The Wizengamot vs. Blackwood | Invite

Friday, September 30, 1921
The Wizengamot Courtroom,
9 AM

The hour had come.

The trials had been highly publicised from the moment charges had been levied. The Daily Prophet gave daily updates, counting down until the professors and their headmistress could face judgment. Opinions varied, depending on whose company you happened to be in when the topic arose. Some laid blame squarely at the feet of the late astronomy professor. Thayer had been a mad dog, eagerly sprinting behind his master. He'd been willing to sacrifice as many students as it took to see Halloway a free man again. It could be argued that such a man could never be reasoned with.

Others saw the blame handed to those a little closer to the matter, the professors and their incompetent headmistress, who'd allowed the man to successfully infiltrate the castle and put the students at harm. Their failure to keep an adequate eye on the institution and its students led directly to the man being able to gain the hold and access to the students that he did – or so the narrative went.

Where the guilt actually lay? That was what the trial was for. By the end of the proceedings, Gideon Blackwood would know where he stood with the law. He would be handed his verdict and allowed to return to his duties or carted off to make some new friends in a dark cell in that tall tower in the North Sea.

Dorian led the way into the courtroom with brisk strides. Documents in hand, he took his seat at the head of the courtroom. He spread his papers before him, each side by side, allowing his gaze to quickly travel over each in search of information as it became relevant without need for unnecessary and disruptive shuffling.

"Take your seats quickly. We're about to begin," he said.

Dorian gave all in attendance a moment to take their positions before he continued. "My name is Dorian Montreaux and I'll be the facilitator for this morning's proceedings. As a reminder to the courtroom, there will be no speaking out of turn. Once the doors have been closed, no one is allowed in or out until the conclusion of the matter. Wand usage is not permitted within the courtroom unless under the directive of the prosecutor, defence or facilitator as a means of presenting evidence. The verdict of the facilitator – in this case, myself – is immediate and final."

The man fixed his gaze on the defendant, his expression betraying nothing of what he may have felt inside. His personal biases had been set aside at the door. As facilitator, he was neither there to encourage nor disparage the deputy headmaster.

"Gideon Blackwood, you stand accused of first-degree manslaughter under Magical Statute 345.B and child endangerment under Magical Statute 102.A."

---

Welcome to the first of the Wizengamot trials. Before posting, please familiarise yourself with the courtroom rules found here, if you haven't already. We'll be moving on in a day!

"Take your seats quickly. We're about to begin.”

Bertram entered the chamber. Crossing the threshold was a sobering experience, not to be taken lightly. The members of this body held the lives of the accused in their hands. As the head of the Nordstrom family, Bertram held the spot of Wizengamot member. As a former solicitor and current head of the Magical Affairs office, these proceedings were right up his alley.

Finding his spot, Bertram took in the chambers, eyeing those that had already settled in. Montreaux, standing at the podium, facilitator for these proceedings, looked ready for the job. One he, himself, would be conducting in just over a month for the Headmistress of Hogwarts. The outcome of this trial all the more interesting to the man.

The spot in front of him filled with a familiar face, one that looked drawn with worry. Rupert Blackwood, father of the accused and head of the Blackwood family. They had been acquaintances for decades, the Blackwood’s selling the finest suits in the wizarding world and the only place Bertram would shop. A simple hand on his shoulder with a squeeze, it wasn’t much, but it was all he could offer in the moment.

As more members entered and took their seats, Bram turned his eyes to the accused and his solicitor. Gideon looked ready. There was no other way to describe him. The Solicitor, someone Bram had battled with on more than one occasion in the courtroom, looked determined and ready for battle. Corvus Penhaligon, early 60s, Pureblood and a beast of a solicitor. Well researched, confidant and a beast of a litigator. Gideon picked well.

"My name is Dorian Montreaux and I'll be the facilitator for this morning's proceedings. As a reminder to the courtroom, there will be no speaking out of turn. Once the doors have been closed, no one is allowed in or out until the conclusion of the matter. Wand usage is not permitted within the courtroom unless under the directive of the prosecutor, defence or facilitator as a means of presenting evidence. The verdict of the facilitator – in this case, myself – is immediate and final."

And so it begins.

Anger and fear raged in the depths of his soul. Not that he could show that, he needed to be stoic, quiet, reticent.

Gideon stood next to Corvus Penhaligon, a family friend and monster in the courtroom. Thank Merlin they were on the same side. They didn’t speak as Corvus flipped through papers, reminding himself of the evidence they would present in the case. Gideon, for his part, was standing still, looking every part of the Pureblood Gentleman.

"Take your seats quickly. We're about to begin.”

Looking at Corvus, he nodded with finality. Walking towards the chair that sat in the center of the chamber, his gait was neither rushed nor hesitant, it was measured. Unbuttoning his suit coat, Gideon sat with confidence. His hands still, his posture straight, head held high. He didn’t fidget, adjust his tie or tap his foot. Gideon was a picture of absolute terrifying self control, possessing an unwavering conviction that he was innocent of all charges.

Sitting before the members, presenting himself like a masterclass in elegant tailoring. His suit was not merely grey, but a deeply textured charcoal herringbone. The bespoke suit was molded to his frame like a second skin. On closer inspection, the finer details could be noticed if you looked close enough. The silk threads, carved ox-horn buttons, the green silk pocket square and tie, so dark they were almost black.

His eyes roamed over the members of the Wizengamot as they entered and took their seats. Landing on the same blue as his own, his stomach lurched as his father looked back on him in worry. Gideon’s face gave away nothing. There were others in the crowd he knew, some with hate. Landing next on those of James Laurence. The fire of anger was lit as his blue eyes connected with James’ light brown.

Unfortunately working with James was a necessary evil. It turns out that Gideon would do just about anything to stay with Roisin and Fiona.

"Gideon Blackwood, you stand accused of first-degree manslaughter under Magical Statute 345.B and child endangerment under Magical Statute 102.A."

What a lovely day for a Wizengamot trial.

The man strode in somewhere amongst the crowd of red-donned bodies, his gait relaxed but purposeful as it usually was. He adjusted the ridiculous hat that all of them were required to wear through these proceedings, before taking his place amongst the body.

It was a solemn affair - as the vast majority of trials were - but James couldn't help the smirk that appeared at the corner of his lips when his eyes found those of the accused. Could he blame Blackwood for the fire that raged behind blue irises? Not really, if James thought awhile on it. The man had done what he thought was the right thing to do, and here he was - having to answer to the crime of manslaughter and child endangerment for his troubles.

An injustice if James had ever heard of one.

Truly.

He had nothing against Blackwood; in fact he would be rather pivotal for him in the months leading up to the trial of Merrow, but that was neither her nor there for the time being.

Blackwood's bell was tolling, and as Montreaux called the Wizengamot body to order, James shifted his gaze slightly to Harper seated on the opposite side of the facilitator bench. They shared only the briefest of glances before he straightened, waiting for the opening statements to be read.

The first of four, one of the more interesting ones. One with an outcome that could become important. Doubtlessly useful, should it go according to plan.

The doors opened and Montreaux led the way into the courtroom, followed by the accused, his lawyer, and the Wizengamot body itself. Notepad and quill firmly clasped against her chest, Harper made her way across the room and towards the judges' balcony, heels clacking hollowly in the grand space, robes billowing with her purposeful strides. She only briefly glanced towards Blackwood as she passed by him, face void of any emotion, schooled into its usual unreadable neutrality.

He looked determined enough, keeping his posture tall and relaxed, the picture of convinced innocence. Good. A nervous, cowering version would likely not stand much of a chance to begin with.

Harper had familiarized herself with the case over the past weeks, naturally. In her opinion the accusation of first-degree manslaughter was complete nonsense. Blackwood had been one of the few rushing in to free the abducted children from the grasp of a man that wouldn't have shied away from going to the utmost length in order to see his demands met He had been willing to face just that for himself should the ordeal have gone a different way than it had.

Thayer had been a lunatic, a deranged fanatic whose death no one should mourn. Dead or locked up in Askaban, the result would have been the same. This way had simply been the quicker version.

On the matter of child endangerment though...

It was hard to argue against the fact that he, as the Deputy Headmaster, along his colleagues, could have prevented the whole thing had he and the others only been more vigilant in spotting the imposter hiding and plotting right under their noses. Almost an entire school year had passed and neither him nor any of the others had even so much as suspected any foul play.

Hard to argue against but not impossible.

Thanks to her father's occupation as a lawyer himself, Harper was familiar with the man at Blackwood's side. They'd be fine.

Harper's gaze brushed along James's for a mere split second before it settled on Montreaux, her full attention narrowed in on the trial beginning to unfold, notepad and quill ready on her crossed legs.

Surprise would be the word Galen would use for his father’s decision; logically it made sense, however he was far from the favorite son in the MacLean family and he’d been sure his older brother Alastair would have been chosen to take up the Wizengamot reins from the Colonel.

This was his first time in the courtroom, and it was every bit austere as he had imagined. He let his eyes drift over the bodies in the room, recognizing most of them from the Pureblood society that his parents only rarely stepped into. Still, he knew James – he nodded at him – and recognized the man on trial.

He bought his suits at Blackwood & Sons, though he didn't have nearly as many as the others in the room he was sure. The air was thick with pressure; the body language he could see most everyone using was stiff. Some of them, like himself, were new to the Wizengamot and weren’t sure what to expect.

Galen listened as the facilitator read out the charges that Blackwood was going on trial for; the first – first-degree manslaughter – was rubbish. Nothing that the prosecution could bring forth would convince him otherwise. Even though he felt confident about that position, he knew he had to be impartial. If the prosecution were to prove his guilt on the charge, he’d have no choice but to vote in that way.

Child endangerment, however, wasn’t nearly as cut-and-dry. There were a lot of questions in regards to the new management of Hogwarts and who may be at fault for not catching on that there were two Halloway sympathizers among the staff. Would Galen have done better? Would he have prevented it?

He had been trained to have a keen eye when it came to the way that people behaved; he’d like to think that he would have done better.

Blackwood was the first of the four trials, and it would set the tone for the others.

Quick glances. Worried faces. Sober expressions.

The air was cool, being in the dungeons of the ministry, and the courtroom itself was expansive. Victor’s focus soon drifted from the room back to the people in it. The composed expression of the accused, the stiff postures of some of his fellow sitting members. Those who were the center of the trial looked as if they had spent time preparing.

Victor strode through the room, weaving in between the chairs until he reached his own. He would have preferred to have chosen one of his lower-key dress robes filled with plenty of pockets, paired with a crisp suit underneath, but he had reluctantly donned the crimson uniform required. No matter; a few subtle modifications would do.

As Victor moved, he gave a polite nod in response to anyone who caught his gaze. He had only been in a courtroom once before, but it had given the same impression. People played by the rules of justice on the outside while underneath it had been a game. That had been his experience, and he was quick to apply it to the current one.

Though he did keep his usual smile on his face, it was admittedly less pronounced. His grin twitched further upwards briefly to address the person beside him as he took his seat before returning to his half smile.

He wasn’t here to be loud. He wasn’t here to draw attention. He was here for information.

The voice of the facilitator cut into the silence, announcing the trial. Victor noted the sudden stillness of the room and centred his attention on the man in charge.

They were ready to begin.

While the last of the attendees took their place, Dorian took a look at his fellow Wizengamot gathered on either side of his chair. Distinguished, prepared for the task, and ready to cast judgment when the last of the evidence was presented and all was said and done.

His eyes lingered a moment on the older Blackwood as he took his seat, Dorian's even expression hiding his disapproval for the man's presence. Rupert was either too dim or otherwise too careless to realise the conflict of interest it would be to sit in on the trial of his own son. How could they assure the wizarding world—and the gathered press—of their impartiality as a counsel when the man with the most desire to see his son free was one of them allowed to decide his fate?

It was in poor taste and an unflattering look for the man who lacked the decency to recuse himself for the sake of ensuring proper justice.

Barely begun, and it was already a bit of a farce.

Seeing no need to draw further attention to the small act of lunacy, Dorian lifted the first paper, ready to address them all.

"Honoured members of the Wizengamot, we are gathered here to uncover the truth behind the incident that took place in Hogwarts' Dark Tower on the night of March 12, 1921. This case asks whether Professor Gideon Blackwood – in his capacity as Deputy Headmaster and Head of House – exercised appropriate judgment once it became clear that three students were being held hostage.

Evidence already presented suggests that Professor Blackwood entered a confined space with full knowledge that the children were bound, injured, and in imminent danger. Despite this knowledge, he entered the tower, employing brute force, heedless of the threat it posed to the girls.

You will hear testimony of high-impact spells that were exchanged while the students remained unsecured inside the line of fire. Evidence will be presented to demonstrate the proximity of those spells in relation to the hostages.

There are no reports of effective disengagement or extraction occurring before the confrontation escalated further.

In addition, it is alleged that Blackwood neglected his duties as deputy headmaster, allowing two terrorist sympathisers to not only remain employed but also to move about the castle uninhibited, creating an unsafe environment for all students within its walls by way of tampered wards and spells. Such negligence led to the events of March 12, 1921, placing minors at prolonged risk."

He paused to look up at the man, but his gaze never lingered to see whether the words soaked in the way they needed to.

"Manslaughter does not require intent to kill. It requires reckless conduct that can be reasonably said to contribute to a fatal outcome. Child endangerment requires exposing minors to extreme danger through action or omission.

The Wizengamot seeks to question whether Gideon Blackwood’s decisions and actions--or inaction--materially increased the risk to the children and helped create the conditions that led to a lethal conclusion.

This trial is not about villainy. It is about responsibility and accountability for those we place at the head.

At its conclusion, the Wizengamot will be asked to find Gideon Blackwood guilty or not guilty of first-degree manslaughter and child endangerment.

Thank you."

Dorian tucked the paper neatly to the side.

"Mr. Blackwood, how do you answer to these charges?"

The way the room was laid out was very specific and not for the comfort of the accused. Sitting on display for all of the Wizengamot to look down upon. The members, a sea of red to show distinction, power, strength. While the accused sat exposed, belittled, inspected. It took everything in him not to stare into the eyes of those that showed disgust and superiority.

Gideon kept his stoic posture while Montreaux read his opening statement. Gideon’s intense gaze never left that of the facilitator. So many holes in his argument, the evidence would prove him wrong. Keeping his body still was a practice of patience. They would have their moment to speak, showing his anger and annoyance would only hurt him in the end.

“... This trial is not about villainy. It is about responsibility and accountability for those we place at the head.

At its conclusion, the Wizengamot will be asked to find Gideon Blackwood guilty or not guilty of first-degree manslaughter and child endangerment.

Thank you."

Gideon watched as Montreaux put away his statement, waiting for the moment he knew was coming. Thankful, once again that Penhaligon was at his side. The man lived for the rush of an important case. The adrenaline, the shock value when evidence was presented.

"Mr. Blackwood, how do you answer to these charges?"

A beat of silence followed his question. Standing with measured movements, eyes roaming the members quietly staring daggers into his scull, Gideon automatically buttoned his suit jacket, muscle memory making it an unconscious decision. In a smooth even tone, one that held no wavering or room for question,

“In answer to these charges I plead Not Guilty.”

---

Corvus Penhaligon stood at the podium, papers in hand, ready to deliver his opening statement. Wearing a perfectly tailored Blackwood & Son’s suit, as many of the men in attendance were also sporting, Corvus smiled at the assembly.

“Honored members of the Wizengamot, Facilitator Montreaux. Thank you for being here today.”

Corvus walked towards the center of the chamber, standing next to the now seated Gideon, no longer looking at his speech, he didn’t need to read his notes to get his point across.

“The events at Hogwarts during the 1920-1921 school term were horrific. The breakdown of magic throughout the castle, the danger thrust upon the students and staff making the learning environment tremulous at best, all culminating in the rescue mission in March are what we are here to discuss. That, and if the actions of Mr. Blackwood were heroic and necessary, or, as it has been suggested, a failure of duty.

We are here to determine if Mr. Blackwood, a man who ran towards the screams, acted to save the lives or endanger them.

The charges speak of 'brute force' and 'reckless conduct.' We sit in this quiet, safe courtroom and analyze a few minutes of chaos as if it were a game of Wizard’s Chess. But Gideon Blackwood was not playing a game on March 12th.

When Professor Blackwood ascended those stairs, he wasn't just aware the children were in danger, he was listening to their amplified screams of agony. It was asked why there was no 'disengagement.' You do not disengage when a second year student is being forced out of a window to her death. You do not negotiate with a man who is actively holding a child under the Cruciatus Curse. To wait, to hesitate, or to 'disengage' would have been a death sentence for Ruth Elliot, Everleigh Ravenstone, and Maevie Golding.

The Evidence in this case will show the following: Time was of the essence. Gideon Blackwood entered the tower because a lethal ticking time bomb was at zero. Thayer was torturing those girls and threatening murder, if they didn’t give in to his demands. Mr. Blackwood didn’t create the danger, he ran into it to pull the children out.

The Ministry speaks of ‘high-impact spells’ and ‘unsecured students.’ They neglect to mention that Gideon pulled a student out of danger, using his own body as a shield to protect the first year student, taking a curse to the arm in the process. There was no time for negotiating. When Thayer used offensive spells, Gideon’s use of counter-spells helped diffuse a greater danger.

Finally, we will address the accusation of negligence, or as I like to call it, Displaced Liability. Mr. Blackwood has been accused of negligence for not spotting the traitors walking around the halls of Hogwarts. Halls that those very traitors had been walking for years prior to Mr. Blackwood’s employment. He did not hire those men. He was not responsible for the aftermath of Halloway and the investigation that followed. It is a travesty of justice to single out a decorated soldier and professor for failing to be a mind-reader, especially when the highest levels of Ministry Law Enforcement were equally fooled.

Gideon Blackwood did not go to that tower to commit a crime. He ascended those stairs to end one, with no thought of danger to himself. Mr. Montreaux, you called this a ‘Lethal Conclusion.’ I call it a miracle that only one person, the perpetrator, died that night. I believe that at the end of this trial, you will find that my client did not commit a crime, but helped stop a much more tragic situation from happening.

Had Mr. Blackwood chosen the 'disengagement' and 'negotiation' that was suggested from the comfort of this room, we would not be here today to discuss the death of one mad-man. We would be gathered to discuss the death of three young girls.

Thank You.”

Dorian gave no visible reaction to the man's unnecessary gratitude at his opening. There was no need to thank them for being there. It was their obligation as the head wizarding body to ensure that justice was served wherever required. None of them had shown up to provide a favour for Blackwood, except perhaps his shameless father. Whatever verdict they gave would be in line with established statutes, not how many drinks they'd ever had with the man at a bar.

The St. Mungo's chief of staff leaned back in his seat, listening while Penhaligon addressed the court. With each sentence the man spoke, Dorian found his brows lifting higher.

He hadn't failed to notice the emotive language employed by the solicitor, pulling on Blackwood's past glories and reputation as if these should be reason enough to look no further into the matter. As if he hoped to shame them for daring to question the man they'd left in charge of the British wizarding world's children in the first place.

It was cold, hard logic that would win the day, not personal sentiment and high regard for the deputy headmaster, a thing the man would be wise to remember.

The verbose solicitor was certainly right about one thing. It was a miracle that, in all that chaos and recklessness, only one person had lost their life. A stroke of luck? Carefully planning?

It all had yet to be seen.

He wasn't surprised by the brevity with which the man had addressed the harder charge to deny, the negligence. He hadn't worked there before, so it wasn't his fault. A child could've given a tighter defence.

Dorian leaned forward onto the desk, his hands steepled before him as pale blue eyes shifted from solicitor to defendant. When they returned to Penhaligon, he spoke.

"Surely, Mr. Penhaligon, you're not suggesting that his newness in the position removed him of his obligation to exercise due diligence—especially, as you've mentioned, in the wake of all that transpired during Halloway's time? Mr. Blackwood was hired under the assumption of his competence for the job when the school was at a critical juncture and needed strong, capable leadership that could take the reins, not drop the school into further disarray. Did he not tell the board of governors that he was fit for the difficult task? Unlike the fine but stretched members of our law enforcement, Mr. Blackwood was inside the castle 24/7. He had access that law enforcement didn't and the opportunity to exercise greater amounts of due diligence when the wards began to act up. Why was no one called in if he felt the matter was above his pay grade?"

His expression grew grim with impatience, his pale eyes sharpening on the solicitor.

"That seems to suggest the man thought he had the matter under control, does it not? And yet, evil was able to flourish unimpeded within the walls of Hogwarts. Why wasn't law enforcement called until the matter was already too far gone? Then you sit here and say there was no time and no other choice."

He paused to make a few jottings on the edge of his paper before looking at the notes he'd taken during the earlier speech.

"On the matter of rushing the towers and, again, having no choice, well." Dorian's voice fell as his eyes lingered over the evidence before him. "I find that hard to believe. The fact of the matter is, there was at least one spell successfully cast at Thayer, an unforgivable in the process of the rescue. It stands to reason then that the man was only human and not, in fact, impervious to instances of magic. Why was the killing curse selected? Why not stun him? Disarm him? You've brought up his service in the military, yet neutralising a man who demonstrably could be hit proved too difficult? So difficult that you all felt there was no other course of action because Mr. Blackwood failed to dispatch Thayer by other means in reasonable time?"

Dorian let the parchment fall from his hand. "Why storm the tower then? If he wasn't up to the task and could only bumble his way through the rescue, why not leave it to the professionals – the ones that should've been called in much sooner but weren't? It suggests that Mr. Blackwood did feel himself competent enough, yet the results say otherwise."

There, he stopped, allowing the man – or his defendant – to respond before he carried on with the proceedings.

"The council calls its first witness. Minister Wylder Merror. Please take the stand," he invited with a wave of his hand.

---

OOC: If there are any Wizengamot members who would like to pose a question to the witness at this time, please post your interest in the Wizengamot discord ASAP.

It wasn't his job to mull on the fairness or inequity of the trials that were transpiring over the next several months. Wylder Merrow had his opinions of course - namely about his own indictment - but they were private and not for public consumption. He'd been asked by reporters and colleagues countless times in the months following the Hogwarts Carnival to give a statement, and he'd refused.

The MLE had their reasons for bringing charges and the Wizengamot had a job to do.

His opinions were irrelevant.

As his name was called from inside the courtroom, the man stood with no great flourish and entered quietly. Although he'd been the minister now for eighteen months, he still hadn't adjusted to eyes constantly being on him. He was a soldier, first and foremost with no desire for glory or accolades, or even the slightest attention. He only wished to do his job and be left to his own devices.

Unfortunately, the role he had accepted hadn't allowed for such peace.

He didn't spare a look towards Gideon Blackwood or anyone else in the room aside from Dorian Montreaux. He clasped his hands in front of him and stood silently, waiting for any questions to be thrown at him.

It would likely be the most any of them had ever heard him speak.

Silence fell once every member had found their place, the sound of footsteps dying away, the rustle of robes fading out. Montreaux opened the trial.

It sounded quite damning, the way he put it. Daring and reckless, unnecessary even. 'Brute force' sounded nothing short of ridiculous. A man that had found it reasonable to kidnap and torture children, going as far as threatening murder did not negotiate. A man like that was beyond all morals and willing to do whatever it took to get the upper hand.

But maybe Mr. Montreaux expected them to have had a little sitdown to figure out the situation instead. Harper didn't know in what unrealistic fairy tale land he lived. All he did was create a problem where there wasn't one.

None of the girls had been hit. All of them had been rescued.

Still though, Harper found it hard to argue against the second charge. They'd have to see what the accused had to say to that himself. Hopefully he had something good up his sleeve.

Blackwood pleaded not guilty, Penhaligon took the stage.

Apparently he understood the real word better than their facilitator did.

Montreaux continued his peltering questions and Harper listened, her quill scratching over paper here or there. Again, all very damning, all very 'I sit in an office all day, every day and have never faced real danger, having to think and act on the spot while three young lives are in danger'. Besides, it hadn't even been Blackwood casting the Killing Curse. That had been Barlowe. Blackwood could hardly provide answers on a decision made by his colleague.

Merrow was called in then, the first witness. Hopefully he'd manage more than three five-word-sentences.

Harper raised her hand when Montreaux allowed the room for questions, gaze directly to the man she worked with close to every single day. "Could you please provide a detailed--", she put the emphasis there on purpose, "--report on what happened on the day of the kidnapping as you remember it? What happened in between entering the Dark Tower and the Killing Curse being cast?"

There had been many rumors spawned over the years about Etain, none of which she confirmed or denied.

A notable jar appeared in her office one day, made of porcelain and beautifully lacquered in blue and bronze with Ogham runes in gold across its surface. An unknown individual decided to start a rumor that the jar contained the ashen remains of her Dark Arts Practitioners who had fallen before her in duels. Others whispered the jar contained the remains of rookies who had failed her exceedingly high expectations.

Etain had merely procured herself a cookie or three from it to go with her hot chocolate and listened with innocent interest.

Then there was the Dementor rumor.

One rumor had it, was that Etain kept a Dementor as a pet, raising it on the happy memories of Dark Witches, Wizards, and rewarding it with kisses, which is of those who had done great wrong. The less rabble off the street, the better. The other rumor was that Etain’s partner on patrol was a Dementor. Playing good cop, bad cop, they were said to have looked out for one another, though which one was which was always the question. Regardless, Etain always fought with a vengeance, and the dementor was said to instill mortal fear in their enemies, so it worked out perfectly.

The other Dementor-related rumor was that Etain’s patronus was a Dementor. And as no one had ever seen Etain’s patronus, at least no one on the force, the logical assumption was that her spectral aspect of sorts was dark, foreboding, and downright menacing. They did call her a righteous terror, after all. There were other rumors, both hilarious and disturbing, such as she and her husband using Azkaban like a second home (no idea where that one came about), but there were more relevant things to consider.

If Etain was hearing what she thought she was hearing it sounded as though Mister Blackwood been valiant, though not without consequence. The Dark Arts practitioner was dealt with, albeit in a nicer fashion than she would have done. However, where Etain would have gone the elemental route, here the Killing Curse had been used in the presence of children. The questions were sound as she heard them and was curious about their answer.

Maybe today would not be a Dementor’s kiss kind of day…

Gideon wanted to stand up and loudly, forcefully, give his defense, but that would come later. At this point, he had to once again trust his solicitor. Penhaligon Was up to the task, so Gideon would sit and wait for his time to talk.

---

Corvus waited, letting Montreaux peacock for the members, spreading his feathers and showing off for the important members in attendance. Obviously loving his temporary role as facilitator, Montreaux should soak it in, it wouldn’t last. Corvus showed no emotion or anger during the man’s questions. Taking them all in, processing and coming up with a rebuttal. He would say what he needed to say, then move on to the first witness. They would prove their case during Gideon’s examination, not through the random questions tossed out by the facilitator.

"Surely, Mr. Penhaligon, you're not suggesting that his newness in the position removed him of his obligation to exercise due diligence—especially, as you've mentioned, in the wake of all that transpired during Halloway's time? Mr. Blackwood was hired under the assumption of his competence for the job when the school was at a critical juncture and needed strong, capable leadership that could take the reins, not drop the school into further disarray. Did he not tell the board of governors that he was fit for the difficult task? Unlike the fine but stretched members of our law enforcement, Mr. Blackwood was inside the castle 24/7. He had access that law enforcement didn't and the opportunity to exercise greater amounts of due diligence when the wards began to act up. Why was no one called in if he felt the matter was above his pay grade?”

Corvus found it frustrating when questions were tossed out one after another without a chance to answer. Did he really want to know the answer? Or just hear himself talk? He would bet on the latter. “Sir, I don’t remember implying that my client was not competent to fill the position. In fact, I would say that Mr. Blackwood has proven himself over the last year, to be perfect for the position. He, along with Miss Haswell, were given an impossible task, set up to fail by the Ministry, who had assured not only the parents, but the staff, that it was safe to return after the disaster of Halloway. Before the job was even posted the Ministry had investigated the staff, conducting interviews and searching the castle. You speak of a ‘stretched’ law enforcement department? So it seems like what you are saying is the Ministry dropped the ball and the students and staff paid the price."

Corvus walked the length of the chamber, keeping eye contact with members of the Wizengamot. His hands, punctuating each point, his voice rising with anger and indignation. “Gideon Blackwood, from day one, was trying to right the wrongs of Halloway. The previous Headmaster had spent years tampering with the magic and wards that protected the castle. Just as Gideon finished fixing an issue, a new one would crop up. You ask why he didn’t call in for help? Help from who exactly? Those very people he would contact for help, had missed the tampering while investigating over the summer. Mr. Blackwood was committed to the safety of his students, fixing the issues that plagued the castle with as little disruption to the education process as possible.”

"... And yet, evil was able to flourish unimpeded within the walls of Hogwarts. Why wasn't law enforcement called until the matter was already too far gone? Then you sit here and say there was no time and no other choice."

Corvus let the man flash his feathers once again. The questions would keep coming, even when Gideon was not the one forced to answer them at this time. That would come later. He found it interesting that Montreaux was wasting their time with these questions, ones that would be answered during questioning, but instead were flung out during a time when the accused couldn't answer. Thankfully, Penhaligon wasn't subject to the same restrictions.

“You speak as if Thayer was waltzing around the castle casting hexes in the halls. Halloway and his spys went unnoticed for years. They were immersed in their roles as professors and trusted adults. They tricked the Ministry and everyone else until they wanted to be found out. Mr. Blackwood was not the only one fooled by their lies, the entire wizarding community was."

"On the matter of rushing the towers and, again, having no choice, well. I find that hard to believe. The fact of the matter is, there was at least one spell successfully cast at Thayer, an unforgivable in the process of the rescue. It stands to reason then that the man was only human and not, in fact, impervious to instances of magic. Why was the killing curse selected? Why not stun him? Disarm him? You've brought up his service in the military, yet neutralising a man who demonstrably could be hit proved too difficult? So difficult that you all felt there was no other course of action because Mr. Blackwood failed to dispatch Thayer by other means in reasonable time?"

He was beginning to get angry. The questions kept coming, with very few chances to answer. Apparently Montreaux like to hear himself talk… A lot.

“Mr. Montreaux, I would like to remind you, that we cannot answer as to WHY the killing curse was used. He did not use it. For answers to that, you will need to direct your questions to the man that actually killed Thayer.” His words came out forceful and direct. It was apparently required to remind the facilitator that Gideon didn’t utter the killing curse.

“When we speak about time being of the essence, I would like to remind you and the members that when the students were taken, a member of the staff contacted the ministry immediately. Why it took so long for the Aurors to arrive is a question I think we all would like answered. Mr. Blackwood is not responsible for the arrival time of Magical Law Enforcement. While heading to the tower, they were subjected to the screams of those three girls projected to every person in the castle. Please, put yourself in their shoes. Would you politely knock on the door and ask to speak to the perpetrator? Let's discuss the situation and see what we can do about calmly settling things? Maevie was suffering burns from the Imperius curse. Ruth was being tortured with the cruciatus curse. And Everleigh was nearly falling to her death, hanging out the window, also under the Imperius curse.”

He let that last point sink in. With a breath, ramping up for the next set of answers, Corvus went on. “Why not stun the man? Disarm? As they entered the tower, Gideon witnessed Maevie jumping on Thayer. To save the girl from a horrible fate, Gideon pulled Maevie to him, shielding her with his body. He suffered an injury in the process, then blocked Thayer from causing a massive explosion. Gideon saved lives that night. Without his skill and expertise, there would have been seven bodies leaving that tower that night.”

Corvus walked to Gideon then turned to look over the members. They held the life of his client in their hands, he just hoped they would listen to the evidence and come to the right conclusion.

"The council calls its first witness. Minister Wylder Merror. Please take the stand.”

Standing aside, Corvus and Gideon watched as the Minister of Magic came into the chamber and stood looking over the assembled members. The questioning of the Minister would be an interesting thing to watch.

Bertram watched with rapt attention as Montreaux and Penhaligon went at it. Both obviously were passionate about their job. Bram didn’t have a notebook or quill to take notes. Years of being a trial litigator, he was more than equipped to follow the case and file things away in his mind.

Thinking about the years he walked in the same shoes as Penhaligon, he was happy that his job took him out of the courtroom. The rush of winning would always be one of his favorite times, but he had a lot less stress in his life now.

His questions for Blackwood were growing, many would probably be answered in time. He was withholding judgement until more evidence was discussed.

As Penhaligon wrapped up, Minister Merrow took the stand. Bram sat up straight and looked on in interest. While the evidence was still in question for Blackwood, it was obvious that the tension was mounting for their current Minister. Many things had failed during this tragedy, and from where Bram was sitting, many of those failures were due to the ineptitude of the man sitting in the witness chair.

It seemed there were a lot of questions as to if Gideon was qualified for the job, which led Bram to wonder why the man was hired in the first place.

“Minister, you were involved in the hiring of Deputy Blackwood. Can you please describe why you chose him for the job and why you believe he was qualified to hold such an important position.”

When this was all said and done. All four adults tried and verdicts given, Bram hoped that a small amount of peace would be given to his Grand daughter and the other students who endured the kidnapping and torture. While he was glad Thayer was dead, he wanted those that allowed such a tragedy to happen to also pay a price.

Ms. Knightley spoke first - his young, competent-enough secretary that he had the ongoing suspicion disliked him more than she appreciated the job he’d bestowed upon her. Harper was by far the best of the choices he’d had when he’d let his former secretary go, and while the young woman still grated his nerves from time to time, he found his tolerance for her went well-beyond what it was for most people. It possibly even bordered on like, but Wylder wasn’t the sort to sit and ponder such things.

He cleared his throat at her question. Detailed. Yes. Detailed he could do. He’d been asked for details by his superiors in the days following various conflicts he’d been involved in during the war. This was no different.

“I stayed behind, carrying up the rear as we ascended the tower, watching for anyone that came up our backs.” His eye finally drifted to his secretary’s as he recalled the day that had squarely put him here. The screams of the children, the way the world had buzzed in his ears, turning his vision gray and red. He remembered he’d stumbled on the way up, as the phantom smells of lead and gunpowder invaded his nose.

“We entered the room. Thayer was using a the cruciatus curse on one of the children. Another was hanging forcefully out of the window and a third…” the tiniest flicker of admiration pooled in his eyes at the memory of Maevie. “…was biting Thayer so hard she drew blood.”

He took a breath. Details. It was all sort of fuzzy now, wasn’t it? “Barlowe shouted for Thayer to stop, as did Blackwood. I don’t recall what the Headmistress did or said. I asked them to take Thayer alive.”

He shifted slightly on his feet, hating the way he could feel their stares boring down on him. “Spells began to fly, Thayer’s first. Blackwood pulled one of the girls to him, but Thayer took the little one he’d been torturing as a shield. Pressed his wand to her neck and threatened to kill her.”

He went silent. That’s where the killing curse had flown, and he’d only been asked for details up until that point. No further details required.

”Minister, you were involved in the hiring of Deputy Blackwood. Can you please describe why you chose him for the job and why you believe he was qualified to hold such an important position.”

Bertrand Nordstrom was one he relied on quite often to help him in getting things done and bills passed. That relationship had deteriorated slightly after the wand registry and the man making it clear it wasn’t something he supported. Wylder had pushed it through without his blessing, and the wizarding world was better for it as far as he was concerned. Where he stood now in regards to this situation, Wylder couldn’t say but he felt nothing one way or another about it, he supposed.

“I have known Gideon Blackwood since our days in the military together,” he said quietly, “I knew him to be a man who answered the call of duty with the same vigor I did.” He paused a moment, finally turning his gaze to the man that had once been his comrade-in-arms. “I hired him for the same reason the people of Britain elected me. Reliable, steadfast. His background speaks for itself, but he worked within the Ministry when I was first elected and believed he would be someone I could rely on there to keep the children safe and secure.”

He hummed slightly, loud enough for everyone to hear and understand that he enjoyed this no more than he enjoyed people in his office, but when duty called.

He stood quietly again, resuming his stoic position. If there were no other questions, perhaps Montreaux would be gracious enough to allow him to return to his office and be bothered no further today.

More than competent for the job.

A less than composed man would've puffed with laughter. The very fact they were having these trials suggested otherwise, but Dorian wasn't there for the back and forth or the shallow arguments of the man meant to be Blackwood's final line of defence. Were the deputy as competent as he was touted to be, Thayer and his accomplice would not have regained the foothold that they did, and no amount of blaming the ministry would change that fact. It became clear that deflection was the name of the game. Deny, blame others, and never accept that he could've done more.

It was a wise defence on the stand, but it didn't paint the man in a good light. If nothing else, it merely proved he lacked the accountability necessary to hold the position he did. When—not if—the next disaster struck, would he be the first to throw his hands up and make it clear he didn't have the capabilities to resolve the matter and thus couldn't be blamed? That if others were incompetent, it meant he had an excuse to be, too?

Pitiful but not unexpected. It would seem the minister had done a fine job selecting the new leadership for the school. Not even a year before everything had fallen away.

Dorian's expression remained neutral as the solicitor went on to claim it was Gideon's quick action that saved seven people. It seemed to him that had someone else not put Thayer down, the battle would've continued indefinitely while the man fumbled spells. Retroactively seeking glory when he couldn't accept his mistakes. The pit the man was digging for himself only grew deeper. He could only hope he would fare better when examined, for his own sake.

Rather than drag the matter out unnecessarily, he turned his focus to their minister. He listened carefully to Merrow's recollection of events. Spells flying, requests the man be taken alive. A child used as a shield. It had all been there in the evidentiary files. What got his attention was the answer to the second question.

“I have known Gideon Blackwood since our days in the military together,” he said quietly, “I knew him to be a man who answered the call of duty with the same vigor I did.”

So he was hired...because the minister knew him.

An unsettling response, not erased by the follow-up statement of him being steadfast and dependable. The deputy's position was looking even less sure.

"Thank you, Minister," Dorian said, putting an end to the questioning. "You may step down from the stand." He waited a moment, allowing the man to do just that before continuing.

"We'll now begin the examination of the accused. Mr. Blackwood, please take the stand. Council, when you are ready, you may begin the questioning."

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OOC: As before, if you intend to ask questions, please make that known in the Wizengamot discord~

James watched with mild interest as the back-and-forth continued, no desire to take notes or relegate any of it to his memory. His mind was already made up. There had been an agreement - one he was happy to keep, so long as the accused kept up his end as well.

As Merrow stepped off the stand - lackluster and unimpressive as always - James sat forward a bit when the floor was opened to the council for questions for Blackwood. This was his chance. Not so much to help liberate Blackwood from the predicament he'd found himself in - and truly it seemed one of his own making - but to begin to lay the groundwork for a trial yet to come.

To get the body thinking - now - well-before the inevitable bomb that would later drop.

"Mr. Blackwood," his voice, casual but even sounded across the quiet room, "Who would you say led the charge that night. Perhaps not first up the tower - but who planned your expedient descent up those stairs? Who made the call to go up without auror assistance?"

He glanced across the rows of benches to the others on the council.

"And can you regale this council, if you would be so kind, as to who took what actions in rescuing the three girls?"

The Minister had said very little. His lack of details when asked, specifically, for details was not a good look.

"We'll now begin the examination of the accused. Mr. Blackwood, please take the stand. Council, when you are ready, you may begin the questioning." His heart was pounding in his chest, but you wouldn’t be able to tell from looking at him. Gideon took his place on the stand, looking over the Wizengamot members staring back at him.

"Mr. Blackwood. Who would you say led the charge that night. Perhaps not first up the tower - but who planned your expedient descent up those stairs? Who made the call to go up without auror assistance?"

James Laurence. The man was a necessary ally, one he didn’t want, but unfortunately needed. They knew each other from the society scene, but didn’t rub elbows in normal groups. Him an aristocrat, Gideon a man that has worn many hats, many requiring him to get his hands dirty. His Grace would never.

“We assembled at the bottom of the Dark Tower. I offered to ascend the tower first, although the Head Mistress, a former Auror, instructed Professor Barlowe to go ahead first. The Minister made it very clear that we were to go first, then he would take up the rear. Between The Head Mistress and the Minister, Professor Barlowe and I followed their directives when ascending the tower. ” It had never sat right with Gideon that the Minister went up last. His superior in the Army was more than capable of jumping into the thick of battle, but instead he hung out in the back of the pack.

Gideon had thought a lot about that night leading up to the trial. The lack of Auror involvement still made him extremely angry. Even having Ruby, an Auror in their midst, didn’t make a difference in the outcome. “Professor Laurence had sent word to the Minister about the situation, but when he arrived there were no Aurors with him. I would come to learn that the Aurors arrived later and went to protect the students and staff in the great hall. Why they were not with the Minister when he arrived, I couldn’t say.”

"And can you regale this council, if you would be so kind, as to who took what actions in rescuing the three girls?"

Thinking about that night was difficult, but after years in the Army, he was able to compartmentalize. “As Professor Barlow and I entered the room, he quickly summoned Ms Ravenstone from the window, seconds more and she would have plummeted to her death. Ms Golding had just jumped on Thayer, I summoned her to me, pulling her behind me to shield any attacks. As Miss Haswell entered next, she threw Thayer across the room and kneeled to check on Ms Elliot. As the Minister came in, he instructed us to take Thayer alive, but the man was unhinged, volleying hexes at whoever he saw. The Minister attempted a hex on Thayer, but he countered, lifting the Minister up by his ankle. Thayer continued to send spells flying, catching me in the arm. He attempted to cast Bombarda Maxima, which would have caused the entire tower to fall, but I countered. During the fight, Thayer was able to get his hands on Ms Elliot, trying to use her as a shield, which was when Professor Barlowe cast the killing curse, taking Thayer out.”

Hindsight was 20/20, as the saying goes. There were things he would have done differently that night, if given the chance. Trying to disarm the man. Attacking while he had the chance, before Ms Elliot was brought back into the fold. That being said, there were certain things that would not change. Gideon would not have waited for the Aurors. If he had, Ms Ravenstone would be dead, and the others may have had similar fates. And there is no doubt in his mind that Thayer dying was the only plausible ending to that horrible event.

With the questions asked, the picture was becoming clearer and clearer. Dorian listened attentively, both to what was demanded and how Blackwood chose to answer. There was a lot to consider and he didn’t doubt they would need time to come to a suitable conclusion.

While he had heard his fellow council members asking their questions, the man would wait for the deliberations to gain the true measure of where the others stood.

For now, it was time to bring things to a close.

Dorian waited for the last of the chatter to die down before lifting a hand to gain everyone’s attention.

“Honoured members of the Wizengamot, you have now heard evidence, testimony, and examinations concerning the events of the Dark Tower at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry on March 12, 1921.”

And they were only just beginning.

“This body is not tasked with judging character, intent, or reputation. Those matters are not before you. You are asked to determine whether the actions and decisions of Professor Gideon Blackwood meet the legal standards set forth under Magical Statute 345.B for first-degree manslaughter and Magical Statute 102.A for child endangerment.” No more, no less.

“You have heard that Professor Blackwood entered a confined space knowing that three minors were bound, injured, and in immediate danger. You have heard testimony regarding the exchange of high-impact spells in close proximity to those children, and you have heard that no successful disengagement or extraction occurred prior to the escalation that resulted in a fatal outcome. You have also heard testimony regarding alternative courses of action, including containment, delay, and law enforcement intervention, as well as arguments that such alternatives were not feasible given the circumstances present at the time.”

In truth, they’d heard a lot.

“The law does not require proof of intent to kill in order to establish manslaughter. It requires that reckless conduct materially contributed to a death. Likewise, child endangerment requires that a minor was exposed to extreme danger through action or omission by one charged with their care. Your task is to decide whether Professor Blackwood’s actions — or failures to act — increased the risk to the children involved and contributed to the lethal outcome that followed, or whether his conduct was reasonable and necessary under the circumstances as they existed.”

It was a matter for each to decide now that it had all been laid out for them. There would be another review, when they discussed. There was only one thing left to be made clear.


“This trial is not a referendum on heroism, nor is it an indictment of outcome alone. It is an examination of responsibility, judgment, and duty.”

Now then.

“Mr. Blackwood, your closing statement please before we render the verdict. Thank you.”