Chapter 49
Alice sat down at the table placing her head in her hand. It had been the longest day of the year so far. And yes she knew that technically the year only started ten days ago. But for her this day had lasted a week in itself.
"You want some cod?"
She shook her head at Joe as he placed a piece on his own plate. Around her everyone was lost in small silent conversations. It was something she had noticed was becoming more popular among the group. Where as once they had all sat and talked as one now they hardly did. And it was all down to dealing with raw emotion. It was becoming easier for certain people to talk to one another.
Frank appeared from nowhere and sat down next to her. He leaned around her and spoke to Joe. She shook her head wondering why he didn't just sit next to his friend in the first place.
"We want to come tomorrow."
Alice was startled from her thoughts as she looked sideways at Frank.
"I know and thank you both so much. But I need to do this alone. I need to face the man who killed my family and I want to show him that I'm strong enough to do it, and that I'm not scared of him."
"You can do that with us there!"
Alice smiled at Joe shaking her head.
"I'm afraid I can't. The pair of you will look like my bodyguards or something. But like I said I appreciate the thought."
"But seriously you can't do it on your own."
"I won't be on my own. There's going to be a ton of people in the room. And by the time they get onto the account about my family Amanda will be sitting next to me. We'll show her dad that we're strong women that don't need the protection of men."
"Oh yeah with Sirius sitting next to you!"
"Actually Sirius isn't coming. Amanda told him she wants to face this on her own too. And Dumbledore said the only other student going is Adrian."
The two boys became silent and Alice took it as her opportunity to get a piece of beef onto her plate. They ate in silence for the remainder of the meal. It wasn't that Alice didn't want to speak but her mind was firmly on other things.
The trial had started that very morning. The paper had been filled with speculation of what would be going on and said on the first of the two day trail. Alice was aware that Pettigrew was set to speak in his friends defence as were Adrian and Anastasia Amanda's siblings. Alice was quite sure that they were out to discredit Amanda's testimony before they even started.
The Prophet had being having a field day over the last week. Each day a little bit more information was offered up. The people standing in his defence, those standing against him. Speculation of what the three children would bring to the trial. The wonderment over the part that the Minister would play.
That very morning a list of names had been printed. The jury members that would be sitting in on the trail. The people who along with Barty Crouch would be making the final judgement. Little statements about the Dunn's and her own family and what was known already about the murders.
"Dumbledore's back!"
Those two words flew around the great hall at maximum speed. Everywhere people turned to look as he walked in followed by a very smug looking Adrian. The headmaster winked at her as he walked passed but she was sure that there was a look in his eyes that wasn't entirely reassuring.
Once the meal was over all the students started to head back up to the common rooms. Alice didn't move as her eyes shifted over to the Slytherin table. A group had formed around Adrian Dixon and he looked to be loving it. She knew instantly that he was gloating about his part in the trial and how he had helped save his father from Azkaban. But the boy was counting his chicks too soon.
"You coming?"
Joe held out his hand and she slipped hers into it. He squeezed it gently and she smiled looking at him. She was aware of a number of girls shooting her looks. She had become use to it by now but not for this reason. With the run up to the trial Joe had become very protective to her and paying her a lot of attention. The girls who had crushes on him didn't like that attention; especially with the fact Frank was doing the same. They thought she was milking it for the boys.
But in truth she didn't care in the least. They were her friends and they were there for her. Together the three of them headed up to the common room. Inside the atmosphere was so tense it felt almost like the hours before a Quidditch game, or maybe the deciding Quidditch game for the Cup.
Groups of students were sat at tables doing homework, playing cards or chess even some gobstones. Over the deathly silence of the students hummed the radio. It was set up in the corner and sat on the sofas listening intently to its words were her friends. Still holding Joe's hand she headed over there. James and Peter were sat beside Branwen on the large sofa. Remus was in the chair with Lily resting on the arm her arms wrapped around the boy. On the second chair sat Sirius with Amanda sat on his lap with her legs resting over the arm. Alice with a nod to the others dropped to the floor in front of the sofa with Joe and Frank. Then they listened silently as the Hobgoblins latest song ended.
"And with that Wizarding Hour is over. I'm Glenda Chittock and next up is Kurt Clarkson with today's news including exclusive commentary from today's trial of Alistair Dixon. So stayed tuned…"
Alice's stomach turned as she tried to calm her breathing. The atmosphere in the room built as the tiniest of noises died away. Leaning over Frank she looked around the sofa. All eyes had turned to the radio as they all waited to hear what was about to come. For the first time Alice realised that although this was personal for her and her friends it was something that had hit the entire house. They had lost a Gryffindor and everyone in the house wanted justice for their fallen peer.
"Good Evening and welcome to tonight's wizarding news. Tonight's main headlines … Hobgoblin front man Stubby Boardman denies rumours of a marriage to Celestina Warbeck … France's top Quidditch team Quiberon Quafflepunchers are fined over the incident against Poland's chaser Josef Wronski V in the game against Grodzisk Goblins … The organisation Brotherhood of Goblins is demanding once against for the rights of Goblins to use wands and lastly an anonymous werewolf has become a best selling author with the release of the book 'Hairy Snout, Human Heart' wizards and witches all over the world have cleared it off the shelf to make it an instant success."
"Of course our main story tonight is the first day of the trial of Alistair Dixon. For those that need reminding Dixon was the key recruiter for the ministry and head of the Department of Mysteries. Moreover he is also one of the closest friends to our current Minister Simon Pettigrew. In December he was arrested for the attempted murder of a muggle and following his arrest rumours arose of his involvement in the murders of two influential families of the wizarding world, the Dunns and Scotts."
"Today saw the first of a two day trial. I was privileged enough to have a front seat in today's trial and saw first hand the support that this man has. Speaking at today's trial was the man himself Alistair Dixon. He had the following to say when asked why he was at the muggle house 'I don't remember going there. It's as if I have lost several days of my life. There is a white blanket over my mind when I try to think about it.' While those sitting around me sounded unconvinced by this there were a lot who thought it possible."
"He was then asked about the two families that were murdered. He had the following to say about that 'I don't understand where these accusations have arisen from. Why would I want to kill those families? The Dunn's have been a great asset to me over the last few years. They have taken care of my youngest daughter who has taken it upon herself to leave our family. The Dunn's took her in and so gave me the peace of mind that my daughter was safe. As for the Scott's I have nothing but respect for the family. Thomas was an amazing wizard and it is a great loss that he is dead. I would never wish harm upon them.' I must say it was all rather believable."
"However I was sat next too Fabian and Gideon Prewett who screamed insults in response to this. It took Albus Dumbledore to calm them down. He pointed out calmly that Dixon would not tell the truth since he wasn't being trialled under Veritaserum. He then reminded them that tomorrow the truth would come out. This has lead me to question the manner of this case. It is obvious that the friendship of the Minister has given some protection to the man."
"After Dixon his eldest daughter Anastasia took the stand. She looked the part of a loving and obedient daughter as she spoke of her fathers love for all his family. How he would never wish hurt on anyone. She spoke of her sadness over these deaths and the wish that they would realise it was not her father and track down the real killer. She didn't though to my mind bring anything to the trial itself. Nor did her brother Adrian who spoke of Dixon as the prefect role model. A man who has taught him the difference between right and wrong. He brought up the idea that there are those that wish to discredit his father out of jealously. From the mutters around me it would seem that the two siblings were there for one reason only. And that was to discredit their sister before she takes the stand."
"Yes I have an exclusive for you from the mouth of Quidditch star Anton Wild. During the break that was taken for lunch I sat with my old peer and asked what his take was on the fact that only two of Dixon's three children were called as character witnesses. The star had the following to say 'Amanda his other daughter is a witness in the trial. She'll be here tomorrow speaking against her father. From what my brother Joe has told me she's a key witness to one of the murders that he is accused of. That's probably the only reason those two brats were called up. Want to make out that Amanda is the bad seed of the family.' When I asked if he thought that Amanda Dixon (the middle child) was indeed a bad seed. Anton told me that after meeting her he would believe anything she said."
"Following the call for lunch. Dixon's wife went to the stand claiming that he couldn't have been involved in the first two murders. She presented the case that he had been with her on the first of September at her sister's house for a dinner party. On the second occasion she claims that they were at a restaurant celebrating the announcement that their eldest daughter Anastasia is with child. As for the muggle case she shrugged and said that she couldn't tell you where he was on that date."
"Similar testimonies were made by his sister-in-law Amarantha Snape and brother-in-law Charles Snape. His brother-in-law William Malfoy claimed to have been at the restaurant with them as did Dixon's sister Victoria and nephew Lucius Malfoy. Surprisingly his son-in-law Paul Parkinson wasn't called to his defence due to some illness that has prevented him from being present."
"There were some surprise witnesses called, Alan Player a waiter who had been at the restaurant in question. Then Yvette Hobbins and Joan Berrabah close friends of Amarantha Snape who claim to have been at the dinner party."
"The last person to be called to the stand today was the Minster himself Simon Pettigrew. Whilst jumping to his friends defence he brought to light some ideas of how his friend may have been in two places at once 'I think that there is a possibility that Polyjuice Potion may have been used. It would have been easy to gather some hairs from Alistair in the lifts within the ministry and who's to say that the impostor isn't an excellent potion marker. Or there is just the possibility that those with vendettas against the man are using this as an excuse to destroy him.' I can tell you that that statement went well with those against Dixon!"
"While today's evidence was pretty much expected by all tomorrow's promises to be full of surprises. With those who wish to have the truth spoken coming to the stand it is going to either make or break the case against Dixon. And hopefully tomorrow Alice Scott the only surviving member of the family will be in court. Kyle Wild claimed that she was reluctant to come face-to-face with the man that murdered her family. But the rumour is that she will be there tomorrow to support her friend Amanda Dixon through her testimony."
"But the big question about tomorrow is what Amanda Dixon is going to say. It is well known in certain circles that she left home at the age of thirteen and has refused to have anything to do with her family. Today I spoke to Victoria Malfoy who not only is her aunt but up until last year was potion mistress up in Hogwarts."
"When I asked her what she thought she had the following to say. 'Amanda is a very mixed up girl. She suffers from what people have termed "middle-child syndrome". Amanda is very talented but she has always suffered by being in Anastasia's shadow. While Ana has always been the flower of the family Amanda is the wall flower. The one that nobody notices. So she plays up to get the attention. Plus there is the fact that the third child of the family is the only boy so she feels outshone by him too."
"She is bright and I think that could be part of the problem in all this. She has been influenced by people who think our family is over the top. She has broken away with a bad-seed in the form of Sirius Black. We thought that he would be a good and calming influence on her when she was younger but it has turned out to be the other way. He has led her down a path away from her family because he hates his own."
"When I then asked her about the fact that she is publicly speaking against her father Malfoy claimed that it shows Amanda in her true colours. 'She is a spoilt brat who has always wanted her own way. Her father has never given into her and this is a revenge thing for her. But not for her deceased friend as people think but for her own purpose. As for the allegations that she is going to put forward one must put it in context with what Ana and Adrian have said. Alistair can't be that bad a parent if two of his children love him. I believe the problem is with her and that she has engineered the entire thing."
"While that seems to be the thinking of her entire family a different tale is told if you speak to those that are there to see justice. The Prewett brothers as well as the Wild boys claim that Amanda is doing what she knows to be true. That she will speak the truth and that her siblings are just there to discredit her. I guess we will find out tomorrow. So don't miss the news tomorrow when we bring you the truth and the verdict of one of the biggest trials we've seen in Britain this century."
Alice looked around. Everyone was still just staring ahead lost in their own thoughts. She glanced at Amanda and noticed that she was white and shaking. Alice didn't blame her. She felt outraged by what she had heard so far. But she was sure that with tomorrow everything would change.
"I need to see Dumbledore!"
Amanda's voice was high and squeaking. It was so strange. It made Alice feel uneasy. All eyes in the common room seemed to drift to her.
"You can see him tomorrow Mandy."
"No I need to make sure he gets some Veritaserum."
"You can't be serious Mandy. If you take that you'll have to tell them everything."
"Yeah Amanda Sirius is right. If you take the stuff and they ask why you left home you won't be able to lie. Do you really think you're ready to explain that?"
Alice looked from Sirius to James. She had the sudden feeling of being lost in the dark. But that didn't matter. Amanda threw her legs to the floor and looked extremely calm.
"It's time the truth came out. You heard Kurt on the radio. Today nothing was done under Veritaserum. If I take it tomorrow then they'll know I'm not lying. He won't be able to squirm his way out of it. And let's face it the last thing he'll be expecting is for me to tell the truth about that. It'll throw him."
Nobody spoke for a moment. Finally Branwen spoke softly.
"My nhad has some. Dumbledore took it to court today. It's been tested by the Aurors and they'll be bringing it down with them tomorrow. I think he said Moody has it. So I'm sure if you ask to take it they'll let you."
Amanda shared a look with Alice. They were both thinking the same thing. Tomorrow could possibly turn out to be the worse day in their lives so far.
Okay so I was too lazy to write day one of the trial. I thought seeing everyone saying nice things about Dixon would be boring. So we heard about it on the radio. Thingd are progressing now! Lol. Umm next post will probably be next Wednesday and then there'll be another one next Sunday just before I go to the train station.
Kris xx
