Chapter 157: Justice?

The Daily Prophet published a front-page article titled "A Belated Exoneration, We All Owe Sirius Black an Apology," placing a photo of a teary Sirius in the center.

The article sparked widespread sympathy, especially among those who had fought alongside Black in the Order of the Phoenix, all feeling a deep sense of guilt.

Arthur Weasley said in an interview, "I misunderstood my friend. Though there were many reasons, we indeed owe Black an apology. I'm sorry, Sirius, for all the suffering you've endured over the years."

As Sirius was proven innocent, another trial began.

Next to the "A Belated Exoneration" article, Rita Skeeter posted a photo of Bartemius Crouch's gloomy face on the sidebar, especially using an upward shooting angle to highlight his arrogant expression and his twirling mustache.

The article title was just two big words: "Justice?"

The contrast made it clear: Bartemius Crouch's overreach in the judicial process, his abuse of power to dispose of others without trial, was self-evident.

Then, Rita Skeeter posted several wanted posters, including those of Sirius Black and Murphy Darkholme.

"Who gave the Aurors the right to issue a wizarding warrant without trial?"

"If an innocent is warranted, who is responsible for the damage to their reputation?"

Rita listed the various misunderstandings about Sirius, detailed his suffering, and pointed out that it was the warrants that blinded people to the Aurors' judgments, leading to the defamation of Sirius.

The essence was: the reason we all misunderstood Sirius, the reason we owe Sirius an apology, is because the Aurors did wrong.

We shouldn't feel too guilty; the ones who should be ashamed are the Aurors, Bartemius Crouch.

Following this, another article about St. Mungo's detailed Murphy's connection with the wizarding world's finest hospital (which Rita Skeeter and the Daily Prophet staked their reputations on guaranteeing).

It noted that the reasons for the Aurors' warrant against Murphy Darkholme were entirely unfounded.

And the habit of subjectively judging and framing the loyal and good had almost become an evil habit of the Aurors, and someone must take responsibility for this!

In the midst of public outrage, the last straw that broke Bartemius Crouch came.

"What did you say?" In the office of the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Bartemius Crouch's eyes were bloodshot with shock as he stared at Gawain Robards, "Say that again?!"

"Peter... Peter Pettigrew... was hijacked on the way to Azkaban..."

Bartemius Crouch collapsed into his chair.

It was over. He was finished.

With Sirius's escape, werewolves rampaging, and the Aurors achieving nothing, now even a captured Dark Wizard had managed to escape. What was left for the Aurors to do? As the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, how incompetent could he be?

An incompetent head, firmly grasped by the misuse of power, who would listen to his defense?

At this point, even he felt it was indefensible not to resign.

Bartemius Crouch returned home in a daze, but as soon as he entered, he was shocked to see a young man waiting for him in the room.

And what made Bartemius Crouch's heart nearly stop was that behind the visitor was the cabinet, the cabinet where he hid his son, Barty Crouch Jr.!

"Murphy Darkholme!"

How could he be here?

Did he discover Barty?

Old Barty glanced at the nervous, trembling house-elf Winky beside him, almost crying, and scolded loudly, "What's going on! Who allowed him in!"

Winky immediately burst into tears, "Sorry, master, sorry, Winky, Winky couldn't resist his words..."

Saying so, Winky took a rolling pin and started hitting herself on the head.

"Enough!" Murphy said, "Go, Winky, this has nothing to do with you."

Murphy's voice hit Winky's ears with an unbelievably grand tremor, shaking her soul, making her involuntarily want to obey him, so she nodded and left the room on her own.

Previously, Murphy had attempted to use this method to command Kingsley to step aside.

After undergoing multiple Magus enhancements, Murphy found that the "caprine" creature had a unique enhancement in "enchantment," allowing him to infuse his will into his voice to control the actions of beings.

This magic, which required no wand, Murphy named "Imperative Enchantment."

Not only was it extremely useful, but the sensation of issuing commands also addicted him.

"What, what have you done to my house-elf?!" Old Barty was shocked by this scene. The loyalty of house-elves was not in doubt, but just now, this man had made Winky obey his command with just a word? He didn't even use a wand! "Do you know that breaking into another wizard's house, I can immediately have the Aurors arrest you!"

"Oh?" Murphy smiled, "And then let everyone know what secret you're hiding at home? Mr. Bartemius Crouch?"

He knew!

He really knew!

Old Barty felt weak all over, almost collapsing.

"What, what do you want to do?" he asked weakly.

"Actually, believe it or not, I'm here to discuss cooperation," Murphy said.

"Cooperation?" Bartemius Crouch found it absurd, "With me? After all you've done, wasn't it just to get rid of me? And now you want to cooperate with me?"

"Lucius was once my enemy, now isn't he also a friend?" Murphy said, "I'm not particularly fond of brutally destroying my enemies. Uniting all possible allies is what I prefer to do."

And to be honest, he really didn't have that many people to use.

Otherwise, why bother uniting enemies? Just replace them with his own people.

"But I will not cooperate with a Dark Wizard!" Bartemius Crouch said.

Huh? At this point, he still dares to be so arrogant, believe it or not, I can make you disappear right now?

"What did you say?"

"I won't cooperate with..."

"Bang!"

Murphy punched Crouch in the face, knocking old Barty to the ground, then kicked him a few times.

"You call me a Dark Wizard?" Murphy laughed angrily, grabbing old Barty by the collar and lifting him up, "Come on, explain to me, how exactly am I a Dark Wizard? You say I'm breaking the law? Do you have the face to say that to me? I'm infiltrating the Ministry of Magic? Have you done less than me?"

Both ambitious, could your hands be cleaner than mine?

And you dare to call me a Dark Wizard? Dark Wizard, Dark Wizard, Dark Wizard, as if saying it makes you right.

Not playing by your rules makes me a Dark Wizard, right?! Damn it!

"Fine, you say I'm a Dark Wizard."

Murphy pulled out a spare wand, "Since you've said so, not doing it would be letting you down. Crucio!"

The torture lasted for three full minutes.

Until Murphy got tired, he opened the cabinet door and dragged out Barty Crouch Jr., wearing an invisibility cloak.

"Forget it, you chose your path. You and your son, see each other in Azkaban."

Bartemius Crouch could be useful for the next plan, but he wasn't indispensable. Murphy suddenly didn't want to play with these hypocrites anymore.

Since they hated me so much, let's hate to the end.

Saying this, Murphy was about to Disapparate when a hand grabbed his foot.

"Wait, wait... what do you really want me to do?"

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