AN: Beta Read by Brawn1984 and Starrmastrr.
AN: I do not own Harry Potter or Red Hood.
Disclaimer: some language, violence, terrorizing an individual, an account of attempted murder, two accounts of the desire to harm another person, and possible feelings of the readers wanting harm to befall at least one if not two people.
"Happy Birthday, Dear Harry and Neville!" The residents of 12 Grimmauld Place sang as the Boys of Honor sat at the head of the table with a large three-tiered cake sitting in front of them, fifteen candles burning brightly, illuminating the darkened kitchen. "Happy Birthday to you."
Everyone clapped when Harry and Neville blew out their candles.
The lights flickered to life when someone waved their wand igniting the candles.
"Happy Birthday Harry and Neville." They all said in unison.
"Let's open presents before we have cake." Mrs. Weasley said.
They all gathered their presents and sat in anticipation as they handed them to Harry and Neville one by one.
"Here you go." Hermione said handing Harry a wrapped cube and Neville a thick rectangular package.
"Thanks." Harry said tearing open the paper to show...
"The chronicles of Narnia?" Ron asked. "She got you books for your birthday."
"It's not schoolbooks Ronald. I don't want to spoil it, but it's about traveling to another world."
"I love it." Harry said. "I'll be sure to read it this year at school."
Neville opened his to show... "I love it Hermione." He said holding up a book titled:
101 Useful plants and Herbs.
By: Ashton Buttonwood
"What a lovely gift." Mrs. Weasley said.
"I'm next." Ron said handing a parcel each to Harry and Neville.
They opened it simultaneously and saw a Chudley Cannons magazine with a bag of Chocolate Frogs.
Hermione went to say something biting when she felt someone's hand on her shoulder. She looked over to see Jason shaking his head. She'd never understand how he was so good at reading people.
That's when she realized what she was about to do. She wouldn't have only embarrassed Ron, but the other Weasley's too. She felt so ashamed.
"Thanks Ron." Harry said.
"Yeah, thanks Ron." Neville parroted.
"You're Welcome, Mate."
"Here you go Harry." Neville said handing Harry a large rectangular gift.
"Here you go Nev." Harry said handing him an equally large rectangular package.
Harry opened it to show that it was:
The Big Book or Medicinal Plants and Herbs
By: Leif Greytwig
"Thanks Nev." He spoke.
"I just figured that with you and Jason always getting hurt you'd want to have it."
"It's really thoughtful."
Neville smiled and opened his present.
The secrets to ancient Herbology.
By: Bramble Pine
"Thanks Harry." He spoke. "I can't wait to show Professor Sprout."
"Does she even have a copy of that book?" Ginny asked.
"She has to." Neville said. "She's the Herbology professor."
Everyone sat down as Ginny took her turn. She handed Harry a wrapped cylinder, and Neville a box, and waited in anticipation as they opened them.
Harry ripped off the paper and opened the cardboard Cylinder. He pulled out a 2'X3' poster of the Holyhead Harpies. "Thank you, Ginny."
"You're Welcome." She spoke.
Neville opened the box and looked inside. He pulled out a sprout. "Wow!" He exclaimed. "What is it?"
"I um... I don't know exactly." Ginny said. "I asked the Herbologist for a plant for a friend's birthday and she handed me this. She said that it would end up where it needed to go."
"Well, that's cryptic as hell." Jason said. "What, is it going to sprout legs and walk away?"
Jason got lightheaded and saw a large tree with an old man standing next to it. The man patted the tree before sitting under it. The man didn't move. He shook his head and looked around. It didn't look like anyone had noticed anything.
"I don't know." Ginny said. "I asked her what she meant, but she said that it would end up where it needed to and would benefit the Wizarding world greatly."
"My turn!" Luna cheered before anyone could say anything and handing Harry and Neville each a small square box.
"Um, Luna." Hermione said. "You do know that those are Casket Jewelry Boxes, right?"
"Yes." Luna said in her neutral dreamy tone.
Harry opened his box to show a black chain with a charm hanging from the end while Neville opened his box and showed a beautiful gold ring with intricate designs carved into the gold.
"They are Anti-Nargles Charms." She spoke. "I thought about getting you guys a hair charm like Jason's, but you two couldn't pull off the braid like Jason can. So, I got Harry a Necklace and Neville a ring."
"Thanks Luna." Harry said as he put the necklace on.
"Thank you, Luna." Neville said hugging her.
She eagerly returned the hug and took the ring before sliding it on his left middle finger.
Mr. And Mrs. Weasley took their turn and handed both Harry and Neville a box and a large parcel.
They both opened the boxes and saw that it was full of sweets.
"Thank you." Harry said tasting a homemade shortbread. He swallowed the shortbread and put the treats to the side.
"Thank you Mr. And Mrs. Weasley." Neville said tasting a chocolate truffle.
"You're both welcome dears." Mrs. Weasley said.
Harry opened his parcel and saw a mass of fabric.
He opened the fabric to show a 90"X100" quilt with a design in the middle.
"'Wingardium Leviosa'." Sirius cast pulling the quilt in the air so everyone could see.
The Quilt had a Stag and a Doe standing in a clearing with a fawn standing in between them taking up most of the front.
"Wow." They all said in unison.
Harry ran to Mr. And Mrs. Weasley and hugged them. "Thank you." He said with a sniff.
"Oh. You're welcome, Harry dear." Mrs. Weasley said while Mr. Weasley patted his shoulder comfortingly.
The scene was very touching to all but three. Jason and Sirius were trying to keep themselves from going out and Killing the Dursley's, and Draco was trying not to be Jealous at Harry.
Neville opened his parcel next showing a similar mass of fabric.
"Wingardium Leviosa." Jason cast levitating the quilt into the air to show their group; Fred, George, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Neville, Jason, Parvati, Padma, Ginny, Luna, and Mary, standing together in front of Hogwarts in the background.
"Thank you." He said feeling tears sting the corners of his eyes.
Luna hugged him, and he returned the hug.
Parvati and Padma came up next and handed Harry and Neville two parcels. They opened them to reveal two variety boxes of sweets and treats. "Thanks." Harry said at the same time Neville said. "Thank you.".
"You're Welcome." They said in unison before looking at each other, then the Weasley Twins.
The Twins just smiled at them.
"We are such good influences Gred." George said.
"That we are Feorge." Fred said.
"Oh, hush." Mrs. Weasley scolded.
Mary pushed a package towards Harry and a package towards Neville. "I hope you like it. I had my dad enchant it."
Harry opened his package and saw a crimson journal with a gold Raven on it, and two quills tucked into the cover.
Neville's journal was crimson read with a golden lion on it.
"Thank you, Mary." They said in unison.
"It's enchanted to play music when you write. Depending on what you're writing depends on what kind of music plays."
"Really?" Harry asked while Neville began writing something and sweet, tender, loving music filled the air.
Everyone looked at Neville, but only Jason noticed the pink tint fill Luna's cheeks.
"Yes. It's supposed to help you write better, and my mom enchanted it so that you can transfer it to different papers and parchments. Also, if you read it out loud then it plays the music that you wrote to in the background."
"That's amazing." Hermione said.
Mary Shied away but stopped when She looked at Jason and saw him smile at her.
"Thank you, Mary." Harry said. "Really. It's an amazing gift."
"You-you're Welcome."
Sirius handed Harry two boxes, a long rectangular box and a smaller square box, and Neville a larger box.
Harry opened them and saw a broom carry case for his Firebolt and a broom care kit complete with manual.
"Thanks Sirius!" He said excitedly. I can't wait to put it to use?"
"You're Welcome pup." He spoke.
Neville opened his box and saw... "No way!" He shouted when he saw a stack of ten or so books on Herbology and other plants. "Thank you, Mr. Black!"
"You're Welcome, Neville." Sirius Said. "But please, just call me Sirius. Mr. Black was my father."
"Okay. Thanks Sirius."
"You're Welcome, Neville."
Draco and Clara walked up, and Draco held out his hand to Harry. "I wanted to extend my hand in friendship like I did in first year, but I wanted to do it properly this time." He spoke.
"Th-thanks." Harry said, caught off guard, but extended his hand. He felt something was wrong when his hand tightened around something that felt like a hand but wasn't a hand. He looked down and saw a leather workers glove with the word friendship written across the back of the hand. He looked up at Draco, confused.
Draco looked at Sirius. "That's how you pull a prank right? I did it correctly?"
Sirius roared with laughter as the Weasley twins looked like their brains had been broken.
"Did Ickle Dracokins just pull a prank?" Fred asked George.
"I think he did?" George replied.
"Weird." The two said in unison.
"What is it?" Harry asked.
"It's a heating glove." Clara said. "Draco wanted to pull a prank on you, and I told him to at least make it useful. So, we brainstormed and made this. I hope you like it."
"I do. Thank you." He said holding his hand out for Draco. This time Draco shook it with his real hand.
The group watched as two boys, once enemies, became friends.
Draco walked over to Neville. "I'm sorry that I was a massive git for so many years, and I know that it won't make up for it, but here." He handed Neville a box.
Neville opened the box and saw:
One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi.
By: Phyllida Spore
"Th-thank you Draco." Neville said timidly. "May-maybe we can work on being friends."
Draco nodded and looked at Jason who gave a sad smile.
Harry looked at Jason who handed him and Neville each a bag. They looked inside the bag and pulled out two forearm sheaths. One of them had a knife with a curved handle. Harry grabbed his and pulled it from the sheath. "What is it?" He asked.
"It's called a punch knife." Jason said. "Though it's also called Punch Daggers, Push Knives, and push daggers."
"It looks amazing."
"It's made from transfigured Basilisk bone that's been soaked in Tentecula Venom and sharpened to a blade edge and point. The handle is made from polished red wood and gold-plated Nth metal."
"Nth Metal?" Hermione asked. "What's that?"
"It's anti-magic Metal." Luna said. "It negates the magic around the itself so it can't be effected by magic, but it also can negate a person's magic."
Everyone just looked at Luna.
"What?" Luna asked.
"It's true." Jason said. "Nth Metal has the ability to negate magical properties. I used it so that Harry wouldn't get disarmed."
"But wouldn't that mess with Harry's natural magic?" Mary asked.
"You'd think so, but no. The sheaths have been charged with Negative Magic."
"What?" The group asked.
"Negative Magic. Think of our Magic as Positive Magic, Anti-Magic as Nullified Magic, and Negative Magic as, well... Negative Magic."
"Then wouldn't it clash with Harry's Magic like the Anti-Magic?" Hermione asked.
"No. They repel each other."
"That doesn't make any sense!"
"And that's why it's a paradox!" Luna shouted, raising a finger into the air to solidify her point.
"No! It needs to make sense!"
"And it does. When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth." She held out a fist for Jason who fist bumped it, and she made an explosion gesture with her hand.
"What's your last presents?" Mrs. Weasley asked.
Harry and Neville opened the other gift and showed it to be a wand sheath.
"You'll be ready for nearly everything." Jason said.
"Thanks." Harry said.
"You're Welcome."
"Thanks Jason." Neville said. "Hopefully, we won't need to use them."
Everyone smiled sadly in hopes that they wouldn't need to be put to use, but after their last year, they weren't sure of anything anymore.
"Time for cake and ice cream." Mrs. Weasley said changing the subject. "Harry, why don't you and Neville take your things up to your room's?"
The friends grabbed Harry's and Neville's presents and walked them up to Harry's and Ron's room on the second floor.
Neville would have to remember to bring his trunk tomorrow for all of his presents.
When they finished Jason motioned for them to follow him up to his room on the third floor. They did and Jason opened his trunk.
"Here you guys go." He said handing them forearm sheaths and daggers. "Call it a Late or early birthday present."
"Where did you get these?" Hermione asked.
"I summoned them my first night here."
"Wouldn't the negative magic repel your positive magic?"
"If they really were negatively charged when I sent for them, but they weren't."
"How did you make them negatively charged?"
"With the negative charge charm."
"HOW IS THAT EVEN A SPELL!" She demanded.
"Alfred has been a Wizard for sixty plus years. He knows a lot of magic."
"That actually makes a lot of sense." Ron said. "If Alfred has been practicing magic as long as he has then he would know a lot of unconventional spells."
"Then how come it's not in "Hogwarts: A History"?"
"Because it's a spell and it's most likely restricted." Jason said. "Now. Put your sheaths on. You're going to want to wear them from this year on."
They put their forearm sheaths on and noticed that each of the sheaths had been made to their exact dimensions.
"How did you make these so perfectly?" Padma asked.
"I had a little help." Jason said as he nodded towards Clara. "I made the necessary measurements and Clara helped make the sheaths. As for the push daggers. That was all my doing."
Each of their push daggers had been made specifically for them. Harry's, Ron's Hermione's, Ginny's, Luna's Neville's, Fred's, George's, and Mary's all had red and gold handles, Padma's push daggers handle was blue and bronze, Clara's was gold and black, and Draco's was green and silver.
"Where's yours?" Mary asked.
Jason moved his sleeve up to show his own Push Dagger.
They placed their wands in their Forearm sheaths and headed downstairs for cake and ice cream.
Jason grabbed Draco and stopped him. "Did you think about what I said?" He asked.
Draco looked at Clara before looking back at Jason. "I have."
"And?"
"If... if I do this. I would have to leave Clara until after school when we could run away. It would be a cruel torture for both of us."
"I know. Unless you found a way to stay together while being apart."
"No. I don't want to have to leave her like that."
"You guys could always see each other at night?"
"True enough, but if we got caught, and word got back to my father... I can't imagine what he would do to her."
"The means would justify the end."
"Could you go through life, day by day, being able to see Parvati, but not be near her?"
"I see your point."
"But. I suppose that it's for the best. If I can get claim to Malfoy Manor and its fortune, then I could do more good than my father is."
"When do you want to go back?"
"The sooner the better."
"Then you can go back tonight. Tell Clara."
Draco felt a lump rise in his throat and tears burn the corners of his eyes. This was going to be the hardest thing he'd ever done, and he hoped that he could look himself in the mirror each morning he woke up.
August 12th
Jason woke up that morning with a bad feeling. He dressed quickly, grabbed a bag from his trunk, and ran to the window.
He jumped from the window and repelled down to ground level before taking off. He needed to get to the Ministry of Magic.
Harry woke up that morning feeling a pit in his stomach. He got up, showered quickly, dressed, and headed downstairs for breakfast. He made sure to have his Punch Dagger and wand in their sheaths as he finished his walk down the steps.
He sat down at the kitchen table next to Sirius.
"How are you doing pup?" He asked.
"I'm nervous." Harry admitted.
"Why? Your innocent."
"Jason has made me paranoid. I can't help but feel that the Ministry is going to do something to try and discredit me even more, then they'll come back later and demand that I save them from Voldemort."
Mrs. Weasley hissed at the name.
"Sirius." Harry said. "What am I going to do?"
"Eat breakfast." Mrs. Weasley said. "Then you, Sirius, and Arthur will head over to the Ministry. Albus will also be there."
"He will?" Harry asked hopefully.
Jason stopped in his tracks. For some reason he was overcome with a longing for violence. He brushed it off and kept walking. He had more important things to worry about.
Harry began eating breakfast. When he finished Mrs. Weasley took his plate. "Go wash up Harry. Then you can pop off to the Ministry."
Harry did so, but the pit in his stomach wouldn't leave.
Jason arrived at the Ministry of Magic and shadow ran until he found an entrance. He ran inside and found a directory. When he found the person, he was looking for.
He ran to a shadow and appeared in a shadow outside Fudge's office.
"Are you sure Delores?" Fudge asked. "Should we really change the hearing to court room ten, and back an hour?"
"Of course, I am Minister." A toad like voice said. "If you want to get rid of your Potter problem then you need to discredit him."
Jason growled but stayed hidden. He'd love nothing more than to kill Fudge and this Delores freak, but he needed more information. Maybe he'd send them a cage full of Doxies.
"Do you really think this will work?" Fudge bumbled.
"Of course. I've taken care of everything."
Jason almost moved against her right then, but he'd wait to strike, and when he did... Delores would wish she were dead.
Harry, Mr. Weasley, and Sirius had made their way to the Ministry of Magic and were headed to Mr. Weasley's office when they were bumped into by a cloaked figure.
"Go to courtroom ten." The figure hissed. "They changed the time on you in order to discredit you."
"Hey! Who are you!" Sirius yelled reaching for the figure, but he stopped when he got a look under the Hood.
The figure shook its head and disappeared into the crowd.
"Let's go to Courtroom ten." Sirius said ushering Harry and Mr. Weasley towards Courtroom ten.
When they arrived, Harry walked in and saw the room from Dumbledore's Pensive.
He saw the chair that they would use to restrain Death Eaters... they were trying to psych him out, throw him off his game. He hoped that it didn't work. He reached up and grabbed his punch knife to reassure himself.
He was startled when the door opened and several men and women in blue robes walked in. Three of them stopped and stared at him. One of them, Minister Fudge stopped and whispered something to a woman. The Woman whispered something back and they walked to the bench and sat down.
"Harry James Potter!" Fudge yelled. "Take your Seat!"
Harry sat down in the chair and hoped that the chains wouldn't wrap around him.
"Harry James Potter!" Fudge yelled. "You have been accused of casting the Patronus charm in the presence of a Muggle! Do you deny it?"
"No, but..."
"After getting a warning two years ago?"
"Yes, but..."
"You were able to cast a Patronus?" A woman wearing a monocle asked.
"Yes." Harry said. "A stag, just like my..."
"A fully corporeal Patronus?!"
"Yes! It was attacking my..."
The door opened and Professor Dumbledore strode in. "Terribly sorry." He spoke. "I wasn't aware that the courtroom had changed. I am here to defend Harry James Potter, and I have brought witnesses to defend him."
"What?" Fudge asked. "Who?"
"May I present Sirius Black, Arabella Figg, Mundungus Fletcher, and Dobby the House Elf."
The four mentioned individuals stepped into the courtroom.
"We don't have time for this Albus!" Fudge boomed.
"Don't have time for Justice?" Dumbledore asked. "It Sounds to me like you don't want to find out the truth."
"Of course, we do, but..."
"Then I suggest you question each of them. Starting with Dobby the House Elf."
"Why would we question a House Elf!?"
"Because sir." Dobby said stepping up. "Dobby is the bad, bad House Elf who got Harry Potter into trouble two years ago. Dobby tried getting Harry Potter banned from Hogwarts so he would be safe."
"Why wouldn't Hogwarts be Safe?" The woman with the monocle asked.
"Because Miss. Dobby's former master's had a nasty, nasty plot to hurt several people. Dobby tried getting Harry Potter expelled so he would be safe. He and Jason Todd 'The Oppressor of Oppressors' are shiny beacons for the House Elves and others who are oppressed."
"Jason who?" A man asked.
"Jason Todd 'The Oppressor or Oppressors' sir."
"J-Jason Todd is not on trial here!" Fudge yelled. "Harry Potter is! Now, let us determine if Harry Potter is guilty of underage magic."
"Does that mean you are going to strike the incident of two year ago away?" Dumbledore asked. "If so then this trial is unnecessary."
"This trial is most certainly necessary!" Fudge demanded. "Now, call forth your witnesses Dumbledore!"
"I call Sirius Black to Harry's defense."
Sirius sat down in a conjured armchair provided by Dumbledore. "Ooh." He spoke. "Comfy."
"Please state your name for the record!" Fudge demanded.
"Sirius Black III." Sirius said clearly.
"Tell us your account of the incident!"
"Harry asked me to Apparate him to the Dursley's, his aunt and uncle's, house at Privat Drive on July 4th so that he could return the clothes they'd given him. As we were returning them, we were overcome by the cold associated with a Dementor. We turned around to see a Dementor coming at us, and that's when Harry cast his Patronus."
"And why didn't you cast a Patronus!" Fudge demanded. "You are an of age Wizard! How come Potter had to cast the Patronus!"
"Because..." Sirius said in a controlled voice while he gripped the arms of the chair, and felt his hackles rise. "... for twelve years I was wrongfully imprisoned in Azkaban. Because of my incarceration I am unable to think of the happy memories needed to summon a Patronus, let alone a full Corporeal Patronus itself."
The people looked down at Sirius.
"Very well." Fudge said. "I have no more questions for you. Anyone else?"
"Mr. Black." A toad like woman in pink asked. "Were you truly wrongfully imprisoned in Azkaban, or did you get out on luck?"
Sirius and Harry glared at the woman.
"Peter Pettigrew was responsible for the crime I was accused of, and I was declared a free man after the trial."
"Of course, you were. Do you feel guilty knowing that poor, timid Peter Pettigrew has taken your place in Azkaban? Wouldn't you feel better if you admitted the truth?"
Sirius was about three seconds from changing into his Grim form and tearing her throat out, while Harry was reaching for his punch knife so he could stab the toad like woman in the throat... he was beginning to think that Jason might not be the best influence on him.
A cloaked figure was moving through the shadows towards courtroom ten when it felt both pride and betrayal for some reason.
"Sirius Black is not on trial." Dumbledore said, stopping Harry and Sirius from attempting to murder the toad like woman.
"Of course. No further questions." The toad like woman said disappointedly.
"My next witness is Arabella Figg." Dumbledore said.
A batty old woman with grizzled, grey, fly away hair, wearing a hairnet and tartan carpet slippers walked up to the chair as a visibly shaking Sirius stepped to the side.
If anyone noticed the toad like woman smiling, they didn't say anything.
"Would you describe the incident in your own words?" Fudge asked.
"I was walking home from the corner store after buying some cat food when I saw the Dementor flying."
"Dementors don't fly madam!" Fudge accused.
"Well then it floated." Miss Figg said.
"How would you describe it then?" The woman wearing the monocle asked.
"It was big and wore a cloak."
"That's not very useful information." Fudge chuckled.
"There was also a feeling. It was cold, and I thought that I'd never be happy agai..."
The door burst open, and in flew a figure cloaked in robes that hid its face, but the presence was undeniable.
"D-D-Dementor!" A voice, probably Fudge's, yelled.
The Dementor floated deeper into the room causing the temperature to drop, it's breathing a ragged and sounding as if it was sucking on air. It floated towards the group menacingly.
"Expecto Patronum!" The woman wearing the Monocle cast, sending a silvery Corporeal owl flying at the Dementor.
The Owl hit the Dementor and dissipated into silvery dust.
The Dementor brushed the spot where the Patronus had hit and... laughed?
The temperature dropped several more degrees with each laugh.
"S-s-someone do s-s-something!" Fudge yelled.
Dumbledore reached for his wand and waved. "Expecto Patronum." He cast.
A silvery Phoenix appeared in the air and hit the Dementor driving it back some, but not all the way.
"Expecto Patronum!" The toad like lady shrieked sending a Silvery Persian Cat at the Dementor only for it too to fail.
The Dementor walked through the courtroom towards the bench, it's breathing sounding desperate as if it were a starving man in front of a buffet. The air becoming cold enough that everyone could see their breath the closer it got to the bench.
"Do something!" Sirius yelled to Harry.
"I would, but I don't want the Ministry to snap my wand for underage magic use!"
"It's not like he could do anything if not even the great Albus Dumbledore couldn't stop it!" A voice yelled.
Harry stood up and strode in front of the Minister's bench. "If I try this, will you promise not to snap my wand for underage magic use?" He asked.
"If you can stop a Dementor that Albus Dumbledore couldn't stop we'll give you an Order of Merlin!" Fudge yelled.
Harry turned around, drew his wand, and thought of the happiest memory he could before creating a chain of his happiest memories. "EXPECTO PATRONUM!"
A silvery stag erupted from the tip of his wand and charged the Dementor. The Dementor stayed there for a second until it was pushed back by Harry's Patronus and out the door before flying into the shadows.
Harry put his wand back into his wand sheath and walked back to Sirius before turning around and looking at the Ministry officials.
The Ministry officials looked at Harry in awe.
"How was he able to do that?" An official asked.
"He must have been in league with the Dementor!" Fudge exclaimed.
"Shut up Fudge!" The woman with the monocle said. "All those in favor of Exonerating Mr. Potter of the charges say aye."
"Aye." Nine of the twelve officials said.
"And those opposed?" She asked.
Fudge, the Toad like woman, and Percy Weasley raised their hands.
"Congratulations Mr. Potter." The woman wearing the Monocle said. "You are exonerated of the charges two years ago, and this will be considered your first warning for underage magic use."
"Thank you." Harry beamed. "You have no idea how much that means to me."
Fudge, the Toad like woman, and Percy ran out of the room while the other officials congratulated Harry and shook His hand.
"Congratulations." Sirius said. "You survived your first court hearing; may it be your last one for the rest of your life."
"Thanks, and I agree." Harry said before looking for Dumbledore, but he only found Mrs. Figg.
"I'm so sorry for not telling you that I knew of Magic Harry." She spoke. "I was only doing it because Dumbledore told me not to. He said that it could have put you in danger."
"I understand." Harry sighed.
"Thank you, Harry, and I'm glad that you have been cleared of the charges. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go feed my cats." Mrs. Figg said as she made her way out of the Courtroom.
"Let's get out of here pup." Sirius said leading Harry out of the courtroom where they met Mr. Weasley.
"Well?" Mr. Weasley asked. "How did it go?"
"He's a free man." Sirius said as they began walking up the stairs. "Now we just need to wait for school to start and we'll be back at Hogwarts."
"Did you get called back?" Harry asked.
"Yeah. I've been waiting to reply until after your hearing, but I'm going to say yes."
A figure watched from the shadows as Potter walked through the halls. If they could kill him, they would solve a lot of problems. They smiled at the thought of the Minister congratulating them for a job well done and awarding them an Order of Merlin for outstanding service for the betterment of Wizarding society. They pulled their wand from their robes... "Avada..."
"All right. You'll be the best..." Harry was cut off as they walked up the stairs to see Fudge talking with Lucius Malfoy.
Harry's fingers twitched and his hand moved towards his punch knife. Lucius Malfoy had been there the night Voldemort came back. He was in the Graveyard, laughing at him and his friends as they were tortured. He was there torturing his friends. He was there... and he NEEDED TO DIE!
"Hello Lucy." Sirius said. "Did you get my present?"
"Are you referring to the Boggart in the chest or transfiguring my robes to... burlap." He shuddered.
"Both."
"You'll pay for that Black!"
Lucius roared as he pulled his wand.
Harry bolted in front of Sirius pulling his punch knife and swiping at Lucius.
No one noticed a green stream of Magic fly passed him, missing him entirely.
As Harry swiped at Lucius, a bolt of red light burst from his wand, and went flying past Harry.
Harry realized that Lucius was barely out of reach, only about an inch, and would miss, but he was surprised when his dagger grew an inch, and barely missed Lucius nose. It scratched it but didn't break the skin.
There was a thump, and the sound of someone falling down the stairs.
Harry and Arthur looked back to see that Sirius wasn't standing there anymore.
"Sirius!" Harry yelled walking to the edge of the stairs and looking down to see Sirius crumpled at the bottom. "SIRIUS!" He yelled racing down the stairs and grabbing Sirius. He saw that Sirius chest was rising, but he wasn't waking up. "Sirius!" He shouted. "Sirius!"
"Can we get a Medi-Witch over here!" Arthur yelled before running down the stairs.
Lucius used the confusion to run away, and Fudge ran for his office.
The figure from the shadows ran leaving a tuft of pink fur on the floor.
Fudge ran into his office and bolted the door before sitting at his desk. He pulled out a goblet and a decanter of Raspberry Schnapps and was just about to pour a glass when he heard the rattling breathing. He dropped the Decanter, shattering it on the floor. "No!" He shouted jumping to his feet and slipping in the schnapps.
A cold clammy hand caught his writs and pulled him close.
"No! Let me go!" He yelled.
The figure pulled him close and pulled his hood back revealing a scabby face with empty sockets where the eyes should have been, and a gash where the mouth was.
"No! NO! NNOOO!" He yelled.
The Dementor let him go and disappeared as his door opened.
"You have a delivery Minister." A Wizard said. "Minister? Are you okay?"
"Didn't you see that Dementor?!" Fudge asked startled.
"N-no? Are you okay Minister? Maybe you should take the day off."
"Perhaps you're right. I'll finish up some paperwork and head home for the day."
"Sounds like a Good idea. I'll tell custodial staff to come clean up your room and let supply know to get you a new decanter of Raspberry Schnapps."
"Thank you, Richard." Fudge said as he signed for the Armoire Richard had delivered. "Do you know who sent it?"
"No clue. The only thing on the Sender label said:
To: My ickle Fudgeykins.
Fudge went beet red. "The last person to call me Ickle Fudgeykins was my mother."
"Would she send you an Armoire?"
"Perhaps." Fudge said opening it and jumping back as a figure stepped from the Armoire. "NO!" Fudge yelled. "NOT YOU!"
Richard just watched as Jason Todd stepped from the Armoire and glared at Fudge.
"Forget the paperwork!" Fudge yelled. "I'm going home early!"
"What would you like done with the Armoire Minister!" Richard yelled after him.
Richard pulled his wand out, pointed it at the figure of Jason, and cast: "Riddikulus."
Jason was wearing the original Robin suit. He laughed at it, and the Boggart disappeared into the Armoire. With that Dick Grayson left the Ministry of Magic and apparated away.
Jason disappeared into the shadows and took off the Dementor Suit and put it in his bag before changing into the outfit he'd come in. A pair of black tactical pants, a charcoal grey long sleeved shirt with a red bat in the center of his chest, and a red zip up hoodie. He zipped up the hoodie and pulled the Hood over his face before he pulled his bag on and walked out of the shadows.
He was walking past the stairwell that led down to courtroom ten when he saw a crowd of people surrounding the stairs. He looked down and saw Harry and Mr. Weasley standing to the side while medi-witches loaded Sirius onto a stretcher.
He backed up and vaulted over the crowd before he dove down the stairs and rolled to his feet.
"Harry! Mr. Weasley! What happened?"
"Lucius Malfoy happened!" Harry boy out through gritted teeth. "He pulled his wand, and I went to stop him, but he got a spell off that hit Sirius!"
"The medi-witches say that he wasn't hit with a hex, just a stunner, and that it likely saved his life. If it had been the petrifying spell..." Mr. Weasley blew air out of his mouth. "... it very well could have killed him."
"There's something else." Harry whispered. "Lucius Malfoy was one of the Death Eaters in the Graveyard that night."
Jason flashed back to that night. He looked around at the Death Eaters and saw them with their masks on, and their masks off. He recognized four of the Death Eaters. Joker, Barty Crouch Jr., James Gordon Jr., and Lucius Malfoy. There were two that looked like they might have been Crabbe and Goyle, but he wasn't able to accurately place them because he was too busy having his ass handed to him by Joker.
He came back to reality and realized he was panting.
"Are you okay Jason?" Mr. Weasley asked.
"Yeah, yeah. I'll be fine." He spoke. "I need some air." He turned around and ran into a shadow disappearing and reappearing outside the Ministry of Magic.
He ran into an alley and climbed the fire escape so that he was standing on the roof and looking out over London. He needed to calm down, and he knew of only one way that worked. He ran to the other edge of the roof and jumped over the edge before he tucked and rolled to his feet and kept running. There were always monsters running around in broad daylight. He just needed to find some.