Chapter 24 the trial of black
Harry and Hermione were as quiet as they could be as they slipped out of the hospital wing. The two of them had spent the night distracting Fleur from the pain of regrowing her shoulder blade (or as Hermione and Madame Pomfrey called it, her scapula). When Harry remembered what regrowing bones was like, he had insisted that he and Hermione were staying with Fleur for the night. The pain relief potions had a bad interaction with Skele-Gro and couldn't be used, but Harry and Hermione could at least distract their friend from the pain of a hole in her shoulder as much as possible. It helped that they really needed to talk after her revelation at the end of the first task.
Multiple marriages being possible in the magical world was the source of some culture shock to the muggle-raised teenagers. And while no-one had agreed to anything concrete, Harry and Hermione had promised to give it some serious consideration, which caused Fleur to beam at the two in happiness before giving them each a swift peck on the lips. As Hermione accepted that Fleur's goal didn't involve separating her from Harry, she was able to warm up to Fleur quite a bit, and her few catty remarks were more reflex and followed up with hasty apologies by the time Fleur had fallen asleep sometime around three in the morning.
Harry and Hermione had fallen asleep in the chairs next to Fleur's bed and had gotten a couple of hours of sleep before they were woken by Dobby, who informed them that they needed to get up and get ready if they were going to go to the Ministry for the trial. So the two of them slipped out of the hospital wing, hoping to not disturb the rest of the injured friend. They made their way back up to the Gryffindor common room, showering and changing Into their most formal robes; well, their most formal robes suitable for appearing in the Ministry rather than a ball.
Originally Fleur was going to join them, but Madam Pomfrey had refused to let her out of the hospital wing for a few days as she regrew muscles and skin now that her bones were restored. So it was only the two teenagers who went through the Floo with Professor McGonagall on their way to the Ministry.
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Court proceedings were boring. The first hour felt like a week while Prosecutor Madam Bones, Acting Judge Cornelius Fudge, Defence Representative Ted Tonks and Court Scribe Delores Umbridge (who looked put out at doing a more menial job, now that she was the interim head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation) went back and forth over paperwork. They were also entering their evidence into the records, and it turned out that this was why Harry was called as a witness; not to testify in the trial itself, but to testify before it that the will that Mr. Tonks entered into evidence was, in fact, the will of Harry's parents.
Once that was done, Harry was allowed to join Hermione, Professor McGonagall, and (unsurprisingly) Rita Skeeter in the public gallery. Rita had joined them at the Ministry as she was there to cover the trial but had latched onto the group, knowing that if Mr. Black was freed then her best shot at getting a quote for the paper was to be with Black's godson.
"So did you see the Prophet this morning, or were you too busy?" Rita asked them as the court was still going through procedure.
"We didn't have the opportunity, we were with Fleur last night because she is stuck in the hospital wing. As a result we slept a little late and we barely had time to grab a breakfast sandwich." Hermione, who was cuddled into Harry's side, told the witch.
Rita smiled, reached into her handbag, and pulled out a copy of the paper. "You made the front page. My editor *Barney decided to be funny and framed your boyfriend's little advertising speech like it was an actual paid ad."
Harry looked at the paper, and Rita was right; under the headline of 'HARRY POTTER PREVENTS TRIWIZARD MURDER' there was a section built into the story advertising his wand rings. There was also a note from Garrick confirming that Harry did indeed come up with the design and held the patent for the summoning rings, and he also went on about Harry's talent as a future enchanter, given that he had also created the water bomb and accessories to help preserve the Statute of Secrecy.
"Nothing like some free advertising." Harry grinned at Rita as he handed the paper to Hermione.
Rita laughed. "You'll probably earn more from that than you would get for winning the tournament."
Harry shrugged. "I doubt it, Garrick gets more of the profits than I do." Seeing a look in Rita's eye, Harry quickly added. "He's also the one taking all the risk buying the materials and such and putting in the work to produce them. I just sit on my backside and collect my cut." Rita relaxed as he said that, but looked a little disappointed as a potential story was snapped away from her.
"I'm surprised that Umbridge is acting as the court scribe today." McGonagall said after they were quiet for a few minutes. "I would have thought it was beneath her new position."
"I'm not surprised at all. This is Fudge's reminder that it's his show, not hers. She embarrassed the Ministry yesterday when she accused Harry of cheating, only to have it rebuffed instantly and live on the WWN. He's reminding her he can put her right back where she was any time he likes," Rita explained.
McGonagall sighed. "Sometimes I really hate politics."
Rita simply shrugged. "It's more fun to watch from the outside."
Harry remembered some details from trial transcripts he had read for trying to help Buckbeak and asked. "Isn't it weird for Fudge to lead the trial, isn't that normally the job of the Chief Warlock, because the Chief Warlock is supposed to be neutral and the only member of the Wizengamot who doesn't have a vote?"
Professor McGonagall nodded. "Normally yes, but as Albus's signature was on the order to send Mr. Black to Azkaban, his motivations are suspect and he has been barred from this trial. He tried to stop me from bringing you today, saying you needed rest after the task yesterday. However, as you are a called witness, unless you are medically unable to attend, you can actually be arrested and face two months in Azkaban if you do not attend. The same sentence applies to people who knowingly prevent you from attending."
"So Dumbledore is the one who sent Mr. Black to the Dementors without a trial?" Hermione asked.
"One of them, yes." Professor McGonagall nodded grimly.
Then, Sirius Black was brought into the courtroom from the DMLE cells. Harry's impression of the man was of a malnourished husk that was nothing but a shadow of his former self. However, the more he looked the more he realised that, though the man was definitely physically emaciated and weak, he was mentally sharp, his eyes darting around the courtroom looking at everyone. When those eyes landed on Harry a grin spread over his face, and Harry got to see that the man he was before all that had happened was still there. Buried deep, perhaps, but still there.
Mr Black was seated in a chair in the dead center of the room, and Instantly his arms and legs were wrapped in chains. Uncle Moony came and sat with Harry's little group. "Hey Harry, Hermione, Minerva, Miss Skeeter. I would have been here sooner but I was sitting with Sirius keeping him calm."
Fudge was in his element as all eyes were on him as the trial started. "OK everyone, now that the paperwork is done and everyone is seated, I call this trial of the people vs. Sirius Black to order. Mr. Black, you are charged with multiple counts:
That you did knowingly and with full understanding commit treason most foul by joining the ranks for He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named as a Death Eater.
That you did knowingly and with full understanding assist in the murder of James Charlus Potter.
That you did knowingly and with full understanding assist in the murder of Lily rose Potter nee Evans.
That you did knowingly and with full understanding assist in the attempted murder of Harry James Potter.
That you did knowingly and with full understanding break the Statute of Secrecy on the night of 31 October/morning of 1st November.
That you did knowingly and with full understanding commit the murder of Peter Pettigrew order of Merlin third class.
That you did knowingly and with full understanding commit the murder of twelve muggle bystanders.
Would you like to enter a blanket plea or individually please for each charge?" Fudge finished, looking at Mr. Black expectantly
"I would enter a blanket plea of not guilty to all charges." His voice was strong and Harry found the sound strongly familiar.
"Your plea is accepted, let the record show the defendant has entered a plea of not guilty on all charges. Madam Bones, you may begin your opening statement," Fudge directed the court.
From what Harry and Hermione could work out, in a full court like this the Minister had no power outside of directing when people could speak and keeping the trial moving forward. It was the Wizengamot members who were sitting together in purple robes who would vote on the guilt or innocence of Mr. Black.
Director Bones stood from her chair that was to the left of Sirius and addressed the court. "Esteemed warlocks of the Wizengamot. It is my intent today to prove that Mr. Black is guilty of all of the charges against him and that, just as everyone here already knows, he belongs back in Azkaban." She sat again.
From the muttering, that was a very unusual opening for the Director of Magical Law Enforcement; Hermione was looking confused before Rita leaned in to explain. "Normally, Bones would give an overview of the evidence she intends to bring up, list the laws that were broken, and give a reason the law exists. That she didn't do that is basically screaming to the Wizengamot that she has no evidence." Hermione nodded in understanding.
"Law Wizard Tonks, Your opening statement." Fudge directed.
The law wizard Ted Tonks, who was the father of Auror Tonks and was married to Sirius's cousin, stood from his chair to Sirius's right and addressed the court.
"Esteemed warlocks of the Wizengamot, I am here today not only to defend my client as his representative, but because there has been a hideous miscarriage of justice that threatens us all. If Mr. Black - no, let us use his true title, if Warlock Black of the Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Black can be given to the Dementors without a trial…who among us can't be? Warlock Black was an Auror, the next in line to be the Head of one of our most respected Houses, and a hero who had one of the highest rates of bringing in Death Eaters during the war, yet he was thrown to the Dementors without a trial. A trial that I will prove today would have found my client acquitted, as there is no evidence supporting the idea that my client has broken any law; to the contrary, there is in fact plenty of evidence to support that my client is innocent. The most compelling of which was written in the Potters' own hands.
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The prosecution was a joke. It wasn't Director Bones's fault, she was obviously doing her best with what she had, but Harry was reminded of something his uncle had said a long time ago when Harry was still naive enough to ask for some good clothes: "You can polish a turd but it's still a turd." That's what Director Bones was dealing with, and no matter how she dressed it up it was obvious her evidence was lacking.
Not that this was getting to Director Bones, she seemed to enjoy it when her argument fell apart. According to Lupin, who had spoken to her the most over the last month, the only reason she didn't just come out and say that the Ministry's case was worthless was because she legally had to do her best to try for a conviction. If she didn't, she could lose her job and Sirius could be tried for a second time.
After an hour and a half, a ridiculously short time according to McGonagall, the prosecution rested its case and it was time for the defence. Mr. Tonks took no time in calling Warlock Black to the stand.
"Warlock Black, before I ask any other questions, do you waive your right against magically compelling you to speak the truth?" Law Wizard Tonks asked.
"I waive that right and request to take an unbreakable vow." As Warlock Black's words echoed around the courtroom, there were gasps of shock. The waiving of the right was fairly common, especially among people who were innocent or thought themselves to be clever, but almost none chose unbreakable vows.
"I ask for my client to be released from the chains so that he may take his vow." Mr. Tonks asked. Even that caused a mermer to travel around the room, and Harry had to wonder just how scared of this man they were. He was unarmed, starved, and in a room full of armed people who, at the minimum, had sat their Defence Against the Dark Arts O.W.L., yet they were still afraid that the man before them could do something.
Minister Fudge seemed to debate with himself for a moment before he allowed it. Mr. Black was released from the chains and directed by the Aurors to kneel in front of the chair. Mr. Tonks took Mr. Black's arm and Mr. Black did the same, with Auror Shacklebolt acting as the bonder. Mr. Tonks spoke. "Do you vow to tell this court the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, to any questions posed to you during this trial that are relevant to the charges you are facing today?"
"I so vow." At Mr. Black's words, a rope of fire snaked out of Auror Shacklebolt's wand and wrapped itself around the linked arms of the two men. Once that was done, Minister Fudge ordered Mr. Black back to the chair, and the chains wrapped again around his arms and legs. Mr. Tonks started asking questions.
"Mr. Black, for how long were you a Death Eater before the 31st of October 1981?"
"I was not a Death Eater ever at any time," Sirius shot his lawyer a look for how he phrased the question.
"Oh, you weren't a Death Eater, then why did you give You-Know-Who the location of the Potters' safehouse?"
"I never gave the vile piece of shit who referred to himself as a Lord the location of Harry and his parents. I couldn't have even if I wanted to."
"What do you mean you couldn't have told him?"
"Lily and James were hiding under a Fidelius Charm. Only the secret keeper can reveal the information to someone who doesn't already know it. I was not the secret keeper."
"If you, the best friend of the Potters, weren't the secret keeper, who was?"
"I was the obvious choice for a secret keeper. We know that the Death Eaters and their master were looking for Lily and James. They would target me, but the truth is anyone will break under torture eventually, so we made Peter Pettigrew the secret keeper. I knew I would be the target, but my disappearance would have been the signal for the Potters to move. It was a desperate plan for a desperate situation, but my vow as Harry's godfather meant I could do nothing less."
"I would like to direct the court to the evidence labeled C: The Last Will and Testimony of the Potters, verified by Gringotts and Mr. Harry Potter. Minister Fudge, can you please read out the relevant section?"
He did just that. "This is the combined Last Will and Testament of Lily Potter and James Potter. We make this will while being of sound mind and sound body. Upon writing this will, we renounce any previous last wills and testaments and state that this is our true last Will and Testament, on the date of August 23rd 1981 - yada yada yada, not relevant to this hearing, ah here it is - Notice for the DMLE: should we have died at the hands of Voldemort or his band of bigots inside our home at Godric's Hollow, please be aware that we used a Fidelius Charm in our protections, and only our secret keeper could have revealed the secret to another person. Our secret keeper was Peter Pettigrew, not Sirius Black as we lead people to believe." The minister finished reading.
Tonks addressed the courtroom. "We now have it from my client, who is under unbreakable vow to speak the truth and still breathing so that lends some credence to his claims, and from the hands of the Potters themselves. That, I believe, covers the first four charges on the list: treason by being a Death Eater, assisting in the murders of Lily and James Potter, and assisting in the attempted murder of Harry James Potter."
Madam Longbottom from the Wizengamot spoke up. "That may be true but you have successfully given your client a motive for the killing of Peter Pettigrew, and with that murder the 12 innocent muggles who where caught up in it, as well as the breach of the Statute of Secrecy. While explainable as the actions of a grief-stricken man, these would hardly leave your client innocent."
"Indeed, proxy Warlock Longbottom, but we haven't gotten to those events yet. I am confident that once we do, the truth will be heard and my client will go free. I just wished to establish that those charges that my client was sent to Azkaban for, and without a trial, were easily disproved with very little effort." There was a collective sharp intake of breath at that last part.
"Now, Warlock Black, can you please tell me in your own words what happened that night that led up to your duel with Peter Pettigrew?"
"I had a ward alarm on the Potters' cottage, but when I tried to apparate there I couldn't. I was also unsuccessful with Floo and a portkey, so the only option I had left was to fly my motorbike. When I got to Godric's Hollow two hours later, the house was a wreck, and there was a huge hole in the wall and roof of little Harry's room. I was about to rush inside to look for any sign of life in my friends (while suspecting I would find none), but then Rubeus Hagrid emerged from the house holding little Harry, who was by some miracle still alive.
"I asked Hagrid to give me my godson but he refused, saying he had orders from Dumbledore to take Harry to Hogwarts. Towards the end of the war, the only healer many of us had full confidence in was Poppy Pomfrey, as she was safe from being Imperioed behind Hogwarts wards. So, I relented and gave Hagrid my motorbike to take Harry, as Hagrid is not permitted to use a wand and as such is unable to apparate. The anti-apparition jinx had come down now, so I wouldn't need my bike to travel for a while.
"My mind turned to Peter. I thought he must have been captured and tortured to give up James and Lily, so I made my way to his place, hoping to find a man as dear to me as my brother battered and hurt but healable, but suspected I would find him dead and gone like Lily and James. What I found was so much worse. Pettigrew was alive and well, he hadn't been tortured for information, nor was he racked with guilt because he sold out his friends. He was walking up the street whistling a happy tune.
"I was going to arrest him and drag him here to pay for his crime but I was stupid in my grief and anger. Instead of taking him by surprise I started marching right up to him. He saw me coming and started to shout really loud about how I had betrayed Lily and James, then started throwing curses at me. Peter was never the best dueler but I wasn't at my best either. With the death of James and Lily at Peter's betrayal, after having flown half the night and apprating across the country, I was tired. Peter caught me with an Impediment Jinx. As I watched, he cut off his own finger, cast a delayed action Bombarda at the ground, cast a laughing curse at me, ended his Impedimenta, transformed into his animagus form (a common brown rat), and escaped into the sewers.
"As I stood there trying to get the laughter under control, the muggles who had been watching approached where Pettigrew had been standing, trying to work out how a man had transformed into a rat before their eyes. The delay on the spell ran out and the street exploded. That's how the Aurors found me laughing surrounded by the corpses of the innocent muggles." Mr. Black was weeping by the time he finished telling his story. The whole room was quiet. There were tears running down Harry and Moony's faces and Hermione was hugging Harry, doing everything she could to support him, though her eyes weren't exactly dry either and she needed the arm Harry encircled her with just as much as Harry needed the support.
The trial continued for another two hours after that. Director Bones asked Mr. Black a few questions, but he had already said most of it during his recounting of events, and only a few small details were cleared up. She did ask about Peter's animagus form and that had led him to confessing that Peter, James, and himself were all unregistered animagi. They had planned to register after the war, they had all agreed that it was too useful to have an ace hidden during the war to register with a compromised Ministry.
Ted then turned to the lack of evidence against his client. "Where are the interview records? Where is the healer's report confirming he wasn't under any potions or mind-altering spell? Where is the Priori Incantatum report for the wand that Warlock Black was using? Where is Pettigrew's wand? Where is the evidence, other than hearsay, that Warlock Black was the secret keeper? Did the DMLE do any investigation at all into what happened, or did they just throw an innocent man into hell because actually following the law and doing an investigation was too inconvenient for them? The defence rests its case."
Then it was the closing statements. Director Bones, as the prosecutor, went first. "Esteemed warlocks of the Wizengamot, there are some immutable facts in this case. Warlock Black was found at the scene of the crime, a crime scene littered with corpses. Warlock Black was well known to be the closest friend of the Potters, who would better fit the position as their secret keeper?" It was clear she was just going through the motions, fulfilling her obligation so that the result of the trial couldn't be questioned. That Mr. Black was sitting there breathing after everything that had been said was a ringing endorsement of his claims.
Instead of doing a full recap of the evidence or the lack thereof, Mr. Tonks decided to just attack Director Bones's closing statement. "Esteemed warlocks of the Wizengamot, there are indeed immutable facts in this case. The fact that my client is alive after taking an unbreakable vow proves this, but I would prefer to answer the questions of Director Bones's closing argument.
Warlock black was found at the scene of the crime: That's where you find a lot of victims, at the place where they were attacked.
The crime scene was littered with corpses: With no evidence at all that my client had a hand in making those corpses.
People choose their closest friends for secret keepers, everyone knows this and that Black was the Potter's closest friend: If you know this and I know this then it's easy to see why people could assume He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named would also know this. In that situation, choosing another would be something many of us would try.
This misscarige of justice has already gone on for too long. It's time to fix it."
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After the closing speeches, the court was adjourned for the Wizengamot to deliberate on how they would vote. During this time, Mr. Black was returned to the cells, and Harry and the others were shown to a canteen that sold food for employees and visitors. The Wizengamot members apparently had their own lounge, because none of them entered the canteen.
All five of them (Harry, Hermione, Professor McGonagall, Moony, and Rita, who was still sticking with them) each got themselves a sandwich and a cup of tea, except Remus who opted for hot chocolate instead of tea. The two teenagers chose to sit at a table by themselves, as this would be the first time they got to talk, just the two of them, since the first task, what with spending their time the night before in the hospital wing with Fleur, Professor McGonagall, and what appeared to be about half of the DMLE asking questions. The investigation into who was trying to kill them was still in full swing, but the problem was there was very little evidence that could narrow down the suspects, so very little progress had been made.
They sat across from each other, the fingers of their left hands entwined at the center of the table as they ate their food.
"So, what are you going to do about Fleur?" Hermione asked, not looking him in the eye.
"Don't you mean what are we going to do? We both need to agree. I already told you I won't give up on you." Harry knew Hermione was still feeling insecure next to Fleur, but he would tell her as much as she needed to hear that he would never choose Fleur over her.
Harry's words caused Hermione to smile. "We still need to figure out what to do."
"True enough. Hermione, awkward question, do you fancy her?" Harry asked, taking a sip of tea in a vain attempt to hide how awkward he felt asking that.
Hermione's cheeks took on a pink shade. "Um…well, she is definitely gorgeous. I don't know about her, though. Her personality, her goals, what she is prepared to do to get what she wants. She is attractive, but we are talking about someone who will be with us for the rest of our lives. I don't think either of us know her well enough for that."
"I agree, but considering the bond and the contract my father made, shouldn't we at least try to get to know her better?" Harry asked. "We have both been keeping up a wall with us on one side and her on the other. Maybe we need to do something different. I'm not saying we jump straight into a relationship, but maybe we should relax and get to know her a little."
"That sounds OK to me, Harry…just, promise you won't forget about me."
Harry had never seen Hermione so vulnerable, at least not without some monster or psycho trying to kill one of them. The first thought that came to him was to answer with a joke to cheer Hermione up a little, but something told him that the wrong answer here could hurt her more than any monster had ever been able to. "Hermione. I know I'm not the best in the world at saying stuff like this, but please listen to this. I love you. I can't see a future that doesn't have you in it. While we might, and I mean might, make room for Fleur. I promise you that I'll always be by your side."
Harry's little speech resulted in a teary eyed smiling Hermione trying to break Harry's ribs with one of her signature hugs.
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Once the Wizengamot reached its decision, everyone was called back into the courtroom to await the verdict. Moony was chewing his thumb and Harry could see Mister Black was looking around nervously. Fudge quickly called the room to order, before turning to the Wizengamot and asking them to cast their votes for each charge. One by one, the charges ticked off with a not guilty verdict until they got to the breaking of the Statute of Secrecy. This one was going to be close, so it was the one charge that might stick.
"In the charge of breaking the Statute of Secrecy on the morning of 1st of November 1981, can the Wizengamot members who wish to vote guilty please do so now," Fudge directed the court. The Wizengamot members raised their wands and lit them with underpowered Lumos charms. Was that half of them? It looked like about half of them; Harry tried to count them but they went out before Harry could finish.
"And those wishing to acquit please vote now," Fudge directed again, and the Wizengamot raised wands and lit them again. Harry couldn't see any real difference at a glance the decision, whichever way it went had only a couple of votes in it.
"Court scribe, can you please read out the results of the vote?" Minister Fudge asked Umbridge. "I'm afraid it was too close for me to tell."
The Ministry's resident toad demon stood up. "Yes Minister. Voting guilty we have twenty-five votes, voting not guilty we have twenty-eight. The Wizengamot finds a verdict of not guilty."
As the scribe took her seat again, Fudge stood up. "Warlock Black, Head of the Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Black, you have been found not guilty of all of the crimes presented to this body today. You are free to go from this place unhindered. "
At the proclamation a number of people including everyone in the visitors seating started to clap. Once the clapping died down, Mr. Tonks stood to address the court one final time. "Warlocks of the Wizengamot and members of the Ministry, in light of this verdict I am informing you that the House of Black will be filing grievances and seeking redress of damages before the Wizengamot when Warlock Black has had an opportunity to improve his constitution somewhat. This will likely be the December meeting of the Wizengamot, but may be as late as February depending on the advice of his healer."
Once Mr. Tonks was finished, Remus almost dragged Harry down to where Mr. Black was being released from the chains that held him for most of the trial. As Harry was still holding onto Hermione from being nervous during the vote, she was dragged along behind him.
"Padfoot!" Moony threw his arms around Mr. Black and pulled the man into a hug. Mr. Black, whether from emotional exhaustion or from physical frailty Harry couldn't tell, practically collapsed into the hug, leaving Remus to provide the support.
"Padfoot, I would like to reintroduce you to someone." He pulled Mr. Black around to face Harry.
"Harry? Is that really you? You look so much like James." The man was obviously emotional at the moment, not that Harry was surprised, he had just been freed from the dementors. Harry was sure he would be emotional too.
Harry nodded. "Yes, Mr. Black, I'm Harry. It's a pleasure to meet you." He held out his hand to shake but the man ignored it and pulled him into a hug. Harry prepared himself for the usual feelings of panic he got when an adult he didn't trust touched him, but it never came. He didn't know if it was because he knew the man was under a vow to look after him, if it was because of some residual trust he still had for the man from when he was an infant, or if it was just that the man barely had the muscles to function, let alone take Harry physically. Whatever it was, Harry didn't feel the old familiar panic, instead he just felt a little awkward at being hugged by a man he didn't know but who obviously cared about him.
"Harry, I'm so sorry I was supposed to be there for you growing up, I swore to your parents that I would be there for you but I wasn't." The man apologised.
"Mr Black-" Harry started but he was cut off.
"It's Sirius, or Padfoot. You don't need to be formal with me." Sirius insisted
"OK, Sirius, it's fine, you don't need to apologise. I understand what happened, it wasn't your fault." Harry hesitated a bit before adding, "What matters is that you are here now."
A/N
I have actually had to sit through a criminal trial in the visitors gallery and it was a nasty topic that the defendant was accused of. Trust me, even then the trial was boring as hell. It's a lot of procedure talk and people saying the same thing again and again. The only other thing I will say about that trial is I think it got the correct result. Real trials take a lot to make them entertaining for people to read and are the stomping ground of other authors, not me, so please forgive anything I did wrong.
*Barney - Rita's editor is Barnabas Cuffe, I'm using Barney as a nickname Rita uses for him.
if any of you would like to read the sean I alluded to where harry reads lord of the rings to Hermione when she can't see then SeventhChordHarmony has written a sean inspired by mine in their fic "A Harmonious Beginning" ch 30 "concerning hobbits" I recommend the entire fic but I think that chapter will interest you all
thankyou to the people who support me on pat re on [slash] Lowten where you can read two additional chapters ahead on all my storys. special thanks to the awesome person Jack Schriner.
