BY fates design

Trial

Cassiopeia didn't falter as she stepped out of the fireplace into the ministry, her face falling into the perfect pure blood smile and her back straightening as she walked directly towards the doors to the main trial room. The guards at the entrance bowed their heads to her as they opened the door.

"Fashionably late, were we?" Jake teased. Cassiopeia rolled her eyes, flipping him off. "I was not late." She protested with a pout.

Any previous chatter in the chamber fell silent as she entered. It was as though the very air in the room shifted to demand their attention, drawing their eyes to the young woman as she glided into the room. There was a certain aura about her, one of unmistakable power that caused each Lord and Lady present to sit just that little bit straighter.

"Apologies for my tardiness," Cassiopeia bowed her head to the minister as she paused briefly at the door, "I was held up." She bowed to the room before climbing the stairs to her family seat.

She took her place beside her father's seat, Lord Potter, and Sirius's seat, Lord Black. James' chair was empty for he had yet to officially return to society, the knowledge of his life was a secret kept under tight wraps. While Cassiopeia had hesitated to allow him to attended any balls at risk of his life being revealed, James had used a series of glamours to mask his true appearance.

"Why was he hidden away? surly he would want to be able to see others again after so many years." A Hufflepuff boy questioned. Before Cassiopeia could answer, Bellatrix Le Strange spoke up. "It would be unwise to be seen when presumed dead, especially if those who 'killed' you were still alive and at large."

As promised, Remus was present in the seat beside her father's. He sent her a teasing smile and a raised brow, he knew full well that she was not held up by anything more than her own procrastination.

The minister cleared his throat. "Now that we are all here," a pointed look was sent to Cassiopeia, "let us commence with the trial, bring forth the criminal in question." He ushered. The doors to the left of the chamber creaked open and in walked two guards, a haggard man restrained between them. With little care, he was pushed towards a chair that sat in the centre of the room and was shackled to it. "Madam Bones, if you will." The minister allowed the woman to step up to the stands.

The marauders looked away from the screen, seeing Peter, their wormtail, in such a state was almost sickening.

"Now commencing the 156th Wizardgamot meeting." She declared, "today we bear witness to the trial and prosecution of one Peter Pettegrew," immediately the stands were in uproar, calls of disbelief and rage sounded around the chamber. Madam Bones silenced the noice before continuing. "He is to be judged and sentenced for the crimes of conspiring with the Dark Lord, the murder of 12 muggles in the first degree, the assisted murder of Lily and James Potter and the charge of being an illegal animagus."

"All of that?" Marlene chocked out. There was no way sweet, unsuspecting, nervous Peter was capable of such horrendous actions.

Mutters drifted round as lords and ladies stared down at the man with pure disgust. For the dark alining families in particular the crimes held high consequence. To be a traitor was to be a coward and there was nothing a pure blood hated more than a coward.

"Mr Pettegrew, how do you plead?" Bones asked the man.

"Innocent." He stuttered out in a mousy voice. Cassiopeia couldn't help but scrunch her face slightly at the man's voice, though her reaction was far more tamed than Sirius who looked on overcome by a wave of nausea.

Everyone was on the edge of their seats as they waited for the trial to begin properly. Water had appeared beside Sirius, Remus, James and Peter when they turned unhealthily pale.