Chapter 37: The Sentence
The room grew quiet as the minister stood. "Welcome. Today we shall be concluding the trial for prisoner number 111207, Ms. Emily Elizabeth Black. The charge against her is as follows: a proven member of the Dark Lord's order, the Death Eaters. Bring in the prisoner in question." With a lift of the Minister's hand the floor in the middle of the room gave way, and Emily was raised out of the darkness and into the light of the trial room. "Ms. Black, upon the information given to us by yourself yesterday we decided unanimously to call a recess…so that we might be able to discuss this case more carefully. I am afraid to say that we still are not satisfied with the information presented. It would seem that although your memories showed a haunting past, there was nothing whatsoever that may help in your case." The minister raised his hands to quiet the outbreak of murmurs and chatting. "Quiet! Now then Ms. Black I must say that upon careful deliberation amongst the ministry officials, as well as myself we have reached a verdict." The room was silent; the only voice to be heard was that of the Minister, Harry's heart beat faster with each minute, his eyes focused on Emily. She was calm, almost as if she already knew what the sentence was. "Seeing as there is no evidence to support your cause, the prisoner in question number 111207 is herby sentenced to…"
"If I may Rufus." Dumbledore stood up before the entire crowd and ministry officials. Emily's heart skipped a beat when she heard his voice.
"What is it Albus?"
"I have evidence to support Ms. Black's case and since you denied seeing it earlier this morning, I thought it only fair to the trial and council to present it now before everyone." The room filled with a roar of murmurs as Dumbledore walked from his seat to stand in front of the crowd.
"I must say Albus that this is out of the question! We have already reached a decision." Scrimgeour tried to speak above the noise of the room.
"Minister, if there is new evidence then according to number three hundred and forty two of the laws of Ministry trials we must hear them before a sentence is given." A meek voice came from the row of ministry officials.
"Thank you Huckleby." Dumbledore said as he smiled at the rather short, white haired man. "Minister, it would be a grave mistake to our side to sentence her to death. She is a vital asset to our forces against the Dark Lord. She knows his plans, his spells, if you kill her then that knowledge is lost. She has been under my protection since she was brought in by the Order this summer. I knew who she was as well as the fact that she was a Death Eater."
"And yet you yourself did not turn her in!" The Minister said.
"Minister, there have been many other members of the Dark Lord's circle who have been double agents. There identity must be kept hidden in order for their work to continue." A nod of agreement from the officials bade him to continue. "Ms. Black was a pupil of mine. I saw no darkness in her magic, nor any malice in her heart, simply a girl who longed to be rid of her past. A dark past that no one in this room can imagine. Voldemort is feared by the world." A gasp resonated through the room at the mention of his name. "But this young woman, this brave young witch grew up with him. I ask you to keep that in mind before you judge her actions."
"What does this have to do with your evidence Albus?" He retorted.
"Let me continue." The Minister reluctantly nodded. "If I may bring forward the Head of the Department of Mysteries, Mr. Drudley Breckend." Breckend arose from his seat within the crowd and made his was to the witness stand seated by the ministry officials. "Good afternoon Drudley. Thank you for coming on such short notice."
"No problem. Glad to be of service."
"I just have a few quick questions about a prophecy that was made nearly a thousand years ago."
"Mhmm."
"I think it was number 8245, to be precise." Dumbledore noted.
"Ahh. Yes it is held in the highly restricted section."
"Did you happen to bring it like I had asked?"
"Yes, sir. I have the original right here." Breckend reached into his bag and lifted a glass sphere. The deep blue smoke within it sparkled in his hands.
"Original?" A council member spoke up. "There are more?"
"Tomish, I cannot give you any further details but yes, there is usually a duplicate of each prophecy catergorized in our Department. We take…great care to preserve the original, especially a prophecy with such a long history as this. This one, I hold here, is in fact the last remaining one we at the Ministry possess."
"What happened to the other?" Another council member questioned.
"I am afraid it was taken before my time."
"Taken?" The Minister seemed surprised.
"Indeed." Breckend eyes glanced from the Minister to the crowd. "I believe the Daily Prophet made the report on the Death Eaters and He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named's attempt at breaking into the Ministry last year. It seems they neglected to mention that this wasn't the first time items were stolen from the Ministry. This prophecy's twin was stolen over thirty years ago."
"I believe what we know now to be true is that whatever lies in this prophecy is of great value, so valuable that I believe Voldemort himself would seek to retrieve it." Dumbledore's eyes glanced from Emily to the crowd, catching Harry's fixated gaze. "Am I correct in saying Breckend that a prophecy can only be heard when the person which the prophecy foretells touches it?"
"Well yes, but it depends. Sometimes the prophecy can be vague on who it its for."
"Yes, true, but the magic contained within this prophecy will reveal itself to the pre-seen owner."
"Yes, it will."
"Can I see the prophecy please?" Breckend handed the prophecy carefully over to Dumbledore. "Emily could you please touch this for me."
"Albus! This…" but he was too late. Dumbledore placed the swirling blue glass sphere within her hand. A raspy voice of an old woman filled the great courtroom:
The daughter of Slytherin born under the blood moon
will sacrifice her life in order to save the man her heart claims,
and in return the connection that they share will be stronger than any Dark Lord.
Under the curse bestowed upon her by her first birthday will prove the true love,
the man prophesized to destroy the Dark Lord, her kin
"Minister, members of the court; this prophecy's rightful owner is Ms. Black. The prophecy foretells of how Lord Voldemort will be killed. It can only occur with the help of Ms. Black. Without her help, we shall all be at the hands of the Dark Lord." The crowd gave a gasp.
"It spoke of a curse?" The Minister pointed out his face blank as it tried to decipher the meaning behind what he had just heard.
"Emily would you mind?" Dumbledore took the prophecy from her hands as he gave her a nod of encouragement.
"Minister, when Lord…my grandfather captured me he placed an ancient curse upon me in the ancient magical traditions of giving gifts upon a witch's birth. Yet his gift was in the form of a curse. It was meant to bind me to him. I used to believe that I was unable to love."
"I don't understand. Unable to love?" The Minster questioned.
"Sir, I am unable to be around men without becoming sick. It is as if all my powers are drained from me, I become weak, nauseous, and lightheaded, if it progresses I faint. Voldemort made it so that I was unable to be in the world. It bound me to him because the curse does not work on my kin, him as well as fellow Death Eaters. In his presence I was safe, in the real world I was in danger of death. If in the mere presence of a man I would become sick, anymore would be fatal. The curse was the reason I was not killed when Voldemort used his killing curse."
"How?"
"He placed a binding curse on me therefore he cannot kill me until the curse is broken or I turn of wizarding age."
"He cannot kill you?"
"He cannot kill her Minister. Which is why she is so valuable to us. Without her we have no hope."
"And there are no exceptions to the curse, Miss Black?" Huckleby asked inquisitively.
"Only one, sir." Emily smiled her eyes finding Harry's in the crowd. "It seems that magic, the upholding of the prophecy, makes a way sometimes. Although the result of the curse I still believe rings true, the symptoms do not. The prophecy speaks of the one my heart claims, he, it seems, is also the cure."
"How do we know the validity of this?"
"What do you mean to test it?" Dumbledore questioned.
"Before we come to a sentencing, yes. How do we know that this is not just a farce to save her life?"
"Minister…"
"No, Albus. The Minister is right. Her "curse" must be tested." Huckleby spoke.
"Emily?" Dumbledore turned to see if she would comply.
"So be it." She simply said praying that this would convince them.
"If you do indeed have this curse than the mere presence of myself will affect you am I right?" The minister stepped down from podium and walked towards her.
"I only ask that you be careful Minister."
"Of course Albus, if she is what you say she is then she needs to be in the best condition. I only mean to test her not to "kill her"." The audience gave a chuckle at his jest.
As he approached Emily prepared for her curse to take its course. She normally was able to have control with the everyday encounter, but this time she couldn't. This time they had to know the extent of the curse. With each step he took her feelings intensified. Her head swooned, her eyes lost focus, her stomach tightened. Her body unconsciously tried to wriggle from its restraints. Yet, upon seeing her reaction the Minister did not back away, he simply continued.
"Minister." Dumbledore spoke severally. Yet, he continued. He stood no more than a few inches from her. Emily was on the verge of fainting.
"Min…minister…pl…please…stop." Emily pleaded but he did nothing. He simply stayed where he was. Harry. Harry! Emily called into the abyss of her mind.
Harry heard her. He watched as the Minister stayed where he was. His finger slowly touched her arm, running up and down her bronzed skin. Harry saw her body go limp. Emily.
"EMILY!" Harry shouted above the silent crowd.
He did not know what kind of force made him jump out of his seat but before he knew what he was doing he was at her side. The crowd looked on in shock of what they were witnessing. She did indeed have the curse, and the boy who lived, Harry Potter, was by her side.
"Emily! Em." Harry shouted as he shoved the Minister out of the way. "Professor, keep him back!"
Harry had no earthly idea what to do but his instincts had taken over like they had that day when she had fainted on the steps outside the Great Hall. Dumbledore grabbed the Minister's arm and forced him to retreat. Harry bent over her, holding her face softly in his hands. He leaned in to whisper in her ear.
"Em? It's me. Come on, Em. Wake up" Yet, she didn't. Harry didn't know what to do. Fear consumed him. With his hands safely holding her face, he simply placed a kiss on her forehead. Her brown eyes fluttered open.
"Ha..Harry? What happened? Did I?" She said nervously as she slowly regained her strength with his mere presence.
"You're safe. I'm here." He still held her face in his hands, her forehead resting against his. "I thought I had lost you for a moment." His eyes showed his fear.
"You can't lose me." She said simply. "I'll be fine." Harry let go and stood up before the crowd.
"Are you happy Minister? A few more moments and you could have seriously hurt her!" Harry's eyes blazed making Scrimgeour take a step back.
"It was a good thing you were here then, Potter." He stated. "I assume you are the one she was referring to…the cure."
"I believe that is enough proof Minister." Dumbledore noted. "This is all the evidence I can provide. I shall leave the verdict to your hands. Harry, you may take your seat now. She will be alright, thank you." Harry did, but not before giving Emily a questioning glance her simple nod gave him the peace he needed to take his seat. The Minister returned once again to his podium, he looked to the officials on either side of himself.
"Well, I believe a vote is needed due to the new evidence presented. All those in favor of guilty by penalty of death raise your hand." Only four hands rose. "All those in favor of not guilty with a free pardon…" but before he could finish nearly fifty hands flung into the air. "In a unanimous vote the prisoner in question number 111207 is herby acquitted of all charges. The trial is adjourned." A skirmish of noise filled the room, quick quills wrote, the crowd began talking, and Harry, Hermione, and Ron gave a sigh of relief.
"Told you." Hermione and Ron said in unison. But they were too late for Harry was already heading down the stairs and towards Emily, a huge boyish grin on his face.