Hangman's Noose
Title: Hangman's Noose
Rating: PG
Word Count: 1381
Characters: Hannah Abbott, Vincent Crabbe
Summary: Ties and collars he could deal with. The metaphorical hangman's noose he could not.
Notes: Prompt Table here.
Originally Posted: rarepair_shorts
January 1999
Vincent had to wait an additional four months to schedule his trial. Apparently even when the de facto head of the new wizarding world took an interest in your case that did not necessarily mean you got to jump the queue. From September to January, Vincent had been subject to tracking charms, nightly curfews, and random wand inspections. But he didn't care, because he could feel the sun on his face each morning.
Lupin was not a bad sort, quiet. He had taken to leaving books around the house once he caught Vincent leafing through his small library. Hell, even the ever-changing brat had started to grow on him, though it seemed everything the boy touched became covered in infant slobber, including Vincent himself. But he had his own room with a loo down the hall and he could eat whenever he wanted, as long as he cleaned up after himself.
Unfortunately, Potter and his groupies often took to hanging around. After a few too many snide comments and a near duel, the former Slytherin just stayed in his room. It was convenient, he thought, that Potter could live with keeping Draco Malfoy out of prison, but scorned the idea that Vincent should be able to walk down the street, head held high.
It had taken four months to get to trial and now the day was here. Lupin was at his back as they made their way down to Courtroom Ten. His tie and stiffly starched collar felt as if they were choking him, but Vincent was able to ignore that for now. Ties and collars he could deal with. The metaphorical hangman's noose he could not. There was no cage of stories past and for that, he could breathe easier.
"Mr. Crabbe, I see you're prompt. Early even, excellent." His court appointed barrister, Percy Weasley, paced outside the courtroom door. The redhead nodded to Remus. "The witness list."
Brown eyes studied the list. Many of the names were not a surprise. Megaria Crabbe, Draco Malfoy, Harry Potter, Neville Longbottom, Hannah Abbott, Remus Lupin. His mother had no maternal feelings after all. Then again, if he was sentenced to Azkaban she would had have control of the remaining Crabbe assets, leaving her more than comfortable for the rest of her miserable life. "Fine."
Remus frowned at the flat tone of the young man he had taken into his home. "Everything alright, Vincent?"
He shrugged.
Like the witnesses, the testimony was neither exciting nor revolutionary. His mother railed about his idiocy, his tendency to follow any leader, his destiny to become nothing more than the dregs of society. Vincent could feel the Wizengamot's eyes on him as he kept his face carefully blank. It was one thing to know that his mother never loved him, it was completely different to have the fact thrown back.
Malfoy, Potter, and Longbottom followed in a similar vein, describing his actions during school, about how he seemed to take pleasure in causing pain in others. As if they were not the same, just from a different view. Longbottom and Potter wanted anyone tainted by Dark to suffer, Malfoy was just trying to save his own arse. Unsurprising, considering the git's history.
Hannah watched from behind where Vincent sat, with the rest given permission to observe. She glowered as Vincent's mother took the stand and all throughout her testimony. She would have sent a silent tripping hex at the woman's feet as the hag walked out, but the only thing stopping her was that her boss sat two rows behind, warning her prior to the trial that he would be watching her wand hand. The same reasoning applied when Draco Malfoy finished his testimony, the little pillock. The only reason he was not in Vince's same position, even though he had committed worse, was because he had Harry's word standing behind him.
Well, Vince had her word, and Hannah would be damned if that was not worth three of Harry's.
Upon hearing her name called, she stood and swept down to the floor, flashing Vince a small smile as she sat, smoothing her skirt and folding her hands in her lap, as if she were at a poetry recitation rather than an inquiry on guilt or innocence.
The Head of Magical Law Enforcement, Norton Sanger, peered down at the blonde bit over his crooked nose. "State your name."
"Hannah Grace Abbott." She gave a prim and proper smile, as she was taught.
Percy rounded the chair Hannah sat in to stand before her. His star witness. Beautiful, blonde, and brimming with innocence "Miss Abbott, how long have you known Vincent Crabbe?"
She turned to look at Vincent, face softening. "Since we were seven. My mother and I had just moved into Bertram Place. We were friends." He was the only one who treated her like an equal when other children her age visited. "And we continued to be friends."
"Even as he was actively torturing students during your shared seventh year?" It took a moment, but Hannah picked the face out of the crowd and glared directly act the woman who had spoken. "Students, I may add, that supported the same group you yourself endorsed and were an active member in."
"If you define actively torturing as following professors commands at the threat of becoming a victim yourself, then yes." The color in her cheeks had turned from embarrassed into anger. "Though he's been no stranger to victimization. You saw his mother, she allowed a Blood Quill to be used on her five year old son!"
There was a murmur through the Wizengamot and Sanger had to bang his gavel several times to regain order. "Miss Abbott, I must to remind you that Mrs. Crabbe is not on trial here today. Please limit your testimony to the defendant only. Now, you were the driving force behind Mr. Crabbe's release. Why?"
Looking sufficiently chastised, Hannah returned to her initial position of complacent calm. "He saved my life and the life of my cousin, who was fifteen at the time, on May second. He took down the man dueling Professor Lupin before being cursed by his father. I stopped it, but we soon became separated and after the dust settled I couldn't find him." She closed her eyes and took a gulp of air before continuing. She hated the memory of the second of May.
"I tried owling, but each and every one came back unopened. It wasn't until August last when I saw a list of prisoners held at Azkaban awaiting trial that I came across his name."
"So you used your position as the secretary to the Head of the Department of Reconstruction for your own benefit." It was the same woman as before.
"No." Hannah shook her head, hair falling into her face. "I went to Professor Lupin to ask for help. He approached Mr. Shacklebolt for me. Mr. Shacklebolt is a good and honorable man. If he didn't think my request was justified, Vince would still be in a hell where he doesn't belong."
"Some would say he belonged there." The shout came from the back of the room, sounding suspiciously like the sixth Weasley brother. Percy pinched the bridge of his nose. Honestly, Ron could not see the benefits of having a just and fair legal system. Perhaps he should have Miss Granger explain it to his youngest brother again, speaking slowly and with small words as to not confuse the boy.
Waiting until Sanger's gavel had stopped its banging, Percy stepped forward, stroking his chin, wondering if a beard would make him distinguished or just unkempt. "Miss Abbott, how would you describe Mr. Crabbe these last four months?"
"Sad." The word popped out before she had a chance to censor herself. "And quiet, more so than usual. People mistake that stupid, but he isn't. He defied all expectations and gave up his life because it was the right thing to do. How stupid is that?"
Vincent looked down at his hands. Her faith in him was astounding and slightly overwhelming. Clearly she thought he was a much better person than he actually was. He didn't do anything because it was "the right thing to do." He gave it up because of her.
Rating: PG
Word Count: 1381
Characters: Hannah Abbott, Vincent Crabbe
Summary: Ties and collars he could deal with. The metaphorical hangman's noose he could not.
Notes: Prompt Table here.
Originally Posted: rarepair_shorts
January 1999
Vincent had to wait an additional four months to schedule his trial. Apparently even when the de facto head of the new wizarding world took an interest in your case that did not necessarily mean you got to jump the queue. From September to January, Vincent had been subject to tracking charms, nightly curfews, and random wand inspections. But he didn't care, because he could feel the sun on his face each morning.
Lupin was not a bad sort, quiet. He had taken to leaving books around the house once he caught Vincent leafing through his small library. Hell, even the ever-changing brat had started to grow on him, though it seemed everything the boy touched became covered in infant slobber, including Vincent himself. But he had his own room with a loo down the hall and he could eat whenever he wanted, as long as he cleaned up after himself.
Unfortunately, Potter and his groupies often took to hanging around. After a few too many snide comments and a near duel, the former Slytherin just stayed in his room. It was convenient, he thought, that Potter could live with keeping Draco Malfoy out of prison, but scorned the idea that Vincent should be able to walk down the street, head held high.
It had taken four months to get to trial and now the day was here. Lupin was at his back as they made their way down to Courtroom Ten. His tie and stiffly starched collar felt as if they were choking him, but Vincent was able to ignore that for now. Ties and collars he could deal with. The metaphorical hangman's noose he could not. There was no cage of stories past and for that, he could breathe easier.
"Mr. Crabbe, I see you're prompt. Early even, excellent." His court appointed barrister, Percy Weasley, paced outside the courtroom door. The redhead nodded to Remus. "The witness list."
Brown eyes studied the list. Many of the names were not a surprise. Megaria Crabbe, Draco Malfoy, Harry Potter, Neville Longbottom, Hannah Abbott, Remus Lupin. His mother had no maternal feelings after all. Then again, if he was sentenced to Azkaban she would had have control of the remaining Crabbe assets, leaving her more than comfortable for the rest of her miserable life. "Fine."
Remus frowned at the flat tone of the young man he had taken into his home. "Everything alright, Vincent?"
He shrugged.
Like the witnesses, the testimony was neither exciting nor revolutionary. His mother railed about his idiocy, his tendency to follow any leader, his destiny to become nothing more than the dregs of society. Vincent could feel the Wizengamot's eyes on him as he kept his face carefully blank. It was one thing to know that his mother never loved him, it was completely different to have the fact thrown back.
Malfoy, Potter, and Longbottom followed in a similar vein, describing his actions during school, about how he seemed to take pleasure in causing pain in others. As if they were not the same, just from a different view. Longbottom and Potter wanted anyone tainted by Dark to suffer, Malfoy was just trying to save his own arse. Unsurprising, considering the git's history.
Hannah watched from behind where Vincent sat, with the rest given permission to observe. She glowered as Vincent's mother took the stand and all throughout her testimony. She would have sent a silent tripping hex at the woman's feet as the hag walked out, but the only thing stopping her was that her boss sat two rows behind, warning her prior to the trial that he would be watching her wand hand. The same reasoning applied when Draco Malfoy finished his testimony, the little pillock. The only reason he was not in Vince's same position, even though he had committed worse, was because he had Harry's word standing behind him.
Well, Vince had her word, and Hannah would be damned if that was not worth three of Harry's.
Upon hearing her name called, she stood and swept down to the floor, flashing Vince a small smile as she sat, smoothing her skirt and folding her hands in her lap, as if she were at a poetry recitation rather than an inquiry on guilt or innocence.
The Head of Magical Law Enforcement, Norton Sanger, peered down at the blonde bit over his crooked nose. "State your name."
"Hannah Grace Abbott." She gave a prim and proper smile, as she was taught.
Percy rounded the chair Hannah sat in to stand before her. His star witness. Beautiful, blonde, and brimming with innocence "Miss Abbott, how long have you known Vincent Crabbe?"
She turned to look at Vincent, face softening. "Since we were seven. My mother and I had just moved into Bertram Place. We were friends." He was the only one who treated her like an equal when other children her age visited. "And we continued to be friends."
"Even as he was actively torturing students during your shared seventh year?" It took a moment, but Hannah picked the face out of the crowd and glared directly act the woman who had spoken. "Students, I may add, that supported the same group you yourself endorsed and were an active member in."
"If you define actively torturing as following professors commands at the threat of becoming a victim yourself, then yes." The color in her cheeks had turned from embarrassed into anger. "Though he's been no stranger to victimization. You saw his mother, she allowed a Blood Quill to be used on her five year old son!"
There was a murmur through the Wizengamot and Sanger had to bang his gavel several times to regain order. "Miss Abbott, I must to remind you that Mrs. Crabbe is not on trial here today. Please limit your testimony to the defendant only. Now, you were the driving force behind Mr. Crabbe's release. Why?"
Looking sufficiently chastised, Hannah returned to her initial position of complacent calm. "He saved my life and the life of my cousin, who was fifteen at the time, on May second. He took down the man dueling Professor Lupin before being cursed by his father. I stopped it, but we soon became separated and after the dust settled I couldn't find him." She closed her eyes and took a gulp of air before continuing. She hated the memory of the second of May.
"I tried owling, but each and every one came back unopened. It wasn't until August last when I saw a list of prisoners held at Azkaban awaiting trial that I came across his name."
"So you used your position as the secretary to the Head of the Department of Reconstruction for your own benefit." It was the same woman as before.
"No." Hannah shook her head, hair falling into her face. "I went to Professor Lupin to ask for help. He approached Mr. Shacklebolt for me. Mr. Shacklebolt is a good and honorable man. If he didn't think my request was justified, Vince would still be in a hell where he doesn't belong."
"Some would say he belonged there." The shout came from the back of the room, sounding suspiciously like the sixth Weasley brother. Percy pinched the bridge of his nose. Honestly, Ron could not see the benefits of having a just and fair legal system. Perhaps he should have Miss Granger explain it to his youngest brother again, speaking slowly and with small words as to not confuse the boy.
Waiting until Sanger's gavel had stopped its banging, Percy stepped forward, stroking his chin, wondering if a beard would make him distinguished or just unkempt. "Miss Abbott, how would you describe Mr. Crabbe these last four months?"
"Sad." The word popped out before she had a chance to censor herself. "And quiet, more so than usual. People mistake that stupid, but he isn't. He defied all expectations and gave up his life because it was the right thing to do. How stupid is that?"
Vincent looked down at his hands. Her faith in him was astounding and slightly overwhelming. Clearly she thought he was a much better person than he actually was. He didn't do anything because it was "the right thing to do." He gave it up because of her.