Hogwarts: Voldemort, don't stop me from studying

Chapter 972 Big News 8
The moment Serafina appeared, the FMC reporter was startled and immediately turned the camera to include the aunt and niece who were confronting each other in the frame.

He didn't know if the footage he shot would be used, but the reporter had a feeling that this would be a very important turning point tonight.

As the reporter moved, Wade subtly shifted half a step to the side, making himself even more hidden in the shadows of Stella and the door frame.

Although Vader wasn't using his original appearance at this moment—

His disguise was that of a therapist assistant at an American magic hospital. His light blue robe looked simple and refreshing, and his expression was gentle but seemed to carry a hint of timidity.

His appearance was also completely different from before; he had an ordinary, common face that you wouldn't notice if you threw him into a crowd.

However, some people's intuition is irrational.

Perhaps they only need to see a subtle movement from afar, the posture of standing or walking, or a brief eye contact, and they can recognize a person even if they look different.

Wade's mother, Fiona, was such an intuitive person.

As he stood fully in the shadows, Vader flicked his arm, and the spare wand hidden in his sleeve slid out and obediently fell into his hand.

The tip of the staff twitched twice rapidly, and at the same time, Vader's lips moved silently.

……

In the control room of FMC's New York branch, Nelson excitedly grabbed his hat and shouted:

"Cut! Cut! Immediately switch all the cameras to Capitol Headquarters!"

"Yes!" someone answered loudly.

"Manager!" a young man called out, "How's Ms. Skeeter's side? Should we continue with split-screen mode?"

"No, no, no, I don't want to see the audience's attention diverted! This is a moment destined to be recorded in the history of magic!"

Nielsen raised his voice and said decisively, "Inform Ms. Skeeter that the camera will switch in three seconds, and she can take a break!"

……

Just as the thousands of camera shots were suddenly switched again, Vader's wand fell to the ground.

"call--"

An invisible wave of incantation spread out instantly, as gentle as a breeze. Most people were unaware of it, but Fontana, who had just been helped to his feet, suddenly widened his eyes.

The images on the several mirrors in the atrium suddenly froze, leaving only Skeeter's face, which was so excited it seemed to be climbing out of the mirror frame. However, people had already forgotten about this.

All eyes were on the two Piqués.

Serafina spoke slowly, and even though her voice was not loud, it still carried throughout the Midgard after she cast the spell.

With a hoarse voice, hoarse from a long illness, she gazed at Leila and said disappointedly:
"All lies must come to an end, Lyra!"

Leila clenched her teeth, her body trembling slightly, unable to speak.

At that moment, her pride in her intelligence and resourcefulness seemed to vanish from her body; only one voice echoed repeatedly in Lyra's mind, making it impossible for her to think—

It's over! Everything is over... Why is she still alive? Why isn't she dead?

Serafina was highly respected in the United States. Even though Leila was surrounded by her own people when Serafina was injured and unconscious, she did not rashly suggest taking action against her.

Because she knew that if she did that, her biggest supporter, Fontana, would be the first to object.

She could imprison, monitor, and control Seraphia, and everyone supported her in doing so for the sake of their shared cause and ideals. They tacitly cut off Seraphia's channels for seeking help from the outside world, causing numerous misunderstandings between Hawthorne and Seraphia.

However, a significant number of them would never agree to her killing Serafina.

While sending her to the magic hospital, Lyra could only secretly arrange for her trusted confidant to accompany her, instructing him to ensure that Serafina never left the hospital again, or at least remain in a coma for a year or two.

By then, she would have already secured her position as Speaker of Congress, and no matter what Serafina said or did, it wouldn't shake her position.

Not now… now is the moment when her power is most sacred, and also most vulnerable. To her at this moment, the voices of opposition from Serafina are deafening.

When Lyra froze, Serafina didn't wait for her response. Instead, she looked around at everyone present and slowly said:

“I am Serafina Piqueli.”

In an instant, all the noise subsided.

"I stand here not to seize power, but to..."

She paused for a moment, her eyelashes trembling slightly, as if suppressing some deep emotion.

"...atone for my sins."

"It is to stop a erosion of the foundations of the Magic Congress caused by my own blood relatives."

A low murmur arose, and questioning gazes darted back and forth between Lyra's pale face and Serafina's composed countenance.

There are too many changes today, and people no longer know what to believe.

Serafina raised a hand and pressed it down slightly, silencing the escalating uproar once again.

She said, "First, I want to clear one person's name—Niccolò Hawthorne, our former Speaker of Congress, did not commit any of the crimes he is accused of!"

"absurd!"

A sharp sound suddenly rang out.

A young official, perhaps inspired by Leila's previous comeback, suddenly stepped forward, mimicking her righteous tone, his face flushed with excitement.

He said loudly, “Ms. Serafina! We respect your past, but you cannot defend a traitor who has been proven guilty and fled the country based on just a few words! This will disappoint all of us who trust you and expect you to bring us the truth!”

"Evidence! We need evidence, not the empty rhetoric of outdated leaders!"

He waved his arms, his voice echoing in the courtyard.

Feeling that many people were looking at him with admiration, the young official puffed out his chest even more, his eyes shining, and the freckles on his face seemed to be jumping out of his head with excitement.

Wade leaned quietly against the door frame, easing some of the fatigue from days of running around. He looked at the young official and felt that he looked somewhat familiar.

At that moment, he felt as if he were seeing another Percy Weasley, blinded by power and unable to discern what he should follow.

At this moment, Serafina, facing this almost provocative question, showed no anger on her face, but rather a hint of understanding that was almost compassionate.

She nodded slightly and said, "Evidence...of course I have it."

The young official froze, his gaze involuntarily turning to Leila on the stage.

Lyra cursed inwardly, "Idiot!"

(End of this chapter)