This isn't exactly an English courtroom, it's more American than British
but that's licencia poetica. Joga
Chapter Three
Hermione Granger was Justice Kellerman! - that was madness - thought Draco as he stood looking incredulously at Hermione.
"Do you have a problem Mr. Malfoy." Asked she
"No, You Honour. I shall refrain from further comments."
"Thank you, Mr. Malfoy. That is the defendant's name, right Mr. Crabbe?"
"Yes, Your Honour and I can assure you that my client never meant to threaten me."
"It sounded different to me. Shall we proceed? Mr. Malfoy, you are aware of what you are accused."
"Yes, my client knows and..."
"Mr. Crabbe, I believe, your client can speak for himself."
"Yes, but Your Honour, this is..."
"Silence, Mr. Crabbe. Mr. Malfoy, will I get your answer?"
"I am accused of breaching article 7 of 2005 Ministerial Decree on Wizarding Parent-Child Responsibility."
"Right, Mr. Malfoy. You are aware, what punishment you may be facing?"
"Yes, Your Honour."
"Yes, Your Honour, and what else?"
"Up to seven days imprisonment or a fine."
"Or up to seven days of imprisonment and a fine, Mr. Malfoy."
"You are right, Your Honour."
"I would be surprised, if it was different, Mr. Malfoy. Now, Mr. Malfoy, could you tell the Court why your daughter took this "little vacation off school", so to speak?"
"I cannot state..."
"Mr. Malfoy, you are a father and it is your responsibility to know, what your daughter's motives and deeds are."
"Yes, Your Honour, but..."
"Mr. Malfoy, there is no 'but', when there is safety of your child at stake. Do you know how many girls under 16 are raped every day in this country? I believe you don't. Let me tell you then, 37. 37, Mr. Malfoy! Do you know, how many it makes a year? No? I will tell you then, Mr. Malfoy, 13,505, Mr. Malfoy and I doubt that even you would like your daughter to be raped. Is that right, Mr. Malfoy?"
"Your Honour, my client..."
"Silence, Mr. Crabbe. I know you are a top-notch company lawyer but those tricks do not work here. This is a family department of this court, Mr. Crabbe, and please remember it. Now, Mr. Malfoy, can we talk facts here?"
"Yes, Your Honour." He said aloud and then muttered: "And what were we doing for the last half an hour?"
"I will accept no impertinence in this room. Is that clear?" asked Justice Kellerman
"Yes, Your Honour." Replied Malfoy.
"Good and that applies to you too, Mr. Crabbe."
"Certainly, Your Honour." Replied Vincent slightly grinning.
This time, Justice Kellerman pretended not to see it.
"So, Mr. Malfoy, you don't know what your daughter was doing?"
"Your Honour, Miss Malfoy is an independent woman and we all know her to be responsible young lady."
"Girl, Mr. Crabbe, 14 year old girl."
"Yes. It happened for the first time and Mr. Malfoy can assure the Court that it will not happen again."
"How so?"
"Miss Malfoy is at the moment under constant watch of Mr. Malfoy's house employees and Mr. Malfoy has already arranged their vacations together in a lovely resort in France..." continued Vincent.
"Mr. Crabbe, stop ridiculing yourself and your client even further. Do you think that it is enough for a father to pay for expensive vacations? No, Mr. Crabbe, it is not. A 14 year old girl, especially without a mother, needs her father's love and presence. She doesn't have to be "under watch" of her father's employees. Thank you. The sentence will be pronounced in ten minutes."
Justice Hermione Kellerman was not a harsh woman. In fact she was very amiable and loved by all her relations. She was witty and intelligent but she had inborn hate towards all those rich scoundrels who produced a child and then thought that it was enough to give the child big money, especially scoundrels like Malfoy. Ten minutes later, Justice Kellerman read the verdict, she was in a hurry to meet her former sister-in law and friend, Virginia, coming at last from Scotland:
"In the name of the Queen, I sentence you, Draco Lucius Malfoy to seven days in prison and a fine of one thousand galleons. You are to come to the Wizarding Custody Office tomorrow at noon, where you will start serving your punishment. The imprisonment cannot be changed into a fine. This sentence is not a subject of appeal.
"The Court finished this session, all rise." Said the voice and Justice Kellerman left the room.
Chapter Three
Hermione Granger was Justice Kellerman! - that was madness - thought Draco as he stood looking incredulously at Hermione.
"Do you have a problem Mr. Malfoy." Asked she
"No, You Honour. I shall refrain from further comments."
"Thank you, Mr. Malfoy. That is the defendant's name, right Mr. Crabbe?"
"Yes, Your Honour and I can assure you that my client never meant to threaten me."
"It sounded different to me. Shall we proceed? Mr. Malfoy, you are aware of what you are accused."
"Yes, my client knows and..."
"Mr. Crabbe, I believe, your client can speak for himself."
"Yes, but Your Honour, this is..."
"Silence, Mr. Crabbe. Mr. Malfoy, will I get your answer?"
"I am accused of breaching article 7 of 2005 Ministerial Decree on Wizarding Parent-Child Responsibility."
"Right, Mr. Malfoy. You are aware, what punishment you may be facing?"
"Yes, Your Honour."
"Yes, Your Honour, and what else?"
"Up to seven days imprisonment or a fine."
"Or up to seven days of imprisonment and a fine, Mr. Malfoy."
"You are right, Your Honour."
"I would be surprised, if it was different, Mr. Malfoy. Now, Mr. Malfoy, could you tell the Court why your daughter took this "little vacation off school", so to speak?"
"I cannot state..."
"Mr. Malfoy, you are a father and it is your responsibility to know, what your daughter's motives and deeds are."
"Yes, Your Honour, but..."
"Mr. Malfoy, there is no 'but', when there is safety of your child at stake. Do you know how many girls under 16 are raped every day in this country? I believe you don't. Let me tell you then, 37. 37, Mr. Malfoy! Do you know, how many it makes a year? No? I will tell you then, Mr. Malfoy, 13,505, Mr. Malfoy and I doubt that even you would like your daughter to be raped. Is that right, Mr. Malfoy?"
"Your Honour, my client..."
"Silence, Mr. Crabbe. I know you are a top-notch company lawyer but those tricks do not work here. This is a family department of this court, Mr. Crabbe, and please remember it. Now, Mr. Malfoy, can we talk facts here?"
"Yes, Your Honour." He said aloud and then muttered: "And what were we doing for the last half an hour?"
"I will accept no impertinence in this room. Is that clear?" asked Justice Kellerman
"Yes, Your Honour." Replied Malfoy.
"Good and that applies to you too, Mr. Crabbe."
"Certainly, Your Honour." Replied Vincent slightly grinning.
This time, Justice Kellerman pretended not to see it.
"So, Mr. Malfoy, you don't know what your daughter was doing?"
"Your Honour, Miss Malfoy is an independent woman and we all know her to be responsible young lady."
"Girl, Mr. Crabbe, 14 year old girl."
"Yes. It happened for the first time and Mr. Malfoy can assure the Court that it will not happen again."
"How so?"
"Miss Malfoy is at the moment under constant watch of Mr. Malfoy's house employees and Mr. Malfoy has already arranged their vacations together in a lovely resort in France..." continued Vincent.
"Mr. Crabbe, stop ridiculing yourself and your client even further. Do you think that it is enough for a father to pay for expensive vacations? No, Mr. Crabbe, it is not. A 14 year old girl, especially without a mother, needs her father's love and presence. She doesn't have to be "under watch" of her father's employees. Thank you. The sentence will be pronounced in ten minutes."
Justice Hermione Kellerman was not a harsh woman. In fact she was very amiable and loved by all her relations. She was witty and intelligent but she had inborn hate towards all those rich scoundrels who produced a child and then thought that it was enough to give the child big money, especially scoundrels like Malfoy. Ten minutes later, Justice Kellerman read the verdict, she was in a hurry to meet her former sister-in law and friend, Virginia, coming at last from Scotland:
"In the name of the Queen, I sentence you, Draco Lucius Malfoy to seven days in prison and a fine of one thousand galleons. You are to come to the Wizarding Custody Office tomorrow at noon, where you will start serving your punishment. The imprisonment cannot be changed into a fine. This sentence is not a subject of appeal.
"The Court finished this session, all rise." Said the voice and Justice Kellerman left the room.