Harry walked into the Auror Office on the first Monday of January knowing he was in for multiple fights today. Robards would want to talk about the events of last month, and that wasn't even considering the pending conversation with the Minister he was planning. He still wasn't sure what excuse he would use to schedule the talk, but worse case scenario he would just show up and hope he would be seen. New year, same old problems….

As it turned out, an excuse wouldn't be necessary. Kingsley Shacklebolt's face was smiling up at Harry when he unfolded his copy of today's Daily Prophet:

MINISTER SHACKLEBOLT ANNOUNCES 'NURMENGARD TRIALS' FOR DARK WIZARDS

by Alexander Fenetre, The Daily Prophet

In a New Year's Day statement to the press, Minister of Magic Kingsley Shacklebolt announced a series of trials to determine the guilt of several high-profile criminals during the Second Wizarding War. Among the accused are the five Death Eaters captured in a recent Auror raid, as well as several others who either surrendered or were captured following the Battle of Hogwarts.

"Seventeen years ago, the wizarding world responded to Voldemort's first disappearance by putting several dangerous witches and wizards behind bars at Azkaban," said Shacklebolt in his statement. "Clearly those efforts were not enough, as many of the convicted managed to rejoin the Dark Lord when he returned and ascend to power once more. We need to send a much stronger message to the wizarding world that we do not tolerate evil in our society heading into a new millennium."

Shacklebolt also emphasized the security efforts at Nurmengard Castle, once famous for housing infamous dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald, now repurposed as Europe's premier high-security prison for dark witches and wizards. "The dementors have been relieved of Ministry duty and relocated far from human civilization," said the Minister. "They cannot be trusted and have no place in our communities."

Accused witches and wizards will be held at Nurmengard until their sentencing, when they will be transported to the Ministry for a hearing before the Wizengamot and the press. There is no timetable set for the trials to begin, but Shacklebolt promises a speedy judicial process: "The community deserves closure for the deep wounds it suffered over the past year and a half," he said. "I promise to bring all perpetrators to justice so that the community can move on with a clear conscience."

For more speculation about the biggest names awaiting trial and their fates, see 'Trials', page 14—

Harry set down the paper and considered this development. It was a strong move, there was no doubt, and he liked the decisive action Kingsley was taking. But Harry wondered how much of it was real, and how much was for show. It wouldn't take an entire Wizengamot to determine that Yaxley committed heinous crimes, for instance. Were they just trotting him out for an easy trial to pat themselves on the backs in the Prophet? Or would they actually be digging into the corner cases, the people who ran the risk of actually getting away with their crimes during the war?

A memo zoomed into the office and fluttered over Harry's head. He grabbed it, and immediately recognized Kingsley's handwriting:

Harry, I am requesting your presence in my office at your earliest convenience. I will be in my office for the next hour if you can make it. -K.S.

Harry could tell the message was hastily scribbled; he could only imagine how busy the Minister was lately. This was clearly an ambitious undertaking in addition to all the other issues plaguing the Ministry. He stood from his desk at once and made the trip up to Level One, crossed the courtyard to the Minister's office door, and knocked.

"Enter," boomed the deep voice of Kingsley Shacklebolt, and Harry walked into the office. He nervously lowered himself into the empty seat that weeks prior had lifted him up and dumped him out in the hall. Kingsley sat quietly behind his desk, surveying him. They sat looking at each other for a moment.

"Sir," said Harry hastily, wanting to break the ice, "I just wanted to apologize for my behavior in our last meeting. I was out of line, and—"

Kingsley held up a hand to quiet Harry. "I also must apologize," he said calmly. "You were quite right to challenge my leadership. I hadn't realized the extent of the corruption and nepotism in my Ministry until you so rightfully pointed it out in the Goblin Liaison Office. Mr. Marchbanks has been placed on indefinite administrative leave."

"Oh," said Harry, surprised. "Who will be taking over the office, then?"

"We are still interviewing candidates," said Kingsley. "But I have taken over negotiations with the goblins on your behalf. It was high time I reached out to their leadership, which I neglected to do when taking office."

"Thank you," Harry breathed with relief. He had expected to get into another shouting match, but this development was a pleasant surprise.

"The truth is, Harry," Kingsley continued, "tensions have been high with the goblins for years, and they have been using the Gringotts break-in as an excuse to escalate matters. They don't really want to see you imprisoned; they are after much bigger things, like power and representation. I knew this all along, but my stance of ignoring the problem and delegating it to somebody else was a foolish one. Dumbledore would have addressed the matter head-on, and I strive to do what he would in most cases."

"So are you going to give them what they're after?" asked Harry. "Power and representation and all that?"

"That will require a much fuller response from the Ministry's legal systems," said Kingsley. "Fudge enacted a large number of anti-goblin laws during his tenure which will be difficult to unravel. But I have promised the Confederation that we will address these injustices and work to strengthen our bonds with them."

"Good," Harry nodded. "But there's something you should know. I promised Garunk the Sword of Gryffindor, but I can't give it to him anymore. He won't be happy about it."

Harry braced himself for an outburst, the argument he'd been preparing for all winter break with Kingsley. But to his surprise, the Minister took this news rather well, slowly nodding at the information. "That does complicate matters," he said. "I think it's best that you and I sit down with him at Gringotts to discuss things. Perhaps later this week, if you're available?"

"I think that's a good idea," Harry agreed.

"Good," said Kingsley. "Now, none of this is actually why I called you in here today. Did you see the front page of the Prophet today?"

"About the trials?" asked Harry. "Yeah, I did. About bloody time if you ask me."

"Indeed," said Kingsley. "The logistics are challenging, especially because we haven't been using Azkaban to hold prisoners. We simply cannot trust the dementors anymore, and frankly, I'm not sure it was ever wise to employ their services in the first place. Nurmengard is far away, but it's as secure as it gets, and we've been arranging travel for prisoners to face their trials before the Wizengamot."

"That all sounds great," said Harry. "What does it have to do with me?"

"Well you see," said Kingsley, "there are two kinds of people who will face trial. There are many whom we can definitively say committed crimes under Voldemort – most of the Death Eaters, for example, and your old friend Dolores Umbridge." Harry shuddered at the mention of the name. "Then there are those whom we know were involved somehow in Voldemort's schemes, but we can't pin any specific crimes on."

"Like who?" asked Harry.

"Like your old classmate, Draco Malfoy," said Kingsley. "We know he was inducted as a Death Eater – he bears the Dark Mark – but we know little about what he actually did last year. He claims that he acted under duress and threat of death and never hurt or killed anyone. We can't verify this, of course, because he has not presented his wand for analysis, which he claims was stolen from him." Harry suddenly felt hot in the neck. He knew exactly where Malfoy's wand was: tucked in a drawer of his nightstand back at Grimmauld Place.

Kingsley leaned in closer to Harry. "It's very possible you know more about Mr. Malfoy's actions during the war than anyone. Your testimony will be very valuable during his trial. And if you know anything about the whereabouts of his wand, I'd like to hear about it now."

Harry considered this for a moment. A flood of memories came to him quite suddenly: rescuing Draco from the burning Room of Requirement. Draco concealing Harry's identity from the Snatchers at Malfoy Manor. Draco refusing to fight at the final battle. Draco's mother lying directly to Voldemort to spare Harry's life. But then a different set of memories replaced them: Draco leading the Death Eaters into Hogwarts to murder Dumbledore. Draco smashing his noise on the Hogwarts Express. Draco calling Hermione a Mudblood, Draco threatening people with Fenrir Greyback...and suddenly Harry remembered precisely why he had loathed Draco Malfoy so much for so long.

"I don't know where his wand is," Harry lied. "And I'd be happy to give testimony against him at his trial."

Harry couldn't be sure, but Kingsley almost looked disappointed by his words. Harry wondered if Kingsley believed him or not, if he knew more than he let on. But he merely nodded and leaned back in his seat. "It is customary for the Aurors to sit among the Wizengamot during high-profile trials such as these," he said. "So if there are any individuals you feel you can give relevant information about, I'm sure you can arrange to give testimony for them as well."

"Got it," said Harry. "And one question, Minister. You said there were two kinds of people going on trial. What about the third kind?"

"Which is?"

"The people who were just 'following orders'," said Harry. "People who silently stood by and watched while Voldemort destroyed everything the Ministry once held dear."

"People like John Dawlish?" Kingsley asked with a knowing, sad smile.

"Yeah, and thousands more like him!" Harry said hotly. "Why was the Order of the Phoenix the only people fighting back? Why did everyone just go along with it? It's despicable! All those so-called doctors who testified that Muggle-borns could not possess magic...all the record-keepers who knowingly sent them to their death...are those people just gonna go back to their normal lives now with no consequences?"

"It will be close to impossible to prosecute people like that," said Kingsley. "Many of them felt like they had no other choice. They either had to comply or face punishment themselves. It was a horrifying time, Harry, and you frankly weren't around to see the worst of it while you were on the run. People had to make impossible choices—"

"And they made the wrong ones!" Harry insisted. "How can we preach justice if we're letting these people off the hook?"

"Because if we were to prosecute every individual who did Voldemort's bidding last year," said Kingsley sternly, "we would have to arrest ninety percent of Britain's wizarding population. It simply isn't tenable, Harry. We have to move forward, and the best way to do that is to make an example of the worst offenders, then put it behind us."

"But at least the ones that fought," Harry pleaded, "Imperiused or otherwise—"

"They are all documented, and most will face trial," said Kingsley. "But understand that these Nurmengard Trials are meant to send a message. They are for the highest-profile cases, the ones people already know about. There will be a time and a place for everyone else."

"Understood," said Harry. "But you should understand that people have taken advantage of the transition to slip through the cracks. Rita Skeeter, for example. Did you know she was an unregistered Animagus for decades?"

"I did not," said Kingsley, surprised. "I can have people look into that—"

"Don't bother; it'll just make her more powerful," Harry muttered. "Point is, a lot of undeserving people are gonna come out of this better off than they started. That's not fair."

"Life isn't fair, Potter," said Kingsley with another sad smile. "If it was, the goblins wouldn't be demanding change, the house-elves wouldn't be kept as slaves, and Dumbledore would still be alive."

"Yeah well," Harry muttered, "maybe some of those things need to change too."

Kingsley nodded thoughtfully. "Did you know I'm up for election next spring?" he asked. "I was appointed acting Minister for one year only. I'll have to prove I have the wizarding world's trust to keep the office."

"I didn't know that," Harry admitted.

"And right now, I don't know if I'll win," Kingsley sighed. "Faith in the Ministry is still low. I'd love to enact sweeping reforms and fix every problem facing this Ministry, but that will take time – the kind I don't have right now. The trials will have to be my legacy for the moment, and if that's successful, maybe I'll earn the time necessary to address all those other things."

"I see," said Harry. "So the Nurmengard Trials are just another PR stunt for you."

"No," said Kingsley. "They are the best lasting change I know I can make to this place in a short period of time. After that, my fate is in the hands of the Prophet. And in yours."

"Mine?" asked Harry, puzzled.

"There isn't a voice on this planet people will listen to more than yours," said Kingsley. "You have the power to shape whatever narrative you want people to believe. Wherever you go, they'll follow."

"So you want my endorsement," Harry concluded.

"No I don't, nor will I ever ask for one," said Kingsley. "This time next year I might be back at the Auror Office, or out of the Ministry altogether, depending on what people think of me then. I can accept that. Right now the Ministry needs a leader who isn't just trying to cling to power at all costs."

"And yet, if you lose, the bloke who replaces you probably won't have any qualms about it," Harry said bitterly.

"The paradox of politics, I'm afraid," Kingsley chuckled. "Point is, I'm going to do the best job I think I can do for the next six months. And that means focusing on the here and now, rather than the systemic injustice that has brewed for centuries."

As much as Harry hated to admit it, Kingsley was right: he was a peacekeeper, not a legislator. If he tried to tackle every instance of corruption and injustice in the Ministry by next May, he would fail spectacularly. He could barely control the Goblin Liaison Office for god's sake, a one-man racket run by a clueless trust fund kid! Harry admired the hell out of Kingsley as a man, but perhaps he was more of a wartime leader than a peacetime one.

"Thanks for your time, Minister," Harry said, standing from his chair and shaking Kingsley's hand. He felt a mixture of relief that he had repaired his relationship with the Minister, but newfound anxiety over these upcoming trials. Would he be willing to lie to the Ministry to put Draco Malfoy behind bars? Or tell the truth and watch him walk away scot-free? Then again, Draco had lied to the Death Eaters to save his life at Malfoy Manor. But did that make up for all the other awful things he'd done? He wasn't so sure.

"Oi, Potter," growled Robards when Harry walked back into the Auror Office. Harry groaned and entered Robards' office, prepared for the argument that had been brewing for the past month. But Robards simply motioned towards the chair opposite him, which Harry took.

"You're a lucky man," said Robards. "I was gonna chew you out this morning for everything that's happened over the past month, but this Nurmengard business is more urgent. It's important that the Ministry presents itself as a unified front, d'you understand? That means the Aurors too. So let's just put this behind us and try to get along."

"I'd like that, sir," Harry said gratefully.

"Now if you could just call off the hound dogs at the Prophet, that would be lovely…" Robards sighed, giving Harry a look that said he was clearly still suspicious of him.

"I can't control the Prophet, and I didn't tell them about the Hogwarts incident," said Harry. "I was going to ask you the same thing."

"Hmph," Robards muttered. "S'pose it doesn't matter now. Hopefully the trials will take some of the heat off of us for now. Now, we may be expected to give testimony on the blokes we captured, and anyone else we might've witnessed doing wrong. So I want you to focus on preparing your statements this week." He handed Harry an extensive list of names.

"Roger that," said Harry, glancing down the list. He recognized most of the names – Death Eaters, Ministry officials during the takeover, and some other people involved in the war efforts. He could think of about a hundred more names he would personally like to add, but that would have to wait for another time. He could see all three Malfoys listed on the first page, with court dates scheduled for the end of January. Harry didn't have much time to make up his mind on their fate…

He asked Ron about it later that night when they returned to Grimmauld Place. "A few years behind bars would do that git some good, I reckon," Ron muttered. "Society isn't missing much with him out of it."

"But does he deserve it?" Harry asked aloud. "He was just a kid when he became a Death Eater—"

"We were kids too, and we knew our place all along," Ron retorted. "You fought off Death Eaters twice before Draco even got his Dark Mark."

"Yeah...yeah I did!" Harry agreed. He didn't know why he felt so guilty on the matter anyway. Draco may have covered for him once, but it didn't make up for six years of torment leading up to it. He had no qualms about joining Voldemort then, and now he could deal with the consequences.

The Nurmengard Trials dominated the rest of the week, as Harry, Ron and Neville were asked to fill out as much information about the activities of every dark witch and wizard on the list. Harry found it difficult to write about some, like Augustus Rookwood – "Battled in Dept. of Mysteries"; "Spotted during Battle of Hogwarts" – while for others, like Lucius Malfoy, he had no shortage of information to write down. He peeked over at his colleagues' work; Ron was furiously scribbling something under Fenrir Greyback's name, while Neville appeared to be hard at work writing a novel about the Carrows' time at Hogwarts.

Harry was relieved to have a break from all the paperwork that Friday, even though the reason for it gave him some anxiety. He excused himself and met the Minister in his office for their meeting with Garunk the Great. "Ready to go, Harry?" asked Kingsley, standing from his desk when Harry walked in.

"Yes, sir," said Harry. "Will we be Apparating from the Atrium?"

"Oh no," said Kingsley; with a flick of his wand, the fireplace burst to life. "Floo Network, direct to Gringotts. One of the perks of being Minister of Magic, you see."

"Great," said Harry, declining to mention his hatred of Floo Powder. He allowed Kingsley to go first, then grabbed a handful of powder, said "Gringotts," and stepped into the grate, taking a deep breath as he did so. Somehow he still wound up with a lungful of ash when he emerged on the other side; sputtering and coughing, he righted himself beside Kingsley and took in the grand entrance hall of the wizarding bank.

Unfortunately his arrival had drawn the attention of every goblin in the place; they all glared down at Harry as he and Kingsley marched towards the other end of the hall. The place may have been repaired from all the damage wrought by the dragon a year before, but it was clear the employees here still held quite the grudge. Harry kept his head down as Kingsley stepped forward to the reception desk.

"Kingsley Shacklebolt and Harry Potter, here to see Garunk the Great," Kingsley announced in his booming tone. "He should be expecting us."

"Right this way, Minister," said the goblin at the desk, and he led them down a side hall. Harry noticed a large number of armed goblins standing guard, wearing shiny battle armor and holding long spears – no doubt goblin-made. Harry wondered if the increased security was due to the break-in, and found himself nervous as they walked past them all. But Kingsley showed no fear, marching decisively down the hall and up to an ornate door, which the goblin opened for them and beckoned them through.

Garunk the Great sat behind a large desk, in an elevated chair that put him at eye-level with the two wizards as they walked in. "Have a seat," he said coolly, and Harry and Kingsley did so. Harry realized that this put the goblin in a higher position than the two of them, looking down upon his guests, and he suspected this was by design.

"Thank you for seeing us, Garunk," said Kingsley.

"I see you come empty-handed, Potter," said Garunk, ignoring the Minister completely. Harry could feel his dark black eyes probing him, and he did his best to maintain a calm composure.

"We'll get to that in a minute, Garunk," said Harry. "We have other business to discuss first."

"Such as?"

"I'm sure you have heard the news of the Nurmengard Trials," said Kingsley. "We are putting dozens of dark wizards and witches on trial for their heinous actions during Voldemort's reign of terror."

"I am aware," said Garunk. "But I don't see how this concerns me. Goblins don't care for such human trifles."

"But surely that can't be true," said Kingsley. "Goblins suffered greatly under Voldemort. He killed thousands of your kind, as far as we know, probably more. You have just as much of an interest in seeing his followers put to justice."

"I very much doubt their crimes against goblins will be put on the record," Garunk sneered. "And as far as I'm concerned, the man sitting beside you ought to be put on trial as well."

"Harry did not intend for his actions to harm goblins—" Kingsley began, but Harry already knew this was a mistake.

"Dozens of my employees were slaughtered because of what he and his friends did!" Garunk shouted. "One of them was put under the Imperius Curse, and killed by dragon fire – a most gruesome death!"

"I do regret it," said Harry. "All I can offer in defense is that his death was not in vain. Our actions at Gringotts directly led to Voldemort's downfall."

"So says you," Garunk muttered. "And that is not all you can offer, Potter. You made a very clear offer to me the last time we spoke."

"I have a counter-proposal," Kingsley butted in. "I am offering up thirteen seats on the Wizengamot for goblin use. That's one for every Chairman of the Confederation of Goblins, am I correct? You can be sure that crimes against goblins will be put on the record, and your votes will count just like any wizard's would."

Garunk did not respond to this immediately. He tapped his long fingers together in thought, eyeing Kingsley suspiciously. "I know full well that these are just show trials," he said at last. "Their guilt has already been pre-determined."

"In many cases, yes," Kingsley admitted. "But I will also lobby for those seats to become permanent in the future. It will take time, as you and I both know what Fudge has done, but I will see to it."

"And what if you lose your election this spring?" Garunk demanded. "I'm no fool, Shacklebolt. I know you have to play the politics game for the next four months. What happens when goblin rights are no longer a hot-button issue, and it comes time to codify our representation into law?"

"You have my word," said Kingsley simply. "That is all I can offer you at this time."

"Mine too," said Harry. "I will be with the Ministry long-term, and my mate Hermione Granger will be joining this summer as well."

"Granger?" said Garunk, eyes narrowing in recognition of the name. "The girl that founded the Society for the Promotion of Elvish Welfare?"

Harry's jaw dropped. "You know about S.P.E.W.?" he asked, amazed.

"She plastered her pamphlets all over Diagon Alley a couple years ago," Garunk sneered. "I thought it was a good laugh at the time...a noble cause, but a foolish one. And she intends to continue her campaign with the Ministry?"

"Yes," said Harry. "She'll be joining the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. She's passionate about the rights of non-wizard beings."

"Interesting," Garunk mused. "Rare to see such compassion for non-human beings among wizardkind. I hope her first order of business will be changing the department's name. 'Regulation and Control'...highly insulting, if you ask me."

"I'm sure she'll agree," said Harry. "So what do you say? Will you accept the Ministry's offer?"

"Of course I will," Garunk snapped, as though the answer was plain as day. "We goblins won't look a gift dragon in the mouth. But that is beside the point. We already had an agreement, Potter, and don't think this Wizengamot business changes anything!"

"You're kidding," said Harry. "You think a stupid sword is more valuable than representation at the Ministry?"

"It is a matter of pride!" Garunk snarled. "Goblins were deeply embarrassed by the break-in! The Confederation was touched by your offer of the Sword of Gryffindor, which we consider a far more significant gesture than political games. Wizards know that we goblins have sought the Sword for centuries!"

"Well I'm sorry, Garunk, but I can't give you the Sword anymore," said Harry. "I tried, but it refused to obey me."

"Obey you?!" Garunk laughed. "It is a piece of weaponry, intended to serve its master faithfully! It did not resist you; whatever twisted magic you wizards placed upon it did."

"Be that as it may," said Harry, "Hogwarts is its true home. It belongs to House Gryffindor."

"Godric Gryffindor died long ago!" Garunk insisted, his voice growing more venomous by the second. "That sword belongs to the goblins, to its makers!"

"You are not its maker, any more than I am its buyer," Harry retorted. "Don't play games with me, Garunk – goblins have been making excuses to steal it for centuries. You just tried it again last year with the Lestrange will."

"I am the one playing games?!" Garunk screeched. "You made the offer, Potter, and you speak to me of games? You must truly think me a fool!"

"Not at all," said Harry. "Like I said, I intended to follow through, but it wasn't meant to be—"

"Funny how whenever things are 'meant to be'," said Garunk, "it always seems to favor wizard interests over anyone else's! I knew your words were hollow, Shacklebolt, I just knew it! You meant to butter me up before stabbing me in the back!"

"The Ministry's offer is still on the table," said Kingsley coolly. "And it is not contingent on any kind of deals being struck in regards to Mr. Potter here."

"I've had enough of this trickery!" Garunk said, slamming a fist on his desk. "I will not be made a mockery of, and the Confederation will not be pleased to hear this news. Guards!"

The office door burst open, and a group of armed goblins hustled into the room. Harry stood and withdrew the Elder Wand, brandishing it at the guards threateningly. "No need for that, Harry," said Kingsley calmly. "Goblins wouldn't dare use force against the Minister of Magic. We can leave quietly, isn't that right, Garunk?"

"I think that would be wise!" Garunk sneered.

"I will be in touch about the Nurmengard Trials later this month," said Kingsley, bowing politely to the goblin. "Come, Harry, let's not outstay our welcome." Kingsley turned to leave, but Harry paused for a moment, turning back to Garunk.

"Wait," he said. "Garunk, please, the Scepter of Bravery. Do you know anything about it? Was it forged by goblins?"

Garunk's eyes narrowed. "What you Aurors find so fascinating about that scepter is beyond me," he grunted. "I already told Dawlish last month that I don't know what it is, so stop asking!" And he beckoned to the guards, who escorted a shocked Harry out of the office and slammed the door in his face.

A/N: Thanks for reading! The title of this chapter is a reference to one of my all-time favorite films, which had a major influence on this fic. If you recognize it, comment below (no cheating!). Until next time...