Chapter 116

"I hope so, too," said Hermione equally quietly.

With a little throat clearing cough, Daphne said, "Anyway. The ladies' parlour now."

She then led them back across to the landing for the stairs. And led them into a room whose double doors were opposite. "This is the ladies' parlour," she said. Turning to Harry she said, "Normally, no males allowed. However, we've found it better to at least let the menfolk see the room at least once, when it's not otherwise in use. It tends to stop you men being nosey when it is."

That caused Hermione to laugh as Daphne grinned.

With a sniff of mock-haughtiness, Harry replied, "I... am not nosey; I am merely... inquisitive."

"Uh-huh!" laughed Hermione. "You just keep telling yourself that."

Cutting the timings to the last minutes, Matthias Floo'ed them to the Ministry and led them directly to Courtroom Two on the second floor, near the DMLE offices.

As soon as they arrived, the rather excited auror who was awaiting them immediately led the three into an adjoining witness's waiting room. Ackerman was waiting for them inside.

"Mister Potter, you were very nearly late," the man sighed in frustration.

"Sorry Stewart; it couldn't be helped," replied Harry, not all that sorry at all. "It was necessary to save us from being, yet again, waylaid by Dumbledore."

"Why is he interfering?" asked the solicitor.

"The Weasleys are one of his most avid supporters outside of the Wizengamot," replied Harry. "He's doing everything he can to ensure none of them end up in Azkaban. For one, it would be a major mark of shame against him, at a time he really cannot afford any more; and for two, he'd probably lose their support if Molly ends up incarcerated. She, as the muggles say, wears the pants in that family." "That explains a lot," muttered Ackerman.

It was about fifteen minutes later when Harry was called in to testify. Ackerman walked with him and indicated the witness podium Harry was to ascend.

Looking around, he saw Molly, Ronald and Ginevra sitting at the furthest of two side-by-side tables. Ronald was glaring at him with a great deal of malice. Ginevra glanced at him as if pleading for leniency and was quite sad. Molly was looking as if she was about to faint and sat at the table between her two children and looking as if she was trying hard to wish it all away.

After being sworn in, Harry was questioned over what had happened to make him take the goblet of pumpkin juice to Professor McGonagall and why he suspected that the juice had been dosed. But, when questions were asked about the first of the month - the forming of their bond - Ackerman objected and the question was overruled.

Once he'd given his evidence, and was cross-examined by the solicitor for the Weasleys, he was released and allowed into the visitors' gallery for the rest of the trial. The defendants' solicitor had tried to trip Harry up on how he handled the goblet from the time he picked it up from the Gryffindor table to placing it before Professor McGonagall. And alluded to how Harry could have easily tampered with it.

Hermione was called next, and she gave the same testimony as Harry. However, she also gave evidence over what had happened the morning of the First of September at The Burrow, and what she witnessed there. As she went into details of what she saw, Molly burst into tears. Harry guessed she knew Hermione's testimony just saw her defence well and truly sunk.

Daphne was next testimony to Harry's.

and

gave

a

similar

Next came Professor Professor Flitwick, and Snape.

McGonagall, then finally Professor

Though he appeared reluctant to do so, even going so far as to glance at Dumbledore who was sitting in the assembled's tiers, he provided expert testimony as to what potions were within the goblet at the time Harry brought it to the head table.

After the Hogwarts' 'contingent' gave their testimony, the DMLE's aurors and experts gave theirs. They spoke of the interviews of both Weasley children at the school, and later at the DMLE, and the same with Molly at The Burrow and DMLE.

Their statements were submitted as evidence, which the defence tried to have thrown out and failed.

After the prosecution wrapped up, the defence then had their own witnesses. These included a potions expert, who claimed neither of the Weasley children had the skills necessary to brew such potions; a child mind-healer, who gave testimony on the state of mind of both children speaking of how Ginny had a hero-worship mindset that had her believing Harry was her own personal knight in shining armour, and had ongoing mind trauma from the eight months of possession by the 'memory' of Voldemort.

That last one had Dumbledore wincing in his chair.

As for Ronald, the mind-healer gave testimony that he was suffering from strong feelings of inadequacy compared to his brothers; jealousy of his brothers, of Harry's fame and those who had money as he saw his family as poor; and an over-bearing mother.

It was not hard to see that Molly was being 'sacrificed' to ensure her children did not face having their wands snapped and magic bound.

Harry just sighed and shook his head. Turning to look directly at Dumbledore, Harry glared at the man with a mien of absolute fury.

Perhaps feeling Harry's eyes upon him, Dumbledore turned to look directly at Harry and, seeing his expression, paled. Staring at Dumbledore, Harry almost discretely jabbed his index finger at both Weasley children before slowly making the throat cut gesture known around the world as being killed.

To Dumbledore, it was obvious Harry had figured out what was going on. His plan to convince Molly to sacrifice herself for her children's wellbeing, and appease Harry at the same time, had failed.

When those assembled of the Wizengamot returned to their seats after departing to deliberate, the Acting Chief Warlock gave the determination.

Molly was sentenced to six months minimum security in Azkaban while both children were 'sentenced' to attend mandatory weekly counselling sessions with a mind-healer from Saint Mungo's for the next twelve months. Both children escaped having permanent criminal records so long as they attended the mandatory sessions.

But, worse for the bondmates, both were allowed to return to Hogwarts. However, their Head of House was to be informed...

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