Chapter 5: The Truth Won't Necessarily Set You Free

Amelia Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, couldn't remember having such a long day ever since the last time she prosecuted an accused Death Eater. First, the Aurors in charge of finding Black reported intelligence that he's an unregistered Dog Animagus and that Peter Pettigrew, the wizard reported as another victim of the same explosion that killed those muggles, not only was an unregistered Rat Animagus but also might have faked his death. Second, her niece told her that she overheard Draco Malfoy telling his cronies that his Daddy claimed to have met Pettigrew instead of Black as a fellow Death Eater.

Lucius Malfoy then entered her office. 'Thinking of the devil.' "What can I do for you, Lord Malfoy?" She asked, hating having to refer to Malfoy as a "Lord".

Meanwhile, at Hogwarts, with his secret no longer safe, Peter "Scabbers" Pettigrew tried to leave school grounds, only to find out that the area has been warded to prevent Animagi from leaving. 'Oh, Merlin! What could be worse?'

Peter Pettigrew soon learned the worst way he shouldn't have asked for that, as he soon saw a bunch of kneazle cats, which soon noticed him and started to chase him. Watching from afar, Sirius Black, still in dog form, was enjoying the show. 'I hope the cats don't get indigestion from eating the worm.' Sirius then decided to wait until the rat is caught and then he'd reveal himself. He was so distracted and entertained watching Pettigrew running for his life he failed to notice a figure approaching from behind and casting a stunner. "Death Eater or not, you're still a fugitive, Black." Professor Scrimegour stated.

Upon seeing the cats chasing Scabbers, Harry couldn't help but feel, and comment, that several of them seemed to be Mrs. Figg's cats. "Cats are all the same." Ron commented in reply. "Bloodthirsty beasts who like tormenting innocent rats."

"Scabbers isn't so innocent if he's a murderer hiding from justice!" Hermione angrily replied.

"He's not a murderer!" Ron yelled. "The Ministry is just looking for an excuse not to capture Black. Dad says the Ministry is full of people who care more about looking like they're doing their jobs than actually doing them."

"Well, that explains Sirius Black never having a trial." A new voice said. Shocked, the Golden Trio looked around and saw a girl in Hufflepuff robes. "Hi, I'm Susan Bones. Sorry for interrupting, Harry Potter, but I felt you should know Sirius Black never had a trial for any of his crimes."

"Why would we waste time with a trial for someone who's obviously guilty?" Ron asked with no concern. "It's Sirius Black we're talking about."

"Did you really believe Professor Hagrid was the Heir of Slytherin back when he was in Azkaban?" Susan asked in reply.

"Don't you dare compare Hagrid with that murderer!" Ron angrily replied. Harry and Hermione, on the other hand, understood the logic behind Susan's reasoning. Especially Harry, who overheard Fudge explained to Hagrid about needing to be seen doing something. The fact that Hermione was processing this could be told by the fact she didn't call Ron out for not calling Hagrid "Professor Hagrid".

"Actually, Ron, I can believe Sirius Black might have been a victim of the same policy that got Hagrid in Azkaban and kept him there until the real Heir of Slytherin had been exposed." Harry replied.

"That's different, Harry!" Ron replied in exasperation. "Professor Dumbledore testified against Black."

"What did he say that prevented everyone from having enough doubts about Black's guilty to demand a trial?" Hermione asked.

"I don't know the exact words but it doesn't matter." Ron answered. "Professor Dumbledore testified against Black, therefore Black must be guilty."

The conversation was then interrupted by the Deputy Headmistress. "Mr. Potter, I need to see you in my office immediately." Harry and Professor McGonagall then went to her office. "Mr. Potter, what do you know about Sirius Black's crimes?"

"Well, I know he was a Death Eater who blew up a street, killing several Muggles and a wizard and that he never had a trial." Harry answered, shocking her with the fact he knew about Black not having a trial.

"Well, Mr. Potter, unfortunately, this is not all." She solemnly replied. "When He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named targeted your family for killing, your parents decided to use the Fidelius Charm to hide them and you. Once a Fidelius Charm is set, any secret it protects cannot be learned by anyone who doesn't learn it from the Secret-Keeper."

"But, if Voldemort…"

"Mr. Potter, don't say the name!" Minerva yelled.

"… if You-Know-Who found my parents, doesn't it mean that their Secret-Keeper betrayed them?" Harry asked.

"Yes, Mr. Potter. Back then, it was believed that Sirius Black was the Secret-Keeper and that Peter Pettigrew, the wizard believed to have been killed in the explosion, wanted to avenge your parents. However, with the revelation that Peter Pettigrew was alive all this time, we're no longer sure about what to believe. Black accuses Pettigrew of having betrayed your parents and killing those muggles and, honestly, Pettigrew having faked his death all those years gives credence to Black's claims."

Meanwhile, at an Albanian forest, a wraith felt a familiar presence. "S-s-s-s-severus?"

"Yes, My Lord."

Back at Hogwarts, the Headmaster and some Professors were welcoming some visitors at the Headmaster's office. These visitors were: Cornelius Oswald Fudge, Minister of Magic; Amelia Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement; Dolores Jane Umbridge, Senior Undersecretary to the Minister; and an Auror named John Dawlish. "Professor Shacklebolt, do you have an available vial of Veritaserum?" Amelia Bones asked.

"Yes, Director Bones." He answered.

"Auror Dawlish, are you ready to take notes of the suspects' statements?" She asked.

"Yes, Director Bones." Dawlish answered.

"In that case, Professor Shacklebolt, please administer three drops of Veritaserum on Sirius Black." Amelia Bones ordered.

The three drops were then dropped on the tongue of Sirius Black, who didn't try to refuse. "What's your name?" She asked.

"Sirius Orion Black."

"What was your occupation when you were arrested, Mr. Black?"

"I was an Auror."

"Did you reveal the Potters' location to the Dark Wizard known as He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named?"

"No."

"Then how did he learn the location if you were the Secret-Keeper?"

"Because I wasn't the Secret-Keeper."

"But Dumbledore said you were the Secret-Keeper." Cornelius Fudge said and expected for an answer. "Why didn't you respond?"

"Because Veritaserum doesn't allow me to respond to anything other than questions."

"Why did Dumbledore say you were the Secret-Keeper if you were not?" Amelia Bones asked.

"Because he didn't know about the change of plans."

"Which change of plans?"

"Because I thought I'd be too obvious as a Secret-Keeper, I convinced James and Lily to switch and use Peter Pettigrew instead of me as their Secret-Keeper."

"He's lying!" Pettigrew yelled. "He must have found a way to resist Veritaserum!"

"You'll have a chance to defend yourself, Mr. Pettigrew. Please stop interrupting Mr. Black." She ordered and then talked to Auror Dawlish. "Let it be recorded that Mr. Pettigrew interrupted Mr. Black."

"Yes, Director Bones."

"Mr. Black, did you kill twelve muggles with a single blast at the night of November the First in 1981?"

"No."

"Who did it then?"

"Peter Pettigrew."

"When you were caught at the crime scene, you were reported to having stated it was all your fault. Why would you say that?"

"Had I agreed to be the Secret-Keeper, Peter Pettigrew wouldn't have betrayed James and Lily; and, had I not tried to make him pay for that, those Muggles wouldn't have been killed."

"Did you attack Draco Malfoy in the day of 1993's Gryffindor versus Slytherin Quidditch match?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"He was trying to make Harry fall off his broomstick."

"Are you a dog Animagus?"

"Yes."

"Professor Shacklebolt, give him the antidote and then administer Veritaserum to Mr. Pettigrew."

After both orders were obeyed, she started interrogating Peter Pettigrew. "What's your name?"

"Peter Pettigrew."

"What was your occupation back when Sirius Black was arrested?"

"I worked at Magical Maintenance at the Ministry of Magic."

"Were you the Potters' Secret-Keeper?"

"Yes."

"Did you reveal the Potters' location to the Dark Wizard known as He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named?"

"Yes."

"Did you kill twelve Muggles at the night of November the First in 1981 with a single blast?"

"Yes."

"Have you deliberately done anything to make people believe you were killed by that blast?"

"Yes."

"What?"

"I cut off a finger and left it with the corpses."

"Where have you hiding yourself?"

"At the Burrow."

"What's the Burrow?"

"The Weasley family's home."

"Who else knew about that?"

"Nobody?"

"Now did you live there without the Weasleys knowing?"

"I used my Animagus form to pose as a pet rat."

"Who else besides you knew you're a Rat Animagus?"

"Remus Lupin and Sirius Black."

"When did you become a Death Eater?"

"Two months after I graduated from Hogwarts."

"Professor Shacklebolt, give him the antidote."

After the order was obeyed, Amelia Bones addressed the two Animagi. "Peter Pettigrew, you're under arrest for the following charges: membership of a terrorist organization; accessory to the murders of James and Lily Potter; accessory to the attempted murder of Harry James Potter; mass murder of twelve Muggles; framing an innocent person for the previously mentioned crimes; fleeing the crime scene; being an Animagus without proper registration; and stalking a wizarding family. Sirius Orion Black, you're under arrest for being an Animagus without proper registration and assaulting a minor. All other pending charges pressed against you are as of now dropped."

Sirius wanted to protest against the last charge but understood Lucius Malfoy would never allow her to let it slide. Amelia Bones then ordered the Aurors to take them to Ministry holding cells.

Please review.