Before the Wizengamot

Disclaimer: The characters in this story belong to JKR. The original plot and story belong to Velvet Song. Any resemblance to anything living or dead is purely coincidental.

Author's Note: This is a continuation of Velvet Song's story "Damsels & Dragons", which she has graciously allowed me to adopt. You will find the first thirteen chapters of her story here: http: //www. thepetulantpoetess.com /viewstory.php?sid =18337 (remove the spaces first). I can only hope I do her ideas justice.

Thanks to Fizzabella and writermerrin for the beta of this chapter. I really appreciate all the reviews so far. Thank you.

Before the Wizengamot

"That's the plan, Coombs," Lucius said, pacing the floor in the quarters assigned to their unexpected guest. "If you agree, Filius would perform a memory modification charm on you, and we would insert the required memories."

"Is it necessary to erase everything?" Coombs asked nervously. Neatly barbered and shaved by Winky, he wore a dressing gown while the house-elf went to find him some other, much neater, robes. "I mean, won't the Wizengamot take my word for anything?"

"Not with the political climate so volatile right now," Minerva told him. "The new Minister of Magic has vowed to find any remaining Death Eaters and send them to Azkaban. You disappeared and were declared dead nine years ago. They'll want to use Veritaserum to make sure of your claims."

"They think I'm a Death Eater?" he gasped, his head swinging back and forth between them. "You can't be serious!"

"It's quite possible," Lucius said. "That's why Filius would have to perform a memory modification charm before we inserted the memories you need in order to withstand questioning. But only if you're agreeable."

Coombs looked down at the floor for a moment. "If I do this, I won't remember any of the last day, will I?"

"You'll remember the important parts," Minerva said soothingly. "The arrival here, being fed, barbered and shaved, the new clothes. You just won't remember how exactly you escaped or who helped you. Those memories will be part of the story we'll give you."

"Well, if you must do so, go ahead," he said with a resigned sigh. "Let's get this over with so I can get on with my life."

"I thought you would see it our way. Filius, if you would, please?"

***

"You expect us to believe this tarradiddle?" the Chief Warlock asked. "Where is your proof? He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named had you abducted so you could translate curses for him? Where are these curses now? Well, answer me, man!"

"Well, sir..." Coombs started to say.

"We destroyed them," Minerva said smoothly. "Such things are abominations and should not even be allowed to exist." She indicated the box Winky levitated in front of her. "What's in here are the books and scrolls that have no proof of ownership. Everything else the Dark Lord stole was returned to its rightful owners."

"You had no right to do that!" a portly wizard sputtered from the second row. "That's property that should be confiscated by the Ministry!"

"Confiscated and then sold to benefit the Ministry," Minerva said with a snort. "What's the difference? The so-called legality of the thefts?"

"You forget yourself, Headmistress," the Chief Wizard advised.

"No, I don't, Egbert Summersby," Minerva replied. "Some of what we returned was stolen from the British Wizarding Library. It belongs there by right. Now, we have brought an accusation of abduction by force in front of the Wizengamot. Are you or are you not going to investigate?"

The Chief Wizard hemmed and hawed for a moment, then bent to his right and listened to the dark-haired witch seated next to him, who whispered in his ear. "Very well," he said in capitulation. "We will examine the witness. Prepare the Veritaserum. Mr Coombs, is it?" Coombs nodded. "Take your seat, please."

Lucius guided Coombs to the seat in the middle of the courtroom, his shaky legs somewhat problematic at the moment. "Relax," he murmured. "You're entitled to representation and witnesses even with the use of Veritaserum."

Coombs nodded and sat down. Immediately, chains whipped around and anchored his hands, arms and feet.

"Your Honor!" Minerva protested. "That is not necessary for an innocent man!"

"We decide who is innocent and who is not, Headmistress," the portly wizard said vehemently. "Not..."

"The chains are not necessary, Wilkins," the Chief Wizard interrupted. "He will not be leaving before we have completed our examination. Release him." Immediately the chains dropped away and Coombs breathed a sigh of relief. "Administer the Veritaserum, if you please."

Once the Veritaserum was administered and Coombs shown to be under its influence, the questioning began.

"What is your name?"

"Gilbert Sylvester Coombs."

"What is your occupation?"

"I am...I was...a Gothic scholar at the British Wizarding Library."

"Where have you been the past nine years?"

"I don't know."

"Why do you not know?"

"I was kept in a warded room unless I was needed for translations or experimentation."

"How did you get there?"

"An Auror took me there." Murmurs of disbelief rose from the gallery.

"Silence, please," the Chief Wizard warned. "How do you know it was an Auror?"

"He showed me his badge."

"How do you know you were there for nine years?"

"My friend, Phelps, told me."

"How did you get to Hogwarts?"

"Phelps came and got me after I escaped."

"How did he know you escaped?"

"I sent him an owl from Sullivan Alley in Penzance."

"How did you get to Penzance?"

"I walked."

"How did you escape?"

"The wards failed for a moment, and I got out of the room. Then I left the house."

"Did you take the box from the house?"

"Yes."

"Why did you take the box?"

"I saw what the box contained and knew it didn't belong there."

"Why did you take it to Hogwarts?"

"Phelps was working on translations there."

"I have no further questions," the Chief Wizard said. "Administer the antidote, if you please."

"One moment," the portly wizard said. "I have a question."

"Very well. Ask your question."

"Could you identify the so-called Auror who abducted you?"

"Yes."

"Look around. Is he here in this room?"

Coombs stood up on shaky legs and started to scan the room by turning in a small circle. Just as his gaze reached the door of the chamber, it opened and Scrimgeour walked in. He looked up from the papers in his hand with a look of surprise when Coombs pointed and said, "That's him! He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named called him Rufus!"

Pandemonium broke out in the galleries as the Aurors on duty in the chamber surrounded the former Minister of Magic. Even the pounding of the Chief Wizard's gavel did nothing to mitigate the noise at first. Finally, when the noise died away, Scrimgeour was hustled to the chair and forced down into its seat. The chains immediately made an appearance and trapped him there.

"Rufus Scrimgeour," the Chief Wizard said. "You are accused of being a Death Eater and abducting this man nine years ago on orders from He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. How do you plead?"

"He's obviously insane," Scrimgeour shouted with a sneer. "I've never been a Death Eater."

"Then you won't mind questioning under Veritaserum?" Lucius drawled. "After all, fair is fair."

"Malfoy," Scrimgeour growled. "What are you doing here?"

"Helping the Headmistress see justice is done for Coombs," he answered. "He deserves that, don't you think?"

"Give me the damn Veritaserum," Scrimgeour demanded. "I'll prove I'm not a Death Eater."

Three drops later, the questioning began anew.

"What is your name?"

"Rufus Scrimgeour."

"Were you an Auror nine years ago?"

"Yes, and a good one."

"Just answer the questions, please," the Chief Wizard said. "No editorializing. Continue your questions, Wilkins."

"What was your major assignment at that time?"

"To hunt down Death Eaters."

"Your Honor," Lucius interrupted, his foot tapping with impatience. "May I question the witness?"

"In due time, Mr. Malfoy," the Chief Wizard said. "We are not finished yet. Continue your questioning, Wilkins, if you please."

"Did you have orders to abduct Mr Coombs."

"Not particularly."

"Can you explain that?"

"Any Gothic scholar would have done." Scrimgeour blinked in horror.

"Why did you abduct him?"

He squirmed, fighting the Veritaserum, but answered anyway. "The Dark Lord told me to."

As protests rose from the gallery, the Chief Wizard once more used his gavel to restore order. "Mr Scrimgeour, are you a Death Eater?" he asked.

"I was."

"I will have order here," the Chief Wizard shouted again, pounding his gavel as the noise level rose once more. "Quiet or I will clear the chamber!" Once the noise level subsided, he continued, "Mr Malfoy, you had some questions?"

"Yes, Your Honor."

"Then go ahead and ask them."

"Scrimgeour, why did you take the Dark Lord's possessions."

"Some of the books were priceless, and his curses, if I could translate them, would mean more power for me."

"So, you were a Death Eater because you wanted power and money?"

"That's what I was promised."

"No more questions, Your Honor." Lucius bowed to the Chief Wizard and backed away from the chair holding Scrimgeour prisoner.

"Administer the antidote, if you please," the Chief Wizard ordered. "We will deliberate while it takes effect."

Several minutes later, Scrimgeour sat in the chair, still chained, and hung his head as the Chief Wizard read the verdict. "The Wizengamot finds Rufus Scrimgeour guilty of being a Death Eater and serving He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, while using his position as an Auror to abduct and injure innocent people, to whit, a Mr Gilbert Sylvester Coombs. He is hereby sentenced to having his wand snapped and being sent to Azkaban for life without the possibility of parole. This court is adjourned." He banged his gavel down on the desk. "Aurors, remove the prisoner to Azkaban."

Three of the bulkiest Aurors moved in as the chair released its chains. As they shackled the former Minister and led him from the chamber, he looked at Lucius and Minerva. "I will remember this," he vowed. "You've not heard the last of me. I know how to save your friend."

"Fortunately, so do we," Minerva answered. "I'm afraid you're just a little too late."

"No," he howled as the Aurors dragged him away. "I'm the Minister of Magic!"

"Was the Minister of Magic," Lucius said. "Let's go home, Minerva. I think we're done here."

She looked across the room where Coombs was talking to the Chief Wizard and smiled. "I quite agree."