The Verdict

                                    

                                          
McGonagall and Hermione had known, yet Percy could see that they both looked disturbed. Percy didn't think they were disgusted by him, but he knew what he could do was unnatural and had to put them on edge. Harry's face was snow-white and petrified. He looked shocked, and Percy was too miserable to look at his cousin any longer.
                          
"Is my magic truly Dark," Percy asked, looking up at the Wizengamont with distress, "if it is used to save countless lives?" The Wizengamont murmured among themselves but Percy pressed on.  "Dumbledore himself asked Severus Snape to use the Killing Curse on him for good--to prevent the Elder Wand from bonding with Voldemort. Harry had to receive the Killing Curse to defeat Voldemort. It is not the magic that is evil, but the wizard. It is how it is used that determines right or wrong."
                          
"Killing a man by exploding his blood is a right use, then, by your logic?" Ogden demanded. "How can you expect us to allow you in our world with that power?"
                          
"I did it to save the Wizarding World!" Percy insisted. "I have used this power on rare occasions and only to save lives. Last summer, I saved a child's life with this power. He would have bled to death otherwise."
                          
"Perhaps the child should have died instead of being contaminated by your Dark Magic!" Ogden cried. 
                          
If the building had pipes, it would have exploded from Percy's wrath. How could this man say something so horrible? He'd rather a child die than allow Percy's magic?
                          
"Do you fear me so much that you would sacrifice a child? That you would have preferred me to let Voldemort kill you all?" Percy demanded, jerking against his chains. "Or do you even fear me at all? I have fought with you. I have worked with some of you. You know I am not an evil person. I helped the Boy Who Lived save your world. So do you really fear me, or do you fear what I represent?"
                          
"And what's that?" Kingsley scowled. 
                          
"Change. You're scared that there are beings in this world that have power that wizards don't. Is my power really Dark Magic, or is it just different than yours? Or do you declare it's evil because it's a threat to you and how your rigid system views magic so black and white? Is it because my magic is not limited to wands, like you tell your people theirs is? My power represents a change in how magic is considered. And that change is what you all truly fear. Not me, and not my power. But change."
                          
After he finished, the wizards and witches immediately began murmuring to each other. Percy strained his ears but couldn't make sense of anything. 
                          
McGonagall took the opening to stand and speak on his behalf. "The Wizarding World has long operated under the understanding that some magic is dark and nature. The Wizengamont has carefully considered which of these potions and spells are acceptable forms of the Dark Arts, and which are prohibited. These decisions," she gestured her hand across the room, "have been made based on the difference between good and evil. So the decision today is not whether Deputy Jackson's magic is Dark or Light. We must ask ourselves, instead, if it was used for evil.." she looked around at them all meaningfully, "...or for good."
                          
Percy was impressed with her eloquence, although not surprised. The Headmistress was a skilled woman. 
                          
Kingsley banged his gavel to quiet the soft murmurings and discussions. "Does the prosecution have a closing argument?" 
                          
Ogden stood up, his face red with anger. "It is undisputable that Mr. Jackson used magic that is disgraceful and defies all our morals and laws. Regardless of intent, his manipulation of magic is wrong and cannot be allowed unchecked. The prosecution--"
                          
The back walls of the courtroom exploded, sending debris and chunks of cement blasting through the room. Screaming erupted as two dozen figures swarmed into the room through the hole in the wall. They wore long, black robes and white, pointed masks. Death Eaters.