Scenes from last Chapter.
"So I guess there's no need for me to explain what I am" Remus broke the silent.
"No, and I don't care, I can't leave my room on the full moon either"
He looked at her, rather scared.
"I get these really painful headaches and my body goes kinda numb, I can't move that much" It was a relief, at least she didn't have to cope with transformations.
"Too little, too late Remus, she has already fallen under the potions spell" Briseida was about to fall down on the floor. Lupin caught her right up. He lifted her in his arms. She ran her hands through his neck holding to it. And she made space for her head to rest on his right shoulder.
"I do believe she fits perfectly on your arms now doesn't she Remus" Mrs. Weasley tone of voice was sweet.
"Yeah, she does, and she's even lighter than I believed, but a few days and you'll be able to fix that won't you Molly" She giggled. "Now I'll take her to bed"
He climbed the stairs carrying the teenager with him. She was beautiful, indeed, very like her mother, but he could see a rush of him on her, somewhere in her eyes was that little glimpse of mischief that took him back to his Hogwarts years. Soon enough, he laid her on the bed. He caress her face, until he felt sleep coming to him too. He walked downstairs, where the only ones left were Arthur and Molly.
a/n I decided to name the chapters… cuz… Idk… I just want to. So, here are the names of the past chapters.
Chapter 1: Running Home
Chapter 2: Unexpected Help.
Chapter 3: Scared Of What I Might Find Out
Chapter 4: An Open Discussion
Chapter 5: Knowing You Might Help Knowing Me
Chapter 6: Scared of What I Might Find Out.
Briseida woke up at 8.30. She felt rested, as se had slept in a whole day. She got up and started to search on her trunk for something to wear, when she realized she was still wearing the same thing as yesterday. Somebody knocked on the door.
"Briseida?" Mrs. Weasley opened the door carrying a tray.
"Good morning, I was just about to go downstairs"
"Well, I though you would still be asleep" She left the tray over the bed.
"So, if you want to take a shower, the bathroom is down the hall to the left"
"thanks"
It was 9 o clock when Albus Dumbledore apparated on the Burrow.
"Can I offer you something for breakfast Albus?"
"A coffee would be great" She poured him a cup and they sat down on the quite kitchen.
"How do you think the trial is gonna go?"
"I believe she'll be just fine"
That moment Briseida came down the stairs. She was wearing a skirt that went down her knee and it was white with little light blue flowers that matched the color of her t shirt without sleeves. Her hair was down, showing its length almost to her waist.
"Hello" she said.
"Ready to go Briseida?" Dumbledore stood up.
"Yes, let's go"
They stepped out and she grabbed his arms so they could apparate in the Ministry.
They walked inside and took the elevator to the sixth floor, where the Wizengamont operated. The automatic door opened. At sight there was a small room, with chairs and a water fountain. There were three doors.
"The one on your right is the one you've got to go through, your step-father has to go through the one on the left. The people who will be part of the trial or those who will witness it, go though the one on the middle. The Wizengamont comes through a back door that's in the room" Dumbledore explained.
"What door do you use?"
"I'm your defender so I have to go through the door in the middle, although I will sit beside you"
"OK"
"Now, we better go inside, we don't want to be late" That very instant the elevator door opened again.
"Briseida, I see you've chosen to continue with this stupidity" Jason Thomas icy green eyes met hers,
"The rules of the Wizengamont strictly forbid you from talking to Briseida until the process is over" Dumbledore walked slowly but firmly.
"Well, you cannot just prohibit me to talk to my own daughter!"
"May I remind you that I'm not your daughter!" Jason Thomas stepped lively towards her, lifting his hand on the air to slap her…
"Dare to put a hand on my daughter and I sure you will be running from the tip of my wand" Remus Lupin appeared through the middle door.
"Who the bloody hell are you?"
"I'm the one who will send you to the emergency wing of St Mungo's if I ever see you trying to hurt her"
"Remus!" Dumbledore stepped on the middle of the two man who seemed were about to kill each other just with their looks. "We do not want to be late for the trial"
Lupin stepped away from him, gave his daughter a kind look and kiss her forehead.
"I'll be right there" He comforted her. He waited until she had crossed the door and then entered through the middle door.
They had a few minutes until the Wizengamont resumed session.
"Now, for all of you who are not familiar with the process in these kind of cases, this is the way things will follow" An elder witch with brown hair and blue eyes stood up to speak. She was tall and thin, seemed to be on her late 70s. "First thing will arrange a guardian for the minor, then will decide whether Mr. Lupin is her father or not, if he is, then she will be allow to live with him in the case we determine on her favor, otherwise… well otherwise will just have to see what happens then"
"What do you mean will have to see? If she loses then she would have to come back to live with me and all this madness will be over!" Thomas got up from his chair.
"Well, not precisely, you see, we've never had a case of this nature in which the accuser does not win. So as we do not have precedents it is not 100 sure that she would go back to your house. Besides, this is not a win lose situation Mr. Thomas. We're here to ensure the best of the child, not for any other reason. Now if you were so kind, please take your sit, you'll stand up when you are called to do your deposition" Thomas went back to his seat. "Now, after the depositions we'll interview the witnesses and if it is needed will use the pensieves"
An Asian man stood up. He was wearing a green robe with a red hat. He didn't care much for matching. " Now, would the accuser please stand up for her deposition?"
Briseida rose, and said: "What I've got to tell you all, is the truth, nothing else. I stand here today to ask you to free me from the hell I've lived on the past 16 years" She looked up, and she told them her story. Minutes went by and tears rolled down. It was an hour later when Jason Thomas had finished explaining he believed in discipline, but had never laid a hand on his step daughter, neither on his wife. And the fact that the girl had been home schooled was a choice her mother had made. She thought Hogwarts wasn't a good place for the girl. It was just too full of scumbags.
Lupin's nerves were killing him. Many times he was on the edge of getting up from his chair, but Molly's arm always caught him first.
A few minutes later Briseida stood up, wand in hand and said: "Finite Incantatem" At that second bruises started to appear around her arms and neck. " I can show you my stomach if that's not enough" She looked up to the Wizengamont.
" Your honor, the fact that she has the bruises does not mean that I've caused them"
"No it doesn't" The elder witch stood up "But there's a very easy way to verify it"
She mumbled a spell and suddenly Jason Thomas was dragged to the side of his step-daughter.
Everybody started whispering to each other on astonishment. The journalist from the Daily Prophet started taking pictures with his magical camera and writing the facts in a hurry.
"Order, order! Mr. Thomas you are to remain under the custody of this community until the next session."
"You're sending me to Azkaban? For what?"
"No I'm not sending you to Azkaban, but you will be escorted by two officers of the Ministry at all time, and you will not under any circumstances leave London"
"But I've got business to take care of!"
"Do you really think I care? You're this close from getting sent to Azkaban, and God forbid getting a dementor or kiss!"
"You can't do that! Dementor or kiss is only for the cruelest assassins "
"And do you think that people would agree that what you've done to this girl and to her mother is enough! Now shut up and get out of my court! Now, Ms. Thomas you will be under the custody of the Weasleys until we find your father"
"Your honor" Briseida stood up" I've already found him" She pointed at Remus, who was on his feet.
"Well then, all we have to do is see if he's your father and if he's willing to accept you"
"I am your honor"
"Ok, then you'll must take the test before our next session, which will be held on Friday"
After a couple of minutes they were out.
"So we should go to Saint Mungo to get that test done" Lupin spoke when they were finally out of the court room.
"Yes, you're right" Briseida was looking down.
"Something wrong?"
"No, nothing"
"Ok, then what do you say if we go to Saint Mungo and then I take you off to lunch and then you walk me to buy some stuffs I need"
"Sure" She looked up at him trying to smile"
They got at Saint Mungo at around 11.30, and were escorted by a young medi-witch to a private room. After she healed the bruised that covered Briseida all over she took blood samples from both of them.
Remus was finishing his chocolate when he realized his daughter was silently shading tears. He walked up to her and rounder her with his arm.
"What is it?"
"I'm just scared of what I might find out" She burst into tears.
"It's going to be OK" He hugged her tightly. He was scared too, but he couldn't say it. A tear escaped his eyes. He kissed her forehead.