Facing the Music

A.N. I am picking this story up from a really long time ago (I moved to a place without internet capability) So I will try my best to avoid inconsistencies.

To kitkat- You are too funny. Killing Voldemort never occurred to me. He just doesn't strike me as a random kill character. But it would be funny if he died by falling down the stairs or something inane (How reliable are Trelawney's predictions anyway). On to the story.

Harry awoke the next morning with an empty numbness in his chest and brain. The heart can only take so much sick dread and horror before it is overwhelmed. He could not believe how stupid they had all been. Professor Dumbledore had been angrier than Harry had ever seen him. Small wonder. When he thought of how easily he had almost betrayed the Order, he felt small and stupid. The death eaters had probably been trying for years to slip Verita Serum to the minister of magic or one of his staff. He and Ron, and Hermione had almost done their dirty work for them and as some kind of idiotic stand for the school. He absently brushed his hair and stared at Ron as he tried to delay the sunrise by glaring at the morning sky.

"Time to face the music," Harry mumbled to his best friend sadly. Ron turned his sallow face towards the other boy's voice.

"I suppose you're right. How many years in Azkaban do you get for using an illegal potion on a ministry official? Do you know," He asked weakly.

"Does it matter," Harry said tonelessly.

Thinking of the soulless guards of the wizarding prison Ron shook his head slowly. No it didn't matter one bit.

There was a sharp knock on the boys' door. Professor McGonogall, the head of their house stood at their door with a pinched expression on her face. She was dressed in all black and her solemn expression only complemented the look of someone in deep mourning. Although she would never admit it she had grown rather fond of the Potter crowd, as they had come to be known throughout the school. She dared not think what would become of them once the full story of their scheme had come to light.

McGonogall motioned wordlessly for them to follow her and strode swiftly down the hallway taking the most out of the way staircases to avoid the boys being exposed to further speculation by other curious students. The truth would out soon enough.

Ron and Harry climbed the stairs to Dumbledore's office. Both of their minds kept flashing back to other times they had taken these steps to answer for some misdeed or misunderstanding. The portraits on the walls even stared at them as if it was no great surprise that things had come to this.

Dumbledore was sitting calmly in his armchair wearing a much calmer expression than he had the night before. Even more promising the customary twinkle was back in his eyes. "Please have a seat," he said and gestured to the seats in front of his desk.

He continued," I must confess I was quite upset with you last night. I trust by now you realize what an awfully foolish thing it was to try to manipulate the ones around you."

When both children had nodded shame facedly he went on," The penalty for administrating Verita Serum without prior approval of the ministry is one year in Azkaban prison. You really have much to thank your Potions master for in switching your concoction with a simple transfiguration formula. I remember when I was your age and saw so many things as being black and white. Truth and Lie, Right and Wrong. However as you grow wiser, you will see that sometimes deception is necessary for the right and even telling the truth at an inappropriate time can be very wrong. To this end I have devised a fitting punishment for you all. You will all go to the dungeons and visit Professor Snape. He is at this moment brewing a cauldron of Verita Serum. You will each take a dose, as you will do every morning for the rest of this week. That is all. Oh and will you please be kind enough to tell Hermione that she can come out of hiding. I am neither expelling her nor feeding her to dementors, although I don't know which she fears worst."

Harry and Ron exchanged worried glances.

" We thought she was with you," Ron said quickly.

"Oh dear," Dumbledore groaned tiredly.