Project 137.43.M.D.

XXII. | CORPUS DELICTI

XXII.
CORPUS DELICTI
(facts)

On the following Monday morning, Hermione reported punctually to the archivist, to whom she had also submitted the file inspection request a few days earlier. Her heart literally jumped out of her chest when she approached the counter.

The plump witch handed her the non-disclosure agreement and Hermione dutifully signed the parchment before adding her name to the visitor list as well. Then the archivist led her into a small room where a group of tables and (Hermione shuddered) a Pensieve awaited her.

"This is the file you requested, Miss Granger," the witch informed her, adjusting a surprisingly narrow folder on the table. "This vial contains the evidence that was kept with the file. I assume you know how to use a Pensieve?"

Hermione nodded slowly. Her gaze was fixed on the silvery shimmering thread of memory that swirled around in the small glass bottle.

"Thank you, I'll be fine," she replied politely and was relieved when the archivist left her alone.

After the door slammed shut behind the older witch, Hermione sank weak-kneed into one of the chairs and took a deep breath. She needed to bloody calm down. She had no reason to be afraid of examining the file. Agitation - fine. Suspense - legitimate. But fear?

Hermione successfully persuaded herself that she had been in the Wizengamot Administration Service for so long that the crime Malfoy had committed wouldn't shock her beyond measure. Then she reached out briskly and took the file.

When Hermione opened the folder, the first thing she saw was Malfoy's pale face again. It was the same mugshot that had been in the public file, and she quickly found that the next few pages were also an exact copy of the report she had already read. She kept turning the pages until she came to the passage that had been censored in the other file. Confusingly, it was only two pages.

Evidence for Indictment, Cause 43.M.D.

The Accused was questioned on May 8th, 1998 in the presence of several officers from the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Auror Office, regarding the night of May 2nd, 1998 (Battle of Hogwarts). In addition to interrogation, the Accused's wand was checked for the last spell cast by the use of Priori Incantatem.

It was proven that the Accused successfully performed an Unforgivable Curse (cf. Decree 32 §2 MCL) on the night of May 2, 1998. This coincides with the statements made by the Accused. The criminal offense pursuant to Decree 32 §3 MCL is thus considered fulfilled.

The Unforgivable Curse the Accused has used is the Imperius Curse. After the questioning, an officer from the Auror Office extracted and viewed the Accused's relevant memory of the criminal offense. The memory is being kept as evidence for the trial.

In view of the burden of proof and the Accused's confession, the Auror Office is seeking a prison sentence in pursuance of Decree 75 MCL.

Hermione sat up and let the air out of her lungs.

She wasn't surprised that the report made no mention of the Offender Rehabilitation Act. After all, the act (including the release measures) had only been incorporated into the MCL years later - around the same time that the OSAR office had been found overnight out of nothing. The paragraphs to which the report referred, though, had been freshly adopted by the Magical Law Council at the time. A quick fix had been needed to deal with Voldemort's followers, all of whom had been arrested right after the Battle of Hogwarts.