Chapter 8
Harry was nervous. No scratch that, he was a second away from straight up bolting. He doesn't want to see the Dursly's ever again, but he had to. This one last time. After that Sirius assured him that he wouldn't have to see them again. And he wasn't stupid, he knew what would happen today and what it would mean.
He wasn't just escaping the Dursly's, this would also mean that he would be free from Dumbledore, at least a little. This wasn't going according to his plans and he'd bet it was making him furious. Furious that he would no longer be bullied and hurt in the summer, furious because that would mean it would be harder to manipulate him.
Yeah, he knew what Dumbledore was trying to do, that doesn't mean he didn't went along with it though. He was smart enough to know that that wouldn't end up well for him. So he stayed quiet and went along with it. He observed.
He started to doubt the grandfathery facade when he went up to him and told him that he couldn't go back and if it was possible to stay at Hogwarts during the summer. He remembered being desperate and revealing what happened behind closed doors, bit by bit, but then ge looked at him, really looked and he didn't like what he saw. The eyes are the window to a person's soul huh?
His eyes, which were normally sparkling were now indifferent. Like the eyes of his aunt and uncle when he cried that it hurt. He didn't care. And if he looked closely he could also see a tiny bit of satisfaction in those indifferent eyes. Like he was satisfied with what he was hearing.
And it hurt. Because he told him, desperately, about the abuse and he didn't care. Like everyone else. He told him that he couldn't do that. That he couldn't stay. That it wasn't possible and that he had to return to his uncle and aunt. And no matter how much he pleaded he didn't budge. Maybe that was when he really lost faith in adults.
But now Harry felt some vicious satisfaction building inside him. Finally he could do something. Something he didn't expect. And oh boy, did it feel good.
So here he was, getting ready to head to the ministry. Looking in the mirror, he nodded and headed downstairs, towards Sirius.
"I'm ready" he said.
"You sure? Listen if you don't want to do this we can do it another day"
"No, I'm sure "
"Ok then, if you're positive. Hold on my hand tightly and get ready."
"Ready for wha-" and suddenly it felt like the world was spinning and he almost threw up. Just like that they were at the ministry. He fell to ground unable to catch himself.
Sirius tree his head back, laughing, that traitor. When he finally calmed down, he held out his hand.
" Well, in hindsight I told you to prepare yourself. Now come on, we got to get going " he said as he helped him up.
"You could've said something, y'know." Harry glared.
"I did, it's not my fault you didn't listen " Sirius said, shrugging.
As they continued bickering Sirius suddenly came to a stop. "We're here " He said.
"Remember, if you don't feel up to doing this today, you don't have to, I'm sure we can put it off"
" I don't think I'll ever feel up to doing this. Might as well do it today "
With that they entered the courtroom, and upon entering he could instantly see aunt petunia glaring at everyone in the room. Next to her stood uncle Vernon. And at the corner in all his glory, stood Dumbledore. Just the people he didn't want to see.
He took a deep breath as everyone turned to look at him. And went up to take his seat. He tried to ignore how his aunt's and uncles glare got more intense s when they saw him, how Dumbledore just seemed to be staring at him, his eyes usually twinkling now losing that sparkle and just soaring in the back of his head. If glaring was all it took to kill a person, he's sure he would be dead before he even got near his seat.
"Well now that we're all here let's start, shall we?any objections? No? Good. today...."
He kind tuned them out and soon they got started with the actual questions. For example:
"Mister Potter, how would you describe your upbringing in the care of petunia and Vernon Dursly?"
And:
"I'm sorry, did you just say that you were staying in a cupboard most of your life?! Can you elaborate please?!"
Needless to say there was no doubt to everyone there that he was not going back in there. And he was exhausted. He never wanted to repeat this. Admitting stuff to Sirius was hard, but having to tell it to some random strangers that he has never ever met before today was, to say the least, nerve-wrecking. He was sure that at some point he almost passed out. He felt ashamed admitting everything but he knew that logically there was nothing to be ashamed of but knowing that was different than actually believing it.
By the end of it, most of the people there were fuming in anger, they were furious. Others were a strange mix of horrified and furious.
Finally, he was allowed to go home and he clang to Sirius for dear life. So sue him, he got a bit attached. He was too tired to even think properly. By the time they arrived home he was already passed out. And oh boy, that was the best sleep he had gotten, ever.