The Ministry of Magic

Sevastyan followed Kiara, continually making sure not to trample Eglantine in the process. He only vaguely heard something a young boy said to his mother as they passed. Turning slightly and noticing Eglantine in the kid’s clutches, Sevastyan had no idea what he could possibly do for her...

Looking ahead to give Kiara the briefest of taps on the shoulder, Sevastyan mentally swore as he missed. Returning his gaze to Eglantine the cat, Sevastyan had an idea but wasn’t sure if the professor would be able to squirm her way out of this predicament. “Come, Flora... you can play vith the little boy later,” he said, having a bit of difficulty inflecting the tone often heard in conversations between pet and owner now that he knew the true identity of the feline. There was also the slight complication of keeping a mostly-straight face as he said it: it wasn’t as if Eglantine had deliberately sought out the child’s attention. Why had he chosen the name ‘Flora’? Your guess is as good as his, for he wasn’t too sure either.

Hopefully Professor DeLanquar wasn’t too adverse to humor, so that they could all laugh about the comment after this business was all said and done...


Sevastyan sat next to Kiara again as the judge called the court to order. The Russian made no move of surprise at any of the spells listed, having known about a little more than half of them and suspecting the rest. Instead, he decided to just be quiet and listen to the proceedings unless he was directly questioned.

The boy's mother thankfully intervened at that moment, else Eglantine might have been carted off and made a secret pet by the boy and his slightly older sister, who were already making those very plans.

"Henri! What are you doing with that man's cat? Drop her immediately." the woman admonished. She had heard Sevastyan's leisurely stated comment about "Flora" and had turned to find her son and daughter with the animal.

Henri protested loudly, but his mother quickly prying Eglantine from his grip and set her on the floor. Without out a moment's hesitation, she dashed off after Sevastyan, thanking him mentally for coming to her rescue.

As Sevastyan entered the court to sit beside Kiara, Eglantine leapt onto his lap and purred heartily to make sure he knew how grateful she was.

Kiara continued with her evidence.

"And to coincide with the wand here is a blood test result which I sent to the ministry only minutes after the attack occurred"

Kiara held up her blood test it revealed she had been held under Curcio for a total of 6 minutes the first time and only a minute.

"I was held under both of these in addition to spells Mr. Lestrange than proceeded to strangle me. If Professor Kaminski hadn't come along when he did I would be dead"

Turning to the rest of the court she said "As you can see Mr Lestrange was a danger not only to my own life but to the life of Professor Kaminski, what happened to Daniel Lastrange was unavoidable"

With that said she returned to her seat and place her shaking hands on her lap under the table. That had been hard to said, she look over to the opposition wonder how they would cross examine.

Mongaven looked a bit weary, almost as if he had had a long intense fight with someone.

"Headmistress Kiara, you have been quick to show evidence that Mr. Lestrange did indeed attack you. However, you have made no attempt to admit in any way that you attacked him as well. I'm sure those present would greatly benefit from seeing the spells that your wand casted at your victim along with those of Sevastyan Kaminski." He paused to take a breath.

"I would also question motive. You say that Mr. Lestrange wanted to kill you. Why? No doubt the poor man desired to kill you...you after all were responsible for the death of you only child, Serena Lestrange."

Sevastyan barely even blinked when Eglantine's feline form leapt into his lap, though he did acknowledge her presence with a look and a chuckle of sorts. At the purr, the Russian did the only thing that would have looked natural and stroked the fur along her back from head to tail. "You are most velcome, my friend," he replied quietly, barely more than an exhale of breath.


Sevastyan continued to watch the trial with interest, though his expression darkened imperceptibly the moment he re-established his sights on Mongaven. He looked... tired... but Sevastyan held no sympathy for him really. Who would, being so persistently accused of murder in a case of self-defense? Okay, sure, he let the affair bit drop - which was rather embarrassing as it was - but that wasn't enough. This was clearly a challenge; a challenge of wit and cunning: a battle so unlike a duel, but yet so very similar at the same time...

'Of course she's been qvick... it's the truth. No sense prattling about something of little relevance,' Sevastyan mused with more annoyance than he'd care to outwardly show. 'And, typical - vand inspection...like Kiara really had time to cast anything vhile under the Cruciatus Curse,' he added to this train of thought. Deciding he'd best cooperate, even if Kiara did manage to deflect the request, Sevastyan slowly withdrew his wand and handed it handle-side-out to Kiara but did not make eye contact. In fact, he stared ahead without any emotion at all. The Headmistress said they had a strong case against the opposition: Sevastyan would allow his fate to be placed in Kiara's hands on this basis, out of trust. Despite his outright honesty, accomplishing this particular mutual sentiment - to trust him and be trusted in return - was quite a feat.

'Poor man,' Sevastyan repeated incredulously in his head. The man was not poor... now, insane? Yeah - that was more like it...

It took all of his nerve to remain unsurprised to hear that Kiara and Daniel had had a child. Not that it wouldn't have happened since they were married, but, still. Sevastyan had never heard mention of a child but then again, with the way Mongaven worded it, it almost sounded like a ghost of the past that need not be mentioned. He didn't believe the fact that Kiara was responsible - not in the least. What Sevastyan did find was that mentioning said child was more than a bit below the belt. Unfortunately he had no knowledge of the event so mentioned. But he couldn't let this one go...

Sevastyan picked up the feline from his lap and set her in his chair as he stood, moving over to the side just enough so she could see. "Excuse the interruption, but is not responsibility a subjective term? Vot bearing does this new piece of information have upon this case, for that matter? Just because Mr. Lestrange felt his ex-vife vos responsible, doesn't mean that it is the truth! Vot proof of responsibility is there?" he inquired, clearly none too happy about this tactic. Sevastyan couldn't help but wonder what in Merlin's name was to come next. After all, he felt responsible for the death of his cousin, but he certainly wasn't there holding the wand!

Kiara's voice remained neutral although her glare held a lot more fire.

"As I said Mr Mongaven, I was attacked from behind silenced, restrained, and there there on was held under curcio. I didn't have a chance to raise my wand much less cast a spell" not that she was going to mention she hadn't used her wand for many spell in quite a while.

She glanced over when Sevastyan handed her his wand, "As for Professor Kaminski's wand, it has already been determined he did indeed duel Daniel Lestrange, out of self defense. If the judge wishes I will present the spells cast"

Kiara winced slightly at the comment about Serena and she eyes darkened.

She felt a rush of gratitude when Sevastyan came to her defense, however she would explain.

"Yes Daniel did indeed blame me for Serena's death, that was the heart of his anger toward me. Serena died of dragon pox, I carried the virus unknowingly and became infected, through me....... But I did not kill her... she became sick and died. He refused to accept it"

She said it calmly althought there was a quiver in her voice.

Waving her hand a paper appeared "This is Serena medical record and death certificate. proving this was how she died"

Mongaven bit his lip. He was quickly being defeated; of course he had many more things up his sleeves. Things he would dig into if the need arose.

"Very well, I am willing to concur that Headmistress Kiara was not actually responsible for her daughter's death." Let her fume over why he had given in so quickly, he thought darkly. "You casted no spells, Miss Kiara and Professor Kaminski only casted those which in the end saved your life."

He opened a briefcase and pulled out a slip of paper. "In your own words, Headmistress, could you tell me why you have not told us where Mr. Lestrange was from the time he first entered Hogwarts to the time of his death. There is several missing days in which no one has reported seeing him."

-----

Eglantine peered up over the edge of the desk and hissed softly. It was bad enough that the lawyer had brought up Serena, but now he was all but asking Kiara to admit Daniel had been "fruit-napped" for several days. Hmm, she thought, at least that will be an interesting note in the court records...

Sevastyan quirked a brow at how easily Mr. Mongaven had let the topic drop. But, they did have him more or less outnumbered between opinion, fact, and evidence. 'Vot do you have up your sleeve... there's got to be something you're hiding... or digging for...' Sevastyan mused with suspicion as he once again picked up Eglantine the feline and set her on his lap once he was seated. He hadn't heard her hiss, despite being practically in front of her.

A quizzical countenance was fixed onto the Russian's face at the request. Lestrange had come to Hogwarts... twice? What, were they expecting Kiara to be her ex-husband's keeper now? Instead of rising again, because he really had nothing to add and even less knowledge of this particular situation, Sevastyan merely watched, waited, and listened.

Kiara could have groaned '"Oh great...." she thought.

"When Daniel first approached me at Hogwarts, we exchanged a few words, tempers flared and he hit me. It was then another professor intervened.... Mr Lestrange refused to be negotiated with over the matter and said many inappropriate things. He was.. well.. transfigured into an apple"

Kiara swallowed this may get her into some trouble, but she would take responsibly for it, it changed nothing what Daniel did.

"I will take responsibly, for that your honor, but that was out of self defense as well. we would have released him"

Mongaven's mouth dropped open. "An apple, Miss Kiara!" he repeated, obviously not expecting that particular answer. No doubt he had been hoping to hear something a little less fruity. "And who exactly on your staff turned him into an apple?" Already he was glancing at the list of staff names. Of course, logically a finger of suspicion would point at the Transfiguration professor, due to the fact that that was her area of expertise. Still he was not going to make any accusations until after Kiara answered his question.

Eglantine banged her head on the table. Why hadn't she hexed the man or better yet, reduced him to a little pile of ashes. She wouldn't have even had to use excessum neci...she could have blasted him with a firing hex.
At Mongaven's request to who had turned Mr. Lestrange into an apple, Eglantine almost morphed back into her human form. However Sevastyan's lap and something about in the improbity of being on it in human form, kept her as a fuming cat.

Kiara sent a apologetic glance to Eglantine, she could not lie in court "It was Eglantine Delanquar'

Sevastyan quirked a brow but let it fall back into place as quickly as he'd raised it. An apple? That sounded a bit too good for Lestrange, given what little he knew about the man. Of course, that little included that the wizard in question was an insane lunatic out for revenge on his ex-wife - now, Sevastyan knew, for something neither of the parents of Serena could have prevented. 'He vos qvite the rotten apple, if anything else,' Sevastyan judged the late Daniel with more than a little bit of ill-temper. 'He met an appealing end, for vot he did,' the Russian mused darkly, choosing to laugh inwardly at the wordplay.

It had been Sevastyan's opinion that the one responsible for turning Daniel into an apple was currently here incognito and sitting in cat form on his lap. True, she taught Muggle studies, but from what Amaranth had said the other day the pair - Kiara and Eglantine - were best friends. It made logical sense. But, hey, if Professor DeLanquar was protecting the Headmistress - just as he had - then it was not a crime. When Eglantine hit her feline head on the table, Sevastyan pulled her away from it gently and placed a hand on her back. Two gentle pats followed as he willed her to hear his thought: 'You did vot you could, vithout violence; more than I can say for my own actions... but it had to be done.' Sevastyan doubted, though, that she would have picked up on it. The only thing left for it was to say so in person once they were back to the castle.

Not an ounce of surprise crossed his face when his assumption was confirmed, but nor was there accusation. 'She did what she had to,' he repeated in his mind - not that he needed any reassuring. After all: transfiguring someone into an apple was probably much better than outright killing them, even in self-defense. It just happened to be Sevastyan's reaction to cast to kill in a fight for one's life.

Mongaven sighed. "And is this Eglantine DeLanquar, your Professor of Transfiguration, Muggle Studies and your Head of Gryffindor, usually prone to such outrageous bursts of anger. Does she use such techniques in punishing her students? Or did you ask her to transfigure Mr. Lestrange into an apple, so you could quickly dispose of him?" He barely hid a smile, this was the digging he had hoped to be able to uncover... As long as Headmistress Kiara was attempting to defend the actions of another, she would be less careful about her own defense...in the end she would fall and that was all he needed in order to win.

Eglantine was soothed slightly by Sevastyan's pats, but still desired nothing more than to leap over the table and rack her dangerously sharp claws across the man's thin face. How dare he accuse Kiara of forcing her to change Daniel into an apple! How dare he accuse her of mistreating her students! Dropping part of her mental shields, she attempted to access Sevastyan's mind. She had to communicate somehow...

Can you hear me?

Kiara glared at Mongaven "Professor Eglantine DeLanquar, has a mild temper and has never raised her wand to a student, ever. I did not ask her to transfigure him, she did that on her own after many attempt to have Mr. Lestrange see reason, that didn't work. Also Mr Lestrange was not harmed or damaged in anyway during his time out, which was what it was."

Sevastyan blinked as he sensed more than felt something hit against his mental fortifications. Said defensive measures were like a sturdy locked door, but Sevastyan could clearly hear what was going on on the other side of this image.

Can you hear me?

The voice was familiar - Professor DeLanquar - but was it really her? The sturdy door of Occlumency opened the slightest bit.

Professor? The mind-voice sounded strong, but uncertain.


During the verbal conversation, Sevastyan nodded as Kiara spoke: that sounded very much like the Professor. Though he hadn't exactly sat in one of her classes, being a professor himself, he could tell just by how their conversations went that she was not violent by any means. A little suspicious of others, perhaps, and at very rare occasions... but never out and out violent. Plus, her human form was confined to a wheelchair for Merlin's sake!

Mongaven nodded. "So Professor DeLanquar did transfigure him into an apple and then punish him by keeping him in this form for the days he was missing? A good question might be, how do you know that no harm came to Mr. Lestrange? Were you present when Mrs. DeLanquar took him away?"


Eglantine replied in her mind.

Yes, it is.

Kiara rolled her eyes and nodded "Yes I was present when she preformed the spell, she had him in her pocket where he remained un harmed. He didn't do anything worthy of being killed until after the apple"

Sevastyan became concerned that Professor DeLanquar would contact him in this manner, and hence looked rather lost in thought as he focused on lowering his defenses just enough to allow Eglantine a decent amount of access but closed just about everyone else off. He wasn't exactly telepathic, but he assumed that this must be what it was like.

Vot is wrong?

"I see, and this man remained as an apple in this elderly woman's pocket for the days he was missing. Somehow I must bring Mrs. DeLanquar's sanity into this equation. Had she ever met Mr. Lestrange before? And why did she so quickly exact punishment in the form of her own masters? Your Honour, I believe it is finally being revealed that it was not just the Headmistress and one professor that was involved in this murder, but could very well have been the entire Hogwarts staff!"

Eglantine began to lick her forepaw, noticing that a witch not far from them was staring at her. Best to act in true cat fashion...watching the case harder qualified...

Everything about this case is wrong, Professor! Mr. Mongaven knows too much about things he should know nothing about. He is digging a grave for Kiara and her alone. You know that she would be willing to sacrifice herself. We cannot let her!

So I'm not the only vone that thought this vos more than slightly fishy? Sevastyan's mind-voice was laced with a dark gravity that couldn't even have made the fish reference funny even if said fish were wearing the getup of a clown and dancing on its tailfins.

It seemed as though Sevastyan put the mental conversation on hold and paid distinct attention to the lawyer the moment he appealed to the judge.

Vone moment, professor... he sent to the feline and placed her on the chair once again as he stood.

"Objection: vonce more this is entirely conjecture, vith no solid proof of evidence to back up the claims. And, vonce again, I vould like to reiterate to the court that this is not a murder trial, or a conspiracy theorist meeting. I for vone had no knowledge of Mr. Lestrange's first visit, so already Mr. Mongaven's theory has lost some merit," Sevastyan said clearly and sat back down, once again settling the cat into his lap.

It vould appear you have a point... any plans of action?

Sevastyan attempted to keep both of his physical ears on the case... and his mind-generated ones on whatever Professor DeLanquar might have in mind. It wouldn't be an easy feat, but he would do his best...

Your objection was good. But I am afraid that Mr. Mongaven is correct... Kiara has no way of proving that I did not harm Mr. Lestrange whilst he was in my possession. And now he is dragging the whole staff into this... she sounded worried. After all there were many things that would never be able to fall into the ministry's hands without causing major problems for Hogwarts staff... Her son Edwin was just the beginning...

Perhaps we could turn it on Mongaven... He has no proof of anything that he is saying save what he asks and gets as an answer. It is all speculation. Tell him so.
She was purring softly, despite the anger and fear mixing in her mind. This court case had the potential to do a great deal of damage.

Kiara face darkened, they were being killed by a flipping apple!!

"I know he was not harmed because I was unfortunate enough to meet right after the magic that on him came undone. He was no more injured then you are Mr Mongaven. but if I may say so you case has little weight. You entire case is based on what I am say with no real proof to back it up. I however do...."

Waving her hand another document floated into her hand.

"This blood test was taken after Mr. Lestranges death. prior to the duel that ended his life there was nothing physically wrong with him. If he had been injured while in apple form it would have shown up in this blood test. Physically there was nothing wrong with him"

She would not be defeated by this theorist, who thought being transfigured into a apple was a good excuse for attempt at murder.

"Thats it"

"Are you trying to say Mr. Mongaven that Mr Lestrange's time as a fruit is a good excuse for attempt at murder?"

If he said no he had just killed his own theory.

If he said yes he would be conceding that Daniel tried to kill her, and in wizard law attempted murder was punishable by death by the legally allowed to do it.

She was and so was Sevastyan, Mongaven had nothing against them.

Thank you... and I had to try. It is simply ridiculous, this accusation of murder. I could not allow my opinion to go unnoticed.

Sevastyan quirked a brow with interest upon hearing that the headmistress had obtained a blood test from Daniel Lestrange's corpse, and wondered if it had been done in preparation for this very moment. Either Kiara had a very perceptive mind in how the legal system worked, or she had an exceptional skill in Divination. Considering he didn't really put much store in the latter, Sevastyan decided upon the former and couldn't stop the smallest of smiles from forming. It wasn't much of one, and only after studying how the Russian's face moved could it really be interpreted as a smile.

While he was glad in the first place that he was no longer as immersed in the Dark Arts, so too was he glad that he'd never had Kiara on his tracks: Sevastyan doubted he would've made it out of any case brought against him without some form of incarceration (or worse) if Kiara had been his opposition!

I daresay the Headmistress just made a crucial point - either vay he answers, I think she has him right vhere she vants him. There was a tone of victory in his voice, though it clearly was not a pride for his own achievement, but for Kiara's.

Mongaven raised an eyebrow. "All Mr. Lestrange's time as a fruit proves is that there was planning to this murder. You lured him to Hogwarts and then turned him into an apple...sorry...had your Transfiguration mistress turn him into an apple and then you released him and goaded him until he snapped. And when he snapped, you were more than prepared to call for Professor Kaminski, to "save" you in your moment or "peril"." He rolled his eyes even as he stated the words save and peril, obviously making sure everyone knew he thought of them as trash.

"But I am willing to accept that I may be slightly mistaken in blaming all of the Hogwarts staff. Perhaps the blame rests solely on three pairs of conspiring shoulders. Professors Kaminski and DeLanquar, for turning him into an apple and then slaying him and Headmistress Kiara, for leading him to his death."


Eglantine groaned. A crucial point, maybe, but Mongaven appeared to be a master at skirting around the point...

If looks could kill Mongaven would have been 6 feet under and barried by the looks she was giving him. She was after all related to Voldemort and apprenticed by Severus Snape, kiara knew how to glare.

She spoke calmly but there was Ice behind her voice.

"Mr Mongaven I am growing tired of telling you the same story over and over, just so you can come with another theory. So I didn't want to do this, trust me this is this last thing I wanted to present, but if it will stop you from wasting this courts time, and money I will show my memories of all the events that happened up to the point Mr. Lestrange died."

With that said Kiara pulled out her pensieve out of her bag and placed it on the conjured table in the court room.

Putting her wand to her temple Kiara extracted the memories concerning Daniel Lestrange.

Once the memories were in place she turned. "As you can see I have just given the court raw memories, not tempered with in anyway under a wizards oath" waving her hand so the memories could play out on a screen of sort she turned her gaze away and tried not the listen the memories.

Hopefully this would allow the court enough doubt on what Mongaven was saying to dismiss the case and let them all go home.