A/N: Okay I'm back... Again. I was reading the past chapters including the new one, which I didn't even get to read completely until it was done. Yes, I realize that Melanda is in a lot more detail, but Jannessa is still a developing plot character and considering I'm a detail writer I like to take my character in a little bit more. I don't know how my partner wants her character to be completely so that makes it even more complicated when we go to write.

CapriceAnn Hedican-Kocur We haven't figured out what to do with the Charmed ones, but they do have their uses (i.e. Book of Shadows) and Jannessa has her reasons to hate them. Melanda doesn't hate them, she is actually neutral when it comes to them. If we just brought the kids in the story wouldn't be as fun to write. We thank you for your review!

Quote: "Every dark cloud has a silver lining."

Ch. 8 Confrontation and Trial

Phoebe Halliwell stood over the Book of Shadows looking at the pictures of Cole she had put in there so many years before. He wan't supposed to have been alive, but he was and he had gotten over her. Cole had gotten over a long time after their divorce.

Behind her the door to where she, Wyatt and her sisters had hidden the book had opened and Jannessa and Harry came in laughing. Right away Jannessa stopped in her tracks and looked at Phoebe.

"What are you doing in here?" She snapped at her. "Don't you know this is the third floor corridor?"

"I don't see why you're here then," Phoebe said calmly, "I should take points."

Harry looked from Professor Phoebe Halliwell, whom he had seen very seldom, to his girlfriend and understood something; Phoebe was one of the Charmed Ones, only one of Jannessa's enemies.

"Go right ahead," Jannessa said icily, "my father will just give them back to us anyhow."

Phoebe simply stared at Coles daughter. This girl should have happened for Phoebe and Cole more than seventeen years before when she became pregnant the first time, but she had long since lost that baby and never lost the memory.

"Why do you hate me so much?" Phoebe asked. "What did I do that was so wrong?"

"You vanquished him, you threw the potion that killed him," Jannessa said glaring, "my mother was pregnant and you killed my father. I don't even think you felt any remorse for it did you?"

The middle Charmed sister felt near tears with the rage she was feeling from this girl. Jannessa had every right to hate her. At that moment Phoebe felt like she had to make amends to Cole for what she had done to him. A part of her still loved him and it hurt her to feel what wasn't there when she was near her ex-husband, his world revolved around his daughter.

"I'm sorry," Phoebe muttered, "if I had known, I would have never done what I did."

"Words," Jannessa spat at her, "they are just words to me. You don't even know half of why I hate you."

That did it, Phoebe felt a tear slip down her face. She had to prove to Jannessa that she was sorry. Not even Draco Malfoy hated her so much and he was very attached to his uncle and his cousin.

"Excuse me," Phoebe said pushing past Harry and Jannessa. Draco had walked in a Phoebe nearly knocked him down going past him. She muttered a sorry and continued to walk.

"What was that about?" He asked.

"I gave her a piece of my mind," Jannessa said calmly. Draco's eyes grew.

"You know that she is empathic, right?

"She's what?" Harry asked.

"Empathic, Potter," Draco said, "the power to feel others emotions. Mel has the same power, but she blocks most energies."

"I hope Phoebe felt how much I hate her then," Jannessa muttered continuing down the hall.

Draco and Harry simply stood there both feeling almost sorry for Phoebe. Almost sorry, Harry could take Jannessa's side over Phoebe's considering his situation.

"I exchanged a few words with my uncle and heard the news," Draco said, "I'm only going to say this once Potter so listen good; do so much as bruise Jannessa on accident and I swear to God I will castrate you."

"Then the same goes for you and my cousin," Harry said grinning and patting Draco's shoulder, "other than Muggles, she is my only family left."

Somehow or another that was going to have to serve as their truce or they were going to slaughter one another. They could still despise one another, but their girlfriends would keep the blood from flying.

The two continued on into the room where Sirius had been living since August. Jannessa had already told him the good news and Sirius was more that excited, he was ecstatic over the whole situation.

"I'm going to be a free man in less than three weeks," he sing-songed.

"What?" Draco questioned slightly surprised. "When did this happen?"

"Adena brought a trial date from wherever in America," Jannessa said, "two ministry members from here in Britain are due to be present, one from Ireland, and many more from America including Melanda's father."

"Speaking of which, where is she?" Sirius asked.

"Not here," Draco said slightly irritated, "Jesse orbed in, Chris shimmered in and the said they found something that would be in your best interests and all three of them disappeared."

Harry leaned against the wall. He was happy with the idea of Sirius' trial, but he wanted to know where Melanda had disappeared.

"When?" Sirius asked.

"Halloween," Jannessa replied, "there's only one thing to work out before than and that is proof Pettigrew is alive."

Halloween

Three weeks had passed and nobody had heard a single word from Melanda, Jesse or the mystery character, Chris. What made the whole situation worse was the fact the trial dated for Sirius had arrived and Melanda's presence at the hearing was imperative.

"You think she bailed?" Ron asked. "Three weeks is a little long for anyone to disappear without a word."

Jannessa shook her head, "I know her well enough to know she wouldn't run on this," she said, "now sit down you're making me nervous."

Wyatt studied a chess piece listening very intently to their conversation. He wanted to help them and nearly suggested writing a summoning spell for them, but he figured Melanda would come in her own time.

"The trial starts in two hours," Harry muttered as the portrait opened. He was trying to be an optimist on the situation, but even his patience was wearing very thin.

"What trial?" came Melanda's unmistakable voice from where the portrait entrance was. "What are you guys talking about?"

"Sparky got a trial date," Jannessa said, "it starts in two hours."

Harry turned his head to see that Melanda was holding two things: a big yellow envelope and a small tape recorder.

"Where is it?" Melanda questioned.

"London," Jannessa muttered, "with many of our favorite people."

Sighing Melanda set the items she was holding on the table to get changed.

"I think what I find may be of great interest to all of us," Melanda said before closing the door to the Slytherin dorm.

Half an Hour Later

Jannessa and Melanda made their way downstairs into the dungeon. They had both dressed in official uniforms, which was a black shirt and black pants or a black skirt and black robes (A). Melanda knocked on the door to Snapes office.

"Enter!" Came Snapes cold voice. Melanda pushed open the door.

"Hello Severus," Melanda said, "we're pulling a couple of students from class today not including us?"

"Potter and-?"

"Malfoy," Jannessa said.

"What are you pulling them for?" Snape asked curiously.

"Sirius Blacks trial," Melanda said, "we need people on our side. Wanna come?"

"Hated Black in school," Snape told her, "why would I defend him now?"(B)

"Alright we have gotta go then," Melanda muttered glancing at her watch. "See you when we get back."

Jannessa was already out the door when Snape called Melanda back.

"You may want to give these to the Minister," Jannessa heard Snape mutter, "you didn't get them from me."

Melanda walked back out into the hall looking into the manila folder. Curious as to what Snape had given her, Jannessa looked over as they walked.

"He's helping us anyway," Melanda said smiling, "I guess Jesse took these pictures when nobody was looking.

Ministry of Magic

Harry fidgeted with his robes slightly nervous. What Jannessa and Melanda had been working on for so long could keep Sirius in hiding for the remainder of his life or set him free to live the way he wanted. Two heads were obviously better than on especially when it was those two. Hermione had been right about them being like the Weasley twins.

Draco seemed not to be nearly as nervous as Harry, but he was pretty snappy. He had snapped at his fiancée twice already still wanting to know where she had been the previous three weeks.

"Why did you come?" Harry questioned.

"To support Ness," he replied solemnly. "She worked hard to gather evidence to clear Sirius while Mel was out doing her thing, she compiled it into the case."

Looking away from his girlfriends cousin Harry spotted Melanda and Jannessa talking to an older wizard who was just as large as Uncle Vernon, taller than him in height. He looked slightly formidable by his size, but his demeanor showed something so much different.

"Holy hell," Draco muttered in surprise. "Potter look at the jury they chose."

Harry looked around to see the three Halliwell sisters filing into a room with seven other wiches and wizards. About then Jannessa came over.

"It's time," she said.

Harry and Draco both entered a room full of several witches and wizards. Jannessa led them to two chairs lined up along a wall. They both took a seat and looked around curiously as each witch and wizard took their place. Two more people joined them including Lupin and the wizard Jannessa and Melanda had been talking to.

"Mr. Malfoy," the wizard said kindly.

"Mr. Litrell," Draco answered not making eye contact. The jury filed in and the Charmed Ones all sat together. Fudge took place at the front middle seat and folded his hands.

"Murder and Death Eater trial of the thirty-first of October," Fudge began icily, Harry spotted Percy Weasley taking notes, "the defendant is unavailable, but is known as Sirius Leonardo Black and the charges against him are thirteen counts of murder; twelve muggles, nine of them being American civilians, three of them British civilians and one wizard by name Peter Artimis Pettigrew."

"Interrogators for the Defense; Jannessa Renee Storm and Orchid Melanda Litrell members of the International League of Young Aurors. Interrogator for the Prosecution: Cornelius Oswald Fudge, British Minister of Magic."

The wizard Draco had called Mr. Litrell snorted in disgust.

"Judge Amelia Susan Bones, Head of Magical Law Enforcement. Court scribe, Percy Ignatius Weasley. Witnesses for the Defense: Harry James Potter and Draco Lucius Malfoy, students of Hogwarts School of Withcraft and Wizardry, James Peter Litrell, Member of the International League of Aurors and Headmaster of the American Institute for Aurors, and Remus James Lupin."

Fudge sounded slightly winded and irritated. Jannessa had pulled together more than Fudge ever could.

"You may begin," Amelia bones said. Jannessa stood opening a folder in front of her.

"Defense calls James Litrell to the stand," she said. The wizard that had been seated next to Draco stood and walked to the stand in front of the line of Interrogators, scribe, and Judge. "Mr. Litrell when did you earn your Aurors certification?"

"November second nineteen- eighty," he answered.

"It says here on your file that you arrested Mr. Black in July of eight- seven, what was that charge?"

"Drunk and disorderly."

"And a week before Voldemort's downfall," several shudders were seen around the room, "you met Mr. Black on the streets, now tell me what his behavior indicated."

"Nothing unusual," he paused to think, "he had brought his godson with him on his visit. I invited him to come over so my daughter could have a playmate."

"Did you bring him into your home?"

"I did."

"Sources have said that you are quite the expert with people, do you believe that he could have given Voldemort the information on where the Potters were hiding?"

"No, because I had asked and he told me he didn't know where they were and that he had met up with Lupin to see Harry."

"Fudge your witness," Jannessa sat down. Fudge rose looking grim.

"How long had you known Black?" he questioned.

"By the time the Potters were murdered, about nine years."

"You kept contact with him during the time?"

"Yes."

"It says here in your records pulled from October fourth that you believed he was innocent of the allegations that he was selling information to He- Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, is that correct?"

"Yes."

"Why would you say that? I mean he murdered thirteen in plain day."

"Objection!" Melanda said loudly. "There is no actual evidence that Sirius Black committed those crimes."

"Miss Litrell is right Fudge," Judge Bones said.

"No further questions," Fudge glared at Melanda who was standing.

"Defense calls Draco Malfoy to the stand," she said. Draco stood and took James Litrells place in front of the Judge and interrogators.

"Mr. Malfoy it has come to my attention that your father was arrested this past June and again in September, what were his charges?"

"Death Eater activities," Melanda began to walk away from the rest of the people and to the jury holding up a photo.

"This ladies and gentlemen is a photograph taken one year before Pettigrews alleged murder," she said handing the picture to Piper who looked at it briefly before handing it to Paige who handed it to Pheobe.

Pheobe As soon as Phoebe touched the photo of Pettigrew she jerked.

Premonition Two young men stood in a crowd of many other people. The short pudgy man had his want out and was yelling at the second person. Then the whole are exploded and the people in the crowd dropped leaving one man standing. End Premonition

"What did you see?" Paige whispered.

"Pettigrew, he was yelling at another wizard and then everything blew up," Pheobe whispered as she passed the picture to a wizard next to her.

Melanda who was still standing in front of them nodded before collection the picture and moving back to Draco.

"Mr. Malfoy, were there Death Eaters coming in and out of the house you lived in?"

"After my fourth year ended they passed through often."

"A statement you wrote for us says that you had seen Pettigrew come in your house to have tea, that is what you wrote correct?" Melanda walked to where Jannessa sat and indicated that she wanted a folder.

"Yes." Melanda nodded and removed two pictures from the folder.

"Who are the people in this picture?" she handed him one of the photos before giving one to the jury.

"Constance Harris, Bellatrix Lestrange and Peter Pettigrew."

Harry stared at the jury slightly perplexed. He was almost certain that Phoebe had just made the same jerking movement like when she touched the first picture.

"These pictures have been recently taken and are by all means unaltered," Melanda assured. "Your witness Fudge." She collected the photo's and took her chair.

"No questions," Fudge appeared livid as Draco stepped away to return to his seat.

"Talk about thorough," Piper whispered to Paige. "Wyatt could use a girl like Jannessa or Melanda."

After several minutes of a slight silence Jannessa stood and looked at the jury, Phoebe caught her eye for a second and felt the emotion of need. At once she understood Jannessa needed to make the next witness count. Melanda seemed to give off the same vibe.

"Defense calls Remus Lupin to the stand," Jannessa said looking away.

A fairly young man came to the front.

"How did you know Sirius Black?" she began.

"Childhood friend," Lupin answered.

"Was the situation the same for Peter Pettigrew?"

"Yes."

"Out of the both of them who would be most likely to sell out the information to Voldemort?"

"Pettigrew."

"Why?"

"He had jealousy issues."

"How did he demonstrate his issues?"

"He excluded himself from anything close to having any type of excitement, he was nervous all the time, especially nervous when we arrested a suspected Death Eater."

"Did you see Sirius before the Potter murders?"

"Twice."

"What were these dates?"

"October eighth and the thirty-first."

"Anything stand out in his demeanor?"

"No, he seemed happy and completely normal."

"Fudge your witness," Jannessa took a seat and whispered something to Melanda.

"Mr. Lupin you are a werewolf are you not?"

"Objection," Jannessa snapped, "the witnesses personal life has nothing to do with the trial."

"You're wearing my patience thin already Fudge," Judge Bones growled.

"Very well, was Pettigrew acting strange before the murders?"

"Yes."

"No further questions." Fudge sat down. Jannessa had set him up and Fudge walked into her trap blindfolded.

"Defense calls Auror Alaister Moody to the stand," Melanda said slyly entering a non-listed witness.

There was a familiar step, clunk, step, clunk approaching the stand as Harry saw Moody emerge from the shadows, electric blue eye spinning madly. Lupin had rejoined Harry, Draco and James Litrell nearly smiling.

"Fudge can barely get in a question," he mumbled to James, "it's like they set traps up beforehand."

"They've spent seven months preparing this case," James muttered, "I'm proud of them both. Two of the youngest Aurors in the business to earn full certification before seventeen."

Harry raised his eyebrows and returned his attention to the court. Melanda was standing and flipping through yellowing parchement. Finally finding a piece she was searching for she walked down to face old Mad-Eye.

"You were on of the arresting Aurors when Black was taken into Auror custody were you not?" Melanda questioned.

"I was," he growled gruffly.

"Do you recognize this?" she held up the parchment. Mad-Eye's swiveling blue eye rested on Fudge while his normal one looked at the paper.

"This is a report I made after Black was arrested." Melanda nodded and looked at the parchment and pointed at a passage.

"Will you read this for me please?" She tapped the middle of the page.

"'Black acted as if he had gone insane. Even as soon as he realized he was under arrest he continued to laugh.'" He finished and returned the parchment to Melanda's hand.

"Thank you very much," she said taking the parchment, "you have made more arrests in your given history than James Potter and Lily Evans and myself and Jannessa Storm combined. Now you mean to say that he acted insanely as this is put and he was tossed into Azkaban without an evaluation, trial, hearing, anything?"

"That is correct." Melanda nodded.

"As I recall looking over your laws, your suspect has the right to a trial within the first three months of imprisonment, Sirius Black was not only imprisoned for twelve years he was imprisoned without a trial. Now I know that if I made and arrest on him given the same circumstances he would be getting a psychological evaluation as well as a trial because given his behavior he was obviously crazy. Now is it true that after a year or so most people lose their mind almost completely?" (C )

"Usually."

"Anyone you know survive more than five years under the Dementors?"

"Ten known Death Eaters and Sirius Black survived more than ten years?"

"Are they dead now?"

"Not that anyone is aware of."

"Fudge," Melanda stepped away and returned to her seat.

"Are you retired Mr. Moody?" Fudge questioned slyly.

"Objection!" Jannessa announced obviously irritated. "Relevance?"

"Sustained, Fudge," Judge Bones said warningly, "last call, quit barging into the lives of the witnesses."

"You've arrested nearly two-hundred witches and wizards, any of them laughing?"

"Nope, the fight mostly."

"Fight?"

"Yes, they don't like to come quietly sometimes." Moody's voice dipped profusely with sarcasm that Fudge dismissed.

"Did Black say anything or resist arrest?"

"Nope, he just laughed."

"Now given a nice set of judgement, would you say that a person who survives Azkaban for that time has something to live for?"

"Yes, for anybody that something is usually revenge." Fudge smiled icily.

"No further questions."

Piper leaned across Paige, "he's trying to pull something to slaughter the case."

"He's not going to be able to do that very well," Phoebe muttered, "they're holding back." Just as Phoebe had said this Jannessa had stood.

"Defense calls Harry Potter to the stand," she said picking up a tape recorder Melanda had set on the table.

Harry stood and walked to the stand ready for anything about to be thrown at him. Though ready he was slightly nervous because he knew that Fudge could use anything against him because of the deep loathing he held.

"I'm going to play a series of recordings," she said, "I'm going to need you to identify the voice of Peter Pettigrew."

Setting the recorder down Jannessa pressed play. The same confession played for fifteen minutes. Finally a voice that sounded so sinister it sent a chill up Pheobe's spine played.

"I killed them, but naturally of course I couldn't stick around so I sliced off my finger and blew the area away. Sirius had no idea what had hit him. He stood there in a crater with twelve muggles lying there dead while I watched hidden in a bush. I knew that he would be blamed for fifteen different deaths that I had helped to cause."

"That's him," Harry said confidently.

"Thank you, Fudge," Jannessa said turning.

"No questions," he said. Harry almost let out a sigh of relief. Fudge knew that he had just lost and he may as well not even fight it. Harry returned to his chair.

"Nice job Potter," Mr. Litrell muttered to him once he was seated before he leaned over to Lupin. "To imagine they weren't going to use him.

"Very well," Judge Bones said, "Interrogation, you have five minutes to prepare your final."

Five minutes passed like five days and finally Fudge stood up to go down to speak to the jury. His face looked strained as if saying he knew he was screwed.

"Sirius Black was arrested fifteen years ago for a crime he had obviously committed. As you heard Moody say he was laughing during his arrest, which is rather strange coming from a man who Miss Storm and Miss Litrell are considering innocent. Find him guilty and let's get this scum back into Azkaban."

He returned to his seat and it was both Melanda and Jannessa to stand in front of the jury.

"Sirius Black was held by the Ministry for twelve years before his grand escape with no trial. It's a wonder he didn't find a way to escape before those twelve years had even passed," Melanda said.

"You have held the photographic evidence in your own hand and heard the identified confession given by Peter Pettigrew. Now if Sirius Black was able to speak for himself today he would probably go so far as to say that he knew Pettigrew was indeed alive and breathing. We ask you to find this man innocent as he deserves," Jannessa said. The two returned to their seats.

"Very well then," Judge Bones turned her attention to the jury, "you have twenty minutes to make your decisions, guard. Court is dismissed and is to return in twenty minutes."

Room of Jurors

Phoebe sat looking at the photo of Pettigrew while two wizards squabbled over the tape that had been played. Finally tired of having anger running wild course through the room Phoebe stood up.

"Shut up both of you!" she barked. "Now this man deserves a verdicts so we're voting now."

"Fine!" one of the men said grabbing a scrap of parchment that had been provided to them.

There was a rustle of parchment and scratching of quills that were telling the Charmed sisters that the verdict would be in before the twenty minutes was up. Within five minutes ten scraps of parchment had been passed to Phoebe who opened each scrap individually and read aloud the verdicts of the individuals.

"Innocent, innocent, innocent, innocent, innocent, innocent, innocent, innocent, innocent, and innocent," she said smiling, "I guess that's it then. Somebody want to go inform the guard we have made our decision?"

Paige nodded and strode over to the door.

"I say the Ministry was coverin' somethin' up, why else wouldn't they give 'em a trial?" an older witch said to Phoebe. "Black wouldn't hurt a fly unless he was forced to."

"I agree with her," Piper said just as Paige returned.

"Are we ready?" She asked.

The ten jurors stood and walked to the door leading to the courtroom. Piper opened the door signaling they were ready to be escorted. In ten minutes the entire court was reseated and ready to hear the verdict.

Phoebe handed the guard a piece of parchment that was to be given to the judge. Amelia Bones opened it, read, and had the parchment returned to Phoebe.

"Could the interrogators please rise," she said. Fudge, Jannessa, and Melanda stood. "How does the jury find Sirius Black on thirteen counts of murder and Death Eater activities."

"Innocent," Phoebe answered confidently. Jannessa and Melanda both laughed out of relief.

"Very well," Judge Bones smiled, "the charges set upon Sirius Black will be lifted immediately. Court is dismissed."

Back at Hogwarts

Harry led the way to the third floor corridor happy as anyone could think about. Upon reaching the door he turned to Lupin, Jannessa and Draco who were coming to celebrate as well as the three Charmed sisters who were planning on meeting Sirius for the first time. Melanda was forced to remain at the Ministry where she was to be escorted back to America for reasons unknown to them. They were assured that she would return the next day.

"Let's play a prank on him," Harry suggested. "Tell him he was found guilty."

"That's cruel," Paige protested. "He's been hiding for years now. If you told him he was found guilty I'd be afraid of what he would do."

"We could all use a laugh or two," Jannessa said, "but I have to agree with Paige on that note."

Harry shrugged, "just a suggestion." He pointed his wand at the door and said 'Alohomora.'

Each of them entered in silence, but Draco stopped Harry once he was in.

"Potter were you sorted wrong?" he said sarcastically before continuing down the corridor and into Sirius' room.

Sirius looked up at them a grim expression on his face.

"Am I guilty?" he asked.

"No," Piper said, "you're innocent of everything."

Sirius' face lightend and he smiled in the direction of Lupin. They could finally be together again.

"You must be the Charmed Ones," Lupin said. "I'm Remus Lupin."

The introductions were kept short and finally eight people filed out of the third floor corridor to go to dinner.

The end I hope I made readers slightly happier with less of Melanda. Notice that she was only there for the trial before she had to leave again. There will actually be a lot less of her from this point on. She'll really only be back for her wedding and from then on will stay where she belongs for work. There will also be another reason for her not sticking around, but that is a surprise.

Lot's of black... note the trend. I had to make him sound like an asshole there. This whole thing is basis of American law, but I did change a few things to make it fit as if someone from the wizarding government had written it.

Fallen Angel of Hell