Chapter 13

In the throne room of Slytherin Castle now stood two thrones: Harry's obsidian one, and the one he had commissioned for Severus, which was carved from white marble. Together, they would preside over the court.

Harry had decided this day would be a trial day. Instead of a regular court audience, several disputes, grievances, and pending trials would be brought forward for the King and his court to judge. Nobles and courtiers could plead for the accused or condemn them, but ultimately, the decision of punishment lay with the King. Severus sat beside Harry, but the Potion master's expression was unreadable.

The first two grievances were minor: a dispute over ownership rights between two families, and a quarrel involving a merchant accused of short‑weighing his goods. Severus noted that Harry was listening carefully and weighed the evidence. His judgments so far were fair, and the nobles murmured in approval. Severus did not speak, though he tapped his fingers against the armrest in quiet rhythm.

Then the first trial of the day was brought forward.

A man in disheveled robes that were once fine was dragged into the hall. Severus immediately recognized him as the urban developer from a few days ago.

The herald announced the charge: "This man stands accused of falsifying the King's authority and attempting to seize Cokeworth by deceit." Gasps rippled through the court.

The man, whose name was Ian Fawley, looked frantically around the room in hopes of some support before his eyes landed on the King. "Your Majesty! Please! It was a misunderstanding."

"A misunderstanding?" Harry's voice was as sharp. "You brandished a forged Royal seal in front of at least thirty witnesses, one of them my consort. You attempted to force families from their ancestral homes in Cokeworth, claiming the Crown had eminent domain over the territory. You didn't just lie, Fawley. You stole the King's voice."

Fawley's knees buckled. "I was... I was just following orders! I am a simple developer, Sire. I was told the land was needed for the kingdom's expansion. I was given the seal! I didn't make it!"

"I will give you one chance, and one chance only," Harry stated, "Tell this court who gave you that seal, and I may allow you to keep your tongue. Who is the architect of this 'expansion'?"

Fawley looked toward the back of the room, his chest heaving. "He said it was for the stability of the realm... he said the King was too young to understand the value of the industrial sectors..."

"Name him," Harry commanded.

Fawley's eyes bulged as they darted toward the gallery. He opened his mouth, but all that came out was a desperate rasp. "It...it was..."

He choked. His hands flew to his throat as if an invisible wire had suddenly tightened around his windpipe. Fawley let out a wet, gurgling sound as his face turned a bruised shade of purple.

"Speak!" Harry commanded, half-rising from his obsidian throne. "I gave you a royal command, Fawley. Name the architect!"

But Fawley's fingers dug into his own neck, drawing blood. His eyes rolled back, and he fell to his knees, convulsing. Every time the man tried to form the syllables of the name, his own muscles seemed to betray him. Even his own hands tightened their grip on his throat with supernatural strength.

Severus was on his feet in an instant, his wand drawn. "A silencer curse. It seems linked to this specific name. The moment he attempts to reveal his employer, the magic triggers a self-strangulation."

The court was in an uproar upon hearing Snape's statement. The Nobles scrambled back from the convulsing man as the King called for his Healers. Soon, Fawley was carded off to be looked at, and Harry called a ten-minute recess.

Harry sat back heavily in his obsidian throne. The recess had cleared the hall of nobles, leaving only Severus and a few guards lingering near the dais.

"I've never seen that curse before," Harry admitted, while shaken. "It was like his own body turned against him."

"That is because it is extremely dark magic. The Purebloods were so shocked because it is not a curse one encounters outside of the deepest, most forbidden archives. It is designed to prevent betrayal at any cost. The moment the victim attempts to speak the forbidden name, the curse forces their body to silence them. permanently, if necessary."

Harry's jaw tightened. "So someone powerful enough to bind him with that kind of magic is behind this. Someone who knew he might break under questioning."

Severus inclined his head. "Precisely. Whoever orchestrated this scheme is not only ambitious but ruthless. They anticipated failure and ensured their pawn could never reveal them. The question I have though, is why Cokeworth."

Harry frowned. "Why indeed?"

"There is nothing remotely remarkable about the place. It is old, dilapidated since the mill closed down decades ago. Only the residents too poor to move stayed behind. There's a pub, but only frequent it if you want to get shanked. From any standpoint, it is hardly a jewel worth stealing. Developers never wanted it in the past, so I am not sure why this guy was so insistent."

Harry glanced sideways at his husband. "You stayed. Even though you would have had savings from your mail‑order business."

"Call me sentimental. When I was a child, there was just something about the nearby forest. A quiet place, untouched by the grime of the town." Severus's lips curled into the faintest smirk. "I met your mother and your aunt there, you know. Gave one a flower, dropped a branch on the other."

Harry blinked. "I never met my aunt," he confessed. "And what did you mean you dropped a branch on one? What sort of hellion were you?! I thought the penguin was the highlight reel."

"Maybe it is for the best you never met your aunt. She wasn't the keenest one on Magic. Not after she got a Hogwarts rejection letter."

Harry gave him a look, but Severus only waved it off. "I will explain later."

Then he straightened in his throne as the nobles were walking back into the room, as the recess was over.

Harry cleared his throat. Even without a Sonorus charm, his voice carried across the chamber. "Ian Fawley's trial will be on hold for now. His assets will be frozen, and an auditor will be assigned to review his dealings in case such fraud was present previously. We will now move on to the next dispute. Call the next case."

The herald stepped forward, bowing low before announcing, "The next dispute is against... Cornelius Fudge."