“Your name,” asked Bones.
“Lucius Malfoy,” Lucius replied, his voice faintly trembling. He lifted his gaze—perhaps deliberately, perhaps not—and glanced up at Kyle seated at the highest tier.
“And I am... also a Death Eater.”
It was as if a bomb had gone off in the chamber. Lucius’s next words caught everyone off guard—including Amelia Bones.
“My wife, Narcissa Malfoy, and I were both swayed by the Dark Lord... and we committed a terrible mistake.”
Another wave of murmuring broke out around the room.
“So you’re here to flaunt the fact that you weren’t caught?” Bones asked sharply, her eyes narrowing.
She truly hadn’t expected Lucius to say something like that.
Everyone knew the Malfoys were Death Eaters, but the Aurors had never been able to find hard evidence to arrest them.
Only Draco Malfoy was officially wanted—for the murder of Albus Dumbledore.
As for Lucius and Narcissa, they had completely vanished ever since Voldemort dragged them off outside the Ministry gates. No one had even seen them during the Battle of Hogwarts.
They hadn’t shown up at all, so the Aurors had no legal grounds to pursue them.
Of course, if the Aurors really wanted to, they could’ve dug further into their earlier activities and easily found a reason... but with dozens of captured Death Eaters still waiting for trial, no one was eager to pile more work on themselves.
No one had expected Lucius to voluntarily walk into the Ministry before they came knocking.
Such a stupid move... Was this really the Lucius Malfoy they all knew?
But now that he’d said it, no one could pretend they hadn’t heard.
Bones slammed her hand down on the table. A squad of Aurors immediately stepped forward, wands raised, ready to restrain him.
“No, that’s not it—please, believe me. The Malfoy family would never challenge the authority of the Ministry,” Lucius said quickly, watching the Aurors draw closer.
“Then what do you mean by this?”
“We regret everything we’ve done,” Lucius said, face grave. “Last time, I chose to run. But not this time. I’m willing to accept punishment—to atone for everything I’ve done.”
His tone was earnest, his expression equally so—but the crowd around him stared in stunned disbelief.
If they didn’t know the Malfoys, they might have been convinced.
But they did know them. That entire family was notorious for bending with the wind. Someone like that was suddenly offering himself up for punishment?
Even Amelia Bones—who had seen her fair share of dramatic scenes—froze for a moment. She genuinely wondered whether Lucius had been placed under the Imperius Curse.
How else could he say something so... so startlingly noble?
Instinctively, she looked to Kingsley. The soon-to-be Head of the Auror Office gave a slight shake of his head, indicating that Lucius appeared perfectly normal—no sign of being under any enchantment.
Which only made it more baffling. How had the ever-opportunistic Malfoys suddenly produced someone who sounded... responsible?
This was not
the Lucius Malfoy anyone remembered.Bones found herself increasingly confused. This was supposed to be a straightforward hearing—when had it become so absurdly complicated?
“So... you’re turning yourself in?” she asked, regaining her composure.
“Of course, Madam Minister.” Lucius placed a hand over his chest and declared solemnly, “I am filled with regret for my past actions. The honor of the Malfoy name serves as a constant reminder—I cannot allow myself to run from this.”
For some reason, several Wizengamot members seated in the gallery suddenly winced as if they'd all been struck with a collective toothache.
Honor... The Malfoy family had honor?
Weren’t they more likely to worship gold?
But they couldn’t exactly contradict him now. They could only sit there, baring their teeth in silence as they glared at Lucius.
“But before that...” Lucius lifted his head, regaining his solemn tone. “I cannot sit back and watch a truly brave wizard be slandered as a Death Eater.”
“You’re here to testify for Severus Snape?” Bones finally circled back to the original point of the hearing.
“Yes, I am.” Lucius nodded. “I realized long ago that Severus Snape was not a true Death Eater. But because he was my son’s godfather, I kept that realization from the Dark Lord.”
“In hindsight, it may have been the wisest decision I’ve ever made.”
Now it wasn’t just the elderly wizards around him—even Kyle and Professor McGonagall couldn’t help but twitch at the corners of their mouths.
Lucius realized Snape wasn’t a Death Eater?
Realized what, exactly?
Just based on the things Narcissa and Snape had said to each other... If Voldemort had ever found out, it would've been enough to kill them both ten times over.
Given how cautious the Malfoys were, if Lucius had truly suspected Snape’s allegiance, he would’ve never taken such a risk.
Across the room, Professor McGonagall also turned her head slightly, wondering whether she should just scrap Lucius as a witness altogether.
She needed his testimony—but it wasn’t absolutely essential. And if he kept talking like this, it might end up doing more harm than good.
Fortunately, Lucius didn’t push things any further.
“In addition, I can also confirm that the Dark Lord did in fact possess a Horcrux,” Lucius declared solemnly. “Because I once kept one.”
“What did you say?” Bones frowned. “You kept a Horcrux?”
“Yes,” Lucius replied. “And I’m willing to take Veritaserum if necessary.”
Bones’s eyes widened slightly, her breathing audibly sharper.
“What was it?” she asked in a low voice.
“A notebook,” Lucius said. “It was one the Dark Lord used when he was still a student. Later, it was confirmed that he had created the Horcrux after killing a witch named Myrtle at the school.”
“I can confirm that,” said Professor McGonagall, once again producing a stack of parchment—and a battered old diary.
“These contain a detailed account of the incident, and this—was the Horcrux.”
A ripple of movement swept through the room as many stood up, clearly wanting a closer look at the legendary object said to grant immortality.
Though the diary was already destroyed, it had once carried a fragment of Voldemort’s soul. Even now, faint magical traces still clung to its pages.
The diary was brought before Bones, who instinctively leaned back, as though Professor McGonagall had handed her an oversized Dungbomb.
The others reacted much the same way. It was clear they wanted nothing to do with such a vile and unnatural creation of dark magic... but their curiosity kept them from looking away.
As more and more people rose from their seats, Bones was forced to order the Aurors to remove the diary in order to maintain order in the courtroom.
“I have one more question—one that is perhaps the most important,” Bones said, turning back to Snape.
“After the final battle, did you help Voldemort escape?”
“...Yes.” Snape was silent for a long time before he finally answered.
“Why?” Bones asked. “You say you were working for Dumbledore—why would you help him?”
“I... don’t know,” Snape said. “At the time, I didn’t understand what I was doing. It’s possible the Dark Lord discovered my identity and used the Imperius Curse on me.”
Kyle’s eyes widened slightly. Snape—who had told the truth up to this point—was lying.
The two old wizards who had been seated next to Kyle also rose and left with the rest of the group.
Just as they’d said earlier, Wizengamot members didn’t only attend hearings—they were also required to take part in Death Eater interrogations.
They were now off to help fill numbers in other interrogation rooms.
Before long, only a few people remained.
Naturally, Professor McGonagall, Snape, Kanna, and Kyle were still there.
Lucius was also present. When Kyle walked over, Lucius instinctively took a few steps back, his body beginning to tremble.
Fortunately, Kingsley stepped in, grabbed him by the arm, and escorted him out.
Based on what Lucius had said earlier, he now had to queue up for his own interrogation—he couldn’t be allowed to linger.
With that, the hearing room was finally empty.
Snape wore a complicated expression. He first offered his thanks to Professor McGonagall, then turned to Kyle and said, “I’ll be staying at Hogwarts. Come find me tomorrow. Until then... don’t talk.”
Kyle shrugged and nodded.
To be honest, he didn’t mind that Snape had lied in the end. If needed, he’d even let Snape take credit for killing Voldemort.
“It’s finally over.” Once Snape and Kanna had left, Professor McGonagall let out a long sigh and sat down.
In the past, when things like this happened, it was always Headmaster Dumbledore who handled them. She had only needed to manage the school.
This time, she had truly taken on Dumbledore’s role. She wasn’t just Minerva McGonagall anymore—she was the Headmistress of Hogwarts.
It was more exhausting than she’d imagined.
“Professor,” Kyle looked at her. “Snape’s situation... it’s not really over, is it?”
“No,” Professor McGonagall replied, “but after today, Severus’s identity is essentially confirmed.
“He just needs to cooperate with the Ministry to clear up a few minor issues. Once that’s done, they’ll remove the special Trace.”
“Trace?” Kyle frowned. “Isn’t that only for underage wizards?”
“That’s why I said it’s a special Trace.”
At that moment, Mr. Weasley walked in.
“I heard everything,” he said with a smile. “I knew Dumbledore’s judgment wouldn’t be wrong.”
“Who could argue with that?”
“How about dinner? Minerva, Kyle?” he offered. “Molly would be delighted.”
“Another time, Arthur,” McGonagall said. “I’ve still got things to take care of at the school.”
“All right then,” Mr. Weasley said. “You’re always welcome.”
“Thank you, Arthur. And give Molly my thanks too.”
“I will.” Mr. Weasley opened the door. “I’ll walk you to the main hall. I need to find Bob anyway.”
“Good.” McGonagall nodded. But just as she stepped toward the door, she suddenly stopped. Her face had gone pale.
“Professor, are you all right?” Kyle asked.
“No... it’s nothing,” McGonagall replied—but it was clear the answer didn’t come easily.
After that, she seemed distracted. She got on the wrong lift, and nearly splinched herself while Apparating.
When they arrived in Hogsmeade, a strand of hair drifted gently to the ground.
“Professor...” Kyle caught it, frowning. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
The Headmistress of Hogwarts, a master of Transfiguration, Minerva McGonagall—splinching during Apparition? Who would believe it?
“All right,” McGonagall sighed. “I suddenly realized... we may have made a mistake.”
“A mistake?” Kyle thought for a moment. “But everything went smoothly.”
“It’s the Horcruxes,” McGonagall said quietly. “The temptation of immortality is too great. We shouldn’t have exposed that secret to so many people.”