Thanksgiving Break is here for me and I finally have a life again! With studying for my PhD, being a TA, and being involved in two musicals with the student clubs at UConn, writing has been very very slow going! But I have a few chapters, so I'll upload those over this break as I also try to get as far ahead as I can.
This is one of the "Lily Reminisces" between-chapter snippets, and it's based on the little rhyme she sang in her head last chapter. I'll upload the next chapter tomorrow.
Lily Reminisces
The Seven Steps of the Jail
Friday, September 3, 2026
~O~
"Overall, I wasn't too terribly disappointed with the results of the first quiz," Professor Aplin called from the front of the room. "But of course… there were a few exceptions." He cleared his throat and shuffled the stack of papers he was holding, glancing at the name on the first one. "Mr. Elroy?"
Sitting next to Lily was a thin, nervous-looking young man who looked up sharply. He didn't look too eager to find out why he was wanted, given that his name had been announced directly after an expression of disappointment.
"Um. Yes?" Elroy chirped softly.
"Elroy," Professor Aplin said, "do you remember the limerick we all repeated together regarding the seven steps of the jail?"
Elroy heated up. "Um. Maybe not—completely."
"I put it in a limerick to help you all memorize it completely," Professor Aplin sighed. "On the question about the Seven Sacred Steps to every arrest in AMCAT, this is what you wrote. 'Arrest, detainment, release on bail if possible, inspecting the evidence, determining legal representation for the accused, preparing the case, and appearing in court.' Does anyone know why this is incorrect?"
"Who cares," Elroy mumbled to himself.
"Did you ask who cares?" Professor Aplin queried. "Good question. Let's find that out."
Elroy had been blushing, but now he paled. "What?"
Professor Aplin turned his head and gestured to his right ear. He might have been born without a right ear, or else something had happened to it during his life, as it seemed to be made of solid silver. It wiggled and moved like a normal one, but apparently it was the ear equivalent of a magical eye. He had heard Elroy's near-silent mutter, even though he was standing in front of a giant lecture hall and Elroy was in the middle.
"Nothing that happens in the classroom gets past this," he said, tapping his ear.
The lecture hall went silent. The boy and girl in front of Lily, who had been groping each other the entire lesson, looked at each other nervously.
"So, Elroy," Professor Aplin said, rubbing his hands together. "Let's learn why everyone in this classroom should care about the exact order of the Seven Sacred Steps." He turned to his teaching assistant. "Bellica—if you wouldn't mind assisting me in the demonstration? Everyone, this is Bellica Wallace, part-time teaching assistant and part-time intern in the British Ministry of Magic in the Magical Law Consultation Office."
"Of course I wouldn't mind," Bellica said, putting down her clipboard.
"Bellica—you've been arrested on account of murdering Professor Aplin in the middle of Jessie's Diner."
"That's unfortunate," Bellica said.
"Please find some legal representation. In the meantime, we've inspected all of the evidence, and all of it points to you."
"I'd like to have my own forensics team allowed to inspect as well," Bellica said, frowning.
"Why? The evidence has been inspected and the crime scene was already taken down. We couldn't shut down the restaurant forever. It was killing the owners' livelihoods to keep it all closed off."
Bellica tried to hold back a smile, seeing where her professor was headed. "It doesn't matter. The owners could be refunded for their losses by the AMCAT Triple-P, the Proper Procedure Program. But Britain, where I live, and America, where I'm being accused of the crime, are both a part of AMCAT. Proper Procedure means a forensics team funded by the defense should have the opportunity to inspect the evidence as well."
"Why?" Professor Aplin pressed. "It's the same evidence. It says the same thing. Wait," he added before Bellica continued. "Does anyone else want to continue? Act as Bellica's legal representation. What is the problem here?"
Lily raised a hand high. She wasn't the only one, but she was the one looking the most confident about it. Professor Aplin noticed, and he gestured to her. Next to her, Elroy shrank back in his seat.
"The process has safeguards to protect citizens in case there's any conflict of interest on the part of the government," Lily explained, confidently but not arrogantly. "The preliminary forensics team examining the evidence is funded by the government. That's the same entity doing the prosecution—they have a vested interest in finding evidence to convict the accused. One would expect them to be viewing the evidence through that lens, as they are perceived as more capable at their job if they assist more convictions. Evidence can be subjective at times. A blood stain that looks to one team like it was from a knife wound could look to another team like it was from a curse. Similar charms can look too similar to tell a difference during Priori Incantatem. If a forensics team is looking for a conviction, it can affect which interpretation of the evidence they see. To balance the scales, the defense should have the ability to hire a team to examine the evidence for themselves. Both teams can present findings at the trial; that eliminates the possibility that the jury could hear a very one-sided opinion on what the evidence shows."
"Best answer to that question that I've ever heard," Professor Aplin said with a discernible tone of appreciation. "Everybody understand that? I hope so, because I don't know if I could phrase it any better. That's why the finalization of the evidence collection comes after the legal counsel is determined. Elroy, does evidence, counseling rhyme with seeking the precedents? No—it's counseling, evidence, seeking the precedents. Otherwise, the defendant's right to a fair trial has been violated, and unless there is a 'compelling overabundance of evidence to support a conviction,' the defendant is immediately cleared of all charges and released. That's why this matters, that's why I made a clever little rhyme for it, and that's why you should care. Any other questions?"
Elroy jerked his head back and forth.
"Good," Professor Aplin said. "Then we will proceed."
At the end of the class, Lily was stopped by Professor Aplin's teaching assistant before she left.
"It's only been the first week of class," Bellica said, "and I can already tell you're a standout."
Lily smiled. "I appreciate that." She stuck out her hand. "Lily Potter."
"Bellica Wallace," Bellica said. "Hey, you're the only Brit in this class apart from myself, so I feel we should keep each other in mind. If you ace this class as I expect you will, you'll have no problems in this program. Aplin is one of the hardest noses you'll come up against in the staff, but that's his job—to weed out the unworthy early."
Lily chuckled. "How long are you around—how long do you have left in the law program?"
"This is my last semester," Bellica said. "Soon I'll be taking up at the Ministry full time. Hey, if you're ever looking for a job there, keep in touch, and I may be able to help you out if I'm still there!"
Lily laughed. "I appreciate the offer a lot," she said. "To be honest, I don't see myself ever working in the Ministry. But I'll keep it in mind!"