▬▬▬▬▬ CHAPTER THREE ▬▬▬▬▬

I... underestimated your guys' love for Essie 😮 When I wrote the first two chapters, I thought FOR SURE that you guys were gonna hate/dislike her cuz of how mean she's been to Sirius and the fact that she killed a defenseless dude.

I LITERALLY THOUGHT, "they're gonna hate her 😔 but it must be done. *presses the publish button*"

BUT UR COMMENTS WERE A PLEASANT SURPRISE! I wasn't expecting to see a lot of you guys understand and/or support Essie's feelings. I really thought you guys were gonna side with Sirius since I know he's a well loved character in the fandom and in this series too (he's my fav HP character btw)

Lesson learned tho, I will never underestimate your love for Essie anymore 😂 😂 😂 (also thank you guys for loving her so much!💖)

IT WAS AS IF ESMERELDA had declared war that night. She might as well have, to be honest, since she and Sirius had become a hundred times more hostile then ever before. It was beginning to drive everyone wild with anxiety and worry—nobody could really pinpoint the exact vibes they were getting, but it felt like something dangerous was growing within the two Blacks. Honestly, everyone was just too scared to step in now.

Everyone except for Remus.

"It wasn't right of you to say that, Esmerelda," he said sternly, giving her a sharp look as she sat stiffly across from him.

She scoffed. "It wasn't as if I was wrong. What I said was true. Sirius looks at Harry as if he's James and he looks at me like I'm my dad—and apparently that's a terrible thing!"

There was nothing wrong with her father—if you excluded the body count, of course. Aside from that, he was great! He was an amazing father even when dead, he was creepily intelligent, and he was caring (to a select few people). Esmerelda couldn't see why being like him was a bad thing and she was properly offended Sirius would think so.

Remus winced. "Essie your father, well... he wasn't exactly the most nicest person."

"You rarely ever spoke to him though," she pointed out. Regulus had told her that he had only spoken to his brother's friends a handful of times, and each conversation had been short and scathing.

Remus didn't bother to ask how she knew that. "I didn't need to speak to him to know that he wasn't, ah, pleasant company. He was a Death Eater, remember? He, erm, hurt people. Many, many people." He made sure to add a little emphasis on the 'many'.

But he changed at the end, he became a better person! She wanted to tell him, but her father's request to keep his existence in the Underworld silent held her back.

"I understand that you respect your father," Remus told her gently. "But you shouldn't have said that about James and Harry. You need to go back and apologize, especially to Sirius because he's still hurt about what you did over the summer."

"You don't understand," she hissed. "Sirius was in danger then, and he still is now. I've told you haven't I? About the Fates? They cut his string and he's still not taking it seriously! I've told him a hundred times but he wouldn't listen to me! All he does is argue and I've had enough!"

He turned white at the mention of the Fates, having been told of the incident. "Sirius will be safe here, alright? He's not allowed to leave the house and there's always someone here with him. In the meanwhile, just go and apologize to your uncle. Please. Before you have to return to Hogwarts."

Esmerelda wasn't really planning on going back to school—not if her uncle continued to be stubborn.

But rather then protesting, she let out a sigh and rose to her feet. "Fine."

Remus gave her a nod of approval. "Good. I think he's in the drawing room with Harry."

Esmerelda muttered a thanks before leaving the library. Having already memorized the maze that was the ancestral Black house, her legs automatically took her to the drawing room. Her legs became heavier with every step she took, hesitance and doubt filling her mind.

She was pretty sure no simple apologies would ever earn her Sirius' forgiveness, but she could at least apologize to Harry about what she had said. Nevertheless, she was certain she and Sirius' relationship would still be strained.

She reached the door of the drawing room and began to reach out for the doorknob until she heard Harry's voice: "You're not on here!"

Sirius' voice came next, "I used to be there. My sweet old mother blasted me off after I ran away from home—Kreacher's quite fond of muttering the story under his breath."

Ah, so they were talking about the tapestry. The Black family tree was on there, dating as far back as the thirteenth century. It began in the Middle Ages, recording all siblings, spouses, descendants, and even cousins of members of the family. Esmerelda thought it was pretty cool and all, except almost everyone there blood purists and elitists.

In her opinion, the only cool guys there were her father and the people who were burnt off and disowned. From what her father told her, there was Eduardus Limette Black, taken off for an unknown reason. Then there was Iola Black for marrying a muggle, Cedrella Black for marrying the blood traitor Septimus Weasley, Phineas Black for supporting Muggle Rights, Marius Black for being a Squib, her awesome aunt Andromeda for obvious reasons, Sirius for, again, obvious reasons, and lastly Alphard Black for giving Sirius gold after he had been disowned.

"You ran away from home?" Harry asked, and she was pulled back to the conversation they were having.

"When I was about sixteen," Sirius replied. "I'd had enough."

"Where did you go?"

"Your dad's place," he answered, and she could hear the fondness in his voice. "Your grandparents were really good about it; they sort of adopted me as a second son. Yeah, I camped out at your dad's during the school holidays, and then when I was seventeen I got a place of my own, my Uncle Alphard had left me a decent bit of gold—he's been wiped off here too, that's probably why—anyway, after that I looked after myself. I was always welcome at Mr.and Mrs. Potter's for Sunday lunch, though."

"But...? Why did you...?"

"Leave?" Sirius finished bitterly. "Because I hated the whole lot of them: my parents, with their pureblood mania, convinced that to be a Black made you practically royal... my idiot brother, soft enough to believe them... that's him."

Esmerelda felt something drop to her stomach when she heard that last part.

Sirius... hated her father? No, that couldn't be it. He had never said it outright, but she was certain he loved and cared for him. He never spoke ill of him and whenever he did, it was always in a joking, brotherly manner.

Unless... he was just lying to her? Pretending to have had a decent relationship for her sake? Because of course, you couldn't just say hateful things about a deceased man in front of his orphaned daughter, that would just be fucked up...

But still, she needed to know: did Sirius actually hate her father?

"He was younger than me," Sirius continued. "And a much better son, as I was constantly reminded."

"But he died," Harry said.

"Yeah," Sirius muttered. "Stupid idiot... he joined the Death Eaters."

"Yeah, Essie told me..." Harry trailed off. "Were—were your parents Death Eaters as well?"

"No, no, but believe me, they thought Voldemort had the right idea, they were all for the purification of the Wizarding race, getting rid of Muggle-borns and having purebloods in charge. They weren't alone either, there were quite a few people, before Voldemort showed his true colors, who thought he had the right idea about things... They got cold feet when they saw what he was prepared to do to get power, though. But I bet my parents thought Regulus was a right little hero for joining up at first."

"Was he killed by an Auror?" Harry asked tentatively.

"Oh no," Sirius said. "No, he was murdered by Voldemort. Or on Voldemort's orders, more likely, I doubt Regulus was ever important enough to be killed by Voldemort in person. From what I found out after he died, he got in so far, then panicked about what he was being asked to do and tried to back out. Well, you don't just hand in your resignation to Voldemort. It's a lifetime of service or death."

THAT'S NOT TRUE! She wanted to shout. Her dad had changed! He defected from the Death Eaters and tried to go against Voldemort! He even died for it!

But she just couldn't tell him that because of her father's wishes. Regulus was ashamed of himself. He had tried to do the right thing, but had failed and ended up being tortured as punishment for all the terrible things he had done. 

And so, she bit her lip and stormed away, silently fuming as Sirius' words echoed in her head.

Because I hated the whole lot of them

My idiot brother

I doubt Regulus was ever important enough

The door to her father's old bedroom magically opened, and closed with a loud slam once she stepped inside. The whole place seemed to darken as if to match with her mood and several objects began to shake like they were mimicking her anger.

She forced everything to stop, but her eyes were glowing with fury.

She didn't go to lunch that day and didn't even bother to show up for dinner. She was so frustrated by everything going on and the only person she felt like she could vent to was Ethan, and so she did. And through her tears, she told him everything.

"He said I was becoming too much like my dad," she told him with a broken voice. "And he hates him. I heard him admit it to Harry..."

"I don't see why you continue to stay there for him," Ethan said. "If he hates you and all. Just come back home, it's safer here."

She wiped her face and stared at him pleadingly, "But Ethan—"

"—He's not even grateful for everything you've done for him!" He pointed out angrily. "And so what if you killed someone? That guy deserved to die anyways!"

"Murder is still bad in normal people's eyes," she mumbled. 

"You're uncle's naive." He sneered. "Look, he even made you cry! He obviously doesn't love you. Just ditch him and come back."

"He's still my uncle," she said in a small voice. "And the Fates—I just can't risk it. And I don't want to force him again. He already hates me enough..."

His face softened. "You're too sweet, Essie. He doesn't deserve it," and neither do I, he mentally added. Because he knew what he was doing was wrong; pushing her to come back to New York while she was in such a vulnerable state. He was pretty sure psychologists would call what he was doing 'emotional manipulation', but what was he supposed to do? Esmerelda meant everything to him, and he was determined to keep her safe no matter what.

(Just like she would do for him)

She sniffled and wiped her eyes once more. "I have to stay," she decided firmly. "Sirius could still be in danger. I shouldn't leave him..."

She could tell he was biting back a scowl, but he nodded in head in acceptance. "Fine, but just... don't focus entirely on him alright? I still don't believe it was his string that was cut. Just please watch out for yourself too."

"I will," she promised. "I'm sorry for keeping you up at night..."

He snorted. "Nah, it's fine. It's only 8 PM here. I think I'll be stuck doing an all-nighter anyways. I got a math exam."

She crinkled her nose. "Gross. I should be going to bed then, I guess. I have a court hearing to prepare for in a couple of days. For a friend."

He stilled. "A what?"

"A court hearing, but it's not for me." She reassured with a wave of her hand. "By the way, you know how sometimes the, uh... defendant or whatever has to go to court without a lawyer?"

His lips curled up in amusement. "You mean your friend's representing themselves pro se."

"Huh?"

"A Pro se is someone who's representing themselves in a legal procedure without an attorney," he explained. "And yeah, it happens sometimes. Why?"

"Is it possible for a legal system to be entirely... uh, pro se?" She was pretty sure she was using the term incorrectly but whatever.

"You mean if every defendant has to go to court without a lawyer? That'd be corrupt." He stated, then his eyes widened in realization. "Holy shit, are you telling me lawyers aren't a thing in the Wizarding world?"

"I don't know," she frowned. "But Harry doesn't have a lawyer and neither did Sirius—though that was mainly because he wasn't even given a trial..."

"I'm beginning to hate the legal system there more and more."

"Yeah," she nodded in agreement. "Anyways, I'll be going to bed soon, so good night. Love you." She said the last part through a yawn.

He smiled. "Love you too. Good luck in that court hearing."

She snorted. "Oh I'll be fine."

╞═════𖠁𐂃𖠁═════╡

Esmerelda's mood worsened and worsened until it was finally the day of Harry's hearing. Remus was at a loss. He could tell immediately that she hadn't gone up to apologize like she had promised to, but what had happened? Why had everything grown so much worse? Sirius looked moodier as ever, but Esmerelda... well, she looked like she was miserable and furious at the same time, but silent about it—and somehow that was more frightening.

Harry was at a loss as well. Esmerelda had apologized to him about what she had said during dinner and he had—awkwardly—forgiven her. But everything just spiraled after that. Esmerelda didn't seem to want anything to do with her uncle anymore and Sirius seemed like he care less about that.

It was so wrong, and nobody knew what to do. It was so bad that their growing feud was all Harry could think about even as Mr. Weasley guided him to his disciplinary hearing. Or well, mostly because Esmerelda was also coming with him.

"Why are exactly are you coming to my hearing?" He finally asked her.

She just shrugged, "Dumbledore's orders."

"Here we are," Mr. Weasley said brightly, pointing at an old red telephone box, which was missing several panes of glass and stood before a heavily graffittied wall. "After you, kids."

He opened the telephone box door.

The two stepped inside, and Mr. Weasley squeezed himself in afterwards and closed the door. He reached for the receiver.

"Mr. Weasley, I think this might be out of order too," Harry said.

"No, no, I'm sure it's fine," Mr. Weasley murmured, holding the receiver above his head and peering at the dial. "Let's see... six..." He dialed the number. "Two... four... and another four... and another two..."

As the dial whirred smoothly back into place, a cool female voice sounded inside the telephone box, not from the receiver in Mr. Weasley's hand, but as loudly and plainly as though an invisible woman were standing right beside them.

"Welcome to the Ministry of Magic. Please state your name and business."

"Er..." Mr. Weasley looked around, clearly uncertain whether he should talk into the receiver or not. He compromised by holding the mouth piece to his ear. "Arthur Weasley, Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office, here to escort Harry Potter, who has been asked to attend a disciplinary hearing and, er..." He glanced over at Esmerelda.

"Sylvia Plaskett as a guest," she said next, and for a brief moment, Harry genuinely started to believe that her name was 'Sylvia Plaskett'. He had no idea why, but it was creepy how good of a liar she was.

"Thank you," said the cool female voice. "Visitor, please take the badge and attach it to the front of your robes."

There was a click and a rattle, and something slid out of the metal chute where returned coins usually appeared. It was a silver badge that said 'Harry Potter, Disciplinary Hearing' on it. Harry took it and pinned it to front of his tee-shirt as the female voice spoke again.

"Visitor to the Ministry, you are required to submit to a search and present your wand for registration at the security desk, which is located at the far end of the Atrium."

The floor of the telephone box shuddered. They were sinking slowly into the ground. The pavement rose up past the glass windows of the telephone box until darkness closed over their heads. The telephone box worked like an elevator, sending them way down through the earth. After about a minute, a chink of golden light began to spread throughout the box.

"The Ministry of Magic wishes you a pleasant day," said the woman's voice.

The door of the telephone box sprang open and they all filed out of it.

They were standing at one end of a very long and splendid hall with a highly polished, dark wood floor. The peacock-blue ceiling was inlaid with gleaming golden symbols that were continually moving and changing like some enormous heavenly notice board. The walls on each side were paneled in shiny dark wood and had many gilded fireplaces set into them.

Every few seconds a witch or wizard would emerge from one of the left-hand fireplaces with a soft whoosh; on the right-hand side, short queues of wizards were forming before each fireplace, waiting to depart.

Halfway down the hall was a fountain. A group of golden statues, larger than life-size, stood in the middle of a circular pool. Tallest of them all was a noble-looking wizard with his wand pointing straight up in the air. Grouped around him were a beautiful witch, a centaur, a goblin, and a house-elf. The last three were all looking adoringly up at the witch and wizard.

Esmerelda inwardly snorted. The house-elf looking up adoringly was realistic but the centaur and the goblin? Those species detested humans (and with good reason too).

Glittering jets of water were flying from the ends of the two wands, the point of the centaur's arrow, the tip of the goblin's hat, and each of the house-elf's ears, so that the tinkling hiss of falling water was added to the pops and cracks of Apparators and the clatter of footsteps as hundreds of witches and wizards, most of whom were wearing glum, early-morning looks, strode toward a set of golden gates at the far end of the hall.

"Well," Esmerelda began, glancing over at the side. "I'll see you guys later. I need to meet up with Dumbledore."

"You know where to go?" Mr. Weasley asked in concern.

She nodded in reassurance. "Yeah, don't worry. Good luck, Harry." She said. And then, she was gone.

Mr. Weasley led him over to his own office to wait until it was time for the hearing. Harry appreciated the extra time he had been given and was looking forward to spending that time trying to relax himself until a timid looking wizard burst into the room.

"Oh Arthur!" He said desperately, out of breath. "Thank goodness, I didn't know what to do for the best, whether to wait here for you or not, I've just sent an owl to your home but you've obviously missed it—an urgent message came ten minutes ago—"

"—I know about the regurgitating toilet," Mr. Weasley said.

"No, no, it's not the toilet, it's the Potter boy's hearing—they've changed the time and venue—it starts at eight o'clock now and it's down in old Courtroom Ten—"

"—Down in old—but they told me—Merlin's beard—" Mr. Weasley looked at his watch, let out a yelp, and leapt from his chair. "Quick, Harry, we should have been there five minutes ago!"

All hopes of having a brief moment of relaxation were thrown out the window as Harry jumped to his feet.

Are you kidding me?! He thought, feeling a surge of anger and disbelief. He was pretty sure this had been done on purpose too.

Essie was right, he thought miserably. This is gonna be an unfair trial. How am I going to win? I'm going to get my wand snapped and I'll be expelled from Hogwarts!

Mr. Weasley stumbled to a halt outside a grimy dark door with an immense iron lock and slumped against the wall, clutching at a stitch in his chest.

"Go on," he panted, pointing his thumb at the door. "Get in there."

Harry felt even more nervous then before. "Aren't—aren't you coming with—?"

"No, no, I'm not allowed. Good luck!"

Harry's heart was beating a violent tattoo against his Adam's apple. He swallowed hard, turned the heavy iron door handle, and stepped inside the courtroom.

╞═════𖠁𐂃𖠁═════╡

At least they're not putting me in chains, Harry tried to think positively as he sat on the chair situated at the very center of the courtroom.

Ah, never mind.

The second he sat down, the chains around the chair immediately wrapped themselves around him. He wondered if they could possibly squeeze him to death, before looking up at all the faces surrounding him.

There were about fifty people there, all dressed in plum-colored robes with an elaborately worked silver W on the left-hand side of the chest and all staring down their noses at him, some with very austere expressions, others looks of frank curiosity.

The Wizengamot, he realized.

In the very middle of the front row sat the worst Minister ever: Cornelius Fudge.

"Very well," Fudge began. "The accused being present—finally—let us begin. Are you ready?" he called down the row.

Harry wondered if now was a good time to ask for a lawyer.

"Yes, sir," responded an eager Percy Weasley, the little jerk.

"Disciplinary hearing of the twelfth of August," Fudge started, and Percy began taking notes at once. "Into offenses committed under the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery and the International Statute of Secrecy by Harry James Potter, resident at number four, Privet Drive, Little Whinging, Surrey. Interrogators: Cornelius Oswald Fudge, Minister of Magic; Amelia Susan Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement; Dolores Jane Umbridge, Senior Undersecretary to the Minister."

Some lady in pink straightened up at the mention of her name, a proud look on her face. 

Fudge continued, "Court Scribe, Percy Ignatius Weasley—"

"—Witness for the defense, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore," said a quiet voice from behind Harry, who turned his head so fast he cricked his neck.

Dumbledore...! He thought, and as angry as he was with him, he couldn't deny how hopeful he became just by seeing him.

But wasn't Esmerelda supposed to be with him? Harry's eyes darted around but the older girl was nowhere to be found.

The members of the Wizengamot were muttering. All eyes were now on Dumbledore. Some looked annoyed, others slightly frightened; two elderly witches in the back row, however, raised their hands and waved in welcome.

Fudge looked the least happy with his arrival. "Ah. Dumbledore. Yes. You—er—got our—er— message that the time and—er—place of the hearing had been changed, then?"

"I must have missed it," Dumbledore said cheerfully. "However,due to a lucky mistake I arrived at the Ministry three hours early, so no harm done."

"Yes—well—I suppose we'll need another chair—I—Weasley, could you— ?"

"Not to worry, not to worry," Dumbledore said in a pleasant tone. He took out his wand, gave it a little flick, and a squashy chintz armchair appeared out of nowhere next to Harry. Dumbledore sat down, put the tips of his long fingers together, and looked at Fudge over them with an expression of polite interest.

Harry tried to catch his eye, but now he knew Dumbledore was purposely ignoring him. He was literally right there and Dumbledore refused to even look at his direction.

"Yes," Fudge started shuffling his notes. "Well, then. So. The charges. Yes."

Harry blanked out after that once Fudge began listing the charges. He knew he should be paying attention, but it was kind of hard to do when all Fudge talked about was bullshit.

He only snapped out of it once his name was mention.

"You are Harry James Potter, of number four, Privet Drive, Little Whinging, Surrey?" Fudge questioned, glaring at him over the top of his parchment.

"Yes," Harry said.

"You received an official warning from the Ministry for using illegal magic three years ago, did you not?"

"Yes, but—"

"—And yet you conjured a Patronus on the night of the second of August?" He interrupted.

"Yes," Harry said again. "But—"

"—Knowing that you are not permitted to use magic outside school while you are under the age of seventeen?"

"Yes, but—"

"—Knowing that you were in an area full of Muggles?"

"Yes, but—"

"—Fully aware that you were in close proximity to a Muggle at the time?"

For Merlin's sake, where they going to let him speak? He knew Esmerelda had warned him that this would be a kangaroo court and that the whole hearing would be rigged against him, but he thought the Ministry would at least be more professional than this. Cutting someone off? That was so juvenile.

"Yes," Harry said angrily. "But I only used it because we were—"

The witch with the monocle on Fudge's left cut across him in a booming voice. "You produced a fully fledged Patronus?"

"Yes," Harry was beginning to get tired of that word. "Because—"

"—A corporeal Patronus?"

"A—what?" He blinked.

"Your Patronus had a clearly defined form? I mean to say, it was more than vapor or smoke?" She clarified.

"Yes," He said again for probably the hundredth time. He was feeling both impatient and slightly desperate. "It's a stag, it's always a stag."

"Always?" Boomed Madam Bones. "You have produced a Patronus before now?"

"Yes," he sighed. "I've been doing it for over a year—"

"—And you are fifteen years old?"

Beginning to feel like I'm fifty now, he thought dryly.

"Yes, and—"

"—You learned this at school?"

"Yes, Professor Lupin taught me in my third year, because of the—"

"—Impressive," Madam Bones murmured, staring down at him. "A true Patronus at that age... very impressive indeed."

Some of the wizards and witches around her were muttering again;a few nodded, but others were frowning and shaking their heads.

"It's not a question of how impressive the magic was," Fudge grumbled. "In fact, the more impressive the worse it is, I would have thought, given that the boy did it in plain view of a Muggle!"

Those who had been frowning now murmured in agreement, but it was the sight of Percy's sanctimonious little nod that goaded Harry into speech.

"I did it because of the dementors!" He said loudly, before anyone could interrupt him again.

He had expected more muttering, but the silence that fell seemed to be somehow denser than before.

"Dementors?" Madam Bones echoed. "What do you mean, boy?"

"I mean there were two dementors down that alleyway and they went for me and my cousin!"

"Ah," Fudge smirked unpleasantly as he looked around at the Wizengamot, as though inviting them to share the joke. "Yes. Yes, I thought we'd be hearing something like this."

"Dementors in Little Whinging?" Madam Bones said in tones of great surprise. "I don't understand—"

"—Don't you, Amelia?" Fudge said, still smirking. "Let me explain. He's been thinking it through and decided dementors would make a very nice little cover story, very nice indeed. Muggles can't see dementors, can they, boy? Highly convenient, highly convenient... so it's just your word and no witnesses..."

"I'm not lying!" Harry said loudly, over another outbreak of muttering from the court. "There were two of them, coming from opposite ends of the alley, everything went dark and cold and my cousin felt them and ran for it—"

"—Enough, enough!" Fudge called with a very supercilious look on his face. "I'm sorry to interrupt what I'm sure would have been a very well-rehearsed story—"

Dumbledore cleared his throat.

The Wizengamot fell silent again.

"We do, in fact, have a witness to the presence of dementors in that alleyway," he said. "Other than Dudley Dursley, I mean."

So that was what Dumbledore needed Esmerelda for. But rather then feeling reassured, Harry just felt more anxious then before. Fudge hated her and he was pretty sure the rest of the Ministry felt the same, or at least, they didn't trust her. She was still 'Sirius' daughter' to them and it didn't help that the Daily Prophet's been making her look like a rabid fangirl of his. They'd never take her seriously.

Fudge's plump face seemed to slacken, as though somebody had let air out of it. He stared down at Dumbledore for a moment or two,then, with the appearance of a man pulling himself back together, said, "We haven't got time to listen to more taradiddles, I'm afraid, Dumbledore. I want this dealt with quickly—"

"—I may be wrong," Dumbledore cut in. "But I am sure that under the Wizengamot Charter of Rights, the accused has the right to present witnesses for his or her case? Isn't that the policy of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Madam Bones?"

"True," Madam Bones noted. "Perfectly true."

"Oh, very well, very well," Fudge snapped. "Where is this person?"

"I brought her with me," Dumbledore replied. "She's just outside the door. Should I—?"

"No—Weasley, you go," Fudge barked at Percy, who got up at once, hurried down the stone steps from the judge's balcony, and hastened past Dumbledore and Harry without glancing at them.

A moment later, Percy returned, but the person beside him wasn't Esmerelda.

What? Harry thought blankly, staring at the unfamiliar figure.

He had never seen this person before. She was a young woman around her twenties, with chestnut brown hair that slightly went passed her shoulders. She was dressed in a very obvious Muggle attire; a floral button-up dress with a pair of brown heels.

While she didn't look familiar, something about her felt familiar to him. She walked with a particular sort of cheerful grace that Esmerelda owned, and when she sat down beside him, she crossed her legs and sat up straight, looking up at the many faces boring down at her with wide, innocent eyes.

On the other side of him, Harry could see Dumbledore discreetly place something into his ears. Was that... ear plugs?

"Full name?" Fudge said loudly.

"Sylvia Marie Plaskett, sir," she said, and Harry felt himself go into a weird, hazy daze.

She sounded so nice...! Her voice was almost like a melody. Harry could listen to her speak for days and judging by the looks on everyone else's faces, they would agree too.

"Ah... ah... uh..." Fudge said dumbly, staring at her in awe.

"You want to know my side of the story, don't you?" She asked, and everyone, sans Dumbledore, was nodding at her like a bunch of idiots.

"Well," she sighed deeply. "I was walking around the neighborhood when I heard something odd down the alleyway between Magnolia Crescent and Wisteria Walk. When I reached the mouth of the alleyway I saw the most terrifying thing!"

Her tone became more frightened as she spoke, and Harry felt his heart beat rapidly in fear for her.

"Two dementors!" She gasped, and a couple of other members of the Wizengamot gasped with her. "Oh it was horrible! They were attacking those two boys! Harry Potter and that, uh, other guy what's-his-face!"

"Dudley," Harry said helpfully, and he was so distracted by her that he hadn't even realized that her accent became a little more American-sounding near the end.

"Yes, that guy!" She snapped her fingers. "Dudley had fallen and he couldn't get up, and brave Harry was the one to save him!"

Harry felt immensely flattered to hear that.

"Yeah," he agreed airily. "Yeah, I saved him...!"

"It was awes—I mean, absolutely brilliant!" She exclaimed, the British accent slipping up briefly for a second time. Nobody really seemed to care. "So really, Harry had a good reason for using his magic, so shouldn't you let him off for this?"

"Yes," Fudge agreed jovially. "We have been very unfair to him, haven't we?" He looked at Madam Bones expectantly.

Said woman nodded in agreement. "Those in favor of clearing the accused of all charges?" She asked.

All hands went into the air, even Harry's own, but he couldn't help it. This woman was just so persuasive.

"Cleared of all charges," Madam Bones announced.

"Excellent," Dumbledore said briskly, springing to his feet. "Well, I must be getting along. Good day to you all."

And without looking once at Harry, he swept from the dungeon.

On Harry's other side, Sylvia rose to her feet as well.

"Congrats, Harry!" She chirped. "I'll see you later, okay?" She said, patting him on the head like Esmerelda would do.

"H-huh...?" Harry uttered, feeling the blissful sensation slowly leave him. He could see the others slowly snap out of it too, confusion etched onto all their faces.

She giggled, then walked away.

"What..." Fudge muttered, looking around. "What were we doing here...?"

Harry hurried out of the room, thoroughly confused and feeling like something was missing.

When he left the courtroom, Esmerelda was already standing beside Mr. Weasley and neither Dumbledore nor Sylvia Marie Plaskett were anywhere in sight.

Harry looked around, frowning. "Where'd they go?"

"Who?" Mr. Weasley asked.

"Dumbledore and—"

"—Dumbledore had another meeting to go to, so he was in a hurry," Esmerelda explained shortly.

"And what about that witness, Ms. Plaskett? How did she even... I don't remember..." Harry murmured. "Essie, weren't you the one that was with me when the dementors attacked? You even..." He trailed off. Hadn't she somehow managed to kill one too?

She looked at him weirdly. "Uh, Harry, what are you talking about? I found you after the attack and helped you and your cousin get back home, remember?"

A sense of clarity washed over his mind. He remembered it now. A woman, Sylvia, had been walking back home from the grocery store and she was a witch—a Muggle-born witch. She had seen the attack and rushed over to them once he managed to get rid of the last dementor. That was when Esmerelda arrived and after Sylvia made sure he was alright, she allowed Esmerelda to help him and Dudley back to the house.

"Right," he confirmed. "Sorry, my mind's been a little fuzzy."

"Never mind that!" Mr. Weasley exclaimed. "The hearing how did it go?"

"Cleared," he began to smile. "Of all charges!"

╞═════𖠁𐂃𖠁═════╡

The only person who wasn't happy about Harry being cleared was Sirius. In fact, Harry being able to go to Hogwarts instead of staying with him seemed to have worsened his mood even more, as if it could get any worse.

But anyways, neither Esmerelda or Sirius have spoken to each other and it seemed that Remus was finally having enough of it.

"We're going to have a discussion whether you like it or not," Remus announced after locking them in the library. He had to drag Sirius in by the ear while Esmerelda followed miserably.

Remus crossed his arms. "Talk, right now. Hogwarts will be staring soon and you won't be seeing each other until the breaks." Unless Esmerelda decided to just Mist travel, but he would really rather prefer she follow the rules and stay within the school boundaries.

"I don't want to go back to school," Esmerelda spoke up first, and that caused a flurry of reactions from the two men.

"What?!" Sirius cried out.

Remus gawked at her. "P-pardon?"

"I don't want to go back to school," she repeated stubbornly. "Can't you see that you're in danger, Sirius? I need to stay here with you!"

"Oh not this again," Sirius rolled his eyes. Esmerelda was beginning to grow hurt by how dismissive he was with her concerns. "I told you a million times Esmerelda, nothing is going to happen to me."

"But the Fates—"

"—But the Fates nothing!" He snapped. "All they did was cut some string. How do you even know if it was mine?"

"Why would they show themselves to you if it wasn't?!" She glared.

He raised his arms, "I don't know! And frankly, I don't care! I'm already stuck in this hellhole, I don't need you smothering me even more then you already have! Nothing's happened, I don't feel any different, so I'm sure everything's fine. But back to what you said, you are going to Hogwarts, Esmerelda. No arguments."

"So you want me gone, but you want Harry to stay," she said sullenly.

Remus turned to Sirius with wide disbelieving eyes.

Sirius tensed. "I never said that."

"How you've been behaving says it all," she pointed out. "You were disappointed when Harry was cleared of all charges. Even he and his friends noticed it."

Remus pinched the bridge of his nose. "Sirius, you know Harry can't stay. He needs to go to school. Both of them do." He sent Esmerelda a stern look at that part.

But Esmerelda ignored him. "It's like you don't want me around! You're scared of me, aren't you? You think I'm turning into my dad and you hate him."

"I never said I hated him either!"

"I heard you," she said darkly. "Talking about the tapestry with Harry. 'I hate the whole lot of them', I believe is what you said. You called my dad an idiot."

"Because your father was an idiot," he hissed.

"Sirius!" Remus' widened his eyes.

"And he was a terrible person! Do you have any idea how many people he's hurt? How many people he's killed and tortured? I shouldn't have sugar-coated it to you, but I'm telling you the truth now: he—was—a—monster. And with how you've been, you're following right after his footsteps!"

"Sirius!" Remus said angrily.

"She killed someone!" Sirius finally exploded, and the whole room went silent. 

Remus looked like he had been sucker-punched in the face. "What... what are you talking about?"

"Barty Crouch Jr," Sirius said heavily. "Throat slit in St. Mungos. It was her." 

Remus was horrified. "Es-Esmerelda is this true?" 

"Yeah," she answered shamelessly. "You do realize I've killed before, right?"

"This is different!" Remus spluttered. Her nonchalance was even more horrifying. "This was—he was already defenseless! His soul was sucked, he couldn't have done anything! You didn't have to—" 

"—I don't understand why you want to protect a Death Eater so much," Esmerelda interrupted in a cutting voice. "So he got his soul sucked, is that supposed to make me feel bad for him? Make me forget that he hasn't tried to kill me—pitifully—in Hogwarts or that he tried to get Harry killed by Voldemort? You work in an organization dedicated to taking down Voldemort and his supporters and you're reacting like this?"

"Our aim is to put them under arrest," Remus told her. "Not kill them. That only happens in self-defense. We don't murder people Esmerelda." 

"You're in the middle of war," she said coldly. "And from what I've experienced, soldiers in war kill each other. That's how a war works."  

Both men winced at the reminder that she was a child soldier. 

She turned to Sirius, her frown making her seem older. "Your naivety only shows how much protection you really need." 

Sirius' voice began to shake. "You... you call this protecting me? You—"

"—Sirius, that's enough," Remus interrupted him. He ran a hand through his hair, clearly stressed. "Merlin this was a bad idea... We'll end the conversation here. Essie, you should..."

"Get ready for Hogwarts," she finished dully. "Yeah, I know. I'll be going Diagon Alley to buy my things."

Looks like I'll be going after all, she thought bitterly.

Remus looked uncertain. "I can go with you—"

"—No," she shook her head. "Don't bother. Unlike someone, I don't need a babysitter."

And then she disappeared in a poof of green mist.

— author's note —

Guuuuuuuuuys 😭 😭 😭 I hate my dumb ass self so much omfg

This entire fucking time... children of Hecate... apparently have the ability to shadow travel... 

I read in it in Blood of Olympus when Reyna, Nico, Hedge, meet up with Hylla and the book states:

"Hylla shrugged. 'Shadow-travel is magic. Several of my followers are daughters of Hecate. It was a simple enough matter for them to pull you off course, especially since you and I share a connection.'"

It's common for kids of Hecate to be able to shadow travel?!?!?! I DIDN'T KNOW THAT 😭 😭 😭

I coulda just had Essie be a shadow traveler instead of a Mist traveler (which was more rare in demigods). Melting into the shadows is so much cooler then just *poof! you're gone!* 😭 Oh my fucking god, I can't believe I missed that, ugh. Fine. Whatever. I'll just let Alabaster be a shadow traveler instead... 

btw next chapter MIGHT be another fun facts thing so have fun with that!