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 90 ~ The Trial ~ Morning: Day Three

Draco was just about to apparate to the Ministry when his Mark began to burn. The wizard grasped his arm, hissing.

"No," the wizard said, his heart going cold with fear. "No…not now…not today."

The pain unbearable, Draco disapparated.

He appeared in the Dark Lord's throne room and fell to his knees before the throne, his eyes lowered to the floor

"Have mercy, my Lord!" he cried out to Voldemort, "Have mercy and I will make this up to you. Please my Lord!"

Voldemort sat with his chin in his hand watching the wizard grovel and fawn before him with a bored expression. He rolled his eyes and sighed.

"Get up Draco and get over here," the Dark Lord said with aggravation.

"Yes, my Lord," Draco whimpered, standing up and shuffling toward the throne.

"Look at me you idiot. I'm not going to punish you yet," the wizard hissed at him.

Draco lifted his head and stared at his Lord and Master.

"You aren't?" he asked the Dark Lord.

Voldemort felt like crucioing the wizard, but Draco had to be at court in a few minutes, and the Dark Lord had an errand for the wizard to do.

"I summoned you here because I want you to deliver a package by owl post," the despot said, smirking a bit.

"Yes, my Lord. A package," Draco repeated, nodding.

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The clerk at the owl posting office was surprised to see Lord Draco Malfoy himself arrive with a package to be delivered. Usually there were go-fers for that.

"My Lord," the clerk said, bowing to the wizard.

Draco placed a tightly bound package on the counter.

"I want this delivered to the Daily Prophet, care of Rita Skeeter. Immediately," the wizard said, scowling at the clerk.

"Do you want insurance on it, sir?" the clerk asked.

"No. Just deliver the damn thing now," Draco hissed.

The clerk took the package and carefully weighed it, Draco drumming impatiently on the counter. He looked around the office…it was early and there were no other customers yet.

"That will be eight knuts, sir," the clerk said, holding out his hand for payment.

Draco flipped a galleon at him.

"Here. Keep the change. Now deliver it," the wizard said, his nostrils flaring.

The clerk selected a sturdy looking owl, tied the package to its leg, told it where to go and opened a window. The owl flew out of it, flapping strongly. The clerk closed the window and turned back to Draco smiling.

"There you go my…" the clerk stopped speaking as he looked cross-eyed at the tip of Draco's wand pointing between his eyes.

"Obliviate!" Draco hissed.

The wizard disapparated, leaving the stunned clerk standing at the counter.

He only had five minutes left to get to the Ministry.

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Cronnie arrived in court dressed in a bright orange robe with blue stars. He had a very predatory look on his face as he slid in next to Hermione.

"Good morning, my dear," he smiled at her. He noticed the witch looked very tired.

"Good morning, Mr. Jockrin…I just want to thank you for continuing to…" Hermione began.

Cronnie waved his hand at her dismissively.

"No worries and no thanks necessary, Miss Granger. I haven't enjoyed myself in court this much in years," the lawyer replied, smiling at her. Then a bit of concern showed in his gray eyes.

"You look tired, Miss Granger. Didn't you sleep well?" the wizard asked.

Hermione blinked at him.

No, she hadn't. Severus came home from his meeting with Cronnie absolutely elated, and celebrated in his favorite way…fucking Hermione into conniptions. The wizard was on her for most of the night, grinning maniacally, refusing to tell her why he was so…well…happy.

"You'll see," he grunted, kissing her deeply.

"No I didn't. It was a long night," the witch said.

Cronnie opened up his briefcase and took out a small flask.

"Drink this," he said, handing it to Hermione.

Hermione eyed the flask. Was he offering her firewhiskey first thing in the morning?

"What is it?" she asked the wizard.

"Pepper-up potion. I always carry a bit with me," he replied.

Hermione uncapped the bottle and drank the contents of the flask. She felt better immediately.

"Thank you," she said.

"You're welcome. I don't want you to miss a bit of today," the wizard said.

Draco hurried in and got to his seat just before the Auror came out to announce the Council's entrance. He was already standing as the rest of the audience rose.

The Council members filed in. Every one of them looked as if they could use a good night's sleep. The members were constantly being harassed by reporters and telling them they couldn't comment until the end of the trial…buying themselves some time.

Everyone sat back down, looking at the Minister expectantly.

"I call the room to order," Minister Figglesworth said tiredly, "This trial has reconvened. Do you have any more 'witnesses' to call, Lord Malfoy?"

Draco stood up. He had thought about calling Hermione to the stand, but decided against it. Everyone already knew what the witch had done, and she was quite clever. He might find himself in a verbal sparring match that would do more damage than good.

"No. The prosecution rests, sir," Draco replied.

"Thank the gods," Minister Figglesworth breathed. Then he looked at Cronnie.

"Defense? Are you ready to call your first witness?" he asked the lawyer.

Cronnie stood up dramatically.

"That I am, sir. For my first witness I call…Professor Cuthbert Binns," the wizard said.

Hermione stared at Cronnie Jockrin with wide amber eyes. Professor Binns? Good gods and gravy.

The people in attendance looked all around the courtroom for Cronnie's witness, but no one came forward.

"Mr. Jockrin, is your witness present?" Figglesworth inquired.

"In a manner of speaking…yes," the lawyer replied.

Suddenly a low rather wheezy moan sounded through the chambers and a pearly white, semi-transparent form drifted down through the Ministry ceiling, up the center aisle and through the witness box. It turned and settled in the chair, somewhat. He bobbled a bit.

The Auror looked at Cronnie, stymied.

"Well man, swear him in!" Cronnie said as the Auror stared at the ghost, then did so.

Professor Binns was the only ghost teacher in Hogwarts. He was ancient and somewhat shriveled, but that had been his condition when he died. Binns was so old that when he went to teach class one morning, he left his body behind. He continued teaching just the same.

Draco jumped up.

"What's the meaning of this? You have a ghost for a witness?" he demanded of Cronnie.

"You do have eyes don't you Lord Malfoy?" Cronnie responded rather snarkily.

"Yes, I have eyes but I don't have patience for your theatrics, sir!" Draco responded angrily. "What possible bearing could this…this…ghost have on this case? He's been dead for years and never leaves Hogwarts."

"I wouldn't necessarily say that, Lord Malfoy, he is in this courtroom now, isn't he?" Cronnie replied coolly.

Draco turned red and looked up at the Minister.

"Minister Figglesworth, surely you aren't going to allow this!" Draco said, frowning.

The Minister looked at Cronnie.

"Mr. Jockrin, do you mind sharing with the Council and the jury just why you have a ghost here for a witness?" the Minister asked him.

"Certainly. When Lord Malfoy introduced his witness Delores Umbridge here, the woman began spouting the DKV line, thus bringing it into the legal arena. Miss Umbridge stated loosely that muggle-borns should not be among us and regulated to the lowest social strata of society. That belief is the true basis as to why we are in court trying Miss Granger today. I believe we need to explore that belief, and the history thereof. What better way to do it than with an expert on the subject? That is why Professor Binns is here, sir."

Figglesworth nodded.

"Very well, Mr. Jockrin…you may continue," the Minister said.

"We're supposed to be having a trial…instead we're having a history lesson," Draco grumbled, sitting down.

Cronnie walked up to the witness stand and address Professor Binns, who had been bobbing in place, patiently listening to the arguments about him.

"Please state your name for the jury and Council," he said politely to the ghost.

Professor Binns turned his pearly white eyes on the jury, who shuddered just a little. Not everyone was used to seeing ghosts.

"Professor Cuthbert Binns," he said in a dry, reedy, wheezy, droning voice. It sounded a bit like a muggle vacuum cleaner.

"And your position, sir?" Cronnie asked him.

"I am a Professor at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and teach the History of Magic," the ghost replied.

"Thank you. Now Professor Binns, I'd like to get right down to it. What do you think when you hear that muggle-borns do not belong in the wizarding world?" the lawyer asked.

The ghost considered.

"I think it is rot and balderdash sir," the ghost replied.

"I object! Who cares what a ghost thinks? He's not even part of this world anymore!" Draco argued.

Professor Binns turned cold eyes on the prosecutor and seemed to scowl slightly.

"If I could continue, Lord Malfoy, I think you will see why his answer is relevant," Cronnie said evenly.

Minister Figglesworth nodded.

"Overruled, Draco. Sit down and let the man continue," the Minister said.

Draco sat down, clearly in a temper.

"Professor Binns, do you make that statement based on your personal feelings?" Cronnie asked him.

"I certainly do not, sir. I am a historian. My comments are based on facts, not myths, legends or personal feelings. The idea that muggle-borns do not belong in the magical world is a myth sir, as is the idea of 'pureblood bloodlines.' There is no such being as a pureblood."

A gasp went up from the audience, partially because of the ghost's statement, and partially because the oath did not prevent the ghost from making the statement. Still Draco stood up.

"That is ridiculous. I myself come from a long line of purebloods," Draco stated directly to the ghost.

Professor Binns shook his head.

"Every wizard or witch in existence can be traced back to a muggle-born. All magical humans were conceived by non-magical humans," the ghost said. "The first witches and wizards were muggle-born, plain and simple. They were greatly feared by non-magical humans and at first put to death. Then the parents began to hide their children's powers and more and more were born. The creation of witches and wizards was a kind of deviation in the evolution of the human race. Eventually the witches and wizards stood together and formed their own group, which were tormented by muggles for years until they found a way to separate themselves. And like every new civilization, they rewrote history to suit themselves, propagating a master race of pureblood witches and wizards from which all else sprang. They sought to destroy all references to their muggle roots, but a few tomes remain that tell the truth of it," the ghost said confidently. "I can produce the texts if you wish."

Draco was red in the face, as were many members of the audience and all of the Council members.

"I don't think that will be necessary, Professor," Cronnie said to the ghost. "Are you familiar with the Dark Knights of Valor, also known as the DKV, the organization that promotes pureblood superiority over muggle-borns?"

The ghost nodded.

"I am sir. History is made every day, and as a dedicated historian, I record and follow the trends of today's society as well as those of yesterday's," the ghost replied.

Hermione looked on in awe. She never thought Professor Binns was aware of anything outside of his history classroom. And he certainly wasn't droning now. Everyone in the chambers was wide-awake and attentive to his every word. And clearly the ghost was enjoying sharing his knowledge much more than when he was in the classroom.

"What is your opinion of the DKV?" Cronnie asked the professor.

"The DKV is a precursor to a new societal Order that will be based on suppression, aggression and segregation, that will most likely come into power through violence and civil war. The DKV follows tenets that are untrue and have no foundation in fact at all, and is propaganda-based. The organization is attempting to rewrite history and adapt the facts by reform and legal action to fit the fiction. In essence, the DKV is reworking the world to suit their precepts and will suppress any truth that says otherwise. History is repeating itself. Just as the witches and wizards of old perpetrated the myth, the DKV is doing it now.

"As proof of this statement, they have pushed through legislation to remove history texts from our schools, libraries and private collections in an attempt to cover up the atrocities of the despot they follow, Mr. Tom Riddle, claiming conspiracies and lies are the reason he is in exile, rather than the truth that he has murdered countless innocents in his mad attempt to destroy the wizarding world as we know it and rebuild it to reflect his twisted ideals. The fact that Mr. Riddle himself is half-muggle and is followed by those claiming to be proud purebloods against muggle-borns shows the sheer folly of the organization's charter and by-laws. By rights it should be disbanded by its own bigoted membership."

Cronnie let out a low whistle, and the court was completely silent.

"And what do you think of their illustrious leader, Lord Voldemort?" Cronnie asked them.

"Tom Riddle will bring about the complete destruction of the wizarding world. He will lead it into a state of debauchery that has only been equaled by muggle kings of old. Our society and culture will be splintered and eventually lost forever if the current trend is allowed to continue unhindered. I do not say this because of my personal feelings, but because history shows us that civilizations that fall under the type of leadership Tom Riddle propagates all end up the same way. Destroyed."

"Professor Binns, are you familiar with the case of Miss Hermione Granger?"

"Yes I am. It is recent history after all," the ghost replied, looking at Hermione and smirking.

"What is your opinion of her situation?" Cronnie asked him.

"That she has been targeted because of her position of authority as part of the growing trend of muggle-born suppression. If Miss Granger was successfully removed without incident or repercussions, then the DKV could consider its reforms a success and put it into broader play. It is most unfortunate for the organization that it chose a sleeping lioness to rub the wrong way. History shows that it is the ones who do their best to keep an open mind in the face of adversity who are most likely to incite change when they are constantly wronged. The Ministry got away with passing Miss Granger over for the Spells Department Head position. Had they left her alone, the DKV would not be crumbling today," Professor Binns replied.

"Do you think, Professor, that Miss Granger should be punished for her actions?" Professor Binns said.

The ghost shook his head.

"No. I believe she should be commended. By that single act of outrage, she has laid an entire evil organization bare that was nearly impenetrable up to that point in time. I believe the history books will remember Miss Hermione Granger…as a heroine."

Cronnie nodded.

"Thank you, Professor Binns," Cronnie said. He looked at Draco. "Prosecution's witness."

Cronnie returned to the seat as Draco looked at the ghost wearily.

"I have no questions, Professor, you may step…or float down…or whatever it is you do," the wizard said. He knew he couldn't argue with facts.

Professor Binns floated through the witness box, down the center aisle and up through the ceiling.

Draco stood up.

"I move for a short recess," the wizard said.

Figglesworth looked at Cronnie, who nodded assent.

"This court is in recess. We will reconvene in one hour," Minister Figglesworth said.

They all stood as the Council left the chamber.

Hermione still looked awed.

"Who would have believed Professor Binns could be so authorative? He was…was wonderful!" she said to Cronnie. "And so up on what was happening in the wizarding world."

"He has nothing else to do but follow history in the making," Cronnie said, "He has an eternity behind him and has accomplished much today. No doubt he will be in the history books as well," Cronnie said.

"I know he shook up a lot of DKV members," Hermione said, looking around the courtroom.

Indeed, some of the witches and wizards were looking distinctly uncomfortable and unsure, staring uncertainly at their marks and each other. Professor Binns had not been speaking from a personal standpoint, but a historical one. He had no reason to come down on the DKV, no agenda of his own. He simply put out the facts and his conclusions based on them. It was disturbing to say the least.

"Who are you calling next?" Hermione asked.

"Actually, I have only one more witness. A kind of surprise witness. I'm not putting you on the stand. There's no reason for it," he said, giving her a wicked little grin.

"Can't you tell me who?" Hermione cajoled him, making a good attempt at puppy dog eyes.

It didn't work.

"No. Like the rest of those in attendance here, you will have to wait my dear. But it will be glorious," he assured her, his gray eyes twinkling.

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Leave it to Rita not to let a little thing like a strange man being eaten in her flat stop her from coming into work and writing her daily column. She planned to stop in on Hermione later in the day and see how things were going with the trial and if there was anything she wanted to share. Again the witch had made Rita look good. The first time was when Rita wrote Harry's article and now this. As irritating as the little chit was, and make no mistake…Rita was still pissed at Hermione on a number of levels, she always managed to come out on top and bring people with her.

Rita walked into her office and found another pile of letters from readers and a package. She sat down at her desk and eyed it, taking out her wand to do a detector spell on it.

"What's this? A bomb?" she mused as she pointed her wand at it.

Suddenly there was a bright flash of light that blinded the witch, and she felt her throat and wand hand gripped powerfully. The hold on her wrist tightened unbearably and she dropped her wand. The witch gasped for air as her vision cleared.

Her eyes went wide with horror.

"No, my little wordsmith…it's not a bomb. It's something much, much worse," a high-pitched voice purred at her.

"Now, let's see if I can make you see reason," Voldemort said darkly, tightening his grip on the reporter's throat as he warded the door and cast a silencing spell over her office.

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A/N: Oh my gods. No, Rita! NOOOOOOOOOOO! Please review.