A/N: English is my second language and this chapter didn't pass through a beta.
CHAPTER SIX
"Can't you imagine the turmoil it would cause?" Tonks asked.
"Even so, this is an issue that the full Wizengamot should be aware of." Percy answered primly.
"I think they would appreciate to know about this as a resolved issue," Shacklebolt commented.
"The more, the merrier," Moody chuckled.
"Let's not be hasty," Minister Scrimegour tried to intervene.
"As a member of the Wizengamot," Amos Diggory said, "I think I have a say in this issue."
All the others turned to the older man.
"I believe it would be best if we deal with… it," and he pointed to the bag over the table. "Afterwards we can present the closed situation to the Wizarding world."
"I agree!" Tonks exclaimed immediately.
"But…" Percy tried again.
"No!" Moody didn't seemed entertained anymore. "This discussion was fun and all but the truth is we cannot let any one else close to You-Know-Who's remains. We can't guarantee that all the Death Eaters were caught or even some crazy follower wouldn't try to steal it and try to revive the dark nuisance again."
"Paranoid much?" Auror Towler asked in a very soft voice.
"If more people were paranoid maybe we wouldn't have to fight another dark lord!" Moody shouted.
"I must agree with Mr. Moody on this," Scrimegour said with an effort to keep his calm. "It would be much better if we present this as a closed case."
"Well, then let's do it!" Tonks said with enthusiasm. "I have people to visit, you know?"
"And how, pray tell, we should do this?" Percy asked.
The people around the table exchanged glances. All of them seemed lost.
"Maybe if we talk with the rest of the Order…" Towler offered hesitantly. "You know, more heads to think and so on."
"This would be more people who knew!" Percy complained.
"Ah, Percy," Shacklebolt said. "We are trying to find a way to tell everybody, remember?"
The young man caught himself and shook his head as if cleaning his mind. "Yes, of course. I mean…"
"No, that is quite a good idea after all," Moody interrupted Percy. "The Order already knows what happened."
"There are a lot of good minds in it and we can come up with some idea of how to present this to the Wizarding world," Shacklebolt completed.
A few more glances exchanged between the group and some nods all around.
"So, let's go back to Hogwarts and try to sort this out once and for all," Minister Scrimegour said.
All the eyes went back to the bag over the table.
"Merlin's beard!" Moody exclaimed. "I brought it in, I can carry it again!" And he quickly closed the bag, tied it shut and held in one hand, his cane in the other.
Percy opened the door of the room and said something to whoever was at the other side. Then he went back to the group that was waiting by the fireplace and one by one jumped in the green flames and flooed to the Headmistress's office in Hogwarts.
After the seven of them arrived in the office, a house-elf popped in front of the group and bowed low.
"Headmistress is in Great Hall. All guests is in Great Hall," and after deliver his information the small creature disappeared again.
The group exited the office and walked directly to the Great Hall, arriving in time to hear what seemed to be quite a heated argument.
"Why not confirm that Voldy and his Munchers are finished?" A young man's voice asked.
"I believe this is a prerogative of the Minister, Mr. Weasley," the group recognized Headmistress McGonagall's voice.
Not wanting to loose anymore time with endless discussions, Minister Scrimegour stepped inside the hall.
"Quite right, Professor McGonagall," he said. "And we are here to try and decide exactly how we can do that."
"Minister…" Arthur Weasley stood up. "How can we help?"
Looking at the big gathering, Scrimegour winced. He didn't know this conversation should be so public after all.
"Minerva," Moody said, drawing attention to himself. "Maybe this would be best discussed between fewer people and in a more secluded place."
Scrimegour and Percy nodded in agreement immediately. A few smirks were heard around the room, Moody's paranoia being so well known.
"I'm sure it would be for the best, Minerva," the quiet agreement from Shacklebolt put everyone else on edge. This was a serious matter.
Chairs were pushed and feet start moving around. A group left the Great Hall and walked back to the headmistress office. After everyone walked in and find a seat the door was locked and some privacy spells were cast.
The group gathered to discuss how to inform the entire Wizarding world of the ultimate dismissed of the Dark Lord Voldemort consisted in Headmistress Minerva McGonagall, Minister Rufus Scrimegour, Minister Assistant Percy Weasley, ex-auror Alastor 'Mad-Eye' Moody, Chief-Auror Kingsley Shacklebolt, Wizengamot member Amos Diggory, Head of Misuse Muggle Artefacts Office Arthur Weasley, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley.
Percy checked the group in the room and stared at his youngest brother and his girlfriend.
"I don't think this is a matter for students."
"We are here in behalf of Harry Potter," Hermione answered in a very non-no sense voice and straight face.
"What you mean?" Percy asked surprise.
"He is the one responsible for this meeting," Ron started. "Harry defeat the Dark Idiot and we think his interests must be protect while he isn't here to do so himself."
"What kind of interest Mr. Potter might have with this issue?" The Minister asked a bit miffed.
"The protection of his name and his actions," Hermione answered.
"Yeah," Ron was smirking now. "He wouldn't want to have his name dragged in political issues or risk being 'accused' of something underhand after all."
"This is preposterous"! Percy stood up indignantly.
"Well, considering his – and our – experience with the Ministry, I would say this is quite possible," Hermione said calmly.
"Please, people, let's try and keep our heads here," Shacklebolt interfered.
"But these accusations…"
"There were no accusations, Mr. Weasley," Headmistress McGonagall interrupted the young man. "Miss Granger and young Mr. Weasley just stated their propose for being in this meeting."
"Let's stop with the chit-chat and get into business," Moody growled.
"Quite right," Diggory said. "The idea behind this meeting is to find a way to inform the Wizarding world about the destruction of You-Know-Who without risking that any of his followers try to take his remains away."
"An open visitation is out of question then?" Ron asked.
"Of course it is!" Percy answered.
"I think that would be a bit too much, Ron," Hermione said. "Maybe a few selected people could meet to attest the end of Voldemort."
"Where are his remains anyway?" Arthur asked.
"Good question." Moody comment and put the bag in the middle of the room.
McGonagall gulped nervously and locked her eyes at the bag. "Is it…?" She didn't know what to ask after all.
"Yeah, whatever remains from Lord Moldyvorts is inside this bag," Shacklebolt said.
"Why you keep coming up with these ridiculous names?" Percy asked annoyed.
"Very few people can say Voldemort's name," Hermione answered, ignoring the shudders from the others in the room. "Harry came with the idea of silly names to help people to think about him with less fear."
"It helps," Ron said, staring at the bag.
"Whatever," Percy whispered.
"So, how we will do this?" Arthur asked.
"And how we will keep the hidden Death Eaters away?" Diggory said.
"Well, maybe I have half of the answer here," McGonagall said, showing a letter.
"What is that?" Shacklebolt asked.
"Severus Snape wrote to me offering to name all Death Eaters he knows in exchange for pardon and immunity."
"No way!" Ron exclaimed.
"Mr. Weasley, your opinion is quite well known. Let's discuss this in a more mature way," McGonagall chided her student.
"After all the grease git did you will just look the other way and let him walk free?" Ron's face was getting red.
"He did what he needed to do to help the Light side, Mr. Weasley," came the comment from Dumbledore's portrait.
"Persecute Harry helped the Light side?" Ron snapped.
"He needed to hide his true allegiances," Dumbledore answered.
"He enjoys torture students!" Ron shouted.
"Ron, behave yourself!" Hermione intervened. "I don't think this issue will be easily agreed upon."
"That much is quite clear," Scrimegour said looking around the room. "He really can name the unknown Death Eaters?"
"Yes!" Dumbledore said.
After a moment of silence, Headmistress McGonagall confirmed. "I think he can, Minister."
"Well, this is valuable information. Considering that even Dumbledore can vouch for the man, a pardon might be possible." Scrimegour said. Seeing the rebellious posture of the younger Weasley and the two Aurors, he completed. "But let's make this a very careful binding agreement. He will have to give us valid names and then he will have to make a Wizard Oath about desist to use the Dark Arts ever again."
"That is a good idea, Minister," Diggory said.
"I don't know what Harry will say about this…" Ron said disgruntled
"Well, ask me and we will see," came the answer from the door.
0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
Harry became aware of his surroundings slowly. He didn't move but let his senses identify where and how he was.
The smell of cleanliness all around and the crisp linen where he was laying indicated the Hogwarts Hospital Wing.
His body ached like he had slept too long in the same position and his mind was a bit foggy.
Harry sighed and started to move slowly, trying to bring his body back to action. He wriggled all his fingers, basking at the feeling running from the tip of his fingers through out his arms to his shoulders. Then he moved his toes and legs, and finally he turned his head from side to side, letting his eyes get used to the light given by some torches close to the doors.
No light came through the windows, conveying the information that it should be around supper time or even latter. The silence was complete in the Hospital Wing, making Harry believe that he was alone in the place.
His mind was loosing the fogginess and memories started to rush back in, unsettling the young man.
To be true to himself Harry had to admit that his final confrontation with Voldemort was less dramatic than he expected.
It was immensely drawing and Harry believed he would need quite some time to recuperate his physical and mental health. His magic was coming back already and it should go back to his normal levels in no time.
Taking his attention inward, Harry called to his magic. He hadn't done this before, but he was worried about repercussions from his mental confrontation with Voldemort. Harry needed to be absolutely sure that nothing from the dark wizard remained in his mind to torment him in the future.
Flashes of what happened in the tunnels below Malfoy Manor filled Harry's mind. His plans, the moment he cast the Soul Bounding spell, when he destroyed Nagini. The memories were brightly clear but moved quickly. The final confrontation inside Voldemort's mind played again for Harry, giving him the opportunity to review everything. The Dark Lord had fought hard but was unable to cast something back toward Harry's own mind. The young man breathed relieved that old Moldyvarts hadn't left anything nasty in his awake.
Feeling better already, Harry moved carefully and stood up. Taking time to let his body get used to the position shift, Harry scoop his glasses and his wand from the bedside table and examined the room again. The dying light confirmed the late hour. The Hospital Wing was empty aside for himself. If Madam Pomfrey wasn't hovering nearby, it meant that his condition was good and she wasn't worry. So Harry translated all that to 'I'm free to get out of here'. And he proceed to do just that, walking swiftly toward the big doors and then to the corridor.
He hesitated near the stairs, in doubt about going down, to the Great Hall, or going up, toward the Gryffindor Tower. Deciding that he missed his friends more than he missed food, Harry started to climb the stairs to the tower.
"Maybe you should stop by the Headmistress office." The softly spoken phrase startled Harry. He turned with his wand draw, ready to confront what ever danger might be there.
Near Headless Nick was floating in the middle of the corridor, smiling but his eyes were serious.
"Hi, Nick," Harry answered while pockting his wand. "What's happening in the Headmistress' office?"
"They are discussing how to tell the Wizarding world that you destroyed He-Who-Should-Not-Be-Named."
"Well, I think they may be capable to take care of that. I want to see my friends."
"Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger are part of this discussion. Likewise the Minister and the Headmistress. You might want to go there, Mr. Potter. Even if you fulfilled the prophecy, there still are responsibilities to go with your actions."
Harry sighed and shook his head. "Why I would believe that destroying Voldemort would finish my part in all this. Alright, I'm going."
And he walked through the corridor, passing the ghost and saluting him with a gesture. He stopped in front of the gargoyle and muttering the same password he used to access the office to talk with Dumbledore's portrait. Professor McGonagall wouldn't have the time to change it.
"Lion's courage."
The statue jumped to the side and the spiralling staircase started to climb up. Harry step on it and let the magic stairs take him to the office's door. He was ready to knock when the discussion about Snape reach his ears. He opened the door carefully to listen better without the others noticing him. When Ron spoke, Harry found the moment to announce his presence.
"I don't know what Harry will say about this…" Ron said disgruntled
"Well, ask me and we will see," Harry said, leaning on the doorframe.
Everybody in the room turned to the door and some gasps were heard when he was recognized. Hermione and Ron jumped out of their chairs and ran to embrace him.
"Harry!" Hermione screamed.
"Mate!" Came from Ron.
Harry entered in a three way hug with his best friends and bask on the feeling that now they were safe. Or as safe as was possible in the Wizarding world.
"Should you be out of the Hospital Wing, Mr. Potter?" Headmistress McGonagall asked.
"I'm fine, Professor. And since Madam Pomfrey left me alone, I thought that she wouldn't mind so much," Harry answered with a lopsided smile.
"I'll tell Poppy about your deductions in relation of her behaviour, Mr. Potter," McGonagall said smiling. "Welcome back. I'm glad that you didn't suffer any permanent impairment from your… adventure."
"Thank you, madam." Harry ran his eyes through the room, paying attention to who were there.
"Minister," Harry greeted the man. "Mr. Weasley. Mr. Diggory. Moody. Kingsley." Harry finished greeting the presents, ignoring Percy Weasley as became the norm between the younger Weasleys. Harry agreed with Ron and his brothers and sister. If the prat hadn't the courage to come up to his parents and apologize then he didn't deserve to be acknowledge as a Weasley.
Everybody in the room greeted him but before anyone else could say much more the Minister started in the subject of his interest.
"Mr. Potter, now that you're awake, maybe you can tell us exactly what happened in Malfoy Manor and how you manage to destroy You-Know-Who."
Harry inclined his head to one side, capturing the eyes of the Minister into his hard emerald ones. Ron and Hermione stayed by his side, angels hovering behind his back.
"Minister Scrimegour, Voldemort is dead and destroyed. Not even now can you say his name?"
"It's not important if the Minister say his name or not. The question here is what you did to destroy him. Did you use the Dark Arts?" Percy asked in clipped tones.
Harry pretended he didn't hear the other man. He kept looking into the older man's eyes. When Scrimegour averted his eyes from Harry, the young man sighed and advanced into the room, going to sit on the small sofa, followed close by Hermione and Ron.
"Come on, Potter! Enough with the suspense! Tell us what you did!" Moody demanded.
Harry sighed once more, intertwined his fingers and started to tell his tale concentrating on the faces of the two Aurors present.
"The conversation at dinner yesterday gave me the idea. Kingsley talked how they only found a secret room at Malfoy Manor and Hermione asked about the possibility of hidden tunnels. If Voldemort was there, he would use some kind of protection that nobody else could dismantle. That's when I thought about Parsel magic."
"Since when you know anything about Parsel magic?" Percy asked dryly.
Harry was ready to ignore him again but the interested faces around him changed his mind.
"This last year I made a lot of research. While Hermione was occupied researching about the Horcruxes, I was looking for anything that would help me in the final confrontation with Voldemort. I started to test using Parseltongue on the normal spells. It worked just fine and nobody else could undo whatever I did. I had to use Parseltongue to end whatever spell I had cast."
"Quite interesting! You never said anything about it when you visit, my boy!" Came the commentary from Dumbledore's portrait.
"I had other things to talk about that I thought were more important, Professor," Harry answered without looking at the picture.
"And about the Dark Arts?" Percy persisted.
"I didn't use any Dark Arts that I know of," Harry answered again without looking toward the one asking. "I mixed a lot of ancient spells that Bill Weasley taught me with things Hermione research this year. And of course I used most of them in Parseltongue."
"Quite an accomplishment, Mr. Potter," McGonagall said. "It would be very interesting to talk with you and Miss Granger in greater details about those spells and all the research you two did."
"Ah, Headmistress, there are so much to tell!" Hermione was getting excited. Ron and Harry looked to each other and rolled their eyes at the same time.
"All well and that, Headmistress, but I think that we need a bit more details here," Scrimegour said at last. "What you did to… finish him?" He still couldn't say the name.
"I used an Egyptian spell to make sure that the last bit of his soul would stay in his body and then I destroyed Nagini, the last Horcrux." Harry continued. "I incapacitated the Dead Dumbs with him while I was under the Disillusionment Charm. I cursed Bellatrix and fought Voldemort. I entered his mind and cast the last spell there. And he was no more." Harry finished and sighed, finally feeling tired.
Hermione took hold of one of his hands and Ron extended his long arm to embrace his girlfriend and his best mate over the back of the couch.
"Sounded to simple," Percy commented.
"It was not simple," Harry answered with hard eyes. "Bellatrix caught me with a Crucio and Voldemort hurt me too. I got luck when I was able to drop two Death Eaters before anyone notice me. Malfoy wasn't much there for the fight. I think the Dementors really shook him. But I think I did have a very good plan and most of it worked fine."
"Why not tell us about what you were going to do, Harry?" Hermione asked softly.
Harry let go of a sad laugh. "You all were thinking about a great big battle. As if two powerful armies would meet in a pre-arranged place and fight like warriors of old. Voldemort didn't play like that, Hermione. He was sneaky. He liked to attack where we least expect. He was a backstabbing bastard. He would never confront us in the open. But nobody would listen to me. Nobody believed me when I said those things before. So instead of risk a big trap and a lot of people hurt, I went after him myself, as I should. As the prophecy said it would be."
"The prophecy never said anything about you being alone, Harry," Dumbledore said.
"We talked about it already, Albus. We agreed in disagree about it."
"What spell did you use?" Percy was acting like this was a trial.
"I didn't know you could cast a spell while you're inside somebody else's mind," Hermione said.
"I would say that Mr. Potter might be the first to try and succeed, Miss Granger." McGonagall commented.
"What spell did you use?" Percy asked again, more forcefully this time.
Harry looked at him for the first time and answered with certainty. "I won't say."
The room filled with silence. Harry was calm and collected. Percy was getting red on the face, a sure sign of an angered Weasley. Diggory, Moody and Shacklebolt were watching the interaction with amused interest. Scrimegour and McGonagall appeared to be calm and neither of them was showing any emotion. Ron removed his arm from behind his friend and leaned forward, an angry expression on his face that was getting red too. Hermione squeezed Harry's hand, offering and asking for reassurance.
"You can't deny the Minister!" Percy complained.
"I didn't. I answered all the Minister's questions so far." Harry answered.
Percy turned to Scrimegour, waiting with an eager expression. The man sighed and turned to Harry.
"Why don't you want to tell which spell you used, Mr. Potter?
"Because it's a very ancient spell, a curse used on convicted criminals. Since it was forgotten, I don't think it should be resurrected now."
"It isn't your decision!" Percy interrupted again.
"What got your knickers in a twist, Perc?" Harry asked with an evil smile. "You're a sad that the Ministry won't get the fame for destroying Voldemort? Or maybe you want the spell so you can use it on me?"
"You are an impertinent boy that doesn't know his own place!" Percy stood up, rage taking over him. "You should kneel and say thanks for all the Ministry has done for you! You are irresponsible and untrustworthy!"
"I'm not the one who betrayed my own family in exchange for a job, Perc," Harry answered in a chilling voice. "I made a lot of mistakes but most of them can be explained by lack of information. The moment I could, I went after my destiny and followed it to the end. I did what I was supposed to do for the Wizarding world. I don't have any other obligation toward it. And I certainly don't have a debt with the Ministry. If you want to discuss mistreatment, let's talk about all the Ministry did against me."
Harry didn't raise his voice but it carried through all the room and chilled all occupants. Percy fell back on the chair, still red-faced but obviously without a answer.
"We should not be fighting. This should be a happy moment. I thought you were here to discuss a way to tell the Wizarding world about the ultimate dismiss of Lord Voldemort," Dumbledore said.
McGonagall and Scrimegour turned toward the picture and both nodded in agreement.
"I think a more… detailed debrief can be made later." Scrimegour said. "Auror Shacklebolt, I leave this duty in your capable hands."
"Yes, sir," Shacklebolt answered automatically but didn't move his eyes away from Percy.
"Well, let's go back to what we were discussing when Mr. Potter arrived," McGonagall tried to dispel the heavy air around the room.
"Yes, we were talking about a pardon for Severus Snape in exchange for names of Death Eaters," Mr. Diggory was also trying to act normally.
"The Minister suggested an oath to keep Snape away from the Dark Arts. But we sure could use this kind of information. Even with all the Death Eaters captured today, Snape was one of the closest to You-Know-Who." Shacklebolt commented.
Harry rolled his eyes, peeved that everybody was still using these silly epithets when talking about Voldemort.
'They will never change?' He thought, hearing the comments around the room.
"What do you think, Harry?" Ron asked but he was still staring at his brother.
"If the Aurors and the Minister believed he has something to contribute, then they should do it." Harry answered half-hearted.
"If we pardoned him, we will have to explain. Tell about him being a spy." Scrimegour said. "Maybe even give him a reward."
"I think that each and everyone that fought against Voldemort should be acknowledged and receive their rightful due. Their past should not be considered here. Their actions speak louder," Harry said.
Dumbledore's portrait seemed to shine with proud. "Well said, my dear boy, well said. Everyone can make mistakes. Very few try to rectify them."
Scrimegour, Percy, McGonagall, Hermione and Diggory nodded in agreement. Kingsley and Moody looked sceptical and Ron was clearly against it.
"Then maybe would be a good idea to assemble the most prominent heroes of this fight for an award presentation," the Minister said. "And you, Potter, together with Snape should pass the right idea."
But Harry was shaking his head. "I'll try to help in whatever way I can, sir, but I will not be side by side with Snape. Not unless you want him dead."
"Harry!" Hermione exclaimed.
"But you were just saying that the past should be forgiven and forget…" McGonagall said.
"I said that those who fought against Voldemort deserve to be recognized for their work," Harry clarified. "My problems with Snape are in no way connected with neither our works against Voldemort."
"But, Harry," Dumbledore started from the wall. "If you don't show up with Snape what kind of message this would pass? How the Wizarding world can heal and move forward if their outmost symbol keep holding grudges?"
"I don't care which message they see, old man," Harry answered without looking at the painting. "And I care even less for this 'outmost symbol' thing. Snape hates me because I'm James Potter's son and Sirius Black's godson. Something that has nothing to do with Voldemort, Death Eaters, Order of the Phoenix or the Ministry of Magic. So, I don't have to forgive and forget. I won't even discuss the issue that he was the one to pass the first part of the prophecy to Voldemort in the first place. Or that he was the one that 'helped' to recruit Pettigrew to the Death Eaters. I can't and I won't forgive him for hating an eleven year old boy that hadn't the faintest idea who was his boyhood nemesis."
Ron nodded in complete agreement. He didn't want to forgive Snape for anything either. The rest of the room felt uncomfortable with the information imparted by Harry and none knew what to say.
"Harry, my boy, one of your strengths is your love and forgiveness for the fellow man," Dumbledore started by was quick cut off by Harry.
"Well, I think I loved and forgave enough, Professor Dumbledore. Certainly there was none for Bellatrix or Voldemort. Nor there is for Snape. Let the Minister prepare his party any way he wants it. Like I said before, I have done my part. I will live my life the way I want now." The young man stood up and walked toward the door.
"I'm tired. I'll go to bed now." He turned to Shacklebolt. "Kingsley, you know where to find me whenever you want to do this debrief thing. Good night to all."
And Harry walked out of the Headmistress office, leaving a group of wizards and witches a bit surprise and at lost of what they could say.
Dumbledore sighed and seated in his armchair, loosing himself in thoughts.
Diggory looked around and finally spoke in a low voice. "We didn't decide anything about how we will tell the Wizarding world about You-Know-Who."
Groans and sighs filled the room.
TBC…
