Chapter 100: Farce
The three rapists had been expelled, their wands snapped and were dragged away in cuffs by the aurors while screaming either their innocence or that their head of house would hear about this. Dumbledore had doubled down on discipline, reminding the students that actions have consequences and that some of them would not be tolerated at Hogwarts and was a matter of the law.
On the DMLE side, Amelia had expedited the case. With the recording of the crime it was a slam dunk. Within the week, each former student was judged in front of the Wizengamot. To Rick’s expectations, they were found guilty but got years of hours of community work and weren’t allowed to leave their home until the end of their sentence instead of going to Azkaban because they were underage. Their families were supposed to pay fifty thousand galleons to the House of Black as compensation.
It was an outrage.
They had raped the heiress of a House of higher standing than their own and yet were punished with what could be considered with a slap on the wrist because they were underaged. Of course, that happened because of Fudge. His propaganda against Rick and his family was working and he reached houses in the Light block who took opposition against him.
Thankfully, Rick was prepared and declared a Blood Feud with the House of Montague, Urquhart and Blishwick, all thanks to the injustice and the law permitting it. An actual Blood Feud. Not the kind people were referring to in current times. The kind where bad words were exchanged, alliances broken or made and everything was resolved through money. No, Rick had called for a real Blood Feud, where a house will completely decimate the other house with the exception of one member able to perpetuate the bloodline unless they come to an agreement. Killing the whole house would be disastrous for the ‘victor’. A big no, no.
That kind of blood feud was last seen 353 years ago. Nobody ever thought Rick would invoke it or even knew about it. Few did know in fact. One thing was sure, the Lords of House Montague, Urquhart and Blischwick knew about it because they had lost their smug smiles and their faces became whiter than a white sheet. They knew they couldn’t take on the Ancient and Noble House of Black in a fight.
Protests and appeals immediately went to Fudge who tried to arrest Rick for it since he thought it was illegal. Unfortunately for him, the minister was put in his place. The Blood Feud was an ancient law predating the Ministry of Magic and was very much still legal to his day. Just because it had not happened in three centuries and half didn’t mean it wasn’t legal anymore. To be fair, the conditions for calling a Blood Feud like this were pretty strict. A long list of specific conditions existed and the rape of the heir or heiress of a noble house was on it. Also line theft. That second condition had quickly changed the tune of lots of Wizengamot members and Rick didn’t miss on reminding the chamber that they decided to punish the convicted with a slap on the wrist instead of the minimum twenty years in Azkaban and that he will remember it when or if it’s their House’s turn.
Rick’s declaration was made the previous Friday and made the news. Everyone in Great Britain waited abated for what would happen between the four houses. The answer came the next Monday.
Dumbledore had caught the morning edition of the Daily Prophet delivered by an owl during breakfast and frowned deeply when he looked at the headline. Turning to Rick who sat on his left he handed the newspaper to have his opinion. Rick joined him in the frowning game when he had a look.
“I have nothing to do with-”
The doors to the great hall were opened loudly and Umbridge walked with a smug smile on her face, followed by two Aurors. They reached the head table in no time under everyone’s eyes.
“Potter, you’re under arrest for-” her mouth kept on moving but no sound came out, courtesy of the special silencio spell Rick had created.
“Arrest for what?” he asked one of the auror.
“Mass murder and extinction of House Urquart, Montague and Blishwick.” The gasps of many students and also a few teachers echoed through the hall.
“I’m curious to hear what kind of proof you have to accuse me of such a crime.”
“You declared a Blood Feud with them!” the second auror nastily exclaimed.
“Yes, and? That’s not a crime nor proof.”
“Hand over your wand and hands behind your back, Potter.” the first auror declared, wand threateningly in hand, not interested in playing whatever game Rick thought he was playing.
“First off, it’s Lord Potter to you, shit stain. Second, where is your arrest warrant?”
“We don’t need one, it's the order of the minister.”
“The Minister does not have the power to order anyone’s arrest. That’s a privilege of the Director of the DMLE. If Fudge did, he's grossly abusing his authority, breaking the law. Whatever you think you’re doing that makes you accomplice and being fired will be the least of you-”
He quickly pulled his hand up and redirected with his wand a curse that Umbridge casted his way. The second auror was hit by it and fell to the ground unconscious. Immediately, Rick stunned the first and just when he went about to deal with Dolores, she was summoned backward by an irate Bella. The pink toad was sent flying violently to the wall to the side, then again to the other side before being tossed to the ground on top of the first auror. Albus rose from his seat with all his height and presence to reprimand the Lady Black.
“Bellatrix! You can not-”
“She’s under civilian arrest for torturing students.” If not her murderous glare, her words made Dumbledore stop in his tracks.
“Torturing students?” Albus repeated disbelievingly.
Bella nodded and signaled to a third year at the entrance of the hall to come. The young Hufflepuff boy quickly joined the head table and with a nod toward his hand from Bella, he showed it to Dumbledore.
‘I must know my place.’ was the sentence carved into the boy's hand and Albus’ face paled before a storm of anger raged in his eyes.
“How many of you had detention with Dolores Umbridge and had to do lines?” he asked the student body trying to restrain the rage in his voice as much as he could.
Sixteen hands in total raised from every house but Slytherin.
“Corporal punishment is illegal. Professor Umbridge, despite her position as High Inquisitor and Undersecretary of the Minister, is not above the law.”
“She threatened you, didn’t she?” Rick cut in. “That your parents would be in trouble if you spoke up?”
It was a Gryffindor in its fourth year that confirmed it. “Yes, professor.”
“My parents are muggles so she can’t do anything about them but I never got an answer from them after I wrote a letter telling them what she was doing.” This time it was a Ravenclaw girl that Rick recognized as a third year spoked up.
Albus and Rick exchanged a look. They got their golden ticket to get rid of the ministry’s influence at Hogwarts. Rick’s plan to deal with the toad was thrown out the window on the spot.
Quickly, the two aurors and Umbridge were restrained. Albus went to contact the MLE while Minerva and Pomona gathered the students tortured by the pink toad. It didn’t take long for Amelia herself, leading a half a dozen man squad of auror, to show up at the castle.
“Rufus, search for Umbridge’s quarters and office. Leave no ink pot unturned. Longbottom, Black, you’re in charge of taking the children’s statements.”
“They’re in the transfiguration courtyard. Professor McGonagall and Professor Sprout are watching over them.” Albus cut in and both Alice and Nymphadora thanked him before leaving for their new destination.
“Dodderidge, Podmore, bring those two back to Headquarters and put them in a cell.”
“Yes, ma’am. What of Umbridge?” asked James.
“I’ll bring her in myself.”
The two men nodded and levitated their corrupt colleagues outside the hall.
“Here to arrest me, director?”
Amelia gave her husband a heated glare that had no effect on him.
“You’re the prime suspect for the extinction of three noble Houses, Lord Potter. That was ten minutes ago. Now… While Auror Dawlish and Appleby were breaking the law by trying to falsely arrest you, I am not.” she replied, producing an arrest warrant from an inside pocket of her coat.
“Is that so? I guess the buffoon used his authority to push you to arrest me, Director. No matter, it’s not like I’ll be convicted since I didn’t commit the crime.”
Rick was clearly amused by the turn of events. Amelia, as usual, wasn’t made aware of the plan. On one part so she could have her hands clean, on another because… she wasn’t a Black and it was a Black matter. Not even Lily was aware of the plan. He handed his wand to his third wife and presented his hands to her so she could cuff him.
“I guess I’m the biggest catch you’ll get in your life.” Amelia gave him a stoic look but he noticed in her eyes the annoyance which amused him even more.
He was permitted to stay seated at the Head table while the investigation was taking place. That allowed him to speak with his wives and Albus. “Bella, could you contact Andi and tell her to-”
“Already did, she’s bringing the contracts with her.”
“What contracts?” Lily was confused in her query. She was out of the loop and didn’t like it. She was also a bit fearful. After reading the article and knowing it might be possible for him to have done it. Him or pretty much any Black of the old generations minus Bella who was still under unbreakable vow. Cassiopeia did kill her own older brother after all, so three whole families who attack her own? Definitely plausible.
“I’ll tell you everything when I’m back for lunch.” the wink her husband sent her way, reassured the redhead a bit.
“So you really didn’t do it.” Chimed in Albus with a bit of relief in his voice. He too was well aware of what Rick and his family could do.
“Of course not,” was the gruff answer the headmaster got. “Why kill someone when they can pay for the rest of their lives? I’m not that merciful, Albus.”
Dumbledore wanted to protest. To him death wasn’t a mercy. Death while not dreadful was something that should be avoided as life was priceless. He couldn’t voice a retort however as he knew that there were fates worse than death. Being kissed by a dementor for one. No next great adventure for you if you got your soul sucked by them. A life sentence to Azkaban was right below it.
Rufus Scrimgeour quickly got back from his task with a serious scowl on his face and presented Amelia with a few black quills. She scowled too when she recognized what they were.
“Blood quills? She was using blood quills on children?”
“It seems like it, director.” The disgust in the man’s voice was dripping from it.
“This is a mess of the highest order.”
“And you’ve seen nothing yet, Director! She probably put a censure jinx on the owlery as students who complained to their parents in letters never got answers.”
Amelia sent Rick a nasty glare. He was chuckling in amusement and she knew, she just knew, that by the end of the day she’ll have a massive headache. It didn’t take long for Alice and Nymphadora to come back with a stack of parchment each in their hands along with three victims that Rick knew were of age. Pondering for a moment what would transpire today from knowing her husband and Fudge, she decided that the former will definitely make up for the headache tonight.
After sending Kingsley to check on the owlery for any tempering and getting the result that yes, there has been, Umbridge was woken up and began to screech, putting forward her status as Undersecretary of the Minister. Rick laughed aloud when Amelia told her the charges for her arrest but it did nothing to dent the toad’s entitlement. Amelia used a Silencio on her and many thanked her for it.
Once the aurors, their perps, the victims and the witnesses left the Great Hall, Hogwarts’ rumor mill began to work full throttle. “Rose!”
“I don’t know, Lavender.” the eldest of the Potter quickly shut down the gossip queen of Gryffindor. “The only thing I know is that Lyra… Dad wasn’t going to let it go until justice was met. He isn’t a murderer however so-”
“He killed people during the war.”
“Exactly, McLaggen. Killed, not murdered. That’s a whole world of difference. Now sod off!” she spat at the worst Gryffindor she had ever met and she had met Peter Pettigrew. “I know dad is not the merciful kind, Lav. If he did something to those families then it’s along the line of taking all their assets and leaving them dirt poor in a ditch completely humiliated. Murder? It’s too good for them in his opinion.”
“I already said it, but your dad is freaking scary, Rose.” Cedric Diggory said as he joined the Gryffindor table. He was doing an eighth year to get Newts on subjects he didn’t present the previous year as he knew he wouldn’t have been able to work properly on them. “Then again, that’s probably why no one is messing with him. Usually.”
“Probably, yes.” the Potter heiress smirked at that.
“He’s probably going to come out of it as white as snow with an apology from the Ministry.”
Everyone looked at Ron on the spot.“What?” he asked, confused.
“Is that a prediction you made or…” Parvati asked.
“... I don’t know. I don’t think so, it’s too… precise for the subject.”
Ron had been more careful of what he was saying ever since Rick presented the possibility that he was a bit of a seer. Thanks to Hermione who was there to remind him, he noted as many strange statements as he could in a notebook. So far it was all related to quidditch or school assignments and while a few ‘predictions’ had come to pass most of it did not. At least not yet.
“I just hope your father will be back soon enough for class. Divination has never been so much fun.” The pleased and dreamy look Lavender had on her face said it all about what she was thinking.
“Is he really that good on the subject?” wondered Cedric who didn’t take divination.
“He made a logical and scientific girl like Hermione keep on attending the class, so yeah.”
“I resent-”
“No you don’t, Hermione. It’s the truth and you’re really glad you’re still taking divination.” The bushy hair witch huffed at the lost exchange making her fellow students chuckle.
“What about DADA? With Umbridge gone we need a new teacher. I doubt professor Potter would be able to teach it on top of the two subjects he’s already teaching.” Neville asked no one in particular.
“Probably Aunt Bella. She’s already using her duelling class as a proper DADA class. She also was supposed to teach the subject to begin with before Fudge strongarmed the board but now…”
“With the Ministry’s own choice being arrested for torturing students, the thought of having Bellatrix Black teaching DADA sounds like a safer bet.” finished Cedric.
“Maybe for once we’ll get an almost peaceful year.” Ron pointed out and once again everyone looked at him in wonder. “Oh for Merlin’s sake! Stop looking at me like I’m making a prediction every time I open my mouth!”
“We only do that when you’re not putting food in it, Ron.”The weasley boy included, everyone had a good laugh at Rose’s joke.Back at the Ministry, Amelia was silently fuming. On her way to the DMLE offices, she received a paper plane notice ordering her to bring Rick to courtroom number one for his trial. More than highly irregular, it was downright not done. There has been no prior investigation and Fudge was setting himself up for failure and humiliation.
However, that gave her an idea.
Instead of throwing Dolores into a Ministry cell, she brought her along to the courtroom. If Fudge wanted to play stupid games and override her authority then she would make sure he would win stupid prizes. It wouldn’t be the kind where he’s booted out of office but he will certainly have a drop in his popularity.
On their way they met a harried Andromeda who came running in high heels. She was representing a client in courtroom n°5 when she had received the news. Thankfully she was able to summon Karkass who promptly gave her all the evidence she needed. She quickly had a private discussion with Rick about everything that happened and how they could inflict the maximum of damage to Fudge. It lasted only five minutes but it was enough for them to come up with a solid plan.“I’m not going to like this, am I?” Amelia’s query was quite sarcastic. She knew Rick was innocent.
“Oh you will. Fudge will pass for an incompetent buffoon and if you play your cards well, director, you may get out of this smelling like roses.” replied Rick.
They walked inside courtroom n°1 and Amelia signaled Scrimgeour and Kingsley to stay at the back unseen with Umbridge. She brought Rick down to the middle of the room and made him sit in the accused chair, while Andromeda stood next to him. More and more people filled the place, be it as members of the Wizengamot or in the public stands. Plenty of reporters were there and that was perfect for what they had in mind.
Rick asked for the daily prophet from one of the lords behind him and began to read it while putting his feet up on the stand without a care. Andromeda shook her head in amusement and rolled her eyes.
Finally Tiberius Ogden, the new chief warlock after Dumbledore’s sacking from the post, arrived with Fudge and they sat next to Amelia as the presiding body.
“Right, we’re all busy, so let’s get it over with.” Fudge said, searching something among a small stack of documents. Apparently finding the correct one, he pulled it up on top of the others and began to preside. “Corvus Potter, for the-”
“Objection!”
Fudge made a pause, confused by someone objecting already or rather objecting at all. Looking up from his documents he saw for the first time Andromeda standing next to Rick.“Who are you?”
“Andromeda Black, Lord Corvus Potter’s solicitor and defense.”
“There is no need for Potter-”
“Once again, it’s LORD Potter, Minister. Or would you like to be fined for breaking decorum and protocol?”
Ogden interjected from the side. “She has a point, minister.”
Andi wasn’t done one bit. “Furthermore, since Lord Potter is accused and this is a trial, by right he must have a solicitor to defend him or are you going to ignore the law?”
“He’s a mass murderer!” Fudge protested.
“On what grounds? What evidence do you have to declare someone’s guilt just like that? Something which, let me remind this august body, is breaking the law. You may be the Minister for Magic but you’re not above the law. Or are you mocking our justice system, Minister? Thinking you’re above it and can do however you please? Against a Lord of two Ancient and Noble Houses?”
“Fine, fine! Let’s proceed!” The man’s face was already red from anger. “Lord Corvus Potter, you’re accused of-”
“Objection! You’re not chief warlock as such it’s not up to you to preside over this trial.”
“That’s quite right, Miss Black. Minister one more breach of protocol like this and you’ll be fined.” Ogden commented, beginning to realize that the easy trial Fudge talked to him about would probably not go the way he had expected. To distance himself from the blunder he decided to distance himself from the minister and do his job properly. The trial had yet to really begin and things were not going well.
At this point Fudge’s face turned purple.
“Lord Corvus Potter, you’re accused of breaking the ancient law pertaining to a Blood Feud, committing mass murder and extinguishing the lines of Urquhart, Montague and Blishwick. How do you plead?”
“My client pleads not guilty, chief warlock.” At this point Rick wasn’t even listening and just turned a page of the newspaper.
“Very well, it is noted. Director Bones, the floor is yours.”
“I have nothing to say, Chief Warlock.”
“Nothing to-” Ogden did a double take. “You’re the head of the DMLE! It’s up to you to prosecute the accused!”
Amelia looked at Fudge murderously. “Yes and I would, had I time to make a case. At this point I have nothing.”
“Nothing? What do you mean you have nothing?! Why are we having a trial in the first place then?!”
Fudge’s face was now a pale purple. He realized that the way he did things may bite him in the ass. Meanwhile Ogden was sure he found himself dragged into the scandal of the century. In the stand, public or not, people were already whispering loudly.
“Ask the Minister. He ordered me to arrest Lord Potter less than an hour ago out of the blue. When I arrived at the ministry I received an order to bring the accused to this courtroom for a trial. I never had the time to interrogate Lord Potter nor my aurors the time to investigate him. I was barely made aware of the crime we are here for, five minutes into stepping into my office and only because I read the Prophet’s headlines.”
“This… This… Minister Fudge! Is the Law and our justice system a joke to you?! A toy that you can use however you please?!”
“See, here! Lord Potter is the only one who could have done it! An investigation is-”
“Objection! I have evidence that my client could not have, in any way, committed the crime!”
“Impossible!”
“It’s very much possible, Minister. Chief Warlock, if you’d take a look at those three magical contracts proving the innocence of my client.”
Andromeda had in hand three parchments, presenting them from everyone to see. Ogden waved his hand for her to approach and hand them to him. He read them one after the other with a frown on his face. He couldn’t believe what he was reading, yet the contracts were sound.
“Chief Warlock, could you perhaps tell to the assembly about-”
“Yes, yes, certainly, Miss Black. Each of those contracts are related to Lord Potter, acting as Lord Black, agreeing to put an end to the Blood Feud in exchange for all assets of house Montague, Urquhart and Blishwick. In-”
“There is no way they're valid! Those contracts are forged! I knew Lord Montague, he would never have signed such a thing!” interjected Lord Nott from the Dark block of the Wizengamot.
“Each contract was signed by witnesses, Lord Nott.”
“Some poor random people Lord Potter must have paid, I’m sure.”
“I wouldn’t call myself random, Lord Nott. I don’t really need the money either.”
On the other side of the Wizengamot, Frank Longbottom was standing up from his seat.
“I wouldn’t call Lord Prewett, Lady McKinnon, Lady Greengrass and Heir Malfoy, random and poor either.” Ogden added.
That was a hit for Nott as the witnesses came from every block of the Wizengamot. Longbottom and Prewett were light aligned, Greengrass and Malfoy were still aligned with the Dark and house McKinnon was neutral ever since the end of the war, thanks to Marlene joining House Potter and Black’s block.
“That doesn’t prove Potter didn’t kill-”
“Objection!” Shouted Andromeda.
“Minister, I’m fining you fifty galleons for breach of protocol. Do it again and I’m quadrupling it and will have Director Bones arrest you for obstruction of justice. As for the contracts they do prove the innocence of Lord Potter thanks to one of the clauses. It is clearly stated that should the contract take effect, the Blood Feud would end and that House Black and all its members wouldn’t be able to harm the members of House Montague, Urquhart or Blishwick physically or mentally, directly or indirectly unless attacked first. Should that happen, Lord Potter would forfeit his life and thus for a period of a hundred years.”
“Considering Lord Potter is alive but those houses extinct, he nor any member of the House of Black would have been able to commit the crime. Either by their own hands or by recruiting someone else to do the deed.” Amelia explained.
She wondered, like everyone present, who did it although she was sure Rick could have found a way to circumvent the clause.
“In other words, Lord Potter is innocent and this trial is a farce. Let’s not forget that he knew the risks and the consequences of ending the lines. Lord Potter, would you mind telling us the events of yesterday? How did you get each lord to sign a contract?” Amelia inquired but Rick was busy doing crosswords now and wasn’t listening one bit. With a twitching eye, she silently swore to herself she would strangle him tonight.
“LORD POTTER!” she yelled and Rick jolted up, nearly falling from his seat to almost everyone’s hilarity.
“Yes? Is that sham of a trial over? Can I go now? I have classes to teach.”
“In a moment. Would you spare a few minutes to tell us the event of those contracts’ signatures?”
“Oh? Of course. Saturday evening I floo-called Lord Longbottom, Prewett, Lady McKinnon, Greengrass and heir Malfoy to meet with me at Lord Urquhart house to bear witness to the signature of the contract and the end of the Blood Feud. I also came with the entirety of the adult members of the House of Black. Once there, Lord Urquhart refused to sign, so I obliterated the wards on his home then started to work on the home itself.
He came out with his family in tow and was promptly disarmed. I gave him the choice of signing the contract or for his son to be the last of his line. He still refused. I transfigured a huge pike going to his… posterior so he would know how it feels to be raped, like his scum of a son raped my daughter and the little bitch quickly agreed to sign. The witnesses signed, then we left for the home of House Blischwik. The same happened then we left for the location for House Montague who reacted the same way. With the three contracts signed, I thanked the witnesses, went to Gringotts and started the transfer of assets. No one was killed during the process.”
““““...”””””
Fudge thought he had his victory then. “You coerced and threatened…”
“Something which was legal since we were having a Blood Feud, Minister. I could have just killed them all but the boys. It was quite magnanimous of me to present them with a contract. Going after House Black cost a heavy price. They apparently were able to pay it, so I let bygones be bygones. Anything else that happened to them afterward is in no way related to me to my knowledge. The contracts prove that.”
Ogden didn’t know quite what to say. “... Right. Well… Hm… You can go, Lord Potter. You’re free. I offer my and the ministry’s sincere apologies for… this gross misconduct of justice. This trial should not have happened in the first place, had Director Bones had the time to investigate and interrogate you. Should you feel the need to, you’re free to make a lawsuit for the wrong you’ve been subjected to.”
“I will make a lawsuit against Minister Fudge but no one else.”
Rick stood up from the accused chair and went to take up his seat in the neutral block. He sat there as Lord Potter right next to Andromeda who was his proxy for the Black seat. At the same time, Amelia called for Umbridge to be brought forward. The toad was still silenced.“What is the meaning of this?! Release her this instant!” Fudge yelled when he saw his undersecretary in cuffs.
“I’m afraid not, Minister. Dolores Umbridge is accused of multiple crimes, ranging from illegal censure and mail control to torture.”
“Lies! Dolores is-”
“We have all the evidence we need, Minister. Testimonies of victims and the tools she used to torture Hogwarts students.”
That last bit made many people gasp in the assembly.“Director Bones, this is highly irregular.”
“No more than what we just went through, Chief Warlock but since we’re all gathered here for a trial which did not happen, why not take the opportunity to have another and proper one instead? This time our investigation was thorough, although it’s possible Miss Umbridge committed other crimes we don’t know anything about but it’s neither here nor there.”
“... Very well. Let’s proce-”
“Tiberius, you can’t be serious! Dolores is-”
“Aurors, escort Minister Fudge out of the courtroom.” said Ogden.
“What?! You can’t do-” Fudge fell silent, courtesy of Andromeda. Scrimgeour and Shacklebot came forward and dragged the minister away.
“Director, the charges if you please.”
“Dolores Umbrige, you’re accused of misuse of power, forty nine counts of torture on students, thirty nine of them on underage ones, by the use of blood quills, posession of three blood quills, putting a censure jinx on Hogwarts owls and reading private mail.”
“How do you plead?” asked Ogden, disturbed by the knowledge that blood quills were used on children. Those quills didn’t use ink but the blood of the one writing with one. It left a scar on their hands and should the quill be abused the scar would be permanent.And that’s how Dolores Umbridge's trial started. Had Amelia followed protocol, she would have brought Dolores to the DMLE and interrogated her, however the current evidence against the undersecretary was so damning that she didn’t need to. The charges about the use of a blood quill on students alone would see her in Azkaban for life.
Once the toad was removed from the board, Amelia was free to conduct a thorough investigation and convict her again later. Not like it would matter much to pile up more time on a life sentence. Unless Dolores’ crimes were that bad, in that case she would be kissed but it was a very, very rare case. Even after the war, no Death Eaters were kissed.
It would matter for Fudge’s arrest however.
Amelia knew the man was corrupt up to his eyeballs and with Umbridge as an undersecretary she was sure she would get plenty of evidence against the man. The problem was his popularity. She needed to strike at the right moment to be sure Fudge wouldn’t be able to escape justice.