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batsutousaiTitle: Riddle's "Little" Problem
Author:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
batsutousai
Rating: hard R
Pairings: Voldemort/Tom Riddle(non-con), Ron/Hermione, Harry/Ginny, Tom/Harry
Warnings: Rape(non-graphic), physical violence, serious death threats, war, slash, het
Summary: An accident has separated Tom Riddle from Lord Voldemort. What will the Dark Lord do now that he's free from Tom's conscious? How much will Tom have to suffer at the hand of his other half? And what can Harry Potter do to help?
Disclaim Her: Er, heh? *ducks flying objects from audience* SORRY IT'S SO LATE!!! (Not that I actually expected to get this done. Ever... *runs from readers* )
-~/\~-
The Unlucky Man Who Saw Voldemort Naked
-~\/~-
After breakfast, everything goes smoothly. My classes for the day are filled with contemplative students who watch me with curious eyes and gentle smiles.
During lunch - which I take in my office, rather than brave the Great Hall - I pull out a pile of homework that the students had turned in that day and read through them. Most of them have a couple sentences added on; sentences that say things like, "I don't care who you were, Professor Riddle, you’re an awesome teacher now," and, "Be you Him or Potter, you're still my professor and I'll keep you around, if you don't mind."
I feel like crying. Or laughing, maybe. It seems Harry was right about my students taking it well. Of course, the real question is how the Ministry will handle this. Will they stop this pathetic excuse for a war, or will they just full out attack the school?
I find that I'm no longer as scared of the second option as I had been before.
-~/\~-
A special edition of the Daily Prophet hits the school around dinner, as well as letters for Minerva, Harry, and myself. I eye Minerva's copy of the Prophet, which she is currently reading, for a long moment before picking up my letter and breaking the Ministry's seal on it.
I shudder and pick up the paper, which Minerva has just finished with. Anger blazes coldly from Harry's side of our mental connection - most likely because of his own letter - and I force myself to ignore him.
'TRIAL DATE SET FOR HOGWARTS PROFESSOR'
'Minister For Magic Sets Trial For Ex-Dark Lord'
'As all readers of the Daily Prophet know, Professor
of Defence Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts, Tom
Riddle, admitted to Rita Skeeter that he had, in fact,
been the infamous You Know Who, though not, per-
haps, guilty of the crimes he committed.'
'The current Minister for Magic, Rufus Scrimgeour,
moved quickly to set up a trial with the Wizengamot
this Saturday to look further into these matters. The
trial will NOT be public, we have been informed, and
the professor will be unharmed unless considered
'unsafe' by the Wizengamot, which will result in the
Kiss.
'We here at the Prophet office find ourselves torn over
this issue. Rita Skeeter seems positive that Mr Riddle
is innocent of all charges regarding the now-deceased
Dark Lord and as 'safe' as Harry Potter. Her words
mean a lot to us here.
'Whether you support Professor Riddle or not, we ask
that you take a moment to think back on the article
from this morning before any fates are decided. We
ask that all demand a fair trial for Professor Tom
Riddle. Isn't it what any human being would deserve?'
I feel...odd. Strangely touched, actually. It seems that I made a greater impression on Skeeter than I'd thought, if the reactions of her fellow reporters are anything to go by. And it's odd to see two consecutive Daily Prophets with front page articles that have the reporters speaking their hearts.
I glance over at Minerva and find her with her hands balled into fists and glaring at her own letter from the Minister. Harry's fury flickers in the back of my mind and I sigh. How should I go about telling my friends that I will, in fact, be attending this trial, whether they want me to or not? I won't risk my students over this.
"Minerva."
Minerva looks up at me, her anger fading into a quiet sadness. "I know nothing I say is going to stop you from going to the Ministry on Saturday."
I nod. "They said it's going to be a fair trial anyway-"
"What makes you think it will actually be fair, Tom?" Slughorn snaps from my other side.
I turn to frown at him. "Because the Ministry isn't stupid enough to have a good chunk of the wizarding world on their arses because they played games at this trial."
"They said it was going to be closed, though," Minerva whispers, setting a hand on my shoulder.
I glance at her. "What did the Minister want from you?"
Minerva looks taken aback for a moment, then says, "He asks that I come to the trial to act as a witness and your employer."
"I haven't a doubt that Harry's letter said the same," I reply, feeling a smirk on my face. "You two will be there to witness the trial and report back in case they don't act fairly."
"What if they change our memories around?" Minerva shoots back, frowning.
"I guess we'll just have to take preventive measures," Slughorn mumbles behind me. I know, without looking, that he too is smirking. It's a Slytherin thing.
-~/\~-
We Floo into the Ministry and find ourselves nearly suffocated by reporters, Ministry workers, and fellow witches and wizards. Only the quick thinking of a party of Ministry Aurors saves us. Once we - I'm referring to Minerva, Harry, and myself, by the way - are surrounded by the party of Aurors, we are led through the crowds and sent into an elevator, which is blissfully silent and lacks any shoving.
Harry eyes the two Aurors who stepped onto the elevator with us as we descend into the bowls of the Ministry building, then turns his back on them and hugs me.
I blink down at Harry in surprise for a moment, then hug him back. "What is it?"
Harry smiles up at me. "Nothing. I just felt like hugging you. Are you trying to make something of it?"
"No fighting in the Ministry," Minerva intones, looking harassed.
"We weren't going to fight, Professor," Harry replies cheerfully.
"You're too happy. Please go be happy somewhere else," I request with a straight face.
Harry stares at me. I stare back.
We last about thirty seconds before we both crack up.
"Department of Mysteries," state the cool voice of the elevators in the Ministry as the doors spring open. I half expect the hallways to be filled, once again, with crowds of people, but only a line of evenly dispersed Aurors stand against each wall and the hallway is a silent as a tomb.
I see Harry shiver as we step from the lift with the Aurors who had accompanied us and squeeze his shoulder. "It'll be fine," I whisper, not liking how my words carry to everyone in the hall.
Harry smiles back up at me. "Thanks." I smile back.
The Aurors usher us into the court room. The infamous Chair is seated in its normal position in the centre of the room and I eye it uncertainly as the two Aurors conjure two more chairs on either side of the Chair. "Sit," one of the Aurors order.
I take the Chair, as I'm likely expected, while Minerva and Harry settle into the two new seats on either side of me. I shove the sickening feeling that's growing in my stomach away; any and every Dark wizard knows of and fears the Chair. To sit in it likely means that you'll not be returning home. It is a rare man like myself who stands on trial and is acquitted.
Noise suddenly fills the room as the procession of Wizengamot members fill the upper benches at the front of the room. At the same time, the door on our level opens and an Auror accompanies Rita Skeeter in. She looks like a wreck of nerves: her hair is lank around her face and her clothing looks like she'd just pulled the first things out of the wardrobe that she touched and threw them on.
I blink as the Auror conjures a chair for her. "This is a surprise," I comment in a voice only loud enough to carry to Skeeter.
Skeeter offers me a tired smile as she sits and the Auror leaves us to our devices. "I got a letter from Minister Scrimgeour asking me to attend this trial as a witness to my article." She scrunches her nose up in distaste, which makes her glasses - not her normal fancy ones, incidentally, but some small, not fancy ones - tilt dangerously. "I decided to come, since I thought that, even if I can't help change their minds, I can, at the very least, report if it was an unfair trial."
I blink a few times, shocked, then smile at the reporter. "I do believe you've grown on me, Miss Skeeter. Thank you."
Skeeter laughs softly. "Should I be honoured?"
"You should be quite glad," Harry offers, eyes twinkling madly. "He seems to think that all reporters are cockroaches. You seemed to have moved on to a beetle."
"You look like Dumbledore," I mutter to Harry, frowning as Skeeter narrows her eyes at Harry. "And do behave yourself."
Harry shrugs and glances up at the benches, where the Wizengamot seems to have finished filling in. "Can't help it. It's almost built in now," he states quietly, then glances at Skeeter.
She frowns, but nods. "Just... do watch it."
Harry smiles. "I know how to keep a secret."
"That's what worries me," Skeeter retorts.
"Are we all prepared to start," Scrimgeour calls as he takes his seat at the front of the Wizengamot.
"Yes, sir," calls a far too excited voice - in my opinion. I glance over towards the happy chap and find a bouncy young man with bright red hair and freckles.
'Percy Weasley,' Harry informs me with a slab of distaste, probably having sensed my confusion. 'He's Ron's elder brother.'
'Ah...' I glance back up at Scrimgeour and nod that we're ready.
Scrimgeour nods back, then starts speaking in a loud, clear voice, "We are here today to review the charges being brought against one Tom Marvolo Riddle about his hand in the atrocities of He Who Must Not Be Named-"
"Voldemort," Harry mutters next to me, scowling up at the Minister. I cover a smile and sense Minerva doing the same on my other side.
"-and his Death Eaters on the wizarding public of Britain.
"The interrogators for this case will be as follows: Rufus Sayer Scrimgeour, Minister for Magic; Ophelia Louise Hayward, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement; Dolores Jane Umbridge, Senior Undersecretary to the Minister. The Court Scribe is Percy Ignatius Weasley. Witnesses for the defence are as follows: Minerva Monica McGonagall, Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry; Harry James Potter, student of Hogwarts and Defeater of-"
"Voldemort," Harry snaps before Scrimgeour can mangle my false name, then proceeds to smile innocently at the Minister.
"Yes. Him." Scrimgeour gives Harry a nasty look, then continues, "And Rita Lara Skeeter, Reporter for the Daily Prophet." He shuffles the papers that are on the table in front of him and shoots Harry yet another nasty look before glancing back down at his papers to continue. "Charges are as follows: Murder, torture, starting a war, use of the Dark Arts, use of the Unforgivables, use of magic in sight of Muggles, creating an army without Ministry permission, and, of course, refusing to cooperate with the Ministry."
I feel ill at the reminder of all the things I - or Voldemort, really - have done. 'I was one nasty son of a bitch, wasn't I?'
Harry's hand grabs mine and I glance over at him to see him glaring up at the Minister. I realize what he's going to do only seconds before he speaks, "Yeah, and what about all the good things he's done? Like helping me kill Voldemort? Or protecting the students of Hogwarts and the members of Hogsmeade when the Death Eaters and Inferi attacked back in November?"
Scrimgeour's right eye twitches and the witch sitting on his left, Madame Hayward, smiles faintly. Umbridge leans forward slightly and I feel ill again, though, this time, for a completely different reason. 'I didn't know it was possible for anyone to look that ugly...'
Harry turns to give me an incredulous look, than snickers. 'You have no idea.'
'I don't know. You never had the misfortune of seeing Voldemort right after he'd gotten out of the shower,' I reply, shuddering at the memory.
Harry, sneaking a glance at said memory, turns green. 'Oh, gross! Just imagine Umbridge naked. That should make it all better.'
'You're not helping my mental state, Mr Potter,' I offer dryly.
Before either of us can continue, Madame Hayward inquires, "What are you two doing?" though she doesn't sound upset, as I would have expected, just curious.
Harry answers before I can think up a good response. "When Voldemort cast the Killing Curse on me back when I was one, he gave me this lovely scar, as everyone knows," Harry flipped back his hair, showing said scar, "and created a bit of a connection between us. For the most part, all that got through the connection was emotions, when one of the two of us were feeling extreme ones, the other would feel it. Though, Voldemort was always so angry, I'm sure he never noticed when he got something from me," Harry adds dryly. I shake my head, even though I know the question is rhetorical.
"When he came back," Harry continues, "I started getting visions from him, dreams of things that he was up to. After Voldemort and Tom split into two different bodies, Tom used the link between us to do a sort a corporeal projection, but he was in my head, rather than as a spirit in real time. And he could take over control of my body." Harry shoots me a smirk as he says this, and I roll my eyes. "The link finally got to the point where we can talk to each other through it without leaving our bodies. Good for conversations across the Great Hall and Death Eater attacks in Hogsmeade," he finishes with the sort of smile that always makes me wonder how he managed to talk the Hat into putting him into Gryffindor.
Madame Hayward looks entirely caught up in Harry's story, and she's not the only one, I recognize, looking over the Wizengamot. At least half of the members are leaning forward in their seats, and I can't help but wonder if I'll be kept alive just to run tests on.
'Nah. They'd have to involve me in those tests too, you know,' Harry reassures me cheerfully. 'And we all know that involving the Defeater of Voldemort in any sort of tests is strictly taboo.'
'Thanks, Harry,' I reply, shooting him my best death glare.
Harry sends me a bright smile.
Minerva coughs next to me and shoots both Harry and myself pointed looks when we turn to look at her. "Do refrain from speaking in your minds," she half requests, half orders. Harry and I trade smirks. "And keep to English," Minerva adds.
Madame Hayward, a good chunk of the Wizengamot, and Skeeter all laugh. Whether it's at Minerva's statement, or the horrified looks we shoot her because of it, however, I can't tell.
'Of course,' I realize, 'it doesn't matter what they're laughing at, the fact is that they're laughing at us being human.'
'Voldemort was not the sort of person to joke with his fellows,' Harry agrees, not looking at me or in any way giving away that we're talking in our minds again. 'It's the same thing we did with Rita.'
I feel like laughing all of a sudden. Never mind that we're quite obviously proving me 'safe', but the trial's entirely off subject. Scrimgeour looks like he's about to blow his top, as does Umbridge and the few Wizengamot members who aren't laughing or smiling at our antics. I feel the insane urge to shoot a smirk at Scrimgeour, but decide against it on the principle that it's likely to work against me. Not that that stops Harry, who gleefully smirks away next to me.
Scrimgeour narrows his eyes and waves his wand. A shower of orange sparks shoots up, effectively silencing the room. "We have gotten off topic," he states calmly.
"I apologize, Minister," Madame Hayward says carefully.
Scrimgeour ignores her in favour of watching me frown back at him. "And please tell me, Mr Riddle, what you make of these charges?"
I blink, then smile coldly as I recall something. "I have never, ever denied that I was once one and the same as Voldemort, Minister Scrimgeour. However, as far as the letter that you sent me regarding this trial was concerned - never mind the story in the Prophet - I was under the impression that this trial was to decide whether or not I am 'safe' among my fellow witches and wizards, not to charge me with the crimes that I have committed in my past. If I have been brought here to be put on trial for my past crimes, I believe you will find that the public is looking for a new Minister."
I let the threat hang between us as I stare back at the furious Scrimgeour. Since all my attention is on him, I jump when Harry speaks up next to me softly.
"Minister, if what Tom is suggesting is true, we are going to leave and you'll have to get through Hogwarts for this trial to continue. While Tom will not directly threaten you, I will. If anything in this trial goes awry, you will find that letter that you sent to Tom plastered all over the Daily Prophet by tomorrow morning."
"Harry!" I turn to him with a sharp look and he just gives me a tired look.
"What, exactly, is so incriminating in this letter, Rufus?" Madame Hayward asks quietly. I glance back up at the benches and see that Scrimgeour has gone paper white.
"Something along the lines of him setting a full-scale attack on Hogwarts and charging all the of age or over age members of the castle with aiding and sheltering a wanted criminal," Harry replies flippantly. "Oh, and it ends with something along the lines of, 'we do not wish to harm our children'." He smiles sweetly up at the Wizengamot.
I groan and put my face in my hands. "Harry Potter, you are a menace," I mutter to him. He beams at me and I groan again.
Madame Hayward's voice suddenly cuts through the silence that has befallen the Wizengamot, cold and sharp as a knife, "You dare to make such threats without my or Gawain's agreement? Need I remind you that you are no longer the Head of the Auror Department?"
"I like her," Harry decides quietly. I roll my eyes while Skeeter snickers and Minerva smiles faintly.
Madame Hayward seems to calm herself after her slight outburst and whispers, "We will have tea after this trial is done, Rufus. And you will leave your pet toad at home."
"I really like her," Harry decides, eyes shining. "Forget being an Auror. I want to work for her." Skeeter snickers again while Minerva's smile grows more pronounced.
I give Harry a tired look. "Being an Auror would be working for her, Harry."
"Not close enough. Hey, do you think she'd marry me?"
I choke as Skeeter completely loses it and Minerva coughs into her hand. Harry just smiles at me brightly.
"Is there something funny over there?" Umbridge snaps, finally speaking up.
I smirk at Harry, making him frown, then turn to the group at the front of the room. "Nothing major, Madame Umbridge. Mr Potter here was just wondering if Madame Hayward would marry him," I offer calmly.
The entire Wizengamot, Madames Umbridge and Hayward, and Scrimgeour all stare at Harry and myself in shock while Skeeter continues to howl in laughter and Minerva looks torn between being horrified and helplessly amused.
"I hate you, by the way," Harry grumbles, punching my arm.
I cock an eyebrow at him. "You did it to yourself."
"I still hate you. Bastard," Harry says, scowling at me.
"My parents were married, I'll have you know," I inform him, rolling my eyes at his childishness.
"I know. Professor Dumbledore told me," Harry replies, suddenly looking rather happy. "But I don't think a love potion counts."
"I said they were married, not that my father loved her," I retort. "And what were you and Dumbledore doing looking into my parents?"
"Oh, you know, old history lessons and what-not. Something to lord over your head."
"I'm sure." I give Harry a dry look.
Harry smirks back at me.
"While I'm sure we're all quite grateful that you've decided to share your private discussions with us, I believe that, from now on, you should continue to have them in manners which the rest of us don't understand," Minerva says in the silence. "You two are ridiculous."
"You started it," Harry and I chorus, turning to smile at Minerva.
Minerva gives us both dry looks, then glances back up at the group of witches and wizards who are supposed to be judging me. "Is he 'safe'? Can we take him back to the castle and lock him up so he'll stop driving me mad?" she asks them.
"Hey!" I shoot Minerva a hurt look and she just blinks at me blankly.
Madame Hayward chuckles softly. "Yes, I believe we've seen enough to judge whether or not Mr Riddle is 'safe'." She turns to the Wizengamot, still smiling. "Those in favour of declaring Mr Riddle 'safe'?"
Nearly the entire Wizengamot raises their hands. I feel like crying in relief.
"Those in favour of giving Mr Riddle the Kiss?" Madame Hayward asked.
Three hands go up: Umbridge, Scrimgeour, and one member of the Wizengamot.
Harry lets out a cheer next to me and jumps up to dance. Skeeter smiles at me while Minerva hugs me with a huge smile.
I smile up at Madame Hayward and she smiles back for the brief moment before Harry drags me to my feet and makes me dance with him. I laugh and hug him instead. 'I'm okay. It's all okay!'
Harry smiles at me in response and hugs me back. 'Of course it's okay, you moron. You're still not Voldemort, no matter what you say.'
'Brat.'
'Bastard.'
'Creature of the Devil.'
'Unlucky man who saw Voldemort naked.'
'Die,' I order, trying to scowl at him and failing.
Harry laughs.
-~/\~-
-~\/~-
A/N: The court scene was....difficult. Harry and Tom kept getting off track. *sweatdrops and laughs nervously* I mean, I love writing the two boys, but they drive me NUTS sometimes. *hugs Harry and Tom fondly, then smacks them both*
Is everyone okay with the trial? I have to ask. I tried to keep it like Harry's trial in OotP, but I also took the DE trials from GoF into account, since I was dealing with a different Minister than Fudge. Did it work? *has a nervous breakdown* I swear I tried really hard with it!!! *cries*
Uhm. OC!Rufus was largely because I did finally pull out HBP and was reading his chats with Harry - I couldn't remember whether he called Voldemort by his name or 'He Who Must Not Be Named' - and so he came across as a little nasty because of how he kept trying to use Harry in the book. Oh, and I haven't slept. *sweatdrop*
Feed me? Even though I took so long? *puppy eyes*
~Bats
Chapters:
1 - A Little Potion Accident ||| 2 - The Spectacles ||| 3 - The Last One
4 - Failure? ||| 5 - Seventh Year Begins ||| 6 - Hogsmeade Surprise
7 - In the Aftermath ||| 8 - Trouble in Paradise ||| 9 - Voldemort Who?
10 - Kiss ||| 11 - Wizarding Media - Friend or Foe? |||12 - The Unlucky Man Who Saw Voldemort Naked
Epilogue - Just a Little Case of Paradise
Author:
batsutousaiRating: hard R
Pairings: Voldemort/Tom Riddle(non-con), Ron/Hermione, Harry/Ginny, Tom/Harry
Warnings: Rape(non-graphic), physical violence, serious death threats, war, slash, het
Summary: An accident has separated Tom Riddle from Lord Voldemort. What will the Dark Lord do now that he's free from Tom's conscious? How much will Tom have to suffer at the hand of his other half? And what can Harry Potter do to help?
Disclaim Her: Er, heh? *ducks flying objects from audience* SORRY IT'S SO LATE!!! (Not that I actually expected to get this done. Ever... *runs from readers* )
The Unlucky Man Who Saw Voldemort Naked
-~\/~-
After breakfast, everything goes smoothly. My classes for the day are filled with contemplative students who watch me with curious eyes and gentle smiles.
During lunch - which I take in my office, rather than brave the Great Hall - I pull out a pile of homework that the students had turned in that day and read through them. Most of them have a couple sentences added on; sentences that say things like, "I don't care who you were, Professor Riddle, you’re an awesome teacher now," and, "Be you Him or Potter, you're still my professor and I'll keep you around, if you don't mind."
I feel like crying. Or laughing, maybe. It seems Harry was right about my students taking it well. Of course, the real question is how the Ministry will handle this. Will they stop this pathetic excuse for a war, or will they just full out attack the school?
I find that I'm no longer as scared of the second option as I had been before.
A special edition of the Daily Prophet hits the school around dinner, as well as letters for Minerva, Harry, and myself. I eye Minerva's copy of the Prophet, which she is currently reading, for a long moment before picking up my letter and breaking the Ministry's seal on it.
'Mr Tom Riddle,
'It is with our sincerest promise that you will not be harmed that we ask you to attend a trial on Saturday, the twenty-eighth of April at noon, regarding your admitting to having been the Dark Lord. Let it be known that this is simply a formality. If you, Mr Riddle, are found to be safe, you will be sent back to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry with a cleared record and no other charges will be able to be brought against you in the future. If you are found un-safe, you will be given the Kiss. Failure to attend this trial will result on a full-out attack by the Ministry on Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and all persons that are of age or over age will be charged with sheltering and aiding a wanted criminal.
'Do attend. We do not wish to harm our children.
'Rufus Scrimgeour
'Minister for Magic'
I shudder and pick up the paper, which Minerva has just finished with. Anger blazes coldly from Harry's side of our mental connection - most likely because of his own letter - and I force myself to ignore him.
'Minister For Magic Sets Trial For Ex-Dark Lord'
'As all readers of the Daily Prophet know, Professor
of Defence Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts, Tom
Riddle, admitted to Rita Skeeter that he had, in fact,
been the infamous You Know Who, though not, per-
haps, guilty of the crimes he committed.'
'The current Minister for Magic, Rufus Scrimgeour,
moved quickly to set up a trial with the Wizengamot
this Saturday to look further into these matters. The
trial will NOT be public, we have been informed, and
the professor will be unharmed unless considered
'unsafe' by the Wizengamot, which will result in the
Kiss.
'We here at the Prophet office find ourselves torn over
this issue. Rita Skeeter seems positive that Mr Riddle
is innocent of all charges regarding the now-deceased
Dark Lord and as 'safe' as Harry Potter. Her words
mean a lot to us here.
'Whether you support Professor Riddle or not, we ask
that you take a moment to think back on the article
from this morning before any fates are decided. We
ask that all demand a fair trial for Professor Tom
Riddle. Isn't it what any human being would deserve?'
I feel...odd. Strangely touched, actually. It seems that I made a greater impression on Skeeter than I'd thought, if the reactions of her fellow reporters are anything to go by. And it's odd to see two consecutive Daily Prophets with front page articles that have the reporters speaking their hearts.
I glance over at Minerva and find her with her hands balled into fists and glaring at her own letter from the Minister. Harry's fury flickers in the back of my mind and I sigh. How should I go about telling my friends that I will, in fact, be attending this trial, whether they want me to or not? I won't risk my students over this.
"Minerva."
Minerva looks up at me, her anger fading into a quiet sadness. "I know nothing I say is going to stop you from going to the Ministry on Saturday."
I nod. "They said it's going to be a fair trial anyway-"
"What makes you think it will actually be fair, Tom?" Slughorn snaps from my other side.
I turn to frown at him. "Because the Ministry isn't stupid enough to have a good chunk of the wizarding world on their arses because they played games at this trial."
"They said it was going to be closed, though," Minerva whispers, setting a hand on my shoulder.
I glance at her. "What did the Minister want from you?"
Minerva looks taken aback for a moment, then says, "He asks that I come to the trial to act as a witness and your employer."
"I haven't a doubt that Harry's letter said the same," I reply, feeling a smirk on my face. "You two will be there to witness the trial and report back in case they don't act fairly."
"What if they change our memories around?" Minerva shoots back, frowning.
"I guess we'll just have to take preventive measures," Slughorn mumbles behind me. I know, without looking, that he too is smirking. It's a Slytherin thing.
We Floo into the Ministry and find ourselves nearly suffocated by reporters, Ministry workers, and fellow witches and wizards. Only the quick thinking of a party of Ministry Aurors saves us. Once we - I'm referring to Minerva, Harry, and myself, by the way - are surrounded by the party of Aurors, we are led through the crowds and sent into an elevator, which is blissfully silent and lacks any shoving.
Harry eyes the two Aurors who stepped onto the elevator with us as we descend into the bowls of the Ministry building, then turns his back on them and hugs me.
I blink down at Harry in surprise for a moment, then hug him back. "What is it?"
Harry smiles up at me. "Nothing. I just felt like hugging you. Are you trying to make something of it?"
"No fighting in the Ministry," Minerva intones, looking harassed.
"We weren't going to fight, Professor," Harry replies cheerfully.
"You're too happy. Please go be happy somewhere else," I request with a straight face.
Harry stares at me. I stare back.
We last about thirty seconds before we both crack up.
"Department of Mysteries," state the cool voice of the elevators in the Ministry as the doors spring open. I half expect the hallways to be filled, once again, with crowds of people, but only a line of evenly dispersed Aurors stand against each wall and the hallway is a silent as a tomb.
I see Harry shiver as we step from the lift with the Aurors who had accompanied us and squeeze his shoulder. "It'll be fine," I whisper, not liking how my words carry to everyone in the hall.
Harry smiles back up at me. "Thanks." I smile back.
The Aurors usher us into the court room. The infamous Chair is seated in its normal position in the centre of the room and I eye it uncertainly as the two Aurors conjure two more chairs on either side of the Chair. "Sit," one of the Aurors order.
I take the Chair, as I'm likely expected, while Minerva and Harry settle into the two new seats on either side of me. I shove the sickening feeling that's growing in my stomach away; any and every Dark wizard knows of and fears the Chair. To sit in it likely means that you'll not be returning home. It is a rare man like myself who stands on trial and is acquitted.
Noise suddenly fills the room as the procession of Wizengamot members fill the upper benches at the front of the room. At the same time, the door on our level opens and an Auror accompanies Rita Skeeter in. She looks like a wreck of nerves: her hair is lank around her face and her clothing looks like she'd just pulled the first things out of the wardrobe that she touched and threw them on.
I blink as the Auror conjures a chair for her. "This is a surprise," I comment in a voice only loud enough to carry to Skeeter.
Skeeter offers me a tired smile as she sits and the Auror leaves us to our devices. "I got a letter from Minister Scrimgeour asking me to attend this trial as a witness to my article." She scrunches her nose up in distaste, which makes her glasses - not her normal fancy ones, incidentally, but some small, not fancy ones - tilt dangerously. "I decided to come, since I thought that, even if I can't help change their minds, I can, at the very least, report if it was an unfair trial."
I blink a few times, shocked, then smile at the reporter. "I do believe you've grown on me, Miss Skeeter. Thank you."
Skeeter laughs softly. "Should I be honoured?"
"You should be quite glad," Harry offers, eyes twinkling madly. "He seems to think that all reporters are cockroaches. You seemed to have moved on to a beetle."
"You look like Dumbledore," I mutter to Harry, frowning as Skeeter narrows her eyes at Harry. "And do behave yourself."
Harry shrugs and glances up at the benches, where the Wizengamot seems to have finished filling in. "Can't help it. It's almost built in now," he states quietly, then glances at Skeeter.
She frowns, but nods. "Just... do watch it."
Harry smiles. "I know how to keep a secret."
"That's what worries me," Skeeter retorts.
"Are we all prepared to start," Scrimgeour calls as he takes his seat at the front of the Wizengamot.
"Yes, sir," calls a far too excited voice - in my opinion. I glance over towards the happy chap and find a bouncy young man with bright red hair and freckles.
'Percy Weasley,' Harry informs me with a slab of distaste, probably having sensed my confusion. 'He's Ron's elder brother.'
'Ah...' I glance back up at Scrimgeour and nod that we're ready.
Scrimgeour nods back, then starts speaking in a loud, clear voice, "We are here today to review the charges being brought against one Tom Marvolo Riddle about his hand in the atrocities of He Who Must Not Be Named-"
"Voldemort," Harry mutters next to me, scowling up at the Minister. I cover a smile and sense Minerva doing the same on my other side.
"-and his Death Eaters on the wizarding public of Britain.
"The interrogators for this case will be as follows: Rufus Sayer Scrimgeour, Minister for Magic; Ophelia Louise Hayward, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement; Dolores Jane Umbridge, Senior Undersecretary to the Minister. The Court Scribe is Percy Ignatius Weasley. Witnesses for the defence are as follows: Minerva Monica McGonagall, Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry; Harry James Potter, student of Hogwarts and Defeater of-"
"Voldemort," Harry snaps before Scrimgeour can mangle my false name, then proceeds to smile innocently at the Minister.
"Yes. Him." Scrimgeour gives Harry a nasty look, then continues, "And Rita Lara Skeeter, Reporter for the Daily Prophet." He shuffles the papers that are on the table in front of him and shoots Harry yet another nasty look before glancing back down at his papers to continue. "Charges are as follows: Murder, torture, starting a war, use of the Dark Arts, use of the Unforgivables, use of magic in sight of Muggles, creating an army without Ministry permission, and, of course, refusing to cooperate with the Ministry."
I feel ill at the reminder of all the things I - or Voldemort, really - have done. 'I was one nasty son of a bitch, wasn't I?'
Harry's hand grabs mine and I glance over at him to see him glaring up at the Minister. I realize what he's going to do only seconds before he speaks, "Yeah, and what about all the good things he's done? Like helping me kill Voldemort? Or protecting the students of Hogwarts and the members of Hogsmeade when the Death Eaters and Inferi attacked back in November?"
Scrimgeour's right eye twitches and the witch sitting on his left, Madame Hayward, smiles faintly. Umbridge leans forward slightly and I feel ill again, though, this time, for a completely different reason. 'I didn't know it was possible for anyone to look that ugly...'
Harry turns to give me an incredulous look, than snickers. 'You have no idea.'
'I don't know. You never had the misfortune of seeing Voldemort right after he'd gotten out of the shower,' I reply, shuddering at the memory.
Harry, sneaking a glance at said memory, turns green. 'Oh, gross! Just imagine Umbridge naked. That should make it all better.'
'You're not helping my mental state, Mr Potter,' I offer dryly.
Before either of us can continue, Madame Hayward inquires, "What are you two doing?" though she doesn't sound upset, as I would have expected, just curious.
Harry answers before I can think up a good response. "When Voldemort cast the Killing Curse on me back when I was one, he gave me this lovely scar, as everyone knows," Harry flipped back his hair, showing said scar, "and created a bit of a connection between us. For the most part, all that got through the connection was emotions, when one of the two of us were feeling extreme ones, the other would feel it. Though, Voldemort was always so angry, I'm sure he never noticed when he got something from me," Harry adds dryly. I shake my head, even though I know the question is rhetorical.
"When he came back," Harry continues, "I started getting visions from him, dreams of things that he was up to. After Voldemort and Tom split into two different bodies, Tom used the link between us to do a sort a corporeal projection, but he was in my head, rather than as a spirit in real time. And he could take over control of my body." Harry shoots me a smirk as he says this, and I roll my eyes. "The link finally got to the point where we can talk to each other through it without leaving our bodies. Good for conversations across the Great Hall and Death Eater attacks in Hogsmeade," he finishes with the sort of smile that always makes me wonder how he managed to talk the Hat into putting him into Gryffindor.
Madame Hayward looks entirely caught up in Harry's story, and she's not the only one, I recognize, looking over the Wizengamot. At least half of the members are leaning forward in their seats, and I can't help but wonder if I'll be kept alive just to run tests on.
'Nah. They'd have to involve me in those tests too, you know,' Harry reassures me cheerfully. 'And we all know that involving the Defeater of Voldemort in any sort of tests is strictly taboo.'
'Thanks, Harry,' I reply, shooting him my best death glare.
Harry sends me a bright smile.
Minerva coughs next to me and shoots both Harry and myself pointed looks when we turn to look at her. "Do refrain from speaking in your minds," she half requests, half orders. Harry and I trade smirks. "And keep to English," Minerva adds.
Madame Hayward, a good chunk of the Wizengamot, and Skeeter all laugh. Whether it's at Minerva's statement, or the horrified looks we shoot her because of it, however, I can't tell.
'Of course,' I realize, 'it doesn't matter what they're laughing at, the fact is that they're laughing at us being human.'
'Voldemort was not the sort of person to joke with his fellows,' Harry agrees, not looking at me or in any way giving away that we're talking in our minds again. 'It's the same thing we did with Rita.'
I feel like laughing all of a sudden. Never mind that we're quite obviously proving me 'safe', but the trial's entirely off subject. Scrimgeour looks like he's about to blow his top, as does Umbridge and the few Wizengamot members who aren't laughing or smiling at our antics. I feel the insane urge to shoot a smirk at Scrimgeour, but decide against it on the principle that it's likely to work against me. Not that that stops Harry, who gleefully smirks away next to me.
Scrimgeour narrows his eyes and waves his wand. A shower of orange sparks shoots up, effectively silencing the room. "We have gotten off topic," he states calmly.
"I apologize, Minister," Madame Hayward says carefully.
Scrimgeour ignores her in favour of watching me frown back at him. "And please tell me, Mr Riddle, what you make of these charges?"
I blink, then smile coldly as I recall something. "I have never, ever denied that I was once one and the same as Voldemort, Minister Scrimgeour. However, as far as the letter that you sent me regarding this trial was concerned - never mind the story in the Prophet - I was under the impression that this trial was to decide whether or not I am 'safe' among my fellow witches and wizards, not to charge me with the crimes that I have committed in my past. If I have been brought here to be put on trial for my past crimes, I believe you will find that the public is looking for a new Minister."
I let the threat hang between us as I stare back at the furious Scrimgeour. Since all my attention is on him, I jump when Harry speaks up next to me softly.
"Minister, if what Tom is suggesting is true, we are going to leave and you'll have to get through Hogwarts for this trial to continue. While Tom will not directly threaten you, I will. If anything in this trial goes awry, you will find that letter that you sent to Tom plastered all over the Daily Prophet by tomorrow morning."
"Harry!" I turn to him with a sharp look and he just gives me a tired look.
"What, exactly, is so incriminating in this letter, Rufus?" Madame Hayward asks quietly. I glance back up at the benches and see that Scrimgeour has gone paper white.
"Something along the lines of him setting a full-scale attack on Hogwarts and charging all the of age or over age members of the castle with aiding and sheltering a wanted criminal," Harry replies flippantly. "Oh, and it ends with something along the lines of, 'we do not wish to harm our children'." He smiles sweetly up at the Wizengamot.
I groan and put my face in my hands. "Harry Potter, you are a menace," I mutter to him. He beams at me and I groan again.
Madame Hayward's voice suddenly cuts through the silence that has befallen the Wizengamot, cold and sharp as a knife, "You dare to make such threats without my or Gawain's agreement? Need I remind you that you are no longer the Head of the Auror Department?"
"I like her," Harry decides quietly. I roll my eyes while Skeeter snickers and Minerva smiles faintly.
Madame Hayward seems to calm herself after her slight outburst and whispers, "We will have tea after this trial is done, Rufus. And you will leave your pet toad at home."
"I really like her," Harry decides, eyes shining. "Forget being an Auror. I want to work for her." Skeeter snickers again while Minerva's smile grows more pronounced.
I give Harry a tired look. "Being an Auror would be working for her, Harry."
"Not close enough. Hey, do you think she'd marry me?"
I choke as Skeeter completely loses it and Minerva coughs into her hand. Harry just smiles at me brightly.
"Is there something funny over there?" Umbridge snaps, finally speaking up.
I smirk at Harry, making him frown, then turn to the group at the front of the room. "Nothing major, Madame Umbridge. Mr Potter here was just wondering if Madame Hayward would marry him," I offer calmly.
The entire Wizengamot, Madames Umbridge and Hayward, and Scrimgeour all stare at Harry and myself in shock while Skeeter continues to howl in laughter and Minerva looks torn between being horrified and helplessly amused.
"I hate you, by the way," Harry grumbles, punching my arm.
I cock an eyebrow at him. "You did it to yourself."
"I still hate you. Bastard," Harry says, scowling at me.
"My parents were married, I'll have you know," I inform him, rolling my eyes at his childishness.
"I know. Professor Dumbledore told me," Harry replies, suddenly looking rather happy. "But I don't think a love potion counts."
"I said they were married, not that my father loved her," I retort. "And what were you and Dumbledore doing looking into my parents?"
"Oh, you know, old history lessons and what-not. Something to lord over your head."
"I'm sure." I give Harry a dry look.
Harry smirks back at me.
"While I'm sure we're all quite grateful that you've decided to share your private discussions with us, I believe that, from now on, you should continue to have them in manners which the rest of us don't understand," Minerva says in the silence. "You two are ridiculous."
"You started it," Harry and I chorus, turning to smile at Minerva.
Minerva gives us both dry looks, then glances back up at the group of witches and wizards who are supposed to be judging me. "Is he 'safe'? Can we take him back to the castle and lock him up so he'll stop driving me mad?" she asks them.
"Hey!" I shoot Minerva a hurt look and she just blinks at me blankly.
Madame Hayward chuckles softly. "Yes, I believe we've seen enough to judge whether or not Mr Riddle is 'safe'." She turns to the Wizengamot, still smiling. "Those in favour of declaring Mr Riddle 'safe'?"
Nearly the entire Wizengamot raises their hands. I feel like crying in relief.
"Those in favour of giving Mr Riddle the Kiss?" Madame Hayward asked.
Three hands go up: Umbridge, Scrimgeour, and one member of the Wizengamot.
Harry lets out a cheer next to me and jumps up to dance. Skeeter smiles at me while Minerva hugs me with a huge smile.
I smile up at Madame Hayward and she smiles back for the brief moment before Harry drags me to my feet and makes me dance with him. I laugh and hug him instead. 'I'm okay. It's all okay!'
Harry smiles at me in response and hugs me back. 'Of course it's okay, you moron. You're still not Voldemort, no matter what you say.'
'Brat.'
'Bastard.'
'Creature of the Devil.'
'Unlucky man who saw Voldemort naked.'
'Die,' I order, trying to scowl at him and failing.
Harry laughs.
-~\/~-
A/N: The court scene was....difficult. Harry and Tom kept getting off track. *sweatdrops and laughs nervously* I mean, I love writing the two boys, but they drive me NUTS sometimes. *hugs Harry and Tom fondly, then smacks them both*
Is everyone okay with the trial? I have to ask. I tried to keep it like Harry's trial in OotP, but I also took the DE trials from GoF into account, since I was dealing with a different Minister than Fudge. Did it work? *has a nervous breakdown* I swear I tried really hard with it!!! *cries*
Uhm. OC!Rufus was largely because I did finally pull out HBP and was reading his chats with Harry - I couldn't remember whether he called Voldemort by his name or 'He Who Must Not Be Named' - and so he came across as a little nasty because of how he kept trying to use Harry in the book. Oh, and I haven't slept. *sweatdrop*
Feed me? Even though I took so long? *puppy eyes*
~Bats
1 - A Little Potion Accident ||| 2 - The Spectacles ||| 3 - The Last One
4 - Failure? ||| 5 - Seventh Year Begins ||| 6 - Hogsmeade Surprise
7 - In the Aftermath ||| 8 - Trouble in Paradise ||| 9 - Voldemort Who?
10 - Kiss ||| 11 - Wizarding Media - Friend or Foe? |||
Epilogue - Just a Little Case of Paradise
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Date: 18/8/06 11:05 (UTC)no subject
Date: 21/8/06 19:19 (UTC)Why? Does he need one? XD
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Date: 18/8/06 11:07 (UTC)I do so love this one. Thank you very much for updating it. perhaps I should do the same... -.-;
Anyway... I liked the court scene, even if you did have problems with it, it felt like them. All the bickering and the making fun of people. Your characters are always wonderful ^.^
Very, very interested to see what comes next. Don't worry about Hated Salvation either. I think I'm running my usually month and a half behind, so you're doing a lot better than I am. Loved the new chapter anyway.
♥
~Floss
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Date: 21/8/06 19:21 (UTC)^.~ *no comment* XD
And aggravating. Don't forget that they're aggravating. *throttles her boys*
*sweatdrop* Nice to know I'm not the only one lagging. XP
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Date: 18/8/06 11:13 (UTC)Now, if Hated Salvation has been a hated bitch, just back off and let it cool a bit. I'm sure everyone will understand.
PEE.EES. - Loving the bicking wonder twins that is our Harry and Tommie!
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Date: 21/8/06 19:23 (UTC)I hope they will. *eyes date, then current lack of chapter* I really hope so.... ^.^"
XD
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Date: 18/8/06 12:08 (UTC)no subject
Date: 21/8/06 19:25 (UTC)You don't want to know my random thoughts. You really don't. ^.^"
I dunno. If Hated Salvation doesn't start behaving soon, I'll be forced to start dropping teasers for some one-shots I'm working on.... ^.^"
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Date: 18/8/06 17:11 (UTC)btw I certainly laughed my ass off. pet toad! *snorts*
and don't ask me why, but I suddenly have this disgusting and scary image before me of pet toad and minister being kinky together *shudders*
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Date: 21/8/06 19:28 (UTC)*giggles* I'm glad.
*falls over laughing* Oh, man, that brings back memories of a convo
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Date: 19/8/06 02:52 (UTC)... although i did end up having a coughing fit because i laughed too hard... but meh, it was so worth it!
I loved the trial. And Harry is such a nut. Though... Tom isn't much better either now that i think of it... fun though!
And what sort of freak would want a pet Umbridge? It'd probably pee all over the furniture!
Oh and btw, thanks OH so much for the image of her naked, i'm going to have nightmares! *gags*
^^ ~Myst
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Date: 21/8/06 19:30 (UTC)Meh. I guess that makes us all squirrels? 'Cause we like those nuts so much? Okay, bad. Sorry.... ^.^"
Or at least get slime all over it. *cackles madly*
*DIES laughing*
^.~
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Date: 20/8/06 19:42 (UTC)But I did very much like the update. Those two are impossible brats, I think. And I don't even have to deal with trying to write a story with them as main characters! (Thank the gods for that.)
And now I shall tempt you with chocolate, cookies, and ice cream to make you write more. Or just post so that we know you're still alive. Will it work?
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Date: 21/8/06 19:34 (UTC)....You're making fun of me....
*bounces around and tries to get tempting sweet things*
You're the second person who's said I need to post more just kinda random crap on here.... *shifty eyes* Suppose I'll have to, won't I?
I'm not, actually, planning on abandoning this again, now that I've finally gotten going with it. I've got ideas again, so, you know, cross your fingers and hope I have enough free time to crack out another chapter. ^.^"