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Chapter 522 Acquittal
Chapter 522 Acquittal
It is unprecedented, even in Wisconsin, for two witnesses to speak on behalf of the defendant.
The trial became increasingly difficult to continue. Reporters couldn't help but ask Fudge questions, inquiring about his views on the matter. Many more reporters tried to reach the witness stand to ask if the witnesses were also there to support Miss Hamilton.
"Quiet, quiet!" Burns was also having a terrible headache. She knew that many people sympathized with Miss Hamilton, but she really didn't expect that there would be two witnesses supporting her.
And it's very likely there were more than two, because Burns also saw Edward Parkinson, who was standing at the last witness and looked somewhat embarrassed.
This was someone she and Chief Scrimgeour had deliberately placed in the witness stand—in order to prevent Miss Hamilton from being sentenced to Azkaban or death.
But now it seems—it's no longer necessary—because it really is—
"Quiet, quiet!" She had to bang the gavel on the table again before speaking, "Quiet! This is Wissengamo, not Diagon Alley!"
As several Aurors appeared, the council gradually quieted down, but even so, the excited reporters continued to take pictures of Loila and Fudge's expressions.
This is all for the sake of getting a front-page headline in the newspaper.
"Do we still need to appear as witnesses?" Borns rubbed his temples slightly and looked at Andrew.
"————" Andrew stood there silently, seemingly unsure of what to do, while Fudge, sitting on the stage, remained silent.
For a moment, the parliament fell into an awkward silence.
"I demand to speak!" Seeing this, Parkinson boldly shouted, "I demand to speak as a witness!"
'
"No!" Andrew blurted out instinctively, "Parkinson's can't speak!"
"Why?" Shiloh raised an eyebrow and said, "Because you're worried that he also supports Miss Hamilton?"
"I—you—" Andrew stammered, unsure what to say, then looked to Fudge for help.
""
Fudge was silent for a few seconds, then slowly got up, flicked his robe, and left.
"Minister—Minister?" Umbridge hurriedly followed behind him, but her foot slipped slightly as she went down the steps, and she not only tumbled and fell to the ground, but also bumped into Fudge, causing him to fall down from the platform as well.
"Click, click."
For a time, the sound of cameras clicking was incessant. The case was just talk; who in the press wouldn't want to keep a picture of Minister Fouché falling to the ground?
In this comical and awkward atmosphere, Fudge and Umbridge hurriedly escaped from Parliament.
"Clatter".
With the doors of the Wissengamo Parliament closed, an awkward silence quietly descended.
"—" Borns raised an eyebrow and looked at the somewhat leaderless crowd, saying, "Given Minister Fudge—and Ms. Umbridge's departure."
"I think this can be interpreted as—they dropped the charges." Burns said, looking at Andrew: "Mr. Andrew, have you dropped the charges?"
"I—" Andrew said through gritted teeth, looking at Shiloh who was staring coldly at him, "I—I also withdraw the charges."
He looked at Loy with a venomous gaze, which confused Loy—I've never seen you before—why do you look like you have some grudge against me?
"So—since all three accusers have withdrawn their charges," Burns said, looking at Loila, "I hereby declare—the trial concerning Miss Loila Hamilton's illegal conduct concluded."
Miss Hamilton was acquitted.
"Hmm."
Why don't I feel any surprise? — Loila looked at the empty seats opposite her and the few witnesses standing beside them.
I—you—
She had expected this to be an unprecedented debate, with Mr. Andrew's accusations and Miss Shiloh's rebuttals, a battle of wits where both sides would seize upon the other's weaknesses to launch a counterattack.
Loila even kept muttering about whether or not to quote a famous line from Mr. Lockhart's novel.
"I object!"
To defend themselves.
It now seems that—after the witness appeared—everything could no longer proceed.
"It seems we've succeeded, Mr. Parkinson!"
"Huh?!" Parkinson was patted on the shoulder by a witch he didn't recognize in front of him.
He acted as if he and she had done something together.
You didn't do anything!
And—are you also on Professor Hamilton's side? There are five witnesses in total—how come four of them are with Professor Hamilton?!
Watching her leave happily, Parkinson couldn't help but frown slightly and look at the last witness.
You wouldn't happen to be one of Professor Hamilton's people, would you?
"Minister Fookie—this isn't what we agreed on—"
It doesn't seem like it —
"Miss Hamilton." As the trial concluded, Burns slowly walked up to Loila and nodded slightly.
"Borns—Ms. Borns." Loila pursed her lips and nodded.
"Thank you for your fair trial, Ms. Burns," Hilo said with a slight nod. "The British Ministry of Magic should be pleased to have someone like you."
"Our British Ministry of Magic has no shortage of people like me," Burns said slowly, looking at Loila. "Miss Hamilton, congratulations."
"But you should also know—you won't be so lucky next time," she said, as if to warn you. "So it's best not to get caught again, okay?"
"Okay—okay." Loila nodded awkwardly.
This isn't something I wanted to be caught—it was Dumbledore who insisted. —Wait, where's Dumbledore?
I've been acquitted, so why hasn't he shown up yet?
Before Loila could even think about these questions, the reporters had already surrounded her, bombarding her with questions, leaving her no chance to look for anyone else.
Unlike the bustling, crowded Wizengamo Council, the corridors of the Ministry of Magic were unusually quiet at this moment.
Fudge stood there with a dark expression, next to a blond man whose face was also not pleasant.
"Minister Fudge—it seems you're not so—adept at controlling the Ministry of Magic after all," Lucius said in a low voice, having just witnessed the entire trial.
"I—" Fudge pursed his lips and said, "This is all the result of Dumbledore's instigation in the shadows."
“It’s not just because of Dumbledore,” Lucius said, shaking his head. “Minister Fudge—perhaps you’d like to have some true allies among you, wouldn’t you?”
Fudge remained silent and did not speak.
Seeing his silence, Lucius shook his head slightly and then walked away, his cane tapping lightly on the ground, the sound carrying far.
Only after the sound of his cane had completely faded did a footstep slowly begin to sound.
"Cornell, you don't look too good." Dumbledore's voice made Fudge stiffen slightly. He looked up and saw the tall, imposing Dumbledore smiling at him.
"Dumbledore—" Fudge's lips trembled as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he just rubbed the ring on his hand and left.
Seeing this, Dumbledore's smile faded slightly, and he looked thoughtfully at the ring on Fudge's hand.