Author Notes: Thanks as always for your support!

I'm so sorry for taking so long to update! Real life sucks! Lately I've been working more hours than usual and when I get home, I just don't have the will to do a thing. And for some reason, this chapter was a bi*** to write, I just seemed to not know what to write. For more than two weeks I couldn't write a full sentence without frustrating myself. And then last night and today, I wrote all of it almost without stopping, although i'm not completely happy with it.

I will be gone on vacation to Portugal for two weeks starting next Sunday morning, the 18. (Finally holidays! Yay!) I will try to write if I have some down time, however I don't expect on updating as I will be staying in some relatives' house and I don't know if they have wireless.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter, which I tried to make longer than usual. As always, feel free to comment and give ideas about the characters and plot and, if possible, I will try my best to include it in my story and give you proper credit.

''Truth is like the sun. You can shut it out for a time, but it ain't goin' away.''

– Elvis Presley

''The truth will set you free but first it will piss you off.''

– Gloria Steinem

Previously:

Even knowing all this, Florence didn't really care that much about the woman's reasons. The most important point was that Dumbledore was under scrutiny for his past inexcusable actions, right there where she wanted him. Figg would not leave this matter completely unscathed, as she was not totally blameless either; however Florence would take advantage of her sudden talkative disposition while it lasted and make the better of it.

CHAPTER 15

''If Mr. Dumbledore did not appear interested in taking any action concerning his magical ward's alleged abuse, why didn't you call the Muggle Child Services and report the situation?'', Florence steered the questions in yet another direction. ''Surely the Muggles could at least look in to it and decide if that family was truly abusive towards Harry.''

''Dumbledore threatened me to stay quiet about it,'' Figg explained quickly, seemingly expecting for everyone to simply believe that she had no other option but obey her orders on the matter. ''The house on Wisteria Walk where I live since '81 was bought by him and I have nowhere else to go. He said that my only duty was to report any unexpected magical activity, such as appearance of any magical being in the neighbourhood.''

''Like Death Eaters, you mean?'', Florence probed in a neutral tone as her eyes never strayed from her prey, err, the old man, who was anything but pleased with the questions' directions.

''Yes, but he warned me that I should also quickly call him if I ever saw any other wizard or witch near Privet Drive,'' the woman explained, her intent of layering all the blame she could possibly put on the old headmaster in full force. ''Absolutely anyone, he actually said. It didn't matter if they were dark or light wizards, I was to call him right away before they could make any kind of contact with the Dursley's or little Harry.''

With this answer, a few of Florence's suspicions started to take a firmer form and she was determined to discover the truth.

''Have you ever called Mr. Dumbledore upon such a situation?'', she charged on mercilessly as the old Headmaster was suddenly shaking his head with his patented pleading and disappointed expression towards Mrs. Figg in a last effort of making her keep her silence – which unfortunately could not be seen by the public behind him – since his previous menacing glares had no effect on the woman.

The Squib, however, completely ignored the man's pleas and didn't hesitate in implicate him further.

''It happened twice that I recall,'' she stated with barely disguise smugness in being the centre of attention in such an important trial. Even without using Legillimency, Florence was able to realize that Arabella firmly believed that her earlier alleged liability in Harry's abuse was entirely forgotten and forgiven by everyone as she had only been following Dumbledore's particular orders. ''The first time was barely a year after Harry's arrival at Privet Drive. There was a wizard who was asking after the Dursley's. He seemed to know that they lived in that street although he didn't know in which house. I had quickly called Dumbledore through the Floo and he came right away.''

''Who was that wizard?'', Florence interjected, quite curious to know. She had never been aware that there had been unexpected and unwanted – in the Headmaster's case at least – visitors at Privet Drive.

''Remus Lupin.''

At the declaration of his name, the aforementioned wizard abruptly jerked his head up from his previous bowed position as he had been leaning against his best friend and trying his hardest at containing his grief and horror at everything that was being revealed in that courtroom. To anyone who cared to observe, his reaction was one of sheer shock and then confusion; it seemed that the man had no idea of what the Squib was talking about. The disguised Sirius Black looked at his friend equally surprised but said nothing; the both of them just turned towards the centre of the courtroom and silently demanded to know what was going on.

Many people started to whisper again commenting about this latest development. Everyone knew that Remus Lupin had been one of James Potter's best friends and it was rather difficult to comprehend how it could be possible that the man might have left little Harry to the Dursley's cruel mercies after having visited them. Not to mention the completely open shocked reaction at Arabella Figg's claim that he had been at Privet Drive. The wizard in question appeared to have no recollection whatsoever of this particular fact. If they didn't know any better, they would say that Lupin might have been Obliviated…

It was impossible, right? Disturbed, most of them tried to reassure themselves and their companions as this little bit of understanding started to dawn on them. Just before they had stepped on that courtroom, almost all of them would deny without hesitation such statement – It would be simply preposterous! – however after all the revelations heard in this trial, they were not so sure anymore in what they should and could believe.

Florence allowed the public's response and Lupin and Black's undisguised shock and utter confusion for a few moments in silence. Severus Snape didn't show any outward reaction to this bit of information, except for the slight narrow of his eyes in the werewolf's direction. For once, the Weasley's group was unanimous in their opinion; all of them seemed to be totally surprised. And the Headmaster was still trying and falling spectacularly in catching Figg's gaze and implore for her to shup up and say no more. The woman was having none of that though as she seemed to blissfully bathe in the spotlight and the chaos that she was capable of creating by merely speaking. It was clear that she was having the time of her life.

As she focused again in Dumbledore, Florence could almost feel it. The old man was near breaking and incriminating himself further by opening his mouth. She had only to continue leading Figg in the direction she wanted and the Squib would do the rest of the job for her.

At the moment, she didn't know what exactly had happened all those years ago to Remus Lupin, although she could make a very good guess and contrary to the population at large she had absolutely no trouble in believing that the old man was capable of committing such ruthless and criminal act to protect his own plans.

''It seems that Mr. Lupin is rather surprised by your last statement, Mrs. Figg,'' she commented in forged casualness, resuming her questioning after she deemed that enough time had passed. ''How can you say that he was there, when the man himself appears not to remember such an occasion?''

''It's truth, Lupin was there asking the neighbours about the Dursley's!'', Arabella affirmed strongly and glared first at Florence and then around the room, seeming somewhat offended that she was being taken for a liar. ''Dumbledore caught him just after Mrs. Hopkins from number 10 at Magnolia Road told him where they lived. Then the two of them started to argue – I didn't hear anything because Dumbledore had cast some kind of silencing spell – and a minute later, he waved his wand at Lupin and he didn't remember anything. He didn't know where he was or what he was doing there. Dumbledore told him something that I didn't catch and he promptly left after that.''

''Do you know what spell Mr. Dumbledore used against Mr. Lupin?'', Florence asked in an even tone, as if what the woman was implying was no big deal. However inside, she indulged in another happy dance at proving her suspicions right and further tainting the old man's (no more) spotless reputation.

''As I said, I couldn't hear them, but from his wand there was a green light and after Lupin left, Dumbledore told me smugly'', here she cleared her throat and adopted a different voice and tone, trying to imitate the old man, '''This one will definitely not return anymore. Harry Potter is now barely more than a stranger to him and thus not important enough to worry about. Good job, my dear.' After that, he simply left.''

There was utter chaos in the courtroom as the Squib's words corroborated with the light of one particular Memory Charm and the after-effects as well. The Obliviate Spell was the spell regularly used by the Ministry Obliviators when Muggles witnessed something related to the Wizarding World. However this spell was heavily controlled by the Ministry due to its possible damaging mental effects and thus not quite legal to cast on unsuspecting fellow wizards and witches.

Among the cries of outrage and anger, Lupin and Black had turned chalk white and froze in their seats for a few heartbeats in their devastating shock before they recovered their colour and furiously tried to stand up and promptly march towards the old wizard to give him a very big piece of their minds. Fortunately, the wards cast upon the stands against hostile behaviour forced them to sit down again and abort their impetuous vengeful plan.

Finally not able to stand any more disparaging upon his precious image, Dumbledore stood up contemptibly even as he fought to appear more disappointed than furious with the situation at hand, making everyone faintly quiet down to see what the old man had to say after such incriminating accusations.

''Arabella, my dear, what are you trying to accomplish with such vile and false words?'', he asked in his patented grandfatherly and saddened tone which was generally used against children who misbehaved and caused trouble by parents around the world. ''Really, is that your way of calling for attention to you, since your own parents had forsaken you when you were a little girl?''

Arabella's previous ecstatic demeanour changed abruptly to one cold and hateful as she glared full on at the Headmaster. He was one of the only people alive aware of her family history and she hated being reminded of them and everything that she had lost all those years ago by the cruel hand of fate. Now the old man was using that same weakness against her to try and making her appear as if she was simply demanding attention by spreading lies about the venerable headmaster in a bout of jealousy and bitterness.

Florence looked on it all silently and quite pleased. As expected, she didn't need to do anything to bring forth Dumbledore's anger and making him speak and thus implicating himself further; Arabella Figg was doing a splendid job all on her own.

The Squib was not backing down and taking the old man's words as a warning; instead she decided to stand against him – like she had never done before – and finally say exactly what she thought of him. She didn't care that most of the British Wizarding World was witnessing and this exchange most likely would be printed in the next issue of The Daily Prophet. She was tired of following this man who had been toying with her feelings for years and years to get what he wanted out of her.

We can clearly see where that has taken me in the end, can't we? If he thinks that I'll just shut up and let him get away with his wrongdoings and blame me in the process, he has another thing coming! She thought so strongly and loudly that Florence could hear her mental voice without even trying.

''Everything I said in this room was the absolutely truth, Dumbledore,'' Figg stated strongly as she kept on glaring steadily at the old man.

Florence mutely agreed that the woman was correct; even though the Squib had said some things in ways that made her appear less guilty in this entire situation, they were nonetheless accurate.

As Dumbledore opened his mouth to let another veiled accusation at Figg, no doubt, the woman beat him to it and said clearly and without hesitation.

''I'd like to submit myself to Veritaserum to prove that I am telling the truth, Lady Peverell.'' She turned in Florence's direction for the first time since the glaring contest between her and Dumbledore had started and looked at her interrogator expectantly.

For a split second, Florence was surprised by the woman's decision as she hadn't believed that Arabella had it in her to be so open about this situation, but it seemed that her animosity of the Headmaster was more deep-seated than Florence had ever expected.

Even though she wished more than anything to question every single witness in this trial with the Truth Serum and just be done with it, she had no real power to do so without sufficient evidence against the person in question. At the moment, the only ones who would be surely under the potion's effects would be the three Dursley's as they were directly implicated in Harry Potter's death. Nevertheless, the young and powerful Lady quickly recovered her wits – not that anyone could tell that she had reacted in any way to Figg's latest words – and promptly granted the woman's choice of taking the potion on her free will.

''Of course, Mrs. Figg,'' she said before she turned towards Madam Bones, who called out an Auror to bring in and administer the Truth Serum.

The lateral door opened once more and Rufus Scrimgeour, the Head of the Auror Office, strode authoritatively into the room, in his right hand a small vial of Veritaserum. It seemed that Madam Bones was playing it safe and only using the Heads of their respective Departments to ensure that everything was followed perfectly and there was no chance of tampering the evidences and potions needed or having a hidden supporter of Dumbledore's in the courtroom to make the old man's dirty work for him.

Silently Scrimgeour approached Mrs. Figg, who promptly opened her mouth to let the required three drops of the clear potion fall on her tongue.

As Florence waited a few seconds for the potion to start doing its work, she let her eyes wander around the room. Everyone had quieted completely as the sense of expectation rose in the air. Like Florence, they all had been rather taken by surprise by the Squib's rash decision; after all it was not every day that someone requested the potion on their own free will and even less when they were somewhat implicated on the matter being judged on the courtroom. Nevertheless they certainly could not point out a single word against the use of the strongest Truth Serum to reveal the true facts once and for all.

The clear exception to this general behaviour was obviously Albus Dumbledore. The old man had closed his eyes and sagged in defeat as soon as Figg had asked for Veritaserum. He was very aware that he could not intervene at all in this particular proceeding and would be perceived more negatively if he even tried to. He was completely ignorant of the worried looks sent his ways by some of the Weasley's and a few of his most staunch supporters throughout the room.

Most of them leaned forward eagerly as Florence moved slightly to be in Arabella's line of sight before she began her questions once more. The old woman in question was already demonstrating the usual effects which showed outwardly on anyone fully under the Truth Serum compulsion: her eyes were glassy and seemingly unseeing and her face was slackened and devoid of any particular expression.

''What is your full name?''

''Arabella Moreen Figg, née Buckley,'' the old woman answered in an emotionless tone and glassy eyes.

Florence nodded, letting know her entourage that the Serum was working correctly.

Some people whispered among them clearly not expecting that the woman seated in from of them was from such a known neutral family. As far as everyone knew, the Buckley's had died out more than thirty years ago due to a severe case of dragon pox, the last member of that family being Arabella's niece, Eloise, the daughter of her younger brother, Aran.

''You were assigned to guard Harry Potter in his childhood neighbourhood by Albus Dumbledore, correct?''

''Yes.''

''In what exactly consisted your assignment?''

''I was to report any magical activity around Privet Drive,'' Arabella explained never changing her tone or expression, showing that she was not even trying to fight the effects of the potion. ''If any wizard of any background approached the neighbourhood and started to ask questions about the Dursley's or little Harry, I was to call Dumbledore immediately for him to take care of the situation.''

''Have you ever called Mr. Dumbledore to 'take care of the situation' as you put it?''

''Yes, twice. The first time was on December of 1982, Remus Lupin was around asking about the Dursley's. The second time was on July of 1992, there was a wizard from the Ministry making questions about Harry Potter and what the neighbours thought about him and his family: if the boy was happy and treated well, some things like that. I don't know his name.''

Florence paused for a second. She never knew that particular titbit of information. She wondered what the Ministry, or rather Fudge, had wished to accomplish with that. Had they wanted to take Harry away from Privet Drive? And for what end? She mentally shoved these thoughts away. Now was not the time to ponder about the corrupt motives of the Ministry of Magic.

''What happened in both situations?''

''After I called Dumbledore, he came through the Floo and argued with Lupin beyond a silencing spell before he cast a spell of green light on the man. After that, Lupin didn't remember anything and left rather disorientated. It happened the same way with the man from the Ministry.''

The chaos returned, and this time bigger than ever. Everyone was appalled and outraged and could not deny any longer what they had tried to themselves. Not only it had been confirmed that Remus Lupin had actually been there and promptly Obliviated but they knew now that someone from the Ministry had been more than likely wiped out of their memories of Privet Drive as well. The worst of it was that as Figg didn't know the man's name there was no way in discover what had really happened to that wizard (and Dumbledore surely would not reveal a thing about it), unless the man had been in Privet Drive following some kind of order from one his superiors and they could point out the wizard's identity.

Dumbledore was seated in his place and trying rather spectacularly to be invisible to the angry masses behind him. Florence was sure that the old man was very grateful at the moment for the protection wards around the courtroom against hostile and violent behaviour among the bystanders, be it in a physical or magical way.

Florence made Arabella repeat Dumbledore's commentary after he had sent Lupin on his way. In the wizard from the Ministry's case, she had simply said ''Good riddance!''