Harry Potter and the Ties that Bind

Chapter 25

The Ministry of Magic's auditorium was located within the heart of the ministry. It was a vast space shaped like a bowl. Numerous seats lined the inside, ascending upwards like a series of stairs. Balconies where the press and nobility were given an unobstructed view of the proceedings hung from the walls like dozens of protruding ledges.

Amelia stood before the crowd, atop a stage and looking at everyone. There must have been a ten-thousand people gathered to witness this emergency press conference, which she'd only been able to call with the combined help of Celestina and the Dowager Longbottom. Both of the people who had helped her were also on the podium, sitting down on a pair of chairs with several of their allies, though it looked like the Dowager was doing all in her power to stay as far from Celestina as possible. Minister Fudge, who sat between the two, was nervously gripping his bowler cap.

"I would like to thank all of you for coming today," Madam Bones started. "This emergency press conference was called for only one reason, to inform you all about new circumstances that have been uncovered regarding Sirius Black."

Hushed murmuring swept through the crowd. She couldn't see their faces. They were too far away, causing their appearance to blur into a uniform of general shapes. However, she could imagine the expressions they wore, unbridled curiosity, fear. Sirius Black had been big news since his escape from Azkaban. Everyone had been on the lookout for him, and now, here she was with important information pertaining to magical Britain's most wanted criminal.

"Several weeks ago, Sirius Black somehow managed to infiltrate Hogwarts. What you don't know is that Sirius Black did so to find Peter Pettigrew, a man who we all thought had been killed by Sirius Black himself. From the recent information we've uncovered, it's clear that Peter Pettigrew has been deceiving all of us right from the start. That night twelve years ago, he did not die at the hands of Sirius Black, but cut off his own finger and blew up several muggles before escaping into the sewer. Since then, he's been hiding out as a pet rat in a magical home."

The crowd broke out into shouts. Everyone began talking all at once, their voices rising higher and higher until not even a Sonorus Charm would be able to effectively speak above them. Madam Bones was forced to stand still and wait until the crowd subsided enough for her to begin shouting them down.

"However, thanks to the fast work of our aurors and Professor Lupin, the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts, we were able to apprehend Peter Pettigrew!"

At those words, several aurors walked onto the stage, their cloaks swirling about them. One of them was Nymphadora Tonks, who took the front. Taking up the rear was Kinglsey Shacklebolt, and Mad Eye Moody, who was not auror but had agreed to come on anyway, led the in-chains Peter Pettigrew.

Pettigrew had never looked so pathetic. Eyes quivering, lips trembling, and snot dribbling from his nose, the man who'd once been a friend to the Potters looked every bit the sniveling rat. A chain was attached to his neck, enchanted to keep him from turning into his rat form. More chains kept his hands bound. They were attached to another chain that Tonks used to pull the reluctant man along.

"This is the real criminal," Amelia announced to everyone. "Twelve years ago, Peter Pettigrew gave away the Potter's location to Lord Voldemort!" The crowd shrieked at the dark lord's name, but Amelia ignored it. "He betrayed his best friend! When Sirius Black went to confront him, Pettigrew accused Black of betraying the Potters, cut off his own finger, and fled into the sewers. Thanks to him, an innocent man was put in Azkaban prison! We of the Ministry of Magic will not let this injustice stand! As of now, Peter Pettigrew is being placed on trial for the betrayal and murder of the Potters!"

A roar of applause went up, thunderous and overwhelming as it echoed across the stadium they were using for the press conference.

"Furthermore," Amelia continued, "I would like to extend both the Ministry's heartfelt apology toward Sirius Black for the grave offense we've committed against him. That is why, on the twenty-fourth of November, we would like to request that Sirius Black come to another press conference, where we shall hold a public apology toward a man who was wrongfully accused of heinous crimes he didn't commit. I would like to thank everyone who attended this function. That is all."