The Final Judgement.
Harry and Tonks, along with Merula, Cassie, Penny Clearwater, Astra, and Nora, walked into the court with Andromeda.
"Ready for this?" Harry asked them all.
"Yes," Astra agreed. "Dumbledore really thinks he can sneak Snape out."
"With the case that we have, the Wizengamot would be marginally stupid not to see him as anything but guilty," Harry said.
"And it also depends on how much Dumbledore will throw him under the boss," Cassie said. "Well, there's trouble."
"Hello, Harry, darling."
Harry came face to face with the notorious Rita Skeeter, who showed up upon Harry's strong suggestion she should, with a not so friendly reminder he knew her felonious secret.
"Good afternoon, Rita," Harry said. "How are you?"
"Well, all things considered, I could be doing worse," Rita said. "So, I heard dear Hermione got into a nasty spot of trouble. And I heard she's not well."
Harry knew Rita was doing and was not about to indulge her.
"All you need to know about Hermione is she's resting," Harry told Rita. "She's taking some long overdue time off."
"But, surely you can tell me more…"
"Could I? Yes. Will, I don't. Your future career depends on keeping me happy. And let's not forget that the Daily Prophet suspended you to save their arses even without your bargain with Hermione."
Rita looked like she swallowed something putrid.
"I give those ungrateful arses some of the best stories they have had in years, and they throw me out, despite most of their narrative coming from higher up," Rita said bitterly. "They threw me out like yesterday's newspaper. Hope you enjoyed the care package I sent you. There's some juicy things in there that Barnabas Cuffe doesn't really want anyone to know. Especially his wife."
Harry filed that away for later. He figured Rita would be collecting blackmail material on her employers for insurance, and he was more than willing to take her up on what she had, because he had leverage he could use on her.
"Rita, hello."
Rita almost jumped up when she saw Cassie and Merula.
"Cassandra, Merula," Rita said. "Long time, no see…how did you get involved with these two lovely witches, Harry?"
Rita had been choosing her words carefully around those two. There was a past there.
"I needed training to take down Voldemort," Harry said.
"He really is back?" Rita asked.
"Yes," Harry said.
"Shit," Rita murmured. "I thought it was Dumbledore's sad attempt to cling onto relevancy and it's not like you really spoke out much until that press conference…but he's seriously back?"
"Yes, and taking advantage of Fudge hemming and hawing by biding his time," Harry said. "But, you should behave yourself, Rita. Or your next exclusive will be one where you visit a colony of Acromantula."
Harry let the statement sink in.
"While in your Animagus form."
Rita swallowed nervously.
"I've got the message, sir," Rita said while biting down on her lip. "Not a single semi-colon out of place…if I actually write anything."
"I'm not unfair, if you behave yourself, you'll be rewarded," Harry said. "But, you've got a lot to prove to me, that you are going to change your ways."
Sienna stepped past them and smiled before turning to Harry.
"Right on time," Sienna said. "I wouldn't miss this for the world."
Sienna and Rita shared a glare which indicated there was a lot of professional animosity, before they took seats on either side of the bench.
"Feeling the love there," Tonks said. "Oh, and Dumbledore's heading your way."
Sure enough, Harry came face to face with the one and only Albus Dumbledore. Andromeda looked at Dumbledore as he approached.
"I was quite sorry to hear about the Dementor attack," Dumbledore told Harry.
"Not as sorry as the Dementors were," Harry said.
Dumbledore did not act shaken by Harry's casual statement.
"I was wondering if I could ask you once again to drop the charges against Severus."
Harry thought about it for a fraction of a fraction of a second.
"No."
The wizened wizard just frowned.
"Severus is doing his best to make amends, and you must understand he…."
"He's the one who went after me the first time we met," Harry said.
"He must act…"
"If he must act a certain way to be convincing to the other side, then perhaps you shouldn't inflict him on children," Andromeda said coldly.
"You don't necessarily have to interact with Severus, if that is your wish," Dumbledore said. "I can arrange for you to make separate arrangements for Potions…"
"Dumbledore, this isn't about my own personal grievances with the man," Harry said. "If it was just about me, it would be one thing. But, Snape's hurt many people. Along with killing the careers and ambitions of many healers, Aurors, and would be Potioneers. Come on Dumbledore; he's activately sabotaged the amount of Aurors we have available due to his harsh and quite frankly off-putting teaching style."
"I'm sorry you feel this way," Dumbledore said. "But, I was hoping that…."
"If you say I was hoping that I would act like the better person, then you can save it," Harry said curtly. "Snape can't get over his Hogwarts days. Andromeda and I have collected plenty of evidence to take Snape out of the school. While there could be more, it's enough to make sure he never enters Hogwarts again."
"You are confident of this, Harry?" Dumbledore asked.
"If you speak for him, you will go down with him," Andromeda said. "Because, that would confirm you are an accessory to his many grievous crimes. "
"Well, I'm confident that they'll see the necessity of what Severus had to do for our side," Dumbledore said.
"Just remember, if by some reason Snape is let off, he's not welcomed in the Order," Cassie said. "And remember, you're not the leader of the Order anymore, I am."
One could feel the chill in Cassie's tone.
"I can assure you that I have not forgotten this change, Miss Jacobs," Dumbledore said. "Although…we can discuss this later after Madam Umbridge and Professor Snape had their day in court."
It was time for the Wizengamot to be in session.
"The court acknowledges Mr. Harry Potter," Amelia said.
"I'm here to claim my right to vote underneath the Potter and Black lines, as per Ministry law," Harry said.
"Well, if you were aware of Ministry law, then you should know that children are not to serve on the Wizengamot," Cankerus Nott said. "And you have a proxy for the Potter line, along with Black, and they both have been voting."
"Mr. Nott, for someone who sees himself a scholar of magical law, you have overlooked one very important fact," Andromeda said. "Once Albus Dumbledore allowed Harry to compete in the Triwizard Tournament, Harry was given the full rights of an adult. Him allowing and permitting Harry to compete as the Chief Warlock on the Wizengamot, indicated he acknowledged that Harry is capable and competent enough to serve on the Wizengamot."
"Yes, these circumstances are rare, but they were not unheard of," Amelia said.
"So, I have a proxy?" Harry asked. "News to me."
"You should have been informed upon your return to the Wizarding World," one of the members of the court responded.
"You'd be surprised with what I wasn't informed of," Harry said. "Who did Dumbledore illegally name as my proxy?"
"That's a serious allegation, Mr. Potter," Tobias Odgen said.
"And not one that is unfounded, given how Dumbledore neglected to seek out the Potter will upon making arrangements to Harry's living conditions," Andromeda said. "And there's record of him doing so."
Dumbledore frowned.
"It was necessary for…to prevent someone else from claiming the seats…"
"Who was the proxy, Dumbledore?" Harry asked him.
Suddenly, Elphias Doge raised his hand, looking like a schoolboy who had been called out by a teacher.
"Thank you, Mr. Doge, but you won't be needed anymore,"
"Are we sure this is a good idea?"
Harry noticed Phillip Greengrass, the grandfather of Daphne and Astoria, speaking on the court.
"Mr. Greengrass?" Amelia asked.
"Are we sure we should let someone of Harry Potter's questionable mental stability serve on this court?" Greengrass asked.
"Penny, please pass the papers out to the court," Harry said. "I've gone to five accredited healers, and they all judged me to be of sound mind. Unless of course Mr. Greengrass…and Mr. Parkinson over there, would like to accuse them of being liars."
The papers were passed out for everyone to read. Penny took her seat beside Harry.
"Never believe your own propaganda," Harry remarked.
"It appears that Mr. Potter is saner than at least half of the court."
Harry turned to see a stunningly gorgeous woman, with dark-skin and curvy features, sat on the court. Anyone who laid eyes on her would be transfixed by her beauty. And Harry was not immune either.
"Lady Katerina Zabini, Mr. Potter, although I daresay I'm almost as famous as you," she said with a wry smile. "And as someone sits upon seven Wizengamot votes, gifts from my late husbands, I must say it is always refreshing to see some fresh blood on the court."
"Looking for two more votes, Zabini?"
"Rowle, I'll overlook that slander for now," Katerina said. "But, I would like to welcome Harry Potter among us today. I'm certain he will shake up this court, and it is long overdue with how stagnant it's been."
"And I would also like to name Andromeda Black-Tonks as my proxy," Harry told her. "For those times where I cannot attend the court."
"Noted, Mr. Potter," Amelia said.
"And I would also like to state my claim for the Crouch seat, given the fraud committed on me by the final member of the Crouch line," Harry said. "When Bartemius Crouch Junior illegally placed my name in the Goblet of Fire, he threatened the Potter line."
"You can't be…you can't be…"
"That would give him three votes."
"We can't…he can't claim it."
"I can," Harry told them.
"And legally, he can," Amelia said.
This caused another round of angry mutterings.
"Mr. Potter, please, be reasonable," Fudge said.
"Oh, I'm being very reasonable and following your laws to the letter," Harry said. "And the goblins agree, given that they have given me full control of the state."
This evidence being passed out to the court sunk any attempt for the Ministry to try and gain control of the Crouch estate and the votes it did.
"So, it appears Mr. Potter has access to three extremely powerful votes in the Wizengamot," Nott said. "Rest assure, I will have to contest this. And I daresay I won't be the only one."
"Oh, yes, we will have to take a close look at these circumstances," Greengrass said.
Legally, they could not do anything. But they had to act like they were contesting to save face. Katerina Zabini looked highly amused by the fact that people on both the progressive and purist side of the fence were squirming at how much power was in the hands of a wild card like Harry Potter.
"You do what you feel you have to do, Mr. Nott and Mr. Greengrass," Harry said. "But, I'm not here for that. I'm here due to the fact that Dolores Umbridge is on trial."
"Yes, we all are," Amelia agreed. "Send her out."
All things considered, Umbridge looked surprisingly tranquil. So tranquil, that Harry wondered if someone sedated her. As the evidence against her had been laid out, Fudge had not made eye contact with her. Which was really telling.
"Dolores Umbridge was one of the few people who had authorization to access the Dementors," Amelia said. "And Sirius Black was proven innocent, and yet they were senta after him."
"Or perhaps they were sent after Harry Potter, just after he started speaking inconvenient truths," Katerina said
Umbridge swallowed rather painfully.
"It was necessary,because Black and Potter undermined the credibility of the Ministry of Magic," Umbridge said. "If the people don't have faith in the Ministry, then society crumbles."
"Well, when the Ministry lies to people, then do we have any reason to have faith?" Harry asked.
"You're the one who is lying, Potter…"
"What I'd want to know is why Bartemius Crouch Junior was not taken straight to the Ministry for questioning, after Dumbledore found out he was posing as Moody," one of the members of the court remarked. "Dumbledore should have known protocol and knew that it was a security risk to leave Crouch Junior at Hogwarts. And instead, he decided to conduct his own investigation."
"With the unauthorized use of Veritaserum I should remind the court," another court member said.
"And Fudge disregarded protocols, as well, when he brought a Dementor into the school," Madam Marchbanks said. "This court never allowed Fudge to give a kiss on sight order for Junior. In fact, we never authorized on Black, Fudge just merely made an executive decree to do so, along with stationing the Dementors at Hogwarts, against the wishes of the high elders of this court."
"I was advised that this was the best option," Fudge said.
"Apparently you were advised poorly, Minister," Harry said. "Two years ago, I told them that Pettigrew was alive and he framed Sirius Black. And Fudge discounted my testimony, and believed Snape over me…."
"Dumbledore vouched for Professor Snape's credibility," Fudge said.
"Oh, you believed Dumbledore then, did you?" Harry asked. "Funny how you changed your mind only a year later. Pettigrew was proven to be alive and he gave evidence on what happened on June Twenty-Fourth, another thing that you decided not to believe me on…."
"Objection!" Yaxley yelled. "Not relevant to Madam Umbridge."
"He's correct," Amelia said. "Please, Mr. Potter, do not derail the trial."
"My apologies, Madam Bones," Harry said. "But what is relevant, is three sworn witness statements, which indicate that Fudge had been remarking how they need to silence Potter, and Umbridge agreeing with him. And the fact that they tried to pin it on Percy Weasley, after hiring him despite knowing of his checkered past due to how he handled Crouch's disappearance last year."
"I would have never done anything so drastic!" Fudge yelled. "Sending Dementors I mean."
"Well, given you have a history of using the Dementor's Kiss to eliminate inconvenient witnesses…."
"That's slander!" Fudge yelled.
"Minister, the truth is not slander," Katerina Zabini commented. "No matter how much you'd like it to be. You violated Ministry law to eliminate Bartemius Crouch Junior, despite him committing several crimes. And his testimony will never see the light of day."
"Umbridge accused me of lies," Harry said. "But, yet there has been no hearing and no proof that I was lying. And one thing that I was previously accused of lying about, has been turned around as the truth. Although, I think that a woman who falsifies her family heritage would be the last person who would ever accuse anyone of lies…."
"SLANDER!" Umbridge yelled. "Malicious lies!"
"That is a serious accusation to make, Mr. Potter,' Madam Marchbanks said.
"Oh, I've got the proof," Harry said. "Orford Umbridge, do any of you know who that man is?"
Umbridge was spitting mad, but Yaxley whispered something to her. And when Harry was not a complete expert of reading lips, he was sure that it was him telling her not to make this any harder on herself.
"He was a maintenance worker, wasn't he?" another one of the Wizengamot elders asked.
"Yes, he retired about fifteen years ago," Harry said. "Right before Dolores Umbridge began her ascent."
"That man means nothing to me, and the fact we share a name, is a coincidence," Umbridge said. "You know nothing…."
"For a man who is nothing to you, it's surprising that you're sending a small percentage of your salary to him, just after he happened to retire from magical maintenance," Harry said. "And I have that evidence, along with a birth announcement which indicates that Orford Umbride and a woman named Ellen Crackwell gave birth to a healthy baby girl named…Dolores Jane Umbridge."
Harry presented both those receipts and the birth announcement and it got passed around the court. And Umbridge was spitting mad because of it. But Yaxley gave her another warning look and advised her to keep her mouth shut.
How long Umbridge would take this advice, would be something they would wait and see.
"Don't bother looking up Ellen Crackwell in the Magical World, she's a Muggle," Harry said. "And there's also a Mortimer Umbridge, who is a squib. Not sure what happened to him, but there's a connection. And there's a birth announcement as well."
"Do you dispute this, Madam Umbridge?" Andromeda asked.
"No, I can't," Umbridge said through gritted teeth.
"And Dolores Umbridge has made several claims to being related to several prominent families," Harry said. "I can't prove whether or not she is or isn't, in all of them, but one. The Peverell family."
Harry revealed the Peverell ring, and caused Dumbledore to go as pale as a ghost. Katerina whistled appreciatively.
"That's the Peverell ring alright," Katerina said. "And only those of that noble bloodline can wear it."
Katerina let that fact burn into everyone's brains before she smiled.
"And those who aren't worthy will be slowly afflicted by a curse where they will slowly and painfully rot to death. Their own magic will feast first upon their flesh and then eat their souls."
"But, Potter wears it," Greengrass said. "It must be a forgery."
"It's authentic."
Harry noticed Miranda putting up. Had she been sitting there the entire time.
"The Master Unspeakable graces us with her presence," Nott said.
"If Dolores Umbridge is truly descended from the Peverells, she should put the ring on and prove herself to the court," Katerina said. "Unless she wants to add attempted line theft to her many charges."
"Well, life theft is worth life in Azkaban," another member of the court said, who seemed to be enjoying Umbridge squirming about as much as Harry.
Harry slipped the ring off.
"Go ahead, Dolores. Prove your noble bloodline."
"That won't be necessary," Dumbledore said. "I suggest we just drop this matter and get on with the sentencing. Madam Umbridge sending the dementors after Mr. Potter and Mr. Black will put her in Azkaban for the rest of her life. There's no need to add more on top of her sentence."
"Albus, remember, you're no longer the Chief Warlock," Amelia said. "And therefore, you cannot advocate for Madam Umbridge. And until we are able to select a new Chief Warlock or Chief Witch, then I will be acting in that capacity and I say this evidence does cast more doubt on Dolores Umbridge's credibility and the truth of anything she says."
Amelia looked at her.
"And there's no danger if you descended from the Peverell line," Amelia said. "Or if you are, who you say who you are."
"My father was useless, my mother was even worse, and my brother was a disgrace!" Umbridge yelled. "But, these lines should be grateful that I chose to represent them, for I could help them maintain their prestige. I've succeeded, and Potter obviously does not respect that I'm a strong and powerful witch who succeeded despite the handicaps. I'm entitled to a stronger heritage."
"Are you?" Andromeda asked. "How many lines do you claim to be descended from?"
"Eight my counts, but I only have two Wizengamot votes," Umbridge said. "But, there was no harm done. I've not taken a single galleon from those estates."
"Yes, and that is your only virtue," Andromeda said.
"It was necessary to keep the Ministry stable, for me to make these claims, otherwise it would fall to Mudbloods, half-breeds, blood traitors, and feckless cowards like Dumbledore!" Umbridge shouted. "Potter can't be a Peverell though. The ring is a forgery. He's pulling a con on you all, being a nasty little liar!"
"Oh, I'm lying?" Harry asked. "Can you prove it, Dolores? Or are you delusional? Delusional Dolores, the disgraced daughter of a Muggle and a maintenance wizard, with a squib for a brother."
Harry just grinned.
"Delusional Dolores, typical useless politician, projecting of your own nasty little lies," Harry said. "I have proof that I'm descended from the noble Peverell dynasty, because I wear the ring. "
"It's about as real as your claims about You-Know-Who returning from the dead!" Umbridge shouted. "And I'll prove just how much you're lying."
"Dolores, please, there's no need…"
"Madam Umbridge, don't do it."
Fudge and Yaxley spoke frantically, but Umbridge paid her no mind. Dumbledore even wore a look as if he could not believe the stupidity of this woman. Or maybe her arrogance. Umbridge took the ring and slipped it on.
She started screaming instantly. Fudge and Yaxley rose up.
"Stand back!" Miranda shouted. "It's too late. She's doomed herself."
"Surely there's a way to save her," Dumbledore said.
"Even if I wanted to, I couldn't," Miranda said.
Umbridge rotted rather quickly. The disgusting smell of decay filled the chambers. Umbridge was mummified, rotted, and the smell was quite nicely.
"Oooh, I think I might get sick," Tonks said.
"Please don't do it on me, Nymphadora," Merula said.
Amelia looked on and blinked. It took a moment before everyone in the court regained their composure.
"Dolores Umbridge has committed line theft," Amelia said. "Under normal circumstances, she would be sentenced to life in Azkaban, with the possibility of receiving the Dementor's Kiss, but…."
"The ring judged her more harshly than this court could," Odgen said. "We're going to have to take a minute to air out of the court and dispose of what is left is Umbridge."
"Greengrass, Nott, and Parkinson, do any of you believe this ring is a fake?" Harry asked.
The three wise men of the Wizengamot shook their heads.
"I thought not," Harry said. "I've proven my point."
"Yes, Mr. Potter, you did," Katerina said. "And you've further shaken my faith in Minister Fudge's hiring practices."
Fudge looked like he needed someone to bring him his brown pants, completely mortified at what happened and of Umbridge's final fate.
"The punishment for line theft should be most severe," Andromeda said. "Any objections?"
Even those who disagreed with Harry's presence, nodded, mostly because they did not want it to happen again.
"It will take a few minutes for us to clear the air," Amelia said. "A fifteen minute bathroom break is in order, before we begin with the trial of Severus Snape."
Everyone rushed out to take advantage of this opportunity, some of them to throw up due to the disgusting smell of burned toad.
"Play stupid games, win stupid prizes," Merula murmured to Harry.
Harry agreed.
"September 17th, 2009, twenty points from Gryffindor despite the potion being actively sabotaged by a Slytherin when in Snape's line of sight. September 25th, 2009, petition to remove Snape as head of Slytherin house, disregarded. Students behind the position were actively targeted by Snape, and experience over the remaining two years of Potions classified as more miserable than ever before. October 9th, 2009, second year Gryffindor defending himself from fifth year students was put in detention by Snape, due to aggressive behavior. Once said student complains about the matter, he is sentenced to another week of detention for undermining Professor Snape's authority…."
Amelia, Andromeda, and Madam Marchbanks took turns reading the many grievances against Severus Snape, and to think, they did not even reach Harry's year.
"Albus, I could do this all night," Marchbanks said. "Do you really think you can defend this man with some of the things we read…and I haven't even gotten up to what Mr. Longbottom and Mr. Potter has reported."
Another hour of reading happened. The members of the court were getting extremely agitated, which was what Harry wanted, because it was because Snape and Dumbledore that the court members were staying here way past dinner time.
"And on April 9th, 2015, Professor Severus Snape illegally threatened Harry Potter with Veriatserum, under unfounded suspicion that Harry Potter broke into his private stores."
Andromeda took a long drink of water and read off the last few notes, but she got the point.
"Albus Dumbledore, do you have anything to say for yourself?" Marchbanks asked. "Actually, don't speak right now. I don't want to hear whatever half-baked explanation you have for letting a teacher of one of the core subjects at Hogwarts run wild. And let's not get into the fact that he was so terrifying, that a boggart took on his form for one of your students."
"I can confirm many of these reports," Minerva McGonagall said. "I went to Albus Dumbledore no less than twenty-nine times in Severus's first year as a teacher, and he shut me down every single time. And many times after that. And the Board of Governors reprimanded Severus, but did nothing when Dumbledore assured him he would have a talk with them. Despite the unprofessional and gross behavior Severus Snape had performed to her students."
"So the Board of Governors did nothing, despite you appealing to them, along with others," Katerina said.
"At least nineteen times I spoke with them, and they stopped answering my inquiries after that," McGonagall said.
"Well, the Board will need to be overhauled, but that's another matter for another day," Katerina said.
"Severus Snape, how you plea?" Amelia asked.
"Guilty, on every single account," Snape said.
"Severus, don't…."
"If it were up to me, I would not be teaching those brats," Snape said. "I owed Dumbledore my freedom, but the debt I owed him was too much. I had to act a certain way to maintain my cover."
"Which came naturally to you, given no one is that good of an actor," Andromeda said.
"No one but Dumbledore's most fervent followers would have bought into the fact you changed," Katerina said. "And if anyone from Voldemort's side believed you were on their side, they were either equally ignorant or using you for their own means."
Katerina stood up and looked Dumbledore dead in the eye before she turned to Snape.
"No Headmaster would allow someone like that to run roughshod unless he was firmly in their pocket. Which makes me wonder how good of a spy you really truly were."
"I did what was asked of me," Snape said. "But, it never seemed to be enough."
Oh, this was almost delicious, Snape appeared to want to take Dumbledore down with him as far as possible. Because, at his core, Severus Snape was the pettiest of the petty and Dumbledore failed to realize that.
He was the only one who failed to realize that. But, Harry enjoyed being petty as well.
"I wish Snape had his memories, all of them," Harry said.
Nora grinned. And here we go.
"I think I should question Snape, given at least two hundred and seventy-nine of those grievances came from me," Harry said. "So, Snape….and yes, I will be calling you Snape, because you're not a professor anymore…remind me again what was our first interaction at Hogwarts? What did you say to me?"
Snape blinked.
"Answer the question, Mr. Snape," Amelia prodded.
"I called upon you, and called you…our new celebrity," Snape said.
"And as far as I knew, this was the first time we ever met."
"Correct, as far as you…knew," Snape said, obviously thrown off by the memories Nora unlocked. "I asked you three questions, which you failed to answer. All whilst Granger bobbed up and down annoyingly like the insufferable know-it-all she is."
Never missed a shot did he?
"And I couldn't have answered those questions, could I?" Harry asked.
"No, Potter, they were fourth-year material, so unless you studied far ahead, you couldn't," Snape said. "Unless you are someone like Granger, who did not have a single thought put in her head that was not already in a textbook."
"Well, what would you have done if I answered your questions?"
"I would have docked points, because you were obviously showing off," Snape said. "Much like your father…."
"Yes, my father," Harry said. "We're getting to the real problem you have with me."
"You've been biased against Harry since the beginning," Andromeda said. "But, why?"
"Objection, it's not relevant," Dumbledore said.
"You are not on this court, you do not represent Severus Snape," Amelia said. "Sit down, Albus, or I swear to Morgana, I will tie you down."
Dumbledore looked abrashed, at that statement.
"And it's very relevant, as it shows Snape's character," Amelia said. "Answer Barrister Tonks's question."
"Potter…reminds me of what I had taken from me," Snape said. "James Potter never should have gotten Lily. He didn't deserve her."
"But, you did, didn't you?" another member of the court asked.
"I did, and I would have….I should have," Snape said.
"You thought my mother was a prize for you to earn," Harry said.
The disgust in Harry's voice could not be disguised.
"I put in a lot of effort helping Lily," Snape said. "I should have gotten what I deserved."
"If you got what you deserved, Snape, you would have been sent to Azkaban, for your crimes under the service of Voldemort," Harry said.
"Just like your father, Potter, arrogant and…."
"If you want to play the father game, let's talk about yours then, Snape!"
The air had been let out of the room. Snape looked furious.
"Don't you dare, Potter…."
"Tobias Snape was a cruel, vindicate man who bullied those under his power," Harry said. "Sounds familiar…like father, like son. Much like Delusional Dolores, you're projecting on me, Severus."
Harry forced Snape to look him in the eyes.
"You only did the right thing out of guilt," Harry said. "And every single action we've had, you've shown just how petty and vindictive you are."
"That's enough, Harry," Albus said almost pleading.
"Did you kill my mother?"
Astra's statement cut through the courtroom like a knife through butter. Everyone turned to Snape. Even the Greengrass, Parkinson, and Nott trio looked at him, with judgment.
"This is not relevant, Ms. Logue," Dumbledore said. "You can't be accusing Severus like this. Your mother's death was a tragic accident and…."
"Yes, I killed her."
Dumbledore winced at Snape's statement.
"What did you say?"
"I killed Natalie Logue," Snape said slowly and clearly.
Merula and Cassie held Astra back. Thankfully, she had calmed down a bit since she first escaped Hell. And it as a good thing that young Astra was not here because she might not had same control.
"I had a confrontation with her before the accident," Snape said. "She always resented me. Poisoned Lily against me. And she was going to take custody of Potter."
Snape looked across the courtroom at Dumbledore who looked like he had been punched directly in the gut.
"I did Dumbledore a favor. If Natalie had gotten custody, Potter would be taken from the country and outside of Dumbledore's control. I bewitched the driver, and that resulted in Natalie's death, before quietly slipping him a poison which cannot be detected by Muggle means."
"You petty bastard," Astra murmured.
"Yes, I am," Snape agreed. "But, I never under my wildest dreams could even conceive what John Constantine did. Which resulted in one child being sent to hell and Potter being traumatized. But, I killed Natalie Logue for Dumbledore."
"I never asked you…."
"I wasn't about to let Potter go easily, to a life which would be better for him, after all of what his father did to me," Snape said. "You asked everything of me. Why wouldn't I do this?"
"Severus, you…you went too far."
"Oh, but this was for the Greater Good," Snape spat bitterly. "You intended to sacrifice the Vance woman to ensure that I would be fully trusted by the Dark Lord. Why care about what happened to Natalie?"
Harry kept his temper in check. He could rip Snape in half right now and not even blink when doing it.
"Vance?" Amelia asked.
"Emmeline Vance, to fully entrust me in the Dark Lord's camp, she would be arranged to be killed, by my hand," Snape said. "She was a disposable asset, which we could use to ensure that I was the Dark Lord's spy. And she was asking way too many questions about Potter's living arrangements, so it is best to dispose of her. Not that it matters now."
"Did you arrange anyone else who was inconvenient to be eliminated?" Harry asked. "By assuming what Dumbledore wanted."
"I led Patricia Rakepick to the Diadem of Ravenclaw in the Room of Requirement," Snape admitted. "I hoped it would lead to her demise, although it drove her insane with power."
"How did you know of this item?" Harry asked.
"The Dark Lord told me of it, to keep an eye on it," Snape said. "And I was hoping to use that knowledge as leverage to play the Dark Lord and Dumbledore against each other."
"To what end?" Andromeda asked.
"Well, I hoped they would destroy each other, along with Potter, so I could be at peace," Snape said. "I was happy to see that Rakepick had been forever branded as a dark witch and she's in Azkaban where she belongs."
It was here that Merula and Cassie looked as if it clicked that Snape was partially responsible for Rowan's death. And neither looked too pleased. Harry caught their eyes and mouthed "I'll deal with it". Both calmed down, although now it was Astra's turn to hold them back.
"You mentioned you saw we were in the Shrieking Shack on a certain map last year," Harry said. "How did you miss Pettigrew on the map?"
"I didn't."
And that weight dropped in the courtroom. Harry had to mentally count to ten not to strangle Snape to death right there in the courtroom. That would be particularly bad for his public image.
"I saw Pettigrew in the Shrieking Shack that night, on that Map," Snape confirmed. "Deep down, I knew what happened but I didn't care. Black deserved to die. And if Lupin died so much the better."
Everyone just looked on. It became obvious what happened. Snape willingly would have condemned Sirius to a fate worse than death and the facts in the case would be damned.
"Snape lied to me," Fudge murmured in horror. "He knew about Pettigrew."
Fudge looked completely flushed with horror.
"Why, Severus, why?" Dumbledore asked.
"It was all part of the plan, all for the prophecy…."
And Snape started to choke which indicated that there was some kind of vow made between Dumbledore and Snape because of the prophecy. Snape finished choking, but the court heard enough.
"I've never been more disgusted in my life," Amelia said.
"Me either," Harry agreed. "And because of my father saving him, Severus Snape holds a life debt to me. And I like to evoke it and ensure that he pays everything he's…."
"Harry, wait!" Dumbledore yelled.
"You can't defend him on this," Harry said.
"You can just send Severus to Azkaban, let him answer for his crimes," Dumbledore said.
"It's fifteen years too late and many more crimes for that," Harry said.
"Killing him would…."
"No," Harry said. "No!"
Harry stood up and anger flashed through his eyes.
"If you want to fight for Severus Snape, then I, Harry James Potter, challenge you, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore to a duel."
"Harry, you can't be serious," Dumbledore said.
"I am, it's your fault he remained free, it's your fault all the damage he caused over the past few years, and it's your fault that Natalie's dead and Rakepick's been driven insane," Harry said. "If you can beat me in a duel, I will let the Wizengamot decide his sentence. But, if I beat you, I invoke the life debt and I can guarantee you this, he will not be going to the happy place."
"Has it really come to this, Harry?" Dumbledore asked.
"Albus, stand down for your own good," Marchbanks said.
"Damn it, Dumbledore, take the loss, Snape's not worth it," McGonagall added.
"Are you willing to burn along with Snape for defending him?" Astra asked.
"Professor Snape deserves a chance at redemption," Dumbledore said.
Harry wanted to rip Dumbledore's beard out and beat him with it. That stubborn old bastard was the limit.
"Are you willing to die defending that man to the end?" McGonagall asked.
"It won't come to that, Minerva," Dumbledore said. "But, this has to be done, to convince Harry that he's heading down a dangerous path."
"So I'll take this as a yes," Harry said.
"I accept," Dumbledore said. "I'm sorry that this is necessary, but I'm going to have to teach you a lesson."
"Was this your plan?" Cassie asked.
"No," Harry said. "Would you be my second?"
"Gladly," Cassie said. "Looks like dutiful Doge is Dumbledore's second."
Harry needed to get the wand from Dumbledore and he could not think of any better situation than doing it right here.
"A challenge has been made," Nott said gleefully. "No matter the outcome, this will be entertaining."
Every one of the purist faction looked giddy with anticipation.
"There will be no winners if we do this, Harry," Dumbledore said. "You can still back out and I will release you from our obligation to duel."
"I decline your offer."
"So be it."
"It's unfortunate that you have to learn this lesson the hard way."
"The saddest part of this is you believe you're right," Harry said.
Amelia looked completely gobsmacked about the entire situation.
"I hope you're happy with yourself, Albus," Amelia said. "Bow on the count of three."
They bowed, and Harry blocked Dumbledore's first attack. And then he disarmed him of the Elder Wand and caused it to fly into his hand in a blink of an eye.
Then he was wrapped in a burning rope. Dumbledore struggled, unable to break free, as the Elder Wand was in Harry's hand. Harry defeated him in less than ten seconds.
"Harry, what have you done?" Dumbledore demanded.
There had been a loud clapping sound which jarred Dumbledore. Time froze. The entire Wizengamot had been suspended in between two ticks of a clock.
"Bravo, Albus, bravo. Your ego just earned you a one-way trip to the seventh circle of Hell. You and Snape will be spending a lot of quality time together. Considering you practically joined your destiny with his."
Lucy turned up, along with a beautiful pale skinned woman with dark hair, dressed in black. She offered Harry a warm smile.
"Congratulations, my champion," she told him with a smile.
The mysterious goth woman kissed Harry on the cheek. Then an old man appeared, dressed in a loud Hawaiian shirt, sunglasses, khaki shorts, flip flops, with his beard tied in a braid.
"Harry, my love, I wish to introduce you to Death herself," Lucy said casually.
"Hello,," she said. "It's a pleasure to meet you. Even more so when we officially do the bounding ceremony on the Day of the Dead."
Death's lips tasted surprisingly sweet as she leaned in and kissed Harry on the mouth. She pulled away from him.
"And you've heard of Nicholas Flamel."
"I was pulled away from one of the last vacations of my life, because of this arrogant young fool," Flamel said. "Oh, we're both going to me on our way to the next great adventure, Albus. Although your journey is on a much lower floor than mine."
"You realize who this is, don't you Harry?" Dumbledore asked when looking at Lucy.
"Yes, yes, he knows me quite well," Lucy said. "But, you don't need to worry your whiskers off about that. Harry, could you bring the fae into the circle?"
Harry brought Nora in, alongside Merula, Cassie, and Astra.
"If you don't mind me saying that, you look a lot like an old friend of mine, Marie Antoinette," Nicholas said.
"Yes, I get that a lot," Nora said.
"Nice girl, until she went mad with power," Nicholas said. "And there was that entire French Revolution thing. Perenelle had me sleep on the couch for about the next century, after I almost got our heads chopped off…good times, good times."
Harry never thought he would meet a man as old and as eccentric as Nicholas Flamel but there you go.
"Albus, Albus, Albus," Lucy said. "Your numerous crimes are far too much to talk about right now. In fact, could you believe that Astra was not the first child Dumbledore had allowed to languish in Hell?"
Dumbledore looked like he was in pain. A beautiful blonde woman dressed in a tight black corset, and leather pants, with boots appeared. She had her lips painted black. Her eyes were similar to Dumbledore.
"Introduce her to Harry and his friends," Lucy said.
"It's my sister, Arianna…but she's…."
"Grown up?" Arianna asked. "Did you think I would stay the same little girl you allowed to get victimized? Allowed to get turned into an Obscurial? Have her soul shredded and sent to the bad place, while convincing yourself it was an accident. A misunderstanding?"
"It seems like your two newest pets were willing to prove their worth, and they unearthed Arianna," Lucy said.
"I apologize about my brother, Harry Potter," Arianna said. "My brother keeps making the same stupid mistakes over and over again because he has an obsessive desire to be right."
"I had to…keep Harry safe," Dumbledore begged. "And I needed to redeem Severus and Tom…was my greatest failure."
"Hardly,"Arianna said. "Although you've failed many people, so I suppose I can forgive you for not understanding what your failure truly is."
Arianna kicked Dumbledore in a very uncomfortable place with her spiked boot. The Headmaster winced at what his sister did.
"Well, he had that one coming," Lucy said. "So, Harry, it's almost too easy to just send him down. The second-chance man deserves a second-chance of his own, but he plays by your rules, like Snape had to play by his."
Lucy whispered in Harry's ear. Harry turned to Astra, who gave gave Harry the go-ahead and Arianna just smiled
"Go for it," she said.
"I've got a proposition for you, Dumbledore," Harry said. "Hogwarts needs a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. And given you're already cursed, what do you have to lose?"
Dumbledore looked on.
"But, that would….."
"Require you to step down as Headmaster, yes," Harry informed him. "You will be the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, for one year, while you help myself, Cassie, and Merula find a way to break the jinx that Voldemort put on the position."
"Something you should have done a long time ago," Merula said.
"This is an offer you can't refuse," Lucy said. "I could drag you off to Hell now But, you might be able to make some amends and have some leniency for your final judgement. Of course, I could hand you to Daddy dearest. You two deserve each other, old pompous windbags you are."
Lucy drew up the contract.
"You can get a peaceful death with dignity in ten months," Harry said. "Or you can die right here in front of the Wizengamot, disgraced in your last moments. The decision is yours."
Dumbledore, with no good options, signed the contract, in blood. The symbol of the Death Hallows burned into his hand, visible only to Harry and those bonded to him.
"June 26th, 2016, is your final day, a little over ten months from now," Lucy said. "And this is yours, Master."
Albus watched as Lucy handed Harry a coin. Astra's eyes widened.
"Oooh, lucky," Astra groaned. "You got Dumbledore's soul coin. I wanted to get my hands on that forever."
"Soul coins?" Dumbledore asked. "I must warn you that…."
Suddenly, Dumbledore started braying like a donkey. Arianna pulled back her hand.
"Sorry, I couldn't resist," Arianna said.
"Does Severus get the same second-chance that you gave me?"
Harry really did admire the balls of Albus Dumbledore, with a statement like that.
"He had his second-chance and he burned it," Harry said. "Natalie died, Astra was condemned to Hell, and that's not counting Snape admitting that he would have condemned Sirius to the kiss. Because he's a petty manchild who doesn't let go of his childhood grudges. Dad was mean to him. Big deal. Get over yourself. I'm not about to become a teacher and torment Dudley's children."
"Oh, let's hope he never reproduces," Astra said.
"And neither will Snape," Harry said.
Lucy opened up the gates to Hell and two hunch backed ghouls began to drag Snape to the edge.
"You're going to Hell, Snape," Harry said. "Watch that first step."
"You are ungrateful and petty, Potter. You will meet a messy end."
Harry held up a hand and stopped Snape.
"Snivellus, you haven't begun to see me begin to be petty."
Harry let that sentence drop.
"I wish all of the memories you had of my mother were erased. Because you don't deserve to remember her."
Snape screamed, and cursed Harry, but each of the memories he had, the happiest memories he had, of Lily had been burned out of his head. Nora just let it happen.
"I had to feel the gaps," Nora said. "And I did the same thing Snape and Dumbledore did to you, replacing those memories with some cherished childhood memories of Tobias playing the role of Uncle Vernon."
The gates opened wide and Astra reared back and personally kicked Snape straight into Hell.
"Goodbye, you greasy piece of shit. Don't bother keeping in touch."
Dumbledore watched in horror as Snape had disappeared into Hell.
"That's about the same look I had when I watched my best friend get pulled into Hell," Harry said.
"Was it really necessary to do this, Harry?" Dumbledore asked.
"No," Harry said to him. "But, it amused me."
"See you soon, Master," Death said.
She kissed Harry goodbye and disappeared.
"I'm going to take you back to before Dumbledore made this poor decision to duel you," Lucy said. "All of the consequences will be the same, except for the Wizengamot losing all respect they had for Dumbledore. Not that there is that much left."
"Maybe that's for the best," Cassie agreed.
"They won't see you utterly humiliated by a fifteen year old wizard. Make better choices next time, you saggy git."
Lucy's head shifted into a demonic looking Mickey Mouse.
"See you real soon!" she said in a chipper voice.
"Please don't do that again," Harry said.
"Ah, but the Mickey thing is a hit with the children!"
And with that, time rewound to right before Dumbledore decided to make the stubborn decision he did.
Harry was back, right before Dumbledore made the reckless decision to challenge him. He still had the Elder Wand and Dumbledore's soul coin and thus Dumbledore's future compliance.
"I wish to invoke the life debt I have against Severus Snape,"
"Are there any objections?" Amelia asked.
Dumbledore did not move. And with that, Snape's eyes rolled into the back of his head.
Severus Snape fell to the floor, dead. And condemned to an eternal torment where he would not have a single memory of Lily Evans-Potter.
"Magic has judged Snape to be guilty," Marchbanks said.
"And there is little doubt he would have been found guilty," Greengrass said. "Although, it's concerning that two people who put themselves against Potter ended up dead, right before us."
"They had it coming," Katerina said.
Some agreed, although a few looked anxious.
"We should dismiss the court for today," Fudge said.
"Yes, of course," Amelia said. "We're on the same page, Minister. And Mr. Potter, do feel free to join us on August 23rd for the Tribunal where we will be discussing the events of June 24th."
"I'll be there, Madam Bones," Harry said.
Harry walked off and Fudge walked behind him.
"Yes, Minister?"
"What do you want, Mr. Potter?" Fudge asked.
"The truth, and for you to admit that Voldemort's returned," Harry said. "You have a chance to act before he gains a foothold. But the window's shrinking. And the evidence is damning."
"I can't…they'll kill me," Fudge whispered.
"Either die a man or a coward," Harry said coldly. "It's your choice."
Harry left Fudge standing helpless and useless. He passed Sienna who smiled.
"After today, Fudge looks to be on his last days as Minister," Sienna told him. "I'm thinking he might not make it to the autumn Wizengamot session at this point."
"That's charitable," Harry said.
"He could resign to save some face, but each piece of evidence damns him further."
Harry locked eyes with Amelia.
"So, do you still want to see me in private?" Harry asked.
"Yes, Harry," she agreed with a certain glint in her eyes. "Now more than ever."
To Be Continued.
Yeah, I don't know why either, but the chapters that don't have smut, still end up Harry screwing people hard. But not in the fun way.
List of Women In this Chapter.
Nymphadora Tonks(preferred form)...Hayley Williams.
Merula Snyde...Camren Bicondova
Cassandra Jacobs...Katherine McNamara
Nora Darhk...Courtney Ford
Astra Logue...Olivia Swann
Penelope Clearwater...Alexandra Daddario.
Andromeda Tonks...Kate Beckinsale.
Rita Skeeter...Elizabeth Banks
Sienna Brown...Tara Strong
Amelia Bones...Christina Hendricks.
Katerina Zabini...Melyssa Ford.
Miranda Coburn/Unspeakable Supreme...Alex Duncan.
Lucy Morningstar...Elizabeth Hurley.
Death of the Endless...Zooey Deschanel
Arianna Dumbledore...Aimee Teegarden