Chapter Text
Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to JK Rowling.
Chapter 19: The Trial of Lucius Malfoy
Scorpius lay in his bed staring at the window, through which he could see a yellowish blob that he knew to be the moon. The sky was lightening and a glance at the clock on his nightstand confirmed that it would be dawn soon. It was Wednesday morning and he had hardly slept all night.
When he heard his parents in the corridor outside his room, he decided it was time to get up. He had just finished putting on his dress robes when his mother knocked. "Come in," he called.
His mother fussed over him, checking his robes and combing his hair. "How do you feel, love?"
"Scared. I don't want to do this, Mother."
"I know, Scorpius. I don't want you to do it, either, but I also don't want to spend the rest of our lives worrying that the moment I turn away, Lucius will attack you again." She paused as she fixed his collar. "Especially with the baby on the way, he may kill you outright next time." She patted his shoulders, making sure the robe hung correctly. "Just remember, if anything goes wrong, Harry will be there and he was just a little older than you the first time he won a fight against Lucius. He won't lose this one."
Scorpius put on his glasses and looked up at her. "Mr Potter said after it's over, he'll bring Albus and me somewhere muggle for ice cream."
His mother smiled. "That man spoils you almost as badly as we do. Ready to eat?"
Scorpius shook his head. He felt nauseous, but kept that thought to himself. "I'm not hungry."
His mother took his hand and led him out of the room. "You need to eat something. You can't risk passing out today."
He reluctantly followed her to the dining room and accepted the porridge that his father set in front of him. His father, like his mother, was dressed in his finest robes. "What's the medal for?" he asked. He had not known his father even owned any medals.
His father removed it and handed it to him. "I received it after the war for saving Potter's life when he was captured by Death Eaters. I want the Wizengamot to remember that when I testify."
Scorpius turned to his mother. "Did you get any medals?"
"No. I was fortunate to avoid the worst of the war and my family was as neutral as they could be. Now finish eating. We want to be there early."
Scorpius obeyed, but he still felt ill. He stroked his toy dragon under the table to calm himself. He wished Albus was with him, but Albus' father would not allow him to attend the trial.
At the Ministry, his father spelled their robes clean and led them to the Auror offices, where Rose's mother met them. "Harry apologizes for not meeting you himself, but he's organizing everything in the courtroom. You can wait in Ron's office. He's with Harry and will let us know if the trial time is changed suddenly."
Scorpius sat stiffly and played with his dragon while they waited. His mother tried to interest him in the toys on Mr Weasley's desk, but he ignored them. They were all relieved when Mr Weasley finally walked in. "It's nearly time," he said. "The escort will be here from Azkaban soon and we want you in place when they arrive."
Scorpius had given no thought to where his grandfather was staying, but Azkaban made sense. He pressed against his mother in the lift down to the courtroom, where Mr Potter greeted them at the door and led them to some benches off to the right. "How are you doing, Scorpius?" he asked.
"Nervous," Scorpius said quietly.
"That's normal. I want to introduce you to someone." He indicated a woman sitting close to them. "This is Parvati Patil. She's been helping me with the case and will do a lot of the speaking."
Ms Patil took Scorpius' hand. "A pleasure to meet you, Mr Malfoy." Scorpius giggled.
A moment later, someone called for everyone to take their seats. Scorpius looked around and saw two aurors entering the room. Behind them, surrounded by more aurors, was his grandfather. His grandfather looked up and his eyes narrowed when he saw them. He focused on Scorpius' father, who held his gaze as he was led to the center of the room and placed in a chair that immediately bound him to it.
A man at the front of the room, whom Scorpius recognized from photographs in the Daily Prophet as the Minister, spoke first. "The accused being present, let us begin. Criminal hearing of the twenty-third of June. Interrogators: Kingsley Shacklebolt, Minister for Magic," and here several people nodded in his direction, "Griselda Marchbanks, Chief Witch," his hand indicated the woman to his right, who nodded, "Harry Potter, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement," he indicated Mr Potter, who stood and nodded from his seat near Scorpius, "and Court Scribe, Orla Quirke." The woman to his left nodded and lifted her quill in acknowlegement.
"Witness for the Defense," said a well-kempt man who had entered after the aurors, "Chief Healer, Kevin Whitby." He sat in a chair not far from Scorpius' grandfather, who was glaring at the Minister and Mr Potter in turn.
The Minister continued, "The charges against the accused are as follows: That he did knowingly, deliberately, and in full awareness of the illegality of his actions, having received warnings at past trials, cast spells and charms intended to cause permanent injury to a wizarding child.
"You are Lucius Malfoy of Malfoy Manor, Wiltshire?"
"Yes," his grandfather answered, his voice tight.
"You received past warnings and reprimands regarding harm to children and innocents following the Death Eater trials, did you not?"
"Yes," his grandfather said again.
"And yet you started a fire in your grandson's bedroom, leaving him no avenue of escape and causing possibly irreparable bodily harm?"
Scorpius' grandfather glared at the Minister and did not answer. The Minister asked again and Scorpius leaned against his mother, not even trying to follow what was said. The questions continued, but Scorpius' lack of sleep was catching up to him and he had trouble concentrating for more than a few moments at a time. He heard his father speaking, then Mr Potter, and hearing the familiar voices defending him calmed him a little.
Then his mother was shaking him gently. "Scorpius, it's time for you to testify." He stood reluctantly and followed Ms Patil to the podium. She asked him to describe what he remembered about the fire and, as Mr Potter had said, about his relationship with his grandfather.
"Do you know what causes your grandfather to show you so little regard?"
Scorpius swallowed before answering. "I'm a squib and he doesn't like that."
Several people in the courtroom gasped and he heard someone in the Wizengamot ask, "The boy's a squib? Are you sure?"
Ms Patil turned to the Wizengamot. "I have medical records from St Mungo's confirming that Scorpius is a squib. They are dated shortly after Christmas last year." She approached the Minister and handed him a folder. "Copies of all medical records relevant to the case are in here." He took the folder and nodded for her to continue as he flipped through it.
The only other time something interesting happened was when Ms Patil asked Scorpius the last time his grandfather had threatened him before the fire. He answered simply, "He burned up the warthog Lily gave me for my birthday."
"Lily who?" Ms Patil asked.
Scorpius glanced at his parents and Mr Potter. "Lily Potter, madam."
His grandfather snorted. "Of course it's a bloody Potter," he sneered. "The girl's father's been grooming Scorpius for this since the day he met him."
"Silence, Lucius," one of the aurors who had led him in commanded.
"Or what? You'll send me back to Azkaban? Has it occurred to you that Potter is using the boy?"
A witch off to the left raised her wand, pointed it to his grandfather and commanded, "Silencio!" She lowered her wand, nodded to the Minister, and said, "Auror Potter's contempt for you is well known, Lucius, and will be taken into consideration. So will the evidence from the fire, the boy's medical records, and the other aurors' testimonies."
Scorpius stared at the center of the room, where his grandfather appeared to be snarling, but no sound came out. He wanted to look away, run away, anything, but he could not move. Ms Patil stepped between him and his grandfather and said something he missed. He blinked at her. She said gently, "Thank you, Scorpius. You may sit now." He jumped down and rushed into his mother's arms.
More people talked, aurors who investigated the fire, healers who treated him, his mother and grandmother, but all of the speeches and questions ran together for him. At last, the wizard in charge announced, "Is the Wizengamot prepared to reach a verdict?"
Several people shouted, "Aye!"
"Then this trial is adjourned for the length of thirty minutes while the Wizengamot deliberates. Auror Potter, you will remain here?"
"Yes, sir," Mr Potter answered as the other Wizengamot members slowly filed out a door behind their benches, whispering among themselves.
During the break, Scorpius' mother held him tightly and Ms Patil conjured him some water while his father and Mr Potter spoke quietly some distance away. Mr Weasley walked between his father and the aurors guarding his grandfather several times and Scorpius guessed he was passing messages.
"It's almost over?" Scorpius asked timidly.
"Yes, love," his mother answered.
After what felt like forever to Scorpius, the Minister returned to his seat and the rest of the Wizengamot filed in after him. "The Wizengamot has come to a decision," he announced. "All those in favor of clearing Lucius Malfoy of all charges, please raise your hands." Only two witches did so, and both earned glares from Mr Potter. "All those in favor of pressing charges, please raise your hands." Nearly the entire Wizengamot, minus the two witches, Mr Potter, and two or three others, raised their hands.
The Ministher nodded to Chief Witch Marchbanks. She looked down at Scorpius' grandfather and said, "Lucius Malfoy, this court finds you guilty of deliberate endangerment of a wizarding child. The minimum sentence for such a crime is ten years' imprisonment in Azkaban." Several witches and wizards started murmuring behind her, demanding a longer sentence. "However," she continued, "because your actions may have permanantly disabled that child and nearly caused his death, the Wizengamot motions to increase that sentence to the maximum thirty years. All in favor, please raise your hands." Over three fourths of those in the Wizengamot raised their hands.
The Minister said, "Lucius Malfoy, the Wizengamot hereby sentences you to thirty years in Azkaban for the deliberate endangerment and near murder of the child, Scorpius Hyperion Malfoy. This session is now adjourned."
Witches and wizards stood all around the room and chatted excitedly with those nearby. Several approached Scorpius' group to congratulate Mr Potter and Ms Patil. One severe looking woman waited until most of the others had left before walking over. "Mr Potter, Ms Patil, Mr and Mrs Malfoy, admirable work all of you. I am very proud of you, Draco."
Scorpius' father said, "Thank you, Professor." He put a hand on Scorpius' shoulder. "This is my son, Scorpius. Scorpius, my former teacher, Professor McGonagall."
Scorpius swallowed nervously and craned his head back to look up at her. "Hello, Professor."
Professor McGonagall raised her wand and swished it. A mug appeared in her hand. She handed it to Scorpius. "Drink this. It will help you feel better."
Scorpius took a tentative sip. "Cocoa?" his mother asked.
Professor McGonagall smiled at Scorpius, who grinned back. "Of course. Chocolate cures most ills, I've found."
"Thank you," Scorpius said quietly.
"It was no trouble." To his parents, she said, "Am I to understand that Scorpius will not be coming to Hogwarts?"
His father's grip on his shoulder tightened. "That's correct, Professor. Our annual monetary support will continue, however."
Professor McGonagall mused, "Generally, Mr Malfoy, when forced to choose between the child or the money, I choose the child, but it cannot be helped. I do hope you will bring him to visit on occasion."
Scorpius' mother smiled. "Of course we will, Professor. Once Albus and Rose start attending Hogwarts, I'm sure Scorpius will be eager to visit them."
"Excellent. And now I must return to Hogwarts myself. Good day."
When she was gone, Scorpius looked around the courtroom to find it nearly deserted. His grandfather and the aurors guarding him were gone. Ms Patil was gathering the last of the folders. Everyone in the Wizengamot had left. Mr Potter asked, "Do you still feel up for ice cream, Scorpius?"
"Can we get some tomorrow instead? I'm really tired and I want Albus to come with me."
Mr Potter laughed. "Go home and sleep. We'll get ice cream tomorrow and if Albus keeps himself out of trouble, he can come with us."
Scorpius hugged Mr Potter impulsively. "Thank you, Mr Potter." Mr Potter hugged him back.
That night, Scorpius awoke around midnight feeling very hungry. He started to go to the kitchen, but when he saw the light on in his father's sudy, he knocked. "Come in," his father called.
His father was sitting in a fluffy chair sipping wine. He glanced up as Scorpius entered, then turned back to the fire. His eyes glistened and Scorpius saw a tear slide down his cheek. "Father, are you okay?"
His father reached out and Scorpius took his hand. "No, I'm not. What I did today, helping to send my own father to prison, no child should ever be asked to do that."
"Do you regret it?"
"No. I would do anything to keep you safe." His father set down his glass of wine and pulled Scorpius close. "I love you, Scorpius. I'm very proud of you."
Scorpius curled up against his father. "I love you, too, Father." He fell asleep in his father's arms.
Author's Note: This chapter was very hard to write and much of the formal language was lifted directly from OOTP Chapter 8. Please review and let me know if it worked for you.