Author's Note: I apologize for my lack of update for so long, I have been ill. Hopefully, the next update will be by March 7th/14th.

I know some people are disgruntled with how short the chapters and all are, but this fic is meant to be short. That being said, I do have a full length Lotus Potter Inglorious AU fic in the works. Lotus Potter has a twin brother (which is why it is an AU) and it makes all the difference in the world...but it is still a dark political anti-status quo fic in the vein that this fic is.


Lightning marched through the Ministry. She probably raises a few eyebrows with her outfit if she cared for people's thoughts. Maybe it was the black dress with the pale pink celestial designs or maybe it was the leggings. Maybe it was her white badge with "PRESS" written in bold red letters. Or it could be the fact that Lightning had crafted this identity to be one that was beautiful and drew attention.

Two Aurors stopped her before the courtroom level. Lightning recognized them as Kingsly Shacklebolt and Aegis Yoxall. Finding out information on whom all the Aurors are was easier than finding out than the Unspeakables.

"Hello boys," Lightning said with a charming smile. She was a pretty a face. She was a pretty and desirable face.

"Hello miss and you are…?"

"Miss Laura Ingram, I write for the Brightest Lumos," Lightning said. She presented the special badge that would grant her access for Dumbledore's trial. Kingsly took it and tapped it with his wand. It glowed briefly. Kingsly handed her badge back, and she handed over her bag.

"Miss Ingram, I am a huge fan of yours," Aegis said.

"I hope you are a bigger fan of the Brightest Lumos," Lightning said flashing Aegis a smile. Kingsly pulls out her modified muggle items one by one, her journal, her fancy pen, and her thermos, her water bottle. Then there was her camera and its equipment. There was also her lunch and several snacks. She was prepared for the all-day affair.

"I read that expose by Opal Ewart and I never realized how much education has dropped here in Britain," Aegis admitted.

"I am glad. The Brightest Lumos is working on spreading it roots throughout the world and maintain its status as challenger against the present state of affairs. I have nothing against traditional values but the muggle world is rapidly developing, and we have stagnated. Did you know that muggles have computers and internet? It allows them to rapidly connect, communicate, and share information with each other information and around the world. You could be in America and chatting with someone in Italy and Japan simultaneously. We do not have anything remotely like that," Lightning remarked. "This is only the tip of the iceberg. The muggles are constantly inventing but also reinventing what they created to be better. They push the boundaries of what is possible. They may not have magic, but they surely they make up for it. Frankly, their advances in technology awe me as it does equal parts scare me because I realize that it will put all us in danger some day. Hey don't look at me that way. Give any person a knife, muggle or no, and it is still a weapon they can use to kill. It's just something to consider. Your Aurors and you interact with muggles regularly, shouldn't you know about cameras and video footage? What if one day our magic doesn't interfere with their technology, and they catch us on video? What then?"

"I know you are not a muggle hater Miss Ingram," said Aegis, and he elbows Kingsly.

"You do you like your muggle items," Kingsly said.

"They are brilliant," Lighting said. "I apologize for rambling. I am super passionate about valuing the traditional while also valuing the modern."

"It is alright Miss Ingram," Kingsly said and hands her bag back, "why don't you go inside? You are all set after all."

"Ah, yes, yes, I should. Um here, send this card in and you can get in a free magazine of the Brightest Lumos. It's a mixture of journalism and creative media," Lighting said. She shoved it into Kingsly's hands and walked past the Aurors towards the heavy wooden doors. She pushed open one door and slipped inside the room. The press and the Wizengamot intermingled and chatted.

Lightning walked away from the doors and observed the opulent courtroom. The chandelier that was the main decadent even for wizarding kind. It was a swirling ray of crystal, candles, that moved with little figurines of dragons and phoenixes. It was a breathtaking display even if strange for a courtroom. The plum robes were a disgrace, though.

"You are a fresh face among the press. Are you among the international visitors?" A deep male voice interrupted her observations. Lightning looks over at the man who is dressed in plum robes, one Lord Travers.

"I am Miss Ingram of the Brightest Lumos," Lightning introduced. It was an interesting conversation, neither short nor long. It was a connection to have been made. Lightning made her way over towards the visitors seats. No one was sitting yet and it was ripe for the picking. She settled into a seat that allowed her to survey the Wizengamot and allowed her to see the accused. Her eyes darted back and forth between the arriving Wizengamot court members and the heavy wooden door.

"Ah, you must be Miss Ingram. It is a pleasure to meet you," a cultured female voice interjected into Lightning's thoughts. Lightning turned and smiled at the tall female.

"You are Adda Ravens. I admire what you have written for Wizarding World News," Lightning said with a brilliant smile.

"Thank you. I would love to meet up with you later for dinner," Adda said.

"Hopefully it's for more than just my good looks," Lightning said with a wink. Adda laughs at this and eyes the blonde.

"Of course, but what is dinner without a gorgeous dinner companion?"

"How do you think the trial will go?" Lightning said shifting the conversation.

"I believe the former Headmaster is in deep waters," Adda said smoothly. "I am sure you are quite aware of the issues surrounding this."

"Excuse me, but we will be bringing in the accused shortly, please settle in your seats. I ask that the media to remain silent during the preceding," Amelia Bones addressed the court room. There were quiet murmurings and Wizengamot began to seat themselves. The room has filled in with more of members of court while Lightning had chatted with Adda. Adda Ravens sat beside Lightning as Lightning pulled out her journal and pen. She placed the thermos and water bottle on the floor.

"You picked a good seat." Adda eyed the muggle items.

"Thank you," Lightning said with a grin and noticing Adda's look she continued, "I came prepared with coffee and water."

"Smart, you'll have to share your ideas later."

"I will," Lightning promised. They settled into silence as the rest of the court and press found their seats. Amelia Bones remained standing.

"The Criminal Court of Wizengamot is now called into session, bring in the accused Albus Dumbledore," Amelia Bones said, and then she sat down. Two different Aurors, one from the Flint family and the other a Yaxley left. They returned shortly with Albus Dumbledore.

Dumbledore's robes were regal today instead of flamboyant. It reminded Lightning of the young Albus Dumbledore who defeated Grindelwald. Perhaps that was Dumbledore's purpose, to remind the world despite his wrongdoing's he was a powerful force to reckon with. There was no lawyer with him and Lightning wondered if it was arrogance or if no lawyer would represent him.

As Lightning observed Albus sitting down she spotted his hand, blackened and shriveled; it looked as though his flesh had been burned away. It was quickly hidden away underneath his robes. She filed that information away to tell Tom, she knew it was something important though she was not sure why. Lighting jotted down on paper that Dumbledore did not bring a lawyer with him.

The Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge stood up and address the room.

"Criminal trial of the third of April into the offenses committed under Trustee Laws, Heirship Laws, Bloodline Protection Law," Cornelius Fudge continued to list the offenses in which Albus Dumbledore had done. Lightning could almost laugh as Dumbledore was slammed with every charge possible.

Fudge continued, "Interrogators are: Cornelius Oswald Fudge, Minister of Magic; Amelia Susan Bones, Head of Department of Magical Law Enforcement; Dolores Jane Umbridge, Senior Undersecretary to the Minister. Court Scribe, Dympna Marie Tighe."

"Are you Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore?" Lightning wondered why Fudge even had to ask this. The whole world knew who the horrible man was.

"Yes," Albus said simply. It started off droll and then it got to Lotus Potter. Fudge asked questions first. Amelia seemed to wait and then it came to that night where Lotus Potter became the famous Girl Who Lived.

"Is it true that you left Heiress Lotus Potter on the doorstep of Number 4 Privet Drive in Little Whinging, England on the first of November 1981?" Amelia Bones stared at with a hard expression as she asked her question.

"Yes," Dumbledore said. "I left a letter to explain the Potter's death."

"Did you check upon if Heiress Lotus Potter's muggle relatives wanted her?" Amelia's voice was winter frost.

"No. But-"

Amelia interrupted with another question, "Did you check upon how Heiress Lotus Potter settled in with the family anytime during the first three months?"

"No I did not." Amelia took over most of the questioning

"Why not?"

"I was a very busy man," Albus said.

"You were busy enough that you had the Potter's will sealed on the 2 of November 1981, correct?" Fudge leaned forward as he asked.

"Yes. I wished for Lotus to grow up not knowing of her fame," Albus replied stiffly. The interrogation continued on for several minutes on the Albus failure to oversee Lotus Potter settled into her new home but also his manipulative reasons. Despite the call for silence there was a few whispers among the court that could not be contained. The discontent was palpable.

Fudge and Amelia took turns questioning Albus about the care Lotus Potter received. The reality was Albus had known partially about her care because of letters from a squib called Arabella Figg. He had placed the female squib there to an eye on her. He had ignored the concern that Figg had written in her letters.

"We now call for the witness Arabella Doreen Figg. The accused, Albus Dumbledore is reminded to remain silent during the questioning or you shall be considered in contempt of court," Dympna the Court Scribe called. A different Auror appeared with the elderly squib. She looked fragile and scared as she glanced to and fro.

"Are you Arabella Doreen Figg of Number 9, Wisteria Walk in Little Whinging, England?"

"Yes," Arabella's voice shook. The questioning began in earnest, confirming the letters and what Arabella witnessed. Albus remained stoic throughout the whole process. Albus was granted permission to question to Arabella but Albus had not bothered. Lightning figured Dumbledore realized it was a losing battle for himself.

A court pensieve was brought out and Lotus Potter's memories of her abuse by the agency of her Aunt, Uncle, and cousin was brought to life before the court and press. Lightning's heart stuttered as the abuse played out. Albus became pale as memory after memory played out of the different types of maltreatment. The Healer Lotus Potter had seen originally for her medical report was brought in to testify.

Lightning wrote some of it down but it seemed almost profane to expose the circus of abuse. She glanced over at Rita Skeeter and Rita's eyes were dancing with glee. This was what Lotus Potter had wanted, her life thrown up on a world scale. It was the butterfly effect. But was it enough? Lightning knew writing for the Brightest Lumos was not enough to make the changes but it was sowing the seeds.

In her thoughts she missed the healer being taken away and the questioning returned once more Albus Dumbledore. She wrote down a few of the answers. Her eyes once again darted around the court. Despite that many of the purebloods were trained to not show their emotions on their face there were a few who let their revulsion slip in.

"We will now have an hour and a half recess for lunch," Fudge announced. Albus Dumbledore was quickly ushered out by Aurors Flint and Yaxley. Lightning dropped her pen into her lap and grimaced. She stretched her hand out.

"Are you going to go to the cafeteria," Adda inquired?

"I brought lunch," Lightning said. "I am so not giving up my seat for anything."

Adda laughs at this, "Alright, alright. Save my seat for me, will you?"

"Of course!" Adda left Lightning as she pulled the lunch box out. She ate and observed the courtroom. There were a few fellow press members who had brought their lunch. The court members themselves disappeared through the heavy wooden doors.

'Well, perhaps bringing my lunch today was not the best choice. I am not networking this way. Though I am not sure if it matters with Voldemort on the move. Tom and I need to leave England soon too,' Lightning thought to herself. She pulled out a different journal and started reading through the coded notes. She ate and she read. Lighting put the coded journal away when the court began to trickle back in. Adda returned shortly as well.

"I see I am back before someone else could try to steal my seat," Adda said.

"I would have hexed them for you." They grinned at each other. Well maybe this was not entirely a bust, she had met Adda Ravens. This was an interesting contact and perhaps valuable one. Adda herself probably had a vast international network of contacts, the type that Tom and her could use. Being Miss Ingram would open certain doors for her just as being Lightning Black opened up doors that would never open up for being Ingram.

"We call for the recess to be concluded and the court to be in session once more," Amelia Bones announced. The afternoon session was much shorter as the questions expanded on the details of the earlier questions. Lightning found it boring as she knew all of this information already. It was only the beginning but Lightning hoped that was some kind of new dirty information on Dumbledore to come to light.

The whole court session left Lightning feeling uninspired. She wanted to kill somebody or something. Lightning was glad when it was ended. Albus Dumbledore was led away by the two Aurors and Lightning left with Adda.

"So where did you want to go eat?"

"There is this lovely restaurant along Sensual Alley," Adda grinned. "It's a small restaurant tucked away called Trouvaille. It truly is a lucky find."

It was a cozy restaurant and delicious food. Lightning pretended to enjoy the wine, she had been taught what to do. The two journalists lingered over their food discussing politics around the world. They lingered over desert and Adda gave Lightning tips on how to make travel easier and tips on getting the scoop. Adda was no Rita Skeeter, but she knew how to worm her way into getting exclusives. With a promise of meeting up tomorrow, Lightning left Trouvaille and Apparated to Black Manor.

"Honey I'm home," Lightning called out into the darkened and empty hallway. She was greeted with silence. The portraits were frozen. Tom and her had agreed they needed no portrait giving away their secrets. A house elf appeared before her and took her lunch bag. Lightning made her way to the library where she found Tom. The dark haired boy is sitting on a couch engrossed in a book.

"You know, I astound people with my intelligence. You got nothing on me," Lightning teased.

"You impressed someone?"

"Adda Ravens, a fellow journalist. She is a big name for the Wizarding World News. I also spoke to Lord Travers and I believe I intrigued him. I told you I would blind people with my brilliance," Lightning said with a grin. Tom sighs at this and shakes his head.

"You did. Be careful about the waves you make," Tom chided.

"Voldemort won't know who I am. Miss Ingram looks nothing like me. I carefully crafted her identity to be nothing like me," Lightning said hotly. She waves her hand in front of her body.

"Dear, your temper is showing." Lightning freezes and takes a deep breath. She marches over and plops onto the couch.

"I am tired. It's been a long and boring day and oh yes. Dumbledore's right hand was blackened and withered."

"What?" Tom's voice is hoarse and shock is evident on his face.

"Oh, so it is not a good thing."

"No it is not," Tom agrees stiffly. "He has found a horcrux."

Lightning closes her eyes and sighs at this. Her fingers spasm at the implication and complications of this.

"Do you think Dumbledore has destroyed it?"

"I do not know. Getting access to Dumbledore currently is impossible. We need to discover where he lives. If Dumbledore is somehow at his home…"

"And if he is not under surveillance…" Lightning whispered and the two exchanged a look of complete understanding.

"I can undo the curse on his hand. I think we both could enjoy some torture for what we have suffered, my dear," Tom said.

"Such sweet words that you speak to me," Lightning said. Their fingers intertwined and their smiles are bright and cruel.

"I will work on tracking down Dumbledore's...humble abode. You keep working on being Miss Ingram and making connections. We may need it," Tom said.

"Our work is important but I would like to go on vacation to China. Their magic system is so interesting, how they cast spells with the movements of their body. It would make it interesting to compare our wandless magic," Lightning said.

"In the future we can take a break but your work with the Brightest Lumos is too important," Tom reminded her. "When we leave England we can maybe make that our first stop but it might be the Continent first."

"All work and no play," Lightning said with a grumble, and then she yawned.

"Go rest, our time for play will come," Tom said. Lightning leaned up against Tom, and he carded a hand through her hair. Her body relaxed against his and took comfort in his presence. Lightning muttered something unintelligible before quickly drifting off into sleep.