Author's Note: This chapter is an omake where Alastor Moody is tried.
Chapter 23: Moody's Trial
"Sirius, you must reconsider." Dumbledore pleaded. "You cannot believe Alastor would kill Athena."
"At least he won't be forced to wait nearly a whole decade for his trial and, in comparison to Moody believing me guilty…"
"Sirius…"
"Lord Black."
"Lord Black, I'm certain Alastor wouldn't have killed your wife." Dumbledore said.
"Just like you once were certain I would?" Sirius maliciously asked.
"I admit I made a mistake but the evidence seemed clear." Dumbledore replied.
"That's why there's a law saying every accused criminal should be allowed a trial, Headmaster." Sirius pointed out. "Just in case something has been overlooked."
"Headmaster, you and Moody lied about me having been killed because you thought I'd be better off away from people related to me through my father." Acquila commented. "That and how you easily condoned Crouch's decision to deny him a trial suggest the both of you are biased against the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black. I wonder if I'll have to become a real Death Eater to have a chance of not being sent to Azkaban as one."
Dumbledore was desperate. "No, Acquila! I've learned from my mistake."
"We'll see about that." She replied.
"Acquila, I know it's odd for me to say that, but some things mustn't be joked about." Sirius advised her.
"I know but they deserve it, Dad." She replied.
"Lord Black, could you please convince Alastor to drink Veritaserum?" Dumbledore asked.
"Headmaster Dumbledore, could you please make a pig fly without magic?" Sirius jokingly asked in reply. "At least tell me it's not from a batch made by Snivellus."
"Severus has given me enough reason for me to believe he genuinely regrets being a Death Eater, Sirius." Dumbledore argued.
"Something Moody knows about?" Sirius asked and the expression on Dumbledore's face made it clear that the answer's 'no'. "And you expect Moody to drink a potion made by Snivellus? That Moody would drink any potion made by someone other than him at all is already hard enough to believe."
"Point taken, Lord Black." Dumbledore sadly replied.
"As for your initial request, I couldn't do anything either way and he deserves it for his role on my wrongful imprisonment." Sirius said. "I still feel betrayed by the fact he'd not defend my right to a trial."
The next day, the trial started. "Alastor Moody, also known as 'Mad-Eye', you've been charged with conspiracy to commit the murder of Athena Black nee McKinnon." Fudge declared. There were fellow Aurors confirming he was hunting Death Eaters with them back when Athena was killed so he's got an alibi to keep him from being considered the killer himself. "You would also be charged with faking Acquila Black's death and falsely claiming an inheritance that legally belongs to her but my predecessor granted you immunity. What do you plead?"
"I'm innocent and you should be ashamed for suspecting me!" Moody declared.
"Isn't that true that the victim's death resulted on you inheriting a fortune and keeping it for yourself until it was revealed that her daughter wasn't really dead?" Fudge asked.
"Yes, but…"
"Isn't that true that you knew you were lying when you claimed Acquila Black was dead?" Fudge asked.
"I did it to protect her!" Moody protested.
"From what?" Fudge asked.
"From her father's family." Moody answered.
"Why did you believe she needed to be protected against them?" Fudge asked.
"Because she came from a marriage they didn't approve." Moody explained.
"Couldn't you have pushed for a trial to see if Sirius Black was really a criminal or not before taking such an extreme measure?" Fudge asked.
"I was so certain of his guilt I didn't consider the possibility of him being innocent." Moody remorsefully explained.
"You were the lead investigator on the case and claimed to have reason to believe Athena Black was killed by Death Eaters on Sirius Black's orders." Fudge commented. "Which reasons did you have to believe that?"
Moody was even more ashamed now. "I thought he was a Death Eater and betrayed the Potters to You-Know-Who, Minister."
"Were you in charge of investigating those crimes as well?" Fudge asked.
"No but I had no doubts because I thought the evidence seemed clear." Moody explained.
"Considering the new development that showed his innocence, I must ask: was the murder of Athena Black really investigated at all back then?" Fudge asked.
"No." Moody sadly answered. "I just assumed Black guilty."
"And you're supposed to be one of our best Aurors." Fudge commented with disdain. "If you're really innocent, you must be incompetent as an investigator."
"I know." Moody had to admit it.
"Lord Black, do you have anything to say?" Fudge asked.
"Yes, Minister." Sirius replied. "I demand Veritaserum."
Most Wizengamot members approved the demand.
"Alastor Moody, did you kill Athena Black?" Fudge asked.
"No."
"Did you command someone to kill Athena Black?" Fudge asked.
"No."
"For how long did you plan to withhold Acquila's inheritance and keep the Wizarding World believing her dead?" Fudge asked.
"I didn't plan anything. It was all Albus Dumbledore's idea."
"And for how long was the hoax supposed to last?" Fudge asked.
"Until it was time for her to attend Hogwarts."
"And then what?"
"And then hopefully she wouldn't have any direct ancestors to legally prevent Andromeda from taking the girl in."
"Was Andromeda Tonks involved?"
"No."
"Then why her?"
"She's the only Black we could trust to raise her right."
Moody was eventually given the antidote and the Wizengamot declared him innocent. "Moody, had you not retired by now, I would have you sacked for your incompetence." Fudge commented.
After being released, Moody met Sirius. "Was it necessary to use Veritaserum, Black?" Moody asked.
"Yes, it was and you shouldn't complain since you were treated better than I was." Sirius replied.
"Well, I'm just glad it's over." Moody commented.
"Not yet." Sirius replied as he saw a goblin approaching Moody and delivering him a document.
"Really, Black?"
"Don't blame me after everything you did, Mad-Eye." Sirius replied.
End omake.