HPWW81-90
Chapter 081
As soon as they walked out with one of the aurors closing the office door behind them, Hermione started into Harry, "Harry! I didn't plan for us to go home tomorrow evening! I haven't even sent them a letter telling them we'll be there within the next few days!
"I mean, even if I send Hedwig... Oh! I need to borrow Hedwig again―"
"Hermione! Stop!" he interrupted. "If we head to the owlery right now and you finish your letter there,
letting your parents know we're coming, Hedwig will arrive in plenty of time before we do."
"Excuse me, Lord Potter?" asked one of the two aurors.
Turning, Harry asked, "Yes?"
"It would have been appreciated if we had more notice than approximately twenty four hours," replied the auror.
"Sorry, but I think it's necessary," said Harry. "I really have little faith in the Wizengamot actually sending Dumbledore to Azkaban, as I firmly believe he bloody well should be. Therefore, he will have to be immediately released as of the close of his trial.
"As he will be, that means he's going to head directly here, to Hogwarts. And, I can guarantee you, he's immediately going to be seeking me out. I believe I can also guarantee you one of the first things he's
going to do, if it isn't immediately seeking me out, is tossing you lot out of 'his' castle.
"Actually, that second one will be the first thing he does so that he can then get me somewhere alone so he can both berate me and say things like; 'Harry my boy, I'm so disappointed in you.' or 'Harry my boy, that was a truly unwise thing to do, showing everyone those memories.' or 'Harry my boy, you must give up this nonsense and hand back your Lordship. You're simply not ready for the strain and you should immediately make me your master... I mean, Regent... again.'
He gave a snort and explained, "That's why I need to be gone before he's even released by the Wizengamot. I need to be rushed out of the chamber and away before he has any chance of getting anywhere near me.
"And that's why it is my intent to head directly to Hermione's place direct from the chamber. That way,
he won't have a chance to waylay me."
"Alright, I can see that," said the auror. "However, that's all he can do. He cannot stop you from heading to your friend's place."
"Really?" he snorted back. "As Headmaster, he controls the castle. And I mean everything about the castle. How hard do you think it would be for him to have you lot all immediately bounced out and new wards erected that will block you from returning and me from being able to leave?"
The two aurors glance at one another before they turned back to Harry. The one who had been speaking said, "I'll alert Madam Bones you'll be leaving for Miss Granger's home directly from the chamber on the conclusion of Dumbledore's trial."
"Thank you," he simply said.
Turning back to Hermione he said, "Now, I believe we
were heading for the owlery?"
_ ̳_ ―==(oIo)==― ˇ
The next morning's Daily Prophet contained all the information Professor Flitwick made known to the students the previous evening, but also included what happened to the Dursleys.
Further, it also included a great deal of what Harry had said about his relatives and how it had probably saved them from a likely lifetime stay in Azkaban; which, as muggles, meant it wouldn't be long at all.
One Prophet reporter stated it showed Harry to be weak, while another stated he had great courage and showed compassion to those who had abused him so. None of them understood it was because he couldn't care less for his relatives and only used the opportunity to show Dumbledore in a bad light on the
eve of his own trial.
However, both reporters and the other couple, who were there to write similar or aligned pieces, did take Harry's bait and wrote about how Dumbledore had practically set them up to fail. Then took it further and wrote about how a great deal of the evidence that had been presented across almost all the cases, including Cornelius Fudge's, had reeked of Dumbledore's influence - and not in a good way.
But there was also a long article on the second page of the paper, referenced on the front page, about Dumbledore and his achievements. It was also joined by the Editorial, which paid lip service to his achievements before it laid out all the things Dumbledore had done that had already come to light in the trials leading up to his own, before concluding with the Editor's opinion.
~# ~
[...]
Based on the information laid out above - and we have very little doubt this is not the totality of the wrongdoings for which Dumbledore is guilty - we cannot see how the old man can escape a substantial prison sentence. A review of previous sentencing for such crimes, if added together, already exceed what would be considered a best guess of Dumbledore's remaining years of life.
However, the Wizengamot often jamb such determinations all together to be served concurrently. This means if the most Dumbledore is sentenced to serve time in Azkaban for one of the crimes for which he has been accused is, for example, seven years; then that will be the totality of the time for which he will be incarcerated.
Once a determination is reached regarding guilt, the Wizengamot all too often take into consideration both extenuating circumstances - such as the person
committing the crime was under some form of duress at the time - and other contributions the wizard or witch has made to the wider wizarding world.
In Albus Dumbledore's case he is, to start with, attributed as having rid wizarding Europe of one of the darkest dark lords in recent history - Gellert Grindelwald. Against that is that Albus Dumbledore's alleged crimes are mainly purported to have been against young Lord Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived, who is attributed to having rid wizarding Britain of the latest dark lord, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.
It is our opinion those two cancel each other out. We hope the Wizengamot agrees.
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Chapter 082
After reading the editorial, Harry handed the newspaper off to Hermione and pointed to both the article and the editorial.
While she began to read those he checked the package he also received from Sirius via an owl he didn't recognise. And then just assumed it belonged to the Tonkses.
It carried to him a package that held a small hand mirror with a note explaining both how it worked and how to activate and deactivate it. He'd try it out once they were away from watching eyes.
As he was finishing up reading, a little fretfully Hermione asked, "Harry, how are we going to take our trunks with us today? I mean... we should be taking them home with us."
"It's already organised, Hermione," he gently replied. "Dobby will collect them and deliver them to your
home almost as soon as we leave here."
What he didn't mention to her was that the little elf was also going to stop off with them somewhere along the way and go through both to ensure there were no tracking or similar charms on them of any of their contents. The little elf had been making sure Harry's trunk and possessions were kept clear, but not Hermione's. He'd be doing that before he delivered her trunk to her home.
He also had not told her that, using a school owl, he'd already been in contact with the goblins about security wards on a muggle home. As soon as he had Hermione's address from her - and was surprised to realise he didn't know it before - he alerted his account manager of it and the goblins had secretly been by the home to put up all sorts of wards and permanently affixed charms. Those included intent- based wards and charms, an anti Dark Mark ward, an anti Dumbledore ward based off the old man's magical signature (which the goblins would never admit to
having), an outside fire suppression charm, a charm that hid whether or not magicals lived within the home (which meant they could cast magic within the home and not fall afoul of the Decree Against Under-aged Sorcery) and a few others. All Harry knew was it was very close to being, if not was, the most protective charms and wards that could be placed on a muggle home without breaking wizarding law.
Then, once Dobby took both trunks to her home, he was going to go through the home and make sure there were no wards or charms on the place that shouldn't be there. Dobby had already been to the home and was aware of what wards and charms were already on the property and would know if there were any alterations or additions. He was the magical being who led the goblins to the property by way of carrying a portkey beacon into the home with him that Harry's account manager had fashioned for him.
"I still―" she began. "I'm sorry, Harry; but, I'm still not comfortable with the idea of house elves being
bonded in what I see as a slavery bond with witches and wizards."
"That's fine, Hermione," he replied. "It shows you to be a good person. So long as you now realise trying to get me to release Dobby is not going to work - and that Dobby is the happiest he's ever been in his life serving me - we won't have a problem. Again, Dobby is one of the most well-treated house elves, ever. He assured me of that."
She gave a nod back showing she understood and agreed.
Turning to Neville, he asked, "So, Nev; heard from your grandmother, yet, on whether or not you're heading home for the duration?"
"Not yet," he replied. "I intend to hold back after the trial and talk to her about it."
"Good," he said. "And, while you're at it, please inform
her my patience with her is running out concerning her still sitting on the Wizengamot. I know and understand it was wise for her to still sit the Seat of Longbottom for the trials, but I expect someone else to be sitting that Seat come the next General Meeting of the Wizengamot."
"I will," nodded the other boy. "But, thank you for not pushing her to give it up before the trials."
"That's alright," he replied. "As I said, I understand."
_ ̳_ ―==(oIo)==― ˇ
"And... wheerree... do you think you're going, Sirius Black?" asked Andi Tonks.
She was standing in the doorway of Sirius's room at the Tonkses house, leaning on the frame. Sirius was dressed in 'work' robes and was sitting on the bed
just slipping on his shoes when she asked.
Looking up, he said, "I have an errand to run. It's something to do with why the Unspeakables needed to talk to me a few days ago."
"You are not yet fit enough, let alone well enough, to go gallivanting about the place on errands," she growled.
"This is only a short one, I promise," he said. "Actually, they only need me to do a little job for them, with no risk or exertion to myself, and then I'll be right back. I promise."
"What've they got you doing?" she demanded.
"I can't tell you," he replied. "I'm bound by an oath."
"You're the Lord of a Noble and Most Ancient House," she snapped. "You're not supposed to be making such oaths!"
"Normally, I'd agree with you," he sighed. "But, I assure you, this one was important to give."
Andi glared at him for almost a minute more until Sirius stood up. "How long will you be gone, this time?"
"No more than half an hour, tops," he replied.
She gave a grunt and said, "You told me yesterday you'd only be at Gringotts for a couple hours. You were gone almost the entire day!
"Then, when you got home, I had to practically carry you up here, where you immediately collapsed in exhaustion and dropped off to sleep so deeply you were practically unconscious!"
"Andi," he sighed, walking to and checking his dress in the mirror provided. "That was not... my... fault! The Black family accounts were in an appalling state. As
you're well aware, I had to bring a lot of the work yet to do on them back here, which is what I promised I'd do.
"But there was also the parchmentwork required to bring you back into the family, recognise Ted as a family member spouse and recognise Nymphadora as a daughter by blood.
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Chapter 083
"Oh!" he said, suddenly remembering something and turning to her. "If I didn't mention it before, I've also officially named you at Gringotts as Heiress Presumptive Black. Congratulations."
"You what?" she barked.
"Named you as Heiress Presumptive Black," he repeated. "'Dora is next after you if you predecease me."
"Si-ri-us..." she growled.
"It's done, Andi," he firmly stated. "Don't argue with me on this. As Head of House it was my decision to make."
When it was clear she wouldn't argue with him on it - at least, not right then - he continued. "Then I also completed and submitted the documentation to dissolve Bellatrix's marriage due to her not producing two heirs as required, reclaiming the dowry, reclaiming her familial stipend paid to her since her incarceration, terminating the stipend and then disowning her.
"Then there was the work related to Narcissa. By the conditions of the marriage contract she was supposed
to produce at least two children within the first ten years of her marriage. As far as I'm aware, there's only one - Draconis. However, the contract could not be terminated due to breach of contract because, according to the goblins, she has produced two children. If that's the case, where's the other? I have the goblins looking into that.
"Then, once the goblins have worked their end, I'll hand the matter over to Ted. If he or she's dead, I want the matter brought before the Wizengamot as a case of infanticide. If he or she's alive, I want him or her tracked down. If he or she's not with family, somewhere - and or they're anywhere near unhappy - I'll be collecting them and raising them myself."
"And if they're a squib?" Andi asked.
Sirius immediately shot her a dark look and snapped, "That will not worry me. Actually, it's what I'm already suspecting to have occurred."
Andi gave a nod and said, "If they had a second child and it's disappeared with no mention of it in the Daily Prophet? That's my belief, too." She more quietly added. "And, I'm sorry I asked."
Sirius paused and thought about that for a moment before he gave a grunt and returned to what he was doing; checking himself over in the mirror, attaching his wand holster to his forearm and pocketing those things he would be carrying with him. "You need to think better of me, Andi. I may have been born a Black but, like you, I'm not like the Blacks of old."
"I know," she said. "However, you know as well as I how he or she will be treated in the magical world. If he or she's in the muggle world, it might be kinder if they remained there."
"Something to decide if we're right and Narcissa birthed a squib and sent them to the muggle world," he said.
"If she gave birth to a squib I cannot see Cissy allowing Lucius to kill the child," she said. "I just can't see it."
"I will be finding out, one way or another," he declared.
Sirius left not long afterwards. He was meeting with the Unspeakables in an off-site location near the Black Townhouse.
The off-site location was chosen so no one in the magical world would see Sirius with the Unspeakables and wonder why.
_ ̳_ ―==(oIo)==― ˇ
Again, all three teens were picked up by the aurors and escorted to the Wizengamot chambers. But, unlike the previous day, today the chambers were
packed to capacity.
Right on 9.00am Ogden, who was back in the chair as Chief Adjudicator for the trial, banged his gavel.
When he thought about it, Harry figured Longbottom didn't take the chair because she probably thought as he did; that Snape didn't lie when he said he gave Dumbledore the details of the preplanned attacks on both the Potters and Longbottoms in October, 1981.
"Bring in the accused!" called Ogden.
Harry was hoping to speak with Sirius before the start, but the man hadn't turned up before the prearranged start of the trial. He was a little worried but, now that his godfather had been cleared, he knew it had to be an important matter that kept him away.
Dumbledore was escorted in wearing full magic- inhibiting chains just as Snape, Crouch and Umbridge before him wore. However, unlike those three he was
not wearing DMLE prison robes.
He was also without his floppy hat that Hermione once compared to a 'doctorate' cap, his glasses and the little gold rings that normally held his beard as if in a ponytail. It was the same outfit he wore to the First Task.
When he was firmly 'shuffled' to the witness chair he stopped and fought back when the aurors tried to force him to sit in it. "Is this truly necessary, Miles?" he asked, as if he was disappointed in the man.
"Yes," replied Ogden. He didn't expound on that simple one word answer.
Finally, the aurors were able to manhandle Dumbledore into the chair and the chains firmly bound him. Unlike those before him, the aurors did not remove his manacles or chains.
"Miles, this is intolerable!" Dumbledore grouched.
"Firstly, Mister Dumbledore, you will properly address me as Lord Chief Adjudicator Ogden or just Chief Adjudicator Ogden," Ogden shot back. "Under no circumstances are you permitted to address me by my first name. Under no circumstances did I ever give you leave to address me by my first name.
"You, Mister Dumbledore, are currently Albus Dumbledore, the accused. I am showing at least a modicum of respect for you by addressing you as Mister Dumbledore.
"If you don't immediately change your tired old tune and start paying the proper respect for the Members of the Wizengamot... let alone everyone else... your disrespect and lack of co-operation of these proceedings will be noted and I will simply address you as 'the Prisoner'. Am I clear, Mister Dumbledore?"
"Quite," Dumbledore quietly replied.
"Good," Ogden firmly returned. "Now, where is your law wizard?"
A man then stepped forward from the back of the chamber and said, "Chief Adjudicator."
"Mister Tofty, why aren't you up with Mister Dumbledore?"
"He attempted to fire me and, when he discovered he couldn't, refused any and all assistance I could provide him," replied Tofty. "If he does not wish to avail himself of my services - or, apparently, the services of another - there is very little I can do."
"I see," said Ogden. Turning to look down at Dumbledore he asked, "Is it your intention to sit trial without representation?"
"I have no need of one," replied Dumbledore. "As Chief Warlock I have, of course, sat as Chief Adjudicator myself, from time to time. I believe I have
the skill-set necessary to successfully defend myself against any ludicrous charge filed against me."
Harry heard Hermione quiet say, "What an arrogant idiot."
He didn't think there was any doubt others would be of the same sentiment. He was of the same mindset, after all.
Ogden gave a snort of amused disbelief and said, "That is your prerogative." Then turned to Bones and said, "Madam Bones, we will hear the charges."
Bones then caused quite a few sheets of parchment to be distributed among the Members sitting the Wizengamot, that day. And there were quite a few copies flying about as very few seats were vacant, due to it being Dumbledore who was on trial.
Dumbledore piped up and said, "I believe I will also need a copy of that, Miles... I mean, Chief
Adjudicator."
"And how will you be able to read them or even hold them, Mister Dumbledore?" asked an amused Ogden.
"Well, I'll have to have my spectacles and hands released, of course."
Ogden turned to Bones and asked, "Why doesn't Mister Dumbledore have his glasses, Madam Bones?"
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Chapter 084
"They were found to have been enchanted, with one of those enchantments being a portkey that was created while Mister Dumbledore was in some control of the wards over the Ministry, Chief Adjudicator," replied
Bones. "As such, he is not permitted them.
"And his hands will not be unbound as he is known to be quite capable in the use of wandless cast magic."
"Ah!" said Ogden before he turned back to Dumbledore. "As explained, your glasses will not be returned due to the portkey on them and your hands will not be unbound due to your skill in wandless casting. Therefore, handing you a copy of the charges laid against you seems quite pointless.
"However, if you wish to... rethink... your co-operating with your appointed law-wizard, then Mister Tofty will be able to both hold and read the list of charges."
Dumbledore grumbled a bit about that but replied, "In that case, as you are being unreasonable, Ezekiel may step forward and hold the charge list for me."
Ogden looked at Tofty and gave him a nod, and the man came forward to collect a copy of the charges.
Harry guessed the man already knew what they contained as he only glanced through them.
Again looking to Bones, Ogden said, "Madam Bones you may read the charges and commence your case."
As the charges were slowly read, Harry was stunned at just how many there were. They included charges that Harry had not even thought about. However, they also included charges that had obviously arisen as a result of the previous trials, as Harry suspected would occur.
It took the stern Director of the DMLE almost five minutes to read them all out.
When she was finished no one said a word. The entire chamber was silent.
It remained so for a good few seconds before one of the Members, Harry didn't know who it was, laughed
and said, "Merlin! That must be a new record for the number of charges one person has ever faced!"
That had a few chortles and snickers of nervous laughter before Ogden banged his gavel once and said, "Irrespective of the number of charges Mister Dumbledore faces, I believe Madam Bones will be addressing each and every one of them..." He turned a smirk to Bones.
"I am well prepared to do precisely that, Chief Adjudicator Ogden," she firmly replied. "We're going to be at this for a while." Her face did not show one flicker of amusement.
That shut all the sounds of amusement up.
Harry thought Bones would start her case by starting with the events of the night of the thirty-first of October, 1981, in a chronological order. However, she started well before that date, and things weren't as chronological as they were with other cases.
Instead, she addressed each case point with a collection of evidence for each, before moving on to the next.
Harry would not presume to think himself an expert of wizarding case law, even after having sat through over half a dozen cases over the past few days and carefully watching each and every one. But, he quickly recognised what she was up to.
Madam Bones was making sure everyone knew what laws Dumbledore broke and provided the evidence to demonstrate it. Then she'd move onto the next one. However, after a while he could see she was grouping them into logical allotments.
Each time she proved where Dumbledore had broken a law, she finished her evidence by stating, "I believe I have now successfully proven Mister Albus Dumbledore breached the law of section 'whatever', part 'whichever', of Wizarding British Statute
'whatever' of 'whenever', which states, 'blah'."
Then she would move onto the next one by stating, "I now move to the charge of 'whatever'."
Tofty was trying his best to defend his client. He tried to argue that some matters offered into evidence could not be accepted as they amounted to little more than hearsay. That is, statements given by others who weren't given Veritaserum or gave oaths as to the veracity of their statements, were not present for the entirety of an event and therefore had a skewed perception of it, it might not have been Dumbledore involved but instead was someone under a glamour or Polyjuice potion, or similar. He tried to argue that other evidence could not be accepted as it was given by minors - Hermione and Harry - or by people who were not considered proper witches or wizards - Hagrid and Flitwick - and was resoundingly berated for his attitude regarding that second one.
When the issue of Harry being collected by Hagrid and
denied Sirius's guardianship of him, Dumbledore argued that Hagrid 'clearly misunderstood the instructions he was given, which is understandable as Hagrid is a half giant.' And added that Hagrid had never informed him that Sirius arrived at the Potter cottage after he did and he was, therefore, unaware of it. That was clearly an attempt to escape being found guilty of 'Kidnapping the Heir Apparent of a Noble and Most Ancient House', which would have meant the Veil for the old man, right there.
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Chapter 085
In his mind, Harry went through all the times it was Hagrid that interacted with him and could see what Dumbledore had done. It was clear to Harry that, over the last decade and a half at least, the old man had set
Hagrid up to take the fall should his machinations ever come to light, which they had.
"Son... of... a... bitch!" he quietly exclaimed.
Turning to Hermione he asked, "Hermione, are you currently carrying on you parchment, ink and a quill? Please say yes."
Without even replying she simply reached into her robes and pulled out just that before handing it over to him.
Harry wasn't even surprised she had them.
He quickly cast a copying charm on the parchment to multiply the number of sheets she'd given him and set to writing.
Half listening in to the trial he was quickly jotting down notes. He was determined Hagrid wasn't going to get screwed over by Dumbledore, as the old man
seemed determined to do to save his own skin.
He hated the wizarding public media. And, though he'd not listened to much of it, he wasn't too fond of the wizarding wireless either. Both seemed to think 'news' was the journalist picking and choosing what facts they wanted to report and then giving their own spin on what really happened; even if that spin meant the reader or listener was led to a false conclusion.
However, while he also thought Hagrid was even more dense and daft than the average witch or wizard, it did not mean he was going to let the gentle half-giant get roasted in either media as a result of Dumbledore's claims at his trial.
No; Harry was, for the first time ever, going to give a statement to the press. But, to ensure no journalist could claim they misheard him when... not if... they misquoted him or misattributed something said to him, he would be giving them that statement in writing.
Then, he would warn them if they tried such a stunt he would be quite willing to sue the arses off them. He hoped it would be enough to stop it in its tracks. If Rita Bloody Skeeter was there, he'd be telling her she could soon expect a visit from his 'legal team'.
As the trial progressed it more and more appeared Dumbledore would not be found guilty of the major ones, except for the multiple obliviation attempts on Harry.
Even the charms and curses placed on staff and students found were of magical signatures that did not quite match Dumbledore's. When an expert on magical signatures was sworn in and asked if it could still be Dumbledore who performed them, he replied, "It could be. But it would mean Mister Dumbledore would have to have cast them with a different wand than the one he carried."
Bones asked, "Is there any other way to tell?"
"Sorry, no."
"And, if we find that wand?" she pressed. "Then, yes," replied the expert. "Definitely."
However, Harry knew damned well no one would be finding that wand. It wouldn't even take a Fidelius charm to hide it, even though a Fidelius charm was well within Dumbledore's capabilities - as demonstrated by him placing that charm on the Potter Cottage in 1981. He merely had to put it somewhere in a hidden cubbyhole. No magic needed. His Occlumency skills would block anyone trying to get the knowledge of its location from his mind.
One thing Harry did know, though, was that the wand had to be in Hogwarts, somewhere. And he further suspected it had to be somewhere near the Headmaster's office, if not within it.
If he had the opportunity he was going to track the damned thing down.
"What about Dumbledore's magical signature with magic cast wandlessly?" she asked.
"The magical signature of the charms is not a match with that, either."
Then Harry had the thought that the 'wand' that modified Dumbledore's signature might not be a wand at all. At least, not in the traditional sense. His study of wand-lore, trying to make sense of why he had a wand that matched Riddle's when they were two completely different people, allowed him to think of the problem in a lateral manner.
The 'wand' - or, rather, the magical foci used to focus one's magic and direct it - could actually be anything and any size. All that was needed was for the core to be some part of a magical creature capable of channelling the expressed magic; and the container,
that which surrounded the core, to be of a non- magical organic material. He knew other materials capable of being made into wands included bone, shell, teeth or fangs, horn, tusk, hardened carapace or even stiffened animal hide as such examples. Plus, the organic container could only be lacquered and polished using organic non-magical material. The connection between hand and magical core had to be completely organic. Any non-organic material would interrupt the flow of magic.
As such, the magical foci could truly be of any size with only two true limitations: First, too large and the witch/wizard could not wield it; and second, too small and the witch/wizard would burn the core out in very short order.
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Chapter 086
It was for the second reason, Harry had learned, that some witch/wizards carried a one-shot disposable wand on their person that was truly quite small. He'd read of the examples of a witch who had two, they were wooden pins used in her hair; and a wizard who had one inside a fake finger on his off-hand.
He'd thought of Dumbledore using one-shot wands, but realised that could not be true in this case as the curses and charms that Bones was trying to pin on Dumbledore all bore the same magical signature; and that meant the same wand.
Could Dumbledore have made his own? Easily. He had access to two of the most common cores, the tail feathers of a phoenix and the tail hairs of a unicorn. But, if he made his own, the aurors couldn't even question old Ollivander or any other wandcrafter if they'd sold a wand to the old man. Even then, with Dumbledore often heading off overseas to ICW
meetings, he could have purchased one in any country and wearing any glamour.
After the arithmancy expert on magical signatures was sent on his way, Ogden called for a break for lunch. No one argued against it.
_ ̳_ ―==(oIo)==― ˇ
When they were again escorted into the Auror's cafeteria, Harry was practically accosted by Sirius, who was there and apparently waiting for him. The man basically laid a massive hug on him.
Finally getting free of the hug, Harry asked, "Where the bloody hell have you been? If you weren't here, the first thing I was going to do is pull out my mirror and call you."
"Off on a small job I couldn't and still can't tell you
about," replied Sirius, while he was then hugging Hermione, though not so much.
"Hunh?" asked Harry.
"Let's just say I had a job that people that no one speaks about needed my help with and leave it at that, for now," his godfather mysteriously replied with a 'I know something you don't know' grin.
Harry rolled his eyes at the man and said, "Fiiiine. We'll talk about it when you can. In the meantime, are you here for the rest of the trial?"
"Sorry. No," replied Sirius. "Andi's come down hard on me for not resting up while I'm on that potions regimen she's got me on."
"Oh," replied Harry. "You told me about that in that letter you sent me. Sounds awful."
"Well, you'll be on your own soon. So, prepare
yourself for that," explained Sirius.
"What? Why?"
"Because, Pup, knowing the Potters as I do... did... there is no way you should be as small and skinny as you are. And the only way that could have happened is if you've been suffering from malnutrition. And Andi agrees.
"So, after the trials you're going onto a similar potions regimen."
"That's something I wanted to talk to you about," said Harry. "The way Dumbledore's trial is going there's a pretty good chance the old man is going to get let off with little more than a legal smack on the wrist. Even if he isn't I've been invited by Hermione's parents to spend some time at their place.
"Therefore, Hermione and I are leaving for her place right on the conclusion of the trial. As a matter of fact,
Dobby should have already popped both of our trunks and other effects, including Crookshanks, to her place. The aurors are getting us there under escort; and then a couple of them will stay with us in Hermione's parents' place for the duration."
"Alright," nodded Sirius. "That sounds like a good idea. I'll let Andi know. But, just so you know, she wants you on a potions regimen to build you up to what should be your correct height, weight and fitness before you get too old for it to have optimum effect.
"If I know Andi, she'll be organising with you... and Hermione's parents, of course... to come to Miss Granger's place on a daily basis to give you those potions."
Harry sighed and said, "You do realise, don't you, that once she decides what potions I should be on she can simply get a house elf to deliver them?"
"Errr... no," blushed the old dog. "That never occurred
to me."
"I think I can bet it never occurred to her, either," Harry blandly replied. "Tell her to call for 'Dobby' if she needs potions shuttled back and forth."
Hermione tried to hide her smirk and was mostly successful. Watching Harry demolish the 'logic and practicality' of witches and wizards, especially purebloods, had begun to be quite amusing to the girl.
One of the two aurors with them at the time, one of the ones often with them, quietly sighed loud enough for both teens to hear him. That nearly had Hermione outright laughing.
Sirius saw her, knew she knew something he didn't and thought he might have been the butt of a subtle joke by Harry. However, he couldn't figure it out and, therefore, believed he must've been mistaken.
"Ooooh-kay," he said. "Could you also ask Hermione's
parents if I can visit?"
"Of course," replied Harry. "You and me have a lot of catching up to do."
"Thank you," replied a very grateful Sirius.
With the amount of gratitude Sirius had put into those two simple words Harry knew the man, the person who should have raised him and they both knew it, truly was grateful.
A few minutes later Sirius had to leave citing if he didn't return back to the Tonkses' place soon Andi would hunt him down and drag him back there by the 'short hairs'.
"Though, I suppose I could hang around a bit," he mused. "She's currently busy today."
"Sirius, she's busy because she's currently sitting your Seat on the Wizengamot," explained his godson.
"So, if you're thinking of coming in to watch part of the trial she's very likely to see you."
"Ah, yes!" sighed Sirius. "I didn't think of that."
"Plus, is there anyone at the Tonkses' who's going to realise you're not there and tell cousin Andi?"
"Nope," Sirius happily replied. "Nymphadora is busy with auror duties and Ted's at his office doing some work for me."
"The Tonkses don't own any house elves who are likely to dob you in?"
"Oh," replied a suddenly dejected Lord Black.
Harry face-palming himself set Hermione's giggles off. "Hey!" whined Sirius.
The same auror seemed to take pity of the recent
'escapee' from Azkaban and explained, "Don't worry about it too much, Lord Black. Your godson seems to have this innate ability to see what everyone else is missing. And, by that, I don't mean things hidden by magic. I mean he sees answers to problems no one else has thought of and problems where no one thought one existed.
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Chapter 087
"He's been making us all look like complete idiots for a little over a week now.
Sirius looked at him with a confused expression.
With another sigh the auror explained, "Here's an example of what I mean: It was Lord Potter who
suggested we send you an owl to contact you. He then saw one of my colleagues send a messenger Patronus to Madam Bones suggesting we send an owl to you. He'd never seen a Patronus used that way before; but, within moments, asked why we didn't send one of those to you.
"Then, after my colleague immediately sent a second Patronus to Madam Bones relaying that idea, he then asked why hadn't anyone sent a house elf to you carrying a note.
"The aurors had been trying to track you down for more than a year. We had our best minds on the problem for that whole time and your godson told us three different methods to get in contact with you, with the first and third also giving us a way to tag you with a locator, within only a few moments.
"I assure you, when the rest of us found out about it, we all felt like idiots. And, I've been reliably informed, so did Madam Bones."
"Ask Harry to show you how he completed the first task in that pensieve of his, some time," suggested Hermione. "He made the organisers of the event look like complete idiots then too. And he did it publicly, explaining what and why he was doing what he was doing at the time."
"Sirius... dear godfather..." said Harry. "Getting back to the original point... just because you won't be able to talk to me live, does not mean you won't be able to talk to me direct. You're the one who sent me one of those wonderful mirrors, right?"
"Oh, yeah," he replied. "I did do that, didn't I?"
Harry had to struggle not to face-palm himself again, but did groan.
The auror gave a snort of amusement. "See what I mean?"
"And, yes, I do want to see how you did in the first task," added Sirius. Ignoring the auror's question.
_ ̳_ ―==(oIo)==― ˇ
Once Sirius had left to head back to the Tonkses, Harry placed the parchment he'd been writing upon on the desk and rewrote the material he'd already written down into more of a statement form.
He gave it a heading, then wrote a single paragraph opening statement for it, then began writing down the facts about matters he knew to be true and how he felt Dumbledore had been trying to pass the blame for certain matters onto Hagrid or others...
~# ~ [...]
It is my belief, based on many months, if not years, of thought on this matter, that Dumbledore specifically had me picked up from the cottage at Godric's Hollow so he could later claim, as he did today, that Mister Rubeus Hagrid must have misunderstood his orders; and blamed Mister Hagrid's status as a half-giant for that misunderstanding.
Irrespective of Dumbledore claiming he didn't order Mister Hagrid to deny handing me over to my rightful guardian and godfather, Sirius Black, it is very clear Dumbledore already had in place the steps to dump me at the Dursleys. He had Minerva McGonagall at the Dursley residence already, to keep an eye on them. And, as per her own trial evidence, he admitted to her it was his intention to leave me there, all along.
In this example, if I'm correct, what Dumbledore did is called 'blame-shifting'. I consider it a cowardly and despicable thing to do. He knew the Wizengamot would want someone to blame; so, often during his trial he verbally pointed his finger at Rubeus Hagrid
so many would not point their fingers at he, Dumbledore, where I believe the blame truly lies.
Consider this: Of all the members of staff at Hogwarts at that time, excluding Binns who no one really considers a member of staff anyway, only Hagrid is banned from using a wand with Filch unable to use one. Mister Hagrid was sent and did not arrive all that long after the attack on the Potter cottage, so Dumbledore must have known the Potter cottage was or had just been attacked. And yet Dumbledore sent only Mister Hagrid; the only one from off his staff, besides Filch, who could not magically defend himself. Why didn't Dumbledore go himself? Why didn't Dumbledore take others with him? Was he willing to sacrifice Mister Hagrid based on a guess that there was no longer Voldemort or a Death Eater or two there? The 31st October 1981 was a Saturday night only two months into the new school year. The school was fully staffed at the time. Therefore, he had plenty of people to call on within the castle who could accompany him. And, yet, he did not.
Consider this too: If Mister Hagrid was so poor at following Dumbledore's directions why, on 30th July 1991, did he specifically ignore Hogwarts written procedures concerning who must be sent to pick up muggle-raised for their first visit to Diagon Alley, by having Mister Hagrid collect me from my relatives to (re)introduce me to the wizarding world; and not one of the four Heads of House, as he was rightfully required to do? The 30th July 1991 was a Tuesday. For Hogwarts, it was also the summer break, so there were no classes on. Three of the four Heads of House were out on that day and days either side of it visiting the homes of muggleborns and raised and escorting them for their first times to the magical world. Why, of all such children before and since in recent years, was I not escorted by a Head of House? Why Mister Hagrid, specifically? Was it yet another opportunity for Dumbledore to blame-shift onto Mister Hagrid?
Many wizarding Britons admire Dumbledore to the point of veneration. But, is he worthy of it? What came
out during his trial today shows he isn't. Most recent wizarding History in magical Britain is written by Bathilda Bagshot. Did you know the Bagshots were both neighbours and close family friends of the Dumbledores in Godric's Hollow? Using that relationship, did Dumbledore ask Bagshot to write about him in a better light than what the unvarnished truth would show?
Do not be like the mindless sheep I think most wizarding Britons show themselves to be. Do not just accept something as true just because of one source. Do not just accept something to be true because someone tells you it is - even me. Think! Doubt! Question! Research!'
Lord Harrison James Potter
~# ~
Harry managed to get that written down just in time for the two teens to return to the chamber. He had
planned to leave the end open so he could add to it during the rest of the trial. However, he felt he'd written enough for the journalists that day and would write another for the next day if something new popped up in the second half of the trial.
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Chapter 088
After folding it he wrapped another sheet of parchment around it and wrote upon it, 'Madam Bones, would you mind making copies of the included statement and handing them to the journalists who'll be 'laying in ambush' for you out the main doors of the chamber? I'd rather not deal with them and be delayed long enough for Dumbledore to get hold of me (if he gets off, as I suspect he will) if it's all the same to you. HJP.'
Just before they rose to return Harry remembered something that had him curious. He turned to the non- chatty auror, the one who was closest to him, and asked, "Is there a Notice-Me-Not field over where Hermione and I are sitting? I only ask because I've noticed I'm not getting stared at, like usual."
Seemingly surprised by the question, the auror replied, "As a matter of fact, there is. It's there for your protection."
"I'm not complaining about it," he was quick to say. "If anything, I'm grateful. I just wondered."
_ ̳_ ―==(oIo)==― ˇ
Just after they walked in, Harry handed the parchment to the 'chatty' auror and asked him to hand it to Madam Bones before the trial restarted. He was happy
to do so.
He momentarily wondered about the names of the aurors but realised they came and left so often he'd be constantly trying to learn and remember names, so ignored it for now. There were, after all, currently more important things to remember. He'd make an effort once they got to Hermione's home.
As Harry and Hermione sat there as Dumbledore was brought back in - and again was sat in the chair fully manacled - he watched as Madam Bones opened the parchment and read the statement.
He could see her eyes widen in enough surprise her monocle fell out to dangle on its chain.
Then she turned to stare in his general direction, paused a moment and nodded once. And then turned to look at Dumbledore with a smirk.
'Oops!' thought Harry. 'I may have just given Bonesy
more ammunition to aim at Dumbledore. If that's the case I may have to rewrite what I want to inform the vultures about.'
However, she didn't immediately attack him with that information, as he thought she would.
After Ogden gave her the go ahead to continue she turned to Dumbledore and said, "Mister Dumbledore, I now turn your attention to the events of the 1991/92 school year.
"We already know a mountain troll was let loose in the castle on the evening of Hallowe'en that year and we have seen pensieve memories of both Quirinus Quirrell entering the Great Hall announcing its presence to one and all, plus the battle with it by Lord Potter, who ultimately defeated it.
"Who did you task with informing the DMLE of that event?"
"As it was only a minor issue... after all, no one was truly hurt by the event... after discussing it with staff it was decided there was no need to bother your busy aurors about its occurrence," replied Dumbledore, again adopting a friendly, though condescending, tone. He even chuckled a little. "I believe Professor Snape also made good use of the carcass in his potions classes."
"Really?" she asked. "A troll is considered a Class 2 dangerous creature. The law is clear that such incidences are mandatorily required to be reported to the DMLE. It is against the law not to. I also remind both you and the Members that, as Chief Warlock at the time, you were fully aware of that requirement.
"Which specific members of your staff informed you that you should not report the matter to the DMLE?"
"The discussion was just that, a discussion," he replied. "After all―"
"Mister Dumbledore," she cut in. "I asked you for the identity of the member of your staff whom you've already stated as testimony you discussed the matter with, informed you not to contact the DMLE. I would have that name, please."
"I believe it may have been young Quirinus... Professor Quirrell, I mean."
"I see," she said, clearly disbelieving him. "As Lord Potter was the slayer of the beast, how much did Hogwarts, through you or through any other avenue, pay Lord Potter for the carcass?"
"I believe young Harry―" "Lord Potter!" she barked.
"Quite," he said. "I believe... Lord Potter... did not request payment for the carcass."
"Ah!" she said. "Well, since you claimed magical
guardianship of the then under-aged Lord Potter, how much did you, as that magical guardian, claim from yourself, as representative of Hogwarts, for the carcass?"
"I felt that young... sorry, the then young Lord Potter would be quite happy to donate the proceeds of the carcass to the school, thereby assisting his fellow students. I know young Harry well enough to know he would have made such a modest commitment to the school."
As she looked at Harry for a moment, he shook his head with a frown on his face before she turned back.
"You are in error, Mister Dumbledore," she said. "I now currently sit in proxy for the Seat of Potter and have communicated with Lord Potter on this matter. He has informed me he most certainly would not have made such a modest commitment. At that time Lord Potter was unaware of the full holdings of the House of Potter, as his supposed magical guardian... you...
had not informed him of them. Instead, he was only aware of his trust vault at the time.
"Therefore, Lord Potter will be requiring restitution from Hogwarts for the full value of the carcass. At the then rates for such a fine specimen, that value is thirteen thousand two hundred galleons.
"He expects payment, promptly. After all, you've had more than three years to make payment. Tarry not or he, through me, shall be expecting interest payments. Such interest payments will then be backdated to the 31st October 1991."
Dumbledore spluttered indignantly but couldn't say anything else.
"A Miss Hermione Granger, twelve years of age at the time, was also in the bathroom at that time. She was even there when the troll first entered. What counselling did you arrange with a qualified mind healer for both children - plus the rest of the student
body, who were initially frightened by Mister Quirrell's announcement? After all, an eleven year old child had to fight a Class 2 magical creature without adult support in defence of his friend."
_ ̳_ ―==(oIo)==― ˇ
"Both children were fine," he again chuckled. "They headed for their common room to join their friends and housemates to enjoy the rest of the feast."
"Mister Dumbledore," she snapped. "Again, I am finding myself truly disgusted with you finding it humorous that the children at Hogwarts were in danger. Need I remind you that my own niece, who was also a first year Hogwarts student at that time, was also present in the castle?"
"No, of course not, Amelia," he said, acting contrite. "My apologies."
"That's Madam Bones, to you, Prisoner Dumbledore!" she snapped.
"Again, my apologies," he said.
"'Again, my apologies'... who?" she asked. "Madam Bones," he quickly amended.
She gave him another glare before looking back down at her notes. As she had learned in the morning session, Dumbledore quickly conformed when he was called 'Prisoner Dumbledore' instead of 'Mister Dumbledore'.
"I direct you back to my last question," she said. "I asked you which qualified mind-healer did the children see. I need that name, please."
With a disappointed sigh he said, "No one was harmed, Madam Bones. Therefore, I saw no need for
one. Madam Pomfrey, our school healer, was available for those who felt they needed to see someone; as were their Heads of Houses."
"You saw no need?" she pressed. "Yes. As I said, Am- Madam Bones."
"And when did you pick up your qualification as a mind healer?" she asked. "I have no record of it."
"I have been the Headmaster of―"
"I did not ask about how long you've been Headmaster, I asked you of when did you pick up your qualification as a mind healer. Please answer that question."
Another sigh. "I have not. However, I believe my tenure―"
"You have confirmed for us you are not a qualified
mind healer," she interrupted. "That is all I asked. That being the case, Mister Dumbledore, you breached the rules of Hogwarts, plus the law of wizarding Britain, by not immediately bringing in a mind healer to address any latent issues surrounding mental trauma of all those children under your direct care - especially the then Mister Potter and Miss Granger."
Looking to the Members, she said, "I believe I have now proven the charge of Failure to Provide Proper Psychological Care for a Magical Minor - two hundred and eighty seven cases - in regards to that incident."
"Next," she said... And on it went.
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Chapter 089
The result of Dumbledore's trial showed there was still far too many people on the Wizengamot that, according to Harry, thought the sun shone out of Dumbledore's arse.
While he was found guilty of some of the minor infractions, and the one major infraction of continually attempting to Obliviate Harry - that could not be argued away by anyone - Dumbledore escaped a prison term.
Instead, he at least lost his position of Britain's representative on the ICW, which meant he lost the Supreme Mugwump position with it, and lost the Chief Warlock position to go along with that, too.
Harry thought that meant he'd still be on the Wizengamot; but, surprisingly, he was not. It seems, as only a head of a Minor House, he only occupied the Seat of Potter as regent, which he had then passed on
to Doge as proxy when he became Chief Warlock, and no longer held any other Wizengamot-eligible authorities.
Further, he received a fine for the attempted illegal obliviations. He received no gaol time for it because, as Harry showed in his memories, they did not 'stick'. Which meant they were only 'attempted' obliviations and not 'actual' obliviations. He was still fined a hefty financial penalty, though.
Harry's memories of the obliviations Dumbledore sent Poppy Pomfrey's way those times at the Dursleys had to be discounted because of two significant points, both of which Dumbledore - not so funnily enough - pointed out. First, the magical 'signature' of the obliviations was not, supposedly, Dumbledore's. And, second, the old man 'could have' been someone either under Polyjuice Potion or glamour. It was also he who 'noticed' that the wand the Dumbledore in memories was using was not the wand that 'everyone knew' was his own - it visually lacked the berry ridges down it's
length.
Harry gave a sigh and said, as an aside to Hermione, "At least Bones will now know what the secret wand Dumbledore's been using looks like."
She silently nodded back.
When it came to his position as Headmaster of Hogwarts, Ogden was rather scathing of the man about that, too. Apparently, only the School Board could sack a sitting headmaster and, added to that, Dumbledore also held tenure as a professor. For the past twenty plus years he had been the only 'Professor', besides Binns, who still held a tenure-ship as all the rest had either retired or died in the interim. And Binns's was defunct due to his legal status as a ghost.
Harry found himself quite disgusted with the entire Wizengamot and thought them either corrupt, ignorant of their own laws or - as he'd been thinking all along
about nearly all witches and wizards - daft morons; or, closer still, a combination of all three.
Many in the galleries were quite incensed about the 'light' penalty Dumbledore was given and were shouting abuse and obscenities at the Members. Quite a few seemed satisfied with the outcome, but most seemed to sigh in defeat and quietly left.
Then, even before the chains were removed from Dumbledore, the aurors ushered the two teens out via the auror's exit. Neville remained as he'd be talking with his Gran
They were quickly whisked away from the Ministry building and out into the muggle world.
_ ̳_ ―==(oIo)==― ˇ
At the completion of the trial, as arranged, Harry and
Hermione were escorted by aurors out and to the Granger Residence.
It was getting a little late in the day and Hermione was worried her parents would be worried. However, when they got there, Hermione had to let them in with a key she had in a 'fob' pocket of her purse she was carrying with her.
As soon as she opened the door, she was pulled back and away from it as two aurors went in first.
One of the other two, a female auror who had grabbed her and pulled her aside, said, "Let us search the place first, Miss Granger. Constant vigilance and all that."
Meanwhile, the fourth auror stood with his back to the door, but far enough away that the two teens and the female auror were between he and the door.
A few minutes later, one of the aurors who first went
in came back to the door and quietly said, "It's clear, except for a sleeping half-kneazle in a bedroom on the top floor."
"Crookshanks," said Hermione. "He's mine; but, where's Hedwig?"
"On her way, no doubt," shrugged Harry. "She should be here soon. She might already be out hunting."
Hermione immediately led Harry and the aurors through to the downstairs area and the servants' quarters - which Harry was surprised to see had its own small combined kitchenette lounge, two bedrooms with shared ensuite and external entrance that opened on the side of the house to a small set of stairs leading up to the side yard.
"This will be like heaven compared to some of the bodyguard jobs we've had to endure," muttered one of the two female aurors looking about in surprise.
"I take it you're all experienced with muggle homes?" asked Hermione.
"Yes, Miss Granger," replied the senior auror, a male. "All aurors, as part of their training, have to spend about a month living non-stop in the muggle world. We stayed in a... motel?"
"Motel, yes," nodded Hermione. "It's like a hotel, only with better access for vehicles. And the motel units often have their own kitchenettes, like we have here in the servants' quarters."
"Yes," muttered the auror.
Next up, Hermione took Harry by the hand and led him upstairs. She explained which room should be his, but there was none of his effects in it, before heading up to the top floor.
She immediately showed him her room, then took him across the landing to see the other two 'non-ensuited'
guest rooms - there was a 'communal' bathroom leading off the landing at the back side of the house. In one, they found Harry's effects.
"Ummm..." muttered the girl. She seemed undecided.
"You suggested your parents might want me to use the guest room on the next floor down, right?" he asked. "The same one with the master bedroom?"
With a sigh of relief, she replied, "Yes, Harry. I think it would be for the best so Daddy doesn't worry you'll try to sneak into my room at night to... 'have your wicked way with me'." Then blushed.
"Trust me, Hermione," he said. "If I ever snuck into your room... and I'd never do that, by the way... there would be nothing 'wicked' about it."
One of the female aurors laughed and said, "Oh, to be a teenager again."
That had both teens blushing. The auror just laughed again.
To break through his embarrassment, Harry led the small party back down to the second floor.
When he walked into the guest room there, he called Dobby.