At the same time, everyone in the Ministry of Magic was in the box.
"Are there too many people? Professor McGonagall——"
Emilia Bones, director of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, said worriedly.
She was standing on the edge of the box looking down. The scene was beyond her imagination.
The Quidditch pitch at Hogwarts has undergone a special magical transformation. Countless seats surround the oval Quidditch pitch and are arranged upwards in a staircase. Thousands of wizards are taking their seats one after another - this is comparable to
Last year's trial of Peter Pettigrew was crowded and noisy.
"Well, yes, obviously - luckily the school has thought about this."
Professor McGonagall said with a smile, pointing to the shimmering seats around her, and proudly introduced.
"Hogwarts Castle is a magical castle. Not long ago, we found a way to make it 'active'."
"With the help of the magic of 'Hogwarts', we temporarily transformed the Quidditch pitch and used magic to create additional spectator seats between the original stands' columns. The maximum capacity of the Quidditch pitch has also been increased.
It has expanded from the original 2,000 people to about 30,000 people."
"Of course, I admit that there may be too many visitors today, but we have other emergency plans-"
Professor McGonagall pointed around the Quidditch pitch and was about to introduce the magic crystal ball's real-time broadcast and audio and video synchronization functions.
The "Magic Network" at Hogwarts is not just a "gospel of squibs", it has given reality to many alchemical achievements that originally existed only in theory - those in Monique Flamel's alchemy workshop
With the alchemy blueprints, you can construct a miniature magical Eden.
As a member of Hogwarts, Professor McGonagall quickly realized the charm of those new era magical achievements.
However, Alilia Bones is obviously not in the mood to understand those epoch-making products for the time being.
"You may not understand what I mean, Professor McGonagall."
Ms. Bones shook her head and looked seriously at the crowded stands below.
"Gilderoy Lockhart is suspected of possessing 'Demon King-level' power. A public trial is actually a very dangerous thing."
"Whether it's Lockhart's uncontrollability or the possible behaviors of the people around him..."
"Don't worry, Hogwarts is the safest place in the wizarding world today."
Before Ms. Bones could finish speaking, Cornelius Fudge smiled and said in an extremely relaxed tone.
"Before the trial, Kingsley and I came to the school to check the protective measures at Hogwarts."
"Did you see the stone platform below? Well, it's the platform with the inquiry table."
Connelly pointed down, and from their commanding position, a small special area was circled in the center of the field.
"Lockhart will be tried there later. That area has undergone special magical protection. Once any accident occurs to Lockhart or outside the venue, we can directly activate the magical protection in that area and instantly cut off the inside and outside of the barrier.
Mr. Aurors from the Department of Magical Accidents and Disasters have evaluated the strength of the protection - even a wizard like Dumbledore cannot break through that area within forty-five minutes."
"Why forty-five minutes—"
Ms. Bones frowned and looked at Cornelius Fudge with some confusion.
"Because that magical barrier can only last for half an hour," Professor McGonagall shrugged. "Of course, the minimum time is forty-five minutes. Once it is opened, no one can break it - no matter from the outside or inside. Create this magic
People call it..."
Professor McGonagall glanced thoughtfully at a box next to her, and whispered with some admiration.
"...Hogwarts' Enchanted Amber."
"Forty-five minutes is enough time for us to mobilize enough manpower to surround the area on three levels inside and three outside."
Cornelius Fudge said triumphantly, and he took out a glass bead with a shimmering light from his arms.
"This is a barrier switch. I, Professor McGonagall, and Kingsley all have one."
"If there is a special situation, we can activate the magic immediately and lock that guy into that... well, magic amber."
"But……"
"Well, is that Mr. Ogden over there? I think we'd better go down now—"
Ms. Bones seemed to still have some concerns, but by then Cornelius Fudge had stood up.
In the entrance walkway below, a dozen wizards wearing purple wizard robes filed in - they were members of the Wizengamot Wizarding Court.
The Wizengamot Tribunal was born even earlier than the Ministry of Magic. It is equivalent to the high court and parliament of magical society. Its status is second only to the International Federation of Wizards. Even Cornelius Fudge has to be careful to receive them... His
The impeachment proposal will also be decided by the Wizengamot.
Of course, today he was on the same side as the gentlemen of the Wizengamot Tribunal:
Lockhart's words and deeds seriously threatened the "Law of Secrecy", and the International Federation of Wizards issued a death order to impose a heavy sentence.
…………
At the same time, the Quidditch players tunnel.
Lockhart was conducting final routine checks under the watchful eye of the Aurors.
The person in charge of the scene was Kingsley, and beside him were six or seven Aurors holding wands.
As the "acting" Auror Office Director, Kingsley must not only confirm that Lockhart is not carrying dangerous weapons - especially wands, but also confirm that his mental state and body have not been interfered with or manipulated by magic.
Provide test results to the Wizengamot.
A handful of mainstream, verified news outlets were given permission to record the entire event.
"Ahem—please, please be quiet for a moment..."
Kingsley Shacklebolt frowned and waved to the reporter beside him to temporarily stop the discussion.
"Okay, Mr. Lockhart."
He glanced at Lockhart, cleared his throat, and said seriously.
"In accordance with the regulations of the Wizengamot Court and the Ministry of Magic, I will now inform you of the final matters."
"As the defendant in this trial, you must answer the presiding judge's questions truthfully and clearly."
"Any intentional disorderly conduct, violence... and other illegal behavior may result in emergency measures being taken by the pitchside Aurors."
"After the trial, the Auror on site will decide to return your wand in accordance with the judgment of the Wizengamot Court and the Ministry of Magic, or seize the wand and escort you directly to Azkaban Wizarding Prison. During this process, any of your
All intentions and actions of casting spells will be judged as malicious attempts by me."
"Do you have any questions now? If not-"
"There are a lot of people outside, right? Isn't the venue big?"
Lockhart raised his head and looked at the light outside the passage.
"Are you sure those spectators can hear me?"
"This is a public trial, not a pantomime or a Ministry of Magic show, right?"
"After Minister Fudge announces the start of the trial, there will be an Auror who will cast the amplifying spell on you."
Kingsley Shacklebolt said calmly, glaring at Lockhart sternly and raising the wand in his hand.
"Don't use your imagination, I will keep an eye on you from the side——"
"Oh, I'm not a bad person, Mr. Shacklebolt."
Lockhart said with a smile, turning his head and smiling at the reporter who was taking pictures.
Immediately afterwards, he stood up from the chair and unhurriedly straightened the wrinkles on his robe.
"I have no more questions, can we go now?"
"Of course, the gentlemen of the Wizengamot have arrived."
Kingsley said in a deep voice, nodding towards the Aurors around him.
Under the surveillance and escort of a group of Aurors, Lockhart opened the door and strode towards the outside field.