WARNING: this chapter treats of a very very sensitive subject (child molestation) that is not for all audiences. Readers please be advised!
Chapter 12 – The Imprisonment
Genna was drifting in and out of consciousness. Her handicapped foot and her left hand were hurting horribly, and so were her ribs and her face. She was on a cold and humid floor in a dark and putrid place she did not recognise. There were bars on the small door window, and a tray of spoiled bread and dirty water a few feet from her.
Genna was thirsty but every time she moved, she felt so much pain she simply could not get to the tray. She hadn't eaten or drank anything since her arrest. She had been separated from Marcus almost immediately, brought to this cell, stripped of all her jewellery including her engagement ring and her focus stone, beaten and locked up. The pain of the guards crushing her hand had been bad but it was the pain of their crushing her left foot that made her lose consciousness.
Genna had no idea how long she had been there. At some point during her stay, she was visited by a very beautiful woman with dark brown hair and eyes.
"You idiot," she had said to one of the guards. "The moon is not right! The timing needs to be perfect!"
"But my Lady, surely if she died, it will only help our cause," had protested the guard.
"It is not for you to make the decisions, incompetent! It is for I! No bite for you for the next three months!"
The guard whimpered at this proclamation. Genna did not know who these people were, and what "the bite" was, but this guard desperately wanted it. Genna did not hear the rest of the conversation as she lost consciousness again.
Genna was barely conscious when she heard the key rattled in the door's lock and the door suddenly flung open. A figure she could not recognize knelt at her side.
"Genna," said the newcomer gently.
Genna thought she recognized the Headmaster but didn't think it was possible. She thought her mind was playing tricks on her.
"Genna," he repeated, touching her forehead lightly.
The contact of the warm hand was a welcome change to her cold body.
"Water," she whispered.
A few seconds later, she felt clean and lukewarm water on her lips, only a few drops at a time, which she drank avidly.
"Oh Dear Merlin! What happened?" asked the Headmaster.
Genna couldn't tell because she didn't know. The only thing she remembered was the first order to stop which contained an allegation of molesting Amanda. Besides, had she known more, she couldn't have told the Headmaster; she was simply too weak.
"Genna, my child, I want you to hold on. I'll get you out of here."
Genna heard him leave before oblivion claimed her again.
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The Headmaster simply could not believe what had been done to Marcus but could even less believe what had been done to Genna. While Marcus was in a bad way, with multiple bruises and a broken arm, Genna was worse. She had obviously not been able to feed herself and the Headmaster was very afraid for her. To make matters worse, it had taken four days for him to find them. The weekend had been right after a holiday and none of his usual contacts had been around the ministry until the next Monday. It had then taken all of Monday for his contacts to finally find out where they were and they had been found by complete chance. Effectively, one of his contacts had overheard a conversation in a pub in Hidden Alley that night. A prison guard was bragging about a 'piece of ass' who had been brought into the jail most remote cells the previous Friday night and how much he would want to take a piece of her. The next morning upon finding out, the Headmaster had visited the jail. His notoriety had allowed him access to the deepest dungeons and that was where he had finally found his two missing students, beaten and broken.
"Patrick, my old friend, what brings you here?" asked the Minister, one hour after the Headmaster had left Genna's side.
"Bad news, I'm afraid, Minister," said the Headmaster, shaking his hand.
"Bad news?" asked the Minister, going to his cupboard and pouring two glasses of firewhisky.
"Yes," said the Headmaster. "It has come to my attention that your Law Enforcement Division is holding two of my students in your dungeons."
"Dungeons?" said the Minister surprised. "Don't be ridiculous, my friend. The Ministry hasn't used the dungeons in over fifty years," he said, giving the Headmaster a glass.
"I'm not being ridiculous, Robert," said the Headmaster sadly. "I was just there myself."
The Headmaster put his untouched glass on the coffee table in front of him.
"Robert, I need you to get them out," said the Headmaster. "They do not belong there."
Headmaster Flynn knew he was walking a very fine line. His defence of Marcus in the Engagement contract affair the previous fall had put him in a very precarious position with quite a few members of the Council. While the Minister did not sit on the Council, he had surely heard of it and might be reluctant to associate with him. Since Genna and Marcus were involved again did complicate matters greatly. But the Headmaster thought he knew where to push.
"Who are those two students of yours?" asked the Minister.
"Genevieve Hudon and Marcus Tyler."
The Minister visibly winced. After all the newspaper articles on these two students, they had become "public enemy number one" to many people, people who did not care what really happened to them.
"And why do they find themselves in the dungeons?"
"They were falsely accused of molesting Amanda Tyler."
"And you want me to let them go?" asked the Minister incredulously.
"Yes," answered the Headmaster. "First, they did not do it and I will prove it at the hearing. And two, your guards were not very... shall we say gentle with them and they are badly in need of medical attention."
"Patrick, you know I shouldn't get involved with this," said the Minister, looking at his glass.
"Now Robert, it wouldn't do for the Ministry to be accused of neglecting its prisoners so badly they have died prior to be cleared of all charges, regardless of how unpopular these prisoners may be, would it?."
"How certain are you of your proof?"
"Very certain, Minister. And my witnesses have agreed to testify under Veritaserum. Here," said the Headmaster, giving the Minister a vial. "This is my memory of the interrogation, if you want to see for yourself. But I have to warn you: this is not for the faint of heart."
The Minister walked to his pensieve and poured the memory in it. A few minutes later, green with what he had seen, he drank his previously untouched firewhisky, poured himself another one with badly shaking hands and drank the burning liquid in one gulp.
"I'll see what I can do," he finally said, looking at his now empty glass. "In the meantime, you have my permission to see to their well-being."
"Don't take too long, Minister. Genna may not last the night in these conditions."
Without looking at the Headmaster, the Minister nodded. Without waiting another moment, the Headmaster left. Once in the Ministry Atrium, he Apparated to the infirmary at St. Leandre. Startled, Nurse Feelgood dropped the tray of empty vials she was holding, which came crashing down on the floor.
"Headmaster! You'll be the death of me!" she exclaimed, her hand to her heart.
"Maria, quick! There is no time!" said the Headmaster urgently. "I need you to get Healing potions and energy-replenishing potions, and come with me."
The urgency of the Headmaster's tone shocked her into action and a few minutes later, she had her hand on his arm to Side-Along Apparate into the Atrium of the Ministry of Magic. The Headmaster resettled the bundle of blankets he had taken from the infirmary cupboard and took a quick walk towards the elevators followed closely by the nurse. A few minutes later, he preceded her into Genna's cell.
"Oh, Dear Merlin! Patrick, what have they done to this poor child?"
"I do not know but quick, Maria. She is very weak."
While Nurse Feelgood worked on Genna, the Headmaster made her a bed of blankets on which he set her.
"Headmaster, I healed her hand and ribs but I cannot do anything about her foot. It's too damaged. It's seriously out of my league."
"Can you dull the pain?"
"Yes and I've done so. Headmaster, she needs to be in a hospital. I gave her as much fortifying potion as I can but she is severely dehydrated and underfed. She won't last long in here.
"I know, Marica. I know. I'm working on it. Ready for the other one?"
"There's another one?"
"Yes: Marcus," answered the Headmaster gently.
He knew very well the affection the old nurse had for the youth.
"Oh, Dear Merlin!" she said, bringing her hands to her bosom. "Is he..."
"No, he is not as bad as Genna," said the Headmaster, knowing what she was about to ask. "But he needs medical attention nevertheless."
They went into another section of the jail where Marcus could be found.
"Headmaster," called the youth when they walked in. "Genna...?"
"She's okay for the time being," said the Headmaster. "We were just with her."
"What did they do to her?" he asked between clenched teeth. "I – I could hear her scream but they removed my ring. Headmaster, is she all right?"
"For the time being, Marcus, for the time being. Now, let Maria look at you."
"Headmaster, why are we here?" asked Marcus a short while later, while Nurse Feelgood was still healing him.
"It seems your father and mother are accusing the two of you of molesting Amanda," answered the Headmaster.
Marcus turned a shade whiter. As he thought about the Headmaster's words, realization hit him, and he felt like throwing up.
"Steady now, Marcus," said the Headmaster, gripping his shoulder to steady him.
The Headmaster and Nurse Feelgood exchanged a knowing look and the nurse left them.
"They... they... Oh Merlin, Headmaster, tell me they didn't?" asked Marcus, tears running down his cheeks.
The Headmaster looked at him sadly.
"She came to me, Saturday morning, with a copy of the newspaper in her hands. She was crying so hard, she couldn't talk," began to explain the Headmaster. "When I was done reading, I knew you were in trouble. It spoke of your arrest and what you had supposedly done.
"I finally succeed in calming your sister and she told me it had happened but it wasn't you. Then she gave me a letter she had received the day before. It was at first very cryptic. It said: 'When you see the newspaper tomorrow, keep your mouth shut or else' and it was signed by your mother, Marcus."
"My mother? She knew and let it happened?" he asked with venom in his tone.
"I'm afraid it gets worse," said the Headmaster. "Your mother is involved, Marcus."
Marcus stomach rebelled and he ran to a corner to empty it.
"Did they... all the way?" he asked, not looking at the Headmaster.
"No," answered the Headmaster. "They figured she wouldn't be worth as much if she was not a virgin."
"How many times?"
"Quite a few."
"Since when?"
"About a week after her birthday."
"In her bedroom?"
"At the beginning."
That explained the horrible smell. She had probably spilled the perfume on purpose so their parents wouldn't want to be in the room.
"She is going to testify on your behalf," added the Headmaster.
"Absolutely not!" said Marcus. "I do not want her to go through this."
"Marcus, she really wants to. Your sister is very courageous, you know, like all the people in her House, and you are all she has left. If she doesn't testify, she will have to go back to your parents next summer while you would be in jail for a crime you didn't commit. She doesn't want that. She needs you to be free so you can take care of her."
"But my parents, they'll be there when she testifies," said Marcus.
"Yes, but I will stand between her and them... she won't have to see them."
Marcus thought about it for a moment and gave a firm nod.
"When can I see her?"
"Tomorrow, I hope," answered the Headmaster. "I pulled some strings and I hope you'll be released early tomorrow."
True to his words, the Headmaster came to get him early the next morning. They were walking towards the exit when Marcus stopped in his tracks.
"Where is Genna?" he asked.
"She's... she's been taken to St. Francis, Marcus," answered the Headmaster. "She is in a worse shape than you are. Nurse Feelgood and Professor Shield are with her and are waiting for us."
At the front office, the attendant gave Marcus his wand and Genna's wand.
"Where are our rings? Our focus stones? Genna's cane?"
"That's all we have for you, sir," replied the attendant, looking at her register.
Marcus was about to lose all control when he felt the Headmaster's hand on his arm.
"Come," said the Headmaster to Marcus, coldly looking at the guards who were smirking behind the attendant.
Marcus was numb. Everything that had happened in the last few days was swirling in his head so fast he didn't know what to think anymore, let alone what to feel. He only had the impression he was about to explode.
They were in the central place of Hidden Alley when the Headmaster stopped walking and Marcus ran into him. Marcus looked up and was taken aback by the expression of cold fury on the Headmaster's face. The Headmaster took his wand from his pocket and gave a look at the thin crowd around them.
"Accio Genna's ring! Accio Marcus' ring! Accio Genna's focus stone! Accio Marcus' focus stone! Accio Genna's cane!" he said in a booming voice.
A few seconds later, Marcus and Genna's ring came flying to them from the English quarter. A few moments later, the focus stones arrived from the French quarter. And a few seconds afterwards, the cane came flying from the entrance to the Ministry. Three men came running to the town center, obviously chasing against the objects.
"You! You! And you!" said the Headmaster, pointing at each men. "Be aware that I now know who you are!"
And he walked off toward St. Francis, followed by Marcus. They were in the elevator when he turned to Marcus.
"Sorry," he said. "I forgot to give you those."
Marcus took the offered rings, stones and cane. He slid the bigger ring on his finger and pocketed his stone.
"Thank you," he said gratefully.
"Don't mention it... It is not over yet."
A few moments later, they arrived on their floor and, as they approached Genna's room, they could hear an argument taking place in the corridor.
"We have no choice!" said one of the Healers. "It is too badly damaged. We cannot repair it. Besides, it has started to mend in all the wrong way."
"You. Are. Not. Cutting. Her. Foot!" said Nurse Feelgood between clenched teeth.
"What's going on here?" asked Marcus now worried.
"Ah! Marcus, Headmaster," said Nurse Feelgood visibly relieved to see them. "These lunatics," she said, pointing at two Healers, "want to cut Genna's left foot."
"Absolutely, but I mean absolutely NOT!" said Marcus and before waiting for a reply, walked into the room.
Genna was unconscious. She was thinner than the last time he had seen her, and a lot paler under the dirt that covered her. Her left foot had obviously been crushed and was at an odd angle.
Marcus' instincts kicked in, preventing the tears. Without hesitation, Marcus took his wand and stone, and began to run a diagnostic on Genna. He began with her head and worked his way down her body, finishing with her left foot. It was bad, very bad, and beyond his skills. However, he knew that with Healer Troovus, they could save it, if they acted quickly, before more natural regeneration took place.
Once he was done with his examination, he opened his eyes, which he hadn't realized he had closed and looked up to see the Headmaster, Nurse Feelgood, another nurse and the two Healers who had followed him in the room.
"And?" prompted the Headmaster.
"I need Healer Troovus, here, today," began Marcus in the same commanding tone he had used at the end of his internship at St. Mungo's. "I need a nurse to clean her up, a Healer to mend her left broken arm, a fortifying potion, a hydrating potion and a pain potion for when she wakes up."
"Anything else?" asked the Headmaster
"A shower, food and a place to rest until Healer Troovus gets here. We'll have a long task ahead of us. And somebody's go to tell Mr Hudon."
"Who is Healer Troovus?" asked one of the Healers. "Where do we find him?"
"Leave that to me," answered the Headmaster.
"Professor Shield went to get Mr Hudon," said Nurse Feelgood.
"Maria, you think you can help clean her up some?" asked the Headmaster.
"I'll see that all Marcus asked is done, Headmaster."
"Marcus, I'll leave you here," said the Headmaster. "I have a couple of portkeys to make."
As soon as the Headmaster left, Nurse Feelgood took charge and her orders were obeyed without questions. It was obvious to Marcus that she had quite an amount of influence in the healing domain even if she was not the most skilled nurse around. A gentle hand on his shoulder raised him from his weary thoughts.
"Come," said a young nurse Marcus seemed to recognize from school. And suddenly it came to him: she was two or three years older than him and had been in Earth.
"We've got you a changes of clothes and a place for you to shower and rest," she said gently, in her accented English.
Marcus was about to follow her when he remembered Genna's ring. He walked to the bed and gently slid it along her finger. Immediately, the feeling of Genna sleeping flooded him and he sighed in relief. Now that he would know when she woke up, he let himself be taken out of the room.
ghghghghghghghgh
"Puppy, Puppy, Puppy," said Healer Troovus, shaking his head.
Puppy had been the nickname given to him by the Healers of St. Mungo's as he had followed Healer Troovus, or any other Healers he had been assigned to, everywhere.
"You did right in calling for me. Whoever said she needed to have her foot cut off prefers the easy way out of a complex problem and should rethink his ethics."
The Healers who had argued for cutting Genna's foot earlier shifted uncomfortably on their feet. Healer Troovus noticed and looked at them with a frown.
"Have you found another fragment of energy?" asked Marcus.
"No but let's look for it before we begin. However Marcus, if we were to find it, I doubt she would walk right ever again. This damage is quite extensive. I think the best we can hope for is the way she was right after we fixed her up."
Marcus nodded his understanding and sat on the stool across from across Healer Troovus, taking his wand and stone.
"Okay, Puppy, ready?"
"Ready."
Together, they began with an observation of Genna's foot.
"Got a fragment," said Marcus excited after a few minutes of silence.
"Go ahead, Puppy, get it out. I have your back," said Troovus.
About a minute later, the fragment came out and dissolved in a flash of bright energy. The two Healers who were still in the room gasped in surprise.
"What was that?" asked one of them.
"Questions later," said Troovus. "Concentrating now... Puppy, I've got another one," said Troovus a few minutes later. "Back me up!"
Another minute later, the second fragment came out and exploded in a flash of light.
"I think it's all for today, I'm afraid," said Troouvs after another fifteen minutes of searching.
"Not quite!" said Marcus with a smile. "Need back up!"
And Marcus removed a third fragment.
"You're good, Puppy! You're really good," said Troovus with a grin. "Okay, the hard part now."
He turned to the two Healers.
"Which one of you is the best at details?"
"I am," said one of the two, which the other one supported with a nod.
"Okay. Pull a stool and sit here. When we need you, we'll tell you what to do. Oh! And since this is Puppy's girlfriend, messing up is not an option."
"As for you," he continued, looking at the other Healer, "make sure she doesn't wake. What we are about to do is rather painful and the last thing we need is for her to wake up in the middle of it."
Healer Troovus then looked at Marcus.
"Ready, son?" he asked gently.
Marcus gave one firm nod.
"Okay. Here we go."
Five hours and two more fragments later, they were finally done.
The minute Marcus looked up, he knew he had seriously over-extended himself as his head began to spin like when he had duelled against Genna about a year earlier. His ordeal in prison had definitely taken a toll on him and he may not have been as ready as he thought for such an extensive operation.
"Theo, I think I'm going to pass out," he said.
"That's okay, Puppy, your girl will be fine," said Healer Troovus, helping him to the reclining chair.
And it was the last thing Marcus heard before darkness claimed him.
ghghghghghghghgh
Someone calling his name woke Marcus up from a wonderful dream of him and Genna in London on a warm sunny day. Slowly, he opened his eyes and took in where he was. He was sitting on a comfortable chair, his feet on a foot rest, a warm blankets thrown over him. Genna was lying on the hospital bed next to him and he knew, by the ring, she was awake, in pain and worried.
"Marcus," she called again, so quietly Marcus was surprised he had heard her in the first place.
He stood and walked to her bed.
"Hi," he said with a smile, taking her hand in his. "How are you feeling?"
"It hurts," she answered with a wince.
"Where?"
"My left foot," she answered.
"Let me take care of that."
He took his wand and stone and, after examining her foot to make sure everything was okay, he put a numbing spell on it. Genna sighed in relief.
"Marcus, where are we?" she asked. "What happened?"
"We're at St. Francis," answered Marcus. "Your foot was so badly hurt, Healer Troovus and I had to do some serious healing on it."
"Oh!" she said, closing her eyes. "I don't remember a whole lot. Why am I so weak?"
"You hadn't eaten in over three days," answered Marcus. "And the pain didn't help."
Suddenly she opened her eyes and looked at Marcus with panic.
"I... I don't remember. Marcus, did they... did they rape me?"
"No, love," he answered, gently caressing her forehead. "I checked to make sure when I examined you."
"Would you tell me if they had?"
"Yes," answered Marcus soberly. "As bad as it would be, I would tell you. In any case, the ring would tell you if I lied," he added with a chuckle.
"I seem to recall them saying we had molested Amanda when they arrested us," she said after a few moments of silence. "Are we...? What will...? Marcus..."
"Don't worry, love. We're having a hearing next week and Amanda will testify on our behalf. The Ministry of Magic has released us on our own recognizance until the hearing. We'll be just fine."
"And Amanda? Why were we accused of something so horrible to begin with?"
"Amanda is okay," answered Marcus. "We're all going to be okay. Now rest, my love. There will be time later to talk."
With that, he silently cast a spell for her to sleep some more.
ghghghghghghghgh
Genna looked at Amanda sitting on the witness stand and did not like it; she did not like it at all.
Amanda was sitting with her back straight, squeezing her little hands nervously, and looking at the Council of severe looking witches and wizards in front of her. Marcus' parents were sitting on her right, in the public section of the stands, discreetly surrounded by law enforcement officers. They were visibly scowling and unhappy at the idea of having Amanda testify.
Marcus and Genna were sitting in the accused section on Amanda's left, right across from her parents. Marcus was holding Genna's hand and, when she looked up at him, he smiled sadly.
"Marcus, she shouldn't have to do this," said Genna for the hundredth time since she had found out the whole story on Saturday, after her release from St. Francis.
She had then been transferred to the St. Leandre infirmary to recuperate. She was still very weak and would have rather been at school, in class with the other students, school having begun two days earlier.
The student's reaction to their ordeal had been interesting to say the least. While some had strongly supported the couple, some others had believed the papers and had taken upon themselves to let everybody know about it. Just yesterday the interaction between their supporters and detractors had become violent and the Headmaster had to intervene.
Another interesting development was that the Headmaster had offered them one of the guest rooms for them to have some privacy. Throughout the fall semester, while they had refrained from steeling moments in every cupboard and broom closet in the castle, they had spent most of their weekends at Leandry, renting a room at the local inn, to spend a few moments together. But the Headmaster had put a stop to their visiting Leandry for their own safety, and had offered them a guest room in exchange of their loss of freedom. Genna and Marcus, mindful of the appearance and potential rumours of favouritism, had decided to restrict their use of the room to weekends or when they really needed the support of one another.
The Headmaster walked to the Council chairperson and waited to be acknowledged. "State your name for the record," began the Chair, effectively opening the afternoon session.
The morning session had seen testimony from Genna, Marcus, some government officials, and Marcus' parents. The later declared having found out about the abuse through a letter sent to them by Amanda before Christmas.
"Patrick Flynn, Headmaster of St. Leandre, for the Defence, sir," said the Headmaster loudly.
"Headmaster, please proceed."
"Amanda, would you please state your full name?"
"Amanda Jody Tyler," she said in a small voice.
"Amanda, I'll ask you some questions and the Council will ask you some more. Is that okay?"
"Yes, Headmaster," she answered.
"Good," said the Headmaster with a warm smile at the frightened girl.
The Headmaster looked up at the assembled crowd.
"Amanda, do you know what Veritaserum is?"
"Yes, Headmaster. It's the potion which makes people tell the truth even if they don't want to," she answered.
"Would you be willing to take the potion today?"
"Yes, Headmaster."
"Why?"
"Because Genna and Marcus did not do what they are accused of, and I want everybody to have no doubts about my telling the truth," she answered, looking up at the Headmaster, showing the courage her House was renowned for.
"Good," said the Headmaster.
He turned to look at the Council.
"If it pleases the Council, we would request a dose of Veritaserum."
"We object!" said Mr Tyler loudly, getting to his feet. "Amanda is a minor and we are not giving our consent!"
"Council members, due to the seriousness of the accusation, it is in the best interest of all parties involved to let Amanda take the serum," said the Headmaster, calmly. "Were I her father, I would like to know as much as I could what really happened to my daughter, even if she is the one taking the serum.
"Furthermore, she has expressed her willingness to taking it," finished the Headmaster.
"Your argument, Mr Tyler?" asked the Chairman.
"Amanda is underage and has suffered enough as it is. Veritaserum would afford her no privacy and will put her at the mercy of whoever wants to question her. She should not be here to begin with."
"Mr Tyler, it almost sounds to me like you have something to hide," said the Headmaster, lightly.
"How dare you!" said Mr Tyler.
"Silence!" said the Chairman, hitting his gavel on the desk. "Those in favour of using Veritaserum? Those opposed?"
Genna looked around and saw more hands in support of using the potion than opposed.
"Bailiff! Please bring a dose of Veritaserum to this chamber!" called the chairman.
A few seconds later, an old lady walked into the chamber with a tray on which stood a glass and a bottle. She presented them to the Headmaster who cast an identification spell on it. Once satisfied, he nodded to the old lady who poured the potion into the glass and offered it to Amanda. Without hesitation, Amanda drank it and put the glass back on the tray. Without a word, the old lady left.
"Amanda, please state your full name for the record again," asked the Headmaster.
"Amanda Jody Tyler."
"Are you under Veritaserum?"
"Yes."
"Do you know why you are here?"
"Yes."
"Amanda, has anyone ever touched you in a way you didn't like?"
"Yes."
"Has anyone ever touched you in a way you didn't like even if you said no?"
"Yes," she answered, tears falling down her cheeks.
Genna felt tears run down her own cheeks.
"Has anyone ever touched your private parts against your will?"
"Yes," she answered.
"The person or people who did, are they in the room?"
"Yes," she answered.
"Is it Marcus?"
"No."
"Is it Genna?"
"No."
"Can you tell me who it is?"
"Yes."
"Who did this to you, Amanda?"
"My mother and my father."
The Council gasped.
"It's a lie!" yelled Mr Tyler over the murmurs of the crowd and getting to his feet. "It's a lie!"
Upon hearing him, Genna looked his way. She was surprised to see that Marcus' parents were actually angry and did not seem at all concerned to what happened to their daughter.
"Silence!" yelled the Chair, hitting his gavel a few times.
Slowly, order came back to the Chamber.
"Mr Chair, if I may," said the Headmaster quietly, effectively quieting the remaining conversations. "In light of this new information, I would move to dismiss all charges against Mr Marcus Tyler Junior and Miss Genevieve Hudon. I would also request that Mr and Mrs Tyler be arrested and charged with child abuse for molesting their daughter, and for defamation of character and obstruction of justice for what they accused Marcus Tyler Junior and Genevieve Hudon of. Finally, I would ask that the school be granted guardianship of Miss Tyler until an appropriate guardian is selected and appointed.
"I would like to remind this Council that child abuse, in our society, is a very serious crime as it is for the Muggles. However, what makes it even worse for magical children are the consequences this awful crime can have on their magical abilities. Miss Tyler's magical abilities have proven uncontrollable when she is under stress, stress that is related to contact by her parents. Therefore, I would request that Mr and Mrs Tyler be prohibited from contacting Miss Tyler under any circumstances."
"So ordered," ruled the Chair, hitting his gavel to the desk.
Mr Tyler was on his feet again, yelling at the top of his lungs that it was all a set up and he was unjustly accused. Amanda looked at him coldly.
"You should have thought about it before you put your dirty hands on me!" she said, effectively shutting her father up.
"You will pay for this!" spitted Mr Tyler at Marcus, as guards seized him and took him away. "You will pay for this!"
"You can go now, Amanda," said the Headmaster gently to the now sobbing girl.
Amanda stood and ran into Marcus' arms.
"Are you okay there, sweetheart?" he asked, hugging her to him.
"No! I'm not okay!" she sobbed.
"Marcus, please don't ask her any questions," said Genna, tears still falling down her cheeks. "She is still under Veritaserum."
"Oh! That's right," he said. "I'm sorry, sweetheart. I didn't mean to pry."
"That's okay," she said. "What's going to happen to me now?"
"Well, we'll go back to school and I'll look into obtaining your custody if you want me to pursue it. Then, at the end of the school year, you can move in with Genna and I..."
Genna looked at him a little surprised. Even if she had always hoped they would live together after school, they had never talked about it. It was nice to hear Marcus had been thinking about it too.
"We'll talk more later when the Veritaserum has run out," said Marcus. "I would hate to ask you a question you would answer even if you didn't want to."
"Okay," said Amanda, looking up at him.
"And it should wear off within the hour," said the Headmaster, approaching with a smile. "Amanda, I just spoke with the Chairman and he is of the opinion today's testimony with your memory vial should be largely sufficient for the trial of your parents."
"What... what does it mean?"
"It means if all goes well, you should not have to testify unless you want to."
"Oh!" she said, looking first at the ground then up at Marcus. "Marcus, can we leave now? I – I really don't want to be here anymore."
Marcus looked at the Headmaster who nodded.
"There may be reporters out there," he warned. "However, if you wish to spend the rest of the afternoon and dinner in Leandry, you should find a welcoming heat at the Dragon Inn. Tell Madame Tremblay I sent you."
"Thank you, Headmaster," said Marcus.
Holding Amanda against him with one arm and Genna's hand in the other, he made his way out of the chamber, and through the horde of journalists. Once in the Atrium, he Apparate them to Leandry.
ghghghghghghghgh
"I don't care what the Headmaster says! They were always his favourites. Of course he will say they didn't do it!"
"Well, for one, I think the newspaper have been wrong this time, Dennis. I don't think Amanda would spend most of her time with her brother if it were true."
"Susan, you don't know him like Steve and I do. Believe me: these two should have been expelled! They are a menace to this school and its students."
"I agree with Dennis: these two are up to no good, especially that Genna! I don't understand why the school would accept something in its condition to begin with."
"Cindy, we all know you always agree with Dennis. But for once, so do I."
"I knew you would agree, Philipp!" said Dennis, giving him a high five.
"Well, not only do I agree but so do my parents. They've requested their expulsion to the governing board. Of course, Flynn has been fighting them tooth and nail. I wonder when the old man began to forget he actually is English. Had he remembered, he would have got rid of that thing years ago."
"Well, he may actually not have let it attend to begin with."
"Genna," said Audrey quietly, arriving next to her. "I don't know why you bother yourself with listening to them."
Genna had been in the corridor next to the one where the Water House students were talking, hidden from their sight. More than once, in the last week, she had heard students tell others that their parents had requested her expulsion and Marcus'. At first, she had blocked it out but the more she heard it, the more it got to her. And she was getting so tired. Jerkily, she dried her tears with her hand.
"You're right," she said, attempting to smile at her best friend. "I shouldn't listen to them."
"Genna, are you alright? You're a little pale, you know."
"Yeah, just tired. I don't sleep very well."
Genna followed Audrey down the corridor, away from the Water House students.
"How is Quidditch coming?" asked Audrey.
Audrey already knew the answer since she attended all their practices but Genna was grateful for the distraction, nevertheless.
"Good!" said Genna with a smile. "But Earth is surprisingly strong this year with their new Chasers. I think they will be tough to beat."
"Well, you've got another practice tonight, right?"
"Yeah, right before dinner. Nothing extensive really. Just a little warm up and drills. It's too late now for anything new and since the game is tomorrow, it wouldn't do to tire my team."
"We wouldn't want that," said Audrey.
"No, we wouldn't."