2019 Me: Hey, PZ, you know that stupid one-shot you wrote about a Starkid fan trying on the Sorting Hat?
2018 Me: Yeah...?
2019 Me: What if it had a court scene!
2018 Me: ...What the fuck did you do?!
Come Friday morning, everyone was on edge. With worry about death eaters, reporters, and competition for guardianship, the Bennetts had become dependent on Salvatore and Sirius as escorts. The two wizards arrived early for breakfast, taking the opportunity to go over their plans for the day.
At the sound of a doorbell ring Salvatore went to the door, with Jake following after him. There was a brief interrogation at the door, from what the children could hear. Ultimately, the interrogation ended and four more bodies entered their home.
Harry practically jumped at the new arrival. "Jeff?" He got out of the chair excitedly and greeted the younger boy in the hallway. "What are you doing here?"
"Hey, Harry!" The boy smiled. "I heard about the trial. Dad says we might have to testaf- um, answer questions about you."
"It's testify, honey." Sophie clarified.
"Right. That. So we came over." Jeff finished.
Harry beamed at that. "Thanks, Jeff. I'm glad you're here."
"Of course!" Jeff grinned. "I bet they'll be super impressed with all of our sneaking!"
Harry smiled warmly. "I'll bet."
"Nice as this is," Salvatore cautioned, "we ought to make our way to the Ministry."
The boys were disappointed at the interruption, but everyone else nodded solemnly at the reminder.
"He's right." John added. "We have to make sure we're there early enough in case any trouble comes our way."
While the families got themselves prepped for the drive, Melissa found herself beckoned over to John's side.
"What is it?" She asked curiously.
"I looked into those letters. Found them all." John answered. He held up the briefcase in his hand for emphasis. Melissa asked to see for herself. He took out a folder for her, which she took and read through greedily. "I'll admit, I didn't think you kids would have thought of saving these."
Melissa didn't answer right away, caught up in checking over the slips of paper. "Honestly, after everything we've been through, not having them would have been a huge mistake."
Satisfied with the contents, Melissa sighed gratefully and handed the folder back to her uncle. With this, they just might succeed.
The ten of them arrived at the Ministry without trouble. They had gone through the muggle-guided entrance into the building, but opted to wait in the lobby until Edward Tonks arrived. Truthfully that was more because they would have been completely lost otherwise than anything else. As they waited, the group could feel eyes on them from all directions. It seemed as though every other witch and wizard who passed by knew who they were. Some even tried to approach them to talk to Harry. Fortunately they had Salvatore there to keep them at bay. Sirius also keeping watch on the families certainly helped as well. Luckily for the group, Edward Tonks arrived not long after them and guided them into a trial prep room away from prying eyes.
"Alright," The law wizard looked over their case and evidence files, "I think we're as ready as we'll ever be." They eyed the clock. It was two minutes to ten. Two minutes before the start of the trial. "Everyone, good luck."
Melissa watched the trial unfold from the sidelines. First, the adult Dursleys were brought into the room. Loudly. Full of blustering, threats, and colourful words against wizardkind and their "freakish nephew". Honestly, Vernon was making himself guilty before the proceedings could even begin. Eventually someone had the right of mind to silence the man. Then, once they were restrained and settled, the head judge (not Dumbledore, oddly, for he was nowhere in clear sight) opened up the case. It began with introductions of the case, then Mister Tonks greeted the court with his opening statement.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the Wizengamot, you are here today to decide on a delicate and simple matter. The question is not of the placement of Harry Potter: The Boy Who Lived, no. What you are deciding on today is what is best for Harry, a ten year old child, to be raised in a home with love and nurturing, as any child ought to be raised.
"Members of the Wizengamot, I am sure you will all agree that no child deserves to be raised without love. Without kindness. Without any semblance of respect or dignity. Yet here we stand to find that one of our own children has been forced into such a life. Not by your hand, and certainly not by the will of his late parents, but by some other force that chose to keep young Harry in the dark about his heritage and what it means to have a family. As I stand before you, honoured members of the Wizengamot, I shall present to you the evidence of Harry Potter's mistreatment by his relatives, Petunia and Vernon Dursley, and argue my recommendation that Harry's guardianship be placed as it should have been by the Will of James and Lily Potter all of those years ago, under the guardianship of his godfather, Sirius Black."
Melissa almost forgot to breathe as he spoke. Collecting herself, her eyes broke from Edward Tonks, forcing them to scan the faces of the Wizengamot, instead. Every eye was on the man. Most seemed interested in what he had to say. Some even were nodding their heads slightly. Some, she found, seemed to frown or sneer. She couldn't tell if those two groups were of the same mind or for different reasons. She hoped those people were on their side.
Mister Tonks moved on to present the evidence. The first witness he called was Healer Hitchin. It was an odd choice to start with, judging by the way some people were murmuring. This was especially so seeing as the healer had only met Harry yesterday.
"Healer Hitchin, can you please describe your interactions with young Harry Potter?"
"I can, Mister Tonks. Mister Potter was brought to St. Mungos yesterday for an appointment to check his overall health."
"Thank you, Healer Hitchin, and can you confirm that you and Mister Potter have signed a legal document which allows for his medical history to be discussed in court today?"
"Yes. I signed the form. As did Mister Potter."
"Excellent." He smiled coolly. "If you would please, Healer Hitchin, describe to the court your findings from this medical examination?"
The healer's descriptions of Harry's health were clear cut and precise. Everything from his vision to his bones was described as their group had heard the day before. Much as Harry seemed to squirm from having his beatings exposed to strangers, it seemed that much of the court was equally uncomfortable with the diagnoses.
"Given your findings, what would you determine is the best course of action for young Harry's recovery?"
"First of all, he needs a proper nutrition and potion regiment to help his body reach a healthy standard. I will need more appointments with him to monitor his dosages and make sure everything progresses as it should. I would also recommend he be assigned to a mind healer for regular appointments."
Mister Tonks paused a moment before replying. There were slight whispers in the crowd to be considered. "And what would this mind healer be focusing on in their appointments?"
The healer twitched a frown before answering. "Mister Potter has not simply been starved of food, sir. He has been starved of safety, family, and friends, and, as it stands, the uncertainty of having a stable and healthy home puts him at risk. The boy is suffering from his ordeal and requires a knowledgeable mind to navigate it."
At her answer, Mister Tonks nodded in satisfaction. "Thank you for your clarification, Healer Hitchin. That will be all of my questions for you." As she left the stand, their team couldn't help but smile. With a testimony like that, no one would discount the Dursley's treatment against Harry.
"For my next witness, I would like to call John Bennett to the stand."
"Objection." One of the Members called out. "Can we really take the testimony of a muggle on a case like this?"
"I appreciate your concern, Lord Nott," Mister Tonks replied politely, "however, as Mister Potter has been raised in the muggle world, most of his interactions have been solely with muggles. Furthermore, the witness is a relative of a witch and has enough understanding of our ways to offer accurate testimony."
There was some grumbling, but the wizard at the head of the Wizengamot gave a nod. "Objection denied. You may proceed, Mister Tonks."
With that, John arrived at the witness stand. As they had rehearsed, he recalled his first meeting with Harry as a young child with troubling guardians in need of rescue. He recounted the call to child services and Harry's retrieval to presumed safety. Then, he told the court about their next meeting. There was a smattering of gasps from the audience. Obliviating the Harry Potter is a scandal in itself. The fact that he was seven at the time only made it worse.
"Now, Mister Bennett, as a muggle I'm sure this must have been a surprising experience."
"Yes, it was, Mister Tonks."
"Might I ask, Mister Bennett, after encountering a magical experience like this, especially as you were not aware of magic at the time, why is it that you continued your interactions with Harry from that point onward?"
Melissa remembered when Mister Tonks had suggested this question. John had been insulted by it in the first rehearsal. Now, though, he answered with conviction and certainty. "Because no child should be forced to suffer like that. Whoever obliviated him and his relatives obviously wanted him to have a miserable life. Even without magic, the least I could do was help him in any way I can."
There was a wave of murmurs about the room. A few people even seemed impressed by the answer. Muggles were usually seen as stupid and ignorant, yet here her uncle was standing up for The Boy Who Lived, despite his own lack of standing among wizardkind. All because it was the right thing to do. It was a bold statement on their end; and it hit the right angle Mister Tonks was aiming for.
Mister Tonks went on to commend him for his words, then seamlessly moved on in his questioning. They talked about the next four years with just the right batches of summary and detail. Mister Tonks had planned on only having John give testimony for the muggles, if it could be helped, so they talked about everything from Harry's punishments for succeeding in school, to his lack of friends and secret friendships with his son and niece, to the reveals of his magic and history in the wizarding world. John crafted an image of simple heroism for him and his family. Of people who may not have been able to remove Harry to safety completely, but did many small actions to make his life easier to live.
There are no great things, only small things with great love.
It was a quote from Mother Teresa, John had explained. In a case thesis of giving Harry a life of love and nurturing, it was his inspiration and objective for the court to take. One that at least half of the court drank in eagerly.
When John's testimony was complete, it was Melissa's turn to take the stand.
"Please state your name for the record."
"Melissa Harmony Bennett."
"Miss Bennett, how would you describe your relationship to Harry Potter and the accused?"
"Harry is a good friend of mine. More like a brother than anything." She caught Harry's eyes and flashed him a smile. He beamed a happy smile back at her. "As for them, the Dursleys, I mean, I've never talked with them face to face. I only know about them through Harry."
"And how has Harry described them to you?"
"For one, they treat him like mud on their boots. They use him like a house elf. Worse, actually, because most people want their house elves around. With Harry, they clearly don't want him around, but use him however they want, anyway, and tell him he should be grateful for it."
Mister Tonks pouted slightly, but nodded as if thoughtful. She had gone off script, but she had wanted to get that point across and didn't want the script to deter her.
"Is there any particular reason why his own flesh and blood doesn't seem to want him?"
"Because of his magic. They've called him a freak his whole life. Any time he shows accidental magic he's been punished for it. Not that they ever say it out loud. Harry didn't know about magic until I got my letter to Hogwarts."
"He didn't know about magic? At all?"
Melissa shrugged. "No. I mean, we both knew we were different, we just didn't have a word for it. Also his aunt never talks about his parents, except to claim that they were drunks who died in a car crash."
The murmur in the crowd turned into shouts of outrage. That admission had the crowd going. James and Lily Potters, drunks? Died in a car crash? That was practically blasphemous in a room full of British wizards. It was deliciously glorious. Especially so when Melissa had a chance to look at Petunia's reaction. The woman had grown paler than before. Yet it did kindle some fire. Was it of shame? Rage? Who's to say?
When the courtroom settled down, Mister Tonks continued. "I'll say, that is quite shocking to hear."
"Mhmm, you should have seen the look on my family and Harry's faces when I told them the truth. They were practically convinced that death eaters had left him with the Dursleys on purpose to punish him."
Mister Tonks flashed her a warning look. She had gone off script again, but Melissa couldn't help but smile smugly. Take that, Dumbledore.
"Miss Bennett," His tone warned, "as we had heard earlier, your uncle informed the court that you were the one to bring light to Harry's physical abuse. Could you please tell the court how you came to know such information?"
"Gladly. Harry and I have been friends for years. When we can't sneak him out to visit or talk on the phone, we sneak letters to each other. In my first year at Hogwarts we would write often. Harry would send a letter at least once a week since it was hard for him to send out his letters.
"The next year," Melissa's voice faltered, "He kept it up for the first month. Then the letters stopped coming. No one was telling me how Harry was doing, just that they weren't able to see him as often." She paused for a moment. When it came to this next part, Harry and Mister Tonks were the only people that knew how the story ended. "When I came home for Christmas, I found out that my uncle and aunt wouldn't be in town so I wouldn't be able to see them or Harry. This may not sound like much for people that don't know us, but I was worried. So, while my parents believed I was sleeping over at a friend's house, I took a train to Surrey."
She really didn't want to look up to see the expressions on her parents' faces. Nope, too late, there it is. Shocked, upset, and her aunt looked positively guilt-ridden.
"I went to Harry's house and waited outside to make sure his family didn't see me. When Harry finally came outside to talk he was distant and snappy, like he didn't want me around."
Kind of like how he's been for the last two days.
That thought distracted her. She looked up at Harry in realization. He seemed fidgety and was frowning, but not quite like how he's been lately.
After a beat, she realized that she was stalling, and moved that thought aside for later. "So, right, he was acting unusual. He clearly hadn't seen my family in months but was lying about it, and trying to make it sound like things were alright. Then I touched his shoulder, and he flinched badly like it hurt a lot. It reminded me of warning signs you hear about abused kids and stuff -I used to read about it when I first met Harry- and had him take off his shirt to check. There were, there were bruises all over him."
Melissa paused. She was shuddering. She closed her eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. The image was fresh in her mind like footprints in the snow. "There were bruises all over him, and he kept trying to act like it was an accident. Like it was his fault!- "
She gasped. Her eyes were leaking. Her voice wouldn't move.
"It's alright." Mister Tonks assured gently. He stepped closer to her. "Take a breath. We can take things slow."
No. No they can't. She wiped her eyes clean. "I asked if anyone knew. He never told anyone. He said that they- that they only knew about the arm. But his arm looked fine, so I asked what happened; and- god, Vernon broke his arm! He broke his arm! Harry didn't even want to admit it, like it was his fault! But it was my fault! I'm the one that told him-!"
Her voice hitched. She was shaking. Her right hand scratched her left arm nervously as she hugged herself around the middle.
"Melissa?" Mister Tonks broke in gently. "Melissa, what did you tell Harry?"
Melissa shuddered a breath. Answering that involved too many words. "Third of November, Nineteen Eighty Nine."
"Pardon?"
Tear-stained eyes flicked to the law wizard. "My uncle's folder. Third of November, Nineteen Eighty Nine. I wrote- just read it out."
The wizard clearly didn't like this route, but obliged the crying girl. "So that the court is aware, can you explain the meaning of the names Houdini and Melody?"
Melissa nodded, though her eyes drifted to the floor. "They're our nicknames for each other. I'm Melody. He's Houdini. We felt safer knowing people wouldn't know who we were writing to."
"Very well. Thank you, Melissa.
"Houdini.
"First off. No. Stop talking like that. Nothing about getting locked in a cupboard is good. Better yet, before you go to bed, start saying this every night (quietly, so no one hears you).
Number 1: Nothing about getting locked in a cupboard is good.
Number 2: Guardians should never abuse those under their care.
Number 3: Those who do are putrid slime buckets.
Number 4: I'm an adorable muffin who deserves to be loved.
Melody"
There had been a small scattering of chuckles when the reading ended, which Melissa heard only faintly.
"Melissa, may you please explain why you believe this letter is the reason Vernon Dursley broke Harry's arm?"
The question brought the somber mood back fairly quickly. Regardless, she nodded faintly and answered. "I told Harry to say those things to himself. I wanted him to remember it. That it was important. But… They were yelling at Harry because they found out he was eating snack bars. That he wasn't starving anymore. It wasn't until he said some of that letter out loud that Vernon attacked him.
"God, I'm such a piece of shit." She was rubbing her eyes at that point. Vaguely aware that a voice had gasped. "I was trying to help Harry see that he was being abused, and all it did was make the abuse worse!"
"I think you're acting too harshly on yourself." Somehow the voice was muted, or maybe Melissa was just having trouble concentrating. "Between yourself and Vernon Dursley, who do you think is more at fault for Harry's suffering?"
Who is more at fault? Something in that question alighted a fire in Melissa's mind. At once her eyes snapped open and fixed onto Vernon Dursley. The purple-faced monstrosity seemed fuming at the testimony. Glaring daggers at her, as if to say 'how dare she defy him'. 'How dare she tell the truth!'
"Vernon Dursley." Her voice dripped with venom. "You took a ten year old boy and flung him into a wall because he called you out on what a putrid piece of shit you are! You've been starving him, keeping him in a goddamn cupboard with barely a shirt to his name while your lardass son takes up two rooms full of junk because you want Harry to feel so unloved that you spoil your son rotten enough that he was outraged at getting thirty six presents for his birthday this year because 'last year he got thirty seven!'
"And you," She turned her fiery gaze against Petunia Dursley's own outrage, "you despicable, withered cunt! You turned your own flesh and blood, a child, into a slave! For what? Because you were jealous his mom had magic and you couldn't go to Hogwarts? Big bloody deal! She's dead. She died to protect her son and you shat all over his potential because you chose to be a gossiping housewife jealous of your dead sister rather than make anything useful out of yourself!"
"MISS BENNETT, THAT'S ENOUGH! " The lead judge shouted. He had been banging his gavel for the past few seconds, but she didn't bother listening until that shout washed over her. "If your witness can't control herself, Mister Tonks, I must insist that she be removed from the room."
Mister Tonks looked conflicted at the request. He gave her the question on looks alone. It didn't matter to her. She was panting. She was tired. She was done. "I've said my piece."
Mister Tonks nodded to her and to the judge. "I am done questioning the witness, your Honour."
"Good. Call your next witness!"
Melissa was quickly escorted out of the room by her mother. She didn't bother glancing at anyone as she left. Her eyes were blurry and she was exhausted. They went out into the hallway and settled onto a wooden bench not far from the door. While she sat, Melissa bent down and put her head in her hands. God, what had she been thinking, acting out like that? Bad enough to start crying, but to shout out all of those things in front of everyone. What would everyone make of that? Would they dismiss it all for a tantrum, or what about…
Khukhukhu
...was someone laughing?
Tentatively, she raised her head up and looked to the right. Her mother was double over much like she was. Though, rather than panicking, she had a hand over her mouth.
"Mum?"
The question broke through, bringing the woman's voice from near-silent laughter into an outright cackle. "Kha-kha! 'You despicable, withered cunt!' HA!" She bent down again, trying hard not to laugh, yet her eyes were tearing up. "Mel- I can't believe what - you - said - out there! Hahaha! Oh dear, that was.. That was amazing! Hakhaha! "
Melissa looked to her mother with utter bewilderment. "You're… you're happy about that? You get mad if I say something as tame as shit!"
Her mother managed to settle into smaller chuckles, wiping a tear from her eye as she did so. "Oh, don't get me wrong, darling. You are most definitely grounded after that show, and for running off to Surrey! But, still, that was incredible. I've never seen so many angry old nans in my life!"
Melissa blinked. Stupefied. She slowly turned her head towards the doors of the courtroom, wondering how, exactly, did everyone else take her testimony. "I guess that was pretty funny, eh?" She didn't quite believe it, herself. Though her mother certainly enjoyed it.
"Mhmm. It will be much funnier once the others come out. ...You do realize your cousins are still in there, right?"
"Oh. ...Shit."
