#10 Dorens Face Trial

Elizabeth looked around her to see the many unfamiliar faces crowded into the courtroom. All these people here to see her parents? Surely their alleged crime was not so bad that everyone had to be there, staring like it was some type of circus. Elizabeth felt her stomach drop. Perhaps this was a bigger deal than she had thought it was.

For some reason, when she thought about the trial, it had always been simple. To be fair, she didn't know much about the law system, but she had expected a judge, a few Aurors, and her parents. Not dozens of reporters and people Elizabeth didn't know. She tried to match names to the faces, feeling woefully inadequate.

She tensed up when she felt Ira's eyes on her. Was she to be judged, as well? She was the oldest, after all. Almost of age. Perhaps they would try to pin something on her, just in case? Elizabeth shuddered.

She was shocked to see the state of their parents, and looked at William as if to say 'is that really them?' When she thought of her parents, she thought elegance, class, grace, and poise. Not prison uniforms, shackles, and dark circles around their eyes! What had they been doing to them in prison? They had rights, didn't they? Elizabeth's hands curled into fists.

This was the trial. It wasn't fair for her parents to be treated like criminals when it hadn't even been determined whether or not they were guilty!

She looked at Tolliver. It would be nice to question him about all of that, but she felt like speaking would be breaking some sort of rule.

Elizabeth froze as soon as Ira started talking. Murderers. Her parents? They were strict, but they couldn't be murderers! They just couldn't! She tried to keep her poise. What if the reporters took pictures of her looking panicked? Could they do that?

She did nod emphatically when her father said that they were not guilty. She believed it. She wanted to believe it. She had to believe it. What would she do if she couldn't?

Elizabeth was confused. She mouthed the words 'child safety concerns?' to William. Had there been a time she felt unsafe? She sat quietly, thinking back on everything. To hear Ira say it, there had to have been Ministry involvement somewhere.

Her eyes went wide when it was revealed that they would stay Wards of the Ministry even after the not guilty verdict. Tolliver wasn't the worst in the world, but she wanted things to be the way she was used to them being. It was difficult to step outside.

She looked at the Auror nervously. There was no way to know what the Auror would say, or what it would mean for Elizabeth or her parents. How would it feel to stand up there and address the court like that?

The Auror in charge of the case began to speak, delivering her opening statement.

To those well-versed in magical law, or were familiar enough with the case to follow, the information was quite significant and thorough. But to others, particularly the young Dorens who'd been told very little about the whole situation up until now -- it was a lot to take in.

There were dates, places, and various names involved -- some weren't familiar in the slightest, and a few they might have heard being associates of their parents or surely spoken during one of those countless social parties they were sometimes paraded around in growing up.

What those named proved, however, was proof and precedence. There were witnesses. 

'As such,' the Auror concluded. 'Marceau and Cosette Doren stand accused of blackmail, conspiracy to conceal a crime, unlawful intimidation, child endangerment, and the murder of a muggle. And suspected of two other murders, fraud, theft, and of course of action or involvement in the murder of an Auror. And suspected involvement in the murder of his remaining family.'

She paused, giving everyone a moment to process. A few in the audience, despite their best efforts to respectfully keep their voices down, had gasped or made a sound of shock upon hearing just how many crimes were added up.

'We recommend a life sentence in Azkaban,' the Auror concluded, shooting the Dorens a somewhat restrained glare. 'They've stood accused in the past and were granted leniency. The crimes have since escalated. They have shown zero sense of remorse. Furthermore-'

Ira held up her hand, gaze fixed intently on some files in front of her.

'If I could pause that, for just a moment.' Ira sorted through, then lifted out something handwritten. 'While that is a serious list of accusations, several which the evidence is undeniable, I simply cannot overlook this.'

She held it up for a moment, and the Auror pressed her lips together -- though nodded respectfully, and took it into account. Not that she had a choice; if Ira Xcalyn decided it was relevant, then it was relevant.

'Marceau Doren,' Ira addressed him, pretending not to notice Mrs Doren seething beside him about the accusations. 'Early this morning, you presented a statement to the court. Is that correct?'

Mr Doren nodded. 'Yes.'

'And is this that statement?' Ira held it up again. 

'Yes.' He lowered his gaze, fists clenched.

Mrs Doren shot him a dirty look, though wisely didn't comment. There was no mistaking how livid she was by everything going on right now. She even shot a glare at the Auror, who Mrs Doren believed was far more at fault here than they were.

'In this statement, you...' Ira paused. 'And let me remind that both of the accused signed this. Within, you've requested a Clause of Redemption. Studied magical law, have we? You also stated, and I find this far more interesting, that you should be trialed as Secondary Acts not primary?'

The audience had to calm down upon hearing that, with mixed scoffs and grumbles. 

'The audacity,' muttered someone off to Elizabeth's right, a few rows back. 'Have they no shame?'

'On what grounds?' Ira asked, willing to hear them out. 'Given the list of crimes against you, and the insurmountable evidence of such, I am quite keen to hear how in Merlin's name that is warranted?'

'Merlobe Blogg,' Mrs Doren said, the name leaving her mouth as though it was something dirty. 'And the other two. We're not some evil maniacs, you know. We were paid to be involved. What we did, was done because we were told to.'

'And yet, you did them.' Isa sighed, yet went over some files again. She glanced to the Auror, awaiting her stance on the matter.

'Investigations have confirmed that others were involved, and that the accused did not commit the torture of those individuals,' the Auror said, reluctantly. 'The information, regarding those plans and the ones suspected to be involved, would prove useful enough to trial by Secondary Acts.'

Things got very slow and mostly quiet after that.

Stacks of evidence were re-reviewed, including multiple witness reports. Ira asked a few specific questions, but otherwise simply took it all in from a different perspective. Tolliver was quiet too, though checked on William and Elizabeth often to see if they were okay or in case they had any questions. It also acted as a reminder that they were allowed to speak to him, just quietly.

A woman in the corner sobbed until she'd exhausted herself.

Mrs Doren fidgeted in her restraints, then better spent the energy on glaring at Aurors or anyone who dared look down on her. Mr Doren was silent, staring only at his ankles -- every bit as tired as he seemed. So much that his wife even leaned to offer him some support, should he slouch too much in the presence of others.

--

Finally, after what felt like forever, everyone returned to their places -- and Ira was ready to proceed. The Auror in charge got to speak first, and everyone awaited what she had to say and if anything warranted an adjustment.

'We simply cannot take them at their word,' she said, quite firmly. 'Cosette Doren, as concluded by the Fraud Office, is a conwoman. She stands accused of blackmail, unlawful intimidation, and child endangerment. Under no circumstances can we proceed without insurance. I ask the court to consider Veritaserum.'

'No,' shouted Mrs Doren -- intending to jump up, but was dragged back by restraints. Two Aurors approached, wands at the ready, should she try anything. 'We had an agreement.'

'An agreement to end three people's lives... for a sack of Galleons.' There was disgust in Ira's tone, though her gaze remained focused and on point. 'Was the muggle simply collateral damage?'

'If I may?' Anant stepped forward, bowing his head in apology to his mother. 'Blogg was in possession of some extremely sensitive information. Given that the accused's involvement, I daresay someone got what they wanted one way or another. Secondary Acts may be essential, to the ongoing cases.'

Ira considered quietly for a moment, her gaze drifting to the two children seated to watch their parents' trial. Children who the Dorens had tried to frame for such evil acts, and who they used as scapegoats their last trip to court. Children whose lives had been completely turned upside-down as it was...

'I am officially splitting the trial,' she declared, to many's surprise.

'That means they'll be trialed individually,' Tolliver whispered to Elizabeth and William. 'Likely due to the imbalance of accusations. Their verdicts may be different, depending on the evidence.'

'Quite a few witnesses have withdrawn their statements this morning,' Ira added, eyeing Mrs Doren for looking rather pleased about it. 'Care to shed light?'

Mrs Doren shrugged. 'I can't control when or why someone comes to their senses.' She agitated the restraints. 'As you can see, I'm otherwise engaged.'

'Before I reach a verdict, Cosette Doren, could you please identify this child for the court?' Ira held up a photograph -- moving, of course, as it was magical. 

An Auror cast a spell to project it onto a sheet of fabric that unscrolled from above. The boy was laughing at something beyond the camera, and looked to be about 11.

'I didn't kill him,' was Mrs Doren's immediate response.

She then squinted at the image, despite its enlarged size, and knew there was something important about it if her answer could sway her fate. But in which direction? 

Yet, try as she might, her expression was purely befuddled.

'I've no idea.' She huffed, annoyed by what they were playing at now or planning to accuse her of next. 'Never seen him before in my life. What of it?'

Every Auror and court-worker stared at her, with many then sighing or looking away in varied negative responses. Ira, however, simply nodded. She knew exactly what she was doing with that unusual piece of evidence, and it told her everything she needed to know to proceed.

'Cosette Doren, I leave you with two choices,' Ira said. She set aside files, no longer needing them. 'Agree to the administration of Vertiaserum, and thus confess to everything you know about those who enticed you to commit murder and other crimes, and perhaps you won't be spending the rest of your days in Azkaban.'

Mrs Doren's glare returned, with an utmost stubborn stance. Mr Doren glanced up warily, his eyes shifting to the child's photograph -- as if trying to assist her in the answer, but wasn't fast enough; Ira barely gave pause.

'Or,' Ira continued. 'I shall deliver your verdict, based on the evidence of which can absolutely be proven or was witnessed to a reliable extent. Be aware that it includes three murders, and a severe case of child endangerment.'

'For Merlin's sake, stop saying that.' Mrs Doren scoffed. 'What endangerment? How is that worth the treatment we're getting here, huh? What was so awful you're bringing them into it?'

'You brought them into it first,' Ira said plainly, then checked the file. 'Do you recall abandoning your daughter, then aged six, in Diagon Alley?'

'She got lost,' Mrs Doren said, emotionless -- though refused to make eye contact with Mr Doren when he stared at her.

'You were witnessed,' Ira reminded her. 'You had your daughter sit outside Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions, and instructed her to wait for you there. It was late afternoon, and had started to snow. She was left, crying and wondering the streets, for five hours until we were contacted. She was returned to you... at home.'

Several gasped at that. Tolliver nodded, forcing himself not to clench his fists. Things like this made his blood boil.

'I forgot. Had a lot on my mind,' Mrs Doren said. 'You think raising those kids is easy?'

'Yes, we've several reports of them being forgotten or of similar instances,' Ira said. 'But this one, you left a note and some money. You said goodbye.'

'Witnesses are like termites,' grumbled Mrs Doren, refusing to engage in discussion of this. She shot Elizabeth a look, as though she was the one to blame for this whole thing. 'I'm not using that truth serum. Get on with this nonsense.' 

'It makes things very clear,' Ira said. 'And so does this.'

She held up a wand, which Elizabeth and William would immediately recognise as belonging to their mother. Even with their minimal knowledge of magical law, they knew that having one's wand raised in court was very bad.

Only the most awful of criminals had that done. A wand never lied.

The Dorens stiffened at the sight of it, as if suddenly the situation was quite serious. The smirk and stubbornness faded fast from Mrs Doren's face, which turned pale.

'Yes. We checked. It was you, Cosette Doren, who cast the spells to end no less than two lives.' Ira was ready to deliver the verdict. 'By Examination of the Wand, in the case of Merlobe Blogg, you used an Unforgiveable.'

The court became very still, as if no one dared breathe. The silence was almost unfathomable. Elizabeth and William hadn't learned anything about an Unforgiveable at school, but their studies proved it something serious.

Some sort of spell that, as the name suggested, was so bad it was unforgiveable.

'I sentence you to life in Azkaban,' Ira stated, and banged her gavel. 'The remaining charges Void by Verdict.'

Chains sprung around Mrs Doren's wrists and ankles, shackling her with enchanted steel. Aurors rushed forward to seize her, but at first neither Doren could even react out of shock.

'No! No, you can't. Get off me.' She resisted, but grimaced as the chains squeezed in reminder. Mrs Doren panicked, grabbing for the chair to stay where she was, then reaching for her husband who was stunned by his wife's fate.

'Wait! Wait.' Mrs Doren gasped through tears and panic. 'I have something to say. Please.'

'Speak.' Ira nodded, allowing the Aurors to let got for a moment.

'My husband,' Mrs Doren gasped, fighting through the fog of shock. 'Spare him. He arrived later. He doesn't know anything, I swear. I called for him, and he came as he always does. He can't survive Azkaban. Have mercy on us.'

'Like you did, for those whose lives you took or ruined?' Ira asked, though sighed. 'You have information, so we are not finished with you yet. I am sentencing you life in Azkaban... however.'

Many stared at her, surprised by a condition added to a life sentence. 

'The court will grant you two years,' Ira said, interrupting the muffled argument between the Dorens as he protested his wife's attempt to spare him. 'Cosette Doren, within the two years, you may issue an appeal and your verdict may be reduced... in exchange for everything you know about those who were involved.'

Mrs Doren hastily told her husband something, then made it clear she wasn't saying a word to the court no matter what. Despite that stance, she angrily eyed the enlarged photograph again as it surely had done something to make everyone turn on her. Not her own actions, of course; it was strictly everyone else's fault.

'Take her away,' the Auror in charge said.

'Wait. Who's the kid?' Mrs Doren demanded to know. 'Who is he?'

'Your son,' Ira said, quite coldly. 'Perhaps you didn't recognise him, as he is smiling? What kind of a mother doesn't recognise her children because they are happy?'

The photograph was indeed William, at 11 years old and preparing to start Hogwarts in a week. His hair was wavy and a bit wild, yet his eyes were bright with anticipation. He laughed at something beyond the camera, his whole expression lit up with emotion and happiness to finally be leaving for Hogwarts.

He'd been laughing at his uncle, who'd insisted on taking a photo of him that day. His uncle pulled some ridiculous face after delivering some weird plant joke. His parents weren't home that afternoon, so he'd spent most of it in the garden with his uncle and sister, since many of their belongings were packed away in their trunks already.

How long had it been since he'd laughed like that? He did look happy. His eyes alone were so emotive, that it wouldn't be a surprise if even William himself hadn't recognised the photograph. Had he? Did he remember that day? Did Elizabeth remember the few times she'd seen her brother like that? When he was much younger and she actually got to spend any time with him, of course, but...

Mrs Doren refused to believe them, thinking it was some sort of trick. Regardless, she was dragged out -- screaming of her innocence and how dare they do this to her. And how she never should have had those kids.

Tearful. and looking rather pathetic without his wife's bold presence beside him, Mr Doren warily turned in his seat to face the court. Ira had split the trial, and thus his face and verdict were yet to be delivered. 

Mr Doren sat quietly, his attention fixed on the floor, as the afternoon dragged on. There was much discussion about the evidence, as the withdrawal of many witnesses that morning complicated matters in general -- but most especially in his case.

Evidence stated he was clearly involved, and he was seen at the scenes, and yet his wand was clean of any Unforgiveables. Aurors were not pleased, as they reviewed the remaining evidence.

'Marceau Doren, it was confirmed that you cast a Freezing Charm on Merlobe Blogg -- as preservation, thus delaying discovery and concealing the unforgiveable crime,' said Ira. She flipped through some files. 'Is this correct?'

Surprisingly, he nodded -- automatic, as if he'd all but given up by this point. Despite the rudeness and improper manner of it all, Mr Doren kept his gaze low and refused to partake in the trial, other than to answer when expected.

'Aside from that, the charges against you...' Ira sighed, shaking her head. It was clear by this stage in the trial that splitting their verdicts was absolutely the fair thing to do. 'Do you have anything to add, before I deliver a verdict? Perhaps regarding who else was involved, or confirmation of child endangerment?'

'I don't know anything,' he said in monotone. 'Whatever happened, I arrived later. I've nothing to confirm with any degree of accuracy. You sentenced my wife to Azkaban; what does anything else matter to me now?'

Without any sympathy for his defeated state, given he'd gotten this far by his own action or inaction, Ira simply nodded and set aside the files.

'On the charges of concealment of a serious crime,' she proceeded to inform him and entire court. 'Combined with five lesser offenses, of which can be proved to reasonable degree... Marceau Doren, I sentence you to one year in Azkaban. Custodial Rights of Marceau and Cosette Doren are no longer suspended, but terminated.'

Some in the audience were not pleased with that, arguing that it should be far worse a punishment simply for being involved at all in what happened. Even when it was explained that there were no witnesses or evidence against him in the case of the other incidents -- including two other murders, and that of a Muggle. Most of it was circumstantial.

The withdrawn witness statements were detrimental to proving his guilt. Though he was by no means innocent, most of the evidence was pointed at his wife, despite both of them being involved in harming others for the sake of money. 

To have received only one year may sound short, but in Azkaban even one day was endless misery. It was not a light sentence, but still he got very lucky. Those who wanted the Dorens properly punished did not see it so rationally. Tolliver, sensing the tension rising, indicated for Elizabeth and William to gather their things.

'They're monsters. Murderers,' protested someone in the audience, though was quickly silenced by a sharp look from Ira Xcalyn.

There was still some things to go over in the trial, but nothing new would be revealed or decided. The Dorens had still declined meeting with the children, so there wasn't any further reason for them to be there. Mr Doren glanced over as Tolliver began ushering the kids out, but he quickly looked away again.

The fate of the Dorens and their children were sealed, for now.

'Take a breather.' Tolliver had Elizabeth and William sit on a bench round the corridor, outside the courtroom -- away from the noise or any reporters who might shamelessly seek them. 'It's a lot to take in. So take your time. We can discuss things further, back at the Estate.'