Rape discussed in this chapter.
Courtroom One was packed. Men and women pushed their way inside the largest courtroom in the Ministry, many filling the aisles of the gallery. Ministry workers had given up trying to get people to find seats or leave and had taken to ensuring no one fought over seats. Eventually, however, the doors to the galleries were closed, barring the dozens of people still trying to access the trial of Bartemius Crouch Jr.
Aria was glad they had come early. She, Harry, and Remus had arrived two hours early so that Sirius could smooch with some of the Wizengamot prior to the trial, dragging Harry along for his first official Wizengamot session. It was tradition, Sirius said, that around the age of fifteen, an heir was brought to sit with the Wizengamot and begin his or her formal education into the politics of the wixen world. Harry had tried to argue that, since he would not turn fifteen until July, he did not need to attend any Wizengamot sessions this year, but Sirius had insisted that due to the growing tensions after the Third Task, it was better to get Harry integrated with the Wizengamot sooner rather than later. He also pointed out, that due to the publicity of the trial, many other Wizengamot members were having their young heirs attend.
From her vantage point between Remus and Professor Snape Aria could see that Sirius had been right. She and her magical guardians had managed to get a front row seat in the gallery overlooking the courtroom with Moody, and from where she sat, she could see the entire Wizengamot. Neville sat beside his grandmother who was Regent of House Longbottom until Neville came of age. She saw Draco sitting to Lord Malfoy's left while Lucius sat on his right. Lord Nott was there with Theo and Lord Greengrass with Daphne on his right as heir, and Astoria on his left. Susan sat beside her uncle who was one of the regents for her smaller house until she came of age. One of Pansy's brothers had come back for the occasion and sat by Lord Parkinson. Marcus Flint sat to the left of his grandfather, giving Aria her first look at Marcus' father and grandfather. There was strong resemblance in all three of them, and she wondered if they knew about his growing relationship with Penelope Clearwater.
Sitting by Minister Fudge, Aria saw Percy, looking quite smart in the robes Ministry officials wore for Wizengamot sessions. Each Lord and Lady of the Wizengamot wore plum-colored robes while the heirs wore robes in the colors of their family house, and ministry officials wore black. Scarlet robed aurors walked the edge of the crowd in the gallery and along the upper wall of the Wizengamot. Aria thought Draco looked dashing in his black and green robes, very similar to Slytherin House, but his robes had the Malfoy crest.
Looking around the gallery, she spotted a few of her classmates with their parents. The Browns and Patils sat together. Narcissa Malfoy sat with Lady Greengrass, Lady Parkinson, and Mrs. Bulstrode. Pansy and Millicent and Tracey sat just in front of the three ladies. To the side the press box was full to capacity, but there was one notable absence, that of Rita Skeeter who had been missing for several weeks. She also spotted Cedric and his mother in the corner. Mr. Diggory was down in the courtroom in his capacity as a Department Head. While Department Heads could not vote in trials, Sirius had explained to her and Harry in the crash course he had given them a few days ago, they still came to high profile trials as a show of solidarity within the ministry, but also to act as witnesses to ensure just trials.
Florian Fortescue pushed his way to the front of the gallery, though no one tried to stop him, and had even made room for him. It would have been the height of bad manners, Aria thought, if no one ensured the brother of one of the victims had not been able to sit on the trial.
Behind them, people chatted with their neighbors waiting for the trial to begin.
"Shame we've got to go through all this," someone said. "We all know he's guilty."
Snape's fingers curled into fists. Moody's grip on his cane tightened.
"It's a shame we've got to go through with this because someone didn't do it right in the first place," someone retorted. "It shouldn't matter how guilty a person is. Everyone deserves a trial."
Thankfully the conversation was cut off by the bailiff calling out,
"All rise for the Chief Warlock!"
Everyone rose to their feet as Dumbledore entered the courtroom, for once in the correct robes for the Wizengamot. He took his place and sat. Everyone followed suit. A side door opened, and Barty Crouch Jr. was led in, flanked by several aurors with shackles on his wrists. Axel Lawrence followed by Teddy. The lawyers settled at a table in front of the Wizengamot alongside Amelia Bones while Barty was pushed into a high back chair in the center of the courtroom. The shackles around his wrists were attached to the chair and more shackles were placed around his ankles.
"Is . . . is that normal?" Aria whispered to Remus.
"Afraid so," Remus answered.
"Bartemius Crouch Jr., you are brought here on charges of torture and the charge of being an unmarked Death Eater, follower of the Dark Lord known as Voldemort," Dumbledore said, reading off a scroll. "How do you plead?"
Surprised chattering filled the courtroom.
"Unmarked?" Remus questioned, looking at Moody. "I'd heard he'd had the Dark Mark." Moody held up a hand to say wait.
Dumbledore banged his gavel and the voices died down.
"Not guilty to all charges," Barty announced, voice wavering slightly. His voice was not as deep as Aria had imagined. There was almost a Welsh lilt to it.
"So noted by the court," Dumbledore said.
"Chief Warlock," Axel said, "I think, for the benefit of the Wizengamot, that it be explained how the charge 'unmarked Death Eater' came to pass as, those who were present at the sentencing thirteen years ago will remember seeing a Dark Mark on my client's forearm."
"An excellent idea," Dumbledore agreed. "Madam Bones, as you are the one who brought these charges forward, would you please explain to the court?"
Madam Bones rose.
"Over the course of his stay at St. Mungo's," Madam Bones explained, "the healers wished to study the mark, in hopes of finding a way to remove it for the benefit of those who had been coerced or placed under the Imperious Curse during the first war. However, one of the healers thought it appeared different from other Dark Marks she had seen. One wixen cleared of charges during the first war came forward to assist in determining whether or not Crouch had a true Dark Mark. It turned out, he did not. Not only did the Dark Mark on Crouch's arm not move like that real Dark Mark, it also did not fade like the others. After some testing, the healers discovered that it had been placed on Crouch's arm using a badly modified branding curse—"
Gasps filled the courtroom. Aria glanced at Snape whose entire body was rigid.
"—and after some research, was able to remove it," Madam Bones continued. "Therefore, I felt it appropriate to modify to the charge to that of being an 'unmarked Death Eater'." She sat.
"Thank you, Madam Bones," Dumbledore said. "Mr. Lawrence, will you be offering any witnesses for the defense?"
"I will," Axel answered. "My witness is Mr. Crouch himself. He has submitted to the testing of St. Mungo's to determine if he is a candidate for Veritaserum. As you can see by the paperwork, Mr. Crouch has been certified by St. Mungo's as having no allergies to the potion, has no natural immunity to the potion, nor does he have sufficient Occlumency shields in order to trick the potion." Several parchments were floated over to Dumbledore, and copies appeared in front of each lord and lady of the Wizengamot.
"Madam Bones, you have seen these?" Dumbledore asked.
"I have, Chief Warlock."
"Then the court accepts the use of Veritaserum for the interrogation of Mr. Crouch Jr."
Madam Bones produced a bottle of Veritaserum.
"The defense asks that Lord Prince be allowed to inspect the bottle," Axel announced. This must be a normal protocol, Aria thought, as no one batted an eyelash at the request. Lord Prince rose from his seat and came down the stairs of the stadium-styled seating for the Wizengamot, taking the bottle from Madam Bones. He held it up to the light, studying the bottle and the potion within. He then opened the vial. A satisfying pop sounded through the courtroom, communicating that it had been sealed and that this was the first time the vial had been opened. He sniffed the potion, whirling it about to look at the consistency.
"It is untampered and pure," Lord Prince announced, handing the potion back to Madam Bones who walked up to Barty. The young man shuddered as he opened his mouth and stuck out his tongue. Madam Bones tipped the vial, allowing three drops of the potion to drop onto the man's tongue.
After a few seconds she nodded, satisfied that the potion had taken affect.
Teddy opened a briefcase and pulled out several pieces of parchment.
Axel stepped forward, silent, clearly readying himself to ask questions.
"What is your name?" Axel asked. Aria nearly slouched. That was the starting question? Hardly exciting.
"Bartemius Antawn Crouch Junior," Barty answered, voice emotionless. Aria glanced at Snape. The emotionless tone was creepy!
"Veritaserum does that," Snape whispered. "The truth is uncaring of your emotions regarding a situation."
"When were you born?"
"December 1, 1963."
"Who are your legal parents?"
Remus frowned.
"Why'd he ask it like that?" he murmured.
"Bartemius Antawn Crouch Senior and Merida Elspeth Crouch neé Moody are my legal parents," Barty replied.
"And who are your birth parents?"
Birth parents? Aria's head snapped towards Moody to see his reaction, but the man probably already knew how Axel was going to question Barty because his face remained grim as ever. Even his magical eye was still, trained on the proceedings down below.
"My birth parents are Franklin Octavius Longbottom and Merida Elspeth Crouch neé Moody."
Loud shouts began to rise from the gallery. Members of the Wizengamot could not hold back their own gasps and multiple heads turned towards Neville and Lady Longbottom. Neville's face had paled drastically, and his grandmother's face had seemingly turned to stone. Aria winced at the idea of having your husband's infidelity announced to the entire world like that.
"Do you think she knew?" Remus asked Snape. "Or is she just finding out now?"
Oh, that was even worse! Aria thought. In that case, it was astounding that the dowager wasn't ranting and raving about it. Aria didn't think she could have kept her cool like that.
A few rows above the Longbottoms, Harry was whispering to Sirius. Sirius patted his hand, as if assuring him about something. Harry glanced at Neville, indicating that his main worry was for his friend.
"The court will appreciate the Lineage Test conducted by Gringotts and St. Mungo's in tandem for today's trial," Axel said, floating one of the parchments Teddy had taken out of the briefcase to Dumbledore. A copy appeared in front of each Wizengamot member. Lady Longbottom tried to grab her copy, but Neville was quicker. Dumbledore banged his gavel.
On either side of Aria, Remus and Snape were going through multiple emotions. Remus' head dropped into his hands. Even Moody dipped his head for a moment. Was cheating on a spouse super taboo in the wizarding world? Not that it was okay in the Muggle world, but the reactions around Aria made her think that such things were a greater sin in the wixen world. She would have to ask later.
"Mr. Crouch," Axel continued once the hubbub had died down. "Could you describe your relationship with Frank Longbottom?"
"Objection!" Madam Bones called out. "Relevance?"
"I'm attempting to paint a picture of my client's relationship with the victims," Axel said to Dumbledore. "It will provide context for when my line of questioning turns to November 7th."
"Sustained," Dumbledore replied. "Your never do, Mr. Lawrence, but I will still warn you not to waste the court's time."
"Of course, Chief Warlock." Axel turned back to Barty. "Again, Mr. Crouch, what was your relationship with Frank Longbottom?"
"I loved him," Barty said. "He was my brother, and he loved me. Even before I knew we were brothers, when I thought he was just my mother's godson, he was still my favorite person in the world."
"When did you find out he was your brother?"
"Just before I started Hogwarts. Mum and Dad sat us down and told us together. Mum and Dad had been in love when they were younger, but Mum's parents arranged a marriage to Bartemius. Mum and Father tried having children for three years and, she told us, he got meaner and more aggressive the longer she went without getting pregnant. So, she turned to her friend, whom she still loved, for help."
"How did you and Frank react to this news?"
"Frank was shocked, upset at first at the betrayal of his mother, but was excited at the idea of having a brother. I was glad because it meant that Bartemius wasn't my real dad. He hurt Mum and hurt me, and I hated him. Learning that I wasn't his son was a relief."
Axel paused to let the answer sink into everyone's minds.
"After Hogwarts, what was your relationship like with Frank and his wife Alice?"
"They let me move into one of the Longbottom properties, a little cottage called Snapdragon Bloom near Penzance. It was big enough for me and Mum. Alice was helping me convince Mum to leave Bartemius. He hit her a lot. Forced himself on her nearly every night."
"So, you were on good terms with Frank and Alice Longbottom?"
"Yes. They made me Neville's godfather."
"When they went into hiding during the last war, did they offer for you to hide with them?"
"Yes, but I didn't because Mum was still refusing to leave Bartemius. She was so scared of him. I didn't want to leave her behind."
The sudden desire for her mother hit Aria out of the blue. A part of her always missed her mum, especially after the events of the last school year, but most of the time it was a background feeling. One that Healer Tonks said she would always carry because that is what one did when someone they loved died. But this feeling was different. It was similar to the desire she had in the Beauxbatons carriage as she tried to think of an older woman to come and sit with her and be with her after the Durmstrang students had attacked her; but it was different because she didn't want to curl into her mother's arms until the world disappeared, she wanted to curl in her mother's arms and listen to the beating of her heart and tell her she was the best mum in the world, just like she had done when she was very little. She could only just imagine what life might have been like in the Crouch household. On Spinner's End, Robert and Melinda's dad had been a mean and terrible man and she had heard him screaming at his family often before his arrest, and he had hurt his wife and kids numerous times. If it were Robert or Melinda, she could imagine neither of them wanting to leave their mum behind.
"What happened on November 7, 1981?" Axel finally asked. The entire courtroom seemed to lean forward in anticipation of the answer.
"I went shopping," Barty said. "I needed extra groceries. Mum had finally agreed to come to Snapdragon Bloom. Someone grabbed me and forced me into a Side-Along Apparation. I don't know where we landed. I was immediately sick after landing. I remember hearing someone cast the Imperious on me. If felt like I was floating. Everything in my mind calmed, like it was empty of all thought except the orders being given to me. I was ordered to tell where the Longbottoms were hiding, and then I was ordered to gain access to Luddenden Hall. I remember my actions, like it were in a dream, even though a part of me did not wish to follow the orders, I could not break the curse."
Barty's voice broke, a sign that the Veritaserum was beginning to wear off.
"I had the Floo password to the hall," Barty continued. "After they went into hiding only four other people had it. Me, Lady Longbottom, Dad's uncle Algernon, and Headmaster Dumbledore. I was ordered to give it to the people who cursed me. I was ordered to Floo to the hall first. I did. I remember Frank came to greet me, and then the others came after me."
"Who were the people who put the Imperious Curse on you?" Axel asked.
"Rabastan Lestrange was the one who cursed me, but his brother Rodolphus was there as Rodolphus' wife, Bellatrix Lestrange neé Black. They tortured Frank and Alice. They thought the reports were wrong. They thought that Lord Voldemort must still be alive. Bellatrix ordered me to use the Cruciatus on Neville."
Barty broke down in tears. Aria glanced in horror between Remus and Snape before looking down at Neville. He had had the Cruciatus on him? In 1981 he would have been a little over a year old!
"Madam Bones," Dumbledore said, "if you could administer another dose of Veritaserum to the defendant."
Madam Bones rose and gave the sobbing man another three drops. Immediately his sobs stopped, and his face slackened into the usual emotionless look that came with ingesting Veritaserum. The sudden silence was eerie.
"Mr. Crouch," Axel continued once Madam Bones was seated, "how long did the torture last?"
"Four hours," Barty said.
"Was it just the Cruciatus Curse that was cast on the Longbottoms?"
"No. The Lestranges broke their bones then healed them, then broke their bones again. Then Rodolphus and Rabastan got bored."
Aria felt herself grow cold. She suddenly wanted to leave but felt stuck to the bench.
"The Lestrange brothers raped Alice."
Florian Fortescue barely managed to muffle a sob. Someone patted him on the back, another person let him hold their hand.
"Alice bit Rodolphus' cock," Barty continued, as if there weren't a man sobbing in the gallery. "She bit him so hard, Bellatrix stopped torturing Frank to help her husband. Frank managed to crawl to his wand and cancel the Imperious that was on me before the Lestranges noticed anything. Frank blasted Rabastan off Alice, knocking him out, and he and I began to duel Bellatrix and Rodolphus, though Rodolphus went down quickly. When Rabastan was blasted off Alice, the momentum pulled Alice off Rodolphus, and her teeth took strips of skin off his cock. He was in agony and easy to take down. Bellatrix was harder, but Frank was fueled by rage and neither of us were slouches at dueling. Uncle Alastair taught us."
Moody huffed in a pleased manner at that.
"Alice crawled over to Neville and wrapped herself around him," Barty said. "I thought I had killed him, but he was still alive."
"After the Lestranges were defeated, what happened?" Axel asked.
"We gathered around Alice and Neville," Barty said. "I was crying. She was crying. Frank was crying. Frank wanted to make sure all three of us were all right. I thought he might hurt me because I had betrayed their location. I was just about to go and summon the aurors when we all heard the Floo go off and Algernon announced his presence. Frank stumbled out to greet him."
"What happened after that?"
"I don't know. I woke up in a Ministry cell with a Dark Mark on my arm. I was there a few days before being brought in front of the Wizengamot and Bartemius Crouch Senior for sentencing to Azkaban for the torture into insanity of Frank and Alice. I tried to tell Bartemius that I was innocent, that I had not done anything. He did not listen."
"Did you have a trial for your part in the events of November 7, 1981?"
"No, I did not."
"Do you know how you came to be sentenced without a trial?"
"I learned, later after Bartemius had snuck me out of Azkaban, that each of the Lestranges had confessed that I had helped torture Frank and Alice. None of them had said anything about casting the Imperious Curse on me. I also learned that Algernon Longbottom told aurors that he had arrived at the hall while the four of us were torturing Frank and Alice and had subdued all four of us. I tried to convince Bartemius to clear my name, that Frank and Alice had been hurt by sane the last I saw them, but he never did."
"Have you ever been a Death Eater, marked or unmarked?"
"No, I have not. I do not agree with the concept of blood purity or supremacy."
Axel nodded and turned to face Dumbledore and the stricken Wizengamot.
"The defense rests its case," Axel announced.
"Madam Bones, the antidote," Dumbledore murmured. Madam Bones administered another potion. The emotionless look on Barty's face disappeared. He jerked at the shackles around his ankles and arms, breathing suddenly erratic. A frightened keen filled the courtroom. Axel rushed to Barty's side.
"Please," Barty begged, "please, you don't need to tie me down. I've been good. I'll be good. Please. Just please let me go!" He yanked hard on the shackles. The chair would have rocked about if it had not been bolted to the floor. Axel turned towards Dumbledore, but no words needed to be said. Dumbledore raised his hand and with a sharp flick of it, the shackles around Barty's wrists and ankles fell off, hanging off the sides of the chair with soft clanks. Barty stumbled off the chair, falling to his hands and knees, entire body heaving as he struggled to regulate his breathing. Axel and Madam Bones both knelt by him, whispering to him.
"Chief Warlock."
Dumbledore twisted in his seat to peer over his half-moon spectacles at Lord Greengrass who had risen to his feet, looking very somber. Beside him, Daphne had tears rolling down her cheeks and Astoria was visibly shaking.
"I have heard many things as a Lord of the Wizengamot," Lord Greengrass said, his voice carrying over Barty's soft cries, reaching every corner of the courtroom. "I have helped decide the course of justice in many crimes brought before us. Earlier, you read two charges that the DMLE, on behalf of the Wizengamot, brought forward against Barty Crouch. I am certain, and I am sure that other members of this esteemed body will agree, that there is only one course of action that will bring justice to Mr. Crouch in this instance."
"And what is that, Lord Greengrass?" Dumbledore asked.
"I make a motion," the man declared, "to drop all charges against Bartemius Crouch Junior and his release be immediate from Ministry custody."
"I second the motion!" Lord Doge cried.
"A motion has been brought forward, is there any discussion?" Dumbledore asked. No one spoke. "Then let us vote. All in favor of dropping the charges against Bartemius Crouch Junior and for his immediate release from Ministry custody, raise your lighted wands."
It was nearly unanimous. Lady Longbottom made no move to lift her wand.
"All against the motion?"
No one lifted a wand.
"Abstentions?"
Lady Longbottom finally lifted her wand, her hand trembling as she did so, face unreadable.
"Motion carries." Dumbledore banged his gavel and turned back to Axel who had risen to his feet. "Mr. Lawrence, your client is hereby cleared of all charges and may leave the ministry a free man. A compensation court hearing will be set at another time to discuss his illegal time in Azkaban."
Dumbledore lifted his voice for all to hear,
"This court is dismissed!" he banged his gavel a final time.
The courtroom exploded in noise. People were on their feet, talking loudly, some crying, others shouting questions down to Barty as if he were in any state to answer. The press began taking pictures, the bulbs of their cameras blinding many people.
"Algernon!" Aria heard over the din in the gallery. "Algernon!" It was Fortescue, trying to push his way through people as Neville's great-uncle shoved his way towards the door of the gallery. "Algernon! What happened to Alice? Come back here! What happened to my sister!"
Algernon disappeared out the door just as Fortescue began drawing his wand.
"Enough, man!" Arthur Weasley suddenly appeared from the crowd, grabbing Fortescue's arms, keeping him from lifting his wand any further. "Throwing hexes in a crowd like this will only land you in a ministry holding cell!"
"But he knows what happened to Alice!" Fortescue cried. "He knows something, and he didn't say anything! You heard Barty! Algernon knows something!"
Arthur's words were lost in the growing din. Aria looked down into the courtroom. Harry and Sirius had moved to Neville and Lady Longbottom's sides. Lady Longbottom was now talking to Madam Bones, gripping the arms of the Head of the DMLE, a devasted look on her face. Even the bird of her hat seemed distraught. Neville was not responding to anything Harry said. Even the arrival of Daphne and Susan and Ernie at his side did nothing to get a reaction.
"Aria," Remus called. Aria pulled her attention to Remus who motioned for him to follow. She followed him and Moody, with Snape taking the rear, to a guarded door at the edge of the gallery. An auror stepped to the side, letting them pass through the door to a set of stairs that led them down onto the floor of the courtroom.
"Uncle Alastair!" Barty cried, falling into Moody's arms, still crying.
"There, there, lad," Moody soothed. "That part's over now."
"Come on," Sirius appeared at their side. "Let's get to my office."
"Is Neville going to be all right?" Aria asked, watching Lady Longbottom take Neville by the hand and leave the courtroom with Madam Bones.
"He will be," Sirius said. "Lots of shock today. For both of them. Now let's go."
The whole group managed to, somehow, wade its way through reporters and well-wishers to Sirius' office above the courtrooms. There was a magical window that could change views and it was currently set to view the ministry atrium with its one-way Floos and large fountain in the very middle. The atrium was full of people, clearly all coming from the trial.
Barty collapsed onto the sofa in the office.
"I'm really . . . I don't . . ." he rocked a little, hitting his back against the back of the sofa. "I can just leave? Go anywhere?"
"Yes, lad," Moody said, sinking down beside him. "Though I suggest going with Sirius to his place. It's much larger than mine and he's got a plan in place to help you."
"Help me?" Barty questioned. "More than he already has?"
"Barty," Sirius admonished lightly, "ensuring you have justice is the least I can do. And it's not just you I'm helping, is it? I'm helping Frank and Alice and Neville and Augusta get what they deserve. The truth."
"Can . . . can I go outside?" Barty asked. "I want to touch grass again. And see the sky without a window between us."
"Of course," Sirius replied. "Here's what I suggest. We will all go to Grimmauld Place. I've had it renovated. You won't even recognize the place, Barty. Kreacher and Winky will whip—,"
"Winky?" Barty cried. "Winky's all right?"
"I told her I was going to look after you, and she has attached herself to my house elf for the time being," Sirius answered with a smile. "She would've gone with Moody, but he was at Hogwarts, and I thought helping restore an old house might keep her busier."
"She always tried to be kind to me and Mum," Barty said. "She was the only good thing when I . . ." he trailed off, shuddering. "She will want to bond with me."
"Kreacher and Winky will whip us up a celebratory feast," Sirius said, "and you can go out back to the garden and lay in the grass and stare at the sky and maybe we'll even bring the feast outside so that you can enjoy the fresh air. I'll make up a bedroom for you, and you will be able to roam the house all you want and go outside all you want."
"I won't move in with you?" Barty asked Moody.
"Lad, I've been an old bachelor my whole life," Moody huffed. "And I've been an auror until last year. I only slept at my flat. I'd love for you to come, but I've no room and there's no outdoor space for you. But you can be assured I'll be at Grimmauld Place more often than not."
"I've also secured a place for you at Institut pour la Guérison Magique," Sirius continued, "which is the sanitorium in Switzerland I went to after I was cleared of all charges."
"You'll have to tell me the story sometime," Barty said. "Bartemius he . . . he said you'd been cleared but . . . wasn't in the mood to explain." He gave another shudder, eyes going blank for several seconds as if getting lost in a memory.
"I will," Sirius promised. "You'll love it there. The mountains are glorious. You can sit outside all you want."
Barty took a minute before he nodded.
"Okay," he murmured. "That all sounds really nice."
"Good." Sirius motioned for Aria and Harry to come forward. "Now, just real quick, this is my godson, Harry Potter. It's been a while since you've seen him. This is my goddaughter, Aria Bourne. She's the magical ward of Remus and Sn-Severus. They'll be in and out of Grimmauld this summer as Aria's father lives in the Muggle world and Remus and I are in a triad with him."
Barty blinked.
"A triad?" he asked. "With a Muggle?"
"Blame Remus," Sirius teased. He looked out the window. "I think we might be able to make it out without being mobbed. Shall we all chance it? Axel, you and Teddy are welcome to join us. Get Peony to join us. And Frank too."
Aria assumed Peony must be Teddy's mother.
"Thank you, Lord Black," Axel said. "I think we will join you."
Moody helped Barty to his feet. Snape stood on Barty's other side, an excellent buffer between any overzealous journalists and Barty. Aria and Harry kept close to Remus to keep from getting lost in the crowd. Harry kept a firm grip on Aria's hand, not wanting to lose her like he had at the World Cup.
Together, the whole group left the Ministry, each of them reeling from the day's events.