Fudge uneasily agreed to Dumbledore's request, also worried that Dumbledore might produce irrefutable evidence.
The first witness was Remus Lupin.
He walked into the courtroom, looking calm, and stood in the witness box.
"Remus Lupin." Fudge looked at the dossier.
"I want to ask you in advance, are you sure you want to testify for Black? Your identity…"
Lupin's expression changed, but he quickly composed himself and nodded.
"I am, Minister."
"Alright, you, Black, and Peter were classmates?"
"Yes." Lupin nodded. "We were good friends at Hogwarts."
"Then what can you prove?"
"Peter Pettigrew is an unregistered Animagus; he can transform into a rat."
A louder murmur erupted in the courtroom.
Fudge hammered his gavel: "Silence!"
"Do you have any evidence?"
Lupin shook his head: "I don't have direct evidence. But subsequent evidence can corroborate my statement."
"Call the second witness," Dumbledore said.
Arthur Weasley walked into the courtroom, holding a photograph.
"This is Scabbers, my sons Percy and Ron's pet rat." Arthur handed the photograph to Fudge.
"This rat lived for twelve years, and it's missing a toe."
Fudge took the photo, his brows furrowed even deeper.
"The only thing Peter left at the scene was a finger," Arthur said.
"And this rat happens to be missing a toe."
"Call the third witness," Dumbledore's voice rang out.
Charlie White stood up and walked to the witness box.
Fudge looked at him, his expression somewhat unnatural.
"Charlie White, what can you prove?"
"I personally saw that rat turn back into a human." Charlie's voice was very calm.
"He confessed to his crimes, saying that he betrayed The Potters, that he blew up the Muggles on that street, and was then killed by Professor Snape."
Of course, Charlie was spouting nonsense; Peter was killed by Snape before he even confessed.
He didn't care whether the Wizengamot's trial was correct; Black was his person now, a future high-ranking lackey. How could Black be sentenced?
The courtroom completely erupted.
"Oh my goodness, could it really be Peter?"
"Black was wrongly accused for twelve years?"
"Who actually killed those Muggles?"
Whispers rose and fell, and many began to look at Sirius with sympathetic eyes.
Fudge slammed his gavel, the sound echoing between the stone walls: "Silence! Everyone, silence!"
The murmuring gradually subsided.
Behind Fudge, a short, plump Witch in a pink cardigan stood up.
A sickly sweet smile was plastered on her face.
"Minister, I'd like to remind everyone present of a fact." Umbridge cleared her throat.
"Mr. Lupin is Black's old friend; their relationship is close enough for them to lie for each other."
Lupin's face turned slightly pale.
"Moreover," Umbridge paused, her voice suddenly rising.
"Many of you may not know Mr. Lupin's true identity—he is a Werewolf."
The courtroom instantly erupted in an even greater commotion.
"What? A Werewolf?"
"How can he be a Hogwarts Professor?"
"Is Dumbledore mad? Letting a Werewolf teach students?"
Lupin's fingers clenched his robe tightly, his knuckles white from the effort.
He stood in the witness box, his back ramrod straight, but his face was utterly bloodless.
Under Dumbledore's deliberate protection, the news of Lupin being a Werewolf was originally known only to a few high-ranking Ministry of Magic officials, but now it was revealed in front of nearly a hundred people.
It was obvious how these people would spread the news after the meeting.
Umbridge continued: "Therefore, Mr. Lupin's testimony, in my opinion, is completely unreliable."
"Enough," Sirius suddenly spoke, his voice hoarse. "Remus, you don't have to…"
"I am not lying." Lupin interrupted him, his voice terrifyingly calm, as if he had anticipated this.
"Every word I've said is true. Peter is an Animagus, he can turn into a rat. As for my identity, it is indeed as Ms. Umbridge said, I am a Werewolf. But this does not affect the truthfulness of my testimony."
The murmuring in the courtroom grew louder.
Sirius stared intently at Lupin, his eyes red. He opened his mouth, but ultimately said nothing.
"Minister," Dumbledore's voice rang out.
"Mr. Lupin's identity is irrelevant to this case. We are discussing whether Black is guilty, not the witness's race."
Fudge hesitated, then finally nodded: "Continue."
Umbridge continued:
"Mr. White, you are merely a third-year Hogwarts student. Student testimony is unreliable; you could very likely have been misled, or enchanted by some Dark Arts illusion."
Charlie remained silent, looking coldly at Umbridge.
This gaze froze Umbridge's smile on her face. She subconsciously took half a step back, her expression somewhat unnatural. She recalled the fear of being dominated by this student.
Fudge now took over, tapping the table.
"Black's chain of evidence is incomplete and does not prove that he was wrongly accused. A photograph, a Werewolf's testimony, a student's words—these are all too one-sided."
He scanned the courtroom, his voice becoming serious: "We need more conclusive evidence, otherwise this trial is a waste of time, and Sirius Black remains a criminal."
Sounds of agreement echoed in the courtroom. Many Wizengamot members nodded, clearly agreeing with Fudge's statement.
Sirius's face grew even paler. He clenched his fists, but could do nothing.
Fudge looked somewhat smug. He cleared his throat and continued:
"However, Mr. Charlie's testimony mentioned Professor Snape, who was also present at the scene. I believe that as the Dean of Slytherin, a respected Potions Master, his testimony will be the most impartial."
He turned to the witness box: "Professor Snape, please state your testimony."
Snape slowly rose from the witness box, his expression gloomy.
Fudge watched him with the mildest smile he'd worn all day, continually muttering to himself: Say it, say it, let that damned, hateful Black go to hell once and for all.
The courtroom fell silent; everyone was waiting for Snape to speak.
Sirius stared intently at Snape, his eyes full of despair. He knew Snape hated him to the bone and would never say a good word for him.
Dumbledore also looked at Snape, his gaze profound.
Just then, Charlie suddenly reached out and grabbed a handful of air beside him, as if pulling open some invisible fabric.
Harry suddenly appeared in the witness box, having been covered by the invisibility cloak the entire time.
She wore a long red wig, a woman's robe, her green eyes sparkling, and light makeup on her face.
Oh, thanks to Senior Jenny for the free makeup.
Harry was clearly unaccustomed to this attire; her expression was a bit stiff, but she still tried to straighten her back, attempting to appear more natural.
Upon seeing this, Snape completely lost his composure, his pupils dilating in shock.
Your Majesty always has a way of tormenting the Professor, foolish monarch points +10.
Dumbledore observed Harry with interest. Indeed, the child really did resemble her mother in women's clothing.
Charlie shouted loudly.
"We must ensure our testimonies are true and valid, and not allow the person who truly caused The Potters' deaths to remain honored!"
He frantically signaled Snape with his eyes.
"This is a blasphemy against The Potters, leaving the true heroes—Lily and James—unable to rest in peace!"
The people in the courtroom looked at each other, not quite understanding why he suddenly said this. But Charlie's words did make sense, and the Wizengamot members nodded in agreement.
"That's right."
"The Potters are heroes; we must uncover the truth."
Sirius suddenly looked up at Charlie, a glimmer of light flashing in his eyes.
Fudge frowned, but still tapped his gavel:
"Silence!"
"Professor Snape, please state your testimony."
Snape snapped back to attention, his gaze fixed on Charlie.
His eyes were terrifyingly gloomy, his mouth twitched, and the muscles in his face were taut.
Only this scoundrel knew about this, and only this scoundrel would do such a thing!
Charlie pretended not to see, a slight smirk on his lips.
Although Snape was furious, his gaze involuntarily turned to Harry.
Those green eyes, that beautiful hair… His lips thinned into a line.
Everyone in the courtroom waited, the air thick with suffocating tension.
Fudge urged: "Professor Snape?"
Snape closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, his gaze had returned to calm. He slowly began to speak, his voice deep: "That rat… was Peter."
"He admitted to leaking information and betraying The Potters' location. I lost control for a moment… and killed him."
The courtroom instantly erupted.
"What?"
"He confessed?"
"Merlin's beard, was Black really wrongly accused?"
Fudge's face instantly turned ashen.
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