Karkaroff continued to provide names, but Mr. Crouch vetoed each one. The trial seemed more like a bargaining process, with Karkaroff being sly but Mr. Crouch having a clear plan. He wanted to extract all the information Karkaroff had.
Crouch asked, "Anyone else?"
Karkaroff hesitated before saying, "Wait, there's more! Travers! He helped in the murder of McKinnon. Murce specializes in using the Imperius Curse to force people to do terrible things. And Rockwood, he's a spy who provides valuable information from the Ministry of Magic to You-Know-Who."
There was a murmur in the room when he mentioned Rockwood's name.
"Rockwood!" Mr. Crouch nodded towards a witch sitting before him, who then wrote something on parchment. "Augustus Rockwood from the Department of Mysteries?!"
"Yes, him!" Karkaroff said anxiously. "I believe he has a network of wizards, both inside and outside the Ministry, collecting information for him. Rockwood holds a vital position, allowing him to access the Department of Mysteries..."
"Very well, we already know about Travers and Murce," Crouch interrupted. "Karkaroff, if that's all you have, you will be returned to Azkaban until we decide..."
"No!" Karkaroff cried desperately, struggling against the chains that bound him to the chair. "There's more!"
Harry was about to express his opinion when Crouch's voice faded away.
The dungeon began to dissipate like mist, and everything gradually dissolved. Ivan and Harry could only see each other as their surroundings turned into swirling darkness.
Then, the dungeon reappeared. They were seated in the same high row of benches, but this time to Mr. Crouch's left. The atmosphere was entirely different from the previous scene; much more relaxed and even cheerful.
Wizards and witches were chatting among themselves, seemingly enjoying a sporting event. Ivan's gaze fell on a young Rita Skeeter, with her short golden hair, wearing a bright crimson robe, and sucking on the tip of a vivid green quill.
His eyes scanned the others in the room. Dumbledore was the same as before, but Moody was nowhere to be seen. Mr. Crouch appeared tired and somewhat ruthless. His face was thinner and paler than in previous memories.
The gate at the pinnacle of the room opened, and Ludo Bagman walked in. This was not the aged Ludo Bagman but the Ludo Bagman of his Quidditch glory days. His nose wasn't broken, and he had a tall, lean figure.
Bagman sat in a chair with chains but wasn't bound by them. He appeared somewhat anxious but waved and smiled at several people around him.
"Ludo Bagman, you've been brought before the Wizengamot to answer charges related to your activities as a Death Eater," Mr. Crouch stated. "We've heard your testimony. Do you have anything to say before we make our ruling?"
"Just one thing," Bagman said with an artificial smile. "I know I was a fool..."
A few people in the audience chuckled and nodded in agreement.
However, Mr. Crouch remained stern, his eyes filled with disdain as he scrutinized Ludo Bagman.
"Was Bagman ever a Death Eater?" Harry asked, sounding surprised.
"No, he wasn't, just as he said," Ivan replied.
"When you were captured, Ludo Bagman, you were transmitting information to Voldemort's followers!" Mr. Crouch exclaimed. "Therefore, I propose you receive a sentence of at least Azkaban..."
But before he could finish, four voices shouted angrily, and several wizards stood up, shaking their heads. Some even raised their fists.
"Barty, I've told you, I didn't know!" Bagman pleaded, his round blue eyes wide. "I didn't know that Rockwood was one of Voldemort's followers. I thought I was gathering information for our side! Rockwood said he'd find me a job at the Ministry when I retired from the Quidditch team; you know I can't be dodging Bludgers forever, can I?"
Whispers and laughter spread through the audience, and people began to applaud. Mr. Crouch appeared furious, and the dungeon vanished once more.
When it reappeared, Ivan, Harry, and Dumbledore were still seated near Mr. Crouch, and the atmosphere had changed significantly. The room was now silent except for the delicate sobbing of a witch sitting nearby. She trembled as she held a handkerchief over her mouth.
Ivan suddenly became alert. This was the trial of Barty Crouch Jr., and the crucial moment had arrived.
He remembered that on the same day, Sirius and Barty Crouch Jr. had faced judgment. Of course, Sirius had not been put on trial; he had been sent straight to Azkaban.
But now, he was most likely present in this memory.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
In the judgment seat, Mr. Crouch appeared thinner and paler than before, his face gloomy, with a blue vein twitching on his temple.
"I represent the Wizengamot to pass judgment. Sirius Black is now sentenced to permanent imprisonment in Azkaban Prison for his various crimes," Crouch stated solemnly. "Does anyone object?"
There was a moment of silence, with only Crouch's voice echoing in the still dungeon.
Dumbledore appeared as if he wanted to say something but ultimately remained silent. The Ministry of Magic had not conducted a proper trial for Sirius, which was unfair and against due procedure. However, at the time, Sirius was in a terrible condition. After mistakenly killing Peter Pettigrew, he entered a state of madness, believing himself deserving of punishment and admitting to fabricated crimes. Evan wondered if they would see Sirius in the holding cell.
Crouch observed the room for a moment, his expression resembling a hunting dragon's. "Next," he said coldly, "bring them in."
The gate at the pinnacle of the room opened once more, and six dementors brought in four people. There was a solemn hush, and many people turned to look at Mr. Crouch, some whispering among themselves. The dementors secured the four people to chairs in the dungeon's center. Among them was a stocky man who gazed at Crouch in confusion, a slightly thinner man who appeared more tense and kept glancing around the room, a young woman with thick, glossy black hair and long eyelashes, and a frightened 17 or 18-year-old boy with straw-colored hair.
The boy seemed utterly terrified, trembling all over. Freckles dotted his pale, paper-like skin. This was Barty Crouch Jr.
He appeared like any other young graduate of Hogwarts, but unfortunately, he had been involved in this trial. Evan carefully studied Barty Jr., hoping to discern something, but his expressions revealed nothing. No wonder he had gained Voldemort's trust; his acting skills and composure were extraordinary, and he had to pretend to be innocent.
Evan thought that perhaps his father had left a loophole for him, allowing him to act as innocent as possible. However, Barty Jr. would be disappointed. Evan noticed that Mr. Crouch did not even glance at his son.
Mr. Crouch likely wanted to disassociate himself from his son as quickly as possible, especially since he was on the verge of becoming Minister for Magic. In this regard, the brutality of the Crouch family was beyond imagination. It was a typical Slytherin and pure-blood wizarding family, willing to sacrifice anything for power and influence. But they would also scheme behind the scenes, such as secretly rescuing their son from Azkaban.
After seeing Barty Jr., the delicate witch beside Mr. Crouch began to sway and sob. She covered her mouth with a handkerchief as tears streamed down her face, displaying various emotions.
Mr. Crouch stood and looked down at the four prisoners, his face filled with intense hatred.
"You have been brought before the Magical Law Enforcement Squad and the Wizengamot to await a special trial," he declared with a shaking voice. "Your crimes are severe."
"Father!" the straw-haired boy cried, his voice cracking with desperation. "Father, please!"
"In the event of a cruel trial within this courtroom," Mr. Crouch continued, his voice overpowering his son's, "we have heard the charges against you. You four kidnapped Auror Frank Longbottom, subjected him to the Cruciatus Curse, and attempted to extract information about the whereabouts of someone you know."
"Father, I didn't do it!" the bound boy shouted. "I didn't do it! I swear I didn't! Father, please, I'm innocent! I wasn't even there! Don't let them take me back to the dementors!"
"Add these charges!" Mr. Crouch announced loudly. "When Frank Longbottom refused to provide the information, you also subjected his wife to the Cruciatus Curse. Your actions aimed to bring back someone you know who, during his most powerful era, sought to restore his violent reign. Now, I call upon the jury to—"
"Mother!" the boy with straw-colored hair screamed, trying to overpower his father's voice. His mother sobbed even harder, wiping away tears with her handkerchief but remaining silent.
"Now, I call upon the jury to vote!" Mr. Crouch shouted. "Those who agree that these crimes warrant a life sentence in Azkaban, raise your hands!"
The wizards on the right side of the dungeon raised their hands neatly. Around the audience, people applauded with brutal satisfaction on their faces.
Barty Jr. Crouch began to scream pitifully, his voice echoing through the chamber.
"No! Mother, no! I didn't do it! It wasn't me! I swear, Father, I'm innocent! I wasn't even there! Don't let them take me back!"
The dementors slowly advanced, and the other three prisoners stood up silently.
Bellatrix raised her head and shouted at Crouch, "The Dark Lord will return! Throw us into Azkaban, and we will wait! He will come back to rescue us; he will reward us greatly! Only then will we prove our loyalty! Only then will we seek him out!"
But Barty Jr. Crouch struggled fiercely despite the chilling suction of the dementors. The audience began to ridicule him, and some people stood up.
"I'm your son!" he shouted to Crouch. "Your son!"
"You are not my son!" Crouch bellowed, his eyes bulging, his expression fierce. He directed his anger at Barty Jr. for the first time. "I don't have a son!"
The delicate witch gasped, held her breath, and then collapsed onto her seat. She had fainted, but Crouch didn't seem to notice.
"Take them away!" he roared at the dementors, his spittle flying. "Get them out of here! Let them rot!"
"Father! Father, I didn't do it! Please!" Barty Jr. cried out.
But it was in vain. He had been heartlessly dragged away by the dementors. Evan stood up, pulling Harry along with him. They wanted to witness the moment when they were taken to Azkaban.
Without a doubt, Sirius would also be there.