Spirits of the Living
a Sailormoon-Harry Potter-Slayers fanfic..
by Kellybug
SM-HP-TRY - SM-HP-TRY - SM-HP-TRY - SM-HP-TRY - SM-HP-TRY - SM-HP-TRY - SM-HP-TRY - SM-HP-TRY - SM-HP-TRY - SM-HP-TRY
SM-HP-TRY - SM-HP-TRY - SM-HP-TRY - SM-HP-TRY - SM-HP-TRY - SM-HP-TRY - SM-HP-TRY - SM-HP-TRY - SM-HP-TRY - SM-HP-TRY
Chap. 19:
The courtroom of the DMLE was near-filled to capacity, with the jury, spectators, and reporters all waiting - no, wanting - to see a member of the Wizengamot braught to trial for flagrent-disregard of it's own laws! The term "abuse", somehow seemed quite empty of any meaning.
"Ready for trial?" Usagi asked as one of the "spectators". She looked around the room. "Hai! Good. Doko Magistar?"
"Doko Magista Longabottom?" Minako asked, as her eyes scanned the courtroom.
"Ara! Here comes 'Hanging Judge'!" Makoto replied. "Maybe, now, we can get trial started?"
"'If your lawyer's asleep? Better give him a better give him a nudge!" Rei and Minako chanted as they rocked from side to side. "Better look alive, 'cause, here come da judge."
Usagi grinned. 'Senshi still are joji.'
"Do you think - we can get them back to acting their rightful-ages, my Mistress?" Amelia Katherina Seraphim whispered fearfully to Usagi, as she started to tremble.
"I.. do not know, My Ami-chan?" Usagi answered as truthfully as she could. "Witchling who caused this is - recuperating - at St. Mungo's. Is, now, Jofurr! Or? influenced by spirit-of-Jofurr? Not sure if Weasel-child knew quite what she did when she turned imouto into joji?"
"Hai." The Potion-Master's daughter whispered. "Would be nice to look inside head of baka. Would probably be cursed if I looked demo?"
"Do not look, musume?" Saeko chuckled as she lightly petted her daughter.
"Yes." Severus grinned. "We have enough in the way of dunderheads to minister to, as it is."
"Lovegood-imouto?" Usagi glanced over her left-shoulder to Luna with a smirk. "Are you certain you can watch over joji?"
"Do not worry, Usagi-Sama!" Luna answered her chosen-Queen. "Ms. Rei and Ms. Minako aren't that bad - ALL the time!"
"Famous last words?" Makoto quietly mumbled and smirked.
Hermoine and Harry, setting in the Witness Box, went into fits of giggles, having lip-read each of the Sailorsenshi and their allies.
"All rise and bow before the most-honored Magistrix Augusta Longbottom!" A Goblin-bailiff with a sizeable spear ordered.
"Or, be impaled and roasted?" Minako whispered to Rei.
"Gives 'Butt Roast' whole new meaning! Hai!" The miko hissed through threatening-giggles.
The bailiff glanced at the Senshi of Venus and Mars.. and nodded and grinned!
And, Amelia Katherina Seraphim started to tremble.. and tried to hide herself in Usagi!
"Seen too much.. seen too much..", the bluenette whimpered, "damn Dumbadoro! Probably, cause Rei-chan ano Mina-chan to regress? Damn him!"
Usagi then proceded to hide Her Ami-chan in her robe, and soothe her with a lullaby.
"I am cursed." Amelia Katherina sniffled. "Cursed girl?"
And, Usagi took Control, turning to Severus and Saeko:
'My Ami-chan needs help, crushed by Dumbledoro-youkai more than she wants to acknowledge! When trial is over, today? I will ask Longabottom-sensei for permission to administer veritaserum! Do not want to, but, need to!'
After those who could rose and bowed before the judge, Augusta Longbottom read the charges before the Defendant:
"Lady Mollie Weasley, born Prewitt? You are, hereby, charged with making, possessing, and trafficking in substances controlled by the Department of Magical Law-Enforcement of Britian and Ireland! And, charged with violating the laws prohibiting the experimentation on magical-creatures. And? of participating in assalts of the free-persons of Harry James Potter, and Hermoine Jean Granger! How do you plead?"
"You.. you.. you can't treat me like this? Like a.. common-criminal?" Mollie Sputtered. "Don't you KNOW who I am? I hold a VALUED position on the Wizengamot!"
"And? Have not criminals, even murderers and traitors, tried to hide in the Wizengamot, before?" Judge Longbottom responded. "Lady Mollie Weasley, born Prewitt? You will KINDLY answer the court! How do you answer the charges of making, possessing, and trafficking in substances controlled by the Department of Magical Law-Enforcement of Britian and Ireland! And, charged with violating the laws prohibiting the experimentation on magical-creatures. And? of participating in assalts of the free-persons of Harry James Potter, and Hermoine Jean Granger! How do you plead?"
"And? What if I do not WISH to answer the Court?" Mollie puffed herself up.
"You may wish to stay silent, Madame Weasley?" Longbottom answered. "But, then? The Court shall be within its powers to call for the use of veritaserum! And? While I, personally, question having to use it? I understand its needs when used! Professor Severus Snape? I, hereby, sign a warrent for the manufacture and use of veritaserum in the case of Britannia vs. Weasley, nee Prewitt! Professor Snape, pray approach the bench."
Sevrus Snape confidently stepped to the judge's bench.
"You DO understand your duties and responsibilities as an agent of the Court in the production and administering of this veritas, Severus Snape, do you not?" The magistrix asked the Potions' Master.
"I do, your honor!" Severus answered solemnly.
"And, you understand the penulty for not meeting those duties and responsibilies?" Longbottom asked.
"I do, your Honor!" Snape avowed.
"Then, afix your name and script to this parchment!" Longbottom acknowledged.
"Magistrix Longbottom? If I may, while I am here?" Severus asked in a whisper. "May I ask for three more doses of veritaserum? I fear they are needed!"
"I have heard of the dark-wizardry attacks, Severus!" Augusta answered. "I was going to authorise the use of veritas. Under my watchful eyes! Since the victims are minors? We will hold to all formalities! This may be hurtful, Lord Snape, to you and Lady Saeko, but, out of formality, I must know: Who are the victims?"
"I understand, your Honor!" Severus bowed. "The victims are Parvati Patil, Cedric Diggory, and my daughter, Amelia Katherina Seraphim Snape-Mizuno! We.. have a good-picture.. of who the offender is. We just need to know how far his taint has spread!"
"Signed, sealed, and delivered, Lord Snape!" Magistrix Hardbottom stated. "This trial is in recess until this time, tomorrow! The defendant, Mollie Weasley, nee Prewitt, shall - at that time - be remanded into the custody of those administering the veritas. After that? The testimony of the veritaserum shall be placed into evidence! Court is adjuorned for twenty-
four hours!"
After classes that day, Usagi, Makoto, Hermoine, Harry, Rei, Minako, Luna, Lina, Amelia Wil Tesla, Zelgadis, Xellos, Filia, Ryu, Naru, and Umino were guarding Amelia Katherina Seraphim Snape-Mizuno and the other victims of Albus Dumbledor. Nobody was in the brightest of spirits.
"Damn Dumbledor and his black-soul!" Hermoine whispered through her tears. "Damn him to the deepest pit! And, here.. I thought.. he was a hero! How pathetic of me! A foolish girl."
"So did I, Hermoine!" Harry held on to Hermoine as she trembled violently. "We were all taken-in by him, I think? It was like Pansy said. And, we were all blind-enough to follow his voice!"
"Devil has voice smooth as silk!" Rei spat out. "Deadly as fugu! Going spear-fishing."
"The spear-fishing expedition will have to wait!" Severus Snape strode into the Office with the Longbottoms. "We come bearing veritas, and authorization to use it. Saeko-koi? Lead me to our witnesses."
"Treat.. Diggory Cedri-kun.. first!" Amelia Katherina said, emphatically. "Then? see to.. Parvati.. Patil-chan! I.. think.. Dummadoro-youkai got to them.. more than me?"
"How.. can this happen, Harry?" Neville asked after Cedric was looked after.
"Too easily, Neville!" Harry sighed. "When you're not expecting it. The Dumbledore wore the perfect disguise!"
Soon, the testimonies from the veritas-induced witnesses were written-down and broken-down and analyzed.
"It is as we've suspected from the first," Augusta Longbottom growled-out, "Albus Dumbledor has turned completely, and irretrievably, black! On a par with Grindelwald!"
"By taking the innocence of the Patil-child?" Augusta continued. "He has proven himself worse than a murderer! He had tried to leave her a member of the living-dead!"
"As he has tried to leave Heir-Diggory!" Saeko looked sorrowfully at the your man. "As is? St. Mungo's has much to even TRY to repair! At least, death spared my daughter trauma, before Usagi ano Hotaru-chan, somehow, revived her."
"Did they, Kaasan?" Amelia Katherine Seraphim shivered, feeling much like Ami-chan, again. "So alone. So Vulnerable."
Amelia Kathina Seraphim Snape-Mizuno started to cry, once more.
"I am not sure even the Lastranges could repair the damage done to Cedric! The poor man." Neville commented. "Oh! And, Ms. Snape? The Bailiff's here to see you."
"Hai." Amelia Katherina Seraphim almost whispered. "Tell him to enter. Someone needs to see me return symbol to Usagi! Cannot be Commander as Owner wishes. Iiede. Broken-girl cannot lead Goblins!"
Usagi gently sat and pulled a crying Amelia Katherina Seraphim into her breasts, petting Her bluenette.
"That is why Griphook advises The Lunar-Princess.. NOT to take back the collar, Commander!" The Bailiff said. "Our Commander should not give the idiot, Dumbledor, a prize he had not won!"
"He has not WON?" Ami sniffed though her tears. "He BEAT me demo! He killed me! If Hotaru had not brought me back, I would still be DEAD!"
"Dead, yes!" The Bailiff said. "Used? No! Even I can smell the difference on you and the others. Young Diggory, and young Patil, were used! What they could have been was stolen from them! Much like a rape. But. Not. You. You fought back so viciously that The Thief never got the chance to steal from you. He killed you.. to preserve what was left of him!"
"'To preserve what was left..'?" Amelia Katherina Seraphim slowly repeated what was reported to her. "I..?"
"Mauled The Dumbledor so badly, with your Aqua Rhapsody," the Bailiff sneered, "that he lost MUCH of his ill-gotten life-force! Unfortunately? The energies have not had the chance to find their original-homes. Yet. Went searching for the nearest-sanctuary!"
"So?" Amelia Katherina Seraphim pondered. "The youkai can still be defeated! That is good! Usagi-Hime? If I may ask? Wish to stay close to Cedri-kun ano Petils this night? Need to protect them! Hai. Give them rest."
"It shall be as you request, My pet! I will gather schoolwork, again, hai! Rei! Minako! Lina! Amelia Wil Tesla! Zelgadis! Jiisan! Obasan! Be on watch for white-bearded youkai! Makoto? Watch over Harry and Hermoine! Trail will start, again, tomorrow! Only bakayarou we should have to worry about is one on trial! Especially, when Harry and Hermoine will - probably - be called on to testify!"
That night, Amelia Katherina fed, helped nurse, and stood guard over Cedric, Parvati, and Padme. She also read and sang to them whenever their spirits seemed troubled.
Padme awoke in the early-morning to reassure herself that Parvati was well, and glimpsed Amelia Katherina Seraphim standing watch in the middle of the ward, totally naked, save for her blue collar, and holding a spear of what looked like ice:
"Your sister is well, Mistress Patil!" Ami whispered. "None have tried to harm her, this night and morning. Go back to sleep, young one!"
"I shall, Lady Snape-Mizuno," Padme smiled at her guardian, "thank you!"
The next morning, Amelia Katherine and Saeko fed, bathed, and dressed Cedric, Parvati, and Padme.
"When the time comes, my Ami?" Saeko smiled. "You will make a wonderful mother!"
"I.. will try." Amelia Katherina Seraphim smiled shily. "I try to learn.. from the best?"
And, Saeko wrapped her daughter in a warm, protective hug, and kissed her.
Later that morning, after the rest of Hogwarts had finished breakfast and gone to their first-classes, the DMLE-Courtroom started to buzz with the activity of the trail:
"This is a continuence of Brittania vs. Weasley, nee Prewitt, on the charges of making and traficking in a controlled-substance," Judge Longbottom announced from the bench, "the experimentation on magical-creatures, and participating in the assaults on Master Harry Potter and Lady Hermoine Granger! This hearing was adjourned yesterday morning to allow for the proper-brewing and administering of veritaserum for one defendent, Mollie Weasley, nee Prewitt! Professor Severus Snape? As you are the lincensed Potions' Master called upon by the court, how do you judge the quality of the veritas?"
"I judge the Veritas ready to administer, your Honor!" Snape bowed. "I brewed it, this morning, before the sun started to rise and the moon set, so it's freshness is assured! It is, assuredly, fresher than the Lady Mollie."
"Your Honor!" Mollie screeeched. "Need I remind you I am an elevated-member of the Wizengamot?! And, as such, I am ENTITLED to CERTAIN graces! One of these is to be judged by my PEERS! Not some low-bred Death-eater SPY!"
Severus held his temper in-check, and looked to Magistrix Longbottom.
Augusta answered Mollie straightaway:
"Weasley? You are a member of the Wizengamot, true, but? So was Gellert Grindelwald when he stood trial, here! And? As for my Potions' Master being a spy? I will remind you that he was placed as a spy among the Death-Eaters by Albus Dumbledor, himself!"
Mollie proceded to puff herself up and strut:
"Well? If that were the case? We were mistaken, wern't we? Our double-agent turned out to be a TRIPLE-agent! The WHOLE of the Death-Eaters, man, woman, and child! should be dead or rotting in Abkazan!"
A collective-gasp and murmer arose from the courtroom.
"'Dead or rotting'?" Augusta asked, staring at the defendent. "Without benefit of trial, I take it?"
"What? what? well?" Mollie stuttered. "Of COURSE they'd get a trial! A quick, speedy..."
"A 'show-trial'?" Augusta asked, a mirthless-grin on her face. "A drumshead court-martial'? Be assured, Lady - Weasley - I do not believe in such things! Your chosen-barrister shall have the time needed to despute the witnesses and evidences brought forth. NOW! Professor Snape! As you were the one ordered to prepare the veritas? You shall be the one to administer it!"
"Come, woman! Rise!" Severus walked over to Mollie. "I can give the Veritas here, in front of the jury and witnesses? Or? In the privacy of the Majestrix' Chamber? That choice - and that choice, only - is yours!"
In an hour, after the veritas-session was over, the trial was resumed, with the DMLE-barristers reading - mercilessly - from the veritas-transcripts:
"Mrs. - Weasley - you stand before this court accused of, among other charges," the Prosecutor began, "the making of and trafficking in substances under the control of Magical Britian and Ireland! Is this correct?"
"I eouldn't call them 'Controlled', Sir!" Mollie retorted. "More like, 'looked into'?"
"Prewitt playing game of 'symantics'." Tsukino Usagi whispered.
"Did not know she know what 'symantics' is?" Amelia Katherina Seraphim Snape Mizuno hissed back.
"And, why, pray tell me, O Member of The Wizangmot, why is this substance you make, and sell, 'looked into' - as you say - so carefully?"
"Well?" Mollie started to sputter, again. "I.. I'm.. not sure.. ex.. exactly?"
"'Not sure exactly'?" The Prosecutor feigned surprised. "Why would yourself, a member of the Wizengamot, not know your own rules? The LAWS concerning LOVE-POTIONS have been public-mmagical-law for 180 years! Can you, at least, guess as to why the laws concerning love-potions have been around for that long?"
"No. Not really. My family," Mollie tried to mumble, "the Prewitts, never really studied those rules, thoroughly."
"I OBJECT, Your Honor!" Mollie's Counsel shouted. "Since when is ignorance of the law a crime?"
"I agree, Counsel!" Judge Longbottom answered straightway. "Ignorance of the law - in and or itself - is not a crime! If it were? Half of the Wizengamot would be in Azkaban!"
Half the courtroom snickered at this.
"HOWEVER!" The Judge continued. "By Mrs. Weasley's known-history of making and selling Love-Potions? And of trying to hide the sales? Shows that she KNEW her actions were against the laws of the Wizengamot for years! The objection is over-ruled! The Prosecution may proceed."
"Thank you, your honor!" The Prosecutor bowed. "Now, again? Can you, Mollie PREWITT Weasley, guess as to why the laws concerning love-potions have been around for 180 years?"
"No, I can't!" Mollie huffed. "But? I am sure you will inform me? Not that's it's any of my business!"
"Skiff for Azkaban leaving on outgoing-tide? Morning-after-tomorrow?" Whispered a grinning Rei.
"It is because, O Esteemed Member of the Wizengamot," the Prosecutor answered, "That love-potions have been acknowledged as a form of mind-control for 250 years! And, many has been the wizard and the witch who had DIED because of the misuse of love-potions! And, many a blood-feud has been started because of their use!"
"Well? That is ancient-history!" Mollie retorted again. "Isn't it?"
"The last death attributed to love-potion happened 10 years ago.. Prewitt!" The Prosecution countered. "And the last feud, between The Longvales and McKellars, attributed to love-potions ended 70 years ago, with the extinction of BOTH families!"
"If records were kept?" Minako glowered. "How much would you bet Prewitt-potion was involved?"
"As sick as Prewitt looks, now?" Rei growled. "Would not take bet! Think names may be in family-memory?"
"Hush, puppy-girl-sisters!" Luna Lovegood playfully reprimanded her sisters. "The trial is still on."
"The Prosecution would like to call into evidence the Gringotts' Ledger of Mrs. Mollie Weasley! Itemized as per the request of Goblin-Lord Griphook!"
"Why would High-King Griphook give up such information?" Amelia Katherina Seraphim wondered out loud.
"Because, Commander," The Bailiff turned and grinned as if he were training a Goblin-pup, "We goblins know the value of transactions! I am Sharpsight, trusted-second of the great High-King in his youth! It was he who assigned me to your DMLE. We goblins have long-held the thought that the Family Prewitt was a losing-proposition! The family did not start that way. The root is strong, but the trunk grows weak with age. The .. legalities of what she purchased, and what she sold, made our counsels cautious. She is no longer reliable! Do with these records whatever your kind sees fit!"
"Arigatounissai, Sharpsight-Sama!" Amelia Katherina Seraphim bowed in respect to the Bailiff as she accepted the records.
"Ara.. in Goblin-Script. Hermione-chan and me are too close to case to be impartial-translators demo." Amelia Katherina then turned to Usagi. "My Liege! My I borrow reporter?"
Usagi, with the Goblin-admonishment of "use her well", presented Luna Lovegood to Amelia Katherina Seraphim.
"How may this one be of service, Sister Amelia Katherina?" Luna courtsied and giggled.
"You write down notes in Goblin, Sister Luna!" Ami Kat asked Luna, "Can you read Goblin, as well?"
"Of course, my sister!" Luna chortled. "I would not take notes in Goblin if I could not read it! Not only the script, but the language!"
"Good!" Amelia Katherina smiled. "Would you care to help translate for court, then?"
In another hour, the transactions of Mollie Weasley, nee Pruitt, were ready for the entirity of the court to see and understand.
"I see many questionable-purchases, here, Mrs. Weasley!" Magistrate Longbottom intoned. "Would you, please, care to enlighten the court of these purchases?"
A snort could be heard from the gallery.
"They are all from reputable dealers," Mollie spoke up, "I assure you!"
"That remains to be seen, Weasley, nee Prewitt!" The Prosecutor remarked. "Especially as one particular ingredient seems to have been purchased a total-number of TWELVE times. And? It has been on the 'Contraband'-lists for fifty years! May I draw your attention to the item listed as 'Jofurr's blood'? And, has not the Jofurr been on the 'Magical-Creatures Protection List' for thirty years? Making it unlawful to experiment on? Including adding any part of it to any and all potions?"
"I.. I guess.. so?" Mollie fumbled for her words. "I.. never really read the laws concerning the beast?"
"Obviously not." The Prosecutor said. "But? Can you, pray, tell me, Mrs. Weasley, why would anything from the Jofurr even be used in a love-potion?"
"To magnify the effects of the potion, I guess?" Mollie weakly replied. "It is a sensual beast, after all?"
"A PROTECTED sensual beast!" The Prosecutor reminded Mollie and the Court.
"A protected sensual-beast." Mollie nodded.
"Protected for thirty years?" The Prosecutor added.
"Protected for thirty years." Mollie sighed. "But? I did not hunt it!"
"No, no, you did not hunt the jofurr," the Prosecutor willingly agreed. "You just placed in TWELVE ORDERS of a jofurr's blood! You gave the poacher a reason to exist! Therefor you admit to trafficking in Magical-Creatures, which it has been unlawful to do for the last thirty years! You, therefor, admit to breaking the Magical-Creatures Protection Act!"
"I OBJECT, your honor!" Mollie's defence-counsel thundered! "My client DID NOT violate the Protection Act, as she did not HUNT the beast!"
"Counsel-for-the-Defence!" Judge Longbottom said, "I understand you are trying to spare Mrs. Weasley a lengthy stay in Azkaban Prison. But? She has already admitted to purchasing what is plainly-known, to Wizarding-Britian, as contraband-products from protected-beasts! And? As it has been pointed out, the poacher does not poach what the buyer will not purchase! Now? Sit down, or, be bound to your chair!"
"I.. think.. Augusta is at her wit's end!" Snape whispered to his wife.
"By the way - Mrs. Weasley," the Prosecutor asked, rather casually, "What happened to the last purchase of Jofurr's blood?"
"I.. don't know.. exactly." Mollie stammered. "It.. escaped me?"
A murmur of chuckles could be heard in the courtroom.
"It 'escaped' you?" The prosecutor asked. "I should say so!" He turned to the veritas-notes. "According to your own testimony, the potion containing the blood ran-away after your children, Ronald Weasley and Ginerva Weasley, ingested a double-portion of the potion! But?" The Prosecutor looked point-blank at Mollie. "How could each child have suffered a double-portion of love-potion?"
Mollie Weasley, nee Prewitt, trembled in rage, and screamed at the Prosecutor!
"The POTION was NOT supposed to turn my children into helpless-jofurr!" She then pointed her fingers to Harry and Hermoine. "It was supposed to change THEM into jofurr! Somehow, they escaped my first potion. Damn them! They turned my children into PIGS!"
Mollie Weasley caught herself, but, not before she had managed to show herself guilty of all three charges!
"Does.. the Defence wish", Augusta smirked, "to cross-examine?"
"No.. Your Honor." The Defence-Barrister sighed. "Defence will not cross-examine."
"How can they cross-examine?" Severus chuckled darkly. "It is like unto the story my father told me of the ship, Lusitania! Only the H.M.S. Prewitt has managed to torpedo herself!"
"Baka digs her own grave," Amelia Katherina Seraphim softly giggled, "all we had to do was smile and wave 'sayonara'! Hai."
"Thoughtful of Mollie-baka." Saeko grinned. "Stupid? But, thoughtful!"
"I would, uually, say this trial is now over, but?" Judge Longbottom said, "I am sure the DMLE would be interested in hearing from the Plaintiffs! After lunch? I would like to hear from Harry Potter and Hermoine Granger, and any witnesses they may have!"
At lunch, in the Hospital-Ward of the Doctor's Office, Amelia Katherina Seraphim filled Nurse Pomfrey and the patiants of what had transpired in the DMLE-Courtroom.
"The stupid cow actually admitted to her crimes?" Padme Patil gaped.
"Padme!" Parvati admonished her twin! "The Lady Mollie is not a COW! Stupid? Yes! Cow? No! Cow is too diefied to be stupid! Mollie is a PIG!"
"That's the truth-and-a-half!" Cedric agreed.
"How are you feeling, Diggori Cedric-Sama?" Amelia Katherina Seraphim asked. "Patil Parvati-Sama?"
"Grateful I can still feel, Snape Amelia-aneue!" Cedric said.
"I still feel like there is a hole in me, Amelia-aneue! But? I am resting better! Arigatounissai!" Parvati smiled shily.
And, Amelia Katherina Seraphim Snape-Mizuno looked with pleading eyes to Tsukino Usagi.:
"'Aneue'?"
"Itouto ano Imouto?" Usagi smiled and kissed her pet's lips. "Family is growing! Hai."
Amelia Katherina Seraphim Snape-Mizuno then turned those same pleading eyes to her father and mother:
"What have I done?" Ami Kat squeaked. "Kaasan? Tousan? What do I do?"
"The time has come, I think," Severus smiled, "to do what I have wanted to do ever since you came to Britian, my Saeko!" Severus dropped to one knee and produced a ring. "Mizuno Saeko-chan? Before I had to split us apart because of the mechanisms of Dumbledor? We walked this earth as man and wife! And, although, in the eyes of God, we are still husband and wife? I would - very much - love to renew those vows! So? Mizuno Saeko-chan? Would you, possibly, re-marry this fool, Snape Severus-kun?"
With a defient "YES!", Mizuno Saeko wrapped herself around her past-, present-, and future-husband!
After the lunch-recess, the DMLE-Courtroom was once again filled with Jadge and jury, the defendent, the witnesses-turned-plaintants, barristers, and spectators.
"In The Case od Britannia vs. Weasley, nee Prewitt," Judge Longbottom said, "it has come to my attention, via the veritas-transcripts, the two Complaintents, Lord Harry Potter and Lady Hermoine Granger, were - until the second week of this Semester, under the influence of Love-Potions? Before I precede farther, how old were Lord Potter and Lady Granger when the traces of Love-Potion were found and removed?"
"We were 16 years old at the time of the removal, your Honor!" Harry said.
"A year before the age-of-concent!" Judge Longbottom said, looking worriedly toward Neville. "If that had happened to my Grandson? And my son and daughter-in-law had known of this? The Wizengamot would have been damned, aand whoever allowed this to happen would be dead, I am sure! Who discovered and flushed-out the Love-Potion?"
"The school-nurse affiliated with St. Mungo's, and her assistant, Doctors Poppie Pomfrey and Mizuno Saeko-Sama!" Hermoine answered.
"I know of them!" Longbottom responded. "Slytherin, both! High in their classes! And, how much Love-Potion were the doctors able to remove from your systems?"
"Two years worth, madam!" Harry answered.
"Two years! Dreadful." Longbottom said."And? Who was anchored to whome, pray tell me?"
"I will tell!" Saeko stood up and bowed. "I am called 'Mizuno-Snape Saeko'! Hai. Am assistant-nurse at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry! Have been assistant-nurse since January! It was me, Poppie Pomfrey-Sama, and Sybil Tralawney-Sama who analyzed Love-Potions for anchor-auras! Sybil-Sama even admits to reading faulty-futures, but? Is best at reading auras! Harry was anchored to Ginerva Weasel.. ara.. Ginerva Weasley! Hermoine was anchored to Ronald Weasley!"
"I see! For two years." Augusta mused.
"It is.. only natural? For a mother to want her children to do well.. in the world?" Mollie said.
"And, we have heard how far you will go to 'help your children'.. Prewitt!" Augusta spat out. "You are just lucky that I don't believe in burying you under Azkaban. Alive! However? What I wish to know.. is who gave you permission for this Marriage-Hunt? Someone had to permit this?"
"Well?" Mollie stalled, "It was Albus Dumbledor who said that.. suggested that.. Miss Granger and Master Potter would be.. parfect mates.. for my little Ronald.. and Ginerva?"
"Without their consent?" Judge Longbottom inquired.
"Well?" Mollie squirmed. "Albus.. said.. they would understand. Eventually. That's just the way things are done, he said."
"The way 'things were DONE'?" Harry as on the edge of a rage. "Men and women? Boys and girls? Traded like cattle?"
"But, HARRY!" Mollie tried to plead with the boy. "It was so much SIMPLER that way!"
"Slavery is always the 'simpler way'!" Hermoine hissed from in back of Mrs. Weasley. "Isn't it?"
"Actually, heir-Potter? heiress-Granger?" Narcissa Black Malfoy called-out as she and Bellatrix Black Lastrange walked into the courtyard like they owned the place. "That WAS how things were done. In the bad old days. The days and ways my husband's family always seemed to rebel against! Hello, Magistrix Longbottom. How is the family?"
"We are well," Augusta smiled, "thank you for asking. How are you, Lady Strange?"
"I am as well as can be expected, Magistrix!" Bellatrix wandered around with a cup of tea. "When I'm reminiscing about those old days! The rest of the Blacks seemed to enjoy them, but? We always seemed to be an odd lot! Except for my sisters and I. And? Maybe Sirius? Maybe. Always wondered why he decided to chase our idiot-cousin through the veil?"
"Perseus was always the thorn-in-the-side of Clan Black, Bellatrix!" Narcissa growled. "You know that as well as I do! Only one who put up with his idoicy was our mum!"
"Don't remind me, Narcie?" Bellatrix asked. "Each time I'm reminded of that, I get a sick-feeling in my stomache! Can't help but wonder if there was an incestuous-
relationship, there." Her eyes then fell on Mollie Weasley. "Speaking of sick-feelings? Hello, Prewitt! Trying to bring home the bacon? Before it runs off, again?"
Snickers ran through the courtroom.
"The reason the Potion-Hawker is still here, ladies - ", Augusta Longbottom spoke from the bench, "besides the fact that the boat to Azkaban hasn't sailed, yet - is because we are trying to find out just how the heir and heiress of Weasley were turned into Jofurrs."
"I am sure a stray-potion was involved, your Honor!" Bellatrix answered back, glaring at Mollie. "It wouldn't surprise me if the young idiots Prewitt didn't poison themselves?"
"It is starting to sound that way, ladies?" Judge Longbottom replied. "Oh! The reason I asked you to come here is clarification of the last statement made by the defendant! I was pretty sure that statement would come up in this trial. Sooner or later. Mrs. Weasley claims that Dumbledore claimed that treating people like cattle was just 'the way things were done'! It was, I know! But? Is it still that way?"
The sisters Black answered as one: "No."
"Not all of the more-ancient of families feel that way, or that it should be that way!" Narcissa said.
"That is what caused the Black Civil-War!" Bellatrix groused. "Too many bad-apples still clinging to the old-ways poisoning the tree, and too many sycophants like the Prewitts and Dumbledors feeding it and feeding off of it!"
"Fortunately, Bella?" Narcissa tried to calm her sister. "There ARE families, like the Malfoys, who don't mind - trimming-back - the diseased wood!"
And, Narcissa started glaring at Mollie.
"Yes." Augusta chuckled. "We shall talk of kindling, later! Right now? I wish to know, exactly, how Ronald and Ginerva Weasley were tranformed in Jofurrs?"
"I must claim that idea as mine! Hai." Amelia Katherina Seraphim Snape-Mizuno arose and answered the Magistrate.
"See? She FREELY admits it!" Mollie jumped up. "I KNEW the apple didn't fall far from the tree!"
Ami just closed her eyes and grinned. "I would not start comparing fruit, Prewitt-baka! I only came up with plan after Ronal-kun and Gin-chan tried to poison Harry-kun's ano Hermi-chan's drinks with potion the previous-morning! Since that was only a single dose? Harry and Hermoine were able to cleanse goblets themselves! My magic was not needed to reverse the effects. At time? Did not know what was in potion. Potion was yours demo."
"And? What happened the next morning?" Augusta asked the Potion-Master's daughter. "The morning of the incedent?"
"Had thought of rat-trap the night before!" Ami Kat chirped, with a grin on her face. "Since Weasels were fixated on Harry and Hermoine? Use Harry and Hermoine as bait! Thought that, since single-dose did not work? Weasels would use double-dose! I recruited friend, Amelia Wil Tesla Seyruun, to help reverse effects of Love Potion. Reverse effects for senders to feel."
And Severus and Saeko lightly chorused "Return to Sender" as they remembered the incedent:
"Return to sender! Address unknown! No such number! No such zone!"
"See, your honor?" Mollie screamed and pointed to Ami Kat, wide-eyed, "The little demon happily-admits to ensnaring my poor children in her trap!"
"Prewitt-chan?" Amelia Katherina Seraphim Snape-Mizuno turned, smiling sweetly as she lectured the witch: "My father was in muggle law-enforcement before being hi-jacked back to Hogwarts! And? Has been able, since I have been here, to teach me one valuable-lesson from that time - no matter how well you build the rat-trap? No matter how deliciously you bait the rat-trap? Still up to RAT to walk into the trap!"
Amelia Katherina Seraphim Snape-Mizuno then smiled and waved to Mrs. Weasley:
"Sayonara, Natsumi-kaasan!"