Trial of Charlise Saunders [INNOCENT]

[JadieLou]

This is the trial of Miss Charlise Emmaline Saunders.

Age: Thirty-three Years

Crimes

• Treason
  

Head Judge: Juliette Henderson (Minister for Magic)

Jurors: Sara Templeton (Headmistress of Hogwarts)

[JadieLou]

Juliette walked into the courtroom and sighed, her head bowed. Why did people do things like this? Though, Miss Saunders was not as bad, it seemed, than others that she had to judge at the moment. To be honest, no one even remembers seeing her fight at all. Still, Juliette had to judge her fairly.
She sat at her place, putting her files in front of her, adjusting her robes. This was going to be a long day. One, she was not going to enjoy.

[Sara Templeton]

Sara walked into the courtroom, and stopped in the doorway. She felt a shiver down her spine, and past events, 22 years before, shot past her vision. She was sitting right up the back of the stands, looking down to a very good looking dark haired man, sitting on that exact chair. She let out a sigh as she remembered the horror, watching her once lover being carted off to Azkaban, while she was supposedly on the run.
She recovered herself. Watching Rabastan being taken away would never leave her. Never. But, she didn't expect it to affect her like that. Seeing Juliette, she walked up to the seat beside the Minister.
"Minister," she greeted, sitting beside her in the seat allocated for her.

[JadieLou]

Juliette looked up as someone said her name. When she recognised Sara, she smiled. "Headmistress," she responded. "What a horrid day," she commented. The room began to fill up with the Wizengamot and spectators, all here to see the trials. Juliette sighed. She was just about to say something else to Sara, when the guards announced the entry of the one on trial.
"Ms. Charlise Emmaline Saunders. Charged with Death Eater sympathies, and treason."

[Jed Ramiro]

Jed glanced around at the packed courtroom. Vultures, he thought angrily, just there to see the spectacle. He'd barely been able to fight his way in.

Then they announced her name, and he felt his heart lurch as Charli entered the courtrom. He couldn't believe this was happening. He'd thought the nightmare of Azkaban was behind them, yet Charli was on trial again, simply because she had been a Death Eater in the past. He was convinced she was innocent, surely he'd have known if she was involved in the new uprising?

He shoved his way as far forward as he could, ignoring the angry mutterings around him. Most of these people were just here to gawk. But Jed was here because the woman he loved was on trial. His eyes were locked on her face, hoping Charli would look up and see him, and maybe take a little comfort from his presence.

[Charli Saunders]

Charli was escorted into the courtroom by a pair of rather haughty looking Ministry guards. She looked around, intensely horrific memories beginning to flood back, making her whimper slightly. One of the guards looked down at her, and she was sure she saw even the slightest bit of sympathy.
Her eyesroamed the area, seeing the two woman at the front. The Minister and the Headmistress. Great. Then she heard a little bit of a ruckous and she turned her head, just as they were chaining her to the chair. As soon as she saw Jed's face, she let the tiniest of smiles enter her features. With him there, she felt as though she could handle anything.
But really, this was all stupid. She hadn't even been at Hogwarts when all this happened! She hadn't been invovled in the Battle at all. She was here merely by default. Yes, she'd shown her best friend support, but she'd never acted on that support. She hadn't raised her wand to anyone since she'd been out. She looked back up to the podium when the Minister began talking.

And it began.

[Jed Ramiro]

Perhaps hearing the people muttering around him, Charli turned her head, and finally saw him. The smallest of smiles touched her lips, and Jed smiled back. He couldn't speak to her, but he knew his presence would help her face this stupid travesty of a trail. Jostling the people on either side of him, he found a place on the bench, and sat down, just as the Minister began to speak.

[JadieLou]

Juliette stood as the guards bought Charlise in. She watched the silent exchange between her and a male in the audience. Oh dear
"Miss Saunders," she began. " Could you please tell us why you believe you are here."

Charli looked back up to the Minister. She cleared her throat. It felt a little dry. "I believe I'm merely here by default. Because I have the Mark on my arm from the last War. That's all," she said. And because of my friendship with Kildara Dracus.

Juliette sighed. Then, surprising everyone in the hall, she nodded. "I believe there is no witnesses that remember seeing you at the Battle at Hogwarts. "

"That is correct. Because I wasn't there. I was in my shop. I own Honeydukes in Hogsmeade. I didn't even know what was going on until I felt my Mark burn. But I decided to stay back. Decided not to get myself involved. I vowed to myself after I was released from Azkaban last time, I wouldn't go back. So why would I put myself in that situation?"

Juliette nodded again, listening to Charlise's testimony. "Is there anyone that can vouch you being at your shop?"

Charli nodded, looking in the direction of Jed. He'd been with her at the time, so hopefully he'd vouch for her.

[Jed Ramiro]

Jed listened, his expression darkening. So they'd looked for witnesses to incriminate Charli, but apparently not for anyone who could clear her name. No doubt this question as to whether anyone could vouch for her, was a formality, the Minister wasn't expecting that there'd be a reply.

He stood up.

"I can... your honour." He barely managed to keep the contempt out of his voice as he used the courtesy title.

"I can vouch for her, because I was there. I was at the shop with her, when she felt the mark burn."

[JadieLou]

Juliette looked up as the man Miss Saunders had been looking at stood up. She nodded at him as he addressed her.
"Can you state your name please?" she asked him. "So, when her Mark burned, are you sure she didn't leave. As soon as you stood you agreed to tell the truth. Did she think about leaving? Running to the aide of her comrades?"

[Jed Ramiro]

"My name is Jed Ramiro. I own Dervish and Banges, another shop in Hogsmeade. And I'd tell the truth even without being under oath." He looked calmly at the Minister. "When the mark burned, Charli was afraid. She knew she was being called to the school, and she guessed some sort of attack must have taken place. She never considered going. She touched the mark and said, 'No, not this time. They can't make me do anything.' "

[JadieLou]

Juliette listened as Mr Ramiro explained the events. She looked at Charlise, who didn't seemed at all surprised by the things the man was saying. She'd seen it before, witnesses have come up and said things the defendant knew nothing about, and it showed on their faces. Charlise's face only showed only her agreement to the story, and a slight embarrassment at him saying she'd been afraid.

Juliette sighed. "Thank you Mr Ramiro," she said, nodding to him. She turned her attention back to Charlise. "Well, I really suppose there is nothing more to do. The Wizengamot will now vote."

Chalrise nodded, looking at the new Headmistress of Hogwarts, whose hand was one of the first up in favour of innocence. Charlise smiled. Every single hand was up.

"Charlise Saunders, you're free to go." Juliette nodded, standing and leading people out of the courtroom.

Charli was released and she ran straight over to Jed, throwing her arms around him. "Oh thank Merlin," she breathed into his ear. "I love you."

[Jed Ramiro]

And that was that. What the hell was the point of putting Charli through this ordeal? But Jed's anger at the way the ministry conducted these trials was forgotten, as Charli rushed over to him, and he wrapped his arms round her. When she spoke, he kissed her hard, then said, "I love you, Charli. I don't know what I'd have done if they'd sent you back to that place."

[Charli Saunders]

Charli smiled as Jed kissed her. She returned it passionately, wrapping his arms around his neck. "I have no idea what I would have done either. Not that there was really any reason for them to. Except the smudge on my arm. But, it won' burn anymore. It's over," she said with a smile. "Can we go? Now?" she said, with a slight sense of urgency in her voice.

[Jed Ramiro]

"No, there was no reason for them to even arrest you. But that's never stopped them in the past. Remember Sirius Black? He was in Azkaban for twelve years without even a trial." Jed hugged her again; that had been on his mind, he'd been afraid that Charli would be another victim of ministry "justice".

"Of course we can go. I don't want to spend a second more than necessary here." He put his arm around her waist, and they walked out of the courtroom.