A/N: There is some brief swearing in this chapter! I apologize if it offends you.
"Very well, Mr. Shacklebolt, you may continue with your witness."
Kingsley nodded and headed over towards Healer Maketta.
"Healer Maketta, how long have you worked at St. Mungo's?"
"Fifteen – no, sorry, seventeen, years this January. Been there quite a while, all starts to run together."
"And you were the one who oversaw Remus Lupin's visit?"
"Yes. He had come in after a bit of an issue with an overly potent dose of aphrodisiacs. All I had to do was flush his system of the drugs and just let him rest. Such a high or potent dose, combined with his lycanthropy could have proved lethal. Any hormone changing chemical like that brings out more animalistic properties in people, normally figuratively speaking of course, but unfortunately in those that suffer from lycanthropy they can quite literally bring the animal to surface, regardless of the lunar cycle."
"And what would some of the symptoms be?"
"Uncontrollable rage, immediate sexual arousal, his human mind would likely be replaced by the werewolf's mind, and in extreme cases it could actually spur on a premature transformation."
"And – changing the subject – are you aware of Metaphormargus?"
"Wizards or witches that can change their appearance at will, yes."
"And if someone – say for example Miss Tonks, who happens to be a metamorph – wanted to turn into a person of the opposite gender, would that be possible?"
"Yes. Quite feasible. Amazing and underlooked power, metamorphs have."
Kingsley nodded. "Ms. Umbridge? Any questions for this witness?"
She smiled sweetly. "Mr. Maketta, how exactly could such…recreational substances be ingested?"
"Well, normally they're sold as potions. I 'ave seen a few of them be in powder form, but those aren't very common or all that strong."
"And are such potions easy to come by?"
"I've never used them myself – not since my teen years – but you can buy them at most potion shops. Zonkos sells them…and I believe Weasley's Wizards Wheezes do to. They quiete harmless in small doses, I've only had a handful of people I've treated because of them, and mostly because they were allergic to one of the ingredients."
"So Mr. Lupin could have taken the potion himself?"
"It – it's possible."
"No further questions."
Healer Maketta looked apologetically at Kingsley, trying to catch his eye. Kingsley had moved on to his next witness however, and wasn't looking.
"Harry Potter, how long have you known Hermione Granger?"
"Over ten years. She's one of my best mates – like a sister, actually."
"You feel comfortable with her dating Remus Lupin?"
"Yeah. I mean – my dad trusted Remus and so do I. He'd do anything for her."
"Would he ever harm anyone else."
"No. I've never seen Remus hurt anyone. I don't think he could."
"No further questions."
Umbridge, of course, couldn't resist grilling Harry.
"You were almost attacked by Professor Lupin in your third year, correct?"
"It wasn't – "
" – yes or no, Mr. Potter."
He gritted his teeth. "Yes, then."
"And, while he was a student at Hogwarts, had your father not intervened, Mr. Lupin would have killed Severus Snape, is that correct."
"Yes."
"And he tried to rape his wife – one of your best friends, correct?"
"He was – "
" – remember, yes or no, please, Mr. Potter."
"Alright, yes then."
"And yet, you still maintain that he is perfectly safe?"
"Yes."
Umbridge grinned slightly and Harry nervously noticed that many members of the Wizengamot were muttering to each other and shifting uncomfortably in their seats.
He only had one question for Dumbledore.
"Do you trust Remus Lupin?"
"I do. I trusted him as a student of Hogwarts, as a member of the staff, and as a man. I also trust his very excellent advice on chocolate. I've seen no reason not to trust him."
Kingsley turned to Umbridge, who shook her head slightly. She wasn't foolish enough to question Dumbledore.
"Very well. If the prosecution and defense have no more witness, then let the prosecution begin questioning Remus Lupin."
His questioning went over terribly. No matter how hard Kingsley tried to save him, there was nothing much that could be done. Remus had to admit the truth. No matter how much he loved Hermione, no matter how many times he insisted it, and no matter how many people backed him up, they didn't count as facts. The court had solid evidence against him. No matter how many times he claimed that he would protect Hermione until his dying day, they didn't believe him. Umbridge made sure of that. She put everything about him on display. His lycanthropy. How he had almost killed Snape. How he almost killed Harry, Ron, and Hermione. How he almost raped Hermione, after beating her and Tonks.
"If there are no more questions for the witness, the Wizengamot will come to a decision." You may see yourselves out. When the decision is made, you will be called back in."
A surly looking guard showed them into a side room. Hermione found Remus' white, trembling hand and grabbed hold of it. He nodded at her gratefully, too nervous to speak. She followed his cue and said nothing, merely running her thumb back and forth against the back of his hand. He was going to be convicted. They couldn't prove Tonks did anything and other than people's words, Remus had nothing to support him.
The wait seemed to stretch on for hours on end. Eventually, the guard escorted all of them back into the room.
"The Wizengamot has made a decision. Remus Lupin, you have been found guilty only of negligence of your condition, leading to reckless endangerment of both Miss Nymphadora Tonks and Hermione Granger-Lupin. You are not permitted to be within one-hundred feet of Miss Tonks and are prohibited from being employed anyplace frequented by children. If you break the terms of your conditions you will be sentenced to six months in Azkaban. Good day."
Tonks looked less than thrilled, but still satisfied at the outcome. She and Umbridge filed out after the last of the judges had left. Harry looked at Hermione, who motioned for him to leave. Remus was still standing, facing the empty benches.
"Remus?"
"They think I'm some sort of damned pervert, Hermione. They won't let me near kids? "Negligence of my condition," as if. If that was the case I wouldn't be allowed damn near anyone. They think I'm a fuckin' child molester or something now. Take your wives and children off the street when the fuckin' lycan is around!"
Hermione turned as pale as Remus. She had never heard him swear before. Even with Sirius, Remus had always been in total control of his words. He never swore. He hated to, claiming it made him sound vulgar and uncivilized.
"Remus, you're a good person."
"Not to them. Not to anyone anymore." He turned to look at her. "I just – I need to leave. I need to get away from all this shit. I'll see you at home."
"You will come home? Tonight?"
"If I'm not too busy terrorizing the village." Remus spat bitterly. He stormed out of the courtroom, leaving Hermione apprehensively behind.