[a/n] Just a chapter maybe two left

6

Percy appeared at the apparation point in St. Mungo's and approached the desk "Miss, what room would the Lady Potter be in?" he asked.

"She is a Class 5 patient, sir." The administrator stated "What is your relationship?"

Percy blinked at even the slightest resistance "Of course…I am the Potters' solicitor in a case. As well as son to the woman who came in with her."

"You will need to wait, sir. He said, waving to a chair "Your access will need to be approved. Can I help you, Madam?"

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Some minutes later, he was in Susan's private room. The patient was asleep but Harry was glowing orange "Is she alright?"

"Madam Pomfrey knew answers right away." Harry complained.

Percy observed "Looks like she is comfortable."

"What was the point of Thomas' testimony?" Harry wanted to know.

Percy answered "Smoke and mirrors."

"Percival!" Mrs. Weasley snapped "Such language!"

The two men looked at each other and chuckled. At which Susan stirred. Harry took a half step forward, then backed away with a frown. She squinted at the bright light and managed to focus on her husband "Don't just stand there, Harry. Give me a kiss."

"Can't." he complained.

Then she really looked at him and asked "Why are you wearing a quarantine hex?"

"Your husband still has a thing for eleven year old girls." Mrs. Weasley commented affectionately.

Susan stretched in bed and yawned "Well… why I'm in Mungo's can wait. Tell me about your new girlfriend, Harry."

"Her name is Bonnie Wright." He said with a grin "First Year Gryffindor. Found the tunnel to Hogsmeade when she stayed at Christmas. Two weeks ago, the poor girl found a Potions storeroom, just had to try Dragonskin. Well she got Dragon pox from it. She snuck out of the isolation room and ran right into me. I didn't know what she had, but she was running around with a Harry Potter bobblehead and the Boy Who Lived book."

Percy interrupted "Do you realize the revenue generated using your name? I think we could get a bit of financial justice for YOU there."

"One case at a time, Perce." Harry said "I don't want to spend my life in courtrooms. Back to little Bonnie, while everyone was hunting for her, she ran smack into me all worried about how angry her parents would be. So I picked her up, and carried her back to her room."

Susan, thoroughly amused, commented "Of course, you didn't notice the scales. Or, the occasional fire-belching."

"And they had to explain to me why Dragon Pox patients don't wear pajama bottoms." He quipped "Long story short, Mom and Dad were happily reunited with Bonnie. And Harry Potter is a hero…again. But, we're sorry, Mr. Potter, you have been exposed."

They all smiled at each other for a few minutes, then Susan broke the silence "I'm going to be keeping little girls from you all my life. Aren't I Mr. Potter?"

*taptap* "My Lady, Healer Watson," an ancient wizard entered, addressed the occupant of the bed "You were dehydrated and rather undernourished when you were brought in. A couple days on replenishment potions and you will be fine. How long have you been throwing up?"

"A few weeks." Answered Susan "Five, maybe six. But not every day."

He scratched on a scroll "I think there is only one spell under the circumstances." He drew his wand and waved it silently. Then smiled as her abdomen glowed pink "Well! That's it then."

"Wait?" Harry snapped "What is it?"

Molly nudged Percy to the door, following the Healer "Call us when you're ready, dears."

"What the bloody hell is going on?" growled Harry. He hated the fact he couldn't get close to his wife, and that others seemed to know what was going on, and that the Healer just walked out without telling him anything.

Susan was just smiling, all but blissfully now "Have you any idea how much I love you?"

"I love you too." He replied affectionately, though automatically as he was worried "But, what-"

She silenced him with a gesture "I'm here because I didn't listen to my own body. And there's nothing wrong with me that hasn't been happening to women for a VERRRRRRY long time. And I wish I could hug the stuffings out you just now."

"What does everyone seem to know that I don't?" he grumbled.

Susan saw the warning signs, and an angry Harry Potter was not a good idea, so "Luv, I'm pregnant. A girl."

"You're sure?" he asked, blankly.

A little worried, she answered "Yeah. It's the spell the Healer performed."

"Why… that…that's go….WONDERFUL!" he fairly exploded. He rushed forward, then stopped, frustrated "I'd kiss you like there's no tomorrow. Squeeze you til you pop."

Susan smiled "You'd better run a few miles. Wear yourself out. I love you, Harry."

"I love you more." He retorted singsong. "Damn this stupid hex!"

Susan laughed at his retreating back. It really wasn't fair.

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"I'm gonna be a Father." He said wonderingly, backing away from the Weasleys.

Molly was first "Oh, rubbish, dear. We've already had it." And embraced him.

"Well done!" Percy grabbed his hand and pummeled his back. "How's it feel?"

He grumbled "Great. Scary. And to be honest-"

"You have a lot of energy you need to get rid of." A medi-witch was suddenly there.

Harry nodded tightly and all but growl "I just found out my wife is pregnant and I can't even hug her." And he was led, without fanfare, out.

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"Take this to a Weasley. Closest one you can find." Gwenog Jones of the Holyhead Harpies ordered a bluish owl, that nodded and flapped away. Her backup Chaser had missed her second practice in a row, without notice.

Ron Weasley walked into a pub in Muggle York. It was his fourth. "Knockturn Alley has nothing on this place." And the bartender was just plain ugly. He showed a picture of Ginny and a 5 Pound note to the man.

"Sweet bird." The man sneered around a couple inches of cigar "I might, but y'know how the memory gets, mate."

Ron put another 5 Pound note on the bar and asked "Memory improved, mate?"

"Maybe." He grinned and blew smoke.

This time, Ron frowned and reclaimed a bill "Right, mate." He snarled "This, bird, is my sister. And I'm very motivated. So, what's it going to be?"

"A shame, bloke is probably doin' good." The barman sneered, but wilted at the hostile expression "In the back. Third door."

Ron slipped his wand into his sleeve and ran. Nearly took the door off, and kicked open the indicated door. His worst fears confirmed, a dirty blond haired man was grunting on top of a splay of red hair. He roared "GINNY!" and yanked on the man's ponytail violently.

"Bloody MERLIN! RON?" Ginny screeched. "What are you doing here?"

The man jumped up and charged, catching his assailant in the stomach. The pair went down with a thud. Ron rolled over and planted a knee in his jaw and pushed…hard…then stunned him. Ordered "Put your clothes on Ginny!"

The bar owner was left with the mystery of how the redhaired man and girl got out without him seeing them.

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"Apparating hurts when you're drunk." Ginny complained.

Ron shoved a cup at her and ordered "Drink."

"Yikkk!" she spat "I hate coffee! How about come Picker up Potion?"

He glared at her and snapped "No! Y'know the last thing I needed to see was my sister with a dick in her twat!"

"Don't talk filthy Ron!" she shouted, then pressed a fist into her temple. "Ooooh!"

He was pitiless "You've missed practices! You've been drinking! Did you even know that Muggle?"

"Of course!" she said, softly "Eric…ahh…Well? What about you? When was the last time you saw Mum? Or Dad? Or your kids?! Do you even remember their names?"

He flicked his cup of water in her face and laughed humorlessly "Nice shot, Gin. You know I want my children to have their Mother. And I'll never believe Hermione is dead until I see her body. So? What's your beef?"

"Same thing that's been for …ever since I could talk… and I hate Susan Potter!" her sentence was mostly coherent. She futilely flicked water at him.

He nodded "Yeah, I get it, Sis. Sort of the final blow. Huh? You were good at the wedding."

Ginny looked him in the eye and shrugged. Ron hadn't been the best wedding guest, but now wasn't the time, and she already fired one low blow. "And the one wizard…the one I love… DAMN HIM FOR HIS LOYALTY!" Her hair spiked with excess magic.

"If you weren't a member of his House, you could be a stalker girl." Ron quipped, then got serious "Gin, let's do an Unbreakable together. I'll stop looking for Hermione-"

Ginny looked shocked. Her brother neglected everything in life since his wife's disappearance.

"Yeah, and you'll find a bloke. Not one in a cheap pub. You're better than that." He said lightly, then went on sourly "Have a kid…maybe seven…just so I NEVER…EVER…see it again!"

She nodded in acceptance and embraced him "You're alright big brother." She said "Y'know Percy wants me to testify about Harry's character. What can I say?"

"The truth." Ron replied "Though you can leave out the hate Susan part. It'll be good to see everyone again."

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Having hit rock bottom, Ginny bounced back solidly. She was at practice the very next day and playing hard enough to make up for lost time. By court day she was almost as happy with life as she appeared. She didn't even gasp when she heard his voice. Nor did she cringe when she spoke "Hiya Harry. Congratulations! Are you excited? I would be."

"Thrilled!" he enthused, hugging her warmly. "And scared out of my boots."

She returned the embrace with a grunt "You'll make a wonderful father. I just know it. Percy told me it's a girl."

"Uh-huh!" Harry was beaming "Lily Amelia Potter! And -" he gasped "Ohmigod! RON!" The pair wrestled, pounded each other's backs and punched arms for minutes. They spoke in bits of sentences that did not make sense to most witnesses.

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"Good afternoon, Magistrate." Said Percy "Although for purposes of this case, the Defense feels Earl Potter's alleged lack of respect for rules and authority is irrelevant, we feel the Complainant's case demands refuting. I do have three witnesses, but only a few questions. Barring something unforeseen, we should be done within the hour."

York gave a surprised look "That would be pleasant, Mr. Weasley. Proceed."

And after he was sworn in Percy addressed his brother "Ron, I would like to address-"

"Excuse me, Magistrate" Flint stood to object "Procedure does require a certain formality in the courtroom."

Percy rolled his eyes in a painful look "Your Honor, this is barely an exaggeration when I say I could almost fill this courtroom with Misters Weasley. May I proceed? - Thank you. - There are two incidents in your First Year I would like to ask about. Please tell us about your first Potions Class, focusing on Harry Potter."

"Professor Snape targeted Harry with an unanswerable question on the first day." Ron replied "Then punished him for not knowing the answer."

Flint protested "There is no independent substantiation of this alleged incident."

"I plan to cover that with my final witness." Percy retorted with a smirk "Just a last one, Ron… I assume you have no problem remembering Halloween?"

Ron frowned and blushed painfully "Not my best moment but, no. I insulted a classmate…who ahhh….ran off crying. And as a result was endangered when a troll broke into the school. Harry noticed she was missing and made me follow him to get her. Just in time to prevent her getting killed."

"You did not name the supposed student, Mr. Weasley." Flint took over "It would be impossible to corroborate your statement." The Dursleys looked rather pleased with themselves at that point of logic.

If anything, Ron looked more miserable, answered distantly "Hermione Granger."

"I see." Marcus suddenly backed down "About Professor Snape. He always displayed fairness to me. I find any allegation against him, particularly as he is deceased, indefensible."

Ron countered coldly "First, he was a Death Eater. Second, you were a Slytherin. Third, none of us was Harry. Last, he was a Death Eater."

"The Court, Mr. Weasley, is aware of Death Eaters and the Hogwarts House system." Magistrate York cut in "Explain please, how this relates to the Earl's schooling."

After some cross questioning, Ron explained "Snape the most biased professor we ever had. Gave detentions and took points from any non-Slytherin for even breathing wrong. But, he singled out Harry as a special case. We didn't know at the time, but Harry's father and his friends bullied Snape in school and Snape was under the impression Mr. Potter stole his girlfriend."

"Seems rulebreaking runs in the family." Flint commented, with a nasty look at Harry. And his clients were delighted at this revelation. Flint continued "But, I do not see how events of three decades ago bear on today."

Percy pointed out "They do…if said events lead a person in the position of trust and authority abuses to punish an utterly innocent child. Rather like the abuse your clients heaped upon mine."

"Have you any witnesses to support that fallacy?" Marcus demanded.

Percy offered an elegant eyebrow raise in response and said "Let's deal with current fallacies, Mr. Flint. Defendant calls Miss Ginevra Weasley. Would the plaintiff require I address my sister formally?"

"Careful, Mr. Weasley." Warned York.

Harry, and Ginny on the stand, both laughed "I believe the solicitor should address me appropriately." She declared, haughtily "Proceed. Mr. Weasley."

"Very well." He said crossly, through chuckles around the courtroom "Your interactions with my client over the years, Miss Weasley. Do you recall your first encounter?"

Ginny gave a somewhat sad look "The year before I started at Hogwarts. He was even smaller than me. Politely asked us how to get onto Platform 9 ¾. Looking back, I wish I'd known then he was abused by those foul Muggles." She turned a hateful glare on the Dursleys.

"You are a member of House Potter. Why?" asked Percy.

Ginny smiled softly at Harry and answered "Harry… Earl Potter…saved my life and my soul by defeating both the shade of a young Voldemort and killing-singlehandedly, I might add, a twenty meter Basilisk. By every right, under magical law, I am his in every way."

"Hah!" Vernon snorted "Little whore! I knew it!"

To say the court erupted would be an understatement, exploded would be more like it. Before any violence could be committed an Auror's wand blasted a blinding flash of light and ear piercing noise. York nodded "Thank you Auror Tomarkin. No violence and no damage to the room. Mr. Dursley that will be a £500 fine, payable before the next hearing. Assuming, that is, I allow your suit to continue. And you will not speak in this courtroom again unless spoken to."

Vernon slapped the table in front of him, blustered, but was settled down by Petunia and Marcus. Harry, who had been furious, shot a mocking smile at his Uncle. Flint said "I fail to see the relevance of this witness, so I have no questions."

"A last witness. I call Minerva McGonagall." Announced Percy. With as much, if not more, respect as the Magistrate every former Hogwarts student in the room rose and remained standing until she sat in the witness chair. She was sworn "Headmistress, good afternoon. I do not wish to take up either the court's, or yours. The Plaintiffs have accused my client of being a rule breaker. Would you describe him in that particular way?"

The Headmistress somehow smiled without changing expression "Mr. Potter a rule breaker? Oh yes, it is safe to say that he was."

"And that he did not ALWAYS follow a teacher's instructions?" he added.

She nodded "A fair assessment."

"When he broke rules, or disobeyed a teacher, were the results ultimately positive or negative?" asked Percy.

She frowned "It is not that simple."

"Three quick questions, Headmistress. In the case of Severus Snape, was Harry Potter mistreated by an authority in Hogwarts?" he asked.

She nodded "Yes, however, a wrong cannot be corrected unless it is brought to the attention of others in HIGHER authority."

"Well, we'll address that in a moment." Percy countered "Harry Potter and my brother, Ronald, went to the authority on Dark Arts in their Second Year for help in saving the life and very soul of my sister, Ginevra. Tell me, Headmistress, which one of the three ultimately slew a twenty meter Basilisk?"

McGonagall was left in an awkward position. She considered Lockhart a boob, but he was at one time a colleague and appointed by the man she still worshipped. She chose the simple, accurate answer "Mister Potter was ultimately responsible for saving Miss Weasley."

"Now, I would call your attention to the spring of 1992. What did you tell three students who came to you with a report the Sorcerer's Stone was going to be stolen?" he asked.

She glared at him "You did not discuss this with me in our meeting, Mr. Weasley."

"Magistrate." Percy ignored her anger "Please instruct the witness to answer."

Although aware of the Magical world, York was a Muggle and not awed by the Headmistress "Answer the question."

"Is this the way you learned in Gryffindor?" she asked, coldly.

Percy looked as if he'd been struck, but rallied "Ms. McGonagall, in this courtroom, my first and only loyalty is to Harry Potter. If I had the need, and the court had the patience, I could point out all the wrongs committed on my client by your house of loyalty. Maybe their symbol should be a jackal, or would RAT fit better? Now, answer the question."

Harry sat there, goggling at his attorney. He'd said such things in fury and bitterness, but to hear it uttered in such a matter of fact way left him speechless.

"I shall not shall not suffer insults to my House!" exclaimed McGonagall in a cold rage. She got up and swept out of the witness chair.

York hammered his gavel "The witness will sit back down. Aurors! Restrain her!"