Hi all! Last three chapters after this!
Chapter 36
The interrogation lasted for two more hours. Gemini was subjected to questions about her life from the moment she was introduced to the magical world to Hogwarts to her career in the Ministry and Malfoy Apothecary. She was forced to admit several unbecoming qualities she had while in Hogwarts, many of which didn't help her look less of a safety hazard. She admitted that she insisted she was half-blood, that she had friends who had connections with Death Eaters allies, that she had remarkable powers at an early age, something her former professors could verify. Her one redeeming quality was her heroic effort in the Potions class, one which actually saved the children of several Wizengamot members. Hermione stressed that part for ten minutes, pointing out Gemini's good qualities.
After Hogwarts, however, Gemini had nothing to hide. They questioned her about her relationship with Arnold Longbottom, something a lot of people found positive, considering that he was the son of Neville Longbottom. She was relieved they didn't ask anything that would force her to talk about Teddy Lupin because she knew she'd be even more vilified than she already was if she admitted it. Her life after Hogwarts was clear, and the room seemed to lighten up as she talked about her relationship with Arnold.
"We were actually supposed to move to our rented house in Berkshire yesterday." Gemini said. When the questions were vague or too broad to be answered definitely, Gemini couldn't seem to stop talking until someone asked her to stop. "It's near Reading, and we planned it so that Arnold and I were compromising on the distance from our workplace. He and I—"
"That will do, Ms. Ridley." Minister Shacklebolt said. He turned to the other Wizengamots. "Well? What do you think?"
Like in the past two hours, Hermione Granger' hand shot up the fastest when she had something to say, and she practically jumped off her seat. "Hermione," Minister Shacklebolt said, "you were in charge of Ms. Black's internship, were you not? Perhaps you could give us a bit more insight into her character?"
Hermione looked surprised, but agreed. She cleared her throat before speaking. "When I first met Gemini Ridley—er, Black, rather—I honestly thought she was a stereotypical Slytherin girl. I'm pretty sure we all know the Hogwarts House stereotypes are—whether or not we admit to believing it is a different matter. When Professor Slughorn first suggested her to me, my first reaction was that this was a girl who knew how to play on Slughorn's love for giving his favorites the leg-up. Meeting her, I already had an image of who this girl would be: a pretty girl who was aware of her looks, stuck-up, arrogant, couldn't handle authority, and I was sure she'd mention her blood status within the first hour of our meeting. And when I met her, that was exactly what I saw. I wasn't sure if I was already making a list of stuff to expect from a girl like her or if our meeting was really that bad, but I think if it weren't for her sheer intelligence, I'd never had hired her.
"But then time passed, and I saw she was more than what I expected. She belonged in Slytherin, no doubt, and she has her flaws: she can be full of herself, she doesn't follow rules that don't suit her, she tends to take authority for granted, but I saw that there was more than that: she was smart, but she was also determined and hardworking and willing to help others. She was a better intern than I thought. Quite talented. She gave up the Auror training program when it was clashing with her relationship with Arnold Longbottom. All in all, I think Gemini Black is a nice person—someone who poses no threat to the community."
"But the risks—"
"There are no risks." Hermione said firmly. "The only risks I see is how unethical the Ministry will be if we arrest her because her parents were Dark Wizards yet she herself even contributed to society in Potions. Think about it: a seventeen year old girl being isolated and sent to Azkaban because she couldn't control who her parents are? That sounds familiar to me. What about all the Muggles-borns present here who were alive and witnessed the Ministry sixteen years ago? Remember the Muggle-born Registration Commission? Do we plan on doing the same treatment to her?"
Many of the Wizengamots nodded in favor of Hermione. Some looked utterly moved, looking down in guilt at the prejudice they showed Gemini. Hermione smiled. "I believe we should let Gemini go. She has done nothing wrong, and had she been born to different parents there wouldn't be a trial in the first place."
One elder Wizengamot stood up. He had thin, round bifocals on his face, receding gray hair, and a perpetual scowl on his face. Gemini knew immediately that she wouldn't like what he had to say. "What about that Dark Magic business in Malfoy Manor?"
Harry stood up from where he sat. "If you found out your whole life was a lie because Malfoy lied to protect himself, you'd be upset too, wouldn't you?" He said. "Gemini was upset. She was taken by surprise. Naturally, she inherited Voldemort's powers, but Malfoy said—"
"No buts, Mr. Potter. Exactly." The Wizengamot said triumphantly. "The fact that she possesses Voldemort's powers puts a risk in our community. It does not matter what her credentials are, what she's done, or if she's been living in a rock for the past year. The matter of fact is that she has those powers, she has You-Know-Who's blood in her veins, and—as Ms. Black said earlier—she is a gifted witch and could be more powerful than she knows. That immediately constitutes a threat."
"And this is the first case Ms. Black has performed Dark Magic," Another Wizengamot noted. "And it was performed during a moment of anger and after she learned the truth. Who knows what more she is capable of now that she is aware of her parental heritage?"
"I'm not going to hurt anyone!" Gemini shouted. Everyone turned to her. "I'm not mad at anyone. Maybe the Daily Prophet for having a hand at vilifying me to the entire wizarding community. I'm still upset at Draco for hiding the truth all this time. But do I want anyone dead? Do I plan on using Dark Magic in the near future? I don't. Please…you have to believe me."
"I feel like I can believe you, Ms. Black." Minister Shacklebolt said, nodding to Hermione. "Personally, based on what's been said here, you've got good character, good enough that you don't really pose a threat to the Wizarding community. The only threat that exists here is the fact that you have Voldemort and Bellatrix Lestrange's blood. That's a lot of Dark Magic running in your veins. You and Mr. Malfoy's stories corroborate that the Negapatronus you performed was clearly an accident. For those among us here who understand Muggles, letting Ms. Black leave custody is like handing Hitler's daughter the remote to a missile in hopes that she won't pull the trigger. Naturally, if we set you free, we have to be assured that you do not repeat anything like that."
"I won't." Gemini promised. "I don't plan on using it. I'll learn how to control it if I can."
"Would you be willing to perform an Unbreakable Vow?" The scowling Wizengamot asked.
"I would."
"You understand that by making an Unbreakable Vow that you won't perform Dark Magic?" Minister Shacklebolt asked. "And the moment you do perform any sort of Dark Magic, it's instant death?"
"I know." Gemini said. "If that's what it takes you to believe me, then I consent to doing an Unbreakable Vow."
The room went silent. The old Wizengamot member frowned, looked at his seatmate, and shook his head. Gemini ignored him and focused on Hermione, who gave her a tiny smile and a discreet thumbs up. She coughed her throat and caught everyone's attention.
"See? As I have been trying to tell the Wizengamot for days: Gemini Black is not an evil woman. Her father and her mother spoke for themselves; Gemini's actions speak for her own. She is not who she was born to. She does not have any intention to be the "Second Coming". She has no horcruxes around Great Britain. And she certainly does not believe in her parents' cause."
Majority of the Wizengamot and the other onlookers nodded in approval. Harry gave Gemini a polite nod, showing that he accepted her for who she is. Minister Shacklebolt fumbled in his robes for his wand. But Gemini noticed none of that, and instead was distracted by the voice in her head. Are you sure about that?
What? Gemini thought, her mind struggling to stay clear. She didn't even ask a question.
Are you sure about that? You're lying.
I'm not!
Silence of the truth is lying. Say it. Say it! SAY IT! SAY IT!
"Very well, then." Minister Shacklebolt started. "In that case—"
"That's not true, Hermione." Gemini heard herself say. "I do believe in the Death Eater's plans. Not all of it, but I think they had the right idea."
There was an uneasy tension in the room. "Gemini..." Hermione smiled uneasily. "What do you mean?"
Shut up! Shut up! Gemini kept telling herself, but she felt her mouth open and say: "You know, I hate it when you ask vague questions. I mean, I do believe that Wizards and Witches should rule over Muggles. As someone who grew up in the Muggle world—and in a place where irresponsible Muggles abandon their children—there are so many Muggle issues that can be solved with Magic. Food's running out and Muggles can't make food out of nothing. Water is dirty. They use oil for most of their contraptions, oil which is made through thousands of years of decomposing—running out at an exponential pace. Yet, we can't solve it because we have to stay secret, so Muggles continue to destroy the world we live in. If we ruled, we'd end wars, stop scarcity, make everything easier for both Wizards and Muggles. We'd have to control Muggles, naturally, because they're shallow and mundane and can't work without destroying anything.
"My father's mistake was that he forced his ideals without getting majority of the wizarding community to support him. It was inhumane. It was cruel. It was all because he didn't think convincing others was important. Before we take over the Muggles, we have to be backed up by those who would oppose us. It'll be difficult, it'll take time, but as proven by Muggle history, forced movements never work. Unless of course, they have something so powerful that no one would ever think of opposing."
The elder Wizengamot member spoke up. "So you believe that Wizards should rule Muggles?"
Stop talking! She screamed at herself, but on the outside, Gemini shrugged. "It's all for the greater good, anyway."
A few hushed whispers and gasps echoed the room. The Wizengamot member continued. "What about Muggle-borns? What do you think of them?"
NO, NO! "Muggle-borns and half-bloods are part of the reason why the wizarding community is changing. And I recognize that not all these changes are good nor preserving the traditions held by the wizarding community. It's almost making us forget that we're wizards who can do anything and Muggles have inventions because they don't have Magic like us, yet here we are using Muggle inventions. I'm not saying they should be regulated, but, if there was a better name for it…"
"That will do, Ms. Black." The old man said quietly.
Gemini bit her lip, knowing she was in trouble. The man stood up. "See?! A threat!" He said loudly. "Say what you want about her, but deep inside, she has the same mindset as her father! She may be everything you say she is, Ms. Granger, but when it comes down to it, the issue remains: she may end up just like her father, and when that moment comes, we will all be in trouble. She could do an Unbreakable Vow, but what will come of it when she finds more powers—more powers than we can understand—and finds a way to break the vow? By then it will be too late!"
The room quickly burst into all the Wizengamots arguing, talking at the same time. Gemini tried blocking out the arguments, but clearing her head just made the Veritaserum Alpha make her head spin, and she had to grab at the arm rests just to think straight. She remembered Arnold warning her about believing like that, and as her head continued to spin and the noise around her grew, she couldn't help but realize that all her nightmares had finally come true.
She wasn't listening anymore, and it took one Auror to wave a hand near her face before she looked back up at Minister Shacklebolt.
"In light of recent events, I'm afraid the Wizengamot still cannot decide on whether or not to release you." He said apologetically. "And due to the…er, circumstances, as well as taking the risks and all into consideration, we will have to detain you in Azkaban until further notice."
"NO!" Gemini screamed. "You can't!"
"Rest assured, it is only until the Wizengamot will collect more information to determine your safety risk, and then we will see what measures we will take in order to assure that you're safe." Minister Shacklebolt continued, motioning to the Aurors to take her. "We will try to remove as much of the Dementor residue in Azkaban, which will take about two weeks. In the meantime, you'll be detained back downstairs. You'll be allowed visitors until your transport to Azkaban."
"Stop! Please!" Gemini screamed as two Aurors took her arms from the chair and pulled her up. "I've done nothing! You can't put me in Azkaban!"
"It's for safety purposes, Ms. Black. Hopefully you'll come to understand the risk you pose." Minister Shacklebolt said.
Gemini looked around pleadingly for anyone who would step in on her behalf. None came. Harry looked remorseful, yet did nothing to stop the Aurors who were half-dragging her out of the courtroom. The other Wizengamot members sat stony-faced, the ones who were on her side just moments ago now acting like she was her father, Lord Voldemort, himself. She twisted her body as much as she could until she could see Hermione, with a look on her face that Gemini could only describe as guilty. Guilty of what? She heard a voice in her head say. This time, she had no idea which voice said it.
"Hermione!" Gemini called out in desperation. "You can't let them do this to me!"
"I'll see you have a fair trial, Gemini!" Hermione shouted her promise. "I'll make sure you're treated well."
Wait a minute. Why does Hermione look guilty? Gemini knew the answer to that quickly: If it wasn't for that last sentence in Hermione's closing speech, Gemini would have easily done the Unbreakable Vow and leave the Ministry. But Hermione just happened to say that last sentence, and now here she was, dragged and about to be sent to Azkaban in less than two weeks. Gemini tried clearing her head to think, ignoring the throbbing pain of the Veritaserum Alpha, which was beginning to wear off. And then she realized it.
"It was you." Gemini breathed. She turned to glare at Hermione. "You wanted this! You planned this all along to get me arrested!"
She shrieked as she used all her strength to yank her arms from the Aurors and ran towards Hermione's seat. She was quickly caught by the Aurors before she could even reach the stands, and her arms were quickly and painfully pinned behind her.
"IT WAS YOU!" Gemini screamed angrily at her. The rage was seething again, but she kept her fists clenched in case she did something she would surely regret. "YOU NEVER WANTED TO HELP ME, YOU JUST WANTED ME TO THINK I HAD A FUCKING CHANCE! YOU WANTED ME TO SAY THAT! YOU WANTED ME LOCKED UP! YOU KNEW I'D SAY THAT AND MADE SURE I'D BE LEFT OUT TO DRY!"
"I didn't!" Hermione said tearfully, standing up to speak louder. "I promise you, Gem, I didn't want this!"
"SHUT UP, YOU FILTHY LITTLE MUDBLOOD!" Gemini screamed. "YOU'VE DESTROYED ENOUGH OF MY LIFE AS IT IS!" A part of her wondered where the rage was coming from, how the profane term was so uncalled for. But it felt good to scream, it was a catharsis as the room stopped spinning, and if she was going to release all that anger, she'd do it on a filthy Mudblood like Hermione Granger.
Something stronger than adrenaline was coursing her veins. It made her alert like Veritaserum Alpha, but her head remained clear, and it was filled with profanities for everyone in the room. "YOU ARE AFRAID OF ME!" She yelled triumphantly as the two Aurors had to drag her towards the door. "I AM THE DESCENDANT OF SLYTHERIN AND BLACK, THE MOST POWERFUL PUREBLOOD ALIVE, AND MAKE NO MISTAKE, YOU ARE ALL JUST TOO SCARED THAT I WILL RISE ABOVE YOU ALL AND TAKE BACK WHAT IS MINE! YOU FILTHY MUDBLOODS AND HALF-BLOODS AND BLOOD TRAITORS HAVE RUINED THE SANCTITY OF THIS WORLD AND I WILL—"
She felt a freezing sensation and saw Harry Potter point his wand at her, muttering a freezing charm. The Aurors tilted her body and carried her out easier. Gemini couldn't move, but she could roll her eyes, looking furiously at everyone who watched her leave the room.
I'll kill them. I'll kill them all! She fumed, surprised at her own rage. She didn't care, though. She liked the rage boiling inside.
She knew there was no going back now. She had just proven everyone that she had a bad side, and now that she did, she knew that no matter what evidence Hermione would find—or choose to find, after that happened—she knew she was never going to be free again.
Yet, oddly enough, Gemini didn't seem to care. I'm getting out of here, whether or not they let me.
They passed the dark hallway, and at one side, Gemini could see her reflection on the shiny walls. It was as if a deep instinct came over her, and suddenly, she knew what to do. As she was dragged along, she watched her blurry reflection as her eyes turned bright red. She kept looking at her red eyes until they dragged her downstairs, and even after they placed her back in her cell, for the first time, Gemini's eyes remained red. No more hiding! She vowed, smiling. I am Gemini Black—Voldemort's daughter. And I am done trying to be a good person.