"Weasley, if you can't produce any evidence, don't even think about pinning this on me!"
Fudge's voice trembled with barely suppressed hysteria. Those cold stares had finally driven him beyond his ability to control his emotions.
"Then, Mr. Fudge, could you explain why you refused to surrender your wand?" Vaughn still wore a smile.
Fudge's face kept twitching. The overwhelming sense of humiliation nearly drove him mad.
Amelia looked rather odd in the presiding seat. She felt that if this continued, the hearing might well degenerate into a quarrel between children.
No matter how hard Vaughn pressed him, Fudge would never answer. This exchange was going nowhere.
She took a deep breath and said slowly, "Mr. Weasley, if you cannot provide compelling evidence, your accusation against Minister for Magic Fudge will not stand. I will declare this hearing adjourned on behalf of the Wizengamot."
Vaughn spread his hands. "But Mr. Fudge has not answered my question. We still have reason to suspect that he refused to surrender his wand in order to assist Sirius's escape, so I stand by my case."
Amelia nodded, and the Wizengamot members seated beside her began discussing the matter in low voices.
The discussion lasted several minutes before Amelia spoke again. "The Wizengamot has resolved to uphold Mr. Weasley's right to pursue this case. This hearing will be adjourned until Minister for Magic Fudge responds to the accusation or Mr. Weasley provides compelling evidence." She continued, "Until then, Cornelius Fudge is entitled to remain free on bail pending trial, but he may not leave London and must cease all political activity."
In England's Muggle world, the origins of bail could be traced back to the sixteenth century. The Ministry of Magic had later adopted the practice, though it had never been formally codified and was