333 0332 Fierce Confrontation

If one were to ask what the Ministry of Magic was most concerned about in this series of events, it certainly was not the innocence of the infamous Sirius Black, nor was it the shocking revelation that Peter Pettigrew, who had been posthumously bestowed with the prestigious Order of Merlin, First Class, for his alleged heroic demise, was the actual culprit. Above all else, the Ministry's primary concern was how Sirius Black managed to escape from Azkaban.

The Azkaban prison, guarded by the soul-sucking Dementors—those fear-inducing, sinister creatures whose mere presence could inflict unimaginable psychological torment upon even the most hardened of individuals. This dreadful place served as a sharp, double-edged blade in the Ministry's arsenal, a tool to command awe and respect through sheer intimidation. The place was abhorrent, a true embodiment of despair, loathed by all who knew of its existence. But precisely because of this, the Ministry wielded immense power and influence, their authority bolstered by the prospect of condemning lawbreakers to the merciless confines of Azkaban.

Take the cases of Hagrid or Remus, for example. In terms of sheer magical prowess, they were both accomplished and formidable wizards, individuals who might not cower in the face of death itself. Yet, the mere thought of Azkaban and its soul-leeching guardians was undoubtedly a source of dread for them too.

And now, a wizard had somehow managed to shatter Azkaban's Legend by achieving the seemingly impossible—a successful escape from its clutches. This unprecedented feat had, to a certain degree, shaken the very foundations upon which the Ministry's governance rested, casting doubt upon the security of their most potent instrument of control.

Therefore, after taking custody of Sirius Black from Bryan and Dumbledore, Fudge, immediately issued an order to Rufus Scrimgeour, demanding that he employ every resource at his disposal to get to the bottom of this matter and find out how he escaped.

Barty Crouch, one of the three most powerful and influential officials within the ranks of the Ministry, was also embroiled in these events. He was a man privy to all those secrets, but no one expected him to suddenly turn against them at the last moment.

Dumbledore did not seem particularly surprised by these unfolding developments. For these Ministry officials who now wielded power had, in a sense, grown and matured under his watchful gaze. He possessed a close understanding of their character, their motivations, and how they would inevitably respond to various situations. In stark contrast, Fudge's reaction could only be described as one of sheer, unadulterated panic.

"We had an agreement, did we not?" Fudge spluttered, his face flushed with anger, his rapid breaths punctuating each word. "To let this matter go, as compensation for his twelve years of wrongful imprisonment!"

Amelia Bones, too, furrowed her brow, her gaze fixed upon the side of her colleague's face. She was visibly annoyed, her displeasure evident, by Barty Crouch's unilateral actions, which had blatantly breached their previous consensus.

Barty Crouch, however, seemed utterly oblivious to the fact that he had become the unwitting center of attention, the focal point of everyone's scrutiny. His gaze, cold and impassive, was fixed upon the equally caught-off-guard Sirius Black standing before him.

"Sirius Black, I assume you are aware that the Ministry of Magic has established stringent laws to regulate the dangerous and complex Transfiguration magic of Animagi, correct?"

 Crouch's voice resonated throughout the chamber, each syllable dripping with authority.

"Yes, I am aware—" Sirius Black responded, his brow furrowed in contemplation, as he glanced towards Dumbledore and Bryan, both of whom stood coolly behind Barty Crouch, their demeanors showing no hint of surprise at Crouch's unconventional behavior. Sensing their composure, Sirius's own sudden tension gradually dissipated, and he stared back at Barty Crouch with unwavering determination, refusing to display any semblance of weakness.

"You know that the first successful transformation of an Animagus must be meticulously supervised by the Ministry and, if achieved, must be registered, correct?" Crouch's piercing gaze bore into Sirius, his words carrying the weight of authority.

"Yes, I know," Sirius affirmed, his voice steady and resolute.

"And you're aware of the fact that violating this crucial regulation could result in prosecution by the Ministry, correct?"

"Yes, I'm aware—"

"When did you master this magic?"

"At the age of sixteen, when I was studying at Hogwarts."

Barty Crouch paused his aggressive questioning, and the members of the jury gasped in astonishment upon hearing Sirius's answer, their expressions showing their disbelief.

It's worth noting that the Animagus transformation ranks among one of the most challenging and arduous forms of transfiguration magic, a feat that demands immense skill, unwavering focus, and an innate talent for the arcane arts. For Sirius, as well as the recently imprisoned Peter Pettigrew, to have successfully completed this extraordinarily complex transformation relying solely on their own efforts while they were still young wizards studying at Hogwarts was a true testament to their prodigious magical aptitude, a feat that few could ever hope to match.

"The teaching quality at Hogwarts is indeed commendable, Albus?" Someone from the noisy crowd quietly remarked to Dumbledore, offering him a respectful nod of acknowledgment, accompanied by a subtle thumbs-up gesture.

"Thank you for the praise, but Hogwarts did not provide them with much assistance in this particular matter—" Dumbledore replied, his words punctuated by a conspiratorial wink and a mischievous knowing smile.

While most in attendance were still astonished from the revelation of Sirius's extraordinary magical talent, there were those shrewd individuals within the courtroom who had discerned the true intent behind Barty Crouch Sr.'s decision to dig up old events during Peter's trial, that too at a moment when all eyes were fixed upon him.

When Sirius had been arrested years ago, Crouch was the head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. He had been highly commended for his unwavering stance against the dark forces. It was he who had issued the order to have Sirius Black imprisoned in Azkaban without even going through the necessary trial procedures.

Barty Crouch leaned forward, his hands gripping the stand before him, as he fixed his authoritative gaze upon Sirius Black below. His meticulously trimmed, thin mustache twitched upwards, a subtle hint of his rumbling emotions.

"Sirius Black, twelve years ago, you were sentenced to life imprisonment in Azkaban by the Ministry for being deemed the perpetrator responsible for the deaths of James and Lily Potter. During this time, did you ever reveal to anyone that you were not the Potters's Secret Keeper?"

"No, at the time, I—" Sirius had realized that something was amiss. He attempted to evade the question, but he could not resist the overbearing interrogation from this high-ranking and powerful Ministry official.

"Answer me!" Crouch demanded, his expression stern and unyielding, the furrows on his eyebrow deepening as his voice resonated with the full weight of his authority. "Can it be understood that you knew of your own innocence, yet chose to remain silent, failing to explain the truth to anyone because you feared a thorough investigation by the Wizengamot? Were you gripped by fear at the prospect of exposing yourself as an illegal, unregistered Animagus in direct violation of the laws you were duty-bound to uphold?"

"That's not it at all!" Sirius finally shouted angrily.

"I did not say anything because I believed myself to be guilty—what I mean to say is that I believed myself to be responsible for James's—no, for James's and Lily's deaths caused by my own foolish suggestion. I believed, at that time, that I deserved to be punished. That was the belief that consumed me in those dark moments!"

Dumbledore sighed helplessly, a heavy exhalation that seemed to convey his helplessness in the face of Sirius's actions, which, though born of noble intentions, were so fundamentally contrary to common sense and reason. Although it had now been irrefutably proven that Sirius was indeed innocent of the crimes for which he had been condemned, Sirius's own testimony still carried some weight in the eyes of the majority of the members of the Wizengamot.

Dumbledore rose from his seat, preparing to say something but Bryan suddenly grasped his arm, his subtly shaking head conveying a silent message not to intervene just yet.

"There's no need to intervene, Headmaster. Someone will handle this situation,"

"I object!" Bryan had barely finished speaking when Madam Bones sprang to her feet, her formidable presence commanding the attention of all present. Her brow was deeply furrowed, creasing the skin around her glasses, which had left a prominent red mark etched into the flesh of her eye socket, a testament to the intensity of her focus. She glared sternly at Crouch, who met her gaze with an indifferent, blank expression that showed no sign of emotion.

"Your questioning is seriously misleading, and your conclusions lack any reliable factual basis, Mr. Crouch!" Madam Bones's voice thundered through the chamber, each word dripping with righteous indignation and condemnation.

The courtroom erupted in commotion, a turbulent sea of murmurs and whispers rose that threatened to drown out all semblance of order. The members of the jury, those individuals present to bear witness to Peter's Trial, stared incredulously at the two high-ranking officials of the Ministry of Magic who now found themselves locked in open confrontation.

This incident had escalated far beyond the boundaries of a mere legal proceeding, transcending into a very serious political event. Within the halls of the Wizengamot courtroom, under the watchful eyes of numerous attendees whose gazes burned with intensity, the two department heads—once considered the trusted right and left hands of the Minister of Magic himself—were openly clashing, their ideological differences laid bare for all to witness. The impact of this event, the repercussions it would inevitably unleash, were severe and far-reaching, threatening to shake the very foundations of the Ministry's authority.

Cornelius Fudge's forehead glistened with beads of sweat, and his cheeks were flushed, revealing the profound discomfort and anxiety that gripped him in the face of this unfolding crisis. His voice trembled as he attempted to intervene, to restore some semblance of order to the proceedings.

"B-Barty, I think—I think Amelia's view is correct. You—"

But Crouch would not be so easily dissuaded. He stood resolute, his eyes bulging with anger,

"I do not believe there are any substantive issues with my questioning or the conclusions I have drawn, Madam Bones," Crouch thundered, his voice reverberating through the chamber like a clap of thunder.

"As every soul present is keenly aware, no one is truly unafraid of the horrors that await in Azkaban, nor of the relentless torment inflicted by its inhuman guards. Sirius Black's concealment of the truth regarding the Potters's deaths suggests that he carries a deeper guilt. The undeniable fact that he is an illegal, unregistered Animagus serves as irrefutable proof that he is not the upright, law-abiding wizard he claims to be. His testimony, therefore, cannot be considered credible or reliable."

Turning his attention towards Madam Bones, Crouch's expression hardened, as he shot an accusatory glare in her direction. "As the head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Madam Bones, you should possess a keen eye for detecting even the slightest hint of criminal activities. I would strongly suggest that the Ministry re-interrogate Sirius Black with the utmost rigor, in order to uncover whatever truths he may still be trying to conceal!"

"That's absurd—" Fudge gasped, shaking his head fervently, his already flushed face reddening further as he struggled to maintain his composure in the face of Crouch's assault.

"I know precisely what you're trying to do, Barty," Fudge pressed on, his voice strained with the weight of his frustration. "You want to prove that sending Black to Azkaban twelve years ago was the right decision, but—"

"This is a serious slander, Minister Fudge!" Barty Crouch's voice cut through the Minister's words like a razor-sharp blade, his eyes flashing with indignation at the implication behind Fudge's statement.

Raising his head boldly, Crouch's gaze swept over the assembled jury below, each syllable dripping with icy anger as he spoke.

"Perhaps some believe that I am acting out of a sense of personal vengeance, but I would like you all to remember that throughout my long career, there is ample evidence of my consistent and unwavering loathing for those who choose to break the laws we have sworn to uphold. Lawbreakers, regardless of their position or perceived justification, have always been the object of my deepest scorn."

Crouch paused, his chest heaving with the force of his convictions, before continuing, "Of course, I do not wish to conceal the fact that my decision to send Sirius Black to Azkaban in the face of the Potters's deaths was a grave error, a mistake born of haste and incomplete information. So, at this very moment!--"

His eyes sparkled with a passion that bordered on fanatical as he shouted to the assembled masses, "To take full responsibility for my actions, I hereby announce my immediate resignation from the ranks of the Wizengamot judiciary body. But I urge each and every one of you, members of this esteemed jury, to give serious consideration to my statements regarding Sirius Black himself!

Do not allow the truth to be obscured by sentiment or misplaced sympathy!"

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