Chapter 10:

Albus Dumbledore walked into the Wizengament chamber as if he owned, if not controlled the place. He nodded and greeted several of those that he considered friends but also allies. It was noted by several that Arthur Weasley refused all overtures by the elder. Many wondered what had caused that rift as it was well known that the Weasley family had supported Dumbledore for years.

Only a slight pause from the elderly wizard before he made his way towards his place in front of those that he used to lead, Martin Tremaine banged the gavel down, opening the trial.

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

James Potter had been busy during the week that led up to this trial. A visit to a relative, a powerful personage, had yielded more than the scroll in his pocket. He had pulled off a coup of magnificent proportions. One that had Mooney nearly locking him up in his cage with him during the full moon. A smile graced his face. One that sent shivers down several peoples' backs, including one Albus Dumbledore.

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

"The trial of Albus Dumbledore will now begin. Albus Dumbledore you are charged with suppressing the last will and testament of a peer of this body, failure to execute said will, kidnapping of an heir to two ancient and noble houses, robbery, and forgery of a marriage contract. How do you plead?"

"Not guilty."

"Scribe? Please note the plead."

The scribe nodded.

"You have the floor Dumbledore."

"Thank You Chief Warlock." The elder man began to walk around as he addressed the chamber.

"Members of the Wizengament. I stand before you an innocent man. What I am charged with is the workings of someone who is an imposter. The man who sits in the Potter Seat is not James Potter. James Potter died on the fateful Halloween night. I, as a concerned citizen of this society, did place Harry James Potter into the hands of family. Family, which every witch and wizard holds dear. He was safe there. Safe from those who would hurt and kill him. Safe to grow and learn until it would be time to return to our loving arms when he turned eleven and came to Hogwarts. There he would mingle amongst those that would guide and help him. The contract was to ensure the Potter name continued. I chose a family that was magically strong as well as prolific to help the next generation. I did so to protect the Potter line. Yes, I suppressed the will. Everyone in this room agreed to that. Yes, I used the Potter heir account to pay for his upbringing. Would you have him in squalor? Nothing I did was not within my power. I ask that you keep that in mind. Thank You."

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Never let it be said that Dumbledore wasn't a great speaker. As the older wizard took his seat, the whispers began. They continued as the Chief Wizard looked James Potter in the eye. The resurrected wizard stood, and silence came with that.

"I will not address my death. I have shown this very body that I am whom I say I am." He let the silence hang in the air for several minutes.

He looked Dumbledore in the eye as he began to speak.

"That this man had so much power that he felt justified in placed a child, a child that had just been through HELL with someone who thought that said child was not worth wiping he shoes on, was saving him, then I would hate to see what this same wizard would do to someone that he truly dislike. Both my wife and I had left very detail instructions as to who would raise our heir. I can safely say that not one of those chosen was informed of that. Albus Dumbledore wanted my heir under his sole control. Power and Money! That was what drove him to do all of this. Not out of love."

He pulled out the scroll. "I have here a statement for Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth he Second, that she was never informed of my "death" nor that of my wife. If Albus Dumbledore had even look at the will he would have saw that my heir was to be raised by Her Majesty and her family, teaching my heir what he would need to know in his life."

Several gasps were heard with that statement. But James Potter wasn't done.

"I can also say that the contract of marriage was so much in favor of the female line that my heir would have been basically enslaved to her and her family. Why? Because Dumbledore would have control. Control that would lead to Power and Money."

Unrolling the scroll the chamber saw the signature of the Monarch.

"I ask that this man be given our harshest penalty."

James Potter sat down to a stunned crowd. Albus Dumbledore grimaced

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Remus knocked on the study door. A faint 'come in' had him entering the room.

"Well?"

James sighed. "He still the Headmaster, but he can never hold an office again, nor can he be a guardian to anyone."

"That's it?"

"Yep."

Remus began pacing the room. "Why?"

"Simple. Too many were just as guilty for helping him even if they didn't know why. They're covering their own arses."

"So now what?"

The sharklike grin was back. "We follow the plan."

A wolfish grin returned to him.

"Oh, by the way, we will have a couple of new students starting next week?"

"Who"

"A couple of princes named William and Harry."