After the war
By Adaia Swordmaiden
Disclaimer: No, of course I don't own the Harry Potter series!
Chapter 5
"Veritaserum review of charges hearing on the fifteenth of November," Arthur Weasley called out. "Reinvestigating charges supposedly committed by Guinevere Julienne Moore. Interrogators: Arthur Horatio Weasley, Minister for Magic; Rosemary Myrrant Thyme, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement; Terence Willard Cartwright, Senior Undersecretary to the Minister. Court Scribe, Steven Gregory Skeeter." Arthur coughed and shuffled his notes. Guinevere gazed fearfully up at the shadowed people on the benches before her, hunching back into the chained chair. Then she relaxed, remembering that this would probably be her only chance of freedom. "The charges against the accused are as follows: That she did, knowingly, deliberately and not under the influence of another, murder Mr David Colin Moore, Mrs Helen Amelia Moore, Miss Wendy Jennifer Moore and Master Daniel Oswald Moore." Arthur looked down from his notes at Guinevere. "You are Guinevere Julienne Moore?"
"Yes," Guinevere said immediately, under the influence of Veritaserum.
"Do you deny committing any of the afore mentioned charges?"
"Yes. I deny committing the murders of my family."
"Do you have any idea of who did commit the murders?"
"No."
"Can you tell us exactly what happened how and when you found them?"
"I was heading back to my family's home at number fifteen, Godric's Hollow, on the first of August, 1999 after seeing a muggle movie. The house seemed fine from the outside but when I knocked, no-one answered. I let myself in with my key. I found my entire family dead in the living room. I dropped everything and ran to them, shaking them and feeling for pulses. I then fainted and woke up in one of the holding cells at the Ministry of Magic." Guinevere fell silent and gulped back a sob. The Wizengamot began whispering amongst themselves. Then the whispering stopped and Arthur Weasley coughed, looking at his notes and then down at Guinevere.
"The Wizengamot has reached the conclusion that you are indeed innocent of the murders of the Moore family. We deeply apologise for your imprisonment of seven years and five months. You will be given amnesty and a grant of five thousand galleons. However, as you participated in a prison break in which two guards were killed, although you yourself did not kill either of the guards, you will be put on parole for the time of a month," he said. A smile of relief broke over Guinevere's face and she suddenly broke into tears of mixed sadness and joy.
Guinevere rubbed her eyes and yawned, looking around the room that was to be her bedroom. The bed had been set up and had blankets and everything on it but the rest of her things were in boxes lining the walls. She dug in one of the boxes until she found a hairbrush and gave her hair a quick run through before grabbing her purse, keys and coat, going outside and walking down the street. Even though the part of London in which she had bought her house was a wizarding district, her fireplace hadn't been linked up to the Floo network yet. It didn't take her long to get to the city and find a wizard restaurant. She gave her order and sighed with happiness. It had been a month since she had been given amnesty and she had only just bought a small house. She had also changed her name so that people wouldn't avoid her if they knew about her. Her thoughts drifted to Draco and her forehead furrowed. He was still free after all that time. She just hoped that he was alright. He had kept an eye out for her in Azkaban and even managed to convince Harry Potter to get her a Veritaserum trial. Her meal came and she began to eat. Someone hurrying out of the restaurant bumped against the table, causing Guinevere's glass of wine to fall over and spill. Guinevere quickly grabbed a handful of napkins and dabbed at the spreading stain.
"Sorry," the person said. He was wearing a rather weather-beaten black coat with the collar up and a wide brimmed had pulled forwards so that his face was hidden in shadow. He dropped five galleons on the table. "Here, buy yourself another."
"No," Guinevere said, pushing the money back to him. "You keep it. I'm fine." But the man just turned and left the restaurant. Guinevere frowned again and shook her head.
"Sorry!" Ginny said hurriedly as she dashed forwards and grabbed Sammy who had just hurtled into the tall young woman.
"It's okay," the woman said, smiling friendlily.
"Didn't you just move in across the road?" Ginny asked. "I live at number 14."
"Yeah, I did," the woman said. "I'm Guinevere March."
"Ginny Potter," Ginny said. "And this is Sammy."
"Hi," Sammy said, grinning at Guinevere.
"Hello."
"How's the moving in going?" Ginny asked.
"Fairly well. I've got boxes everywhere and more stuff coming in. I had to buy everything new."
"You'll have to come around to lunch some time," Ginny said, smiling. "Well bye!" Guinevere smiled and moved on. Ginny watched after a moment and then looked down at Sammy who was tugging on her arm.
"Can I have an icecream?" the five-year-old asked sweetly.
"You just had one!" Ginny scolded. "Come on, Daddy will be home soon and he'll want some dinner."
Draco leaned against the wall, his hat pulled forwards and hiding his eyes. But even though others couldn't see his eyes didn't mean he could see them. His icy blue eyes followed Guinevere as she walked along on the other side of the street. Suddenly a small, red-haired, five-year-old girl went hurtling into Guinevere. The girl's mother caught up and Draco started as he saw the mother's face. Ginny… He caught his breath and stared at her. She looked so much the same as the last time he saw her but now she was more graceful. He shook his head. He had once loved her but now… If it had only been a crush he would say now that he had 'gone off' her. But he still couldn't help but notice how beautiful she was. His eyes drifted to her daughter. She had short, unruly dark red hair, unlike her mother's long, sleek, carrot-coloured locks. The girl glanced across the street as Ginny and Guinevere talked and Draco saw that she had almond-shaped, bright green eyes. Like her father. Draco shook his head and started walking down the street, the same way as Guinevere was now walking.
A/N: just a quick update. thanks, DarthRoden, for reveiwing. hands cookie over