratulate him that Sirius smacked his head on the table. However that had the bonus effect of taking his mind off everything except where he was and the headache he would have in the morning. Sirius needed to focus on tonight's proceedings. They were important and if a little thing like having his head slammed into the table could help him do that, then he was glad for it.
Dumbledore continued, "I can assure you, Sirius, that we will have an appropriate celebration when time permits but for now we must continue interrogating the prisoners."
Sirius just nodded, still not quite able to find his voice. Harry was not the only one in the room wondering who these other prisoners were. Dumbledore once again nodded at Madame Pomfrey who left the room and returned with 5 wizards.
This time the presumably dark wizard in between the four ministry security wizards was wearing a Death Eater's mask. As happened the first time, he was placed on the stool in the middle of the room. Dumbledore nodded for the security wizards to unmask the suspect.
"Nott!" Several people said at the same time. There weren't too many surprised looks on the various faces around the tables. Hagrid, Harry noticed, looked particularly pleased at this turn of events. Harry was pretty sure he remembered the occasion where he had seen this particular Dark Wizard before and was glad for Hagrid.
"I see." Dumbledore paused and glanced around the room ending on Hagrid before beginning the interrogation. "Mr Nott, you are charged with several crimes against the wizarding world including supporting Voldemort and trying to kill several wizards including myself. Do you have anything to say for yourself?"
Nott seemed to be thinking about which course of action to take. "It must have been the Imperius Curse again. I don't remember anything except being at my house and then being here under guard. I don't even know what I did that's causing you to treat me this way but it can't be justified. You've made a mistake. I work for the ministry. I demand you release me at once."
"I see" was all Dumbledore said. It seemed to Harry that Nott grabbed the first lifeline he could think of and then tried to sound more and more convincing as he worked out the story in his head. He wasn't fooling anyone when he started sounding indignant toward the end. Harry, Ron and Hermione were the only one in the room who were too young to remember what it was like the first time Voldemort tried to take over. Each of them could see how confusing it was to know who to believe and who not to. For the first time, they started to understand how so many dark wizards had escaped Azkaban.
Dumbledore motioned to the security wizards. "We're through with this one. Take him away."
"You'll pay for this. You have no authority over me. You cannot send me away. You have no authority over me."
"I assure you, I can." And with that the doors to the Great Hall closed behind him. A few seconds later some more security wizards brought in another masked Death Eater. Harry was starting to wonder how many security wizards there were in all. He was beginning to doubt that there was anyone left back at the ministry. His musings were interrupted as his attention shifted to the new suspect.
They went through all the same processes and then unmasked him.
"Avery." A few people exclaimed. Dumbledore repeated the process of telling him what he was charged with and asked what he had to say for himself. Avery had nothing to say except for echoing Nott's sentiments about Dumbledore having no power over them. Avery was in the Great Hall for less than five minutes before Dumbledore sent him out and had the next wizard brought in.
Harry realized how hungry he was when he heard someone's stomach growling from a few seats down. Harry didn't know who it was until he saw Mrs Weasley jab her husband in the ribs with an elbow. Ron sniggered, obviously glad for the temporary comedic relief, and winked at Harry.
The ritual continued and when the next suspect was unmasked a couple of people murmured "Crabbe". Crabbe went a different route. He said not one word for the entire time that he was in the room. The only difference in final results was that he was in the room less time than the previous suspects.
Dumbledore sent him out and had the next one brought in. No one was surprised when Goyle was unmasked next; apparently the fathers were as close as their sons were. He also did not utter a single word while he was in there and he also wasn't in the room very long.
Four more ministry wizards brought in another masked suspect. Before he was unmasked Dumbledore said to the crowd, "this is the last wizard that was captured tonight. After we finish his interrogation we'll take a short recess and meet back here after fifteen minutes. Refreshments will be available and I must insist that everyone partake. I would also advise that we take those fifteen minutes to talk of other, more pleasant matters. Many of you have had a long day and I think perhaps we are in for many more in the near future."
He waited for the security wizards to place the last masked Death Eater in the stool. He motioned for them to unmask him.
Everyone in the room, including Dumbledore, gasped as they stared at the final unmasked Death Eater sitting in the stool.
A/N - still just plodding along; tell me what you're hoping will or won't happen. Moonlight single-handedly saved Mrs Weasley's life from the werewolf.
A/N - I'm not planning on doing much this weekend. I have a paper to write and I'm also tinkering with the first few chapters again.
Chapter 26 Intense Interrogations
"YOU!" Sirius spat out as he rose to get out of his seat.
"Sirius," Dumbledore turned to him. "I must ask you to take your seat. We need to hear his testimony. You of all people know the importance of a fair trial." Harry remembered back in the cave last year when he had first learned that his godfather was never given a trial but instead sent straight to Azkaban for life. Harry couldn't imagine anyone to go to the wizards' prison without a trial. But then again, he couldn't imagine spending twelve years there for a crime you didn't commit. He wasn't sure what he thought his godfather would do next. He wondered if it was possible that Sirius hated that man more than Harry did.
Sirius slowly sat back down. From looking at everyone's faces, it was quite obvious to Harry who already knew about this suspect and who was just now seeing his face for the first time in many years.
The four ministry wizards led the guest to the stool in the space in the middle of the four tables. After seating their charge, each of the four of them backed away in to one of the four corners that the tables made. Although some people were whispering, everyone was watching the proceedings and staring at the man now sitting on the stool. When the talking subsided, Dumbledore finally spoke.
"Mr Pettigrew --- you are charged with multiple crimes against the wizarding world to include enabling the death of Lily and James Potter by Voldemort. What, if anything, do you have to say for yourself?"
Pettigrew was obviously at a loss. More than one person in this room told him that he would be killed the instant he tried to transform into a rat. And now that all these people had seen him he knew that he had no chance of going underground again. He couldn't stop thinking about his lack of options and so he just sat there --- crying. He was considering whether or not he should just go ahead and transform and end this. He was brought back to reality by his former headmaster's cold and demanding voice.
"Mr Pettigrew," Dumbledore continued. "Your sobbing is not a satisfactory answer. Does this mean that you have nothing to say for yourself?"
"P --- Pl --- Please. Protect me from my master, the Dark Lord. I'll tell you anything you want to know. I can help you. Just keep me alive. I know things. I can help." He was quiet for a second or two doing nothing except glancing around the room until he saw Harry. "Harry, please, tell them how you didn't let them kill me last time out of respect for your mum and dad. Tell them --- "
"Enough! Mr Pettigrew," Dumbledore's voice was terse and cold. "You will not speak to him. You will only speak to me and you will only speak to me if you have something useful to tell us, not to plead for your life. Now do you have anything useful to say to me?"
Dumbledore paused allowing Harry to look around the room without being afraid that he'd miss something. Hermione and Ron were dumbfounded. They had never had occasion to see the headmaster this mad before. Unfortunately Harry had as recently as the end of last year when the headmaster saved him from young Barty Crouch. Harry knew that Dumbledore could be even angrier. Dumbledore continued.
"Unlike in muggle courts Mr Pettigrew, we do not make deals here before we hear what you have to say. You will give us your information and then your fate will be decided. Need I remind you that besides the Potters, we know you kidnapped Bertha Jorkins and were instrumental in her death? We also know that you killed Bruno, a ministry security wizard this very fall. You have a lot of work to do to convince us that your life, or perhaps even your soul, is worth saving."
As Dumbledore said the word "soul", Pettigrew started whimpering uncontrollably. He knew that the old wizard was referring to the soul- sucking kiss that the dementors could place on an individual. He was starting to wonder which would be a worse fate, the dementors or the Dark Lord.
Dumbledore continued, "We do not have the time for this. We have more people to question. And I can guarantee, Mr Pettigrew, that the first person to talk will get the best sentence reduction. Now I ask you for the last time, do you have anything else to say to us or not?"
"I don't know. I c --- ca --- can't. He'll kill me."
"WE'LL KILL YOU!" Sirius answered from his seat. He was quieted by a glare from the headmaster. Harry noticed that although Dumbledore quieted his godfather, he didn't contradict what he had said.
"He'll t --- tor --- torture me. He'll --- "
"SILENCE!" Dumbledore commanded. "Security wizards, take him away. More will be joining him shortly, I can assure you." Pettigrew had no intention of going silently.
"But wait, Ron I was a good rat wasn't I? I was loyal to you and your entire family." Ron looked angry and disgusted. Mr and Mrs Weasley looked completely mortified. Dobby had just sat through the entire ordeal with his head in his hands. Pettigrew was looking around the table trying to find someone else to plead to. Unable to find any other people he thought might be sympathetic he turned back to Harry.
"PL --- PLEASE tell them that you think my life should be spared. You're a nice boy. You know that your dad wouldn't want me killed; you said it yourself. Tell themmmmm --- !" Pettigrew was still screaming that last word when the four ministry wizards dragged him screaming from the Great Hall. They could hear him screaming even after the doors were closed again.
Dumbledore turned to address the people seated at the tables. "As I have already said, many things have happened tonight. One of the things that happened is that Peter Pettigrew was captured alive and brought here for questioning. As you all have no doubt noticed, Sirius Black has joined us tonight. At my invitation he has actually been staying here at Hogwarts since the summer." Dumbledore paused while everyone turned to look at Sirius and then back to him.
He continued, "The most condemning evidence against Sirius was that he killed Pettigrew. Well as we all just saw, that could not have been the case. Minister Fudge declined my invitation to witness these proceedings for himself although he does know about Pettigrew. After much discussion, he issued this decree declaring Mr Sirius Black a free man and this letter of apology as well as a check as a small token of regret for the twelve years worth of unjust imprisonment this man faced. He not only lost his best friends but then had to suffer the injustice of being wrongly convicted for their death." He walked over to Sirius and handed him the papers and the check.
"Sirius, you're free! You're actually free. I can come live with you now." Harry was smiling from ear to ear. Hermione and Ron came running over and were almost as happy as Harry and Sirius were. Sirius, for the first time as a free man, was hugging his three favorite teen-age witch and wizards. Harry actually thought he was happier now than he had ever been, even happier than the day he found out he was a wizard. Dumbledore was trying to get the group's attention again. Finally he continued speaking.
"Yes yes. I assure you no one is happier for Sirius than I am but we must get back to business. While our young friends regain their seats I need to ensure that everyone in this room know how much Sirius has done in the last couple of years to fight against Voldemort. More than once he's risked his life and I can assure you all that he is not now and was not ever anything except a true friend to the Potters and the wizarding community as a whole. And when time permits, I think we all owe this man our apologies and our thanks."
Harry thought Sirius was starting to cry. He didn't blame him but he did Sirius the courtesy of looking away. Hagrid clapped Sirius so hard on the back to congratulate him that Sirius smacked his head on the table. However that had the bonus effect of taking his mind off everything except where he was and the headache he would have in the morning. Sirius needed to focus on tonight's proceedings. They were important and if a little thing like having his head slammed into the table could help him do that, then he was glad for it.
Dumbledore continued, "I can assure you, Sirius, that we will have an appropriate celebration when time permits but for now we must continue interrogating the prisoners."
Sirius just nodded, still not quite able to find his voice. Harry was not the only one in the room wondering who these other prisoners were. Dumbledore once again nodded at Madame Pomfrey who left the room and returned with 5 wizards.
This time the presumably dark wizard in between the four ministry security wizards was wearing a Death Eater's mask. As happened the first time, he was placed on the stool in the middle of the room. Dumbledore nodded for the security wizards to unmask the suspect.
"Nott!" Several people said at the same time. There weren't too many surprised looks on the various faces around the tables. Hagrid, Harry noticed, looked particularly pleased at this turn of events. Harry was pretty sure he remembered the occasion where he had seen this particular Dark Wizard before and was glad for Hagrid.
"I see." Dumbledore paused and glanced around the room ending on Hagrid before beginning the interrogation. "Mr Nott, you are charged with several crimes against the wizarding world including supporting Voldemort and trying to kill several wizards including myself. Do you have anything to say for yourself?"
Nott seemed to be thinking about which course of action to take. "It must have been the Imperius Curse again. I don't remember anything except being at my house and then being here under guard. I don't even know what I did that's causing you to treat me this way but it can't be justified. You've made a mistake. I work for the ministry. I demand you release me at once."
"I see" was all Dumbledore said. It seemed to Harry that Nott grabbed the first lifeline he could think of and then tried to sound more and more convincing as he worked out the story in his head. He wasn't fooling anyone when he started sounding indignant toward the end. Harry, Ron and Hermione were the only one in the room who were too young to remember what it was like the first time Voldemort tried to take over. Each of them could see how confusing it was to know who to believe and who not to. For the first time, they started to understand how so many dark wizards had escaped Azkaban.
Dumbledore motioned to the security wizards. "We're through with this one. Take him away."
"You'll pay for this. You have no authority over me. You cannot send me away. You have no authority over me."
"I assure you, I can." And with that the doors to the Great Hall closed behind him. A few seconds later some more security wizards brought in another masked Death Eater. Harry was starting to wonder how many security wizards there were in all. He was beginning to doubt that there was anyone left back at the ministry. His musings were interrupted as his attention shifted to the new suspect.
They went through all the same processes and then unmasked him.
"Avery." A few people exclaimed. Dumbledore repeated the process of telling him what he was charged with and asked what he had to say for himself. Avery had nothing to say except for echoing Nott's sentiments about Dumbledore having no power over them. Avery was in the Great Hall for less than five minutes before Dumbledore sent him out and had the next wizard brought in.
Harry realized how hungry he was when he heard someone's stomach growling from a few seats down. Harry didn't know who it was until he saw Mrs Weasley jab her husband in the ribs with an elbow. Ron sniggered, obviously glad for the temporary comedic relief, and winked at Harry.
The ritual continued and when the next suspect was unmasked a couple of people murmured "Crabbe". Crabbe went a different route. He said not one word for the entire time that he was in the room. The only difference in final results was that he was in the room less time than the previous suspects.
Dumbledore sent him out and had the next one brought in. No one was surprised when Goyle was unmasked next; apparently the fathers were as close as their sons were. He also did not utter a single word while he was in there and he also wasn't in the room very long.
Four more ministry wizards brought in another masked suspect. Before he was unmasked Dumbledore said to the crowd, "this is the last wizard that was captured tonight. After we finish his interrogation we'll take a short recess and meet back here after fifteen minutes. Refreshments will be available and I must insist that everyone partake. I would also advise that we take those fifteen minutes to talk of other, more pleasant matters. Many of you have had a long day and I think perhaps we are in for many more in the near future."
He waited for the security wizards to place the last masked Death Eater in the stool. He motioned for them to unmask him.
Everyone in the room, including Dumbledore, gasped as they stared at the final unmasked Death Eater sitting in the stool.
A/N - still just plodding along; tell me what you're hoping will or won't happen. Moonlight single-handedly saved Mrs Weasley's life from the werewolf.
A/N - I'm not planning on doing much this weekend. I have a paper to write and I'm also tinkering with the first few chapters again.