Harry Potter and the Power of the Past
Disclaimer: All JKR's, not mine.
Summary: This is a complete AU- Harry Potter is a 21-year-old wizard, who's on top of the world. He's rich, in love, and loved by all, but his life is turned upside down as a spiral of events leads to the ultimate battle between good and evil. Can Harry lead the fight for the light, but yet manage to keep his life together?
A/N: I know, I know, another choppy chapter, but I had a lot written before I started it back up, so the first couple of chapters will be like this. So enjoy, and trust in me that it will get better. Thanks for the reviews everybody. Oh, and review again!
S/N: Just so you all know, these first chapters are going to be slow, because I have a lot of back-story that I have to tell through dialogue and I have to have this part contrast to his future. It will pick up, though, when I give you the gist of Harry's life. And here's an extra tidbit: Roger is Harry's oldest friend, while Cedric is his best one.
Chapter 4: Rat him out
Upon reaching the front of the room, Harry stopped and began to speak. "This right here is the reason for this meeting. For those of you who do not know, this thing right here," He gestured to the miserable wretch of a wizard that was dangling next to him. "Is Peter Pettigrew; the wizard whom Sirius Black supposedly killed, and was consequently incarcerated for. What you don't know, however, is that Sirius Black is innocent of all charges. The story in which we all thought was the truth was the opposite of what happened. It was not Peter who hunted down Sirius for revenge, but Sirius who hunted down Peter for betraying my parents. It was not Sirius who blew the street up, but Peter himself."
The Wizengamot was silent for a few minutes; each too shocked to say anything. The silence was interrupted by laughter coming from the toad-like woman that had chastised Kingsley just moments before. "That's quite a tale, Hitwizard Potter. You actually think we're going to believe it? Who's to say you're not lying?"
Harry scowled at the fat woman, his eyes wide in disbelief. "The proof is right in front of your face. You dare call me a liar? You call me, this Ministry's best hitwizard, a liar, Umbridge? The one who puts his life on risk when you need someone hunted down? The one who hunted down Black and forced the truth out of him; the one who found Pettigrew and captured him after twenty years of him being presumed dead?"
Umbridge had an embarrassed look on her face, as she stared at Harry with her intense gaze. She shrunk back in her chair when everyone was looking at her, feeling a bit more pathetic than she ever imagined herself feeling. As furious as she was, her embarrassment far outweighed her anger. She would get him back for this, but she knew now was not the time.
Dumbledore looked down at his former pupil, pride showing on every inch of his face. Pride at not only Harry finding out the truth on his own, but also for sticking to his beliefs, even in front of the imposing Wizengamot. "Harry, Dolores' opinion is not that of the Wizengamot's. I have never known you to tell a lie. Strap Pettigrew in the chair, and give him a drop of veritaserum."
After doing what he was told, Harry returned to his spot in front of the court, right next to Kingsley. Auror Dawlish, who was second in command of the Aurors, stood a little behind them; his wand held firmly in his right hand in case of an escape attempt. All the members looked at the disgusting form of the wizard in front of them, their gaze narrowing at him. Most looked like they were about to spew, some had a look of hatred on their faces, while the rest had a look of skepticism, unsure about what they were going to hear.
"Convictional hearing of the seventh of April," said Dumbledore in a ringing voice. A man to the side of the room began to write furiously. "The hearing is for Peter Pettigrew. Perceived dead for the last twenty years, new evidence shows a change in one, Sirius Black's conviction. Interrogator is Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot; the Court Scribe is Devan Fenwick. Let the court know that Peter Pettigrew has been put under veritaserum, and will remain under until I see fit."
Devan Fenwick continued to write at a furious pace, not missing a single word Dumbledore said. Dumbledore's gaze soon turned towards Pettigrew, as he stared at him for a brief moment, as if to plan what he was going to say. Nodding towards Harry, the hitwizard pointed his wand at the man, rennervating him awake. Not wasting any time, Dumbledore asked the first question; a simple one that would show if he was truly under the affects of the potion. "What is your name?"
Pettigrew answered with a throaty voice. "Peter Pettigrew."
Gasps were heard again throughout the courtroom, seemingly coming from all those that believed the Pettigrew before them to be a hoax. Dumbledore put his hands up to silence the rest. "Are you the same Peter Pettigrew who supposedly was murdered by Sirius Black?"
"Yes," Peter croaked out.
Dumbledore made a quick note on a piece of parchment that was in front of him, passing it over to Minister Bones who sat next to him. She eyed it for a second, and gave a curt nod to him. Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement Rufus Scrimgeour peeked his head over her shoulder, reading the note himself, as well. He grunted his okay, and Dumbledore continued. "Can you please tell us what happened that led up to that incident? Meaning the incident that led us all to believe that you, Peter Pettigrew, were dead."
"I was made the secret keeper of the Potter's instead of Sirius Black." Peter answered, monotonously. "Sirius thought I was too weak, so the Dark Lord would not want my services, even when my blood is pure. So he talked the Potters into having me as their keeper, and while the Dark Lord hunted him down, I would hide away, therefore keeping the Potters safe. There was a flaw in his plan, though; I was already under the Dark Lord's service, and had been for quite some time. Once I was made secret keeper, I immediately told my master where the Potters were, and I took him to them and he attacked. After the Dark Lord's fall, Sirius tracked me down for revenge and cornered me in a muggle section of London. I knew I stood no chance against him, so I concocted a plan. Sirius underestimated my mind, and fell right into the trap. I screamed out 'Lily and James, Sirius how could you?' for everyone to hear. Then, with my wand behind my back, I blew up the street, cut off my finger, and ran away in my animagus form."
Dumbledore was amazed at the brilliance, yet ease of his plan. For all of his supposed shortcomings as a wizard, Pettigrew was a conniving worm that had bursts of brilliance that most couldn't compare with. "What is your animagus form?" He asked, wondering how the wizard had hid in it all these years.
"A rat." Peter replied. "It was easy for me to live in the sewers until I could find myself a new home. I knew I could never show my face again, but living as a rat is better than dieing as a man."
"Sirius Black was not the right hand man of Voldemort, then?" Dumbledore questioned, getting into the meat of the trial, and reason why Harry had brought Pettigrew here in the first place. After all, like Harry had said minutes before, he found out the truth from Sirius himself, so that meant he was hiding his godfather until it was safe to come out. He sighed as he noticed people were still shuddering at the wizard's name, even after twenty years of peace.
"No, Sirius Black was never a servant of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named." Pettigrew responded, not even realizing that he just wrote his ticket to Azkaban, as well as granting Sirius his freedom.
"Sirius Black is innocent of all crimes he was committed for? He did not betray the Potters? He did not kill all those muggles?" Dumbledore inquired, hoping to make Pettigrew's statements irrefutable.
"That is right." Pettigrew agreed.
"It was you, Peter Pettigrew, who did all those atrocious acts?" Dumbledore prodded, getting all the information he could out of the man
Pettigrew's eyes continued to show its glaze. "Yes."
Dumbledore nodded, and just for good measure, asked, "Are you still a loyal servant to Voldemort?" This was beyond a simple question for the court, instead it was a question about if Pettigrew thought Voldemort was still alive or not. He, after all, was supposedly there when Voldemort attacked the Potters.
"When the Dark Lord rises again, I will be at his side once more." Pettigrew stated, a flicker of emotion entering his voice for the first time. The effects of the potion weren't wearing off; instead, it was the man's devotion to the Dark Lord that allowed the emotion to enter his voice.
Dumbledore looked down both sides of the court. Each person he saw had a look of disbelief and disgust plastered on their faces. The horror of sending an innocent man into Azkaban for twenty years was a like a plague to them. Barty Crouch was clearly taking it the worst, though. As the former Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement—a position that was succeeded by Madam Bones, and currently held by Rufus Scrimgeour—he was the one who sent Sirius to prison without a trial, so the guilt was mostly on him. As Pettigrew spoke, he got paler and paler, and each time Pettigrew said a word, his stomach twisted and turned.
Harry looked at the man who killed his parents with controlled rage. He hated this man with every breath he took. He wished he could kill him right now, but he knew better than that. The hitwizard felt eternity in Azkaban was a fitting punishment indeed. Dumbledore's voice brought everyone out of his or her thoughts. "Harry, please give Pettigrew the antidote."
Harry nodded, and put a drop of a blue liquid in the rat's mouth. Everyone watched as Peter's eyes lost the glazed over look, and his senses returned to him. Fear flashed across Pettigrew's face, as his eyes roamed about the room. He squirmed, and moved around, desperately trying to get out of his restraints. Harry and Kingsley quickly drew their wands, pointing them at him threateningly. Stopping instantly out of fear of the two, Peter's beady eyes pivoted up to Dumbledore.
"Peter Pettigrew," Dumbledore bellowed. "You have been brought here in front of the Council of Magical Law. We have heard the evidence against you, and are about to reach our verdict. Do you have anything to add to your testimony before we pronounce judgment?"
Pettigrew squirmed again trying to get lose. "I'm innocent, whatever someone told you was a lie. A lie, I say." He screamed out, his eyes wide with fear.
"If you were so innocent, then why did you hide away all these years? Why not show yourself?" Dumbledore questioned, his usually twinkling eyes staring into Pettigrew's.
"Because I was scared." Pettigrew cried out, hoping to whip up a sob story for them to believe. "Scared that Sirius Black would come after me." Pettigrew yelled, spit flying everywhere.
"You were scared Black would escape prison, and come after you?" Dumbledore inquired. "You were afraid he would escape, a feat that no one in the world has done before?"
"Yes, you don't know the power Black learned from his master." Everyone could tell Pettigrew was reaching for straws now.
Dumbledore's face took a look of hatred. For the first time in his life, Harry saw pure fury on his old mentor's face. "I have heard enough of your lies. I now ask the jury to raise their hands if they believe, as I do, that these crimes deserve a life sentence in Azkaban. A punishment that Sirius Black wrongly received over twenty years ago."
Looking up at the court with fear clearly written on his face, Pettigrew counted up the hands. The only person in the room who hadn't raised their hand was a fat witch that looked like a toad. "Very well. Peter Pettigrew, you are hereby sentenced to life imprisonment in Azkaban. Dawlish, Kingsley, take him away. I would also like to announce Sirius Black's innocent. I presume he will be greatly compensated by the Ministry. With that, this session of the Wizengamot is closed."
Murmuring could be heard, but Harry was not paying attention. He was watching his partner take the murderer who gave his parents away to hell on earth. He wanted Pettigrew to suffer, to be tortured. The screams of Pettigrew were on deaf ears to Harry, he would hear none of it. He was thrown out of his thoughts when someone tapped him on the shoulder. Upon turning, the young wizard smiled when he saw it was Dumbledore. "Hello Albus, quite an exciting day, isn't it?"
The great wizard peered up at his protégé. The strength of the young man in front of him astonished the older wizard to no end. He single handedly hunted down a convict, forced the truth out of him, then truly found the person who was responsible for his parent's death. All in one day was the most amazing part about it. "Yes, you did an amazing thing today, Harry. You set someone innocent free, and also found the truth behind your parent's death. They, as I am, would be proud of you."
Harry nodded with a smile, and turned to leave. Before he was out of hearing distance, he spoke again. "Albus, care to join us at my loft tomorrow night? Say around eight?"
Dumbledore smiled. "I'll be there."
Harry arrived back at his place a couple of hours before he had to be at Tonks' house. Deciding to take a nap, he headed towards his bedroom. As he passed by Sirius' room, his mind couldn't help but wander. Thinking about everything that happened in such a short span would give anyone a headache. His whole belief on what had occurred with his parents was turned upside down. His godfather, the one whom he thought was responsible, was actually innocent. A man who could go through Azkaban knowing he was innocent was a man Harry always wanted as a godfather. Although he was saddened by the lose of so much time, he couldn't help but smile at the thought of the new possibilities that could happen. Shaking his head, Harry continued on his path towards his bed.
With a pop, a short, young looking house elf appeared in Harry's room a few hours later. The elf had a pencil like nose, with big tennis ball shaped brown eyes. He was wearing a forest green sweatshirt that was three sizes to big, and hung down to the floor as a result. His feet were covered with matching black socks that, surprisingly, fit him well. Running to the bed, the elf jumped up onto it, and started to shake Harry awake. "Wake up Master Harry, wake up now or you'll be late." The elf said in a squeaky voice.
Rolling over, the young wizard opened his eyes to the broad grin of his house elf. "Zeali, what are you doing here?" He questioned, using his hand to push his hair out of his face.
The house elf smiled up at his master. "You're going to be late, sir. Zeali doesn't want master to be late on such an important day, sir."
Harry smiled down at his loyal friend. Traveling the world during the summer after his sixth year is when he met him. He was still young, not old enough to even handle most tasks himself, but his mother wanted him to find a master. Harry, feeling bad for the poor guy, quickly offered him a job. Zeali himself turned down pay, but requested the right to wear clothes. This to Harry was unheard of in an elf, having known only one elf before—who happened to be Zeali's father—who had also wanted to wear clothes, but he complied nonetheless and fashioned an outfit for him. It was simple, yet seemed to make the elf happy. "What time is it?" Harry groggily asked.
"Almost 6 o'clock, master Harry." Zeali replied, standing at the end of the bed and looking up at Harry.
Jumping out of bed, the wizard rushed into the bathroom and turned on the hot water. Quickly taking a shower, and cleaning himself up, Harry spent most of his time looking for something good to wear. Deciding on a pair of faded blue jeans with a buttoned down black shirt, and elegant green top robe—light for summer use—that matched his eyes, Harry checked on his godfather's sleeping form as he passed by his room. Looking at him put a smile on the young hit wizard's face, proud that he could call him his godfather. After all, Sirius Black was the only one to ever escape Azkaban; a feat few in the world could mirror—Harry had no doubt he probably could, as could Dumbledore, but he didn't know who else would be able to.
Walking into the kitchen, he opened the charmed draw that lead to his wine cellar. Over the years the wizard took a liking to collecting wine. Of course one of the first things he did upon buying his flat was to put a secret cellar within the kitchen. All it took were a few charms to expand the supposed silverware drawer to become a good-sized cellar, which could hold a few rows of wine holders. Grabbing a random bottle, he walked back into the kitchen and closed the drawer. "Good luck, master Harry." Zeali squeaked out from behind.
Harry smiled down at his helper and friend, rubbing the elf's back. "Thank you Zeali, you have fun tonight yourself. Who's the lucky elf?" the man teased.
Zeali flushed, his skin turning a peach color. "Zeali is going to see his mother and father tonight sir. Me is to young to start dating." Zeali was only just out of his adolescent years in elf standards, and had just came into his complete magical power.
A laugh escaped Harry's mouth, as he rolled his eyes at Zeali's response. "I know Zeali, I know. I'm just teasing you. Goodbye, my friend." Harry waved to his elf, and with a swirl of his cloak, the wizard apparated out of his loft with a soft, almost unnoticeable pop.