Chapter 11: Argument in the Hospital Wing

"It was the Cruciatius, I know it. I've never experienced it, but I'm telling you, I could tell, seeing her like that. I've heard her screams before, it's the same," said Ron stubbornly.

A few Ministry people, a couple of workers from the Committee on Experimental Charms, the 'Hogwarts Aurors' (not including Hermione) along with some more Aurors, Madam Macdonald, Hermione, Draco and Astoria Malfoy, Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy, the four kids, and Neville were all crowded in the hospital wing.

Harry had demanded the Ministry stay out of Albus' way for the next few weeks. They agreed, verbally at least. They still refused to not send over some people from the Committee on Experimental Charms and Department of Magical Transportation. So Harry had to be the good dad he was and tell them to back off away from his son.

They couldn't stop the Ministry from questioning the other kids though. They were the first ones to see Crouch. Even the kids knew that it was very important for them to tell the facts. So did the adults. But only after a few days, when the trauma of it went away. They were only eleven-year olds who were the unfortunate ones that walked into the room in which Bartemius Crouch Junior planned to announce his arrival back to the world after twenty-two years.

"Okay, well Crouch is locked up right now. We don't know how it happened, he took the Dementor's Kiss, and died a few months later," said a Ministry employee.

Harry looked like he was trying his hardest not to lose his patience. "Look Zabini, I told you before, we've been doing research on Dementor's abilities and they can, if powerful Dark magic performed on them, do anything. My theory is, that Voldemort did this on the Dementor who took Crouch's soul, and commanded it to return his soul and must have gave him some type of Dark magic to revive the body or create an exact replica of the body and put the soul into it. Come on, nobody knows all of the Dark magic that could be out there. Voldemort must've created half of it. He did this because Crouch is very loyal, thus, very valuable and would do anything to service Voldemort. He could do so many tasks and serve as a very helpful servant."

"But this is physically impossible," replied Zabini quickly.

"Blaise, I've got to agree with Potter. I, now I horribly regret it, knew the Dark Lord well. This is something he would definitely do," said Lucius Malfoy.

A woman from the Ministry quickly said, "Mr. Malfoy, after the First Wizarding War, you claimed that you were under the Imperius Curse and were forced to be a Death Eater. But once You-Know-Who rose again, you went straight back to him of your own free will. After the Second Wizarding War, well actually, during the last battle of the Second Wizarding War, you forfeited and because of this action, were cleared of all charges, even after being thrown into Azkaban. You claim that you forfeited right after finding your son and took your wife and son with you to protect them. You claim that the only reason you were a Death Eater was because you really thought that muggle-borns do steal magic from wizards and thought they were a danger. You claim that after you were thrown in Azkaban, you realized that you shouldn't have ever gotten into this. You claim that you never wanted your son to do such a task as killing someone. You claim that after the Azkaban breakout, you just wanted your family to be safe. You claim that even before the Skirmish at Malfoy Manor when you saw your sister-in-law torture Hermione Weasley," she paused to motion at Hermione who was sitting in one of the beds. "you had wanted to change your ways. You claim that even before You-Know-Who chose your home as headquarters, you wanted to change. But none of us except you know how exactly true this is. You see, you say you are back on the good side now. But you said you were back on the good side before, and that wasn't very true. Therefore, my greatest apologies Mr. Malfoy, I don't exactly find it fit that you express your opinion in this matter."

Lucius Malfoy flinched many times during this big lecture. But he kept cool. Draco Malfoy was the one who lost his temper. Of course, his father was being horribly insulted here.

"Ms. Patil. Uh, which one are you? Parvati? You do seem to know your facts well. Did you research my father's file before you came here?"

If looks could kill, Parvati Patil would've murdered Draco Malfoy by now.

"Actually, I fought in the Battle of Hogwarts, and was in Dumbledore's Army, which if some people don't know, was a Defense group against what was out there. So I thought that I really wanted to keep tabs on what goes on with Death Eaters after the Battle of Hogwarts. I wanted to make sure they were imprisoned, and suffered for their horrible deeds. And your father, well, what really bugs me is that he lied that he was on the good side once. But when the time came, he showed he never was. And I absolutely hate that." She narrowed her eyes and raised her eyebrows and did everything she could to look like a smart-aleck.

Draco Malfoy had his wand out by now, but put it back when Scorpius gave him a kick, which everyone in the room noticed.

Scorpius looked horribly hurt that his dad stooped so low. It made him look so low.

"Parvati, Malfoy, drop it," said Hermione sternly through gritted teeth from her bed. It was astonishing how when she was so weak, she could make her voice sound so threatening.

Draco Malfoy and Parvati shirked back in fear.

"Anyway, I'm telling you guys, we need to make this public," said Fay.

"First, you need to tell the Minister," said Zabini raising his eyebrows.

"I told Kingsley already," replied Harry, looking happy he could show Zabini who was boss.

Zabini gave a fake smile to Harry, and then said, "Okay, what about the Daily Prophet?"

This time, Dean fake-smiled to Zabini and replied, "I'm afraid the Minister will be the one to decide that Mr. Zabini."

Zabini looked like he couldn't keep cool anymore. "Huh? It's quite interesting actually. You see, the Minister is Kingsley Shacklebolt, member of that Order you had, huh? You've known him from your fifth year, I'm pretty sure he'll listen to whatever you say. Not what we say, just because of prejudice."

Harry's eyes shot daggers at Zabini, who was repeatedly smirking. Harry found a way to retaliate though. "Oh really Zabini? But I recall you saying something, and I quote directly from you when you were in your sixth year at Hogwarts, 'I wouldn't touch a filthy blood traitor like her whatever she looked like!' You were referring to my wife, a Gryffindor. Which for the record, is the stupidest thing I've ever heard."

"Look here Potter. I was sixteen; I didn't know what I was talking about."

"You knew very well what you were talking about and you know that!"

"Potter! Again, I was a Slytherin. And most Slytherins that young think like that. Mainly because they were brought up like that since the rest of their family thought like that. Or they were just influenced by being around those kinds of people. But everyone changes as they get older. They get rid of silly beliefs that they had when they were younger. They may still hold a slight grudge from their childhood and teenage years, and they may still have that attitude, but most people will get rid of the horrible beliefs they had when they were younger. If they did have horrible beliefs at least. But you Gryffindors don't think we can change at all do you? You just have an impression of us being all, 'Ugh! I can't be seen associating with that filthy blood! Or those idiot muggle lovers!' But do you take the time to see if we really have changed inside? Oh wait Potter, I can answer that, no!"

Everyone in the room looked at Zabini, stunned. It took him a few moments to realize that he had just let out his strongest feeling to a few of that same huge group of people it was about.

"Blaise," said Hermione softly. Aunt Hermione is a total softy to this kind of stuff thought Albus.

"I just realized how true your words are. I'm sorry. I'm sorry from all those Gryffindors that did or do that. We do represent each other. How about we start clean? I mean, in your speech, you did mention that you may have kept that grudge. Maybe you should let go of it and see how much better Gryffindors treat you?" asked Hermione thoughtfully.

Zabini nodded in response.

Harry and Ron turned to the kids and motioned for them to come out of the hospital wing with them. Albus walked out first, with Rose and Merope behind him, and Scorpius behind them.

"Okay, well, there are some facts needed to know. Rose, Scorpius, Merope, and Albus, it is the procedure that you are questioned about the whole incident. I'm sorry; all we've gotten for you to rest is four days. After that, you must be capable of answering all of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement's questions that you know the answers to at least," said Ron understandably. He then looked at Harry, motioning for him to say what he needed to.

"Albus, Uncle Ron and I tried so hard to get you time in between, but they refused. They're going to question you privately right after they question all four of you together. I know, we tried so hard, but they still didn't listen. You see, your Aunt Hermione is basically my boss. But she doesn't make the decisions just because she's the Head of the department. It's the members of it that decide it. But she sadly couldn't do anything about it from her bed. She might be able to veto the decision if she gets better in time, but they can still overrule it. It's a big system. But my point is, we're all really sorry Albus, but you'll have to do both questionings right after another. And I can't be in there. But hey, your birthday is coming up really soon!" explained Harry, cheering up loads when he got to the birthday part.

Albus nodded sadly. So did the others. It's going to be a long 'Annual Time between Christmas and My Birthday' thought Albus.

"Oh and about the answers and all, we'll tell you all about it tomorrow, okay?" said Ron.