#447The Supreme Court, interrupted one after anotherAI Model: gemini-2.5-flashChapter 447 Supreme Court, Interruptions One After AnotherThe two walked through a long corridor and descended to the tenth floor after passing through a door.This floor was entirely composed of courtrooms. Passing the first through ninth courtrooms, they saw a large black door, behind which was the tenth courtroom.Cornelius Fudge and Lucius Malfoywere also there, discussing something. Upon seeing the two appear, they The conversation stopped tacitly."Welcome." Fudge instantly put on a smiling face. "I didn't expect you, Aaron, to be interested in Harry Potter's public trial.""No, it has nothing to do with Harry Potter." Aaron said earnestly, "The reason I came was purely on a whim, wanting to witness a trial in the Wizarding World."Fudge's expression froze, and he looked at Aaron somewhat suspiciously. "As far as I know, your relationship with Harry Potter...""We are just ordinary friends." Aaron interrupted, "So Minister, you don't have to worry that I will speak on his behalf. I also believe the Ministry of Magic will be fair and just.However, I have a small question, and I hope Minister Fudge can clarify it for me.""What is it?""Even if an underage Wizard really used magic outside of school, there's no need to organize the Wizengamotfor a trial, is there!" Aaron's face was filled with deep confusion. "This is the highest court in the Wizarding World; using it to try an underage person seems a bit of an overreaction.""Ah, this..."Fudge was momentarily speechless. He couldn't very well say he was deliberately making things difficult for Harry Potter!Logically, for such a minor matter, if handled simply, it would only require calling him to a special department for a few questions before being acquitted. But he used his power as Minister to escalate the scale to that of trying a Death Eater, precisely to magnify this incident indefinitely, hoping to expel Harry Potter from the Wizarding World. This way, rumors about Lord Voldemort's return could be effectively suppressed."Because of Harry Potter's special nature." Lucius Malfoy suddenly spoke, giving Fudge a way out. "Harry Potteris, after all, the well-known Savior of the Wizarding World. Naturally, he cannot be treated like everyone else.""Right, that's exactly it." Fudge quickly said."I see." Aaron nodded, then looked at Lucius. "Uncle Lucius, are you also here to observe?""No, I just have some private matters to discuss with Minister Fudge." Luciussaid calmly, as if the Death Eaters' attack on Aaron two months ago had never happened.Aaron showed a meaningful smile, certain in his heart that Lucius Malfoyhad played a significant role in this trial against Harry Potter."Then we'll go in first. Say hello to Draco for me."Fudge pushed open the door and entered the courtroom first. Aaron and Geins followed him, and very consciously sat in the empty spectator seats.Fifty Wizards in plum-colored robes sat on the tiered seats directly in front. They looked at the two brought by Fudge, also puzzled."Allow me to introduce these two...""Mr. Geins." Several surprised voices came from the judge's bench. "How did you come here?""To show the heir of the Gaius family the world." Geins smiled and pointed to Aaron sitting next to him, introducing, "My young master is a Hogwarts student, and he is in the same year as Harry Potter, the subject of your trial.Of course, you don't need to feel any pressure; just be fair and just according to your own thoughts."As his voice fell, there was an uproar on the judge's bench.The few who knew Geins and Aaron's identities looked solemn, feeling that the upcoming trial must be conducted conscientiously. Those who didn't know their identities, however, looked displeased, feeling that these two were a bit overbearing.But since they were brought by the Minister for Magic, they couldn't say much."It seems I don't need to introduce them." Fudge smiled at the two, an awkward but polite smile, then walked to his seat, the very center of the judge's bench.Two Witches sat on his left and right, respectively the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement and the Senior Undersecretary to the Minister for Magic. The one responsible for recording was Ron's elder brother, Percy Weasley."Uncle Geins, it seems some of the judges know you!" Aaron looked at him playfully. "Care to explain?""Nothing, just helped them out a little in the past.""A little help?" Aaron raised an eyebrow, the words 'I don't believe you' practically written on his face."It was just a small favor." Geins said indifferently, "Three of them were Aurors, and I happened to save their lives.One is my wife's senior, but she has a family hereditary disease, and St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries was helpless. It was the Patriarch who asked me to send her Lord Lant's elixir.And another's career was full of setbacks; I showed him a clear path, otherwise he wouldn't have had the chance to sit here."Aaron blinked blankly, silently complaining in his heart.Good heavens, really good heavens.Five of the fifty judges owed the Gaius family a favor. Although the proportion was only ten percent, the Wizengamot's trial results were decided by vote, and sometimes the crucial vote was all that mattered.Creak!The courtroom door opened again, and Harry Potter walked in, looking somewhat restrained."Good morning, Harry.""Aaron, Mr. Geins, why are you here?" Harry asked, surprised."To observe!" Aaron said as a matter of course, "The Savior's trial sounds interesting.""Observe?"Harry looked at the spectator seats, occupied by only two people, and couldn't help but twitch his lips.This didn't look like observing at all; it looked more like coming to watch a show.However, with two familiar faces there, his mood relaxed a little. After all, Mr. Weasley could only take him to the door, and facing the malicious Fudgealone, he was somewhat apprehensive."Order!"Fudge rapped his gavel, looked at Harry Potter, and said, "You are five minutes late.""I didn't know the time had changed. It was supposed to be nine in the morning.""That is not the Wizengamot's fault. We sent an owl to inform you this morning.However, never mind, sit down!"Harry bit his lip indignantly, feeling that Fudge was deliberately targeting him.Changing the time and place at the last minute, he couldn't believe Fudgewould do such a shameless thing.Fortunately, Mr. Weasley had taken him out early. If they had been ten or twenty minutes later, these judges would certainly not have had a good impression of him."The defendant is present, we can begin." Fudge looked at Percy, who was sitting in the front row, and asked, "Are you ready?""Ready, sir.""Very good." Fudge said with satisfaction, "Then I declare..."Halfway through his sentence, several black lines appeared on Fudge's face, because Aaron in the spectator seats was raising his right hand high.In a spectator area with only two people, his action was incredibly conspicuous; he couldn't pretend not to see it."Does Mr. Gaius have a question?""I apologize for the interruption, but in my impression, the defendant always needs a defense counsel, doesn't he?""But only Harry Potter arrived; his defense counsel is not present." Fudgesaid somewhat triumphantly, "This is considered having no defense counsel.""Perhaps he also didn't know that the Ministry of Magic changed the time at the last minute." Harry said weakly, "If possible, I suggest we wait a moment for my defense counsel to arrive.""Heh heh!" A hint of mockery flashed in Fudge's eyes. "This is the Wizengamot; each of us has our own affairs to do, and I'm afraid we don't have that much time.Furthermore, Harry Potter, if you think delaying will prolong your trial time, you are gravely mistaken.""I don't think so." Dumbledore strode in, standing behind Harry and looking righteously at the judges. "I am the defense counsel for the defendant, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore."Dumbledore's appearance made the atmosphere in the courtroom lively. The fifty judges began to whisper among themselves, reacting differently.Although The Daily Prophet had slandered the venerable White WizardKing beyond recognition, they all knew Dumbledore's influence and would not underestimate him because of so-called public opinion."Thank you, Mr. Gaius." Dumbledoresmiled gently. "Although I don't know why you are here, the time you bought is quite precious for Harry."Aaron:...This old man definitely misunderstood something.Or rather, he did it on purpose. Such words would probably make others think he was here to help Harry Potter."You..." Fudge was both surprised and fearful, saying unnaturally, "So you received our notice about changing the interrogation time and place?""I don't seem to have received it, but... I made a lucky mistake and arrived at the Ministry of Magic three hours early.""Alright! If you need a chair...""Don't trouble yourself." Dumbledorepulled out his wand, gave it a slight flick, and conjured a soft armchair next to Harry, then sat down.Fudge forced a smile, then rapped his gavel. "Disciplinary Hearing, August the Twelfth, concerning the breach of the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery by Harry James Potter, resident at Number Four, Privet Drive, Little Whinging, Surrey.Interrogators: Cornelius Oswald Fudge, Minister for Magic; Amelia Susan Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement; Dolores Umbridge, Senior Undersecretary to the Minister for Magic.Court Scribe: Percy Ignatius Weasley.Witness for the Defense: AlbusPercival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore.""The charges against the defendant in this case are as follows: The defendant deliberately, and fully aware that his actions were illegal, performed a Patronus Charm, and did so in front of a Muggle." Fudge looked directly into Harry's eyes and asked sternly, "Do you deny performing the Patronus Charm?""I don't deny it, but..."Fudge didn't give him a chance to speak, interrupting, "You know that using magic outside of school is prohibited before the age of seventeen.""Yes, that's right, but...""Members of the Wizengamot..." Fudge's voice abruptly stopped as Aaron once again raised his right hand."Does Mr. Gaius have any more questions?" Fudge asked, suppressing his anger. He now strongly suspected Aaron was standing up for his friend, otherwise he wouldn't interrupt him repeatedly."I'm very sorry to interrupt again." Aaron said earnestly, "It is well known that the Wizengamot is the highest court in the Wizarding World, but even when interrogating a Death Eater, one should give them the right to speak!If the defendant doesn't even have a chance to speak, then this hearing loses its purpose; you can just pronounce judgment directly."Fudge's expression froze, his face twitching slightly, but he was speechless.He was indeed the Minister for Magic, but in front of so many high-ranking Ministry of Magic officials and other prominent Wizards, he couldn't abuse his power."The defendant can certainly speak." Amelia, sitting to Fudge's left, said.Harry breathed a sigh of relief. "The reason I used the Patronus Charm was because I encountered Dementors.""Dementors?" Amelia frowned slightly, a hint of astonishment in her expression. "In Little Whinging?""Yes." Harry nodded."What a clever excuse!" Fudgesneered, "Muggles can't see Dementors, can they, child?You are truly cunning.""I'm not lying, there were two of them." Harry quickly said, "If I hadn't used the Patronus Charm in time, the Dementors would have killed us.""Enough." Fudge waved his hand. "I think this must be a carefully fabricated story. You cannot provide any eyewitnesses to this incident.""I, I have a witness." Harry stammered.Fudge paused, then shook his head. "Dudley Dursley doesn't count.""It's not him.""Dumbledore doesn't count either." Fudge emphasized, "I'm sure he wasn't in Little Whinging at that time.""It's not Professor Dumbledore either." Harry said somewhat angrily, then looked at Dumbledore with some apprehension. "Professor, Mrs. Figg..."Dumbledore gave him a reassuring look. "Minister, we do have a witness. She's right outside the door."Fudge's face instantly turned ashen. "Weasley, you go."Percy immediately stood up and quickly ran out.Half a minute later, he returned, followed by a nervous old lady.Dumbledore gave his seat to her and conjured a new chair for himself."Name?" Fudge asked impatiently."Arabella Figg." Mrs. Figg was experiencing such a grand occasion for the first time, and her voice trembled slightly. "I am a resident of Little Whinging, Harry Potter's neighbor.""But according to our records, besides Harry Potter, there are no other Wizards in Little Whinging." Amelia said, "And ordinary people cannot see Dementors.""Right." Fudge immediately perked up, exclaiming excitedly, "I said all along they were talking nonsense.""I am a Squib." Mrs. Figg said somewhat angrily, "Squibs are not registered, but they can see things that ordinary people cannot."Aaron's eyes widened slightly, and he inexplicably glanced at Dumbledore, as if he understood something.Having a Squib as Harry Potter's neighbor was equivalent to placing him under close surveillance. Harry Potter's every move was probably being closely watched.More importantly, a Squib neighbor was essentially a legal unregistered resident; no one would suspect a Wizard without a wand and no magic.Tsk! No wonder Dumbledore was called the White Wizard King who experienced two Wizarding Wars!His level of cunning was truly high; most people wouldn't even think of such a thing.
