Chapter 397 - Retrial Ⅲ (1/2)
Hagrid's hope slowly dies down in his chest as he glances down at his lawyer to tell him that at least he tried, and it was far more than Hagrid could have ever hoped for. However, to Hagrid's shock, Mr. Flint looks still as confident as ever. How could that possibly be?
”Of course,” Stephen smoothly replied to the dismay of Magellan and the interest of the rest of the council including one, Lucius Malfoy.
”I request that the testimony of Headmaster Albus Dumbledore, who at that time was the Transfiguration Professor, be allowed to be heard,” Stephen triumphantly declared.
Magellan chews on his lips in vexation as a vein throbs on his nearly bald, spotted head. With a growl, Magellan hissed, ”Let the Headmaster enter.” He knew that he had no other choice and could not refuse the presence of the very Headmaster of Hogwarts.
The side doors open to reveal the current Headmaster of Hogwarts, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore. His childlike blue eyes sparkle from half-moon spectacles resting on a long, crooked nose. His gleaming, long silvery hair and beard are neatly tucked into his belt. While his long robes embroidered with moon and stars sweep to the floor with the tip of buckled high heeled boots just barely peeking out with each step.
Headmaster Albus Dumbledore comes to a halt before them. ”Good evening, Hogwarts Board Members,” Albus cheerfully said, before nodding at the two other wizards. ”Mr. Flint, Hagrid.”
Hagrid happily beams back in relief. Now that Professor Dumbledore was here, everything would be alright in the end. Feeling hope fill up inside of his chest again, Hagrid puffs up back up again.
”Headmaster Dumbledore,” Stephen solemnly addressed him. ”Can you please tell us, who was it that reportedly found my client, Rubeus Hagrid with his illegally kept magical creature?”
”It was Prefect Tom Marvolo Riddle,” Albus gravely replied.
”The same, Tom Marvolo Riddle found to be the murderer of his wizard grandfather, muggle father, and muggle grandparents; who then pinned it on his own flesh and blood, his recently deceased uncle, Morfin Gaunt?!” Stephen loudly exclaimed.
”That is correct,” Albus earnestly answered. ”The very same.”
”And said, fugitive murderer, what was he like as a student?” Stephen further inquired.
”A handsome lad,” Albus confessed. ”He was extraordinarily bright and charismatic. Many thought he would go on to do great things, but he strangely took a position in a shop in Diagon Alley, before utterly disappearing for ten years to only briefly resurface, before vanishing again.”
”Now that Hogwarts Board sounds like the murderer of Myrtle Warren,” Stephen pointed out.
”Brilliant without equal. How easily, it was for him to pin the crime on my client? It was incredibly so, especially, when given that said fugitive murderer was not only in a position of power over my client but a Prefect. And the attacks of that year only began at the same time that said the murderer had more than ample and free opportunity to wander around Hogwarts under the so-called duty of patrol. It was the perfect crime with the perfect scapegoat, my client.”
Stephen paused to slightly backpedal. ”I am not saying that my client did not commit a wrong for he was caring for a magical creature inside the castle, when he should not have been. However, my client holds a strong love for all manner of magical animals much like our own famous Magizoologist, Newt Scamander. My client may have indeed committed an error in his youth for which he has been paying forever since then.”