Inside My Mind (A Harry Potter Fanfiction)

Chapter LXXXII

Courtroom Ten, Level Ten, Ministry of Magic, London, England, Great Britain

Saturday the 8th of August 1997

1:34 PM

Christine sat nervously as Bella approached her with a vial of Veritaserum. Bella held it out and Christine raised a shaking hand to accept the vial. She took it and uncorked it and looked down at the half full vial that Ginny had taken before. Ginny had very nearly humiliated herself with her comments and Christine hoped she wouldn't do the same.

Christine raised it to her lips and Bella grabbed her hand, suddenly. Christine looked at her in shock and Bella took the vial from her hand, suddenly. She sighed and whispered something over it. The potion remained clear and Bella gave it back to her. Christine frowned.

"Just checking. I'm frightfully paranoid," Bella smiled. Hermione snorted and rolled her neck before her crazed eyes fell on Christine. Christine flinched at the insane smile on the young woman's face.

"Relax, darling. You're not the one on trial," Hermione said, almost as if she were Christine's mother or aunt. Christine shuddered at the idea and Hermione cackled, rolling her eyes. She leaned back and Bella gave her a look. Christine took a sip and suddenly she felt her world go strange.

She felt as if she were shoved to the back of her mind. She didn't have control any longer. She was just a witness to the event that was going to happen. Her mind had gone onto auto-pilot and she looked at Bella.

"State you name."

"Christine Jolie Jackson."

"Very good. Very pretty. Where were you on the eighteenth of June?"

"I was at Hogwarts. In the library. I went to my classes and then I went to the library," Christine said. She tried to frown but her face was a blank mask. She couldn't control what she was saying and it was disconcerting. She tried to blink and she was happy to see that she could do that.

"Who were in the library with?" Bella asked.

Bella had to get Christine over with, quickly. Ginny had essentially given all that they needed but there was something about Christine…she needed a second point of view. A second point of view that came specifically from another student. Then, Bella could move on and brace herself for whatever Tom had up his sleeve.

"Gideon Weasley, Ginny Weasley, and Michael Brown. They were sitting with me," Christine said, softly.

"Miss Weasley previously stated that Miss Granger was also in the library. Can you prove this?" Bella continued with her hands on her hips.

She frowned when she felt a gaze on her. She looked over her shoulder at Tom who was lounging in his seat. He was giving her a look that went straight to her knees and she controlled her blush. His gaze was full of lust and want and Bella wanted him.

Oh, she wanted him…

But not wasn't the time to think about her insecurities and reservations about sex.

"I heard her laugh. It was loud and she was laughing until she left the library," Christine whispered and her blank expression did nothing to hide the fear that flashed through her eyes. Bella shook her head and cleared her throat.