A/N: Hey there! I know I've dropped the ball update-wise recently (you can say that again!) but here, much later than originally planned, is chapter twelve for you to devour with your ever-eager fanfiction-loving eyes and brain. Enjoy!
PS. Don't forget to vote for my story, Family Ties: Left Holding the Baby, in the Favourite Long Multi-Chaptered Story in The Harry Potter Awards hosted by Lady Arianne of Ambers Valley. It would make my day! :)
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CHAPTER TWELVE
Distractions
But Albus' – indeed, everyone's – attention was diverted from the trial in the coming week as the Quidditch season was picking up and the teams were fighting for the best practising slots. In the opening game of the season, the first week of November, last years' Quidditch Cup winners Gryffindor would play second-place Hufflepuff. If Hufflepuff won, they would move to first place and Gryffindor would drop to third place, leaving Slytherin in second place. Needless to say, despite his worries and fears, Albus put most of his energy (and to Rose's displeasure, his time) into practising.
The team were coming along nicely. The newcomers – Melissa Sloper, Thomas Blake and a surprising addition in Phoebe Peakes, a small but sweet second year with blond curls and a cheerful spirit – were fitting in well and performing to the standard of the current players. Albus, now a Seeker for the team for the second year, was glad that he had got in some practice over the summer; it was certainly paying off, and Madam Hooch, who had come to watch the Gryffindors play during a practice, said that the only person she had ever seen who was a better flier than him was his father, and only by the slightest of margins. She awarded him ten points for Gryffindor for his 'superb talent and excellent Quidditch genetics' and Albus was so pleased he worked even harder from then on.
Despite these distractions – for both Albus and Scorpius, being Seekers on their respective teams – it was hard to forget about the upcoming trial altogether. Rose and Molly had been researching past cases in the library archives, trying to work out what to expect.
Albus didn't know much about criminal trials and how they were run, but his father – who had once had to attend a hearing for doing accidental magic – said it was the most intimidating thing you could experience. This did not help qualm Albus' worries.
Rose had also come across some newspaper articles on past criminal trials – some of them quite nasty – including the trials of the Death Eaters after the Second Wizarding War. When Scorpius came over to them after Slytherin Quidditch practice, she quickly stuffed the newspapers into her bag; most of the articles she had found had something or other to do with his family, in particular a rather incriminating article which blared the headline; DEATH EATER COUPLE PLEAD GUILTY TO TORTURE CONVICTIONS, and underneath was a picture of Bellatrix Lestrange and her husband Rodolphus.
Albus knew that Bellatrix had been killed by his grandmother at the Battle of Hogwarts, but Rodolphus was still alive in Azkaban, where he had been for the past twenty years. Hopefully he would stay there for another twenty years, or even more with luck. He hated to think of those kinds of people, loose on the streets, terrorising Muggles and Muggle-born wizards....an icy shiver flashed down his spine, which he disguised by stretching.
***
As time passed on, the four of them began formulating their plan to, firstly, get Professor McGonagall to agree to let them witness at the trial, and secondly, to decide what their testimony was going to be. It was hard – what information would the Wizengamot take as bias and which would they believe would be actual evidence? Scorpius had agreed to tell them what Professor Winters had said to him about his family as proof that she was targeting them personally. If they knew of her personal vendetta against the Malfoys, they might discount any evidence against Scorpius' father given by her. At least, that's what the four friends were hoping would happen. Making sure it did happen was another matter.
To add to their burden, their workload increased as they reached mid-October, and the criminal trial was coming closer and closer. Having a Quidditch game the very next week made Albus and Scorpius very nervous and very busy indeed; in between writing weekly essays for Transfiguration, researching the properties of Acromantula venom for Professor Longbottom, Quidditch practice and researching criminal trials, time was tight and patience was running low. Scorpius' father had been refused release from Ministry custody despite his wife's pleas, and Scorpius said that her letters to him were becoming increasingly anxious and more and more strung out. This did not bode well for Scorpius' self-confidence or mood, and was becoming reclusive; he spent most of his time in the library with an ever-optimistic Rose.
"Logically, there should be no case against your dad in the first place, if we can prove that Winters' is biased and get her evidence discounted. There will be no reason to think your father's guilty, not if they stick to their own laws" she explained to him, smiling brightly. "It'll be okay, you know" she added, seeing his sceptical expression.
Not for the first time, Albus wondered if Rose and Scorpius were 'just friends'.
***
It was the following Saturday in the second week of October, and the weather was suprisingly warm; the sun was shimmering on the surface of the Black Lake and most students were outside, enjoying the autumnal sunshine. Most students, that is, with the exception of four second years.
Rose was barely breathing when they reached the enormous statue of the golden griffin that guarded Professor McGonagall's office. Molly was uncharacteristically grave and Scorpius the colour of chalk. Albus himself was rather nervous.
"Sherbet lemon!" Rose said to the griffin, as confidently as she could.
The creature nodded once, before springing aside to reveal an upward-spiralling flight of staircase. They jumped onto it, each of their hearts in their mouths. Would Professor McGonagall let them go to the trial? Could she register them as official witnesses? Would they even be allowed – being underage, and all? None of them knew much about criminal trial protocol.
Perhaps Professor McGonagall would fill them in, if she agreed that they could testify. And then there was the matter of whether the Wizengamot would allow them to witness – they might think that they were too young. Then again, things had changed since Kinglsey Shacklebolt had become Minister for Magic two decades ago. He kept being re-elected as Minister every term because of his attitude towards fairness and equality in his policies.
Rose knocked on the heavy door to Professor McGonagall's office.
"Enter!" the Headmistress called from the other side of the door. Molly leaned forward and timidly pushed the door open.
Professor McGonagall was sitting in the high-backed, throne like chair behind the enormous desk that dominated the far end of the circular room. Her spectacles were balancing on the tip of her nose as she marked a large stack of essays. She looked up when the four of them entered and pushed her glasses further up her nose. Her eyes widened when she recognised them.
"Is there anything the matter?" Professor McGonagall asked, putting her quill down and setting the stack of essays aside.
"Er...no, Professor. We've come to ask your permission for something" Rose explained.
"Oh? And what might that be, Miss Weasley?" Professor McGonagall replied. She looked at the four of them in turn.
"I want to stop my dad from going to Azkaban for something he didn't do" Scorpius interjected suddenly, but nervously, stepping forward.
"And we want to help him do that" added Molly confidently. "We want to register as recognised witnesses".
Professor McGonagall stared at them, her glasses sliding down to the very tip of her nose. She didn't bother to push them back up to their proper place.
"You realise that-that is a very serious matter...you are underage....a criminal trial..." McGonagall gasped, not quite being able to take it all in.
"Please, professor" Scorpius begged. "I don't want my dad to go to prison. And I know the risks."
There was so much sincerity in his voice that no one said anything for a few moments. Then Professor McGonagall finally removed her square spectacles and wiped them on the hem of her robes before replacing them.
"I will have to file some forms, you will have to sign a witnesses' contract. Since you are underage, you will not be required to take Veritaserum, which in some cases may dampen your chances of convincing the Wizengamot of your case. You are also required to submit your wands for examination as proof of identity" Professor McGonagall explained.
"So that's a yes?" Scorpius asked hopefully.
"If you are serious about this, and you are perfectly sure that this is what you do want to do, then I have no reason not to allow you to testify in your father's defence at the Ministry" Professor McGonagall said simply. "I am sure he will much appreciate the sentiment".
Scorpius nodded gratefully. "Thanks, professor".
"I will need you to sign the witness for defence forms this afternoon as I need to file them to the Ministry before five o'clock this evening, the earlier the better is what the Wizengamot prefer. Now, I will need to see you, therefore, at four o'clock sharp this afternoon. I have a meeting with the board of governors until then" the Headmistress told them. "Is that all you needed?"
They nodded.
***
The following week was so full to bursting point with Quidditch practice and homework that none of them had time to put together their case for the trial. Once the forms had been sent to the Wizengamot, they had to wait confirmation that they were actually allowed to testify and then the real waiting could begin.
And Scorpius did not deal well with waiting.
"I just want this to be over with" he grumbled on various occasions, becoming more and more strung out each time. Albus knew how he must feel. Having something as serious as the possibility of one of your parents going to prison hanging over your head must be awful. He hoped that he personally would never have to deal with such a thing.
A/N: Boo! Well, how did you enjoy that one then? Good? Bad? Hate it? Love it? On the fence about it? Whatever you think, JUST REVIEW IT! If you don't, you will die a very painful death. A very painful, virtual death. You have been warned.
Anyhoo, I know this chappie is a bit on the short side and not much is really going on here, but just you wait - I have more than a few surprises up my sleeve! I was thinking, how can I make someone who is evil and dark even more evil and more dark than they already are? And so another plotline was born.....but you'll have to keep reading to find out what it is! Muahaha!
*ahem* Back to the point, I have just realised that I've done something freaky deaky with the story. The chapter containing Draco's trial rather awesomely falls into place as being chapter thirteen...unlucky for some. Foreshadowing much? :)
Until next time,
HPfangirl4life xxx
