It was finally the day of the trial. The time between the wedding and today was spent filling in the Evans family on what happened that night just over two weeks ago, and preparing them for what they may see, as they were going to accompany the Potters and Lupins, plus Kingsley and Alastor to the Wizengamot, more for curiosity's sake than anything, but Lily and Petunia were adamant they wanted to go regardless to support their friends.
Dorea and Charlus had purchased new robes for their guests, as a thank you for their support. Finally, at nine forty-five, Charlus called everyone into the sitting room. "It's time to leave everyone," he said, holding the pot of Floo powder for everyone. "Michael, Evelyn, Petunia, since this is your first time using the Floo, you'll all travel with one of us. Michael, you'll be with James, Evelyn with Dorea, and Petunia with Lily."
They all nodded and stood beside their partners. One by one, they all traveled to the ministry.
As they made their way through the ministry, lead by Charlus, it seemed as if all eyes were on them. Hermione had talked to the Evans family about this, most of the purebloods would know they were muggles, and Dorea had spent hours with them, practicing what Hermione called the "Pureblood walk". "Remember, heads held high, shoulders back, face blank," Hermione whispered to Petunia and Evelyn, knowing Charlus had just said the same thing to Michael.
"We're assembled today for the trial of Lucius Malfoy, Bellatrix Black, Rabastan Lestrange, Rodolphus Lestrange and Peter Pettigrew," Edgar Bones spoke, banging his gavel three times. "Aurors, bring in the accused."
Hermione's eyes locked onto the door she knew the traitor and his cohorts were behind. Finally, out walked the Lestrange brothers, trying to act nonchalant and failing, they couldn't hide their hands shaking and the sheen of sweat on their brows. Behind them, Bellatrix Lestrange, walking exactly how Dorea had taught the Evans, with the exception of her eyes darting left and right before they landed on Sirius and Regulus, sitting between two girls she didn't know, meaning, in her mind, mudbloods. Lucius followed her, his sneer firmly in place, his white blond hair dingy from not being washed in his expensive shampoo. Finally, Peter exited, shaking all over, crying, and tripping over himself.
"How do the accused plead?" Bones said once they were all in the courtroom and in their seats.
"Not guilty," the Lestrange brothers said together.
"Not guitly!" Bellatrix exclaimed.
"Not guilty," Lucius said smoothly.
"N-not g-g-guilty," Pettigrew stuttered, obviously under the effects of breaking the oath to Hermione.
"We will now view the memory of Lady Dorea Potter from the night in question," Bones said, nodding to the auror standing by the pensieve.
Hermione buried her face in Sirius' shoulder, she didn't need to see it from Dorea's perspective to remember how awful it was.
The courtroom was silent as the memory ended. "We'll now ask questions of all those involved, would everyone present at Lupin Keep on that night please step forward?" Bones said once the gasps quieted. As everyone stood, Regulus positioned himself between Petunia and Evelyn, both women clinging to his arms. Michael wrapped a comforting arm around his wife, knowing that if seeing a memory of the event was that bad, being there, in the moment must have been awful.
"Firstly," a grizzled-looking wizard said, his appearance reminding everyone in attendance of Moody. "There will be no questions to Mister Lupin or his mother in regard to his lycanthropy. That is not why we are here today, therefore it is irrelevant outside of the fact that he was transformed while all this occurred."
Remus nodded once at the man, thanking him.
The same man asked the first question. "Miss Granger, my first question is for you. How did you come to know about the Oath of Tortuous Consequence? It's not as common knowledge as it was fifty years ago."
"I read it staying at Lupin Keep," she began, calmly and confidently. "Missus Lupin is my cousin, and I was staying with her and Remus. I am an avid reader and lover of knowledge, so naturally, I saw a book I hadn't yet read, and the oath was in that book."
"Mister Lupin, you were the officiant for the oath?" Bones asked, glancing at his notes.
"Yes, Head Auror Bones," he said. "Living at Lupin Keep, I naturally have read every book in our library."
"Missus Lupin, how did you come to be in possession of the book that contains this oath?" Bones asked, though he had a feeling he already knew the answer.
"When my ex-husband left, he left a number of possessions in the home," Hope began calmly. "As you know, when our divorce was finalized, I was given sole custody of Remus, and the Wizengamot thought it prudent to also transfer ownership of Lupin Keep to Remus, with me as its caretaker until he's of age. That book was one of my husband's favorite books, having used it in our wedding vows, making it nearly impossible and painful to facilitate my divorce."
"I remember Hope," Griselda Marchbanks, the Wizengamot member that proceeded over the Lupin divorce said. "I am happy to see you're of good health now. Now, Miss Granger, when the particular oath you performed with Mister Pettigrew is broken with ill intent, the invisible ribbon burns you, alerting you as to why the oath was broken. Did this happen to you when Mister Pettigrew revealed whatever you and he spoke the oath over?"
"Yes," Hermione replied, holding up her arm, showing the scar. "This is why we alerted the Aurors."
Three hours of endless testimony, two outbursts from James and four outbursts from Sirius later, the Wizengamot had come to a decision.
"Before we announce the verdict and possible sentencing, there is something that I want to say," Bones said, sighing. "For your interruptions, we fine Mister James Potter ten galleons, five galleons for each offence. We also fine Sirius Potter twenty galleons, again, five galleons for each offence."
The boys nodded, accepting their fines, as James, Remus and Sirius all suddenly felt a need to be near Hermione, touching her somehow. Kingsley and Alastor had also moved closer to the teens, having spent the last few weeks with them and growing increasingly close to them.
"And now, our verdicts," Edgar Bones said, smoothing the parchment in his hands. "Mister Lucius Malfoy, please step forward. On the charge of trespassing with intent to commit bodily harm, we find you guilty. On the charge of possessing the Dark Mark, we find you guilty. Please step back, and I will read your sentencing after I have finished with the rest of the verdicts."
Lucius stepped back, snarling at Hermione and her friends. The Lestrange brothers were next, their verdicts the same as Lucius'. Bellatrix's was read after them, with the added charge of attempted ward tampering. She too, was found guilty of all charges.
"Peter Pettigrew," Bones said, staring at the short man. "Fate has already sentenced you, but it is also the Wizengamot's duty to sentence you to the charges you face today. On the charge of trespassing with intent to commit bodily harm, we find you guilty. On the charge of possessing the Dark Mark, we find you guilty. On the charge of assault with grievous bodily harm against an auror, we find you guilty."
Peter began sobbing, the repercussions of breaking the oath making it impossible to speak. Not only was he already condemned to die by breaking the damned oath to Granger, but he was also surely going to die in Azkaban.
"I will now read the sentencing," Madam Marchbanks said, taking the parchment from Bones. "Lucius Malfoy, you are sentenced to fifteen years in Azkaban, level four on the count of possessing the Dark Mark, once those fifteen years are over, you are sentenced to three years at level one. Additionally, you are fined a total of five thousand galleons. Misters Lestrange, your sentence will match Mister Malfoy's. Miss Black, yours will also match with the exception of your fifteen year sentence. Due to the fact you have previously been incarcerated, and it has done nothing for you, you will be housed at level five. Mister Pettigrew, you are sentenced to ten years at level five, to be followed by ten additional years at level three. Following that, should Fate decide you live that long, we will then sentence you to five years at level two. Court is adjourned, aurors, please escort the prisoners to Azkaban."
The teens all seemed to relax, even Petunia and Regulus relaxed in the audience. Charlus turned toward to large group of people he had opened his home to. "Family," he said, his eyes moving over each person, "it's time to go home."
In the days following the trial, everyone at Potter Manor tried to get back to normal. Normal, however, was subjective.
The day after the trial, Tilly had called everyone into the sitting room, making everyone sit down, including Robby and her parents, Mipsy and Patty. "Tilly and Robby be having something to say to our family," was all she would say when she was questioned why.
"Tilly be's with child," she finally said once everyone was seating and comfortable. Mipsy jumped off the chair she shared with Patty and hugged her daughter. "Mipsy be's with child too," Mipsy exclaimed, her large eyes watering.
"Oh, that's wonderful!" Petunia said, as she was the first to recover. "Ladies, I'd love to make your children's first outfits!"
"Missy Tunie be's calling us ladies?" Tilly said in amazement. "Tilly likes this one, she does."
The family laughed, taking turns hugging the expecting mothers.
The afternoon of Tilly and Mipsy's announcement was spent preparing the Evans family for what was to happen that night.
"Remus will be transforming tonight," Hermione said, sitting with the Evans parents in their sitting room. "He has a space in the cellar, innaccessable from here, and vice versa, where he can safely transform and has some room to move around as Moony. You will be perfectly safe, however, if you aren't comfortable, we completely understand, and the two of you can stay in the spare room in James' wing."
"Will he be okay?" Evelyn asked, more worried for Remus than herself at the moment. She had really come to care deeply for the quiet boy.
"Emotionally, yes," Hermione began. "Physically, however, I will have to heal along his spine because that's where lycanthropes' skin splits when they transform, and he'll have a multitude of scratches on him. James and Sirius are what we call animagus, they have the ability to change into animals and they keep Remus calmer during his transformation then if he were to be alone, so the damage isn't nearly as bad as it could be. The morning after the transformation, he checks on his 'pack', which is everyone living here, at Potter Manor, which I assume will now include you and Petunia, and then he'll sleep for a day or two."
"We saw the memory at the trial, will he be that loud when he transforms?" Michael asked, also worried about Remus.
"I'm not sure," she replied honestly. "Moony, that's what his wolf is named, was enticed by smelling Al's blood, and wanted to feast. I've already placed a large side of beef in the cellar for Moony to have, so that won't be a problem."
"I'd still like to stay upstairs," Evelyn said, with Michael nodding in agreement. "Knowing that sweet boy is in pain, and we can't help, that'll be excruciating for us. Please, don't think we're sleeping up there to be away from him, you said the wolfsbane helps him keep his mind, but I don't think I could handle hearing the transformation, I'd want to go in and soothe him."
"Trust me, I feel the same way," Hermione said sadly. "I haven't been able to become an animagus myself, and the last time Remus transformed, it almost killed me."
Sunset came, and with it, everyone in Potter Manor, from muggle to magical to elf, escorted Remus to the cellar. The ladies all took turns hugging Remus, kissing his cheek and promising to come check on him as soon as the moon set, the men reassuring the Marauders they would look after the ladies while they were in the cellar. Finally, Moony sensed the moon begin to rise.
"It's going to happen soon," Remus said, accepting another hug from Hermione. "Moony will be out soon, Prongs, Padfoot, you better go ahead and change."
The Evans family stood in awe as a stag and a large dog stood where James and Sirius were previously.
"I'll have the boys show you their forms later," Hermione said, ushering everyone up the stairs. "We need to leave now, according to my watch, we have thirty seconds to moon rise."
Hurrying, the family made their way upstairs, with Hermione and Charlus only stopping long enough to reinforce the wards around the doorframe quickly, then magically locking the door.
Charlus hadn't thrown up a silencing charm fast enough, however, and everyone froze when the first tortured yell came from the cellar.
"Oh my god," Petunia cried, covering her mouth. "Is that Remus?" Regulus moved to hug Petunia.
"Yeah," Hermione said thickly as Charlus silenced the sounds coming from the cellar. "He told me once he's only in pain while transforming. Even then, its mostly emotional pain from finally letting Moony take over."
Finally, hours after Evelyn and Michael had finally fallen asleep on the couch, the moon set. Hermione advised that they wait another thirty minutes before entering the cellar. "Sometimes Moony takes a little convincing to let go." When she was confident she'd find Remus, bloodied and tired, but himself in the cellar, she removed the wards and motioned for Lily, Regulus, Petunia, and a very worried Tilly to follow her.
"Don't try to wake him, the only thing I usually do is bring some light snacks down, cover everyone up, heal Remus and repair his clothing," she warned. "Remus will be very on edge and will probably wake as soon as we enter the cellar, his sense of smell is ten times higher than it usually is right after a transformation."
Hermione lead them downstairs, Lily gasping at the destruction of the furniture. "We leave furniture down there, even though it gets ruined every full moon, it gives Moony something to hurt other than himself," Hermione had explained earlier.
Silently, Petunia set down the tray of scones and pitcher of juice she had prepared, and grabbed a blanket from the stack Regulus was carrying. She covered James first, as he was closest to her. Understanding what she was doing, he walked slowly with Petunia as she covered each of the boys in the blankets, both of them ignoring the blood on Remus for now. Meanwhile, Lily pulled out her wand and repaired all the furniture, making sure not to disturb her sleeping friends.
Hermione immediately went to Remus, her wand gliding over his back several times, before the skin began to close. Petunia appeared behind her, holding a washcloth Tilly had conjured, the small elf behind Petunia, holding a bowl of warm water. "Need some help?" Petunia whispered. At Hermione's nod, Petunia began gently washing all the blood off Remus.
When Petunia got too close to a cut Hermione hadn't healed yet, Remus moaned. "It's okay, Moony," Petunia whispered. "It's just your pack, let us take care of our Alpha while you heal."
Hermione was impressed with Petunia's response. Finally, Hermione was satisfied with Remus' healing and the boys' comfort, and lead everyone back upstairs.
"Tunie," Hermione said once they reentered the kitchen. "Where'd you learn to talk to Remus like that?"
"Regulus and I found some books in the library that talked about helping someone like Remus after their transformation," she said. "The book said to acknowledge you're pack if they see you that way. Did I say something wrong?"
"No!" Hermione exclaimed. "You just talked like you'd been doing that your whole life."
"I took some emergency medical classes this year," Petunia said, smiling. "The trauma training helped me stay calm, everything else was from that book we found. I know werewolves see people they consider as family their pack, and if they're the only werewolf, they see themselves as Alpha of the family, so I just combined the two."
"You did amazing," Lily said, hugging her sister.
"The boys will be up in about an hour, let's get some breakfast ready for them and then we'll all take a nap," Hermione said, noticing Tilly was already cooking.
A short while later, the very tired Marauders came up the stairs, eager for more filling food.
They all ate in silence, everyone too tired to initiate conversation. Finally, the plates were cleared from the table, thanks to Mipsy, who then pointed to the stairs leading to James' wing. "Everyone up, now."
Unwilling to argue with the pregnant elf, the teens stood, Hermione with one arm around Remus and the other around Sirius, and walked to their shared room, where they all collapsed in their usual spots, drifting off into a deep sleep.