The Hogwarts Emerald

Chapter 551 What Ada Doesn’t Know
Yaxley was arrested in the afternoon, and his trial was conducted overnight in order to make it to the front page of the next day's newspaper. It has been a long time since we have seen such high efficiency in the Ministry of Magic.

In the dark courtroom, the tall, stepped benches around the courtroom were filled with members of the Wizengamot, as well as invited reporters from newspapers and magazines, and some civilian wizards.

Thicknesse sat in the main seat of the trial bench as he wished. He finally got such an opportunity.

On his left was Arthur Weasley, the new director of the Department of Law Enforcement, and on his right was Laura Fournier, the assistant in this trial. In order to conceal Laura's identity, poor Miss Isabel once again went home and slept soundly.

Another person who also concealed her identity was Ada. She wore a purple robe with an exquisite silver "W" embroidered on the left chest. She replaced the identity of a Wizengamot and appeared at the trial.

Before the trial began, Ada, who was hiding her identity, met Dumbledore. As the chief wizard of the Wizengamot, Dumbledore would naturally attend the trial.

It had only been over a month since they last met, but Ada felt that Dumbledore had aged several years. One of his hands had become dry and charred, as if the flesh on it had been burnt.

Whenever someone asked about his hand, Dumbledore would smile and say "it was just a small accident". But Ada didn't think it was a small accident. Although she didn't know the specific reason for Dumbledore's injury, the Horcrux was definitely related.

Meeting Dumbledore again today also confirmed Ada's previous suspicions. The greatest headmaster in the history of Hogwarts, the ceiling of the wizarding world is really hurt.

It would be a lie to say that she wasn't sad, and it would also be a lie to say that she wasn't worried. Ada's mind became a little complicated, so much so that the trial had been going on for half a day but she didn't hear a single word.

Perhaps that's why Dumbledore and Snape kept it a secret.

In the armchair in the middle of the courtroom, chains were tied around Coban Yaxley like snakes. He was still wearing the expensive wizard robe he had worn during the day, and his hair was not messy.

There was no fear or panic on Yaxley's face. He looked at Thicknesse with contempt and also showed disdain for the Wizengamot members around him.

"I'm not a Death Eater. I was framed." Yaxley said. His voice was loud and clear, and could be heard clearly by everyone in the courtroom. "I was proven innocent during the time of Minister Barnold, and I have worked diligently for the Ministry of Magic for more than ten years. I am innocent. The guilty person is over there!"

Yaxley raised his bound hands and pointed with difficulty at Thicknesse.

When Voldemort fell for the first time, the Ministry of Magic purged his followers and arrested many Death Eaters. However, some of the arrested Death Eaters insisted that they were innocent and were under the Imperius Curse.

This Unforgivable Curse caused great trouble to the work of the Ministry of Magic at that time, and led to Lucius Malfoy and other Death Eaters successfully escaping from crime and escaping justice.

It was not until the Battle of the Department of Mysteries more than a month ago that Lucius Malfoy was identified as a Death Eater and received the punishment he deserved. Unfortunately, Voldemort showed his power and rescued the captured Death Eaters from Azkaban.

"I have just listed a lot of evidence, including your disclosure of the whereabouts of Amelia Bones, former director of the Law Enforcement Department, Florin Fusco's early transfer plan, and your collusion with Rookwood to leak internal intelligence of the Department of Mysteries, etc."

Thicknesse said sternly: "There is evidence and witnesses, you cannot deny it!"

During the time when Ada was distracted, Thicknesse produced a series of evidence, especially the witnesses of Fusco's transfer plan. The people controlled by Yaxley's Imperius Curse were arranged in order to prove Yaxley's identity as a traitor.

"Denial? You're just trying to clear out dissidents and secure your position as minister!" Yaxley shouted, "Esmeralda Drizzt, that devil from France, do you think everyone doesn't know what's going on between you and her?"

There was a murmur in the room. Whether it was the members of the Wizengamot or the invited reporters, many people were looking at Thicknesse, waiting for his response.

Was he furious because his sore spot was touched, or was he not paying any attention and continuing to judge Yaxley?

Many people have questions in their minds about how you, Pius Thicknesse, caught someone who even Cornelius Fudge and his elite team from the Ministry of Magic couldn't catch, and who was able to escape from Rufus Scrimgeour's custody without a wand in her hand.

Scrimgeour had previously pointed out that Thicknesse was in collusion with Ada, and that Thicknesse's rise to power was the result of Ada's support. Although this was indeed the case, no one could find evidence, and Thicknesse's position was very stable.

As for Ada, the Ministry of Magic is somewhat conflicted and embarrassed at this stage. On the one hand, Ada did violate the laws set by the Ministry of Magic and even killed many Ministry employees. But on the other hand, Ada was the first person to see Voldemort, the first person to resist Voldemort, and helped the Ministry of Magic in the Battle of the Department of Mysteries.

In recent times, Voldemort and his Death Eaters have frequently committed bloody crimes, either causing the death or disappearance of wizards, or creating accidents to persecute Muggles, with extremely cruel methods.

In contrast, Ada was a good girl, who stayed at home obediently. Moreover, there was no conclusion on who was right and who was wrong in the conflict between Ada and the Ministry of Magic. After Fudge stepped down, she was not even seen anymore.

Coupled with the continuous whitewashing by some newspapers and magazines, as well as the deliberate guidance of some people, many people working in the ministry have changed their impression of Aida and it is no longer as bad as before.

Even if Ada was standing in front of a team of Aurors now, the Aurors might not necessarily choose to arrest her. They would most likely choose to turn a blind eye.

If you say to arrest her, she is the backbone of the force fighting Voldemort, and her own strength is top-notch, so it would be a waste if they go up to her; if you say not to arrest her, she has indeed violated the law.

Just pretend you didn’t see it. Out of sight, out of mind.

The extremely dangerous dark demon like the Mysterious Man is the top priority of the Ministry of Magic.

The Ministry of Magic did not withdraw the wanted notice and reward for Ada, that was the last stubbornness of the Ministry of Magic. The Ministry of Magic will catch the person, but when and how to catch him is our own problem, so don't ask about it.

"Your slander cannot cover up your shameful crimes, Yaxley," Thicknesse said. "Even if I were not a minister today, you would still be punished and must atone for your crimes."

Thicknesse looked at Yaxley with pitying eyes and said, "Also, let me tell you one thing. I am re-discussing the matter of Esmeralda Drizzt with several top figures of the Wizengamot and the International Confederation of Wizards, and reclassifying her previous attack on Ministry of Magic employees. People will know the right and wrong, and when the result comes out, I will go to Azkaban and tell you."

As soon as the words were spoken, the whispers in the room became louder, like boiling water about to boil.

The wizard sitting next to Ada also asked her if she knew about this. Ada didn't know whether the Wizengamot she replaced knew about it, but she herself didn't know about it.

Ada never asked Thicknesse to do such a thing. In Ada's opinion, clearing her identity would be very difficult, and she didn't need to worry about it at this stage. She could just wait.

Obviously, Ada can afford to wait and doesn't mind waiting, but some people don't want to wait anymore. Some people are eager to whitewash Ada, let her come to the front again and stand in a prominent position.

Although Thicknesse was the Minister of Magic, he had just ascended to a high position and did not have the prestige to push forward this matter. Ada could only think of one person who could raise this issue and push forward this matter.

The sound of the gavel banging rang out again, muting the discussion of those present, and the courtroom fell silent again.

Thicknesse said: "Corban Yaxley, participated in illegal Death Eater gatherings, tortured and massacred Muggles; sold out intelligence from the Department of Mysteries, causing it to be destroyed by a mysterious person; disclosed the whereabouts of Amelia Bones, causing her to be brutally murdered by a mysterious person; disclosed the operational plan of the Ministry of Magic's Law Enforcement Department, resulting in the death and injury of many staff members..."

After loudly reading out all of Yaxley's crimes, Thicknesse scanned the dim room before continuing, "Now I ask the jury to vote. If you agree with me that these crimes should be punished by life imprisonment in Azkaban, please raise your hands!"

The wizards in the courtroom raised their hands in unison, and the rustling of their robes became a common sound.

The invited reporters and audience began to applaud. Although they did not have the power to vote, they all believed that Yaxley deserved the punishment, and their applause reflected their thoughts.

"Guilty, Corban Yaxley is sentenced to life imprisonment in Azkaban!" Thicknesse banged the gavel again.

As the gavel fell, the Ministry of Magic completed the trial of a Death Eater, effectively declaring that the Ministry of Magic was trustworthy and that the You-Know-Who and his cronies were not invincible.

(End of this chapter)