Peter Pettigrew, Most Wanted
CH 07
ISDH
PPMW
August 10, 1995
Deloris Leaned Forward. "How does the Accused Plead?"
Tonks Smiled. "Not Guilty of the Crimes Accused."
[Flashback]
July 31, 1995
The Treehouse
Titlington
Edward 'Ted' Tonks had just returned from his small Law-Office in Leeds where he practised Muggle and Wizarding Law. He could smell his lovely wife, a Goddess both in the Kitchen and in her Healer's Green Robes, brewing up a dinner to both fill him and revive him.
"That You, Ted?" The Wife yelled.
"Yes Dear!"
"You have an Owl in your office!"
Ted frowned. Most owls did not enjoy being inside more than they had to be. A beauty of a Snowy was on the owl stand that his personal owl used when he was sending a letter out. But his owl used it maybe twenty minutes per week. Seeing the Wizard, she barked and offered her foot. A fat scroll hung from her jesses.
Taking the scroll, he found a letter, three forms from the French Ministry of Magic, a copy of a British Ministry notice for Underage Magic Use, and a Vial containing a Memory. Reading through everything, Ted smiled. He was being offered twice the going rate to represent one Lord HJ Potter, as the Minister, his Hatchet Toad, and the 'Purebloods' try to shaft him in the Courts.
"Beloved! I have Court on the Tenth! Need a really early breakfast." He called as he left his office, and entered the Kitchen. "My newest Client, paying me double my going rate, to pooch the Ministry's screw."
"Anyone I know?" his precious daughter was licking a wooden spoon used to make tonight's 'afters'.
"Lord HJ Potter."
Nym choked as her hair changed colour. "You know where he is?"
"Why do you ask?" the Lawyer's gut twisted.
"Professor Dumbledor is looking for him." The Girl tried for innocent.
"And why would the Headmaster be looking for a Lord of the Realm?"
"He wants to protect Potter."
"What gives him the Right to determine things for Lord Potter?"
The Rookie Auror frowns, "He is Albus Dumbledor. He never said…"
"Did you swear any oaths to the Head-Bastard?" Andy asked her daughter.
"He asked for a secrecy oath, but Moody stomped on that. Why?" The young witch looked worried.
"Now I know why I was offered twice the going rate." Ted looked at Nym. "If you want to know, you will be at the trial."
"And the Headmaster?" Nym's hair went green.
"He can watch from the gallery." Ted mounted the stool beside her, as Andy served him a cold can of beer.
Nym nodded. "Odds are, I have some info that you will need to know."
Dinner was a Quiet affair that night.
[end flashback]
Deloris Leaned Forward. "How does the Accused Plead?"
Tonks Smiled. "Not Guilty of the Crimes Accused."
"Dumbledor for the Defence!"
The Toad sneered, "A bit late to the Hanging…Professor!"
When Albus moved to sit at Ted's table, he was blocked. "My Client has not recognised you as a member of the Defence. You can sit in the Gallery."
"I have evidence…"
"Then I will call on you… from the Gallery."
Bones made a motion, and two of her Aurors stepped forward and escorted Albus to the 'Visitor' section. The real pleasure was the shock on his face when he noticed that it was 'Shack' and 'Tonks' that escorted him up the stairs.
Umbridge purred, "That was fun. Now to the matter at hand. Potter is accused of using magic in the presence of muggles."
"That is the Charge." Ted smirked. "But the wand used that night was not the wand registered to mister… sorry, Lord Potter. Sorry again. Wands."
"What are you saying?" the toad thumped her desk.
"I am saying that there had to be more than one wand to cast these spells." Ted Tonks waved the British Ministry form. "Three separate Patronus charms fire ruffly at the same time. Not to mention the 'muggle repulsion' and 'notice me not' hexes." He put the notice back on the table to the far right. "Unless you are declaring that this … 'Lad' is stronger than Albus Dumbledor?"
Umbridge hissed, and pounded her gavel. "Irrelevant!" She took two deep breaths to regain control, and then in her sickly sweet voice, "So, he had help. When we have him in custody, we pour Ventisurem down his throat and run them through the Courts too!"
Fudge looked wide eyed at the 'Traditional' block. He could see where that was going.
"Ah!" Ted smirked at the toad-faced witch, "You can not do that! Lord Potter is a member of this august body. It is against the Law to Force a Lord of The Realm to submit to that potion."
"I can do as I Damn well please!" the Toad was red-faced with fury. "I Serve the Ministry! No one is above the Ministry!"
"And the Ministry is Bound by these very same Laws as the rest of us!" Ted Roared back. "Chief Warlock, I find that I am forced to Move to have this Judge removed from the Bench! She has broken no less than three laws since we began this Mock Trial." He dropped onto his bench, "Then maybe we can start this Trial properly."
"Mock Trial?" Umbridge gasped, before looking up at Fudge. "What is he talking about Corny?"
Bones stood, and Signalled Runcorn and Hammer to take the pink dressed witch into custody. "Corny never opened the Court, never even touched his Gavel. You have threatened the Rights of our Lords of the Realm. First with this sham of a trial. Striping the Lords of their Rights to Stand for Us." Bones moved to close the Gap between her chair and the Judge's post. "No Traditionlist would ever allow any of your actions to come to pass. It would set a precedent. What is Good for Potter is Good for Malfoy. Or Parkinson." the two named lords nodded, "Take her to the cells. We will want to ask her questions later. We were drawn here to ask Potter why he was doing Magic in front of muggles, outside of school. Normally this would be handled by me, a scribe, and two senior aurors." Bones frowned at The assembled masses. "King, Rufus. Join me. Scribe. We will start in five minutes. Everybody else. Sit and watch or be dismissed."
Ten minutes later, Bones nodded to Fudge, and he Banged the court session of August the tenth, 1995, into session.
Harry Potter was charged with the crimes of casting spells out of school, in front of muggles, and with reckless abandon.
First, Auror Tonks spoke up that the spells cast that night were Hers, and two wizard's that were visiting a Squib who was running a Kneasle breeding farm in the area. When two Dementors arrived to pay the Lad accused, a visit.
Second, Ted Tonks revealed that Potter had been in France, just outside Nice, for a week prior to the night in question, and had a signed affidavit by the French DMLE Director. Another note claimed that Potter was in the employ of said Director, and would be until the morning of Sept. first.
Third, there was an injunction filed, preventing the Actions of the British Ministry and Hogwarts from interfering in the Actions and Duties of Lord HJ Potter, and it was Binding until the First of the New Year. It also reformed that Potter, HJ was in fact Lord of House Potter and no longer bound by the Underage Restrictions. He still needed a passing OWL to keep his wand after the end of the Year.
And Because Dowager Longbottom was curious, Forth, An investigation was Why two Dementors were there.
The Light Block took it as Justice Done.(Except Albus who still wanted Potter under his thumb, but had no knowledge of his exact whereabouts. He now had France and Nice as targets, but was legally blocked from searching.)
The Traditional Block took it as a victory as the Rights of the Lords of the Realm were cemented. (the True Dark were denied a harmful thrust at Potter, but took a victory lap with Albus being denied his Positions as Chief Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, and the Potter Magic Guardian.)
The Neutrals just Laughed at Albus as he stormed from the Courtroom.
PPMW
The London Underground,
Warwick Avenue area.
Peter looked both ways, before folding in on himself to become Wormtail. He then scurried up a drain pipe, about 5 metres before dashing along the spillway, to a set of stepps. Once more human he climbed two flights of stairs, only to revert to a rat to access the gap between the concrete wall and the iron cage, where he waddled fifteen feet to find the 'breaker room' door. A tap of his wand, and he was in. Only certain muggles knew of this place, and with his very basic runic work, he blocked all but the most determined from finding again.
Inside, he had a camper's cot, a muggle hot plate, an electric coffee/tea pot, and the 'breaker room' had a sink and working toilet. He only needed to leave once a week for supplies, which a muggle homeless support group helped him with. A weekly trip for a Prophet, and a small wizard's wireless kept him informed.
He could hear the Rat-catchers calling for him in the deep tunnels. His Arm had burned three times in the weeks since he ran. After the first burn, he ran faster. After the Second, he owled the Master, explaining why he was avoiding the summons, that by hiding as he was, the Master was better protected. The third burn was a general 'All that can hear me call'.
He pulled a bag from an inner pocket, dumping pre packaged sandwiches, bags of crisps and twists, and nuts, and a few cans of pop on the cot. He was set for the next week…
PPMW
Harry pulled himself from the pool, only to collapse on a patio lounger.
After a week in Nice and one in Paris, the Grangers were moved into a Villa owned by the Blacks, manned by a trio of Elves, Happy and Eager to serve even Muggles.
Harry had spent the last three weeks playing interested Wizard to young Gabby, as the 'chick' bloomed into young womanhood. The two day fussing over the girl, one day away, plan helped the three of them with everything.
Gabby was dead set on being Harry's side piece. She knew that she would never be his Prime, and welcomed the older witch(Hermione) into her life. Eight days into her 'moult', the poor girl's hair fellout. It was during an afternoon swim on a 'date day'. The poor girl was crying, fearing that her male would be displeased with her. Instead, Harry took up her Hairbrush and comb, and stripped the shedding loches from the girl's head. When he was done, she was as bald as an egg, but he hissed her crown, and pointed to her sister.
"No Doubt she went bald at this stage too, correct?" as Gabbi sniffled, and nodded, "Then we wait for your beautiful curls to regrow. Tomorrow is a rest day, so you can regrow your perfect head of hair, and I will be over early for breakfast, and we can brush your new curls, and braid your hair. Unless that is something you would rather do with Hermione."
Gabbi cried herself to sleep with tears of joy, and her Mamam carried the sleeping 'chick' to bed.
When next they saw her, Gabbi was glowing with joy, as her hair fell to her knees, and she had a selection of silver combs in her hands for Harry to run through her Hair, before braiding and pinning it into place. That was three hours of bonding time between the three of them.
This was the life of two kids, students of Hogwarts, until August 28th.
Dan and Emma spent the morning on the private beach of the Villa. Lunch crafted by loving and loyal Elves. Afternoon was split between a local tea parlour for Emma while Dan was either golfing or shooting, or shopping or visiting the veris districts about France.
Until August 28…
This was the life of the two Dentists from Crowely.
PPMW