A shutter of doors startled her, and she blinked up to find Blaise being led into the courtroom in his Azkaban robes. His face was blank and his jaw set as the murmuring grew. He was led to a chair just in front of Shrapley, who tipped his head as if greeting a business associate at lunch.

The doors opened a moment later, and the courtroom rose for President Tiberius Ogden. Of the five judges, he was chosen to preside over the court. His alternate would vote for Great Britain.

It was another reason for Hermione to be anxious. Without Ogden, she had little feel for any of the judges' political leanings.

The court opened with a sworn oath from the panel of judges. All oaths and testimony would be performed without the use of magical influence, the Council had ruled. "To protect witnesses and defendants from coercive tactics," the Council had written, "and to prevent unexpected obstacles to the judges' deliberations."

After, the Italian Prosecutor stood.

He outlined Blaise Zabini's crimes against peace and humanity through his "premeditated" assistance to the Great Order, resulting in the seizure of the Italian government, the murder of dozens of officials, and the loss of thousands of lives. He spoke of his participation in human trafficking and slavery. Hermione watched Blaise for a reaction, but he was as still as stone.

Shrapley went next, his eyes sharp and his speech slow. By the time he finished outlining his key evidence that Blaise's actions were based on an imminent threat to himself and his mother, Hermione could hear nothing but the scratching of reporters' quills.

The Prosecution brought in their witnesses over the next two days. A few appeared in person, but the rest submitted statements. The witness affidavits seemed to irritate Shrapley the most, judging by the way he rolled his shoulders. But Blaise was stoic through it all, his face impassive as the Prosecution read out statement after statement from witnesses claiming that he'd aided and abetted the Death Eaters in the torture, rape, and murder of Italian citizens.

On the second day, Luca Bianchi testified to Blaise's visit to Italy last summer, when he assisted in the transition of power to Constantine Romano. Shrapley cross-examined with only two questions — "What was your understanding of the relationship between the Bravieri and Zabini family before 10th July 1998?" and "Were you aware of the executions of the Mancini and Lombardi families on 11th July for failing to endorse Romano?" — both of which made the put-together Bianchi stutter over his words.

Giuliana Bravieri took the stand that afternoon. The Prosecution had subpoenaed her a week and a half ago, while Shrapley's motion was still languishing in the Secretariat's office. Shrapley's request to interview her had been declined within hours. The letter had been signed by Matteo Bravieri, Giuliana's cousin and new legal guardian.

When she entered the courtroom, Giuliana was thin and wan in her expensive dress robes. She burst into tears as soon as she caught sight of Blaise in cuffs and prison robes. President Ogden rapped his gavel for order as the reporters buzzed like crickets in the press seats.