Soon Gilderoy was escorted from his cell by two Aurors as they walked through a labyrinth of black tiled corridors, past offices and cubicles and bustling Ministry workers who stared at him with open curiosity, until they reached a set of lifts. The lift took them to the lower levels and opened up to a dark corridor where the Aurors escorted him towards the massive doors.
As soon as they stepped near the doors, they swung open magically and revealed the courtroom beyond. It was circular with high ceilings that seemed to disappear into shadow while rows of benches lined the walls and were filled with Ministry officials, lords, and witches and wizards whose faces blended together in a sea of robes and hats.
There was a second tier above that was lined with glass panels, behind which observers watched with varying degrees of interest, and at the centre of it all was a single chair surrounded by empty space.
Gilderoy was led to the chair, and to his relief, the chains that usually bound prisoners did not activate. He sat down with his hands resting on his knees and looked up.
He saw Bellatrix and Narcissa immediately because they were sitting in the visitors area on the second level with their faces visible through the glass panels. Narcissa's expression was calm, but there was a warmth in her eyes as she met his gaze. Bellatrix was more stoic with her jaw tight, but there was something in her posture that suggested she was ready to act if necessary.
And then, from the higher benches, a voice rang out.
"Mr. Lockhart." Crouch's voice cut through the murmuring as it remained sharp and commanding. "You are here to answer for the crime of carrying a Dark artifact. How do you plead?"
Hmm. Why is Crouch presiding over the Wizengamot and not Dumbledore? Is it because this is a criminal trial?
"Not guilty," Gilderoy said as his voice remained steady. "I have never seen that artifact before in my life and I believe someone planted it on me during the attack."
The murmuring grew louder until Crouch slammed his gavel and silence fell.
Lord Nott rose to his feet with his expression cold and disdainful. "The Aurors found the artifact in his possession because the evidence is clear."
Lord Malfoy rose beside him. "I demand to know why this young man was carrying a Dark artifact in Hogsmeade, where children were present. What was his purpose?"
Lord Lestrange rose next as his voice dropped to a low growl. "The evidence is undeniable so he should be convicted and sent to Azkaban immediately."
Gilderoy watched the accusations pile up while his jaw tightened. Nott. Malfoy. Lestrange. Of course they are leading the charge.
Then a new voice cut through the accusations as Lord Potter rose to his feet with his expression calm but firm. "My sources tell me something different happened in Hogsmeade because I heard this young man was defending students and was not attacking them. There is no reason for him to carry such a dark artifact."
"I too believe Mr. Lockhart to be a modest and talented student of Hogwarts," Dumbledore said as he rose from his seat. "I have already confirmed with my students that Mr. Lockhart was indeed defending them, so him carrying the dark artifact seems out of place."
Lord Black rose beside him. "I have known Mr. Lockhart personally because he is not the type of person to carry Dark artifacts. Also, if the court does not know, Mr. Lockhart is a halfblood and does not come from a rich background, so I do not think he has enough money to buy such artifacts."
Other lords rose and spoke, some defending and some accusing, but Gilderoy barely heard them because his mind was elsewhere as his thoughts drifted to a boy named Harry who had once sat in a similar chair while he faced similar accusations.
So this is how it felt. Harry being accused of something he did not do with no one to speak for him other than Dumbledore.
"Excuse me," he said as he raised his voice enough to cut through the murmuring. "I would like to make a request."
Crouch turned to him with his expression unreadable. "Speak."
"I do not need a defence," Gilderoy said as his voice remained steady. "I request the use of Veritaserum. I will answer any questions asked of me, and the truth will be clear."
The courtroom exploded into chaos as Lord Nott rose to his feet with his face red with anger. "This is absurd because Veritaserum is unreliable and can be tampered with!"
Others joined them, including Lord Rosier, Lord Flint, Lord Parkinson, Lord Selwyn, Lord Travers, Lord Avery, Lord Burke, Lord Warrington, and Lord Smith. Half the court seemed to be protesting as their voices overlapped in a wave of outrage.
Gilderoy watched as his stomach sank because more than half the court was raising their voices against his request. To him, it seemed as though some of them were either Death Eaters or had been bribed by Malfoy.
Crouch slammed his gavel as his voice cut through the chaos. "Order. Order in the Wizengamot."
The noise subsided, but the tension remained.
"I am of age," Gilderoy said as his voice carried through the silence. "I consent to the use of Veritaserum. Why should we waste time on accusations when the truth can be revealed in seconds?"
Crouch studied him for a long moment before he nodded slowly. "The request is granted."
Veritaserum was brought forward as a small vial of clear liquid shimmered faintly in the torchlight. Gilderoy opened his mouth and drank.
The liquid was tasteless, but he felt it immediately because a warmth spread through his chest and his control over his tongue loosened as it went numb while a strange clarity seemed to strip away every layer of hesitation.
Crouch leaned forward from his elevated seat with his eyes fixed on Gilderoy's face.
"Did you cause the chaos in Hogsmeade?"
"No," Gilderoy said as the word came out without thought. "I was defending students."
"Did you carry the Dark artifact willingly?"
"No because I have never seen it before. Someone must have planted it on me during the attack."
"Were you aware that a Dark artifact was in your possession?"
"No."
The courtroom fell silent, and even the murmuring had stopped.
A sudden gleam appeared in Crouch's eyes.
"Do you believe the attackers were Death Eaters?"
Lord Malfoy rose immediately. "This is irrelevant to the case because the boy is free. What more do you want?"
Other lords rose in protest. "The question is outside the scope of this trial!"
Crouch slammed his gavel. "Silence. The witness will answer."
Gilderoy met Crouch's eyes. The Veritaserum burned in his chest, demanding the truth.
"Yes," he said. "I believe they were Death Eaters."
The courtroom suddenly filled with chaos on hearing Lockhart's statement, and a gleam appeared in Crouch's eyes as they widened further at what Lockhart had said.
"The court finds Mr. Lockhart not guilty of all charges. He is free to go."
The cuffs around Gilderoy's wrists snapped open, but before he could stand, another voice rang through the courtroom as Edgar or Lord Bones rose to his feet with his expression serious. "The children who were attacked were students of Hogwarts. If the attackers were Death Eaters, then action must be taken against them because this court must address the matter of the Hogsmeade attack."
Lord Potter rose in agreement. "He is right because the attack was an act of war against the children of Britain. We cannot allow it to go unanswered."
Malfoy rose again with his face tight with fury. "This is absurd because the trial was about the boy and nothing more."
Lord Nott joined him. "You cannot expand the scope of the trial."
Crouch slammed his gavel and silenced the chaos.
Crouch just keeps ignoring and shutting them up. Ha ha ha ha. This is too funny.
"This court will now address the matter of the Hogsmeade attack," he said as his voice remained cold and final. "All members will remain seated."
Crouch gestured toward the platform at the corner of the courtroom, his expression unreadable as he indicated for Gilderoy to vacate the centre chair. He rose slowly and made his way to the platform, and settled onto the bench that had been provided.
From this new vantage point, he could see the courtroom more clearly as the rows of benches were filled with lords, witches, and wizards whose faces ranged from hostile to curious to openly supportive. He could see the second level better, where Bellatrix and Narcissa still sat behind the glass panels with their eyes fixed on him. Narcissa's expression was warm and relieved, and a small smile played at her lips as she met his gaze. Bellatrix's jaw had finally relaxed though a flicker of protective anger still lingered in her eyes.
Crouch's voice cut through his thoughts, sharp and commanding. "Lord Potter, you raised a question. Speak."
Lord Potter rose to his feet, his posture straight and dignified, his grey hair immaculate despite the late hour. His eyes swept across the courtroom before settling on Gilderoy. "I ask why this young man was arrested in the first place," he said, his voice carrying the weight of authority. "Several of our children were injured in the attack—students from all families, students who were simply trying to enjoy a day in Hogsmeade. Yet the Ministry saw fit to arrest the one person who was defending them."
A murmur rippled through the courtroom, some voices in agreement, others in protest.
"Mr. Lockhart," Lord Potter continued, turning to face Gilderoy directly, "would you be willing to share your memory of the attack? So that the court may see the truth for itself?"
Gilderoy glanced at Crouch and nodded. "I am," he said as his voice remained steady despite the exhaustion that pulled at him. "If it helps the court understand what happened."
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