Chapter 21: The Trial

The day before the trial Harry finally went to visit Jersey. "Hey babe, how are you doing? I promise I'm getting you out, I've researched everything for the past two days. I heard what you did, thank you for saving my life, but it's time for someone to save yours. Are you being treated okay? Is there anything I can do?" Harry asked, standing in front of the iron bars of Jersey's Azkaban cell.

"I'm treated fine Harry. A Snuffles secret though, Hrieking Say, Hack say, Pettigrew pay." Jersey had taught Harry and Sirius Pig Latin over the week they stayed there. "Tell my dad and papa I love them." Jersey placed her hand on Harry's cheek and closed her eyes forcing herself not to cry.

"I love you Jersey, you'll be home in no time I swear." Harry kissed her hand, looked at her one last time, and left the prison. Before leaving Tonks pulled him over, this time she had neon orange hair.

"Hello, I've seen you're one of Jersey's only visitors, I'm Tonks, an Auror sent to watch over Azkaban prisioners, dangerous ones at that, but just to let you know, I think she's innocent." Tonks winked.

"What's that Auror Tonks?" Harry knew to play along.

"She's been crying and yelling in her dreams. The murder's eating away at her. She did it to save someone's life, it doesn't mean she doesn't feel bad about it. You can tell the difference between those who meant it and those who didn't. Those that meant it don't cry themselves to sleep over it, scream about it at night, and feel guilty about it in the morning. Whatever she did she did it for the greater good and she's slowly going insane over it. Next she might even regress if someone's not careful."

"Auror Tonks, would you like to testify for Jersey? Be on the defense with Auror Kingsley Shacklebolt?" Harry aksed, getting the hint.

"Sure, why not? She deserves it, when's the trial?"

"Tomorrow at 8:00 a.m. on level 9, room 5, the whole Wizengamot will be there." Harry explained winking at her.

"Okay, I'll be there," Tonks dropped her voice." By the way, if you go to the court you could relese her into your custody. They wouldn't let Lupin because they were afraid he might do a Barty Crouch, you know switch the bodies, but your you, they'll trust you. Doing that means she can go home with you until the trial is over with- well nice meeting you, are you really Harry Potter? Wow!" With that Tonks left pretending to be amazed that she had just met Harry for the first time. Harry went up to the court, which was more commonly known as the Azkaban sentencing office.

"Ah, Mr. Potter, what can I do for you?" One of the Bailiff's asked.

"I would like Jersey Snape-Malfoy released into my custody until after she is found guilty, if she is found guilty. Look, I'm not her father, I'm not a criminal, I just want my fiancée home. I showed up to my trial, she'll turn up to hers. Sturgis from one friend to another, please let me take her home. We'll be at Grimmauld Place, you know where that is, you can check up on us if you don't believe me. She is a day or so away of being able to prove Sirius' innocence." Harry whispered.

"We aren't suppose to release murders into people's custody, but you are you so…Okay here, if you'll sign these, it says that Jersey will not leave Grimmauld Place unless it's an emergency, she will be checked up on periodically by the Bailiff, me, and upon being found guilty she will be placed in Azkaban and taken out of your custody." Sturgis pushed that papers over towards Harry to sign.

"Thank you so much for this I owe you big time." Harry said, taking a pen and signing the papers.

"You don't owe me anything, just kick you-know-whose are." Sturgis went to get Jersey while Harry waited. That night, Jersey and Harry were in Grimmauld Place alone, sitting in the entertainment room. Remus was staying with Sirius at Snape Manor trying to help Lucius pack.

"Harry, thank you so much for getting me out of there, look in two days Peter is going to run, he'll hide in the shrieking shack. Catching him will prove to the Ministry that Voldemort is back, and that my deeds were done to keep you alive and save the wizarding world. I'm going to take a bath and go to bed, goodnight Harry."

"Jersey wait. Ton-I'm worried about you, killing someone can weigh on a persons conscious, I don't want to see anything happen to you."

"I'm, wait Ton, do you mean Tonks? I can't believe she told you, look it's Azkaban of course I'm going to have nightmares, please don't worry." Jersey kissed Harry, then went to take a bath. Harry watched Jersey walking away knowing they were in for a long night. He was far from wrong also.

"No! I'm sorry no! Please, stop I'm sorry!" Jersey started yelling, her hands over her face. Harry woke quickly, hugged Jersey to him and waited for her to calm down.

"Harry I'm sorry. Look I'll just go sleep in another room." Jersey went to get up, but Harry held her tight.

"Jers, maybe if you talk about it you'll feel better. Something about these nightmares is off, it's like something was happening to you that had nothing to do with Azkaban. Please tell me." Harry looked into Jersey's tear laden eyes.

"I'm afraid Lucius will be a Death Eater full time, he knows the prophecy about Draco and me, if Voldemort finds out the whole thing it will be really bad. If he gets a hold of even one of us, it's your downfall. That's what I'm dreaming, I'm seeing your face, you look so betrayed and upset, but it was Lucius telling you about everything and Vo-Voldemort comes up and k-k-kills you. It's so life like that I don't know if it's a dream or vision. I don't want it to happen though. I keep thinking that maybe if we took a break until everything is over that it will keep you alive."

"So what are you saying?" Harry asked, backing up a little.

"I think we need to take a break until the wars over. I don't want to do it-"

"Then don't. It was just a dream."

"I don't want to do it, but I think it's best. Just for a little while." Jersey got up, went up to Lupin and Sirius' bed and crawled in crying herself to sleep. Sirius came home around three that morning, Lupin went to the office to work on Jersey's case, and fell into bed, only to receive a shock in the form of a person screaming.

"AHH!"

"AH!"

"Sirius?"

"Jersey?" Sirius asked, jumping out of bed. "What are you doing in-oh Merlin, what's wrong?" Sirius suddenly remembered what Lucius had told him.

"Harry got me out of Azkaban until I'm found guilty, but I keep dreaming that Lucius is going to turn into a Death Eater, steal me, kill Harry, and wreck my future. Siri, I made a deal with Voldemort when I was younger that if he taught me everything he knew, then when I was 22 I'd bare his heir as long as I kept the Malfoy name. I don't want Harry to die, but since it's an outcome, I put things on hold, well everything actually." Jersey started crying on Sirius' shoulder. "I don't want to lose this trial, I don't want to die, I'll lose Harry and everyone. Papa I don't know what to do."

"Sleep Jers. We can deal with this tomorrow, you have your trial tomorrow morning." Sirius kissed her head, pulled the covers over them both and fell asleep.

KIMEKIMEKIMEKIME

The next day started the supposed week long trial, this time Sunday, Jersey would be found either innocent or guilty, but she tried to keep her mind off of that fact. They arrived at the Ministry of Magic, level nine court room five just on time. The courtroom was packed with reporters from all over the world. "Everyone present? Good let's begin. Criminal injustice hearing the 25 of September, into offenses the murders of Issac, Dana, and Blaise Zabini, and the breech of the reasonable restriction of underage wizardry. How do you plead?"

"In all honesty Minister, members of the Wizengamot, my client Jersey Chastity Elizabeth Adrienne Snape-Malfoy, as she is known by for these charges, will more then gladly please guilty. However, we have 22 people here to testify that Jersey is not guilty of murder, but of saving the wizarding world from three Death Eaters. It is also clear that this trial is far from irrelevant as Jersey is a key player in the defeat of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, and subjecting her to the kiss would be putting the world in mortal peril." Jersey's lawyer Rob Manilow said standing up.

"Why do you say that?" One of the Wizengamot witches asked.

"Because I refuse to save you all if you're going to throw my innocent Fiancée into Azkaban. If I may speak your honor." Harry said getting up also.

"Go right ahead Mr. Potter."

"Most of you in this courtroom hate Jersey because her last name is Malfoy, in reality Lucius Malfoy is only her cousin's husband, her real last name is Lupin. However, being raised by the Malfoys have put her in a very key place for danger. Over the summer, Blaise Zabini, an under-aged wizard I might remind you, had put Jersey under the Imperius curse for two months, had her agree to an engagement, and raped her that day. When she snapped out of it, he proceeded to hex her with a confounds charm and a strangling charm slowing her lungs down and making her regress in age mentally, he then suffocated her with a pillow. Minister you, Auror Kingsley Shacklebolt, and Gavin Debar were called in to question him, under Vertiserum. He confessed to being a Death Eater sent by Lord Voldemort to torture Jersey. What did you all do? You lethim go, after his father paid bail, no trial, no kiss. Issac ended up wanting to get revenge on Jersey and the wizarding world by trying to kill me. He shot me with an arrow covered in Baskilisk venom and Doxycide, I believe it's called the Killing potion. When Jersey went to get the anti-dote she had to do something she's been regretting ever since, she had to kill the Zabini family, all with the Dark Mark mind you, to save my life. Don't you think if she was a muderer she would have let me die, along with a bunch of people in this room who've been to Saint Mungos for the past few moths. How come you've been so keen to throw Jersey into Azkaban when you let Death Eaters roam free after you know what they were? If anyone should be on trial it should be you minister, not the innocent." Harry said, sitting down. The whole court was quiet.

"Mr. Wilkes your opening statement?" The minister asked. Mr. Wilkes was more than reluctant to get up now.

"Hem. Hem." He said clearing his throat. "The accused has murdered three innocent people using an illegal unforgivable curse, The Avada Kevadra or Killing curse. Being that she is only 17 years old and not officially "of age" means she went against the restriction for underage wizardry, the only exception to that is if they are in a life threatening situation."

"Objection paraphrasing! Clause 7 clearly sates that a witch or wizard can use magic if it threatens the life of the witch, wizard, or other witches and wizards, and muggles, as she did it to save Harry James Potters life she was clearly with in the exception!" Rob yelled.

"We'll take that into consideration, please continue."

"Well at the time of the murder she-erm-murdered Dana Zabini, whom was not a Death Eater, clearly an innocent."

"Except the pictures of her arm which clearly shows the Dark Mark. I think the Zabini lawyer needs to re-discover the evidence against my client."

"How do we know she isn't in on this? She could be waiting for the perfect opportunity to hand Voldemort our only savior." Blaise's Lawyer yelled.

"Excuse me? Why would I hand over my Fiancé to that git? It's bad enough you work for him!" Jersey yelled, the whole court gasped.

"See she's making up stories just like Potter does, I mean they've both been together for do long both of them are losing their marbles."

"Jersey are you positive?" Harry asked, turning towards her.

"Inner circle. His documents are forged , you can tell cause it's Blaise's writing as the Signature, plus he use to be a baby sitter. Why else would Issac hire him? Harry if he isn't a Death Eater, I'm not a high seer." Jersey said smiling.

"Minister, if the Zabini lawyer is a Death Eater what will happen?"

"A new lawyer will be appointed. Do we really have to listen to 21 witnesses?" The Minister asked, looking through a bunch of old scrolls to find a way around it.

"Minister may I approach the bench?" Harry asked.

"Sure, go ahead."

"I have a deal to make with you. We end this Thursday instead of Sunday, Jersey told me where Peter Pettigrew would be, yes he's still alive. All I need is four Aurors and yourself as witnesses. If Jersey is correct you've caught yourself two Death Eaters to make up for the three you let off, one of them being the Zabini family lawyer. Look you've heard our evidence and you could hear it another 21 times if it makes you feel better, however the only thing that guys got going for him is the forged documents and a lot of bad wizarding criminal movies." Harry said, sitting back down.

"Mr. Wilkes, will you please bear your left forearm." The minister asked. The lawyer very reluctantly rolled up his sleeve to reveal the Dark Mark. "Bailiff please arrest this man. The trial will adjourn Thursday at 8:00 a.m." The Minister got up and left before the Wizengamot got up, Jersey stopped them.

"I know it's not my place, but he'll betray you in the end, most of you will die in the attack he'll lead while in office. I just thought you should know, you should change our Minister." With that Jersey followed Harry out of the courtroom. Once they got home she went straight upstairs.

"Have you seen Jersey?" Remus asked, coming home six hours later.

"She went upstairs somewhere and hasn't been down. We can't find her either, there's too many rooms." Harry explained.

"Are you positive she's still here?" Remus asked concerned.

"She's in my custody, she'd have to be…wait! She's upset, nervous, scared, oh my Merlin She's gone to Hogwarts." Harry said.

"Harry stay we'll get Severus to get her." Sirius said going to the fire and Flooing Severus.

KIMEKIMEKIMEKIMEKIME

Jersey ran upstairs and Floo'd straight to Draco. She was able to sneak inside the Slytherin common room and into the boys dormitory, she slipped into Draco's bed and pulled the curtains. After classes, one of Draco's roommates entered the room. "Drake are you okay?" Tracy asked, walking up towards the bed.

"Oh yes Draconis Oh god! Yes!" Jersey screamed making her voice a lot more high pitched.

"Oh man D, sorry."

"Sorry about what?" Draco asked, entering the room.

"If you're here whose shagging some girl in your bed? She was screaming your name." Tracy explained.

"Girl? Tracy I'm gay, did she have an unusually high pitched voice?"

"Yeah and she called you Draconis."

"Trac can you give us a second alone please? It's my cousin, please." Draco asked.

"Sure, if you need anything just ask."

"I will thanks." Draco watched Tracy leave. "Jersey, what's going on?"

"Well, it looks like I'm getting off, Zabini's layer was a Death Eater."

"So what's wrong? That sounds like a good thing."

"It was only because of Harry, he stood up, gave this great speech and thanks to section 7 or something, I'm pretty much off the hook."

"Well then shouldn't you be with Harry?"

"Well, um-"

"What happened?"

"Dreams…Death Eaters…Voldemort…Harry dead…On break."

"Jers, why didn't you consult me on this? You know if it's a prophecy we both have it."

"I was in Azkaban! They don't technically let you send owls to people, they're afraid you might end up sending something with the letter killing them."

"Jers, how long are you going to stay on this break with Harry?"

"As long as it takes to end the war, no matter what promises I've made, or who I have to betray in the end, I will be with Harry no matter what."

"You have 4 years until you end up marrying You-know-who! What could be worse than that?" Draco asked. "Get your butt back to Grimmauld Place and back to your fiancé."

"No! Not until I make sure he gets out of this war alive, I don't care if it's a prophecy or not, it was real enough, and you want to know what's worse than marrying Voldemort, oh if Harry doesn't stay alive you'll find out!" Jersey yelled, storming out of the dormitory.

"Jers, no! You can't go down there, you'll put a lot of people in trouble, Harry for instance, if anyone sees you're not where you're suppose to be you'll be in a lot of trouble! The court will see this as a betrayal against their savior."

"I'll just tell them that I had to get away from Harry to save his life once again, cause for all I know that dream was true, it might really happen!"

"Jersey Adrienne Michelle Chastity Elizabeth Snape-Malfoy you walk your arse right back into your brothers room this instant or I will seriously punish you for leaving the safety of Grimmauld Place!" Snape yelled, running up the stairs, by this time half of the common room was following him. "And those students that are behind me better go back to working on whatever they need to get done or face consequences far beyond your belief! Go!" Snape yelled at both the crowd and Jersey.

"Well seeming I don't have a brother, I technically don't have a room to go to now do I?" Jersey yelled back.

"Oh you better get your ass in that room before I make you regret saying that to your father."

"Funny cause my father isn't here now is he?"

"NOW!" Snape said, pulling Jersey by the ear into the room. "You better have a far better reason for blowing your safety by coming here than to piss your brother and I off."

"What the hell do you keep talking about? If I remember correctly I don't have a brother and my fathersssssss aren't currently here either now are they?" Jersey said, drawing out the s to prove her point. At that moment Lucius burst through the door.

"You better explain yourself this instant young lady, and how dare you talk to your fa-Severus like that."

"What the hell is going on? Why aren't you in France? Why do-OH MY MERLIN! You two aren't divorced are you kidding me? You two were just shagging! What the fuck is going on? I 'm about to be proven innocent, Harry and I are on a dream because I keep dreaming that you," she pointed to Lucius, "help Voldemort to kill Harry, Uncle Snape keeps calling Draco my brother, him my father, I learn that innocent Lupin is my father and that his boyfriend Sirius is sort of like another father, you come charging in here suppose to be heartbroken, divorced, and in France, but no you come charging in here looking like you and Uncle Sev have been shagging for at least an hour and a half, you Draconis are suppose to be heart broken and starving yourself and to top it off Severus is suppose to be more depressed than he really is, What the fuck is going on? I want answers and I want them now! Do you hear me right this instant! Or I'm going to the Ministry and asking you all be put into the Mental ward at Saint Mungos with Professor Lockhart!" Jersey said in one breath, then fainted.