42. Judgment

It was the first time that both Harry and I were at the Ministry. Too bad it wouldn't be the last, but we'll see about that. Accompanying us was Uncle Arthur, dressed in elegant clothes, and Cousin Andromeda, and I don't even need to say how beautiful she looked.

Of course we were drawing a lot of attention, it was a rather quirky bunch, enhanced all the more by one of Britain's greatest beauties.

We were taken to where the trial would be taking place, a well-appointed room with an uncomfortable chair lashed under thick chains. Looking around, many people from large, powerful families interested in the facts.

It was, in fact, of great interest, because for most of them, if Sirius were found innocent, he would return to the seat of head of the family, but to their complete misfortune, they don't know that he relinquished that right, leaving the vacancy to the next. first of blood to arrive, and lucky for me, it was me.

I felt the eyes of disdain on me, and yet, I had my smug smile plastered across my face, like an ominous memory for each of them. Even the Minister was here.

It was visible, his willingness to come to our group, to try to make peace or threats, who knows, but he was being prevented by his right arm, the woman who loves to dress in pink, and looks like a frog.

16 ICW members entered and took their seats, and furthest from the group was Dumbledore, who is still Chief Chief, but as the allegations are in his country, he cannot preside.

Shortly after, he enters flanked by the other 4 ICW members, Sirius Black. He appeared to be in better condition than I had imagined, wearing proper clothes, hair cut and washed, and appeared to have been well fed.

Sirius sits in the hideous chair, which doesn't have any reaction. That in itself was already an indication of his innocence, due to the numerous spells attached to the chains on the chair.

"Mr. Sirius Black III, you are before the ICW court, to receive your judgment impartially and fairly. Do you have anything to say before we begin?" the presiding ICW member begins.

"No sir."

"Therefore, we now ask that you make available, unaltered, your memory of the day the Potter family chose the Secret-Keeper." he continues.

Sirius' Wand was handed to him, and a few seconds later, he took a white thread from his temple, and placed it in a vial held by one of the ICW men.

"Before we verify the memory, we also request that Sir Sirius Black III, make available to us, unaltered, his memory of the day he was accused of murdering Peter Pettigrew and 12 other Muggles."

Once again, Sirius brings his wand to his temple, taking out a few seconds later, another white thread, and depositing it in another vial, held by another member of the ICW.

"Having both memories in hand, we will hear Sirius Black III's account, and see if it matches his memory. But of course, this will be done through the veritaserum, do you object, Mr. Black?"

"I don't object." he answers directly.

"We asked the head of House Black if he objected to the use of Veritaserum on one of his kinsmen in the quest for truth." the president then looks at me. I just get up and answer.

"I don't object."

Then a drop is administered directly into Sirius's mouth, and a few seconds later, he begins to report on everything that happened on the day of the Secret-Keeper's choice.

"Both James and Lily insisted that I be the Secret-Keeper, but then an idea came up that might further enforce the Secret. I told James to make Peter the Secret-Keeper while we spread the word that I was.

That way, Pedro could remain hidden, while I would be the wanted target. Knowing Peter wasn't a good duelist, and being a coward of the first order, it made sense, and was a genius way to trick Voldemort.

But none of us could have guessed that the coward was actually a Death Eater who, at the first opportunity, sold Lily and James to his slaver and caused the death of my best friends." He finished, with tears in his eyes. .

"Now tell us about the day of your arrest." asked the president.

"After delivering Harry to Hagrid, on Dumbledore's orders, I went after our former friend and traitor Peter Pettigrew. I knew where he lived, and went straight there.

When I arrived, he claimed to be scared, and that his goddamn boss tortured him, which was a big lie, as he didn't have any marks, wounds or bruises on his body.

We argued, and he managed to escape into the street, as I ran after him, he launched a Bombard, which hit a nearby Muggle car, increasing the blast radius even further.

12 people didn't have a chance to be saved, while I only managed to use a Protego, to lessen the damage of the explosion on me. So he cut off his own finger, and fled through the sewers.

At that moment, Barty Crouch and other Aurors arrived, and I felt guilty. For it was my idea that made Pedro the Secret-Keeper, and it was also because I was weak that 12 innocent people had died.

Then the Aurors picked me up, while I complained that it was all my fault that everything happened. Without even asking, they made the decision to send me to Askaban and await a trial, which never happened."

"Thank you, now, let's check your memories, and if we're done, we'll give our verdict. We'll go into recess for 2 hours." he slams the gavel, leaving with his group, leaving 4 of them still around Sirius.

Harry wanted to have a word with Sirius, but I stopped him.

"It won't do you any good to go there now, other than increase his anxiety and yours. So just sit back and wait. They have more than enough evidence for a fair decision." I hold it.

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2 hours later, the ICW detachment returns, taking their places. He didn't even need to bang the gavel to gain the silence he needed.

"After viewing the memoirs, hearing the accounts under Veritaserum of the accused, as well as the other evidence in our possession, we find you not guilty of all charges, and charge the Ministry to pay a fine equivalent to 20,000 gallons to Sirius Black."

He finishes banging the hammer, and murmurs start to rise from all around, but I'm not done yet. I get up quickly.

"Mr. President, I call for the opening of a legal inquiry against some current and former names in power of the ministry, it is clear that throwing innocent people in prison without trial is not the only thing that the last two administrations did wrong.

It is unbelievable that families in the current ministerial power are getting richer and richer, while many of our important departments are experiencing unexplained financial crises." My words silenced the room again.

"And who asks for the opening of such an investigation?" the president asks, even though he knows the answer.

"The Black family." but to the surprise of many, I wasn't alone.

"The Potter family endorses the request." Harry gets up beside me.

"The Weasley family, and the Prewett family also endorse the request." Uncle Arthur comes too, and to the surprise of many, one more person gets up.

"The Bones family also endorses the request." Amélia Bones, the current head of the Ministry's department, endorsed the request, making it clear to anyone that corruption would no longer be accepted.

"As such, an investigation will be opened. I hope we will have an answer very soon. Have a good day everyone and that concludes this trial." he bangs the gavel once more.