Author Note: This chapter has a LOOOT of exposition and talking in it. A lot. Unfortunately I was unable to find away around all of this that wasn't just one long monologue. I am aware that the trial/hearing does not follow the standard British legal system. This is twofold. 1: I am an American so the only experience/information I have is google or the BBC drama shows. 2: I figure the magical world would have their own way of doing things since the Wizengamut is supposedly a FULL HIGH trial as Arthur exclaims in the book. A lesser trial would have an anglo saxon/roman style tribunal. Anyhow here we go:
(BEGIN)
Saturday had gone as they planned. Harry's Quidditch practice went like a military drill under Oliver Wood. The temporary replacement beaters had proven themselves a lot more attentive and focused on the game that Oliver declared them to be permanent members.
After lunch they spent the afternoon in the library looking up various family lines and how they were interrelated. Harry found out he was related to so many more people than he could ever have imagined. Old newspaper accounts from the previous war described his parents and Neville's actions fighting the death eaters.
"Uh can we go research something else?" Neville asked as they reached the issues for 1981.
"These are the issues that talk about how my parents died. I want to see them Neville." Harry said in an emotionally strangled tone, "I want to know what happened. At least what the reports were."
Neville looked gravely at the headline of the paper in front of Harry.
Susan sighed, "My parents were in a few issues before this. They were killed just after I was born. Auntie has that article in a scrapbook in her office. She doesn't know I snuck in and read it. I wanted to know what made her cry so much when she read it."
Neville looked at Hermione who was studying him, "You remember?"
"Not all of it. I know that you've got nothing to be ashamed of Neville." She said softly.
Harry closed the newspaper, "What happened to your parents Neville?"
Neville swallowed around a large lump in his throat. "They got caught in a trap. They were tortured into insanity by four of the most evil and horrible of the Death Eaters."
Susan gasped slightly, "Oh. That explains what Auntie meant. Hermione's right Neville you've got nothing to be ashamed of."
"I guess. It still hurts. At least yours are gone." He mumbled.
"Of course it does. You haven't had the chance to grieve. You keep getting reminded of what happened." Hermione stated, "But you can't let that stop you healing Neville."
Neville gave a half shrug, Susan put her hand on top of his and squeezed it gently. "I'm pretty sure you can handle it."
Neville glanced over at her with a ghostly smile, "Thanks."
Taking a deep breath Neville said, "Okay let's go ahead."
Harry nodded as he read the articles on his parents. Looking grimly at the pictures and words on the pages with his friends nearby. Susan pulled down the article about her parents, and her uncle and his family. Showing them to Harry and Hermione as well as Neville.
Neville slowly stood up and walked to the stacks. Searching for a moment he pulled the large binder down with the articles on his parents. Reports on Frank and Alice Longbottom being caught by four Death Eaters, Bellatrix Lestrange and her husband Rodolphus, his brother Rabastan and Barty Crouch Junior. How they had been tortured into irreversible insensibility and placed in Saint Mungo's for long term care.
"This was my father's wand. Gramma said I should be just like him and able to make it work for me. Only I'm not as brave as he was. I'm not as strong as he was." Neville said laying the wand on the table.
"Not true Nev." Harry countered, "When you found out about flight class and took the hit. That was brave."
Neville looked skeptically at him.
"Well it was. You just had Hermione's word that it would all work out. You still could have broke your fool neck." Harry pointed out, "Or hit the one gargoyle and impaled yourself. Or maybe."
"I get the point." Neville said firmly.
"Loyalty too is a Gryffindor trait. You took me at my word and helped Harry. Plus you've not turned us in for what we did to Draco." Hermione pointed out.
Neville shrugged, "He deserved it. But I see your point."
"Just consider that you are not your dad but you are still a person worth knowing. A good person who she considered a friend. A trusted friend. Especially after. After what happened to everyone in the future. And no please don't ask. All I know is that Harry got killed and there was a betrayal by Ron. That he was involved." Hermione explained emotionally.
"Yeah. A Ron that didn't get the changes going on right now." Harry argued, "We've changed him and changed what's going to happen. Maybe Ron will turn out to be a good friend. You don't know what he's going to be. What any of us are going to be now."
"Harry. He was the one that killed you. I couldn't do anything about it. I couldn't stop it. I held your head as you died." Hermione tearfully related. She bit her lip as she realized what she said and ran from the room.
Harry looked worriedly at Susan and Neville then ran after her.
…...
Hermione could run very fast a small part of Harry's mind noted as he chased her down several corridors and up a flight of stairs. Finally they reached a dead end and she went through two large oaken doors.
Harry followed her quickly only to stop as he realized he was in a chapel. The Dursleys went to a nice normal Anglican church and went through all of the motions, mainly because his boss and several managers went to that church. But were not very religious people. Harry was brought along because they thought the holy ground might drive the freakishness out of him. They always seemed so disappointed when he didn't burst into flames.
Hermione was kneeling at the alter rail with her head on the smooth marble. Harry didn't know what to do so quietly sat down in the front row of pews waiting. Looking around he noticed that the decorations seemed to all be rather non-descript although clean and well taken care of.
"You didn't need to follow me Harry." Hermione's tremulous voice brought him back to her. She had not moved but seemed to not be crying any more.
"Yeah I did. I'm a bit worried about you. Suddenly describing my death then running off is not very healthy for anyone involved." Harry said trying to be light.
Taking a deep breath Hermione said, "I'm sorry. It kinda hit me rather hard as the memory surfaced suddenly. I wasn't prepared for that."
"I can see that." Harry said.
She sighed looking up at the stained glass window, "She came to Hogwarts after it happened. She took over as the charms teacher and started researching how to send the message back and turn me into this crazy freak."
"Please don't use that word." Harry sternly said. "You're not a freak. You just have a lot of things going on."
Hermione nodded or a moment before going, "Oh right. Your, family, use that as an insult for you. I'm sorry."
"Yeah. So uh. Is there anything I can do to help you?" Harry asked with concern.
Hermione shrugged, "You're already doing it."
"Oh. That's good then." He quipped. "Cause I have no idea what else to do."
"You were middle aged when it happened. Your hair was just going gray along the temples. You looked rather distinguished." She recited like she was miles away, "We were all somewhere. Something happened and there was a fight. Ron killed you."
"Well that isn't going to happen. I won't let it. You changed the world when you came back. So I'll be fine." Harry said.
"I still have the memory of it happening so no matter what we do, it happened to me. So I need to process this. Just stay with me but quietly. Please." She said giving him a brief flash of her smile.
"Okay. I will." He said as she stood and knelt back at the rail again.
Harry quietly sat for several minutes before he noticed one of the multitude of ghosts quietly hovering in the corner. Seeing Harry looking at him he gestured for Harry to join him. Glancing at Hermione, who seemed to be quietly contemplating things he slid out of the pew and tiptoed to the back.
"Ahh you are Harry Potter?" The ghost asked politely.
"Yes. Who are you?"
"Ahh. I am Brother Simon The Fisher. Although you may know me as The Fat Friar." he said quietly in a soft voice.
"The Hufflepuff ghost." Harry stated.
"Yes. Is your friend alright?" he asked, "She seems rather troubled."
"Uh. Its kinda complicated." Harry uncertainly said looking at Hermione.
The ghost seemed to nod in understanding, "Ahh yes. Life can be rather complicated for the living. However your friends are looking for you. They are concerned."
"Oh. Uh. Can you tell them where we are?" Harry asked.
"Why can't you?" The friar replied, "They are your friends. I am only relaying the message as a favor to my friend Sir Nick."
"Oh. I shouldn't leave her alone." Harry said looking at Hermione's back. Her shoulders were shaking slightly as if she was sobbing again.
"She is never alone in this house child." The Friar said comfortingly. "I will watch her."
Harry looked uncertainly at Hermione before shaking his head, "No. I'll stay with her. No offense sir."
"None taken. One of the greatest things we can do is care about someone who is hurting. Be they friend or stranger." he gently stated, "In here one's soul is healed just as much as one's body is in the hospital wing."
"I'm surprised the castle has a chapel. According to Binns the magicals dismiss religion or worship Merlin."
The ghost sighed deeply as he crossed his hands across his ample belly, "Yes times have changed so much. In the years when this castle was built magic, science and faith did not fight. One could not exist without the other two in balance."
"What happened?" Harry asked, curious to hear more.
"The usual things happened when people find a way to control others. Each dogma was declared to be the one true path while the others were the way of the dark one. Their esoteric secrets unfit for the common people and reserved only for those who wore a fancy hat." He said mirthlessly. "I wanted to wear one of those fancy hats, but I cared for people far too much. So I wound up helping my neighbors when the black death came. I healed people, until a jealous member of my order turned me over to the inquisition. Claiming I used witchcraft and not the miracles from above. But what is magic if not a gift from above. After all who visited the son of the one king in the manger but three magi?"
Harry had never paid attention in the church services the Dursleys had dragged him to. The one time they cleaned and dressed him properly. He had enjoyed the wine and crackers as well as the singing. At Christmas he usually got a bag full of treats, that he got to eat before they left so Dudley wouldn't steal them. So he had no idea what the ghost was talking about.
"Sorry. I suppose you're a Merlinist then?"
"I'm not sure what I am." Harry admitted.
"Well perhaps you will find it someday. These doors are never locked and all who come in peace are welcome here. The quiet is good for contemplation if nothing else." The friar joked, "Although a good nap has been had by many here."
Harry chuckled as he remembered his uncle getting stabbed by Aunt Petunia's hat pin for snoring in the middle of services several times.
Hermione looked up suddenly. Seeing Harry chatting with the ghost she stood and dusting her knees off slowly walked back to them. "Hello. Thank you for keeping Harry calm."
"He cares a great deal about you." The friar said causing Harry to blush.
"I know." Hermione said smiling warmly at Harry, "I care about him too."
"Its almost time for dinner and from what I have been told there will be double portions of roast turkey with gravy. We wouldn't want to miss that now would we?" He said gleefully patting his belly, "It'll help you grow up big and, well big."
Harry and Hermione sighed and walked hand in hand behind the friar.
…...
Neville and Susan were happy to see Hermione was feeling, at least a little bit, better. The rest of Saturday the four of them spent quietly with each other. Sunday Hermione and the other three went to the chapel to sit and think quietly after breakfast. The fat friar hovered around on the edges letting them sit unless they wanted to speak.
Hermione explained she had been raised by her parents not believing in religion but when she developed her magic and encountered ghosts and spirits and all of the magical world she began to question that then eventually accepted that there was an afterlife and a higher power. Then when Harry died she fought against that belief so that she could change things. Finding the world a cruel and sad place. Hermione couldn't explain why Ron would kill Harry or what the great betrayal was in the first place but Harry accepted that it wasn't important because whatever had happened wouldn't happen now.
After lunch they spent the afternoon with Hagrid and the care of Magical creatures professor looking at some of the beasts under the care of the school. Soon the sadness had been pushed back into the corners once more.
Harry could barely sleep all night worrying what the hearing tomorrow would be like. What would happen and where he would wind up. Eventually he settled into an uneasy sleep by knowing that no matter what happened he would have his friends.
…..
"You look like hell Harry." Hermione said pouring him a cup of coffee. Harry found it funny how a 12 year old drank black coffee with her breakfast but Hermione shrugged saying it was one of the changes the future self had wrought.
"I couldn't sleep. I'm nervous about today." he admitted.
"Well you'll be fine." Hermione said reading the paper, "This should be nothing spectacular."
"No just determining the place I'll spend the rest of my life."
"Not the rest of your life, just until you're an adult Harry." Hermione said.
Harry grunted abjectly at her and went back to picking at his breakfast. Eventually Professor McGonnagal came over to him. She was wearing one of her better dresses with a tartan sash.
"Mr Potter. You should get cleaned up and ready to go. Report to the teacher's lounge in 30 minutes please."
Harry sighed and nodded, "Yes ma'am." Slowly standing up.
"It shall be alright. Your friends may see you off." She said to them with a nod.
…...
Harry had changed into his best shirt and trousers after cleaning up. Bracing himself he walked down to the teacher's lounge with his friends beside him. They had been waiting for him in the common room.
"Won't you guys be late to class?"
"Snape canceled classes for today. So we have a free period this morning." Neville declared cheerfully.
"I wonder why." Harry pondered, "At least you guys will have fun."
"Harry its a hearing not an execution." Susan chuckled, "You'll be fine."
"I hope so."
Reaching the teacher's lounge Harry started to blink as he saw Snape standing there. He was wearing a dark black silk shirt with trousers and shined shoes. His hair had been cleaned and brushed back so much he was almost unrecognizable.
"Professor Snape?" Harry said carefully in greeting.
"Potter." He looked almost amused, slightly, "You seem surprised."
"Probably because I am." Harry replied.
"I have been called to provide testimony as well. Nothing more so do not feel special Potter."
Harry nodded , "Yes sir."
"I shall meet you at the Ministry Minerva." The potions master declared stepping into the floo.
"Say your partings Harry. Then you'll use the floo to get to the Ministry." Minerva instructed him.
Harry smiled at his friends and started to step towards the fireplace like Snape had when he was suddenly hugged by Hermione then Susan. When they released him he looked at Neville who shook his head, "I'm not hugging you Harry."
Harry chuckled, "Good." Turning to Minerva he asked, "Uh how does this work?"
"Take a handful of the green powder from the bowl, step into the fireplace and clearly state the destination as you throw the powder onto the runic grate between your feet. Make sure you enunciate clearly." Minerva instructed him. "Your destination today is The Ministry."
Harry nodded and took a deep breath stepping in he said, "The Ministry!" ina clear loud voice. A moment later he felt a strange sucking tingling swirling sensation as he exploded. There was a loud rushing screaming sound as a tunnel of red embers and smoke pulled him rapidly through it.
…...
Harry felt himself ejected through the opening at the other end spinning out of control as he stumbled and tripped. He had a brief glimpse of a person before he collided with them. All he could recognize was it was a female with bright pink hair.
She made a loud oof sound as he took her to the floor with an unintentional tackle to her midsection. When they went down they bumped into several other people in a pile.
Harry woozily began to disentangle himself from the person he had impacted with. Awkwardly taking his hand off of her bosom. His face had been buried in her abdomen causing him to realize she smelled rather like citrus and some kind of spice.
"Sorry about that." He apologized rapidly as he tried to stand up quickly.
"CADET TONKS! WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?" A tall grizzled man with a false leg clumped over to pull people to their feet. Harry froze in shock as he noticed the man had one strange spinning eye, part of his nose was missing, one ear was clipped, and he only had three fingers on one hand.
"Sorry Sir! It wasn't my fault." The pink haired cadet declared springing to her feet clumsily falling into Harry knocking the both of them down again. Harry feeling her land on top of him causing her face to impact his stomach.
Growling the grizzled man yanked her to her feet. "Tonks. I have no idea how you ever got into this program, you are an absolute menace."
"Sir I was torpedoed by this boy." She protested pointing at Harry.
The man's swirling blue orb focused on Harry who was standing awkwardly trying not to fall on anyone. "And who are you."
"Moody. Mr Potter had never used the floo before." Minerva declared walking up to help check on Harry. "Calm down."
"One can never be too careful. He could have been a terrorist popping out to cause chaos!" Moody growled, "This one I'm still not sure what her goal is."
"Miss Tonks is not a menace Alastar. And when did they place you in charge of the cadet program?" Minerva asked with a smile.
"They seem to think my methods are not required in the field and that I would be better served herding the whelps into shape." He growled. Harry noticed everything he said seemed to be an angry growl.
"Perhaps less bulldog and more sheepdog then?" She said with a light teasing tone.
"Minerva. You know me. This is being a sheepdog." He grinned showing several obviously replaced metallic teeth. Turning to Harry he looked him up and down appraisingly. "So this is James and Lily's boy eh?"
"Yes." Minerva said as Harry studied the strange man. "Harry this is Alastar Moody. A former associate of your parents."
"Hello sir." Harry said politely but reserving judgment.
"Well work on the landing. You'll do well enough." The man grunted then with a nod lead his charges further into the building.
Minerva sighed, "Come along Mr Potter."
"Is he always that cheerful?" Harry asked sarcastically.
"To be honest he was quite cheerful today," Minerva paused, "At least for him."
"Gee, if that's cheerful I would hate to see him cross." Harry snarkily said.
"No, you would not." Snape said walking out of the coffee shop holding a tall cup and a danish.
Minerva merely pursed her lips and ushered Harry through security into the rest of the building before following him. Snape walked with them quietly.
They had taken the lifts to a lower level and almost reached a set of offices when hey ran into Dumbledore who was standing in the corridor talking to a chubby, gray haired man with a widow's peak wearing a hideous emerald green silk suit.
"Ahh. Minerva, Severus. Hello. This must be the young Master Potter." The man in the green suit cheerfully greeted them. He reminded Harry of this car salesman Vernon had grumbled at.
"Good morning Minister Fudge." Minerva said, "Harry this is Minster for Magic Cornelius Fudge."
Harry remembered Vernon saying that all politicians should be drowned at birth for the greater good and wished his uncle could be here to meet this man. He would have had a heart attack already. "Hello sir." Harry managed to politely smile.
"Ahh well spoken and polite. Nothing at all like you were saying Albus."
"Considering how Albus has been relieved of his position at the school until after the investigation is complete Cornelius Albus does not know very much about what is going on with Harry." Minerva grumpily stated.
"Now, now, Minerva I am not as out of the loop as you might wish." he scolded her gently.
"None the less Albus you are not supposed to be around Harry until the investigation is over." Minerva stated in a commanding tone.
"Ahh my chair must be quite comfortable then, if you desire it this much." Albus tsked.
"I wouldn't know. I retired that extravagant monstrosity." Minerva said with a bored tone.
"Yes, yes. Well. I suppose you are going to have quite the busy week young man. What with the trial tomorrow. Plus the big deal on Thursday. Better than some boring classes eh?" Fudge said giving him a wink.
"I suppose. I had no idea there was so much going on." Harry anxiously replied looking at Professor McGonnagal.
"Yes. Neither did I. I take it things are proceeding quite apace?" Minerva asked sharply.
"Well yes. We wanted to get all of this unpleasantness out of the way before someone found out about things and the newspapers started their harping on. No one needs to drag this out now do they?" Fudge asked with an ingratiating smile. "Its all for the best of Harry now."
"I suppose so. Now if you will excuse us we are expected." Minerva said pushing Harry past the two men.
Madam Bones met them outside of a room, "Minerva, Mr Potter. I was just coming to look for you."
"We were waylaid by Fudge and Dumbledore. What is this about moving all of the trials up to this week?" Minerva asked.
Leading them into a room with a very large window in it that looked out onto another room. The other room held along table at the front of it with three chairs, in front of the table rotated ninety degrees was another chair with a ring that was attached to the back of it just above the head. Another seat was behind the one with the halo ring with a typewriter it looked like. Two small desks faced the long table with two seats behind it. A low fence with a gate separated the front area with two rows of benches on either side of a small aisle.
The room they were in had a door beside the window and a set of four padded chairs facing the window with three long benches behind the chairs. Gesturing for them to take a seat Amelia used her wand to shut the door behind them.
Amelia sighed once the door was shut, "Fudge pressured the department to move the trials up, he was willing to invoke Ministerial Prerogative to do so."
Minerva raised her eyebrow, "That must have cost him a great deal of political capital to do so. Even I am aware that he was a compromise candidate."
"I know. I have a feeling one of our mutual friends pressured him into this. However it will suit my purposes as well."
"Could someone please explain what's going on to me?" Harry requested firmly in an annoyed tone.
"My Apologies Mr Potter. Today will be the Guardianship hearing. Tomorrow will be the trail of Molly and then Ronald Weasley. All you will have to do is give testimony about what happened in King's Crossing. Nothing more. Thursday will be the reading of your parent's will. That will be held in the Hall of Heralds not a courtroom."
Harry nodded, "A trial for Ronald?"
"Yes. I know he is a friend of yours but his mother is charged with breaking our most important law. The veil of secrecy must be maintained at all costs. He is charged with being an accessory to the hiding of Peter Pettigrew. His brother Percival is being tried on Wednesday as he has asked for a separation of his case from theirs. But you should not be required for that one." Madam Bones explained dryly.
"Oh. That could be serious." Harry managed to state.
"Yes. Mrs Weasley is facing a very long time in Azkaban, while your friend Ronald could spend the next few years there at the least."
"Azkaban?" Harry asked puzzled.
"Its a prison in the North Sea. A heavily warded island from which no magical has managed to escape. It has multiple levels of security from minor offenses to maximum punishment." Amelia explained.
"Oh." Harry said.
"Well I should take my place among the gallows." Minerva joked.
"Yes. I'll keep Harry company." Amelia said with a nod as Minerva smiled at him then left. "Don't worry they can neither see nor hear us in this room. And Minerva was trying to make a joke."
Before Harry could ask any other questions a beige robed person walked into the hearing room followed by a tall man in a black uniform. A silver sash ran from his right shoulder to his left hip and he carried a large heavy looking staff. A woman wearing a magenta robe walked in and with a nod to the beige robed woman laid out several papers and folders on her table to the right side of the room. Harry started as he saw the Dursleys walked into the room and take seats along the left. A tall gray haired woman wearing a teal robe sat at the left table with Vernon. She too began to prepare several papers and folders in front of her. Dumbledore, Snape, Hagrid, Professor McGonnagal, The healer Patil and two others Harry did not recognize took seats behind the small fence.
"The teal robe is an Advocator. A defense Solicitor. The magenta robed woman is the Accusator essentially the prosecution, the beige is a scribe and the uniformed man is the bailiff. The Arbiters, or judges will be wearing burgundy robes." She said quickly leaning over.
At that point the Bailiff took his staff and banged it on the floor three times causing everyone to stand in the hearing room. Three burgundy robed people walked in like Madam Bones had warned him to take the seats behind the table.
"Be seated. We are here to determine the custodial care for Harry James Potter. Son of James Potter and Lily Evans. Currently under the guardianship of Vernon and Petunia Dursley. Madam Shaw are you prepared?"
The Magenta robed woman stood, "Yes sir."
"Very well Madam Breant are you and your clients ready?"
"Prima Arbitus, as my clients are muggles, they are unaware of our legal system and I urge the court to take that into account during this hearing." She declared.
"Ignorance of the laws is no defense Madam Breant." The one on the left of the main judge intoned. Harry thought the man looked like he was carved from a block of stone he was so ashen gray.
"I am aware of that Arbitus Blore. However I have not had very much time to properly instruct my clients. I respectfully request an extension on the case."
The arbiters consulted each other for a few moments before the leader shook his head, "Request denied."
"Then I request a change of venue to the muggle courts as any crimes committed were in the muggle world." She petitioned the arbiters.
The gavel was banged without any consultation among the three, "Request denied. All crimes committed against magical citizens shall be tried in a magical court. Even if such crimes are committed by a muggle."
The Advocator huffed in frustration as she said, "Then I am ready to begin my defense."
Harry noticed his uncle was doing his best to not growl or lash out it seemed like. This meant that his right eye was twitching in a nervous tic. His Aunt Petunia looked disgusted and nervous at the same time. Dudley was sitting on his hands looking around like he was going to jump out of his skin.
The Accusator called Healer Patil to the stand and went through with her Harry's medical findings. His physical condition when he entered the school and what their scans had shown. She even projected them into the air in front of the arbiters and the court. Harry was quite intrigued by the view of his own skeleton in life size glowing particles. The advocator did not do much to object to the dry technical report.
Professor McGonnagal had been called next and she described the day she spent observing the Dursleys when Harry was left there. She also testified to the address on his letter and how many they had to send out. The Advocator this time objected to several comments that the professor made saying they were hearsay or personal opinion. The arbiters sat stone faced only overruling or upholding the various objections with the least words possible.
Another healer was called, this man was named Masterson and apparently was the healer working on Sirius as he talked about how much progress he was making. How he would with careful work and consideration be able to make supervised excursions by Christmas time and be certified responsible by summer of next year. The Advocator began to ask about Sirius' drinking, his violence, depression and a bunch of other psychological things that Harry got bored about. He sighed heavily.
"Not very interesting is it?" Amelia sympathetically said.
"Not really. Even though they are all going to be arguing about where I'm going to live. Why don't they just ask me?" Harry scowled.
"Because the adult world is a very complicated and rule bound place. You will get asked your opinion at some point, but due to your fame its not that simple." Amelia explained.
"Yeah." Harry said. Watching as Hagrid lumbered forward, stepping over the gate without opening it. The chair resized itself to contain him as the magenta robed woman asked him about the conditions Harry was found in, where he was found and what happened. When Hagrid mentioned the shotgun the Advocator objected strenuously, citing the fearful appearance of Hagrid. Which made Harry chuckle as Hagrid was wearing his best suit, which looked like a thousand Naugha had given their hides to provide. With his hair slicked down by at least enough axle grease to keep the Hogwarts express going for a year.
Hagrid managed to avoid mentioning the pig tail he had given Dudley but did say he might have played up the degree of threat, especially when he had a shotgun shoved in his face. The arbiter on the main one's right narrowed his eyes at Vernon in a very unhealthy manner.
When the advocator asked Hagrid a series of questions about his actions involving the Dursleys on that night he did have to reveal about the pigs tail and doing magic. Which made Harry wince as he had known he wasn't supposed to.
Snape was called next as a character witness against his Aunt Petunia. Apparently he had been childhood friends of both her and his mother Harry was surprised to find out. Petunia had been a bitter, angry and jealous person towards Lily. Treating her own sister as a pariah and acting as if Snape was the devil incarnate. The advocator objected to his descriptions as personal bias given Snape's romantic feelings towards Lily. Harry almost threw up to hear that but persevered.
The arbiters allowed more of her objections to Snape's testimony to be objected to but enough was said that did not make Petunia look like a nice person. At one point during the testimony the chair made an odd bo-oing noise and the circle behind Snape's head lit up. Amelia explained it was a verificator spell and had sensed Snape had lied.
The question had been if he had made contact with Petunia since his youth and Snape had said no. Apparently he had run into her in Cokeworth when they had been running from Harry's letters. He had also gone to speak with her after Harry had served detention demanding answers for her treatment and behavior from her. How she could treat Lily's only son that way. Snape actually seemed more angry about the affront to the memory of Lily than Harry's treatment.
The last person called was an investigator from the DMLE who specialized in child criminal cases. She testified about going to the Dursley residence and finding tracings Harry had made on his walls, evidence of his blood on the floorboards in the cupboard under the stairs. How Dudley had the latest and greatest toys and Harry's room had broken junk. How the neighborhood all thought Harry was a violent dangerous mentally deficient threat based on Petunia's gossip and Dudley's comments. The investigator also reported on the things that had happened at Harry's school including the Harry hunting by Dudley and his friends. Various images floated in mid air of the cupboard, of the bedroom Harry had which was not bad but the bed had no sheets and was propped up by a stack of books under one broken leg. She also reported on an interview with Aunt marge about her dog Ripper chasing Harry and the other things she had done or said.
The advocator had objected repeatedly only to be overruled by the arbiters each time. With the Prima Arbiter sounding more strained and angry with each time he barked the word. Vernon flinched each time the word was declared by the Arbiter.
Once the woman had finished and taken her seat Madam Shaw stood in front of the Arbiters, "Your honors, as you can see from the evidence, as you heard from the witnesses, the environment Harry Potter was raised within was worse than that of a house elf. A child of two heroic citizens who paid the ultimate sacrifice to fight against evil A child whose entire life has been nothing but pain and suffering, hunted for sport like an animal. Now I call to the stand the architect of these torments. Vernon Dursley himself. We shall hear from his own mouth what his feelings are towards Harry Potter."
Vernon looked like he was going to choke on his mustache. Slowly he stood up and walked to the chair gingerly sitting down he looked nervous at Madam Shaw as she stood over him.
"So Mr Dursley. You have heard the medical testimony from the healer. Do you dispute the injuries Harry received?"
"OF course I do. I don't know how he got all of that." Vernon spluttered. When he said that the chair gave a strange boi-oinging sound and the halo flashed brightly.
Vernon leapt out of the chair like it had bitten him. "What the bloody hel'l?" He exclaimed.
"That was the veraciter indicating that you were not telling the truth MR Dursley. Now sit back down." The bailiff growled leveling his staff at Vernon.
"How do I know this veraciter thing isn't going to do something unnatural to me?" Vernon demanded.
"Mr Dursley all it does is sense the veracity of your words. It does nothing else." The prime arbiter instructed Vernon, "Now sit back down."
Grumbling under his breath Vernon tentatively sat back down.
"Now. As it seems you do know how he got those injuries. Can you tell us how?"
"Well you know you have to sometimes take the belt to a boy for discipline. My own father did that to me and I turned out just fine." Vernon declared..
"And do you take the belt to your own son?"
"Well of course not. He's a fine upstanding young man." Boi-ing went the chair again. "Well he's got some high spirits." Boi-ing.
Vernon jumped up, "Okay this thing is broken." He asserted pointing at the chair.
"There is nothing wrong with the chair. Now SIT!" The prime arbiter dictated in a strident tone.
"You lot all think you can boss the world around. Bloody satanic cultists all of you. The church didn't get enough of you in their bonfires that's what." Vernon growled looking around angrily.
"MISTER DURSLEY YOU WILL BE FOUND IN CONTEMPT IF YOU DO NOT SIT DOWN RIGHTNOW!" The prime arbiter bellowed in a thunderous voice.
Vernon sat so quickly he landed on the arm of the chair, had to spring up then adjust himself to sit again. He held his hands between his knees like a scolded child.
"Mr Dursley. Have you ever purposely withheld food from Harry Potter?"
Vernon worked his tongue around in his mouth before nodding.
"A verbal answer for the record is required." The prime arbiter prompted.
"Yes. We have." Vernon said weakly.
"For what reason?"
"Well we thought we could starve his unnaturalness out of him. That if we kept him weak enough it would go away." Vernon responded with a tremble in his voice. "Only it hasn't. And now we've been dragged into the middle of this madhouse.. You lot can keep him. We don't want him back."
"You don't want him back?"
"No. I'll, I'll drown him in the river before I have him back in my house." Vernon shouted angrily. "I've had enough of this! He was foist upon us in the dad of night by Dumbledore. We didn't want him. We didn't want to accept him. Only he forced us. Don't we have rights? Don't we have a say in our own homes? You lot are all alike. A bunch of jack booted nazis telling right thinking decent people what to do in our own homes! Shoving worthless brats on us without even so much as a how do you do!"
"Objection. Its obvious My client is mentally ill. He doesn't know what he's saying!" madam Breant proclaimed loudly.
"I know what I'm talking about. I'm saner than you lot are! I am Vernon Dursley. I've worked good and hard to get to the place in my life where I am. I won't have some little freak ruining things for us. He's caused too much trouble as it is!"
The prime arbiter banged his gavel over the heated voices of the Advocater trying to object and get her client to stop shouting about Harry and Dumbledore and magicals in general had all ruined his life personally. How they had made the world a dirty freakish place and that they all should have been drown in the river at birth. Madam Shaw simply stood and said nothing.
Finally the bailiff banged his staff on the floor twice causing a shockwave to spread out through the room that stunned everyone momentarily.
"Thank you. Now that we have had order resumed. I do not feel that we need to hear anything further from this witness. Madam Breant I know you were appointed by the Ministry to perform a Herculean task in this matter. However in light of the evidence and testimony provided so far do you still wish to provide a defense?"
"Yes sir. I will have two witnesses to call. All sentient beings deserve a defense."
"Very well Madam Breant. Madam Shaw do you have any further witnesses you will call?"
"No sir. I feel that my case has been sufficiently presented although I do reserve the right to refute with further witnesses should the defense provoke it." Madam Shaw declared.
"So noted. As it is close enough to the lunch hour we shall adjourn until two o'clock. At that point Madam Breant you may begin your presentation." he banged his gavel ending the morning's spectacle.
…...
Harry sat quietly eating a Glamis meal. A rare treat that he only got when Petunia was out with her circle at the garden club and wouldn't be able to cook dinner. Since Vernon couldn't cook he would go get dinner from one of the local fast food joints.
Professor McGonnagal and Madam Bones speculated on who the two witnesses would be. They also discussed how Vernon's meltdown on the stand had hurt his chances of getting a favorable ruling.
"Will he go to jail?" Harry asked.
"Not from this hearing. They can only recommend he be remanded into custody to be tried by a criminal court. Although testimony and his behavior here will be held against him in that trial." Madam bones explained.
"So by telling the judge he should have been drowned as a baby that won't go over well?" Harry observed.
"No. Arbiter Blore lacks a certain sense of humor about such comments." Madam Bones wryly replied.
"Maybe without Uncle Vernon Aunt Petunia will treat me better if I do go back." Harry sighed, "Although Dudley might get upset."
"That is not a high possibility." Madam Bones hinted.
"No I guess not. Do you think Sirius will be better in time to take me in?" Harry asked.
"The healers seem to be optimistic. Although He will have to show he has matured sufficiently. When he was younger he was rather wild." Madam Bones said with a chuckle from Professor McGonnagal.
"But he's been in prison for the last decade." Harry said, "Wouldn't that change him?"
Madam Bones sighed, "Yes but not for the better. He has been in maximum security. The conditions are not very conducive to contemplation and self-improvement."
Harry looked confused at the two older women.
"What she means Harry is that Azkaban is less about rehabilitation at that level than it is punishment and torment." Minerva softly said, "We, We all thought, Well the way it looked was that Sirius had murdered a great many people, had betrayed your parents, that he was working in league with you-know-who. People like that did not deserve rehabilitation."
"So you threw him in prison to just rot?" Harry frowned.
"Harry the time period was one of complete darkness. Your godfather was in a relationship with a girl named Marlene McKinnon. She was six months pregnant when her and her entire family were murdered. Their house burned with them trapped inside. They were just one of many. The war killed almost a fourth of magicals in the UK. The rest of the world was waiting to see if our battle spilled beyond our borders before they would intercede. They were demons. Torture, death, we are still looking for a great many missing people. We found a few of them that had been transfigured into things, animals. I am not even telling you everything I saw serving as an auror. Including my own brother and his entire family. Susan's parents, her grandparents, my mother and father. All torn asunder by Death Eaters. The only reason she lived was because my brother had hidden her in a box under the floor under a sleep spell." Madam Bones emotionally recited. Her eyes closed as if reliving the painful memories.
Harry set his burger down with a muttered "oh."
"I'm sorry Harry. I did not tell you this to put you off of your meal. Its just important that you understand that magicals are not better or worse than anyone else. But when a magical does go bad, with magic things can go quite bad." Madam Bones said, "When with a wave of our wands we can make the weak minded obey our every whim, when we can turn a person into a lamp, it makes fighting crime a rather difficult and onerous task to overcome."
Harry looked concerned, "Can't people do anything to protect themselves?"
"They can that is why we have a defense class, unfortunately there seems to be something wrong with the professors or the position as we have not been able to maintain an effective curriculum for the last decade or more." Minerva grumbled, "We are going to attempt to change this though."
Harry nodded, "That would be good. Professor Quirrel's stutter makes it hard to understand him sometimes, plus Susan says the smell from his turban is disgusting."
Minerva frowned, "Yes. He had some sort of unfortunate occurrence just before school started that changed him. He used to be quite a bit more stable. He claims he is being chased by a vampire but I don't know about that."
"A vampire?" Harry asked.
"Yes. That is what he claims." Minerva confirmed, "Perhaps the stress has gotten to him. I was thinking around Yule of suggesting he retire."
"Who would you get to replace him?" Madam Bones asked.
"Well I am open to suggestions Amelia."
Harry tuned them out as they discussed various people that he had no idea who they were. His mind slipped back to its own quiet thoughts.
…...
The hearing had resumed and the Advocator was going to call her first witness.
"I call Petunia Dursley to the stand." She said.
Harry watch as his aunt haughtily marched to the chair, showing no fear she sat primly upright in it.
"Now Mrs Dursley could you tell me if you have ever physically struck or injured Harry."
"I have not touched him since he became old enough to wash and dress himself." She primly sneered.
"Have you seen your husband do so?"
"My husband is a stern man who runs a tight house. He expects proper behavior at all times." Petunia evasively stated.
"We've heard others testify that Albus Dumbledore placed Harry with you. Did you get asked to provide a home for him?"
"No. We were told to take him in as it was my duty as Lily's sister. He was just dumped on us like a stray cat." She said with her nostrils flaring.
"Did you receive any stipends or monies, any help at all caring for him?"
"No. Not a bloody farthing. I just stepped out to get the milk the morning and there he was in a basket on my doorstep with a bloody note pinned to the blanket." She huffed, "Telling me I had to take Harry in our home or there would be grave consequences. That it was my duty as Lily's sister and his last living relatives." Petunia shrilly huffed in her better than you tone.
"Thank you."
Miss Shaw stood smiling at Petunia, "So you resented Harry for being dumped on you against your will?"
Looking over her shoulder at the metallic ring briefly Petunia pursed her lips angrily before saying, "Yes. I resented him. I may not have been on good terms with my sister but I still cared about her."
"And you've taken that resentment out on Harry."
"Objection Miss Shaw is testifying."
"Let me ask it this way. Have you taken that resentment out on Harry?"
"Maybe a little bit." Petunia confessed, "But its not like I've mistreated him."
"You said you have not given him any physical contact since he was able to clean and dress himself. No hugs? No friendly pat on the back?"
Petunia looked like she was breaking a little bit when she said, "No. I haven't."
"Nothing further arbiters." Shaw said returning to her table.
"I call Albus Dumbledore." Madam Breant said once Petunia was excused.
Harry sat bolt upright as did Madam Bones. Harry was confused that Dumbledore would defend the Dursleys. Why? Everyone had told him Dumbledore was a great man, a defender of the weak and a hero of the magical world. Why would he defend the Dursleys?
"Now MR Dumbledore. Let's start with why did you place Harry with his aunt and uncle."
"It was mainly due to his aunt." Albus said with a smile at the window Harry was behind. "She is his mother's last living relative."
"And this is important?"
"Oh imminently so. It is absolutely vital that Harry returns to any home she dwells within at least once per year. I made that clear to her."
"And why is that?"
"For the safety and continued existence of Harry Potter." Albus warmly explained.
"I see. And you feel convinced that Harry is safe in the care of the Dursleys?"
"Absolutely. He may have not had a very soft and comfortable childhood but he has had one that will help him immensely in the future." Albus stated.
"Knowing what you know now would you place him with the Dursleys again?"
"Oh yes. I would have to. I have no other choice. However, I would do more to ensure that they moderate their behaviors a bit more." Albus said solemnly.
"Thank you. Your witness."
"For Harry's health and safety. So what protections does Harry have from the Dursleys?"
"Well he is a wizard after all. That is plenty of protection from muggles." Albus scoffed.
"So a 5 year old wizard couldn't be killed by a muggle?"
"An ordinary one perhaps, Harry Potter is no ordinary wizard." Albus intoned.
"On whose authority did you place him with the Dursleys?"
"On my own of course. My wisdom and judgment was than sufficient to justify this." Albus said with a shrug. "At least it used to be."
"So why is it vital that he return there?" Miss Shaw leaned forward to stress her next question, "Why couldn't he go to a home that would feed him and care for him?"
" I cannot answer that. All I can say is that it is entirely vital and essential to the effort against our enemy for Harry to return to the residence of Petunia Evans!" Dumbledore emphatically declared. "This entire hearing may have placed Harry at risk. It was a foolish thing to do."
"Why is that?" Miss Shaw inquired.
"Because the enemy is still listening. He has agents everywhere. They seek to help his return." Dumbledore said as if it was common knowledge.
"Really? So we are to take it on your word alone that Harry must be placed with abusive people who do not care about him and would in Vernon Dursley's own words drown him in the river if he could. Who let his sister's dog chase and attack Harry. You will not tell us exactly why?"
"I cannot or the enemy would find out." Dumbledore said earnestly, "And as you no doubt notice the veraciter has not been set off once. So I am telling the truth."
"I am sure you are convinced you are telling a truth." Shaw stated.
"Objection!"
"Withdrawn."
"One last thing Mr Dumbledore. What gave you the right to determine that the Dursleys were the best choice to care for Harry?"
"As I have said before. My wisdom, my judgment, and my experience." Dumbledore calmly said.
"Nothing further."
Harry was trying to make sense of the words Dumbledore said. That it was for his own safety. That he was important to the fight against the enemy? Harry assumed Dumbledore meant Voldemort. He was thinking so hard he missed when they released the witnesses and the arbiters stepped out to deliberate after hearing final arguments by both sides.
"Harry? Are you alright?" Madam Bones asked.
"I think so. I'm just confused at how important he thinks it is for me to go back with them."
"That is the problem most of us who deal with Albus Dumbledore have." Amelia said as she stood to answer the door. She spoke with the person on the other side a few moments before coming back with Minerva.
"I cannot believe the man. I warned him about them that morning. Harry? Are ye alright?" Minerva asked with her brogue showing through slightly.
"Yes ma'am." Harry repeated.
"Well good. I'm sorry ye've had to go through this. I've been Albus' friend for far too many years and he can be quite infuriating as he likes to keep his secrets. You have to pry them from him unless he deigns you worthy of knowing one." Minerva scowled.
"So you don't even know why?" Harry asked.
"All he has ever told me is that it is important and had to be done. I am sorry to say I trusted him and thought they would grow to be better people. I was wrong." Minerva sighed.
Harry wasn't sure what to say or do so stood quietly looking at the window.
The arbiters returned after only a few minutes. Harry felt his stomach doing more flips than ever.
The prime arbiter banged his gavel and began to speak, "We have weighed and considered the evidence and testimony. We find the following points to be true. First that the guardianship of Harry Potter by the Dursleys was never registered with the Hall of Heralds. Secondly that the Dursley home is an unsafe and unhealthy environment for Harry Potter, Third that the Dursleys did knowingly and willingly commit various acts of criminal abuse and neglect. It is our decision that the Dursleys are to be remanded into custody of the aurors until such time as they are given a trial for their criminals acts. This is to include the individual named as Marge Dursley. That they are not the Guardians of Harry Potter and that they are to have utterly no contact with Mr Potter again."
Pausing to allow the mutterings of Vernon to be calmed down the arbiters continued, "As it is during the school term we shall assign guardianship of Harry Potter to the Head of his House Minerva McGonnagal pending a sufficient fitness evaluation of Sirius Black to assume the role of Godfather and Guardian. So decreed on September 9, 1991."
The Prime Arbiter banged his gavel three times then rose. Stopping when Dumbledore rose scowling.
"You fools you have no idea what you have done!"
"Mr Dumbledore. Your sad delusions that our enemy still exists or may return will not be listened to in this court. You are already in sufficient trouble with not only the Board of Regents but the Wizengamut over this. Do not make it worse by being arrested for contempt charges. Our decision has been rendered and will not be changed by theatrical histrionics!" The prime Arbiter expressed with great firmness in his voice.
Dumbledore did not argue anymore but turned and strode from the room with a quickness belying his age.
"We should probably wait for a few minutes to let the corridors clear." Madam Bones said as uniformed personnel came in and led the Dursleys off. Vernon blustering and saying he would contact his solicitor over this while Petunia looked grimly at the table the Arbiters had been sitting at. Dudley had broken down crying and was levitated out of the room.
Harry nodded, unsure of how to feel. He was free of the Dursleys but so many strange things had been revealed he couldn't understand. He would need Hermione to help him clarify this, assuming she could remember anything. He hoped she could.
…...
They arrived back at Hogwarts in time for Dinner. Harry picked at his food still trying to process the day. Hermione, Neville and Susan had not pressured him to say anything. Hermione had hugged him tightly when he walked into the room, which made him feel a little bit better.
After dinner the four of them went outside to sit in an interior courtyard. The torches lining the walls leaving long flickering shadows. Harry didn't know where to start so sat quietly staring at the wall in front of him.
"Harry? Is there anything we can do?" Susan finally asked.
"Explain why Dumbledore would defend the Dursleys?" Harry replied after a deep breath.
"He did what?" Neville growled.
"I'm not surprised. She knew Dumbledore went to great lengths to leave Harry with them every year, no matter what." Hermione said, "Harry you haven't told us the decision of the court. He didn't manage to convince them to leave you with the Dursleys again did he?"
Harry shook his head, "No. McGonnagal is my guardian until Sirius can prove he's recovered. The Dursleys are in custody and going to have a criminal trial now.""
Hermione sighed in relieve, "Well that's good news."
"Yeah. Really." Susan agreed.
"I guess. I just. I wonder what he meant by it was vitally important for me to go back to them. Why he would do that."
"I don't know Harry. I'll do my best to try and sort that out. I promise." Hermione said earnestly.
"Okay. I know you will." Harry said squeezing her hand.
"So we better get to the common room and go over today's work with you Harry." Hermione replied, although she did squeeze his hand back gently.
…...(Review Responses)
Smithback: Thank you.
Kr0n0s00: Sorry, I already have the parings figured out for the story. Harry and Hermione will be exclusive with each other in this one. Neville and Susan will be together this time around too, although they may not be entirely exclusive. I'll leave the pairings revelations to later.
TimeKeeper: Thank you. I hope it continues to go well. Yes Neville did indeed. And he will remember this for a later date when he asks Harry for a favor in return. Lol. I think the return of the Weasleys will not be quite what everyone was expecting. I have a few more tweaks to those notes but will see.
Katmom: Thanks.
Dennisud: Thanks. I wanted to do it slightly different than usual. Luna is going to be slightly different too with a friends network developing earlier. As for Malfoy the Elder he will eventually show up. Around Yule if it goes well.
Honeybear84: Yes I have been told that eating while reading my stories can be dangerous. I'm glad you enjoyed the Viper/Draco bit there.
Yaw6113: You're welcome. Reality sometimes intervenes but I am highly motivated for this story and am glad you and others are enjoying this.
KgFinkel: Not intentionally or consciously. I was thinking Adam Bricker from Love Boat but thank you for the permission. I am sure if he was asked Tom Felton would film that scene too. And the internet would explode...Yeah this Susan is going to be a bit more assertive compared to canon.