Summary: When Harry made up his mind to do anything to destroy Voldemort, he had no idea it would include werewolves, elves, the Veil, the Chamber of Secrets, wandless magic, Azkaban, unimaginable power, his own army, and… a secret identity?
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, all I own is an action figure my family got me as a joke but I adore anyway and a few cheap posters.
"Very well," Fudge replied curtly to Harry's conclusion, "whoever believes that Remus J. Lupin should be cleared of all charges, please raise your hand…"
Chapter 4: Mirrored
Harry found himself nervous for the first time since the trial began. He knew for a fact that Umbridge and Fudge had not done this for the purpose of justice, but to make a point. A point that all halfbreeds are scum that is. And he would've bet all his gold in Gringotts that they had paid off the majority of the Wizengamot.
And oh how right he was.
The hands went up and Harry frantically tried to count them. "One… two… seven… twelve… TWELVE! Is that enough? How many people are in a Wizengamot trial again? Good Lord I can't remember! Calm yourself Potter. OH! I studied the Book of Wizarding Law cover-to-cover for this. And now I… oh yeah, I remember now. There are precisely twenty-five members at each hearing. Wait a second!"
Harry felt the blood drain from his face, twelve out of twenty-five was NOT a good number. They were going to convict Lupin!
Fudge looked very smug, obviously thinking the same thing as Harry, "and those in favor of conviction?"
Harry absentmindedly counted the hands in the air, "One… two… seven… twelve… TWELVE! Wait a minute…"
"Well, well, well…" he said aloud, "It appears we have one less vote. For a Wizengamot vote to be legal there must be twenty-five people."
"Says who," Umbridge asked icily.
"Says the Book of Wizarding Law page 522, section 9, paragraph 7," Harry responded going into defense mode again.
"Right again," Percy added covering his head protectively in case Umbridge decided to whack it again.
"So now what?" asked Fudge, "As the Minister of Magic, perhaps my point of view should be taken in this…"
"And break the law, just when I thought you could sink no lower," Elaina Lafina once again cut into the conversation. "The public will riot against you if you do…"
Harry cleared his throat, "Actually, the law states that the member of the Wizengamot closest to the trial, no matter who it is, must cast the final vote in the case that there is a person less."
No one even bothered checking the Book of Wizarding Law. It would just infuriate Umbridge more by seeing it in print.
"Fine," said Fudge, "just fine! But where are we going to find a twenty-fifth member to…"
He was cut short as Dumbledore cleared his throat and Harry rolled his eyes at the comment. Dumbledore stood up.
"I will side with Mr. Lupin and his attorney on this case," he announced, "I believe the court should now be adjourned."
Quite a few people looked furious, but they had no choice but to comply. The chains released Lupin, who looked immensely relieved, and everyone started exiting the courtroom. Only Percy hung back to gather his things. Harry decided to hang back with him.
Percy sneered, "You could have cost me my job."
Once again, Harry felt himself overflow with anger.
"And that's all you care about isn't it," he replied vehemently, "your job, your reputation, you. And you don't care how many people you have to step on to get to the top, even if it's your own family. Well let me tell you this, you're damn lucky to even have a family who cares. A family that, no matter what you do, will still love you and keep trying to contact you even when you slam the door in their faces, a family that still sends you a sweater every Christmas even though you send it back. Some people would kill for that! I would kill for that! Do you know who I have? No one! My aunt and uncle don't count 'cause you know what? They don't care about me, they wish I would up and leave them, they think I'm a freak, a menace to society! You actually have a family who cares, and how do you repay them for always being there? By breaking their hearts, that's how! And Professor Lupin, you know he's not evil, and you were perfectly willing to lie about him just because of your job! You could have sentenced an innocent man to Azkaban, which would have killed him after the first few full moons. That's murder Percy, and you know it. Just think about what I said - okay?"
And with that Harry turned tail and left, leaving behind a very stunned and guilt-ridden Percy.
Upon entering the corridor outside Harry was met with a frenzy of panicked voices.
"Where's Harry?"
"I thought he was with you."
"I thought he was with Dumbledore."
"Oh my God! He's been kidnapped by You-Know-Who!"
"Molly calm down."
"I can't lose him! This is entirely my fault!"
"Shut up you bloody werewolf, hyperventilating will not help this situation. He's probably run off again."
"He's been kidnapped!"
"He's probably dead!"
"What if they're torturing him!"
"Someone call an Auror!"
"Um… you are an Auror."
"Oh, right."
"Someone inform the Daily Prophet!"
"Someone…"
"You guys I'm right here!" Harry interrupted.
Everyone turned around and stared before all rushing forward and pulling him into a massive hug.
"I see they're all happy the weapon isn't gone," Harry thought sarcastically.
When everyone had finally said hi and moved back a bit, Harry found himself faced with his ex-professor.
"Thank you Harry…" he started, "so much. I owe you my life I'm sure… I wouldn't have lasted in Azkaban… I… I don't know how I'll ever repay you… I…"
Lupin's voice broke, he didn't cry or anything just kind of broke, went silent.
"I didn't… It was nothing really… I don't deserve any of what you said… I mean… how could I not have come… they probably wouldn't have convicted you anyway… and you have nothing to repay me for. Free of charge remember?" Harry managed a weak smile.
He had gone very red and all of the power and confidence he had felt before was gone. He was himself again. Oh joy…
"Actually, you're wrong," it was Elaina Lafina who spoke, "I have no solid proof, but I know for a fact that that Umbridge cow paid off way more people then that. It appears you opened up quite a few consciences back there. I was wondering if you, Mr. Lupin, and Professor Dumbledore would like to come to my office for a cup of tea."
"Um… I'd be obliged Madam Lafina, but I'm afraid I must get back to my aunt and uncle's house."
"And how, Potter, do you think you are going to accomplish that?" asked Snape menacingly.
"Er… well I'm out of Muggle money for the bus, so I guess I'll be running quite a bit today… but don't worry," he added quickly seeing the disbelieving faces, "I like running, been doing it every day, helps me relieve stress. And I might hitchhike some too…"
"You will do nothing of the sort," Dumbledore stated, "I suggest you thank Miss Lafina's invitation then come with us so we can find a way to get you back to your home. And have a meeting perhaps."
Harry shrugged, "OK. Hope I don't get into anyone's way."
"We'll meet you there, mate," Ron said trying to be reassuring.
"Are you sure you want me to come along?" Lupin asked Elaina, surprised she wished him to be anywhere near her, "I'd understand perfectly if you don't want me…"
"Nonsense," Elaina replied, "this whole thing must have been a terrible ordeal for you. The least I can do is offer some hospitality."
Harry had a feeling hospitality was not the only reason Elaina had invited them to her office. He also had a very warm feeling on his back. As if his backpack had an electric blanket in it or something.
"Odd," he thought before following Lupin and Dumbledore to Elaina's office.
When in the office, Harry found it rather nice. It had an extensive picture window and a large desk covered with an assortment of paperwork. Elaina didn't seem like a very organized person, she simply magiced everything into a huge, randomly arranged pile and shoved it into a file cabinet.
"Soooo… take a seat why don't you," she said, pointing to three chairs in front of her desk before walking over to a fireplace and putting a kettle over it, "hope you don't mind tea bags, they're all I really keep around."
"No, no, of course not," Remus answered as Elaina took a seat at her desk, facing them, "and I don't believe I've thanked you for taking my side so… fervently. I hope it won't give you a bad rep with Fudge…"
"Mr. Lupin…"
"Call me Remus."
"Well then Remus, let me first assure you that my reputation with the Minister was never good, but he knows very well that if he so much as mentions sacking me he will lose the support of the Lafina's, which is something he could really use at the moment. Little does our inadequate tyrant know, however, he's already lost it. Never really had it to begin with," Lafina grinned, "and as for taking your side, well… it was the right thing to do wasn't it? Though, I did get a bit out of hand when it came to insulting Umbridge."
"At least you didn't bust out of a broom closet acting like you owned the place, yell at the top of your lungs, yell at Dumbledore," he turned to Dumbledore, "sorry, and totally, like, I don't know what happened… does it feel warm in here to you guys?" Harry asked.
"I don't think so," Elaina said before Lupin or Dumbledore could respond, "Um… look, what I brought you all in here for, well, it was more then hospitality really. I know you," she looked Dumbledore in the eye, "have some sort of, secret, group, or, order, that opposes both the Ministry and Voldemort."
"I do, now do I?" Dumbledore questioned a mischievous twinkle alight in his eye.
"Don't play games with me, OK? We all know I have a short temper." She snapped, "I want in."
There was a dead silence in the room, and then:
"I think we can arrange that, don't you Remus?"
Remus just nodded, smiling slightly at the taken aback look on Elaina's face.
"You're just going to let me in, just like that?"
"I do believe so Miss Lafina; you may attend our meeting tonight. And now that that is through, Harry, believe me when I say you did wonderfully in your case. And I forgive you for the yelling, next time I will remember not to contradict you when you are in a particularly commanding mood."
Harry still didn't agree with Dumbledore, and wasn't too sorry about what he'd said. (Why was he feeling so warm?) He wanted to tell Dumbledore 'I'm still right and you're still wrong' but he didn't want to get into another argument, so he simply asked:
"Commanding?"
"But of course," Lupin said, "you were excellent. And, need I say it again, saved my life. At one point I started thinking you were an angel…" he joked.
Harry laughed out loud at this; it was just too ridiculous…
"W… what kind of wacky angel would I be?"
"About as wacky as your father and Sirius I imagine," Remus grinned, though the grin faltered as he mentioned Sirius, "Can you imagine those two in halos?"
"Sirius… That's it!" Harry suddenly exclaimed causing everyone to jump.
The teacup Elaina was levitating towards him leapt to, cracking on his head. Harry, however, ignored it and pulled the mirror out of his backpack. It radiated heat and glowed with such a prosperous amount light it nearly blinded him. Harry started walking, not on his own though, the mirror was pulling him, leading him on. He felt like a zombie as he let the mirror's force overtake him and lead him to wherever it was pulling him to. Harry started to dash down the halls, the mirror's force was pulling harder and he had to run to keep up. He could hear footsteps behind him, but he didn't stop, he couldn't stop. He came to a corridor, an all too familiar one: The Department of Mysteries.
He felt a spell being shot at him to try and make him stop, but he easily blocked it with wandless magic. To others, it may have looked as though the spell just bounced off of him without him even doing anything. Harry simply kept running through the doors, each one opening as he went, and just as he had done so many times in his visions that year, went purposefully. Only this time, he didn't stop by the prophesies, this time, Harry Potter found himself less then a foot away from the veil...
Next Chapter Includes:
An angry Snape
More about Elaina
A telephone call to the Dursley's
The mirror
Questions/Comments: Email me: (link on my author page)