A/N: Ok, I really have a very limited knowledge of inheritance law or criminal, civil or trial law in America, much less in Britain. This chapter has my best effort, so please don't be too harsh if there are legal inconsistencies.
A/N-2: On another note—I have not personally lost someone very close to me and therefore I am really working in the dark here with loss/grief issues. It is difficult for me to write it. I hope it makes sense, or that the emotions of all involved are realistic enough.
A/N 3: Is it really any use apologizing after this long? I hope this chapter is a good enough apology in itself. I certainly loved this chapter. It is the climax, however it is not resolved yet so do not worry that the story ends here. It is coming soon, but it is not here yet.
Chapter 23
Trial and Error
David opened his eyes as sunlight from the window streamed into the room. It was early still and he had gone to bed late, but he had never needed long hours of sleep to feel rested. Without moving he savored the warmth under the covers and thought about what he needed to do that day. He needed to talk to Amelia in more detail about adoption arrangements. He needed to find out how these laws worked in the wizarding world. He supposed he should also see a lawyer and get his will changed. He winced as he realized that he would have to change it anyway because everything changed with Kathryn gone. They had named each other primary beneficiaries and then the kids.
Why did I decide to have separate bank accounts? He wondered to himself. Now he had to go through the added burden of legally claiming all of Kathryn's assets. It wasn't something he wanted to think about, much less something that he looked forward to doing. Sighing he recalled that Kathryn had never wanted it that way and that he was the one who had insisted on giving her "independence" and not encroaching on her earnings. Now it seemed rather stupid.
A movement to his right startled him out of his thoughts until he remembered the night before. After Amelia had left and Michael had come back to the rooms, both of his children had joined him on his bed. Michael had fallen asleep in his lap quickly, but he and Courtney had talked about a lot of things. He had explained to her what Albus had told him had happened and they had talked about how they were going to work things out without Kathryn. It had been an emotionally wrenching talk for both of them, but it had also been a catharsis. Eventually Courtney had fallen asleep on his bed as well.
Discussing Kathryn's death had brought back all the emotions of hurt and loneliness and he had not wanted to be alone that night. So he had simply allowed both of his children to stay in the bed with him. He looked at Michael on his right and Courtney on his left. They were so peaceful in their sleep, seeming so innocent and carefree. Looking at them you could not tell the turmoil their lives were currently in.
His conversation with Courtney told him how confused she still was about her place in this world. How she wondered if she had done the right thing to expose the truth, to get her teachers in trouble. David could not offer very good advice on those matters, but, he discovered, it seemed enough for her that he listened. He supposed it rather stupid that he could not offer any insight into that particular problem considering it was the truth about him that she had exposed. For a long time after the two of them had fallen asleep he sat in thought.
Mostly he thought about all that had happened in the last week. He could not contain the tears of grief that once again wet his cheeks, but, to his surprise, he no longer felt the hopelessness that had enveloped him before. He had determined that being with the children was the best thing for him, even if it did mean staying at Hogwarts for the time being.
He had thought back to more than fifteen years ago and all the grief and pain he had experienced non-stop for the ten years prior to that. Opening up to Kathryn had been one of the hardest things he had ever done. Learning to feel emotions besides, anger hate and fear had been a difficult task. But it had been worth it to feel again. He had actually been happy. For the first time that he could recall in his life he had been happy, satisfied with his place in the world.
Looking back now he realized that his "happiness" had not lasted long. An undercurrent of anxiety had been present from the time Courtney first showed magic. He had buried it and ignored it of course, and he still had plenty to be happy about, especially considering how his life had been before that time.
Simply put he had not had any plans to rethink things ('things' meaning his relationship with the wizarding world) because it would have disrupted what happiness and security he had found in his life—things he had never had before and was not willing to risk loosing on those who did not deserve anything from him.
He sighed as he found himself following the same lines of thought as the previous night. He had not come up with conclusions about what he should do, but he had started asking himself questions.
Preeminent among them was can I be happy as a part of the wizarding world once more?
Immediately he had realized that no, he could not. To rejoin the wizarding world was simply something he could not contemplate for any length of time. So what could he do? His emotions warred within him, the disgust he still felt for the wizarding world, coupled with the pain of Kathryn's death, contrasting his desire to help and support his children. His family.
Pursing his lips he decided that he was not going to solve it now and he slowly extracted himself from the two warm bodies on either side of him to got ready for the day.
David had showered, gotten dressed, eaten breakfast and was sitting in the main room of the suite by the time Courtney and Michael woke up. They greeted him energetically and then Courtney left to go eat breakfast in the Great Hall, while David told the breakfasting Michael what he would be spending the day with his grandparents while he took care of some things.
When his son was dressed and ready for the day, the two walked towards the main entrance of the school to walk to Hogsmeade. Michael eagerly greeted the portraits and laughed as a suit of armor saluted him.
However, as they approached the entrance hall, the doors of the Great Hall burst opened and out ran a frantic looking Amelia. She almost ran into the two, but managed to stop herself before bowling Michael over. David reached out a hand to steady her as she caught her breath.
"David! The Ministry just came in and took Courtney to be a witness at the trial today! They took her by Portkey."
David's eyes widened in surprise before anger set in. How dare they!
"Who?" he managed to bark out.
"The Ministry's Prosecuting Attorney, the one in charge of prosecuting the Headmaster and everyone else."
"Everyone else? What do you mean by that? Since when is there a trial for the Headmaster anyway?"
Amelia realized that she and Courtney had forgotten to tell David about the scene they had witnessed in the hallway. She quickly filled him in about the Headmaster's arrest and then told him that she had found out at breakfast that Hermione and Sirius had both been arrested as well. David assumed from that information that Ron, Fred and George had all been arrested and were to be tried at the same time.
And the ministry had the audacity to have an eleven year old be their star witness.
David didn't take long to determine a course of action. "Amelia, will you come to the Ministry with me?" he asked in a low voice. The teenager gave a short nod.
David turned around and picked up Michael, who had been playing with a cat in the hallway. "We'll have to drop Michael by his grandparent's house before we go to the Ministry. It will take some time to get to the Taylors' and I'm not sure if I quite remember where the Ministry is located, do you know?"
"Yes, I've had to make an appearance with the Headmaster every year to make sure the paper work for my summer home was straight."
"Well then, lets get down to Hogsmeade and buy a portkey. I'm not about to risk apparating with the two of you when I haven't apparated in more than a decade and I was never good at making my own portkeys."
Amelia nodded and the three left the castle. Setting a brisk pace down the path to the village, David pondered desperately in his mind what in the world he was going to do once he got to the Ministry.
Procuring a portkey in Hogsmeade was an easy enough task, although it did take David a few minutes to decide which portkey would be closest to the Taylors'. He also purchased a second portkey for him and Amelia to use to get close enough to the Ministry (Portkeys directly into the Ministry were strictly prohibited for purchasing and were only available for use by Ministry personnel).
The three exited the shop and David told Michael to put his hand on the cup, as Amelia did so automatically. David then braced himself for the unpleasant sensation of portkeying and said, "Luminosity."
All three were pulled in a whirl of color through space to land very ungracefully at an OWL post office that was located just a few miles away from the Taylors' house. David rolled his eyes and winced as he felt a weight pressing on him, while Amelia groaned and rubbed her elbow which had smacked hard against a wall. Michael, however, jumped right up from where he had landed—on David—and said in an excited voice, "Can we do that again?"
David gaped at him for a second as Amelia smothered a laugh. Standing up David simply answered his son with a, "Not now." Dropping the cup in a bin labeled "Used Portkeys" the three exited.
David hailed a taxi and directed it to the Taylors' house. During the ride he realized that there were a few things that he needed to explain to the Taylors for them to understand that his life, and therefore their lives and their grandchildren's lives were going through some major changes. David shook his head to himself in exasperation, of course all our lives are going through major changes, Kathryn's dead! His breath caught in his throat and for a moment he felt like he was going to break down in tears. Instead, he forced his mind to think about the changes The Taylors still did not know about the wizarding world, as David had absolutely rejected the idea of Kathryn telling them.
The taxi pulled up to the house and David paid the fare herding Amelia and Michael to the door. Amelia seemed to want to hang back, probably feeling out of place here, which, David reflected, was a perfectly natural reaction.
The door opened to reveal Kathryn's mother before they even reached it, and Michael ran the last few meters to be enveloped in his grandmother's arms. David joined and gave her a peck on the cheek.
"Rachel, I hope you don't mind me stopping by like this, I have some things I need to take care of, and I was wondering if you would watch Michael for the day."
"Of course David, don't worry." She said as she ushered them all into the front hall. She glanced a moment, confused at Amelia's presence.
"Sorry, Amelia, this is Rachel, my mother-in-law; Rachel, this is Amelia, a cousin of mine. Some of what I am doing today involves her and her family."
Rachel's eyes widened at the knowledge that David was actually on communicating terms with a relative—Kathryn had told her as much as she knew of David's estrangement from his aunt and cousin-his only surviving relatives.
However, that was not what was important now, "Nice to meet you Amelia, please have a seat. David, I'd like to speak with you in the kitchen."
David nodded and followed the older woman into the kitchen. "How are you doing David?" she asked in a soft voice motioning for him to sit down. He sat and ran his fingers through his hair. "In all honesty, I don't even know. I have so many things going on, so many other thoughts crowding in. There are responsibilities I still have to see to and new things appear daily." He closed his eyes for a moment and then continued, gazing at her while his eyes watered, "I miss her, I miss her so much. She is so much of who I am, Rachel. She was…she was…." He trailed off and wiped his face.
Rachel smiled weakly at David and took his hand in hers. David took a deep breath to reign in his emotions and then asked Rachel the same question, "How are you doing?"
"Managing. Keeping myself busy. Jackson has mowed the lawn four times in as many days. They always say that no parent should have to bury a child. I've learned that it is true, it hurts so much. Jackson and I are going to change our wills so that Courtney and Michael receive Kathryn's inheritance. It … is just so hard to think about though."
David nodded in understanding, remembering his own thoughts from that morning. "Would you mind if I came over for dinner tonight and discussed a few things with you?"
Rachel shook her head and stood, asking, "Would you like a drink?"
"No thanks, Amelia and I need to be places. It might be a late dinner tonight, because I'm not sure how long everything will take today."
Rachel nodded in understanding. David returned to the living to hug his son goodbye and collect Amelia to go to the Ministry.
They walked a few blocks away from the Taylors' house in silence. Behind a small stand of trees in a park Harry pulled out the second portkey. Both held it and David said in a nervous voice, "Minutia."
As he felt the familiar sickening pull at his naval he once again wondered what in the world he was going to do at the Ministry.
Amelia and David landed—standing this time—in an alley adjacent to the Ministry entrance phone booth. As they both steeped into the booth David glanced at the phone in consternation, "I don't recall if I ever knew what the number was for this entrance. Come to think of it, I don't think I ever used this entrance."
Amelia picked up the phone and dialed 6-2-4-4-2, which David realized belatedly, spelled out M-A-G-I-C.
When the voice asked their names and business David replied with "David Barnes and Amelia Morgan, multiple legal obligations." Their name tags popped out; they put them on and after being reminded to check their wands they descended to the Ministry Atrium.
At the wand station, David hesitated, wondering what he should do about his wand—wondering about whether or not he should reveal it. He finally decided that since he did not know whether or not there was any way to detect an unchecked wand that he had better do it anyway so as not to cause any delays.
Amelia's wand was checked by a disinterested security witch and then David presented his to be checked, hoping against hope that they could not check who the wand belonged to. The witch put the wand on the scale and read off the parchment it spit forth, "Eleven inches, phoenix-feather core, been in use thirty years?" David nodded shortly glancing around nervously and retrieving his wand from the witch's outstretched hand.
David then walked quickly to a desk labeled "Information" and asked the young wizard where he might find the Minister of Magic.
"The Minister is currently in courtroom ten as part of a trial being held. It is restricted entry, so you won't be able to speak with him. I suggest you make an appointment with his secretary on Level One." The man said all this without looking up from his newspaper, where he was busily reading an article, David noticed, about the arrest of Albus Dumbledore. Turning and walking a small distance away David discreetly asked a passerby how to get to Courtroom Ten. He then gestured for Amelia to follow him as he approached the lifts. The ride down was silent with tension. The doors of the lift opened loudly in the quiet hallway.
Courtney sighed in frustration once again as the Minister's aide droned on at her, talking about what would be expected of her: how she should act, what she should say, and what was going to happen when she was taken into the courtroom. At the moment she was sitting in a small room off the side of courtroom ten, evidently waiting to be brought in for testimony. Courtney lowered her head into her hands and finally the woman groaned. Courtney looked up at the woman.
"Have you been listening to anything I have been saying?" she said crossly.
Courtney looked guiltily at her. The woman stood up and left the room coming back a moment later with the Minister himself. She murmured a few words beyond Courtney's range of hearing. Percy Weasley nodded and glanced at Courtney before turning back to the lawyer and saying a few things. The lawyer left the room, leaving Percy alone with Courtney.
Percy regarded Courtney for a few moments before speaking. When he did start talking it was in even measured tones, "Miss Barnes, I am told you are reluctant to cooperate with our investigation. It really is in your best interest to help us. We are only trying to uphold the laws."
Courtney gulped nervously. She couldn't really see how it would be in her interest at all to help them, but she knew she wouldn't be able to convince them of that—but she knew who could.
"Where is my father?" she asked.
"Your father is still at Hogwarts. And what does he have to do with anything? You are simply needed to testify and then you will be back with your father at Hogwarts before he even knows you are gone."
"You didn't even tell him you were taking me from the castle? I may not know much about law, but have seen enough law shows to know that you can't just have a minor testify without notifying a guardian!"
Percy got a patronizing look on his face, "Perhaps in the muggle world, but this is a different world, Miss Barnes. He cannot understand the intricacies of the wizarding world and therefore we are not required to inform him. Your Headmaster is in loco parentis while you are in the wizarding world and he already knows you are here."
Courtney's jaw was actually hanging open. She couldn't believe he had actually said that. The muggle prejudice had never been so apparent to her, and to hear it from the highest authority of the wizarding world frankly scared her.
Then a smile crept across her face as she realized Percy Weasley is not the highest authority in the wizarding world. She shook her head. She knew her father would be very angry when he found out that she had been taken to the trial without his permission. The trial itself didn't really matter at all because her father could do anything he wanted. The minister is going to get the surprise of his life.
Percy looked at the eleven-year-old's strange smile in confusion. He glanced at his watch and saw that he needed to be back in the courtroom for the beginning of the trial. Moving away from Courtney he opened the door and motioned for someone to come in. A woman with bright orange hair appeared in the doorway. The Minister scowled and the woman looked rather sheepish before her hair changed color into a more natural looking brown. Courtney's eyebrows shot up, that was a talent she had not seen before.
After Minister Weasley left the room, to woman strode over to Courtney and stuck out her hand. "'Wotcher Courtney, the name is Tonks. I'm an Auror and Percy says to keep you company."
Courtney raised an eyebrow at the woman's excessive perkiness (she was easily older than her father), but extended her hand to shake anyway. Tonks sat down in a chair across from Courtney and said in a conversational tone, "So I hear you've been giving the Minister some trouble."
Courtney shrugged, her guard suddenly up again.
Tonks evidently caught her slight stiffening and laughed, "Oh, don't worry, I have not been sent to pick you for information or anything, I was just trying to make some conversation."
Courtney relaxed slightly and said, "I don't care for him."
"Who? The minister?" Courtney nodded. "Neither do I myself, however, he is my boss. What kind of a man presses charges against three of his own brothers when the laws themselves are the most ridiculous I've ever heard of. But will Percy listen to reason? 'Course not. When it comes to protecting himself, Percy's as bad as Fudge." Tonks blinked rapidly and then said, "I probably should not have just said all that to you."
Courtney laughed. "So you don't like the laws restricting information about the war?"
Tonks shook her head firmly.
"So why don't you do something about it?" Courtney asked.
"I've been trying for the six years I have been a member of the Wizengamot. I've tried every single year to get those laws repealed, but no matter how much support I seem to get at the beginning, for one reason or another it ends up being scrapped."
"You are a member of the Wizengamot? Are you going to be in today's trial?"
"Nah, I have to recuse myself because Sirius is my cousin. Of course, for some reason the same law doesn't apply to Percy." The woman rolled her eyes.
Courtney looked at her in amazement, "Yet you are an Auror? And you have sworn to uphold these laws and the justice system when there doesn't seem to be any justice or fairness in the system?"
Tonks shrugged, "I was an Auror during the war and I stayed in the corps after. It is the way things are."
Courtney rubbed her head at the headache she felt coming on. She was about to tear into this woman about the dangers of complacency, when the door opened and they were told it was time for Courtney to come into the court room.
Minutes later Courtney was seated with a few other people to the side of the room, while the accused sat in the middle of the room with everyone looking down at them. Unsurprising, Albus Dumbledore looked completely unruffled. One of the Weasley twins appeared to be sleeping, but everyone else looked incredibly nervous. Sirius was brooding, anxiously running his fingers through his hair. Ron and Hermione seemed to be arguing quietly. The other Weasley twin was studying the floor in great detail. Courtney looked around the room. The Wizengamot were assembling on the tiers to her right and to her left, near the entrance to the courtroom were seated family members and friends of the accused. She could see Professor Snape among them as well as a number of Weasley family members. She assumed that Professor McGonagall had been required to remain at the school.
A pounding gavel quieted everyone and brought their attention to the Minister.
"Investigational hearing of the ninth of January," said Percy as a woman with a quill to the right started scratching away, "into multiple breaches of the Information and Security Act of 2006 by Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, Ronald Bilius Weasley, Hermione Granger Weasley, Frederick Christopher Weasley, George Malcolm Weasley, and Sirius Archimedes Black.
"Interrogators, Percy Ignatius Weasley Minister of Magic; Susan Tiffany Bones Head of Magical Law Enforcement; Draco Lucius Malfoy representative of the Ministry Intelligence Regulation Council; and Maynard Proctor representative of the International Confederation of Wizards. Court Scribe Marietta Edgecombe Smith.
"Witness for the defense…" Percy trailed off, looking at the accused.
Professor Dumbledore spoke, "We require no other witnesses, we will be our own witnesses."
Percy cleared his throat uncomfortably at Dumbledore's unfaltering gaze and said, briskly, "Very well then. We will get started."
"Albus Dumbledore, are you aware of the content of the Intelligence and Secrecy Act of 2006?"
"Yes."
"Are you aware of the function of the Ministry Intelligence Regulation Council?"
"Yes."
"Did you know that Miss Courtney Barnes was going to share restricted information with the audience on January fifth of this year?"
"Yes."
"And you still allowed her to commence her oral presentation?" Broke in Draco Malfoy.
"Yes."
"So, you knowingly allowed restricted information to be disseminated to a large number of people?" Percy said, disdain evident in his voice.
"Yes."
Draco Malfoy's face held an ugly smirk as he once again interrupted, this time turning to Courtney, "Miss Barnes, did any of these accused present you with restricted information?"
Courtney looked at him for a moment and then answered, smirking, "Could you please tell me what information is restricted so I know which information they provided me with that they should not have?"
Snickers were heard throughout the congregated Wizengamot as Draco scowled deeply.
"Miss Barnes, did any of these accused in any way give you information on Harry Potter that you did not find in the library?" Percy said after sending a glare towards the sniggering members.
Courtney carefully thought about her answer, "They did provide me with information outside of what I could find in the library, but not information I did not already know."
Draco, who had looked just about ready to crow at her admission, erupted in anger saying, "Who then fed you that information?"
Courtney didn't have a chance to answer as Percy seemed eager to interrupt and stop her from proclaiming that her source was Harry himself. "It does not matter where the information originally came from. The fact of the matter is that these persons did knowingly allow her to present restricted information. Nor did they report that someone had leaked that restricted information to her in the first place which is in violation of Addendum B of the Information and Security Act."
Draco scowled when Percy interrupted him, he really wanted to know who had the information it seemed Courtney had been about to say in her presentation. No matter, he would find out later and would take care of that person quietly. He could not afford that information getting out. He would let these fools here hang the accused with their own rope and then take care of the little mudblood. The old fool Dumbledore wasn't even making an argument for himself, practically insuring his own fate and those with him, for it seemed they were following his lead. Draco looked at the six defendants. That mudblood wife of Weasley seemed to know Dumbledore's game, for she looked perfectly content with his words, whereas the rest of the group seemed to be looking at each other nervously as the Headmaster made no move to defend himself or his actions. Not even a self-righteous Gryffindor explanation that he was doing the "right" thing. For a moment Draco was worried that this would not remain the case because it was too easy, but he brushed the thought aside as he saw Hermione even beginning to get uncomfortable as Percy continued his questioning.
"How long have you known that Miss Barnes was in possession of restricted information?"
Albus had to think for a moment and replied, "That would be since Halloween."
"So you knew she had top secret Ministry information for two months and did not disclose this to the proper authorities?"
"Correct." Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling madly, which confused the Minister to the point that he thought that the old man might have finally gone senile. Deciding that that must be the case he addressed Sirius Black instead.
"Sirius Black, at what point did you find out that Miss Barnes had restricted information?"
Sirius licked his lips nervously and answered, "I have known since mid-September."
Draco almost snorted. It would figure that Black thought himself above any laws regarding the information about Harry Potter.
"And why did you not inform the proper authorities?"
Black's face took on a recalcitrant expression that would have looked more in place on a teenager, "I didn't want to. Courtney came by that information by perfectly legal means and I wanted to support her in her endeavor to find the truth. I even provided her with copies of the Daily Prophet that were pertinent." He ended defiantly.
Draco almost laughed with delight. This was just getting better and better. Percy's expression turned ugly at Sirius' pronouncement and he said in a hissing voice, "And you have no remorse, no shame for your flagrant disregard of the law in this matter?"
Sirius quieted for a moment, contemplating the question and then answered in a firm tone, "My only shame is that I did not break those stupid laws sixteen years ago. They are the most blatant manifestation of the spinelessness that seems to be rampant in our society," his tone was biting now, "None of us deserve what Harry did for us when he defeated Voldemort, least of all me, but I'll be damned if I let his memory be desecrated anymore by the likes of Ministry cowards who willingly place themselves in the pockets of wealthy, but even more cowardly, Death Eaters."
There were gasps around the room as Percy's face burned brightly red and Draco's face cooled to a pasty white. Draco vowed to repay Sirius for his words at another time, but for now he relished in the thought that nothing could save these idiots now from their foolishness.
"Minister," Draco said calmly, "I believe we have heard enough and can pass judgment."
It took Percy a moment to register Draco's words, but when he did he turned to the other two interrogators and asked them if there was anything they would like to ask. They both declined and Percy turned back to the six people seated before him, now feeling perfectly justified in the judgment he was about to make.
Amelia watched as David looked apprehensively down the stairs. It was obvious that he was still unsure about this entire affair. However, as she watched she saw a determined expression take its place on his face. Whatever it was, it was obvious that he had just made a decision. He squared his shoulders and marched down the stairwell leading to the doors of Courtroom Ten, Amelia following a short distance behind.
Two Aurors (a man and a woman) stood at the door, guarding from intruders. They seemed to be gossiping to each other until they noticed David and came to attention. They were all silent for a moment and then David spoke.
"Excuse me, I need to enter this courtroom."
"I am sorry sir, no one is allowed in this room without the Minister's explicit instructions," the man said in a bored tone, as though he had already repeated this phrase multiple times.
David looked to the woman, who seemed to be content to let her partner send them away. He squinted at her for a moment and then his eyes widened in recognition, "Nymphadora Tonks?" he asked.
Immediately the woman scowled but nodded. "Do I know you?" she said looking at him closely.
The other Auror rolled his eyes, "Doesn't matter, you two can catch up some other time, some other place. Now get out of this hallway before we all get in trouble."
David's expression grew cold, "I am sorry, allow me to introduce myself, David Barnes. My daughter is currently in custody of your Ministry and I intend to find out why you had the gall to use her as your witness and didn't even feel it necessary to inform her parent?"
Tonks' eyebrows rose. She had been speaking with Courtney just minutes before and could see the resemblance between her and her father.
"I'm sorry, sir, you'll have to take this up with the Law Enforcement office at a later time. I cannot let you in here."
David frowned and looked at Tonks who seemed to be struggling within herself. He really does have a right to be there. She debated briefly before suddenly deciding to throw caution to the wind. Who cares what Percy says anyway? Tonks suddenly smiled brightly at David. "Of course you need to go in Mr. Barnes. Come right on in," and she opened the door for him before her partner even had a chance to realize what she had said. She then pushed him and Amelia hurriedly inside following them herself and closed the door behind her, whispering a quick locking charm to forestall whatever action her partner might take.
No one seemed to notice their entrance and it became obvious as to why when they heard the words issuing from Sirius. Tonks winced at his harsh (but true) words. Sirius seemed to simply be digging himself deeper and deeper into this mess.
David listened to Sirius' words with great satisfaction. They were words that needed to be said and at the moment he didn't even care that it was Sirius that was saying them. He watched with great amusement the reactions of Percy and Draco. He had been surprised when Amelia had told him that Draco Malfoy was involved, he had been sure that Draco would be incarcerated, but Amelia had explained briefly that there had never been concrete evidence.
Well, I can provide that. He thought, vindictive triumph rising within him. His gaze moved from the two flustered men and to the other members of the gathered Wizengamot. He was surprised to see two other people whom he knew were Death Eaters.
Judicial overhaul, my foot! He thought, not really caring that these people were stupid enough to not be able to catch Death Eaters and therefore let them roam free in their society, but caring a great deal about what they could do to his daughter's world.
He finally realized something. He had promised himself at the top of the stairs that he would do whatever it took to insure Courtney's continued safety and happiness, even if it meant revealing himself. He had desperately hoped it would not come to that, but he had known all along that it was a vain hope. What he realized though, was that he was going to have to do it all. He would have to make the first move to change things because Dumbledore and company were getting steamrolled.
It's always me. Why is it always me? He asked in desperation to whatever fates might be listening.
However the answer came from within himself. Because you are Harry Potter and it is what you do. And because it is for Courtney and Michael. David could not deny the truthfulness of that and he secretly wondered at the small part that had added an and yourself to the end.
With a start he realized that he had, for the first time in years, consciously thought of David Barnes and Harry Potter as the same person.
He snapped to attention as Percy loudly called for a vote of the assembled wizengamot to convict or acquit the sixpeople who had at least a grain of courage to finally defy the laws and try to change their society. Just as he had found he could not hate them for who they had been when he had first known them, he found he could not hate them while he knew they were doing this for his daughter. It should have been done a long time ago but he could be honest enough with himself at the moment to realize that he himself was not blameless in the entire affair. He had made it too easy for them to forget.
He finally grasped what he had told Courtney only a few days ago. He could not hide any longer who or what he was. The truth demanded to be released. Simply by being a wizard he had a responsibility to that society, just like being a human brought responsibility to anyone. He could not fully embrace the society, he knew that, but he would do everything in his power to make it into a society that he could tolerate for the sake of his family.
He listened as Percy proclaimed a majority (more like unanimous) ruling to convict. The Minister then said, "The laws set forth proscribe not standard punishment for an crime of this magnitude, therefore these criminals will be held in cells here at the Ministry until the High Council of the Wizengamot can determine a just punishment."
A just punishment? David snorted as he watched Aurors approach Hermione, Ron, Fred, George, Albus and Sirius and the wizengamot began filing out of the tiers.
It was time to act.
Sirius, despite his vocal strength, was actually quite terrified at the moment. Azkaban had influenced him in incalculable ways and he was now facing one thing he had not thought of before—being put back in Azkaban.
Intellectually, he knew the prison had changed immensely, as there were no longer dementors guarding it. However, that did nothing to calm the growing fear of being incarcerated again. Last night in the Ministry cell he had reasoned to himself that everything would be fine, he would leave that cell in the morning. Now however, his prospects of continued freedom seemed suddenly dimmed. The fear was quickly taking over his rational sense as he heard Percy's pronouncement on debating their punishment.
Albus seemed to be reading his thoughts for he placed a hand on Sirius' shoulder and murmured a few calming words. Sirius took a few deep breaths in an attempt to calm himself down and organize his thoughts. However he was interrupted by a sharp voice issuing from near the door.
Ron, Fred and George were huddled together in tense silence, none speaking, but silently supporting each other. They knew that this could turn out very badly. At the very least Fred and George would be fired from the Department of Mysteries. Ron's job was probably in equal peril, his team would not want a man convicted of revealing Ministry secrets. The youngest Weasley boy looked around at his wife and her two colleagues. Without a doubt all three would be fired from Hogwarts.
He wondered briefly at his own sanity for risking so much for that slip of an eleven year old, but he quickly realized that he was not doing this for Courtney, he was doing it for Harry. Ever since he had become a part of the plan to reveal the truth he had felt a burden lifted that he had not even known he carried. He no longer cared what the law said. That had simply been an excuse for sixteen years, a shield to hide behind. But he had broken the law and now his conscience lay exposed to the horror once again of what had happened to his best friend.
Ron shook his head in an effort to stop all the thoughts crowding in. He saw the Aurors approaching them and silently prepared himself for transport back to the Ministry holding cells. He thought again that this could really turn out badly. They could all be sent to prison for who knows how long. A jolt of fear went through him as it registered that both he and his wife would be punished equally—what would happen to their children. Intellectually, of course he knew that his parents or Hermione's parents or one of his siblings would gladly take care of them. But that was not the point they were his children. He deserved to be a part of their lives, not spend their best years in jail! If he had committed a serious crime, of course he would have to go to prison, but this? He was giving up his freedom for a law that made no sense?
Ron Weasley became angry and was about to reproach Percy, his brother, with this whn someone else spoke up first.
David had had enough of this. It was time to act.
"You never cease to amaze me." He spoke loud enough to be heard over the movement and mutterings of all those congregated. "Time and time again, this government has proved itself filled with incompetent fools who are more interested in lining their own pockets and their own comfortable station than they are with the welfare of the people they supposedly serve. And all you people disgust me just as much, allowing them to lord their power over you and allowing corruption to spread like a plague because it does not affect you or because you actually benefit from kickbacks." He paused a moment and then said something that he knew would offend their proud bearings, "You are less than any muggle people or government on this planet. At least in that world there is some semblance of a struggle against the decay of complacency that you allow yourselves to fester and rot in."
Dead silence followed his words as all eyes turned to him and he stepped forward so as to be more visible. He looked directly at Percy and said in the same tone, "Imagine my surprise this morning upon hearing that my daughter had been whisked away by the Ministry, without anyone bothering to tell me, her father."
Percy stared in confusion at the utter confidence and self-assured stance of the man before him. This man should not be here, much less acting like he were the authority, it was not in the proper order of things. He pushed that aside momentarily to answer his words then answered, blustering, "Mr. Barnes you must understand that the wizarding world works diff—"
"I must understand nothing. You have overstepped your boundaries one too many times."
Draco, who was still seething at the audacity this muggle had to deride them all right to their faces, stood, clenching his wand in anger and said in a loud voice, "Aurors, remove this man from the premises, his very presence is in violation of our laws. He is a muggle, unconnected with these proceedings. He has no right to be here."
Glinting eyes zeroed in on Draco and a low laugh erupted from the man and he said mockingly, "I have no right to be here? No Draco, you are the one who does not have a right to be here. You who should have been rotting in prison these past sixteen years. As slippery as a serpent, always. Cunning, of course. But proud to a fault." David Barnes then abruptly shifted his stance and suddenly power began radiating off of him as he barked out, "Aurors! Arrest Draco Malfoy."
Without even thinking three aurors responded to the power in his words as those around him looked at him in awe. The aura of magic became stronger as he almost seemed to glow, very few, if any, had ever seen such a manifestation of power. Only Albus Dumbledore at his height and the Dark Lord had exhibited in this manner in living memory.
Sirius was perplexed as he sensed the magic this man carried. David Barnes was a muggle. He did not have magic. Courtney was a witch, her parents though were muggles. Her father had been completely repulsed by the idea of magic. Yet here he was radiating power that Sirius had not seen in years…a power that above all else was familiar. His gaze darkened as his mind grasped the identity of this man.
Albus quickly moved to support the fainting Sirius. Thoroughly enjoying the prospect though, he simply watched David—no Harry do his work. Draco Malfoy was now screaming out obscenities, demanding to be let go, but the aurors refused, compelled by a power they had no understanding of to perform this duty that had been asked of them. Movement to his right drew Albus' attention as he saw Courtney Barnes fighting her way through the crowd to get to her father.
David spoke in deliberately measured tones, bottling in the fury that was building, the wave of power he knew was coming "—Draco, you are the one who does not have a right to be here. You who should have been rotting in prison these past sixteen years. As slippery as a serpent, always. Cunning, of course. But proud to a fault." He felt the dam break inside himself as the power he had buried for so many years came rushing up at the beckoning call of his emotions. He did not try to stop it. He allowed his magic to flow freely, though keeping a tight hold on it so it would not lash out. Yet.
As he snapped his orders to the Aurors he felt an undercurrent of a power he had never had before. It was a subtle but immensely strong affirmation to his commands. This power, whatever it was, was actually ensuring his orders were met. He realized with a jolt that this must be the power granted to him with Merlin's Staff. He looked to Albus and saw that he knew very well what powers were at work here. He saw the confusion in Sirius' eyes and finally the realization as he collapsed.
Something jolted his senses and he felt his powers suddenly changed in their flow. His own innate powers seemed to be attacking the foreign powers of Merlin's Staff. In a flash of understanding he clamped down on his own powers and bent both his magic and the magic conferred upon him to his will. He ordered the new powers to become one with himself and become his own power.
Albus's heightened magical senses could discern the power struggle as it emerged. He stiffened, wondering if he should say anything, could he help at all? He relaxed though, as he sensed that Harry had resolved it with no trouble. He felt the subtle shift in the balance of the room, as though everyone and everything in the room were now only important in the context of how they related to Harry, to that power he held. A vacuum of silence briefly overtook the room and suddenly a carved wooden staff appeared in Harry's hand.
The literal staff of Merlin. The final symbol that the power had been assumed and was now manifest once more in an individual.
David gripped the staff in surprise, but touching it brought answers to the questions in his mind. Impressions and memories held within the staff flowed into him, giving him greater understanding of what had just happened and what the future could bring.
He looked around to see if anyone else understood the implications of the staff. It seemed no one did. Then his eyes rested on Percy.
By the look of growing horror in his eyes he knew that Percy knew exactly what the significance of the staff was, and, by extension, who he was. However, he allowed his eyes to continue their travel over the room, where they finally settled on his daughter who had just broken through the throngs of people and was running towards him.
He turned to her and opened his arms as she grabbed him around the middle.
"I knew you'd come," she said breathlessly, excitement exuding from her entire being.
David gently kissed her on the forehead. That action brought his power up to a peak that no one had ever imagined. It reverberated around the room, and through their bodies. Ron, who still had not figured out the truth felt it lift his burdens even further as it traveled through him. Draco felt it strike fear into his heart. Percy felt it as an utterly paralyzing sense of failure and doom. Around the room it affected each person in different ways. Unaware of what had just happened, David, keeping one arm around his daughter, turned to address Percy. "You will release those you have just convicted and then you will wait for me in your office. I will deal with you in two hours."
With that, David left the courtroom, one hand grasping the staff, his other arm around Courtney, with Amelia walking confidently beside her.
Post author notes: I haven't been able to fit this into the story anywhere but these are my thoughts on Harry/David's feelings about the wizarding world and why Kathryn's death was necessary. Think of Harry and the wizarding world as being on two different sides of a wall that Harry has built. He has been building the wall thicker and higher every year, distancing him from everything that it stood for and everything he was. Courtney's admittance to Hogwarts started to hack at the wall, leaving Harry desperately trying to figure out a way to both breach the wall for Courtney's sake and keep it fortified as he has been doing for years. He tries to do this by writing to Courtney as Harry without revealing himself. Slowly his wall is breaking down but he is not sure what he wants and is not sure to proceed with his relationship with Courtney either as Harry or as her father. Still, he can only go so far, he refuses completely to go to Hogwarts he is not ready for that his wall is still much to big to take that step.
Now, in my mind if Kathryn had simply been hurt David would have become so angry that he would have brought Kathryn back, pulled Courtney out of Hogwarts and tried to forever distance himself from it and forget magic ever existed. An injury would have been like somebody lobbing cannons at his wall and he simply would have retreated and re-fortified what was still standing of his wall. His wall would have been stronger than ever and his attitude would have probably ended up destroying the life he had made for himself including his relationship with his wife and children. We would then have Harry miserable for the rest of his life.
Kathryn's death however, is not a cannon being thrown at his wall, it's a nuclear bomb completely obliterating it. Her death shatters everything that he has made his life into and everything he was keeping back. It forces him to confront what he has separated himself from for so long. With no wall between David and Harry he must either build up the wall piece by piece again, or else let it remain crumbled and clean up the debris.
Harry would never willingly break down that wall on his own; Kathryn's death was a catalyst that left him completely vulnerable, exposing his fears and emotions associated with the wizarding world and forcing him to deal with his past and find a future.
I hope that makes sense.