Disclaimer: I own nothing but my mistakes
Chapter Eighteen: Trials
To say Minister Bones was a tad upset would be an understatement. To learn that the Grangers had been attacked by Crouch Junior had ruined an otherwise, somewhat, good day. That Junior was a known fugitive and had been released by Madam Umbridge to try and cover her own escape just made things all the worse.
Of course, by the time the ministry had learned about it the Blacks and Grangers were already back on Wandwoods airship.
She had personally picked the aurors that were sent to talk with them, no one who would cause more trouble. And invited Wattson and his men to assist in the investigation just to prove they were being completely transparent.
Having what amounted to a foreign police force operating in the country had tweaked a lot of noses. But when compared to a hopeless war those noses remained silent, for now.
Was it too soon for her to retire?
0-0
Wattson also wasn't happy as he returned to the sea side cave. The whole Granger incident was just more trouble. The poor Grangers and Blacks were now worried about leaving the Wandwood airship. He'd suggested the Grangers could return home but they had refused, personally he thought they were just being stubborn.
Well, nothing he could do about it for now. Instead, he focused on the bridge that had been erected across the small lake. "What do we have?"
"We found the soul anchor, it's in the basin, looks like a locket. Trouble is the potion it's in. Nasty piece of work. Modified draught of despair. It looks like the idea was that it had to be drinken, considering the basin is warded so that's the only way to get rid of it."
Watson leaned over and looked into the basin. The emerald green potion shimmered. "I take it we have a way around that problem?"
"Ward breakers are working on it; they say in a few days they should have it fixed."
"Good, what's the potion supposed to do?"
"Makes you relieve your worst memories, causes delirium and apparently extreme thirst."
"That's a bit off isn't it? Why would- oh." Watson stopped as he thought it through. The drinker would seek out the closest water, the lake. Disturb it and cause the creatures within to attack. That'd be a nasty way to go, especially relieve your worst nightmares.
The other man nodded. "Right, thankfully we don't have to worry about that, they checked and the lakes clean. Well as clean as a cave lake that had over a hundred dead bodies in it for a few decades can be. Still wouldn't recommend drinking it."
"Well no shit."
"Any words on when those kidnappers will be put on trial?"
"Yeah, going to be soon so they can be handed over to England for their trials. No one wants to drag this out and from what I'd heard all are demanding immediate trials."
"Shame I'll miss them then."
"I'm sure the paper will have the story."
0-0
Percey's was the first of the three main trials. He had waived his right to a defense counsel and instead choose to represent himself. On the day of his trial Percey was led into the courtroom in a bright orange jumpsuit, he dissatisfaction that he was being denied proper robes was ignored. He was sat at the large table assigned to the defense.
"Mr. Weasley, you have chosen not to take council, and instead represent yourself, correct?" The judge asked, familiar with the old saying about only a fool representing themselves.
"Yes, your honor." Percey sat up straighter if it was possible.
Welp nothing to be done about it then. "Very well. You are charged with three counts of conspiracy to kidnap, three counts of kidnapping and three counts of trafficking minors across international borders. How do you plea?"
"Innocent." Percey stood with his head held high.
"Scribe, please note the plea of not guilty and the defendant's choice to represent himself. Mr. Wager if you will begin?" The judge asked.
Mr. Wager stood. "Yes, your honor. First, we would like to call Mr. Weasley to the stand."
Percey stood and shuffled to the stand.
"Now Mr. Weasley, please walk us through what happened the night before the second task of the Tri Wizard Tournament."
"Of course, I was contacted by madam Umbridge to perform an important task for the Tri Wizard Tournament."
Mr. Wager cut in, "The kidnapping of three young girls?"
"The retrieval of three of the hostages for the tournament." Percey nodded. "I was provided with a special invisibility suit and an auto ward pick; I proceeded to enter that balloon and located the three hostages in one room. A quickly evaporating potion insured they would remain asleep until handed over to the proper authorities." Percey explained.
"So, you do not deny that you took three girls, all underage, from the Wandwood airship and brought them back to your ministry?" Wager asked.
"Of course not, that's what happened." Percey had to work to keep the sneer from his voice.
"The prosecution rests your honor." Mr. Wager said. Normally such an open and shut case where the defendant admitted to the crime wouldn't even need a trial but the government wanted things done this way.
"Mr. Weasley, your defense?" The judge asked.
"Your honor my defense is simple, I did nothing wrong." Percey said.
"Please explain your reasoning." The judge said, already thinking a headache potion was in order.
"I was acting with the full support of the ministry and within the agreed upon rules of the Tri Wizard Tournament. Therefore, I broke no laws and did nothing wrong." Percey explained as if he was speaking to children, which in his opinion wasn't very far from the truth. Sadly, in his short time at the ministry he had taken to their views on anyone not English like a fish to water.
"You are aware that the North American Ministry never signed the contract for the Tri Wizard Tournament are you not?"
Percey scoffed. "That is irrelevant, Black cheated his way in so he, and by extension his school, are bound by the rules of the tournament."
"Noted, do you have any further defense?"
"Not that it's needed but I was also acting under the direct orders of the Ministry so I cannot be held accountable for my actions." Percey said with a shrug.
"Very well, if that is all we will take a short recess."
Percey returned to the defendants table, a smile on his face.
When the judge returned the courtroom quieted. "Percey Weasley, you have admitted to three counts of conspiracy to commit kidnapping, three counts of kidnapping and three counts of trafficking a minor across international lines. Your defense is laughably poor and falls short of anything resembling a proper reason for your actions.
"You are hereby found guilty and will sever five years for each charge of conspiracy to commit a kidnapping, fifteen years for each charge of kidnapping and twenty for each charge of trafficking a minor across international lines-"
Percey jumped to his feet. "You can't do that!"
"Order! You had your chance to speak already. You will be turned over to the English for your trial there before you begin severing your sentences."
Percey tried to argue again but was silenced and dragged out of the courtroom.
"Next up we have Miss Umbridge."
"Hem-hem, that's Madam Umbridge, undersecretary to the Minister. Please us my proper title." Umbridge said.
"Point in fact," Mr. Wager said. "You have been removed from all positions in the British Ministry."
"I'm afraid you must be mistaken." Umbridge said.
"The court has the dismissal form on record." Mr. Wager said.
"So noted." The judge said. "Miss Umbridge, you have been removed from all positions so we will not be addressing you as anything but Miss Umbridge. Also, you have chosen to forgo any assistance with your defense and represent yourself?"
"Yes." Umbridge frowned. She had already reasoned that she wasn't going to be able to get out of this. She just had no leverage. So, it was important to present herself properly, not for these filthy creatures, but the proper kind of wizards back home. She knew that her best chance to escape would be when she was transferred back to Britian, so it was important those she might turn to for help knew she was still on their side.
"Miss Umbridge you are accused of two counts of conspiracy to commit murder, two counts of attempted murder, three counts of conspiracy to commit kidnapping, three counts of receiving kidnapped persons. How do you plead?" The judge asked.
"Not guilty."
"Very well, Mr. Wager if you would begin."
"Miss Umbridge, do you admit to sending a dementor after Mr. Black and Miss Granger?"
"I do, you see Mr. Black was arrested in our country, escaped and your nation failed to return him. So, I sent a dementor to collect him," Umbridge said.
"You were informed beforehand that the case had been reviewed and your country had never presented a proper reason to take an underage citizen."
"Something to the effect might have been said." Umbridge admitted.
"So you are aware that you had no legal right to take on of our citizens."
"Under Ministry law I was allowed to do so."
"So, you never meant to endanger Mr. Black and Miss Granger?"
"Of course not." Umbridge was proud that she managed to keep her face straight.
"Yet you sent one of the darkest creatures in the world after him."
"Oh, they aren't that bad."
"I'm glad to hear you get along with them so well. Moving on, do you admit to sending Mr. Weasley to kidnap three students from Wandwood?"
"I do, hostages were required by the rules of the tournament. Dean Horsefeather refused to do her due diligence in the matter."
"And you received them from Mr. Weasley after he had kidnapped them, before placing them at the bottom of the lake?"
"Yes. I did."
The judge leaned over to look at Umbridge. "So far you have admitted to all the crimes you are accused of. Do you have a defense?"
"Of course. You are attempting to apply the law to those below the law. Black is a blood traitor and the girl is a mudblood. You cannot hold danger to them in the same regard as you would to a pureblood. After all, all are not equal under the law." Was it heavy handed, yes but Umbridge didn't have enough time to be subtle.
"You will find here the law is equal for everyone. Do you have anything else to say?"
Umbridge sniffed as if smelling something akin to dragon dung on her shoe. "I do not recognize your authority nor your ruling."
That ruling came quickly with fifty years foreach of the attempted murders of Harry and Hermion, the various conspiracy charges netted her another thirty-eight years and receiving the three hostages an extra forty five.
It was safe to say Umbridge would never be seeing freedom again. Unless her rough plan to escape worked.
Umbridge left the courtroom with her head down, the picture of a broken person.
Finally, Fudge was brought in. His trial was the quickest as he hadn't actually broken many laws for them, only entering the country with false papers and more gold than was allowed without a granted exception.
His ignorance was what saved him from most of the trouble as he had left things up to Umbridge and hadn't bothered to check on her. That was surely a dereliction of duty but it would also be for the British to decide.
In the end Fudge was given forty-five years for his crimes. He remained silent throughout and refused to speak in his own defense.
0-0
News of the trials quickly reached the Wandwood group. To say they were relieved would be an understatement. While the attack on Hermione's parents showed they still had enemies, to know that three of those enemies would now face decades in prison meant they were making progress.
It was with the idea of moving forward that they choose to accept the invitation to watch the trials in the Wizengamot from a special viewing room, where they could see but not be seen.
On the day of the trials Percey was led out first and presented much the same argument as he had before, that he was only following orders. It held little sway with the members of the Wizengamot and it was quickly pointed out that neither the Minister nor the Undersecretary had the authority to authorize such an act.
Still there was enough sympathy for him that he managed to get off with only forty five years in Azkaban, Though added to what he received already it was doubtful he would ever see true freedom again.
Umbridge gave what they suspected was meant to be a rousing speech, it did nothing to move the members of the Wizengamot. To many knew she had dirt of them, dirt that would mostly be gone with her out of the country rotting in another jail.
Umbridge was disappointed, but ultimately not surprised when she was sentenced to an additional one hundred and five years.
She was led from the courtroom.
Just as Fudge was brought in there was a loud explosion nearby.
0-0
Umbridge walked between the two aurors with her head down judging her time. Then struck, she slammed into one and kicked the legs out from the other before she turned and fled to the Department of Mystery.
She knew who the pure blood sympathizers there were, surely, they'd help hide her. All she needed was a robe to obscure her identity, because of how secretive their research was there was no proper way to search the many parts of the department.
Umbridge threw herself through the door just as spells began to fire behind her. She barreled through another door and ended up in the potion research center, two unspeakables looked up as she entered. "I need to hide!"
The two unspeakables looked at each other but neither made a move to help her.
Damnit, they were probably mudbloods. "I said help me, lock down the department immediately!"
"There she is!" The aurors raced in behind her. "Surrender!"
"Not on your filthy lives!" Umbridge turned to face them and began to backup, she needed to make it to the next door and escape. Thankfully there were pliantly of options for her to use as a distraction. She reached out with manacled hands and grabbed a cauldron from inside a stasis field.
Unfortunately for her by removing it without the proper procedure the potion instantly became unstable and detonated.
0-0
Harry and Sirius had their wands out, trying to be ready for whatever happened. The minutes after the explosion dragged by as Minister Bones worked to restore order in the courtroom. Finally, she was able to. "Attention. I have just been informed that the explosion we heard occurred in the Department of Mystery. And was caused by Umbridge attempting to escape. I have no further information but we will proceed with the trial of Cornelius Fudge.
"Because the accused has refused all council and to speak for himself it has been decided to administer veritaserum. If you will proceed."
A clerk walked forward to where Fudge was and raised the vial of veritaserum to his mouth, then forced the entire vial of potion down Fudge's throat.
There was a shocked moment before the cries of surprise began. The clerk stood there motionless as Fudge began to convulse and foam at the mouth. An overdose of veritaserum of such a magnitude wasn't a pretty sight.
Harry and Hermione turned away from the scene and held each other.
"Order! Order!" Minister Bones shouted as she once again tried and mostly failed to calm the courtroom.
0-0
Wattson knew there was always a chance something could go wrong while transferring prisoners. He had just vastly underestimated how wrong things could go when you threw the English into the mix. One of three prisoners was dead. One of three was seriously injured.
And since he was in charge of the prisoners he'd have to answer for their conditions. Which was why he was meeting with Minister Bones that evening, to get those answers. "So figure out how it happened?"
Minister Bones sighed; she didn't need to ask which event he was referring to. "Apparently during the commotion caused by Umbridge in her attempt to escape someone in the courtroom cast the imperius curse on the clerk to kill Fudge. We checked all wands that were present by you know how unreliable that can be."
Wattson nodded. It was a useful spell but easy enough to fool with a few charms. "So everyone there is a suspect, that's what, seventy five people?"
"Over a hundred actually."
Wattson let out a whistle. "No way to narrow it down?"
"Unfortunately, not. Though the culprit will be caught." Minister Bones was sure of it, it'd just take a bit longer now.
"How does this change for plans going forward?" Wattson asked.
"It doesn't, we took your advice and pumped him full of veritaserum before the trial so we could be ready in case any of his 'friends' tried something. We just didn't expect outright murder in the courtroom. Still, we have all the names of who was bribing him so we'll be bringing them in over the next few days."
"Good, that should help ease concerns on my end."
Minister Bones nodded. "How is Umbridge?"
"Messed up." Wattson had been with the healers directly before to find out when Umbridge would be fit for travel. "Right arm gone, right leg gone, nasty scaring on the right side of her body in general. The healers say it could be as long as a month before she's fit enough for travel. I've got a few of my people watching after her just in case anyone decides to try something like they did with Fudge."
"Good. And your other project?" Minister Bones asked.
"Ward breakers should be finished in a day or two." Wattson said.
"Good, the sooner we can deal with that the better." Minister Bones knew going forward Voldemort was one of her biggest obstacles. That they had a plan in place to deal with him soon was the only reason she hadn't removed her niece from Hogwarts and sent her somewhere safe.
0-0
"It's a fake."
"What?" Wattson asked in disbelief.
"The locket was a fake." The curse breaker said again.
"Damn, so Riddle was smarter than we gave him credit for." Wattson wasn't sure if he should be impressed or not. It was a setback for sure.
"No sir, there was a note inside. Apparently, we aren't the first to discover about the soul anchors. Here's a copy of the note." The curse breaker handed over a piece of paper.
To the Dark Lord,
I know I will be dead long before you read this but I want you to know that it was I who discovered your secret. I have stolen the real Horcrux and intend to destroy it as soon as I can. I face death in the hope that when you meet your match you will be mortal once more.
R.A.B.
"Do we have any leads on who this R.A.B. is?" Wattson asked.
"We managed to lift some prints from the note, but without anything to compare them to…"
"Right, all right we pack this is and start looking at the next prospect. At least we know we're on the right track. Hopefully this R.A.B. hasn't gotten the next one." Wattson wasn't sure if he meant it or not. On the one hand he knew that there must still be at least one soul anchor left for the prophecy to still be active.
While it was good someone else was after the bastard it made their plan that much harder. "I want a team to look into R.A.B. maybe we can still find something useful. If we can track them down we can still work something out."
0-0
Moody stalked through the classroom, his class was one of the few that Wandwood deemed acceptable and the students certainly felt like they were learning every class. "This lesson has been a long time coming, today we'll talk about the imperius curse. Once we've gone over it you will each have the chance to have it cast on you by me so you can experience and learn the feeling of the curse."
There were gasps from the class but also excited whispers.
"This should be easy." Ron said.
"Glad you think so Weasley, you'll be the first to give it a go," Moody said.
Ron swallowed hard. "Of-of course, no problem."
No one missed the false bravado from Ron. His reputation had been on the down trend recently because Daniel had all but disappeared, vanishing from classes entirely. Without the Boy-Who-Lived there to, well, pull him up, all of Hogwarts was starting to see him for the shallow boy he was.
Moody walked to the front of the room. "As you know the imperius curse is one of the three unforgivables, like the other two there is no spell that can block it, however unlike the other two it is possible to resist. Which is what we will be working on today.
"Weasley, front and center." Moody pointed to a spot in front of the class, he'd originally planned on a longer explanation but figured it was best to just start and show the students what they needed to know. "Now don't worry, I won't make you do anything to embarrassing. Imperio!"
Ron's head fell to the side, his mouth open and eyes vacant.
"You are the meanest rooster that you've ever seen."
Ron hunched over and began to cluck as he strutted around the classroom, much to everyone delight.
"Well it looks like Weasley is more susceptible to the curse than he thought. The only way for you to know that though is throu-" Moody was cut off as Rons head shot forward an bit his wand in two.
Moody jumped back, "Weasley! What the bloody hell do you think you're doing?"
Rooster Rons answer was a series of high kicks at the old auror. Had he actually had the talons of a rooster the attack would have been devastating. As it was Moody grabbed one of Rons feet and tossed him to the side.
"Weasley I'm warning you-"
The door to the classroom opened and Dumbledore entered. "Ah Al-oof!"
The headmaster doubled over as rooster Ron headbutted him and then ran towards a window. Fortunately for him their classroom was on the ground floor. Rooster Ron landed on the grass and took off towards the forest.
Dumbledore was confused but reacted as quickly as his old body would let him. Something was clearly wrong with the Weasley boy and he needed to be caught. He surprised the students by giving chase, easily jumping out the window and firing stunners towards Ron.
Who was not only surprisingly fast but agile too, dodging each spell without breaking stride.
Moody watched the headmaster give chase and sighed, so much for his lesson. "Well, I guess we will call it here for the day."
Hermione's hand shot into the air. "Sir?"
"Yes Miss Granger?"
"Shouldn't the spell have broken when your wand was snapped?"
"You're right lass, it should have, boy must be very, very susceptible to the curse." Left unsaid was that Ron must have also had a very weak will to start with.
The class packed up and filled out of the room. In the hallway things went pear-shaped. "Black!"
Harry turned to find a disheveled Daniel standing there, robes rumpled, wand out. Carefully he moved sideways so he could deal with this without anyone being directly behind him. "Potter."
Daniel snarled. Raised his wand and fired a blue spell at Harry.
A shield spell snapped up in front of Harry, he caught sight of Hermione raising her own shield to protect the other students. He braced for the incoming assault of spells, but they never materialized. Instead, Daniel fell to the floor convulsing, foaming at the mouth.
(A/N: Sorry for the delay, life hit me hard over the last month. This marks the end of what I have already written for the story, from here on I'll post as I finish chapters. I've been waiting a long time to use the scene with Ron. In the next chapter, you'll find out what happens to Daniel and Draco. Until then thank you for reading.)