Chapter 584： trial

On the first morning of the Easter holiday, Felix put on a fuchsia robe for himself and looked in the mirror for a long time. This color was obviously not suitable for him, and he could tell by looking at Warren's chattering and gloating.

He quietly modified some details to make the color of the clothes darker, and finally reached out and smoothed the piece of fabric with the silver letter "W" embroidered on the left chest, which was barely visible.

No way, this dress was handed out when he became a member of the Wizengamore, for his use when he attended the formal trial.

Felix walked out of the house and went to the principal's office. Knocking on the door, he looked at Dumbledore behind his desk in surprise - he was pale, looked weak and tired, and even had a few more wrinkles on his face.

"Albus, you startled me," Felix said, thinking of many things in an instant.

He recalled carefully that this change seemed to be a gradual transition, not obvious at first, and he didn't notice it at all. . But he hadn't seen Dumbledore in the last week, and the effect was immediately apparent.

"It's not easy to hide from Voldemort," said Dumbledore, smiling.

"Okay," Felix had to admit that he had a point, "I'm afraid our own people will be scared first..."

The two appeared at the Ministry through the fireplace in the Headmaster's office.

Felix looked around the splendid main hall of the Ministry of Magic. He did not find any traces of the battle in February, but some details did become different from before: the position of the statue of the Magic Brothers fountain in the center of the hall has changed slightly. The part that cannot be restored by magic was rebuilt during the renovation.

They came to the golden gate at the end of the hall, where they met Mad-Eye Moody and Professor Marcheban, who were waiting for the elevator.

"I've been looking forward to this day!" Professor Marchban turned his back to them, speaking to Moody in a high voice, "It has to be uplifting, yes, I've noticed that some people have been a little pessimistic lately, I really don't know what they think. , obviously much better than last time."

Moody scratched his ears and said gruffly, "You're right."

Felix slowed his pace silently, letting Dumbledore go ahead--"Dumbledore?" Professor Marchban shifted his attention from Moody's side and stared at Dumbledore's face carefully, "Your The face looks bad! No wonder, the mysterious man has been making troubles outside recently, you are the president of the International Federation of Wizards, you must be very annoying."

Dumbledore smiled in agreement.

They took the elevator to the ninth floor and walked along a dimly lit corridor. Felix glanced at the black door of the Department of Mystery Affairs at the end of his sight and said nothing. Then the group turned to the gap on the left side of the corridor and stepped in. Down the stairs, finally came to the tenth floor.

Voices came from near the stairs—

"There's no need to adjust the order." Ms. Burns said in a somewhat dissatisfied voice, "Since those people want to sit in, let them stay for a few more days." She heard footsteps, raised her head to see a few people, and walked away with a smile on her face. come over.

Kingsley nodded to them and left in the opposite direction. The torches on the stone wall dragged his shadow in a long, jumping trail, and he finally disappeared behind a heavy wooden door.

Here, Ms. Burns greeted Dumbledore with concern, and then led them to their destination.

"You were just talking about other countries' Ministry of Magic?" Felix asked.

"Yeah." Ms. Burns snorted and said in a low voice: "They've joined forces to press, and I have to show some posture. But they, like the observers of the International Confederation of Wizards, are only onlookers. The right to not speak and vote."

"arrive."

She stopped in front of a gloomy black door, unscrewed the iron handle, and loud voices came from the dark room.

There were about thirty people inside, Felix narrowed his eyes and found an acquaintance. He walked over, "Damocles?" Potions master Damocles Belby raised his head, first a little surprised, and then showed an expression of sudden realization.

"Of course, you're one of the Wizengamores too, but you didn't come to the previous parties."

Felix chatted with him for a while, and a few wizards sitting on the bench came to greet him in the middle, but it was really not suitable for socializing. Felix sat next to Belby, staring at Lonely with interest. A chair with chains in the center.

Felix looked around and saw that the seat was very particular today.

The courtroom was built with black light-absorbing stones, and the surrounding light was dimmed, as if deliberately creating a gloomy and solemn atmosphere. The overall layout of the house is like a sunken alcove. Surrounded by benches arranged in steps downward, there are scattered people sitting on three sides, and they, like Felix, wear purple robes. These people are all members of Wizengamore.

It was also dotted with reporters holding quills and parchment, discreet and low-key, even when they spoke. Felix saw Rita Skeeter.

He could find acquaintances on three seats, but the last one—that is, the back of the black chair with chains, sat a group of strangers. They were also very formally dressed, but they had badges, embroidered Every word showed that they were from different organizations, and Felix knew that these people should be the so-called "observers" of the Ministry of Magic of various countries.

Another ten minutes passed, and people kept coming in.

"Tuk Tuk Tuk."

The sound of the crutches hitting the floor echoed in the room, and Felix looked up to see a man with thick, shaggy hair striding in, his crutches poking on the ground, it was Rufus Scrimgeour.

He walked over to Ms. Burns and whispered something to her, and Burns nodded slightly.

They took their seats and sat down. "It's time to start." Scrimgeour's low voice echoed in the courtroom. When Ms. Burns became Minister for Magic, he took over the position vacated by her and is now Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.

By convention, he was responsible for presiding over the trial.

His words were like a signal. As soon as he finished speaking, the door in the corner opened, and three people walked in. Two tall and burly guards walked into the courtroom with a short man sandwiched between them.

The guard tucked the short man into a chair in the center of the field, then stood on the sides. The chains on the ground were raised high like snakes, and the man shuddered in fear.

"Not for now," said Scrimgeour, and the chains fell obediently to the ground. He began to read a document in a low, dispassionate voice: "Bart Hughes, a Norwegian wizard who has been charged with contraband smuggling in his home country and in connection with two Muggle attacks, you were involved in this February. Attacked the British Ministry of Magic and was caught on the spot. Substantial evidence, bad conduct - are you going to rebut these charges before sentencing?"

The short man seemed to be frightened, and remained motionless in his chair. Felix could understand him. Around him, most of the people were hidden in the darkness, and the flickering torches occasionally showed a static image: pairs of eyes staring straight at his face, then suddenly disappearing.

From time to time, the sound of rustling over files could be heard in the air. The psychological pressure brought about by these factors is indeed great.

After a few more seconds-

"If there is no objection—"

"Wait, wait!" The short man suddenly shouted. He tried to stand up from the chair, but was pushed back by two guards. The chain dragged on the ground also burst into a golden light, and the man crouched back and leaned back. . He raised a wicked face and tried to keep his eyes open at the reflection of the fire on the wall, trying to catch Scrimgeour's position.

He gasped, "I have objections, I have! I-I'm under the Imperius—"

Behind him, the group of observers from various countries whispered.

"Bullshit!" cried Scrimgeour, tawny like a lion's mane, "the Ministry of Magic has installed anti-thief waterfalls in the fireplace, between the floors, and it will wash away the effects of the spell, if you really The Imperius Curse, how do you explain that you were knocked head-on by the Ministry of Magic Aurors?"

The short man opened his mouth and was speechless.

Scrimgeour raised his head and looked around. "The facts are very clear. Members of the jury, if you think he is guilty, please raise your hand-"

The people on the bench raised their arms one after another, and with the help of the dimly swaying firelight in the room, the elongated shape of their arms was very conspicuous. The short man slumped weakly in the chair.

"The charges are established. Bart Hughes, you have been sentenced to ten years in Azkaban, after which the British Ministry of Magic will hand you over to the Norwegian Ministry of Magic, where you will continue to atone for your crimes in your own country. !"

"Bang!" The mallet fell heavily.

Bart Hughes was taken away with a lost face.

After a brief chat, the guards brought in several dark wizards one after another. These people were obviously the same group of people who attacked the Ministry of Magic. It didn't take much time for them to be convicted like Bart Hughes. Until nearly noon, the main event came.

Two men who looked alike were brought in.

"Rabastan Lestrange, Rodolphus Lestrange," said Scrimgeour in a low, angry voice, "with Bellatrix Lestrange and the minibus Tee Crouch, kidnapped an Auror couple at the end of the First War and used the Cruciatus to force them to reveal the whereabouts of the mysterious man. He was sentenced to life in prison. Escaped from Azkaban a year ago, after He became a minion and accomplice of the mysterious man again, suspected to be related to multiple riots, and was ordered to attack the Future World Company in Diagon Alley in February. He was caught on the spot, and the evidence is conclusive. "

The two were pale, and the slightly fatter man twitched the corners of his mouth, as if he wanted to say something, but he only made a vague vibrato from his mouth.

Scrimgeour didn't let the jury raise their hands this time, his yellow eyes didn't have a hint of warmth, "There is no doubt, gentlemen and ladies, that these two will be sentenced to life in prison, and their names will be found with their bodies. It rots there."

Someone else was brought in.

"Mulceber, Selwyn, Gagson, Nott, you are guilty of the same crimes as the Lestrange brothers, escape, murder, and disorder. According to the law, you will be sentenced to life-"

"Wait, wait!" a voice said suddenly.

The gavel that Scrimgeour had dropped hung in the air. "Selwyn? Do you want to defend yourself, or beg for forgiveness? After all those wicked things?"

"I, I admit, I'm guilty!" Selwyn licked his lips and stammered. "But I hope the jury will give me another chance—I know some names—" The tall man beside him Suddenly rushing towards him, "You bastard!" "Guard! Pull him away, pull Gagson away," Scrimgeour growled.

Selwyn sat cringingly in his chair, and he screamed, "I'd be a witness!"

"Selwyn!" Gargson roared as he struggled. "Dare you betray the Dark Lord? Do you think this will be the end? We're only locked up for a while, and he's still out! Still out!"

"Take them away! Take them away!" Scrimgeour shouted. The guards did so, and in the end Selwyn was alone.

"What do you have to say?" Scrimgeour asked nonchalantly.

"I—" Selwyn's face was pale, and it was obvious that Gagson's threat before he left was very effective. He breathed quickly: "You will protect me, won't you?"

"It depends on the weight of your evidence," Ms. Burns said solemnly. "We have far more information than you can imagine."

Selwyn pursed his lips and said, "I see... I know a man, Umbridge, Dolores Umbridge."

"She was arrested on the same day as you and is currently receiving treatment. And we also know that it was the mysterious person you introduced to her."

Selwyn's eyes widened, his body crooked, "No, no..."

"No?" snapped Scrimgeour. "We have hard evidence! You approached her as a relative and promised her the position of Minister of Magic!"

"Impossible!" Selwyn panicked, his eyes kept moving: "How could you know?" His eyes showed enlightened eyes, "I see, you must have other undercover agents! Who is he?"

There was a lot of talk, and they - including those reporters and observers - looked like **** sharks to Ms. Burns and Scrimgeour, but there was no mood swing on either of their faces. But these remarks successfully attracted the attention of the people present. Did the Ministry of Magic really secretly bury the spy long ago? Who will it be?

finally come. Felix thought.

Scrimgeour did not answer him, and the trial continued.

"I know two more!" said Selwyn through gritted teeth. "Avery! Avery is a Death Eater, and his nephew Chesterton."

"They've been arrested, if that's all you know—"

"Wait!" Selwyn struggled, he still knew a lot of people, but now he had to come up with some serious people and make a final decision. "Snape! Severus Snape!"

"He was out of the discussion, and Albus Dumbledore vouched for him."

"No, you were deceived by him, I promise—"

"Guaranteed? With your credit?" Scrimgeour's mouth curled with sneer and mockery.

Selwyn looked desperate.

In his mind, Snape was definitely a real Death Eater-because Snape had managed to gain the Dark Lord's trust even when he was under great suspicion. That pretty much says one thing, he's more trustworthy than any other Death Eater.

Only the Death Eaters know how terrible the Dark Lord is, and Selwyn would never betray if the Dark Lord had not repeatedly shown the ruthlessness of his opponents.

He stared at Scrimgeour, thinking he was a complete fool. But there was no way, there was one less card in his hand.

"Malfoy! Lucius Malfoy! He's a Death Eater too," he shouted desperately.

Scrimgeour's yellow eyes were a mixture of disgust and contempt. He sneered and said, "You're so unlucky Someone also vouched for him, this time it's Mr. Felix Hepp."

Everyone present looked at Felix, and Felix looked back calmly.

The expression on Selwyn's face shifted between shock, surprise, and wonder, so it was. He shouted, "He's the spy!?"

It all made sense... The Ministry of Magic was confident in their sources, which meant that the spy was high enough among the Death Eaters that a string of names flashed through his mind, but he never expected that this man It was Malfoy.

Not only him, but most of the people present didn't expect it.

The invited reporters were pounding with excitement. Rita Skeeter's eyes glowed, and the quill danced in a string of afterimages. Big news, absolutely big news! The patriarch of House Malfoy was first confirmed to be a Death Eater, then reversed - he was actually a spy.

And this spy, probably developed by Felix Hepp, made Malfoy a spy in the magical world... When Skeeter thought of the inside story, his whole body trembled with excitement.

The mysterious man is absolutely going to be **** off. She thought as she wrote.