Who let this Dementor into Hogwarts!

Chapter 361 Herbert's Second Trial
Did she do something to you?

Rose said warily,
"Could it be the child of one of the Silver Key members?"

“I suspect she received some kind of irregular part-time job offer,” Cohen said.

The girl was carrying a stack of part-time job manuals and looked very poor—she was probably paid to do some work that could earn her money by working for some merchant disguised as a silver key.

“I can go to her and check the situation,” Cohen said after thinking for a while.

"Should I go instead?" Edward said, somewhat worried.

"My social skills with women aren't so bad that I need my parents to handle things for me..." Cohen said weakly. "I can handle it. I don't blush and stammer like Harry and Ron when they talk to girls."

“That’s not what I’m worried about,” Edward whispered in Cohen’s ear. “What I’m worried about is that you’ll be involved because of the silver key—”

“I was just talking to her about a part-time job,” Cohen said. “Why do I feel like you’re in more danger than I am…”

“Someone’s coming,” Herbert interrupted their conversation in a low voice.

Cohen saw a familiar face appear outside the tent.

Barty Crouch.

What is he doing here?

"Excuse me," Crouch greeted politely from outside.

“Please come in,” Edward said.

Crouch still looked as meticulous as ever, but it was obvious that he had more gray hair.

“There’s something I need to tell you about Herbert—” Crouch entered and looked around before spotting Cohen there. “You played very well today, Cohen.”

"Hmm?" Cohen responded, not quite understanding why adults had to exchange pleasantries upon meeting.

“What’s wrong with Herbert?” Rose asked.

Herbert was also somewhat puzzled. He hadn't done anything that might violate the rules these past few days, for fear of affecting Cohen's game—Crouch coming here to see him personally was clearly no small matter.

“It’s about Herbert’s second trial,” Crouch said to Edward and the other two. “The old judgment documents and the Burke Manor inspection report have been retrieved by 9:00 a.m. on July 15th. Amelia will send them to you in the next two weeks. Herbert’s personal freedom will not be restricted too much during the trial, but he will still need to be accompanied by a guarantor or a Ministry of Magic official.”

After speaking, Crouch paused for a moment and looked at Herbert.

"The trial thirteen years ago did indeed lack some direct evidence. My verdict was based solely on the turbulent social conditions at the time and your attitude during the trial—"

“Back then, I just wanted to spend the rest of my life rotting in one place; it wasn’t anyone else’s fault.” Herbert shook his head. “Although it’s pretty much the same now…”

“But the wizarding world is pressing hard right now,” Crouch said. “A second trial is inevitable, and considering what Edward and Rose have said, you have indeed served your sentence. I will do my best to help—reporters from the Daily Prophet and Wizarding Weekly will be here to interview you later.” Crouch’s meaning was quite clear.

He wanted Herbert and his colleagues to say the "right" things in their interviews and reports.

“And also, something concerning your family, about the Silver Key,” Crouch said. “We’ve apprehended a five-man Silver Key gang in Caithness County.”

“Caithnessshire?” Edward narrowed his eyes. “Not far from here, is it?”

"This is their target. Based on the information we extracted from them using truth serum, their goal is the Triwizard Tournament," Crouch said.

"What about the whole process?" Edward asked. "The truth serum can't just have the goal of a 'three-way championship,' can it?"

"Because they're only in charge of setting up the venue, the organization's control over the memory aspect is a bit too abnormal. It's as if they're certain that this first group of people will be arrested. It looks like either they've been planning this for a long time, or they're a large group of habitual criminals," Crouch said. "However, we've already found out the location of their other accomplices, and the Auror Office has already dispatched quite a few people to arrest them. You can leave this job to the Aurors; you don't need to actively look for them."

“Thanks for reminding me,” Edward replied.

Crouch said nothing more and quickly left the tent.

Almost immediately, two reporters and several people with cameras appeared outside Cohen's tent.

Rita was also among them—while other reporters scrambled to interview Herbert about his views on being "wrongfully convicted by the Ministry of Magic for thirteen years," she unusually didn't rush to grab the first spot, but instead secretly winked at Cohen for a while.

It's as if they're reluctantly asking Cohen whether this matter falls under the category of "reporting will kill you."

She didn't begin until Cohen nodded in agreement.

The interviews continued until just before dinner, and the group of reporters had practically dug up every detail of Herbert's tragic story—except, of course, the experimental results.

"I always felt they would portray you as an extremely tragic figure, a victim of the dark forces of the Ministry of Magic..." Cohen said.

“I mentioned Crouch’s help—I hope I won’t shift the blame to Crouch again…” Herbert said uncertainly. “He has indeed helped me a lot during this time, and it wouldn’t be right not to give him something in return…”

“He definitely wouldn’t have helped you before,” Rose said dismissively. “A madman who wouldn’t even go through the proper procedures for sentencing—it just goes to show how much his son’s death changed him… I always felt there was something fishy going on behind the murder of Crouch Jr. that came to light last year…”

“Compared to Fudge, I actually feel that Crouch is a little more normal,” Edward said. “Crouch might actually be able to take advantage of this situation to replace Fudge. That way, at least the Ministry of Magic will pay more attention to the matter of seizing the silver key, instead of 'burying his head in the sand' like Fudge did.”

“Relying on others is not as good as relying on yourself. Why don’t you plan your path to becoming Minister of Magic?” Cohen said hopefully. “That way you can let Mom rest easy and make up for all the hard work she did for this family in the first half of her life…”

“Cohen makes a good point, Edward.” Rose nodded. “You can have Arnold help you infiltrate the Auror’s office first, and then climb up step by step. That would also solve the problem of the stress you feel from lying at home.”

“That sounds promising,” Herbert laughed.

"Oh dear, it's past four o'clock—I have to go cook—" Edward exclaimed, and hurriedly fled into the kitchen.

(End of this chapter)