CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
THE DECLARATION
I would like you to tell us how it is that you are still alive." Dumbledore said softly. "Then tell us what you have been doing since the day you disappeared."
Pettigrew took a deep, shuddering breath then began to speak in an expressionless, monotone voice. "I was lucky to have survived that explosion." He said after a moment. "I had only intended to blast a hole in the street but thanks to my friend, I was able to fake my own death more effectively."
"Who was your friend?" Dumbledore asked. "Sirius Black?"
"That trusting fool?" Peter laughed hollowly. "No, Cornelius was able to provide the distraction I needed. He did not know that I was an animagus. He was actually trying to silence me for our Lord but I took the opportunity to escape."
There were confused murmurs from the witnesses above.
"Do you mean Cornelius Fudge?" The judge asked after a moment.
"Yes." Peter replied. "Cornelius Fudge was planted in the Ministry by our Lord to keep an eye on the whereabouts of certain individuals. He tracked me and Black and attempted to remove us both."
"What did Black have to do with your plans?" Dumbledore pressed.
"Sirius was a pest that kept getting into our plans to find the Potters. Little did he know that I was a plant in his own circle of friends." Peter said evenly. "It was quite the relief that he took the blame for my exploits." He laughed again.
"So, Cornelius Fudge was the one who killed all those muggles?"
"Yes."
There were gasps and murmurs above again, they were quickly brought under control. "Continue the interrogation."
"Where have you been since that day?" Dumbledore asked again.
"Doing my Lord's bidding, I endeared myself as the Weasley's family pet. That gullible Percy found me and 'nursed' me back to health. A few years later I was passed to Ron where I was able to find and observe Harry Potter." He said in the same monotone voice. "I have been keeping tabs on Mr. Potter until I was confronted by Sirius and Remus three years ago. Harry and his friends were there as well and before they could turn me in, I was able to escape and return to my Lord."
The murmurs started again. "Mr. Potter, are these accusations true?"
Harry gulped and stood. "Y-yes, Your Honor." He began. "During my third year at Hogwarts, Ron, Hermione, and I found that Ron's pet rat was Peter Pettigrew and that Sirius Black was innocent of the charges he was put in Azkaban for. Before we could turn Pettigrew in, he escaped into the Forbidden Forest on the school grounds. I met him one other time after that ..." Harry admitted quietly. "It was during the rebirth ceremony of Voldemort. Using Voldemort's wand, Pettigrew killed Cedric Diggory."
"Is this true, Pettigrew?" The judge asked quickly.
"Yes." Peter said immediately. "The boy was excess baggage that was not welcome and so he was removed. My Lord regained his former strength that night and would have slain Harry Potter but he escaped."
"Please be seated, Mr. Potter." The judge instructed and Harry did as he was told. "Continue."
"What have you been doing since then?" Dumbledore asked.
"We have been working to capture and destroy Harry Potter with any means necessary. He is a risk to our Lord's domination." Peter said confidently. "We were unable to convince the Acromantula population in the Forbidden Forest to help us and slew their leader. We came close to capturing Potter that night but he somehow evaded us again.
"Our comrade-in-arms, Lockhart failed in his attempt to remove potter when he was in St. Mungo's. The potion of Erised was somehow defeated and the boy survived again. My Lord was not pleased."
"How did the Grangers get involved?" Dumbledore asked again.
"Those simpleton muggles thought they were invited to attend a Dentist Convention and we had intelligence to suggest that their daughter was romantically involved with Potter." He replied evenly. "It was our intention to use the girl and her family as bait to lure Potter to us where we would kill him. As luck would have it, he was invited along. We forged documents and a passport to allow him safe passage to the United States and our trap, but he's grown stronger since we last encountered him. He was able to escape again."
Harry was clutching the arms of his chair so tightly at this point that his knuckles were turning white. They were going to use Hermione and her family against me! Why didn't I see this coming?! He looked at Hermione for a moment. She was watching him, he could see the sadness in her eyes and he turned his attention to the interrogation again. I'm going to have to find a way to keep her out of this. I can't lose her ...
It seemed that the Veritaserum had taken its toll on Peter and his head lolled to the side.
Dumbledore turned to the next Death Eater in line, Bellatrix Lestrange. He poured three drops of the Veritaserum in her mouth and brought her to with the ennervate charm.
"Bellatrix Lestrange, can you hear me?" He asked quietly.
"Yes." She said in the same unnerving, monotone voice.
"How did you escape from Azkaban?" He asked.
"Cornelius Fudge ordered the Dementors to free us." She said with a smile on her face. "It's surprising what they will do when they are promised more than what they are currently allotted."
"Cornelius Fudge, the ex-Minister had you released?" Dumbledore asked with surprise.
"Yes." She said flatly. "He has been working for Our Lord for many years."
"What was his function?" The judge asked from above.
"He was put into power with the help of Lucius Malfoy. Fudge was to make sure that the movements of the Dark Lord were covered with distractions in other directions, such as the escape of Sirius Black." She replied with a smile. "He was very good at keeping Aurors on the wrong trail."
"Why were you sent to the Longbottom's house sixteen years ago?" Dumbledore asked quietly.
Harry glanced at his friend's parents. They wore a mask of impartialness on their faces but you could see the hatred in their eyes.
"There was a prophecy concerning their son. We were sent to kill him and we could do what we wished with them. We tortured them when we couldn't find the Longbottom child. They wouldn't reveal his location." She said with an evil smile. "We left their useless bodies where they were and left before the Aurors could find us, we were too slow and were caught."
"Where is Lucius Malfoy now?"
"We are not sure. He disappeared after he had discovered where the brat Potter was being hidden. Our agents within the school could not coerce the information from his son and when we went to interrogate his wife, she was already dead." She replied.
Harry glanced at Hermione quickly and mouthed the word Dead? Her eyes were wide and they both suddenly realized why Draco had left the Great Hall that day he talked with McGonagall.
"Who are the agents you have in the school?" Dumbledore asked with concern.
"Crabbe, Goyle, and Nott are the only ones I am aware of. Crabbe and Goyle were expelled after removing Draco Malfoy from the picture." She said without hesitation.
"Do you know the whereabouts of Fudge today?" The judge asked her.
"No. When it was uncovered that he was accepting bribes, he disappeared. We have had no contact with him since then." She said flatly.
"Do you know about the assassination attempt on the new Minister?" Dumbledore asked quietly.
"Our Lord needed a distraction that wouldn't allow an Auror squad to protect the Potter brat." She said matter-of-factly. "It was an added bonus that the new Minister was a friend of Potter's and his entire family was there."
Harry could barely control his rage. He started to rise from his seat but Hermione caught his arm and held him back. He looked at her hotly and calmed immediately when he saw the pleading look in her eyes. He sighed in frustration but calmed himself down.
"What do you know of Sirius Black?" The judge asked. There were murmurs of surprise but they died down quickly as Bellatrix began to speak.
"The last I saw him, he was trying to save his blasted godson." She laughed evilly. "But he got what was coming to him when he fell through that veil in the Department of Mysteries. One of the people that Potter cares for down, only a few left." With that she smiled evilly and her head lolled to one side.
It was now Goyle Senior's turn to speak. After the potion and charm, the small-brained Death Eater smiled stupidly but answered that he could hear Dumbledore.
"What was your son's involvement in your plans?" He asked.
"He and his friend were to get rid of Malfoy's son as punishment for not bringing him Potter." He said in a thick, gravelly voice. "They dumped a potion on the boy and he hasn't been seen since." He guffawed stupidly as if it were some college prank.
"Where are your sons now?" Dumbledore continued.
"When they were expelled, they were punished, but our Lord found they had a use. They were taken somewhere for their initiation as Death Eaters and haven't been seen since." A grin that looked like fatherly pride covered his face and his head flopped to the side.
Dumbledore moved to Crabbe Senior and after the potion's application, got the same answers and results as his fellow.
There were two left and the interrogation was put on hold for a small break. Harry and Hermione were lead from the room by Dumbledore and the rest were left to guard the prisoners. Once they were in the hall, Dumbledore turned to them.
"How are you doing?" He asked simply. "This is the most successful interrogation that we've gotten from any group of prisoners we've ever had. It's thanks to your warning, Harry, that we were able to respond quickly enough."
"Harry fought very well, Professor." Hermione said quietly from Harry's side. "With all the training we've been doing in Professor Durkell's class and the extra physical training ..."
"It wasn't only me, Hermione." Harry said quietly. He was still thinking over what he could do to keep her and her family safe. Now that Mr. Weasley was the Minister of Magic, there wasn't much that Harry could do to keep Ron safe because his entire family was in the limelight now. But Hermione could be protected.
"Harry?" Dumbledore asked quietly.
"Hmm?" Harry blinked away his thoughts. "Sorry, Professor, I was thinking."
"You better not be thinking of a way to hide me." Hermione said suddenly catching Harry by surprise. "You know I'll fight you every step of the way!"
Harry looked at the young woman and all his resolve slipped away. How does she do that? He asked himself. "I just want you to be safe, Hermione." He said as he looked into her eyes. He could tell that she didn't want to be hidden away like some precious jewel.
"Harry, I'm safest, and happiest at your side. We've gone through so much together!" She had a stern look in her eyes. "You're not going to treat me like some precious trinket that you hide in a vault somewhere!"
"I wish I knew how you could read my mind." He said with a slight smile. "And it looks like the only way that I can protect you is to have you by me anyway." His smile faded. "But that's so dangerous, Hermione. I almost lost you once and I don't want to face that again."
"Do you know how many times I thought I'd lost you?!" She said heatedly. "Harry, I want to be with you to protect you." She finished quietly.
Before either of them knew it, they were in each other's arms in a tight embrace. "I just don't want to lose you, Hermione, I don't know if I could live if I did."
"You won't, Harry. I can't promise that I'll always be there, but I can promise that I'll always love you, no matter what happens." She said quietly into his chest.
Dumbledore cleared his throat. "I'm sorry, but it's time to finish the interrogation." He said with a smile.
Reluctantly, the three of them returned to the room and took their seats. When everyone had returned, Dumbledore continued to the next person in the line.
"Rabastan, can you hear me?" He asked quietly after administering the potion.
The man laughed quietly. "I'm not Rabastan." He said after a moment.
"Who are you then?" Dumbledore asked with a look of surprise on his face.
"Delores Umbridge." The man said with a smile.
Everyone in the room broke out into confused conversation. Harry and Hermione just stared at the man claiming to be their old professor.
"How have you taken the form of Rabastan Lestrange, Delores?" Dumbledore asked after everyone calmed down.
"It is always the fools who don't quite grasp the obvious." She said mockingly. "I'm a Metamorphmagus, Albus." With that admission, Rabastan Lestrange's features changed to that of Delores Umbridge with a small pop. There were gasps of surprise from most of those in attendance.
"What was your involvement in this?" Dumbledore asked her.
"Did you think Fudge would have survived without having someone to help him?" She chided. "It was I who forged the documents sent to the Grangers." She admitted. "I was looking forward to putting that mudblood and her muggle parents through misery while we made Potter watch." Her lips turned upwards in a maniacal smile.
Harry almost shot from his seat before he could be restrained by both Hermione and Kingsley. "Let me at her!" He shouted in uncontrolled rage. "Let go!"
Dumbledore crossed to Harry quickly but quietly and eased him back into his chair. "Harry, it will do you no good to attack her now." He said quietly. "She's going to be punished for her actions."
Harry snapped his head back and crossed his arms. "I'll control myself." He said through gritted teeth.
His headmaster nodded quietly and turned back to the prisoner.
"What was your purpose at Hogwarts last year?" Dumbledore asked, a look of disgust creeping into his aged features.
"Wasn't it obvious? I was sent to discredit you and that sniveling Potter. I almost succeeded if not for that giant and your Centaur friends in the forest! I also knew that Potter was communicating with someone that knew something and I was watching the boy's every move." She smiled as she relayed her role in Harry's fifth year.
"Did you have any involvement in the assassination of Minster Weasley?" The judge asked.
"I did not have a personal hand in that mission." Umbridge said matter-of-factly. "I did, however, pass all the necessary information to my Lord on the Blood-Traitor's whereabouts." With that admission, her head, like the others' lolled to the side.
"Rodolphus Lestrange." Dumbledore said after he applied the truth potion once more. "Can you hear me?"
Rodolphus answered that he could.
"What was your involvement in Colorado?"
"I was sent to make sure that Wormtail did not betray us to the Potter boy." He said evenly.
"Was there reason to believe that he would?" The judge asked from his seat.
"Yes. Wormtail was spared his life by the boy. A contract was signed by this act of mercy and our Lord feared that Wormtail would foil the attempt to capture Potter." He replied without hesitation. "I was taken by surprise when the boy countered Dolohov's killing curse and I remember nothing after that."
"Do you know what Dolohov's part was?" He asked.
"Dolohov was in charge of manipulating the Daily Prophet." Rodolphus answered. "He made sure that any news was downplayed and relegated to rumor."
His information spent, the final, living Death Eater's head lolled to the side and he was silent.
"All prisoners shall be revived for sentencing in ten minutes." The judge announced and everyone in the bleachers went through a door at the back of the room.
Harry stood but sat back down when Dumbledore motioned that he shouldn't go anywhere.
"I can't believe that Umbridge was a part of this!" Harry hissed under his breath.
"Neither can I, Harry." Hermione whispered back. "I knew she was up to something, but this was beyond what I thought." She admitted.
The other witnesses in the room were quietly talking as Dumbledore paced the room. "Alastor, anything yet?"
Moody looked into a small mirror. "No, we're still in the clear." He replied after a moment.
"The Minister will be briefed on everything that's happened here." Dumbledore explained to Harry and Hermione.
"What happened to the assassin?" Harry asked out of the blue. "Did they catch him?"
Dumbledore smiled sadly. "He was caught, yes." He admitted. "But unfortunately he died after he fell off of the building he was hiding in. The investigation suggests that he was pushed from the roof before he could disapparate from the scene."
Hermione shook her head. "First rule of assassination: Kill the assassin."
Harry looked at her with surprise. "How do you know that?"
Hermione blushed. "I read it in a mystery novel before I went to Hogwarts." She admitted.
Those who heard the exchange chuckled somewhat.
"I do think that's the case, Miss Granger." Dumbledore said with a smile. "In any case, after we are done here, we will be moving to a secure location until you can be returned to Hogwarts."
The couple nodded and remained silent.
The door at the back of the room opened and the committee re-entered and sat in their previous seats.
"You will now ennervate the prisoners for sentencing."
Dumbledore, Remus, and Moody brought the six Death Eaters back to consciousness. They looked around for a moment and when the realized where they were glared at those who were within view. Umbridge stared directly at Hermione the entire time and Harry had to fight his urges to rip her head off.
"Peter Pettigrew." The judge said with authority. "You have broken the Muggle Protection Act, are charged with numerous counts of illegal curse work, aiding and abetting known felons, and following without question the orders of Voldemort."
Harry looked at the judge in surprise. He obviously wasn't afraid of the Dark Lord.
"How do you plead?"
"N-not guilty!" Wormtail stammered. "I was under the effects of the Imperi-"
"Your plea has been entered and it is established that you acted under your own accord."
"Bellatrix Lestrange, you are accused of numerous uses of illegal curses, aiding and abetting known felons, and following without question the orders of Voldemort. How do you plead?"
Bellatrix laughed maniacally. "You have no power over me!" She screamed at the top of her lungs.
"Very well, mark her plea as not guilty." The judge said after the tirade.
"Vincent Crabbe, Senior. You have been charged with numerous uses of illegal curses, aiding and abetting known felons, and following without question the orders of Voldemort. How do you plead?"
Crabbe Senior stared blankly at the judge and didn't say a word.
"Again, a plea of not-guilty."
The judge read off the charges for each of the Death Eaters and each pleaded not-guilty. There was only silence from those who were overseeing the interrogation turned trial and after a moment, the judge spoke again.
"Under the laws of the Ministry of Magic, you are each sentenced to ..." The judge was cut off by an explosion above them.
Moody whipped out his mirror and looked grimly at Dumbledore. "He's here." He said gravely.
Dumbledore's face drained of color and he looked quickly to Harry.
"What is it Professor?" Harry said in alarm. "Is it Voldemort?"
Dumbledore nodded. "Harry, the war has truly begun."