Ignorance
Where's your gavel? Your jury?
What's my offense this time?
You're not a judge but if you're gonna judge me
Well, sentence me to another life
Jenny
5/8/10
8:32 a.m.
"So she went out and went after the Lestranges, the people who hurt her the most. She killed the Minister while she was in the Ministry. And look! Already, Voldemort's top lieutenants and his puppet of the Ministry were dead. More than any wizard had dared or could do. She was helping our world without even knowing it. She then got into a fight again with Kingsley, and discovered that they had not killed her ex-boyfriend, Brian Schwenn. They had been training him as an Assassin, to counter what Jenny had been doing. They rescued him, and killed Kingsley Shacklebolt. They rescued Luna Lovegood and Mr. Ollivander from certain death and killed Augustus Rookwood and Antonin Dolohov. Again, helping the wizarding world. When they went to the Leaky Cauldron to find more, they discovered that Nott, Crabbe and Goyle were supposed to be tracking them. They killed them too. Now think about this, ladies and gentlemen. If Jenny hadn't killed these murders and Dark Wizards, who would? More lives would have been lost at the Battle for Hogwarts, where Jenny went next, even though she wouldn't have magic to fight with. It was a full moon, and Voldemort had three werewolves on his side. Lupin was hurt in his first fight, so Jenny fought all three wolves at some time during the night. If Jenny doesn't mind, I'd like to show you those injuries as well." Dawlish looked at me, and I nodded, and once more, the chains uncoiled.
Williamson helped me stand again. Slowly, I curled my hair back around my right ear, then after closing my eyes, coiled the left side of my hair across my right shoulder, exposing where my ear had been. I knew it looked terrible, and the gasps and mutterings from the room confirmed it. Then I undid the first two ties of the gown and inched it down, then held it with one hand in front of me. "Six punctures from one of the enemy wolves. He pinned me." I almost whispered, and I laid out my hand, curling my fingers like a paw, providing a tiny visual compared to the spacing of the holes. I sat down again without being asked.
"Jenny needed medical attention, her lungs were filling with blood, so she was transferred to St. Mungo's. The only way she was admitted was as if she was treated as a patient in the psychiatric ward. At that time, I believed Jenny to be a psychotic murderer, so I insisted upon this until I started the investigation. By then, it was too late, she was stuck that way. Jenny healed, and provided as much testimony and memories that she could give. On rare occasions, and with small amounts of magic, Jenny can use a wand. That is how most of her memories were offered." The Wizengamot started muttering, but monocle woman ignored them, watching me, her eyes full of nothing but pity.
"She can use magic? Show us." The Minister barked, and the chains uncoiled. I stood, and waited for Williamson to hand me my wand. When he placed it in my hand, the warmth was there for some reason, even though I wasn't mad. I'd have to ask Ollivander about that, I shouldn't have been able to use magic.
"Aguamenti." I said softly, and the gentle stream of water fell from the tip of the wand, sending the court into an uproar.
"Why was this not displayed in the beginning of the trial!" The woman boomed finally, hushing everyone. "It is clear that she can use magic, why are we here discussing her citizenship?"
"Because, your Honor, she can barely complete the magic of a first year. This magic comes from the werewolf magic inside of her. She was born and still remains a Muggle." Fat man said coolly, smirking at me. I lowered my wand to stop the flow of water. "Produce a Patronus," Bollig snapped.
"Your Honor, please, I feel-" Dawlish started, but the woman silenced him with a look down her monocle. I bit my lip in hesitation. What were you supposed to do again? A happy memory? What was my happiest memory of all? I thought of the time I was sitting with Teddy on the cliffs, full of that free feeling, finally gone from Malfoy Manor, safe for the first time in half a year.
"Expecto Patronum." I said clearly, focusing exactly on the point where Teddy had made me chuckle. My arm started vibrating and I felt my face withdraw as a silver vapor began to build slowly in the air, causing a stir in the room as it slowly got stronger and stronger. It formed into a body with four legs, then a tail…until finally, a tiger jumped lightly to the floor and it suddenly filled me with warmth as it looked around, it's edges blurring as my vision blurred.
"Unbelievable," the woman's monocle fell out and clinked onto her papers into the silence.
"Jenny, let it go." Williamson said, then looked at me and started to come over, but it looked like he was walking at slow mo speed. "Jenny," he said, but it sounded like he was calling to me from across the courtroom. He was suddenly next to me, his hand light around my wrist, moving it downward slowly. The Patronus shimmered then died. Instantly, my vision swarmed to black, and I felt Williamsons other arm snake around my back to steady me as I swayed. "Jenny, are you alright?" He asked next to my ear, and when I didn't respond, he let me fall carefully into my chair. Other than Williamsons' voice, all I heard was the buzzing of the courtroom.
"I'm fine." I gasped finally, struggling to sit up when the black spots started to fade.
"Jenny, take it easy, it's alright. Your still weak and that was incredibly advanced magic. Just rest for a minute." Williamson said lowly I my ear.
"Do we need a Mediwizard? Has she fainted?" I heard the woman ask.
"No, she's alright, Madam Bones." Williamson called. "Are you alright?" He asked me, and I nodded, making myself open my eyes. I was slumped down in the chair, Williamson crouched next to me looking concerned. I was still trembling, but Madam Pane had said something about that before I fell asleep. Instinctively, I looked up into the crowd until I found Draco. It wasn't that hard, he was standing, looking torn between sitting and vaulting down into the courtroom. I stared at him until our eyes locked for a moment, and drew strength just from his image. He looked paler and thinner from the last time I had seen him. He was wearing a high collared plain black suit with a thin green tie for the trial, his hair perfect, just like a Malfoy. Then I looked away and sat up straight.
"I just can't believe I did it. What does it mean, a tiger?" I asked quietly, and he frowned.
"The tiger signifies great fierceness and valor when enraged to combat. It also symbolizes one whose resentment will be dangerous if aroused. But it is also a symbol of balance, fierce yet gentle, that sort of thing." Williamson said just as quietly. "It is a good Patronus. This might sound strange, but Dawlish and I are proud of you." I went to retort, but the fat man for the prosecution huffed loudly.
"Can we please continue?" He asked dangerously, and after some glaring by Madam Bones, the courtroom settled down to silence once more. The chains glowed again, and they re-coiled around my arms.
"In light of recent evidence, I would like to propose a quick-vote on the issue of whether Jenny can be considered a Wizarding Citizen. She can produce a Patronus." Dawlish said, and fat man looked furious, but stayed quiet.
"You do realize that if she is voted to be a citizen, the process of the trial will be more extensive, as then she will truly be bound by Wizarding Law." A very old looking woman stood up, and she looked to be the head of the Wizengamot.
"I do," Dawlish said firmly.
"Then we shall recess for 10 minutes to give the Wizengamot time to deliberate." Madam Bones said clearly, and the chains unwound. Almost instantly, the door I came in from opened, and Madam Pane came bustling in with another Healer behind her, carrying a pile of junk.
"Madam Pane, what's the matter?" I asked her as she came over and knelt a little to see me better.
"You are what the matter is. That was an extraordinary bout of magic that you shouldn't have been able to produce. And you still require medical attention. I also brought real clothes for you to wear instead of that." She waved her wand in a complicated little circle, and a little changing room appeared from nowhere. I went to object, but she shoved the clothes into my arms and propelled me to the door. Seeing no other choice, I went inside and changed hastily, having to lean against the wall several times. She hadn't lied, I was incredibly weak. When I emerged, Tonks nearly tackled me with a hug, making me gasp in surprise.
"I'm sorry, I know that was hard. But you are doing so well. A Patronus!" She blabbered excitedly, pulling away to examine me. Madam Pane huffed and edged her out of the way, handing me a potion.
"What does it do, and what is it for?" I asked, and she chuckled weakly with a hint of recognition.
"It will replace all the nutrients you didn't get while you were asleep. It will help ease the weakness, and hopefully, the trembling. You're shaking like a leaf." She said dryly, so I sipped at it, surprised at how good it tasted as I caught up quickly about what had happened, and what day it was.
"Today is the 8th? Of May?" I repeated, just to get it straight, and Draco nodded before hugging me again, and for a moment, all we did was rock just slightly back and forth, reconnecting. "It's good to be back." I told him quietly when we finally pulled apart.
"It's good to see you like this. I don't think I could have taken another day seeing you in the hospital. Bollig was being such an ass-"
"Bollig?" I asked, confused. "Who's Bollig?" Draco scowled.
"That disgusting excuse for a man for the Ministry's prosecution. The one who insisted that you produce a Patronus…which speaking of, I can't believe it!" Draco changed topics too fast, and I narrowed my eyes and then turned to look at Bollig. He was talking with the Minister and smirking, nodding repeatedly so that his chins folded further, making me shudder. He was absolutely vile.
"I missed you." I confessed, and he embraced me again, kissing the top of my head, and then my forehead.
"Jenny, this is good, this is excellent." Dawlish butted in before we could say anything more. "I'm positive that you will become a citizen. Our case is almost finished, and I'm betting that tomorrow will be interrogations and cross-examinations by our Prosecutor. Then he will lay his case and we can cross-examine all of his evidence. But I can tell by the reactions to your memories from the Wizengamot and in the audience that you have everyone's sympathy."
"No one likes to see things that disturbing." I said quietly, and he nodded, looking almost embarrassed. "But thank you," I added, before he could turn away. "For representing me." He nodded once awkwardly, then turned and walked away.
"Well, that was-" Draco started, but Madam Pane appeared by my shoulder again, turning me to face her and started to fuss. She was almost as bad as Madam Pompfrey.
"You look much better already, better color, better pupil dilation…" she trailed off as she examined the hole where my ear used to be. Then she took my arm firmly and conjured a comfortable squashy looking chair, and sat me down. It felt good to let the chairs fluffiness support my weight. After a few more minutes of talking with my family, I noticed the reporters. Lined up on the edge of the bar, the all had cameras and were snapping pictures. Quik Quotes Quills were writing furiously onto floating pads of paper. Other reporters were taking that information and pictures and dashing away with them, to do what, I had no idea.
"Oh, ignore them, Jenny. Don't talk to any of them unless we do, alright? Most of them are more rabid than Rita Skeeter." Mrs. Weasley said to me, and leaving me to wonder who Rita Skeeter was, she gathered her bunch and forced them all back up into the stands as Madam Bones approached her podium, the Minister following.
"Good luck. Stay strong, I love you." Draco said, and we kissed briefly before he followed Tonks and Lupin back up to their seats.
"This court will come back in session." Madam Bones boomed into the crowd. Madam Pane vanished the chair and left as I sat back down. I wasn't that tired anymore, thanks to her. I'd have to thank her after the courts adjourned for the day. "Is your voting complete?" She asked the Wizengamot, and the old woman stood up again.
"All for the grant of citizenship?" She asked, and many raised their hands, but I kept my poker face on and just scanned them, trying to count the number of hands. "All opposed?" She asked, and to me, it looked like the same number of hands went up, but Dawlish and Williamson grinned at each other.
"This court grants full Wizarding citizenship to Jennifer Lillian Quinty." Madam Bones said clearly, and the Minister scowled. "Gentlemen, continue your affidavits." She looked down at Williamson and Dawlish, who seemed to spring to life.
"Right, now we'd like to eliminate the idea that Jenny is vicious because she is a werewolf. We'd like to call Remus J. Lupin to testify."