The Aftermath
By S. Christian
DISCLAIMER: This fic is based on charactars and situations created by J.K. Rowling and not myself. I have no money, therefore please, try your best not to sue me.
Oh joy. Finally, the long awaited chapter of judgement had arrived. Will Draco Malfoy leave an innocent man, or a headless man being sent in a box to be magically cremated? Well, monkeys, you'll just have to read to find out. And if you bother sending me a flame or if you don't review at all, I'll track you down and hand-deliver a howler at your front door. With that in mind, read on in prosper.
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The dungeons were never cheery places. But the Elders' Dungeon was the worst by far. It was dark, lit only by dim magical crystals, hanging randomly from the ceiling. It was colder than any other dungeon. Then there were the Elders. A set of 10 of the oldest wizards alive. They were quiet, white, old.
Harry somehow managed to keep his cool with them. They were insistent. Their first idea was the wizard or witch at question was guaranteed to be guilty. Yet, Harry never lost an appeal. This fascinated the Elders. Noone had that kind of power over them. The power of persuasion. The former Minister never did.
But Fudge. Poor Fudge. He was a fool. The Elders all knew it when he became Minister. He wasn't fit for the job. He would meet his terrible end because of his foolishness. But the new Minister was more persuasive than any of them.
Maybe that's just because Albus Dumbledore was one of them. He was the seventh oldest wizard alive. An amazing man. But even trying to clear a former Death Eater? That was just proposterous.
The Elders filed into their seats up front. A few people were already there to witness the trial. And there stood Harry, meeting the gaze of all ten Elders, including the twinkle of Dumbledore's eyes.
No more than 10 minutes later, Ron, Hermione, and anyone else who was to be there. That was when they came in.
Dementors. Harry shivered. A faint image of a dieing Sirius Black flashed through his head. He quickly shook it off. He had to be stronger than they were. There were four of them, and between them all was Draco Malfoy.
Dumbledore stood up right then. "What is this? I didn't request these hooded incarnations of Hell in this court!"
One of the Elders, Rulon Nackenthore, stood up and held up a hand. "The other nine Elders have requested them, Albus. We consider this a neccessary precaution in dealing with people like Mr. Malfoy, here."
Harry spoke now. "And what kind of person would that be, Master Nackenthore?"
Nackenthore met Harry's stare. "You, young Potter, have got yourself into an oblivon of a mess. Why do you defend such scum? It is total rubbish."
"The rubbish is, Master Nackenthore," Harry responded, determined to get his way, "that a wise wizard such as yourself jumps to such childish conclusions. Noone in this room is guilty of any crime until they are proven so. Therefore, I request a halt to such name calling. My client is to be honorably referred to by Mr. Malfoy as a law under Scroll 979 in the Book of Spheres."
Nackenthore gave an old smile. "Potter, you never fail to amaze me. You are right of course. My mistake and my apologies. Let's get on with this little blunder."
Harry bowed his head. "My client, Mr. Draco Malfoy, has been accused of being a Death Eater, or a follower of the once infamous and now deceased Lord Voldemort. I stand before you, the Council, determined to prove that Mr. Malfoy is in fact innocent of these charges. My case mainly includes the fact that not long ago, I would have give oh so much to see this man rot. Yet I can not by honor let an innocent man be convicted or executed."
Another Elder just shook his head. "How do we know you have not been paid for this?"
Harry smirked. "Would it be, Master Winhu, the fact that Mr. Malfoy has no money in his name?"
Winhu looked bewildered. "Now, Potter, I know you speak nonsense. He is a Malfoy. The Malfoy's have always been too rich for their own good. How can he not have any of that."
Malfoy spoke now. "My father hated me as of his death. He changed his will in good time to make sure I got none of it."
"Gentlemen of the Council," Harry said, becoming frustrated, "I sware that I defend Malfoy in pure thought of his innocence. Test me with any potion you can concoct, but I will not stand for this much longer until I call an Overall Minister Judgement."
Nackenthore chuckled. "That will not be neccessary. We can proceed. No need to execute any dictatorship, even though if anyone could do it, Dumbledore certainly could pull it off."
Dumbledore just nodded.
Another Elder, Master Hearst, said, "You may call your first witness, Potter."
Harry gave a nod. "I would like to first address the testimony of Ronald Weasley, star Quidditch player for the Cannons, currently on suspension for an accident in Bulgaria, playing-"
"Potter," said Nackenthore, "we do not need his biography. Get on with it."
Potter yet again nodded. Ron got up and walked over to the stand facing the council. He looked kind of nervous, which amused Harry. He couldn't handle a group of old men despite his calmness around a crowd.
Harry cleared his throat. "Mr. Weasley, I would like to remind you you are under truth spells while on the stand. But just in case. What is your worst fear?"
Ron spoke, only half willingly. "Spiders."
A few people laughed. Harry knew Ron would have lied if he could have. Harry didn't laugh, but he did give Ron a grin as Ron gave him the "fuck you" look.
Harry cleared his throat and there was instant silence. "Now, Mr. Weasley, you do know why you are here in front of the Ministry's Council of Elders, don't you?"
Ron nodded. "Yes. I'm supposed to be helping you clear the, in my opinion, bad name of Draco Malfoy."
"Right," Harry said. "Now, would you explain to the Council the relationship that Mr. Malfoy and I had through out our seven years at Hogwarts."
Ron now explained with great detail (being sure to go in detail about every curse that Draco Malfoy had been hit with thanks to the trio and DA members) all of the scurmishes, fights, verbal arguments, name-calling, and overall conflict between Harry and Draco throughout those seven years.
Harry had a feeling that Ron's testimony was already enough. "One last question, Mr. Weasley," Harry said. "Why are you so afraid of spiders?"
Fred and George, who were watching this all, couldn't help but laugh. Ginny was having a hard time not laughing.
Ron did his best to fight the truth spell. He did manage to just murmur, "Brothers... Teddy bear... Assholes."
Harry grinned a wide one. "That will be all, Mr. Weasley," Harry said. "Permission to call my next witness?" Harry asked, looking seriously at the Council, obviously only slightly impressed with Harry's humor, yet more annoyed.
Nackenthore looked stern. "Yes, Potter. Call your next witness, but this time, let's leave our humor somewhere safe. This is the Council of the Elders, not comedy night at the Three Broomsticks."
Harry nodded, trying to look disappointed. "I would now like to call to the stands, Ms. Hermione Granger."
Hermione reluctantly made her way to the stands. She was shifting unconfortably, not believing she was up there defending "pure" blood scum like Malfoy.
Harry saw her nervousness. He walked over and touched her hand. "It will be ok," he whispered, soothing her with his voice. Now he spoke so all could here. "Ms. Granger, the Council and I would like to hear your account of our seven years at Hogwarts and our conflict with Draco."
Hermione was silent for a few seconds, then began to speak. She told of the same incidents that Ron said, just less detail on the cursing and she didn't have nearly as much fun telling at all.
Harry looked at her, seriously, but with care in his eyes. "My last question, Ms. Granger, is this: What did Draco call you for most of those seven years, and who cursed him into oblivion over it?"
Hermione's eyes teared. "He constantly called me a mud-blood. The words hurt more everytime. But I felt better everytime you and Ron stood up for me."
Harry nodded slowly. "You may go take your seat."
Everyone was silent. Dumbledore was the first to speak. "Mr. Potter, I, in representation of the Council, would like to call your last witness: Draco Malfoy."
Harry didn't say anything. Draco was led to his seat by the dementors. He shifted uneasily. They had obviously been messing with his head.
Harry cleared his throat, his sign he was ready to begin. "Mr. Malfoy, we have heard enough about school days. I would first like to ask you how you plead."
Draco blinked. "I plead innocent. I am not guilty of being a Death Eater. In fact, I helped defeat Voldemort."
Winhu chuckled. "You do not have any witness to that, do you, Mr. Malfoy?"
Draco sadly shook his head.
Harry was quick. "Sir, first let me finish my interrogation before you continue insulting my client." Winhu scowled. "Mr. Malfoy, give the Council and me your account of the night Voldemort was defeated.
Draco spoke quietly, yet loud enough for the Council to hear. "I had refused my father's offer to become a Death Eater only weeks earlier. He had abandoned me. I fought and killed many Death Eaters and other supporters of Voldemort. I was knocked out by a strong disarming spell and presumed dead by many. I woke up to a field of dead and unconscious bodies. I saw my father. He was dead. Then I saw a figure looming over Harry. I knew it was Voldemort. I knew I had to help."
Harry held up his hand as if to stop him. He looked at Draco in disbelief. "It was you, wasn't it? You did that. You saved my life."
Dumbledore was intent. "What are you talking about, Harry?"
Harry turned. "Gentlemen of the Council of Elders, this man was the key in the defeat of Voldemort. He disarmed him while I confronted him. He gave me time to kill Voldemort."
Dumbledore was still in his solid face. "You are sure?"
Harry shrugged. "I am under the same truth spell as everyone else, aren't I?"
Everything was silent. "That will be all, Potter. Until we reach a verdict, Draco Malfoy will be under house-arrest."
Draco looked confused at this. "Sir, I don't have a house or family that would take me."
Harry now spoke quickly. "I will decide where to keep Malfoy." He walked over and whispered something in Dumbledore's ear. Dumbledore nodded.
Draco whispered, "Where are you taking me?"
Harry just smiled.
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Ron yelled loudly, "WHAT! YOU CAN'T TAKE HIM TO THE BURROW!"
Harry just smiled. "Of course I can. I have that jurisdiction. What's even more fun is that you get to watch him."
Ginny just blushed at the idea.
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AN... Well, what did you think of this chapter. Please review. That little submit review box isn't there for nothing. Chapter 6 ought to come soon. Until then, I must say adios. And by the way, my reviewers are officialy the coolest people alive (with the exception of a few select celebrities and my best friends), so review and I will praise your name. (Ears91, Summrmagic, and my dear sister, thank you especially, since you reviewed.)
By S. Christian
DISCLAIMER: This fic is based on charactars and situations created by J.K. Rowling and not myself. I have no money, therefore please, try your best not to sue me.
Oh joy. Finally, the long awaited chapter of judgement had arrived. Will Draco Malfoy leave an innocent man, or a headless man being sent in a box to be magically cremated? Well, monkeys, you'll just have to read to find out. And if you bother sending me a flame or if you don't review at all, I'll track you down and hand-deliver a howler at your front door. With that in mind, read on in prosper.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The dungeons were never cheery places. But the Elders' Dungeon was the worst by far. It was dark, lit only by dim magical crystals, hanging randomly from the ceiling. It was colder than any other dungeon. Then there were the Elders. A set of 10 of the oldest wizards alive. They were quiet, white, old.
Harry somehow managed to keep his cool with them. They were insistent. Their first idea was the wizard or witch at question was guaranteed to be guilty. Yet, Harry never lost an appeal. This fascinated the Elders. Noone had that kind of power over them. The power of persuasion. The former Minister never did.
But Fudge. Poor Fudge. He was a fool. The Elders all knew it when he became Minister. He wasn't fit for the job. He would meet his terrible end because of his foolishness. But the new Minister was more persuasive than any of them.
Maybe that's just because Albus Dumbledore was one of them. He was the seventh oldest wizard alive. An amazing man. But even trying to clear a former Death Eater? That was just proposterous.
The Elders filed into their seats up front. A few people were already there to witness the trial. And there stood Harry, meeting the gaze of all ten Elders, including the twinkle of Dumbledore's eyes.
No more than 10 minutes later, Ron, Hermione, and anyone else who was to be there. That was when they came in.
Dementors. Harry shivered. A faint image of a dieing Sirius Black flashed through his head. He quickly shook it off. He had to be stronger than they were. There were four of them, and between them all was Draco Malfoy.
Dumbledore stood up right then. "What is this? I didn't request these hooded incarnations of Hell in this court!"
One of the Elders, Rulon Nackenthore, stood up and held up a hand. "The other nine Elders have requested them, Albus. We consider this a neccessary precaution in dealing with people like Mr. Malfoy, here."
Harry spoke now. "And what kind of person would that be, Master Nackenthore?"
Nackenthore met Harry's stare. "You, young Potter, have got yourself into an oblivon of a mess. Why do you defend such scum? It is total rubbish."
"The rubbish is, Master Nackenthore," Harry responded, determined to get his way, "that a wise wizard such as yourself jumps to such childish conclusions. Noone in this room is guilty of any crime until they are proven so. Therefore, I request a halt to such name calling. My client is to be honorably referred to by Mr. Malfoy as a law under Scroll 979 in the Book of Spheres."
Nackenthore gave an old smile. "Potter, you never fail to amaze me. You are right of course. My mistake and my apologies. Let's get on with this little blunder."
Harry bowed his head. "My client, Mr. Draco Malfoy, has been accused of being a Death Eater, or a follower of the once infamous and now deceased Lord Voldemort. I stand before you, the Council, determined to prove that Mr. Malfoy is in fact innocent of these charges. My case mainly includes the fact that not long ago, I would have give oh so much to see this man rot. Yet I can not by honor let an innocent man be convicted or executed."
Another Elder just shook his head. "How do we know you have not been paid for this?"
Harry smirked. "Would it be, Master Winhu, the fact that Mr. Malfoy has no money in his name?"
Winhu looked bewildered. "Now, Potter, I know you speak nonsense. He is a Malfoy. The Malfoy's have always been too rich for their own good. How can he not have any of that."
Malfoy spoke now. "My father hated me as of his death. He changed his will in good time to make sure I got none of it."
"Gentlemen of the Council," Harry said, becoming frustrated, "I sware that I defend Malfoy in pure thought of his innocence. Test me with any potion you can concoct, but I will not stand for this much longer until I call an Overall Minister Judgement."
Nackenthore chuckled. "That will not be neccessary. We can proceed. No need to execute any dictatorship, even though if anyone could do it, Dumbledore certainly could pull it off."
Dumbledore just nodded.
Another Elder, Master Hearst, said, "You may call your first witness, Potter."
Harry gave a nod. "I would like to first address the testimony of Ronald Weasley, star Quidditch player for the Cannons, currently on suspension for an accident in Bulgaria, playing-"
"Potter," said Nackenthore, "we do not need his biography. Get on with it."
Potter yet again nodded. Ron got up and walked over to the stand facing the council. He looked kind of nervous, which amused Harry. He couldn't handle a group of old men despite his calmness around a crowd.
Harry cleared his throat. "Mr. Weasley, I would like to remind you you are under truth spells while on the stand. But just in case. What is your worst fear?"
Ron spoke, only half willingly. "Spiders."
A few people laughed. Harry knew Ron would have lied if he could have. Harry didn't laugh, but he did give Ron a grin as Ron gave him the "fuck you" look.
Harry cleared his throat and there was instant silence. "Now, Mr. Weasley, you do know why you are here in front of the Ministry's Council of Elders, don't you?"
Ron nodded. "Yes. I'm supposed to be helping you clear the, in my opinion, bad name of Draco Malfoy."
"Right," Harry said. "Now, would you explain to the Council the relationship that Mr. Malfoy and I had through out our seven years at Hogwarts."
Ron now explained with great detail (being sure to go in detail about every curse that Draco Malfoy had been hit with thanks to the trio and DA members) all of the scurmishes, fights, verbal arguments, name-calling, and overall conflict between Harry and Draco throughout those seven years.
Harry had a feeling that Ron's testimony was already enough. "One last question, Mr. Weasley," Harry said. "Why are you so afraid of spiders?"
Fred and George, who were watching this all, couldn't help but laugh. Ginny was having a hard time not laughing.
Ron did his best to fight the truth spell. He did manage to just murmur, "Brothers... Teddy bear... Assholes."
Harry grinned a wide one. "That will be all, Mr. Weasley," Harry said. "Permission to call my next witness?" Harry asked, looking seriously at the Council, obviously only slightly impressed with Harry's humor, yet more annoyed.
Nackenthore looked stern. "Yes, Potter. Call your next witness, but this time, let's leave our humor somewhere safe. This is the Council of the Elders, not comedy night at the Three Broomsticks."
Harry nodded, trying to look disappointed. "I would now like to call to the stands, Ms. Hermione Granger."
Hermione reluctantly made her way to the stands. She was shifting unconfortably, not believing she was up there defending "pure" blood scum like Malfoy.
Harry saw her nervousness. He walked over and touched her hand. "It will be ok," he whispered, soothing her with his voice. Now he spoke so all could here. "Ms. Granger, the Council and I would like to hear your account of our seven years at Hogwarts and our conflict with Draco."
Hermione was silent for a few seconds, then began to speak. She told of the same incidents that Ron said, just less detail on the cursing and she didn't have nearly as much fun telling at all.
Harry looked at her, seriously, but with care in his eyes. "My last question, Ms. Granger, is this: What did Draco call you for most of those seven years, and who cursed him into oblivion over it?"
Hermione's eyes teared. "He constantly called me a mud-blood. The words hurt more everytime. But I felt better everytime you and Ron stood up for me."
Harry nodded slowly. "You may go take your seat."
Everyone was silent. Dumbledore was the first to speak. "Mr. Potter, I, in representation of the Council, would like to call your last witness: Draco Malfoy."
Harry didn't say anything. Draco was led to his seat by the dementors. He shifted uneasily. They had obviously been messing with his head.
Harry cleared his throat, his sign he was ready to begin. "Mr. Malfoy, we have heard enough about school days. I would first like to ask you how you plead."
Draco blinked. "I plead innocent. I am not guilty of being a Death Eater. In fact, I helped defeat Voldemort."
Winhu chuckled. "You do not have any witness to that, do you, Mr. Malfoy?"
Draco sadly shook his head.
Harry was quick. "Sir, first let me finish my interrogation before you continue insulting my client." Winhu scowled. "Mr. Malfoy, give the Council and me your account of the night Voldemort was defeated.
Draco spoke quietly, yet loud enough for the Council to hear. "I had refused my father's offer to become a Death Eater only weeks earlier. He had abandoned me. I fought and killed many Death Eaters and other supporters of Voldemort. I was knocked out by a strong disarming spell and presumed dead by many. I woke up to a field of dead and unconscious bodies. I saw my father. He was dead. Then I saw a figure looming over Harry. I knew it was Voldemort. I knew I had to help."
Harry held up his hand as if to stop him. He looked at Draco in disbelief. "It was you, wasn't it? You did that. You saved my life."
Dumbledore was intent. "What are you talking about, Harry?"
Harry turned. "Gentlemen of the Council of Elders, this man was the key in the defeat of Voldemort. He disarmed him while I confronted him. He gave me time to kill Voldemort."
Dumbledore was still in his solid face. "You are sure?"
Harry shrugged. "I am under the same truth spell as everyone else, aren't I?"
Everything was silent. "That will be all, Potter. Until we reach a verdict, Draco Malfoy will be under house-arrest."
Draco looked confused at this. "Sir, I don't have a house or family that would take me."
Harry now spoke quickly. "I will decide where to keep Malfoy." He walked over and whispered something in Dumbledore's ear. Dumbledore nodded.
Draco whispered, "Where are you taking me?"
Harry just smiled.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ron yelled loudly, "WHAT! YOU CAN'T TAKE HIM TO THE BURROW!"
Harry just smiled. "Of course I can. I have that jurisdiction. What's even more fun is that you get to watch him."
Ginny just blushed at the idea.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AN... Well, what did you think of this chapter. Please review. That little submit review box isn't there for nothing. Chapter 6 ought to come soon. Until then, I must say adios. And by the way, my reviewers are officialy the coolest people alive (with the exception of a few select celebrities and my best friends), so review and I will praise your name. (Ears91, Summrmagic, and my dear sister, thank you especially, since you reviewed.)