The Greatest Trial

Chapter 3. Seeker of Truth

The courtroom was bustling with whispers from all corners. The news had spread like wildfire. The retrial of Harry Potter had brought several new complexities into the picture. The crowd had nearly tripled in size since the morning. Newspaper reporters and common folk who had no bearing to the case whatsoever had filled up the courtroom to its brink.

Shaking his head, the Minister faced the judges. Amelia Bones and Augusta Longbottom were waiting in silence for silence to reign of its own accord. They were experienced and knew it better to get the people to exhaust themselves early, rather than have them restless all through the proceedings. Flitwick, however, was a teacher, not a judge.

"Order!" he yelled. "I will have Order in my courtroom! Cease this irksome whisperings!"

As the court slowly moved to silence, the Minister got up and said, "Ronald Weasley, please take the witness stand."

"As in the morning, you will wait until I finish reading from the record. I will then ask you some questions which you will answer to the best of your ability."

"Name and occupation?"

"Ronald Bilius Weasley, Sixth Year student in Hogwarts."

"Relation to the Defendant?"

"I thought Potter was my best friend but then he killed my brother."

"Do you concur with the statement of Miss Granger as to the events of the morning of the First?"

"Yes. What she didn't add was Potter's threat."

"Threat? What threat was this, Mr. Weasley?"

"Harry warned us to be nice to Fleur or stay away from her in the future."

"Was it in the nature or Harry Potter to make such threats?"

"No."

"So what possible reason could he have to make such a threat?"

"He wanted Fleur for himself."

"Why do you say that, Mr. Weasley?"

"Fleur's a Veela. Everybody wants her. Potter wanted her. Simple as that. But she was with Bill. So he had to off Bill first."

"You seem to be more certain of the Defendant's guilt than Miss Weasley."

"It wasn't her brother who died, was it! Potter killed Bill! He admitted it himself! He should be sent to Azkaban for life! He should receive the Kiss! (Witness is hysterical)."

"Thank you, Mr. Weasley."

Minister Wiltschild sighed. He knew Ron Weasley well. He was a good and dependable Auror, but obstinate in his beliefs. He approached the witness and said, "Your accusations towards the Defendant were more out of grief and emotional turmoil than anything else, wouldn't you agree, Mr. Weasley?"

"Of course I was in emotional turmoil," Ron snapped. "He had killed my brother."

"Please answer my question, Mr. Weasley," the Minister snapped back. "When you accused Harry Potter of killing your brother, did you have any definite and substantial evidence except for the firmness of your own belief?"

"Hagrid was an eyewitness."

The Minister refrained from throwing his hands up in despair. "Hagrid merely saw lights and walked to the crime scene where he saw Mr. Potter and three limp bodies. That is not sufficient evidence."

Blinking, the witness hissed, "Potter's confession. What more do you need?"

"The confession, yet again," the Minister sighed, troubled. "Your wife seemed to be in doubt about the veracity of the confession."

"That's because she just saw him die," Ron said angrily. "Of course she wants to believe him incapable of murder. She's a gentle and delicate person. But I know what he said, the way he said. He did it."

"You were best friends, weren't you, Mr. Weasley?"

"I thought we were."

"No, you weren't!" the Minister said sharply. "You never were! When your so-called best friend was accused of murder, you were one of his accusers! You didn't stand behind him! You had no faith in the nature of your friend or in your friendship. Tell me, Mr. Weasley, were you jealous of Harry Potter?"

Ron banged his wrists on the armrest and snapped, "Rubbish! Why would I be jealous of a murdering scum like him?"

"Fourth Year, Triwizard Tournament. Does that ring a bell?"

Ron visibly shook in fury. Taking a deep breath, he said, "I was an immature kid then. I grew up."

"Were you jealous that Mrs. Fleur Weasley gave more attention to Mr. Potter than to you?"

"Preposterous!" Ron barked angrily. "You are defaming my good name, Minister!"

"We are in a court of law, trying a murder case, and you are under oath. Answer truthfully or I shall request a Veritaserum hearing from you. Were you jealous of Harry Potter's developing friendship with Fleur Weasley?"

"A bit," he said after a long time. "A bit. He always got the best deal of everything. It wasn't right. But he wasn't happy with all that! He killed her! He killed Bill!"

The Minister waited as the witness composed himself. "Your certainty of Harry Potter's guilt must mean you have formed your own opinion of his motives. Tell me, Mr. Weasley, why do you think the Defendant committed these murders?"

"It's obvious, isn't it? He wanted Fleur. He tried to take her. Then Bill came in and he killed Bill. Then he killed Fleur because she had seen him."

"What about Ms. Tonks?"

"Perhaps Tonks also saw him. He would have to kill her too, to avoid suspicion."

"So after killing Mr. Weasley, he killed Mrs. Weasley and Ms. Tonks because they were witnesses, and then he remains in the murder scene long enough for Hagrid to find him, sobbing 'I killed him… I killed him'. Why do you think he would show remorse towards his murder of Mr. Weasley if it was Mrs. Weasley whom he cared for more?"

"Perhaps because he killed Bill first! How would I know how his mind works!"

"And yet you claim to read the motives and actions leading to the murder of three people the Defendant counted as friends, in a manner completely contradictory to his nature?"

"That was obvious."

The Minister paced for a few moments in silence and then asked, "By your theory, the Defendant should then have tried to kill Hagrid as well. Why didn't he?"

"How do I know?" snapped Ron angrily. "Perhaps he had come to his senses by then. Perhaps he was remorseful."

"Tell me, Mr. Weasley, did you or are you aware of anyone else, during the course of the investigation, even consider any other person to have committed those murders?"

"There was no need. Dumbledore believed it. Hagrid was Potter's first friend in the Wizarding World. He loved Potter and Potter betrayed us all. Bill loved him as a brother and he killed Bill. Harry killed Bill! Simple as that!"

"That is all," the Minister said in a troubled expression and turned angrily to the court. "You accuse me of searching for complexities! And yet you had no words for the investigators of this case who were unable to look beyond the title of Harry Potter to dig a bit deeper for the truth! I have seen the newspaper articles! The media portrayed Harry Potter as an evil maniac the likes of which had never appeared on this earth! He was sixteen years old, for Heaven's Sake! Sixteen! Vilified by the media for the sole purpose of romanticizing!"

"Complexities!" he hissed sharply before the judged could respond. "Isn't the fact that there are complexities enough by itself? Tell me, Madam Bones, when did our legal system become so skewed that an accused was required to prove his innocence? Isn't the burden of proof solely on the Prosecutors? And by showing complexities, by showing alternative interpretations for the circumstantial evidences that sent Mr. Potter to the gallows, I have already broken the justification of a conviction! I have shown cause for reasonable doubt!"

Amelia Bones banged her hammer forcefully. "You will refrain from attacking this court, Minister. The authority of the Minister's Office has been reduced in recent years. You will show the proper respect that is due to this bench."

"I apologize for my outburst," the Minister said icily but continued glaring at the woman.

"I commend your passion for justice and truth, Alan Wiltschild," Amelia Bones continued. "But you still have more damning pieces of evidence to cover. Please continue."

The Minister nodded hesitatingly. The next few minutes could break his case utterly. "I call forth Remus Lupin to the stand."

"Name and occupation?"

"Remus John Lupin, unemployed."

"You relation to the Defendant?"

"His father was my best friend. I have treated him as a well-loved nephew since I've known him."

"Relation to the deceased?"

"Bill and Fleur were good friends. Nymphadora… Nymphadora and I were planning to get married."

"Where were you on the First?"

"I was patrolling in Hogsmeade."

"Why? You said you were unemployed?"

"The Headmaster requested my presence due to some security threats. A dangerous criminal, Peter Pettigrew, had been sighted in Hogsmeade and the Headmaster had asked both me and Nymphadora Tonks to add to the security of the school. She was near the Forbidden Forest and I was in Hogsmeade."

"Isn't Peter Pettigrew dead?"

"No. He framed Sirius Black and is alive."

"The Ministry is willing to stipulate to the veracity of Mr. Lupin's statement. Tell us what you saw while patrolling."

"Both me and Nymphadora Tonks have… had… a two-way mirror which was continually activated in case we needed instant aid. She heard a disturbance in the distance and rushed to see what was wrong. I heard voices as she approached the trouble site. The Defendant and Bill Weasley were the speakers. (Witness is silent for a minute). Bill's voice was forlorn and devoid of all hope. He was saying, 'Why, Harry?' and the Defendant said, 'You gave me no choice. I'm sorry it has come to this, Bill.' Then Bill said in an almost hopeless tone, 'Take care of Fleur, will you?' and the Defendant said, 'She is no longer your concern.' That was when Tonks screamed and charged in, the mirror broke, and I do not know what else happened. I went to the Castle as fast as possible but I was too late. They had apprehended the Defendant, though."

"Do you think the Defendant killed Bill Weasley?"

"Yes."

"Do you think the Defendant killed Nymphadora Tonks?"

"Yes. (Defendant cries in anguish, is silenced)."

"Do you think the Defendant killed Fleur Weasley?"

"Yes."

"That is all. Thank you, Mr. Lupin. Your witness, Mr. Potter. I said your witness Mr. Potter. (Witness makes no attempt to speak)."

The Minister paused for a full two minutes before an annoyed clicking noise from Augusta Longbottom shook him from his reverie.

"Did Ms. Tonks say anything to you about the situation she was facing or did you see what was going on? Did you get a glimpse of the scene from the mirror? Did you know anything about what was going on apart from those few words you heard?"

"No."

"Do you know, for a certainty, that there was nobody else there?"

"No."

"Do you know, for a certainty, that it was Mr. Potter who killed Bill?"

"You heard their exchange. Who else could it have been?"

"Answer the question. Do you know, for a certainty, that the Defendant killed the deceased?"

"It is the most rational explanation. It is my strong belief. I didn't hear the actual words or see the actual act take place. But I think he killed him."

"Do you know, for a certainty, that the Defendant killed the deceased William Weasley?"

"No. Not to a certainty."

"Do you know, for a certainty, that the Defendant killed any of the deceased?"

"No. Not to a certainty."

The Minister rounded on the man angrily. "And yet, without knowing, for a certainty, you seemed more than eager to condemn someone you claim to love as a nephew as a murder? You believed him capable of acting contrary to his very nature. Tell me why, Mr. Lupin."

"I'm afraid I cannot answer that question."

"What exact question are you referring to?"

"That how Harry Potter could act contrary to his nature."

"Do you know who could answer that question?"

"Albus Dumbledore."

"Tell me, Mr. Lupin, why do you think Albus Dumbledore believes Harry Potter was able to act contrary to his nature," the Minister reframed his question.

"Dumbledore believes that You Know Who was able to possess Harry Potter through their scar connection. For that connection to have strengthened would imply that the Defendant was no longer Harry Potter, but an extension of You Know Who. That's why he had to dealt with swiftly."

The Minister stared at the witness in disbelief and shook his head. He turned from Lupin to the judges, who seemed to absorb the testimony with nodding heads. Then he turned to the audience and laughed. "Do you people always allow the Headmaster to do the thinking for you?" he asked mockingly.

"MINISTER WILTSCHILD!" Amelia Bones thundered. "You will maintain proper decorum in my courtroom or I will personally order a Vote of No-Confidence against your government!"

"With all due respect, Madam Bones," the Minister retorted in equal rage. "As of this moment, I resign from my office. I will not allow myself to be linked to this repugnant and revoltingly corrupt society and Ministry any longer. Following the conclusion of this case, I shall return to my home in France." Ignoring the sudden rise of loud mutterings and shocked faces, he continued as if nothing shattering had just happened, "A sixteen year old, Mr. Lupin, who probably saw you as a father figure!"

"Harry Potter no longer existed. He was a minion of Voldemort."

The Former Minister of Magic shook his head in disgust and said, "Please leave. I request Albus Dumbledore to retake the stand."

"Professor Dumbledore, can you elaborate further on what Mr. Lupin has said?"

Sighing, the Headmaster said, "You are hurting our war efforts, Alan, with this mockery of a trial. But as your intentions are noble, I shall indulge you. Since the very beginning I had suspected the scar on Harry Potter's forehead to be something much more sinister. When Voldemort," he paused for everyone to flinch at the name and was surprised when Wiltschild stood resolutely facing him. "When Voldemort tried to cast the Killing Curse on Harry Potter that rebounded, it is my belief that he unwittingly created a Horcrux out of the poor boy. Do you understand now my fears regarding Harry Potter? I tried so hard to keep him safe and away from influences that would make him desire power."

"I regret all that I had to do. I placed him in a less than ideal family conditions, subjected him to much bias during his school years, and perhaps that was what kept him sane for so long. But when he admitted to killing… I knew I had lost him… I saw in him Voldemort when he stood before me as a sixteen year old, who had already created one Horcrux. Tell me, Minister, do you still believe that sixteen year olds are incapable of murder?"

"An interesting diatribe, Headmaster. But did you know, for a certainty, that the Defendant was being possessed by Riddle?"

"No, not to a certainty."

"Tell me Headmaster, did you know, for a certainty, that the Defendant killed the three deceased?"

"My child," the Headmaster said with a sad smile. "When you reach my age you realize that not many things can be known to an absolute certainty. We must act as best as we can given the information available to us."

"Tell me then, Headmaster. Is it acceptable to sentence a mere child to Azkaban and the Dementor's Kiss based on such uncertain information?"

"I am the wrong person to ask that question, Alan," the Headmaster shook his head. "I wasn't the judge. I am merely the Headmaster of my school."

"And yet it was your condemnation of Harry Potter that made everyone turn a blind eye to every other possibility. It was your lack of treating him as your student that portrayed him as a criminal to the world. It was your belief in his guilt that formed the backbone of the entire case against him. It was your merciless judgment that Harry Potter would walk the same path as Voldemort that was the cause of every single hurt that boy faced. Why did you choose to not believe in him as you once did? I have seen the articles from Harry Potter's Fourth and Fifth Years in Hogwarts. Why did you choose to condemn him, Headmaster?"

Blinking back tears, the Headmaster removed his glasses and wiped his eyes. "I believed Harry Potter would turn. I believed Harry Potter would join Voldemort, not willingly, no… but he would have no choice. All that was good in the boy would be trapped within his own mind, his darker side coming to the forefront. I was afraid the world would face an evil that could surpass even Voldemort. I couldn't sit back and allow that to happen… not a second time."

"A sixteen year old, Dumbledore," Alan Wiltschild said sadly. "A sixteen year old thrown violently into the world of adults since he was but a toddler. Why did he not deserve the benefit of doubt, when you would so willingly afford it to known Death Eaters such as Snape?"

"I trust Severus Snape," the Headmaster said firmly.

Wiltschild smiled ruefully. "Which is the pity, since you didn't trust Harry Potter. Please leave before I lose my temper on someone highly venerated by this country."

Dumbledore got up but hesitating, he said, "I applaud you for your crusade to prove the innocence of one I once dearly cared about, though I fear you will end up sorely disappointed. But if I may ask, why? Why, Alan? Why are you so convinced of Harry Potter's innocence?"

Wiltschild looked at the old man in the eye, and he knew that every single person in the courtroom was waiting for his answer with their breaths on hold. This, he knew, would make the headlines and not anything else. Not his resignation, not all the new angles he brought to the case. He smiled ironically.

"I cannot answer that, not to a certainty. Please leave."

"Court is adjourned for today. Mr. Wiltschild has shown enough complexities in the case for me to refrain from dismissing it straight away, as I had originally intended to." Amelia Bones turned to the other judges and they conferred in silence. "The court will reconvene tomorrow morning at nine."

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Alan Wiltschild walked away from the reporters, ignoring the hoard of questions being thrown his way. He didn't wish to return to the Minister's Quarters where he was staying and instead, walked to the Leaky Cauldron and took a room for the night.

It had been a busy evening for him. He had visited Azkaban, searched Harry Potter's cell thoroughly to see if he had left any indication of his innocence. But all his efforts were futile. He had even thoroughly questioned the guards who had also seemed convinced of Harry's innocence, but to no avail. Dejected, he returned.

Quietly in a private booth in the Leaky Cauldron, he was eating a dinner by himself when someone joined him. Angrily, he looked up to face an avid reporter or an angry citizen, but no words left his throat at the sight that he beheld. A striking redhead, more attractive than any woman he had seen since the death of his wife, had walked in, teary-eyed, and silently begging to be allowed to stay. It was Ginny Weasley.

Shaking his head, he beckoned her to take a seat and continued eating his stew. "I would offer to buy you dinner but I was nearly finished, and am looking forward to an early night before court," he said, clearly indicating he hadn't much time. "How may I help you?"

"I… I," she stammered and shook her head. "I… I want to help you prove Harry's innocence."

Wiltschild laughed sardonically. "The time for you to have helped was in the past, Ms. Weasley. What can you do now that you couldn't do then?"

Sobbing sorrowfully, she said, "I don't know… I want to help."

"Why? You indicated clearly at his execution that you didn't believe his innocence," he said sharply.

"I… I don't care," she said. "I don't care if he killed Bill… or raped anyone… I don't care… I want to do what I can."

Wiltschild got up and patted the girl's back gently. Leaning forward, he said, "You do not believe him to be innocent. You merely wish to clear his name because you love him. But Ms. Weasley," he leaned closer and whispered quietly. "Sometimes love isn't enough. Trust and belief, they are as important, Ms. Weasley. I'm sorry I do not want your help."

"Please," she begged desperately, grabbing his hand tightly. "Please. I wont be able to live with myself if I just stand back and do nothing… I… I want to help… please." She lowered her head on his hand and started crying disconsolately.

Sighing, the man draped his arm around her and said, "I admire the depth of your love. But," he said with another sigh, "There is only one way you can help me."

The redhead shot her head up. "How?"

"By not bothering me tonight," he said softly, though the words were harsh. He leaned forward and kissed her forehead. "I'm sorry. I know you suffer but there is nothing you can do to help me. This case is a lost hope."

Leaving Ginny, he walked to the counter to pay Neville Longbottom, the new Innkeeper with his wife Hannah, for the food but was surprised when the plump man handed him a package.

"It came for you by OWL post, Minister, I mean, Mr. Wiltschild," he said hurriedly. "I was about to send it to your room but seeing as you were here, I kept it by my side. I thought it might be… valuable… for tomorrow."

Wiltschild smiled at the man's thoughtfulness and said, "Thank you, Neville. You did well. And it's Alan."

"Good luck, Alan," Neville said with vigor. "I believe in Harry Potter. I always did. I hope you prove his innocence."

Alan Wiltschild walked up to his room and opened the door when he heard footsteps behind him. Turning, he saw Ginny Weasley come behind him with a determined look in her face, and he knew what she actually needed. She didn't want to be alone that night.

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