Discussed with Ames (Gabrielle) beforehand. Relates to Howl Softly, There is No Moon which is set on the same day.

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Johann checked the time yet again. A quill twisted back and forth between his fingertips, splattering deep blue ink across the bottom of the parchment he was writing on. Where he'd normally rattle off a page of translation with relative ease, today it wasn't constipated… There was much on his mind, and he wasn't the one facing the law.

It was the Tuesday before Christmas, and down in the bowels of the Ministry, in the tiered, imposing court rooms, one of his best friends was due to hear the crimson-robed Wizengamot's decision over the appeal. He'd watched Gabrielle leave earlier, with others who had the same jury responsibility, heading off to sit. It had tied a knot in his stomach over it all.

Johann hadn't been able to talk to Hannah properly about her and Knox Greyfriar being arrested for their transformation. Despite his curiosity, and their friendship, every time he'd gone to speak about it, his voice had dried up, deciding that it would cause her pain, that she wouldn't like him to ask. That it was private. There'd been half a dozen moments like it, where all he wanted to utter was It'll be alright, they have to see sense or whatever happens I'll still be here but it never came.

The Department milled around him, going about its business, the same familiar voices and sounds. Quite a few employees were taking the days off after Christmas, and those with children seemed to have already dwindled with Hogwarts finishing for the winter break. Some days their milling would distract him, others he'd be lost in his work for hours ignoring calls of his name. Today his eyes stared at them all but hardly saw them, his mind preoccupied.

Johann had elected to continue working where he could, and had even mildly volunteered himself to be on call, though he didn't anticipate he'd be needed to show Dutch wizards around potential houses like the times he'd been called upon at odd hours before. He'd fill evenings at home with Colin, or carrying out the research with Landis at Hasard Hall. Then Christmas Day with the Bombays, promised at one of those moments where he'd been unable to utter that reassurance before the impending court date, and Boxing Day with Colin, catching up on Doctor Who.

At some point in the time Gabrielle was absent in the courtrooms, two of Johann's colleagues went to her office door, seeking her with exasperation. He'd shaken his head and uttered her location before watching them stalk off, flailing arms and pulling hair. Ms Murray was ever in demand, when she went on her mysterious sabbaticals every now and then they coped, but when she was back her calm hand on the tiller, and her advice were valued by her staff.

Hannah and Knox would be cleared, he hoped. His mind pictured the healer's expression - defiant in the face of the sea of crimson robes, and wise Greyfriar stood beside her, an image of experience, and a former Hogwarts Headmaster no less. It was clear as day that the two had been sent there too late on a full moon, that they had been injured, that it was a trap of sorts. Then again, Johann had gleaned his evidence from the newspaper reports, accounts he had overheard from the WCU and what little had been uttered by closer friends. He hadn't sat on those benches and heard the evidence.

But if they weren't… a continuation of the drain on Hannah's funds, the continued reports in the paper of their conviction if they were mentioned, and ridicule from those who were intolerant of those cursed with lycanthropy. Humiliation in the form of law. Still, he could see why the wizengamot ruled the way they did, he'd read the laws surrounding it, and he'd talked to Colin about the state of the holding cells. Having now seen a werewolf with his own eyes in November, it had given him a lot to think about around a full moon, when he lost both his friends to Ministry incarceration.

"Want something, Storm?" Johann blinked and looked up into the face of Hamilton, who tended to pass his desk on purpose just for this purpose.
"What?"

At that very moment there was movement from the direction of the lifts, and he caught sight of Gabrielle returning. Hamilton looked over too, and withdrew from Johann's desk, knowing better than to continue his tirade when their Department Head was nearby. Her gait and her shoulders indicated bad news, weary, and her eyes were low. Johann dropped his quill and turned to better catch her eye, to ask her for news.

But Gabrielle didn't have to say a word. When their eyes met and she shook her head sadly, her expression was a mixture of disappointment and frustration. Outvoted.

Johann winced and let out a deep sigh, closing his eyes and turning away. As he opened them again, Hamilton had retreated to a safe distance, and the two who had sought Murray earlier reappeared, animated in their greetings. A problem required her attention with urgency, and her attention had been stolen. There would not be a chance to ask for details until later, and even then, Johann wasn't too sure how much she would be able to say about the judgement. His heart felt heavy, not only for Hannah and Knox, but for the others cursed.

Somewhere in the belly of the Ministry, two werewolves were still on a tight leash, clasped by the majority of the wizengamot.