Struggling to survive at Hogwarts

Chapter 145 Trial

The day after the year-end banquet, all the young wizards were supposed to board the train home.

But Thea persuaded Dumbledore with the excuse that she needed to rest. She planned to stay at Hogwarts for a day to organize her previous materials and prepare for any eventuality the next day.

Draco and his friends naturally felt obligated to participate, and Harry, Harry, and his friends also joined in.

"Potter, could you please find 'The History of Wizengamo' for me? It should be on the second shelf of the sixth row!"

"Theodore, could you pass me that copy of 'Code of Conduct for Public Officials of the Ministry of Magic'?"

"Zabini, Daphne, have you finished compiling the headlines about Blake in the Daily Prophet over the past year?"

"Draco, I hope you can use the time you spend rolling your eyes at Potter to help me compile a list of attendees and their resumes for tomorrow's Wisengamo meeting."

Hermione, can you help Draco?

"...Weasley, has Mr. Weasley's reply arrived?"

"……not yet…"

"Thea, here, this is the notebook you asked me to bring!"

Daphne ran into the library, panting.

Inside the library, Mrs. Pince, unusually good-natured, ignored the lively scene of the young wizards.

At the library entrance, a thin man stared intently at the young wizards as they diligently wrote, his lips moving slightly.

"...I'm sorry, I didn't even do as well as they did in this matter."

Lupin patted Sirius on the shoulder, his tone revealing deep remorse.

"What are you saying!" Sirius Black immediately revived. "Of course there have been times when I didn't trust you..."

"So, they cancel each other out?"

"…certainly!"

The two men gave each other a high five, their expressions relaxed, but their overly cheerful laughter drew Mrs. Pince's feather duster...

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"The Wisengamo Trial Chamber".

Dumbledore pointed to the sign on the door and addressed the young wizards, unusually speaking without his usual joking tone.

Thea looked up at the old man and vaguely sensed a hint of weariness emanating from him.

"Don't worry, Thea, Harry, and Sirius. I'll be sitting next to you in a bit. I'll be your strongest support."

Dumbledore's voice was steady and powerful; in that tone, no one would doubt his abilities, including Thea.

Harry nodded, turned his head and took Sirius's hand. "Don't worry, we'll succeed."

Sirius looked into those calm eyes and saw that familiar face, then smiled and said, "Okay!"

Thea looked at the atmosphere between Harry and Sirius, her fingers unconsciously reaching into her pocket. She lowered her eyes slightly, not wanting to look at that scene of fatherly love and filial piety any longer.

Draco and the others, along with Ron and Hermione, who were walking behind, saw this scene and wanted to go up and say something to Thea, but Dumbledore opened the door to the room instead.

Behind the door was a dark and inexplicably eerie space. The open space in the center was surrounded by round, tiered chairs. The people on the chairs were high above, and the sudden pressure made the young wizard's face turn slightly pale.

"Professor, why are the lights off in the trial room? Is it because the Ministry of Magic is short of funds?"

Thea approached Dumbledore and asked the question in a low voice, her tone tinged with curiosity.

However, because the venue was very quiet, Thea's voice was heard by everyone.

A hint of a smile flashed in Dumbledore's eyes as he replied, "This is a question that the minister should answer."

Fudge, already extremely nervous, was startled when Dumbledore suddenly mentioned him, but thinking of the Black family behind Thea, Fudge immediately prepared to agree, "The Ministry of Magic's funds are naturally plentiful..."

Just as Fudge was about to agree, Barty Crouch sensed something was wrong when Dumbledore tagged Fudge. Sure enough, that fool, whose mind was only filled with scheming, jumped right into someone else's trap without a word!

He quickly replied, "That's how it's always been in the courtroom."

Fudge was abruptly interrupted by Crouch, and although he was displeased, his keen sense of smell quickly led him to think: Could I take this opportunity to embarrass Crouch a little...?

Fudge's gaze involuntarily fell on Thea...

"Is there a rule that says we can't turn on the lights here?" Thea looked blank, but then her expression turned to fear. "But what if I'm afraid of the dark?"

Cold!

Crouch strained to keep his expression straight as he looked at the idiot.

Do you think she just wanted to turn on a light?

She's trying to relieve some of the pressure while testing your attitude!

The courtroom's long-standing traditions were broken in this way...

Seeing that Crouch remained silent, Fudge immediately instructed a woman dressed in pink beside him to light a lamp, feigning concern as he said, "Then let's make an exception, after all, Miss Black is still young..."

Little my foot!

Crouch wanted nothing more than to grab Fudge by the neck and demand an explanation: was he from the Ministry of Magic, or a spy sent by Dumbledore?

Fudge watched with smug satisfaction as Crouch nearly lost his mask, feeling quite pleased with himself.

Fudge's idea was actually quite simple. Sirius's affair could very well threaten his position as minister, but he didn't want to step down. So he set his sights on Crouch. As long as he could shift all the blame onto Crouch, he would naturally be innocent as minister!

Moreover, the other party was his formidable rival in the ministerial election, so Fudge didn't hesitate at all when he started to fight!

As the entire courtroom was illuminated, Thea knew that the first step of her plan had succeeded; she now knew who her temporary ally in the Ministry of Magic was.

Dumbledore watched all this with a smile, and finally conjured up a row of chairs in front of the audience and beckoned a few young wizards to sit down.

"Please sit down, person on trial."

"Witness, please sit down."

Harry and Thea sat on either side of Sirius.

Dumbledore and the others sat in a row on the chairs next to him.

"The trial now begins. Clerk, please take notes—"

"On June 8th, the trial will be held to determine whether Sirius Black was an ally of Voldemort, whether he betrayed the Potters, and whether he murdered 12 Muggles and Peter Pedyru."

"Judges: Minister for Magic Cornelius Oswald Fudge, Director of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement Amelia Susan Bornes, Director of the Department of International Magical Exchanges Barty Crouch..."

"Defendant: Sirius Black, Defendant's Witnesses: Harry James Potter, Dorothea Black..."