back again my friends!
Today is the much awaited trial...part one that is.
Sorry, I had to lengthen the scene and it ended up being a monster of a chapter so I split it in half.
Warning, this chapter (and the next one) will be dealing with heavy material including victims describing attempted rape and attempted murder/ Please be advised.
If Someone Cared Enough
Chapter Twenty-One: The Trial part one
The day of the long awaited trial arrived as the seventh month died, July 31st on a gloomy, overcast morning. Papers were deeming it the trial of the decade; it had been ages since any prominent pureblood family name was dragged through the mud by a scandal. Having made headlines across the country in the wizarding communities when the story first broke, crowds of reporters and curious onlookers gathered just inside the Ministry's main lobby, hoping to catch a glimpse of anyone.
Aurors escorted Severus and Lily along with the rest of the Evans family into the atrium, shielding them away from the flashing cameras and gawking stares.
"Ms. Evans! Ms. Evans! What do you hope to be the outcome of this trial?" called one reporter.
"Do you think Avery should receive the kiss for his crimes?" shouted another.
"Mr. Snape! Mr. Snape, over here!" yelled one man dancing around with a large, bulky old-fashioned camera, "Can we get a shot of your injury for the papers?"
Severus pulled the collar of his shirt up higher, taking deep breaths. He had been working with Marcus on his issue with crowds in preparation for this day.
Willow wrapped an arm around her daughters, "Goodness, these people are like vultures."
"You'll get used to it," one of the Aurors said, "Reporters are always like this with big trials."
The ushered the group through a set of double-wide doors, the heavy doors shutting loudly behind them. Now in a more private section of the Ministry, the noise of the reporters and the gossips did not follow them.
"You'll be expected to sit up front closest to the prosecutor," one Auror explained, "You're family may come with you, but just know…you'll most likely be called to the stand, so arrange yourself accordingly."
Lily nodded seriously, looking around the lobby with trepidation. Her posture relaxed some when she spotted a familiar face, "Mary!"
Curly brunette hair bobbing as she walked, Mary hurried to Lily's side, pulling her friend into a hug.
"Today's the big day," Mary said with forced cheer. It looked like her cheeks hurt from pretending to smile.
"Yup," Lily replied with feigned cheer of her own, "Lucky us, right?"
Severus shifted from foot to foot, eyes fixed on the lifts that would take them to the trial.
Mary hooked an arm with Lily, "We are so lucky we live in the muggle world. Apparently, this trial is all anyone has been talking about in the Wizarding world. We would have been hounded by people daily!"
Lily grimaced, "It's bad enough we have to go through this, do people really have to make our victory or loss the highlight of their days?"
Miriam leaned over and patted her daughter's back soothingly, "Now, now you three, remember what the authorities said. This trial is practically a formality. They have plenty of evidence against those two."
"Even if they rule them guilty, there is no guarantee they'll get a harsh sentence for it," Mary said sourly, "After all, we're just muggleborns."
"And a halfblood," Severus added, eyes still fixed on the door ahead of them.
"You're also all the top of your class and two of you are also favored by Dumbledore," came a snide voice from behind them, "So buck up."
Simone sauntered towards them in a set of violet robes with gold embellishments, her hair pulled up and over one shoulder. She smiled smugly at Severus, "Think I would miss this?"
Petunia broke out into a relieved smile, "Simone!" she left her family's side and hurried towards the dark skinned girl, "What are you doing here?"
"This is technically a public trial," Simone said casually, "So I thought I would come and show my support. Thea couldn't make it; her folks wouldn't let her come. But she sends her love."
Behind Simone, her father hustled forward with a wide smile on his face and his ridiculous hat complete with fake hair. Following behind him could only be Simone's mother.
She was impossibly tall and slender, only the jutting curves of her hips and ample breasts taking away from the near broomstick look of her thin arms and waist. A dark, aristocratic face sat atop a long elegant neck, high cheekbones decked in golden bronze, full pouting lips stained a deep burgundy. Her eyes were oval and almost cat-like, golden orbs rimmed by heavy kolh and long lashes caressing her cheeks every time she blinked. Dressed in an Azure robe with her plaited hair wrapped and stacked high upon her hair, she looked like a French-African queen.
"This must be the famed Evans family," the woman said, her French accent thick and alluring, "My daughter talks quite a great deal about you all." She offered a finely manicured hand to Willow.
Willow gladly shook her hand, "And you must be Simone's mother."
"Call me Jordane," Simone's mother replied, covering Willow's hand with both of her own and squeezing it warmly, "Your daughter Petunia is a lovely young lady. It truly is wonderful to meet you all."
Willow smiled, "Likewise. This is my husband, Hank."
Jordane turned to Hank, "Lovely to meet you, Monsieur Hank."
Hank flushed crimson at the attentions of the attractive woman.
"L-lovely to meet you too," Hank stuttered.
Willow bit her lip to keep from laughing. She elbowed her husband lightly in the side and turned to Jordane once more, "Men, huh?"
Jordane nodded in amusement, "Indeed, they are quite…colorful characters. But that's why we love them," she placed a hand delicately but tenderly on her husband's shoulder and smiled down affectionately at him.
Ashwin beamed up at his wife before turning to the Evanses, "So, I trust you are all ready for today?"
Lily nodded, "As ready as we'll ever be. This is Mary by the way, and her parents Miriam and Walter."
"Ah yes the other lady from the train," Ashwin nodded at Mary, "I hope you have been well."
Mary smiled weakly, "As well as I can be. I'm just glad my family is allowed to sit in on this," she gestured to a group of four men standing off to the sides talking with the Aurors, "My brothers even all took the day off from work for this."
"Of course they would, you're important to them," Ashwin said kindly, "Now as you all know, the only ones on trial are the accused, so you will not have a barrister. You will most likely be called to the stand to give your accounts of the event, but the Wizengamot is there to ensure Avery and Mulciber's legal aides do not attempt to take the line of questioning too far. This trial is technically open to reporters and the more respected members of society," he gestured to himself and his family, "but to ensure your privacy and safety as minors, certain precautions are being taken and—,"
"What do you mean I can't bring it in?!" a woman's voice squawked in outrage.
Over by the doors, a young woman stood arguing with an Auror. Looking as if she had barely just graduated school, she wore a horrid chartreuse green frock with a furry lime trim and large horn rimmed glasses. Tucked behind one ear was a large peacock feathered quill.
The Auror was clearly losing his patience with her, "I told you ma'am, cameras are not allowed in the room during trial. There's minors involved and their safety must be protected. No pictures in this room, either."
"The Wizarding world has a right to know what goes on in there," the woman insisted, "How can I do that without pictures?"
"Not my problem, lady. Either follow the rules or leave," the Auror walked away, leaving the woman standing there fuming.
Simone pulled Petunia close, "That's Rita Skeeter," she whispered, "she writes for a gossip rag now, but she keeps chasing bigger stories, hoping one will land her a job with the Daily Prophet."
Ashwin gestured towards Rita, "there you have it; no cameras in the trial. They will also be restricting the questions the accused's barristers can ask you about the attack. They will not be allowed to discuss details of what happened; that was already covered in the reports you gave the Aurors and the memories you provided."
"The memories won't be viewed, will they?" Mary asked worriedly.
Ashwin shook his head, "Absolutely not. The most important of the Wizengamot has already seen them for consideration; they will not be shared with the public."
"At this point, the trial is just to get closing statements and give those creeps a final chance to offer up any excuse that might explain their actions; not that it will change the outcome."
"Those miscreants should not even be allowed to breathe air," Jordane said, her accent growing thicker in her anger, "They are a disgrace to civilized society. Animals, just barbaric what they did."
"The trial will now begin," announced an important looking Ministry worker, "Those attending the trial, please, proceed to the lifts."
"That would be us," Ashwin said, ushering everyone towards the door.
"Severus, hey Severus!"
Severus turned to see Davis and Nesme hurrying towards him.
"What are you two doing here?" he asked perplexedly.
"They won't let us in, but we wanted to wish you luck," Davis said with a smile.
Nesme nodded eagerly, "Yes, and we wanted to give you this," she thrust out her her hands and presented Severus with a small four leaf clover.
"Picked it myself this morning," Nesme explained, tucking it into Severus's pocket "the fresher they are, the luckier they'll be." She threw her arms around Severus in a quick hug, "Good luck," she said warmly.
Severus blinked, clearly at a loss for words, "…thanks…" it was odd having more than a scarce few care about him. Friends in plural was not something he could ever say he truly had before now.
Severus followed Lily and the others inside the lift, glancing over his shoulder one last time to see Davis and Nesme waving at him and giving thumbs up.
"Fingers crossed," Nesme said, entwining her middle and pointer fingers on both hands.
The lift doors closed and Severus was whisked away.
When they reached the correct floor, Ashwin guided the group down the hall into the room the trial would take place.
"Confidence, children," Ashwin said in a hushed voice, "Remember to be confident."
People filed into the seats of the audience section in single file. Following the advice of the Auror that escorted them to the ministry, Lily and Severus took their seats in the front row behind where the prosecutor's seat, Lily's family in tow. Mary slid in next to Severus with her family by her side, the girl's face pale with worry.
Simone and her family sat in the row just behind them all, Simone leaning forward to place a comforting hand on Petunia's shoulder and giving Lily and Severus an encouraging smile.
"Psst, Lily!" came a hiss from the back, "Oi, Lily!"
Lily looked behind her only to turn back around to face forward with a groan, "Oh no."
"What?" Severus asked, turning slightly to see behind them.
Several rows back, James Potter was craning his head to be seen over the people in front of him, hissing Lily's name in a harsh whisper and waving. Next to him sat Remus and Sirius. Lupin had the good grace to look mildly embarrassed, smiling apologetically to Severus when their eyes met, while Sirius just gave a smug grin, flashing Severus a mouth full of teeth in an almost canine-like fashion.
"What are they doing here," Lily moaned.
"Potter comes from a prominent family," Simone stated, casting a glance at Potter with an unimpressed air, "And Lupin's dad is a respected member of the Ministry. It's no wonder they were allowed in. I think Black is just here because I heard he's living with the Potters now."
"Lily, it's me," Potter whispered, frantically trying to get her attention.
Lily hid her face in her hands, "Great, now I have to deal with that going on all trial?" She rubbed at her arms worryingly.
Severus pulled her hands away, "Don't scratch," he chided gently.
"I'm sure he'll shut up once it starts," Mary offered hopefully.
"Doubtful," Severus muttered, watching Potter with distrust. He squinted, "Is that a rat in his pocket?"
"Why would he bring a pet to the trial?" Petunia asked curiously.
Severus stared at Potter suspiciously, "He hasn't got a pet rat."
At that moment, the doors on the far side of the room opened and the Wizengamot, clad in full Ministry regalia, marched in. At the head of the line was Dumbledore and Minister Minchum. Frank Longbottom joined the Wizengamot as a youth representative once again.
Eyes searching the crowd, Frank gave a slight wave to a girl three rows back from Severus's group, whom Severus recognized as Alice Prewett, a friend of Lily's.
Upon noticing Severus, Dumbledore gave a slight tilt of the head in his direction, his eyes twinkling.
"I never know if that twinkle means good or bad for me," Severus griped to Lily.
A ministry official near the center of the room cleared his throat as the Wizengamot took their seats, "The trial of Calix Avery and Magus Mulciber is now in session. Minister Harold Minchum and Chief Warlock Albus Dumbledore now presiding."
Minchum took his seat and looked out over the crowd, "Bring out the accused."
A separate door open and Avery and Mulciber were led into the room. Both in minimal hand restraints, several Aurors with their wands at the ready brought them to two chairs in the center of the room. Leading the Aurors was the crazy looking Mad Eye Moody.
Lily sucked in a breath, laying eyes on her attacker for the first time since the train ride home.
Following behind the Aurors were too harried looking men in suits, presumably Mulciber and Avery's barristers.
Moody said something to one of the Aurors and they proceeded to chain Avery and Mulciber down.
"Minister, surely the chains are not necessary," one of the barristers protested.
"Mr. Ophelius, you're 'client' is brought here under some very serious charges," Moody said gruffly. He pointed at Avery, "He's already attempted to kill a classmate; I'd hate to see what he might try to escape Azkaban."
"I want that statement to be stricken from the record!" Ophelius cried, "Alastor Moody is not on the witness stand."
"That will be all, Alastor, thank you," dismissed the minister.
Moody nodded and stepped off to the side of the room, keeping a close eye on the pair of boys in the center.
"Who is representing the accused?" Minchum asked from his seat among the Wizengamot.
"Domino Ophelius, your honor," Ophelius said, "Representing Mr. Avery."
"And Casper Dupain," said the other barrister, "I represent Mr. Mulciber."
Minchum leafed through the stack of papers in front of him, "Calix Avery, you are accused of aggravated assault on a muggleborn, unlawful restraint of a person, use of an unknown, unauthorized, and unlicensed spell, and attempted murder. Magus Mulciber you are hereby accused of aggravated assault on a muggleborn, unlawful restraint of a person, and use of an unforgiveable. How do the defendants plead?"
"Not guilty, Minister," Ophelius replied.
"Not guilty," Dupain echoed.
Minchum raised an eyebrow skeptically, "…Alright, will the prosecutor and barristers make their opening statements so we may begin?"
What followed was a brief but detailed account of the morning in question, presented by the prosecutor. The man thankfully kept details of the attack on Lily and Mary mercifully vague and short, omitting the actual acts while still managing to elude to the nature of the crime. Though he was discreet, his words still made Lily and Mary shrink into their seats as the Wizengamot's eyes would flicker to them as the man spoke.
Lily huddled into Severus's side self-consciously, clinging to his shirt.
After the prosecutor spoke, he brought up the matter of evidence, stating for everyone to hear that the Wizengamot had witnessed two memories taken from Mary and Lily respectively and several eye witness accounts, including, to Severus surprise, one by Remus Lupin, detailing the injury Severus sustained and the sight of Avery leaving the compartment just as Lupin had arrived. The statements were read for all to hear, though segments of what Lily and Mary described in their assaults were left out for their privacy, and the public could not view the memories. The fact that the Wizengamot had viewed the memories was damning enough evidence in the prosecutor's opinion.
After the prosecutor sat down, the two barrister took their turn to plead for their clients' innocence. It was a simpering and conniving act, full of excuses and suggestions that their actions had been misunderstood, that perhaps the spells cast by Severus and Avery during the duel had hit the girls and rattled them enough to alter their perception of previous events. It was sickening if Severus were to put a word to it. Just the very idea that they would suggest Lily's account of what happened was somehow a mistake made Severus boil with rage.
When the barristers sat back down, Minchum leaned back in his chair wearily, unimpressed by the cheap display, "Would the prosecutor like to call his first witness?"
"Yes, Minister," the prosecutor said, "I would like to call Mary Macdonald to the stand."
Mary stiffened up besides Severus. Lily sent her friend a pained smile, reaching over to squeeze her knee comfortingly. As Mary took a deep breath and stood, Severus felt a shirting of his shirt and realized in surprise that Mary had been clinging to it tightly since the trial began.
Mary sat down at the witness stand, rigid but with her head held high.
"Miss Macdonald," the prosecutor began, "Could you describe the day in question?"
Mary hesitated, her eyes glancing around the room at all the spectators.
"Whatever you're comfortable with; we already have your full statement," the prosecutor said kindly, "Take your time."
Mary inhaled deeply, composing herself, "I was riding the train home from Hogwarts with Lily. We had our own compartment to ourselves for once, so we locked to keep others out. Normally when we do that, people take the hint and move on to a different compartment. Well, it was about two hours into the trip home when the door opened suddenly; someone had used their wand to unlock it."
"They came in uninvited?" the prosecutor asked.
Mary nodded, "Yes. I thought it was some of my housemates coming to tease us, but it wasn't."
"Who was it, Mary?" the prosecutor prompted.
Mary kept her eyes fixed on the prosecutor, refusing to look over at the chained occupants of the room, "It was Mulciber and his buddy Avery. They're mean at school so I didn't want them in our compartment. I told them to leave and they wouldn't; they wouldn't let me close the door on them. They disarmed us and took our wands. They just walked on in…then they locked the door behind them…cast some kind of spell that made it hard for people outside to hear us."
"Then what happened?" the prosecutor inquired.
Started saying mean things about us, about our heritage," Mary explained, "They called us mudbloods,"
—several people in the room flinched and others grimaced.
"-and tried to imply we were below them, that we should know our place. It really upset Lily. She got into a row with Avery about how he treats her friend, Severus Snape. He's halfblood and he's really smart. He does well in all his subjects; better than Avery ever does. Lily called Avery out on using Severus; told him that he was nothing compared to Severus and that Avery only gets good grades because he has Severus to do it for him."
Severus turned to Lily in amazement. Had she really stood up for him like that?
Lily refused to look at Severus, staring resolutely at Mary.
"I suppose that angered Mr. Avery," the prosecutor theorized.
Mary nodded, "Yes, he went off on her, try to grab her. She hit him and they started really fighting. Mulciber got a hold of me and kept me from helping her. Then Avery said…" Mary trailed off.
The prosecutor leaned forward, intrigued, "He said…?"
Mary swallowed thickly, her eyes meeting Lily's in the crowd, "He said it was time she do something useful…that's when we tried to run."
Lily shuddered besides Severus, a haunted look in her eyes.
"Avery hit Lily with the a pertrificus totalus," Mary continued, "And Mulciber imperioed me…that's were things got fuzzy."
"Try telling us what you can recall," the prosecutor suggested.
Mary thought long and hard, "…I remember someone touching me. It felt weird…like I wasn't in my own body and yet I was. My skirt…it felt like my clothes were being moved, taken off. I remember wondering why it was happening, knowing I should be scared, that I had just been scared, but I couldn't remember why that was. I couldn't feel any emotion accept confusion…then the spell was lifted and I fell. Severus was throwing hexes back and forth with Avery and Mulciber, yelling at them for what they did. That's when I looked down and…my shirt was open," Mary's eyes welled up with tears, her face red with shame.
In the crowd, Mary's parents huddled together, their eyes wet as her brothers looked on in sadness
"…my skirt was hiked up…I-I…then I realized that they had…" Mary broke off in a sob, her face buried in her hands, "Can I go sit down, please?"
"Of course, Mary," the prosecutor said gently, "Thank you for your courage here today." He made to help her up.
"Not so fast," Dupain said suddenly, "I would like to cross examine the witness."
The prosecutor looked outraged, "The witness is distraught! Surely you can't mean to subject her to—"
"This will only take a moment," Dupain assured, addressing the Wizengamot, "I'll keep it short."
Minchum studied Dupain carefully.
"I'll allow it," he said after a moment's pause.
Dupain approached the stand as the prosecutor looked on angrily. He was a short but slender man with slicked back hair and a receding hairline. He had jutting cheekbones and a pointy chin, giving him a cutting appearance. In fact, he seemed to be comprised primarily of sharp edges, with boney elbows and jutting shoulders that rose up from his collarbone and gave him a vulture-like appearance.
"Miss…Macdonald, was it? How would you describe your relationship with Mr. Mulciber?" Dupain asked.
"There was no relationship!" Mary cried, her face red and puffy from crying, "I hated him. He was terrible to muggleborns at school. He even played this nasty prank on me where—"
"Yes, yes" Dupain cut her off, "But what about early on in your school career? Were you ever nice to him…friendly perhaps?"
"What do you mean?" Mary sniffled, "I don't see how this—"
"Are you saying you never…smiled at him more than other students?" Dupain asked, "Hm? Maybe acted…overly friendly with him?"
"I was just being nice!" Mary said in shock, "Lily is friends with Severus and he's in Slytherin so I thought maybe I should try to be nicer to them too. It wasn't anything more than—"
"You're saying there is no possibility you led my client on?" Dupain challenged.
"Objection!" the prosecutor interjected, glaring daggers at Dupain, "that is speculation and has no relevance to the crime in question."
"Mr. Dupain, you better be going somewhere we this," Minchum warned.
Dupain gave a small, gracious bow to the Wizengamot, "Of course, Minister. Tell me, is anyone here familiar with courtship?"
Silence met his question, but Severus heard Ashwin mutter something angrily under his breath.
"Courtship," Dupain began, "Is an ever changing set of expectations and traditions for pursuing one's intended or desired spouse. While the manners in which it is carried out have changed over the years, none of the previous methods have been actually outlawed or ruled as unacceptable by the Ministry." He turned to the audience, "One such series of courtship rituals involved playful teasing and taunts. Outdated though it may be it is still a valid form of courtship. It is believed that doing so will incense the taunter's intended spouse enough to keep him always in her thoughts, so that she may grow used to his presence and eventually grow fond of him."
"I submit to you, that my client, after receiving many mixed signals over the years by his accuser, acted on matter of the heart and attempted to woo her in this manner. When she lead him on and then spurned his affections, he acted rashly and impulsively. It was a crime of passion, your honors!" Dupain ended dramatically.
"That-that's ridiculous!" Mary stammered.
"No further questions," Dupain said smugly sitting back down.
Mary shakily left the stand and returned to her seat where she was drawn up into her mother's arms.
Mary's brothers and father were seething, hatred in their eyes as they stared at the back of Dupain's head.
"Dirty tactics, the bastard," Severus cursed under his breath.
"Severus," Lily whispered worriedly, "Are they going to try that with me?"
"I don't know," Severus admitted, "Just keep your head up and focus on the facts: Avery is a bad man and he hurt you."
"Next witness?" Minchum prompted, turning to the prosecutor.
The prosecutor, still red in the face with anger and disgust, took a deep breath before responding, "The prosecution calls Lily Evans to the stand."
Alarmed, Lily turned to Severus, her hand gripping his so tight her knuckles were turning white.
"Stay calm," Severus said softly, "You aren't the bad guy here; just keep reminding yourself of that."
Lily gulped, nodding nervously. Slowly she stood up and approached the stand. As she passed Avery she kept her eyes forward, refusing to look at him.
The prosecutor began his questions once she was seated, "Ms. Evans, could you describe the day in question?"
"It was how Mary described it," Lily answered, pointedly ignoring James waving at her, "We had been alone together in a compartment and Avery and Mulciber unlocked it with a spell and came in. They took our wands when we tried to keep them out. They had their wands out first, though. That's why I drew mine; I was already wary of them."
"And why is that?" the prosecutor asked.
"They practice Dark magic," was Lily's response, "Anyway, they locked the door behind them and spelled the compartment so no one could hear us from outside. They insulted us, threw that nasty word around—I won't repeat it but Mary told you what it was—and made comments about Severus. They said he was useful."
"And that upset you," the prosecutor observed.
Lily nodded, "Yes, they were talking about him as if he were some tool to use, like a quill or a book. He wasn't a person in their eyes, but a thing they could use and exploit to get better grades. I told him off for that; Severus is ten times the wizard they are."
Avery's face remained impassive, but anger burned in his eyes.
"Then Avery attacked me," Lily went on, "so I fought back. I managed to get a good hit on him and that's when he brought up his wand again. He said…what Mary told you he said. He looked at me funny, like up and down my body…I didn't like it, it made me feel sick, so I tried to run and that's when he petrified me."
"What happened after that?" the prosecutor asked.
Lily hesitated. This was the part she was dreading.
"Nothing too explicit," the prosecutor assured her, "just give us a vague idea of what happened."
Lily shifted uncomfortably, "He opened my robe…my shirt…he…well, you can imagine what he did," tears burned her eyes, but she pressed on, "Mulciber was doing the same to Mary and…" she swallowed thickly, scratching at her arms sightly, "I'm sorry, I just need a minute."
The crowd listening raptly, various expression of horror and disgust on their faces. James had dropped his hand and sat stricken in his seat.
Lily resisted the urge to yell at Rita Skeeter as she saw the woman eagerly writing down her every word. Instead she focused on Alice in the fifth row, the kind girl's eyes swimming with sympathy.
Lily's eyes panned over to her family. Petunia, her eyes wet, gave Lily a pained smile. 'You can do this,' she mouthed to her sister.
"By all means take your time," the prosecutor said with understanding.
Lily pulled herself together, "Anyway, that's when Severus came in. He was furious with them. He took out his wand and began dueling them. When he did, it caused the spell on me to drop, so I was free. I took Mary's wand from where Mulciber dropped it and lifted the spell on Mary," she continued to pick the skin on her arm, "By then, the fight was almost out of control. I've never seen Severus so angry. But I'm glad he was, he rescued me."
"Severus stunned Avery and then he took out Mulciber…I was just so relieved that I hugged him, I was so scared," Lily's voice shook; she took a moment to calm down, "That's when Avery attacked him while he wasn't looking. Avery used a spell to slash Severus's throat…he and Mulciber talked about oblivating us, but they heard voices coming down the hall so the cowards ran off just as Remus and his friends arrived…Sev was in really bad shape. He was so pale…blood was everywhere!" Lily cut herself off, waving a hand in front of her face as is to dispel the image from her mind, "I'm sorry, I need another minute." Every second in Avery's presence was awful. It felt like the walls were closing in on her.
The prosecutor gently touched her shoulder, "That won't be necessary. You've told us what you need to. You may return to your seat."
"N-now wait just a minute," Ophelius said timidly, standing up on unsteady feet, "It is my right to cross examine the witness."
"Ms. Evans, are you able to sit trial for more questions?" Minchum asked Lily.
Lily sat up straight and looked Ophelius in the eye, "Yes."
Ophelius was an oily faced man of skin and bones with watery eyes and tweedy hair. Where Dupain had been slick as a snake oil salesman, Ophelius was nervous and twitchy as a mouse. He spoke with no conviction, walked with no confidence, and overall was just a poor excuse for a barrister.
From the way Ophelius kept casting fearful glances at his client, Severus suspected that the nervousness was out of fear of failing Avery and suffering the consequences.
"Ms. Evans, what is the nature of your relationship with Severus Snape?" Ophelius asked.
"He's my best friend," Lily replied easily, glad to finally have something pleasant to think about.
"Really," Ophelius asked, checking the notepad in front of him, "Because I was informed by my client that you and Mr. Snape had ended your friendship weeks earlier."
"We had a falling out." Lily stated.
"Over what?" Ophelius pried.
"…because I didn't agree with the people he was involved with. Namely, your client," Lily said honestly.
"O-oh," Ophelius responded. Clearly, he had been hoping Lily would say something else. He tried to get the subject back towards his goal, "Was there anything else you disagreed with? Perhaps his interest in Dark Magic?"
"Yes," Lily admitted, "I had heard bad things about Dark magic and I didn't want him involved in it."
"I see," Ophelius said, "And so how is his interest dark magic any different than Avery's?"
"Because I now know that there is a fine difference between studying something to better understand it and using it for cruel fun," Lily said wisely, looking over at Simone, "In order to protect ourselves from dark magic, we should know dark magic. That's what Severus was doing. But Avery, he just loved using dark spells on people to hurt them for fun."
"I-I see," Ophelius stammered, looking to his client in worry.
Avery narrowed his eyes at his barrister just a fraction.
Panicking, Ophelius searched his notes, "Ms. Evans, do you know the spell Mr. Avery allegedly used?"
Lily paused, her eyes going to Severus, "Not until that day, no."
Ophelius deflated, "Really?"
Lily nodded, "Yes I only heard of it when Avery used it."
"So you don't know where it came from," Ophelius pushed.
"That's not what you asked me," Lily pointed out.
"Well I'm asking you now," Ophelius snapped.
Lily leveled her gaze at Ophelius and sat up tall, her head held high, "It came from an old used potion's book. That's what I know."
Severus resisted the urge to grin. Technically Lily wasn't lying, that's where it was written. And she had cleverly said it was what she knew, not all that she knew. Clever girl.
Ophelius seemed to cave in on himself. Clearly, he hadn't caught the subtly of Lily's words, "Very well, you may step down." He avoided looking at Avery as he scurried back to his seat.
Lily walked back to her seat and for the first time all trial, she locked eyes with her attacker. Faltering slightly, she forced herself to maintain her gaze, glaring hotly at Avery before returning to her seat. Her eyes burned and her throat was tight, but she would not let him see her cry. She took her seat next to Severus and slumped down with a breath of relief.
Ophelius scrambled through his notes, mopping his sweaty brow with a clammy hand, "I-I would like to call a witness to the stand."
Minchum nodded, "Very well, who do you call?"
"I call Severus Snape,"
As you can see, I had to take some liberties on how a wizard trial would go. The one Harry underwent in book five was clearly a unfair one with the intent to rule him guilty, so I feel they may have horrible shortened or changed even their own legal practices to try and rig it. So I pretty much had to make up my own court proceedings.
Are any of surprised Potter would be there? I'm not.
I'd talk more, but I woke up late and have work to go to!
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