Dark Lord Dumbledore - Volume 1 Chapter 62

While Harrison Chad Peverell had been travelling on the Hogwarts Express and plotting the domination of Australia, the wizarding world was ablaze with the juiciest gossip since the downfall of Voldemort!

Thanks to Rita Skeeter’s maneuvering, the trial of Peter Pettigrew and exoneration of Lord Sirius Black had been open to the media to keep the Wizengamot honest.

Fudge had only been too happy to oblige once he had figured out that he could discredit the old guard, and strengthen his image as the voice of justice all in one! Removing some of Dumbledore’s fame and status was also a driving factor, he was forever worried the old man might take his job as well as all of his other positions!

The trial had started at midday, and the courtroom was packed to the rafters, waiting in anticipation for today’s excitement to begin. The courtroom was located on the tenth level of the Ministry of Magic and was only used for severe criminal cases or to create new laws.

The members of the Wizengamot, of which there were fifty, strode in wearing their plum-covered robes with an elaborate silver letter ‘W’ on them. As Dumbledore went to take the seat of Chief Warlock, he was prevented from doing so by Amelia Bones.

“I’m afraid that you have a conflict of interest in today’s proceedings and might even need to be called as a witness. Since this is the case, the law prohibits you from reigning over this session of the Wizengamot.” A small smile gracing the face of the usually stone-faced woman.

Thanks to this morning’s newspaper, Dumbledore’s reputation had taken a severe beating. Where once he might have contested such a move, now he could not risk making a scene in front of Magical Britain’s Nobility.

The little influence over today’s proceedings he might gain was not worth the damage to his remaining reputation. Regretfully, he could only take a seat in the spectator section and hope his contingencies were enough to misdirect the fools that dared to judge him!

After a short vote, one of the Wizengamot’s oldest members, Griselda Marchbanks, was temporarily assigned as Chief Warlock. Pettigrew was then brought in covered in magic inhibiting restraints that also prevented Animagi from taking their bestial form.

He was led to the chair situated in the centre of the room and then magically bound to it by its enchanted chains, securing the man from any chance of escape. With a bang of a gavel, Griselda Marchbanks declared the high wizard court of law in session.

The jury that had been selected for today’s proceedings were sitting on the right of the Ministry assigned prosecutor, and looked like they had won the lottery. They would surely be the talk of the town with today’s firsthand gossip.

The prosecutor stated the case against Pettigrew and listed the many, many charges he faced. These included but were not limited to, indecent association with minors, accomplice to the Potter’s murder, treason, and the killing of the twelve muggles that Sirius had been supposedly convicted for.

What followed was a liberal dose of Veritaserum and a full confession of what had occurred that night. Thanks to Chad’s editing of the rat’s mind, Peter could only answer truthfully on what was purposely left behind for this exact moment.

All memories that might incriminate any Death Eaters that had escaped punishment was also deleted. Chad couldn’t have anyone upsetting his plans for the wealthy Purebloods when he decided it was time for ‘Voldemort’ to make his reappearance!

Therefore, when Dumbledore interrupted to ask Pettigrew some questions of his own, the human-shaped rat could only answer that he didn’t know. Dumbledore had hoped to use this opportunity to expose some of Voldemort’s inner circle to deny him support until Albus was ready to set up some fail-safes.

Tom had managed to surprise him by resurrecting ahead of schedule, and Dumbledore was worried about what other surprises the deranged wizard potentially had in store for him. It was better to chip away at his power base now while he was still unprepared, so he could limit the wannabe Dark Lord’s influence later when he went public.

“Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, need I remind you that you are merely a spectator in court today? Your title of Chief Warlock has been temporarily stripped from you, any more interruptions and I will see to it that it is permanent!” Yelled out Fudge, revelling in demeaning the powerful wizard while he had no chance to retaliate.

Dumbledore could only curse his luck, he had been sure that Peter would be able to reveal a list of names that would have been so shocking that his recent blunder would disappear from the minds of the sheep.

So far, his claims that Voldemort was back had been met with looks of scepticism or mockery, even amongst his loyal lackeys! Now he was just made to look foolish, and by that bumbling idiot Fudge no less!

This was why Veritaserum was not generally used as a sure way to prove guilt. It made its victim tell the truth, but much like woke idiots, it only made them tell ‘their truth’, which could be easily influenced. If they thought the sky was pink, then that’s how they would answer under Veritaserum.

If the Wizengamot hadn’t devolved into such a kangaroo court, then other evidence would have been presented, like Rita Skeeter’s testimony for example. But the Ministry was in a hurry to write past wrongs and conclude this embarrassing example of their incompetence.

After a few more pointless questions, Peter was given the antidote, and the jury was asked to judge his fate. They didn’t even need time to think about it as every one of them raised their wands and made its end glow, signalling a guilty verdict.

“Peter Pettigrew, you are found guilty of far too many crimes for me to bother reading! Suffice to say that you are worthy of facing the death penalty! All those in favour?” Asked the old, wizened temporary Cheif Warlock.

The fifty Wizengamot members in charge of sentencing unanimously raised glowing wands. They were either disgusted by the betrayal the rat had committed against the Potters, embarrassed they had awarded him the Order of Merlin or wanted Wormtail dead just encase he incriminated them. Quite a few had gone pale when Dumbledore had asked his questions!

“It seems I’m not the only one that thinks you are unworthy trash. To let you continue befouling our world by breathing is a crime in itself!” The little old woman said with unbelievable amounts of vitriol.

It was quite out of character for the strict Governor of the Wizarding Examinations Authority that ran the O.W.L., N.E.W.T. and W.O.M.B.A.T. examinations. Usually, she was a patient, no-nonsense woman that was always fair and impartial. Maybe she was friends with the Potters?

Whatever it was, the finality in her voice terrified Peter enough that he started to cry and beg for his life.

“Please, I was forced to do it! They would have killed me if I didn’t do what they said!” The grotesque rat-like human begged.

“Save you lies you, traitor! We have already heard you real reasons why you served up your only friends to You-Know-Who! Betrayers like you are who I hate the most in this world, and unluckily for you, it is at my discretion on whether you get the Veil or if a Dementor sucks out your corrupt soul! Guess which one I choose?” The suddenly terrifying woman maliciously informed Peter.

“No, no, please!” Cried Pettigrew, so scared that he had lost control over his bladder, soiling both his clothes and the chair.

Even some of the hardened members of the ‘Dark’ side were looking at the sadistic glee on Griselda’s face and re-evaluating where she sat on the Light-Dark spectrum. Her behaviour was vicious enough to warrant a promotion under Voldemort!

Dumbledore wanted to intervene and advocate for a life sentence in Azkaban instead, but looking around the room told him his pleas would amount to nothing. He needed a look into Peter’s mind to see just what had gone wrong with the Veritaserum, he knew for a fact that Wormtail knew Lucius was a Death Eater!

Unfortunately, a cold feeling of dread pervaded the room just as he was working out how to gain some alone time with Peter. Looking up at the source, he could only curse under his breath as a Dementor was led into the room by two Aurors.

‘It seems like Fudge was sure of today’s outcome and had prepared accordingly, Merlin, by the look on Griselda’s face she had been in on it!’ Albus thought to himself, angry at his plans being foiled again.

The gathered crowd had a mixture of terror and excited curiosity as they watched the Dementor glide over to Pettegrew, ignoring it’s victim’s screams as it locked lips with him. The once animated wizard that was fighting his restraints with everything he had, abruptly went still and slumped into the chair.

The satisfied Dementor was quickly herded out of the chamber so the assembled audience for today’s macabre entertainment could once again regain some warmth. The chilling aura of the dark creature affected all but the most iron-willed.

“Justice has finally be served after being perverted for so long. Unfortunately, we need to once again right a past wrong. Bring forth, Lord Sirius Black!” The now smiling Chief Warlock commanded, looking every bit the image of the stereotypical grandma.

Sirius Black was looking a lot less haggard than what most people were expecting after serving ten years unjustly in the world’s worst prison. In fact, even as he shuddered from the now-familiar demented aura of his worst nightmare, the man still had a smile on his face!

Especially when he saw his most hated foe being unchained from the suspect chair, and watched the piss dripping from Peter’s inert body. Sirius simply strolled over for a closer look, smiling like it was just another Friday afternoon and he had just got off work.

Without a care in the world, the man hocked up a tremendous loogie and spat it onto the soulless body of the man he once called a friend. Looking over at the piss-stained chair he was expected to sit in, he could only gesture at the gobsmacked Auror holding Peter’s legs to do something about it.

While Black waited for the man to drop the unresponsive rat’s legs and send a Scouring Charm at the chair, he couldn’t help but stir up the bigwigs staring down at him. His inner Marauder coming out before he could even be bothered to stop it, not that he would anyway.

“So, how have you all been? I’m afraid I am a bit behind on the current gossip! We did win the war, didn’t we?” He jauntily asked before taking a seat on the now pristine chair in a carefree manner, crossing his right foot over his left knee.

Unbeknownst to the assembled crowd, Sirius Black was experiencing the best day he ever had in the last ten long years! Not only had he been ‘officially’ released from the hellhole known as Azkaban after a series of questions, but a pretty witch had even interviewed him for his side of the story, promising to tell the public the truth.

It had soon been brought to his attention that the reason he was tasting the sweet air of freedom was thanks to the very same beauty giving him a look he hadn’t seen since before the war started. One of l.u.s.t and promising some fun in a broom closet!

Luckily, he had been given some time to clean up before his guest was allowed to see him; otherwise, ten years of acc.u.mulated filth would have put off even the horniest of nymphomaniacs! It was amazing what s.e.x could do to combat any lingering Dementor side effects, it was many times more effective than chocolate!

Later, he had walked in to see the rat missing a soul and exposed as the piss covered coward he actually was! It had galled him to find out that the man had been hailed a hero while his good name was besmirched as a filthy traitor! It was as if all of his wishes had come true! If only James and Lily were still alive…

Before his fracture psyche could turn his joy into sadness, he was brought out of his musings by Griselda Marchbanks asking for an account of the worst night of his life. Steeling himself against a further attack of morose thoughts that threatened to bring tears to his eyes, he gave an almost wooden play by play of what had occurred.

“… and that was when Hagrid showed up and demanded I hand over little Harry. Of course, as his Godfather, I refused since it was now my responsibility to raise him. But Hagrid was not taking no for an answer and started to threaten me, Dumbledore’s orders he said.”