Lizzy, Darcy, Jane, and Bingley all spoke honestly about the attack when they rejoined the student body the next day. News of that scandal, however, was quickly overshadowed by Lydia's tireless and enthusiastic efforts to tell anyone and everyone that Lizzy and Darcy were officially courting.
"Remember, Lydia, you won't be able to tell anyone in Meryton," Lizzy firmly reminded her sister.
"Oh, I won't," Lydia promised. "What a joke it shall be when everyone finally learns after Jane's wedding!"
Lizzy was both pleased and embarrassed by how open Darcy continued to be in his regard for her. He insisted on carrying her books from class to class and frequently held her hand in the halls, as well. He sat next to her whenever he was able to.
"I think, Darcy, that everyone knows of our attachment at this point," Lizzy said with a blush the first time Darcy stretched his arm over the back of her chair in class.
"I should hate for anyone to doubt it and think they can swipe you away from under my nose," said Darcy unconcernedly.
"People are staring rather a lot," Lizzy added.
"Good," Darcy said in reply. "I was worried I was being too subtle."
For the first time since coming back from the holidays, Lizzy went to Hogsmeade. Between her foul mood and her promise to her Aunt Gardiner to be exceptionally careful off the grounds, Lizzy had found she lacked any desire to make the trek. Darcy had been quite insistent, however, and her mood was so improved that she readily agreed. She and Darcy had danced together through many more sets than would have been tolerated at a Muggle function.
"Perhaps, Darcy, we might dance a set or two with someone else," Lizzy suggested.
"I think not," Darcy answered. "You are such a small person you might get lost in the crowd, and how would I ever find you again?"
Lizzy laughingly assured Darcy that he was tall enough she could easily find him and had delighted in his pouting when she insisted on dancing with Albert, when he asked.
"Tell me truly, Bennet," Albert said conspiratorially, "how much do you think I can tease Darcy before he snaps?"
"Explore his patience at your own risk, Bentham," Lizzy replied.
"Hmm… I think I'll just have to dance another with you, then," Albert said thoughtfully. "And Zebulon was talking of having a set with you, as well. And Higgins, of course. He won't let himself be outdone by me, Quidditch pitch or elsewhere. And Bingley. Bingley will want a turn."
"You are determined to get yourself in trouble," Lizzy laughed.
Albert made good on his threats. After the two dances with Albert, Lizzy hardly even saw Darcy until it was time for everyone to depart. When she found him to walk back, she had thought he might have been upset and ready to complain at length about Albert's inference, but he did not.
"I told you before, Elizabeth, that I want you to be happy," Darcy said when she asked if he was at all angry. "True enough, I would have preferred to be dancing with you, but I know it gave you great pleasure to dance with your friends. I was content to watch."
"You didn't stalk the edge of the dance floor the entire time like you did at the Meryton assembly or Bingley's ball, did you?" Lizzy asked apprehensively.
"I had considered it," Darcy admitted, "but I have been made aware that such actions are rather objectionable to certain ladies whose opinion I value very much. I danced with Jane, Josephine, Phoebe, and Leah. Does that satisfy you?"
"Only if you conversed with them, rather than stare intimidatingly the entire time," Lizzy said archly.
"I did speak with Jane, but the others hardly required any input from me. Bentham brought them in on his scheme, apparently, and they seemed determined to bait me into causing a scene," Darcy answered. He shook his head at their antics.
"You are sure you're not angry at Albert?" Lizzy asked again.
"He and all the other young men he conspired with had their chance at you long before I got here and were either found lacking or threw it away," Darcy said easily. "So long as you enjoyed the day, Elizabeth, I am perfectly content."
Lizzy had felt a great deal of relief at his lack of jealousy. She was a social creature and she would not have done well if Darcy had truly been uneasy with her interactions with others. She was happy, indeed, that she did not have to choose between her budding relationship and her former habits.
A date was set for Malfoy's hearing. A mere ten days after the whole mess started, the affair would be aired out in front of select members of the Wizengamot.
"You're both expected to be there, since you both raised your wands," McGonagall told Lizzy and Darcy after Transfiguration. "The panel will have some questions for you."
"How many people are on the panel, Professor?" Lizzy asked apprehensively.
"Seven," McGonagall answered promptly.
"And is it open to the public?"
"Most certainly not," McGonagall answered. "No, there was discussion of it, but Professor Dumbledore and I insisted it would not be done since you are yet underage."
Lizzy breathed a sigh of relief.
"You are, unfortunately, not completely out of the woods on the pubic front, however," McGonagall cautioned. "That the hearing is happening is not unknown, and the results of it will become common knowledge quickly."
"Who is on the panel, Professor?" Darcy asked with furrowed brows.
"It could be worse, it could be better," McGonagall answered noncommittally.
"How many slots did the Malfoys manage to fill?" said Darcy, attempting a more direct approach.
"When will we leave, Professor?" Lizzy asked. She did not want to hear more about what influence the Malfoys might have used to assure a favorable outcome for their son.
"Thursday morning you will leave with me during breakfast," McGonagall answered. "I will have to leave after being questioned, but Professor Dumbledore will come after classes begin and stay the day. You will travel back with him."
Wednesday night, Lizzy was very grateful to be able to exhaust herself at Quidditch practice. Since she and Julian had been out of commission for practice at the end of last week, she had managed to schedule a makeup practice while Darcy was at his private lesson with Flitwick.
"You're not nervous, are you, Lizzy?" Phoebe asked as they walked across the grounds.
Lizzy would have preferred Phoebe had waited to ask the question until they were back in their dormitory, rather than in front of the entire team. Since she was ambushed, the Gryffindor Quidditch team had not allowed their captain to find her way to practice or back from it without the escort of all six of them.
"Why should I be nervous?" Lizzy came back with.
"Oh, maybe because the Malfoys have likely been lining the pockets of everyone they can with their gold to keep their son from being condemned," said Siobhan in a would-be causal voice.
"Or because if you win Malfoy will blame you for being disowned and lose what little of his mind he has left, but whatever," Levi chimed in.
"Yes," said Phoebe curtly. "Thank you, Siobhan, Levi, for your assistance." She changed the subject quickly.
Lizzy's mind filled with questions, but she waited until closing the door to the room she shared with her fellow sixth years before voicing any of them. "What was Levi talking about, Malfoy being disowned?" she demanded, jumping straight to the point.
"Were you daft enough to bring up the hearing in front of the team, Phoebe?" Josephine asked scathingly.
"Look, I've had a long day," Phoebe said defensively. "I did not exactly think everything through."
"That much is obvious!"
"Jo! Phoebe!" Lizzy interrupted before the two could argue any further.
Josephine and Phoebe exchanged loaded looks, then Josephine sighed. "It's like this, Lizzy. If the panel finds Malfoy guilty of having executed a premediated attack on you and can prove he meant to seriously injure, or even kill you – "
"Which they will, if they've got any sense in them whatsoever," Phoebe interjected. "Then again, this is the Ministry we're talking about."
"He'll be stigmatized," Josephine continued as if Phoebe had not interrupted. "The magical population does not look well upon someone that will attack their own with so little provocation; that person is seen as untrustworthy and unstable. No one wants anything to do with them. It's kind of like… oh, Phoebe, help me find an analogy!"
"It'd be like if Lydia ran off and became with child," Phoebe offered after a moment's thought. "She'd be looked down on, yes, but so would the rest of your family. If there's one bad apple, the whole tree's got to be cut down."
"And so the Malfoys will have to lose their social standing, or cut off their son," Lizzy said breathlessly.
"More or less," said Phoebe.
"But he's a pureblood, and I'm not!" Lizzy objected. "Isn't that going to mean anything to the panel?"
"Hopefully not," Josephine snorted.
"I don't want to be responsible for anyone being disowned!" Lizzy cried.
"You won't be," Josephine said firmly.
"Malfoy knew the risks when he raised his wand against you," Phoebe added.
Lizzy did not sleep. She was ready for the day, dressed in a formal set of robes, before Josephine and Phoebe were even awake. As soon as breakfast opened, Lizzy made her way to the Great Hall to escape whatever questions or commentary her friends might offer.
"Good morning, Elizabeth."
Lizzy started slightly as Darcy sat beside her. They had settled into a routine where they would eat breakfast by themselves with their housemates, and then together at one table for lunch, and at the other for dinner. She had expected to be left alone.
"Good morning, Darcy," she tried to say pleasantly.
"Please tell me," was all Darcy said.
Lizzy sighed and took her time buttering a piece of toast as she collected her thoughts. Only then did she relay the entirety of her conversation with her housemates regarding Malfoy's fate. "I just cannot be at ease with it," she said after the recitation. She lowered her voice nearly to a whisper before continuing. "I know what it is to be cast off by one's parents, and it is not something I wish on anyone, no matter my opinion of them."
Darcy quickly grabbed Elizabeth's hand and kissed the back of it.
"Please tell me that Jo and Phoebe were exaggerating," Lizzy pleaded.
"I can't," Darcy answered solemnly. "If the panel decides Ursus is guilty, it is highly unlikely he will be permitted in his parents' house again. I cannot imagine they would be willing to sacrifice their position in the eyes of our society to keep him on. They'll behave as though they never had a son."
Lizzy shuddered. She had not realized quite so much was at stake. She had known Malfoy would be punished, but had thought that punishment would stop at being expelled from Hogwarts.
"Elizabeth, you are not to blame," Darcy said gently.
"I wanted to handle this quietly," Lizzy hissed. Her eyes lit with anger and she ripped her hand away from Darcy. "You are the one that told McGonagall! You knew this would happen!"
"Yes, I knew this might happen," Darcy said evenly, despite the hurt and anger flitting over his face. He soon assembled his mask. "Malfoy had become more dangerous that I had originally given him credit for, and I knew he would only become more brazen if he was not addressed in the most direct of fashions. I also knew that, when we were further examined, it would become obvious we had not been dueling each other, and I was not going to give Malfoy the opportunity to finish what he had started during the time that took.
"Mostly, Elizabeth, I knew that you were in pain and in danger, and so I acted in a manner I saw most likely to bring the whole mess to a swift end," Darcy finished, his voice and his face softening. "I hate thinking about what might have happened if I hadn't been out on the grounds, Elizabeth, and I hate thinking that I could have prevented this whole mess from happening if I hadn't let myself be distracted."
Lizzy felt her ire flag, but did not release it entirely. "I had a – "
"A plan, I know," Darcy interrupted. "But so did Ursus, Elizabeth, and he had thought on his much longer."
Lizzy deflated entirely, setting her head on Darcy's shoulder as she did so. She was too exhausted, emotionally and physically, to even care that she was being so open in the Great Hall. She was also unable to see the great deal of contentment brought to Darcy's face by her initiation of contact between them.
"I'm sorry," she said after a few moments. "I shouldn't have snapped at you."
"It was not an enjoyable experience," Darcy admitted.
"Perhaps I should just always assume you are correct, and save us both the bother of an argument," Lizzy teased.
"That won't do," said Darcy. He began reaching for things and putting them onto Lizzy's plate. "I quite enjoy a debate with you, and would be sorry to see the opportunities go. If I had wanted a woman that would agree with everything I said, I could have pursued Caroline Bingley."
"Shocking, Mr. Darcy!" Elizabeth scolded, straightening to look at him with mock disapproval.
"Off you go, Darcy," McGonagall coached, holding out a bag of floo powder to her students. "I'd like a moment with Bennet. Keep close to the grate."
Darcy did as he was ordered. While he waited for Elizabeth and McGonagall, he looked around the lobby of the Ministry and sighed. He did not enjoy being there in the slightest. The last time he had spent any significant period of time in the Ministry, it had been just after his father had died to see to the various legal issues that came from inheriting. The surroundings brought back painful memories.
It was a full three minutes, at least, before Elizabeth came through. McGonagall followed shortly after, then drew her wand and cleared herself and her students of any remaining ash. At Dumbledore's suggestion, Elizabeth and Darcy had determined not to draw their wands unless it was asked of them.
"Now, just remember to keep calm," McGonagall advised as she led her students through the lobby. She nodded at several people, but the expression on her face was sufficient deterrent for conversation. "Answer honestly and, for the love of all that is magical, Bennet, think before you speak. I would hate for one of your witticisms to be taken wrongly."
Darcy rather thought that Elizabeth would have exercised her wit just then if anyone but McGonagall had made the suggestion. Or, he thought as he examined her more closely, she might have taken offense if she had been listening. Instead, she was looking at all around her with wide eyes.
"What has you so distracted, Elizabeth?" he asked lowly.
"I've never been in the Ministry before," Elizabeth answered in awe, her eyes gliding over the runes on the ceiling.
Darcy felt his face soften as he observed Elizabeth's wonder. He rather hoped to see similar expressions when she first saw Pemberley.
"Oh, I could do without that," Lizzy said, scrunching her face and nodding to the golden statue in the lobby.
Darcy barely glanced at the ridiculous statue. "Unfortunately, you are among a minority. There are many that think wizardkind is truly worshipped like that by the various magical creatures."
"Perhaps the house elf is accurate," Lizzy conceded, "but I think I would give up a great deal to see a centaur give their opinion to whoever commissioned the statue."
"I think it would be better for there to be no witnesses to such an event," Darcy mused. "I should hate to have to speak against a centaur in a court."
Elizabeth gave tight-lipped smile.
Darcy made to grab her hand, but she neatly hid it from him.
"Not here, please," she said anxiously, scanning the surrounding crowd. "I don't want anyone's opinion influenced."
"I don't care about that, Elizabeth," Darcy half-growled.
"But I do," Elizabeth answered quickly. "You are very good to me, Darcy, but you can't possibly understand what it is to be looked down on for what you were born."
"Then let me use my position to aid you," Darcy pleaded.
"It's not that simple," Elizabeth explained sadly. "Remember, it was Lady Matlock taking a shining to me that really set Malfoy off."
Darcy furrowed his brows and looked down at his shoes. He felt a bitter disappointment in himself that was not at all unfamiliar. It had pervaded in the days after Elizabeth had accosted him at Oakham Mount when he realized he had not behaved toward her as she deserved. Now, the unpleasant feeling filled him again as he recognized he had never considered how his pursuit of Elizabeth would affect her. She would be seen as a social climber, after him only for his money and his name.
McGonagall finally stopped in front of an ornate door and turned to face her students. "Are you ready?" she asked.
Lizzy gave a slight smile. "Does it matter?"
McGonagall's lips twitched. "I suppose you're correct."
The room was, blessedly, empty. Darcy, Elizabeth, and McGonagall were able to settle in their seats without the scrutiny of the panel.
"Are you sure this is the right place, Professor?" Elizabeth asked, her hands fidgeting in her lap. "I would have thought there would be someone here."
"I told you before, Bennet, that Professor Dumbledore and I made sure this would be a closed event," McGonagall said with a slight sniff. "No one else is here because we are half an hour early."
"Half an hour?" Elizabeth burst.
"I am determined my animagus student will not be found lacking for anything she can control," McGonagall said firmly.
Darcy looked at McGonagall with newfound appreciation. He had always respected her as a well-qualified and fair instructor, and he was well aware of her capabilities. Now, however, he was determined to do anything he could to make the woman's life easier because of her care of Elizabeth. Whenever he saw an opportunity to be of use to Minerva McGonagall, he would eagerly take it.
"How is the animagus training going?" Darcy asked. Thankfully, both women were so enthusiastic on the topic they were able to keep conversation going until the door opened five minutes before the hearing was to start.
Darcy was pleased to see most of the panel members: Madam Bones, Sir Eldron, Mr. Fawley, and Lady Hopkirk. He was less enthused to see Lord Branson and Mrs. White. What made him nervous was Sir Diggory walking in last.
"What upsets you so, Darcy?" Elizabeth asked out of the corner of her mouth as McGonagall exchanged pleasantries with the members of the Wizengamot.
Darcy twitched his head toward Diggory. "That is Silas's uncle," he breathed. "The one that hasn't spoken to his family since Silas's father decided to send his children to Hogwarts instead of Beauxbatons."
Elizabeth exhaled uneasily. When the members of the panel finally turned their attention to her, however, she was standing tall and proud, without a trace of apprehension on her face. Darcy drew himself up another few inches as his chest swelled with satisfaction at Elizabeth's courage.
Each of the panel members greeted Elizabeth with varying degrees of civility, yet all were perfectly polite to Darcy. His estimation of Branson, White, and Diggory lowered even further at the disparity between the way they greeted him and Elizabeth.
Malfoy walked in with his father a mere thirty seconds before the clock struck the hour.
Darcy felt his fingers clench into fists as Diggory took the seat in the middle of the panel. He was sure it was thanks to the influence of Mr. Malfoy that Diggory had managed to come to lead the event, and he did not like it in the slightest.
"Well, let us begin and get this unpleasant business done and over with, shall we?" said Diggory as he shuffled documents around him. "Ursus Malfoy, please tell the panel what you remember of the events of last Tuesday night."
Darcy was careful to keep his indifferent demeanor up for the room to see. Internally, however, he was seething. Firstly, a formal pronouncement of the purpose of the hearing should have been made. Secondly, it should have been Elizabeth called to speak first, as the wronged party. Already, Diggory was trying to alter events to benefit the Malfoys. Thankfully, he did not seem to be alone in his opinion. Madam Bones went so far as to lean forward and raise an unhappy eyebrow at Diggory, though he took no notice.
Dumbledore slipped into the room just as Malfoy was saying he and Elizabeth had agreed to have a duel the day previously. Malfoy continued on to admit the duel had gotten more heated than he'd intended by the time Darcy came onto the scene.
Darcy thought he might have cracked a tooth or two from clenching his jaw so tightly as Malfoy neatly presented his well-rehearsed lies. It had taken considerable effort not to interrupt, especially at points when Diggory nodded in understanding. Darcy quickly came to the conclusion that Mr. Malfoy may very well have consulted Diggory when constructing his son's defense. Furious as he was, Darcy had to admit the plan was a good one. If Malfoy and Elizabeth had agreed to a duel, Malfoy would be absolved of any wrongdoing in the eyes of society, and he and Elizabeth would be punished only within Hogwarts. The claim would be difficult to disprove, especially with Diggory's noted preference.
"Miss Bennet," Diggory began after Malfoy had finished. "You are from Hertfordshire, is that correct?"
"Yes, sir," Elizabeth readily answered.
"One of five daughters born to Thomas and Frances Bennet?"
"Yes, sir."
"And your father is a Squib?"
At that, Darcy leaned forward in his chair. He had been on the verge of opening his mouth when a slight shake of the head from Dumbledore staid him.
"I'm afraid I fail to understand what my lineage has to do with this matter, Sir Diggory," Elizabeth said lightly. Darcy recognized the tone from the considerable period of time he had thought Elizabeth would welcome his attentions, yet she had hated him. It reminded him how very capable Elizabeth was of working words to her advantage.
"And your mother is a Muggle?" Diggory asked, ignoring Elizabeth's objection.
Darcy somehow managed to tense further. Elizabeth did not do well when she was ignored.
"I must have misunderstood the point of this hearing, sir," Elizabeth said as her cheeks became infused with color.
"The point, Miss Bennet?" Diggory asked while looking at her over his glasses.
"I was given to understand this panel had assembled to hear accounts from all relevant witnesses in relation to the events of last Tuesday night," Elizabeth said coolly. "If that is, indeed, the purpose of this gathering, then I must ask I be allowed to give my version of events to speed the process. If you are truly curious about my family tree, Sir Diggory, I should be more than pleased to draw one out for you after this hearing is concluded."
The echo of a pin drop could have been easily heard, such was the silence in the room following Elizabeth's speech. Darcy was part pride, part fear for Elizabeth.
Diggory's lips were tightly pursed as he glared at Elizabeth, who refused to cow before him.
"Please, Miss Bennet, tell the panel what you remember about the night in question," Lady Hopkirk said eventually, looking as though she was desperately fighting a smile.
Elizabeth obliged without further comment. Her recounting was detached and factual, therefore incredibly appropriate for the setting.
"Is your hearing permanently damaged, Miss Bennet?" asked Lord Branson.
"It is not," Elizabeth answered.
Branson looked disappointed that Elizabeth did not elaborate. Darcy smirked internally. Branson had been hoping for Elizabeth to say something stupid or irrelevant, thus making her seem unreasonable or appear to be trying to influence the panel with editorializing. But if there was one thing Elizabeth Bennet was not, it was stupid.
Elizabeth was asked a few more questions, and then Darcy had his turn to give his recollection.
"Describe again, Mr. Darcy, what exactly you saw when you came onto the scene?" Mr. Fawley requested after Darcy had finished.
Darcy felt his chest tighten. He had very much hoped he would not be asked to elaborate. A night had yet to pass where his nightmares had failed to turn down that dark path, resulting in his waking in a cold sweat.
"I saw flashes of light I thought might have been a duel, and ran toward them. By the time I got to the edge of the forest, commotion had ceased. Miss Bennet was on the ground with her hands over her ears." Darcy's voice sounded cold and detached, even to him. He hoped the panel would take it as a show of objectivity, rather than the veil for raging fury that it actually was. "Miss Bennet was, to my observation, not in a state to be able to continue to defend herself. Mr. Ursus Malfoy approached Miss Bennet with his wand raised. I – "
"Interfered, yes," Mrs. White interrupted.
Darcy clenched his jaw shut again to keep from lashing out.
"Are you certain Miss Bennet was actually injured?" Branson asked.
"The blood gushing out of her ears seemed sufficient evidence to draw such a conclusion, yes," Darcy answered. In that moment, he could feel Elizabeth's blood soaking through his robes and had to repress a shudder.
"So you did not witness the beginning of the duel?" Diggory asked.
"I did not," Darcy unwillingly admitted. He would have liked to have the opportunity to tell the panel of all the threats Malfoy had made against Elizabeth prior, but knew it would not go over well. He needed to present only the facts asked for, or the integrity of the hearing would be questioned.
"Minerva McGonagall, your recollection for the panel, please," said Diggory after suppressing a smirk.
Judging by her narrowed lips and flared nostrils, McGonagall was not much happier with how Diggory was running the hearing than Darcy was. She gave direct and curt answers, though she peppered in just enough additional comments that would make a person in possession of any decency feel shame.
"In your dealings with Miss Bennet, Professor McGonagall, have you ever had reason to be concerned she would engage in an unsanctioned duel?" Sir Eldron asked.
"None whatsoever," McGonagall promptly answered.
"We have a note saying Miss Bennet has been studying dueling with Professor Flitwick for upwards of a year now," said Diggory, flipping through a stack of parchment. "You are quite certain she has never engaged in extra practice?"
McGonagall did not answer quite immediately, and Darcy rather thought it was because she was fighting just as badly as he was not to speak in anger. "Miss Bennet has been an exemplary student," she finally decided on saying. "She is exceptionally bright, responsible, and keeps herself under good regulation, which is why Professor Flitwick and I have both agreed to take her on for independent studies in very challenging areas. We have refused plenty of students before because we feared what they might do with the acquired knowledge. Neither of us hesitated with Miss Bennet."
"You are Miss Bennet's head of house, is that correct, Professor McGonagall?" Mr. Fawley asked.
"I am," McGonagall said, drawing herself up a little taller.
"If Miss Bennet is all you say she is, Professor, I have to wonder why you did not make her a prefect," Mrs. White interjected, just as Mr. Fawley had been about to ask a follow up question.
"Bennet," McGonagall said while glaring at Mrs. White.
"Professor McGonagall asked me to be prefect, and I declined, Mrs. White," Elizabeth said in a very measured voice.
"Why was that, Miss Bennet?" Lady Hopkirk asked with genuine curiosity. Darcy was also quite eager for the answer. He had not known Elizabeth had ever been up for the position.
Elizabeth blushed slightly and looked to McGonagall, who nodded at her, before answering. "I did not think I would do the office justice," she admitted. "I wanted to stay focused on my classes and on Quidditch, and I knew I would be starting dueling at the beginning of fifth year. Additionally, I hoped to devote a great deal of attention to my youngest sisters when they came to Hogwarts, which they did this year. Taking on the responsibilities of being a prefect would have just been too much."
Darcy thought back to the beginning of the year, when Elizabeth had become ill from stress, and was grateful for her foresight in not taking on the position. He very purposefully did not look at her, as he thought he would not be able to resist taking her hand to kiss it, and she had made her desire on that very clear.
"You've made your opinion of Miss Bennet quite clear, Professor McGonagall," said Sir Eldron. "What of the other party, Mr. Ursus Malfoy?"
McGonagall's nostrils immediately reflared. "The younger Mr. Malfoy is a capable student."
"And?" Eldron pressed.
"And I decline the invitation to elaborate," McGonagall said flatly.
The room was, again, struck silent for a beat.
"Thank you, Professor McGonagall, that will be all," said Diggory.
McGonagall rose from her chair and squeezed Elizabeth's shoulder gently before making her exit.
"Professor Dumbledore," said Diggory, "you had a part in all this, correct?"
"Yes," said Dumbledore in his ever-calm voice. He sat with his elbows on the arms of the chair he had drawn himself, his fingers connected at the tips.
"Do you also decline the invitation to elaborate?" Branson asked smartly.
Darcy felt his eyes widen. Dumbledore was an oddity, to be sure, and McGonagall's short temper was well known, but Branson surely would not be fool enough to disparage them both in an official hearing?
Dumbledore gave a short, slight smile one might have said was done in pity in Branson's direction before speaking again. "Professor McGonagall came to my office and said there had been an incident on the grounds that needed to be investigated – "
"Did Professor McGonagall say Miss Bennet had been attacked?" Diggory interrupted.
"Professor McGonagall informed me Mr. Darcy had said so, yes, and asked that I make sure the claim was properly investigated," Dumbledore answered evenly. "I sent Professor McGonagall to fetch Miss Jane Bennet to be of assistance to Madam Pomfrey in the hospital wing, and then summoned Professor Flitwick."
"So Professor McGonagall was not present when you first met with Flitwick?" Madam Bones asked.
"Correct," Dumbledore said, inclining his head toward the quick-minded woman. "I told Professor Flitwick I had received a report that something had happened on the grounds and asked that he go investigate. He did not know the name of any of the parties involved, nor the nature of the incident, to maintain his objectivity. He returned after nearly half an hour to share the results of his findings, which you have there, Sir Diggory. I will say only that Professor Flitwick concluded some sort of ambush had taken place, and allow you to question him on the particulars when he arrives."
Diggory moved through the stack in front of him until finding the indicated document. He set it off to the side without a second glance.
Lady Hopkirk, seated beside Diggory, unabashedly reached out to grab the report. She held it between herself and Mr. Fawley and they both began reading.
"After Professor Flitwick gave his report, I went to the hospital wing with Professor McGonagall to assess what harm had been done to Miss Bennet," Dumbledore continued. "Miss Bennet was bleeding from the ears as a result of a progressive curse that would have, if left unchecked, affected her brain and very likely killed her."
Darcy felt his blood suddenly turn to ice. He had not realized Malfoy's curse had been quite so cruel. His fear had been that Elizabeth would bleed out, not that whatever had affected her ears would also wreak havoc on her brain.
"Madam Pomfrey had been at work trying to stop the progress of the curse for some time, but, capable as she is, had been unsuccessful. She has not had much cause to deal with curses of such a nature," said Dumbledore. The twinkle usually present in his eyes had gone out. "I was able to find the proper counter curse after a fair few tries. I brought Mr. Darcy back to my office with me and had him write his statement, then summoned Professors McGonagall, Flitwick, Slughorn, and Sprout to confer on the next steps."
Lady Hopkirk, tired of waiting for Diggory to hand over appropriate documents, reached across him and took the entire stack of papers. She sifted through until finding what she wanted, then gasped. She pointed to a specific point on the paper, then handed it off to Mr. Fawley, who frowned deeply before handing it off to Sir Eldron.
"What justification can you offer for using such a spell, Mr. Malfoy?" Madam Bones asked coldly after having her turn of looking at the document.
"I did not know what the spell would do, Madam Bones," said Malfoy slickly. "I certainly would have refrained if I had."
"So you used an unknown spell on an opponent in what you claim was supposed to be a friendly duel?" Sir Eldron asked with barely contained anger. "Are you daft, boy?"
"We will take a fifteen-minute recess," Sir Diggory declared. He rose before any objection could be made and the panel was forced to follow him out of the room.
"Come, Ursus," said Mr. Malfoy tightly. He pulled Malfoy up by the back of his robes, then exited the room with clipped steps.
"There is an alcove, not too far from here," said Dumbledore conversationally as he examined his fingers, "in the hallway just to the left, in fact, that has the most curious tile patterns on the floor." He looked at Darcy over his glasses. "I always enjoy the chance to study it."
Darcy gave a tight, appreciative smile to Dumbledore before rising and declaring he and Elizabeth simply had to see it for themselves while they had the opportunity.
The alcove Dumbledore had described did, indeed, have an interesting tile pattern, but Darcy was far more appreciative of the fact that it provided a convenient amount of privacy. As soon as he and Elizabeth were inside, he crushed her to his chest and set his cheek on top of her head. "I did not realize how very close I had come to losing you," he said after a few moments of taking in Elizabeth's comforting scent.
"It was disconcerting to hear from Dumbledore how close I came to dying," Elizabeth conceded, her voice somewhat muffled by Darcy's robes. "I thought the danger had passed once Malfoy had gone away."
"I rather think Malfoy should be made to go to Azkaban," Darcy said fiercely.
"Well, lucky for him, he is underage, so there is little chance of that."
"Do you still feel remorse for the fate that awaits him, even if it is not prison?"
"I'm not sure this hearing will be so devastating to him," said Elizabeth. "Sir Diggory certainly seems to favor his innocence."
Darcy pulled back slightly and brought his hand under Elizabeth's chin to tilt her face toward him. "Are you worried, Elizabeth?"
"I'm not sure," Elizabeth answered honestly. "Now that it's started, it can't be undone, so I would have Malfoy be reprimanded in some way."
"But?" Darcy prodded.
"I don't know!" Elizabeth said frustratedly, pinching her eyes shut and furrowing her brows. Darcy felt her fingers curl into fists against his back. "I don't want him back at Hogwarts, I've realized, because I do not want to have the stress of keeping him from Kitty and Lydia. If he's expelled, however, I will forever be looking over my shoulder everywhere but Hogwarts! And I still do not like the idea that his family might cast him off. I had hoped to have reason it might not happen, but Old Mr. Malfoy does not appear to be exceptionally attached to his son."
"You are too good by far, Elizabeth," said Darcy gently, his eyes aglow with affection, "and you put me to shame."
Elizabeth freed her chin from Darcy's finger and turned her head aside.
"As for your other very reasonable concerns," Darcy continued, seeing praise as being unwelcome, presently, "if you let me, I will gladly help you. I would not see your sisters come to harm, and I could not live with myself if you were to do so again."
"I just want this to be over," Elizabeth grumbled. "Wondering what the future will hold is much more anxiety inducing than simply dealing with the reality in front of you."
Darcy grabbed Elizabeth's hands and kissed them both. "Soon, Elizabeth. Soon it will be."
Elizabeth sighed, then bid Darcy wait a minute or two before heading back to the room and left the alcove.
Darcy paced the tiny space in agitation. If he had his way, he would simply carry Elizabeth off back to Hogwarts, rather than put her through more of the circus show that was the hearing. He did not particularly see the point of continuing with the event. To any reasonable person, Darcy thought it must seem clear what had happened. Then again, Sir Diggory had proved he was not the most reasonable of persons, and Lord Branson and Mrs. White were good company for him.
A few more questions were asked of Elizabeth, Darcy, and Malfoy before Slughorn entered to give his testimony.
Slughorn unabashedly praised Elizabeth, stating he had been trying to get her to join the group of students he recognized to be exceptional, but she staunchly refused. He laughingly told the panel he had not given up on her yet and would see she came to at least one dinner before she left Hogwarts. When asked about Malfoy, Slughorn's exuberance took on a rather forced air, and his laughs seemed less jovial. Nonetheless, he managed to compliment Malfoy's academic performance and claimed he had nothing of interest to the panel to add.
Darcy gripped the arms of his chair tightly. It would have been perfectly acceptable for Slughorn to mention he had issued Malfoy a month's worth of detention for a blatant Quidditch foul on Elizabeth that had resulted in grievous injury, but, apparently, Slughorn did not want to raise the ire of Old Mr. Malfoy any more than necessary. Coward.
Luckily, Lady Hopkirk was exceptionally astute. "I have here the disciplinary record of Ursus Malfoy," she said, waving an unfurled scroll, "and it indicates he spent a full four weeks in detention this past autumn. What can you tell us of that, Professor Slughorn?"
"Well, that was a rather unfortunate instance," Slughorn began to bluster.
Darcy was so enraged by Slughorn's deference to the Malfoy's status that he opened his mouth to tell the panel about it, himself, but Dumbledore cleared his throat, forestalling Darcy's outburst.
"If I may, Lady Hopkirk?" Dumbledore said politely.
"By all means," said Lady Hopkirk. "You'll certainly give a faster answer than the good Potions Master," she added with disdain.
Slughorn's smile faded beneath his walrus mustache.
"Gryffindor was playing Slytherin. Mr. Ursus Malfoy served as Beater. He hit the Bludger at a Gryffindor player after the final whistle, putting the other player in the hospital wing for three days complete," Dumbledore said factually.
"A mistake made in the heat of the moment," said Diggory while waving his hand unconcernedly through the air.
Just when Darcy thought he would break and begin shouting at Diggory, Elizabeth's foot bumped into his. He looked to her immediately and she gave him a stern look that could not be mistaken. He fell back into his chair and took up his ironclad grip once more.
"What was the name of the player Mr. Ursus Malfoy sent to the hospital wing, Professor Dumbledore?" Lady Hopkirk asked after completely ignoring Sir Diggory.
"The team's captain, Miss Elizabeth Bennet," Dumbledore answered mildly.
Sir Eldron and Madam Bones began whispering animatedly to each other immediately, and Darcy was pleased to see the harsh resolve on Lord Branson's face flicker.
"Does Ursus Malfoy continue to play for Slytherin?" Mr. Fawley asked of Slughorn.
Confronted by the stern looks of four high-ranking Wizengamot members, Slughorn admitted that, yes, Malfoy did maintain his position on the team.
"The two incidents are unrelated," said Old Mr. Malfoy, addressing the panel for the first time all day.
"I find that difficult to believe, Caius," Sir Eldron argued. "I would suppose it proves a pattern in your son's behavior that is disturbing and dangerous, and that he had targeted Miss Bennet before." He turned to his fellow panel members. "Do we have his records from Beauxbatons?"
"We do not," said Lady Hopkirk unhappily as she shuffled through the various documents before her.
The door opened before anything more could be said, and Professor Flitwick slipped through. "Members of the panel," he said formally. "May I request a moment with Sir Diggory and Professor Dumbledore?"
Dumbledore rose immediately and made his way to the door. Sir Diggory dismissed Slughorn, then announced a hold to the proceedings reluctantly and joined the party forming in the hallway.
Slughorn waddled from the room as quickly as he could.
Darcy's leg began to bounce as he studiously avoided looking at Elizabeth and Malfoy. If he looked at Malfoy, he feared he would break his promise not to use his wand at the Ministry. If he looked at Elizabeth, he was certain he would not be able to abide by her request not to draw attention to their courtship. He settled on carefully observing the remaining panel members. Lady Hopkirk, Madam Bones, Sir Eldron, and Mr. Fawley were all sifting through the plethora of papers before them. After a few minutes, they were joined by Lord Branson, which Darcy found highly encouraging. Mrs. White remained firmly in her chair and refused to pay any heed to the murmured discussions of her colleagues.
Eventually, Sir Diggory opened the door again. He was followed by Professor Dumbledore, then Flitwick, and, to Darcy's immense surprise, Lord Matlock.
"Lord Matlock!" Lady Hopkirk exclaimed. "These proceedings are closed to the public!"
"Professor Dumbledore and I have agreed to allow Matlock entry," said Diggory tightly.
"I am not here to function as Lord Matlock, but as Augustus Fitzwilliam, Lady Hopkirk," Matlock assured. "I have no intention of finding a place on the panel." He drew a chair and settled himself at the back of the room.
Darcy had to fight a smile. Lord Matlock did not boast of the fact, but he was a highly respected and influential man. Simply by being present, he increased the importance of the hearing and sent a message to Sir Diggory that the matter needed to be taken seriously. Whenever Lord Matlock gave his attention to a legal matter, he made sure it was done properly.
"Professor Flitwick, please present your findings to the panel," Diggory requested tightly.
Flitwick proceeded to recount the event in great detail, going so far as to conjure different diagrams for the panel and even demonstrate a few of the spells he knew were used with a dummy wand.
"In your well-educated opinion, Professor Flitwick," said Madam Bones gravely, "was this a duel between acquaintances that simply got out of hand?"
"Most assuredly not," Flitwick stated firmly. "All evidence points to an ambush. Evidence aside, Miss Bennet knows full well that her training with me would be at an end if she were to engage in a serious duel without proper supervision."
"What Professor Flitwick and Miss Bennet are both too modest to say, though I have no such reservations," Matlock piped up, "is that Miss Bennet is far too accomplished to be bested so thoroughly as she was by any of her schoolmates unless taken by surprise. I have seen her duel, and it is impressive. In fact, I would be honored to sponsor her at her next tournament."
Darcy turned slowly to his uncle, having difficulty believing what he was hearing. To his knowledge, Matlock had never sponsored anybody in a tournament, not even his own sons.
"Thank you, my lord," Elizabeth said quietly.
"Have you any final remarks, Miss Bennet, Mr. Darcy, Mr. Ursus Malfoy?" Lady Hopkirk asked after silence had settled and Sir Diggory failed to take charge.
"I have none," Darcy said clearly. Elizabeth responded similarly. Malfoy's negative was given through tight lips.
"The panel will adjourn to deliberate," Lady Hopkirk announced. She withdrew two coins from her pocket, waved her wand at them for several moments, then handed one to Dumbledore and one to Caius Malfoy. "When we are ready to deliver our verdict, the coins will call you."
The panel filed out and the Malfoys were quick to follow.
"Thank you for accompanying me, Augustus," said Flitwick as he shook hands with Matlock. "I can be just in time for my last class if I leave now, and so I will. Bennet, Darcy, hang in there just a little longer."
Dumbledore went with Flitwick to the door, leaving Darcy alone with his uncle and Elizabeth.
"Thank you again, Lord Matlock," Elizabeth said.
"None of that, Miss Bennet," said Matlock. "You've earned the approbation. Tell me, has Diggory had his wand up his arse all day?"
Elizabeth burst into giggles, which she quickly tried to stifle.
Darcy felt himself smile for the first time since the proceedings started at the beautiful sound. "Sir Diggory has behaved as you might expect, Uncle," he answered while Elizabeth regained control of herself.
"What a marvelous prat," Matlock said mildly.
"I gather you are responsible for Major Fitzwilliam's sense of humor, Lord Matlock?" Elizabeth asked with mirth dancing in her eyes.
"Much to my wife's dismay, I am," Lord Matlock answered with a grin. The smile slipped from his face as he nodded to the door the panel had disappeared through. "Do not worry yourself overly much, Miss Bennet. Diggory's a fool, and White's no better. Branson can be made to see reason, occasionally. The rest of the panel's got sense, Lady Hopkirk especially."
Elizabeth's face colored and she looked to her feet uncomfortably. "It is not my fate I'm concerned for, Lord Matlock," she said after a moment.
Darcy's heart lurched as he thought of how deeply Elizabeth cared for those around her, even if they did not deserve it. He faced his uncle resolutely. "Uncle Matlock, I have some news that I am pleased to give you in person, rather than by owl."
Matlock's eyes lit up. "And what news is that, my boy?"
Darcy boldly took Elizabeth's hand in his. "I have asked Miss Bennet for a courtship, and she has agreed."
Matlock beamed. "I am happy for you," he said without artifice. Even Elizabeth could not doubt his sincerity when she raised her gaze. "Be careful now, Darcy," he cautioned. "I think your aunt may very well choose to keep Miss Bennet over you, should either of you break the courtship."
"I would not blame Lady Matlock in the slightest," Darcy said as he smiled at Elizabeth.
"Well, we have missed lunch by quite some time," said Dumbledore as he joined the group, "and I will not subject either of you to the curious hordes of students just yet by suggesting we return to Hogwarts for a meal. Have you any objections to wandering Diagon Ally in search of sustenance?"
"Please, Professor Dumbledore," Matlock boomed, "do not insult me by making such a suggestion to my nephew and his young lady in my presence! You shall all come to Matlock House for refreshments, of course!"
Darcy was pleased to see Elizabeth's face light up at the prospect and eagerly agreed to the scheme. Perhaps, if she was well enough, he might be able to see Georgiana.
"William!" a small voice exclaimed loudly as a small parade of people came out of the fireplace into Lady Matlock's parlor.
Lizzy felt her face pull into a wide smile as a familiar little girl with long blonde hair launched herself into Darcy's arms. He kissed her cheek several times and spoke lowly into her ear.
"Miss Bennet, what a pleasure to see you again!" said Lady Matlock.
Lizzy greeted Lady Matlock enthusiastically, relieved for such a warm welcome. She had been in the middle of awkwardly receiving compliments for her well-chosen court clothing when she nearly lost her balance as something collided with her unexpectedly. She was quite surprised to find a mess of blonde locks at her waist.
"I just told her," Darcy said sheepishly.
Lizzy lowered herself to her knees to better interact with Georgiana while Lady Matlock demanded an explanation from her nephew.
Georgiana firmly attached herself to Lizzy's side, refusing to leave as tea and sandwiches were called for. Lizzy had barely finished her beverage when Georgiana grabbed her hand and pulled her upstairs again.
"Oh, I can't take him now," Lizzy said as Georgiana handed her the same kitten she had over break, though it was now much more grown. "I am not going straight back to my dormitory, and I don't think this fellow would much appreciate the Ministry."
Georgiana firmly set a basket at Elizabeth's feet, then mutely directed her to place the kitten inside. That done, Georgiana closed the basket and awkwardly lifted it to put it in Lizzy's hands.
"Oh, very well," Lizzy said, caving. She would find a way to make it work, she supposed. She could not bear to disappoint the girl before her by refusing yet again.
Lizzy and Georgiana had been back downstairs only a few moments before Dumbledore announced it was time to go.
"What have you there, Miss Bennet?" Dumbledore asked, looking at the basket on Lizzy's arm.
"A gift from a friend," Lizzy answered, looking toward Georgiana, who was blushing furiously at the compliment.
"Oh?" Dumbledore said interestedly. He flipped the basket open and stroked he kitten a few times. "With your permission and Miss Darcy's, Miss Bennet, I will send this fellow off to Hogwarts now."
"Just so long as no one gives him a tour before I do," Lizzy said seriously, though there was a teasing glitter in her eyes.
"But of course," said Dumbledore solemnly. "Does this plan meet your approval, Miss Darcy?"
Georgiana stood beside her aunt, her skirts swishing around her as she turned from side to side. She nodded without meeting Dumbledore's eyes.
Dumbledore sent the basket through the fireplace to Hogwarts, informing Lizzy she could pick up her new friend from McGonagall's office upon return. The light heartedness of the room vanished as the next pinch of floo powder was thrown in and the fire turned green again.
"Will you accompany us, Augustus?" Dumbledore asked Lord Matlock mildly.
"It would be my pleasure," Matlock answered, and he went through the fire first.
Lizzy felt her pulse quicken as she came closer and closer to the room where the panel would deliver their judgement. She consoled herself that, whatever was to happen, at least the hearing would be done. Further incidents could hopefully be dealt with outside the public realm.
Sir Diggory had been deposed, apparently. Lady Hopkirk occupied the seat at the center of the table and welcomed back the Malfoys, Dumbledore, Lizzy, and Darcy.
"We members of the Wizengamot declare Mr. Ursus Malfoy to be guilty of a premeditated, cowardly, and completely unjustifiable attack on Miss Elizabeth Bennet," Lady Hopkirk said loudly and clearly. "We condemn Mr. Ursus Malfoy as being unworthy of wizardkind's trust and without honor."
Lizzy heard the distinct sound of a chair scraping against the floor, and then Caius Malfoy passed through her line of vision on his way to the door, which closed with a sense of finality she had not thought possible.
It was done. Ursus Malfoy was cut off from his family.
"It is the recommendation of the members of this panel that Mr. Ursus Malfoy not be permitted to continue at Hogwarts for the safety of Miss Elizabeth Bennet and all others," Lady Hopkirk mercilessly continued. "What say you, Professor Dumbledore?"
"I, Professor Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts, agree with the recommendation of the panel and hereby declare Mr. Ursus Malfoy expelled," said Dumbledore gravely.
Lizzy felt her head whirl. She was somehow relaxing and tensing up at the same time.
"Mr. Malfoy, being underage, your wand will be confiscated until you can procure proof you are receiving adequate instruction in the arts of wizardkind. You will report to the office for Underage Magic immediately following this hearing," said Lady Hopkirk. "Be warned that further action against Miss Bennet, or a repeat offense against another member of the magical community, will result in you being tried as an adult and sentenced to time in Azkaban.
"This hearing is adjourned." Lady Hopkirk stood and swept out of the room without further comment. Her fellow panel members were left with no option but to follow her out.
Lizzy was vaguely aware of the fact that Darcy had taken her hand in his, but had so many thoughts warring in her head she failed to respond. Malfoy suddenly standing before her snapped her back to reality, however.
"You're dead, Bennet," Malfoy hissed menacingly, lowly enough that Dumbledore and Matlock, in discussion only a few feet away, were unable to hear.
Darcy shot out of his chair and put himself firmly between Lizzy and Malfoy.
Lizzy put her hand on Darcy's arm quickly, and, at her gentle push, he moved out of the way, though he kept a wary eye on Malfoy.
"I am sorry things came to this," Lizzy said quietly.
"I don't want your pity, Mudblood," Malfoy said coldly, "I want your life!"
Elizabeth looked at Malfoy sadly for a moment, then made her way over to Dumbledore.
"If you ever so much as look at Miss Bennet, or any member of her family, ever again, Ursus, I will make you regret the day you were born," Darcy snarled viciously once Elizabeth was away. "You have an appointment to keep now, do you not?"
Malfoy glared murderously at Darcy for a moment longer before storming from the room.
Author's Note
Holy flippity-flop, this is a long chapter! Lots to unpack. Flirty and cute Lizzy and Darcy. Wizarding world dynamics. Malfoy being a butt face. McGonagall, Dumbledore, and Flitwick being awesome. Lord Matlock (who, I must say, I thoroughly enjoy writing). And, of course, A FLOOFY KITTY CAT!
Share your thoughts! I posses much curiosity.
