A/N: Thank you all for the great comments, suggestions and theories! Keep them coming - they sometimes inspire me to write something totally different than what I had planned ;)

tefe203: Oh yeah - that sucks :P I feel for you since I really hate that time of the year. Just remember that we will be freezing our asses off when you have sun, heat and sunshine again ;)

mizzrazz92: They are :) They have been through too much not to be ;)

Charm93: I'm from Europe but I've been in the US quite a few times on holiday already :) I have to give you that - some of the best food we've had has been along the Mexican border (New Mexico, Texas, Arizona,...) and the best steak I've had in my life so far has been in Corpus Christi, Texas. This year we start off at a friend's place near Norfolk, VA then driving up to NYC where we'll meet some friends and finish off in Boston :D Where abouts are you from?

Zoysite: Ich bin so orgnisiert beim packen, dass ich das dann immer sehr amüsant finde wenn ich anderen helfe :D Meine Mutter bittet mich regelmäßig um Hilfe :D Jetzt müssen sie alle erst mal ernst sein, aber im Urlaub gibt's dann sicher viel Spaß :D

Wolvie26: Hope this is to your liking ;)

Guest: Thank you!

Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling - I just played a bit in her universe.

Thanks to miu-sama95 for prereading, betaing and helping with the storyline ;)

Chapter 50: The Trial begins

Words: 3374

„Are you ready?"

"I think I'm going to be sick."

"Deep breath and let's go!"

With a burst of green flames Harry stumbled out of a fireplace in the Ministry atrium. He didn't even get a chance to open his eyes before the flashlights of cameras started going off.

Madame Bones had been nice enough to send them an auror escort, so they could get to the court room without having to fight through all those reporters.

Thankfully both of his parents had preceded him through the floo and they now sheltered him from the reporters who were shouting questions at them.

"Alright there, son?" Marvolo asked quietly from his right while Severus was on his left. They had chosen their side of Harry according to their wand arm. That way they would be able to draw their wands faster. Although that thought was scary, it made his chest ache with love and respect for his parents.

He felt a hand land on each of his shoulders and knew that Remus and Sirius had arrived. It was hard work to keep his face blank as Slytherin's instead of grinning like the happy Gryffindor he was inside.

"Yes." He simply answered his father. This was neither the place nor the time to tell them how happy he was and how much he loved them. Instead he took both their hands and squeezed them tightly.

"Lead the way, Kingsley." Severus told the dark skinned auror after he had assured himself that his son was in fact alright.

Kingsley just nodded and indicated to his team that they were moving. As one they built a second circle around Harry and his family and they started the trek through the atrium to the elevators.

Since this whole thing had blown up into a huge spectacle they had had to move the trial into the biggest court room they had. Minister Fudge had also seen it as a must to offer his private elevator to the Prince – Slytherins which was very much appreciated once they stepped inside and the doors closed.

There were only two aurors with them and Harry only noticed how tense everybody had been when the doors closed and every adult blew out a breath. Sirius even went so far as to sag against the wall.

Harry looked to his left and was met by his Dad's inquiring gaze.

"Are you really alright, Snitch?"

"No, but I'll get through this. With all your help."

"That's my godson! Brave as Godric Gryffindor himself!" Sirius exclaimed proudly which caused everyone to chuckle.

"The worst is over now." Kingsley told them. "Madame Bones had the whole floor cleared last night and only allows restricted access. They will only let the reporters and public into the courtroom in small groups after they have been checked by security."

"Very wise decision. It would be a proper madhouse otherwise." Remus commented. He still remembered a few of the Death Eater trials he attended.

"I can't do this. I'm really going to be sick." Harry suddenly said into the quietness of the elevator.

All eyes turned on him and his face must have turned quite a few shades lighter than it had been just moments before. He looked as if he was swaying slightly on his feet and his eyes looked dazed.

Thankfully Severus was used to reacting quickly (because of imbeciles blowing up potions all the time) and moved before anyone else even registered what was going on.

He grabbed his son at his shoulders and lightly pushed him as to lower him onto the floor with his back to the wall.

"Breathe, Harry. Put your head between your knees and just breath, son." He guided the teen while sitting down next to him and stroking his back. "That's it. Just breathe."

Only moments later a second hand joined the first on his back and Harry could smell his Papa next to him. A cold snout nudged his hands where they were clawing at his pant legs and the moment he released them he felt Padfoot's soft fur beneath his fingers. There was another hand in his hair as well which had to belong to Remus.

Kingsley and Dawlish were both fascinated by what they were seeing. The second the teen had started panicking, the focus of the whole family had been on him. They didn't care that they had company or that they were in the middle of the Ministry. No. The only thing that mattered was Harry. Nothing else. No one else.

The aurors had shut down the elevator so they could give the family all the time they needed but since they couldn't leave they got to enjoy watching the family's dynamics.

Severus, ever the Potions Master and Mediwizard, had reacted fastest and checked the boy over while comforting him. Kingsley would have to show his classmates and fellow Slytherins the pensive memory of their feared Head of House sitting on the floor of an elevator, comforting a teen.

Lord Slytherin had not been far behind his husband. Kingsley just couldn't figure that man out. He was hard to read and didn't give anything away at all times. All except when his son was unwell, apparently. It was fun to see his Slytherin façade crack and his emotions show through. His face was still mostly blank, but his eyes spoke volumes.

There were all kinds of emotions running though them in seconds but the one he returned to was pure loathing. Loathing for Dumbledore, Kingsley guessed.

The other two men's reactions were predictable to a degree. Black used his animagus form to ground the teen and Lupin gave his calm support to Harry.

Ten minutes of comforting whispers and a calming draught later (just to be sure), Harry felt ready to face his worst nightmare.

They all got up from the floor and while the aurors restarted the elevator, Remus quickly waved his wand over everyone and had all their robes straightened out again.

The rest of their journey was very quiet. Harry was crushing his Dad's hand but Severus didn't let it show. It was what his son needed and that was reason enough for him.

They were all led to a specific area of the chambers where all witnesses were seated and Severus was surprised by how many there were. They had known a lot of the trial's details, but Amelia had never said a lot about other witnesses.

The family took their seats and the aurors went to their posts just as the first group of visitors/reporters were let inside. Soon every seat was taken and a bang sounded from somewhere.

"All rise for the Wizengamot!" A voice commanded from somewhere.

It grew quiet very quickly as everyone stood and the members entered the chamber and took their seats. Amelia took the head seat since she was still the interim head.

"Sit. We are here on the 21st day of the month July, this year 1995 for the trial against one Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, wizard, for crimes against humanity and the wizarding world." She formally said.

It was tradition to wait for somebody to speak in defense of Dumbledore, so there were a few moments of silence before she continued.

"There is no voice for the accused. Thus, this trial shall proceed."

"It shall!" Every witch and wizard in the room repeated.

"Since there are members of the Wizengamot who will have to testify they will not be able to cast a vote. Do you wish for a proxy?" Amelia asked them.

"As Lord Black I ask for law-wizard Theodore Tonks to vote in my stead." Sirius stood and declared his intention. Since they had talked about it a few days ago it didn't take long for Ted to stand up as well.

"I accept the honors you bestow upon me."

"So be it. Please join the other members and take the Black seat." Amelia told him kindly.

"As Lord Slytherin and Lord Peverell I ask for Lord Nott to cast my votes."

"I accept the honors you bestow upon me." Lord Nott quickly said and stood, Madame Bones just nodded.

"As Lord Prince I ask for Lord Malfoy to cast my vote."

"I accept the honors you bestow upon me." Lucius told his friend.

Harry took a deep breath and stood up as well. This would shock many people.

"As Lord Potter and Lord Gryffindor I ask for Remus Lupin to vote in my stead."

The wizards and witches started shouting in disbelieve almost instantly. It was well known that Remus was a werewolf. But Harry – for once – had done his research and knew that it was perfectly legal. Remus slowly stood up and for one moment he let everyone feel why he was an alpha before he answered the call.

"I accept the honors you bestow upon me."

"So be it. Please join the others and choose on of the two seats." Amelia replied calmly. She knew there was no law against it and she just lived for all these little surprises Harry and his family bestowed upon her.

"Let this trial begin!" She commanded. "Bring in the accused!"

A side door opened and two aurors marched Albus inside. They pushed him into the accused's chair and only removed the magic hindering handcuffs once the chair's sentient chains (which also restrained magic) were wrapped around him.

"Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore! You are accused by this Wizengamot of child neglect, child endangerment and child abuse by proxy in more than one case, kidnapping of a minor, attempted murder by proxy in more than two cases, false testimony, linetheft, attempted linetheft, unlawful use of your position, not fulfilling your position as headmaster and theft. How do you plead?"

"Not guilty, of course my dear. I really don't understa- …"

"You will only speak when given permission to do so! Also, you may address me as Madame Bones or ma'am." Amelia reprimanded the old wizard as if he were a child which made him look like a fool.

Not that he didn't look like that already. He was in goblin prisoner wear which was a simple gray robe and his hair had been cut short. He had been allowed to keep his beard but that only made him look even more ridiculous.

Although he put up his usual front of being a nice grandfather, his whole aura spoke of defeat. The goblins already held his "trial" – as far as one could call it that – and he had been forced to work manually in the dungeons ever since. He was exhausted to his core in a way he had never been. Growing up as a wizard meant he had never lifted even a finger for manual labor.

"Then we shall trial thy case!" Amelia commanded formally and hit her wand on the desk to produce a loud knocking sound.

Since Amelia was head of the Wizengamot at the moment Kingsley and Dawlish would present all their information and the corresponding evidence.

"On the charge of child neglect in a severe matter we call Lord Slytherin to give his testimony." Dawlish declared.

Marvolo gave his husband's hand one last squeeze before he stood and made his way to the witness booth.

"Do you, Marvolo Cadmus Slytherin, swear on your magic that what you say here today is the truth as you know it?" Kingsley asked.

"I so do swear."

There was a flash of gold as the oath took.

The next fifteen minutes Marvolo was asked to recount every little detail of his dreadful childhood. Albus eyes had widened so far that Marvolo was hoping they would fall out. The ex- headmaster had started to protest the second he had heard Marvolo's former name, but Amelia had simply silenced him while her aurors continued to question Lord Slytherin.

It had been a bit tricky to formulate his story in a way that wouldn't interfere with the oath he had made but, in the end, it was quite easy. They weren't interested in where he had been the past years and only cared for his childhood which he had spent exclusively as Tom Riddle.

The wizarding law system was quite a bit different than the muggle one. For one the accused didn't get to defend themselves until the very end of the trial and also only if the Wizengamot deemed it necessary.

There were no lawyers who could cross-examine the witnesses but every witch or wizard in the room could speak in favor of the accused. Since the witnesses were asked to swear an oath there weren't many who dared to make a false testimony.

The Wizengamot could also ask for clarification of points made or for the accused to be questioned again under Veritaserum. The DMLE was also held by oath to present all evidence that had been found and to present it as neutrally as possible.

Once Marvolo was done and rejoined his family the aurors started calling up many of the people who had been sitting behind his family.

It didn't take Severus long to figure our that they were going by date of birth and he was shocked to find that each and every one of them had had an awful childhood and at least asked once to stay in Hogwarts or be sent "anywhere but back".

There were only a few left when he noticed that he had not yet been called. Curious.

It was after a young girl (who he remembered as a shy Ravenclaw with average capability in potions that had just graduated) left the stand that Amelia interrupted the roll her aurors were on.

"The Wizengamot suggests we break for tea and continue in thirty minutes."

"That sounds acceptable, Madame Bones." Dawlish said.

Ten minutes later the Prince – Slytherins (plus Sirius) and all the other witnesses were seated in a nice breakroom with tea, coffee and teacakes. They all sat in small groups, some talking, some not.

Harry was nearly sitting in his Dad's lap for comfort. He was still dreading his own testimony.

"Do you think I'll be up next?" He whispered.

"I don't know, Snitch. Either that or they will move onto their next point and bring us up later." Severus said calmly.

"Most of the witnesses have been in the stand already. I talked to one I know, and he said he was a witness for child endangerment and child abuse by proxy and he hasn't been up yet." Sirius told them when he sat down with tea for everyone.

"Do I really have to go up there all alone?" The teen asked nervously.

"Probably. It is only allowed if the child is under the age of eleven."

Harry looked a bit green around the nose again at hearing his godfather.

"Hey, there." Severus coaxed his son gently. "Come here."

The Potions Master pulled the teen the rest of the way into his lap, so he could comfort him properly. Harry clung to his Dad as if he were a lifeline.

"Remember, you already gave your complete statement which the Wizengamot will read before you are questioned." Marvolo whispered into his son's ear. He felt for the teen.

Even he, Dark Lord Extraordinaire, had had a hard time recounting his childhood.

"The trial will continue in a few minutes. Please go back to your seats." An auror had stepped into the breakroom to inform them.

After one last tight hug Harry stood up and out of his Dad's arms. Together they all headed back to the court room.

Once everyone was back in their seats and the aurors had brought Dumbledore back in, the trial resumed.

"This trial shall now continue." Amelia declared and motioned her aurors to begin.

"On the charges of kidnapping of a minor, severe child neglect, child endangerment, child abuse by proxy, attempted murder by proxy – six counts, linetheft, attempted linetheft, unlawful use of your position, not fulfilling your duty as headmaster and theft we call Lord Henry Gryffindor Potter Prince – Slytherin to give his testimony." Kingsley called out.

Harry gulped when he heard all of the charges and saw all the people begin to whisper and his parents had to nudge him a bit to get him moving.

By the time he sat in the witness booth his legs felt like jelly and his hands were shaking.

"Do you, Henry Gryffindor Potter Prince – Slytherin, swear on your magic that what you say is the truth as you know it?"

"I… I so do swear." Harry whispered.

Kingsley and Dawlish both smiled supporting at him before they addressed the Wizengamot.

"Harry has already give a complete statement to Madame Boned a few weeks ago. The statement is in your files on pages thirteen through twenty."

While the members shuffled through their papers Dawlish addressed the teen, hoping to reassure him a bit.

"You won't need to tell them everything again. We just want you to clarify a few things."

Harry just wrung his hands but nodded as well since he knew it had to be done.

"You may begin." Amelia told them once everyone was on the right page.

"Thank you, ma'am. In your statement you talk about sleeping in a cupboard. Can you tell me for how long that was your room?" Dawlish began.

"Until my Hogwarts letter arrived. After the first letter arrived they moved me to Dudley's second bedroom."

"Why did they do that?"

"It was addressed to "The cupboard under the stairs". Aunt Petunia was afraid that the freaks were watching them." Harry was so nervous that he hadn't even noticed his slip up but everyone else did.

"So, Dudley is your cousin and he is the same age as you, right?" Kingsley took over.

"Yes. Although no one ever believed that."

"Why wouldn't they? You lived with your aunt and uncle most of your life."

"Because Dudley is at least a head taller than me and as wide as professor Flitwick is high."

"Tell me about that second bedroom your cousin had. What was in it?"

"Just all the toys he had broken in his latest fit of anger. And clothes that didn't fit him anymore."

But you had to sleep in a cupboard?"

"Freaks don't need a room. A room is too good for a filthy, useless freak like me."

That sentence had the whole room shocked into silence. Nobody could believe what they had just heard. What had shocked them the most had been the monotone voice in which the teen had said it. As if it had been drilled into him. Or beaten into him.

Severus clenched Marvolo's hand tightly to keep himself from jumping up and comforting his son as well as to keep the tears that threatened to fall at bay.

Harry had one lone tear running down his cheek, but he didn't even notice it, too caught up in memories.

Sirius may have had weeks of intense therapy but sometimes his emotions still got too much for his human mind to handle. While everyone was still in shock he quickly changed and padded down to the witness booth.

He put his head in Harry's lap and licked his hands which finally pulled the teen out of his mind.

"Are you alright to continue, Harry?" Kinsley asked quietly once he had gotten over the shock himself.

"I'm okay." The teen stated bravely but the tight grip he now had on the dog's fur betrayed his statement.

"You can't have an animal with you while giving testimony!" Someone called from the visitor's section.

Harry looked crestfallen and afraid at the thought of not having Padfoot with him and if the dog's growls were any indication, he didn't plan on leaving either. Dawlish was faster to come up with an idea to keep the dog with the child.

"Honored members of the Wizengamot, we bid that this child be allowed to have this animagus dog with him during his testimony. You can see how hard it is for him and the animal keeps him calm and grounded."

Amelia had a silent vote with the other members before she smiled and answered.

"You bid is accepted. The dog stays with the witness. Continue the testimony."

TBC

Miu-sama and I are back in the same time zone! Which means it was a lot quicker to get this chapter done - especially since I had a 7 hour flight across the Atlantic on Friday :D

By the time you get the next chapter we will be united in New York City for the rest of our vacations (probably wrecking havoc) :D We're really looking forward to that :D

First posted on: 22. July 2018

Next update planned: 05. August 2018