Chapter 749
Trial
Chapter 749 Trial
Regardless of outside speculation, Pierce Sinkness proceeded with the expected appointment as minister.
On the first day, he strongly urged Scrimgeour to remain in charge of the Auror office and made no changes to the members of Wizengamor.
The image of the Minister of Magic shaking hands with the Chief of the Auror Office appeared in the newspapers, and Scrimgeour looked just like a lion with its mane standing on end.
The following day, Sinkness signed a batch of personnel reshuffle orders, making minor adjustments to the positions of some people, 80 percent of whom were mid- to low-level officials closely associated with Umbridge and also facing charges.
On the third day, Sinkernis went to Hogwarts to visit Dumbledore, and the two reportedly talked for three or four hours in a very pleasant atmosphere.
Immediately afterwards, the energetic minister made a surprise visit to Azkaban and met with the director of the International Department of Magical Cooperation in the afternoon to learn about the International Federation of Wizards' reaction to his election.
From then on, his schedule was so packed it was suffocating. FMC reporters were practically welded to his side, and the news feed showed at least two hours a day reporting on Secretary Sinkness.
In the morning, I chaired a meeting of directors from various departments, carefully reviewing the mountain of draft legal amendments.
In the afternoon, they continued to discuss the controversial clauses of the Magical Creatures Management Act, and then inspected the Department of Magical Accidents and Disasters in the evening.
As the new day began, he met with the director of St. Mungo's Hospital to discuss the thorny issues of funding and medical resource allocation.
Then he negotiated with the goblins of Gringotts and even took the time to visit the Muggle prime minister.
"This is the first time I've realized that the Minister of Magic could be this busy!"
Marchionni complained to Wade:
"The reporter who was filming me made an unprecedented request—to receive a pair of dragon-skin boots as a weekly subsidy!"
Wade laughed and said, "So, did you give your permission?"
“Of course!” Marchionne said helplessly, “because when he applied, he also brought his worn-out boots to my office.”
Wade couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Marchionne chuckled and said, “Ah, you should see how Fudge used to work—scones, fruit tarts, and afternoon tea. He left all the chores to Umbridge’s cronies, and only the arrival of Mr. Malfoy, all gleaming in gold, could rouse him.”
Wade wasn't interested in Fudge, who was now history, and instead asked, "So what does that reporter who follows him around every day think of this new minister who seems to want to use every second to the fullest?"
"Well……"
Marchionne stroked his chin thoughtfully and said, "He said he's being driven crazy by this nearly sixty-year-old man. But... how should I put it? We admire this madness; it suits the style of our Aslan Magic Workshop perfectly..."
Passing through the dimly lit corridor, the heavy black doors of the Wizengamot Court came into view, and a solemn atmosphere seemed to emanate from them.
The two of them shut their mouths at the same time and walked in silently, one after the other, and sat down in an inconspicuous corner in the back row.
Within a week of taking office, Sinkness had already begun a great deal of work with great efficiency. Although the personnel and systems of the Ministry of Magic had not changed much, his attitude of getting things done had been clearly conveyed.
After stepping into the Ministry of Magic today, Wade clearly noticed this change—
He also remembered the first time he walked into the Ministry of Magic, the staff in charge of registration were lazy and even abandoned their posts to follow Harry for a while in order to get his autograph.
But this time, all along the way, one could see staff members running with documents in their arms, the green flames in the fireplace flickering almost continuously, and groups of paper airplanes carrying messages flying back and forth overhead, a stark contrast to the usual lazy and indifferent atmosphere.
On this day, Sinknis was also busy—he decisively decided to put the notorious Umbridge on trial. Vydra pulled up his hood to conceal his figure, sat high in the stands, and looked down.
The long benches in the audience were almost entirely filled with uninvited wizards. Some wore expressions of resentment and satisfaction, some looked around with curiosity, and others had stern or questioning expressions.
The members of Wizengamo were dressed in crimson robes, their expressions silent and solemn. Sinknis was also sitting in the dock, but the central position belonged to Ms. Burns, who had short gray hair.
The two sat side by side, without the awkwardness or resentment of their past competition, only a cold, businesslike focus.
The coldness and hardness didn't come from the person sitting next to him, but from the woman who had been brought up by the two Dementors—
Umbridge.
She was almost unrecognizable—Umbridge's beloved pink and bows were gone, and the drab prison uniform hanging on her body looked rather oversized.
Her hair hung greasy on her forehead, her face was deathly pale, and her bulging eyes darted around in terror, as if hoping to catch a glimpse of reassuring support from those cold stares.
But the way people looked at her made it seem as if she had truly turned into an ugly toad.
"Dolores Jane Umbridge".
After introducing the attendees, Burns said in a completely flat tone, "You are accused of abuse of power, illegal imprisonment, illegal use of truth serum and black magic, serious corruption, extortion..."
She read out Umbridge's crimes one by one, the crimes confirmed by subsequent investigations, without shouting or mockery, just an objective statement.
But this kind of procedural disclosure, devoid of personal feelings, is more powerful than any angry accusation.
A whisper of disgust rose among the members of Wizengamo, and the wizards listening in turned their cold gazes toward Umbridge.
"I..." Umbridge, sweating profusely, stammered in her defense, "There's a reason... I did it for the stability of the Ministry of Magic... Actually, I was under the influence of the Imperius Curse, which is why I acted so irrationally..."
She was rambling incoherently, but the evidence provided by Skeeter was very complete, and in the past few days, more wizards who had been persecuted by Umbridge have come forward.
She had absolutely no room for excuses, and the talk of the Soul-Stealing Curse was utter nonsense.
Although the Imperius Curse is difficult to detect, the fact that a dark wizard can control high-ranking officials in the Ministry of Magic must mean he has a specific purpose.
Umbridge, who persecutes others at will and pockets all the benefits, is clearly not controlled by anyone; all her actions are a manifestation of the "evil of human nature."
When Ms. Burns asked, "Those who support the conviction, please raise your hands."
In the seats of Wissengamo, arms were raised in unison, like a forest of fir trees rising from the ground, firm and solemn; or like a silent wave, instantly swallowing up the last glimmer of hope that Umbridge was clinging to.
"Do not--!"
Amid Umbridge's desperate screams, Ms. Burns brought her hammer down hard:
"This Court unanimously finds Dolores Jan Umbridge guilty on all charges... and sentences her to life imprisonment in Azkaban! To be carried out immediately!"
Something came up tonight, only one update.
(End of this chapter)