HP: The Last Trial Ch.17 (Patreon)

Chapter 17

As the medics carried the body of the fatally injured Crovus to St. Mungo’s, the so-called most dangerous wizard fought a battle between life and death as the healers worked to keep the man alive.

While on the other hand, the Minister and the Aurors were themselves shaken by the revelation of Hermione Granger. The news that the Dark Lord had somehow survived sent ripples through their society, as the wizards and witches all over Britain became nervous, their memories of the last war that had barely just ended still fresh in their minds.

A special inquiry was called, and despite the Minister’s best efforts, the spread of the news could not be stopped, and the whole wizarding world began speculating about the Dark Lord’s rising and death of their savior, Harry Potter.

Theories began to float, some closer to the truth than the other. The atmosphere in the wizarding world was tense, as everyone had their eyes set on the Ministry of Magic for a clarification, one which would arrive two days later, in the form of a press release, a press release that shall be read across the globe.

CROVUS LESTRANGE PUTS DOWN THE DARK LORD! HARRY POTTER- BRITAIN’S HERO DEAD FOR A YEAR!

The headlines and the subsequent report would shake up the whole world, and people would protest, contesting the report. In the end, an ICW unit would arrive at popular demand, scrutinize the report, and declare it to be true.

A funeral would be arranged for their fallen hero, and thousands would attend as the wizarding world would pay their tributes to the Boy-Who-Lives. His accolades may have lessened, yet that didn’t diminish what the boy had done for them and their community.

While even then, as three days had passed, the most controversial figure in Britain would still cling to the life he had been so ready to give, a miracle the healers would call it as Crovus Lestrange continued to hang on to his last breath, despite odds.

Many would visit him as well, yet one figure would barely leave his side over the days, a blonde girl without an arm, eyes blue as the clear ocean as she sat there beside him, holding his hand and praying.

Yet on the fourth day, for the first time since she had arrived back in British lands, the blonde woman could not be found near the room, as the latest edition of the Day carried the massive headline.

THE TRIAL OF THE CENTURY RESUMES!

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DAPHNE GREENGRASS

Daphne Greengrass took a deep breath as she stood up as the trial began once again. The whole court room was still as everyone was waiting for her to begin her defence, and though the incidents of the past few days had shocked the whole world, the death of Harry Potter, the return of Voldemort however brief it had been had shaken their society to the core.

The populace had refused to believe the Ministry’s word. Their prejudice against anything even remotely related to the Dark Lord had marred their judgment, and protests had begun taking place against Crovus, much to her anger and frustration.

Yet in the end, it had been Hermione Granger herself who had stepped forward hours later and confirmed the reports from the Ministry and the ICW, adding that Crovus had saved her life and that the incidents as reported in the press briefing and reports were true.

It had shocked the people, for everyone was aware of their history. The muggle-born witch held a personal grudge against Crovus Lestrange for the killing of Ronald Weasley. It was the final straw, and Daphne planned to use it.

It was time to end this thing. She put the worries about Crovus’s survival in the back of the head, knowing that she could aid him little in that battle. No, this was her battle, and she would fight it, fight it till the last breath, and make sure that his actions were rewarded as they should have been in the first place.

Yet what had been most surprising for her had been how the witch had written to her, showing a willingness to testify on Crovus’s behalf in regards to the killing of Ronald Weasley.

And so, it was time.

“The defense would like to call Miss Hermione Granger to the stand!” she announced and saw the whole courtroom break out into distinct murmurs as the muggle-born war hero stood up. Her eyes were swollen, and her hair was even more disheveled than normal.

She slowly walked to the stand, under much fervor of the people spectating the trial, which were silenced by the Minister’s gavel as the last surviving member of the Golden Trio, took to the stand.

“Would you like to tell us what transpired with you in the Ministry Halls four days ago?” she questioned as the whole court gave the girl their full attention, for this was the first time that they would be getting a first-hand account of what had transpired in that wooden shack

“Four days ago, unsettled by the proceedings of this trial and some of the revelations made here, I decided to confront Crovus Lestrange directly to ask him about his involvement in the killing of my friend Ronald Weasley,” she began. She didn’t miss how her hands seemed to twitch uncontrollably, a sign of exposure to the Cruciatus, she recognized for she had seen the same thing in Crovus.

“But then, before I could confront him, as I entered his cell, I saw that someone was already there,” she added, and Daphne nodded.

“And who was this person?” she questioned.

“It was a ministry guard, standing there above the unconscious body of Crovus Lestrange, and then before I could react, I was hit by an unknown curse and was taken hostage, and when I would open my eyes again, I would find myself bound to a wooden chair, trapped inside a wooden shack, alongside Crovus,” she finished as she took a sip of water.

“And then what happened?” she questioned aiding her and the Court was silent as a funeral everyone focused on her answer.

“And then he entered the shack, at first, I could not see him clearly. And even when I did, a sense of relief first filled me as I saw that it was my friend Harry. I thought that he had come to rescue me, until I saw those eyes, instead of the Dark Green of my friend, they were red, and I recognized them in an instant for those eyes belonged to him.”

“Belonged to Voldemort!” she said.

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AMELIA BONES

“The Dark Lord!” and she chewed her lips at the mention of that title.

“And what happened after that?” Greengrass questioned Granger, and she could tell that neither had ahd much sleep over the last couple of days. She knew for a fact that Greengrass had not slept at all and was able to stand only through the liberal use of Pepper up potions. Not that she was much different. Their whole community was in uproar at the brief appearance of Voldemort. The trust that her administration had tried to build up had been lost in an instant.

“I was barely awake, but I saw him exchange words with Crovus, as he told him how he had survived during the battle and had disguised himself, having somehow taken over Harry’s body, he told of his plan to use his newfound fame to his advantage to take power,” she began, her voice shook as she continued.

“And then he laughed as he said that he planned to torture them, and then he used the Cruciatus curse on me,” she said, and the court gasped at that as murmurs broke down.

“That is enough, a report has already been published regarding this. Proceed with your question Miss Greengrass?” she added and the Greengrass girl nodded.

“So, be it? Then tell Miss Granger, were you able to question my client about his involvement in the murder of Ronald Billius Weasely?” she questioned and Granger nodded.

“Yes, after he had killed Voldemort, he was injured I tried to help him but his wounds were too severe, and he was barely clinging to his life. He questioned me why I had come to meet him, and when I told him the reason, then during the last vestiges of his consciousness, he made me look into his eyes and showed me the memory,” and Amelia Bones frowned at that she had not expected this.

“And will you elaborate to the court what you saw?” she began.

Granger sighed, before she answered.

“Crovus Lestrange didn’t kill Ronald Weasley,” and there was pandemonium in the court at her words, and she could see the reporters camera flashing, their quills scratching, as they began to talk loudly foring her to pick up the gavel.

“Order! Order!” things became quiet, as Granger continued.

“Instead, at great oeril to himself, he tried to help him during his captivity, during which he was tortured. Torture after which he was about to disclose the traitorous actions of Crovus to Voldemort,” she answered.

“May I ask who then was responsible for the murder of Ronald Weasley?” Greengrass questioned as he walked to her seat and took out a piece of paper and handed to the typographer.

“It was Severus Snape!”

And she stilled at that, Snape! Greengrass then took the stage.

“And there we have it, the truth. And in light of these findings, the defense files a motion to remove the charge of murder of Ronald Weasley from charge list, as for my client’s actions against Mr Snape, I have submitted an affidavit from Mr. Snape, that he was aware of the actions of my client beforehand, and would press no charge against him,” she began and Amelia picked up the two documents and saw that she was right.

There was an affidavit, from Snape, written with Aberforth and Albus Dumbledore as witness detailing that he wished to press no charge against Lestrange for his killing.

“Does the prosecution object to this?” she questioned as she looked towards Percy, who stood up and shook his head.

“No, the prosecution has no objection,” and the lack of surprise told her that Greengrass and Granger had shown these to him and Weasley earlier.

“Then so be it. Both motions are granted,” she said as she banged the gavel and saw Greengrass’s eyes light up.

“Now for my last question: from your estimate, you were under the influence of the Cruciatus for how long?” Greengrass questioned out of the blue, and she saw that the question had genuinely surprised Granger, who answered with a shake of her head.

“I cannot say, maybe an hour, maybe two,” she guessed, and Greengrass shook her head.

“Twenty-eight minutes, to be precise, and do you have any idea how many hours of that curse did Crovus have to endure so he could join Voldemort’s inner circle?” and she saw Granger pale as she slowly shook her head.

“Ten hours,” and she herself gasped, and the court had a reaction much similar to hers as the court became quiet at Greengrass’s words.

Granger had paled at those words, her eyes wide, and she could see that Greengrass was struggling to continue as she added.

“Due to his age, many in the inner circle objected to his rise, and so it was decided that he must endure ten hours of that curse to prove himself, and he did it without even making a single sound!”

Then Greengrass turned towards her once again and, after a short pause spoke up.

“Now, as our last witness, the defense would like to call Adrelaine Murton to the stand!” she saw the doors to the court room opened, as a woman walked in, her hair light blonde, one of her arms missing from her body with a prosthetic in its place. She was thin and frail, and had swollen eyes, yet the most striking thing was the child in her arms, a child whose father was none other than Crovus Lestrange.

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