I know I originally said 37 chapters, but everyone gave me such super ideas, it grew. There are two more chapters after this one. Don't worry – I'll put 'the end' at the end so you know it's 'the end'!

Chapter 37

Crime & Punishment

Harry and Hermione spent a delightful summer of honeymoon bliss at Potter Manor, unpacking Godric's Suitcase after the elves' honeymoon, and finally settling in. Winky and Dobby honeymooned for a week (which they tried not to feel guilty for taking) in the magical trunk "because that's where we fell in love, kind masters", Winky explained. After their honeymoons the enchanted marble track was removed from the trunk and made to fit in the study, Hermione and Harry's favorite room.

Neville and Luna, to the delight of all, bought the Weasley's new home. The Weasleys were just too homesick for the Burrow, which was now safe, and they happily sold the large and formal manor to the delighted Longbottoms. Luna got her life long wish and they spent a delightful honeymoon at the North Pole, visiting Father Christmas' workshop.

Minerva McGonagall happily stepped down from the Headmistress position – she far preferred teaching to leadership. She filled a slot teaching occlumency, animagus transformation, apparition, theory, and other forms of magic that had fallen through the cracks over the decades. She intended to teach as long as she was capable, and that's what she did.

The companions set up the round office by de-cluttering all of Albus' old knick knacks (most of which were non-functional junk laid out to impress people), returning books to the library, private books and belongings to Alberforth, and sending his giant telescope to the astronomy tower where it belonged. They made a half circle of desks for the four of them where Albus' use to be, turned his private room into a private counseling room, and the loft where the telescope was into a relaxing lounge area. Each couple had private quarters down the hall. The weapons of the founders were placed in very secure cases in the office, but the Founders assured Lady Hogwarts if she wanted to simply hide them again for the future, she was welcomed to do so.

Besides a full set of 'Hogwarts: A History' on the shelves, in a place of honor sat Harry's absolutely favorite book ever – 'Signature Wizard Effects' by Gred and Forge Weasley. Harry had inspired them to write it, and the book was filled with how to make your eyes twinkle, teeth sparkle, robes billow and tons of other trademark looks. Harry was trying a new one out every week.

Soon after the Founders took their seats in the Headmaster's office, Madame Bones and Kingsley Shacklebolt visited. Brushing the soot off their robes as she emerged from the fireplace, she smiled warmly at the four, and looked around the office pleased to note how neat and clean it looked. She was a very organized woman.

They gestured the two to sit in comfortable chairs, and Dobby proudly served tea and refreshments before popping away. "What can we do for you, Minister?" Harry politely asked.

"Well Harry, we still have close to 30 Death Eaters in stasis. We wanted your opinion what to do with them." She sat back and watched the foursome's faces.

"Hmmmm" Harry fought back guilty feeling as he thought about Malfoy the Ottospam – his favorite, much abused, foot rest. "That is a good question. They aren't serving any kind of sentence or suffering punishment while in stasis. Do we know if they are alive – did the death mark kill them when Riddle fell?"

Kingsley cleared his throat. "We don't know for sure, but research indicates they should be fine."

"The four of you are extremely skilled Occlumens" Amelia stated. "If we revive them, you could determine if any of them were repentant at least."

Luna nodded and mused "it would be fair to release them and put them through a 'reintroduction class or something, to see how they react to current events."

"Yes" Hermione agreed, "but what do you do with them? Azkaban isn't much use without the dementors, and nobody misses those. Is there a real jail now, or is the death sentence still used? Remember, most of the Death Eaters are murderers and violent criminals."

"Azkaban has been revamped," Amelia said. "It does have more humane conditions, aurors for guards, and is much more secure. But could you take their magic from them?" the minister asked hopefully. "Perhaps we could rehabilitate them if they were disarmed, so to speak."

Neville and Harry shook their heads. "Magic is in you – in each cell, every fiber of your being." Harry explained. "It's just not possible."

"Unless…" Luna pursed her lips in thought, "we could infect someone with permanent magic dyslexia…"

"Whoa" Hermione shared mind speak with her best friend, and they batted ideas back and forth. "It's possible, but I would think a wizard so affected would become so embittered, they would either go insane or totally postal."

"Postal?" Neville asked.

"Muggle saying" Harry and Hermione answered in unison.

"Let me check something for you, Minister," Harry said and popped away, returning in a few moments with his portrait of Sirius Black. He set it down on a conjured easel.

"Minister, Kingsley, I spent a short time in the beyond during my sixth year when I briefly died. During that time, I brought back the soul of my godfather here, which resides in this painting." Sirius nodded in agreement. "As you remember, he was murdered by being pushed through the veil by Bella Lestrange under the imperious curse by Albus."

"Hey – you really didn't need to bring that up, my boy" Dumbledore called down from his portrait in the office. Harry gave him tolerant and condescending smile.

"It keeps you humble, Albus. Goodness knows you need it." Harry chuckled.

Amelia Bones shook her head. She understood the portraits of the headmasters, but to keep one of such a traitor was beyond her. It obviously amused the Founders though.

"Sirius?" Harry asked his godfather. "I never asked because I felt it must have been private, but we now need to know. What was beyond the veil when you were pushed through?"

The dark haired man winced, but started to speak. "Well, death was instant, if that's what you are asking."

"Can you tell us more, Mr. Black? We are considering it as punishment for the Death Eaters. We can't keep them in stasis forever." Amelia leaned forward, almost frightened of learning the answers.

Sirius smiled weakly. "It's probably different for everyone. The veil led me to pitch black space – not a room. There is no floor, no air, no light, no movement – nothing. You are alone with yourself – your thoughts – for who knows how long. My life started replaying for me. I don't know if it was done to me, or just my mind doing it out of boredom. Seeing all the mistakes I had ever made was not fun. When that was done I found myself in that paradise you found me in, Harry. I always got the impression I had been judged. I never met any Death Eaters or dark wizards in the place I call Paradise."

"I think that might be your answer, Minister" Neville said. "It's humane and painless. Who knows where the evil dead go, but at least is it a separate place from the good dead. I think as each Death Eater is brought back they need to be read by us or Professor Snape, and then guilty ones need to be executed."

O0o0o0o0o0o

The tins of Spam were brought from the Longbottom's basement to the Ministry of Magic. Prisoners were restored four at a time, and taken to a class room to catch up with current events. Once they understood their circumstances, they were brought to private rooms where each individual was interviewed by an auror and one of the Founders in disguise (as Harry felt if most of them saw him or Hermione, they would freak out).

It took a little over a week, and it was painful and exhausting. The large majority of the Death Eaters were unrepentant murderers, who as soon as they felt there was some hope for pardon started to make mental plans to either resurrect Riddle or take his place in ruling the world.

Hermione was able to find one that was forced to take the Death Mark under the imperius curse and never wanted to do the horrors he was forced to do. He was sent for intense healing first at St. Mungos, and then with Luna for counseling.

There were a couple low-level Death Eaters, and a few younger ones, who had never murdered or tortured. They weren't exactly innocent, but the aurors chose to give them a jail sentence in the newly updated Azkaban to serve time and hopefully learn a lesson. In all, out of 31 Death Eaters, only six were spared the death sentence.

Harry himself had the dubious honor of interviewing Lucius Malfoy. Malfoy didn't recognize him in his Edward Evans persona, but Harry still felt terribly uncomfortable around the man. The slender blond was as arrogant and warped as the day he was canned.

"So what ever happened to my wife and son?" he sniffed disdainfully.

"Your wife died when Riddle did because of her death mark" Harry pretended to read it off a parchment, "and the whereabouts of your son are unknown."

"Oh" he said in his bored manner. Harry peered into his mind. "Good thing I was in that can then – stupid Narcissa. Probably drank her self to death before the mark could take her out." Harry was more than a little shocked over the total lack of concern over his wife and son. Draco never even entered Lucius' thoughts again.

"What ever happened to Severus Snape? You do know a Death Eater is teaching all those brats at Hogwarts, don't you?" Malfoy drawled in his annoying silky voice.

"He was a double agent, spying for the Order of the Phoenix the whole time. He had his death mark removed willingly months before Riddle died and is living happily ever after" Harry replied. Lucius sniffed in disbelief.

"They told us the Dark Lord was vanquished. Did Potter end up doing it?" "It doesn't matter what this kid says – I will never believe a half-blood boy could kill the Dark Lord." .Lucius wasn't terribly bothered by the death of Riddle – he just wanted to know who was the most powerful.

"Yep" Harry answered smugly.

"How?" Lucius asked with the faintest of interest.

"He merged with a part-fairy, muggleborn, half-giant, goblin, house-elf, pureblood and centaur, turned into a dragon and roasted him with magical fire. It was quite spectacular." Harry did get quite a thrill from telling the bigoted snob that. Although Malfoy showed nothing on his face, his insides were screaming with disbelief.

"I suppose the Dark Lord put up quite a fight, then" he drawled in a faintly hopeful voice.

Harry couldn't stand it any more. It's not right to torture prisoners, but this disgusting man was responsible for the death, rape, and torment of many with no regrets. He seriously thought he was superior by right of blood. "How about I show you" Harry smiled at him dangerously.

Before Lucius could say a thing, Harry was in his head, holding him captive. The Boy-Who-Lived revealed himself and replayed the final battle for Malfoy, showing him the quivering frightened Riddle on the ground, ignoring his troops and his loyal Death Eaters and crying in fear. Lucius saw his former house-elf, the mudblood Granger, and all manner of mix breeds and animals form together to take out the Dark Lord as easily as snuffing a candle.

When he had finished sharing in the final battle, Lucius Malfoy sat back weakly in his seat. Limp and defeated, he looked at Harry who transformed back into himself. There was nothing more to say – the veil waited for him.