The Final Lesson
Written by: HoshiHikari
Disclaimer: I do not own HP! That's right, the characters still all belong to J.K Rowling As for the plot, it might have been done before, so I won't take credit for that either
Summary:
He is tainted by evil. He had lost all emotions, all feelings all humane senses. He had become heartless, soulless towards all living creatures. The final straw had snapped. How could Harry save the world and bring light into a world consumed by darkness, when he, himself is the cause of chaos and destruction? When he himself is the Dark Master, the Half-Blooded Prince?
He is a werewolf, a dark creature, tainted by the goodness of people. He is the remaining Marauder, given the responsibility and the burden to raise young Harry. Now that Harry's gone evil, to what lengths would his guardian goes to protect him, to save him, not only from the world but from himself? Can Remus bring back the Harry that was once adored by everyone? Will Remus be able to teach Harry the most important lesson of all time? Can Remus teach Harry how to once again be humane, to have a heart and a soul? Will he, Remus be persuaded to give up, and cross over, when all is lost, and Harry is past being worth saving? Or will he stick by his beliefs, run out of time, and in turn pay the ultimate price?
NO SLASH! NO SLASH! in fact, Romance is not important, nothing romantically, and if there is, its not meant at all!
Author Notes: "…." talk Italic thoughts/dreams /…/ Parseltongue Snake language underlinetext/letter/writings bold/italicslyrics from songs (if any)
shadowwalker2: thanks for the review! Yes, it is a turn of events. For better or worst?
samuraiduck27: yes the trail begins, and now its Bryant's turn to defend….do you think he's successful, or repetitive?
lovi thanks again!
Strega right, I'll keep the drawing in mind. I'll tell you the minute I get an idea (email).
Yes, lawyer indeed took up a E-conversation. Exactly, every little thing by the book counts! Since it is so publized, both sides need to be careful, as both sides are trying to use this trail to as much of their advantage as possible. Indeed, the Ministry has a firm reputation of throwing people in jail without trail. Harry would not have to get strangers to defend him. In fact, I have certain people on mind that would be far more affective.
Actually the dark does have rules to live by. They are people too, although their beliefs and morals are different (hence good and evil). It's more like different rules and different restrictions.
Bumble is much more original. Though I've heard Dumbledore means Bumblebee is some language, (that was before I read the next line, too lazy to take it off now. So perhaps a conformation), not too sure. Yes, I like it.
Awe…I liked House points idea as well…However you are right. It's only going to be for Gryffindors or Slytherins, no point in it really.
Remus is such a believer huh? He's really willing to believe in the unbelievable. Perhaps a weakness? Indeed hearing Harry's defense will pull him closer to the boy. Then defending him again, would add to it. He's so sticking to Harry, even if he doesn't want to, cause all he sees is the 'truth' and that 'truth' tells him what he's doing is right. He's the prefect defendant.
Yes, Moody is supposed to be dead. Remus killed him out of fear that the man would reveal his identity if left to live. The problem is that, he wasn't Avenger then, and Avenger didn't exist yet. That's the minor (if you could call it that) problem. However, it can be fixed. Who knows, maybe the man didn't die after all. Yes, you are correct in saying, Avenger should check for a pulse as well, just to be sure.
The Death Eater's are behind Harry, fully behind him. Surprisingly though, Harry did not plan this. The whole lawyer, showing up and everything else was all Death Eater planned. There's no reason to worry over them. Why else can he act so calm and causal?
Harry is not innocent, at least completely. His lawyer admits that himself.
Glad to hear that I'm not predictable. I like to be a step ahead of things. True, evil does tend to think alike. Oh yes, Mr. Bryant does suit being a lawyer perfectly, with appearance and his own stubborn way. Let's just say there's more to him then meets the eye. I mean, he first appeared as a nobody store owner in Knockturn Alley whom Avenger had brought the Prince his 18th birthday present, (still undelivered). Thus, if Avenger choose that place and that person and hired that man to be lawyer, then there has to be something about this man that's different then everyone else.
Thanks to everyone else who reviewed! I'm going to update my bio often so please check it out!
Chapter 28 Judgment of the World (Part II)"Very well." Bryant spoke, a smile playing on his lips. "My client pleads neither guilty or innocent. He is either fully innocent or half guilty half innocent. He is not fully guilty. He cannot be blamed for what he had no control over."
"No control? He was the bloody leader! It wasn't like You-Know-Who was behind it! He killed You-Know-Who!" a person from the stands shouted out.
"but in fact it is."
The entire courtroom fell silent at that.
"My client Harry James Potter is guilty of the actual execution of all charges. However he is innocent in the form that he was possessed by Lord Voldemort for the past three years, or more precisely since the beginning of the Master's Reign."
Immediately whispers traveled from one end of the courthouse to the next.
"and what proof do you have of that?" Bone's choked out.
"Plenty," a pause, "If I may present my case." He was saying. He then turned to those witness that had come up to testify against his client. "From your understandings, what may have caused Harry to 'turn Evil'"
Hermione looked around before speaking. "The death of his Godfather. I think that was it."
"Who, what happened, and when?" Bryant asked.
"Sirius Black" pausing as she noticed the unrest among the group. "in the Department of Mysteries. He was there as was Dumbledore and others to protect HIM when HE had foolishly gone off under some notion to face Voldemort and his Death Eaters."
"so Mr. Black, died to protect Harry Potter? The Azkaban escapee who was charged with betraying Mr. Potter's parents to the Dark Lord and was sentenced without trail to a life time in prison. The man who was said to be out looking for Harry for revenge, actually died, protecting and saving the boy from the Dark Lord and his followers?"
"That is correct." Hermione said. "He went off to do what any other Godfather would have done." Then she added bitterly. "and this is how she repays him. HE would have been better off dead that night!"
"Can you tell my exactly why he went off that night?" Bryant said, "and why exactly he was allowed to do so?"
"He went thinking that Voldemort had Sirius. He went because he wanted to protect his Godfather."
"Exactly." Bryant nodded in agreement. "Would you say that is some thing normal, that that is what Harry Potter would have done, the Mr. Potter that you know?"
"Yes." She replied, unhesitant.
"Now stand over here, and look at my client. Look directly at him." Hermione moved as she was told. "Now tell me, is this the same Harry Potter, that would have done the same thing, for a friend, family, and for anyone for that matter."
"No, of course not. He's a mechanical cold blooded tyrant. He's not the Harry Potter that I remember, not the boy I thought I knew. He had been corrupted by Voldemort and Darkness, changed and influenced and molded into someone else. When at last the Dark Lord could not offer him any more, he killed the man."
Clap, clap, clap. Bryant's subtle movement echoed through the courthouse. "Exactly. As Ms. Granger admitted herself, my client 'had been corrupted by Voldemort and Darkness, changed and influenced and molded into someone else'" a pause, "Is that correct?" Hermione nodded numbly realizing her mistake, but unable to change it. "in simpler terms, for the past three years, Mr. Potter has been possessed by Voldemort, used wrongly by the Dark Lord to achieve the Dark Lord's needs."
"Invalid." Bones said. "You are merely twisting a child's words, creating a trap and letting her fall into it."
Bryant dismissed it with a shake of his head. "Very well" he was saying. "Let me ask this. How many people actually know Harry James Potter, as a person, and not as a political figure head?"
"What's the need?" someone from the stands yelled. "Who cares about anything more then the Dark Prince's actions? Nothing else about him matters!" Murmurs of agreement followed.
"How about before hand then? Can anyone tell me they know Mr. Potter, as a human being, no more different then you and I?"
No one said or did anything.
"I take the silence as a 'No' then." Bryant continued. "Does this mean that no one in this bloody world knows a single thing about my client? No one for 15 years had cared to ask him about anything aside from being the boy-who-lived." He chuckled. "We all know his tale. We all know his fame. We all know what he has done these recent years." Another pause. "but does anyone, anyone know the real Harry? Does anyone know a dammed thing about the fragile teenage boy whose greatest reachable ambition was to blend in, to be normal? Did anyone know for a time in his life, his hero and idol had been Albus Dumbledore?" There was another laugh. "Does anyone even know that he too is a victim of the war? Does anyone even know that like everyone else in this room, Harry is a mortal, he is humane and he too has been fighting to survive?"
"What the bloody hell are you talking about?"
"No one has even bothered to befriend the boy under the fame that he never wanted. In everyone eyes, he had been the hero or the villain. For over 16 years, Harry Potter had been fighting for all of you, sacrificing himself, so that another can live. How many times has the boy faced Voldemort in your place and have survived to tell the tale? Battle after battle he had fought, alone, and unaided. Time after time, he had pulled this world out from the muck and quicksand.
Now, may I ask, how many times have you all done the same for him. How many have actually realized he's a human just like you and I, and have been struggling and facing the same problems as anyone else here. The only difference is, he's been alone in this war, fighting and struggling for mere survival. What in that part does the world not understand? Is it the "I want to me normal teenage boy' or 'I need help, can someone lend a hand; pull me out of this darkness that surrounds me'?
The boy had once been strong. He had once abandoned his life to live up to another name another identity, for the sake of the world. Since the day of his birth, nothing has been normal. No parents, no godfather, no family, no friends, no support from anyone. What person deserves such a life as that? He has sacrificed himself for the better cause of the world, and this is how it repays him."
"I see no relevance." Bones was saying. "My patience is wearing thin."
"I am sorry your honor, but this is very relevant to what I am getting out. It must be pointed out." Bryant took a closer step to the witnesses against his client.
"Weasley, you said your family as well as the rest of the world has been a family to Mr. Potter, had given him a home, everything. How can you say such a thing, when in times of need, none of you were there for him? When he needed the support, no one was there. When he too had problems they were left unsolved. None of you bothered with what he really needed, but only assumed because of his title."
Bill didn't reply as he was staring at the floor.
"Even if none of you knew nothing, you could have been supportive, or at least give an impression of it. Where were you when Harry faced Voldemort, when Cedric Diggory died, when the Dark Lord returned, when Sirius Black died, when he went off to kill Voldemort for the last time."
No one said anything.
"For gods sake, Harry Potter is still 18! He isn't a saint! He isn't an immortal! In fact, he is the most venerable person alive." Bryant said bitterly. "because of the lack of support, because of the lack of people who befriend the real Harry Potter, he had fallen victim to Voldemort.
He went off to face Voldemort over three years ago. He went alone, to face the Dark Lord. Since no one was there that night, no one really knows what occurred. It may seem afterwards that after murdering the Dark Lord, he went and took his place." He glared at everyone in the room. "It truth, that is absolutely not true! Voldemort was near death, however as a last resort, forced himself into Harry's body for a chance of survival. Of course Harry fought, he fought long and hard. However, we must all remember the boy was no older then 17 at the time and because of the lack of moral support from his peers he fell prey to Voldemort. He didn't give up, but even so, what is the point of fighting and to continue to defend those who see you nothing more then as a weapon?"
"We never saw him as a weapon" McGonagall tried to defend. "We've treated him like everyone else."
"Obviously not so." Bryant was saying. "None of you sought him out to try and consoled his feelings in regards to death. None of you sought him out to do anything but battle. When Harry Potter seemingly turned against the world, no one sought to seek for an explanation, no one sought to answer 'why?', but accepted it as fact. My client did not turn against the world, the world turned against him. "
There were unease among the group.
"That is, no one except my for one single person whose been through rain and snow and has fought to defend against my client. It is after all, he who has appointed me as lawyer."
There were whispers that grew as the crowd anticipated and waited.
"May I call forth Remus Jay Lupin" Bryant said at last. At this, Harry perked up in his seat. He hadn't seen or heard from Avenger, no Remus, since the last battle. He relaxed slightly as he knew if the man was here, then it meant that he was alright.
From the far end of the stands, a single person stood up. He was tightly clothed so that no skin aside from the face showed. Slowly, Remus made his way to the front of the courthouse, taking his time, and ignoring the whispers from around him.
"Remus Jay Lupin?" Bryant asked.
"Yes."
"Can you tell the world a little bit about yourself and why exactly you are here to testify for my client?"
"My name is Remus Jay Lupin. I am a close friend of James and Lily Potter, and Sirius Black. They were my childhood friends, and even though they have passed, they will always be my friends. Harry James Potter is now my charge and under my care. I am Mr. Potter's legal guardian."
Bones frowned.
"I will not deny what Harry has done to this world. On my behalf I apologize for being the irresponsible guardian and everything else that has occurred in the world.
I must admit, I do not fully know and understand my charge, but I can faithfully and truthfully say that there is no one else who knows him better then I. The first time, he truly entered my life was when I taught at Hogwarts when he was 13. As a Professor and later on as his guardian, I have sought out that boy that I owe so much to."
Remus turned to look directly at Harry, eyes unblinkingly.
"What I've realized was a lonely, fragile boy who wanted nothing more then to be liked by everyone else. He was self drawn and reserved. Everything he had was kept bottled up inside. There was no one who cared about him enough so that he could share. In the end, what he needed the most was a friend, someone to lean on, to pull him up and out from the darkness that he had fallen fast into.
I've tried, and provided that. That in itself was not enough. I realized it was given 12 years too late, and thus the first 12 years of his life was already in misery.
I still clearly remember that evening when Harry first reappeared in the world and had led his first open attack against Hogwarts." A pause. "I was there that night when he seemingly defeated Hogwarts the night of graduation.
For the first time in a long time, I had a decent chat with him. What came out of it was quite astonishing. I now repeat myself once again.
Harry Potter is not Dark, nor is he truly seeking revenge. He's seeking a way out of this world. He's experience things that we can never come close to. Harry's snapped at the breaking point, that's just it. He only wishes to destroy this world, and the ones that you care the most so that we won't feel his pain, his suffering." Remus eyes shut briefly and his face contorted as though trying hard to recall the words he had once said.
"A long time ago, I've already pointed this out, and now I see that it holds true.
Killing only creates more killing. It becomes a hunger that cannot cease. The more you kill, the more hallow, lifeless you become. The more you kill, the more you hate yourself, the more you rid of that feeling, but cannot do so. The only way you know how to fill that space, for the briefest moment is to kill, and killing creates more and more empty space. Soon you won't be seeking revenge, but a way to feed that hunger. Tom Riddle became the monster he was, became Voldemort of this. He started out just like Harry, but soon lost control!
Now, it has been proven to the world that this fact holds true."
There were nods of agreement.
"However I know Harry Potter better then that. He later accused me of many accusations, which I now can freely hold the world accountable for. No, it is not only my responsibility to shed light to Harry, though I am more then willingly to do so. It is the world as a whole to look out for each other and because it neglected Harry, this is the result. What Harry doesn't know is that that wasn't true. Even if the world neglected him, I didn't abandon him for a single minute. I'm defending him now, and I will continue to do so.
That night after the attack, I too was taken as prisoner. Like everyone else, I too have suffered at the hands of the Prince." Remus slowly turned back to face Bones. "Now you may wonder why I refer to the Prince and not Harry." There was a nod from her. "It is simply because it was the Prince's doing, and not Harry Potter." He said bitterly. "the Prince is actually Voldemort's working."
"and what proof do you have of that?"
"I have seen the man with my own eyes." He was saying. "I was brought by Death Eaters for another round of torture. The Death Eater's had stayed outside while I was admitted. I must have been early for I walked into the last expected scene.
Harry Potter was on the floor being under Crucio. What was more was Lord Voldemort standing above him and doing it." His eyes were tightly shut. Slowly he pointed his wand at his temple and pulled out a shivery strand. Enlarging it with another spell, he showed the image to the courthouse.
There, before the entire court stood a very livid, angry looking Voldemort. As Remus had pointed out, a person who was dressed exactly like the Prince was being under Cruico.
"It's a sight to remember. If it looks horrifying now, just imaged the state of shock and how terrified I was in then. The truth, the bitter cold truth was before me. There was my charge, suffering and being tortured, just like every other Prisoner, when he should have been the one ordering and executing it." Remus was now choking on his words.
"Of course I've always known it. I knew Harry Potter better then anyone else to realize that he wasn't himself but was actually being used and manipulated, possessed by Voldemort." He heaved in a deep sigh.
"Harry is not like that. He's just a poor lost confused little boy who has fallen and now needs someone to come and pick you up off the ground, who needs to be saved. I can't abandon him. I won't abandon him. Not at this point in time, not when I know the truth. I can't just stand and do nothing when my little cub is flinging his arms in the air, giving all signs of help. I'm not that kind of person."
"Thank you, for sharing your insights." Bryant said gently. He then turned back to the judges.
"Mr. Lupin speaks the truth. If needed, he is willingly to be placed under the truth potion so that what he has just said can be confirmed." A pause. "Normally, I'll fully agree with that, however, we do not have much time as I am sure that everyone wishes this trail to be over with. Besides, I have more witnesses and hardcore evidence to prove my point."
"Continue the case. I'll have Mr. Lupin verified at another time." Bones said, assuming that if both the witness and the lawyer had no objection in using the truth potion and was still so confident, then the potion would be unnecessary.
"Very well." Bryant said. "My second piece of evidence is the wand."
"excuse me?"
"the wand that Mr. Potter was using the last three years. I am sure you all still have it."
"of course, how is that relevant to anything?"
"It has everything to do with it."
Bones was going to say something but Bryant beat her to it.
"Do you still have it?" he asked, knowing that they did.
"Yes"
"and has it been tampered with since the day it had been confiscated?"
"no, that is, aside from the fact that it had been snapped."
"may we all take a good look at it now?"
"why? Everyone knows exactly which wand Mr. Potter uses." Bones was saying. "11 inches long, made of holly with a single phoenix feather for the core"
"Do you have the wand?" Bryant persisted.
"Yes."
"May we all see the wand now?"
Bones nodded. "Bring it in." she said, quite confident in what she believed in. Another auror went out and return minutes later with a sealed box. The auror handed in to Bryant.
"I will now like to call forth Mr. Ollivander." He said. His eyes swept through the stands until his eyes landed upon a single person who slowly stood up.
"Go and take this wand to that man." He instructed the auror who did as he was told. "Now, I ask again, no one has tampered with the wand since the day it was confiscated and snapped, presumably before a selection of people."
"That is correct" Bones was saying.
"Good." Bryant nodded. He then turned to the wand maker. "Mr. Ollivander," he addressed. "You claim that you recall every single wand that you have made?"
"Yes"
"So that, even if snapped you and shredded you will still recall the wand and the user?"
"yes"
"Now, I want you to open that box. Tell me exactly the length, core and the user of the wand."
Slowly, with everyone's eyes bearing down upon him, Mr. Ollivander did exactly as he was told. He first ran his fingers along the rims of the box, paused, and then flicked it open.
The audience watched surprised at the reaction. They had thought the immediate response would have been 'Mr. Harry James Potter, 11 inches long, made of holly with a single phoenix feather for the core.' That was not what happened. Instead, the man's eyes widened by the minute. His fingers reached out hesitantly, brushing the wand in front of him. His eyes were closed, and a pained expression was etched on it.
"Are you sure this is the correct wand?" he asked, absent mindedly. After a conformation, he asked again. "are you sure this is the wand Mr. Potter was using at the time and therefore was the one that was confiscated?"
"why wouldn't it be?" Bones asked, curios, as well as hesitant.
"I remember every wand I've sold, Mrs. Bones. Every single wand. It so happens that although the wand I now hold in my clutches contain a single feather from the same phoenix, it is not Mr. Potter's wand."
"Sorry?"
"Thirteen and a half inches, yew." Mr. Ollivander held up the two pieces. "Yes, I remember." He whispered, before turning to Mr. Potter as though examining him. "Great things have come from you Mr. Potter, yes, terrible, but great." He was staring unblinkingly at the defendant now. "Curious, how things turn out. After all, the wand chooses the wizard. However, you have always been an exception haven't you Mr. Potter? Nothing seems to ever apply to you." A short pause. "I presume because of the single phoenix feather and the scar that link the two of you together, you were able to pull off using He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named's wand with perfection."
No, the trail is not over. It's still part of it. Hopefully, it can be completed in three parts. Remember to Review!