A./N.: I know I didn't upload in a while and I'm sorry. I hope this chapter was worth the waiting for and I promise to update sooner. This story will come to an end in a couple of chapters but I'm planning on a sequel if a get enough response. So please review.

A death-eater's worst fear

Tom Marvolo Riddle, alias Lord Voldemort, was dead! The news spread like wildfire through the ranks of death-eaters.

Bellatrix Lestrange was Distraught. For the first time in her privileged life she feared for her future. 14 years ago she had had a fair trial but now she was the prisoner of the Order instead of the Ministry. Amongst all the prisoners the rumours started to circulate. Of course they would be killed ... that was after all what they would do to their prisoners. When someone was no longer of use, that person was apprehended. They had no reason to believe that this fate wouldn't be theirs now.

Lucius Malfoy sat in his cell and pondered over the choices he had made in life. Becoming a death-eater had been, at least for him, a question of pride. Joining the ranks of Lord Voldemort had provided him with an outlet for his aggressions. And besides, those damn muggle-born witches and wizards always meddled in affairs they knew nothing about. They took up high-ranking positions over pure-bloods and even interfered in age-old traditions. All those silly laws for secrecy and equality! They had to be stopped. But no, those muggle-lovers popped up everywhere like mushrooms and supported the changes. And the rich, pure-blooded families were suddenly called antiquated, stuffy and ignorant.

He had still trouble comprehending Narcissa's little speech. How could she abandon her family and her values? What had possessed her to support the Order of the Phoenix and free the prisoners? Why was she divorcing him anyway? Just because he had slept with Molly Weasley? That was preposterous!

Unable to hold back his anxiety, he began to pace his cell. True the Order had provided enough food to keep their prisoners healthy and had not applied any means of torture or intimidation but Lucius didn't trust that peace and quiet before the storm, as he called it. He almost graved to know what would happen to him, even death he would welcome if it meant an end to this waiting. Then at least he would know what was to happen to him. Right now he was stuck in limbo, so to speak.

Two cells to his right he heard Greyback howling and whimpering. 'So, it's full moon. That means we're here for 5 weeks already. What are they waiting for to finish us off?' he thought bitterly. No amount of reasoning could explain why the Order hadn't made its move yet.

Again Lucius began to pace his small cell. He hated waiting and those people were doing this torture to him.

----

Minerva and Molly had now daily sessions with Mr. Thompson and improved in behaviour. He always made Albus and Arthur sit on the other side of the room and listen intently to the conversation. It was their support and love that pulled the women through. Molly was again the centre of her family's attention. She cared for all her children in the same way she had before and had even found the strength to talk to Ron about nearly killing Lucius Malfoy.

Ron had been feeling guilty and down ever since. He hated himself for wishing the death of another human being when his parents had always raised him to honour life. Molly had softly cradled him to her bosom and told him of the dark visions she had had while in the hands of Malfoy. She had confessed to her youngest son the wish to kill Lucius.

Minerva had come nearer to her husband over the last days again, sitting by his bed in the Hospital Wing for long hours and even putting salve on his scars from Voldemort's curses. She was no longer afraid to touch him or be touched by him because she had worked, at least partly, through her trauma inflicted by the constant mental battering from Tom.

And now they had to face another traumatic event. Dr. Thompson had insisted that they are present and see their enemies defeated. He had agreed whole-heartedly with Minerva, having had the need to see Tom trapped in a cell. He had found out through his sessions with her that she had suffered under Stockholm syndrome. This was the final session, the final therapy as Dr. Thompson called it. They had to have their enemies.

Molly held Arthur's hand in a vice-like grip. She was scared. Lucius Malfoy was brought in and he sneered at her in a very nasty way. Arthur curled his free hand into a tight fist. In his head he repeated the mantra "Don't kill him, don't kill him!" and he kept a close watch on Molly. She was nervous. Of course she would be but he was proud that she actually faced Lucius Malfoy and Bellatrix Lestrange.

Speaking of the black-haired witch, Arthur looked out for her and saw her near the door in heavy manacles and guarded by Kingsley. Greyback was guarded by Bill and Arthur felt very proud of his eldest son. He let his gaze sweep across the room and over the other death-eaters being guarded by members of the Order and teachers. At last his gaze returned to Lucius and Alastor, guarding the scum who had raped his wife, and he sneered back in a most intimidating manner. Lucius would never again touch his precious wife or any other woman.

"We are here to try the death-eaters, following Lord Voldemort and committing countless crimes against the Human Rights. Since the Ministry is still in denial, I myself, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, and a few high-ranking members of the Wizengamot will hold the trial."

Molly released the breath she hadn't been aware she was holding. She could handle this trial since it seemed that all the attention would rest on the Wizengamot. Poppy and Minerva, who were both sitting next to her, seemed relieved too. Poppy had agreed to support Minerva since Albus was busy residing over the trial.

Arthur wrapped his arm around Molly's shoulders and squeezed a little. Molly however did not relax greatly. She watched Minerva out of the corner of her eye and saw the same fear and uncertainty reflected in her eyes that she felt.

Minerva remembered earlier trials at the end of the first war against Voldemort and at the end of the war against Grindelwald. Albus was, if he wanted to keep this trial within the standards of an ordinary trial, compelled to ask Molly and herself about their tortures and rapes. Albus would also have to ask Poppy to repeat her reports on the healing processes from both Molly and Minerva. It was not yet over.

"You all know what you are convicted for. What do you have to say in your defence? Mr. Malfoy, let's start with you", asked Mrs. Bones, sitting next to her dear friend Albus.

"I have nothing to say in my defence. I did what I did because I believe in the rightness of my actions."

Molly was stunned. Minerva was trying very hard to keep her mouth closed for it threatened to fall open. Here he was offered a chance to talk his neck out off the hangman's robe and Lucius didn't take the bait. He honestly thought he had done the right thing? How could he? Albus furrowed brows though relaxed and an understanding smile appeared on his lips. Malfoy had knowingly sentenced himself to death and hoped that the Order would be tried in return for murder if the Ministry ever found out about it.

"I see", said Madame Bones. Then she turned around to face Albus and asked: "How do you want to precede now?"

It was obvious that this statement and somewhat thrown the Wizengamot. Lucius sneer spread and it was mirrored in the other death-eaters faces. Obviously they had talked this out amongst themselves. Each of them would give the same answer.

But Albus chuckled softly and placed the fingertips of his hands together in his trademark gesture. Sparkling blue eyes regarded his former students over the rim of his half-moon spectacles, searching and finding their weakest link.

"Mr. Pettigrew, did you commit murder, abduction, rape and God alone knows what other crimes because you really believed in Lord Voldemort's ideologies?"

Peter Pettigrew moved his head up and down jerkily but when Albus intensified his gaze, Peter changed the movement into a vigorous shaking.

"Then kindly tell us what happened from your perspective and why you did it."

And Peter, terrified by his old Headmaster, launched into a precise restitution of the events of the days of Minerva's and Molly's capture. He told the Wizengamot how they had overpowered Rolanda and Minerva, how they had waited for Molly outside the Order's Headquarters (which they had found out because Voldemort had started to distrust Snape and had send someone to follow him), every last gruesome detail about the rapes and tortures.

Molly and Minerva were both shivering uncontrollably by then and tears of shame were running down their faces. It was one thing telling a psychiatrist about these things with their loving husbands in the room but it was an entirely different thing to have the whole Order and Hogwarts staff hear those things.

"We realize your account, Peter", said Dumbledore.

"You can't prove that!!" yelled Bellatrix. "Pettigrew is weak. You could have made him say those things. Neither one of us will confirm this story. And you have no witnesses!"

"Yes, we have witnesses. First Narcissa Malfoy and John McRae. Both are former death-eaters who later regretted their involvement and helped the Order free both victims. Second the Order members who launched an attack on Riddle Manor and helped free Professor McGonagall and Mrs. Weasley. Third Poppy Pomfrey, healer in Hogwarts, who took care of Molly Weasley and Minerva McGonagall after the multiple rapes and tortures."

Molly flinched terribly at the actual word. Arthur's arm wrapped itself more firmly around her shoulders. She hoped she wasn't asked to repeat what had happened to her but she knew better. Of course they would ask her. It would be pure hell when the Wizengamot called her forward to recount the actual events. She was not up to that. She couldn't do that. She...

Minerva noticed that Molly was near full-blown panic. She tried unsuccessfully to get Molly's attention and divert her from the trial. There wouldn't be anything to say since she too felt panic constrict her throat. She hoped Albus would be content with Narcissa's and McRae's statements and let her and Molly off the hook. She couldn't and wouldn't recount her story in a room full of her tormentors.

Poppy had her eyes fixed on Molly and Minerva. She had come prepared. Two little vials with calming potions were in her pocket. They were intended for after the trial but she wasn't entirely sure if both women would make it through.

Albus and his colleagues had already agreed to question Narcissa and McRae about the events but would spare Molly and Minerva the humiliation. Both had gone through too much already and Dr. Thompson had warned them that forcing them to make statements would be counterproductive and destroy the progress they had made in the last days. One day they would, perhaps, be able to talk about it to someone besides their husbands but not now and not in front of the people who had done all this to them.

Later Narcissa and McRae were called forward to make their statements. But for Minerva all that was a haze. Her mind was fuzzy as she observed Rudolphus Lestrange losing his cocky grin after more and more was revealed. In her mind she heard Molly's sobs and begs to stop and let her go. She heard her own voice beg him to take her instead of hurting Molly.

Poppy wrapped her arms securely around her old friend. She had seen a murderous glint in the depths of Minerva's eyes and was afraid that if no one restraint the Scottish witch there would be one less criminal to try.

Molly on the other hand was sobbing from shame and relieved pain. She was snuggled against Arthur's chest, breathing in his scent and feeling his heartbeat. Closing her eyes, Molly relaxed somewhat and tried to shut up the voices around her. It was finally over. Arthur still loved her. And she had to think of the child she carried.

Then Albus stood up. Minerva saw the beads of sweat on his forehead. He was still recovering and this was taxing for him. They had to wrap this up quickly or he would collapse. Desperately she wanted to rush over to her husband, support him or better get him out of here. But then Albus spoke and Minerva, for the moment, forgot her worries about him.

"I hereby sentence you to a life as muggles. We will your wands and drain you of your magic. You will be exiled from the magical Community."

Malfoy and the other death-eaters started to protest but couldn't voice any of their arguments because their guards had already Silenced them and were dragging them from the room.