They looked towards the area obscured by the thick fog, their eyes revealing undisguised anger.

As people who had personally experienced that turbulent era, they knew very well that this was the spell of the Loyalty Curse. When the contract was established, these words would turn into golden symbols and hide in the soul of the person chanting the spell.

Many people in this room had escaped this way, so they knew it very well.

It is now completely certain that Peter Pettigrew is the real secret keeper, not Black!

"Damn it!" Bursts of angry curses came from all around.

Crouch looked gloomy.

Although Dumbledore testified, he still didn't believe that Black was innocent before this, or he was more willing to believe that this was a trap set by Fudge and that he had deceived Dumbledore.

After all, everyone knew that Potter and Black were as close as one person. No matter how you look at it, the secret keeper could not be attributed to the cowardly Peter.

But they did it anyway, as if they had no brains at all, and the brain should have been stuffed into his head.

"Traitor..." Crouch clenched his fists, and the quill in his hand broke into two pieces with a snap.

The chatter in the courtroom grew louder.

The thick fog quickly dissipated, and Diana came out. "Then Professor Dumbledore, the rest of the matter will be left to you."

"Of course, this is what we should do." Dumbledore said with a smile: "Thanks to you this time, otherwise Sirius would be in trouble..."

"I'm just trying to help Lily, not some smart-aleck idiot." Diana didn't even look at Blake.

"Also, Mr. Headmaster, if I remember correctly, Hogwarts doesn't have a rule that fifth-year students can leave school on weekends, right?"

Dumbledore's smile froze on his face, and then he said calmly: "I think so too, but this is the Minister's invitation after all, and Kyle insisted on coming, so... well, there is nothing I can do."

"Really..." Diana glanced towards the corner again.

Kyle, who was lowering his head and trying to reduce his presence, suddenly shuddered. He raised his head cautiously and just saw Diana and the other two Silent Men walking out of the courtroom and taking the water tank with them.

"Huh..." He let out a long sigh and sat up straight again.

After that, the trial process went much more smoothly.

Faced with clear evidence, those who had previously opposed the matter shut up one after another. Although some people were still obsessed with Sirius's escape from prison, Fudge always managed to delay the matter with his skillful tactics of smoothing things over.

Although he was also very curious about how the other party escaped from the heavily guarded Azkaban, now was obviously not the time to discuss this.

They can take their time later; they have plenty of time.

Finally, in order to end the retrial as soon as possible, Sirius also took the initiative to ask to take truth serum or accept Legilimency to prove his innocence.

Fudge agreed, and because it was a proactive request, there was no need for a vote.

Soon, Scrimgeour came over with a small bottle.

"One drop should be enough, I think," said Dumbledore. "We don't need to ask too many questions."

“I know,” said Scrimgeour.

As a drop of truth serum was poured into his mouth, Sirius' cheeks relaxed and his eyes stared blankly at the ceiling.

“Can you hear me?” asked Scrimgeour.

Sirius' eyelids fluttered a few times.

"I can hear you," he whispered.

Sirius took a few shuddering breaths and spoke in a flat tone without any emotion.

"It's Peter Pettigrew. He's the Secret-Keeper."

“Why choose him?”

Sirius' eyelids twitched again. "Because I think it's safer this way. I will be the bait in public, so no one will suspect the cowardly Peter."

"And who blew up the Muggle streets after that?" Scrimgeour asked again.

"That's Peter Pettigrew too..."

Under the influence of the truth serum, Sirius told the whole process of replacing the secret keeper.

How should I put it? After hearing what happened with their own ears, most people's first reaction was not sympathy, but rather the same idea as Crouch... Blake really is missing a brain.

I really should have asked those silent people if I could apply for one for him.

It's obviously a simple matter, why make it so complicated? It's a waste of time.

But after cursing in their hearts, everyone sighed.

No matter what, he spent twelve years in Azkaban for nothing, and it was a price he paid for his stupidity.

After Sirius finished speaking, Scrimgeour poured a bottle of potion into his mouth with a complicated expression.

He had originally been thinking about whether or not to recruit Sirius into the Auror office after he was found innocent, but now he thought he might as well reconsider it.

After all, Aurors don't just look at strength.

After drinking the potion, the confusion in Sirius' eyes gradually disappeared. He shook his head and regained consciousness.

"I think the matter should be very clear." Fudge cleared his throat on the podium, "Then, those who support Sirius Black's innocence, please raise your hands."

Hands were raised one after another, and in the blink of an eye, more than half of them were raised. Even Crouch slowly raised his arm.

"Ninety-five votes!" Ms. Bones said in a booming voice.

"Very good, very good." Fudge stood up and said with a smile, "I am making a statement on behalf of the Ministry of Magic. The charges against Sirius Orion Black in 1981 are officially dropped and the arrest warrant is invalidated. He will be acquitted from today and will regain the right to own a wand."

There was applause in the courtroom and everyone stood up and clapped their hands vigorously.

Sirius sat there blankly, looking around at everyone, then at Peter lying on the ground, feeling a trance in front of his eyes, as if everything was so unreal.

He, is free? Sirius took a few deep breaths, then looked up at Dumbledore, wanting to confirm something.

"So what are you waiting for?"

Dumbledore smiled and said, "If you have enough Galleons with you... well, would you like to visit Diagon Alley? It has changed a lot compared to twelve years ago.

And I've inquired, Ollivander didn't go out today to look for materials for making wands, you should be able to pick a suitable wand for yourself there."

"Of course... of course, Professor Dumbledore." Sirius' eyes instantly became moist, and he said with tears and laughter: "I dream of going to Diagon Alley."

…

(End of this chapter)