Chapter 34: My wand is thicker and longer

Murphy glanced at the wand placed on the podium.

A little over twelve inches, white cypress... it was indeed his wand.

At the time, his wand had been knocked away by Lucius's Disarming Charm, and he had used a backup wand to counterattack. Due to the emergency, he had no time to retrieve his wand.

But later, his Fiendfyre had burned everything, and Murphy had thought this wand had already been destroyed.

He didn't expect that Lucius, in that situation, would actually remember to take it away.

He might be more meticulous than he had originally anticipated.

Next, the judges used Priori Incantatem on the wand, and one spell after another was traced back from the wand.

Shield Charm, Petrification Spell, Throwing Spell, Illusion Body Spell...

Clearly, before being disarmed, the owner of this wand was indeed in the midst of a fierce battle.

Then came Apparition and Fiendfyre.

"Look! Fiendfyre!" Lucius shouted. "This guy knows how to use Fiendfyre, and he's very skilled at it, enough to prove he's a Black Wizard!"

Then it continued further back.

Obliviation Charm.

Legilimency.

Obliviation Charm.

Legilimency.

Obliviation Charm.

Legilimency...

Everyone was a bit confused. What was this? Was this guy practicing spells?

Then it continued to trace back.

A large number of Apparitions, a large number of potion-related spells, occasionally some common standard spells, as well as many daily life spells; these were all normal.

But soon, an eye-catching spell appeared.

Cruciatus Curse!

"Look!" Lucius shouted again. "Cruciatus Curse! Unforgivable Curse! Murphy! Still saying you're not a Black Wizard!"

Priori Incantatem ended there; this was already the most powerful Priori Incantatem wizards could perform. Trying to trace back further was basically impossible.

"Murphy, do you have anything else to say?" Lucius finally stared at Murphy with his head held high.

The latter shrugged. "What does that have to do with me? This isn't my wand. And Lucius, do you dare to take out your wand and use Priori Incantatem? I bet my life that the scene we see will be even more shocking!"

"Don't make unreasonable trouble!" Lucius was slightly nervous; he didn't dare to let anyone trace his wand.

"I knew you would quibble, but I have witnesses who can prove that this wand is yours!" Lucius hurriedly pulled everyone's attention back to the trial of Murphy. "Judges, please bring in Fres Shafiq and Belinda Pound."

Before long, Murphy saw Belinda, who had gained a circle of fat since he last saw her, and Fres Shafiq, who had another scar on his face.

Tsk, poor Fres. The guy who treated him used poor Dittany. If he had used my White Potion, it would be impossible to leave a scar.

"Belinda Pound, do you know Murphy Darkholm? What is your relationship?"

"I know him, Mr. Malfoy. He is a former employee of the Pest Advisory Office and was my subordinate. However, I have no relationship with this lazy guy!"

"Oh, how can you say that, fat pig." Murphy was blunt. "I'm going to be sad. Did you forget that I blew you up to the sky last time?"

Someone on the tribunal laughed unkindly.

"You!" Belinda was so angry her face turned red.

But Lucius had no patience to listen to them bicker. "Belinda, since you are his colleague, you should have seen his wand. Is his wand this one?"

"Yes, Mr. Malfoy. It is this one."

"Oh, Belinda, you stupid pig, you know full well that my wand is thicker and longer than this." Murphy continued to speak.

Belinda flew into a rage again.

But Lucius decided to ignore them. He looked at Fres Shafiq. "Fres, you and Murphy Darkholm are classmates, right?"

"Yes, Uncle Malfoy."

Damn!

You idiot, don't call me uncle right now!

"As his classmate, you should recognize his wand. Is it this one?"

"Yes! That's right, it is this wand! I snatched it away with my own hands."

"So what did you snatch it for?" Murphy asked. "To fuck your own asshole, ugly Fres?"

"Murphy!" Fres was furious. "Don't think I'm afraid of you!"

"Heh, ugly."

Fres was about to explode and was only pressed down by the judges and dragged out; Belinda was also taken away.

"Murphy, they all recognized your wand. How can you quibble now!"

"I don't need to quibble. Both of these idiots hate me, and one of them is even your nephew, so it's possible for them to slander me however they want. But I'll say it again, that is not my wand."

Lucius: "How can you prove that wand isn't yours?"

Murphy: "How can you prove I'm not your father?"

However, insults aside, Murphy decided to reason. He looked at the tribunal. "Everyone, there is a simplest way to prove whether that wand is mine. Bring Mr. Ollivander here."

Being able to teleport is convenient. Before long, Garrick Ollivander was brought in by two Aurors.

"Ollivander, is this a wand you made?" Lucius asked, pointing to the wand on the podium.

Ollivander picked up the wand. "Oh, cypress, twelve and a half inches," he waved it in his hand, "unicorn hair core... this is a wand I made, that's correct, but strange, very strange..."

"Does this wand belong to Murphy Darkholm?" Lucius hurriedly asked again.

"Ah?" Ollivander looked at Murphy and immediately shook his head. "No, no, Mr. Murphy's wand is not this one. I remember it is a fourteen-inch aspen wand, phoenix feather core, a very unique wand. I rarely make such a bold combination."

Matching Ollivander's words, Murphy pulled his new wand from his sleeve and handed it over. "Would you take a look and see if it's this one?"

"Yes, yes! That's right! This is Mr. Murphy's wand."

"What?" Lucius was confused. "Then what about this wand..."

"I don't remember," Ollivander shook his head, seemingly a bit puzzled. "This should be a wand I made, that's correct. I should have sold it, but I don't quite remember who I sold it to."

"Could it not be Murphy..."

"No, Mr. Murphy has only bought one wand!"

"Thank you, Mr. Ollivander." Dumbledore spoke. "Now the facts are clear, Mr. Malfoy. Since you have no way to prove that this wand belongs to Murphy, do you have any other evidence to support your accusation?"

Lucius was clearly unwilling, but the evidence of the wand had already been scrapped, and it was indeed impossible to make an issue of it anymore.

He thought for a moment. "I have, I have a second piece of evidence that can prove Murphy violated the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy!"

"You are no longer accusing Mr. Murphy of attacking your house, are you?" Dumbledore asked.

"It was him! I know it was him!" Lucius shouted unwillingly, but finally said: "Yes, I abandon that accusation."

"Please present your evidence."

"Bring in the goblin Locke!" Lucius said.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 35 =====