Hey guys! So, this story now has over 13,000 views and over 150 followers! OMG that's insane! Thank you so much for all the support over the past month and I've really been enjoying writing for you all. Here's chapter 9!

Trigger Warnings: mentions of child abuse!

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, J.K Rowling does.


Chapter 9 – Dursley's Just Deserts

A couple of weeks had passed and the trial had been decided. Lily had spoken to Amelia Bones at the Department of Magical Law Enforcement Office and she was outraged that a family member could do that to a poor, defenceless child and agreed to do all that she could to make sure that Vernon went to prison for what he'd done to Harry. It wasn't very often the Ministry had to deal with muggle criminals but when it involved a wizard they would deal with it. The next day, when Amelia had gathered all the evidence that Lily had given her, she sent a group from the Magical Law Enforcement Patrol to Privet Drive and they arrested Vernon Dursley on suspicion of child abuse and he would be held at the ministry until his trial. The Patrol officers came at night so none of the neighbours would see them apparate away with Vernon, much to Petunia's relief despite the situation. If any of the neighbours asked the next day where Vernon was she told them that he was away on very important business. Only she and Dudley knew the truth.

James and Lily had told Harry what had happened on the day of Vernon's arrest. He didn't know what to think, in one way he was glad that his parents cared enough to take legal action against his uncle but on the other hand, he didn't want any more trouble and wanted to move on with his life. A couple of things were worrying him; for one, he had to stand up and give evidence against his uncle which meant seeing him again. Harry feared what would happen when his uncle laid eyes on him again, he'd heard every name under the sun his uncle had for him, but never in public in the magical world; which led onto the next thing on Harry's mind: what if the magical world judged him for not being able to deal with his uncle? He knew that the Daily Prophet will hear of the trial and surely write about it the next day. He was the boy who lived and yet he couldn't even deal with one muggle man, would the people of his world cast him out for this? He knew his family wouldn't, but he didn't have the reassurance from the rest of the world. His parents repeated over and over again that no one would think him any weaker for what he went through and if they did then they would get through it together as a family. This helped for a time until Harry's mind wandered to when he would eventually go back to school and have to deal with Malfoy and all the other Slytherins making comment after comment about how he let a mere muggle push him around.

The day of the trial came and Harry woke up after a night of tossing, turning and nightmares to his father's smiling face with a tray of breakfast for him.
"With compliments from the chef" James said jokingly. Harry gave his most convincing smile back but didn't have James fooled for one second.
"It's going to be okay Prongslet, I promise. After today it will all be over, your mum and I will be right in there with you, you have nothing to worry about." He reassured him comfortingly, he kissed his forehead and set his breakfast tray in his lap.
"I know, I just have this feeling in my chest that something's going to go wrong. What if people think I'm lying or just doing it to get attention?" Harry wondered aloud anxiously.
"Harry, when people take one look at that man and the way he treats wizards and witches they will know that you are telling the truth and if people do think you're doing this for attention; well, they aren't worth worrying about, okay?" James said, trying to put his son's mind at rest. Harry nodded and proceeded to reluctantly eat his breakfast as James left the room.

James walked into the kitchen and sighed heavily. Lily looked up from the breakfast she was nervously picking at. "Is he okay?" she asked worriedly, putting her fork down.
"He's just anxious about the trial but he'll get through it, he's strong Lily Flower, don't worry." James said, trying to reassure both Lily and himself. Lily's bright green eyes were laced with anxiety for her son.
"James, do you think I did the right thing putting him through this?" She asked hesitantly.
"Lils, we've been over this a million times. Yes, you did the right thing, this man needs to be brought to justice and Harry knows this, we've given him the option to back out and he's refused every single time." He answered confidently and went over to hug her. She grabbed on tightly, taking all the comfort and reassurance she needed.

Later that day, Harry, James and Lily travelled to the Ministry with Remus and Sirius. Harry marvelled at his surroundings, the dark wooden walls were filled with fireplaces, Harry swore he'd never seen so many in his life. On one side people were arriving with a burst of green flames through the floo network and on the other people were queueing to leave. Harry turned his awed gaze towards the shining fountain of the witch, wizard, centaur, elf and goblin and had to gasp at the beauty of it. His parents guided him to the desk labelled 'Security'. The man goggled at the group for a second since it consisted of the boy who lived, previously dead people, an ex-convict and a werewolf. However, after one particularly dangerous gaze from all three marauders the man did his job. Harry stood still while the golden rod examined him and he presented his wand as asked. James and Lily hurried Harry along to the courtroom before the man or anyone else around could say anything further.

Once they got to the courtroom door, Harry's fear started to set in again. He felt like he was the one who was just about to face trial, not his uncle.
"Harry?" James prompted anxiously. Harry realised that he'd been so caught up in his own thoughts that he'd missed out on what his dad was saying.
"I'm sorry?" Harry said, looking bewildered.
"I said are you ready?" James repeated, putting his hands on his son's shoulders firmly, grounding him. Harry nodded what he hoped was convincingly. With that, James pushed open the door and the family walked inside and took their seats on the high benches on the opposite side of the Wizengamot. Harry's hands were shaking consistently and no matter how hard he tried he couldn't make them stop. His uncle would be entering the room any second. It was going to happen and there was nothing he could do to stop it. He suddenly felt trapped. He couldn't see the door and that terrified him. There were so many people in the room and although the jury were only whispering to each other, it was too loud, there were too many voices at once going round and round in Harry's head and he couldn't make them stop. He could hear his uncle over all of them calling him a freak and he knew that he couldn't let that happen in the court room. He started to feel nauseous and his vision blurred. He didn't even realise that his breathing had gotten faster or that sweat had started to pour down his face. Lily took one look at him and knew that something wasn't right. She took her hands gently in his and started to sing her lullaby softly in his ear to calm him down. Harry's breathing slowly evened out and the sweating dissipated with the voices. The door creaked opened ominously.

Vernon Dursley walked into the room accompanied by two officers of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement Patrol. Terrified was an understated way to describe what he felt right then; for once he didn't have the upper hand, the freaks did. His eyes darted around to the people dressed in plum coloured robes and the woman who seemed to be the judge and another woman dressed in green, with blond hair and glasses at the back of the room, a notepad and quill beside her. His eyes then went to the other side of the room, his eyes met Harry's and his whole body filled with silent, fiery rage. He was forced down into the seat in the middle of the room and like the chains did for Sirius, they glowed gold and wrapped themselves tightly around his massive arms. Vernon was outraged.

"I WILL NOT BE TREATED LIKE THIS. THIS IS A BREACH OF MY HUMAN RIGHTS! I DEMAND A LAWYER!" Vernon screamed, feeling undignified by his current situation. "IN MY WORLD I TELL YOU WE ARE TREATED WITH DIGNITY, I REFUSE TO BE TREATED LIKE A CRIMINAL!"
"Whether you are a criminal or not is to be decided Mr, Dursley." Amelia commented curtly and then proceeded with the trail. "We are gathered here today for the trial of Mr. Vernon Dursley who has allegedly abused a wizard child, one Mr. Harry James Potter. How do you plead to these terms?"
Vernon looked scandalised as if the charges were news to him.
"Not guilty. Whatever the brat got he rightly deserved. We gave him a roof over his head and food off of our table all out of the kindness of our hearts and all the brat ever was, was ungrateful" Vernon spat. This gave the jury a lot to talk about, and there were many whispers about what exactly Harry 'got'. Amelia silenced the jury and asked her next question that everyone wanted to know,
"And what exactly did Mr. Potter get?" Vernon started mumbling incoherently while trying to find something to say since he knew he was caught. "I'm afraid you'll have to speak up Mr. Dursley we can't hear you." Amelia said irritably, quickly losing her patience with the man.
"WHAT HE DESERVED THAT'S WHAT! HE'S A FREAK AND SO ARE ALL OF YOU!" Vernon raged. The whole Wizengamot started shouting in outrage and took almost five minutes to be silenced.
"If you won't tell us exactly what happened Mr. Dursley, then maybe Mr. Potter will. Mr. Potter if you will." Amelia motioned towards Harry and all the WIzengamot turned as one to the shaking thirteen year old sat between his parents. Harry nervously stood up and with encouraging smiles from his parents, he made his way towards the stand, all the way avoiding his uncle's unwavering, furious gaze.

"Mr. Potter, I know this may be hard but can you please tell us how you were treated at the hands of your uncle?" Amelia asked more calmly than she had with Vernon. Harry shakily nodded and started his tale.
"He kept me in the cupboard under the stairs for 10 years until my Hogwarts letters started to come. He had me cook the food from when I was about 6." Harry's voice grew in confidence and anger at his uncle and he looked him straight in the eyes. "If I ever did anything or said anything he didn't like he would beat me. He put bars on my window when I was 12 so I couldn't go back to Hogwarts and I was given food through a cat flap, and was locked in my room for the rest of the summer. He would call me a freak on a daily basis and for 10 years of my life I believed him, until I found out about the magical world." Everyone was shocked into silence until Vernon finally found his voice again.
"THE BOY IS LYING! IT'S ALL HE EVER DOES. IT'S ALL HE'S GOOD AT!" Vernon exclaimed. While Vernon was ranting Harry never stopped glaring daggers at his uncle. He was going to be strong and not let his uncle control him anymore.
"Mr. Dursley, please be quiet." Amelia snapped, finally losing her last scrap of patience. "I think we've heard enough. Those in favour of conviction?" Everyone on the Wizengamot raised their hands. No one could deny that this man was guilty. "And those in favour of clearing the accused of all charges?" No one raised their hands. "Mr. Vernon Dursley you are found guilty of child abuse and will spend a minimum of three years in a muggle prison."

Vernon was grabbed by the arms by the Patrol officers as soon as he was released from the chains. However, he shrugged them off and charged straight for Harry. He grabbed him by the neck of his t-shirt and dragged him off of the stand. The officers grabbed their wands but before they could even utter a spell James had yelled "Stupefy" and Vernon fell unconscious to the floor. James ran over to his son as the officers levitated Vernon out of the room.
"Prongslet, are you okay?" James asked worriedly, checking Harry over for any injuries and then hugged him close.
"I'm fine Dad, really" Harry answered with a heavy sigh as Lily, Sirius and Remus also came running over.
"It's over now, he's gone" Harry reassured himself.

The group of five made their way out of the courtroom and were just about to step into the lift to take them to the atrium when they were stopped in their tracks by the woman with blond hair and glasses, she had a smirk on her face and there was something about her Harry didn't like.
"Rita Skeeter, Daily Prophet. Do you mind if I have a word Mr. Potter?" She asked with a sickly sweet voice which made Harry trust her even less. James subtly pulled Harry behind him defensively and answered for him.
"I'm sorry Miss Skeeter, but we're in a bit of a hurry." James managed to slip past the reporter and urged everyone into the lift.


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