AN: I know I know, a little late in posting. But hey Pirates of the Caribbean opened on Wednesday. I've seen it twice already. Orlando and Johnny are so hot. ^_^ Anyways, so bad news for all of you, I'm on vacation from the 15 - 24. So I won't be able to post at all. But have no fear I'll come back and post the next two chapters very quickly. Thanks reviewers!! 200!! I'm soo excited you guys don't even know. *jumps up and down* Onwards. . .

Harry Potter and His Fifth Year

Chapter 22 Verdicts and Revealings

". . . not guilty of any of the crimes. . ."

"WHAT! Doesn't anyone else see through his lies?!" His eyes glittered maliciously. "Potter is a Death Eater!"

Harry had gone rigid in his chair. He closed his eyes and chanted a spell. The lights got dimmer. Green began to glow around him. Then he said two words, "Acclaro Malefactor!" The green shot off hitting everyone.

People gasped and pointed at Fudge. His Dark Mark was fully aglow. Numerous other Dark Marks were glowing. Lucius Malfoy stood up shocker and Draco smirked.

Fudge glared at Harry. "You will get yours Potter. Lord Voldemort will get you Potter and you will beg to be killed when he starts with you! Crucio!" Morsmordre! He and all the other Death Eaters Disapparated. His spell broke.

Harry cried out in pain and fell off his chair, twitching on the ground. Thousands of knives felt like they were penetrating Harry's skin. His scar was also burning.

Snape rushed over and cursed. "Finite Incantatem."

The pain ceased. "Thanks," Harry groaned. He looked around.

The courtroom was in complete chaos. Quick Quills zoomed across parchments. People were yelling. Mr. Weasley stood up and only after his wand admitted three loud bangs that filled the room with purple smoke did everyone clam down.

"We need to get a temporary Minister in as soon as possible," he suggested.

"Go on Arthur, you stand in!" Many agreed on this.

"Alright, just for a little." Mr. Weasley was slightly turning a bit red. "Well first off, Harry you are not guilty of any crimes. Also, due to evidence, Sirius Black is also not guilty of the crimes he was convicted of 14 years ago."

"How do we know that? What evidence?"

Harry spoke up. "If you saw in my memory, Peter Pettigrew is alive and is Voldemort's servant. He was the spy. He told Voldemort. . ." Harry's voice got caught in his throat. He took a deep breath before continuing, ". . . he told Voldemort where my mum and dad were. He was the Secret Keeper and he framed Sirius. Pettigrew killed all those Muggles."

"I firmly believe Harry is telling the truth," Professor Dumbledore spoke up.

Slowly the members of the Ministry agreed. Mr. Weasley began again, "So let all wizards and witches know, Sirius Black is no longer a convict and may return to civilization. Also. . ."

"Come on Harry, let's get you back to the castle," Professor Snape said.

Dumbledore came up to them. "Harry I'm sorry that I agreed with Fudge about you. I don't know what came over me."

"It's alright Professor."

"I'm assuming you're taking him back Severus? Harry when I get back, please meet me in my office. Well, I have to help clean this mess up. Keep safe Harry." He went back to the officials.

Snape pulled out a Portkey and Harry touched it. They appeared at the entrance of the Great Hall.

Snape started to walk briskly toward Gryffindor Tower. Harry quietly followed. Then he asked, 'Professor, I've always wondered, why did you become a spy for Dumbledore? What changed?"

Snape did not respond. If anything, his yellow skin became paler.

"I'm sorry Professor. I shouldn't. . ."

"He killed my wife. I screwed up on an important mission long time ago. Lost 5 Death Eaters. I knew some torture was coming for me. Never did I imagine he would get her. I came back to our flat to find Voldemort and his top Death Eaters there. They restrained me while Voldemort tortured and killed her before my eyes. "

"I'm sorry Professor."

"I decided to get revenge by leaking secrets to Dumbledore." He paused. "Keep safe Potter."

Harry looked at Snape. Why did both Snape and Dumbledore tell him to keep safe? What was Voldemort up to? "Thanks Professor."

"You're welcome Potter."

The portrait opened as Harry walked in and was attacked by Ron, Hermione, and Ginny. The girls gave him a hug while Ron slapped him on the back. Fred and George let off a few Filibuster Fireworks. The threat of Voldemort put aside and Snape and Dumbledore's warnings momentarily forgotten, Harry grinned in the midst of all his friends.

Two weeks passed since the trial. Since then Harry had gained most of his weight back. The day after the trial, Sirius had freely walked through the Great Hall and hugged Harry furiously. Arthur Weasley became the temporary Minister of Magic until elections. Draco Malfoy started sitting at the Gryffindor table since most Slytherins were taken out of Hogwarts. Ron still did not like him but he slowly began to make amends with the Slytherin. Also, Ron and Hermione had gotten back together and this time around they included Harry on things.

Harry's scar had not bothered him since the trial and Harry was quite disturbed at that. No Death Eater activities were reported.

On a gloomy day, Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Ginny walked the grounds all bundled up. Snowflakes were falling all around them. Smoke was slowly rising out of Hagrid's Hut.

"Do you think Professor Flitwick marker me off for the fire spell? I think the flames died a bit too fast. . ."

"Honestly Hermione," Ron sighed. Then, smiling, "Actually I think they were a little off color."

"They were too orange weren't they? Oh no!"

Ron chuckled while Harry and Ginny rolled their eyes.

"Hermione they were fine," Harry told her. She didn't hear him. "Oh well." Then to Ginny, "How long do you think this one will last?"

"I'll give it five minutes. Ron won't be able to keep that straight face for too long."

"Yea." Then, Harry cried out in pain and grabbed his scar. He fell to his knees.

"Hermione, Ron, and Ginny crowded around him. " Harry?"

Harry's eyes shot open. "Run! Get in the castle! It's an attack!"

At the edge of the Forbidden Forest, hundreds of Death Eaters and Dementors appeared. Doing what Dumbledore had told him, Harry shot up 3 loud bangs with his wand. The Apparation Barriers came down and Aurors Apparated to the grounds.

"Keep running!" Harry yelled to the other three.

"Harry get the, to the castle!" Dumbledore yelled. "Then come back and fight."

Death Eaters were attacking at all sides. Harry dodged numerous curses and saved Hermione, Ginny, and Ron from a few.

Then the ground beneath their feet exploded sending them 20 feet apart. Harry groaned and rolled over. Voldemort pushed his way through the crowd. He was looking for someone. Harry's eyes widened as he saw Ginny just get up. "No!" He sprinted toward her.

Voldemort raised his wand, " Avada. . ."

"Ginny!" Harry magic shoved Ginny.

At the same time, Voldemort anticipated Harry's move and adjusted his wand so it pointed a little more to the right. ". . .Kedavra!"

Ginny Weasley fell to the ground, lifeless.

"Ginny!" Harry dropped to the ground and held her in his arms. Tears splashed on her cold face.

"Ginny. . ." Ron and Hermione's voices came. They both fell by Harry.

"Oops, I misaimed. Thanks Harry for putting her in my path."

Harry just looked at Voldemort, rage welling inside.

"I really must go Harry," Voldemort said removing a Time Turner from his cloak. "I can't defeat you here, but I'll make sure you don't survive Halloween 1981!" He began turning it.

"No!" Harry charged at Voldemort grabbing the chain. It stretched over his head. Ron and Hermione had ran behind Harry and now they two were underneath it.

In one final click, all four of them disappeared from the chaotic battle.

Copyrighted © 2003

Anaticulapraecantrix

But I have one little thing I want to add. This isn't in my story but after reading OotP I must put it in here.

Dressed in his Auror robes, Sirius joined the battle. He saw Harry charge at Voldemort and began to run over there. "Harry!" he called dodging a green spell. He turned and faced Bellatrix Lestrange.

"Sirius. I'm surprised you're here. Thought you would have been caught and put in a dog pound."

"Hey cousin. Did you miss me when I left Azkaban?"

"The foul stench left. Finally Azkaban was free of any Muggle loving fools."

"I'm glad I didn't have to stay and hang around with any stuck up purebloods. Though they all were a bit mad so you couldn't even have a decent conversation with them."

"Crucio!"

Sirius dodged it and sent back one of his one spells. "I think being in Azkaban for 15 years have made you a horrible duelist Bellatrix." He smiled playfully at her.

"Lord Voldemort trained me in the ways of a duelists, how dare you insult me and him." She sent another spell at him.

"Ya well your teacher sucks. Stupefy!" It hit Bellatrix squarely on the chest. She fell over. "Tell that to him when you're all in Azkaban alright?" He smiled and turned around. Harry and the others were gone. "What the?" Then he turned and started to fight off the other Death Eaters.

I feel much better now. Bwhahaha!! See you guys in ten days!!!!!