Chapter Three - Prosecution

Dolores Umbridge stood up to address the court in her pink suede outfit complete with ruffles around the neck and bows in her hair. Her abnormally short wand was in her plump hand and was ever so often tapping against her other hand in a threatening way as she left her seat to move to the prosecution's table. Umbridge's overweight body moved toward the woman on trail and as it did so, the other woman paled drastically. Without her stack of neatly piled hot pink notes on the desk, she spoke loudly and with her shrill voice. As she did so, she turned swiftly back to address the people.

'My, my, my. What has Miss McGonagall gotten her self into? Wait, is it still Miss McGonagall, or has Mrs. Dumbledore come here as Dumbledore's mistress? Anyways, Miss McGonagall, who recently was released from St. Mungo's, has defied our laws many times. I will prove to you in my case, that Miss McGonagall has committed treason to our Minister and manslaughter in the first degree to none other than Albus Dumbledore. Albus Dumbledore, the wizard who defeated Grindelwald himself, the late Headmaster of the finest school in our world, Albus Dumbledore who was killed in pure blood by Miss McGonagall. Thank you.'

Umbridge sat back down with a plop at her table. No lawyer would represent Minerva McGonagall. She would represent herself. McGonagall began by looking up. Her wrists bound together by chains and shackles that rattled and clanked together as she stood. Her eyes were bloodshot from the restless nights in Azkaban. Her hair was tangled and not brushed. But she was determined, for it was her life at stake. McGonagall looked around the room with a piercing stare, and spoke.

'I hope to prove to everyone today that I did not kill my husband, Albus Dumbledore. I have not committed treason of any kind against the Minister. Thank you.' Her message was short but to the point. It was exactly what the court wanted.

The prosecution went first to call their witnesses. The initial one was Segrause Conere, who, by the looks of it, was paid for the testimony. His unkindly features and sharp pointed nose gave the look of a bird. He was dressed in robes that could have been run through a shredder and would have appeared better. Conere's voice was shrill and harsh as is echoed through the room.

'Mister Conere, you work at 125 Hogsmeade, correct?' Umbridge spoke.

'Yes, that is correct.'

'Could you tell the court where exactly 125 Hogsmeade is?'

'It is right around the corner from The Three Broomsticks.'

'You're the owner of the shop?'

'Yes.'

'And this is where you were working the night of Albus Dumbledore's death?'

'Yes. Yes, I was working late that night because the store had an order to be shipped the following morning.'

'What happened that night, Mister Conere?'

'I was packing the bottles for the shipment when I heard a scream down the alley. When I arrived at where the scream came from, a few people were gathered around something. I pushed my way through the crowd and what I saw was terrifying. Dumbledore's body was crumpled up and pressed against the wall. McGonagall was standing over him with her wand out pointed directly at him.'

'And what time was this, Mister Conere?'

'Just a little after 10:30.'

'Thank you.' Umbridge sat down with a thud and McGonagall stood up to address the man on the stand.

'Mister Conere, I thought that 125 Hogsmeade was in fact Weasley Wizarding Wheezeys?'

'I- um, it is.'

'Then, Mister Conere, are you the owner of that store?'

'No.'

'You also assumed that I was the one that had killed Albus Dumbledore, did you not?'

'Yes, I did.'

'How did you know that I was the one who killed him?'

'You had your wand out and it was pointed at him.'

'So you connected the wand with the killing and bypassed all reason to confirm your beliefs.'

'Theoretically-'

'It is a yes or no question no theoretically is involved.'

'Yes.'

'Thank you your honor.' McGonagall sat down at her table in all her chains.


AN- Hi! I'm on vacation till Monday evening soooo... if I can find a place with internet on the road, I'll update! Hope you like the chap!