Kurt couldn't help challenging Dolores Umbridge, he knew that it was his duty to speak truth to power, no matter who's skin he was wearing. He only needed to watch his tone and diction; follow his destiny within the bounds of Ted Tonks for long enough for the man to leave Great Britain.

Kurt uncrossed his legs immediately, now that he was certain Hermione knew who he was. He was using a higher quality Polyjuice potion, the last from his stores, and he would still be Ted Tonks for a good while longer than she would be Mafalda Hopkirk. He wasn't sure how things would play out, but he needed to remain in position until he was sure that his Uncle Ted was gone.

Delores Umbridge made a small flourish and brought the locket from under her dress, using the artifact to remind people who the power was in the room. The necklace did not call out to Kurt, it did not seem special, but he knew that it was giving her the power to cast the patronus that kept the dementors at bay. Kurt could not figure out a way of getting to the necklace without causing a kafuffle, he knew then that they would have to have a kafuffle.

He concentrated all his energy and his hands felt hot, then he spoke the solitary word barely louder than a whisper, "Venir." His wand appeared in his pocket and an alarm went off in the room.

"It's me," Dolores moved to calm the masses, "nobody but me is casting magic in this court room."

The alarm was silenced, both he and Hermione let out the smallest sighs of relief. Dolores refocused her attention on him, and Kurt considered interrupting her again but thought better of it.

"Mr Tonks," she spoke in clear voice, "this wand was taken from you today." She let the statement hang in the silent room for a moment, "where did you get this wand?"

"This absolutely lovely boutique on Diagon Alley, they only do wands," Kurt explained as if a friend had asked him for a local recommendation, "it's called Ollivanders."

"How did you come by such a place?"

"Well, Professor Dumbledore took me," he remained jovial and encouraged, "when I was eleven. That's the one that picked me." He pointed to his uncle's wand, "Did you know that he taught Transfigurations before he was Headmaster?"

"That's a lie," her tone was matter of fact.

"No," Hermione might have been working off the knowledge that it was Kurt, or she could have been being an insufferable know-it-all as she corrected Dolores Umbridge, "he was a Transfigurations Professor for quite some time before he was headmaster."

"It's a lie that this wand picked you," Dolores clarified, using every ounce of her being to remain composed.

"You'll find that it's not," he shook his head, "I have pictures of that day in albums at home, I could have my parents send them through."

"Wands only pick wizards," Dolores Umbridge continued.

"Well," Kurt tilted his head side to side in an undecided fashion, "they also pick witches."

"This wand couldn't have picked you," Umbridge powered through his interruption, "Because you're not a wizard."

"Well," Kurt gave a booming laugh that set everyone at ease, "does a wand picking you make you a wizard or witch, or does being a witch or wizard get you picked by a wand?"

"What?" Umbridge was visibly confused.

"Also," Kurt spoke once more, "isn't a wand merely a conduit of magic, doesn't it help direct magic?"

"Yes-"

Kurt took the opportunity to show off his abilities with wandless non-verbal magic, making his teacup levitate to his lips so that he could take a sip, "can you do that?"

The aurors and Umbridge were equally confused, not knowing how he was breaking the anti-spellcasting enchantment on the handcuffs. Kurt fell as if he would pass out at any moment, the strain of overpowering such powerful magic taking its strain on him, a trick Professor Dumbledore had once shown him, he remained perfectly composed as the aurors checked the cuffs.

"Who are your parents?" she ignored his challenge, remaining antagonistic in her tone.

"Siobhan and Conleth Tonks," he said proudly, despite having never met the pair, "lovely couple. What about yours?"

"I beg your pardon?"

"We all know that your father, Orford Umbridge, cleaned the floors here at the Ministry," Kurt's smile was inviting and kind, he no longer cared if he was corrupting power, "tell us about your mum?"

"I ask the questions around here," the woman's tone more severe than ever.

"Right," he nodded his head, "she was a muggle, and your brother's a squib." Kurt was saying mean things but in a tone that made people think he was being nice- and this time, he was getting away with it. He had researched Dolores Umbridge when she had been High-Inquisitor but never gotten an opportunity to use his knowledge.

"So," he powered through her shock, "both our mums are muggles, and we both got chosen by wands."

Kurt had spent enough time in Slytherin house to know that the classism ran deep; exposing Dolores as the daughter of a janitor would do greater harm to her reputation, in the same vein that it had done to the Weasleys. Kurt didn't like what he was doing, but he had to destroy all her credibility so that she couldn't hurt anyone else. This would hurt the regime for some time, he knew that they would find another puppet but maybe that person wouldn't be as enthusiastic as Umbridge, or Kurt would have killed Harry Potter by then.

"I am a descendent of the Sacred Twenty-Eight," she shouted back desperately, "and a descendent of Salazar Slytherin."

Kurt shook Ted's giant head, "everybody knows that the only extant line of Salazar Slytherin ends with You-Know-Who." He knew better since receiving the number from Hermione's mother, but played the role well, "let's not lie Dolores."

The gallery laughed, this was not how Kurt wanted to bring someone down, nor was it how he wanted his uncle to be remembered. But he smiled up at his judge, "If I can do magic, but am not a wizard because my parents are muggles, are you a witch? All things considered."

The laughter from the gallery was getting raucous, encouraged by Andromeda. Kurt loved the way his hands came back to rest on his belly after he had made his point, was this a sign that he should get fat? Then he saw Andromeda smiling down at him; he knew it was not because of the skin he wore, or the character he was performing; it was because Kurt Elizabeth Hummel was a good person. Andromeda was grateful for the nephew who was not jolly or nice, but still put himself in danger to save a near stranger.

Bad things didn't happen to him because he was the way he was, but rather, he was the way he was because the world was cruel and random. Kurt could not fight an evolutionary adaption any more than mammals could grow gills- the world needed him to be like this, but more importantly, he liked being the person he was regardless of what anyone had to say about the matter.

~0~

Harry:

To say that Harry Potter had a greater understanding of why Kurt threw his power around the way he did, would be the understatement of the century. He felt power corrupting him the moment he burned Hermione's note. He stepped out of Umbridge's office and looked over the ocean of seemingly innocent faces and picked a life to potentially ruin.

"You," he pointed to a proud looking woman who was watching the workers, guarding them to be more accurate.

She pointed to her own chest fearfully, "me?"

"Don't keep me waiting," Harry glared at her, "I do not have all day."

She scurried over with great speed, standing a foot shorter than him- he used his height to intimidate her, "find Reginald Cattermole, bring him to me."

"Bring him here?"

"To me," Harry corrected with a condescending wag of his finger. He straightened up and turned his nose up at the woman, "I'm going to Dolores Umbridge's courtroom, I expect him at my side by the time I arrive."

Harry turned on his heels and walked in the direction of the elevators. Behind him, chaos ensued as everyone on the floor scattered. He wondered if it was a sign of solidarity, or fear for his avatar's indiscriminate cruelty. He took measured steps, giving his potential victims the best possible chance at success- it was what Kurt would do. Harry found that his friend was not just his model for how to perform evil, but a guide on how to act with fairness and kindness.

By the time Harry got to the elevator, Ron was waiting for him; looking worse for wear and drenched. Harry nodded at the woman, not offering any gratitude or reward- you don't thank a fish for swimming, he told himself.

He grabbed Ron roughly by the arm, "You've kept the Commissioner waiting."

"Harry," Ron whispered, "it's me."

"I know that it's you," Harry spoke through gritted teeth, "but you had no way of knowing if it was still me."

"You're wearing the same clothes," Ron tried to shake out of his grip, "it's you, unless this guy has the same outfit in double or triplicate."

"Oh, yeah," Harry nodded, "you sounded just like Kurt there."

"Thank you," Ron straightened his hair, "you know my wife is on trial?"

"That's where I'm taking you," Harry nodded.

The elevator doors opened, and Harry led Ron toward the courtroom in a cold silence. He would not be the one to betray their character; Ron was concerned about his imaginary wife, Hermione was chumming it up with Umbridge, and he needed to remain in character as well.

"Dolores," he broke a silence, stopping in his tracks when he realised that Tonks's dad was sitting on the stand. His mouth went dry and he was silent for a moment.

"Yes, Albert," she looked puzzled.

He kept staring at Kurt's uncle, wondering if his friend knew that they had the man who had championed Slytherin girls in chains. His voice came out uncertain, "I have Cattermole."

"Right," she looked relieved, "let's take a recess from this trail, and address Mary Cattermole."

Ted Tonks shook his head, "that won't do, I have lunch plans with my nephew."

"That is quite enough!" Umbridge got to her feet, her patronus breaking as she scolded the man. She cast the spell once more and then turned from Ted Tonks to Harry, "Have Mr Tonks shipped to Azkhaban."

"On what charge?" Harry countered, Shocking Dolores, "I'll need to put something on his intake form."

"Stealing a wand from a real wizard," she smirked.

Ted Tonks put down his cup of tea and clicked his neck in a manner that instantly made Harry feel uneasy, he watched as the man got to his feet and nodded his head, "now Dolores."

~0~

"Now," Kurt made sure that the body he was wearing was as nimble as he felt. He nodded to Hermione, hoping she understood it was him, "Dolores." The room got colder despite the dementors being held at bay. Kurt got to his feet and pursed his lips, "let's not act rashly."

"We've had more than enough of your insolence and lies," the woman countered in a scold.

"The only liar here is you," Kurt watched Mafalda Hopkirk begin to shiver.

"Albert," she called to the man, and he stepped closer.

Kurt raised his shackled hands above his head, he mimed biting the apple and then tossing it- as if he were doing the salsa- before roaring, "finite incantartum."

A raw pulse of energy emanated from Kurt's body; His handcuffs shattered and the lights went out in the courtroom. A cold energy flooded the room as the many magical contingencies put in place for such an escape rang loudly throughout the Ministry. Kurt was on his knees, and his left arm hurt some other type of way, he feared that it might fall off.

He looked around, trying to remain focused as the dementors feasted on him. He tried to remember all the happiness he had left to live for, to remember the boyfriend he had stored safely from the mess which he was creating. This only served to remind him of the people he had charged himself with watching over.

Mafalda Hopkirk, Anthony Runcorn, Reginald Catterole and the latter's wife were exiting the courtroom. Kurt looked up to the gallery to find a confused Andromeda, he blew her a kiss and took off after his friends. Kurt had always loved old people but today he considered that maybe Oma drank to numb the pain of her body failing her. Ted Tonks was getting along in years and struggled to catch up with his friends' head start.

The Dementors pursued them, slowing his friends and the stranger with them down. Kurt's mind was racing with imagined memories of what he would do with the Ministry when he was Minister, how he would change Hogwarts during his brief tenure as Headmaster, how he would scold his friends later, and the things he would do to Charlie's body when they were reunited- he was mostly unaffected by the dementors.

He caught up with his friends, and shoved them into the elevator; forcing the doors closed, and turning to cast a hurried spell, "Expecto patronus."

Only white flames shot out of the wand, not enough time or concentration for a fully corporal product. He turned to his friends, "everyone alright?"

He had to remain in character because they were not alone. Hermione smiled at him and nodded her head, "quite alright Ted." She was silent for a moment, "Thank you for saving her."

"Mr Tonks-" Mary Cattermole was clinging to the disguised Ron, her voice was shaking, "Why?"

"Because," Kurt smiled at her, grabbing her cheek in his final moment of softness, "there will come a time when you will pay this forward." He looked to his friends, who were slowly turning back into themselves, "now, my girl, it's time for you to find that husband of yours. Take your children far away."

"Reginald," she turned to the teenage boy who had been wearing her husband's face, she let loose a scream, "what-"

Ron shook his head, "I'm so sorry we just-"

"It's fine Mary," Ted's smile comforted her where Kurt's would have frightened her, "your husband is probably in the foyer, or at home."

"Take this," Ron took off the wet coat, "I'm sure it's expensive."

Kurt smiled harder at how thoughtful his friend was being- not being himself, he had to say something about his grin, "that's mighty considerate of you, son."

"Harry Potter," he turned to the Boy Who Lived, "you need to find the rest of those places you wanted to see."

"Yes sir," he looked confused.

Kurt pulled him into a hug, the elevator was intentionally moving slowly, "you have Slytherin's Locket, find Hufflepuff's Chalice. I'll meet you at Ravenclaw's Diadem."

He let go of a very confused Harry Potter and turned to Hermione, he embraced her, "Send my love." Then he turned to Ron once more, "Tell my daughter that I'll be alright, all things are possible through kindness."

The elevator door signalled to him that there was no more time for Ted Tonks or Kurt Hummel. Kurt turned into the main atrium and glared at the masses, who seemed to be paying them no mind. They made their way around the Magic is Might fountain, and Kurt Stopped.

Hermione took his hand, "come with us."

Kurt gestured to the Aurors piling out of the second elevator, he shook his head, "Love for some means holding on, Other say it's letting go."

Hermione recognised the words from the words of Cedric's spectre, telling Kurt to let him go. She reached out for him and thrashed as Ron and Harry dragged her away, Mary's Husband taking hold of her and turning in the same direction. Kurt turned to the fountain, massaging his shoulder, coaxing it to comply. Then he pulled out his pale white wand, drawing more attention to himself outside of being everyone's nice uncle. He pointed the wand toward the prejudicial statue, and smiled malevolently.

"Bombarda," the marble statue exploded into a million tiny pieces and water sprayed everywhere. Refreshed by the spray of ice-cold water, Kurt began to levitate. Performing magic without restrictions, he remembered himself; he was the most powerful wizard of the age.

A stream of water circled him on one axis, on another it was the broken marble, on the third it was fire. Kurt chose to let the workers of the Ministry keep the air in their lungs- he didn't have to become them, to defeat them. He would let them keep their lives, but he would cause a destruction that would cripple the Ministry for quite some time. He pushed the limits of his magic, headaches and body pain be damned, willing every document in the ministry to come to him.

He was afraid that he might be impeding serious case work; but he had sent Han Xun a letter urging her to keep duplicates on a select list of repeat offenders, in secret, back when Voldemort had first returned. Kurt set the documents on fire, letting out a cheerful giggle as he did so. Aurors tried to cast spells on the circle of energy that surrounded Ted Tonks but could not, a smart person would have already suspected foul play. Then Kurt felt a pain, like no other, the residual flow of electricity buckling his body and forcing him to let go of everything he held- in a strike of lightening and a puff of smoke.

~0~

Harry:

He stood over the pile of leaves in which Hermione lay motionless, tears streaming down her face. He didn't know where they were, or why, but he needed someone to get up. Ron was in a similar state and Harry didn't understand why.

"Hermione!" he screamed at the level headed girl, "where are we?"

"He's dead," she sobbed.

"Uncle Ted will be fine," Harry smiled reassuringly, "did you see-"

"It was Kurt," Ron looked away from Harry, ashamed of his Harry, curling himself into the foetal position. He cried out in pain, realising that his shoulder had been dislocated and making his way to a standing position.

"What?"

"It wasn't Ted Tonks," Hermione got up and started casting enchantments.

"Kurt must have taken his uncle's place in court," Ron tried to shake away the tears, but they kept coming, "they are going to torture him for information…" he gulped loudly as he tried to relocate his shoulder, "and if we're lucky they'll kill him, but they'll probably leave him as a shell of who he once was."

"Kurt will get out," Harry shook his head, "he said he'd meet me in the place where Ravenclaw's Diadem was."

"He wanted you to leave," Ron walked up to a tree, sizing it up, "he didn't want you to fight for him."

"If I'd known-"

Ron rolled his eyes, in a way Kurt often did, "Then we'd all be dead."

"We could have saved him," Harry fought back.

"If anyone could have saved Kurt, it was Kurt," his friend shook his head, "his only chance of being alive is because we left him behind."

"We'll go back for him."

"The last thing he said," Ron cried out in pain as he forced his shoulder back into its socket by running into a tree, "that was a play on what Cedric's ghost said to him in the graveyard… that was him telling us to move on without him."

"We have to-"

"He wanted us to let go, and move on," Ron Screamed out, his pain emotional this time, "that's the least we can do."

Hermione fell to her knees beside them, sobbing, "my best friend is gone, everything is worse now."