Chapter 049

"I am a boy and I am your friend," he returned. "I dare say that'll be close enough for your father. And maybe your mother, too."

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―==(oIo)==―

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Back at the DMLE Madam Bones had just finished skimming through the statement of Lord Potter - she'd read Miss Granger's later, as it mainly was really only a supporting document to Lord Potter's - and set it aside with a sigh. Connie Hammer and Beau Fleming were seated opposite in her 'guest's' chairs.

"And both drank the potion-laced water?" she asked.

"They did," replied Hammer while Fleming simply nodded. "Lord Potter even managed to polish off almost a half gallon of it. He spoke for quite a while."

"And every word supported one hundred percent what he made public during the first task," added Fleming.

"I simply can't believe the atrocities those Dursleys committed upon that boy and yet he still turned out to be wonderful young man," said Hammer.

"Have you ever heard of the quote: 'Nature versus nurture'?" asked Fleming.

"Yes," replied Bones while Hammer looked a little confused. "The argument goes, I believe; how much of a person's personality can be attributed to their inherent nature as opposed to how they were nurtured, raised?"

"Indeed," nodded Fleming as Hammer seemed to have at least somewhat understood. "However, it's even more than that. When they talk about nature they're even going as deep as the cellular level; what muggles refer to as 'genes'. It's that level that determines things like eye colour, hair colour, optimum height and weight, that sort of thing. Nurture goes to the environment in which a child is raised, warm or temperate climate, the country they were raised in, all the way down to siblings, guardians, schooling, etcetera; and includes behaviour directed toward him or her.

"If nurture was the dominant effect, then there's no way Lord Potter would not have turned out to be a new Dark Lord; irrespective of what Dumbledore would have us believe. It would also explain what Lord Potter meant when he said he should have been sorted into Slytherin and argued with the Hat not to sort him there.

"If nature were dominant - which I think has been proven in Lord Potter's case - then, no matter how poorly he was raised or badly treated, he's a Potter; and the Potters have always been inherently good people.

"Lord Potter has a strong sense of 'Noblesse Oblige'; the responsibility of the peerage towards the commoner. Miss Granger often referred to what she called Lord Potter's 'Saving People Thing'. Lord Potter has a strong sense of doing what is right, even at the cost of his own welfare. I think that is a combination of his own sense of righteousness being paired with his poor sense of self worth brought about by how the Dursleys treated him.

"From everything I've learned of this matter so far, Lord Potter has been raised in a very specific way that will lead him to ultimately sacrifice himself to save others. Dumbledore's actions have created a teenager, to date, who is simply waiting for the time when he will get to carry out that act. And, I'm sorry to say, I believe it was deliberate on Dumbledore's part."

"That was my intuitive belief, as well," replied Bones. "As it was Lord Potter's. However, it's nice to have it confirmed by a Master Mind Healer."

"You should also know that Lord Potter was correct in positing that magical children raised in an abusive environment will often be sorted into Slytherin. However, that is the case for children whose psyche manages to survive being raised so. Those not so lucky will often be sorted into Hufflepuff, as they fear confrontation and try to hide in the shadows."

"I remember a couple of children like that when I was in Hufflepuff," Bones almost absent-mindedly muttered.

Coming back to herself and sitting up straighter she asked, "Was he also right about matters such as the traps they had to get through in First Year, the whole basilisk fiasco and everything else?"

"I believe so, yes," he nodded. "Just as Lord Potter believes, those traps were way too simple to stop a skilled wizard, let alone a Dark Lord. They were clearly set up to test him and his friends; but, more importantly, him. Nothing else makes any sense.

"As for the basilisk I can see no situation where Dumbledore could not have known there was one in the school the first time it was brought up into the public areas. That was the night of Hallowe'en, 1992, when Filch's cat was petrified.

"And, as for the students who were attacked and petrified, they could have been woken within a day of their petrifications. Mandrake Restorative Draught is kept in stasis in every medical centre I know of. Hells, we even have it here in the DMLE Infirmary. I know for a fact there's currently a dozen doses of it sitting in stasis in the potions cabinet.

"No, Dumbledore wanted those students kept petrified so they wouldn't let anyone know too early that the monster was a basilisk."

"When do we go to trial with all this?" asked Hammer, who had been quiet for most of the talk.

"We start in three days - Monday morning," replied Bones.

"In what order?" asked Hammer.

"Fudge and Umbridge, then the staff of the school, we'll slot the Dursleys in there somewhere and, finally, Dumbledore," she replied. "I want Fudge and Umbridge out of the way so they don't interfere with the other trials. And I want to have Dumbledore last, as I'm hoping there will be more evidence that comes to light from the trials of the other members of staff."

In the past day and a half they had managed to get out of Fudge just how much Umbridge was involved in what he'd been doing. And that she had been blackmailing him, on the side.

"I'm going to put forward all the evidence that I now have on the old man. I want to make sure that even the most die-hard of Dumbledore's supporters on the Wizengamot learn exactly the type of man whom it is they support. I want there to be such a preponderance of incontrovertible evidence there is no possible way the old man is going to escape justice."

"What about Sirius Black?" asked Fleming. "The man is clearly innocent."

"That's being dealt with," she replied. "I have Shacklebolt and Tonks looking for him."

"Tonks?" asked Hammer. "A bit young, isn't she?"

"Yes," nodded Bones. "However, what makes her special for this is that she's of Black blood and a second cousin of him. She remembers 'Cousin Siri', as she called him, with fondness. And, apparently, that fondness was returned.

"If Shacklebolt and she find him it may be the trigger that has him surrendering to them, rather than fighting them off and or running away again."

"Have you asked Lord Potter if he knows how to get hold of him?" asked Fleming. "I didn't specifically ask him that, but I'm pretty sure he likely knows how."

Surprised, Bones replied, "I... hadn't thought of that. I'll send him an owl and ask."

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―==(oIo)==―

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The next morning, while Hermione had not heard back from her parents yet, Harry received a decent sized letter from Madam Bones. In it she'd covered what was happening regarding the upcoming trials and such.

In two days they were starting with Cornelius Fudge and Dolores Umbridge. If they had time they'd then start on the Hogwarts staff. Since he'd effectively and willingly admitted to any and all wrongdoing, the first of the staff to be tried was Filius Flitwick. Harry was surprised they'd be starting the trials so soon.

Her letter stated he would be required to attend all the trials, though she knew he'd get bored pretty quick. If he didn't he might find himself approached by an auror who was there to immediately take him to the trial of the moment. And that was only if a member of the Interrogation panel - the judges - specifically demanded his presence for a short time to answer questions.

However she also assured him, as he'd already provided authenticated memories and statement, the likelihood of that occurring was low. If he was so summoned he'd be provided a Law Wizard to advise him before he even took the stand to give verbal evidence.

Turning to a hovering Hermione he said, "The trials start the day after tomorrow - Monday. First up are Fudge and Umbridge. And, if they have time, they'll be followed by Flitwick."

"That's Minister Fudge, Senior Undersec... Oh, to hell with it," she said. "Fudge, then Umbridge, then Flitwick. When are the others?"

Harry laughed. It was the first time he could recall since he'd first met the girl that she had not insisted on people being referred to by, as she saw it, their proper titles. It said a lot to the state of things she now chose to not use them for the adults concerned.

"After Flitwick, the next day it will be Hagrid, Sprout, McGonagall, Snape and Dumbledore in that order. Madam Pomfrey, from what Madam Bones alludes to here, will not be prosecuted at this time so long as she co-operates fully with the DMLE and satisfactorily answers all their questions. However, it's very likely she's going to lose her Medi-witches' credentials."