Disclaimer: The Harry Potter universe is NOT mine! It all belongs to JK Rowling and all those she deemed worthy of owning a piece of it, sadly I am not one of them. If I was, I wouldn't be nearing the point of tearing my hair out in frustration looking for a job.
The Prophet and Quibbler articles created a hype surrounding Draco Malfoy's trial that hadn't been seen since Harry's name coming out of the Goblet of Fire fifteen months previously. Lucius attempted to have the trial thrown out by saying that Draco was not of age, however Harry slapped that idea down by saying that the DMLE was able to pursue charges against a minor if the charge was serious enough, attempted murder was a serious enough charge, and Harry also pointed out that he had been charged before a full court for a misdemeanor charge of underage magic.
Harry and Ron were called to testify before the Wizengamont, and were excused from their classes for the day and were escorted from the castle by a team of Aurors, consisting of Tonks and Shacklebolt.
"Do you think that Malfoy will get what's coming to him?" Ron asked.
"I do," Harry said. "There's no way that Malfoy will be able to buy his way out of this."
"Lord Potter, if you would follow me," an Auror said as he entered the waiting room that Harry and Ron had been shown after they arrived at the Ministry. "There is a discussion about the case at hand, and since it was your vassal that was attacked, they need you."
"Of course, do I have your word that my vassal will not be harmed while waiting?" Harry asked.
"Of course my Lord."
Harry followed the Auror's partner from the waiting room and to the main courtroom. Harry noticed that it was the same courtroom that he had been tried in over the summer. As soon as Harry entered the courtroom, Harry saw what the problem was; Lucius Malfoy was in the room, arguing heatedly with Minister Fudge, Director Bones and Dumbledore.
"Ah Lord Potter, good you are here," Amelia said when she noticed Harry.
"Director Bones, what seems to be the problem?" Harry asked.
"Potter, what are you doing here?" Malfoy spat. "This does not concern you."
"Actually it does Mr. Malfoy," Dumbledore said. "As the victim is a vassal of House Potter, Lord Potter is vital to our discussion."
"This boy is no Lord!" Malfoy sneered.
"Perhaps you don't know Mr. Malfoy, but I am Lord Potter of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Potter, you sir are neither a Lord, nor much of a man in my opinion."
"Why you…" Malfoy snarled, his hand twitching toward his wand.
"Please gentlemen, let us be civilized," Dumbledore said, though Harry thought he saw the Headmaster shoot him a wink.
"So what seems to be the problem?" Harry asked.
"My son should not be treated as a common criminal," Lucius shouted. "He is Heir Malfoy, a pureblood heir to a Ancient House."
"Yet he attempted to curse another pureblood, one whose ancestry can trace its roots all the way back past the founding of Hogwarts," Harry said. "While the Malfoys only came over to Britain a century or two after the Invasion, why exactly did your family have to flee your homeland?"
Malfoy's face tinged pink. The jib at his family's history was well met by Amelia and Dumbledore, who each hid twitching lips. Fudge just looked confused.
"Your son broke protocol in a legal duel," Harry said. "He attempted to use a Dark curse to curse Ronald Weasley in the back, that doesn't sound like the behavior of a heir to an Ancient House."
"My son would never do such a thing and I am insulted that you would accuse him of such," Malfoy snarled. "I have half a mind to call you out for the insult but you are just a boy and it wouldn't be fair."
"You are right," Harry said. "It wouldn't be fair to you." Malfoy's face twisted into a sneer. "I beat your master when I was still in nappies, I think one of his lackeys would be easy pickings."
"That's enough, the pair of you," Amelia snapped. "You two are both the heads of your families, so act like them. Now Mr. Malfoy, why have you called us together?"
"I want you to throw this farce of a trial out!" Lucius barked. "My son could not have done these things, and he is the Heir of a pureblood house and deserves should be treated as such."
"For being so confident in your son's innocence, why are you trying to get the case thrown out?" Harry said. "You would think that such an Slytherin wouldn't hesitate on trying to upstage the Boy-Who-Lived?"
"My son has nothing to hide Potter," Lucius sneered.
"Then your son has nothing to fear as this case goes to trial," Amelia said. Lucius' head whipped around to glare at the Director but know it was futile; he had been played. "Lord Potter, if you would return to the waiting rooms, my Auror will escort you."
Harry gave the Director, Minister and Dumbledore a sharp nod and then gave Lucius a smug smirk before following the Auror out of the courtroom. He gave Ron a confident grin when he reentered the waiting room.
"All right there Ron?" Harry asked.
"I'm ok," Ron said. "So what's going on?"
"Just Malfoy's father trying to get him out of trouble as usual," Harry said. "But don't worry, Malfoy won't get away with this. Dumbledore and Director Bones agreed. Remember, all you need to do is tell the truth out there and everything will be fine."
Ron nodded.
It was nearly an hour later when the Aurors returned. "Lord Potter, Mr. Weasley, the trial is about to begin. If you would follow us?"
Ron and Harry rose to their feet and followed the Aurors back to the courtroom. The two friends were giving seats behind the prosecution table; Harry glanced over and saw Malfoy glaring at him from the defendant's table. His father and mother were seated just behind their son and his lawyer.
All around the room was the assembled Wizengamont, wearing dark red robes. Fudge sat at the center of the ringed stands, looking down at the Malfoy family with an expression that Harry could read as he was sorry that he couldn't do more.
"We have convened this day, January 12th 1996, to hear the case of the British Ministry of Magic vs. Draco Lucius Malfoy, Heir to the Ancient House of Malfoy. The charge is as followed, the attempted murder of one Ronald Bilius Weasley via use of a Dark Curse. Prosecution, your statements," Fudge said.
"Thank you Minister," Director Bones said, getting up from her seat. "Ladies and gentlemen of the Wizengamont, the facts of this case are these: that the defendant, one Draco Lucius Malfoy, did knowingly cast a Dark Curse at the back of Ronald Weasley, after Mr. Weasley had defeated Mr. Malfoy in a duel stemming from Mr. Malfoy's vulgar comments about the late Head of the Ancient House of Weasley, Arthur Percival Weasley. The curse, a Dark Flame curse, if it had hit Mr. Weasley, would have cause grievous wounds, that if not treated quickly would have caused the death of Mr. Weasley. These are the facts of the case." Amelia sat back down without another word.
"Mr. Janus, your opening statements sir?" Fudge said. Malfoy's lawyer stood up. The man was a weedy looking man, with a pinched face, thin lips and sharp nose.
"Thank you Minister," Janus said. "Members of the Wizengamont, my client, Heir Malfoy, is an upstanding young man who was goaded into a duel with Mr. Weasley, and regrettably lost his temper. The spell that was cast was nothing more than an emotionally charged Disarmer. I am sure that you all have had, or had family members, have their spells change due to emotions. My client is very remorseful for this act and wants to make amends. This act was not a cold-hearted attack at the back of Mr. Weasley, this was nothing more than a schoolboy losing control of his temper, not attempted murder."
Harry looked around the courtroom at the faces of the Wizengamont after Mr. Janus had sat down. He frowned when he saw several faces nodding.
"Director Bones, you may call your first witness," Minister Fudge said.
"Thank you Minister," Amelia said. "The prosecution calls Ronald Weasley to the stand."
Harry clapped Ron on the shoulder as the redhead stood up and was led to the witness' chair.
"Now, Ronald Bilius Weasley, do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help you Merlin?" Director Bones said.
"I do," Ron said. A white light surrounded Ron and the chair signaling the oath taking effect.
"Could you please tell the court what happened at Hogwarts a week ago?"
Ron took a deep breath before calmly retelling the events that led to the court being convened.
"Thank you Mr. Weasley," Amelia said. "Your witness Janus."
Janus rose to his feet, clasped his hands behind his back and walking around his desk and stood in front of Ron.
"Mr. Weasley, you have my condolences regarding the loss of your father," Janus said.
"Thank you."
"Now, what would you describe your relationship with my client?"
"Relationship?"
"Are you friends, rivals?"
"We're certainly not friends sir," Ron snapped. "Malfoy has made it clear ever since our first ride on the Hogwarts Express that he has despised me and my family. He has insulted my family due to our financial means, as well as our philosophy regarding muggleborns and muggles. The Weasleys are pureblooded as they come but we don't think we are better than anyone. Magical ability is magical ability."
"Very noble," Janus said. "So it would not be wrong to say that you and my client do not get along?"
"That's true, I think that Malfoy is a spoiled brat who is also a coward," Ron said. "His favorite saying is 'When my father…'."
"I see, so you would be happy to see my client get in trouble," Janus said. "Perhaps you were jealous of my client, his wealth and status, is that why you tricked my client into an illegal duel?"
"I did not trick Malfoy into a duel," Ron said sharply. "He insulted my father, calling him a buffoon and a blood traitor. He also desecrated the memories of Lord Potter's parents, calling them a blood traitor and a…a very vulgar term for muggleborns."
Several members of the Wizengamont gasped at Ron's testimony and turned to Malfoy with distasteful expressions. Harry noticed that several of the people that he had pegged as bigots were looking at Malfoy like he was scum.
"Even if they hadn't agreed with your father's choice in wives, they still respected Lily for her brilliance and her sacrifice that night," Bones said. Harry blinked; she must have caught his expression.
Janus had narrowed his eyes at Ron. "Mr. Weasley, according to your school records, you were never a very accomplished student, then this year, your school work has shown an immense improvement," he said. "Care to explain?"
"It's true I never tried hard at school, most of that comes from me being lazy, also I didn't know if I could measure up to my older brothers," Ron said. "I mean Bill and Percy were Head Boy at Hogwarts and got 12 OWLs each and near perfect NEWTs too, Charlie got a near perfect score on both his COMC OWL and NEWT before becoming a Dragon Tamer. And while the twins only got three OWLs each, all three were Outstandings. It wasn't until last June when I realized what my attitude toward my schoolwork could bring me too. So I decided to refocus and sort out my priorities."
"Well congratulations on your marketed improvement," Janus said with a smile. "Just a few more questions, where did you learn several of those spells that you used during your duel with my client? Most of them are not taught until 7th year if I'm not mistaken, if not until a person were to begin Auror training."
Ron chanced a look toward Harry, who gave the redhead a nod and smile.
"Some of them we found last year while helping Harry, Lord Potter excuse me, prepare for the Triwizard Tournament," Ron said. "Also our former Defense Professor, Remus Lupin, gave Harry some Defense books for Christmas. Professor Lupin was a good friend of Harry's folks."
"Ah yes the werewolf," Janus said. "Lord Potter certainly does have some exotic friends; Mr. Lupin, Rubeus Hagrid, and even a house elf I believe."
"Dobby's great, though I am sure that your client could tell you about him, since Dobby used to work for the Malfoys before Harry freed him," Ron said with a grin at the Malfoy family.
"So this hatred of my client stems from how he treated a house elf?" Janus asked.
"No, I don't like Malfoy because he is a bigoted bully who thinks that because of who his father is that he's untouchable," Ron said. "It was time that he realized that his words and actions have consequences."
"So your duel was nothing more than payback, revenge for preconceived slights against you by my client?"
"I won't lie and say that revenge wasn't a part of my reason for calling Malfoy out," Ron said. "But Malfoy had to pay for insulting my father and Harry's parents. And I knew that the Professors of Hogwarts weren't going to do much about it, so I decided to take matters into my own hands. I defeated Malfoy fair and square, he was the one who tried to curse me in the back after Professor Flitwick had ended the duel."
Janus gave Ron a long look before addressing the Minister. "Minister, I have no further questions for this boy but I would like the chance to call him back if the situation presents itself."
"Very well," Fudge said. "Mr. Weasley, you may step down."
Ron stood up and walked back to his seat. As he passed the defendant's table, he and Malfoy locked eyes. Rage was burning in Malfoy's grey eyes. Ron ignored the hateful look and sat down next to Harry.
"Well done," Harry said. Ron nodded and slumped in his seat; he looked completely drained.
"Director, do you have any other witnesses to call?" Fudge asked.
Director Bones called several more to the stand, including Harry and Professor Flitwick. Their testimony only added to the picture of Malfoy being a spoiled brat used to getting his own way, as well as an unrepentant bigot.
"Minister, members of the Wizengamont, the prosecution rests," Director Bones said before sitting down at her table.
"Very well, we will have an hour's recess and then the defense may present their case," Fudge said.
"How do you think that Malfoy's lawyer will try and defend Malfoy?" Harry asked.
"Most likely Janus will place Mr. Malfoy on the stand," Bones said. "He tired to make it seem that you and Mr. Weasley came up with this plot to get Mr. Malfoy in trouble. Now he'll try and twist the situation to make it look like Malfoy just lost control of his emotions, and was blinded by anger when he cast that curse."
"Do you think it will work?" Ron asked.
"It is tough to say," Bones answered honestly. "Mr. Malfoy's father does have many friends in the Wizengamont, as well as many enemies. I do promise you that I will do all that I can to make sure that Mr. Malfoy will pay for his crime. Your father was a good man and a friend, it is the least I can do."
"Thank you Director," Ron said.
When they returned to the courtroom, Harry saw Malfoy seated with his lawyer and they were having a hushed conversation.
"Mr. Janus, are you ready to proceed?" Fudge asked.
"Yes Minister, I would like to call Mr. Draco Malfoy to the stand."
"Very well, Mr. Malfoy, if you would?" Fudge said, gesturing to the witness chair. Malfoy swept from his seat and made his way to the witness' box. He sat down and glared at Harry and Ron.
Mr. Janus then proceeded to lead Malfoy through his testimony, the blonde attempting to spin a sob story of how he was tricked into the duel and how he hadn't heard the end of the duel, and when he saw Ron's back turned he sent a spell that would incapacitate the redhead. Mr. Janus sat down after Malfoy had finished.
"So Mr. Malfoy, you claim that you were tricked into accepting the duel, even though we have conflicting testimony from other witnesses, saying that you knew the protocol about being able to pick the venue of the duel, care to explain that?"
"My father taught me the protocols because there would be some who would try and attack me because of my station," Malfoy said.
"In case you were attacked," Bones said. "But from what we heard from Mr. Weasley, it was your words that ignited the duel."
"Weasley is trying to make himself the victim," Malfoy sneered.
"Isn't that what you are doing as well?"
"I am the victim!" Malfoy cried. "I was attacked by a crazed student."
"A legally called duel hardly constitutes as an attack," Amelia counted. "Now you had been disarmed before this all happened, as someone who knows the protocols of dueling, being disarmed means the end of the duel. Yet you continued the duel by using an unregistered second wand, curious that, and casting a potentially lethal curse at the back of Mr. Weasley. For someone who claims to know the protocols pertaining to dueling, you broke several of them. What do you have to say about that, Mr. Malfoy?"
Malfoy's face turned pink as he struggled to not explode at the Director of the DMLE.
"No more questions Minister," Amelia said with a small smug grin.
Janus rose to his feet. "The defense rests its case Minister," he said.
"The Wizengamont will now deliberate on the verdict," Fudge said. The members of the Wizengamont filed out of the chamber.
"How long do you think it will take to decide?" Harry asked.
"It shouldn't take long, though the Wizengamont will also decide Mr. Malfoy's sentence if convicted," Director Bones said. "So it will take longer than just a simple guilty or innocent verdict."
The next two hours passed extremely slowly for Harry and Ron as they waited for the Wizengamont to return. Harry looked over to Malfoy's table and saw Draco glaring across the aisle at them, gone were the usual arrogance and smugness that normally occupied Malfoy's eyes, they had been replaced by fear and anxiety.
The noise of a door opening took Harry's attention away from Malfoy. The Wizengamont had returned.
"Draco Lucius Malfoy, please rise," Fudge said. Malfoy got to his feet, his eyes darting back and forth between his father, lawyer and Fudge. "We, the Wizengamont, find you guilty of the charge of attempted murder against Ronald Weasley." Malfoy's legs gave out and he would have fallen to the floor if it had not been for his father. "However due to your age, and the face that we believe that your emotions led you to this crime, you will not be sent to Azkaban. However, you will be expelled from Hogwarts and ordered to give reparations to Mr. Ronald Weasley."
Malfoy looked ready to explode but a hard squeeze of his father's hand on his shoulder kept his mouth shut.
"Minister, may I address the court?" Harry asked. Fudge nodded. "Members of the Wizengamont, may I suggest a suitable reparations package for Mr. Weasley. With Mr. Malfoy's explusion from Hogwarts, the Malfoy family does not need to pay the Hogwarts' tuition any longer, so the Malfoy family should use that money to pay for the remaining two years of Mr. Weasley's Hogwarts' fees."
Lucius and Draco looked livid, while Narcissa looked relieved.
"That sounds reasonable," Fudge said. "All in favor of Lord Potter's proposal?" Roughly two-thirds of the Wizengamont raised their hands. "Lord Potter's proposal has passed, the Malfoy family is ordered to pay the final two years of Mr. Ronald Weasley's Hogwarts tuition."
Lucius nodded curtly. "Lord Potter, if you have a moment, I shall draft a Gringotts bank draft for the amount requested."
"That would be most generous Mr. Malfoy," Harry said. "I shall wait upon your call."
"Now unless anyone else has business that his body should discuss…" Fudge began.
"Actually Minister, there is something else I would like to bring to the Wizengamont's attention," Harry said quickly.
"Yes Lord Potter," Fudge sighed.
"As you are all aware, I was brought before this body this past August to answer for a simple matter of underage magic, I was of course cleared but I also requested the trial transcripts for the trial of Sirius Black, the man many believe to be the traitor responsible for my parents' deaths. Several weeks ago, I received a letter from Director Bones who told me that she could not find any record of Sirius Black ever having a trial. So I stand before this august body and ask that my parents betrayer finally brought to justice."
"Black escaped from Azkaban! Even if we could find him, he would just go back to Azkaban," Fudge snapped.
"I want to know why Black supposedly betrayed my parents to Voldemort," Harry said ignoring the many shivers or shudders coming from his use of Voldemort's name. "As there is no record of a trial, I can only assume that there wasn't one. I call upon this body to hold a trial for Sirius Black; I want to hear the reasons straight from his mouth. I received a letter from Black saying that he would be willing to appear before this body unarmed, as long as he receives a trial. And yes, I had the letter checked for curses, charms and Portkey enchantments."
"If Sirius Black, the Heir to the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black never received a trial, we must whatever it takes see to it that justice is done," Amelia said. "I promise you Lord Potter, that if Sirius Black turns himself over to any of my Aurors, he will not be harmed."
"I'll hold you to that Amelia," a laughing voice echoed around the courtroom. Sirius slid out of the shadows, his arms raised to show that he wasn't armed; he was also wearing very well kept robes adorned with the House Black crest.
"Aurors, seize him!" Fudge roared.
"Stand down!" Amelia thundered throughout the courtroom, causing everyone to freeze. The Aurors froze at the commanding tone of their boss; none were dumb enough to disobey her.
"I am unarmed Minister, and would like to put this whole ugly situation behind us," Sirius said. "I believe that is my seat," he said to the Malfoys. The blonde family quickly left the defendant's chair. Sirius sat down in the vacated seat. "Shall we begin?"
Fudge blustered but fell silent at the looking coming from Director Bones.
"Sirius Black, you are hereby charged with belonging to a terrorist organization, namely the Death Eaters, betraying James and Lily Potter to You-Know-Who, and the murder of twelve muggles and one Peter Pettigrew," Director Bones said. "How do you plead?"
"Not guilty on all counts," Sirius said. Casually, he rolled up his sleeves and bared his forearms. "As you can see, I don't have the Dark Mark."
"The charge of belonging to a terrorist organization is dropped," Bones said.
"I request the use of Veritaserum to prove my innocence," Sirius said.
"Very well," Amelia said. She ordered Kingsley to get some Veritaserum from the Auror stores. When the Auror returned, Bones took the phial from the Auror and then approached Sirius.
"As a former Hit Wizard, I am sure that you are aware of the counter agent for Veritaserum, as well as the reveling spell to indicate if you have ingested it?" she asked. Sirius nodded. Bones waved her wand over Sirius, who glowed a light blue, indicating that he was clean. "Right then, open up."
Sirius opened his mouth and Amelia tipped three drops of the potion onto his tongue. Sirius shuddered then his expression went blank.
"For some baseline questions, you are Sirius Orion Black, correct?"
"Yes."
"Did you graduate from Gryffindor House, Hogwarts, in 1978?"
"Yes."
"Now then, are you or have you ever been a Death Eater?"
"No!"
"Did you betray James and Lily Potter's whereabouts to You-Know-Who?"
"Of course not!"
"Did you kill those twelve muggles and Peter Pettigrew on November 2nd, 1981?"
"No! Though I did try and kill that rat later on."
"Rat?"
"Peter Pettigrew is an Animagus, his form is a rat," Sirius said. "He was the one who betrayed James and Lily to Voldemort, and he was the one who killed those Muggles."
"Weren't you the Potters' Secret Keeper?" Amelia asked.
"No, Peter was. We thought that it would be a good idea to change it," Sirius said. "I was James' best friend, so I was the obvious choice. We knew that, and so did Voldemort, so we changed to Peter. But in the end, Peter was the wrong choice."
"But, but, but," Fudge stammered as his face became as pallid as Snape's.
"I believe that is enough," Amelia said. "Members of the Wizengamont, I believe that we have heard enough. I move to clear Sirius Black of all charges."
"One moment Amelia," Dumbledore spoke up. "I have two questions for Lord Black."
"Very well Dumbledore, ask your questions" Bones said.
"Sirius, whose idea was it to change Secret Keepers from you to Peter Pettigrew?" Dumbledore asked.
"It was my idea."
"I see," Dumbledore said, stroking his beard. "And, do you know that Peter Archibald Pettigrew is a Death Eater?"
"Yes!"
"Aurors, arrest Sirius Black on the charge of being an accessory to the murders of Lord James David and Lady Lily Annabeth Potter," Dumbledore said, his voice filling the chamber.
"What!" Harry, Amelia and Sirius shouted.
"What are you doing Dumbledore? Sirius is innocent!" Harry shouted. "How could you even think that..."
"Sirius admitted that he was the one who told the Potters to change Secret Keepers, and that he knows that Peter Pettigrew is a Death Eater," Dumbledore said. "That makes him culpable for their deaths. Lord Black, you are under arrest for being an accessory to the murders of Lord and Lady Potter," Dumbledore said. "Perhaps if you hadn't told James and Lily to change Secret Keepers they would still be alive but we will never know now, will we?"
"Dumbledore's right, arrest him!" Fudge shouted, a look of immense glee on his face.
"Aurors stand down or you will lose your badges!" Amelia's voice boomed out and filled the courtroom. "Albus, I don't know what you are playing at but Lord Black couldn't have known that Pettigrew would turn, he is not culpable in the Potters' murders."
"You heard it from his own mouth under the influence of Veritaserum, Sirius knows that Pettigrew is a Death Eater and he told the Potters to have Pettigrew as their Secret Keeper," Dumbledore said. "It was Sirius' decision that led to the Potters' deaths, and that means he is an accessory and must be charged. Of course, he shouldn't spend any time in Azkaban, 12 years is time enough. But by his own admission, he is guilty at least partly to being a cause of the deaths of the Potters that night."
"What in Merlin's name are you trying to pull here Dumbledore?" Harry thundered.
"I am only doing what is right," Dumbledore said. "Director, you know the law, a charge has been levied against a suspect, now the Wizengamont must vote. Though if he is found guilty, I move that the sentence be time served as Sirius has already spent time in Azkaban."
"Yes, we will vote!" Fudge shouted. "Members of the Wizengamont, raise and light your wands if you feel that Sirius Black is guilty of the charge of being an accessory to the murders of Lord and Lady Potter on October 31st 1981!"
Harry, Ron and Director Bones looked around the gallery as wands were lit. Harry tried to count them but he couldn't keep track. He did notice who didn't vote for Sirius' guilt including Augusta Longbottom, Amos Diggory and Alexander Greengrass.
"By a vote of 32-28, the Wizengamont finds you, Sirius Orion Black, guilty of the charge of accessory to the murder of Lord and Lady Potter stemming from their deaths on October 31st 1981," Fudge announced, his face shining with sick enthusiasm. "However, do to you already spending twelve years in Azkaban, the Wizengamont has decided to forego incarceration and will list the sentence as fulfilled through time served. You are free to go."
Harry rushed over to Sirius' side as the man slumped in his seat. Harry's head slowly turned as if he were a lion stalking its prey, and locked onto Dumbledore. The ancient wizard had to stop himself from reaching for his wand at the hate and malice pouring from Harry's eyes. The emerald green irises were nearly blinding in their intensity. Dumbledore barely heard Fudge call the session to an end, and he quickly swept from the chamber.
"I am going to kill Albus Dumbledore," Harry's icy voice shattered the silence as he and Ron returned to Hogwarts after leaving a seemingly catatonic Sirius in the care of Remus at Grimmauld Place.
"Mate, I know…scratch that, I can't know what you are going through but there's no way you could kill Dumbledore, no matter what he has done to deserve it," Ron said.
"Ron, I need to blow off some steam or I might just kill someone," Harry said. "Tell Hermione that I'm going to the Room of Requirement, just so she doesn't worry. I don't know how long I will be."
"Just go Harry, don't worry I'll tell Hermione."
Ron watched as Harry stalked off, looking like a barely caged animal.
"Ron!" Hermione cried as the redhead entered the common room. "Where's Harry? How'd the trial go? What happened to Malfoy? What about Sirius? Has he been cleared?"
"Hermione, you better take a seat," Ron said, gesturing to a nearby seat. "Don't worry Harry's fine, at least physically."
While Ron was retelling the events of the trials to the bushy haired witch, Harry was in the Room of Requirement, his magic creating a large whirlwind around him. Spells lashed out of the maelstrom of magical energy, each hitting a target that looked suspiciously like a certain bearded Headmaster. It wasn't until well after curfew that Harry had claimed down enough to even entertain the idea of leaving the Room of Requirement.
"There you are Mr. Potter," McGonagall's voice snapped Harry back to the present as he entered the Gryffindor Common Room.
"Professor, what are you doing here?" Hermione asked.
"The Headmaster has asked me…" McGonagall fell silent as the windows to the common room shattered into silvers of glass at the surge of uncontrollable magic that burst from Harry. "Mr. Potter, what is the meaning of this? Control yourself!"
"We tried to tell you Professor, it would be a bad idea for Harry to go anywhere near Dumbledore right now," Ron said.
"Ron, perhaps you and the Professor should go, I will stay with here with Harry, and get him to calm down," Hermione suggested.
"Very well Ms. Granger, I will leave Mr. Potter in your capable hands," McGonagall said. "Come along Mr. Weasley."
"Come in," came a soft voice as Ron and McGonagall reached the Headmaster's door. McGonagall pushed the door open. Ron caught the small frown of surprise that Dumbledore wore before he schooled his ancient features into a mask of confusion. "Minerva, I believe my instructions were to bring Mr. Potter here, not Mr. Weasley?"
"I'm here in Harry's place," Ron said. "After what you pulled, if Harry had come, you'd be dead and the school would be looking for a new Headmaster."
Dumbledore blinked while McGonagall's jaw dropped. "Weasley, explain?" she barked. Ron took a deep breath before telling McGonagall what he had told Hermione. McGonagall's lips thinned so much that they vanished as her nostrils flared, patches of red appeared high on her cheeks and her eyes narrowed in on Dumbledore.
"Aireamh na h-Aoine ort lan dhen cac blaigeard! (Damn you arrogant bastard!) What in Merlin's name were you thinking?" McGonagall screamed. "Do you realize what you have done?"
"I understand that my decision is not popular but it was the right thing to do," Dumbledore said. "Harry will come to see reason once I have spoken to him. He will see that I know best."
Laughter billowed out of Ron's mouth as he fell into a chair. "You honestly believe that Harry will talk to you again, hell he wouldn't even piss on you if you were on fire," Ron shouted.
"Weasley!" McGonagall reprimanded though she agreed with Ron's statement.
"Harry would sooner kill you Headmaster than see things your way again," Ron said, continuing on as if McGonagall hadn't spoken. "You just took away Harry's last chance of living with his family."
"The Dursleys…"
"Those bastards aren't even human, don't you dare call them Harry's family," Ron roared. "Do you even know how they treated Harry? His first Hogwarts letter was addressed to 'The Cupboard Under the Stairs,' they put bars on his window after first year to keep him in a cage. Fred, George and I told my mum and dad, I'm sure they told you but you just didn't care did you! You have never cared for Harry, at least not as a person. He's your guinea pig and bait for Voldemort all wrapped in one."
"Mr. Weasley, I resent that accusation," Dumbledore said sharply. "I care for Harry very much."
"Merlin, you're managed to convince yourself," Ron retorted. "How is it that Voldemort or his agent found his way into the castle three of the last four years? You bring the Stone to a school! And you tell the school where it's hidden to boot! Then second year, you had to know something about the basilisk, you were the Transfiguration Professor when the first attacks happened." Dumbledore opened his mouth but Ron overrode him. "Harry told me about what you said in the Hospital Wing when Colin was attacked. Then last year, why weren't there more protections around the Goblet, and how could you not know that something was wrong with Moody? And when Voldemort has struck, where have you been eh? It's always been Harry that has to face him, not you!" Ron finished, panting heavily.
"Mr. Weasley, I believe that you should return to your dormitory now while I have some words with the Headmaster," McGonagall said in such a low hiss that Ron would have thought that it was a snake's hiss if Ron hadn't seen McGonagall's lips move. Ron nodded as he quickly fled the room.
A week later, Harry called together a meeting of the Inner Circle of the Shadow Battalion. This meeting was a first as they had finally managed to have Daphne Greengrass, Tracey Davies and Blaise Zabini attend one of the meetings.
"Daphne, Tracey, Blaise, thank you for coming," Harry said. "I hope that this will become a common occurrence."
"Perhaps Potter," Daphne said. "Now what did you ask us here for?"
"Easy there Daphne, I just want to extend an offer to you three, and any other Slytherins you feel trustworthy."
"What kind of offer?"
"To join our organization," Harry said. "I am sure that you have heard the rumors about my little study group, and we would like you three to join."
"What's in it for us?" Tracey asked.
"Well, you would learn how to defend yourselves, as well as gain a large amount of allies around the school."
"If we join, what do you want from us?" Blaise asked.
"All I want is your cooperation," Harry said. "You three are true Slytherins, and we need eyes and ears inside the Den. Even with Malfoy gone, the Death Eaters still have strong grip there. I mean to shatter that grip."
"If we were to agree, you would be putting us in a very precarious position," Daphne said. ""If the others found out about us, we wouldn't survive another night."
"I understand, I do," Harry said. "None of you are being forced to do this, and if you decide not to help us, no harm will come to us from me or my friends, as long as you keep this meeting and our existence a secret."
Daphne exchanged a look with Tracey and Blaise. "We would like some time to think about this offer," Daphne said.
"Of course, you have one week," Harry said lightly. The three Slytherins barely contained their shivers at the slight command in Harry's tone.
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Harry slipped out of the Gryffindor Common Room. Ron and Hermione were off on their prefects' rounds, and had Susan Bones and Neville following them. Harry made his way down to the Defence classroom.
"Umbridge," he growled once he had entered the office. "What news do you have for me?"
"Cornelius and I have decided that the situation is getting out of hand and he had charged with getting Hogwarts under control by any means necessary."
"And you have to do what to achieve this?"
"I will begin to inspect the Professor this week," Umbridge said. "Beginning with Trelawney and Hagrid."
"Will your plans change any now that Draco Malfoy is gone?"
"When I become Headmistress, I will overrule Mr. Malfoy's explusion and reinstate him," Umbridge said. "He is the right sort of wizard, and I will make sure that those blood traitor Weasleys pay for Mr. Malfoy's pain."
Harry bit back a growl. "What are your plans for the Weasleys then?"
"Those troublesome twins will find out what happens to troublemakers in my school," Umbridge smiled broadly. "As for the youngest, they will learn that blood traitors are not the right sort of wizards that belong in my school."
"I see," Harry said. "Continue on, I will call upon you another time." Harry quickly put Umbridge to sleep and made his way back toward the Gryffindor Common Room.
However, as he was about to wipe the Map clean, he noticed that a large number of Slytherins had cornered Hermione, Ron, Susan and Neville.
"Not again," he muttered, before racing off.
"Look what we have here," Theodore Nott drawled as he and nearly the entire upper levels of Slytherin House stepped out of the shadows and surrounded Ron and Hermione. Susan and Neville were still hidden but they had also been cornered. "A Mudblood and a blood traitor, out all alone, isn't this quaint?"
"Nott, do you really want to do this," Ron said. "Don't you remember how this happened the last time?"
"Please Malfoy was an idiot thinking that he could be untouchable," Nott sneered. "He underestimated the pair of you, I won't. Homenum Revelio!"
Hermione hissed as the spell washed over her, Ron, Susan and Neville.
"You two that are hidden, show yourselves now or I will hurt the two prefects," Nott growled. Twelve wands came up and pointed themselves at Ron and Hermione. "Now!"
Susan and Hermione shimmered into view.
"So two more blood traitors," Nott said with a wide smile. "Clever, I'm sure this was your idea, eh Mudblood? Have some others follow you two on your rounds, funny I would have thought it would be Potter, I mean you are shagging him aren't you Granger? Only way a Mudblood like you could be friends with anyone."
Hermione flushed red but her face also tightened with anger. Ron, Neville and Susan all looked livid.
"Why you…" Ron snarled but Nott's wand at his throat made him close his mouth.
"Not so fast blood traitor," Nott sneered. "I am in charge right now. Suddenly Nott stiffened.
"Theo, what's wrong?" Pansy asked.
"Nothing, we're leaving," Nott said.
"What! But Theo!"
"Enough! We've wasted enough time, the Professors could be here any minute and we can't get caught again," Nott said. "Let's go!"
The Slytherins looked stunned but lowered their wands and followed their leader down the corridor. Ron, Hermione, Susan and Neville looked just as stunned as the Slytherins but quickly made their way down toward the kitchens where the Hufflepuff dormitories were. There they dropped Susan off and rushed back to the Gryffindor Common Room.
"So I see you three had an interesting night," Harry said.
"Harry!" Hermione cried as she flung herself into Harry's arms.
"What happened?" he asked.
"We were nearly ambushed again," Ron explained. Harry's eyes tightened at the story. "It was the weirdest thing, Nott was about to curse then he called it off."
"Well maybe he got cold feet," Neville suggested. "He did say that they had been out for too long."
"No that wasn't it," Hermione said. "Something made Theodore change his mind and back down."
"Maybe he had a stroke of conscious," Neville suggested.
"Not a chance," Harry, Ron and Hermione said in unison.
A/N: Well there you go, the newest chapter of 'Rise from the Ashes'. Hope you all enjoyed it. If there are any law experts out there, I wasn't 100% sure if Sirius could be considered as an accessory to the murder of James and Lily. I looked the crime up on wikipedia, and it gave just a basic definition of 'a person who assists in a commission of a crime but does not actively participate in the crime.' It says on .org that Sirius did suggest that Peter become the Secret Keeper, so wouldn't that make Sirius somewhat 'legally' responsible for their deaths. Just some food for thought, hope you all enjoy the chapter. Please let me know any questions or suggestions you have through reviews or PMs. Til next time,
S.R.W.M.O
A/N 2: Hey there, I have gotten all your reviews, the response for this chapter has been excellent but you did point out some valid points. I don't believe that Sirius is culpable for James and Lily's deaths but do you really think that the Ministry would let this opportunity slip through their fingers. It allows Fudge to wash his hands of it and come out smelling like roses. So I have gone back and tweaked that scene a little bit to make it flow better, if you feel that it still needs work, drop me a review or PM.
