For copyright and disclaimers, please see chapter 1

19 – Classes, Week 35, First Year

Friday, April 23, 1999:
London, Ministry of Magic, Atrium

I staggered out of the fireplace, and someone passed me the brush. I cleaned the soot off Sprink's back, and she returned the favor as I looked around. There was a rank of fireplaces across the hall with a sign reading 'Departures only'. There was a golden fountain in the middle of the hardwood floor, past that a set of golden gates. Witches and Wizards were already lining up before the one old security guard. "Not very good security," I muttered, and Ian grinned at me as we joined the line.

"Mattie Wayne, for the Malfoy court case," I told the guard as I handed over my wand.

He grunted, saying, "Pretty wand. Where's it from?"

"Revere Wands in Boston."

He nodded, handing it back to me with a badge and a slip of paper. "Go to level nine, there's a stair down to the courtrooms. Malfoy's in number five."

-

We joined another line, where DMLE guards were confiscating wands. I waited patiently, quietly touching my unregistered wand in its sheath along my spine and adjusting my sweater over my tool belt, as I saw another guard waving his wand over people.

His wand flared over my chest, and he snarled, "Wha' y' got there?"

I tried to look intimidated, "Just a tracking charm. My parents insisted…"

He grunted. "In the box wif'it, lass. C'mon now." I extracted the locket (leaving the actual charm) from my neck, and reluctantly dropped it into a small box. I quavered, "I get it back, right?" He grunted and shoved me on to his partner, where I gave up my silver wand.

-

"All rise!" As we did so, the bailiff continued, "The people versus Lucius Malfoy, presided over by Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, Albus Dumbledore."

We waited until the five judges were seated, and Professor Dumbledore banged his gavel, saying gravely, "Thank you, and please be seated. I am afraid that I labour under a conflict of interest, so I must recuse myself from this case, turning it over to Madame Amelia Bones." He submitted the gavel to her with a small bow, and strode down from behind the other judges; crossing over to climb the stairs leading up to the stadium-style seating that separated the spectators from the court.

Madame Bones asked, "Your business with the court, sir?"

"If it pleases the court, I, Albus Dumbledore, wish to represent Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry, in whole and in part. In that regard, I would like to file an amicus brief with the court." He passed the bailiff a scroll, and was motioned to take a seat at a table, while someone else moved to stand where he had.

"Your business with the court?"

"If it pleases the court, I, Winifred Sky, wish to represent Mr. Filius Flitwick and Ravenclaw House of Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry, in whole and in part. I also have an amicus brief that I would like to file with the court." She passed the bailiff another scroll, and took a seat next to Professor Dumbledore as someone else took her place.

"Your business with the court?"

"If it pleases the court, I, Barbara Thomas, wish to represent Mr. Severus Snape and Slytherin House, in whole and in part…"

The parade of solicitors, all with amicus briefs, continued while the bailiffs kept enlarging the table and conjuring chairs. Every player had legal representation, but some stood out.

"If it pleases the court, I, James West, wish to represent three United States citizens, Miss Helena Martha Wayne, Miss Roshawn Cortez, and Miss Shaundra Cortez."

Madame Bones leaned forward, asking"What is your relationship to these three persons, Mr. West?"

Mr. West leaned forward on his cane, his snow-white hair spilling over his muggle business suit, and said, "I am senior counsel to the United States Ambassador and the Embassy, and have been licensed to practice before the Queen's Bench and the Wizengamot since 1922." I saw Aunt Sheila smirk from her place on the (now enormous) table as he continued, "I am charged with the representation of our three citizens, and will be reporting personally to the Ambassador at the close of each session, who will report to the Secretary of State and the President." He looked at Minister Fudge on the bench, who was sweating, adding, "The President is very interested in this case."

Madame Bones swallowed, then said, "Please be seated, Mr. West. Is there anyone else?"

Another white-haired barrister stood, and made his slow way. He said, "I believe I am the last, Madame. If it pleases the court, I, Lord Walter Dynas, am representing the interests of the Crown. Her Majesty has expressed a personal interest in this case, and I am charged with reporting to Her Majesty each evening."

"Thank you, Lord Dynas. Please be seated." Madame Bones said; then added, "Bring in the prisoner." A door opened, and Lucius Malfoy strolled in, carrying a walking stick, dressed immaculately and looking every inch the English Lord. He dusted off the chair next to his solicitor, and sat with a regal air.

"Strange, that," Emma whispered, and I glanced at her as she explained. "The prisoner is supposed to be bound in that chair in the center, there. Why is he sitting over there?"

"He's not supposed to have legal representation?" I whispered back.

She shook her head, "He's supposed to speak for himself, but nothing about this trial is normal. Look at all the barristers." I snorted softly, looking at thirty or so solicitors, almost all with white wigs and black robes, all scribbling notes at the one huge table.

The lone prosecutor rose, and called, "Milord, I protest! The prisoner is to be seated in the prisoner's dock, not with someone else."

Minister Fudge leaned over, interrupting him, "You object to Lord Malfoy consulting in his own defense? Be seated, Mr. Kenilworth."

Madame Bones glared at him, then said, "Mister Malfoy, you are charged with eight hundred and seventy nine counts of battery by spell, twenty-nine counts of kidnapping, another twenty-nine counts of forcible restraint, three counts of causing intentional injury to another wizard, and fifteen counts of using the Cruciatus curse on other wizards. How do you plead, sir?"

Malfoy didn't bother to get up. "Not guilty, of course." This caused a ripple of comment, with several flashbulbs firing as Malfoy sneered at the court.

"Mr. Kenilworth, your opening statement."

"May it please the court, I will show that Lucius Malfoy lead nine conspirators, on January ninth of this year, to attack the Hogwart's Quidditch pitch during a regularly scheduled game. His objective was to force the return of return of You-Know-Who's body, so he could be revived." He waited as the murmurs and gossip settled down, then continued, "He planned to do this by holding the Quidditch teams hostage, forcing Mr. Potter to return You-Know-Who's corpse from wherever Mr. Potter has it hidden. In doing so, he tortured two students with the Cruciatus in front of Mr. Potter, and threatened a Dark Revel with the female students." He nodded and sat down.

"Lord Malfoy, your response?" Fudge asked.

He sniffed, saying, "On the day in question, I arose late, and decided to have my morning tea in the solarium. I was perusing the Saturday Prophet while listening to the Wireless, when I heard of the attack. Needless to say, I was shocked, absolutely shocked at the interruption of the game." He smiled faintly, adding, "I have always enjoyed Quidditch, I have always thought I was one of the better Beaters Slytherin ever fielded. In any case, I was appalled later to have these ruffian students invading and destroying my home, and the one so-called 'adult' present, Mr. Potter, actively aiding and abetting them. Needless to say, I attempted to defend myself and my home, whilst restraining them for the authorities, only to find myself charged with these ridiculous crimes." He harrumphed, adding, "I have maintained for quite a while now that letting these half-bloods and mudbloods attend Hogwarts is one of the Headmaster's more egregious mistakes, and have said so at Hogwart's Governors' meetings."

"So you deny any involvement in the activities at Hogwarts, Lord Malfoy?"

"Beyond defending myself and my home, of course, " he sneered.

"Well, we can certainly take your word, milord, " Fudge said. "I propose we dismiss all charges…"

"I do not, Minister Fudge," Madame Bones said. "I propose we present the evidence and testimony under veritaserum, as is normal in this type of case. Mister Malfoy will have the chance to defend himself. Mister Kenilworth, please proceed."

"Thank you, Madame Bones. I would like to recap the events of 19 June, 1998. This is when You-Know-Who's forces attacked Hogwarts School. I would like to call to the stand Mr. Harry Potter."

-

Professor Harry coughed a couple times and conjured a glass of water as he took the seat in the middle of the courtroom. He smiled at the ministry mediwizard, a young fellow with a prominent Adams' apple, whose shaking hand managed to squeeze a few drops on his tongue. Mr. Kenilworth asked him, "Your name, date of birth, and position, sir?"

He smiled beatifically before replying, "Harry James Potter, born 31 July 1980, and Defense professor at Hogwarts." He giggled, adding, "I never thought I'd say that."

Malfoy slammed his hands down, standing and shouting at Potter, "Damn you, boy! Where is the Dark Lord?"

"Mr. Malfoy!" Madame Bones snapped. "Please be silent and sit down. Your solicitor will speak for you."

Potter giggled again, and sang, "Who, old Moldie? Moldy, moldy, Voldie! Who were we talking about? Oh, yeah, ol' stinky-tush Voldie… Voldemort! Why, I just saw him the other day, happily rotting away in his crypt. Y'wanna know where he is?" Potter staggered toward Malfoy, and said, "Ol' moldy Voldemort is located at…" he tripped, and landed face down, where he started to snore.

"Wake him up!" Fudge shouted. Professor Harry curled into a ball, and muttered"Snuffles!" Malfoy allowed himself to be pulled down into his seat, where his solicitor urgently whispered at him. Two ministry wizards levitated Professor Harry onto a stretcher, and out of the courtroom. Madame Bones was pounding the gavel, trying to restore order.

-

"I call Miss Helena Martha Wayne to the stand."

I palmed the red capsule Professor Snape had slipped me and dry-swallowed it, covering it with a cough as I made my way down the stairs. The antidote to veritaserum he had brewed gave me the outward signs of the potion, but allowed me to resist spilling family secrets. I stopped by the defense table, coughed again, and drank from Malfoy's water glass as I gazed at him. Sitting, I calmed myself and relaxed as I raised my mental shields. I had been warned that a Ministry legilimens would use a spell to project my thoughts. I smiled at the nervous young mediwizard, and stuck out my tongue for his shaking hand.

I heard Fudge say, "She's an Occlumens, give her two more drops." There was a loud explosion of sound, which I didn't care about, I sat by the creek and watched my waterfall. Someone gave me two drops, and asked me a question. I thought it was very silly, and said, "Mattie Wayne, May 31, 1988, and I'm the Slytherin Seeker." I wanted to go back to watching my waterfall, but people kept asking me silly questions. I said"Lucius Malfoy is one of the most incompetent terrorists I've ever heard about. He couldn't organize a bottle party in a distillery." I smiled again, and someone asked about the Quidditch match. I shook my head and focused on Fudgie's purple face and giggled, sticking out my tongue at him. There was more screaming and shouting, and I suddenly felt cold as cold hands gripped my arms. There were two snarls right over my head, and the cold went away, but someone shouted, "AVADA KEDAVR…"

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