To Err is Human, to Forgive Divine, but Trust Honored Above All
Written by Chibikan
Chapter 1
Harry was bidding goodbye to his friends as they left the station. His uncle was late for God knows why. Oh well, the longer it took him to get there the longer he had until he was thrust back into their lives. Heaven knew that they hated him, and only Heaven knew the hell he truly went through there. Yes, he would savor the wait as long as he could.
Suddenly the sound of apparition brought him to his feet. He looked around, drawing his wand.
"So, little Baby Potter is all alone?" came the cackle of Bellatrix Lestrange in complete death eater garb.
Harry spun around to his left. This woman was stupid, attacking him in an area full of muggles. Of course the muggles just went about pretending they saw nothing, as muggles often did when they didn't want to get involved. "You……" He raised his wand hoping to get off a stunner before she could get one off a spell herself.
But something seemed wrong. Both seemed to notice it. Their attentions were drawn to a person handing off a finely wrapped package.
"You know what?" Bella began. "I think I'll catch up with you later." A crack later and she was gone.
Milliseconds later a loud explosion rang from around Harry. He looked towards the explosion to see a rush of flame engulfing the muggles around him. Without thinking he cast a protego spell around himself. But while the shield was enough to keep the flames from incinerating him the backlash threw Harry into a brick barrier knocking him unconscious to the ground.
Several hours later Harry awoke….in a small, dank, odorous, cell. The most horrible creatures passed by him, tearing away every good feeling he knew. And he realized, like someone pouring a bucket of ice cold water on him, just where he was, Azkaban.
Meanwhile in the ministry…
"That's right Dumbledore, we found your golden boy at the scene of the crime, with almost fifty muggles dead around him. He had his wand out and after a priori incantatem found it was Potter who cast the curse." Fudge told Dumbledore who stood over his desk.
Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry shook with despair. It couldn't be, Harry would never betray them. He would never attack muggles. But the aurors around him confirmed Fudge's story. He had to admit that it was true. There would be no need for veritaserum. He said nothing, not wanting to give Fudge satisfaction at having been right about Harry. Apparently the boy was unstable and felt such a deep unseated hate at his muggle relatives that it had turned him into another Voldemort.
And so Harry sat. He had no idea that his only hope had believed whatever it was that Fudge had told him. He sat for six weeks, not knowing that as soon as they had heard, his friends had begun to hate him, even his father's old friend, Remus Lupin. He sat for six weeks enduring things that not even the strongest wizard on Earth could withstand. He was certain he would go insane if not worse if no one came for him.
However, insanity nor death was in his future. For someone else had heard of the circumstances, the one person who knew for sure that he was innocent. And he was about to find out just ironic life could be.
AN: Another short chappie. Yes I know Harry has only been in Azkaban for a very short time, but to me 6 weeks would be pushing it for a kid who's already lost almost everything. I needed it to be a short enough time so that Harry might still have a little bit of innocence in him. Can you guess who will come to Harry's rescue?
COMING SOON: Irony is as irony does, and though Harry has nearly lost all hope, there is one who would see him delivered of that hell.
