Chapter 19: Trials (2)
The last of the Death Eaters was the one that caused the greatest stir. At first, when Hogwarts presented him, all that could be seen was a small, dingy rat. However, Harry suggested an animagus-revealing spell, after which he was quickly forced back into his human body. As Pettigrew detailed all of his actions as a Death Eater, including the betrayal of the Potters and setting up Sirius Black, Harry's expression grew colder.
When Pettigrew finished, Harry turned his furious gaze to Madam Bones. "I want my godfather out of Azkaban immediately!" He said icily. "I want him here, within the hour, for a proper questioning, and I want whoever threw him in that hell-hole without a trial sitting in their own cell by the end of this day! As Earl Slytherin I demand it!"
Half of the Wizengamot members behind her quivered and hurried to reassure Harry, but Madam Bones was made of sterner stuff. "We'll see to it that he gets a proper trial, today, My Lord," she said calmly. Then she turned to her group of aurors. "Bell, go back to the department, get whoever you need, and report to Azkaban immediately. See to it that Mister Black is here as soon as humanly possible. I'm authorizing a portkey. Jones, go to the records archive. See who was responsible for this mess ten years ago and get them in our cells."
The two aurors nodded sharply and then bolted from the room. While Harry tried to take deep, calming breaths, the rest of the trials continued.
Filch was found to hate the students at the school, but not found to have actually tortured any of them, so he was fired but not arrested. Fudge and several other Wizengamot members who had been pulled from the chamber admitted to taking bribes to keep Death Eaters out of jail, as well as several other things. They were each banned from the Wizengamot, ordered to repay double the bribe amount to the St Mungo's victim's fund, and, in the more severe cases, sentenced to brief periods in Azkaban. Fudge was also sacked as Minister, and, when most of his Undersecretaries were also accused of bribery, is was decided that Madam Bones would become the Interim Minister until elections could be held. Dozens of others were currently in the DMLE's holding cells, awaiting their own trials over the coming days for bribery, corruption, and being a Death Eater.
Finally, the Hogwarts cells were down to just two people; Quirrell and Dumbledore. Many on the Wizengamot were starting to wonder, after everything they had heard, what these two could possibly have done to be saved for last.
Quirrell was brought forth, but in addition to being stunned and bound, he also had a ward-field, like a shimmering blue bubble, around him. When Madam Bones turned to the heirs for an explanation, they turned to the Hat.
"Professor Quinnius Quirrell," the Hat announced calmly, "currently hosting the parasitic soul fragment of Tom Marvolo Riddle, also known as Lord Voldemort, accused of-" No one could hear what he was accused of, as the entire room erupted with noise.
Over the yelling and screaming, Hermione set off a spell like a gunshot. As everyone focused on her, she said calmly. "As long as Hogwarts' containment ward holds, I don't think all of that noise will be necessary. Now Hat, you were saying?"
"Quirrell is accused of endangering the students, illegally selling contraband creatures, supporting the Dark Lord, and murder. Tom Marvolo Riddle is accused of murder, founding a terrorist organization, torture-"
"Yes, we'll get to those later," Harry interrupted. "I'm sure we can throw the book at him. Now, in the meantime, Madam Bones, do you have a way to feed Quirrell Veritaserum and Enervate him without waking up Riddle too?"
"As a matter of fact, we do," she said wryly. "Shacklebolt, get to St. Mungo's. I want their best specialists in possession here immediately."
"Yes Ma'am!"
As they waited, the heirs chatted quietly with the ghosts about their upcoming plans. Since the students had had the day off, due to the impromptu session of the Wizengamot, the heirs would still be able to announce their changes at dinner or breakfast without upsetting their schedules too much.
Within ten minutes Shacklebolt had returned with the mediwizards, who were quickly brought up to speed on the problem. They cast a series of spells through the containment ward before nodding at Madam Bones. "You can drop the shield and Enervate him now," the oldest of the three said.
Hogwarts quickly dropped the shield, and an auror administered the Veritaserum to Quirrell before Enervating him. His questioning was quick, as he admitted to all of his crimes since meeting Voldemort's spirit just over a year before. He was also able to attest to the crimes that Voldemort had committed since gaining control of his body, and what their plan was at Hogwarts.
The revelation that the Philosopher's Stone was supposedly at Hogwarts right now sent a ripple of shock through the room, and it was one more mark against Dumbledore in the heirs' minds.
When the questioning was done, Quirrell and the healers left with an auror escort. Their intention was to separate Voldemort from Quirrell without killing him, if possible, and then contain the spirit form of Voldemort.
At last, only Dumbledore was left. However, the setting sun was also streaming through the windows of the hall, and Harry felt more tired than he had after spending a day with the Hogsmeade blacksmith. "Ladies and gentlemen," he said, "I propose at this time that we adjourn for the day, to reconvene here again tomorrow. Dumbledore will still be contained until then, and just from what we have heard today, I am certain that his trial will last far longer than we would care to go without dinner."
"You all are welcome to join us for the evening meal," Hermione added. "We will be making several announcements to the students, and the parents among you might be interested in hearing them firsthand."
That did seem to entice several of the Wizengamot members, though just as many chose to take their leave. As they all trouped next door to the Great Hall, McGonagall was just about to serve the students. The adults quickly found spaces, either with their children or at the Head Table, while the heirs' small table reappeared at the front of the room.
Weekly Power Status
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