Chapter 70

The True Story Finally Told

Dear readers, you will notice that I'm now writing in a different paper, and this has been for many reasons, the most important of which is the way the Ministry of Magic has been acting in regards to the grave danger we are all in.

I am talking about the return of You-Know-Who. I have been in hiding since his return last July, a target of his because I was willing to tell the truth about his followers and I wasn't afraid to support good, decent people such as Lily Potter.

It was Lily who saw the return of the Dark Lord, as she was taken prisoner by his supporter, Peter Pettigrew, who stole her blood, the blood of his enemy, the bones of his father, Tom Riddle Senior, and the flesh of his servant, Pettigrew. Together, those items were able to resurrect the Dark Lord.

I have been researching how it was possible, and I've found references to an ancient magic that can restore a soul to a body, but how did he return for his soul to return? Sadly, I've been unable to discover that. But today, that isn't what I want to talk about.

What happened in July was perhaps one of the darkest moments in our world's history, but it was even worse for Lily, who was forced to be the instrument of her nemesis's return, and watched as he stood in front of her, taunting her, deadnaming and misgendering her. Clearly, You-Know-Who is a bigot, but we knew this from his treatment of muggles, despite his being born a half blood.

I spoke to Lily via a very special method of communication, the precise method I won't disclose here to protect myself, and for that, I hope you can forgive me. It was a risk, of course, but I did this because the world deserves to know the truth of what happened that night.

So what did happen? It all began when Lily, one of the Tri Wizard Champions, reached the middle of the maze in the final task of the contest, alongside her friend Fleur Delacour. Lily insisted Fleur take the trophy, wanting her to win for all she had done, and for being an amazing friend. Fleur, being the wonderful young woman she is, insisted Lily take the victory. As a compromise, they both took the trophy. It should have teleported them both to the outside of the maze.

Unfortunately, Barty Crouch Junior, who had long been thought dead, had been impersonating Alastor Moody, who was the Defence Against The Dark Arts teacher, and had put a spell on it so it took the two of them to the cemetery at Little Hangleton, where You-Know-Who's father, Tom Riddle Senior, was buried after he was killed by his son.

Peter Pettigrew attempted to kill Fleur, but thankfully, Lily had shouted a warning to run as soon as she saw the name Riddle of a grave, knowing the truth of who You-Know-Who really is. Fleur leapt out of the way of the spell, landing on the cup, which reverted back to the original location it was meant to go to, which was the exterior of the maze at Hogwarts.

In her relief of Fleur's escape, Lily was captured by Pettigrew, who tied her to a gargoyle, and performed the spell to resurrect his master. First, he took Blood of his Enemy, Forcibly Taken.

Next was the bone of the father, unknowingly given, followed by the flesh of the servant, willingly given. Lily pleaded with Pettigrew not to do it, but he did so, and thus, the Dark Lord returned.

He immediately gloated to Lily, and attempted to seduce her to join him, offering her a place by his side, to help form the world to how they felt it should be, and to give her a full transition. He is, after all, very powerful, and perhaps he could perform such a spell.

Lily Potter, however, is an amazing young woman with a powerful sense of moral decency and refused to do anything with him. She said, and I quote, 'Better for who? You and yours? Those who you deem suitable? That's not better, that's twisted!' and right she is, that is a twisted view to have. Lily clearly is a shining example we should follow, believing in truth, in freedom for all, and equality. She believes this, even though many have abused her and attacked her just for having the courage to be herself.

As soon as Lily rejected him, You-Know-Who began to use her deadname and misgendered her to his Death Eaters, including, but not limited to, Lucius Malfoy, Walden Macnair, Francis Crabbe, Gregory Goyle Senior, Tiberus Nott, and Gaspar Avery. There were more there, between thirty and forty-five Death Eaters, though not all the names are known. Those are merely the ones named aloud by You-Know-Who.

When Lily was one, You-Know-Who attacked her, and was defeated. Now, I have been able to learn how, and been told that it is safe to reveal the way she survived. It was because of her parent's sacrifice, her mother's love, that prevented the killing curse from harming Lily. A sacrifice like that is a powerful one, and it kept her alive.

Unfortunately, because You-Know-Who took her blood in his resurrection, he was able to bypass the sacrifice, meaning he can now hurt her. He proved this by pressing a finger to her scar, which caused her great pain.

It was then that You-Know-Who revealed that he had tracked down the unknown grave of Salazar Slytherin, whose spirit returned long enough to speak with You-Know-Who. You-Know-Who demanded that Slytherin surrender his power, but he did not do so. However, when he learnt that You-Know-Who was his descendant, and 'tainted' by muggle blood, as both stated, Slytherin used his power to purify You-Know-Who, leading him to look the way he does now.

You-Know-Who has always been arrogant, and he hated the fact that he was defeated by such a simple thing as love. Because of this, he demanded Lily face him in a duel. He immediately demanded that Lily bow to him, and he to her, to show respect, and despite his lack of respect to Lily, by deadnaming her constantly, she showed courage and bravery by observing the decency of the duel, and bowed to her opponent.

Showing her speed and skill, Lily was able to survive the duel, although it was one that caused her pain. Before You-Know-Who could harm her, Albus Dumbledore, along with who he thought was Alastor Moody, but was Barty Crouch Junior, arrived, with Cornelius Fudge, Remus Lupin, Sirius Black, Molly Weasley, Bill Weasley, and Ginny Weasley, Lily's girlfriend, all arrived to support her, with Ginny being there to get Lily back to safety whilst the adults faced the Death Eaters.

Moments before Lily and Ginny escaped thanks to Fawkes, Dumbledore's pet Phoenix, one of the Death Eaters fired a killing curse at Lily, wanting her dead for his master. This was where the greatest tragedy of the night happened.

The second he saw what was happening, Cornelius Fudge proved why he was such an incredible Minister for Magic. He didn't hesitate, he didn't second guess himself. He leapt into the way of the killing curse, sacrificing his own life for Lily and Ginny.

Refusing to leave the body of one of her hero's to the mercies of You-Know-Who and his death eaters, Lily grabbed Cornelius Fudge's body, and held Ginny, who grabbed hold of Fawkes. That was when they were teleported away.

Dumbledore and his allies returned shortly after, minus, of course, Barty Crouch Junior, who had been revealed as a traitor thanks to Lily. When she and You-Know-Who had duelled, their wands clashed, and the reverse spell effect, Priori Incantatem, happened, with the spirits of You-Know-Who's victim's returning. One of them, the spirit of Bertha Jorkins, revealed who Crouch was impersonating, and Lily's parents told her how proud they were of her, of all she had done.

Unfortunately, the Ministry of Magic have refused to believe what Lily stated, and what Albus Dumbledore and the members of the Order of the Phoenix, had witnessed; Dumbledore even drove You-Know-Who back. But Elpenor White refuses to accept this, and has worked with the Daily Prophet to actively sully both Lily and Dumbledore's name, stating that Fudge died of a heart attack.

The man was murdered, and died a hero, saving Lily, whom he truly believed in, and knew Lily is the best hope we have. How he put up with Elpenor White as an assistant Minister of Magic, I don't know.

Since the start of the new year at Hogwarts, Lily has been forced to deal with many who believe the lies of the Daily Prophet and Elpenor White, and have been treating her poorly. Dolores Umbridge, who was placed at Hogwarts by the Ministry, has been misgendering and deadnaming Lily, and giving punishments to any who believe Lily, or question the ministry.

She was named Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, because of Elpenor White, and her lessons have been nothing except copying from a book. When she was questioned about this by Lily, she verbally attacked Lily and gave her detention just for speaking up.

How is it that such a thing can happen? How can we, the magical world, refuse to accept the truth of what has happened? Lily Potter is someone who we should trust and believe. Every year since starting at Hogwarts, her life has been in peril because of You-Know-Who, first when he had taken over a teacher, next when an old diary with a shade of himself tried to take other another student, third when Pettigrew was revealed, and last year when he returned.

Lily has fought back against You-Know-Who, risking her life to protect us, even though many think her broken because she is Transgender, or mentally deranged because she told the truth of You-Know-Who's return.

How can we show less courage than the poor girl who has been willing to give us everything? How can we give her nothing when she gives us all she is? I will be continuing to research ways to stop You-Know-Who, even if it kills me. I will always stand by Lily Potter. This story was told to me directly by her, and I saw the pain in her eyes. I know it's true, and I believe in Lily.

What will you believe in?