A/N Sorry I've been so slow at getting these out. I have been weighed down, and it's only going to get worse. The good new is that I only have six weeks left until summer vacationJ
A glimmer within a trial
Part xv
Harry stepped in first. He looked exhausted, but other than that he was looking good. Sirius followed in after Harry. He too escaped from their adventure in the forest with a few minor cuts and bruises. Someone else followed in after Sirius causing gasps from all around the room. The woman got one glance at Peter Pettigrew before she slumped out on the floor.
"Bridgett, is that you," Ginny asked, looking straight at Wormtail.
"Yes it's me," answered Peter's squeaky voice. His body was flailing around in an internal struggle against himself. "Hurry up and tie him up. I can't hold him much longer."
Remus performed the lock-legs curse on Wormtail just as Sirius used some sort of charm to permanently stick his arm at an odd angle around his back. Liberty took the honor of stuffing an old sock in his mouth and taping it shut with duct tape. "It's a dirty job, but someone had to do it," she explained. A few seconds later, Wormtail's body went limp. Ginny assumed that Bridgett would soon be joining them back in her own body.
"What do we do now," Sirius asked.
"You mean you finally captured the twit, and now you don't know what to do with him," Snape snarled. Liberty burst out laughing at his comment. "You know Snape, I think we may be able to become friends after all."
"Yeah, funny, funny. Now what do we do?"
"We should go straight to the ministry," Harry exclaimed.
"You're right on one account. We should go straight to the ministry. You, however, should get back to Hogwarts."
"How could we leave now? We have to stay for your trial."
Ginny had another question in mind. "What about the woman? I think she just fainted, we can't just leave!"
"She survived this long on her own didn't she? She can…"
"Ginny's right Snape. They need to get this woman to Madam Pomfrey."
"Then it's settled then," Hermione stated. "Harry, Ron, Ginny, and I will get Bridgett and the woman back to Hogwarts and the rest of you will go to the ministry." The grownups didn't seem to keen on the idea of leaving five teenagers and a strange woman that was out like a light on their own in the Forbidden Forrest, but after constant reassurance, and the back up of the map, they all agreed. Ginny waved good-bye as she saw them apparate out of the hut.
"We have to follow them," Harry stated when they were out of sight. "Who's with me?"
"Count me in," Ron volunteered. "I can't wait to see that rat get fried."
"And what exactly are you guys going to do? Apperate? We have no way of getting there, and even if we did, we don't know where to go," Hermione reminded them.
"There's gotta be a way…"
"What do you suggest we do with the woman? And Bridgett?"
"Hermione's right," Ginny replied. "We have to get Bridgett and the woman back to Hogwarts to see Madam Pompfry.
"Oh no you won't!" The woman rose from the cold floor looking delirious. "There is no Hogwarts! It's all a myth!" Her eyes took on a certain madness and she rose frantically, pacing the floor.
"You are a witch, correct," Ginny asked in confusion.
"I'm no one! Now leave me alone!" She broke down sobbing in a little corner. She sat, facing the wall, crumpled up in as tight of a ball as she could get.
"Come on Ginny, we'd better get out of here," Harry said quickly, reaching his hand out for her own.
"Wait. We can't leave her."
"Oh yes we can," Ron told her, eyeing the woman suspiciously. "That woman's nutters!"
"Hermione?" Ginny turned her eyes to her last resort.
"I think we'd better just get Bridgett and get out of this place."
Ignoring the jeers from the others, Ginny cautiously walked up to the woman. Her sobs had quieted down somewhat. She heard Ginny approach, and looked up quickly causing Ginny to step back a couple steps, but Ginny soon resumed her pace up to the woman. Neither one of them spoke as Ginny quickly placed her hand on the woman's forehead.
"You don't feel warm. Are you feeling alright?"
"Yes. I'm sorry I got all hysterical."
"I'll forgive you, if you answer one question for me."
"What is that?"
"How did you come to live in the forest on your own? Don't you get lonely sometimes?"
"Now, that's two questions," the woman said, giving Ginny a small smile through her tears. "A long time ago, something happened, something bad. I witnessed it. In fact, I was the only witness that I know of…and I got scared. So, I ran…I ran as far as I could, gave up my house and my identity, and I didn't stop until I found this abandoned hut. I have not wandered more than five yards from this place since I've came. And, yes, I do get lonely, but I figure it is my penance. Not for what I did, but for what I should have done."
"Miss, I don't know what you did…or rather, what you didn't do, but I think you've suffered enough. And my friends would surely back me up on that," Ginny said looking toward Harry, Ron, and Hermione. They all looked at the floor guiltily. Finally, Harry lifted his head.
"Could you get us there? To the trial, I mean?"
"I suppose I could. If I can remember right, there is a bus in Hogsmeade that will take you directly to the ministry office. You can find the court room from there."
"That's it! We'll get Bridgett back to Hogwarts and then we'll take the passageway to Hogsmeade."
"But, Professor McGonagall will probably never let us leave her sight after yesterday's disappearance," Ginny told him.
The woman's sadness left her eyes for a more determined look. "Aha! Go ahead and bring Bridgett back to Hogwarts. Don't worry about sneaking past professor McGonagall. Leave that to me."
They walked for what seemed like forever using the map for guidance back into Hogwarts. Ron decided to lead the way with the map, and after making almost three complete circles, Hermione gracefully ripped it from his hands and gave it back to Harry.
"Hey."
"Well, if we want to get there today, I suggest letting Harry navigate."
"So you're saying I couldn't get us there?"
"Just face it Ron, your map reading abilities aren't the greatest," Ginny said, trying to refrain them from a pending argument.
Harry didn't have much luck either the first time around as they ended up right back at the hut. Tired and hungry, they set off for Hogwarts one last time, and finally after walking for hours, they made it there. Before they even had a chance to enter the castle, Professor McGonagall was heading right towards them.
"I have been worried sick for you five! I suggest you all follow me to the infirmary and don't think I'm through with you either! I guarantee you'll each get your deserving punishment. I'm going to see to it that you don't leave my sight again." She said all that in one breath as she lead them all up to Madam Pomfrey. The woman followed gracefully behind McGonagall, not speaking until they got right up to the infirmary.
McGonagall finally addressed the woman. "Thank you for getting them back safely Miss…"
"Er," the woman glanced around frantically. Her gaze stopped at a portrait of a vase filled with daisies. "Miss Vase…er. My name is Daisy Vaser. Nice to meet you Minerva, the children have told me so much about you." The woman stuck out her hand and McGonagall shook it abruptly.
"Nice to meet you Miss Vaser. And don't go putting in plugs for the children; flattery will get them no where."
"Of course Minerva…call me Daisy by the way. Actually, I came up here to talk to you about the children. They came to my house and trampled all over my garden."
"I'm so sorry Daisy. They will pay you for any damages."
"No, no, I had a much better idea in mind. Could you tell me when they will be done with classes?"
"All classes are over with for today."
"Good. I'd like them to come and work on my garden. I'm lonely and I'd enjoy the company."
"I'm sorry, but the children will not be allowed to…"
"It would be the perfect punishment for them. I promise to keep my eye on them."
Professor McGonagall looked like she was making a personal struggle, but she finally gave in. "You can have them, but Bridgett must stay here. She is a little under the weather."
"Thank you Minerva. Come on, let's go."
Ginny followed the woman alongside Harry out of the castle and towards Hogsmeade.
A/N I'm almost to the actual trialJ There will probably be only two or three chapters left, and maybe an epilogue. Please review, and I'll try to get the next one written during my Easter break (we only get one day, but it's better than nothing).
Disclaimer: I haven't put one of these out in a long time, so just in case you're wondering, I still don't own them.
