REVENGE IS SWEET,OR IS IT?

by GiGiFanFic

A promise made, unable to be kept because of dire circumstances, actions of loved one leads to heartache and acts of revenge are begun. Reasons abound, so how will Harry handle this? The way he always does of course. Just do it!

14. Chapter 14

EVENGE IS SWEET, OR IS IT?

CHAPTER 14.

Glen and Theresa hadn't been gone from the Manor very long, when the floo once more came to life, ejecting one Robert McFarland. He made as graceful an exit as Harry was able to accomplish and that wasn't saying much. Laughing Harry helped him up from the floor, and cleaning his robes of ashes, Harry introduced him to Ron. Ginny was acquainted with him already, so needed no introduction.

The adults returned to the study and joined Molly and Lily who were cuddled up comfortably on the small sofa. "Narcy and Lucius are still napping, but this little one wanted to cuddle more than she wanted to sleep"

Ginny introduced Robert to her Mum and Molly greeted him warmly with a big smile. "Thank you for your willingness to help my son. Once we have dinner, I'm sure that Ron has many shocking revelations to relate to you. In the meantime, would you like a cup of tea?"

Robert accepted the offer gladly, and Mitzi brought tea and biscuits to assuage any hunger pains until dinner. The next hour and a half went quite well while Robert did his best to help convince everyone, especially Ron and his Mum, to feel comfortable with him as a person and with the role he intended to play in their lives.

Mitzi called them to dinner. Today for the first time in ages, the children were spending the remainder of the day with Nanny in the nursery. Ginny and Harry had gone up briefly to spend a bit of time with them, but tonight was serious business, and the three little charmers could be a hindrance at best. The adults dined in the smaller dining room, as they would remain there to discuss the events leading up to Ron's descent into semi-darkness.

Following dinner and dessert, Robert became solemn as he asked Ron and his Mum if they were ready to talk to him. "I think we'll begin with you Mrs. Weasley". Please relate as much as you can remember concerning your son, during his years before Hogwarts" I will record everything said here tonight on my wand so that I can transcribe it tomorrow and study it before our meeting with your family tomorrow night. I'm ready, so please begin now "

"First please, I'm Molly to my friends. I hardly know where to begin, but since Ron was told the details of his adoption during the last couple of days, I'll begin there" Molly then spoke for the better part of an hour, leaving nothing out of her tale. It broke her heart to watch Ron's face during her recollections, but if she wanted to help her son, she needed to be thorough.

Then he asked Ron to tell him his earliest memories and to omit nothing, as even the tiniest detail was relevant. Ron spoke for the next hour or more and as he spoke, his Mum's face crumpled steadily in dismay. Even Ginny had feelings of guilt and remorse written over her face. If she'd only known, but she soon realized that she had been too young to know how her actions had hurt her brother. Ron finished speaking and Ginny tried to speak through her tears but Robert got her attention and shook his head no.

Robert then sat still, gently signaling for silence from all for a bit. He closed his eyes, and began to think. Harry, Ginny, Ron and Molly all grasped hands in support of each other. Not one of them had dry eyes, but they all attempted to hold back for Ron's sake. Ron knew if he let go, that he'd never stop. The news of his adoption had been devastating, but to relive the telling of his childhood had been worse. What must Harry think of his so-called best mate?

With a big smile on his face, Robert faced the family. "Well I have some good news. A couple bits actually. First Ron, your biological birth parents had nothing to do with your actions while growing up. The unconditional love given to you by your parents and siblings is what made you the man you are today. As you grew up trying to compete with your older brothers, and later a little sister, you rebelled. Of course you did, as millions of children before and after you have rebelled. Being younger than two jokesters must have been a trial for you. The oldest three were set in their ways, but the twins were only two years older and because you were younger and there were two of them, it made twice the picking on. I would hazard a guess that most of your childhood problems stem from their tormenting and pranking of you. A person grows and evolves because of the nurturing they receive as children. Meeting your Mum, has convinced me that she loved you no more but also no less than she loved all of her children."

"The second piece of news Ron, is that I truly believe that your problems began in fourth year when Harry's name was entered in the Goblet of Fire by a Deatheater. Please relate to me in it's entirety, everything you can remember about your next four years and your relationship with Harry and your sister"

Mitzi refilled the teapot, and after taking a long sip of his tea, he began. "I have been going over everything in my mind and it all comes back to Professor Dumbledore. I was so angry to think that my best mate had gone behind my back and entered the Tournament, and got away with it no less. Harry tried to convince me that he was not the one that put his name in but I wouldn't believe him. Our friendship was in jeopardy just before the first task, when the Headmaster called me into his office for a chat."

Ron then proceeded to relate all he could remember concerning his many chats that followed in the Headmasters office. The facts weren't pretty nor were they easily believable. Robert was practicing Legilmency 'apparently' unbeknownst to Ron as he spoke, and knew he was speaking the truth. As an Auror, Ron was aware of the intrusion into his mind, but wanted Robert to see the truth of what he was telling them.

The faces of the other ones present were becoming darker and darker showing the anger they felt at this Professor, entrusted with the care and well-being of his students. In Robert's estimation, Dumbledore had certainly let these three students down.

It was hard to believe that the better part of four hours had passed since Molly first began speaking, and subsequently the two others added their deductions and stories. Ginny was devastated at her unbeknownst part in this saga, Harry was livid, Molly was heartbroken, and Ron was now crying inconsolably in his mother's arms. At last, as far as everyone knew, it was all out in the open, damn the consequences.

Robert looked around at the people he had begun to know, admire and respect over the last few weeks. The war was bad enough, but when a figure of such prominence, a Mentor no less, shows feet of the worst type of clay, the devastation felt at his failing is beyond comprehension.

Clearing his throat for attention, he began. "Ron, are you willing to take a dose of a special type of Veritaserum, one which allows you to relate facts without the need for questions?"

"Any thing, Robert because I just want to get on with my life again," he answered.

"Harry, will you open your Manor to our meeting, or should I call it confrontation, tomorrow night?"

A bemused Harry answered quickly. "Whatever it takes, my home is yours to use if you need the space" Chuckling he added. "I take it the guest list will be rather large?"

"Oh it will be that Harry. The nine Weasleys, Miss. Granger and her parents, AurorRemus Lupin, Auror Kingsley Shacklebolt will be here. The two arrested Deatheaters who will be restrained and accompanied by the Aurors will of course be among your guests".

"I will personally invite the Headmaster, the new Minister of Magic, the head of your Law Firm , and the Head of the Legal Dept at the Ministry. If I think of anyone else, I shall invite them also. Dinner will be the Weasley and Granger families only, and of course you and myself. I shall be here to mediate, and I am good at it if I do say so myself. Have your wand ready as well for backup, Harry. Please ask your Elves to set the ballroom up as a meeting room cum courtroom. Have I intrigued you all enough to insure your presence tomorrow night?" he asked laughing at their facial expressions.

"Wild hippogriffs couldn't keep us away, and I know I speak for all of us", answered Molly. "I intend to have a camera because I want to see my men's faces when they hear the truth. They are the masters of jumping to conclusions. This may teach them a lesson"

Yawning widely she said, "I'm sorry, but I must go to bed. I am extremely tired and it promises to be a long day tomorrow. Goodnight all" Ginny decided to see her Mum to bed, as she knew what state her nerves were in. Ron followed shortly after and Robert and Harry stayed behind to finalize the plans for the morrow.

"It's really bad isn't it Robert? I knew all the way through school that Dumbledore groomed me for what he called my 'destiny'. He kept me in the dark until the end of my fifth year before he told me the full wording of the prophesy. I will never believe that I was the only one who could kill the git, but Dumbledore convinced everyone including the media that I was the 'Chosen one', and who would disbelieve the master actor? The only good thing about my time at Hogwarts was my friendship with Ron and Hermione, and the best was my one and only love, Ginny. I hope he gets his, I truly hope and pray to Merlin that he gets his". Harry dropped his head in abject misery caused by the truths he,d listened to for the second time, the first time being when he went to the Ministry to see Ron.

"Harry, I'll leave now as I will need all the time I can have to pull this meeting together. Please have dinner a bit early, so we can begin meeting early as well. Don't be surprised at the guest list tomorrow night as I haven't told you about my surprise, and at Harry's questioning look he said. "Sorry, I did say surprise didn't I? Please trust me, and we'll vindicate Ron, Ginny and you tomorrow night. Goodnight my friend, until I see you tomorrow night at 4:30 P.M."

Even with Ginny cuddled into his side, Harry hardly slept a wink that night. He was so wired up, and Ginny was a tad restless, that he tossed and turned until he decided to just get up and go for a run. The two of them would need to spend the morning with their children to make up for their absence today, and needed their sleep.

Climbing carefully into bed after his run, Harry spooned into Ginny's back and knew no more until he heard Lily and his two others calling for Mummy and Daddy. Ginny was gone already, so he pulled on his dressing gown and headed for the nursery. Ginny was in with her Mum again, so Harry took the three little ones into Molly's room. He knew they were the best medicine that Molly would want.

Placing them on the bed with their Mum and Grand Mum, Harry watched as they spun their own brand of magic. First, they climbed over the two women hugging and kissing them soundly. Soon he could see the smiles creeping across both women's faces, and soon laughter followed as they felt little fingers tickling them.

"Okay now, who's up for a big breakfast?" he asked. A male voice could be heard answering happily, "I am, pick me please?" They all laughed as a chuckling Ron entered the room and scooped his Mum and sister into a hug. He hugged and kissed the three children and hugged Harry for good measure.

"What's got into you this morning mate? If I didn't know any better, I'd say you've been talking to Mione, because I remember that look from a few years ago"

"You got me there; I just finished talking to her. She told me that her and her parents would be here tonight. I guess Robert wasted no time with his invitations or should I call it his command performance?"

"We'll see tonight but for now let's eat, before I chew the leg of one of these delectable little children", Harry said as he grabbed Narcy and pretended to nibble on her leg. She began giggling wildly and Ron grabbed Lucius and tried to nibble teasingly on his leg as well. Lily was already running away from these crazy adults, and Ginny ran to catch her before she fell down the stairs in her haste. It was a happy family, that gathered at the breakfast table, in their nightclothes no less, to enjoy a vast array of breakfast foods. Harry asked Denny if all the plans for tonight were in order.

"Yes, Harry they are. Do you know an Elf named Dobby? He's kind of eccentric, but he popped in early this morning and asked if he could work for you. He has a friend Winky, who needs to be bound to a Master."

Harry jumped to his feet. The look on his face was priceless. It was a combination of joy and woe is me. "Yes I know him. Dobby, where are you?" he called out and immediately felt arms wrapped around his legs and a tearful voice saying. "Dobby knows that the great Harry Potter was not dead. Dobby told everyone that the great Harry Potter would come back. Dobby was right, wasn't he, oh great Harry Potter sir?"

Harry tried to hide his mirth at his little friend's speech. "Yes Dobby, I am back and I would love to have you living at the Manor here with me and Miss. Ginny and our babies. Where's Winky, is she with you now?"

"No Mr. Harry Potter sir. Winky be still back at Hogwarts, but she needs to be bound to a Master, and I told her I would speak to the grea….."Now enough of that 'great' stuff, Dobby. You have known me for a long time. We are friends, as you well know. I am just Harry. That's what the Elves here call me, and that is what you will call me if you want to live with us. Is that okay with you?"

"Yes Harry, I can do that. I've been practicing for a long time because I know you like your friends to think of you as just Harry. Winky will have no choice but to call you Master and Miss Ginny, Mistress. Bound Elves is different from free Elves and must follow protocol at all times. Please understand."

"I do understand Dobby. Now, there is a lot of work to be done to prepare for a big meeting tonight. Please get Winky and we'll do the Bonding process and then the two of you can help Mitzi and Denny with the work. How does that sound to you?'

There was no answer coming from dobby as he disappeared noiselessly and appeared a few minutes later leading a tearful and messy looking Winky. Harry knew why she looked as she did, so without any hesitation, he did the little bonding riual that would give her a family to serve for as long as she desired to serve them. As soon as the rite was completed, Winkey,s attire changed to that of the other Elves. She was fresh and clean looking and she stood with a proud look on her little face. Lily, Narcy and Lucius ran to her and hugged her. Here was someone else to play with who was their size and they were quite happy at the turn of events.

After thanking Harry once again, the two new to the Potter household Elves, happily followed Mitzi and Denny into the kitchen to get their orders for the day. "Never a dull moment is there mate?" asked Ron.

"No and with Dobby here, it will be even less dull than I would like it to be now and then. But then I wouldn't have it any other way. He was one of my best friends in Hogwarts, and kept me fed when I was being a git and withdrawing into my self. He's the greatest little Elf and friend ever"

"Now for baths and showers", Harry announced, waggling his eyebrows at Ginny behind her Mum's back. Ron saw him and smirked as he knew there would be water conservation in force in their shower very soon. "Don't forget that Ginny has another appointment at the Clinic this afternoon, so don't take too long in the shower", he quipped to them.

Ginny's treatment that afternoon saw only four more minor threads removed. The next layer would prove to be a difficult and tricky one to work with, and would challenge everything that Sean and Bill had ever learned about Curse Breaking. She returned to the Manor in good spirits. As far as she was concerned, one thread at a time would be an improvement. Bill returned with her as it was near the earlier dinner hour of five when they left the clinic. Well she was in good spirits until she saw that all her brothers, her Dad and Mione and her family sat stiffly in the sitting room, just staring unseeingly at one another.

"I'll be right back", she said as she ran up the steps to her bedroom. Harry, Ron and Robert were sitting on conjured seats around the room waiting for her. Mitzi appeared and announced dinner to Harry. Robert spoke up with, "Well here goes, we'd better get this show on the road. Got your wands ready, Ginny and Harry?"

Harry and Ginny walked side by side down the stairs with Ron and Robert bringing up the rear. Mitzi and Winky had the rest of the two families seated in the formal dining room and so the foursome joined them there. There were smiles all around for Harry, Molly, some for Ginny, but only scowls for Ron when they saw him. A cacophony of sound erupted, from not only the Weasleys, but also the senior Grangers. They were all for garroting Ron.

Harry yelled for silence, introduced Robert to the dinner guests, and said, "Dinner is now being served and we have very little time left to enjoy it before we have our meeting. Less talking will make for more eating and I for one intend to enjoy every morsel that my House-Elves cooked for us, so tuck in."

Against their will, all enjoyed their meal and dessert. "Beverages will be served in the meeting room, but do enjoy your dessert," said a grinning Robert. At 5:50, Harry and Robert stood. "Please follow us," Robert said as he led Ron from the dining room as Harry and Ginny lifted their wands to denote that there was to be no trouble. Ginny's brothers knew better than to do anything foolhardy so followed docilely into the Ballroom.

Harry almost fell over when he saw the crowded room. At place of honor at the front of the room was a raised dais seating thereon the members of the Wizengamot and a twinkling Professor Dumbledore at their head.

Along the sides of the room were the various Ministry Heads. The Weasleys and Grangers were led to seats along the back of the room and were guarded by four Aurors.

In the very center of the room, guarded by Lupin and Shack were two Deatheaters shackled in chairs much like the ones in the Ministry Courthouse. To their right side was another chair which now had Ron as it's occupant. To the left of the Dais, was another Dais housing a team of Lawyers, made up of members of the Ministry and Harry's Personal Law firm and the Granger,s Lawyer. Robert chose to stand beside Ron, as he would chair this meeting to a certain extent.

To say that Harry was impressed would be the understatement of the year. He and Ginny were led to seats near the lawyers. Once everyone was seated, Robert began to speak.

"I know that only a few of those present are aware of what is happening tonight. Those who do know, only know that part which they are immediately concerned with. We will hold three trials here tonight. One defendant was framed for an act of which he has been proven innocent. He has agreed to ingest a regulated dose of Veritaserum, in order to prove his innocence to certain members of his family" Here gasps arose from the section where the Weasleys and Grangers sat.

These two shackled prisoners will be tried as the actual perpetrators of the aforementioned crime. I am not a Lawyer, but I am Ron Weasleys Mind Healer. My credentials are here for all to read. The third person being charged here tonight, will be known by all as the testimony is being given by the three defendants".

"I will now call on the three Lawyers representing the Ministry, Miss. Hermione Granger, and Mr. Ron Weasley to step forward. They have all been in contact with the victim's family and the familys agreed on the questions for Mr. Weasley. It is hoped that at the end of these questions and answers, that all will be satisfied that there has been a travesty of justice done to this fine young man" Here a snort sounded from the Weasley section. After the three drops of serum entered his mouth, the Ministry Lawyer approached Ron and so it began.

Ministry Official: "Would you please tell us your name."

"My name is Ronald Bilius Weasley"

MO: "What is your occupation?"

"I am a Full time Auror and a part time Quiddich player"

MO: "Are you acquainted with the prisoners, Theodore Knott and Zachariah Smith?"

"Yes, I went to school with both of them. We all began Hogwarts together, but we were never friends"

MO: "Mr. Weasley have you had any known contact with Knott or Smith since you graduated from school?"

"Yes, I was part of an Auror Team which arrested them soon after I joined the Auror Academy"

MO: "Did you know that they had escaped Azkaban?"

"Yes, it was part of my job to know these things"

MO: "On the night of July 22nd. do you remember a family dinner wherein your family were read a Medical report regarding your sister, Ginevra Weasley Malfoy?"

"Yes I do remember that report"

MO: "Do you also remember your reaction to that report?"

"I only remember hearing what sounded like words but did not hear what the words were. I tried but it seemed as if something was blocking my hearing." Harry noticed Dumbledore fidget at this point in the questioning.

MO: "Then what do you remember next?"

"I remember Harry telling me he would not be my best man, and someone mentioning that Mione helped Ginny several times when she was beaten and I remember leaving in a rage that I couldn't control" Dumbledore's unrest was more noticeable to Harry now as he was watching him from the corner of his eye.

MO: "Then what did you do?"

"I have absolutely no idea what I did between then and the moment I woke up in my bed alone on the following morning.

MO: "Did you at any time on that Sunday night manhandle one Hermione Granger?"

"Why would I hurt her when she is the love of my life? I don't remember even seeing her that night"

MO: "When did you next see her?"

"When I woke up and realized she was gone, I Apparated over to her parent's house to see if she was there. Being an Auror puts loved ones in danger, so I wanted to make sure she wasn't at her parents before I called in the Ministry."

MO: "What happened next?"

"I Apparated into her back yard and she was lying on the ground reading. When she noticed me she jumped up and began yelling at me. I was confused, as I couldn't remember having an argument of any kind with her recently. I looked up when I detected movement, and saw something shimmering behind her. I saw a Curse heading toward her and as she fell, everything went black and I woke up in Ministry cells, under arrest for assault."

MO: "Why didn't you use your wand to protect her? You are an Auror."

"I have no idea why I didn't help her, I only remember utter blackness."

The serum was wearing off and after Ron left the stand, Hermione was called as the next witness. She told of seeing Ron standing in front of her with a shocked expression on his face, and then felt a Curse hit her in the back.

MO: "Did Ron Weasley attack you, Miss Granger?"

"Ron did not attack me in any way. Other than the argument we had the night before, and that was not my Ron standing in front of me fighting mad, he did not harm me whatsoever on the Monday. I'm willing to testify under Veritaserum if necessary"

The other Lawyers were satisfied that Ron had told them all that he could about the attack.

The two Deatheaters were next on the agenda. Given the serum, the two sang like a couple of birds chasing after worms.

MO: " Your name please."

"Zachariah Smith"

MO: "When did you take the Dark Mark?"

"In my sixth year, along with Knott, Malfoy and several others from Slytherin and some of the other houses."

MO: "You,re choice was very surprising when it became known to some of your former classmates. What made you decide to join the dark side"

"Well I was dating Ginny Weasley and she dumped me for Harry bloody Potter. I was just about to hex him one morning when Professor Dumbledore stopped me and took me to his office. I thought I was in for a lecture or at least a detention, but instead he gave me a lemon drop, and then told me that I could do something more constructive than just hexing Harry. The next thing I knew I was standing in front of Voldemort being marked. I have no idea why I did this as I and my family have always been neutral, but definitely not evil."

MO: "And do you remember where you were you on July 23rd.between the hours of 9AM and 11.30 AM."

"I was in a garden with Theodore Knott under orders to assault one Hermione Granger, but not kill her, just frighten her, and frame Ron Weasley for the attack"

MO: "Did you carry out this order? And who did this order come from?"

"I did assist Knott to carry out our orders and all of our orders come from the same place we go to several times a year. Some room in Hogwarts"

Knott gave the very same testimony regarding the attack, excepting the information regarding his branding and his family affiliation with the Dark Lord. The prisoners were than led away, but to Azkaban this time, to await their official trial.

Robert stood up and once more began speaking. You all heard the evidence here today. Ron Weasley is only guilty of arguing with the victim, albeit unwittingly. Why does not only he, but also the two prisoners have such sketchy memories? Why are there large parts of their life that they cannot remember? Are they too under Spells as Ms. Weasley-Malfoy is suffering from?"

Harry could swear by looking at the Headmaster that he was crawling with biting bugs of some sort. His attention went back to Roberts's next words. "We are now preparing a dose of a special Veritaserum which will enable a person to tell a long uninterrupted tale of past happenings even though he may ramble a bit. This special dosage also enables the said person to remember the details of their lost moments and sometimes hours. Ron Weasley will ingest this serum, willingly as he as well as his best friend Harry Potter and other loved ones want the truth.

Given the proper dosage, Ron became completely relaxed and settled down to tell a story of deceit, subterfuge, mind control, and the ramblings of a mentally unhinged Wizard.

"I was angry with Harry because he had put his name in the Goblet against the rules. He tried so many times to convince me that someone else had to put his name in because of the age line. I am a stubborn, opiniated prat and so I didn't believe him. When I learned that the first task involved Dragons, I realized that I had been wrong. I wanted to be able to help him in his taske and so I was running down the corridor looking for Harry to apologize to him when I met Professor Dumbledore. He asked me what the problem was. I told him what I was about to do, and he told my Harry was in his office and I could apologize to him there in privacy. When we entered his office, he looked around and said that Harry must have grown tired of waiting and left". Here he glared malevolently at Dumbledore and continued.

"He told me to sit down and pulled some lemon drops from out of a drawer. I didn't realize just then that there was a dish of the drops on the desk in front of him. He picked up a gizmo from the shelf behind him, and as I sucked on the candy, he began speaking to me softly and hypnotically. He said it must be hard to take second place to a bunch of siblings, and then when I get a friend I take second place to not only him but also our other friend Hermione. He asked me if maybe I would like to be more important than them for a change, to be known for more than being Harry's friend and Hermione's scapegoat. He made it sound so great that I agreed with him wholeheartedly. Soon I was visiting his office three times a week. I was reporting everything that Harry was doing. He knew that Moody was an imposter, but wanted to see how it would all play out."

"I know now that he is mentally ill and had become a power hungry lunatic. When Harry and Ginny became a couple, he was furious. He said it thwarted all his plans. I found out during one of his crazy rambling speeches, that he planned to be alone with Harry at the last battle, let him kill Voldy, Obliviate the killing from Harry's mind, and take the credit so he would be the hero of the Wizarding world.

So many times I tried to tell Harry what was going on but then I'd get patches of nothing for hours at a time and then forget what I was going to tell him. This went on for the next 2 ½ years and Dumbledore was unaware when the time finally came soon after Easter of our seventh year, that Harry was even fighting Voldemort along with Ginny, Hermione and me. Snape showed up hoping to kill Harry, but Hermione was too fast for him and killed him as he was beginning the killing curse at Harry's back.

"The order had been tricked into going to the Ministry and St, Mungos to protect them from attacks that never happened and by the time they realized it was a ruse, the Battle was over and Harry was gone.

Ginny was devastated and so were Mione and me. We spent every spare minute of the next year looking for Harry. I joined the Cannons part time, and the Aurors full time. I still felt compelled to visit Dumbledore from time to time. He still offered me his special, as he called them, lemon drops and twirled his gizmo in his fingers as we talked. The following summer as Ginny was graduating, I proposed to Hermione and she accepted. It was the happiest day of my life. Something convinced me to wait until Harry returned to marry, as I wanted him for my best man".

"Then Ginny did the most horrendous thing she could ever do. She eloped with Malfoy, Harry and I,s and hers too when we were in school, most hated mortal enemy, and a Deatheater to boot. During the seventh year's graduation party at the Hogsmead Tavern, the gits had approached her and doped her drink, and left with her between them. When her classmates ran outside to try to stop Malfoy, they were just Apparating away with her. Colin and the others from her class ran back to the Castle to tell Dumbledore", and here he spat the name out, "that Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle had kidnapped Ginny. He gave them all a lemon drop and told them that maybe she just went for a walk with them. They believed him at that point. Later as we talked about it, they were sure they had been drugged at the time"

"Over the next four years I visited 'his' office, and I found that I had no interest in finding Harry or helping Ginny. I knew she was living in Potter Manor, and had children, but the thoughts that went through my head all the time were getting darker and darker. I was convinced that Harry was dead and Ginny may as well be".

"During that time on one of my assignments, the Team of Aurors I was working with, arrested Smith and Knott. I was charged with interrogating Smith and during the course of my questioning; I asked him why he had been stupid enough to take the Mark. He looked me straight in the eye and told me that Dumbledore told him that it was the easiest way to pay Harry back for stealing Ginny away from him. He started to tell me about the lemon drops and then his eyes glazed over and I couldn't get him to say anything more about Dumbledore. He had also told me about the Snape/Dolohov incident that happened under the Heads orders.

"The last time I saw Dumbledore was the afternoon of our family dinner when Dad, Harry, and the Healers presented the evidence of Ginny's possession by Malfoy. The rest is as clear as polished glass. He told me that he felt it was time for me to go it alone. With Harry back now, he told me my family would fawn over him and I would live in his shadow once again. At one of our sessions when I asked him how Snape could be killed twice, he told me it was Dolohov senior polyjuiced as Snape who was killed and not Snape. Hermione actually killed the real Snape during the battle. Dumbledor,s reasoning for this farce was that since Snape hated Harry, then Snape could live and maybe kill Harry somewhere down the line.

He was so jealous of poor little Harry from day one. He was supposed to leave Harry with a Wizarding family, but forged documents stating that the Potters wanted the Dursleys to raise their son. He knew all the time that Harry was being abused, but did nothing about it. He ranted and raved occasionally, and would then give me another lemon drop to suck on again.

When Harry mentioned that night after dinner that Ginny had no one to care for her except Hermione, I lost it. A great rage overtook me. I couldn't even think clearly. Had you asked me my name just then, I wouldn't have been able to tell you. Something was controlling me from the get go and I had to see Hermione. I flooed home and started a shouting match with her. Words just seemed to pop into my mouth. She turned away and told me I could spend the night on the couch until I cooled down, but I grabbed her by the arm and spun her around. She lost her balance and I didn't even try to help her up. She ran into the bedroom and locked the door."

"I broke my way into the bedroom, and she had flooed to her parents house. I drank a bottle of Firewhiskey, passed out on the bed and slept until morning. My mind was clearer when I woke up and I knew I had to apologize to Hermione for something or other. I had tried to follow her through the floo the night before, but she had blocked it. She forgot to put up Apparition Wards at her parents house and when I Apparated into her yard, I was just in time to see her knocked out with a stunner. I……heard….., oh my god it was Smiths voice, say have a special lemon drop Ron, and everything went dark and I Apparated back to our apartment. They followed me, and I don't remember anything else until I woke up in a cell in the Ministry"

Before anyone could move, the three Lawyers charged the members of the Wizengamot, on the strength of the evidence, with binding Albus Dumbledore over for trial for the corruption and mind control practiced over the years on several of his students at Hogwarts, and any other charges they could dig up. It was the opinion of many here today, that he needed to spend the rest of his days in a Mental Ward at St.Mungos, with no Magic to call upon ever again. The vote was unanimous and Dumbledore found himself shackled with magical bands of steel, which drained his magic.

Sobbing could be heard throughout the room. Even some of the Witches on the Board were weeping. To think that such a revered Wizard could lose his sanity, and cause such mayhem.

Molly was hugging Robert. "Are you sure you shouldn't be a Lawyer instead of a Mind Healer?" she asked him. "No my dear lady, I'm happy in my chosen field. I'll let you in on a little known secret. I began my career as a Lawyer, but was bored and changed in mid-stream to Mind Healing. Today I enjoyed myself more than the three Lawyers did. It was a challenge for me, and the outcome was satisfying all around"

Looking around he spotted someone he needed to talk to. "Oy Ron, can you come her for a minute before I leave?" Ron joined him and asked what he could do for him. "I need to set up appointments as soon as possible to begin your treatment. We need to wean you off those Hallucinogenic drops that Dumbledore fed you for so many years. You will experience withdrawal symptoms soon and they can be hell to the system. Floo the office at the Clinic, Harry knows the code, and we'll get you started, okay laddie?" "Will do Robert", he answered as he shook his hand, and thanked him profusely for everything he did for him.

Robert made his goodbyes short as he was extremely tired and wanted his bed more than anything else. He flooed away home leaving a chaotic situation that nobody seemed able or willing to cope with.

The Wizengamot Members left, as well as the majority of the other guests and soon it was just the Weasleys, Grangers, and Harry looking wonderingly at one another. Ron was the first to speak.

"My throat is sore, so I'll make this short and sweet. Not long ago Ginny was in the shoes I have been in for years; because both of us have suffered from unscrupulous people. We will never heal if we cannot forgive. I for one forgive all of you who did not believe in me. Harry looked past my sins and knowing what happened to Ginny, he wondered if maybe I was under some spell as well. Mum never for a minute thought I was capable of this evil behavior. Hermione couldn't reconcile the Ron she knew with the frequently angry Ron I was becoming. I'll mourn the loss of our baby with her if she,ll let me, but for tonight, I've had enough of distrust,hatred jealousy and just plain evil. Goodnight all, I'm for bed"

He kissed Mione on the cheek, and climbed the stairs to bed.

Molly said to Arthur. "I guess I can go back home now. Don't you fear, we'll talk more later and that's a threat not a promise. Harry bid the Grangers goodnight, and as they left following the Weasleys through the floo, he turned to Gin and said, "That was some meeting wasn't it.? "Yeah Harry, this was just another day in the life of the Weasleys and the Potters. You know it's better than the soap opera Mum listens to called 'Days of Destiny'. Are you ready for bed love?"

"I'm more than ready love, shall we?" Holding hands the two walked to their room for a well deserved night of rest.

AN. I'm not really Dumbledore bashing. Every fic mentions that he controls Harry because he is the means to the end of Voldemort. He is also close to two hundred years old, and with the stress he's lived with for several years and the wars he,s fought in, he can crack as well as any other Wizard can.

TBC