Chapter 113 — Did the Minister Hit Someone?

Chapter 113: Chapter 113 — Did the Minister Hit Someone?

Chapter 113 — Did the Minister Hit Someone?

Many members of the Wizengamot looked embarrassed. Some even stood up, intending to leave, but the law-enforcement officers nearby quickly stopped them.

No member of the Wizengamot had ever walked out of a trial.

If someone left now, Fudge would become a laughingstock.

Fudge hadn’t expected Vesey’s words to put him in such an awkward position almost instantly.

His expression hardened.

He knocked on the table and said, "All right. Let me ask you something. Didn’t you—"

Dumbledore calmly interrupted him.

"Cornelius, I think you need to calm down. Vesey is telling the truth, isn’t she?

"If someone is accusing her of colluding with those vampire wizards, shouldn’t those vampire wizards be the first ones questioned?"

Many people agreed with him.

Some had even begun speaking up in Vesey’s defense.

Fudge’s expression grew grim.

He clearly realized that the wizarding world was still largely under Dumbledore’s influence.

He had no choice but to give in.

"Bring those vampire wizards in!"

He said coldly.

A while later, seven vampire wizards were brought into the chamber.

Unlike Vesey, who was sitting freely in her chair, all seven of them were bound.

"I am a member of the O’Neill family! How dare you arrest me?"

Vesey controlled one of the vampires and made him shout.

Boos immediately filled the courtroom.

Fudge’s expression became even uglier.

He hated Dumbledore, but he didn’t particularly like these pure-blood families either.

Of course, their families had considerable influence and connections.

Even so, these vampires had committed enough crimes to ensure that they would spend the rest of their lives in Azkaban.

"Silence!"

Dumbledore shouted.

The entire chamber immediately fell quiet.

Fudge felt a little suffocated.

He was supposed to be the one restoring order, but Dumbledore had beaten him to it.

He was extremely unhappy that Dumbledore was stealing the spotlight.

He snorted and began flipping through the documents.

Then he looked toward the vampire wizard.

"Mr. O’Neill, starting with you. You have been accused of colluding with Miss Potter—"

He deliberately left the implication hanging.

He believed these people would definitely drag Vesey into trouble.

After all, they were practically guaranteed a lifetime in Azkaban. How could they possibly not hate Vesey?

But before he could finish, O’Neill, under Vesey’s control, spat directly at Fudge.

The spit landed on Fudge’s face.

Fudge immediately used his wand to clean himself, his expression filled with disgust.

For a moment, he almost rushed forward and killed O’Neill.

But O’Neill looked even angrier than he did.

"Don’t compare us to a child born to a Muggle-born witch.

"We’re pure-bloods! She’s nothing more than someone we wanted to humiliate and use. We had already discussed what we were going to do, but that boy from the Woley family insisted on going first because he wanted to—"

Before he could finish, Dumbledore struck him with his wand.

He quickly looked toward Vesey.

Vesey’s eyes were slightly red, but she remained composed.

She raised her chin and said softly,

"It doesn’t matter. I can’t stop people from talking about this for the rest of my life. But so what?

"They did make me afraid. They made me frightened.

"But I’ll spend the rest of my life overcoming that fear."

[Ding! Energy Points +10]

[Ding! Energy Points +10]

[Ding! Energy Points +10]

[...]

Applause erupted throughout the chamber.

Even Fudge couldn’t help feeling moved.

But as the applause continued, he grew impatient.

"Quiet! Stop... stop!"

He shouted several times, even pounding the table with his gavel before the applause finally died down.

He turned toward O’Neill unhappily.

"Are you lying, A—"

He glanced at Dumbledore.

Clearly, he had wanted to imply that Dumbledore had ordered O’Neill to say all this.

But Vesey controlled O’Neill and made him respond first.

"Lying? I don’t even bother lying.

"I know you told the old men in our families to involve Vesey Potter.

"But after several days of discussion, we ultimately couldn’t accept the idea of including a Muggle-born girl in our group, no matter how hard we tried.

"Of course, we discriminate against Vesey Potter.

"But we certainly don’t discriminate against you. If the Minister wants to join us, we’ll welcome you with open arms!"

He spoke loudly.

The other vampire wizards immediately cheered and laughed.

Fudge’s face nearly exploded with anger.

He hurried over and slapped O’Neill hard across the mouth.

"Stop talking nonsense!"

Dumbledore remarked mockingly,

"Oh, Cornelius. I never expected you to hit someone."

Fudge’s face turned bright red.

His mind had nearly exploded with rage.

After all, no one had ever dared say such things about him in public.

And these people had even claimed in front of the entire Wizengamot that he had dealings with their families.

Were these really the heirs of those ancient families?

Had their parents truly raised them like this?

If he weren’t the Minister, he would have wanted to beat them all senseless.

But that slap clearly enraged O’Neill.

He had been indifferent when Dumbledore struck him.

But being hit by Fudge was another matter entirely.

"Who are you?

"You took a box of Galleons from our family a few days ago. How dare you hit me?"

Fudge clenched his fists.

His knuckles tightened.

"I didn’t! I didn’t take any money from your family!"

He even tried to signal to the others with his eyes.

But how could people under Vesey’s control possibly understand his hints?

One after another, they began talking about how much money Fudge had taken from their families.

Soon, they were even comparing who had paid more and who had paid less.

When.

Where.

How much.

Everything was laid out in painstaking detail.

Fudge’s desperate cries of innocence were completely drowned out.

Finally, he could endure it no longer.

His voice came out almost strangled.

"What do you gain by saying all this about me? Who told you to say these things?"

He was once again trying to imply that Dumbledore had orchestrated everything.

But these vampires weren’t afraid of him at all.

"Anyway, we’ve already been caught, and we’ll definitely end up in Azkaban.

"If we’re going down, then you, who took money from our families and did nothing for us, aren’t getting away with it either.

"By the way, I even recorded everything for you. The magical recording device is near the manor. We came prepared this time. We thought that if something went wrong, we’d make sure to drag you down with us!"

Fudge’s face went pale with fury.

He pointed at them, completely speechless.

Finally, he couldn’t take it anymore.

He asked weakly,

"What about Vesey Potter? You’re just going to let her go like this?"

O’Neill and the others immediately shook their heads.

Their grins widened.

Then O’Neill suddenly turned toward Vesey.

"How could we possibly let you go, Vesey Potter? You’re the real culprit.

"No matter how strong you are, you won’t be able to withstand the whole wizarding world seeing what happened to you, will you?"

He turned toward everyone in the courtroom and shouted,

"We hid the evidence near the manor where we were captured. When we heard someone approaching, we hid it.

"Over the past few days, we’ve contacted the servants and made countless copies.

"By now, there may already be people outside with them!"

Vesey’s face instantly turned pale.

It appeared as though she may start hyperventilating