Chapter 2
The Trial
After the wedding; Hermione and Ron went straight down to the courtroom, where Ginny Wealsey's trial was being held. Hermione had quickly changed out of her wedding dress and was now back in her normal clothes. She didn't like the idea of wearing a wedding dress to a trial. Especially now it was the trial of her own sister in law.
As Hermione dashed towards the courtroom, all she could think about was, the honeymoon will have to wait. Right now, she and Ron had more important things to do. Like getting through this trial; and later hunting down the Horcruxes.
As they entered the dark stoned courtroom, they saw that everyone else had already been seated.
The trial had not yet begun, but it was clear from the look on everyone else's face, that they had been keeping the others waiting. Ginny Weasley was sat in the center of the courtroom, and she did not look well. Her eyes were baggy and bloodshot; her skin was extremely pale and clammy too. She looked malnourished, and Hermione wondered, if weather or not, she had suffered enough already.
Two weeks ago. The Auror's had come to arrest Ginny, and they had not been delicate. They had stormed in to the Weasley's home, like muggle policeman, raiding a drug den. They had jinxed Ginny with an imobiulas curse. They then picked her up off the floor, and carried her over their shoulders like a sack of potatoes. Luckily Ginny had not been sent to Azkaban, but she had still been in a holding cell for the past two weeks, guarded by a single Dementor guard. If this is what Ginny Weasley looked like after only two weeks in a holding cell, and only one Dementor guarding her, Hermione hated to think what she'd look like after years in Azkaban, and hundreds of Dementor guards.
This trial had been kept secret. Most of the Wizarding world didn't know about it, and it was important that it stayed that way. There had been no Owl's sent, and no article's in the daily Prophet either. This had been done at the request of Dumbledore. He knew, if word got out that a forever lasting love potion existed, all hell would break loose. Plus, it was important that Voldemort and his Death Eaters, believed that Pansy Parkinson, invented the potion. This way they thought the potion was gone forever. It also kept Pansy alive while she was among truly evil villains. If word got out that Ginny Weasley; not Pansy Parkinson, invented it. Then Voldermort would probably murder Pansy, for deceiving him.
Hermione wondered where Pansy was right now. The last time she had seen her was at her mother's and stepfather's wedding, where Pansy had come in disguise, using Polyjuice potion. It seemed like Pansy had finally made peace with her father marrying a muggle, and that she and Hermione were now stepsisters. Hermione had not told anyone of Pansy's appearance, she thought it best not to. It was funny; a year ago Hermione was an only child. Now she had a stepsister and a sister in law.
The courtroom doors burst open; and Rufus Scrimgeour entered the room with a scowl on his face that made professor Snape seem friendly. Although Scrimgeour was not known for his smile, today he looked even more bad moody than usual. It was as though he was in no mood for this trial, like this trial was something tedious, beneath him. This was unfortunate because he was the judge.
As Scrimgeour took his seat, Hermione wondered if he had ever been in love. Probably not. Scrimgeour didn't seem like the kind of person who believed in love.
"Let us begin" Said Scrimgeour unenthusiastically. "As you all know, this trial is to determine if whether or not Ginny Weasley should be punished for the creation, and use of the forever lasting love potion."
"Objection!" said a voice from one of the benches. All heads now turned towards a good looking young wizard, with dark hair.
This was Robert Miller; Ginny Weasley's defense. Hermione had only read about him in the Daily Prophet, but couldn't help but admire him. He was one of the few people in the Ministry who was in favor of equality for all magical creatures. He was a bright young man, who had only graduated Hogwarts the year before Hermione started. And although he had never made the front page of the Daily Prophet he was considered a rising star to watch out for.
Hermione wondered why he was defending Ginny. Surely he couldn't agree with what she had done.
"It has not yet been proven, that my client did in fact invent the potion in question. She has not admitted to making it. Nor has it been proven, that this potion actually works."
This was either a very clever legal tactic, or Robert Miller actually believed Ginny was innocent.
"Your right," said Scrimgeour. "That is also why we are here. To determine if whether or not your client is in fact innocent." Scrimgeour then turned his attention to Ginny "Would the defended please stand."
Ginny, who had spent the entire time looking at her feet stood up. She was shaking like a frightened animal, and it looked like she was having trouble standing.
"Please state your name for the record." asked Scrimgeour.
"Ginny Weasley" said Ginny in a timid quiet voice.
"Ginny Weasley, you stand accused of creating and using a forever lasting love potion. How do you plead? "
Everyone in the court room held their breath; wondering how Ginny would plead.
"Innocent" she said.
Hermione was amazed. Ginny was actually going to fight this.
"Very well," said Scrimgeour. "Councilors, you may now proceed with your opening arguments.
The Prosecutor then stood up, and took the floor to give his opening argument. Like Robert Miller, he was a young man and was good looking. But whereas Robert was clean shaven, this man had a two day beard on his face.
"Ladies and gentlemen; there are three unforgivable curses. And they are called unforgivable, because they are unforgiveable. one of these curses, is the imperious curse. As you know, this curse causes its victims to do the unquestionable bidding of whoever is casting it. It takes away our very free will. And that is why it is unforgivable. Ginny Weasley spent the better part of two years working on a potion that would take away someone's free will to choose who they love. And she succeeded. She took away Harry Potters choice in choosing who to love. And that is no different, than using an imperious curse. Thank you. "He then took his seat.
It was now Robert Miller's turn to take the floor and percent his argument.
"Ladies and gentlemen; love potions are not illegal, nor have they ever been illegal. A love potion does not change who you are. They do not cause you to change your political views and they certainly do not make you do the bidding of a Death Eater. As for whether or not my client actually made a love potion. The evidence is flimsy at best. We have a diary; who knows who wrote it? How do you know that this diary wasn't forged? how do we know this potion actually works? How do you know Harry Potter doesn't actually love Ginny Weasley for who she is. Ginny Weasley is an outstanding student at Hogwarts School. Plus she has shown true moral character. Two years ago, she played a part in defeating a group of Death Eaters, who were a tempting to steal from the department of mysteries. She fought against the very people, who would take away your free will. Ask yourselves; are these the actions of a criminal? Or of someone who would take away someone's free will?"
Hermione gasped. It seemed Robert Miller really did believe Ginny was innocent
As the trial proceeded; both sides gave aggressive arguments. Robert Miller continued to argue the diary was a fake. That it was inadmissible as evidence, because it was provided by Pansy Parkinson, a known Death Eater and fugitive. He also argued that there was no way of knowing that the potion actually worked, because the ministry was not willing to recreate it and test it. (And why would they? If it did in fact work, they would be condemning the test subject to a life of unable to choose the person they love.)
The Prosecutor however argued, that after a blood test, there was in fact traces of the potion in Harry Potters system, and that the potion did in fact work. As for the argument of the diary being a fake, the Prosecutor called Hermione to testify.
As Hermione took the stand to testify, she looked over at Mrs Weasley, who was giving her a very hate-filled look. Hermione's stomach turned. She hated having Mrs Weasley hate her. Mrs Weasley had always been so nice, almost like a second mother to Hermione. But now, it seemed like that bridge had been burned, forever.
"Please state your name for the record" said Scrimgeour, as Hermione took the stand.
"Hermione Jean... Weasley." said Hermione, hesitantly. This was the first time she had used her new last name.
There were whispers and murmurs all around the courtroom when Hermione said her last name.
"I'm sorry I thought your last name was Granger" interjected Robert Miller.
"It was," said Hermione plainly "until about 45 minutes ago. I just got married."
Even more whispers and murmurs filled the courtroom.
"Order!" shouted Scrimgeour, wanting to put a stop to all this gossiping. "I'm sure this is all very romantic. But can we please stick to the trial at hand."
The courtroom quieted down, and the Prosecutor began his questioning.
"How long have you known the defendant?" asked the Prosecutor.
"Six years, since my second year at Hogwarts." said Hermione.
"Six years, wow" said the Prosecutor. "So it's fair to say that you know the defendant pretty well then?" he asked.
"I thought I did," replied Hermione.
"But would you say, that you know the defendant well enough, to recognize her hand writing?" asked the Prosecutor.
"Yes," replied Hermione.
"Good, so would you say that the hand writing in the diary is the same as the defendant's?"
"I would, yes" said Hermione.
"And why would you think the defendant would concoct such a potion?"
"Because she's in love with Harry Potter and he doesn't love her, At least, not in the same way."
"Thank you, Mrs Weasley. No further questions." The Prosecutor then sat down, to allow Robert Miller his turn to ask Hermione his own questions.
Hermione couldn't help but feel intimidated by him. His good looks alone were enough to make anyone nervous. Hermione worried what he might ask her. She never got the chance to find out however. Because the next thing she knew, there was a loud bang at the door, and everyone's attention had now turned towards the three Death Eaters, that were now standing in the courtroom.