New Beginnings
Chapter 10 – Trials and Tribulations
I woke the next morning exhausted. I managed to finally get to sleep around 4 this morning, only to be awoken at 7 to get ready for the first day of our trial. The trial itself was tiring to even think about. I walked down to the lobby, my hand in Al's as we met his parents. They shared a look at our behavior, but I knew they already knew because of that tattoo Mr. Potter apparently had. I would have to ask Al if Lily was actually telling the truth last night, but that could wait till later.
Not shockingly, we were nearly late to the start of the hearing due to James and Lily. Those two were much too vain sometimes; it is a good thing that they are lovable for other reasons. As we arrived, I saw Professor Longbottom sitting near the front on the defense side of the courtroom. The sight was as shocking as it was comforting. The Professor was somewhat of a father figure to me, especially while at Hogwarts. He looked around as if he could sense we were walking his way.
'Where have you all been? You do know that the hearing starts in five minutes right?' Professor asked worriedly as he visibly relaxed. As we took our seats, there was a commotion towards the back of the room.
My family had arrived, as they always do, in style. My mother arrived on the arm of my grandfather, playing the part of the distraught mother to a t. She must have been practicing that act for months. My grandfather was comforting her, even though he was well known as a mob boss. I turned away from the ridiculous scene as the rest of my family filled in behind the couple. Al saw my aversion and mimicked me, clutching my hand in his.
The judge was announced and we all rose as she entered. She looked like a no nonsense type of person. Hopefully she saw the act that was occurring right in front of her. After the lawyers made their opening statements, Tina was called to the stand. She spewed her outrageous story about how I went away to boarding school in Britain and never came home, being 'kidnaped' by the Potter family and their conniving middle son.
Tina looked right at me when she said that it was Al's fault that I did not come home. She expected that it would get a rise out of me and I would show that I was unstable, forcing the judge to see that I have a psychological problem, as Tina's attorney stated at the beginning of the hearing. I felt Al's emotions rolling off of him and squeezed his hand reassuringly. He took one look at me and noticed my calm demeanor and it instantly soothed his anger. I stared back as Tina, practically begging her to attempt to rile me again. Her impressed emotion was quickly followed with an angry one as she continued to weave a web of lies. I continued to smirk at the woman who birthed me as her lies got even more outlandish. I knew the plan.
As the cross questioning began, my smirk turned into a grin. Tina didn't see what was coming.
'You say that Chelsea was coerced into staying with the young Potter son while at school. Is that correct?' My attorney asked Tina
'Yes my baby girl has always been so trusting of others. It's not her fault, that she is so kind.' Tina replied easily.
'You also claim that your daughter was such a shy child prior to leaving for her boarding school. How can one be trusting and shy at the same time?' the man continued, looking towards those in attendance as he did.
Tina stumbled over her thought a moment before replying.
'Chelsea has always been trusting of those who are similar to her. Obviously the Potter child tricked her into thinking that they had some commonalities and she was naive enough to believe him, she was only twelve when she left home.'
'I would like to mention, your honor, that my client was actually eleven when she left home, her eleventh birthday being three weeks prior to her departure. Also the young Mr. Potter was the same age as Miss DelMare at the time of their meeting. No further questions.'
The room went still and I could feel the anger from my family at my mother's obvious mistake.
Tina stepped down and I glared at her until she reached her seat. To my surprise, Professor Longbottom was called next. I watched as my nervous teacher made his way to the stand. After telling the story of how he invited me to Hogwarts, obviously changing the school's name because we were in a muggle court, the Professor went on to talk about my relationship with the Potters.
'Chelsea is like the missing link that the Potters didn't know was missing until she met them in the train station that would take the children to school. She keeps James and Lily in check; you see those two are quite the trouble makers at school. Her relationship with Albus is different. He is very protective of her. He protects her as I do my own relations. My own son was caught in a situation in which he saw Chelsea crying on the first day of school and went to comfort her. Albus came upon the situation and believed that my son was hurting her and he turned instantly on someone that he has known all his life, because he believed he was in trouble. I believe that the boy would protect her from anything that was a threat to her safety.'
After that moving statement, interrogation of Longbottom was passed to Tina's attorney.
'Mr. Longbottom, you claim that Albus Potter would do anything to be with Chelsea. Would that include helping her family in kidnapping her from her family?'
'Actually, I said that Albus would protect Chelsea from what he viewed as harmful. As I said before, I watched Albus grow with my own children. As far as I know, I would never suggest that Albus, or any of the Potters for that matter, would kidnap or harm any person. They are a kindhearted family. They have a large extended family, Mrs. Potter being one of seven. Family means the world to them. I cannot see them willingly breaking apart something that they hold so dear. So please sir, do not put words into my mouth about people I have known for most of my life.' I could see his pride in his friends as he spoke.
'Do you believe that your relationship with the Potters has affected your view on the situation at hand?' The attorney was really stretching the limit here.
'No. I can honestly say that my relationship with the Potters does not hinder my opinion. You can ask James Potter if I go any easier on his punishments at school, if anything he will tell you I am more than fair, and I take offence to the fact that you believe me to be lying after I took an oath of truthfulness.' This man on the stand seemed to be different than the kindhearted Herbology professor I knew and loved.
Thankfully he was not questioned any further. After Longbottom reached his seat, the judge rose and said that we would recess for lunch, before I would be called up. I was the last one to speak before the judge made her decision.
I quickly left the courtroom with the Potters, followed quickly by my family. I could feel Tina's rage as she walked closer to our smaller group.
'How dare you have that crackpot teacher of yours speak for you? You don't have the guts to tell what really happened because you know your story is delusional. You belong here with us. Get used to the idea because you will be back home by the end of the week. I will not let you leave this court again in their care. Do you understand me?'
This statement had an undertone of a threat to the Potters, which I knew I had to prevent. It was obvious that the judge was leaning in our favor. I needed to prevent the inevitable, but how?
