It was an hour before the trial would occur, and Flora still was coming to terms with the fact her mother would probably end up in Azkaban.
Flora was ready and waiting outside Professor Snape's office. She had on her long, double breasted, black wool coat and the three-quarter sleeve, fitted, royal blue dress which hit below the knee that her father gave to her for her birthday. Her hair was done in a sleek french roll, she wore a pair of small, black heels, and she had seamed stockings on underneath her dress. She held a black clutch filled with what she needed, her manicured nails absentmindedly tapping the dragon hide.
All she was waiting for was Professor Snape to find her and they would be off to the Ministry.
When Severus arrived, Flora was surprised to say the least. He looked different. Very different.
He had washed his hair, and even stranger, tied it back out of his face. He still wore black robes, but these had a different quality to them, made more luxuriously than the ones he wore on a day to day basis.
"I am sure you are well aware of the floo network, Miss Winterstead." Professor Snape said.
"Of course." Flora said, feeling a pang in her chest when being referred to as 'Miss Winterstead.'
Professor Snape lead her into his office, where the fireplace was perfectly empty, on the side hung a basket filled with floo powder. She and her Professor grabbed a handful of floo powder, stood in the fireplace, and with a deep breath, the two of them before dropping the powder said.
"Ministry of Magic."
The next thing they knew, they were in the Atrium of the Ministry. It wasn't an unfamiliar place to Flora, not in the slightest. There was the usual hurry and traffic, but what was still relatively new for Flora was the large banner of Minister Fudge hung above everyone, like a grim reminder that a fool like him had power over everyone else.
Flora and Severus, for now, were able to walk peacefully to the courtroom the trial was held. They knew well reporters would be waiting outside after the verdict was made. They were early, and they took their seats as designated to them by a secretary. Flora sat up front, since she was to be questioned, but her professor sat in the very back.
Flora's father then entered the room with Minister Fudge and Senior Undersecretary Umbridge. Flora's heart dropped twice. Once when she saw her old toad of a professor, but when Lucius Malfoy was also to be involved in the trial.
Lucius was a very predatory man when it came to women. Flora was lucky to not see the severity of how far he would go to succeed in one of his conquests, but Lucius had on a few occasions hinted her to start a relationship with his son while sleeping with him during last summer's Ministry event.
He wanted both pieces of the pie. He wanted Flora to marry his son while he used her for his own gain. Lucius, while undeniably handsome, was married, and Flora dared not venture in that scandalous territory. Flora, when it came to Lucius' son, had no opinion of Draco besides seeing him as a sightly arrogant teenage boy from an old bloodline. He was nice enough to her, considering she was in Slytherin and both of their fathers worked together from time to time.
What really terrified Flora was when her father took his place among the jury, but Lucius Malfoy was directed to sit next to her.
"Good day, Mr. Malfoy." Flora said, hiding her emotions, as per usual.
"Good day. I see you are doing quite well for yourself." Lucius observed. Flora had to conjure all of her willpower not to start laughing.
"Yes, I am. Classes are going well." Flora said, hardly able to bear the awkward tension between her and Lucius. "Did you witness my mother's crimes?"
"Yes, it was very much like your mother to do something like that. I can't see why your father married such a wild creature." Lucius said with an unnerving chuckle.
"I have no idea why I'm making a testimony, but here I am." Flora said, adding a fake laugh.
"The Ministry must assume that you are working with your mother." Lucius said.
"Oh, yes, student taking all N.E.W.T. classes and getting an E or above in all of them definitely has the time to be part of an illegal organization with her mother. I see the logic." Flora said sarcastically, Lucius laughed.
"Speaking of school, how is Draco? He hasn't replied to my letter at the beginning of the school year and poor Narcissa worries over him." Lucius asked.
"Draco is now part of the inquisitorial squad. He really enjoys his position." Flora said, not trying to show her discomfort of Lucius.
"It makes me happy to see him in extra circular activities that will do well on an industry résumé." Lucius said.
"Mr. Malfoy, I have a certain feeling that with a bloodline like Draco's, he hardly needs a résumé to get anywhere." Flora said, giving Lucius a little smirk to show that she didn't mean that as an insult. In fact, Lucius seemed to take it as a compliment.
"You're a smart girl." Lucius said. "Certainly taking after your father's bloodline."
"Professor McGonagall agrees, but she doesn't mean it as a compliment." Flora said.
"Do away with the old hag, the opinions of anyone who is close to Albus Dumbledore is no matter to you." Lucius replied.
Lucius was trying to flatter her. What he didn't know was that it was actually working unlike last summer. Flora was getting uncomfortably aroused. She couldn't deny she wanted Lucius, but she knew she couldn't have him if she wanted to keep her image clean.
And she knew Severus was watching closely.
Flora's mind let her know that she was a whore in the making.
Any thoughts of her being a whore eventually washed away when her mother was finally brought into the courtroom.
