The Execution of Case Orange

It was early February when Harry next encountered something from the Ministry. He had picked up Nyssa from outside the school she went to and the pair had picked up some fish and chips before heading home. Standing outside his front gates were two wizards dressed in black cloaks with red trim.

"Thought I would see them by now" Harry muttered.

"More bad wizards?" asked Nyssa.

"No… They work for the legal department of the Ministry of Magic. Its normally these people that deliver court summons"

"But you haven't done anything bad"

"I know that, Nyssa, but I assumed I would get a court summons. The magical world, as a whole, thinks I should be put in a dark place and left there until the next Dark Lord comes along – I disagreed"

"Clearly"

"Still, no reason to not have a bit of fun" Harry chuckled. "Can I help you two?" he asked as Nyssa and himself got out the car.

"You are Harry James Potter?"

"Me? No, but I get confused for him a lot of times. Me? I'm Lord Lucan"

"Do you know where he might be?" asked the second Auror.

"Harry Potter? I think you'll find him in a pineapple under the sea"

"Thank you" and the pair of Aurors popped away.

"Idiots" Nyssa shut the door as they stepped inside the house. "So what happens now?" she asked.

"Not entirely sure, but I think we can safely assume that they will try to have me sectioned and put into St Mungos" Harry tossed Nyssa her parcel of fish and chips before settling into his favoured armchair and flipping on the TV. "They will certainly try to have me tried for treason"

"Treason?"

"Long story… As you've found out yourself and from what me and Hermione told you, not all magical people are good. Some, though, are still shaken from the war and don't know what they are doing. Then, I'm sorry to say, you have the Weasleys"

"Weasels?" Nyssa blinked. Harry found he didn't care to correct her.

"During the final battle, their only daughter, Ginny, was hit by a spell nobody heard being cast. Of course, over that noise, you would be hard pressed to hear Gordon blowing his safety valve" he had a few mouthfuls of his fish and chips before continuing. "A few weeks after the end of the war, she complained of being deadly ill and so she went to the hospital and it was discovered she would not be able to bear children at all. Oh, she could have as much sex as she could handle, but she'd never be able to have children. Some of the family decided it would be a great idea that I give them a great sum of money to compensate for the loss of future children"

"I take it you said no"

"Amongst other things. Some of the other members of the family thought I should marry Ginny and try to have children with her anyway"

"That's why you left"

"One of the reasons" Harry said and then sighed. "I had thought that family were some of my best friends… Since I came here, I have wondered if they were truly my friends or if they wanted something from me"

"Who knows" Nyssa shrugged. "Oh god… I'm going to be late" she rushed to her feet and sent chips flying off in all directions.

"Late for what?"

"A date! Got a date with this cute guy in my class, and I'm going to be late" she hurried up the stairs. Harry chuckled, vanished the discarded food and kept on eating his own as he heard the sounds of slamming drawers and wardrobes. After about half an hour, Nyssa came down again dressed in a pleated red skirt that went down to her knees, black leather shoes, a cream blouse and a blood red cardigan. Harry found his eyes wondering over her body before he mentally shook himself. "Do I look okay?" she asked him.

"You'll do" Harry laughed at the expression that appeared on her face.

"I'm going to be late" she screamed as she glanced at the clock over the mantelpiece.

"Nyssa?"

"Yeah?"

"You do remember I'm a wizard…"

"Oh yeah… Can you teleport me please, Harry? What?" she added as Harry burst into fits of laughter.

"I was just thinking that this is what a parent must feel like" and he vanished the remains of his dinner away and stood up. "Where are you supposed to be?"

"Roxy Cinema on Wilbert Street" Nyssa replied. For some reason, she'd blushed heavily when Harry had been looking her over.

"Anything interesting?" Harry asked as he picked up his jacket.

"Blake's 7: The Movie" the teenager replied.

"Ah, saw that last week with the lads from work…"

"Great – can we get going?"

"You certainly are a teenager" Harry chuckled as he put one hand on her shoulder and imagined being at the Cinema in question. A moment of discomfort later, followed by a little stumbling around by Nyssa, and they stood in the shadowed area of a alleyway.

"Made it" grinned the girl and gave Harry a quick hug of thanks.

"Are you going to be alright?" he asked.

"Got my emergency Portkey thingie" she said, indicating her little handbag.

"How are you getting back home?"

"Yep – acting like a parent" Nyssa smirked. "Well" she added darkly, "A better one then mine. I'll get a taxi home or something"

"Just let me know, whatever happens" said Harry. "Believe it or not, Nyssa, I do actually care about you. Apart from the engines, the lads from work, Hermione and one or two others, you are the only friend I have"

"Thanks" and she hugged him again before slipping out onto the main footpath and then crossing the road. Harry turned himself invisible and then watched as Nyssa walked towards a boy of about her own age and then go into the cinema. He quietly and carefully followed them and waited until they entered the screen before quietly popping away.

# # # # #

"You realise I could have you arrested for trying to block our investigation?"

"If you'd wanted to do that, you would have arrested me the moment you walked into my office" Hermione looked at the Auror sitting in an armchair in her office. "What is Kingsley doing now?" she asked.

"You don't know?"

"No… I've been removed from the Department Heads Meeting group" and the Auror snorted.

"Should have known that would happen"

"Well it has – so what do we do, Susan?"

"Well" Susan Bones replied, "Shaklebolt is raising merry hell over Harry not attending an appointment so he can be arrested, so the rumour is that he is going to take him to court for Treason and Murder"

"Murder?" Hermione blinked and set down her tea. "Who did he kill?"

"He's supposed to have killed a pair of Unspeakables that went to his house. However, from tests we did on the bodies, they were dead hours before he was supposed to have done it"

"We both know Harry – he'd never have killed them unless they tried to attack him. Beside" Hermione mused, "He's not got in touch with me"

"Well the Minister has issued a Kill or Capture notice for him, but most of the Aurors I have spoken to intend to ignore that command. Most of the force know he just wants to be left alone to live his life in peace. If he wants to go to work like a Muggle, well the best of British to him" Susan sighed.

"How many do you think might obey the order?"

"Twenty or so – mostly old members of the Order of the Phoenix" Susan replied. "You know, as far as I can see, we have three options"

"They are…?" Hermione looked back at her friend.

"First, we could kill or capture Harry"

"Not happening"

"Second, we do nothing and hope it all blows over"

"I can see the minister letting that take place"

"Third, we arrest the Minister and declare a state of Emergency. I have talked to the rest of the Department Heads, Hermione, and they've agreed to it in principle. The only issue with that is Harry has to be in the Ministry for us to get Shaklebolt and the rest of them in one go"

"A coup…" Hermione whispered. "I'm not sure that is something I can help but worry about"

"Its not as if we can leave Harry on his own – we might not have been that close to him at Hogwarts, but me and Hannah are right behind him. If we don't do the coup, there is only one other option"

"I know" Hermione looked at pictures that graced her office walls. "Contact the others" she said at last. "Tell them to Execute Case Orange"

"Right" and Susan stood up and left without another word being said.

#

The clock chimed eleven in the evening, the television was playing a documentary and yet Harry was not concerned with either. Although he had told Nyssa he was a free minded person and she could come and go as she pleased, he'd still reminded her that, technically, he was her guardian and that she would be back before ten or he'd be somewhat upset. Finishing the brandy he was sipping from, he stood up and was about to apparate to the cinema when he saw the door open, slam shut and a blur ran past him and raced up the stairs – a slamming bedroom door the only indication that it was his charge/ward/employee. Assuming that something had gone wrong, he went into the kitchen and made Nyssa a cup of tea before walking upstairs and knocking on her bedroom door.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"Yeah"

"I think not… I don't have to read your mind to know something upset you" Harry said and set her cup of tea on her bedside table. "You want to talk about it?" he asked.

"We went to the cinema to watch the film and then went to the under-18's club for a little while" the clearly shaken girl said. "David, the guy I was seeing, said it would be easier to get a taxi if we cut through the graveyard. I've done it a few times, Harry, so I thought everything was going to be alright. We got to the bit at the far side where nobody can see when he whistled loudly" she broke off and took several mouthfuls of tea as if to fortify herself for what she was going to say next. Harry, meanwhile, was beginning to understand what might very well have happened and was trying to remain calm.

"I know this is hard for you" he said, "A friend of mine went through it at school, but you need to tell me what happened"

"Guess so" Nyssa whispered. "I asked what David was doing and he told me he was going out with me because I looked pretty and cute… I guessed what he wanted to do to me, so I started running – but his friends caught up to me and they dragged me back to one of those old grave tomb things. They started pawing at me like they were on drugs or something, then they threw me over the top and… and… and…" Nyssa suddenly stopped talking before launching herself into Harry's outstretched and waiting arms. He simply held her close as she sobbed her heart out into his chest as all the pieces fell into place.

"Nys… I know this is hard, but I have to know – did they rape you?" and she simply burst into fresh tears and nodded against his shirt.

"It hurt, Harry… I asked them to stop, but they laughed so much and it kept hurting so much" and, as she spilled out the rest of the details, Harry was hard pressed not to explode on the spot.

"I need to make a call to a Healer friend of mine. I have known her for years, Nyssa, and I would trust her with my very life. I know you want to get in the shower and scrub yourself red raw, but we need all the evidence"

"I know" she whispered. Harry stood, went to the door and then briefly looked back. Instead of the bright and bubbly girl, all he could see was a frightened, scared, angry, hurt young woman who was confused as to why it had happened to her. He took the stairs two at a time and crossed over to his fireplace and tossed a fistful of powder into it and shoved his head in.

"Megan Jones" he said and there was a brief flash before he could see her office. "Megan, its Harry"

"Harry, how are you?"

"Mad as fuck… I need you to come to my place at once. That girl who is staying with me has been injured and…" he hesitated and that was all that Megan needed to know.

"I'll grab my kit and come over at once" she said. "Want me to alert the Aurors?"

"Best maybe you just tell Susan and Hermione to come over"

"Most likely for the best" Megan moved around her office grabbing things off a shelf and tossing them into a bag. "When they get there, what are you three going to do?"

"Get Nyssa some justice… I think I know who ordered this, Megs, and I am going to take them down by force" and he pulled out of the fireplace without saying another word.

#

It took a few minutes before Megan, her assistant, Hermione and Susan were all in the manor and attending to Nyssa. They scanned her, recorded all of their findings and then examined her – when Harry's suspicions were confirmed, he went apocalyptic and formed a single plan in his mind.

"Do you still have your HA coins?"

"Never forget to leave the house without it" Susan said, pulling her coin out to show it to Harry and Hermione.

"Hopefully the others have kept theirs as well" Harry said, pulling out his own coin and tapping the 'head' side and thought a simple message.

From: Harry

To: All HA Members

Message:

Assemble in the Ministry of Magic in ten minutes ready for battle

Message Ends

"What are you going to do?" asked Susan.

"What I should have done ages ago, Susan… I'm going to remove the Minister from power" Harry growled, raised his wand and summoned his Auror grade armour as well as the dragon hide vest he had had made by the Goblins. "Can you ask Megan to certify her findings and report – Hermione, you can witness it. I want to know which Aurors did this to Nyssa and where they might be found"

"That's easy" Susan said and produced a small piece of parchment from her robe pocket. "Megan found magical signatures for Aurors Smith, Johnson, Gillyflower and Wilson. I checked the cemetery and found their magical traces there as well"

"Tell me where to find those responsible, then dig more graves" Harry said.

"They should have all been on duty at the Ministry" Hermione said.

"Good…" he walked to the fireplace.

"Where are you going?" asked Hermione.

"I'm the Head of the DMLE and Chief Auror… I'm very late for work" and he flooed away to the Ministry – leaving the two young women wearing worried looks behind him.

#

Several of the duty Auror guard had been called to discover what was the purpose behind the gathering of three dozen armed and armoured witches and wizards in the atrium of the Ministry. Not one of the four got a reply, nor did they receive one until Harry stroke out of the floo connection.

"Sir, you do know there is a warrant out for your arrest?" one of them tried.

"I do"

"Just… just checking. Um… What are you here for?" asked the Auror.

"To put right a terrible crime. These people are with me – you will answer any questions they have and obey all orders they give you. I want you to stop people leaving the Ministry and secure all exit points" Harry growled.

"Sir"

"One other thing"

"Yes?"

"Where can I find Aurors Smith, Johnson, Gillyflower and Wilson?"

"We saw them heading to the Minister's office, Sir" another of them found their voice.

"Very well. HA, split off into your old sections and deploy as per Case Orange. Sections 1 and 2 will follow me – move out!" and the previously stationary mass of people suddenly started moving, breaking up into smaller groups and heading off in different directions. Some took up guard over the floo points, some over the disguised lift, more still over the apparaition points whilst the rest moved onto each floor and secured it. "You two" Harry pointed at the two Aurors who had not yet spoken, "Arrest the security wizard and ensure he does not speak. If Susan Bones, Hermione Granger or Megan Jones arrive here, send them to the Minister's office"

"Yes, Sir"

"Good" Harry said and moved off for the lifts – eight witches and wizards following close behind him.

"This is just like the old days" said Michael Corner.

"In the old days, none of us had to worry about shit like this" Harry reminded him as they moved for the correct floor.

"I'm just glad it never came to the act of a coup"

"We're removing the Minister on charges of murder, treason, rape, theft, deception and anything else I can think of" Harry fingered his wand gently. "After that, I shall put into place the protocol for fresh elections and then resign from all my posts and positions within the Ministry except for those that are ceremonial"

"Why?" asked Michael.

"I have had enough of this world, more or less, and I'm sick of being the go-to-thing for people when dark magicals rock up… Time for me to take things easy"

"We heard you were living as a muggle" a sing-song voice said gently.

"Not entirely – I just work with them" and, at that moment, the lift doors opened on both lift shafts and Harry walked out with the surviving members of Harry's Army forming a block behind him. Four of them stayed behind, however, to secure the lifts and stop anybody from escaping that way. Witches and wizards stuck their heads out of offices at the sound of unified marching – memories of Voldemort's forces was still vivid in their minds – and then ducked back again at the look of pure anger on Harry's face. Opening the door, he stormed into the outer office and moved towards the remaining barrier between him and Shaklebolt.

"What are you doing here? You can't go in there – the Minister is in a meeting" his secretary said.

"Good" Harry said. "Michael, arrest and detain the secretary – search her and her desk for evidence"

"Yes, Sir" Michael Corner, although not an Auror, treated the situation with the gravity it deserved. A pair of witches took her away as Corner and a couple of wizards started going through the drawers and cabinets for any evidence that an attack on Nyssa had been ordered. That left Harry down to those that had stuck with him during the final fight, and, taking a look at each of them and nodding sharply, he blasted the door off the hinges and stormed in.

"YOU!" Shaklebolt said as he got to his feet. "How dare you come in here like this – you are under arrest for murder"

"Shut the fuck up" Harry said.

"Get him" Shaklebolt ordered. The Aurors in the room went for their wands but, although fast, the HA was simply faster and took them down with a wide range of stunners.

"I know what you did to Nyssa" Harry stood on the other side of the desk.

"Who?"

"You don't even know her name…" Harry's fist struck Shaklebolt and sent him crashing into his chair which wobbled and remained upright. "A Muggle under my protection was attacked by these sad excuses for Aurors and raped repeatedly – I have that recorded by a Senior Healer at St Mungos. It is bad enough that you try to have me arrested for murder and treason, but to try and get through me by way of a Muggle that is both under my protection and card carrying is beyond all reason, Minister. Mind you" Harry added, withdrawing his wand, "That is something I don't have to call you anymore"

"I am the Minister" Shaklebolt said, rising to his feet again. "You can not remove me from office"

"I can and am" Harry said. "Minutes ago, I ordered a reserve group of Aurors, not under the direct control of the Ministry, to execute Case Orange. That means, you piece of shit, that they now control all key installations and positions in the Ministry. And" Harry leaned in close and grinned in a way that would make Goblins proud, "You never resigned as an Auror – so that means you serve me"

"Serve you? A filthy half blood? Never"

"Oh, but you do… Kingsley Shaklebolt, I hereby charge you as being unfit to lead Magical Britain and trying to create a dictatorship. As such, I hereby relieve you of your position forthwith. Kingsley Shaklebolt, as a serving Auror, I hereby charge you with dereliction of duty, gross insubordination, theft, robbery, burglary, attempted line theft, fraud, deception, ordering unsanctioned missions using Auror and Ministry personnel, assault, actual bodily harm, grievous bodily harm, attempted rape and ordering rape, false detention… I'll skip the other thirty seven charges"

"Thank you" Shaklebolt said sarcastically.

"You are entirely welcome. As Chief Auror and head of the Department for Magical Law Enforcement, I hereby order an immediate General Court Martial for you and those that you ordered to attack my friend. Dean" he turned to the tall black man that had been his fellow Gryffindor.

"Harry?"

"Go to the DMLE place and send two messages. The first is to Griphook at Gringotts and have him enact the first part of the plan. The second is to issue recall orders to all Aurors wherever they may be at this moment in time. Call in those that are off duty except those on medical leave – I'm cleaning house, and we're doing it in full public view. Seamus, go into the Alley and have a representative of the press from each publication and radio station turn up to Courtroom 1 in two hours" and both men nodded and quickly left.

"Ah, you've done it" Hermione's voice filtered through to Harry and some of his anger dissipated as he turned to look at her.

"I was just going to arrest them and try them, Mione, but it occurred to me that I can clean up the Ministry and try them at the same time"

"GCM?"

"GCM" Harry confirmed. "All Aurors are being recalled to the Ministry except those on medical rest leave. While they trickle in, I want you to organise a complete closure of the complex – all non Ministry people are to leave at once. All Department heads will meet me in the Auror briefing room in twenty minutes so I can inform them of whats going on. Susan?" he glanced at the former Hufflepuff standing behind Hermione.

"Yes?"

"Turn Out The Guard" he ordered. "I want these excuses for humanity taken down to the maximum security cells, stripped, put into prison clothing and placed into magic restraining cuffs. Once done, dose them to the gills with Truth Serum and question them until they are blue in the face"

"Harry…" Hermione spoke up quietly, "Are you sure you are alright?"

"Not really, but what happened to Nyssa has, sadly, given me the opportunity to clean up the darkness that still is embedded in the Ministry. Once I have finished with their GCMs, I will set up elections, put into place an Acting Minister and then resign as I said"

#

"BRING IN THE ACCUSED!" Harry said. He had spoken to the rest of the Department Heads and they'd all been shocked at what had happened. They'd all been taken in by Shaklebolt's lies and smoothness – none had ever thought that he would stoop so low as to order what he had done. The former Minister and the Aurors were brought into Courtroom One, the largest one they had, and placed into chairs. Each prisoner was guarded by a member of the HA or a member of the Aurors that Harry knew and trusted well. They were shoved into chairs wearing prison robes and secured with conjured ropes and chains around their arms, middles and legs. After Harry and the others had reviewed the evidence, it was a certainty what the verdicts would be. However, it was important to Harry that their terrible crimes were shown in public.

"I demand that you let us go" Shaklebolt said. "All we were doing was for the greater good – to stop you going dark" and Harry noted that none of the Aurors involved seemed to be speaking.

"No" Harry said. "Members of the Court, it is alleged that, earlier this evening, former Minister Kingsley Shaklebolt orders a small detachment of Aurors to travel to the island where I live and torture and rape a Muggle that was aware of magic and who was under my protection. As there was a chance the Ministry was protecting the culprits, a few of my most trusted friends and advisors began Case Orange – a complete takeover and lockdown of the Ministry. I gathered the Department Heads together and informed them of what happens, and, surprisingly, they have agreed to serve on the General Courts Martial for the accused. When just myself and a few others stood against Voldemort, it was for a fair and free world – a world that was free of terror and corruption. Perhaps we should have looked more at ourselves then those we defeated. Of course, I knew this would happen and formed a group that would be able to take over the moment I gave the word" Harry took a deep breath before starting again. "Does anybody wish to defend the accused?" but nobody stepped forward. "Very well, start displaying the questioning" and, over the next five hours, each visual record was played in painful detail and the entire court was full of a mixture and anger, rage, disgust and pity for Nyssa. After that came Megan's official report which made for grim reading with multiple castings of the Cruciatus Curse in combination of the rapes.

"What we did, we did for the greater good" Shaklebolt said. "We have done some terrible things, but it is for the good of the public. Potter, you have to be locked away and married off in order to be kept in the Light"

"Your defence is so noted" Harry was trying very hard not to simply kill Shaklebolt out of hand. "Members of the panel, you have heard and seen the questioning conducted previous to this hearing. You have also heard the testimony of a skilled and dedicated Auror. Do you require the testimony of the victim or are you willing to pass judgement based on what you have heard?"

"I think we're willing to pass judgement on what we've heard" Professor Tofty said. She had sat silently through each person's testimony through truth serum, paled at all the grim details spoken and would not have stopped Harry if he'd moved to kill them. In fact, she'd been thinking about helping him herself.

"All those who believe the accused to be guilty, raise your hands" Harry said, and every hand shot up like a thunderbolt. "I think we can skip the question of innocence" he gave a grim chuckle. "Accused, you have been found guilty of your crimes. Do you have anything to say in mitigation of your crimes?"

"May I say something?" asked Gillyflower. Harry looked the other panel members whom all nodded.

"You may"

"I know I am going to die, that much is certain. I doubt there is anything I can do to make good the terrible crime I did. I just wish to apologise for the shame I have brought upon my family line, to apologise to the girl involved and to my children who I have let down and will not be there for"

"You have children?" Harry asked.

"Twins, Sir" Gillyflower replied. "Rest of the family died during the reign of terror and now I am all they have left"

"GUARDS!" Harry said and they all snapped to attention. "Remove Gillyflower from the room and taking him to detention" and they released the bindings on his feet and walked him out of the court. "I will deal with him later… Members of the panel, having found the accused guilty, and disregarding application to the man who was just removed, what say you to the punishment that should be imposed?"

"With the Chair's leave" Tofty stood up. "I have been asked to announce our decision. We, the panel, have decided that all of the accused before us should be sentenced to death by firing squad and their bodies sent through the veil. Their estates are to be confiscated and the maximum fines taken out and given to the victim – minus items used in trust funds for children or dependants"

"Thank you for your decision" Harry said. "The prisoners, with the exception mentioned, will be taken to the Death Chamber and executed at sunrise. The Court Martial is dismissed" and the court, which had been very silent, erupted into heated discussions as Harry rose from the bench and went down to the cells.

Deep down in the current blackness of his heart, a little candle was burning

#

"You put me in a difficult position"

"Yes, Sir"

"According to the law, and my desire, you should be executed along with the others"

"Yes, Sir"

"I was set to do it too" Harry said, "But I will not leave somebody without parents. How old are they?"

"Twins are just over two years old" Gillyflower scratched the stubbed that lined his face. "Don't know if I will ever see them again, mind you"

"You will" Harry said.

"Sir?"

"Despite the fact that you should be put to death, I will not leave children without parents where possible. You were a Senior Auror"

"Aye… One of the best, I was told – guess I blew that"

"I believe so" Harry said with a chuckle. "I want to hate you, Gillyflower, I really do… The others showed no regret, but you displayed utter regret and self disgust at what you did. It did not come out during your questioning, but Shaklebolt threatened you did he not?"

"Yes… Said he'd have me killed and my children either killed or sent to a Pureblood family"

"I see… This is what you will get as punishment. You will be fined twice as much as the others have been before their executions. Normally, I'd be inclined to send you to Azkaban for a decade, but I have your children to think about"

"Sir?"

"You will retain your status as Senior Auror, but you will have little power behind that title. You will serve for five years as an Instructor at the Auror academy and then, once your children are old enough to go to primary school, you will serve two weeks a month as Warden of Azkaban – flooing from there back home every evening to take care of your children"

"Why, sir?"

"Why that as a punishment? Because I know what it is like to grow up without parents… If I was to execute you, your children would grow up just like I did – that is something I swore I would never allow to happen. Of course" Harry added, "I could just as easily put you up against the wall and have a squad make ready"

"I'll take it" Gillyflower said. "I will do what it takes to repay what can never be repaid"

"Good" Harry flicked his wand and vanished the chains and ropes that held the other man. "You can start by commanding the firing squad yourself"

"Yes, Sir"

#

The fireplace roared into life and Harry stepped through it. Tossing his armour onto a chair without a care, he rushed upstairs to Nyssa's room. Megan Jones and her assistant were just administering a potion to the girl who looked at Harry with bloodshot and tear marked eyes.

"Harry?" Megan needed not to say any more.

"Yeah… It's done"

"Good. If it were not for my Healer's Oath, I would have killed them myself for what they did"

"I know, Megs…"

"I could have done it" Smith piped up. "I haven't taken my Oath yet"

"I would have let you" Harry smiled weakly, "But I couldn't get hold of any mashed potato. How is she?"

"A lot calmer then what she is supposed to be, but that is down to the Calming Draughts I've been giving her. I tried to get her to sleep, but her will defeated the intention of the potions I gave her for that. I've fixed the rest of the physical stuff, but I would recommend that she see a Mind Healer. I know a little of it, of course, but she should really see a professional"

"I don't like the thought of taking her to St Mungos" Harry replied. "I have done a lot of good, Megan, but I have also made a fresh set of enemies this day"

"I'll see what I can arrange… Off the books"

"Thank you"

"Harry?" Nyssa's voice made all three of them turn to look at her under the covers and in bed.

"Hey"

"Did you get them?" she asked quietly.

"Rounded up my old friends and we got them" he confirmed.

"Sorry"

"For what? You have nothing to be sorry for"

"I should have used that Portkey thingie, but I was so scared and frightened that I forgot" she hugged him the moment he came within range of her arms.

"Maybe, but that is in the past now… You should get some rest – talk in the morning"

"I'm sorry I failed you"

"I just said you have nothing to be sorry for, Nys… Now just lie back and let the potions take care of you"

"'kay" she muttered as she let her mind rest at last and fell asleep before her head hit the pillow.

"Hope the bastards die in hell" Harry muttered as he tucked her in fully. "Healers, I thank you both for your service to Nyssa. What you have done will, I know, help her tremendously in the days to come"

"It was our duty, Mr Potter" Megan replied.

"It was an honour to help you, no matter how sad the circumstances" replied Smith.

"Ah… That reminds me" Harry fished around in his pocket and pulled out a small package that he unshrunk with a tap of his wand. "For you, Healer Smith"

"Me?" Smith blinked several times before taking the offered package and opening it. It was a t-shirt in her size with an image from Harry's memories of the battle of Hogwarts. It was the few moments they stood together with Smith flinging mashed potato at the Dark Lord.

I SURVIVED THE

GREAT VOLDEMORT FOOD FIGHT

AND

ALL I GOT WAS THIS

LOUSY T-SHIRT

"Do you have one for me?" asked Megan.

"Sure" Harry said, passing her another package. This one had no picture but bore the words

I GOT TO FONDLE

HARRY POTTER

AND I

LIKED IT

"When did I get to fondle you?"

"After we took down the Lutre gang" Harry replied.

"Ah… I remember"

"I thought you might" Harry gave a genuine chuckle for the first time since the previous day. After thanking them again, the Healers flooed away and left Harry alone with Nyssa. After leaving his bedroom door open, he kicked off his shoes, lay on top of his bed and soon went into a restless sleep.

#

When Harry awoke, the first thing he did was shower and change his clothes. After checking in on Nyssa, he went downstairs and telephoned the school to tell them that Nyssa had been struck down with a vomiting bug and that he'd been too busy in dealing with her to ring them any earlier.

"Oh… Please pass on the fact we want her to get well soon" the receptionist said. Harry promised he would and then hung up. After that, he made a pot of tea, did some toast and then returned to Nyssa's room. Placing the tray on her bedside table, he gently shook her by the shoulder and she stirred weakly before her eyes snapped open and darted around in fear before realising she was in a safe place.

"Afternoon, sleepy head… I made you some tea and toast" Harry gestured at the tray.

"Thank you" Nyssa said quietly. "I had a good sleep, but I guess that was because of the potions the doctors gave me"

"We call them Healers, but yeah… Megan did her very best work for me, off the books of course, and she'll try and sneak over here this evening to see how you are doing"

"What happened?" Nyssa asked before sitting up in bed and bringing the tray onto her lap.

"I got a few friends together" Harry said, "We stormed the Ministry of Magic, took it over, sat in judgement over the ones that did it and then had them executed"

"You had them killed?" Nyssa's hand froze in the act of bringing a cup to her mouth.

"We technically still have the death penalty, Nys, so I made sure that all but one of them paid the ultimate price for hurting you and crossing me"

"What happened to that one?"

"I was going to put him to death with the others, but he had children… Whatever I am, I am not a man who orphans children" and Nyssa nodded before sipping the tea.

"While I was waiting for you to come back and those Healers were doing their mumbo jumbo on me" she gave a small smile which Harry took to be a good sign, "I was wondering why God allowed it to happen. I have tried to live a good life, I really have, so why did he not stop them?"

"You have to ask the tough ones, don't you…? I am not qualified or competent to answer on matters of your faith, Nyssa, but a friend who is much alike to you once said that whatever higher power is up there sometimes allows these terrible things to happen – that it helps us to become better and stronger people"

"Was she Catholic too?"

"No" Harry shook his head with a smile, "But she was one of the most insightful people I have ever met. She sometimes goes off on a complete ramble, but what she says is almost always true in one way or another. I don't know what to do, but I could call your priest or maybe a nun"

"I think they'd notice the magic"

"I can put a stop to that while they are here"

"Would you mind?"

"What should I say to them?"

"Just that I need spiritual help – I'll tell them the rest when I get to see them"

"Well you shall get anything you need – I have to have you up and about as quick as possible"

"Why?" and Harry gave her a hard look.

"Do you really want me to tidy my own house up?"

"Prat" and the old Nyssa started to break through once more.

"That's my girl" Harry chuckled and then went to the door. As he closed it he heard her mutter 'Wish I was your girl"

#

A/N:

Story was dark, but it serves a purpose in a later chapter...

Well, I hope you enjoyed this new chapter and I look forward to reading your reviews

Regards

Pixel and Stephanie Forever