Chapter 181: Do You Also Enjoy Midnight Strolls?
Chapter 181: Do You Also Enjoy Midnight Strolls?
Eddie was granted permission to speak.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, he stared at Algernon, who seemed to be filled with guilt and remorse.
"Whether you were under the Imperius Curse and did those things because you were controlled, or because you truly wanted to, is something you know better than anyone."
Eddie's voice was cold, and his gaze was like a sharp blade, ready to slice through Algernon at any moment.
"I don't know how you made that decision. Flick Burns, the youngest member of my team, had been an Auror for less than six months. He was a righteous and kind person, and the person he admired the most was your great-grandmother, former Minister of Magic Wilmina Taft."
"Because he knew you were her descendant, he held you in high regard, believing that your prestigious lineage and pure blood made you a true representative of the Wizarding World's pure-blood wizards."
"Then, he died. The reason for his death was that he was betrayed by someone he trusted, someone who betrayed everyone!"
He didn't use a Sonorus Charm, but his voice was louder than Minkan's and Crouch's.
Sherlock could tell that Eddie was venting his emotions.
He was the one who was most concerned about the outcome of this trial.
Being falsely accused as a traitor was secondary; what truly infuriated Eddie was that the four Aurors under his command, who had dedicated their lives to the Ministry of Magic, were about to die in vain, while the real culprit could escape punishment by claiming the Imperius Curse.
Algernon covered his face and wept.
"It's my fault, I was controlled, and I am guilty. I won't deny my guilt."
Eddie's gaze was filled with utter disdain.
"You have no right to say you're sorry to him. The only way to make amends is to turn yourself over to the Dementors!"
"I request the use of Veritaserum, Minister", Eddie said coldly.
However, before Minkan could respond, a scarlet-robed wizard shook his head.
"Barbaric behavior! Veritaserum should be abolished! This potion is as evil as the Unforgivable Curses, and it disrespects the human rights of wizards!"
Many scarlet-robed wizards in the stands agreed with him, shaking their heads to reject the use of Veritaserum.
Of course, they weren't concerned about human rights.
If they truly cared about human rights, Azkaban would have been shut down long ago. Yet, every year, numerous high-ranking officials in the Ministry of Magic propose increasing the number of Dementors to strengthen the management of criminal wizards.
The real reason they opposed the use of Veritaserum was the fear that one day, the potion might be forced down their own throats.
Not everyone sitting there was a Death Eater infiltrator, but in the Wizarding World, few of the prominent and wealthy wizarding families or high-ranking politicians had clean hands.
Veritaserum could be used, but not abused.
This was the consensus among almost all politicians in the Ministry of Magic.
In Algernon's case, the situation had not yet reached the point where these Wizengamot wizards felt the need to use Veritaserum. They would only consider it if all his crimes were confirmed and they needed to extract crucial information from him.
Faced with this unwritten rule, even Minkan, who was known for his toughness against Death Eaters, remained silent.
He had risen to the position of Minister of Magic through the rules of the Ministry, so he had to abide by them.
Eddie's face was a mask of deep disappointment.
At this point, he already knew the outcome of today's trial.
Algernon would not die, and he would not even be sentenced to life in Azkaban.
The final result confirmed his fears.
After all the questioning was over, the Wizengamot held a vote.
All agreed that Algernon was guilty, but opinions varied on the appropriate punishment.
In the end, the majority decision was for a ten-year sentence in Azkaban.
A severe punishment, not light, but far from fitting the crimes Algernon had committed.
Few could endure the torment of the Dementors for ten years, but Sherlock caught a fleeting look of relief in Algernon's eyes.
He must have other plans, as he didn't even want to accept the Azkaban sentence.
At the end of the trial, Minkan read the verdict, and Eddie sat in his seat, his face seemingly calm, though no one knew what he was thinking.
As everyone left, Sherlock sighed and approached Eddie.
"Want to go to a bar for a drink? I know a place on the street above the Ministry that has a nice atmosphere."
Eddie remained motionless in his chair, and after a long pause, he finally shook his head.
"No, it's fine. I'm okay. We already knew this was going to happen, didn't we? Ten years isn't a small sentence. At least it's better than three."
He let out a long sigh, as if he had decided to stop thinking about the matter.
"Let's go back. Help me keep an eye on Amy. When the Ministry of Magic pays us in a couple of days, I'll treat you to a drink. There's still work to be done at the command center, so I'll be off."
Eddie got up, waved his hand at Sherlock without turning around, and headed toward the courtroom exit.
Sherlock watched his back, frowning and looking deep in thought.
He stood there for a moment, pondering, then also left the courtroom and returned to the Department of Mysteries.
Instead of going straight to his office, Sherlock first sought out Madame Selwyn, who had just returned.
"You seem dissatisfied with the trial's outcome", Madame Selwyn said before Sherlock could speak, as if she already knew his intention.
"A confirmed criminal, caught red-handed, whose words and actions were entirely consistent with his betrayal, yet he gets a reduced sentence just because of the Imperius Curse excuse."
She shook her head.
"It sounds like the Wizengamot wizards are all a bunch of fools. But this is the unspoken rule within the Ministry of Magic. Algernon's great-grandmother and grandfather both served as Ministers of Magic, so he knows these rules inside and out and how to use them to his advantage."
"Even if you work in the Department of Mysteries, a place where you rarely interact with others, you should still try to understand these rules."
Sherlock listened to Madame Selwyn, then put on an expression of having learned something and asked casually,
"Since Algernon's guilt has been established, when will he be sent to Azkaban?"
Madame Selwyn didn't catch the underlying meaning in Sherlock's words, assuming he was just curious about the process.
"Before being sent to Azkaban, he'll probably spend his last relaxing night tonight. Azkaban isn't a place for normal people, so even if he's just being sent there, his reasonable requests will be met as much as possible, but he won't be allowed to leave the Ministry of Magic's premises."
Sherlock blinked.
"So, he'll be held in the Auror Office's holding cells before being sent away?"
"Most criminals are transferred from there. Tonight, he might choose a song he likes and enjoy a full table of food. He'll be sent off before dawn tomorrow."
Madame Selwyn finally felt a bit puzzled and looked up at Sherlock.
"So, why do you need to know this?"
Sherlock smiled.
"Just like you said, I need to understand some of the hidden rules in the Ministry of Magic."
"There's nothing good to learn from these rules, John. I hope you never have to use them. Also, have you decided which area you want to focus on? I can't let you keep dragging your feet. Everyone in the department has their own work, and you can't keep idling."
Hearing her urgency, Sherlock didn't hesitate.
"I'll focus on the Time Division. I find that area interesting."
"The Time Division is fine. I'll compile the research materials for you tomorrow and explain the specifics later."
She seemed busy with other tasks, so Sherlock didn't linger and left her office.
He leaned against the wall of the black hallway, staring at the dark ceiling, thinking for a moment. Finally, he shook his head and muttered to himself,
"Rules, it seems some people don't want to follow them."
Sherlock returned to his office, had lunch with Amy, and spent the afternoon studying Revelations of Dark Magic. When night fell and Amy was asleep, he quietly left the Department of Mysteries.
Before leaving, Sherlock cast a Disillusionment Charm on himself.
This invisibility spell wasn't as effective as an Invisibility Cloak, but under the cover of night, it was nearly as good.
He walked alone into the elevator and went to the second floor, where the Department of Magical Law Enforcement was located.
In the hallway, he encountered two Aurors on night duty, but they didn't notice the invisible Sherlock.
He stopped outside the Auror Office. It was already midnight, and the office was dark, with only the night shift Aurors still around. Even those working overtime rarely stayed this late.
But Sherlock waited silently. After about half an hour, he suddenly felt a breeze brush past him.
The Ministry of Magic, being underground, shouldn't have any wind.
Sherlock, undisturbed, spoke softly in the direction of the breeze,
"What a coincidence, you also like to take midnight strolls?"
(End of Chapter)
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