The high-backed golden chair at the center of the stone chamber carried a solemn dignity all its own. Over the centuries, countless terrible secrets, desperate confessions, and grave crimes had been dragged into the light before that seat, and even now, its polished arms seemed to remember every trembling hand that had gripped them.
Albus Dumbledore sat at the Chief Warlock's bench, half-moon spectacles resting low on his nose. Piles of documents surrounded him, neatly arranged yet heavy with the weight of old mistakes. He looked around the chamber and saw many familiar faces among the gathered members, including old friends, old rivals, and several witches and wizards who had not attended a full hearing in years.
Below the highest seat, Wizengamot scribes sat ready with self-inking quills and long sheets of parchment. Every word spoken in the chamber would be recorded, preserved, and one day cited as another footnote in the long history of magical law. Nothing said here would vanish easily, and that alone gave the air a sharper edge.
Before long, all fifty members of the Wizengamot had arrived. That alone was remarkable, because in many past trials involving dark wizards, seats had often remained empty. Outside the heavy doors, reporters waited impatiently in the corridor, each one hoping to become the next Rita Skeeter by finding a scandal sharp enough to cut into the front page.
"The last time the chamber was this full was just after the war," someone murmured from the benches. The whisper faded quickly when Dumbledore lifted the small wooden gavel.
He tapped it once, and his aged yet powerful voice echoed through the stone chamber. "Silence."
The entire room fell still in an instant. Even the scribes' quills hovered motionless for a breath before dipping back toward the parchment.
"The accused, Jessica Williams, is present," Dumbledore said. "The prosecution may now begin its statement."
The Ministry's table stirred. In earlier years, such a case would have been handled by a seasoned senior prosecutor, someone scarred by trials and careful with every word. This time, however, the Ministry had sent a younger prosecutor named Zio, who had joined the Department of Magical Law Enforcement only three years earlier and risen with unusual speed.
Zio took a deep breath, gathered his courage, and stood. "Honourable members of the Wizengamot," he began, his voice firm at first. "The defendant, Jessica Williams, was once a follower of You-Know-Who."
As he continued, his tone grew harsher and more aggressive. Before he could build momentum, Roger lifted his head from Jessica's arms and asked in a clear, childish voice, "Mum, who is the accused? And who is the defendant? Who is You-Know-Who?"
His questions echoed through the chamber. Zio stopped for a moment, his carefully prepared rhythm broken, while several members of the Wizengamot looked toward the thin child in Jessica's arms with softened eyes.
"Silence," Dumbledore said, tapping the gavel again. "The prosecutor may continue."
Jessica placed one finger gently against her lips, silently telling Roger to be quiet. Roger nodded obediently, though he had already achieved what he wanted. He had interrupted the opening just enough to prevent Zio from painting Jessica as a heartless criminal before anyone else could speak.
Zio inhaled again and forced himself back on course. "The defendant, Jessica Williams, and her late husband, Theodore Williams, joined the Death Eaters during the rise of You-Know-Who. They participated in violent attacks against Muggles and Muggle-born witches and wizards, causing serious harm and great public fear."
He raised a file. "The Ministry of Magic possesses official records detailing the crimes committed by the defendant."
Zio waved his wand, intending to distribute the documents. Unfortunately, he had not expected every member of the Wizengamot to attend, and there were not enough prepared copies. He had to cast duplication charms in front of everyone, and the delay stretched awkwardly until each member finally received a folder.
The files reached their hands, but almost no one opened them. Zio's anxiety grew as he stepped toward the center of the chamber and opened his own copy with more force than necessary.
"Please look at the records," he urged. "The Ministry determined that the Williams couple were involved in the murder of Barnaby Croft, the kidnapping of the Evans family, an arson attack against a Ministry office, disruption of Quidditch matches, and the illegal use of the Imperius Curse on Muggles. These actions constitute serious violations of the International Statute of Secrecy and the laws prohibiting Unforgivable Curses."
His voice filled with indignation. It was the sort of speech that might have worked in another courtroom, at another time, before another audience. Here, however, many purple-robed members remained silent, and a few even gave soft, dismissive scoffs.
"Why will none of you read the files?" Zio demanded, unable to stop himself.
The benches answered him with silence. Some members looked down at the folder as if it were a dead rat placed in their laps, while others stared at him with the weary patience of people who had already heard enough Ministry certainty for one decade.
"Does the prosecution have other evidence?" Dumbledore asked, looking up from the bench.
"Lord Dumbledore, these records—"
"The defence may now make its statement," Dumbledore said, cutting him off with calm finality.
"Thank you, Chief Warlock," said Albert King.
Albert rose from the defence table with the composed ease of a man who knew exactly where the floorboards creaked. He had spent twenty years as a prosecutor in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement before leaving to establish his own wizarding law firm. As an old acquaintance of Lucius Malfoy, he had accepted this case gladly; it promised both reputation and reward, and more importantly, it was almost impossible to lose.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the Wizengamot," Albert began calmly, "as counsel for Jessica Williams, I urge you to set aside prejudice and examine her past with reason."
He turned slightly toward the Ministry table. "First, the authenticity of the so-called Ministry records presented by the prosecution is questionable. We request that the prosecution provide the original documents for the court's review."
"The original is here," Zio said at once, raising the file.
Albert's eyes flashed with satisfaction. "The Ministry's original legal documents can be duplicated freely by magic, can they? Chief Warlock, honourable members, I now have every reason to suspect that this file may have been tampered with."
Zio's expression changed. He was not stupid, and he immediately realized his mistake. Official Ministry case files were protected by anti-tampering enchantments, and if those protections failed or allowed uncontrolled duplication, the file's legal validity became questionable.
"Second," Albert continued smoothly, "regarding the prosecution's claim that Jessica Williams actively joined the Death Eaters, where is the proof of willingness? I have here an original Ministry document."
He handed the document to Dumbledore, then looked back at the chamber with the controlled confidence of a lecturer about to reveal the answer to a difficult question.
"Roger Williams's birth certificate?" Zio frowned. "What does that prove?"
"Quite a great deal," Albert replied. "Ladies and gentlemen, Mrs. Williams was born Jessica Lestrange. She graduated from Hufflepuff and later worked in France. In 1979, she returned to the British wizarding world and married Theodore Williams."
He let the dates hang in the air before continuing. "Please note that Roger Williams was born in 1980. That means Mrs. Williams became pregnant soon after her marriage."
"Objection," Zio said sharply.
"Objection overruled," Dumbledore said, tapping the gavel. "The defence may continue."
"How likely is it," Albert said, his voice rising slightly, "that a woman preparing to become a mother would willingly throw herself into dangerous service for the Death Eaters? The more reasonable conclusion is that Theodore Williams and his wife were pressured, threatened, and forced to obey during a time of fear."
He turned toward Jessica, who held Roger tightly in the witness chair. "Mrs. Williams's love for her child is plain to everyone present. Eleven years later, in Azkaban, surrounded by Dementors, she still kept him alive. She has also shown sincere remorse for the role she was forced to play during that terrible period."
A murmur passed through the benches. One Wizengamot member nodded and said quietly, "Mrs. Williams certainly loves her child."
"Look how thin they both are," another whispered. "That is what Azkaban does."
"Eleven years," someone else murmured. "Poor child. What a remarkable mother."
Albert heard the reaction and knew the chamber was moving exactly where he wanted it. He cleared his throat and pressed on, carefully shaping pity into argument.
"We lived through a time of terror," he said. "Many individuals and many families were trapped between impossible choices. We cannot judge every wartime action by the calm standards of peace, especially when the prosecution has failed to prove intent, willingness, or reliable evidence."
He faced the benches fully. "I submit that there is serious doubt surrounding every charge brought today. A mother who fought for eleven years to keep her child alive should not be condemned on damaged files and old assumptions."
"Agreed," said one member.
"Agreed," said another.
One by one, the members of the Wizengamot raised their wands. Green sparks bloomed from the tips, each one a vote in favour of acquittal. Fifty green sparks filled the ancient stone chamber, and the Wizengamot witnessed a rare unanimous decision.
Dumbledore raised the gavel and brought it down with firm finality. "The Wizengamot finds Jessica Williams not guilty and restores all rights, privileges, and protections due to her as a witch, effective immediately."
The chamber erupted in thunderous applause. Jessica clutched Roger in her arms as hot tears streamed down her face. Around them, witches and wizards stood to congratulate the brave mother and son, while Zio sank back into his seat, pale and defeated.
When Zio had accepted the case, his director had promised him a promotion of three ranks. He had even dared to imagine himself becoming a candidate for the director's position one day. Now all of that had vanished in the space of a single unanimous vote.
The Ministry officials who had accompanied him to court applauded along with everyone else, but beneath their smiles, unease spread quickly. According to the Wizengamot's verdict, Jessica Williams and her husband had been coerced by Voldemort and the Death Eaters, which meant they were innocent.
.....
Can't wait to read more exciting chapters then what are you waiting for Join my p*atreon right now.
Get 60+ Premium chapters.
Link: p*atreon.com/Earthly_Writer (Remove the *)
2 Chapters for all free members.