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Chapter 679: Heavyweight Trial

Karkaroff’s eyes darted toward the door in the corner, behind which the Dementors undoubtedly still stood, waiting.

Then, he uttered a few more names, still rejected by Crouch one by one.

The trial was more like a bargaining process. Karkaroff was really cunning, but Crouch was obviously one step ahead.

“Any more?” Crouch asked with a straight face.

“Wait a minute! There was also Travers!” said Karkaroff nervously. “He helped murder the McKinnons! Ah … and Mulciber … he specialized in the Imperius Curse, forced many people to do horrific things! Rookwood, who was a spy, and passed He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named useful information from inside the Ministry itself! “

When he said Rookwood’s name, there was a murmur among all the watching crowd.

“Rookwood?” said Mr. Crouch, nodding to a witch sitting in front of him, who began scribbling upon her piece of parchment. “Augustus Rookwood of the Department of Mysteries?!”

“The very same,” said Karkaroff eagerly. “I believe he used a network of well-placed wizards, both inside the Ministry and out, to collect information. Rookwood’s position is very important and he has access to the Department of Mysteries…”

“Well, what you said about Travers and Mulciber is what we already know,” said Crouch. “Karkaroff, if that is all, you will be returned to Azkaban while we decide …”

“Don’t!” cried Karkaroff, looking quite desperate. “Wait, I have more!”

Harry could see him sweating in the torchlight, his white skin contrasting strongly with the black of his hair and beard.

“Snape!” He shouted, “Severus Snape!”

“Snape has been cleared by this council,” said Crouch disdainfully. “He has been vouched for by Albus Dumbledore.”

“No!” shouted Karkaroff, straining at the chains that bound him to the chair. “I assure you, Severus Snape is a Death Eater. He is a complete Death Eater!”

Dumbledore had gotten to his feet, and many people looked at him.

“I have given evidence already on this matter,” he said calmly. “Severus Snape was indeed a Death Eater. However, he rejoined our side before Lord Voldemort’s downfall and turned spy for us, at a great personal risk. He is now no more a Death Eater than I am.”

“No!” said Karkaroff reluctantly. “He didn’t …”

In that sense, Snape’s status as a double agent was indeed very successful.

Both Dumbledore and Voldemort thought he was their own man, and even those Death Eaters believed him until Voldemort returned.

Even Evan had to admire this. No one except Snape could do it.

“Very well, Karkaroff!” Crouch said coldly. “You have been of assistance. I shall review your case. You will return to Azkaban in the meantime …”

“Snape is …” Before Harry had time to comment, Crouch’s voice faded.

The dungeon was dissolving as though it were made of smoke; everything was fading. Evan and Harry could only see their own bodies … everything else was swirling darkness…

And then, the dungeon returned!

They were sitting in a different seat, still on the highest bench, but now to the left side of Mr. Crouch.

The atmosphere seemed quite different from what it was just now: very relaxed, even cheerful. The witches and wizards all around the walls were talking to one another, as though they were at some sort of sporting event.

Evan noticed a witch halfway up the rows of benches opposite. She was wearing magenta robes, and was sucking the end of an acid-green quill. It was unmistakably, a younger Rita Skeeter.

His eyes glanced at several people, and Dumbledore was sitting beside him again, Moody had disappeared.

Mr. Crouch looked more tired, somehow fiercer and gaunter…

The door in the corner opened, and Ludo Bagman walked into the room.

This was not a Ludo Bagman gone to seed, but a Ludo Bagman who was clearly at the height of his Quidditch-playing fitness. His nose wasn’t broken now; he was tall and lean and muscular.

Bagman looked nervous as he sat in the chained chair, but it did not bind him; and Bagman, perhaps taking heart from this, glanced around at the watching crowd, waved at a couple of them, and managed a small smile.

“Ludo Bagman, you have been brought here in front of the Council of Magical Law to answer charges relating to the activities of the Death Eaters,” said Mr. Crouch. “We have heard the evidence against you, and are about to reach our verdict. Do you have anything to add to your testimony before we pronounce judgment? “

“Only one sentence!” Ludo Bagman smiled awkwardly, “Well … I know I’ve been a bit of an idiot…”

One or two wizards and witches in the surrounding seats smiled indulgently and nodded.

Mr. Crouch, however, remained unmoved. He was staring down at Ludo Bagman with an expression of the utmost severity and dislike.

“Bagman was a Death Eater?” Harry whispered, surprised.

“No, as he himself said, he was an idiot!” Evan replied.

“Ludovic Bagman, you were caught passing information to Lord Voldemort’s supporters,” Said Mr. Crouch. “For this, I suggest a term of imprisonment in Azkaban lasting no less than …”

But there was an angry outcry from the surrounding benches. Several of the witches and wizards around the walls stood up, shaking their heads, and even their fists, at Mr. Crouch.

“But I’ve told you, Barty; I had no idea!” Bagman called earnestly, his round blue eyes widening. “None at all! Old Rookwood was a friend of my dad’s! It never crossed my mind he was in with You-Know-Who. I thought I was collecting information for our side! And Rookwood kept talking about getting me a job in the Ministry later on … once my Quidditch days are over, you know … I mean, I can’t keep getting hit by Bludgers for the rest of my life, can I? “

There were murmurs and titters from the crowd.

“It will be put to the vote,” said Mr. Crouch coldly. “The jury will please raise their hands … those in favor of imprisonment…”

No one raised their hands. Many of the witches and wizards around the walls began to clap. One of the witches on the jury stood up.

“What’s going on?!” Crouch roared.

“We would just like to congratulate Mr. Bagman on his splendid performance for England in the Quidditch match against Turkey last Saturday,” the witch said breathlessly, “This is our honor!”

Mr. Crouch looked furious. The dungeon was ringing with applause now. Bagman got to his feet and bowed, beaming.

“Despicable!” Mr. Crouch spat at Dumbledore, sitting down as Bagman walked out of the dungeon. “Rookwood get him a job indeed … the day Ludo Bagman joins us will be a sad day indeed for the Ministry…”

Then the dungeon dissolved again.

When it had returned, Evan, Harry and Dumbledore were still sitting beside Mr. Crouch.

But the atmosphere was very different. There was total silence, broken only by the dry sobs of a frail, wispy-looking witch in the seat next to Mr. Crouch. She was clutching a handkerchief to her mouth with trembling hands.

Evan suddenly came to his senses. He knew that this was the trial of Bartemius Crouch, Jr.; and the critical moment had come!

He also remembered that Sirius and Barty Crouch Jr. had been sentenced on the same day.

Of course, Sirius was put in Azkaban without trial.

However, he must be here now!

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