Disclaimer -- it isn't mine -- it's all JK Rowling's and just... wow...

Trials and Tribulations

The pre-trial of the Richardsons' hearing was held in one of the smaller court rooms at the Ministry of Magic. Both of the adults being accused were notified of their rights under Wizarding Law and told that their trial would begin three days from then. They would be held in protective custody until the day of the trial, and would not be allowed to see the boys prior to that day. At the end of the trial, innocent or guilty, they would be allowed to see their son. If they chose to see Ian, it would be supervised.

Three days later, the Wizened Gamut listened to Inspector Maples, Harry Potter, Ginny Weasley, and Sirius Black, regarding the events leading up to the arrest. Rowan sent in a written statement but did not attend the trial. Madame Pomfrey testified on the history of recent injuries of this child. Celery, the Medi-Elf, told the court about the extent of the injuries. Mr. and Mrs. Richardson did not defend themselves in any way until the very end.

Professor Dumbledore gave them the opportunity to speak at the close of the trial. Mr. Richardson stood, trembling as he addressed the group assembled before him. "I have been very angry that my brother and his wife left their son with us. I turned my back on this world when I was eleven years old. He chose to enter it. He chose to marry one who was like him. And he chose to have a son and rear him along the same lines as his choices allowed. I never wanted Ian Richardson. I never wanted to hear my brother's name again.

"At one time, we were very close, but when he chose to attend the school that taught him to be one of… you… people, that all changed. I wanted nothing more to do with him. When our parents died, I met and married my wife. Until three days ago, I did not know she was like me. That she, too, had turned her back on this… world. We had one son. My brother and his wife had one son. They are only a few days apart. Until he was dumped into our laps, we had never seen him.

"Our son and Ian are friendly. But that really bothered me. I didn't want Ricky's life to be tainted by the unnaturalness of this world. I will not apologize for that. I will also not apologize to this court for making Ian Richardson see that magic is not the way to live in the normal world. Nor will I ever acknowledge that you have any right to judge me or my wife." He concluded as he sat down.

Mrs. Richardson stood, started to speak, thought better of it, and returned to her seat, to hold her husband's hand.

Harry Potter stood and walked in front of the couple. "Whether you acknowledge this court's jurisdiction over you or not, they have it. You make me sick. You forced this child to have the life that I was cursed with.

"My Aunt and Uncle never wanted me. They beat me to take away my magic. They locked me in a dark cupboard for days at a time. You made the choice to keep him in your home, rather than send him to an orphanage. You made the choice to HIT that defenseless child when it was YOUR son doing the magic.

"Ian Richardson's magic is contained because for the first few years of his life, his parents taught him how to control it. You are the ones that caused your son's outbursts. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE THINGS YOU DID TO HIM." He turned to the court taking a deep breath to steady himself.

"I, Sorcerer Harry James Potter, believe that these... people, who turned their backs on the wizarding world, will continue to cause harm to the children in their custody. As long as they are allowed to retain guardianship of any magical child, they are at risk. I would like to recommend to the court that their parenting privileges be stripped and the guardianship of Ian Richardson be transferred to his Godparents, who have also agreed to take Ricky Richardson.

"If you allow these people to return without punishment, I beg the court to require them to have intense counseling until such a time as it is recommended by that counselor or team of counselors that their visitation and parenting privileges be restored."

Turning to the couple, he said, "I want you to realize that because you are BOTH magical, that any children you conceive will have magic of some kind. Your families both have many magic people in them. I hope and pray that you will not have any other children until you learn to deal with the unique gifts that they will, undoubtedly, have." Turning back to the court, he said "Thank you."

The courtroom was cleared. Only the Gamut was present. After a lengthy discussion, it was decided that because there was extenuating circumstances, that in-patient counseling would be most prudent. The couple would be remanded to St. Mungo's for the immediate duration of six months. At the end of that time, the court would reconvene to decide if further punishment would be necessary.

The boys in question, Ian and Ricky Richardson would be remanded to the temporary custody of Ian's godmother, Mrs. Casey Abbott. Regular visits to the Riddle House would be necessary, as would the needs of the boys would be evaluated. Clothing, bedding, and anything else needed for them would be supplied by the Riddle House for the duration of custody.

The accused were brought back in and the sentence read. Both were stone faced as they were escorted to St. Mungo's. Inspector Maples asked Sirius if he was going to tell Rowan about the results. Sirius met his eye for a moment but said nothing. After Sirius left, Remus followed. Unsure, Steven left to tell Rowan of the final decision.

The day following the trial, Mrs. Casey Abbott, mother of Hannah Abbot, came to the Riddle house to collect the boys and discuss what she would be expected to do. Hannah accompanied her mother to pick up the two boys. She chatted happily with Hermione, while the others gave details of what had happened to the senior Abbott. Before they left, Hermione asked if Hannah would be at the New Year's Eve party at the estate. She agreed and grinning, told her that she would bring Seamus Finnegan with her.

Inspector Maples' Story…

Inspector Maples entered the house and found it strangely quiet. "Hello Rowan," he said as he entered the sitting room, "I wanted to let you know about the outcome of the trial. The house elf let me in, I hope I'm not disturbing you..." His sentence drifted off when he looked at her. Her hair was in a pony tail, her eyes had dark circles around them, and her skin had a strange pallor to it. "Are you okay?"

"I've been a bit...sick of late and haven't had company. I wasn't expecting anyone either. Please forgive my appearance." He eyed her warily. "Sit please, have some wine or tea..." She was trying to be gracious, almost glad for someone to be there. Glad that her elf knew she really didn't need to be alone anymore.

"Rowan, where is everyone?"

She looked up from her book. "I don't really know. I haven't been good company lately. You okay?" He nodded, but seemed a bit apprehensive, "Steven, what's wrong? I won't bite, I promise."

He laughed and relaxed a bit. "I'm sorry, was I that obvious?" She smiled and agreed that he was, "It's just that, well, your husband, husbands? Sirus just doesn't like me. I don't really want to get on his bad side."

"I don't really care, I have kind of...shut them out for the past few days. I'm not sure that either of them like me either right now. Besides, they are not here. I haven't seen either one… in a… well, in awhile. How about we don't touch, you stay on your side of the room, and I stay on mine. We have always worked close together, but I don't know you." She said casually.

"I would like that. Why are did you shut them out and since when are you not good company?"

"I haven't spoken to anyone in awhile. I have just kept to myself. I don't know if they are actually mad at me or anything, but I just can't deal with any of them for now. Because of that, I kinda shut down my home to visitors, including my husbands. I am sure they are off sorting things out or doing research. The kids? Well, I ignore them. I just stay tucked away here. Its nice most of the time, but sometimes… I would like a friend. Besides, I physically feel terrible and that doesn't make things easy. I would appreciate it if you stayed and just talked for a bit. Please." He nodded, still unsure, "How about this one? So when's the last time you were in the states?"

That seemed like a simple question to answer. "About fifteen years ago..." He drifted off into a story of his United States Army career as a physician, changing paths within a year and becoming a Military Policeman in the Criminal Investigations Division.; his first assignment being England. He talked of the first Wizarding War and meeting Remus Lupin. They discovered the men responsible for the military deaths weren't actually American Military, but death eaters who were trying to infiltrate the military. It was quite confusing when all was revealed.

"I gave up trying to understand. We met for drinks at a club in London where we both proceeded to get pretty hammered. He started talking and I couldn't believe the word coming out of his mouth. Here was a man I had worked with, closely, for just over 6 months, telling me that not only was he a wizard, but also a werewolf. I wanted to leave, but thought if I did that he might hurt himself or someone else. He couldn't have been stable." Steven relaxed a bit, took a drink from the glass of wine an elf had brought in and continued. "He asked me if I would like for him to prove it. Next thing I know, we are walking down a London Street in the middle of the night. He was drunk and telling me about his best friends and their betrayal. He cried as we walked. He kept falling into me. We were quite a sight.

"He took me to the Leaky Cauldron. He said he wasn't sure I could get in because I was a Muggle. I stopped and asked him what that was. He told me 'non-magical' I told him that was a stupid name really." He laughed a great bark like laugh at the memory that reminded her of Sirius. "Anyway, so we go into this pub and meet this weird guy named Tom. We keep talking through the night. Firewhiskey is not a nice thing to drink on top of Tequila.

"The next morning, I wake up, IN BED, with this man. Both fully dressed mind you, but he was still snoring. Or there was a long train outside the window, I didn't know which. I went to the bathroom and washed my face. The mirror talked to me. I decided right then that I was still dreaming the dream of a very drunk man. When I got back into the room, he was sitting in bed puking. I laughed at him 'cause he couldn't hold his liquor. I was also really glad I had already gotten out of bed." His smile was infectious. During this entire story, Rowan just nodded and laughed at the appropriate time, encouraging him to continue.

The elves served them dinner in the sitting room, along with another bottle of wine. He continued and thankfully, swallowed between words. "So anyway, he pulls out his wand and does a quick little spell on himself. Then turns and points it at me. My head cleared instantly. He took me down into the pub for breakfast and then into Diagon Alley.

"On a whim, he asked me to go into Olivander's. We went, because I had no clue what to think. That weird old man looked me up and down and started handing me wands to try. Finally one felt… right. I looked from one to the other and couldn't breathe. Mr. Ollivander cast a quick calming charm on me and explained that I did in fact have magical power; but obviously had never been brought out.

"When we left the store, Remus took me to Hogwarts and Albus agreed to meet with me once a week until I was trained well enough to not have classes. I returned to my unit and decided that I didn't have anything left in that world. I resigned my commission and was given an early out. I never looked back either. I never thought I would want to be a Muggle again.

"I met and married a young witch. Cassie was beautiful. She looked so much like a girl I knew from high school. Anyway, we married and settled into a pretty decent life. She was from a wealthy family, so I could continue to learn magic. Within the first three months, we found out she was pregnant. Our children were born on our first anniversary. God, they were beautiful. Our son, Seamus, did not survive. His heart did not develop properly. But our daughter Sarah… She looked just like her mother; smart, magical, and beautiful.

"When she was almost five, there was a knock on our door. I answered it and stared into the face of a man who introduced himself as Antonin Dolohov;" Rowan shivered when she heard the name, "and said that he needed to speak with my wife. I invited him and his friends into the house. Within ten minutes, I was half dead, watching my wife being slaughtered and a man standing over my daughter…

"Ministry officials found us the next day. I was barely alive and taken to St. Mungo's. They told me when I woke up that I was the only one to have survived the attack; I was in the hospital for over six months. By that time, they had buried my family. I have never even asked where.

"When I recovered, I wanted to be an Auror. I went through training and assisted the Order of the Phoenix and Albus Dumbledore with some of the more covert assignments. I have really thrown myself into my work and not taken time to be anything other than soldier and officer.

"When your group returned from the US, Arthur called me into his office to see if I would be interested in heading up the new CAC Criminal Division. I jumped at the chance to work with those kids. I respected what they had accomplished and thought I could help them with their future goals.

"Next thing I know, I am in my own office with my own autonomous staff, and we are working strictly with the new sorcerers and this place to bring in those adults who have mistreated the children. I haven't been this busy since Voldemort resurfaced."

He stopped talking. Rowan was not sure if she should say anything or if he was going to keep talking. A smile broke across her face. "You know what time it is?"

He looked at his watch. Meeting her eyes he laughed, "I've talked for a while, huh?"

She said, "Yes, but I didn't mind. There is a potion in your wine that has kept your throat from being sore while you talked. Don't worry, it isn't a truth serum or anything, just a little something so you could talk longer than you thought you could.

"How about a bedroom? Get some rest; you look like you need it." He nodded and a house-elf appeared to show him the way up the staircase and showed him a room to sleep.

Rowan, with the hint of a mad woman, left a note for her Remus and Sirius just in case the House elf allowed them to come in and walked through the door into the Riddle House. Her next stop was the hospital. Because each child gave a small vial of blood when they first come to the Riddle house. It would be used to identify potential family members should the orphans suddenly have family appear to take them. Several times, the test had proven close family ties. Once, it proved no relation at all.

She walked into the Snape Lab, as it was known to staff, and asked Helen to get Sarah Malfoy's blood for her as it would be needed to conduct a test for a person who claimed to be her mother. The tech prepared the proper enchantments and parchment, placed a single drop of blood on it next to Sarah's name and handed the parchment to Rowan. She also recommended that the test be performed within the next thirty days. Rowan nodded and left the hospital.

Steven rose just after eleven that morning. Rowan was waiting for him in the dining table. "Hello sleepyhead." She laughed.

"Good morning. Is there coffee?" Rowan pointed at the seat which had coffee and breakfast. As she watched him eat, she thought about all the things he had told her the night before. After leaving the hospital, she met with Lucius and Narcissa about her house guest. They agreed that Sarah should not be told of the suspicions until a final determination was made.

Draco and Madison would return from New York this afternoon. There would be so much to do before Christmas and the Weddings that this could not be put of for long. Surprisingly, an opportunity presented itself immediately. Steven, reaching across to get butter for his biscuit, scraped the edge of his knife against his finger. It bled. Seizing the opportunity, Rowan grabbed his finger and cleaned it with a napkin. Before he realized what she was doing, she had a drop of blood dangling onto a parchment.

"What are you doing?" he asked her.

"Oh, sorry, I just wanted to get a sample of your blood so we can type it in case of need."

"Oh, you coulda just asked." He said after the drop hit the parchment.

"Sorry." She glanced at the parchment, before rolling it up and putting it in her pocket. They were just finishing breakfast and Steven was preparing to leave when Rowan looked up into the face of her daughter and future son and squealed her delight, forgetting about the test in her pocket.

Steven left her home and apparated back to his flat in London. Madison seemed reserved for the most part, and when she asked about Steven, Rowan laughed and recounted the story from last night. When she asked about Sirius, Rowan ignored the question.

Since Ian's rescue and subsequent discussion, Rowan continued to feel ill regularly, the stress of her lack of sleep, memories, and missing Remus and Sirius made her throw up on a regular basis. As for her exercise, she continued tp run every morning, even though there was now eight or nine inches of snow on the ground. Because she didn't want to admit she was always afraid of running alone, having a heart attack and dying before anyone missed her; since their conversation, Steven could now be found most days accompanying Rowan on her long morning runs.

Sirius watched them from a distance, but had not returned home to talk to her. He kept out of sight, at times feeling like a stalker. He just couldn't come to grips that he had not been there when she needed him most. His guilt had become something of a cloak behind which he could hide. He felt anger the longer he allowed it to continue. He had yelled at his children that they were not to talk about it again, but all he wanted to do was talk. He chose to continue to stay away rather than deal with any of the pain she had suffered.

Madison saw the two adults on a morning run run when she stepped out onto her balcony. Smirking, she pointed them out to Draco. He pulled her back inside with a passionate kiss and did not give her any time to think about her mother.

With Christmas fast approaching, the founders shopped like the world was their playground, because it really was. Harry and Ginny, and Ron and Hermione had purchased gifts while rescuing children all over the world. Mason and Katie had been spending so much time with the house that they were going into London for the day to shop. Draco and Madison had purchased everything in New York. Sarah returned to the Manor from Hogwart's.

Christmas for the children at the Riddle House entailed families all over the Wizarding world were utilizing port-keys to take one or more children to their homes for the holidays, to be returned on January 2nd. This gave the staff time off, the children a place to be away from the House, and the parents of the younger group time to enjoy getting to know them again.

Rowan did her shopping by owl post that year; Steven picked up anything that she wanted from the Muggle world. First on the list were clothes for Ian, Ricky, Sarah and Seamus, with trinkets for everyone else. She sent her brothers' gifts to their homes, before settling herself in the library to wrap the rest. Steven joined her laugh at the discarded wrapping paper and the tape that was stuck to her forehead.

After getting her sorted out, and several more hours of careful wrapping and addressing, Rowan finally stood and stretched, he did the same. She stopped for a moment and a huge evil grin broke out across her face. Suddenly remembering the test, she grabbed his hand, and said "COME WITH ME!" As she led them to the fireplace and flooed to the Malfoy Manor; seeing Draco, she said "Would you get Sarah and Seamus? THANKS! Dobby!" he appeared, "Would you bring the others here please!"

She continued to drag him by the hand until they reached the library. Everyone entered to see Rowan talking to Steven, a huge grin on her face as she was being animated again. No one was ever sure if that was a good thing or not. Noticing their arrival, she asked everyone to sit. "Steven, first, let me apologize for the smile on my face. I know what I am about to ask you about will be painful, and I am still going to smile. Forgive me in advance," he nodded, "I thought about the things you told me about the night you lost your family. I do not believe that your daughter was actually killed."

Steven was immediately angry, but did not say anything. She raised her hands. "You never actually saw her death? I mean you said you blacked out and someone was standing over her. Right?" He nodded. "Do remember when I got you to give a drop of blood for typing?" He nodded again, his eyes narrowing. "I lied about what I wanted it for." She said simply, waiting for him to explode.

"The blood drop was put on a piece of parchment for a test, but not for typing." Draco watched them with interest. Rowan produced the parchment from that morning, laying it out flat, and asked Draco to do the actual test. Holding his hand over the parchment, he said, "Geneious".

Everyone was standing now, looking at what she was doing. The drop of Seamus' blood sent tendrils out to Sarah's. They watched spell bound as Sarah's blood began its own tendril search to Steven's blood. Draco gasped as the lines grew stronger. At first, Draco thought that Steven was Seamus' father, but Seamus' blood did not go to Steven's, only Sarah's. Rowan watched the reaction of the two people standing across the table from her. They watched, but did not jump up and down as she expected them to. "Aren't you happy?" Rowan asked.

"About….?"

"Steven, the blood; don't you see? Sarah, do you?" They did not answer her. Rolling her eyes in a fashion Draco associated with Hermione, he heard her continue "Seamus' reacted to your blood because you are his BIRTH MOTHER. Sarah, yours reacted to Steven's because….."

Sarah screamed as she comprehended what the woman meant. She looked into the eyes of the man beside her who still did not get it. "Daddy?"

He looked from her to Rowan and back to the Parchment. The trek was repeated several times. "SARAH?" His eyes widened. "MY SARAH?"

Sarah threw herself into his arms crying "Daddy. Daddy. Daddy." Over and over she cried as he held her; closing his eyes to the rest of the world. Draco watched while he held Seamus. Rowan walked around the table to stand next to her soon-to-be son-in-law.

"A bit smug, are we Rowan?"

"Yeah, what can I say - I am good! But, before I get too much credit, it only occurred to me after we had dinner and he talked all night." She reached and took Seamus from Draco who had said he needed to tell the others. After a bit, Sarah and Steven broke their hug. Rowan handed Steven his grandson. The large hulking man was still crying as Rowan left them alone, muttering "Happy Christmas."

Lucius waited for Rowan. "Rowan? Sarah is at the University now and Seamus is with us while she is in classes. We had hoped he would attend school at the Riddle House Primary...I know you did the right thing, but we are so used to having Seamus around, do you think she will keep him from us now? "

Rowan smiled, "No, I don't think so. You have been very good to her. Besides, Steven is a CAC investigator. He lives in a tiny one bedroom flat. You could just ask him if he wants to move in here."

"You could do the same. Close, but not too close."

"I will if it will make you happy Lucius."

"No, she won't," Sirius had walked through the door; she was stunned as he talked, "I want time with my wife. He'll be here all the time anyway…" He said the last part casually, but no one was fooled.

She looked at him for a moment without speaking, feeling sick again. Putting her hand over her mouth, she ran to the nearest loo and vomited, before flooing home alone. Sirius watched her when she ran away, but made no move to follow her; later returning to Grimmauld Place with Remus.

No one saw Steven or Sarah for several hours. When they emerged from the room, both had swollen eyes but very large smiles. Lucius spoke to him for a moment, inviting him to stay at the Manor for as long as he wished. Sarah squealed when Steven accepted.