(Years Later)

Trial Of Sirius Black

I was nervous and my heart was beating so fast. One mistake and I loose the case, I'll be sent to azkaban for being associated with a so called mass murderer. I've been preparing for this day ever since I started working at the Ministry. I've received help from everyone possible. I'll only get once chance in this and I have to make it work.

Many people were gathered around the courtroom. Reporters, the jury, galleries. Every member of the Weasley family, Harry, Hermione, everyone came out to watch the trial.

"Defendant Evelyn Isabelle Clermont, you may now begin your statement," Judge Lennon spoke and the entire courtroom went silent. The countless flashes from the cameras too were cooled down. Everyone was eager to hear in the defense of Sirius Black.

"I've known a man. It wasn't for the longest time but it was long enough to see the truth. And I know truth is not something that's told to everyone," I said taking out a small potion labeled 'ministry approved'. "I hope today I'll be enough to prove a man's innocence." I drank the small potion, more than needed, to ensure to trust from the jury. "May the absolute truth be revealed."

I took a deep breath feeling myself relax a little. Though Sirius has passed, I can still bring justice to his name and honor his death.

"I'll start off with what happened that night of October 31st, 1981. Sirius Black was not involved in the murder of James and Lily Potter. Nor was he involved in the murder of Peter Pettigrew. That night, Pettigrew was threatened by Voldemort into betraying the Potters, his best friends. He told Voldemort where the Potters lived and the Potters were murdered in cold blood that night. Pettigrew was an unregistered animagus. He cut off a finger and faked his own death. Lived his life as a garden rat with the Weasley family."

"How can you prove this?"

"Scabbers, or... Pettigrew has been the Weasley family's pet for 12 years. An oddly long lifespan of a common garden rat."

"Is this true?" The judge looked over at Percy in the jury stand.

"Yes, your honor."

"I'd like to bring in my first witness, Remus Lupin," I said stepping aside from the very middle. Professor Lupin walked down from the gallery stands into the middle right beside me facing the judge's podium. He was dressed formally and confident.

"State your identity," the judge spoke.

"Remus John Lupin," he said. I handed him another small vial of veritaserum which he put a few droplets in his mouth.

"Make your statement Mr. Lupin."

"Peter Pettigrew was an old friend of mine... And so was James Potter... And Sirius Black. We were troublesome group of friends," he said laughing to himself with a hint of sadness, "They were unregistered animagus... For me, well... I am a werewolf. Sirius was a black dog, James was a stag, and Peter was a garden rat. Sirius spent 12 years in azkaban, alone. Never tried escaping until he found out Pettigrew was lurking around Harry. He died whilst saving Harry's and 6 other student's lives. He died a hero. Now today, he's no longer here. I request justice for the 12 years taken away from him, from us, and the wasted years of our friendship in the future."

"He was murdered by Bellatrix Lestrange using the killing curse in front of his best friend. His godson that he felt the need to protect to redeem himself from what was not his fault. I was present during his last moments. He died a hero, not a death eater. We are proof of it."

"Thank you, your honor," Professor Lupin said walking back to the gallery stands. The confidence and smile he had coming in was gone leaving only a grim face.

"I understand he died a great cause and that Pettigrew was an unregistered animagus, however that still does not explain the disappearance of Peter Pettigrew during the dark lord's reign and many parts of the story does not add up. Defendant if you have no more evidence you wish to propose, you're found guilty of sheltering a criminal."

"Let's not go that fast," I said laughing slightly. "I'd like to bring one last witness to the stand, Lucius Malfoy." The crowd fell into whispers as Lucius walked down the gallery and stood beside me.

"Lucius Malfoy is not a valid witness for he is in great debt to you for pardoning his crimes."

"If you don't mind, your honor, we are witches and wizards with magical potions. One which can be used to surface the truth, veritaserum. Used today and exactly 4 years ago during Draco Malfoy's trial. Anyone under this potion is a valid witness."

"I must ask you to refrain from using any more veritaserum, Miss Clermont. These are to be used in more severe cases."

"You mean this case isn't severe? An innocent man was trapped in azkaban for something he did not commit. We'll never be able to give back the time he lost. What case would be more severe than this?"

He paused for a moment, "I'll allow this, just once, however if witness cannot satisfyingly prove that Peter Pettigrew was alive, charges will be added to your sentence."

"I came ready for anything. May I continue now?"

He didn't reply instead nodded. I handed the bottle of veritaserum that Lucius dropped one single droplet into his mouth.

"Make your statement," the judge said sighing.

"Harry potter was brought to my manor in March, 1998. He managed to escape with the help of a house elf, Dobby. After their disappearance, the dark lord came. Ashamed of our failure, he murdered Peter Pettigrew."

(This isn't what really happened in the original Harry Potter series.)

"Witness is under veritaserum and can only tell the truth. This is my final evidence Peter Pettigrew had framed Sirius Black. If these aren't enough to prove his innocence, I'll surrender myself and gladly be accepted into azkaban," I said. I was bluffing. No way in hell I'm going to azkaban. Like Harry would ever allow that to happen.

"Do you have any physical evidence?" The judge said looking down at Lucius. Fuck, what?

"Yes," he replied to my surprise. We'd never talked about physical evidence prior to the trial. "His wand," he walked up to the podium and took out Pettigrew's wand. Again it wasn't planned and I never requested him to bring it.

The judge examined the wand for a while and even showed it to a few people in the jury's stands. Everything's extremely strange. "You brought his wand?" I whispered.

"My family owe you a great debt. Not only have you saved us from imprisonment, you freed us from the dark forces."

"The wand has been confirmed as Pettigrew's and will be accepted as physical evidence," the judge final said after a long discussion, "...And your request to clear Sirius Black's name too is accepted. I now name Sirius Black a hero, not a criminal," he said hitting his gravel on a piece of wood.

There were many camera flashes and people in the gallery stands cheered for me. Out of all the voices, Harry's was the loudest. Beside him, Professor Lupin did have a smile but I could notice a tear rolling down his cheek. Lucius exited the courtroom right as the gravel was hit and my goal was achieved. Justice was brought to Sirius Black.

"I have two more requests," I spoke loudly shushing the courtroom down.

"Go on," the jury said.

"These are more directed to you, Mr. Shacklebolt," I said turning to face Kingsley in the jury stands, "My first request being to require veritaserum for every accused to be given per request to avoid any more cases as such. And my second... The abolishment of dementors."

The courtroom went into loud whispers once again and more flashes came my way.

"Silence!" The judge shouted hitting his gravel down, "How would that be done, Miss Clermont? And I hope you are taking account the security issues."

"Azkaban is already max security itself without dementors. If I must say so myself, dementors are unnecessary and are a form of inhumane torture to even the prisoners. They eat on their happiness inevitably driving them insane. Let's not forget they were used against us by Voldemort. I believe aurors can take the job of dementors in guarding azkaban. This will open more job opportunities anyway."

"Where do you consider placing these dementors?"

"On an island just by themselves with nothing to feed on. They're eventually starve to death. This method may be cruel but dementors do more harm than good to us."

"I believe this request is not mine to accept and more for the Minister Of Magic."

Everyone's attention was brought to Kingsley in the stands.

"I accept both her requests," he said nodding with a smile.

"The trial is now over," the judge said hitting his gravel twice.

꧁♡꧂

Thank you for reading my story! Commenting / Voting greatly helps the growth of this story :)