THE DAY THAT LEO HAD BEEN dreading most, had finally come. It made him forget, momentarily, about everything else. Riddle Manor, the Dark Mark, everything. The day of Elladora's trial came early, causing him to be awake long before he even had to be at the ministry. Before the sun even began to rise. He had been up for hours pacing and he changed his shirt at least three times before he settled for a light blue shirt that he'd wear under his dark cloak.

He hadn't heard anything from anyone who would be there, he figured that was to be expected. He didn't even get a letter from his mother, pleading him to try and help Ella. Maybe she had finally realized that Leo wasn't about to do anything for Ella after she nearly killed him...but he had expected to get some sort of plea from her at the very least...

Just when the sky began to lighten as the sun began to rise, Leo made his way out of his apartment and to the red phone booth that he had been accustomed to using. He hesitated before pressing the right numbers to go to the Ministry, he hoped the trial was cancelled. It wasn't the fact that it was his sister, not really. He didn't care if she was going to be sent to Azkaban, in all honesty. What he cared about was watching his families faces' when it was his turn to speak in front of them, including Ella. And she was unpredictable already, he couldn't imagine her being any different while on trial.

"Morning, Leo,"

The corridor leading into the ministry wasn't all that busy, so he stopped in his tracks and turned to see who greeted him. It burnt some time for him, and it meant that he wouldn't be in the courtroom as soon.

"Morning, Arthur." Leo replied as Arthur Weasley caught up with him. But unlike Leo, he didn't stop walking, so Leo had to keep walking. He had hoped the two of them would just chat right there...

"You're here early," Arthur stated, "for the trial, I suppose?"

Leo nodded, "They're having me speak first," he replied, "then I'll be out of here." he said, smiling a bit, "Thankfully."

Arthur nodded a bit, "I can't imagine it's a very exciting feeling, having to testify against your sister. Bittersweet?"

"No, not really." Leo replied, "At least not because it's my sister's trial. A bit because my family will be there."

Arthur gave him a knowing look, as if he understood. "I'm sure it will go smooth, and then it'll be over with."

"I hope so," Leo stated, "in all honesty I hope it will be the last time I have to deal with my sister." he confessed, which was true. After she tried to kill him at the World Cup, he couldn't care less about what happened to her. He wanted nothing to do with her, and if his family was genuinely supporting her over him, he was happy to be done with all of them.

"We all have those family members." Arthur admitted, "Those we can do without," he added as they approached the fountain and statue in the the Ministry. "this is where I'll have to say goodbye, and good luck."

"Thank you, Arthur." Leo replied, offering him a small smile, "Have a nice day."

"You as well, Leo. At least a nice day after your testimony."

Leo made his way to the elevators, and reluctantly stepped into one that brought him to the tenth floor where Leo found Courtroom number Nine. Smaller in comparison to the others at the Ministry. And there were already witches and wizards making their way into the room, whispering to one another. And when they saw Leo walking up behind them, some of them offered him reassuring smiles, while others looked at him in disbelief. Whether they liked his sister, he had no idea. He figured their looks were because they were surprised a brother would actually testify against his own sister.

"Ah, Mr. Black," a tall, thin man was a small black mustache greeted him from the highest seat in the courtroom as Leo went to take a seat. The seats around him were already taken by witches and wizards in dark robes and hats to match who were waiting for the trial to begin. Leo offered the man a small wave as he glanced around, looking him over, and took a moment to recognize him as Barty Crouch Senior. The same wizard who had put away multiple death eaters during the first war. "we will beginning shortly." he informed Leo.

Leo nodded.

Leo felt like he had knots in his stomach, knots that moved all the way up his throat. As if he would be sick. They only worsened when he saw Atticus, Alyona, and his mother sitting in the back row. Probably hoping to stay out of everyones' main line of vision. Leo made sure he sat out of theirs too, in fact he didn't even try to make eye contact with them as he made his way across the courtroom to a practically empty bench.

Once he was seated, Leo stayed bent over with his elbows on his knees. Partially just to avoid everyones eyes, but also because he felt like he was going to be sick. He spent his time waiting counting cracks in the tile that was right under his nose. One, two, three...five...

Leo was snapped out of his thoughts abruptly by Crouch bringing everyone to his attention by banging on his desk in front of him. It made Leo's heart drop, there was no turning back now. He couldn't escape this even if he wanted to, or if he could even think of a way to get out of it all...

"We will now begin," he announced, before motioning to the two Auror's that stood waiting in the center of the room where Elladora would be shortly. "please bring in the accused."

Leo scoffed a little without even trying. Accused? There was already enough proof to call her more than simply the accused.

After a few moments the courtroom was filled with bangs and the sound of metal rattling as the floor slit open in the center of the room and a metal cage began to rise out of the hole. As it did, the sound of a woman gasping and letting out a shrill cry filled the courtroom. Everyone, including Leo, looked towards the back row where the other Blacks' were seated. Marianne Black her hand over her mouth to muffle herself, but she was still visibly already weeping. And everyone saw it, and it wasn't going to stop anytime soon while Elladora was still in the cage the was now positioned in the middle of the room for everyone to see.

Elladora was seated up right, and had an Azkaban uniform on. Her usually well kept hair was greasy and hung loosely over her shoulders. She stared straight ahead at Crouch, almost unfazed by her position.

"Elladora Black, you are charged attempted torture and murder of Ministry Official, Auror Leo Black. You are charging with aiding other death eaters in the vandalism at the World Cup, as well as the torture of various other witches and wizards present at the World Cup. How do you plea?" Crouch rattled off the charges as if it was nothing, to him it probably wasn't. He had gone over charges just like it for countless other trials. Leo had heard charges just like them...but it felt different this time...

Everyone watched Elladora closely, waiting for her to speak. Or for some type of reaction at the very least. But one didn't come, not at all. Instead, Ella didn't budge from the position she was sitting in. She kept her eyes trained forward on Crouch. Crouch even looked at her, puzzled by her lack of response.

"Miss Black?"

Nothing.

"Very well," Crouch began, "let us begin with the first witness for the Ministry, Auror Leo Black."

The courtroom was silent, and for a moment nobody moved but then everyone moved at the same time. Or at least that was what it felt like when Leo began to feel eyes land on him. Leo couldn't bring himself to move, at least not for a moment. He felt like his knee's were numb, as if they'd collapse if he even tried to stand up.

The air felt muggy all of a sudden as Leo stood to his feet.

"Mr. Black, can you confirm your name and position at the Ministry?"

"Leo Adolphus Black, Auror under Head Auror Rufus Scrimgeour."

"Can you explain your relationship with the accused?"

Leo's mouth went dry. "She's my older," he took a brief pause, his eyes darting from Crouch, to his family— which sat with their eyes glued on Leo, and then to Elladora who looked towards him with an eyebrow raised sharply and almost a smirk dancing onto her face. "estranged sister."

"And can you recall the events of the twenty-second of August, at this past Quidditch World Cup?"

Leo took a deep breath, "Myself and the rest of my team were to be a part of security on the campgrounds when various groups began attacking the grounds. Myself and my partner, Lydia Corner ended up getting separated when I encountered my sister." he explained simply, his mouth beginning to grow less dry when he remember the excruciating pain from her curse. Whatever sentencing she was going to get, she deserved, "When we did, she attempted to kill me with a spell that she created."

"And at what point did you apprehend her?" a witch questioned from a few rows behind Crouch.

"After me and Corner were separated, I was able to stun my sister so we could bring her in." Leo said plainly, choosing to leave out the fact that he had willingly left Lydia even though he was hurt and should have left like they are supposed to.

Crouch gave a small nod, "Thank you, Mr. Black, you may leave the courtroom if you wish."

If you wish? That was barely up for debate, Leo swift made his way across the courtroom, to the exit. His eyes avoided looking to Crouch, his family, or Elladora. But as he moved across the room, he felt eyes on him. And he knew they didn't just belong to the nosey witches and wizards who decided to come to the trial— but the strongest glares he could feel were undoubtedly from his mother and brother. Elladora was probably simply amused that Leo had to turn himself into public enemy number one within his own family...

AUTHORS NOTE;

It feels soooo good to be writing new content for Leo :')

I hope you guys enjoyed it! Please don't forget to let me know what you think!

Stay Classy!

* edited 2/20/21 *