Totally just hitting the AUs here.

Official warning: Dark themes, murder, sexual shit, swearing

...

So, just to keep this chapter from getting way TOO long, I'm going to split the trial into a few chapters:

The start/Tonks' testimony

Remus/Charlie

Harry/Kingsley

Lucius/Deliberation

Verdict

This guarantees at least 5-6 more chapters haha

The idea behind a morning trial had been that they were hoping the Daily Prophet wouldn't pick up the time of the trial- but they were wrong. Aurors had to restrain Rita and another Daily Prophet reporter, who had been insistent on entering the trial.

Harry, on the other hand, walked up to Rita and happily handed her an official notice from Kingsley himself. "You're not allowed anywhere near this trial." He said firmly. "That's what happens when you annoy The Boy Who Lived, Rita. You lose your story to the Quibbler."

Rita looked annoyed as Luna walked passed her and into the courtroom. The Quibbler had gained large amounts of respect since their reports during the war, and even after, when Luna and her father published as many exclusive interviews with Harry and Order members as they received.

The trial was restricted, unlike other trials had been. Kingsley was present, but not the one presiding, he was simply there to answer questions about Tonks' time as an Auror. He was sitting next to Remus, Charlie and the Malfoys, all in the front row of the benches, and the rest of the Weasleys(minus Fred, who was in St Mungo's himself still, and Ginny, who was babysitting Teddy) and Hermione were sitting behind them. A few Order members and a few Aurors were sitting in the otherwise empty benches. Luna was sitting with a roll of parchment in one hand, a quill in the other and a quill tucked behind her ear.

There was a chair in the middle of the room, in front of the two tables were prosecution and defence were sitting, where the witness would sit to give their answers. Tonks, wearing the grey Azkaban robes that all of the inmates wore, was sitting beside Harry and Dawlish at one of the tables behind the podium facing the Wizengamot, her hands on her lap. She had been allowed to be there without shackles- a common practice, unless the accused was known to be violent, and despite the nature of the crimes, it had been decided Tonks did not pose any risk of violence or fleeing.

Audrey was a younger woman, and as it turned out- she had gone to school in Percy's year and had been a Hufflepuff. She had met Tonks a few times because Tonks had graduated in her fourth year and it had been determined that despite that, there was no chance of a personal bias on Audrey's behalf. Sitting at the table beside the table where Tonks, Dawlish and Harry were sitting was the Prosecuting Wizard, a man with thin dark hair and eyes that always seemed to be narrowed at whoever he spoke to, Angus Cunningham.

"This court is now in session." Audrey said clearly, and the already quiet courtroom seemed to become completely silent and face her. The Wizengamot, in their plum robes sat quietly behind Audrey. "Today, on February 7th of the year 2001, the Wizengamot has gathered to hear evidence about the charges being brought on Nymphadora Andromeda Lupin for treason, four counts of premeditated murder and one count of assault resulting in permanent injury. Interrogators are Audrey Adrienne Pebbleburn, Junior Assistant for the Minister of Magic, and Angus Bernard Cunningham, Prosecuting Wizard. Court scribe is Percy Ignatius Weasley, the Senior Undersecretary to the Minister of Magic. Witnesses to be called will include Remus John Lupin, Kingsley Elijah Shacklebolt, Charles Septimus Weasley, Harry James Potter and Lucius Abraxus Malfoy."

"The Wizengamot calls forth the accused, Nymphadora Andromeda Lupin." Audrey continued. Tonks rose slowly and walked towards the chair and faced Audrey. "Nymphadora Andromeda Lupin born March 13th of 1973 in London, England under the name Nymphadora Andromeda Tonks. Is this correct?"

"Yes." Tonks said clearly.

Audrey nodded and Tonks sat. "The Wizengamot recognises Angus Cunningham." Audrey said, and Cunningham stood, walking over to face Tonks.

"Mrs Lupin, you are here today to face allegations that you, knowingly and willingly, killed four wizards and caused permanent injury to one other. Do you deny these claims?" Cunningham asked.

"No, I do not."

"According to the confession you gave to Auror Potter, you admitted to permanently incapacitating Antonin Dolohov. Is this correct?"

"Yes."

"And you admitted to being the one who killed Fenrir Greyback, Augustus Rookwood, Rabastan Lestrange and Alfred Travers. Do you deny these men died at your hand?"

"No."

"Did you go to any of the victims with the intention of killing them?"

She hesitated. "No." She finally said.

"On May 13th of 1998, you met with Antonin Dolohov, but you didn't kill him. Is that correct?"

"Yes."

"And why did you go to Mister Dolohov?"

"My son was taken from us on the night of May 2nd in 1998, when my husband and I were at the battle. Dolohov had cursed Remus and I was under the impression he had been killed by his curse-"

"If I'm not mistaken, Remus Lupin is sitting right in the courtroom, isn't he?" Cunningham asked.

"Yes."

"How is it that you were unaware of your own husband's survival?"

"I was distracted by a new duel, and by the time I got back to Remus, he wasn't breathing anymore."

Cunningham surveyed her. "So, you're under the impression that your husband is dead, your mother is dead and your son has gone missing. Less than two weeks later, you're face to face with a Death Eater. What was your intention?"

"I was trying to get answers. I assumed because he slipped from the battle before any of them could be arrested, that he was part of the group that had taken my son."

"And was he?"

"No. He told me Greyback would know."

"And why did you Obliviate Mister Dolohov?"

"So he wouldn't remember that I had been there."

"Is that because you had faked your own death? Why would a mother who was searching for her son fake her death? Surely the Order of the Phoenix could have helped you?"

"I- yes. They were helping, they were searching."

"So why would you fake your own death to conduct a search yourself? Unless you were planning on killing at least one of the Death Eaters you came in contact with?"

"I didn't want them to follow me. I knew that if the Order followed me, or knew, that they would try to stop me from approaching any of the Death Eaters to get the answers I wanted."

"So on the 13 of May in 1998, you found Mister Dolohov. And what happened when you approached him? What curse did you use to get the answers out of him?"

"I didn't use a curse."

"What did you use?" Cunningham inquired, but Tonks knew he already knew- it was written in the file that was in Cunningham's hand.

"I used a knife, I stabbed him. And when he moved away from me, I used a Binding Spell."

"And then you stabbed again, didn't you? Left some nasty scars on his chest, just to gain information?"

"Yes." Tonks answered quietly. She heard a gasp from the general direction of the Weasleys- but wasn't sure if it was Molly or Fleur.

"And what information did he give you?"

"He told me to go to Greyback, that Greyback would have information." Tonks explained. "And that's when I used Obliviate on him."

"And using that spell on him, erasing any memories he had, that caused a mistrial. Were you aware of that?"

"I was told that Dolohov couldn't be sentenced to Azkaban because of his condition."

"And forgive me for assuming, but couldn't a person assume that had been a move to protect the identity of other Death Eaters?"

Tonks stared at him. "I'm sorry?"

"Mrs Lupin, isn't it true that if a Death Eater can't remember his fellow Death Eaters, it'll protect their identities?"

"I suppose it could." Tonks said quietly.

"Was that your intention?"

"I- no. I simply wanted information from Dolohov and didn't want anyone to know I had been to see him."

"Allow me to understand fully. You didn't want anyone to know you had been to see Dolohov, so you chose to Obliviate him. Is that correct?"

"Yes."

"So why did you not simply Obliviate Fenrir Greyback?"

"I have no answer for that."

"On January 17th of 1999, you finally found Mister Greyback. Is that correct?"

"Yes."

"And you had no prior contact with Mister Greyback until that point?"

"I mean, I had, he was a known Death Eater-"

"And you had contact with a lot of known Death Eaters, did you?" Cunningham asked, staring at her as if expecting her to say she had been a Death Eater the entire time.

Instead, she looked him in the eye. "Of course I did. It's what the Order of the Phoenix did, while the Ministry hid behind the lies published by the Daily Prophet."

Cunningham ignored her statement. "How did you know Fenrir Greyback?"

"I knew of him until July of 1996, when I came face to face with him for the first time."

"And how many more times, until January of 1999, did you see him?"

"I saw him in July of 1996, August of 1997 and again in May of 1998."

"In August of 1997, what were the circumstances?"

"He was part of the group that attacked the wedding of Bill and Fleur Weasley, and I saw him again in Diagon Alley a week later when I was trying to get the ingredients to brew Wolfsbane."

"And were you alone both times?"

"I was not alone at the wedding, but I was alone in Diagon Alley."

"And what was that confrontation like? What happened?" Cunningham asked.

"Nothing, he didn't spot me."

"So the information published in Daily Prophet-"

"Objection!" Dawlish yelled. "The Daily Prophet article was written by Rita Skeeter, and should hold no bearing on today's proceedings."

"Sustained." Audrey said. "Mister Cunningham, please keep to the facts from the report and not things published by the Daily Prophet."

"Apologies." Cunningham said with a false smile towards Audrey. "Mrs Lupin, when you met with Fenrir Greyback in January of 1999, what happened?"

"I asked him what he knew about my son, if he knew where my son was-"

"Is it true that you offered yourself to him in exchange for information?" Cunningham asked. "Made a trade of sorts?"

"Not at first."

"When did you?"

"At first, I simply acted as a young Muggle girl, to get close to him. I had planned to simply get him to drink-"

"And yet, you admitted already that you slept with Mister Greyback. When did that plan come into effect?"

"I realised he wasn't going to offer information about the things he had done to any Muggles, and I-" She could feel her cheeks beginning to redden and she could feel Remus staring at her. "I made the first move, hoping to catch him off guard. I believe he became suspicious that I was no Muggle, and once we were alone, I dropped my morph."

"And did you try to gain information using the same methods you used on Mister Dolohov?"

"No. I knew they wouldn't work. Werewolves are used to a certain amount of manipulation. I knew of Greyback from reports in the Auror departments, from what I had heard from my husband, I figured my only chance was to catch him off guard."

"So you admit that your intent was to catch him off guard. Wouldn't it be possible to do such a thing before things escalated to a much more physical level between you two?"

"I was hoping, but-"

"But you simply got a little side tracked, perhaps?"

Her jaw dropped, and she shook her head, feeling a little insulted. "No, I- Greyback is, was, a forceful person. He wouldn't have allowed any interruption."

"So you allowed it?" Cunningham asked, raising an eyebrow. "How interesting is it that the first partner you have since your husband's alleged death is the werewolf who turned him? Were you familiar with Greyback prior to this altercation?"

"No, I told you, I wasn't."

"And afterwards, you bound him, correct?"

"Yes. I bound him and got dressed, my intention was to merely gain information."

"You were injured, correct?''

"Yes."

"And you managed to bound a werewolf?"

"Yes."

"With injuries?"

"Yes."

"And once you had him bound, did he answer your questions?"

"No, he said he had no use for my son." She responded.

"And was that when you burned him?"

"Yes, and he still wouldn't tell me."

"What did you to convince him to tell you information?" Cunningham inquired, beginning to pace in front of her.

"I used my knife, and cut him across the chest."

"You admit to injuring Mister Greyback, simply to gain information that he would not give you. How did you gain information?"

"I used the spell Sectumsempra. And he told me that Rookwood was in Scotland."

"And then you let Mister Greyback die, didn't you? He gave you information, and you let him die?"

Tonks took a deep breath. "Yes, I let him die."

Cunningham nodded, and looked toward the Wizengamot. "Let it be known that Mrs Lupin has admitted, before the court, that she willingly allowed Fenrir Greyback to die from his injuries." He turned back to Tonks. "And after you killed Fenrir Greyback, you went to find Augustus Rookwood, correct?"

"In December of 1999, yes. He was in Ottery St Catchpole."

"And how did you get information out of him?"

"He was more willing to give information over. He raised his wand at me, and I disarmed him. After that, he simply told me whatever I asked."

"And what did Mister Rookwood tell you?"

"He told me that he only kept my son for two days and gave him to Rabastan Lestrange."

"And why did you kill Mister Rookwood?"

"He said my father was weak, and I acted before I really thought it through."

"And where did you go next?"

"I went to Glasgow, to confront Rabastan Lestrange. It took me a few months to find him once I got to Glasgow."

"And once you did find him? Did you curse him first, or give him a chance to answer your questions?"

"No."

"No, you didn't curse him first- or no, you didn't give him a chance?"

"He didn't want to answer my questions willingly. He cast the Cruciatus on me, and kicked me in the jaw when he lifted the spell."

"And what do you do in return?"

"I pulled him down with me, and pinned him to the ground. I retrieved my wand and demanded the answers I wanted."

"There was bruising on Mister Lestrange's neck. If he was willing to give you information, where were his injuries from?"

"I restrained him by pressing my knee to his throat."

"But by strangling him, how could he speak to answer your questions?"

"I allowed him to. He told me that my son was safe, with the Order."

"And once he told you what you wanted to know, what exactly happened?"

"I walked away, I figured he deserved a life in Azkaban."

"So you deny killing Rabastan Lestrange?"

"No. He tried to cast the Killing Curse, I merely interrupted him."

"And from the reports about the injuries Rabastan Lestrange sustained, you didn't cast a Killing Curse, did you?"

"No, I used Bombarda."

"Unusually cruel for an Auror, don't you agree?"

"It was the first spell I thought of."

"If Rabastan Lestrange told you where your son was, what happened between you and Alfred Travers? Why kill him?"

"I was going to the house that the Order used as Headquarters until 1996. I figured I could find some answers there. I was unaware that Auror Potter lived there, and Travers approached me a few blocks away."

Cunningham nodded for her to continue.

"It was this past July, and I was simply going to go to the house and hope I found something to tell me if my son was safe. I wasn't planning on returning to the Order, or home at all. I knew that with what I had done, it would simply complicate matters further. Travers approached me, grabbed my arm and said he knew me. But I was morphed, I didn't think he knew me."

"And did he, Mrs Lupin? Did he know you?"

"I don't believe he actually did, he was simply looking for a quick shag, I suppose. He thought I was a Muggle, even though I was wearing robes." She explained. "I tried to leave, and he wouldn't let me, so I brought up the fact if I was, he would have been in violation of the Statute of Secrecy and that I knew he had murdered Muggles. He tried to kill me."

"And in response, you killed him first. Correct?"

"There was a duel first, but yes, I killed him."

"And was Thorfinn Rowle going to be the next Death Eater you killed? For what reason?"

"No, I wasn't going to kill Rowle. I planned to find the Death Eaters in hiding and find a way to get the Ministry to track them-"

"Which you could have done if you returned and became an Auror again, isn't that true?"

"Yes, but-"

"Yet you didn't." Cunningham said. "You continued to hide until last month, when the Minister and Auror Potter spotted you in the Leaky Cauldron. Tell me, Mrs Lupin, was there ever a time you were planning to return home?"

"No."

"Enlighten me, Mrs Lupin. Your initial plan, three years ago, was to find your son. When you learned he was safe with his godfather and the Order, you didn't return home. Seems a little suspicious to me."

"I- I just figured Teddy would be better off without me at that point."

"You were willing to let your son grow up without a mother because you decided to take it upon yourself to try to find the ones who took him in the first place?"

"I- yes."

"Perhaps your son wasn't the motive, then?" Cunningham asked. "Perhaps you simply wanted revenge on Death Eaters. Antonin Dolohov supposedly killed your husband, Fenrir Greyback bit your husband when he was a child, Rabastan Lestrange was your Aunt's brother in law, Alfred Travers and Augustus Rookwood were present when your cousin was killed in 1996. You can't tell me it's not a coincidence that you went after specifically these five Death Eaters."

She didn't know what to say, and Cunningham turned to Audrey. "I have no further questions for Mrs Lupin." He said. "Your witness, Junior Assistant Pebbleburn."

Audrey looked through the parchment in front of her while Cunningham sat back down. "I, myself, have no questions for Mrs Lupin at this time." She said, and turned to face the Wizengamot. "Does the Wizengamot have any questions to pose at this time?"

None of them spoke up, and Audrey turned back to the court. "The court thanks Mrs Nymphadora Andromeda Lupin for her testimony." She said. Dawlish stood, walking forward and leading Tonks back to the table they had all been at. "The court would now like to call forward the first witness, Mr Remus John Lupin, to speak on behalf of his wife."