LW: Chapter 2, now to annoy the ministry.

The Wandering Mage – the Hearing

To say Harry and Bo were surprised by the revelation was to put it lightly 'A Wraith! Dad are you serious?' Bo almost yelled 'They are uncontrollable, not even fae survive a wraith feeding never mind a human, what the hell were you thinking?' 'It doesn't matter, Wraith feed only when necessary, and their highly rational minds make them unable to feel guilt when they feed to survive, their self preservation is absolute where a feeding are concerned' The Wanderer countered.

Harry on the other hand was completely silent, he too had heard of the wraith; though the wizarding world had very little written other than being dark creatures, the most being they drained a living being's life force like Dementors but killed rather than stealing your soul. His treatment at the Dursley's kicked in and he fell against the wall 'They were right' he whispered 'I am a freak and a monster'. The two elder fae turned at Harry's comment, both looking worried for him. Bo went over to the boy, kneeling beside him 'Hey Harry, sorry about what you just heard. It's just there hasn't been wraith around for quite a while and they come with a lot of stories attached. Though I'm sure the same could be said for succubi so maybe we're even there' Harry cracked a smile at her joke but remained on the floor.

The Wanderer took this time to speak 'Harry there is some good news about your kind; Highbreed Wraith are like Super wraith, able to absorb and use energy much more efficiently than normal wraith. This means at the very least you won't need to feed all that often. Also you have accelerated healing, something a recent feed will add to. The point is your not a monster, all fae feed on humans in one way or another, your not a freak your just fae' him and Bo then helped the young wizard up and Bo pulled him into a hug. 'Thanks guys, its weird having a family that cares about you, you know?' Harry joked but noticed the others frown before turning neutral. '

The awkward silence was interrupted by a flash of fire and the appearance of a phoenix. 'Fawkes!' Harry said surprised as the large magical bird bowed to the Wanderer then held out its leg containing a note. Harry took the note and read aloud;

Dear Mr. Potter

The ward sensors are unable to detect you so I have sent Fawkes to find you;

You are not expelled; I have managed to get you a trial in order to defend yourself.

The guard at Private Drive saw you with a gentleman earlier tonight, be careful he may be a Death Eater.

You will need to inform us of your location, after all given recent events we can't allow you to disappear, less you fall victim to Voldemort

Dumbledore

Harry looked at the note in anger, his home was being 'guarded' and him and his father still had to defend themselves against the dementors. Annoyingly he found some paper and a pen, scrawling

Dear Professor

There is no need to worry, I am staying with family and am safe from any Death Eater detection. Send me the date of my hearing and I will be there. I believe it will be safer for me if as little people are aware of my location so I can not tell you where I am

Harry Potter

Harry rolled up the note then handed it to Fawkes, who once again bowed to the Wanderer then surprisingly to both Harry and Bo before flaming out. It was then Harry wondered something 'Hey Dad, where are we?' .The older fae smiled 'this building specifically is 'The Crossroads' my home for the family. Broadly speaking, we're in Canada'. Harry was prevented from saying anything else as they were once again interrupted by Fawkes appearing, this time sticking his leg out to the Wanderer before leaving with out waiting for a reply. Reading the headmasters reply the Wanderer whistled 'Damn Harry someone really doesn't like you, they managed to schedule your hearing for tomorrow in Courtroom 10 in the ministry. Now seeing as you're still on British time, have just awakened your fae powers and we'll all have a very early morning tomorrow you might want to head up to bed Harry'. Harry wanted to argue but while part of him was humming with activity most of him wanted to just keel over in exhaustion, most of it mental form all that he'd learnt, so agreed 'So where do I sleep?' The Wanderer smiled 'Up the first set of stairs, 1st door on the right. Bo's is at the other end of the floor and my own is on the top floor opposite the stairs if you need either of us'. 'Good night Harry' Bo called as he went up the stairs, leaving the older fae to discus what would be happening tomorrow.

Later/the next day

Quite a bit of time was spent finding adequate clothes for Harry to wear to the hearing, the clothes he brought with him were going to be burned as soon as they could and his father was taller and slightly broader than the young wizard/fae. Bo was little help either most of the clothes she had on hand were either female, pretty much not there, or belonged to Dyson, who was even more so than the Wanderer. Eventually they managed to find some of Hale's; a friend of Bo's who she was cursing up a storm about as well as about 'Kenzi'. Harry soon looked presentable for his hearing, though immediately refused to wear the fedora, despite Bo's repeated attempts to put it on him.

Flooing to the Ministry Harry tumbled out of the fireplace, with Bo falling out of it flat on her face. As the 2 siblings were dusting themselves off, The Wanderer exited with grace and poise Harry had only seen on pureblood heads and Bo only on fae like the Morrigan. The succubus was sure that if it was anyone else her comparison would've been dirtier; herself in the bedroom with a certain blond for example, but as it was her father that part of her brain failed to engage and took the morning off. The trio drew a lot of attention in the ministry, particularly from its minimal fae population, something Bo noticed with a single eye twinkle. 'So why are we here so early, the note said 11 their time?' Bo asked slightly confused. The Wanderer sighed not at Bo, more because of what he had to explain 'Britain magically is bigoted, raciest, painfully corrupt and worst of all outdated. While Fawkes is an instant magical communication device among other things as is the floo network, most of their communication is done by owl mail. Even if they weren't trying to screw Harry over if there's any change to the schedule it would be too late by the time it got to us. This way we're here and get the closest thing to a fair trial we can get in this backward hellhole'.

The 3 fae arrived at courtroom 10 just as Fudge was dictating a message to his assistant 'inform Mr. Potter his hearing has been moved up to 10 O'clock...' Bo looked at her watch; it was 9:50 am and growled. 'It'd be nice to have something hand delivered, makes people feel special' Harry muttered though in the echoy, near silent courtroom it was heard by all. 'Mr. Potter' Fudge blustered making the fae grin 'what are you doing here?' 'Well I am on trial in courtroom 10 today, correct?' A squeaky mangled throat clearing was heard 'Mr. Potter who are these others accompanying you?' the question raised by the ugliest thing Bo had seen that was still considered human in a pink cardigan. 'Oh them, well ...' The Wanderer stepped forward 'I'm Mr. Potter's legal council, Reynar' he answered '... and the woman is my sister, Bo Denis, like me she's a magical being, raised by muggles and unaware of our world until absolutely necessary' Harry continued. 'More lies and delusions, this woman can't be your sister, she's nearly older than your parents would have been' the pink woman croaked 'we share the same father, she had been kidnapped at birth and I was born to Lily Potter and blood adopted by James Potter. I do not lie, especially about that which I've wanted my entire life' Harry was beginning to lose his temper, Bo gripping his shoulder and pushing her gifts through to calm him (That orangey glow that flows over their skin when she touches people, minus the horny feelings). The Wanderer was also getting annoyed 'Mr. Potter's family status isn't the topic of this courtroom, him using magic yesterday is'

The assembled wizards wisely decided to begin, a red head the Wanderer recognised as Amelia Bones stood 'Mr. Potter you're here because you've repeatedly used magic away from school, despite the fact all students are reminded of these rules at the end of each school year' the Wander began 'That may be true Ms Bones, but your rules state magic can be used when the person is in grave danger' 'Yes but I don't...' Amelia began but was interrupted 'besides that isn't the main point of the matter, for one Harry wasn't 'expelled' for underage magic, his letter said he was expelled for using 'Wild Magic' the Wanderer continued, the dismissive 'humf' from the stand made him smile, they were winning 'Tell me, Ms Bones, minister, anyone gathered here, what is Wild Magic?' Amelia answered 'Wild magic is where large amounts of magic are released unrefined by a wand from a magical being not classed as accidental magic. This is different to wandless magic as the caster has their magic refined and controlled as though wand cast just not'. 'And I'm sure the DMLE examined the area for Harry's magical signature where the incident occurred to confirm he was the caster?' the Wanderer asked, smiling when Fudge turned red and stood up 'Of course not there was no need, he was sent his letter and he fled, that was enough to prove he was guilty' he yelled in what he hoped was a convincing tone 'So he was guilty because he fled? Wonder how Sirius was convicted by that logic...' the Wanderer said the second part more to himself but still heard by all '... So Harry's guilty because I took him to be treated for Dementor exposure?'

Before the pink one was able to retort the courtroom's doors were flung open and in stroud Albus Dumbledore in midnight blue robes with silver moons and stars. Harry noticed his father smile though it did look rather forced. 'Sorry I'm late, would've been on time if the schedule hadn't changed, though it still took a lot longer than it should've to have Sybil registered' it was then Harry noticed the wizard wasn't alone and took him a moment to recognise his divination professor, though it was understandable. The woman in court was nothing like the 'mad old crone of the tower', for one her magnifying glass spectacles were replaced by a small elegant pair and her owl nest was semi tamed at least in the front (More River Song than Bellatrix Lestrange), the woman was also wearing pitch black witches robes without her signature shawls and beads. Her arrival the Wanderer did smile at 'Sybil nice to see you're still kicking, 30 years and you're still wonderful' to which the woman laughed. A croak/cough interrupted them and all were reminded of their current location 'Yes anyway, seeing as I knew there would be problems with you accepting us being attacked by rogue dementors ...' 'Dementors are in the absolute control of the Ministry' the pink toad screeched and the Wanderer smiled 'Thank you Ms I didn't have the nerve to accuse the ministry of outright targeting my client but you've done it for me' Fudge stood up quickly nervous sweat flooding from his brow 'Please just continue Mr. R-r-r-r-rayner' Harry smiling internally at the man's distress ' Thank you minister, as I was saying I didn't think you'd take our word for it so we will be offering our memories of the incident' Amelia slowly rose to comment, though most could see she didn't personally want to but she had to 'Memories are not admissible in court as they can be altered' Harry heart sank until he noticed both his father and Bo's smirks which confused him but gave him hope 'I am aware of that, which is why I had the Professor bring an old friend of mine here. In order for this to work though, she needed to be registered at the ministry. You see Professor Sybil Trelawry is fae, a Mind Weaver'

The room fell silent so the Wanderer continued 'She will extract our memories of the incident in question and they will either be viewed via penscive or she will use a spell to project it in this room' Amelia nodded 'I'll send for a pensceive, like I said memories can't usually be admitted but with al concerns removed they can be entered into evidence' A few minutes later 2 aurors arrived with the pensceive; one a large intimidating black man, the other a young woman with pink hair and amethyst eyes. Sybil placed a hand to both Harry and the Wanderer's temples and Harry felt the moment flash behind his closed eye lids. When she withdrew her hands several silvery threads were wrapped around her fingers, these flowed from her hands when they were held over the pensceive, causing the previously empty basin to glow silver. Amelia drew her wand and taped a rune within Harry thought resembled an eye causing the memory to play

Harry frowned 'I remember her, I was about 5. My aunt wasn't happy when she showed up, thought I attracted freaks to her house; in a way I was as she wasn't a 'normal' human therefore a freak in her and her family's eyes.' A thought came to Harry's mind from mentioning the Dursley's 'Hey not that I'm complaining but usually Dudley and his brainless bunch harass me around now, where are they' he noticed his father 'When had I started to think of him like that?' was smiling in a way he recognised on the twins or Sirius 'My aura has an interesting effect on mortals, I believe it's primal fear as they stay as far as they can from me. So do most fae but that's a learned consequence of who I am rather than what I am'. Harry nodded understanding what he meant; he could feel the man's power flowing from him due to its abundance, beings as strong as him often elicited 1 of 2 reactions; fear and worship.

The air soon turned unnaturally cold, and Harry's heart dropped, the howl of Dementors made their presence known, 2 but that was enough, Harry having forgotten his wand and unsure of the elder fae's abilities or their effect on a Dementor. The first went for the older one seeing him a bigger threat than a wandless teenage wizard, its scabby hands clamping on his shoulders as it began to drain him. The wanderer's face was until that moment passive and uncaring, then it flashed to anger and the decaying corpse like magical creature was hurled away 'You are filth, you can not harm me, and you will never harm anything again!' He was irate, his eyes glowing in their ethereal blue, with a similarly coloured visible aura. He briskly approached the struggling Dementor, attempting to escape the searing heat the fae's aura was producing to it. The Wanderer appeared to pull back his aura before releasing it at the pitiful creature causing it to burst into cobalt coloured flames, rapidly consuming the beast.

The court was speechless, they'd been told their entire lives the dementors were indestructible the patronus being the only magic to effect them and even then it didn't injure them only drive them off but this man and destroyed one, not just that but burned it to ashes. Amelia was the first to speak 'What was that you used Mr. Rayner?' The Wanderer smiled 'It was a family ability so I'll be keeping that information to myself, furthermore I believe that would satisfy what your people would call 'Wild Magic' Ms Bones. Mr. Potter being the only known magical in the area lead you to assume it came from him, like when the house elf used the hover charm 3 years ago' Amelia nodded 'In light of new evidence I believe it is time to determine the verdict on Mr. Potter's charges. Red light for guilty, blue light for innocent' All wands were raised, Harry gripping Bo's hand tightly in worry, the Wanderer's face unreadable. He relaxed when their was a clear majority of blue in the room, though several supporters of Fudge or Purity sympathisers were red, most of them were blue, the few fae hadn't needed to see the evidence to do so, the Wanderer showing up in his defence pushed them to it, none of them wanted to be on his bad side.

The Wanderer smiled, then thought of something 'While I'm here, Professor Dumbledore I have someone for your defence position' Albus turned to the man surprised, though realised whoever he offered would be better than Fudges choice 'Who is it Mr. Rayner?' 'My daughter Ysabeau Denis!' Both Harry and Bo were glad they weren't eating or drinking at the time or they'd have choked in surprise, Albus was also shocked 'What are Ms Denis' qualifications to teach defence?' 'She got an 'O' in her defence N.E.W.T.s and is a capable teacher, which is all that is needed for a position in most magic schools' 'The second part not as much as the first' Harry muttered remembering a certain potion master, before remembering Quirrell and Lockhart and wondering if the first was an actual Hogwarts requirement either. Bo blushed as she looked to her ring the sapphire shimmering; it was not long after reuniting with her father she discover her bound magical core, a warlock loyal to the Wanderer was brought in to unbind her after which she dove into magical books though only the defence ones held her attention. Albus was overjoyed here was a person with the best resume he'd had for the position in many years (Remus not included) and even better she was unaffiliated with the ministry so was unlikely to try tear him down from within Hogwarts 'I will need to have an official interview with Ms Dennis but it sounds like she'll be fine. Harry, I hope you could spare some time later in the summer so we can solidify all arrangements and so you can see Snuffles, it isn't nice to have Remus look after him for the entire summer. Good day my boy'. Harry smiled as the old man left, thinking of seeing Remus and Sirius at some point over the summer would be nice, but he'd probably still spend most of it getting to know his new family.

The trio left the ministry through the fire returning to 'The Crossroads' Harry heading off to actually start his summer work while the Wanderer left to prepare for their summer 'activities'. Before the green eyed fae could leave Bo grabbed his arm and turned him around looking nervous 'Harry you do know I had nothing to do with father...' 'Recommending you to Dumbledore?' Harry interrupted, Bo fears increasing, she could already tell Harry had trust issues and didn't want to wreck what little they currently had. Harry neutral face split with a smile 'its ok Bo, I know you weren't a part of it, you looked as surprised as I'm sure I did. I think Dad's just feeling protective of me, you can and have handled yourself for quite a while and I'm still at the age where he feels I should have someone there just in case' Bo perked up 'That's a very mature outlook Harry, and I hope you feel at home here. It'll take some getting used to, having an entire new family out of nowhere believe me I know' 'Thanks Bo and just so you know, this place already feels more like home than Private Drive' Harry answered as he headed up to his room, Bo heading off to see Dyson on her newest case.

TBC

LW: Well that's a little bit more (Well a lot more) over and done with, also I have seen the most recent season, am annoyed and saddened that Kenzi's dead (Hale too but not as much) and not as happy with Doccubus as when I initially planned to write this, at the moment it looks to be Valcubus and Lauigan.

Tamsin: Well just give us a heads up first, bye!