Harry Potter and the Death Eater Drumhead Trial
Chapter 3
Fred

Harry was completely surprised at breakfast to see the owl he had sent the night before had returned with parchment in her beak. The letter landed softly in front of him and he immediately snatched it up and tore it open.

"Harry", it read.

"Your Aunt, Cousin and I have not heard any news regarding our return home. You'd think that they could show some courtesy by informing us sooner instead of having us wait this long. We are at the home of Mrs. Figg who will not allow us to go anywhere until someone from your lot has made arrangements. The sooner we can get home, the bloody well better. Uncle Vernon."

"Mrs. Figg's house?" Harry said aloud to himself.

"What's that Harry?" Asked Ron who sat next to Harry working on his breakfast.

"My letter. I sent it yesterday. Uncle Vernon wrote back saying he, Aunt Petunia, and Dudley were all staying at Mrs. Figg's house." Harry answered.

"Oh, you mean the squib from the Order." Ron blurted. Harry was glad that Hermione wasn't there to hear that. He would have gladly have another go at Voldemort than hear another one of Hermione's lectures of equal treatment all of all living creatures by wizards. "That was quick!" Ron said. "Smart owl."

"Yeah, I know. How in the world did they end up there?" Harry wondered.

"I heard from a couple of 6th year Hufflepuffs that the Malfoys left the castle sometime before breakfast yesterday morning." Ron said leaning in closer to Harry, changing the subject.

"I forgot about them." Harry said. "Wonder what the Ministry is going to do about them?"

"What'chu mean? I hope they get exactly what they have coming to them, Harry. They knew what they were doing and they only bailed out when it no longer suited them. I can't say I honestly give a damn about what happens to them." Ron said angrily and just as he was leaving Mr. and Mrs. Weasley and Ginny came to sit down for breakfast.

"Good Morning, Harry." They each said one by one. Ginny turn back to watch her brother leave and she turned questioning eyes to Harry. "What's he on about?" She asked. "It's nothing." Harry said not wanting to discuss the Malfoy's in front of the Mr. Weasley.

"We're going to hold a family memorial for Fred tonight, Harry, seven o'clock sharp." Mr. Weasley said. This was not an extended invitation. He was being treated as a member of the family and Harry was genuinely pleased and honored. The Weasley's had always treated Harry as one of the family, but never as today.

"I'll be there." Harry promised.

Clean up was well under way and the castle and grounds were becoming recognizable again. When Harry walked out with Ginny and the others to the Quidditch Pitch that morning he didn't see up rooted trees and broken landscape. He saw the grounds almost as it once was. They all commented how different it looked. The only real problem they faced was the Mandrakes and other creatures running around loose. Occasionally students caught off guard were attacked and taken to the infirmary. Hannah Abbott was one of them. She was caught by some rogue Devil's Snare and rescued by Neville who was nearby. Harry and the others watched in muted awe as he fought off the Devil's Snare with skill and newly acquired confidence. Harry also carefully noted that Neville was quickly becoming the romantic figure at Hogwarts. He had caught the attention of every female watching as he carried Hannah away to safety. Terrified more than hurt he carried her to the Infirmary anyway and stayed with her until she was allowed to go back to the dormitory.

The Castle was no longer a ransacked mess. The armored knights that had fallen in battle were now back guarding their posts, made whole again. The Marble Staircase was whole and moving again. The House Hourglasses that held the house points was repaired. Only the portraits that hung along the staircase were still damaged. Many of them had moved temporarily into neighboring frames until they're repairs can be done. But despite all that had been done, there were still signs of the horrific battle that had taken place. Most were in the Great Hall. The stone and mortar in there was pock marked in various places by powerful dark spells that had missed their mark. These could not be wiped away. They will remain in there as monuments of the events that took place with the walls of the castle. Occassionaly students would stop and point out a certain mark on the wall and tell the story of how it got there. The stories were always thrilling and quite embellished but every student had at least one to tell and thrived on hearing more.

Harry learned at Breakfast from Mr. Weasley that Kingsley Shacklebolt was going to be at Hogwarts for visual inspection of the castle and grounds. To Harry's surprise he showed up at the Quidditch field earlier than he expected. "Harry Potter?" Harry and the others spun around and found Kingsley there smiling at them.

"Hello Kingsley!" Ron, Neville and Ginny greeted him warmly and a bit too informal in Percy's opinion. Harry saw the disapproval immediately.

"It's good to see you all again. How's clean up going?"

"Everything's running smoothly, Minister" Percy said before any of them could answer.

"Excellent, Excellent. Harry, can I have a word? Are you busy?"

"No, Minister. Congratulations, by the way." They walked away from the bleacher section, Percy was putting them back to work and Harry could hear them scream with laughter as Ginny shot off a hex most likely at Percy. The laughter seemed alien and made Harry realize how much he missed it, especially coming from this family so accustomed to laughter.

"Thank you, Harry, thank you. How are you?"

"Good, I suppose."

"Harry I want to say you did a fine job this past year. It couldn't have been easy for you."

"No, no it wasn't." They stopped in the clearing just outside the Quidditch Field overlooking the castle. It was a beautiful day, sunny and blue. Not too cool or too hot. It was the kind of day when he would want to spend every possible moment outside in the company of his friends. It was perfect. But Harry could not enjoy any of it. It all seemed to mock him. To make light of the sorrow that was all around him. It wasn't right that he should have a day like this when countless others couldn't or ever will again. Harry resented it deeply, that the world should go on as always despite everything that had happened. Gone were countless brave and courageous souls who fought for something larger than themselves. Harry knew there were millions of people unaware of the horrific events that had taken place here. Unaware of the sacrifice made for them. For them, life passed as usual. Harry wanted to scream at them what had happened. To let them know what they had done for them. To share in his sorrow. But he could do nothing. They would go on with their lives as usual never knowing how close they came to losing everything.

"We have at least 60 Death Eaters in Azkaban already. Other Ministry Officials, like Dolores Umbridge, who have committed crimes against Humanity, they're going to pay for their crimes. But we need help. Your testimony, Ron's and Hermione's testimonies would help enormously. Can I count on you?"

"Yes, anything." Harry replied. "Minister, my Aunt and Uncle, they're wanting to go back home."

"It's been a rather busy 48 hours, I forgot, but I'll look into it today." Kingsley stopped to look around. "It's a lot of work."

"Professor McGonagall said it can be repaired."

"It can. The landscape can be replanted, the stone and mortar repaired. But, Harry there will be scars here that can never be repaired. We lost so many good people." Harry blanched at the mention of the dead. This didn't go unnoticed by Kingsley. "And it's no use looking that way, Harry. It is no one's fault, least of all yours. It would be foolish to believe we could go through what we went through and not have any casualties. It's what war is. It's a damn shame, all of them. But it's reality."

Harry said nothing not wanting to agree with him but unable to deny the truth. So he kept focused on his surroundings.

"A good many people died in the first war." Kingsley said as he turned to Harry. "I lost my sister and father. Yes, we feel bad, it's natural. There's no right way to mourn your loved ones. Do what feels right for you. But we move on, we can't blame ourselves." He turned to Harry and looked him straight in the eye. "They wouldn't want us to anyway."

The Minister bid Harry good bye and left back toward the castle. Sometime before lunch Harry and Ron were near the edge of the Dark Forest when they heard a distinct rumbling noise coming from within. Edging slowing away from the forest as the noise came closer, they were joined by the others. Out of the forest and right before their very eyes stood Mr. Weasley's old Ford Anglia. Even more surprising were the two fugitive Death Eaters trapped inside. The noisy car came to a halt and opened its doors and threw out its captives. Seemingly glad to be released from the enchanted car, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley gathered them up and took them back to the castle. Since it was close to lunch time anyway they all followed along. When Harry was done with lunch and about to go back outside with the others, Professor McGonagall found him and pulled him aside. "I'm afraid the Minister can't spare anyone to escort your Aunt and Uncle back home and requests your help to do this for him."

"But Professor, I can't, I mean I..." Professor McGonagall stopped Harry in midsentence.

"I know about the memorial service for Fred Weasley. You may leave following the service. They will be expecting you late anyway."

"Late?" Harry asked now cautiously. "Why late?"

"We enchanted the house to cover the damage done to it by Death Eaters searching for you while you were in hiding."

This came as a complete shock to Harry. He was almost afraid to ask "How bad is it?"

"Mrs. Figg notified the Order immediately and we sent Remus to enchant the house from the Muggles. I'm sorry we didn't have time to repair the house then but we couldn't leave it in the state it was in. You will need to disenchant it and repair the damage before the Muggles notice. Do you think you can handle it?" Harry gulped imagining what he would find, his Aunt and Uncle's reactions and feverishly wished he was not the one to have to tell them.

"But what about Hogwarts?"

"Most of the clean up is done. There's not a whole lot more you can do anyway. Our visitors will be arriving very soon to take over." She noticed the reluctant look that spread over Harry's face. "You've done what you can do for Hogwarts, Mr. Potter."

When it was time to dress for Fred's service Harry found that Kreacher had brought Sirius's old dress robes from Grimmauld Place. They were lying neatly on his bed. The elf was there ready to assist but Harry's thoughts were elsewhere. The last time he put on dress robes they were attending a dance, now he was attending a funeral, Fred's funeral. This time dressing seemed to be a chore he hated doing. Ron was taking his time too, anything to delay what was ahead. There wasn't much conversation only comments of how much they hated dressing in dress robes. Finally they left the dorm and entered the Gryffindor common room. Ginny, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were there. George was there with Bill, Fleur, Percy and Charlie. There was also a quiet respectful crowd of Gryffindors with them paying their respects.

Mr. Weasley signaled it was time to go and they all stood to follow him through the portrait hole. It was a long and dismal walk to the Room of Requirement. There was no hurry to get there. Mrs. Weasley walked with Mr. Weasley. She was doing her best to keep composed but Harry could see how difficult it was. George was silent keeping only to himself. Charlie, Percy and Ron walked a few paces behind already knowing George did not want anyone's company. Harry and Ginny were last, each lost in their own thoughts. Inside the room had changed. It was smaller, more somber. It was lit by the many candles on the walls and on the candelabras. Flowers and wreaths filled the room. Fred was laid out on a table in the center of the room. He was dressed in his Hogwarts robes. He looked peaceful, merely sleeping. The silence in the room was deafening. Harry could feel Ginny slip her trembling hand in his as they slowly moved closer to where Fred lay. The lump that formed in Harry's throat now seemed to want to choke him. They formed a circle around Fred and for a moment they were all quiet. Then from out of a corner that Harry didn't see was an old wizard who stepped in to join them. "Everyone, please join hands." He said. Harry's other hand joined Ron's. "We are here to say good bye to Fred." Harry could hear Mrs. Weasley begin to cry softly. The others unable to hold it back joined her. As he tried to pay attention to what was being said about how brave Fred was he thought about this family who had taken him in without question, without asking for anything in return. His heart was overflowing with sorrow, remorse and love for them. So much that he didn't know which emotion was the strongest. When Harry looked around the room at the faces of this family he had known for years, he realized what family was and how it felt to be apart of one. He knew then with sudden clarity that it will be this way forever.

Ron released his hand from Harry's as the ceremony ended. Mrs. Weasley was weeping openly now with Bill and Mr. Weasley by her side, blinded by their own tears. And as sad as it was to watch a mother and a father mourn the passing of their child, it was nothing compared to watching George cry for the loss of his twin, the other half of himself. The tears weren't as bad as the anguishing cries that shook his whole body. For several minutes George stood there weeping, releasing all of his sorrow with great heart wrenching sobs. He accepted no one's offer to comfort him as he stood alone beside Fred. Watching him, Harry knew he was not only mourning Fred but George as well. It was George that would miss him most and in ways Harry knew he would never understand. Mrs. Weasley walked over to George, placed a gentle hand on his shoulder and he turned to her with tear filled eyes and she held him as he wept again. Suddenly the whole family surrounded him and Mrs. Weasley. After a minute George released his mother and then hugged his father, then everyone else. Finally he came to Harry and for a frightful moment George stopped and looked him squarely in the eye. Harry no idea what he would say. Would there be anger and resentment? Guilt swelled up in him as he readied himself to take anything that George might say. There was only silence. George reached out to Harry and hugged him saying the only words he had uttered in days. "I'm glad you're here, Harry." Harry returned the hug, feeling his own tears well and fall from his eyes. "So am I." was the only thing that Harry could choke out. George pulled out of the hug first and looked at Harry again. But before Harry could say anything George smiled weakly at him and returned to his mother's side. Harry turned to Ginny and held her close. She was crying too. Mr. Weasley walked up to them and said they would be leaving for the Great Hall. It took a few moments to compose themselves before they could open the door to leave. Outside almost all of Hogwarts was there waiting, all wanting to pay their respects. They were silent as they allowed the Weasley's room to pass. Before they turned out of sight Harry glanced back and saw the Teachers present organizing students waiting to go in.

Again Mr. Weasley led them all to the Great Hall. Inside there was pumpkin juice and refreshments waiting for them. Ron and Ginny stood with Harry. "Blimey, Harry, I don't ever want to do that again!" Ron said wiping his eyes with his sleeve. "That was horrible!" Harry heartily agreed with his friend but knew there were more memorials to attend in the future.

What started out as a small gathering turned out to be the whole of Hogwarts expressing their grief and paying their respects. Only George returned to Gryffindor Tower. As he left Harry saw Angelina leave with him, But George stopped said something to her and walked away alone leaving Angelina hurt and confused. She turned back to the Great Hall and noticed Harry had seen the whole thing. He could see the hurt in her eyes and she approached but he was unsure what to do about it.

"You saw that, huh?" Harry knew it wasn't really a question but he nodded just the same. "I know it's probably too soon." She said

"What did he say?" Ginny asked

"He didn't want company, he'd rather be alone and hoped I understood." She said. "And I want to," She was crying now. "But I hurt too! And I can't help wanting to talk to him. "

Harry was getting a little nervous. Should he say something comforting, offer a hug? "Give him a little time." he ended up saying not knowing what else to say. Angelina thanked him and walked away.

"George is really taking this hard." Ginny said. "Mum and Dad told me he was not going to re-open the joke shop."

"What! You can't be serious." Harry said really surprised.

"He told Mum and Dad he couldn't do it without Fred."

"Ok, but I think it's way too soon to think about what to do with the joke shop." Harry said

"That's what they said too but George said he's already made the decision." Ginny said sadly.

Bill and Fleur bid them goodnight and headed off to sleep. It was getting late and Harry knew sooner or later he would have to leave for Privet Drive. Reluctantly he had walked over to Mr. and Mrs. Weasley who were in conversation with Professor McGonagall.

"Harry." Mr. Weasley said placing a firm hand on his shoulder. "We were just talking about you. Going to see your Aunt and Uncle tonight I hear. Wish them well for us."

"I will."

"We'll be leaving in the morning to take Fred home for burial." Mrs. Weasley said. Harry was hoping he would be back in time for this too and was disappointed that he would have to miss it.

"I'm sorry I can't be there." He said.

"It's ok, Harry dear, "Mrs. Weasley said. "Sweet boy." Mrs. Weasley hugged Harry hard.

"Leaving soon, Mr. Potter?" Professor McGonagall asked. "It's plenty dark now, you shouldn't have any trouble. Be careful anyway. There are Death Eaters on the loose."

"Uh, right Professor, "Harry said, "I just wanted to say goodbye first."

"Goodbye, Harry and Good Luck!" Mr. Weasley said like he knew what a difficult task it was going to be. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley both hugged him. "I'm glad you were with us tonight, Harry."

Harry, always touched by their sincerity, nodded his head. "It was nothing. I'm glad I could be there."

Harry took his leave from them, Ron and Ginny. He said Goodbye to Neville and Luna, Hagrid and Professor Flickwick. He was going upstairs when he remembered he had nothing to pack. Everything he had was abandoned or lost. Behind him he heard shuffling feet and saw Kreacher struggling with an over night bag. "Master Harry will be wanting fresh clothes while he is away." Kreacher croaked out giving Harry the bag. "Thank you, Kreacher. Your right. I don't reckon I'll be gone for too long, but I'm not sure what I'll find when I get there. Will you stay here?" Kreacher stared at Harry for a long moment. He wondered when he would get used to owning a house elf. He was always at a loss of how to treat one. Being nice made Dobby cry and carry on, but made Kreacher stare blankly. But Harry decided he couldn't bring himself to treat them as he had seen others treat them. He agreed with Hermione, they needed better treatment. No, he decided he was going to treat them the same way as he had always treated them. Kreacher would just have to get used to that.

"Master Harry will let Kreacher chose where he wants to stay?" Kreacher asked awestruck. The elf's eyes already too big for him went even wider in disbelief. "Kreacher would like to return to Master's house." He said.

"Oh. You don't want to stay here?" Harry asked realizing his error.

"Only if you wish it, Master Harry."

"No, no, it's alright. As soon as your chores are done you may return to Grimmauld Place. Let them know when you intend to leave." Harry swung the bag over his shoulder. "Goodbye, Kreacher."

"Goodbye, Master Harry. Kreacher will wait for you to return home." And with that Kreacher popped out of sight. Home. Home was no longer Privit Drive. Home had always been Hogwarts but his time there was limited too. With only one more year of school left Harry knew another home awaited him. Grimmauld Place. Strange to think of such a place as home but it was the only place to go back to. He took his inhertitance reluctantly, knowing it was all that was left of Sirius. It didn't occur to Kreacher that Harry wouldn't want to return to Grimmauld Place. Harry was his master now and Kreacher was charged to care for his master's things. Home was Grimmauld Place.