The Honorable Judge Omnis

Harry's heart had long since gone beyond racing. He could almost feel it coming through his chest. A whole hidden civilization of people like him existed. People who could do that same things he could. People… Wizards. I'm a wizard… Men, women, and children! Families and loads of them!

He looked over to Marner excitedly. He wasn't alone in this world, as he had always believed. He merely belonged to another world. Marner beamed at him, being able to hear Harry's every thought. Harry's heart skipped another beat.

There must be a catch though. Harry ignored that thought and paid attention as the judge cleared his throat.

"There are many magical education institutions in the world." Judge Omnis continued. "There are quite a few in Europe. All are in competition with one another, even if they don't admit it. They would all be begging to have your admittance. But I do believe Hogwarts, in northern Scotland is the best choice for you…" He paused as if reconsidering saying something.

Harry's excitement flew out the window. He narrowed his eyes. He hated when there were catches. He hated it even more when things were hidden from him, and he felt Marner tense in the chair beside him. "It was the school that your parents had gone to before they were murdered."

Marner gasped. He looked at Harry to find Harry collapsing deeper into his chair. Harry felt the room spin. Harry remembered the silver-haired bloke from prison who tried to tell him these things. What was his name? The Dursleys had really lied to him. It was not surprising, yet it hurt and infuriated him that something so important was held from him.

Marner grabbed his hand suddenly. Harry then noticed the flickering of the lights. Marner frowned at him slightly and turned to look at the judge's desk. Harry saw something flash across Marner's face and it interrupted his train of thought.

He's angry. Sad, maybe… but definitely angry.

Harry's heart failed to keep up with the marching beat that it had just seconds ago. He turned to Judge Omnis, who was watching Harry with absolute attentiveness.

The man seemed astonished. "I can feel the control you have over your magic. They have been cherished and trained to some extent." He looked confused for a second before murmuring. "But the band-."

"Harry did it all on his own." Marner said proudly.

"I see." The judge looked at Marner strangely over his glasses. Harry knew exactly what the man was doing, and did not like in the least.

"Marner helped me too of course." Harry said weakly. "He hates to take credit, unlike most officials. He had never really fit into his profession." Harry laughed at his crack at Marner. He was the only one.

The tension in the room was painfully obvious.

Harry took a deep breath. "So, can you tell me a bit about this Hogwarts? The connection to my parents is… interesting. But, what about the academics of the school? How does it compare with other schools? And the faculty?"

The judge and Marner both looked at him in unadulterated surprise.

Harry rolled his eyes. He obviously was not dumb, even Marner knew that. He merely showed his uneducated "upbringing" so people would underestimate him. They usually did. It was true that he had never had a real education, but he did enjoy learning.

People think that I'm too common to consider such things-.

"Oh, no, Mr. Potter. I had no such presumption in regard to your intellectual capability. I just did not expect such an interrogation on the scholastic proficiency of the school. We had believed that the connection to your parents would be enough to simply insure your admittance." The judge said honestly.

Harry felt his powers go on alert. The man had read his thoughts. Again. He was not sure how to stop the man from doing it, but was definitely going to try. He felt almost naked before the man. He really hoped that his magic would do it naturally as he really had no experience with magic in comparison with schooled people.

He felt the pulse - magic- flowing through his mind.

He sat back and listened as the man went into, what Harry was sure a sugarcoated history of Hogwarts. The lecture could have been giving to him out of a book from how scripted it was. Harry did not ask any questions, as he was not in the least interested. He wanted to know who the "we" were that the judge had mentioned a bit earlier. Who wanted him to attend Hogwarts, and why?

He looked at Marner out of the corner of his eyes. The man was deeply interested in the lecture being giving. Harry could still sense Marner's anger and- was that sadness again? What is wrong with him?

Harry made to send him a mental message, but his magic pulsed suddenly. The judge had suddenly looked him in the eye. Harry smiled lightly.

"So competition is important at Hogwarts?" Harry asked, remembering the man saying something about separate houses. "Among the houses, and the students? Wouldn't it be wiser to encourage students to work together to achieve maximal effects?"

The judge blinked a few times. "Without competition, one cannot achieve their maximum potential. You have to learn your strengths and weaknesses by comparing them with those around you."

Harry smiled and nodded understandingly. What a load of shit! "I understand."

"That concept of rivalry is also a strong principle of the Wizarding world here in the United Kingdom. The best, and the strongest, will get the best. So it is important that the children understand it from young ages. Otherwise they would not survive in our world."

Harry nodded once again. "I see." To hell with this world of idiots.

Marner looked over at him in surprise. Harry winked at him with the eye the judge could not see. A smile flickered across the man's face only to be replaced by the intense "I'm going to pretend to listen but really don't care" look.

Harry was not someone easy manipulated by others, and he surely despised it when people attempted to give him the run-around like some kid. He could nearly taste the manipulation flowing from the judge's words. Someone really wanted Harry to go to this Hogwarts. If they had gotten Judge Omnis involved, then he must have been helping the people by helping Harry get his freedom.

For how long though? It isn't possible that they were aiding me from the beginning, or is it?

Harry was confused. Something was tugging at his memory, yet he could not grab it.

"So, Mr. Potter, any other questions?" The judge's voice brought him out of his mind.

Harry paused. Someone wanted him at Hogwarts, but the urgency was something that also bothered him. They had thought that he would immediately agree to go to Hogwarts from the mentioning of his parents.

The people obviously did not really know him. They probably thought he was an overly emotional teenager, a normal teenager.

His eyebrows rose as an idea came to him. "Hogwarts sounds interesting… but what about the other academies? You've told me everything about Hogwarts, but nothing about Hogwarts in comparison with th-."

The judge seemed a bit impatient and nervous now. "I did really know anything about the other s-."

"Where could I find information about the other schools?"

The judge was becoming red in the face. "I truly don't believe that that is necessar-."

"Oh, but I do." Harry said definitively. "It is a choice that will affect the rest of my life. I would like to make a good, impartial decision."

The judge's chin twitched. He looked at Harry in the eyes for a few moments. His brows slowly furrowed in confusion. Harry could feel the man trying to read his mind. His magic was pulsing lively, surely keeping the man at bay.

The judge smiled suddenly. It was a good-natured smile. "I do believe, Mr. Potter, you have slowly destroyed every single expectation that I had of you."

I usually do, Harry smiled back. "Is that a good thing?" The atmosphere of the room changed instantly.

"Oh yes, my son, it is!" The judge said happily. Harry twitched slightly from the instantaneous change in the Judge's disposition. "Albus will have a hellish fit when I tell him this, but it won't be the first time."

Harry looked at Marner. The man appeared to be just as confused as he was inside.

"I have had nothing but good expectations from you, Mr. Potter. Perhaps you will be the one to whip this world into shape." Harry's eyebrows went up. "You see, Mr. Potter," He leaned onto the desk, "manipulation is another characteristic of the Wizarding world, especially in our great land." He said with a sarcastic laugh.

"I do not like manipulation." Harry said honestly.

"I as well." The judge said massaging his forehead. "But I made a Magical Oath to the headmaster from Hogwarts that I would do what I could to convince you to go to Hogwarts. I did what I could!" He laughed.

Harry's lips were suddenly dry. "And this… headmaster, is he someone I should be worried about?"

The judge looked thoughtful for a moment. "No, not at all. However, I do believe being a bit cautious would not hurt. I believe he has his own connection with you that he wants to establish, whatever the cost."

"Why?" Marner blurted out.

"Because of who Mr. Potter is."

Harry opened his mouth, yet Marner responded for him. "And who is Harry to these people?"

The judge flipped his hand on the desk. A newspaper, looking almost as old as Harry, flew to the man. He barely looked at the paper before setting before Harry and Marner.

Harry's mouth dropped at the title of the cover page. "Harry Potter Defeats the Dark Lord: Long Live The Boy Who Lived."

Harry felt cold all over. Marner gasped. He pointed to a passage from the paper. Harry noted, in the back of his mind, that there were fireworks exploded across the page:

"Albus Dumbledore, esteemed headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, declared in the Ministry of Magic before the Wizengamot this morning that the Dark Lord has indeed met his demise at the hands of one-year-old Harry Potter. The details of what occurred were not even clear to Dumbledore himself."

Harry Potter's parents, Lily and James Potter, both Ministry officials, were unfortunately murdered by the Dark Lord in the…"

Harry briefly stopped reading to look at the picture of his parents included in the paper. They were dressed in obviously rich, yet odd clothing. They were at a party of sorts. There were other people, similarly dressed, dancing in the background.

His resemblance to his father was incredible. If Harry did not have the scar stretching across his face, the scar on his forehead, and the green eyes, they could be twins.

His mother was beaming. She held her stomach proudly. I was probably in there at the time the picture was taken.

His eyes watered slightly. They seemed like nice people, esteemed people - not the drunks that the bloody Dursleys made them out to be.

Harry skimmed over the rest of the article.

He picked up words and phrases that he did not understand, but he understood the message of the article. He had managed to kill the man who attacked his parents. How though?

He growled as he reached a passage where they discussed his removal from the Wizarding world "for his own protection" by-.

A powerful vibration went through the room. Both Marner and the judge jumped slightly.

Harry's eyes burned. The lights flickered and the paintings on the wall rattled against the walls. "It was this Dumbledore, wasn't it?" He asked in a soft, yet dangerous voice.

"It was Albus who did what?"

"Who placed me at the Dursleys?" The judge froze. Harry pointed to the passage that said just that. The judge gave a stiff nod. "If I remember hearing my lovely Aunt Marge correctly, he paid my relatives to torture me?"

The judge held up his hand. "I'm sure he had no idea of what was going on in that house, Mr. Potter. That cannot be held against him."

Harry's anger was not assuaged. "And-." He stopped before the question was formed. Another question had popped into his head. "Does the Wizarding world know of what I did to my relatives? Or of what my relatives did to me?"

The judge did not hesitate. "No."

"Why not?" Harry had a feeling that he knew the reason. "Why was my name kept out of the papers? Pictures were forbidden as well, if I remember hearing correctly."

"That was all my doing."

"And why?" Harry's stomach was clenching.

"Albus thought it was best if the Wizarding world did not know of-." This fucking Albus Dumbledore again!

"His mistake." Harry finished for him. He was really beginning to dislike this Dumbledore. "What kind of authority over my life does this headmaster have?"

The judge was being absolutely honest with Harry, and Harry appreciated it. He hoped that the man remained honest. "Much. He has much influence in the Wizarding world. He's respected as one of the greatest men since Merlin. When he speaks, people listen, and usually, do what he tells them to do."

"You seemingly included." Marner said bitterly.

The judge flinched slightly. "I owe him... much."

Harry sat in reflection. It fit. Somehow, it all fits. Things clicked slowly and came together in his mind. He still had a few questions.

"And who was this Dark Lord."

"Is." The judge corrected. "He is the darkest wizard that we've seen since in centuries. His very name is not spoken out of fear."

Harry kept himself from laughing at fearing someone's name. He had heard about a movie like that. Jason or Freddy something or other and the people were afraid of saying his name in the dark or before a mirror. Idiots.

Something the judge said clicked in his mind. Wait. "Is! He's not dead?" The judge nodded. "But the paper says-."

The judge sighed. "The beast has managed a way to remain come back. Don't ask how, I don't know myself. The fact that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named has returned is being seen as a fabricated rumor. But they are being silenced by the Ministry of Magic-."

"The government?" Marner asked.

"Yes, the government." He stood up and walked slowly to a painting. Harry remained silent while the judge examined a painting of a very elegant, beautiful woman. "There were some odd things going on last year at Hogwarts, while Hogwarts was hosting a competition with two other magical academies. It ended with the death of two students and a few other people. Dumbledore is spear-heading a campaign to inform the world that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named has returned."

Harry chuckled slightly at the name. Marner smiled at him. They had the same thoughts. These people and these names …

The judge ignored them. He obviously knew exactly why they were amused. "The Ministry has been trying to silence Dumbledore. They call him insane. They've stripped him of every title that they could. They do not want to alert the public that He is back.

"They have even tried to force him to abdicate his position as Headmaster of Hogwarts. That's when Dumbledore started firing back at them. If there is one thing Dumbledore cares about in this world, it is that school and the children who go there." The man took his seat.

They sat in silence for a few moments. Marner skimmed through the paper. He exclaimed halfway through the sixth page, "The pictures move!"

Both the judge and Harry looked at each other and shared a light laugh at Marner's expense.

"How were you able to keep me hidden from the Wizarding world?"

The judge clapped his hands together happily. "I was waiting for you to ask that."

He reached into a drawer of his desk and pulled out a glowing ball of glass. "Have you ever wondered why you had to wear that silver band on your leg and no other inmate did?"

Of course he wondered. He hated the damn thing. It always made his skin prickle. And the other inmates had always teased him because of it. He gave a simple nod as his answer while tugging at the irritating thing.

"That band - yes, you will be able to take it off now - is a magical object to hide and restrict the amount of magic a wizard can use." The band fell off of his leg before he could even touch it, but Harry barely paid it any attention. But felt an immediate sense of alleviation and freedom. His pulse turned into steady hum within him.

"What!?"

The man nodded. "I thought that, after attacking an officer with your powers, it would be best if you had limited use of your magic."

"WHAT!" Harry was ready to use his powers on the man. How dare he attempt to control my powers!

"Harry, wait. Think about it. What happened with your relatives?" Marner asked.

Harry paused as he comprehended the danger of his powers. Nevertheless he fumed silently. ue.

The judge gave Marner a thankful look. "And you see now why I was so surprised that Mr. Potter has been training and practicing his powers. A full-grown wizard, with complete access to his magic would not even be able to cast a simple Illumination Charm with it. And Mr. Potter's age, he has not even reached magical maturity..."

"Harry is one powerful person." Marner said proudly. "Amazing even."

Harry smiled. "I had to get it from someone."

The judge looked from Marner to Harry with an unreadable look. "I agree Mr. Potter. That leads into another matter I wanted to discuss with you." He pulled out a very old sheet of paper. "Your guardianship."

"Marner." Harry said immediately.

"I wish it was that easy. I too have observed the relationship between the two of you." Marner and Harry looked at each other in surprise. "Who do you think stationed Marner as you personal guard and relocated him to Sirkins when you were moved?"

"I knew it was someone's bidding that I was guarding Harry." Marner murmured.

"If you wanted Marner to guard me, why can't he do so now? As my official guardian?"

The judge sighed sadly. "There are many people in the Wizarding world who would literally kill to have you under their care, some with intentions of the worse kind. Most of them in league with He-Who- Must- Not- Be- Named."

"And because of this 'Boy-Who-Lived' bull." Harry said.

"For lack of better words, yes." The judge said solemnly.

"They want control over him!" Marner said in shock.

"Mr. Potter has celebrity status and prominence that many want under their grasp. He will have much political status when he enters the world-."

"If he enters that world!" Marner rephrased.

"Oh no, because of his lack of experience with his full powers, he must. It is something simply required of every single wizard. It is imperative! That is why each magical government has an infallible record of every wizard born in his region. An untrained wizard is dangerous. It would be dangerous for him and the people around."

Like I did with my relatives.

Harry spent a moment thinking about what he could do with his full powers.

"But back to the political status..." Marner said slowly.

The judge readjusted his glasses nervously. "Mr. Potter has inherited a large amount of power in the Ministry of Magic-."

"Your wizard government?"

"Yes!" The judge seemed a bit edgy to Harry. He had a nervous twitch under his left eye. "Mr. Potter has a seat in the governing body, the Wizengamot." Marner opened his mouth. "From his father, of course." The judge answered his question before he even asked it.

Cool.

"So a seat in the Wazi- governing body is enough to give him enough political power to-."

"No, it is not that. The fact that Mr. Potter-."

"How many seats are there in this governing body?" Marner interrupted angrily. Harry hung his head to hide his laughing. Marner was the splitting image of what Harry could imagine a mother would be at the moment.

The judge was red in the face. "I don't see the impo-."

"Answer the damn question!"

The judge gave an angry sigh. "In the thirties, I believe."

Marner went silent with contemplation. The judge was calming himself with deep breaths and Harry pretended to entertain himself with his thumbs.

He could feel Marner looking at him. Harry knew that the man really did not want Harry to go into the Wizarding world. He was obviously looking for ways to get me to stay in this world. With him.

"Back to the problem of my guardianship." Harry said.

"Simply put, it would be dangerous for you to be placed under guardianship with someone who cannot guard you when faced with powerful, magical opponents who are sure to come after you!"

"I can take care of myself, Marner could be there for..." The fifteen-year-old paused for the right word. "... for moral support."

Marner snorted. He looked at Harry for a moment and then at the judge. "Who are all being considered as candidates for his guardianship?" Harry went cold all over.

"Marner..." The words died on his lips. He didn't care that Marner was unable to protect him, it was more important for him to have someone he trusted around rather than someone new who would do everything they could to make him believe that he should trust them.

He had learned his lesson once in Sirkins and did not need to repeat that experience.

"Harry, I want you to be safe." Marner said with a definite tone.

"But…" He could not just blurt out his reason. He found himself unable to explain why he wanted Marner. Shit.

The judge finished off where Harry left off. "Lord Malfoy, Lady Bones, the Allots, the Diggorys, the-."

"These names mean nothing to me!" Harry said with obvious agitation. "I don't know these people. I can't know what their intentions are." There's the excuse I was looking for.

The judge sighed. "Of course. I've almost forgot your lack of wizard upbringing." Harry could almost hear the rest of the sentence "and your ignorance". "Forgive me. The Bones are a…"

Harry listened intently to the judge's description of every family. Each one had different genealogy. The Malfoys supposedly had become a Dark Family in the Middle Ages and supported every Dark Lord that came out of England since. They used their name, connections, and political status to keep out of trouble, and when trouble did find them, they used their pocketbooks to keep their problems from surfacing. Harry was subconsciously interested in this family, and he did not know why.

The other families, as the judge immediately said, supported Dumbledore with all they could. Excluding the Malfoys, the families were all in Dumbledore's close circle. They were all however, like the Malfoys, prominent families in Wizarding world.

Something paced in the back of Harry's mind. Harry bit into the lip he had been chewing on as he tried to remember something important. He asked a question that had been on his mind before he got sidetracked.

"Must I choose one immediately? Am I allowed to choose another family, one you have not mentioned?"

The judge sat back in his seat slowly. He rubbed his hands together. "No, I do not believe that an immediate selection is necessary, however I must insist that you make your decision as soon as possible and from the list of people I have just described to you."

Harry made to stand, pushing the silver band onto the table. "I will, but I do need a little time to reflect."

"I must also insist that you inform me and only me of where you will be dwelling in the following days."

Harry considered for a moment. "Understood." He pointed to the sitting Marner. The judge nodded.

"Well, Mr. Potter, I wish you the-." He paused suddenly. Everything that had to do with Harry on his desk vanished suddenly, all that was left were the things that had been there when Harry had arrived.

There was a knock at the door, and the door opened without a word and without permission to enter being asked or granted. The woman Harry remembered to be the court scribe entered and, ignoring Marner and Harry completely, spoke directly with the judge.

"Omnis, the latest case from Masons is waiting." She left just as abruptly as she came.

"That girl will never learn manners." The judge said with a laugh. "My grand-child or not."

Harry did not pay much attention to this new revelation. The names 'Masons' and 'Malfoy' finally clicked together in his mind.

There had been a Malfoy at Masons! The silver-haired bloke. He had tried to tell me something about me. He knew what happened to my parents!

Harry pulled Marner out of the room without a word of farewell to the judge.

"Harry what is-." Marner began at they went through the building's doors into the brisk spring, afternoon air.

"Can you take me to Masons?"

.

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