The Rightful Heir of Slytherin (Year 6 - Book 1)

Ch39: The Trial

I'm standing in the middle of a Magical Tribunal, hearing them read a long list of charges for which I'm being prosecuted. It is quite comedic really, especially given the fact that I plan not to serve a single minute in jail even if I am found guilty but alas, for Tom's plan to work I need to expose the Ministry for the weak organization it is and what better way to do that than a public trial.

Tom...such a nice name. I wonder why he ever changed it to Voldemort. If he'd introduced himself as Tom initially, he might've even tricked me into potentially considering him a friend yet here we are regardless. Perhaps this is merely our destiny. 

Auror: Cassandra Sarea Slytherin, you stand charged with the following:

76 Accounts of Murder
12 Accounts of Obstruction of Muggle Society
18 Accounts of Misuse of Magic in the presence of a Muggle
45 Accounts of Attempted Murder
85 Accounts of the Use of Forbidden Spells
1 Account of Espionage against the Ministry of Magic
2 Accounts of border violations
1 Account of Mass Muggle Genocide

Me: Are you done?

He looks at me with such disgust my own skin crawls and yet he doesn't stop, continuing to list another 32 charges before the judge presiding over the case asks me how I plead. Rather than reply verbally, I dispel the magic-suppressing handcuffs by overloading them with magic before summoning my wand and casting the spell I'd just learnt moments earlier from Tom.

Me: Avada Kedavra!

The flicker of yellow light surprises everyone but in the time it takes them to recover I eliminate the remaining Ministry personnel within the room with practised ease, killing every last one only sparing the reporter and her cameraman. 

With all the other Ministry personnel dispatched, I quickly finish setting up the link between my location and the clearing we'd met in before stepping back and watching as Valentina appears alongside Tom and Erin via Port Key.

At the same time, the building begins shaking violently as Death Eaters storm the upper levels of the Ministry Headquarters.

Valentina: You killed all of them? Did you manage to find out where they're keeping her?

Me: Er...well.

Tom: It seems I've been a bad influence on you, cousin.

I ignore him as I turn to the reporter but before I can make a move the door is flung open as Aurors flood in, wands at the ready. They were clearly not prepared to be facing more than just me, however as in their confusion upon seeing the others we manage to cull their numbers until only one remains. This time, Valentina takes over and after a fatal interrogation, she gains the information we're seeking. Mother is on a floor below this one.

Using my wand, I blast a hole in the floor before jumping through. The others are quick to follow, each of us using magic to break or fall.

Me: Mother!

At first, there is no response, the many cells lying empty or otherwise filled with bones but at the very end of the corridor a single voice cries out.

Bagnold: Cassandra? Is that you? Is that really you?

Rushing forward, I find her chained to the wall and after a quick wave of my hand she's free and in my arms. At first, she's overjoyed to see me but it isn't long before she notices Tom and her face shifts from one of pure joy to fear.

Bagnold: W-what is h-he doing here?

Me: He's a friend and he's helping us get you out as part of a deal we made.

Bagnold: Deal? You cannot trust him!

Tom: HAHAHA! Who said anything about trust? Our goals align, for now. That is all.

When I nod in agreement, Mother stares at us both with confusion before deciding it isn't the time to think so hard about this. 

Me: What happened, anyway?

Bagnold: An extremist faction has decided to take over. They didn't like my supposed abuse of power to keep you safe.

As we climb back to the floor above the prison, she gasps at the scene before her eyes. Dead witches and wizards lie everywhere and from her expression I can tell she recognises them.

Me: Are they the ones that betrayed you?

Bagnold: I...well, most of them are.

Me: Then all the better. 

Tom: I propose an alteration to our deal, cousin.

Huh? What is he thinking now?

Tom: Have Minister Bagnold regain her position as Minister as opposed to us taking it over by force. How does it sound?

Me: What's the catch?

Tom: I'll keep out of British Ministry of Magic affairs and in exchange, you'll keep from meddling in my affairs.

Me: As long as they don't pose a threat to what we're doing here.

Tom: It's a deal.

Bagnold: Hey, I never-

Me: Will you refuse?

Seeing herself being backed into a corner, she finally relents and accepts to adopt a neutral foreign policy once she regains her office. I, for one, am not sure why Tom suddenly changed his mind. It seems odd...too odd. From what I can tell, he's very cunning so I know he has something up his sleeves but for now, there is no other choice than to simply go with his plan for now. After all, he's been killed in the past yet has managed to return so it is quite likely that even if I were to betray his trust and kill him now he'd still return later to ruin things.

Sigh

What a strange position to find myself in...