Story Challenge: Free to good home! Harry becomes a minister preaching love and tolerance. All rights belong to their respective authors.


Harry Potter Minister of Magic


Harry Potter looked around. Ron was lying there, crumpled on the ground, his wand lying several feet away from him. Hermione was across the room, blood pooling around her leg where the glass had pierced her. His two best friends were in agony.

The sound of malevolent laughter filled the hall of the Ministry. There was no warmth or kindness in that laugh, no smile or sunshine. It enjoyed the pain it had caused.

"You were foolish to come here, Harry," the voice of Voldemort hissed. "And now your 'friends' have suffered for your actions," the Dark Lord said, his contempt for the concept of friendship evident in the way he spat out that word. "With but a few gestures of I have shattered them. And now...it is your turn."

Harry felt...sad.

Harry walked over to Ron, his eyes filled with pain at seeing the red-head in obvious misery. Voldemort was giving Harry time to examine his friends, he knew, wanting the image of Ronald's Weasley's suffering to twist the knife further in his heart. And it hurt seeing his friends suffering as they were.

Harry pulled out his wand, and Voldemort jerked his own wand to cover the boy who had thrice defeated him. But Voldemort stayed his spell for an instant when Harry didn't point the wand towards the black-robed snake-like man standing just a few feet away. Instead Harry held his holly and phoenix feather wand over Ron. He poured his entire heart into the charm. All of his love for Ron. All the laughter they shared in the Gryffindor Common Room, playing pranks on each other, roughhousing, grinning at each other. All the times they enjoyed flying together, practicing magic together. It all poured out through the magic.

Harry watched as the pain and tension left his friend, and the grimace of pain was replaced with a relaxed smile. Ron's body released all the pain as his soul embraced the goodness of his friend's magic.

Harry stood and began walking away from Ron, walking calmly towards Hermione, ignoring the incredulous expression on Voldemort's face.

The Dark Lord's red eyes blazed in fury. Malice poured out from his body in waves of sickening green light. "You will face me, Potter," Voldemort spat, sending silent Imperius compulsion towards the black haired youth. It should have made the boy stop still, turn, and then face him. But Harry didn't even miss a step. The magic seemed to just wash around the boy, unable to find a hold on him.

And then Harry was standing over a whimpering Hermione Granger. Her eyes met his, and the look of sadness in Harry's face was instantly replaced by warmth and kindness. For a moment, the two looked into each others' eyes, feeling the love that was between them.

A blood red curse struck Harry's arm and pain erupted where the beam of light had struck. Harry turned to see the Dark Lord standing there with a sneer on his reptilian face. Voldemort's blazing red eyes bored back into Harry's. And then he struck, sending a barrage of curses towards the boy. Harry had to turn to face the attack. He was parrying curses with his wand while simultaneously erecting a series of shields. A frown found its way back on to Harry's face as he was forced to turn curse after curse away and Voldemort's sneering laughter returned.

It was then that another shield interposed itself between Hermione and Voldemort. Harry looked over to see Ron, standing on his feet. "Save Hermione, Harry! I can cover you for that long, mate!"

Voldemort snarled in frustration, launching a series of curses back towards Ron, only for those to be repelled as well. Standing behind Ron were Luna and Neville.

"Sorry it took us so long to get here," Neville apologized. "Ran into some trouble on the way in."

And then Harry was finished. Hermione lay back on the stone floor, but a content smile on her face. The wounds on her legs had healed and Harry was standing up again.

Ron, Neville, and Luna all trained their wands on Voldemort.

"Foolish children! Do you think a group of mere children are any threat at all to me?" Voldemort snarled.

Harry stood tall and walked to the middle of the floor. "You're right, Tom. We're no threat to you." He took a step forward. His friends brandished their wands.

Harry put his away. "Lower your wands guys. Nobody is going to hurt Tom."

Ron looked at Harry incredulously. "Harry, you can't be serious! This is Voldemort! This isn't Crabbe or Goyle, mate! He's a killer!"

Neville looked at Harry hesitantly. Harry smiled at him. "Do you trust me, Neville?" Neville nodded, and slowly lowered his wand. He noticed that Luna had already put hers away and was looking serenely at Harry.

"Ron, I know you're not ready to accept it yet, mate, but it's okay. Can you take care of Hermione for me? She's going to be a little weak still."

Reluctantly, Ron nodded, never taking his wand off of Voldemort and began to walk towards Hermione.

Voldemort's wand instantly targeted the Weasley boy, a flash of red fire flaring out towards him, faster than anyone could erect a shield. But not faster than Harry could move. Instantly, he was there, standing between Ron and the hex.

Harry felt the pain, the burning. He closed his eyes, then opened them. Then he took a step towards Voldemort.

Voldemort sent a series of vicious hexes towards Harry. Each one struck true. The Boy-Who-Lived had even raised his arms out to to his sides to make for a better target. Voldemort watched as Harry flinched and stumbled. The snake like man smiled malevolently. "Accepting death to save your friends, Harry? A noble choice. But painful. Isn't it?"

Harry took another step forward. "I forgive you, Tom," Harry said, his eyes still spread open wide.

Voldemort's eyes flashed angrily. "Do not call me that filthy Muggle name again! I am Lord Voldemort!" he screamed out. "CRUCIO!"

A cry of pain escaped Harry's lips and he fell to the ground. Ron, Neville, and Luna all cried out. But then Harry started back to his feet.

"CRUCIO!" Voldemort cried out again, more forcefully this time. And again the pain wracked through Harry. It was the most terrible of agonies Harry had ever experienced. But even as the pain coursed through him, he accepted it. It took it into himself. And loved it. The pain was part of him, just as joy and happiness were. Harry opened his eyes and took several more steps forward.

"I forgive you for killing my parents, Tom. I forgive you for all the harm you have caused me," Harry said, now only a few meters from the black cloaked wizard.

"CRUCIO! CRUCIO!" Voldemort called out even more insistently. This time Harry Potter didn't even flinch as the first Unforgivable Curse blasted into him and he even quickened his pace as the second one struck. Harry steepled his hands together in front of him.

Lord Voldemort had wanted to save Harry's death for a special occasion. He had wanted to wait until he had a proper audience to see him destroy his hated foe, for his minions to witness his strength and for the opposition to despair at their 'savior's' demise. But the boy had just gotten too close.

"AVADA KEDAVRA!" he screamed and a sickly beam of green light flashed out to strike Harry directly in the chest.

The light left Harry's eyes.

Only for a moment. And then it was back, brighter than ever, and Harry crossed the final steps between him and the Dark Lord. And embraced him.

"I love you, Tom," Harry said quietly. "You've had a hard life. As hard as mine. You are filled with such pain and hatred," he said, holding the snake-like man to him in an embrace. "I forgive you for all that you've done to me. But for you to be healed, you will have to let go of all your hate and find a way to forgive yourself."

Tom Riddle found himself paralyzed, unable to break the hold. There was a powerful warmth flowing into him from the boy who was hugging him. There was a strong burning feeling within him as the coldness inside him was being filled with something he had never before felt. Shock and incredulity filled his mind and he was confronted with the fact that the Boy-Who-Lived, this Minister of Magic, was completely sincere. The boy loved him. Tom Riddle. NO! He screamed in denial. He was not Tom Riddle anymore! He was Lord Voldemort! Voldemort!

With an inarticulate scream, Voldemort focused all of his hate and pain. In a flash of sickly green light, Voldemort vanished away, leaving a saddened Harry Potter standing there surrounded by his dumbstruck friends.


Challenge details: Harry Potter becomes a pacifist. He will not use magic, or even violent physical action to harm another being. That doesn't mean he won't involve himself in fights. He can still shield others in battles, fight fire with water, imprison another, use 'painless' stun or imprisonment techniques. Use his patronus. Etc. (Only exception to the 'no harm' rule is against pure evil, soulless creatures. Inferi and dementors can be blasted away.)

Harry seeks to spread the belief of tolerance, kindness, and love to everyone. He want to save everyone. Both Malfoys. Bellatrix. Snape. Sirius. Remus. Voldemort. Even Dumbledore needs saving.

The power of love works. It shields and transforms. But does no harm. To anyone.

The first few chapters can include Harry struggling with his own inner hate and anger. During this time he can use violence against others. But once he overcomes it Harry never again is angry. Not for any reason. It is no longer part of his character.

Setting: Any time after Chamber of Secrets.

Pairings: Any, as long as it is portrayed as love.