Chapter 17
You do the Crime, You Pay the Time

Harry and Ginny returned to the Gryffindor common room just before dinner and met up with Ron and Hermione. After depositing their books in their respective rooms Harry grinned and said,

"Want to make a grand entrance to the Great hall?"

The others just nodded and grinned except for Hermione who said "Harry. Ron and I are prefects and you are Dumbledores Apprentice. Just appearing wherever we want sets a bad example for the others." She finished a small frown on her face.

Ron just shook his head in her direction and Harry said "Just this once Mione, for fun and to scare the Slytherins."

Hermione stood irresolute for a moment and finally conceded. Harry grinning opened a portal directly behind Malfoy at his table and the three jumped out and yelled, "BOO!" causing Malfoy to jump up and spill his drink all over himself. The rest of the school laughed as well as a few Slytherins. Harry and Ron were laughing so hard they could barely make it to their table. Even Hermione had a hard time trying to keep a disapproving expression on her face.

The trio sat down and enjoyed the rest of their dinner until Harry glancing at his watch said "O.K. I'll see you at ten Gin. I have a lesson with Dumbledore until 9:30."

Ginny grasped his hand under the table and said, "See you then Harry."

Harry just smiled down at her and waved good-bye to the rest of his friends and made his way to Dumbledores office. Upon arriving, Harry sat down and waited for Dumbledore to arrive. Fawkes flew over, rested on Harry's shoulder, and trilled in his ear quietly.

Harry just reached and stroked his head saying "Hello Fawkes. How have you been?"

Fawkes just trilled in a manner that seemed to say "Good Harry, how about yourself?"

Harry just smiled and continued to stroke his feathers while thinking about the prison he needed to construct. Sure enough at 7:30 on the dot, Dumbledore appeared in his office, his arms full of parchment, ready to begin his lesson with Harry.

"So Harry began Dumbledore what did you have in mind for your lesson this evening?"

Harry looked up and said, "Well it was not so much of a lesson sir, more of a request for assistance in the construction of the new prison. But you look like you have your evening cut out for you." Harry finished gesturing to his armload of parchments.

Dumbledore just laughed and said "Yes it has been some time since I have had to grade papers. He replied with a smile. However, I have set aside this time to teach you what you need."

Harry gave a small nod and continued "Well I suggest that we go to my quarters for this part. I believe we are going to need to consult with Godric on the proper spells and the materials needed to build it properly."

Dumbledore just nodded and gestured for Harry to continue. Harry opened a portal to his rooms, he, and Albus entered and made their way over to the portrait of Godric. It was then that Harry noticed that Fawkes was still sitting on his shoulder.

Godric waked upon hearing them enter and suddenly yelled out "Fawkes! You great flying chicken! It's good to see you again looking so well."

Fawkes let out a shrill cry of displeasure at the painting, flying chicken indeed. Godric just laughed and said," Well he still can't take a joke." He replied looking fondly over at his old friend. Fawkes gave a trill that seemed to be laughter if such was possible for a Phoenix to do.

Harry hating to interrupt his grandfather, yet knowing if he didn't' they would be listening all night to his almost endless rambling. "Ummm Gramps? Could we start building the new prison? I want to begin right away before another attempt is made to free Voldemort's followers from Azkaban."

Godric nodded and said, "Of course Harry did you have any other ideas that you wanted to incorporate into the new facility?"

Harry nodded and explained to Albus and Godric "As I told you before I want this place to function without guards, yet still provide the basic necessities of life to the prisoners. Yet after thinking some more about it I also want to include a new feature as well."

Dumbledore and Godric looked curiously at Harry at this point and Dumbledore gestured for him to continue his explanation. Harry nodded and continued "In my reading I came across some muggle beliefs about punishment in the afterlife they would receive if they did not live a good existence while alive. A place called Purgatory."

Harry took a deep breath and continued, "After thinking about what originally happened to Sirius I wanted to make sure TRUE justice was being served. I concluded that the best form of punishment is usually self- inflicted. Our own mind punishes us more severely than anything I or anyone else could ever come up with. Therefore, I want the prison to be like the room of requirements in that anyone sent there will experience a punishment to fit the crime. The room knows the minds of the condemned and will react accordingly."

Conversely Harry continued "This set up offers the ability of re- habilitation to the prisoners in that the more they truly repent their crimes the easier their time will be there until finally if they truly repent the room will release them back into the normal world if they are still alive. Harry finished "This way sentencing will be much easier and the length of time in prison and form of punishment will come the mind of the prisoner his or her-self."

The other two looked at Harry silently considering his proposal. Finally, they both nodded and Dumbledore said "Harry that is a most excellent idea. This truly serves justice as well as hopefully giving us back repentant members of society."

Suddenly a thought occurred to Dumbledore "Harry what of the innocent? What of those forced into servitude through the use of the Imperious Curse?"

Harry nodded as if expecting the question and countered, "The prison will recognize the innocent and release them immediately."

Dumbledore nodded satisfied and looked to Godric for any further comments. Godric nodded his head and said," Harry what you are proposing has never been done before. I'm surprised no one thought of it sooner."

Suddenly an ancient tome appeared in Harry's hands. Harry looked up wordlessly at Godric in an unspoken question. Godric just replied, "Many of the spells in this tome were used in the creation of Hogwarts itself. Spells of creation, binding and warding that have not been used in over a thousand years are contained therein."

Harry and Dumbledore nodded at his explanation and began the arduous task of compiling the necessary spells to create the desired facility. After an hour of research and consultation with Godric, they concluded it would take a week to construct and cast the spells necessary.

Looking at his watch Harry looked at his elders and said, "Well I have to go for a while, and I have a date tonight."

Godric grinned at Harry and said," Go get em tiger!"

Albus just chuckled and sighed "Ahhhh... young love." While smiling at Harry his eye twinkling in amusement.

Harry just blushed and said "Albus would you contact Arthur and explain our plans to him?"

Dumbledore just nodded and made to leave as did Harry but not before Godric said "Don't do anything I wouldn't do Harry." While winking at him.

Dumbledore looked at Godric and said "Godric would you like to have Fawkes keep you company for a while? I know you get lonely while Harry is not here."

Godric nodded enthusiastically and replied "Yes, that would be wonderful. Thank you Albus."

Albus just smiled and waved good evening to the two of them and left back to his office.

Harry made his way to the Gryffindor tower, stopped in front of the portrait, and was about to knock on the painting to try to have someone let him in, as he no longer had password access to his old tower. However the fat lady just curtseyed gracefully and said, "You may enter My Lord"

Harry just rolled his eyes and groaned inwardly "great, now the dumb paintings are treating me like royalty!"

Harry found Ginny waiting for him along with Ron and Hermione sitting at a table scribbling away on rolls of parchment. Ginny looked up, smiled, and exclaimed, "Harry you made it!"

Hermione smiled up at him while Ron looked thoughtfully between his little sister and Harry and spoke. "Harry could I talk to you for a second?"

Harry nodded at his best friend and told the other two "Back in a few moments ladies." His gaze meeting Ginny's eyes for a second.

Ron beckoned Harry to follow him out the portrait hole and said "Look Harry, I know you have feelings for Ginny and you know she's been infatuated with you since she met you. Just be careful with her. I don't want to see her or you hurt if your relationship goes sour."

Harry just nodded and explained "Ron that is the last thing on my mind, but sometimes I can't get her out of my head."

Ron nodded and said "I know what ya mean mate, I feel the same way about Mione. Still Ron said grinning if word gets back to the Burrow about you seeing my sister you know Mum will start planning a wedding for you two" He finished.

Harry looked shocked for a moment and after recovering, his composure remarked, "Come on mate, never make a lady wait."

Ron chuckled at his friend's last statement and the two of them made their way back to the common room and sat down. Ginny while eyeing her brother asked Harry "Everything all right Harry?"

Harry just nodded and said "Ron was just giving me the 'big Brother talk.'

Ginny went several shades of fetching scarlet before she smiled up at him. Harry then went on to relate to his friends how his evening had been including the plans for a new prison system.

Hermione was looking at Harry with unabashed pride and said, "You really are a Great Wizard Harry."

The rest of the evening, they spent finishing homework and just enjoying each other's company. Harry made to leave and bade everyone good night. Bending down Harry quickly kissed Ginny on the cheek and said, "Sleep well Gin."

She in return hugged him and kissed him as well and replied, "See you at breakfast Harry."

Harry returned to his chambers and fell asleep with a grin on his face.

A/N I still am trying to come up with a name for the prison. Any ideas? As always many thanks for your reviews and to my beta Missy.