Dumbledore raised an eyebrow at Alex’s remark, his curiosity piqued. After a moment, he asked, his voice carrying a hint of mischief, "And after you’ve read your books and ducted your experiments, what do you pn to do?"

  "Trai good food, and maybe run a business," Alex replied instinctively.

  "Business?" Dumbledore’s i deepened. "Now that’s intriguing."

  "Yeah," Alex said casually. "I retly acquired a property in Diagon Alley. It’d be a waste not to use it, don’t you think? I might even need you as a loyal er, Headmaster."

  Dumbledore chuckled, his eyes twinkling. "I’ll be sure to visit, Wilson."

  Their versation shifted to the products Alex po produce, and Dumbledore listened with genuine amusement and curiosity. He ughed heartily, saying, "It sounds like you’ll have quite the enterprise. I look forward to being one of your best ers."

  Their lighthearted chat was interrupted by Moody, roached with his signature gruffness. "Enough with the chatter. The trial’s about to start. Let’s go!" Alex and Dumbledore exged gnces before following Moody toward the courtroom.

  The courtroom of the Ministry of Magic was located oenth basement floor, accessible only by desding a long, winding staircase. The air grew cooler with every step, the walls lined with torches casting flickering shadows. When Alex, Dumbledore, and Moody ehe courtroom, it was already packed. Wizengamot members, Aurors, aers filled the seats, their voices buzzing with anticipation. At the ter of the room stood a two-meter-high metal cage bristling with inointing spikes.

  Barty Barty Sr. sat at the head of the trial bench, his expression as sharp as ever. Alex found a seat beside Dumbledore and Moody. Once everyone was settled, Barty surveyed the room before speaking. "Everyone is present. Let’s begin. The Department of Magical Law Enfort has interrogated the captured Death Eaters, and all have pleaded guilty. They will be sent to Azkaban."

  He paused, letting his words sink in before tinuing. "However, one of the Death Eaters, Igor Karkaroff, has requested lenien exge for information about other Death Eaters. Today, we will determine whether the value of his information justifies a reduced sentence or even a release. Each Wizengamot member will cast a vote."

  Barty’s eyes nded on Alex. "This case is unique, as it involves a Death Eater you personally captured. Minister Bagnold has granted you a vote in this trial. Do you accept?"

  Before Alex could respond, several Wizengamot members nodded in agreement, their voices eg their approval. Alex smiled faintly. ‘It seems the Minister is being siderate of my involvement. Oe won’t sway the oute, but it shows respect. I accept.’

  "Bring in Igor Karkaroff," Barty anded.

  The sound of grinding gears and king s filled the room as the metal cage rose, revealing Karkaroff. He looked pale and apprehensive, his eyes darting nervously around the room. When his gaze nded on Alex, he flinched but quickly posed himself, shifting his attention to Barty. "Igor Karkaroff, at your request, you have been grahis trial to provide intelligeo the cil. If the information you provide is deemed valuable, your sentence may be reduced—or you may even be released. Do you accept these terms?"

  "I accept," Karkaroff said, swallowing hard. His eyes flicked to Alex once more, but Alex’s ral expression gave nothing away.

  "What information are you willing to provide?" Barty pressed.

  "Names," Karkaroff replied, his voice shaking. "The names of Death Eaters."

  "Proceed," Barty said, his i piqued. Karkaroff hesitated for only a moment before rattling off names from the list Alex had given him. "Augustus Rookwood, a in the Department of Mysteries. The Carrow siblings, Alecto and Amycus. Corban Yaxley..." The list went on, eaame apanied by detailed information about their crimes and current whereabouts.

  The courtroom buzzed with murmurs of shod e as the depth of Karkaroff’s revetions sank in. Even Crouch, known for his stern posure, seemed momentarily taken aback. "And finally..." Karkaroff’s voice faltered as he g Alex. Alex gave him a subtle nod, and Karkaroff steeled himself before tinuing. "Barty Crouch Jr."

  The room erupted. Gasps and whispers filled the air as all eyes turo Barty Barty Sr., then to his son, who sat not far from Alex. The younger Crouch’s face torted with fury, "You lying traitor!" Barty Jr. roared, standing abruptly and drawing his wand. "You’ll pay for this! Avada—" Before he could finish, a streak of silver light fshed across the room, disarming him instantly. The wand cttered to the floor as Aurors surged forward, restraining him.

  As the crowd stared in shock, they finally saw it clearly—a silver metal snake coiled tightly around Barty Barty Jr.’s wrist. Its fangs sunk deep, and its body stricted around his arm, halting his spellcasting instantly.

  Alex had been watg Karkaroff closely as he approached the pivotal moment of naming Barty Jr. When the younger Barty pulled his wand, Alex acted without hesitation, summoning his Spirit So intercept. “Grab him, quick!” Alex called out.

  The Aurors didn’t o be told twice. They swarmed Barty Jr., restraining him as Alex recalled his Spirit Snake, which slithered bato his wand, vanishing in a glint of silver light. “You little bastard, Alex Wilson! This is all your fault!” Barty Jr. spat venomously as he was dragged past Alex. His face torted with fury, his eyes alight with murdere. “I’ll kill you! I swear I’ll kill you!”

  Alex met his outburst with an icy stare, ‘The wailing of a defeated dog,’ he thought, watg impassively as Barty Jr. was hauled away. ‘If it weren’t for Karkaroff’s deal, I wouldn’t have let you off so easily.’

  “Well done, Alex!” Moody said, g him on the shoulder with enough forake Alex wince. “Quick thinking there. I always suspected something was off about that kid, but I never imagined he’d be a Death Eater.”

  “It was just luck,” Alex replied with a shake of his head. “I didn’t even have time to draw my wand.”

  The revetion of Barty Barty Jr.’s allegiance sent ripples of shock through the courtroom. The Wizengamot members whispered furiously among themselves, while Aurors exged uneasy gnces. Even Barty Barty Sr. seemed frozen in disbelief, his usual stern demeanor repced with a pale, shaken expression. The otion grew louder until Dumbledore stood abruptly, his anding voice ringing out: “Quiet!”

  The room fell silent, the weight of his authority settling over the crowd. Slowly, the trial resumed, though Barty Barty Sr. still seemed lost in thought. “As the father of Barty Barty Jr. and a party directly involved, I am no longer qualified to preside over this trial,” Barty finally said, his voice heavy. He turo Dumbledore, his eyes filled with uncharacteristic weariness. “Dumbledore, I must ask you to take over for the remainder of the proceedings.”

  With that, he stepped down from the rostrum ahe courtroom, his movements unsteady. His departure was met with hushed murmurs and sympathetices from some, though others looked on with thinly veiled judgment. Dumbledore took over the trial seamlessly, bringing order to the room. Under his guidahe cil voted on the spot, and Igor Karkaroff was granted freedom in exge for the valuable intelligence he had provided.