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Amelia Bones stood up as soon as Fudge finished his speech, her voice cutting through the chamber's murmur like a knife. "Minister," she began, her tone sharp and unwavering, "you stated that you seek justice and security. But there is a glaring issue we need to address. Peter Pettigrew, the man responsible for betraying Auror James Potter and his wife, Lord and Lady of the House of Potter, and the murder of twelve Muggles, has never been prosecuted for these crimes."
A ripple of whispers ran through the chamber as people exchanged glances. Harry's eyes narrowed, focusing on Amelia as she continued. "As it stands, Pettigrew was only prosecuted for his unregistered Animagus status, and for living among minors while spying on them in his rodent form. That hardly seems like justice for the crimes he committed against the Wizarding world."
Harry sat still, listening, his attention shifting to Fudge, who looked visibly uncomfortable. His pudgy fingers fidgeted with the parchment in front of him as though hoping it would provide some kind of escape.
To Harry's surprise, it wasn't Fudge who responded. Instead, Dumbledore stood, his calm voice carrying across the room with ease. "Madam Bones," he said, nodding respectfully in her direction, "you raise an important point. However, I must regretfully inform you that the legal statute regarding cases of that nature has passed into prescription."
There was a brief pause as Dumbledore's words sank in. The crowd muttered among themselves again, some clearly confused. Harry's mind raced—prescription? That meant too much time had passed for Pettigrew to be prosecuted for his crimes.
Amelia Bones, however, wasn't one to back down. "Chief Warlock," she said, her tone controlled but firm, "surely you aren't suggesting that we allow a man like Pettigrew to walk free, unpunished for the betrayal that led to the deaths of two of our most prominent citizens, not to mention the innocent Muggles?"
Dumbledore remained composed, though Harry caught a flicker of something in his eyes. "I am not suggesting that justice should not be served, Madam Bones," he replied smoothly. "But the fact remains that our laws—flawed though they may be—bind us. The crimes in question occurred more than a decade ago, and under current Ministry law, those cases are no longer subject to prosecution."
Amelia's eyes flashed with frustration. "And what of the House of Potter? Is there no avenue for justice, even for a case of this magnitude?"
Before Dumbledore could respond, Fudge finally found his voice, though it came out shaky and defensive. "We—uh, we are reviewing certain statutes, Madam Bones," he said, his hands wringing nervously. "But as of now, Pettigrew's case falls under—under the statute of limitations. There's nothing the Ministry can legally do about the past, you see. We're bound by the law."
Harry clenched his jaw, barely holding back a laugh. Prescription? The legal jargon was perfect, like a gift wrapped in gold for every Death Eater in the room. No wonder Lucius wasn't the least bit concerned. Why would he be? The law was practically a shield for him and the others. The fall of Voldemort had been over a decade ago, and now all those old cases were untouchable. Even if the Veritaserum law passed, it wouldn't touch them. The clock had run out, and they knew it.
Harry's eyes flicked to Lucius, who sat with that same calm, smug expression. It was all too clear now why he hadn't broken a sweat since the beginning of the session. He had known all along that no matter what happened today, he'd walk out unscathed. No trials, no confessions, no worries. The man practically radiated arrogance, as if the law itself bent to his will.
Fudge, on the other hand, was still bumbling through his explanation, his words sounding less like a defense and more like a man grasping at straws. "Yes, yes, as the Chief Warlock has pointed out, the law is clear on these matters. We cannot reopen cases that have passed into prescription. The Ministry is bound by these statutes."
Harry shifted in his seat, watching the reactions around him. Most of the room had already accepted the reality of the situation, though a few witches and wizards still looked outraged. Amelia Bones, especially, wasn't taking it well. Her eyes narrowed, lips pressed into a thin line as she stared at Fudge, clearly fuming. But there was nothing more to be said. The law was the law, and even someone as sharp as Bones couldn't argue with that.
The murmur of voices started to rise again as people began to whisper amongst themselves. Harry leaned back, letting the noise wash over him. This whole thing had been a farce from the start, and now it was just a matter of waiting for the inevitable conclusion.
Amelia remained standing, arms crossed, her sharp gaze fixed on Fudge. "Minister, while I understand the constraints of the law, the fact remains that these individuals pose a direct threat to the wizarding community."
Fudge nodded stiffly at Amelia Bones. "There is no arguing on that subject, Madam Bones. Pettigrew, Bellatrix, and Rookwood are criminals—convicted ones. The statute of limitations doesn't apply to them. On top of that, their escape from Azkaban only adds to their sentences. I assure you, they'll be sent back as soon as they're caught."
Harry almost snorted. The whole thing was a joke, and Fudge's assurance didn't mean much to him. The real issue wasn't about Death Eaters locked in Azkaban—it was about those still free, people like Lucius Malfoy. Fudge and the Ministry didn't care about getting those criminals back in prison; they were too focused on keeping the rest of the Dark Lord's supporters comfortable.
As if on cue, Lucius Malfoy rose from his seat, his expression as polished as ever. "I must kindly remind you," Lucius began, his voice smooth and deliberate, "that today's agenda concerns the use of Veritaserum on the heads of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Houses. The tradition protecting our families from the misuse of such a potent truth serum has been in place for centuries. It was created to ensure the safeguarding of secrets, not to allow prying into matters irrelevant to the public good. However, I understand that times have changed, and I can see why the Minister might wish to reconsider this ancient protection."
Lucius' words were carefully crafted, like a politician playing both sides. He acknowledged the proposal while subtly reinforcing the importance of protecting his own interests. Harry watched the room, catching the brief flickers of relief on some of the purebloods' faces. Lucius was reminding them of their shared history, but he was also positioning himself as someone who understood the need for reform—just not at his own expense.
Fudge cleared his throat, looking between Lucius and the rest of the Wizengamot. "Yes, well, the safety of our society comes first, of course. And while we respect the traditions of the Most Noble Houses, the public is calling for more transparency, especially with the recent... disturbances." His voice wavered slightly.
Amelia Bones wasn't having any of it. "Transparency is exactly what we need, Minister," she said sharply. "The Ministry can no longer hide behind outdated protections when it comes to criminals and their connections. We know many Death Eaters avoided Azkaban by claiming they were under the Imperius Curse, but how can we be sure without using Veritaserum? These protections are enabling dark wizards to walk free, unchecked."
Harry had to give Amelia credit. She was direct, not bothering to sugarcoat her accusations. She knew what Lucius and the others were, and she wasn't afraid to say it.
Lucius smiled faintly, unfazed by her challenge. "I agree, Madam Bones, that we must address the issue of those who escaped justice. However, we must also be cautious. Using Veritaserum on the heads of noble families would open the door to abuses of power, especially against those who hold significant influence in our society. We must ensure that such a tool is not used carelessly, lest it become a weapon for those seeking personal gain."
The room murmured in agreement, several heads nodding along with Lucius' words. 'He have them wrapped around his finger,' Harry thought with disgust. Lucius wasn't protecting anyone but himself and his fellow Death Eaters, but he was clever enough to frame it as a defense of tradition and noble honor.
Fudge jumped in again, eager to regain control of the conversation. "Yes, yes, a valid point, Mr. Malfoy. We must balance security with the preservation of our noble traditions. That's why the Ministry is proposing a more... selective use of Veritaserum. Only in cases where there is strong evidence of wrongdoing will it be considered. We don't want to violate anyone's privacy unnecessarily."
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