HP: The Duelist of Hogwarts - 417

Chapter 417: Obstruction

Fudge’s smile froze on his face. Umbridge’s toad-like features twisted with disbelief and fury. She stared at Sean, as if trying to bore a hole through his forehead.

Dordolian, meanwhile, suddenly burst into laughter, all traces of his earlier anger gone.

The entire courtroom fell into an eerie silence. Even Boreal, sitting in the corner, and the pure-blood wizards who had thrown in with Voldemort, were momentarily at a loss for how to counter Sean.

“Sean, you must be mistaken. Minister Fudge only said that if your words made sense, then they would be considered naturally. Minister Fudge never said he agreed to lift the ridiculous Imperius Curse, something that does not exist. How can you lift something that is not there?”

A shrill, girlish voice rang out.

Sean recognized the speaker at once.

He turned to Umbridge and said, “How so? Does Minister Fudge think my words make no sense? Does Minister Fudge believe the Order of the Phoenix is not so heinous after all? Does Minister Fudge, like Dumbledore and the other members of the Order, believe Sturgis Podmore is innocent?”

“You are missing the point!” Umbridge’s voice grew even sharper.

“Does Minister Fudge not think so?” Sean looked at Fudge’s stiff face, his expression one of utter disbelief. “Then what does Minister Fudge think? Does Minister Fudge, such a wise and heroic man, intend to end this trial in the face of clear doubts and other possibilities, ignoring the risk of sending an innocent man to Azkaban? Madam Umbridge, do you mean to harm Minister Fudge? You ignore such obvious problems and continue to urge Minister Fudge to end the case prematurely. If this matter goes wrong, Minister Fudge will be the first to suffer. What are your true intentions?”

“Sean Bulstrode, you are clearly standing with the Order of the Phoenix. You are their accomplice!”

Sean looked heartbroken as he addressed Umbridge and Fudge. “I am only thinking of Minister Fudge’s best interests. How can you slander me so? Umbridge, what scheme do you have that you would have Minister Fudge commit such a glaring mistake? If the details of this trial leak to the outside and make the front page of every newspaper, how do you think the public will view Minister Fudge?”

At Sean’s final words, Fudge could no longer hold back. His face twitched, muscles jumping. If the trial's details were to leak, he would face enormous criticism.

Lately, the pressure on him had been immense. From Fudge’s perspective, he truly did not believe—did not want to believe—that Voldemort had returned. To suppress this rumor, Fudge had already spent much effort. If this matter blew up as well, he could not be sure he could contain it.

After all, Sturgis Podmore was a minor figure. The rumors of Voldemort’s return were the real threat. He could not afford to lose focus on the bigger picture, and besides, he might not lose the vote…

“You…”

Before Umbridge could spit out another harsh syllable, Fudge raised a hand to silence her.

“Umbridge, call for a vote. The truth will out. I will be watching them. They will not get away with any tricks.”

At this, Umbridge forced a stiff smile. She wanted to say more, but seeing Fudge’s expression, she held her tongue and sat back down. Only her bulging eyes remained fixed on Sean, like a toad ready to leap.

Hearing Fudge’s words, the presiding judge rapped his gavel again. “The jury will now vote. All those in favor of attempting to lift the Imperius Curse and administer Veritaserum, raise your hands.”

At the judge’s command, Dumbledore, Sean, Marchbanks, and their allies raised their hands at once. Then came the other Wizengamot members on their side—Amelia Bones, Rufus Scrimgeour, and others. When all hands were up, the count was just over half. The result made Fudge’s breathing grow even heavier.

Seeing the vote, the judge rapped his gavel again and instructed the Aurors, “Now proceed with lifting the Imperius Curse. Aurors, come forward.”

The two Aurors who had brought Sturgis Podmore stepped up and cast the counter-curse. Slowly, Sturgis’s expression began to shift, becoming more animated and strained. Anyone with even a passing knowledge of the Imperius Curse realized something was wrong.

On the third attempt, Sturgis’s body jerked violently. He gasped for air, looked at the judge, at Dumbledore and Fudge, at the Wizengamot members behind him, and shouted, “I am innocent! I am innocent! I was under the Imperius Curse. I was going to Diagon Alley, but someone cast the curse on me from behind. I did not want to steal from the Ministry. That was not my intention!”

It really was the Imperius Curse!

Some in the courtroom were immediately astonished.

The neutral Wizengamot members began to murmur among themselves.

The judge realized something was amiss and spoke up. “Bring Veritaserum. If Sturgis Podmore is proven under Veritaserum to have entered the Ministry against his will, he will be cleared of all charges.”

No one knew better than the pure-blood families whether Sturgis was truly innocent.

When they heard the judge’s words, they knew their plan to attack Dumbledore and the Order had failed.

Soon, an Auror arrived with the Veritaserum.

After both Fudge’s and Dumbledore’s sides had verified the potion, the Auror administered a drop to Sturgis Podmore. Under the influence of Veritaserum, Sturgis answered the judge’s questions. The result confirmed he was innocent, that he had indeed been controlled by the Imperius Curse.

“The verdict is now: Sturgis Podmore is innocent and is to be released immediately. This trial is adjourned…”

“Please wait, Your Honor.” Sean slowly stood, looking at the judge. “The wizard who secretly cast the Imperius Curse on Sturgis Podmore should also be considered part of this case. We should begin an investigation at once. What do you think, Your Honor?”