Chapter Nineteen: The Wiesengamo Trial
In the center of the stone chamber stood a tall, golden judge’s chair, exuding an aura of solemnity and gravity. How many earth-shattering secrets and crimes had been unveiled before it?
Headmaster Albus Dumbledore, wearing half-rimmed glasses, sat upon the chair, a pile of files before him. He glanced around and saw many old friends had gathered for this trial.
Beneath the highest bench, the scribes of the Wizengamot held quills, meticulously recording every word of the proceedings—none would be missed, for these records would become an eternal footnote in magical law.
Before long, all fifty members of the Wizengamot had assembled. It was known that during previous trials of Death Eaters, many jurors were absent. Outside the doors, reporters crowded eagerly, restless in their yearning to become the next Rita Skeeter.
“The last time we saw such formality was right after the war ended,” someone murmured.
Dumbledore tapped his wooden gavel, his aged yet powerful voice echoing throughout the stone chamber. “Silence!”
Instantly, the room fell into complete silence.
“The accused, Jessica, is present. Prosecution, please begin your statement,” Dumbledore said, turning toward the Ministry’s position.
Originally, an experienced senior prosecutor had occupied that seat, but now it was held by Theo, a Black man who had joined the Department of Magical Law Enforcement three years prior and quickly risen to the rank of prosecutor.
Taking a deep breath, Theo summoned his courage and stood. “Esteemed wizards of the Wizengamot!”
“The defendant, Jessica Travis, a follower of the Dark Lord...” His tone grew increasingly severe, even edged with hostility.
“Mom, who is the suspect? Who is the defendant? And who is the Dark Lord?” Rog’s youthful questions echoed in the chamber, causing Theo to falter momentarily.
“Silence, prosecution, please continue the inquiry,” Dumbledore rapped his gavel.
Jessica placed her index finger to her lips, signaling Rog to be quiet. Rog nodded; his sudden interruption had been a deliberate tactic to disrupt the prosecutor’s momentum and prevent Jessica from being painted as a ruthlessly evil Death Eater.
“Phew... The defendant Jessica Travis and her late husband Theodore Travis actively joined the ranks of Death Eaters during the rise of the Dark Lord. They carried out numerous violent attacks against Muggles and Muggle-born witches and wizards, causing significant damage.”
“I hold formal records from the Ministry of Magic, detailing the crimes committed by the defendant.” Theo had long prepared Jessica’s files and waved his wand to distribute copies.
Unfortunately, he had not anticipated the full attendance of all Wizengamot members and had to cast the Duplication Charm multiple times, wasting much effort to ensure each had a copy.
The dossiers landed in everyone’s hands, yet no one flipped through them. Growing anxious, Theo stepped to the center of the courtroom, opened a file, and called out, “Please take a look!”
“We have confirmed that the Travis couple participated in the murder of Bana, the kidnapping of the Evans family, arson attacks on Ministry institutions, disruption of Quidditch matches, illegal use of the Imperius Curse to control Muggles, among other offenses. These crimes constitute serious violations of the International Statute of Secrecy and the Unforgivable Curses Restriction Act.” Theo’s voice rose with passion, revealing a barely suppressed righteous indignation.
---
“Why don’t you all look at the book in your hands?” Theo demanded, but most wizards on the bench remained silent, some even sneering.
“Does the prosecution have any further evidence?” Dumbledore raised his head, signaling Theo to step down.
“Your Excellency Dumbledore...”
“Defense, please present your statement.”
“Thank you.”
“Ladies and gentlemen, as Jessica’s defense attorney, I ask you to set aside prejudices and examine her past with reason.” Albert King raised an objection calmly.
Having served as a prosecutor in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement for twenty years before recently leaving the Ministry to start his own wizard law firm, Albert was an old classmate of Draco Malfoy and delighted to take on this case, confident of victory and eager for fame.
“Firstly, the so-called Ministry records presented by the prosecution are questionable in authenticity. We demand the original documents for the court’s review.”
“The originals are right here!” Theo held up the files, causing Albert to beam.
“Are Ministry originals really subject to casual magical duplication? Your Excellency, Chief Sorcerer, and esteemed jurors, I have every reason to suspect these files may have been tampered with.”
Theo was no fool; he realized his mistake. Ministry files were enchanted with countercharms, and if those failed, the documents lost legal validity.
“Secondly, regarding the prosecution’s claim that Jessica actively joined the Death Eaters, is there any evidence? I have an original Ministry document here.” Albert handed the original to Dumbledore, wearing a triumphant expression as he challenged the opposition.
“Rog Travis’s birth certificate? What does that prove?”
“Ladies and gentlemen, Mrs. Jessica Travis was born Jessica Lestrange. She graduated from Hufflepuff and worked in France after graduation. In 1979, she returned to the British wizarding community and married Theodore Travis.”
“Please note, Rog was born in 1980. This means Mrs. Travis became pregnant shortly after her wedding.”
“Objection!”
“Objection overruled,” Dumbledore tapped his gavel and motioned for prosecutor Theo to sit.
“How could a woman about to become a mother willingly become a Death Eater? It must have been coercion from other Death Eaters that forced the Travis couple into serving the Dark Lord.”
“Jessica’s love as a mother is evident. During eleven years imprisoned in Azkaban, surrounded by Dementors, she kept her child alive. Moreover, she deeply regrets ever becoming part of the Death Eaters.”
---
“Mrs. Travis truly loves her child,” one juror nodded in agreement with Albert.
“Look at how frail they are; it shows the horror of Azkaban.”
“Indeed, eleven whole years. Such a pitiful child, such a heroic mother!”
...
Albert was pleased with the reaction. Clearing his throat, he continued to build the atmosphere: “We lived through turbulent times. Many individuals and families suffered hardships. We cannot judge those years by ordinary standards.”
“I find the prosecution’s accusations dubious. A mother so loving should not be deemed guilty.”
“Agreed!”
“Agreed!”
...
“Agreed!”
...
One by one, the Wizengamot members raised their wands; green sparks—the symbol of agreement—burst from their tips. Fifty green sparks blossomed in the ancient stone chamber, witnessing a rare unanimous verdict.
Dumbledore raised his gavel and struck it down heavily: “The Wizengamot finds Jessica Travis not guilty. From this day forward, all her rights as a witch are restored.”
Cheers erupted around the chamber. Jessica held Rog tightly, tears streaming hotly from her eyes. Everyone rose to bless this brave mother and son, except for Theo, who sat despondently.
When he took the case, the director had promised him a triple promotion. He had arrogantly believed he would be a candidate for director himself. Now, all those hopes had vanished like a mirage.
The Ministry officials accompanying Theo also applauded, yet their hearts were uneasy. According to the Wizengamot’s judgment, Jessica and her husband had been coerced by the Dark Lord and the Death Eaters—they were entirely innocent.