A hush fell over the Wizengamot chamber as Lucius Malfoy rose from his seat, silver hair glinting under the torchlight. His expression was cold, contemptuous, and entirely unreadable as he gestured with his long, gloved hands. The room seemed to shrink with his presence, and all eyes were drawn to the man who had made his reputation both feared and respected among pure-blood circles.
"Well," Malfoy began, his voice smooth but cutting, "so what if this photograph—or whatever magical trickery you present—proves that a man presumed dead for nearly thirteen years is, by some miraculous turn, back among the living?" He let the words hang in the air for a moment, then leaned forward slightly, lips curling into a sneer. "It proves nothing. Absolutely nothing about Sirius Black's innocence. It proves nothing about Peter Pettigrew. It changes nothing. And yet, everyone here seems to have forgotten one glaring fact."
He paused, letting his gaze sweep across the chamber, as though daring anyone to contradict him.
"The only person who claims that the one who betrayed the Potters was Peter Pettigrew," Malfoy continued, voice dripping with disdain, "is Sirius Black himself. How convenient, isn't it? We are supposed to trust the testimony of a convicted criminal—a man who spent twelve or thirteen years in Azkaban—over the rest of the wizarding world? Everyone ignores that glaring, simple truth."
Murmurs rose in agreement among the more conservative pure-blood families. Malfoy's icy blue eyes scanned the benches, and then he struck at their pride and their insecurities.
"And what of the Weasleys?" he asked sharply, the sneer now fully taking shape. "What of that wretched family, so utterly clueless, so irresponsible, that they allowed a man—an illegal Animagus, no less—to hide in their home disguised as a mere rat for over a decade? They couldn't tell a secret from a lie, couldn't distinguish a danger from a household pet, and yet, somehow, we are expected to rely on their testimony? Pathetic."
A ripple of scandalized murmurs swept the chamber. Malfoy wasn't done. His voice rose with venomous eloquence, striking at both the witnesses and the accused.
"And no one," he continued, voice sharpened into a blade, "addresses the real crime. Everyone here focuses solely on Peter Pettigrew. We completely forget the murders, the betrayals, the twelve Muggles that Black killed, the Potters he betrayed. Who truly knows the events of that night? Only the Potters themselves—and the fugitive, Sirius Black. How can we trust anything else?"
The Wizengamot members were quiet, some nodding, others shifting uncomfortably.
At that moment, a familiar, firm voice cut through the tension.
"Mr. Malfoy raises an important point," said Madam Amelia Bones, standing from her seat. Her grey hair was pinned back tightly, robes crisp and conservative. The chamber fell silent immediately. "Peter Pettigrew may indeed be alive, but the evidence does not prove that he was the one who betrayed the Potters. We may surmise it, yes, but speculation is not fact. The only testimony we have about the betrayal comes from Sirius Black himself. We cannot—must not—accept one man's word as gospel, no matter how compelling the photograph or the eyewitness accounts may appear."
She leaned slightly forward, her eyes meeting Dumbledore's. "Minister Fudge, Chief Warlock, I request that this situation be investigated thoroughly. We cannot, under any circumstances, release a man alleged to be a murderer and fugitive if we do not know the full truth. This is not just a matter of Black's innocence—it is a matter of public safety."
Madam Bones sat, her eyes still scanning the chamber for reactions. A ripple of assent ran through some of the more cautious members, though the more extremist pure-blood factions remained skeptical, folding their arms in stubborn opposition.
Fudge finally coughed, adjusting his lime-green bowler hat nervously. "Yes, yes, I suppose that is correct," he mumbled. "We have little evidence. We know the Potters went into hiding using Fidelius charms, and that the secret keeper was given to Sirius Black. Beyond that… we know nothing. We cannot claim Black's innocence solely on the testimony of Pettigrew for being alive—or children's testimony, for that matter. The boy Potter and his friends may be credible, but…" His voice trailed off, swallowed by the murmuring of the chamber.
Several other pure-blood families began to voice agreement, pointing out the gaps in the logic of the hearing. "It is only natural," one said, "that we remain cautious. The Potters' secrecy, the long disappearance of Pettigrew, the manipulations of Black—all of these factors make any claim of innocence premature."
Malfoy nodded, his expression one of smug vindication. "Indeed. Logic and prudence must prevail. We cannot rush to judgment merely because of photographs and the accounts of children. As far as I know, Peter Pettigrew is not present here to defend himself. So what proof do we have? None."
The murmurs now escalated into whispered arguments. Several members of the Wizengamot, though impressed with the photographic evidence, began siding with Malfoy and Fudge, urging that caution was paramount.
Eira stood slowly from her seat, the chamber immediately quieting in surprise. Fleur leaned slightly forward, watching her lover closely, eyes bright with anticipation and pride. Eira's voice was calm but carried the weight of authority.
"Well," Eira said, glancing around at the room of powerful witches and wizards, "I see that many points have been raised here, and I agree with some of what Lord Malfoy and Madam Bones have said. We know little about the true events of that night. We only have the testimony of Sirius Black and the accounts provided by the children and the photographic evidence we have just seen."
She paused, scanning the courtroom before focusing her gaze on Dumbledore, seated regally on the judge's dais.
"And, of course, the headmaster himself was close to the Potters and to the accused, Mr. Black. I believe that before we can draw conclusions about innocence or guilt, we must determine the full truth of what occurred that fateful night."
Eira's tone was measured, commanding. "We now know that Peter Pettigrew is alive. That fact does not automatically prove Black's innocence. But it does present an opportunity to uncover what truly happened. We must consider: why did Pettigrew hide as an Animagus for over a decade? What prompted him to take refuge in the Weasley household? And most importantly, who ultimately betrayed the Potters? These are questions we cannot ignore."
A hush fell again, this time in anticipation of Dumbledore's response. The old wizard stood slowly, his hands folding calmly before him. The room seemed to hold its breath.
"Yes," Dumbledore said softly but firmly, "I too have been close to both Mr. Black and the Potters. Until recently, I was unaware that the Potters had chosen Peter Pettigrew as their secret keeper. I learned only a few days ago, directly from Sirius himself, that during the preparations to go into hiding, he had suggested Pettigrew as the secret keeper. Pettigrew was discreet, trusted, and appeared unlikely to arouse suspicion. The Potters agreed, seeing it as the most practical solution during a time of war."
Eira nodded, her expression thoughtful. She turned slightly to address the chamber more directly.
"Now," she continued, "we also have the statement of Harry Potter. He confirms that Pettigrew himself admitted to betraying his parents, pleading for forgiveness, and expressing fear at the Dark Lord's threats. Mr.Potter, please."
Harry swallowed hard, his face flushed. "Yes… yes. I… I heard him say it. He… he begged for forgiveness. He was afraid. That's why he betrayed my parents."
Hermione squeezed his hand gently, whispering a soothing word. "It's alright, Harry. Just tell the truth."
Eira glanced back at the Wizengamot. "As you can see, while Pettigrew's presence alone does not confirm innocence, it provides a crucial lead. And, for clarity, I propose a straightforward solution. Use the Veritaserum. Administer it to Mr. Black. He will speak the truth. The court will hear the facts without conjecture, without bias and further ambiguity. Only then can we ascertain whether Sirius Black is truly innocent."
Fudge jumped to his feet, waving his hands dramatically. "No! That is completely unnecessary! We do not need such measures!"
Dumbledore raised a hand, silencing the chamber. "Very well," he said, calm but firm. "Then let us proceed democratically. We shall take a vote. All those in favor of administering Veritaserum to Mr. Black, please raise your hands."
One by one, the chamber lifted their hands. Most members, including Eira, Madame Bones, and the moderate pure-blood families, voted in favor. Some extremist pure-blood factions, including Malfoy and a few staunch Fudge supporters, remained seated, refusing to participate.
Dumbledore surveyed the room, his piercing eyes resting briefly on Fudge's flushed face. "It seems the majority favors the use of Veritaserum," he announced. "Therefore, we shall proceed. Please bring the potion and administer it to Mr. Black, that the truth may be revealed to all present."
The chamber fell silent once more, the weight of anticipation almost tangible. Even Fleur leaned forward slightly, brushing her hand against Eira's, a quiet gesture of solidarity. Eira's sharp gaze remained fixed on Sirius, who sat calmly but with a faint glint of apprehension in his eyes.