The trial proceeded with a palpable tension hanging in the air. After I laid out the evidence, the opposing parties began presenting their arguments. Many nobles present were reluctant to accept that Sirius could be innocent after so many years.
An older wizard, sitting near the back behind Malfoy, stood up. He was dressed in the elaborate robes of a noble family. His face was stern, his voice filled with disdain. "This evidence, while intriguing, does not prove beyond a doubt that Black is innocent. He was present at the scene of the crime, and his supposed innocence is based on testimony from questionable sources."
I raised an eyebrow. "Questionable sources? The Weasley family has been known for their integrity, and Lupin is a highly respected former professor at Hogwarts. Are you suggesting that all of them have conspired together to deceive this court?"
The wizard sneered. "You rely on the words of half-breeds and blood traitors. Forgive me if I do not find their testimonies particularly compelling."
I felt the familiar burn of anger rise in my chest, but I kept my voice steady. "You'd be wise to watch your words. This trial is about justice, not old prejudices. If you don't have anything substantial to add, I suggest you sit down."
The murmurs in the courtroom grew louder, and the wizard looked as if he wanted to argue further, but Madam Bones shot him a warning look. "Order in the court!" she demanded, her voice silencing the room instantly. "This trial will not devolve into insults. We are here to examine facts, not to pass judgment on bloodlines."
The man grumbled under his breath but reluctantly sat down.
Sirius, still strapped to the chair, gave me a small nod of appreciation. His face was pale, but there was a glint of hope in his eyes that hadn't been there before.
Madam Bones turned her attention back to me. "Mr. Emiya, you've provided ample evidence, but I need to know one thing: how can we be sure that Peter Pettigrew is alive and that the finger found at the scene of the explosion wasn't simply part of a ruse?"
I was ready for this. "As I mentioned earlier, Pettigrew faked his death. If you recall, Madam Bones, the nature of the explosion that supposedly killed him was too clean. A single finger left behind, no trace of the rest of his body. A magical blast doesn't leave something so perfectly preserved."
I turned to face the rest of the court. "Furthermore, Pettigrew's animagus form is that of a rat. It wouldn't be difficult for him to escape unnoticed, and we have evidence that he lived with the Weasley family for years under the guise of their pet, Scabbers. If Pettigrew were dead, his Gringotts vault would have been seized. Yet, as the statement from Gringotts shows, it remains active. Pettigrew is alive."
Madam Bones nodded thoughtfully. "You make a compelling case, Mr. Emiya. The vault's continued activity does suggest that Pettigrew has not met his end."
The nobles whispered among themselves, clearly uncertain how to refute the facts laid out before them. Madam Bones raised her hand, silencing the room once more. "Now, as a final measure, I will ask Sirius Black to take a magical oath to confirm that he was not the secret keeper of the Potters, and that he did not betray them."
Sirius lifted his head, determination in his eyes. "I am ready."
A Ministry official approached him with a glowing wand. "Repeat after me," he instructed.
Sirius took a deep breath and began. "I, Sirius Orion Black, swear on my magic that I was not the secret keeper for James and Lily Potter. I did not betray them, nor did I reveal their location to He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named."
A golden light surrounded Sirius as he finished the oath, confirming the truth of his words. The murmurs in the room became louder as people realized what this meant. Sirius had spoken the truth. He hadn't betrayed the Potters.
Madam Bones stood up, her expression serious. "Sirius Black has taken a magical oath, and all evidence points to his innocence. The testimonies, the Gringotts statement, and the fact that Peter Pettigrew is still alive are undeniable. I now call for a vote from the Wizengamot."
She raised her wand, and the other members of the Wizengamot followed suit. "Those who believe Sirius Black is guilty, raise your wands."
A few wands went up, but the number was small. It was clear that most of the courtroom now understood the truth.
Madam Bones continued, "Those who believe Sirius Black is innocent, raise your wands."
More than half of the wands shot into the air, a clear majority.
Madam Bones smiled slightly, her stern demeanor softening just a bit. "Sirius Orion Black, is hereby cleared of all charges. You are a free man."
The tension in the room broke as a wave of emotion swept over everyone. Rose immediately rushed to Sirius, throwing her arms around him. Sirius looked shocked, as though he couldn't quite believe it was real, but slowly, a smile broke across his face.
I stood back, watching the scene unfold. Rose was crying, though she tried to hide it, and Sirius kept repeating, "I'm free. I'm finally free."
Fred and George clapped Sirius on the back, and Mr. Weasley shook his hand warmly. Even Ron, who had been relatively quiet throughout the trial, smiled at Sirius with genuine relief.
Rose turned to me then, her eyes shining with gratitude. "Shiro… we did it. He's free because of you."
I shrugged, trying to downplay it. "We all played our parts."
But before I could say more, Rose did something unexpected. She hugged me tightly, catching me off guard. Then, without thinking, she leaned in and kissed me on the cheek.
I froze, my brain short-circuiting for a moment. Rose quickly pulled back, her face going red as she realized what she'd done. "I—uh—I didn't mean—"
I laughed, feeling the awkwardness melt away. "It's fine, Rose. You were just excited."
She looked mortified, but Sirius saved her by stepping forward. He shook my hand, his grip firm and sincere. "Thank you, Shiro. I owe you more than I can ever repay."
I shook my head. "You don't owe me anything. Rose is my friend. If I can't help my friends, what's my worth as a person?"
Sirius smiled warmly. "Still, you've done more for me than anyone else. I'll never forget that."
With that, we left the courtroom, stepping into the sunlight for the first time as a truly free group. The future seemed a little brighter now.