I'm not abandoning this fic, to those that have been concerned. I did write the first 30k words in just over a week, but unfortunately I can't keep up that pace forever. Updates will still come, just not twice daily anymore. Probably expect one every day or two. Bey.
The day of the Malfoy trial, Nagini not only removed the smart muggle suit she had set out for herself, but also her entire wardrobe, presumably in cohorts with the elves, as moving clothing would be almost impossible for a snake. Instead, she found an assortment of old fashioned dresses and formal robes. Each garment was finely made and most probably cost more than she owned. Resigned, she donned the black knee length dress and heels that had replaced her suit on the chair. An elf popped in to do her makeup and pulled her hair into a stern, businesslike bun.
The head elf had then brought her breakfast, which was notable in itself because like the Hogwarts elves, the Nurmengard elves were never seen as they performed most of their duties.
The head elf was older than Kreacher, dressed in a sheet that could have come from the bed in Grindelwald's cell. His large, batlike ears drooped slightly on one side, which gave him a very lopsided look. Hermione scented a potential SPEW victory even as she pondered the unusual service.
'Suds must be seeing Mistress for monthly meeting, Suds cannot reach the Master.' The elf grovelled, offering her a plate of exquisite little sandwiches on a silver plate as if to appease her for his unexpected appearance.
'Ah, yes.' She placed her book aside and took one of the sandwiches, gesturing for the elf to leave them on the table. She had learned the hard way at Hogwarts that a direct approach was not the way forwards with house elf rights. They poor creatures were so indoctrinated that they didn't even realise how they were treated was unfair.
'Suds is reporting that the kitchens is less busy with less people. Suds promises that when Hogwarts' elves return to Hogwarts, kitchens will make better dinners again.' The elf reported officially and Hermione nodded, doing her best to look friendly as the elf suddenly became less sure.
'Suds does not know if the Mistress needs a Ladies' Elf, we's not had a Ladies' Elf since Suds' father was a small elf ' He questioned. She pondered for a minute, wondering what on earth a "Ladies Elf" did, she assumed something like the job of a ladies' maid in a medieval household. If that was the case, she could certainly dress herself.
'I believe we can do without a Ladies' Elf for now thank you, Suds. Now, I have a few matters I wish to discuss with you.' She said, catching the creature before he could disappear. Fear wrote itself across the elf's face. 'Your attire for example, it is unacceptable.'
'Suds' attire, Mistress?' The elf repeated, puzzlement replacing fear.
'Yes, that sheet is positively filthy. I would like every elf to wear something clean.' She clarified, then, as if the idea had just occurred to her, 'how about a uniform, that way the elves can be seen in public and serve guests even when they are not using the enchanted plates. It would need to be practical of course, and comfortable, bearing the phoenix crest and in the house colours.'
The appalled expression that the elf had worn at her initial suggestion of clothing, quickly changed as she explained her reasoning. By the time she was finished, the old elf was actually nodding along with her.
'Please, discuss the matter with the other elves and bring me your suggestions at the next monthly meeting.' She dismissed, focusing on the sandwiches to disguise her triumphant grin. The elf disappeared with a pop and left Hermione to her breakfast.
Harry met her and they flooed to the ministry at exactly half past nine. A hunched man met them at the wand desk, looking inordinately proud as they were identified and he led them to the elevator. The man announced them loudly to the only other person in the downward-bound cage; a wizard with a very round face looked up from a scroll he was reading, nodded and went back to his perusal of the parchment. Their escort looked like his disinterest was a personal affront, but before he could say anything, the lift stopped at the Department of Mysteries and the man got out.
The trial would take place in courtroom two – the largest and most impressive room for trials, courtroom one being reserved for the debate and voting over laws. They took a sharp left turn and took a set of stairs opposite the door to the Department of Mysteries. Voices drifted up from below – she could hear Luna and Ollivander, as well as the excited tittering of Rita Skeeter and the clack of her camera. Hermione smoothed her robes, knowing that if all went well, her and Harry would be sharing the front page with two of the Malfoys the next morning.
She'd been to courtroom ten before in her disguise as Mafalda Hopkirk but two was a very different room. Two was massive, the blue-green tiles forming arches that disappeared into the mass of waiting dementors that swirled beyond a dozen patronuses above their heads. The floor was dark wood, broken by three black holes which the prisoners would rise from. Arranged so that they looked down on proceedings, the Wizengamot were arrayed in their purple robes. Kingsley stood at the podium in his official role as minister, his own signature violet robes standing out against the plum of his compatriots.
The witnesses and the media were led to benches at floor level, although still behind an intimidating wooden facade which separated them from the central floor. She took a seat with Harry on the "defense" side of the room; a movement that immediately garnered a reaction from the assembled media.
Luna came and sat with them but the majority of people sat with the prosecution. Among their number were a tearful looking woman accompanied by her husband, a widowed old lady and Ronald Weasley. The red head sneered at them across the room which yet again garnered another flurry of movement from the reporters that separated them. It wouldn't make the front page, Hermione guessed, but it would probably be second or third.
Once everyone was seated, Kingsley called for calm and introduced the session. With a grating noise, three chairs rose up through the holes in the floor, bearing a bound Malfoy each. She couldn't see their faces but both all three sat straight in their chairs, heads held high even as dementors flanked them.
Kingsley began by reading their crimes and asking if any of them denied that they had committed these acts. All three of them did, which moved the trial into the evidence presenting stage. He began with Lucius Malfoy, asking why he believed himself innocent, to which he answered the imperius curse. The room burst into an uproar as people shouted abuse towards the Malfoy heir. The minister had to send up sparks to regain order, and even then people only silenced unwillingly. The elder Malfoy was then given a chance to argue his case, which lead to him explaining how he'd named a half blood as Draco's godfather, clearly proving that he was not a blood supremacist.
With no witnesses to his defence, the proceedings quickly progressed to Narcissa. Hermione stepped up to the witness podium immediately and relayed how she'd been imprisoned in her own house at the end of the final battle and how she'd tried to stop her sister from torturing her last Easter. She argued in the exact wording that Harry had provided for her, that Narcissa had been under the coercion of her husband and then later on the direct threat of Voldemort himself. Harry then stood up and relayed something about how she'd stood on the sidelines of the Battle of Hogwarts instead of participating. Finally, Luna said that she'd snuck them a bottle of dittany whilst she was imprisoned.
Narcissa then provided several memories for the perusal of the wizengamot, claiming that her husband had hit her on several occasions for suggesting they flee and several more proving that Voldemort had tortured her. She claimed that everything she had done was to try and protect her son.
With that the spotlight was turned to the youngest Malfoy and Hermione provided the memory of Dolohov dragging him up the path, clearly saying that he wasn't showing enthusiasm and that he'd be punished for it, she then also provided a memory of his unresisting body leading Grindelwald into the manor; you couldn't tell he was under an incredibly strong imperius from her angle. Harry related how he'd refused to identify the clearly recognisable trio at Easter and then offered the memory of him crying in the bathroom.
Malfoy offered up several more memories and then Kingsley asked any witnesses for the prosecution to stand up. The couple told the wizengamot how they'd been tortured y both Malfoy men for information on their auror son before managing to use an emergency port key to escape, although the woman had admitted that the younger Malfoy had been very reluctant to participate. The widow had to be escorted out as she burst into tears describing how she'd hidden in the closet as her husband had been murdered by Lucius Malfoy.
Ron then explained how Mafoy had been a bully since their first year, bragging about his pure blood and how he hated muggleborns. He described how Lucius had slipped a cursed book into Ginny's cauldron and been responsible for the attempted murder of several students. He then described how Draco had framed Buckbeak, which was dismissed as irrelevant. As he moved onto sixth year and reminded the court of how he'd endangered the lives of the students, including the attempted murder of himself, Madam Bones interrupted him.
'Mr Weasley, we are aware of Mr. Malfoy's infractions. Unless you have anything relevant to add, please return to your seat.' She ordered and Ron went bright red. He gaped like a fish for a few minutes before hurrying back to his seat.
There was a short pause as the wizengamot discussed the proceedings, then Kingsley called for silence again to read out their sentencing. Unsurprisingly Mr Malfoy was found guilty and sentenced to life in Azkaban, to the cheers of the assembled witches and wizards. Then Narcissa and Draco were given a year of house arrest followed by five years of probation to observe their behaviour without Lucius' influence, which caused interested murmurings. He had to pause as Ronald was dragged from the room, hurling insults at both the Malfoys and Hermione. Their drama would definitely make page two she decided.
Kingsley asked if anyone wished to dispute this sentencing, at which point Hermione stood and reminded the court that both their habitable homes had been destroyed during the fighting and made and apparently generous offer as Lady of Nurmengard to house them until their French home could be repaired. The Wizengamot hardly spent a minute discussing this before they agreed and the Malfoy's sentence was adjusted accordingly.
The sighs of relief were drowned out by the furious shouting of Lucius as his chair sank back into the floor so that he could be escorted back to Azkaban. Meanwhile the chains slithered back into the remaining chairs, freeing Draco and Narcissa. They were escorted by guards out of the room to fill in the relevant paperwork and Harry and Hermione left the now loud courtroom to follow them.
They waited outside the office on level four until the Malfoys had had a trace placed over them and their wands returned. Already anticipating the waiting reporters, Hermione took the time to fix her hair to match her public image. Narcissa and Draco emerged back in the clothes they had been arrested in and with surprising foresight; Harry summoned Kreacher with a fresh set of robes for them both.
As anticipated, they made the front page... and the second.