London, 1991.
"Mr. Roger Virgil, your trial is about to begin. Come with us." The leading prison guard wizard's expression was cold and his tone stiff, full of officialese. However, his slightly trembling pupils indicated he wasn't as calm as he appeared.
...Has the day finally come.
Knowing that the turning point of his fate was imminent, Roger couldn't calm his heart. Nevertheless, he stood up from the bed and walked steadily towards the cell door.
Whether hope or despair awaited him, all he could do was face it.
Any action that wasn't facing the challenge head-on would only make his situation more difficult.
Four wizards, one in each direction—front, back, left, and right—surrounded Roger. Although they were only escorting an 11-year-old child who hadn't even enrolled in Hogwarts, these guards were putting on the airs of escorting Death Eaters to Azkaban.
Looking at the four wizards around him, Roger Virgil couldn't help but recall his experiences over the past six months.
He was originally an ordinary person born under the red flag in a peaceful nation.
But fate seemed to play a small joke on him. An accident caused him to close his eyes. When he opened them again, he had become a 10-year-old child.
If that were all, it would have been fine. Although he had become blonde and blue-eyed, being rejuvenated and reliving life was, overall, a great thing.
And returning from the 21st century to 1990 in the 20th century gave him the opportunity to seize chances like upsets in the World Cup, Bitcoin, shorting the British pound, arranging real estate investments in advance, and investing early in internet and gaming companies that would later shine, allowing him to reach the pinnacle of life and become a super-rich first-generation.
But before reaching the pinnacle of his life, Roger Virgil had a small matter to resolve.
That was, his rebirth location was not quite right.
Looking at his parents lying in pools of blood, Roger touched his left arm. It was damp. But what was wet was not water, but blood.
Roger, who had borrowed a corpse to return his soul, recalled the memories of the original body before its death and confirmed his situation.
He was a citizen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, but this was not mainland Britain.
In this life, Roger had become the child of a British family. His family conditions were good. His father was an engineer, and his mother came from a moderately wealthy merchant family. After marrying his mother, his father helped her manage her part of the family business.
Roger's mother was responsible for the foreign trade aspect of the business. After taking over the family business, they worked together in a foreign land. To give Roger a complete childhood with both parents present, they brought him along.
Then.
The war broke out.
Logically speaking, even with the war, it wouldn't have been much in Roger's parents' eyes. Firstly, they lived in the country's capital. Even if there was a war, they could leave in time if the situation turned bad.
Secondly, they were British!
Although the call for equality for all had long resounded throughout the world, the civilians of permanent member states of the UN Security Council were still more equal than the civilians of third-world countries! Even if they were just ordinary citizens.
It was just that man's plans were no match for heaven's. The place they were in was called Kuwait.
The time they were in was 1990.
Everything happened too fast; no one had foreseen it.
At 1:00 AM on August 2, 1990, with the close support and coordination of the Air Force, Navy, Amphibious Assault Forces, and Special Operations Forces, three divisions of the Iraqi Republican Guard crossed the border into Kuwait, launching a surprise attack.
By that day, Iraqi forces had completely occupied the capital of Kuwait.
They continued their offensive, with subsequent forces continuously entering Kuwait. Iraqi forces occupied the entire territory of Kuwait. The Iraqi forces entering Kuwait numbered about 200,000, with over 2,000 tanks.
Kuwait was thus 'swiftly' annexed.
Iraq designated Kuwait as its '19th province'.
Roger's family, including Roger himself, lost their lives in the ensuing chaos.
This led to the current Roger Virgil, who had borrowed a corpse to return his soul.
After understanding his situation, Roger now had to find a way, a way for a 10-year-old child to survive in the upcoming 'Gulf War,' a crucial juncture where America would display its military might and a new global landscape would emerge.
Roger did not want to be one of the 500,000 children 'sacrificed' in the war and subsequent sanctions, which, according to UNICEF statistics in later generations, led to the deaths of approximately 500,000 children.
And with an extremely strong desire to survive, Roger began his actions. After narrowly escaping death several times, he found his way to survive this war, which was...
.
.
.
"Impersonating a religious prophet." The young wizard with short, light blonde hair paused before continuing to list Roger's crimes.
"Demonstrating and propagating the existence of magic to Muggles, using magic on Muggles, indirectly killing Muggles using the power of magic, interfering in wars between Muggles... any one of these is a serious crime."
"Will I die?"
The prison guard wizard was just outside the cell door. Roger looked at this man who claimed to be his lawyer.
Roger certainly didn't have the means to hire a wizard who understood the Ministry of Magic's laws. This wizard lawyer had been 'assigned' to him.
"Most likely not. Your charges are serious, but there are many points of contention. Even under normal circumstances, sentencing an 11-year-old child to death would cause quite a stir."
"And now, they won't easily pass such a sentence."
"What do you mean?" Roger looked at his defense lawyer in confusion.
"It's related to the Minister of Magic. The current Minister, Fudge, took office just last year, and he hasn't even been in office for a full year. He's not firmly established. For any major decision by the Ministry of Magic, Fudge seeks consultation with Headmaster Dumbledore, borrowing Headmaster Dumbledore's name to endorse his actions, lest those below him 'aren't obedient enough'."
"Your case, although it will be judged in the Wizengamot, the British Ministry of Magic's court, involves the American Magical Congress and magical forces in the Middle East. Fudge will definitely seek guidance from Headmaster Dumbledore. And given Headmaster Dumbledore's usual approach, he would never give a 'death penalty' as 'advice'."
"In this situation, the Ministry of Magic, acting as the 'prosecution' in this case, cannot afford to kill you outright or provide too much unfavorable evidence to the Wizengamot."
The Wizengamot, an organization that predates the Ministry of Magic, functions as a combination of court and parliament. It possesses both judicial and legislative powers, and when necessary, they can even directly impeach the Minister for Magic.
If the power of pure-blood families is more concentrated within the Ministry of Magic, then the power of powerful wizards is more concentrated within the Wizengamot.
Of course, some people place bets on both sides.
"Then..."
As if sensing what Roger wanted to ask, the lawyer shook his head and continued, "Don't get too happy too soon."
"Although it won't be a death sentence, the outcome might be more miserable than death."
Roger understood the lawyer's implied meaning: "...Azkaban?"
Azkaban is the most secure and terrifying prison in the British wizarding world.
Inmates imprisoned in Azkaban are tormented daily by the 'guards,' the Dementors, a magical creature. They are forced to relive their most painful experiences, reliving them as if they were happening again, unable to escape. Simultaneously, their happy emotions are siphoned away by the Dementors. Those with weak wills often go mad within months, and even if released, they are no different from being dead.
The existence of Azkaban has indeed deterred many criminals, but conversely, Azkaban is too terrifying, and some people, despite committing crimes, do not deserve such a fate.
Before Azkaban was converted into a prison, the various smaller and larger prisons established across the country were repurposed to house inmates with minor sentences. Roger Virgil had previously resided in one of these detention facilities.
"Most likely," the lawyer said helplessly.
"Is there any chance of a comeback? It's not necessary to argue for innocence; a plea for a lesser charge, resulting in detention at a correctional facility, would also be acceptable," Roger asked earnestly, looking directly into the lawyer's eyes.
The lawyer wore a helpless expression. "The chances are slim. Your charges are too troublesome."
"Unless..."
Roger didn't press further, simply waiting quietly for the lawyer to continue.
"Well, unless the Headmaster of Hogwarts is willing to vouch for you, but that's almost impossible, and you likely understand why."
There is a saying in the legal profession within British wizarding society: 'The outcome of a court ruling is decided not within the courtroom, but outside of it.'
While many matters are clearly stipulated in laws and regulations, society is not based on law; that is the fantasy of jurists. Conversely, law is based on society.
The laws of the Ministry of Magic are formulated or recognized by the Ministry of Magic and enforced through its coercive power. They reflect the will of the ruling class, determined by the specific material conditions of society. They are a system of behavioral norms with rights and obligations as their content, aiming to confirm, protect, and develop social relationships and order that benefit the ruling class.
In simpler terms, the laws of the Ministry of Magic serve the will of the ruling class in the wizarding world and the stability of society.
Although the Ministry of Magic appears supreme, the center of power in the British wizarding world, this is not actually the case.
In wizarding society, the true holders of resources are ancient wizarding families with deep foundations, like the Sacred Twenty-Eight. The true holders of influence are powerful wizards and authorities in certain fields, such as Albus Dumbledore, Newt Scamander, and the great alchemist Nicolas Flamel.
They are the true ruling class of wizarding society.
The Ministry of Magic, the visible administrator, is merely a group of upper-middle-class wizards acting as 'stewards' in wizarding society. When the Minister for Magic issues a decree, they still need to consult with the representatives of pure-blood family interests and powerful wizards within their various departments.
The Ministry's authority does not stem from the Minister for Magic but is propped up by the family powers within each department.
When the Minister for Magic lacks sufficient personal authority, they must seek the endorsement of highly respected and powerful wizards like Dumbledore to command their subordinates.
If Dumbledore were willing to protect Roger, this case would become much easier to handle.
Powerful wizards are the uncrowned kings of wizarding society; everyone respects them.
Everyone must respect them!
The law must also respect them! But the lawyer believes the possibility of Dumbledore protecting Roger is not high.
Because one of Roger's charges is:
[Indirectly killing a large number of Muggles by exploiting the convenience of magic]
Although Roger did it for self-preservation.
Strictly speaking, it should be self-defense.
But the problem is.
"Did I kill too many people?" Roger murmured softly.
During the war over the past six months or so, Roger himself had personally killed nearly a hundred people.
And those who died indirectly because of him...
Hearing Roger's self-muttering, the lawyer recalled the number in his file and couldn't help but shiver.
Speaking of which, how many people did the Death Eaters who followed the Dark Lord in Azkaban kill on average?
Did they kill even a tenth of what this child did?!
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