(a/n): Beloved character death/betrayal warning. I know there are readers out there who are attached to certain characters. Don't say you weren't warned, but it sets up things for later. Lots of Azkaban stories start with Harry getting out, and just offer a few details. Here I'm taking him through it. And - wonderbee - good to see the devious workings of your mind here as well. BJH - you'd almost think he's reading ahead, but there's logic to that as well.

3 – The Trial of Harry Potter

In The United States, suspects have a right to a speedy trial. Cornelius Fudge's regime took that to extreme. On July 1, and Amelia's efforts quite to the contrary, The Atrium was converted into a courtroom for the trial of Harry Potter. By far, the largest room in The Ministry. In fact, truthfully, an open corridor it was able to hold a couple thousand spectators. Still, of course, The Atrium was too small to hold the number of people that WANTED to attend.

"ORDER!" Minister Fudge's amplified voice commanded "BRING IN THE ACCUSED!"

The niece of the Director of the MLE was easily able to obtain a spot close to the action. Susan was quite distressed at the sight of 'the accused' "Wish you could see this Hannah." she whispered to her absent friend "There's no way this can be right."

"You are Harry James Potter of #4 Privet Dr. Little Whining, Surrey, correct?" asked Fudge from his elevated podium.

While he answered a series of routine questions, Susan noted every detail of the trial she considered irregular. "No representation. All those heavy shackles, chains. Maybe for an actual convict. And how can it be fair for Uncle Amos to sit in judgment?"

"Now, Potter, let's get specific." said Fudge "What happened after you grabbed The Cup?"

That was when Harry changed. He lost coherency and began mumbling "All my fault. All my fault. All my fault. All my fault. All my fault. All my fault."

"Are you confessing your crime, Harry Potter?" Fudge demanded.

In response, Harry repeated "All my fault. All my fault. All my fault. All my fault. All my fault. All my fault."

Hundreds of eyewitness memories were taken and dropped into pensieves. A few people actually testified.

"NO I don't give a bloody rat's arse what those people say they saw!" exclaimed Ron Weasley "I've known Harry for five years and there's no way he killed anyone!"

The prosecutor smiled unpleasantly as that was exactly where he wanted to lead the boy "And is it not also true that your friend killed long-time Hogwarts Professor Quirrell?"

"He was possessed by You-Know-Who!" Ron protested.

Susan had heard various rumors, and many of them to that effect. But that wasn't the point. Any lawyer worth his degree would have briefed a witness. Admitting previous bad acts always hurt a case. The correct answer here was for Ron to say "I never saw what happened between Quirrell and Potter."

"So you say. We only have the defendant's word on that." the prosecutor observered.

Ron jumped out of the witness chair and shouted "And Professor Dumbledore!"

"And who was it that told the Headmaster what occurred that day?" he countered.

Ron could only sullenly reply "Harry."

"I'm sorry, Mr. Weasley." the prosecutor cupped his ear melodramatically "A little louder. For the record, please?"

Ron glared at him and yelled "HARRY!"

"Thank you kindly. I am finished with this witness. Miss Virginia Weasley, please."

Ginny walked up and took the stand "Not very clear on your facts, are you? Getting them from Rita Skeeter?"

"Young lady, the Wizengamot makes certain allowances for children." the prosecutor scolded "But, please note, it is proper procedure for me to ask questions and you to answer. Now, do you, Virginia Weasley, swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?"

Ginny's response brought total silence "No. I can't swear anything as Virginia Weasley."

"Stop these stupid games, girl!" Minister Fudge demanded. "What is the problem? You are the youngest child of Arthur and Molly Weasley, correct?"

Much more respectfully, Ginny replied "Yes, Minister. But my name is not Virginia. In full, it is Ginevra Molly Weasley." She flashed a look of annoyance at her family that was visibly amused by her using what was usually the source of hexes.

"Very well." the prosecutor snapped, angrily. And the oath was properly administered.

Ginny fired the first shot of her interrogation "Tell me, Mr. Prosecutor, sir... are your facts about Harry as solid as your accuracy with names?"

Susan chuckled along with those around her. "Weasley might make a fair lawyer one day, or maybe the Wizengamot."

"I've been told you have quite the crush on the accused." the prosecutor observed.

Susan thought it something of a cheap shot.

"I will trouble you to answer me, girl." the irritated prosecutor demanded.

Ginny looked around a bit, and then pressed a finger to her chest "Oh, sorry. You mean me. There's probably a couple hundred girls here."

Quidditch Magi-Focus glasses were great for this situation. Susan noted the reactions of different Weasleys. The father was semi-discretely elbowed by the mother. The twin trouble-makers of Hogwarts were laughing themselves silly over their sister's performance. Remarkably, the former Head Boy had a seat just below a row of Wizengamot members. She wondered mentally "Hafta ask Auntie what Stiffy Weasley's job is."

It had taken another scolding by Minister Fudge to get Ginny cooperative. The prosecutor was not having a good time "Your family has hosted the accused numerous times. Is that correct, Miss Weasley?"

"Yes, usually after his birthday, Harry spent the rest of the hols with us." answered Ginny.

This was a major opening "Rather unusual, in my opinion." he said "After spending nine months away from his family, Mr. Potter chooses to leave them again after such a short time. Wouldn't you think they miss each other?"

"Oh, Harry's never liked them," Ginny replied "They're pretty rotten."

Susan cringed at the answer. She deducted a few points from her opinion of the youngest Weasley. But, Again, where was a defender who would have seen that coming?

"One followup there, dear." the prosecutor said "If Mr. Potter disliked his Muggle family so much. Do you think he would wish them harm?"

Ginny shook her head vehemently "No way!" she declared "Harry has good reason not to like them, but he wouldn't harm a fly!"

"You do know about Professor Quirrel?" he asked "Sorry... the LATE Professor Quirrel?"

Ginny's response was accurate, if evasive "That was the year before I started. Sorry, but I never met him." Susan grinned approvingly.

"That due to the accused's actions." he pointed out "But, let us discuss THAT night. You were close enough to submit a pensieve memory, correct?"

No room for interpretation, she answered with a simple "Yes."

"And you confirm the accused using the Killing Curse?" he added.

Again, a simple fact. "Yes." she quickly added "But, Harry's a hero! Without him Voldemort would already be back and I'd be dead! And maybe you would, too!"

Cringes dominated the massive Atrium as the feared name echoed around it. Even while she, herself did, Susan admired the tactic. After that, the witness was dismissed forthwith. The last witness Susan had any interest in was Granger. If there was anyone in the school with the brains, and desire, to see justice done, she was it. Susan ignored the routine quesions. Name? Address? and the like.

"No, sir" Hermione was saying "I have to accept what I saw with my own two eyes. God I hate to admit it, but I saw Harry kill Cedric Diggory. And since he was laying, face down, on the ground, there is no question of self defense."

In her mind, Susan scored that as good as catching a Snitch. It was as if Hannah testified against her. What happened next was just a nail in his coffin.

"YOU'LL PAY FOR THAT YOU FILTHY LITTLE MUDBLOOD!" Harry screamed. His voice carried throughout the Atrium without any magnification.

Susan couldn't imagine anyone voting against conviction after that. But, to her, Harry's outburst was completely out of character. She had witnessed disagreements among the Trio before. But, never had Harry used the M word. In fact, she was sure he first heard it from Draco Malfoy. That alone was sufficient reason for him to use it. She knew former Professor Lupin, among others, would testify the next day before the trial ended. But, not knowing of his relationship to Harry, she skived off.

X x x x x x x x x x x x

"A complete, thorough report Susan." Amelia complemented. They were in her private study in the Bones estate. It was comfortably, but not luxuriously, furnished.

Hannah Abbott was also present and not very pleased with her best friend "I think it's a bit... read lot... slanted toward the wrong side." she said, bluntly.

"Considering how that went, I'd have to tilt a lot farther to even come close to offering near balance." Susan grumbled "It's a bloody show trial."

Amelia scolded her niece's language with a mere raised eyebrow. The elder witch needed nothing more. "I am inclined to agree with you, Susan." she admitted "After our chat, I looked into both the trial of Sirius Black and of Barty Crouch Jr. A mere ten feet of parchment for Black. All of four for Crouch. No questions on his because Daddy handed down the sentence. Can't imagine anyone bothering with the Potter transcript. I just can not get past the first apparition point."

"Sometimes guilty is guilty." Hannah said. "I can see what you're saying, Sue. But have you ever heard of a case with 'too much' evidence?"

There, Susan admitted she was stuck. The one overriding piece of evidence were the hundreds of pensieve memories. All with slightly different points of view. But, every one agreeing with the simple fact that Harry killed Cedric.

X x x x x x x x x x x x

Court resumed when the Wizengamot announced a verdict had been reached. "Regretably, Minister Fudge could not chair today's procedings." Albus Dumbledore announced "In my role as Chief Warlock, it falls upon me to conclude this sad affair. Members of the Wizengamot, how find you?"

Amos Diggory, enormous satisfaction evident on his face stood and announced "By a vote of 44 to 0 with 6 abstentions, the Wizengamot finds Harry Potter guilty of the murder of Cedric Diggory. And by a vote of 47 to 0 with 3 abstentions, guilty of the illegal use of an Unforgivable Curse."

Harry babbled, again "All my fault. All my fault. All my fault. All my fault. All my fault. All my fault."

"As the nearest relative to the victim." Amos added "I seek the ultimate penalty. Throw him through The Veil!"

Dumbledore commanded, "The defendant will rise. It is the decision of this noble court that age must play a factor in justice. Therefore, the death sentence is commuted. Harry Potter, having been found guilty, you are hereby sentenced to a term not less that fifty years and not longer than your natural life in the Wizarding Prison of Azakaban. Such sentence to begin immediately."

"Before he is removed, I have additional demands, Chief Warlock." Mr. Diggory announced "Our most ancient laws speak of compensation for the families of victims. I therefore file notice that the Noble House of Diggory claims all money, property and holdings of the Ancient and Noble House of Potter."

"Here!" and "Here! Here!" echoed through the Atrium.

The Wizengamot was nowhere near unanimous on this matter. In fact, they voted to table the matter for a future session.

"Then, at least, the criminal's purely personal effects are forfeit." the aggrieved father persisted.

To that, there was no objection. It was actually a rather routine ruling assuming the crime was severe enough. And, murder certainly qualified. "It is agreed." Dumbledore declared "With the sole exception of Mr. Potter's wand. Which will remain in Ministry custody."

"I think we'll start with that owl of his." said Amos as he approached.

"Sorrrrrry Hedwig." Harry offered listlessly. "Maybe we'll see each other some..."

Hagrid rushed forward and snatched the lovely owl's cage off the podium. He held it out of the shorter than average wizard's reach.

"Hagrid, you must obey." said Dumbledore "She no longer belongs to Harry."

Reluctantly, the half-giant complied, demanding "You treat her like a lady."

"Not your concern." Amos snapped, as he snatched the cage away. He strutted over to stand directly in front of Harry and shouted in his face "Maybe you should live, you murdering scum! Live to suffer! Like my wife and daughter! Here! HERE IS JUST A SMALL PART OF THE PAIN I OWE YOU!" He yanked on the cage door, grabbed the trapped owl and squeezed.

Hedwig screeched and squawked, she stabbed at the offending hand with her beak and attempted to slash with her claws. But unable to move, it was a hopeless struggle.

"LEAVE HER ALONE! BASTARD!" Harry roared. He surged against the heavy chains in his fury. The metal cut deeply into his wrists, ankles and neck.

Hedwig's struggles grew feeble as the cruel fingers dug into her throat. She emitted an impressive final cry that everyone heard. Those within a few feet heard a crunch as the owl's neck snapped.

One of the bolts that held Harry's chains gave way. He fell on the cage and sobbed over his beloved friend. In far too short a time he was seized to dragged off. He caught sight of Mr. Diggory and screamed "SHE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING! I HATE YOU!" Three Aurors and the chain weren't enough to hold him. But, a violent blow to the side of the head staggered him.

"You can't think a pet could possibly compare to a human life." a pained/angry voice declared.

To his horror, when Harry's eyes focused on the source, he found it to be Remus Lupin. A knee to his stomach robbed his body of the last of its energy and left him on the hard Atrium floor. In mental, emotional, and physical agony.

"If James and Lily were here, they would disown you." the werewolf's voice dripped with loathing "Can I help take this thing to Azkaban?"

As The Atrium emptied, Susan Bones reflected on what she saw. And found it revolting. She had gagged more than once. She maintained her dignity until she reached a public restroom. She managed to close the door and, for an instant, allowed herself to imagine what it would be like to feel what she just saw. The contents of her stomach erupted from her mouth. And she wretched for several minutes. After, she scourgified her clothes and groomed herself entirely Muggle fashion. It gave her the time she needed to settle her stomach. "If I ever see this place again, it'll be too soon!" she declared.