Felix Barker Trial

It was strange, but at that time Vincent only thought Jess to be the other logical person in the courtroom. Though they had been enemies for a long time, and still were sort of, Vincent had to admit that Jess was a just and honest person. Even though he was young, he had a good knowledge on what's right and what's wrong, and so he was giving Felix the justice he deserved. He did not trust Narcissa and Thoarson, even though they were in the same faction as him. People like them did not don't do what is just, but what benefits them the most.

However, Vincent still considered what Narcissa said. It made some sense, but in the end Vincent did not want to give Thoarson and Felix what they wanted. Or well, what he thought they wanted. That did not make sense to him either, that Felix would want to go to Azkaban, but it was the only logical conclusion he could come up with. So Vincent piped in, before Khaat could consider and be brainwashed by Narcissa's opinion. "Oh really Narcissa? You seem to be a bit confused about the goals of these trials. We don't give sentences to people to torment them, but to do what is best for the people, to make the wizarding world safer. I for one, would feel safer if people like Mr.Barker were gone entirely rather then being held in a 'high security prison,' " he replied curtly, thinking of Ne'os. He had been held in a prison like that before too, but Shacklebolt had helped him break out. His failure to stop that had resulted in his demotion from head of law enforcement, but at least he had learnt his lessons from that episode.

Robert had watched and listened to the entire proceedings. Personally, he wanted Barker dead as well, but that wasn't the best option, and he knew it. He had been turning the whole question around in his mind from before the trial began, knowing well that it might come down to his needing to vote in order to break the tie, since Khaat could not vote.

He finally spoke, "You all know that the Minister does have a right to put in a vote in the trial. That vote does not weigh in any heavier than any other. However, in this case, where the Chief Warlock cannot nor should not vote, this has created a tie for us. Therefore, I will submit a vote.

"Execution is not out of the realm of possibilities for Mr. Barker. And he certainly deserves it. However, Narcissa has a valid point. Mr. Barker clearly has spent his time causing physical, emotional, and mental pain to others. Yet, he appears to have little clue or empathy for those whom he has harmed. My suggestion is that we sentence him indefinitely to Azkaban. He needs to experience some of what he has put others through. We do always have the right to revisit this and change his sentence to execution later, and if that comes, I would recommend that we do that.

"So, for now, I recommend that we sentence him to Azkaban for an indefinite period."

Khaat paused, collecting herself for one brief moment. She looked into Barker's eyes. It could have been a lot more difficult. But for some reason she found herself surprised that he had not been executed. And actually, as much as she wanted him dead, she wanted him to have to deal with some of what he had dished out so freely.

"The votes are completed," Khaat said somberly. "It is decided. Felix Barker, you are hereby sentenced to Azkaban Prison for an indefinite period of time. It will be the responsibility of the Warden to bring any requests regarding Mr. Barker being outside prison walls to this court for its permission prior to that event happening. No thoughts of work release, parole, or release will be granted without the permission of this court. Mr. Barker, it may well be that your last view of the outside world will be today as you to to Azkaban. It may well be that you never exit those walls again. I pity your choices that have brought you to this point, but clearly, as my collegues here agree, you are not able to live in society and therefore must be removed from it.

"Let me warn you of one thing--if you so much as try one incident of violence inside the prison, you will be brought back here before you can take another breath. And then this court will have no choice but to institute the death penalty that you have so narrowly escaped today. It does still hang over your head, and if you believe for one moment that we would not sentence you to death, then you are sadly mistaken. Do you have anything at all you wish to before we conclude this today, Mr. Barker?"

"I guess its not up to me to question your logic minister," Vincent replied unhappily."But I do think it is high time that the wizengamot started to give more suitable punishments. I personally have never believed that we should be trusting dark wizards to dark creatures like the dementors..." Anyone who had even the slightest bit of knowledge on wizarding history was aware that there had been several breakouts in the previous decades from Azkaban. Sirius Black had been the first, and then a score of wizards and witches escaped afterwards every few years. All of them had been dark wizards. "As everyone here probably remembers, Ne'os Emof also managed to escape. If he, a boy of sixteen, was able to, so should anyone else," he finished. Vincent of course knew that Ne'os had been aided by Kingsley Shacklebolt in his escape, but he deliberately left that part out.

"You are, as always, impeccably accurate with your history of Azkaban, Mr. Majere," Khaat said. "And you are also correct in your beliefs that giving the dementors a great deal of autonomy is unwise. The ministry has been working to try to create less of a revolving door there and to redesign the rehabilitation programming there. We have been working to do exactly what you are suggesting. We have worked to stop the repeated escapes, and we've done a lot of work to strongly encourage rehabilitation there. We are also aware that Azkaban needs to be a deterrent for unlawful behaviors.

"However, as you're also aware, any program or institution needs continual growth and improvement. You have a strong record and knowledge base in those areas. I would very much like you to be part of that redesign of Azkaban."

Her respect for Vincent had not dimmed, despite the fact that they were often on different sides of things. She still believed he was the finest auror in England. And she missed his friendship. Well, if it was friendship. She missed that. And she was hoping that when this whole nasty business with Barker was over, she would have the chance to talk to Vincent again.

Felix had remained quite during the deliberations about his sentencing. A lot of people seemed to think that he deserved to be put to death, How sweet, he hadn't realized so many people in the courtroom thought that strongly of him. His eyes were dead set on Khaat, and a small smirk/glare had been in place on his face for quite some time before he finally broke the glare. Khaat had asked him if he had anything to say about it. He opened his mouth, and then closed it, slightly surprised to realize how much his arms were paining him now. "Nothing.. Your Honor." he said, making sure the 'your honor' was as sarcastic as possible. Azkaban for an indefinite period... no parole, no nothing, just to look over his crimes? Well wouldn't they be surprised when the Dementors had no effect on Felix like they did on other criminals who truly didn't like what they did.

Felix closed his eyes and took a deep breath in, before his eyes wandered over the courtroom. A few people had supposed the Death Penalty, but overall it had been a good hearing, he had escaped with his life, and that was all he really cared about. Especially because that meant that there WAS a possibility of seeing Naomi again. She could get in somehow, disguised, he could get out on some weird parole if he acted like he was reformed, he'd get out one day.. they hadn't seen the last of Felix Barker. They all thought he would be out of the way and taken care of after this, but he wasn't, he may be down, but he wasn't out, and they would be soon to know this. Of course he had a really good idea that they wouldn't leave him alone for a while especially the Minister. Felix's eyes wandered over to him and he smirked, shaking his head no slightly, before looking down at his extra tight chains. They obviously hadn't learned how easy it was to get out of those things when you just locked them on, and they needed that little extra tightness. Smirking again, he leaned back in his chair, and waited for them to take him out of the courtroom.

Vincent considered the offer, and the more he thought about it, the more appealing it became. He had been headmaster, and before that the head of law enforcement, and though Khaat probably considered this a promotion, in Vincent's mind it was a demotion. Nevertheless, it would be useful for the death eaters. If they had a member at Azkaban who knew how to get past security there... Or, it could be used as a position to get more power in the ministry. Either way, it was better then what he was now. Vincent just wondered why Khaat would offer him this place. Was she really a fool enough to trust him so much? "I was under the impression this was a trial, not an interview session," he replied calmly. "But I will consider it and let you know later."

The trial had been a waste of time, money and resources. They should have just slapped a sentence on him and ferried him off to wherever he needed to go. Underground solitary confinement sounded good to Rob at the moment. Conspiring with prisoners that apparently wanted to get onto the straight and narrow again wasn’t going to help anyone. Rob got to his feet. He brushed his robes down and strode over to where Layton had put Felix earlier. Rob took his wand from his pocket and took the chains off of the hook they’d been put on. He flicked his wand at the shackles and allowed them to tighten some more. Rob pulled on the chains and glared at Felix, waiting for the man to move. “Get up. It might shock you but I don’t actually want to spend the rest of the day in your company.” Rob pulled Felix’s chains again and began to walk away, bringing the criminal with him. To Azkaban then, he thought with a small sigh.

Off to Azkaban already eh? Well that was just swell, the sooner he got there, the sooner he'd get to leave the company of all the heroes in the room. They felt they were doing good, they all felt like that had accomplished something today, gotten a horrible man off the streets, but really, it was all apart of their own greed that made people like Felix possible. The Heroes made the evil so that they could punish them. The Heroes made sure anyone who was slightly rude, or had a slight attitude, felt like they were the worst people on earth, simply because their family hadn't been just right. It was all how you were born, and if you weren't born right, you were a waste of space. How was it that the 'good' guys were worse at doing that to people, then the people who wanted only Purebloods to rule. Of course they didn't realize it, because they felt they were better then everyone else, and deserved to rule, all of the idiotic werewolves, the muggle lovers, the 'good guys'. They acted like they wanted justice in the world, but they didn't realize it was their own want for justice, that made justice not possible.

Felix could feel the chains tightening and looked down to see one had started to cut into his skin and there was a small drop of blood. Great... a nice way to start off life in Azkaban.. bleeding. When the auror talked to him, Felix smirked. "You aren't my first choice for a talking buddy either pal." he grumbled, and his eyes flickered around the room.The last empty and open space he'd probably see for a long time, at least one that didn't smell like rotting flesh and death. He could feel a small flare of panic in his stomach at the thought of going back to Azkaban. Sure he could play it off all cool, convince himself that Azkaban wasn't that good of a place, but the fact of the matter was. Azkaban scared the hell out of Felix. He didn't want to go back.. he knew either way he would go back, so he had made sure he'd gone back.. but now that he was on his way.. well he could feel his stomach twisting into knots, his mind started to panic, and he almost pulled away from Dent, but he stopped himself, calmed himself down slightly, and bit his lower lip in agitation. Panic was in his eyes, but his body language suggested that he didn't really care where he went, as long as he got out of the room. Keeping his eyes on the floor however, he followed Dent out of the room, for his trip back to Azkaban.