Warnings: none.

Summary: Severus and Harry discover yet more of the former Headmaster's manipulations and take on both the damage of Harry's past and the Ministry's corruption. Hermione is a force to be reckoned with, as usual.

CHAPTER 36

Severus signed his last letter to a prospective replacement teacher and attached the letter to Eirene's leg beside the second to last letter. He would use school owls for further requests if these two didn't accept the positions offered, but for this first batch, something more personal was required.

He patted the nighthawk's head, smoothed her feathers, and sent her on her way just as Bubo flew in with a letter for Harry. Severus watched as his mate read his letter and frowned at the play of emotions over his features.

Severus did not need either their bond or his experience with reading people to know Harry was upset.

Harry growled and tossed the letter on his desk, an addition Severus had added last week so they might work together during the next term. "Sev, are you busy today, love?"

Severus moved to his mate's side. "I had planned to make sure the classrooms are clear and help Ferin prepare to return his clan home, but I can postpone those plans if necessary. What is it, pet?"

Harry shuddered. "Remember that I warned Dudley to wait before he told Aunt Petunia?"

Severus grimaced. "He did not heed your advice?"

"No. Not that I can blame him. He just wanted his mum's support."

"And she was not supportive, was she?"

"Not in the least. Dudley is a wreck and needs family who doesn't judge him, but Sev, I think there's more to it. Petunia was … weird about it. I'm reading between the lines here, but judging from what Dudley said in his letter—I think she knew about him. Or maybe it was even worse than we thought."

Severus paled. "What are you saying?"

"Sev … I think … maybe she did something to him. Maybe he was supposed to be … like me."

Severus froze. "You think he is a wizard?"

Harry shook his head. "I don't know. Maybe. Instinct seems to be confused on it, like he's both a wizard and a squib, but I don't understand how he could be."

"Both …." Severus' temper flared hot. "There is one way: if she somehow managed to suppress his magic, but how could a Muggle do so? Unless …." A horrid thought occurred to him and his fists clenched. "Harry, how likely do you think it is that the Dursleys accepted you into their home without … persuasion?"

"Not likely at all." Harry gasped. "Wait. You think … Dumbledore did it?"

"I can see no other way. Come. We will find answers once and for all before we return to your cousin."

"The Bearded Bastard's portrait?"

"Indeed. After we check the Book."

"Book?"

Severus motioned to the huge tome on a pedestal in a dark corner. "That book. The Book of Names. It lists every child born with magic at birth, before any … complications arise. It is the Headmaster's duty to scan it each year and send letters to all incoming students, but it is also possible to see the names of all magical children born in a given year, as it keeps a complete record. And there is no tampering with it, so if Dudley was a wizard …."

"He'll be in there."

Severus gave a curt nod and guided Harry to the tome. After a quick spell to remove the dust, he gathered Harry close to his side. "Your cousin was born in the same year?"

Harry nodded. "He's just two months older than me."

"So he would have been in your year had he been able to attend." Severus took Harry's hand and laid it beside his on the cover. "Please show the year 1980."

A flash of pale azure light covered the book and sank into its cover. "Now," Severus said in a low voice, "we shall see if Dumbledore's meddling goes even deeper than we suspected."

Harry nodded, his frame taut with determination, and helped Severus opened the book. "Aab, Amkh; Aao, Mei-Li; Aaron, Beatrice." As Harry said the names, a set of basic facts appeared under each listing. "Hmm. It lists every magical child in the world, not just Hogwarts students?"

Severus nodded. "Those with the power and potential to attend Hogwarts are listed in green. Beauxbatons students are blue. Durmstrang students are red. The other colours indicate students that are best fit to other schools, either by their birth country or skillset. For example, Miss Beatrice Aaron is shown in purple because she was born in Minnesota and therefore was slotted to attend Ilvermorny in the United States."

Harry nodded. "Interesting. What if she had moved to, say, Ireland before getting her letter?"

"Then the colours of her name would change to indicate that she would be best fit to attend Hogwarts."

"Wicked."

Severus chuckled. "It is simple tracing magic, love. But come. Let us turn to the D's and see if your cousin was altered."

Harry gave a grim nod and turned the pages sections at a time, until they arrived at the proper place. "Dum, Yen-Sun; Duncan, Thomas; Dunne, Fiona—huh, she's Irish. I wonder why she's slotted for Durmstrang."

"It could be any number of factors." Severus' finger tapped on a name. A grey name. "Harry …."

Harry focused on the name above Severus' fingertip. "Dursley, Dudley." A shudder of fury passed through his smaller mate. "It's true then. Why is his name grey?"

Severus placed a soothing hand at Harry's back, hoping to calm him before he rushed off on a portrait-killing spree. "It indicates a child who, either through disease, injury, or suppression … lost their magic prior to reaching twelve years of age."

Harry's hands shook and moisture shone on his lashes. "He should have come to school with me. We should have been brothers. Allies. That meddling fucker took everything away from me and my entire fucking family, and now he's gone and done it to my cousin too." His eyes blazed with a green eerily reminiscent of the killing curse. "I believe we have a portrait to set on fire."

Severus winced. "Harry … I … understand your fury, and you have a right to it, but if you kill the bastard, we won't be able to learn how to help your cousin."

Harry fixed a piercing stare on Severus. "We can help him? You mean it mightn't be permanent?"

"A complete, permanent magic drain is almost impossible to achieve without severe injury—the victim must be crippled entirely, or their magic is likely to return and heal them." Severus tapped Dudley's name again. "Suppression, however, is quite easy to maintain for long periods of time without causing injury to the victim. A magic-draining bracelet like the ones they place on high-security Azkaban prisoners, for example, would reduce a person's magic levels to that of a Squib without crippling them. And it is possible to place charms on the bracelet that would make it undetectable and difficult to remove."

A wan smile flickered across Harry's face. "So he mightn't be a squib forever then?"

"That's the idea, love."

"All right. Then let's go find out what method the fucker used. Then I'll set the bastard on fire."

Severus snorted. "At this point, I am half-ready to help. However, I do not advise it as he may be harbouring other secrets."

Harry pouted. "Just a little fire?"

Severus smirked. "If it is quickly put out, well, I suppose a bit of a forceful reminder that he is not the puppetmaster any longer would not go astray."

Harry's smile was positively devious. "In that case, I think I should put on my Reaper robes. And get my scythe. And you should wear your duelling gear and your sword, just to put the bastard on edge."

Severus grinned back. "I think that is a marvellous idea, my love."

They left the headmaster's office in full duelling gear, though Harry had his hood up and thus was invisible to the castle's inhabitants. If anyone asked, Severus was on his way to an important meeting and needed to look intimidating, which, he supposed, wasn't so far from the truth.

Three small blazes and one hell of an interrogation later, Harry apparated Severus to Dudley's new flat a few blocks from the entrance of Diagon Alley. Callie answered the door as soon as Harry knocked, and the distraught woman ushered both Severus and Harry inside with hardly a greeting.

"Thank God you're here," she said with a sniffle. "He's …." She sighed and shook her head, twisting her hands over and over. "Well, it's not good."

Harry's expression went grim. "We don't come bearing good news. The Dursleys' betrayal went deeper than any of us ever knew."

Callie paled. "Merlin. I'll … just get us some tea going."

Severus laid a hand on her arm. "Allow me to help you. I believe we will need calming draught to get through this meeting in one piece."

She gulped. "O-okay, General Snape."

"Severus. You are family, Callie, and the war is over."

"R-right. The kitchen is this way." The girl led Severus off, and Harry stepped into the house in search of his cousin.

"Dudley? Where are you, mate?"

A weak voice called from down the hall; Harry followed to find his cousin slumped onto the living room couch, his head in his hands. He was pale and shaking all over.

"Merlin." Harry settled next to the man and patted his shoulder awkwardly. "Um, I'm here. Not sure how much it helps, but I am."

Dudley took Harry's hand and squeezed. "Thank you. Just … I heard what you told Callie. How bad is it?"

Harry sucked in a sharp breath. "Bad, Dudley. Really, really bad."

Dudley cringed. "Shite. I just … I can't believe it. I thought they loved me."

Harry just held onto his cousin's hand and wished he had words. The Dursleys had betrayed him too, but that was par for the course for him. Somehow, he didn't think his experiences would help Dudley cope.

"I'm sorry. It should have been different for us." He let Dudley's hand go and rubbed his shoulder instead. "Sev might get a bit jealous of that even though he knows better."

Dudley made a face. "Ew. You're practically my brother."

Harry nodded and closed his eyes. "That's the thing, Dudley. We should have been brothers. In every capacity but blood."

Dudley paled further. "What … what are you saying?"

"That's probably best saved until Sev is done with the tea. For now, um, how are you finding the wizarding world?"

Dudley gave him a weak smile. "It's a shock, that's for sure, but interesting too. I can't understand why I was ever afraid of magic. It's so … fascinating. I'm a bit jealous, to be honest."

Severus came in that moment with the tea tray and a plate of ginger biscuits. "In that case, you might find our news somewhat more palatable than otherwise." He set the tray on the table and poured a cup of tea for Dudley. "Sweeten it as you wish but do not drink it yet."

Dudley nodded and added two sugars and a splash of milk. Severus took the cup and added a capful of clear potion.

"Now you may drink it, and we shall not tell you our news until you have finished."

Dudley hesitated. "What did you put in it?"

"A potion to help calm your nerves."

"You're sure it's safe?"

Harry chuckled. "Dudley, Severus is the top potion master in Europe. It's safe."

Dudley frowned. "That's not what I meant. I know he's good—Callie told me. I just meant, is it safe for me? For a squib."

Severus' expression shuttered. "It is safe for people of all magical levels or lack thereof. I would not give you a potion if I believed it would harm you."

Dudley nodded and downed his tea in two gulps. Harry hoped the milk had cooled it enough to keep from burning the man's throat.

As soon as Dudley had finished, Severus poured tea for all of them and refilled Dudley's cup while the potion took effect. He added calming draught to Callie's and Harry's tea as well, but advised them to sip it rather than take it all in one dose.

"Now that we are settled and better able to cope, I must ask you a question, Mister Dursley."

"Dudley," the young man said in a soft voice. "You might as well be my brother-in-law, Severus, and I'm half of the opinion that I'll be taking Callie's surname when we marry anyway."

Severus nodded. "Dudley then. My question is this: are you comfortable with the life you have now, or would you like to know the full truth? The truth will open avenues for you that you have never before considered, but it will also alienate you from your family even further, if not completely shatter whatever tenuous link remains. I would not break such news without your consent. What would you have me do?"

Dudley winced. "So what you're saying is that you know something about me that's going to drive my parents the rest of the way away from me if you tell me."

"I'm afraid that is quite likely, given their treatment of you thus far."

Dudley sighed. "They've already destroyed our relationship. I reckon what you have to say can't be much worse."

Harry took the man's hand again. "Dudley, it can be. It is. It's a lot worse. I was reluctant to punish them for what they did to me, but when I heard this, I wanted to go back and increase their term of punishment to the full seventeen years—and turn them into the Ministry. I'm still half tempted to do it, even if it means coming out about my own past."

Dudley cringed again. "Shite. If it's that bad, I reckon I need to know. If they're going to put me or Cal in danger, then I can't risk bringing my family around them again. Especially if we have kids. They could be wizards, you know. And, well, I need to be aware so I can protect them."

With a wan smile, Harry stood and patted the seat he'd just vacated. "Callie, sit here and keep him calm for me. I need my own mate for this, and he'll need you."

She sniffled and settled into Harry's seat, and Harry perched himself in Severus' lap. Severus wrapped a steadying arm around his mate's waist and laid his teacup on the end table beside his armchair.

Severus' voice was soft and kind, nothing like the sharp tones of Harry's past. "Are you sure you wish to know, Dudley? I am afraid it will hurt."

The man gave him a terse nod. "The truth usually does. Just get it over with."

Severus sighed. "Very well. When we received your letter this morning, Harry said that he thought Petunia's behaviour seemed … strange. Suspicious. That led us to the conclusion that she was hiding something. Because of Harry's creature instincts, we were able to determine what we thought she might have done. And so, we decided to check the Book of Names at Hogwarts for your name."

Callie gasped and covered her mouth with a shaking hand. "Oh, Dudley. Oh they didn't!"

Harry gave her a commiserating look. "I'm sorry, Callie."

She shuddered and buried her face in Dudley's shoulder.

Dudley frowned at his fiancée. "Cal? What is it, pet? And what's the Book of Names?"

Severus kept his voice low and soothing. "That is what has your betrothed so distraught. The Book of Names is a magical record that lists the name of every magical child born the world over. Each magical school has a copy so they know where to send their acceptance letters, particularly in the case of Muggleborn students, or Muggle-raised, such as Harry. Without that record, we would have no way of identifying the magical children not born to established wizarding lines, and that would be dangerous for both of our worlds."

Dudley nodded grimly. "All right. So what did you find?"

"You, Dudley," said Harry with a sympathetic look. "We found you. You're in the Book of Names."

Dudley went sheet-white. "But I'm not … I've never …."

"No, you haven't shown any magical ability, but that does not mean you were not born with the potential." Severus gave a sad sigh. "The Book is never wrong about who is born with magic; however, sometimes an accident—or purposeful event—occurs which breaks the child's magic or drains it prior to Hogwarts age. Such an event occurred with you. Your name was grey, which meant your magic had been … blocked."

"I was a wizard," Dudley said in a breathless voice. "I had magic, but it's gone now?"

Harry gave him a sad smile. "Yes and no. That was what confused me with my instincts. They told me you were both a squib and a wizard, and Severus and I were stumped. We were even more confused when we realised what it must mean. There isn't a lot that can happen to a person to drain their magic. I mean, there's a spell, but it causes a lot of mental damage, to the point of total madness. A long time ago, the Ministry used it against dangerous criminals, but it's completely inhumane and they made it illegal several centuries back. It breaks the victim's mind beyond repair, you see, and there are much better ways now to keep criminals contained, though the Ministry still sanctions the dementor's kiss and that's just as bad."

Severus squeezed Harry close, no doubt sensing the man's growing irritation.

Harry gave Severus a weak smile. "Thanks, love. Back to your magic, Dudley, besides the spell, there are a couple of physical things that could happen to drain you—injuries, illnesses, stuff like that—but to drain your magic permanently, it would have had to be absolutely devastating. Magic naturally regenerates itself, so for something physical to break it beyond repair, you'd have been broken in pieces too. You certainly never would have become a boxer or even been able to attend Muggle school."

Dudley took another gulp of his tea, holding the cup in both hands so his trembling didn't slosh his drink everywhere. "O-okay, but I don't understand. I'm definitely more brawn than brains, but I'm sure I'm not mad. And I'm sure as hell not crippled either, so what blocked my magic if those are the only possibilities?"

Severus' expression was grave and his voice quiet, though it trembled with righteous fury. "There is one method of taking away a wizard's magic without breaking either his mind, soul, or body: suppression. Intentional suppression."

Dudley paled further. "Dear God. You're saying they knew. They knew I was a wizard and cut off my magic before it could grow. But that's … it can't be. I mean, I know they aren't what I thought they were, but they wouldn't go that far." He looked at Harry's haunted eyes and winced. "W-would they?"

"I'm sorry, Dudley," Harry said in a shaking voice. "They did."

Dudley let slip a broken sob and hid his face in Callie's hair. His soft cries and shocked denials cut Harry to the core. Gods, what kind of monsters could do this to their own son?

"I don't understand," said a shaken Callie. "How could they have suppressed Dudley's magic? They're Muggles. They don't have access to suppression tools."

Harry suppressed a sharp spike of anger for his cousin's sake. "No, you're right about that. They couldn't have suppressed him without help."

Her eyes went as wide as saucers. "Oh Merlin. Who? Death Eaters?"

Severus gave a bitter snort. "He may as well have been despite his posturing as the figurehead of the light. The former headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, suppressed Dudley's magic to further his plans for the war."

Callie gasped. "Dumbledore again? That fucking bastard deserves to rot!"

Severus snorted. "I see you have been listening to Potterwatch." He gave her a devious smile. "If it is any consolation, Harry set his portrait on fire when he found out. The only reason we did not let it burn to ash is the fear that he may have harboured still more secrets."

She sniffed and gave Severus a firm nod. "Remind me to send you a gift for that once we're properly settled."

Harry chuckled wanly. "Watching him dance around the canvas like a bloody lunatic was gift enough." He sighed and reached out for his cousin. "Dudley, might I see your left wrist?"

The man held out a violently shaking arm.

Severus took Dudley's teacup and dropped in another capful of calming draught. "Sip it this time."

Dudley took a sip and set it aside, then gave his wrist back to Harry. "W-what are you looking for?"

"Suppression cuff." Harry let instinct guide him and whispered a spell over the distraught man's wrist. He winced when a silver-grey leather cuff appeared, marked with dark blue runes. "Shite. I was really hoping this was all a big mistake or a nightmare, but …."

Dudley shrieked and clawed at his wrist, tears heavy on his lashes. "Oh my God! No-no-no-no-NO! Get it off, Harry! P-please, God, g-get it off me!"

Severus grabbed the panicking man's arm, steadying him. "Drink your tea—all at once—now."

Dudley obeyed, though he could hardly breathe for sobs. "Please, t-take it off."

"We cannot," Severus said in a firm voice. "Not yet. Your magic has been suppressed for over sixteen years. If we remove it without letting your body acclimatise itself to the reappearance of your magic, the sudden release will kill you. We must remove the cuff slowly, one rune at a time." He frowned. "Or, perhaps, if you would rather, I can brew a suppressor potion to hold most of your magic in check and gradually reduce the dose. That way, once you have taken the potion, I can remove the cuff entirely so long as you are faithful to each dose. However, either way, I cannot simply take that off without killing you."

"Potion," Dudley said with a shake of his head. "I don't—I don't want to be … that's like a prison handcuff. I want it off."

"All right." Severus hugged Harry's waist. "Will you be well, love? I will return to Hogwarts and brew his potion while you are working this out."

Harry shook his head. "Stay. You're his family too. He needs to know we accept him."

Callie stood. "Severus, if you tell me what you need, maybe I can have it brought here? Penny would be glad to bring it by."

Severus nodded. "We shall go in the kitchen and make up a list. Is that acceptable?"

Dudley waved them off. "I'll be okay with Harry. Go do what you need to do." He gave Severus a pained look. "And t-thanks."

Severus nodded. "We shall return shortly."

Harry stood so Severus could move and watched as he went into the kitchen with Dudley's fiancée.

"Are you okay?"

Dudley gave him a wry look.

Harry chuckled weakly. "Yeah, dumb question." He settled onto the sofa beside his cousin again. "Do you want to know the whole story?"

Dudley gave him a wan nod.

"All right. Well, it goes like this. Dumbledore—we all thought he was a good guy, leading the war effort and trying to help us out and all that, but it turns out he caused the whole bloody thing. He forced my parents to mate—two different creature races that hate each other—just to breed me as a type of human weapon against the bad guy. Well, the worse guy. Though that's all Dumbledore's fault too."

Dudley paled. "Christ, he bred you? And I thought I had it bad. Must have been awful for Aunt Lily too."

Harry snorted. "I'm over it and Mum's found her true mate. He's adopted me, so he's your uncle too now, I suppose. Severus helps a lot with my past too, and I did find out Mum's still alive, so there's that."

Dudley gave him a sad look. "I thought I had a mum."

Harry rubbed his shoulder. "I'm sorry, mate. I bet my Mum would be willing to … step up for you, if you wanted her to."

Dudley gave him a wan smile. "Thanks. I … maybe later. I'm not … not ready for that yet."

"Okay. You don't have to do anything about it if you don't want to. I understand."

Dudley took a deep breath and closed his eyes. "Thanks. So what happened next?"

Harry shuddered and rubbed his upper arms. "Well, Callie told you about Voldemort? That he came in and murdered my dad but couldn't kill me or Mum?"

"Yeah."

"Well, Dumbledore locked Mum away behind magical barriers and pretended she'd died so I'd grow up away from a loving family. He wanted me to be abused. Wanted me to grow up strong and depend on him for guidance, so he brought me to a family who hated magic. Worse, he made up some sob story about blood wards and such to keep me there even when people knew I was being mistreated. They all wanted to help me, but they didn't know how bad it was and they thought I'd die if they took me out of the wards. When Mum Weasley—that's my best mate's mum; she kind of stepped in for my own when we thought she was dead—when she knew what Dumbledore had done, she was livid. She honestly scared me a bit."

"Lovely," Dudley said with a scowl. "And I was a part of that scheme too."

"Water under the bridge, mate. For one thing, you were just a kid acting on what you'd been taught and you tried to fix it as soon as you realised it wasn't true. For another, Dumbledore was just as awful to you."

Dudley stared at the cuff and shuddered. "Right. So what happened after that then?"

"Well, being as they hate magic, your parents didn't want to take me in. Dumbledore offered compensation at first, but when he realised how greedy Vernon is and that he'd have to sell them an arm and a leg before they would even consider raising me, he decided to threaten them instead. He told them that their precious normal family had a wizard son. And if they took me in, he'd make it so their son grew up like a Muggle, with no freaky stuff to worry about. They caved at that and Dumbledore bound your magic, just to make sure I grew up hated and alone."

Dudley drew his knees up to his chest, and Harry appreciated the hard work and weight loss that had allowed the action. He'd been too heavy to manage it last summer.

"Damn," Dudley muttered. "Fuck. I can't … they really bound me, just so they could pretend I wasn't … magical?"

Harry nodded. "I'm sorry, Dudley."

"God. Can you imagine if he hadn't told them? If they'd found out about my magic later? We'd have been shoved in that cupboard together!"

"Or thrown out," said Harry in a dark voice.

Dudley nodded and laid his head on his knees. "I guess that's it then. I either give up my fiancée and the magic part of myself or I lose my parents."

Harry didn't know what to say, so he just rubbed Dudley's shoulder. The man gave him a wan smile.

"Easy decision, really," Dudley said after a moment, though his eyes were wet. "You're about the only person other than Callie who's ever accepted me in any form, Muggle or Wizard. And I'd be a fool to give up either of you. If they can't accept me for what I am, then they can't accept me at all." Tears slipped down his face. "But God, it sucks."

"I know. Believe me, I know."

Dudley sighed. "What happens now? Can I still learn magic even though I'm too old to go to school with you?"

Severus returned with Callie and sat beside Harry. "You can indeed, once you have fully reintegrated your core. There are adult education courses for those who, for whatever reason, did not discover their magic until later in life. I will help you get started in them, or I am sure Penelope will be happy to guide you."

Dudley sniffled. "Good. Then as soon as I learn how, I'll go to their house and turn everything in Dad's wardrobe frilly and pink and everything in Mum's to plaid and overalls."

Harry snorted. "That's brilliant. Take pictures, please?"

Dudley laughed, and for the first time, Harry felt like a true family with him. Dudley was hurting, but in time, they'd be all right. Brothers, like they should have been long ago.

"Hey, Dudley, I dunno if it helps, but I thought you might want to know that Sev and I are working on some changes to help Muggleborns—like you, mostly—be integrated into the community better. Maybe if Dumbledore had bothered to teach your parents about magic instead of using it to threaten them, they'd have been more willing to accept it." Harry shook his head. "Maybe not, given how stupid they are about it, but even if it doesn't and wouldn't have helped us, it might help others."

Dudley smiled. "Could I … maybe do something to help?"

Harry grinned. "I think that would be great."

Severus had a positive reply to his letters sitting on his desk when he returned, and with a full staff, decided to begin classes in three days for those on campus, and next week for those returning. He pulled Harry aside once they'd had supper and sat him down on the parlour sofa.

"Love, classes will begin in three days. Will you help me get the message out to the Soldiers and your other friends?"

Harry nodded. "Sure, but who's teaching Muggle Studies, Potions, and Defence? We're missing three teachers, aren't we?"

Severus grinned. "We are not. I convinced Slughorn to carry on with Potions until the end of the year. After that, it will be Minerva's responsibility to find a suitable Potions instructor. We are moving on once the year is done, correct?"

Harry scooted closer. "Yeah. I'm ready to make new, happier memories in a place all our own. Though I might want to come back and teach Defence one day, if that's all right with you?"

Severus kissed his hair. "I can carry on an owl-order apothecary from anywhere. I'd prefer to keep a shop front, but when you return to teach, if you do, then I will take my business wherever I need to. And research is just as easily done within Hogwarts' labs as in my own." He rubbed his chin. "With that in mind, I believe I will begin research for your contraceptive now, inasmuch as I have time to do so."

Harry grinned. "Good. I'd love to … you know, switch it up a bit."

Severus shivered. "Merlin, so would I." He kissed Harry lightly. "Back to the topic at hand, however—as far as my other new professors go, I believe you will be quite happy with my appointments."

"Oh?"

"I managed to convince Missus Lily Potter-Lupin to teach Muggle Studies and have Mister Remus Lupin return for Defence. Since he is no longer a werewolf, the governors can do nothing to stop him."

Harry squealed in joy and tackled Severus in a fierce hug. "You're brilliant! Oh gods, I love you so much!"

Severus laughed and snuggled his husband. "As I do you, pet." He kissed Harry with warmth and gentle passion. "I take it you are pleased?"

"Yes indeed. And I'll show you just how much I am as soon as you answer a question for me."

"Hmm? What question?"

"Well, Remus got his Lycanthropy cured by the soul gates. Mum's baby was protected. I got the soul spell. But what did you ask for?"

Severus rubbed his chin. "I did not actually ask for anything. Xenidan simply healed my soul of all the damage done during the wars and by Blackpool, so that I could move on without carrying my emotional baggage into our future." He kissed Harry's forehead where the scar had gone. "And they brought you home. I could not ask for a greater gift."

Harry cupped Severus' face and gazed into his eyes, tears wobbling on the Avenger's lashes. "Xenidan healed you? You're free, love?"

Severus smiled and held Harry close. "I may still grieve in the future, but the greatest burden of sorrow is gone from my soul, my beloved. I am free to enjoy you, to look forward to our life together without guilt."

"Oh, Severus. That … Merlin. That's wonderful." Harry's tears dropped, and he brought Severus into a painfully tender kiss. "Come to bed. Let me show you how happy I am to begin this life with you. How very proud I am of everything you have accomplished, my beautiful mate."

Severus caught Harry into a fierce kiss and fell into his mate's embrace.

Severus sat at his desk, idly flipping Kingsley's letter back and forth and waiting for Harry to return from his third day of classes. Hermione and Ron would most likely be at his side when he arrived, having both asked for potions tutoring alongside Harry, but the lesson would have to be postponed today. Instead, Severus wanted a moment to speak to Harry about his past. He guessed Harry wouldn't want his friends present for that discussion.

The gargoyle leapt aside for Severus' mate and laughter and jollity followed Harry and his friends up the stairs. Severus smiled at the sound, truly glad that his mate had reconciled with his friends and was enjoying his life as a young man. It was good to hear his Harry laugh.

He almost considered leaving the serious discussion for later, but looked at his letter once more and knew he could not afford to put it off. They only had two days to come up with a plan of action and discuss Harry's definition of justice. It would need to be addressed prior to the trials, but Merlin, he hated to be the one to kill his mate's joy.

"Hi, Severus," said Harry as he came into the headmaster's office.

Ron and Hermione greeted him cordially as well.

"Hello," said Severus. "Did you enjoy your classes today?"

Harry smiled. "It's hard getting used to being a student again, but learning magic is always good. I'm just glad I tossed history. Merlin, that class is boring."

Severus chuckled. "Indeed. I will make a suggestion to Minerva that she guide Professor Binns to the great beyond. He is past his expiration date."

Harry snorted. "And then some." He pecked his mate on the lips and perched on the arm of his chair. "Bad day, love? You look awfully serious."

Severus nodded. "We'll need to postpone your potions lessons until the end of the week, if that is acceptable. I have had a response from Kingsley concerning the trials and we need to discuss it tonight, Harry."

Ron shared a look with Hermione. "Um, you mean you need to discuss it alone, sir?"

Severus gave them a wan smile. "I believe Harry will feel more comfortable alone, yes. Forgive me."

"It's all right," Hermione said with a shrug. "We can always talk later. See you at dinner?"

"We shall most likely be dining here tonight," said Severus with a shake of his head. "But we shall see you at breakfast."

Hermione and Ron nodded and slipped out of the office. A nervous Harry settled into Severus' lap.

"Love, why do we need to talk about the trials alone? They could have helped us with strategy and such."

Severus nodded. "I plan on utilising them tomorrow as well as Lily and Remus, but first, we need to speak about your approach to justice."

Harry blinked. "My approach?"

"Yes." Severus sighed. "Come into the parlour and get comfortable, love. This will be a long discussion and my legs will not appreciate such treatment for the duration. Not in this chair."

Harry smirked. "Are you calling me fat?"

Severus laughed. "Where? There is not an ounce of fat on you." He kissed Harry lightly. "But even if you gained ten stone, I would not love you any less."

Harry leapt up with a grin. "I thought you said you weren't any good at this romance thing, Sev. That was lovely."

Severus stood and followed Harry into the parlour hand-in-hand. "I have a gentle, loving mate who is teaching me well." He sat upon the sofa and guided Harry back into his lap, where he could hold his mate and calm him through what promised to be a difficult discussion.

"All right, Sev. What's this about?"

"I told you Kingsley responded about the trials? They begin tomorrow, and the Malfoys are scheduled first thing, starting with Draco." Severus gave Harry a sad smile. "I think that, in order to ensure they are judged fairly, we must first work out … a bit of your past, love."

Harry frowned. "My past? You mean with Draco? I've already decided I'm going to try to help him get off with community service or something. He isn't a monster, even if he is a prat, and he was under duress when he brought in the Death Eaters in sixth year."

"That is fair, love, but I was not concerned about Draco or Narcissa. It is Lucius you seem to hold a rather large grudge against, and in contrary, dismiss all acts of violence done upon your own person without a fight. I would like to understand the reasons for both and bring you to a fairer system of justice."

"Fair!" Harry squawked and would have leapt off of Severus' lap in a fury, but the man hugged him tight.

"Ssh. I am not trying to insult you, love. I am only trying to help."

Harry huffed and crossed his arms over his chest. "Fine. What do you want to know?"

"I do not believe you need to tell me more than you already have concerning your past, but I would like you to think about it and recognise how it is affecting you today. In three days, I have seen you enact two extremes of justice: you wanted to let the Dursleys go without any punishment for their crimes whatsoever, yet you came down brutally hard on Lucius, even after he helped us defeat Riddle in the end."

"But I'd already left the Dursleys, so they can't hurt me anymore. And Lucius was trying to manipulate me into letting him off altogether!"

Severus gave him a wry smile. "Lucius will forever try to evade the consequences of his actions. It is simply his nature. But the fact of the matter is, Harry, the Dursleys can hurt you now, and they are. And I am not simply referring to the debacle with your cousin." He paused. "How is he getting on with the preliminary adult classes, by the way? Has he said anything yet?"

Harry nodded. "He told me about it when I dropped off his next dose of potion at lunch. He seems really excited and Callie is happy for him. She's even more thrilled to hear about your idea to invert the suppression potion into a possible solution for giving Squibs magic."

Severus blushed. "I am not certain it will come to anything, and even if it does, it may only be a small amount. I may not be able to give them a fully-functional core, though that is my hope."

"I have faith in you, love. You'll do it."

Severus smiled. "Thank you." He paused. "But that brings me back around to our issue with the lasting harm the Dursleys have done you. Do you have any faith in yourself?"

Harry squirmed. "Um … I suppose."

"Tell me. What makes you worthy, love?"

Harry bit his lip and dropped his arms to his waist, a protective gesture that made Severus ache for his pain.

"I … I mean, I'm pretty good at defence."

"You defeated and survived Riddle, Harry. You are more than pretty good. What else?"

Harry blushed and looked away. "I … I don't, I don't like talking about myself, Severus."

Severus nodded and turned Harry's face back around with a gentle hand. "I know. I have seen it. And that is part of the damage they have done. For so long, they called you worthless, freak, useless, that you have come to believe it. And therein lies the key problem with your ability to judge objectively. You feel worthless, so you imagine crimes committed against your person to be insignificant. But when someone who loves you—an event you believe to be miraculous in and of itself—when they are hurt, your anger is swift and merciless."

Harry flushed and glared. "I don't think that's fair, Severus."

"Hmm. Very well. Consider this. If Draco Malfoy had cast that cutting curse on you in sixth year, a Sectumsempra to the chest, what would you recommend his punishment to be?"

Harry frowned. "I mean, I really didn't get punished for it beyond some detentions, so it wouldn't be fair …."

"Assuming we were in court of law, love. What would you recommend?"

"Er … maybe a month of community service in St. Mungo's and mandatory education about healing curses and why not to use such dark magic?"

Severus nodded. "Suitable punishment. And if he had aimed that exact same curse at me?"

Harry's eyes flashed and his nostrils flared. "That's going below the belt, love. You're my mate. You know I can't help defending you."

Severus bowed in acquiescence. "Fair point. Hermione Granger then."

Harry's mouth opened and shut, his brow furrowed, and he let out a tense sigh. "All right. You might have a point."

"You would punish him more harshly then?"

Harry nodded tersely. "Azkaban."

"Right. And you see how that is unfair? We are speaking of the exact same crime, with the identity of the victim as the only distinguishing factor. In an unbiased justice system, the punishment for both crimes would be exactly the same because there was no greater wrong committed against either victim."

Harry sighed. "I … when you put it like that, I can see it, but it's hard to remember that when it's my friends and family suffering."

"I know. If your help was not so crucial in achieving a fair trial for everyone, I would tell you that you are too biased and should not be allowed to participate beyond giving testimony. However, if you do not speak, then I am afraid no one with a mark will have any sort of fair trial at all."

Harry shivered. "What do you mean, love?"

Severus leaned back and rubbed Harry's back. "As the law currently stands, the punishment for using an Unforgiveable—any of them, under any circumstance—is a lifetime in Azkaban. They are waiving that rule for the light-sided fighters who used them during the Battle of Hogwarts, but not for the vampires or Death Eaters. Surely you can see how unfair this is?"

Harry blinked. "It is? I mean, they're the bad guys, aren't they? Well, not the vampires—we'll have to do something about that—but the Death Eaters?"

"Well, yes, however, waiving the punishment for one side and not the other is still a double-standard. The punishment should be waived during the battle for both sides. War is war and justice should be blind."

Harry frowned. "Considering that we were acting in defence and they were trying to kill us, I can't say I agree."

"What of the vampires, Harry? They attacked, but under duress. If we do not apply the waiver to everyone, they will suffer too."

Harry winced. "Point. All right. I guess we can push for the waiver to cover everyone. The Death Eaters who need to be convicted will have committed enough crimes for Azkaban without counting the battle itself anyway."

Severus nodded. "Exactly."

"So why do you think the lifetime sentence is unfair? I mean, I already agree with you for the most part, but I want to hear your reasoning."

Severus gave him a tender kiss. "Thank you. And the reason I do not agree with it is that a blanket punishment for such varied curses is unjust. The killing curse, perhaps, deserves a lifetime sentence, only excepting its use as a defensive measure.

"But Crucio, even as terrible as it is, does not kill a person unless it is held for an obscene amount of time. A light application of the curse should still garner harsh punishment as, even in the best case scenario, there is long-lasting mental damage, but a lifetime sentence is too harsh unless the damage is permanent, as in the case of the Longbottoms.

"And Imperio? The uses of that curse alone are so widely varied that having a single sentence for it is ludicrous. One could, of course, use it to force the victim to kill or maim a person, but one could also use it to force the victim to steal a loaf of bread for a hungry mother and child. It should be judged on an individual basis."

Harry frowned. "You're right, but what am I supposed to do about it?"

"Love, not you alone. I am taking all of our heroes with us. Perhaps not Ferin as the case takes place in the daytime and his presence may be more hurtful than otherwise, despite all the good he did, but Lily, Remus, and your friends will be with us."

"But still, what can we do? We're one group of people against the entire Ministry."

"We are one group of war heroes against the entire Ministry. We have the clout to threaten their authority, and we must use that for everyone's good, or Britain will soon see the rise of another dark lord, I fear. The world is ready for change, and we have the political power and a rare window of opportunity to affect it. I believe this is our one chance to truly lay the seeds for a better future." Severus cupped Harry's face. "But before we have a hope of succeeding, we must help you to be able to apply justice fairly, with regard to the circumstances and not whether the victims are your personal friends or not." He frowned and traced a fingertip down Harry's jaw. "Though, to be fair, I believe the only ones you would be prejudiced against are either dead or mostly innocent."

Harry frowned. "Like who?"

"Riddle, Bellatrix Lestrange, Pettigrew, and Malfoy Senior. The former three are dead and the latter is mostly innocent."

Harry frowned harder. "You think Lucius-arsehole-extraordinaire-Malfoy is innocent?"

Severus snorted. "I said mostly. No, Malfoy has been complicit in many crimes, but I do not believe he is nearly as guilty as you think."

Harry sat up and glared. "He's killed people, hasn't he? That makes him guilty."

"Actually, I do not believe he has."

Harry gaped. "What? But …."

"Malfoy is an excellent duellist and quite dangerous in battle, but as Death Eaters go, he is as cowardly as his son." Severus shook his head. "Riddle did not recruit him for his ability to torture and maim Muggleborns, Harry. His worth lay more in political influence and wealth than anything. Lucius detested getting his hands dirty and I doubt he has the stomach for anything approaching murder. No, considering everything I know about the man, I do not think he has used the Unforgiveables much at all, with the exception of training his son to endure them, which, to be fair, is quite reprehensible enough to be going on with."

Harry shuddered. "Yeah. But that's not quite on the same level as Bellatrix torturing the Longbottoms into madness or dissecting Muggles for fun, is it?"

"No. Not quite."

Harry sighed. "All right, love. We'll get the whole story out of Malfoy and judge him fairly. I'll let you recommend his punishment and back you up, all right?"

Severus nodded. "That sounds like a good idea."

"Yeah, but you know what, Sev—if I'm not really fit to judge Malfoy, then I'm betting half the Wizengamot isn't either. And we can only recommend punishment. In the end, they'll do what they want. So what do we do, love?"

"That is where we start implementing those changes I mentioned. We shall start with the Wizengamot and go from there. Are you prepared?"

Harry squared his shoulders. "All right. Let's do this."

Severus replied with a passionate kiss.

The Ministry lift dinged and slammed to a stop. Harry's stomach lurched.

"Level ten, Death Eater trials. Authorised personnel only."

Harry shuddered and slipped his hand into Severus'. "Stay close to me?"

Severus recalled the story of a much younger Harry facing a full trial in these dark, cold rooms and squeezed his mate's hand. "Of course. Let us go, love, before we are late." He said over his shoulder, "Follow us, everyone—" A blushing witch tried to edge closer and Severus shot her a cold glare. "Everyone who is authorised to attend the trial."

The witch subsided with a pout, and Severus led them all off the lifts. Harry stayed close, willing happy thoughts to drive away the cold. Kingsley had already done away with most of the dementors and banished them to a special prison under the Department of Mysteries, but their chill still permeated these halls, clinging to the stones like slime. Harry would have liked to bury his face in Severus' side and take comfort in his mate's strength, but for this, he needed to appear strong. Like the hero the Wizengamot wanted to see.

Even if the thought of using his fame to get people like Lucius-bloody-Malfoy out of trouble made it difficult not to scowl.

Harry looked around at his companions, relieved to see that they had opted to go for the heroic look as well. His family and selected Soldiers members walked with shoulders squared and solemn expressions. They made for an impressive lot. Harry just hoped it was enough to convince the courts that the wizarding world needed to change, starting with the archaic, outmoded Ministry.

Harry didn't know if they could accomplish everything they hoped to today, but if he had anything to say about it, they'd make a good start.

The doors to courtroom ten opened, and Harry scowled at the sight of a petrified Draco Malfoy, locked in the chair with chains and surrounded by dementors. The boy was pale and clammy, and his knuckles on the armrests had gone bone-white.

This wasn't justice, and Harry wouldn't stand for it.

"Expecto Patronum!"

Among a chorus of outraged shouts and panicked cries, Harry marched in behind his stag, his expression livid and sparks trailing in his wake. "We were informed there would be no dementors present, and I refuse to allow them within this courtroom while I am present. They shouldn't be present at all regardless. This is a trial, not a prison! And Malfoy might be a prat who needs taking down a peg, but he's never done anything to deserve those horrid things. You should be ashamed of yourselves for setting them on a terrified teenager, especially one who's already in magic-suppressing cuffs and bound to a chair!"

Draco gave Harry a look of mixed bemusement and gratitude. Harry ignored it. They weren't friends, after all, and hearing Draco Malfoy's dirty laundry aired wasn't likely to make Harry like him any better. Still, the gratitude showed that there might yet be some kind of hope for the prat. Harry stood tall, surer in his purpose than ever.

"Mister Potter," said one of the older wizards on the Wizengamot, "the use of dementors in the trials of dangerous criminals is completely warranted. This boy is a Death Eater!"

Harry scowled at the man. "By force, not by choice. And even if he had gone willingly, he still never did anything bad enough to deserve those creatures. Few have."

"The Death Eaters are all alike," someone else shouted.

"Oh?" Harry fixed that person with a fierce glare. "So my mate deserves dementors? Because until I freed him, Severus bore the Dark Mark."

"Harry," Severus whispered in a frightened hiss. "Please. You may turn them against me."

"They'll have to come through me first," Harry said in a voice low with promise.

"They'll have to come through all of us," said Ron, his eyes hard as flint, and the Soldiers and Harry's family arranged themselves in a protective position around Draco and Severus. Harry beamed at them.

"Right," Harry said with a firm nod. "Since some of you seem to think this is a torture chamber and not a hall of justice, let's just get down to business. First of all, how many of the Wizengamot believe that Death Eaters are all one and the same, that every criminal among them deserves the dementor's kiss or life in Azkaban, and these trials are a waste of time? Just raise your hands, please, and don't try to deceive me. I'll know."

About half the group harrumphed and raised their hands.

Harry paced to keep from scowling. "Hmm. Keep those up. Now, how many of those left have had family members personally attacked by the Death Eaters?"

A third of the remaining hands went up too.

"And of those left, how many of you are just here because you have to be to keep your seat and take no real interest in the proceedings today?"

A few hesitant hands went up.

"All right." Harry stopped his pacing and faced the presiding judge. "Madam Bones, I move that everyone who raised their hands should be excused from the bench during the trials. They're not objective or interested enough, or they have a conflict of interest."

Over a clamour of objections, Amelia bones banged her gavel. "Harry Potter, I remind you that you do not have the authority to dismiss Wizengamot members."

Harry turned his glare on her. "I simply moved to have them dismissed, not sent them on their merry way. But I have to say, Madam Bones, I'm disappointed that you didn't think to take such measures yourself. Biased judgment and unfair prejudice is half the reason Voldemort had as many supporters as he did. Many people, like Draco, like my mate, were driven to Voldemort because they had no other choice." He waved an arm towards the angry Wizengamot members. "And people like that did the driving."

"That is an unfair statement, Harry," Amelia started, but Harry cut her off.

"No." Harry's voice cut like steel. "Placing a teenager in magic-suppressing cuffs and then letting dementors snack on his soul while we decide whether or not he gets to keep it is unfair." To Harry's triumph, many of the Wizengamot members in question shared guilty looks.

"I will not participate in a witch hunt, Madam Bones," Harry continued. "These people need to be dismissed before any semblance of a fair trial can be achieved."

Amelia sighed and rubbed her forehead. "Harry, please. This is the way it's always been done."

"And it's wrong! Just like it was wrong to try an innocent sixteen-year old in that very same chair just for defending his cousin from dementors!" Harry pointed at Draco's seat and glared at the Wizengamot.

The courtroom went silent, and every face in the Wizengamot looked away.

"Harry is exactly right," Lily said, moving to stand beside her son. "We like to believe ourselves better than Muggles, but do you know that Muggles have a strict justice system that denies any person with a conflict of interest the right to participate in the judgment portion of a trial? They know angry, hateful people can't make fair calls about the accused's innocence or guilt; why should we, who have the benefit of magic to aid us, do anything less?"

Hermione stepped forward, somehow managing to look imposing despite her petite frame. "To do anything less would be illegal regardless. Wizarding law has a clause to support Harry's claims as well."

She gave Amelia a deceptively-sweet smile. "And as to the history of the Wizengamot, you're quite incorrect, Madam Bones: this is not how it's always been done. Paragraph fourteen, section 36D of the Canterbury Convention states: 'No wizard of indignant state or wilful anger against the accused can sit in judgment.'"

She turned her cold smile on the Wizengamot. "That particular law has been overlooked in recent years as people have become … comfortable in their Wizengamot seats, but in the past it was followed to the letter. And I must say, it's quite disappointing to find that we have fallen back on such archaic systems when our own laws forbid it."

Harry shot Hermione a dazzling grin. Even Severus couldn't hold back a smirk.

Amelia frowned at Hermione and snapped her fingers. "Zippy." A house elf in a navy towel stamped with the Ministry crest appeared below the judge's seat. "Zippy, please fetch me a copy of the Canterbury Convention laws, namely the section pertaining to paragraph fourteen."

The elf popped away and returned in half a moment holding a roll of parchment. Amelia thanked the elf and scanned through the document, heaving a sigh after a moment. "How strange that I did not know this law existed until today. Miss Granger, have you considered a career in legal work?"

The girl grinned. "I have, actually, but I believe I'd rather represent magical beings except in cases like this, when the Ministry's performance is … underwhelming. Humans have enough reputable solicitors, if you don't mind me saying so, and beings don't have any at all."

Amelia pursed her lips. "Indeed. Well, I cannot fault your arguments here, Mister Potter, Miss Granger, Missus Potter-Lupin. You are quite correct about our laws." She motioned to the Wizengamot. "Anyone Mister Potter pointed out and anyone who has a conflict of interest he did not mention, please vacate the bench. Your services will not be required for the remainder of the Death Eater trials."

It took several rounds of Amelia's hammer and a threat to send in the aurors, but the biased judges did eventually clear out, leaving only a third of the usual Wizengamot. She shook her head at the empty seats.

"We do not usually conduct full trials with such a low turnout, but I cannot see what else is to be done. By your own rules, Mister Potter, almost everyone has a conflict of interest."

Harry glared. "Not my rules—the Ministry's. And that's the nature of war—people get hurt. Now, can we get on with the trial? I'm sure Draco's ready to go home."

Amelia's eyebrows shot up. "So sure he's innocent, are you?"

"Positive. And we have proof or we wouldn't be here standing in his defence. And either way, he still doesn't deserve Azkaban."

"The judges will decide that, Mister Potter." Amelia banged her gavel once more. "Let us begin the trial."

Three weeks later, the trials had ended and term was well underway. After a long day of classes and a longer afternoon ensuring that Nicholas Avery received a fair trial—even if the man did thoroughly earn his life sentence in Azkaban—Severus was stretched out on the parlour sofa and relaxing with his mate. Smiling at the domesticity of the moment, he held his exhausted spouse's feet in his lap and rubbed the aches from Harry's weary soles.

"Oh Merlin, that's brilliant, Sev."

Severus gave him a radiant smile. "You deserve it. You've worked hard to ensure every accused Death Eater deserved their sentences. And Lucius—well, five years in Azkaban is a bitter pill for him to swallow, but it's certainly a better fate than he could have expected had you not intervened. Kingsley had no intention of letting him slip through the cracks this time. If you had not testified in his favour—"

"Don't give me all the credit, love. You testified too. And Hermione was bloody amazing with finding all those forgotten laws for us. That girl's going to clean up the entire Ministry singlehandedly, mark my words. I'll bet you fifty galleons she'll be the Minister one day."

Severus chuckled. "I am not foolish enough to take that bet. But while you are right about Hermione's invaluable assistance, I am still very proud of you, my love."

"Say that after next week. I might have gotten Draco off with six months community service, but that doesn't mean I still won't hex the prat if he's an arse at dinner Friday."

Severus snorted. "That would rather defeat the purpose of trying to help him find his footing again, would it not?"

"Could always stick his feet to the floor," Harry muttered.

Severus laughed and swatted Harry's leg. "Behave. And now that I am finished here, go get dressed. Something nice."

"Nice? What're we doing?"

"We're going out to celebrate your victory over Rita Skeeter."

Harry gaped. "The trial's already over? But I didn't testify!"

"You did not need to. Veritaserum and your memories did all the work for you."

Severus held out his copy of the Evening Prophet, which Harry snapped up with a grin. Bright green eyes flashed over the text for a moment before the young man burst into hysterical giggles.

"Oh Merlin. That's rich. Banned from every newspaper and publishing company the world over and a six-year stint working community service as a custodian at Eeylops. She had best hope she doesn't spontaneously transform in there, or some adventurous owl will have her for a snack."

Severus smirked. "I believe that is why they chose the owl shop, so that she could not use her Animagus form to shirk her punishment."

Harry wiped tears of mirth from his cheeks. "Oh, that's too good." He stood and pulled Severus to his feet with a grin. "Sev, this calls for a proper celebration, not just dinner. Mightn't we go dancing tonight too? I never liked it before, but I might like to try with you."

Severus had never been one for either dancing or spontaneity, but then, he had never been happy before Harry either. He was willing to try new things in the name of sharing an evening of gaiety with his love at his side. Life with Harry had been a wild ride so far, but damned if Severus wasn't enjoying every last moment.

Severus smiled brighter than he could ever remember. "That sounds perfect, love. Let's give it a try."

When all was said and done, Severus couldn't remember having more fun in his life.