Death Sentence

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The buzzing discussion in the courtroom grew louder. Ethan could hear cries and scolding amidst the noise. Barty Crouch Sr. bowed his head low, staring at the ground without saying a word. The atmosphere in the courtroom grew increasingly tense.

The Minister for Magic, Cornelius Fudge, suddenly felt a dryness in his throat. Barty Crouch Sr.'s trial was proving to be far less pleasant than he had imagined. He could sense the discomfort and agitation in the room.

Fudge coughed twice, clearing his throat, and announced loudly, "Now take the prisoner down!"

He knocked on the gavel to assert his authority.

The two Aurors standing behind Barty Crouch Sr. lifted him and tried to escort him out. But Crouch Sr. broke free from their grasp and walked towards the courtroom exit with his head held high. The two Aurors exchanged glances and chose not to restrain him further. Out of respect for the man who had served the Ministry of Magic for most of his life, they allowed him this final act of dignity, letting him say his last goodbye in his way.

Everyone watched as Barty Crouch Sr. left, knowing it was likely the last time they would see him. A sense of melancholy filled the room.

As Crouch Sr. departed, the noisy courtroom gradually quieted, and everyone prepared for the next trial.

Before long, the doors of the courtroom swung open again. Two tall, strong Aurors carried Barty Crouch Jr., limp and weak like a ragdoll, into the room. They placed him on the chair, but his frail body immediately slid down. The heavy chains on the armrests clinked as they moved, securing him in place. 

The chains initially meant to restrain prisoners, now kept Barty Crouch Jr. from slipping off the chair. He looked dreadful. The Dimeritium nail had taken a severe toll on his health. His hair, resembling dry straw, had turned gray in patches within a few days. A worn, sickly appearance replaced his once-energetic demeanor. His pale skin clung tightly to his face, giving him a haggard look.

The sight of Barty Crouch Jr. sparked heated discussions among the wizards present. Everyone was curious about what had happened to him.

Fudge shared their curiosity. He had seen Barty Crouch Jr. before when the young man still had enough strength to shout defiance. Now, seeing him like this was shocking.

"Ethan, what happened to him?" Fudge asked Ethan nervously.

"Minister, I told you I used a little trick on him to limit his mobility," Ethan explained calmly.

Fudge finally remembered Ethan mentioning this, but he had not anticipated the method being so harsh.

Regaining his composure, Fudge adjusted his glasses and addressed the courtroom. "The trial of Azkaban prisoner Barty Crouch Jr.'s escape will begin," he announced solemnly.

"The original prisoner, Barty Crouch Jr., kidnapped Auror Frank Longbottom and used the Cruciatus Curse, one of the Unforgivable Curses, on him to extract information for the Dark Lord."

Fudge shivered slightly at the mention of the Dark Lord but quickly regained his composure. "For this crime, the prisoner was sentenced to life imprisonment in Azkaban. However, the prisoner showed no remorse and managed to escape from the prison with the aid of his parents."

As he spoke, Fudge's voice grew more severe, reflecting the gravity of the situation.

"Next, we ask the jury to re-sentence. I believe these crimes deserve the death penalty. Please raise your hand," Fudge said loudly.

A collective gasp echoed through the courtroom. The Ministry of Magic had not issued such a severe sentence in a long time. The shock was palpable, and for a moment, the members of the Wizengamot forgot to raise their hands.

"The jury may now show their hands," Fudge reminded, striking the gavel again.

Slowly, a few wizards sitting in the front raised their hands. Initially, the response was sparse, but gradually, more and more hands went up. Eventually, over half of the wizards had their hands raised.

"Very good. The vote has passed. The prisoner Barty Crouch Jr. will be executed in three days," Fudge declared loudly, striking the gavel several times for emphasis.

The courtroom buzzed with discussions, and many sighed at the tragic fate of the father and son. There was a debate among the attendees about whether the death penalty was too severe, given that the Ministry had not imposed such a sentence in years.

Throughout the proceedings, Barty Crouch Jr. remained slumped in his chair, unresponsive. Even when Fudge pronounced the death sentence, he showed no reaction. His lack of movement was so profound that if not for the slight rise and fall of his chest, indicating he was still breathing, one might have thought he was already dead.

Two wizards standing behind Barty Crouch Jr. quickly stepped forward, lifted him from the chair, and dragged him out of the courtroom. Only when he left the chair did many notice the large water stain left behind. Barty Crouch Jr. had become incontinent again.

Seeing the stain made many wrinkle their noses in disgust as if they could smell something unpleasant. Those who had initially thought the death penalty was too harsh reconsidered, thinking that his current state might be a fate worse than death.

"Alright! The trial is over! Everyone can leave!" Fudge announced loudly.

When Fudge finished speaking, the wizards stood up, talking and gathering their documents. They quickly filed out of the courtroom, leaving it empty.

The Crouch name would soon fade from everyone's thoughts.

Fudge remained seated, feeling emptiness. Crouch's trials had not brought him the satisfaction he had anticipated. Instead, he felt a strange hollowness inside.

After sitting in silence for a while, Fudge finally stood up. Alone in the courtroom, he stared at the now-empty chair with chains for a moment before turning and leaving.