Disclaimer: Charmed is the property of Constance Burge, Brad Kern and Spelling Entertainment. The Harry Potter universe and the Tales of Beedle the Bard belong to J.K. Rowling. All other not easily recognizable characters and places are imaginary and belong to me. I do not make any money writing this fanfiction.
Chapter 9: Just Desserts
San Francisco Police Department
James Young's Jail Cell
San Francisco, CA, USA
October 12, 2031
8:00 am
James Young's Point of View
Time no longer means anything to me. Day and night are indistinguishable because it is always dark in my cell. I know time passes because the prison guards deliver my meals to me everyday. When I get buttered toast with orange juice I know that it is breakfast time. For lunch, there are usually turkey and cheese sandwiches and dinner is usually spaghetti with salad and breadsticks. Fruits represent snack time. With the healthy meals they feed me, you would never guess that they intend to execute me. At this point the only people who know of my innocence are Harry Potter, Chris, the Police Captain, the Lawyer and the Judge. My parents and Aunt Claire believe in my innocence.
Harry Potter visits me, sometimes, like he promised. He usually asks me how my studies are and if I like my tutor. He asks me what subjects I like to study and what I would like to be when I grow up. That is, if I ever get a chance to be grown up. I think he is just trying to keep me optimistic or he is just fishing for conversation topics. I like to think it is the former instead of the latter since it proves that he cares for me, but I can never be sure with Harry Potter because he smirks at me whenever I call him Harry Potter as if his name should mean something.
As for my tutor, some people think he is very brave for even entering the prison, much less teaching me. I think that is nonsense. I don't have any weapons with me except for my meals. The only thing I could do is throw a plate of spaghetti at him to show him my displeasure at being subjected to his books.
Actually, my tutor is pretty nice. He is Italian and his name is Domenico. He has olive skin and black hair and black eyes. His ears stick out, though, making him look a bit like a monkey. Also, he has a good sense of humor and he is very patient. We go over and over an exercise until I understand it. I never knew that I actually liked to learn until Domenico came to teach me. I like astronomy. I am going to be an astronaut when I grow up. Harry Potter says that I should teach him some astronomy since it is one of the few subjects he never mastered. I wonder where Harry Potter learned about astronomy. Was it at the university? As far as I know, Domenico teaches me astronomy because he is taking an astronomy class at the university. He says that teaching me about astronomy helps him learn the material better for his classes. I just think it is fun.
If it wasn't for Domenico's tutoring classes and Harry Potter's visits, I think I would have died from boredom a long time ago, assuming it has been a long time and that death by boredom is possible. As I said, time means nothing to me.
So, you can imagine my surprise when I hear the click of a key turning the lock to my cell door and the creak of the metal bars as the prison warden opens the door to my cell and leads me through a maze of corridors to the courtroom for my trial. When the prison warden and I arrive at the courtroom, the bailiff unshackles my hands and tells me to sit next to the Lawyer. I look behind me, seeing if I see a familiar face in the crowd. When I see Harry Potter in the crowd, I nod toward him. I also see my Aunt Claire and my parents. Mom and Aunt Claire have tears in their eyes and Mom is dabbing at her tears with a white handkerchief.
Then, I sit down next to the Lawyer and wait for the Judge to enter the Courtroom. After an interminable amount of time, the Judge finally enters the Courtroom. Everybody stands and sits at the Judge's request and the proceedings begin when the Judge takes her seat.
She is wearing a white wig and the customary black robes of a Judge. Facing her are the Lawyer and me on her right and the Prosecution on her left. The witness stand is next to the Judge. A gold statue of the Blind Lady Justice holding her scales stands in front of the witness stand. It is a reminder of the ideal that everyone is innocent until proven guilty. Too bad that ideal is not reality. In my case, it is guilty until proven innocent. Next to Lady Justice is a flagpole on which the flag of the United States of America with its red and white stripes and 50 white stars that represents its states on a blue background waves. Furthermore, the Jury sits to the far left of the Judge, as though they are separated from the general proceedings. The Jury's position must add to their supposed objectivity. I don't believe any of the Jury members are completely objective, especially since my previous trials were televised.
James Young's Point of View ends.
Courtroom 08
San Francisco, CA, USA
October 12, 2031
9:00 am
"The Prosecution may now present their case," Judge Morley says.
A 6'1" tall, brown-haired, brown-eyed man, who is wearing a finely tailored gray suit and red tie, walks toward the jury and says, "The defendant murdered Miss Calloway on October 12, 2030. It is as simple as that."
Have I really been in my cell for a year? It seems a little longer, James thinks.
Then, the lawyer for the Prosecution sits down.
"Now you may present your case, Defense Counsel," Judge Morley says.
The Lawyer is tall. He is taller than the lawyer for the Prosecution and he uses that height to intimidate shorter mortals into submission. Right now, he is glaring at the lawyer for the Prosecution. If I was the lawyer for the Prosecution I would be running out of the Courtroom for my life, James thinks.
Cole approaches the Jury bench and says with a booming voice, "The Laws of our Land say that everyone is innocent until proven guilty. You may have an opportunity to make that ideal a reality today. The Prosecution's case may have been true last year, but I have found new evidence that my client is innocent. As good jurors, you must weigh the new evidence against the old evidence and reach a conclusion. I hope you make the right choice.
Then, he sits down.
"Prosecution, you may call your witness," Judge Morley says.
"I call Miss Gold to the stand," the lawyer for the Prosecution says.
An old lady with fluffy white hair and blue eyes in a heart-shaped face hobbles on a cane over to the witness stand. She is dressed in a lavender dress and a white cashmere sweater.
After Miss Gold takes the proper oaths to tell the truth, the lawyer for the prosecution asks her, "Miss Gold, did you witness Miss Calloway's murder on October 12, 2030?"
"Yes," Miss Gold replies.
"Can you identify the murderer? Is he in this courtroom?" the lawyer for the Prosecution asks.
"It is him," Miss Gold says as she points towards James Young.
"Thank you, Miss Gold," the lawyer for the Prosecution says and returns to his seat.
"May I return to my seat?" Miss Gold asks the Judge.
"No, you may not return to your seat," Judge Morley says.
Miss Gold sits back down in the witness chair.
"The Defense may now cross-examine the witness," Judge Morley says.
Cole approaches the witness stand and asks, "Miss Gold, "where was Miss Calloway murdered?"
"I saw her look both ways before she tried to cross a busy street when a young man with black hair helped her cross the street. I waited until Miss Calloway reached the department store. I saw the young man and Miss Calloway exchange some words and then without warning, he somersaulted over her head and thrust a knife into her back," Miss Gold replies.
"Thank you, Miss Gold, you may now return to your seat," Cole says.
Witness after witness is called to the stand by either the Prosecution or Defense and cross-examined by the opposing side.
Finally, Cole looks around the courtroom at everyone's tired faces and decides to present the new evidence.
"I call James Young to the stand," Cole says.
After taking the oath to the tell the truth, Cole asks, "Mr. Young, what do you have to say in your defense?"
"I am innocent. I was hiding behind a bush. I saw a young man with black hair murder an old lady. I thought I could get the old lady medical help before she died in a pool of her own blood. So, I called the police. The police assumed I was the murderer and arrested me," James says.
"Your Honor, I would like to present new evidence that proves the defendant's story," Cole says.
"Objection! I was not informed of this new evidence," the lawyer for the Prosecution says.
"Objection Overruled. I wish to see this new piece of evidence," Judge Morley says as she pounds her gavel on the Judge's bench.
The bailiff wheels in Harry's pensieve on a cart.
"The Jury and I will view this evidence first and then, the general public may view it," Judge Morley says.
"Now, how do we view the evidence Defense Counsel?" Judge Morley asks.
"Peer into the stone basin and you will see the events of October 12, 2030," Cole replies.
The Judge and Jury crowd around the pensieve. Then, the general public views the memory in groups of five people.
James Young's Pensieve Memory Begins.
They see Miss Calloway's house.
"Good morning, dear!" Miss Calloway says to her neighbor, Mrs. Michaels, who is watering fuchsia azaleas.
Next, she locks her door, grabs her purse and climbs into her car. Then, Judge Morley, Cole, Captain Morris, James, Chris and Harry watch Miss Calloway drive away. She parks her car in a public parking garage and hobbles across a busy street in downtown San Francisco with the aid of her cane.
"Would you like some help?" a black-haired, midnight blue-eyed young man who is wearing blue jeans and a long-sleeved white shirt asks Miss Calloway.
"Yes, please," Miss Calloway says as she holds on to him for support and tugs on his arm.
When Miss Calloway tugs on his arm, the young man's sleeve rolls up, revealing a picture of a red Phoenix on the inside of his wrist.
The young man supports Miss Calloway until they reach the sidewalk at the entrance of the department store.
"This is where I leave you," the young man says.
"Please accept a reward for your kindness," Miss Calloway says as she places a $10 bill in the young man's hand.
However, the young man doesn't accept the money. Instead, he somersaults over the old lady's head, while pulling an athame out of his socks in mid-somersault and thrusts the athame into her back.
The young man disappears.
"Are you okay, ma'am?" James who has been peeking at the scene from behind a bush asks when he reaches the old lady's body.
However, there is no response. James checks to see if the old lady has a pulse. When he discovers that she has no pulse and is already dead, he calls the police so that a report can be filed. The police arrive and see the old lady's corpse. They assume that James is the murderer and arrest him.
James Young's Pensieve Memory ends.
When everyone has viewed the memory, Judge Morley says, "Prosecution, you may cross-examine the witness."
The lawyer for the Prosecution says, "The Prosecution rests."
"You may now deliver your closing remarks," Judge Morley says.
Cole and the lawyer for the Prosecution repeat their opening statements. Afterwards, Judge Morley sends the Jury into the Jury room for deliberation. When the Jury agrees, the head juror tells the bailiff that they have a verdict and they return to the courtroom.
"Have you decided on a verdict?" Judge Morley asks the Jury.
Juror number one who is dressed in black slacks and a white blouse says, "We have, your honor. On the charge of murder, we find the defendant not guilty."
"Court dismissed," Judge Morley says.
"You are a free man. What will you do first?" Cole asks James.
"Eat lunch at Golden Gate Park," James says with a smile.
Then, Harry Potter comes by and James gives him a hug and asks him, "Why doesn't the memory show the part about the young man calling Miss Calloway a witch?"
"I modified it," Harry explains.
Next, Harry obliviates the memory from James' mind and realizes that if the James knows that Miss Calloway is a witch then Judge Morley also knows. So, Harry makes an excuse and searches for Judge Morley. He finds her in her office.
"May I have my pensieve back, Your Honor?" Harry asks Judge Morley.
"Yes you may," Judge Morley says.
Harry snaps his fingers and the pensieve returns to its rightful place on a shelf next to a copy of Hermione's translation of the Tales of Beedle the Bard in his study at Potter Manor. He also wordlessly obliviates the memory of Vesperto calling Miss Calloway a witch from Judge Morley's mind.
Then, Harry walks out of the courtroom. As he is approaching the doorway, he hears someone shout, "Wait!"
He turns around to find James with his parents and Dr. Mallory.
"Harry Potter, these are my parents," James says as he points to a 6'0" tall brown-haired man and 5'7" tall brown-haired woman who has freckles on her nose.
Harry shakes hands with them.
"This is Aunt Claire," James continues as he points to Dr. Mallory.
"It is nice to see you again, Mal," Harry says.
"You now know my first name," Dr. Mallory says.
"Claire is a very nice name, Mal. I don't know why you don't use it. It's not like Nymphadora," Harry says as he thinks of Tonks who wanted to be known only as Tonks and would hex anyone who called her any form of Nymphadora.
"You already know each other?" James asks.
"Yes," Harry replies.
"Excellent! Take Aunt Claire out to dinner," James says.
"James, I am already happily married. Mal and I are just friends," Harry replies.
"Is the Lawyer married?" James asks.
"He was married once, but not anymore," Harry says as he is reminded of Ginny's suggestion of setting Cole up with a woman other than Phoebe.
"Mal, if you are up to it, I can probably get Cole to meet you at the Charmed Restaurant tonight," Harry says.
"Okay," Dr. Mallory says.
Cole Turner's Law Office
San Francisco, CA, USA
October 12, 2031
5:00 pm
"Congratulations, Mr. Turner! Your victory on the Young case is all over the news." Emily says as she points to the television when Cole enters his office and sits down at his desk.
He is just about to start some work when there is an interruption.
"Sir! You have a visitor. He wouldn't take no for an answer," Cole's secretary says as Harry enters Cole's office.
"Greetings, Mr. Turner! I am here to invite you to the victory party at the Charmed Restaurant," Harry says.
"I am not going," Cole says.
"You are going even if I have to drag you there," Harry says.
"Will you excuse us for a minute, Miss," Harry says to Emily.
"Sure," Emily says as she exits the office and closes the door behind her.
Harry wandlessly transfigures Cole's clothes into a black tuxedo with a white dress shirt and makes sure that a magnolia is hanging out of the pocket of the tuxedo. He also conjures a dozen bluebells and places them in Cole's hands.
Charmed Restaurant
Special Room
San Francisco, CA,USA
October 12, 2031
6:00 pm
Then, Harry apparates Cole and himself to the special room at the Charmed Restaurant. He steers Cole toward the table at which Dr. Mallory is sitting. When she sees Harry approach her table with another man, Dr. Mallory stands up and smiles.
"Good evening. My name is Claire," Dr. Mallory says to Cole as she holds out her hand.
Cole looks at the lit candles on the table that is underneath the oil painting of Melinda Warren and realizes that he is having a romantic candlelight dinner with a woman that is not Phoebe.
Harry watches Cole's expressions and realizes Cole is going to leave. Before Cole can leave, Harry pushes Cole into the chair facing Claire's chair and uses the Incarcerous charm to tie Cole down to the chair except for his hands so that he can eat and give the bluebells to Claire.
Claire sits down in her seat and asks Cole, "What are your hobbies?"
Cole remains silent.
"What is your favorite color?" Claire asks
.Cole remains silent.
"If you won't tell me about you, I'll talk about me," Claire says.
"I am the youngest. I have an older brother and Mrs. Young is my older sister. My favorite color is lavender and my favorite flower is the bluebell. It is nice to know that Harry actually listens to me. He gave you the bluebells, didn't he?" Claire says.
Harry pretends to be affronted.
Jennifer comes by and asks, "What would you like to order?"
"Steak and water to drink," Cole and Claire say at the same time.
"I will be back with your order," Jennifer says and she walks over to another table in the regular dining area of the Charmed Restaurant.
"You look very beautiful in that strapless lavender dress," Cole says to Claire as he hands the bluebells to her.
"Thank you," Claire says.
Harry leaves and Jennifer comes by the table and places a plate of steak and a glass of water in front of Cole and Claire. Cole and Claire enjoy their food. When Claire is done eating, she places the money for the steaks and water and a tip for Jennifer on the table and takes the bluebells with her.
"May I take you to your car?" Cole asks when he realizes that Claire is leaving.
"Okay," Claire says.
Cole puts on his jacket and they walk over to Claire's car.
Then, Cole watches Claire open the door to her car, climb into the driver's seat and drive away and the whole time he is wishing he had the courage to kiss her red pert lips.
