Chapter 6
Finally giving up on waiting, Harry walked back through the Forest. What he didn't know was that on the other side, just waiting for him, was Minister Cornelius Fudge. He had arrived with several Aurors. They had verified that it was Harry Potter's magical signature, not faked or masked. They also verified that the bodies were indeed Ginny Weasley and Colin Creevey, tortured and murdered by Harry Potter. Now they waited for the suspect to leave the Forbidden Forest, where the witness saw the boy flee.
Distracted by various reasons his friends were late, Harry slipped from the shadow confines of the Forest and into the Aurors sights. "Stupefy!" Emerald eyes flew up in shock and confusion just as several 'stupefies' slammed into him.
Albus was not too happy, yes, he wanted Harry taken in for questioning but not in this manner. "Fudge!"
"Take him away!" Cornelius Fudge smiled brightly. The gray haired, middle-aged man turned his portly shaped body towards the Headmaster. "You'll see your golden boy soon. At the trial tomorrow morning." Fudge knew he had to make Potter have a trial, the public would not agree with him tossing the boy aside without one.
Albus had no choice but to watch the Aurors drag an unconscious Harry Potter away from Hogwarts by portkey. And tomorrow he would have to face the same young boy he believed he failed, though Albus wasn't sure where he failed.
For his part, Harry wouldn't know what was going on after he had been knocked unconscious. Nor did he wake to an 'Enervate!' when placed in a holding room at the Ministry of Magic, because two Dementors were there. Two black shrouded ghostly figures with bony hands stayed in the same room with Harry, enjoying the emotions they could suck out of the boy, making him relive the night of his parents' deaths.
By morning the wizarding papers learned of the students' deaths and Harry Potter's involvement. The public cried out in rage, believing the boy to be dangerous. They said he was already Dark because of the Parseltongue from his second year, supposively trying to send a snake on a Muggle-born student before it was vanquished and then sent a Basilisk on the school when the first snake incident failed; all gossip courtesy of those who hated Harry Potter and his status.
The Ministry courtroom was filled with reporters, Hogwarts staff and Headmaster, family members of the victims, and the panel of judges. Minister Fudge began the case against Harry Potter, gleeful in charging the boy since all evidence before and after the incident clearly showed Potter to be a Dark-Lord-in-Training. "Bring in the guilty party."
All eyes watched the double doors fly open to allow two Dementors, their cold grasp filtering out to the public and making them shudder at the touch, to drag in an unconscious Harry Potter. Leaving the boy in his current state, two Aurors, who followed the Dementors, chained the boy to a single chair. A Ministry approved medi-wizard hurried from the crowd to forcefully awaken Harry and force him to drink a couple drops of Veritaserum. Dazed emerald eyes, upon awakening, remained unfocused. Harry's body went slack against the cold chains while a part of him wondered what was happening.
A smirking Minister turned his focus to the dazed boy, "What is your name?"
"Harry Potter." The answer was quick, clear, and evidently loud.
"When were you born?"
"July 31, 1980." Minister Fudge was quite satisfied with the Veritaserum, sure it would work. He nodded to the medi-wizard to give Potter the antidote. He wasn't about to ruin the case by letting Potter give his actions of the day of the murders. Oh no, not without all the evidence first. And then, if the judges decided, maybe Potter would tell his story.
Instead, Fudge was preparing the court for the arrival of the witness. "Bring in the witness." Still affected by the spells, serum, and Dementors, Harry was confused as to why this was happening, all he could do was watch a young female, a Hufflepuff by the colors of her ribbons in her hair, enter the room.
The female student was then give a couple drops of Veritaserum. An Auror quickly placed a chair beneath her once the potion to affect. As it took affect another judge took over, "What happened yesterday when you left the castle?"
Her answer was quick, detached and emotionless. "I left the castle knowing Harry Potter would be outside near the Forbidden Forest with two friends. As I went towards Professor Hagrid's cottage I could see something off to the side. I turned around in time to see someone cursing two figures on the ground. I went closer for a better look when I saw two green lights suddenly flash in the air. I screamed loudly when the person turned around long enough for me to see a lightening bolt scar, green eyes, and black hair. I knew it was Harry Potter but I couldn't believe what he did nor that he would run away into the Forbidden Forest. Just as Harry Potter disappeared Professor Hagrid raced out to see why I was screaming. I was then taken to Headmaster Dumbledore where I told him what happened and was then sent to the Hospital Wing."
"Thank you." The medi-wizard gave the student the antidote and led her away to her parents, keeping a close eye on her. Minister Fudge turned away from the witness to the side panel of chairs where the Hogwarts' staff were sitting. "Headmaster Dumbledore, please step forward with your staff."
Albus allowed his medi-witch to tell Fudge what she learned through her magical scanning of the two bodies. With Severus at his side, Albus then told of finding Harry Potter's wand and the revealing spells cast on the wand. He then stepped aside to allow Hagrid to tell his findings before the entire staff sat back down.
As Harry gained a tighter grasp on his detached mind, he began to realize that the ring on his hand was still warm. All four colors were still glowing when he glanced down. It was something else he had forgotten to mention to his friends. The brilliance of the colors were in fact a spell allowing them to glow as long as its counterpart was still among the living. And because all four were still glowing, Harry knew Colin and Ginny were still alive but he wouldn't be able to prove it just yet, not while under chains.
Behind him was an agitated Dennis Creevey. When he learned what had happened, Dennis disappeared to his room, crying over the loss of his two friends and brother. It was during that session when he realized that the colors on his ring were still glowing and warming the finger it sat on. Studying the colors, Dennis had received a vision of a living breathing Ginny Weasley and Colin Creevey. Excited, he had hurried down to his parents, hoping to tell them. But he was never given the chance to explain or if he did say something, it was brushed off as grief and hope.
And now he was looking right at Harry, knowledge in his eyes. Harry understood what the younger boy was trying to tell him. They both knew the other two were still alive and that no one would believe them. Harry dipped his gaze and then looked back. Dennis was satisfied. He could see that Harry would do whatever it took to find his brother and Ginny. Dennis wouldn't give up trying to make others listen to him.
Minister Fudge turned to the other judges, satisfied with all the evidence against Potter. The other judges nodded in response. "Harry Potter." The curious emerald gaze turned to face the Minister, "You have been found guilty of the torture and murder of Ms. Ginny Weasley and Mr. Colin Creevey."
Harry's mouth dropped. He tried to say something but nothing came out. Fudge smiled, knowing the unnoticed silencing charm had worked. And as Minister Fudge could give Potter any sentence he wanted but he knew even with the taking of the boy's magic or broken wand wouldn't stop anyone else from dealing out their own brand of justice. Therefore, giving off a seeming caring persona of protecting the boy but also punishing him, "I, Minister Cornelius Fudge, proclaim Harry Potter two life sentences in Azkaban under the constant supervision of Dementors. I have decided this imprisonment with the sense of the public's reaction to allowing a free Harry Potter into society with either a broken wand or no magic."
The public were quite satisfied with the sentence. And the Minister was correct. They would have gone after the boy if he had been free with only no magic. Molly Weasley and Mrs. Creevey proved that on their own doing. Mrs. Creevey slapped Harry with force, leaving a red handprint on his face, "How could you! That was my son! I hope you die in that place!"
Molly's words hurt Harry even more, "I brought you into my family. I thought of you as another son! You are no longer welcome in my family! You are a disgrace to my family and to your parents! Just like that Godfather of yours!"
Tears filled emerald eyes as Harry looked away. Seeing the accusing faces of those he trusted and thought would believe in him hurt. But thankfully he wouldn't see or hear more when the two Dementors that escorted him into the courtroom took him back out, causing him to black out with the assaulting memories.
And that was the last time the public would see Harry Potter. A young boy accused of murder and torture. A young boy who had wondered what Molly Weasley meant by the statement about his godfather, who he partially knew according to his mother's old diaries and letters. A young boy who felt betrayed by the Magical World and those he truly cared for. Harry's mind and heart begged for someone to help him, to believe in him. Someone who would and could save him from a fate he did not want.