Disclaimer all characters, settings, etc, are the copyright of JK Rowling and Bloomsbury Publishing

The Return

Chapter 4

Death on trial

They were all sitting around the kitchen, each deep in their own thoughts, all remembering Harry and their time with him. Occasionally one of them would smile as they thought of something funny or amusing he had said or done.

A loud crack bought them all instantly out of their reverie and back to the here and now. In front of them stood a magnificently dressed elf, he was taller than any of the other elves they had seen and for an elf he was quite handsome.

Along side him stood Anlow "Allow me friends of Harry Potter to introduce his majesty King Benlow. King of all elves."

They all stood up and bowed. Dobby knelt on one knee and bowed so low his forehead touched the floor.

"Sit, sit, all of you, please sit, Dobby you too we don't have time for all these niceties," said the King.

"You will all need to be briefed on what we know of the procedures we will be facing so I will be transporting you to the Elfish Kingdom. If you are all in agreement," everyone agreed with a nod and before any questions could be asked they all found themselves in a grand throne room. They all looked around in awe, even for wizards and witches the speed of the transfer had come as a shock.

"Right then, I will be using elfish magic to let you know what you need to know," said the King. He closed his eyes, and when he opened them a few seconds later, without a word being said they all knew what was about to face them.

Hermione had become a little paler than she had been; Luna and Ron both looked a little worried.

"So the hearing we are about to take part in, will it be like a full trial?" asked Arthur Weasley.

Anlow spoke "Yes it will, the defendant will be death, who it must be said is not happy at being accused of making a mistake."

"Who will be the judge?" asked Hermione, apprehension in her voice.

"That will be the Maker" said the King, that's why if we fail, non will return, not even I.

"Where is this trial to be held sir?" asked Ron finally grasping the enormity of what they were about to face.

The King frowned I am afraid it will be in the realm of death. I tried to get them to hold it here, so as to avoid the deep fear that mortals suffer when they enter its forbidding precincts. I have how ever been given permission to use elf magic to reduce that fear some what," said the King.

"It is time sir," Anlow said.

"Yes its time, please compose your selves as best you can for now we go to enter the realm of death," said the King. He gave them a few seconds, then he closed his eyes and they all found themselves in the largest chamber imaginable. Millions of people sat in thousands of rows of seats, all of them looking down on them.

To their left chairs had been placed and they were told to sit by a disembodied voice.

Then to their right a great bright light appeared and a hush fell over the vast crowd so that not a sound was heard. In the middle of the light they thought they could just make out the shape of a person.

"Call the defendant," the voice said again, and a dark shape similar to a dementor appeared.

"The defendant will take an identifiable form," said the voice, and the dark shape slowly took the form of Severus Snape.

The voice spoke again "King Benlow, who have you chosen as prosecutor?"

The King stood "As we are not allowed to choose close living friends or family members we choose Sirius Black," the King sat down again.

"Bring forth Sirius Black," echoed the voice.

On the far right of them at more than a hundred rows up in the vast crowd they noticed a commotion. Seconds later they were saying hello to Sirius, Harry's godfather, who had died several years before.

Sirius stood and spoke "As I am not as clever a being as death, may I ask for an assistant, one who might also be called forth on Harry's behalf."

"The request is unusual but will be granted, who do you wish to call?" said the voice.

"Albus Dumbledore," said Sirius.

Another commotion to their right caught their eyes and then Dumbledore was with them.

"Ah Minerva I trust you are well, you too Ron, Hermione, Arthur, Ginny Luna and…," when Dumbledore had finished greeting them all he turned to Sirius.

"I'm glad you asked me to help old friend."

"And now the soul who is bringing this action against death, come forward," the voice said. Harry appeared between Sirius and Dumbledore.

"Now the one who has prevented deaths completion," the voice spoke again, and Hermione appeared beside Harry.

Ron looked at the now empty seat where moments before Hermione had been sitting.

Chairs and a desk appeared next to Harry, and Sirius motioned for Harry and Hermione to sit. They sat holding hands looking as though they had never been apart, their eyes locked onto each other.

"Prosecutor are you ready to proceed?" asked the voice.

Sirius and Dumbledore had a short conversation then Sirius, stepping forward said in a crisp clear voice "No not just yet, I would like to ask for a short adjournment to allow Dumbledore and myself time to confer with my client and the witnesses for the prosecution."

The voice said "Yet another unusual request, but the Maker has granted you one human hour in the elf Kingdom." With that they all found themselves in the Kings Throne room again.

Harry was overjoyed so many had come to try to help him and so pleased to meet Sirius and Dumbledore again. Hermione clung onto Harry's hand as though afraid if she let go he would disappear again.

"What has been happening?" Sirius wanted to know as he looked at his godson.

Harry shrugged "I don't really know, all I remember is the past few days, other than that everything is black."

So King Benlow told how he had intervened in Harry's death, using Hermione's love to keep Harry stuck between life and death and how he had been arguing Harry's case for three and a half years, but death had refused to accept his arguments. And how he had eventually had to ask for this hearing, "I had to ask the Maker in person for his intervention," he told them.

"So what are we to base our case on?" said Dumbledore

"Well I think our best options are the prophecy and their love for each other," said the King "The Prophecy was after all given to me by the Maker and I passed it on word for word. Their love is formed from a soul bond, and as Harry was the winner of the battle and therefore supposedly the survivor, death should not have taken a hand so to speak. Harry and Hermione should have had a full life to share with each other."

"Is that all we have?" said Sirius.

"Oh no we have Harry's greatest weapon and gift," said Dumbledore. Looking at Hermione, "I assume your majesty knows something about this that I never did?"

"Indeed yes I do, you Albus Dumbledore always knew that love was the one weapon Harry possessed that evil would never have. But what you did not know was that the love shared by Harry and Hermione is what is called heaven made, chosen by the Maker to be together. Therefore if they were made for each other it is obvious to all that they can not be together if one of them is dead. Except of course death won't accept this, and we have all these brave one's here to boost the power of that love with their own love for Harry."

The hour was soon gone and they once more found themselves in the vast chamber.

"Prosecutor are you ready to proceed?" said the voice;

Sirius stood and faced the light "I believe we are."

"Then you will tell the court on what grounds do you bring this charge against death."

Dumbledore stood "If I may, I would like to speak," he said

"My pleasure," said Sirius.

Dumbledore spoke again "We accuse death of going against the makers will."

There was a gasp and a loud whispering from the seats all around the chamber, no one had ever accused death of such a thing before.

Once again the disembodied voice echoed around them "Defendant you have heard the charge bought against you, how do you plead?"

Severus Snape stepped forward "Not guilty obviously," said Snape, through the greasy curtains that were his hair.

"Let the plea be entered into the book," the voice said, "Prosecutor you will proceed with your case."

After a quick discussion between Harry, Sirius and Dumbledore, Sirius stood up and said "As my first witness, I call forward Mrs Lily Potter."

Harry's mother appeared in front of them; she turned enough to face Harry and gave him a warm smile. Harry's eyes shone bright with tears as Sirius said "Tell me Lily, I mean Mrs Potter, do you remember how and why you died?"

Lily had a warm soft voice as she answered "I do indeed; I died to save the life of my son Harry."

"Could you tell us why you actually gave your own life for that of your son, please Lily?"

Lily looked directly in to Harry's eyes and said "It was love Sirius, a whole life time of a mother's love, along with faith."

"No more questions thank you," said Sirius, he looked across at the image of Severus and gave a slight bow.

Snape stood "Just one question, could you please tell the court what you mean by faith?"

Lily smiled again "Certainly, although I thought the court would know. It seems you have forgotten sir that we are all here thanks to the Maker, and faith is the belief we have in the things he is and the things he tells us with out question, that and in the love he gives us."

A ripple of applause went around the vast gathering.

"Are you telling the court that you have spoken with the Maker?" snapped Snape.

"That is not what I said," Lily said in a calm soft voice "I am referring to the prophecy he sent to us."

Snape glared "Ah yes the famous prophecy, but it was not explicit. It did not name your son."

"No it did not name Harry," said Lily, "but it did forewarn us so when Voldemort came to kill Harry we knew that Harry was the one referred to. And I knew exactly what to do to protect my son, and my faith in the Maker has not waned, not even though you it seems had none and changed the outcome of what should be."

Lily stood calm and collect as Snape raged "Do you not know who I am, to whom you are speaking?" he shouted.

"Sir you do not need to shout, I can hear you quite clearly, and yes I know who you are. You are death, you are not the Maker, you like the rest of us are his servant and you would do well to remember it," said Lily without a hint of anger in her steady soft voice.

There was a deadly hush all around them and then the great light shone out a golden ray of light that spot lit Lily.

"Thank you my child you may take a seat," a warming golden voice that reached down inside them all with great love, came from the light, and a new row of benches appeared on Dumbledore's right. Lily Potter still smiling at her son sat down.

"Thank you Lily," said Sirius, "I would now like to call Mr James Potter."

James, Harry's father appeared in front of them.

"Now Mr Potter, could you tell me why you were sought out by the evil Voldemort?" said Sirius.

James looked at his son, "Voldemort had learned of the prophecy and wished to kill my son."

"And what did you do about it?" Sirius asked.

"Well we took all the precautions we could, and finally I fought with Voldemort, to give my dear wife time to escape with Harry but as you can see my efforts failed, and my wife was also killed."

"So said Sirius it could be said, that you to gave your life to save Harry?" James once more looked at Harry and gave a broad cheery smile

"I did." he said.

Thank you James no more questions, said Sirius once more taking his seat.

"Would the defendant like to ask any questions?" said Dumbledore from his chair, as he sat there resting his chin on his finger tips.

Snape stood "I suppose you to risked all for love?" he said.

James looked at him intently for a moment, "For love and trust," he said.

"And by trust you mean in the prophecy, I assume?" said Snape with a shrug

"I do sir." James smiled at Snape.

Dumbledore stood this time, "As the court is aware we have several living mortal's with us as witnesses, now if I might ask a small favour of the court, would you permit me to put forward just one or two questions to them as a whole thus saving the court time asking them the same questions individually and of course it will provide less opportunity for the defendant to prosecute himself further?"

A roar of laughter erupted from all around and the voice called for order. As quiet was once more established, the Makers golden voice again washed over them.

"You may proceed Albus."

For just a second Dumbledore seemed taken aback by the use of his name by the Maker, but he quickly regained his usual composure. He turned to face the living with a smile on his lips "Would those among you who would willingly give your life for Harry, please stand."

Without hesitation they all stood.

Dumbledore turned back to face the Maker, "Just a demonstration to show the rest of the court what I am certain the Maker already knows. Each one of these people here have a different kind of love for Mr Potter, but each one strong enough to die for him if necessary."

"Just one more quick question of them if I may?" he faced them once again "This time I would like to include the elves, if you would not mind your majesty, you all know of the prophecy so would you please stand if you understood it."

They all stood.

"Now if you would be kind enough, those of you who expected Harry to die should he be triumphant against evil would you please remain standing while the rest please sit."

They all sat down.

Snape stood "I concede that the prophecy did in fact relate to Mr Potter, and that maybe I was wrong in my interpretation, but I must point out to this court, as I have told King Benlow these last three years, that unless there is some as yet unknown extreme mitigation once I have called someone, I can not return them."

Dumbledore spoke over his finger tips "So you don't class the gross error made by you to be extreme mitigation, I see."

Dumbledore stood again "We would now like to call death."

"You want to call the defendant as a witness for the prosecution?" the voice asked, "this is most irregular."

"As is our case," said Dumbledore.

"Very well then, you may continue."

Dumbledore looked at Snape "You have, have you not just conceded that the prophecy was true because it came from the Maker, and that if the Maker says it, then it is so?"

"Yes," said Snape.

"Thank you that is all," said Dumbledore.

As Dumbledore sat back on his chair his chin once more resting on his hands, Sirius rose and stepped forward.

"I call Hermione Granger," he said.

Hermione appeared standing in front of them all.

"Now Hermione, I do not want you to be afraid; could you please tell us how you feel about Mr Potter?"

Without hesitation "I love him with every fibre of my heart, body, and soul," she replied.

"And how long have you felt this way?" Sirius was smiling.

"Since I was twelve years old, when he saved me from a Troll in a girls bathroom," Hermione said.

"Have you ever loved any other boys?" Sirius asked

"Only my friends, but that's not the same kind of love," Hermione looked at Harry, warmth shining in her eyes.

"Where do you think this love for Harry came from?" Sirius said looking seriously at her.

"I think it is so wonderful it must be heaven sent, Harry is my soul mate," she said as she blushed a little.

"Thank you Hermione, you may sit," Sirius went over to speak to Dumbledore who nodded and gave a smile; "I would now like to call King Benlow, King of the elves."

Benlow stood and walked to the spot where all the others had stood.

"Sir could you tell the court how you managed to keep Mr Potter in the realm between life and death please?" Sirius said.

"Well normally I would not be able to do it for more than a short time, but this case was very unusual, very rare. You see I too believed the prophecy, but I also knew the power it referred to, it was the power of true love. The rare and splendid love that comes directly from the Maker," said the King, "so I used that love to hold on to him."

"How do you know that it came from the Maker this great love?" asked Sirius.

"Well it was in the prophecy and the Maker gave me the prophecy, so it had to come from him, besides where else could such love come from," the King said as though the answer should be obvious to all.

"Thank you your majesty," said Sirius no more questions "would the defence like to ask anything?"

Snape did not move.

Sirius sat and Dumbledore rose to take his place

"As the Maker knows, the love that he endowed us with is a powerful thing, but there is a far more powerful love, at this time can I ask the court if there is a record of, as Hermione calls it 'heaven sent' love?"

"Bring forth the book of those who share a soul with each other," the voice called out.

And there on the table appeared a huge enormously thick book.

"Ah, said Dumbledore now to find the page for Mr Potter and Miss Granger," as he stepped toward the book it opened on a page entitled, 'P-Q', Dumbledore scanned down the huge list till near the bottom he stopped, "Ah here it is," and he read out, "Potter, Harry James, 12 Grimmauld place London. Granger, Hermione, The Poplars, Oak Tree lane, Oxford, they are here in the book; I think that is all we need to know."

The book vanished, "I must now ask the defence to concede, that those meant to be together can not be so, if one of them is dead, and if he agrees with me on this then he must admit to being guilty as charged. For it said here in the book, that the Maker made them to be together and he has prevented it. Which is against the Makers will, the prosecution rests its case."

Dumbledore turned and took his seat once more.

There was total silence; Snape made no move but sat with his head bowed a look of defeat on his face. Finally Snape rose to speak, "I must now concede that it would seem I have made a grave error in Mr Potter's case," Snape sat he knew he had lost and had no more to say.

The great light lessened a little revealing some of the splendour of the maker and though they could not see clearly they knew they were being smiled at. The golden voice of the maker once more reached right down inside them.

"I made a good choice when I chose you to be a wise man Albus, I find the defendant guilty of the charge. There will be no punishment but steps must be taken to prevent it happening again. As for Mr Potter, normally I would turn back time, so this would never have happened but today I intend to leave most things as they are. King Benlow can return Harry back to the wizarding world. I will not take the usual step of removing all memories of what has happened here either, no I will send you all back with the knowledge that you have and you will be wiser in the future and you will teach your children to live good lives, and to oppose evil when ever they encounter it. You may now have a short time together in the elfish Kingdom. Time to say your congratulations and goodbyes properly."

Surprisingly Snape looked up at Harry and smiled. Offering out his hand he announced "I am happy I lost this one young Potter."

Suddenly they found them selves in the elf throne room once more.

Harry with Hermione's hand still held tight rushed into the arms of his mother and father. Tears welled in his eyes.

"I thought I would never know you," he told them.

"We have watched you grow my son," said his father "and we are very proud of you, and we are never far away."

His mother moved to take a look at Hermione, "So you are the one that owns my sons heart and soul. I am so pleased we were able to meet, and I know you will take good care of him for me."

Hermione hugged Lily tightly "I will try to be as good as you," she said, very quietly.

James and Lily kissed and hugged everyone, thanking them for their support.

Harry once more stood with Dumbledore, "I always knew you could even beat death," Harry said as he and his old friend held each other, then grinning Harry said, "I'll look you up on my next visit."

"Don't make it to soon, eh Harry." said Sirius who was standing with James and Remus.

"I'll try not to," Harry beamed at them.

Once more Harry gave his mother a hug and kissed her cheek, an embrace for his father and Sirius and then they were gone. Oddly none of them felt sad about them leaving, they knew they would one day all be together again.

King Benlow called them forward "Right Mr Potter, first we will put you back together with your body, now that the wounds can be healed. Then I will pay a visit to the minister of magic, who no doubt will need to see proof of my great powers. I shall inform him he is to have your tomb opened on order of the Maker. As it is opened you will be placed there by our trusty friend here," he pointed to Dobby.

Harry winked at his little elf friend.

"You will then be carried out and I will wake you up. No doubt they will all say it is a miracle, we will not disavow them of this belief, you of course will know how to behave."

Harry nodded.

"The rest of you will, I am afraid, have to sit it out and wait, you to Hermione."

They all gave a grudging agreement.

"I will see to it that the minister sends for you. now I think that is all for now, just the matter of returning you all to the Burrow," as he closed his eyes they all found themselves in the Weasley's kitchen once more, every one of them was bursting with excitement.

Mr Weasley gave fire whiskey all around. Ron was rushing around hugging them all, even Minerva McGonagall, which before now he would have been terrified of doing.

It was not long before a party was in full swing. Amongst all the noise and dancing Fleur told Mrs Weasley that she was going to fetch Bill and with a quick pirouette, she disappeared, only to arrive outside the kitchen door five minutes later.

Together Molly and Fleur told Bill of the trial of death, and how they had won. Bill though a little tired joined the party. They were still celebrating the following morning when an owl came fluttering in through the ever open kitchen window.

Arthur read the letter as the others began to fall silent, "Well, well, seems we are wanted by the minister of magic. I wonder why that can be?"

They all had a good laugh except Hagrid, who was once more sniffling into his huge table cloth sized hanky.

"What ever is the matter Hagrid?" said Tonks

"Am so happy I could burst, Harry's ok," he cried.

Tonks roared with laughter "Come on you great big softy, we are off to see what the minister wants us for," she laughed again.

They all arrived at the ministry separately, Tonks and Remus arriving last. As soon as the minister had them all assembled in the entrance hall he began speaking, "Ahem I have an announcement to make to you all, I have received a visit by one who calls himself, King of the elves."

"Its not King Benlow is it?" Minerva interrupted a grin on her usually stern looking face.

"Ahem as a matter of fact that was the name he used yes, so you know of him then?" the minister looked put out, like a child who had just had a toy removed.

"Yes well, ahem, well the King tells me he has been sent by the Maker to wake up Harry Potter, who is not as we thought dead but in a sort of sleep. Something like in that fairy tale, any way he says he needs some of Harry's closest friends around, so sorry to drag you from your breakfast and all that."

"He goes on a bit don't you think," Ron whispered to Hermione.

"Well better introduce you all," he nodded at one of the wizards standing nearby. The wizard opened a door and out stepped King Benlow in all his splendour.

"May I introduce Harry Potter's Friends your majesty?"

The King strolled forward and as he reached Remus he spoke "I am afraid sir you can not be allowed to accompany us in your condition, werewolf bite I believe. So with your permission I will cure you," he blinked and then continued along the line up, he stopped again as he reached Bill, "your name sir?"

"Bill Weasley your majesty."

"You too it seems, require some help thieves I would guess, with your permission," again he blinked and all the tiredness in Bills eyes melted away and not a trace was left.

Fleur gasped and thanked the King. The minister looked like a fish out of water as his mouth opened and closed. Tonks and Remus were staring at Bill, who was asking for a mirror.

Tonks looked at Remus, "You know what this means my love, you are cured, this is the great power the King spoke of," she whispered very low.

Remus looked as though a great weight was lifting from him and the broadest grin they had ever seen came on his face.

"And now to Harry Potter," the King was saying.

"I have a port key over there," said the minister.

"We will not require transport thank you, if you will just tell me where he is," said the King.

As the minister finished saying Godrics Hollow, they all found themselves standing outside a huge monument like mausoleum. The minister waved his wand at the side of the structure, and a doorway appeared.

Just as the door opened, Ron thought he heard the familiar crack of Dobby the house elf appearing.

The King and the minister went inside, seconds later they returned,

Harry floating along with them looking to all the world as though he were dead.

The King closed his eyes for a second and Harry awoke.

Harry made a good show of having been in a deep sleep and asking where he was, winking at Ron and Hermione when the minister was not looking.

"Don't understand it at all, best healers we have, they all said he was dead," said the minister.

"Well I don't feel dead," Harry said, with a grin as he pulled Hermione into a hug.

"This calls for a party," said, Arthur as the minister still gasped and muttered.

The King returned them all to the ministry, and said his goodbyes, telling the minister he was to keep secret the Kings existence. He wished them all a long and happy life then with a crack he was gone. The minister looked around at the goings on then he shrugged his shoulders and walked slowly away.