Disclaimer: You know already
Ships: AD/MM, Wood/Bell
Note 1: No offense to all Minerva and Narcissa fans, I like them too
Note 2: I'm not sure what Aurors do besides catching Dark wizards, so I just take that they are as same as Muggle police.
Note 3: I haven't been to a court before, so I am not sure what's it like...and I can't remember the count scene in the "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire"...
Chapter 2: The Trial
Hermione Granger stared the newspaper in shock, not believing what she had just read. She picked it up again and read:
HOGWARTS DEPUTY HEADMISTRESS ARRESTED FOR MURDER
Yesterday night, Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, was arrested for the murder of Narcissa Malfoy, wife of Lucius Malfoy.
Although she claimed to be innocent, Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic, still decided to keep her for a hearing on 20 of December at the Council of Magical Law....
Hermione slammed the newspaper on her table and frowned. "Stupid Minister." She muttered. "20 of December.... Mom, Dad! Can I go back to the wizarding world on 20 of December?!"
***
"That's it, I am going to see the trial." Oliver said.
"But Oliver, you have a Quidditch practice on that day." Katie said, looking at the calendar.
"I don't care, I'm not going to that stupid practice." Oliver snapped.
***
"What are we going to do, Fred?" George asked.
"We are going to see the trial, what else? We have to close the shop on that day. Even though we have one less day to earn money, it's worth it to see how those idiots judge McGonagall. She's innocent. I know it." Fred said confidently.
***
"I am going to the trial." Sirius said.
"I want to go too!" Harry said quickly.
"But Harry, there will be Dementors in the court....." Sirius started.
"I don't care, I want to be there to support Professor McGonagall." Harry said loudly. "Besides, Professor Lupin has taught me the Patronus Charm. I can use it if they come near me...."
"All right, all right.."
***
"I can't believe it!" Percy said for the third time. "Dad, I want to take leave on that day and see the trial...."
"I am just about to say the same thing." Mr. Weasley said.
***
"Mom, is Azkaban far from here? I want to see the trial!" Ron said.
"Me too!" Ginny piped in.
"It is pretty far...." Mrs. Weasley started. Ron and Ginny went pale, thinking that their mother would not let them to go. But then she said, "But it's worth going. I think Minerva McGonagall will need all the support she could get...."
***
Albus Dumbledore looked around him; the first two rows were filled with teachers of Hogwarts: Madam Hooch, Madam Pomfrey, Professor Sprouts, Professor Flitwick, Professor Snape, Hagrid (who took up two seats), Professor Sinistra, Professor Trelawney (who kept on telling Dumbledore to prepare for the worse, for first time, Dumbledore actually wish that he didn't ask her to come along), Professor Remus Lupin, Professor Sirius Black (substitute teacher for Remus in DADA) and Professor Vector.
And the rest were filled with Hogwarts students (except the Slytherins), including graduated students like Oliver Wood, Katie Bell, Angelina Johnson, Alicia Spinnet and the Weasleys.
Lucius and Draco Malfoy were sitting at the plaintiff box, wearing black robes.
"If I could have your attention please, if you could all come to order, we're ready to start." The judge said.
Silence.
"Bring in the suspect." The judge said and Minerva came in, escorted by two Dementors.
"MINERVA!" Madam Hooch, Madam Pomfrey and Professor Sprouts screamed hysterically, along with the students who were yelling: "PROFESSOR MCGONAGALL!!!"
BANG
"ORDER ON THE COURT!" The judge boomed and banged his gravel again.
The crowd quieted down.
Dumbledore couldn't blame the teachers and students; they loved her. But not as much as he does. Unfortunately Minerva was arrested before he could confess to her.
The judge waited for Minerva to be magically bound to a chair in the center of the room and he started, "Mr. Lucius Malfoy, what is the charge you are making against Miss. Minerva McGonagall?"
"Murder." Lucius hissed.
"PROFESSOR MCGONAGALL NEVER KILLS ANYONE, WE KNOW HER!" Sirius Black yelled and the students cheered in agreement.
Minerva had her head low and said nothing.
"BE QUIET! MR. SIRIUS BLACK! OR I'LL HAVE TO ASK YOU TO LEAVE!" The judge yelled and Sirius sat down, fuming. "I will hear the opening statements now."
Lucius' counselor for the prosecution, Mr. Noir, stood up. "Your Honor," he said, "you must find my client, Mr. Lucius Malfoy, who has never shown anything but love for his beloved wife, Narcissa Malfoy..."
Ron pretended to puke and Percy elbowed him in the ribs.
"....I hereby to ask you to announce Minerva McGonagall as guilty at the end of the trial. Thank you." The counselor sat down.
"I bet Draco's father pays him to say that." Wood accused.
The judge nodded to the counselor for the defense, Miss White, and she stood up. "Your Honor, my client, Miss Minerva McGonagall, is a well-known Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts. Will she do something this low to ruin her reputation? And as far as I know, she is, yes, strict, but kind, she will never kill anyone. I know that because I used to be a Gryffindor in Hogwarts myself. And I think she is the best teacher I ever have."
The students looked at each other, cheered and applauded loudly and the counselor for the defense smiled and nodded at them. She winked at Minerva, who gave a grim smile.
"WE ARE COUNTING ON YOU!" Bill Weasley yelled.
BANG
The judge banged his gravel again.
"Wish I can snatch that stupid thing away from that judge." Madam Hooch muttered.
"I hereby to ask you to announce Minerva McGonagall as innocent at the end of the trial. I thank you." The counselor sat down.
"Well, will the defense call their first witness?" The judge said after he took a look at his parchment.
"GO HARRY!" The students yelled as Harry took the stand. The judge glared at them and they shut up. Harry felt his wand in his robes, waiting to pull it out immediately if a Dementor tried to get near him. He nodded and gave an encouraging smile to Minerva, who just gave him a very small smile back.
"Mr. Harry Potter, how do you describe your teacher Professor McGonagall?" Miss White asked.
"Well, I have to admit she is rather strict. But she is really nice at the same time."
"Can you give us a example?"
"I remember in my second year, my friend and I got into trouble by driving a flying car into Hogwarts and broke a few branches of a violent tree, which hit anyone who dared to go near it. And as you all know, we are not allowed to use magic outside school. But instead of expelling us or taking points away from Gryffindor, my house like the other teachers would do, Professor McGonagall just gave us detentions. In fact, she even gave us a big plate of sandwiches and pumpkin juice to eat since we couldn't go to the start-of-term feast."
The Hogwarts crowd applauded while the jury took down notes.
"SILENCE!" The judge yelled.
"Is there any other example?"
"There's a series of attacks on the students once in Hogwarts, but I can't tell you what. They were so serious that our Headmaster had to be suspended from work. And that Hogwarts was thought to be close. I know that Professor McGonagall cared about the students who were attacked. She nearly cried when my friend and I asked her whether if we could visit my other friend in the hospital wing, who was attacked too."
Hermione and Ron smiled.
"Thank you. Your Honor, I have finished my questioning." Miss. White said and sat down.
"You may cross-examine the witness." The judge said to Mr. Noir.
He nodded and stood up. "Mr. Potter, is Miss McGonagall the Head of your house?"
"Of course." Harry said, trying not to sound as if he was talking to an idiot.
"Is she very cruel to your House?"
"No."
"You mean she favour your House then?"
"No. She is fair to all her students, whether the students are belong to Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw or Slytherin." Harry said.
The students applauded loudly. The judge frowned and they quieted down quickly.
"Does she make any death threats to students who make trouble in her class?" Mr. Noir asked in a strong voice.
"OBJECTION! Your Honor, the counselor for the prosecution is asking unnecessary questions!" Miss White protested loudly.
"Objection approved." The judge said.
"I have finished my questioning." Mr. Noir said and sat down.
"Next witness." The judge said and the Gryffindors gasped and erupted into angry protests when they saw Vincent Crabbe took his stand. A Slytherin would make things worse!
"ORDER!" The judge roared and banged his gravel.
Crabbe, obviously, didn't give Professor McGonagall any respect. He described her as if he was describing a terrifying monster, like the Manticore.
"THAT'S RIDICULOUS!" Wood yelled when Crabbe got to the part where Minerva jinxed Harry's broom so that he could die on his first Quidditch match. "PROFESSOR MCGONAGALL WILL NOT DO ANYTHING LIKE THAT!"
"BE QUIET, MR. OLIVER WOOD! OR I WILL ASK THE PUDDLEMERE UNITED TO SACK YOU!" The judge roared.
Wood wanted to open his mouth again to say that he didn't care but then he saw Minerva gave him a horrified look and shook her head. He closed his mouth and went quiet.
***
" I have evidence here to show that Minerva McGonagall is the murderer of Narcissa Malfoy." Mr. Noir said, taking two Muggle photographs from his table and showed them to the audience. "These are the two Muggle photographs of the scene of the crime, one shows Mrs. Malfoy's last words: Minerva McGonagall did it. And the other shows a pair of square glasses, one of Minerva McGonagall's trademarks."
Percy jumped up and shouted, "That's stupid, anyone could get that kind of glasses!"
"Quiet, Mr. Percy Weasley, or I will have you fired from the Ministry of Magic!" The judge yelled.
Penelope Weasley pulled her husband down and shook her head frantically at him.
***
"Your Honor, we have come to a decision." The leader of the jury said to the judge.
"And?"
"We find the defendant....guilty." He said.
Miss White slumped back to her seat in defeat. Minerva had her head low again, trying not to let anyone to see her crying.
"Minerva McGonagall, the sentence that the court have for you is that you will taken straight to Azkaban and imprisonment for three months before your execution."
Minerva looked up at the judge.
"And that will be the Dementor's Kiss." She said slowly.
The judge nodded and banged his gravel. "Case closed."
The teachers and the students all stood up, yelling protests at the judge.
"YOU CAN'T DO THAT!"
"YOU ARE INHUMAN!"
"YOU WILL PAY FOR THIS!"
Mr. Noir gave a nasty smile to Miss White. "You may be a good lawyer, but I win this time."
Miss White scowled and gave an apologetic look to Minerva. "I'm so sorry, Professor, I have tried my best, I really have...."
"I understand. If the Fates want me to die, so be it." Minerva said softly.
The judge banged his gravel and the crowd refused to be silent until Dumbledore stood up and held his hand. "Your Honor, I want to ask for an appeal for my Deputy Headmistress."
His voice may be calm, but Harry could also sense a slight angry note in it.
The judge raised his eyebrows. "With all my respects, Mr. Dumbledore, but I don't think an appeal will help. You see, there's no evidence to help your Deputy Headmistress.."
"Then I will find evidence to help her." Dumbledore interrupted impatiently.
Minerva looked at Dumbledore and sighed. "You can't find any evidence, Albus." She whispered but she still felt hopefully that he could.
The judge looked at the angry faces in the audience and sighed. "Very well, her appeal will be set on one month later."
The audience's sound level went worse. "She will be crazy by then!" Madam Hooch shouted.
"Don't you know how dangerous Azkaban is, you pighead?!" Charlie Weasley yelled.
"You are so mean!" Ginny shrieked.
"Your Honor, since I can't have her back now, may I beg you to put my Deputy Headmistress in Witchrow Prison? It is a lot safer than Azkaban and if the appeal is successful, I can have my Deputy Headmistress back immediately, safe and sound, and very clear-minded." Dumbledore said.
The audience looked at the judge eagerly. At least Minerva won't be crazy by the time the appeal was done!
"Yes, Mr. Dumbledore, I can put her there. Take her away." The judge said.
"Minerva, Minerva!" Madam Pomfrey said with tears in her eyes as the Dementors brought Minerva passed the audience. The Dementors stopped for a while to let Minerva to talk to them.
"Be strong, ok?" Madam Hooch said, trying to smile but then her face crumpled and she started sobbing.
"PROFESSOR! KEEP IN MIND THAT YOU ARE INNOCENT! WE ALL BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE!" Wood yelled and the students nodded.
Minerva gave a slight smile. "Study hard after Christmas, my students."
"Don't say that, Professor! We will waiting for you to come back to teach us Transfiguration!" Hermione and the students nodded vigorously.
"Minerva." A voice called.
She turned and saw Dumbledore. "I will find evidence to clear your name," He said and grasped her hand tightly. "I promise you."
Minerva reached out and put her hand on his. "I will wait for you." She whispered and let go when the Dementors dragged her away from the screaming audience.
Ships: AD/MM, Wood/Bell
Note 1: No offense to all Minerva and Narcissa fans, I like them too
Note 2: I'm not sure what Aurors do besides catching Dark wizards, so I just take that they are as same as Muggle police.
Note 3: I haven't been to a court before, so I am not sure what's it like...and I can't remember the count scene in the "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire"...
Chapter 2: The Trial
Hermione Granger stared the newspaper in shock, not believing what she had just read. She picked it up again and read:
HOGWARTS DEPUTY HEADMISTRESS ARRESTED FOR MURDER
Yesterday night, Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, was arrested for the murder of Narcissa Malfoy, wife of Lucius Malfoy.
Although she claimed to be innocent, Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic, still decided to keep her for a hearing on 20 of December at the Council of Magical Law....
Hermione slammed the newspaper on her table and frowned. "Stupid Minister." She muttered. "20 of December.... Mom, Dad! Can I go back to the wizarding world on 20 of December?!"
***
"That's it, I am going to see the trial." Oliver said.
"But Oliver, you have a Quidditch practice on that day." Katie said, looking at the calendar.
"I don't care, I'm not going to that stupid practice." Oliver snapped.
***
"What are we going to do, Fred?" George asked.
"We are going to see the trial, what else? We have to close the shop on that day. Even though we have one less day to earn money, it's worth it to see how those idiots judge McGonagall. She's innocent. I know it." Fred said confidently.
***
"I am going to the trial." Sirius said.
"I want to go too!" Harry said quickly.
"But Harry, there will be Dementors in the court....." Sirius started.
"I don't care, I want to be there to support Professor McGonagall." Harry said loudly. "Besides, Professor Lupin has taught me the Patronus Charm. I can use it if they come near me...."
"All right, all right.."
***
"I can't believe it!" Percy said for the third time. "Dad, I want to take leave on that day and see the trial...."
"I am just about to say the same thing." Mr. Weasley said.
***
"Mom, is Azkaban far from here? I want to see the trial!" Ron said.
"Me too!" Ginny piped in.
"It is pretty far...." Mrs. Weasley started. Ron and Ginny went pale, thinking that their mother would not let them to go. But then she said, "But it's worth going. I think Minerva McGonagall will need all the support she could get...."
***
Albus Dumbledore looked around him; the first two rows were filled with teachers of Hogwarts: Madam Hooch, Madam Pomfrey, Professor Sprouts, Professor Flitwick, Professor Snape, Hagrid (who took up two seats), Professor Sinistra, Professor Trelawney (who kept on telling Dumbledore to prepare for the worse, for first time, Dumbledore actually wish that he didn't ask her to come along), Professor Remus Lupin, Professor Sirius Black (substitute teacher for Remus in DADA) and Professor Vector.
And the rest were filled with Hogwarts students (except the Slytherins), including graduated students like Oliver Wood, Katie Bell, Angelina Johnson, Alicia Spinnet and the Weasleys.
Lucius and Draco Malfoy were sitting at the plaintiff box, wearing black robes.
"If I could have your attention please, if you could all come to order, we're ready to start." The judge said.
Silence.
"Bring in the suspect." The judge said and Minerva came in, escorted by two Dementors.
"MINERVA!" Madam Hooch, Madam Pomfrey and Professor Sprouts screamed hysterically, along with the students who were yelling: "PROFESSOR MCGONAGALL!!!"
BANG
"ORDER ON THE COURT!" The judge boomed and banged his gravel again.
The crowd quieted down.
Dumbledore couldn't blame the teachers and students; they loved her. But not as much as he does. Unfortunately Minerva was arrested before he could confess to her.
The judge waited for Minerva to be magically bound to a chair in the center of the room and he started, "Mr. Lucius Malfoy, what is the charge you are making against Miss. Minerva McGonagall?"
"Murder." Lucius hissed.
"PROFESSOR MCGONAGALL NEVER KILLS ANYONE, WE KNOW HER!" Sirius Black yelled and the students cheered in agreement.
Minerva had her head low and said nothing.
"BE QUIET! MR. SIRIUS BLACK! OR I'LL HAVE TO ASK YOU TO LEAVE!" The judge yelled and Sirius sat down, fuming. "I will hear the opening statements now."
Lucius' counselor for the prosecution, Mr. Noir, stood up. "Your Honor," he said, "you must find my client, Mr. Lucius Malfoy, who has never shown anything but love for his beloved wife, Narcissa Malfoy..."
Ron pretended to puke and Percy elbowed him in the ribs.
"....I hereby to ask you to announce Minerva McGonagall as guilty at the end of the trial. Thank you." The counselor sat down.
"I bet Draco's father pays him to say that." Wood accused.
The judge nodded to the counselor for the defense, Miss White, and she stood up. "Your Honor, my client, Miss Minerva McGonagall, is a well-known Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts. Will she do something this low to ruin her reputation? And as far as I know, she is, yes, strict, but kind, she will never kill anyone. I know that because I used to be a Gryffindor in Hogwarts myself. And I think she is the best teacher I ever have."
The students looked at each other, cheered and applauded loudly and the counselor for the defense smiled and nodded at them. She winked at Minerva, who gave a grim smile.
"WE ARE COUNTING ON YOU!" Bill Weasley yelled.
BANG
The judge banged his gravel again.
"Wish I can snatch that stupid thing away from that judge." Madam Hooch muttered.
"I hereby to ask you to announce Minerva McGonagall as innocent at the end of the trial. I thank you." The counselor sat down.
"Well, will the defense call their first witness?" The judge said after he took a look at his parchment.
"GO HARRY!" The students yelled as Harry took the stand. The judge glared at them and they shut up. Harry felt his wand in his robes, waiting to pull it out immediately if a Dementor tried to get near him. He nodded and gave an encouraging smile to Minerva, who just gave him a very small smile back.
"Mr. Harry Potter, how do you describe your teacher Professor McGonagall?" Miss White asked.
"Well, I have to admit she is rather strict. But she is really nice at the same time."
"Can you give us a example?"
"I remember in my second year, my friend and I got into trouble by driving a flying car into Hogwarts and broke a few branches of a violent tree, which hit anyone who dared to go near it. And as you all know, we are not allowed to use magic outside school. But instead of expelling us or taking points away from Gryffindor, my house like the other teachers would do, Professor McGonagall just gave us detentions. In fact, she even gave us a big plate of sandwiches and pumpkin juice to eat since we couldn't go to the start-of-term feast."
The Hogwarts crowd applauded while the jury took down notes.
"SILENCE!" The judge yelled.
"Is there any other example?"
"There's a series of attacks on the students once in Hogwarts, but I can't tell you what. They were so serious that our Headmaster had to be suspended from work. And that Hogwarts was thought to be close. I know that Professor McGonagall cared about the students who were attacked. She nearly cried when my friend and I asked her whether if we could visit my other friend in the hospital wing, who was attacked too."
Hermione and Ron smiled.
"Thank you. Your Honor, I have finished my questioning." Miss. White said and sat down.
"You may cross-examine the witness." The judge said to Mr. Noir.
He nodded and stood up. "Mr. Potter, is Miss McGonagall the Head of your house?"
"Of course." Harry said, trying not to sound as if he was talking to an idiot.
"Is she very cruel to your House?"
"No."
"You mean she favour your House then?"
"No. She is fair to all her students, whether the students are belong to Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw or Slytherin." Harry said.
The students applauded loudly. The judge frowned and they quieted down quickly.
"Does she make any death threats to students who make trouble in her class?" Mr. Noir asked in a strong voice.
"OBJECTION! Your Honor, the counselor for the prosecution is asking unnecessary questions!" Miss White protested loudly.
"Objection approved." The judge said.
"I have finished my questioning." Mr. Noir said and sat down.
"Next witness." The judge said and the Gryffindors gasped and erupted into angry protests when they saw Vincent Crabbe took his stand. A Slytherin would make things worse!
"ORDER!" The judge roared and banged his gravel.
Crabbe, obviously, didn't give Professor McGonagall any respect. He described her as if he was describing a terrifying monster, like the Manticore.
"THAT'S RIDICULOUS!" Wood yelled when Crabbe got to the part where Minerva jinxed Harry's broom so that he could die on his first Quidditch match. "PROFESSOR MCGONAGALL WILL NOT DO ANYTHING LIKE THAT!"
"BE QUIET, MR. OLIVER WOOD! OR I WILL ASK THE PUDDLEMERE UNITED TO SACK YOU!" The judge roared.
Wood wanted to open his mouth again to say that he didn't care but then he saw Minerva gave him a horrified look and shook her head. He closed his mouth and went quiet.
***
" I have evidence here to show that Minerva McGonagall is the murderer of Narcissa Malfoy." Mr. Noir said, taking two Muggle photographs from his table and showed them to the audience. "These are the two Muggle photographs of the scene of the crime, one shows Mrs. Malfoy's last words: Minerva McGonagall did it. And the other shows a pair of square glasses, one of Minerva McGonagall's trademarks."
Percy jumped up and shouted, "That's stupid, anyone could get that kind of glasses!"
"Quiet, Mr. Percy Weasley, or I will have you fired from the Ministry of Magic!" The judge yelled.
Penelope Weasley pulled her husband down and shook her head frantically at him.
***
"Your Honor, we have come to a decision." The leader of the jury said to the judge.
"And?"
"We find the defendant....guilty." He said.
Miss White slumped back to her seat in defeat. Minerva had her head low again, trying not to let anyone to see her crying.
"Minerva McGonagall, the sentence that the court have for you is that you will taken straight to Azkaban and imprisonment for three months before your execution."
Minerva looked up at the judge.
"And that will be the Dementor's Kiss." She said slowly.
The judge nodded and banged his gravel. "Case closed."
The teachers and the students all stood up, yelling protests at the judge.
"YOU CAN'T DO THAT!"
"YOU ARE INHUMAN!"
"YOU WILL PAY FOR THIS!"
Mr. Noir gave a nasty smile to Miss White. "You may be a good lawyer, but I win this time."
Miss White scowled and gave an apologetic look to Minerva. "I'm so sorry, Professor, I have tried my best, I really have...."
"I understand. If the Fates want me to die, so be it." Minerva said softly.
The judge banged his gravel and the crowd refused to be silent until Dumbledore stood up and held his hand. "Your Honor, I want to ask for an appeal for my Deputy Headmistress."
His voice may be calm, but Harry could also sense a slight angry note in it.
The judge raised his eyebrows. "With all my respects, Mr. Dumbledore, but I don't think an appeal will help. You see, there's no evidence to help your Deputy Headmistress.."
"Then I will find evidence to help her." Dumbledore interrupted impatiently.
Minerva looked at Dumbledore and sighed. "You can't find any evidence, Albus." She whispered but she still felt hopefully that he could.
The judge looked at the angry faces in the audience and sighed. "Very well, her appeal will be set on one month later."
The audience's sound level went worse. "She will be crazy by then!" Madam Hooch shouted.
"Don't you know how dangerous Azkaban is, you pighead?!" Charlie Weasley yelled.
"You are so mean!" Ginny shrieked.
"Your Honor, since I can't have her back now, may I beg you to put my Deputy Headmistress in Witchrow Prison? It is a lot safer than Azkaban and if the appeal is successful, I can have my Deputy Headmistress back immediately, safe and sound, and very clear-minded." Dumbledore said.
The audience looked at the judge eagerly. At least Minerva won't be crazy by the time the appeal was done!
"Yes, Mr. Dumbledore, I can put her there. Take her away." The judge said.
"Minerva, Minerva!" Madam Pomfrey said with tears in her eyes as the Dementors brought Minerva passed the audience. The Dementors stopped for a while to let Minerva to talk to them.
"Be strong, ok?" Madam Hooch said, trying to smile but then her face crumpled and she started sobbing.
"PROFESSOR! KEEP IN MIND THAT YOU ARE INNOCENT! WE ALL BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE!" Wood yelled and the students nodded.
Minerva gave a slight smile. "Study hard after Christmas, my students."
"Don't say that, Professor! We will waiting for you to come back to teach us Transfiguration!" Hermione and the students nodded vigorously.
"Minerva." A voice called.
She turned and saw Dumbledore. "I will find evidence to clear your name," He said and grasped her hand tightly. "I promise you."
Minerva reached out and put her hand on his. "I will wait for you." She whispered and let go when the Dementors dragged her away from the screaming audience.