During these relentless days of drizzling rain and bone-deep cold, once evening—and eventually night—descended upon the land, this realm lost the sun's warming embrace. Temperatures plummeted, water vapor condensed into thick white mist that drifted like ghostly fingers between the valley walls.
Within this ethereal shroud, deep in an ancient forest, Glenn perched on a towering oak's sturdy branch, head bent in concentrated focus as he manipulated delicate components while maintaining communication with Hermione through his left earpiece, exchanging vital intelligence.
Though he termed it "sharing," in reality only the brilliant young witch transmitted information from her end. Through crackling static, he learned that proceedings concerning Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew had officially commenced.
However, Glenn remained utterly disinterested. A trial with predetermined outcomes couldn't divert his attention from the intricate task at hand. The alchemical apparatus he was crafting demanded considerable time and precision to achieve his envisioned effects. With urgency mounting, absolute focus was essential.
"Peter Pettigrew's regained consciousness, though he continues denying Sirius's accusations. However, following Professor Dumbledore's suggestion, Ministry officials are preparing Veritaserum... Goodness, Peter's complexion has turned absolutely ashen. Surely he doesn't believe he can escape legal consequences... Er, I'm referring purely to him, not suggesting you're contemplating illegal activities."
Through her earpiece, Hermione quietly relayed her observations and thoughts while subtly warning Glenn about his current morally questionable endeavors.
"The trial's progressing faster than anticipated. I must accelerate..."
What Glenn hadn't foreseen was Dumbledore actively intervening in Ministry proceedings. He'd originally assumed Dumbledore would avoid participating in Ministry-dominated affairs, considering the somewhat delicate relationship between the venerable wizard and governmental authorities.
Sirius truly represents someone of profound importance to Dumbledore.
His thoughts racing, Glenn's hands moved with increasing velocity. Through magical and alchemical assistance, materials continuously emerged from his black ring, congregating before him and seamlessly integrating into the device nestled among autumn leaves under his precise control.
"This unit's complete as well."
Glenn's movements gradually decelerated. His left hand reached into empty space, materializing a bottle containing transparent liquid. Opening the device's access panel, he positioned the vial within its designated chamber and sealed the apparatus.
"Professor Snape, this location's device is operational."
Securing the mechanism, Glenn peered toward the forest's misty depths and called out his confirmation. He casually cast a Lumos charm as a positional marker, then fired a steel cable toward a distant tree, leaping and swinging gracefully toward his next installation coordinates.
Moments later, responding to the summons, Snape materialized through the swirling mist, homing in on the glowing beacon. Standing before Glenn's freshly installed device, he crouched down, extended both hands, and began channeling massive quantities of magical energy into the apparatus.
Snape's naturally pallid complexion grew even more ghostly white from continuous magical expenditure. Though adult wizards possessed substantial magical reserves, they couldn't indefinitely sustain such dramatic power drainage. From operation commencement until now, Snape had already consumed three or four magical restoration potions.
Glenn's devices required not merely the mechanisms themselves but also tremendous magical power to drive their intended functions. While magical depletion could be remedied through potions, the mental exhaustion accumulated during this process proved far more difficult to recover rapidly.
Through strategic discussion, they'd established efficient division of labor: Snape, possessing relatively minimal alternative responsibilities, would serve as the primary magical power source driving device operations, while Glenn—who would soon confront the Dementors—focused exclusively on apparatus construction and energy conservation for the perilous battle ahead.
Magical infusion completed, the device activated with subtle environmental distortions. The surrounding space began fluctuating as the entire apparatus gradually dissolved, merging invisibly with its natural surroundings. Snape immediately withdrew from the area, seeking alternative rest locations while awaiting Glenn's next installation requirements.
Distancing himself from the newly activated alchemical device, Snape leaned against a massive tree trunk for recuperation, turning his gaze toward where his previously energized apparatus had been positioned. However, the mist's oppressive density obscured all visibility.
"Hmph. Quite the ingenious methodology indeed."
Snape retracted his attention, lowering his head to mutter contemplatively.
"...During that explosion, I escaped Sirius's murderous pursuit through Animagus transformation, maintaining that form while concealing myself within the Weasley household until this very moment."
Within the imposing conference chamber, Peter Pettigrew stood hollow-eyed at the room's center, mechanically answering Fudge's interrogation with emotionless precision. Nearby, Sirius—secured by specialized magical restraints—radiated barely contained fury. The events of twelve years past, even when revisited now, felt as immediate as yesterday's trauma, sufficient to ignite his absolute rage.
Under Auror supervision, Peter Pettigrew had consumed Veritaserum, and before countless witnesses, completely confessed his historical transgressions.
Throughout the surrounding seating area, Wizengamot members and tribunal participants engaged in animated discussion. Truth buried for twelve years had finally emerged into daylight. Peter Pettigrew's manipulative cunning filled them with considerable indignation, while simultaneously evoking deep sympathy for everything Sirius Black had endured during his wrongful imprisonment.
Ultimately, following comprehensive deliberation, the tribunal reached its official verdict:
Peter Pettigrew's Order of Merlin, First Class would be permanently revoked. Peter Pettigrew would be confined within Azkaban's most secure cells, sentenced to lifelong imprisonment without possibility of release.
All charges against Sirius Black would be formally dismissed.
This resolution appeared extraordinarily unjust toward Sirius, who had served twelve undeserved years, yet realistically represented the maximum achievable outcome.
Twelve years previously, the Ministry had rendered catastrophically erroneous judgment. Now, through external assistance, they'd corrected that institutional failure—already representing nearly intolerable humiliation for governmental authority. Under such circumstances, providing additional rewards or compensation to the former prisoner would transform the Ministry into an absolute laughingstock.
Therefore, charge dismissal remained possible, but compensation and recognition were categorically impossible.
However, Sirius himself harbored no objections regarding this resolution. For him, achieving vengeance and permanently removing the "traitor" designation that should never have preceded his name proved entirely sufficient.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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