Disclaimer: I only own the Councillor, and the two Councilmen Tiana and Flynn. I only borrow the others. I promise to return them when done, no worse for wear. Dumbledore, and the concepts of Apparating, Disapparating, Flooing, and all other Hogwarts-universe references belong to JK Rowling.

Author's Notes: I know I said I'd post this two weeks ago (at least I think it was two weeks ago), but I've been working like crazy (I think in the past fortnight between my two jobs I've racked up something close to ninety hours), and what wasn't spent working was spent sleeping, or other fun stuff. Not to mention, they took my computer away at the BCAE job, so I have no excuses to do this stuff anymore while there. Next update therefore might be slow too. Also, last chapter covered the fifth hour of the trial, while this chapter covers the sixth and seventh hours.

dramatiks: glad I'm getting some details with this right then. About the courtroom I mean. Serena was an interesting character to write. Her testimony will play one more significant role. Keep your eyes open.

Mab, Queen of Faerie: Thanks, although I think your sentiments may have been slightly short-lived. Still glad you are enjoying, and if you ever want to talk "Camelot", let me know. You can find my email in my profile.

Nugrey: Thanks! And, well, thanks!

Vespera3: If you were in that much in hurry, a double thanks for leaving me the review. A very nice surprise. And, don't worry, more will be coming.

I've lived long enough to have learned/The closer you get to the fire the more you get burned/But that won't happen to us/Because it's always been a matter of trust – "A Matter of Trust", Billy Joel

The Councillor nodded, but a panicked look crossed his face. "Send him in. Just be certain to mention I will have no battle cries in this courtroom." And, he set the lines of his face again. Jareth's mouth, which had remained stoic (except for the few briefest scattered intervals), formed into a smirk. If the Councillor noticed, he didn't show it.

"He said he understands," the orderly announced several seconds later. "And, he vows on his honor that both he and the Sir Ambrosisus will behave while under the jurisdiction of your courtroom."

The Councillor's head shot upwards, and a startled expression crossed and lingered on his face. "Ambrosisus? Surely, he's not bringing him –that that dog—in here."

"He did say he would not testify otherwise, Councillor."

The Councillor sighed, and this time, he did notice the smirk grow on Jareth's face. "I warned you, Councillor," he dared to speak. "Sir Didymus' devotion to his canine rivals only that of Launce's devotion to Crab."

"Yes, well…" The Councillor was obviously flustered. "Flynn, Tiana, if you foresee no problems…with this unusualty…" Both Council Members shook their heads, and the Councillor sighed, again. "Very well. Show him in." He ran a hand over his eyes. "This should prove to be interesting," he muttered under breath.

The orderly nodded, and hurried again to the corridors outside the courtroom. The Councillor pretended he didn't see the shared amused glance pass between Flynn and Tiana. "Flynn, he is your witness first. I suggest you prepare yourself for the inevitable."

"The prosecution was born ready for this, Councillor," he announced, and even he was aware of the arrogance his tone held, but that was, of course, because he meant for his tone to hold that arrogance.

"That stick up your ass that far?" Tiana muttered under his breath.

Flynn awarded him with one of his flashy, dizzying smiles. "Depends. Are you volunteering?"

Tiana opened his mouth for a quick-witted response, but before he could respond, the doors to the courtroom crashed open, and Sir Didymus fell into step down the courtroom aisle, riding his faithful steed. "Not now, Ambrosisus," he told the dog.

No one knew what brought that comment about, and frankly, no one (especially on the side of the jury) was sure they wanted to know.

Flynn waited until Sir Didymus was seated comfortably in the witness stand, Ambrosisus standing ready (much like a soldier would stand ready for a battle) just to the right of the stand, before he rose. He sighed only once, before he asked, "Is it true you befriended the Miss Sarah Williams against the very order of His Royal Highness, Jareth, the Goblin King?"

"A knight never argues with a lady."

"So, you fancy yourself a knight, Sir Didymus?"

"Yes."

"I see, and pray tell the courtroom, under what exact circumstances did you befriend this Lady Sarah?" He spoke the word 'lady' like it was poisonous venom.

"She asked for my permission."

"Your permission? Your permission to do what? Invade the Goblin City? Uproot the values of the kingdom?"

"To cross the bridge."

"The bridge? Surely, you don't mean the bridge that spanned the Bog of Eternal Stench, the bridge that is no more?"

"I do exactly. A knight never lies."

"A knight never lies, you say? And, yet if Sarah hadn't asked specifically for your permission, would you have allowed her to cross? That beast Ludo, he fought you, did he not? And, yet still you remained steadfast in your conviction, isn't that right?" Flynn brought his hands down upon the witness stand, with such a loud sound that Ambrosisus jumped and barked.

"Down, I say, Ambrosisus," he ordered somewhere between a growl and a yelp. "Ludo is my brother and arms," he answered Flynn.

"Your brother in arms? Did you two plot this? Did you, Ludo, and Hoggle plan this, plan to help Sarah, plan to help to disintegrate the Labyrinth, knowing of course, all the while, you would get none of the glory, and that despite everything you did, the King still would have turned that human babe into a goblin babe!"

"Objection!" Tiana cried, and he rose in his indignation.

"Sustaine—"

"No further questions, Your Honor," Flynn spoke, and he dismissed the outcry with a simple wave of his hand.

"Your, uh, your witness, Councilman Tiana," the Councillor spoke again, having cleared his throat and re-collected his thoughts.

"The defense rests, Councillor."

If the Councillor was surprised, he didn't show it. "Very well. Sir Didymus, you may step down. Councilman Flynn, call your next witness."

It was several minutes of scuffles of Sir Didymus once again riding Ambrosisus (but this time in the opposite direction), of Jareth's tell-tale smirks (much to both Flynn and Tiana's dismays), and Flynn's declaration of "The prosecution calls Albus Dumbledore to the stand, Councillor," before the said Albus Dumbledore arrived in the courtroom with a loud pop. Holding onto his long wizarding robes, he seated himself in the witness stand, fixed his hat and glasses, straightened his long beard, and he turned to the Councillor, and he asked, "Lemon drop?"

"Err, no, thank you, Albus. Proceed your line of questioning, Councilman."

Having barely had the chance to sit again, Flynn rose and he eyed Albus for several seconds before he asked, "Would you please state your full name for the purposes of the court."

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. "Albus Wulfric Percival Brian Dumbledore."

"That's quite a mouthful."

"Why do you think I only use the very first and the very last?"

"Err, yes, I see. Of course. Tell me, Mr. Dumbledore is it?"

"Albus would do."

"Very well, Albus. Tell me, how well do you know the accused, Jareth, King of the Goblins?"

"We've met."

"How?"

"He helped us in our fight against the evil overlord, in 1945."

"1945? Surely, you don't expect me to believe, you lived…?"

"A wizard," Dumbledore's eyes twinkled again, "never reveals his true age in a courtroom."

"Of course. So, would you say you were well acquainted with him?"

"Well enough."

"Would you believe it of him to change human babes into goblin babes?"

Dumbledore stroked his beard idly for a few moments before he answered, "That would be very advanced magic indeed," he mumbled, "certainly more advanced than any form of transfiguration than we teach, and certainly more advanced than learning the Animagi forms."

"I beg your pardon?"

"I do not believe he would."

Flynn looked taken back. "Why is that?"

"For one, he doesn't have the capabilities."

"I see…" Flynn seemed lost for words. "Your witness," he finally muttered, and he stalked purposely to his seat. He did his best to ignore Tiana's self-satisfied smirk.

"Are you familiar with the story of Hades and Persephone?" Tiana asked as he rose.

"I am," Dumbledore nodded.

"Because while you claim my client does not have the capabilities himself to turn the human babe into a goblin babe, would he still not be able to do with a trick of magic, much like Hades transformed Persephone into a being of the Underworld? And furthermore, even if my client himself could not perform the magic, wouldn't the very fact that the Miss Sarah Williams wished him away in the first place, set the necessary groundwork for that spell?"

"Certainly. But that still wouldn't cause it?"

"Any why not, sir?"

"Ah, so you haven't heard?" Dumbledore sat back in his seat, and Tiana swore the wizard was laughing at him. "It takes a great deal of courage to stand up to your enemies, but a great deal more to stand up to your friends."

"Friends, Albus?"

"Did Jareth not say he loved Sarah?"

"Well, yes, but…"

"No, no buts about it, Councilman. Jareth is, if nothing else, honest, and he has proved himself worthy. He had his reasons for threatening, I am certain."

Tiana blinked several times, before he finally muttered, "No further questions, Councillor."

"You may step down, Albus," the Councillor nodded, and spoke.

But Dumbledore was not yet ready to move. "Williams, you said her last name was? Yes, we had a student of that name, a while ago… he was the same year as Potter, Black and Lupin… a Gryffindor… dated a Ravenclaw, a Miss Linda McCourt… they married from what I understood… their child a squib… quite the intelligence, and belief from what I understand… Shame her parents gave up on magic after the first war… This child of your, Jareth, this human babe, was he also?"

"He showed promise, Albus. He would have made a good jarethkin."

"A shame, really." Albus shook his head. "Well, I really must dash." He turned to the Councillor. "You will stop in for tea sometime next week, Perkins?"

"Yes, yes, of course, Albus. I'll floo you, let you know when I can get away from the council."

"Good, good. Carry on." And he disapparated, again, with a loud pop.

Tiana, having already returned to his seat, took a deep breath. The Councillor sighed, he shook his head, and he echoed the action of breathing in, and letting the air exit his mouth in a long whoosh.

"Councilman Flynn, call forth your next witness."