#203 - Judgment
After Anduin and the others were seated, the space around them quickly filled up, mostly with Wizengamot members, Aurors, and reporters. ReadМ
In the center of the hall stood a two-meter-high metal cage, surrounded by a dense array of inward-pointing spikes.
Barty Crouch Sr. sat in the judge's seat in the very center, with Anduin seated next to Dumbledore and Moody.
“Now that everyone is here, let's begin!” Barty Crouch said, looking around the room. “The Department of Magical Law Enforcement has already interrogated all the Death Eaters, who have all confessed and been sent to Azkaban.”
“However, one of the Death Eaters, Igor Karkaroff, has offered to provide information to the Ministry of Magic in exchange for a reduced sentence or release.”
“Today, we need you all to jointly assess the value of the information provided by this Death Eater to determine whether it meets the standard for a reduced sentence or release, with each Wizengamot member having one vote.”
Barty Crouch then turned his head to look at Anduin. “This trial is quite special. You personally apprehended this Death Eater, and it concerns his freedom. Minister Bagnold has stated that Anduin, you may also have one vote. Do you all agree?”
“Agreed!” “Agreed.”
The surrounding Wizengamot councilors expressed their agreement one after another, clearly unwilling to make things difficult for the newly minted combat hero on such trivial matters. →
“Oh, this is to take my feelings into consideration, so that's why they've arranged this? Minister Bagnold is truly adept at winning people over. Only one vote doesn't affect the overall situation, but it shows enough respect.” Anduin nodded thoughtfully to Director Crouch.
“But I won't be casting a dissenting vote today. The criminal you're judging is going to be my future little brother.”
“Alright, bring in Igor Karkaroff.”
Subsequently, a sound of gears and chains grinding echoed from the central metal cage, and Karkaroff was lifted up through an opening at the bottom of the cage.
Karkaroff looked around at the suddenly appearing crowd with some trepidation, especially after seeing Anduin, he nervously glanced at him from time to time.
But Anduin put on a curious expression as if he was meeting Karkaroff for the first time, which also reminded Karkaroff. After that, he stopped shifting his gaze and seriously looked at Director Crouch directly opposite him.
“Igor Karkaroff, at your request, we are giving you the opportunity for this trial, to provide the council with information and evidence that you know. If the value of your information is judged to be sufficient, we will even consider ordering your release. Do you accept this condition?” Director Crouch asked. →
“I accept, Director,” Karkaroff couldn't help but glance at Anduin again before nodding in response.
“What are you willing to provide?”
“Names, the names of Death Eaters!” Karkaroff swallowed and said according to Anduin's instructions.
“Continue!” Director Crouch asked with interest.
Karkaroff then reported the list of Death Eaters he had obtained from Anduin to the Director one by one, including the spy in the Department of Mysteries, Augustus Rookwood, the Carrow siblings, Avery, Corban Yaxley, the brother of Rowle Yaxley, and so on. Except for Snape, he confessed everything on the list.
The details of his report surprised everyone present. In addition to the crimes the Death Eaters had committed, he even knew their current locations.
Such a detailed report caused an uproar among the surrounding people, and even Director Barty Crouch was stunned.
“Finally, there's…” Karkaroff couldn't help but look at Anduin again, and after seeing the subtle nod from the other party, he gritted his teeth and shouted out the name.
“Barty Crouch Jr.!”
What? Everyone was shocked and exclaimed, looking at Barty Crouch in the center of the platform, and then turning to look for his son, who was also present.
Barty Crouch Jr. was sitting not far from Anduin. In fact, he had noticed something was wrong when Karkaroff began to confess. This guy knew far too much, and he could even clearly state their current locations, as if he had obtained the internal list of Death Eaters.
After Karkaroff shouted his name, Barty Jr. finally couldn't bear it any longer. His face twisted, and he frantically drew his wand and pointed it at Karkaroff.
“You scum, traitor! Die! Avada… Ah!”
Just as Barty Jr. stood up, preparing to commit murder on the spot, a flash of silver light passed by.
After everyone saw clearly, it turned out to be a silver metal snake. At this time, the silver snake was tightly biting Barty Crouch Jr.'s wrist and was constantly coiling around his arm, instantly interrupting his spellcasting.
In fact, Anduin had been paying attention to Barty Jr. when Karkaroff was about to say Barty Jr.'s name. As soon as Barty Jr. took out his wand, Anduin quickly cast the Spirit Shackling Serpent.
“Grab him, quickly!”
A group of Aurors watching quickly pounced on Barty Jr., and Anduin took the opportunity to retract his Spirit Shackling Serpent.
“Damn it, it's all your fault, you little bastard! Anduin Wilson!” Barty Crouch Jr., who was being held by the Aurors, looked at Anduin with a ferocious expression as he was dragged past him, wishing he could swallow him alive on the spot.
Heh, the wail of a loser. Anduin coldly watched Barty Jr. being dragged away by the Aurors, and did not react to his curse.
“If it weren't for getting Karkaroff acquitted, I wouldn't have let you off so easily,” Anduin thought to himself.
“Good job, Anduin, you reacted quickly enough. I thought that kid was acting strange before, but I didn't expect him to be a Death Eater,” Moody said with a chuckle, patting Anduin's shoulder.
“Just lucky, I almost didn't have time to draw my wand,” Anduin shook his head slightly.
The shocking news that Barty Crouch Jr. was actually a Death Eater still echoed in the hall, even leaving Barty Crouch, the person involved, speechless for a moment.
The scene fell into an uproar for a while, and Minister Crouch didn't react for a moment until Dumbledore stood up.
“Silence!”
After Dumbledore's deterrence, everyone finally calmed down.
But the trial still had to continue, but Director Barty Crouch seemed to have not recovered from this shocking news.
“As Barty Crouch Jr.'s father, as a person involved, I am no longer qualified to continue presiding over this trial.” Director Crouch seemed to have recovered, raised his head, and looked at Dumbledore. “Dumbledore, please take over the interrogation.”
After saying that, Director Crouch staggered down from the platform and walked out of the trial chamber with a heavy heart.
