Embracing His True Self

Chapter 111

"Is the Minister available?" called one of the Ministry employees, Harry wasn't familiar with everyone yet. So, he wasn't quite sure whom he was dealing with, but luckily, they all wore lanyards with ID cards, from Interns to high up officials. If they weren't wearing them, then they had to have badges shown clearly on their lapels, otherwise they're stopped and prevented from advancing further.

Tom had two guards at the Muggle entrance, ensuring that they weren't stealthy attacked that way. To ensure those that came that way, were here at the Ministry for a reason. Already employment was going up, by the end of the month it would be at an all-time high.

"Yes, what is this about?" Harry asked, sitting in his brand-new office, which was in front of the Minister's office.

Nobody in the Ministry had been happy with Tom keeping Harry involved (not just as his partner) but because the Minister dealt in sensitive information. Very sensitive information, and despite him being the hero of the wizarding world, it was unacceptable. Naturally Tom had been annoyed and managed to shut them up with a few well-chosen words. "Why would I send my Undersecretary away?" and just like that, Harry had become the Undersecretary for the Minister. After that they shut up, and nothing more was said as they harried through one of the longest and most arduous nights. Usually Minister's take it easy, but Minister Riddle? He ploughed on full steam ahead, had the entire Ministry working harder than it ever had before.

This was only the beginning.

"The Aurors had a tip off where Ginny Weasley and Dean Thomas were and have brought them in," he explained, harried. They had naturally gone to the Dolohov-Weasley household and given the family the warrant for Ginny's arrest for civil unrest, first and foremost.

"Good, put them in the cells for the evening, it's too late to drag anyone here tonight." Tom said, opening the door and causing the Ministry employee to shoot up straight, and stand at attention. "First thing tomorrow, have an appointed lawyer give them advice, is there a possibility of a courtroom being free tomorrow?" here he spoke to Harry.

"We can move Rookwood Vs Talik to next week?" Harry said almost immediately, after glancing at the paperwork for everything going on in the courtrooms. It was a simple finance thing; Rookwood might not be happy but he wouldn't say anything.

They were all probably braying for Ginny's blood. She could have exposed everything.

"Do it," the Minister agreed, lips twitching in amusement. "If Rookwood has a problem, he may come up and see me."

Harry barely withheld a snort, like that would happen, Rookwood was much too smart for that. There was a reason he was in the Inner circle, and it wasn't solely because he was an Unspeakable. Which by the was one of the most secretive (and powerful) areas' one can get in the Ministry. It was difficult to become one, if people thought it was difficult to become an Auror they didn't want to think on becoming an Unspeakable.

"Done," Harry informed them, "I'll get missives out to all involved,"

"Have you updated the laws and regulations in the Auror department?" the Minister asked of his Undersecretary.

"I have, yes, it's already been posted up on the notice board," Harry confirmed, he'd barely had time to sit on his arse, never mind anything else.

"Go do your next task and get us both coffee's we're due a break." Tom ordered, glancing at the time, it was a good stopping point as any. "Is there anything else?"

"Yes," he informed the Minister, barely reacting to Harry leaving to gather the necessary supplies to inform the people involved in the trial that the date changed and Weasley and Thomas.

"Which is?" Tom asked, raising a brow, impatiently waiting for the idiot of a wizard to speak.

"The Vane family found their daughter; she was set outside the wards of their home. The Aurors left to deal with it." the wizard answered, sweating a little with nerves.

"What?!" Tom asked, tone filled with irritation and ire. "It's bad enough she got out of the Ministry of magic itself! How on earth are we going to explain this? It will stink of a coverup!" rubbing his temples in a dramatic display. Vane had 'disappeared' from within her cell, and nobody knew how she'd done it and she wasn't seen from again and her wand was still where it had been left.

The wizard just stood there, unsure of what to do. "What do you want me to…" before he could finish Tom spoke again.

"Find out how she got out! Then find out what happened to her! Bring me the initial report from the scene!" Tom never raised his voice; he didn't need to in order to catch people's attention. They would come to realize that the more he whispered the more furious he was.

"Yes, Sir!" and he was off.

"Harry!" Dean said, standing up, relieved to see him, "Wait, what are you doing here? Are you…my lawyer?" a little incredulous, as he craned to see another wizard behind him.

"Hello, Mr. Thomas," Harry said politely, Dean looked petrified, and more than a little sceptical that Harry could help him in this situation. Which was insulting to say the least, he was the one who could offer Dean the most help. He was tempted to just rescind the offer he'd made Tom keep, maybe the idiot did deserve everything that was coming his way.

"Mr. Thomas? When did you start calling me that?" Dean asked genuinely taken aback, they had shared the same room for years. "Mate what are you doing here?"

"Do you have a lawyer, Mr. Thomas?" Harry asked, ignoring Dean's attempts at comradery. Truth be told he'd never really had a problem with the guy. He was decent enough to share a room with, he'd certainly pick him again, and honestly? He reckoned the guy could have been a better best friend than Weasley.

"A lawyer?" Dean asked, subdued, a wary look on his face, "Am I…I'm in a lot of trouble, aren't I?" wincing at the look on Harry's face that screamed obviously.

"Do you have a lawyer or would you prefer a Ministry appointed one?" Harry asked again, allowing some sympathy.

"I…I don't have any money," Dean said, paling rapidly, he was not asking his mum for money, there was no way, she'd be pissed. Not that she had any really saved to pay for a damn lawyer.

"That's kind of obvious," Harry said eyes gleaming darkly, "Ginny isn't trying to marry you after all, is she?" trying to sow discord between the idiots, hoping that Dean would try to save his own skin instead of going with whatever foolish plan any lawyer comes up between them.

Dean flinched, both at the truth of the statement and Harry's gaze rapidly becoming frosty.

"Wh…what are the charges?" Dean asked, sitting back down looking defeated.

Harry turned to keep the boy in his direct line of sight at all times. "You were not informed?" they might be going through a changeover, that didn't mean that someone shouldn't be read their rights.

"Uh, maybe?" Dean said cringing, "I sort of…lost it for a bit." He knew without a doubt that resisting arrest was also added to the charges against him.

"You incited violence, civil unrest, resisting arrest," Harry told him, "Which led to the death of quite a few people actually…Vane tried to kill me because of Ginny's words. Your lies and collaboration have turned what should have been a joyous occasion into a shit show." Letting his bitterness show through. Acting hurt that his partner's day of triumph had been marred by their poisonous words.

Dean swallowed, eyes so wide they bugged a little, death? Him? He'd just said what Ginny wanted him to! This all had to be a wind up, Harry couldn't be serious. He felt sick just thinking about the possibility, "That's a fucked-up joke mate…" he couldn't believe it to be true.

Harry just shook his head, giving a resigned look, "Not joking. I'll send one of the lawyers down, here, this information he'll need since the date for your court appearance. Which is tomorrow, the information about bail is there too." Knowing without a doubt that neither Dean or Ginny could afford it, not for the want of a day anyway.

Dean, paler than ever, grasped the letter that was being held out for him, "Half a million galleons?" he rasped out, how on earth could someone afford that kind of money. Head in his hand, Dean felt the situation finally sinking in, and the trouble he knew he couldn't talk his way out of…murder? His words had incited someone to kill someone else.

Merlin, help him, what had he and Ginny done?! Tears sprang up, as he began to cry, terrified for what the future held. He couldn't even begin or pretend to try and stay strong, and it wasn't like he had anyone he needed to stay strong for.

"Tell them the truth, Dean, don't try and obfuscate, be honest, it will help you," Harry advised, before he was gone, the cell door closing magically behind him.

It wasn't his last visit to the cells, since he had to go a few cells down and go through the same thing with Ginny. Although, to be fair, he was looking forward to it far more than he had Dean.

"Harry!" Ginny positively shrieked in part delight, part fear when she saw him. she wasn't afraid of him, no, never afraid, but she was more aware than Dean the situation they were in. After all, she'd went with them calmly, sure in the knowledge she was right and that the Order (what was left of it) would come for her. Surely there had to be a few Order members left, there just had to be. "I knew you'd come for me!" she added, wiping the tears she'd had been crying earlier. Standing up sniffling still with a wide beaming smile on her face, triumph in her gaze.

Harry gave a slow blink, staring at her as she tried to cross over the middle of the room. Which she couldn't do, not while the door was open, keeping anyone that visited safe from the prisoner should they prove to be violent. "Wha…" her face becoming comical.

"Why did you do this Ginny?" Harry asked, a heartbroken look appearing on his face, he still had a part to play after all. Everyone knew he was fond of the Weasleys, "I mean, it can hurt having Unrequited feelings for someone else…but to incite killing? What were you doing? Hoping they'd kill me? Merlin Ginny your words caused Romilda Vane to try and kill me!?"

"What? No! It was meant to be Tom…" Ginny protested, unaware of the fact she'd just sealed her fate.

Harry's lips twitched, just so, "Then what the hell! Are you completely deluded! Who convinced you of all this bullshit!"

"What are you talking about? I'm not deluded!" Ginny protested hotly, how dare he? "You know it's him! You have to! Remember your second year?" her first year.

"What's that got to do with you trying to kill me and Tom? We've never done anything to you!" Harry protested, sounding positively tearful. "I know you lost your mum…do you blame me for it? Is that why you were inciting others into acting on your behalf?"

"Don't you dare mention my mum!" Ginny lashed out angrily, showing a deep ugly side of her. Trying to grab Harry to knock some sense into him only to remember the shield at the last second. "I'm going to kill.."

Harry backed away out of the room, leaving the letter floating down onto the floor, which Ginny would be able to retrieve the moment the cell door closed. A smirk crossing his features, he'd done what he had set out to do. Just as he reached the corridor an enraged shriek pierced his ears, sniggering softly, he sighed softly, as he made his way upstairs. The second he did the silencing wards sprang back up.

He couldn't believe Tom had made him Undersecretary for Merlin's sake.

He made his way absently through the Ministry, already becoming familiar with the shortcuts, which surprisingly didn't include using the lift. As fast as the lift went, Harry could easily get there in the same amount of time using the stairs.

"Can I help you?" he asked, seeing Harry looking around the room – admittedly with purpose – as if looking for someone.

"Yeah, where can I find Ministry appointed lawyers? And who brings them in?" Harry asked, not afraid to ask.

"That's Madam Bo…Timothy Moore," the Auror corrected himself, "He'll take the lawyers to see I presume both Weasley and Thomas?" Madam Bones still worked there, but she wasn't in charge of the entire department before, she wasn't overworked. Both Madam Bones and Timothy Moore worked as Department heads, and Timothy was more lawyer and criminal side of things, while Bones ensured the evidence was on the up and up.

"He'll also be acting as a prosecutor, right?" Harry questioned.

"Yes, Sir," they all deferred to him despite him only being the undersecretary.

They were deferring to the power couple.

"Thank you," Harry said, before exiting the Aurors office, and making his way to the Department heads. It didn't take long at all to give Timothy his memories of his interaction with Dean and Ginny – another nail in her coffin – and to tell him that they requested lawyers. Which they would be given, regardless of what they did they were in some serious trouble. Aurors had died because of the violence she had incited.

He hoped she got a long, long time for the thoughts she harboured about him. Thank Merlin, Tom didn't know either, otherwise he reckoned the witch would have been killed long ago. Tom was much too possessive, but Harry had long since come to terms with it.

He wasn't a thing, wasn't a thing to be owned, to be paraded around, to give money out like it was candy. He didn't exist to make Ginny Weasley's life easier. Ironically enough, her family suddenly having money – her father's girlfriend – didn't make her relax any. If anything, it made her more envious, the desire seeded gluttonously in her. Made her desire for Harry take contours and shapes it had lacked due to her inability to really imagine a life of riches.

"It is, their trial is tomorrow," Harry confirmed confidently, he wasn't above asking for aid when he needed it. He didn't know the ins and outs of the Ministry, and probably wouldn't for a while yet. Heck, he hadn't expected he'd need to. Tom hadn't half sprung this upon him, then again…he liked doing that didn't he? If it hadn't been him, it would have likely been Lucius or one of the inner circles, who wouldn't quite be trusted even if they were only meant to be a relative of the ones who had 'died' in 'Azkaban' or so they believed.

The public would trust Harry Potter though.

Harry avoided stopping to talk to people as much as he could, as he got both him and Tom a takeaway coffee. Testing it to ensure that it was safe, and no potions were in it. Call him cautious but it was the sort of thing he would do. "Here you go," he offered one to Tom, the second he entered the room. "Are you going to stay for the three years?" not having to worry about being overheard since there were silencing charms imbued around the room.

"Yes, definitely, there is a lot of damage to undo, have you seen this?" Tom asked, sliding a wad of documents over. Gratefully drinking the coffee, trusting Harry impeccably to have ensured it was fine.

"Wait, is this about Veela's?" Harry asked very confused, "Was there many Veela families here?" glancing at Tom in query.

"There were, five prominent Veela families and the cousin branches," Tom explained easily, "Veela's are massively family orientated. The creature blood in them allows both male and females to get pregnant very easily."

"Okay, but what's so bad about that?" Harry asked, why would Dumbledore want them gone to this extent? "I mean it's not as if they require sustenance like blood or meat like vampires and werewolves. Why target them specifically? Wait…their allure? Right?" remembering, the allure was very much similar to the kind that vampires employ.

"That and despite their appearance, Veela's feel drawn more to…dark wizards and witches." Tom added, shrugging, "The creature in them satisfied they'd found someone who would protect them and their offspring. Not surprisingly there are more dark wizards and witches in France, since the laws aren't so restricted there." And that was exactly where the Veela's fled when Dumbledore got that law passed.

"Were one of those families the ones I met?" Harry asked lips drawn into a straight line. Recalling their attempts to put him under their allure. He liked them, it's a shame they were forced to flee their homes and take refuge in another country.

"They were," Tom agreed, "He's been behind a lot, for a far longer period of time than I participated. Long before his 'so called defeat' of Grindelwald. If you keep going, you'll see it all. Before the end of the war, there was 50-50 chance of it passing, afterwards? 100%."

"Of course, use the war to distract everyone and get the stuff passed you want." Harry said dryly, "If I didn't hate him so much, I'd admire that tenacity."

Tom grimaced but inclined his head just a little, agreeing a tiny measure.

"Seriously? He was trying to ban animals?" Harry asked in exasperation, "They're worth a fortune." He pointed to a few dozen on the list.

"That is why." Tom said dryly.

"But it's fine to keep a three headed dog in Hogwarts along with giant spiders…?" Harry scowled in sheer annoyance.

"Those giant spiders just happen to create a lot of silk that can be sold for a lot of money." Tom pointed out. "A war costs money, as does bribing everyone."

"Oh, yeah, there is that," Harry sighed, shaking his head, "Merlin, these are all in the space of a week…what the fuck…"

"I noticed that as well, I do believe I'll be spending a great deal of my time reversing the damage that has been done." Tom declared.

"Have you managed to see about the Minister becoming the one who decides on the sentencing?" Harry asked, aware that was something he'd been working on.

"I have, it's been approved," Tom said tapping the approved box on his desk, "Just in time too, since first thing tomorrow the trials begin."

"Yeah," Harry agreed, tiding up the mess he made.

"Speaking of, have you done it?" Tom asked, speaking of course, giving the girl enough rope to hang herself to ensure she gets maximum sentencing. He'd hate for anyone to take pity on her, which they did sometimes when it came to witches.

"Yes, the memories are with the lawyer that will be prosecuting them," Harry informed him, "Damn, I didn't think I could possibly hate him anymore. I'd ask what he was trying to do if I didn't already know…" rolling his eyes in exasperation. Unable to read any more of it, he set it aside, he was done, he wasn't going to focus too much on the past. It wasn't like they could change anything anyways now, was it?

A knock on the door interrupted their coffee, and it opened just as Tom handed Harry a bundle of documents.

"Here, this is missives freeing up the estates for the relatives of those Death Eaters," Tom said, handing them over. They were dead, and had no other relatives – until now – step up to claim them, and he was just speeding it up for them. The only one that had reclaimed their estate was Barty, who was already got the estate in tip top shape. Granger as far as he knew had also moved in. "They will gain full control of the properties." naturally the Ministry had claimed the properties due to the belief there was nobody left to claim them. Which wasn't quite so accurate now was it? The Ministry couldn't touch their money, which is probably what they would have preferred. Fortunately, they couldn't touch it without starting another Goblin war.

"Owl?" Harry asked, arching a brow in silent query, why the hell did the Ministry have their properties? He thought they were living at Slytherin manor because they didn't want anyone to know they were alive. He hadn't known it was literally impossible due to the Ministry. Shaking it off, it didn't matter, not now since the properties were being returned. He did wish he'd known though, because he felt bloody fucking stupid.

"Yes, the recipients are on the letters," Tom told him giving him a small smirk, as he turned and read what was on the clipboard properly before signing it.

"Right," Harry said, before he was off once more, if Tom thought he was working late today again…he had another thing coming.

He'd known that he wouldn't get any attention when he took over, regardless of what he said. If he said anything, he knew he'd feel like a bloody kid whinging for not getting their way. Yet he wanted to complain, it had only been a few days and he felt like he was going to crawl out of his own body with the need. It was strange…he'd never really cared for touch before Tom. It had always been painful, being touched usually.

Shaking off those thoughts, Harry made his way towards the Owlery.

Unfortunately, the thoughts continued to plague him intermittingly.

Next Day

"It took, it actually worked," Severus said as he entered the room, as Rabastan and Harry were in a quiet heated debate about something.

Rabastan's breath caught, "Both of them?" wonder suffusing his features.

Severus nodded curtly, a tiny smile on his face, the only sign that the information was something he liked. They had been searching for a surrogate, and they couldn't use Narcissa who wanted to go through the progress but with Lucius being the other father. They'd found a…like-minded Half-blood who didn't mind the money that was soon to come her way let's put it that way. They had used magic and a process to ensure it took. To his immense surprise not just one took but both of them, it had been an experiment to see what would happen.

"What are you going to name them? find out the DNA of each child and give it the Lestrange and Prince name or Lestrange-Prince or Prince-Lestrange?" Harry asked curiously, their debate forgotten as he stared enquiringly at Severus.

"We've heavily debated about that," Severus conceded, sitting down, Rabastan nodded, "We have," he interjected. "We've just never really came to a conclusion." They were both proud of their names, although Severus more geared towards Snape due to his Mastery than any loyalty to the name.

"What would you do?" Rabastan asked Harry in idle curiosity.

"Lestrange-Prince-Snape on their birth certificate. They're going to be the heir of the Prince line, never the Lestrange line. Luna wants a lot of children and she's having a boy. It will give them a choice on which name to use when they're older…either at Hogwarts or when they've graduated." Shrugging indifferently, "I'm glad I won't ever have to decide any of that." Using his finger to circle thin air.

Breakfast appeared for them on trays thanks to the House-elves.

As always, Harry was the only one to say thank you.

"You might change your mind," Rabastan said, "I mean I didn't really care for kids much when I was younger." He said it in such a dismissive manner that Harry didn't get offended or feel as if his own determination was in question.

"Can you see Tom as a father?" Harry asked arching a brow.

"Yes," Rabastan nodded, causing Harry to stare, "I mean he was a father figure to Bellatrix, Barty, Severus and to a lesser extent me and my brother and a lot of other people."

"They're grown ass adults, its not the same," Harry laughed, before beginning to eat his breakfast, "Ugh, I'm really beginning to regret bringing everything forward…" Tom was already at the Ministry, and had been for hours, the other half of the bed was not just empty but cold. "It better not last three years…or I'll kill him myself." Harry muttered to himself darkly.

Rabastan choked on his scrambled eggs, wheezing as Severus patted his back and spelled his airways and mouth clean. "Thank you," he choked out to Severus, giving Harry a little dirty look for his rotten trick.

Harry just smirked in return.

"You shouldn't joke about that," Rabastan hissed out, coughing a little, before drinking a little of his coffee.

"Who said I was joking?" Harry asked, pouting a little, finding it far easier to relax nowadays.

"It will calm down soon," Rabastan reassured him seriously, "I can't even begin to imagine how work it is. Luckily he's already used to that much paperwork." Grimacing at the prospect of having to do it himself, which was a big massive no from him. "At least you're working alongside him."

"As if he'd trust anyone else," Severus snorted wryly, finding the prospect hilarious, nobody else would get to work alongside the Dark Lord.

Harry hmphed unmoved by the endorsing encouragement.

"Seriously, it won't last forever," Rabastan reassured him.

Severus glanced at his partner, arching a brow, curiously, instinctively knowing he was missing something.

Harry shrugged, "Guess we'll see," setting the tray aside, "Best get going to 'work' this is something I'm not missing." Rubbing his hands together like the cliched evil mad scientist in cartoons in the Muggle world.

"I'm going to see Mia then I'll be attending if I finish in time," Severus explained, he believed her, but he had to keep a good eye on the experiment otherwise it wouldn't be a good Potions Master if he wasn't. Narcissa could be done later, more so since he hadn't arranged a date and time with her, he wished to support Harry in this.

"I'll see you there," Harry said chuckling darkly, as he disappeared through the Floo and to the Ministry office, he had special access.

"Ah, good, you're here, I need this done before the trial," Tom said, handing out a series of instructions.

"Well, good morning to you too," Harry said with a little bite to his voice, one that Tom actually paid attention to.

Tom watched Harry closely, his head cocked just so, "You're angry," as if suddenly just figuring it out. As if he was just paying close enough attention to the bond to realize it.

"Yes," Harry said nostrils flaring "Damn right I am."

"Why?" Tom asked, entirely baffled by the turn in emotions. They had what they wanted, control, with limited bloodshed. They had back up plans that were unneeded but there if necessary. There were reasons for everything that everyone would accept and the last of the opposition was arrested and about to go on trial.

"You're the smart one, figure it out," Harry said purposefully moving to sit on the table, but careful not to have ink spilling everywhere. He stared at Tom expectantly, wondering if he was going to have to spell it out. Spreading his legs out, face impassive just staring at his partner.

Tom leaned back in the highbacked chair, not very comfortable, but he wanted to see his partner properly. Still utterly baffled as to what had Harry so pissed off. He only had around ten minutes to figure it out before they were both due in the courtroom.

The door was swiftly knocked before the person came in without knocking, "We need your signature on this before the trial, Sir." As she came in with a clipboard, only to flush bright red, and looked anywhere other than at the two intent wizards. Unconsciously waving the clipboard against her flush cheeks.

"Yes?" his tone silky and amused.

"Signature, sir!" she squeaked out, again glancing at the door attempting to disappear.

Harry valiantly attempted to stifle his amusement.

"I do require the paperwork," Tom added, he wasn't…unaware of the effect he has on people. It had been a long time since it happened admittedly. He was pleasantly surprised to know he still had that affect and that Harry wasn't even slightly jealous or put out. He just found the entire thing amusing. Then again, they had nothing to feel jealous over, they would know if the other was attracted to anyone else, or with someone else full stop. This bond between them…allowed them to fully trust one another that might not have been otherwise possible.

A look at the name tag, he realized she worked as Bones secretary.

The second the signature was on it and the clipboard was handed back she gave a stilted thank you before fleeing as if the hounds of hell were after her.

"We do have to go," Tom said, realizing there was only enough time to get to the court room now. "Will you tell me what's wrong with you?" attempting his luck.

"No, I'll leave you to work it out," Harry said, kissing Tom softly, standing up before circling him and leaving the room. Even with a bond they were somehow still clueless, it didn't make everything alright but they'd get there.

Harry wouldn't give Tom up for anything.

The wait for the trial to start was excruciating, at least for Harry and he was halfway busy. He must have spoken to Fred, George, Bill, Charlie and Percy, wondering at Arthur's absence and enquiring about him. slightly worried that he was still sick despite not being in St. Mungo's anymore.

"No, no, he's fully recovered…we just…we told him to stay home, we don't want to risk a relapse." Bill easily explained, giving a small tense smile. "Ron and Ginny…um…made it harder on dad than they had any right to."

"Which is no right," Charlie scowled darkly, still furious about that.

"I'm sorry to hear that," Harry said his lips twisting in thought, as if it was something new, he was hearing. It wasn't, he not only got to know both Dolohov's he was in constant contact with them both. One via owl mostly and the other spent half his time with his family and the rest with Tom. It wasn't going to help them either when the newspaper came out tomorrow with the news that Ron was actively participating in 'raids' with clear pictures of him, before his body his found. It was the only kindness he'd afford the boy.

"Have you uh, have you heard from Ron? Seen him?" Charlie asked, leaning forward to study Harry.

"Ron?" Harry asked genuinely taken aback for a few seconds, "I can't say I have…" lying through his teeth, meeting Charlie's gaze, unafraid and unrepentant. "Why?" allowing a little bit of 'worry' for old times sake shine through. They had been friends at one point and it would be expected of him to care.

Everyone suddenly sat at attention, as someone began to call out the names of anyone important to the trial. Tom's seat was in the middle of the wizengamot now, with the wizengamot spread out. Harry was meant to be sitting behind Tom, so he remained where he was for now. Which was basically in the audience.

"We haven't seen him in a few days and it's been reported that he's not at Hogwarts anymore." Charlie said, eyes shadowed with worry. They'd already lost their mother; they didn't want to lose anyone else. "They don't know when they last saw him…apparently he was ditching classes."

"Even we didn't do that,"

"Well, not often," the other twin corrected with their mischievous grins.

"Oh," Harry murmured, as Ginny and Dean were dragged in, looking tired and scared. "He wasn't one for focusing on work if Hermione didn't badger him into it. I'm not surprised he didn't want to stay at school, although I thought you lived together? Have you checked the Burrow?"

"No…but I'll definitely try there," Bill agreed. "Thanks, Harry." it was a good guess, they hadn't even thought of that, hell, Ron's old bed was still there, and plenty of food to eat too, fruit though, which he doubted Ron would last long on.

"You're welcome," Harry said, he didn't feel guilty about lying to them, it was for their own peace of mind. It would see them surviving this changeover. If they knew the truth? He feared they'd try to get revenge, for a useless brother and a sister that would kill them for money and sympathy.

The Weasley's were honestly better off without Molly, Ron and Ginny.

Harry sighed softly, turning back around to see the pensive memories being watched. The evidence being shown to the wizengamot and Tom for the first time.

Percy groaned, "She's not still obsessed with him." sounding incredibly pained.

"There isn't going to be…"

"A time where she isn't," the twins spoke a little sombre.

"You can thank Mum for that," Fred added without George.

"Yeah, she did mention him a lot," Percy agreed, it was ridiculous really.

"Sshh!" the had hissed at them, as Dean Thomas was called up to the box, the chains were absent and Dean was positively terrified as he sat there wondering where it had all gone wrong.

"What is your name?" Yaxley asked, staring at Dean like a predator going after prey and Dean was making it all so easy looking like a deer in the headlights.

"Dean Thomas," the boy squeaked out.

"Age?"

"Seventeen," still anxious as he wrung his hands together like a terrified house-wife.

"Care to tell us what exactly happened on May the 1st?" Yaxley demanded, the boys own lawyer making no attempt to try and stop him.

Dean glanced at Ginny who gazed at him pleadingly, and then at Harry, then at his lawyer. The sinking feeling in his stomach made him want to vomit. He'd had three different pieces of advice thrown at him, one not to say anything – it was clear through Ginny's eyes – the other to no comment from the lawyer and Harry told him to be honest.

"I um, left Hogwarts with Ginny, it was meant to just be for a few hours…" Dean confessed, going with Harry's suggestion, praying he survived. "We were um…seeing each other, but Ginny wanted to keep it quiet, because of her…uh, brothers." or so she said.

"To clarify you thought it was an outing between a boyfriend and girlfriend?" Max – Dean and Ginny's lawyer – stood making sure to clarify it before Yaxley could twist it.

"Yes, to make out," Dean added, feeling more confident.

"And when you appeared in a radio newsroom?" Yaxley asked sarcastically.

Dean shook his head, "She um, she made it sound like we were just kidding around, that it wasn't on." he burst out angrily. "I thought we were just playing! I had no idea it was being broadcast!" lying through his teeth, he didn't want to go to prison.

"THAT'S A FILTHY ROTTEN LIE!" Ginny shouted out.

"That's enough, I want silence from you before I remove you from the room," Tom declared immediately, glaring at the girl who paled the colour of sour milk and quieted entirely. Unlike the rest of the world, she was sure she knew she was right. She had no proof, but she was positive this was You-Know-Who. Nobody was believing her, they would one day though, they'd see.

"Do you have proof of this?" Yaxley asked, slightly impressed with the lie, there was hardly any tells. Even the Weasley's seem to buy what Dean Thomas was saying.

"No," Dean said deflating slightly, losing his earlier confidence, it was a he said she said scenario. Ginny wouldn't tell the truth, there was no way she'd implicate herself. He was sure of it. "No, I don't…did she…did she really cause someone to die?" distancing himself entirely from what happened by his words 'did she' instead of 'did we'.

"How did you feel when you learned it had been broadcast?" the lawyer, Max, showed no emotion over the change in direction. It wasn't the first time his clients had done this, and it sure as hell wouldn't be the last.

"Sick, sick to my stomach, at what my words had done." Dean said genuinely, he regretted what happened, regardless of the lie he was telling. "I didn't know…I swear, I didn't know." turning his earnest gaze upon the wizengamot, pleading with them to believe him innocent and find him so.

"That is all, thank you," Yaxley grumbled, sitting down.

"I have nothing further," Max said, "I call Ginny Weasley to the stand." There were no other witnesses that they could call upon. They had seen the Auror's view of what happened, when they swooped in – after the anonymous tip – so it was clear what the Auror said and did, and honestly, there was no point to character witnesses when they had been found at the scene of the crime and everyone knew they were guilty, it would cause more trouble than it was worth.

"Harry, Harry, Harry you have to stop this! You have to do your duty, you must!" Ginny shrieked, as the guard pushed her softly but firmly towards the seat Dean had just vacated. "Don't…don't let them do this, Harry, please, we're practically family! Mum and dad practically raised you!"

Harry gaped in incredulous shock, practically raised him? What the hell was she on? He visited during the summer holidays and what he's suddenly been raised by the Weasleys? Deluded, utterly and completely deluded.

Unseen the Weasley's couldn't help but cringe at their sisters' delusions. Thank Merlin their father's fiancée didn't seem to be disgusted or put off by it. If anything, she emoted sympathy, but commented that not everyone was sound of mind. That some people can't be helped and if need be, she'd gladly pay for her stay at St. Mungo's until they knew for sure. She didn't even disparage their mother despite the fact she harboured a lot of anger at her. If it wasn't for Molly…they would have always been together and had a good life. Maybe.

"Silence! Or I will have you removed from this courtroom without you getting a chance to defend yourself. Ms. Weasley." Minister Tom declared, giving her a warning that he would not tolerate her nonsense.

"HARRY! ACT NOW! DO IT!" Ginny shrieked, scratching at the hands holding her in place, "YOU CAN'T LET HIM WIN! I KNOW YOU, PLEASE!"

Tom straightened noticing a visible reaction from Harry, with it corresponding through the bond. "Harry?" he questioned, wand in hand, despite the fact he doesn't need it.

Harry shook his head, his fingers pressed against his skull, realizing it was dangerous to remain there he fled. Fled the courtroom, fled the Ministry of magic.

Tom watched the progress, inwardly cursing, hating he couldn't go after him right away. Pursing his lips, as the spectators speculated on what was going on. Wondering why Harry had reacted the way he did, and the press already had their own thoughts and twists on how they could make the headlines out of it.

"Members of the Wizengamot, I wish you to only use the evidence presented to you to make deliberations on their guilt or innocence." Tom informed them, they all knew the changes in the way the wizengamot and the Ministry was run.

The Minister was now responsible for handing out sentences not the wizengamot but he had to do it within the constraints of the law. Giving them a pointed look which his people would know to move their backsides. Hopefully his guards will be with him at the very least.

He had a feeling he'd succeeded in slipping away from everyone.

The wizengamot left the tense room, the wizard still kept a hold of Ms. Weasley who was just staring at the door in disbelief. As if she couldn't believe Harry had just up and left. Abandoned her to her fate. Tom believed there was more to it than that, as soon as the trial was over, he was leaving to find Harry if he hadn't returned by then.

In an astonishing move, the wizengamot was ready for the verdict within fifteen minutes. Without needing to come up with additional information other than guilty or not guilty it went much more smoothly. They didn't need to collectively agree on a time for the sentence.

"Ladies and Gentlemen of the Wizengamot, have you reached a decision?" Tom asked, staring primarily at the chief warlock, who was responsible for giving the verdict. Which hadn't changed, at all, so it wasn't all terribly new to them.

"We have, Minister Riddle," came the declaration.

"We find the defendant, Dean Thomas, not guilty," Dean almost bowled over the relief he was feeling, it left him shaking. He couldn't have stopped even if he wanted to.

The Weasley's glanced resignedly at each other, reckoning they knew exactly what was going to happen. It was just a matter of how long, and given who the Minister was to Harry…it wasn't going to be a light sentence.

"We find the defendant Ginevra Weasley, guilty." Ginny just shook her head, defeat written across her features. Still staring at the door as if hoping for some sort of miracle or people to charge in and stop this.

"Damn it," Bill hissed quietly, but not surprisingly so.

"Ginevra Weasley, normally for such crimes you'd get four or five years, especially since it's your first foray into the Justice system. Unfortunately, I cannot let it stand when an Auror, a good man, good men died on behalf of the rage and hate you so enticed that day. You left families bereft, grieving, without their loved ones. I herby impose the strictest sentence I can, which will see you for fifteen years in Azkaban prison…I sincerely hope you can somehow muster up some regret for your actions that day before your release." Tom could see that many of the Aurors were really happy with that outcome, they were all but cheering as they finally allowed themselves to grieve for their lost loved ones. "As for Dean Thomas, you're free to go with the warning of the courts not to be so stupid."

Tom didn't wait for everyone else to leave, he immediately went down the steps and out through the side door the Wizengamot use for deliberations. There was a door there they could get out of, usually used in the event of a riot of sorts.

It was time to find Harry.

A/N – and the next two chapters will be epilogues or rather time jumps, the next one about 5 months then the other about fifteen years in the future 😊 I hope you've all enjoyed the story. Normally they're so easy to write, but this one did not want to be written, not sure if it's fatigue from writing the same story again and again or if it is just knowing it's coming to an end or just general tiredness and coldness too. Or would you like to see a calm moment between Tom/Harry slashy goodness if you like before it comes to an end? I can't be arsed writing smut very much anymore, been there done it all I got smut fatigue lol but yeah, I'll be happy to give you some sappiness between the characters 😉 if it's what you'd like seen as it is ending Will there be another Weasley that Arthur can grow up and see what kind of child he and his fiancée could have made? R&R please