Omnia Mors Perimit

The grand court room was cramped full with people; they sat tightly huddled together on the benches, they even sat on the stairs, and stood in the aisles. There had been eleven summary proceedings in closed session against the Death Eaters caught in the Ministry, and the public was hungry for seeing proverbial blood now. Everyone loved to see the high and mighty fall down, and this defendant was as high and mighty as one could possibly be.

Cornelius Fudge had arrived early, earlier than the other two chairpersons; now he pretended to sort out his papers. He wanted to absorb the heated atmosphere; he was in desperate need for some mental brightening up. The last days had sapped his energy, but he was optimistic that today meant a change in weather. Today, he'd regain some authority again. At his instigation, this trial was held publicly; he wanted his subjects to witness at least one of his successes.

Not that the previous trials had been much of a success. Quite the opposite, actually. Despite the fact that He Who Must Not Be Named was back, despite the fact that his followers had been caught in the proverbial act, not a single lifelong sentence had come out of it. Eleven trials - no trustworthy sentence! Not one! Ph! This trial now wouldn't achieve a good sentence either, if 'good' equalled 'lifelong' anyway, but good enough. This witch would go to jail, for a year at least, for three if he got lucky. He'd personally see to it!

Of course, it wouldn't be exclusively his achievement. The Death Eaters had been defended by some sly shyster - an old school buddy of Lucius Malfoy, who had managed to receive sentences for nothing else but illegal trespassing. Ridiculous! Ridiculous! It had turned out that wearing You Know Who's mark was no crime in itself, and since the defendants refused to make a statement, and the actual victims weren't allowed to give more than a written testimony either - sod Dumbledore, the old fool! He merely did that to get back on Fudge, he knew it! However, that Yaxley character had torn the accuse apart. Had ripped it to tiny little bits, until the only thing that he couldn't talk his clients out of was Illegal Trespassing. Five years maximum, because the Wizengamot had been desperate to put them in prison in the first place.

Now this defendant refused to have the same Law Wizard. Or any Law Wizard. Bless her! She was a hundred times more stupid than he had believed, but who cared? Cornelius Fudge certainly didn't. He'd receive satisfaction for the humiliation he had sustained, and maybe this would be enough to gratify the public, and maybe he would not be chased out of his office then. Rufus Scrimgeour was scraping his feet already to replace him. Bastard! He had offered to preside this trial today, too - another cunning step to push Fudge out of his rightful position. Naturally, he had declined. This was going to be his victory!

Aldous Montague, Head of the Department for International Affairs, and Violet Sears from the Muggle Liaison Office, his two co-chairmen for today settled down on each side of him after a swift hello. Idiots. They thought he'd be history soon. They were probably sucking up to Scrimgeour already, but he'd show them. He'd show them all that he wasn't finished yet!

"We won't get anywhere with this accuse," Montague mumbled into his direction. "Bloody waste of time!"

"I doubt that you have the right attitude, Aldous. I wonder if you're suited for the responsible position that you're holding!"

"Yes... One wonders about a lot of people in responsible positions nowadays."

Sears stifled a little laugh and cleared her voice instead. "She might want to go to Azkaban. She's very much depending on her husband, I've heard - perhaps she does not want to do without him?"

"That's the most absurd thing I've ever heard," Montague snapped and checked his pocket watch.

"So why does she come without a Law Wizard then?"

"She can't stand Yaxley, that's it. He's been in school with Lucius, you know." Montague was impatient. "I've got an appointment with the Korean delegation by noon, damn it!"

"She can't stand one Law Wizard - doesn't follow to reject the entire profession, does it?"

"She's likely to know how ridiculous this whole trial is in itself. Knowing Narcissa, she doesn't want to dignify the thing by taking it serious!"

"You know her personally?" Fudge was taken aback. It had taken him years to be introduced to the noble Mrs Malfoy, and the acquaintance had been so superficial that he neither called her by her first name, nor dared to give any real assessment on her character. And he was the darned Minister!

"My wife was in her year in Hogwarts." Fudge was content with that answer, until Montague added, "And also we met several times for dinner."

"Did you now?!"

"Oh, you know, Lucius' businesses abroad. Speaking of it - I'm the poor sod to explain to the Korean delegation why their friend cannot attend our meeting today!"

Fudge had enough. He gazed over at the Wizengamot - there were some empty seats still, and he gestured at the court official to usher the missing elders in. Half a dozen of very frail wizards, stooped and half-deaf, limped in after all. One carried a hearing trumpet of the size of a gramophone flare. He spotted Athanasius Merrythought, who must be hundred and ninety by now, and who needed the support of two wizards only slightly younger than he was. They needed another five minutes to get to their seats; Montague drummed his fingers on the table top and cursed under his breath.

Narcissa Malfoy was lead in by a warden, too. The crowd fell silent at once, goggling at her. Beautiful as ever, elegant as ever, and not the tiniest bit intimidated, she took her place. She was accompanied by her teenage son, who sat down on the seat destined for the missing Law Wizard. At least, the kid looked unwell. Seriously unwell. He was unhealthily pale, his face stony, but his eyes, flickering between the Wizengamot, the presiding jury, the audience and his mother, betrayed his nervousness.

The court official ordered everyone to get up, and Fudge officially opened the proceedings. He had adopted a crisp, down-to-business voice and barked, "Tell the Wizengamot your name, age, marital status and profession, defendant!"

"My name is Narcissa Leda Aurora Eleanor Aphrodite Virginie Persephone Helena Phoebe Elizabeta Calliope Black Malfoy. I'm forty years old, married to Mr Lucius Malfoy, and as to my profession - I'm a simple house wife, Sir."

There were some laughs and giggles in the audience; Fudge shot them a withering glance and continued, "Explain your financial situation!"

She smiled and tilted her admirable head. "For any details concerning our family fortune, you'd have to ask our Tax Advising Wizard, or my husband. All I can say is that we're fairly well-off."

More laughs, even her son cracked a smile. Next to him, Montague sighed and spoke now. "Mrs Malfoy, you are accused of High Treason, Aiding and Abating of Illegal Trespassing, and Support of a criminal organisation. What is your plea?"

"Not guilty in all points, Sir."

She held herself exceedingly well, Fudge had to hand it to her. She didn't smile, she didn't wince, her posture was straight, bordering on a challenge, but only bordering. To his horror, he could see the effect she had on the audience - they had come here to see some severe punishment, but seeing the charming defendant, they were beginning to change their mind. He knew enough of the public morale to sense that his good stars were sinking.

The evidence - thin, admittedly - was read out, then Mrs Malfoy was asked to give her statement on the matter. She got up and smoothed her black silk robes, displaying the flashy diamond rings she was wearing on both hands. "Please, allow me to address the last point first - support of a criminal organisation. I am no Death Eater myself, my husband is. You haven't found a single link between Lord Voldemort's -" Loud gasps, and Fudge felt a shiver running down his spine. "- organisation and me, with the exception of the undeniable fact that I am married to my husband. Understand me right - I have got married to stand by my husband at all times, and I have no whatsoever intention to change this. Yes, I have known about his commitments. I have also known that Lord Voldemort has returned to this country, and that my husband is connected to him. But what do you follow from this?"

"It would have been your civic duty to report those facts, Madam!"

"Perhaps. I, however, consider it to be my first duty to be loyal to my husband, and this notion is backed up by the Book of Rules itself. Paragraph 4 - nobody must be forced to report, or testify against, or otherwise incriminate their relatives first grade. This rule has been confirmed in numerous cases, the most important being The Ministry versus Thaddeus Thurkell. So if I had done what you call 'civic duty', I would have been forced to incriminate my own husband. You might find my omission morally reprehensible, but it is not illegal."

Fudge swallowed. When he had heard that Narcissa Malfoy would come without a Law Wizard, he had triumphed - the silly little twit! Who'd have fathomed that she had eaten all her husband's law books?! But this was only the beginning. Memorising some paragraph, or famous decision - anyone could do that!

Her voice was calm but not quiet, and if she was worried, nothing in her face was betraying that sentiment. She appeared to be utterly relaxed instead, almost serene, with a soft smile playing around her mouth now. "Let me continue with the worst indictment, if you please, that is, it was stated that I had actively partaken in Conspiracy and High Treason."

She gave a small, inaudible chuckle. "High Treason, the Book of Law defines it, is either an action that is designed to destroy or damage the very foundations of our community, or acting a part in a conspiracy that is set against the policy of the present legislation, or any other action that must be regarded as destabilising, weakening or otherwise influencing our order in a negative way. I cannot see though how or when I could have done such a thing."

"You mean you deny that the return of the Unspeakable was not threatening our order?!" Fudge spat, hearing Montague groan.

"It surely is, but what did I do to bring it about, I wonder? Paragraph 126 that Mr Fudge has quoted to be the foundation of my alleged guilt is also my justification. The law states that High Treason can also be an act that's aimed against the present legislation's policy. You will all surely remember the last year's campaign of the Ministry of Magic, which would go as far as to punish everyone who did insist on the Dark Lord's return to England. Even Albus Dumbledore, who is celebrated by many people to be as wise as he is powerful, was persecuted and with him Harry Potter, the boy who has become famous for the Dark Lord's undoing fifteen years ago. I think you will have to agree with me that the policy of you, Mr Fudge, was to silence all opposite reports. So how can you now base an accuse on this point? Audi, vide, tace, si vis vivere in pace. Because if I had wanted to spread the news that none of you wished to hear, my credit and reputation would have been ruined severely. I can easily see that in the present situation you wish to claim some heads to make up for your omission, but neither do I believe that you can appease the reasonable public outrage so lightly, nor do I think it fair to be sacrificed for that goal myself."

"She's right, you know?" Sears muttered, flicking through the Book of Rules before her.

"Furthermore you have censured me for not making known that I was aware of my cousin Sirius Black's whereabouts. I can see that the chairman Montague hasn't got much time, so I'll be brief - Sirius Black was my first grade cousin. Though I admit that I've heartily disliked him for all my life, he was still family. You will all know that the Dementors had leave to deal with him, and that the Aurors were licensed to kill him at will. For more than ten years, I believed him to have caused the death of the Potters, like everyone else - but I didn't want to be the one causing his death in turn. Again, I refer to paragraph 4 - I can't be sentenced for not reporting him to the authorities."

Fudge suppressed a groan. "Speaking of your late cousin, Mrs Malfoy! Without your interference, he wouldn't be dead now!"

"You think so? Nah. It is true - seven months ago, a confused house-elf showed up in Malfoy Manor, babbling about his terrible master. That master was my cousin as I realised immediately because I faintly remembered the elf from old. I listened to him for a while, promised that I'd try to think of something we could do for him -"

Fudge butted in, harshly. "Like having that unwanted master killed?"

"Actually, I had rather thought to try buying back the family heirlooms that Sirius so carelessly disposed of. But to be honest - I soon forgot about the house-elf all together."

"That's not consistent with the house-elf's testimony!"

"Excuse me? The house-elf gave a statement about my inner motives when talking to him...?"

"He said that you ran to your husband and had him talking to the elf!"

"Indeed, that's right. Lucius is so much better in dealing with people - he deals with our own servants, too. As for the contents of their conversation - I have no idea. In the run-up to this trial, I have offered several times that I am more than ready to give my testimony under the influence of Veritaserum, in case you don't believe me, Minister. That'd be an opportunity for the Wizengamot to hear about everything that my husband has, or has not told me."

She smiled and beckoned at the elders. That bitch. That awful bitch! She knew very well that he would never agree to such a testimony. Merlin knew what that wretched wizard had told his wife about all the money he had given to the Minister of Magic! Of course, those had been legal donations, but knowing those muckrakers from the Daily Prophet, they'd call it slush funds, and that would be the definite end of his career!

"Using Veritaserum for depositions in such cases is not a custom with the Wizengamot, Mrs Malfoy!"

"But not unheard of, and I am quite keen to prove my sincerity. You see, I intend to leave this courtroom as a free witch, cleared of all charges - of all doubts, really. My husband couldn't have discussed his dealings with me even if he had wanted. He is forbidden to do so. If you, Sir -" She smiled at Fudge. "Or any of the other judges here don't believe me, I'd like to insist on Veritaserum."

Her smile was so open and, face it, charming; Fudge couldn't bear it to look at her. His gaze wandered to her son instead, who looked completely confused. Pity that Fudge was possibly the only one to notice that look - everyone else's eyes were practically glued to the gorgeous mother. Montague whispered, "We could agree though, couldn't we?"

Bastard! He was well aware that Fudge couldn't afford Mrs Malfoy's candour! Fortunately, Madam Sears was a creature of thorough ethical standards and said fiercely, "Certainly not, Sir! Veritaserum is a highly dubious substance, evidence won by the use of such means must not be exploited!"

One look at the Wizengamot sufficed to finally outvote Montague, and Fudge said gravely, "Veritaserum won't be necessary, Madam."

"Very well, Sir." Another little smile. God, that woman was good. She had pulled them all on her side. If it was possible to hire her for public relations, his popularity would reach so far unimaginable heights - damn her! Damn her, damn her insane sister, damn her double-talking husband, and thinking about it, damn that boy over there as well! Up to no good! No one in that family was up to any good at all! Now he might look like an innocent, frightened kid, okay, but give him ten years and he'd be just like his old man!

Montague asked if there were any more contributions - there were none - Fudge pleaded for six months in prison and fine her two hundred thousand galleons, and then, it was Mrs Malfoy's turn. She got up once more; she was bound to know that there was no male in the court room resistant to a body like hers, but being her clever self, she had donned some very unsuspicious robes. No décolleté, no legs to be seen, nothing but a promise.

"Six months, Minister? For what, I wonder? I know, I'm repeating myself - thus detaining all of you here, and possibly preventing some important appointments that some of the present might have - but I have not done anything illegal! I am my husband's wife and Bellatrix Lestrange's sister, and if that justifies my punishment - go ahead, please. My omissions are pardoned by the Book of Rules, there are no actions on my side that could be considered criminal. There is nothing that deserves imprisonment. If it's only for the fine - I don't care, but once more: I haven't committed any of the crimes laid at my door."

What a sad, pathetic, self-deluding dunce he was. Two hours ago, he had been silly enough still to deceive himself, believing he could save his career like this. And what had he achieved? He had made a fool of himself! She had made a fool of him! This should have been his triumph, and instead, Narcissa Malfoy, wife and sister of two convicted Death Eaters, was shining brighter than ever. The Wizengamot was asked for a vote, and surprise! with an overwhelming majority, Mrs Malfoy was acquitted of all charges.

She smiled sweetly, turned to her son, whose face was showing wild happiness now. She whispered something in his ear, then tugged his arm underneath her own and lead him out. With the end of the official procedure, press photos were admitted again; mother and son marched away in a thunderstorm of flashlights. As soon as they were out of sight, the mob stormed at Fudge himself, but he refused to give any statement at all, nearly jogging away, and for the rest of the day, he barricaded himself in the room that he would soon call his office no more.

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Audi... Listen, see and keep your silence if you want to live in peace.