professor of the year

[oncedriven]

"So it's just your word and no witnesses..."

The court begins to mutter. You say, barely not a shout, "I'm not lying!"

Fudge opens his mouth, but a voice from behind him - as dry as any you've ever heard - says, "Muggle testimony is admitted before this court from Muggles who have an existing dispensation permitting knowledge of the wizarding world, Minister. And while the boy's cousin may not be able to see the creatures, Muggles can feel the effects of their presence as surely as wizards can."

You look up - the speaker is an unfamiliar wizard behind and somewhat to the left of Fudge. It's difficult to tell his age; although his face is relatively young, somewhere in his early middle years, his hair is white enough to make Dumbledore's look dark. It adds a haunting quality to his face, especially when combined with his plain, pure black robes and the color of his eyes, which are far closer to yellow than brown.

Fudge turns on him, saying, "Yes, but it's certainly a very convenient story, isn't it? No doubt the boy has rehearsed it well - "

"You are attempting to deny the defense a key witness," the wizard replies, voice cold. "As though there weren't already enough irregularities in this case. At the very least, this hearing ought to be mistrialed and rescheduled for a time when the witness is available to give testimony..."

Your stomach sinks. There's no way Dudley Dursley would give testimony that would help you, if his parents could even be convinced to allow him to appear. And there's a better chance of them declaring Sirius innocent right now in front of you than there is of that ever happening.

Fudge looks like he's going to argue further, but fortunately, Dumbledore clears his throat and says, "We do, in fact, have a witness..."

----

"...All he and I can do now is to await your verdict."

You look downward, staring at your shoes, as the courtroom falls silent. Into that silence, the voice of the white haired wizard from earlier says, "I feel compelled to remind the court that the Patronus Charm has only one purpose - to repel Dementors. I would also like to remind the Court that young Mr. Potter has a publicly known history of strong negative reactions to the creatures. He is fifteen. Even if his life was not technically endangered by the creatures, it is not beyond belief that he should think it so - a situation which is also covered under clause seven. We are not in the habit of breaking wands over honest mistakes."

There is a slight murmur from the court at that. Fudge turns once again to the wizard and says, "Your point has been noted, Hades. The way you're going on, you may as well descend and take a seat for the defense yourself."

"If it would see you make the slightest effort to regulate the damned creatures, I would do so gladly," Hades (you're not sure if that's his first or last name) replies, far more sharply than any of his previous comments. "Call the vote, if you would, Madam Bones."

"If there are no further comments?" Amelia Bones says. Her voice seems somehow to echo even more than that of the two men. She seems to direct the words to Fudge, who gazes sullenly back at her. "Then, those in favor of clearing the accused of all charges?"

After the vote, just when you are beginning to feel the relief sink into your stomach, Dumbledore sweeps from the room without so much as a glance at you.

Comments

[oncedriven]

For a moment, you're at a loss for what to do. You look at Sirius, who looks even more adrift, and he says quietly, "How likely is it that you're mistaken?" with small hope in his voice.

"That there is a foreign soul is beyond doubt," Solus says. "The only matter in question is identity, and of that I would say that I am ninety to ninety five percent certain. I do not forget a soul that I have seen, but it is but the smallest fragment I have ever encountered, so it is difficult to be sure."

You say, "Harry has been known to have visions of Voldemort in his dreams - he had one just recently, that's how we were able to get to Arthur in time." You don't need to say that a soul bond would explain it; it's obvious to everyone at the table, and it makes you sick to put it into words.

Solus just says, "Confirmation, then."

Sirius says, "Did you actually meet him?"

"Once, at the height of his power," Solus says. "My father was a devoted Death Eater and presented me to him for initiation. I refused, Voldemort attempted to force my compliance, and the official story is that your gang of rebels and Aurors arrived around then and he was forced to flee. My father was tragically killed in the crossfire."

Sirius says, flatly, "How tragic indeed."

You say, "I remember the account of that. Alastor Moody was in charge of that raid. Three wizards and one Muggle dead, two Muggle captives freed. I didn't realize you were there - I take it Moody let you sneak out without so much as being charged?"

Solus says, "And I owe him no small debt for his part in it, because my father was dead and Voldemort fled well before he arrived. I did not need help in that regard."

You and Sirius share another look then, a longer one, the same thought in both your skulls. The only wizard Voldemort flees before is Albus Dumbledore.

You say, "I find that a bit hard to believe."

"Believe it or do not," Solus says. "Voldemort was unsettled by my calling him exactly what he is - a half-being with less than half a soul - before his followers, and unsettled more by my shrugging off his Cruciatus. At first he desired me all the more for it, and then he attempted to kill me for it. When that failed, he fled."

Sirius says, "When he decides to kill someone, he reaches for the Killing Curse first. Everyone knows that."

Solus replies, an almost sweet smile on his face, "The Killing Curse works by cutting the soul free of the body. And the soul is my domain."

It's the same kind of soft, casual feeling of power that radiates from Dumbledore. From what you've heard, all the great wizards, the true titans of whatever age, have it. It prickles along your own magic, a whisper of a warning, a feeling all its own. Do not cross me, for I am death itself.

Nominative determinism, indeed.

Sirius gulps air, and there's silence for a moment before he says, "So, Harry?"

"You're his proper guardians according to the wishes of his parents," Solus - Hades - replies. "Therefore, it is your decision what is to be done."

Sirius says, without hesitation, "Get it out of him," and to that you can certainly agree.