Chapter 7: Tribulations…
"Thank you Amelia," Fudge gave a small bow, as if about to introduce some entertainment, "I would like to ask Auror Dreyfus McCarthy to return to give us more evidence."
"This is most irregular, Minister, witnesses are normally required to give all of their testimony at once." Madam Bones turned to the Minister.
"I am aware of that, and apologise, but it was necessary, to make the argument easy to follow."
"Very well," Madam Bones acknowledged with a frown, "Could Auror McCarthy please resume his place in front of the Wizengamot."
The Irishman took his feet, and strode back over in his easy stride. He smiled at the elders.
"Auror McCarthy, after the search for Professor Dumbledore was called off, you were placed in charge of an investigation of the events in the Department of Mysteries, the night that You-Know-Who made his return known, is that correct?" Fudge began, and the entire room seemed to draw in their breath, as if this was the moment they had been waiting for.
"It is." The Auror acknowledged.
"Could you give the Wizengamot a brief outline as to your findings to date?"
"I could, but I reckon the people who know what happened the best are sitting over there." He nodded to Harry, Ron and Hermione genially. "We were not permitted to interview them about the occurrences on the night of the twenty-eighth of May by their Guardians and Headmaster, and many details are not known for certain. I can tell you what we believe to have happened however."
"Yes, yes, please do." Fudge sounded irritated, and Harry could tell that either the conversation hadn't been rehearsed, or the Auror was refusing to simply say solely what Fudge wanted him to.
"On the afternoon of the twenty-eighth of May, the O.W.L. students at Hogwarts had a History of Magic exam, which started at two p.m. Professor Tofty reports that Mr Potter had to be led out of the exam early complaining of 'a nightmare'. At six-thirty p.m. the then Headmistress Umbridge became aware of intruders in her office. Her suspicions were heightened when Mr Ron Weasley reported to her that the school poltergeist was causing trouble when she knew he was the other side of the castle to the reported area. She immediately returned to her office, where she found three more friends of Mr Potter keeping watch. Entering her office she found Miss Hermione Granger keeping guard at the window, and Mr Harry Potter attempting to communicate via floo powder to persons unknown.
"Ms Umbridge reports that she attempted to question the intruders, and from the intelligence they offered, she ventured into the Forbidden Forest with Mr Potter and Miss Granger. Unfortunately she was met by a band of mutinous centaurs and Mr Potter and Miss Granger eluded her during the struggle. We believe that everyone that had been apprehended by the Headmistress then flew on Thestrals to the Ministry of Magic." There was more than one gasp from the Upper Circle, but the Auror continued. "The Thestrals in Hogwarts are completely trained, and the students obviously knew that.
"From the hurry that they were in to reach the Ministry of Magic, and the happenings in the History of Magic exam, we believe that Harry Potter had a vision of something or someone in the Department of Mysteries. Given that we believe Sirius Black to have perished that night, and the man's connection with the murders of Lily and James Potter, Harry's parents; it is possible that he was attempting to apprehend the escaped convict."
Once more, Harry found Ron's hand on his shoulder, and this time the court watched his fight to stand up.
"We realise that the subject is difficult for you, Harry," Fudge said in the fatherly voice he had used in Harry's third year, "but we must ask you to try to remain calm for the moment." Harry glared at him, and forced himself half out of his seat, before Ron pushed him down again.
"You won't clear his name here, with Fudge and Umbridge going after Snape." Hermione hissed, quiet enough for only Harry and Ron to hear.
Harry did not look at Hermione, but he stopped struggling.
"Very good Harry, very good." Harry heard Fudge say distantly.
He was staring straight ahead, past Snape, at a spot on the wall below the Minister, trying desperately to control the mixed emotions that were swelling up inside him. He was torn between fury and despair, and only the inability to make up his mind between the two was preventing him from speaking. And he wished that damned scar would stop hurting, making it even harder to think straight. Clear your mind, Harry.
McCarthy was speaking again, but Harry was only barely listening. "Yes Minister, as you say, as far as we can make out, You-Know-Who sent his Death Eaters to force Harry Potter to take down a prophecy that referred to the two of them. Although the prophecy was removed and the charms protecting it negated as a result, Mr Potter refused to hand the prophecy over, and a fight ensued.
"Unfortunately, many prophecies were destroyed in the fight, including, we believe, the one that You-Know-Who was so interested in. As far as we know, it remained unheard, and so we have no way of knowing why he wanted to hear it. During the fight, Sirius Black was forced through the veil, and, we must believe, perished. Bellatrix Lestrange and You-Know-Who himself cornered Mr Potter, but fled from Albus Dumbledore when he came upon the three of them."
"So, not only did He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named nearly gain knowledge of an important prophecy, but Harry Potter, and five of his friends were placed in danger because of a vision?" Fudge asked.
Harry took a deep breath, and continued to only pay partial attention to the words being said.
"As far as we know." McCarthy agreed. "We could find no other reason that Harry Potter and his friends could have for being in the Ministry at the same time as Death Eaters. We all know that Harry Potter had good reason not to believe the Ministry would help him just a few months ago," Fudge glared at the Auror, but McCarthy looked unabashed, "I would theorise that he was trying to communicate with Professor Dumbledore about the vision via the floo powder, I can see no other conclusion that would fit the facts as well."
"But the vision is certain?" Fudge pressed.
"Almost certain," McCarthy corrected. "There must have been some message that alerted Mr Potter of Black and the other Death Eaters. The fact that he told Professor Tofty he had had a nightmare, would suggest that the vision was the form of the message. The fact he had a vision, naturally means Legilimency is very probably involved. He certainly could have had no defence against Legilimency, if that is what it was – it would take years for him to be able to block out any invading mind."
"Thank you, Auror McCarthy." Fudge said triumphantly. "I think that that will be all. Thank you for being so candid."
"Thank you Minister." He nodded at Dumbledore and Madam Bones again, before sitting down.
Fudge seemed to take a deep breath before continuing. "I would like to ask my Senior Undersecretary to give evidence. I realise this is again unusual Amelia," He continued, before she could say a word, "but I feel we need the ex-Headmistress of Hogwarts to give evidence concerning what happened that night."
Madam Bones merely nodded as a reply. Harry tuned back in again. He, Ron and Hermione shared meaningful glances. This was it. Fudge and Umbridge's biggest obstacle and their chance to shame the two of them was surely here. Umbridge stood up from her chair, and walked down the stairs to the ground. She and Snape eyed each other contemptuously, but neither said a word. Snape was taking Fudge's threat seriously.
"Dolores Umbridge," Fudge began, "You were the Headmistress of Hogwarts on the day of May the twenty-eighth, were you not?"
"I was, Minister." She replied, in her girlish voice.
"We have heard already that you apprehended six students that night, all of whom were related to an effort to use the Floo Network from your office, is this correct?"
"It is Minister. I had heard about Mr Potter's nightmare in his exam, and was concerned about both his and his fellow students' safety, so I was headed towards the Hospital Wing, where I was told he would be. On my way there, I was accosted first by Argus Filch, who told me that Peeves the Poltergeist was in the astronomy tower, and then Ron Weasley, who told me the Poltergeist was in the Transfiguration Room. This struck me immediately as suspicious, and when some alarm charms told me my office had been broken into, I was immediately worried for the children's wellbeing. I found the other children as I returned hastily."
Harry, Ron, and Hermione looked at each other in disbelief, but Fudge had an expression of deep understanding on his face, as he continued, "I see. What did you do when you found Harry Potter attempting to use your fireplace?"
"I immediately pulled him out. I could tell something important had happened, or was about to, and I was worried for all their safety."
"Of course, of course." Fudge murmured.
Harry wondered if a single person was fooled. Although, if Hermione was right and the court had been bought, then they probably were all too willing to be fooled.
"I questioned the children, but they refused to tell me what was happening. I cajoled, bargained, and practically begged them to let me know what the problem was, but to no avail. I could see on their faces that something was bothering them however, so out of desperation, I sent for Professor Snape, and asked him if he knew of any reason they may have been trying to use the fireplace. Snape refused point blank to help. He looked unsurprised to see the children there, and stared at Mr Potter, keeping eye-contact.
"He sneered, and suggested I poisoned Potter, until he told me what the matter was. I realise now that he must have scared Mr Potter for he burst out in desperation a message that I was unable to understand at the time.
"'He's in the place that it is hidden!'
"Of course, I realise now, that he must have been referring to the Department of Mysteries. Snape smiled, and then left the room looking extremely satisfied."
"What utter rubbish!" Snape burst out.
Quick as a flash, Fudge had his wand out. "Silencio!" He muttered. "I'm sorry Professor Snape, but I did warn you on numerous occasions. We simply can not function as a court if our witnesses are being interrupted, or intimidated. My apologies Dolores, please, continue."
Snape looked beside himself, he strained at his chains for the first time, since he had entered the room. He looked like he would like nothing better than to be allowed to perform curse, after curse, on the Minister. Harry was open mouthed, both at the nonsense Umbridge was spouting, and the fact that Fudge had silenced Snape.
"Thank you Minister." Umbridge simpered. "Once Snape had left, Mr Potter's panic left him, I suppose that he believed that he could get to the Ministry to go after Black himself, or else was just more comfortable without the man in the room. I was extremely worried at this stage, and pled again, for them to tell me what was happening. I am ashamed to admit, that my concern overrode my senses, and I even threatened them. Miss Granger, the poor dear, actually believed me, and told me that the reason why they were using the fire was in the Forbidden Forest. I of course, followed them to the forest, and you know what happened from then onwards. If I had only known what Mr Potter had seen, I could have stopped them, and explained that it was most likely a trap. I do not blame the boy for wanting revenge, but if he had only confided in me, all this could have been averted." She sighed.
"Thank you Dolores, I think that is all we need to know." Fudge ended, a note of satisfaction in his voice.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione just stared at the scene in front of them. Harry's mind had stopped working. It seemed to have got stuck on wondering how on earth Fudge and Umbridge thought they could get away with this.
"Now," said Fudge, "We have presented our evidence to you, and Professor Snape did not request any witnesses, so I would ask the Wizengamot to decide whether or not the accused, Professor Severus Snape, is guilty."
Madam Bones held up her hand. "I would like to verify the events if I may, Minister. That is why I asked Mr Potter, Miss Granger, and Mr Weasley to attend. Their testimony as to the events that night could condemn or vindicate a man." She turned to the three friends. "I quite understand that your guardians do not wish you to talk to the Ministry about the events on the twenty-eighth of May, and we will ask you to divulge as little as possible on the subject. However, in order for us to properly try this man, we require you by law to give an account of the events."
"Of course Amelia," Fudge said immediately, with an apologetic smile, "Mr Weasley, would you mind?"
Ron glanced around nervously, shocked at being singled out. Harry had been half out of his seat, expecting to be asked, and Hermione had had a look of determination on her face. Ron, however, seemed to have forgotten that he might be called upon to give evidence. He rose tentatively, as if hoping someone else would go for him. And it was only after Fudge repeated his request that he moved forward, before the whole court. He stepped forward before the court, his ears going red, looking quite shell shocked.
"No need to worry son." Madam Bones boomed. "We just need to ask you a question or two."
Immediately Ron had stood beside Snape, and looked up, Fudge took the initiative. "Mr Weasley, you have been a friend of Mr Potter's throughout school, have you not?"
"Er, yes, I have." Ron replied nervously.
"Excellent. You sleep in the same dormitory in Gryffindor, do you not?"
"Um, well, yeah, we do."
"Have you noticed anything different about Mr Potter's sleeping patterns in the last year? Has he been sleeping badly, or having nightmares more than usual?" Fudge dropped the bombshell before Ron had time to gain any of his confidence.
There was a nervous silence, where nothing was said. Hermione and Harry watched Ron without breathing. "N- No, not really." But there had been too long a hesitation for anyone to believe him, and Harry knew it. There was a murmur in the court, and Ron looked desperately at Harry and Hermione and his already red ears started to reach a deeper shade.
"Mr Weasley –" Dumbledore began, in a calm voice, but Fudge interrupted him.
"Professor Dumbledore, I am aware you are only trying to help, but we must obey Wizengamot protocol, only I or Madam Bones should ask the questions."
Dumbledore's eyes became a steely blue, but for now he seemed content not to intervene. Harry was betting he would if Snape was convicted.
"As you wish Minister." He said in a tranquil tone.
"Are you sure, Mr Weasley?" Fudge pressed.
"I- yes, I'm certain."
Fudge didn't press, but moved on to another question. "These one to one remedial potions lessons your friend had with Professor Snape – did Mr Potter seem different after them?"
"Not really." Ron replied, trying to sound more confident.
"What do you mean?" asked Fudge.
"Well, he wasn't really any different to how he was after any of the potions classes. I mean, they have never got on from the day they met." Ron seemed to realise that that wasn't the best thing to have said, and, trying to recover, continued, "He wasn't as bad as after his detentions with Professor Umbridge though."
Of course – comparing the sessions to getting your hand ripped open, and the blood used as ink, probably wasn't the best move either.
"I see…" Fudge mused. "On the twenty-eighth of May, to your knowledge, did Harry Potter have some kind of vision?"
By this time Harry, was looking at Dumbledore imploringly for help for Ron, and saw Dumbledore give the smallest of nods. Ron however, was looking at Harry and Hermione for assistance, rather than Dumbledore. By the time Harry had thought to pass Dumbledore's message on, there had been another lengthy pause, which told the watching witches and wizards all they wanted to know. That Fudge's version was right.
Ron floundered, unable to form a coherent sentence, and Fudge seized upon his nervousness. "Now, now, Mr Weasley, there is no need to be anxious, you and your friends are not on trial here, nor will you be. Surely there was a reason for you coming to this building that night?"
"I, well, yes there was, but-"
"And that reason was based upon something Mr Potter had told you, is that correct?"
"I… yes, it was but-" Ron looked horror-struck at his unconscious admission, and blurted out, "It's not Harry's fault!"
"No-one is blaming you or your friends for anything, Mr Weasley." Madam Bones cut in. "Can we assume that Mr Potter did have a vision then?"
"Yes, I think he did." Ron admitted at last. "He saw Sirius being t- tortured by Y-You-Know-Who."
"Sirius?" Madam Bones asked in a tone of surprise. "Sirius Black, I take it?"
"Yes, Harry's Godfather." And at last, Harry was glad of Ron's response. They were finally moving towards clearing Sirius' name.
"Of course," Fudge said in a low but clear voice, "you wanted to take advantage of his being in a weaker state." He continued questioning before anything else could be said or done. "So the six of you went looking for Black did you?"
"Yes, we did. That's why we went to Umbridge's room, we needed the Floo network, and all of the other fires were being watched. I mean, the Ministry would have taken every opportunity to try and get Harry in trouble, wouldn't they? You just have to look at what Umbridge did that night." Ron had finally found his feet, and was beginning to make a stand. "But Sirius wasn't -"
Fudge interrupted him, completely changing the thread of the questions, obviously trying to avoid references to what had happened in Umbridge's office or Sirius Black. Onto the subject that presently unnerved Harry the most: the Prophecy. "Mr Weasley, the Ministry believes that the particular prophecy that involves both Harry Potter and the Dark Lord was one of the many prophecies that were broken, is that correct?
"Yeah, it was." Ron nodded.
"Did anyone hear what it said, before it was broken?" Fudge continued.
"Hem, hem." Umbridge interrupted. "Cornelius, given what it is that Professor Snape is on trial for, perhaps it would be best if he was escorted out of the room, so that he is unable to gain any information for his master."
"Alleged master." Dumbledore corrected quietly.
"Quite so, quite so." Fudge agreed, "Amelia, do you see any problems with this?"
"I don't believe so Minister, if it were a matter of evidence against the accused, our laws would forbid it, but it is more a matter of understanding the gravity of the situation, and any consequences of the event that have to be dealt with."
"Excellent. Dawlish, Ferguson, could you escort the accused back to a holding cell please."
The Aurors that had accompanied Snape into the room, now sprung up, to take positions either side of him. The chains undid themselves, allowing Snape to stand, which he did, glaring at his accusers, and still silenced by the charm. He allowed himself to be steered out of the room, and only when the doors slammed shut again, did Fudge re-ask the question.
"Mr Weasley, to your knowledge did anybody hear or see anything of the prophecy when it was destroyed?"
"I don't know. I didn't see it break." Ron replied stoutly.
"From what you have been told by friends, did anyone else see it break?" Fudge pressed.
Ron didn't hesitate this time, but his ears, which had been returning to a normal shade, became a little redder. "I really don't know. None of us have really wanted to talk about it much." This wasn't exactly true of course – Hermione in particular had wanted Harry to talk about the events that night.
Madam Bones seemed to be able to tell Ron wasn't being entirely truthful, and said, in a far gentler voice than usual, "We really must know Mr Weasley, it is very possible that these people could be in grave danger if He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named was to find out that they had witnessed some part of the prophecy."
"Then it would be best if I didn't tell you, even if I knew," Ron said smartly, and Harry gave an inward cheer for him, "after all, if no-one knew about them, You-Know-Who wouldn't be able to find out either, would he?"
"It is far-" Umbridge began, but was interrupted by a polite cough from Dumbledore, who had a look of amusement on his face.
Fudge was forced to make the same statement he had made to Dumbledore, "Thank you Dolores, but it is best if Amelia or I to ask the questions I believe. Mr Weasley, it is imperative that we can make arrangements to protect the witnesses from You-Know-Who, as if he is able to find out their names on his own, they will be defenceless without our help. Also, this prophecy may be key to thwarting him."
"Minister," Dumbledore said calmly, "is this hearing supposed to be about ascertaining the innocence or guilt of a man, or fighting Voldemort?" There was the usual flinch at the name.
"The prophecy is vital to the understanding of the events, Dumbledore, I merely added that it was something that could be used to fight You-Know-Who too." Fudge, now, was turning slightly red.
"I'm afraid I must agree with the Minister, Albus," Madam Bones replied, "if He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named's goal was this prophecy, then it is the motive for the crime that Professor Snape has been accused of. It is of utmost relevance to the trial, and the Wizengamot."
Professor Dumbledore bowed slightly to Madam Bones, and said no more. Harry if anything became even tenser than when the subject had first been introduced. Ron, of course, knew that both Harry and Neville had been right next to the Prophecy when it smashed. He also knew that neither of them had heard it then, and had no clue that Harry had heard it later. But Fudge wouldn't believe it from Ron. He'd want to ask Harry, and Neville, and who knows what magical means there might be of recovering the prophecy from their memories. He started when he felt a hand grasp his own. Hermione had slid into the seat next to him, and was doing her best to show support – just as Ron was trying to protect him in the centre of the room. Harry felt a surge of gratitude to his friends.
"Mr Weasley, to your knowledge did Mr Potter give the prophecy to anybody else during the fight in the Department of Mysteries?" Fudge asked.
"I don't know." Ron replied, trying to delay the inevitable.
"So in other words, as far as you know he didn't." Fudge supplied.
"No I didn't." Harry said loudly, rising from his seat and withdrawing his hand from Hermione's. "Ron wouldn't know, he had been hurt during the fight, so why don't you ask me the questions instead?"
There was a deathly silence in the courtroom. Everyone had turned to look at Harry. Ron looked torn between relief, worry, and surprise. Harry wasn't sure about Hermione, but he was willing to bet that if he looked to his side, he would see a face of set disapproval. Fudge had an expression of greed on his face, Umbridge an expression of anticipation, and Madam Bones an expression that bordered on amazement. Dumbledore, however, looked supremely unperturbed by Harry's interruption, if anything he looked like he had been expecting it.
"Very well, then, Mr Potter," Fudge surprisingly was managing to keep an even tone, "could you retake your position before the court please."
Harry stood up, deliberately not looking at Hermione, but sensing her glare nonetheless. He made his way towards Ron, who for his part stood there, waiting for Harry to join him. Not out of uncertainty as to what he was meant to do, but out of a determination to stand by Harry.
Madam Bones spoke before Harry had quite reached Ron's side, and before Fudge had begun to say anything himself. "Before we go any further, I should like to return to the matter of what took place in Headmistress Umbridge's office that night. Specifically, as regards Professor Snape, the accused. Was Professor Snape indeed summoned to her office?" Fudge turned scarlet with anger, but said nothing.
Ron answered quickly, before Harry could. "Yes, he was. Professor Umbridge was livid that Harry had been using the Floo and demanded that we told her why. She and her Inquisitorial Squad –"
"Her what?" Bones asked.
"The Inquisitorial Squad was a group of Slytherins that she gave power to do what they liked in the school. They were the kind of people that would come up to us, and take house points away for someone not being of Pureblood. They were holding us as prisoners, Neville was almost suffocating. She yelled at us some more, and then summoned Professor Snape. He ordered Neville to be released from the grip that was around his neck. Umbridge asked him for some Veritaserum, but he told her she had taken his last stock to quiz Harry about Dumbledore's location and that she should have plenty left of it if she'd used it properly." Ron sounded like he was trying to say everything he could before Fudge interrupted him again.
"Are you telling me," Madam Bones began, enraged, "that the restrictions for the use of Veritaserum have been completely disregarded by the Minister's Senior Undersecretary, and likewise the man that supervised her running of the school, our own Minister? Please continue Mr Weasley, what else shall we find out?"
Fudge's shade of red was slowly becoming paler, not from any less anger (indeed, he seemed angrier if anything), but from fear it seemed. He turned to glare at Dolores Umbridge.
"Harry tried to tell the Professor that Sirius was being tortured by You-Know-Who, not scared he might kill him. Harry was staring at him non-stop, I think he was hoping Snape could see the vision he had seen via Legilimency. Snape left, after being told that he was being put on probation for his lack of cooperation. She threatened Harry with the Cruciatus curse if he didn't tell her what she wanted to know. She said that the Minister wouldn't care how she got the information. As if to prove this, she told us that it had been her that had sent the Dementors after Harry a year ago." Almost everyone gasped. "She finally decided to use the Cruciatus curse to try and get information and was halfway through the incantation, when Hermione pretended to break down and tell her 'everything'. She already started to say it. None of us could do anything else."
"The Cruciatus curse? Commanding Dementors to attack an underage wizard? Ms Umbridge, what have you to say?"
"I told you I lost my temper and threatened them; I had no intent to follow through with it. The lie I said about the Dementors was part of the threat." Umbridge's voice was cold, and ever-so-slightly strained.
Fudge's face was one of utter surprise, whether real or contrived, and he quickly inserted, "I have no idea what has happened, Amelia, I should like to get to the bottom of this myself."
Madam Bones stared at Umbridge, a look of unbridled disgust on her face. With a huge effort she turned back to the two boys on the floor. She did not continue the subject, but picked up on something else Ron had said.
"You knew Snape could do Legilimency, Mr Potter?"
As his name was the one that was asked, Harry opened his mouth for the first time since he had come to stand beside Ron. "Well, we kind of worked it out. But that's not really the point, is it?"
Harry chanced a look at Hermione. She didn't look quite as furious as he expected but just as determined. He imagined she must be trying to conceal her feelings.
"Well, Mr Potter, the fact that you know that Professor Snape is able to do Legilimency certainly lessens the chance that he would have been able to impart a vision to you without your knowledge." Madam Bones switched tack back again. "So Mr Weasley, Miss Granger managed to fool the Headmistress did she?"
Ron's affirmative, was joined by another voice, Hermione's own. "Yes, I did, Madam Bones." She walked to her two friends in the middle of the court uninvited, and the three of them stared up at the Wizengamot. "I told her that we had been working on a weapon for Professor Dumbledore, and wanted to try to tell him it was completed. I told her it was in the Forbidden Forest, and she took Harry and me there, without wands.
"She told us to go in front, and so we did, after Harry had asked for a wand if we had to go first, and were told that the Ministry valued her life, a lot, lot more than they valued ours. We met some centaurs that she provoked into attacking us, and we managed to get away in the fight."
Madam Bones' expression of disgust was copied by some of the others in the upper seating. "We seem to have a completely contrary report from these students to the one we were given by Ms Umbridge. I believe there is enough in what the students have said for an enquiry to be carried out about the Minister and his Undersecretary's actions this past year. But I think what we have learnt as regards this trial is that Harry Potter knew and trusted Professor Snape well enough to try and get a coded message through to him, without the person he feared knowing.
"I shall let the Minister resume his previous questions now, unless the three of you would like to say anything more?" She asked the trio, who shook their heads.
Fudge still looked livid, but his face was now white with fury, and, Harry suspected, the probable loss of his life as Minister.
"I can assure you, Madam Bones, that there will be a full inquiry into the matter. I had no idea–"
"I am sure there will be an inquiry Cornelius, and I should like to head it." Madam Bones said frostily, "If we could return to the matter at hand however?"
Fudge nodded decisively. "Very well. Let us see what we can find out."
Harry knew that Fudge had to want revenge, but he felt he could cope with anything that was thrown at him. He wasn't sure whether it was because he had Ron and Hermione beside him, or if it was the fact that he was getting revenge against Umbridge, but he felt as determined as the night when Sirius – when they were in the Department of Mysteries. He had had five friends at his back then, all ready to stand alongside him, and face the Death Eaters. Even though there was the fact that he had been tricked into placing them all in danger, they had all stood beside him, trusting him to make the correct decision, to say the right thing. He could almost picture the scene, Malfoy, and Lestrange and the rest of the cowards that hid behind masks. Bellatrix took her hood off, showing her face to him–
A surge of anger that Harry had rarely felt before briefly travelled through him. He would kill her. Whatever happened at the end, Bellatrix would die at his hand. Suddenly the idea of murdering someone didn't seem as unappealing. But… Lestrange was a murderer. Voldemort was a murderer. Pettigrew was a murderer. If he became a murderer then would he be any different than them? What if he enjoyed the feeling it gave him? How could he ever face his friends again? The rage left him to be replaced by helplessness. He swayed slightly, and shook the thoughts out of his head. Fudge had been saying something.
"Answer the question! Could you explain how the prophecy got broken please, Mr Potter." Fudge said in an aggressive, irritable tone.
"I – Sorry – I got hit by a jinx, and couldn't keep hold of it; it flew into the air, and then smashed upon the ground. Because of all the noise and action around, I was the only one who even saw it, but I couldn't hear a word the prophecy said. No-one could, even if they had seen it."
"So you didn't hear it then?"
"No. I didn't."
"So you have no idea what it may have said, then?"
"I… What do you mean? It smashed in the middle of a fight – I said I didn't hear it." Harry responded, being careful not to lie, but trying to choose his words in such a way that they could be misinterpreted. There was no such luck however.
"Do you have any idea of what the prophecy may be, Mr Potter? Were you able to find out from other sources?" Here Fudge glanced at Dumbledore, "What about the person the prophecy was made to?" His voice sounded venomous, as if he wanted to cause as much trouble as he could to those that had been instrumental to the possible loss of his job, as he saw it.
"I…" Harry felt sluggish somehow, and he could practically see Dumbledore's office.
The scene while he was waiting for Dumbledore in the morning of the twenty-ninth. The scene where he had discovered what the words of the Prophecy were. It was as if it were a film for him to watch, just progressing as Harry remembered. Dumbledore appeared, spoke to the portraits, and soon Harry would be told the Prophecy. The damn Prophecy. Beside him, Hermione seemed anything but sluggish, and he vaguely heard her asking what right the Ministry had to know anything about a prophecy relating to two people, if they wish it to be kept silent.
But Harry wasn't listening to the words Hermione had to say, or the words that were being returned. He didn't even feel Ron's arm on his back, to help him keep his balance. All he could see was the study, and all he knew was that soon the Prophecy would be revealed to him. 'It is time for me to tell you' he could hear Dumbledore say, and wanted to yell that he didn't want to hear it. What timing Dumbledore had had! Here you go Harry: you just have led your fellow students into a trap; you've lost Sirius, the closest thing to a parent you have known; you're in the middle of destroying my office, you are so miserable; and now I'll go and land this Prophecy on top of you. Harry's scar flared. Not enough for him to yell out, but enough for him to know it was there. He gasped, and heard someone else do the same. There was a muffled sound all around him, almost like people talking at once a long distance away.
Suddenly he felt that hand on his back, forcefully keeping him standing. Somehow Ron was now in his memory of Dumbledore's office. Ron, knew how much Sirius had meant to him, Ron knew how his parents had died, and the traitor that did it got away free. Ron knew that Sirius had been innocent. Ron… was saying something behind him. That was odd… Harry thought vaguely, Ron wasn't even here in Dumbledore's office, how could he say something?
"C'mon Harry, fight him. If I had that dreamless sleep potion I'd give it to you, but you promised you'd fight him as hard as you could if it happened. Remember something else! Show him something he doesn't want to see."
Something he doesn't want to see? Something who doesn't want to see? How could Harry change the memory he was living anyway, and what would he change it to? Oh God, he missed Sirius. Sirius always gave him the answers he needed to hear – even if he didn't know it at the time. Sometimes they were right, sometimes they were wrong, but he had needed to hear the words he said at those times. But Sirius was now…
The image changed - a memory of Sirius, a picture of him frozen in time, flying towards a veil. Harry let forth a howl of misery. A second later, it was joined by a howl of pain, as his scar burst into oblivion. A howl which was echoed from elsewhere in the courtroom.
X x X x X x X x X
"Harry!" Hermione whispered frantically. "Harry, wake up!"
Harry looked around, feeling a bump on the back of his head. Hermione and Ron seemed to have dragged him away from the centre of the room. To his surprise, he wasn't being stared at by the entire Wizengamot, but only a small group. The attention of the bulk of the court was directed at Professor Robin Fleming who was lying in a heap without moving. Auror McCarthy's wand was pointing directly at him, and his wasn't the only one, Professor Dumbledore had a furious fire in his eyes, and his aim did not waver.
He sat up, and accepted Ron's hand, which helped him to his feet. His legs seemed to want to collapse, and his stomach gave an alarming lurch, but he was determined not to show it. An old woman, who was looking at him with a worried look on her face, carefully stepped forward.
"Are you okay dear?" She asked in concern.
"Yeah." Harry replied, but he had to fight against vomit that was trying to fight its way out. "I think I need some air." He said weakly.
"I'll take you lad," A stout man with a scraggly beard said, stepping forward too, "you'll feel better outside the courtroom."
"We'll come too." Hermione said stepping forward.
"No." Harry said, and then muttered so that only she could hear, "Tell me what happens in here when I come back."
Harry's legs wobbled ever so slightly, and the man came to his side, and took his arm.
"Come on, here we go. Easy now."
As the doors of the courtroom opened to allow them to exit, Fudge's voice echoed across the courtroom. "Where are you going with Mr Potter, Carruthers?"
The man by Harry's side turned around to answer. "The lad needs air Minister, I was helping him outside."
Harry continued out of the door, where Mrs Weasley and Ginny were waiting. They jumped up off their seats, as the door closed behind him, so Harry could not hear what was being said in the courtroom between Fudge, and the man who had helped him to the door.
"Harry! What's happened dear?" Mrs Weasleys asked, as she made to give him a bone breaking hug.
Harry backed off slightly. "I'm just not feeling great. I need to go to the toilet."
Mrs Weasley grabbed hold of Harry, but gave him a hug that was so delicate, it seemed as if she thought he would be knocked down by a small breeze.
Harry extricated himself from her clutches. "I'll be back in a minute."
"I'll go with you." Ginny offered.
Despite himself, Harry's face cracked into a grin, and Ginny suddenly realised what she had said.
"I meant walk you up to the bathrooms you great twit!" She glared.
"I'm not that ill." Harry said irritably, "I'll be back in a few seconds."
Harry had just made his way up to a corner, when he heard a man shout from behind him.
"Mr Potter! Stay where you are, and we'll escort you."
Harry didn't look back, or show any signs of having heard the man. Once he was out of view of the doorway, he ran. He heard Mrs Weasley yelling at whoever was behind him, and somebody shouting back.
"I think he can find his way to the toilet on his own!" Mrs Weasley was yelling. "You've probably scared him out of his wits! You DO know that the Ministry was trying to commit him to St Mungo's for all of last year, don't you?"
Harry couldn't hear all of the reply, but what he did hear confirmed his fears. "You don't understand Ma'am! We have to make sure he's safe… could be dangerous! Professor Fleming… You Know Who! … kill … find him!"
Of course – Harry thought. He had just had Voldemort inside his head, and crashed to the ground in agony. The Ministry probably thought Voldemort had possessed him, and was running around the Ministry, ready to kill anyone he came across. Harry ran up the stairs that led to the Department of Mysteries floor, and the elevator. He wasn't sure where he could go, but he wanted to avoid being captured and thrown into Azkaban, or some warded room in St Mungo's for as long as possible. Irrational thoughts flooded his head all at once, mixing together, and making even less sense.
The door at the top of the stairs burst open in front of Harry before he reached it. He ran through it and looked to his right, where the lift had just come to a stop, and people were about to step out. A couple of them had raised wands, and were pointing them right at Harry. He looked around frantically. One of the witches who were aiming at Harry yelled. Harry leapt to the side, afraid of a curse, and before he had even reached for his wand, the lights dimmed, the people who were jumping out towards him were flung back inside, and the elevator door slammed shut.
The only way left to Harry was inside the Department of Mysteries itself, so, barely knowing what he was doing, he ran down the corridor, until he reached the black door at the end. Again, without need for wand or hand, the door burst open, and slammed behind him as he entered. The lights dimmed, and the room revolved around, as it had when Harry and the others had entered it weeks ago.
Harry paused. Where could he go? He was trapped, in a place that was full of dangerous unknown things, which even the most knowledgeable wizards knew little about. There was a banging sound behind one of the doors – Harry assumed the one he had come through – and Harry reached out to the door knob of the one immediately opposite him. It was locked. The door seemed to bend towards him, as if it were a thin sheet of plywood, and someone, or something behind it was trying to get through to Harry, but it stayed fastened.
Harry backed away, and tried another door. A large room which seemed to be made up solely of working desks opened up before him. He had the barest of moments to notice bell jars, tanks, and artefacts of various shapes and sizes scattered around the room, before a man cried out.
"Hey! What are you doing here! The charms should have kept anyone without clearance out!"
Harry slammed the door closed, and he heard a resounding click, as if the door had locked. The room revolved, and he chose another door at random. The room that was revealed caused Harry to draw back. It was a large rectangular room, with many doors leading into it. Rows upon rows of benches descended to a pit, where, upon a stone platform, was an archway, with a tattered black veil covering the entrance. There was no-one inside. Harry swallowed and looked around wildly. It sounded as if there were people trying to bang their way through every other door that opened into the room he was currently standing in. Harry was trapped. There was nowhere else to run. He stepped through the doorway, door closing behind him.
Like a dream, or a nightmare, Harry descended to the pit, jumping onto each bench, one by one, slowly approaching the veil. This was where Sirius had died. Lupin had stopped Harry going through the archway, to try to pull him back, back to the world of the living, where Harry needed him. There was whispering coming from behind the curtain, just like Harry remembered, and as he reached the ground, and drew near to the raised dais itself, the curtain seemed to be blown backwards, as if an invisible figure had been thrown through it.
"Harry! Harry! What are you doing?" Ginny's panic stricken voice came from the top of the room.
Harry didn't answer, but rather raised his hand, to touch the crumbling structure. It was cool to the touch, clammy, more like a very ill person's skin, than powdery stone. Harry didn't withdraw his hand. He was struck by a sudden urge to enter the archway, and see what was on the other side. It had to be better than this. Harry jerked back. He didn't know where that thought had come from, but it scared him. Looking around, he saw Ginny making her way down the benches, or steps, or whatever they were, towards him. As their eyes met, she stopped.
"Please Harry, come away from there." There were tears in her eyes now, and Harry looked away.
Back towards the stone arch.
There was the sound of a gasp from Ginny, as she apparently found it impossible to keep descending. An invisible barrier had formed stopping her from continuing down to Harry. A door opened above, and Harry looked up sharply. A man was about to enter the room through one of the side doors. It was the auror called Dawlish. Harry glared at him, and he stopped moving before he could enter, the hand holding his wand struggling to lift it, and point it at Harry. The door slammed in his face, sealing itself shut with a squelching noise, once more blocking the way through to Harry.
Harry faltered, and swayed on the spot. He felt drained and tired. He reached out once more to the veil, touching the material itself this time. It was smooth, like silk, and deathly cold. Twisting it in his fingers, he was gripped with a sudden surge of anger, and tugged the frail material. Nothing happened. The cloth barely rippled.
"Harry please!" And Ginny was fighting against the tears now. "Please step away from it. We need you. Everyone does. Please."
Harry's voice was hoarse, but didn't shake, as he replied slowly. "Don't need me. Need The Boy-Who-Lived."
Emotions were welling up inside of him, and he fought against every unhappy feeling, everything he wished had never happened, which wanted to come to the surface. He rested his head on the stonework around the veil.
"That's not true Harry." Ginny said urgently. "None of us could care about that. It's you, Harry Potter, the person we need. Please – you have to believe me."
"That's all I am Ginny. The-Boy-Who-Voldemort-Should-Have-Killed-But-Didn't with his famous scar, and his band of mindless followers, that's what the Daily Prophet called me isn't it? And now the whole of the Wizengamot knows that Voldemort can attack me through Legilimency whenever he wants. What am I going to be now? The-Boy-Who-Lived-His-Life-In-Azkaban, or In-St-Mungo's?"
"No they don't Harry." Ginny said quickly, still trying to get through the invisible barrier, and speaking as fast as she could. "Some Professor was using Legilimency on you, and he's under arrest. It wasn't You-Know-Who."
Harry turned to look at her. Tears were running down her cheeks, and she looked frantic.
"Please Harry!" She entreated.
"I heard that Auror and your mum." Harry said. "He was talking about Voldemort, said I wasn't safe, and might kill people, and he had to find me."
"That's not what he said!" Ginny cried, "They think this Professor's working for You-Know-Who, and someone might try to kill you. Dumbledore wouldn't let them try to attack you. Fudge would have a riot on his hands anyway, haven't you read the Daily Prophet? Everyone wants Fudge out because of the way he treated you and everyone else last year! You have to believe me! Please… get away from the veil!"
Harry turned back once more, pushing his hand on the material, allowing a fingertip to pass underneath the stonework. It grew icy cold, and the very tip seemed to disappear. Harry withdrew it immediately. He stared at his hand, but it looked completely normal. For some reason, his mind flew to the Prophecy once more. …Either must die at the hand of the other… Did that mean Voldemort was the only one that could kill him, just as he was the only one that could kill Voldemort? He was again struck by the urge to walk through the curtain. Once more he drew back.
"So Voldemort's back, and everyone needs The-Boy-Who-Lived again. I can't do it. I can't do this." He waved his hand in a half-hearted gesture.
"Harry…" Ginny began, but Harry interrupted her.
"I can't be this person that people want me to be. I can't do it. No-one would care less about what happened to me if I wasn't this 'hero' that banished him when I was a child. They seem to think I'm brave, and noble, and clever, some sort of six foot muscled guy who could stop curses with his bare hands, and k- kill dark wizards by blinking. I'm none of those things. I'm not special. I'm just me. Just Harry."
He turned to look at Ginny once more, and she looked away for a second. When she met Harry's haunted eyes again, she seemed to be having trouble opening her mouth to speak.
"No-one expects you to kill You-Know-Who Harry, that's not your job."
The bitterness in Harry's hollow laugh surprised even himself. "Wanna bet?"
"And you are special Harry." Harry opened his mouth to protest, but she overrode him with a half sob, half laugh, which took him completely by surprise. "Anyone that can get that ass of a brother of mine to apologise for something in less than a month is nothing less than amazing.
"I was one of those people that had this vision of you as untouchable. Don't you remember me in first year? I thought you'd be this amazing guy, really confident, handsome, popular, cleverest person in the school. And then I met you. I was too scared to even talk to you, even though you were my brother's best friend. Then you saved my life in the Chamber, even though it was I that had released the basilisk." She shuddered at the memory. "It wasn't The-Boy-Who-Lived that saved my life, it was you, Harry.
"I was still too scared to talk to you, no matter what Ron, or the twins, or Hermione said. When I finally managed to pull up the courage to say something, you know what I found? That you were normal. Just like me. Even after everything you've been put through, you are a normal person. Someone that laughs, talks, and skips homework just like anyone else, and someone I'd take as a friend over what I'd imagined any day. You're special Harry, after being brought up with those Muggles, attacked by dark wizards, and dragons, and whatever else, you're still just you, just Harry. That's what makes you special."
Harry opened his mouth to say something, and the Weasley fire in Ginny ignited, and she said ferociously, wiping her tears from her face. "Don't you dare disagree with me! Now let me get down there."
"What?" Harry said blankly, as Ginny kept trying to push her way through the barrier. "Oh… I don't know how I'm doing that." He shook his head and then gave a sad smile and half shrug. "I don't really know what's happening at the moment."
There was silence for a few seconds, until Ginny asked, "What's that noise?"
"I think there are people whispering behind the veil." Harry said. "Dead people, or people that were forced through it."
"Isn't that the same thing?" Ginny prompted, softly.
"I don't know. When Sirius was sent flying through it, I thought he'd come back out a few seconds later." He swallowed. "I thought if only I could reach through the veil I could pull him back. But Lupin wouldn't let me." He turned away from Ginny again, face contorted with a superhuman effort not to let his emotions show.
"Harry, Sirius loved you. He'd have done anything to help you, and keep you safe. You were the thing that kept him going. You could just tell – when you were about he just became far happier. You didn't see him in the summer, before the Order fetched you from Privet Drive, he was restless, and looked as though he'd rather have been anywhere but Grimmauld Place, but when you came, that all changed. He'd have done anything to make you happy."
"Then why… why did he have to…" Harry's face fought for a minute, and then became an eerie model of composure.
"Why did he have to what, Harry?" Ginny asked, quietly.
"I don't want to talk about it Ginny, I'm sorry." Harry replied in a voice as hushed as hers.
"Have you talked to Lupin about Sirius at all?" Ginny asked tentatively.
"I don't… I just don't want to talk about him okay? Why does everyone want me to talk about him? You, Hermione, Tonks, Lupin, everyone! I'll talk about it when I'm ready." Harry said in a voice full of anguish.
"I just asked, because, well, Lupin isn't looking great either. Both of you seem to spend your time walking around with this huge weight on your shoulders, but he looks like he has no reason left to go on. As if he… I don't know… as if he is doing it, only because he knows he should. Does that make sense? And he won't talk to anyone either, Mum told me. I don't think anyone other than you really knew Sirius nearly as well."
Harry slumped to the ground, until he was sitting on the platform, back against the frame of the archway, elbows on knees, hands supporting his head. Up on the benches, Ginny found she could move towards him again, and slowly made her way down, one step at a time. Harry watched her approaching cautiously. He felt exhausted.
"How did you get in here?" He asked Ginny. "Nobody else seemed to be able to find me, except the Auror up there." He pointed to the door that he had sealed shut. "And they must know where I am, and they still haven't come in."
"I had a feeling you'd be here." Ginny told him.
"I didn't have much of a choice, everywhere else seemed to have people in, or trying to find me."
"Okay, I just thought you'd be here anyway." Ginny said, sitting down beside him. "Feminine intuition. Some Irish Auror managed to break the sealing charm on the door. I made him promise that I'd go in alone if I told him where I thought you'd be."
"So he's still up there now?" Harry asked.
"Yes."
"And he's not going to throw me into some prison cell somewhere?"
"No, Harry. Can you imagine what Dumbledore would do if he tried?"
Harry gave a small chuckle. "I guess. Do they know what happened in there?"
"I don't know." Ginny told him. "What did happen?"
"Voldemort tried to access my memories I think. Fudge was asking me what was in the Prophecy, and I could tell Voldemort was trying to see my memories. I don't know why that professor cried out."
"You know what the Prophecy is." It was a statement, not a question.
Harry looked at her, but said nothing. Her tear stained face was looking at him shrewdly.
"From what the Auror said, they think that professor guy was trying to perform Legilimency on you, to try to learn what the Prophecy was. Are you sure it was You-Know-Who Harry?" Ginny said, changing the subject back.
"Yeah. My scar hurt. It had been hurting all day. I guess he was trying to spy on the hearing. It was Voldemort alright. No idea what's up with the professor."
There was a slight pause, then they both spoke at once.
"Well-"
"Harry-"
"Go on." Ginny said.
"No, you."
"You know you can't control what You-Know-Who does, don't you Harry?"
Harry grunted, warily.
"Nothing he does, or shows you, is your fault, you can't stop him doing that. You aren't forcing him to do anything."
"Ron told you." Harry said flatly.
"Sorry?" Ginny asked.
"Ron told you about the vision I saw, didn't he? I thought I asked him not to." Harry stood up, annoyed.
Ginny stood up too and there was fire in her eyes once more. "Yes he did. He was worried about you, we all are Harry."
"I'll manage. Probably manage a lot better if people actually are decent enough to do what I ask them to." Harry said walking to the other end of the platform, back turned to Ginny.
"Are you afraid people will blame you for seeing these things?"
"Will Dean blame me?" Harry shot back.
"I… I don't know. I don't think so. He doesn't want to see anyone at the moment. I've only seen him once since." Ginny admitted.
Harry turned back to her and gave a little shrug, as if to say 'There you go then!' He scanned the room above him. It almost looked like a gladiatorial pit. He wondered if people used to fight each other for people's amusement in ancient times, where whoever pushed the other through the veil won.
"But he doesn't know what's going on Harry, none of us that do would even think about it."
"Yeah, well, that's a comfort, good thing most people know what's happening then isn't it?" Harry said moodily. "And you can bet Voldemort will let them know it's my fault anyway."
"Why didn't you want me to know about the vision? Why did you tell Ron not to tell me?"
"I didn't want you to know it was my fault." Harry said gruffly. "Dean is your boyfriend, after all. I didn't want you to blame me."
"I know it's not your fault Harry, it's just you that doesn't!"
"You didn't hear what he said Ginny. He wouldn't have gone after Dean's family if it wasn't for me. He told her the only reason he was doing it was to make Dean hate my guts. Well, not in those exact words. If it wasn't for me, Mrs Thomas would have been okay."
"And somebody else would have been hurt instead. Would that have made it any better?" Ginny asked.
"No, but at least it wouldn't have been my fault." Harry said exasperatedly. "I suppose I should be used to it by now. In first year everyone whispered about me behind my back because I was the Harry Potter, second year because I could speak Parseltongue, third because of Sirius, fourth because the idiots thought I wanted to be in that goddamned tournament, and fifth because… well… yeah. Now I'm going to be the person who caused all their family members to be tortured."
Ginny shook her head. "You don't fool me Harry, you don't give a damn what those idiots think. And it's only the idiots that would blame you."
"Yeah? You say that now, but what would you think if your mum or dad, or a brother was killed by Voldemort, and he told you he only did it because you knew me? He might be the first person you blame, but who would the second be? Me."
"No!" Ginny protested. "Harry, there's no way I'd do that, nor would Ron, or anyone!"
Harry snorted softly, shook his head, and gave her a sad smile. "I guess we'd better head back, see what happens now."
"Don't change the subject." Ginny yelled after him. "It's not your fault!"
Harry simply climbed the first step, and then leaned down to help Ginny up with him. They climbed in silence. As they reached the final step, Ginny turned to Harry once more.
"Thanks, Harry."
"Thanks? For what?" Harry asked.
"For not going through the archway." Ginny said, leading the way to the door, where Auror McCarthy was waiting for them, before Harry could answer.
"You alright you two?" He asked them.
"Yeah." They said together. Harry may have muttered it, but Ginny's reply carried conviction.
"You might want to, er, clean up before we head back down, like." He said with a wink to Ginny, who felt her face, and turned slightly red. "Besides, didn't you say you needed to go yourself Mr Potter, before all this happened?" He grinned.
"Erm, yeah." Harry said, embarrassed.
"I'm sorry about this." The Auror continued. "My fault, I didn't realise you'd think we were trying to arrest you, you know! Should have thought a bit, not all of us agreed with what the Minister was saying last year."
"Thanks." Harry said, not knowing what to say.
"That was some impressive magic you did there Mr Potter." The Auror continued, as they walked back out of the Department of Mysteries.
"Well, I wasn't really in control of it." Harry replied, still rather put off his stride by the Auror's praise.
"I know." McCarthy nodded, "That's what makes it impressive. Without a wand you were putting some powerful charms up, even without realising it. And you were maintaining them too. Very impressive magic I'd say."
Harry mumbled something indistinctly, but even he didn't know what it was.
When they were finally standing outside the courtroom again, Mrs Weasley, who had looked quite distressed, leapt up, and this time did give Harry a bone crunching hug.
"Oh my dear, I was so worried!" She said as she gave him air, only to give him another hug immediately after.
Harry looked over her shoulder to see Ginny smirking at him.
"Are you quite alright dear? There was such a commotion" Here she shot the Auror a glare, "that I was quite worried."
Harry fought for breath, "Yeah, I'm fine Mrs Weasley, really. Auror McCarthy was great about the whole thing, and Ginny really helped. I'm fine. Really. It was just a shock, that's all." He gave the Auror a grin, "I didn't expect to be on the run from the law at someone else's trial."
McCarthy gave a good humoured laugh. "Indeed not Mr Potter. If you're ready, we'd better head back in."
So with a last glance towards Ginny and Mrs Weasley, Harry re-entered the courtroom.
