Comments: Yeah, some people have mentioned that the court would probably have spells on it to make them tell the truth, but what fun would it be if they all told the truth? Nah, we'll say our court is faulty or something. Lol.
Oh, and also, really, this trial is for two reasons – one, for Silver's custody, and two, to convict the death eaters that were involved in the battles at the end of Learning to Cope, where they were trying to kill Harry's family. Since we all know how Lucius has power over how things are run in the court (it was mentioned in one of the HP books, dunno which), the custody trial is going first, before Lucius, Narcissa, Alexandra, and Lestrange (and all the death eaters, for that matter!) are being convicted either guilty or innocent. So, that explains why they are allowed to try out for her custody without being shipped off to Azkaban for showing their faces. If you think about it for a while, it kind of almost makes sense. Really.
Chapter 3 – The Verdict
"Come on, Harry," Lupin said, tugging at Harry's arm, which was wrapped around Silver.
Harry slowly loosened his hold on her in order to look her in the face. She looked up at him and gave him a weak smile that caused his heart to begin thumping at an extremely fast rate.
"They won't get you," he told her quietly.
She simply nodded. "See you later," she whispered.
They kissed softly, and then parted. Snape was already sitting in his previous seat, waiting for Silver. Harry sat down and watched as she made her way towards him, and had nearly made it when Lucius appeared seemingly out of nowhere. Silver jumped backwards, her eyes wide. Lucius gave her a sneer as he looked down at her.
"What's the matter, flower?" he asked.
His voice was quiet, but the entire court had become silent at the sound of his voice, and everyone could make out his words. A sound very much like a growl suddenly came from Snape, who was now standing behind Lucius. Lucius spun around, drawing out his wand and pointing it at Snape, who smirked.
"Now, Lucius, why would I have reason to hex you?" Snape asked, his voice mockingly questioning.
Silver ran to him, and as he put his arms around her, his expression changed from that of an inquiry to something much more menacing.
"Couldn't be because you're a filthy, disgusting bastard, now could it?" he hissed.
"Evidence, Severus?" Lucius replied cordially.
"You're a bad liar," Snape answered.
For a moment, Lucius looked taken aback. Then, he gave a sneer not unlike the one Draco used so often.
"You would know, wouldn't you?" he asked, "Traitor."
"Get out of my sight," Snape replied.
Surprisingly, Lucius obliged. Snape watched him all the way back to his seat before turning his attention to Silver. He gave a tug on her hair that caused her to look up.
"Let's sit," he said simply.
She nodded and followed him back to their seats. By then, everyone else had sat down, and watched as the unlikely pair made their way back to their seats. Hushed whispers broke out among everyone. Fudge had been watching, as well, and seemed to know not what to make of the entire situation.
"Erm," he began unprofessionally, "Next, we have Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy. Mr. Malfoy will be taking the chair."
Lucius got up and strolled to the front rather confidently. He sat in the chair and fixed Silver with a smirk that caused her to turn her face away. Even from a distance, Harry could see the tears reflecting in her eyes. He felt himself tense up, and his hand began to travel to his pocket for his wand, ready to jump up and hit Lucius with every curse he had ever heard of. At the moment, Crucio was at the top of his list. Lupin grabbed his arm and yanked it back, giving him a firm glare. Grudgingly, Harry stopped attempting to reach his wand.
"Mr. Malfoy, you have been charged with verbal, physical, and magical abuse of the child. How do you plead?"
Before Lucius could answer, Snape spoke up. "You seem to have forgotten something, Cornelius."
Fudge looked up to meet Snape's eyes, the look on his face unreadable. "And what might that be, Severus?" he inquired.
"He's been charged with sexual abuse as well," Snape replied, his eyes blazing in Lucius' direction.
Whispers ran through the courtroom as Fudge made a great deal of looking through the pile of papers on his desk. "We do not have any record of s..." he began, but Snape cut him off.
"Well then we'd like to file it now. Right now," he retorted.
"Under present circumstances..." Fudge began, but again, he was cut off.
"Now, now, Mr. Fudge," Dumbledore said from a row back, "Do you really think a trial of custody can be run without such a heavy charge being filed? It would be much more convenient for you to add it in now than to have to face another trial in the future, don't you agree?"
"I..." Fudge began.
"Will file it," Snape finished, "Right now."
There was a definite no-nonsense tone to his voice, and Fudge only looked at him for a moment before clearing his throat uncomfortably. "Erm, right," he agreed reluctantly, sorting through his papers yet again before picking up a pencil and making a note on one.
"Mr. Malfoy, you have been charged with verbal, physical, magical, and sexual abuse to the child. How do you plead?"
"Innocent," Lucius snarled.
"And why would you..." Fudge began.
"Because she's the daughter I've always wanted," Lucius interrupted boredly, "My wife and I have always wanted a girl, and we're good friends of Alexandra's. She knows we'd take special care of her."
The last four words were directed at Silver, who was still determinedly looking away. Snape made a threatening noise in the back of his throat, glaring at Lucius for all he was worth. Fudge looked half amused.
"Very well then," he said hurriedly, "You may return to your seat."
"He may not!" Snape interrupted, "He hasn't gotten to be questioned yet."
Looking highly annoyed, Fudge turned to Umbridge and Amelia. "Questions, ladies?" he inquired.
Umbridge shook her head and turned a death glare to Amelia, who meekly shook her head as well. Snape shook his head slightly, but made no comment. Instead, he turned to Silver, speaking quietly.
"Severus?" Fudge asked as Lucius sat down.
"Just a minute," Snape snapped, glaring at him before returning to Silver.
Fudge obediently kept quiet, watching the scene with as much interest as the others in the room. Snape was speaking to Silver quietly, and she was nodding tearfully. He made as if to get up, but she suddenly threw her arms around his neck, looking as if she were going to squeeze his head off his shoulders. He patted her back for a moment, and she released him looking close to tears. Snape got up and stalked to the front of the room, coming to rest in the same chair as the others.
"Severus Snape," Fudge recited in a businesslike tone, "You have no charges against you..."
"I'd better not," Snape growled.
Looking slightly amused, Fudge continued. "Why would you like custody of the child?"
"Well, there are no suitable guardians for her from..." Snape began, but Fudge interrupted.
"No, no, Severus, we understand your opinion on that matter. What I...we...would like to know is why you want custody of her."
Snape blinked for a few times, looking a mixture between confused and annoyed. Harry glanced around the room to see that everyone was looking at Snape curiously. From beside Harry, Lupin shifted anxiously.
"Severus?" Fudge prompted.
"Well, I..." Snape began, but he cut himself off abruptly.
Silver put her head in her hands in a defeated manner, and Snape looked at her curiously.
"Well, what's the usual reason someone wants custody of a child?" he replied finally, looking at Fudge as if he were crazy.
"We're asking you why you, in particular, would like custody, Severus," Fudge replied patiently.
Snape looked miffed, and Lupin gave a barely audible sigh from beside Harry. Harry realized why almost immediately. Getting Snape to confess that he had any sort of feelings for Silver in front of all those people was going to take a miracle.
"Cat got your tongue, Snape?" Alexandra inquired from her seat.
"Shove off," Snape growled.
"Now, Miss Meliflua..." he paused as both Silver and Alexandra looked at him. "Erm, Alexandra," he corrected, "Now's not the-"
"I think we all know why he wants her!" Lestrange yelled suddenly, "He's a dirty old bachelor that wants some pretty girl walking around in his house all summer, and-"
"No he's not!" Silver cried passionately, surprising everybody.
Alexandra jumped out of her chair, towering over Silver. "Prove it," she hissed.
Silver burst into tears in reply, burying her face in her hands. Alexandra sat down one chair away from her, looking satisfied. Snape made as if to get up, but Fudge stopped him.
"Stay seated, Severus," he commanded.
Snape looked about to argue, but he stopped as Silver began to speak through her tears, looking up at Fudge pleadingly.
"Please...he would never...he wouldn't...it's hard for him...but he does...me...told me...please..." she wailed.
"Miss Meliflua, I'm sorry, but we can't understand you," Fudge said, looking at her with a mixture of pity and curiosity.
Silver sniffled up her tears with difficulty. "I said he would never do that!" she exclaimed, glaring at Fudge.
"We never said he would," Fudge replied gently, "Now, if everyone would please be quiet, we're waiting for Severus' answer."
Immediately the court grew silent enough to hear a pin drop, all eyes focused on Snape. He glared at everyone for a moment before he spoke.
"Icareabouther," he grumbled finally.
"Couldn't catch that," Fudge said, a bit too cheerfully.
"I...care...about...her," Snape repeated through gritted teeth, crossing his arms and giving Fudge a death look.
Fudge looked on the verge of laughter. "Ah...right. Questions, ladies?"
"Yes, please!" Umbridge sang out immediately.
Harry inwardly groaned. Snape turned to glare at Umbridge.
"What are your views on parenting, Severus?" she asked him with mock sweetness.
Snape didn't bat an eye. "Gentle firmness, along with intellectual guidance," he replied immediately.
Umbridge didn't let so much as a second pass before firing more questions, and Snape was equally ready to give answers. They had both done their homework, it seemed. Harry zoned out for a moment as he looked at Silver, who was gripping the edge of the seat tightly as she watched the exchange between Umbridge and Snape. He managed to bring himself back to attention after a few moments.
"And what about the fact that you are a man, trying for custody of a young woman?"
"She's able to take care of her...womanly issues...herself, the young woman that she is. I'm able to take care of her as well as the next."
"Are you financially able to take care of her?"
"I'm financially able to take care of twenty of her."
Umbridge quirked a brow at this, and Harry realized that she had run out of questions.
"You have no parental experience," she snarled.
"Prove it," Snape retorted boredly.
For a moment, Umbridge looked taken aback. She sat back in her seat, surveying Snape bitterly. Slowly, a sneer spread over her face.
"And what about your father?" she asked.
If possible, the silence that was already penetrating the court became more hushed.
"My father has nothing to do with this," Snape growled.
"Oh, but he has everything to do with it, Severus," Umbridge replied in her sweetest voice, which somehow seemed to be dripping with venom, "His condition, Severus – how are we to know that it isn't hereditary?"
"I've never laid a finger on her and I never will," Snape replied.
"Prove it," Umbridge challenged, mimicking Snape with surprising accuracy.
Snape was shaking with anger, at that point. "I'm no more likely to strike at her than you are," he hissed, "Or is that a bad example?"
Umbridge's lips curled into a sneer. "Don't push me," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Snape was about to reply, when Umbridge suddenly spoke in a loud, rather cheery voice. "Your father, Severus," she said loudly.
Snape gave a barely visible cringe, but it was there all the same. Harry heard a sniffle, and looked to see that Silver was shaking with silent tears.
"No further questions," Umbridge announced sweetly.
"I have no questions," Amelia said quietly, looking from Snape to Silver with pity.
"Very well, then," Fudge said, "Please return to your seat, Severus."
Snape's eyes were filled with resentment as he stalked back to his seat, looking as if he were ready to strike at anybody that was dumb enough to get within range. As he sat, Silver put her arms around him, as if to comfort him. He patted her head a couple of times before she saw fit to pull away, and the two exchanged a long look.
"The next to be called up is Miss Silver Meliflua," Fudge announced.
Silver looked at Fudge briefly before looking at Snape, who nodded at her. Tremblingly, she got up and walked to the chair, perching gingerly on the edge of it. Harry felt an overwhelming desire to run up to the front of the room and comfort her, let her know that it was okay, but he couldn't. Her eyes roamed over the sea of faces until they locked onto his. He silently tried to convey comforting thoughts to her, and she gave him a flicker of a smile before turning away.
"Miss Meliflua," Fudge said, "Firstly, do you have any preferences as to who gains custody over you?"
"Severus," Silver replied immediately.
Fudge fixed Silver with a questioning look. "And why not your mother, or the others?" he asked.
"They hurt me," she replied simply.
"How?" Fudge replied, leaning towards her slightly.
Silver paused for a moment, and finally replied in a very quiet voice. "Any way they could," she answered.
Fudge leaned back and was silent for a moment before he spoke, giving Snape a rather nervous glance. "We'll need proof of the abuse," he said casually.
From beside Harry, Lupin shot forwards in his seat, as did the other adults and the Weasley children. Dumbledore rose from his seat and Snape vaulted upwards.
"YOU WILL NOT!" he roared at the top of his lungs.
Fudge winced visibly at Snape's harsh tone. "Now, Severus..." he began, but he was cut off.
"Her word is enough bloody evidence! You will not – you can't – you..." Snape sputtered angrily, not seeming to find words for what Fudge couldn't do.
"I must agree," Dumbledore commented calmly from behind Snape.
"In order for the accused to be convicted, there must be evidence," Fudge replied stubbornly.
"You have her word," Snape hissed, looking thoroughly scandalized that Silver's word was not evidence enough for Fudge.
"I really don't see what the problem is with..." Fudge began, speaking very fast in an unsuccessful attempt not to get cut off by Snape.
"I will not have it, that's the problem!" Snape thundered, "I will not have her be humiliated...degraded...I will not have it!"
His voice echoed through the courtroom, leaving Fudge looking slightly stunned, as well as a few others.
"What are they going to do?" Harry whispered urgently to Lupin.
"A form of Occlumency where her memories will be displayed on the wall for the court to see," Lupin replied quietly.
Immediately Harry remembered the dream he had had a year ago of Voldemort using that same method of Occlumency to torture Snape. It had caused Snape to cry out and become vulnerable in a way Harry had never seen him do other than that time. If it had broken Snape so badly in front of an audience of one, he didn't want to see what it could do to Silver in a court of so many.
"They can't," he whispered fiercely.
"He won't let them," Tonks replied quietly, "He's going to kill them for suggesting it as it is."
Fudge cleared his throat several times before speaking. "I don't see how it would be humiliating..." he began.
"Well you've never had it happen, have you?" Snape replied, his voice echoing through the room once more, "You've never had to show yourself being beaten upon, degraded, and defiled in front of an entire court, have you? I have, which I'm sure you remember very well. I will not allow her to suffer through it. I simply won't."
"If there's no evidence, there's no..." Fudge began.
"Don't say it," Snape snarled, "Don't you dare say it."
Fudge stopped speaking immediately, looking a bit scared. "Severus, surely you understand that without evidence, there can be no..."
"No!" Snape roared, "I do not understand! I think you're all a bunch of..." he cut off abruptly, but his glare was enough to give everyone a vague impression of what, exactly, he thought they were.
"Very well," Fudge sighed, "The trial will be conducted with no evidence. The lack of evidence may affect the outcome, however..."
"Oh, rubbish," Snape snapped, "Why would they be charged without a reason? If you had run the bloody custody trial last, you wouldn't be facing this problem right now, because..."
"We already have your opinion on the order of the trials, Severus!" Fudge exclaimed, obviously agitated.
Snape glowered at him in reply.
"Now," Fudge said, clearing his throat and turning to the members of the Wizengamot, "The verdict shall be decided – without evidence."
"Rubbish!" Snape hissed, "Absolute rubbish! You have evidence enough to..."
"Severus!" Fudge exclaimed, looking as if he were one step away from banning Snape from ever coming to another trial.
"Yes?" Snape answered evenly.
Fudge merely shook his head, putting a hand to his forehead as the members of the Wizengamot exchanged whispers and began to jot down words.
Harry couldn't remember ever having such mixed emotions. Part of him wanted to punch Fudge, Lestrange, Alexandra, and Lucius, part of him was worried sick for Silver, and the other part was much too confusing to figure out. He could tell by looking at Silver that she was anxious, and Snape looked grim. Dumbledore looked as if he were watching a pleasant soap opera – something that annoyed Harry a bit.
Finally, a piece of paper was handed to Fudge, who looked just as anxious as everyone else to see what was written on it. Giving Lucius a reassuring type of smile, he cleared his throat.
"Here we have the results," he announced, beginning to unfold the paper, "Custody of the child Silver Meliflua will be awarded to..."
In what appeared to be agonizingly slow motion, his eyes traveled confidently down to the paper. Shortly following, he began to choke, seemingly on nothing.
"I...I think there's been a mistake," he managed, shooting furtive looks in Lucius' direction, "Yes, let me just..."
"I think we all know that the verdict is final," Dumbledore said, his quiet voice demanding utter respect, "Please, Cornelius, allow us the pleasure of the results. And I really do insist that you make a truthful job of it."
There was a definite threat underlying Dumbledore's seemingly cheerful words, and only a few seemed to sense it. Just read it already, Harry thought furiously, watching as Fudge looked from Lucius, to Dumbledore, back to the paper in his hand.
"Custody...custody will be awarded to...for Silver Meliflua...custody will be..." Fudge stammered, looking from Lucius to Dumbledore with evident confusion.
"If you need help reading, give it here!" Harry yelled furiously, his voice echoing through the courtroom as he jumped out of his seat, eyes blazing with irritation.
Fudge, and everyone else in the court, looked at him with a mixture of astonishment, amusement, and chiding. Fudge finally turned his head back to the paper, and read in a deliberately quiet voice.
"Severus Snape."
"What?"
It was the combined voices of Lucius, Snape, and Alexandra. Lestrange simply looked shocked.
"Erm...Severus," Fudge repeated uncomfortably, holding the paper in Lucius' direction, "See, it says here..."
"I can see very well what it says, you fool!" Lucius roared, "Did I not tell you to-"
"Hush now, or you'll be off to Azkaban without a proper trial," Snape said suddenly, and somewhat cheerfully (for Snape, at least), "And I was so looking forward to testifying against you."
Harry's gaze traveled immediately to Silver, who looked somewhere between shock and euphoria. He then looked to her mother, whose mood was not in the least bit difficult to figure out. She was shaking with anger, pointing at Silver as if that would prove that the wrong decision had been made.
"She's my daughter!" she cried, looking utterly scandalized.
Snape turned to her, sneering smugly. "She's no longer your responsibility," he informed her.
"I gave birth to her!" Alexandra replied, as if she hadn't heard him.
"I do hope it was painful," Snape said in a thoughtful tone of voice.
From beside Harry, a snort of laughter escaped Ron, and several others in the courtroom. Fudge looked on the verge of laughter.
"Now, now," he said, "Let's just..."
"Give me my daughter!" Alexandra exclaimed, turning to Fudge with a vengeance.
"There were three of us!" Lucius added, "Three! And you picked him!"
Snape wore a kind of satisfied smirk as he watched the proceeds.
"Yes, well, it was the jury's decision..." Fudge began.
"It's the most utterly-"Alexandra began.
"Brilliant," Snape supplied.
"Brilliant thing I-"she began, but then she stopped and glared at Snape. "Ridiculous thing I've ever heard!" she corrected herself.
Snape smirked triumphantly, looking very pleased with himself. Fudge, on the other hand, looked terrified of Lucius, who was advancing on him.
"The court will...the court will take a fifteen minute break before continuing with...trials..." he stammered, backing uncertainly away from his desk.
Harry vaulted out into the aisle, jumping over quite a few people to do so. He battled his way against traffic until he came to where Silver and Snape were standing, looking quite comical together. Silver had her hands clasped together and was bouncing up and down in excitement, smiling for all she was worth, whereas Snape was wearing a smug sort of smirk that grew as Silver spoke to him, although his eyes were staring over her head, occasionally flicking down to her. As Harry drew closer, he could make out her words.
"See, now you won't have to steal me, and my mom can't take me, and you...why are you smirking like that?"
"I'm not smirking," Snape lied.
"Are too!" Silver crowed in a triumphant voice, "You're happy, aren't you? You are!"
Snape looked down at her amusedly before directing his stare upwards once more. "Prove it," he challenged.
She gave a sort of squeal before throwing herself at him and squeezing him so hard that he actually tried to push her away.
"Good heavens, child," he choked, "You'll kill me!"
Immediately Silver let go of him, springing backwards and continuing her happy bounces. Snape's eyes traveled over her head and landed on Harry, and he immediately took the chance to smirk at him in the same way he had been doing before, leaving Harry not quite sure if it was an insult or not. Silver followed Snape's gaze to Harry, and she gave a squeal of delight as she saw him.
"Harry, did you see?" she bubbled excitedly, "Did you hear? Did you?"
"Don't see how I couldn't have," he replied amusedly.
She threw her arms around his neck, enfolding him in a hug not much different than the one she gave Snape, as far as tightness was concerned.
"Silver," Harry gagged, "Let...go."
Blushing, she pulled away, leaving her hands linked around his neck. She looked as if she were glowing with happiness, something that made Harry's insides flip flop from delight at the smile on her face. He pulled her into a hug, and she willingly tightened her arms around him once more, this time leaving room for him to breathe. Over her shoulder, Harry watched as Lupin clapped Snape on the back in a congratulatory way, earning himself a glare and a stiff step away. Dumbledore, on the other hand, proved to know how to handle matters with Snape in a much more efficient way.
"Well done, Severus," he said simply as he walked up.
Snape's smirk reappeared instantly.
"Harry," Silver whispered urgently into his ear, "This means I'll be able to stay at Grimmauld Place all summer, and go back to Hogwarts."
Harry's brain did a slight double-take at her words. He had never considered that if anyone other than Snape had gotten custody of her, she wouldn't be able to return to Hogwarts.
"Oh," he said.
She giggled at his response, and continued after a moment. "So, ask Dumbledore if you can come home today," she added, "I've been missing you awfully, you know."
"I kn-"Harry began, but he cut off as he felt her nip playfully at his ear.
She gave another giggle. "Cat got your tongue?" she asked playfully.
No, but he sure wished she did, at the moment. He was about to say something to that effect when they were...rudely...interrupted.
"Silver!" Hermione squealed suddenly from behind them, making Harry jump about a foot in the air.
"Hermione!" Silver replied delightedly, breaking away from Harry as the two squealing girls developed each other in a hug.
"Oh, I was so worried," Hermione began, "I can't believe they wanted evidence, and-"
Her words were drowned out as Fred, George, Ginny, and Ron arrived. Fred and George took the opportunity to swing Silver around and tickle her as they set her down, and Ginny enfolded her in a hug. Ron reached out to pat her on the back, but by that time there was so much hugging going on that she enfolded him in a hug immediately. Looking slightly surprised, Ron continued with his initial plan of patting her on the back until she released him. Grinning to himself, Harry stepped forwards, earning himself the privilege of linking hands with her as everyone eagerly chatted about the trial. He was a bit disappointed that he couldn't have her all to himself, but he was certain that after he talked to Dumbledore, he would. After all, Dumbledore couldn't very well send him back home after he'd had a chance to be reunited with everyone – could he?
Note: Alright, let me try to speak without sounding too annoyed.
Firstly, the first two weeks of school have been VERY hectic for me, as you guys can see by the fact that I haven't updated in a while. I do NOT plan on updating so infrequently in the future at all, and I'm very sorry for the long wait this time. It's been a mixture of school problems, family problems, and friend troubles. However, things are a bit smoothed over in all areas now, so I should have more time to work on the story.
Speaking of which, I would like to thank everyone that's been patient so far. Patience is a virtue, you know. For those patient few of you, I would like to thank you for understanding that my life is not writing a fanfiction, although it is something I enjoy to do in my spare time. I would also like to thank you for not royally pissing me off, like some others. Whom I will choose not to mention, because it would make me too angry. XD
Anyways, I love you all, now I'm going to get started on the next chapter.