章節 49: Reclaiming Shadows: The Path to Justice

In the cool night air, under the light of the stars, Raja and Professor Lupin moved quietly through the grounds of Hogwarts, following the faint traces on the Marauder's Map. They'd been monitoring the map for hours, their eyes tracking one small label—Padfoot. Raja's plan was falling into place, but now he needed Lupin to stay focused as they neared the Whomping Willow.

Raja pointed at the flickering dot near the tree's roots. "He's there. The old hideout you and the others used as students."

Lupin nodded, his face filled with emotion. "I never thought I'd see him again… not like this. Sirius must've been living here this whole time," he murmured, his voice barely a whisper.

Taking a deep breath, Lupin moved forward, calling out quietly. "Sirius… it's me, Remus."

For a moment, all was still, and then, out of the shadows, a large black dog appeared, its coat matted and eyes wary. Sirius' canine form stood stiffly, ready to bolt, until he recognized Lupin. With a whimper, he transformed back into his human self, his eyes hollow but filled with recognition. Without a word, the two old friends closed the gap between them, embracing each other tightly, the years of suffering and lost friendship pouring out in a mixture of silent apologies and tears.

"I'm sorry, Sirius," Lupin choked out. "I didn't know… I didn't trust you. I thought…"

Sirius held him at arm's length, his voice raw. "None of it matters now, Remus. I lost my life, my freedom. And all this time… all this time it was Peter…"

Lupin's expression shifted, his gaze darkening. "We'll bring him to justice, Sirius. But… you need to be careful. Harry needs you—he needs a guardian. Someone who truly cares for him."

Sirius's eyes softened at the mention of Harry. "Harry… he's all I have left, Remus. But you don't know what it's like. I want Peter to pay. I want him to suffer for what he did to James and Lily." His voice cracked, years of rage and betrayal bubbling to the surface.

Raja stepped forward, sensing it was time to intervene. "Sirius," he said calmly, "I know what you want. But you've already lost so much—don't let revenge cloud what's left. Harry needs you as a guardian, a family."

Sirius's gaze shifted to Raja, studying him with quiet intensity. He took a long, shuddering breath, finally nodding. "You're right," he said, his voice hoarse. "I'll do it for Harry."

Raja nodded. "We're going to make sure justice is served, but the right way. First, I need Dumbledore's help, and we're going to meet with someone in the Ministry to get everything set up."

Within hours, Raja and Lupin were meeting with Dumbledore, who listened intently as they explained Sirius's innocence and the necessity of capturing Peter Pettigrew. When Lupin requested a private meeting with the head of Magical Law Enforcement, Amelia Bones, Dumbledore agreed and sent out a discreet message.

Later, Amelia Bones arrived at Hogwarts, and Raja laid out the plan for her. At first, she was skeptical, her initial reaction restrained, but Raja's unwavering confidence, clear evidence, and his sharp, logical reasoning made her pause. He meticulously detailed how Sirius had been imprisoned without a trial and explained the Marauder's Map, Peter's Animagus form, and how it all tied back to the murder of the Potters.

After a lengthy discussion, Madam Bones's skepticism began to fade. She nodded slowly. "Alright, I'll assist with the plan," she agreed, her voice firm. "But we'll need concrete proof. I'll authorize an undercover setup and some Aurors in hiding, but Pettigrew must confess, fully and without hesitation."

Raja grinned. "Leave that to me."

The next night, the plan was in motion. Raja had prepared a powerful sedative and laced it into a small cake. With a whispered charm, he passed it to Ron's rat, Scabbers, during dinner. Within minutes, Scabbers was unconscious. Raja and Lupin discreetly transported the rat to the Whomping Willow's secret hideout, placing him in a small, magically fortified cage.

Around the hideout, Raja placed enchanted recording devices, small magical orbs that would capture and record sound and visuals. Outside, Amelia Bones, Dumbledore, and two Aurors waited, hidden from view but ready to intervene.

They didn't have to wait long. As the rat stirred, shaking off the effects of the sedative, it looked around groggily, only to see the large, menacing black dog growling just inches from the cage. With a terrified squeak, the rat transformed back into his human form—Peter Pettigrew, trembling and cowering in terror.

Sirius transformed back into his human form, standing tall, his face filled with a quiet, deadly rage. "Recognize me, Peter?" he sneered, voice dripping with fury.

Peter's eyes darted frantically around the room. "S-Sirius… please, we were friends once. I… I had no choice!" he whimpered, sinking to his knees.

"Friends?" Sirius spat, advancing on Peter. "You betrayed us all, Peter. You handed James and Lily over to Voldemort, and you framed me. You destroyed my life, left me to rot in Azkaban."

Peter's voice shook with fear as he pleaded, "I… I had no choice! He would have killed me! You don't know what he's capable of. He marked me himself!"

"Enough!" Sirius growled, raising his wand. "You're going to tell the truth, every last word of it."

At this, Peter began spilling the details, hoping to win some sympathy. He recounted how Voldemort had forced him into servitude, how he had no choice but to follow orders, and how he'd faked his own death to escape the blame. He admitted to framing Sirius to save himself, laying out every detail in a desperate attempt to justify his betrayal.

Hidden just outside, Dumbledore, Madam Bones, and the two Aurors listened, their faces grim with the realization of Sirius's innocence and the dark web of betrayal that Peter had spun. As Pettigrew rambled on, the Aurors moved in, wands ready.

Finally, Dumbledore and Amelia Bones stepped into the room, their expressions fierce. Peter froze, his eyes widening in horror as he realized his confession had been overheard.

"No… no!" he squealed, scrambling backward. "You don't understand! I had no choice!"

Amelia Bones regarded him with cold detachment. "That's enough, Pettigrew. You've confessed to treason, conspiracy, and murder. You'll answer for your crimes."

As the Aurors moved forward to restrain him, Peter whimpered, trying to pull free, but he was no match for their binding spells. Lupin's gaze lingered on Peter, his face a mixture of sorrow and fury, while Sirius seemed to crumble, the weight of the moment pressing down on him.

Dumbledore placed a hand on Sirius's shoulder. "You have been wronged beyond measure, Sirius. We will see to it that justice is done and that your name is cleared."

Sirius looked at Dumbledore with a haunted expression. "Thank you," he whispered. "For the first time… I feel free."

The following morning, the news spread through Hogwarts and the wizarding world like wildfire. The headlines in the Daily Prophet shouted the story of Sirius Black's exoneration and the shocking arrest of Peter Pettigrew, the true traitor who had betrayed the Potters and framed his friend.

The students at Hogwarts buzzed with gossip and speculation, and in Gryffindor Tower, Harry could barely believe his eyes as he read the newspaper. Sirius Black was not only innocent but also his godfather. It was a revelation that changed everything.

In the Great Hall, Sirius's release was the talk of the school. Cornelius Fudge had rushed to Hogwarts to claim a piece of the triumph, publicly announcing that Sirius would be compensated generously for his wrongful imprisonment and that the Ministry would ensure he was welcomed back into society.

But as he shook hands with Dumbledore and made his way through the press, Raja couldn't help but chuckle quietly at Fudge's theatrics. The truth of the matter was that none of this would have happened if not for their late-night investigation, Lupin's courage, and Sirius's resilience.

Later that day, Raja caught sight of Sirius in the courtyard, talking quietly with Professor Lupin. They both looked worn and weary but free—free of the darkness that had weighed them down for so long. When Sirius saw Raja, he walked over, his face breaking into a rare smile.

"Raja," he began, his voice thick with gratitude, "I owe you everything. If it hadn't been for you and Remus, I'd still be in that cell. You saved my life… and Harry's, too."

Raja gave him a steady look. "You're free now, Sirius. Harry needs you, but he also needs to know his parents loved him and fought for him. I hope you'll be able to share those memories with him someday."

Sirius nodded, the look of a determined man in his eyes. "I will. I'll make it up to him… and to James and Lily."

With a final handshake, Raja watched as Sirius turned to join Lupin, the two friends leaving the courtyard side by side, bound not only by their shared past but also by the possibility of a brighter future.

As the day went on, Raja reflected on the events that had unfolded. Justice had been served, and Sirius's name was cleared. The truth had been brought to light, not through force, but through the power of logic, evidence, and conviction. And in the end, that was the legacy Raja hoped to leave at Hogwarts: a reminder that even the darkest of lies could be shattered with a well-placed truth.