The Hogwarts Emerald

Chapter 465 The trial begins

On August 12, Ada appeared at the Ministry of Magic in London. This was her second time to visit this place.

The elevator door opened with a clatter, and Ada walked out of the empty elevator, seeing a dark corridor in front of her.

The corridor walls were made of rough stone, with torches flickering on brackets, and the doors on either side were heavy wooden doors with iron bolts and keyholes.

In front of a gloomy black door with a big iron lock hanging on it, Ada saw Mr. Weasley who was very anxious.

"Ada, why are you here?" Mr. Weasley asked, breathing heavily. He had just brought Harry into the courtroom.

"Of course I'm here to defend Harry," Ida answered confidently, "Professor Dumbledore asked me to come."

Mr. Weasley's expression suddenly became complicated. It's not that he didn't recognize Ada's ability, but it depends on the situation. How could Ada be asked to defend Harry? This is a joke!
"Don't worry!" Ida smiled and comforted, "Harry will be fine, I'm sure. You only need to worry about one thing, what if I accidentally beat up the Minister of Magic?"

Ada's consolation, which was not really a comfort, made Mr. Weasley laugh and cry.

Before Mr. Weasley could say "good luck", Ada had already pushed open the heavy door and walked into the tenth courtroom.

The walls of Courtroom Ten were made of dark stone, and the torchlight was dim and eerie. On either side were rows of gradually rising benches filled with Wizengamot members in purple robes.

Ada saw Fudge, Amelia Bones, and Percy Weasley. In the summer, Percy, blinded by power, ran away from home and became a lackey of the Ministry of Magic.

"Interrogators: Cornelius Oswald Fudge, Minister for Magic; Amelia Susan Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement; Dolores Jane Umbridge, Senior Under-Minister. Trial Recorder: Percy Ignatius Weasley -"

"Defendant's witness: Esmeralda Jessica Drizzt." Ada said calmly. She calmly walked out of the dark shadows and winked at the uneasy Harry mischievously.

Ada wasn't here to send Harry to jail, even if the bowl was big and round.

The high-ranking Wizengamot members on both sides showed surprised expressions. They thought they would see Dumbledore, but in the end they saw a little girl who hadn't even walked out of the school?
I am being looked down upon! Ada thought to herself.

"Drizzt? The Drizzt from the Triwizard Tournament?" A deep and loud female voice sounded. It was Amelia Bones, who was sitting to Fudge's left.

"Yes, Ms. Bones. We've met before, at St. Mungo's and Hogsmeade," said Ada.

As she spoke, she observed Fudge's expression. It seemed that because the person who appeared was not Dumbledore, the Minister's expression was much more relaxed.

Ms. Bones, who was wearing a monocle, continued, "Yes, I remember you. You killed three dark wizards with your own hands, and you were only in your second year. Last year you also defeated a full-grown dragon with ease, which was impressive."

Ada bowed slightly but said nothing. She didn't need to say anything, Amelia Bones's hand was too obvious.

The effect was obvious. The high and mighty masters put away their contempt and turned their eyes to Ada, carefully sizing up this young witch.

The dark green dress was tailored to fit her body perfectly, appearing dignified and elegant without concealing her youthful vigor; her long golden hair sparkled in the light of the torches; her fair face did not tremble with fear because of the gazes of the crowd, but instead was faintly excited.

The members of the Wizengamot were whispering to each other, discussing why Dumbledore trusted this girl so much.

In this kind of situation, if Harry Potter is not careful, his wand will be destroyed and he will be thrown into Azkaban. But Dumbledore didn't come in person. What trick is he playing?

Fudge knocked the hammer in his hand, and the discussion stopped instantly.

The Minister said, "It seems that you and Dumbledore have received our letter and learned that the time and place of the interrogation have been changed?"

"Not at all, Mr. Minister," Ada said respectfully, "but I was very uneasy about attending such a big event. I had insomnia and couldn't fall asleep, so I came a little early."

It seemed respectful, but in fact it was accusing the Ministry of Magic of making such a big fuss over a small matter, not only using a formal courtroom, but also sending out so many Wizengamot members. Fudge was a little embarrassed, and he suddenly felt that the person in front of him might be much more difficult to deal with than Dumbledore.

Fortunately, Fudge adjusted quickly, and Ada did not dwell on the despicable tactics of the Ministry of Magic, so the trial was able to continue.

Fudge first announced Harry's charges, and emphasized that this was not the first time Harry violated the rules, but that he broke the law knowingly and should be punished more severely.

"You conjured a fully-fledged Patronus?"

Amelia Bones interrupted Fudge again, her loud voice completely drowning out the Minister. Ada couldn't help but give Ms. Bones a big thumbs up in her heart.

"I mean, your Patronus has a distinct form, not just vapor or smoke?" Ms. Bones demanded.

Harry said stupidly, "It's a stag, every time."

Being judged by a large group of Wizengamot in a formal courtroom made Harry feel a little desperate. Even if Dumbledore was standing next to him, Harry would still feel uneasy.

Fudge rang the gavel in his hand again. He couldn't let Bones and Harry continue to ask and answer questions. It was clearly a trial of Harry Potter, but Bones turned it into "the great Harry Potter".

It was something to be proud of for a third-year student to be able to create a mature Patronus, as could be seen from the whispers among the wizards.

"We're not talking about the Patronus Charm," said Fudge angrily, trying to get the trial back on track. "We're trying Harry Potter for casting a spell in front of Muggles!"

But how could Ada let Fudge get his wish?

Ada waved her hand to quiet Harry down. He needed to leave a good impression on the Wizengamot jury and try to get them to side with him. As for the falling out, he would leave it to himself.

"Yes, Harry Potter cast the Patronus Charm in front of a Muggle, that's right." Ada said. This was an indisputable fact and there was no denying or quibbling.

Harry looked puzzled. He believed Ada would help him, but he didn't understand why Ada didn't tell him about the Dementors.

Foley was equally puzzled. He didn't understand why Ada didn't make a fuss but just confessed her guilt directly.

"This Muggle's name is Dudley Dursley, and he is Harry Potter's cousin. Dudley Dursley knows that his cousin is a wizard, and he also knows the existence of the wizarding world." Ada said, "Mr. and Mrs. Dursley also know this, because for well-known reasons, Harry was raised by Mr. and Mrs. Dursley..."

"What a farce!" Fudge knocked the hammer hard. "This is no reason for Harry Potter to cast spells in front of Muggles! This is no reason for him to violate the "Reasonable Restraint of Underage Wizards Act" and the "International Statute of Secrecy"!

Ada was not angry at Fudge's interruption. She continued, "Of course, this is not a reason. Let's talk about the reason. Why did Harry Potter cast a spell in front of Muggles? You also said that he had received a warning from the Ministry of Magic before, so why did he still do it knowingly?"

"Especially when he was wantonly slandered by some people." Ada looked at Fudge coldly, "Is he stupid to hand the handle to the other party?"

Few people who can sit in this courtroom are fools. Everyone knows who the "certain people" that Ada mentioned are.

"No one is defaming Harry Potter!" Fudge said word by word.

"Okay, let's just pretend that no one is slandering him." Ada said it in a very aggrieved tone, as if she had to bow her head in the face of power.

Ada continued, "Harry Potter did use magic in front of a Muggle, even though that Muggle was his cousin and knew about wizards and the wizarding world. But I really can't figure out why he did that. It can't be to show off, right? Harry, why don't you tell me!"

"I did it because of the Dementors!" Harry said loudly, as if he wanted to vent all the dissatisfaction in his heart.

There was total silence. No one in the courtroom spoke. Even everyone's breathing could be heard.

(End of this chapter)