Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. Nope, not me.
A/N: This is an Aemilia interlude!
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"All rise for the Wizengamot!"
Aemilia stood at her desk - where, this time, she sat alone - as the fifty jurors filed in. Once again, Moira Meadowes was wearing the embroidered black robes that proclaimed her the judge. She took her seat between Dumbledore and Amelia Bones.
"Where is the accused?" Moira asked sharply.
"The accused is present, Judge Meadowes," a voice came from the back of the courtroom. Minerva McGonagall was frogmarching Cornelius Fudge in, his hands tied behind his back. Aemilia felt a surge of revulsion at the sight of him. She shared a meaningful look with Remus, who was sitting in the gallery, and kept herself calm. She contented herself with merely glaring at her father.
"Hearing regarding the impeachment of the Minister for Magic on the fifteenth of August," Moira announced, "into offences committed under the Restriction of Violence Among Wizards and Witches, the Legal Requirements regarding treatment of Beasts, Beings and Spirits and the Economic Charter of Wizards by Cornelius Oswald Fudge, resident at 10½ Downing Street, London.
"Judge: Moira Meadowes, appointed by the International Magical Office of Law. Jurors: Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore…"
I'm glad Dumbledore isn't disqualifying himself from this case, Aemilia thought fervently, as Moira Meadowes continued to list the jurors. I need him there.
"…Court Scribe, Penelope Odyssea Clearwater…"
Aemilia's head snapped up. Where's Percy? Remus mouthed to her from the gallery.
Imperceptibly, she shrugged. She didn't know. Maybe it's his day off, she thought.
"Prosecuting Attorney: Aemilia Nasica Fudge, freelance attorney." Moira peered down her nose at Fudge. "And I understand the accused will be defending himself."
"That's correct," Minerva McGonagall snapped. She pulled out her wand and magically ungagged Fudge.
Aemilia noted with satisfaction the glare that Moira gave Fudge before continuing. "The charges against the accused are as follows:
"That he did knowingly, deliberately and in full awareness of the illegality of his actions, try to kill Mr. Sirius Canis Black in Courtroom Eleven of the Ministry of Magic using the Unforgivable Curse Avada Kedavra on the 14th of August at three minutes past eleven, which constitutes an offence under Clause 12b), Item xi) of the Restriction of Violence Among Wizards and Witches.
"That he did also knowingly, deliberately and in full awareness of illegality of his actions, withhold pay from various goblins of Gringotts over a period of three years, which constitutes an offence under Clause 23g), Item ii) of the Legal Requirements regarding treatment of Beasts, Beings and Spirits and also under Paragraph H of the Economic Charter of Wizards, 1234."
I'd like to see you wriggle out of this one, Aemilia thought grimly as Fudge's face grew white at the list of charges laid against him.
"You are Cornelius Oswald Fudge, Minister for Magic, resident at 10½ Downing Street, London?" Moira snapped at Fudge.
"Yes," Fudge answered.
Moira nodded to Aemilia. "Miss Fudge, you may interrogate the accused."
Feeling a sort of severe satisfaction, Aemilia stood.
*
"You attempted to kill Mr. Sirius Black in this courtroom yesterday?" Aemilia said flatly.
"He was an accused and dangerous criminal," Fudge replied haughtily.
"You have not answered the question."
"Yes, I did attempt to kill Mr. Sirius Black in this courtroom yesterday," Fudge snapped. "You forget that Ministry officials have been authorised to use Unforgivable curses against Black."
"You forget that your integrity as a Ministry official is under question today," Aemilia shot back. She turned to Moira. "Judge Meadowes, I would like to call on a member of the Wizengamot for testimony."
Moira nodded. "Proceed."
"Professor Dumbledore," Aemilia said, "in June of the year 1994, you became convinced of the innocence of Mr. Sirius Black, did you not?"
"I did."
"This was because -" Aemilia consulted a piece of paper today, "- you had reliable testimony that Peter Pettigrew, who was assumed dead, was, in fact, alive, and a loyal servant of the Dark Lord."
"That is correct."
"The particulars of this story were presented to the Wizengamot yesterday," Aemilia said to Moira, "so I shall not delve any deeper into it." She turned back to Dumbledore. "Professor Dumbledore, the same day you became convinced of the innocence of Mr. Sirius Black, you shared these convictions with Minister Fudge, did you not?"
"I did. I took Minister Fudge to meet with Mr. Black, and Mr. Black explained his story. While there was no physical proof, due to the escape of Peter Pettigrew, there was witness testimony from Mr. Harry Potter, Miss Hermione Granger and Mr. Ronald Weasley. Also, if the Minister had cared to wait till morning, there would have been testimony from Mr. Remus Lupin."
"What were the Minister's reactions to this?"
"He refused to believe in Mr. Black's innocence at all. It is my personal opinion," Dumbledore said pointedly, "that Minister Fudge often chooses to believe in what is easier for him, rather than what is true."
Aemilia smiled inwardly. She had hoped she could get Dumbledore to bring this up. "Why do you say this?"
"Despite compelling evidence that Voldemort -" there were gasps round the courtroom at the sound of the name, "- rose again in June of 1995, Minister Fudge refused to believe it," Dumbledore replied. "Mr. Fudge ensured that the Dementor's Kiss was performed on Mr. Bartemius Crouch, a Death Eater, ensuring that he could not give testimony. In addition, Mr. Harry Potter, who witnessed Voldemort's revival, was forced to suffer slander and substandard treatment from both the Ministry and the Daily Prophet - which I believe was at the Ministry's behest. It was not until he could no longer deny the truth - that is, when he saw Voldemort -" more gasps, "- with his own eyes in the Department of Mysteries in June this year, that Minister Fudge finally admitted to the wizarding world that there was danger. By refusing to admit this earlier, Minister Fudge endangered countless lives."
"Thankyou, Professor," Aemilia said.
"Minister Fudge now has the right of reply," Moira announced.
Fudge stood. "I have been accused here of no more than doubting the testimony of witnesses," he said. "If I am to believe everything I am told, well… then I may as well make The Quibbler the new bible of truth for the Wizarding World!" He had clearly intended this to be a joke, but no-one laughed. "Professor Dumbledore has been undermining my authority for years," he blustered finally, and sat back down again.
Moira nodded to Aemilia. "Miss Fudge, you may continue."
"You are familiar, I believe, with the maxim 'innocent until proven guilty'?" Aemilia asked Fudge.
"Of course I am!"
"Mr. Sirius Black was never conclusively proven guilty of the crimes he was committed to Azkaban for," Aemilia said, "as the Ministry did not see fit to give him a trial. Yesterday, in this courtroom, Mr. Sirius Black was finally given his trial - during which you tried to kill him." She turned to Moira. "I put it to you that under this maxim - which is part of the Wizengamot Charter of Rights - Mr. Sirius Black was legally innocent even before this innocence was proven by the court. This means, then, that Minister Fudge is guilty of the attempted murder of an innocent man, which constitutes an offence under Clause 12b), Item xi) of the Restriction of Violence Among Wizards and Witches."
"Your case has been noted, Miss Fudge," Moira said. "I now declare the investigation into Minister Fudge's attempted murder of Mr. Sirius Canis Black in Courtroom Eleven of the Ministry of Magic using the Unforgivable Curse Avada Kedavra on the 14th of August at three minutes past eleven, which constitutes an offence under Clause 12b), Item xi) of the Restriction of Violence Among Wizards and Witches closed. Proceed onto the second charge, Miss Fudge."
"Certainly," Aemilia said. She smiled slightly as Remus winked at her from the gallery. She wished he could be down here with her today. She shuffled her notes. "I would like to call on someone to testify."
"Proceed, Miss Fudge."
"Slipnog the Goblin," Aemilia said clearly, and saw the goblin stand in the gallery. "Would you please proceed to the courtroom floor?"
There was a murmur of sound as the goblin made his way down the stairs. Aemilia clenched her fist and unclenched it. You're doing great, Aemilia, she told herself. Keep it up.
"Slipnog," she said when the goblin had reached the stand, "would you please detail for me the events of April the 1st, 1996."
"April the 1st was a Thursday," Slipnog replied, "and for centuries, goblins have been paid on Thursdays. However, when I went to collect my pay, I found not gold, but Minister Fudge waiting for me.
"He pulled me aside into an office. I had heard tell of situations like this from my brother goblins, but I believed it only to be a rumour."
"What did Minister Fudge say to you?" Aemilia asked. I am so close, she thought, that I can taste it.
"He told me," Slipnog said boldly, "that unless I siphoned off part of an account - I am not at liberty to say which account - to him, then I would receive no pay. However, this was not my last encounter with Minister Fudge."
"Tell me about your other encounter."
"On August the 10th, Minister Fudge threatened not only to cut off my pay, but the pay of my wife, if I did not agree to testify in the case yesterday."
"Thankyou, Slipnog," Aemilia said.
"Minister Fudge now has the right of reply," Moira announced.
"How can you believe a word a goblin says?" Fudge demanded. "It is an outrage! It has long been documented that goblins enjoy causing trouble for humans and that they serve their own interests. I put it to you that the goblin is an unreliable testifier."
"Miss Fudge, please close your case," Moira said.
"Minister Fudge tells us goblins are self-serving," Aemilia said, "and it seems clear he tried to manipulate this. I would like to add my own testimony to that of Slipnog. The Wizengamot will be aware that Minister Fudge is my father, albeit estranged. In the time I dwelt at 10½ Downing Street, we often had angry goblins visiting - particularly on Thursdays, which Slipnog informs us is 'pay-day.' I put it to you that Minister Fudge has been abusing his position as Minister for Magic. You will find records of all Minister Fudge's dealings with goblins exist in the Gringotts Register - which, as of August the 12th, I am no longer authorised to copy. I put it you also that Minister Fudge has been withholding pay from various goblins of Gringotts over a period of three years, which constitutes an offence under Clause 23g), Item ii) of the Legal Requirements regarding treatment of Beasts, Beings and Spirits. Under Paragraph H of the Economic Charter of Wizards, 1234, not only are Minister Fudge's actions criminal due to their exploitation of non-humans, but they also constitute fraud." She narrowed her eyes at her father and took a deep breath. "I rest my case."
Moira smacked her gavel on the bench. "Case closed. The Wizengamot will now vote."
Aemilia took her seat, breathing deeply. I have to win this case, she told herself. have to.
Moira stood. Aemilia's fingernails dug into the palms of her hands. "The vote was unanimous," she announced. She turned to Fudge. "Minister Fudge, you have been proven guilty of offences under Clause 12b), Item xi) of the Restriction of Violence Among Wizards and Witches, Clause 23g), Item ii) of the Legal Requirements regarding treatment of Beasts, Beings and Spirits and Paragraph H of the Economic Charter of Wizards. I hearby remove you from your position as Minister for Magic and sentence you to a term of thirty months in Azkaban fortress."
*
Aemilia was shaking as her father was escorted from the courtroom. I just impeached my own father, she thought. Sweet Merlin.
Dumbledore stood in his place. "It is now the duty of the Wizengamot to elect a new Minister," he announced. One by one, the Wizengamot filed out of the courtroom to a council chamber behind the courtroom, leaving Aemilia alone on the courtroom floor.
She folded her hands on the desk in an effort to stop shaking. Her mind was reeling. She felt deliriously happy, but guilty at the same time. I suppose that makes me well and truly a blood traitor, she thought. Committing your own father to Azkaban has a tendency to do that.
She knew that any self-respecting daughter would be feeling cauldrons-full of remorse at a moment like this. Daughters weren't supposed to hate their fathers. She felt guilty, yes, but… it's more like I'm feeling guilty about not being guilty, she thought.
She caught Remus's eye and instantly felt better. Daughters don't often hate their fathers, she thought, but sons don't often hate their mothers. Blood is not an identity. Choice is that. And… I have made my choice.
*
When the Wizengamot came filing back in, it seemed to Aemilia that they had only been gone a moment. However, when she consulted her watch, she realised it had been over an hour.
Dumbledore stood. "A new Minister has been chosen," he announced. "Our new Minister is a Minister who will stand up for truth. He is a Minister who will stand up for what is right. He is a Minister who will stand up for the rights of others. He is a Minister who, just by existing, will show truly who is with us, and who is against us. I have known this man for a very long time, and I know that he will lead the Ministry admirably, in times of war, and in times of peace. He is a man of true integrity, even if he lacks real political experience."
Who is he talking about? Aemilia wondered. I half-expected him to appoint Arthur Weasley, but I don't think that's who he's talking about.
"The new Minister for Magic, as appointed by the Wizengamot," Dumbledore announced, "is Mr. Remus Lupin."
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