The Price of Peace

Chapter VII

While Millicent and Blaise's girlfriend went back to Slytherin, Blaise and Luna ate breakfast with Harry and Hermione at the Gryffindor table.

"I never thought I'd be eating at this table," Blaise admitted.

"If the other students, especially your fellow Slytherins, agree, we should make this more common," Hermione said. "We owe it to the victims to work together."

"No offense, but Weasley never struck me as the type to be in favor of inter-house friendships, especially with Slytherins," Blaise pointed out.

"True," Hermione admitted, to Harry's surprise. "But I'm not going to allow any of their deaths to count for nothing. We're going to make Hogwarts a better place, by bringing as many of the students together as we can."

"And exactly how will shunning Draco help bring us together?" Luna asked, "By giving us a common enemy?"

"No, Draco is only 'the enemy' if he wants to be," Hermione insisted. "Remember what we learned back in First year history. . . ."

"Back before we always fell asleep in that class," Blaise muttered.

"Shunning could end if the shunned admitted their errors," Hermione pressed on, ignoring the comment. "Draco has made himself an accessory to violence, even if he could never be convicted of it."

"To bad we can't convict him of something," Blaise said, in a somewhat wishful tone.

"Draco hasn't named a member of the Pure-bloods yet," Harry said. "If he doesn't appear on the final list in a few months, with a full confession, there are a few things we can get him on. His father hasn't confessed to everything yet, either."

"Really?" Blaise asked.

"Really," Harry answered. The three students looked at Harry, and each came to the same conclusion -- it was better they did not know what Harry knew. If Draco Malfoy could be convicted on some legitimate charge, there would be few at Hogwarts that Sunday morning who would complain about it.

"I wonder why Mister Malfoy didn't totally confess?" Hermione mused. "I mean, he confessed to a lot of horrendous things."

"In part because some would show how important he was while Voldemort was disembodied, and in part because some were crimes committed against fellow Death Eaters on his own," Harry answered. "The first would hurt him in general, and the second would hurt him with his own followers."

"We can't mention this again," Blaise said. "Maybe their own arrogance will get them caught!"

Luna raised her glass of juice. "To a better future!"

The other three agreed.

By now, there were a few other students, all First and Second year Slytherins, hesitatingly coming into the great hall, as if partially in shock from the previous day's events, and partially unsure of their welcome. Blaise went over to talk with them. When Dennis Creevy stuck his head into the hall a moment later, Harry waved him over and filled him in on the slight change of plan. Dennis nodded his understanding, made himself a bacon and banger sandwich, and went back to work spreading the word.

At 7:45, Harry, Hermione, and Luna went out to the entrance hall to wait for the Weasleys. Luna stood on Harry's right, Hermione on his left. They hugged Harry tightly; Harry put his arms around Luna and Hermione's shoulders, and hugged them back. Part of him felt embarrassed to be embracing two attractive women in public, even out of mutual support and need. However, Harry decided comforting his best friend and his girl was worth any feelings of embarrassment.

A few minutes later, Professors Snape and Sinistra came into the entrance hall. Sinistra gave the trio a sympathetic smile; Snape a mere nod, which was more than Harry had expected from him. They were followed by Professors McGonagall, Lupin, and Potter. Remus and Edward made as if to hug Harry, but both decided Harry was well-supported as things were. The faculty trio stood near the student trio to wait.

They heard Mrs. Weasley's sniffling first. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley came into the entrance hall supported by Bill, Charlie, and the twins. Ginny was missing, and more glaringly, Percy was missing as well.

Molly Weasley glanced up, and broke away from her family, throwing herself on Harry and Hermione and nearly knocking Luna over. "My darling children," she cried hugging them tightly. "Thank God, you're both safe!"

"I'm so sorry," Harry told her when he could get enough breath to talk.

"It wasn't your fault," Molly told him firmly, taking his shoulders with both her hands. Hermione hugged her sides, taking in deep breaths, while Molly went on. "If you think we blame you, think again. Sirius was right, I do think of you both as my children."

"Molly," Arthur said gently has he put his hands on her upper-arms, "you can stay out here with the children if you. . . .."

Molly shook herself loose from everyone. "No; no I have to do this. Boys!" she summonsed the twins with a glance. They came and supported their mother on either side.

Harry noticed that Dumbledore had been standing behind the Weasleys. He now came forward, and opened the doors.

The ceiling no longer showed the outside sky. The great hall had shown the actual outside sky was overcast, and threatening to snow. Here, the sky was a brilliant blue, with a few scattered clouds. The five biers were each highlighted with streaming sunlight. The five students were lying, dressed in freshly-laundered Hogwarts robes. Sunlight glanced off Ron's prefect badge. Unlike Muggle corpses, who often looked at much like wax-works figures as they did the person they had formally been, these figure did look merely asleep.

Nick, the Grey Lady, and the Friar were present, guarding the bodies. The Baron stood off to the side, as if to make certain all who came in behaved themselves.

Two more crying couples came in, with Professor Sprout. They were obviously the parents of the two Hufflepuffs killed. A few moments later, Professor Flitwick escorted the parents of the Fourth year Ravenclaw student, along with one of their grandmothers. Hagrid escorted another pair of parents in, took one look at Ron's body, and fled.

Harry was burying his feelings very deeply, and so managed to notice that all the mourning families were in robes. The so-called Pure-Bloods had killed five students who at the least fulfilled their requirements for being Full-bloods. Harry knew that the two students affected besides Neville had been Slytherins, although they were too young for him to know personally.

It had been a totally indiscriminate attack. The Lestranges had miscalculated if they thought their attack would do anything for their cause.

Harry's attention was brought back to the one place he did not want it by the movement around him. To Ron's body. All the Weasleys and Hermione were already crying.

Harry gave up and did the same.

At 8:55, Edward came up and told Harry softly, "It's time to get ready for our preliminary hearing, Harry. The new time in Nine."

"Back to the Ministry, Ted?" Harry nearly spat.

"No, it's not a formal trial," Edward said. "This time, there will only be a trial if the hearing goes against either of us."

"Why would Harry be in trouble?" Molly demanded.

"I killed Rastaban Lestrange. He might have flung the Avada curse that killed Ron; it certainly killed someone. I flung one back, and it hit him," Harry said flatly.

"Harry, I wish you hadn't had to have done that," Molly said. "Are there enough witnesses to show they did it first?"

"More than enough," Dumbledore said. By now, the other families of the victims had gathered together.

"Who killed our children," one of them asked. "Do you know exactly who? The message just said 'former Death Eaters'."

"We believe Peter Pettigrew strangled the engine crew," Dumbledore told them. "Then, the three Lestranges sent dementors to attack the train from two directions. Doctor Potter and some ten or twelve advanced students protected on one side of the train, the other advanced students protected the other students on the opposite side. They drove the dementors away, Doctor Potter destroying nine, Harry Potter here destroying six."

"Bellatrix Lestrange then used the Killing curse indiscriminately at the crowd of students. It hit Miss Dinsdale. Several students then yelled for everyone to lay on the ground. At that moment, as many were trying to do so, all three Lestranges sent Killing curses at the students. Mister Potter sent one back at the Lestranges. Bellatrix' hit Misters Pooty and Parrot, and injured three other students. Rodolphus' hit Mister Weasley. Rastaban's hit Mister St. John-Pole; Harry's hit Rastaban. Doctor Potter then entered the battle on that side of the train, and killed Rodolphus. Bellatrix escaped."

"Are those four members of that Pure-Blood group that's being pardoned?" Mrs. Dinsdale demanded.

"Yes, although those four had not yet applied for amnesty," Dumbledore answered.

"Was Doctor Potter the only teacher on the train?" St. John-Pole's maternal great-grandmother demanded.

"Teachers usually do not ride the train, Sara," Dumbledore told her. "Several others volunteered, but the Minister held a mandatory meeting yesterday afternoon, concerning the Pure-Bloods demand for the courses on Wizarding culture."

Dumbledore turned to Edward. "I believe the Minister intends to officially reprimand you for missing the meeting, Edward."

"Let'em try," Edward growled.

"I'm Sara Truheart," the elderly woman said to Harry and Edward. "That's my youngest great grandchild on that bier. I'm as pure-blooded as any witch in these isles, but I've put up with this nonsense for too long." She turned back to Dumbledore. "I want these people and their associates put in their place once and for all, and I intend to tell people so!"

Mrs. St. John-Pole tried to say something, but was shushed. "I'm a hundred and eight. I've lived long enough to know what's right and what's weakness! That boy Fudge has been wrong too many times." Sara Truheart turned to Harry. "You're Harry Potter?"

"Yes, ma'am."

She cupped his face. "Now boy, don't you be using those nasty Unforgivables again."

"No, ma'am; I'll do my best."

She almost smiled. "From what I hear, you always try to do just that. Why are you here? Feeling guilty, or was one of these children a friend of yours?"

"Ron . . . Ron Weasley was my best mate," Harry said simply. If he hadn't been cried out, he would have started crying again. One of the twins suddenly turned away, and was embraced by the other.

"Then I know you know how we all feel. You make mistakes, just like all of us do, boy. I've got at least ninety years on you, and Dumbledore will tell you I was not a fool when I was your age. And I still have made some mistakes that far surpass yours yesterday. Learn from them, and don't repeat them." She let go of Harry. "I don't know about you lot, but I'm giving Fudge a piece of my mind. He certain doesn't have one of his own!"

Molly started to follow the old lady. "Mum," Charlie started.

"I lost one son yesterday," Molly stated firmly, "I'm not letting anything happen to another, and as far as I'm concerned, Harry is as much my son as Ron, no matter what anyone on earth says, even if he isn't my flesh-and-blood!"

"Mum," Bill said gently, "if Fudge is here, well. . . ."

Molly's eyes blazed. "If Percy is at Hogwarts, and did not have the decency to join us, then I'll be telling off someone other than Cornelius Fudge!" All the males present, even Dumbledore, shivered a little at her tone. Dame Truheart smiled approvingly.

As the group moved out into the entrance hall, they saw a group of elderly witches, all dressed in white flowing robes near the door, and quite a crowd of students and strangers beyond them. Neville's grandmother was by far the youngest member of the witches in white.

"Ah," said the oldest, far older than anyone Harry or Hermione had ever seen, "Mistress Truheart! We searched for thee. Does this mean thou hath a descendent amongst the victims?"

Mrs. Truheart stopped, and bowed as deeply as she could. "I do, Mistress Trowbridge."

"Mistress Longbottom called us to meet on this matter. Please join the Coven." The twelve witches moved off.

"Who are they?" Hermione asked softly, impressed.

"The Coven of White Witches," Edward answered. "There are a lot of small groups and organizations within the Wizarding world. The Coven are all matriarchs of old families, married into old families, and dedicated to preserving old customs. They exert a fair amount of influence in many of the families, except the very darkest ones. You have to be powerful and at least eighty to be considered, and they're usually much older. They're strict and even haughty, but they loathe the Darkness more than anything else." He smiled slightly. "They really hated Sirius and Severus' mothers and grandmother, for example."

"One of them is the Minister's grandmother," Arthur Weasley murmured from the other side. "She's not likely to be gentle with him."

The twelve elderly ladies, Mrs. Truheart now also dressed in white, came back just as the doors to the great hall reopened. Percy Weasley stood there, staring at the group.

"Only the Potters may enter," Percy declared, magisterially.

"Nonsense, boy," one of the Coven members declared. They moved past him, as did all the others, including most of the students. Harry was actually almost the last person to enter. While Fudge might have wanted only the two Potters, the great hall had been transformed into an auditorium, with rows of chairs.

"What is the meaning of this?" a surprised Minister Fudge shouted from the dais. Then he saw who had entered. "Grandmother?"

"Sit down, boy!" one of the Coven members commanded. "We're here to see justice is done properly.

"We all are!" Molly Weasley declared.

"Mother!" Percy remonstrated.

"Don't 'Mother' me!" Molly declared. "Why are you here?"

"This is my job, Mother!"

"This might be your job," Molly told him, "but in these circumstances, your duty was to be with your family! That's your baby brother laying in there!" The Coven all gave Percy very disapproving glances.

Percy's eyes went wide. "Ron!" He stumbled back into a chair, pale. He obviously had not known.

Dumbledore, the Coven, and a number of other old witches and wizards moved to the front of the room, where Fudge and a middle-aged man in a scarlet cloak sat. All the faculty, except Hagrid and the Divination teachers, were present, as were most of the students.

"We know you need to hold this inquiry," a wizard who looked as old as many of the O.W.L. examiners had the previous June said to the man in the scarlet cloak, "but then we are turning this into a Public Inquest on the Minister."

Hermione took a startled breath. "That's Sherringford Disney!" she said softly.

"Who?" Harry asked.

"Minister of Magic from 1942 through 1970," Luna said. "He organized the fight against Grindelwald, and brought the Headmaster officially into the fight."

"He was forced out by a progressive rheumatism, then came back as Acting Minister from 1980 through 1982," Hermione added. "A Public Inquest can force a Minister out, and can only be called by senior members of the community."

"Like a former Minister, or the White Coven," Luna explained. "These are some very influential old folks!"

The man in the cloak rapped his knuckles sharply on the faculty table. "I am Arthur James Cosby, Senior Under-secretary to the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. This opens a hearing into the actions of Harry James Potter and Edward Harold Potter on the afternoon of Four January, 1996. Recording for the Hearing is Percy Ignatius Wesley. Also present is the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Oswald Fudge." Cosby held up a thick stack of parchment. "We have been supplied with eye-witness testimony of the many students present. Doctor Potter, could you please tell us your actions, in detail, from the time you boarded the train until you apparated atop of the carriage for the first time?"

Edward took them through the events of the train ride, with only one interruption -- Fudge tried to override Edward's concerns about the missing Slytherins. Cosby allowed that 'to pass by for the moment.' Harry was glad he had spotted Rita Skeeter in the crowd. She would have to report this accurately.

Edward then went on to describe the rest of his actions, from going to Hogsmeade through his escorting Hermione to Ron's body.

Cosby thanked Edward and had him sit down, and then turned to Harry. "Mister Potter, please tell us your version of events, after the late Mister Weasley returned from his patrol." Harry waited a moment for Percy, who had been taking the minutes but had to stop a moment to wipe his eyes.

When it came time for Harry to explain his rationale for calling an alert, Fudge again tried to down-play the absence of the Slytherins. Cosby turned to Percy. "Mister Weasley, what was your evidence for assuring the Headmaster there was no reason for the teachers to ride the train, and that it was in fact safe enough for all the staff to attend the Minister's meeting here at Hogwarts instead?"

Percy swallowed nervously, and looked at Fudge, who objected to the questioning.

"Minister," Cosby said severely, "I may not question you formally, but neither can you interfere with an Inquiry. Answer the question, Mister Weasley."

"Mister Black and Mister Malfoy assured both the Minister and myself that while the Lestranges and some others might not go along in the end, they were still debating the issue," Percy said.

"At whose suggestion was yesterday's meeting?" Cosby demanded.

"I don't know," Percy answered.

"I see." He turned back to Harry. "Mister Potter, we have a good deal of eye-witness testimony for what happened from that point on. Tell me, why did you use the Killing curse, instead of, say, 'stupefy'?"

Harry had wondered about that as well, and had come up with what he thought was the answer early that morning, as Hermione slept on his lap. "Very few curses are unblockable," Harry answered. "I felt I had to defend my fellow students, and to do that, I had to make the Lestranges stop, and leave. Sending a curse that they could block might signal the other students to do the same, and that might force them to leave, but not before they killed more students. I wish there had been a better way, but if there was, I couldn't think of one in the time I had."

"That's twice in less than a month that you struck at wizards, using illegal methods," Fudge pointed out.

"Yes, sir, that's twice I had to use extreme measures to stop murderers from killing more people," Harry retorted.

"Sit down, Mister Potter," Cosby said. Harry sat.

"Doctor Potter, you are cleared of any possible charges. Mister Potter, I do understand you have been presented with some very unusual situations in your young life. I cannot condemn any one action that you have taken. However," Cosby warned, "you are walking a very narrow path these days. I advise you to think about your actions more carefully before acting, and to try and find more acceptable solutions when possible. You are also officially cleared of any possible charges. However, considering your methods, I must refuse to sign off on a suggestion that you be awarded the Order of Merlin for your actions."

"When I return to London, I shall have arrest warrants issued for Peter Pettigrew and Bellatrix Lestrange. I find it odd that an official notice of the late Sirius Black's innocence has been delayed, considering I now find Mister Pettigrew listed on the membership roles of the Pure-Bloods," Cosby paused and gave Fudge a dirty look, "and I shall look into that, too. I shall also interview Misters Black and Malfoy, about their associates. I may be needing Mister Draco Malfoy, and his three friends, to answer questions as well."

Cosby turned to Fudge. "This hearing is closed. Now, Mister Disney and the White Coven have requested an open Public Inquest. This is one of the few orders I am allowed to give to the Minister of Magic -- Minister Fudge, there will be a Public Inquest this afternoon at One-thirty. I am delaying the demand until then, so that a notice may be posted in Hogsmeade. Failure to attend amounts to a resignation." Cosby stood and walked off the dais.