Wizarding Savior?
Chapter 12
Several days after the meeting with the Board of Governors, Rupert knocked on the door to Harry's room. Harry looked up from the book he was reading, "What can I do for you?"
Rupert motioned for Harry to follow him, "Daryn is here. He's been looking into our little problem, and has brought someone from the American MIA."
"MIA?" echoed Harry.
"Magical Intelligence Agency. You have to keep in mind that the magical government in America is just a department of the Muggle government rather than an autonomous entity. They make their own laws, but are also bound by muggle laws as well," replied Rupert.
The two of them entered the parlor, where Daryn and another man were waiting for them. Daryn introduced the stranger as he slapped Harry on the back, "Harry, this is Agent Smith from MIA. He's going to do a test to determine if you are a Horcrux."
Harry shook the man's hand and asked, "If I am a Horcrux, is there anything we can do about it?"
The man shook his head, "If you are a true Horcrux, then the only way to remove it is to destroy the container, in this case, you. However, I highly doubt you are an actual Horcrux, due to the complexity of the ritual, and how the container must be prepare. If Voldemort had intended to make a Horcrux that night with your murder, then he would have had something else prepared to be the vessel. If you will sit down, and close your eyes, I will perform the scan on you."
Harry sat down, and shut his eyes, "I'm ready." Daryn and Rupert backed away, while Agent Smith began incanting in a low voice in a language that none of them were familiar with.
After several minutes, some glyphs appeared above Harry's scar in a bizarre psychedelic color. Agent Smith studied them for a few moments, and then cancelled the spell. He spoke, "Well, I have good news and bad news. The good news is that you are not a true Horcrux. The bad news is that you are the victim of an attempted possession by the soul fragment that was supposed to go into the prepared vessel."
Daryn asked, "Is that any better?"
The Agent nodded, "The extraction process is complicated and painful, but certainly not deadly. However, the fact that you have a portion of Voldemort's soul trapped inside that scar gives us a way to locate any Horcruxes that he may have made."
Rupert asked, "How does that work?"
"The American Ministry has a device that when a soul fragment is placed inside it, will tell you if there are any other such fragments within a five hundred mile radius, and where they are. So, if we do the extraction somewhere in the center of Britain, the device will be able to tell us if there are any more and how many."
Harry grinned, "Brilliant. So, when can we do this?"
Agent Smith replied, "We will have to have the device transported, and we will need authorization to operate it on British soil."
Rupert turned to Daryn, "Is it possible to get such permission?"
Daryn chuckled, "Easy as pie. We don't have to get permission from the Ministry of Magic, but the Muggle government. All we do is have it treated as an experiment, and have the President assure the Prime Minister that it will put no one in danger, and that it will ultimately save lives, because of the threat of Voldemort, then he will approve a covert op in a heartbeat. I'll have everything ready to go by the 20th at the latest."
Harry shook the agent's hand, as well as Daryn's, "I can't thank you enough. This gets rid of a huge weight on my mind."
The agent took his leave, and then the three of them continued to talk strategy over a drink, and as Daryn was leaving he said, "Oh, by the way, Harry, I've secured you a tutor that should be able to get in and out of Hogwarts without being detected by Dumbledore. His name is Aaron Packard, and I have officially loaned him out from our Auror corps. He's a high level Grand Sorcerer, so he can channel magic at your level and above, so the tutoring should be quite informative."
Harry chuckled, "Good, I didn't want to take Defense at Hogwarts given the track record for teachers, and it turns out to be a good thing that we planned this. A member of Dumbledore's Order is the new Defense Professor."
"Well, that sucks. Keep your head up, though, and you'll get through fine. I have faith in you, Harry."
Rupert inserted, "We all do."
Harry smiled, "Thanks. I need that sometimes. Anyway, since it seems I have some free time before dinner, I think I will go spend some time with your daughter."
Daryn and Rupert laughed as Harry went traipsing out to look for his betrothed. Daryn looked at Rupert, "So, do you regret having your memory restored?"
Rupert shook his head, "Not a chance. I've only been around Harry for a little over a month, and I'm already quite fond of him. It won't be long, I expect till I will start referring to him as the son that he will be one day."
Several days passed with Harry practicing on his own, and spending time with Daphne and the rest of his soon to be family. He took the time to write a letter to Hermione in the hopes that she wouldn't be in quite a snit for the lack of communication come September First.
Hermione,
I'm sorry that I haven't written you, but I had to make sure that it was safe for me to do so. I'm also sorry that you can't write back, as in order to keep Dumbledore from tracking me, I've had wards placed to keep owls from finding me. I can't explain much in a letter, but rest assured that I am having what is easily the best summer of my life. I promise that I will explain more of what has occurred when I see you at Hogwarts.
Harry
Harry attached the letter to Hedwig's leg, and said, "Drop the letter to Hermione, but don't come back here. It will be too easy for them to track you. Go hang out with Hagrid, he'll take care of you until I can retrieve you."
Hedwig hooted and then cuffed him on the head with her wing as she flew out the window. Later that day, his tutor Aaron showed up, and the two of them began dueling practice. Aaron showed him techniques to better use his power, but most of all they practiced using their powers dueling in a specially prepared chamber, so as not to destroy the manor.
Soon enough it was time for the August Wizengamot session, and Rupert and Harry had made an appointment with Rufus, who was now the Head of the DMLE. The two of them walked in to the office and shook hands. Rufus began, "So, what can I do for you, Lord Potter and Lord Greengrass."
Harry took the lead, "We have charges to file against former Senior Undersecretary to the Minister Dolores Umbridge."
"What charges would those be, Lord Potter?"
Harry waved him off, "It's just Harry, Director Scrimgeor. I only use the Lord thing when its necessary. I know that I supported your rival for Minister, but that was because I thought the Ministry would be a much better place with her as Minister and you heading the DMLE, than the other way around. I hope that won't make it difficult for us to work together."
Rufus chuckled, "You certainly get right to the point, Harry. I would be happy to work with you, and I certainly won't hold not being Minister against you, since I've seen the mess that Amelia inherited. I don't exactly envy her. Now, what is this about Umbridge?"
"She forced me to use a Blood Quill during detention to write lines."
Rufus looked shocked, "That shouldn't be possible. The wards at Hogwarts would have sounded an alarm to the Headmaster if she was doing actual harm to a student."
Harry shrugged, "That makes sense. Dumbledore is all about making sure that I turn to him for advice. Letting Umbridge torture me sounds like something he would allow to make me distrust the Ministry, and trust him."
Rufus pulled out a quill, and set to writing, "How many times did she make you use the Blood Quill?"
Harry shrugged, "I lost count. It was usually for several hours a day, and I had detention with her for at least six weeks of the year. Probably more."
"What did she have you write?"
Harry held out his hand, and showed Rufus the scar. Rufus queried, "Why did she have you write that particular phrase?"
"She was trying to make me stop saying that Voldemort had returned."
Rufus' face set into a grim line, "You will need to be called as a witness. The judiciary is in place now, so the trial could take place with them directly after the legislative session of the Wizengamot."
Rupert nodded, "That's why we waited until now to make the accusation. We didn't want to tip our hand until the judiciary was ready to proceed with trials."
Rufus nodded, "Very well. I will have Umbridge arrested this evening, and the session is tomorrow. Are there any other people she used it on?"
Harry answered, "Lee Jordan is the only one that I know of for sure."
"We'll be sure to have him at the Ministry to be called as a witness. Once we have her guilt established, we'll be able to question her under Veritaserum."
Rupert asked, "Has Snape been interrogated, yet?"
Rufus shook his head, "Dumbledore is using what is left of his political power to block us from doing so."
Harry snorted, "That figures. Snape knows as much about what the old man is up to as he does Voldemort. Hopefully, after tomorrow we can put enough dents in Dumbledore to keep him out of your hair."
Rupert and Harry shook hands and left.
The next day the two of them put on their Wizengamot robes and headed for the Ministry building. After the initial formalities of the session were dealt with, Albus Dumbledore rose and asked the question, "As Chief Warlock, I, Albus Dumbledore, call this, the eighth session of the Wizengamot in the year 1996 to order. Now, before we begin this month's agenda, does anyone have any preliminary business?"
Amelia stood, "We have an addition to the judiciary schedule. One, Dolores Umbridge, has been charged with the torture of a minor through the use of a Class III forbidden artifact known as a Blood Quill. The Ministry is also charging you, Albus Dumbledore, as an accomplice after the fact, since as the sitting Headmaster the wards of Hogwarts would have warned you what was going on, and you did nothing to stop it."
The chamber went into an uproar as Dumbledore zeroed his gaze directly onto Harry with unmitigated anger in his eyes. As the chamber quieted, Rupert stood, "I would like the chamber to note that Chief Warlock, Albus Dumbledore, immediately looked at Lord Potter. This implies knowledge of the events in question."
Lord Longbottom stood, "Since the Chief Warlock has been implicated in a crime, I move that he be suspended from duty for the duration of this session, and that Lady Bones act in his stead."
This was quickly voted on and Albus was relegated to the visitor seating as he had no sitting votes, and Narcissa Malfoy stood as representative of the Malfoy votes until Draco came of age, "I move that we take the trial of Dolores Umbridge into consideration before the full Wizengamot rather than the judiciary subcommittee. This trial will be of critical import to the trial of the Chief Warlock that must take place before the full chamber, anyway."
Lady Bones called a vote, which passed almost overwhelmingly. While she sent for Rufus to bring in the accused and his witnesses, Harry and Rupert exchanged glances. This was going more to their benefit than they ever could have hoped for. Rupert leaned over, "Don't get cocky about it. This is just going to make the old man even more desperate."
Harry nodded, "I know. I almost dread returning to Hogwarts. The Board's ruling that he isn't allowed to institute disciplinary measures is the only reason I'm bothering.
Rufus called Harry to the stand. He went through the story with Harry and then called Lee Jordan up. Then, he called Justin Finch-Fletchley and Terry Boot, both of whom he had discovered had been on the receiving end of one session each. They each had the same message carved into their hands, as well. I shall respect and show deference to my betters. The fact that both of them were Muggle-Born made a serious impact on their testimony. Then, Dolores Umbridge was put on the stand.
Rufus asked, "Now, Dolores, did you bring a Blood Quill into Hogwarts?"
"No."
"Are you in possession of a Blood Quill?"
"No."
"Then, how would you explain the fact that upon searching your manor, we found no less than six Blood Quills, and upon testing found the blood residue of all four of the witnesses as well as 14 other as yet unidentified samples?"
"They must have been planted."
"Then, how would you further explain the presence of your fingerprints on the quills in question?"
Umbridge hesitated, "I don't know."
Rufus turned to the Wizengamot, "I believe that we have shown that Umbridge is culpable for her crimes. Now, it remains for us to show that Albus Dumbledore was complicit as well. As such, we request that we be allowed to dose him with Veritaserum."
Dumbledore rose, "I protest. It has not been shown that I have committed a crime severe enough to warrant a truth serum."
Rufus continued, "Normally, I would agree, but with such a crime the only way to determine the truth of the matter is from the accused, as there could be no other witnesses. I will swear an oath on my magic before the Wizengamot not to ask any question that does not pertain to the specific charge."
After some debate, the Wizengamot narrowly voted to give Dumbledore Veritaserum. Once he was on the stand and dosed, Rufus asked, "Were you aware that Dolores Umbridge was using a Blood Quill on students?"
"No."
Rufus seemed surprised but rallied, "Were you aware that she was torturing students?"
"Yes. The wards warned me, but they aren't specific enough to identify the implement being used."
"Why did you do nothing to stop her?"
"The Ministry was bent on making sure that I was removed from Hogwarts, and I was attempting to stave off that occurrence for as long as possible."
"Was that the only reason?"
"No. I wanted Mr. Potter to look to me for guidance, since he is important to the war against Voldemort."
Dumbledore was given the antidote, and the Wizengamot began to confer on its judgment. Both were found guilty. Umbridge was sentenced to life imprisonment in Azkaban, and as the last heir of the Umbridge line, her fortune was confiscated and added to the Ministry coffers. Dumbledore was fined 10,000 galleons.
Bones stood, "Does anyone else have preliminary business before the Wizengamot?"
Harry stood, "I call for a vote of No Confidence in Albus Dumbledore as Chief Warlock, and petition for his permanent removal from this body."
The vote was so one-sided as to be almost unnecessary. Only 14 votes were cast in Dumbledore's favor, who once the vote was finished, gave Harry a look of unadulterated hatred before stalking from the room.
From there, the choice for a new Chief Warlock was debated. Ultimately, Lord Diggory was elected to be the new Chief Warlock. He was a choice that placated the Light side, and that the neutrals could get behind after Harry came out in his favor, and his refusal to run for Minister on Dumbledore's nomination.
A/N: I know I said Harry would get back to Hogwarts in this chapter, but there ended up being more material to cover than I thought. I'm still trying to keep the chapter size down, so I don't have to change my posting schedule.