The Trial of the Century
Wednesday afternoon, August the First, the trial of the century begins. The courtroom opens to the public for the first time in centuries and as bodies press in, common voyeurs, desperate for a show, the room becomes swelteringly hot. The full Wizengamot will be assembled for the "Chosen One'. Mr. Potter, his signature mop of unruly hair brushed back away from the lightning shaped scar sits, drumming his fingers in near hostile anticipation. Beside him, a thin wisp of woman watches the faces of the wizards who will decide her client's fate. Others will ask 'how could he do it?'... But does anyone really doubt he did? I for one have never been properly convinced the Boy Who Lives was anything more than a reckless, arrogant hothead. Surely his devolvement was inevitable.
In the crowd sits his miscreant friends, Ron Weasley (38), whose thinning pate of red seems glaring in the darkness of the room, and beside him, his wife, Hermione (38). The former Minister of Magic, who for all her sense of fair play and honesty has always carried something of a soft spot for Mr. Potter. Curious minds ask how she can so unabashedly support him, even now, when the evidence has come to light that Potter was, indeed, seen by no less than four witnesses, shrieking in wild fury at the elderly Miss Umbridge.
We call him the 'Chosen One', but is it so far fetched to think that the boy who once killed 'you-know-who' would someday grow into a killer of others, as well? Perhaps Potter had it in him all along. It is this writer’s guess that he was, in fact, chosen because the Seer knew what great horrors he was capable of... But only time will tell. Time, and the Wizengamot. [/font]
[font=Lucida Console]They filter into their seats, maroon robes fluttering as the walk, and for a moment all is silent as the Chief calls the court to order. With cold blue eyes, Potter stares the man down and it can't help but be thought what brave men it must take to lead the charge against the Boy Who Lived. The Chief, staring down the brutal defiance of the accused asks for a plea and without waiting for the man to sit, Potter yells that he is innocent. One imagines such a forthright display of aggressive temperament is rather damning.
With the Chief's official command the trial begins and each representative steps forward with their opening statements. As is expected, Potter's defense, though long winded and driven by hearsay and circumstantial claims, hinges solely upon his 'great service to the wizarding and muggle world, in the destruction of 'he-who-must-not-be-named'. Conversely, the prosecution sheds light on how fame can and likely has poisoned Potter to believe he is somehow above common law, and this vigilante justice cannot be permitted... Even for the 'Chosen One'. 'Then again', the prosecution remarks, 'This isn't the first time Mr. Potter has stood before a full court for challenging Wizarding law.'
The crowd erupts with shouts of anger and cries of injustice, Potters manic followers in full form, and the Chief is forced to call for order. But the prosecution's voice quakes just slightly, as they confirm they rest.
And as the first day of the Potter trial comes to a startlingly volatile conclusion, we are left wondering if what they say is true. Fame is the corruption of decency in all men.
Stay tuned for more tomorrow on these proceedings and more from the Daily Prophet's lead journalist.
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