Harry Potter and the Flying Squad

Harry, Cho, and Almyra returned to the entrance, where they found half of the Squad waiting for Viktor. The Squad leader was off collecting the other teams so he could have the entire Squad together again. There was a task waiting for them, but Viktor hadn't given any details yet.

But they didn't receive the news immediately. In the first seconds after Harry and Cho appeared in their view, the Squad members came forward to surround them, give congratulations, and pat shoulders.

Then they saw Nagini.

"Relax," called Harry. "This is Nagini - she'd been abandoned by Voldemort, then decided that I'm her new master. What could I do?"

Almyra, her hand on Nagini's head, grinned toward the circle of retreating people. "You can't be frightened by such a beautiful snake, can you?"

They were, actually - but even more scared of being teased by a girl, not even a Squad member, flying by herself. Then Angelina made the first step forward, and the tension broke.

Bob inspected the snake. "Harry, you're simply in the wrong house. You should be Slytherin, that'd fit better."

"Yeah," replied Harry, "that's actually what the Sorting Hat said."

He'd done it - he'd managed to shut Bob up. Bob stood there, a speechless blank look on his face. In one sense, this felt like the greatest victory of the evening.

Viktor appeared, followed by the twins.

Harry stepped forward. "Fred, George - are you okay?"

"Well," replied Fred, "Viktor has a job for us. That's better than sitting around."

The twins glanced at Nagini and said nothing. More clearly than words, this kind of response told Harry about the twins' state of mind.

"Squad - attention!"

Everyone looked at Viktor.

"Your task is to find the Firebolt attackers who've been shot down. There might be survivors, and that's why we have to do it now. Find them, and if any are still alive, bring them here so they can be treated."

There were sounds of protest. Someone called, "Are you mental?"

This made Viktor furious. "We're not dark wizards, remember? It's one thing to shoot an attacker; it's something totally different to let an injured person die just because it's dark and we're tired."

Some faces looked ashamed. Cho shouted, "No, Viktor - we're not dark wizards, we're light ones."

The shaky laughter was a sign of relief. Viktor didn't smile, but he calmed down.

Adrian Pucey, easily the biggest of all the Squad members, called, "Mind you, Viktor - light, not to be confused with lightweight."

Even jokes as bad as this one were welcomed after so much tension and stress. Chuckling, Harry suppressed a reply. This issue was a bit sensitive if one was within reach of Cho, especially if she was still under the influence of Lleyrin's dope - whether or not Harry had a snake around him.

Almyra asked, "Can I help? My night sight ..."

"Our third teammate," grinned Cho. "C'mon, get dressed - er, shaped, I mean."

---

What followed would give Harry the most frightening experience of the day and would stay in his thoughts for weeks to come, some of it forever. The first minutes, though, were almost funny.

Harry and Cho reached the area in which the Squad was ordered to find the bodies. Above them, Almyra sailed as an owl through the night sky. Harry aimed his wand at the ground. "Lumos!"

A strong beam shot down, cutting a circle with sharply defined borders between light and darkness.

Cho giggled. "Harry, you look like a landing aeroplane."

Shouts ahead indicated the first find.

Coming closer, Harry saw two of the Hufflepuff Chasers - another twin team, as long as their third teammate was in Madam Pomfrey's hands - standing around a body.

"He looks dead," said one of them, "but how do we know for sure?"

How indeed? Then Harry knew.

He touched down and bent over the corpse - an unknown face with traces of blood under the nostrils and at the ears. "Nagini," he said, "can you tell me whether he's alive or dead?"

"There is no life in him, Master."

Harry looked up. "The snake can sense it. He's dead."

The Hufflepuff Chasers, after the recent events and at the sight of death no longer minding Harry's Parseltongue, shot glances of admiration and respect toward the snake. Then they started to carry the corpse toward the building.

Naturally, Harry had to come for each find, confirming one death after the other. He quickly lost the good humour he'd gained a few minutes ago. Maybe it wasn't pity he felt, but there was a growing sadness: all these dead wizards, dead like Hagrid, and Charlie ... In death, the differences between an evil attacker and an honest defender were astonishingly small.

Draco Malfoy's corpse was a surprise to Harry, though only for a moment. It never had been a question that Draco would be part of the attacking forces, and quite obviously his choice of broom would have been a Firebolt.

Harry looked at the blood-smeared face. For years, this face, together with Snape's, had overshadowed his vision of Hogwarts. And now Snape fought side by side with him, whereas the face on the ground would never again sneer, or distort in hate ...

"I said farewell to him."

Recognizing Bob's voice, Harry looked up. Before he could reply, Cho spoke. "And I said it to his father."

Harry nodded. "None of them would've changed."

---

A few minutes later, they reached another find. The body was glittering with the remnants of a fairy dust bomb. The twins stood there, looking expectantly at Harry and Nagini.

"Our work," said George. "Be careful with the dust."

Harry bent down. "Nagini?"

"He is alive, Master, although not awake. But this is no unconsciousness."

"He's dreaming," said Harry, wonder in his voice.

"Really?" George was smiling. "That's good. Half an hour ago, we did what we could to kill them, but now that it's over, I'm asking myself where the difference is between them and Charlie."

Fred nodded. "We bombed two - one's dead, but this one's alive. We'll never know who did whom, and trust me, we'll make sure that we won't find out, because that's the last thing we want to know."

"Yeah," replied Harry, "I can imagine."

"Harry?" It was Cho's voice.

Glancing up, he saw her point toward the sky. Looking upward, he saw the owl fly a circle, then go straight.

They followed Almyra and stopped when they saw her flying another circle. Lighting his wand, Harry saw the body. Next moment he inhaled sharply - the eyes had blinked, then closed in the sharp light.

Touching down, he didn't need Nagini. A man's voice said, "Are you coming to rescue me?"

"Yes."

"That's kind. But you're too late - my God, how late."

"We couldn't come earlier - anyway, our doctor witch can do miracles. How do you feel?"

"You got me wrong - I wasn't complaining about you. I messed it up all by myself, with some help from Voldemort. And now - how do I feel? I can't feel anything at all; I think my spine's broken."

"Oh ... Then we shouldn't move you - "

"Don't bother; it'll be over soon enough. Who are you?"

"I'm Harry Potter. Who are you?"

"Yeah, that's what I thought. I - my name's Geoff McKinnon. Nice to meet you, Harry Potter, after all this time. Say, did you meet Voldemort today?"

"Yes."

"And you're here, which tells me enough. Is he dead?"

"No, he disappeared."

"Yeah, that's his trademark - as soon as it starts to get hairy ..." The man's voice turned mocking. "But don't worry, you'll get him eventually. Until then, at least it gives me some time without his company in hell."

"You're not dead! Madam Pomfrey can - " Harry stopped, seeing the man's shaking head.

"Save it," said the wizard. "Even if she can cure a broken spine, what good is it? No, thanks - I've messed up, and it took a hard fall to realize that ... Harry Potter, please do me a favour: make an end, quick and clean."

Horrified, Harry stared at the face, which was the only body part that had shown any movement.

McKinnon spoke to him in a reassuring tone. "I know what I'm saying, and I'm serious. It's an act of mercy, and for all I know, Harry Potter, you have the nerve and the mercy I'm asking for."

Harry swallowed. "Wait a second."

Toward Nagini, Harry said, "He asks me to make him die. but I don't know how to do it. Do you see a way?"

"The Killing Curse, Master."

"But I don't have the power to do it!"

"Your new wand has the power, Master, so it is under your control."

Shuddering, Harry stared at his wand with its new dark top. Nagini seemed to know what she was talking about. He had inherited the Killing Curse.

The wizard said, "So you can talk with that snake, too - something else in which Voldemort wasn't as unique as he wished to be. Anyway - will you do me the favour, Harry Potter?"

"Isn't there anything to change your mind, Mr McKinnon? You know, Dementors won't be used any more, neither as - "

"I have just one wish left, which is to die now, before it really starts to hurt. So if you can do it, I'll be grateful, and my last words will be, 'Thank you, my boy'."

Harry stood up and made a step backward. "Ready, Mr McKinnon?"

"Ready ... Thank you, my boy." The wizard closed his eyes.

Harry aimed. "Avada kedavra!"

A green flash shot through the air, as strong and hard as the lighting beam before. It hit the wizard and disappeared into his head. At the same instant, the face relaxed.

Harry stepped forward. "Nagini?"

"His life is gone, Master."

Harry slumped down as if kicked and stared at the corpse. McKinnon's face looked considerably more peaceful than it had a minute before. Still ...

There was a hand at his shoulder. He glanced up.

Cho said, "In Japanese culture, suicide is the last honour - and if someone needs help doing it, it's the last honour to receive. You had the mercy, Harry, and I love you for that."

"Give me a minute, Nagini."

When the snake had rolled down to the grass, Harry stood up and came into Cho's waiting arms. His crying was brief, much briefer than at Hagrid's corpse, except that somehow this seemed the only difference.

* * *

Climbing the stairs to the Entrance Hall, Cho turned to Harry. "Our trip's over, and now I have to pay for Lleyrin's dope. I'll only just reach my bed - good night, Harry."

He kissed her. "Sleep well."

Almyra took Cho's shoulders. "Let's go - see you tomorrow, Harry."

He watched them disappear. Then, unsure what to do next, he checked his own state. Tired was he for sure, yes - but wide awake.

In the Entrance Hall, he saw Ron sitting at the desk and writing. So Ron, too, had preferred work before drowning in sorrow, and certainly there was work: registering prisoners, corpses, wands, Firebolts - though the battle had ended, the recording had only just begun.

But Ron wasn't alone. There was someone sitting at his side - a girl, somehow looking familiar. As though sensing Harry's stare, she looked up. It was Janine.

Harry reached her. "Janine! I'm so glad to see you here, with - "

His glance fell on Ron, who looked up, an inseparable mix of sorrow and happiness on his face. "Yes," said Ron, "with. It wasn't that difficult, Harry - not now."

"Oh, Ron!" Harry tried to grab his friend and hug him.

"Harry! Could you please drop that snake first?"

"Oh - sorry, she already feels quite natural to me."

A moment later, Nagini was lying on the desk, and Harry could finally hug Ron and welcome Janine in the traditional French style.

"Well," said Ron, "life goes on, and then you realize there's no time like today for putting things straight." He was beaming at Janine, who beamed back.

"Yes," said Harry, his voice suddenly flat and toneless, "life goes on - only sometimes putting things straight means it doesn't."

Ron's head turned sharply. "What - do you mean Hagrid?"

"No, not him - we found the Firebolt riders, and Nagini could tell us immediately if someone was dead or alive, and two of them were still alive."

"Two?" The worry in Ron's face deepened. "But there was only one - "

"Yes, the bombed one. The other had a broken spine, but he was alive. Then ..."

Rom took Harry's shoulders and shook him. "Then what?"

"His name was Geoff McKinnon. He said he'd messed up, and asked me - asked me to ... Ron - my new wand can do the Killing Curse."

Ron gasped, staring at Harry in consternation.

Janine had followed the conversation. "You did the right thing, 'arry. There aren't many 'oo could 'ave done it."

"I know. 'Thank you, my boy' - that was the last thing he said." Harry swallowed. "I'll be fine - seeing you two, that's the best that could happen right now. I'm so happy for you."

Now both were beaming at him.

An instant later, Janine asked how Cho was doing, and relaxed visibly when she heard that Cho was fine. Then she said, "There are more students from Beauxbatons. We helped to guard the entrance while the teachers were fighting outside. You should go inside, 'arry - there you'll find two people you know."

Harry's grin returned. "I got it - I'll leave you two alone."

Ron's reply sounded a little more like himself. "Don't forget your snake, Harry."

---

The Great Hall was full. But more spectacular was the sight of the teachers' table: at seat after seat, strangers sat eating and drinking, guarded by Goblin warriors who stood around the table with their weapons ready.

These were the dark wizards: captured, rescued, fed, and afterwards probably sent downstairs into a dungeon.

Glancing around, Harry could see students of the younger classes. Dumbledore had lost no time in re-establishing as much normalcy as possible. True, there was no time like today -

"'arry!"

He saw a hand wave. A second later, he saw two smiling faces - Gérard and Marie-Christine. He walked over.

"Hello - I'm glad to see you here."

A moment before, every seat had been occupied. Had it been the sight of Nagini? Anyway, Harry could sit down, and once more, he had to explain that Cho was fine in order to dispel worries.

Speaking French, Gérard said, "My dear 'arry, I'm so proud! Now I can say, 'I fought side by side with 'arry Pottère - only mine was inside and yours outside."

Harry laughed. "It wasn't that much different - a few more snakes outside, as you can see."

"You must tell us everything! We saw some light, that was all. Where did you find this magnificent snake?"

"Her name's Nagini. She was Voldemort's snake, but she was also our lucky factor before today, because she told us about the attack. So I couldn't leave her on that ship, could I?"

Marie-Christine had the first opportunity to speak. "And Voldemort?"

"He escaped."

Into the stunned silence, Harry said, "But first he lost his wand. His wand and mine merged into one - look." He showed his wand with the new head.

Marie-Christine said, "I'm dying to hear - " She stopped herself, embarrassment spreading on her face. "Pardon, 'arry - what a foolish remark."

He waved. "It's okay."

Gérard said, "I saw him die, 'arry. I deeply regret what I said at the ball - 'agrid was a man with a Giants' heart and courage."

"Thank you, Gérard. Sure, he wasn't clever, but he had - " Recalling Gérard's words, Harry stopped himself, then said thoughtfully, "You know what - you've found what should be written on Hagrid's grave: 'A man with a Giant's heart and courage' ... Gérard, you have style, really."

Incredibly, Gérard blushed.

Marie-Christine saw it. "Mon dieu, Gérard - nobody will believe what I'm seeing. Maybe it doesn't make you look better, but certainly more amiable."

The blush deepened.

Harry smiled. "With all those deaths, the living can see things more clearly, right?"

Now Marie-Christine's face went pink.

"As members of the Hogwart defence, you are both entitled to hear the full story - plus a private conversation before or afterwards, to cover details of scientific relevance." Harry grinned. "But not today - I have to find Dumbledore, he has to hear about Nagini as a witness, and I have to find Lupin. Can we meet Saturday? I'd like to invite you to the Gryffindor common room, although there'll be a hard competition from the other three houses."

Marie-Christine's eyes shone. "Thank you - accepted immediately. But let me ask one last question, since you mentioned Lupin: I wonder why the Dark Forces didn't send Dementors. Do you know more?"

"Yes." It seemed so long ago. "They did, actually, and Giants too. These were the enforcements the wizards in the train were waiting for, except that they never made it past our own Giants."

Gérard said, "And you saw it, yes?"

Harry nodded.

"And you helped them, yes?"

"Yes. Cho and I found them just in time. There were so many Dementors, and they're resistant against quarterstaffs - but not against a Patronus."

Marie-Christine asked, "Did you make them flee?"

"Those who still were alive, yes."

Filling another silence, Harry said, "The result was that Lleyrin and I - well, Gérard, please don't you ever again say something against Lleyrin, at least not with me around."

Gérard's mouth twitched. "Certainly not, 'arry - but why?"

"According to the bond we have since today's fight, and according to Giants' ethics, I would be obliged to kill you - and that's not my intention."

Gérard's smile came a bit forced. "I fully agree - let's drink to that."

"But only juice!"

Their laughter washed the tension away.

* * *

Harry still had to wait half an hour before there was a chance to talk with either Lupin or Dumbledore. His weariness was growing, while ever so slowly, his mind calmed down. Death and loneliness, love and friendship - even the strongest emotions could be stored away, to be examined more closely another day.

Then he saw both teachers together.

They recognized him and were about to pass with just a wave when they suddenly stopped - no doubt thanks to Nagini.

"Harry," said Dumbledore, "I see we must talk now. Let's go to my office."

Harry wondered what would be Fawkes' reaction to him having Nagini wrapped around him.

He shouldn't have worried. The phoenix was on him in no time, accepting the other shoulder gladly, and sent a wave of calmness and contentment stronger than ever.

Watching the scene, Dumbledore said, "You're certainly Fawkes' favourite, Harry, and for good reason, but today it's beyond any measure. Do you know why?"

"Yes, I think I know. Look at this, Professor." Harry showed his wand.

Dumbledore's eyes sparkled with fire. "I might guess, but please tell us what happened."

Harry summarized the events of the evening, starting with the Giants and his Patronus, raising a burning satisfaction in Lupin's face. Then he described the fight of the wands and Voldemort's disappearance, and how he'd found Nagini.

Dumbledore nodded. "After what she did for us, whether voluntarily or not, this was only appropriate, Harry. Although she looks smaller than I remember - what do you think, Remus?"

"Yes, much smaller." Lupin's glance went from the snake to Harry. "Did you shrink her?"

"No, Prof - it was only a reduction. She's been engorged all the time."

The two wizards looked at each other, then started to laugh.

Harry felt too tired to join them, and too concerned about the news to give them more than a few seconds. Then he said, "Professor - Nagini knows when someone's lying. And she has witnessed many conversations with those wizards."

"Then you'll have a job tomorrow," replied Dumbledore, sobering up quickly. "Interrogations - but let's not discuss the details now."

"There's something else, Professor. Nagini could tell us which of the Firebolt riders were dead, and which still alive. And there was one ..."

Into the sick feeling that tried to rise in his throat, Harry could feel how Fawkes' aura intensified, enabling him to continue speaking.

"His name is - was - Geoff McKinnon. He was alive, bit his spine was broken. He asked me to - to end his life. Then we talked, and he asked me again, so - I asked Nagini, and she said my new wand could do it, and ... she was right."

Dumbledore's hands grabbed Harry's. "So he found peace, Harry, thanks to your help."

"Yes. 'Thank you, my boy,' was what he said before he died." Harry turned to Lupin. "Prof, it feels right what I did, and I'll be fine - in a while, but - "

Lupin said, "You feel sorrow, Harry, and that's only good. What's more, it tells you something important: the Killing Curse didn't mark you. As a result of the events, you've gained another quality, and like all the others, it's under your own control."

"You mean - if I'd known, I could have killed Voldemort?"

Lupin's head shook violently. "That's not what I said - honestly, I can't answer your question, although my feeling tells me you were right not to try - "

Dumbledore said, "Absolutely. Imagine - it was love that defeated Voldemort, and will protect you in the future. Remus is right, you'll find a way to finish Voldemort through his own decision, and that'll be the true end. Doing McKinnon the favour he asked for is something totally different, there's nothing evil about that."

"You mean - the curse itself is not evil, only the purpose?"

"Exactly," replied Dumbledore, beaming. "As little as it matters now, Harry - even with Nagini around you, you're still a true Gryffindor."

"That reminds me, Professor - er, what's going to happen to the dragons, I mean, with their bodies?"

"I was thinking of the lake - a kind of present for the merpeople down there. It will improve our relations even more. The four bodies would be worth a small fortune when minced professionally, but that's our least worry now - and besides, I know where to get compensation. Why do you ask, Harry?"

Dumbledore's face looked very much as if he already knew the answer.

"Nagini's hungry, and I didn't know anything else. The thought felt like a sacrilege, but - "

"Here too, it's the purpose that matters." Dumbledore stood up. "Then let's do it now; the sooner Hogwarts returns to normal, the better."

---

They weren't alone outside, though the only people alive.

Harry watched as Dumbledore, the world's most famous dragon expert, walked to the tail of the nearest corpse, that of the Swedish Short-Snout, and used his wand like a scalpel, cutting a piece of arm's length.

Harry asked Nagini, "Can you handle it?"

"Yes, Master, although with such a piece, it will be days until I can move again."

"Then let's do with a smaller piece for today, because tomorrow you have to be awake, and the big piece will be the reward. How much can you eat today?"

"The size of a rat, Master, not more."

Harry looked at Dumbledore. "Please, Professor - a small piece for today, rat size."

While Dumbledore was cutting, Lupin said, "Talking about rats - nobody has seen a trace of Wormtail, right?"

"No. Small wonder, he's not the fighting type."

"True, not if he has a choice. But it means that Voldemort still has a skilled servant."

A nasty thought.

Dumbledore came over with a hand-sized piece. "Here - the merpeople won't miss that."

Harry took it - it didn't look worse than seeing Crookshanks eating. "Nagini - dig in."

"My Master is caring, giving me the noblest food I ever had." The snake's fangs closed over the piece, then she started to choke it slowly along her body.

"Now then," said Dumbledore. He pointed his wand at the dragon.

"Professor - wait a second, please."

The Headmaster turned.

"Er - I'd like to try this super wand. I mean, normally I'd never be able to move something so large."

"Then let's see, Harry." Dumbledore smiled.

"Yes. What is it for them, Mobilidraco or Mobilicorpus?"

"Corpus - draco would be for a living dragon, Harry."

"Thanks, Professor." Harry aimed. "MOBILICORPUS!!"

As if kicked from below, the body flew up, then hung in the air.

Harry gasped. "Oh, my God!" With a thump, the body whacked down to the ground and made it tremble.

"That's a lesson, Harry: power is one thing, and concentration and control is another."

"Yes, Professor." Harry felt like a second-year.

"But aside from that, I'm deeply impressed. Remus, what do you think?"

Lupin's face showed awe. "I think Harry should be very, very careful with this wand. And I think we have to talk about a special training - but not today."

Try as he might, Harry was unable to squeeze another hint from Lupin's lips. But he could live with that; in his tired state, curiosity was burning with a very small flame.

A few minutes later, the ground was empty, and the last waves were rolling out to the lakeside. On his second try, Harry had managed - of course selecting his old acquaintance, the Hungarian Horntail.

* * *

It was the next morning. After a short night, the morning had started with a quick and unceremonial breakfast, followed by Dumbledore's instructions. Now Harry sat with his fellow members of the Hogwarts Commission in the Entrance Hall, waiting for the next delinquent to be interrogated.

The commission included seven members, none of them a teacher, a fact which no longer felt unusual after the recent events. However, only six of them were students.

Sirius Black was Head Commissioner, enjoying his task as little as the others. But Dumbledore had left no doubt - the man with the most experience in imprisonment was the obvious candidate for the job of a General Solicitor - or what came closest to it at Hogwarts, normally a rather small district.

Ron was the natural second: after all, this business had to do with a growing pile of parchments. To Ron's great relief, though, none of them had been written by himself, thanks to the third member.

Almyra was the third member. In addition to her vote as a Commission member, she contributed with a steno quill and several times with her knowledge of Spanish; the defeated Dark Forces had gathered people from all over Europe.

Then came Viktor. He represented the executive forces, a role which made him something like a police chief. More important was his knowledge of Bulgarian and Russian.

Next came Fleur, who still had the same role as before - that of the Beauxbatons Liaisons Officer. In addition, she contributed with her knowledge of French and German.

Harry's role was that of a legal consultant or, more precisely, verification expert. The job was easy since Nagini did the work: she told him when the interviewed wizards were lying, and when they spoke the truth.

And finally there was the representative of the other side, the one who acted as solicitor for the dark wizards. This role was held by Hermione. She had volunteered no more than the others; she had just been Dumbledore's choice for the task, and her performance made clear that he'd been right; Hermione did the job well and with seriousness.

Seeing Hermione in the opposing role had felt awkward for Harry only during the first minutes. Then the endless procession of timid faces on bowed heads, again and again hearing their miserable motives and poor excuses, had united them again in a feeling of sickness and disgust.

Aside from the recording of personal data and confessions, their task was to separate the makers from the followers. Dumbledore intended to send the lightweight culprits home - today, using the Hogwarts Express - and a frog's fart for Ministry opinions. In this judgment the Headmaster was joined by all members of the Committee.

---

The next wizard arrived, escorted by the two Goblins who served simultaneously as ushers and prison guards. Provided the wizard wasn't going to make trouble, and mainly thanks to Sirius' little trick, the defendant would be done within five minutes.

Sirius, who was the Committee's spokesman, stared at the newcomer. "Prisoner, sit down."

The man slumped on the chair, not looking up.

"Miss Granger, at your side, is your legal advisor. She will hold your rights - within the narrow bounds of your situation, and our own."

The wizard shot a quick glance to Hermione, then his head was bowed again.

"Are you hungry, prisoner?"

The man's head snapped up; something like hope appeared on his face. "Er - yes ... sir."

An easy candidate, considering the way he addressed Sirius. Apart from that, it would have been a real surprise to hear anything other than 'Yes' - owing to Sirius' little trick, which was working better with every passing half hour.

"You'll have breakfast - as soon as we're finished here. If you cooperate, it will take only a few minutes. Speak loudly enough for the recording quill, then you'll be at the breakfast table quickly."

A choke, then a swallow. "Yes, sir."

At this point, after the repeated mention of food, most prisoners had trouble not salivating.

"Your name, prisoner?"

"Humbley, sir - Horatio Humbley."

Harry's attention was on Nagini, although he expected her to keep silent with this delinquent. Humbley spoke the truth; otherwise, Nagini would say, "Not true, Master," and Harry would use the remark he thought most appropriate to get the wizard moving. The snake was very attentive, no longer weak and demure; the dragon meat had caused a nearly miraculous change - naturally, with dragon blood.

"Your home address?"

"Er - Little Hangleton, sir. Main Street twelve."

A town fellow of Voldemort! A first today.

"Do you admit having attacked the School of Hogwarts with the intention of killing its residents, under the leadership of the person known as Voldemort?"

"No ..."

Harry kept silent, however nobody looked surprised - not with this wretched guy.

"Yes, it's true, I helped him ... I mean, I came here to curse you - but I'd never kill nobody, sir, not me."

"Would you have stopped someone from killing Hogwarts people?"

Hermione was ready. "I protest, sir! This is a hypothetical question."

Before Sirius could grant her protest, the wizard spoke. "No, I wouldn't have done that, they'd have killed me, too."

"What was your motive, prisoner, to help Voldemort?"

"He threatened me."

Hearing his new companion hissing, Harry selected number five in his collection of encouraging remarks.

"C'mon, Humbley, be honest - your food's waiting."

The guy looked pleadingly at Harry. "It's true, sir, but - well, yes, he promised me some money, too."

What a rare combination - a threat and a promise.

Sirius took over again. "How much?"

"He said Hogwarts is rich, and I'd get my share."

And dullness.

"Prisoner, what can you offer to compensate for the damage you've brought to Hogwarts, and its people, and the families of those who died fighting you and your accomplices?"

This was Dumbledore's trick - not exactly blackmailing, not far from it, either. But the Headmaster was determined to compensate the families of the dead people, including humans, Giants, and Goblins.

Although not from this poor fellow.

"I don't know, sir. I'm in debts, that's why I agreed ... I'll do what you tell me, sir - "

"Do you have property?"

The head was shaking. "No, sir."

"Horatio Humbley, our decision is this: You'll deliver five day's work to a charity union, or the church, whatever's convenient. Otherwise, you are free, and will return home this afternoon. Do you accept the judgement?"

Disbelief, then hope registerd on the man's face. "Yes, sir ... thank you, sir."

---

Other cases had been more interesting, and more profitable in terms of compensation, while many of them were almost duplicates of Horatio Humbley. It was a disillusioning experience to see the amorphous bulk of Dark Forces separate into single figures - except, of course, for the real Death Eaters.

The next one took them only a minute. When he'd sat down, and Sirius asked him the first question, the answer was short and informative. "Sod off!"

"This Commission decides to continue the trial three days from now. Until then, the lack of food may have improved your cooperation, prisoner ... March off!"

The next defendant appeared extremely cooperative. He smiled approvingly at Hermione and was all good manners and easy-going, until the moment when Sirius asked for his motives.

"It sounded like an adventure," answered the wizard, whose name was Abner Gusley. Next instant, he twisted around at Nagini's hissing, fright in his eyes.

"Stop that crap!" snarled Harry. "Try again."

Sweat appeared on the man's temples. "Sir - it's true. I didn't come to kill anyone - I didn't come for money either ..."

There was a moment of silence. None of the commissioner's faces were turning to Harry, although all of them were waiting for his next words.

Nagini's hissing had stopped.

"Agreed," said Harry, "you weren't interested in killing or stealing. Then what exactly was your motive?"

"As I said, some - er, fun."

A quick glance to Harry told Sirius that this answer at least wasn't a lie. He asked, "What kind of fun?"

Abner Gusley no longer looked alert. A moist film covered his pink face.

Into the waiting silence, Fleur asked, "Prisoner, did you come for sex?"

Seeing the man's face gave them all the answers they needed.

As so often, Hermione was the first to react. She wheeled around toward Sirius with disgust in her face. "Sir, do I have to represent this - er, fun-lover?"

Sirius sighed. "Please, Miss Granger - you'd be doing us a great favour because otherwise we'll have to hear him again. The Commission would highly appreciate if you could manage."

Not looking at her client, Hermione said, "Well ... Okay, go ahead."

Sirius growled, "We can skip the question about your preferences for your victim's age, prisoner, because this Commission doesn't particularly distinguish between a rapist and a child molester."

Viktor seemed to remember the man's smile toward Hermione, only minutes ago. He turned to Sirius. "Sir, put him back to the others and let them know; they'll solve the problem for us within minutes."

When Sirius didn't answer immediately, the honourable Abner Gusley fell on his knees. "Please, sir, don't do it ..."

With Viktor's suggestion at the back of his mind, the man's confession filled the parchment as quickly as Almyra's quill could follow.

Sirius stood up. "Abner Gusley, the severity of your crime is beyond this Commission's scope. You will be held prisoner, to be put before the Grand Jury of the wizard community. As this decision doesn't imply any judgement, we don't need your acceptance. You were promised a breakfast, and you'll get it. May it turn to ashes in your mouth."

Hermione didn't feel like protesting.

When the Goblin guards had escorted Gusley out of the hall, Viktor said, "Now I could do with a break."

"Think twice," replied Sirius. "If we have a break now, it'll be our lunch break. We'd better do a few more of the average kind before thinking about food."

Viktor hastened to agree.

Luckily, the next candidates turned out unspectacular and less sickening, the usual mix of greed, frustration, aggression, and prejudice. Then the Commission had its lunch break - all of them except Sirius feeling guilty, looking at their dishes while the prisoners were still waiting for their first food of the day.

"Oh, c'mon," said Sirius, "yesterday that lot would have kicked your teeth in, and today you're concerned about a late breakfast?" Still, he didn't protest when they hurried to return as quickly as possible.

---

The last candidate was one of the three wizards who'd arrived with the ship, the one who'd been stunned by Viktor. When the Goblins brought him in, Sirius' eyes widened. "Ah ... Mr Avery, we meet again."

Clyde Avery, Death Eater and evil deep to the bone, clenched his teeth. "Sirius Black? The devil as judge - charming."

After the man had answered readily for name and address, Sirius said, "You seem very cooperative, prisoner - how's that?"

"There's one improvement over the past months - I don't have to disguise myself any longer, my true feelings, what I think of others, of Muggles, of Mudbloods ..."

Hermione's face didn't move. As the day had shown, there were worse things than a simple and clean insult.

"Prisoner, this Commission holds you responsible for the death of two wizards and four dragons, caused by poison curses sent by you, the late Mr Malfoy, and the fugitive Voldemort. Do you admit?"

"So he's escaped?" Avery sneered. "That's good news."

"Do you admit?"

"Sure, why not?"

"A third wizard, who had survived the poison attack, was killed immediately afterwards by a Killing Curse. Who shot it?"

"Voldemort."

Nagini kept silent.

"During the following five minutes, another wizard, a Hogwarts teacher, was also killed by a Killing Curse. Who shot it?"

"Are you talking about that rapid-fire stunner? Well, I guess it was Voldemort too."

"And you didn't kill anyone?"

The wizard looked angry. "It's not that I didn't try, if that's what you want to hear. I wish I'd had a clear shot at Snape - I saw him there, except then I was stunned myself. I'd like to know who did it."

Viktor stared at him emotionlessly. "I did it."

"You? You dirty bastard, I've got you in my book! I'll remember you - "

Clyde Avery's shouting stopped as if switched off. His eyes widened, then his hands clutched his throat. He tried to gasp as his face turned blue and his eyes were almost popping out.

Seconds later, the blue faded. There was a sobbing sound as the man took his first successful breath. Still, his voice failed to return.

Harry's wand was lying on the desk again. His whisper hadn't passed beyond Almyra, who was sitting next to him, and she didn't move a muscle.

Looking to the steno quill, Sirius said, "The prisoner refuses to answer further questions. Fine as well."

The wizard gesticulated animatedly, and his face turned red, but he gained no attention.

Sirius stood up. "Clyde Avery, this Commission finds you guilty of murder in the first degree, of attempted murder, as well as of slaughtering four magical creatures of high value. You'll be held prisoner in the Hogwarts dungeons, to be passed to a regular prison if and when such a place has been built and secured satisfyingly. As this security system certainly won't mean Dementors, don't expect to see daylight soon, Clyde Avery. Your property will be confiscated and used to compensate for the losses you've caused. Attendant, the prisoner will have his breakfast in his cell; we can't tolerate a convicted murderer sitting in the Great Hall ... March off!"

The gesticulating had stopped.

Before Harry could reverse the Silencing Charm, the two Goblins took the Death Eater and escorted him out.

Well, he would hint it to Sirius - later, maybe tomorrow ...

The Commission members yawned and stretched, grateful for having finished this horrible task. Twenty-two prisoners would remain in the Hogwarts dungeons, while all the others would be gone as soon as the Hogwarts Express was off.

Harry turned to Sirius. "Say, do you think these confiscations are legal? If the Ministry has to be involved, it may take years until we see the first Galleon - if any."

"No, Harry." Sirius grinned maliciously. "As for their estates, you might be right. But all of them have considerable bank accounts, and that's where you can see the poetry of justice: all those accounts are managed by Gringotts."

"Sure, what else. So?"

"I shouldn't have to tell you - Gringotts is run by Goblins, in fact the same Goblins who are mourning the death of a warrior, one of the twelve who fought with us. Got the picture?"

"Yeah, got it." Harry's expression resembled very much that of his godfather.

* * *

Late in the afternoon came two visitors for whom welcoming was a heart-breaking task: Mr and Mrs Weasley, about to take their dead son home. A few minutes before their scheduled arrival, Ron took Harry aside.

"Listen," he said, "there's something Dumbledore asked me to tell you, in order to get the story straight."

Harry looked at his friend, wondering. "Sounds mysterious."

"No, it's not. Hogwarts had its helpers insured - a life insurance, understandable with the considerable risk."

"Oh - I didn't know."

"Small wonder." Ron grimaced. "And now that Charlie and the others are dead, the insurance will pay. Got it now?"

It dawned on Harry. "You mean ..."

Ron stared him in the eye. "I mean, Dumbledore will inform my parents in a little while that the insurance will be taking effect, and that'll be the only version ever heard in our house!"

Not looking at Harry, Ron added, "I don't have a problem with the knowledge of where the money comes from, but for Mum and Dad, the thought would be intolerable, whereas an insurance of twenty grand is a simple fact of life."

Harry's eyes widened. In all the sorrow, the thought was some relief. "Got it, Ron. It doesn't pay for a life, all it does is solve a problem. It's got nothing to do with com ... comp - what was the word?"

"What word?"

Harry felt grateful for not being involved in the first minutes after the arrival of Arthur and Molly Weasley. They would meet Dumbledore, then the family council would discuss the details of Charlie's funeral - where and when to bury him. For this, Dumbledore had offered the guest suite. So Harry sat waiting in the Great Hall when he saw McGonagall's signal, telling him that the people in the suite were expecting him.

It's now or never, Harry thought. He turned. "Cho? Are you coming with me?"

She glanced at him. Her nostrils trembled. "Yes. Let's go."

This was the second time that Harry saw all the living Weasleys together, only today their number was smaller by one.

Mr Weasley was quicker. Harry shook his hand. "Mr Weasley - I'm so sorry."

"Harry - you must feel the same, with your friend Hagrid ... dead like Charlie."

Mrs Weasley's face looked red and swollen. With her plump body, the contrast to other mothers in Harry's memory could hardly be sharper - Cho's mother, Fleur's mother, even Madame Baillard - except that all that was meaningless and Harry's feelings went deeper.

He made a step. "Mrs Weasley - "

She grabbed him and hugged him. "Harry, my dear - I'm so glad to see you alive and well. In all this sadness, it's a relief to know you're safe - you and ..."

Her glance fell on Cho, who had come forward, trying to condole though never getting much of a chance.

"You must be Cho Chang. Professor Dumbledore told us how you and Harry and Viktor have stopped those wizards before they could kill more - and what defeated the Dark Lord, and is protecting our Harry."

Our Harry?

Cho said, "Mine, too."

"Yes, of course, my dear, you're right, and I didn't mean anything different." Mrs Weasley looked at Harry. "The last time we met, I wasn't very warm ..." She looked at Cho. "But it was foolish, I know, and it won't happen again. Sometimes it's grief that has to open your eyes."

Harry glanced at Ginny. If he could read unspoken messages, Molly Weasley's warming up wasn't limited to far-east immigrants.

"Harry, dear ..."

Mrs Weasley appeared unusually careful, weighing her words. "Now that Charlie is gone, and Fred and George will be out of the house in a few weeks' time, it's so ... I thought ... You know, we spoke with Professor Dumbledore, and he said there's no longer a need to keep you in Privet Drive ... I don't want to interfere with your relatives, but if you ... I mean, there would be a room waiting for you." She swallowed.

Harry swallowed, too. "Really? Are you sure?"

Arthur Weasley said, "I think you mean Professor Dumbledore, since our feelings for you are nothing new, Harry. Yes, what your Headmaster said was, 'Harry and Cho protect each other, so Privet Drive has done its duty'." Arthur Weasley smiled at Cho. "And therefore it's obvious that you're welcome in our house any time - I mean if Harry - "

"Please call me Cho. Of course Harry will say yes - he's just speechless."

Mrs Weasley's tear-stained face shone. "I'll look forward to your visit, and Ron said he'd invite a girl as well. I love a full house, and a few more girls for balance - it's a happy thought."

They were looking at Harry, all of them.

"Er - yes, sure ... I still can't believe it - no more Dursleys! Thank you, Mrs Weasley, Mr Weasley ..."

"Then," said Arthur Weasley smiling, "we have to find a solution - Mr and Mrs Weasley, that just won't do."