Chapter 226: Interrogation
Chapter 226: Interrogation (Request for Subscriptions, Favorites, and Votes)
When Liam cast the Stunning Spell earlier, he actually held back, as he was worried that if Scabbers' defenses were reduced to a mouse's level, the spell might end up killing him.
So when Lupin pulled Scabbers out of the cage, the mouse was already awake. As Lupin tried to grab it, Scabbers screamed and wriggled, its tiny black eyes bulging. It struggled with all its might, trying to escape.
This made it clear to everyone in the office that this mouse was not normal. After Mcgonagall and Lupin examined it, they gathered to discuss and concluded, "We are certain this mouse is an Animagus."
"Alright, Mr. Mouse, please return to your human form", Dumbledore said to Scabbers. Unfortunately, Scabbers remained unresponsive and even tried to run towards the door as soon as Lupin let it go.
But with so many wizards in the room, how could it possibly escape? Scabbers was quickly levitated into the air by Mr. Weasley.
"It seems we have no choice but to use force", Dumbledore said, nodding slightly to Professor Mcgonagall. She aimed her wand at Scabbers, and a blue-white light shot out. Scabbers writhed frantically in mid-air.
Soon, it fell to the floor. Another blinding flash of light, and then—like a time-lapse of a plant growing—there was a head, followed by limbs extending. Moments later, a man stood where Scabbers had been.
The man was about Liam's height, a short and stocky figure. Like Mr. Weasley, he was bald, with pale, disheveled hair. His skin, like that of someone who had rapidly lost weight, was loose and wrinkled, and he looked very dirty, almost as if he had the same fur as Scabbers. He had a pointed nose and watery eyes, still retaining some mouse-like features. He looked at the group in the office, breathing heavily and weakly.
"Oh, hello, Peter", Professor Lupin was the first to react, speaking calmly as if he hadn't just seen the transformation, "It's been a long time."
"Professor Mcgonagall, Headmaster Dumbledore, and L—Lupin…" Peter's voice was high-pitched, his eyes darting towards the exit of the Headmaster's Office. "My professors—my friends—"
"Peter, we are here to ask you why you spent twelve years as a mouse", Dumbledore leaned forward, looking at Peter through his half-moon spectacles with a very stern tone.
"Because—because I was trying to escape Sirius Black's pursuit. Yes, I was escaping, I thought he would come to kill me one day", Peter stammered in defense.
"I don't think an innocent person would hide so cowardly for twelve years, let alone how you knew Sirius Black would escape from Azkaban. No one has ever escaped from there", Professor Lupin interjected.
"I, I was just afraid. After all, Sirius Black must have learned unprecedentedly powerful dark magic from that person", Peter stammered, his defense sounding less credible given how his eyes darted around like a mouse's.
"No, that doesn't make sense. Back then, we had many informants who even betrayed many Death Eaters. They lived normal lives under the Ministry of Magic's protection. You, an ordinary person who only offended Sirius Black, continued to hide for twelve years even after his arrest. Your reason is not believable", Amelia Bones adjusted her monocle and stated.
"Moreover, you had a whole week to seek protection from the Ministry of Magic, especially with your ability to transform into a mouse, which would have made it impossible for Sirius Black to catch you. But you didn't. Instead, you chose to go into hiding alone for a week, then staged your own death in a strange explosion. This doesn't align with your claim that you were just afraid."
As the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Amelia Bones indeed had extensive experience in interrogations, and she quickly exposed Peter's lies on the key issues. Her questions left Peter completely flustered.
"I, I wanted to avenge Lily and James, so I went after him alone. After all, in the Ministry of Magic's judgment, even the most heinous criminals only receive a life sentence in Azkaban. I knew Sirius Black had learned dark magic from that person, and Azkaban couldn't properly punish him. So, I wanted to kill him." The more Peter spoke, the more it sounded like the truth, but everyone in the room had already noticed something was off.
"If that's the case, why did you hide for twelve years? If what you say is true, you should have stood up to him openly. That way, even if Black escaped, you could have waited for him to come to you to avenge Lily and James. And you just said you were hiding from Black, so you're lying", Lupin said coldly, as he had already guessed the truth.
"We don't need to listen to this man's lies any longer. I have a bottle of Veritaserum in my office. Just three drops will make him tell the truth. What do you think, Madam Bones?" Professor Snape, who was disgusted with Peter's lies, slowly proposed his idea.
"Hmm, this involves a very serious murder case from over a decade ago. So, in my capacity as Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, I approve the use of Veritaserum. By the way, Headmaster Dumbledore, I would like to use your office for a formal interrogation. After all, there are two Wizengamot members here, including yourself, and five adult witnesses present, which meets the minimum requirements for a legal interrogation", Amelia Bones considered and then asked Professor Dumbledore.
"Of course", Headmaster Dumbledore nodded. "I also want to know what really happened back then."
"No, no, I'm just a suspect. You have no concrete evidence, so you can't use Veritaserum on me." Peter struggled, but Professor Mcgonagall waved her wand, and Peter was immobilized.
The office was silent for a few minutes, and the sound of the revolving stairs creaking was heard again. Professor Snape returned with his Veritaserum.
"Thank you, Severus." Dumbledore turned from behind his desk, took the bottle of clear Veritaserum, and with a wave of his wand, forced Peter's mouth open and poured in three drops of the potion.
Peter struggled for a moment, but soon he stood there, completely still.
Amelia Bones took out a strange instrument made of brass and crystal, pointed it at Peter, and then pulled out parchment and a quill. "I need someone to take notes during the questioning."
"I'll do it", Percy responded nervously. Bones glanced at him, and Mr. Weasley said, "He's my son, the Head Boy, and he can certainly help you record the trial accurately."
"Thank you." Bones waved her wand, and the parchment and quill flew to Percy.
Percy was excited as he took the parchment and quill. Liam noticed he was trying to place the parchment on his lap to write, so he used his wand to turn the cushion on the back of his chair into a board and handed it to Percy.
"Excellent Transfiguration", Professor Mcgonagall praised. Before Liam could respond, the interrogation by the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement began, drawing everyone's attention.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
