It's My Life
The room was silent as everyone wanted to hear what Harry's story was. Everyone else had spoken except Dumbledore, and it made sense to put him on last. Harry wasn't afraid to speak, but nervous to reveal some things he went through. Harry hadn't even told Draco or Severus about a couple things. Yet, Harry didn't know if it would be necessary to speak of unless he was asked directly. Finally, Harry took a drink of water he'd been provided, and then a breath and before to tell of his time at the Dursley's from the earliest point he could recall, which was being about three years old.
Harry spoke calmly, using the mannerisms he picked up from Severus to maintain an even tone and giving nothing away except some sighs of hopelessness about the situations he endured. Harry spoke for a good thirty minutes about everything up until he was ten and how his relatives kept him from reading his letter until Hagrid came himself to the small house in the middle of the sea on a rock just when he turned eleven. That is where they decided to allow Harry a few moments to catch his breath and have a drink of water.
"So we've come to learning of your wizarding heritage, Mr. Potter." Amelia stated. "I'm so sorry for all you've gone through, my boy. Truly awful to have to endure so much from the young age you did."
"I survived, ma'am…Seems to be the one thing I can't fail at." Harry admitted.
"Indeed, but still…That is no way to live your life, always having to look over your shoulder for the next problem or danger you face." Amelia informed. "Could you please continue your tale of how things were when you started at Hogwarts? Whether it involves the abuse you suffered, or the accused's interference?"
"Of course," Harry replied. "In first year, I knew things seemed off right away because when I was taken to Gringotts with Hagrid…He was on a special assignment from Mr. Dumbledore to retrieve something from Vault 713, but never said what other than top secret official Hogwarts business. Nevertheless, we went on getting my school items until later on when Hagrid told me about me. That I'm Harry James Potter, Snape-Prince now."
"I already knew I was born July 31st, 1980, and was born in Godric's Hollow at Potter Cottage. Hagrid told me how my parents, James and Lily Potter, died as it came up in topic from my experience at Ollivander's wand shop. Stating my wand choice, or rather it choosing me was curious. When I asked the man why, he told me it was curious that I should have the wand that chose me when it's brother…Gave me this scar." He moved his hair some to reveal the famous scar everyone knew him by.
"You mean to say that you and the dark lord possess the same wand?" Ralph asked from his seat.
"Not the same wand, Mr. Calprine. Just the same core." Harry informed. "I have a Holly wood, Phoenix feather core while the Dark Lord possesses a Yew wood, Phoenix feather core. Our cores came from the same bird. Our wands are brothers, and they'll never allow us to fatally attack the other. We can wound, but not kill. This was proven during fourth year when I battled him and despite him sending the killing curse at me, and I only used the disarming charm; not once could his wand overpower mine."
Alright, Severus hadn't known that bit of information. Neither did Lucius, Draco, or Narcissa. It really came as a shock to Albus, why would Harry know something so deep about his and Voldemort's wands? "What else happened in first year, Mr. Potter?"
Again, Harry began his story. Going on the rest of first year and all the odd things that happened leading up to him battling Quirrell who had Voldemort attached to the back of his head. The next tale was second year with the Chamber of Secrets, how all that seemed strange and like he felt compelled to do it."
"But the end of that year was also against Voldemort, but his younger self preserved in a diary. Next was third, how he learned about who his godfather was. That caused a stir too because up until that moment, everyone still believed Sirius Black was guilty. Finally, Harry got into fourth year, the tournament and Voldemort's return.
"Now…We're into this year. What has happened this year?" Amelia inquired softly.
"Leaving the school after the fourth year ended, it wasn't an easy adjustment. I was plagued with nightmares of the battle with the dark lord and Cedric's death…My nightmares annoyed my relatives, but I had no way to stop them. And I wasn't permitted to do magic outside of school, so I couldn't cast silencing charms like I had the last week or so of school in order not to disturb anyone else."
"Every time my uncle awakened, he would shake me awake and slam me around to be quiet. Some nights I would stay awake all night to avoid falling into nightmares, or my uncle would beat me hard enough to knock me out." Harry paused. His scar was bothering him, he felt like someone was trying to get in his mind. Harry's money was on Dumbledore or Voldemort.
"Go on, dear," Amelia invited.
"Yes, of course…I'm sorry. It's hard to focus with my scar bothering me…" Harry admitted.
"Why does it bother you?" Amelia questioned.
"In the past, it's always been a sign or warning that danger was coming. When the dark lord is around or about to do something nefarious…" Harry informed lightly.
"Why don't we stop for today. You can use the break and we'll reconvene on Monday morning," Amelia suggested.
"No. With all due your respect, Madam Bones. I'd like to finish this today if possible. OWL exams are coming up and I plan to dedicate the rest of my time until them aside today for this, to studying." Harry remarked calmly.
"As you wish, Harry," Amelia allowed.
Harry took a breath to will the pain away and remain calm. "My days with the Dursley's were like years before, all day cleaning or cooking. If one thing was wrong, I faced punishment. The night I was saved by the Malfoy's was August 1st, 1995. My uncle had whipped me five times with his belt for telling my cousin to go away while I cooked dinner."
"After that, my uncle locked me in the cupboard for a few hours. My aunt let me out and told me to go to my room upstairs. She locked the six locks and I was left there alone on the floor. My scar had been bothering me, made me feel nauseous and weak. I did call out for help as by Mrs. Malfoy's testimony, and blacked out. The next time I woke up was on August 2nd, in Malfoy Manor."
Harry paused. "I spoke to Mrs. Malfoy first, then Mr. Malfoy and Draco came into the room. I had been telling them how things were at my muggle relatives house when Mr. Snape came. All four of them had told me I'd never be going back to the Dursley's and they were going to help me. On the 7th of August, we all ventured to Diagon Alley for school supply shopping, but I was with Mr. Malfoy and Mr. Snape at the bank being informed about my lordships, vaults, and putting in a formal request to investigate Mr. Dumbledore and remove him as my magical guardian.
In place of him while the investigation was processing, Severus Snape took custody of me. After some things were taken care of, we left the bank to return later and had lunch. Returning to the bank, I got my lordship rings and we all left. It was on the 11th that Severus and I left the manor to go to his home in Cokeworth at Spinner's End. I was given my own room, and the allowance to make it mine however I wanted. Mr. Snape provided me with an entire new wardrobe, shoes, and anything I had needed for school."
He began again after some moments. "The rest of the summer was Mr. Snape ensured I was fed three times a day, plus a nutrient potion and exercise regime to fix damage from years of neglect. I managed to get all my work done for summer assignments and then on the 31st, we spoke about how things would be at school since he couldn't show favoritism with me as his student."
"We went on normally, not giving away he was my guardian, but I always went to him with a problem as the start of fifth year began with me getting re-sorted to Slytherin. The hat only told me that it sensed a change and told me I'd no longer thrive in Gryffindor. I didn't argue with it." Harry took a breath. "The first situation with Mr. Dumbledore occurred on Halloween night, he brought me to his office to talk."
"And what was this discussion?" Amelia pushed lightly.
"As I expected Mr. Dumbledore would eventually ask, he wanted to know why I left the wards on Privet Drive. I explained again I was sick of the abuse, protection or not and refused to return. Mr. Dumbledore told me I had no choice as he was my magical guardian and he made the decisions."
"The next topic was him forcing me back to Gryffindor, or trying to. He told me I had no choice in that either. I refused and told him between Dolores Umbridge's detentions, the Dark Lord's desire to kill me, and Mr. Dumbledore's own relentlessness in wanting to control everything about me; I'd rather be dead." Harry said as the people gasped.
"And how did Mr. Dumbledore respond?" Lucius questioned now.
"I tried to leave the Headmaster's office and found myself unable to because a barrier appeared over the doorway. I tried to push it, but couldn't. When I turned to face Mr. Dumbledore…He had his wand out and told me, quote; You will obey, Harry. Unquote. I got scared and used the charm I wore around my neck to summon Mr. Snape. When Albus got too close, my rings flashed warning me of danger and I used this hand," He motioned to the one with the rings.
"And punched the barrier, which shattered it. So I ran until I saw Mr. Snape rushing down the corridor towards me. I told him what happened and when Mr. Dumbledore caught up, Mr. Snape had pushed me behind him protectively, and sent Mr. Dumbledore away. Feeling he could do nothing more, Mr. Dumbledore retreated and I left with Mr. Snape back to the dungeons."
"What else happened, dear?" Amelia questioned.
Harry went on to tell them about when Umbridge failed his assignments and they cornered him to remove the glamour on his rings, and tried to make him remove them. "The last thing was what you all got to see, Madam Bones. The situation in the great hall…" Harry informed. "All I've wanted since I was eleven and learned of Hogwarts and being a wizard, was just attend school for seven years and enjoy life. It saddens me that so much has to interfere."
"Yes, awful." Amelia muttered. "Is this everything? Aside the blood adoption, which we don't need you to go over again."
"Yes, ma'am." Harry nodded. "The rest was just the blood adoption, making Mr. Severus Snape-Prince my secondary father."
"Thank you so much, Harry. Very brave of you to come up here and spill your life's story to so many." Amelia informed.
"Anything to see justice served," Harry replied.
"You can step down, sweetheart." Amelia stated.
Harry got down, nearly losing his balance on the step, but walked back to the table to sit down. Severus rubbed his shoulder, giving him an asking look if he was okay and Harry nodded tiredly.
Lucius stood now. "You honor, I believe the last to call is the accused. Albus Dumbledore, and we request that like everyone else…Veritaserum is used."
"Objection, there's no need-," Ralph jumped up.
"Sustained! Mr. Malfoy is entirely correct that everyone else agreed willingly. If you are trying to get out of it, then you have something to hide. If Mr. Dumbledore is innocent, he's nothing to fear from being questioned under the serum. Your client will approach and take the potion willingly, or we'll rule with what we have now and best of luck without your side being heard." Amelia remarked firmly.
Ralph sputtered at the threat. "B-But your honor…I was never given a chance to question Mr. Potter. I am aware he told his story like the others, but we didn't get to question…"
"You asked during his testimony," Lucius said firmly.
"Mr. Malfoy…It's alright. I'm happy to answer any questions he has for me." Harry smiled.
"You're such a willing participant, Mr. Potter-Snape. I wish there were more like you." Amelia beamed. "Mr. Potter-Snape may return to the stand."
Harry went back to his place quietly. "Go on, Mr. Calprine. You were desperate to drag this out by questioning me…Please do not waste the court's or my time. I assure you I have bigger fish to fry in defeats than my former Headmaster. Say…The Dark Lord?" Harry folded his arms over one another.
The lawyer stiffened at Harry's remark. "You're very forward…My client has told me you mouth off frequently."
"Was there a question in there, or are you just pointing out my truth-bearing capabilities? I assure you they exist." Harry asked.
"Mr. Potter…Are you aware that Mr. Dumbledore has only ever protected you with his decisions? Do you feel that maybe you're taking this a bit too far?" Ralph pushed.
"Has he protected me?" Harry replied. "It looks a lot like leaving me in an abusive household where I wasn't wanted. So no, I'm not aware because it doesn't exist. Taking it too far?" He scoffed. "Is that a joke? I don't think I've taken it far enough. Also, it's Potter-Snape."
"You are the boy who lived, destroyed Voldemort. Certainly you can agree that measures needed to be taken to raise you in a safe place?" Ralph said.
"You know, I really don't like that title. I didn't do anything. I was a baby…It was my mother who threw herself between me and Voldemort and his curse rebounded and he destroyed his body. He was never gone and Mr. Dumbledore clearly knew that to have to feel I needed to be protected after his defeat." Harry informed.
"But you've beaten him in previous years at Hogwarts, according to your story?" Ralph mentioned.
"Did I have much of a choice when Mr. Dumbledore clearly wasn't doing anything to stop his possessed teacher, or a Basilisk roaming the pipes of the school? A murderer running free in the school? And I do not mean Sirius Black, I was referring to Peter Pettigrew." Harry remarked.
"How about in fourth year when he let a fourteen-year-old compete in a life or death tournament rather than look into possible intruders that probably submitted my name into the goblet. As it was not me, I shouldn't have been forced to risk my life, again." He insisted.
"But Mr. Dumbledore-,"
"Is never around to get his hands dirty." Harry said in a cool tone. "Headmaster of the school, swearing it's safe for students? It's the biggest lie I've ever heard in my life. How is it he protects the students when he's never the one sticking his neck out to handle the danger? I didn't see him down under the school fighting the dark lord in first year. Didn't see him in the chamber of secrets."
"Didn't see him looking to capture Peter Pettigrew when he knew that's who betrayed my parents to Voldemort. Didn't see him trying to keep me from competing. He seems to want me under his control to be his weapon because he knows, according to Mr. Malfoy's testimony, that I'm the one destined to defeat the dark lord."
"That's a serious accusation," Ralph grinned.
"And true. When Mr. Dumbledore is up here getting questioned…I want you, no one else, to ask him if he's known all along since before I was even born that I'm prophesied to defeat the dark lord." Harry said. "Now, are you done? You're not getting anything out of me, Mr. Calprine. I speak entirely the truth."
"You could have lied, you didn't take Veritaserum…" Ralph pointed out.
Harry sat back with a smile. "Didn't I?" He remarked as Ralph and Albus's eyes widened, then did Lucius, Severus, Narcissa, and Draco's eyes. Many were confused. Harry held up his cup of water. "It was in this. Everything I told you was entirely the truth."
"You can't prove that you took it! You didn't do the control questions!" Ralph snapped.
"Are you sure about that?" Harry smiled, a small smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. "My control questions were answered throughout the statement, you just weren't listening. I started right off when I began telling about learning I was a wizard. I stated my full name, Harry James Potter-Snape-Prince. I stated my birthday, July 31st, 1980. Where I was born, Potter Cottage in Godric's Hollow. My parents, Lily and James Potter. I stated later on with the blood adoption that Severus Snape-Prince is also my father. I even claimed where I currently live, Spinner's End in Cokeworth and that my occupation is a student at Hogwarts School." He informed as the defensive lawyer realized that Harry did indeed answer everything throughout his story.
"B-But we never saw Veritaserum get put in your cup." Ralph tried anything he could to get it thrown out.
"When Mr. Weasley came over here to have me swear to tell the truth and nothing but on the law book, he dropped the required three into the cup. I requested it of him before court reconvened after the recess." Harry said. "Did you really think I'd come up here and tell my life story without some insurance you wouldn't try this underhanded move to call me a liar?" He asked.
"Do you want me to further prove my testimony is the truth? I, Harry James Potter-Snape-Prince, do solemnly swear on my magic that everything I have said since taking the stand is entirely true." He gave it a moment. "Oh, look…Nothing happened to my magic, therefore, I'm not lying about anything I've said." Harry relaxed in the chair. "Do you have anything further, or can we move on? I risked my magic on a vow that I said was true. Let's see if your client is just as willing to prove his claims."