Chapter 2 is already here like i promised. I hope you enjoyed the kick-off and been hooked for the following chapters.

Nothing is Simpel

The days after Ted's arrest were difficult, to say the least. Ted was taken away and everyone was a witness. The professors were late coming out of the castle and the inspectors had already apparated. James immediately rushed into the Gryffindor tower. He wanted to write to his father. Maxym went to the Room of Requirement. There she met the other Rebels.

»Is it true? They arrested Ted Lupin?« asked Colin as Maxym walked through the door.

»Yes. But James is already writing to his father. Maybe he can do something.«

»Ted was always one of the good ones. I can't believe he's been arrested.« Dominique, who took every opportunity to make Maxym look bad, was completely absorbed.

»Nothing much has happened yet. And I'm sure everything will turn out for the best.« Rose tried to sound optimistic, but you could hear the doubt in her voice too.

»I think it's very important now that we all keep a low profile. We've all experienced how dangerous the game is and what happens if we don't play by the rules,« Maxym warned, earning unanimous nods.

Days later, when Albus and James came into the Great Hall, their faces betrayed nothing good.

»We have some news. We're meeting tonight.« Albus said nothing more, leaving Maxym and Scorp sitting at the table.

»And he's just going to leave us like this?« Scorp could only shake his head at his friend's behaviour.

»I'm sure he has a good reason. Come on, finish your breakfast or we'll be late.« Maxym pointed to his plate. Scorp quickly wolfed down his toast and the siblings went to class.

Throughout the day, Maxym pondered what the two Potter brothers might have to tell. It had to have something to do with Ted. That was obvious. Had they received word from their father? She had to admit to herself that she was just as curious as her brother.

After class and studying in the library, Maxym quickly went to her room and put her things away.

»Where are you off to in such a hurry?« asked Katelyn. She was lying on her bed reading her novel.

»What?« Maxym had been completely taken out of her thoughts.

Katelyn rose from her sleeping place, put the book aside and pointed to the backpack carelessly tossed in the corner.

»Ehm yeah. I'm really hungry,« her friend talked herself out of it.

»I get it. It's probably more about you guys holding another meeting of that idiotic group.«

On the way to the hall, Maxym tried to justify herself. »Our group is not idiotic. You are welcome to attend a meeting.«

But before Katelyn could say anything back, Professor Flanagon approached them. »Maxym, a letter just came for you.« The professor handed her the letter and went into the hall.

»I'll go ahead.« Katelyn pointed to the hall and went inside.

Maxym, after briefly skimming the contents, followed her friend and sat down at the table with Al and Scorp.

»Bad news?« Katelyn pointed to the letter in her hand.

»I'll tell you then. Nothing troubling.«

Katelyn nodded and they all began to eat. Maxym, as usual, remained very quiet as they ate. Katelyn chatted with the Slytherins about the upcoming exams.

»I see you later?« asked Maxym of her friend. She rolled her eyes. Katelyn wanted to finally chat in peace, lie in her beds and enjoy her school days. But this wannabe group of Rebels put a spoke in her wheel.

Together with Scorp, Maxym went to the Room of Requirement. James and Albus were already seated at the table, but before Scorp could ask why they were acting so secretive, the others came in and James opened the meeting.

»Is there anything new?« James looked around expectantly.

You've got to be kidding me, the young Malfoy thought. First both Potter boys were cryptic at dinner and now the others were to report first.

»Not much. Some families have been put under house arrest. I heard that from someone from Ravenclaw.« Elizabeth made the start.

»And there have still been arrests, but it's quietening down,« Melania added.

»Yeah who else are they going to arrest? The whole of Azkaban is full already, isn't it, and no one's on the loose anymore?« You could hear the frustration in Colin's voice.

»What did you find out?« asked Dominique of her cousins.

»Father wrote us. He can't do much for Ted. His hands are tied. He's still talking to the Auror's office. But, will that do any good?« James shrugged and continued. »Ted's trial is in four days, but because of house arrest, my father can't attend. He's trying to get a good defence lawyer for Ted. The trial itself is very positive though. Apparently, so far he's got one more hearing before the Wizarding Gamot. Maybe it will change things.«

»And you think they'll acquit him?« asked Elizabeth, crossing her arms in front of her chest.

Jaime's smile disappeared and reality came crashing down on them. So far, no one can go free and Ted was not without blame. After all, he had instigated investigations, but against whom they did not know.

»Then my letter fits in with this news,« Maxym broke the uncomfortable silence.

»What letter?« Rose looked at her questioningly and Maxym pulled out the letter Professor Flanagon had given her earlier.

»I received a summon to appear before the Wizarding Gamot today.«

»I beg your pardon? But why? And why didn't you tell me?« Scorp was incensed and glared angrily at his sister.

»I just got it earlier and we met here right after dinner,« she justified herself.

»And why are you being summoned? Because of Ted?« asked Magenta and Maxym handed her the letter.

Witness in the Malfoy case

Dear Mrs Malfoy,

We hereby inform you that you have been summoned to appear before the Wizarding Gamot on 11 February at 3pm.

The hearing will take place in Courtroom 5 in the Ministry of Magic. Be there 15 minutes early to ensure a seamless process.

The questioning will cover the witness' personal relationship with her biological grandparents, Lucious and Narzissa Malfoy.

As this is a witness interview, there is no reason for a legal guardian to be present.

Signed

L. Pampely - Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement

»That sounds pretty serious,« Elizabeth said after Magenta had read out the letter. »What are you going to do now?«

»She doesn't have a choice at all. She has to go there,« Albus answered for her.

»Maxym is underage. You can't force her, can you?« Dominique was beside herself.

Rose leaned backwards. »At the moment, you shouldn't provoke the Ministry. Especially since your family is in enough trouble.«

»I feel the same way. I'm going there. Before I do, I'll have a word with Professor Flanagon about it.«

»A good idea. But why are they only questioning you and not me?« wondered Scorp.

Maxym shook his head cluelessly. »I don't know. Maybe because our relationship has never been good and the Wizarding Gamot wants a neutral opinion?« At her brother's worried expression, she added, »But I'll speak in their favour, of course.«

»When is your trial?« asked James, searching for something in the sheets of paper in front of him.

»If you mean my summons, it's on the 11th at 3pm.« Maxym handed him the letter.

»That might work.« James spoke more to himself than to the others.

»Would you like to share your thoughts with the rest?« Dominique was visibly annoyed by James' soliloquy.

But before James could explain himself Colin took the letters from his hand. »That's funny Ted's trial is half an hour later. It's a shame you can't just go to it.«

»Then we'd finally know more and be able to play along. This way it feels like we're just a pawn in the game.« Rose liked Colin's idea.

»You're forgetting, though, that it's not your lives that are at risk, it's Maxym's. We can't trust anyone in the Ministry any more,« said James.

»But Rose is right and Colin has found the perfect opportunity.« James wanted to object that he had the idea first, but Maxym wouldn't let him get a word in edgewise. »My interview is at 3pm. Ted's trial starts at 3.30. We should take advantage of me being there right now.«

»And you think that will all work out?« Scorp was still not convinced.

»I don't know, but I can try. We have to take every chance, does it say which room Ted's trial is in?« asked Maxym.

Albus took his father's letter and skimmed the lines. »No it doesn't say.«

»But when you get to the tenth floor, there's a notice right by the lift with the current hearings and in which rooms they're taking place. There you can pretend to look where you need to go and see directly where Ted's is being conducted,« Rose suggested.

»How do you know all this?« Maxym looked at her in wonder.

»My mum works at the Ministry and I was there a lot when I was younger,« explained Rose.

»Guys, you forget that she can't just march in there. You can't just sit in a hearing and be a guest audience,« Melania objected. »And if that's a closed hearing, no one is allowed in there.«

»And how is she supposed to listen in on Ted's trial then?« asked Colin.

James stood up. »We'll think of something.« At that, he winked at Maxym. She looked at him first, then understood. The cloak would help her with that and she would definitely get it for such an action.

»You'll sort it out?« asked Scorp, watching the non-verbal exchange between his sister and James.

»Sure, we're two very gifted wizards, we'll figure it out.« James was already walking towards the door and Maxym followed him.

»We should get going again. It'll be bedtime soon and we shouldn't be seen in the corridors.« With that, the others got up as well and everyone went to their respective rooms.

Albus had already gone ahead, leaving Scorp and Maxym to walk into the dungeons alone. »So James is lending you his precious cloak of invisibility?« Scorp raised his eyebrows knowingly.

»Well firstly it's Albus's cloak and he's probably going to lend it to me and secondly, what's up with that?«

»Oh come on, there's something going on between you two? For how long? And since when?«

»Since when are you so nosy? And no, there's nothing going on. Why don't you worry about your own relationship?« Maxym separated from Scorp outside the common room. »I'm going back to Professor Flanagon for the subpoena.«

»All right. See you tomorrow, then,« her brother said goodbye and headed for the dormitories.

Maxym knocked on the professor's door. The latter opened it and looked at Maxym in wonder. »Has something happened?«

»No, no excuse me. I just wanted to tell you that the letter you gave me is a summons. I have to go to the Ministry on Friday to do my witness duty.« Maxym handed him the opened letter.

Flanagon took his time and read it through thoroughly. »I understand that since your father and Mrs Malfoy are under observation and under the protection of her house, one of the professors or the headmaster is welcome to accompany you.«

Maxym shook his head. »Thank you for the offer, but I don't think that's necessary. I guess I just need to make a statement and that's all. Therefore, I would go there alone, answer any questions and return to the castle.« She preferred to keep her diversions about Ted's trial to herself.

»Of course, but if you change your mind, you can always ask me or the other professors. You should use the flea network.« He wished her a good night and Maxym went back to her room that she shared with Katelyn.

»That was a long meeting,« said Katelyn, already lying in bed in her pyjamas. After Maxym was also changed and lying under her covers, Maxym told her about the letter.

»Oh man and now you're testifying in her favour?« asked Katelyn.

»No, not that. I'll wait and see what exactly they're going to ask me and then I'll tell the truth.«

»And what about Scorp, didn't he ask you to do that?« Katelyn propped herself up on her arm.

»Well, I'm not going to bust their chops and I'm going to be careful about what I say. But I'm not going to lie.«

»And you think that's possible with the Malfoy grandparents?« Katelyn slumped back into the pillows.

»I have no idea.« Maxym turned off the light.

I would be very happy to read your comment with your thoughts about the story.