harry potter fate be changed - Althea potter X Caleb lupin-black

chapter 8- court

(this happens a few months after Jason is arrested)

Althea p.o.v

It has been three months since Jason was arrested, Caleb is slowly getting better,coming out his shell and being more like himself again although he still needs support after everything that happened he still have nightmares, not even the potions that madam pomfrey gave him work, but one thing I have noticed is if we cuddle and he falls asleep he doesn't have nightmares so I decided to give him an old blanket of mine so he can rest more easily.

Today Caleb and I was pulled out of quidditch practice and told to get ready as we were going to court for Jason's trial as witnesses , I glance at Caleb and notice he had gone tense again, I gently take his hand giving it a gentle and loving squeeze "come on Caleb all you have to do is tell them the truth then you won't have to worry about that bastard for ages, besides I will be there with you" I say calmly, he looks over at me and I feel him relax slightly he nods making me smile.

Caleb and I go to the our dorms to get dressed into Muggle clothes before meeting back in McGonagall's office where our parents were already waiting, I watch as each adult takes a handful of floo powder before poofing into emerald green flames, I go first before Caleb arrives a few moments later, he looks around slightly tensed before relaxing when I take his hand gently in mine.

We make our way down to the court room in the elevator before stepping out and walking down the long corridor to the big room where a handful of ministry workers and guards already filled half the room I glance up at the ceiling only to see dementors hovering around unable to reach us due to the patronus barrier, a shiver goes down my spine the room feeling slightly cold.

We sit down on our designated spots and wait patiently for Jason to appear in the small spiky cage in the middle of the court room, a few moments later Jason slowly appeared in the cage chained to the seat, Caleb instantly tensed and whimpered trying to hide behind his parents and I, Jason glances over at us and sneers giving us an evil glare, Caleb whimpers even more so I gently rub circles on his hand with my thumb smoothly to calm him down, he relaxes slightly but still stayed alert.

Hermione walks into the room wearing her minister of magic uniform holding a small pile of files, she sits down in her seat looking at her case before glancing up at the people in the room, "we are here today for the prosecution of Jason Burke after gathering enough evidence from witnesses saying you have abused a school student also known as your ex Caleb lupin-black and you used an unforgivable curse" she says.

Individually she questioned different witnesses from Isla to Madam Pomfrey, it was now my turn to be questioned they gave me so veritiserum (truth potion) so I couldn't lie, "miss Potter i have been told by the professor's that you were the one that found mister Lupin-Black in an abandoned corridor on the slytherin corridor covered in blood and bruises, is that correct?" Hermione asks looking at me, I nod "yes ma'am I did find him" I reply, she nods writing something down before looking back at me "now before the night of the incident did you notice anything strange about caleb's behaviour?" she asks, I take a deep breath and nod "may you explain?" .

I give a small nod and look around "I had noticed at least a couple of months before hand that something was off about Caleb; he was always jumping when being touched or spoken to without him knowing your there, he always had bags under his eyes from lack of sleep, he seemed to have been losing weight and refused to eat when asked, he would randomly pass out in lesson or on the corridors and occasionally I saw faint bruises but when asked how he got them he would make up the excuse of he tripped or he walked into the wall" I explain making sure not to miss any information even though I couldn't under the influence of the truth potion.

Hermione nods "that's all I need to know thank you miss Potter, mister Lupin-Black can you take the stage now and explain your side of everything seeing as your the victim of all this", I look over at Caleb who tenses he shakes his head too scared to budge, I walk over gently taking his hand I tilts his chin so he's looking at me "it's okay Caleb your family and I are here to support you, do you want me to come with you?" I say reassuringly stroking the back of his hand, I watch as Caleb hesitated before nodding, I smile and lead him to the seat, he sits down but doesn't let go of my hand.