Albus was seated in the Great Hall eating his breakfast, but he couldn't say that he had noticed what it tasted like yet. He had spent the past two months observing the interaction between Harry Potter and Hermione Granger, to the point where he had even suspended his hunt for Tom's Horcruxes, and he was disturbed by what he had seen. Harry was smiling of all things the day after he had killed those men and it was more pronounced around Ms. Granger. Time and again I have noticed that he is utterly unconcerned with anyone's opinion but hers. Ms. Lovegood does hold some small sway over Harry but it is nothing compared to the way Ms. Granger affects him. Even more disturbing had been how easy it was to feel the cold disdain Ms. Granger held for him and how it was drawing Harry into a similar mindset. I was so focused on the similarities between Tom and Harry that I failed to notice the similarities between Harry and myself. Worse I never noticed the similarities between Ms. Granger, Tom and Gellert.
Now what do I do about this situation? It is clear that I must find a way to free Harry from Ms. Granger's influence if he is to fulfil his destiny and save our world. A good man in thrall to evil is still a danger to the rest of society. Albus had thought long and hard on this matter but was still no closer to finding a solution. This particular morning Harry would be overseeing the Defence practicals for the O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s. Albus felt a twinge of pain at another similarity between Harry and himself that he had missed due to his blinkered thinking. It's all so obvious in hindsight. As Albus watched Minerva give Harry his class lists he noticed Severus entering the Hall with hurried steps. When Severus reached Albus he bent close and whispered "We have a problem. I think that the Dark Lord may be suspicious of my true allegiance." Albus stiffened when he heard his spy's words.
"I think we should continue this discussion in the privacy of my office." Albus said as calmly as he could manage. Severus gave a tense nod and together the two men hurried from the Hall. They did not speak again until they were safely ensconced in the Headmaster's office. "Now then, Severus, what has led you to the grave conclusion that Tom has seen through you?"
"He has demanded a test of my loyalty with my life forfeit if I fail."
"And what is this task he has set for you?"
"Kidnap Potter and deliver him to the Dark Lord." Albus felt the bottom drop out of his stomach. This is a nightmare. Either way I will lose one of the greatest assets the Light has in this war.
"I am sorry, Severus. You know that we cannot allow Harry to fall into the enemy's hands." Albus could understand the grimace that crossed the Potions Master's face. I did just hand him something that is just shy of a death sentence. "Is there no other way to placate Tom?" Severus hesitated.
"The Dark Lord has given another task, though it was not to me. I believe that if I help in achieving that objective that I may be able to buy myself some time at least."
"What task is this and whom was it given to?" Albus felt dread settling in his gut as he asked the question, knowing that he was likely about to condemn someone to a horrific death.
"The Dark Lord has demanded that Draco bring him the Granger chit before the year ends or his family will die." Tom, have you truly fallen so far that you will drag the next generation fully into this war? Albus felt every one of his many years weighing him down at that moment. I admit that I asked for a way to remove Ms. Granger's influence over Harry, but can I really go this far? And how much of an advantage will it give Tom? Will it save Harry or drive him over the edge?
No. I will ensure that Harry does not fall, but stands stronger in the Light than he did before. I can do this.
Should I?
"I believe that I need to think on this matter, Severus. I would ask you to return here at lunch so that we may discuss this further."
"Of course, Headmaster. I feel I must emphasize that this is not a matter that will wait forever though."
"I know, my friend. I know." Albus felt the weight of his words as they left his mouth. Severus nodded in understanding and left Albus to wrestle with his conscience. The problem is that while I know it is for the best it is still an absolutely beastly thing to do to a person. So what I need to weigh is whether Ms. Granger's life is worth the advantage of Severus remaining a trusted member of Tom's Inner Circle, the Malfoys' survival and Harry's recovery from her influence. I have always held that all life is precious, but I fear that more lives will be lost if I try to protect Ms. Granger. Worse, she may well be the indirect cause of some of those lives being ended. Albus heaved a sigh. If I'm honest with myself I know what must be done, no matter how distasteful. I am just trying to make it sound more attractive to myself at this point. Albus straightened up as he admitted to himself that he had made his decision. I will summon Ms. Granger to my office during lunch and Severus and young Draco will take her to do what they must.
Albus spent the next few hours trying to distract himself with paperwork. It wasn't very effective. He knew what he was doing and no matter how justified it was it didn't sit well with him. He was so distracted by the burden of his conscience that he did not realise how much time had passed until Severus knocked on his door.
"Have you reached a decision, Headmaster?"
"I have, my boy. I just pray that it is the right one. Tippy!" A house elf appeared next to Albus' desk. "Tippy could you ask both Mr. Malfoy and Ms. Granger to come to my office as quickly as they can?"
"Yes, Master Head, sir." Tippy replied before popping out. Albus gave a sad smile at the relief and disbelief that he could read in Severus' eyes. It truly is unfortunate that he has never gotten used to being valued. He is so prepared to die for our cause and receives so little in return for the risks he takes. I truly feel that Severus may be the most noble of us all. The two men sat waiting in silence for the summoned teens to arrive. The first to do so was Mr. Malfoy. Severus stood up the moment the young man entered and pulled him into a corner. Albus presumed that Severus was reassuring Mr. Malfoy that his family would be out of danger soon. Albus trusted Severus to use this as much as he could to bring that family back to the Light. A few moments later another knock sounded at the door.
"Come in, Ms. Granger." Albus said. He could hear the weariness in his own voice. As the door opened he gave a mental apology to the girl before a bright red Stunner erupted from his wand. With a heavy heart Albus turned to Severus. "This sacrifice must be made, my friend. Make sure you use it well." Severus nodded gravely and bound and Disillusioned Ms. Granger's form. With a curt motion of his head he summoned Mr. Malfoy to follow him out of the room. I hope that I have done the right thing today. It certainly wasn't easy. I must prepare myself to ensure that we gain the largest possible advantage from this and that means preparing to undo the harm Ms. Granger has done to Harry's way of thinking.
:-:-:-:-:
Albus was sitting uneasily at dinner in the Great Hall. The mood in the Hall was ebullient as the fifth and seventh years celebrated the end of their respective examinations. Albus was watching the door for one student in particular to come in. When Harry did come in Albus felt the tension in his body increase. How he reacts to her absence will tell me how much work I have to do to repair her damage. Albus watched as Harry attentively scanned the Hall. His worried scowl told Albus whom Harry had been looking for. A slightly stronger reaction than I had hoped. It will be a long and arduous task to bring Harry back to the Light. A loud caw distracted Albus from his thoughts and he watched with the rest of the Hall as a raven soared down from the rafters and landed on Harry's outstretched arm.
Harry removed the scroll that was attached to the bird's leg and read it. Albus noted that there must have been a time delayed Fire Making Charm on the parchment. A charm that only activates when the reader has finished the message? Ingenious. That could be an extremely valuable tool for my Order. Albus was interrupted in his speculation on the uses of such a charm when a wind started blowing through the Great Hall. Looking up Albus felt his chest tighten with fear as he saw where the wind was coming from. Harry Potter's magic was manifesting outside of his control as the young man's face contorted in rage. May the ancients have mercy. The danger to our world was greater than I ever knew. Albus flinched as Harry abruptly turned around and stalked from the Hall.
"Winky, my armour! Dobby, get the sword!" Albus gasped as two elves popped in, one carrying a bundle of black dragon-hide and the other the Sword of Gryffindor. He gave those commands far too naturally. What have you been up to, my boy? What have I missed? Albus sat stunned for a moment until he saw the Weasley twins and Ms. Lovegood racing from the Hall. That's right, this moment is critical. This is where I must save our world. Albus stood up and started striding from the Hall after his students.
"Albus! What is going on here?" Minerva called as she drew level with him. As he turned to look at her Albus noticed that the rest of the Great Hall seemed to be emptying behind them.
"I am not entirely sure, Minerva. Something tells me that we will be called upon to prevent Mr. Potter from exercising one of the more unfortunate traits one tends to find in those sorted into Gryffindor House." Minerva's eyes narrowed as she understood what he was saying.
"And what makes you think that Mr. Potter is about to do something reckless?"
"My dear, one does not storm out of a room like that if one is fully considering all aspects of one's course of action." Minerva just pursed her lips. I miss the days when she would just listen to my words and understand the wisdom behind them. The full parade of students, staff and examiners emerged into the Entrance Hall and looked around for Harry Potter and his friends. They did not have to look for long as a door was rather forcefully ripped open and Harry Potter strode out clad entirely in black dragon-hide with the Sword of Gryffindor strapped to his back in a scabbard that fit it suspiciously well. His face was pulled into a hard, determined look. It is Death that stands before us now. Albus mentally shook himself to get rid of the unwelcome thought that had popped up in his head.
"Harry, I must ask what you intend to do." Albus spoke up in his most calming voice. He was disheartened by the glare Harry shot his way.
"I intend to put Riddle and his inbred menagerie down like the mad dogs they are and get my girlfriend home safely." the young man snarled out. Albus felt his heart clench at the sheer venom in that voice. I hope that we are not too late to save you, my boy.
"Harry, you know what your role is in the fight against Tom. Will you risk that, risk the world, over your teenage hormones?" Albus asked, trying to appeal to the boy's sense of right. It turned out to be a mistake.
"I'm not 'risking it', old man. I'm ending it; one way or the other. Why don't you go back to your office and sit on your arse? You're good at that." The rage Harry was displaying frightened Albus. I must ensure that he does not do anything we will come to regret. Surreptitiously Albus drew his wand ready to bind his student if he could not be reasoned with.
"I can't allow you to this, Harry. You are clearly not in your right mind. If you'll come with me, we'll-" As he spoke, Albus vision was suddenly filled with red before darkness slammed into him and he knew no more.
:-:-:-:-:
Albus groaned as he tried to open his eyes. Why do I hurt?
"Albus? Here, this will help against the pain. I'm afraid you will have to take it easy for a while. You're not as young as you were." Albus recognised Poppy's crisp tones, though there was an unusual level of tension in her voice. Albus gratefully drank down the potion that was held to his lips. After he had swallowed relief began sweeping through his body. Albus eased his eyes open and reached out for his glasses. Pushing himself up into a sitting position he slipped them onto his nose. Now what happened? I remember Severus coming to see me...the regrettable affair with Ms. Granger...Harry received a letter...oh. I don't recall even seeing him drawing his wand.
"Poppy, what happened last night? Did someone manage to dissuade Harry from his rash course of action?" Poppy shot him a look that Albus couldn't quite read.
"No. Mr. Potter left. From what I've heard he went to wherever You Know Who was hiding and managed to rescue Ms. Granger. Neither has any lasting injuries." At least Harry is still alive. It is still not his time to die. Poppy hasn't mentioned anything about my role in Ms. Granger's disappearance. I may have a chance to salvage this yet. All it will take is a carefully applied Memory Charm. Albus mentally shuddered at how easy that course of action had occurred to him. Yet another distasteful situation. I hope that it will be the last one for a long while. I suppose I have at least learnt something about Harry and Ms. Granger. Unfortunately the information is worrying. Such power being led astray will undoubtedly end the world as we know it. Albus' musings were interrupted by a contingent of aurors entering the Hospital Wing, preceded by the Minister herself. Albus decided that it was best to take control of the situation now.
"Good morning, Amelia. To what do I owe this surprise?"
"Good morning, Albus. I'm here because of something that happened the day before yesterday with Harry Potter and Hermione Granger." Damnation. I feel another inquiry coming on. 'How could you have allowed two students to disappear from under your nose?' I need to get my version of events out into the world as soon as I can. If I don't there will be no one to stand against Tom.
"Then I'm afraid that you have made a long, but ultimately unnecessary journey, Amelia. I have no intention of pressing charges for Mr. Potter's actions in his overwrought state. I was simply relieved to hear that his impulsiveness has not brought him any lasting harm."
"I'm afraid you have misunderstood the situation, Albus. I'm not here to arrest Mr. Potter; I'm here for you. Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, you are under arrest for child endangerment, criminal negligence, assault, kidnapping, conspiracy to commit kidnapping and sedition." Albus could only gape at the Minister as she rattled off a series of accusations that struck at his very core. No. I only did what was necessary. I am no criminal. Albus was snapped back to reality at the feeling of cold manacles closing around his wrists.
"Wait! You can't do this! You are giving Voldemort exactly what he wants." I have to make them understand. They are dooming our world if they continue with this madness.
"Wrong, Dumbledore. You-Know-Who is dead. Harry Potter managed to end him for good this time." Amelia told him in a forbidding tone of voice. Albus opened his mouth to at least hint about the Horcruxes. She doesn't need to know everything but I cannot afford to be locked away just yet. Amelia cut him off before he could utter a sound though. "He knew about those anchors that kept the old bastard alive, Dumbledore." Albus' world seemed to tilt at that news. How? No. Focus. There is one that he cannot possibly know about if he is unharmed.
"I'm afraid that there is one that he doesn't know about, that he cannot possibly know about." Albus said desperately.
"You mean the one in his scar I assume?" What? Impossible...there is no way...how...I... Albus thoughts seemed to be running into walls before they could get going. "It was destroyed when Mr. Potter took a Killing Curse for Ms. Granger." And he lived. Just like I theorised. It's real. How is it real? Albus was nearly catatonic as the aurors dragged him from his beloved Hogwarts.
:-:-:-:-:
"I call this court to order. The case before us today is Magic vs. Dumbledore." Albus barely acknowledged the opening of his trial. He had spent the past week and a half in a Ministry holding cell reviewing every decision he had ever made with regards to Harry James Potter. The only conclusion Albus had been able to reach was: something went horribly wrong somewhere. As Albus listened to the list of charges being read to the Wizengamot it occurred to him that he felt very detached from it all.
"Considering the severity of the case and the Ministerial Decree that all persons suspected of involvement with the terrorist organisation known as the Death Eaters be questioned under Veritaserum, I order that three drops of Veritaserum be administered to the defendant, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore." Albus felt his head be tilted back and his jaw wrenched open. Three drops of liquid landed on his tongue. There was very little change in the way Albus felt, except that he now felt like he might want to talk. What followed was a seemingly endless parade of questions. How much had he known about the threats that had plagued Hogwarts since Harry Potter had started attending? How much had he known about the terrorist Tom Marvolo Riddle? Why had he withheld this knowledge? Had he ever attacked a student in his care? Why had he assaulted Ms. Hermione Granger? Why had he cooperated with the terrorist Tom Marvolo Riddle? Why had he harboured a criminal? All of Albus secrets poured from his own mouth, but he couldn't find it in himself to care. At long last the questions ended. An antidote was administered and again Albus didn't notice a significant difference in how he felt.
"I will now ask the defendant if he has any further defence to offer the court?" It took Albus a moment to realise that the question had been directed at him and that he would actually have to answer of his own volition this time. If all I have done was unnecessary then can I still defend my actions?
"No." Albus absently noticed that his voice sounded like the croak of an aging bullfrog.
"Since the defendant has declined to offer a defence I will ask the Wizengamot to vote on the defendant's guilt or innocence. Those who believe the defendant to be guilty of child endangerment?" Albus saw a lot of hands raised in the air but the sight was meaningless to him. As each charge was read out the multitude of hands rose again and again. Albus watched it all happen disinterestedly.
"The Wizengamot has found the defendant guilty on all charges and it falls to me to pass the sentence. I hereby sentence Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore to ten years in Azkaban and ask the Wizengamot to approve the sentence. All those in favour?" Again that multitude of hands rose into the air. There's something majestic about the way they move together like that. The thought crashed through the otherwise empty expanse of Albus' mind only to disappear seconds later. "As the sentence has been upheld I order that Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore begin that sentence immediately." Albus felt rough hands lift him by the armpits and drag him from the courtroom. As the doors closed a voice wafted out "This court now stands adjourned."
Later that day Albus was thrown into a small room in a castle. Albus thought that he might have lived in a castle before, but he wasn't sure. There was something different about this castle. Wherever he looked there was a girl screaming incoherently until a light erupted from a stick in his hand and killed her. Shortly after she died, a girl started screaming incoherently until a light erupted from a stick in his hand and killed her. Albus curled up in a ball and wished the girl would stop screaming and that she would stop dying. Every time she did he felt like his chest was being ripped open. His whimpers and pleas for her to stay alive went unheeded in the vast halls of a castle where he would spend the rest of his days.
Omake
Author: Midnight Angels
Chapter: 25, Harry's confrontation with Dumbledore
"Harry, surely you can see that those men could have been redeemed, shown the light, and gone on to live productive lives..." Dumbledore started to say something more but was cut off from an unexptected direction.
"What about Kylie, Morgan and Crysindia?" said one of the Ravenclaw third-years. "what about their 'productive lives'? Seems to me that you're perfectly willing to put the lives of all of us at risk to save those of outright murderers. How many of us have to die in the process? Five more of us? Ten more? ALL of us? How many, Headmaster?" Harry was cheering inside his head, proud of "his" students for getting the point.
"Thirty points from Ravenclaw!" Snape thundered, "And a week's detention!"
"For what?" one of the Hufflepuff third-years chimed in. "For caring about our own lives and not wanting to be sacrificed for the Headmaster's agenda? For caring about our friends more than Death Eater scum? Why are you mad at Professor Potter for doing more for us than the staff have ever done!" The younger students began to be very vocal in agreement!
Dumbledore apparently had had enough, "SILENCE! Killing is ALWAYS wrong! It is the mark of Dark Wizards, and I will NOT have it said that I am running a school that breeds Dark wizards..."
Harry snorted. "Aren't you about 15 years too late for that? You've let Slytherin pump them out from the first day Snape was named Head of House!"
The temperature in the room seemed to drop and the air darken as the Headmaster's control over his magic slipped slightly. "I will hear no more of this," he said quietly, but with a power that made sure everyone in the room could understand him clearly. He seemed to make an effort to pull himself back and the atmosphere lightened again.
Poppy Pomfrey cut in before anyone could start the argument up again. "These patients need their rest, Headmaster. It's time for you to go."
Dumbledore leveled a dark look at her, but the Matron stood her ground. Finally he said. That will be 10 points from each of you for insolence. I urge you to seriously consider the path Mr Potter is leading you down. Severus..." Dumbledore turned and left with the Potions master in tow, ignoring the glares coming from nearly every filled bed in the room.
AN: That concludes my take on what happened from Dumbledore's perspective. I know that a lot of people were looking forward to his trial, but to me he was simply broken by the knowledge that all he had done served no good at all. As a result we don't get a lot of posturing, screaming and rationalisations that stand no chance of holding up to scrutiny.
The omake is not my work. It was sent to me by Midnight Angels after I posted chapter 25 and I included it because I think that it scratches an itch a lot of my readers have; especially after the trial I showed you.