The knock at the door jolted me out of my thoughts. I straightened up and called out, "Come in."
The door creaked open, and Rose stepped in, looking a little hesitant. She leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed. "You okay? You've been in here for hours."
"Just going over everything one last time," I said, closing the file in front of me. "Tomorrow's a big day."
Rose nodded, moving further into the room. She sat down across from me, her hands fidgeting in her lap. "I wanted to say thank you again. For everything. I don't know what we would've done without you."
I gave her a small smile. "No need to thank me. This is what I do."
She looked down for a moment before glancing back up at me. "Still, it's more than that. You didn't have to help us. You're not even from here, but you've been acting like this is your fight too."
I leaned back in my chair, considering her words. "Maybe it's because I hate seeing people wrongfully accused. I've seen it happen too many times—people being punished for things they didn't do, all because the system failed them."
Rose nodded, her expression softening. "You're a good person, Shiro."
I chuckled at that. "I don't know about that. I just don't like injustice."
She smiled. "Still, I'm glad you're here."
The room fell into a comfortable silence. Rose was clearly nervous about tomorrow, and I didn't blame her. The stakes were high—not just for Sirius but for her too. Tomorrow would either be the day she succeeded or the day it all fell apart.
After a moment, she spoke again, her voice quiet. "Do you think it'll go smoothly?"
I considered the question carefully. "Madam Bones is fair. She'll weigh the evidence properly. And we've gathered everything we need—testimonies, the Gringotts statement, even Snape's testimonial, which is huge considering his history with Sirius. The nobles might be difficult, but I think we've got a solid case."
Rose nodded but didn't look entirely reassured. "What if it's not enough? What if they refuse to believe us?"
"They won't have a choice," I said firmly. "The evidence is undeniable. And if anyone tries to twist things, Madam Bones will set them straight."
She looked at me for a long moment, as if trying to gauge how confident I really was. Finally, she sighed and stood up. "I should probably get some sleep. Big day tomorrow."
"Yeah," I agreed, rising to my feet as well. "Get some rest. Tomorrow's going to be a long day."
She paused at the door, glancing back at me. "Goodnight, Shiro."
"Goodnight, Rose."
Once she was gone, I remained standing in the middle of the room for a moment, lost in thought. Tomorrow, everything would come to a head. The trial would either clear Sirius's name or condemn him once and for all. And while I was confident in our case, there was still that lingering worry—what if something went wrong?
I shook my head, pushing those thoughts aside. There was no room for doubt. We had done everything right. Now, it was up to the court to see the truth.
---
The next morning arrived far too quickly. The house was buzzing with nervous energy as we prepared to leave for the Ministry. Sirius was pacing again, his usual calm exterior cracking as the reality of the situation settled in.
"We're ready, Sirius," Rose said as she approached him, placing a comforting hand on his arm.
He nodded, but his eyes were distant. "I've spent so long in that hellhole. It's hard to believe this might actually be over."
"It will be," I assured him, grabbing my coat. "Trust me."
Mr. Weasley arrived soon after, looking a little flustered but determined. "Alright, everyone. We should head to the Ministry now. It's best to arrive early and be prepared."
Fred, George, and Ron were all there too, offering Sirius words of encouragement as we gathered in the hallway.
"I still can't believe this is happening," Ron muttered. "After everything…"
"It's happening," George said firmly, clapping Sirius on the back. "And we'll be there with you every step of the way."
Sirius gave them a grateful smile, though I could see the tension in his shoulders. This trial was more than just his freedom—it was his entire reputation on the line.
"Let's go," I said, leading the way out of Grimmauld Place.
---
We arrived at the Ministry of Magic through the telephone booth entrance, an experience I was still getting used to. The atmosphere inside the Ministry was charged with anticipation. People were whispering as we passed, likely gossiping about the upcoming trial.
The courtroom was already filled by the time we entered. Nobles, Ministry officials, and other prominent figures were all present, their eyes turning to us as we walked in. Some of them looked skeptical, others downright hostile. It was clear that not everyone was thrilled about Sirius getting a trial, especially those who still believed he was guilty.
We took our seats near the front, and I glanced at Sirius. He was pale but resolute. This was it.
After what felt like an eternity, Madam Bones entered the courtroom, her expression as stern and no-nonsense as ever. She took her place at the front, calling the court to order.
"Sirius Black," she began, her voice echoing through the chamber. "We are here today to determine the validity of the charges brought against you seventeen years ago."
Sirius was summoned to the center of the courtroom and strapped to a chair. I stood up, stepping forward.
"I am Shiro Emiya, a private detective hired by Sirius Black to investigate his case," I said, introducing myself to the room.
Madam Bones nodded, her eyes sharp as she looked over at me. "Mr. Emiya, you have submitted evidence to this court, including a Gringotts statement and numerous testimonies. Please present your case."
I stepped forward, laying out the evidence piece by piece—the Weasley testimonies, Lupin's account, and even Snape's surprising contribution. Then, I produced the Gringotts statement, which confirmed that Peter Pettigrew's vault had not been seized, proving that he was still alive.
The room murmured as I spoke, but I ignored the noise, focusing on the facts. When I finished, Madam Bones turned to the nobles present.
"Does anyone dispute the evidence presented?" she asked.
Several of them shifted uncomfortably, but none spoke up. After a long moment, Madam Bones nodded.
"Very well. We will proceed to the next phase of the trial."
And so, it began.