144 Chapter 144: Trial
The wizards present felt as though they could hear the young man's cold voice whispering in their ears.
"This is my power! So be mindful of your attitude later. If you go against me, do you think you will come out unscathed?"
And Dumbledore's open support for Alaric from the trial bench was a clear indication of his stance. Faced with such powerful wizards, all opponents hesitated.
"Should we offend both of them at the same time?"
The answer was obvious.
Although there had been overtures from Cornelius Fudge and the pure-blood faction beforehand.
Facing both a young prodigy and an established leader, almost all neutrals immediately abandoned their original plans and rallied towards Alaric and Dumbledore's side.
They expressed their stance by indulging in the refreshments Alaric had provided.
It felt somewhat like the mafia bosses saying, "Once you drink this wine, you're one of us."
Those wizards who had already sided with Alaric didn't need to be mentioned; they eagerly hoped this trial would turn into a farce.
Even some pure-blood wizards were intimidated by Alaric's actions. They began to hesitate, wondering if the plan had been too reckless and if they had kicked a hornet's nest.
However, Cornelius Fudge hadn't yet noticed the shift in the situation.
He flushed red with anger, suppressing his rage, and announced loudly.
"The defendant has finally arrived. Let's begin. Are you ready?"
He directed this question towards the end of his bench.
"Yes, sir," answered his assistant.
"The trial for November 20th," Fudge declared in a booming voice, "regarding the case of Alaric, a third-year student from Ravenclaw House at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, who on November 11th, at 5:27 PM, at the Quidditch pitch of Hogwarts, violated the laws of the Ministry of Magic and Azkaban staff..."
"Interrogators: Cornelius Oswald Fudge, Minister for Magic; Amelia Susan Bones, Director of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement; Dolores Jane Umbridge, High Level Undersecretary , absent. Trial Recorder: Robin Boy Lopez Butler --- Defense Witnesses: None --"
Hearing this, Dumbledore stood up in the trial seat and interrupted coldly: "Defense witnesses: All Hogwarts teachers and students, "Plenipotentiary" Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore."
Dumbledore's words immediately choked Fudge. He opened his mouth feebly, trying to point out that witnesses could not entrust others to be present, but in the end he did not say it.
"Yes," Fudge said, moving the papers in front of him awkwardly, "Okay then. Now...the charges."
He pulled out a piece of parchment from a pile of documents, took a deep breath, and read aloud.
"The accusers are as follows: 'The defendant has previously received a formal warning from the Ministry of Magic for similar charges.
This time, despite being fully aware that his actions were illegal, he deliberately and knowingly cast a Patronus Charm at the Quidditch pitch of Hogwarts, in front of the entire school faculty and students.
And attacked the Dementors who were conducting an inspection of Hogwarts on behalf of Azkaban.
In total, he killed eighteen Dementors and seriously injured seven others, who required over two months of recovery.'"
"This behavior violates Article 24 of the Protection of the Ministry of Magic Personnel Act 1967 and Article 21 of the Azkaban Personnel Act 1844..."
"Are you Alaric, a third-year student from Ravenclaw House at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry?" Fudge asked, glaring at Alaric from above the parchment.
"Yes," Alaric replied calmly.
"You received a formal warning from the Ministry of Magic two months ago for using magic to attack and harm Dementors, correct?"
"Correct."
"You were aware that the Dementors you harmed were employees of the Ministry of Magic, employed by Azkaban?"
"Correct."
"You were aware that at the time of your attack, your targets were conducting the Ministry of Magic's official business?"
"Correct."
At this moment, the witch with the monocle interrupted Fudge with a resounding voice.
"You produced a fully corporeal Patronus?"
"Yes."
"Did your Patronus actually harm the Dementors?"
"Yes."
"Is your Patronus a dragon? And did this Patronus harm or even kill Dementors multiple times?"
"Yes, it burned the Dementors with its breath," Alaric replied impatiently.
"One last question," the witch looked at him with a strange look in her eyes, "are you only fourteen years old?"
"Yes," Alaric frowned, "my birthday was in June."
"Remarkable. You have invented a magic capable of harming Dementors," Madam Bones exclaimed admiringly.
"No one has ever been able to harm a Dementor before! You are the first person to achieve this, and you are only fourteen years old.
Many of us here can't even summon a Patronus." The wizards around her began to whisper again.
Some nodded in agreement, sipping their tea, while others looked displeased, shaking their heads.
"This is not a matter of how impressive his magic is," Fudge said angrily.
"In fact, I believe the more impressive it is, the worse it is, because that child used magic to harm Ministry of Magic personnel. He is not here to receive your praise, but to stand trial!"
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