Disclaimer: Not all these characters are my property; I am just borrowing
them for a while. They are J.K. Rowling's possessions and not my own.
Chapter 7
The Trial of Remus Lupin
A misty, dark, and damp stone chamber hid in the darkness. Not only was it part of the darkness, but it feared the even eviler darkness that used it: dementors. Three dementors hovered at the opening of a door to their lair - the Prison of Azkaban. The door stood in the wall of an ever-extending stage-like podium. You couldn't see where the wall around the stage ended, for the formerly lit torches on the walls immediately died out when three dementors floated in the chamber.
The crowd was chattering away to each other quietly. Such a place for a trial diminished the liveliest spirits as quickly as a dragon could kill you in that one fiery breath. Not surprisingly, most faces in the crowd weren't the most pleasant ones. Faces with sneers, faces with disgust, and even deformed faces had some part in the crowd. After all, the "audience" did have a lot to say in the matter of the trial. Their opinions and votes would counts just as much a jury's. That was one of the reasons why it was so important that Albus Dumbledore be there - at least for Remus's sake. People like him and the Minister of Magic - who was present also - had some of the most influential power on the public. Remus just prayed that Dumbledore would find a way to get him out of the mess he had gotten himself into. But how are you to pray if you have two more dementors surrounding you and clutching you with their scabby hands?
It was about time to get on the stage. Remus couldn't even clutch his friendship memoir dog tag that Sirius had given him, James, and Peter. It was to be their item of friendship that represented that they would be friends forever. Remus didn't even know why he kept it, since that had never happened.
Since dementors couldn't talk - in English that is, because they could communicate in their own way to each other - this was yet another unfortunate circumstance. The dementors were easily infuriated if you didn't do what they told you to, although you couldn't understand them in the first place. But then, they also enjoyed it, because being the torturing memory vacuums that they were made their convicts and convicts-to- be the most miserable ones at the same time. Fortunately, they would be forced to suppress any of their magic of making everyone despondent during the trial for the sake of the witnesses.
The shortest dementor, who seemed to have been hired as his personal attendant, suddenly clutched Remus's wrists. His partner dementor somehow shoved Remus up the passage and up to the entrance to the chamber. Remus didn't want to think about the gruesome scabby decayed skin that had made contact with him; the trial was about to begin and he needed to focus. It was so difficult to shove out unhappy unpleasant thoughts whilst concentrating on what his defense was to be. With one final nudge, Remus was out in the dim spotlight presented before everyone else.
He hung his head low. He preferred that no one would see his face. He hated the loathing that all the strangers' eyes conveyed. They were enough to make him go crazy. He trudged along slowly to a solitary wooden chair that sat in the center of the stage with an invisible light that shone upon it. He lifted his head up barely enough to get a glimpse of his seat. He couldn't help but notice that it was all much different from Sirius's trial. iActually, it wasn't a true trial. He didn't even get to testify, he thought. God, how I hope that doesn't happen to me. But he killed three people so he deserved it. /i
The chair didn't have any armrests. Oddly enough, it was like an ordinary chair you would see at a dinner table. There is definitely some hidden restraint that I can't see here. Sure enough, once he sat down, he felt himself in Gravitational Fog - an invisible substance that pulled you down to the ground and almost completely disabled upward movement. With much strain for his upper body and neck, he raised his head reluctantly at the sound of an echoing voice - no doubt from the Sonorous Charm.
"We have all assembled here today for the trial of-" The judge glared directly at Remus so everyone would see. "'The trial of Remus Lupin for the murder of the Muggle, Richard Ellings." Remus gulped. The panic was finally creeping out from under his skin. All the faces of the crowd had their gaze upon him. Only a couple positive faces were in the group. There was Dumbledore, who sat on the far right of the courtroom. With his tall wizard's hat and wrinkled brow, it was obvious that he was making some quick decisions. Moeris sat to his left, terrified as ever. Remus hadn't gotten to speak to either since he had gone to Hogwarts. Coincidentally, Moeris and Dumbledore were on their way to the carriage stables just as Remus was on is way to Azkaban. iSome luck./i
The judge made not attempt for condolences. "Present here with us today is our Veritaserum Administrator, Charon Snake." When this was said, yet another dim light appeared at the back of the stage. A hooked face emerged from the shadows. Charon smile maliciously. He seemed perfectly happy to administrate the truth potion for good or evil - no matter what would happen to the person's life once it was taken.
"Due to the actions of the Werewolf Rights Committee, Lupin, you have the right of a Ministry-chosen defender. For this, we have William Harrison." Harrison was a young lad in comparison to Remus. He looked in his mid- twenties, and had slick blonde hair that was practically bandaged to his head. He didn't seem to have much experience in the occupation. He was hastily shuffling papers in his hands - no doubt notes for the case. The judge took one look at him and rolled his eyes in disgust. "You're a poor excuse for a defender but I suppose that is what is worthy for a werewolf," he spat. Remus's defender continued shuffling papers, although his face had turned carnation-pink. "Now, as the Muggle defender, we have Yuri Voykovich who is much less a disgrace to being a defender." Harrison flushed, if possible, an even brighter pink as Voykovich stalked up onto the stage beside Remus - but not too close so as he wouldn't get forced into the Gravitational Fog.
Voykovich encircled Remus twice. Naturally, Remus began sweating, nevertheless perking up his head. He must have been quite a sight. After all, he had been under the control of the dementors for a week now. He was supposedly "a harmful ravenous creature," Remus reminded himself. Not to mention "in the need of confinement because of the potential of taking lives again." This was, of course, ridiculous, since the full moon was in two weeks from now, and he wouldn't ilet/i himself harm anyone at any time that he could control.
Voykovich halted to Remus's right. "Were you or were you not in Carlisle on the thirteenth this month?" Remus needed guidance. How was he to know what type of responses to give if he hadn't even ispoken/i to his defender? He was going to have to rely on his Maurader instincts again.
"Why yes, I was." He was going to use his irking constantly cheerful attitude. It always seemed to work.
"And can you remember what had happened that night?" Voykovich prodded.
Remus couldn't let himself reveal Moeris's condition; it was bad enough his own was so widely known. "Er. er." was all he managed.
"Speak! Answer me!" Voykovich shouted.
"No - no. I don't remember. I was sick since the full moon was coming that night. So I - I locked myself up in my shed so I wouldn't escape. I don't know if I did or anything that happened since I did because I couldn't know because well."
"I'm afraid I have to interrupt," a shaky but fresh voice began. Harrison was hopefully doing something positive other than messing around with his notes. "The opposing defender is interrogating the suspect on the uh. werewolf condition, and wizard science has not yet discovered all characteristics of lycanthropy, so this is an unjust and unknowledgeable question."
The judge was now to have a say in this. "Mr. Harrison, perhaps this trial is exactly what we need to discover these 'characteristics of lycanthropy' as you call it." The judge certainly wouldn't bet a knut on his sincerity; he was only trying to humiliate the young defender even more.
"I've had enough of this," proclaimed the judge before changing the subject. "Let us allow the public to engage in this. Any questions?"
Immediately, several hands shot up. Remus watched the judge's shiny bald head nod to the people he wanted to call upon. "Yes, Mr. Stevens. What do you want to know?"
A man with a very large and curly mustache stood up from behind Dumbledore. Is the werewolf a Death Eater? Richard Ellings just so happened to have wizard descendants Does any of this relate?"
Both defenders started at the same time but once Harrison received an unpleasant frown form the judge and a murderous glare from his opponent, he silenced and sank back to his seat.
Voykovich didn't bother to consult Remus, but then again Remus thought it better he wasn't consulted. This wasn't going along very well so far, and it certainly wasn't like Sirius's trial. Here, the judge was milking it for all it was worth, letting his prejudices overcome him and purposely- humiliating Remus in front of all these people. He was going to let this trial last as long as it took. He'd give the trial enough time so that it was a guarantee that everyone in the courtroom that day would forever imprint Remus's face as that of a bloodthirsty monster. After all, that was what he was.
Voykovich began, "So far there is no information to this man's previous contacts. We ido/i know, however, that he is a friends of the notorious criminal, Sirius Black."
The crowd began whispering among themselves. Who were they to believe this man? However, who were they to doubt him?
"I iwas/i his friend," Remus admitted. "That doesn't mean that I still am."
"Certainly," the opposing defender said flatly. This was going exactly as he wanted. He reached into his robes and pulled out some official-looking papers. Remus stared up at him blankly. This was not going to be good.
"I have here the documentation of the most recent visitors to Azkaban. In here, it clearly states that you came here to see a dear friend of yours - Sirius Black - on the twenty-sixth. Would you mind telling us what that was about."
"It was n-nothing really," he stuttered; this was getting increasingly difficult. "Albus Dumbeldore invited me to come." He hated involving the Headmaster in this. iAfter all he's done for me. This is how I repay him./i "He wanted me to talk to Sirius since we haven't really been good friends lately."
Remus thought he saw Voykovich's sneer twist unpleasantly into a frown. He had no expected this to be his answer. "Ah. But you have been friends before. Moreover, you expect us to believe you? Werewolves are known for their lying. How are we to trust anything you say?"
"Well, you can't but-"
"Excuse me, Judge," Harrison finally spoke up. "This conversation is completely irrelevant to the crime. It has nothing to do with the crime scene or vitim or-"
"Yes, I see, young Harrison. But you shall not lecture me on how I run my courtroom."
"I w-wasn't."
"Shhhh! Mr. Harrison, or I will have to temporarily dismiss you from this case, and that surely would not do well for your werewolf client! I suggest we discuss the victim's injuries now, both of you!" shouted the judge in frustration.
Remus saw all the significant people on the stage quake in their own fashion. Remus's defender was turning red over the pink, and Voykovich had a growing shaky frown. Voykovich said, "Why yes. Homer Diggory, would you please stand up."
Around the center of the trial attendants, a short man in a blinding white Muggle suit stood up. After about five minutes were spent huffing up his chest, he began, "Lovely to be here. Do like my new outfit. Think it'll do well when I go to Muggle London? Fits in rather well doesn't it?"
"Yes," Voykovich said mock-delightedly. "Now, about The Case. Describe the crime scene for all of us."
"I'd love to, good man!" Remus saw Voykovich make a seizure-type movement, as if resisting the urge to walk down to Diggory and slap him in the face. Diggory didn't notice but kept babbling. Remus suspected that he had had too much Vodka. "The crime scene was bloody bloody!" There began a fit of laughter. "But really, the blood was spattered all over the floor. There was pools of it, so it was very difficult to identify each individual's blood from the rest." Remus felt like he was about to puke. Perhaps Diggory was just really crazy.
"In the barn, we - meaning Arnold Peasegood and myself - found many sharp and potentially dangerous farming equipment in Richard Ellings's barn. We have reason to believe that he was somehow harmed but those. Maybe another lost Death Eater did it thinking it was the right thing to do for He-Who- Must-Not-Be-Named. Maybe-"
"Diggory, I did not ask you for your theories," said Voykovich. Remus couldn't help smiling a little at this. "That is enough, Diggory. Thank you," he managed. "Now I ask for Martin Macnair and his information."
To the right of the courtroom, a burly man with a short beard and bushy eyebrows stood up as directed. Remus recognized him right away. iAfter all, he and Newt Scamander are the last two people he saw before I was taken away to this hellish prison./i
"Hello, Yuri." Voykovich overlooked the greeting.
"Judge, these two men are on first-name terms and I don't believe that it is valid to-"
"I believe you were once again not given permission to speak. I have already warned you and I hope that I mustn'tagain. Continue, Macnair."
"I, the Disposal for Dangerous Creatures head, brought Remus Lupin here to Azkaban. My apprentice and I were heading to Hogwarts to speak to Albus Dumbledore about our need to help acquire the culprit of this case. Then we meet none other than Lupin around the carriage sheds. He was looking for something there- probably stealing. With a few questions, we figure out all about his werewolfry and arrest him. Lucky too. Otherwise an innocent wizard or Muggle could be convicted."
"Lupin was very nervous around us. He even tried to escape from us-, which displays certain guilt. Remus Lupin is guilty," he finished off.
The judge smiled, as did Voykovich. "Time for a recess everyone. Five minutes."
The blonde boy jogged up some invisible steps leading up to the stage while everyone else was moving around. The mood was not joyful, but definitely happier than when all had to remain quiet.
"Hello. Call me Will," he greeted. "I would shake your hand only I don't want to get stuck in the fog."
Remus nodded. "Will, you have to start standing up for yourself and having enough strength to stand up to these people. You're not helping me at all. I'm sure to go to Azkaban if you don't do something." Remus couldn't help his voice cracking a little. "You need to have the courage to get across what you came to say."
"You're one to speak. I don't think there's much more I can do for you." He looked disappointed - probably in himself.
"Court is back into session," called out the judge.
"Do your best," whispered Harris and slipped back into his seat the foot of the stage.
"Let's have some more opinions from the audience."
Remus turned to the crowd for a moment. Moeris held his head down. A flash of light from a camera in the back shocked Remus for a moment. He heard some muffled conversation around him while he tried to get Dumbledore to take notice of him. Finally, once he tired getting up in the Gravitational Fog, he got his attention by his soft grunts of pain. Dumbledore knew his unexpected cue and stood up.
"I am sorry to interrupt. But Remus Lupin is being misjudged by all of you. He was an excellent and studious student when he attended Hogwarts. He had indeed made friends with the famous Sirius Black, but the two men have changed greatly since then. Lupin is working with me with the Order of the Phoenix, aiding me in the slow process of capturing Voldemort's remaining followers ever since he was evidently destroyed. Lupin is also a friend of James Potter, the father of the boy who has been thought to destroy Voldemort." Voykovich opened his mouth to protest to the judge, but the judge waved a hand to overrule. "Besides, Remus Lupin is a generally good man despite his werewolf qualities, which he is ashamed of, and he tries his best to be all that he can be to make up for that. We all know that one does not choose to become a werewolf as one does to be a murderer."
"But the damage is done," Voykovich proclaimed.
"You yet have not enough evidence to prove that entirely, dearest defender." Dumbledore's eyes glimmered and he lowered his half-moon spectacles on his crooked nose to look at Remus. "What a brave soul this man is, to endure your accusations."
Remus smiled as best as he could. He couldn't help wanting to cry, but he held it in.
Voykovich was not giving up; he called his next witness. Remus watched an even shorter man than Homer Diggory in a mini tuxedo stand up. It was the bartender of the Pridesmear Pub. Remus had never had a serious conversation with him, but this man could pretty much declare his sentence for having as low a position as bartender.
"You, Dan Bradley, have had Lupin visit your pub several times, have you not?"
"Yep," he said with an Irish accent. "Many actually."
"What was his attitude during each of these visits? How often was he there?"
" He was there so many times in one year that I considered him a regular for a great time. Ev' ry time he came he was really depressed lookin'. He seemed to be havin' some tough times. Don' know any details though. Whenever I tried talkin' to 'im he just shrugged or stayed silent. Very silent he was. Wouldin' say a single word. Thought he'd've exploded if he did."
"So you're saying that he wasn't the most pleasant person to be around."
"Naw, not really. Got a bit of money off 'im though." A few people chuckled softly. Remus shifted uncomfortably - even with the gravity spell he was in. He thought it a bit ironic that the bartender had gotten money off him when he had barely had any. iI guess it all adds up over time./i
"Was he ever violent in any of these visits?"
"No. But he didn't seem sane either."
"So you're saying he could be crazy."
"Wouldin' be surprised."
"Thank you so much, Mr. Bradley. You may sit down."
Everything was at a closing tension. The judge cleared his throat. "I do believe then, that this is all coming to an end. Remus Lupin, you are hereby sentenced to-"
"Wait! WAIT!" A woman in the back was jumping up and down, short auburn hair flying about under her beret. "Remus Lupin can't be guilty. He can't be guilty b-because - because he was with me that night!"
Chapter 7
The Trial of Remus Lupin
A misty, dark, and damp stone chamber hid in the darkness. Not only was it part of the darkness, but it feared the even eviler darkness that used it: dementors. Three dementors hovered at the opening of a door to their lair - the Prison of Azkaban. The door stood in the wall of an ever-extending stage-like podium. You couldn't see where the wall around the stage ended, for the formerly lit torches on the walls immediately died out when three dementors floated in the chamber.
The crowd was chattering away to each other quietly. Such a place for a trial diminished the liveliest spirits as quickly as a dragon could kill you in that one fiery breath. Not surprisingly, most faces in the crowd weren't the most pleasant ones. Faces with sneers, faces with disgust, and even deformed faces had some part in the crowd. After all, the "audience" did have a lot to say in the matter of the trial. Their opinions and votes would counts just as much a jury's. That was one of the reasons why it was so important that Albus Dumbledore be there - at least for Remus's sake. People like him and the Minister of Magic - who was present also - had some of the most influential power on the public. Remus just prayed that Dumbledore would find a way to get him out of the mess he had gotten himself into. But how are you to pray if you have two more dementors surrounding you and clutching you with their scabby hands?
It was about time to get on the stage. Remus couldn't even clutch his friendship memoir dog tag that Sirius had given him, James, and Peter. It was to be their item of friendship that represented that they would be friends forever. Remus didn't even know why he kept it, since that had never happened.
Since dementors couldn't talk - in English that is, because they could communicate in their own way to each other - this was yet another unfortunate circumstance. The dementors were easily infuriated if you didn't do what they told you to, although you couldn't understand them in the first place. But then, they also enjoyed it, because being the torturing memory vacuums that they were made their convicts and convicts-to- be the most miserable ones at the same time. Fortunately, they would be forced to suppress any of their magic of making everyone despondent during the trial for the sake of the witnesses.
The shortest dementor, who seemed to have been hired as his personal attendant, suddenly clutched Remus's wrists. His partner dementor somehow shoved Remus up the passage and up to the entrance to the chamber. Remus didn't want to think about the gruesome scabby decayed skin that had made contact with him; the trial was about to begin and he needed to focus. It was so difficult to shove out unhappy unpleasant thoughts whilst concentrating on what his defense was to be. With one final nudge, Remus was out in the dim spotlight presented before everyone else.
He hung his head low. He preferred that no one would see his face. He hated the loathing that all the strangers' eyes conveyed. They were enough to make him go crazy. He trudged along slowly to a solitary wooden chair that sat in the center of the stage with an invisible light that shone upon it. He lifted his head up barely enough to get a glimpse of his seat. He couldn't help but notice that it was all much different from Sirius's trial. iActually, it wasn't a true trial. He didn't even get to testify, he thought. God, how I hope that doesn't happen to me. But he killed three people so he deserved it. /i
The chair didn't have any armrests. Oddly enough, it was like an ordinary chair you would see at a dinner table. There is definitely some hidden restraint that I can't see here. Sure enough, once he sat down, he felt himself in Gravitational Fog - an invisible substance that pulled you down to the ground and almost completely disabled upward movement. With much strain for his upper body and neck, he raised his head reluctantly at the sound of an echoing voice - no doubt from the Sonorous Charm.
"We have all assembled here today for the trial of-" The judge glared directly at Remus so everyone would see. "'The trial of Remus Lupin for the murder of the Muggle, Richard Ellings." Remus gulped. The panic was finally creeping out from under his skin. All the faces of the crowd had their gaze upon him. Only a couple positive faces were in the group. There was Dumbledore, who sat on the far right of the courtroom. With his tall wizard's hat and wrinkled brow, it was obvious that he was making some quick decisions. Moeris sat to his left, terrified as ever. Remus hadn't gotten to speak to either since he had gone to Hogwarts. Coincidentally, Moeris and Dumbledore were on their way to the carriage stables just as Remus was on is way to Azkaban. iSome luck./i
The judge made not attempt for condolences. "Present here with us today is our Veritaserum Administrator, Charon Snake." When this was said, yet another dim light appeared at the back of the stage. A hooked face emerged from the shadows. Charon smile maliciously. He seemed perfectly happy to administrate the truth potion for good or evil - no matter what would happen to the person's life once it was taken.
"Due to the actions of the Werewolf Rights Committee, Lupin, you have the right of a Ministry-chosen defender. For this, we have William Harrison." Harrison was a young lad in comparison to Remus. He looked in his mid- twenties, and had slick blonde hair that was practically bandaged to his head. He didn't seem to have much experience in the occupation. He was hastily shuffling papers in his hands - no doubt notes for the case. The judge took one look at him and rolled his eyes in disgust. "You're a poor excuse for a defender but I suppose that is what is worthy for a werewolf," he spat. Remus's defender continued shuffling papers, although his face had turned carnation-pink. "Now, as the Muggle defender, we have Yuri Voykovich who is much less a disgrace to being a defender." Harrison flushed, if possible, an even brighter pink as Voykovich stalked up onto the stage beside Remus - but not too close so as he wouldn't get forced into the Gravitational Fog.
Voykovich encircled Remus twice. Naturally, Remus began sweating, nevertheless perking up his head. He must have been quite a sight. After all, he had been under the control of the dementors for a week now. He was supposedly "a harmful ravenous creature," Remus reminded himself. Not to mention "in the need of confinement because of the potential of taking lives again." This was, of course, ridiculous, since the full moon was in two weeks from now, and he wouldn't ilet/i himself harm anyone at any time that he could control.
Voykovich halted to Remus's right. "Were you or were you not in Carlisle on the thirteenth this month?" Remus needed guidance. How was he to know what type of responses to give if he hadn't even ispoken/i to his defender? He was going to have to rely on his Maurader instincts again.
"Why yes, I was." He was going to use his irking constantly cheerful attitude. It always seemed to work.
"And can you remember what had happened that night?" Voykovich prodded.
Remus couldn't let himself reveal Moeris's condition; it was bad enough his own was so widely known. "Er. er." was all he managed.
"Speak! Answer me!" Voykovich shouted.
"No - no. I don't remember. I was sick since the full moon was coming that night. So I - I locked myself up in my shed so I wouldn't escape. I don't know if I did or anything that happened since I did because I couldn't know because well."
"I'm afraid I have to interrupt," a shaky but fresh voice began. Harrison was hopefully doing something positive other than messing around with his notes. "The opposing defender is interrogating the suspect on the uh. werewolf condition, and wizard science has not yet discovered all characteristics of lycanthropy, so this is an unjust and unknowledgeable question."
The judge was now to have a say in this. "Mr. Harrison, perhaps this trial is exactly what we need to discover these 'characteristics of lycanthropy' as you call it." The judge certainly wouldn't bet a knut on his sincerity; he was only trying to humiliate the young defender even more.
"I've had enough of this," proclaimed the judge before changing the subject. "Let us allow the public to engage in this. Any questions?"
Immediately, several hands shot up. Remus watched the judge's shiny bald head nod to the people he wanted to call upon. "Yes, Mr. Stevens. What do you want to know?"
A man with a very large and curly mustache stood up from behind Dumbledore. Is the werewolf a Death Eater? Richard Ellings just so happened to have wizard descendants Does any of this relate?"
Both defenders started at the same time but once Harrison received an unpleasant frown form the judge and a murderous glare from his opponent, he silenced and sank back to his seat.
Voykovich didn't bother to consult Remus, but then again Remus thought it better he wasn't consulted. This wasn't going along very well so far, and it certainly wasn't like Sirius's trial. Here, the judge was milking it for all it was worth, letting his prejudices overcome him and purposely- humiliating Remus in front of all these people. He was going to let this trial last as long as it took. He'd give the trial enough time so that it was a guarantee that everyone in the courtroom that day would forever imprint Remus's face as that of a bloodthirsty monster. After all, that was what he was.
Voykovich began, "So far there is no information to this man's previous contacts. We ido/i know, however, that he is a friends of the notorious criminal, Sirius Black."
The crowd began whispering among themselves. Who were they to believe this man? However, who were they to doubt him?
"I iwas/i his friend," Remus admitted. "That doesn't mean that I still am."
"Certainly," the opposing defender said flatly. This was going exactly as he wanted. He reached into his robes and pulled out some official-looking papers. Remus stared up at him blankly. This was not going to be good.
"I have here the documentation of the most recent visitors to Azkaban. In here, it clearly states that you came here to see a dear friend of yours - Sirius Black - on the twenty-sixth. Would you mind telling us what that was about."
"It was n-nothing really," he stuttered; this was getting increasingly difficult. "Albus Dumbeldore invited me to come." He hated involving the Headmaster in this. iAfter all he's done for me. This is how I repay him./i "He wanted me to talk to Sirius since we haven't really been good friends lately."
Remus thought he saw Voykovich's sneer twist unpleasantly into a frown. He had no expected this to be his answer. "Ah. But you have been friends before. Moreover, you expect us to believe you? Werewolves are known for their lying. How are we to trust anything you say?"
"Well, you can't but-"
"Excuse me, Judge," Harrison finally spoke up. "This conversation is completely irrelevant to the crime. It has nothing to do with the crime scene or vitim or-"
"Yes, I see, young Harrison. But you shall not lecture me on how I run my courtroom."
"I w-wasn't."
"Shhhh! Mr. Harrison, or I will have to temporarily dismiss you from this case, and that surely would not do well for your werewolf client! I suggest we discuss the victim's injuries now, both of you!" shouted the judge in frustration.
Remus saw all the significant people on the stage quake in their own fashion. Remus's defender was turning red over the pink, and Voykovich had a growing shaky frown. Voykovich said, "Why yes. Homer Diggory, would you please stand up."
Around the center of the trial attendants, a short man in a blinding white Muggle suit stood up. After about five minutes were spent huffing up his chest, he began, "Lovely to be here. Do like my new outfit. Think it'll do well when I go to Muggle London? Fits in rather well doesn't it?"
"Yes," Voykovich said mock-delightedly. "Now, about The Case. Describe the crime scene for all of us."
"I'd love to, good man!" Remus saw Voykovich make a seizure-type movement, as if resisting the urge to walk down to Diggory and slap him in the face. Diggory didn't notice but kept babbling. Remus suspected that he had had too much Vodka. "The crime scene was bloody bloody!" There began a fit of laughter. "But really, the blood was spattered all over the floor. There was pools of it, so it was very difficult to identify each individual's blood from the rest." Remus felt like he was about to puke. Perhaps Diggory was just really crazy.
"In the barn, we - meaning Arnold Peasegood and myself - found many sharp and potentially dangerous farming equipment in Richard Ellings's barn. We have reason to believe that he was somehow harmed but those. Maybe another lost Death Eater did it thinking it was the right thing to do for He-Who- Must-Not-Be-Named. Maybe-"
"Diggory, I did not ask you for your theories," said Voykovich. Remus couldn't help smiling a little at this. "That is enough, Diggory. Thank you," he managed. "Now I ask for Martin Macnair and his information."
To the right of the courtroom, a burly man with a short beard and bushy eyebrows stood up as directed. Remus recognized him right away. iAfter all, he and Newt Scamander are the last two people he saw before I was taken away to this hellish prison./i
"Hello, Yuri." Voykovich overlooked the greeting.
"Judge, these two men are on first-name terms and I don't believe that it is valid to-"
"I believe you were once again not given permission to speak. I have already warned you and I hope that I mustn'tagain. Continue, Macnair."
"I, the Disposal for Dangerous Creatures head, brought Remus Lupin here to Azkaban. My apprentice and I were heading to Hogwarts to speak to Albus Dumbledore about our need to help acquire the culprit of this case. Then we meet none other than Lupin around the carriage sheds. He was looking for something there- probably stealing. With a few questions, we figure out all about his werewolfry and arrest him. Lucky too. Otherwise an innocent wizard or Muggle could be convicted."
"Lupin was very nervous around us. He even tried to escape from us-, which displays certain guilt. Remus Lupin is guilty," he finished off.
The judge smiled, as did Voykovich. "Time for a recess everyone. Five minutes."
The blonde boy jogged up some invisible steps leading up to the stage while everyone else was moving around. The mood was not joyful, but definitely happier than when all had to remain quiet.
"Hello. Call me Will," he greeted. "I would shake your hand only I don't want to get stuck in the fog."
Remus nodded. "Will, you have to start standing up for yourself and having enough strength to stand up to these people. You're not helping me at all. I'm sure to go to Azkaban if you don't do something." Remus couldn't help his voice cracking a little. "You need to have the courage to get across what you came to say."
"You're one to speak. I don't think there's much more I can do for you." He looked disappointed - probably in himself.
"Court is back into session," called out the judge.
"Do your best," whispered Harris and slipped back into his seat the foot of the stage.
"Let's have some more opinions from the audience."
Remus turned to the crowd for a moment. Moeris held his head down. A flash of light from a camera in the back shocked Remus for a moment. He heard some muffled conversation around him while he tried to get Dumbledore to take notice of him. Finally, once he tired getting up in the Gravitational Fog, he got his attention by his soft grunts of pain. Dumbledore knew his unexpected cue and stood up.
"I am sorry to interrupt. But Remus Lupin is being misjudged by all of you. He was an excellent and studious student when he attended Hogwarts. He had indeed made friends with the famous Sirius Black, but the two men have changed greatly since then. Lupin is working with me with the Order of the Phoenix, aiding me in the slow process of capturing Voldemort's remaining followers ever since he was evidently destroyed. Lupin is also a friend of James Potter, the father of the boy who has been thought to destroy Voldemort." Voykovich opened his mouth to protest to the judge, but the judge waved a hand to overrule. "Besides, Remus Lupin is a generally good man despite his werewolf qualities, which he is ashamed of, and he tries his best to be all that he can be to make up for that. We all know that one does not choose to become a werewolf as one does to be a murderer."
"But the damage is done," Voykovich proclaimed.
"You yet have not enough evidence to prove that entirely, dearest defender." Dumbledore's eyes glimmered and he lowered his half-moon spectacles on his crooked nose to look at Remus. "What a brave soul this man is, to endure your accusations."
Remus smiled as best as he could. He couldn't help wanting to cry, but he held it in.
Voykovich was not giving up; he called his next witness. Remus watched an even shorter man than Homer Diggory in a mini tuxedo stand up. It was the bartender of the Pridesmear Pub. Remus had never had a serious conversation with him, but this man could pretty much declare his sentence for having as low a position as bartender.
"You, Dan Bradley, have had Lupin visit your pub several times, have you not?"
"Yep," he said with an Irish accent. "Many actually."
"What was his attitude during each of these visits? How often was he there?"
" He was there so many times in one year that I considered him a regular for a great time. Ev' ry time he came he was really depressed lookin'. He seemed to be havin' some tough times. Don' know any details though. Whenever I tried talkin' to 'im he just shrugged or stayed silent. Very silent he was. Wouldin' say a single word. Thought he'd've exploded if he did."
"So you're saying that he wasn't the most pleasant person to be around."
"Naw, not really. Got a bit of money off 'im though." A few people chuckled softly. Remus shifted uncomfortably - even with the gravity spell he was in. He thought it a bit ironic that the bartender had gotten money off him when he had barely had any. iI guess it all adds up over time./i
"Was he ever violent in any of these visits?"
"No. But he didn't seem sane either."
"So you're saying he could be crazy."
"Wouldin' be surprised."
"Thank you so much, Mr. Bradley. You may sit down."
Everything was at a closing tension. The judge cleared his throat. "I do believe then, that this is all coming to an end. Remus Lupin, you are hereby sentenced to-"
"Wait! WAIT!" A woman in the back was jumping up and down, short auburn hair flying about under her beret. "Remus Lupin can't be guilty. He can't be guilty b-because - because he was with me that night!"