We have a lot of angry customers out there
Justin had entered the court and not spoken to anyone. He just wanted this over. Settled.
Hestia was pacing a bit before she sat down. Today was Megan's birthday. Her niece was twenty-three and likely going to Azkaban. No, she was going. There was no doubt about that part of it. How long her stay would be was to be decided today though. It would be the rest of Megan's life in all likelihood, but how long that stretch of life would be was to be decided now. Hestia was going to throw up. McDonald didn't look too good either as she nervously took a seat near Harry.
More than anything, Harry was anxious. He could feel the nervousness coming in waves from Natalie, and he looked over at her. "It'll be over soon."
Natalie just nodded. She was not sure if she could form words. She flinched when Hestia sat down next to her. She felt really sorry for the woman. She didn't know what she'd do if someone in her family had done to her what Megan had done to Hestia. Natalie tried to imagine her father being like that. It didn't make sense to her. You loved the ones that looked out for you. You didn't use Unforgivables on them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Standing, Maria cast a look around the room. She could feel the tension in the air. She already knew the outcome of this trial, but she'd needed to keep up appearances. She turned to the Wizengamot, nodding towards Cormac. "Mr. McLaggen, has the Wizengamot reached a decision?"
"Yes, Madame Minister." Cormac stood and held the parchment up in front of him. He looked briefly at Anthony and then Megan and began to read in a strong voice, "In the matter of Ministry of Magic v. Anthony Goldstein and Megan Jones, we have found the defendants guilty as charged, but in lieu of questionable mental status, they are sentenced to life in Azkaban." He nodded at Maria and took his seat.
Miles turned to his clients with a satisfied expression. In no way did he approve of what they had done, but he'd provided the best defense he could. It was enough. They would not be Kissed. He didn't have long to savor the moment before the uproar began.
Lavender jumped, startled when the person sitting next to her flew to his feet, his hands jutting out as his voice joined seemingly everyone else in the room. She'd gone momentarily deaf, the sound assaulting her ears as everyone screamed their objection to the verdict.
Guilty but not sentenced to be Kissed due to mental defect. Life in Azkaban.
Not Kissed. Life. Life when others have death.
Her quill had stopped at a spot on the parchment in front of her, the ink pooling under the tip. Unsure what to do, as it seemed no one would be able to hear her voice anyway, she stood, putting the parchment and quill back in her bag. She stayed quiet. Yelling wasn't going to reverse the decision, and it sure as hell wasn't going to make her feel better. Everyone seemed to be in shock, not really moving, just yelling.
She made her way down the aisle and towards the door, avoiding an elbow as it was almost thrown into her face.
Justin was just standing there, numb. He was not really sure when he had stood. He turned his head to look for Lavender. He knew she was here. He spotted her walking down. Justin just stared, as if how can this be happening? He nodded at her slightly. Now he had to go tell Hannah what was happening. He was not looking forward to that.
Lavender threw him a look, oblivious to the chaos around them. There was nothing she'd be able to say that would make him feel better. She knew where he was needed, where he'd go first. Hannah hadn't been allowed in the court room. He needed to let her know. She watched him walk across the floor, eyes following his movements. He left through the door, never looking back.
She made her way to follow him, a frown on her face. There was no way she'd seen this as the outcome to this trial. It didn't make sense. It wasn't fair. None of this was fair. She didn't know anyone else in the room enough to stop and chat. She didn't have anything to say anyway. Lavender made her way out of the trial room, trying to figure out how her article would be able to remain unbiased.
Padma kept her face carefully free of emotion. Way to go, Padma. Screw up your first big trial. Not Kissed? Kill the Minister and no Kiss? She looked over towards where Miles was sitting and offered him a smile, and made her way out of the room.
Natalie felt like she was going to be sick. She didn't want to look at Harry. She knew he was probably angry. Natalie was not sure how she felt about it. On the one hand, she was not fond of Jones for using the Cruciatus on her that time, but on the other, it seemed a bit cruel to take her soul. Provided she even had one.
No one was paying her any attention. Megan didn't like that. Harry was not looking at her. She wanted him to watch her be carted off. It was how it was supposed to be. She let out a shrill screech and threw herself to the floor like a child having a tantrum. When she flailed Anthony's way, she winked. Just to let him know she wasn't really upset.
When Megan Jones screeched, Natalie jumped and knocked into Harry. She watched, blinking. Was a grown woman really throwing a fit on the floor?
Miles jumped back, startled, as Megan began writhing on the floor and screaming. As the guards attempted to subdue her, he turned to Anthony, not wanting his back to a murderer whose lover was yelling as though someone had aimed the Cruciatus at her. "Don't move from that chair, Mr. Goldstein," he said warningly. I'm never taking on two insane killers as clients again. I don't care how much they pay me.
Anthony made to get up from his chair when he saw her wink. He sat back and watched as guards tried to get her to settle down, but with hardly any luck. If they were to get rough, he would have to try and step in. He looked up at Miles, amused as the man warned him to stay seated. From the look on the man's face, he didn't appear to want to keep in touch. Looks like I just lost a promising pen pal.
Harry watched Megan toss in the arms of the guards trying to control her. There was spittle flying from her mouth, her screams were making his eye twitch with every octave they hit. He turned, rushing over to where Maria was standing. He leaned on the railing, looking up at her. "This can't be right. They confessed to murder! Several! Including the Minister of Magic! You can't let this happen!"
"The decision is out of my hands, Harry," Maria told him, purposefully injecting a soothing note into her voice. Other than Jones's outlandish and over the top reaction, it couldn't have gone better in her opinion. Not that she could tell someone like Potter that. "It was a decision made by majority vote and we must abide by that. To do otherwise would be no better than when Voldemort held power and made the Wizengamot into puppets."
She looked around the courtroom. The members of the Wizengamot looked comfortable with their decision and the few other attendees looked to be in various states of shock. There were guards trying to subdue Jones, and she briefly wondered why they didn't just stun her. It would be so much easier, and quieter.
"I'm sorry that you were not allowed to be part of the decision this time, Harry," she said, focusing on him once again. "But I can see that you feel too deeply in this matter and removing you from the decision was the right thing to do."
"Right thing to- She killed people! Murdered them in cold blood, and you're telling me she's getting away with it because she's crazy!" He turned, throwing a finger in her direction. "You mean to tell me that if Voldemort had been on trial, he would have gotten away with it too? He was a hell of a lot crazier than she is!" Harry was seething. This outcome was unimaginable.
He pulled at his hair a bit. They were getting away with it. They'd murdered innocent people for nothing more than joy, and they were going to get three square meals a day. The Dementors wouldn't even do anything because their hearts were so cold, it wouldn't even affect them. "This is ridiculous," he said, more to himself than anything.
Natalie put a hand on Harry's arm. She felt a great need to get him away from the Minister before he said something he would regret.
"Come on, Harry. I'll buy you a drink."
He allowed himself to be pulled away.
Simone edged around the circle of guards trying to subdue Megan and made her way towards Maria. "Hello, Madam Minister, great job today. I think that plum color looks fantastic on you." She smiled at Maria, "I was wondering if you had any lunch plans? Would you like to accompany me to the Blue Owl?"
Maria smiled, mostly in relief, at Simone. She in no way, shape, or form wanted to deal with a Potter Temper Tantrum, which seemed to be moments away. "I would love to, Simone, as soon as this is officially over. Miss Jones's tantrum seems to be holding up the proceedings. Remind me to talk to the guards later about the judicious use of stunner and immobilization jinxes."
Simone smiled as she waited for Maria to finish with her duties, "Sure thing, Madam Minister."
Hestia was just watching. She would stay until Megan was taken away. She didn't know if she could move yet anyhow. Today would be a good day to visit her brother's grave. She decided she would do that after the end of this, and she would see it through to the end.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After the court was adjourned, the guards were trying to make Megan hold still. Her screeching became an insane cackle. Once she saw that Harry was gone, she went limp as a cooked noodle. She let out a little giggle. That caused all of them to let go of her and back away in nervousness. Megan giggled again.
Then she felt like singing.
"Happy birthday to me.
I turned twenty-three.
I'm go-ing to prison.
Happy birthday to me."
She rounded that off with an insane cackle before she was hauled off of the floor and towards the door.
Summary: Cormac reads aloud the fate of Anthony Goldstein and Megan Jones in the conclusion of the trial, and the decision is much to everyone's disappointment (well maybe not everyone's). Maria presides over the case, with Padma and Miles as barristers. In attendance are Lavender, Simone, Justin, Harry, Hestia, and Natalie.
Hestia was pacing a bit before she sat down. Today was Megan's birthday. Her niece was twenty-three and likely going to Azkaban. No, she was going. There was no doubt about that part of it. How long her stay would be was to be decided today though. It would be the rest of Megan's life in all likelihood, but how long that stretch of life would be was to be decided now. Hestia was going to throw up. McDonald didn't look too good either as she nervously took a seat near Harry.
More than anything, Harry was anxious. He could feel the nervousness coming in waves from Natalie, and he looked over at her. "It'll be over soon."
Natalie just nodded. She was not sure if she could form words. She flinched when Hestia sat down next to her. She felt really sorry for the woman. She didn't know what she'd do if someone in her family had done to her what Megan had done to Hestia. Natalie tried to imagine her father being like that. It didn't make sense to her. You loved the ones that looked out for you. You didn't use Unforgivables on them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Standing, Maria cast a look around the room. She could feel the tension in the air. She already knew the outcome of this trial, but she'd needed to keep up appearances. She turned to the Wizengamot, nodding towards Cormac. "Mr. McLaggen, has the Wizengamot reached a decision?"
"Yes, Madame Minister." Cormac stood and held the parchment up in front of him. He looked briefly at Anthony and then Megan and began to read in a strong voice, "In the matter of Ministry of Magic v. Anthony Goldstein and Megan Jones, we have found the defendants guilty as charged, but in lieu of questionable mental status, they are sentenced to life in Azkaban." He nodded at Maria and took his seat.
Miles turned to his clients with a satisfied expression. In no way did he approve of what they had done, but he'd provided the best defense he could. It was enough. They would not be Kissed. He didn't have long to savor the moment before the uproar began.
Lavender jumped, startled when the person sitting next to her flew to his feet, his hands jutting out as his voice joined seemingly everyone else in the room. She'd gone momentarily deaf, the sound assaulting her ears as everyone screamed their objection to the verdict.
Guilty but not sentenced to be Kissed due to mental defect. Life in Azkaban.
Not Kissed. Life. Life when others have death.
Her quill had stopped at a spot on the parchment in front of her, the ink pooling under the tip. Unsure what to do, as it seemed no one would be able to hear her voice anyway, she stood, putting the parchment and quill back in her bag. She stayed quiet. Yelling wasn't going to reverse the decision, and it sure as hell wasn't going to make her feel better. Everyone seemed to be in shock, not really moving, just yelling.
She made her way down the aisle and towards the door, avoiding an elbow as it was almost thrown into her face.
Justin was just standing there, numb. He was not really sure when he had stood. He turned his head to look for Lavender. He knew she was here. He spotted her walking down. Justin just stared, as if how can this be happening? He nodded at her slightly. Now he had to go tell Hannah what was happening. He was not looking forward to that.
Lavender threw him a look, oblivious to the chaos around them. There was nothing she'd be able to say that would make him feel better. She knew where he was needed, where he'd go first. Hannah hadn't been allowed in the court room. He needed to let her know. She watched him walk across the floor, eyes following his movements. He left through the door, never looking back.
She made her way to follow him, a frown on her face. There was no way she'd seen this as the outcome to this trial. It didn't make sense. It wasn't fair. None of this was fair. She didn't know anyone else in the room enough to stop and chat. She didn't have anything to say anyway. Lavender made her way out of the trial room, trying to figure out how her article would be able to remain unbiased.
Padma kept her face carefully free of emotion. Way to go, Padma. Screw up your first big trial. Not Kissed? Kill the Minister and no Kiss? She looked over towards where Miles was sitting and offered him a smile, and made her way out of the room.
Natalie felt like she was going to be sick. She didn't want to look at Harry. She knew he was probably angry. Natalie was not sure how she felt about it. On the one hand, she was not fond of Jones for using the Cruciatus on her that time, but on the other, it seemed a bit cruel to take her soul. Provided she even had one.
No one was paying her any attention. Megan didn't like that. Harry was not looking at her. She wanted him to watch her be carted off. It was how it was supposed to be. She let out a shrill screech and threw herself to the floor like a child having a tantrum. When she flailed Anthony's way, she winked. Just to let him know she wasn't really upset.
When Megan Jones screeched, Natalie jumped and knocked into Harry. She watched, blinking. Was a grown woman really throwing a fit on the floor?
Miles jumped back, startled, as Megan began writhing on the floor and screaming. As the guards attempted to subdue her, he turned to Anthony, not wanting his back to a murderer whose lover was yelling as though someone had aimed the Cruciatus at her. "Don't move from that chair, Mr. Goldstein," he said warningly. I'm never taking on two insane killers as clients again. I don't care how much they pay me.
Anthony made to get up from his chair when he saw her wink. He sat back and watched as guards tried to get her to settle down, but with hardly any luck. If they were to get rough, he would have to try and step in. He looked up at Miles, amused as the man warned him to stay seated. From the look on the man's face, he didn't appear to want to keep in touch. Looks like I just lost a promising pen pal.
Harry watched Megan toss in the arms of the guards trying to control her. There was spittle flying from her mouth, her screams were making his eye twitch with every octave they hit. He turned, rushing over to where Maria was standing. He leaned on the railing, looking up at her. "This can't be right. They confessed to murder! Several! Including the Minister of Magic! You can't let this happen!"
"The decision is out of my hands, Harry," Maria told him, purposefully injecting a soothing note into her voice. Other than Jones's outlandish and over the top reaction, it couldn't have gone better in her opinion. Not that she could tell someone like Potter that. "It was a decision made by majority vote and we must abide by that. To do otherwise would be no better than when Voldemort held power and made the Wizengamot into puppets."
She looked around the courtroom. The members of the Wizengamot looked comfortable with their decision and the few other attendees looked to be in various states of shock. There were guards trying to subdue Jones, and she briefly wondered why they didn't just stun her. It would be so much easier, and quieter.
"I'm sorry that you were not allowed to be part of the decision this time, Harry," she said, focusing on him once again. "But I can see that you feel too deeply in this matter and removing you from the decision was the right thing to do."
"Right thing to- She killed people! Murdered them in cold blood, and you're telling me she's getting away with it because she's crazy!" He turned, throwing a finger in her direction. "You mean to tell me that if Voldemort had been on trial, he would have gotten away with it too? He was a hell of a lot crazier than she is!" Harry was seething. This outcome was unimaginable.
He pulled at his hair a bit. They were getting away with it. They'd murdered innocent people for nothing more than joy, and they were going to get three square meals a day. The Dementors wouldn't even do anything because their hearts were so cold, it wouldn't even affect them. "This is ridiculous," he said, more to himself than anything.
Natalie put a hand on Harry's arm. She felt a great need to get him away from the Minister before he said something he would regret.
"Come on, Harry. I'll buy you a drink."
He allowed himself to be pulled away.
Simone edged around the circle of guards trying to subdue Megan and made her way towards Maria. "Hello, Madam Minister, great job today. I think that plum color looks fantastic on you." She smiled at Maria, "I was wondering if you had any lunch plans? Would you like to accompany me to the Blue Owl?"
Maria smiled, mostly in relief, at Simone. She in no way, shape, or form wanted to deal with a Potter Temper Tantrum, which seemed to be moments away. "I would love to, Simone, as soon as this is officially over. Miss Jones's tantrum seems to be holding up the proceedings. Remind me to talk to the guards later about the judicious use of stunner and immobilization jinxes."
Simone smiled as she waited for Maria to finish with her duties, "Sure thing, Madam Minister."
Hestia was just watching. She would stay until Megan was taken away. She didn't know if she could move yet anyhow. Today would be a good day to visit her brother's grave. She decided she would do that after the end of this, and she would see it through to the end.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After the court was adjourned, the guards were trying to make Megan hold still. Her screeching became an insane cackle. Once she saw that Harry was gone, she went limp as a cooked noodle. She let out a little giggle. That caused all of them to let go of her and back away in nervousness. Megan giggled again.
Then she felt like singing.
"Happy birthday to me.
I turned twenty-three.
I'm go-ing to prison.
Happy birthday to me."
She rounded that off with an insane cackle before she was hauled off of the floor and towards the door.
Summary: Cormac reads aloud the fate of Anthony Goldstein and Megan Jones in the conclusion of the trial, and the decision is much to everyone's disappointment (well maybe not everyone's). Maria presides over the case, with Padma and Miles as barristers. In attendance are Lavender, Simone, Justin, Harry, Hestia, and Natalie.