Wow, I have to apologize to you- it's been an entire WEEK since I've updated! I think that this is the longest gap in chapters yet!! I'm glad that all of you liked that last chapter- the response surprised me, since I looked at it after I posted and thought wow, that sucked!
Well, thanks to someone (times 2!), Jay, artful dodger- I figure that voldie WILL die easily- how else can he die?, elfmoon87, darkgohansonna, iniysa, stoney emerys, lei Dumbledore, felion- nah, he won't kill himself, don't worry!, lady lightning, jliles, myrhfire, candledot, tantz, wolfie jr, toria, nilboriel, kemenran, xirleb70, fnxmoon, mikee, piggie, calani, enahma, sev1970, litine- yes, it was a bit odd, wasn't it?, athenakitty, prophetess of hearts, charma1219, sage and snape, shanni c, stayblue, and xikum- the others didn't anticipate that he would live- thanks for noticing that! I'm glad that somebody picked that up! And yes, we'll deal with the dark wizard thing, starting.. NOW!,
~~**~~~
"Severus? Severus?"
Severus growled as he was rudely awakened from his slumber.
"Severus, you might want to see this. Wake up, Severus!"
Snape opened an eye and was shocked to find Albus Dumbledore standing over him, looking like he had suffered the worst of hells and was now standing in front of the devil himself. In other words.. he looked terrible.
"Albus?"
"Severus, are you awake? God, something's happened. Something horrible. Can you stand?"
"Where are we going?"
"To the Great Hall. Come on, Severus, come on!"
Snape saw that he was still wearing his tattered and bloody black robes, and not ridiculous hospital garb, so he sat up and eventually managed to stand, leaning heavily on Dumbledore.
"What is it, Albus?"
"It's Harry. And Fudge. And about every single reporter in the world. Fudge basically came in during breakfast and attacked Harry. Come on, Severus!"
"I'm coming!" he growled.
The two hobbled into the Great Hall, which was filled to the brim with people- reporters, no doubt. The crowd parted for Snape and Dumbledore, and soon, Severus could see Harry and Fudge in the middle of the room, Fudge yelling his fool head off at Harry and Harry just standing there, taking it calmly. He looked like he should again, not like James Potter. And this, consequently, was what Fudge was now yelling about.
"You.. you go off and kill You-Know-Who, and Lucius Malfoy, And Cedric Diggory-"
Harry gasped. "That's not-"
"You're a murderer, nothing more, you were never anything more! You're insane, boy. And suddenly, you show up at Hogwarts, over the summer, no less, and now you don't even look the same! I bet you're not even Harry Potter. You probably killed him, too!"
Harry quirked an eyebrow. Fudge was rambling now, not making any sense. "Really, Mr. Fudge, let's be rational," he hissed, and stepped closer to the minister, "I am Harry Potter. You see the scar? That's mine. This isn't glamourie, or some kind of trick. This is me. Now, I have remained silent this entire time, letting you yell and talk and make a fool of yourself. I just got rid of Voldemort, Mr. Fudge. You know, Voldemort, who wants to kill us all. Voldemort, who would easily destroy the entire wizarding world if he got the chance. And he's gone, now. What could possibly be bad about that?"
Harry stepped forward, and his voice dropped to a low, dangerous whisper. "Come now, Fudge. You're the minister of magic. You're supposed to know what's best for the wizarding community. And you dare to come in here and accuse me of murder? I assure you, sir, that if I had not done away with the bastard, we would very soon know the real meaning of murder."
Fudge was shaking now, as Harry stood over him, flaring down at the little minister with brilliant green eyes. It was that look that made even the seventh years shake in their seats. It was Snape's evil death glare, the one that had taken Severus years to perfect.
Severus smirked happily as he saw his own glare reflected perfectly on Harry's face.
"You're a murderer, Mr. Potter. And you will pay for your crimes. Oh, I assure you, you will pay. Therefore, as the minister of magic, I hereby charge you with the deaths of Cedric Diggory, Lucius Malfoy, and You-Know-Who. Your trial is tomorrow. Goodbye, Mr. Potter."
With that, Cornelius Fudge, flanked by seven aurors, stomped out of the Great Hall, which was now totally silent. Everyone was completely shocked, and very afraid. But no one so much as Harry Potter, still only fourteen, who had seen and done so much in his lifetime that it was hard to believe that he was so young. He was gaping, open-mouthed, and his eyes no longer saw the things around him.
A slam of the doors told everyone that Fudge had, indeed, left the school. But still there was silence. No one could believe it.
Harry's eyes glazed over, and he took a step back, hardly able to keep his balance.
Remus saw this action for what it was, and hastily made his way over to Harry to catch him as he passed out.
~~**~~
Professor?
Potter?
Where-
You're in the hospital wing. With me, Black, and Dumbledore.
You must be in hell.
No, I believe that would be you.
Oh, right. How long have I been here?
Three hours. Dumbledore sent everybody out. We've been receiving hundreds of owls with notes about how much everyone hates Fudge and how you will win. Apparently, the entire wizarding world is already aware of your plight.
Mm. Well, I suppose that's good.
Are you okay? How do you feel?
Harry paused.
Betrayed.
That's understandable. I would kill Fudge, if I got the chance. So would that mutt godfather of yours. He's going mad.
Professor?
Yes?
Am I going to get out of this? I mean, will this work? Will I win?
Of course you will, Potter. How could you not?
I don't know. Because I really did kill Voldemort, and there were no witnesses to Cedric's murder. And you're the only witness of the other two deaths. I killed a person, Professor.
So have I. We are very much the same, you and I.
Yes. We are.
There was an awkward silence in Harry's mind, and in Snape's. Neither really knew what to say.
Why don't you wake up, Potter. Black is going to strangle me soon if we have to tolerate each other's presence any longer.
I don't want to wake up. Things are so much nicer when I'm just.. here. And talking to you.
You'll have to face your demons sometime, Potter.
Okay. Fine. I'll wake up.
And he did. Harry opened his eyes and glared at Snape while Sirius nearly hugged him to death.
"Harry, Harry, are you alright? Are you okay? It'll be fine, Harry. I promise it'll be fine," gushed Sirius as he held Harry in a death hug.
"Sirius?" asked a breathless Harry. "Air would be nice."
Remus laughed and pulled his friend off of Harry, who looked more than a little relieved.
"So," Harry said lamely, obviously attempting to engage the others in conversation and get their eyes off of him.
"Harry," Dumbledore began, "he won't get away with this. Not with over half of the wizarding world against him. I won't allow it."
"Neither will I," Severus said hoarsely.
Harry looked startled at this revelation. Severus Snape- actually caring about what happened to him? Harry would have thought that Snape would be happy. He'd finally be rid of him, right?
Harry sighed. Things were so confusing now. It was so much simpler when he thought that Snape hated him.
I could still pretend to hate you, if you want me to.
No! I.. I mean, it's just..
Different?
Yes. Weird. And.. did you say you pretended to hate me?
That, Mr. Potter, is a conversation for a different time.
"What? You would actually want to help him, Snape?" snarled Sirius, disbelievingly.
"Yes, I would. Contrary to popular belief, I'm not a cold-hearted bastard. I will help when help is due."
Sirius looked at Snape like he was finally off his rocker, while Dumbledore just looked happy. But there was still no twinkle in his eyes.
"As charming as this is, all of you, we need to focus on tomorrow. I can't believe they only gave us a day," muttered Dumbledore angrily.
Harry sagged again, reminding everyone that he was still in trouble, and that he was still only fourteen. He certainly didn't look fourteen anymore.
"So this is what we know. Harry's being charged for Voldemort and Malfoy's murders."
"And Cedric's," Harry murmured miserably.
"Yes. And Cedric's. The trial is tomorrow, at ten. And I think that Fudge is out for blood," continued Dumbledore.
"We'll need to get Cedric's parents to testify. Neither of them ever believed that you were guilty, so that shouldn't be too hard to prove," said Remus.
"But there were no witnesses," warned Harry, "and Fudge will be ruthless."
"There is no way for him to disprove the fact that Voldemort returned. We have his body. And his wand. We found it on his person this morning, when you came in, Harry. Fudge will lose popular support because of his failure to warn the community."
"That's true. But there's also no way to disprove the fact that I killed him. And don't you dare ask me to say otherwise. I did it. But there was good reason. And everyone was fully behind his death. They've been calling for it for years. If they charge me now, they should have charged me when I as a baby. And my first year, and second year. Every year I've been here, actually. And just when they should be grateful, they turn on me. Just like they did when they found out that I was a parselmouth. And I'm not asking for a pity party," Harry said, noting the looks on Sirius and Remus's faces, "I'm merely making a point."
Albus nodded. Harry was correct about that part, at least. That could work. But that left-
"Lucius Malfoy," Harry said, as if he'd been reading Dumbledore's mind. "Beside the fact that he was a loyal death eater, and this was a war. Professor Snape can attest to that."
Severus nodded.
"But it would mean coming out as a spy, not like that isn't already known to every death eater alive. It would put you in danger, though, from both the remaining death eaters and from the rest of the wizarding world. They may not believe you," added Harry.
If it would help.
"It would," Harry said, confusing everybody but Snape. No one else realized whom he was talking to.
Why do you think that?
"Because Voldemort's curse hit my shields and bounced off. I didn't actually fire the curse. You know that," said Harry.
Would they believe me?
You're the only chance I've got. At least in the way of a witness.
"I'm also a supposed Death Eater, Potter. I'm not very trustworthy."
But Professor-
"That doesn't mean I won't help you."
Thank you.
Sure.
"Why do you think Fudge hates me?"
I haven't the slightest idea.
"I'm beginning to doubt his loyalty to the light."
You really think so?
"Yes."
"Why?" asked Snape.
Dumbledore, Remus, and Sirius looked blessedly confused. They felt like they were only hearing half of a conversation. Which, truth be told, they were.
Albus cleared his throat, and Harry and Severus turned to him. They both quirked an eyebrow, wearing nearly identical expressions of 'what-do-you-want-Albus.' Sirius gasped at the similarity between the two of them.
"Yes?" Harry asked finally.
"Um.. care to share?" asked Remus.
Harry and Snape looked at him incredulously.
"What?" asked Harry.
"What in the world are you two talking about?" asked Sirius. "We're only hearing half of a conversation!"
Severus and Harry looked at each other oddly.
What is he on about?
I haven't the slightest idea.
"Um.." murmured Harry.
"If I may?" asked Dumbledore. "You two are using both your mental connection and your voices to communicate. That's why we're only hearing half of the conversation."
Sirius was even more confused. "Mental connection?"
"I'll explain later, Sirius," said Remus.
Harry glared at Severus.
We are?
"Apparently."
"I can't tell the difference," said Harry.
Neither can I.
That's weird.
"Yes."
"SEE? You're doing it again!" said Sirius.
"We are?" asked Harry.
"Yes, you are! And I'd like to know what you're talking about, if you don't mind," Sirius snorted irritably.
Harry told him.
"Ah. Tell me, Harry, why do you doubt Minister Fudge?" asked Dumbledore.
"Just a few months ago, after the tournament, he didn't believe me when I told him about Voldemort's return. He's done everything he can to make sure the public doesn't know. And there have been multiple stories in the Daily Prophet about how insane I am with comments from Fudge. He says he doesn't believe me and doesn't want to cause an uproar, but I think he's not telling people because he's trying to cover it up. Why would he try to turn people against me? It doesn't make sense. And now, instead of being happy that Voldemort is gone, he charges me with murder! He's actually angry that Voldemort is dead. That's not what the Minister of Magic does," Harry shook his head in frustration.
"I've never really thought about it that way before, Harry, but now that you mention it, it kind of-"
Lupin's comment was ended abruptly as the two doors from the hospital wing flew open, revealing four very red-faced aurors.
Sirius quickly changed back into his animagus form before the aurors stopped at the foot of Harry's bed.
"Harry Potter," the tallest one said sadly, "we have instructions to take you to the Ministry of Magic to be held for the night. You need to come with us now."
"Excuse me?" Lupin growled.
"In other words, Mr. Potter, you're under arrest."
Harry sat up straight and gasped as Dumbledore, Lupin, and Snape stood up angrily, all three of them yelling, and Minerva McGonagall ran into the room to join them. After a tearful Madame Pomfrey explained what was going on, she started protesting, as well.
"I'm sorry, all of you. I really am sorry. But we have to take him. Minister Fudge orders it, and we can't refuse his orders. I'm sorry, Mr. Potter," said the auror, who walked around Severus to put Harry's wrists in handcuffs.
Harry let out a small squeak as they were snapped on and he was dragged out of the bed. His eyes went wide with terror as the group of aurors led him away. He turned around to look at his professors.
"Professors?" he pleaded despairingly.
All of them looked pained- Minerva and Poppy were crying, Remus was looking as though a bullet had been blown through his brain, Dumbledore's face was as white as a sheet, and Snape just looked.. furious. Helpless. Full of rage. All at the same time.
"We'll be there tomorrow, Harry," said Dumbledore, his voice shaking. "Don't worry. We'll get you out."
A low note of misery sang from a big black dog at Dumbledore's feet.
That was the last thing Harry heard before he was shoved out of the hospital wing, out of Hogwarts..
And into a cell in the basement of the ministry of magic.
