Kingsley escorted them to the door before returning to the Auror Command Headquarters. After that, Dumbledore twisted the iron handle on the door and led Kael inside.
As soon as the door opened, the noise instantly grew louder.
Kael couldn't help but look around. The walls of the Trial Room were built from some kind of black stone, with only a few small windows near the ceiling. Weak sunlight filtered inside, making the room feel stifling and oppressive.
On both sides of him were rows of gradually rising empty benches, filled with people whispering among themselves.
"Albus, you're finally here." Fudge hurried over. "Now there's a troublesome matter. I don't know if an owl managed to contact Black... But if he can't be present, then this retrial will be utterly meaningless."
"Don't worry, Cornelius," Dumbledore said calmly. "He's already here."
"What…" Fudge instinctively looked behind Dumbledore.
With a flash of fire, Phoenix Fawkes appeared out of thin air, flapping its wings as it landed on Dumbledore's shoulder.
At the same time, it brought along another man—gaunt, pale—the very image of Sirius Black.
He still looked as he always had: hair and beard scruffy, wearing filthy and ragged old clothes.
And his face was also terribly pale, his legs trembling so much it seemed he might collapse to the floor at any moment.
Kael could easily understand Sirius's state... The first time anyone experienced Apparition by Phoenix, they were always like this.
When Fudge saw who had arrived, he finally breathed a sigh of relief. He'd been worried Sirius Black wouldn't make it. If that were the case, this retrial would be nothing but a farce.
Fortunately, he came.
Fudge shot Dumbledore a glance with an odd expression, then turned and returned to the high platform.
With Fudge no longer blocking the view, the rest of the room could now see Black's face, and the discussions grew even more heated. The spacious Trial Room was as loud as a Quidditch Pitch during a match.
Kael even heard someone shout for the Aurors to catch the fugitive... Did that person really not know why they were here?
"Silence!" Fudge shouted loudly. "Now that everyone's present, let's begin."
The Trial Room immediately fell silent.
Sirius took a deep breath, and under the gaze of everyone, walked step by step to the chair at the very center.
"I don't understand, Minister," a cold voice said. "You've caught the fugitive, just throw him back in Azkaban or hand him to the Dementors. Why waste everyone's time on a retrial?"
"Don't rush, Barty…" Fudge replied unhurriedly. "I've received compelling evidence that Black is very likely innocent."
As soon as he finished speaking, another wave of debate rippled through the room.
"Nonsense!" Barty Crouch's face was as dark as if he'd been slapped. "Twelve years ago, every Muggle on that street knew he betrayed the Potters and killed Peter Pettigrew, who confronted him."
"But as far as I know, they only heard someone shout that. No one actually saw it happen," Fudge said. "And what if I told you, Peter Pettigrew is still alive?"
"Impossible!"
"There's nothing impossible about it." Fudge ignored Crouch's increasingly ugly expression and called toward the door, "Bring him in."
The doors were pushed open again, and Dirk walked in from outside.
All eyes were on him, but when they realized he was alone, everyone's gaze shifted to the chain-bound cage in his hands.
Crouch frowned as Dirk opened the cage and shook out a half-dead rat.
"Don't tell me this is Peter Pettigrew!" he demanded coldly.
Fudge didn't answer; instead, he looked at Dumbledore as if seeking confirmation.
"Leave it to me," Dumbledore said, stepping forward and drawing his wand.
"Revealing!"
A beam of blue light struck the rat, which instantly began to twist and enlarge. A head emerged, then limbs...
A moment later, a short man appeared before them all, his thin hair messy with a large bald patch on top. His sharp nose and beady eyes still carried a rat-like look...
A third wave of buzzing swept through the room; some of the wizards jumped to their feet with cries—the man before them was clearly Peter Pettigrew.
"Impossible…"
"Wasn't he dead…"
"Damn it, what the hell is happening…"
Crouch stood up too, his face so dark it seemed about to drip water.
A group of Aurors went over to check Peter's identity.
Kael noticed that at the moment Peter transformed back, Sirius suddenly clenched his fists, eyes blazing with an unforgettable hatred, breathing heavily, as if he wanted to kill the man before him right there and then.
But fortunately, he held himself back.
"Ladies and gentlemen…"
Soon, Auror Chief Scrimgeour put away an empty Magic Potion Bottle and announced loudly, "He is indeed Peter Pettigrew."
"Very good…" said Fudge.
He didn't look at Crouch but, sticking to procedure, continued indifferently.
"Everyone is present. Now, I hereby announce that because the fact of the witness's death cannot be established, we will commence the retrial concerning the November 1981 case in which Sirius Orion Black betrayed the Potters, destroyed a street, and killed twelve Muggles.
"Interrogators: Minister of Magic Cornelius Oswald Fudge, Minister of the Ministry of Magic Law Enforcement Department Amelia Susan Bones, Minister of Department of International Magical Cooperation... Barty Crouch! Trial Recorder: Scade Bert Wimper."
"Witness: Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore." Dumbledore rose and announced.
Just as Kael hesitated over whether to stand up as well, he suddenly felt an invisible force pat him on the shoulder, as though someone had placed a hand there.
Kael glanced at Dumbledore and seemed to understand something; he remained seated.
Fudge quickly shot a look over but said nothing. He only nodded at Dumbledore, "Please present your testimony, Mr. Dumbledore. When did you discover Peter Pettigrew was still alive?"
"For that, I must thank an outstanding student—his sharp insight led him to discover a deeply concealed Animagus…"
Dumbledore pointed at Kael, making him the focus of the room for an instant. But everyone seemed more interested in what Dumbledore would say next, so most only glanced at Kael and then looked away.
Dumbledore then stood there and repeated everything he'd previously told Fudge.
Throughout, the expressions of the judges varied widely.
Some were astonished… some angry… but most were skeptical…
Especially when Dumbledore said that twelve years ago, Peter was the Secret-Keeper, that he betrayed the Potters and framed Black, Crouch stood up once again.
"Where's your evidence!" he interrupted Dumbledore roughly. "Peter hiding the fact that he's alive could simply be fear of retribution from the Death Eaters—that doesn't prove he did everything you claim."
As he spoke, he glanced at Peter Pettigrew, as if waiting for him to defend himself.
But he was soon disappointed; since a moment ago, Peter had just lain there dazedly on the floor, silent, not responding even when others called out to him.