Daddy Dearest - (No Update, Edit)

Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to JKR. All situations are mine. No $$$ is being made from this fanfic.
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Chapter 81 ~ First Day of Trial

The first thing Cronnie Jockrin did was to secure a jury of five muggle-borns, six purebloods and a pureblood squib. Three of the purebloods were titled and four were purebloods that worked for a living. None however were members of the DKV.

Draco argued hard for the inclusion of DKV members on the jury saying they represented a large portion of the public, but Cronnie shot him down citing the implied bigotry that accompanied membership. They could not be expected to judge a muggle-born witch fairly.

Of the muggle-borns, two held positions of authority in their respective workplaces, and three were simple working folk. Also the jury was evenly divided between men and women. Draco had also argued this because more men held positions of authority than women and understood what it meant to be in charge, and this was precisely the reason Cronnie wanted an equal amount of women on the jury…because pureblood or not, witches all felt the disparity of power in the wizarding world, and that could be a point of identifying with Hermione's frustration.

Hermione was a qualified witch who had been passed over her deserved promotion for a less qualified male, then removed from the position she held for years to make room for another male. Even without the question of DKV influence Cronnie felt this was an issue they could relate to.

Now Cronnie gave his opening remarks to the jury, the Council looking on uncomfortably, and Draco sitting attentively in his seat, listening for weaknesses in the lawyer's initial presentation. Hermione sat at the defendant's table and watched as Cronnie walked up and down the Council chamber, making his points. He was dressed in a royal blue silk robe emblazoned with silver stars, his wavy gray hair parted in the middle and his handlebar mustache was properly waxed. He cut a fine if flamboyant figure as he strode back and forth. The jury looked mesmerized as the wizard spoke.

"Is Hermione Granger a criminal or a victim? That is what you, ladies and gentlemen must ultimately decide. Now, let me tell you a little story."

"A couple of years ago, Assistant Spells Department Head Hermione Granger arrived at work ready to take on her new position as Spells Department Head, a position she was trained and prepared for by the previous Department Head, Agnes Tuttleberry for a number of years only to find that she had been passed over for a younger, less experienced wizard, Ichabod Creely, a low level Spells Master with no administrative background. To add insult to injury, Miss Granger had to train the new Department Head, which actually meant she had to perform the duties of Department Head without the benefits until such time as the young man caught on. There was no regard for promotional protocol as the Council leapfrogged this pureblood into her position."

"All of Miss Granger's evaluations indicated she was the most qualified person to fill the position. Even Former Department Head Agnes Tuttleberry said she couldn't understand why such a capable witch was denied a position she so rightly deserved. Yet, despite this snub, Miss Granger continued to serve in the capacity of Assistant Spells Department Head without complaint, doing her best and keeping the Ministry's Spells Department running smoothly."

"A little more than a week ago, Miss Granger arrived at work and found herself warded out of her office of eight years. The Department Head she trained informed her that she was to be replaced. No suitable reason was given for this replacement, other than the Council arbitrarily made this decision without the witch's knowledge. For eight years her performance had been exemplary. First, she was passed over for a position she rightly deserved. Now she found herself removed from the position she'd held earned through hard work and dedication to the Ministry without so much as even a 'thank you'. And her replacement? A pureblood wizard."

"My friends, if Miss Granger's work record reflected problems, shortages, budget issues, slack performance, I would agree that the Council was right not to promote her, or to replace her. But the facts show this is clearly not the case. I could not find one employee in the Spells Department that said her work was less than stellar. But still, on this morning that should have been like any other morning, the witch was removed from her livelihood completely with no reasonable explanation. There is only so much mistreatment a person can take and Miss Granger was taken to her limit. And what did she do? Destroyed inanimate objects. A desk, a chair, a file cabinet. But what did the Ministry do? Destroyed a life. A life she had worked hard for while raising her son and being a good wizarding citizen. When Miss Granger was hired, she was guaranteed advancement if she applied herself and worked hard. She kept her end of the bargain, only to be cast aside…and for what? Her performance? No. Because she was a muggle-born."

"Then what does the Ministry do after sacking this poor woman and taking her to the edge? They point their finger at a situation THEY caused and try to use it as proof that muggle-borns cannot handle positions of authority, and try to heap more punishment upon the witch than they already have. I intend to prove that Hermione Granger was wrongfully targeted by the Council and the Ministry itself for expulsion simply because of her status as a muggle-born witch as part of Draco Malfoy's and the Council's attempts to make the DKV line part of the Ministry's integral makeup. There is a distinct conflict of interest when the wizard who helped formulate the DKV by-laws and charter, uses his position on the Ministry Council to force those by-laws and beliefs into public law and procedure. While everyone has a right to believe as they wish…those beliefs should not be summarily fostered on the population at large. And that, my friends is what has been occurring in the wizarding world, backed up and supported whole-heartedly by this Council."

"Hermione Granger is not the only one on trial here, but the whole Ministry machine. By bringing the DKV line into a public entity designed to service ALL the people fairly and equally, the law has been broken here…and not by Miss Granger…who was driven by the unfair practices of the Council to do what she did. A desk, a chair, a file cabinet can all be replaced. Actually, they have been replaced. The office is completely restored and it only took a few moments to do it. But what about a life? How easily is that restored? Certainly not in a few moments. And even restored…it is never the same again."

Cronnie stopped pacing and stared at the jury soberly, then said in closing:

"It is your duty, my friends, to see through the illegal practices of this Council and the Ministry and acquit this poor woman of any grievous wrongdoing. At most she should only have to pay damages. And let's face it, the damages done at the Ministry pale compared to the damage done to the life of Hermione Granger. Azkaban is not in order here for a simple outburst of frustration, and if the sentence doesn't fit, then you must acquit!"

Cronnie returned to his seat, sat down and winked at Hermione. Now it was Draco's turn and he ran pretty much the same line he did when he spoke at her arraignment. However it was not met with the same reaction by the jury as it was by the pro-pureblood audience, particularly his statement that Hermione's actions proved that muggle-borns could not safely hold positions of authority. The muggle-borns on the jury eyed the wizard quietly. Draco was so used to everyone going along with the DKV line that he forgot there were those who didn't adhere to those same beliefs. When he sat down, every member of the Council was scowling at him.

Cronnie leaned into Hermione.

"That boy should have brought his own noose," he commented.

Hermione smirked.

The Council took a small recess and brought Draco into the back chambers.

"What the hell are you doing out there, Draco? There are muggle-borns on that jury and you insulted every one of them with your opening statement!" Figglesworth fumed at the blonde wizard.

"We want you to drop the charges, Draco," another Council member said, "Jockrin's going to make us all look like a bunch of bigoted fops, and most likely we will lose our seats next election!"

Draco looked at all the Council members. Normally, they just kowtowed to his wishes, but with their own livelihoods in jeopardy, they were standing together against him. Maybe they were right. Maybe he should just drop the charges and let Hermione off and cut his losses. If Jockrin would let him, that is.

Draco had the sinking feeling he wouldn't.

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Andreas and Mathias were walking to breakfast when Andreas suddenly stopped, his eyes almost bugging out of his head. He started breathing very quickly. Mathias looked at him, concerned as little beads of sweat prickled the young wizard's forehead.

"Andreas, what's wrong?" Mathias asked the wizard.

"It's her," Andreas said, staring at an attractive and extremely curvaceous black Hufflepuff witch who was chatting with a group of other Hufflepuff students. Mathias looked at the young woman, an eyebrow arched.

"Her who?" the wizard asked as Andreas continued to stare.

"My first," he breathed, "the witch I was tempted with on the plain of the Dark Soul of the World."

Both of Mathias' eyebrows rose now as he looked at the witch closely. She was unfamiliar. Probably a transfer. She looked up at Andreas and smiled shyly. Her eyes were brown, large and heavily lashed and her body type was slightly heavy-set. She was a thick young woman, with very female attributes. Then she resumed talking to her friends. Andreas made a sound in the back of his throat.

"Andreas…your first is a Hufflepuff?" Mathias asked him.

"I wouldn't care if she were a Gryffindor," the wizard replied, still staring at the witch with a rather hungry expression.

Mathias had never seen his brother act like this before. Andreas' nose was wide open. The wizard looked at his brother.

"So are you really going to…to shag her, Andreas?" Mathias asked him.

The wizard nodded.

"As soon as she will let me," he said, "It feels like my cock wants to burst out of my boxers, and I ache all over. I want her, Mathias."

Mathias looked at him. The way Andreas described how he felt, Mathias thought he sounded more sick than randy. The girl entered the Great Hall with her friends, Andreas watching her the entire time.

"But you don't even know her name," Mathias said to Andreas as they started walking toward the Great Hall.

"I will get her name. I am going to talk to her after breakfast," the wizard said. "She will feel me. She will know she's meant to be mine."

Andreas took a seat on the other side of the table where he could surreptiously watch the witch, his dark eyes glinting. He didn't speak the entire time during breakfast, and hardly ate anything. Mathias looked at him from time to time. It was as if Andreas was possessed or something.

Gods, Jasmine was supposed to be his first. Would he react like Andreas when the time came? No, he didn't think so. He was around Jasmine all the time. Suddenly, Andreas tensed. The witch was leaving, and she wasn't leaving with the group but alone. He stood up quickly.

"I have to go, brother," he said to Mathias, still staring at the witch.

From the DKV section of the table, Jasmine watched Andreas. She saw where his attention was, and how he was acting.

"Looks like cupid's arrow's struck someone in the ass," she thought, smirking. "Or someplace close."

Jasmine thought Mathias looked a bit upset as Andreas left the table and followed the witch out of the Great Hall. She imagined he was. It must be hard watching your closest friend begin to pull away from you. Well, she was still here and Andreas would settle down after a while.

This was just another sign that they were all growing up.

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A/N: Nice opening remarks by Cronnie. Draco is in the doghouse with the Council, and Andreas has seen his "first". He's a randy little wizard, isn't he? Lol. Anyway, please review.