章節 62: Chapter 062

During lunch, where the two teens, Sirius and Ted Tonks were invited to dine in the DMLE cafeteria at the insistence of Madam Bones's aurors and at Sirius's own insistence, Harry and Hermione went through the facts of what had happened over the past few days and where they knew the Daily Prophet had printed untruths. Ted and Andromeda Tonks also sat near them, but left the three to chat quietly among themselves.

Harry was surprised Andromeda had not joined the other Members in the Members' own dining room, but quickly realised she and her husband rarely managed to enjoy lunch together. Ted worked normal office hours out of his office and Andromeda worked shifts at Saint Mungo's.

Because they were also trying to eat at the time and neither would speak while their mouths were full, it took almost the entire hour for the two teens to go through it all.

Sirius did unknowingly help them with that, as he spent time just absorbing and thinking about what they'd told him after each answer before asking the next question.

As the hour was coming to a close, he gave a pained sigh while looking at Harry and said, "You're right. From what you've told me Dumbledore's been setting you up. I have no idea why, though."

"It's like he's... trying to without letting on he's doing it... preparing me for something big," said Harry. "And I believe it has to do with Tom Riddle. You know he believes Riddle... he who you know as Voldemort... will return, don't you?"

Harry saw both Hermione and Sirius give a slight shudder when he mentioned the name Voldemort. And knew, on Sirius's behalf at least, it had to do with how Riddle had set up a Taboo on the name 'Voldemort' when he was at the height of his powers prior to October 1981.

"So," sighed Sirius. "Dumbledore's definitely guilty of at least a great deal of which he's been charged."

"Yes," replied Harry. "But, more than that, I believe he's guilty of all of it and a great deal more."

Hermione nodded.

"When's his trial?" asked Sirius.

"Last," replied Harry. "Madam Bones believes she's going to discover more evidence of crimes he's committed during the trials of those who've gone before him. That, of course, includes all the Professors and other Hogwarts staff whose trials are this afternoon and tomorrow, at least."

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

After the hour break everyone returned to the chamber.

As soon as Madam Longbottom was settled she banged her gavel and declared, "This session of the Wizengamot sitting in judicial review is once again in session.

"Bring in the next accused!"

Next up was the person they expected immediately after Umbridge - Barty Crouch Senior.

Bones started with the most important of the charges against him, first - breaking his son out of Azkaban. And, if that wasn't the nail in the coffin that dealt his doom, the next matter was him repeatedly using one of the Unforgivables, the Imperius curse, on that son.

Madam Longbottom gave him the opportunity to plead guilty to both charges before they started on the evidence.

He did.

"As you have pleaded guilty to both breaking your son out of Azkaban," said Madam Longbottom. "And have also pleaded guilty to the multiple use of an Unforgivable, I believe there is both no need to delve further and only one course of action open to us.

"I now call the vote. That vote will be for not guilty of all charges or guilty of either charge. It matters not which as they both carry the same sentence, life in Azkaban.

"All those in favour of guilty, vote now."

Again more than three quarters voted.

"Though it means little difference," she said, "All those in favour of not guilty, vote now"

Only a few wands lit. Surprisingly, they were from the hardcore neutrals who believed Crouch's services of playing hard-ball with the DEs during his tenure as head of the DMLE should mean something.

"Having voted," she said. "Mister Bartemius Crouch Senior, the Wizengamot overwhelmingly finds you guilty. As per sentencing requirements for a crime of this magnitude, you are to be incarcerated in the medium security wing of Azkaban for the rest of your natural life.

"Aurors, shackle him and take him away."

Crouch was then immediately shackled and led from the room. He almost had to be dragged he was sobbing so much.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

Next led in through the doors was Rubeus Hagrid. He was not in chains or manacles as he wasn't deemed to be a risk.

He was led to the accused chair, which had to be magically enlarged, and sat upon it. The chains almost lazily draped themselves over him.

After the charges were read, which included conspiracy to kidnap the heir of a Noble and Most Ancient House and endangering children at Hogwarts with Fluffy, he asked how he plead.

"Guilty," he immediately replied in a dejected manner. "Bu' only becuz, since it were Dumbledore 'oo tol' me ta do it, ah didn't think ah'd done anything wrong."

"Guilty with mitigating circumstances," said Longbottom. "Accepted. Madam Bones you may commence your case."

First, Bones started by submitting to evidence the testimony Hagrid gave the day he was arrested. And stated he gave it under Veritaserum.

Then she began by questioning him, again under Veritaserum as he wasn't a pureblood he wasn't exempt from being forced to take it. And started with the night Harry's parents were murdered by Voldemort and his role within it, before moving forward to the traps on the third floor in the 1991-92 school year and his part within that too.

Surprisingly, she then went back a few years and asked him questions relating to the death of Myrtle Warren, the now ghost of Moaning Myrtle. And his role in that.

A court-appointed Law-wizard, who had offered himself as defence Counsel, then asked him about his direct part in the girl's death and why he was believed guilty of it.

It turned out he wasn't, but he was unable to properly defend himself against the charges at the time. That was why he'd found his wand snapped and ordered not to be allowed to cast magic from that day forth.