Lupin fell silent for a moment.
He always felt that what Moody meant to say wasn't "simple," but "foolish."
However... trusting Sirius was natural for him!
He had been wrong for eleven years; did he need to continue being wrong?
The old quartet always hung out together, but there were differences in closeness between them.
Sirius betrayed James, and Lupin hated him more than anyone else; but the moment he knew Peter Pettigrew was still alive, he believed he had been mistaken.
He should trust his heart's judgment more than the so-called "facts" touted by others.
But these emotions were probably something Moody couldn't understand.
So Lupin just forced a smile and said softly, "I trust him."
Harry plucked up his courage and faced Moody's terrifying face, saying, "I-I do too."
The blue Magic Eye suddenly fixed on him, and at the same time, Moody's real black eye also looked at Harry.
Harry felt a bit nervous, his palms sweaty, but he insisted, "I trust the godfather my dad chose for me... is not a traitor!"
Moody laughed, but for once, it didn't carry any sarcasm.
"...Child!"
He muttered.
Suddenly, the whole house fell silent.
The door at the side of the courtroom opened, and several wizards walked in—Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge, a gray-haired witch with a monocle, and a fierce-looking wizard with hair like a lion's mane.
They sat on the high chairs in the center.
Then, a dozen more people in maroon robes came in and sat on both sides, all looking solemn and dignified.
The sound in the courtroom quickly vanished.
A crisp tapping sound echoed as the gray-haired witch said expressionlessly, "Bring Sirius Black in."
Lupin's body leaned forward suddenly, and his hand gripping the seat in front turned pale, while Harry instinctively stood up.
Moody put down the flask and gripped his walking stick with both hands.
Vid lifted his eyes and looked at a small door in the corner.
The door opened.
Harry almost shouted, and a brief buzzing sound came from the crowd.
Two cloaked creatures, nearly three meters tall, slowly floated in, as if carrying something, holding the arms of the person in the middle and heading towards the chair in the center of the room.
The creatures' faces under the cloaks seemed to be breathing, and as they inhaled deeply, a cold feeling swept over them.
Even from a distance, Harry felt his hands and feet turn cold. Many wizards showed expressions mixed with disgust and fear.
"What are those...? What is that?" Harry asked.
"Dementors," Vid answered.
He was now quite skilled in Occlumency, so the Dementors had little effect on him.
—So these are Dementors.
Harry thought to himself.
He had heard before that many prisoners in Azkaban went mad, which had seemed incredible. But now, seeing the Dementors with his own eyes, he suddenly understood.
He looked at the person sandwiched between the Dementors.
He appeared to be unconscious, head hanging down, with dirty, tangled long hair cascading messily, skin wax-like pale, and his body emaciated like a skeleton.
A tattered old set of clothes wrapped around him like rags. Shackles were on his bony ankles, and the chains clinked on the ground with a jingling sound.
Vid suddenly heard a chattering sound, and when he looked up, he saw Lupin staring intently at the skeletal Sirius, face taut, with no expression, and his hands trembling slightly.
Vid lowered his eyes.
The Dementors placed Sirius on the chair in the center, and the chains on the armrests suddenly glowed golden, coiling tightly like snakes, binding Sirius there.
Then, they slowly left the room, floating lightly like a wisp of black smoke.
The courtroom resounded with obvious sound of exhaling. The reporters craned their necks to watch Sirius in the chair, snapping a series of photos.
In the front row, apart from Dumbledore who remained calm, the other wizards showed clear displeasure.
The crisp tapping sound echoed again, forcing the reporters to set their cameras down and pick up their quills, excitement still on their faces.
"Record!" The gray-haired witch said in a cold voice: "On November 14, the retrial of Sirius Black for siding with the Mysterious Man, revealing James Potter and Lily Potter's residence, and killing thirteen people as the truth was exposed!"
"Interrogators: Minister of Ministry of Magic Cornelius Oswald Fudge; head of the Magic Law Enforcement Department Amelia Susan Bones; head of the Auror Office Rufus Scrimgeour. Trial scribe: Albireo Imma."
"Defense for the accused: Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore."
Dumbledore, sitting on the side chair, stood up and said, "Given the poor condition of the accused, Sirius Black, I will speak on his behalf."
A vague disturbance appeared among the audience in the courtroom, and most of the Wizengamot members in maroon robes beamed at Dumbledore.
Fudge's displeasure became more evident, and he looked around as if hoping someone would object, but Amelia and Rufus Scrimgeour both remained silent.
Fudge had no choice but to say, "Well... alright, Dumbledore... this is allowed..."
Dumbledore ignored Fudge's reluctance, stood up, and strode to Sirius Black's side, placing a hand on his shoulder.
The warmth from a living hand seemed to pull Sirius out of some oppressive emotion, and he slowly lifted his head to look at Dumbledore.
Those eyes, hidden in sunken sockets, appeared deep and dark, devoid of any emotion.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I believe most of you present should remember that yesterday we interrogated Peter Pettigrew here."
Dumbledore said, "Due to the longevity and complexity of the case, we specifically permitted the use of Veritaserum during the interrogation..."
Upon hearing that familiar name, Sirius Black froze, and then it seemed as if a shadowy light flickered in those eyes.
He focused intently on Dumbledore.
In the audience, some showed worried expressions, and others signaled the white-bearded headmaster to stand farther away—they seemed to think Sirius might pounce on Dumbledore.
But Dumbledore did not move away; he continued to speak.
"Under the influence of the magic potion, Peter Pettigrew confessed to his crimes without reserve. He admitted that he was the true Secret Keeper for the Potter family and that he was the one who leaked their location to Voldemort..."
Sirius Black suddenly let out a raspy howl—
"Peter Pettigrew? He's alive?"