There was no judge present at this hearing.
"The accused, are you willing to admit to opening the Chamber of Secrets on October 30th and November 10th respectively, and then attacking—"
"I didn't!" Lockhart tried to stand up, but the chains only tightened around him.
"None of this has anything to do with me; I just happened to be unlucky."
Ogden paused for a moment, then said, "The accused, you mean you're just an accomplice?"
"I'm not an accomplice, I'm a victim!"
That is indeed the case.
But judging from Fudge's calm expression, it seemed he had expected this to happen.
"The accused—" Bones, to his right, slowly stood up.
"There is a witness in court who can testify that you are not a victim. Would you like to hear his testimony?"
Lockhart's gaze passed over Snape and Dumbledore, settling on Vincent's face, which showed a sudden realization.
"The accused, please answer my questions directly."
He awkwardly looked away. "Commissioner Bones, I am innocent."
"Please answer my question directly," Bones said in a somewhat cold tone. "Your performance in court will affect the final trial."
If you continue to avoid the question, please understand that we may develop a negative impression of you.
"Let the witness speak," Lockhart said, glaring at Vincent.
"I'm not guilty or scared, because it's all fake!"
Vincent was puzzled.
He came to prove the diary and the Basilisk, not to prove innocence or not.
"We invite the witnesses to speak."
Dumbledore slowly stood up, smiling as Lockhart looked on incredulously.
"His testimony is absolutely valid." Bones glanced around the courtroom. "I don't think anyone would believe he would commit perjury, would they?"
If a positive figure like Grindelwald who defeated the Order of the Phoenix Death Eaters is untrustworthy, then all wizards in the Wizarding World are untrustworthy.
"First of all—" Dumbledore met Lockhart's anxious gaze,
"I need to explain why I invited Giddens—the accused—to teach at Hogwarts."
As you all know, I know quite a few wizards, and coincidentally, I know two wizards who were harmed by the accused.
Lockhart looked flustered and dared not meet those deep blue eyes.
"They were subjected to an exceptionally powerful Memory Charm, causing them to forget how they fought the Werewolf and the female ghost of Wanlun."
Dumbledore shook his head regretfully. "At first, of course I didn't know who did it, until this year's Order of Merlin ceremony."
Every wizard has a different magical aura.
Although powerful wizards can hide, everyone, including Lucius and others, knows that he can still see through them at a glance.
"No—I didn't do it—" Lockhart protested frantically.
"Someone must be framing me, they must be!"
Ogden raised a wand high.
"The accused, do you admit that it belongs to you?"
Nine inches, cherry wood, dragon's heart nerve.
Given its expensive appearance, Lockhart's denials are futile.
"During our investigation using the Prior Incantato, we discovered not only some evil Dark Magic, but also many Memory Charm."
The Prior Incantato allows the wand to recall the previous spell, while the Prior Incantato can be cast continuously in reverse order.
The Memory Charm cannot be denied, but those Dark Magic were definitely not used by him.
Especially the one that can absorb life force.
If he confesses, he will likely spend the rest of his Azkaban in prison.
"I admit I used the Memory Charm on those two wizards, and I admit I appropriated their great contributions to the Wizarding World— "
Lockhart's pale face grew increasingly flushed. "Those spells, those evil Dark Magic, were all cast by Tom Riddle!"
Although they were mentally prepared, many people in the courtroom still gasped in shock.
Many people knew Voldemort's real name; all 40 committee members knew it.
Fudge gestured for Bones to sit down. "The accused, how do you intend to explain this piece of evidence?"
In his hand was a black diary that was almost split in two.
"It—it suddenly appeared in my pocket."
"Really? Do you know who put it there?"
"I—I—" Lockhart stammered for a long time.
"It seems they don't know." Fudge looked at the witness stand below with a smile.
"We happen to have a witness who can testify to its origin."
Vincent knew it was time to put on the mask of hypocrisy.
Since they've made up their minds to make Lockhart a scapegoat, nothing he says will matter.
"I believe I don't need an introduction." Fudge gestured for Vincent to stand up.
"He is a rising star in our Wizarding World and the only nominee for the Wizengamot Britain Youth Representative next year."
Actually, Vincent knew what to say without needing any prompting.
"Witness, please tell us truthfully where you found this Dark Magic item."
He glanced at Lockhart first, "In the early morning of September 10th, I had some questions about Defence Against the Dark Arts that I wanted to ask the accused."
"This is a clear violation of school rules! His testimony is unreliable!"
Before Fudge could even speak, the remaining committee members all gave him a cold look.
Lockhart, who wanted to say something more, obediently shut his mouth.
Continuing to interrupt will only worsen the court's displeasure.
"Witness, please continue."
The sympathy in Vincent's eyes was slowly disappearing.
Before becoming a victim, Lockhart was already a perpetrator through and through.
Like the masses, should we throw small stones into the ground?
Tell the whole story about Voldemort?
The hearings led by Fudge were devoid of justice, consisting only of hypocrisy aimed at covering up the brutal truth.
"I knocked on the door many times, but I didn't hear any sound from inside the office."
Vincent's gaze turned cold. "Finally, I went in and saw the accused lying asleep in bed."
Fudge nodded slightly. "Witness, we will not pursue your violation of school rules. Please explain how you discovered the evidence."
"Okay." His voice also turned cold. "I didn't open the drawer on purpose; I just noticed something was wrong."
"Why?"
"I am a natural-born master of Occlumency, and I always have all sorts of strange and wonderful good luck."
What's in the drawer?
"Some small ornaments, and a diary that looks like evidence."
Even without Fudge's prompting, Vincent knew exactly how the hearing was headed.
Is there any content inside?
"No, only faint traces of Dark Magic."
Is it signed?
"The papers were all blank, including the cover."
Tom doesn't want Vincent, whom he can't influence, to find out, and Lockhart has no way of proving that the diary doesn't belong to him.
But if it can be proven that the Tom Riddle in the diary is the real Tom Riddle, the accusations about the Chamber of Secrets and the Basilisk can be completely reversed.
Unfortunately, that's impossible.