Disclaimer is in chapter 1. So apparently Tenhawk has resumed posting fanfiction on one of his own sites ( t . evancurrie . ca ) and on patre on (username tenhawk).


Andromeda Tonks got up early the next morning, already having expectations for what was to come. She knew that the Minister was pushing to fast track the show trial he was hoping to drop on young Mr Potter, and her informants from within the Ministry had ensured that she was in the know for as many of his little tricks as was possible.

After getting dressed in some of her finest robes and grabbing a quick bite to eat, she kissed her husband on the way out the door and then quickly disillusioned herself before apparating out to Privet Drive where she parked herself near Harry's home and waited.

She didn't have long to wait.

I do believe I owe Margery a nice dinner, Andy thought with a smirk as the Ministry Owl winged its way through the air to the open kitchen window, eliciting a bark of outrage and some screaming from within.

She sighed, rolling her eyes as she broke the disillusion and marched up the drive to the front door, delivering a sharp series of raps to announce her presence.

She could hear muffled growls and an urging from the fat man within to run her off, and almost laughed out loud.

That will happen… when Voldemort drops by for a nice friendly meal at your table, fat man.

The door was flung open, the big bulbous fool within opening his mouth to say something, but she didn't give him the chance as she prodded him with her wand, sending him staggering back in shock as his voice vanished.

"That will be quite enough of that," She said, stepping inside with a roll of her eyes. "Honestly, do you people have no sense of decorum at all? Half the neighborhood likely heard your bellow when the owl arrived."

"Mrs Tonks?" Harry asked, looking surprised as he fumbled with the letter in his hand. "The ministry wants me for a trial!"

"Yes, I expected as much," Andy said as comfortingly as possible. "My contacts within the ministry said that Fudge would be trying to ram through the case this morning. Your notice was sent late, so we don't have much time."

"What?"

"Trust me, the Wizengamot will be fully assembled by the time we get there, so chop chop," She said, "we need to be going."

"Right… ok, sure… uh," Harry paused, looking at her for a moment before he took a breath and extended his hand to her, causing her to frown and look down.

His wand was in the open palm presented to her.

"Harry, I don't…"

"In case I lose," Harry told her. "I want you to hold it."

She smiled sadly, "They'll simply claim it from me if they don't find it on you."

Harry nodded, producing another wand, this one a fine black one that she didn't recall ever seeing the like of before.

"I have this, they can snap it if they must," He said.

"Is it real?"

"It's one of Xander's," Harry said, nodding.

"Very well," She accepted the wand from him, casually rolling it over in her hand as Harry ran off to grab his things. "Dress robes, if you please, Mr Potter!"

"Got it!"

Andy considered the wand for a moment before flicking out her own, sending off a patronus message to her daughter. Nymphadora was an auror and would be present, since she'd made certain of that much, she would pass off the wand to her before security.

It never hurts to cover all the bases, I suppose.

Andromeda waited for Harry a few moments longer, ignoring the fat man's glares and the worried looks of the pinch faced woman who was clearly trying to shield her son from her. As thought I would do anything to a boy… or that her skinny body would be much protection if I wanted to curse the boy for that matter. He looks near on as wide as he is tall, it must be a minor miracle that she lived through giving birth to him.

Harry rushed back down the stairs, his dress robes messily done up, but she could fix that before they went in.

"Very good then, come alone," Andy told him. "I'll apparate us both when we're outside. Wouldn't want to smash the windows here, after all."

He nodded quickly and they stepped out, letting the door close behind him as she grasped his shoulder and focused on the destination, drawing up her magic and casting them through the familiar squeezing sensation a moment later.


Ministry of Magic.

Cornelius Fudge was a man who was often impressed with himself.

Clever solutions to the problems of running the Ministry, those were the sorts of things he prided himself deeply on. In this case, the problem was a foolish brat who clearly had to be reigned in before his attention seeking ways brought about a disaster for the Ministry, and he had just the clever solution for it.

Nothing too crazy, of course, no matter how extreme it might sound. A little time in the low security section of Azkaban would scare the boy straight, teach him not to make up stories…

More importantly, by far, though was the message it would send.

Teach those who sympathized with the boy that Fudge's administration wouldn't tolerate that nonsense.

The boy had even managed to infect seasoned auror's, Fudge shook his head in exasperation. It was unreal how people could be manipulated by a little starry eyed fame worship, even to the point of blindly believing in the sort of foolishness that Dumbledore had cooked up, either with Potter's help or by fooling the boy too.

Either way, a little time in a cell would serve to straighten the boy out, he was certain. And, far more importantly, it would both curtail the boy's credibility in the future… making him much less of a threat… but also serve as a warning.

Three birds with a single stone, that was the sort of clever problem solving that had put Fudge where he found himself indeed.

To ensure things went his way he'd sent out summons to the Wizengamot the evening before, but made certain that those going to the members… less likely to be intelligent about things… were neatly delayed. No fault of his, of course, not any way to prove it at least, which was basically the same thing.

So he stood there on the dias as the members slipped in, feeling quite proud of himself, even as he did note that more than he'd expected were showing up.

It seems we have quite a few morning people in the wizengamot. Who knew?

It didn't matter, though. He had more than he needed to ensure his victory.

Far more.


Privit Drive.

Albus Dumbledore was grim faced as he hurried up the drive to the home he knew to be young Harry's home, knocking urgently as he arrived at the door.

Much grumbling could be heard from within before the door was thrown open, and Vernon glared out at him.

"What do you want?" Vernon demanded irritably.

"I'm here to pick up young Harry," Albus forced himself to be genial about it, but his tone held am edge that he did nothing to completely remove.

"Well you're too late now, aren't you?" Vernon snorted, moving to close the door in Albus' face.

A gesture caused the door to freeze in place as Albus lose any hint of geniality, leaning in with intent.

"And just what do you mean by that?" The old man managed to sound extremely dangerous in that moment, causing an ashen look to come over Vernon's normally ruddy faced visage.

Vernon swallowed, taking an involuntary step back, "Woman came earlier, picked the boy up already. Said something about a trial."

"Woman…" Albus frowned, thinking furiously.

Andromeda. Blast it. I really must sit down with her, we're repeating too many of the same efforts.

He sighed, "Very well. Thank you for the information."

Albus let the door slam shut of its own accord as he was turning away, already focusing on the apparition point within the Wizengamot even as his mind was furiously planning on how to deal with the day's events.

The pop of his departure was barely audible outside the Dursley's yard.


Ministry of Magic.

Harry looked around nervously as they were passed through security, the wand Xander had given him claimed by the Aurors' after being tagged and bagged with at least some semblance of care. He'd seen Andromeda pass off his Olivander wand to the young Auror he'd met with her before, whom he still only knew by her family name, but since it was Andromeda's daughter he guessed that was about as secure as could be managed.

They were shuffled through the halls, first to an obviously empty room, which put Andromeda in a huff as she read the notice posted there.

"That fool is pushing his luck," She grumbled, grabbing Harry's arm, "We need to hurry. He moved the hearing to one of the main court rooms. Absolutely insane. A child, being tried in a full court. I swear, I'll have his bowler hat with his head inside it for this, if it takes me my life to make it happen."

Harry, probably wisely, didn't try to ask any questions then.

They got to the court before the doors were sealed, but it appeared to be a near thing, and it caused more than a little commotion upon his arrival.

Security processed them in, though, and in moments Harry found himself the focus of every person's attention as he and Andromeda strode up the aisle.

"Ah… well," Fudge seemed a little put out, "Mr Potter. I see you finally decided to grace us with your presence."

Harry flinched back from his tone, well more from the irritated murmurs he could hear around him, but Andromeda was having none of that.

"Given that you didn't inform us of the change of venue, and the Ministry Owl only just delivered his summons less than twenty minutes ago, you should count yourself rather lucky that we're here at all and not speaking some rather pointed words with various attorneys, Mr Fudge." She growled at the Ministry openly, eliciting several shocked looks and more than a couple sharp intakes of breath.

Fudge himself flinched back as thought slapped, hands clutching at the bowler hat he was holding, "You will address me properly, I am the Minister for Magic!"

"Not for long, if I have my way," Andromeda Tonks promised vehemently.