Disclaimer: I do not now, nor will I ever, own any part of the Harry Potter universe. It's JK Rowling's world, I just like to play in it.

Le Recommençant

Chapter 2

July 26, 1998 – Ministry of Magic: Lower Courtroom

"The criminal trial of the twenty sixth of July, into offences committed under the Decree for the Proper Protection of Wizardkind by Miss Gemini Aurora Malfoy, resident at Malfoy Manor, Wiltshire, England. Interrogators: Kingsley Magnus Shacklebolt, Minister for Magic; Amelia Susan Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement; Percy Ignatius Weasley, Senior Undersecretary to the Minister. Court Scribe, Margaery Elizabeth Pickett," announced the court clerk in a high pitch, nasally voice to officially open the trail.

The dull roar which had previously filled the room slowly tapered off, as trial attendees settled in to observe the proceedings. As this was an extremely high profile trial, the court room was closed to the public; however, select members of the press and high ranking ministry officials were in attendance, along with several members of the Order of the Phoenix. To the left of the center dais, where Minister Shacklebolt sat, appeared two thickset guards from Azkaban prison flanking a petite girl with wild platinum blonde hair matted with grime and adorned in an ugly gray frock. The girl stood with her head down, hands fidgeting as the guards pushed her forward, towards the manacled chair directly in front of the raised dais. After ensuring that their charge was appropriately secured in the interrogation chair, the guards stepped away to allow the proceedings to begin.

"State your name, age, and residency," the Minister ordered.

Looking up for the first time, the girl addressed the Minister directly, "Gemini Aurora Malfoy, born the 5th of June, 1980, age 18, resident of Malfoy Manor, Wiltshire."

Providing her birthdate was not strictly necessary, but Gemini wished to emphasize that she was Draco's twin and so shared the same birth date. Draco's trial was the previous day and her legal counsel informed her that he had been fully acquitted. Due to his age and the defense of Harry Potter, it was determined that Draco had been coerced into cooperation with the Deatheaters and was not to be held criminally accountable for his actions. Draco's only punishment for his crimes was a mandate to return to Hogwarts to complete his 7th year of schooling as part of the optional "8th year" being offered and 1 year of magical probation to commence immediately following his graduation. Gemini had been extremely relieved to hear of Draco's acquittal and hoped that furthering her association with Draco, someone whom the Wizengamot had already acquitted, would help her case.

"The crimes to which the defendant is accused are as follows: willful allegiance to the Deatheater organization and service to Lord Voldemort, murder in the first degree of an unarmed muggle, innumerable uses of both the Imperius and Cruciatus curses, and accessory to the murder of Albus Dumbledore on June 30, 1997," declared Shacklebolt.

While the Minister spoke, Gemini took a moment to steal a glance around the courtroom. She knew her father has been sentenced to 5 years in Azkaban and so would definitely not be in attendance. Likewise, her mother had received 1 year of house arrest so she likely was not in attendance either. Searching the crowd, she looked for the lone blonde head she thought perhaps would be able to support her. She was about to give up when her eyes locked on steel gray at the back of the room. Sitting in the very last row in the very back corner of the courtroom and wearing a black cloak with his hood up was Draco. He gave her a subtle nod which she returned. It felt good to know that at least one person in this room was on her side.

Turning back to the proceedings her eyes lighted on none other than Harry Potter, who appeared to be observing her closely. Noticing her matched gaze, Potter looked away quickly. Wondering briefly at the curiosity that was Harry Potter's attendance at her trial, Gemini returned her attention to the Minister just in time for his next question.

"Miss Malfoy, please explain to the court how you came to be associated with the Deatheaters," asked Shacklebolt in a neutral tone.

After a slow, calming breath Gemini began, "I was initiated into the Deatheater organization officially via a ceremonial Marking on the 5th of June, 1996-"

"The court is aware that you are a marked Deatheater, Miss Malfoy. What we wish to know is how this came to be," stated Amelia Bones.

Gripping the armrest of her chair tightly and restraining the rude remark that threatened to burst forth following Madame Bones' interruption, Gemini continued, "Yes. As I was saying, I was marked on the 5th of June, 1996; however, my association with the Deatheater organization began the previous year in August of 1995."

This news seemed to catch the attention of the audience and whispers erupted throughout the room.

"You mean to tell this court that you were a willful participant in Deatheater activities even prior to your formal marking?" pressed Bones.

Continuing as though Bones had not spoken, Gemini said "As you are aware, the Dark Lord returned in late June of 1995 and spent the subsequent months gathering his remaining Deatheaters. As has already been proven at the trial of my father, Lucius Abraxas Malfoy, my father was in the Dark Lord's inner circle during the first war and resumed this position upon the Dark Lord's return. Due to my father's high rank within the Deatheater organization, we often had all sorts of…nefarious…characters, Deatheaters and not, coming and going from the Manor."

"And where exactly did the paths of these 'nefarious' characters cross yours, Miss Malfoy?" asked Shacklebolt.

"The night before I was to return to Beauxbatons for my fifth year, on August 31, 1995, I was summoned to my father's study…"

August 31, 1995 – Malfoy Manor

"Gemini, my dear girl, have a seat," Lucius said, gesturing to one of the antique claw foot chairs in front of his desk.

Gemini waivered uncertainly at the door of the study. Lucius was in far too good a mood for him to have anything good to say to her. Typically, a summons to her father's study was met with reprimand and punishment for some mundane offense or other. Tonight, however, her father appeared to be downright chipper. Coming to her senses, Gemini shut the door and moved further into the room, taking a seat on the edge of the offered chair.

Lucius took a moment to observe his daughter before saying, "Gemini, you are a smart girl. I know I have not praised you much throughout your childhood, but that is because, as a Malfoy firstborn, I hold you to a very high standard. An exacting standard, to be precise."

"Of course, Father," Gemini replied dutifully, though she wondered where this sudden praise was heading. Her father's reference to her firstborn status was both startling and concerning. She was only ever referred to as the "firstborn" when she was about to be forced to do something she disliked.

"As such, I have relayed your brilliance to our Lord," Lucius finished.

Gemini's heart seemed to stop at the mention of their "Lord". True to her father's earlier statements about her intellect, Gemini had read a good deal about the first war and was not completely ignorant to the current comings and goings of the manor in which she lived. She knew what sort of demented acts their "Lord" condoned and the kind of hateful dogma he preached and she wanted to stay as far away from it as possible.

"The Dark Lord has taken an interest in you and Draco. You are shining examples of what the next generation of the devout should be. As such, he has decided to present you with an honor-" Lucius began.

"If Draco and I are being given an 'honor' then why isn't Draco here as well?" demanded Gemini.

"Gemini, you will speak when spoken to!" exclaimed Lucius, losing his previous jovial disposition. In more serious tones he addressed her again, "The Dark Lord has bestowed you, Gemini Malfoy, an honor. An honor you would do well not to ignore if you, and Draco, want to move up within his ranks. The honor is that you will serve the Dark Lord even before you are officially marked."

Gemini knew a veiled threat when she heard one. What her father meant was that she would serve the Dark Lord or perish. She would serve the Dark Lord or her brother would perish. Should she fail in her servitude of the Dark Lord, she would perish and should she fail in her servitude of the Dark Lord, her brother would perish. The most concerning part of all of this was perhaps the fact that, without even meeting her, the Dark Lord knew he had leverage over her through Draco. Check. Mate.

"And what does our 'Lord' require of me?" Gemini sighed.

Choosing to ignore her petulant tone, Lucius explained, "You will return to Beauxbatons with open eyes and ears. You will observe your fellow classmates and come up with a short list of potential recruits for the next generation of Deatheaters. You and I will review this list when you return for the Christmas holidays. Once we have discussed the list, I will present your findings to the Dark Lord. It is a relatively simple first task. You should feel grateful that our Lord has even offered you such an opportunity. It is thanks to years of loyal service by your Mother and I that this was even made possible."

"Why am I the only one being tasked to recruit for the Dark Lord? Should Draco not be in here as well? Surely recruiters at two schools are better than one?" questioned Gemini.

"Do not question the Dark Lord's orders, Gemini," warned Lucius. "If you must know, Draco needs to keep a low profile at Hogwarts. The Dark Lord has great plans for Draco, but the time is not yet right. Additionally, the Dark Lord has all the support he needs at Hogwarts, due to the many Deatheater progeny currently residing in Slytherin house. It is Beauxbatons from which he needs to garner support."

"Of course," Gemini responded. "Was there anything else you needed, Father?"

Taking a moment to survey his daughter as though trying to work out an extremely difficult puzzle, Lucius finally replied, "No. That will be all."

July 26, 1998 – Ministry of Magic: Lower Courtroom

"So you admit before the court that your treason began even before you took the mark?" prodded Bones. Addressing Shacklebolt, Bones said, "Let the court record show that Miss Malfoy has willfully admitted that she was in servitude of the Dark Lord from aged 15 to 17, not 16 to 17, as was previously recorded." The court room again burst into a rumble of chatter, as the audience took in this news and stared in awe at Gemini. Why would the girl volunteer such damning information?

Gemini couldn't believe it. She had just revealed that she had been quite clearly coerced into her first "servitude" of the Dark Lord and Madame Bones had completely twisted her words! Well, two could play that game.

"Madame Bones, you never let me finish. I was bequeathed a task by the Dark Lord in 1995; however, I never completed it. I did not present my father with a 'short list' of potential recruits that Christmas, as I managed to find an excuse to stay at school over the winter holidays," interrupted Gemini with a small smirk of triumph.

Madame Bones seemed to deflate at this and so continued, "Okay, so you were on Voldemort's radar in 1995, but were not officially marked until the summer of 1996. Tell us more about your marking."

A dark cloud seemed to settle over Gemini then and all signs of her previous triumph disappeared. She stared blankly at Bones for a long moment and, just as Madame Bones was opening her mouth to protest the defendant's silence, Gemini spoke.