The rarely used Memorial Chamber of the Wizengamot, silent since the fall of Voldemort, was now packed to the brim. Representatives from the British Ministry of Magic, the French magical government, and Russian emissaries stood shoulder to shoulder, visibly tense. The elevated judges' bench, carved with ancient symbols of magical justice, loomed over the room, where a single figure stood at the center, hands clasped, his gaze calm: Albus Dumbledore. 21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEVJGLDi3Us
Facing him, a gaunt and rigid old man, straight as a wand and dressed in a severe black robe trimmed with silver, let his voice echo through the chamber:
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcl10dpeaZ9
— Albus Dumbledore, for establishing an illegal contract in an illegal tournament, you are in serious trouble."
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ42VcDuWxad
A murmur rippled through the room. Even the portraits lining the walls seemed to hold their breath.
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiyr3KKV8Cy
The man continued, unfurling a long parchment stamped with the seal of the International Magical Authority:
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxEUaS3qcJW
— *"The Triwizard Tournament remains illegal. It was never officially reinstated by the proper authorities since 1792. In 1994, without authorization from the British government and with forged documents sent to the French and Russian ministries, you falsely claimed its reopening had been approved. You deliberately concealed the archives proving the tournament’s illegality and deceived the participating schools. For this, Albus Dumbledore, you are sentenced to magical stripping."
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG1nfA09pdU
Absolute silence fell.
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLNO29XevUJ
Even Harry, seated beside Hermione and Ron in the witness gallery, felt the air freeze around him. He stared at Dumbledore, uncomprehending. The old man remained silent, his eyes fixed on the Wizengamot’s crest adorning the ceiling.
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEZS9Q3h4XI
The judge pressed on, unmoved:
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZvqmT8ShbS
— "And for the forced entry of Harry Potter into this illegal tournament—violating every magical protection safeguarding underage wizards—you forfeit all your possessions. By magical decree, as reparation for moral and physical damages, your estate now belongs to Harry James Potter."
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjKzMjTXHX
Golden flames erupted from the Goblet of Fire, placed at the room’s center. The magical fire spiraled upward, and then the deep, ethereal voice of magic itself resonated, irrevocable:
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUHBrNdVta8
— "And so, the magic of the Goblet sealed the verdict, rendering it unbreakable."
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAk7Xxy4kcW
A flash of white light burst from the Goblet. Dumbledore staggered slightly. Harry felt a strange tingling in his arms, as if an invisible energy were flowing from someone… to him. It was the magical transfer of ownership. Dumbledore had just lost everything—his manuscripts, his wand, his home, his magical artifacts.
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPIiIUcmQ5z
But Harry didn’t want it. He had never wanted this.
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIozgAafVwQ
— "No… this isn’t right," he whispered.
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLMnS6Tjv2O
Hermione gripped his arm.
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQxjvEsai34
— "It’s not your fault, Harry. He put you in that tournament against your will. It’s magical law judging him, not you."
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSUDXaiNJuK
But Harry suddenly stood. He descended the steps, crossed the room, and approached Dumbledore, who still stood tall.
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzDsi1p4UWZ
— "Why?" Harry asked, his voice breaking. "Why restart the tournament when it was forbidden? Why let me compete?"
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwEu7iRhru
Dumbledore looked at him, and for the first time in years, his eyes held no twinkle of wisdom or mischief. They were empty. Tired.
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMjIjSpFicO
— "Because I thought I could manipulate fate… And I was wrong."
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFvBRa9Sc4d
He turned to the judges.
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs1j4z6T6EE
— "I do not contest your verdict." He placed his wand on the ground. "I acted believing it was for the greater good. But I betrayed my principles by hiding the truth. Let magic leave me, if this is just."
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3FLumKRIdf
The golden light swirled around him, then seeped into his body like mist. His hand trembled. His beard seemed to lose some of its radiant whiteness. His frame appeared smaller, diminished.
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd2oq4GzlkT
And then, it was over. Albus Dumbledore was no longer a wizard.
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ZMuH3FSYE
The judge rose:
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcUButKWnM0
— "The sentence is carried out. Albus Dumbledore is stripped of his powers. His possessions are transferred to Harry Potter. This matter is closed."*
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQbW6Hzkxp
The magical gavel struck the podium. A dull shockwave reverberated through the chamber.
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1VbPC9MTLH
But the echoes of this trial would resonate far beyond these walls.
ns216.73.216.6da2
