A Surprise of Epic Proportions
The Second Week of June, 1998
‘Trial of Pansy Parkinson:
Status: Private
Notable Witness and Accounts: Headmistress and Transfiguration Professor of Hogwarts: Minerva McGonagall; Herbology Professor of Hogwarts: Pomona Sprout; War Heroes and Peers for 6 years: Hermione Granger, Harry Potter, and Ronald Weasley; Other Notable Heroes and Witness of her (Parkinson’s) Seventh Year at Hogwarts and her use of the Cruciatus Curse: Neville Longbottom, Luna Lovegood, Ginevera Weasley.
Charges: Illegal Uses of the Unforgivable Curses; Illegal Uses of the Cruciatus Curse Against Lower Year Student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry; Attempted Murder on Multiple Accounts; Attempted Sacrifice of Harry James Potter.’
“I suppose what we discussed before the trial last week still applies,” Harry questioned.
“Mate, she tried to hand you over to Him,” Ron whispered back.
“It was a simple suggestion of one life for a thousand.” Her friends' faces stared back. “Muggle expression.” Hermione finished.
“No,” Neville said. “She didn’t use the curse on the little kids. She faked it for the Carrows.”
They all whispered at once. “What?” “How do you know that?” “Really?”
“She told me. Broke down sobbing in the Greenhouse while we were there for an extra credit project for Professor Sprout. I found her crying when I came back from getting the Professor, to double-check my work. We talked for a few hours and came up with some solutions. Some of the information I passed along to the Order was from her. She begged me not to tell anyone. For her safety and for the kids. She was wrong to suggest Harry, but she was trying to protect everyone else.”
“So she was a secret double agent?” Harry asked while Ginny asked, “Does anyone else know?”
“Yes and yes, Professor Sprout. She should be a witness today.”
“And you’re going to testify to all that?” Hermione asked.
“Yes, she’s my friend.”
“That’s very brave, Neville,” Luna replied.
“Do we have to worry what the Beetle will say?” Ron asked.
“I’d be happy to keep her in a jar again," Hermione laughed, "but what said at the trials is staying private. With Death Eaters still on the loose, no one wants to risk making new targets.”
“I’m afraid I heard that incorrectly.” Luna smiled.
“No, you didn’t, Rita Skeeter is an Unregistered Animagus, with the form of a Beetle. After all the slander of our 4th Year, Hermione trapped her in a jar and kept her there for a week.” Harry said, chuckling.
“Only until she agreed to stop writing the things she was writing.”
“So, lighting Snape on fire wasn’t that extreme for you, was it?”
“Wait, what?” Neville asked.
Shacklebolt started speaking before anyone could reply.
Professor McGonagall spoke first, reiterating that she believed Pansy had it in her to change, and that she was a child. Everything went as it did the first time, until Neville’s testimony.
He repeated what he had told his friends. Pansy faking the Cruciatus Curse, supplying information to the Order, and even risking her life to spy on the Carrows. Wizengamot was shocked. Even more so, after Professor Sprout confirmed much of what Neville said.
The verdict came: Pansy must complete an Eighth Year at Hogwarts. And weekly check-ins with Auror’s over the summer. They would discuss it again in a year, but she was pardoned.
Minutes after the court was released, Pansy ran up to hug Professor Sprout as she was reassured that her teacher would protect her. Neville walked up to them and Pansy jumped into a hug, thanking him a hundred times over for what he did.
Back at Hogwarts, Professor McGonagall held a campfire for all students. They hung out and ate, and sang, and made s'mores. The new world coming together piece by piece.
And later the Gryffindors, joined by a few Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs, welcomed half a dozen Slytherins into their tent.
“To a new beginning,” they toasted with glasses of butterbeer.