Blurred Lines Mods (blurred_mods) wrote in blurred_lines, @ 2009-07-09 15:58:00 |
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Entry tags: | ! [1980-07] july, aberforth dumbledore, chloris burke (née lestrange), demetrius mulciber, dolores umbridge (née selwyn), hephaestus burke, tabitha macfusty (née bagnold) |
Who: Dolores Umbridge, Demetrius Mulciber, Chloris Burke, Hephaestus Burke, Tabitha MacFusty, Aberforth Dumbledore
What: A trial of traitors
Where: Wizengamot courtroom #6
When: 9 July 1980
Status: Logged, complete
Rating: PG
The courtroom was buzzing with excitement and rumours, crammed nearly to the brim with spectators and loafers and those who simply wanted to see which unfortunate souls had been caught attempting to betray the state. Treachery had no real definition any more, though the people thought they understood the crime. They would never betray the state, so they knew that whatever crimes these people had (allegedly, though no one thought of anything but guilt whilst inside these walls) committed must have been above and beyond their scope of understanding.
Scapegoats for national fear were always a beneficial thing for law enforcement, particularly the sort of law enforcement that would one day lead to a tyranny. The prisoners were public spectacles, and their verdict already decided.
Cheers rang out as the Wizengamot entered through a side door and slowly filtered into the seats behind their leader, Dolores Umbridge, who was wearing macabrely cheerful robes the colour of dead salmon, and then quickly turned to jeers as "The prisoners will come forth" was announced. A side door opened, and through it came the accused: Chloris Burke, Hephaestus Burke, Tabitha Macfusty, and Aberforth Dumbledore.
The idea that she was going to be jeered at and on trial was not something that Chloris Burke had ever thought would come to pass. And yet, here she was, being led out far too roughly by a guard (I can walk without you pulling me, thank you very much), being led toward the chairs with horrible looking chains. Even seeing Hephaestus, which should have eased her mind at least some, did not raise her hopes. However, Chloris held her head high and took her seat gracefully; she managed not to flinch as the chains wrapped around her arms, nor look ashamed or weak in front of the Wizengamot. Her Lestrange stubbornness shown through, and even with the way she held her head, one could not mistake that this was, indeed, Rodolphus Lestrange's sister.
The sense of deja vu sat heavily on Hephaestus, adding pressure to an indistinct point behind his eyes. He'd witnessed this scene play out before, and where there'd been little enough hope for justice under the power of Bartemius Crouch, it seemed that there was even less so now. There was a bleakness to his already aquiline features as he was led in, pausing only to ascertain that Chloris was here with him too before, prompted by a gruff "C'mon" from the guard who accompanied him, he resumed his unevenly walked way to the awaiting chairs. Silent, ignoring the heckling cries that emanated from the crowd, he lowered himself onto one of them, galled but unsurprised when the chains began to twine their way around him.
Tabitha walked in, unbound, but looking terrified. She was hardly in any shape to fight, and wasn't sure it was a very wise idea anyway, given the consequences that might befall Ioan if she were to struggle. This was precisely the sort of thing they'd been hearing about, and possibly a precursor to what had happened to James.
She'd never been subject to being stared at in anger by a group of people, and though it was her instinct to cower away from their unfriendly gazes, she tried to lift her chin. She hadn't done anything wrong and she wouldn't let them tell her otherwise. She took a seat on one of the chairs, a small noise escaping her as the chains wrapped about her.
Abe shambled in, shoulders slumped and his eyes appearing to be unfocused and blurred. His hair and beard were a rat's nest and his robes rucked around and wrinkled. All in all, he thought he looked the very picture of the half-crazed old man that so many people thought he was. The look was actually easier to achieve than most people though and it gave him the opportunity to think, to watch what what was going on and to plan while people dismissed him and thought he was harmless. Not that knew how he was going to get himself out of this one.
Dolores Umbridge gave a sweet, toady smile to those sitting before her, but she was laced with malice from the velvet bow perched in her horribly potioned blonde curls to the vindictive glance she gave Demetrius, seated at her right hand. Standing, she raised her fat fist to her lips, giving a girlish hem hem and then waiting, with noxious patience, for everyone to notice her and be seated. They did, albeit reluctantly, and she turned upon the prisoners with a vicious zeal.
"The under-secretary to the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement will now read the charges against the accused." She delighted in referring to herself in the third person, and stood a few seconds longer to bask in the rapt attention of the audience, before allowing Demetrius to stand.
Standing and staring down the prisoners in an oddly expressionless way, and taking his time with reading the charges. Mostly out of spite for Umbridge, which seemed to motivate a lot lately. "The accused are charged with the following," he started apathetically. "Tabitha MacFusty, for supporting the activities of terrorists." His eyes now flickered from Tabitha to Aberforth Dumbledore. "Aberforth Dumbledore, for the aiding and abetting of terrorist organizations." Staring down Chloris now, with a gaze that was half-scared and half-angry, he looked from Umbridge (she was enjoying this, wasn't she?) back to the parchment in his hands.
"And Chloris and Hephaestus Burke are charged with conspiring to commit treason," he finished, his voice taking a noticeable dive in pitch as he said it. Once he was finished reading, he sat down rather quickly. Not one to bask in this sort of attention, not today at least.
Umbridge leaned forward with some relish after Demetrius finished, and then announced to the courtroom: "Questioning of the accused will now begin."
"Mr and Mrs Burke -- how long have you known you would betray your country?"
HB: I was never aware of any intention, on my part or my wife's.
"Mr Dumbledore, what were your motivations in colluding with terrorists?"
AD: I was motivated by the running of the salmon up the Severn. They were moving in zig-zag patterns and any wizard worth his salt knows that means that the time for revolution is at hand! Vive la Revolution!
"Mrs MacFusty -- did your mother's leanings influence your decision to support the activities of the terrorist organizations?"
TM: I have never been in any terrorist organisations! My mum believed in justice and --
"Thank you Mrs MacFusty. But haven't you been friends with those who have acted against the government? Would you like to denounce those who object to this administration?"
TM: "I... well yes they're my friends, but --"
"Mrs MacFusty, please answer the question. Do you or do you not denounce the acts of those opposed to the current government?"
TM: "I can't denounce fighting oppression!"
"The only people oppressed under this government are terrorists. That seems like an admission of guilt."
TM: "No it isn't!"
"Were you or were you not close to many of the confirmed terrorists, including Rufus Scrimgeour, Nicholas Williamson, and Octavius Pepper?"
TM: "Yes, but --"
"So you admit that you have connections to known terrorists and that you are also friendly with those who oppose the current administration. Thank you Mrs MacFusty."
TM: "But!"
"That will be all, Mrs MacFusty"
"Mr Dumbledore -- please describe for the court your relationship with your brother, noted terrorist and malcontent?"
AD: We've secretly been performing a double act on the stage at the Albert Theatre for the last decade. He was the comedian and I was the straight man. We were acclaimed far and wide for the wittiness of our repartee.
"Mr Dumbledore -- this court is not a circus side show, do you agree with your brother, Albus Dumbledore's treasonous views?"
AD: It isn't? Then you really shouldn't wear those robes. Though to answer your question, I'm afraid I don't know. I've never been able to work out which of Albus' views were treasonous and which were patriotic. The definition of treasonous and patriotic seems to keep changing every time I turn around. Disadvantage of being an old man I'm afraid.
"Mr and Mrs Burke -- what information have you provided your foreign contacts about the British Ministry?"
CB: My only foreign contacts have been to obtain magical objects for the Museum. The only words I spoke were those of praise at being allowed to start such a formidable institution.
"But Mrs Burke, did you not call these contacts (shuffle of parchment) 'unsavoury'? You do realise the connotations of having contact with unsavoury foreigners, do you not?"
CB: My contacts happen to be the same ones that my brother, Rodolphus Lestrange and his associate, Severus Snape, who I believe work for the Ministry, uses. I use the word unsavoury of those who are beneath my social status. Perhaps wrong, but hardly a crime worthy of the Wizengamot.
"Mrs Burke, are you implying that your brother and the minister's undersecretary have also had communications with foreigners in muggle contact? Is there any additional information you would like to give us about your friends' or family's interaction with foreigners? This may positively impact your sentencing..."
CB: I do not believe I said anything about my contacts being foreigners or muggles.
"Mrs Burke you just stated that your foreign contacts, whom you referred to as unsavoury, were those used to obtain magical objects for the museum. You then say that these same contacts are those your brother, Rodolphus Lestrange, and under-secretary to the minister Severus Snape, have used before. Would you like to give us more information about these two men's communications with these 'contacts'?
CB: Let me clarify this for you as simply as possible. You asked about my foreign contacts and what I have told them about the Ministry. I responded that the foreign contacts I have are from the museum, and they have heard nothing but praise.
CB: You then asked me about my other contacts whom I referred to as unsavoury. These are two separate sets of contacts. Though some of my foreign contacts are underneath my social status, I do not have it readily available to me whether they are or not, unlike my contacts from England.
CB: If you remember, the terrorists destroyed my brother's library. He has been attempting to regather his volumes, and therefore uses traders and other contacts that I also have had to use for the museum. I do not believe any of us: myself, Mr. Lestrange, or Mr. Snape have done anything illegal, and in fact, have been gathering these books and items in order to enrich the culture of our society as a whole.
"Mr & Mrs Burke -- have you used your supply contacts to export any resources outside of the country into foreign banks or assets?"
HB: The only 'resource' I exported was the payment of fees my contacts charged for their services, which is not a crime, but the manner in which business is conducted.
Mr & Mrs Burke -- why did you wish to contact muggles to secure your escape from the country?"
CB: I did not wish to contact muggles. I merely wished to leave the country, which as a pureblood and someone that has always been loyal to the country, I should have been allowed. And before you accuse me of being a traitor, I believe what the Ministry has been accomplishing these past few months has been nothing short of great. I wished to leave the country because a threat had been made upon my family. What kind of mother would I be if I ignored those threats and left my children in danger.
"Mrs Burke -- are you suggesting that the government is incapable of protecting its people against foreign threats?"
CB: I am suggesting that when even the Minister's own house burns down with his children within, a mother must take every precaution necessary.
"Mrs Burke -- so you are saying that you and your husband should be free to break a law meant to protect the people at your convenience?"
CB: No, I am saying that I believe anyone who has been targeted by these terrorists, as my family has been, should have the option to leave the country until it is more stable. England is my home and I never had any intention of leaving forever.
"Mrs Burke -- I'm so sorry, I must have misunderstood. Are you claiming that you did not respond to your husband's statement 'I don't see our laws stopping the Muggles from travelling' with 'it's the only way ... I think I know someone'?
CB: I am not going to deny words that everyone seems to have heard over the wireless, though that conversation was taken completely out of context. However, the someone I was speaking of might be able to make arrangements, but was not a muggle themselves.
"Mrs Burke -- did you or did you not say that circumventing our laws in order to leave the country via muggle means was the only way to deal with your situation?"
CB: As my husband and I had already tried legally to obtain permission to leave the country, including asking the Minister himself, we did not see any other way. I was desperate to protect my children, something I will not apologize for.
"Mrs Burke -- do you believe that the Minister for Magic deliberately put you and your children at risk?"
CB: No. Absolutely not. Aeneas and his wife Claudette have been nothing but allies and friends to us.
"Mrs Burke -- would you like to name this person who clearly has contact with muggles and may be connected to terrorists? It may reflect positively upon your insistence that you did not conspire to commit treason."
CB: (after a looooooooong pause) I contacted Mr. Sirius Black. His only crime, I believe, has been defecting from his family, and I know he associates with muggleborns.
"(After a similarly long pause) Thank you, Mrs Burke, that will be all."
"Mr Dumbledore, did you or did you not fire upon officers of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement during the lawful arrest of your brother, Albus Dumbledore?"
AD: My brother wasn't arrested! He was killed. Murder most foul. Unless... maybe he was arrested! Is he here? Great balls of fire. Has the wretch been having a bit of fun at my expense? I won't have it, sir. I tell you I won't have it!
"Mr Dumbledore, would you say that your family has had a history of mental instability and/or insanity?"
AD: I wouldn't know. Don't they say that those who are insane are the last people to know it? I wonder if the same thing stands for those who are sane? Though of course the overriding question is more how does one determine sanity and insanity? It seems to be a very subjective thing. One man's sanity is another man's insanity and vice versa.
"Mr Dumbledore, it is common knowledge and the official record of this court that your brother was killed due to his violent reaction during a lawful arrest. Did you or did you not fire upon officers of the DMLE at that time?"
AD: Of course not. The officers of the DMLE were doing the same thing I was, firing upon the Death Eaters who were trying to get into Hogwarts for some reason. I can't imagine why they wanted to get into the school unless they felt like they hadn't completed their education and needed more. There is a certain amount of sense in that thought given what they've been doing of late.