November 1st, 1921
The Wizengamot Courtroom
9 AM
After the mayhem surrounding the highly publicized first trial against Gideon Blackwood, it wasn’t a surprise when Bertram saw the Daily Prophet in attendance for the trial against Ruby Haswell, Head Mistress of Hogwarts. Charges: Manslaughter in the Second Degree and Child Endangerment, the same as Blackwood, for which he was now walking free.
In this trial, Bertram was not simply a Wizengamot Member. No, he would be facilitating this trial. His time as a solicitor and long time Wizengamot Member made him more than qualified for the task, but he had to admit, he was out of practice. As the Head of Magical Affairs, he was no longer working trials on a daily basis, but it was like riding a bike, or so they said.
Bertram walked into the chambers, the chattering voices lowering to a whispered level. Many stopped as they watched him walk to the podium. Checking his watch, tucked in his garish red robes, Bertram saw that it was two minutes to 9:00 am. Time to begin. “Please take your seats, it is almost time to begin.”
His voice carried through the courtroom, low, gruff, echoing off the stone walls. He allowed the members two minutes to sit down and settle. No more no less.
“Good morning, my name is Bertram Norstrom, Head of Magical Affairs, I will be your facilitator for today’s proceedings. Please take note, there will be no speaking unless called on to ask a question. Once the doors close, no one is allowed in or out until we have a verdict. You are not permitted to use your wand within the courtroom unless directed by myself, the prosecution or the defence to show evidence pertinent to the case. Once the verdict is reached and read by the facilitator - in this case, myself - the sentence will be issued and is immediate and final.”
Bertram waited a beat for the members to take in his statement. It wasn’t anything groundbreaking, it was how all trials were conducted, but had to be said for clarity. He looked over the accused and wondered if she had a false sense of security now that Gideon was roaming free.
Thankfully, Bertram was good at compartmentalizing his feelings. He was in a unique position as the Grandfather of one of the victims, he had seen first hand the level of damage the tragedy had inflicted. Some might say that it was a conflict of interest, but he disagreed. He didn’t see Ruby as innocent or guilty. This was completely different from that of Gideon’s trial, and therefore he would make sure to have an unbiased view as the trial went on. Ultimately, he wanted the person who hurt Everleigh to pay for their crimes, and with Thayer dead and gone, that wish had been fulfilled. Now it was up to them to decide if Miss Ruby Haswell could have prevented it from ever happening.
"We call to order the trial of the Wizengamot vs. Ruby Haswell, you stand accused of first-degree manslaughter under Magical Statute 345.B and child endangerment under Magical Statute 102.A." With a loud bang of his gavel, the trial has begun.
OOC: Welcome to the trial of Ruby Haswell. Please familiarize yourself with the RULES before posting in this thread. I will update tomorrow around this time, so keep an eye out.
Ruby walked into the courtroom, her barrister coming to a stop beside her.
In a strange move by Ruby and against her father’s wishes, she decided to hire someone other than their family solicitor for the job of proving her innocence. Alistair Crowe set his simple leather folio down and opened it, looking over his notes. The man was older, in his sixties now, and had a reputation of winning cases in the past that he probably should not have. He was large and boisterous, and overly-confident.
The fact that Gideon Blackwood had been found ‘not guilty’ at the end of September had set her expectations to receive the same verdict. Crowe had told her that the worst she should expect was to be let go of her position as Headmistress at Hogwarts, but he assured her that even that was unlikely. She was a decorated auror and had a great reputation, after all.
Ruby glanced over at Bertram, who she had interacted with before at various Pureblood functions. He would be facilitating her trial. The man was kind, and that gave her even more confidence that she had nothing to worry about. Was it a conflict of interest that he facilitated this trial? Everleigh Ravenstone was his granddaughter and one of the three girls who had been tortured by Thayer. The poor girl was struggling horribly, too.
Apparently someone thought he could be impartial, so she did not question that decision.
She wore red lipstick, in a shade that matched her nail polish perfectly, which also matched her shoes. Ruby was wearing a dark blue dress skirt and matching suit jacket. Her shirt underneath was a pearl-white silky blouse. She felt confident that this would be quick and painless.
“If you will please take your seats, it is time to begin.”
Crowe nodded at Ruby as she glanced briefly at him, before making her way to the chair in the center of the room, her heels clicking as she walked through the otherwise silence. Ruby sat, her back straight, her ankles crossed, and felt no nervousness at all. She held her head high and folded her hands in her lap, not looking forward to the examination but knowing that she had the events of the night in question on her side.
“We call to order the trial of the Wizengamot vs. Ruby Haswell, you stand accused of first-degree manslaughter under Magical Statute 345.B and child endangerment under Magical Statute 102.A.”
It was difficult to keep her face still as her charges were listed, yet again. Rubbish is what they were.
One down, three more to go.
Gideon Blackwood had gotten off by the skin of his teeth, in no little thanks to a few deals the two had made. James Laurence wasn't one to dwell too long on any one happenstance, but Blackwood's trial had worked out exactly how he had needed it to, and now everything else was falling neatly into place.
Ruby Haswell and her outcome was of little concern to James. She wasn't on his radar as someone who could be especially useful to him one way or another, and he had every intention - once he took hold of the power he was in pursuit of - of seeing her out of the position she currently held.
If the Wizengamot didn't take care of her first. He certainly didn't want Blackwood in the position of Headmaster at Hogwarts, but even he would be better than the 'leadership' Haswell had brought in upon her appointment.
Julia hadn't said much about her, other than she was quiet and reserved and kept to herself. And if the school was going to run efficiently in the future, for the good of all their children, it needed strong, outspoken leadership that would work hand-in-hand with the Ministry.
He took his place, the same as last time and gave a soft sigh as he made himself comofortable. Nordstrom was running this trial. James would facilitate the next.
All the better. Maddox Barlowe wasn't one he was willing to see off to Azkaban. Ruby Haswell? Well if she found herself within its cold damp walls right next to Merrow, it was no real concern of his.
the winter sun rise
red on white like
blood upon the snow
The first one had gone over smoothly, providing the anticipated results and setting the tone for the three trials still to follow. So far so good. The plan rolled steadily along, step by step, quietly moving the pieces into place.
Right where they needed them.
Ruby Haswell's trial supplied them with an opportunity to make room at Hogwarts' top, for something more suitable, but she supposed it didn't matter all that much. The end result would come inevitably and regardless of today's trial's outcome.
Harper sat in her usual spot, quill and notepad ready, perched on her knee where it crossed over the other. Unmoved eyes watched Ruby Haswell as she made her way to the centre of the room, and took her seat. She looked confident, undoubtedly invigorated by Blackwood's verdict.
Looked almost a bit haughty with it, Harper thought, lips pursing just faintly. They'd see how much good it'd do her.
Mr. Nordstrom called the room to attention and opened the second trial, his gavel's bang echoing through the high ceilings of the chamber.
Same charges, same process. Different facilitator. Harper suspected Nordstrom to be a little better suited for the role than Montreaux had been. That man had grown quite a bit insufferable so say the least, driven by his very clear own opinion on the matter instead of remaining impartial. None of them truly were, but it showed who was better able to hide their feelings on the matter and who didn't have enough brains to play it low.
There was a good reason for how things were going to progress very soon.
Harper sat tall and patient, quietly awaiting Nordstrom's opening, the foot of her crossed over leg bobbing once.
~only the winter wind survives~
With everyone in their seat, Bertram took a look at his notes, letting the members settle and ready themselves for the proceedings to begin. The accused looked, dare he say, relaxed? Confident for sure, which wasn’t wise. Gideon may have been found Not-Guilty, but it wasn’t a landslide by any means. This was a new day, new witnesses, anything could happen. The events that unfolded under Ruby’s watch were horrific and far reaching. Not only were the students in the tower affected, but the rest of the students at Hogwarts as well. The question was, did Ruby play a significant part in letting it happen?
Bram looked at her solicitor and sighed. Alistair Crowe, a pompous ass who smelled of whisky, cheap cigars and bad breath. Well known in the law community for his ability to win cases. Not actual trials, but brokering deals that would give his clients less time behind bars, even if a better solicitor would have gotten them off all together. On more than one occasion Bertram had been forced to work with the man, always reciting his win/loss record, high profile clients, relying on "old boys' club" connections and knowing which Wizengamot members owe him a favor from a previous poker game.
Sadly for him, there would be no deals on the table in this trial. Ruby would walk away with either a not-guilty verdict, or a single cell in Azkaban. There were no other options.
“Thank you all for being here today. Esteemed members of the Wizengamot, you have come together to help uncover the truth behind the incident that took place on March 12th, 1921 at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The incident in the Dark Tower left one person deceased and three young girls traumatized. This case is to decide if Headmistress Ruby Haswell exercised the necessary prudence, expected of her title as Headmistress, upon the discovery that three of her students had been taken hostage.
The prosecution alleges that Headmistress Haswell responded to the incident within the Dark Tower and knowingly engaged in high-risk magical combat within close proximity of three bound and injured minor students. Though Miss Haswell did not cast the deadly curse that killed Arthur Thayer, the prosecution believes that her actions escalated the situation, which ultimately ended in the death of Thayer.
Furthermore, it is alleged that Miss Haswell failed to de-escilate, in favor of neutralization, exposing the students to more danger over a longer period of time. In addition to the events of the tower, it is alleged that Miss Haswell put her students and staff at grave risk, over a period of 6 plus months, by neglecting her duties as Headmistress. In doing so, she allowed two heretic sympathizers to remain employed and teaching at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, placing minor children in danger.
The Wizengamot is tasked with deciding if the Actions, or in-actions, of Ruby Haswell constitute a criminal failure of her duty, and if such failure makes her legally responsible for the chaos that ensued. We will hear eye witness testimony,”
Bertram paused, letting his eyes move from Haswell to Crowe. Adjusting his robes, he took a breath and continued.
"Headmistress Haswell," Bertram’s voice rang out, clear and devoid of the personal exhaustion he felt. "You have heard the charges as they have been laid before this body. How do you plead?"
OOC: With this update, Ruby will put in her plea and her Solicitor will give his opening statement. If you have not posted your entry, feel free to do so, but no talking at this time.
Please see the Pinned Posts in the Wizengamot Discord to read the witness statements.
Round two. Two of four.
Galen entered the courtroom silently, his blue eyes scanning the rest of the room. He hadn’t been as interested in Blackwood’s trial as he was in this one. For him, it was the Headmistress and the Minister who would pay for the events in March.
As a professor, he knew the leadership of the school should have been more critical of the staff. It was almost as if they – specifically Haswell – had a veil pulled over their eyes. Was she not doing her job? Not only were the children under her care, but all of the staff too.
Two had fallen through the cracks, which allowed the worst possible scenario to happen at Hogwarts, and that was unacceptable. He had a list of questions to ask today, and he was interested in watching the woman when she was under a microscope.
She had always been confident; perhaps too confident. What would she do with the pressure turned on?
“Please take your seats, it is almost time to begin.”
He turned his attention to the woman who moved confidently to the chair in the center of the room. She looked confident, however the anthropology professor, the man who had dedicated his life to studying the way humans behave in various situations, was ready to assess her as the questioning began.
As Nordstrom went over the charges, Galen couldn’t help but to smirk a bit to himself. If he had been there, if he had been in charge, he would have caught on a lot sooner. Pathetic.
As Bertram began speaking, Ruby looked at him with a smile on her face. Nothing to worry about. Nothing at all. Everything was going to go her way.
“...The prosecution alleges that Headmistress Haswell responded to the incident within the Dark Tower and knowingly engaged in high-risk magical combat within close proximity of three bound and injured minor students. Though Miss Haswell did not cast the deadly curse that killed Arthur Thayer, the prosecution believes that her actions escalated the situation, which ultimately ended in the death of Thayer.
Furthermore, it is alleged that Miss Haswell failed to de-escilate, in favor of neutralization, exposing the students to more danger over a longer period of time. In addition to the events of the tower, it is alleged that Miss Haswell put her students and staff at grave risk, over a period of 6 plus months, by neglecting her duties as Headmistress. In doing so, she allowed two heretic sympathizers to remain employed and teaching at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, placing minor children in danger…”
It was difficult for Ruby to keep her face straight; the words out of the Facilitator’s mouth felt like slaps. Still, the smile didn’t falter at all. And her confidence didn’t waver. Mostly, it was the idea that anyone had such negative opinions about her.
"Headmistress Haswell, you have heard the charges as they have been laid before this body. How do you plead?"
The blonde cleared her throat and stood gracefully from the chair. Her blue eyes scanned the room before settling on Bertram. “In response to these charges, I plead not guilty.”
Alistair Crowe, while Ruby sat back down, flipped through his notes one last time before shutting his folio completely and stepping towards the center of the room. He adjusted the cuffs on his top and looked around at the room. He was the picture of calm confidence.
“Distinguished witches and wizards of the Wizengamot, I want to thank you for the opportunity to set some things straight in regards to my client and her participation on that very unfortunate night in March. This case is not about the events that occurred in the Dark Tower; those things happened and we all know they happened.
It is, instead, about authority, responsibility, and the legal boundaries that govern action during a crisis.”
Crowe gestured toward Ruby. “My client did not cast the Unforgivable. We all know this. She also did not order its use, nor could she have foreseen it. Arthur Thayer was an extremist and irrational. His death, while tragic, was the direct result of his own unlawful actions.
The prosecution, instead, asks you to believe that Headmistress Haswell is criminally liable for escalation and continuing engagement in the presence of minors. That argument rests on a dangerous misunderstanding of both law and command.”
A pause, for effect.
“The moment that Minister Wylder Merrow arrived on school grounds and issued orders to attempt capture, the operational authority transferred. And capture, might I point out, is not achieved through withdrawal but through engagement. It is ridiculous that anyone would think that withdrawing could have prevented the more disastrous events in the Tower and doing so would ask this court to criminalize compliance.”
A raised brow as he looked around. No one would want the Wizengamot to criminalize compliance.
“Headmistress Haswell did not act recklessly. She acted within the scope of her duty, under ministerial directive, in an active hostage situation involving the use of Unforgivable Curses against children. If the Wizengamot finds that compliance with lawful authority constitutes first-degree manslaughter, then no witch or wizard who answers a Ministry call may ever act without fear of imprisonment.”
He moved back towards Ruby, standing beside her. “The law does not demand perfection in moments of terror. It demands reasonability, and swift action. We will show that Headmistress Haswell exercised reasoned judgment under extraordinary duress; that responsibility for escalation lies not with the individual who responded, but with the conditions that necessitated response; and that to punish her for acting decisively is to punish courage itself.
The defense asks this court to judge lawfully. Not symbolically. Not politically. Lawfully.”
Crowe looked over at Ruby, and the blonde nodded with a smile on her face. “Thank you,” he said and walked back to his folio with a smug smile on his face, feeling as if he already won.
Watching Crowe work was an exercise in restraint. Bertram wanted to wipe the smile off his face and knock him down a peg or two. Alistair Crowe didn’t seem to grasp the gravity of this trial, and the smile on Ruby’s face was equally disconcerting. Just because Gideon was found Not-Guilty, didn’t mean Ruby was in the clear.
“This case is not about the events that occurred in the Dark Tower; those things happened and we all know they happened. It is, instead, about authority, responsibility, and the legal boundaries that govern action during a crisis.”
Where was he going with this line of thinking? Bram watched and listened.
“The moment that Minister Wylder Merrow arrived on school grounds and issued orders to attempt capture, the operational authority transferred. And capture, might I point out, is not achieved through withdrawal but through engagement. It is ridiculous that anyone would think that withdrawing could have prevented the more disastrous events in the Tower and doing so would ask this court to criminalize compliance.”
Oh for fucks sake. The angle became crystal clear as Crowe kept talking. Pushing blame was the name of his game. Criminalizing compliance was not a new defense technique, just a bad one. Bram made a note, a counter point to toss into his opening statement.
“The law does not demand perfection in moments of terror. It demands reasonability, and swift action. We will show that Headmistress Haswell exercised reasoned judgment under extraordinary duress; that responsibility for escalation lies not with the individual who responded, but with the conditions that necessitated response; and that to punish her for acting decisively is to punish courage itself.”
It was by pure strength of character that he didn’t roll his eyes or snort from the sheer audacity of this man in front of him. Once Crowe ended his performance, Bram waited a beat to see how Ruby would react. It was very telling that she was sitting there with a smile on her face. Blackwood at least had the decency to look stoic and serious.
The silence hung in the air for longer than comfortable, when Bertram stood and took his place at the podium once again.
“We are gathered here today to dissect the events of March 12th 1921. When a tragedy occurs there are always different sides to the same story. We know the details, the who, the when and the where. The facts of the tragedy are undisputed; the why, however, remains a mystery. The why will hopefully be given clarity today so that the members in attendance can come to a conclusion as to if Ruby Haswell should be held responsible.
The defense would have you believe that the moment Minister Merrow arrived on school grounds, Headmistress Haswell was stripped of her agency. They speak of Criminalized Compliance, a colorful term for a cowardly defense. Let us be clear. The “Duty of Care” is non-transferable. A Headmistress does not cease to be the protector of her students simply because a superior enters the room. The Minister's presence does not grant the Headmistress permission to abandon her students and the safety protocols of the school. It is her job and duty to ensure the safety of her students, and in that, she failed.”
As Bertram said the last word, his eyes went straight to Ruby’s. He wanted her to understand that whether she is found guilty or innocent, she failed. Thayer held the wand, but the tragedy went down on her watch. His voice remained strong, unwavering. Stopping on points that needed to be emphasized, using inflection and tone to make his points clear.
“The job of Headmistress is not given lightly. You don’t get that title unless you have earned it. The Ministry did not appoint a career educator to clean up the disgraced name of Hogwarts. They appointed a veteran Auror with twenty-four years of specialized Magical Law Enforcement training to the post. You would think that twenty-four years of experience as an Auror would have made Haswell an asset to this rescue.
Yet, when the moment of crisis arrived, where was that expertise?
Twenty-four years of training should have given Miss Haswell the ability to create a plan. Twenty-four years of experience should have prioritized the use of disarming and shield charms. Instead, we see Miss Haswell direct others up the stairs first. We see the use of high-impact offensive spells in a confined space. Evidence will show that at no point did the Headmistress attempt to disarm Thayer, secure the students, or take point in the rescue.
The defense asks you not to punish courage. I don't see courage in her actions. I see negligence of the highest order, and because of this, we will ask you to hold her accountable.
Arthur Thayer may have provided the malice, but it was Headmistress Haswell’s negligence that provided the opportunity. She had the training to prevent this, the authority to stop it, and the duty to prioritize those lives above all else. She did none of the above.”
Bertram stepped back from the podium, his face a mask of cold iron. He didn't look at Crowe. He didn't look at the Minister. He kept his eyes fixed on the Wizengamot until the silence in the room felt heavy enough to crush the smug smile right off the Headmistress’s face.
"The Prosecution calls its first witness, Ruth Elliot."
Hello again, and welcome to the witness portion of our trial. If a Wizengamot member would like to pose a question to Ruth, please post your interest in the Discord as soon as possible.
The typical back and forth that went on in every trial. James had been privy to several of them now, the four they were in the midst of by far the most interesting, but he couldn't help the impatience that swarmed him. He was ready to get these done and out of the way. They were the final roadblock to the plans he, Harper and several of the pureblood families had put into play.
He listened with mild interest.
"A Headmistress does not cease to be the protector of her students simply because a superior enters the room. The Minister's presence does not grant the Headmistress permission to abandon her students and the safety protocols of the school. It is her job and duty to ensure the safety of her students, and in that, she failed.”
Brutal. James could appreciate it, and Nordstrom was well within his rights to come down hard and fast. It was one of his own that had been taken that night, along with Ruth - who was now as good as one of his own, being arranged to Benji. The duke understood well the instinct to protect one's own - it was something he and his family held deep in their core, and watching Haswell as the words of condemnation came down on her stirred something within him.
It wasn't pity. It wasn't anger. As little as James cared about her outcome, he had to agree with Nordstrom that sooner or later - one way or another, Haswell would be relieved of her duties. She had failed the children - and the wider wizarding world as he saw it.
"The Prosecution calls its first witness, Ruth Elliot."
James's eyes flicked towards the door as his future niece entered. One day, she would be the matriarch of his family - a duchess and a mother that would rule over the name Laurence and lead its children into the future. It seemed a tall order for such a small girl, head full of curls and big brown eyes. But he knew Ruth to be a spitfire. She'd survived the cruciatus curse where he'd seen many men succumb.
The courtroom would be remiss to underestimate her or any testimony she provided.
"Miss Elliot," he said lightly, when they were called to question. He'd forgone her true name of 'Burke' for the time being, considering 'Elliot' was the name she was known as here. Certainly Roger had aims to change that eventually. "According to the auror report provided to us, you stated that Headmistress Haswell nearly got you killed by trying to summon you to her. Can you expand upon that for the court, please?"
the winter sun rise
red on white like
blood upon the snow
Mr. Nordstrom read out the charges to which Haswell pleaded not guilty, the confidence -- or should we say, arrogance -- rolling off in waves. It didn't paint a great picture right from the start, Harper asserted inwardly. Appearing assured and poised was one thing, but carrying a smile like that projected a misplaced untouchability that wouldn't go over well with many of them.
Crowe offered the defendant's opening statement, a similar approach to what Blackwood's lawyer had chosen, something that had worked out well enough in the end. For him, anyway.
All responsibility to the Ministry and the Minister, all accountability denied.
Harper certainly didn't have a problem with that approach, it'd only play into their hands. Nordstrom on the other hand had a whole lot to say about that.
Apparently her assessment on impartiality had been wrong. An error on her part, he was the grandfather of one of those girls after all.
She had to give it to him though, he came down on her hard. Precise and unforgiving, the outrage for what had happened audible as well as visible, fuelled and unleashed perhaps for that display of united overconfidence.
Harper could understand, not on an emotional level but on a logical one. Deeply rooted care for a person that had been harmed tended to elicit fury and the demand for punishment.
Not that she knew what that felt like. The only thing she truly cared for was their wizarding community at large and herself specifically. As such she wanted to see justice done herself, for Thayer and Ferrow having been allowed to continue to pursue Holloway's delusional plans. Her outrage for threatening their secrecy and the ludicrous idea to get muggles involved had been real enough.
Nordstrom called in the first witness and Harper posed her own question to the young girl. "Miss Elliot, in her witness statement Headmistress Haswell claims to have gotten to you upon entering the Dark Tower while the other girls were summoned out of harm's way. At any point, do you remember her trying to shield your body from harm?"
~only the winter wind survives~
Watching the young girl walk into the room sent a twinge of regret through Bertram. A good, longtime friend of Matilda, he hated calling her to the stand, but they needed a witness with a student's perspective. Adults had ulterior motives, while children typically had no problem telling it like it was. And knowing Ruth as he did, she was the perfect witness for this trial.
Maevie was so young, and from her questioning he knew that she was shielded by Gideon for a good portion of the incident. And Everleigh, well she wouldn’t be a good witness at all. Watching his granddaughter on the stand would send a strong message to the members though, she was irrevocably altered by the events of that night.
Bertram waited while James and Harper asked their questions, both specifically about the night in March, Bertram had another question in mind. Understandably they were focusing a lot on the March 12th incident, but Bertram wanted to know more about what led to that night.
“Miss Elliot, I thank you for being here. We have heard a lot about the night of March 12th, but I would like you to tell us, from your point of view, how Headmistress Haswell dealt with the magical mishaps that plagued the school last term. There have been reports of wards failing, the Hospital Wing magic going haywire, the kitchen magic making cooking impossible for the elves. As a student, how disruptive were these mishaps and did you notice if Headmistress Haswell had an active role in fixing them and rooting out the cause?”
One would think that her auror report had made it clear she didn't want to be questioned, yet here she was. Eight months later, with the events of the dark tower now only residing in her nightmares, Rae had been content to move on with her life.
Why the ministry thought anyone needed to go to jail when Hogwarts had been nothing but craziness since she'd first arrived – and there were far greater crimes committed by certain professors that no longer worked there – was beyond her.
Someone had to save them. She didn't think she'd have appreciated being dead.
There were charges she never bothered to familiarise herself with, despite the articles that cropped up in the Daily Prophet every now and then, following the story since it had first broken. The girl relied instead on the words of her classmates, skewed as she was sometimes convinced they were.
It went without saying, then, that she hadn't been trying to get dragged to court. If they really wanted to nail Haswell, they should've looked into her 7 AM lessons that forced everyone awake by 5 AM for ridiculously early breakfast. That reeked of 'child endangerment' far more than whatever these red-robed council members were on about.
She was led into the courtroom. Rae's gaze didn't linger on anyone present. She wasn't afraid, nor was she uncomfortable, per se. The Slytherin could simply think of better ways to spend her Tuesday, even if it did mean going to her classes. Sitting before a room of onlookers, being asked about things she'd done everything she could to not remember, didn't exactly scream 'fantasy field trip'. There wasn't much choice. The official who'd made it clear she would have to testify was also clear that her statements would be instrumental and that 'skipping' was not an option.
She didn't focus on the proceedings. Instead, she focused on her mother waiting back outside. Before she returned her to school, she promised they could go for milkshakes once she was done. That was far more 'incentive' for the fifth-year than whatever illusions of justice they touted in there.
"According to the auror report provided to us, you stated that Headmistress Haswell nearly got you killed by trying to summon you to her. Can you expand upon that for the court, please?"
James. Her teen fantasy for an entire summer before everything went to shit. He was still as handsome, but the events of the previous year had soured her on the man, and it showed in her expression as he tossed out the first question.
Her statement on...—oh. That.
Rae shrugged mildly, her indifference juxtaposed to the intensity that lingered in the room. "I dunno, just didn't seem like they were all that coordinated when they burst in. Everyone was throwing spells without figuring out how it might play off the next. She tried to accio me just when the killing curse was shot. It'd have yanked me right into the green light if Thayer hadn't deflected."
That green light that still lit her dreams on occasion. The reminder brought a subtle, involuntary shiver down her spine that she did her best to ignore.
Milkshakes after. Milkshakes.
A second question came, this one from a gorgeous woman who had no business being that covered up in large robes.
"Miss Elliot, in her witness statement Headmistress Haswell claims to have gotten to you upon entering the Dark Tower while the other girls were summoned out of harm's way. At any point, do you remember her trying to shield your body from harm?"
A shield?
"Uh...no?" Had anyone cast a shield? Rae couldn't remember. Had there been, she reckoned she wouldn't have felt the heat coming off half the spells, and Thayer wouldn't have been able to get his hands back on her so easily. "She ran in and blasted the guy across the room, then kneeled next to me with her wand pointed at him. Dunno why she didn't take the shot then." Lots of kids back at school said she used to be an auror. An auror with bad aim and no confidence in her cast, maybe? Seemed like a dangerous mix for the job. "So, of course, the guy gets up and just starts blasting again. Who wouldn't?"
If he'd gone as far as taking them, being shoved a few feet would hardly be deterrent enough. Some people underestimated how persistent evil tended to be, clouded by ridiculous ideas of rationality and goodwill.
Then there was Bram sitting in the big chair in the centre. Tilly had told her he'd be involved in the trials, but unlike James, he didn't instantly bring her blood to a slow boil.
“Miss Elliot, I thank you for being here. We have heard a lot about the night of March 12th, but I would like you to tell us, from your point of view, how Headmistress Haswell dealt with the magical mishaps that plagued the school last term. There have been reports of wards failing, the Hospital Wing magic going haywire, the kitchen magic making cooking impossible for the elves. As a student, how disruptive were these mishaps and did you notice if Headmistress Haswell had an active role in fixing them and rooting out the cause?”
"Don't get me started," Rae said, her eyes rolling so far back that they hurt. "We get to the feast and hear there's no food. Had to walk down to the kitchen for sandwiches. Every meal was sandwiches. If they had the ingredients and all the pots and pans, how come that's all we got to eat? Didn't she order enough food for us? Sounds an awful lot like she just wasn't prepared for the start of term to me. Even if the magic to take them to the tables wasn't working, there should've still been sizzling roasts and steamy pies waiting for us to pick up. Where were they? What happened to them while we ate sandwiches?"
They'd finally struck on things she cared about.
"Then the potions go bad in the hospital wing, and she walks in with Blackwood – who's screaming like he's never been in a hospital before, with no regard for any of the patients needing rest – and he threatened me when I pointed it out, like it's my fault he's an idiot – but you're not asking about him. She walked in and walked out without doing a single thing. Might as well have been a portrait on the wall, but even they occasionally give sound guidance. She seemed as lost as we were but less useful because even she didn't try getting Blackwood to calm down for the sake of the infirm."
It took a second for her to realise she'd gotten sidetracked again. She shook her head, trying to refocus. "Anyway, if you wanna know how she handled the broken magic, she hung on a wall like colourful furniture and waited for us to figure it out ourselves. We students are more resourceful than you think. Could--and did--run the school ourselves."
I'm bulletproof, nothing to lose
✗ ✗ Fire Away ✗ ✗
Ruby watched as Bertram began his condemnation of her actions and she would lie if she didn’t have a hard time keeping the confident expression on her face. She didn’t like being questioned, and she didn’t like her actions questioned. But she was also proud and felt like she did what she could with the timing she had.
“...The duty of care is non-transferable…”
She smirked, shaking her head slightly. No, he did not understand how crisis authority worked. That was obvious. And the fact that he highlighted her years as an auror – well, that gave her confidence as well. Surely the Wizengamot would see through the emotional manipulation that was being attempted and decide what was right.
By the time the defense had finished asking Ruth their questions, Ruby was seething, like a pot on the verge of boiling. Still, she remained seated in her chair, refusing to let anyone see the real emotions she was feeling.
“...Might as well have been a portrait on the wall...”
Ruby bit her tongue, her stomach flopping a bit. Her blue eyes bore into Ruth as she kept her face emotionless. She couldn’t be read, but also her smile had been wiped away. Or slapped away.
Crowe sighed after Ruth answered all of the prosecution’s questions. It was his turn, and while a lot of what the girl had said was quite damning, he had a strategy that he thought might actually turn out to have a positive effect on the verdict.
He moved towards the witness stand, looking around the members of the Wizengamot.
“I would like to point out, Mr. Nordstrom, that bringing up events that did not happen in that Tower is encroaching on irrelevant in relation to the events on March 12th.”
Whether he should have said that or not, he didn’t know. He didn’t care. He had to fix this.
“Miss Elliot. I will keep this brief as I know this is the last place you’d like to be,” he said and smiled at the girl. “During the events in the Dark Tower, you were bound, under the threat of an Unforgivable Curse, and unable to move of your own accord. And the events escalated quite quickly once the other adults arrived. Which means the order of spells may have, possibly, been different from what you recall. You also have no auror training and no knowledge of hostage-extraction protocols. So your perspective must be that of a student, not a trained professional.”
Not a question, but a statement. All of which was true.
“You testified that Headmistress Haswell endangered you by attempting to summon you. At that exact moment, you were restrained and unable to escape on your own. And had the summoning charm succeeded, it would have removed you from Arthur Thayer’s immediate reach. Regardless of how chaotic the rescue felt to you, Headmistress Haswell entered the Dark Tower while you were alive and remained engaged until you were removed. Would you say that is correct?” he asked.
And then moved on. “One last question. Despite the irrelevance, since they were brought up, I am going to ask about the other things that went wrong earlier during term. You were not with Headmistress Haswell every day, all day. So is it fair to say that you are not aware of what investigations or countermeasures were undertaken when you were not present? And as such your testimony on those matters reflects personal frustration, not full administrative knowledge?”
Crowe was not trying to discredit the child, only remind the Wizengamot that while Ruth was incredibly irritated, she did not know the full scope of everything that was happening in the castle last term.
The man had mistaken her for a Hufflepuff.
He would soon learn his mistake.
Ruth Elliot listened while Crowe went off about her apparent lack of knowledge and her inability to know the things she knew that she knew. His arguments amounted to her being a silly little girl with her head in the clouds, one who couldn't possibly have known what she was talking about. Dazed, confused, so taken by the moment that she must've been misguided now in her later testimony.
"You also have no auror training and no knowledge of hostage-extraction protocols. So your perspective must be that of a student, not a trained professional.”
"I don't give a fuck about fucking 'hostage-extraction protocols. If you're dumb as a sack of bricks, wait for someone who knows better. I don't need some sorry sod in a cheap suit telling me what I do and don't remember or what I can or can't know. She came in and depulso-ed Thayer across the room. He was down. Had to get back to his feet. She didn't take the shot; she pointed her wand and waited for him to get back up like every poorly written hero in movies. Is that what they teach? How to wait for the bad guy to get back up and have a fair shot at destroying you again? If she really wanted to end things, she'd had a clear enough shot to blast him. I might not be an expert, but aren't you meant to neutralise the threat as quickly as possible? All she did was move him a few feet. Didn't know Petrificus Totalus was so hard to cast."
She wasn't arguing against her headmistress in her mind, only the pompous solicitor who thought his winning strategy would come off the back of making her seem like a clueless idiot.
She didn't like that; she didn't like it at all. Fresh off her rant about sandwiches? He could catch the rest of her angry words.
"Regardless of how chaotic the rescue felt to you, Headmistress Haswell entered the Dark Tower while you were alive and remained engaged until you were removed. Would you say that is correct?”
"Incorrect," Rae replied with bristling dismissal. "Since you're such an expert on what happened in the tower, you should've already known that after Thayer got back up, he knocked the wand out of Headmistress Haswell's hand. She didn't cast a single thing more until she nearly ran me into the killing curse. After that, Thayer was dead. Explain to me – and I reckon the courtroom if you can be bothered – how that could be considered engaged."
"And as such your testimony on those matters reflects personal frustration, not full administrative knowledge?”
There he went again, saying she didn't know anything.
"Mr--Croak, was it?" Did it matter? "Whatever 'administrative knowledge' exercised by the headmistress is reflected in the personal experiences of us students. If the problem was the charms not being able to move the food, the food should still have been down in the kitchen waiting. It seems to me the wards were just a convenient excuse to cover up that she hadn't really been prepared to open for the start of term. It also doesn't take an administrative genius to tell an idiot to stop screaming in the hospital wing. You're telling me she could only do that in secret by herself, leaning over her desk long after the damage was done? What good is administrative knowledge if things still go to shit at every turn?"
He wasn't very good at this, was he?
I'm bulletproof, nothing to lose
✗ ✗ Fire Away ✗ ✗
Bertram was proud of Ruth. She wasn’t his, they weren’t family, but he was still proud all the same. Bram had a tendency to bring all of Tilly’s friends into the fold. His house in Sweden had multiple guest rooms ready for her friends at the drop of a hat. So it was with immense pride that he smiled at Ruth, he had a feeling she wouldn’t back down to the pressure, and he wasn’t wrong.
When the questions from the Wizengamot ended, Crowe stood up to ask his own questions, Bram couldn’t wait to see how he recovered.
“I would like to point out, Mr. Nordstrom, that bringing up events that did not happen in that Tower is encroaching on irrelevant in relation to the events on March 12th.”
It was difficult to keep his thoughts to himself. Crowe was WAY off base. Apparently in prepping for this case he had forgotten to actually read the charges. That was fine, he would remind him and the rest of the Wizengamot just as soon as Ruth was done.
But lord, she was NO WHERE NEAR done. To say that she would make a wonderful solicitor was an understatement. Honestly, she would succeed in any path she chose, but watching her eviscerate a rival in the courtroom would be a thing of beauty. Which it was, because he was watching it in real time.
As she ended, her answers lingering in the still, quiet chambers, Bertram stood. Smile on his face directed at Ruth, he nodded to the young girl. “Miss Elliot, I thank you for your time and your candor. You are dismissed.”
Waiting for Ruth to exit the chamber, Bertram flipped to the front of his paperwork. There was the matter of Ruby’s charges that needed to be addressed.
“Members, council, Miss Haswell. We will continue on to our next witness shortly, but first. Mr. Crowe. You insinuated that my line of questioning was inappropriate, due to not being relevant to the events on March 12th. I think it would be prudent to remind everyone of the charges brought forth against Miss Haswell. I’ll just read them word for word, so there are no further misunderstandings.”
Bertram looked at Crowe to make sure he was listening.
“Ruby Haswell stands accused of First-Degree Manslaughter under Magical Statute 345.B and Child Endangerment under Magical Statute 102.A.
The prosecution alleges that while responding to the Dark Tower hostage crisis on March 12, 1921, Haswell knowingly engaged in sustained high-risk magical combat within immediate proximity of three bound minor students. Though Haswell did not cast the fatal curse that resulted in the death of Arthur Thayer, her actions are alleged to have materially escalated the confrontation, contributing to a foreseeable and fatal outcome.
Further, it is alleged that Haswell failed in her duty of care as Headmistress by prioritizing neutralization over extraction, thereby exposing minors to extreme and prolonged danger.”
As he readied to read the next section, his voice rose just a tad, to really send the message home.
“In addition, it is alleged that Haswell neglected her duties as Headmistress in so that two terrorist-sympathizers were not only employed but remained as such until the events of March 12, 1921 placing minor children at sustained and prolonged risk.
So you will excuse me, Mr. Crowe, but I believe that all events leading up to the tragedy on March 12th are more than relevant. ”
Tapping his notes on the podium, Bram looked at the accused and her council. Hopefully, Crowe took the feathers out of his ears and learned a thing or two.
“Moving forward. The Wizengamot calls Minister of Magic, Wylder Merrow to the stand.”
"Minister, thank you for being here.
Bram had a suspicion that the Minister wasn't excited about testifying in a second trial. His was scheduled later in the year, which would be an interesting process to watch.
Bertram couldn't wait.
"Minister, can you walk me through the timeline of March 12th? When you received the alert, what it said and your next actions. Also, when you got the message, why did you show up without a contingent of Aurors? Did you think you could handle such a situation without Magical Law Enforcement to back you up?"
OOC: Get your questions in for the Minister!
Galen had not much to say so far. So he continued to be a silent bystander, watching the defendant’s council make a complete fool out of himself and her. Honestly, it was hard for the man to keep his laughter to himself. Crowe did have an impressive reputation, but this trial was a clear sign that the man had worn out his good luck. Perhaps he ought to retire.
The defense was relying too heavily on pointing fingers elsewhere and leaving Ruby wide open for character destruction. Sure, he could give her that perhaps the entire term – from beginning until March 12 – was a clusterfuck. But she could have grabbed it by the horns instead of… whatever it was she’d done instead.
Elliot was an entertaining witness, and while Crowe had tried to save Haswell’s reputation – he had done quite the opposite. Galen was now, even more convinced, that the woman was not qualified for the job. He looked over at her, seeing her shift uncomfortably. Crowe’s face was red as Nordstrom reminded him of the charges.
He almost expected Crowe – or Ruby for that matter – to speak out of turn and blow up. It would certainly make the trial all the more exciting.
Instead, they remained silent. Smart. And he watched the minister take the witness stand.
Which brought Galen to his question.
“Minister Merrow… could you please explain what about Ms. Haswell made you think that she was a suitable Headmistress? After everything that Halloway did, surely there were stronger options.”
Galen had to know because it had been on his mind since the whole thing happened.
Son of a bitch.
He'd been summoned again, as though his first witness testimony wasn't enough for the body that wanted to crucify him for doing what any other Minister with half a brain would have.
Blackwood had gotten off, as Wylder had expected he would. The four that had stormed the tower that night in pursuit of a lunatic who was torturing three girls had done what was necessary, and the man held no regrets, save for one.
Ruby Haswell.
Wylder made no secret about it that he wasn't overly impressed with 'professional' women. He was a traditional man by every meaning of the word, and while Harper had been sufficient at her job and he had no intention of putting a man in a position a woman should be doing, Ruby had not been cut out for hers.
And now here they were. In the midst of a trial, and he was meant to either speak up for her or throw her under the proverbial knight bus.
The man took his seat, ruing the day he'd ever accepted the position as Minister of Magic, and waited for the first question to be thrown at him.
"Minister, can you walk me through the timeline of March 12th? When you received the alert, what it said and your next actions. Also, when you got the message, why did you show up without a contingent of Aurors? Did you think you could handle such a situation without Magical Law Enforcement to back you up?"
Nordstrom. The two men had worked...acceptably well prior to the wand registry. These days? Well Wylder didn't care much what anyone thought of him. He did his job and Nordstrom did his. What else was needed? He hadn't taken on the highest office in Wizarding Britain to make friends.
He couldn't imagine many did.
"I was sitting on my front porch with my dog, enjoying the evening. A crow patronus appeared and notified me that three Hogwarts students had been taken from a prefect-led carnival on school grounds. It also said that the children were being held in the Dark Tower by one of Nicholas Halloway's followers. I notified the MLE with my own patronus and then traveled to Hogwarts, as I stated previously." He straightened in his chair slightly. "It's not my job to rally the aurors. That is the Magical Law Enforcement Head's job, and why they dispatched their aurors how they did was not up to me."
Did he think he could handle such a situation? It was laughable. The smallest smirk, one rarely, if ever given curled at the corner of Wylder Merrow's lips. "Prior to becoming Minister, I was a decorated frontlines man in the Great War. I served in the trenches alongside Britain's bravest and most noble. I fought the Germans on open field and endured mustard gas poisoning. Trust, Mister Nordstrom, that I have faced horrors far greater than Arthur Thayer."
But as far as he knew, this wasn't his trial. This was Haswell's. "Besides," Wylder said, leaning back in his chair and drumming his fingers on the arm. "Isn't Headmistress Haswell a former auror? Why wouldn't I feel comfortable storming the tower with a former auror, a former soldier - " meaning Blackwood, "and a former dragonologist?" He tilted his head slightly, but left the thought there.
“Minister Merrow… could you please explain what about Ms. Haswell made you think that she was a suitable Headmistress? After everything that Halloway did, surely there were stronger options.”
He wasn't overly familiar with the man who spoke, outside of knowing him as an Oxford professor. MacLean or something to that effect. "There were stronger options," Wylder said easily with a light nod. "Unfortunately none of which who were willing to take the job after the mess the previous administration made. So Haswell it was."
There. More questions, more answers. If they called him for Barlowe's case he'd claim a sudden onset of mutism.
This was not good. For the first time since she found out about the trial, Ruby was beginning to feel as if this was a losing battle. She stood by her actions, but it seemed everyone on the Wizengamot had already made their decision about her fate. She did not frown, though. She merely did not smile anymore. She made no expression at all, as she waited for the child to get her fit over with.
The Minister’s testimony was no better. She did not look at Crowe, but she did clench her right hand into a fist.
Crowe listened as Nordstrom ‘reminded him’ of Ruby’s charges. He was well aware of them and in fact followed along with them in the copy he had tucked in his folio. Nordstrom was correct, of course. But he stood by his statement.
Anyways, Crowe kept his mouth shut, trying to think through his strategy. Ruth had been quite damning, unfortunately, and he was going to have to switch gears a bit. But how? He was not sure.
He watched Merrow, knowing quite well that the man didn’t like women in professional roles. He would be difficult to cross-examine when it was his turn, so he focused on the notes he had written down.
Once it was his turn, Crowe made his way to the center of the room, looking at the Minister.
“I’d like just a few clarifications, Minister Merrow. When you arrived at Hogwarts, you were aware that three students were being held hostage under threat of Unforgivable Curses. And you issued an order to attempt capture of Arthur Thayer rather than withdrawal or delay.”
The next would potentially piss his client off, but Crowe did not care. Damage control is what he was focusing on now. The rest of it was already decided.
“At no point did you countermand Headmistress Haswell’s authority or remove her discretion in executing that order. And you did not instruct her to wait for Aurors before acting. Would you say all of that is correct?”
This – pointing out that the minister could have ordered the group to wait before ascending into the Dark Tower – might help. Even just a little.
Or blow up in their faces.
Either way, Crowe was beginning to feel the pressure now.
Gray eyes flicked towards Haswell’s lawyer, his expression remaining neutral, giving no indication to what the minister actually felt outside of quiet irritation. Didn’t these people have more important tasks they could be focusing on, rather than condemning those that had done what they could to rescue the children taken?
It seemed not. Wylder would be certain that upon his acquittal, he would not only overhaul the entire Wizengamot body, but the whole of the MLE department as well.
“I’d like just a few clarifications, Minister Merrow. When you arrived at Hogwarts, you were aware that three students were being held hostage under threat of Unforgivable Curses. And you issued an order to attempt capture of Arthur Thayer rather than withdrawal or delay.”
“I was not aware he was utilizing Unforgiveables until we entered the room where he’d kept the children.” A simple answer, but truthful. He was no seer, no legilimens. There was no way for him to know what was going on inside that room until he saw it with his own eyes.
What an inane statement. The barristers department would also see an overhaul.
“I issued the order to take him alive so he could stand trial and be held accountable for his crimes. I didn’t withdraw or delay. That would have resulted in children dying, which I’m certain the whole of this body is relieved was not the outcome.”
Did this lawyer expect him to see Thayer using the cruciatus curse on a fourteen year old and decide better of engaging?
“At no point did you countermand Headmistress Haswell’s authority or remove her discretion in executing that order. And you did not instruct her to wait for Aurors before acting. Would you say all of that is correct?”
“Ruby Haswell gave no orders because she was woefully out of her league and didn’t know what to do. Again, I instructed them all to take him alive. It was not the outcome.”
He didn’t know how he could make things more clear. He was not a man with predilections towards dramatics or creating a scene. He was direct and to the point. If they were unable to understand the events that took place after all was said and done, then a Ministry clean out would certainly come sooner than later.
Bertram sighed listening to the Minister speak. He was doing Ruby and himself no favors. His trial would be interesting to watch. He danced around most of the questions, barely asking or, once again, pinning the blame on someone else. It seemed everyone in this trial followed the same playbook.
Unfortunately, at some point, someone would have to take the fall. The real question was, would that person deserve it.
“Thank you Minister, you are dismissed.”
Standing at the podium once again, Bram looked over his outline of events. There were no more witnesses for the prosecution to call, other than the accused herself.
“The Prosecution would now like to call the accused to the stand. Miss Ruby Haswell, please take your seat, council, please begin your questioning.”
The time had come for Ruby to take the stand and answer to the accusations. Bram would like to say that finally, he would get answers. His family and those of Maevie Golding and Ruth Elliot were owed an explanation for how the girls were taken and tortured. Unfortunately, he didn’t think those answers would ever come.
“Miss Haswell, the night of March 12th, when you were alerted to the abduction, can you please explain what went through your mind when you learned that three students had been taken? Also, once you were assembled at the base of the tower with the Minister, Blackwood and Barlowe, it has been said that you instructed Mr. Barlowe to go first, followed by Mr. Blackwood. Why, with twenty-four years of Auror experience did you think it wise to send two professors with no MLE experience up the stairs first?”
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