Bribing Fudge was just talk, and besides, it's too late now.
After dinner, Wales glanced at the Magical Communicator on his wrist.
It's 7:30, time to carry out the mission.
After Vincent finished the last bite of his dessert, he stood up with a stern face. "Vincent Wayne, the hearing is about to begin. My task is to inform you to arrive on time and escort you to the Courtroom Ten."
To have waited until now to speak up truly shows how much of a friend you are.
Vincent didn't make things difficult for him, and stood up readily. "I'll drive there myself, is that alright?"
Everyone stood up, and Wales very tactfully agreed.
The Wayne family's garage is small and can only accommodate a limited number of cars.
Sirius Black's eyes lit up when he saw The La Voiture Noire.
Unfortunately, there were only two seats, and the front passenger seat clearly wasn't for him.
He watched enviously Vincent lifted the car door for Hermione, his face filled with jealousy and envy.
There were a few more cars in the garage, but it was clear that they couldn't seat such a large group of people.
Sirius Black, who didn't have Muggle driver's license, jumped into a silver Bugatti Veyron without saying a word. "Harry, get in!"
Arthur was also eager to drive the fastest production car currently available to Muggle, but when he arrived, the garage was already empty, even the old Aston Martin DB5 had been driven away, so he had to share the Portkey with the rest of the people.
Whitehall, where the British Ministry of Magic is located, is not far from London; it doesn't take long to drive there.
Vincent drove ahead in his La Voiture Noire, while Hermione beside him remained silent, but her eyes never left him.
The eerie atmosphere was finally broken when Vincent reached out and patted her head. "Have you decided where you want to travel?"
Hermione gently shook her head and placed his large hand back on the steering wheel. "Actually, it doesn't matter where we go, what matters is that we're together."
Vincent's lips curled into a handsome smile. "It's not like it's a matter of life and death. Fudge is definitely trying to pull some tricks by not making this hearing public. I won't let him succeed."
That is why everyone is attending the hearing.
With so many witnesses present, Fudge still had to be a little cautious.
"Hmm?" Hermione seemed to read something from his face.
She was very familiar with this strange feeling, which made her feel inexplicably at ease, as if being near him would be protected by an invisible force.
She had these feelings before when dealing with Quirrell, who was possessed by Voldemort, when facing the fragments of soul in Voldemort's diary, and when hunting Peter Pettigrew.
"I want to travel abroad," Hermione said, revealing a rare hint of capriciousness, "With you."
Vincent's eyes were full of doting affection. "Okay, let's travel abroad together."
"Mmm." Hermione smiled sweetly at him, her smile as soft and sweet as ever.
The La Voiture Noire slowly drove through Great Scotland Yard in Westminster, heading down a very secluded alley, and stopped in front of a dilapidated red telephone booth.
Vincent had just gotten out of the car when he saw Wales walking towards him.
"Am I not late?"
Wales shook his head. "Wayne, I suggest you don't go through the main entrance."
Vincent walked around to the passenger side and opened the door. "If you're not afraid of being reported by your colleagues, why would I be afraid of those flies?"
Hermione took his hand as she got out of the car. "I'm not afraid either. Let's go in together."
Vincent nodded, and with a helpless look in Wales' eyes, took her little hand and walked into the red telephone booth.
Sirius Black's silver Bugatti Veyron arrived at that moment, and both he and Harry wisely refrained from following him.
The phone booth sank rapidly, and the sounds of the wizards arguing could be heard even before reaching the Entrance Hall.
The moment the door opened, the previously noisy Entrance Hall became eerily quiet.
Vincent was about to let go when Hermione gripped his hand tightly.
He looked at the Entrance Hall, which had become bustling again, and at the reporters with their equipment and the wizards broadcasting live using Magical Communicator.
The hearing was not open to the public, but the Ministry of Magic did not prohibit entry.
Vincent, with a confident and composed smile, walked hand in hand with Hermione into the Entrance Hall behind Wales.
"Look everyone, Mr. Wayne is wearing an all-black suit today, and the lady with him is his classmate. They seem to be in a romantic relationship."
For such a formal occasion as a hearing, formal attire is essential, and Hermione was certainly dressed up carefully.
Her figure, dressed in a snow-white tulle dress, was broadcast throughout the Wizarding World via the wizards' personal live streaming channels.
Viktor Krum, who was far away at the Uagadou Earth Club in Bulgaria, saw Vincent and her walking hand in hand into the Entrance Hall through one of the channels.
Hermione's eyes held a familiar light, a light he only ever saw when he caught the Golden Snitch in the arena.
"Mr. Wayne, what are your thoughts on this hearing?"
"Mr. Wayne, are you a tool that Dumbledore has brainwashed?"
"Mr. Wayne, are you close to this lady? Will she also be attending the hearing later?"
Vincent stopped in front of the reporters, surrounded by so many flies, it seemed Dumbledore hadn't arrived yet.
He kept chattering and making noise; if he were just a tool, what opinions could he possibly have?
However, these flies still have some value; it just depends on whether they have the courage to pursue the truth.
Vincent glanced at them quickly with a half-smile. "I'm here because I believe the law will reveal the truth, even though that process isn't always easy."
A sharp voice rang out from the crowd. "Mr. Wayne, may I take that as an implication that someone is hiding the truth?"
The voice was familiar; it was Rita. She had actually managed to sneak in.
Vincent slowly raised his hand, pointing two fingers to his deep blue eyes. "Everyone has their own judgment, and I only believe what I see with my own eyes."
The reporters immediately erupted in discussion.
"Mr. Wayne, what exactly did you see?"
"Mr. Wayne, is everything that happened that night true?"
"Mr. Wayne ..."
Vincent smiled slightly. "What I saw was a candy house, full of sweet candies wrapped in lies."
His eyes sharpened, becoming aggressive. "But if you muster the courage to look carefully, you might find one or two bitter candies that aren't covered by lies."
The reporters were all taken aback by what he said.
The British Wizarding World is likened to a candy house, where the candy represents the truth. Sweet candy is sweet because it is wrapped in lies, but what does the bitter candy signify?
The noisy Entrance Hall fell eerily quiet, and everyone's expressions were quite complicated.
Vincent smiled dismissively, his brows furrowing with disdain. "Cowards."
An invisible magical fluctuation suddenly appeared, gently pushing people aside.
Under the gaze of countless sorrowful and indignant eyes, Vincent walked straight toward the passage he had pioneered.