Start Talking

"What about denying the return of Voldemort, until he got in your face." Harry reminded the man. "You gave him free reign for a year before you admitted he was back. How many deaths can be laid at your feet because of that delay? How many muggle-born and muggles died because of your inaction? You've made a lot of mistakes and now you have the chance to correct a few of them."

"Since you were the one who brought up Deatheaters, lets clear the air somewhat." Harry gestured and a tall slender Deatheater rose from the floor and hung a few inches off the floor as if held up by a moblicorpus spell. "You really should start choosing your friends, sycophants, and assistants more carefully, Minister. You trusted Lucius Malfoy, even though he is a confirmed Deatheater. You ignored the fact that I told you he'd rejoined Voldemort after the Tri-Wizard Tournament, simply because he gave you money. I think he's over there, near Snape." Harry gestured toward the group of Deatheaters, lying on the floor behind the Minister, before raising a finger as if to say 'that's one'.

"Next we come to Delores Umbridge, during my fifth year. A power mad woman who was under the delusion that she could do whatever she wanted and there would be no consequences, simply because she was doing your work, which was to keep me and everyone else silent about Voldemort's return. Not only did she terrorise and torture the student body of Hogwarts for an entire year, but she set two Dementors on me before school even started, in an attempt to get me expelled." Harry raised a second finger, continuing to count off the Minister's mistakes. "And last but by no means least, we come to your current assistant, who is not only a toadying sycophant, but moonlights as a Deatheater."

There were stunned gasps from the Weasleys, as they realised who he was referring to, then Arthur said, "My son wouldn't do that! We may be having our problems, but Percy would never join the Dark Lord!"

"You think not," Harry countered. "Your son on Voldemort's orders framed me so I would be sent to Azkaban. He counted on your hatred of me, Fudge, to grease the wheels of justice so that I wouldn't receive a fair trial. He's probably also the one who killed Neville, given that he was the only other person in the area at the time."

Harry gestured again, and the hooded robe and mask were stripped away, revealing an unconscious Percy Weasley. "Behold the arrogant 'I'm always right and you're wrong' Percy Weasley! Looks like Peter wasn't the only traitor to be sorted into Gryffindor, was he. Nor," he looked back at the remaining Weasleys, who were staring at their brother in shock, "is he the only Weasley to betray friends and family."

As Harry raised a third finger, Arthur sank to the floor in shock, staring at his son's lolling head. This is going to kill Molly.

Harry snapped his fingers. "Wakey, wakey."

The lolling head moved and the eyes opened. Percy upon feeling he was upright, but unable to feel anything solid under his feet, thrashed about for a moment, til he heard a raspy voice say, "Hello, Percy. Long time no see."

The voice sounded slightly familiar, "Potter."

"Yes, Percy. You don't mind if I call you Percy, do you? Not that it matters, given that I just irrevocably destroyed your master, Moldyshorts." Harry told him, drawing his attention to the pile of ash on the ground. "I should call you shit-for-brains because of the choices you've made."

Potter moved to stand between him and the pile of ash, effectively pulling his attention back to the eyes filled with emerald green fire. "You've been a very bad boy, Percy, and the Minister is here to hear just what you've been getting up to, in your spare time, so why don't you tell him all about how you framed me for killing Neville."

"I don't know what you're talking about." Percy tried to look anywhere but at Harry, however when he saw the disappointed looks on his family's faces, he decided he preferred looking at Potter. "I'm not a Deatheater. I was a spy for the Ministry in his ranks."

"Percy, Percy, Percy." Harry just shook his head, looking disappointed. "I would have thought a career in politics would have taught you how to lie better. I got a real good look at Fudge's face after your unmasking, and it's quite clear that he knew nothing about your extracurricular activities. I know your kind. You, like Peter," Harry looked over at the minister who was still standing where he'd appeared, as if rooted to the spot, "who you and I will be discussing in just a bit Minister, are toadying little wimps, who wouldn't even sneeze, unless you were told to. Now start talking before I force the truth out of you in the most painful way possible."

Percy felt relieved as he heard the protests made by the others in the room. They wouldn't let this happen, no matter what they thought of him and his actions.

"Shut up!" Potter ordered, waving his hand in their direction and silence fell. "You lost any and all rights you may have had to tell me what to do when I was expelled from Hogwarts, and then condemned to Azkaban for a crime I didn't do. I will have justice and it will be done my way."

Harry's attention returned to Percy, and with an evil grin on his face, he asked. "What's it going to be Percy? Will we be having truth with or without pain? I know which I would prefer, but I'll let you decide. You have five seconds to start talking, or you start hurting."

Percy stared at Potter in disbelief as he counted off the time. The last thing he'd ever expected was that the Boy-Who-Lived could come across as more frightening than Mad Eye Moody and as scary as Voldemort.

Percy let out an unexpected shriek as he felt the little finger on his right hand suddenly break.

"Did you think I was kidding, or that I don't have the stomach to torture you? Well, think again. I will have my freedom and if I have to take you apart piece by piece to get it, well, so be it." Potter hissed, then moved closer and said in an even lower voice. "Thanks to you, I lost whatever scruples, I may have had about hurting someone. A fact that your master found out as I burned him to a cinder from the inside out." Potter stepped back and then spoke in a louder voice, "Every five seconds another bone will break, until you start talking and you had better make it the truth!"

"Harry!" Dumbledore called. "Don't sink to their level. You are better than this!"

"A pity you didn't realise that sooner, old man! Before you snapped my wand and then helped condemn me to hell!" Harry's voice was dripping with scorn. "Anyway he has a way out. All he has to do is tell the truth. The spell I've cast will know if he lies and will break two bones for every lie. If he remains silent only one bone will be broken."

Percy screamed in pain as a third finger was broken then he cried, "No more. Please, no more."

"Start talking." Harry ordered implacably.