Chapter 249 Commutation of Sentence and Innocence

"What?" Professor Sprout said, "But...but I thought his punishment was already determined! Wasn't it announced in the Wizengamot court? The Dementor's Kiss?"

"The Wizengamot regrets it, of course." Professor Bubbage snorted coldly, "I'm even worried that if the Ministry of Magic is given a few more days, they might find some excuse to pardon Pettigrew." She took the tea handed to her by Anthony, leaned back into the carnivorous grass, and sighed, "Pettygrowth really exceeded everyone's expectations. Everyone has their own opinions."

She listed: "Crouch suggested keeping Pettigrew's story secret to avoid alerting the Death Eaters who are still roaming outside Azkaban; Fudge still wants to make Pettigrew's crimes public, and tell the public that they have found the man's wand; Mad-Eye suggested that Pettigrew tell the whereabouts of the wand first, and then bring him to the Dementors to give him a kiss..."

" Mad-Eye? Alastor? "Professor McGonagall asked in surprise, "Is he there too?"

"Yes." Professor Bubbage said, "He was not supposed to be at the meeting, but the Auror who was guarding Pettigrew - I think it was Kingsley Shacklebolt - asked the Minister to transfer Mad-Eye to help guard and escort the rat to prevent him from escaping again. "

She continued to recall: "Umbridge didn't care much whether Black could be cleared, but just wanted to focus on the Ministry of Magic finding the wand of the mysterious man. In addition, she also wanted to make sure that the man was dead and would never come back - by the way, I think this part was actually Fudge's intention. Ms. Bones wanted to maintain the original verdict and maintain the dignity of the Wizengamot, but she also recognized the great symbolic significance of the mysterious man's wand. Pettigrew kept crying, begging and apologizing, saying that he was willing to make amends..."

"It's really shameful for him!" said Professor McGonagall. "All in all," Professor Bubbage took a sip of tea and rubbed his forehead to conclude, "Today is a mess."

Professor Sprout handed over a small plate of cake: "You should have a good rest, Caridi. In any case, life imprisonment is a very harsh punishment."

"Of course, I know." Professor Bubbage said, "but it doesn't mean I'm not disappointed. I told them that there are many more important things: Black is still waiting for the official proof of innocence; the relatives of the Muggle victims are still waiting for our compensation; other crimes that Pettigrew may have committed - whether he has betrayed other people to the mysterious man, what consequences have been caused; and so on. But that group of people just stood there, arguing over whether to publicly correct Black's injustice... If it weren't for Ms. Bones's stern refusal, I even think that the minister might really consider concealing Peter Pettigrew and just saying that the Ministry of Magic found the mysterious man's wand. Hum, in this way, he might even think that he has a handle on Crouch at any time!"

Snape sneered. He sat upright on the stool, looking at his teacup with an indistinct expression, and had not said a word from just now until now.

"Isn't this why you became a special consultant to the Wizengamot, Caridi?" Anthony comforted, "Because you have a goal, because you still have hope?"

"Thank you, Henry." Professor Bubbage smiled slightly.

"I'm serious." Anthony said, "If it weren't for you, Ms. Bones and - I don't know - someone else, maybe Mr. Black would have been carrying the crime forever, and maybe Pettigrew would have escaped. You have made things less disappointing, Caridi."

...

Even though he was in a bad mood, Professor Bubbage still praised Professor Sprout's tea and snacks, and ate half a box of chocolate biscuits in one go.

"I do need them," she explained. "At the end of the day, they sent the Dementors straight in to take over Pettigrew. Pettigrew was devastated - he must have thought that the final result of our discussion was to uphold the original verdict. I thought so! He was still shaking with his eyes closed when the Dementors grabbed his arms, and he was completely exhausted when he was lifted up. But I must say, those guys in black robes are really uncomfortable." Professor Sprout confirmed: "They transferred the Dementors to the Ministry of Magic?" "Yes, as if those self-righteous idiots in the Ministry of Magic were not uncomfortable enough themselves." Professor Burbage complained, holding up the hot tea again. "Caridi!" Professor Sprout said disapprovingly, "Watch your words." "What's wrong?" Professor Burbage said, "Aren't they?" Professor Sprout hesitated. Professor Bubbage finally laughed and ate the last piece of cake: "Well, I think I need to go. I still have to prepare for class. Thank you for your cake and cookies, Pomona, they are all great."

"I need to leave too." Professor McGonagall said, "I still have a lot of reports waiting for me on my desk."

Snape also stood up. He briefly explained under the gaze of Anthony and Professor Sprout: "Potions."

"Wait a minute, I'll go with you." Anthony said, finished the last bit of warm tea in the cup, and then stood up. Professor Sprout didn't say anything, but she was already waving her wand to clean up the table.

...

With a clang, the last small silver spoon flew into the cabinet. The drawer slammed shut. Professor McGonagall opened the door, and the cold air from outside poured in. The warm and moist moisture left on them by the greenhouse suddenly turned into a biting cold weapon.

Snape silently followed Professor McGonagall out, then Professor Bubbaji. After Anthony also left the greenhouse, Professor Sprout bent down and locked the door. He turned back and looked at Anthony, finally showing a somewhat unhappy expression.

"It may not be exactly what we originally wanted, but at least it's not a bad outcome." Anthony comforted. "The grievances were washed away, and the betrayers were punished. If this was a story, I would say its ending is okay. Accepted.”

"Yeah, I know. Just to think that he actually lived happily for so long after betrayal..." Professor Sprout said, putting the keychain back into his pocket, "Let's go, Henry."

…

The students were still having snowball fights happily, and the whining cold wind brought them shouts of joy.

Professor Bubbaji and Professor McGonagall walked in the front, talking seriously. Snape looked gloomy, and it was hard to tell what he was thinking. Professor Sprout and Anthony walked at the end of the line, chatting half-heartedly about the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh and Mr. Lynde.

"Minerva, I'm looking for you everywhere!" Professor Flitwick's cheerful, high-pitched voice suddenly appeared.

He jumped deftly over the withered rose bushes and joined their ranks: "I spent the whole day studying this... Minerva, this is a very mature work, a very mature product! You really should have a look!"

He excitedly waved the long, soft, and colorful Roger Snake in his hand, and then he noticed the somewhat serious and dull atmosphere of the professors.

"What's wrong? What happened?" Professor Flitwick put down Roger Snake and asked.

…

After saying goodbye to his colleagues, Anthony didn't know what he should do. He stood in the hall and hesitated for a while, and finally decided to go to the campus hospital after seeing a few students passing by with smoke coming from their ears.

Just as Snape said, Harry, Ron and Hermione were indeed in the school hospital. Madam Pomfrey placed Sirius on the deepest and corner bed, and covered the bed tightly with thick and long curtains. There was a warning spell surrounding the bed. If any curious student came within three or four feet of the bed, Madam Pomfrey would know immediately and angrily ask the student to leave.

Normally, no student dared to disobey her orders.

But what Anthony faces now is an unusual situation.

"You shouldn't be here!" Harry said with a frown. "No one should enter the ward without Madam Pomfrey's permission! After all, how did you get in?"

Colin's eyes were wide open and he said excitedly: "I saw you coming in, so I followed you in! Oh, you know what's in there, right?" He stood on tiptoe and looked inside the bed curtain. "What was that, a ghoul? Did you capture it, Harry? Did you capture a ghoul like Professor Lockhart did? Can I take a picture of it? I never have I’ve seen a ghoul!”

Ron and Hermione stood next to Harry, blocking Colin's longing gaze.

"This is not fun, Colin!" Harry said angrily, "Why don't you find something else to do? Go to the library and read a book or something?"

"I've finished all my homework!" Colin said sharply, still trying to find out what was on the hospital bed. "Can you take a photo with it? Just like taking a photo with a fish after fishing!"

"This is not the ghoul I caught," Harry said, sounding impatient. He took a breath and said to Colin nicely: "I don't have time now, okay, Colin? If you want, we can... uh..."

"Can you give me a signed photo of you?" Colin asked. "Would you like to sign the photo?"

Harry showed a reluctant expression, but Anthony suspected that he would agree the next second. Anthony walked a little further into the room, intending to stop this somewhat absurd entanglement.

"Hey, listen, if you don't leave quickly, I'm going to beat you up." Ron said with a straight face. His height seemed very useful at this time. "I have five brothers. Believe me, I'm very good at fighting." . ” He added, “And I’m particularly good at smashing cameras.”

This actually worked. Colin hesitated, then ran away holding the camera.

"Ron!" Hermione shouted.

Ron grinned: "Just scare him."

"Exceptionally good at smashing cameras," Harry repeated, smiling too.

When Colin passed Anthony at the door, he screamed: "Good afternoon, Professor Anthony!" He squeezed out from the side of Anthony's legs.

The three people in the ward looked over immediately. Anthony nodded and greeted them. Hermione suddenly looked a little guilty - they also sneaked into the ward.

"I just decided to come and take a look when I was passing by." Anthony said, "How is Mr. Black recovering?"

With a brush, the bed curtain was lifted. Hermione took a few steps to the side. It turned out that she had been trying to hold the curtain down.

Sirius's face was revealed, and he looked much healthier. His complexion was no longer sallow, and the hollows in his cheeks were gradually plump, and some kind of happy fire flickered behind his bright eyes.

"Very welcome, huh? Harry?" Sirius teased, glancing at Anthony's face with bright eyes, "By the way, Professor Anthony, please don't call me Mr. Black. I don't like this last name. Just call me Sirius."

"Okay, Sirius." Anthony said, "Then call me Henry. I must say, you look much better."

"I'm not sick at all!" Sirius said, "Why is it that no one is willing to believe me no matter who I tell this? Is there anyone who knows my body better than me?"

His voice also sounded stronger and healthier than the last time Anthony saw him.

Anthony smiled: "But Madam Pomfrey is the one who decides everything. If she agrees, I promise no one will deliberately stop you from taking a walk in the snow."

"It's snowing?" Sirius asked, his eyes drifting to the window, "I'm not even allowed to get close to the window. This is not the care that patients should receive. This is simply another prison - at best better than Azkaban."

"Professor McGonagall said that it is very risky to let anyone see you before the newspaper report about your innocence appears." Hermione said, "This was discussed at the beginning, do you remember?"

"Yes, otherwise I will go to St. Mungo's to enjoy the care of the VIP ward instead of being locked up here and moldy." Sirius complained.

Harry asked, "Will it be better there?"

Sirius turned his head and looked at him: "I guess not." His eyes stayed on Harry for a while before he continued to say to Anthony, "Remus told me that you brought the mouse to him."

Anthony shook his head: "You're welcome. By the way, I just know a little news about when you can appear in front of others. Sirius, you will probably get the acquittal certificate next Monday."

"Next Monday? Great!" Sirius said impatiently, "What broom did you say the Slytherin Quidditch team used last time?"

"My Nimbus 2000 is very good. It was given to me by Professor McGonagall." Harry said quickly, "And we beat Slytherin without a broom."

"You can never have too many brooms." Sirius said disapprovingly, "Or do you want a new Nimbus 2000 as a replacement broom?"