A not particularly clever provocation successfully stirred the wizards' emotions.
From the bottom of their hearts, they longed to find that bitter candy themselves and prove that they were not the cowards Vincent claimed they were.
No one spoke. Once the elevator doors closed, they gathered around of their own accord.
The hearing was about to begin, and that bitter candy was right before them. Anyone with even a shred of ambition would not miss this opportunity.
The Ministry of Magic's elevators could not go directly to Courtroom Ten on the tenth underground level. They eventually stopped at the Department of Mysteries on the ninth level.
The corridor here was very dim, lit only by several torches mounted on the walls.
Wales led Vincent and Hermione to an opening on the left, where the passage within was even narrower and darker.
The corridor leading to the courtroom was built of rough stone. The torchlight did little to illuminate the surroundings, and the gloomy environment felt sinister.
This was not Vincent's first time here, though he had previously attended only as a witness.
Several people were already standing by the heavy wooden door at the end. They were Arthur and the others, who had arrived ahead of time by Portkey.
Everyone remained silent as they watched Wales turn the iron handle on the door.
"Wayne, come in with me."
Vincent released Hermione's small hand and looked at everyone with complete confidence. "See you later."
Courtroom Ten was pitch-black inside. The surrounding walls were built from black stone, and the torchlight was even dimmer and more ominous than in the corridor outside.
The most conspicuous feature was the two chairs in the middle of the room, each with several iron chains hanging from its armrests.
Vincent walked steadily toward the chair on