Stepping through the doors of the Ministry of Magic for Talbott's trial was one of the hardest tasks she had to perform in her life. Fear paled her face since she knew well enough what the sentence was for an unregistered Animagus. Somehow, he would be treated the same as a normal killer or forbidden curse user. He would be pilled with the worse of the worse, the most notorious criminals from the wizarding world and one of them was her father.
The very thought of them being inside the same room brought chills down her spine, but them being in the same prison, where Constantine had men at his disposal would only mean Talbott would not live to see even a week inside the walls of Azkaban.
Broken bones were healed, however she could feel the strain on her body as she focused more on walking normally. The aftermath of the ritual still lingered on her skin, chest stitched back together, Talia not even being able to face her own reflection in the mirror. She could not look at herself yet, scars sleeping upon scars, all in a gruesome tapestry carved onto milky white skin.
Those who knew her offered small smiles, some reluctant to even lock eyes with the survivor of Constantine Crane's ritual. Little did they know she went through the same ordeal early on in life "Talia, over here." Her eyes shot up to the source of the voice, Bill Weasley waving her over. Next to him, an unknown figure offered her a polite hello, extending out a hand.
"Arthur Weasley. Lovely to meet you." Cocking a brow, she shook the hand offered, turning a pair of questioning eyes towards her friend.
"Father managed to get in and see how he's doing. They won't allow for any visitors and since he doesn't have any family it's harder to convince them." She continued watching the two men, Arthur saying how Molly made some food that Talbott refused to even touch. Yet she expected this behavior. She predicted he would close up entirely, punishing himself further until the day of the trial "Are you certain you should be out of the hospital?"
Choosing the ignore his worried stare, she immediately answered "Yes Bill, I won't be of any good sitting in a bed waiting to hear from everyone. Plus, I am witness, it's better to be here." Her brows knit together as her eyes cast to the door leading to the trial room "Especially since it was Constantine's word that landed Talbott in jail."
Looking around, his eyes finally scanned his father's face before focusing back on Talia "Do you have a plan?"
"Always." She uttered placing an open palm against her chest "However it won't be pretty."
"There would be no need for that." Turning around Dumbledore offered them all a sincere smile, a hand being placed on Talia's shoulder "I have with me testimonies from all the professors, we will get mister Winger out." A gentle squeeze on her shoulder did little to calm her nerves. The Ministry was now on high alert, willing to do anything to silence the chaos created by Constantine and unfortunately Talbott was caught in the crossfire.
However she wanted desperately to hope.
As they all took a seat, the trial starting, Talbott was brought inside the room. Shackles dug into his skin, the men bringing him to the stand forcing him down despite him not opposing them. His usual slicked back hair was now hanging over his eyes, covering them as his head hung as if he was waiting for his executioner to finish carrying out his sentence. He made no eye contact, his voice barely registering as he stated his name in front of the jury.
They took turns in calling out witnesses, asking them to speak about the defendant. Initially her demons lay dormant, trust being placed in the hands of Albus Dumbledore sitting to her right. He spoke with great fondness about Talbott's accomplishments, who he had been during his stay at Hogwarts.
Moody took the stand, speaking next, about how training went, the potential he held for being an Auror. Upon hearing that Talbott just closed his eyes tight, it was just a dream, an unattainable dream. Bill received a silent short nod, him divulging how his friend transformed in front of him "However we would have not caught Constantine if he had not."
His words held great truth, however no one looked impressed by that statement. And she knew, she just knew that no matter the circumstances, positive words held no meaning inside that court room. The Ministry wanted to bury the events once more.
But when Talia got a chance to speak, anger laced her voice. Disgusted by how everyone looked at him, fed up with the system that never helped him or her "State your name for the record please."
Slowly she got up, the tightness in her chest igniting the dormant pain she felt "Does that look like the face of a criminal?" her hand cut through the air "This is how you chose to honor loyalty? How you treat potential?" darkness set upon her eyes like a veil as she glared "It's due to your inability to protect and save those who deserve it."
"Miss Hayes you need to follow procedure."
As her high heels rang across the marble floor, she scoffed rolling her eyes "Apologies, let me try again. The name is Talia Crane and you are making a mistake." Through the corner of her eye she saw Talbott shaking his head, however she refused to look at him. She kept her head high as the room erupted in hushed whispers, most of them questioning if they heard the name right. Her voice rang loud and clear, echoing off the walls "I am the daughter of Constantine and Josephine Crane."
"Their child died…"
"No." she interrupted the judge "You had no evidence of that, but I have proof." Taking out of her pocket, she held out a vial with her memories "I am a Crane and I am finally ready to stop running."
They took a break in order to analyze the new evidence presented, calling everyone back after a couple of hours "We have taken this time to review the new evidence, however I have to ask. How is this relevant to mister Winger's case?"
Pursing her lips, she did her best to suppress a smirk "It is, for one, he knew of my real identity and what he was up against. Second, it shows how the Ministry chose to gloss over events relating to the Crane family in fear of the ritual reaching the public." Shaking her head, she schooled her tone "I can understand that, it would have been chaos, now more so, since we know for a fact it works." Gesturing towards Talbott, she continued "He chose to a participant in all of it, despite knowing very well the consequences of his actions. However can you really blame him? Afterall, he was but a child when he lost his parents. Threats continued to arise during his school years and after. Please tell me, when would it have bene a proper time to register?"
"The law is absolute."
"Is it? Because I have not seen the good side of this law you speak of? Death eaters are still out there. People worse than Constantine, maybe even Voldermort is trying to come back." It created an uproar. In one sentence, the room exploded, her yelling "Imagine those people getting their hands on the ritual! Imagine immortality beating inside your chest! And yet here you are judging a soldier for doing the right thing! For bringing a monster to justice!"
Taking off her shawl, she unbuttoned her shirt "Look at what a monster can do! Look at it and tell me you don't need men like Talbott Winger on your side!"
"Silence! Everyone silence!"
"I dare you to try!" she continued yelling, Talbott calling out her name "Tell me how Talbott Winger is the bad guy here!" she refused to look at him, she knew he would ask her to stop, that enough was enough, that her exposing her real identity would result in her never being able to have a normal life. She knew it, she knew it well.
Talking out her wand, a silver line detached itself from her head, the room eventually quieting down due to their curiosity "This memory is about the ritual. No one except the Crane family knows it. If I were you, I would erase Constantine's memory. And before you decide you should do the same to me" releasing the memory it soon dissolved in thin air "please know that in several location across the world, there are now people ready to release the ritual to the public. And if anything happens to me, you won't be able to stop it. Talbott Winger's only crime is fear. Let him register, let him fight for you. Trust me, good people are very hard to find."
The judge raised a pair of questioning brows "Are you threatening us miss Crane?" the name rolling off his tongue caused him to twitch as a shiver took him over.
"Not at all. I am just relating your future to you. And it will be dark and vicious."
Talbott's voice reverberated dangerous and low "Are you mad?" his eyes burned with anger and fright, pupils shrinking as he addressed Talia "You are signing your own death sentence. It would all be for nothing."
"Not nothing." she finally turned to look at him "You are not nothing."
He shook his head, desperation lacing his voice as he turned to the judge "Please, if the world finds out she is Talia Crane this is the end of her. The Hell with what happens to me but please."
Raising a hand to silence him, the judge spoke once more "It's clear to me you both are fiercely loyal towards one another, however Mister Winger, she had made her choice today, by stepping up and telling the world she had survived. She made this decision willingly."
"No, no she didn't."
"HOWEVER" he spoke up "there is some truth to her accusation. The system did not aid you or her when you needed it most. You both lost a lot at a very young age. Usually we have unregistered Animagus cases where those abilities are used with malintent. You have very good friends mister Winger, all of them willing to risk a lot just to see you free. You have brought a notorious criminal to justice, saved Talia Crane and many more by not allowing for the ritual to be complete. You will have to register, you as an Animagus and you Talia under your real name, there will be no going around that. Refusing to do so mister Winger will send you directly to Azkaban."
He blinked in surprise "And if I do register?"
"Well this is not for me to decide, but I do believe you still have some training to go through in order to receive that badge."
His hands shook as he signed the paper attesting to the fact that he was an Animagus. With Voldermort trying to return, it would only be a matter of time until his past would come around to haunt him. He did not celebrate or smiled, his freedom meant something else.
Talia participated in her father's trial, new evidence finally being brought forth. He was sentenced back to Azkaban, memories being erased.
They did not publish her picture, however she did reach the front page "Talia Crane found alive after many years", "Talia Crane comes out of hiding to help the Ministry bring down her father" and all sorts of titles that she cared little for.
Dumbledore was the only one that waited for her outside the Ministry "That was a bold move Talia. Was there any truth to your statements?"
Smirking, she sighed "Well I had Severus threaten to erase my memories so many times that I did indeed save them up. I do know the ritual yes, but there is no conspiracy waiting to happen, no new Crane army ready to divulge to the world anything."
"So you lied I see." However there was a hint of amusement in his tone.
"It's what kept me alive all this time. Thank you for being here, I won't forget it." Diverting her eyes, she stared at her feet "Now all I have to do is ensure Talbott is not too mad at me for what I did."
Looking at her from above his semicircle lens he smiled "Mister Winger is a rational man, I am certain he knows why you did it." As she locked eyes with him, he could see uncertainly washing over her "As for his emotion driven side, I cannot say, he was adamant in not exposing you."
Clicking her tongue she released another heavy sigh "Well I guess it's time I go home and find out exactly what he's thinking."