Just as the morning sun grew still in the sky , the calm shattered near the edge of the Forbidden Forest. A series of sharp cracks rang out—apparition.
A dozen cloaked figures materialized in the sunlight. At their forefront strode Minister Cornelius Fudge, his face red with urgency, his cloak whipping behind him like a banner of law. He didn't pause.
"Aurors—form a perimeter!" he barked. "Surround the castle and secure the grounds. Bring in the Dementors. I don't want Sirius Black slipping through our fingers again."
The Aurors, trained and grim-faced, moved quickly, fanning out across the grounds like wolves closing in.
Fudge stormed through the doors of Hogwarts, flanked by senior officers. His steps were purposeful, echoing against the stone as he made for the Headmaster's office.
⸻
Inside the office, Albus Dumbledore sat serenely behind his desk. Severus Snape stood near the wall, arms crossed, his face unreadable. Sirius Black was seated, glaring daggers at a trembling Peter Pettigrew, whose ratlike hands fidgeted nervously on his lap.
The door burst open.
"Albus!" Fudge thundered as he entered, "I've been informed you have Sirius Black in custody. Where is he?!"
The moment his eyes landed on Sirius, sitting unchained and composed, Fudge's mouth twisted in disbelief and fury.
"Why is he not bound in magical chains?!" he shouted. "Why is he not locked in the dungeons? He's You-Know-Who's man! Why is he allowed to sit freely in this room?!"
Dumbledore raised a calming hand. "Cornelius, please—come and sit. We have much to discuss."
But Fudge waved him off. "I'm not here to chat, Albus. I've come to escort a murderer to Azkaban. The Dementors are waiting. He will receive the Kiss before the night arrives ."
Dumbledore's voice remained calm. "At least hear what we have to say."
He gestured to the Aurors behind the Minister. "Please, give us a moment alone."
The Aurors exchanged wary glances, but at Dumbledore's nod, they stepped back into the corridor. Fudge's eyes scanned the room—until they landed on the quivering man in the corner.
"And who is that?" he asked, frowning. "He looks… familiar."
"That, Minister," Dumbledore said evenly, "is Peter Pettigrew."
Fudge blinked. "That's impossible. Pettigrew is dead. I was there, Albus. I saw his remains—his wand, his finger. I was the one who presented the Order of Merlin, Second Class to his mother."
Dumbledore's eyes narrowed slightly. "You were misled. Peter faked his death and lived in hiding for thirteen years… as a pet in the Weasley household."
Fudge staggered back a step, paling. "That's—absurd."
"No," Dumbledore said, "it's the truth. You may ask him yourself."
Peter shot up with sudden energy, staggering toward Fudge. "Minister! Minister, please! I—I'm the victim here! I've been under the Imperius Curse all this time. Sirius forced me to do it! I was never in control! Please, protect me! They—they drugged me! They gave me Veritaserum illegally! I tried to tell Professor Dumbledore but he wouldn't listen!"
Professor McGonagall stepped forward, arms crossed tightly. "Peter, you confessed everything under the influence of Veritaserum not moments ago. We all heard it. Now you lie to save yourself."
Peter ignored her, clutching at Fudge's robes. "He's lying! They're trying to save Sirius Black! They bewitched me, threatened me—"
Fudge pulled away, face darkening with confusion and anger. He turned on Dumbledore. "Is this true?! You administered Veritaserum without authorization?"
"I did," Dumbledore admitted calmly. "There was no legal restriction against it in this context. The situation required clarity."
"This isn't a courtroom, Dumbledore! You don't make the law—you're not above it!"
"No," Dumbledore said, standing. "But I will not stand idle while justice is mocked."
Fudge's voice rose again. "Do you know what this means? Do you understand what kind of scandal this will cause? The international community will laugh at us. A man wrongly imprisoned for over a decade? A supposed war hero proven a traitor? We will be ridiculed!"
"The world may laugh, Cornelius," Dumbledore replied quietly, "but justice is not something to be bartered for reputation. I value truth more than I value the Ministry's pride."
Fudge seethed. "I'm taking them both. Sirius Black and Pettigrew. An official investigation will begin—under Ministry jurisdiction."
He turned to the Aurors who had returned. "Stun them both."
Before Dumbledore could protest, red bolts of light hit both Sirius and Peter. The two men collapsed—one in peace, the other shrieking until unconscious. The Aurors moved swiftly to levitate their bodies and prepare for departure.
"I'll handle this personally," Fudge growled. "You'll receive the official report—after I've made sense of this chaos."
He turned to leave when Dumbledore said softly, "Very well. But if I find justice is being obstructed, I will invoke a full Wizengamot hearing."
Fudge froze.
"As Chief Warlock," Dumbledore continued, "I have that right. I will see that these men face proper questioning—before the entire court."
Fudge spun around, his face red with rage. "You'd go against me, Albus? You'd undermine my authority?!"
Dumbledore met his fury with calm steel. "Not against you, Minister. But I will not allow an innocent man to suffer while the guilty are protected by fear of scandal."
Fudge stared for a long moment—then scoffed. As he turned, his eyes locked with Cael Vale, who had been quietly observing the entire exchange.
Cael gave him a polite little wave and a cheeky grin.
Fudge's jaw tightened. He huffed, swept his cloak around himself, and stormed from the room with his entourage.
⸻
When the door closed, McGonagall exhaled. "What now, Albus? He'll bury this. You heard him. The Ministry won't let this scandal surface—not under Fudge's term. They'll silence both of them, and cover every trace."
"They can try," Dumbledore said firmly. "But they won't succeed. Because we have the most powerful witness of all—James Potter himself. He was there. He knew Peter was the Secret-Keeper. He can prove Sirius's innocence."
Without another word, Dumbledore began writing several letters with a quill that moved almost too fast to follow.
When he finished, he handed them to McGonagall. "Send these immediately. We'll convene a Wizengamot hearing tonight. The longer we wait, the easier it will be for the Ministry to hide the truth."
McGonagall hesitated. "Tonight? That soon?"
"Yes," Dumbledore said. "Justice delayed is justice denied."
She turned to Cael. "Come, Mr. Vale. Back to your classes."
But Dumbledore held up a hand. "No. Mr. Vale, you will attend the hearing as well. You played a role in uncovering the truth. You have a place in that courtroom."
Cael nodded. "Of course, Professor."
He left with McGonagall, leaving Dumbledore alone with Snape, who had been silent the entire time.
Dumbledore looked up. "You've been quiet, Severus. What are your thoughts?"
Snape's eyes burned. "I want them both dead."
"Both?"
Snape's voice was low. "Sirius and Pettigrew. They're the reason she died."
Dumbledore's expression softened. "You must learn to let go of your hatred, Severus. If not—it will consume you."
Snape didn't reply. He turned and left, the door clicking shut behind him.
Dumbledore sat back in his chair, the candles flickering in the heavy silence. Outside, the sun was shining on the ground after a long night of heavy rains.