Chapter 106: Alchemy

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"I'm sorry to intrude Nicholas, but a rather disturbing turn of events has happened. Lisa Turpin has been arrested and is set to stand trial in front of Wizengamot. I need Harry's help to protect her."

One thing of note about this entire situation was that Harry had 3 versions of the happenings in the Chamber of Secrets.

1) The version he had told to the press, in which he had done nothing but lie.

2) The version he had told the Flamels and Dumbledore, which included pretty much everything except the part where he went into the ID to save Lisa.

Much like how he had told the newspaper, he'd told them that the potion was already upturned by the time he got there, but he did tell them about his battle with the Basilisk. It helped that they already knew about his Wandless magic capabilities.

3) And the truth.

Lie, Bullshit, and Truth.

It would have been funny if it hadn't been so grim.

"You said that Riddle used an illusion to taunt you, then you took down the Basilisk using Alchemy. Then you went into the small tunnel under Salazar Slytherin's statue, and found the upturned cauldron and young Mr. Thomas lying there with a badly burnt Miss Turpin.

After that, you grabbed them and got them back to the Great Hall. During any of this, did you notice an object? A diary? Something like the one Mr. Riddle mentioned was his 'container'? Are you absolutely sure?" Dumbledore asked for the third time in a row.

"No, I didn't. And yes I'm very sure. I would have noticed if anything was there," Harry firmly replied. He'd been looking for the 'container' from the moment Riddle had mentioned it in the chamber, and he'd found nothing.

Dumbledore and Nicholas shared another meaningful glance, just like they had been sharing since Dumbledore had mentioned the 'container'. Harry suspected that they knew something that he didn't.

"What is going on Professor?" he asked, growing impatient, "Why would they arrest Lisa? Didn't I make it clear in my statement to DMLE that she was the victim? That she was the one being hurt?"

"You did Harry," Dumbledore agreed warily, "However, it appears that the Grand Prosecutor has gained some sort of evidence that warranted a trial against Miss Turpin.

A trial in front of Wizengamot with the charges being of murder, grievous injury, terrorism, and many more."

"She could get Dementor's Kiss if she gets convicted on even half of those charges," Perenelle muttered, looking stricken.

"Should I tell them? That she was possessed by Voldemort?" Harry asked, looking around worriedly.

Dumbledore sighed, taking off his glasses as he rubbed his eyes, "Harry, there were reasons I asked you to lie to the press.

I told you not to tell the press about how you took down the Basilisk because even minor scrutiny on your methods could have exposed Nicholas.

I told you to not tell them about Miss Turpin's possession because no one would believe you."

"You're joking," Harry muttered. He couldn't be serious. They wouldn't believe him?!

"You didn't see anything conclusive Harry. All you saw was an illusion. They have every reason to not believe you." Nicholas pointed out.

"Then why are you believing me?" Harry asked, turning to Dumbledore.

"Because the things you said that the illusion told you," replied Dumbledore, "You would not have known any other way. You heard things that only I and Lord Voldemort know. That is why I believe you. And that is why no one else will."

"But surely if you tell them-"

"Even if I do that, my word will not count for much at this point." Dumbledore said, "The amount of deaths that happened is making a lot of the families call for an investigation and trial. Therein lies the problem.

There is little to no evidence protecting Miss Turpin in a trial. All there is, is your word. They have substituted me as the Chief Warlock until the case is over, claiming bias. Furthermore, I am going to be arguing for her in court, and that will render my testimony useless."

"But…" Harry said desperately, "Isn't there any symptom of her being possessed that we could show in the trial? Like Quirrell had a face behind his head? We won't have to tell anyone that Voldemort was involved at all. Just say that it was a malicious spirit or something."

"Hmm…" Dumbledore leaned back into his chair as he considered what Harry said, "A defense suggesting possession is possible, but the lack of any actual physical evidence makes me wary. And in answer to your question, no. She does not have any evidence of possession, more than likely because of who she was possessed by."

"What do you mean?"

"Lord Voldemort is well versed in the Dark Arts, and with as much time as he had as a student, he must have put Miss Turpin through some ritual or the other to make sure she did not show any evidence of possession."

This was starting to sound worse and worse.

"Making the situation even worse is that the entire ordeal ended up harming her in more ways than one. They won't be able to use Veritaserum on her, and they won't be able to have the Court Legilimencer interrogate her.

I visited her in her Ministry cell today. Her mind was rendered impenetrable. Her magic… damaged. " Dumbledore gave a pained grimace as he said the last word.

"Damaged… like she was?" Perenelle asked, her tone full of a morbid curiosity.

Dumbledore nodded tiredly, resting his head in his hands.

Harry was confusedly looked back and forth between Dumbledore and the Flamels, whose expressions seemed to be stuck between pity and sorrow.

"Are you alright, Albus?" Nicholas asked gently, resting a hand on the aged man's arm.

Dumbledore nodded before looking up from his hands to Harry. "They will be starting the Trial within the next couple of days, and I will need your assistance more than anything, both inside the courtroom and outside. Can I count on it, Harry?"

Ping!

Quest Alert!

Help Dumbledore save Lisa's life!

Reward,

50,000 Exp

?

?

Failure,

Death of Lisa Turpin

YES/NO?

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