LoDK
The Legacy of the Dark Knight Saga
Jamie Prosser and the Fourth Champion
Chapter 17: Crime and Punishment
Disclaimer: This is solely a not-for-profit fan activity and does not intend to infringe on copyrights held by Time Warner, DC Comics, Bloomsbury et al, and JK Rowling. Any characters who are original to this work remain the property of the author.
A/N: This story diverges significantly from accepted canon for the Harry Potter series from the outset, as in addition to the crossover elements, there are several deviations from the books that will be covered where they fit into the narrative. The timeline of the DC Comics elements borrows heavily from Young Justice (2011), but adds elements and characters from the comics, and relocates the series to the late Sixties and early Seventies rather than the New Tens as screened and is heavy on 'legacy' and original characters as a result.
A/N: Unless stated otherwise, the action of this story takes place in the run up to and during the 1997-1998 school year (305 "Anno Secreto" or "Year of Secrecy") parallel to the events of Deathly Hallows in canon. The year code "AL" is also my own invention and stands for After Liberation, counting the years after the Justice League's ending of the "Apokolips War", my as-yet unwritten take on the events of Young Justice Season 3 (Set late 1973 to April 1976).
The Burrow,
Ottery St Catchpole.
23rd November, 0640 GMT.
Percy's first reaction to the headline of Sunday Prophet was disbelief, then confusion and finally a slightly stomach-churning worried acceptance.
MINISTRY OF MURDERERS?
by Rita Skeeter
When this reporter called out Bartemius Crouch and Ludo Bagman for the debacle Harry James Potter, 17, becoming the fourth Triwizard Champion, other commenters suggested that we were being harsh and scapegoating them for the mistakes of others. However, the truth was far worse…
In reality, the man we know as Bartemius Crouch - who has been controlling some of the Ministry's most important departments for decades – was replaced several years ago by his Death Eater son, Bartemius Crouch Junior, long believed dead, who conspired with Peter Pettigrew OM, who was 'killed' by the notorious Sirius Black back in nineteen eighty-one, to resurrect He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named in a dark ritual using the Boy-Who-Lived. Fortunately for us all, our saviour and his associates were able to foil this plan with the assistance of several unnamed associates and both conspirators – along with an unnamed number of former Death Eaters – were taken into custody by the Ministry of Magic's Auror Office yesterday afternoon.
This reporter approached Junior Auror Nymphadora Tonks, who lead the team that made most of the arrests, but she had nothing to add to the official account. This reporter also approached the Boy-Who-Lived for comment, but his spokesman, John Constantine, confirmed that he will not be making any comment on events until legal processes have been carried out.
Rest assured, we at the Daily Prophet are watching the situation, and we update you as soon as we know more.
Had he really been that blind? Percy wondered. He'd eventually agreed with Ginny when she'd said that something wasn't right with his boss… but never imagined this…
He'd intended to read the rest of the paper while his mother was making breakfast, but he was so caught up in his thoughts that it wasn't until his sister slipped into a chair opposite and asked him what was wrong that he broke out of his reverie. "What?"
"Is everything okay?" Ginny asked.
"It's just…" Percy tried, then after a moment he gave up trying to spit it out and just pointed at the newspaper's headline.
"You're wondering if it's true?" Ginny asked. "If you could have done more?"
Percy nodded.
"The article's true," Ginny confirmed. "As far as the other thing… if it makes you feel any better, everybody else missed it too… Even when they were specifically looking for a mole."
"How?"
Ginny shrugged, "If I've learned anything over the years about magic, is that you have to ask the right questions… everyone focused on the idea that an imposter, an infiltrator was responsible… but he was Bartemius Crouch, even he was really Bartemius Junior, so he was able to craft his answers to clear himself."
Percy considered this revelation for a moment, then felt the anxious knot in his stomach relax.
"That's enough shop talk," insisted their mother as she brought a plate of bacon over to the table. "Eat up while it's hot."
Percy held Ginny's eye for a moment, then gave her firm nod. She nodded and then relaxed and both Weasleys turned their attention to breakfast.
They ate in silence for a solid quarter of an hour, and then escaped from their mother's watch. Percy was the first to speak. "Do you know anything else?"
"Not as much as I'd like," Ginny admitted. "Nita and I captured Barty at Hogwarts after Charley spotting him nosing around the dragons when he wasn't supposed to be. Constantine reckons that he only spelled one of the eggs and made sure that Harry grabbed the right one."
"That would make sense," Percy agreed. "He would not want to expose himself without achieving his objective. Do you know how many they captured at the other location?"
"I'm not sure," Ginny replied. "Harry thought there was about forty Death Eaters were captured. He didn't give me a full list, we know we got our two main targets, Peter Pettigrew and Lucius Malfoy."
Percy tensed. "Mister Malfoy is a Death Eater? The Minister has always maintained that he was under the Imperius Curse."
"We think he was responsible for giving me Tom's diary," Ginny told him.
"Are you sure?"
"Not entirely," Ginny admitted. "But I was definitely given it our trip to Diagon Alley, and Malfoy was the only person we encountered that would want to hurt this family."
Percy nodded, while he wasn't entirely convinced that the man was a Death Eater, it was certainly true that he was no friend of the Weasley family. "What is the Auror Office is going to do?"
"I'm not sure about the details," Ginny replied. "I think the idea is to let them all stew for a couple of days and then question any Ministry employees first, then Malfoy and Pettigrew, then any leftovers."
"That makes sense," Percy admitted, although he doubted that any Ministry employees were really Death Eaters, they must be Ministry undercovers or under the Imperius...
Geography Department,
Nantwich High School,
Nantwich CW5.
27th November, 1510 GMT.
"I would like two thousand words on coastal erosion and the effects of different types of waves," said Miss Bartholomew. "You have until next week."
Ginny quickly made a note on her diary and began to pack up her bag.
Moments later, the bell for end of lessons rang.
"You can go," said Miss Bartholomew.
The other students didn't waste any time rushing for the exit, but Ginny decided that she might as well wait a minute or two for the crowd, so by the time that she made it to the main atrium, the two Montrose boys were already waiting for her. "Have you got any plans for tonight?"
Ginny shook her head. "Mrs Ryder asked Charley to help with a pre-school reading group tonight. Why?"
"Harry was wondering if you wanted to be in the audience when Malfoy goes in front of the Wizengamot tonight?"
"When?"
"Four o'clock."
"I'd better have to get a move on, then," said Ginny. "Can I Floo to the Ministry from the Burrow?"
Eddie nodded, "Madam Bones has authorised it. Constantine and Tonks will be giving evidence on your behalf, and I think Harry and Nita are planning on joining you."
Ginny agreed that that was probably for the best, she wasn't quite sure she'd be able to remain polite if their suspicions were correct.
****
Ministry of Magic,
London SW1.
1520 GMT.
Ginny appeared in a flare of green flame, then stepped out of the fireplace.
Cedric was waiting for her. "I've got your visitor badge for you," he said, and handed her a square silver badge reading 'Ginny Weasley, Trial Spectator'. He waited for a moment to allow Ginny to pin it on. "Can you follow me?"
"Sure," said Ginny. "Is everything going okay?"
"As far as I can tell," Cedric said. "Constantine found a Knot of Ishtar for us, which is helping."
"What does that do?" asked Ginny as they walked by the watch station.
"It's okay, Eric," Cedric said to the poorly shaven man in peacock-blue robes that moved to block Ginny's route. "She's with me."
The older man nodded and stepped aside. "Yes, Mr Diggory."
Cedric and Ginny hurried towards the golden lifts, the grilles slid open and they entered. The grilles shut with a crash and the lift began to descend. "The Department of Mysteries," a female voice announced.
The doors rattled open and they headed down a windowless corridor with only a single, black door at the end of the corridor and an opening to the left that lead to a flight of stairs. At the bottom of the stairs, they crossed to another stone-walled corridor lit by torches in brackets. They continued until they reached a heavy wooden door with 'Courtroom Ten' on the door. Cedric passed by this door and opened another one labelled 'Gallery Ten'. Cedric opened the door and held it open for her.
A slight flare of irritation came over Ginny, but she decided to take the offer as he had intended and passed through without comment.
The gallery was mostly empty, but there were a few familiar faces, the two remaining Malfoys, an older, blonde woman that Ginny suspected was Rita Skeeter… and to her relief, Harry and Nita.
"Are you okay being here?" Harry asked as she sat down next to him.
"I'll be fine," Ginny assured him, but didn't object when he wrapped an arm around her and held her as close as their chairs allowed. Then Ginny turned her attention to the assembled court.
There were about fifty of them, all, as far as he could see, wearing plum‐coloured robes with an elaborately worked silver ʹW' on the left‐hand side of the chest, many with very austere expressions and others had looks of frank curiosity.
In the very middle of the front row sat a short, plump, elderly with thick spectacles, Amelia Bones sat on his left; she wore a monocle and looked as forbidding as usual. On the man's right sat Tonks, who had switched to medium-length reddish-brown hair for the occasion.
"Bring in the accused," ordered the old man.
Moments later, two red-robed Aurors brought Lucius Malfoy onto the main floor, followed by a well-dressed man, and escorted him to the chair in the centre of the room, which immediately wrapped chains around him, binding him to the chair.
"Now we can begin," announced the old man, he glanced down the row, blinking owlishly. "This is a hearing on the twenty-seventh of November…" said the old man, and a young man at the end of the row – Ginny assumed he was a court scribe - began taking notes at once, "… into offences committed by Lucius Malfoy, resident at Malfoy Manor, Wiltshire. Interrogators: Tiberius Ogden, Chief Warlock; Amelia Susan Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement; Nymphadora Tonks, Investigating Auror, Court Scribe Edgar Hopkirk…"
"Witness for the defence, Nicolas Pyrites," said the well-dressed man.
Mister Ogden extricated a piece of parchment from the pile before him, took a deep breath, and read out, "The charges against the accused are as follows: Possession of an illegal Dark Artefact; Use of an illegal Dark Artefact to Endanger a Minor, Conspiracy to Commit Murder and Membership of a Proscribed Organisation. How does the defendant plead?"
"My client is prepared to plead guilty to the first two counts, Chief Warlock," declared Pyrites. "However, he maintains the Ministry has no proof for the conspiracy charge, and my client has already been cleared by this court in the final matter."
Tonks snorted at this.
"Does the prosecution wish to comment, Miss Tonks?"
"Yes, Chief Warlock."
"You may proceed."
"I submit that a death previously occurred due to You-Know-Who's activities at Hogwarts, and that any artefact provided by him to advance his agenda could be expected to have the same effect."
"Objection, Chief Warlock," said Pyrites. "My client was never specifically that this would result and cannot be expected to speculate on the effects."
"Miss Tonks?"
"The question was put to Mister Malfoy under interrogation," replied Tonks. "That was his response."
"I assume you disagreed?"
"Yes, Chief Warlock," agreed Tonks. "I agree with Mister Pyrites that it would be unreasonable to expect speculation without data. However, Mister Malfoy had ample information on You-Know-Who's activities and aims and should be expected to speculate on the likely effects of any plan based on that."
Mister Ogden paused for a moment, shared a glance with Madam Bones and then nodded. "Objection overruled."
"Thank you, Chief Warlock," said Tonks. "As far as the membership goes, the defence is reaching."
"Explain," said Ogden, though based on his body language, Ginny suspected he already knew.
"It's quite simple, Chief Warlock," said Tonks. "The defence is correct that autrefois acquit would apply if I had arrested Mister Malfoy for his activities prior to nineteen-eighty-two…"
"I agree."
"However, I arrested him after he travelled to Little Hangleton graveyard in Death Eater regalia. If necessary, Mister Constantine, one of the Triwizard judges is prepared to testify that the defendant did not appear to be under mind control."
"Is he present in court?"
"Upstairs in the Atrium, Chief Warlock,"
Mister Ogden glanced at one of the two Aurors guarding Mister Malfoy. "Miss Ryder?"
"Yes, Chief Warlock," replied the one-eyed witch and hurried out of the room.
She returned a few moments later with Constantine, who was wearing his usual outfit of a Muggle suit and trench coat.
"You are Constantine?" asked Mister Ogden.
"Yes, sir," confirmed Constantine. "John Constantine, resident of the House of Secrets, Triwizard Judge, exorcist, demonologist, and Master of the occult."
There were a few mutterings at this, but Ginny couldn't pick out anything specific.
"And your background in this case?"
"Strictly in support of Harry Potter," Constantine stated. "A friend and I took over his magical education after he was expelled from Hogwarts. Zee's busy in Gotham, so she asked me to step in for her in the Tournament."
Ogden nodded at this, apparently satisfied. "Your witness, Miss Tonks."
"You are familiar with the defendant, Mister Constantine?"
"Enough that I can pick him out in a crowd, lass," Constantine agreed.
"What can you tell me about his activities on Saturday of last week?"
"Well, he came up to see the First Task with the other school governors. I particularly noticed him because he seemed to be anticipating something more than anyone else."
"Do you think he knew that something different was going to happen?"
"Objection, Chief Warlock!" declared Pyrites. "Calls for speculation."
"And we all know that you don't like people to do that, Mister Pyrites," agreed Mister Ogden. "Nevertheless, objection sustained. Miss Tonks?"
"Understood, Chief Warlock," replied Tonks. "What did Mister Malfoy do after Mister Potter was Portkeyed away from Hogwarts."
"Nothing at first," replied Constantine. "But a few minutes later he winced, as if in pain, and then left the spectator area at a fast walk that quickly became a run."
"Was he under mind control at this time?"
"Objec…!" started Pyrites.
"Overruled," said Mister Ogden. "Please answer the question, Mister Constantine."
"Yes, sir," agreed Constantine. "I can't be absolutely sure, but I've seen most sorts of mind control at one moment or another and they all have one thing in common…"
"Which is?"
"The person under mind control will usually only focus on the instructions they're being given, no unnecessary movements or gestures at all, and Mister Malfoy made his apologies to myself and the other judges, then looked at his two associates, nodded and then the three left as a group."
"Thank you, Mister Constantine."
"Mister Pyrites, do you have any questions for this witness?"
"Just one, Chief Warlock."
"Continue."
"Mister Constantine, do you have any proof that my client was not being mind-controlled to travel to Little Hangleton?"
"Nope," replied Constantine. "But based my past experience I don't think he was."
"Nothing further, Chief Warlock."
"Miss Tonks?"
"The prosecution rests, Chief Warlock."
"Anything further from the defence?"
"Yes, Chief Warlock."
"You may continue."
"Witches and Wizards of the Court, my client is a fine, upstanding member of the Wizarding community who had contributed a great deal to a number of worthy causes. Unfortunately, due to his vulnerability to the Imperius Curse, he has in the past been induced to engage in regrettable conduct, which we submit is what also happened in these cases. This vulnerability is by no means rare in the Wizarding World and we would ask that the court to bear in mind previous precedence and declare him innocent of the charge of being a Death Eater. Furthermore, we maintain that the prosecution's argument for conspiracy is highly speculative and requires consideration of facts not in evidence."
"Members of the Wizengamot, on the charge of conspiracy to commit murder, do you find the defendant, guilty or not guilty?"
Ginny wasn't overly surprised that only twenty-three of the Wizengamot voted 'guilty' on that one, in fact she'd been expecting less.
"And on the charge of membership of a proscribed organisation?"
This time the portions were flipped and only two members of the Wizengamot voted 'not guilty', Ginny suspected they were Death Eater sympathisers.
"Very well. Mister Malfoy, you have been found not guilty of conspiracy to commit murder," observed Mister Ogden. "However, you have pleaded guilty to possession of an illegal Dark Artefact, for which you are sentenced to ten years. You have also pleaded guilty to Use of an illegal Dark Artefact to Endanger a Minor, for which you are sentenced to six months in prison and fined one thousand galleons. Finally, you have been found guilty of being a Member of a Proscribed Organisation, for which you are sentenced to a further six months in prison and a fined one thousand galleons."
"If it pleases the Court, the defence would like some time for my client to put his affairs in order?"
"The next boat is at eight-thirty," replied Mister Ogden. "The defendant is released until that time. Failure to report to Wizengamot Administration Services at that time will result in an arrest warrant being used and an additional six months being added to the sentence."
"Thank you, Chief Warlock."
"Court is adjourned," declared Mister Ogden. "We will reconvene on Monday at nine am."
****
The Orchard,
Royctonshire.
1800 GMT.
"Recognised Protector B147."
"How did it go?" Eddie asked as Ginny stepped out of the Zeta Tube.
"We didn't get him on the murder charge," Ginny replied.
"That was always a bit of a longshot," Eddie suggested.
Ginny nodded. "He still got eleven years on the other charges, so a pretty good result. Constantine's going to talk to Slughorn about getting my expulsion reversed."
"Would you want to want to go back?"
"Not really, but according to Tonks, if I get the expulsion reversed and can get at one OWL by next year then they won't be able to come after me for using magic."
"Sounds good," agreed Eddie. "Which ones are you going for?"
"History of Magic and Herbology," Ginny replied. "I'm too out of practise with wandwork for any of the other core subjects. I'm also going to try for Study of Ancient Runes. I've had a look at a couple of Hermione's old books and it's fairly familiar."
"Good luck. Oh, Mum wanted to know if you'd eaten?"
Ginny nodded. "Harry took me for an early dinner on the way back to The Consulting Room. I'm going to do some homework and get an early night."
"I'll tell her," Eddie assured her. "Let me know if you need any help."
"Will do," Ginny replied. "Night, Eddie."
"Night, Ginny."