Hey everyone!

First of all this is LucyMaxine... that username change happened and now it matches all my social media and it reflects how my life and who I am as a person has changed. My old one was a random pick when I had to come up with a name for here and it's certainly not who I am as a person now. I did give some advanced warning. I should be heading back to work this month so this will certainly be an interesting month.

Stay safe.

Lots of love,

LSH xx

Finally Belonging Somewhere-Part 89:

The day of the trial arrived and Lucius and Narcissa, along with James and Caitriona, had agreed beforehand that Aurora and Astoria would remain in school until break time and then Lucius and Narcissa would collect them and take them out for a decent lunch before heading to the trial. The restaurant that they had chosen would be empty apart from them so Lucius and Narcissa had no worries about taking the girls in there as they would be Floo'ing straight into the restaurant itself.

Aurora kept her head down during morning classes as she felt all eyes on her and it made her nervous about the day. She sighed and asked if she could remain with Snape as she didn't want to face anyone else and he'd agreed. The professor sent Charlotte to find out what they were doing in Charms before sitting her in the corner so she could work quietly on her classwork quietly.

Snape kept an eye on Aurora and could understand why she was worried and nervous. The trial was the talk of the school and he knew that she was only 12 after all. He didn't want her to go to the courtroom but he also knew that she would have wanted to have her say in what happened to Bellatrix. After all it was Bellatrix who had caused all her problems in the first place.

After the lesson there was a knock on the door and Astoria walked in.

"Charlotte told me Rora was here with you and I need to take her to get her ready for the hearing," she said and Snape nodded before he allowed Astoria to take his goddaughter and then the two headed to the Common Room and the dorms.

"When is mummy coming?" Aurora asked as she walked into the dorm with Astoria.

"Soon my little dove but first of all we need to get you ready and I have my clothes here as well," Astoria said, "now you get ready and I shall as well." Aurora nodded before she began to get into the outfit that her mother had chosen for her. She looked at Astoria before grabbing her hairbrush and began to brush her hair out.

"Come here little one," the older witch said and Aurora looked at her before she went and sat down on her bed and Astoria swiftly gave her plaits and smiled, "now you are ready," she said and smiled softly before making sure Aurora had her fairy doll and unicorn teddy as Narcissa had said that she didn't want Aurora in court without them.

The two soon made their way up to Dumbledore's office and found Narcissa stood waiting to take them up to the office. Narcissa was quiet, worried about her daughter but she was remaining silent about it and she walked them upstairs before they Floo'd to the restaurant.

Lucius was relieved to find that it was indeed empty and he looked at Narcissa before they all sat down. Lucius instantly began to ask the girls what they were doing in their classes and kept them talking, trying to get Narcissa involved. He could feel that she was toying with the idea of telling Aurora that she would be taking the stand but she couldn't risk Aurora getting scared. Her daughter appeared to be coping well with everything that was happening and she didn't want to do anything that would ruin that.

"I am learning about healing potions," Aurora said as she looked at her mother and smiled, "and some of them you use in the Hospital Wing," she said, "you are kind to help so many people and I'm happy you're my mummy," she said.

Narcissa couldn't help but smile and gush at her daughter's words and she bent over and kissed her head.

"Who did your plaits?" she asked.

"Tori did!" Aurora said as she looked at her mother and smiled before she looked at Astoria and grinned at her. Narcissa thanked her and they ordered their lunch before sitting in silence for a while. It was an uneasy silence but even Aurora seemed to understand that and she looked back at her reading book. She went back to her reading book. That was Narcissa's plan; distract Aurora a lot with a book as much as possible so that she wouldn't get too scared wit what she was hearing.

Eventually the food arrived and everyone ate in silence and Narcissa couldn't help but smile softly as Aurora was finally able to cut her own food up. That had been something difficult for her to learn and something that Aurora should have known but she didn't and she looked at her mother before going back to eat and have some of her drink.

Lucius looked at his watch and said that it was time to head to the Ministry. He said for Astoria and Aurora to remain together as he apparated the group to the Ministry where he and Narcissa instantly began to shield the girls from the press before they met Minister Fudge. A scream exited Aurora's mouth as the Minister pointed his wand towards her and Astoria.

"It's just a shield charm as you and Astoria will be in the stand together," the Minister explained as he looked at Aurora, "but you two have to stay together now," he said and the two girls nodded.

Narcissa cast a warming charm on the girls as they felt the chills as they descended down to the courtrooms and then approached the courtroom. Narcissa caught a glimpse of her sister and determination to see justice done for Aurora overtook her and she sat down with Lucius and the girls as the afternoon session began.

Aurora sat reading her book. It was one that Narcissa hoped would keep Aurora engrossed so she wouldn't really hear what was being said as she didn't want her daughter to be scared into not wanting to speak. Astoria was listening and she remained expressionless as she listened and wondered when she and Aurora would be called to the stand. It felt like such a dull affair for Astoria but she looked at Aurora and knew she was the reason why she was there. She loved the girl and smiled as she saw her reading her book.

It wasn't too much longer before it happened.

"We would like Aurora Malfoy and Astoria Greengrass now please."

Narcissa could do nothing but watch as Aurora and Astoria made their way to the witness box to give their statements.