Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. Nope, not me.
A/N: Yay for reviews!
Well, aren't you all just lucky lucky people! I'm back, and so you got five chapters for the price of three…
In today's installment (probably the longest chapter in the whole fic) we have the lawsuit… the epic battle of Fudge vs Fudge… so ENJOY!
And when you're done enjoying, REVIEW!
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"All rise for the Wizengamot!"
Remus and Aemilia stood as the fifty jurors, clad in plum coloured robes, filed into the courtroom and took their seats. Dumbledore sat on one side of a woman Remus did not recognise. She was wearing black robes with an elaborate J worked on them in gold, proclaiming her the judge.
"That's Moira Meadowes," Aemilia whispered to Remus.
"Any relation to Dorcas?"
"Younger sister. She's been working for the International Magical Office of Law for almost twenty years now. She's got a reputation as a fair judge."
"Contesting of the will of Sirius Canis Black on the 14th of August," Moira announced, her voice resonating around the courtroom. "Judge: Moira Abigail Meadowes, appointed by the International Magical Office of Law. Jurors: Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore -"
Dumbledore stood in his place. "Miss Meadowes," he said calmly, "I am sure you realise that I have a personal interest in this case and therefore cannot be expected to judge fairly. I hearby disqualify myself from this case and appoint Amelia Susan Bones as the interim head of the Wizengamot in my place."
Moira nodded. "Take your seat in the gallery, then, Professor Dumbledore. Jurors: Amelia Susan Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement…"
"Is she going to list all of the members of the Wizengamot?" Remus asked Aemilia in an undertone.
"Yes," Aemilia whispered back, her eyes fixed on Moira Meadowes.
"…Court Scribe, Percy Ignatius Weasley…"
Remus's head snapped up. Percy Weasley was indeed sitting on he end of the front bench, quill frantically scribbling as he took down all the names. He knew, despite the fact that the Ministry had changed their stance on the return of Voldemort, that Percy was still estranged from the family. Some wounds take a long time to heal, he thought. I only hope the wound heals before it is too late. With a pang, he thought of his own sister. He would give anything to see Regina again.
"Attorney for the case of Vernon Shylock Dursley and Petunia Daisy Dursley: Cornelius Oswald Fudge, Minister for Magic. Attorney for the case of Mr. Remus Jonathan Lupin: Aemilia Nasica Fudge, freelance attorney."
Percy writes extraordinarily fast, Remus thought idly as Percy's quill flew. He could see Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny sitting together in the gallery. All four looked very white.
Moira looked over her spectacles at Fudge. "Mr. Fudge," she said, "please call your first testifier."
*
Fudge stood. "The Counsel for the Dursley family calls Slipnog the Goblin to testify!"
Remus felt Aemilia relax a little in her chair beside him as the goblin shuffled to the witness stand. "I think I know what he's trying to do," she whispered, "and I think I can counter it."
"You are Slipnog the Goblin of Gringotts?" Fudge demanded.
"Yes," the goblin replied.
"You handled the financial dealings in the will of the late Mr. Sirius Black, did you not?"
"I did."
Fudge began to pace. "Tell us of the transactions you made."
"Seven thousand three hundred galleons were delivered to the account of Remus Lupin, the same amount to Albus Dumbledore and the same amount plus an antique violin to Harry Potter. The papers were not on the will."
"Please explain to us how these papers should be willed under fiscal law."
"Under normal circumstances, the papers would pass to Mr. Harry Potter, under Clause 22b), Item iii) in the Legal Requirements regarding the Contesting of Last Will and Testament, as he is the only living descendant of the original authors of the papers - Mr. and Mrs. James Potter. However, due to the fact that Mr. Potter is only sixteen and hence underage, the papers should pass to his legal guardians, Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Dursley, under Clause 22b), Item iv) in the Legal Requirements regarding the Contesting of Last Will and Testament."
Fudge had a triumphant look on his face. "So, legally, these papers should pass to the Dursley family."
Slipnog nodded. "So it seems."
Fudge turned exultantly to Moira. "The Counsel for the Dursley Family has no further questions to ask, Judge Meadowes."
Moira nodded in acknowledgment. "Thankyou, Mr. Fudge." She turned to Aemilia. "Miss Fudge?
Aemilia stood. "You conducted the transaction of the will of Mr. Sirius Black, yes?"
"I did."
"Were you the goblin that spoke directly to the executor of Mr. Black's will about this?"
"Yes."
"So you spoke to Mr. Remus Lupin on July the 26th."
"Yes."
Aemilia turned to Moira. "Judge Meadowes, I would like to submit a piece of evidence."
Moira nodded. "Proceed, Miss Fudge."
Aemilia took a piece of paper off her desk and handed it to Moira. "This is a transcript of the conversation between Slipnog the Goblin and Mr. Remus Lupin that took place on July the 26th," she said.
Fudge stood up in his place. "Objection!"
Moira looked over her spectacles at Fudge. "Yes, Mr. Fudge?"
"The Gringotts Register is classified information," Fudge said, "therefore Miss Fudge must have come by that transcript illegally. Any evidence obtained illegally is void."
"Miss Fudge?" Moira said sharply. "Do you deny this?"
Aemilia smiled. "The law that deals directly with the Gringotts Register is the Decree on the Restriction of Knowledge on Fiscal Affairs of 1674," she said smoothly. "In Paragraph J, the law reads thus - no witch or wizard may have access to the Gringotts Register except the Minister of Magic and his or her direct family. As a member of the Minister of Magic's direct family, I am well within my rights to make copies of all or any part of the Gringotts Register, such as the one you see before you."
"Miss Fudge is no longer a member of the Minister of Magic's direct family," Fudge said through gritted teeth. "She has been disowned."
Aemilia glanced sardonically at her father. "I was disowned from the Minister of Magic's family on August the 12th," she said. "The transcript was on July the 30th, as you can see by the date on the top, authorised by the Chief Goblin at Gringotts who is, as you know, unimpeachable. At this time, I was still a member of the Minister of Magic's direct family."
Moira nodded slowly. "Overruled," she said to Fudge, who sat back down huffily. She passed the parchment down the front row to Percy. "This shall henceforth be known as Exhibit A," she declared. "Mr. Weasley, if you would be so kind."
Percy fixed his glasses on his nose, stood, and began to read. "At 1:12pm, Slipnog the Goblin said, 'Everything seems to be in order, then. When this will is processed, seven thousand three hundred Galleons will be paid to the account of Albus Dumbledore, the same amount to yourself and the same amount to Harry Potter as well as an eighteenth century violin. Correct?'
"At 1:13pm, Mr. Lupin said, 'Yes.'
"Also at 1:13pm, Slipnog the Goblin said, 'What do you wish to do with the other items in Mr. Black's account, Mr. Lupin?'
"Also at 1:13pm, Mr. Lupin said, 'Other items?'
"Also at 1:13pm, Slipnog the Goblin said, 'On November the 1st, 1981, documents from the vault of Mr. and Mrs. James Potter were delivered to the vault of Mr. Sirius Black.'
"At 1:14pm, Mr. Lupin said, 'Is there… any precedent?'
"Also at 1:14pm, Slipnog the Goblin said, 'Yes. Under normal circumstances, such documents would be delivered to the scion of the original possessors.'
"Also at 1:14pm, Mr. Lupin said, 'So they would go to Harry.'
"Also at 1:14pm, Slipnog the Goblin said, 'But in this case, the scion is not yet of age, meaning the documents would go to his guardians. This means they would come into the possession of Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Dursley.'
"At 1:15pm, Mr. Lupin said, 'Is there any way to contest this settlement? Mr. and Mrs. Dursley are Muggles, and I don't think it pertinent that they have wizarding documents of this sort in their hands.'
"Also at 1:15pm, Slipnog the Goblin said, 'The settlement could be contested, but it could be a lengthy process. Given the nature of these documents, the Wizengamot would be the body of authority.'
"At 1:16pm, Mr. Lupin said, 'And we would need -'
"Also at 1:16pm, Slipnog the Goblin said, '-a lawyer, yes. If you intend to contest the will, I suggest you speak to the International Magical Office of Law. Good day to you.'
"Also at 1:16pm, Mr. Lupin said, 'But - what will happen to the documents in the meantime?'
"Also at 1:16pm, Slipnog the Goblin said, 'They will remain in the vault of Mr. Black until such time as a proper settlement has been reached. Under magical law, you have seven days to contest the will and find yourself a counsel.'
"At 1:17pm, Mr. Lupin said, 'The Dursleys - will they be informed?'
"Also at 1:17pm, Slipnog the Goblin said, 'An owl will be dispatched. Good day, Mr. Lupin.'
"Also at 1:17pm, Mr. Lupin left Gringotts." Percy sat back down again.
"In Exhibit A," Aemilia said, "Slipnog the Goblin clearly admits that there is room to contest the will of Mr. Sirius Black within the Legal Requirements regarding the Contesting of Last Will and Testament. Do you deny this?" she asked Slipnog suddenly.
"I do not."
"Why do you not deny this?"
"Clause 22b), Item v) of the Legal Requirements regarding the Contesting of Last Will and Testament states that if the guardian is deemed unsuitable, then another person may be nominated to receive the unwilled goods - in this case, the papers of Mr. and Mrs. James Potter."
"So if Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Dursley were deemed unsuitable, the papers could pass to another person - namely, Mr. Remus Lupin."
"Yes."
Aemilia turned to Moira. "We have it from the mouth of a goblin - undeniably the greatest experts in the wizarding world on fiscal law and economic matters - that if Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Dursley are deemed unsuitable, the papers could pass to a new guardian." She allowed herself a small smile. "The Counsel for Remus Lupin has no further questions to ask." She sat, her hand finding Remus's and squeezing.
"Thankyou, Mr. Slipnog," Moira said to the goblin. "You may leave."
I never knew Aemilia was this impressive, Remus thought half-dazedly as the goblin scurried away from the stand. He looked across at her appreciatively. What a woman I have found myself!
"Miss Fudge," Moira said, "please call your first testifier."
Aemilia stood. "The Counsel for Remus Lupin calls Miss Luna Rationalis Lovegood to testify."
*
"Objection!" Fudge cried immediately. "Miss Lovegood is not of age!"
Aemilia cast a wry glance at him. "Surely you are aware that anyone over the age of twelve can be called on to testify in a wizarding court?"
"Miss Fudge is correct," Moira said. "Objection overruled."
Fudge sat back down. Remus noted gleefully he looked highly embarrassed.
"You are Miss Luna Rationalis Lovegood of Veridica Fields, Ottery St. Catchpole?" Aemilia asked gently.
"Yes," Luna replied. She looked - for a Lovegood, anyway, Remus reflected - quite normal today. Her wispy hair was braided down her back and she wore plain black robes.
"You, along with Mr. Harry Potter, Mr. Ronald Weasley, Miss Hermione Granger, Mr. Neville Longbottom and Miss Virginia Weasley, entered the Ministry of Magic on June the 4th?"
"Yes," Luna answered. "We went to the Department of Mysteries to rescue Harry's godfather, but he wasn't there. It was a mean trick."
"While you were there," Aemilia said carefully, "you entered the room known as the Death Chamber, did you not? A room with a black veil in the middle of it?"
"Yes," Luna replied dreamily. "We went in there by accident first - we were trying to find the room with the prophecies, you see. When the fighting started, we ended up in there again."
Fudge stood up again. "Objection!"
Moira peered at him from over her spectacles. "Yes, Mr. Fudge?"
"These questions are irrelevant!"
"The relevance of these questions will become clear soon, Judge Meadowes," Aemilia said smoothly.
Moira nodded. "Overruled," she said to Fudge. "Miss Fudge, please make sure that relevance is made clear."
"Of course." Aemilia turned back to Luna. "When you were first in this room, you heard whispers from behind the veil, did you not?"
"I did," Luna answered distantly. "I could hear people whispering, though I couldn't hear what they were saying. Harry could hear them too, but no-one else could."
Aemilia turned to Moira. "In Paragraph B of the Classification of Beast, Being and Spirit, 1342, it states that any being that speaks cannot be truly classified as dead. This clause was originally inserted so as to give ghosts citizenship in the wizarding world, but it also applies to this case." She took a deep breath. "If the people behind the veil whisper, as Miss Lovegood tells us they do, then they cannot be legally dead."
A murmur of sound ran around the courtroom. "Are you saying, Miss Fudge," Moira said sharply, "that Sirius Black is not dead?"
Aemilia smiled. "Precisely." She nodded to Moira. "The Counsel for Remus Lupin has no further questions to ask." She sat back down.
"Thankyou, Miss Fudge," Moira said. "Mr. Fudge?"
Fudge stood. "Miss Lovegood," he said slowly, "is your father Vesanus Lovegood?"
Aemilia was on her feet immediately. "Objection!"
"Yes, Miss Fudge?" Moira asked.
"Miss Lovegood's parentage is in no way relevant to this case!" Aemilia said vehemently.
"My point shall become clear soon, Judge Meadowes," Fudge said.
Moira nodded. "Very well. Overruled, Miss Fudge. Mr. Fudge, please make sure your point does become clear. Miss Lovegood, please answer the question."
"Yes," Luna said. "My father is Vesanus Lovegood."
"He runs the magazine called The Quibbler, does he not?"
"Yes, he does."
Fudge turned to Moira. "Judge Meadowes, I would like to submit a piece of evidence."
"Proceed, Mr. Fudge."
Fudge handed something with glossy pages to Moira. "This is an edition of The Quibbler," he said with a wolfish smile.
With a sinking heart, Remus realised exactly what Fudge was trying to do. "You bastard," Aemilia murmured beside him.
"Can't you object?" Remus asked.
"No," Aemilia answered. "I can't keep objecting for irrelevance when he's said he'll get to the point."
"This shall henceforth be known as Exhibit B," Moira announced.
"Exhibit B contains articles on various things," Fudge said dryly. "This particular issue contains an interview with a wizard who claims to have flown to the moon on a Cleansweep Six; runes that, reversed, contain a spell to turn your enemies' ears into kumquats, and an article on how I myself cook goblins in pies - as well as an article that suggests that Sirius Black (whom we all know to be a mass-murderer) is really the lead singer of the Hobgoblins."
There were shouts of laughter from round the courtroom. Moira, however, peered down her nose at Fudge. "Your point, Mr. Fudge?"
"Allow me to answer with a question to Miss Lovegood," Fudge said. He turned to Luna. "Miss Lovegood, do you believe in the Crumple-Horned Snorcack?"
"Yes," Luna replied firmly.
"The Blibbering Humdinger?"
"Yes."
"Heliopaths?"
"Yes."
Fudge turned back to Moira. "The girl is clearly as crazy as the father," he told her firmly. "Paragraph R of the Witness Requirements Legislation of 1782 states clearly that witnesses and testifiers must be of sound mind. I put it to you that Miss Luna Rationalis Lovegood of Veridica Fields, Ottery St. Catchpole is not of sound mind."
"Objection!" Aemilia was on her feet.
"Yes, Miss Fudge?"
"Miss Lovegood has proved herself to be noble and courageous, as I'm sure Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, Mr. Longbottom, Miss Granger and Miss Weasley would testify," Aemilia said. "Miss Lovegood faced more Death Eaters in the Department of Mysteries on June the 4th than many respectable wizards have faced in their lifetimes. And now Mr. Fudge accuses her of not being of sound mind? We must remember that Mr. Fudge also cast aspersions on the sanity of Mr. Harry Potter this past year - and it cannot be doubted that he was most appallingly wrong." Aemilia's dark eyes were hard. "Would you, once more, doubt the sanity of a girl who was a voice of truth in the web of lies both the Ministry and the media perpetrated last year? Do not insult this girl - who has been more courageous than most will ever be required to be - by casting doubt on her soundness of mind!"
"I call for a vote," Fudge said, glaring at his daughter.
Moira consulted with Amelia Bones. "Mr. Fudge's call has been upheld," she announced. "The Wizengamot will take a vote on the sanity of Miss Lovegood via secret ballot."
"Please write down 'yes' if you believe Miss Lovegood is of sound mind, or 'no' if you believe she is not," Amelia Bones told the Wizengamot. "Special ballot slips have been provided."
There was a pause of a few seconds, then Moira picked up a piece of parchment. "The results have been recorded," she announced. "By twenty-five to twenty-three, the Wizengamot declare that Miss Luna Rationalis Lovegood of Veridica Fields, Ottery St. Catchpole, is not of sound mind."
Remus heard Aemilia gasp and sink a little lower in her chair.
"Miss Lovegood, please leave the stand immediately," Moira told Luna tersely. "Miss Fudge, as your last witness has been disqualified, you are entitled to call a new witness."
Aemilia stood. There was a glint in her eyes. "I call Mr. Remus Jonathan Lupin to the stand."
*
Feeling slightly dazed and very shabby, Remus made his way to the stand. He could see everyone in the courtroom from here - Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny sitting together, white faced, a confused looking Luna sitting by her father, Dumbledore, the elder Weasleys, Fudge and the Dursleys, Aemilia…
"You are Remus Jonathan Lupin of London?" Aemilia asked.
"Yes," Remus replied.
Fudge stood up. "Where in London, Mr. Lupin?" he snarled nastily.
"Mr. Fudge!" Moira thundered. "You have not been recognised by the Chair!"
"I cannot say," Remus replied, trying to keep his voice mild. "My home is under the protection of the Fidelius Charm, and I am not the Secret-Keeper."
"Proceed, Miss Fudge," Moira told Aemilia.
"On July the 30th, you travelled to the Ministry of Magic, did you not?"
"I did."
"Why did you do this?"
"I am a werewolf," Remus said, deliberately eyeballing Cornelius Fudge as he said it, "and I went to the Ministry for the annual renewal of my licence."
"Did you go to the Department of Mysteries on this day?"
"I did."
Fudge stood. "WERE YOU AUTHORISED?" he roared.
"MR. FUDGE!" Moira shrieked. "This is the second time you have spoken out of turn! Sit down!"
"No, I was not authorised," Remus replied daringly, "but I went anyway."
"Why did you do this?" Aemilia asked.
Remus took a deep breath. "Because I wanted to grieve," he replied. "Sirius Black was - is still - my best friend. But he is not the only person I have lost to the veil in the Department of Mysteries."
"Who was the other person?" Aemilia asked softly. The courtroom was so quiet that a pin dropping might have been heard.
"My sister Regina," Remus answered, willing himself not to cry. "My mother Arethusa was an Unspeakable, but she was also mentally unstable. My sister was a priestess of Arachne, and as many of you are aware, the Arachniae possessed books known as the Libri of Life and Death, lore given to them by seelie wights of old. My mother desired these secrets more than anything, but Regina refused to give them to her. In September of 1980, my mother had Regina and her infant child abducted from the temple at Telae Domus." He almost fancied he heard a tiny splintering sound in his head at the thought of the child. "I… do not know what happened to the child. But my mother took Regina to the Department of Mysteries and pushed her through the veil." There were gasps from round the courtroom. "My mother was committed to St. Mungo's soon after, where she resides now, in a ward for the criminally insane." He took another deep breath. "I went to the Department of Mysteries, even though I was not authorised. I went there to grieve, for Sirius Black, for Regina Lupin and for their child -"
"Their child?" Moira interrupted.
Remus knew her interruption could not be proper court etiquette. He had disarmed her, then, to a degree. "Yes," he answered softly. He fancied he felt another splintering in his mind. "I went to the Department of Mysteries to grieve for Sirius Black, for Regina Lupin and their child, whom I have never known." Another tiny splintering.
"What happened when you were in the Department of Mysteries?" Aemilia asked.
"I contemplated suicide," Remus replied honestly. "The veil was right there. It had killed my best friend and my sister. There was a rightness about it killing me too. But then I heard… voices."
Fudge snorted where he sat, but did not say anything.
"What kind of voices?"
"I heard the voices of the people behind the veil," Remus answered. "I heard Aberforth Dumbledore. Another voice I did not recognise. Then Regina. Finally, Sirius."
"What were they saying?"
"They were talking about how to break out of the place they were in," Remus replied. "They are not dead. They are… elsewhere - and by the sounds of their conversation, they are in the Void. Not dead."
"What did you do then?"
Remus smiled wryly. "I tried to talk to them. I called to Sirius and Regina through the veil."
"Objection!" Fudge was on his feet.
"Yes, Mr. Fudge?" Moira asked.
Fudge smirked. "Like Miss Lovegood," he said, "it is clear that Mr. Lupin is clearly out of his wits."
"Before you decide on that, please hear me out," Aemilia said firmly. "I can finish the story myself, because it was at this point that I entered the room." There were more gasps from around the courtyard. "I tried to coax Mr. Lupin away from the veil, not believing that he really had heard the voices. We were about to leave when Mr. Black called out to Mr. Lupin from behind the veil." There were more gasps. "Mr. Black, Mr. Lupin and Miss Lupin had a short conversation. As you are aware, Mr. Black was still in possession of a wand when he fell through the veil. This injection of magic into the Void-world they are in is causing it to fall apart, which is why Mr. Black and Miss Lupin could conduct a conversation with Mr. Lupin. In short -" Aemilia roved her eyes around the silent courtroom, "- neither Mr. Black nor Miss Lupin nor anyone behind that veil is dead. They are just… elsewhere." She turned to Moira. "And if they are not dead, then Mr. Black's will is void."
"Have you any further questions to ask?" Moira asked.
"No," Aemilia answered, and sat.
"Mr. Fudge?"
Fudge stood. "Well, this is a fine story, Mr. Lupin," he said, drawling his words slightly, "but why are we to believe a word of it?"
"Why should you not?" Remus shot back.
"Well, you are a werewolf, after all."
You bastard, Remus thought.
One of the jurors stood in their place. "The Chair recognises Lakshmi Patil, Juror," Moira said.
"Mr. Fudge," Lakshmi said, "even if Mr. Lupin cannot be believed, why should you disbelieve Miss Fudge? She is, after all, your daughter, and hardly a moral reprobate."
"Because she is CONSORTING WITH HIM!" Fudge bellowed. "Miss Fudge and Mr. Lupin are -"
But Remus never found out what Fudge thought he and Aemilia were, because there was an almighty crack! and a flash of white light in the middle of the courtroom. The barrier in his mind snapped, the Memory Charm broken, and he remembered. But his newfound memory was the least of his concerns at the moment.
"Hello, everyone," said Sirius Black. "What have I missed?
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