Chapter Eight
After Remus showed Petunia Lily's diary entrees, she too was upset and wanted to make things right. So, together they worked on preparing Petunia's first mission when she formally took the Evans' family seats in a few days. Remus would have loved to get Sirius at that very moment but it would do no good. He knew a few days would not change Sirius any more then he already been changed after being in prison for ten years. The Dementors had already done their damage to him. A few more days wouldn't matter either way.
So, Remus forced Moony to behave himself and helped Petunia get ready for to take on the Wizengamot. They decided the best course of action to do that is to get someone with a bit power on their side. Albus might be in hot water with the wizarding world but he was still very powerful member of the Wizengamot. Remus and Petunia were going to confront him with information they have and force him to help them get Sirius out of prison or they were going make Albus even worse by showing everyone Lily's diary.
The day before Petunia was going to address the Wizengamot to take her seat, Petunia invited Albus for tea. Remus was going with the boys to Molly's home. Harry had received a letter from Ron and he had gone to talk with his friend personally. Petunia relented only because she didn't want either boy at home with Albus there. She didn't want him anywhere near the boys.
So, that morning, Remus arrived to take both Harry and Dudley to Borrow leaving Petunia alone. She was sitting in the front sitting room sipping her tea and going over the reports she had gotten about the attack on Harry. It turned out that the wizard who attacked Harry was a paid assassin. He killed himself with a strong muggle poison that he had hidden on him before he could be questioned. This left them to make assumptions on how he had gotten Vernon's hair and who he was working for. They found out the first part really easy. It seems the wizard had papers on him giving him a muggle job of garbage man. Vernon had decided to sell the house at Privet drive and move in with his sister. So, he had thrown away everything that he didn't deem valuable. On of those items was a shaving kit that Petunia had given Vernon for Christmas last year. It had been found among the personal effects of the dead wizard. So, this gave them a clue on how they had gotten a hold of Vernon's hair. The trouble was they still didn't know who he had been working for. Petunia didn't believe it was the Headmaster. It wasn't like him to hire a killer. No, this person wanted to harm Harry, not to control him.
Petunia was thinking on this when Albus arrived for tea. He was shown into the room by Snip. Snip didn't like the Headmaster because she felt or knew he was behind harming Harry. So, she was very rude when introducing Albus or the old man she had called him. Albus of course ignored the little comment about his age and greeted Petunia warmly. "Hello, Petunia," he said bowing to her.
"Hello, Headmaster, please take a seat," Petunia said.
"Thank you and thank you for inviting me into your home. I was worried that you would never, want to see me again," Albus said.
"Why would you think that?" Petunia asked pretending not to understand what he was talking about.
"Well, after the stories that have been printed in the paper. I was worried that you would not want to ever speak to me again," Albus said a smile on his face and his eyes twinkling.
"Oh, that! That is in past, I'm more worried about taking care of the future," Petunia said and she poured both of them tea.
As she was pouring Albus noticed a book on the table, "What is this my dear?" he asked interested.
"It is Lily's dairy. Harry has been reading it. You should read some of things he found out. I have paged marked if you want to check it out," Petunia said putting down the teapot and offering the headmaster milk or sugar.
Albus of course picked sugar and picked up the book and started to read it. As he did, the smile on his face and the twinkle in his eye vanished. "You say Harry read this?" He asked.
"Yes, Harry read it. He pointed it out to Remus and me after he found it. You see, I haven't hidden anything from him Headmaster. He is getting lessons in how our world works and its laws. He is also learning who to trust not to trust. Do you know who he doesn't trust?" Petunia asked.
"Me," Albus said calmly as he put down the book.
"Very good, you are right. He does not trust you. It isn't just because of this," Petunia said pointing to the book. "Harry knows about you talking me into keeping him even after I begged you to put somewhere where he be safe. He also understands that you used him last school year," Petunia said.
"I never…" Albus started to say but Petunia held up her hand to quiet him.
"You never what, set out for You-Know-Who to show up looking for the stone? No, I don't think you saw that coming, but when it did you decided to test the blood wards didn't you?" Petunia asked calmly as she picked her teacup and sipped her tea.
Albus didn't touch his. He sat there looking at the woman before him getting a clearer picture on the type woman Petunia was. She looked and now acted a lot like Rowena Ravenclaw. He now had a new respect for Petunia and was going to have to start rethinking his method of
dealing with her. "Petunia, I never set out to harm Harry. I was worried that his upbringing might have caused him to become dark. I was only testing him on what he valued," Albus said.
"Yes and whose fault is that? I had given up trying to find a better home for Harry. It didn't help that I convinced myself that I couldn't leave Vernon. So, I did the only thing I could and that was to protect Harry the best way I knew how. You had people spying on us. You could have taken Harry out of our home anytime. You didn't. I also don't care why. I do know from this point on, I'm in charge of what Harry learns and does not learn. You are just his Headmaster. And if you want to keep the votes you get from Potter Estate, you will do what I want. You will help us get Sirius out of prison or I'm going to go Wizengamot tomorrow and allow them to read Lily's diary. Then I will ask for a trial for Sirius and one for you. I will make sure you end up in prison just as you put Harry and me in one. "
Albus sighed deeply as he looked into Petunia's eyes and knew she wasn't joking. She had him right where she wanted him. If the information in the dairy ever got out, he would be finished in the wizarding world. He would loose everything and, as she put it, be in prison before he knew it. Albus decided to relent and let Petunia have what she wanted. "I will support you in this matter," He said calmly.
"Good," Petunia said smiling and looked down at his teacup. "You haven't touched your tea Headmaster. It is still hot. Sit back and enjoy your tea, we have a lot talk about before tomorrow's meeting," Petunia said smiling as she sipped her own tea.
Harry and Dudley arrived at the Borrow with Remus at their side. The moment Harry stepped out of the fireplace he locked eyes on Ron, who was standing in the just a bit off from his siblings looking down at the hole in his left shoe. Harry walked over to him and said, "Hi, mate," Harry said.
"You want talk to me?" Ron said shocked.
"You did tell me the truth in letter right?" Harry asked.
"Yeah," Ron said.
"That is all that matters to me. I get why you did it. Remus and I talked about why people respect Professor Dumbledore so much. He pointed out that they don't think he can make mistakes. The trouble is he can," Harry said.
"So, you are not made at me?" Ron asked.
"No, I'm fine. Just don't lie to me again, at least about things like this. I know you can't tell me what you will get me for my birthday," Harry said grinning.
Ron laughed and said, "Hey, it would destroy the surprise. Come on, I'll show you around." Ron took Harry and Dudley and started to show them around the Borrow.
While the kids were exploring, Remus and Molly sat down for tea. "So, what lies has she been telling Harry now?" Molly asked Remus.
"If you are asking about Petunia, she hasn't been lying. I'm sorry, Molly but Albus has lied to all of us. I have resigned from the order because of what I found out," Remus said.
Molly stopped suddenly. She knew Arthur was thinking about resigning but he was just thinking about it. She never realized that Albus lies would cause someone like Remus to walk away. "Why?"
"I can't tell you everything. It would only harm the Headmaster if the truth came out and in spite of how I feel about him right now I don't what to cause him that kind of harm. I do think you should start seeing things from Petunia point of view. I know you dislike her and I know you think she harmed Harry, but trust me when I say it was the headmaster that had caused the most harm. Petunia had wanted leave Vernon years ago. Albus talked her out of it. How many times as he talked a member of the order into doing something they didn't feel like doing. He would come across as this all-wise grandfather that knew more then you did. It is what he did to her. He kept saying it would get better and that Harry needed a home with two parents. The trouble was Vernon wasn't a parent to Harry. He hates Harry. Harry and I talked about his uncle and he told things that made me skin crawl," Remus said coldly.
Molly sipped her tea and thought about what Remus had just told her. "I know from what Ron has told me that Harry's childhood has never been happy. I always put the blame on Petunia for she was his Aunt but now that you told me this, I'm starting to see things a bit differently."
"Petunia knows she could have done better by Harry and she is trying to make up for it. She is a good mother to both her son and Harry. She treats them as equals. I have never seen her favor one over the other. She is trying to make up for all her mistakes in the past," Remus said.
Molly nodded. "I guess she is trying," She relented.
Remus laughed. "Molly, you can't mother the world. How many times did James and I tell you that?" Remus asked her.
Molly smiled at the mention of James. "Many, he needed a mother. That young man was a lot like his son, always getting into things," Molly said.
"You are right about that, but that ended up being Lily's job and she did a good job of taking care of James. Petunia is Lily's sister, and in spite of a rough start, she is taking good care of Lily's son. Give her a chance to do so," Remus said.
"Alright, I will and I will keep my personal feelings about Petunia parenting skills to myself," Molly said.
"Good," Remus said and started to eye the chocolate cake on the table. "You don't mind if I have a piece of that do you?" He asked.
"No, help yourself," Molly said and she got up to get the cake and some plates. Remus just licked his lips. It had been a few hours since he had any chocolate and he was in need of a fix.
Fudge was in his office when Lucius Malfoy walked inside as if he owned the place. "Lucius, what brings you here," Fudge said standing up to great his biggest supporter warmly.
"I am worried, Cornelius. I have heard talk from several other members of the Wizengamot and they tell me that Petunia Dursley is going to be taking control of her families seats tomorrow. Is it true?" Lucius asked.
"No…Albus is having tea with her today and he assures me that he can talk her out of it," Fudge said.
"You trust that blabbering old fool. He shouldn't even be Headmaster of Hogwarts. You have been reading the papers haven't you? That poor boy being locked in a cupboard for days at a time and he knew it! Is this the type of man we want teaching our children?" Lucius asked as he took a seat across from the Minister's desk crossing his long legs.
"No, but removing Albus would be almost impossible. The only way the board or anyone else would agree to it was if we could prove that he is unable to protect the children in his care," Fudge said.
"Yes, you are right," Lucius said smiling a bright smile. "And I would be the last person to want anyone in that school hurt. So, let's hope it never happens."
"Yes, lets," Fudge said missing the cold and evil look on Lucius Malfoy's face. If he had seen it, he might have been a bit worried about what the man was up too but then again, he might
not have. Fudge only cared about his own hide and making sure he kept the power he had lusted after for so long.
The next day, Petunia arrived early for the meeting of the Wizengamot dressed in formal robes with the Evan's crest on her right shoulder. She took the seat marked for the Evan's family and sat there reading reports until everyone arrived.
Slowly one by one the room started to fill up, some of the members stopped by to talk to Petunia, greeting her warmly and telling her how glad they were she had decided to step up and take charge of her family's seats. A few people of course didn't, like Lucius who just walked in and glared at her, taking his own seat across from Petunia's. Finally everyone was there but Fudge himself. He was making his way to his normal seat that Petunia was now sitting in and stopped short when he noticed her. He sputtered a moment and said, "Um… I'm sorry. I wasn't told you were planning on taking over today."
"You were told weeks ago that I was planning on taking over," Petunia told him.
"Um, yes, but it didn't now it was today," Fudge said and he went to the seat reserved for the Minister. He could listen in from there and comment now and then but when comes to voting, he no longer had a say in anything. He had just lost that power to Petunia.
Albus had waited until Fudge was seated and then called the room to order. "I want to be the first person to formally welcome Mrs. Dursley's to her first session of the Wizengamot," Albus said.
"Here! Here!" Several members spoke up and they started to applaud. Some people like Fudge applauded but not with the same enthusiasm as the others. His was more slow and polite. There were a few that didn't even bother. They sat in their seats giving Petunia dirty looks.
Once things calmed down, Albus started on the first item of the day and slowly they went on. The session went on for hours and it wasn't until it came to the end that Petunia finally had a chance to bring up the subject of Sirius Black. Albus had admitted to Petunia in the talk they had together that he had removed a letter from the Potter vaults that named Peter not Sirius as secret keeper. Petunia and Albus cooked up a story that Harry found such letter in the desk that once belonged to his father that Remus had given to him. It had been placed in a drawer that only a Potter could open it. They told Harry this and if he was asked the boy was willing tell this story. No one would think that the Boy-Who-Lived would be lying to them and they not dare even suggest it at least not at this point in the game.
"Does any one have anything they want to add?" Albus asked.
Delores started to rise but Petunia beat her to it. "I have something I need to add," Petunia said.
"The floor yields Mrs. Petunia Dursley of the Evan's family," Albus said.
"Thank you," Petunia said bowing to Albus before pulling a letter from the files she had placed in front of her. "As you all know, Harry Potter the son of James Potter is in my care. I had asked the caretaker of the Potter Estate to send over some of James' personal affects to decorate his son's room. Mr. Lupin sent over James personal desk for the boy to use. When Harry was going through it, he found this letter and showed it to me. I was shocked to read what it said," Petunia said and she read it.
The room was quiet for a long time. It was Amelia Bones that finally spoke up asking. "Are you telling us that Peter Pettigrew was the Potter's secret keeper not Sirius Black?"
"I'm afraid so. Harry was only told about his Godfather a few days before, he was never told the details of how Sirius betrayed his parents but he was told that he had. Harry then asked if Sirius was ever asked about the event in his trial and sadly I told him there wasn't one. Harry is a bit upset about this and I had promised him that I would bring the situation to your attention at this session," Petunia said.
"It is very mysterious that this letter showed up after all this time," Delores said from the area where the ministry staff sat.
"Yes, it is," Lucius Malfoy said.
"Not really. It was locked in a drawer where only a Potter could open it. Harry has never been to his family's home and he wouldn't have found the letter if the desk hadn't been moved from the Potter Mansion to my home," Petunia said.
"Yes, I'm sure," Delores said rather sarcastically
"Are you calling me liar?" Petunia asked Delores.
"No, she is not," Fudge said speaking up for the first time. "I'm sure Delores is just trying to get all the facts in this matter aren't you, Delores?" Fudge asked with a sweet placating voice.
"Yes, Minister. I don't want to see the ministry make another mistake like it seems we did in putting this poor gentleman in prison for a crime it looks like he didn't commit," Delores said.
"I'm not saying he didn't kill those muggles but I am saying he wasn't the secret keeper. Harry isn't saying that he didn't murder those poor people either. All he cares about is getting a
trial for his Godfather to find out the truth. This is all he wants," Petunia said smiling for she saw her words had done the job. The Boy-Who-Lived wanted justice plain and simple. They were going to give it to him for it was his right to ask for it. He was the one that suffered the most by Sirius Black's crime after all, or at least to their point of view.
So, the room voted and shockingly even Lucius Malfoy voted for a trial. He was smiling as he did so and Albus wondered what the snake was cooking up. He had to remember to send Severus over to Lucius' home to find out what exactly he was planning. He didn't want any more surprises from this point on. He wanted his plans to go off as he saw them and he didn't anyone else destroying how he saw things playing out.