Sorry for the nearly two years' delay in updating the story. Some recent emails notifying me of new followers and my recent rekindling of interest in story writing compelled me to continue to update the story. I assure you that this time I will see to the end of this story and not leave it on a cliffy as I did in 2018.
Everyone began to walk towards the Head Master's office but before they could get past the corridor, the elf was back with a heavy looking box which she could only be holding in her hands with a feather-light charm. Amelia flicked her wand and the box floated off Marty's hands to hover next to herself. Once the elf's hands were free, she gave a note to Amelia whose face after quickly reading it, brightened and she turned around and said, "Bertie Croaker was in the office as the news of a Champion's death seems to have reached him already. I daresay, we will find him waiting at the gargoyle, as he has taken a portkey."
Only the Minister seemed agitated about this but didn't say anything as they made their way towards the Head Master's office. There, waiting at the gargoyle guarding the office, was a man who seemed to be, though not as old as Dumbledore, but, in Harry's opinion, equally magically powerful. He seemed to radiate the same kind of aura that Dumbledore radiated.
"Hello, Bertie", greeted Dumbledore, then turning in Harry's direction, he said, "Harry, this is Mr. Bertie Croaker who works at the Department of Mysteries".
"Good Evening, Sir", said Harry.
"Good Evening, Harry. Now, are you familiar with a Pensieve and how to remove a copy of your memory from your mind?" asked Croaker.
"Well, I observed Prof. Dumbledore when I last met him. I assume one simply thinks of a memory from the beginning to the end and begins removing it while doing so?" asked Harry.
"Exactly!" said Croaker, "Now, if you please -"
He was interrupted by Prof. McGonagall, "Bertie, if you will let the lad and the rest of us into Albus' office first?"
"Oh," said Bertie, blushing.
"I see you haven't changed, my old friend" said Dumbledore, some of the twinkle returning to his eyes, which had been missing since Harry returned with a dead Cedric. "Let's go upstairs to my office."
Once there, Dumbledore looked at Harry and said, "Harry, if you will..."
"Sure and if you will permit me, Sir, I also have my memory of confronting Peter Pettigrew last year that I can show you and," here, Harry looked at Madam Bones, "which I assume will enable Sirius to get a trial, this time and under Veritaserum, his innocence will be proven".
"Definitely, Mr. Potter," said Amelia, silencing Cornelius with a look as he seemed about to interrupt. "But, first, we would like to have your memory of tonight first, after which, we will go through your memory of Pettigrew."
Harry nodded and put his wand to his temple, drawing the latest memory which was painfully etched into his mind. Once he had drawn it, he placed it into the Ministry Pensieve which Rufus had meanwhile set up on the side table. Once the memory was in, he tapped a few runes etched on a side and they glowed green. At this, he indicated that the memory was authentic. Once he said that, all the occupants of the room moved to dip their heads in the Pensieve and enter the memory.
Harry stayed in the office, not wishing to go through all that again and settled in the chair to wait. With a musical trill, Fawkes, Dumbledore's phoenix flew to him and shed pearly tears on his wounds, healing them and then settled in his lap. There was something comforting about his warm weight. He sat there, stroking the beautiful bird and waiting for the people to return.
At last, they all exited the memory and Amelia requested for something strong to drink and Dumbledore had an elf serve them all some strong tea with a dash of Ogden's Old Firewhisky.
"Now, Cornelius," said Amelia after taking a sip of her tea, turning to him," you will admit now that we have grounds to arrest all those people present at You-Know-Who's rebirth?"
"Yes, yes, you have my permission," said the Minister still in shock at seeing the truth about his chief confidante, Lucius Malfoy.
"Er, Madam Bones?" said Harry hesitatingly.
"Ah yes, Mr. Potter, I had forgotten that you had another memory to show us", said Amelia
"Well that too, but directly going to them with arrest warrants might scatter them and we also don't know where Voldemort is hiding," said Harry ignoring the flinching of the other occupants at his saying of the dreaded Dark Lord's name.
"Don't call him by his name, boy," shrieked Fudge.
"Okay, fine," said an incensed Harry, "I will call him by his birth name then. You Mr. Fudge, want to get rid of him and still are scared of even saying his name? How do you expect to fight him, if he appears in front of you. His birth name is Tom Marvolo Riddle, just in case you don't know, and also that it is an anagram of 'I am Lord Voldemort'. So, I will call him Riddle from now on. Happy?"
"How do you know that Mr. Potter?" enquired Bertie who had been quiet until now.
Looking at Dumbledore and exchanging a look, he sighed and turning around, he said, "Looks like, I will be showing you all a lot of memories today. We are in for a long night, it seems".