"I'm curious, Minister, am I being accused of something here, or will this session just be an exchange of insults? If that's the case, I'd prefer to refrain from speaking. I see no point in engaging in dialogue with a man like you," declared Arcturus, his words echoing through the courtroom and prompting a momentary silence.
The humor of some court members, restrained until then, seemed on the verge of bursting into laughter. The old patriarch was right; this court was a farce, lacking evidence and circumstances to justify its existence.
The awkward silence that followed hung in the air as Cornelius struggled to contain his frustration, speaking in a louder tone than usual.
"I am the Minister of Magic, and I demand respect as the one tasked with administering this society, Lord Black," retorted Cornelius, his voice tinged with authority. "You have been summoned to this court to testify and explain why magical traces associated with you were found in Azkaban, as well as to face allegations regarding your noble conduct."
This time, a collective sigh of surprise echoed through the room, all eyes turning to Arcturus, who remained standing at the center of the court.
"So, is this it? The Minister of Magic relies on magical residues and unfounded accusations to support his claims?" Arcturus retorted in the same tone, showing no weakness in the face of the accusations.
"Answer the allegations against you, Lord Black," intervened Dolores next to Cornelius, her shrill voice capable of irritating even the most insensitive ears.
Arcturus directed his gaze at the petite woman, with wavy hair styled to the side, and replied coldly, "Prosecutor, I do not entertain allegations without evidence. If you wish for me to respond to something, prove it before this sacred court."
"Very well, bring forth the evidence," ordered Dolores, surprising everyone, before ringing the bell on her desk, producing a loud and clear sound that echoed through the courtroom.
A young man entered, carrying a silver tray containing a vial about five centimeters in size, which contained particles of dark and malevolent magical energy. Everyone in the room felt the magical residues contained in the vial and turned their gazes to Arcturus, as if affirming the truth of the allegations.
"Irrelevant. I was on a mission three days ago; these could be my magical residues left at the scene. Furthermore, I feel that the Minister is incriminating me with forged evidence, claiming they were found in one place when they were actually in another," he declared defiantly, disregarding the magical residues. The entire mission had documents related to it; he wasn't afraid they would use that against him.
"Are you accusing this court of conspiring against you, Lord Black?" Dolores Umbridge spoke with a tone louder than usual. After a brief exchange of glances with Cornelius, she continued, "Keep in mind that the Ministry of Magic is the symbol of justice in our beloved country. Your words offend everything our society is based on, a fair place without distinction of status."
Everyone in the jury was stunned by what they were hearing. The woman's words were so full of lies that they couldn't help exchanging bewildered looks with the court prosecutor.
Justice? A truly impartial place, regardless of status? Since when has the ministry become that?
Was the woman lost in some Avalon utopia?
These thoughts echoed in the minds of everyone present.
"Hahahaha!" Arcturus let out a deep, low laugh, as if he were hearing the most hilarious joke of all time.
He then cast a sarcastic glance at Umbridge and remarked, "If the ministry were truly as the prosecutor describes, a fair place without class distinction, then we wouldn't have had a war ten years ago. Seventy-three percent of the witches and wizards currently holding positions in the ministry have connections to noble families or have attained their positions through nepotism and bribery."
At that moment, he realized Dolores Umbridge's mindset. She was a woman who considered the Ministry supreme, capable of manipulating everything and everyone by virtue of the status it represented in British wizarding society. However, she seemed to have forgotten or simply didn't care about the fact that the Ministry of Magic was created by the ancient noble houses after the dissolution of the Wizarding Council, which reigned in the time before the existence of the Ministry.
He and almost everyone present descended from the lineage of those who had ruled over these lands in the shadows. The Ministry of Magic was merely a tool to sustain the rights and interests of the noble houses. At the same time, if the Ministry lost the support of the noble houses, both financially and structurally, then the Ministry of Magic itself would cease to exist, as the majority who were truly powerful were members of the noble houses.
Arcturus and everyone in the jury could truly understand the purpose of the Ministry of Magic, but Dolores Umbridge did not. She was deluded by the idea that the power she possessed was supreme.
"That..." Arcturus's words left Umbridge unable to respond. Despite her arrogance, she was not foolish. If she dared to confirm the words of Patriarch Black, she would be politically annihilated in this country. Many people would be exposed, expelled, and some even imprisoned, thrown into Azkaban.
Seeing that he had defeated one of his enemies, Arcturus focused his gaze on the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge.
Cornelius couldn't help but sweat under the intimidating gaze he received; things were not going in the direction he wanted from the start.
In the conception of the plan, they would constantly pressure Arcturus, and as the man showed weakness, they could obtain the benefits they always wanted: more autonomy in the Ministry of Magic and, at the same time, further tarnish the reputation of the House of Black. After all, at least in his mind, if the leader of the Pure-Blood faction accepted, the other members of the faction would have to accept as well.
Unfortunately, things don't always go the way he wanted. Arcturus didn't show weakness; he was an old lion, but a lion was still a lion, regardless of age. Now, he had to deal with the consequences of his actions; the man would certainly take a big bite out of him.
Suddenly, the doors of the courtroom, which had been closed before, swung open, catching everyone's attention.
Arcturus couldn't help but cast a cold gaze at the man with an aged appearance dressed in a rather extravagant purple wizard's robe. The old man's icy blue eyes shimmered with magic and mystery. The long, snowy beard swayed with his subtle and calm movements.
"Forgive me for the delay; matters at Hogwarts delayed my arrival," said the old man, looking at everyone with a friendly gaze.
Cornelius couldn't help but speak aloud, his expression brightening with the unexpected arrival.
"Albus Dumbledore."
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Author's Thoughts: Dumbledore has arrived, but don't think he's a villain, he's not!
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Next Chapter: Chapter 28 - Unexpected Arrival (1), Chapter 29 - Unexpected Arrival (2), Chapter 30 - Black Family Reunion (1), Chapter 31 - Black Family Reunion (2), (Chapter 32 - Black House Masquerade Ball (1), Chapter 33 - Black House Masquerade Ball (2), Chapter 34 - Black House Masquerade Ball (3), Chapter 35 - Three Years (1), Chapter 36 - Three Years (2), Chapter 37 - Hogwarts Express.
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