"This court will now come to order."
The room instantly fell silent. People faced the front to see a sight many of them thought they would never see: A living, breathing, (cursing) Peter Pettigrew being carried up the aisle to his seat. Sirius, in human form, sat in the prosecution's seat. He was taking a big risk... if the jury found Peter innocent, he was a worse than dead man.
"Prosecution, call your first witness."
Jessi rose. "The Prosecution calls Peter Pettigrew to the stand, your Honor."
Peter was forced to the stand and his hand placed on the Bible. "Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?"
"I do," Peter snarled. Then, Jessi looked at the Judge. He nodded at her. Relieved, she looked back at Peter and produced a vial of clear liquid.
"Exhibit #1, members of the Jury: A vial of Verataserum. Will the head Juror please rise?"
A woman rose and came forward, trembling slightly.
"Please take the testers from the Judge."
She took the testers and the vial and returned to the jury.
"If each juror will now test the serum to ensure its validity, we shall then proceed," said the judge.
In a few minutes, the jurors each held up a white strip. "The jury's verdict?"
"The Verataserum is untampered with," the woman replied.
"Excellent. Bailiffs?" Jessi gestured, and the two men held Peter down as Jessi made him swallow the liquid.
"What is your real name?"
"Peter John Pettigrew."
"Where were you born?"
"Paris, France."
"When did you come to England?"
"When I was 18 months old."
Jessi glanced at the judge, who nodded.
"Do you remember James and Lily Potter?"
"Yes."
"Can you tell me what happened in regard to them in the year 1981?"
Harry clenched his fists and teeth in the audience. He had to hear it.
"Voldemort was gaining power; it was safer to be on his side. At first the Potters were going to use Sirius as their Secret Keeper, but Voldemort didn't like that at all. We both knew that the Potters would be hidden forever if that happened; Sirius would die for them. So, Voldemort kidnapped you, to make him doubt his strength. He knew Sirius would not think himself strong enough to resist if you were in Voldemort's possession. It worked, and as soon as Lily performed the charm, I went to Voldemort. Then he went and killed them. He..."
Jessi cut him off harshly. She didn't need to relive her friends' deaths. "What happened that day with Sirius on the street?"
"Sirius came after me, as I knew he would. Fortunately, Voldemort had given me the perfect getaway plan before his downfall. I yelled, 'Lily and James, Sirius! How could you?' He was speechless. I put my wand behind my back and blew up the street. In all the confusion I cut off my finger and turned into my Animagus form, a rat. I went below into the sewers. I ended up in a pet shop. Unknown to the family that bought me, I lived as their son's pet for twelve years."
"So... Sirius Black had nothing to do with it?"
"No."
(A/N: Sorry about the repeat from Sirius and Sarah... I couldn't resist, it fits too well!)
The uproar was tremendous. The judge was pounding with his gavel for order.
"THERE WILL BE SILENCE!"
The room obeyed, and the defense rested immediately. The jury took a record 2 minutes to reach a verdict.
"The Dementor's Kiss!"
Peter started to scream at this in panic. Finally, he caved. He snapped off a chain from around his neck and called for Voldemort in a loud voice. The entire courtroom gasped and ducked as a mist filled the room, chilling all it touched. Peter laughed hysterically as he was wrapped in the mist and simply... disappeared.
The silence in the room was deafening....
"THAT *SON* OF A *BITCH*!"
Everyone's heads swiveled to stare, wide eyed, at Hermione. Her eyes were blazingly bright.
"HERMIONE," Ron almost gasped.
"I CAN'T BELIEVE HE GOT AWAY AGAIN! WE TRIED- OW!"
Hermione stumbled back into Ron, glaring at the four girls now staring at her defiantly.
"Hermione, calm down," Lexi said. "We agree with you, but we need your level headedness right now, ok?"
"Yeah, ok," Hermione breathed.
"Besides, the main goal was accomplished," Draco reminded her. "Sirius is free."
"Right," Hermione nodded, looking sheepish. She looked at the people around her, whom were all staring. "Sorry."
Suddenly Jessi blinked, turned, and embraced Sirius fiercely. "WE DID IT!"
As that statement sunk into the minds of all around, a tremendous roar rose from the crowd. The judge finally gave up calling for order and let the overjoyed friends and family party.
~*~
"Imbecile!" Voldemort glared at the groveling Wormtail. "Of what use are you to me if they know you are mine to command?!"
"I'm sor-"
"Did you not THINK that one would come and retrieve you?"
"Master, I-"
"SILENCE!" Voldemort smiled cruelly and raised his wand. "You have outlived your usefulness, Wormtail. Avara Kedavra."
"NNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
*Flash*
Harry sat up in bed, clasping his scar in his agony. He stumbled down to the common room and saw the adults looking at him. They were on their feet in an instant.
"Harry?!?" Ally leapt over to him as he fell to his knees.
"Wormtail... curse... dead....Volde-" Harry then fainted, his message delivered.
"Jessi, please," Ally said hurriedly. Jessi ran for Madame Pomfrey as Remus and Sirius helped get Harry on the couch.
He awoke a few minutes later with a groan, just as Pomfrey was bustling in the portrait Hole. She tsked and Harry rolled his eyes.
"What have you done this time, Harry?" the nurse asked rather calmly, shining her wandlight in his eyes.
"Nothing! It was my scar," he replied in exasperation, as if he had said so a million times before. Suddenly he gave a half smile, although his eyes remained worried.
"Mari?"
The adults looked toward the girls' stairs, where a wide-eyed red head was staring worriedly around the corner. She gave a small gasp and almost jumped at Harry, only checking herself just in time. She sat on the floor next to him, not waiting for permission.
"Are you alright?" she asked with a worried tone, biting her lip.
"Fine; just a bad dream. You?"
"The same," she nodded with a significant look.
"Wormtail."
"Yes."
The adults looked at each other, mostly in stunned approbation. They looked like Lily and James sitting there, Mariah without her glasses, and it brought back enough memories to choke up all of them. Then they heard Harry exclaim, "Mari.... the Amulet..."
She nodded and took it out from under her nightgown. It was still glowing steadily, but was a little dimmer than before.
"It started to flicker, so I figured something had happened to you. Then I remembered the scar."
Harry smiled, and was about to say something when Ron, Hermione, Sephie, and Lexi came down the stairs.
"We have a sixth sense about this kind of thing now," Hermione explained, indicating herself and Ron.
Just as Harry was about to reply, ANOTHER voice came into the room, this time from the Portrait Hole. "Just WHAT is the meaning of this?" asked Professor McGonagall in exasperation.
"Harry had a scar dream," Mariah explained hurriedly. Minerva's frown deepened.
"Did you report to Dumbledore?"
"No need, Minerva, I know." This came from Dumbledore's head in the Gryffindor Common Room Fireplace. Madame Pomfrey threw her hands up in exasperation.
"Is there ANY privacy in this godforsaken room!? May I suggest taking young Mr. Potter…"
"I'm FINE!" Harry exclaimed impatiently as he swung his legs over the couch and sat up. He glared in the general direction of the nurse, who was muttering about children never knowing their own limits.
"Ah, Poppy…. That's what makes them so strong," Dumbledore said cryptically. Then he nodded.
"Minerva, Allison, Remus, Sirius, Jessica… if I could see you in my office, please? And, if the rest of you would kindly remain down here…?"
"Certainly, Professor," Hermione answered quickly. The adults filed out of the room quickly, leaving Mariah and Harry to compare dreams as the others listened carefully and, in Hermione's case, analyze them.
~*~
Although it was 3:30 in the morning, none of the adults showed signs of fatigue as they took seats around the table in the hidden room off Dumbledore's office. Snape joined them shortly, being awakened by a house elf and summoned to the meeting.
Jessi spoke first. "How much credibility can we lend to this?"
Dumbledore went to open his mouth, but Snape beat him to it. "Potter's scar dreams are NEVER wrong."
They all looked at him in surprise. He never spoke up for Harry.
Suddenly the door opening interrupted them. They all drew their wands but Snape, who cried out, "Janelle!" and sprang to his sister's side.
She was clearly in pain, but she took out the book she had seen Lily seal so long ago.
"H-Here…" And, with that, she fainted in her brother's arms.
The room instantly fell silent. People faced the front to see a sight many of them thought they would never see: A living, breathing, (cursing) Peter Pettigrew being carried up the aisle to his seat. Sirius, in human form, sat in the prosecution's seat. He was taking a big risk... if the jury found Peter innocent, he was a worse than dead man.
"Prosecution, call your first witness."
Jessi rose. "The Prosecution calls Peter Pettigrew to the stand, your Honor."
Peter was forced to the stand and his hand placed on the Bible. "Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?"
"I do," Peter snarled. Then, Jessi looked at the Judge. He nodded at her. Relieved, she looked back at Peter and produced a vial of clear liquid.
"Exhibit #1, members of the Jury: A vial of Verataserum. Will the head Juror please rise?"
A woman rose and came forward, trembling slightly.
"Please take the testers from the Judge."
She took the testers and the vial and returned to the jury.
"If each juror will now test the serum to ensure its validity, we shall then proceed," said the judge.
In a few minutes, the jurors each held up a white strip. "The jury's verdict?"
"The Verataserum is untampered with," the woman replied.
"Excellent. Bailiffs?" Jessi gestured, and the two men held Peter down as Jessi made him swallow the liquid.
"What is your real name?"
"Peter John Pettigrew."
"Where were you born?"
"Paris, France."
"When did you come to England?"
"When I was 18 months old."
Jessi glanced at the judge, who nodded.
"Do you remember James and Lily Potter?"
"Yes."
"Can you tell me what happened in regard to them in the year 1981?"
Harry clenched his fists and teeth in the audience. He had to hear it.
"Voldemort was gaining power; it was safer to be on his side. At first the Potters were going to use Sirius as their Secret Keeper, but Voldemort didn't like that at all. We both knew that the Potters would be hidden forever if that happened; Sirius would die for them. So, Voldemort kidnapped you, to make him doubt his strength. He knew Sirius would not think himself strong enough to resist if you were in Voldemort's possession. It worked, and as soon as Lily performed the charm, I went to Voldemort. Then he went and killed them. He..."
Jessi cut him off harshly. She didn't need to relive her friends' deaths. "What happened that day with Sirius on the street?"
"Sirius came after me, as I knew he would. Fortunately, Voldemort had given me the perfect getaway plan before his downfall. I yelled, 'Lily and James, Sirius! How could you?' He was speechless. I put my wand behind my back and blew up the street. In all the confusion I cut off my finger and turned into my Animagus form, a rat. I went below into the sewers. I ended up in a pet shop. Unknown to the family that bought me, I lived as their son's pet for twelve years."
"So... Sirius Black had nothing to do with it?"
"No."
(A/N: Sorry about the repeat from Sirius and Sarah... I couldn't resist, it fits too well!)
The uproar was tremendous. The judge was pounding with his gavel for order.
"THERE WILL BE SILENCE!"
The room obeyed, and the defense rested immediately. The jury took a record 2 minutes to reach a verdict.
"The Dementor's Kiss!"
Peter started to scream at this in panic. Finally, he caved. He snapped off a chain from around his neck and called for Voldemort in a loud voice. The entire courtroom gasped and ducked as a mist filled the room, chilling all it touched. Peter laughed hysterically as he was wrapped in the mist and simply... disappeared.
The silence in the room was deafening....
"THAT *SON* OF A *BITCH*!"
Everyone's heads swiveled to stare, wide eyed, at Hermione. Her eyes were blazingly bright.
"HERMIONE," Ron almost gasped.
"I CAN'T BELIEVE HE GOT AWAY AGAIN! WE TRIED- OW!"
Hermione stumbled back into Ron, glaring at the four girls now staring at her defiantly.
"Hermione, calm down," Lexi said. "We agree with you, but we need your level headedness right now, ok?"
"Yeah, ok," Hermione breathed.
"Besides, the main goal was accomplished," Draco reminded her. "Sirius is free."
"Right," Hermione nodded, looking sheepish. She looked at the people around her, whom were all staring. "Sorry."
Suddenly Jessi blinked, turned, and embraced Sirius fiercely. "WE DID IT!"
As that statement sunk into the minds of all around, a tremendous roar rose from the crowd. The judge finally gave up calling for order and let the overjoyed friends and family party.
~*~
"Imbecile!" Voldemort glared at the groveling Wormtail. "Of what use are you to me if they know you are mine to command?!"
"I'm sor-"
"Did you not THINK that one would come and retrieve you?"
"Master, I-"
"SILENCE!" Voldemort smiled cruelly and raised his wand. "You have outlived your usefulness, Wormtail. Avara Kedavra."
"NNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
*Flash*
Harry sat up in bed, clasping his scar in his agony. He stumbled down to the common room and saw the adults looking at him. They were on their feet in an instant.
"Harry?!?" Ally leapt over to him as he fell to his knees.
"Wormtail... curse... dead....Volde-" Harry then fainted, his message delivered.
"Jessi, please," Ally said hurriedly. Jessi ran for Madame Pomfrey as Remus and Sirius helped get Harry on the couch.
He awoke a few minutes later with a groan, just as Pomfrey was bustling in the portrait Hole. She tsked and Harry rolled his eyes.
"What have you done this time, Harry?" the nurse asked rather calmly, shining her wandlight in his eyes.
"Nothing! It was my scar," he replied in exasperation, as if he had said so a million times before. Suddenly he gave a half smile, although his eyes remained worried.
"Mari?"
The adults looked toward the girls' stairs, where a wide-eyed red head was staring worriedly around the corner. She gave a small gasp and almost jumped at Harry, only checking herself just in time. She sat on the floor next to him, not waiting for permission.
"Are you alright?" she asked with a worried tone, biting her lip.
"Fine; just a bad dream. You?"
"The same," she nodded with a significant look.
"Wormtail."
"Yes."
The adults looked at each other, mostly in stunned approbation. They looked like Lily and James sitting there, Mariah without her glasses, and it brought back enough memories to choke up all of them. Then they heard Harry exclaim, "Mari.... the Amulet..."
She nodded and took it out from under her nightgown. It was still glowing steadily, but was a little dimmer than before.
"It started to flicker, so I figured something had happened to you. Then I remembered the scar."
Harry smiled, and was about to say something when Ron, Hermione, Sephie, and Lexi came down the stairs.
"We have a sixth sense about this kind of thing now," Hermione explained, indicating herself and Ron.
Just as Harry was about to reply, ANOTHER voice came into the room, this time from the Portrait Hole. "Just WHAT is the meaning of this?" asked Professor McGonagall in exasperation.
"Harry had a scar dream," Mariah explained hurriedly. Minerva's frown deepened.
"Did you report to Dumbledore?"
"No need, Minerva, I know." This came from Dumbledore's head in the Gryffindor Common Room Fireplace. Madame Pomfrey threw her hands up in exasperation.
"Is there ANY privacy in this godforsaken room!? May I suggest taking young Mr. Potter…"
"I'm FINE!" Harry exclaimed impatiently as he swung his legs over the couch and sat up. He glared in the general direction of the nurse, who was muttering about children never knowing their own limits.
"Ah, Poppy…. That's what makes them so strong," Dumbledore said cryptically. Then he nodded.
"Minerva, Allison, Remus, Sirius, Jessica… if I could see you in my office, please? And, if the rest of you would kindly remain down here…?"
"Certainly, Professor," Hermione answered quickly. The adults filed out of the room quickly, leaving Mariah and Harry to compare dreams as the others listened carefully and, in Hermione's case, analyze them.
~*~
Although it was 3:30 in the morning, none of the adults showed signs of fatigue as they took seats around the table in the hidden room off Dumbledore's office. Snape joined them shortly, being awakened by a house elf and summoned to the meeting.
Jessi spoke first. "How much credibility can we lend to this?"
Dumbledore went to open his mouth, but Snape beat him to it. "Potter's scar dreams are NEVER wrong."
They all looked at him in surprise. He never spoke up for Harry.
Suddenly the door opening interrupted them. They all drew their wands but Snape, who cried out, "Janelle!" and sprang to his sister's side.
She was clearly in pain, but she took out the book she had seen Lily seal so long ago.
"H-Here…" And, with that, she fainted in her brother's arms.