Apples and Snakes

Are You Okay?

Look, I need in for the trial," I said.

"You need signed permission," the guard insisted.

"She has mine," I heard someone say. I turned to see Marie Greengrass come over. I looked at her.

"I'm the defendant's lawyer," she explained. "You must be Alice Potter, the only witness we managed to get. Your endorsement will go a long way, I assure you."

I chuckled bitterly. "If you said that last week, I'd've asked what you were smoking."

She nodded sympathetically. "I'm sorry for your loss, by the way."

"It's fine," I lied.

Stupid Rita Skeeter had somehow found out and started spreading it everywhere about how I'd lost my lover, and she made me want to Avada Kedavra her butt. Now people were giving me all these looks and telling me how sorry they were, when they could've cared less just last week. Others were giving me looks as to how weak I supposedly was for breaking down, or how I was a b**** for shutting off my emotions.

"No, it's not. I understand that you're trying to hide your feelings because you have a job to do. But bottling up your emotions like that isn't healthy," Ms. Greengrass said.

I just stared at her. "Just let me do the job I came here to do," I said, as I held a file I'd picked up from Wendelin Fawley down at the Department of Mysteries. "After this, I have to take my O.W.L.s, so I can actually get a job once I graduate."

Ms. Greengrass nodded. "I just appreciate that you've been so willing to do this."

I nodded, and twisted my promise ring. "He would've wanted me to. He was always so naive and forgiving."

"Sounds like he was a wonderful young man," She replied respectfully.

"Are you going in or not?" A guard asked, annoyed.

"I am," I told her. I walked in to a cell similar to the one I'd spent the past five months in. Ky was sitting on the bench that was built in. His clothes were changed, and he looked mostly fine, except for the guilty, stricken, fearful expression, that was also resigned to his fate.

"Hello, princess. Come to continue the prosecution?" He asked.

I folded my arms over my chest. "No, I'm actually a defending witness, for your information." I almost let my neutral expression slip at how melancholy my voice sounded, how bitter, and resigned to being so.

"You shouldn't have to do that," he said, not even making an attempt to move.

"Actually, I do. Wesley would've wanted me to. Your family actually came to me begging for me to defend you," I said. He flinched when I said Wesley's name. "What does that bother you?"

"Look, I'm sorry, and I know that will never make up for-"

"Save it," I said. I was too tired to deal with an apology that might never hit my heart. "Look, I don't think you deserve the death penalty. Maybe a month in Azkaban, but no, looking at you, if the Ministry wants to go for the worst for you, it's letting you live, knowing that you caused those deaths. And you deserve that."

"Well, thanks, princess."

I looked down at my boots. "I also used some Potter influence, and managed to get this from the Department of Mysteries." I handed him the file Fawley had given me, Alex's sister, actually- he pulled in the favor.

He read it, and while waiting, I stared at the ceiling. Already, it felt like the walls were closing in on me. I closed my eyes and placed a hand out to catch myself against the adjacent wall, and gained control of my breathing.

"So those blood samples were taken because Fudge wants a reason to get rid of two super weapons," he said, as he reached the file out to me. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," I snapped and straightened, taking the file back. "Basically, and this report basically states that they were forced to fabricate the results that were used to determine my sanity and truthfulness in my own trial."

"I'm sorry about that, you know," he said suddenly.

"I don't have the energy to do this right now," I said, rubbing my eyes. "So save it. Just save it."

"Never thought I'd see you like this," he said softly.

"Like what?" I snapped.

"So...defeated." He answered.

"Not a part of the court case," I dismissed. "Let's just talk about your defense, shall we?"

"Of course, princess." He dipped his head in an attempt at respect.

A small bit of anger surfaced, annoyance and frustration, but with it, one teardrop that could break the dam. I closed my eyes. Pretend it doesn't exist. You can't afford this.

"Are you okay?" He asked.

"Would people stop asking me if I'm okay?" I burst out. There were already tears, the salty traitors. "Because I'm not. And I won't be okay tomorrow, or next week, and we can cross next year off too. I will someday be okay, but it may be three years from now or a good twenty years from now. So please, don't ask."

Ky nodded, eying me with some sort of pity, something I almost couldn't stand, not anymore.

"Of course, princess," he answered.

I felt my cheeks red. Being with Wesley had made me let all my physical guards down.

"Part of your case will be that the Ministry is going to unfair grounds because of the experiments. This is unfair, and will have to stop," I said.

"Why bother? I'm guilty, and they know it," Ky replied.

"You don't get to decide that," I snapped. "The Wizengamot gets to, so don't you dare say that. Besides, I felt it. The manipulation. I am going to help you, or so help me."

"It's more than I deserve," he insisted.

I sighed. "Well, at least know that someone's on your side."

With that, I exited. The guilt, and the pain stayed in my mind for the rest of the day.