"Great," said Fudge. "Everyone's here, let's begin. Ready?" he called to the other end of the dugout.
Allen followed his gaze and saw another witch sitting at the far end of the bench, but she was so far back that her face was obscured by shadow.
However, it was clear that he was carefully examining the parchment in front of him, a quill pen in his hand, ready to write.
Fudge announced in a booming voice, "The hearing is on February 12th," and the witch bowed her head and hastily began to jot down notes.
"The case concerns the betrayal of the Potter couple and the murder of Peter Pettigrew thirteen years ago by the Death Eater Sirius Black." The Minister of Magic glanced around and continued speaking with steady force.
"Interrogators: Minister for Magic Cornelius Oswald Fudge; former Head of the Magic Law Enforcement Office Barty Crouch. Trial Judge: Dolores Jane Umbridge—"
The woman recording suddenly lifted her head and leaned forward, revealing her true appearance.
It resembled a large, pale frog.
He was short and stout, with a broad, drooping face and a large, drooping mouth.
Her eyes were large, round, and slightly protruding.
The small black velvet ribbon perched on her short, curly hair resembled a large fly, as if it were about to extend its sticky, long tongue and catch her.
Allen couldn't help but wonder under what circumstances Umbridge, who was merely a trial judge at the time, was allowed to rise to the position of Senior Under-Secretary to the Minister for Magic two years later.
"Defense Witnesses: Albert Harris, Severus Snape."
Allen turned his head in surprise and saw his older brother and the Potions professor enter through a corner.
Albert walked with long strides, calm and self-assured, appearing highly capable. Professor Snape followed behind, his face grim.
Upon seeing Professor Snape, Allen involuntarily glanced towards Headmaster Dumbledore at the podium.
Dumbledore, his long silver-white beard and hair gleaming in the torchlight, looked at Professor Snape from behind his crooked nose and the crooked, half-moon-shaped glasses he wore.
"We've decided it would be best for you to sit in the audience for now," Mr. Owen said softly. "You don't need to get involved unless absolutely necessary."
Allen nodded, knowing deep down that this was his father's protection and perhaps one of the deals between himself and Fudge.
After Albert and Professor Snape took their seats, Fudge ordered the Aurors to bring Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew to the deliberation room.
Approaching footsteps were heard, the corner door of the dungeon opened and four people entered: Black, Pettigrew and two Aurors.
"Hmm…" Fudge paused for a moment, extended his wand, and waved it gently. A chair identical to the one in the middle of the meeting room appeared.
The sorcerers led Black and Pettigrew to the chairs, and instantly chains flew out, binding them tightly.
Fudge searched through a stack of documents, pulled out a piece of parchment, took a deep breath, and read aloud; it was the original verdict against Sirius Black.
After she finished reading, a deep silence fell over the room.
"Sirius Black," a voice suddenly called out.
Allen turned his head and saw Mr. Crouch standing in the middle of the long bench next to him.
In a very serious tone, he said, "You spent thirteen years in Azkaban and didn't even consider appealing. And now you're saying you're innocent and that Peter Pettigrew isn't dead?"
"Yes, so you didn't give me a chance to appeal, you just threw me straight into Azkaban, right?"
Sirius looked at Crouch disdainfully, "And here he is, Peter Pettigrew. Didn't the Ministry Aurors try every means to verify his identity last night?"
Hearing Sirius's mocking words, the Wizengamot members, clad in purple robes and seated on the platform, began whispering amongst themselves.
Barty Crouch's lips turned pale and clenched tightly together.
Silence did not prevail at the podium until Fudge spoke again.
Fudge said with a serious expression, "Please report the results of last night's meetings."
Lloyd approached, carrying the Pool of Thought, while Dardanian followed behind with two bottles and several parchments.
Members of the Wizengamot, led by Professor Dumbledore, reviewed these statements and documents, examining the memories of Sirius and Pettigrew.
Allen noticed that the two female members of the Wizengamot had tears in their eyes as they looked at Sirius Black.
Seeing that Pettigrew's faked death was now certain, Crouch asked again, "Peter Pettigrew, why did you fake your death and run away?"
"I fooled everyone, but there were reasons for it." Despite the fear in Peter's voice, he still tried to defend himself.
He repeated the same excuse he gave in the Forbidden Forest.
Sirius rose angrily, but was firmly restrained back into his chair by the chains.
"To escape from a prisoner incarcerated in Azkaban by living as a rat inside a wizard family for thirteen years is truly bizarre."
Before Sirius could speak, a high-pitched, shrill voice, exaggeratedly like a girl's, echoed; it was Umbridge.
Umbridge suddenly dropped her quill, stood up, plastered a fake smile on her face, and her two large, round eyes reflected an utterly cold expression!
Allen hadn't missed the eye contact he'd previously made with Fudge.
He's a born politician, really.
Allen sighed inwardly. Although Umbridge made an off-putting impression, her rise to such a high position in such a short time certainly demonstrated her extraordinary qualities.
A murmur spread through the room, and the Wizengamot members, impressed by Umbridge's words, spoke amongst themselves and nodded their heads.
Peter Pettigrew stammered, and any explanation seemed ridiculous and ineffective in the face of his reality.
He sat slumped in the chair, his face deathly pale and drenched in cold sweat.
Crouch rose to his feet and said coldly, "Umbridge, the court did not grant you permission to speak."
Umbridge sat down obediently, but the look in her eyes as she glanced at Fudge clearly showed a search for approval.
Fudge nodded almost imperceptibly.
Crouch wanted to learn more, but Fudge got there first.
"Since the evidence is conclusive, let's proceed to a vote," Fudge said quickly. He turned to his right, "Jury members, please pay attention… those who believe in Sirius Black's innocence, please raise your hands…"
Except for Crouch, most of the jury members raised their hands, and some raised their hands after hesitating.
Black's heart was pounding, almost suffocating him. He took two deep breaths and then looked at his shoes.