Accusation Withdrawn

Upon seeing the line of small golden characters, almost all the older wizards in the courtroom instinctively stood up.

They looked towards the area obscured by the thick fog, their eyes blazing with undisguised anger.

As people who personally experienced that turbulent era, they knew very well that this was the incantation of the Fidelius Charm. Once the contract was established, these words would turn into golden symbols and be hidden in the soul of the person who recited the spell.

Many people in this room had narrowly escaped death using this method, so they knew it all too well.

It is now completely certain that Peter Pettigrew is the real Secret Keeper, not Black!

"Damn it!" A series of angry curses came from all around.

Crouch's face darkened.

Despite Dumbledore's testimony, he still didn't believe Black was innocent until then, or rather, he preferred to believe that it was a trap set by Fudge to deceive Dumbledore.

After all, everyone knew back then that Harry Potter and Black were as close as brothers, and no matter how you looked at it, it was impossible for the Secret Keeper to be a cowardly and timid Peter.

But that's exactly what they did, as if they had no brains at all; that brain should have been stuffed into his head.

"Traitor..." Crouch clenched his fist, and the quill pen in his hand snapped in two with a crack.

The murmurs in the courtroom grew louder and louder.

The thick fog quickly dissipated, and Diana emerged. "Then, Professor Dumbledore, the rest is up to you."

"Of course, it's what we should do," Dumbledore said with a smile. "Thanks to you this time, otherwise Sirius would have been in trouble..."

"I just want to help Lily, not some self-righteous idiot." Diana didn't even glance at Black.

"Also, Headmaster, if I remember correctly, Hogwarts doesn't have a rule that fifth-year students can leave school on weekends, right?"

Dumbledore's smile froze on his face, then he said without changing his expression, "I think so too, but it's the minister's invitation after all, Kyle insisted on coming, so... well, there's nothing I can do."

"Is that so..." Diana glanced at the corner again.

Kyle, who was keeping his head down and trying to make himself inconspicuous, suddenly shivered. He cautiously raised his head and saw Diana and the other two Unspeakable walking out of the trial room, taking the water tank with them.

"Phew..." He let out a long sigh and sat up straight again.

After that, the trial process went much more smoothly.

Faced with clear and undeniable evidence, those who had previously opposed him fell silent. Although some people still clung to the issue of Sirius's escape, Fudge always managed to delay the matter with his skillful ability to smooth things over.

Although he was also curious about how the other party had escaped from the heavily guarded Azkaban, now was clearly not the time to discuss that.

They can take their time; they have plenty of time.

Finally, in order to expedite the retrial, Sirius even offered to take Veritaserum or undergo Legilimency to prove his innocence.

Fudge agreed, and since it was his own request, there was no need for a vote.

Soon, Scrimgeour brought over a small bottle.

"I think one drop should be enough," Dumbledore said. "We don't need to ask too many questions."

"I know," Scrimgeour said.

As a drop of Veritaserum was poured into his mouth, Sirius's cheeks relaxed, and his gaze stared blankly at the ceiling.

"Can you hear me?" Scrimgeour asked.

Sirius's eyelids fluttered a few times.

"I can hear you," he said softly.

"I hope you can tell us," Scrimgeour asked calmly, "Who was the Potters ' Secret Keeper twelve years ago?"

Sirius took a few trembling breaths and began to speak in a flat, emotionless tone.

"It's Peter Pettigrew, he's the Secret Keeper."

Why choose him?

Sirius's eyelids twitched a few more times. "Because I think this is safer. I'll act as the bait in the open, so no one will suspect cowardly Peter."

"And then who blew up the Muggle streets?" Scrimgeour asked again.

"Also Peter Pettigrew..."

Under the influence of the Veritaserum, Sirius recounted in detail the process of changing the Secret Keeper.

Well, after hearing the whole story firsthand, most people's first reaction wasn't sympathy, but rather the same thought as Crouch... Black really lacks common sense.

I should have asked those Unspeakable if they could apply for one for him.

Why complicate things when it's so simple? It's unnecessary.

But after cursing in their hearts, everyone sighed.

Regardless, he had wasted twelve years in Azkaban, and could be considered to have paid the price for his foolishness.

After Sirius finished speaking, Scrimgeour, with a complicated expression, poured a bottle of Potions into his mouth.

He had been considering bringing Sirius into the Auror Office after he was exonerated, but now he thought he should reconsider.

After all, Auror don't only value strength.

After drinking the Potions, the confusion in Sirius's eyes gradually disappeared. He shook his head and regained his senses.

"I think things are pretty clear by now." On the platform, Fudge cleared his throat. "So, those who agree that Sirius Black is innocent, please raise your hands."

Hands shot up, and in the blink of an eye, more than half of them were raised; even Crouch slowly raised his arm.

"Ninety-five votes!" Madam Bones announced in a loud voice.

"Very good, very good." Fudge stood up and said with a smile, "On behalf of the Ministry of Magic, I hereby declare that the charges against Sirius Orion Black in 1981 are hereby dropped, the arrest warrant is null and void, and he will be released without charge today and will regain his right to possess a wand."

A round of applause erupted in the courtroom; everyone stood up and clapped their hands vigorously.

Sirius sat there blankly, looking around at everyone, then at Peter lying on the ground, feeling a sense of disorientation, as if everything was unreal.

He's free?

Sirius took a few heavy breaths, then looked up at Dumbledore, as if trying to confirm something.

So what are you waiting for?

Dumbledore chuckled and said, "If you have enough Galleon on you... well, would you like to take a stroll through Diagon Alley? It's changed quite a bit since twelve years ago."

"And I've inquired, Ollivander didn't go out to look for his wand-making materials today, so you should be able to pick out a wand that suits you there."

"Of course...of course, Professor Dumbledore." Sirius's eyes instantly welled up with tears, and he said, laughing and crying at the same time, "I've been dreaming of Diagon Alley."