Hermione abruptly raised her head. Though her fingertips trembled slightly with nerves, her voice was unusually clear, carrying unquestionable resolve:
"I deny the charge of 'using magic without authorization'!
"That day, on the outskirts of London, the Dementors appeared first. They lunged straight at that Muggle, and I had to save him!"
Hermione clenched the edge of her robe, a restrained fury entering her voice:
"I used the Patronus Charm for self-defense, and even more so to protect others!
"Was the Ministry of Magic's idea of 'following regulations' to stand by and watch them be torn apart by Dementors?
"And Dementors are under the Ministry of Magic's jurisdiction. Why were they in a street filled with Muggles? Shouldn't that be what this hearing is investigating?"
"Dementors?" The members of the jury exchanged glances. They had not expected Hermione to have cast the Patronus Charm for that reason.
But why would Dementors appear in the Muggle World? Weren't most of them kept in Azkaban?
Could The Mysterious Person really have returned? He had a history of controlling Dementors.
Fudge's expression tightened. He knew he could not let the jury continue discussing this, or the situation would completely spiral out of control.
His eyes shifted, and he immediately came up with a convincing argument:
"Yes, what a clever excuse. Muggles cannot see Dementors, so no one can disprove your excuse.
"Isn't that what you were thinking, child?"
Hermione was furious at being questioned. Just as Fudge had expected, she fell into the trap of trying to prove herself:
"I'm not lying. There were three Dementors. If I hadn't cast the Patronus Charm, not only would that Muggle have died, but I would have too."
Fudge forcefully interrupted Hermione's explanation:
"Enough. Sorry to interrupt you, but I believe this is a carefully fabricated