HP: The Duelist of Hogwarts - 416

Chapter 416: The Trial

The dragon prison break happened late at night on September 1st and did not cause much of a stir in the British wizarding world. By contrast, the trial at eight o’clock in the evening on September 2nd drew attention from all quarters.

By seven-thirty, members of the Wizengamot were already arriving one after another at Courtroom One, the first of ten courtrooms on the tenth level beneath the Ministry of Magic.

Sean sat with Marchbanks and others on the benches reserved for members, watching people file in as he spoke in a low voice. “Madam Marchbanks, it really is a crowd tonight. Out of fifty Wizengamot members, it looks like more than forty will show.”

“When two camps wrestle for control, they will try to bring as many as they can.”

Sean nodded in agreement, then glanced toward Dumbledore, who sat with calm poise among the adjudicators. Sean had no idea which allies the Headmaster had reached out to, but Dumbledore looked confident.

At eight o’clock sharp, everyone had arrived. Two Aurors closed the doors to Courtroom One.

The presiding judge soon rapped the gavel and declared the proceedings open.

“Bring in the accused, Sturgis Podmore.”

At the words, two Aurors led Sturgis in through the side door and set him in the defendant’s place. As soon as he appeared, the murmuring in the chamber grew louder.

Bang, bang.

“Order, please. The court is now in session.”

As the judge announced the official start, the court scribe at his side lifted a quill and began taking everything down.

“On the second of September, this court hears the case of Sturgis Podmore, charged with entering the Department of Mysteries at one o’clock in the morning on September first with intent to steal…”

Sean listened as the presiding judge went through the formalities point by point. He let his eyes drift over the seats where the rest of the adjudicators sat. In the front row were Fudge and the heads of each department, along with prominent members whose names and reputations were formidable, like Dumbledore. In the second row sat figures like Scrimgeour, the second-in-command, or deputies of each department, who also held real power.

Among them, of course, was Umbridge. She sat directly behind Fudge in the second row, leaning in from time to time to whisper in his ear, every inch the Minister’s confidante. Her seat made it plain she was at least a deputy of one of the departments, or a deputy to someone in the first row. Judging by her manner with Fudge, she was very likely his deputy, in other words, the Deputy Minister.

The Deputy Minister’s authority flows from the Minister. It is not a low position, but it is not the very top either. It is the Minister’s mouthpiece and hands, meaning the deputy can only do what the Minister can do, and cannot interfere where the Minister cannot.

Umbridge was, evidently, very good at working the system.

Still, even the most skillful climber has to deliver something the Minister finds satisfactory to become his deputy. What exactly had she done to earn Fudge’s trust to this degree and get the position?

“The facts in this case are supported by complete evidence. If there are no other opinions or petitions, then…”

“Please wait, Your Honor. I have a differing opinion.”

The judge looked toward Dumbledore. “Dumbledore, we have testimony here, witnesses and physical evidence, as well as Sturgis Podmore’s own confession and signed statement. Which of these do you dispute?”

“All of them. The witness, the physical evidence, the confession, and the signed statement,” Dumbledore said. At once, the court filled with a wave of mutters. Fudge even let out a scornful snort. When the noise had ebbed, Dumbledore continued, “Because Sturgis Podmore was under someone else’s Imperius Curse when he committed these acts. The true criminal is the one who cast the Imperius Curse to control him, not Sturgis Podmore.”

The intermittent mockery in the room cut off.

They stared at Sturgis Podmore’s slightly vacant expression. They had assumed his dazed manner sprang from despair at being caught, but now it did not look unlike the state of a man under the Imperius Curse.

“Nonsense. So, anyone who commits a crime only has to claim they were under the Imperius Curse, and they are cleared? The way I see it, the curse is just an excuse. You simply do not want us to know that this criminal, Sturgis Podmore, is actually a member of your Order of the Phoenix.”

The speaker clearly stood with Fudge—or with the pure-blood families behind him. His words bore the mark of Fudge’s encouragement. One needed only to see the smiles on the faces of Fudge and Umbridge to know this was precisely what they wanted to hear.

“Yes or no is actually quite simple, is it not?” Dumbledore turned to the man who had spoken. “All we need to do is lift the Imperius Curse with magic and, when Sturgis Podmore regains his senses, administer Veritaserum. Then the truth will be plain to all.”

“Objection. Veritaserum is a strictly controlled potion. I do not see the point of using such a potion in a case that is already settled. In my view, we should try Sturgis Podmore immediately. If it can be proven that his actions relate to the Order of the Phoenix, then even the great Dumbledore must be subjected to scrutiny.”

“I agree. We must thoroughly examine the connection between this matter and the Order of the Phoenix. Otherwise, the public will not be convinced.”

At Sean’s words, every head in the courtroom turned toward him in surprise.

Fudge and his camp wore expressions of shock seasoned with schadenfreude. Some of them even thought Sean was about to defect in open court.

Dumbledore’s camp looked just as astonished. They could not understand what madness had taken hold of Sean that would lead him to assist Fudge.

Had he betrayed them?

“You traitor, Sean Bulstrode!”

Dordolian’s shout rang out. Seeing Dumbledore’s stern face, Fudge was delighted. He lived to see Dumbledore lose composure. Hearing an ironclad Dumbledore ally like Dordolian denounce Sean put Fudge in an even better mood. He could not help saying, “Now, now, Dordolian, that is not fair. If Sean is speaking sense, then of course we must consider his suggestion seriously.”

“Exactly. The Minister for Magic is indeed wise and heroic.” Sean’s words made Fudge’s smile stretch even wider. And at that moment, Sean’s tone turned. “Since even Minister Fudge agrees, there is no need for further debate. Lift the Imperius Curse on Sturgis Podmore at once, then administer Veritaserum. That way, we will know exactly what connection this heinous criminal has to the Order of the Phoenix.”