CHAPTER Sixteen –

Albus was about to enervate Peter Pettigrew when two wands touched his neck "Excuse me but are you an Auror?"

Albus didn't move but spoke quietly "No, but I was making sure the prisoner was secure."

Another voice on his left spoke "That is Lord Potter's prisoner and you will not touch him. Lord Potter has plans for the little rat." Hermione pressed her wand into his neck with more firmness. "Stand up straight and keep your wand where I can see it."

Albus stood and focused on Hermione and missed Daphne's quick capture of his wand. Albus closed his eyes in anger for the lost opportunity and the grief this would cause to his long term plans.

Amelia with Tonks and another auror came over with Harry to Peter Pettigrew. "That is Peter Pettigrew and the real traitor to my parents. I want him questioned about how my parents died, who was their secret keeper. Who killed the 13 muggles, and the events that occurred tonight during the Triwizard tournament?"

Harry sighed "Madam Bones Voldemort was reborn in a ritual tonight. I do not know the exact location but the Riddle family had a lot of headstones in that cemetery. You will find a person named Rockwood, Mulciber, and another named Allcorn in that cemetery, dead. All three were helping Wormtail resurrect Voldemort by capturing me and they intended to use my blood before murdering me."

Albus looked neutral as he asked "The ritual worked and he was reborn?"

Harry answered "Yes but I dueled him and he ran when a bludgeoning curse hit his shoulder. He appeared to be hurting very badly when he left. I also broke his wand."

Albus held the wand pieces "This was Voldemort's wand?"

Harry smiled "It was but now it is just two broken sticks."

Amelia took in the situation and started issuing orders to her aurors. Within one hour Peter Pettigrew had confessed to betraying Harry's parents, setting up Sirius Black, and helping Voldemort be resurrected.

"Harry do you know how to contact Sirius Black?" Amelia asked him.

Harry smiled and looked at the reporters panting to get a tidbit of information. Amelia smiled and they walked together towards them. Amelia announced that the minister was issuing a full Pardon for Sirius Black as Peter Pettigrew had confessed to all of the crimes that Sirius black was accused of.

Harry then stepped up "I would like to thank Amelia Bones for her integrity in a few matters I have witnessed. I think she is one in the ministry we can all trust to do what is right. I would also like to thank Minister Fudge for his inspired leadership in this matter as when Madam Bones told him of the injustice that was done he took charge and corrected it without hesitation."

Harry paused and held up a book "I would also like to thank the chief Warlock, Albus Dumbledore for his efforts in orchestrating all of this. I believe my parent's said it best and want to quote them from a passage in their Journal."

Harry opened the book "Thursday October 29th, 1991 – Today was a very hectic day. Peter was with us all day as well as Sirius, causing mischief as usual and leading little Harry astray. In the afternoon Albus came over and recast the fidelus charm and we changed the secret keeper to Peter at Albus's urging because Sirius was too obvious a choice. I am not happy with this but only time will tell if it was a correct decision."

The crowd became deathly quiet and Harry looked directly at Albus Dumbledore "That is right Headmaster this journal, my parent's journal proves you have been withholding information. You knew Sirius Black was innocent of all the charges but you put him in prison any way, didn't you?"

Albus looked at him and then at the crowd as his face color paled because he had been set up.

Harry didn't hesitate to continue "Is that because Sirius Black was my Godfather and if he was not in prison he would have raised me and kept me out of your control. Could that be the reason…Albus?"

Albus held his hands up "Harry, there were things going on beyond many people's knowledge and understanding. For the greater good some sacrifices had to be made."

Harry eyes flashed "Ah, yes Albus you are on about your greater good. I think many of your people and the public at large have heard that over the years. Funny whenever I ask for specifics about what it means or how it works, nobody knows specifically what it means. Surely a man of your vision, a man of your education and vast knowledge can properly convey the meaning of what the greater good means so that we can assist and help you in that vision."

Albus gave his best grandfatherly style "The answer to that is more complex and I fear we do not have time to do so now."

Harry smiled "Of course Headmaster it is something probable over many people's understanding and of course your time is very valuable. It is probable one of the reason I was made your ward by the Wizgenmont but knew nothing about you until I came to Hogwarts.

Albus cleared his throat "Yes, well you were with your relatives after all."

Harry chuckled "Yes, I was from the time I was almost two years old. It is where you dropped me off to be cared for, correct?"

Albus seemed tentative "Harry this seems like a discussion that we should hold in private. I don't believe everyone should know the exact detail of your arrangement with your relatives."

Professor McGonagall spoke up "Yes, Mr. Potter I watched you carried to the doorstep of the Dursley's by Hagrid under the care of headmaster Dumbledore. I watched your basket left on the door step with a note pinned to it." A collective gasped was heard throughout the reporter's ranks.

Harry snorted "You know that is so strange to me because I just became a Lord this year and the Goblins were adamant that before I left the first meeting I had a duty to make a will. This made me wonder what happened to my parents will. I am almost positive they would have made one with a child already born."

Amelia spoke up "Albus was afraid you might be in danger and had your parent's will sealed for your safety."

Harry looked over at her "This was after he had my god father imprisoned without a trial, correct?"

Albus started moving away "Albus where are you going perhaps you can answer many of these burning questions these reporters and I have for you." Harry asked him.

Albus smiled "Well I do have other duties to attend to."

Harry smiled "Of course headmaster." Harry then whipped out a legal document "This is a copy of my parent's will that I found in the Potter vault and had been sealed in it you will find this passage "In no case is Harry's custody to be given to my muggle sister Petunia Dursley as her and her husband hate anything to do with magic and I fear what would happen to Harry as he is a very powerful magical child."

Harry looked up "Well that would explain the constant beatings I took, why I believed my name was freak or boy until I was five years old. Why I was treated worse than a house elf until I came to Hogwarts and never learn that magic even existed. Of course I could not do much because the ministry laws make it illegal to protect myself from abusive relatives that you knew hated me and my magic, isn't that right Headmaster Dumbledore?"

The collective crowd gasped and then looked at Albus and asked "Why would you place our savior in such a place?"

Albus truly frowned at being asked this. Internally he was seething with rage. How could they question what he was doing for them? How in the end he was protecting them. Before he could respond Harry had pulled out the will again.

"You know headmaster it didn't make a lot of sense to me either because not only was Sirius Black named first as my guardian, but also Remus Lupin, the Longbottoms, and Minerva McGonagall as well. Anyone of which would have been much better for me."

Minerva spoke up "Harry I didn't know they had done that."

Albus looked very old and very tired "Harry your mother's sacrifice gave you certain protections that could only be given by living with a blood relative and it had to be done."

Harry began to laugh and then suddenly he stood upright and his eyes glowed "Albus even you know that the blood wards and the binding you put on me weakened those very wards. The fact that I could never claim it as my home because of the way I was treated is another reason why they were and still are worthless."

Harry stepped towards him "When the Goblins checked as near as they can tell when my relatives beat me with a cricket bat broke my arm and my leg and then threw my in a cupboard for a week without food when I was five, the wards broke down so much that any person wanting to harm me could have done so with ease. I had to suffer for ten years because of your greater good."

Harry poked him in the chest "You know what I think. Your greater good is all about your greater good and you will sacrifice anybody you think necessary to achieve the greater good for yourself. As for me, from this day forward if you ever try to manipulate me, I will kill you where you stand."

Albus eyes and magic began to spool up "Don't threaten me young man I know magic you can't possible understand."

Harry's eyes glowed as everybody backed up from the magic coming from both wizards. "Try me old man. I will give you the first shot."

Albus held his hand up and then a spell shot forth that the absence of any light is the only way you could describe it. Harry placed a reflecting shield up and over powered it. He also waited until the spell was upon his before he slightly stepped to the side and it flung it harmlessly into the air.

Albus stood up and looked surprised "That is not possible. There is no defense for that spell." Harry didn't waste any time as he threw a battle magic spell from Grodric Gryffindor himself. When it hit Albus Dumbledore both his legs and arms broke and he fell to the ground in agony.

Harry turned "Madam Pomfrey those broken bones are cursed and cannot be fixed by magical means, If I were you I would get him to a muggle hospital. It should be about a year before he recovers."

Hermione, Daphne, Fleur, and Gabby had tears in their eyes as they followed him to their Lord's room. Harry turned to them I know that you want to comfort me but I need sometime alone, please."

Hermione walked up to him "I know why Harry but please don't leave us. We can get through this together and your girls need it as much as you."

Harry turned quickly "You don't play fair. You know I can't so no." Harry sniffed "Please don't think me weak."

Daphne with tears flowing down her cheeks smacked his head "Dammit Harry cut this macho bullshite out. We want to be here with you and for you." Harry curled into a ball and began to cry.

It was many minutes later when he had recovered some that having the girls became a great comfort to him. Being in his mind to know his exact feelings and emotions gave him a new perspective on things. He was soon not feeling that the fault was his so much as the Dursley skewed outlook on what is or is not abnormal was their problem not his.