Chapter 273: Clown Show and Hearing
Arthur's office was very cramped, filled with all sorts of Muggle objects, with several posters stuck on the walls.
Sharp-eyed Aiden even spotted an engine blueprint.
A small paper aeroplane flew to the Director's ear, and a voice message played from inside.
"Director, the trial has been moved up, and the venue has been changed from the Department of Magical Law Enforcement to the Wizengamot. Fudge has also temporarily summoned all Wizengamot members."
The voice from the paper aeroplane was Oliver's, and from the footsteps in the recording, it seemed to be a notice sent in haste.
Aiden glanced back at Harry. "Fudge didn't send you any notification."
"No." Harry was beginning to understand the dirty politics involved.
"That damned politician," Sirius cursed.
"Hurry to the Wizengamot now; there's still time," Aiden said.
"We'll leave Harry in your hands," Arthur said to the Director and Aiden.
The group rushed to the Wizengamot without stopping.
At the main entrance, the Director wanted to follow them in but was stopped by Aiden.
"??" The Director looked at Aiden with puzzlement.
"Don't go in directly; it would expose your relationship with us," Aiden explained.
Harry walked in and sat in the chair. The surrounding elevated seats were packed with people, and Amelia Bones impatiently glanced at Fudge.
Then the Director arrived fashionably late. Fudge frowned but hammered his gavel and began the trial.
Standing outside the door, Aiden sensed a massive magical presence approaching.
"Waiting for me?" Dumbledore asked.
"Aren't you afraid your student will be devoured by them?" Aiden spoke with double meaning.
"By them?" Dumbledore said, his mouth curving upward, unclear whom he was referring to.
In the courtroom, Fudge kept reciting his own and his colleagues' names, trying to pressure Harry.
Then Aiden burst in.
"Quite lively, huh."
A certain dragon flashed a sweet smile at the entire courtroom. Though the smile was sweet, some people on the tribunal inexplicably felt a chill rising.
"Who are you? What right do you have to interfere with the court!" Fudge said, wanting to use this opportunity to drive Aiden out.
"I am Aiden Imperial Prewett, recipient of the Order of Merlin Second Class, founder of Magical Creature Transfiguration and the Qualitative Transformation Charm, curer of the werewolf curse, and the current head of the Prewett family!"
Aiden's long string of titles immediately suppressed Fudge's momentum. He casually leaned against the courtroom railing, showing his disdain for them.
"Oh, and I'm also a witness in this case. According to magical law..."
"Enough... you can stay." Fudge had no way to deal with this troublemaker.
Aiden smiled and prepared to watch the show.
"Now, we will try the criminal Harry James Potter, residing at 4 Privet Drive, Little Whinging, Surrey..."
"And of course his defence attorney, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore."
Dumbledore walked to the centre, waved his wand to conjure two pink floral-cushioned polished armchairs, plopped down, and gestured invitingly to Aiden.
When it comes to mockery, experience matters. Aiden decisively sat down and pulled out lemonade to offer Dumbledore.
Looking at the afternoon tea duo before him, Fudge was furious.
"Enough! You're no longer the Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards or Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot. Show some respect now."
The poor clown had no idea who he was yelling at, but unfortunately, the afternoon tea duo had no intention of showing him respect.
Beside them, Madam Amelia Bones, to prevent this hearing from becoming a farce, had to snatch Fudge's gavel and bang it forcefully.
Fudge calmed down and instructed Percy to fetch the trial materials.
Percy walked out with his head down, not daring to meet Aiden's gaze.
This cousin of Aiden's had broken with his family in pursuit of power, had a big fight with Arthur, and moved out.
Later, when Mrs. Weasley went to find him, he coldly rebuffed her, which angered Aiden enough to punch him and embed him in the wall. In the end, Mrs. Weasley had to drag Aiden away.
Now, Percy's relationship with his family had hit rock bottom.
Percy kept his head down as he delivered the materials to the tribunal. Fudge flipped through the files and began questioning.
"You are Harry James Potter. Three years ago, didn't you receive a warning for using magic?" Fudge asked.
"Yes, but that was..." Harry began but was interrupted.
"Then this time you used the Patronus Charm again, right?" Fudge pressed his advantage.
"Yes, but that was because..." Harry tried to explain but was interrupted again.
"You know that those under seventeen cannot use magic outside school, right?" Fudge said with a slight smile.
"Yes, but..."
"You know you were in a Muggle gathering place at the time, and there was a Muggle beside you when you cast the spell, right?" Fudge felt victory was within his grasp.
"Yes, but..."
"Alright, distinguished Wizengamot members, we..." Fudge was about to speak when it was Harry's turn to interrupt him.
"I used the Patronus because there were Dementors around," Harry shouted.
"Dementors?" Amelia Bones caught the key point and repeated it.
"Muggles can't see Dementors, can they? You're lying," Fudge said, wanting to crush Harry.
"Perhaps we should talk about the Dementors. A child under seventeen who can use such pure white magic shouldn't be a chronic liar," Amelia Bones spoke up.
"How do you know..." Fudge wanted to steer the topic back.
But this time it was his turn to be interrupted. Aiden spoke:
"Distinguished Wizengamot members, would you be willing to give this boy, who has deep attainments in white magic, a chance to prove himself? Please cast your votes."
The tribunal members thought for a moment and raised their hands one after another.
"Then, as the first witness, I present my evidence." Aiden directly pulled out a Remembrall.
Fudge's eyes immediately widened, and he turned to look at Umbridge, who shook her head vigorously at him.
The Remembrall displayed images showing Azkaban, where two figures in black robes drove away six Dementors.
The six Dementors were driven all the way to Little Whinging and attacked Harry.
Most crucially, the Remembrall's perspective slowly approached the two black-robed figures, capturing their faces clearly.
The two were personnel from the Senior Ministry Official Guard Aurors, organised under Fudge's orders and controlled by Umbridge.
As everyone knows, magical world videos cannot be edited.
Once these two faces appeared, all eyes focused on Fudge.
"Moreover, the Ministry should have no record of detecting Harry Potter using magic..." Aiden said, narrowing his eyes.
"Someone witnessed it! They witnessed Harry Potter casting spells while passing by. We can provide proof!"
Fudge said hurriedly, trying to shift the topic and wanting to pull the incident back to his own playing field.