The Final Word
Severus Snape was grateful that he was a competent spy. He’d blended right in and none had been the wiser. He had decided to separate himself from Harry and Aster, as he quickly gathered information. Even if Harry went to Sirius, he would make sure that it wouldn’t be forlong.
“Severus, are the preparations ready?” Professor Quirrell had also sat in on the trial, off to the side away from the overly eager reporters. It had been taxing on both Quirrell and Voldemort, as neither of them had enjoyed the noise of exclamations or the scribbling of quills on their parchment. It had taken all his self control to merely sit there.
“Yes my lord, everyone is in position and ready.”
Professor Quirrell looked around as they all began to file back in. Alastor Moody hobbled in, taking a swing of his flask as he did.
“Alastor?”
“He seems to have no issue if Harry went missing. I am not sure of his alliance.”
He nodded and motioned for the other man to follow him.
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Amelia Bones watched as the courtroom filled up once more. The press were particularly blood thirsty for a story. She could never understand why as the person in question was a minor. Harry did not deserve this. She also knew the laws. Unless proven otherwise, creatures were not fit to raise children and she knew that despite his appearance, Aster was a creature.
She only wished she could spare Harry from this, but even her niece had said it. Harry was brave and had thrown himself into dangers to save them. He wasn’t a traditional savior, but he had proven himself time and again.
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Harry sighed as he sat down in the hard back chair and waited, his eyes looking over at the reporters, the crowd and finally, his Da. Harry had never wanted to be separated from his family, not after the Dursley’s. All he’d ever wanted was security, safety, and home, even if that was under a bridge. The Dursley’s had sneered at him, hit him, berated him and blamed him for a set of death’s he had no part in. He had been obedient-a good little solider-cleaning and cooking and gardening and whatever other chore they’d needed doing. It was numbing and Harry had wanted as escape. It wasn’t his fault, they had left to go find googies. The fron door-Harry was sure had been locked, but it wasn’t.
Harry took his chance and found his Da. He found his Aunt Toothiana, his Uncle North, his Uncle Sandy, and Jack. Even Katherine and Ombric and Manny. He had a family. A good one.
He found Hogwarts and Draco, Theo, Marcus, Pansy, Daphne, Astoria, and the others. He’d found Severus.
He had found a home and a family.
‘’Order!’’
The banging of the gavel startled him back to the present time.
Fudge looked down at the courtroom. The reporters were a ravenous bunch, quills poised at the ready, eyes gleaming. He glanced at the other Lords in attendance, pleased to find everyone seated and finally, he swept his gaze over to that strange creature and his companion. He had known that despite its human disguise, it was not human. Neither was that white haired male.
How could either of them think to properly raise their savior? It didn't matter to him. He didn’t make the final decision but he knew that no self respecting Wizard or Witch would allow a child to be raised outside of its own kind.
“If you are all ready, I will now pass-“
“Your honor? I have a witness, one that the courts can not ignore.” Nott Sr. spoke suddenly. Fudge went red, of course the pathetic man chose now to speak.
Still, he waved his hand and allowed the man to continue. To his surprise, Andromeda stepped forward, taking her place next to Nott Sr. Fudge went white, his hands gripping the gavel. His eyes went to Warrington, who had the most utterly stupid expression on his face.
“We would like to call to the stand Mr. Vernon Dursley and Mrs. Petunia Dursley née Evans!” They spoke in perfect unison.
Harry’s mouth dropped. How on earth had they gotten the Dursleys here?! He quickly looked at his Da and Jack, who wore twin expressions of shock. Harry scanned the crowded room for Severus.
That sneaky Slytherin must have had something to do with this! He almost missed the man, who was partially hidden, but blushed a soft pink as Severus gave him a small sincere smile and nodded.
The doors on the far end of the room slammed open and four Aurors forcibly dragged a struggling Vernon Dursley into the room. The man was raving and snapping at them, his large form trembling from the burning rage at being in a room filled with them.
“Freaks all of you! Let me go! My wife and I are innocent! It’s that boy’s fault!” Vernon yelled, spittle flying from his mouth, beady eyes frantically moving about. If Harry didn’t know better, he would have assumed the man was about to have a heart attack.
Vernon continued to yell and struggle and at one point, vehemently spit into the eye of one of the Aurors. If they shoved his large frame into the car a bit too rough, no one said anything against it.
Harry had always been afraid of Vernon, since the very beginning. The man was always too loud, too rough and too quick to hit first and smack later. Harry was especially afraid of his large size. Size like that was overwhelming and dangerous to Harry. Even now, Harry was forcing himself to remain still.
If he was still, no one would see him..
If he was still and silent, he could eat something that wasn’t moldly….
‘’It’s alright, Harry, just breathe…’’
Harry nearly jumped when Nott Sr. had given his shoulder a squeeze- he hadn’t heard the man walk over, but Merlin and MiM, he was grateful. He nodded quickly, allowing his gaze to rest towards the doorway.
Petunia Dursley would be walking in soon enough.
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Severus watched Harry’s internal struggle; if he could see it, then nothing stopped the other dunderheads from seeing it. Voldemort had surprised them all with the Dursley family. It had been an unexpected turn, but hopefully one they could use to win.
“Strange occurrence to have them muggles just Latin’ around, eh Snape?” Alastor mumbled as he continued to hobble through the crowd, looking for “unsavory sorts”.
Severus said nothing in return, watching with a vested interest.
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Petunia was an ordinary woman born into a family of freaks. Lily had been her best friend until she’d mixed herself up with that poor boy from across the road. Then she’d gotten strange abilities-every time she sneezed, her tea cup would croak and float.
Her parents had enjoyed it and blessed her. Petunia had been jealous at first-why hadn’t she been given powers too?
Lily had been beautiful too. Long red hair and fair skin and bright green eyes. Petunia had been born with plain brunette hair and muddy colored eyes. They were opposites in every way.
Lily smiled easily. Petunia didn’t smile as easily-how could she? That thing was always-
Lily had magic. Petunia had none. Petunia was demure. Lily was a spitfire. Petunia wanted to keep a house and raise children. Lily had wanted to be a charms master. Petunia grew roses. Lily killed every flower she tried to grow. Petunia could not have any other children after Dudley. Lily had been pregnant when she died.
Petunia had not been kind to her own nephew. Lily would have loved Dudley like her own.
Lily deserved to live. Petunia wanted to die.
When the door opened, Petunia did not fight as Vernon had, she simply held out her wrists and allowed them to guide her out into the courtroom.
She sat next to Vernon, who had not stopped complaining and spitting, and waited. Petunia kept her gaze fixed firmly on the floor. She did not want to give these people anything. She could not.
They had taken Lily away. Lily had died for a cause of supposed peace. Lily had left behind a son that Petunia had been responsible for. She had wished she wasn’t.
“Aunt Petunia?”
The voice was soft and the accent was strong, but there was no mistaking that voice. Petunia flinched at the sound. She did not want to look at the boy.
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Harry felt torn. He had hated these people, but they were his family, weren’t they? Vernon looked pathetic, like a feral animal refusing help. Petunia looked sad, like she had given up. Harry wished he knew why they were here. He wanted to leave and keep running until he was safe in the Warren again.
The sound of the gavel brought the focus back. Andromeda nodded to Nott Sr. as she took center stage.
“Ladies and gentlemen of the courts, esteemed members of the Wizengamot, I present to you, the muggle family of Harry J. Bunnymund. The husband Vernon Dursley and the wife, Petunia Dursley nee Evans, sister to Lady Lily Potter nee Evans. These were the caretakers to our young savior and yet, neither of them has even bothered to look at Mister Bunnymund. I have in my possession, courtesy of Ms. Arabella Fig, memories for the court’s viewing-“
“You bitch! Let! Us! Go! That little freak was nothing more than pocket change! He deserved to die along with his family!”
Harry was going to be sick, when a sick thud rang out in the courtroom, causing all the occupants to stare at Aster, his arm outstretched as he caught the return of his boomerang.
“Don’ talk about my kit li’ that! E’s worth more tha’ anything ye could possibly even dream of!”
Aster turned towards Cornelius Fudge, “Ye can point and say all ye want about me. I can handle tha’. I know I’m nothin’ more tha’ some low life creature, but I am his Da,’’ Aster turned to Sirius, to all of them, ‘’Harry migh’ ‘ave been James and Lilys’, but they trusted them and ‘e suffered fer it. Don’ do this. Don’ hurt ‘im. ‘E ran off. MiM above, ‘e found me!’’
Harry wanted to run to his Da and leave this entire world behind. He didn’t like to hear his Da begging anyone.
‘’That you boy? Finally, looking like the faggot you are!’’ Vernon snarled, once he’d caught sight of Harry. Petunia still wasn’t looking at him, she couldn’t manage it. She hated being stuck in this place, with these freaks. Her nails dug into the arms of the chair, trying to calm herself down. She took a glance at the crowd, unintentionally locking eyes with Severus Snape.
Hello Tuny, I would say it is a pleasure to see you again, but I do not lie
YOU! LET ME G-
Tell them Tuny, tell them all about how you and Vernon abused and mistreated Harry, how you were determined to break him down to nothing.
You don’t kno-
I know everything, Tuny. All. Of. It. Tell them.
Petunia shuddered as she felt Severus riffle through her deepest most thoughts, how her tore down everything.
My my my, it must be so depressing to know how plain you were…..I wonder how Vernon would feel if he knew how much you wanted to leave him….and you hate your own son? Who would’ve guessed that plain little Petunia wanted her own son to be magical?
Enough!
Petunia gasped and sat up, sweat dripping down her forehead. She scanned the room again, unable to locate Severus, but she knew he was watching her. She opened and closed her mouth several times, before she found her voice.
‘’I-I-we-Harry, he-’’
‘’SPEAK DURSLEY!’’
Petunia swallowed, licking her lips and wishing she had some water.
‘’I-I was-my husband and I were-were paid to….”
“To do what?” Amelia snapped. She hated stuttering and just wanted this muggle to speak and leave.
“To abuse that boy, to break him before that blasted letter came! We never wanted him!”
Amelia gasped, eyes widened in shock. She had assumed, like much of the Wizarding World, that their savior was safe. She swallowed as her mind began to turn. If Harry hadn’t been safe with his own family, could he be safe with his own godfather? She reached for her goblet of water with shaky hands and brought it desperately to her lips.
She is suddenly dehydrated.
How in the name of Merlin is this possible?!
It’s a similar feeling to being drowned, Amelia thinks and suddenly her head is full of cotton and dry. She needs more water and before she knows it, her goblet is empty. She reaches for more water.
This desperation is strange and yet, she can’t shake it off. It does not feel like a spell or a curse. Amelia hears nothing of the trail, not the muggle woman being led back nor the muggle man cursing or spitting. She doesn’t hear the reporters asking for Dumbledore’s head. Amelia is drowning and no one notices. She tries to signal Alastor that something is wrong, but the man has disappeared.
Her mouth is drier now, too dry and her water is all gone. There is more cotton encapsulating her body, her clothing is tighter now. Every bit of her is tied up.
Amelia is sure that she will die here.
Worse still, no one has noticed.
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A gavel banged once more as Cornelius Fudge cleared his throat, regaining the attention of the audience. Harry shrunk in his seat, his body on high alert. He would run if they made him go with Sirius.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, after much deliberation of the trail, the decision of one Harry James Potter-Black. From this day forth, the young Potter-Black Heir will reside with Lord Sirius Black of the most Ancient House of Black. Furthermore, the creature known as Edelweiss Aster Bunnymund is hereby forbidden from contact outside of his assigned holiday. The creature known as Jackson Overland Frost is also forbidden from contacting Heir Potter-Black outside of his own season. Heir Potter-Black will also begin remedial training of his lordships, heirship, and wizarding culture. Heir Potter-Black will also begin to honor the marriage to Miss Ginvera Weasley as candidate for Lady Potter-Black. This is the final word and decision of the Wizengamot.”
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Katherine shoved the book away from her; she could not read anymore. Her little green had been taken by the Black House. She could only hope now that a miracle came.
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Emily Jane watched the proceedings from the small green tinted orb, smiling as her final word came into play.
“And now your hope is gone, Aster,”