Chapter 10

"Wait, Mr. Potter," the new head of the DMLE said, standing. "The Minister of Magic is not the only person in the Ministry who has the power to clear your godfather's name. If you'll show me this proof, and if it does indeed prove your godfather's innocence, I'll take the matter before the Wizengamot."

Harry sat the box back down on the table and looked at Scrimgeour who was watching him, his face void of any expression. He opened the box and took out what looked to be a dead rat and laid it on the table. Looking over at Remus, he nodded.

Remus took out his wand and transfigured the rat into a man. He then levitated him to a chair and bound him with ropes.

"This is Peter Pettigrew," Harry said. "As you saw, his animagus form is a rat. He was my parent's secret keeper. He was also a Death Eater and the one who betrayed them to Voldemort. He is the murderer of the 13 muggles my godfather was accused of killing. He is also the murderer of Cedric Diggory and Amelia Bones. It was he who performed the ritual that brought Voldemort back. I know because I was there. He used my blood in the ritual." He turned to Snape. "Did you bring the veritaserum, Professor?"

Snape nodded and took a small bottle out of his pocket. Remus ended the sleeping spell, and before Pettigrew had time to figure out where he was, Snape had administered the potion. Robert Parsons moved in front of Pettigrew and began to question him.

"What is your name?"

"Peter Pettigrew."

"Are you a Death Eater?"

"Yes."

"When did you become a Death Eater?"

"The summer after I my last year at Hogwarts."

"Were you the Potter's secret keeper?"

"Yes."

"Why was it thought that Sirius Black was the secret keeper?"

"He was a decoy. Everyone was meant to think he was the secret keeper to protect me from being captured by Voldemort."

"Did Sirius know you were a Death Eater?"

"No."

"Did you kill the 13 muggles in London?"

"Yes."

"How was it that witnesses thought it was Sirius?"

"When Sirius found me in London, I accused him in front of witnesses of betraying James and Lily. Holding my wand behind my back, I severed one of my fingers with a spell, then blew up the street, transformed into my animagus form, and escaped down the sewer. Everyone thought that I was dead and that Sirius had caused the explosion."

"Where did you go from there?"

"I found a family of wizards, and one of their children took me as a pet."

"Who were the wizards you stayed with?"

"The Weasley family."

"Did they know you were an animagus?"

"No. I stayed in my animagus form for 12 years."

"Did you kill Cedric Diggory and Amelia Bones?"

"Yes."

"Did you commit all the crimes that Sirius Black was accused of?"

"Yes."

Robert Parsons looked at the other occupants in the room. "Does anyone else have any questions?"

Scrimgeour stood. "Mr. Potter, your evidence is sufficient. Mr. Black's name will be cleared, and I'll hold a press conference in the morning to announce it to the public." He turned and slowly limped out of the room, followed by Percy Weasley.

Mr. Parsons ordered Shacklebolt and Tonks to take Pettigrew into custody. "Congratulations, Mr. Potter," he said, shaking Harry's hand. "If there's anything I can do for you, let me know."

"Thank you, Sir," Harry said, and watched the head of the DMLE follow Tonks and Shacklebolt out the door.

Moody slapped Harry on the back as he left. "Good work, boy. Sirius would have been proud of you today."

"Thanks, Mr. Moody," Harry said, smiling.

"Good day, Mr. Potter," Snape said, nodding at him, and then walked out the door.

"Harry, I've never been prouder of you than I am today," Dumbledore said, patting him on the back. "But I am a bit curious about how you managed to capture Mr. Pettigrew."

Harry grinned and nodded to Remus who closed the door.

"Professor, it'll be easier for me to show you," he said, taking off his medallion and placing it on the floor. Immediately the medallion became visible and transformed into the Potter trunk.

Dumbledore ran his hand across the gold letters on the top. "It's beautiful, Harry. Where did you get it?"

"It was my grandfather's," Harry said, opening the trunk to the 4th level. "Sir, if you wouldn't mind following me, there's someone I'd like you to meet."

"Oh, it's a multi-dimensional trunk," Albus said excitedly, following him down the stairs. "I've always wanted one of these, Harry, ever since I saw Moody's."

When they arrived in the library, Harry invited him and Remus to sit, then called for Dobby to serve them some tea. "This is a very nice room, Harry," Dumbledore said, sipping his tea. "How many levels does it have?"

"Eight," Harry said. "If you have a time, I'll give you a tour."

"Oh, I wouldn't miss it for the world. Now, you said something about wanting me to meet someone?"

"Yes, Sir. If you'll excuse me, I'll get him."

As Dumbledore and Remus made small talk, Harry went into the control room. "Well," he said to his grandfather. "He's here. Should I have prepared him better? I would hate for the most powerful wizard of the age to have a heart attack in our library."

Charles laughed. "Oh, I don't think that'll happen, Harry," he said, standing. "Are you ready, Sirius?"

As the door to the control room opened, Remus advised Dumbledore to set his cup down. "You may be in for a bit of a shock," he said.

"Hello, Albus," Charles said.

The headmaster turned and saw Charles Potter and Sirius Black coming into the room. "Good Lord!" he said in amazement. "Charley? Sirius?" He shook his head at the grinning men. "I have a feeling I'm in for a very good story," he said, eyes twinkling. He stood up, went to each of the men, and gave them a hug. "Charley, Sirius, I've never been more delighted to see two people in my life."

"We do indeed have a story for you, Albus, but before that, I'd like to show you something. It'll help explain what's happened." He led Dumbledore into the control room as the others followed. Inside, they all sat and made themselves comfortable.

"Very impressive," Dumbledore said.

Charley turned on the screen above the control panel. Voldemort was sitting in front of the fire in the old Riddle Mansion, stroking Nagini. Dumbledore leaned toward the screen. "What is this? Is this like a pensieve?"

"Oh, no. You're actually seeing the present." As he spoke, a Death Eater entered the room, knelt before Voldemort, and kissed his robes.

"You called, my Lord?"

"Go tell Bella I want to see her immediately," Voldemort said.

"Yes, my Lord," the Death Eater said. He rose and left the room.

"How are you doing that?" Dumbledore asked.

"After you came into the trunk, I moved us to Voldemort's hideout. We are actually sitting on the mantle of his fireplace in his father's old house. This screen allows us to see and hear everything that's going on outside the trunk."

"But won't he detect you?"

"No. The trunk is both invisible and undetectable."

On the screen, Bella entered the room, knelt in front of the Dark Lord, and kissed the hem of his robes. "That gets a bit tiring," Sirius said.

"You wanted to see me, my Lord?"

"Yes, Bella. Wormtail is on a mission for me. He won't be back for a week. I need someone to take his place caring for my personal needs."

"My Lord, I'd be honored. What may I do for you?"

"Tea, Bella, and something light to eat. Then, I want to rest for a while. I have a busy night ahead."

"Yes, Master." Bella left the room to do her master's bidding.

"Looks like Voldemort has plans for the night," Charley said. "We'll have to stick around and find out what he's planning."

"Amazing," Dumbledore whispered. "I'd like to stay, if you don't mind."

"Not at all, Albus. We'll take shifts watching the screen so that we can each rest up before the big event."

"I need to contact Minerva to let her know that I'm not returning to the school. Is there some way to do that?"

"You can use Hedwig," Harry said. "She'll get the message to Professor McGonagall right away."

Albus frowned. "If we're in Voldemort's house, won't he see an owl leave the trunk?"

Harry grinned. "No, Sir. She'll leave the trunk by way of my window on Privet Drive. It's a little hard to explain, but she won't have to go through Voldemort's house to leave."

While Remus took the first shift in the control room, Sirius went to rest so he could take the next shift. Dumbledore wrote a note to McGonagall, and then Harry and Charley gave him the tour.

Harry got permission to show the headmaster the house elves apartment. He was very impressed with their living quarters. "So this is where you and Dobby got off to, Winky," he said. "I've wondered about you two. I'm glad you've finally found a good home."

"Thank you, Master Dumblydore Sir. Winky and Dobby is very happy here."

"I'm glad, Winky," he said, patting the little elf on the shoulder. "You deserve a good home."

In the Room of Requirement, Harry changed the room to a tenpin bowling alley where they enjoyed a game. Dumbledore bowled a perfect score. "I can't believe I'm enjoying my favorite game in Voldemort's hideout," he said, eyes twinkling merrily.

On the 8th level, Charles explained the magic used on the cells and their plans to incarcerate Death Eaters there until the Wizarding world was more secure. "We plan to hit Voldemort where it hurts the most," Charles explained. "We take away his Death Eaters; we work to stop his financing; we build and train an army; we destroy his method of immortality; we plan a way to vanquish him; and then we take out the old boy permanently," he said.

Dumbledore nodded, intrigued. "And you know the method he's used to make himself immortal?" he asked.

"I have my suspicions, and I've done some research. I think you may know something about that yourself."

"I, too, have my suspicions. Perhaps we can compare notes and see if we suspect the same thing."

"I was going to suggest that myself," Charley said. "Now, Albus, as you saw, we have 8 guestrooms. If you'd like to get a little rest before dinner, choose one, and I'll have Dobby wake you in time for supper."

"I would like to be refreshed before the evening's activities, so I think I'll take you up on that offer, Charles."