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 85 ~ The Trial ~ Morning: Day Two

When Hermione apparated to the Ministry that morning, she was met by a broadly smiling Cronnie Jockrin.

"Miss Granger, you simply must see this," he said, looping his arm in hers. The escort of Aurors followed them. Cronnie walked her to the front doors of the Ministry, which were still closed to the public.

"Look," he said pointing at the people.

Hermione looked. There was the usual contingent of DKV sign-bearers, but she noticed this morning they were behind barricades. A closer look showed why. On the other side was another crowd of chanting, gesticulating sign-bearers yelling at the DKV members and shaking their fists. She looked at the signs, amazed.

"Acquit Hermione Granger!"

"Down with the DKV"

"Impeach Draco Malfoy!"

"New Elections for Council!"

"Rita Skeeter Rules!"

A large white banner with red letters was stretched between two wizards and two witches. It read: "Voldemort was, is and always will be a Murderer!"

There were wizards dressed like train conductors wearing little makeshift Ministry shields. Even small children held balloons that said, "Respect for All." Someone in the crowd saw Hermione and Cronnie standing in the doorway and pointed.

"There she is!" the wizard yelled, "Hermione Granger!"

The crowd went wild, screaming encouragement and support at the witch, as the DKV shouted derogatory remarks trying to silence them. It didn't work.

"We love you Hermione!"

"Don't give up the fight, Hermione!"

"We're behind you all the way, Miss Granger!"

"Give the bigoted bastards hell!"

"Oh my gods, Mr. Jockrin. What happened?" Hermione asked the lawyer, her eyes round. In answer, Cronnie pulled the Daily Prophet from under his arm.

"It seems the editor of the Daily Prophet regrew a backbone. Rita has an editorial on the front page that really hit the public's conscience," he said, offering her the paper.

Hermione read the article as they walked toward the Council chamber. When she finished, she shook her head.

"Who would have known under all that trash tossing, Rita Skeeter had a social conscience?" she breathed.

"You'd be surprised at how much good can come out of people when they face a common foe," Cronnie replied, stepping aside and letting Hermione behind the defendant's table. "I hear there are sit-ins going on at a few establishments that were denying service to muggle-borns too. And it's not just muggle-borns. Purebloods and halfbloods have joined the protests too. I think it safe to say, Miss Granger that your plight has significantly woken up the wizarding world. The sleeping dragon is in effect, roaring."

"My gods," Hermione said.

Draco Malfoy entered the Council chambers and looked over at Hermione and Cronnie sullenly. He had seen the opposition standing strong outside of the Ministry and his heart sunk. He had also read Rita Skeeter's article accusing him of having a long-standing hatred of Hermione, which was true. The reporter had also targeted his policy changes within the Ministry. Up to this point, Draco had always thought of Rita Skeeter as a rather silly woman, not even a true reporter. More like a dumpster diver in the realm of news. He never dreamed the woman had any real skill at writing…but her article was as manipulative of the public's emotions as any of the DKV material he paid others to write.

He shuddered. The Dark Lord was not going to be pleased with this development. For the past few years they had advanced the wizard's cause almost without opposition. And now this. If Draco had thought sacking Hermione would have caused this outburst of social conscience, he never would have arranged for it to happen. He was the one in the hot seat now…not the witch. The wizard fervently hoped she agreed to the terms he set for the charges to be dropped.

The Auror in charge of the chambers entered from a side door.

"All rise," he intoned.

Everyone rose as the Council walked in, all decidedly somber-faced as they took their seats. What a mess this was. Every member was worried about his political future because of this case. Damn Draco. Damn him to hell.

Minister Figglesworth looked around the chambers, his eyes resting on Hermione and Cronnie for a moment, trying to divine if the witch had decided to take the easy way out. He was quite disgruntled. Someone had thrown an egg at him as he entered the Ministry building…Aurors taking off after the perpetrator, only to have the jeering crowd close in tight so they couldn't get through. He sighed.

"This trial is now in session," the Minister said, "As I understand it, a very generous offer has been made to Miss Granger, an offer to drop the charges in exchange for an apology for her actions and reparations for damages. There need not be a long, drawn-out trial."

The Minister and Council all looked at Hermione, who was stone-faced.

"What say you, Miss Granger? Do you accept our offer? You will be free to go with nothing untoward on your record," he said persuasively.

Cronnie stood up.

"As generous as your offer is, Minister and members of the Council," he said rather sarcastically, "My client has decided to pursue this matter, rather than apologize to a Council that so obviously wronged her. So we can proceed to the witnesses for the prosecution," Cronnie said.

Minister Figglesworth heart dropped. Damn it.

"So be it. The offer is hereby withdrawn," he said angrily. He looked at Draco.

"Lord Malfoy, present your first witness," he said to the blonde wizard.

Draco stood up. He didn't have very many witnesses against Hermione, but had done what he could.

"I call to the stand, Mr. Ichabod Creely, the current Spells Department Head," Draco announced.

Ichabod Creely sidled his way out of the audience and walked to the stand. The Auror swore him in with a special targeted wizarding oath for legal situations. The oath only applied to the person when they were on the witness stand and could be released by the lawyer or head magistrate…in this case Minister Figglesworth. But it had to be publicly released. And once it was, the witness was practically rendered unbelievable from that point on..

Ichabod sat down and ran his hand nervously through his blond hair. He looked quite uncomfortable.

"Please state your name, sir," Draco said, advancing on the wizard, smiling at him benignly to try and put him at ease.

"Ichabod Creely, sir," Ichabod replied.

"And your position and number of years in it?" Draco asked.

"I am Head of the Ministry's Spells Department, sir. I've held the position for a year, sir," Ichabod replied.

"Mr. Creely, would you please relate to us what happened on the day in question?" Draco asked the wizard, leaning on the witness box.

"Yes sir. Hermione Granger reported to work and I told her that she had been replaced as Assistant Spells Department Head," Ichabod said.

"Did you offer Miss Granger another position?" Draco asked him.

"Yes sir. I offered her any position she wanted at her same salary, sir," the wizard replied.

"And what did she say to that?" Draco asked him.

"That she didn't want it," Ichabod replied.

Actually Hermione gave him very good reasons why she wouldn't take another position…because more than likely her salary would be cut and she would continually be demoted. But he didn't say that. He was briefed and told to keep to a straight line and give short answers.

"Why do you think she declined, Mr. Creely?" Draco asked him.

"Because her previous position was one of status and authority," he replied.

"Objection!" Cronnie said, "Mr. Creely was in not Miss Granger's head that morning. He doesn't know why she declined."

"Overruled," Minister Figglesworth said, "The jury will disregard that objection. Continue Mr. Malfoy."

Draco smiled.

Cronnie sat back down. He wasn't fazed by Figglesworth's response to his objection. He'd expected it. But all he really needed to do was interject that thought into the mind of the jury. They might be instructed to disregard it, but it would stick anyway.

"After you told Miss Granger she was being replaced, and made her an offer of a new position, what did she do?" Draco continued.

"She said she was going to clean out her desk and left my office," Ichabod said.

"And what happened then?" Draco asked.

"I heard a blast and ran out of my office to see Miss Granger blowing up her former office. People were running and screaming in fear, but she kept right on blasting until the Aurors took her," Ichabod said, looking at Hermione who stared back at him.

"So, Miss Granger destroyed her office with no regard for the lives around her, am I correct, Mr. Creely?"

Cronnie stood up again.

"I object. Lord Malfoy is once again asking Mr. Creely to divine my client's state of mind and intentions. Mr. Creely is no authority on such matters," the lawyer said.

"Overruled, Mr. Jockrin," the Minister said.

Cronnie sat back down. Hermione leaned into him.

"He's going to keep doing that," she whispered.

"I know. But it's fine. Don't worry," the wizard whispered back, his eyes on Draco's smug face.

"Again I ask you, Mr. Creely, did Miss Granger act with total disregard for the lives of her fellow employees?" Draco asked him.

"Yes. She could have killed someone," the wizard replied.

"OBJECTION!" Cronnie roared, leaping up from his chair so ferociously, Hermione nearly fell out of hers with fright. "No one was even injured during the mayhem. The answer is totally misleading. Miss Granger only directed her blasts at an empty office! No one was in any danger!"

"Overruled!" the Minister declared.

Draco smirked at Cronnie, who sat down scowling. Draco turned to Ichabod.

"In your opinion, Mr. Creely, is Hermione Granger the kind of person who should hold a position of authority…anyplace?" Draco purred at him.

"Based on how she reacted at the Ministry, no sir…I don't believe she is. She is far too volatile and erratic to be entrusted to any position of authority," the wizard responded.

The audience murmured.

"Thank you, Mr. Creely. Defense?" Draco said, looking at Cronnie and gesturing toward Ichabod. The blonde wizard then returned to his seat, looking smug.

Cronnie rose and strutted out before the witness stand. He was dressed in a brilliant royal purple robe with yellow moons and wore a large ring on his hand made up of a cluster of yellow diamonds. He looked at Ichabod for a long moment.

"How are things at the Spells Department, Mr. Creely? Everything running smoothly?" he asked the wizard.

"Objection. I fail to see what difference that makes to this case," Draco said.

Minister Figglesworth looked at Cronnie. "Draco has a point, Mr. Cronnie. What purpose will answering this question serve? The events this trial is concerned with happened over a week ago."

"I am merely trying to establish if the aftermath of Miss Granger's outburst had any effect on the Spells Department as a whole. It is relevant, sir," Cronnie said.

Figglesworth badly wanted to keep Cronnie from asking any questions, but he couldn't do that. Overruling his objections was bad enough. If he were too constricting, the lawyer could ask for his removal citing he was biased. Which he was.

"Go ahead then, Mr. Jockrin," Figglesworth said reluctantly.

"As I asked, Mr. Creely…how are things in the Spells Department. Running smoothly?" Cronnie asked the wizard again.

Ichabod felt the magic of his oath curl around him warningly.

"Not as smoothly as I would like sir," he responded.

"Does this have anything to do with Miss Granger's being replaced?" Cronnie asked.

"Yes. Her replacement is not yet fully trained for his duties," the wizard admitted.

"I see. What types of problems are you having?" Cronnie asked him.

"Spell processing backups. Inventory shortages. Spending issues. Procedural inconsistencies," he replied reluctantly.

"I see. So in effect you are saying that since Miss Granger's replacing, the Spells Department is all screwed up?" Cronnie asked him.

"Objection!" Draco spluttered.

"I'll rephrase my question," Cronnie said smoothly. "Mr. Creely, since Miss Granger's unfair sacking, the Spells Department is not operating anywhere near full capacity, is that correct?"

"Yes sir," Creely muttered.

Draco ran his hand over his face in exasperation.

"Mr. Creely, what was your reaction when you found out you were to be the new Spells Department Head?" Cronnie suddenly asked the startled wizard.

"Objection!" Draco cried. "Relevance?"

"I shall show the relevance, Lord Malfoy, if you will let me continue my line of questioning," he said evenly, looking toward Figglesworth who nodded. Hell, if he worked with Cronnie, maybe he would come out of this with a chance for re-election.

Cronnie waited for an answer from the witness.

"Well, I was shocked," Ichabod replied.

"And why were you shocked, Mr. Creely?" he asked.

"Because it was assumed by everyone that Miss Granger would be the next Department Head," he replied.

"Mr. Creely, did you at any time try to decline the position?" Cronnie asked, staring at the wizard.

Ichabod cut his eyes at Draco, who was scowling darkly.

"Yes sir, I did," Ichabod replied.

"And why was that?" the lawyer asked, tapping on the witness stand.

"Because…because I wasn't prepared for the position," he said hesitatingly.

Cronnie looked at the wizard intensely.

"Any other reasons, Mr. Creely? Remember you are under oath," he urged.

"I believe Miss Granger was the best person qualified for the job, sir. She was trained for it and knew all the departments from working in them. I was just a Spells Master. All I ever wanted to do was create spells," he said, dropping his head. "The position is too bogged down and too complicated. I never wanted an office job."

"So tell me, Mr. Creely…if you didn't want the position…why did you take it?" Cronnie asked him.

Ichabod cut his eyes over to Draco again. Draco wouldn't look at him.

"Because Lord Malfoy told me I had to, or I would lose my position at the Ministry and be blacklisted," the wizard admitted, "I had no choice. I have a young family."

"How exactly did Mr. Malfoy say this to you, Mr. Creely?" Cronnie asked.

"Objection! Objection!" Draco cried out. "Irrelevant! This whole line of questioning is irrelevant and an outrage. What I said to Mr. Creely is of no consequence!"

Cronnie clucked his tongue at the wizard.

"I'm afraid, Lord Malfoy…everyone in this courtroom is aware of the relevance of this question. Sit down, sir and have some dignity," Cronnie said.

Draco looked as if he wanted to hex the wizard, then looked at the Minister imploringly…only to find out he was glaring at him angrily.

"Sit down, Lord Malfoy," he hissed.

"Well, Mr. Creely? How did he say it to you?" Cronnie pressed the wizard.

"He said, he wanted that filthy mudblood out of the Ministry, and if he could have his way he'd take her off the face of the earth," Ichabod said, "after he made her pay for being a thorn in his ass for all these years with her successes. He said no mudblood had the bloody right to be so successful."

A gasp went up from both the jury box and the audience. Hermione looked at Draco, who was slumped in his seat, his hand clutching his face in despair. Jasmine looked at her father with horror as Mathias scowled blackly. He wished he knew wandless magic. They'd taken his wand. He sure would like to hex the man, Jasmine's father or not.

"What do you think he meant by 'make her pay,' Mr. Creely?" Cronnie inquired, his bushy brows drawn together.

Ichabod shrugged and turned red.

"I don't know…but it seemed he wanted to hurt her. To physically hurt her. It was as if he hated her," the wizard said in a low voice.

A loud murmured rose from those in attendance and several reporters bolted from the room. Cronnie nodded and turned to the jury, giving them a hard look before turning back to Ichabod.

"That will be all, Mr. Creely. Thank you," he said, returning to his seat.

Ichabod practically launched himself out of the witness chair, and instead of returning to the audience, he exited the chambers.

"There will be a two-hour recess," Minister Figglesworth announced, his eyes resting on Draco murderously.

"All rise," the Auror announced as the Council filed out the room, Figglesworth crooking his finger at Draco as he exited.

The wizard rose and sullenly followed as Hermione and Cronnie watched him go.

"Damn. Draco is in some shit," Hermione said.

"He deserves to be," Cronnie replied, "He's a cruel, hateful wizard."

"Mum!"

Hermione turned to see Mathias standing near the defendant's table. He was a full head taller than her now, and looked absolutely wonderful, scowling at her. Cronnie quickly let her out and she embraced her son, pulling him down and kissing him all over his face. Mathias took her mothering stoically, though he did turn a bit red. Finally Hermione released him.

"Mathias, what are you doing here?" she asked her son

"Moral support," he replied, stepping aside so she could see Jasmine. The witch's eyes were filled with tears.

"I'm so sorry, Miss Granger. My father has been awful to you," the girl said, her tears beginning to fall. Hermione's heart went out to her. She seemed nothing like her father.

"It has nothing to do with you, Jasmine," she said soothingly, cupping the witch's face.

"Still, it's awful," Jasmine huffed.

Mathias put an arm around her shoulder to comfort her.

"It's all right, Jasmine," he said softly. "Mum's not blaming you for your dad being a big bas...git."

His eyes cut to his mum, but she seemed to have missed his slip.

Hermione was watching her son's show of affection with a little bit of alarm. Her son was growing up. Jasmine Malfoy. Good gods, he couldn't have a thing for her.

Cronnie smiled at Jasmine.

"Lady Malfoy. I'm Cronnie Jockrin, and you are just the young lady I wanted to see," he said.

Jasmine sniffed and wiped her eyes. Mathias still had his arm around her shoulder and his demeanor became somewhat protective as he looked at his mother's lawyer.

"Why do you want her?" he demanded, bass in his voice.

"Mathias! Show some respect young man," his mother exclaimed, shocked at the fierceness in her son's voice. Mathias looked at Hermione sullenly.

Cronnie smiled.

"It's all right, Miss Granger," he said, eyeing the boy. "I assure you, Mr. Snape, my intentions toward your witch are quite honorable."

His witch?

Suddenly Mathias released Jasmine quickly.

"She's not my witch. She's my friend," he said to the wizard.

Hermione breathed a silent sigh of relief. He was being protective because he considered Jasmine a friend. Thank the gods.

"I just want to ask her a few questions. She's a minor. I only subpoenaed her to get her here. After we talk, she can agree to take the stand or decline. It will be totally up to her," the lawyer said.

This seemed to make Jasmine relax. Cronnie offered her his arm.

"If you'll come with me, Lady Malfoy…I'm sure we can find a quiet place to talk," he said pleasantly.

Jasmine took his arm. Mathias seemed to tense and he started to follow them. Jasmine looked over her shoulder at him.

"No, I'll be all right Mathias," she said. "Just wait for me, all right?"

Mathias scowled at Cronnie. He didn't trust him.

"All right. I'll be here," he said, a note of warning in his voice directed at Cronnie.

The wizard chuckled.

"Ah, to be young and in lust," he thought as he guided the witch through a side door.

Mathias watched them go and turned to find his mother staring at him.

"You certainly seem attached to Jasmine Malfoy," Hermione commented.

"Aw mum. Stop making goo-goo eyes at me. She's just my friend. I'm not interested in any witch. Too much trouble. They want too much time. I need my time," he replied.

"I notice you made time enough for Jasmine to come to court with her. And I hope you have permission to be here," she said evenly.

"What do you think? You're my mum and you're on trial," he replied frowning at her.

He didn't have permission but figured his mum might assume he did with that comment. Hermione fell for it.

"Well, do you feel like getting a bite to eat before court reconvenes?" she asked him. They could go to the Council lunchroom and grab a bite.

"Sure," he said, looping his arm in his mother's and glowering darkly at the people around them. He acted more like a bodyguard than a son.

Hermione could feel the tightness of his biceps beneath his robes.

"My, you're really bulking up, Mathias," she commented, squeezing his arm and grinning at him.

"Clean living and plenty of exercise," the wizard responded.

Hermione laughed as they made their way through the crowd outside, Aurors surrounding them.

Things were looking up for the side of Good.

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A/N: Wow…just the first witness and Draco was totally blown out of the water. That's enough right there to end the trial. But no…it won't be that easy. There are things they want to get out to the public. Hermione's reaction to Mathias' protectiveness of Jasmine was priceless. Anyway, please review.