Chapter 14: Bonus: the trial of Albus Dumbledore
Notes:
friendly reminder that this is a DUmbles Bashing fic :)
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
All rise for the entrance of His Majesty, King Alexander the Strong of the Great Clan of Odin, Ruler of the Glorious Goblin Nation, our Right and Worthy Sovereign!
The Goblin Court is reunited today, under the watchful eye of our King and amongst kin, on the 14th of the Eighth Month in the Goblin Year 5024, known amongst Muggles and Wixen as 1987, to discuss the fate of the wizard Albus Percival Wulfric Brian of the House of Dumbledore, former Chief Warlock of the Wixen Courts: the Wizengamot, former Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards, former Headmaster of the School for Witchcraft and Wizardry: Hogwarts.
The Wizard in front of the Court today has committed an atrocious crime against the Goblin Nation, for he has raised his wand with ill intentions and attempted to strike one of our Nation's most cherished and celebrated Generals, Rotgard Longsword of the Silverfang Clan, Head of his Clan, European War General who had won countless battles during his military career and served our Nation proudly, before retiring to join the members of the Our Bank, in its London Branch, where he serves as the Master of the Office for Hereditary Affairs. The actions of the wizard have been seen and recounted by clerks and tellers and guards of the London Branch of Our Bank, with added testimonies coming from several wixen present at the scene.
The Wizard has been accused of obstruction to the Hereditary Affairs Office of the London Branch, of extortion and of corruption.
Due to the nature of the crimes he is accused of, he is brought today under the scrutiny of the Goblin Court, where he shall be tried legally and fairly.
The Goblin Nation shall be represented by the High Prosecutor, Cicerone of the Savagetongue Clan, esteemed member of His Majesty's Court, and His Majesty shall declare his verdict once the proceedings are finished.
The Wizard had requested the legal representation of the Head Wixen Prosecutor, Bartemius Crouch Senior, who appeared to be unavailable at the time of summoning. The wizard had requested the legal representation of the Master of Charms and Professor of Hogwarts, former Duelling Champion of Britain and member of the Lightfoot Clan, Filius Flitwick, who refused the request at the time of summoning.
King Alexander: In other words, wizard, tell the Speaker of my Court who shall represent you now.
Albus Dumbledore: If it is alright amongst your custom, I shall represent myself. Would that be possible, Master Goblin?
King Alexander: If you were aware of our customs, or cared about them, you would have not called him "Master Goblin". Do not try to create some sympathy for yourself even amongst our weakest, wizard.
A.D.: My apologies, Your Majesty.
K.A.: Spare me!
Speaker, if you please finish.
The Wizard, while highly unusual, shall represent himself.
The Offended Part, present in General Longsword Silverfang, shall join the floor once the charges have been read and he shall be entitled to questioning and to an harangue, if it is necessary.
K.A.: Very well, we shall commence then. I declare this session open!
Cicerone, the floor is yours.
Cicerone Savagetongue: Thank you, My Sovereign. And I thank the Speaker for having summarized the situation enough.
I first want to ask you a question, wizard. Are you comfortable in your knowledge of our laws and customs, enough to represent yourself in this Court?
A.D.: Not as much as I would like, given my circumstances.
C.S.: Then how can you hope to proceed?
A.D.: I am more aware of our treaties and common concessions, and I do hope we can avoid unnecessary discussions. I believe an agreement might be reached, given my knowledge of the acumen your kind possesses in the face of an excellent bargain.
K.A.: A bargain?
A.D.: Your Majesty, before I was imprisoned by your Guards, I was in possession of goblin-made items, as well as priceless artefacts and heirlooms.
For instance, you might have some familiarity with the work of the Alchemist Nicholas Flamell, my former mentor and current friend, although his absence today saddens me quite. He entrusted his precious Philosopher's Stone to me.
In other words, I have access to various objects that might pique your curiosity, Your Majesty.
C.S.: Wizard, to speak as boldly to our Sovereign is improper. I do not believe you would wish to add the charge of contempt.
Regardless, your idea might have merit and we will ask where these items were collected and amassed. In order for any agreement to pass, we must know the proper value of these items, after all.
A.D.: To reveal it would mean losing a bargaining chip, which I am quite fond of. I will say that I am more than willing to part with my possessions, if His Majesty decides to grant me a pardon regarding the dreadful incident with General Silverfang. I believe it might be more than an adequate exchange.
C.S.: What about your crimes against the Magic World, which General Longsword Silverfang has unearthed?
A.D.: I believe you are under the impression that my so-called crimes, which were mere actions my position granted me to fulfil, were for the detriment of the Magic World altogether. If confirmed by a jury of my peers, which I doubt they will be, they might be found to revolve around the Wizarding World solely, for the betterment of it, leaving the Great Goblin Nation untouched.
It was never my intention to cause a strain amongst our kind.
K.A.: So, you would leave today, after an almost full week of imprisonment, as a free wizard who would not hurt our Nation, while a massive scorn to one of my most trusted Generals remains unpunished, merely because you seem to possess a few trinkets?
A.D.: That does seem to diminish my good faith and my intent, Your Majesty, but I suppose it does sum my situation fairly.
K.A.: What about your hand? Surely you would want compensation.
A.D.: I would believe myself to be gracious enough to let this tiny issue go. Besides, modern healing does create several miracles. General Silverfang was defending himself against my ill-advised actions, which I do believe were the result of a compulsion charm he himself placed on the envelope, and as such I would not require anything from him or from you.
C.S.: That could be considered acceptable.
By Goblin Law, with the detachment of your limb, General Silverfang might have found enough compensation for your attack.
However, that is not enough to overshadow the rest of your actions against him and our Nation, with your obstruction of office, corruption and extortion. And, due this, His Majesty the King has requested a more thorough trial.
Please, begin listing the items you would give us in exchange of a full pardon, and where we might find them, so we could get this process going.
A.D.: Now? Well, I would have appreciated it if you had granted me the courtesy of at least letting me talk with my account manager, given he might know the list better than I do. My old age might be a detriment to my memory and I am sorry to admit it, but the loss of my wand was quite the blow to my health.
May I ask if it was found, by any chance?
C.S.: Your former wand is accounted for. Given you had no direct claim to the Elder Wand, it was restored to its original lineage, and it currently resides in the ancestral vaults that are attached to that name.
As for your manager, I am certain General Silverfang mentioned his indisposed status before your duel. Unfortunately, neither Manager Griphook nor his Clan members could come to your aid. You will have to use your own memory. If you do require a potion to invigorate yourself, one of our assistants could bring it.
A.D.: That is acceptable, thank you… which honorific should I use, given I was mistaken in believing "Master Goblin" would be appropriate?
K.A.: Drink the draught and get to listing, wizard.
A.D.: Ah, well. I wanted to be polite, forgive me for asking, Your Majesty.
My, oh my, the taste is quite sweet. If memory of my schooling serves me right, and it should, given I have a Mastery in Potions as well as Transfiguration, as it was needed to study Alchemy, an Invigoration Draught should not be this sweet. Perhaps it is my more than occasional tasting of lemon drops that has altered my tastebuds.
Regardless, I thank you for it. It was quite invigorating, after all, so fast-acting!
Now, where to begin?
As I mentioned already, I am in possession of the Philosopher's Stone, which Nicholas Flamell has kindly given me. Well, not exactly kindly, since I do not think he is aware of his missing piece, considering how many he still had in store when I took it. It is kept in Vault 713, along with an exact copy of how to achieve such alchemic transfiguration and the steps to use the stone. And, in that same Vault, I had my manager place several dark artefacts, amongst which are precious jewels that are cursed.
C.S.: That Vault is not your familial one, which bears the number 825, is it correct?
A.D.: It is not. I had merely asked my manager to procure me a secure Vault that could not be traced back to me and so he did.
C.S.: Continue listing summarily, if you please.
Of course.
Amongst the jewels, is the Crown of the Headless King, which is said to have burnt the brain of every person who placed it upon their head after its creation and subsequent cursing in 1422, before the death of King Charles II of France, known as both the Mad and as the Beloved. I had found it in a cave in the North of France, where the grave of a long-forgotten wizard was.
And there I have also kept an enchanted necklace, said to have belonged to Morgana herself, which allows the wearer to entrance the audience to the point of devotion. I freed from the clutches of a dark witch in Ireland and she tried to use it on me, but, alas, my affections were unaltered.
K.A.: You must be regretting not having kept that necklace closer, don't you?
A.D.: Quite, I am afraid to admit.
C.S.: Tell the Court of another Vault where you stored these items, if you have one.
A.D.: Of course I have another! Also distinct from my familial one, which I have replenished with great fatigue and sacrifice, I will have you know.
Again, with the aid of my manager and his family, I have had placed the Mirror of Erised in Vault 998, which I discovered at the beginning of the century, as well as various books on ancient and lost Magics that have become quite illegal in the past years. Necromancy, Parselmagic, Blood Magic, to name a few.
All those books were saved from the hands of wixen with ill intentions and dark cores, and I gathered them with or without their knowledge, to preserve their magics in a safe and controlled environment.
C.S.: Anything else of notice outside of the walls of Our Bank?
A.D.: Yes, I deemed it wise to keep my goblin-made items away from the Gringotts Bank, as well as other objects I wished to keep close.
In my own study, at Hogwarts, I hold a secret panel in the walls, under which I have hidden away from prying eyes an authentic Hallow of Death, the Invisibility Cloak that belonged to Ignotus Peverell, and that was passed through generations amongst his kin. It was graciously given to me by its last owner, albeit with a bit of haggling, and I would prefer not to part with it, if it was possible. I searched high and low for the Resurrection Stone, but, alas, I couldn't find it.
I wished to collect all three Hallows, you see, and with the Elder Wand already in my possession it spurred me on. Once I had James Potter relinquish his Cloak to me, it all felt too important.
But I digress.
In its stead, along with the restitution of the Elder Wand, I can offer the goblin-made sword of Godric Gryffindor, kept in the same panel, as well as a full goblin-made armour in mithril, with a cursed knife encrusted with rubies that glow once they encounter flesh, transferring venom in the bloodstream and draining the life of anyone who came in contact with the blade.
There are more items in my possession, but I cannot recall all of them. Rest assured that the two Vaults I mentioned and the panel in the Headmaster's Office at Hogwarts are the only spaces of storage I used for these precious artefacts. And I have a complete list of it all, in my Hogwarts Office, hidden in a book on muggle literature.
As an added bonus, to show my good faith, in Hogwarts, I would grant you full access to the Room of Disappearing Things, or Come and Go Room, or Room of Requirements, where I believe you might find artefacts of interest.
K.A.: Why did you not take those artefacts for yourself?
A.D.: The Room is massive and I believe not even a full team would make a quick dent. Your Majesty, you have at your disposal countless wands and goblin fists, your research might go more smoothly than mine. I will give you passage through the halls of my school, for a full pardon.
K.A.: Would you really sell your school for it?
A.D.: I will always do what I must for my own survival and for the Greater Good.
K.A.: Good to know.
You possess the Mirror of Erised. You must have watched in it, wizard. Tell me what you saw.
A.D.: I claimed to have witnessed myself clad in good wool socks, to those who dared to inquire. But, in truth, I saw myself and my former partner and enemy, Gellert Grindelwald, reunited and in harmony as we once were, before the torrid affairs of war hit us. I see us together in the world we wished to create, in the world I have fought hard for, with different meanings than his.
While he attempted to reshape our communities through violence and blood, I outsmarted and manipulated everyone in my path, using fame and law to my advantage.
K.A.: I believe your part desire might be accommodated.
A.D.: I beg your pardon?
K.A.: You didn't really think I'd bargain with you, did you? Cicerone, if you please.
C.S.: Gladly, My Sovereign.
You mentioned the sweet taste in the Draught, unusual to the commonly brewed potion. You were wrong in your musings, it was not your exposure to muggle sweets that changed your taste. It was due to the interaction of the honeywater being doubled to account for the Veritaserum that was added during the last step, you must understand, given your Mastery.
A.D.: I did not consent to it!
C.S.: Unfortunately for you, in a trial in the Court of His Majesty the King, it can be administered at any moment, regardless of consent. I believe Professor Flitwick might have informed you, if he had taken your defence.
A.D.: This is unethical!
K.A.: So is raising a child up to slaughter because he houses dark magic inside his cursed scar. But let's work it out slowly, we all have time. We'll deal with the wixen issues once we've stated your slights to my Nation.
C.S.: Dumbledore, the items you have listed do not result legally in your possession, in fact, many are claimed to be stolen or misplaced under uncertain circumstances. As for the two Vaults you had your manager acquire, those were taken illegally through bribery and corruption.
You have also admitted to having replenished your familial Vault, which was quite empty, but not through your own sacrifice. We have accounted for every single galleon that went into your vault and we have found that not all were intended to end up there. You have taken donations, if one could call them that, that were made for war efforts or for the betterment of your school, and used them to enrich your own account.
It will take some time, but not to worry, every misplaced knut will be returned to its original owner. As will the items you have amassed.
A.D.: In this case, a bargain is impossible.
K.A.: Glad you have seen our point.
A.D.: May I ask the reason behind leading me on with the possibility?
K.A.: Bit of a slow beginning. And you served it right on a silver plate, I couldn't resist. Now, we can truly begin.
The Wizard Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore has been charged by General Rotgard Longsword of the Silverfang Clan with aggravated assault, attempted murder, obstruction of office, attempted extortion, and attempted corruption.
The Wizard Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore has been charged by the Court of His Majesty King Alexander with fraud, laundering of funds, bribery, corruption, theft, murder, illicit conduct in regard to Our Bank's policy, conspiracy against the Goblin Nation, and treason to the Magic World.
The Wizard Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore has been charged by Lord Arcturus Black with obstruction of justice, illicit imprisonment, instigation of suicide and martyrdom, theft of line, kidnapping, and child endangerment and neglect.
Are the charges clear?
A.D.: Alas, since I cannot lie, I do believe they are.
K.A.: Wonderful!
C.S.: May I add that the list of charges and crimes committed by the wizard would be much longer, if said crimes weren't older than ten years and hadn't lapsed into statutory limitations?
K.A.: Indeed. Not to worry, though, considering the list we have here will guarantee you never see the sun again.
Now, I did promise Rotgard he could handle the charges he filed against you and Lord Black, or rather his Heir, was adamant he handled their disputes as well. Please, General Longsword Silverfang, come to the floor, so we can truly begin this shitshow!
Rotgard Silverfang: With great pleasure, my Sovereign.
Dumbledore, you had accused me of having done a "rushed job" when we last met. Well, let me show you exactly why it was not.
A.D.: May I ask the reason behind the charges from Lord Black? And I was not aware he had an available Heir.
R.S.: Considering you made sure said Heir withered away in Azkaban, I don't think you need further explanation. Heir Sirius Orion Black has been acquitted of the charges that led him to be falsely imprisoned, by you, and so he has asked me to… deal with things on our side.
A.D.: I see. So, this isn't a trial in which I might be acquitted, am I correct?
K.A.: Think of this as your reckoning.
Let's start with the charges brought forth by Lord Black.
A.D.: Shouldn't I first plead my innocence?
C.S.: By Goblin Law, all who are brought forth before His Majesty the King have already been deemed guilty by magic. Not only is the proof of your actions damning, but the sheer amount of it all is beyond incriminating.
K.A.: Besides, you aren't innocent and this isn't your Wizengamot. Your own people have cast you off, so why waste time with trivialities?
The aim of this whole spectacle is to have you list the reasons that led you behind your actions, which I do find fascinating, in a morbid way.
Rotgard, you may commence your interrogation.
R.S.: Of Course, my Sovereign.
Albus Dumbledore, you have been accused of many things by Lord Black and his Heir, but I do believe most of them stem from the same motive: keeping Heir Harrison James Potter pliable into your hands. Am I correct?
A.D.: To some degree.
R.S.: Only some? Do tell me more.
A.D.: While I believed it was essential for Harry to grow in an environment that would have modelled him to trust me completely and made him malleable to my suggestion, with the termination of it all ending in the destruction of Lord Voldemort, who had housed part of his soul in said child, I had also decided to take him away from his godfather due to his being a dark wizard and his links to dark magics.
R.S.: By "Dark Magics" do you mean the blood adoption as well as the partnership with a werewolf?
A.D.: Indeed. While I have never shown any prejudice to Mr Lupin, I was afraid of having Harry raised with him. Not because I believed he might be changed, but rather because I wanted to ensure he had as little magical influence as possible, only to be shown the Light once he came to me, at Hogwarts.
I believed their influence might have been a detriment to my causes and a distraction from my goals.
R.S.: I would say it is understandable. But it is not, not in the slightest.
Let's start at the beginning, with the obstruction of justice that ensured Heir Black's illicit imprisonment without a trial, as well as rendered Peter Paul Pettigrew, a murderer and a traitor, free. Why did you toss him in Azkaban while the other remained alive and well?
A.D.: I did not believe Peter to be an issue, considering I knew how cowardly he truly was. He had always been a model followers, someone who would have done what I asked without restraints. I knew that, by planting the tiniest bit of doubt in his mind, he would run away to the other side, effectively following my wishes.
Once everything was in place, I had no more use for him, hence why I never bothered looking for his whereabouts.
Besides, the Death Eaters believed him somewhat responsible for the fall of their Master, so it didn't matter to my plans, whether he was found by them or not. He had outgrown his use.
And I aided him in his betrayal, ensuring he became the Secret Keeper while feigning ignorance, because I wanted the prophecy to come to fruition.
K.A.: What prophecy was that again?
C.S.: It is "evidence n13", my Sovereign. It states that the "vanquisher" of the "Dark Lord" would need to be born at the end of July, of parents that had defied said "Dark Lord" thrice.
It also ties in with the charges of instigation of suicide and martyrdom, given that, through this prophecy, the wizard managed to create the situation that ended with the deaths of Lord and Lady Potter and, if he had been given the chance, would have lured Heir Potter to the ultimate sacrifice.
R.S.: All for the Greater Good, right, Dumbledore?
A.D.: Indeed it was!
I am not proud of my choices, mind you, but they were the only ones that would have ensured the peace and prosperity of the Wizarding World.
K.A.: Perhaps the only ones you could find.
Honestly, Divination is fun at cards, but to let the fate of an entire world rest upon it is absurd! But I digress, let's continue.
R.S.: Of course.
This prophecy was the reason behind most of your actions against Heir Black and Heir Potter, then. It was the motivation behind you taking away from his rightful guardians, hence the kidnapping. It was the motivation behind Heir Black's imprisonment. You needed to raise a martyr.
I fail to see, though, how this prophecy could allow you, a former teacher and headmaster, to leave a child in a dangerous situation, despite it all.
A.D.: Harry needed to be ready to accept his death! It was the only way!
R.S.: I ask you: what would have happened if your precious sacrifice had died of starvation before arriving at Hogwarts? What if his disgusting uncle had beaten him to death?
What then?
A.D.: I fail to see the reason behind your question.
R.S.: That is because you are not a Master of the Dark Arts or of Defence Against, despite all you preach to know best.
If Heir Potter had perished without having the Horcrux removed and cleansed, or without the so-called Dark Lord Voldemort destroying it himself, the soul shard would have simply moved on to the next vessel, which could have been an inanimate object as well as a living being. It would have made it impossible to trace, even harder to destroy, and would have allowed the so-called Dark Lord Voldemort to remain untouched.
Did you not think of that?
A.D.: I was not aware of the possibility.
In this case, I truly am sorry for the unnecessary hardship I put Harry through.
K.A.: Wonderful! The fate of the British Wizarding Community rested on a wizard too proud and too stupid to ask those who knew more than him.
R.S.: Finally, for the theft of line, I don't believe either Heir Black or Heir Potter to be a direct motive, is that correct?
A.D.: Yes.
I merely wished to use their Wizengamot seats to my advantage, as I have done with many families. Even if Heir Black had been free, I would have tried to gain control of the Potter seats from him. It was all to push my own political agenda, to reform the Wizarding World into what I believe is the proper path.
R.S.: Well then. If His Majesty the King believes the information gathered here enough to satisfy his curiosity and emit a verdict, I believe we might have reached an end to Lord Black's charges.
K.A.: I shall emit a verdict once everything is done, Rotgard. But I agree, let's move on to your own grievances.
R.S.: I believe all of it to be quite straightforward.
You tried to compel me into giving away the list of the children who could be in line for an heirship, because you wanted to grab onto their Wizengamot seats. You purposefully made my work harder, all to ensure your plans weren't thwarted by newcomers. You attacked me because you saw no other way out.
Is there more?
A.D.: I do not think so.
I had underestimated you, believing you would not be dangerous to my causes, and that is a mistake I will pay dearly for.
R.S.: I'm glad I could shed you some light then.
My Sovereign, given the evidence and admission gathered here, I am certain we have reached an end to my own charges against the wizard.
K.A.: Excellent!
Thank you, Rotgard, if you wish to return to your seating please do so. You have been wonderful, as always.
Cicerone, if you please could begin your segment.
C.S.: Thank you, my Sovereign.
Well, honestly, I am quite lost on where should I start. The list of charges and crimes is quite long and straightforward, based on the evidence already discussed.
By your own admission earlier, we have the charges of fraud, laundering, bribery, corruption, theft and illicit conduct outlined.
You took funds that weren't meant to be yours and lined your pockets. You never declared those, preferring to skim on taxes and fees. You stole artefacts and heirlooms, keeping them all for yourself and illegally storing them in Vaults you shouldn't have access to. You bribed your account manager and the members of his clan to ensure their silence and loyalty.
Is there more?
A.D.: Not to my knowledge.
C.S.: That does simplify my questioning, then.
You are accused of the murder of the former Potter Manager, Ajax Sharp-eye of the Riverrun Clan. Now, we can ask how do you plead, given your well-covered tracks.
A.D.: I did n-… I plead no-…!
C.S.: You are still under the effects of Veritaserum, wizard.
A.D.: I gathered as much.
I am unfortunately responsible for his demise.
Once Voldemort had killed the Potters, I sought their manager to ensure their wills remained sealed, since I had reason to believe they did contain damning evidence against me. Manager Riverrun wasn't happy with my actions and I simply removed an obstacle in my path.
K.A.: Did you curse his line as well?
A.D.: I did. To ensure the success of my carefully laid plans, I couldn't let anything up to chance and fate.
K.A.: And every single thing you did, all your plans and plots and schemes, they were all for your own selfish reasons.
A.D.: I did what I had to, for the Greater Good!
C.S.: I believe that does summarise the charges of treason and conspiracy as well, my Sovereign.
K.A.: I believe so too.
Well, then. Albus Dumbledore. Do you have any last words before the verdict?
A.D.: If it was possible, I would request to be sent to Nurmengard. I am a sentimental old fool, after all.
K.A.: That can be arranged easily.
By the power invested in me by the Glorious Goblin Nation, I, King Alexander the Strong of the Great Clan of Odin, sentence you, Wizard Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, for the crimes you have committed against the Goblin Nation, the Wizarding World and the Magic World altogether, to be imprisoned for the remainder of your life!
Guards, please, take him away.