Chapter Fourteen- Lessons with Dumbledore

Later that day, a little Hufflepuff boy comes and gives me a note in the middle of History of Magic from Dumbledore. "Thank you." I tell the boy, opening it. Dumbledore wants me to come to his office tonight.

At eight o'clock that night, I knock on Dumbledore's office door, and say the password "Sherbert Lemon." The statue swings open, revealing another door. "Come in." Dumbledore says. He is sitting at his desk. "Is that a Pensieve?" I ask, curiously. "Yes, it is. I had something else planned, but it can wait. Would you like to see it?" Dumbledore asks. I nod. "What would you like to see? I have many memories to choose from." He says.

"Do you have anything about, about, my family?" I ask. Dumbledore smiles. "Depends on which particular member of your family. I have plenty pertaining to your father and aunt." Not particularly caring for my father right now, I say "my aunt."

Dumbledore walks over to a shelf, and grabs several vials out. "Be warned. Some of this is frightening. Do you wish to continue?" He asks me. "Yes." I say. Dumbledore pores a vial into the Pensieve. Having read about these, I put my head in the substance and instantly fall into a mini-shack I don't recognize.

Four people stand in the center of the shack, three men and one woman. The woman kicks something over. "I hate this." She snaps. "We should be looking for the Dark Lord, not huddled up in some filthy shack only fit for Muggles."

"Bella, if we go looking, the Aurors will throw us in Azkaban! One of the men says. "Then let them! We alone were faithful, we will be rewarded!" Bellatrix snaps. "I don't want to go to Azkaban." The smallest man, who looks a boy still, whimpers. "Lost your gut after what happened with the last Aurors, Crouch?" The third man taunts. "No, of course not." The boy quickly amends. The first man puts a finger to his lips. "Shush!" He whispers. "I can hear someone coming."

"Come out with your wands out, and your hands up. Any attempts to attack will be swiftly punished." Someone says from the outside. Bellatrix quickly pulls out a wand, as someone breaks down the shack's door. Bellatrix simply laughs. "You think you can take us? I learn the Dark Arts from the Dark Lord himself! Crucio!" A man goes flying backwards in pain.

"Bella, stand down. Fighting will do no good this time." The first man says. "We will wait for the Dark Lord's return." This seems to calm Bella down a bit. In her moment of calm, the Aurors manage to tie all four of them up.

I find myself back in Dumbledore's office. "What was that?" I ask. 'That." Dumbledore says. "Was the capture of Bellatrix, Rodolphus, and Rabastan Lestrange, as well as Barty Crouch Jr." "Why couldn't I get into their minds?" I ask. "It was only a memory. Would you like to see another?" Dumbledore asks. Seeing my indecision, Dumbledore goes back over to the cabinet and grabs another vial out. "How about something from your father? Something less violent?" He asks.

I shake my head. "If I wanted to know anything about him, I'd look myself." I shrug. Dumbledore raises his eyebrows. "Then why not try now?" He asks. "Are you mad? I've only been able to access memories and thoughts of people in close proximity to me! It would be impossible!" I exclaim. Dumbledore puts up a single finger. "Ah, but nothing's impossible. I would have thought you, of all people, would know that. Go on. Try." Dumbledore says. I sigh. "What do you want me to find out?" "I want you to find the trial at the end of the first war." Dumbledore says.

I close my eyes and focus on my father. "I'm in!" I exclaim a second later, hearing Father's thoughts come through. "Good. Now, stay focused." Dumbledore says. The thoughts become clearer and clearer. "Memories." I think. "I want memories." The memories seem to organize themselves. "Trial." I think. One of them glows. I focus on it.

Lucius sat in the chained chair. Somewhere in the ring around the courtroom is Narcissa Malfoy, holding a five-month old baby. He couldn't even bring himself to look at her. This was his mess. He would get out of it. After all, he didn't just have to think of Cissa, though that alone was enough. He had two children now, and Cissa could not manage both on her own.

"I can't hold on much longer." I say. This venture so far away has left me tired. "Try." Dumbledore urges. I sigh and go back into the memory.

"Lucius Abraxas Malfoy, you are charged with aiding the Death Eaters, in full knowledge of your actions." Cornelius Fudge says. "Do you deny this?" Lucius clears his throat. "As I have said before, I was under the influence of the Imperius Curse." He says. Everything would be fine. Lucius had paid Fudge off with a considerable amount of Galleons. "Could you describe the Imperius Curse?" A Ministry witch says. "Amelia, one would not be able to describe the Imperius Curse." Fudge cuts in. The Ministry witch looks annoyed. It seemed that was the point of her question. Everyone stays silent.

"Seeing as there seem to be no more questions, the Wizengamot will take this to a vote. All in favor of conviction?" Fudge asks. Lucius could practically hear Narcissa holding her breath. He had not told her what he had done. All of two people raised their hands. "All in favor of clearing the charges?" Fudge asks. Most of the Wizengamot raises their hands. "As a clear vote from the Wizengamot indicates, Mr. Malfoy, you are freed of all charges." Fudge declares.

"So that's how he got off free?" I ask, disgusted. "Paid Fudge off?" Dumbledore ignores me. "Now you believe that your abilities go further than you could have imagined." He looks slightly amused. "And I believe they can go further. You should get some rest now." He says. I walk out, amazed at what I have just done.