Author Note: The trial of Molly Weasley has some surprises. Dumbledore makes some career moves and Harry learns a few things. All this and more in Chapter 5. As always we do not own any of this, we did not write any of this, this is all just a figment of your imagination like all of reality.
Begin Chapter
Harry managed to sleep a lot better knowing he would not be facing the Dursleys again. Although Dumbledore did concern him. He had a strange dream involving a demented Father Christmas that looked a lot like Dumbledore trying to shove him down the Dursley's chimney only for them to keep stoking the fireplace.
The next morning at breakfast he was enjoying his sausages and pancakes when the post arrived. Another bright yellow envelope with the neat curlicue handwriting of Luna on it along with a larger sloppy one from Hagrid was dropped by Hedwig. Landing long enough to swipe a sausage then be gone again.
Hermione received a letter from home as well as the Daily Prophet. Spreading the paper on the table beside her she elbowed Harry a moment after reading the headline.
"Potter Abused! Placed by Dumbledore in Dangerously Deadly Muggle Home!" The headline blared. A picture of the Dursleys with their jail placards followed the headline. Aunt Marge glaring contemptuously from the front page. Vernon and Dudley were looking rather sick while Petunia seemed to be shocked as she stared straight ahead unblinking.
"Wow. I didn't think this would make the front page Harry." Susan said looking over Hermione shoulder from the other side.
"Great. I didn't even think about it." Harry said glancing around to notice several of the older students with copies of their own issue. Usually when he drew attention to himself bad things happened.
"It'll be okay dude. This is making you out to look like the victim." Neville said.
"And makes Dumbledore look incredibly bad, As his own words showed our esteemed First Citizen Dumbledore unilaterally placed Harry Potter, the hero who defeated You-Know-Who, with the vicious muggles whose behavior does not bear retelling." Hermione read. "More proof that the muggle world has no morals or values."
"Oh boy. Auntie must be reading Greengrass the riot act." Susan said shaking her head, "That article is just doing its best to stir up anti-muggle feelings."
"Greengrass?" Harry asked glancing at the Slytherin table for the tall blonde who had that last name.
"Yeah her. Her dad owns the Daily Prophet. Some guy named Cuffe is the editor but he pretty much just does what Greengrass wants. Auntie is not happy with him most of the time." Susan said with a shrug.
"Oh. So is he a bad guy?" Harry asked as Hermione continued to read with a frown.
"Greengrass? Not really bad exactly. According to Auntie he likes to make money and isn't too worried about how, or who he makes it." Susan said wrinkling her nose in disgust.
"Oh." Harry said dryly as he noticed the Greengrass girl folding her own copy of the paper and looking across at him briefly. "So is this going to cause trouble?"
"Maybe. There are always some hotheads who like to mess with muggles." Susan scowled, "You'll probably be okay, aside from the usual suspects."
"Right. This article seems to be attacking the Dursleys and painting them as typical muggles." Hermione said folding the paper over as she turned to her food, "You come off as an innocent victim of Dumbledore's manipulations and arrogance."
"Great so an object to be pitied and feel sorry for." Harry sighed, he wasn't sure which he disliked more, being pitied or being ignored. Either way he was going to have to endure it again.
"Hey relax. The way the world works in a few days there will be some new major event and the media will have moved on and forgotten all about this." Hermione scoffed buttering a scone.
"Granger is correct." Daphne Greengrass said having walked silently behind the group.
"Oh. Hello." Harry said halfway jumping out of his seat.
"Do not bother standing Potter. I will not be long."
"Then what do you want?" Susan asked in a warning tone.
"My father wanted me to befriend Potter. To see if there is anything that warrants an extended article or further attention." She admitted, "I have better things to do than be his spy but I am duty bound to honor my father's wishes."
"Okay so you're going about trying to make friends in an odd way." Neville said with a chuckle.
"I would rather not make friends. At least not right now. So I shall tell father I made the attempt and was rebuffed." she said with an even tone.
"Oh. Uh. Okay I guess." Harry replied looking at Hermione who gave a slight shrug with one shoulder.
"Don't worry. I shall tell him you were quite polite about it." she gave him a mirthless smile, "Father does not question my opinions too closely."
"Oh. Uh okay. If you change your mind and want to be friends sometime you're welcome to come back." Harry said quickly.
Daphne looked at Hermione appraisingly, "I will take that under consideration."
Once Daphne had left Hermione snickered, "Okay that was different."
"You think she wanted to be more than friends?" Neville asked with a cheeky grin.
Harry looked at him blankly, "I am unaware of her motives."
Hermione and Susan laughed as Harry grinned at Neville who just shook his head.
Professor McGonnagal cleared her throat as she walked up, "Mr Potter?"
"Yes ma'am?"
"Are you ready for today?" The professor asked.
" I suppose." Harry said dejectedly.
"Don't worry things should calm themselves after this week." Professor McGonnagal tried to reassure Harry.
"So will this be another all day thing that we need to gather Harry's homework for?" Hermione asked.
"Yes. I am sorry for the extra burdens however I am certain Mr Potter appreciates your assistance as much as I do." The professor said warmly.
Harry nodded, "Oh yeah."
"Well shall we Mr Potter?" Minerva asked.
Harry nodded slipping his letters into his pocket. Patting Hermione on the shoulder as he left he followed the professor out again.
…...
"Alright Harry. As this is a criminal trial and you are going to be asked to testify I want you to understand this will be somewhat different than yesterday." Madam Bones explained, "Witnesses will be sitting in a veraciter as they were yesterday, so be honest. Keeping your answers short and to the point will be most useful. Don't volunteer anything ok?'
Harry nodded anxiously.
"Now the younger Weasleys will be brought before the tribunal first. The Arbiters will decide their cases. As they are all minors they will probably get probation or community service at most. This will probably take the morning. We'll break for lunch then Molly Weasley will have her case heard." Madam Bones continued. "So. Do you have any questions."
"I guess not." Harry said.
"Alright. Hit the washroom if you need to before the trials." Professor McGonnagal suggested in a motherly tone.
…...
Harry was just washing his hands when the door opened to the washroom and a tall blonde man wearing an expensive looking suit walked into the room. He glanced at Harry with a sneer then walked closer.
"Ahh the illustrious Harry Potter." the man smoothly said in a cultured voice.
"Maybe who are you?" Harry asked wondering if this was one of those sort that his Aunt Petunia thought lurked in London public washrooms.
"The scar does give you away Mr Potter. However I should be polite and introduce myself." The man paused to sneer at Harry once again, "I am Lucius Malfoy. You go to school with my son Draco."
Harry wondered if he was going to get attacked by this guy as he was a confirmed Death Eater according to Hermione and Susan. Plus after what they had done to Draco Harry was expecting trouble. He decided to tough it out though as he was in the Ministry offices, not far from a bunch of Aurors, so should be safe. "Oh him. I suppose I do."
Taking his silver viper headed walking stick and laying it across Harry's shoulder Lucius bent down to speak in a soft menacing tone, "Your day will come when you push things too far and people decide to push back. Then your life could become quite unpleasant, and short.""
Harry felt a bit of anger go through him, "Oh unpleasant? I wonder what it would be like to have a merely unpleasant life."
Lucius looked like he was going to say something when the door opened. He rapidly took his walking stick off Harry's shoulder and headed for the facilities.
The Auror that entered looked at Harry questioningly and informed him the trial was about to begin.
Harry nodded and left the room without looking back.
…...
The twins seemed to be defiant and insubordinate to the arbiters. Answering the questions of the Accusator with cocky, arrogance and smartalec responses. Even their own Advocator was unable to reign their behavior in. Laughing and making fun of him as well.
The arbiters were not amused by their antics and sentenced them to 10 days in jail for contempt. They both started cursing and spitting at the arbiters causing their sentence to be doubled before their advocator managed to get them to shut up. The baliffs led them out still making rude and cheeky comments.
Ron Weasley was up next and Harry was unsure how to feel. Hermione had said he had betrayed, him in the future. But that was a future that hadn't happened and maybe now, if he worked on their friendship, Ron would not betray him.
Ron was placed in the chair where the accusator stepped forward. He was a tall gaunt looking man with a face that looked like he had last smiled some time around the Crimean war.
"So Mr Weasley. What number child are you?"
"Excuse me?" Ron asked with a gulp.
"Its a simple question how many siblings came before you?"
"Oh. Uh. Five." Ron said nervously.
"So that means you have been to King's Cross multiple times in your life?"
"Uh yeah. A few at least." Ron answered.
"So how do you get to King's Cross and the platform?"
"We uh. We always take the floo." Ron said quietly. He glanced over at Harry in the benches behind the accusator's desk.
"And did you take the floo on September first of this year?"
"Yeah." Ron glumly said.
"Then what did you do?"
"Mum had us load up a cart each and go out into the muggle side of the station. We stayed in a lounge until she said it was time to go back in."
"Did she do anything while waiting?"
"I don't know." Ron said without looking at anyone.
"Did she talk to anyone?"
"She tried to keep the stupid twins in order. That's all I saw." The chair made a minor boi-oing noise. Ron petulantly scowled at the floor.
"Apparently you saw her do something else."
"She used a pocket mirror to speak to someone." Ron finally admitted.
"Do you know who?"
"No." Ron said flatly.
"Did your mother tell you that Harry Potter was going to be on the train?"
"Yeah she did." Ron said.
"Did she tell you anything else?"
"She told me I was supposed to make friends with him. That it would be good for me." Ron said.
"Objection. Irrelevant." The advocator called out. Harry had almost forgotten he was there.
The arbiters looked at each other for a moment before the tall dark skinned woman in the prime arbiter robe nodded, "Objection accepted. Move along Accusator Wallace."
"Yes Arbiter." He said then turned to Ron and asked, "When you were on the muggle side of the barrier did you say or do anything?"
"No. I just tried to keep my head down and stay quiet."
"Did your mother say anything?"
"I don't remember what she exactly said." Ron shrugged.
"The general comments will do."
"She was talking about how so many muggles were around and asked Ginny what the platform number was." Ron said never looking up.
"After five children one would think she would have the platform memorized."
"Objection. The Accusator is testifying."
"Accusator Wallace. Restrict yourself to making statements at the end of the trial not during questioning. Objection upheld."
"My apologies arbiter." The accusator said then turning back to Ron looked at him even more glumly than normal it seem, "Now about your pet rat. Scabbers. How did you acquire him?"
Ron looked confused. "Uh. Mum gave him to me."
"She did?"
"Yeah they got my brother Percy an owl to celebrate him becoming a prefect." Ron said with an edge in his voice.
"And your brother Percy owned the rat before you?" the Accusator asked pacing slowly.
"Yeah." Ron was making sure to keep his answers very short and to the point.
"For how long as this rat been in your family?"
"Uh I dunno. As long as I can remember." Ron said.
"And in all of that time did you ever notice it performing any acts that were not entirely rat like?"
Ron shook his head, "No. I never did."
"So you never saw the rat act other than the way a rat normally should?"
Ron frowned, "No. I told you I didn't"
"Do you know how long a common field rat is supposed to live?"
Ron snorted, "No. Nor do I care. Its just a dumb rat."
"You don't care much about rats do you?"
"No. they're dumb and useless. An owl is cool. They can carry your post, or a cat can be a real familiar and help you with stuff. All a stupid rat does is sit in its cage and stink. Especially that one."
"So when you found out that your rat was a secret animagus hiding with your family that did not bother you?"
Ron looked confused then scared, "Uh. Well. I thought it was weird at first, then cool. Then realized I changed clothes in front of him for the last few months and stuff. Which made me feel sick."
"I see. And you at no time your brother possessed this rat, or that you possessed him, you suspected there was anything more to this rat than it just being a rat?"
"No. I promise. I just thought he was a common rat. A stupid useless fat dumb rat!" Ron pleaded. "I don't know anything about animagus or violating statues."
"And no one else in your family knew it was more than just a rat?"
"I dunno. If they did they never told me." Ron cried out. He was looking as pale as a sheet Harry thought. His freckles stood out like someone had flicked red paint on his face.
The advocator stood up, "Your honors I motion to dismiss charges against this boy. He is as much of a victim as anyone else is at this point."
"Accusator?" The arbiter asked.
"I am willing to drop charges against this one. He is a fool and a child. Perhaps he will learn a lesson from this brush." the accusator said.
"Very well. As both sides are in agreement this tribunal dismisses charges against Ronald Bilious Weasley with the caveat that he is to remain out of trouble for the next year and day. Should I or another arbiter see you within these halls we shall not be as lenient." The arbiter banged her gavel and Ron almost melted out of the chair his relief was that palpable.
…...
Due to how swiftly the twins had managed to irritate the arbiters into throwing them into jail there was several hours before lunch and the afternoon's hearing for Molly Weasley. He and Minerva had returned to the school for him to go to herbology and then to lunch.
"How did it go this morning?" Hermione asked once they were walking to the great hall for lunch.
"Ron had his charges dismissed." Harry explained. "The twins got thrown in jail for contempt."
Hermione shrugged, "Figures."
"Well he hasn't done anything yet." Harry argued.
"No. I guess not." Hermione replied grumpily. "Its just the principle of everything."
"You know. I think some of her memories are clouding yours." Harry huffed.
"Maybe they are. But at least I have seen what they turned out like. And the twins certainly seem to be heading down the same path as before." She declared ruefully.
"Maybe. But at least Ron is innocent." Harry responded strongly.
"So far." Hermione spat.
"Oh what's this a lovers quarrel?" Draco sneered from behind the two of them.
"One would have to be lovers to have a lover's quarrel." Hermione snarled at Draco.
"Temper, temper, Granger." Draco said waggling his finger in Hermione's face. "Just because you managed to discredit me once doesn't mean you'll get me twice."
Hermione's eyes narrowed as she said, "Draco, I wouldn't want to get you, even if you fell down a well."
Draco smirked, "I'm not the one who should be worried about falling down."
"Is that a threat?" Harry demanded stepping into Draco's personal space so close he chest bumped Draco back a couple of inches.
Draco stepped back and brushed his shirt off, "A Malfoy does not threaten. I was merely making an observation. There are a lot of stairs in this structure."
"I find out you hurt Hermione I'll pound you into ground beef." Harry growled using one of Dudley's favorite phrases.
"How pathetic. The magical world's most powerful wizard, threatening physical violence." Draco sneered arrogantly, "Those muggle animals must have rubbed off on you."
"Harry. Just ignore him. He's not worth it." Hermione said grabbing Harry's arm.
"Yeah. Bugger off Malfoy or I'll give you some tits to go with that bra you were wearing last week." Susan pronounced in an eager tone of voice, while brandishing her wand.
Neville glared from behind her, "Nah he'd like it too much."
"Fine laugh it up fuzz head." Draco snarled at Hermione, "You too scarry Potter."
Draco then went to the Slytherin table with his robes billowing behind him.
"Does it look like he's been practicing?" Neville observed.
"Yes it does." Susan agreed, "Are you guys okay?"
"Sorry. Just trying to deal with the emotions about Ron." Hermione sighed.
"Maybe you should try talking to someone?" Susan suggested.
"Maybe. Brother Simon did say I could come talk to him if I needed to." Hermione agreed.
"Brother Simon?" Neville asked.
"The Hufflepuff ghost. The fat friar. His real name is Simon the Fisher." Hermione explained.
"Oh. Its kinda easy to forget they were real people sometimes." Neville said, "They just seem to be like background."
"Well now you know." Susan said, "And the more you know the more you'll grow."
"Wait I thought it was half the battle." Hermione said with a wan smile.
Neville looked at both girls in confusion then looked at Harry who shrugged.
"You two are mental."
"We're girls Neville. You'll get used to it." Susan said giggling.
"Oh speaking of girls did you get to read Luna's note? I saw you had a yellow envelope." Hermione asked.
"Oh no. I forgot all about that." Harry replied reaching into his pocket and pulling the two envelopes out.
Setting Hagrid's aside he opened the one from Luna. He read it allowed to the others.
"Dear Harry, thank you for writing back. It does get lonely here sometimes but father tries to do his best. He tells me a great many stories, although I think he may be embellishing some of them. When he is busy working I explore the woods nearby. He does not want me to go to the nearby muggle village alone as he does not entirely trust them. I am looking forward to joining you and your friends next year. I hope that you will find me worthy of being your friend once you know me in person. I am enclosing a picture of myself I drew. I already know what you look like. Unfortunately I do not know your friends. If you could describe them I would appreciate that. Say hello to your other friends for me. I am thinking of what to say to Hermione. She seems like a nice and smart person. I do not want to seem too odd around her. I should end this letter now so I do not continue to bother you. Your friend, Luna."
"I don't mind her oddness. I mean I might have if I hadn't known I knew her before I knew her." Hermione frowned, "Now I think I'm just as odd as she is."
"I'm odd, you're odd. We're all odd in our own odd little way." Harry sang chortling.
"She doesn't sound odd. She sounds lonely and sad." Neville said.
"Yeah. So you think we can all write to her now without overwhelming her?" Susan asked.
"Probably. She would be happy to get letters from all of you." Harry said with Hermione nodding in agreement. "When you get them ready we can send them with Hedwig."
"I wonder what Hagrid wants?" Hermione asked pointing at the other envelope.
Harry opened it and after a cursory examination said, "He's inviting us to tea and wants to talk to me about something important."
"Okay. We can send your regards and tell him after dinner?" Hermione asked.
"Yeah sure. I should be back by then." Harry agreed.
…...
After an enjoyable lunch Harry and Professor McGonnagal had returned to the Ministry for the next trial. Madam Bones had warned that he would no doubt be called to testify in this one.
Harry looked at the advocator's desk and studied Ron's mother. She was dressed in what must have been her best frock, and looking grumpily worried at the front of the court. She did not seem to be the slightly frazzled, and harried, dumpy woman he remembered from the train station. Sitting behind her was a balding red haired man wearing a threadbare suit and wringing his hands repeatedly.
Dumbledore was here, as was Percy the Prefect. Professor McGonnagal and Harry himself finished out the crowd as Madam Bones had said the trial was going to be closed to the public. The one for Pettigrew tomorrow would also be closed, although Fudge had offered to let Harry witness that one if he wanted. Harry shook his head as he did not feel like he needed to hear about the betrayal of his parents.
The first person called was Percy. Harry watched as he walked past his mother without even looking at her. She frowned as he walked past and whispered something to her defender.
"Mr Weasley. Can you please relate the basic facts of the events at King's Cross on September first?"
"We traveled through the floo as usual to the station. Only that day mother had said we would be having a bit of an adventure." He said pushing his glasses up his nose. "We went through to the muggle side and waited in one of their lounges. I watched BTN on the telly-vision until mother said it was time to go back through."
"And did she say anything else as you returned?"
"Yes she was complaining about the sheer number of muggles about the place. About how the muggles this and the muggle that as we walked through the corridors." Percy stated.
"Was she doing this in a normal tone of voice?"
"Well normal for her which is quite loud and strident." Percy said with a shrug.
"Did you notice any muggles reacting to her?"
"Oh yes. There was this one fat man who almost walked into us who glared quite crossly at mother, and a man in a very sharp business suit who scowled. Plus a guard muttering about retirement." Percy related in a clipped sort of tone.
"Thank you." The accusator said, "Now let us ask about your rat. Did you know he was an animagus hiding among you?"
"No sir. I did not. If I had I would have turned him over." Percy said in an aggravated tone.
"And he did not act out of character for a rat?"
"No sir. At least not at any time I witnessed it." Percy admitted
"And how did the rat come into your possession?"
"My mother said she found it in the orchard. I was getting ready to go to Hogwarts and needed a familiar."
"As I recall the permitted companions list does not include a rat. How did you get to bring the rat to school?"
"My mother told me that she asked the headmaster and received a dispensation for it to come." Percy replied matter of factly. "I did not question it."
"Very well. Your witness."
"No questions."
The next person called was a Ginny Weasley. Harry was surprised that he wasn't being called but grateful as he began to wonder what would happen if he was asked how he knew the rat was an animagus. How would he explain how and why he had asked about animagus in class. He started thinking hard.
"Objection. Miss Weasley is a mere child!" The advocator jumped up stridently.
"Miss Weasley is a material witness to the events of that day. We are aware of her age and are willing to make concessions, however we feel that her testimony is important to be heard."
"Your honor it is doubtful she would be aware of anything any different than what her brothers have been able to tell us." The advocator asserted firmly.
The prime arbiter nodded, "Objection accepted. Accusator call your next witness. Miss Weasley is excused."
"Very well. I call Mr Harry Potter." The accusator stated looking at the accusator challengingly.
The advocator sighed, "Objection. Mr Potter again lacks any information to clarify the situation beyond that the other Weasley children have had."
"Mr Potter was the one to provide the stimulus which revealed the existence of Peter Pettigrew hiding as the Weasley rat." The accusator countered, "His testimony about that would be the focus of my questions."
"As long as the accusator constrains himself to that line of questioning we would withdraw our objection." The advocator conceded.
"Very well call Mr Potter."
Harry felt Professor McGonnagal nudge him as his head swum from the rapid-fire argument of the two.
He nervously approached the seat, settling in he placed his hand where he was instructed.
"Be calm Mr Potter. We only seek answers to a few questions." The arbiter on the left said reassuringly.
Harry smiled anxiously as he nodded he was ready.
"Very well Mr Potter. Where did you hear the term animagus from?"
"Uh my friend Hermione Granger." Harry had heard the word from her first.
"And what made you think to ask Professor McGonnegal about the term?"
"Uh. She is the transfiguration professor." Harry said trying not to sound too sarcastic.
The Accusator gave a slight smile, "So you did not suspect the rat of being one?"
Harry frowned as he thought of how to dance around that question, "I thought me might be, but then I didn't know if any other animal was one either. I was hoping the professor could tell us how to find out."
Harry held his breath waiting for the chair to make a sound but when it didn't released iquickly.
"And why did you think it was an animagus?"
"Because Hermione said so." Harry replied without thinking.
"She thought so?" The accusator asked, "Why did she think so?"
Harry thought for a second and said with a shrug, "She's smart and knows things."
"And what happened after you asked the professor?"
"The rat tried to escape after Professor McGonnagal asked Ron if it was the same rat his brother had." Harry explained.
"And it was captured?" the accusator asked.
"Yes sir."
"Then what happened?"
Professor McGonnagal cast a few spells and then dismissed class, then we went out and Susan got some hit-wizards to come with her aunt and they made the rat turn into." Harry looked into the observers at Madam Bones.
"We are aware of who the rat turned into Mr Potter. You may refer to him by his name." The arbiter prime said.
"Uh. Okay. Peter Pettigrew. He tried to escape but the hit-wizards were too fast." Harry said in admiration.
"Thank you. Your witness." The accusator said to the advocator with a nod.
"Up until you spoke with this Hermione. You did not suspect Ron's rat of anything?"
"Uh no." Harry felt a bit of concern building.
"So the rat did not behave out of the ordinary in front of you until that class?" The advocator asked politely.
"Uh no." Harry replied looking concerned.
"And yet you felt it of such importance to ask your professor on the first day of classes?"
"Uh yeah." Harry had considered waiting but wanted to get this over with quickly.
"And how did this Miss Granger learn about animagus?"
"She read about it in a book?" Harry asked. He actually didn't know but that was what she had said.
The chair made a strange glooping bloop which startled him.
"Speculation is not required Mr Potter. If you do not know the answer to a question say so." The prime arbiter said.
"I don't know how Hermione found out about Animagus." Harry corrected with a nod.
"Very well. Thank you." The advocator looked like they had considered asking some more questions and decided against it.
"You may step down Mr Potter."
Harry did so then watched as Minerva was called up. She was asked to explain why she had reacted so suspiciously about the rat. Responding that she had a rather strong dislike of rats in general and had always found Scabbers a bit on the suspicious side of things. Especially as she was a feline animagus herself.
She had encountered the rat in the castle a few times and had been told it was caught in the girl's dorms a few times. When asked how the Weasleys had been allowed to bring a rat into the school in the first place she explained that Mrs Weasley had begged and cajoled and argued with the headmaster for an exception to the rule. The advocator did not have any questions for her.
Dumbledore had been called next and asked why he gave the exception to Mrs Weasley.
"Pity I suppose. She had lost her brothers in service to the forces of light against our adversary. So as a favor to her I permitted this little indulgence. Harmless I thought."
"So as Professor McGonnagal, a transfiguration master, has testified a common field rat only lives about five years in captivity. Did you not notice that the rat had lived longer than that?"
"Well as Headmaster I had almost a thousand students and staff to take care of, as well as my duties with the Wizengamut and the ICW. So I did not give much thought to any particular pet of any particular student above any others."
Harry noticed the use of past tense with the word Headmaster. He glanced at Professor McGonnagal who was looking firmly straight ahead.
"So when Ronald Weasley came to school with the same rat this year you said nothing?"
"Well I was aware that he was coming with a rat named Scabbers. Molly is the sort of woman who would get another rat and make it look the same to keep her children happy. She would go to great lengths for her children." He said with a kind smile and nod to her.
"Yes I am certain of that MR Dumbledore. However the point is the rat was an animagus hiding under your rather prodigious nose for almost a decade. How was he able to perform that feat?"
"Oh. I turned the animagus detection wards off. With Minerva on the staff, as well as a few other defense teachers that have come and gone over the years I got rather tired of the things going off every time one of them shifted or crossed the boundaries." He explained with a rather daft looking smile. Harry wondered why the arbiters looked like they had swallowed some of his Aunt Petunia's sugar free lemonade.
"You purposely turned off some of the security features of the school?" The accusator looked shocked.
"Oh yes. The threat from our adversary had been drastically reduced by the actions of the Potters and what happened afterwards. So I felt that it would be sufficiently safe to do so. I also turned the firewalls off and the Venomous Perimeter Nodes." He said with a chuckle, "It was well past time to return to being a school and not a fortress at war."
Harry blinked, the school had flaming walls and venomous whatever those things were? He was so going to ask Hermione about them when he got back. Harry watched as the accusator seemed to think about things for a moment then bowed and said, "I have no further."
The advocator stood, "No questions."
Dumbledore stepped down walking past Harry with a nod. The accusator stated he had presented the case for the prosecution. The Advocator stood and called Molly Weasley.
"Mrs Weasley. Let's cut to the chase. Did you know that the rat called Scabbers was the animagus named Peter Pettigrew?"
She nodded as she began to weep slightly, in a strained voice she said, "Yes I knew. I knew all along."
Professor McGonnagal gasped as did Percy. Harry noticed that Professor Dumbledore merely looked vaguely interested as he unwrapped a candy of some sort.
"How did you find out?"
"He came to me in the orchard. He said he was going to need a place to hide and that he had chosen us. He knew about Ginny. He said he would do things to her if I ever told anyone. He made me promise. I made him choose me not her. I'm sorry Albus. I knew he was bad. I knew about it all along but he was going to hurt Ginny if I did anything, or if I told anyone. Please you have to understand." She broke down as the weight of her secret left her. Harry had no idea what had happened as the Arbiters called both of the officiators to the bench.
The accusator stepped over and asked in a gentle, yet firm voice. "As it takes three people to perform an unbreakable vow we can understand why he did not force you to make one. However why did he not simply place you under and imperious or a confundus?"
"I don't know. I think he enjoyed playing games with me. I was too scared to fight him. He bragged about killing all of those muggles and knowing the villains who killed my brothers. He." She at that point started crying uncontrollably.
The prime arbiter banged their gavel calling for a recess.
….
They had stepped out into the corridor to stretch their legs as Molly composed herself.
"Do you think that's true?" Harry asked?
"The veraciter is not perfect but it is highly useful." Dumbledore said as he walked over to them. "So yes. I do believe that what Molly Weasley said is true."
Harry looked at Professor McGonnagal who nodded, "Yes. I have known her for a great many years. Even when she was a student she would talk about how she wanted a big family and children. So yes Harry. I believe she would do anything to protect her children."
"Mothers do have a way of doing things like that." Dumbledore said sagely.
Harry looked thoughtfully at the wall.
…...
Once Molly had composed herself the trial resumed.
"Mrs Weasley. You said he came to you in the orchard. When was this?"
"The middle of November 1981." She said with a deep breath.
"And he knew about your daughter?"
"Yes. Arthur was so excited about my having a girl that he was practically shouting it from the rooftops." Molly said with a weak smile.
"So Pettigrew coerced you into hiding him?"
"Yes. He said he would know if I told anyone. He said if I betrayed him he would do things to Ginny, to Ron, to make them suffer and hurt." She said trying not to choke up.
"And so you did not willingly hide him, assist him or provide material aide to him?" The advocator asked calmly.
"Not willingly. He made me give him to one of my children to be their pet. So he could hide he said."
"Would he return to his human form?"
Molly nodded looking distraught, "Yes. Only when he was sure he wouldn't get caught. When Arthur was at work and the older boys were at school."
"Did anyone else in your family know about his existence as an animagus?"
"He never told me they did and I never caught them." Molly stated.
"Very well. I have nothing further." The advocator said.
Once Molly had stepped down the arbiters spoke with each other briefly behind their sound shield. The two officiators sitting patiently at their desks until called to the arbiter's desk. After a brief consultation all five of the people involved seemed to come to some agreement and nodded. Going back to their desks the two officiators stood with Molly.
"Mrs Weasley. We are sorry for the disturbing events that you have been subject to. We appreciate your sacrifices and find you not guilty of any crimes. You are free to go with our wishes for better days ahead." The prime arbiter said as Molly collapsed against her advocator.
…...
Minerva and Harry had given Molly and Arthur their good wishes and made their way back to the castle. They arrived in the free period just before dinner so Harry sought out Hermione.
He found her in the chapel sitting quietly. Sliding into the pew beside her he waited until she turned to smile at him.
"So how did it go?" she asked finally.
"It turns out she was being made to help him. She knew he was a rat but he threatened to hurt Ron and Ginny." Harry explained.
"Oh. That changes things a bit." Hermione sighed, "It does explain things with the Weasleys. Maybe this time around they'll be better people?"
"I hope so." Harry said.
The two of them heard the door open as Professor McGonnagal entered. Going to the alter rail she knelt and said a brief prayer before coming over to the two students.
"Forgive the intrusion but when I found out you were here I thought it would be the most appropriate time to speak with you." the professor said with a smile.
"Of course professor." Hermione said formally.
"We were just talking." Harry quickly said.
Minerva cleared her throat as Hermione scowled at Harry, "A guilty conscience?"
"Uh no. Maybe." He confessed sheepishly.
"He's a boy ma'am." Hermione declared.
"Yes." Minerva said with a repressed chuckle, "It is not the policy of the school to involve ourselves in the relationships between our students unless such relationships cause difficulties or impede the educational process. However Brother Simon does find it rather disrespectful to sully his chapel with any indiscretions."
Harry nodded in understanding as Hermione looked at him with a vague smugness.
"However I am here as Harry's guardian not his headmaster or professor." Minerva said.
"Wait ma'am. Headmaster?"
"It will be officially announced in tomorrow's papers, however Albus resigned his position as Headmaster officially to focus on other duties. As well as resigned officially as head of the Wizengamut." Minerva explained.
"So you're going to have the job?"
"Yes. Although I will maintain my duties as Head of Gryffindor House and Transfiguration professor for the rest of this year. Unfortunately you shall have to suffer through Quirrel for the rest of the year as his contract prohibits dismissal for anything short of gross negligence or harm to a student."
Harry shrugged, "Oh. Okay."
"So does this mean the third floor corridor is no longer off limits?" Hermione asked with a bit too much of an interested tone.
Minerva looked curiously at her before saying, If you are seeking secluded trysting places I can recommend a great many more comfortable ones."
Hermione and Harry both blushed before Hermione said, "Uh no ma'am. I was just curious because it seemed rather odd to put one entire corridor off limits like that."
"Yes. Professor Dumbledore was conducting an experiment in that area of a sensitive nature. As he has resigned the experiment is being dismantled." Minerva said with an eyebrow raised.
"Oh. That's interesting." Hermione tried to sound disinterested after all.
"Yes. Now on to the other reason I came here. I received a letter while we were at the Ministry from another of your father's friends. Remus Lupin."
Harry had been hearing that name several times but had so far not heard very many details about him. "Oh?" He asked cautiously.
"He has accepted my offer of becoming the Defense Professor for next year. He has asked me a great many questions about you. I feel that you should be the one to respond to them, so that you may choose what to tell him." She said handing him an envelope.
Harry took it and saw that it had a York return address and was written with a very neat and precise script.
"I did not feel that I should speak on your behalf any more than required."
"What can you tell me about him?"
Minerva took a deep breath, "He is a fair man. He has a infliction that limits his acceptance in our world though."
Hermione opened her mouth then quickly closed it.
"Yes Miss Granger?"
"There are only a few infections like that." she said carefully.
"Yes. He is a werewolf. He was infected as a child and has suffered his entire life. With the recent discovery of the Wolvesbane potion it should become more controllable As a condition of his employment we will make the potion available to him."
"Why didn't he go to India? They don't have the curse there?"
Minerva looked at her with her eyebrow raised again, "That may be so, however why would he wish to do so?"
"Uh. I was reading a book about the subcontinent and it said they had a way to cure or help give more control at least, to those infected with the curse." She said quickly.
"Well. Perhaps you can discus that with Mr Lupin later" Minerva said.
"Did my mum have any friends?" Harry suddenly asked turning the envelope over and over in his hands slowly.
Minerva took a deep breath before replying, "Yes. She was closest to three young ladies. Marlene McKinnon, Alice Fortescue, and Pandora Sirtis. Miss Sirtis was a few years older and had mentored your mother when she arrived, becoming her friend in the process."
"Pandora?" Harry realized, "That's Luna's mother."
"Yes. She was a brilliant young woman in Ravenclaw. Quite talented with charms like your mother. Alice Fortescue married Frank Longbottom. You will have to ask Mr Longbottom about his mother and as for Miss McKinnon she and her family were victims of you-know-who." She explained gently.
Harry stopped rotating the envelope as he sat quietly staring at the envelope without really seeing it.
"I am not certain if she had any friends in the muggle world. I was not her favorite teacher. You might ask Professor Flitwick." Minerva confessed with a wistful expression.
Harry nodded, "I see."
"I know all you are hearing about is your father's friends and your father's family. I am sorry about that as our world does not, and has not, paid close enough attention to our muggle half. A great loss in many ways I feel." Minerva sighed.
"Do I have to go to dinner. I'm not exactly feeling like eating right now." Harry asked.
"I shall excuse you on this occasion, provided you are chaperoned by Miss Granger." Minerva said with a sympathetic expression.
Harry smiled and nodded, "Yes ma'am."
"You are one of the few that I would give this much trust to. Please do not abuse that privilege." She said standing.
"Yes ma'am."
…...
Harry and Hermione had sat quietly in the chapel until the bell for dinner had rung. Then they returned slowly to the common room.
"Are you okay Harry?" Hermione asked as they took seats across from each other at their study table.
"I think so. This has just been a very busy week and I don't know what the next few days are going to bring. I don't know who this Remus Lupin is and I've heard good and bad about him. I just don't know. I'm feeling rather fatigued." Harry said in a rush.
"Well if it helps, the Remus Lupin she knew, he was a good man. Complicated and with a lot of internal pains but a good man overall." Hermione said with a comforting smile.
"I guess. I'm just going to go lay down and try to not think." Harry sighed.
"You do recall I am supposed to chaperone you?" She asked with a teasing tone.
Harry gave a weak smile, "Yeah and who's going to chaperone you?"
"Exactly so maybe we should stay in the common room?" She suggested.
Harry sighed, "Yeah sure."
She stood up and pulled him over to the fireplace. Stoking the fire so that it crackled and danced she put her arm around him, pulling him close so that his head was on her shoulder she drew a blanket over them so that they could watch the fire and not think, together.
…...(Review Responses)
SMB: Well such language. Oh my! As you are dropping this I shall not reply to your rather erudite and well thought out points other than to say I shall wish you good luck in finding a story that you find more suitable to your limited time. Although we cannot refund your admission tickets as all sales are final..
kelwin: Ahh. Thank you adventurer for enjoying this. I am very pleased that I can provide some enjoyment to people.
Smithback: I liked to provide their reasoning, what there was of it.
Freddie Rindklip: I am trying to minimize them. Unfortunately I doubt I will ever get rid of all of them. And yes,. I thought Luna would be the sort to use a yellow envelope to bring a cheery smile to the world.
Honeybear84: I'm sure at the very least he can be a patient ear to listen to her talk. No doubt he would have to be loyal to the school and report anything that would be too dangerous or unsafe but otherwise as House Ghost I sort of see them as a counselor/chaperone/study resource for those willing to take the time.
Katmom: He is rather complicated isn't he?
W0lfgang: Yes they are.
KgFinkel: True. Although the traditional castle format had not been exactly developed if we take the 995AD date of construction I've seen bandied about as factual. Real World castle did not exactly look like Hogwarts. But a chapel just makes sense. And yes I have seen Pastafarianism around before. It is funny. As for Albus. He is rather complicated on multiple levels. A good representation of his thoughts is the guy from the old Tonight Show with all of those plates spinning on sticks at the same time.