|
|
Post by Griselda Marchbanks on Oct 13, 2011 9:15:17 GMT
"Yes, Miss Fuilteach, go on." Griselda tried to sound at the same time encouraging and stern.
Apparently the poor creature wasn't fit to be questioned, maybe a longer stay in St Mungos would have prepared her better for the trial than the cell in the subterranean parts of the Ministry.
Also, Griselda couldn't help worry about Sanguini. She had met him a few times on the occasion of other inter-species trials and he had always been cold and collected, strict but fair according to vampire laws. She had never experienced him so emotionally affected, if getting paler than white was a sign for emotion in vampires.
"Let's hope the other vampires can help keeping a clear structure in the whole affair.", she thought.
|
|
|
|
Post by Ophelia Fuilteach on Oct 13, 2011 23:10:41 GMT
Ophelia raised her head, her expression no longer unfocused and fearful, but smirking and almost relaxed. Her eyes burned red, a ghastly sight in her pale, sunken features.
"Yesss..." she hissed. "Went home to see Daddy dearest and that ill-fated fop she called her brother. Then she made a little trip back home to Hogsmeade, poor little dear that she was. But she didn't stop at home, oh no! She went a-lurking and a-creeping and she found a little lamb with a pretty little throat. She wept and wailed and cried so, but she did what I wanted in the end."
She looked directly at Griselda and smiled wickedly. "Ask me something else. Ophelia doesn't remember what happened all that well, but I do."
|
|
|
|
Post by Griselda Marchbanks on Oct 14, 2011 9:45:15 GMT
Griselda was disgusted be the macabre smile that distorted Ophelia's face. Trying to keep calm she continued.
"Could you be more precise about your actions, please? Where exactly did you go, and what did you see?", she asked the creature who didn't seem neither human nor vampire at this moment.
The tiny doctor looked apparently irritated at the defendant, too, and Griselda took this as cue to shoot her an inviting glance. It didn't matter to her who answered provided that the happenings would become more transparent.
|
|
|
|
Post by Dottore Giulietta de Medici on Oct 14, 2011 19:26:52 GMT
Giulietta's eyes widened in horror when she heard the change in Ophelia's voice. So the potion had worn off completely, then? Damn... she had hoped it would last substantially longer, and legal restrictions meant she could not administer any potion during the trial, because it could be argued that the accused was given Veritaserum, or worse.
"Hush, Ophelia, let me speak to the wizards," the tiny doctor hissed.
She held up her hand and smiled politely at Griselda. "Madam Marchbanks, if I may... I believe it would be prudent for me to point out now that my patient is suffering from a malady known as 'disociative identity disorder', or more commonly referred to as 'split personalities'. The current personality is one she refers to as 'Sickness', and it is a spiteful, hateful creature that lies and seeks to cause mischief and mayhem at every turn. I have documentation I can submit as evidence to verify this claim," Giulietta said, choosing her words carefully.
"Perhaps it would be wiser to ask me for testimony of what happened that night? I can give you the true account, as it was given to me by Miss Fuilteach's father, and her brother prior to his death. I can also tell you what truth I could glean from Miss Fuilteach's account of what happened."
|
|
|
|
Post by Rufus Scrimgeour on Oct 15, 2011 13:20:32 GMT
*He listened to what was being said closely. He had been warned of Ophelia's condition by the various Aurors who had dealt with her in her incarceration.*
*He gave a small nod in response to Dottores request.*
I think that will be wise.
|
|
|
|
Post by Cornelius Fudge on Oct 16, 2011 1:47:29 GMT
Oh, balderdash!
*Suddenly exclaims, his face turning red with anger*
Even for Muggle criminals, that excuse is used ad nauseum! I don't believe it should be entertained as the vampire's Defence! For all we know, ladies and gentlewizards, Miss Fuilteach's condition is merely put on, and doubtless as soon as she receives a favourable sentence, she will stage a remarkable recovery. I want to see proof, little one, proof that she is as incapacitated as you claim she is. Merlin's beard, she seemed perfectly capable of speech mere moments ago!
|
|
|
|
Post by Lord Sanguini Fuilteach on Oct 16, 2011 1:49:30 GMT
*Sanguini gave a low growl at Cornelius Fudge's words. The man appeared to have a severe prejudice against vampires, and was acting as though Ophelia had chosen to suffer from this malady. How dare he!*
*His posture changed from anxious to barely restrained rage, and he seemed poised to pounce at any given second*
|
|
|
|
Post by Jadrin G. on Oct 16, 2011 1:57:57 GMT
Jadrin nearly scoffed. The man must be blind to want proof, what with Ophelia visibly changing before him, sounding and even looking different to the husk of a girl who had first entered the court. Then, recognising the warning signals, placed a strong white hand on Sanguini's shoulder, preventing him from possibly attacking the foolish wizard. He hissed under his breath, barely loud enough for the other vampire to hear, "Peace, Sanguini. Let me deal with this."
He stood up, keeping his hand on Sanguini's shoulder, and arranged his features in an expression of offended dignity. "I really must protest this outrageous accusation, and scandalous treatment of the good Dottore! Referring to a doctor of such international renown as "little one" is insulting in the extreme, and is clearly a reference to her apparent youth. Giulietta de Medici is centuries older than you, Mister Fudge, and the Pale Court will not take kindly to such insults on one of our number who has been nothing but co-operative during this trial."
He stared intensely at Fudge, and added calmly, "However... should Mister Fudge choose to apologise to the good doctor, I will be pleased to accept his apology and continue promptly with the trial."
|
|
|
|
Post by Dottore Giulietta de Medici on Oct 16, 2011 2:09:38 GMT
"Thank you very much, Minister," Giulietta said. Before she could begin the detailed account of what had happened that night, she was interrupted. She pursed her lips at Fudge's outburst. "Your objections are noted, Mister Fudge... but I rather feel that this is a personal viewpoint, as opposed to a learned one. I have Miss Fuilteach's admission papers to my asylum, should you wish to view proof with your own eyes?" She held out a long sheet of parchment to him, headed with the name of the Carmilla LeFanu Asylum. "That is my own written account, on record at the asylum, and verified by several of my colleagues. I need hardly remind you that my own credentials are respected even by wizarding healers in this country. And it may help you overcome your bias, Mister Fudge, if I inform you that madness is a dreadful affliction suffered by many half vampires. It is a matter of genetics and psychology, and there have been several papers published on the phenomenon. It is known to our kind as Tepes Syndrome, and it is the primary reason we discourage mortal and vampire unions. The resulting half human children have a seventy percent increased risk of developing severe mental health problems. Miss Fuilteach's condition is rare among mortals, but alas, distressingly common among half vampire offspring." She bowed her head respectfully to Jadrin. "Thank you, Jadrin, but that is hardly necessary. Mister Fudge merely is not in possession of all the facts. Indeed, his words were hastily chosen, but we must remember... to our kind, he is little more than a child, and we must be patient." Her words were polite and dignified, and concealed just how condescending she really was being to Cornelius Fudge. "Now... if I may continue uninterrupted this time?" |
|
|
|
Post by Ophelia Fuilteach on Oct 16, 2011 2:10:47 GMT
Sickness giggled unpleasantly. "Fudge by name, fudge for brains!" she crowed, breaking into a hysterical shriek of laughter. "But if dear old Fudgekins wants me to talk, then talk I shall..."
She smirked at the tiny blonde doctor, and said in a simpering sweet voice, "Unless, of course, the cute ickle doctor wishes me to be seen, and not heard?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Cornelius Fudge on Oct 16, 2011 2:13:42 GMT
*Snatches the parchment from Giulietta, and reads it, the colour leeching from his face with every word she speaks, and every word he reads*
Er... Perhaps I was a bit hasty...
*Blanches at the sight of the Pale Court representative casually restraining Lord Fuilteach, and the expression of rage on Sanguini's face*
Yes, of course. My humblest apologies, Doctor. I meant no offence!
|
|
|
|
Post by Griselda Marchbanks on Oct 16, 2011 8:50:43 GMT
Griselda exchanged a fatalistic glance with Rufus, who had made an approving noise at Fudge's apologetic mumbles.
She had always wondered how Cornelius had gotten the position he now held. Doubtlessly, he must have bribed or imperiused a great number of wizards.
"Thank you, Mr.. eh.. Jadrin." She was glad for the intervention. "Well", she continued, "now we have this out of the way, we can possibly continue. - Dottor de Medici, would you be so kind to explain the occurrences on said evening?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Elric Marwood on Oct 16, 2011 18:35:56 GMT
*Between the fast paced exchange between Fudge and the vampires, he had hoped to get in a word of support for the accused, but fortunately the issue had been resolved by the clearly resourceful doctor. He had missed his chance this time, but the trial had only just begun. He was sure that he would be able to make a contribution later.*
|
|
|
|
Post by Severus Snape on Oct 16, 2011 19:30:45 GMT
He eyed the heavy iron-bolted doors in front of him and allowed a strained sigh to pass his pursed lips. As a witness to this case, he had a duty and duty was something Snape valued and did well albeit some were more preferable than others. This was the less preferable. It was not a time he enjoyed thinking back to nor did he care for the vampire-girl - on the surface of it, well, she was merely a student - only a passing infatuation for her had kept his interests invested in her.
Still, he felt some responsibility.
He passed through the doors, they creaked shut in the silence - there seemed to be a pause of proceedings. He made no expression, nor looked up, nor seem affected by gaze upon him by others as he took a seat on the end, in a row that was unoccupied. Typically he preferred the isolation. He looked coolly at the girl in the cage and then at Scrimgeour, listening.
|
|
|
|
Post by Ophelia Fuilteach on Oct 18, 2011 22:35:34 GMT
Sickness, for Sickness she was, listened scornfully to the words bandied about. Words, words, words! She was sick of words. Meaningless, hollow things. Deeds spoke louder than words, and no matter how much the frozen child before her pontificated about Ophelia's half blood dooming her to mental torment, Sickness knew it did not change the fact that Ophelia had murdered people.
But then she looked up, and saw Snape enter the courtroom. The sight of him after so long made her hiss like a startled cat. Had her hands not been bound, she would have started clawing at the bars. "Look what the kneazle dragged in!" she said, and gave him a crazed smile. She had no feelings for the man beyond revulsion. For Sickness, he had been a means to an end, to show Ophelia that love made her weak, and she would be stronger and more ruthless without it to soften her heart. For Ophelia, however, trapped within her own mind, he was torment and shame, an embarrassing mistake from her past that she couldn't seem to escape.
|
|
