A/N one chapter and an epilogue to go. Wow so close I might even finish tonight. Happy New Year to anyone in Europe Australia, Africa, or Asia, to Americans it's almost here.

I don't like writing trials so I just kind of glossed over that part you probably already knew what would happen anyway.

Chapter Thirteen

Yuletide Confessions

December came upon them in a rush after Draco and Neville's bonding. Darren would be a week shy of four months pregnant on the date the Yule ball was set for. Dress robes had been ordered and dates obtained. The two bonded couples decided to hide for the time being. If all went well their relationships would be public knowledge in a few days anyway.

Neville was the one that actually had to fool Dumbledore. He was nervous but used that to his advantage. It was much easier to act when all you have to do is amplify an emotion that was already there. He kept his reputation up by not being openly friendly with the Slytherins. This was putting a strain on the relationship between him and Draco, but the two of them new the plan with Dumbledore had to come before their own desires.

The mechanics of the plan were fully prepared. They decided to throw the suspicion off of Neville by not using the instant acting Veritaserum. They were going to use a cousin of it that was just as reliable and responded to a preset trigger. The only problem was it left a detectable odor in whatever it was dissolved in. as long as someone distracted Dumbledore while he was drinking then it would be alright.

Blade still felt edgy though. They had to get Dumbledore to admit to a lot of misdeeds in a relatively short amount of time. Then they would have to prove whatever Dumbledore said under the influence of the potion was the actual truth. Blade would be the one interrogated to corroborate whatever Dumbledore said. Veritaserum would not harm the child so it was safe to take it.

There was even a small change to the plan. Severus thought it would be a good idea to have a few aurors around. Dumbledore agreed once Severus told him it was for extra security because Voldemort was planning something.

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The night of the ball all four men were anxious. Tonight was the night all their carefully laid out plans would be put to the test. They were dressed for the occasion as well.

Severus wore his usual black but the cut of the robes was different showing of his long lean frame. He had removed the glamours that only Blade knew existed. They were the ones keeping his appearance nasty and foreboding. Underneath his hair was soft and shinny but not greasy, his teeth were straight and white, his skin was still pale but not the sickly sallow more like a natural alabaster, and his dark eyes were still dark and forbidding but that just added to his overall appearance.

Blade wore an emerald green robe designed to bring out his eyes. The cut of the robe hid the fact he didn't have six pack abs anymore. He wasn't big by any means his abs had just changed to the point he was the same size without any muscle definition. The pregnancy added an extra something to Blade's appearance. Wonderful warmth surrounded him making him appear very approachable and even tempered. His green eyes shown with the love he felt for his soul mate and their child.

Draco wore a deep blue robe it set of his pale coloring nicely. His hair was cut to his shoulders and tamed with a hint of gel but nothing like he used to. He carried himself with the graceful elegance of an aristocrat who knew full well what power they had and they didn't have any qualms about using it. He was every inch the heir to the powerful, rich Malfoy family.

Neville was surprising people up in the Gryffindor dorms. He had shed his normally self conscious attitude and dressed to impress. He wore blood red robes cut to show off his well defined muscles. For the first time his dorm mates got a good look at a shadow of what should have been. Everyone still assumed he was the almost magic less legacy of his parents. Now they were getting inkling that there might be more to Neville then meet the eye. He was tall and broad shouldered his eyes spoke of hidden strength.

All four men were getting a lot of attention from admirers that night. It was pure torture for them not to be with the ones they loved but they didn't have a choice. Only a few more hours and the world would know the truth about everything.

The first part of the plan went off without a hitch. Dumbledore didn't think twice about a toast made to Hogwarts proposed by Neville. He accepted the replacement cup of punch after draining his first one in the toast. Now all they had to do was wait long enough to let the potion take full affect and for the memory of who drugged him to leave Dumbledore. Then they could activate the potion using a trigger question set by Severus in the brewing process.

The wait was agonizing as all four members of the plan were being dragged out onto the dance floor by random people. Blade didn't mind dancing with some of the other Slytherins but it just felt wrong without his bonded. Draco and Neville were having similar problems of their own.

An hour after administering the potion Blade felt the time was right to start questioning Dumbledore. The Headmaster even played right into his hands as he called for silence preparing to make a speech.

"I wish to say a few words. I agreed to hold this ball again in the hopes that the students would get some cheer back. We are in dark times we must all stick together to stop the Dark Lord Voldemort." Dumbledore paused in his speech long enough for the collective gasps to subside. "Soon the world would be rid of him and then we may truly find happiness in these dark times."

Dumbledore made to sit back down but was stopped by Blade's voice. "Headmaster, what is Voldemort's true name?" he asked triggering the potion.

"Tom Marvolo Riddle," Dumbledore answered in a monotone and everyone from second year up knew he was under the influence of a truth serum.

"Has Tom Riddle committed the crimes attributed to him aside anything done purely in defense?" Blade asked deciding to take the bull by the horns.

"No he has not." Dumbledore answered shocking everyone in the room.

"Who was the one who committed the crimes and why?" he asked again hoping the question wasn't too open ended.

"I was the one who ordered the crimes done. I was after the power and money of a few family lines." Dumbledore answered. After he said that the aurors Severus had summoned earlier in the day came out of hiding to finish the questioning.

"How does one achieve that goal?" one curious auror asked.

"By killing off all living members of that family. The fewer heirs there are the more power going to the remaining heirs. I would receive the power as long as I was the only heir." Dumbledore answered still in his monotone.

"What side is You Know who really on?" another asked.

"He is on the side of peace he only fights in defense and would never attack children." Dumbledore answered.

"Who is the one who should really be leading Hogwarts?" Blade asked a sudden idea striking him.

"Tom Riddle, he has journals written by Salazar Slytherin on how the school was originally run. I have been changing things to get my reputation higher but it actually hurts the school." Dumbledore said.

"Why would you want to hurt the school" Draco asked.

"Because if the students got too strong I wouldn't be able to control them anymore. They would end up fighting me and I am too busy with other things to deal with that." Dumbledore answered his voice slowly losing the monotone.

The questioning was over for Dumbledore and he was taken away to the ministry to stand trial. They would question him this time with Veritaserum to get the full list of charges. All four of the people setting him up agreed to testify but Blade flat out told the aurors he was the only one they needed to testify.

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The trial was swiftly executed and as predicted the Wizengamot didn't need to hear anything after Darren's testimony to convict Dumbledore. In fact Darren managed to secure full pardons for every single death eater. He even personally gave his father the one with his name on it.

The daily prophet had a field day with the case. Even that dust heap could be offended by a miscarriage of justice that grave. They were even more surprised to hear that their savior was in fact alive and well. He was just on the other side now.

New definitions had to be made to accommodate e the Heirs of magic after all Dark does not mean evil. Never again would another wizard be discharged for using dark arts unless they were specifically trying to hurt someone.

The biggest change to occur was that the new headmaster of Hogwarts was no other then tom Riddle! He was just happy he would get the chance to spend time with his son before becoming a grandfather. Darren grew closer to his father and bonded as there was no longer any need to hide.

The time for Severus and his son to be born was soon approaching everyone in their small family was openly anticipatory.