A/N:
Written for the November Event (Male Appreciation) over on Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry (Challenges & Assignments)
Male: Hard – Stan Shunpike
Chocolate Frog: Bronze - Sturgis Podmore - Challenge - Write about a hearing in front of the Wizengamot
Gringotts: OC Name: Male – Ralf Irwin; Colour – Grey; Locations: Ministry of Magic – Courtroom 10; Said Words – Wept, Demanded, Boomed, Requested
Hearing
"Stanley Shunpike, you stand before us today accused of associating with Death Eater's," a cold, commanding voice spoke. "There is strong evidence against you. Have you any last words before the trial begins?"
Stan looked down at his feet. How could he have been so stupid? He had only been trying to big himself up to his friends over a few drinks, and look where it landed him – on trial for treason in front of the Wizengamot.
"I never meant anything by it sirs and misses. I was just showin' off. I ain't no Death Eater, I swear it on my mother's life," he wept shifting his feet nervously.
He could feel the eyes of the hundreds of men and women around him passing judgement on him. He knew that he was doomed. Why would they believe a lowly bus conductor like him?
"Call in the first witness?" the same voice from earlier commanded.
The double doors behind Stan creaked open, and he heard the distinct wheezing of his best friend Ralf Irwin
"Could you tell us in your own words what the defendant told you?" demanded the Minister for Magic.
Stan listened as Ralf recounted the night in question, and he knew by the end that his fate had been well and truly sealed. The idiot didn't even bother try to defend him – so much for buds for life. He made a promise to himself that if he somehow escaped being convicted, Ralf could kiss goodbye to his free rides on the Knight Bus.
He had landed himself with a one way ticket to Azkaban with no chance whatsoever of seeing the light of day again before he was old and grey.
Before he knew it the trial had ended. Stan had counted approximately ten of his friends giving evidence against him, each testimony even more damming than the next.
"All those in favour of acquitting the accused of all charges, raise your hands," boomed the Minister for Magic, glancing around at his fellow judges, daring them with his stern glare to defy his explicit wishes to see this buffoon sent down
Stan chanced a glance up at the members of the Wizengamot, and saw that not one single hand was raised.
"All those in favour of convicting the accused on all charges, raise your hands," he requested confidently.
Slowly every hand in the dungeon went up, and even though he expected it, Stan's heart sank. He was going to be locked up in Azkaban with a load of maniacs, and a hoard of dementors.
"Stanley Shunpike, you have been found guilty of being a Death Eater. You are to be taken immediately to Azkaban prison," the Minister for Magic, Rufus Scrimgeour announced. "Guards lock this scum up and throw away the key."
Two sets of hands grabbed Stan roughly and escorted him out of courtroom 10. As they dragged him, he begged and pleaded for the Wizengamot to reconsider, but his words fell on deaf ears, and he resigned himself to the fact that no matter how much he fought it, he was doomed.
A/N:
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