Embracing His True Self

Chapter 76

The courtroom was packed, so much so that it was difficult to move without accidentally brushing against someone. There were double the amount of people in the courtroom today than there had been in the past few days. It seemed Severus and Lucius weren't the only newcomers, eager to see the outcome of the trial and waiting on a newspaper coming out with the results wasn't what they wanted.

Harry was grateful to be surrounded by people he trusted, they had others strategically placed out all over the courtroom. They had to take precautions just in case anything happened. Just in case the Order wasn't the only one Dumbledore could use as back up. Voldemort hadn't trolled through every single memory of Dumbledore's just any associated with the potion. It was really impossible to watch everyone's every memory after all.

The calls to sit, made Harry feel significantly better, now that he had breathing room. He, Voldemort and Severus had remained standing while Barty, Lucius and the Lestrange brothers – disguised of course – sat on the benches available to them. Leaning against the pillar. Right at the front of the public gallery.

"There was nothing in the newspaper," Harry commented, observing everything happening, including the wizengamot entering and seating themselves comfortably.

"I noticed," Voldemort admitted dryly, "Perhaps they had the same thoughts you did, and decided not to cause alarm and get the trial over with. The public outcry is just as strong as it had been in the beginning of all this." It used to be equal measures of those who believed and those who didn't, now though, it was a very small select group, if that group even existed right now…the protests were all demands for Dumbledore to be brought to justice.

"Considering the protests? Yeah, they'll want this over with," Harry agreed, the spectacle out there in the atrium was ridiculous. The entire floor was filled with protesters, the only thing stopping them storming the Ministry was the Auror's.

"I don't think I've ever seen such a sight before," Lucius grudgingly admitted.

"Closest that comes to mind was when there were arrests without trials, but nothing ever came of it. Too many people were celebrating the end of the war…and Dumbledore's speeches weren't helping matters." he had purposely ensured that there were no uprisings over the imprisoned without trials,

Dumbledore was brought in and bound, clearly they were taking no chances today.

"They made speeches?" Harry questioned, cocking his head to the side, eyeing Severus speculatively.

"Indeed, a great many of them over the years," Severus nodded, "I did not read any of them myself I must admit. He liked to draw his conversations out, so I tended to just ignore as much as I could possibly. However, you'll probably find them in the papers archives."

"No…" Harry said shaking his head as he observed the happenings. "Once this…this is over with…I don't want to think of him again. Except for perhaps once…just once I'd like to visit him before he dies and say what I have so badly wished to say to him over the years." Yesterday didn't count, the old fool didn't remember it and he knew he wouldn't so hadn't even spoke a fraction of what he'd wished to.

"I see," Severus said thoughtfully, "I think that's for the best," he agreed, keeping himself immersed in Dumbledore's deeds would just lead to the utter feeling of embitterment. Harry wasn't the only one manipulated or used by Dumbledore…but he was one of the rare few who had survived said manipulations. He can only recall himself and the Dark Lord surviving…even the Order had ultimately been killed. Albeit not by his own hand, but if he hadn't manipulated them all…they would still be alive.

Harry smiled, a little grimly, "Yeah, we're in agreement."

"Notice who's here?" Harry whispered, "Augusta and Neville Longbottom," he hadn't expected them to come at all. Then again, it would be their last chance to see Dumbledore suffer, to get answers, answers they probably already knew.

"We might have good news for them in a few weeks," Severus said his blank black eyes staring at them as if he was dissecting them. He had quite naturally kept a detailed report for Harry, each measure of success that happened.

"Might," Harry murmured, "It all sounds like it's repairing the central nervous system, which wasn't exactly what I had hoped for."

"Ah, but fixing the mind isn't going to have any visible reactions," Severus pointed out, keeping an ear on the current argument between Bones and Diggle with the Minister regarding the new questions placed before him. "The Healer has hope that we will begin to see a significant improvement over the next few days, something about the brain firing…I cannot recall the word he used," it wasn't one he used a lot, it wasn't as if he was a neurobiologist, he was a Potions Master.

"I don't know, you'd think there would be a visible reaction long before now," Harry sighed, "It's phoenix tears we're talking about, their effects are immediate." His hearing zeroing in on the Minister's statement.

"Denied, the questions still stand," The Minister refusing to allow Diggle to remove the questions regarding the Longbottom's from the list. "Quite frankly…you should be more concerned about the other questions." again true enough, although, if phrased correctly, they may well get Dumbledore on attempted murder twice, and that's just for the Longbottom attack alone.

Diggle stared at the Minister vexed beyond belief, they were trampling all over his clients rights and violating each and every single one of them. There was honestly, no point to arguing with the Minister for magic! His word was law, especially in cases like these, when he's neither the prosecutor or the defender.

"Administer the Veritaserum!" the Minister announced so loudly and abruptly that Diggle actually jumped in fright.

"I really must protest…this is a violation of my clients rights!" Diggle complained, refusing to back down to the last.

"We are acting under the guidelines of the law, Diggle, the council has insisted upon it due to the heinousness of Mr. Dumbledore's crimes. The truth will out." The Minister retorted immediately and with calmness, not even getting slightly wound up over Diggle's constant interruptions.''

"Veritaserum is not…" before he could finish the Minister spoke again.

"Should you need to see the signature's…I'll happily hand them over!" the Minister cut the lawyer off. "He will be questioned, he will be under Veritaserum. Now step back and allow me to do my job, are we clear?" booking no arguments or return statements.

Diggle stepped back, as suspected it was a futile effort. He'd had to try though, the thought of not giving it all left a bad taste in his mouth. He wasn't sure why Albus was so against it, it would prove him innocent, but he was so worried that people would ask questions he didn't want to answer, he was a very private wizard after all.

The Minister himself would be asking the questions, and only him. The gallery of spectators would be spelled. The Minister, Dumbledore, Diggle and Bones and a few Aurors would hear nothing from them, nor any questions they tried to sneakily ask in hopes of Dumbledore answering. It was one way, naturally, so the gallery would still be able to hear what was going on at the front. The wizengamot knew better than to say anything during a Veritaserum trial, and were being trusted to say nothing until the trial was concluded.

Dumbledore's brow was slick with sweat, as the Unspeakable approached him. His robes entirely obscured his identity, because once they were known…they weren't able to continue their job. They were spies, and a known spy was useless to the Ministry after, it meant they just worked from the Ministry itself.

"Veritaserum administered at 9:12AM," the Unspeakable spoke loud enough for the dictation to be noted.

"So noted," the Minister declared, "Take your seats," two rolled up pieces of parchment in his hand, one from Bones and Diggle, each of the questions they wanted asked. Diggle did not have many questions on his at all, in fact he'd spent time he didn't have, arguing against the use of Veritaserum AND the questions Bones wanted to be asked. It was an exercise in futility if you asked him, Dumbledore was guilty as sin. The evidence all pointed to it, and it was by no means flimsy evidence at that.

"Spell cast 9:18AM," the Unspeakable declared, the spell would prevent his occlumency barriers from protecting him from the potion. It's something the Unspeakables had been working on, they'd naturally tested it a time or two, but it would be the first time it was used…and on such a publicly powerful wizard.

"What's your name?" The Minister demanded of the docile wizard, who unlike Sirius Black, consumed all three drops of the Veritaserum. To ensure that he was telling the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

There were ways around it, naturally, but they took all necessary precautions to prevent it. indeed, this was one of them, he'd given permission for the spell to be cast, it shattered any occlumency shields, prevented them being replaced for at least twenty-four hours. Some people reported it being agonizing, others reported it being uncomfortable and others were none the wiser that anything had occurred.

"Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore," intoned Dumbledore, eyes blank, clearly not there consciously at the moment.

As one nearly every single person in the room rolled their eyes, each of them had been privy to at least once, with Dumbledore boastfully and pridefully stating his name, and it was nearly ALWAYS, always the entire name as if there were any need for it.

"Huh, I thought he was older than that," Harry frowned, "Oh, no, right, chocolate frog cards…it's been more than five years and they don't self-update."

"The collector edition chocolate frogs, do," Voldemort corrected him absently, "They're just more expensive. You could buy five normal chocolate frogs for the price you'd pay for the collector's edition. Naturally a lot of children prefer the chocolate instead of the collector's edition, at least when they're young."

Harry's brow furrowed, feeling slightly indignant, "How come I've never heard of this?"

"Why would you? As a young teen all you had was a Weasley and a Granger, a boy who couldn't afford normal chocolate frog cards let alone collector ones. Granger…now she would rather buy books than waste her money of sweets. Then you surround yourself with people who cannot eat anything sugary until they are fully recovered…even now they're cautioned against it." Severus pointed out, "Now they're asking the interesting questions." 'be silent' may well have been stated.

"In the summer of 1898 you met a young wizard Gellert Grindelwald, is this true or false?" The Minister read off the list.

"True,"

"Did you have pure intentions in your friendship with Gellert Grindelwald?"

"No,"

"Right from the very onset you intended to manipulate Gellert Grindelwald?"

"Yes,"

"Did you or not you not magically compel Gellert Grindelwald to act a certain way?"

"I did,"

"Through a spell?"

"Yes,"

"Through a potion?"

"Yes,"

"Through manipulation?" the Minister began to wonder just how much Bones actually knew, these questions were much too specific really to be guesses.

"Yes,"

"Which spells did you use to compel Gellert Grindelwald?"

"Animae cogere,"

A horrified stunned silence enveloped them all, that spell was…more horrific than the Unforgivables. At least with the Imperius cursed…one had a chance of recovery, but with that spell? No, there was no recovery, depending on the order…it changed them irrevocably.

Voldemort blinked when he noticed Lucius, Rabastan, Rodolphus, Lord Lestrange, Harry and quite a few of his other Death Eaters who were spaced out around the room, Dolohov, Nott, Thorfinn Rowle and of course, Rookwood were all staring at him in silent query. All of them very high up, next to him and Harry, Rowle was probably the best dueller next to Lucius. The brothers had been the strongest…and maybe would again one day if they recovered well.

A simple unobtrusive single shake of his head, no, he had not implanted such a memory into Dumbledore's mind. He also hadn't been aware, he'd searched for only a potion, not a spell, a very specific potion at that. With the potion, he admittedly, hadn't expected any spells as such to come up in the questioning, more fool him.

"You successfully cast Animae cogere at Gellert Grindelwald?" going off script, the Minister for Magic asked, his voice slightly hoarse.

"Yes,"

"How many people have you successfully cast Animae cogere at?" the Minister continued, his voice a little firmer this time around, once more going off script.

"Five people,"

The Minister glanced down at the paperwork, as more questions appeared, as Bones wrote them down, unsurprisingly, it was about the five people he had used the Animae cogere spell at, but it was at the bottom of the page, where it should be.

"Have you ever used a potion to control another person?" the Minister stated, watching as a black line ran across the question, in real time with Bones crossing it out as it was asked.

"Yes,"

"How many people have you imbibed with a controlling substance?" the Minister asked, wishing he could say his heart was sinking into his stomach in shock. Truthfully though, he had read through every piece of paperwork, evidence, witness statements, every shred plucked about Dumbledore since the Ministry had decided to press charges.

"Fifty-two,"

The outcry was immense and immediate, the Minister, who had his back to them, didn't even so much as twitch. The silencing spells were doing their job all too well, and they could not be heard even with all the commotion they were causing. Many spitting on Dumbledore's name, disgusted, furious over what they were hearing, terrified someone knew they knew had been so thoroughly duped.

"Which controlling substances did you use?"

"One was my own creation, I called it Mea Culpa, and fortitudinem liquid,"

"He called his own potion My Bad?" Harry uttered incredulously. "Of all the conceit, foul, detestable…" a growl leaving his lips baring his teeth at Dumbledore in a feral manner.

"Fortitudinum is low grade, it works over a period of time, it's more of a suggestibility draught," Voldemort said thoughtfully, "I quite frankly wouldn't be surprised it wasn't used on students…it would be the perfect age to begin using it." perhaps the Order members when they were younger? Who's to say, there was only one person left alive who could give them confirmation. Nymphadora Tonks.

"He never used it on me," Harry pointed out, "And out of everyone it would be me…" and he wasn't stating as such out of sheer arrogance but blunt truth. Judging by nearly everyone's silent agreement, he wasn't far off the mark.

"It would never have worked on you," Voldemort replied, unsurprisingly he knew better than almost everyone in the room.

"How's that?" Harry cocked his head to the side, he couldn't honestly say he knew much about that potion in particular, only what Voldemort had said so far.

"Your magic would have burnt through the potion, and he knew it," Voldemort deduced, "You're magic has always been powerful, alert, watchful even if you didn't know it. The sort of magic you did – accidental or otherwise – a short time after entering the magical world proves that." it's no easy feat fitting in either. "The wards would have only aided that." the wards that were still ever present, which amused him, how a few of his servants could still be alive, especially Bellatrix, she'd gone after him. He had deduced that magic itself held the wards back, duelling was…one of the most respectful forms of magic left.

It was an honoured practice, and you better believe magic herself would deal with you if you backed out of terms of a duel, with extreme prejudice, the scrolls he'd read…well, it left and impression in him, that he vowed never to break the terms of duels, even if it wasn't him doing the duelling.

Harry gave him a look of doubt, he just couldn't see that. Why would Dumbledore use a potion that could be burnt through? It was silly, especially considering he picked out quite powerful people to use and manipulate…just like Voldemort did as well.

"It's why he created the new potion for Gellert and planned on using you," Severus nodded, lip curling in disgust, as another piece of the puzzle slotted seamlessly together.

"Perhaps," Harry murmured, brow furrowing, he'd need to look up the potion, but he definitely believed Voldemort and Severus, they most assuredly knew their potions.

"We'll discuss it later," Voldemort declared, his attention clearly more focused on Dumbledore and everything he was hearing. It was more difficult than one would believe, to listen, due to the fact that everyone packed into the room were all having their own conversations or raging at what they were hearing.

Diggle watched the scene in front of him…destroyed as he listened to the words coming out of Dumbledore's mouth. Mouth agape, eyes closing, shoulders hunched, and close to tears. His mind now whirling…had he been the recipient of such a potion? Had his father? Nobody, absolutely nobody deserved to have those potions taken and their minds not their own. He felt as if Dumbledore had personally gutted him, with a virus infected, rusty, dull spoon. The ache just continued to become more pronounced the longer the trial lasted.

The Minister hastily spoke to Madam Bones, making sure not to be heard by anyone else, or so he thought, Voldemort however, ensured he could hear "We need to find out what kind of potion this is," he hissed as if he was expecting an argument of some kind from her.

"I agree, but not something done in public…during the lunch break?" Bones suggested, her stomach twitching as she thought on Dumbledore and his possible actions. The consequences were going to be spread out across the globe with dozens of publishing houses making sure it was well known.

"Yes," The Minister calmed significantly that someone was on his side, "Yes, we're in full agreement, the less people the better. Which includes the wizengamot. One Unspeakable, myself and you as well as Dumbledore will be here for the questioning."

"Agreed," Bones murmured, already crossing out a few questions she'd had put onto the paperwork already. Instead she elected to write them on a second piece of blank parchment, questions she'd ask when they were very much alone and out of the public eye.

"It would seem they're going to try to find out more about the potion and it's consequences during lunch," Voldemort informed them, keeping them up to date on what he was hearing from the Minister and Bones. "They're to be sorely disappointed."

"Not to forget terrified," Harry said wryly, he could imagine their reactions.

"That is of no consequences to us," Voldemort waved off that comment.

"How many people have you imbibed with both potions?"

There was no answer, which caused a significant paling of bodies within the courtroom.

"Did you manipulate Gellert Grindelwald into starting a war?" the Minister continued, anxiety clawing at him.

"Yes,"

"Did you believe any of the causes you forced upon him yourself?" the Minister asked, wondering why Bones even wanted to ask that.

"Only that Muggles must be controlled, they're not dangerous if they're controlled." Dumbledore declared.

"Does that belief stem from what those Muggles did to your younger sister?"

"Yes,"

The Minister nodded, he had suspected as much, ever single the newspaper article came out regarding the Elder Dumbledore killing the three Muggles in defence of his daughter. A daughter he told his wife to hide, so that she didn't end up in St. Mungo's, she had been a very pretty little thing from the portrait they saw. Far too young to have died, especially at the hands of her brother. One way or another IT was her brother, Albus had used a potion on Gellert, made Gellert's mind a blank canvas except for what he wanted on it.

Gellert Grindelwald wasn't responsible for anything that happened now doesn't that boggle ones mind? The darkest wizard of the century was nothing but a puppet being pulled on Albus Dumbledore's strings. History was so, so, very wrong, and he was tired and wired at the same time and the Minister just wanted to sleep.

Maybe once this was over….but he had a feeling this was just the start of the unveiling.

"You killed your own sister?" the Minister continued.

"Yes,"

The Minister nodded, thanking Merlin that Aberforth Dumbledore wasn't currently in the room. For the wizard had a serious hatred for his brother. Quite frankly, he suspected Aberforth would have killed him if he knew the truth. If this was how he was with his brother thinking it was an 'accident' you're damn right he would have killed him if he knew it was on purpose.

"Why?"

"She was an empty shell, a powerful, empty, shell that would never amount to anything. She would just hold me and Aberforth back. She preferred Aberforth over me, he could calm her down."

"Merlin's balls, he fucking did it out of jealousy and spite?" Harry spat out through gritted teeth, barely heard by Voldemort and Severus. "Even at that age he was like a fucking kid chucking his damn rattle and dummy out of the pram because he didn't get his way! Or the admiration he felt he deserved?"

Severus moved his hand and squeezed Harry's shoulder, there was nobody in the room any less furious by what they'd just heard. Soon the entire world would be in stunned silence when the news got out, which would be a special edition once more. "We're all capable of it, Harry, even you," thinking on Umbridge and the Dursley's, yes, there was a reason for it…but still, they all have the capacity for spite. He knew it more intimately, blaming a child – even one half Lily's – for his father's actions for years. Yes, he knew spite, and he thanked Merlin he had not turned out like Dumbledore.

Voldemort twitched, but surprisingly did nothing more, no glare, no possessiveness and no murderous thoughts. He didn't need to read Severus' thoughts to know that there was nothing of that kind between them. If any relationship existed between them, it was a father/son sort. He also knew about Rabastan and Severus, it was his manor after all, he knew everything.

Or so he liked to tell himself.

Harry shook his head vehemently, "I would never have killed a sister or brother because they liked someone else better…it's petty!" he wasn't petty, he was angry, yes, vindictive, yes, but he was not petty.

"It is indeed," Severus agreed, it was very petty, but they were distracted the Minister talking once more.

"Does Aberforth know about you being at fault?" the Minister questioned.

"He suspects, and has never forgiven me for it,"

"Why did you want Gellert Grindelwald to start up a war?" the Minister continued.

Everyone inhaled before holding their breath, not even wanting to miss a single sound that left Dumbledore's mouth. There could not be a good enough reason for the sheer number of people who had died because of him. Yet part of them, of those who were fond of Dumbledore, were so excruciatingly hopeful for a good enough explanation, even when their rationality knew there was not one.

"I knew you people would bury your heads in the sand, expect someone else to do it. I had admittedly not expected people to begin getting in touch with me so soon. Yet you did, I watched all of you get more and more desperate…to the extent of trying to manipulate me to deal with Gellert Grindelwald. I had planned on stopping it sooner…if not for the Minister's actions, instead I waited…he can blame the additional lives on himself. Eventually I took care of the problem and gathered all the fame and acclaim I could ever need."

If his voice wasn't so infuriatingly blank…everyone suspected it would have sounded like gloating.

"I think I'm going to be sick!" came a voice from the crowd, hand over mouth, trying to get out of the courtroom.

They weren't the only one, quite a few people were unable to sit and watch this anymore.

Hermione Granger was watching it all horrified to the very core of her. Yes, she knew he was a bad egg, but this sort? It was absolutely horrifying to hear. "Barty!" she said, jumping in surprise when he appeared next to her, a look of concern crossing his features, it wasn't a good look on his usual youthful and joyful features.

"Are you going to be okay?" Barty asked, truly concerned for her, "Do you want to go and get some air?"

"No, I'm not missing any of this," Hermione declared absolutely. Resolute in her decision to hear everything from the 'horses' mouth so to speak.

Barty truly wasn't surprised by her soft spoken but determined declaration. She wasn't one for sticking her head in the sand, and if anything got her curiosity she'd dig, dig, and further dig until she'd uncovered everything. Frankly he was surprised he'd gotten away with his new ID so long and that Hermione hadn't gone digging into the Crouch family past. Not easily done, he knew that, but still, perhaps it was the fact that he'd been introduced by Harry that gave him more leeway?

"You killed hundreds of thousands of people…for an Order of Merlin First Class?" the Minister swallowed thickly, feeling rather sick himself.

"No," for a moment nothing but relief was felt, until reality slapped them in the face, "To become Supreme Mugwump, Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, Grand Sorcerer and Headmaster of Hogwarts," responsible for educating the next generation…moulding them to his exact standards. All it took was manipulating the Minister for Magic and he was good to go, had the entire world in his hands. The ultimate source of all power.

"Why the Headmaster of Hogwarts and not the Minister for magic?" he questioned, aware that Dumbledore turned it down numerous times.

"Children are the future…the Minister is one person…easily controlled with the right incentive and potion,"

"Bloody hell," The Minister choked out, his voice a little raspy, the urge to go down to the healers was very strong, to make sure he had nothing running through his blood. "I think before we give a verdict…we should all be tested, everyone within the wizengamot and ourselves,"

"Yes, definitely a must," Bones replied, Diggle was still just sitting there like a spare end. They didn't feel like they were under any sort of potion…but that was indeed the point, one never 'felt' like they were, everything they experienced was perfectly normal and rational, it's what made potions so dangerous.

"Did you hand select certain students to join your Order of the Phoenix?" the Minister continued, despite the fact he just wanted to make his way to a healer post haste.

"Yes,"

"Did all of them become Order members?"

"No, some of them were…major disappointments I grew better at picking them," talking about them as though they were low hanging fruit.

Voldemort hissed under his breath, nails digging into his leg, as he stood watching Dumbledore with a look of utter disgust. He knew the bastard was referring to him, he didn't need confirmation.

"Were?" the Minister glanced at Bones, "Did you kill them because of the disappointments they were?" unable to look at Dumbledore, just waiting for an answer.

"I didn't kill them,"

"But you had them killed?" the Minister continued to stare at Bones, who was staring at the table, unable to look at Dumbledore herself.

"Most of them,"

More and more people were leaving the courtroom, unable to stand the confessions they were hearing. Which meant that there was more breathing room, and most were able to sit down without feeling pressured in at each side. Only those with a strong constitution remained stalwart. More than half had left, even some of the reporters glanced longingly at the door as if they wished to leave as well. Knowing better to do so if they wanted to keep their jobs. Plus…it couldn't get any worse than the knowledge that thousands upon thousands of wizards and witches had died because Dumbledore wanted a few titles.

"Most of them? Who survived?" the Minister questioned. If they could hunt down those Dumbledore had wronged…it would be more proof. They could tell them that the mess was over…that they were safe at long last.

Harry shifted until was directly behind Voldemort and wrapped his arms around him tightly. Perching his chin on Tom's shoulder, observing what was happening, tense and alert, ready for anything that came their way.

"Tom Riddle, Severus Snape, Harry Potter,"

Harry cloaked both him and Voldemort in his magic, so that it didn't explode outwardly and give them both away. Lucius and the others stood, immediately and casually circling the two wizards, as though a threat had just presented itself and not just a rage displayed.

Severus arched a brow, "Disappointment?" he mouthed, perplexed, him? Dumbledore had expectations of him? If anything he'd been a necessary sacrifice to the old fool…hadn't he? Never once had he favoured him over the Potter, Black and Lupin…he was utterly bewildered.

"I reckon he had to choose...Severus, not that it would have been much of a choice to him," Harry said giving Severus a sad smile, he'd chosen to favour his father, Sirius, Remus and Peter instead, choosing the Gryffindors over the lone Slytherin, no matter how powerful and intelligent he was. "You're lucky in a way…I'm sure it hurts less…especially for those who've survived to see beyond the façade."

"I'm surprised it's only three," Lucius confessed wryly, seating himself as if he had merely just got up to stretch. "I half expected the count to be higher than the potions usage."

"You think he would allow a threat to his image live?" Barty snorted, still holding onto Hermione, keeping her beside him. she was not comfortable sitting next to Lucius Malfoy of all people, but unsurprised to see him there.

"He already was," Lucius jerked his head towards Severus, who was still staring at Dumbledore in confusion.

"Good point," Barty conceded.

"Are Harry and Tom alright?" Hermione asked, trying to see them, but unable to do so.

"He's just a tad bit furious over how Harry was treated," Barty fibbed, well, only a little actually, since they were furious over the treatment of the other. Barty couldn't exactly reveal just why they were both so pissed or that 'Tom' who was Harry's 'boyfriend' was in fact Lord Voldemort, nope, he certainly wasn't going to do that anytime soon. Or that the Dark Lord was doubly furious over the fact he'd been so thoroughly used and manipulated.

Hermione glanced at each of the people in the room, especially Lucius and Severus – who were the only ones as their true self – then back to Harry and Tom before back to Barty. She felt as though she was missing something…something glaringly obvious.

"Harry didn't like to tell us much," Barty admitted morosely. "Not at first, still hasn't told me everything…I don't know if he's told…Tom…everything," holy fucking shit, he dislike this very much, both the lying and having to use his name…a name that he knew his Lord detested. He half expected to be cursed for just daring to use it.

Hermione swallowed thickly, nodding immediately, eyes downcast, "I know," she rasped out, "I…Harry's always been private, he never used to tell us much either…not that I blame him. After what we were life…quite frankly we shouldn't have even been forgiven."

"Really? How so? I thought Ron, Harry and yourself were inseparable…certainly made it sound that way." Barty said, wondering how much she had gleaned. How much she'd deduced from that little act, and whether she was as oblivious as she seemed. Also successfully distracting her from her current thoughts lest they be on dangerous ground.

"Harry told you that?" Hermione asked, doubtfully.

"No, it's just an assumption on my part…Harry as I said doesn't like to talk much about it," Barty shrugged his shoulders.

"I thought it was a good friendship…but I had nothing to set it against. I've never really had friends, I was secluded more often than not. Admittedly my own fault, children can be…cruel, especially when you are smarter than them." Hermione admitted, "I'm still not sure how I became such good friends with Ron and Harry." she confessed in silent amazement. She still wasn't good at making friends, but it came a little easier and more natural now than it had when she was a child.

Harry shushed them, not even designing to glance at them.

Just then Dumbledore spoke once more and all attention turned back to the drugged wizard, confessing every single sin that was questioned.

Okay, so it's not the last part of the trial! This is unfortunately, all i could get done and I want to get it posted plus, I am going slowly with these ones, trying to figure out every question that needs to be asked because I just know I'm going to forget dozens of them! I want to try and avoid that sooooo slow and steady wins the race :) just mostly trying to think of which questions to ask for the 'Marauders era' since not much will be said about Tom's time and of course we all know Harry's time so for one last time Will ANYONE figure out about their new ID's or will the magical world go on unaware of what's under their noses? except the goblins who don't care about the wizarding law ;) hehe R&R please