"Thank you, Mr Potter." He took the parchment the clerk was patiently holding. "The Wizengamot will confer and inform you of our decision."
Fifteen minutes later Harry was holding his breath and Hermione's hand. Would the five members of the Wizengamot agree to his requests? Would he get what wanted?
"The sitting members of the Wizengamot have reached a consensus…"
Lucius Malfoy looked at Harry from his seat in the Wizengamot members' benches. For the first time, Harry saw a Malfoy that was not pleased with his own actions.
"We regret that we are unable to meet all of your requests, Mr Potter." He sighed. "As far as your requests in relation to Life in Exile? Point One. Your muggle identity and altering it are a minor issue. Nominating only one person to be aware of your muggle identity, we believe not to be a wise idea, however there are ways to lock that information away in a person's mind that is only released upon your chosen information holder's death. Point Two. Altering your appearance. Miss Granger's suggestions are feasible, both of them. We do understand your reasoning and to a point, we agree with it. We don't like it, but we do understand it. Point Three. We have conferred with St. Mungo's and the only option available to you is sterilisation, be it temporary, linked to your core binding or permanent. There are no other alternatives, I'm afraid. Point Four. Your finances. That's a little more complex. Gringotts have informed us that the Potter Family Charter states that no more than ten percent of the gross estate value may be transferred to the muggle world, however that is still a respectable amount. But the Black Family Charter stipulates that no monies from any of the Black Estates may be transferred into muggle control. Your personal possessions? Professor Flitwick believes that he can cast a charm that will enable you to see and value a trunk, but have no curiosity or desire to open it, until or if the bindings are lifted. Point Five. You are an adult of legal age and as such have the right to disperse your assets where you choose. If you write a Will, we will see that it is apportioned as per your wishes. There is one condition that we can add to a sentence of Exile… a time limitation. If Mr Potter were to choose this option, we have the availability of adding time for completion of sentence, unfortunately, we are unable to make that anything less than ten years, if Lady Magic decides otherwise and the bindings lift earlier, the Wizengamot will accept that as Her Judgement." He held out a fresh sheet of parchment. "Here are the agreed upon requests for the Exile option."
Harry waited while the clerk fetched the parchment and handed it to Hermione.
"As for the Veil option? A wand. Mr Potter, a conviction under Mordred's Law prohibits this Ministry from permitting you a wand, at least until your sentence is complete." Malfoy paused. "To clarify… If you were to select the Exile option and at some point, in the future, the bindings one your core are lifted, be it by order of the Wizengamot or by your own hand or that of Lady Magic, whichever is irrelevant, such an action would constitute the completion of your sentence."
"Thank you for adding that, Mr Malfoy. That hadn't been covered." Kingsley commented.
"Understandable and I apologise for not mentioning it earlier. But we digress. A wand. We have to deny this request, not because we wish to, but because it is the law. Point Two. The mokeskin pouch. Yes, certainly we shall return it to you. Point Three. Unfortunately, the only option that allows you to retain any finances is the Exile option. This is a grey area, if you choose the veil, you will no longer be a citizen of our world and the only legal equivalent is death, and as such we suggest that you write a Will to come into effect upon your entrance into the veil. However, we do understand your hypothesis and while the Wizengamot cannot provide you with monies, there is no such restriction on your advisors. If Miss Granger, Auror Shacklebolt or Unspeakable Croaker were to gift you with items or monies, we do not have the right to deny your acceptance of said gifts, but it can only be one coin at any given visitation."
"Understood." Kingsley spoke and Harry and Hermione both nodded.
"Point Four. Battle robes. We are unable to agree to this. This court must provide you with clothing, however, Mordred's Law specifically stipulates the only items we can and must provide. Three pair of cotton canvas trousers, three cotton button-down shirts, three cotton undershirts, six pairs underpants, six pairs socks, one pair cow-leather shoes or boots, one wool knitted jumper/pullover, one change of sleepwear."
"Damn." Harry whispered.
"Point five. The trunk. While Miss Granger holds your complete trust, Mordred's Law again inhibits us, in what can be provided to you. A trunk and its contents are not on that list, I'm afraid. The best we can do is to provide a muggle bag of Miss Granger's choosing to hold the already mentioned items, however all items provided must be muggle in nature with no wizarding magic applied to them."
"Double damn." Harry muttered.
"So, it comes down to which sentence you would prefer. Mr Potter we are remanding you to the DMLE holding cells for the night. Visitors are permitted but must be vetted by the DMLE prior to your attendance. Physical contact with those visitors will not be permitted. I'm sorry, I'm told that's standard for the holding cells." Malfoy raised a brow to Kingsley in question and received a nod in reply. "While the veil is here in the Ministry, we have granted Miss Granger the opportunity to provide items on your behalf, to expect her to be able to produce those items before close of business today is unreasonable. On the other hand, were you to choose Exile, the DMLE would need to be involved in creating your new identity and then there's the charms on your core and memories to consider, too. I understand that between them, it would take a number of hours to resolve and secure the matter. Your sentence, whichever you choose will come into effect at midday tomorrow." Malfoy straightened his shoulders. "You will have quill, ink and parchment supplied to you, for the purpose of writing a Will, a goblin from Gringotts will be brought to you to certify your Will. I do suggest leaving a portion of your estate to your new identity, as we have place a minimum of ten years to your sentence, eventually the core and memory binds will lift, enabling you to return to our world to claim said estate, unfortunately, we have been informed by St. Mungo's, that if you were to proceed, changing you name magically will affect your magical signature. It would be best to take that into consideration in advance."
Lady Longbottom turned to Hermione. "Miss Granger? As stated, you will be permitted to purchase items on behalf of Mr Potter. None of those items are to hold, contain or half wizarding magic applied to them. You will be expected to display those items and they will be randomly tested to ensure that the rules, that the DMLE have placed for the protection of prisoners, have been followed. You will be provided a list," she offered up a sheet of parchment, "of the items that must be provided and a description of said items. If these items are not available, you may purchase the nearest comparable item, you will however, be required to explain the substitution."
"Mr Potter? Have you reached a decision, or would you like a few minutes to discuss the matter with your advisors?" Malfoy asked.
"I'd like five minutes to discuss it, sir." Harry answered.
"Granted. Auror Shacklebolt, may place a silencing ward around you and your advisors." Malfoy nodded.
"Thank you, sir." Harry nodded back.
Kingsley tossed up a privacy ward and Hermione instantly began to rant.
Until Kingsley silenced her.
"Thanks, Kingsley. Mione, shut up and listen. Logically, we knew I wasn't going to just walk away, too much has happened. This isn't as good as you might have wanted but it's better than I expected. Hell, I expected 'go straight to Azkaban, do not pass GO, do not collect ʛ200'. This is better."
"Better? How the hell do you figure that?" Kingsley demanded.
"Okay, Life in Exile might be hell on earth to you or other magicals, Kingsley, but not to me. Magic is cool, but I've had to live without every summer, I can keep going. It might be different if I were older and been living in the magical world for longer, able to do magic anytime I wanted, but that hasn't been the case. I never used it outside Hogwarts, excluding emergencies, and since August, Hermione, Ron and I have been on the run, we used magic rarely, we weren't sure if the Ministry under Voldy could track our magical signatures."
"Only if their signature is on record. The closest is if someone splinches, we can use their signature to collect whatever parts they misplaced." Croaker answered.
"Good to know." Harry snorted.
"So, you're not concerned about living in the muggle world permanently?" Kingsley asked.
"No, not really. And that's the option I'm choosing." Harry words made the three, gasp in shock.
"What?" Hermione overrode Kingsley's silencing hex.
"The wizarding world hasn't been good to me, I could easily live without it. The only good things it's given me, have been my friends. Life in Exile means losing those friends. Same with the veil. But with the Exile option? With the time limit Malfoy set? I will eventually get you back, it might take years, but it will happen. I can accept that."
"So, you're choosing Exile?" Hermione whispered.
"I am." He nodded."
"Oh, Harry." She whispered and a tear ran down her cheek.
"You need to be strong, Mione. Go get your parents back. Live, be happy. For me? Please?" Harry let his own tears fall. "Even if the Wizengamot cleared me, I wouldn't be staying in Britain's wizarding world, I can't, not after the way they've treated me for the last seven years. I can't."
"What if another Dark Lord comes?" Hermione pleaded.
"I risked my life for them every year, Hermione, and not once did anyone other than you or the Weasley's ever say thanks, not one person. I died for them and do your really think any of them are going to say thanks? Maybe, but if another Dark Lord came, they'd expect me to die for them again. It's time I lived for me, not the wizarding world. But if the worst should come to the worst, there will be someone that knows how to find me, knows my new name. I won't ever leave you defenceless, I couldn't live with myself, if I did." Harry begged his friend to understand.
"I get it. I don't like it, but I get it. Alright. What can I do to help?"
"Help me write a Will?"
"You got it."
"Thanks. Kingsley, I'm ready." Harry nodded towards Malfoy and the other members of the Wizengamot.
Kingsley didn't say anything, he just flicked his wand and let his privacy wards fall.
"I've made my choice, Mr Malfoy." Harry said, once he had the wizard's attention.
"And which sentence have you decided upon, Mr Potter?" The blonde wizard asked.
"I choose Exile."