COUP ďÉtat

Dumbledore is warned

Regulus, Lucius and Rodolphus sat in their seats supporting dark. Severus sat in the neutral area along with the Greengrass Lord. Barty and Frank sat in the light party area. Other lords grumbled about being unnecessarily dragged to the wizengmot when all the trials were already done with.

Dumbledore sat on the chief warlock's seat and banged his gavel to bring the house to order. He was feeling puzzled because he did not know why was this meeting being conducted. He did not like not knowing things.

"Amelia, my dear girl, why have you called for this emergency meeting?" He asked in his genial voice.

Amelia's lips thinned at his continued use of her name despite being said to not. "Headmaster Dumbledore, we are not in school that you insist to continue to call by our names. We are adults and I would appreciate if called by my title. Now, that being said, we are here to decide on a grave injustice. A few days after Samhain, Sirius Black was imprisoned for being the secret keeper of the Potters and killing 12 muggles and Peter Pettigrew. All that was found of Pettigrew was his little finger. But what I discovered was that he did not receive any trial."
The room was in an uproar. Some were shouting that how could a member of the House of Black be put in prison without a trial. Some were shouting that it was that the two-faced death eater scum was in prison.

Dumbledore was shocked but then heaved a sigh of relief. It was good that he had decided to have Sirius Black killed. Otherwise, he might have lost his pawn. He could spin this to his favour someway.
He brought back the hall to order and then turned to Amelia. "My dear girl..." At her glare corrected himself. "Madame Bones, you are right. This is a grave mistake. What should we do to rectify? Afterall, bringing Sirius out of Azkaban would take sometime, according to protocol."

"We do not require Sirius Black to be here for his innocence to be proved."
She looked at the auror stationed at the doors to bring in Pettigrew.

Those who knew him were shell shocked seeing him alive.

The Wizengmot went up in an uproar.

The aurors placed the rat in the chair and the chains tightly bound themselves around him. He was given veritaserum which made him slack and his glazed.
Amelia Bones banged the gavel and spoke- "Order, order. I call this house to order. Defendant, is your name Peter Pettigrew?"
"Yes"
"Is your birthday on 31st of August?"
"Yes"
"Were you in Gryffindor house?"
"Yes"
"The potion is working. Were you death eater?" Amelia asked.
"Yes"
"Were you the secret keeper for James and Lily Potter?"
"Yes"

Slowly the volume in the house started to rise with Pettigrew admitting to the truths.
As soon as he accepted being the secret keeper for the Potter couple, those in the know looked towards Dumbledore to see if he would have picked on his mistake.

And sure enough, the man in question had realised it. His face lost colour. He cursed under his breath. He could see a few of the members had remembered the fact and were looking towards him. Specially Lord Regulus Black and his ilk. He would have to do damage control.
He shifted his attention back to Pettigrew.

Amelia asked "Did you kill the twelve muggles?"
"Yes"

The wigenmot went mad. People were calling out for his blood. Not only he had handed the beloved Potter couple to You Know Who, but had also framed the girl who lived's father.

Madam Bones again banged her gavel to bring order to house.

"Peter John Pettigrew, you are charged on twelve counts of manslaughter, two counts of murder and framing of an innocent man. Those in favour of incrimination, raise your wands."
Almost unanimously all wands rose.
"The wizengmot will now decide the punishment."

The barriers were erected.
Frank stood up. "I, personally want to kill the man by my bare hands, a thought that no doubt Mr Black and his brother when released will support, but law bind my hands. So I would like to have him kissed."
Regulus nodded along with him.

"Now my boy, do you really wish to let darkness take over yourself? We should not take anybody's life even they have gravely wronged us. We should know the path of forgiveness." Dumbledore said in is grandfatherly voice.

Regulus sneered at him and said – "Shut up old man. This is family matter. No one wrongs a Black and lives to tell the tale. Not only did he frame my older brother, he had a hand in the killing of James Potter, whose mother a Black by birth. I say you hand him over to us rather than stuffing him in Azkaban. The snivelling rat will last more in the Black dungeons than with the dementors."

Some people were alarmed by the violence coming out of the Black heir's mouth and the Longbottom Lord's acceptance of the situation, but some understood. Family was important in the wizarding world.

"Enough of this. I propose lifetime in the upper part of Azkaban." Said Amelia Bones. Most of the Lords and Ladies agreed to it.
"Peter John Pettigrew, you are sentenced to lifetime in upper levels of Azkaban. The case is closed. Sirius Black will be released immediately and a compensation of ten thousand galleons will be paid to him. Aurors, please fetch Mr Black."

Dumbledore smirked to himself. 'Thank Merlin he had taken care of the man or he would have lost his main pawn. Now he just had to keep the Potter brat away from the wizarding world. Just a few years. He was sure that the Blacks and Longbottoms will get busy in raising their own children to pester him.  He will win. Though he was in a strop in regarding to what to do with the Longbottoms. And how in Merlin's beard did they grow close to the Blacks? And Crouch jr. was a death eater. He was also looking close to Frank. He would have to talk to him regarding his alliances. Afterall, dark could not mingle with light. It was for the greater good.'

Suddenly an auror came running in the hall and went straight to Madam Bones. He whispered something in her ear and her eyes widened. She looked towards heaven for strength because she knew the news she was about to break would have all the Blacks out for blood.

"It is with deep regrets that I announce that Sirius Black is no more amongst us. He has succumbed to dementors." Amelia said looking towards Regulus. "I offer my condolences to your family and you, Mr Black."

People went deathly silent at the announcement.

Regulus looked as if he was cut out of ice. When he spoke, his voice were like shards of ice and had a promise of retribution in it.
"Your condolences will not bring back my brother, Madam Bones. But it is not your fault, is it? If I had my way, Crouch Senior's head will be on pike. I want justice. And it wasn't only him. Dumbledore here gave statement of my brother being guilty. He should also suffer. And not only this, he has my niece hidden somewhere and I want her back."

"My boy. I truly did not know about Sirius being innocent. And Lilian Potter is where she is safe. Surely you care that she should remain safe?" said Dumbledore. "I believe Dumbledore that my niece will be safe with me." Spat Regulus.
Amos Diggory stood up and said- "Dumbledore is only doing what is best for our world and saviour. Surely the savior of light should not live with the darkest families?" Many people nodded in agreement.

At this Frank came forward and said- "She could live with us or the Tonkses. Afterall we are family too."
Another of Dumbledore's sycophants, Doge spoke now- "I believe it is good for the saviour to remain hidden where Albus has hid her. Afterall she needs to be protected. Albus has protected us from the two dark lords. She will be best protected wherever she is hidden."

Most people were convinced. Dumbledore looked as if how grateful for all the trust placed on him. Only few people spotted the satisfaction beneath his façade.

Regulus sneered and said- "I see you people will not come to senses. Mark my words Dumbledore, should even a hair be harmed on her, I will utterly destroy you. She is the only piece of my brother left."

With his thundering words the Black strode out of the room followed by Malfoy, Lestrange, Longbottom, Crouch and Snape.

Albus just gulped in fear.