Hogwarts: Voldemort, don't stop me from studying

"What is...what is that?" asked Harry.

"Dementors," Vader replied.

His level of Occlumency is now very good, and the Dementors don't have much effect on him.

——So that was the Dementor.

Harry thought to himself.

He had heard before that many prisoners in Azkaban went crazy, and he thought it was unbelievable, but when he saw the Dementors with his own eyes, he suddenly understood.

He looked at the man held between the Dementors.

His head hung as if he had fainted, his long, dirty, tangled hair hung in a mess, his skin was as white as wax, and his body was as thin as a skeleton.

He was wrapped in a ragged suit of old clothes, like a rag, and his skinny ankles were shackled, with the iron chains dragging on the ground, making a clanking sound.

Wade suddenly heard a giggling sound. He looked up and saw Lupin staring at Sirius, who was as thin as a skeleton. His face was tense and expressionless, and his hands were trembling slightly.

Vader dropped his eyes.

The Dementors placed Sirius on the middle chair. The chains on the armrests suddenly glowed with golden light and wrapped around Sirius like a snake, binding him there.

Then they slowly left the room, their bodies as light as a puff of black smoke.

There was a clear sound of exhalation in the interrogation room, and the reporters craned their necks, staring at Sirius sitting on the chair, and took a series of photos.

Except for Dumbledore, the wizards in the front row remained calm. All the other wizards showed obvious displeasure on their faces.

The crisp knocking sounds rang out again, and the reporters had to put down their cameras and pick up their pens instead, still with excitement on their faces.

"Record!" The gray-haired witch said in a cold voice, "The trial on November 11th will be a retrial of the case in which Sirius Black defected to the mysterious man, disclosed the residence of James Potter and Lily Potter, and killed thirteen people after the facts were exposed!"

"Interrogators: Cornelius Oswald Fudge, Minister of Magic; Amelia Susan Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement; Rufus Scrimgeour, Head of the Auror Office. Trial reporter: Albireo Ima."

"For the Defence: Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore."

Dumbledore, who was sitting on a chair at the side, stood up and said: "Since the defendant Sirius Black is in poor condition, I will make the statement on his behalf."

There was a faint commotion among the audience in the interrogation room, and most of the Wizengamot members in purple robes smiled at Dumbledore.

Fudge's displeasure became more obvious, and he looked around, as if expecting someone to object. But Amelia Bones and Rufus Scrimgeour did not speak.

Fudge had no choice but to say: "Well... okay, Dumbledore... this is also allowed..."

Ignoring Fudge's reluctance, Dumbledore stood up and strode over to Sirius Black, placing a hand on his shoulder.

The warmth of a living person's palm seemed to pull Sirius out of some repressed emotion. He slowly raised his head and looked at Dumbledore.

Those eyes were hidden in sunken eye sockets, looking deep and dark, without any emotion.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I think most of you here remember that we interrogated Peter Petillo here yesterday."

Dumbledore said: "Since the case is very old and the process is complicated, we have specially allowed the use of truth serum during the interrogation..."

Hearing the familiar name, Sirius Black was stunned for a moment, and then, a dark light seemed to flash in his eyes.

He stared at Dumbledore intently.

Some people in the audience showed worried expressions, and some gestured to the old headmaster with white beard to stand further away - they seemed to think that Sirius would pounce on Dumbledore and bite him.

But Dumbledore did not leave, he continued his statement.

"Under the influence of the potion, Peter Pettigrew confessed to his crimes. He admitted that he was the real secret keeper of the Potter family, and it was he who revealed their residence to Voldemort..."

Sirius Black suddenly let out a hoarse roar -

"Peter Petillo? Is he still alive?"

Chapter 161 Sirius's Verdict

Dumbledore paused slightly, as if he had not expected that Sirius still did not know why he was brought to the judgment seat, or perhaps he was surprised that Sirius still had clear thinking and speech.

After a pause of a few seconds, he pressed the palm of his hand on Sirius' shoulder slightly harder.

"Yes, he is alive."

Dumbledore said: "He transformed into a mouse, disguised as a child's pet, lived in hiding for eleven years, and was arrested at Hogwarts recently."

Sirius was in a daze, looking at the floor, not knowing what he was thinking.

Dumbledore continued to expound on the crimes Peter Pettigrew had confessed to.

He was the one who betrayed.

He was also the one who killed the Potters.

It was he who killed twelve Muggles with a spell when he was about to be caught by Sirius.

Some wizards who had not attended the previous trial were talking among themselves. Everyone was so shocked that even the order of the court could not keep them quiet.

Moody frowned.

"Such a despicable scum deserves a kiss from the Dementors!"

The retired Auror said with intense disgust.

"The Ministry of Magic has sentenced him to life imprisonment!" Lupin also seemed unwilling, but he added: "It might be better to let that guy live and endure a long period of torture!"

"Was Peter Pettigrew tried yesterday?" Wade asked.

"It's a secret trial, there aren't that many listeners." Lupin suppressed his emotions and said, "Peter's trial was originally scheduled after Sirius's, but Dumbledore brought it forward."

Moody nodded. "Only if Peter Pettigrew's guilt is confirmed can Sirius Black be said to be innocent."

He stared deeply at Sirius, as if trying to discern some hidden emotion from that skull-like face.

He added: "If you ask me, Fudge is lacking some courage now. If it were Millicent Bagnold, she would never let Pettigrew have the chance to enjoy the rest of his life."

"Peter Pettigrew is an Animagus," Wade asked. "Will he turn into a rat and escape from Azkaban?"

Moody shook his head. "Although I don't like those monsters either, I have to say that they are the best guards in the world. No one can escape from under their noses - even though those guys may not even have eyes."

"Since we know he is an Animagus, the Ministry of Magic also has measures against Animagus." Lupin also said.

During their whispered discussion, Dumbledore had presented what little evidence he had -- chiefly the testimony of Peter Pettigrew.

Then came Sirius's confiscated wand. The Ministry of Magic found it from the dusty evidence room, cast a flashback spell, and checked it one by one, which took more than ten minutes.

The spell that killed a dozen Muggles that year never appeared in the wand.

The Wizengamot members in charge of the trial nodded and exchanged glances. They all knew the facts in advance, and Dumbledore's words were mainly for the reporters and uninformed audiences.

After checking the wand, the facts seemed to be confirmed.

Fudge proposed his own theory:

If they misjudge the identity of Sirius Black, he will become an important force in the resurrection of the mysterious man, bringing danger to the entire wizarding world.

Fudge didn't really care who was innocent, Sirius Black or Peter Pettigrew.

For him, the most important thing is stability.

He hoped that the wizarding world would be as calm as a lake without wind, allowing him to stay safely in his position, occasionally making some safe political achievements and filling his own private treasury.

He refused any change.

Peter Pettigrew has been hiding for more than ten years. Has he done anything? Nothing. He is no different from being dead.

But Sirius Black was a time bomb. Fudge didn't know what he would do after being released. This uncertainty made him feel uneasy and dangerous.

And if Sirius had not betrayed him, he would still be Dumbledore's man, which was a grudge that Fudge could not speak of.

Fudge's concerns seemed to make sense, and some people nodded secretly.

Amelia Bones looked down at Sirius who was silent and asked, "Sirius Black, do you have anything else to say?"

Sirius remained motionless for a long time.

Fudge said: "I think he may not understand your question, Amelia..."

"I am guilty." Sirius suddenly said in a dry voice, and he slowly raised his head.

"They were effectively killed by me... I was the one who convinced James and Lily to replace the secret-keeper with Peter at the last minute... not me..."

"I made a huge mistake... I killed them, it's all my fault... I am guilty..."

"No, that's not it!"

Harry couldn't help but say loudly.

Everyone in the interrogation room looked at him. Fudge's eyes widened in astonishment and he said angrily, "No noise allowed!"

Some people looked at Harry's appearance, guessed his identity, and immediately showed interested expressions.

Harry knew that everyone was looking at him, and that he might be kicked out soon, but he still shouted with all his strength:

"You are not guilty! Even if my parents were here, they would not think you are guilty! It was Voldemort who killed them, not you! Pettigrew's betrayal was not your fault!"

Harry called Voldemort's name in public, which made people talk about it. Many people even ignored the order of the court and stood up to look at Harry.

"Did you hear that... He said that person's name..."

"Of course, he is... Harry Potter..."

Vader heard the noisy discussion.

Sirius Black raised his head sharply, trying hard to see Harry's appearance clearly. His sunken eyes suddenly became moist and flashed with bright light, instantly dispelling those rotten and withered things.

"...James?" He said softly, his lips trembling.

Amelia Bones had to knock several times with a small hammer before the interrogation room could quiet down again.

"Please be quiet, Mr. Potter," she said, "or I will have to ask you to leave."

Harry sat down immediately, his face flushed as if he had a fever, and he stared down at his toes, unable to believe how he could have been so impulsive just now.

Lupin patted his shoulder.

Across the rows of heads, he and Sirius looked at each other, his eyes also moist.

"Then... please raise your hands if you agree that the crime is committed," said Ms. Bones in a loud voice.