Chapter 35 - HE IS INNOCENT!
Daphne POV
Tracey and I sprinted towards the Headmaster's office. We got their quite fast thanks to the secret passageways Harry showed us throughout the castle. Once we got to the entrance to the Headmaster's office, we encountered a slight problem. The gargoyle required a bloody password. We then just stood there stupidly in front of the gargoyle, realizing that we couldn't get in. Tracey and I were about to leave when a voice spoke up from behind us.
"May I help you Miss Greengrass and Miss Davis?"
Tracey and I both turned around at the same time and saw Dumbledore standing there. I quickly spoke up,
"Professor Dumbledore! Harry said for us to meet you in your office, he said there was something important he needed to show all of us".
Dumbledore gave a look of concern.
"Did Harry say what this important thing was?"
I then shook my head.
"No sir, he said he didn't have time explain it, he would explain its importance once he brought whatever he went to find to your office".
Dumbledore nodded, he then walked up to the gargoyle.
"Fruit tips" said Dumbledore.
The gargoyle then opens up its wings and Dumbledore gestured for me and Tracey to following up. Once inside his office, Tracey and I both gasped. It was beautiful, the dozens of portraits on the wall, the telescope and other magical objects in the room. Then I noticed a familiar bird perched on his desk. It was Dumbledore's phoenix! Fawks! She took me and Harry out from the Chamber the first time I went down there with him! Fawks trilled a melodious note as it looked at me. At that moment as she looked at me, she disappeared in a ball of fire. A split second later, Hermione and Harry appeared behind us in a ball of flame. I noticed Harry carrying a small cage of some sorts.
"Ah Harry, I see you have not come alone this time. What might I do for you?"
Harry then smiled back and placed the small cage on his desk.
"Sir… I believe I just caught Peter Pettigrew". Dumbledore looked completely shocked.
"Harry, this is most unexpected… are you… absolutely certain?"
Harry nodded. He waved his hand and unlocked the small cage, the rat scurried out and made a run for it. Dumbledore fastly pulled his wand out and shot a stupify that precisely stunned the rat. Harry then pulled his wand out and pointed it at the rat. Slowly the rat changed and out came a person! Dumbledore eyes widened, he then quickly casted out his patronus.
"Find Professor Lupin and tell him to come to my office immediately, also find Professor Snape and tell him to come with Veritaserum".
The silvery phoenix then flew through the Headmaster's office walls and disappeared. Dumbledore turned his attention back on the man lying on the floor. With an effortless flick of his wand, he bound him in ropes and then waved his hand to have him seated in a chair. Harry began telling Dumbledore his theory on how Pettigrew was here all along, hiding in his Animagus form when he was interrupted by Professor Lupin and Snape entering the office. They both looked incredibly shocked when they saw the man bound in ropes on the chair. Professor Lupin then shakily spoke up.
"Professor...is this, is this really…"
"Pettigrew? Indeed. I was most disturbed as to finding out that he is in fact alive. It seems Harry has managed to out him and brought him to us".
Professor Lupin then turned to look at Harry before returning his gaze back to the Headmaster.
"Then Headmaster… if Pettigrew is alive and in hiding… does that mean that Sirius was-"
"We cannot confirm anything yet, Severus, the Veratasirium, it is time we got to the bottom of this".
Snape the quickly strode towards the stunned and passed out Pettigrew. He yanked open his mouth and administered two drops of Vertasirium. Snape then nodded at Dumbledore. Dumbledore then waved his hand and Pettigrew woke up. He started to squirm in his bindings. Dumbledore then started firing off questions at Pettigrew.
"What is your name?"
"Peter Pettigrew!"
He then squirmed. He must have realized he has been dosed with Veratasirium.
"Was Sirius Black responsible for the deaths of Lily and James Potter!"
"No! He was not the secret keeper!"
Pettigrew then tried to bite his lip down to shut his mouth. The man then squealed out in pain as he bit his lip.
What a coward! Does he not have any dignity at all?!
"Who was the secret keeper for the Potters then?"
"Me!"
Dumbledore then stood at full height, straightening out his posture. All trace of the grandfatherly twinkle in his eyes was gone.
"Did you sell out Lily and James Potter to Voldemort!"
Tracey, Hermione and I twitched slightly when Dumbledore said the Dark Lord's his name.
Pettigrew then reluctantly said, "Yes".
Professor Lupin looked livid, he pulled his wand out to probably kill Pettigrew when Dumbledore quickly disarmed him.
"Remus! I understand what you must be feeling! But based on what he just said, your friend, real friend, Sirius Black is innocent! We need him alive to stand trial to free Sirius!"
Remus noticeably calmed down at Dumbledore's words. Dumbledore then handed him back his wand.
"Remus, if you are feeling up to it, I would like you and Harry to escort me the Ministry. We will, of course, be taking Mister Pettigrew here with us. I will invoke an emergency meeting in the Wizengamot as Chief Warlock to call a trial immediately. I will need Harry and you there as additional witnesses".
Professor Lupin and Harry both straightened there posture. They gathered around Dumbledore, Professor Lupin having a firm grasp on the rope bound Pettigrew's shoulder. Before leaving, Dumbledore then turned to me.
"Miss Greengrass, could you please inform Professor Mcgonagall of my temporary leave?"
I bobbed my head up and down. Dumbledore smiled, the grandfatherly twinkle back in his eyes.
"Thank you Miss Greengrass… Now, off we go".
With that, Dumbledore grasped both Harry and Professor Lupin's arms. With Lupin holding onto Pettigrew's shoulder, they formed a four-man chain. Fawks then flew over and landed on Dumbledore's shoulder, and in a burst of flame, they were gone.
Harry POV
I was standing in a room just of outside courtroom ten. The trial was about to begin. Dumbledore just won the vote by a landslide on the Wizengamot to reopen the case on Sirius Black. With evidence of Peter Pettigrew himself present and both Professor Lupin and I willing to testify as witnesses, anyone who wanted a giant red target on their back would have voted against reopening the case.
I inwardly laughed, for justice to be achieved, it still had to bend to the political interests of people within the government… It was pathetic in a way…
"That is why I became a founder of a school Harry and taught students. During our time Harry, there was no guaranteed safety for Wizard and Witches. There was no extremely well established Ministry of Magic or the Aurors brigade force. It was just a few Wizards here and there that acted as guards or officers. They weren't trained for combat. Those things were developed during my time with the three other founders at Hogwarts when we created a curriculum to teach people magic".
Really? That is amazing Godric! I just find that hard to believe because of how corrupt and bigoted the Ministry seems today...they seem more interested in putting each other down then protecting the wizards in Britain.
"Indeed… However, once upon a time, the Ministry was not like this. It didn't tighten down control and make a huge fuss about blood purity. It was because back in the day, the Wizarding population was slowly decreasing with how many Witch hunts were present amongst muggles. It wasn't until when I was around ninety-seven years old, that the Ministry of Magic finally became powerful and could begin doing its responsibilities in helping Wizard and Witches. Before that many people sought out Hogwarts and the nearby village of Hogsmeade as a place a refuge. The outside world was still hunting Witches and Wizards at that time".
So Hogwarts was literally one of the supporting pillars of creating our Wizarding society today?
"In a way it is Harry, however, I am disappointed in how society turned out. Salazar, although he despised muggle-borns, never dared to underestimate them, he simply didn't want to be associated with them. Although he did put a bloody basilisk in the school... However, it seems like your current society has taken his values for the worse… They have invented all sorts of derogatory terms and have various laws set in place by the higher-ups to restrict muggle-born opportunities in Wizarding society".
I was about to respond to Godric when Dumbledore and Professor Lupin entered the room, followed by two Aurors with a shackled Peter Pettigrew.
"Shall we?"
I nodded, the three of us then entered the courtroom. Professor Lupin and I walked to a set of seats near the center floor and sat down. Dumbledore meanwhile stood near the center with his hands clasped behind his back as Peter Pettigrew was dragged in and shackled to a chair. The courtroom hall then started being filled. Multiple people in dark red robes began filling in and sitting down. Then a woman dressed in a black robe stood up at the podium. He seemed angry. Once all the seats were filled, the woman at the podium cleared his throat.
"Good evening honorary members of the Wizengamot, today we gather at the emergency meeting requested by the Chief Warlock to reopen the case regarding Sirius Orion Black's murder of twelve muggles, and Peter Pettigrew… If any member wishes to disagree with this assembly, please do so now ".
She then looked around to see if any dared challenge or question the reopening of this case.
"Very well, the case of Sirius Orion Black is now reopened on the 18th of March, 1994. Judge, Amelia Susan Bones, Head of Department of Magical Law Enforcement"
She cleared her throat again before continuing.
As per tradition, Chief Warlock, you have the floor first".
She then gestured for Dumbledore to begin.
The hearing was over the moment it began. Dumbledore's evidence of Pettigrew's very existence followed by a confession through the administration of Veritaserum easily won him many, if not all the votes from the Wizengamot.
After establishing these facts, he then sealed the case by having me and Professor Lupin do witness testimonies. This squashed any chance for someone like Malfoy to try and take advantage of this situation and use it as leverage as both Professor Lupin and I confirmed Pettigrew was an illegal Animagus. This served to add fuel to fire and cemented a unanimous vote from the Wizengamot to clear Sirius Black of all charges.
"The votes are in, with a unanimous vote, the Wizengamot immediately moves to recognize Sirius Orion Black is innocent. All charges are effectively and immediately dropped, the dementor manhunt is to be withdrawn as well, and Mister Black will be given 10,000 galleons amnesty for his unjust time in Azkaban. Whilst Mister Pettigrew will serve a lifelong sentence in Azkaban for his numerous war crimes and his active participation with Death Eaters".
The judge then banged the gravel twice. Right after, the hall erupted with discussion as Pettigrew was escorted out by the Aurors. Then as I was leaving the hall, I saw a man staring at me with a smile.
It was Daphne's Dad! Cyrus!
I gave him a nod before smiling back and leaving with Dumbledore and Professor Lupin.
When Dumbledore, Professor Lupin and I traveled by phoenix back to Hogwarts, I was surprised when I saw Daphne and the big black dog in the Headmaster's office.
How did they even get in?
Professor Lupin immediately approached the dog.
"Padfoot… you are free… we got him! We got the filthy rat! I am so sorry… I-"
The big black dog then changed and out came a man that was so thin that you could see the outline on his bones. His face was paler than snow and his eyes bloodshot. His hair was in shambles and his beard was long and gruff. Professor Lupin didn't hesitate to embrace him in a hug despite his appearance. After they separated, Sirius Black then looked at me and slowly limped towards me.
"Harry… Harry Potter…"
His voice was hoarse and the sound strained out. I then leaped at him and brought him to a tight embrace. Later on Dumbledore and everyone else helped me get Sirius to the hospital wing. Poppy looked shocked when she saw Sirius Black and drew her wand immediately. Dumbledore quickly waved her off and told her it was okay. He then asked Poppy to start the recovery healing process for Sirius.
"Hey...Harry, the bed in the corner, please... I used to lie there often with your Dad, James, in the bed next to me..."
Both Professor Lupin and I laughed openly at his statement.
"Well… I usually sleep there… I am not sure if I want you dirtying the sheets…"
Sirius then broke into a grin. I helped over to the bed and he layed down. Poppy then quickly walked over, without even asking for Sirius' permission, force-fed him potions. She then casted some spells to heal the bruises and some of the scars.
"Well Mister Black, you will need to be monitored for the next week, there has been a noticeable drop in your body nutrition levels and extensive…"
Poppy seemed to hesitate for a bit.
"... mental backlash that was caused by the dementors… You may need to go to Saint Mungo's for a mind healer after I have helped your body recover".
Daphne then spoke up.
"Actually Madam Pomfrey, I can help him with that".
Everyone but Sirius and I turned to look at Daphne. Sirius then croaked out in his raspy voice.
"Indeed… I believe Daphne here, I can call you Daphne right?"
Daphne nodded at Sirius.
"Daphne here is the most qualified to do so… When she found me wandering about at the outskirts of Hogsmeade, she told me about Harry's discovery of Pettigrew and how he was being brought to justice… She managed to convince me, and clearly get this message along into my ragged mind because…"
Sirius looked at Daphne, and she gave him a reassuring nod once again.
"... because she is a Kitsune Animagus".
Both Dumbledore, Professor Lupin and Poppy's eyes seemed to have popped out of their sockets as they stared at Daphne. Daphne noticeably blushed from the looks of shock Dumbledore, Professor Lupin and Poppy displayed.
Poppy then stuttered out, "Kit-Kitsune? Kitsune Animagus? That is a magical animal!"
Dumbledore snapped out of his dazed expression.
"Extraordinary… Miss Greengrass, if you would not mind, could you do a demonstration please? I believe this has never happened before in the whole of Wizarding History… and if you are indeed a Kitsune, your skills in the mind arts would be most useful in helping Sirius' mind"
Daphne smiled at Dumbledore. The rest of us made a bit of room for her as she shifted into her Animagus form. The beautiful golden seven-tailed fox then emerged.
I mean, not that she wasn't beautiful before… She is still beautiful… it's just…
"Hahaha Harry, stop it before you lose a battle with your own thoughts!" said Godric.
She looked at me and connected with my mind. Daphne then telepathically spoke to me.
"Can you conjure a stool for me please Harry? I can be at eye level with you Godfather that way".
Okay Daph, it still feels weird, talking to you like this haha.
I then conjured a wooden stool next to Sirius' bedside. Daphne graceful leaped onto the stool and balanced herself perfectly on it. She sat on the stool and let her seven foxtails trickle down onto the floor. She then turned her eyes away from me to lock eyes with Sirius. I felt the connection between our minds break. Then, the blue markings on Daphne's face glowed, so did her eyes. A similar blue glow appeared on Sirius' forehead. The rest of us then stared in awe as Daphne worked her magic.
After a while, Sirius passed out and started to snore. Professor Lupin and I both chuckled at the sight of his blissful snoring. Daphne then shapeshifted back into her human form.
"His mind mostly has been mostly healed Madam Pomfrey, although, some of the horrors that he was exposed to in Azkaban and... during the war with the Dark Lord will remain... I couldn't get him to move on and push through those dark memories... I am sorry that-"
Poppy quickly waved her off.
"I did not know when you caught Mister Potter's humble mumble shenanigans disease Miss Greengrass... but you have done extraordinarily well. I may even ask you to come by to help out in the hospital wing every now and then with first years who have nightmares".
Daphne blushed at being compared to me and the praise received. Quickly after Poppy's praise, she then kicked everyone, including Dumbledore and Professor Lupin, out of the hospital wing to give Sirius space. We all stood outside and chuckled a bit a Poppy's strict demeanor before returning to the Headmaster's office.