Conflict of Interest
"You think you can hurt my mum! You think you're better than her! I'm going to show you what hurt really is!" he barked with insane eyes as Lauren's air supply began to falter. Lauren kicked back with all her strength and he flew off her, she gasped for air and moved to run but before she could escape or fight she was paralysed. Without magic she could win but this time he grabbed her limp form, pushed it against one of the lockers and began to choke her.
"Nice try muggle," he spat angrily "I'm going to teach you a lesson,"
"Not in my court!" an angry aged voice retorted before a loud thunk echoed through the room, Lauren fell to the floor greedily sucking in air as her attacker fell to the ground like a stone. Light blinded her vision as it flooded the room and Lauren looked around for Harry; security or whoever saved her. However she did not expect to see a frowning elderly woman in rich crimson robes with a wig stuffed into her pocket, in her hands Judge Snow carried what looked like a walking stick.
"Every day I tell Judge Taylor not to leave his damn walking stick in the court, so when I find it lying around because he can't accept he's sixty three I pick it up. However I don't expect to see a wizard strangling a barrister," she hissed angrily looking at Ron who stirred with a groan. Judge Snow hit him again, and again.
"You're a magical citizen, and the only person in this room I can legally do this to," she explained as Lauren shakily stood up, a few moments ago she considered air a given now it was a luxury.
"Are you ok dear?" Judge Snow asked after ensuring Ron was unconscious, Lauren nodded
"Yeah fine," she breathed as she slowly regained herself
"Don't lie to me, let me have a look," the Judge requested moving closer and inspecting her neck,
"You might get a bruise and a slight bump but that's it, count yourself lucky he's a weakling; you out bested him in combat, he cursed you. Anyway you're going to be shaken up for a few days, I recommend taking it easy and if you're feeling angry he's not technically covered by British law so do what the hell you want," Judge Snow mumbled taking a step back and frowning.
"What the hell have you gotten yourself into? Why would anyone especially a wizard attack you unless... you found out Harry was a wizard didn't you," she stated trailing off and looking at Lauren now. She took a few seconds to answer
"You knew?" was all she could say, she was shocked but slowly recovering.
"All Judges are briefed on this, a few times wizards are tried by us and not them, so when they get their wand out we can call someone who takes the wand and ensures they don't use it again, I knew who he was the moment I saw him. Anyway what happened to make this thing kick off," Snow looked down with a dark frown at Ron who was snoring, something that made him seem even worse in her eyes.
"I'm requesting him at trial, you attack someone in my court you get a trial here, answer the question," she directed at Lauren. So Lauren did, about Narcissa coming to them, about the ministry (as much as she knew) and about the trial itself, by the time she finished Judge Snow was looking a particular shade of red.
"Well it looks like someone doesn't know what a cross examination is, you're lucky I was wandering around, looking for my crisis of a husband really takes time, he might need a new walking stick; but I'm going to make a call to the Lord Chancellor who is going to tear a wall down. The ministry of magic is supposed to conduct itself under our general rules; it's like one of the many parliaments in the UK. They can make decisions and laws but they need to obey by human rights and our authority, attacking you means one second," Snow was suddenly venomous and walked over to Ron's sleeping form. She withdrew his wand from his hand and snapped it into two pieces, Lauren felt a twinge of satisfaction as the object snapped.
"Anyway attacking you means we are going to trial him here and when the Lord Chancellor hears about the Malfoy case he will not be happy, the minister of magic is still a minister and he overrules her, I'm going to get security to put him in a cell for the night and then our magical advisor can get some people to interrogate him. Now what you're going to do is wait there and I'll take you home, I think we've all had enough excitement for tonight,"
Later
Harry started to get worried when he arrived home and no one was there, she was supposed to meet him and as the minutes became thirty and then an hour he started to get very worried. He was considering calling the police when he heard a loud knock on the door
"Thank God I was getting..." Harry opened the door to see Lauren and Judge Snow of all people with an arm around her, her expression was solemn.
"What happened?" he asked immediately fearing a thousand things,
"Nothing to worry about," Lauren told him pushing past him and going into the living room area, Judge Snow sighed
"Your friend Weasel or something tried to attack her, nearly did but luckily he's now in a cell with a very friendly auror called Neville, well friendly to me. He was strangling her, she was paralysed and well it could have been worse but she's not fine," Snow explained looking slightly sick, Harry felt rage fill his veins. This was what Ron did? Someone said something he didn't like and he tried to kill them, this crossed the line; he knew he made a mistake going back.
"Enough with the anger, there's no point in it, just look after her and for the love of God help that boy, she needs to rest and she needs to build up her confidence again. Being attacked like that really would have taken her back, also get yourself something to defend yourself with. I don't know much about that world but if there's another one like him then you need something, now I'm going home look after her," Judge Snow instructed somehow knowing his train of thought all too well, how Harry had no idea but he closed the door and turned away.
"Are you ok?" he asked to Lauren, she looked at him evidently slightly angry
"Yes I'm fine, everyone's asking me that. Neville, Snow and about three others I didn't know, look he didn't get anywhere near me, now just come here," she trailed off looking a mixture of stressed and angry. She was conflicted and Harry knew it, so he sat next to her on the sofa and she cuddled up to him.
"I'm sorry it's just I never thought that would happen, I thought I could fight someone off and yet with one flash of a wooden stick I'm helpless," she mumbled
"I would have been the same, anyone would have," he pointed out; he hadn't carried a wand since he left; he would have been helpless if Ron had chosen him. Then again maybe he would have a chance to fight him off but so did she, and she took it but he used magic, something that would have beaten him.
"No you wouldn't I should have noticed, I should have actually looked and thought about what I was doing, then maybe I wouldn't have been attacked by a mental with a stick," she hissed squeezing his knee with rage she didn't know how to take out.
"Lauren it's not your fault, you did fight him off, if he didn't have the wand you would have wiped the floor with him," Harry told her wondering if she would listen.
"Yes but he did have a wand, and he wiped the floor with me almost literally," she retorted, she saw herself as weak,
"You know what I mean," Harry told her gently,
"I just don't like feeling so helpless, so useless, it just takes away everything I am," Lauren half spat half cried as she slowly clutched Harry harder. Slowly the upset the day had caused her seeped in and the shock and everything else forced her to bury her head into Harry's shoulder and gently she cried.
"You're not useless, if you were helpless then you wouldn't have fought back, what he did was despicable but you never stopped trying; we've both lost cases and we know that even know we've lost and there is nothing we can do that we did our best. You did your best and I know it's different but you need..." Harry began trying to explain or help her in any way he could. However before he could say anything more she forced him into a longing kiss, Harry moved to wipe the tears from her eyes but she moved his hands back down. She needed to feel in control right now and Harry was going to give her that at least.
The next day
She decided to stay home today, her feelings were still mixed and seeing any of the Weasley's could cause her some pain, she felt better but not much. Harry just needed to give her space and had gone to the court on his own, however he was feeling vengeful. He could not take his anger out on Ron but he was not going to allow this kind of thing to happen, already the wizarding press had reported it and some were asking how the muggles could justify holding a wizard in prison. He just ignored them but came close to punching the insufferable journalist.
"Court is in order now before we call the next witness does anyone have anything to say?" Madam Bones asked as Umbridge entered the room and took her place. Harry stood up
"Mr Potter while last night's events were unfortunate they have no place here..." Umbridge began thinking he was going to talk about that, in some ways he was.
"Actually minister they do, I would like to make a motion to ban Arthur Weasley, Percy Weasley and the testimony of Ron Weasley to be purged from the Wizengamot's minds." Harry requested,
"On what grounds does the defence base these unjust claims?" Dumbledore demanded immediately, this was unexpected.
"Ron Weasley attacked a person who was on the other side, if his testimony is not withdrawn then perhaps he will target other people who do not believe or discredit his testimony, Percy and Arthur Weasley however both work in the ministry and could have seen evidence that could compromise their evidence," Harry explained. The Wizengamot were suddenly awkward, they had openly discussed during a court break his anger; what if he overheard, what if he went for them next?
"Preposterous!" Dumbledore protested rising to his feet, Umbridge did not even need to think about this one.
"I agree with Dumbledore, Mr Potter this is nothing more than a vengeful claim," she began with a sickening smile but she was cut off.
"Approved," Madam Bones announced ignoring the minister who swivelled round.
"Madam Bones!" Umbridge hissed her toad like face a mess of hatred
"Unfortunatly matters of security are my department, I agree Percy Weasley and Arthur could have seen the evidence and the testimony of an unstable violent boy is not to be used ever, it poses a risk to us all and to the trial. As I am in charge of magical security I accept Mr Potter's objection," she concluded, she waved her wand and a small drink of purple liquid appeared in front of all the Wizengamot.
"As Mr Weasley's evidence has been deemed unsuitable you will drink this which will remove your memories of his testimony until the trial is adjourned, please drink," she announced sitting down as Umbridge gaped at her. Once the cups were empty and the potion took effect Madam Bones told Dumbledore to call his next witness.
"I am afraid other than Mr Malfoy I have no more," he began hoping to get Malfoy on the spot
"Which means it is my turn to call witnesses and my client is not first on my list, I would like to call Fred Weasley to the stand,"