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HP: Bloodraven Chapter 228 - The Trial and the Turmoil (I)
🕑 Added 2025-08-14 03:43:46 +0000 UTCWhen December arrived, the last colors of autumn were all but gone, and a thin layer of snow dusted the Hogwarts grounds. The air was sharp and biting, each breath visible in the cold, and the wind whispered through the bare branches of the Forbidden Forest—a quiet that confirmed winter had fully settled in.
Inside the castle, however, the school’s magic kept the halls pleasantly warm, and the corridors snug and alive with quiet energy. Past two o’clock was usually the hour for upper-grade classes, and at this moment, the sixth-year Muggle Science classroom was filled with low murmurs as its occupants stared intently at a magical diagram hovering beside their professor.
The focus of today’s lesson was how the smallest parts of the body function, and Maverick stood at the front, explaining while gesturing toward the magical construct he had created for emphasis—a moving diagram of a single epithelial cell, its nucleus, mitochondria, and other components slowly rotating in midair for the students to observe.
The Muggle Science class was not just about physics at work but covered all three major branches of science—physics, chemistry, and biology. Maverick’s objective for the course was to ensure the students understood how their world operated without magic, and biology was a cornerstone of that understanding, revealing the intricate systems that keep all living things alive, magical or non-magical alike.
“…they are the foundation of all living things,” Maverick explained, pointing to the diagram. “Think of them as tiny house-elves in the kitchen, each working tirelessly to make sure you never go hungry.”
Students leaned in, some raising their hands with questions, while others whispered among themselves about the invisible worlds inside their bodies.
When the bell rang to mark the end of class, it had been another enlightening session for the students, one that introduced entirely new ideas and changed the way they saw the world.
Of course, it wasn’t just the material that left them satisfied at the end of every lesson—it was also how Maverick brought the class to life. Otherwise, he was sure half of them would have been snoozing before even reaching the halfway point.
With the third class of the day finished, Maverick waited a moment as the students filed out, and soon the classroom filled again—this time with their seniors, the NEWT students of the same subject.
For this class, what Maverick taught was slightly more advanced, but still far from university level. While fifth-year Muggle Science class covered mostly middle-school material, the seventh-year class included a mix of middle-school knowledge and a bit of high-school level knowledge as well.
The purpose wasn’t to turn them into scientists, but to give them a solid understanding of the world—basically, Muggle Logic. For example, fire needs oxygen as well, and not just a flick of Incendio. In Maverick’s opinion, middle-school level science explains that perfectly, and it was enough to make the point.
“Now, I don’t want you stressing over the midterms… so I’ve prepared a little something for you.” With the lecture for this class wrapped up as well, and just before the bell, Maverick lifted the stack of papers on his desk and passed one to each student’s desk.
“These are multiple-choice questions for homework,” he added, leaning casually against the desk as the students began skimming their contents. “Get the answers right, and you’ll have no problem acing the test.”
“Professor, are these the midterm papers?”
“No, Miss Shafeeq. If they were, there’d be no point in the exams, right?” Maverick replied, glancing at the little witch at the front who looked way too excited. Then, gesturing lightly toward the paper on her hand, he added, “its just for reference. Besides the exams arnt going to be all multiple choice.”
He stepped forward, smiled at her, and then scanned the room—just in time for the bell to ring.
“Right… that’s it for today. Have a nice weekend.”
With that, the last class of the first week was over, and after answering some questions from a few students who stayed behind, he left the classroom and strode straight toward his office.
---
"Bloody hell, Harry. What the heck do you think is wrong with that greasy-haired bat today? Fifteen points—he deducted fifteen points from us just in that one class!"
The Gryffindor trio also had just finished their last class for the day and were making their way toward the common room, their conversation circling back to the disaster that was Potions.
“Isn’t that how he always treats me?” Harry muttered, eyes fixed ahead. He didn’t have to say he was annoyed—his face said it all. Snape had indeed yanked fifteen points from Gryffindor, and it was because of none other than Harry himself, who had been unable to answer his ridiculous trick questions.
"I don’t know, Harry… he seems especially not in the best mood today—like, really mad at you for some reason," Hermione said thoughtfully, keeping pace on his right.
“Forget it. I’d rather talk about something else...”
"Hmm... speaking of, have you seen yesterday’s newspaper?" asked Hermione again, glancing sideways.
"About Sirius Black? Good riddance. I think he’s already been caught, right? That’s what I heard from some of the seventh-years," Ron spoke up before Harry could answer.
Harry shook his head. “I read it. It didn’t say he’s been caught... just that they think they know where he is. The Aurors might get him soon.”
“There’s someone in our year who might know more,” Hermione said, nodding as a thought occurred to her. “Daphne Greengrass... it’s her father who gave the interview for the article. Should we ask her?”
But before Harry could answer, Hermione’s eyes lit up. Up ahead, she saw her favorite professor heading in their direction, so without a second thought, she broke into a quick jog.
He would definitely know more than Daphne Greengrass, she thought.
“Professor! Can we talk?”
The trio came to a stop in front of Maverick, unintentionally blocking his path.
He gave a long-suffering sigh.
“What is it?”
“It’s about yesterday’s newspaper—Sirius Black. We were wondering… do you know anything more about what’s going on? Have the Aurors caught him? And what does Lord Greengrass mean by this new evidence that might change everything everyone thinks they know about the criminal?”
Little Miss Know-It-All fired off three questions in one breath.
“And what does that have to do with you three?” Maverick raised an eyebrow. “You do realize your midterms are just a week away, right?”
“Professor, if you know something, please tell us. Sirius Black is the reason my parents died—”
“Your parents were murdered by the Dark Lord, Harry,” Maverick cut him off. He sighed inwardly, but then, thinking he was going to tell the kid some of the truths about Black before the trial anyway, he softened his tone and continued, “I do know something about the fugitive. Come… follow me to my office.”
The trio agreed hastily, and after a few corners and some stairs, they soon found themselves sitting in Maverick’s office.
“Tea?”
“Yes, please.” Hermione bobbed her head, and Maverick summoned three steaming cups of scented tea for them.
“Right, about Sirius Black…” Maverick went straight to the point. “First, I need you three to promise not to leak a word to anyone without my permission.” His eyes were stern as he leaned back and clasped his hands.
“We will,” the trio said in unison, their expressions turning serious too.
Maverick didn’t doubt them, even if they were only teenagers. Until now, anything he asked them not to share, they hadn’t. Especially Harry—somethings, he even kept from his own friends because he was told not to speak about them.
Letting out a sigh, Maverick began explaining the situation with Sirius Black, carefully leaving out some details: how he was caught, the interrogation, and even the true identity of a certain lost pet.
What he told them was basically that new evidence had reached the Wizengamot suggesting that Sirius Black might very well be innocent—and that someone else was the real culprit that betrayed Harry’s parents, leading to their deaths.
Needless to say, Harry was shocked—and even more confused.
“What evidence?” he blurted out the moment Maverick finished.
“Peter Pettigrew. Apparently, he was the one who betrayed your parents and has been faking his death until now. We’ll know more at the hearing.”
“Trial? So he’s really been caught?” Hermione asked.
“No. It’s more complicated. But there will indeed be a trial, and you’ll just have to read about it afterward to understand… What you need to know is that Sirius Black never received a proper trial—any trial at all—twelve years ago. He was simply caught and locked away without a word to anyone. Now, the Wizengamot wants to set things right...”
He explained, keeping everything as simple as possible. Although he had given them a watered-down version of events, he didn’t plan to reveal all the details.
If Maverick didn’t have plans for them in the future, he wouldn’t even be explaining anything, despite the case’s direct connection to Harry. But he did need to cultivate thugs—cough, future leaders—and these three—well, two and a half—were prime candidates.
A moment of silence fell over the room as the trio digested his revelations, and then—
“Professor… is—is everything you said true?” Harry asked after a while.
Hermione and Ron glanced at their friend with sympathy, each clasping a hand over Harry’s. “We’re with you,” they didn’t say aloud, but Harry knew, glancing at them, that was exactly what they meant.
What a powerful bond, Maverick thought. Teenagers or not, they truly were an iconic trio.
“Very likely. The trial should be held after Christmas. This is a secret, so again—do not speak a word about it,” Maverick warned.
“Can we also attend?” Harry asked hopefully.
Maverick nodded. In fact, he had planned to bring Harry from the start.
“What about us? Professor, we’d like to go too,” Hermione asked just as hopefully.
Maverick shook his head firmly. “As Harry said, he has a direct connection to the case, so he can attend. Plus, he’s the heir to House Potter and will inherit the lordship once he comes of age. The Wizengamot isn’t like Muggle courtrooms, so you two will have to read about it in the news—or Harry can tell you the story afterward.”
Begrudgingly, the duo could only nod.
“I’ll tell you all about it. No worries,” Harry said, glancing left and right.
“Right then… off you go. Don’t think about the case for now. Focus on your midterms, and remember—don’t tell anyone.”
Maverick dismissed them to their common rooms. Once they left, he leaned back in his chair, reflecting on everything that had happened this week.
First, Lord Greengrass had given an interview to the Daily Prophet to prepare the public for the ruckus that was coming in the following weeks. One reason was to prevent Fudge from brushing the matter under the rug, and the second was that it would make arranging a trial for Black easier.
Of course, Fudge would be all over Jameson for going to the press—but that was all he could do. He couldn’t lock him up or force him to reveal anything because Jameson was a political faction leader, and the upper echelons of British politics already knew he was backed by Maverick.
Basically, Jameson’s story would be that Sirius Black had contacted him, wanting to turn himself in—but only if he were guaranteed a fair trial. With that argument, and coupled with his influence in the Wizengamot, Jameson would then arrange a trial for Black, and he would turn himself in on the day of the trial, bringing Peter Pettigrew along as well. And then...
The plan was going smoothly according to the script, and Maverick was quite pleased with how Jameson was handling everything without needing his interference. But for now, he still had two grades’ exams to prepare.
Sigh...
And with that thought, he let out a long exhale, straightened himself, and got back to work.
Comments
Radhin~
TFTC!!!
Dark_pheonix
Thanks for the chapter!
