Chapter Twelve

"And that's about the time my brother and self found our way into your tender care."

"…Thank you, Mr. Weasley, you uh… you may step down now."

George winked at Hermione before hopping out of the chair. Casually strolling over to the lower public seating area, the ginger slid into the seat next to Sally and propped his feet up on the bar in front of them. The young witch did not look amused by her new seating companion. On the floor Hermione rubbed her eyes wearily. Thank god that was over. She had just spent the last forty-five minutes questioning George and allowing him to tell his side of the story. That had certainly been quite the experience. Merlin willing the Stoneworths wouldn't be trying to flirt with her while she questioned them as well…

Speaking of which, it was now the Stoneworth's turn to present their side. Afterwards Hermione and their attorney, had they chosen to have one, would be allowed to question the opposite party. As per Wizarding court system conduct, it was Hermione's obligation to formerly yield the floor to the other party but calling them to it. Clearing her throat she readdressed the jury, "With the permission of the attending Wizengamot, I would like to call Mrs. Cynthia Stoneworth and her legal representative to the floor for their testimonial and questioning."

Judge Gaufrid nodded his consent and gestured for Mrs. Stoneworth to come to the chair. The pristinely dressed witch gracefully descended from the public seating and quickly sat herself in the questioning seat. Hermione noted with gratitude that an attorney did not accompany her. Once the blonde woman was seated and ready Gaufrid spoke.

"Mrs. Stoneworth, is your representation here today or shall you and your husband be defending yourselves?"

"Defending ourselves, your honor," she replied primly. "The atrocity committed against our innocent child-" Gaufrid managed to suppress rolling his eyes at Mrs. Stoneworth's sniffle. Barely. "-was very straight forward so we saw no need to waste money on representation for this matter."

"Are you willing to consent to myself conducting the initial questioning?"

"Of course, your honor. I have nothing to hide."

"Very well, Mrs. Stoneworth, proceed when ready," he said with a dismissive wave. "Miss Granger you may take a seat with your client until she has finished."

Hermione nodded politely and quickly took a seat next to George. As Mrs. Stoneworth began her testimony, Hermione began mentally preparing her questions for afterwards.

"We were planning our son's sixth birthday party and had wished to purchase something a bit special for him," the blonde witch started. "We had heard good things from friends about the products at Weasley Wheezes and thought we would give it a try."

"Please describe your experience at Mr. Weasley's establishment," Gaufrid said, sounding rather bored.

"Almost immediately my husband and I were all but ambushed by a rather insistent sale's person who was far too intrusive about why we were there."

"Was that sale's person Mr. Weasley?"

"Yes it was, your honor," she said. "We said we were shopping for our son's party but before we could explain his age or anything of the like, Mr. Weasley began practically shoving products into our arms. Including the Wiz-Bang fireworks. We did not think they would be appropriate for our son's age but he did not seem to care."

Hermione felt George fidget next to her. Looking at him she could see a deep frown forming on his face, as though the woman's statement was the most grave of insults. Thinking on it a bit, Hermione figured that for someone like him it really was. Aside from the plethora of very young nieces and nephews he had, Fred and George made a living by entertaining children with their products. The thought of either twin not caring about a child's safety was down right preposterous. Hermione found herself glaring at the woman, though she couldn't really tell herself why.

"I see," the judge scribbled something down on his parchment. "Continue."

"Well we got everything home and the day of the party set the boxes of whiz-bang aside to be used for later. We couldn't have possibly known Philip and his friends would take off with one of the boxes, he is usually such a cautious and bright boy," at this point in her story, Mrs. Stoneworth pulled a handkerchief and dabbed the side of her eyes at tears that may or many not have actually been there. "I'm apologize… it was just so horrible. Next thing we knew there was a huge explosion outside and all of the children started screaming. By the time my husband and I got outside Philip was rolling on the ground shrieking at the top of his lungs clutching his legs. He had second degree burns all down his legs, some on his upper torso as well as on his lower back. He… he tried to turn away from the blast."

As Mrs. Stoneworth began to wail into her handkerchief a low murmur of sympathy rippled through the court room. Hermione frowned. That did not help them at all. If she hard questioned the blubbering woman now she'd end up looking like a tyrannical bully. Damn, the cow was good. When Mrs. Stoneworth finally composed herself she spoke again.

"We had a family member in attendance who is a top Healer at St. Mungo's and she healed the burns because we couldn't stand our little boy in pain. However we took photographs of the injuries just in case."

"May I see the photos please?" Judge Gaufrid asked.

Mrs. Stoneworth nodded and quickly got up to hand him the photographs before sitting back down. Gaufrid studied them for a moment with a deep frown of his own. The photos were fairly graphic in their depiction of the young lad and his injuries. In them the boy was rolling around in agony on the ground as he clutched a severely burned leg. He was obviously crying and obviously in an incredible amount of pain. The old judge rubbed his eyes with one hand before putting the pictures in the file on the desk in front of him. He didn't want to have to look at them all that long. Gaufrid was getting a horrible sick feeling that he may actually have to find the Weasley boys guilty on this one. It wasn't often that he was wrong about his initial impression of people and their cases but it was possible he was about the Stoneworth's intent behind this one. He liked the boys but Edgar Gaufrid was, if nothing, else absolutely fair in his rulings. He did not play favorites in his courtroom. If they deserved to loose this case then they would. Damned if it didn't turn his stomach though.

"Very well," he said. "I am through. Miss Granger if you would like to cross-examine Mrs. Stoneworth you are welcomed to do so now."

Hermione stood up and bowed slightly. "Thank you, your honor," she said as she made her way back to the floor. Once there she took a moment to clear her mind before addressing the woman in the chair. "Mrs. Stoneworth, when you entered Mr. Weasley's establishment what was your first impression of it?"

The green clad woman furrowed her brow for a moment but replied, "My first impression admittedly was a bit awed. Mr. Weasley and his brother have some rather impressive merchandise. You know… were they appropriate for children."

"And what makes you think they are not appropriate for children, Mrs. Stoneworth?"

"The fact that my six year old son ended up with second degree burns from handling some of them!" she snapped.

"Indeed," Hermione retorted. "Mrs. Stoneworth, are you literate?"

"I beg your pardon?"

"Can you read, Mrs. Stoneworth," Hermione asked again.

"Well of course I can read!" the woman looked furious. "What sort of stupid question is that?"

Hermione did not answer, only made her way over to Sally where the young woman silently handed her a box of whiz-bangs. Hermione walked purposefully back over to Mrs. Stoneworth and held the box out to her. "Then perhaps you can read the label on the side of this box for me. Right here. Oh and out loud if you don't mind please."

Mrs. Stoneworth gave Hermione a scathing glare before snatching the box out of her hands and reading the label aloud to the room's occupants. "It says DANGER- Once opened keep out of reach of children ages birth to twelve, and…'," the woman rolled her eyes but continued. " 'and sponge brained adults, with or without children, who wouldn't know what safety was if it came up and snogged them'."

From the stands George grinned and nudged Sally, "I wrote that bit."

"I would never have guessed," Sally rolled her eyes.

Back on the floor Hermione took the box back, "Any idea what that label means, Mrs. Stoneworth?"

"It means don't let children play with them," she huffed. "But a warning label doesn't do much good when a child is curious. We set them aside and told him not to touch them. Philip usually listens to our instructions so we couldn't have possibly known he would get into them on his own. He and his friends nicked a box from our kitchen counter and opened it in the back yard behind some trees. After that, well, it doesn't take a genius to light a match."

In the stands George's eye brows flew up into his hairline. He suddenly jumped up onto his feet and screamed, "OBJECTION!"

Sally frantically tried to get the irate red head to sit down as Hermione furiously glared at them. From his seat Judge Gaufrid frowned as well.

"Miss Granger, I suggest you get control of your client before I am forced to do so myself."

"Yes Sir," she nodded and hurried over to them. Once there Hermione grabbed George by his tie and practically shoved him back into his seat. "What in the blue blazes do you think you are doing, Weasley!"

"Saving my store," he snapped in a low tone. "She's lying."

"What do you mean, she's lying? Lying about what?" Hermione demanded.

"About the kid opening the box."

"How could you possibly know that, you were not there? If you have something to share that will help you, tell me quick before the judge decides to toss you out of here for disrupting everything."

In an uncharacteristic move, George grabbed Hermione's head and pulled it close so that he could whisper something in her ear. As he spoke the brunette's eyes got wide, than narrowed in to a glare before settling on a smug smirk. When he pulled away, Hermione thanked him before going back to the center of the floor. Gaufrid did not look amused at all by the display.

"May we precede, Miss Granger? Or does Mr. Weasley wish to share the rest of his thoughts with the class."

"No, Sir, there is no need for Mr. Weasley to speak again, is there, Mr. Weasley?" she said, fixing him with a pointed glare that clearly said that if he got out of his seat again she would hex him in front of everyone here. George shook his head and leaned back in his seat with his arms crossed over his chest.

"Then if you'd be so kind as to get on with it, Miss Granger, I do not appreciate wasting my time."

"Certainly, your Honor," Hermione turned back to the equally annoyed witch still sitting in the questioning chair. "Mrs. Stoneworth, what was the age range of the children attending your son's birthday party?"

"The eldest was seven and the youngest was four, why?"

"And you said that the children stole the box from your counter top and snuck away to open it outside?"

"Yes."

"Which they succeeded in doing?"

"Yes."

Hermione smirked to herself as the woman unknowingly backed herself into a corner, "Were there any adults or teenagers outside that could have helped them open the box?"

"No, everyone else was inside eating."

"Mrs. Stoneworth, is you son Philip here today?"

The woman look taken aback for a moment by the question but nodded and pointed to the stands. Next to her husband sat a young boy with dirty blonde hair and an uninterested expression.

"Thank you, Mrs. Stoneworth," Hermione smiled. "With the attending Wizengamot member's permission I would like to call Philip Stoneworth to the floor."

A rumble of confused murmurs and not so quiet whispers filled the courtroom. Judge Gaufrid had to bang his gavel to regain the silence. When it was once again silent he looked back to Hermione.

"It is a rather unusual request, Miss Granger, I assume you have a good reason?"

"Yes, Sir."

"Very well, I'll allow it," the elderly judge gestured to the Stoneworth's son. "Mr. Stoneworth if you would please join your mother."

"Now wait a moment, I didn't say you could question our son!" the elder Mr. Stoneworth snapped, rising from his seat in the audience.

Gaufrid raised another bushy eyebrow. That reaction was a bit panicked sounding if he did say so himself. "Is there a reason you do not wish for you son to be questioned, Mr. Stoneworth?" he asked.

"I… well… other than he is such a young child no."

"I'll be gentle," Hermione said flatly. Turning back to the boy she smiled kindly. "It's alright, Philip. I don't bite."

The small child looked a bit frightened but obediently rose from his seat and climbed down the steps to the floor of the courtroom. Hermione was there to walk him over to the second chair that had been conjured next to his mothers. As he hopped up into the chair, his feet swinging freely, Hermione spoke.

"Hello, Philip."

" 'lo."

"No need to be frightened," she gave him a reassuring smile. "Are you feeling better after your accident?"

The boy shrugged but nodded.

"I'm glad you weren't hurt beyond help, Philip," Hermione said truthfully. "Can you tell me what happened at you birthday party?"

Philip looked at his mother for a moment, who smiled reassuringly at him, before looking back at Hermione. "Mummy said don't touch the fireworks but I didn't listen. My friends and I took a box and went outside to light them."

"I see," Hermione said, producing the box she had earlier. "Is this the same kind of box that you and your friends opened?"

"Yes, Ma'am."

"Could you do me a favor, Philip?" Hermione said. "See I'm a girl, so I can't do things like this properly. Do you think you could open this box up for me?"

"Sure," the boy's face lit up for a moment at the thought of being needed for such an important task. He took the box from Hermione and began tugging at the wrapping on the box. Philip frowned as he pulled harder and harder but it wouldn't budge. He even tried to rip a piece off with his teeth but it was in complete vain. The boy looked close to tears when Hermione patted him on the hand and gently took the box from him.

"I… I don't understand," Mrs. Stoneworth said with genuine confusion.

"Don't understand what, Mrs. Stoneworth?" Hermione turned towards her with a disapproving stare.

"I don't understand why he wasn't able to open it."

"Because, Mrs. Stoneworth," Hermione held the box up for everyone to see. "He can't."

TBC

A/N: Oh no! A Cliffhanger! Hehe aren't I a stinker? Hope you all enjoyed the nice long chapter I have been slaving away over. R&R, me dears!

~Chupip