J K Rowling owns all the rights to the books and the amazing characters she created. I write only to satisfy my imagination and use my creativity and make no money from my writings.

Chapter 12 – Thou Shalt Not Be Too Smug

Harry "Tom" Potter was in seventh heaven as it seemed that all of his plans had come to a delightful conclusion.

Sirius Black had been tamed and would soon be suffering from a rather tragic and quite nasty (hopefully embarrassing) accident courtesy of one of Tom's personal house elves.

Ronald Weasley had died in agony and shame, and his mother had spectacularly lost her lawsuits. Due to his deathbed confession in front of all of those important witnesses, her case had not been heard as it had been quickly (and justifiably) thrown out. Dumbledore had been unable to keep his promises to Molly (or to anybody else but what else was new) as he was in more trouble than he thought and this time, would not be able to use his usual ways to survive.

It happened when he was pleading his case in the slander suit against Andromeda Tonks and Harry Potter. Over the years, he had always skillfully avoided taking Veritaserum as he was the Greatest Wizard since Merlin, Leader of the Light, the hero who defeated Grindelwald, the venerated Headmaster of Hogwarts, Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards, Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, and Grand Sorcerer. He had a phoenix as a familiar as proof of his goodness, purity of mind and soul, honor and nobility. He had led and "won wars" using the shield and weapons of goodness, honor, Gryffindor bravery and his own powerful magic.

Once, someone had demanded that he take Veritaserum but he refused, citing the above-listed accomplishments and powerful positions. He had been greatly insulted that HIS WORD would not be believed, gave a rather lengthy and pompous speech and, probably due to boredom and desperation to get on with things, he had evaded taking the infallible truth serum.

However, due to his oaths to Dumbledore, Severus Snape had orders, from the great wizard himself, to develop a potion which would negate the effects of Veritaserum AND would be undetectable. So far, Snape had been unable to accomplish this feat as Dumbledore kept him so very busy creating other new potions for his personal use, brewing certain…unethical…potions Dumbledore needed as their sale was illegal and making all of the potions and salves needed for the Infirmary (to save money which then went into a "special" school fund handled by Dumbledore). Poor Snape also was forced to "teach" Potions and had duties as head of Slytherin as well as anything else Dumbles thought up.

That was why a certain tactic – proposed by Harry (as Tom did know his Dumbledore better than anyone else now living) which, although risky, would be done first and the need for it explained later.

After Albus had given his brilliant opening statement, he sat and smugly listened to Ted Tonks (who was also a lawyer but mostly in the Muggle World) give his opening statement in defense of his wife and Harry Potter. Albus thought it was truly pitiful, especially after his superb preamble, but Ted Tonks was a Muggleborn of limited intelligence and power, so his opening might gain a few pity points.

Then the court called Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore to the stand to be questioned by Ted Tonks. After he had sat down, Amelia Bones stunned him, letting him sit upright in his seat, did a quick medical scan for potions and spells which Albus had on him, summoned his wand and then force you-know-what on his tongue before reviving him. Naturally there were cries of outrage and demands that this atrocity should be stopped immediately.

It was then Tiberius Ogden, acting as the chief judge of the Wizengamot, lit his wand and ordered silence. "Due to the known actions and tactics of the Plaintiff, I have allowed these actions. Madam Bones, what does the scan show?"

"To my knowledge, there is no counter-potion for Veritaserum in his system but I will need an expert to determine the ones that are."

"Mr. Tonks, you may begin your examination of the Plaintiff" Ogden said.

Ted Tonks started asking questions pertinent to the case at hand, such as "Did you put any name in the Goblet of Fire whether it was to choose the fourth champion or on the morning of the first task to have Harry Potter participate?"

"No to the first question but yes to the second?"

"Why." "Do you know who did put Ronald Weasley's name in?"

"Yes and no."

"Explain."

"Yes I knew that someone was going to put Harry's name in the Goblet but not why Ronald's name came out instead."

It was at this moment that Mad-Eye Moody made a sneaky and speedy escape and once outside the courtroom and used his emergency portkey to "leave town fast" as the Muggles say. He appeared in (still in his Moody persona) Voldemort's lair and quickly explained things.

"You were correct, as usual, my Lord" Barty said. "Dumbles did know about my disguise and mission, but was just as shocked as I when Weasley's name came out instead of Potter's. I regret leaving before hearing his further answers, but it was necessary to save myself and the secret plans you have."

"It was the only logical action and no doubt the news media will give an in-depth report. Are you still in contact with your elf?"

"Yes, my Lord. Winky is acting like a depressed, alcoholic elf and thus is able to sneak around the school unnoticed by even the other house elves who consider her a disgrace. I will summon her tonight to give a report of what is really happening."

"Good. Now I must make new plans for my resurrection and it is best that we leave here and go to another bolt hole just in case Albadass discovered where I have been hiding." With that said, they quickly packed and fled to Barty's old bolt hole and waited.

Back at the trial, Ted asked the Greatest Wizard since Merlin some of the questions that so many other had always wanted to ask, but only after he had asked all the questions about the Tournament. Veritaserum only lasted for about 15 minutes and then couldn't be administered for several hours, hence the rush. Then the potion wore off and a very irate Dumbledore shouted his outrage.

"SHUT UP" an even angrier Ogden yelled. Albus was shocked for a moment and then began a tirade against the violation of his rights and positions, or did until he was silenced and bound by Ogden.

Ogden turned to Ted and stated, "No doubt you would like to request that another round of Veritaserum be administered and it will, but not at this trial. I ask the Wizengamot to vote to dismiss Dumbledore's slander case against Andromeda Tonks and Harry Potter, awarding them reasonable costs and damages."

A vote was taken and unanimously granted the dismissal. Then Ogden and the other two judges announced that Albus Dumbledore would stand trial starting tomorrow to answer further questions under Veritaserum concerning past deeds and why he had always withheld that damning information about Voldemort's existence in wraith form and allowing – and apparently abetting - the plot to use Harry Potter to resurrect him.

It was the beginning of the end of Albus Dumbledore's career. After seven horrendous days of Veritaserum, questions, answers and testimony by the entire staff of Hogwarts, certain Ministry personnel such as Fudge, Barty Crouch, Sr. (who Dumbledore had outed that his supposedly dead son had been impersonating Moody) and members of the Order of the Phoenix such as Molly Weasley, Remus Lupin, Dedalus Diggle and, surprise, surprise, the three Dursleys and the instructions (and money) they had received from Dumbledore on how to "raise the boy to be extremely humble, downtrodden and punished."

On the sixth day, Lucius Malfoy got the surprise of his life when it was revealed that he had placed a cursed diary in Ginny Weasley's cauldron and it forced her to release a Basilisk in a school full of children. He was given Veritaserum (much to the delight of many) confessed that he had done it and no, he and others hadn't been under the Imperious and thus forced to join Voldemort. Much like Barty, Jr.'s escape, the other who had pled the same as Lucius were tipped off and the "smart ones" fled for their lives, with as much money as possible, leaving their families behind. No doubt it was to live (and flee) to fight another day when their Lord resurrected.

However, some, such as Crabbe and Goyle, delayed and were found, tried and went to Azkaban with Lucius, who now dwelled in the same cell which had housed Sirius Black – right across from his dear sister-in-law. She was fully briefed about the mischief Lucius had been up to for the last 13 or so years and after she and the other imprisoned Death Eaters heard about (some) of the naughtiness Lucius had done, well let's just say that Lucius preferred the company of the Dementors than his in-laws and comrades.

After the trial finally ended, Albus Dumbledore was completely ruined. So much had been discovered by the truth serum that his reputation could never be recovered. Unspeakables had been looking into the potions which were found in his system and all but three were pronounced as being very dark and could only be brewed by a Potions Master.

Before he could fully testify, Snape informed the court that he had been forced to brew certain potions for Dumbledore's personal use but was under an unbreakable oath "For his protection certainly not mine. Also, several staff members are under other oaths so that we could never testify against him. Only he can release us so that we can truly give the correct evidence."

Dumbledore refused – unless he received something in return. He was told no, as there was already enough evidence, and by his own mouth, to convict him for several lifetimes.

"However" he was told if you release these unfortunate pawns from these oaths, you will receive a life sentence in Azkaban instead of the Kiss" the judges said.

Dumbledore couldn't believe this was happening to him. "But you need me to finally end the threat of Voldemort as only I can defeat him. It is for the Greater Good that I be free…."

"Oh, are you referring to the wraith which you have known about for years and risked the lives and safety of an entire school of children to lure him to Hogwarts so that Harry Potter could confront him, possibly die, all because YOU WANTED TO GET THE GLORY OF DEFEATING ANOTHER DARK LORD."

"Tiberius, my dear boy" Albus began only to be interrupted.

"I haven't been a boy for decades and only my mother called me her dear boy…because I was. You have no right to call me by my first name, let alone by the sobriquet that you have used for who knows how long to insult and embarrass someone and doing it to confuse or change the subject."

"But Tiberius."

"No buts. I am a judge, you are a defendant in a trial for your very life so again I say SHUT UP." He then once again silenced Dumbledore.

The verdict was nearly unanimous, and the punishment was as Ogden said: release the pawns from their oaths and serve a lifetime in Azkaban or don't and receive the Kiss. Thinking that he could be released from Azkaban, either by public demand to defeat Voldemort, or rescued by his faithful followers, he chose his life and gave freedom to the others.

But would he? Where there is life there is hope and Albus Dumbledore was still scheming as he entered the famous hell hole of Azkaban.

Since Ron had died competing in the Tournament, Barty was absolved from losing his magic. "Harry" definitely didn't have to compete because Dumbledore's criminal manipulations did not legally bind him as only when the Goblet initially chose the champions was someone forced to compete.

Dumbledore entered Azkaban a few days before the Christmas ball. Originally Tom wasn't going to the ball but now he was in a festive mood and since Dumbledore was gone he hadn't a care in the world so he thought he'd celebrate. They never had balls at Hogwarts when he attended due to the war – both of them. Austerity was the byword during those years but due to his poverty he would have to borrow the proper clothes that is if someone would be kind enough to loan him some, so he was glad the occasion never arose.

He took Susan Bones, as he considered her one of the best looking girls in the school and she was developing some very nice womanly curves in all the right places.

The Weasley Twins tried to bully him into taking Ginny but he refused. They did the same with Neville but he also refused and instead took Luna Lovegood. Hermione had been asked by Victor Krum and a good time was had by all. Except for certain Slytherins.

Draco Malfoy was in a lot of trouble in his House. He was being blamed for his father's outing of the imperious excuse and despite Lucius' own incarceration, Draco was being blamed for his housemate's relatives who were now in Azkaban or had fled. Due to this, he had lost whatever power he had had (which had been mostly based on the Malfoy name and fear of his father). He chose to skip the ball and go home for the holidays. He was seriously thinking of asking his mother to transfer him to another school, but not Beauxbatons or Darmstadt as he was too well known to attend those schools.

Harry had had such a good time with Susan that he invited her to go to Hogsmeade with him. Hermione was going with Victor and Neville with Luna. They were all having a good times, had lunch at the Three Broomsticks and then went shopping. All was right with the world in Tom's opinion.

But Tom had forgotten two things: Harry Potter's lack of (good) luck and Murphy's Law. Coming out of Honeydukes with his arms loaded with treats, he was unable to hold Susan's hand. That was when a disillusioned Barty grabbed hold of the boy and portkeyed Harry away before anyone could help.

One guess where they were going?

The End

There will be a sequel to this story when I finish some of the other ones. Thanks for reading.