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(🥀)═══ CHAPTER ONE ❝ 1935 ❞
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"You have been brought before the Council of Magical Law to answer charges so abhorrent," proclaimed the judge, "that they strike at the core of our magical society."
His voice resonated through the somber chamber, bouncing off the towering walls. The ceiling, high and vaulted, seemed to disappear into shadows.
Rows of witches and wizards adorned in their ornate robes were seated around every wall on leveled benches, surrounding the stone chair that stood in the very center of the room and scrutinizing the woman occupying it.
She sat defiantly in the courtroom, her presence a striking blend of elegance and pride despite the chains that encircled her arms.
She was clad in dark, intricately patterned robes. Her hair, long and thick, cascaded down her shoulders, framing a face that held both beauty and an unsettling resolve. Her eyes, deep and penetrating, watched the judge and Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Justus Pilliwickle, proceed with the trial.
"Agatha Birks, you stand accused of murdering two Muggles," continued Pilliwickle, his eyes narrowing as he spoke. "You are further accused of the abduction and unlawful imprisonment of their eight-year-old daughter, a witch, whom you hid for three years. Your actions violate the most fundamental laws that bind our wizarding community."
The weight of the allegations hung heavily in the air.
"The evidence presented paints a grim picture," Pilliwickle added. "After killing her parents, you kidnapped the girl and sought refuge in an enchanted forest in Bulgaria, where dark magic and secrecy shrouded your deeds. The Council of Magical Law argues that you delved into forbidden spells, manipulating the very fabric of magic to conceal your crimes."
"How do you plead?" Pilliwickle asked, gaze boring further into Agatha's, seeking answers that could sway the course of justice.
Still, the witch held her head high, her pale skin an enigmatic contrast to the shadows dancing in the corners of the chamber.
"Guilty," she replied, her voice holding a melodic cadence, a calculated charm that veiled the unapologetic pride in her actions.
The murmurs of the council members underscored the gravity of the moment.
"You are entitled to present your defense," Pilliwickle declared after a minute, his tone holding a hint of impartiality. "Speak your truth, Ms. Birks, for the Council of Magical Law will decide your fate based on the evidence and testimonies brought forth in this trial."
