oooOOOoooOOOooo Chapter 23
The ball was magical but the kisses the thrupple shared together before they parted ways were even more so. Harry was practically floating on air when he and Hermione escorted Gabrielle to her carriage then walked together back to Hermione's room. They kissed for several more minutes before Hermione said goodnight.
Harry was on cloud nine as he checked on his sleeping lads and went back to his rooms. The 5am wake up call the next morning only bothered him because it interrupted his wonderful dreams.
Harry did his morning ablutions with his thoughts still on Hermione and Gabrielle. He made his way downstairs and found Hermione, the Grangers, Sirius, Regulus, Remus, Tonks, and his lads waiting for him already.
"You're all up early," said a sappily grinning Harry. He and Hermione made moon eyes at each other for several minutes while they dished up an early breakfast. By the time the meal was done, Gabrielle, Fleur, and Bill had joined them, too.
They all sat around and watched the joyful experience of young children opening their first Christmas presents and enjoying their first Christmas stocking. Everyone had a few gifts to open under the tree but the babies truly did make things worthwhile. They took as much joy in the paper and the boxes as they did in the new toys and healthy treats.
By 6:30 am, all the gifts had been opened, the baby boys were taking a little nap, and everyone else was enjoying a nice cup of peppermint and chocolate tea, reminiscing about the days gone by and looking at the beautiful photographs from last night.
The Grangers practically cooed over the canvas prints of Hermione in her sugar plum fairy costume and the boys in their little angel costumes. Harry hung up the picture of the five of them together in their holiday outfits right away. The magical canvas print moved so the babies' joyful kicking of their belled feet was captured perfectly. The lads looked so happy. Harry was afraid he'd run out of space to hang all of the pictures that had been taken of the beautiful babies and gorgeous ladies.
However, the large rectangular picture of Harry with all of his family and friends before the sea in his trunk was his absolute favorite. It took pride of place above the mantle in the family sitting room where Harry could see it everyday.
Finally, at 15 minutes before 7am, Moody finally arrived to escort Harry to the hearing. Hermione, Gabrielle, Harry, Bill, Tonks, and Moody prepared to leave for the Ministry. Harry made sure he had the Minister's blood money with him before he left.
"Harry, could I suggest something?" asked Hermione, cautiously.
"Anything for you, my lovely," Harry said, smiling at the girl. Hermione blushed a little and giggled at the endearment.
"I was thinking," said Hermione, dithering.
"What we like best about you," smiled Gabrielle. Hermione took the other girl's hand and squeezed.
"I was thinking you should take a picture of the twins to give to the press," she said. Harry scowled.
"What?" Harry asked, grumpily. Hermione sighed.
"Everyone will know about them after the trial for certain. The Death Eaters already do, obviously. You don't want to make the public rabid for pictures or you'll have to watch your back all of the time. You don't want reporters stalking your kids, do you?"
"No," Harry spat, annoyed. "I don't."
"Then don't give them a reason to, mon ami. I think the lovely family picture of the three of you in your family crest robes would be best, no?" said Gabrielle, gently.
Harry rolled his eyes but thought about it. He sighed a loud, annoyed sigh and grumped out, "Fine. Let me get a copy."
Harry found a 5x7 of the picture and duplicated it six times. That should be enough. He thought hard and decided to include the paperwork he'd had Colin provide to the Daily Prophet yesterday. Best to get the word out he was a good father before the Ministry changed its mind.
When Harry had everything, the group prepared to leave.
"We should be back by lunchtime, I reckon," said Harry.
"Good," said Fleur. "Mama and papa will be expecting us for dinner."
"We'll make sure Winky and Dobby have everything packed and ready to go by the time you return," assured Emma. Harry smiled gratefully at her. She patted his hand and said, "Go get those bastards who meant to hurt our boys. Make them pay."
Harry nodded firmly and said, "I will." Bill, Tonks, and Moody left their bags with Emma. Despite Harry's insistence that he didn't need an auror guard while he was in France, Moody wouldn't hear it. He insisted both himself and Tonks would be coming or Harry wouldn't be going. Harry rolled his eyes but let it be. He didn't want to argue and extra protection for Harry's lads was always welcome.
The group stepped through the floo and arrived in the Auror office. It was already pandemonium. Only six of the aurors and Madam Bones were on duty this morning but they all looked downright jolly for a bunch of people that were working on Christmas Day.
"The man of the hour!" called Shacklebolt as Harry appeared. "Thanks for the early gift, Potter."
Harry looked confused. "I'm sorry?"
"I've been trying to catch Malfoy with something that would stick for the last 10 years. He always slips away. The Minister himself came by this morning but he refused to even speak with Lucius and his slick bunch of lawyers. That means this will be a good day for justice!" grinned the happy auror.
Madam Bones stepped out of the prison holding cells. She gave Harry a small smile and walked over.
"Happy Christmas, Potter and gang," she said, nodding at them all. A chorus of "Happy Christmas" echoed around her.
She turned seriously to Harry, "I'm sorry about Pettigrew. I guess you've heard," she said, sympathetically. Harry shrugged and didn't let the setback get him down.
"Couldn't have happened to a more deserving bloke," Harry said.
"After what he confessed to, I hate to say it but I agree," said the Head of the DMLE.
"Did you see the paperwork?" Harry asked, quirking his eyebrow.
"Do you mean the official record of Pettigrew's questioning that you somehow managed to get the Minister to sign off on? I did," she said, smiling again.
Harry laughed. "That's the one."
"I added a copy to both Pettigrew and Sirius Black's official records," said the woman.
"Then, alls well that ends well," said a grinning Harry. Madam Bones grinned her agreement.
Moody led Harry and his group to their reserved front row seats. Harry grinned again when he saw every magical newspaper in Britain sitting in the press box and the Wizarding Wireless setting up microphones. It was going to be a happy holiday, indeed.
Soon, everyone took their seats. The clerk called for everyone to stand for the Chief Warlock. Dumbledore managed to look regal in the preposterous magenta and lace Wizengamot robes. They looked like something Ron might have worn to the Yule Ball, if he'd been allowed to attend, which he wasn't.
Dumbledore went through the procedural concerns before the part Harry was most interested in came to pass. The Death Eaters started being trotted out, one-by-one, to sit on the witness stand and swallow their portion of veritaserum.
Harry kept a cool demeanor as they all admitted to being willing death eaters, to killing and murdering in their lord's name, and to being present in that clearing with the intent of torturing and killing Harry's sons.
Harry was very angry and anyone who looked at him could tell but he didn't say a word. He didn't clench his fists or turn red in the face. He merely looked at each death eater like they were the shites that they were.
Each death eater in turn was found guilty of attempted kidnapping, kidnapping, murder, terrorism, assault on a minor (Harry), assault on an auror (Moody), and conspiracy to harm minor children (Jameson and Julius). They were each and every one sentenced to life in Azkaban. Not one was spared.
Finally, the show got around to Lucius Malfoy. The one Harry had been waiting for. The man's eyes grew wide when he saw the packed press box and Harry sitting there, waiting to testify against him.
Lucius still tried to act cool, right up until the Chief Warlock called for the veritaserum to be administered.
"No!" Lucius called in a panic. "You can't make me! I was under the imperius curse!"
"If that's true, the truth will set you free," said Dumbledore in a voice that told everyone he didn't believe a word out of Lucius' lying mouth.
"Minister!" called Lucius. The press all turned from watching Lucius to watch the Minister's reaction. Fudge swallowed hard but nodded his head.
"Administer the veritaserum," Fudge said in a croaking voice.
Lucius opened his mouth to protest but it was a mistake. Auror Moody grabbed his open jaw and forced it wider. He "accidentally" overdosed Lucius with five drops when three was all that was called for. He didn't mention the mistake. He just stepped back and let the now completely relaxed Lucius dig his own grave.
After the opening questions such as what's your name, give us your birthdate, and place of residence, and the like, they finally moved on to the more interesting questions.
"Are you a willing death eater?" asked the prosecutor, Madam Bones.
"Yes, I am," Lucius said in a monotonous voice, his missing arm obvious now that he wasn't trying to hide it.
"For how long?" asked Madam Bones.
"Since my sixth year at Hogwarts," he answered.
"Are you now or were you ever under the imperius curse while acting as a death eater?"
"No, I acted of my own accord," said Lucius in a slightly slurred voice.
"Have you raped anyone while acting as a death eater?" she asked.
"Yes, 22 times," said Lucius.
"Have you murdered as a death eater?" asked the Head of the DMLE.
"Yes, 21 times, including 14 muggle and 7 magical people," said Lucius. He was so drugged he was offering information that wasn't even asked. The small crowd murmured angrily.
"Are you aware that Harry Potter has two sons?" asked Madam Bones.
"Yes, my son informed me on the second of September," said Lucius in a voice that sounded very stoned.
"Did you have any plans for Harry Potters' sons?" she asked.
"Yes, I was planning to kidnap them. I was going to torture and kill one of them and use the other in a necromatic ritual to reincarnate Lord Voldemort," Lucius said, with a hint of pride in his voice.
Several people in the crowd screamed.
"Did you succeed in reincarnating Lord Voldemort?" asked Madam Bones, disturbed.
"No, not yet. I plan to keep trying until he is revived," said Lucius. The crowd muttered angrily.
"Are you being forced against your will to seek to revive Lord Voldemort?" asked the prosecutor.
"No. It is my duty and my pleasure to see my lord returned to life," said the slightly smiling man.
"Did you kidnap Harry Potter's sons?" she asked.
"No. Potter thwarted my attempt despite my collusion with his willing former best friend, Ron Weasley," said Lucius. The crowd gasped and the reporters scribbled like mad.
"Did you kidnap Harry Potter?" asked the angry and disturbed woman.
"Yes. He appeared in the clearing rather than his infants. I would have gladly killed them all," said Lucius blandly, like it didn't matter that he just admitted to conspiracy to commit murder.
Madam Bones shook her head. "Did you injure or attempt to injure Harry Potter or Auror Alastair Moody?"
"Yes. I burned Potter's arm and cut off Auror Moody's ear. I would have killed them both, if given the opportunity," said Lucius.
"Who was present with the intent of causing harm to Harry Potter's children?" asked the Head of the DMLE.
Lucius named the six known death eaters and one the Minister was hoping wouldn't be mentioned. "... and Peter Pettigrew."
"But he's dead!" shouted someone in the Wizengamot.
"No. He has been hiding as a rat animagus for the past 13 years. He is not dead," said Lucius.
"He's dead now!" shouted the Minister, nervously as the crowd started to look angry. "I had him kissed last night!" The crowd just murmured more angrily at that fact. They wanted to see the rat bastard put on trial. Harry decided to take his chance.
"Did you collude with Sirius Black? Is Sirius Black a death eater?" asked Harry, loudly. Everyone quieted down to hear the answer.
"No. Sirius Black was never a death eater. Peter Pettigrew framed him. Sirius Black was not the Potter secret keeper. As far as I am aware, he has never killed anyone," said Lucius.
"That's enough questions!" shouted the anxious Minister of Magic. People were staring at him like he was a piece of dung on the bottom of someone's shoe.
Moody administered the antidote after Madam Bones nodded. They had all they needed for the punishment she would be requesting. She had already presented all of the evidence and questioned Moody at the beginning of the trial. The DMLE had played Moody's memory of the events, including the damning evidence against Ronald Weasley. She didn't even feel like she needed to question Harry. Lucius had already damned himself. If the green, sallow look to his face was anything to go by, he knew it, too.
The only person in the crowd who still supported Lucius after his testimony was his crying wife.
"The prosecution moves for a vote," said Madam Bones.
"I'll allow it," said Chief Warlock Dumbledore.
"Everyone in favor of a guilty verdict, cast your spell," she called. Of the 120 members of the Wizengamot, 111 were present. 110 voted to convict.
"Everyone in favor of an acquittal, cast your spell," Madam Bones called.
No one cast.
"Refrains, stand and make your case," said Madam Bones.
Elphias Doge stood, "I suggest we seek a retroactive reversal of this man's acquittal from 1981! He was obviously as guilty then as he is now!"
Madam Bones tried not to smile. This was what she was hoping for.
"All in favor, please cast?" she said. 111 votes were cast in favor. Every single person, even the people Lucius had been paying off for years, voted against him.
"Very well, we will sentence based on the laws of 1981," said Madam Bones. Narcissa Malfoy wailed.
"The prosecution calls for the defendant to be sentenced to the veil. All in favor?" she asked.
102 people voted in favor.
"All in favor of the lesser sentence of Azkaban for life?" the Head of the DMLE asked.
Eight people voted in favor of life in Azkaban.
"All in favor of a 30 year sentence in azkaban?" she called.
The remaining person did not vote.
"Holdout, please rise and state your case," called Madam Bones.
Tiberius Ogden stood. "I call for the dementor's kiss!"
Lucius looked like he might faint.
Madam Bones tried to keep a neutral face but she couldn't. Despite herself, she smirked at the suggestion.
"All in favor?" she asked.
Only 52 wizards voted in favor of the dementor's kiss. It wasn't enough to pass.
"All for the veil of death, one more time please?" Madam Bones called, adjusting her monocle.
103 people voted in favor this time.
"In favor of life in Azkaban, one more time?"
The same 8 people voted for life imprisonment. It did not pass.
"The veil of death it is. We will adjourn for fifteen minutes and reconvene in the appropriate room," said the Head of the DMLE.
"As adjudicated, so adjourned," said Dumbledore, slapping his gavel on the bench.
Everyone stood while Lucius Malfoy was dragged away. He was unable to walk himself. Narcissa gave Harry a venomous look and hurried after her husband. The only thing that disappointed Harry about this trial was that Draco wasn't implicated, too.
The press surrounded Harry. He tried to answer their questions in as few words as possible. He passed out the documents he had prepared and the picture of himself with the twins in their little Potter family robes. It was adorable.
Moody came over to escort Harry to the Death Chamber. Harry got a seat front and center. He wanted to see the bastard dead. He meant to torture and kill Harry's children, sacrificing them to reanimate that vile bastard Voldemort. Harry felt no mercy for the bastard.
Narcissa didn't come into the Death Chamber. She couldn't watch her husband die.
The press setup with cameras ready to go as Lucius was marched into the room. He had obviously had a couple of calming drafts. He could barely hold his head up. It was the only mercy the Wizengamot would show him today.
The verdict and the procedural requirements were all read and followed. Then, it was show time.
Harry sat, his face as cold as stone as Lucius was frog marched to the veil. Lucius might have been stoned off of his mind but he still had enough understanding to look afraid. He glanced at Harry, whose eyes were glittering with satisfaction, and sneered. Harry didn't care. In just a moment, Lucius would be nothing more than a bad memory.
The aurors let go of him and Lucius almost fell. Madam Bones did her duty. She cast a wingardium leviosa and floated the arrogant death eater through the veil.
It was only a flutter of cloth and the sound of whispering, then Lucius Malfoy was no more. It was rather anticlimactic, to be honest.
Some more procedural requirements were met before the crowd was dismissed. Harry and his group high-tailed it out of there before any more reporters could ask any more Harry questions. He was glad to hurry to the floo and head home.