Hey everyone,
So, this has to be one of the darkest chapters with which I will end this year. Though the chapter for A Guardian's Life, Child of All and The Moving Of The Light are no doozy either. Still, I am happy to settle this problem once and for all, at least for this story and I am kind of excited with writing out Pommel's character.
Happy new year,

Venquine1990

Chapter 35
To Punish The Guilty

13th of August 1995
Courtroom 10, London
Fudge's POV

It's only been a few hours since James Potter came to my office to let me find out how Percy has been misjudging the privileges that come with his job and how he has been unfair towards Amos and now I am back in the same seat I was in a few days ago when I thought I could make life a little more difficult for the man's son.
What makes it even crazier is that this case is to do with the people Albus has been assuring me for years that they were the perfect choice to raise young Harry with and now, the man actually came to me with the near begging request of: "Please set right to the wrong I made." Before he left the boy's guardian's in my care.
And not just the Muggles the boy has been spending the better part of his life with, but also his apparent caregiver and a little later even a person Albus called someone who tricked me into earning my trust. And the fact that the man is admitting his faults in so many ways really is an incredible and humbling experience.

"I think we will have our victory soon enough, Minister." Dolores had tried to tell me, but I no longer care for that. Instead I focus on the five people who are all seated before me. And the fact that the enchanted shackles only shivered before closing loosely with the youngest of the five, the Dursley boy, says everything.
With the others the shackles had closed so fast, the Aurors escorting the four almost lost either their hands or a few fingers while trying to force the accused arms in place. And yet none of the five had been able to object to this as they had all been silenced. When I asked why, the Auror stated: "Trust me, it's for the better."
And the fact that I know this Auror and that he doesn't easily let criminals or people accused of crimes get under his skin instantly makes me look at the four. And one look at the large, fat male, the way that his face has turned almost purple with his need to break through the Silencing spell makes me know that he has good reason.

I then bang my gavel to bring attention to the crowd of which some had started mumbling about what I already knew and I say: "Order, order in the court. This trial for Petunia Dursley née Evans, Vernon Dursley and Dudley Dursley as well as Arabella Fig in regards to severe breaching of four of the five crimes against Minors is now in session.
Also now in session is the trial of Christiaan Pommel for two failed attempts at the Most Noble and Most Ancient House of Potter, Longbottom and Black. Do any of the accused parties have anything to say before we begin these trials?" And while the Auror seems hesitant, does he remove the Silencing spells off of the four.
Instantly I regret letting him do this as the fat man shouts: "YOU NO GOOD FREAKS! YOU DARE ACCUSE US? YOU'RE THE UNLAWFUL ONES! STEALING INNOCENT, WELL-RAISED PEOPLE FROM THEIR HOMES! TAKING THEIR WELL-EARNED POSSESSIONS! LYING OF THEIR RIGTHEOUS WORK!
YOU HAVE NO RIGHTS! YOU'RE ALL JUST FREAKS! THAT BLASTED FREAK SHOULD HAVE KILLED YOU ALL AND THEN OFFED HIMSELF! WHEN THE QUEEN HEARS ABOUT THIS!" But then the voice of Kingsley Shacklebolt states: "The queen already knows about this. She is in full support."

And for a few seconds do I feel relief as this silences the fat idiot, but those seconds are short and so is the relief as the fat Muggle shouts: "YOU'RE LYING! YOU'RE NOTHING –." But then Kingsley says: "But the officer of justice who will show the world – and her Majesty after this – what a sick monster you really are.
Ladies and gentlemen of the court, the Houses of Potter and Black hereby wish to extract an Oath of Silence from all of you. Without it, I cannot show off the evidence I managed to gather during my investigation. And let's face it, who wants to let a man like this go on nothing but a lack of evidence and let him continue his ways?"
This statement both amuses and impresses me and everyone agrees with this, a unanimous vote going round that the oath will be taken. And to the amazement of some of those around me, does Kingsley actually state that the crimes can be spoken of to others Harry Potter's age, as long as they have the boy's trust and presence.

Then, once the oaths have been taken by everyone, even a reluctant Lucius, Dolores and Percy, does Kingsley conjure a table. Yet this bit of magic almost makes the fat Muggle start again, were it not for the fact that the Auror working with Kingsley instantly silences the man again, causing most of us to sigh in grateful relief.
Yet then a Lady in the audience gasps and I look at where her gaze is aimed at, my own eyes widening and my stomach feeling relieved that I listened to Kingsley's advice to have this done before our next meal. Whips, knives, bats, ropes, plugs, clamps, vibrators and toys that one should only show off in an adult store are stalled out.
And some of them actually have blood on them and also look as if they have been used quite recently or used for many, many a year. "Let it be known that all of these items of evidence – were found in a room located at the Dursley residence. A room that was mirroring the bedroom Harry Potter stayed in over the last four years."

Kingsley says and only then do I realize what I read when I read out the crimes. "Four out of five. Malnourishing, abusing, neglecting – raping or killing a Minor. Merlin's beard.""So this is why Potter behaves the way he does." I hear Percy mumble, at which I grimace as now really isn't the time to voice such opinions.
Instead, I turn to the other two Dursleys and ask: "Petunia and Dudley Dursley. Both of your chairs have been enchanted with a Truth charm. This means that if you lie, your chair will light up and we will know. Please note that lying in court is a punishable crime, of which the sentence can be time spent in prison."

The two are white, but they nod to show they understand and I ask: "Were either of you aware that your husband and father was using these items on Harry Potter while in your residence? Were either of you ever present when Vernon Dursley used any of these items on Harry Potter?" At this the boy gulps and says:
"I – I – I did sometimes – see dad – I – I mean, Vernon Dursley – use things like – like those canes and bats – and even some of his own belts, but – but I – I would swear on my title of Wrestling Champion that I never knew that my – that Vernon Dursley had such desires or – or lived them out on – on Harry."
At this, while I know that in the Wizarding world such an oath wouldn't hold much leverage, do I know that it's important to the boy and accept it on that matter as I turn to the woman and she says: "I – I often heard Vernon mumbling about – about starting his own – his own brothel, but – but I never knew he –."
Yet here the woman seems unable to continue as she had been steadily turning more green the longer she spoke and I say: "Get that woman a stomach relief. And let it be noted that Petunia and Dudley Dursley were aware of the abuse, but not the acts of rape that their husband and father respectively committed on Harry Potter."

Yet while the scribe writes this down and while the woman seems slightly hesitant to take the potion, does Dolores then shock me as she asks: "Hem, hem, I would like to ask this beloved, well-respected court of ours if we should really deem this a worthwhile trial, considering the victim's own – track record, I guess you can say."
I look at her as if she just declared herself a Muggle and yet she is oblivious to this and asks: "All those in favor of just cancelling this trial, raise your wands?" Yet to my expectations does no one raise their wands, making the woman look around impatiently before she says: "Hem-hem, I said –." But then Amelia growls:
"We heard you, Dolores, and no one agrees with you. Scribe, please do this court – and yourself – a favor and scrap this bit of the trial from the record." Yet the lad himself says: "I stopped writing when Lady Umbridge coughed, Madam Bones. Don't worry, I came prepared." And Amelia sends the man a proud smirk over this.

"We will discuss this idiocy of yours later, Dolores." I then hiss at the woman, feeling utterly humiliated that she thought she could do this, considering the horrible and overwhelming evidence that already lies in front of her on the table. I then ignore her spluttering and turn to the other person involved in all this.
Arabella Figg seems pretty busy trying to get others on her side and the fact that she has a hint of relief showing in her eyes concerns me. And so I decide to instantly get to the core of her crimes as I say: "Arabella Figg, you have been accused of assisting Vernon Dursley financially in committing four of his five crimes.
How do you plea?" And instantly the woman's face whitens and I quickly let my eyes roam through the court room. And I do indeed notice that some of the men are now looking pretty disgusted with both the woman and themselves. Then the woman starts to splutter and whimper, trying to gain sympathy and so I snap:
"Did you make money that you then gave to Vernon Dursley, knowing he would buy the evidence laid out before you or didn't you?" Yet the woman seems to come up with an idea and asks: "Can you prove that I made money? I'm retired, after all." Which makes me grimace as her income is something Muggle made, something called intret or something.

But then Kingsley steps forward and says: "Evidence concerning Arabella Figg and Vernon Dursley. The check book of both of the accused. Note that several of Arabella Figg's payments are on the same date that Vernon Dursley bought several items stalled out here on the table." And both of the accused turn white at hearing this.
Kingsley then turns an unimpressed eye to the two and says: "Hiding evidence by sowing it into the inside and bottoms of your shoes and socks doesn't stop the true professionals from finding it, even if they stink worse than unwashed Flobberworms. If anything that is another crime I can add to your already arduous records."
And while I feel a strong sense of respect for the Auror for being willing to work under circumstances like that, do I wave my wand, casting special tempus spells on the receipts that are now lying on the table before me. And a good three quarter of them do indeed have either the same date or only differ by one or two days.
"This evidence has been subjected, tested and accepted by the court. Does anyone wish to question these two?" Yet no one raises their hand or wand, all of those around me more than convinced of the crimes of these two. And because I have better things to do myself – and still have two others trials to get through – do I ask:
"All those in favor of sentencing Vernon Dursley and Arabella Figg for committing the fourth of Five crimes against Minors and financially complying with committing the fourth of Five, please raise your wands." And every wand, even Lucius, who I know hates the Potters, gets raised, looks of fury and rage all around me.

Both of the accused look shocked to see this and then I remember that Figg already has a crime against the Potters on her record. "And then people said that she learned her lesson after she got out of her sentence. Yeah, she learned alright. She learned how to hide her guilt a little better." Which is a thought that really infuriates me.
I then focus on the other three that are yet to be dragged away as it's obvious I don't need to state the sentence Vernon and Figg will receive and state: "Petunia Dursley née Evans, you claimed and have been proven innocent of your husband committing the fourth of five crimes against minors. Do you know of the other three?"
And the woman answers: "No, and I doubt I am guilty of any of them." Yet at this Kingsley turns his head away and says: "If you were, the shackles would still be open." Shocking the woman as I say: "The three primary crimes against a minor are as followed. To malnourish, neglect or abuse a minor. How do you plead?"

And to my abhorrence the woman snarls: "Not guilty. I never did any of the sort. The brat should consider himself lucky I even took him in. It was out of nothing but the goodness of my heart that I did. I –." But then I ask: "Never joined in your husband punishing your nephew with any of the items stalled out before you?"
Amelia suddenly asks and instantly the woman snaps her mouth closed, gasping and looking at the monocle wearing Head of the DMLE and Amelia asks: "Your son already admitted his knowledge of your husband using some of the items. Can you tell us he would not admit to the same knowledge in your regard? Truthfully?"
And the woman in front of me remains silent, her face white at which I ask: "Which item did you use on Harry Potter during his youth?" And the woman whimpers: "The – the – the frying pan." Which suddenly makes me actually take notice of the pan lying on the far side of the table, the pan's bottom lying face up and looking battered.
"You used this to punish Harry Potter? How?" I ask and the woman answers: "I – I – I would smack him – across the head if – if he – if the food he made was unacceptable or below our expectations or if he failed at – at – at preparing the food in time. Or – a few times – if he dared to try and ask for seconds or – a meal of his own."

This last bit horrifies me and I mutter: "That proves the malnourishment crime right there." Yet Amelia seems dissatisfied and asks: "When did you start making Harry Potter responsible for preparing the meals?" And to my disgust, the woman answers: "When the boy was six and big enough to reach the stove."
"That, Petunia Dursley, is an unjust and even dangerous reason for putting responsibility on a minor's shoulder. That is both neglect and – due to the severe punishments you handed out if it went wrong – which it should always go at that age – a case of abuse. That is why your shackles closed on you the minute you sat down.
Child labor, whether Muggle or Magical is and remains a crime and is considered abuse of a minor. Do you have anything you'd like to add?" And this seems to give the woman the chance to regain her bravura as she snarls: "Only that you wizards are cowards. You dumped the boy on my doorstep and now try to make me the criminal.
I and my family are the victims here. We may not have not abided by the law as much as we should, but we didn't have much choice in the matter either. We made the best of a bad situation that was dumped onto us without so much as a by your leave. We didn't even have any way of contacting any of you filthy freaks."

Yet at this Kingsley steps forward and says: "Objection. In June of 1981 a friend of mine moved to the Dursley neighborhood to do James Potter and his wife a favor. He kept a close eye on the Dursley Residence after Harry Potter was – as Petunia Dursley does accurately put it – dumped there and has provided me these pictures.
"That's spying! That's against the law!" Petunia screams, but Kingsley snarls back: "No, it isn't. I was working for both the Department of Orphaned Minors and the Department of Magical Law Enforcement at the time and tasked him with this. Therefore, my friend abided by the law, even with the picture taking.
And please let it be known that my friend, while knowing how to let his camera zoom in on an area, never approached the residence any closer than three houses away, thus staying out of the personal area of the residence. And his pictures will prove that Petunia Dursley's last statement was a lie." And he lies the pictures down.

I cast a spell to enlarge their size and see the woman, her house and even several owls that are either in the trees, on the fence or nearing or flying away from any of the windows of the residence. "The Potter, Black, Longbottom and Gringotts owls. All ready to receive and deliver a letter if Petunia Dursley desired it.
And, according to my friend, each time the birds approached the residence was when Petunia Dursley was heard muttering about how she wished she didn't need to house the Potter boy. Therefore Petunia Dursley did have a way of contacting us, she was even offered it several times over, she herself just never took it."
He then glares at the woman and says: "That means that all of your actions after sending these owls away are of your own accord and free will. You willingly housed Harry Potter and you consciously and willingly abused, neglected and starved Harry Potter. You are not a victim, not after denying yourself a chance out of your situation."
And the woman in question grimaces at the Head Auror as I ask: "All those in favor of sentencing Petunia Dursley née Evans for willingly and consciously committing three of the five crimes against Harry Potter, raise your wands." And just like last time are all wands raised, glares aimed at the wincing woman below.

The woman then gets dragged off and I sigh as I know that, by law, I am forced to give the boy a minor sentence, meaning I can't even send him to Azkaban like his parents, something I could have done had the shackles not trembled and hesitated before they closed. And the boy himself seems to know this too.
Yet this isn't shown by his look of glee or pride or even arrogance. It's a look of confused concern that seems to be aimed at himself as he looks around, obviously wondering what the witches and wizards around him are going to do with him. I sigh and decide to try and make sure I handle his case faster than either of his parents.
"Dudley Dursley, please state which of the items presented before you did you use against Harry Potter?" And the boy hesitates before he says: "I – I mostly used my – my own belts and sometimes a – a baseball bat like – like that one and I – I also used my walking cane, which is part of my school uniform, after I got into Smelting's."

At this I nod and ask: "And did you ever do anything that this court might consider a sign of abuse, neglect or starvation?" And the boy seems to think as he says: "I – I used to play this game – this game called Harry Hunting where – where Harry would run and – and we would chase him and – and if we caught him, we'd beat him up."
"Who is we, exactly?" I can't help but ask and the boy answers: "Me and my friends. Piers Polkins, Dennis Dieress, Gordon Lowns and Malcolm Gardens." At this I nod and the boy says: "I – I would also often – well – take Harry's plate or – or eat more so that he would have less on his own plate, even if – if it made me sick."

This makes me grimace and then the boy lowers his head and says: "And – and when – when those – those things – when they – when they came, I – I was – I was taunting Harry about – about his – his nightmares." And the way that the boy hesitates about this really confuses me, yet it seems to infuriate Kingsley who says:
"Let it be known that Harry Potter's nightmares were about the events of June, Cedric Diggory's murder and the loss of his mother and the late Lily Potter." This astounds me and Percy asks: "Did you know Harry Potter was having nightmares about murder?" And the boy lowers his head even more, which says it all, yet he says:
"I – I did. I – I mean, it – it was – it was all he – that he would moan about when asleep. Cedric, no. mum, dad, save him. Cedric, I'm sorry. No, don't leave me. He'd – he'd – he'd moan things like that and – and I would hear it, even – even though mum and dad were in the room between his and mine. He'd just – he'd be that loud."

And while the boy keeps quiet, do I know what he doesn't say. His father would wake from it too and would punish the Potter boy for waking them up. This makes me both sigh and feel glad we already covered the other two bastards. I then look around and think: "Seems they made up their mind about him already as well."
And so I say: "All those in favor of sentencing Dudley for commitment of three of the four crimes against a fellow Minor, please raise your wands." Yet to my shock, do some women seem to not raise their wands and I think: "It must be whatever attacked him. They must think that already punished him somewhat or something."

Yet I ignore this and, because this sentence doesn't have a cut and dry outcome, do I say: "Dudley Dursley, you are hereby sentenced to fourteen years of mental treatment and community service. You will be serving this sentence while staying at your aunt's residence." Yet the boy whitens and then shocks me as he says:
"I can't. My aunt is a staunch supporter of my father's acts. She will probably even commence him for the fourth of what he did. She's been working alongside him on the abuse and the neglect whenever she visited." And instantly Amelia snarls: "Why was this woman not arrested with the rest of them?" And Kingsley answers:
"We were unaware, Ma'am. Harry Potter only admitted to the crimes on his direct relatives, those he lived with. Marjorie Dursley never came up and my friend was either out of town, at work or, due to other circumstances, never able to watch over the residence when she was present. We had no evidence or reason to arrest her."

The woman nods and then asks: "Dudley Dursley, would you be acceptable to a reduced sentence – of ten years instead of fourteen – in return for giving a full, honest testimony to anything and everything you believe Marjorie Dursley might have done that is against our laws?" To this the boy nods, but then he asks:
"So then, if you're going to arrest her, where will I live?" And Kingsley answers: "I believe my friend is your best option, young man. It will allow you to remain where you are comfortable and will ensure that you won't lose everything you know while you pay for your crimes." At which the boy nods with a grateful smile.
And then he seems to prove something to Kingsley as he asks: "Could I – could I request for a – a restraining order so – so that – my former friends can't – you know – guide me into going back to my – my old ways?" And to this Kingsley asks: "All those in favor?" And just barely enough wands get raised to accept this request.
"Request granted. Now, please go through that door and wait with the Auror detail that is there. I will come for you to take you to my friend when our last trial is done." Dudley nods, sighing in relief when the shackles release him and actually bows in gratitude and respect to the rest of us before complying with Kingsley's orders.

I then turn to the last of the five and to my shock does he seem to be mumbling something while silenced. Yet the way that his eyes are focused to the seat beside me worries me and I spare a glance beside me. I notice Dolores smirking in interest and so I whisper a small counter charm to the silencing spell on the man.
"They make for such delightful pets and playthings and if you make sure I get out of here as is my right, I will make sure you get some sweet rewards, if you –." Yet it is at that point that the man seems to realize that he has been unsilenced and both he and Dolores instantly drain of all color, shock and fear showing on their faces.
"AURORS, GRAB DOLORES JANE UMBRIDGE THIS INSTANT. SHE HAS BEEN CONSPIRING WITH CHRISTIAAN POMMEL THIS ENTIRE TIME AND HAS THEREFORE BECOME AN ACCOMPLICE." Amelia shouts, infuriated as an Auror detail I didn't even know about appears.
And to my shock are two of them right behind me, the both of them jumping the woman before she can do more than raise her wand halfway out of her sleeve. The woman screams and shouts and tries to curse the men jumping and straddling her, yet they instantly take her wand and put it away in one of their specially-enchanted pockets.

The woman is then moved to one of the now empty chairs and while I just cannot believe that she would conspire with someone who has three Ancient Houses against him, does Amelia snarl: "Pommel, we will not add this to your record if you tell us whether you meant Muggles or the Potters with that statement."
And the man seems to accept this as he says: "Muggles. I was offering the Dursley boy to Dolores Jane Umbridge to use as her personal toy and plaything. She assured me she is exempt from the Five Crimes Against Minors, so I thought I could get her help in return for offering her all of the evidence gathered here."
And instantly I remember the many times either Kingsley or Nymphadora Tonks would try and arrest this man for trading and selling minors to brothels and forcing them into acts of pleasure, only to lose all of the evidence before being able to commence the arrest. This utterly disgusts me and I think: "This man has no respect for minors."
And Amelia herself is also glaring as she says: "Then you have been lied to. Dolores Jane Umbridge is not exempt from the law, she was only deluding herself in believing that she is. And now I can add another crime to your record." Yet at this the man turns furious and shouts: "You lying whore, you said you –."
But Amelia glares at him and says: "I said I wouldn't add conspiracy to your record, but you admitted to a desire to steal evidence. That is the crime I will be adding to your record. Therefore, I didn't lie." Pommel grimaces and then glares at the woman and I ask: "Is there any evidence linking him to other crimes, Auror Shacklebolt?"

And Kingsley, who is obviously enjoying himself right now, smirks widely and says: "There is, Minister. The testimony of every person who was present when Christiaan Pommel was caught attempting a deadly curse against the Houses of Potter, Black, Weasley and Longbottom. A total of twenty-seven, if you will."
And while everyone can hear the clear and obvious satisfaction in the man's voice, do I know that no one blames or begrudges him over this and I say: "Very well, all those in favor of sentencing Christiaan Pommel for an attempt on the Houses of Potter, Weasley, Longbottom and Black, raise your wands."
And even Lucius, which is a shock for many of those around me, raises his wand. Yet while anyone with a brain can guess what the man's sentence will be as there is no way the Houses of Potter and Black will leave this lying down, let alone the House of Longbottom, do I sigh as I turn to a different problem that is now upon us.
Dolores herself seems unable to grasp that her accomplice has received a punishment and I just know that she will fight tooth and nail once we get to her own trial. So while I sigh, declare Pommel guilty and even state that his life is now forfeit as by the Ancient House Laws, do I think: "These trials are far from over." And I sigh again.

For me they are.
That means that next year, we're not starting with Umbridge's trial – though I am glad that I got her out of the way before the school year even started – but with everyone returning to read the next chapter of OotP. I already made this break a lot longer than I intended and I have no interest in expending it further.
Happy new year,

Venquine1990
PS. Yes, I based the sentences on a lot less than I probably could have, but what these guys were standing trial for was bad enough. I will cover the full explanation behind their sentences next chapter, I promise.