Bills Bill

Chapter 10: Leaky Pipes and Back to Grimmauld Place

All Harry Potter stuff belongs to JK Rowling, author of the infamous fanfiction known as the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. (Don't think it reads as fanfiction? Fight me!) -Chefke

Court Reporters Closet... I mean Office, Monday 4:00 PM

"I don't understand," Hermione muttered repeatedly to herself. They were all shuffled into a side room that was usually reserved for the Court Reporters, it was more of a closet really. Since Kingsley was having a confidential meeting with Travers they had to find somewhere to relocate themselves. They were standing huddled outside the doors of the courtroom when the tiny court reporter hobbled over. As it turned out Mrs. Karyn Umbridge was the only Court Reporter working that day and she volunteered to relocate herself for the duration of the break so they could have a room to themselves.

Hermione ran her fingers through her hair in frustration. "I don't understand how Travers knew things that only we knew!"

"Hermione don't blame yourself. He's playing dirty. He's probably the person who's leaking the case's information to the Daily Prophet. Those reporters are sneaky slithering bastards." George shrugged. Hermione jerked up out of her teetering chair. Her mouth was open in a wide O.

"I'm such an idiot ." Before any of the befuddled occupants of the room could ask what she was talking about she took off, the door slamming behind her.

"Well, that was odd." As soon as the words left George's mouth Pam walked in through the door Hermione had scurried out of. She looked shocked and given Hermione's rather dramatic exit they weren't surprised.

"The Minister is requesting your presence in his personal office." she smiled nervously at them. They turned and followed her to the Minister's private lift. The ride was quiet between the four of them. Pamela walked ahead of them and knocked on the Minister's door. There was no answer. She knocked again.

"Sorry, he must have put up a silencing charm. He doesn't do it often." she retrieved her wand from her desk and sent her Patronus through the door. A small lynx scurried through the door. A moment later the door opened and Kingsley poked his head out.

"Pamela, would you be a dear and make us tea? The tea they serve in the Canteen is pure rubbish."

"Of course Minister." she scurried off to tend to her task while Bill and his brothers shuffled through the door. Hermione was sitting behind the desk looking furious as she leafed through Kingsley's papers. Kingsley cast several charms around the room after the door was securely closed.

As Hermione was currently occupying the Minister of Magic's seat, a place that Bill thought looked quite good on her, Kingsley leaned casually on the front of his desk. He was rolling and unrolling an afternoon edition of the Prophet as if he could unroll the answers out of it.

"Get comfortable boys, we have a problem. Mr. Travers says his source regarding Gabriella is a reporter at the Prophet. The reporter is refusing to give up his or her source and our laws prohibit us from forcing the reporter to reveal the source. Ms. Torren's personal information is a huge breach of security for the Ministry."

"I know that's a problem for Charlie's ex, but what does that have to do with us?" George asked as he settled into a chair directly in front of the Minister's desk.

"George," snapped Hermione. "Only four people alive are privy to this information regarding Senior Auror Torren and should it get out, this young woman's life and career will be over. In addition to the fact that we need to know who is leaking our case's private information. If for they manage to get proof that Bill isn't actually Arthur Weasley's biological son it will be disastrous for our case! It's not something we can come back from, George. The Wizengamot will demand and paternity test and all of your testimonies will be called into question. Everything from the war will be called into question and we run the likely possibility of Bill and the Malfoys going to Azkaban. If you haven't seen the Prophet yet, then you should. Skeeter is refusing to give up her sources and our laws prohibit us from forcing it out of her as long as no lives are in danger. So we need to find out who the source is before they leak something dangerous."

"Oh."

"Yes. Oh, George." Hermione retorted. She was furious and Bill didn't blame her. She was working her damn hardest for Bill and someone was leaking everything to the opposition.

"So," said Bill turning to Hermione. "What do we do?"

"I think we need to rule out members of the Wizengamot. Maybe we can open the floor up to questions? Usually, they just go directly to the solicitor with questions but this way we can get a feel of different members out in the open. Also, we don't have enough time to call in the rest of my witnesses and Tracey was sent to check on Mrs. Weasley. Her burns are mostly healed and her temporary amnesia is starting to wear off." Hermione said over her shoulder. She had moved to Kingsley's bookshelf and was shuffling through several law books.

"Yes! See, here. We can do it! There are fourteen precedents in the last fifty years alone, though one of them was Lucius Malfoy's case at the end of the First Wizarding War and it might not be a good time to bring up Lucius in people's minds. Anyway, we can at least open the floor for questions. What do you all think? Is it a bad idea because Lucius Malfoy was the last recorded precedent?"

"Actually it might be a perfect time." Charlie who had been quiet so far spoke up. Bill knew he was having a hard time presenting such a raw version of himself to complete strangers. Bill knew if it hadn't been for his trial, Charlie would have cursed them all and walked out. Hang the consequences. "Whoever it is will be enraged and we can use that to find out who is leaking information to Travers and the Press."

After everyone agreed Kingsley escorted them back to Wizengamot's chambers. As Bill walked down the brightly colored carpet he thought about this case and realized that it was much bigger than him. Corruption and lies had been rampant right before the Battle of Hogwarts and in a way, even though Voldemort was dead, it had never been fully eradicated. Sure, Kingsley and Ian were as straight as straight gets but there was still a ton of fixing left to do before the Ministry resembled a normal functioning government.

If they allowed corruption to take hold of the government again, it wouldn't be long before someone else like Voldemort cropped up and they would be at war again. His case was a prime example of what happened when Aurors thought they were above the law. They had made arrests without proper documentation or approval. Based on what Hermione said the Aurors that had been on duty that day were an older group that thought they were above the law. It was infuriating as it was unjust.

Bill walked into courtroom thirteen and took his seat between George and Charlie. The Wizengamot was, overall in a more relaxed mood. Bill wondered idly what the Wizengamot did during their breaks. He imagined them sitting in a spacious room with food and good conversation. He had heard from Tonks that during the war that the Wizengamot break room was used to imperius several members at the start of the war. It was how they got the Muggle Registration Act passed.

Hermione walked passed Bill and hurried over to where Travers was sitting drinking a murky colored tea. After a bit of mumbling and then grumbling on his part, she returned to her seat. At that point Kingsley had almost finished a short speech about the private nature of Senior Auror Torren's family status and the strict measures, he and every previous Minister had gone to keep them private. He included several severe warnings including a lengthy stay in Azkaban and then he settled himself back into his seat. Kingsley waved at Hermione and Travers. With a nod at Travers, Hermione stood.

"Given the time left to the day, Solicitor Travers and I would like to open the floor to questions from the Wizengamot." Hermione sat back down. The Wizengamot murmured amongst themselves for a bit. Contrary to Hermione's belief, they were not surprised by this and many members began to pull out parchments with questions and notes. Bill hadn't even noticed that the members of the Wizengamot had quills present, let alone that they were taking notes. Maybe that's what they did in the Wizengamot break room?

Bill spent the better part of an hour listening as numerous questions were directed to Hermione or Travers. The questions were all of legal nature and didn't require Bill's attention. He still listened diligently, not wanting the Wizengamot to think he thought himself better than them, a Malfoy trait if there ever was one.

A particularly nasty argument had broken out between three members of the Wizengamot, once Mrs. Weasley's statement in the hospital was circulated into the conversation. The majority of the Wizengamot was of the opinion that given her mental state at the time, it was admissible in court. However, if the statement was inadmissible then that raised the question as to why Bill was sitting there and whether or not Lucius Malfoy and Molly Weasley should be released, to which they had no answer.

This went around in circles for about half an hour when one of the faces Bill recognized from when he first walked in suggested a paternity test. The full Wizengamot was in session, so there were a lot of faces to remember. Bill remembered hers because she had been consistently giving hateful looks since he arrived in the Wizengamot's chambers that morning like his presence was offensive to her somehow. He motioned with his eyes to the woman's direction and Hermione nodded.

The argument had narrowed down to three people. The angry woman had ganged up with a tall gangly man in the top row and the two were insisting on a blood test confirming Bill's parentage. While the woman was fighting for the test to back up the claim of Bill's supposed Death Eater activity, Bill was pretty sure the gangly man didn't believe he wasn't the son of Arthur Weasley. The third man was fighting the illegality of an enforced paternity test. Apparently, the law states that unless there is a life in danger there was no reason to push such extreme and painful measures that involved blood magic.

What had started out as a simple disagreement turned into a full Wizengamot shouted match, as more and more Wizengamot members gave their two sense. Ms. Macmillan gave up trying to restore order and had summoned Travers and Hermione. They were discussing something quietly while the tiny court reporter had six quills recording every conversation going on.

The argument had finally reached its peak, when the third man shouted, "Auror Flint was a thug abusing his power! His testimony regarding Mr. Weasley being in cahoots with Greyback is bollocks and you know it!"

"That's ridiculous, Matthew! You're not looking at what's right in front of you! What is the matter with you?!"

"What is the matter with me, Rebecca?! My bloody problem is you and Calvin are trying to enforce something that is ILLEGAL !"

"So Matthew, you're telling me that the WIZENGAMOT has to waste our precious time trying to decipher if some Death Eater's whore remembered to take a contraceptive potion before going home to make dinner for her husband who was fighting for the other side?!" Kingsley had to physically jump over the bench and wrestle both Charlie and George down. Bill was too shocked to move.

Shouts of indignation rang through the Wizengamot at 'Rebecca's' foul language as well her besmirchment of a Sacred Twenty-Eight family. When Traver's helpfully suggested that they send a Legilimence to probe Molly Weasley's mind, the room dissolved into pure chaos. Bill finally lost his carefully constructed patience and like a tower of cards, he came crashing down.

"You're going in circles. What am I actually on trial for?" He demanded. "Is it for being born or testifying for the Malfoy's trial after someone decided to write an article that I was a Malfoy of all things? Are you so prepared to toss me into a cell that you would believe that I would imperius my own child? And if you truly believe that then why did I come in today? Why didn't I flee the country or go into hiding with or without my family?" He should have stopped then but their shocked faces at his out of turn speech motivated him. His voice rose with every word spoken and the esteemed Wizengamot's faces grew paler and paler.

"Yes, I read the newspaper. No, I had no prior knowledge of the 'story of the year' before mine and my families names were smeared over every wizarding publication. I got to read all about myself as the expose of the year. And because of a 'leak' that Ministry couldn't and can't currently handle my wife and daughter are in hiding out of fear a mob will attack us, as they have attacked you and the Ministry.

Me and my family did not ask for this. The general public thinks we are Death Eaters and did the Ministry offer some sort of placation to the mad public? No. Did you offer my family protection? No. You reverted towards the mindset that put Voldemort in so much power in the first place. Fear. You stripped my family of their rights and attacked an elderly woman suffering dementia and then tossed her in a prison cell. Her mind is already confused and now you want to send a Legillamence to probe through her mind regardless of the fact that it will cause permanent damage? Your Aurors attacked Healers, a family in their home, as well as sick patients in a hospital. Have you no shame?

My wife almost lost our Victoire three times after the war because of the stress she was under running a safe house and fighting for the Order. The Healers said it was 'Post Traumatic Stress' and it almost…" Bill's voice broke. Charlie gripped his brother's hand tightly. It had been a terrifying time for the Weasley family and Victoire's birth had been nothing short of a miracle.

"It almost killed my little girl. My wife, a French woman, a woman who had no reason to fight in a war in a different country, fought. She fought so that you all could stay in your comfy seats and not be overthrown by a madman. You sent me and my family into hiding again like we had to do during the war except then I knew what side the Ministry was on, now I don't.

You stand there and accuse me of being a criminal. You tried to refuse to let my solicitor, Hermione Granger represent me because you fear of the backlash that will come out when one of the Golden blooding Trio represent a criminal. Well, she isn't gold anything to me. She's my future sister in law. She has worked tirelessly to release my family from the prison cells they were confined to. My mother needs proper medical attention that is being denied to her because she has a pending trial for suspicious activities of Death Eater nature. I am under arrest for the same charge. You have no proof or warrant. You did not research anything about me. You don't even know me.

Do you know who was put in the same situation as me? Sirius Black. He was tossed into Azkaban without a trial for the murders of his best friends. He spent thirteen years rotting in a cell, while Peter Pettigrew escaped justice. James and Lily Potter never got justice for their murders because the Wizengamot chose to ignore the law. Is that what we are doing here? Are we going backward? Because I can assure you, you will never toss my family into a cell the way you did Sirius Black. We are innocent of wrongdoing and the fact that I'm here at all speaks volumes about the corruption in our government."

The room went silent, not even a flutter of breath could be heard.

"Mr. Weasley… I…" Ms. Macmillan face was pale as were most of the members behind her, save one. Rebecca's cheeks were red and angry, her scalp red under her thin blonde hair. She was shaking her head furiously. After a moment of hesitation she jumped to her feet, her voice so cold it chilled Bill in his very bones.

"You are an embarrassment to the Wizarding community. You and your entire Pureblooded family are an embarrassment to the Wizarding community. Wizards and Witches like you should be tossed into a cell until you learn to better respect your elders." She looked at him with murder in her eyes. He could see he would not win this woman over. She had lost someone to Lucius Malfoy and if she could not see Lucius suffer she would see his whole family suffer, even if she didn't know if he was actually a Malfoy. He laughed at her mirthlessly.

"And you'll do what then? After you toss me into a cell, I mean. That's what you're planning on doing anyway. There's no democracy here. Only Nepotism, blood magic, and Pureblood's stuck in their old ways. I'm pretty sure that's everything Voldemort wanted. Congratulations! It turns out we didn't need him after all, we accomplished what he wanted all on our own." The woman scoffed ignoring a small dark-haired wizard sitting next to her that was pulling her sleeve to sit down.

"How dare you, you insolent little-"

"How dare I? Look at the seats in this room. All 'Sacred Twenty Eight." What makes you so sacred? You claim to promote peace and equality but where are the muggle-born seats on this council? Our community will never evolve and move into the new century if our government doesn't move with it." The woman looked affronted. The small man next to her spoke up.

"I am a muggle born, Mr. Weasley and here I sit." He said smiling warmly finally managing to yank the woman back into her seat. Bill recognized him. He was Matthew Yaxley, he worked in the DMLE doing paperwork when he wasn't in the Wizengamot.

"No." He retorted. "You are a muggle born who married someone who inherited that seat. If you had not married the woman, or there was someone with better blood or not imprisoned in the Yaxley line, you would not be sitting there. That is how our prejudiced society works." Matthew's eyes fell.

"Do you not wish me to be occupying a seat on the Wizengamot because of my heritage? If you are uncomfortable I can recuse myself." Matthew asked his eyes filled with hurt. Bill immediately felt remorse douse his foul temper. Insulting him had pushed him right to the edge, attacking his mother, daughter, and wife had sent him sailing right over it. He hadn't meant to snap at all, especially not at a man who was being kind despite the rest of the beady-eyed bastards in their chairs.

"I apologize. No, I would never entertain such an idea. I apologize if I offended you. I have had an alarming past forty-eight hours that has consisted of being attacked on every front combined with little to no sleep."

"I bet it's not every day you get ousted as a Death Eater scum," muttered Rebecca.

"Rebecca!" Several alarmed voices shouted as others were raised in a desperate cry for order. Hermione was speaking quietly with Ms. Macmillan while Travers acquiesced.

"What?" Rebecca snarled. "He should be shackled and questioned like the half-breed Death Eater he is. The fact that he is sitting here mocking us is an insult to our wizarding society. He has clearly imperiused his family and friends, lord knows what he did under Voldemort's rule. He probably got under as many Death Eaters he could. Just like his mother."

At that comment, pandemonium resumed. Every single Wizengamot member was on their feet shouting, however, this time it was at the blonde woman rather than at Bill. Bill felt Charlie pinch his shoulder.

"Bill. Kings wants us out of here before hexes are thrown." His brother pleaded with him. He looked up to see Ms. Macmillan shooing him from the room. Charlie ushered him out as Bill's eyes remained locked with this Rebecca woman, who held the power to destroy his life and seemed hell-bent on doing it.

Minister of Magic's En Suite Office, Monday 6:00 PM

Pamela set the tea down in front of Bill and tried her very hardest not to hover. She was failing. She had already brought him a sweater, three different types of chocolates, and an assortment of candy.

"Bill, are you sure there is nothing I can get you? You hardly ate your lunch."

"I'm fine Pam."

"Don't worry about those scruffy old wizards. They'll come around. Just hold in there, okay?" he nodded numbly as she retreated from the room. Pamela froze at the door and stepped back into the doorway leaving room behind her for an additional person to enter.

"Miss. Granger?" Miss. Macmillan walked into the room. Bill didn't bother getting up, he was tired and grumpy and he wanted to go home.

"Yes, ma'am." Hermione stood and walked over to the woman. Her Wizengamot robes were open and she looked frazzled. Her lilac jumper and pink floral print skirt were rumpled, and Bill was sure he saw a tear in her stockings just above her beige heels.

"Mr. Weasley brought up some very valid points and after much deliberation, the Wizengamot has unanimously agreed that Ms. Fawley will be recusing herself from the duration of this hearing. Mr. Travers has failed to provide any evidence supporting the credibility on this case and it has been noted by the Wizengamot. " she finished speaking to Hermione and turned directly to Bill. Her eyes softened and she motioned for Charlie to get up. Charlie scrambled out of the way, while the woman settled down next to Bill.

"Mr. Weasley. You were right and this entire hearing isn't fair, but you were wrong as well. If we did not pursue you with legal action based on Mr. Flint's testimony alone we would be doing just as an injustice as Sirius Black was dealt. The Wizengamot has deliberated and your mother will be moved to a safe house with Lucius Malfoy. As she still doesn't recognize your father we do not think it is wise to leave them alone. Healer Davis has offered to accompany them to the safe house."

"With all due respect ma'am, we would need to know the location as the-" Hermione started.

"Kingsley's house. They'll be staying in Kingsley's house under an armed guard, however, I believe you can Floo in and out should the Kingsley allow it. Currently, Kingsley and the occupants of this room are the only people aware of the location of the safe house." Hermione jotted a few things down on a parchment and rushed out to Pamela to send off. Ms. Macmillan waited for her return before continuing.

"In addition, we have granted temporary immunity for your sister, wife, and your daughter." she handed Hermione a scroll with the seal of the Wizengamot. "We have adjourned for the day but will reconvene tomorrow morning at 8. I do not need to remind you that you should not be late.

"As the Weasley home known as the Burrow is currently being repaired, as well as an active crime scene, Head Auror Proudfoot has approved of monitoring and housing arrangements for the night. I have just personally spoken to Mr. Potter and you will be staying in his home, which coincidentally was Sirius Black's home before he died." she stood to leave and stopped several feet before the door.

"Mr. Weasley, I suggest you take some time to compose yourself in preparation for tomorrow. I also have it on good authority that your wife and daughter are already in your safe house waiting for you. Have a good night." she walked out as quickly as she came in.

Bill sunk his head into his hands and cried.

Daily Prophet EVENING EDITION

Ministry Spokesman Gives Hope to Wizards and Witches

The first day of the Ministry Vs. William Arthur Weasley has come to a close and it's been a race to the deadline. The Wizengamot emptied out at a record of 6:01, over an hour passed Ministry closing time. There were many groundbreaking decisions made today and the Ministry used a spokesperson to relay the many messages.

The Ministry spokesman has confirmed that an age old tradition of removing an impartial Wizengamot member has been invoked by a unanimous vote of the Wizengamot. The member's identity has not been made public and unless the case's documents are made public, which I've been assured they will not, we will likely not find out who was removed from their seat.

The Wizengamot has also confirmed that Mr. Weasley, is not in fact a Death Eater and fought bravely amongst his peers during the Battle of Hogwarts. Personally, as someone who fought and bled in that battle, I can tell you that I witnessed every single Weasley fight during that battle and they were all on the side of the light. The Ministry also requested that the Weasley family be given time as the populace has terrified Mr. Weasley's young daughter and wife. The Ministry has placed them in a carefully warded home for the time being and all of their mail is being monitored. So, if you plan on sending a howler, remember there's some poor bloke at the Ministry who is going to get it and not the Weasley family. Here's to hoping tomorrow is less hectic!

-Parvati Patil

FIRST MONTH FREE ON FLAT IN KNOCKTURN

Daily Prophet EVENING EDITION

Changing Seats to Protect Weasley?

Rumor has reached this Reporter that an undisclosed member of our highly esteemed Wizengamot was removed from their seat due to being impartial to the case. Not only has the witch or wizard been removed but they have been replaced by none other than our very own Professor Minerva McGonagall, the Hogwarts Headmistress. This is a process that has not been used in one hundred and eighty-seven years. The solicitor to sign off on such an action must have little to no credence about their work name and ethics.

Is this change due to the Minister of Magic and longtime friend of the Weasley's influence? That would seem like the likeliest of options seeing as two of the three accused are spending the night in the Minister of Magic's home. Imagine that? Commit a crime and you get a free sleepover at the Minister's flat! I wonder if the Weasley family will give me a full report on what kind of sheets our very single and very attractive Minister uses?

-Rita Skeeter