Chapter Two: The Truth

"But that's impossible… Peter Pettigrew is dead! Black blew him to smithereens twelve years ago!" Cornelius Fudge's mouth fell open with astonishment. He could not stop gaping.

Harry kept his eyes on Albus Dumbledore, attempting to read his expression. He was shocked but not as badly as the esteemed Minister of Magic. The woman next to the Minister seemed to be in a contemplative mood, and Harry had the distinct impression she saw him as a little liar. His instincts flared and warning bells went off in his head: he didn't like her, not one bit. However, he returned his gaze to Dumbledore, who was watching Pettigrew.

The headmaster clasped his hands on the desk. "Harry, please tell us what happened. I'm sure Cornelius would like to stay?"

The Minister nodded; his face still white from shock.

He must be having trouble digesting the fact that a supposed dead-man is alive, Harry thought.

Clearing his throat, Harry began to speak. He told them everything. How he, Ron and Hermione had gone down to see Hagrid before Buckbeak's execution, how the gamekeeper had given Scabber's, Ron's rat, back to him; how Sirius had attacked them (he could not leave out the fact that Sirius was an Animagus); how Harry, Ron and Hermione had heard the truth of 31st October 1981 from Sirius, and the revelation that Scabber's was, in fact, Pettigrew.

Once he had finished speaking Harry waited for the inevitable. He was certain Fudge would deny it. Sirius had basically said it. And he was right.

Fudge shook his head, clearly coming out of his shock for the first time. "Impossible, Mr Potter. Peter Pettigrew was killed twelve years ago by Sirius Black. He was disintegrated. Just because someone looks like a deceased person doesn't necessarily mean they are that person. I don't know how you can believe the word of an insane criminal…"

"Sirius isn't insane!" Harry shouted.

Fudge looked taken back. He hadn't expected that.

"You will not speak to the Minister like that, boy," said the woman next to Fudge.

"Now Dolores, Potter has obviously been tricked into believing Black's story. You say, Mr. Potter that Black is in the grounds at this moment?"

Harry sighed. "Yes." Why didn't the Minister believe him? Was it so hard to comprehend the truth? He had proof! Or was the Minister a complete fool who could not comprehend the fact that Peter Pettigrew was actually alive?

"Shacklebolt, Smith." Fudge indicated the two 'security guards' standing to the side. "I believe we have an escaped prisoner on the loose."

"No." Albus Dumbledore was now standing. The headmaster's expression showed the shock that Fudge refused to believe the impossible. Dumbledore would do anything in his power to ensure that Sirius was given a trial.

Fudge snapped his head round to scrutinise Dumbledore. "Come now, Albus, surely you don't believe this inane story?"

"And the fact that Pettigrew is before you doesn't convince you?" McGonagall said coldly.

"Polyjuice potion, my dear," said Fudge, tapping the side of his nose.

Was Fudge an imbecile or what? Harry could barely believe that the Minister of Magic was that incompetent.

"And if it is Polyjuice Potion, how could someone who has been dead, be faked, especially when they were blown apart?" Harry asked, his eyes glaring at the Minister. He saw with some satisfaction that Fudge had completely forgotten that fact. "There would be no samples of them left."

"Cornelius, I will not allow you to send an innocent man back to Azkaban. Peter Pettigrew is before you. Make your decision, but be warned, if you decide to take action against Sirius Black then I am afraid I will have to interfere," stated Dumbledore, calmly and quietly.

But it was enough to convince Fudge that something had to be done, but not in the way he wanted it to be dealt with.

Seconds passed as they waited: Harry's breath stalled in his chest.

Harry watched as Fudge's eyes flickered from the woman, Dolores, to the two others in the corner, and then to Harry, who glared at him, daring him to disagree with the headmaster's decision to protect Sirius.

"Very well, Albus, I will question this man now," said Fudge reluctantly. He had no choice really as it was obvious that the Minister had no desire to work against Dumbledore.

Taking out his wand, Dumbledore waved it at Pettigrew who floated to the ground. The gag and bonds were charmed away. Harry could see Pettigrew glancing at everyone in the room, fear evident in his eyes. He was shaking.

"Have you got any Veritaserum, Albus?" the Minister asked.

"Professor Snape has got a store of it in his classroom cupboard," offered Dumbledore. "Minerva, do you mind retrieving the potion for us?"

The Deputy Headmistress swept from the room. She returned five minutes later, holding in her left hand a bottle of the potion. Approaching Pettigrew she poured the liquid into his mouth. He did not offer up any resistance, as if he was already resigned to his fate.

The questioning began immediately. Harry sat down, keeping his gaze on the traitor before him.

"Are you Peter Pettigrew?"

"Yes," the traitor answered.

Fudge paled. "Were you James and Lily Potter's Secret Keeper?"

"Yes."

"When did you become James and Lily Potter's Secret Keeper?"

"Twenty-Fourth of October 1981."

"Did you betray the Potter family's whereabouts to He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named?"

"I did."

"Are you stating for the record that you are a Death Eater?"

"Yes."

"Why were you made Secret Keeper?"

"Sirius knew You-Know-Who would be coming after him. He wanted to protect James, Lily and Harry. He thought it would be best if everyone thought he was the Secret Keeper, while I stayed safe. Only James and Sirius knew that I was the real Secret Keeper."

Harry could tell that Fudge was stricken by the fact that what he thought was impossible was in fact turning out to be true. He allowed a small smile. As long as the Minister saw sense, Sirius would be given a trial.

"What happened on November 1st 1981 when Sirius Black supposedly killed you?"

"I was walking down a street in London, making my way to a safe place, when Sirius found me. I shouted out to the whole street that Sirius had betrayed James and Lily. I blew apart the street with my wand behind me back, killing the Muggles. I cut off my finger, before transforming into a rat."

"Where did you go after that?"

"I joined the sewer rats. I found a Wizarding family to take me in. I have stayed with them since."

"Are you an unregistered Animagus?"

"Yes."

"When did you become an Animagus?"

"During my Fifth Year at Hogwarts in February 1976."

"Did anyone else become an Animagus with you?"

"James and Sirius did."

"Why did you decide to illegally become Animagi?"

"We wanted to help Remus when he transformed every Full Moon. We knew we couldn't keep him company as humans, but as animals we could."

Fudge glanced at Dumbledore. "I have no further questions," he said softly. "Shacklebolt, Smith, take Mr Pettigrew to the Ministry. Put him in a secure holding cell and ensure there are anti-Animagus wards constructed around it."

"Yes sir," saluted Shacklebolt.

McGonagall delivered the antidote, before following the two men out of the office as they led Pettigrew away.

Harry kept his eyes on Fudge waiting for him to speak. The Minister was deliberating what to say. After a few moments he did.

"I am forced to admit that you are telling the truth. It is an unbelievable occurrence, of course," sighed Fudge. "I don't know how the public are going to react when this gets out. I will organise a trial for Mr Black, providing of course that he turns up. Since we don't have him in custody, it will be impossible to clear him of the crimes unless he testifies himself."

"Sirius Black is currently within the school grounds. You have my word, Cornelius, that he will attend the trial. He will not be going anywhere."

The Minister could only nod. "I will send word of the date. I will also order the Dementors to withdraw from the school." With a final nod to the headmaster, Cornelius Fudge departed from the office with the woman in tow.

"Professor, Sirius needs to know what's going on," said Harry.

"Very well, Harry," smiled Dumbledore. "I will have Professor McGonagall escort you outside when she returns. Sirius will remain in seclusion within the Castle, but you can still visit him. I am very proud of what you have achieved tonight. You have uncovered the truth and spared an innocent man from a terrible fate."

"Thanks Professor," said Harry, his face twitching slightly, "for everything."

To be continued...