Chapter 1285 The End Set Sail

The efficiency of the Ministry of Magic's operations in some aspects is sometimes surprising.

The day after Lockhart's arrest, the date of his trial was published in the Daily Prophet.

"...The location of the trial, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry?!"

Hermione unfolded the newspaper and read softly, turning her head to look at Elena in disbelief.

"Here? Trying a former professor in front of the entire school's teachers and students? The Ministry of Magic would actually do this?!"

"I heard—well—heard that Lockhart made the request."

Elena stirred the coffee cup gently with a spoon and blew on the white toffee foam on top.

"As the most prestigious and loudest new magic star in the wizarding world today, a secret trial will plunge the Ministry of Magic into a storm of public opinion."

"Barty Crouch's matter has not been resolved yet... Lockhart's proposal undoubtedly played into Fudge's hands, and Lockhart also selectively signed part of the confession document. In exchange, he hoped that he could be seen in the public He publicly confessed his crime in front of the police and told the reasons for his past crimes openly and truthfully."

As she spoke, she turned her head and glanced at the newspaper in Hermione's hand, then pursed her lips toward the lower left corner of the page.

"No, look at the contents of the third page - the newspaper has obviously got some inside information and is warming up."

"Skynet is vast, sparing no detail. Lockhart: despicable hypocrite and hero hunter?"

Hermione frowned and whispered the deliberately bold title.

As one of the reserve Major Arcanas, she naturally has the authority to inquire into the dark history of Gilderoy Lockhart.

However, she originally thought that these contents would be hidden forever. After all, Lockhart commanded a huge army of "black wizards".

"Don't look at me like that. Mr. Hanged Man is my equal - this is his own idea."

Before Hermione could ask, Elena put down the sugar spoon, took a sip of coffee and spoke softly.

“Don’t break or stand, look directly at your own dark side, this is the solution to ‘hanging upside down’.”

"The main tarot card... the correct interpretation of the situation?"

Hermione raised her eyebrows and subconsciously touched the pocket on her waist.

There is a thin card there, which belongs to her [Justice] main card.

"I thought these were chosen randomly by everyone. Will the fate of each Major Arcana really be connected to the main card?"

"They are indeed code names, but isn't that how tarot cards are used for divination?"

Elena lowered her head and continued to stir her coffee cup, looking at the constantly rotating vortex.

"Everyone can choose a card of their own, as for their fate..."

"Oh, who knows?"

…………

At the same time, the [College City] Research Institute outside Hogwarts.

Like the Great Hall in a castle, the morning hall is also a leisure time for researchers.

Magic and mystery are favorite topics among researchers...discussed for fun rather than research.

"So, Tarot cards are truly magical divination tools?"

Alexei looked at the woman across the table who was skillfully cutting cards, shook his head in amusement and said.

"Your technique is too fast. You look more like a croupier in a casino than a prophet witch in a mysterious divination house."

"Oh? Because the dealer's methods are very efficient and it's shameful to waste time——"

Arkhipovna shrugged, gently spread out a few tarot cards on the table, and said calmly.

"Besides, I am more concerned about the meaning and destiny hidden behind it. The Tarot cards contain the wizard's summary of life."

"I don't see that you, supervisor, have research in this area?"

"Know a little bit..."

Arkhipovna said softly, "Because there happens to be a card that I like very much."

"Then which card is your favorite? The Sun? Or the Pope?"

Several researchers nearby came over curiously, joking and laughing while drinking coffee.

"neither--"

Arkhipovna shook her head slightly, a trace of tenderness flashed in her eyes.

She picked up a tarot card and gently rubbed and turned it over with her fingers on the edge of the card.

"…The Hanged Man."

"The Hanged Man? Doesn't that sound good?"

The researchers looked at each other and asked in confusion.

"Well, it's a bit hard, but I like it very much-"

Arkhipovna said with a smile, turning over the card with her long white fingers and her eyes wandering.

“In the language of Tarot, the Hanged Man is an extension of justice.”

"In reality, people who really uphold justice will make people afraid, so those guilty people will do everything possible to frame justice."

"Justice was hung upside down and became a hanging man, just like Christ in the Bible. Although he was tied up, it didn't seem to bother him."

"It is indeed strange that he can use this time to reflect on the world he has lived up to this moment. After being turned upside down, the Hanged Man can see the world again. He understands that there is no use in struggling - in fact, it will only make him Knock yourself out until you’re free.”

"The best way for him to do that is to meditate and go with the flow, so that he can gain a deeper understanding of who he is and what he should do."

"..."

Several researchers looked at each other, becoming increasingly confused.

However, this is not uncommon in research institutes. The more top scholars are, the more likely they are to say things that are incomprehensible.

You know, this is the intersection of magic civilization and technological civilization.

Any bit of magical knowledge integrated into scientific thinking has the potential to bloom into a new world.

And Arkhipovna sitting in front of them was the person in charge of the project of controllable magic energy and magic host.

"So... Supervisor, can these tarot cards be derived into new projects?"

"Scientifically, it's useless for the time being——"

Arkhipovna flicked her fingertips and put away the tarot cards again.

“However, it can help build our confidence and give us some simple spiritual guidance.”

"For example, [The Hanged Man] means that you are ready to give up what you have so that you can do what you really should do in this life."

"Isn't this... us?"

She stood up, smoothed the newspaper on her knees again, walked to the magazine rack in the corner of the hall and put it away.

On the cover of that newspaper, a curly-haired wizard with a bright smile was smiling gently.

And above the big photo, there is a bold and bold title:

[The next Peter Pettigrew? Focus on the Lockhart public trial! 】

…………

Lockhart's public trial was scheduled for the following Saturday, again in the middle of the Quidditch pitch.

Except for Wood who complained a little, most of the little wizards were as excited as a melon field all week.

Magazines such as "Daily Prophet" and "Wizard Weekly" also show their magical powers and continuously release various news.

Gilderoy Lockhart's series of novels have been interpreted back and forth by many wizards, using a magnifying glass to analyze and discuss the issues in them word by word, whether it is the exaggeration of literary rhetoric, or the nonsense that violates the truth, or even the problems in various places. The actual situation, and what are the prototypes of characters and events...

Some of the contents were confirmed to be adaptations. Although many were verified to be "authorized" adaptations, they still caused an uproar in society.

More importantly, the secret agreement between Lockhart and Cornelius Fudge was unknowingly spread through the country tabloids.

Lockhart agreed to accept all the charges brought against him by the Ministry of Magic, but in exchange he demanded a public trial at Hogwarts.

According to Lockhart, as a former teacher, he hopes to use himself as an example to teach one last lesson.

…………

Ministry of Magic, Office of the Minister.

"The last lesson? He really likes to show off——"

Cornelius Fudge put down the newspaper and snorted with a smile.

The unexpected leak of information made Fudge furious, but Lockhart's suggestion did him no harm.

All confessions and evidence have been prepared for the Wizengamot court - certification and physical evidence are all available.

This time, even if Lockhart had ten mouths, he would not be able to avoid prison, let alone continue to compete for the Minister of Magic.

"This is good, just to let students and all walks of life see what will happen to liars who talk too much."

…………

"The equipment debugging is completed and the "Voice of Magic" is in place."

"The wizard radio station has been approved, and the development crystal channel is normal."

"The recording location for "Magic Frontier" is also available. They are expected to arrive early tomorrow morning."

"The reporters' seats are all arranged, and the sound and photography effects are excellent."

"The magic speaker is working fine..."

Meanwhile, the Hogwarts Quidditch pitch.

Elena sat at the edge of the high bleachers, listening to the live feedback results from the house elves and wizards.

As the "actual" principal, she is fully responsible for the scheduling and layout of tomorrow's public trial.

And just as she promised Professor McGonagall, the wizarding world will watch and record this moment in its entirety.

this……

The moment when a wizard comes to an end and a new world suddenly opens.

————

————

Tick ​​tick~