Ack. So I got both positive and negative responses from all of you on the topic of Harry's little attitude. I don't think he's quite so snarky in the near future. (snarky- is that a word?) Harry is not totally affected by the truth serum, as many of you picked up, which allows for his.. erm.. comments to come through. That will come up a bit later. Let's see.. there was something else.. oh, right. Since we don't have an exact definition of any wizarding trial, besides what was in dumbledore's pensieve in book 4 (that was in book 4, right? Or in somebody's fanfiction? Wow, I really need to reread that..), I kind of made up my own laws and proceedings. I know, I am totally clueless when it comes to lawmaking! J
Thanks to artful dodger- I know, I went totally ballistic on that last one. I hope you keep reading, it should get better…, Elfmoon87, piggie, Maggie, lirael, tenshi-chikyuu, someone, lady lightning, jay, lady lily- the letters in bold were Snape talking, innocent dreamer, fnxmoon, selenitey, nilboriel, myrhfire, toria, stoney emerys, charma1219, athenakitty, kateydidnt- yes, I do believe I skewed the laws a bit, didn't I??, nadiaLT, xikum- I totally agree, litine, candledot, sage and snape, shanniC, palanmenel, mikee, fairy lights, Samantha, bogan, kemenran, and Corgi.
You guys are awesome.
Well, it must get worse before it gets better…
~~**~~
Dumbledore rose from his seat and walked toward Harry.
"Hello, Harry," he said, by way of greeting.
"Hello, Headmaster."
"I'm going to ask you some questions."
"Alright."
"Harry, why did you kill Lord Voldemort?"
Harry closed his eyes and collected himself. "Lord Voldemort was evil. He destroyed everything good in out world. For years, the wizarding community lived in fear as Voldemort ravaged town after town- he killed many. Although he was eventually stopped, he was still alive. Everyone knew that. Since the time I came into the wizarding world, I was expected to save everyone. And I did, because I took it upon myself to do so. If Lord Voldemort had been allowed to return in full, he would have killed.. ruined.. everything. So I've tried to get rid of him. He had to be gotten rid of. He would have destroyed us all," Harry explained.
"You didn't do this for glory? For fame?"
"Absolutely not. I hate fame, and I certainly don't enjoy glory. I've hated my fame since I was eleven. All that I did was get protected by my mother's love. It is she who should be famous, not me. It is she who was the hero," Harry said.
"Thank you, Harry." Dumbledore sent Harry a knowing smile and sat down.
"Thank you, Mr. Potter. You may step down," said the judge.
"Wait, another question, if I may," said Falcon hastily.
"You wish to redirect?"
"Yes."
Judge Munnegin nodded. "You may proceed."
"Mr. Potter, you speak about your mother's love for you. It was her love that saved you, then?" asked the prosecutor.
"Yes, it was."
"What of your father? He also died to save you, did he not?"
Harry looked bewildered. "Yes, James died to save my mother and myself."
"You refer to him as James."
Harry swallowed. "Yes."
"Why not 'father?'"
"I was one when he died. I don't remember him well enough to call him 'father,'" said Harry.
"Yet you call Lily Potter 'mother.' You remember her well enough to call her that?"
Harry thought quickly. "Yes. When I am near dementors, I see her death. I see her die to save me. I do not see James."
Excellent answer. Good Lord, I hope he stops soon.
Me too. I won't be able to lie, you know.
I'm hoping he won't ask.
"Ah. So because of this, you feel that Lily deserves her title as 'mother,'" observed Mr. Falcon.
"Yes."
"But you've looked like James Potter these past fourteen years. People are always comparing the two of you, are they not? Surely you feel some closeness to him?"
Dumbledore stood up. "I do not see why these questions are relevant," he announced calmly.
"Neither do I," said Judge Munnegin, "so if Mr. Falcon would kindly make his point?"
"Certainly. Mr. Potter, why did your appearance change so suddenly? Are you under glamourie?"
"No."
"Do you mind if I check?"
"Go ahead."
With a nod from the judge, Armadeus Falcon pulled out his wand and said a spell that would erase the glamourie. Nothing happened.
"I see. So why did your appearance change?"
Harry gulped and fought the potion, just as he had once fought to override the Imperius.
"I refuse to answer that question," he said determinedly.
Noise broke out from the audience. No one could fight Veritaserum like that- no one!
"I see that your potion is wearing off. Permission to administer more, Judge?"
The judge nodded, and a guard poured more potion down Harry's throat.
"I'll ask you again, Mr. Potter. Why did your appearance change so suddenly?"
Harry stared straight back at him. "I refuse to answer the question."
The audience went into an uproar, and it took five full minutes to get them quieted down again.
The judge looked at Harry. "Mr. Potter, I demand that you answer his question."
Harry turned pleading eyes toward Professor Snape.
Professor?
Tell him what you must. But only what you must.
"Fine, Mr. Falcon. My appearance has changed because my mother put me under a complex glamourie charm when I was born, and now it is wearing off."
That obviously wasn't what Falcon was expecting. "Why did your mother put a glamourie charm on you?"
"To make me look like James."
"Why?"
"Apparently, because she wanted me to look more like James," Harry said.
"Really, Mr. Potter? Why didn't you look like James to begin with?"
"I must have looked more like her than James. I don't really know, Mr. Falcon. I don't exactly have baby pictures."
Falcon frowned at him. "But now, this is your true appearance."
"Not quite. The spell will fully wear off on my birthday."
"You don't look a thing like James."
"That is purely a matter of opinion."
The prosecutor's face lit up in a terrible grin. "Lily put the charm on you to make you look like James, because she didn't want anyone to know that you weren't James's child, didn't she, Mr. Potter?"
"Excuse me?"
"James Potter isn't your father, is he, Harry?" Falcon said hatefully.
"No, he's not," murmured Harry lightly. He heard shocked gasps from the audience.
NO! NO! NO!
A man was standing up in the back, short with blonde hair and blue eyes. Harry knew immediately who it was.
Sirius.
In disguise.
Falcon stood right in front of Harry now, victory apparent on his face. "And who is your father, Harry?"
Professor, I'm so sorry..
"Severus Snape," Harry said quietly, and bowed his head.
