Another Beginning
Chapter 18
Before I begin I want to thank Little-Bast for her ideas - Thanks Hunni
ICW - International Council of Wizards Part 1
"Minister Fudge what is going on?" demanded Dumbledore looking around suspiciously. Why had they been called? He was beginning to fear the worst right now. He saw the men coming in and he had never seen them before, they had black robes on and I.C.W written in a beautiful crafted crest on the robe. He knew who they were and would never have imagined them being here of all places. He felt the Portkey in his robes, and calmed down if anything happened at least he knew he would get out of there no problem.
"I don't know!" blustered Fudge looking constipated at having Dumbledore's fury heading his way. Plus he was looking at the new men himself in horror.
"I called them" said Madam Bones standing in the centre of the courtroom. Suddenly the doors of the court room banged open, and in all his glory wearing beautiful crafted robes was Harry Potter himself.
It wasn't the fact Harry stood there that made Dumbledore pale; it was the people behind him. Who were all glaring at him, hate shining though their eyes. If looks could kill Dumbledore knew he would be dead before anything could start or finish should the case be it.
"Expelliamus" said Madam Bones and Dumbledore was disarmed before he knew it.
"He has a Portkey" murmured Edward to Severus not sure what it does but knowing Dumbledore was trying to get it.
"Accio Portkey" chanted Severus and the Portkey went whizzing past before Dumbledore could try and grab it. Dumbledore snarled in anger, causing the Wizengamont members to look at him like they hadn't seen him before. They had never heard Dumbledore loose control like that; sure they heard him raise his voice but never growl with such disgust and anger.
"Apprehend them!" shrieked Fudge looking wide eyed at Severus Snape and Draco Malfoy. The men he had arrested after the final battle with Dumbledore's permission. He had always hated Snape and it made him undeniably smug when he was finally able to arrest him.
"I don't think so" said Harry coolly, the doors of the court room clicked shut. There was no way anyone could get in or out until the situation was resolved.
"Albus Dumbledore you are arrested on suspicion of treason, unlawful detainment, kidnapping. Reckless endangerment of children and abuse of your position" said Madam Bones and that was just the beginning. To Madam Bones that's what he had done by Portkey'ing the children into Azkaban.
"You are going to believe a Death Eater over me?" asked Dumbledore looking calm and serene.
"This is ridiculous! Arrest those men!" snarled Fudge; he knew if Dumbledore was arrested on those charges he would be out of office before he could say 'Minister' again.
"I want fudge arrested for trying to have me kissed when I was fifteen years old" said Harry coolly.
The I.C.W wizards were doing just that, they had proof of this of course they had seen Madam Bones' pensive. The two people were quickly subdued and sandwiched between two wizards each. They weren't going anywhere; Fudge was sat down on the manacled seat first. They produced Veritaserum, Fudge began squirming and squealing like a little girl when he saw it. Demanding to be let go, that he was the minister of magic and how dare they treat him like that.
"Shut up" snarled the wizard obviously having enough of Fudges' nasally voice. It would drive even an angel or saint insane so it was quite right to silence him as they waited for the Veritaserum to work.
It wasn't long before it was ensnaring Fudge's senses, bewitching his mind making him answer the questions truthfully. Then the questions started leaving no doubt about the truth.
"What's your name?" asked Carter.
"Cornelius Fudge" said Fudge in a monotone.
"Who are you?" asked Carter.
"The Minister of Magic" repeated Fudge, without the 'I'm holler than thou' attitude that usually accompanied him when he said it.
"Did you send Dementors after Harry James Potter when he was fifteen years old? Or ask anyone to do it for you?" asked Carter.
"Yes I sent them after him" murmured Fudge, who was sweating indicating he was failing rather spectacularly at trying to not answer the questions, sent his way.
"Why?" cried furious Wizengamont members, their Minister of magic had tried to kill their hero? Harry Potter at that! Needless to say they were shocked the core.
"I didn't want anyone to know Voldemort was back, I had to discredit the somehow" admitted Fudge.
"So you knew he was back and did nothing?" scoffed Carter in disgust.
"The Dark Mark Snape showed me that night in the hospital wing was proof enough" murmured Fudge.
"Madam Bones if you will act as Minister of Magic" smiled Harry grimly. No one would disagree with the Chosen one now would they? And they were lost and confused, so they quickly agreed as one. Even without the head of the Wizengamont they all anonymously agreed.
"Thank you Mr. Potter" bowed Madam Bones smiling grimly at the honour Harry had bestowed upon her. She swore silently she wouldn't let him down, and she would turn this wrenched Ministry around.
There was a silencing spell put up, Harry and his friends couldn't hear anything happening in the bubble. Even being vampires, didn't help although they could have read their lips if they had been desperate enough.
"That was rather quick…and so not fun" said Emmett looking bored.
"We should be grateful they don't normally use Veritaserum" sneered Severus in disgust.
"My godfather was wrongly accused and sentenced all it would have taken was a drop of that" said Harry sadly.
"I'm sorry sweetie" said Esme hugging Harry softly.
"Not your fault" murmured Harry morosely.
"How long do you reckon he will get?" asked Draco.
"Ten years he didn't actually murder anyone" said Severus looking almost horrified at the fact that Fudge hadn't so his sentence wasn't longer. Severus it seemed hated Fudge almost as much as the Minister hated him.
"I say seven" said Harry.
"I say twelve years" smirked Edward, Harry's jaw dropped of course Edward would know. Shaking his head he was unable to believe the Wizengamont was going to put him away for that long. Then again the I.C.W was there and probably encouraging them to be harder, stop any wanna be criminals thinking they are going to get off lightly.
"Good" grinned Severus ruthlessly. He was dreading his own turn; he knew he would be locked away for sure. He would be lucky if he ever saw the world again before he died. Then again he wasn't sure even if he endured fifteen years of Azkaban he would be sane to see the world again anyway. Then again he had to pay for his sins; he knew that he just hoped they let Draco of lightly.
"Cornelius Fudge you have been forthright stripped of your title and you will be sentenced to twelve years in Azkaban prison" said Carter the spokesperson for the I.C.W's.
"I was told to!" screeched Fudge at the top of his lungs.
But he was quickly silenced and led out no doubt on his way to Azkaban as they spoke. Fudge had soiled the seat where he had sat; his robes were yellow where pee had stained them. Disgust rolled of each and every wizard and witch how could they have allowed that disgusting weasel of a man be minister? Trust to look after their world? With a sigh they realized they were going to have to vote better. Harry let the doors open for Carter, but kept a ward up ensuring no one else could get back in or out apart from that man.
Carter came back not even five minutes later looking extremely satisfied and ready for round two.
Carter grabbed Dumbledore from between his two colleagues' and sat him down on the still wet seat. Dumbledore glared his ice blue eyes almost searing Carter in its intensity. Better still Carter didn't seem all that intimidated by the old man, it was as if Dumbledore was a mere squib and not dangerous to him. The Veritaserum was administered with great difficulty, eventually the two wizards who had held him, forced his head back, pried his jaw apart and poured the potion in.
"What's your first and past name?" asked Carter, obviously done his homework. He obviously didn't want to waste his time hearing the old fool's entire name.
"Albus Dumbledore" said Dumbledore in a bored monotone voice.
"Who are you?" asked Carter.
"Head of the Wizengamont, Leader of the Order of the Phoenix, and Leader of the Light Order of Merlin first class" said Dumbledore who would have continued if Carter hadn't cut him off with his next question.
"Did you knowingly send Harry Potter to his relatives knowing how he would be treated?" asked Carter. Who gestured to Harry if he wanted to ask the questions he was free to do so.
"Yes"
Harry stepped up clearing his throat almost nervously "Did you know who my pare…Lily and James Potter's real secret keeper was?"
"Yes"
"Who?" asked Harry clearly.
"Peter Pettigrew"
"You let an innocent man rot in Azkaban?" asked Harry his anger mounting. Edward, who had watched, went over to Harry and comfortingly put his hand on Harry's shoulder. Harry calmed down smiled weakly in thanks at Edward and got back to his questioning.
"Yes"
"Why?" demanded Harry.
"I couldn't have him getting free and bringing Harry Potter up…I needed him broken and subservient" admitted Dumbledore, sweating himself now.
"Why did you need him like that?" asked Harry, not half glad he couldn't cry anymore. For he knew if he could he would have tears pouring down his face. Unashamed, he had to some extent always believed this but the conformation hit him hard. Harder than he thought it would at any rate.
"So when he came to Hogwarts he would be easy to control and manipulate" said Dumbledore in that monotone voice.
"How many people have you manipulated to the extent their lives have been made a living hell?" asked Harry his entire body shaking with anger.
"Tom Riddle, Severus Snape and Harry Potter" murmured Dumbledore.
"How Severus Snape?" asked Carter stepping forward resuming his questioning.
"I made sure the Marauders were nasty to him, a few spells here and there didn't hurt them. It made them stronger and Snape weaker, it worked beautifully he joined Voldemort. It wasn't long later he became my spy, a few kind words and he was under my thumb" said Dumbledore even under the Veritaserum there was an underlying layer of pride in Dumbledore's voice.
Severus had paled drastically and looked ready to pass out; he had known Dumbledore hadn't cared about him. Only how useful he was at spying…but even he had no idea that he had manipulated his life that much. He closed his eyes and looked ready to heave; his life had been manipulated even more than he knew. Harry gazed at Severus in sympathy and understanding as well as just plain tiredness.
"You were responsible for the shrieking shack incident weren't you?" asked Harry.
"Yes he was supposed to be bitten but James Potter fought the charm and saved him. Lupin would have been forever in my debt if I stopped him being executed. Then there was the fact he would be horrified by what he had done. Snape surely would have joined the Dark side for revenge…thankfully it still worked out better than I had imagined in the end" said Dumbledore the bitterness you could almost taste even if Dumbledore had said it in an cold empty voice.
That was enough, Harry had to physically drag Severus away to the other side of the court room. Removing the wand as he went, telling Severus to calm down and that Dumbledore would get what's coming to him soon enough. Only then did he notice that Severus had a big clump of Dumbledore's white hair clutched in his hand. Looking back he saw Dumbledore with a massive bald patch on his head. He knew that must have hurt, but under the potion that was ensnaring his senses and bewitching his mind he didn't react to anything.
Ha! ha! Let's Get The Partyyyy Started! Woot Wooot! The Marauders are innocent what do you think of that? man i must be loosing my touch...i hate them and yet im making them innocent in this? cor maybe i just want something different...perhaps have severus a little different and have more faith in human nature? who do you want turned? or will i have them live forever and not end up turned? or will they all refuse and harry spend as much time as he can with his family? saying goodbye in about a hundred and fifty years later? then perhaps three hundred years later see them re-incarnated :P mawwhha lol R&R plz