The Epilogue : Part I - The Shadow Army

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

The Trial

    Once back at home, James spent most of his days reading newspapers Grimmauld Place, and both Ginny and Harry were surprised about how James changed in the course of a year, and how seriously and disconcertingly calm he turned. The meetings of the Order of Phoenix were still going on, and his mother still tacitly allowed him to hear what was said. As often as he could, James sent the few information he had with Andrew and Cassiopeia.

    Yaxley's trial, called "The trial of the century" by some newspapers, was to happen in a bit more than a week. During that time, James had the opportunity to see the members of the Order's children, such as Georgiana and Cassiopeia to talk.

    "I think my mom and Mr Weasley are investigating together," said Georgiana Hamilton, sitting on the floor in James's room.

    "Why do you think so?" Cassiopeia asked, curious.

    "Because I know they spend a lot of time together since they both were fired..."

    "I think it's possible," replied James thoughtful. "I heard my parents arguing about it the other day. I'm pretty sure my mom and my uncle Ron think that Sykes shouldn't be trusted."

    "Believe me, he shouldn't be trusted," Cassiopeia sadly approved.

    In the he following days, James continued to get as many information as he could, slipping his ears opened to any indiscreet conversation between her parents.

    On the first day of the trial, journalists were standing in the front of the Courtroom Ten, as well as all around the Ministry in such a great number it became difficult to keep an acceptable level of security within the ministry.

    At seven already, corridors were crowded with journalists, asking questions to anyone walking by the hearing room.

    Foreseeing the mess that would happen that day, Harry woke up early and came three hours before the trial began, and was accompanied by James who constantly insisted to join for days .

    In the Ministry's corridors, he saw Draco with Cassiopeia who waved at him from far.

    "Hello Hermione, whose audition is it today?" asked Harry when he saw her in front of the hearing room, with Sykes by her side.

    "That's the beginning of the trial, so it will be very general, and..."

    Suddenly, Hermione stopped talking and her face changed: at the other end of the corridor, she saw that Ron and Hamilton, standing in the entrance with a dozen of journalists from all around the world.

    The Courtroom has rarely been as full as this day, where the full criminal trial was held. All high bunches was crowded with witches and wizards wearing plum robes and hats, and all sits were taken in the audience. James was sitting at the back at the room, few seats away from Cassiopeia, Georgiana and Andrew, along with other Hogwarts students with their parents who mainly came to attend the trial of the man who could be responsible for the Hogwarts attack.

    In the middle of the front row, sitting between Sykes and Hermione, Harry Potter was presiding the hearing as Minister of Magic. The indecisively buzzing background noise of people's talks around the room turned into a tensed and intense silence when Yaxley entered the hearing room, solidly held by three Aurors who led him to the chair in the center of the room, and heavy chains tightly bound him as soon as he sat on it.

    Harry couldn't feel anything else than pity for the man who was sitting on the old and rusty chair standing in the middle of the room: Yaxley's hair, usually silky grey and tied in a neat braid, were now wild, and this filthy, inform mass of bridled hair covered his face, and fell down so low it touched the floor once he was sitting. His beard had grown as well, as chaotically dirty as his hair. Harry couldn't decide if it was due to the large, greyish and dirty rags we was wearing, but Yaxley looked alarmingly thin, with his pale skin that made him look like a corpse. Yaxley remained motionless in his chair, as though he was sleeping or dead, triggering embarrassed whispers across the room.