Location: Camelot – The Great Hall of Justice
The air was thick with tension as the trial of Sirius Black unfolded before the people of Camelot. It had been weeks since his betrayal, weeks since the gods fell, and weeks since the darkness of the Cabal had engulfed the multiverse. But now, Sirius stood in chains before the Round Table, a shell of the man he once was.
He had once been Harry's closest ally, his protector, his mentor. But the truth was out, and the weight of his actions would be judged by the very people he had once called friends.
Harry, now crowned as the rightful ruler of Camelot, sat at the head of the Round Table. His face was a mask of sorrow, but beneath it, there was a simmering rage—an anger he had never allowed himself to feel, but it was there now.
The room was filled with allies and witnesses, each waiting for the trial to begin: Jean Grey, Wanda Maximoff, Luna Lovegood, and even Thor, who had returned to stand by his side. Merlin stood quietly by Harry's side, his eyes filled with ancient wisdom, as though he had seen a hundred such betrayals in the annals of time.
Sirius, shackled and kneeling, refused to meet Harry's gaze. His head hung low, his face marked with the weariness of his soul.
"I never wanted to hurt you," Sirius said quietly, his voice hoarse. "I never wanted to betray you. But they—they had my family. They used them against me."
Jean's eyes glowed with empathy, but her tone was sharp. "You chose this, Sirius. No one forced you. You chose power. You chose darkness."
Sirius flinched at her words, but said nothing.
Luna stepped forward, her eyes clear and piercing. "You are not the man you once were, Sirius. The man I knew would have never done this. But the darkness you embraced has consumed you."
Sirius' shoulders sagged as though the weight of the world had settled on them. "I thought I could fix it. I thought I could save my family."
"But you betrayed your family," Wanda said coldly, her hands crackling with latent energy. "You betrayed the people who loved you, the people who trusted you."
Harry's voice cut through the tension like a blade. "Enough," he said, his tone calm, but carrying the weight of a king's authority. "This trial is not just for the people of Camelot. This trial is for you, Sirius. For your soul. For your redemption."
Sirius lifted his head, meeting Harry's gaze for the first time. His eyes were filled with regret, but there was something else there too—a flicker of hope. "What do you want from me, Harry? What can I do to make things right?"
Harry's eyes softened, but his words were heavy. "I can't give you absolution. Not until you face the consequences of your actions. You've betrayed me, the people of Camelot, and the entire multiverse."
Sirius' face twisted in anguish. "I never wanted to betray you, Harry. You're like a son to me. But I was afraid. They had my family. And I thought… I thought that maybe I could save them."
"By becoming the very thing you swore to fight against?" Harry asked quietly.
Sirius looked down at the ground, defeated. "I didn't know what else to do. I was lost. And they promised me they could help me find my way."
"But they lied," Luna said firmly. "They used you. And in doing so, you helped bring about the fall of Olympus, the Cabal's rise to power, and the destruction of countless worlds."
Sirius clenched his fists. "I didn't know. I didn't know how far they'd go. How much power they had. It wasn't supposed to be like this."
Merlin spoke then, his voice low and knowing. "There are no excuses for betrayal, Sirius. But there is a chance for redemption. Not from us, but from yourself. You must choose: Will you stand with the light, or continue down this path of darkness?"
Sirius' eyes flickered with doubt, but then something inside him shifted. Slowly, he stood, facing Harry. His voice was steady but filled with pain. "I don't know if I deserve redemption, Harry. But I will fight for it. For you. For everyone."
Harry's expression softened, and for a moment, there was the faintest trace of the old bond they had shared.
The trial was not over. The consequences would be severe, but the choice had been made. Sirius would not face death—at least, not yet. Instead, he would face a harsher punishment: a life of penance. His guilt would be his burden to carry. But if he truly sought redemption, he would have to earn it through actions, not words.
The Verdict
"Let it be known," Harry said, standing from his throne. "Sirius Black has betrayed Camelot and all those who trusted him. But he will not face execution. He will face penance. His life will be dedicated to the rebuilding of the multiverse, and the undoing of the damage he caused. He will work to make amends, starting with his own soul."
The court was silent. No one had expected such mercy. But in Harry's eyes, there was something more. The weight of leadership. The burden of justice. And the faintest glimmer of hope that even the most broken could be healed.