February 23, 1996 :07h15

Location-Hogwarts, 5th Year Gryffindor Boys' Dorm

Neville and Ron were dressing in a subdued silence. They were both getting ready for their friends' trial. Ron had borrowed a pair of Neville's best black dress robes while Neville himself wore a dark navy blue number.

Dean Thomas watched on sadly as the brunette and redhead got ready, while Seamus slept on.

"I really am sorry about Harry and Hermione. I hope the Dumbshitengamot actually sees that they're innocent..."Dean said.

The two boys smiled at him, saying nothing.

They had finally finished after seven more minutes and made their way down to the Common Room.

Ginny and Parvati were already waiting, wearing nude makeup and matching black long sleeved muslin dresses that reached just below their knees. They wore simple black pumps, their hair tied into long braids.

"You ready?"Ginny whispered softly. "Luna, Susan, Ernie and Padz are already waiting for us. We're being escorted to the Ministry with McGonagall."

"Yeah. Let's not keep them waiting..."said Neville.

And off they went.

_

Location-Ministry of Magic, Prisoners' holding cells.

Same time as the others in Hogwarts leave

Two pairs of eyes snapped open. One pair was emerald, the other topaz.

Harry and Hermione sat up stiffly in there cells, their anticipation was thick in the air. Today was the day that they would be sentenced. Yes sentenced, because they had no hope that the so called 'trial' was going to be fair at all whatsoever, not with Cornelius Fudge still in the rule.

"This is it, isn't it Hermione?" Harry said, his raspy voice devoid of any emotion.

"Yeah. I guess, Harry... At this point, I only regret one thing,"replied Hermione.

"What?"

"You know how everyone expects me to get together with Ron and all that shit? I mean, they don't actually SAY it, but I know it's there,"she said.

"Yeah? What about it? Don't tell me you actually like Ron!?"Harry said, cracking a smile as he teased her.

"W-What?! No! No! Ron is a nice boy, but he doesn't have the things I actually want."

"What DO you want?"

"Oh...I don't know...boobs and a vagina?"Hermione said bluntly.

"Great way to come out my dear. I applaud you! In that case, I also don't like what you like. I actually like dudes..."

"Really now?"

"Yuh. It disgusts me every time when Molly Weasley actually pushes me and Ginny together. Ginny got over her crush for me YEARS ago. She likes me as a much more kinder version of her older brothers. I feel the same way."

Hermione cackled. "So you like Ginny as a brother now?"she guffawed.

Harry mulled that sentence over his head, trying to figure out what he said wrong. Then he got it.

"No man! Hermione, don't be dumb!"Harry said as he laughed.

Hermione just carried on laughing. Then, a sudden peculiar thought struck her.

"Hey, Harry?..."

"Yesssss?"he replied with a slight slip into Parseltongue.

"D'ya think that they might put us in the same containment area as Bellatrix Lestrange?"

"Who's that?"

"The woman who turned Neville's parents insane."

"Oh. Maybe."

"There really is no hope for us...We BOTH know that this trial is going to be unfair with McFudgie around,"Hermione said.

Harry laughed yet again. "You made the wanker sound like a food item from McDonalds."

"Guess I did."

Just then, they heard two pairs of feet stomping towards them. Shacklebolt and Tonks.

"Hello Muddy and Potty! Time for you to get shipped off! Stand up!"came the now mousy brunette's greeting.

The two teens said nothing as they stood up stiffly in their tattered robes and bare feet.

Their hands were soon handcuffed in Magic Binding Cuffs and they were led roughly to courtroom ten.

_

The Day Before : six o'clock

Location-Riddle Manor, Little Hangleton

A very young man with dark ebony hair, slanted red eyes and a lithe pale body was sitting comfortably in his study, when Lucius Malfoy Flooed in.

The platinum blond stepped out and greeted Lord Voldemort with a brisk: "Good evening, My Lord."

The Dark Lord nodded, his aristocratic features set in an unimpressed frown.

"Lucius, have Draco and that Zabini boy told the Prophet what I told you to tell them?"Voldemort asked lightly in a melodic baritone.

"Yes, My Lord. The Granger girl and Potter must have read the Prophet by now,"replied Lucius.

"Thank you Lucius. You are excused to leave."

"Yes, My Lord." The blond had left as quickly as he had come.

As Lord Voldemort was left alone, he held his snake familiar, Nagini lazily in his arms.

His mind wandered back to the prophecy Lucius had smuggled out of the DoM for him. When he had finally heard the whole thing, he was furious.

He needn't have hunted the Potters. It was all for nothing except for Dumbledore's sick game of chess.

Neither can live while the other survives...

What a bunch of dragon shit! That line could mean anything. Like instead of just being alive and only worrying about staying alive, both he and Harry could actually live, like everyone else.

By actually ordering the Malfoy and Zabini Scions to give a positive statement in the paper, that could actually encourage Harry and the Granger girl to come over to the Dark side.

Azkaban would give their psyche the right amount of dark twisting.

And Potter's eyes...the way they stared at him back in the graveyard... he only regained his his nineteen year old body for him and only him.

Lord Voldemort does not do things like that for any other person.

"Yessss...Ssssoon Haaarry Potterrr. You will be miiine and I yours and only yours."

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