January 7th: The trial concerning Peter Pettigrew and Sirius Black's defection to You-Know-Who, their betrayal of James Potter and Lily Potter, and their involvement in the murder of 13 Muggles officially began.
Presiding Officials: Minister of Magic — Cornelius Fudge; Head of the Auror Office — Rufus Scrimgeour; Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement — Amelia Susan Bones.
Recorder: Cordelia Street.
"Silence!" Bones gently tapped her gavel. "Albus Dumbledore, please speak."
Dumbledore, sitting to the side, rose and looked around before speaking: "Gentlemen, ladies, good afternoon. Peter Pettigrew confessed his crimes on the day of his arrest. The Weasley family, Minerva McGonagall, Severus Snape, Filius, Pomona Sprout from Hogwarts, as well as Harry Potter and I, can all serve as witnesses. Furthermore, Tom Riddle, a first-year Slytherin student at Hogwarts, recorded the entire interrogation of Peter using a Muggle video device. I hope he will be allowed to present it in court."
"Allowed!" Bones agreed to Dumbledore's request.
Tom, unexpectedly called upon, walked to the center of the room under everyone's gaze.
Fortunately, knowing Dumbledore's habits, Tom had prepared in advance, so he didn't make a fool of himself.
"Excuse me, everyone, please wait a moment."
He took out a portable generator, power strip, VCR, and television one by one from his extended pouch, then spent a few minutes assembling them.
Just as those present grew impatient with Tom tinkering with Muggle items, and Mr. Weasley's eyes lit up, Tom finally inserted the recorded tape into the VCR, and the television began playing the footage from the day Peter Pettigrew was arrested.
Watching Peter Pettigrew on the screen, after being given Veritaserum, confessing to defecting to You-Know-Who, betraying James and Lily, and murdering 13 Muggles to frame Sirius, along with a monologue, it was clear his guilt was sealed. The expressions of the presiding officials and jurors on the bench were not good, a murmur went through the audience, and reporters scribbled furiously.
Seeing the video finished playing, Tom swiftly packed up his things and exited without a word, perfectly fulfilling the role of an excellent tool.
"Silence!" Bones tapped her gavel, about to speak, but then Tom suddenly raised his hand high, forcing her to ask.
"Mr. Riddle, do you have something to say?"
"I report that Dumbledore and Snape illegally used Veritaserum; the recent video is proof. Dumbledore is the mastermind, and Snape is the executor. Quickly imprison them in Azkaban."
Tom's words caused an uproar in the court. When watching the video earlier, they hadn't thought much of it because it involved Dumbledore, but now that Tom mentioned it, he indeed seemed to have violated Ministry of Magic regulations.
Everyone present immediately focused their gaze on Bones, so much so that even Peter was almost ignored. Not until her scalp tingled, Bones cleared her throat and said, "We will handle Dumbledore and Snape's issues separately. Today's trial is about Peter Pettigrew and Sirius Black. So, Peter Pettigrew, do you have anything else to say?"
Peter lowered his head, remaining silent.
Seeing him in this state, Bones didn't waste words. After all, the evidence was conclusive and the facts clear, so she immediately announced in a loud voice: "Then, all in favor of Peter Pettigrew being guilty, please raise your hand."
The Wizengamot members on the jury unhesitatingly raised their hands.
"Guilty!"
Bones tapped her gavel and publicly declared: "Peter Pettigrew, life imprisonment in Azkaban!"
"Bring in Sirius Black."
When the Dementor escorted the ragged, emaciated man to the stand, he happened to brush past Peter Pettigrew, who was being led away.
"Peter Pettigrew!" Sirius seemed to awaken from a deathly silence, like a raging lion, desperately trying to break free from the Dementor's restraint.
Even after struggling to bind Sirius to the judgment chair, he continued to struggle desperately.
"Silence! Silence!" Bones' repeated gavel taps couldn't quiet Sirius.
Eventually, Dumbledore stepped forward. He walked to Sirius, slowly knelt down.
"Professor Dumbledore!"
Seeing Dumbledore's familiar face, Sirius slowly calmed down.
Dumbledore gently pressed him, soothing him: "Sirius, listen to me, Peter Pettigrew has been brought to justice. Now, I hope you can tell us everything that happened that year. Think of Harry, he's watching you from the audience right now…"
Sirius turned his head with difficulty, only to see a long-unseen face in the audience, looking at him with concern through his green eyes.
"James… Lily… Harry…" Sirius murmured, tears unconsciously streaming down his face.
"Silence!" Bones tapped her gavel once more. "Sirius Black, regarding the charges of defecting to You-Know-Who, betraying James Potter and Lily Potter, and murdering 13 Muggles, do you have anything to say?"
Sirius lowered his head, murmuring in repentance, "I am guilty... If I hadn't suggested at the last moment that Peter Pettigrew be James and Lily's Secret-Keeper, they wouldn't have died... It's all my fault... It's all my fault..."
"No, it's not your fault!" Harry shouted loudly upon seeing Sirius in this state. "Mom and Dad wouldn't blame you, and they wouldn't want to see you like this."
Sirius heard Harry's shout, and although he still kept his head down, a glimmer of light appeared in his eyes.
"Silence!" Bones tapped her gavel. "Mr. Potter, please remain quiet. If you disrupt the court again, I will have you removed."
At this moment, Dumbledore stepped forward: "I apologize. Given Sirius's unstable mental state, I will present his statement on his behalf."
As he spoke, Dumbledore was about to take out Sirius's wand, which had been gathering dust in the evidence room for ten years, to show everyone present, but then Tom, who was acting as a tool on the side, suddenly appeared next to Sirius and poured half a bottle of calming draught and Veritaserum into his mouth. Afterward, he even shook the two half-empty Potion bottles in his hand at the three on the judgment platform.
"Calming Draught and Veritaserum. You can test the residue here. Now I've illegally used Veritaserum. Quickly send me to Azkaban!"
Tom's words blocked Dumbledore's prepared defense. Bones's forehead was covered in black lines: "Mr. Riddle, contempt of court, illegal use of Veritaserum—we will pursue these charges, but not now. Please remain quiet now; I do not wish for another incident."
With that, she resumed questioning Sirius, and under the influence of Veritaserum, Sirius's testimony was identical to Peter's. Dumbledore also timely submitted Sirius's wand as evidence, which had been tested and shown no signs of having cast a Muggle-killing curse.
"Silence!" Bones tapped her gavel again. "Then, all in favor of Sirius being guilty, please raise your hand."
A few scattered hands rose from the jury.
"Then, all in favor of Sirius being innocent, please raise your hand."
A swath of arms rose from the jury, clearly more than half.
"Not guilty!"
Bones tapped her gavel and announced in court: "Sirius Black, acquitted and released!"