Freedom

Freedom

"So, Mr. Pettigrew... do you have anything to say?" asked Millicent with a glacial gaze, her eyes cutting into Peter like sharpened steel. Her face remained unreadable, as if the verdict had already been sealed and she was merely granting the rat one final chance to explain himselfif that was even possible.

Sirius, for his part, was trembling with raw fury. A primal rage coursed through his veins like molten fire. He couldn't form a single word; every fiber of his being screamed to launch himself at Pettigrew and tear him apart with his bare hands. The intensity of his impulse was so great that Moody had to cast a Petrificus Totalus on the spot, freezing him for a few seconds. Yet even paralyzed, Sirius's eyes burned like embers, locked on Peter and brimming with hatred.

"It's a lie! It's a lie!" Pettigrew shrieked, shaking like a leaf as the piercing gazes of the courtroom fell upon him. Every witch and wizard of the Wizengamot stared with razor-sharp interest, as if they were already dissecting him with their eyes.

"What's a lie, Mr. Pettigrew?" Millicent asked, this time with a note of restrained impatience.

"What Black said! He's lying! I... I wasn't the Secret Keeper. He just wants to pin it all on me. That's why I ran. That's why I hid. The Dark Lord's followers would have come after me... he would have sent them... on his command!" Peter stammered, each word more panicked and clumsy than the last.

Millicent narrowed her eyes. "Interesting... Tell me, Mr. Pettigrew, how do you know Sirius Black just accused you of being the Secret Keeper? Can our voices be heard outside this chamber, which is protected by over a hundred security enchantments?"

All eyes turned toward Moody, who replied calmly:

"Not at all. We just arrived. I caught him trying to flee in his Animagus form."

Millicent gave a slight nod before turning her gaze back to Peter.

"Then... how did you know?"

Peter swallowed hard. "He... he said it! When he chased me... he shouted it. Yes! That he'd blame me, that he'd go free... he shouted it proudly while blowing everything up!"

The lie was so clumsy, so obviously improvised, that even the most neutral members of the Wizengamot frowned.

"This is a waste of time," said Wanda, crossing her arms and staring at Peter as if he were an annoying insect. "Tell the truth," she whispered softly, as an invisible spell slipped from her wand like a sigh.

No one noticed... except Peter, whose eyes briefly glowed red. The fear on his face vanished, replaced by a cold, bitter expression. Then, he spoke.

"Yes. It was me. I told the Death Eaters... I told them everything. I told Lord Voldemort himself, my master. He promised me gold, fame, glory. And I... I was tired. To James, Sirius, and the others I was just a shadow, a servant. A follower. A damn tag-along rat."

The silence in the room turned funereal.

"I was tired of pretending. No one ever saw me as an equal. They all had something: James had Lily, Sirius was a legend, even Lupin had women chasing him, though the coward ignored them out of fear of what he was. And me? I turned into a filthy rat. You think that was easy? You think that was fair?"

Faces around the courtroom turned to stone. Peter continued, overtaken by a mix of resentment, madness, and truth.

"All I had to do was say yes to what they offered. Why did Dumbledore even allow a werewolf into Hogwarts? Ridiculous. I followed the others because it was fun humiliating Snape. I thought after school we'd all join the Death Eaters... but James and Sirius, with their stupid pride, chose to fight for the 'light.' Idiots!"

"When Voldemort came for James's son, I saw my chance. With their deaths, Sirius and Lupin would follow. And me? I'd bring the child of the prophecy straight to the Dark Lord! I'd have the honor of handing him over myself! But he was a fool... the bastard just went to die. What kind of idiot is Voldemort? Or Dumbledore? He never even found out I was a spy! Or maybe he did... and still gave me information."

The Wizengamot held its collective breath.

"Sirius found me. He discovered everything. He chased me. So I blew up the street, cut off my finger... and he took the fall. HAHAHA! Azkaban for him! But then the Death Eaters came hunting me. Many of them are here... yes, you! You pathetic pure-bloods, pretending to be innocent with your Imperius excuses. I saw you! Every last one of you licking Voldemort's boots like dogs!"

And then... the spell broke.

Peter blinked, confused. The words he had spoken now struck him like hammer blows. As he looked up, he met dozens of eyes filled with hatred, disgust... and fear. The same pure-blood families who once ignored him now wanted him dead.

They needed to silence him. At any cost.

Selene, meanwhile, was delighted. To her, Wizengamot trials were pure entertainment. Helping her husband Edward? That was a bonus. But these revelations... oh, they were a feast.

"I request the Dementor's Kiss," said Alex Carrow, raising his voiceand like a tidal wave, others from the dark houses stood one by one, demanding the same.

They didn't seek justice. They wanted silence. He knew too much. And now, he had betrayed them.

"No! No! I didn't mean to say that! Someone made me say it! I was controlled! I was controlled!" Peter screamed, collapsing to his knees. This time, he was telling the truth.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

"Order in the chamber!" Millicent barked, slamming the gavel onto the stone table. Her furrowed brow was a warning. She knew exactly what those pure-bloods were trying to doexecute the one man who held all their sins in his hands. But she would not make it easy for them.

"As the true culprit has confessed to all the events in question, there is no need for a vote to determine his fate. I will use my authority as Minister for Magic and presiding judge of this court," Millicent declared with resolute strength, as several faces among the gallery visibly paled.

"Peter Pettigrew, by your direct and voluntary confession, you are hereby found guilty of all charges for which Sirius Black was wrongly imprisoned. As a result, in five days, you shall receive the Dementor's Kiss."

A wave of relief spread through many witches and wizards, especially among the pure-bloods. Some even smiled with satisfaction... until Millicent continued.

"However," she added, her voice rising above the expectant silence, "if within these five days he provides solid evidence or useful information about the followers of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, his sentence will be modified to life imprisonment in Azkaban."

Several people shifted uncomfortably in their seats.

"If the information is verified as true, Pettigrew will be transferred to a section with minimal Dementor exposure, though he will remain imprisoned. He will not be released. Not after the lives he destroyed. But he will be given the chance to survive... if he cooperates. Think about it, Mr. Pettigrew. You have five days."

Millicent gave a nod toward the Aurors stationed at the corners of the chamber. With professional and cold precision, they levitated Peter with their wands, silenced him to prevent his desperate screaming, and escorted him out of the courtroom.

Meanwhile, the pure-bloods of the dark faction were in shock. Their minds raced, searching for ways to silence the traitor before he spoke any further. Fear and fury were clear in their eyes.

"Now, please... release Mr. Black," Millicent ordered, looking at Moody.

The Auror nodded gravely, tapped his staff against the floor, and the spell keeping Sirius petrified was undone. The former prisoner dropped to his knees, trembling, but his eyes still burned with fury, pain... and tears.

"Sirius Orion Black III has been declared innocent of all charges... with the exception of being an unregistered Animagus. However, considering this occurred during wartime and was necessary for the greater good, he will receive the minimum sentence of three months."

Another murmur spread through the room.

"He has already spent far more than that in prison. Therefore, the Ministry will drop all charges, and as compensation for each additional month unjustly spent in Azkaban, he will be awarded 10,000 Galleons per month."

Several wizards gasped. Even among the wealthy families, that sum was impressive.

But Millicent didn't blink. Her decision was final.

"Furthermore, he will receive full psychological and medical care, all his rights, properties, and his wand will be returned, and the Ministry offers an official and public apology. A formal investigation will be launched against all those who failed to process his trial fairly, and depending on the results, they will be dismissed or punished.

Mr. Black... I'm sorry."

Millicent bowed her head briefly, with respect, then raised the gavel.

"This trial is concluded."

BANG!

She struck the podium, making the sound echo throughout the entire room. Without another word, she turned with dignity and walked away.

Sirius stood in complete silence. Tears streamed down his face. After so many years of darkness, he was finally... free.

Off to the side, Selene smiled and turned to Wanda.

"Well, that was fun. Want to go grab something to eat? My treat."

Wanda gently shook her head.

"I'll pass. I have one more favor to do… and then I'll go back to Harry. I haven't been around much this week."

Selene nodded, understanding.

"I see... Then how about we meet up this weekend with the others and take the kids to a Muggle amusement park? Sound good?"

A small smile lit up Wanda's face.

"Sure."