Chapter 486: Charges Dropped

After seeing the golden small words, almost all the older wizards in the courtroom stood up subconsciously.

They looked at the place blocked by the thick fog, with undisguised anger in their eyes.

As people who had personally experienced that turbulent era, they knew very well that this was the spell of the Fidelius Charm. When the contract was established, these words would turn into golden symbols and hide in the soul of the person who chanted the spell.

Many people in this room had escaped by luck by this method, so they knew it very well.

Now it is completely certain that Peter Pettigrew is the real secret keeper, not Black!

"Damn it!" There were waves of curses all around.

Crouch's face was gloomy.

Although Dumbledore testified, before this, he still didn't believe that Black was innocent, or he was more willing to believe that this was a trap set by Fudge for him and deceived Dumbledore.

After all, everyone knew that Potter and Black were as good as one person. No matter how you look at it, the secret keeper could not be attributed to the cowardly Peter.

But they did it anyway, as if they had no brain at all, and the brain just now should have been stuffed into his head.

"Traitor..." Crouch clenched his fist, and the quill in his hand snapped into two pieces.

The discussion in the courtroom became louder and louder.

The thick fog quickly dissipated, and Diana came out, "Then Professor Dumbledore, the rest of the matter is up to you."

"Of course, this is what we should do." Dumbledore said with a smile, "Thanks to you this time, otherwise Sirius might be in trouble..."

"I just want to help Lily, not some smart-assed fool." Diana didn't even look at Black.

"In addition, Mr. Headmaster, if I remember correctly, Hogwarts should not have a rule that fifth-year students can leave school on weekends, right?"

Dumbledore's smile froze on his face, and then he said calmly, "I think so too, but this is the invitation of the Minister after all, and Kyle insisted on coming, so... well, I can't do anything."

"Really..." Diana glanced at the corner again.

Kyle, who was lowering his head and trying to reduce his presence, suddenly shuddered. He raised his head carefully and just saw Diana and the other two silent people walked out of the courtroom, taking the water tank with them.

"Huh..." He breathed a sigh of relief and sat up straight again.

After that, the trial went much more smoothly.

In the face of clear evidence, those who had previously opposed also shut up. Although some people still insisted on Sirius's escape from prison, Fudge could always delay the matter with his skillful means of smoothing things over.

Although he was also very curious about how the other party escaped from the heavily guarded Azkaban, it was obviously not the time to discuss this.

They could take their time later, and they had plenty of time.

Finally, in order to end the retrial as soon as possible, Sirius took the initiative to ask for truth serum or accept Legilimency to prove his innocence.

Fudge agreed, and because it was an active request, there was no need to vote again.

Soon, Scrimgeour brought a small bottle.

"I think one drop should be enough." Dumbledore said, "We don't need to ask too many questions."

"I know." Scrimgeour said.

As a drop of truth serum was poured into his mouth, Sirius's cheeks relaxed and his eyes stared blankly at the ceiling.

"Can you hear me?" Scrimgeour asked.

Sirius' eyelids trembled a few times.

"Yes." He whispered.

"I hope you can tell us." Scrimgeour asked calmly: "Who was the Potter couple's secret keeper twelve years ago."

Sirius took a few trembling breaths and spoke in a flat tone without any emotion.

"It was Peter Pettigrew, he was the secret keeper."

"Why choose him."

Sirius' eyelids trembled a few times again, "Because I think it's safer to act as bait in the open, so that no one will suspect the cowardly Peter."

"Who blew up the Muggle streets afterwards." Scrimgeour asked again.

"It was Peter Pettigrew..."

Under the effect of the truth serum, Sirius told the whole story of how the Secret Keeper was replaced.

How should I put it? After hearing what happened, most people's first reaction was not sympathy, but the same idea as Crouch... Black really lacked a brain.

I should have asked those Unspoken people if they could apply for one for him.

It was obviously a simple matter, why did they have to think so complicated, it was a waste of time.

But after cursing in their hearts, everyone sighed again.

In any case, he spent twelve years in Azkaban for nothing, and he paid the price for his stupidity.

After Sirius finished speaking, Scrimgeour poured a bottle of potion into his mouth with a complicated expression.

He was still thinking about whether to recruit Sirius into the Auror's office after he was found not guilty, but now he thought about it again.

After all, Aurors don't only value strength.

After drinking the potion, the confusion in Sirius' eyes gradually disappeared. He shook his head and regained consciousness.

"I think the matter should be very clear." On the podium, Fudge cleared his throat, "Then, those who support Sirius Black's innocence, please raise your hands."

Hands were raised one by one, and in the blink of an eye, more than half of them were in favor. Even Crouch slowly raised his arm.

"Ninety-five votes!" Ms. Bones said in a loud voice.

"Very good, very good." Fudge stood up and said with a smile: "On behalf of the Ministry of Magic, I am making a statement that the charges against Sirius Orion Black in 1981 are officially withdrawn, the arrest warrant is invalidated, and he will be acquitted from today and regain the right to own a wand."

Applause rang out in the courtroom, and everyone stood up and clapped their hands vigorously.

Sirius sat there blankly, looking around at everyone, and then at Peter lying on the ground. He felt a trance in front of his eyes, as if everything was so unreal.

He, is free?

Sirius took a few deep breaths, then looked up at Dumbledore, wanting to confirm something.

"So what are you waiting for."

Dumbledore smiled and said, "If you have enough Galleons with you... well, do you want to go to Diagon Alley? Compared with twelve years ago, it has changed a lot.

And I have inquired, Ollivander did not go out to find materials for making his wands today, you should be able to pick a suitable wand for yourself there."

"Of course... of course, Professor Dumbledore." Sirius' eyes became moist in an instant, and he said with tears and laughter: "I dream of going to Diagon Alley."

...