Chapter 258. The Ministry Arrives
When Adrian Wesson and Black reached the Headmaster's office, the scene inside made him frown slightly; quite a few people had already gathered there.
Albus Dumbledore, Remus Lupin, Peter, Fudge, and a tall woman with a monocle whom Wesson did not recognise.
Peter was tightly bound to a chair with a very thick hemp rope, slumped there, deathly pale and trembling all over.
Lupin stood beside Peter, his face dark, saying nothing. The others kept severe expressions, standing to one side and discussing something.
But the moment the door opened, everyone's eyes swung in unison towards the doorway.
"Er… good afternoon?" Wesson replied a bit awkwardly, feeling like a pet on display.
Of course, the actual "pet" was at his feet; the oddly coloured big dog drew some of the attention as well.
At the instant Black saw Peter, his hackles shot up. But he calmed quickly and did not hurry to change back into human form.
Fudge strode forward, his face thunderous. "Professor Wesson, Albus has already told us about Black. That cri— ahem… where is Black?"
As soon as the words fell, the air in the office froze; Peter shut his eyes in despair.
He knew his friend too well. Although the colour was off, he could not possibly mistake him; the big dog at Wesson's feet was undoubtedly the old acquaintance he'd dreamed of day and night—Sirius Black.
Black knew exactly what this meant; nothing could have been clearer to him.
"Professor Wesson, I am Amelia Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement."
The tall woman stepped forward and said calmly, "Although we already have some evidence, a formal interrogation and identity verification for Black are still necessary procedures. Professor Dumbledore says you have been guarding him."
Wesson noticed a small vial in her hand, half-filled with a transparent, water-like liquid.
That was likely Veritaserum, and some had already been used.
Just then, the pink-furred big dog at Wesson's side began to twist and change—Black finally couldn't hold back.
Under the astonished gazes of all present, a gaunt yet handsome man appeared where the dog had been, only his hair retained a conspicuous wash of pink.
Wesson raised an eyebrow.
Transforming in front of so many people is not a wise choice, Black.
Don't forget you're an unregistered Animagus!
Now it was worse: one charge had not yet been cleared, and another had been added on top.
At the moment, however, no one seemed to care about such trifles.
"Sirius…" Lupin's voice sounded as if from far away.
He had not expected their reunion to be like this, but now was clearly not the time for old friends to reminisce.
At the sight of Black, Fudge's face turned a livid iron-blue, and even Bones's composed features rippled.
"Mr Black," Bones said coolly, "we need to take you with us. You will be held temporarily at the Ministry of Magic until all investigative procedures are complete."
"And what about this traitor?" Black fixed his eyes on Peter, hatred long suppressed in his voice. "Will you put him to death?"
Peter shook violently in the chair, great beads of sweat rolling down his brow. "No… Sirius… I really didn't… I really had no choice… James and Li—"
"Shut up!" Lupin suddenly lashed out with a furious kick that struck the leg of Peter's chair; the wooden feet screeched harshly across the floorboards.
Dumbledore raised his hand lightly to halt Lupin from doing more. "Remus, violence won't solve the problem."
Wesson watched in silence.
He had never seen Lupin this enraged; the man was nothing like his usual genial self.
Clearly, the Veritaserum had already made Peter confess everything.
At the very least, everyone present now understood that Peter had been the one who truly betrayed them back then.
"He will be sent to Azkaban to face the Dementors' judgement," Fudge said, wiping sweat from his forehead. "But before that, he must first stand formal trial before the Wizengamot."
Black let out a sharp, mirthless laugh. "A trial? Azkaban? Only execution fits what he's done.
Sending him to Azkaban would do no good at all."
Peter gave a mouse-like whimper and shrank into the chair, shivering. "No… please,"
Of course, no one paid any attention to his desperate struggle.
The monocle over Amelia Bones's eye flashed coldly. "Mr Black, I understand your anger, but we still require due process."
She turned to Fudge, her tone hardening. "Minister, given that the criminal has already confessed, I recommend we initiate an emergency session of the Wizengamot at once."
"This will take a little time…" Fudge dabbed at his brow. "First we need—" Black suddenly broke into a hysterical laugh. "Just execute him, Minister. The same way you lot tossed me straight into Azkaban back then."
At that moment, Dumbledore spoke.
"Hold the inquiry and render judgement as soon as possible, Cornelius, Amelia," his voice was calm yet brooked no dispute. "The day after tomorrow, in the Wizengamot."
"I suppose that's acceptable," Fudge replied.
If Dumbledore had spoken, then nothing was a problem.
When Fudge and Bones left the Headmaster's office, they took Black and Peter with them. Aurors stationed at Hogwarts would escort them back to the Ministry of Magic.
As she departed, Amelia Bones paused at the doorway to leave a single sentence for those remaining. "The criminal will receive the punishment he deserves. Azkaban will not be his final destination."
"Bones is someone worthy of trust," Dumbledore said slowly. "In fact, she is the one most affected within the Ministry. The previous Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement sent Black to Azkaban without understanding the facts; that was a grave error and—now—clearly rash. Someone must make this right."
Wesson nodded.
He did not know what kind of person Amelia Bones was, but from their brief contact just now, his first impression of her was not bad.
The undisguised contempt this lady director showed towards Fudge suited him quite well.
"I should have seen it," Lupin said, sitting on the sofa with his fingers sunk into his hair. "That Peter could do these things… I thought we were friends. We always looked out for him back then, and to think he…"
"A Gryffindor who failed to measure up; he lacks true courage," Wesson said in judgement. "As the facts prove, the Sorting doesn't represent everything."
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