The one who spoke...
Was Snape once again.
Just as Lewis had intended...
The effects of Langlock had already worn off.
The old bat's hoarse, icy voice echoed through the tunnel like the hiss of a venomous snake.
"If..."
"You trust my judgment..."
"I happen to have a freshly brewed batch of particularly potent Veritaserum."
He stared coldly at Peter.
"Three drops..."
"Three drops are enough to force him to reveal the deepest secrets hidden within his heart."
Seeing Snape respond exactly as he had anticipated...
Lewis nodded inwardly.
In truth...
With the strength of his psionic abilities, he didn't need Veritaserum at all.
He could have emptied Peter Pettigrew's mind whenever he wished.
The reason he hadn't...
Was to give Snape a role in all of this.
Not because Lewis pitied him.
Nor because he wanted to help him avenge Lily.
Whatever sympathy Lewis had once felt for Snape's tragic past...
Had long since been worn away by the man's unbearable personality.
Everything Lewis had done tonight...
Had been carefully planned.
Passing directly in front of Snape on the way to the Forbidden Forest.
Drawing him here.
Allowing him to overhear the entire truth.
Waiting until Snape volunteered his own assistance.
Every step...
Had been designed to pull Snape into the affair.
Because once Snape became involved...
Dumbledore and the Order of the Phoenix would inevitably be dragged in as well.
Sirius Black alone wasn't enough to guarantee that outcome.
After all...
This wasn't merely a matter of clearing Sirius's name.
It was also a political struggle.
Gianna Proudmoore's faction intended to use Sirius's case to weaken the influence of Bartemius Crouch Sr. within the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.
At present...
Three major factions existed inside the Department.
The first belonged to its current Head...
Amelia Bones.
The second belonged to Bartemius Crouch Sr.
Although Crouch had already transferred to become Head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation...
He had once led Magical Law Enforcement throughout Voldemort's first rise to power.
His prestige remained enormous.
Even now...
Many within the Department still supported him.
The third faction belonged to Deputy Director Gianna Proudmoore.
Gianna herself was exceptionally capable.
Unfortunately...
Unlike the ancient Bones and Crouch families...
She lacked the backing of a centuries-old pure-blood political dynasty.
Her influence was therefore somewhat weaker.
Thus...
The truly important point wasn't Sirius Black's exoneration.
It was who succeeded in clearing Sirius's name.
If Gianna accomplished it...
Then her faction would publicly expose one of Crouch's greatest mistakes.
Her prestige throughout the Department would soar.
If Gianna acted alone...
Achieving that would be difficult.
But now...
Snape had become personally involved.
Having learned the truth...
No one wanted Peter Pettigrew punished more than he did.
Once Snape entered the game...
Dumbledore would have no choice but to do the same.
Whether he liked it or not...
He would inevitably end up helping Gianna defeat Crouch's faction.
That...
Had been Lewis's true design.
Tonks hadn't thought through all those political implications.
Having graduated from Hogwarts only a few years earlier...
She simply knew how exceptional Professor Snape was.
Since Lewis offered no objection...
She smiled happily.
"Professor Snape..."
"If you're willing to help..."
"That couldn't be better."
She spoke as though she'd only just noticed he was there.
Despite having treated the bound Potions Master like invisible furniture only moments earlier.
A faint smile flashed across Lewis's lips.
After spending so much time under Gianna's guidance...
Even Tonks had begun learning the subtle art of politics.
Snape pursed his lips tightly.
His face remained as dark as ever as he strode toward Peter Pettigrew.
"Severus!"
"Professor Snape!"
Peter shrieked desperately, still trying to defend himself.
"If I really worked for You-Know-Who..."
"Then why didn't I ever harm Harry?"
Seeing that someone finally appeared willing to listen...
His voice rose even higher.
"I slept in Harry's dormitory for three whole years!"
"If I served You-Know-Who..."
"Why didn't I try to kill Harry?"
"I'll tell you why."
Sirius interrupted coldly.
"I know you better than anyone."
"You'd never do anything..."
"Unless it benefited you personally."
"Voldemort has been hiding for twelve years."
"Everyone believed he was practically dead."
"You'd never risk murdering someone beneath Dumbledore's nose..."
"For a master who'd lost all his power."
Sirius's analysis struck directly at Peter's nature.
"Before returning to him..."
"You'd first make absolutely certain he had become the most powerful man again."
"Isn't that right?"
"Why else would you hide inside a wizarding family?"
"So you could constantly hear the latest news."
"You wanted to know..."
"The moment your old master regained enough strength..."
"So you could crawl back to him and secure your own safety."
Peter opened his mouth.
Closed it.
Opened it again.
Several times.
It seemed he had completely lost the ability to speak.
Snape seized Peter's jaw with one hand, preventing him from turning away.
With the other...
He withdrew a crystal vial from his robes.
After uncorking it...
He shoved it directly into Peter's mouth.
Judging from the murderous look in his eyes...
He looked ready to pour the entire bottle down Peter's throat.
Fortunately...
He restrained himself.
Only five drops entered Peter's mouth.
Moments later...
Peter's eyes grew unfocused.
His expression became blank.
Lewis stepped forward as well.
Placing the tip of his wand against Peter's forehead...
He performed the same memory extraction he'd used on Sirius.
One strand after another...
Silvery memories flowed from Peter's mind.
Lewis carefully sealed them inside another crystal vial.
Beside him...
Snape continued staring silently at Peter.
The hatred burning within those black eyes...
Made Lewis briefly wonder whether Snape might lose control and cast the Killing Curse on the spot.
Fortunately...
Snape remained Snape.
After a long silence...
He ultimately suppressed his rage.
Without saying another word...
He returned quietly to stand in the corner.
The evidence was complete.
Lewis handed Peter's memories to Tonks.
Peter's complexion turned even grayer.
Deep down...
He understood.
Simply being alive...
Was already the greatest flaw in his deception.
Now...
His memories had been extracted as well.
His entire body trembled.
Pitiful sobs escaped his throat.
He could barely breathe.
Curled upon the ground...
The balding little man resembled an oversized infant.
It was almost disturbing to watch.
Yet...
Not a single person present felt the slightest sympathy.
Sirius glared at him with murderous hatred.
His expression was so frightening that the Auror guarding him instinctively placed a firm hand on his shoulder.
Lewis dismissed the vines binding Peter.
The Aurors immediately took custody of him.
"Zombie Walk."
At Tonks's command...
Two Aurors stepped forward to escort their prisoner back to the Ministry.
Invisible restraints seemed to bind Peter's wrists, neck, and knees.
He was pulled upright like a grotesque puppet.
His head drooped lifelessly.
His feet dangled several inches above the ground.
"Lewis."
Tonks turned toward him.
"You and Professor Snape will both need to accompany us to the Ministry."
"You're key witnesses."
"As for Headmaster Dumbledore..."
"The Minister will explain everything personally."
Lewis nodded.
He had expected this from the beginning.
Snape likewise had no objections.
He fully intended to witness Peter Pettigrew's trial with his own eyes.
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