AN: Hello you wonderful people! Thank you for all the lovely reviews and favourites and everything.

December is a busy month and exams are coming up. I'll try to keep updating and if I miss a weakly update I will compensate you.

There were quite a few who loved the last chapter and quite a few who didn't like how I wrote Dumbledore. I won't bash him, but he's not an untarnished perfect leader in this story either. This is from Harry's POW and he was very upset with Dumbledore. Hopefully this chapter will make things clearer about this.

A big applause for my beta: beau2809!

Chapter eleven

The Tonks' house was warm and smelled of baking and pine. It was decorated in warm colours. Harry had still not managed to learn how to floo properly and unfortunately he face planted right into the Tonks' living room. Blushing Harry picked himself up and righted the chair he'd pushed aside in his descent. The elder woman in the family who must be Auror Tonks' mother, who definitely didn't look elderly and was really beautiful, smiled at him and with a wave of her wand the dust and ash disappeared from his clothes and the floor.

"Don't worry, Nymphadora floo's about clumsily as well." Harry smiled bashfully as Auror Tonks sighed and rolled her eyes at her mother when she said Nymphadora. If he remembered correctly she wasn't fond of the name and had grunted when Auror Shacklebolt had grinned and called her that yesterday.

"Thank you for inviting me, um…" Harry wasn't sure what he was supposed to say. Thank you for perhaps giving me a home, I hope you're not maniacs? Mrs Tonks smiled at him and invited the professor and Harry to sit down. Apparently she was serving tea and sandwiches. Mr and Mrs Tonks sat on a sofa while Harry, Professor McGonagall and Auror Tonks sat in armchairs.

Harry looked around and concluded that his first impression had been correct. The fireplace had a small wood burning fire in it and above the fireplace there hung a large mirror. In front of it there was the sitting area where they were seated. There were also dark wood bookcases as well as massive Christmas three. An ornate cabinet stood beside the fireplace. Outside, through the windows, you could see a large garden with trees covered in snow. To one of the sides you could see into another room that Harry guessed was a drawing room. The rooms were decorated in rich colours, reds, greens, blues and purple that made Harry feel at ease. The house was certainly clean, but it wasn't the near clinical cleanliness of the Dursley's that made Harry so uneasy.

Harry pushed the last thought away. He didn't want to think about them right now. He finally had a chance to truly get away from then. They always managed to somehow worm their way into his mind. Sometimes he could swear they were almost with him like the devil in some cartoon sitting on his shoulder telling him what to do.

Now however he wanted to focus on this family. He knew that they were his chance for stability. He didn't know them and honestly most adults in his life he didn't trust. But Auror Tonks had made him feel at ease together with Auror Shacklebolt yesterday. He didn't assume that she was a good person simply because she was an Auror but it did mean that she at least wanted to help people, Harry thought.

As he nibbled on the sandwich he was given he met the eyes of Auror Tonks. She smiled at him.

"How do you change your hair like that, Auror Tonks?" she grinned at him and suddenly she turned the same colour as her hair. Harry gaped at her.

"I'm a metamorphmagus. You won't cover that in transfiguration until next year. Basically I can change appearance at will." He looked at her as she changed back but her hair mimicked the plaid on Professor McGonagall's clothes. Harry snorted.

"Oh and you can call me Dora. I hate my first name, but you can't go around calling me Tonks, in present company at least." Harry smiled at her and agreed, if she called him Harry.

In a way Dora reminded him a bit of the way he spoke with Penny and Cedric, so it didn't feel like he was speaking to an adult. It felt nice. Professor McGonagall and Mrs Tonks sat talking on the armchairs as Dora dragged Harry to the windows.

"There's the pond, I usually fall into it at least once during the summers. We usually have a swing from that tree, I know they're for small children, but I love them. And there is the herb garden; mom's really good at herbology and potions. And there…" she was interrupted by her father.

"Is the place where I caught you snogging young Charlie Weasley when you were fifteen." Harry snorted as Dora's hair turned red and then a vivid pink much darker than usually. He thought it looked like a blush.

"It was once after the summer fair!" Muttering about annoying parents Dora was called away by her mother. Mr Tonks, Harry believed he had been told his first name was Ted, but he wasn't sure, turned to Harry and smiled.

"Sorry but it's the parents prerogative to embarrass our children a bit. How did it go for you to transition between the muggle and magical worlds?" Mr Tonks looked a bit concerned and Harry tried to find the right words. He didn't really want to talk about it but this family had offered him a place after all.

"Umm well Hagrid introduced me and he was great but some things still confuse me a bit." Mr Tonks smiled at him.

"Hagrid is a great friend and a very good person. However since he has a limited knowledge about the muggle world you understand that there might be some … gaps." They continued to talk quietly between the different family members for a couple of hours. It was nice but a bit stilted. It felt like everyone was trying really hard. Not to deceive Harry or anything, but everybody was in a sort of weird politeness. It was thankfully broken by Dora, who was rolling her eyes as her mother called her by her full first name and promptly fell over a basket by her mother's chair.

Everybody laughed as Dora took a bow after managing to stand again.

"Alright Harry here's the run of the family. I'm clumsy and whimsy when I'm not at work. Dad's the biggest softie you'd be able to find, but tries to pretend that he's a hard macho man half the time." Some protests were heard, but Dora carried on sending her dad a wink.

"Mom is quite nice and a good potioneer, but she has her small bouts if insanity, like naming me Nymphadora, honestly." Her mother sighed.

"It's a good family name one of my great aunts was called Nymphadora and she was the kindest woman on earth." Dora nodded absently with the air of someone who knows this already. Professor McGonagall's tea cup and saucer was shaking a bit so she set it down, her lips twitching.

"So anything else you want to know? No, then will you have us. We're housetrained and everything." Then she winked at him and Harry started laughing as Mrs Tonks uttered a "Nymphadora, honestly" as she fought against her own smile.

In the end Harry wasn't too sure about what to do. Really this decision didn't feel like something you could take in such short time, but at the same time, he knew he had no time left. So he had to make his decision here and now.

He like the Tonks', they seemed nice and cared for each other. Dora was brilliant and Mrs Tonks didn't seem strict, he'd seen her smile a lot. Mr Tonks seemed to be quite laid back and nobody had tried to press him about details or told him what to do. They had talked to him like his opinion mattered. In reality Professor McGonagall and the Tonks' could make the decision without him if they wished to. He took a deep breath and took a leap of faith, figuratively.

"I'd like to stay with you if that's alright. I mean…" Professor McGonagall took his hand as he faltered.

"I'd like to be a part of your family." Harry felt tears threaten and felt silly. They disappeared soon however as Dora squealed and threw herself at him.

"I always wanted a little brother!" Harry laughed and hugged her back.

Later he and Professor McGonagall had walked away a bit to have a small talk before they went to the trial. She looked at him and looked troubled.

"I need you to understand Harry that while things have been handled badly in regards to you, not all the people involved did so to harm you. But sometimes good intentions aren't enough." Harry nodded, remembering the phrase 'the road to hell is paved with good intentions'.

"I don't expect you to be able to forgive but I need you to understand a bit more for you to be fully informed about some of the circumstances that led to all of this." Harry nodded at her. He didn't really trust his voice at the moment. Professor McGonagall stroked his hair and let out a sigh.

"The war changed us all. We stopped trusting each other and only told things we absolutely needed. Dumbledore was the leader of an organisation that fought against You-Know-Who. He had so many burdens Harry, there were so many he couldn't save. Betrayers popped out everywhere and he had to keep all of the secrets he could to himself. He also stopped telling people his reasoning, because the more they knew, the more in danger they were." Harry looked at her and realised that she was explaining Professor Dumbledore's behaviour.

"After the war there were some people that would be able to claim you because of blood relation to you or to Sirius Black. Not all of them would have been a good idea, so he took the one choice he knew wouldn't be contested and meant that you didn't risk to be placed with death eaters. Still, it was a horrible choice, and as you entered Hogwarts and asked to stay away from the Dursleys, I do believe he could have done more and at least given you a proper medical examination. But I do not believe he did it out of malice nor do I believe he understood exactly what treatment you've suffered. He wishes to believe the best of people, some times too much." Harry looked over the frozen fields and considered her words.

"Perhaps you're right professor McGonagall, but I still don't trust him." He felt a hand on his shoulder.

"I'm not asking you to trust him only to consider and understand all of the facts. He made a terrible mistake Harry and yes he still wishes to be in control over everything and it sometimes irks me, but he doesn't wish you to be miserable. He has lost his clear sight in this matter I believe, which is why I interfered." She hesitated and Harry turned around to look at her instead of the snow that had started falling to the already white ground. The professor looked as if she was going to cry.

"We knew they were high on his list and took protective measures and still… I think it hit him hard, it sure hit me hard. This is probably why he is so invested to keep you safe, but he is not all knowing. This affair has taught me that." They both stood still and looked at the snow that fell to the ground.

"What will happen at the trial?" Professor McGonagall sighed.

"Well Madam Bones is fair and thorough so it should be a good trial. She will ask him questions under oath or a serum and the answers will decide the outcome." Harry nodded. Professor McGonagall furrowed her brows slightly.

"Harry the Ministry isn't always terribly well functioning. Particularly not after the war, which is why Professor Dumbledore acted a bit odd perhaps yesterday. He wouldn't have hidden this, but I think he no longer trusts the Ministry to handle things on its own. A lot of things weren't handled properly during and after the war. Madam Bones managed to calm him." Harry nodded and took her arm when she offered it. He really detested apparating.

He had managed to not be sick after apparating but still felt a little green as he sat in the observatory section of the courtroom. Every person in the stands were wearing plum coloured robes and they filled row after row. Witches and wizards, most over thirty at least, but many over a hundred - Harry would guess. Some were bald, others covered in hair. In the middle of the round room there was a platform where there was a podium at which a dignified elder witch stood. In the middle there was also a small platform with a chair with chains. The witch in the middle banged the gavel to quiet the murmurings from the stands and observatory.

"Order! This session has started. Now the prosecution of this hearing is Madam Amelia Bones, head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement and assisted by Aurors Kingsley Shacklebolt and Gawain Robards, Auror Trainee Nymphadora Tonks and Documentors Joshua Grey and Jonathan Babbling. Auror trainee Tonks shall not be participating further in the investigation due to a conflict of interests. Overseeing the events is elder wizengamot member Griselda Marchbanks. Judging the hearing is the Wizengamot. Please bring in the defendant." There were gasps in the stands and the observatory from some members as some seemed to recognise this man. As he sat in the chair chains wrapped around him.

"Please state your name for the record." Harry could almost feel the tension and anticipation in the air.

"Peter Pettigrew." The man's eyes flickered around the room and never seemed to stop moving.

"You will be administered Verisaterum for your hearing, do you oppose this action?" the man started shaking.

"I'm not so fond of potions so I wouldn't like to…" he drifted off and his eyes continued to flicker around.

"Please note that the defendant is unsure about the use of Verisaterum. However as the defendant has been found to be a assumed legally dead man and an illegal animagus witnessed by two Hogwarts professors and two underage students, documented by the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, a dose will be given. Please wait while the authenticity and regularity of the potion is established." The man who apparently was taking notes and a group of men dressed in green and black talked while a small vial was examined. Some spell was cast and the result noted.

"The potions is authenticated and accepted. Please administer it to the defendant." Despite the struggle the man, rat man or Peter Pettigrew took the potion and swallowed. The man instantly relaxed and his eyes became unfocused. He stopped twitching and his eyes stopped their dance.

Madam Marchbanks asked him questions about age and where he was born, when he started school and so on. Harry wished Terry was here as Harry already was becoming confused by it all. Finally the more interesting questions started.

"When did you become an animagus?" Peter didn't move and stated everything in the same toneless voice.

"1975." Only the scribbling could be heard from the notary.

"Have you ever registered or tried to register as an animagus?"

"No." Madam Marchbanks nodded.

"Why have you not made yourself known to be alive?"

"I was afraid." The room seemed to expect this and yet everyone looked a bit intrigued around Harry.

"Of what?"

"Of being killed." Harry felt frustrated he wanted to know, why had this man a supposed friend of his family hidden and lived in the same dormitory as Harry and never made himself known.

"By whom?"

"Sirius Black and his friends." Harry didn't know what this meant. Sirius Black's friends, if he meant Death Eaters why didn't he say so. So what did that really mean?

"Why?"

"Because I betrayed James and Lily Potter's hiding place to the Dark Lord." Pandemonium broke out.

Everybody was shouting. Several bangs had to be heard as Madam Marchbanks banged her gavel.

"Order! Now please be quiet. Mr Pettigrew could you please elaborate how you betrayed James and Lily Potter?" Everybody was positively leaning forward now. The story of that night was legendary and Harry assumed that they all thought they had known all the facts, something Harry had never thought about since until recently no one wanted to tell him anything it seemed.

"I was the secret keeper of their Fidelius charm. We pretended that it was Sirius Black but it was me." A stern glance from Madam Marchbanks made most people keep quiet.

"I had joined the Death Eaters so as I was the secret keeper I could tell him their hiding place." Murmurings broke out and even Madam Marchbanks seemed a little shaken.

"You were a Death Eater?" her voice however was as firm as before as she continued to question Pettigrew.

"Yes." Madam Marchbank's eyes narrowed.

"What was the protocol to become a Death Eater?" a lot of heads snapped up and Harry thought a lot of them didn't look too happy about the question.

"You needed to murder someone or provide good information that would lead to someone's demise." Several people started to turn different colours from white, to ashen and red.

"What was your act to become a death eater?"

"I killed a muggle woman." Murmuring broke out again before they quieted from yet another glare from Madam Marchbanks.

"What happened after You-Know-Who had attacked the Potters?"

"He disappeared and I fled as a rat when I saw Sirius Black arrive. He didn't see me for he ran into the house screaming for the Potters." Several more people turned ashen as Harry felt like someone had punched him in the stomach.

"What happened after you fled?"

"I ran, but Sirius Black tracked me down. He confronted me but I screamed about it being his fault and cast a composed explosion and blasting charm line. I cut off my own finger and became a rat just before the Aurors arrived." Total silence reigned in the courtroom. Everybody was stunned. This was beyond anything Harry had thought.

The man who was supposed to have betrayed his family wasn't guilty and this … thing was guilty instead? Harry head hurt as he remembered his mother's final words. Then he remembered what Professor Lupin or Uncle Remus or whatever had said about the knowledge that someone close to the Potters was a traitor. Now they knew who it had been but far too late. Harry didn't realise that he was hyperventilating until he felt Professor McGonagall laid a hand on his arm. He looked into her eyes and saw sympathy and grief.

Harry turned away and closed his eyes. He couldn't believe it but he had heard it himself. Now he knew what had happened but it didn't give him any comfort only new grief as he realised that his godfather was innocent and that he could have grown up with people who loved him instead of the Dursleys. It was like a twisted horrible nightmare version of the dream he used to have of an unknown relative coming to save him from the Dursleys.

"Peter Pettigrew, you will be the subject of a trial to further examine your crimes and actions. Time will be given for a defence to be arranged for you as well as for the prosecution to gather more evidence. This hearing will be used to that effect. Are there those in agreement in the Wizengamot?" everybody rose and said "aye", even if some seemed to do it in a daze and others reluctantly.

"Also as the head of this session I order that the case against Sirius Black shall be revisited and that the order of his death shall be rescinded. Those in agreement please rise and say aye." Again the stands rose and the "aye's" were heard.

Professor McGonagall took Harry's arm and steered him out of the courtroom as the people in the observatory and in the stand started to trickle out. The man who betrayed Harry's parents had already been escorted out. Harry sluggishly followed the professor as he felt like someone had ripped out his ability to function on his own. Professor McGonagall didn't take him to the castle at once, but instead they apparated to Diagon Alley.

It was marvellous, decorated for Christmas with candles burning everywhere, the flames never igniting anything else but the candles, evergreens and cranberries, holly and ice sculptures decorated the allay. It was beautiful. Professor McGonagall took Harry to Florean Forteucues ice cram shop and pushed him into a chair. Soon Harry's favourite ice cream from the summer he spent in the Alley was placed before him as professor McGonagall sat down with an ice cream of her own.

"You've received several shocks the past days Harry. You deserve a treat." Harry picked up the spoon and started eating. He smiled as he felt the taste of warm fudge mixed with the treat. Apparently this was a winter variation. The numbness within him seemed to thaw as the treat slipped down.

"Harry I won't urge you to talk to me about everything you must be feeling and thinking right now. However should you wish to I'm here and so is Professor Lupin and the Tonks' should you need us." Harry looked at her and nodded. He didn't really know what he felt yet. It was like everything had turned upside down and he didn't know the correct direction his feet should be. He took another spoon of the confection.

"I will professor." Harry wondered a bit about everything as they ate their ice creams. He felt so many things right now, but perhaps in a part of him that was shining more and more brightly, there was hope.