All four poachers were captured. Hagrid handed them over to Headmaster Dumbledore, who in turn personally handed them over to the Ministry of Magic.
But less than five days later, the Ministry officials returned. Instead of a commendation for Owen, they brought an arrest warrant. The Aurors took the young wizard away, but some officials stayed behind to conduct an investigation.
"Professor Flitwick, according to the poachers' confession, Mr. Owen Corlett used Unforgivable Curses on them. As the Charms professor at Hogwarts, what is your opinion on this?"
Professor Flitwick replied with a face full of pride: "Impossible! Absolutely impossible! Owen didn't need to use any Unforgivable Curses to deal with those fellows. His dueling skills were entirely taught by me. In a one-versus-four situation, Owen had the overwhelming advantage!"
This... wasn't he being a bit too confident in the young wizard?
What do you mean "advantage in a one-versus-four situation"?
But the investigator clearly didn't want to discuss Owen's dueling prowess. "So, you are implying that Mr. Corlett knows the Unforgivable Curses?"
Professor Flitwick shook his head vigorously. "Impossible! Absolutely impossible! Owen has nowhere to learn such evil spells. It must be a mistake. How can you trust the word of poachers?"
The little professor's face darkened, and he promptly chased the investigator out!
"Professor McGonagall, according to testimony, during the capture, Mr. Corlett used Unforgivable..."
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!" Professor McGonagall slammed her hand on the desk, startling the investigator. Her eyebrows were nearly vertical with rage. "Who is making this false accusation?"
"Professor Snape, according to testimony, Mr. Corlett used Unforgivable... um, please don't look at me like that, someone really did testify to it."
Snape's eyes flashed dangerously. "Unforgivable Curses? Come here. Look closely. These are all new potions developed by Owen. Every single one of them has effects more potent than the Unforgivable Curses. Do you think he needs to resort to such crude curses? If he really wanted to kill someone, he'd just throw a bottle of potion, and everything would be resolved!"
"Um... alright..."
"Professor Sprout, according to testimony, Mr. Corlett used Unforgivable Curses. You..."
The stout witch jumped up instantly. "Impossible! Absolutely impossible! Do you know how high Mr. Corlett's talent in Herbology is? Come, look at this. What is this?"
"Devil's Snare?"
"No! This is the first sun-resistant, magic-friendly Devil's Snare cultivated by Mr. Corlett. Its name is Milov. It can even help Mr. Corlett put on his clothes and shoes! Based on this alone, Owen has no need to use terrible magic to fight anyone. So this must be a false accusation!"
"Madam Pomfrey..."
"Impossible!"
"Madam Pince..."
"How is that possible! Little Owen has never even entered the Restricted Section. He..."
It seemed effective testimony wouldn't be forthcoming from the staff. As for Dumbledore... Dumbledore had gone to the Ministry with Owen to attend the public hearing.
So, the investigators turned their attention to the students.
"What? Owen knows Unforgivable Curses?" A Hufflepuff girl shook her head repeatedly. "That's impossible. Mr. Corlett is incredibly hardworking and amazing. I wanted to date him, but he refused because he wanted to help more people answer their questions..."
"Mr. Corlett needed to use Unforgivable Curses to deal with poachers?" In the Slytherin common room, Draco's single sentence silenced the surrounding area.
"Sir, do you have some misunderstanding about Mr. Corlett's strength?" Draco replied haughtily. "With Mr. Corlett's skill level, if he used a third spell on those poachers, it would be considered showing mercy. Why would he need Unforgivable Curses? The level of this slander is simply too low, too laughable!"
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!" Hermione shook her head. "Given Owen's ability, he wouldn't need the Cruciatus Curse to deal with dark wizard poachers. Do you know he blasted half a troll's body away with a single Expelliarmus?"
"Mr. Corlett is the most knowledgeable young wizard I've ever met. What you said about him being surrounded by four dark wizards is impossible because he can fly. He couldn't have been surrounded. You must be mistaken..."
A Ravenclaw fourth-year looked at the investigator seriously. "Why would you believe the words of poaching dark wizards but refuse to believe Mr. Corlett, the most famous and popular student at Hogwarts?"
Amidst a sea of "Impossible, absolutely impossible," the investigators retreated from Hogwarts in disarray. After returning to the Ministry, they wrote only one sentence in their report.
[Regarding the investigation into whether Owen Corlett used the Cruciatus Curse, the entire Hogwarts response can be summed up in one phrase: Impossible, absolutely impossible.]
When the official presiding over the hearing received this report, his face twitched. But the hearing had already begun. He looked at the young wizard sitting quietly...
"Mr. Corlett, do you have anything to say regarding the accusation that you used Unforgivable Curses?"
Owen smiled faintly. "Everyone, before I speak, I request that Priori Incantatem be performed on the wands of both parties. By the way, I have two wands. This one is for practicing charms and potions. This one..."
He pulled out his larger custom wand. "This is the wand that truly suits me. Please."
Priori Incantatem. Any spell cast by a wand can be revealed through this spell. Without another word, someone immediately took his two wands and began the reverse spell effect.
The result...
Naturally, all were normal spells, and all were taught in Hogwarts Charms classes. And the sheer number of times they were cast...
"I don't really have much talent, but I'm willing to put in the effort and sweat for magic. So I practice quite a lot."
Looking at the slightly embarrassed young wizard, the audience attending the hearing felt a surge of affection. A hardworking young wizard who loved magic always aroused the nurturing instincts in people's hearts.
Dumbledore sat to the side, silent. He didn't say a word in the boy's defense because he knew that even if Owen had used Unforgivable Curses, there wouldn't be any evidence to prove it.
This confidence didn't come from Owen, but from his self-imprisoned friend who was currently preparing to move to Hogwarts.
With Owen's talent, having studied under the first Dark Lord for half a year... if he could still be easily caught by the Ministry, the Aurors wouldn't need to arrest him. His old friend would probably rush over immediately to spank the boy himself.
For some reason, perhaps imagining the scene of the young wizard getting spanked, Dumbledore suddenly chuckled...