Chapter Twenty-Two: Black Hair, Blue Eyes – an Inocente Combination

The attorney for the prosecution looked as though he was at the end of his rope. Not that Lily blamed him – it was difficult to vie with a memory modifier and a ventriloquist. However, there was no way Sirius Black was going to Muggle jail on her watch, even if he could escape immediately. The second day of deliberations had begun with a bang when seven different news stations (and less than news stations) had congregated around Sirius to ask him his thoughts about the trial.

"Aren't you annoyed with the police by the fact that you were arrested?"

Sirius looked sheepish, but elegant and haughty all at once, and stared the reporter straight in the eye –

"Annoyed? No madam, I am ashamed. It is true I am perfectly innocent – but that I should give cause to the State of California – to arrest me? It is my fault and mine alone."

Lily very nearly sighed at that last remark, remembering that she was dating James just in time. Only Sirius could pull that off without the slightest pinch to his conscience – and yet appear as though he were the most moral man alive.

"And you, Miss Evans, how did you come upon this position as Mr. Scrimgeour's attorney?"

"I'm a family friend – actually, I'm dating his agent, er – Jimsie Potts."

"I believe a picture is in order, then."

A flurry of flashbulbs went off as Lily and James were photographed, looking admirably shy and photogenic.

"Miss Avery, a word?"

"Yes," spoke Lummy, skeptically, her previous experience with reporters was less than memorable.

"What do you think of Mr. Scrimgeour's situation? Did he bring this upon himself, or is this another example of bumbling authorities?"

"Mr. Scrimgeour is innocent, but I will not blame the authorities. It is merely one of the many snarls of our imperfect law enforcement system – a whim of human error if you will."

Lily very nearly whipped around at this statement – was this the prank-playing, Sirius-dating, somewhat goofy Luhrmalleen Delaware from Hogwarts? Lummy played Narcissa Avery to the tee, her glittering green eyes glancing at Sirius' direction, barely giving away the fact that she too found it a most interesting game. Sirius, on the other hand, was staring wonderingly in Lummy's direction with a look of unmitigated lovestruckness. If Lummy was Sirius' match in looks, books, and tricks, she was now certainly his match in shtick. After the formalities of court had elapsed, the attorney for the prosecution was standing once more.

"The prosecution has exhausted its witnesses."

"Miss Evans?"

"The defense would like to call the defendant, Rufus Scrimgeour to the stand."

Sirius did something that no one had really seen outside of films such as Jerry Maguire – he strutted up to the box, almost as if he were a model walking the runways, but without any feminine movements. He exuded charm through his very clothes – Lily could have sworn that the judge herself involuntarily fixed her hair when Sirius strode past her. He was wearing a crisp blue shirt, matching his sapphire eyes, and a well-cut pair of black trousers. His hair was combed slightly to one side – the smallest whisp of hair falling into his face before he flipped it out of sight. Lily was sure that he could win the case on his own, especially with such an accommodating jury.

"Mr. Scrimgeour, describe, in your own words, what happened that night."

"I had just heard about this movie that my agents – Mr. Potts and Mr. Lycan had contracted me for," stated Sirius, slowly and deliberately, giving the tiniest of glances to the jury. His grimace was even more fleeting, but James caught it and groaned.

"I decided to spend the rest of the evening in my room – lounging and so forth. After all, the love," (on love, Sirius gave a radiant smile to the jury), "of my life," (Sirius flashed the same smile at the Judge), "Miss Narcissa Avery was still en route from Delaware." He ran his hands through his hair unnecessarily.

"All of a sudden, there was a deafening knock on the door. I realized then that Misters Potts and Lycan were asleep, and could not be bothered with the door. But I had not felt so afraid since I was a child," whispered Sirius, his voice nearly cracking on the word afraid.

"However, I have taught myself to be unafraid. I opened the door – and the men poured in – in black masks. I believe there were three. I thought they were going to kill me – hurt my friends, but they only wanted wealth. I travel very lightly – the only thing of value was the furniture that belonged to the hotel. I tried to stop them – oh – I tried," continued Sirius, pausing dramatically to look plaintively at the jurors.

"But it was one against three – and they were armed. They tied me up, and took the furniture," ended Sirius, and then he did something very unexpected and rather intelligent. He rolled up the sleeve of one arm, and on his wrist was a rough but deep scar, almost as if someone has really tied very tight ropes around it. The silence around the courtroom was almost frightening, for although the jury had just heard of what had happened, the visual evidence was far more compelling.

"Bloody brilliant," whispered James to Lily in front of him, and she had to agree. All nine women in the jury were shedding tears unabashedly; one girl had even wrung out her handkerchief once.

"Where is that scar from?"

It was James' turn to laugh – he knew precisely where it was from, and was slightly ashamed to have helped cause its existence, but he kept mysteriously quiet (1). Lily began to speak once the sobbing had subsided,

"To give the jury an idea of what type of person you are outside of your acting persona, would you be so kind as to recount a story from your school years?"

"Objection, question is irrelevant," piped up Attorney Jones.

"Defense, how do you respond?"

"It pertains to the moral make-up of the defendant, and is therefore relevant to the outcome of this case, your honor."

"Objection overruled."

Sirius took another deep breath, and launched into the tale of one of his more interesting pranks – not mean, and not particularly magical, but a immature, second year prank. It brought laughter to the courtroom, and Lily thought she saw the elderly man in the jury box wink at Sirius. Even the dark haired man was starting to warm up, as he was now sporting a friendly smile.

"This line of questions had ended your honor." Mister Jones stood up with extra flourish, perhaps in a weak effort to vie with the charm of Sirius Black. He gave a glance of pure venom in Lily's direction, and began,

"Did you or did you not frighten Miss Elizabeth Dalton?"

"Sir, I have never met Elizabeth Dalton before – she did seem particularly eager to meet me, so I do not believe she was frightened," retorted Sirius, adopting the quick snap-backs that he often used with McGonagall.

"Was she not at the autograph session?"

"I do not believe so – there have been so many, after all. Besides, I cannot remember each and every one of my fans, as important as they are to me."

"Did you or did you not throw all of your furniture out the window of the Beverly Hills Hotel in a fit of rage?"

"I do hope not."

"Answer the question, Mr. Scrimgeour."

"I do not believe so – you flatter me Mr. Jones," (Sirius looked directly at the two younger males in the jury), "Not even the fine fellows in the jury box over there could have lifted a Louis XIV desk unaided."

"That will be all."

"You may be seated Mr. Scrimgeour."

"Thank you, Miss Feinberg." The judge blushed, but replied snappily,

"That is Judge Feinberg, please."

"The defense would like to call Miss Narcissa Avery to the stand."

Perhaps Sirius was the king of pandering to the crowd, but Remus was not mistaken when he called Luhrmalleen Delaware an actress. Her long blonde hair swept past her eyes, flowing open like a sea of spun gold (as Sirius adoringly referred to it). Her piercing green eyes stared straight at the neglected male jurors as she flashed a goofy, but flirtatious grin in their direction. She took the oath, but Lily was certain that the dark-haired juror felt that she was taking an oath to him, rather than to the court.

"Miss Avery, how have you come to know the defendant."

"Well, Siri-Rufus Scrimgeour and I have known each other for some time before our acting careers merged. He's helped me get on track with some things in my life, but I never knew how wonderful he was until we were on the show together."

Lummy's green eyes sparkled, and Lily thought she heard one elderly woman sigh "Young love." The questioning continued much as it had done previously, and Lily felt that her case was now cemented. When Mr. Jones was called upon to give his closing, Lily knew that the facts were against him – especially after the housekeeping of the Beverly Hills Hotel testified that the window in Sirius' bedroom had not even been opened the day that all the furniture had been dropped. When it was Lily's turn to give her closing, she did something that entranced and scared James very much. She took down her silky auburn hair from its severe bun, glanced with her own startlingly green eyes, and gave the speech of a lifetime.

By the time she had finished, the courtroom was in tears. But as soon as the judge gave permission for the jurors to move into deliberation, James jumped up from his seat, and kissed Lily as if there was no tomorrow.

"Lils…"

"Yes? James was that…"

"Lily Evans, it was perfect. Every syllable, every word, every sentence, stunning. But as wonderful as that speech was – oh, and was it wonderful, it cannot compare."

"Compare to what, James?" But James was no longer at eye level – he had slid down to his knees.

"It cannot compare to the perfection that is you, my dear. Marry me?"

"Marry you?"

"Yes, Marry me."

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Well, that was abrupt, but sweet. Review, and you shall be invited to wedding.

(1) The scar was from the Quidditch wrist band that burns when James wants a practice