(A/N: Sorry for the delay, everyone. The US tax season is here!)
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For copyright and disclaimers, please see chapter one.
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19 – Week Forty Two, Third Year
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Sunday, June 3, 2001:
Hogwarts, Great Hall, Gryffindor table: 06:07
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"Post's here!"
People looked up at the hoarse call, Charlie muttering, "You would think during examination week..." then looking up "Oy, you for Wayne, over here!"
"Thank you, Charlie," Mattie mumbled, stifling a yawn herself.
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Monday, June 4, 2001:
Hogwarts, Potions classroom: 13:00
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The bell rang as the door slammed and locked; the class instantly silent. Professor Snape appeared in his characteristic swirl of black robes, stalking silently toward the front. He glowered, "Today, you will complete the examination. As always, you are to use the quills and ink I supply in order to prevent cheating." He waved his wand; five numbered bottles appeared on a small table; "As part of the examination, you will correctly identify each of these substances and give the physical and magical properties of each." Waving his wand again, the exam appeared on each desk, "You have four hours. Begin."
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As the study group trudged toward the great hall, Andrew asked, "Which kind of eyes were in bottle #3? They were too small to be octopus, and too large for rat's eyes."
"Puffer fish," one of the twins said as she yawned. "It's what I put down, anyway."
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Tuesday, June 5, 2001:
Hogwarts, Charms classroom: 09:00
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"Good morning, good morning everyone!" Professor Flitwick called as Mattie yawned. "Come, come, one at a time, form a queue and draw a charm from the bowl and perform it, then reverse it for me. If you do it right, and I'm certain you will, you're done! Who's first? Miss Tonks, you don't look all right."
"Full moon tonight, sir," she mumbled.
"Would you like to take a pass?" Sprink shook her head, "Then please step right up." He shook the bowl of parchment slips, Sprink reaching in for one and handing it to the tiny professor.
"A cheering charm! Excellent! Why don't you perform it on Miss Hansen, she'll do her charm on you, and then the two of you are dismissed to the Infirmary." Professor Flitwick watched as Felicia made her way to the front, 'exhilaro' she called. Felicia's exhausted face immediately brightened, and she smiled brilliantly.
"Very well done, Miss Tonks, full marks! I'm reluctant to ask you to take it off her ..." Sprink nodded, performing the counter-charm. Professor Flitwick picked up the bowl again, "Miss Hansen?" Felicia reached into the bowl, extracting a slip of parchment. "The Bubble-Head charm! If you would?"
'Spirabilis' she cast, waving her wand in a spiral over her head. Professor Flitwick cast a smoke charm at her, it eddied around the charm. Banishing the smoke, Flitwick nodded at Felicia, she performed the counter-charm.
"Excellent! Full marks, Miss Hansen! Now, off to the Infirmary with the two of you. Mr. Adams, if you would?" He held out the bowl for Charlie.
Charlie made his way up, drawing the colour change charm. He looked around, and Professor Flitwick called, "Miss Wayne, do you mind being Mr. Adam's subject?"
"Not at all, sir," Mattie said, making her way up to the front of the class. "I presume I'll go next, then."
"That is a safe assumption," Professor Flitwick said with a chortle, "Mr. Adams, please change her hair to a nice sky blue, and then reverse it."
"Yes, sir," Charlie turned to Mattie, casting 'rechromis follicus caeruleus'. Mattie lifted the end of her braid, wincing. "It looks good, would you like to keep it?" Charlie joked.
"Thank you, no," Mattie said dryly. "Change it back, please." Charlie smiled, casting the counter-charm, turning it a pale blue. "Oops."
"Partial marks, Mr. Adams," Flitwick said, casting the proper counter-charm. Her hair darkened, but remained blue, and he sighed, 'rechromis follicus furvus' and her hair changed to black again. "Miss Wayne?"
Mattie reached in the bowl, drawing a slip of paper and handing it to the professor. "The Confundus charm! Miss Wayne?"
She blinked, taking a step back while she thought, then aimed her wand at Charlie and began chanting, waving her wand in a complex series. Charlie stiffened, his eyes glazed over, and he started to wander about the classroom, bumping into random objects. Professor Flitwick raised an eyebrow, "Where did you learn that, Miss Wayne?"
"Professor Oldridge taught it to me, sir."
"Professor... One moment, please." The tiny professor hurried into his office, returning in a few minutes levitating a thick, dusty tome. He consulted it as Charlie continued to bump into things, raising his eyebrow again. Looking up, he asked, "Do you know the counter-charm?"
Mattie thought, admitting, "I think so." She summoned Charlie, who was repeatedly bumping into a wall, waving her wand to draw a circle around him, chanting another series with more wand-waving. Charlie shook his head, touching his nose, asking "What happened?"
"An older variant of the Confundus, Mr. Adams," Flitwick replied, "Replaced in the seventeenth century by the modern spell." He consulted his tome again, casting a spell on Charlie; copying the page onto a fresh sheet of parchment. "Please take this to the Infirmary, and have them check you over. There were some nasty side effects discovered later from that spell." As Charlie gathered his things, Flitwick tapped the desk in thought. "I'll give you full marks for the spell and the counter, Miss Wayne, as it's the one you were taught. That was also a nice little summoning charm on Mr. Adams. However, I expect you to learn the modern variant this summer. Miss Bundy and Mr. Morton, why don't the two of you go next?"
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Tuesday, June 5, 2001:
Hogwarts, Werewolf dungeon: 18:30
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Felicia talked to Professor Lupin in wolvish inside the cell as the other werewolves slept. Using a translation spell, Mattie sat outside the cell and filled out Sprink's Muggle Studies examination for her. Abby Michaels nibbled on leftovers from dinner as she studied her NEWT Transfiguration. Jeremy slept against another werewolf, his tail flicking back and forth as he dreamed.
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Wednesday, June 6, 2001:
Hogwarts, Staff Room: 07:37
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Amid the clatter of tea things, Minerva said, "One final note. I received notice from the Crown that the presence of Miss Wayne, myself; and Miss Anne Bundy is required in court on Friday morning." She frowned, "I presume Miss Yates will also wish to appear, as it is her murder by Miss Malfoy that is under consideration."
"That is a very odd sentence," Lara Croft said.
"Indeed it is. I presume you will be in court all day?" Callista added.
"I believe that a safe assumption," Minerva said. "How are our werewolves?"
"Sleeping soundly in the Infirmary," Narcissa said.
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Thursday, June 7, 2001:
Hogwarts, Potions Classroom: 09:00
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The door slammed and locked, Professor Snape appearing in a swirl of black robes. He looked over the third-year class, "Today is your potion practical. As Miss Wayne and Miss Bundy were not present for most of the term, they are excused. They will each brew a potion later to my satisfaction for their practical." He waved his wand, the door unlocked, "The two of you are dismissed. I suggest you invest the extra time in study, I shall expect you on Saturday." As Mattie and Anne gathered their things, he addressed the rest of the class, "You will each draw a potion from the bowl, and brew it. You are allowed your notes, but not your text. You have three hours," he turned over an hourglass, "Begin."
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Thursday, June 7, 2001:
Hogwarts, DADA Classroom: 13:00
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As the third years filed into the Defense classroom, they found the desks shrunk and shoved back against the walls. Professor Harry called, "Leave your bags and whatnot against the walls, and spread out, please. Today is a practical examination; you will duel, with the intent being to disable your opponents. Not cripple, not permanently disfigure them, and certainly not kill them. That means, Miss Wayne, using magic only, and Miss Bundy, you do recall our discussion on the Unforgivables?"
Anne nodded as Harry continued, "Minimum required force, people, if any of you cause permanent injury, you will regret it. This exam is Pass/Fail, people, just like a real duel would be. Survivors will duel with each other; the final winner will receive a twenty galleon gift certificate for the Wheeze, generously donated by Gred and Forge Weasley. Now, if everyone is straight on the rules?" They nodded, and he cast a protective charm on himself, calling, "Begin!"
Mattie immediately ducked and rolled, casting an invisibility charm on herself. She vanished as Andrew cast 'expelliarmus' on Arthur, catching his wand, which promptly exploded with a yellow spell. Andrew cackled, even though his face was yellow, then dropped unconscious.
"A booby-trapped wand? Ingenious, Mr. Morton," Professor Potter said as Arthur retrieved his wand and Andrew was levitated to safety. Arthur shrugged as stunning spells zipped into the mass of students, catching Felicia among others. They both looked up as a chandelier shook, crashing to the floor, Mattie appearing, shaking her head. A quick stunning spell; and she was removed from the competition.
Amanda had summoned chairs, transfiguring them into mirrors and charming them to follow her movements. Sprink leaped at her, transforming in midair into her wolven form, knocking her away from her shields. One of the Cortez twins hexed Amanda, while her sister threw a different curse at Sprink.
Charlie and Anne were engaged in a traditional duel, she fired a cutting curse at him, and he twisted away, but not quite in time. The curse zipped a bloody line up his arm, and she dropped her guard for a minute in horror, giving him the chance to stun her. Professor Potter called, "Need the Infirmary, Mr. Adams?"
Charlie shook his head as he eyed Arthur, together they turned to the Cortez twins as Anne was levitated away. With precise spells, Arthur took out the last few students, while Charlie dueled the twins, Arthur moving away. Two heavy textbooks slammed into the sisters' heads, dropping them and leaving Charlie and Arthur standing alone, panting and eyeing each other.
"Very nicely done, Mr. Morton, Mr. Adams!" Professor Harry called. "Do the two of you wish to continue, or split the prize?"
"Split it," Charlie said, and Arthur nodded.
"Excellent work, both of you! Now, if Mr. Morton will revive the class, while I take a look at Mr. Adams' arm."
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"So what did we learn?" Professor Harry asked once the classroom was restored to normal (minus the chandelier). "Miss Wayne had a good tactical idea, secure the high ground."
"I misjudged the strength of the bolt, though," she admitted. "I thought the featherweight charm I cast on myself would compensate."
"That explains it, then," the professor said. "The combination of an invisibility spell and the featherweight charm means you'll feel much lighter, but in actuality, there's only about a ten percent reduction. How did you get up there, though?" Mattie just smiled, though, and he moved on, "Mr. Morton had a nasty little surprise; I confess I never considered a booby-trapped wand."
"I'm still not happy with the speed of the disabling charm," Arthur admitted. "There are reasons for the yellow color, though."
"Miss Leeds cleverly transfigured objects, remembering the reflector spell, as well as animus and the proper use of imperio," Professor Harry said, and Amanda blushed. "However, she forgot about the possibility of a physical attack, something Miss Tonks took advantage of." He paced a bit, adding, "The Cortez twins, as well as Mr. Adams and Mr. Morton used teamwork, and I am disappointed to see quite a few of you simply stood there to start, and were thus easy targets. Miss Wayne, on the other hand, kept moving. Have you dueled before, outside of class, Miss Wayne?"
Anne coughed, and Mattie said, "I dueled a court wizard in 1380, sir. I wanted to take his Grimore, but didn't have time, I had to get people back to Hogwarts."
"Please continue, Miss Wayne," he said. "Who was it?"
"Robert II of Scotland, and his court wizard, sir. He had kidnapped other witches and wizards, and was using mage-bonds on them to drain their power." She smiled softly, "I conjured a machine gun as a distraction to escape the cage he had me in, and then we dueled."
"Clever, what was the mage's name?"
Mattie looked uncomfortable, fidgeted, and finally admitted, "Michael Potter, sir."
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Friday, June 8, 2001:
Hogwarts, Headmistress' office: 07:28
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Minerva inspected the three girls, nodding in satisfaction at Anne and Mattie. "Miss Yates, is that proper dress for a courtroom in your time?" She nodded, and Minerva transfigured her skirt into a longer version, "We are, however, in the early twenty-first century, and will dress appropriately. Now then, I have no idea how long the trial will last. Are you certain you wish to come, Miss Yates?"
"My murderer is on trial! Of course I want to come!"
Minerva sighed, "Of course." She held out a text, clutching her other bundle of papers, "The portkey will activate in three, two, ..."
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They appeared, moving through security and into the bowl-shaped courtroom number five, where they took seats. Cassidy looked around, thinking, 'Same as in my time.' She looked over at Mattie, musing 'Her expression, she looks like she did on the vids of her first Olympics in Auckland, proud but nervous. The vid coverage of 'the first billionaire athlete' didn't help.' She chuckled to herself, 'First of three Games, Gran. Best you ever managed is a Bronze, though, to your intense disappointment. You're not a professional athlete, though, and you were running against Kenyans. Pity you died before you could see the Games off Earth...' Mattie turned, looking her in the eyes.
There was a stir as Lucille Malfoy entered with her solicitor, taking seats next to the empty jury box. They conversed under a privacy spell, while the Crown's solicitor took his place, arranging his papers. Low conversation resumed among the spectators, quieting as the bailiff called, "All rise! The Crown versus Lucille Malfoy!" As people rose, the three hooded jurists entered, taking their seats. The central figure threw aside his hood to reveal Albus Dumbledore. He banged his gavel, saying, "Please be seated."
As people sat, Dumbledore remained standing, stating, "I, Albus Dumbledore, must recuse myself from this case. I was present during the incident in question, and therefore cannot be impartial." He banged his gavel, stepping back and removing his judicial robes, handing them to a bailiff, then moving to take a seat next to Minerva, who squeezed his hand. Another jurist rose, throwing his hood back to state, "I am Percy Weasley, and as Minister of Education, I was also present during the incident in question at Hogwarts. I must therefore also recuse myself." He doffed his robe, folding it neatly before handing it to a bailiff, then taking a vacant place in the spectator's seating.
The last jurist threw back her hood, "I am Amelia Bones, and I will NOT be recusing myself." A chuckle ran around the courtroom, she smiled, "Under our revised legal code, this will therefore be a juried trial. Bailiff, please seat the jury."
Six ordinary witches and wizards filed into the jury box next to the defense table, where Lucille smirked at them. She made a small motion, whispering 'Morsmordre', and a skull, snake emerging from the mouth appeared from smoke. She smiled cruelly at the jury, and several of them shivered in fear. The smoky death's head disappeared as her attorney touched her arm, leaning close to whisper something.
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After Minerva was sworn in, the Crown asked, "Ms. McGonagall, please tell us about Miss Malfoy at Hogwarts."
"Miss Malfoy is a ... difficult student," Minerva admitted. "Due, no doubt, to her previous incarnation as Lucius..."
"Objection!" the defense shouted. "My client's past is of no bearing!"
The judge rapped her gavel, "Sustained. Miss Malfoy's past has no bearing on her current behavior. Please continue."
Minerva glanced at them, irritated. "Miss Malfoy had engendered a great deal of hatred among the other students, so much so that we thought it prudent to house her with Ms. Narcissa Black, her former wife."
"Please discuss the events of September first."
"A normal start to the school year, except when Severus, Professor Snape reported that Miss Wayne was missing. We notified DMLE, instituted a search, which was continued onto the train the next morning. We were able to follow her to a particular stall in the girl's loo, where the trail went cold." Minerva continued, "We picked her trail up in the Headmaster's Journal in 1379, where Headmistress Oldridge narrated her day-to-day adventures. I have brought the relevant journals with me from Hogwarts, although they are spelled so only the Headmasters might read them. I have also brought sworn statements from the faculty and students."
"Objection!" Defense called. "We cannot verify these!"
"Oh, but we can!" the Crown replied. "We have a witness that has been brought forward from that time!" The audience murmured, Madame Bones leaning forward from the Bench to ask, "Ghosts cannot testify, you know that."
"She is as alive as you or I," the Crown replied. "We shall reach her testimony in a bit. Ms. McGonagall, please continue."
"Together, each side of the divide in time constructed a device that, when synchronized, would create a temporary ... bridge in time, allowing Miss Wayne and Miss Yates to cross." She paused a minute, adding, "It was difficult enough here, I have no idea how Miss Wayne was able to do it in the Dark Ages. They did, however, and tested it over the Christmas holidays. It was impressively loud," she added.
"You yourself took a little trip, I understand," the Crown asked.
"Indeed I did," Minerva said. "Miss Wayne's mother, becoming understandably concerned about her daughter, contacted a mage she knew. Mage Zatanna contacted others, including Mage Merlin and..." she paused, "... two demons, the Demon Hella and the Demon Etrigan." A ripple of conversation spread around the courtroom, Minerva taking the opportunity to conjure a glass of water.
"Is Miss Wayne a Dark Witch?" the Crown asked.
"She is not, nor is her mother," Minerva replied with a snap. "As you know, Mages are a law unto themselves. Neither of the Waynes summoned demons, who, by the by, were surprisingly ... friendly. The demon Etrigan took me to Hogwarts of the late fourteenth century, where I became acquainted with Headmistress Oldridge, as well as Miss Yates and Miss Anne Bundy." She took another sip of water, adding, "I have brought along from Hogwarts both the relevant copies of the Headmaster's Journal, as well as statements and depositions Alberta, pardon me, Headmistress Oldridge, as well as faculty and students forwarded to me." She tapped the bundle of sealed scrolls.
"Bailiff, please copy the scrolls and enter them into evidence," Madame Bones said, and Minerva handed them to him.
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"I call Miss Anne Bundy!"
Anne stood, making her way to the floor, where she was administered the oath: "On my magic, I swear to tell the truth." The Crown paced a bit, before asking, "Please state the place and date of your birth."
"Bundy Manor, London, November 25, 1365."
"You don't look six hundred years old," he said, and she smiled. "Tell us how you came here, Miss Bundy." She started to reply, when he said, "No, on second thought, how did you meet Miss Wayne?"
"The Headmistress introduced her at the start of term. We were informed that she was visiting from the future, and we were not to press her on the future, on pain of memory wipe and expulsion," Anne said. "Despite her best efforts, she let some things slip, particularly the two times she forgot her silencing spell when she went to bed." Mattie buried her face in her hands as Anne smiled, "She was particularly... lonely for a fellow named Arthur, and after she returned from the Dark Mage's castle. However, it was after her first trip off planet that we met Miss Yates."
"Off planet?"
"She acquired a starship and her boon companion, Miss Yates on a trip to another star. I do confess to stowing away on one trip," Anne admitted. "Another star with other forms of intelligent life, it was most remarkable. Some the size of a bug, some twelve feet in height and covered with fur."
The Crown's solicitor blinked as the courtroom erupted in conversation, and Madame Bones banged her gavel to restore order. When he could be heard again, he asked, "The starship is not a figment of Miss Wayne's imagination? It actually exists?"
"Indeed it does, I hold a spacer's guild certification," Anne snapped. "You thought we were all alone? The galaxy teems with life!" The courtroom erupted again.
"How did you arrive in our time, then?"
"I pined to journey to the future, and when it was determined that such a trip would not affect the future history, a plan was determined to do so." Anne turned pensive, "I last saw my family alive at Christmas in 1379, where I discussed the plan with my father. With his consent, we arranged things to falsify my death in the fourteenth century to maintain the timeline. The Headmistress did transfigure a pig that was thrown off the Girl's tower to its death. What you know as the Astronomy tower," she added. "I then entered stasis aboard the starship, whereupon I slept those six hundred years, awaking February first of this year on one of Neptune's moons."
"Why February?" Madame Bones asked.
"It was felt best that I have time available to adjust to this century. It is quite different," she admitted with a small smile. "I must offer my gratitude to you, Miss Malfoy. Had you not cast the spell to send Miss Wayne back in time, I would not have met her."
"Objection!" Defense called, "Unproven assumption!"
"I know what I know!" Anne called as the gavel banged. "'Twere not for her, I would now be dust, ignorant of the wider galaxy!" The gavel banged again, the courtroom settling back down.
Madame Bones asked, "Are you willing to stipulate your client casting a time-travel spell? That does seem to be a common thread in this testimony." The defense huddled with his client under a privacy spell. Banishing it, he stood and addressed the court, "My client admits to casting a temporal spell to eliminate her enemy, Miss Wayne. We admit nothing else."
"No further questions for this witness," the Crown said, Defense standing to shake his head. Madame Bones told Anne, "You are dismissed, thank you for your testimony." As Anne made her way back to the spectators' seats, Madame Bones added, "We shall take a break for lunch. Jury, please follow the bailiff where you will eat, everyone else, please return in ninety minutes, at... two o'clock."
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Defense stood to address the court. He paced back and forth, "My client is charged with usage of Avada in the murder of Miss Cassidy Yates, an associated charge of manslaughter as my client's alleged target was Miss Wayne. There is a charge of attempted murder of Miss Wayne. As we know, Avada causes instant death, therefore, without the Unforgivable; there is no case against my client. I therefore call as a witness..." he looked about the court, "Miss Cassidy Yates!"
People murmured, then there were shocked gasps as Cassidy stood, making her way to the witness stand. The crown's solicitor put his face in his hands.
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After Cassidy was sworn, Defense asked her, "Please state the location and date of your birth."
"Mars station, March 15, 2367 using a Terran calendar," she replied calmly. "Different planets use different calendars, of course, and stations use the ones of the planets they orbit. Ships use their home station's calendars and clocks." She addressed the court, "I won't answer questions about the future, though."
"It seems confusing," Defense admitted, and Cassidy smiled. He waited a moment, but she didn't elaborate. "Why won't you answer questions about the future?"
"I'll change it if I do," Cassidy replied. "For instance, if you know the date and place of your death, you'd avoid it." He nodded, "While I don't know everyone's, I do know several peoples', and if that changes, it creates an effect, similar to that game, what's it called, with the small blocks in a row."
"Dominoes," someone said, and she nodded. "Thanks. The net effect is people will die when they shouldn't, other people don't die when they should. If I answer, I could potentially kill millions of people."
People murmured, and Madame Bones gaveled again for quiet. She told Cassidy, "You are excused from those questions, then."
"Thank you, ma'am."
"How did you meet Miss Wayne?" Defense asked.
Cassidy thought for a moment, "Chained nude to a display pole in a slave market on Eridani III." She waited for the ripple of comment (and Madame Bone's gavel), to restore order, then explained, "I had been kidnapped, and managed to time-jump in escape, burning out my magic in the process. It just got me a change of masters, but when my master laid eyes on Mattie, he gave me to her, and ran for orbit." She smiled at the memory, adding, "She didn't want a slave, but we wound up being forced to play Mistress and slave until she could free me legally, a long, involved and expensive process. That's when we got the starship."
"I find myself most curious to see this starship," Madame Bones said, to general agreement.
"I brought Alfred's remote, but the Yates would never fit in here," Cassidy said. "He's a small ship, but not that small."
"Who is Alfred?"
"I am," the holographic head said, as people turned. "I am the manumitted Class II artificial intelligence aboard the Yates."
"Thank you, sir, but Miss Yates is testifying now," Madame Bones said. He sniffed, and the Defense proceeded, "Miss Wayne bought you..."
"I was given to her," Cassidy clarified. "We played Mistress and slave in public, in private, we were partners. We needed each other, I needed her legal protection; she needed my knowledge. Together, we built the time machine, and passed the specifications uptime through Headmistress Oldridge."
"What happened to it after you left?" Madame Bones asked.
"It was dismantled and placed aboard the Yates," Cassidy replied. She mused, "I had a sob session with Minerva when she visited, and she forced me to realize what might happen. I was fated to die April first, and so I did, but I wasn't enthusiastic about it, knowing the exact time and place of my death." This caused a ripple of comment.
"Yet you are here, and manifestly alive," Defense said. "No murder, no crime committed."
"I was murdered," Cassidy replied hotly. "I have the scar above my heart, and I can tell you exactly what happens with the Killing Curse. I've spent the last two months in the ship's sickbay having my body rebooted after Mattie got me there in time."
"Ah, but HOW did she know?" Defense asked.
"We moved the ship closer, Minerva suggested it."
Defense smirked, "I have no more questions, I simply wish to reiterate, no murder, no crime. We have the alleged victim sitting in the witness box, alive as any of you."
"Does the Crown have questions for this witness?" Madame Bones asked. He shook his head, and she said, "The jury is released to deliberate."
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The jury room was chaotic. One finally climbed on the table, shouting "Shut UP, you lot!" They calmed down, and he continued, "We have to have a unanimous verdict to convict. Now, unofficially, how many think she killed Yates?"
Four hands rose, along with his, and they looked at the lone holdout. The elderly witch shivered, "She's a Death Eater! I can't have more of my family dead! I can't..."
A younger witch placed her hand on her shoulder, "This isn't official, and this is just how we're thinking. Do you think she did it?" The older witch sniffled, tentatively raised her hand in agreement.
"We're agreed, then," the wizard said. "The problem we face is we can't convict her, because she'll come after us. Any of you lot trust the Ministry to protect us?" There were snorts of disgust, and he asked, "Any of you lot Slytherin? We need a plan."
The younger witch raised her hand, "I'm a Slythie, but I don't see anything right away. We're boxed, if we return a divided vote, she walks; if we convict she comes after us. You lot do understand that IS Lucius Malfoy, You-Know-Who's right hand man? Azkaban's never held him for long, even if we vote to convict."
"Pity there's no death penalty," another wizard commented. "I'd feel better about a conviction if there was a possibility she'd receive the veil."
"We voted it down, though, and a 'life' sentence is a hundred years," a fourth said. "Bloody brilliant, that was."
"But how would she know how to find us?" the elderly witch said. The younger witch patted her hand, "They'll find us, dear. If we vote to convict, I'm moving to Canada."
A wizard levitated around a tea set, "I wish we had a third option," he admitted. "Why don't we go over the testimony?"
"I was surprised at Yates's appearance," the first said. "Her showing up gutted the Crown's case like a fish. I'm surprised nobody asked her to stay away."
"I'm sure they tried," the younger witch said. "I would have." She addressed the table, "Let's take it step by step. Does everyone believe Wayne was cursed back in time?"
People nodded, and the first wizard said, "Hooking up with Yates, and buying the starship?"
"I'd like to see the bloody thing," the younger witch said. "Does everyone believe their building something to come forward in time?"
"This is so complicated!" the older witch fretted. "Why couldn't she stay there?"
The third witch, silent until now, snorted, "Would you? Would you want to stay away from family and friends, knowing the wrong word could kill millions? I wouldn't. I'd like to know how she got off planet, but the question is: did Malfoy kill Yates by accident? I think she did, when she was trying for Wayne. Except that if I vote to convict and you lot doesn't, Malfoy walks."
"That's the problem, isn't it? Malfoy goes free and we hopefully stay alive, or we vote to convict and we're dead."
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Saturday, June 9, 2001:
Hogwarts, Great Hall, Gryffindor table: 12:14
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Minerva stopped by the Gryffindor table, "Miss Wayne, Miss Bundy. I've just received an owl that the jury has reached a verdict. Change quickly into a fresh uniform, and meet me in the Entrance hall if you wish to hear it."
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As Anne struggled with her tights, she asked, "How was your potion?"
As Mattie adjusted her tie, "Too thin, and the wrong shade of brown, yours?"
"It should have been clear, but was like thin milk instead."
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Saturday, June 9, 2001:
London, Charing Cross Station, DMLE, Courtroom five: 12:28
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"The jury has come to an impasse and I have been assured that further deliberations will serve no useful purpose," Madame Bones stated. "Please stand, Miss Malfoy." She examined the note again, eyeglasses on the tip of her nose. "They vote five to one in favor of conviction; however, they have taken an Unbreakable Oath not to reveal who voted which way. Therefore, under the rules of jurisprudence enacted by the new wizarding constitution, the case against Miss Malfoy is declared 'Not Proven'."
The outrage of the spectators was beaten down by a banging gavel. "We will have order in this court or I will clear it." Quiet returned, slowly enough that Madame Bones glared harshly at those who were slow to retake their seats.
"Miss Malfoy, your bail, wand and property is ordered returned to you and you are free to go. Court is adjourned." Her gavel rang down with finality.
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