Chapter 386: Trial
Chapter 386: Trial (Request for Subscriptions, Favorites, and Votes)
Everyone entered the basement kitchen, and Sirius Black came out to embrace Harry. While the godfather and godson chatted, Liam and the others took plates, wine glasses, and food from the pantry to help Mrs. Weasley set everything up.
"Turns out there was a whole set of 15th-century goblin-crafted fine silverware here, but it's all gone now, replaced by this cheap stuff", Mundungus said gloomily, holding up a crystal glass as Liam was setting the table.
"Where did they go?" Harry asked, curious.
"Liam turned all those precious silver pieces into arrowheads", Mundungus said, his voice filled with regret.
"I don't see what's so regrettable about that. The goblins refined that silver, and with a bit of processing, it can deal extra damage to dark creatures. Paired with the spring-loaded wrist crossbow I made, it gives everyone a bit more confidence when facing the Dark Lord's followers. I think that's far more valuable than a few wine glasses", Liam countered.
Mrs. Weasley worked quickly, and within half an hour, all the dishes were steaming and arranged on the table. Once they started eating, the atmosphere in the Great Hall was lively, with everyone discussing lighter topics.
"Fudge and his cronies will definitely use Harry's use of the Guardian Charm in front of Muggles to bring him to trial. After all, for those people, this is a chance to strike at Dumbledore, and they won't let it slip. But this time, we can make them hoist by their own petard", Mr. Weasley's voice echoed through the kitchen.
"Section 7 of the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery Act clearly states that magic can be used in front of Muggles in special circumstances, such as when the life of the wizard or any other wizard or Muggle present is threatened. Harry faced two Dementors; using magic in such a situation is entirely legal. Plus, thanks to Liam, we have the strongest evidence."
"Why don't we clear things up now instead of letting Harry go through a trial?" Ginny asked, puzzled.
"Because if they can release Dementors, they might do even worse things", Liam replied. "For Harry's safety, Professor Dumbledore decided to present the evidence when everyone is focused on the matter, giving Fudge and his gang a hard blow. This will keep them from targeting Harry for a while."
Liam turned to Harry. "I'm sorry if this makes you feel wronged, but—"
Before Liam could explain, Harry smiled and stopped him. "You don't need to explain. If it means giving the masterminds a good lesson, I don't mind a bit of inconvenience."
After finishing the last crumbs of Butter Bread, Sirius Black prepared to tell Harry what had been happening recently. Mrs. Weasley started shooing people out, thinking the children weren't ready to hear it. Liam stood up on his own, and Hermione, noticing this, followed him out of the kitchen.
"Aren't you curious about all this? Why did you leave as soon as Mrs. Weasley said something? If you ask me, you're the most qualified to know the secret of the Phoenix, aside from Harry", Hermione asked as they walked upstairs.
"Not at all. On one hand, knowing too much about things you shouldn't can bring additional risks. On the other hand, I can already guess what they're going to tell Harry, like the recent situation or what the Dark Lord has been up to. If I can guess these things, there's no need to hear them again."
"You know what the Dark Lord is doing", Hermione said, looking at Liam with a touch of disbelief. "Don't tell me your mind is linked to his like Harry's."
"It has nothing to do with magic", Liam said, pushing the door open and walking into the small living room. They were currently staying in a suite, each with their own bedroom, but they shared a small living room. Sitting down at the coffee table, Liam continued.
"You know that during the last war, the Dark Lord went on a killing spree, targeting not only his opponents but also Muggles for fun. This time, it's completely different. He's been resurrected for a long time, but there hasn't been a single unexpected death. What could make the Dark Lord and his followers so quiet for so long? I suspect the only possibility is that, after summarizing the reasons for his previous failure, he is now looking for a way to avoid repeating those mistakes. He might be searching for a weapon, a powerful spell, or some crucial information", Liam explained.
"What exactly could it be?" Hermione asked, propping her head up with her hand and falling into deep thought.
"I don't know, but I doubt they would tell Harry such specific details", Liam said. The room fell silent, and in the silence, they heard Mrs. Weasley, the Weasley Twins, and Ginny passing by in the corridor, their voices raised in argument.
"Don't overthink it", Liam said, standing up and gently patting Hermione's shoulder. "If it's not something we should handle, knowing it would only add unnecessary worry. If it is our responsibility, we'll find out eventually."
Hermione nodded and then bid Liam goodbye before returning to her room. Liam stayed in the living room for a few more minutes before going back to his own room to rest.
In the following days, everything returned to normal. The only unusual event was during the daily group study sessions. Hermione was somewhat upset when she discovered that Harry had not completed most of his homework and urged him to catch up.
"Hermione, I have my trial next Thursday—"
"But we all know you'll win this time. You just need to remain silent in court; there's no need to prepare anything in advance. So, before the trial, you should focus on your homework. This is our O.W.L. year, and we need to use every moment to study."
Harry felt a bit down; homework wasn't exactly his favorite activity. However, he was also glad that his friends believed he would be fine. So, under their encouragement, he took out his homework and started writing. Fortunately, everyone here was willing to help, making his work more efficient than when he was with the Dursleys.
Thursday arrived, and as Liam was coming downstairs, he saw Harry following Mr. Weasley and Sirius Black from the kitchen towards the door.
"Good luck! You'll be fine", Liam called out from the stairs. Harry managed a somewhat forced smile in response.
Mrs. Weasley, who was in the kitchen, looked a bit anxious. Although she knew Harry would likely be fine, she couldn't help but worry about the worst-case scenarios.
As Liam ate breakfast, he saw the others coming down from upstairs, feeling a bit regretful that they hadn't seen Harry off. After breakfast, the atmosphere in the house was tense. Instead of going upstairs to do their usual activities, they gathered in the Great Hall, each with a book in hand.
When the clock in the living room struck ten in the morning, the doorbell finally rang. Soon, Harry appeared in the kitchen, a smile on his face. As expected, he had won the trial.
(End of Chapter)
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