Hogwarts: Not Even Voldemort Can Stop My Learning

Chapter 159: Courtroom Three

Hansen wasn't the only one at the security checkpoint; there were several other Wizards nearby. They overheard Hansen and rushed over to shake Harry's hand.

"After all this time at school, I almost forgot Harry has fans all over the British wizarding world."

Wade sighed, turning to Lupin. "We're not going to be late, are we?"

Lupin shared the same concern. He pushed through the crowd, struggling until he finally managed to rescue Harry.

"Excuse me, gentlemen! We have important business; please make way..."

Harry straightened his crooked glasses and asked, "Mr. Hansen, can we proceed with the security check now?"

"Of course, of course."

Hansen used a thin, golden rod to scan everyone from head to toe, front and back, much like a metal detector at an airport.

Then, he had Harry place his Wand on a brass machine that resembled a scale. In no time, the machine spat out a narrow strip of paper.

"Eleven inches, holly, phoenix feather, used for one year, correct?" Hansen asked.

"Yes," Harry replied, looking at the onlookers around him. He felt like a monkey in a zoo.

The Wizards smiled kindly at him.

Hansen also smiled and said, "It's very well-maintained. Mr. Ollivander would be delighted to see it."

He returned the Wand to Harry and then stuck the paper strip onto a small brass nail.

When it was Lupin and Wade's turn, Hansen's demeanor became strictly businesslike.

"Cypress, Unicorn Hair, ten and a quarter inches, used for 21 years?"

"That's right," Lupin confirmed.

"Poplar Wood, Unicorn Hair, twelve inches, used for one year..." Hansen glanced at Wade and asked, "Are you a Hufflepuff? I'm from Hufflepuff as well."

"No," Wade said, "I'm a Ravenclaw."

"Oh..."

Hansen's friendly smile vanished instantly. When he turned and saw Harry, his enthusiastic attitude returned.

"Mr. Potter, where are you headed? I can help guide you."

"No need, Hansen. They're with me!"

Arthur Weasley suddenly emerged from the crowd, put an arm around Harry's shoulder, and led the three towards an open golden door.

"You're a little late, Lupin," Mr. Weasley said.

"Sorry, Arthur, the Ministry of Magic staff are a bit too enthusiastic," Lupin said, smoothing down his ruffled clothes and guiding Wade forward.

A swarm of colorful paper airplanes suddenly flew past them, like a flock of birds.

They passed through the golden door and entered the elevator hall, where at least twenty elevators were located. The small hall was filled with people waiting for them.

"Hi, Arthur," someone greeted Mr. Weasley. "How's work going lately?"

Mr. Weasley nodded. "Everything's fine, except for a Muggle who almost had his nose bitten off by his own teacup."

The group approached an elevator, and Mr. Weasley pressed the down button.

"Dumbledore is already here," Mr. Weasley whispered to Lupin. "And a lot of foreign reporters... Fudge originally wanted to hold the interrogation in Courtroom Ten, but because of them, he had to change it to Courtroom Three..."

Lupin seemed familiar with both locations, as he let out a sigh of relief and said, "That's good then..."

"Everyone wants me to remind you... to stay calm, alright? No matter what happens in court, the person who loses their temper always loses," Mr. Weasley said.

"I understand." Lupin clenched his hands twice, his tone still calm. "Disrupting the court will get you thrown out, and I certainly won't let that happen."

"Good," Mr. Weasley said, feeling a little relieved.

Wade and Harry both looked at Lupin.

Ever since they'd met, Lupin had always appeared steady and rational. Even Professor McGonagall sometimes got angry with her students, but Lupin's emotional stability was incredibly consistent.

But in others' eyes, why did Lupin seem like someone who would flip a table at the slightest provocation?

Harry thought it was because of their deep emotional bond.

Wade's thought was... He once thought that among the four Marauders, Lupin was the one who was led astray by his friends, but it seems others don't see it that way...

The elevator arrived quickly.

They took the elevator down to the underground levels. The group walked down a flight of stairs. Many torches were embedded in the rough stone walls, and the air remained cold and damp.

"Here we are, Courtroom Three."

Mr. Weasley said, pushing open a heavy black door.

It was clear that many torches and floating magical candles had been temporarily added to the courtroom, illuminating the entire hall brightly.

On both sides were rows of gradually rising seats, almost completely filled. Nearly everyone was talking, and the courtroom was very noisy.

In the front rows, there were a dozen or so reporters with heavy cameras hanging around their necks, some scribbling furiously.

Among them, a woman with jewel-encrusted glasses and golden curly hair stood out. She wore a fluorescent pink dress, which seemed completely out of place in the dark courtroom.

The other reporters instinctively kept their distance from her, unsure if it was out of apprehension or disgust.

Wade and the others entering went almost unnoticed. Mr. Weasley led them up a narrow side staircase to the very top floor, where they found a few empty seats and sat down.

A short while later, someone else sat next to them. The wooden chair creaked loudly as he settled in.

Wade looked up to see a man with a truly frightening appearance beside him. He had long, dishevelled greyish hair, a scarred face, and a mouth that looked like a crooked gash.

The eye closest to Wade was particularly odd, constantly darting around like a restless pointer, and then suddenly fixed on Wade.

Startled by the abrupt movement, Wade flinched.

The Wizard chuckled, asking in a raspy voice, "You don't mind me sitting next to you, do you, kid?"

Even when speaking in the politest tone, he still sounded threatening.

Harry's eyes widened in alarm, and he stiffened, likely thinking this was some dangerous Dark Wizard.

At the Umbrella House, he had heard Theo recount the story of how he and his brother were almost kidnapped and then rescued by a stranger.

Wade looked at the Wizard and said, "Of course not, please sit."

"Quite bold, aren't you?" the Wizard muttered, his blue eye rolling again to examine Harry beside him. He stared at the scar on Harry's forehead for a moment, then fell silent.

"Good morning, Moody," Lupin greeted him, taking the initiative. "I didn't expect to see you here."

"Just because I'm retired doesn't mean I'm deaf and mute, does it?"

Moody pulled out a curved flask, took a large swig, and said, "Besides, Sirius was once my comrade-in-arms."

"I'm going to take a good look and see if he's truly innocent, or if he's just tricked you naive lot with some scheme!"

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