Misunderstood
Chapter Nine
The Trial
Disclaimer: I don't own anything besides the plot to this story. All characters you recognize belong to J.K. Rowling, Scholastic, and all them people.
Author's Note: Thanks for all the reviews! ChloeLupin or GuenivereWeasley thanks for the Genre suggestion. You might notice that it's now changed to Angst. I'm sorry for making everybody cry and distraught, but I'm glad you've enjoyed it. Also, I'm unsure of how many chapters I intend on making this story, but it's not finished yet, and I tend to write a lot. Sorry again for the delay in posting, there's never a dull moment at my house, and I had company. I will try and get the next chapter up sooner! I hope you all continue to enjoy. Happy New Year! ~*Carey*~
Harry was tired of everybody keeping things from him for his safety. He was tired of Hermione, tired of Sirius, and tired of Dumbledore thinking they all knew what was best for him. Hermione didn't even know, so how could she judge? Harry felt as put out as George had when he found out his family was keeping secrets from him. Fred didn't want to know after seeing his brother so upset, and he hadn't bothered to ask, though Harry saw he was concerned for George. Harry would finally find out for himself what the problem was. Sirius had left Hogwarts on a mission for Dumbledore, which was perfect for Harry's plan.
Harry took out his Invisibility cloak and wrapped it around himself, as he snuck quietly down the stairs that would take him to the common room. He looked around and nobody was up. Of course, nobody would be up at two o'clock in the morning on Thursday night, or at least they wouldn't be in the common room. Harry crept over to Ginny's door, which wouldn't shut properly after George had broken it, and he crept inside her dorm, knowing the door opening wouldn't be heard over the wind that blew outside to even the lightest of sleepers. Harry crept over to Ginny's bedside table, careful not to wake her or anybody else.
Harry found what he was looking for. He found Ron's letter. All he had to do was turn the parchment over and he read it.
Harry left the girls dormitory horrified at what he had read. Ron had been in Azkaban? What on earth could he have done? Ginny had gone to see him in Azkaban… Harry would've gone now if only Ron was still there, but he wasn't, and the letter didn't say exactly where he was either. He'd have to ask Professor Dumbledore first thing in the morning. Right now he'd need to sleep, but there was no way he'd be able to.
The next morning, Harry raced down to the Great Hall at seven o'clock in the morning to find Professor Dumbledore and Professor Flitwick speaking in cheery voices. Harry ran up to the head table and waited for Professor Dumbledore to acknowledge him.
"Professor," Harry said when Professor Dumbledore had looked at him. "After your finished eating sir, I need to talk to you." Harry said.
"Well, why don't you have something to eat and then you may meet me in my office?" Professor Dumbledore asked.
"I'm not hungry sir." Harry said.
"Well then, follow me." Professor Dumbledore said.
In Professor Dumbledore's office Harry sat down restlessly, waiting for the Professor to talk.
"What is this about?" Professor Dumbledore asked.
"I want to know why Ron was in Azkaban." Harry said straightforwardly.
"How did you find out?" Professor Dumbledore asked sternly.
"That's not important. I want to know why Ron was in there." Harry said.
"The Minister of Magic believes that Mr. Weasley murdered his father." Professor Dumbledore said gravely.
"Mr. Weasley's dead?" Harry asked taken back.
"I'm afraid he was murdered some time during the early morning hours of September first." Professor Dumbledore said.
"And they think Ron did it?" Harry asked.
"They also believe that Voldemort is no longer a threat." Professor Dumbledore reminded.
"What would somebody have to do to get out of Azkaban?" Harry asked.
"Harry, I'm afraid there's nothing that will change the Minister's mind until the trial." Professor Dumbledore said.
"But Ron wrote Ginny and-"
"You read Ms. Weasley's mail?" Professor Dumbledore asked disapprovingly.
"That's besides the point. Ron wrote to Ginny, and he's not in Azkaban now, because he did something really stupid." Harry said. "But he didn't say what."
"Did he say where he's being held then?" Professor Dumbledore asked.
"No, he said he couldn't say." Harry said.
"Your guess is as good as mine." Professor Dumbledore said.
"I want to go to Ron's trial." Harry said.
"I'm afraid I can't allow you to go." Professor Dumbledore said.
"Please-" Harry pleaded.
"The answer is no, Harry." Professor Dumbledore said shortly.
"Well can you remember it and put the memories in the Pensieve? The Weasley's have been like the family I never had, and Ron's always been there for me. I want to know what's happening to my best friend." Harry said.
"I promise, you will see everything that I see." Professor Dumbledore said.
"Thank you." Harry said.
Harry made his way back to the Gryffindor Common Room feeling weighted-down. When he got to the common room, he went to head for his dorm, but somebody in the corner of the common room caught his eye.
It was Fred, and he was shaking with quiet sobs at a corner table with his face buried in his arms. There was a piece of parchment in his hand, and he didn't seem to notice Harry at all.
"Fred?" Harry called.
Fred didn't look up or acknowledge that he had even heard Harry.
"Fred?" Harry asked again.
"Azkaban! He was in Azkaban Harry!" Fred sobbed without looking up.
"But he's not now." Harry said.
"He was in Azkaban for murdering my dad!" Fred cried.
"An owl from George?" Harry asked sadly.
"My mum got a letter from Ron yesterday. They had to move him to St. Mungo's, because he tried to kill himself. They don't understand how he didn't die. My brother shouldn't have been in there, but he was because of the Minister's stupidity! It didn't ever occur to them that he's only fifteen and that he couldn't and wouldn't perform that curse if his life depended on it! They just arrested him because he was the only other person at the burrow, and the spell came from his wand! Any death eater could've framed him! If Ron had killed my dad, he would've killed himself right after." Fred sobbed.
Fred stood up wiping his tears. "I've got to find Dumbledore to see about a ride home. The trial is in two days." Fred said.
By the following morning the castle was completely deserted of Weasleys. Fred and Ginny had been sent home for the trial. The castle felt so dull and empty to the Gryffindors. The Slytherins didn't mind at all though, in fact they loved every minute of Hogwarts without the Weasleys.
"Well, the air certainly is a bit fresher now that they've taken the white trash out of the school… now all they need to do is get rid of the mudbloods…" Malfoy said as he passed by the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall, earning himself many glares.
"The air's probably a bit fresher because he took a shower. Now all he needs to do is learn to use soap." Angelina muttered to Alicia.
Everybody at the Gryffindor table seemed to hear her as they all laughed, and Malfoy also seemed to hear her as he walked over to her.
Angelina feeling someone's eyes on her back, turned around looking at Malfoy expectantly. "What? You don't like to hear anybody's voice except for your own? That is just too bad. I'm sorry." Angelina said sarcastically rolling her eyes as she turned back to Alicia.
"You'd better watch your mouth… and your back for you… and your family might be very sorry real soon." Malfoy said smirking.
Angelina stood up pulling out her wand as she turned around to look at Malfoy with her angry eyes. She pointed her wand at his chest. She was a few inches taller than him, but she didn't tower him.
"Who do you think you are? How dare you threaten me?" Angelina said loudly. Everybody grew quiet to hear her, and she was speaking loud enough for the Professors to hear. "You think you're the only one who can state your opinions? You say something terrible, you're going to get something terrible thrown right back in your face, and if you had the balls to be such an ass, then be ready to take a comment or two, and if you can't handle that then ignore it, but don't you dare threaten me! I know about your father, and I'll warn you right now that if anything should happen to my family, or me it will be you who pays, and your father won't be able to help you. So I'm warning you now… don't you ever, ever threaten me." Angelina roared dangerously poking her wand into Malfoy's chest.
Harry and Hermione looked from Malfoy to Angelina. They were looking at each other with deadly glares. Angelina seemed to be staring Malfoy down, showing him who was boss, but Malfoy wouldn't look away.
Finally, Malfoy broke eye contact, but he was smirking. "Stupid girl." Malfoy muttered under his breath for only a few students to hear. Angelina heard it loud and clear, and in reply she kneed Malfoy in between his legs, causing him to fall to the ground in tears. The Gryffindors were amused and cheering.
"Ms. Johnson!" Professor McGonagall yelled.
"I'm sorry Professor, I'll take a few detentions and you can take points away, I'll make it up later, but he shouldn't be able to threaten anybody!" Angelina cried.
"Ms. Johnson, did you not just threaten him?" Professor Snape asked with a dangerous look in his eyes.
"No, I don't make threats, I'm just stating the facts. He threatened me, if anything should happen to my family or me, I will hurt him. It doesn't even have to be him who's responsible, but he threatened me, so therefore I have reason to go after him, should anything happen." Angelina said.
Professor Snape looked dangerously at Angelina, but Angelina was too riled to care.
"Ange, let's go eat in the common room." Alicia said pulling on the sleeve of Angelina's robes.
Angelina grabbed her plate and walked out of the Great Hall with Alicia.
Harry and Hermione entered the common room that night to find Angelina full of excitement.
"That was awesome." Katie Bell cried.
"I know, but he didn't get half of what he deserved." Angelina said. "I swear, if there's a next time, which there better not be for his sake, oh he'll regret it. I would've flattened him right there, but I was too worried about my parents. I mean, his dad's a death eater; he bought his way out of Azkaban. But I swear, if anything happens to them… Malfoy will be dead! Though, I don't think his father would care. He'd probably press charges just to get more money, but other than that, I'd be doing him and the rest of the world a favor."
"Ron would've loved to have seen that." Hermione said woefully. "It would be an addition to his wonderful memories of Malfoy the bouncing ferret and the time I slapped him. I wonder where Ron is anyway."
"St. Mungo's." Harry said.
"What?" Hermione asked with surprise.
"St. Mungo's, the Hospital for wizards and witches." Harry said.
"I know that, but why is he there?" Hermione asked with wide eyes.
"Because he tried to kill himself in Azkaban." Harry said.
"Why was he in Azkaban?" Hermione asked in a whisper.
"They think he killed his dad." Harry said.
"Why would they think that?" Hermione asked with tears in her eyes.
"Because they're idiots. You know Fudge doesn't believe that Voldemort's returned." Harry said.
"Well did you have a nightmare and wake up with your scar hurting? Did you see it?" Hermione asked.
"No." Harry said.
"When's his trial?" Hermione asked.
"Tomorrow. Dumbledore's not letting me go." Harry said.
"Maybe he'd let me go…" Hermione said thoughtfully, forgetting about Harry.
"He's not going to let you go if he won't let me!" Harry said angrily. "I'm his best friend!"
"As am I!" Hermione snapped. "Dumbledore may not be letting you go for safety reasons, or maybe Snuffles doesn't want you to go, as you're not supposed to know in the first place. Maybe he'd let me go, because I can catch up on all my assignments, and I'm not you."
"He can't let you go! That wouldn't be fair!" Harry snapped.
"Well I'm going to try anyway. At least one of us could go, and you wouldn't be in any danger, and I could be your eyes and ears. You know I remember everything. It's worth a try. I'm going." Hermione said.
Before Harry could stop her, Hermione had already left.
"Why are you doing this?" Ron cried struggling to be free of the magical binds that held him to the bed. He was sweating from fighting against some strong magic that wouldn't release him until a witch or wizard lifted the charm.
"It's only for a night… I want to stay here, but I can't be a part of this scam that Fud- I mean I just can't be here... When- If it turns out your guilty, I'd feel guilty for having anything to do with your imprisonment, because I really believe you're innocent, and if you are truly guilty, I don't want to feel guilty knowing that I've been comforting you!" Hit Witch Diane said.
"You haven't spent one night being haunted by the dementors, and you haven't had so many terrible things happen to you! One night feels like an eternity! And you know I'm innocent! You know Fudge is going to find me guilty, and you don't have to believe me when I say I'm innocent, but if you think I'm truly guilty and you know I'm going to spend what's left of my life in Azkaban, then you know I'll be tortured that whole time, one night won't matter in the long run, but it will kill me now. Those dementors kill me! They make me mad! I won't remember if I'm innocent or guilty tomorrow if they haunt me all night!" Ron cried.
"Ron, the Minister is- I can't encourage his plans to find you guilty!" Diane cried.
"But you will if you let the dementors get to me!" Ron cried, finally relaxing against the restraints. His strength was drained out of him. "What is Fudge planning?"
"Nothing." Diane said quickly.
"No, if he wasn't planning something, you wouldn't be leaving me to the dementors. He's going to find me guilty no matter how transparent the truth is. I want to know what he's playing at. If I'm going to spend the rest of my life at Azkaban, I should know how I got there, because I sure as bloody Hell didn't kill my father. I won't remember it tomorrow anyway, since you're leaving… so please just tell me." Ron said.
"I overheard the Minister talking to the jury. He's paying all of them a certain amount of money to put their hands up to find you guilty and for three of them to keep their hands down so it looks fair." Diane said.
Tears streamed down Ron's face. It was all up to the jury to decide his punishment, and they were being paid to find him guilty. The trial was just to humor his family, or maybe it was to torture him. There would be so much hate in that room, he'd be sure to remember it the rest of his life in Azkaban, and they'd make sure he couldn't kill himself this time, but he'd die of starvation anyway. Ron would just have to memorize that courtroom; it would be the last room he'd ever see with the exception of his cell. He'd have to remember every person who had once cared about him and he'd remember the better times when he had been happy that the dementors would drain from his memory as soon as he was sent back.
"So rather than leave me to them… couldn't you get one of the other Hit Witches or Wizards? Mr. Patterson would do it! He said it doesn't matter if I'm guilty or innocent, it was part of his job to come here." Ron said.
"Ben thinks your innocent. He and everybody else made sure they had other things to do. They don't want to feel guilt over your imprisonment. We all know what's going on." Diane said.
"You should all feel guilt! Every last one of you! If you didn't want to feel guilt then everyone would've made sure that I didn't have to endure the dementors on my last night that I won't be in Azkaban! But you're all making sure it's worse! I'll be dead in a few weeks; I hope that gets to everybody's consciences! I won't have to kill myself, the dementors will kill me, and it'll be a lot more painful and longer! I'll starve to death, because they put spiders in my food!" Ron yelled.
"Good luck tomorrow." Diane said as tears streamed down her face. She opened the door and two dementors swept in the room as she walked out.
"Your move." Bill said distracting Ginny from her thoughts.
They were playing Wizard's Chess at the Burrow, and Ginny had been staring out the window watching the rain pour down, while thinking about her brother and the outcome of his trial.
"Pawn to C6." Ginny muttered.
The pawn destroyed the Knight that had been on that square.
"I don't want to play anymore. You win." Ginny said getting up.
"You were winning." Bill said.
"Only because you were letting me." Ginny said sighing heavily. "Wizard's Chess was Ron's game."
Mrs. Weasley came into the living room.
"Dinner's ready." Mrs. Weasley said.
"I'm not hungry." Ginny said.
"You will be later. Come to the table at least… we're sitting at the table like old times as a family should." Mrs. Weasley said.
"It's not a family without dad and Ron." Ginny said. "I'm not eating, and I'm not sitting at the stupid table."
"Ginny, your father's passed on. It may be difficult, but we'll still be a family with the members we have left." Mrs. Weasley said.
"Not everybody's here!" Ginny said.
"Ron is at St. Mungo's Ginny! I can't take him out!" Mrs. Weasley cried.
"But even if you could, you wouldn't! He was allowed a visitor mum! He wanted you to visit him! You never went! He wouldn't have cared if you cursed him or screamed yourself hoarse at him! He wouldn't have cared if you said nothing! He just wanted to see you! And you never went! You say you don't want to betray dad, but you've already done that! You left dad when he was alive! You never got to say you were sorry or anything else when he was alive! You could've at least told Ron you loved him for the times before all this happened, because everybody knows you don't believe him, but if tomorrow they find him guilty it will be too late as well! He won't recognize you in Azkaban, and he won't remember you! Maybe it's a good thing you didn't go and see him. Since you hate him so much, it won't be able to haunt him for the rest of his life! But then again maybe the fact that you didn't go and see him when he needed you most will haunt him for the rest of his life. But it won't matter, because if they put him back in there, he'll be dead before the year ends. He won't need to kill himself. They put spiders in his food. He'll starve to death. The pain won't matter, because he won't be able to feel anything outside of his head! I hate you mum! I hate you!" Ginny yelled.
Mrs. Weasley was furious, but Bill pulled Ginny away from her, before she could do her any harm.
Ginny sobbed and tried to run upstairs, but Bill wouldn't let her. Bill held her tightly and she cried all of her unshed tears on Bill's shoulder.
The morning of the trial arrived. Everybody was assembled. Professor Dumbledore and Mad-eye Moody along with a few other aurors and Ministry wizards were seated on the highest bench.
Mrs. Weasley, Grandfather O'Riley, Percy, Bill, Ginny, Charlie, Fred, and George were seated in the front row. There were at least two hundred witches and wizards in the courtroom in the dungeon of Azkaban where the Ministry trials were held. Witches and Wizards that had never met the Weasleys before were there, as they had seen the Daily Prophet publicize the trial. Even people who hated the Weasley's were there, such as Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy. Also there were Ministry members Hit wizards and witches, friends of Mr. Weasley's, friends of Percy's; friends of Charlie's from Romania had come, and friends of Bill's from Egypt had also come. The only Hogwarts students there were the three Weasleys, as Dumbledore had not let Hermione come. However, there were a few Professors at the trial. One was Professor Snape, who sat towards the back. Professor McGonagall and Hagrid had also come to watch the trial. Professor Sprout, the Herbology teacher, had been left in charge of the school as both the Headmaster and Deputy Headmistress was away. Also there in one of the middle rows was Remus Lupin, a former Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.
The Minister of Magic himself would be asking the questions. He was to the left of Dumbledore. There were twelve jury members to the right of the dungeon.
Everybody was looking expectantly at the door to the far left corner of the dungeon.
The door opened and four dementors came gliding in with Ron in their grip. Ron looked like terrified as he was still in his own mind and the dementors guided to him a chair and fastened the chains around his arms and feet.
The wizards and witches in the courtroom all recoiled as they entered, and there was much chattering after they left.
The sight of Ron was terrible. It was as if he had never left Azkaban. Ron's eyes were red rimmed and bloodshot, and he was extremely pale. His eyes had a haunting look about them, but it faded into anger and determination as he looked around the last room he'd see. Of course the last room he'd see was below the cell he'd die in. Ron had to look at everything, avoiding eye contact with anybody. Hate from the people was inevitable. He didn't want to have to remember this the rest of his short life. He swore that the only reason Fudge was doing this, besides the fact that he was trying to show everyone how "fair" he was, and besides the fact that he wanted to show everyone that there wasn't a dark lord, Ron swore Fudge was holding this trial just to torture him.
"Ronald Weasley, you have been brought here before the council of magical law, so that we may pass judgment on you for a crime so treacherous that we have never heard the like of it within this court. We will now hear the evidence against you as well as your testimony. You stand accused of murdering your father, Arthur Weasley with the killing curse as of the first day of September. If convicted by the council of this court, you will be sentenced to Azkaban for a life imprisonment." Fudge stated for the court. "Do you understand?"
Ron nodded, trying not to roll his eyes. "Yes sir." Ron said hoarsely.
The sound of Ron's voice made Mrs. Weasley cringe to think about how terrible he had been feeling.
Ron could feel Professor Dumbledore's eyes bearing upon him. He glanced ever so quickly toward him and saw Mad-eye Moody next to him. Mad-eye had been staring upon Ron with both his regular and magical eye, which Ron figured must've been seeing through him. It didn't matter though. Mad-eye had been friends with Mr. Weasley, and he probably looked down at Ron with hate. Ron couldn't look at anybody, for he assumed everybody believed the Minister.
"We know that the killing curse was the last on your wand, yet you claim you didn't perform that, how do you intend to explain that?" Fudge asked.
"I can't give you an honest explanation, as I don't know, but I can only guess that somebody else used it." Ron said.
"You're placing the blame on somebody else, anybody else, yet wasn't it only you and your father at home that morning?" Fudge asked.
"Yes sir." Ron answered.
"So are you saying then that your father killed himself?" Fudge asked.
"No sir." Ron answered.
"Then who, if not you or your father, performed the killing curse?" Fudge asked.
"If I knew, I wouldn't be the one on trial right now, would I?" Ron asked bitterly.
"What happened on the morning of September first?" Fudge asked.
"I woke up, I came downstairs, and I found my dad dead on the kitchen floor." Ron said.
"Where was your wand when you went to bed on the evening of the thirty-first of August?" Fudge asked.
Ron thought a moment.
"On my dresser." Ron said.
"Where was your wand when you awoke the next morning?" Fudge asked.
Ron thought a moment.
"On my dresser." Ron answered.
"So if you went to bed and your wand was on your dresser and you awoke with your wand on your dresser, than we can assume it was never used during the night." Fudge said.
"You can assume whatever you want, it doesn't mean it's the truth." Ron said.
"Then what is the truth?" Fudge asked.
"I didn't do it." Ron said.
"The evidence is against you! The Killing Curse came from your wand, which you said was never moved while you slept; yet you said your father was murdered while you were sleeping. Your story isn't plausible!" Fudge said.
"But it's the truth!" Ron cried.
"What about when the Ministry members arrived the next morning? They saw you crying out of guilt!" Fudge said.
"I wasn't crying out of guilt, because I didn't do it! I was crying because my dad was dead! I was in shock! You only assumed I was crying out of guilt, because you don't want to believe that somebody else could've killed him!" Ron said.
"Well if somebody besides yourself killed him, why weren't you afraid of that somebody coming back to kill you?" Fudge asked.
"I was too upset about my dad to care!" Ron said.
"Why were you the only one home with your father at the time of the attack?" Fudge asked.
"Because at the beginning of the summer there was a warning issued that there might've been some death eaters around our area, and my sister and brothers and I were all sent to friends or relatives houses." Ron said.
"I never issued a warning!" Fudge said.
"I did." Professor Dumbledore spoke loud and clearly.
Fudge glared at him and turned back to Ron. "Then why were you the only one to return home?" Fudge asked.
"Because there were a few problems." Ron said.
"Oh yes, that's right… you were arrested by the muggle authorities, weren't you?" Fudge asked trying to suppress a triumphant smile.
"Yes." Ron said.
Gasps and whispers spread throughout the crowd.
"For fighting, right?" Fudge asked.
"Yes." Ron said.
"Where was your mother the night of the attack?" Fudge asked.
"At my Grandfather's." Ron answered.
"Let's review the facts again." Fudge said. "The killing curse was performed from your wand-"
"Everybody knows it was done from my wand, you emphasized it enough! But that doesn't mean I did it!" Ron yelled impatiently.
"And if I did do it your people at the Ministry aren't doing their jobs! If magic had been done by an underage wizard, they would've owled my dad, but in writing the report they would've realized what was done and would've alerted the Hit Wizards, but they only came after Perkins got them!"
"Get him out of here!" Fudge called. The door opened and dementors started gliding in.
"I know your plan too! You've paid the jury members to find me guilty and you're having three of them keep their hands down so it's not so obvious!" Ron cried.
The dementors got a hold of him.
"What in the hell is the matter with you? One day you're going to have to take your head out of the sand and look around you! I'm framed for this one, but when more deaths start happening, you'll be sorry!" Ron yelled angrily. "I DIDN'T DO IT!"
The doors shut behind the dementors that were guiding Ron out.
"Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury, you may have an hour's recess to decide the verdict." Fudge said and he left the courtroom.
"Weasley wasn't lying about the jury." Moody said to Dumbledore.
"I know that. I don't think Mr. Weasley was lying about anything." Dumbledore said. "Excuse me."
Professor Dumbledore walked down to Remus Lupin. "Remus, how are you doing?" Professor Dumbledore asked.
"All right. I'm being Snuffles' eyes, ears, and judgment." Remus said. "I don't think he lied once."
"He blew it." Professor Snape said as he joined them.
"The Minister wasn't giving him a chance to begin with. If he were going to, he wouldn't have sent him to Azkaban for a month. He's strained. Ron knew he didn't have a chance. He was just looking around the last room he'd be in before he went back to that cell." Remus said.
"Professor Dumbledore!" Hagrid called from behind.
Professor Dumbledore looked back at him.
"Yeh don't think he did it, do yeh?" Hagrid asked.
"No Hagrid, I don't believe he did it at all." Professor Dumbledore said.
"Albus, I don't think he did it, but I think he really ruined his chances of being found innocent. Isn't there anything you can do?" Professor McGonagall asked.
"We'll get him an appeal, and a fair one." Professor Dumbledore said. "Have you talked to Molly or the children?"
"I'm going to now." Professor McGonagall said.
"Wait… bring them this." Professor Lupin said pulling out a few chocolate bars from his bag.
"You are always thinking, aren't you?" Professor McGonagall asked smiling at her former student.
"Whenever I can." Professor Lupin said.
"You're a good man Remus." Professor McGonagall said.
Professor McGonagall went up to the front row, where Mrs. Weasley was in tears crying to her father. Percy was filled with mixed emotions. He felt fury and hate towards his brother. Bill had his head in his hands, he kept thinking 'if only Ron hadn't lost his temper…' but then again, he would've lost his patience if he were Ron, too. Charlie was infuriated with Fudge. Ron could've lied so many times to save his behind, but he told the truth, and it wasn't worth anything. Fudge had been against him from the start, there was no question.
Ginny was in tears for her brother, yet she was very angry with the Minister. He was pushing Ron's buttons, and he was already on the edge before he came into the courtroom. The twins had finally taken their deadly glares off the Minister and were aiming them at the Malfoy's.
"They have no right being here." Fred said.
"I reckon everything that he's behind this." George said.
"I'm not arguing with that. If it wasn't him, it was another death eater, but who hated dad more than him?" Fred asked.
George looked at his Grandfather. "I still think it was him." George said.
"Maybe they planned it together. Grandfather might've paid him, but he had done it for free." Fred said.
"Maybe…" George said.
"Molly, boys, Ms. Weasley…" Professor McGonagall said getting their attention. She handed a chocolate bar to each kid including Bill, Charlie, and Percy. "Those were courtesy of your former Professor." Professor McGonagall said looking behind them.
They followed their gaze, and the twins, Ginny, and even Percy looked surprised at Professor Dumbledore, Professor Snape, and Hagrid standing around Remus.
"How are you all holding up?" Professor McGonagall asked with concern.
"Does Professor Dumbledore think he's innocent?" Charlie asked hopefully.
"Without a doubt." Professor McGonagall said.
"So he won't have to go back to Azkaban?" Ginny asked hopefully.
"Just because Professor Dumbledore can't see the truth doesn't mean that the jury won't." Percy said.
"Percy! Shut up! The more you say stupid things like that, the more I want to hurt you! If you say one more stupid thing, I'll throw you through that hard stone ceiling of this dungeon, and don't tempt me. You're already on my last nerve." Charlie warned.
"Professor, if these jury people are fair, will Ron be able to go back to Hogwarts?" Ginny asked.
"Of course." Professor McGonagall answered. "Let's keep hoping for the best."
The jury returned an hour later as did Fudge. Everybody returned to his or her seats and looked to the door.
"Bring him in!" Fudge called.
Once again, four hooded dementors came gliding in through the door with Ron, now gagged, in between them. They secured him tightly to the chair and exited the room.
Ron looked around the room with leaden eyes. He looked to Dumbledore and Moody who were watching with defeated looks in their eyes. To Ron's surprise, neither pair of eyes showed hate. Ron looked next to them and saw Fudge. He glared hatefully at him. Ron looked at the jury with hate as well; they were looking at him with disgust. Ron looked to the crowd and saw a few Professors. Professor McGonagall seemed to have something in her eyes behind her glasses. Hagrid was giving Ron an encouraging look, Hagrid believed him. To his disgust Professor Snape was there and he looked contemplative, it were almost as if he was torn between believing Ron's innocence and feeling sorry for him and feeling immense joy that Ron would no longer be in another Potions lesson. To his surprise he saw Remus Lupin, his Defense Against the Dark Arts professor from third year sitting on one of the benches. He looked hopeful for Ron, but Ron knew that he knew that he didn't have a chance.
He glanced around some more and saw Mr. Malfoy smirking triumphantly before looking appalled at Ron like everybody else. Still Ron saw the meaning behind the gleam in his eyes. Mr. Malfoy had killed his father! Nobody hated Mr. Weasley more than him! Well… maybe his Grandfather had a deeper hate for him, but he had gotten what he wanted. His daughter was back with him. It had to be Mr. Malfoy! He had been set up! Mr. Malfoy tilted his head pretending to look curious as to why Ron was staring at him with importance in his eyes. Ron was gagged, so he couldn't say anything! He stomped angrily on the ground with frustration and tears of anger ran down his face.
Bill, Charlie, Fred, George, and Ginny had been glancing from Ron to where he was looking, and they saw too Mr. Malfoy trying to look innocent.
"Oh my God!" Bill breathed.
Ron shook his head looking down at his feet, and finally he looked at his family in the front row. Grandfather was looking at Ron with hate, which didn't surprise him. Mrs. Weasley was crying, and Ron couldn't tell if it was because she thought he did do it, or if it was because she thought he didn't. Percy was looking up at Ron with anger. Tears were in his eyes, but they still looked threatening. Bill was looking at Ron with a knowing look, Bill knew that he hadn't done it, and he knew that Ron was right that he didn't have a chance. Charlie was looking up at Ron with an encouraging smile that told Ron he believed him. Fred and George were forcing smiles for their brother, but both couldn't help trying not to cry, not when they knew that Ron was right, Fudge had paid the jury to find him guilty, and there was no way Ron was leaving Azkaban. Ginny looked up at Ron with a heartening smile on her face, but the tears streaming down her face didn't exactly make Ron feel all right. The smile had been all right, but the tears… Ron hated when his sister cried, and she was crying because of him. Guilt overwhelmed him, and he looked down at his feet again.
Fudge stood up.
"Ronald Weasley, you have been brought here before the council of magical law, so that we may pass judgment on you for a crime so treacherous that we have never heard the like of it within this court. We have heard the evidence against you. You stand accused of murdering your father, Arthur Weasley with the killing curse as of the first day of September." Fudge said. "I now ask the jury to raise their hands if they believe, as I do, that this crime deserves a life sentence in Azkaban!"
In unison, the witches and wizards along the right-hand side of the dungeon raised their hands.
Less than half of the crowd applauded the jury's decision, while the majority booed and shouted. The dementors came in and brought Ron out.
"YOU CAN'T DO THIS! HE'S ONLY FIFTEEN AND HE'S INNOCENT! YOU NEVER CONSIDERED THE FACTS ONE BEING THAT HE'S AN UNDERAGE WIZARD AND NOT CAPABLE OF PERFORMING THAT CURSE! THE MINISTRY IS WORSE THAN THE DARK ARTS NOW!" Charlie roared.
"HEY THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THE MINISTRY, ONLY SOMETHING WRONG WITH YOUR FAMILY! FACE IT YOUR BROTHER'S A MURDERER!" A wizard two rows behind him shouted.
Charlie pushed his way past his family members and walked over to the man who had spoken.
WHAM! The wizard sailed across the bench injuring other witches and wizards in the process.
"HEY!" Somebody shouted and they knocked Charlie to the ground.
Hit Wizards and Witches entered the dungeon courtroom breaking up all the quarrels and brawls that had broken out.
Hagrid had gotten to Ginny and the twins, and escorted them safely out of the dungeon and they were on their way back to Hogwarts without Ron.