Hogwarts Gymnastics Professor

Chapter 40 Interrogation
Since Lockhart handed over his wand to Pavlovsky in advance, the security check went very quickly. After a simple search and a scan with a metal rod, Lockhart passed the security check smoothly.

Afterwards, Lockhart was led by the two Aurors to the second floor by the elevator. Lockhart followed the two Aurors out of the elevator and came to a corridor with doors on both sides.

Turning a corner, passing through two heavy oak doors, you entered a messy and noisy open area divided into many small compartments, where many wizards were chatting and laughing, and it was very lively.

Messaging notes flew in and out of the cubicles like miniature airplanes.A sign hung crookedly on the nearest cubicle: AUROR COMMAND.

Lockhart was taken into one of the cubicles, and the two Aurors stated that he would not be allowed to leave the cubicle unless it was necessary until Lockhart's interrogation began, and no further words were spoken.

There was only one chair and a table in the cubicle, and there was a stack of "Daily Prophet" on the table. Lockhart sat on the chair, picked up a newspaper and began to read.

Today's front page article of "Dumbledore: Stupid or Dangerous" is still so explosive, it is obvious at a glance that it is still written by Rita Skeeter, and Lockhart is completely immersed in it.

After two working meals, the same two Aurors, Lockhart followed them down an empty hallway, and instead of taking the lift, walked down the stairs, where a large He stopped in front of the locked black door.

"Come on," said one of the Aurors, pointing at the door. "Go in."

"Aren't you going in with me?"

"Oh no. We can't go in. Good luck!"

Lockhart twisted the heavy iron handle on the door, whistled and hummed, put on an arrogant posture, and walked into the courtroom.

The surrounding walls were made of black stone, and the light from the torches was dim and gloomy.On both sides of him are rows of empty benches that gradually rise, and in front of him, on the highest benches, there are many dark figures looming impressively.

They had been whispering just now, and when the heavy door closed behind Lockhart, Lockhart knew that after today, quite a few of this group would live with permanent psychological shadows for the rest of their lives.

Lockhart looked at the chair in the middle of the room, the armrests of which were chains on the left and right.

He slumped on the edge of the chair, and the chain clanged menacingly, but did not bind him.

Lockhart looked up at the group of people sitting on the bench above, and as far as he could see, there were about fifty people, dressed in fuchsia robes with a delicate silver 'w' embroidered on the left front breast.

They all looked down at him, some with stern expressions, others with undisguised curiosity.

Lockhart saw, in the middle of the row of benches ahead, sitting the Minister for Magic, Cornelius Fudge.

To Fudge's left sat Umbridge, the old toad, looking at Lockhart with hatred in his eyes.To Fudge's right sat a broad, square-jawed witch.Short gray hair, a monocle, and a forbidding expression on his face.

"Very well," said Fudge, "the defendant is here at last, let's get started. Are you ready?" he called out across the bench.

"Yes, sir," said a voice familiar to Lockhart eagerly. Rita Skeeter sat on the far edge of the front bench, eyes hidden behind horn-rimmed glasses, staring intently. The parchment in front of him, a quill pen in his hand, ready to record.

"September [-]th trial," Fudge boomed, and Rita Skeeter hurriedly began to take notes.

"The trial of Gilderoy Lockhart, Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts, for violating the International Prohibition of Dueling Act and the Safeguarding of Wizarding Life Act."

"Because Chief Wizard Dumbledore has a direct interest in Lockhart, he withdrew from this interrogation under the recusal system.

"Cornel Oswald Fudge, Minister for Magic, Dolores Jane Umbridge, Senior Undersecretary, and Amelia Susan Burns, Director of Magical Law Enforcement interrogator. Observer reporter Rita Skeeter served as recorder."

"At [-] am on the [-]th of September, in the presence of Umbridge, the Under-Minister for Magic, the accused took the body of a male from a box.

"Then quickly left the Ministry of Magic, and at the headquarters of the Daily Prophet at 25:[-] a.m. on September [-]th, in front of reporter Rita Skeeter, took out the male body from the box again.

"This behavior violates paragraph 13 of the International Prohibition of Dueling Act promulgated in [-] and Article No. [-] of the "Wizard Life Protection Act".

"You're the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts, Gilderoy Lockhart?" Fudge asked, glaring at Lockhart from above the parchment.

"Yes." Lockhart replied.

"Defendant Lockhart, since you have not retained any counsel, you will act as your own defense counsel under the Wizarding Rights Act. Do you agree?"

"I agree."

"You went to the office of the Deputy Minister for Magic on the morning of September [-]th, didn't you?"

"Yes, but—" Fudge interrupted him.

"You brought out a dead body in the Deputy Secretary's office, didn't you?" Fudge said.

"Yes," said Lockhart, "but—" Lockhart's retort was interrupted again.

"Umbridge once told you to stay and wait for the Aurors, but you chose to leave right?" said Fudge.

"Yes." Loha had already given up on direct rebuttal.

"You then went to the Daily Prophet headquarters, didn't you?"

"Yes,"

"You brought out that body once in front of reporter Rita Skeeter, right?"

"Yes."

"Do the other two interrogators have any questions?" Fudge asked the two interrogators next to him.

Umbridge said nothing, and Ms. Bones began to ask questions in a booming voice.

"Defendant Lockhart, can you produce the body now?"

"No, it's in my friend's place now."

"Where is your friend? Can he stand as your witness?"

"No."

"Well, I'm still a little unsure, but my question is over."

"Then, after the interrogation is over, please raise your hand if you agree with the accusation," Fudge said.

Lockhart looked up.They raised their hands one by one, quite a few...More than half of them, to be precise, only Ms. Bones didn't raise her hands.

A few seconds later, Fudge added: "Hands up if you agree with the crime."

This time, no one raised their hand.

A few seconds later, Fudge's voice sounded again: "I declare that the accusation is established."

"As your own lawyer, you have the right to make another case for yourself before we announce the punishment," Fudge said.

Lockhart knew that it was time for him to play.

　This chapter is a foreshadowing, and the next chapter is the climax.

　　Ask for recommendations, ask for collections.

　　


(End of this chapter)