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This is the first of the 'House of Black' series:
Summary: What would life have been like if Hermione Granger was born a Black? Follow our little heroine as she grows up in the House of Black and becomes Bellatrix Lestrange's right hand girl.
Chapter 18 - Trials
July the tenth was finally upon them and Cassiopeia couldn't be happier, she was going to prove her family members innocence and finally give the proverbial middle finger to the rest of Wizarding Britain. Hermione had argued with her about staying in the Manor and eventually Bellatrix had intercepted and demanded that she accompany her.
They arrived inside the atrium of the Ministry of Magic via the floo network, Cassiopeia led the three others towards the check-in counter advising that they were there to see Madam Bones for an eleven o'clock trial with the Wizengamot.
Signed in, wands checked, and directions given; the four family members made their way through the swarm of wizards and witches toward the elevators that would take them to their destination; courtroom twelve on the fourth floor.
Finally arriving on the fourth floor, they strode along the corridor towards courtroom twelve where they met with Madam Amelia Bones, who then directed them into the empty courtroom. It would begin filling within the next five minutes and they would then begin.
Madam Bones took both Bellatrix and Sirius to a side room where they were both magically restrained, per Ministry protocol, and were left until they were brought forward for their trials. Cassiopeia and Hermione were then directed to a bottom row seating area where they would have full view of both Sirius and Bellatrix.
Hermione sat next to her grandmother and watched as the first batch of Wizengamot wizards and witches filtered into the courtroom, taking their appropriate seats; this continued until the last person to enter the courtroom was Madam Bones.
"I call this court to order." A bang of the gavel and the courtroom descended into complete silence.
"Court proceeding begins on this the tenth day of July of the year nineteen ninety-one; the Wizengamot examining two convicted criminals. Please bring out Ms Bellatrix Alexia Black, the first convicted and we will begin."
Hermione watched as Bellatrix was brought out from the side room and bound to the only chair in the middle of the courtroom floor. She watched as the Aurors checked the shackles a few times, while the other stood behind the chair, a small phial in hand.
"Auror Dawlish, please administer the Veritaserum and we will begin." The Auror brought the phial to Bellatrix's lips and waited for her to open her mouth; she glared at him but acquiesced after he refused to budge. Five drops were placed upon her tongue, her eyes glazing over once the serum took effect.
"Please confirm your name for the Wizengamot." Madam Bones requested.
"Bellatrix Alexia Black" Nodding to the Aurors, Madam Bones began the questioning.
"You were arrested and placed in Azkaban for the torture of Aurors Frank and Alice Longbottom?"
"I was arrested, yes, but I did not torture the Aurors." A collective murmur broke out amongst the courtroom, Madam Bones silenced them all with a bang of the gavel.
"To confirm, did you torture Frank and Alice Longbottom on the thirty first of July, nineteen eighty-one?"
"No Madam Bones, I did not torture them." Bellatrix was looking at Madam Bones awaiting further questions.
"Were you there on the night they were tortured?" Madam Bones watched as nearly half the courtroom leaned forward.
"Yes, I was Madam Bones." Hermione could see everyone look from Madam Bones to Bellatrix and back again with confusion upon their faces.
"If you were there, but not partaking in the torture; please tell us what you were doing."
"I was attempting to heal a broken ankle that I sustained when Rabastan Lestrange knocked me off the Longbottom's stairs outside their front door." Madam Bones was making notes upon her parchment, the rest of the Wizengamot began murmuring to one another and Cassiopeia sat with an impassive expression, but Hermione knew that underneath she was practically grinning.
"I would like you to confirm this by allowing a Healer to check for old breaks, will you consent to this being done in front of the gathered Wizengamot."
"Yes, I consent." Madam Bones motioned for Auror Dawlish to fetch a Healer to verify Bellatrix's statement. While they were all waiting, Hermione turned to Cassiopeia.
"Grandmama, the way this is moving, am I correct in saying that Bella will be cleared?" Cassiopeia nodded her head at Hermione's question. A smile began to form on Hermione's face, but she schooled it quickly when Cassiopeia told her to wipe it from her face.
Auror Dawlish came back into the courtroom with a wizard dressed in white robes; they approached Bellatrix and awaited the go ahead from Madam Bones.
"Please perform the diagnostics spell upon Ms Black's ankles to determine if she is indeed truthful about a break received ten years prior to this day." The Healer nodded and did as he was asked, the entire courtroom watched as piece of parchment appeared with writing filling up a quarter of it.
"I can confirm that Ms Black is truthful, Madam Bones." Auror Dawlish took the parchment from the Healer and gave it to Amelia. Nodding at what she saw, she looked at everyone gathered.
"It is true, Ms Black did indeed break the ankle the night of the torture of Frank and Alice Longbottom." Madam Bones added the parchment to her notes and looked back out at Bellatrix.
"Can you advise the Wizengamot of those responsible for the torture of the Longbottoms?"
"Rabastan and Rodolphus Lestrange were responsible." Madam Bones looked at her notes once more before banging the gavel.
"Auror Dawlish, please administer the antidote, take Ms Black back to the holding room."
Once done, he returned, and the courtroom became silent once again. Madam Bones adjusted her robes before clearing her throat and looking to the gathered wizards and witches.
"We have finalised on the trial for Ms Bellatrix Alexia Black, can the Wizengamot please prepare for the votes." Awaiting those gathered, Madam Bones looked at Cassiopeia and Hermione to see if they were still seated, she was happy to see them both quietly and patiently waiting for the outcome of the trial.
"Right, now that we are ready; those in favour clearing Ms Blacks charges, raise your hands." She watched as three quarters of those gathered raised their hands. The court scribe was counting the votes for Amelia's records, she waited for him to finalise on the counting before continuing.
"Those in favour of placing Ms Black back in Azkaban, raise your hands." The remaining quarter of the gathered Wizengamot raised their hands and once again the court scribe counted the votes. He handed her the parchment where the votes were registered, confirming what she had seen with her eyes.
"Ms Bellatrix Alexia Black, cleared of all charges." She banged the gavel and sent the Aurors out to collect Bellatrix, she would then be allowed to sit with her two family members that were present.
"I call this court to order." Amelia Bones began the next trial with yet another bang of the gavel which silenced those gathered.
"Court proceeding begins on this the tenth day of July of the year nineteen ninety-one; the Wizengamot examining two convicted criminals. Please bring out Mr Sirius Black the third, the second convicted and we will begin."
Bellatrix and Hermione watched as Sirius was brought out from the side room and bound to the same chair that Bellatrix had been bound too. They watched as the Aurors checked the shackles again the same as they had with Bellatrix, Auror Dawlish once again stood behind the chair the Veritaserum in hand.
"Auror Dawlish, please administer the Veritaserum and we will begin." The Auror brought the phial to Sirius' already opened mouth, not wanting to cause an issue so early into the trial. Again, five drops were placed upon his tongue, and his eyes glazed over once the serum took effect.
"Please confirm your name for the Wizengamot." Madam Bones requested once more.
"Sirius Black the third" Nodding to the Aurors, Madam Bones began with her questioning.
"You were arrested and placed in Azkaban for the murder of twelve muggles and Peter Pettigrew on the night of July thirty first, nineteen eighty-one, is this correct?" Bellatrix stiffened next to Hermione causing the girl to look at her in question before looking back at Sirius.
"Yes, that is correct, however it was a false arrest." Madam Bones looked up from the parchment before her and again the gathered Wizengamot started muttering amongst themselves. After yet another bang on the gavel, Madam Bones began with her next question.
"Please explain to the court on what happened that night." Madam Bones watched as Hermione took Bellatrix's hand in her own as gesture of comfort.
"I went to the Potter residence to ask them to change the Secret Keeper from Peter to myself, but when I got there it was already destroyed and I saw Peter making a run for it; I followed him down the street and watched as the coward started blowing up the muggles houses, then cut his ring finger clean off and transformed into his Animagus form." Madam Bones was shocked at what she'd heard, having only been told by their Chief Mugwump, Albus Dumbledore, that it was Sirius Black who had turned dark.
"An Animagus, what form did he take and is he registered?" Sirius shook his head before answering.
"He isn't registered, and his form is that of a rat, rather fitting for the circumstances behind my false imprisonment." Cassiopeia rolled her eyes, only Sirius would throw in his two knuts whilst being interrogated.
"I would like to reconfirm the following once again for the gathered Wizengamot. Did you murder twelve muggles and Peter Pettigrew?"
"No, Madam Bones, I did not."
"Who then murdered the muggles and Peter Pettigrew?"
"Peter Pettigrew murdered them and is still alive due to him being an unregistered Animagus."
"Please tell the court what form Peter Pettigrew takes."
"A rat."
"Thank you Mr Black. Auror Dawlish, please administer the antidote and take Mr Black back to the holding room." The Auror did as he was instructed and returned. The courtroom became silent once again. Madam Bones looked at all those gathered within the courtroom.
"We have finalised on the trial for Mr Sirius Black the third, can the Wizengamot please prepare for the votes." Awaiting the gathered Wizengamot, Madam Bones looked over to the three family members who were awaiting the verdict. Hermione and Bellatrix were sitting close together, their hands joined, Bellatrix looked like she would rather be somewhere else, while Cassiopeia was looking at all those gathered with contempt.
"Alright, now that we are ready; those in favour clearing Mr Blacks charges, raise your hands." Amelia once again watched as all the gathered wizards and witches raised their hands, save for approximately ten of the gathered, they kept their hands down. The court scribe once again started counting the votes for Madam Bones' records. He came to her and nodded, preparing for the negative votes.
"Those in favour of placing Mr Black back in Azkaban, raise your hands." The remaining ten Wizengamot members raised their hands, the court scribe counted the votes and marked his parchment. Once done he handed her the registered votes and confirmed what she had once again witnessed with her own eyes.
"Mr Sirius Black the third, cleared of all charges." Banging the gavel, Amelia sent the Aurors out to collect Sirius and allowed him to take a seat amongst his three family members.
"I thank you all for joining the double trial for Ms Black and Mr Black; the proceedings of this court stand thus; Ms Bellatrix Alexia Black, cleared of all charges; Mr Sirius Black the third, cleared of all charges. I Amelia Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, call a close to this session."
Cassiopeia, Sirius, Bellatrix and Hermione bowed their heads toward those gathered as well as Madam Bones acknowledging the outcome of the trials; they left shortly after.
The four occupants living within Black Manor were currently sitting at the table; filling their plates with their dinner. They had, had a long day whilst being at the Ministry and were only too happy to be at home. A house elf appeared with the evening edition of the Daily Prophet with a breaking headline;
BELLATRIX AND SIRIUS BLACK – CLEARED OF ALL PRIOR CHARGES
This evening's edition is brought to you by, Sidney Matthews.
Whilst we were all going about our usual activities, this reporter was seated with the Wizengamot in courtroom twelve. The proceedings began at exactly eleven o'clock this morning; where the court went through the questioning of Ms Bellatrix Black, who was placed under Veritaserum.
Madam Amelia Bones questioned Ms Black about the torture of the Aurors Frank and Alice Longbottom and all those gathered, including Madam Cassiopeia Black and Ms Hermione Black, bore witness to the answers given, Ms Black was never part of the actual torturing and we would have known this ten years ago if Ms Black was given a proper trial.
The same was said for Mr Sirius Black the third, he too was placed under the Veritaserum and was questioned about the murder of Peter Pettigrew and twelve muggles; Mr Black advised the court that it was in fact that Peter Pettigrew that was the one who murdered the twelve muggles, cut his ring finger off and then transformed into his Animagus; he is also an unregistered Animagus; we were informed that Mr Pettigrew's Animagus is that of a rat.
More information pertaining to the Aurors Frank and Alice Longbottom and the Lestrange Brothers – Page 2
More information pertaining to the Potter deaths and Peter Pettigrew – Page 4
Cassiopeia placed the paper back on the table and smiled at her family.
"Today went extraordinarily well and I am pleased that you two are now free to move around once again." Hermione was grinning at Bellatrix and was rewarded with a smile.
"Thank you for making it happen, Aunt Cassi." Bellatrix murmured.
"I concur, Aunt Cass, we wouldn't be free if it wasn't for you." Sirius said with his glass raised in thanks.
"Of course, and you are both very welcome." Cassiopeia patted Hermione's shoulder before picking up her fork.
They sat quietly eating their meal; roast chicken with vegetables and potatoes. Hermione could feel the magic around her and couldn't help breathing in deeply to taste the happiness that was coming from Bellatrix's magic.
It had been four days since the trial that had freed Bellatrix and Sirius, Hermione was lounging against Bellatrix's furry body with her eyes closed, she was trying to find her Animagus' form and so far all she could see was that it was half the size of Bellatrix's form. She kept watching as the form became a bit clearer until finally, she saw it.
There in her mind's eye was the exact copy of Bellatrix's horned lion; only hers was smaller and the eyes were completely white. Her Animagus was just as beautiful as Bellatrix's and she couldn't wait until she could begin practicing her transformation.
"Bella, I found my form." Bellatrix lifted her great head and looked at Hermione, "It's exactly like yours, only a little smaller and my eyes are all white whereas yours are entirely black." She was running her fingers through Bellatrix's fur and if she wasn't mistaken, the toothy grin she got in response, was all the confirmation of Bellatrix's approval she would get, for now.