Everyone had expected the hastily convened Wizengamot meeting to end quickly, but it dragged on until evening.
Vaughn's challenge had forced the members to deliberate carefully, and they had spent the entire day arguing.
Yet they reached no conclusion in the end. The meeting fizzled out, and the matter would most likely be quietly shelved, just as so many had been before.
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Still, many felt that Vaughn had at least achieved his goal. This meeting alone would cause Fudge plenty of trouble.
Even if the details had to be kept confidential, newspaper coverage of "Vaughn challenges the Azkaban system," "Azkaban overseers neglect their duties," or even articles targeting Fudge directly would stir up considerable public controversy.
Inside the Wizengamot meeting hall, many members let out long sighs of relief when Dumbledore announced the meeting's end.
Marchbanks was particularly relieved. An all-day meeting like this was absolute torture for an elderly witch.
Still, she wore a smile, though she trembled as she rose.
But just as the members were preparing to leave, the doors burst open. A bald, dark-skinned wizard in an Auror uniform rushed inside, his expression grave.
"Kingsley! This is the Wizengamot! A meeting is in progress, and you-" Someone recognized the Auror and tried to seize the opportunity to accuse him of misconduct. It was the senior official who spoke. He also cast a discreet glance at Vaughn, considering this a perfect opportunity for revenge.
As one of Fudge's loyal lackeys, he knew that Kingsley Shacklebolt was close to Vaughn.
Kingsley Shacklebolt ignored him entirely and looked straight at Dumbledore, his voice urgent and heavy. "Sir! Something has happened at Azkaban!"
Those words silenced the entire meeting hall. Everyone stared, their