bacchusnovels Chapter 238 Reversal? Objection!
Chapter 238 Reversal? Objection!
Chapter 238 Reversal? Objection!
1993 8 Month 19 Day.
The day before the hearing.
London, England, Ministry of Magic building.
The solitary confinement room of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.
A short, kind-looking old man with a head of fluffy white hair sat at the table.
He gently clasped his hands together and placed them on a document on the table.
The document appears to be an investigation report on a recent case of violation of the State Secrets Law.
The old man carefully read each line of text, occasionally nodding or frowning slightly.
After a long while, he finally looked up at the man sitting opposite him.
"Phillips, have you thought this through?"
Sean looked at Fudge and said helplessly, "Minister Fudge, I didn't do it, and that's that, no matter how many times I say it."
"You should know better than me that those accusations are completely fabricated, so why are you forcing me to confess to those crimes?" Sean's tone was tinged with doubt and dissatisfaction.
Yes, he couldn't find a reason why Fudge would do that.
It's understandable that Amelia and Scrimgeour would resort to such methods against him.
But he clearly belonged to Fudge's faction, and it was Fudge who appointed him as a senior advisor and sent him to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.
He just couldn't understand what good it would do for Fudge if he collapsed.
In other words, shouldn't Fudge have been more anxious than him when he heard that he had been falsely accused?
Fudge sighed softly, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes. "Phillips, I understand how you feel, and I know you as a person. But you must understand, as Minister for Magic, I cannot act solely on my personal beliefs. What I need is evidence, evidence that can convince everyone."
He paused, then continued, "Those accusations, whether you think they're baseless or not, are now before me, and I must handle this matter according to the established procedures."
Fudge's sanctimonious appearance made Sean feel nauseous.
They're all birds of a feather; who doesn't know who?
Sean stared intently at Fudge and slowly said, "Then, Minister, can you tell me what evidence they have that makes them so certain I am the murderer in this case?"
Fudge shook his head without hesitation and refused, "No, Phillips, I can't tell you, it's not in accordance with procedure."
You know, I always follow procedures.
"I know this may not be fair to you, but rules are rules. They exist to maintain order in the Ministry of Magic. I cannot ignore these rules because of personal feelings or my trust in you. I hope you can understand my position, Phillips."
Then, he took a deep breath, leaned forward slightly, and firmly supported himself on the edge of the table with his hands, his gaze fixed on Sean's eyes.
"Before bringing you into this solitary confinement room, I made sure to send everyone else away. I did this to give you a fair and private space where you can speak the truth without any reservations."
"Now, there's no one else around, just you and me. It's time to tell me."
His tone became unusually serious, each word sounding as if it had been carefully crafted, falling heavily into the air.
"Phillips, are you involved in this incident or not? I need to hear your honest answer, and I will handle it fairly, whatever the outcome."
"No," Sean answered crisply.
Fudge scrutinized Sean, seemingly trying to catch a trace of a lie in his expression and tone. He straightened his wizard's robes, stood up, and prepared to leave the solitary confinement room.
However, just as he was about to step out of the room, he suddenly stopped, turned to Sean, and said something puzzling: "Phillips, I hope you'll be as confident at the hearing tomorrow as you are now."
Sean looked at Fudge, puzzled, trying to find the answer in his expression, but Fudge just gave him a deep look.
Then turned and left.
With a heavy bang, the confinement room fell silent once more.
A deathly silence.
Sean stared blankly at the ceiling, seemingly lost in thought.
Outside the confinement room.
Outside the solitary confinement room, Fudge's footsteps echoed down the corridor. He walked to the end of the corridor next to the solitary confinement room, stopped, and called out to the empty corner, "Come out."
A moment later, two figures emerged from around the corner.
It's Scrimgeour and Amelia.
"You two just heard what Phillips said," Fudge waved his hand. "I've kept our agreement, so now... we're even."
With that, he ignored their reactions and left the corridor.
Only Scrimgeour and Amelia remained standing there.
1993 8 Month 20 Day.
On the day of the hearing.
London, England.
afternoon.
The sky instantly turned gloomy and oppressive, with thick clouds seemingly kneaded together by an invisible hand, hanging low over the city and swallowing the daylight.
Immediately afterwards, a gust of wind arose, sweeping through the narrow streets of London, whipping up the hems of pedestrians' clothes and swaying the old trees along the roadside.
Soon, large raindrops began to relentlessly pound the ground, dense and rapid, making a series of urgent pattering sounds.
On the street, rainwater quickly gathered into streams, rushing along the uneven cobblestone path, searching for every possible crevice to merge into larger flows.
Pedestrians quickened their pace, some opening up all sorts of colorful umbrellas that stood out against the gray background. "Children, it's raining, put on your raincoats!" Molly called out to the children behind her, while hurriedly pulling out several yellow raincoats from her large bag.
But only Percy, Ginny, and Hermione took the raincoat from her.
"Mom, no need, we don't need raincoats," the Weasley brothers' voices came from ahead.
Molly wanted to say something, but seeing Hermione beside her, she swallowed her words.
Hermione seemed a little nervous today, ever since the Grangers dropped her off at Diagon Alley (where they agreed to meet at the Broken Axe).
She gently took Hermione's hand and gave her a reassuring look.
Hermione looked up at Molly and gave her a somewhat forced smile.
Before long, the group entered the Ministry of Magic building and passed through security and registration.
Looking around, everything here was too unfamiliar to Hermione.
"Time is running out." Arthur suddenly raised his wrist, looked at the time on it, and said with a hint of urgency in his voice, "The elevator door is over there, we need to get there quickly."
Everyone quickened their pace, following Arthur's directions.
Hermione stayed close to Molly, feeling the warmth emanating from her.
After navigating the busy corridor, they finally arrived at the elevator door. Arthur quickly pressed the button, and the door slowly opened.
"Department of Mysteries"
The elevator was slowly turning, and the numbers on the floor indicator lights were constantly changing.
"Hurry up, kids!" Arthur urged as the elevator doors swung open. They ran quickly down a corridor.
This corridor was completely different from the ones above. The walls were bare, with no doors or windows, except for a simple black door at the end of the corridor.
Hermione thought they would go through this door, but Arthur led them to turn left here, where there was an opening leading to a staircase.
"Come down, come down," Arthur said breathlessly, taking two steps at a time. "Even the elevator can't go this far, why did they bring it all the way here? I really..."
They went down the steps and ran along a corridor that was exactly like the corridors at Hogwarts that led to Snape's underground classrooms: rough stone walls and torches stuck in brackets.
The doors they passed through here were all heavy wooden doors with iron gates and keyholes.
Sean stopped in front of a gloomy black door with a large iron lock hanging on it.
This was his first time visiting the tenth floor of the Ministry of Magic, especially since he was appearing as the defendant.
Without any hesitation, he twisted the heavy iron handle on the door and walked into the courtroom.
He: It seems like I've been here before.
The walls on all sides were made of dark stones, and the torchlight was dim and eerie.
On either side of him were rows of empty benches that gradually rose higher, and in front of him, on the highest benches, many dark figures suddenly appeared.
They had been whispering, but the noise stopped when the heavy door closed behind Sean.
"Sit down."
A cold male voice echoed in the courtroom.
Sean lowered his gaze to the chair in the center of the room, its armrests lined with chains on both sides.
He imagined the chains suddenly rising up and binding the person sitting on them tightly. His feet echoed loudly as they trod across the stone ground.
He sat cautiously on the edge of the chair, the chains clanging menacingly, but they did not bind him.
The chair was cool, which was surprisingly comfortable.
After adjusting himself into a comfortable sitting position, Sean looked up at the people sitting on the benches above.
He could see about fifty people, dressed in crimson robes with an exquisite silver "W" embroidered on their left breast.
They all looked down at him, some with stern expressions, others making no attempt to hide their curiosity.
"Very good," Amelia said. "The defendant is here; the hearing is about to begin."
"The trial on August 20th," Amelia announced in a booming voice, while Harvey, standing beside her, scribbled rapidly on the parchment before him, "The trial of Sean Phillips, Senior Advisor to the Minister of Magic, on charges of Section 3 of the Wizarding Safety Protection Act..."
Articles 4 and 12; Articles 3 and 5 of the International Confederation of Wizards' Secrecy Law, totaling thirty-six offenses, including multiple charges such as murder and instigating murder.
"Because of the seriousness of this case and its significant social impact, the Ministry of Magic is conducting a public trial."
'
"Interrogators: Minister for Magic Cornelius Fudge; Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement Amelia Bornes; Senior Undersecretary Dolores Umbridge; Chief of the Auror Office Rufus Scrimgeour. Trial Recorder: John Harvey."
As Amelia spoke, Sean's eyes searched the audience.
His gaze quickly settled on the Weasleys sitting in the third row... and Hermione beside them.
Sean waved to them with interest, and Hermione's face instantly flushed.
"Silence!" Amelia's stern voice echoed throughout the courtroom, interrupting Sean's provocative behavior. "Defendant, watch your manners. This is the solemn courtroom of the Ministry of Magic, not your social setting."
Sean smirked, but still obediently withdrew his hand, his gaze continuing to wander aimlessly throughout the courtroom.
He saw Tonks and Jorkins looking tense, Susan sitting in the last row, obscured by a group of people, and Daphne sitting smugly in the fourth row, her expression seemingly saying, "So, you've finally met your match?" He saw it all.
Albus Dumbledore.
The elderly but still dignified wizard was sitting in the front row of the Wizengamot group.
He wore a deep purple robe, a scarf embroidered with silver stars draped over his shoulders, and long, silver-white hair cascaded down his back. His eyes, through his ever-present crescent-shaped glasses, coldly stared at Sean, his face expressionless.
Sean paused for a moment, but quickly regained his composure.
The trial is still ongoing.
"You're Sean Phillips, the Senior Advisor to the Minister of Magic, who lives at 19 Privet Drive, Little Huigkin, Surrey?" As usual, Amelia stared at Sean through the parchment.
"Yes," Sean replied.
"Do you admit to the aforementioned crimes? If you do, it will help with your sentencing. If you do not admit to the crimes and the facts are true, you may face serious legal consequences, including but not limited to the deprivation of magical rights, imprisonment in Azkaban, and a public apology."
"I plead not guilty to any crime, Director Burns." Sean paused, then continued, "I have always faithfully performed my duties. As a senior advisor to the Minister for Magic, I have never done anything illegal or disorderly. I believe..."
The truth and the law will prove my innocence.
The atmosphere in the courtroom immediately became heavy, and the wizards in the gallery whispered and discussed amongst themselves.
Amelia frowned, but she wasn't surprised by Sean's attitude. She continued flipping through the documents in her hands.
"So, according to our investigation, there is evidence linking you to a series of recent murders..."
"This is utterly absurd!" This was the first time Sean had interrupted Fudge during the hearing. "As a senior advisor to the Minister for Magic, I have always strived to maintain peace and justice in the wizarding world."
"Murder? This is a great insult to my character! Director Burns, I demand that you immediately release this so-called evidence so that I have the opportunity to refute it point by point in court and prove my innocence."
As Sean finished speaking, the courtroom fell silent, all eyes focused on Fudge. Amelia waved her hand, "Call a witness."
As soon as Amelia finished speaking, the courthouse doors slowly opened, and a wizard in a black robe walked in, protected by two Aurors.
When the black-robed wizard saw Sean in the dock, his face turned deathly pale, as if he had seen something that terrified him, and his body trembled uncontrollably.
He took a deep breath and, under the watchful eyes of the crowd, slowly walked to the witness stand.
After stopping, he began to speak, "My name is Albert Moore, I am a dark wizard, I....:
The entire room erupted in an uproar, with the wizards whispering amongst themselves and discussing the matter.
"A dark wizard? How could he be a witness?" A young wizard in the audience said to his companion in surprise, his eyes full of doubt.
"Yes, this is incredible. How could a dark wizard be connected to our case?" another wizard chimed in, his brow furrowed, clearly finding Albert's identity unbelievable.
"Quiet! Quiet!" Amelia waved her gavel, trying to quell the commotion in the courtroom.
After the noise subsided, she looked sharply at Albert. "You say you're a dark wizard? Please explain this in detail, and what your connection is to this case."
Albert nodded, his voice trembling but trying to remain calm. "Yes, I am a dark wizard. I admit I have committed many unforgivable crimes, but I hope that in this fair court, I can have the opportunity to clarify some misunderstandings and provide some context for my actions. What I did was not entirely out of malice, although the results often led to darkness."
"Years ago, I was a young man filled with longing and curiosity for magic, pursuing the limits of knowledge. However, on my path of exploration, I went astray and was drawn to some ancient and forbidden magic. This magic promised power, but also demanded that I pay the price of morality and conscience. I gradually became more and more entangled and became what people call a 'dark wizard'."
"After that, I was driven by an even stronger force, a force that I myself could not completely resist."
Albert's tone gradually became unusually somber, but then he abruptly shifted his focus, turning his attention to Sean.
"However, I stand here today not to escape my past, but to reveal a more astonishing truth, a secret closely connected to this case and concerning the safety of our magical world."
The wizards in the courtroom stirred again, this time not just with surprise, but also with curiosity and tension.
Amelia's brow furrowed even more, but she gestured for Albert to continue.
"A few years ago, I accidentally discovered an organization lurking in the shadows. They used black magic to conduct illegal experiments in an attempt to overturn the balance of our world, and I joined them because of my greed for power."
Albert paused, as if recalling that dark past, then took a deep breath and said, word by word, "This organization has a direct connection to this case. And the defendant, Sean Phillips, is the leader of this organization."
The room erupted in commotion once again. This time, even Amelia seemed somewhat "shocked." She stared intently at Albert, signaling him to continue.
"Sean Phillips, this seemingly respected wizard, is actually the mastermind behind this dark organization." Albert's voice began to rise with fervor. "He used his position and influence to cover up countless crimes of dark magic and even manipulated some innocent wizards to serve him."
The wizards in the courtroom whispered amongst themselves, their voices rising and falling. They stared incredulously at Sean Phillips in the dock, trying to find a trace of panic or denial on his face, but Sean simply returned their gazes coldly, his expression unwavering.
Amelia waved her gavel, trying to quell the commotion in the courtroom once again. "Quiet! Please allow Albert to continue his statement."
Albert nodded and said firmly, "I would stake my life on the truth of every single thing I have said."
"If anyone doubts my testimony, I am willing to accept any form of examination. Whether it is examining my memory through legatomic recollection, recreating past scenes using the Pensieve method, or even taking truth serum to ensure the accuracy of my statements, I will cooperate without reservation. I only ask that the court uncover the truth and that justice be served."
Sitting to the side, Scrinker watched Albert's performance and couldn't help but nod in approval.
Indeed, writing the hearing draft for this disgusting guy in advance was a very wise choice.
As for Albert's statement, he expressed his unconditional belief in it.
The reason is that he had already verified the authenticity of Albert's testimony using Albert's "legalism" and "truth serum."
After Albert finished speaking, Amelia looked at Sean.
The atmosphere in the courtroom was so heavy it was almost suffocating; all eyes were on Sean, awaiting his reaction.
Sean calmly raised his hand, then stood up and said, "I have an objection!"
He looked around and said in a deep voice, "I deny all the accusations made by this dark wizard. Everything he says is nothing but a fabricated lie in an attempt to divert attention from his own sinful deeds."
"How can you possibly believe the words of a dark wizard?"
"Furthermore, memories can be altered with magic, and based on this, neither his claims of 'legalism,' 'the Pensieve,' nor 'truth serum' can be used as evidence in court, according to his own subjective memory."
Sean's words caused a stir in the courtroom.
Many wizards began to whisper among themselves, discussing the points Sean had made.
Indeed, it is a well-known fact that memories can be altered.
Therefore, whether Albert's memory is true and reliable is indeed worth discussing.
Amelia stared intently at Sean, then slowly nodded and said, "Phillips, your objection is important. The court does need to consider the reliability of memory as evidence."
Just then, as if receiving a signal, Albert abruptly interrupted Amelia, speaking impatiently:
"Phillips, do you dare to undergo the same examination as me? Whether it's legatomic sedation, the Pensieve, or the truth serum, are you willing to try them all to prove your innocence? Aren't you truly afraid of the truth being revealed to the world?"
The atmosphere in the courtroom instantly reached its peak, so tense it was almost suffocating.
All eyes were once again focused on Sean, awaiting his response.
The wizards held their breath, knowing that Sean's answer would determine the course of the trial.
Sean's expression changed slightly. He stared intently at Albert, a hint of anger and panic flashing in his eyes.
However, he quickly regained his composure, a cold smile playing on his lips. "I refuse to answer that question."
Amelia's eyes sharpened as she stared intently at Sean, her voice cold as she asked, "Phillips, does your refusal to answer this question mean you're afraid to undergo the examination? Are you hiding something?" Sean replied without hesitation, "It's not that I'm afraid to undergo the examination, but rather that I believe this method cannot truly prove anything. Even if I undergo the examination, it cannot guarantee that the memories I provide are authentic."
He paused for a moment, then continued, "Moreover, I firmly believe in my innocence. I don't need to prove my innocence in this way. The real truth should be revealed through investigation and evidence, not by relying on this unreliable test of memory."
Just then, Scrimgeour, who was sitting to the side, suddenly stood up. "Besides that, we have other evidence."
All eyes turned to Scrinker, awaiting his next words.
As the head of the Auror office, Scrimgeour's remarks undoubtedly added more weight to the trial.
Scrimgeour glanced around at the wizards in the courtroom, then continued, "We have gathered some crucial physical evidence and eyewitness testimonies, which will be presented as evidence in court. I believe this evidence will be able to reveal the truth."
As he spoke, he looked at Amelia beside him and requested, "Director Borns, I request that the court present evidence to the Wizengamo group and call the second witness in this case."
Amelia cleared her throat, struck her gavel, and announced, "The request is granted."
A murmur rippled through the courtroom as all the wizards focused their attention on the evidence about to be presented.
The wizards in the Wizengamo group sat up straight, clearly intrigued by Scrimgeour's words.
Scringer took a sealed document bag from his pocket and handed it to the court clerk, Harvey.
Harvey took the file bag, carefully opened it, and inside was a magic wand.
When Sean saw the magic wand, his pupils contracted sharply, and an ominous premonition welled up in his heart.
He knew that wand all too well; it was the mahogany wand he had lost half a month ago.
It did indeed appear here.
Although Sean had expected it, he still felt a sudden jolt when he actually saw the wand.
Harvey gently placed the wand on the display stand, making sure that every member of the Wizengamot could see it clearly.
He then turned to Scringer, awaiting further instructions.
Scrimgeour's gaze slowly swept over everyone in the courtroom, finally settling on Sean.
He calmly began, "This magic wand is a key piece of evidence we found at the crime scene based on Mr. Albert's testimony."
"After a thorough investigation, we discovered that this wand released powerful magical fluctuations during the time period of the incident, which perfectly matched the magical traces at the crime scene."
"However, in the process of searching for the owner of this wand, we unexpectedly discovered a surprising fact."
"This wand was recently seen at the Ministry of Magic, and its length, size, and core are exactly the same as those recorded during the security check, without the slightest difference."
"And the name Sean Phillips was clearly written in the wand owner column on the security check record."
"To prevent any oversights, we even invited a professional to authenticate this magic wand."
As he spoke, Scrimgeour clapped his hands.
The courtroom doors opened again, and an old wizard in a dark green robe walked in.
He slowly walked to the center of the courtroom, bowed to Director Amelia and the members of the Wizengamo delegation, and then stood still.
His arrival was met with another gasp from the courtroom.
Many people recognized him; he was...
"I believe everyone is familiar with this witness, Mr. Ollivander, who has unparalleled expertise in the making and authentication of wands," Scrimgeour introduced loudly. "Therefore, I have requested the court to allow Mr. Ollivander to conduct an on-site authentication of this wand to help us uncover the truth."
Director Amelia tapped her gavel and quickly announced, "The application is valid. Mr. Ollivander, please have this wand appraised and provide your professional opinion to the court and the Wizengamot group."
Mr. Ollivander nodded in acceptance.
He walked to the display stand, picked up the wand, and carefully examined the mahogany wand.
Although he recognized the unusual wand as soon as he picked it up, he decided to take a closer look just to be on the safe side.
He gently twirled the wand, letting it spin slowly in his hand.
This weight...
The feel of it...
This smell...
Absolutely not wrong.
After a careful examination, Mr. Ollivander turned to face the court and said firmly, "This wand was indeed sold through my hands. It is made of mahogany, is thirteen and a third inches long, and has Veela hair as its core. My father made this wand and was very particular about it, so I cannot mistake it."
"And I can confirm that its owner is Mr. Sean Phillips."
"I remember it very clearly. Mr. Phillips bought the wand on July 31, 1991. That day was special because it was both Lockhart's book signing and a pre-book promotion for Mr. Phillips' new book. He disguised himself specifically to buy the wand, so I remember it very well."
The entire audience erupted in uproar once again.
The name Lockhart always evokes negative memories.
In particular, the other half of the "Peerless Duo," Phillips, also fell into the same predicament as Lockhart two weeks later.
This coincidence made those present feel even more astonished and suspicious.
After all, Lockhart serves as a cautionary tale.
"Phillips, what else do you have to say for yourself?" Scrinker pointed a finger at Sean and shouted at him.
Here, he skillfully utilized language techniques.
By replacing "explanation" with "sophistry," a preconceived notion was formed in everyone present.
However, Sean did not fall into his trap, or rather, he said something that made everyone present find unbelievable.
"This wand isn't mine," Sean said with a smile that revealed a calm and confident demeanor.
The courtroom erupted in chaos, with people whispering and discussing amongst themselves.
Scrimgeour was clearly taken aback by Sean's response. His eyes widened as he stared at Sean in disbelief. "With so much evidence right here, how dare you deny it?"
He then turned to Ollivander and asked, "Mr. Ollivander, please tell everyone, how many of these wands are there in the world?"
Mr. Ollivander bowed slightly, his voice echoing clearly and firmly in the courtroom: "One. This wand was made by my father himself; it is unique, and there will never be another one like it."
Scrimgeour's gaze returned to Sean, his voice growing harsher: "Phillips, what else do you have to say? Do you think court is a game? Do you think you can escape punishment with a simple denial?"
"Director Burns, I request the court to deliver a verdict in this case, bringing Sean Phillips, a liar with no remorse, to justice and imprisoning him in Azkaban!"
Based on the evidence presented, Sean's fate seems sealed, leaving him with no room for rebuttal.
Just when everyone thought the matter was settled and Amelia was about to raise her gavel to pronounce judgment, a sudden voice came from the defendant's seat.
"Please wait a moment," Sean said slowly, extending his hands to show his innocence. "I know perfectly well that this wand is not mine, because I have kept my wand safe and sound."
"Where is it?" Scrinker asked impatiently.
Sean smiled slightly. "I need to go to the restroom now. After I'm done, I'll show you my wand and reveal the whole truth to everyone. I believe the truth will always come to light, and I will prove my innocence."
However, Scrinker immediately objected: "Director Borns, I object. He is deliberately stalling for time!"
He doesn't have a magic wand at all; he's just making up lies to escape responsibility!
Amelia tapped her gavel, her gaze stern as she looked at Sean: "Mr. Sean Phillips, do you truly possess another wand? If you're merely stalling for time, then I must remind you, this is a court of law, not child's play."
"I understand, Director Burns. But I'm not stalling for time. My wand does exist, but I need to go to the restroom to take care of some personal matters and clear my head. Then I'll be back to show everyone the truth."
Amelia was silent for a moment, her gaze lingering on Sean for a moment, as if weighing something.
Finally, she nodded. "Alright, I'll give you this chance. But if you're just wasting the courtroom's time, then I'll have to consider taking harsher measures against you. You can go to the restroom now, but you must show your wand immediately when you come back."
"I hereby declare a five-minute recess!" Chief Justice Amelia announced loudly, striking her gavel.
Accompanied by two Aurors, Sean slowly got up and walked towards the restroom.
As he passed the podium, next to Scrimgeour, the other man spoke in a low, menacing tone that only the two of them could hear, "Phillips, do you think such petty tricks will save you? Let me tell you, no matter what tricks you pull, I won't let you escape punishment. To save both of our time, you'd better just confess!"
Sean didn't turn around, he just shook his head slightly.
However, unseen by others, sweat had soaked his back and seeped into the shirt beneath his wizard's robe.
If he wasn't mistaken, the man from that night was indeed in the audience.
If he wasn't mistaken...
Upon arriving at the restroom, under the watchful eyes of the two Aurors, Sean slowly reached out and turned on the faucet.
Clear water flowed out instantly, making a pleasant sound.
He gently placed his hands into the running water, carefully rubbing each fingertip. Water droplets slid down his fingers, dripping onto the sink and splashing up tiny water droplets.
"Please hurry up, Mr. Phillips," Auror urged from the side.
"Wait a moment," Sean said gently.
After saying that, he elegantly dried his hands with the coins beside him, looked at the two toilet stalls, one of which was in use, and walked to the other stall under the close watch of the two Aurors.
After carefully locking the toilet door, Sean took out the pocket watch he had recently taken from the Department of Mysteries' desk.
As the small knob on the pocket watch was carefully turned, something seemed to change subtly...
(End of this volume)