I'm going to write this part in James' viewpoint.
Please R/R if you want me to continue!!! Even if you don't! I know this part is short, but there's more coming.
Disclaimers: Anything or anyone you don't recognise belongs to me, especially Eltala Riddle, and Lily Snape. Everything else belongs to J K Rowlings. I haven't, and I won't make any money out of this!
The ministers proclamation- Part Eleven
I couldn't believe that it was her. But she hadn't objected. She looked so scared and pained when the Professor tied her up, I almost protested. Mind you, thinking of 'pained'. I was bruised and hurt all over. Every time I moved I winced. Professor McGonagall left the carriage, to go and get the Minister of Magic, taking Malfoy and his goons with her.
The Minister had been going to be at the Great Feast, to welcome in the new Headmaster. I guess that McGonagall was satisfied Lily couldn't escape, and confident we wouldn't hurt her. More likely didn't care.
The instant the professor was out of the room, Lily tried to speak to us.
"Please believe me. It was Malfoy not me. I would never do that." Her voice was quiet – she obviously couldn't breathe properly in the ropes that bound her.
Sirius snorted in disbelief beside me. Not even trying to contain himself, he blurted out with:
"You know, James, that is just disgusting. We tried to help her; she curses us – with an unforgivable, mind you; and then she's so cowardly she tries to put the blame on someone else. If McGonagall hadn't arrived, just when she did, I bet 'Miss Evans' here would have moved onto the killing curse."
I began to feel some of my friend's anger. How dare she…
For the next ten minutes, Sirius accused her of even more far-fetched things – and insulted her – and all the while she just lay there, twisted on the floor, denying it. I just watched, not really caring. I was too distracted by my hurting back to care. If I had been her, I would not have stood for some of the things Sirius said. I would have been on my feet, wand out… Mind you, perhaps on her feet was not an option. As they were tied to her shoulders and arms.
The door swung open, and Professor McGonagall re-entered the carriage. She held the door open and a rather portly man, who I instantly recognised. Cornelius Fudge. Minister of Magic. In all the pictures I had seen of the new minister I had never seen him look so angry. No doubt McGonagall had explained the situation to him
I'm going to write this part in general viewpoint again.
Lily was furious at some of the remarks Sirius Black had been making, but she was in more than enough trouble as it was. Not that she could have done anything, had she tried. She was too tightly bound. Just as Lily thought she might explode with the anger that was filling her, Professor McGonagall and another man she didn't recognise, entered. The man was dressed in purple and gold robes, rather fat. But he looked so mad…
"Do you know who I am, girl?" The man pulled Lily up off the floor and onto the seat where he could see her.
Much more comfortable now but still just as scared she answered "No, sir."
"I am the Minister of Magic. I am in charge of all the magical communities in all England. I am Minister Fudge."
Even James and McGonagall thought that it sounded a bit boastful, but it did its job in intimidating the prisoner.
"Sir, I am muggle born. I only found out about magic less than a month ago. I'm sorry sir, that I couldn't identify you." Her mother had always told her she was a born diplomat, but Lily didn't think even she could get herself out of trouble this time.
"Muggle born, are you? Hmm. Well then, how on earth do you know how to perform curses, 'Crucio' especially?"
"I've read about them sir, in my school books – but I can't do unforgivable curses."
"Don't think lying will get you out of trouble. Do you know what the punishment is for what you did?"
"A term in Azkaban, sir?"
"Doesn't that worry you? No, never mind. You're wrong anyway."
This shocked every one else in the room, not to mention what it did to Lily.
"Wrong, sir?"
"Wrong indeed! What you have done, gives you a life-time in Azkaban! And you deserve it!"
"It wasn't me, sir. It was Malfoy."
Fudge looked troubled.
"Hmm, well in that case."
He turned to James and Sirius.
"And you? You don't remember who it was?"
Sirius shook hid head slowly, as not to jar his aching head. James answered softly.
"I don't remember, exactly, sir – But I don't think it was her. I don't know what makes me say that, I just don't think she did it."
Fudge looked even more troubled.
"Well, Professor, I can't charge her without a witness."
McGonagall looked shocked.
"But Minister, really. Does Master Malfoy count for nothing?"
"Normally one witness is enough, but as she has accused him, we need another witness. Otherwise, it is just her word against his. I know how you feel, Professor, him being a pure-blood, and her being… I'm sorry it just can't be helped. Punish her - all of them – but you can't even suspend her without doing the same to young Lucius."
With that the Minister stormed out of the carriage, leaving a very angry professor in his wake.
I'm going to write this part in Lily's viewpoint.
I winced as the Professor turned her heavy gaze upon me. She was furious. McGonagall raised her wand, and I could see my life flashing before me. With a few well chosen words muttered under her breath, the ropes that bound me loosened and disappeared, and I was free.
I could not stand the fact that either Sirius or James believed that I had done that to them. Nevertheless, thought a small voice in my head, it really matters much more that James doesn't believe. I quickly stopped listening to that voice – and hoped of all things James wasn't a mind-reader.
A/N sorry the action was slow in coming, but I have no control whatsoever on this story. I had a nice fast plot all figured – but then the characters intervened. I just type in whatever they tell me.
