No matter how the outside world speculated, Pierce Sinclaire succeeded the position of Minister methodically.
On the first day, he strongly retained Scrimgeour to continue overseeing the Auror Office and made no changes to the members of the Wizengamot.
The image of the Minister of Ministry of Magic shaking hands with the head of the Auror Office appeared in the newspapers, Scrimgeour's appearance looked like a lion with its fur bristled.
On the second day, Sinclaire signed a batch of personnel transfer orders, making slight adjustments to some positions, eighty percent of which were mid-to-low level officials closely linked to Umbridge and also facing charges.
On the third day, Sinclaire visited Hogwarts to meet Dumbledore, reportedly, they talked for three to four hours with a very pleasant atmosphere.
Immediately after, this energetic Minister made a surprise inspection of Azkaban and met with the head of the International Magical Cooperation Department in the afternoon to understand the International Wizarding Union's reaction to his election.
Every day following, his schedule was suffocatingly packed, FMC's journalists were practically welded to his side, with at least two hours of news about Minister Sinclaire broadcast on Flow Mirror every day —
In the morning, he chaired a director-level meeting for various departments, carefully reviewing the mountain of proposed legal amendments;
In the afternoon, he energetically discussed contentious clauses in the Magical Creatures Management Act, and by evening inspected the Magic Accident and Disaster Department.
With the start of a new day, he met with the head of St Mungo's Hospital to discuss the thorny issues of funding and medical resource allocation;
He then negotiated with the goblins of Gringotts and found time to visit the Muggle Prime Minister.
"It's the first time I realized that the Minister of Ministry of Magic could be this busy!"
Machioni complained to Vid:
"The reporters tracking the interviews even put forward an unprecedented request for a weekly subsidy of a pair of Dragon Skin Boots!"
Vid laughed: "Did you approve it?"
"Of course!" Machioni said helplessly: "Because when he applied, he brought the worn-out boots to my office."
Vid couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Machioni also laughed and said: "Ah, you really should have seen how Fudge used to work — scones, fruit tarts, and then an afternoon cup of tea. Trivial matters were left to Umbridge's close aides, and only when the golden Mr. Malfoy arrived could he perk up."
Vid, uninterested in the history of Fudge, asked instead: "And what does that reporter, who follows this new Minister who tries to live for two seconds each one, have to say about him?"
"Well..."
Machioni stroked his chin and pondered: "He says he's being driven mad by this old man who's almost sixty. But... how to say? We appreciate this kind of madness, it fits well with our Aslan Magic Workshop style..."
Passing through a dimly lit corridor, the heavy black doors of the Wizengamot courtroom appeared ahead, and the solemn air seemed to emanate from within.
The two fell silent and walked in one after another without a sound, sitting in an inconspicuous corner at the back.
Just a week into his term, Sinclaire vigorously initiated many tasks. Although there were few changes in personnel and system within the Ministry of Magic, his attitude to get things done was clearly communicated.
On entering the Ministry of Magic today, Vid distinctly noticed this change —
He still remembered his first entry into the Ministry, where the registrar's attitude was laid-back, even leaving his post to chase after Harry for a signature.
But this time, the sight of staff clutching files and jogging was everywhere, the green flames in the fireplaces almost continuously flickered, and paper airplanes carrying messages flew in hordes overhead, a stark contrast to the usual lazy and nonchalant atmosphere.
And today, Sinclaire wasn't idle either — he decisively decided to put the criminally-laden Umbridge on trial.
Vid pulled up his hood to obscure himself, sitting high in the audience seats, overlooking below.
The benches in the public gallery were almost fully occupied by self-invited wizards, some wore expressions of resentment and gratification, some were full of curiosity looking around, while others were stern or filled with suspicion.
Wizengamot members in their crimson robes sat silent and solemn, Sinclaire also sat at the judge's table, but the central position belonged to Ms. Bones with short grey hair.
The two sat side by side without the awkwardness or dissatisfaction of past competition, only a cold, business-like focus.
And that coldness did not stem from sitting beside the other person, but because of the woman brought in by two Dementors—
Umbridge.
She was almost unrecognizable — Umbridge's beloved pink and ribbons were gone, in their place was a drab prison uniform hanging loosely on her.
Her greasy hair hung over her forehead, her face was bloodless pale, and her bulging eyes darted around fearfully as if hoping to catch a glimmer of reassuring support from those cold stares.
Yet the crowd's gaze at her was as if she had truly become an ugly toad.
"Dolores Jane Umbridge."
After introducing the attendees, Ms. Bones said in a tone without a trace of fluctuation: "You are accused of abuse of power, illegal detention, illegal use of Veritaserum and Dark Magic, severe corruption, extortion..."
She read Umbridge's charges one by one, revealing subsequent investigations confirmed the crimes, neither roaring nor mocking, just an objective statement.
But this emotionless, procedural exposure was more powerful than any angered accusation.
Among the Wizengamot members, a low murmur of disgust stirred, and the attending wizards cast icy glances at Umbridge.
"I..." Umbridge, sweating profusely, stammered to defend herself: "There were reasons for this... I was ensuring the stability of the Ministry of Magic... In fact, I was under the Imperio, that's why I acted so irrationally..."
She rambled incoherently, however, the evidence provided by Skeeter was complete, and in recent days, more wizards who had suffered under Umbridge came forward.
She had no room for argument; as for the Imperio claim, it was pure nonsense.
Although the Imperio is hard to detect, if Dark Wizards were controlling high officials of the Ministry of Magic, there ought to be a specific purpose.
Yet, Umbridge's wanton persecution of others, with benefits accruing personally to herself, clearly indicated she was not under anyone's control; her behavior was the embodiment of her inherent "evil nature."
When Ms. Bones asked: "Those in favor of the conviction, raise your hands."
In the seats of the Wizengamot, arms rose in unison, like a forest of unwavering fir trees, solemn and stately; or like a silent wave that instantly engulfed the last hope Umbridge was desperately clinging to.
"No—!"
Amid Umbridge's desperate scream, Ms. Bones struck the gavel heavily:
"The court has unanimously ruled, all charges against the defendant Dolores Jane Umbridge are upheld... sentenced to lifelong imprisonment in Azkaban! Effective immediately!"