"Look lively." The auror said as he kicked the door to my cell. "You've got a visitor."
I had been locked up for a week now, with the only contact with the outside world being a thrice daily visit from an auror bringing me slop that was supposedly a nutritious meal. I had had no visitors, no letters, and definitely no news about the happenings of the wizarding world. My requests for a lawyer had been ignored, my requests for a copy of the Daily Prophet had been laughed at, and after a few days, I had given up asking all together. I contented myself to writing a damning expose once I was free from this hell.
The auror disappeared and soon returned with Lord Arcturus Black, perhaps the most powerful man in the Wizengamot, excluding the Minister for Magic.
"You have ten minutes; I can't distract them for too much longer." The auror said to Lord Black.
"Thank you, Mr. Snide." Arcturus said before reaching into his pocket and depositing a hefty looking bag into the man's hands. The auror bowed his head and left, the cell's door slamming behind him.
"Mr. Bovin." Arcturus nodded at me, before leaning back against the wall of my cell, looking far younger than his seventy plus years.
"Lord Black." I returned, still perplexed at his presence.
"You've caused me a lot of trouble." He began. "I've been to see Lucius already. I promised him freedom. You know what he told me, Mr. Bovin?" He didn't allow me to answer. "He told me 'not without Bovin'. Lord Malfoy is a very selfish man, Mr. Bovin, he cares little about people who are neither his family, nor the few friends he does have. Now, I will ask you this only once, Mr. Bovin. Why is Lucius Malfoy so concerned about you?"
"As you say, Lord Black, while Lucius' friends are small in number, I count myself lucky enough to be one of them. Lucius is very loyal to his friends."
He narrowed his eyes.
"I consider myself a good judge of honesty, Mr. Bovin. You're not a good enough liar to fool me."
Silence hung in the air for a few moments before he continued. "I'll be watching you Mr. Bovin."
With that he walked out of my cell.
When the sound of his footsteps had disappeared, I let out a hiss of agony and looked down at my wrists. They were red and blistering; having been burned by the magic-suppressing when I had to force my magic to work in order to maintain my glamour. Most wizards would be unable to do that, but Voldemort is not like most wizards. I hadn't noticed the pain at the time, presumably due to the adrenaline, but Merlin, I could feel it now.
I sat down back down on my bed, and started to count the cracks on the ceiling, I kept getting different numbers each time, I was determined to get the definitive number.
Anything to keep the boredom away.
Lady Malfoy Sues the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Demands Husband's Release!
By Keelan Reverere, Justice Correspondent
Yesterday (December 19th) Lady Narcissa Malfoy, wife of the recently arrested Lord Lucius Malfoy, filed a lawsuit against the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, the Minister for Magic, Head Auror Alistair Moody, and the Head of the DMLE Regina Ashwood, on behalf of her family and those of the others arrested just a few days ago.
It comes after the shocking arrests of 24 politicians and journalists, who the Ministry have declared to be members of the Death Eater terrorist organisation – the Ministry are yet to release any evidence supporting their claim.
The suit alleges that the arrests were unlawful, and that the Ministry are not treating the prisoners in accordance with the law. The suit alleges that the prisoners have been denied access to legal representation, visitors, and proper food and drink – all of which are required by the Rights of Prisoners Act of 1942.
Lady Malfoy, who runs the Malfoy Foundation, which recently fundraised 200,000 Galleons for Saint Mungos Hospital, has demanded her husband be released, along with the others arrested in the Wizengamot Chamber on Monday declaring in a press conference held outside of Malfoy Manor, "not only has the Ministry detained my children's father illegally, they have not a shred of evidence as to why his arrest was necessary. My husband is not a Death Eater. My husband was never a Death Eater. My husband is a public servant, who has dedicated his life to the betterment of this country."
The suit is due to be heard next week in Sorcerer's Court.
Court Verdict is Split – Wins for Both Sides
By Richard Pewter, Justice Correspondent
Yesterday (January 2nd), the Sorcerer's Court Justice, Maria Truly, ruled in the case of Ancient and Noble House of Malfoy et al. v. Magical Britain and Ireland et al. Her verdict was split, meaning neither side got everything they wanted.
Writing in the opinion of the Court Justice Truly said that: "It is disturbing to find that the basic legal rights of those detained have been violated." Declaring that the Ministry must give the detainees access to legal representation.
Justice Truly also awarded the families of those detained 1000 Galleons for every day they have gone without the right to see an attorney, meaning they have each been awarded 35,000 Galleons.
However, it was not all bad news for the Ministry, as the Court ruled in its favour regarding the legality of the arrests. "The idea of legal sanctuary is strictly a matter of convention, and as such, this Court cannot find that the arrests were made illegally. As such, those responsible for the arrests will not be held in violation of the law." Justice Truly wrote.
This means that Head Auror Moody and Head of the DMLE Regina Ashword will in no way be held accountable for the arrests of the 24 people at the Wizengamot. The ruling also found that the Minister -who ordered the go ahead of the arrests after the aurors stormed the chamber- will also not he held liable. Legally, it is the Ministry who has been fined and held responsible, not any particular individual.
Speaking to the Daily Prophet soon after the ruling was read out in the courtroom, a Ministry spokesperson said, "We accept the ruling of the Court, and apologise to those detained and their families. We realise that they should have been given access to their legal representatives as soon as they were arrested, and we apologise unreservedly for that."
Lady Malfoy, who brought the case against the Ministry, told the Prophet, "While I am thankful for the Court acknowledging the utter disregard for jurisprudence that the Ministry has shown with the treatment of my husband and the 23 others, I find it reprehensible that their arrests have not been struck down. It has been the way of our society for hundreds of years, that the Wizengamot is a place of safety, independent of the Ministry and its forces."
Lady Malfoy has officially appealed this section of the ruling – meaning that it will now be heard by the Magical Court of Appeal. The Ministry says it has no intention of appealing the ruling.
Magical Court of Appeal Upholds Lower Courts Ruling!
By Rexus Finlay, Justice Correspondent
Yesterday (January 24th) the Magical Court of Appeal upheld the original decision of the Sorcerer's Court in what has come to be known as the 'Malfoy Case'.
In his decision, Justice Jacob Jameson wrote, "This court finds no legal reasoning by which the arrests of the 24 named defendants could be found to be unlawful."
Lady Malfoy told the Prophet, "I am not deterred by this decision. I will now appeal to the Wizengamot Court. I am determined to see my husband freed."
The Ministry in a statement said, "We are pleased by the ruling, and hope Lady Malfoy understands that an appeal at this stage would be fruitless."
The Prophet will keep you updated.
Lord Arcturus Black strode confidently through the Ministry building, headed for the lifts. He had an appointment with the Chief Warlock which he hoped would be fruitful.
Arriving soon after at the obnoxiously gold-painted door, he removed some imaginary lint off his robe before knocking, entering once admitted.
"Lord Black!" Uwuckle Trent said enthusiastically, the Lord Black suppressed wince at the harsh, gravelly voice of the Chief Warlock, the man had clearly come down with something.
Arcturus nodded his head respectfully before sitting in the offered chair.
"Chief Warlock, I thank you for giving me time to talk to you."
"Of course, my Lord." He coughed before continuing, "now what is it you wanted to talk about? You were rather vague in your correspondence.
"Well, sir, as you are well aware, what the Ministry did regarding our honourable colleagues was reprehensible."
The grey-haired wizard nodded sagely. "Indeed, I have been rather frustrated by the unwillingness of the courts to sort this out.
Arcturus smiled grimly – he loved it when he didn't even have to argue with someone for them to agree.
"Indeed, alas, annoyingly they have the right of it. Having looked into the matter, the sanctity of the Wizengamot is not enshrined in law."
The Chief Warlock spluttered. "That is preposterous!"
"I think so, too. Which is why I propose a new law -applied retroactively- in order to free our colleagues. It is only right, after all, that we free them, it was of course not their fault that the law was not established enough to protect them."
Trent nodded, before asking, "would it not set an awful precedent though, applying laws retroactively?"
"Potentially, but there is no reason to do this with other laws, and if we are explicit enough then it will be ok."
Trent pondered it for a few moments, before responding, "yes, I suppose you're right. I'll have it introduced once the debate over the spending review is complete."
Arcturus offered his hand as he stood. "Thank you, Chief Warlock."
The most powerful man in the Wizengamot, officially at least, smiled as he shook Arcturus' hand. "Of course. Go get them, Lord Black!"
Lord Black chuckled as he left the room. It was only too easy.
"The ayes have it, the ayes have it." The Chief Warlock announced to the assembled Wizengamot. "Now, I have authorised an urgent debate. To introduce his bill, Lord Black!"
There was a loud murmur as the Chief Warlock sat back down. They had not been informed of this urgent debate. In fact, it was the first urgent debate in years. Their curiosity was certainly piqued.
"Thank you, Chief Warlock for granting me this time. Lords, Ladies, Representatives, I need not remind you of the horrendous overreach that the Ministry exhibited last month when it took forcefully, 23 of our members from us. 23 honourable members of this assembly, detained, denied counsel and a month later not even charged! Now, the courts, rightly, claim that the arrests were not illegal. It is true that the sanctity of the Wizengamot is not enshrined into law. But we have the power to make it so. To make it so that when you enter this chamber to carry out the people's business you do not have to look over your shoulder whenever you disagree with the Ministry. To ensure you can carry out your democratic duty, what the people sent you here to do, and hold the Ministry, and each other, to account. It is a travesty that the sanctity of this Chamber was not already enshrined into law, so let us remedy this now and fix this miscarriage of justice before it happens again. The scribe should be handing out copies of my proposed law now. Take a look at it and vote for it to become law. So we can prevent this abhorrent behaviour happening again. Thank you."
He sat down to a fair amount of applause, but equally jeering from the Ministry benches. He scoffed; pricks, he thought, as he readjusted his robe.
The Chief Warlock stood up. "Thank you, Lord Black. Now, as you have not had the chance to examine the document, I propose we adjourn for twenty minutes before reconvening."
Half an hour later and everyone was reconvened.
"Those of you wishing to ask a question of the Lord Black please press the white button."
The number on the floor of the chamber rose to 78.
"Very well, let us begin with the Minister for Magic. Lord Crouch!"
"Thank you, Chief Warlock." The Minister did not sound very thankful at all. "Lord Black. Not only do I refute the accusation that these arrests were somehow immoral, I wish to know why you think it is a good idea to start retroactively applying laws to the people of Britain and Ireland."
"Lord Black!" The Chief Warlock shouted once the Minister had sat down.
"If you had read my bill, Minister, you would have known that it is very specific, applying only to matters of the sanctity of the Wizengamot, not to any other case." He sat down once more.
The Minister raised his wand, signalling that he wanted to respond.
"Lord Crouch!"
"It sounds to me, Lord Black, that you are simply trying to use the Wizengamot as a tool to get your fellow Death Eaters off the hook!"
The Chief Warlock stood up in fury. "Lord Crouch! I will not have you accusing the honourable members of this body of being Death Eaters! If you have any proof of this claim I suggest you show it now, otherwise, rescind that comment, or I will have you removed from the chamber!" He shouted.
The Minister stood up. "I apologise, Chief Warlock. I revoke my accusation."
Trent nodded. "Very well. Now then, Representative Tersty!"
For seventeen hours straight, the Wizengamot debate the bill, with the Chief Warlock refusing to adjourn the debate. Once word got out that the debate was not going to end, members of the press started trickling in, as well as curious members of the public. Such a stunt by a Chief Warlock was unheard of. Representatives fell asleep on their benches, as did a few Lords. But the Chief Warlock steadfastly refused to adjourn. Lord Black, on a cocktail of pepper-up potions that he had his house elf bring in, stayed awake, and continued answering the questions asked, until the number on the floor of the Wizengamot reached zero.
The Chief Warlock stood and banged his gavel furiously, waking up those slumbering lawmakers with a fright.
"The debate now drawing to a close, I ask the sponsor of the bill, Lord Black what he wants to do with his bill."
Lord Black stood. "If it pleases you, Chief Warlock, I submit the bill to a vote."
"Very well. Do you have a second?"
Representative Hewston, a member of the TWP stood. "I second the motion."
"Very well. All those in favour say aye."
A loud chorus of ayes was heard.
"On the contrary, no."
A lesser chorus was emitted.
"The ayes have it, the ayes have it. The bill will be sent to your desk promptly, Minister."
Lord Crouch stared furiously at the Chief Warlock.
"And now, in a move that I presume you will all be grateful for, I adjourn this session of the Wizengamot."
The Wizengamot collectively cheered.
