Chapter Three of The Age of Wisdom by Hilel.
Harry Potter - Innocent, or Guilty?
Today, Harry Potter - Notorious Mass Murderer, responsible for the deaths of twenty-five muggles, for the murder of Hogwarts Professor Severus Snape, and Five-Time escapee of Azkaban Prison - was officially released, Under Authority of the Headmaster of Hogwards school of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and given an official apology.
Hogwarts Headmaster, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore says that Harry Potter had in fact been innocent of any - and all - crimes that he had been imprisoned for. He showed proof at the ministry earlier this week in the form of a prophecy - which shall remain undisclosed; by order of the minister of magic.
After questioning - under veritaserum, by Potter's request - Potter had revealed a number of ministry workers as the murderers of the twenty-five muggles, although he had been unable to reveal the true murderer of Hogwarts Professor Severus Snape. The Ministry has promised to look into this.
However innocent Harry Potter seems to be, he is guilty of successfully breaking out of Azkaban Wizard's Prison Five times. And has been sentenced to four years house arrest - in Hogwarts, since it has been revealed that Potter's family had been brutally murdered - thought to be done by Potter, during his fourth jail-break from Azkaban.
A certain Professor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry - who shall remain nameless - revealed to this reporter that Potter will be taking up a temporary Defense Against the Dark Arts teaching position at Hogwarts. This reporter believes, that even though Potter may be innocent, his twenty years with the Dementors may have made him too dark to be teaching our children.
-Rita Skeeter, Daily Prophet.
Ronald Weasley smirked satisfactorily (I remembered the word this time!) at the newspaper article. At least Potter wasn't the 'Golden Boy' anymore. HE was the one in the limelight, and HE was the one who would be remembered throughout history as the person who destroyed the Dark Lord!
Ignoring the fact that he was still afraid to even think the Dark Lord's name, of course.
But, a small inconvenience. People would be too distrusting of Harry Potter to give him too much praise. And what about his best friend? Ronald, wasn't it? He hasn't done anything to warrent arrest! So let's make HIM the celebrity now! Ron thought, laughing loudly. My, I have much more power than HIM...Much, Much more.
Ron was jerked out of his thoughts as Hermione suddenly banged his front door open, yelling a loud 'Hello, Ron!'. Ron's house was much better-looking than the Burrow, especially since the Burrow was now only inhabited by males, as both his mother, Molly and his little sister...Ginny...
"Ron? Don't you even say 'hello' anymore?" Hermione asked as she entered the room, carrying a heavy-looking box with her. Knowing Hermione, it was probably full of books. Setting the box on the table before Ron, Hermione sat down heavily in the chair next to Ron.
"Whats all this?" Ron asked, gesturing at the rather large box in front of him.
"Thats all Harry's stuff." Hermione said. "I think I heard some sort of fluttering inside it though."
Deciding to play his nice-guy part to the letter, Ron raised an eyebrow. "Who packed this?"
Hermione looked thoughtful. "I'm not sure. It's been in the Dursleys home since before they were murdered by Voldemort, though. So I would guess that they were the ones who packed it."
"The Dursleys!?" Ron yelled, faking concern. "Knowing them, I wouldn't be surprised if that faint 'fluttering' you heard was Hedwig!"
"Don't be silly, Ron!" Hermione huffed. "How would Hedwig survive in a box, without food or water...for months!"
Ron ripped the top off the box, and started digging around inside. Pushing aside one of Harry's Cousin's castoff shirts, he finally saw what he had been looking for - and, unbenownst to Hermione, what he had been hoping for. Harry's white-feathered, blue-eyed owl was lying squashed between the shirt he had just moved and a Hogwarts school robe. The black robe had a rather large hole in it, so Ron believed that it was the only thing even resembling food that the owl had eaten in months.
"Hedwig!" Hermione squealed. "I hadn't known where you went!" and she quickly scooped up the white owl into her hands, trying to avoid touching her wings - which was unnaturally bent in several places. "Come, have some food..." but before Hermione had taken one step, everything went white.
"AHHHH!" James yelled as he sat upright in his bed. He was sure he should have woken the entire school, but looking at the other seven beds in the large, emerald and gold colored room told him that he hadn't even managed to wake up his dorm-mates.
James held his throbbing head in his hands, trying to shut out the pain from his latest vision. He had quickly become known as a First Class seer in the first few weeks he had been at the Institute. He couldn't understand a word that had been spoken, but he always wrote down the strange words that the prophecy formed on parchment.
After the first time, when James spaced out, or fainted, people would just mumble to themselves how 'JJs making another prophecy' and muttering about him not being able to translate them. No-one apparently knew the other ability of First Class seers - namely the ability to 'see' the events fortold in the prophecy.
James was particularly stumped with one of the words in the unknown language that his prophecies were always written in. The word 'Voldemort' was familiar somehow, but he wasn't all that good with the Scripts, so he couldn't quite place it. James could remember his first day as if it were yesterday. His least favorite teacher, happened to be his Scripts instructor.
He was also something which flabbergasted the Witches and Wizards of the age. Many could not understand how someone like him could be trusted enough to be given a teaching position. How could anyone trust him? He said he had changed, but no one thought so.
For James' Scripts Instructer's name was, Ignushus Severus Snape.
A Snape! The most evil family in the known world! Only just closely followed by the most hated Weasleys. The Snapes and the Weasleys hated each other, but they were both as dark as anyone could get. Several times, Dark Lords had sprung up from either line, both powerful and knowledgeable in the Dark Arts. The Darkest Day in history was recorded as the 'Twin Darkness', apparently. Two wizards of equal power had sprung up from the two families. And the ensueing war, Dark vs. Darker vs. Light.
But Ignushus had said he wasn't like the other Snapes. But no one could totally trust a Snape. But enough of that. James thought irratibly, Thats TOO far back. I was just recalling my first day...stupid, easy-to-get-sidetracked mind.
James' first day had dawned bright and clear. He had woken up along with his seven dorm-mates, and had run as fast has he could to get to the Great Hall in time for breakfast. Turned out that he had been late. Then, he had to go all the way back to his room to pick up his Scripting supplies - which he had conveniently forgotten - and ended up fifty minutes late to his first class (Ancient History). He had then had to run clear across the gigantic castle to get to Scripting.
But with not a dull moment. It seemed one of the Novices had decided to play a prank on the 'great James Potter', and James subsequently forgot all his stuff in the Ancient History classroom. When James had reached his next class (Scripting, tought by Ignushus Snape) Instructor Snape had been less than pleased to learn of his 'forgetfulness'.
"Now, students." Snape had sneered. "Those of you who can, please turn to the first page in your books." He had glanced pointedly at James as he was putting emphasis on the word 'can'. "We will be learning the first letter in Yulesdon. It's called a 'Volediimot', and looks alot like this." a 3d floating image suddenly sprang to life before Snape. The ninth years gasped in surprise, while the older years just yawned.
The image looked alot like a snake, just without a head. The snake seemed to be halfway through a small circle. And for some reason, the circle had looked alot like a toothless mouth...
It was the next day that he had made his first prophecy. He had been told to go to Instructor Snape to translate the prophecy, but of course, he had been less than enthusiastic to get anywhere remotely near a Snape.
James was pulled out of his thoughts by a loud explosion, coming from the direction of the Great Hall. Since James stayed in a tower, he had windows all around the large room, giving him a easy view of the Institute. James ran to the window pointing in the direction of the Great Hall and gasped.
There, on the roof, standing right next to a hole leading down into the Hall, stood what looked like a Giant cat. The only difference, however, was the flames that seemed to be burning everything it touched...Including the Roof it stood upon.
And back to the present. Harry was growling angrily three youngsters who had seen fit to destroy his classroom. Without his wand, Harry couldn't do anything, especially not with the incompatible wand that Dumbledore had given him.
Harry knew his wand hadn't been destroyed, as it was the only wand that was a brother to Voldemort's. It had been officially given as a gift to Ronald Weasley, but as Ron hadn't been able to use it that well, he had forgotten where he put it.
Harry knew the idiot was lying, but he couldn't prove it. Especially since the Wizarding world had decided to make Ron the celebrity, which Harry was eternally greatful for. Back to the subject, though. Harry didn't quite feel like dealing with the three pranksters, so he quickly deducted fifty points each, and sent them on their way.
No time like the past, they always say! ...or was it...nah, gotta be the past. Anyway, thats the end of this chapter. Theres no History Excerpt since I havn't had the time to think up a good History Excerpt. I was going to write a bit from the Dark Arts Manual (Aka. The Dark Arts and the Users Thereof) but I couldn't think of what to put in it.
If Anyone wants me to include an idea or two from them into the story, my plans are pretty bare-brained. The way I'm going, it'll get boring and uniform, like an episodical format. (I heard that word somewhere! I didn't make it up!) so please, drop in a few ideas, and if it doesn't contrast to the main storyline of the story (like making it slash) then I'll see where I can put it in.
Please Review! Thanks to all who have already done so:
Megz2: Oh, I'm SO happy! I'm so glad that you've taken a liking to the story.
Gallandro-83: I've sent an e-mail answering all your questions, since I think that answering them here will take up WAY too much space. (and of course, spoiling the story for a few readers). Thanks again!
Gaul1: Thanks alot, I'll try my best.
Wanderingwolf: You got it EXACTLY right. Everybody in the past can do magic freely, thats what 'Scripting' is. Of course, the readers wouldn't know that, I havn't explained it yet, but I will!
If I havn't thanked you, or replied to your review, it's because I posted this chapter before the reviews got to me. Byes!
-Hilel.