Disclaimer: This is a Fanfic, I do not own Harry Potter, that honor belongs to J.K. Rowling.

Story Description: This is a Post-Hogwarts story set four years after the Battle of Hogwarts, Epilogue is not followed. The overall tone of this story will be somewhat dark, there will be some mature themes, but as with all my stories there will be some humor and of course innuendo. Readers you have been warned.

A/N:

So, I originally posted this under another penname, so those of you who have read this fic before don't get up in arms, I am the original author. Those of you who have followed my other stories in particular Passageways, yes I am still alive, though I did have a serious health event occur that put me off my feet for a while. I began to write this story as I was recovering. To be honest I was obsessing too much over writing Passageways that it became a source of great stress and was a contributing factor I believe to my subsequent health issue.

I've decided not to continue Passageways: Redux but will begin writing new chapters for Passageways. I will post chapters at my own speed not promising anything regular but I am aiming for at least one new chapter a month.

Anyway, so this story popped in my head while I was on ordered bed rest. It will feature a very relatable Harry, with flaws and vices like every other human being. No super powers or supernatural influences beyond what exist in the Harry Potter universe. I hope my fans and readers will give it a chance.

Chapter One: The Unexpected Guest

It had been nearly four long years since the defeat of Voldemort, and the Wizarding World was still trying to recover from the death and the destruction that was the legacy of the short oppressive rule of the Dark Lord. Scores killed and many others missing, whose whereabouts may never be known.

The economy had all but collapsed, and there were shortages of food and clothing, housing and very limited medical and human services. It seemed that the only thing that was in abundance were the war orphans and misery, and of course the numbness of trying to make sense of the senseless.

By the time the Dark Lord was defeated the magical community had already been forced into rationing what little they still had. Muggleborns had fled back into the mundane world in droves at the onset of Voldemort's oppressive rule; it came to be known as the Great Muggleborn Exodus.

The Muggleborn took with them not only their money, but many had owned businesses and ran farms and provided many commodities and maintained important infrastructures that kept Magical Britain running. When they left, the impact was felt almost immediately, as shelves were no longer being stocked, Owl orders not being filled, food production all but ceased.

Those Muggleborn who did remain within or near magical communities were tracked down by Snatcher raiding parties and taken to rehabilitation centers and slave labor camps. Many were never heard from again. Most muggleborns that had fled in mass back to the muggle world would never return to magical Britain, some even going so far as snapping their own wands.

Many of the so called elites who had either ignored the regime's ethnic cleansing of Muggleborns or had even been supportive of it, had realized much too late, that it was those same muggleborns who drove the magical economy and had been the producers and consumers of many of the goods and services the magical community enjoyed, including produce from farms and fabric from textile mills.

Once the stores and shops were emptied of their commodities, the hungry turned their attacks on the wealthier homes and manors. Although some of the older homes still had some wards, they could not hold up against hungry ward breakers who were counted among the raging mobs, many of these elite families were forced to flee for their lives.

These mobs were not made up of muggleborns, but were made up of those witches and wizards who had grown up in the wizarding world, those less financially secure purebloods and half-blood's who had no knowledge of the muggle world or how to survive in it.

It took the new interim government three months after Voldemort's fall to be organized enough to call upon the British Prime Minister for emergency aid. It took another week for Her Majesty's emergency services to respond with enough food, water, and clothing to aid her magical subjects. A refugee camp was set up in Ottery St. Catchpole for the scores of witches and wizards left homeless. The tent city became the temporary home for about two hundred families for nearly a year.

Within a month after his fall, records and details of the war's atrocities' recovered from the re-taken Ministry, were released by the Daily Prophet, the Wizarding Wireless Network and the now widely distributed Quibbler.

The true horror of what Voldemort and his Death Eaters and supporters had done was being brought to light, and was being distributed worldwide. Information was given on the Snatcher units, the secret trials, internment camps, disappearances, and assassinations. The systematic eradication of prominent muggleborns and other sentient magical creatures deemed non-human or half-bred horrified the global wizarding public.

During Voldemort's short reign, the systematic and government sanctioned rounding up of muggleborns and select half-bloods into concentration camps came to be known as the Purge. These camps were brutal, and many prisoners who were placed there met their ends there. The camps were not only for holding the lesser beings, but also used for training Voldemort's new recruits.

Those that were captured became the tools for training new Death Eaters. These recruits practiced casting their dark spells on the helpless victims, but a quick death was a welcomed out compared to the indignities that many, especially the female prisoners had to suffer. Many chose to take their own lives to avoid the raping and the constant torturing.

This information ignited a post-war furor throughout Great Britain, and member countries of the International Confederation of Wizards better known as the ICW. And those who were suffering and had suffered now had multiple targets to turn their hatred and discontent to. Soon a feeding frenzy of mob rule had begun, as every sympathizer, supporter, or collaborator, that could be found were rounded-up by angry mobs seeking justice, retribution, or just plain and simple vengeance. Purebloods believed to have been Voldemort supporters were dragged from their homes, the lucky ones were merely beaten, or had their homes burned.

Those who were not so lucky faced public lynching and gruesome executions. Those collaborators who were not able to flee the country began to turn themselves over to the new Ministry for protection, and those who did flee, quickly realized that there was no sanctuary abroad. Very few were able to slip through to safety, the majority were caught and extradited back to Britain to stand trial and face judgment.

There were so many known and suspected Death Eaters and collaborators taken into custody that the restored Azkaban prison was bursting at the seams. The Ministry holding cells were also full to capacity. France, Spain and Belgium had agreed to house and prosecute the foreign wizards that Voldemort had brought into the war so Britain could deal with its own citizens who supported the Dark Lord.

The retribution on these so called collaborators and sympathizers had become endemic until the new Minister for Magic, Amelia Bones, sent out Aurors and Hit Wizards to keep the peace and protect the targeted. She was a strong and charismatic woman, a war hero and close associate through her niece with The Harry Potter "The man who won."

For some, it was this reason and this reason alone that many acquiesced to the Minister's call for a cessation of hostilities, that and the announcement that an agreement with the Muggle Crown for continued assistance in supplying emergency food, water, and clothing for the suffering magical population, brokered by a delegation led by Harry Potter himself.

This had brought a swift end, for the most part, to the indiscriminate killing of those suspected of crimes against the people, and Minister Bones had assured the people that justice would be meted out, and promised that all suspected Death Eaters and collaborators would face judgment, and if found guilty, they would be stripped of all their possession, their homes, lands, and their vaults frozen, as well as other more severe forms of punishment such as the veil.

The newly reformed Wizengamot ordered that the prisoners be sorted into three categories or levels of involvement. The first level was for those who although they may not have raised a wand against the people, provided aid and intelligence to Voldemort's forces, such as providing the location and identity of resistance fighters and providing the names and locations of known muggleborns.

The second group, were those who were the financial backers, and Ministry informants and subversives who helped in toppling the Ministry, those traitors within the government itself. Those who ran the courts, and were the ones responsible for the purging camps and muggleborn registration, fell in to this group.

The third group consisted of the Snatcher units, combatants such as foreign wizards, giants, werewolves and vampires, and any and all who sided with Voldemort in an active combat capacity, and of course any marked or unmarked Death Eaters.

According to what group you found yourself in, you could face various levels of punishment, from incarceration with an indeterminate amount of years, death by Veil, or a complete binding of your magic and obliviation, and then in some extreme cases, they were left to survive in the muggle world on their own, a fitting punishment, in the eyes of the muggleborn.

To many a witch and wizard, this last option was the most cruel, it was an incredibly painful process for an adult witch or wizard to have their magic bound, and then to be obliviated of everything you had ever known and cast into a society you had no knowledge of. Some called it inhumane, others called it poetic justice.

In some cases, however, leniency was given if it were proven that they were coerced into Voldemort's service or some other special circumstances. But in these rare cases, the defendant would be given probation for an indeterminate number of years, anywhere from one year to thirty. During that time they would not be allowed to carry a wand, though their magic would not be bound.

A sponsor would also have to be appointed or volunteer, a sort of parole officer who would monitor the person on a weekly basis and be in charge of making sure these parolees were obeying their rehabilitation regimens. They would then be placed with family members if said family had no dealings with the Voldemort regime or the Death Eaters.

Those who had no family would be required to live in a half-way house of sorts were they would be given the basic necessities' such as food and shelter. They were also required to perform community service, again hours varied for each individual. They were allowed to seek employment but only after Ministry approval and with the approval of their sponsor.

The trials in the Ministry courtrooms were open to the public, but seating was limited. The current members of the Wizengamot, who were not killed during the war or identified as a Voldemort collaborator or a Death Eater, were tasked with the responsibility of trying each accused and then by majority vote decide the fate of that accused.

Of the original one hundred and fifty member court, there were now only sixty-five houses that made up the governing body. Amos Diggory had been voted and sworn in as the Chief Warlock by a nearly unanimous vote. He looked old and felt the heavy weight of his new office but to his credit he made sure that every single right of the accused was being observed.

The Chief Ministry Prosecutor was Hyrum Haussmann, a barrister with over eighty years of trial experience and was well known for his hard-line approach in presenting states evidence against suspected Death Eaters, he had an uncanny ability to find the most damning of evidence no matter how well hidden.

Those who could not afford counsel were given a court appointed defender. The man in the unenviable position of defense attorney was Burwell Boswell, a confidant and knowledgeable man no doubt, but knew that most of his clients would not receive mercy from the court. Leniency seemed to be a non-existent word nowadays; 'to the fullest extent of the law' was now the Clarion Call.

And so it was today, that a lone man was making his way to Courtroom Ten within the rebuilt Ministry of Magic. He would be one of many to have a hand in sentencing this day. This particular day had a number of high profile members of the Voldemort Regime receiving judgment. His mind was troubled though with one particular name that was on the docket.

He had received the list two days ago and this person's name seemed to jump out at him. He had not thought of this person since the Battle of Hogwarts, and was now deeply troubled as the memory of that night had come back to him. He had tried to forget that day altogether, though the memories always lurked in the darkest shadows of his mind.

He had sent a missive to the Chief Warlock stating that he would be petitioning for custodial probation of this incarcerated person. He knew this action would raise a fire storm within the Wizengamot, and therefore had not told another soul about his decision. He knew that there would be at least one person that would be furious with him, but he just felt it was something he needed to do. It was the honorable thing to do…or so that's what he told himself.

He had stopped off first at the Beater and Bowler, a pub run by a muggleborn couple that had survived the purge by means of finding sanctuary through the Lightning Bolt Underground. The L.B.U. was one of many resistance groups that would hide muggleborns or any Ministry deemed "undesirable" by providing safe havens and transportation out of the country if needed.

They had returned to Britain six months after Voldemort's defeat, and opened up a business and gave it a name that would show their dual heritage of muggle and magical, a name referencing both Quidditch and Cricket. It became one of his favorite stops when he was in the Alley. And Robert and Georgina always provided him with an out of the way corner table, a spot where he would not be bothered.

Harry Potter sat at "his" table and Georgina was just seconds behind him with his usual. He gave her a nod of appreciation and then downed the double shot of Ogden's Finest that she had handed him. Georgina refilled his glass and at his silent request left the bottle. She gave his shoulder a friendly squeeze before turning around and heading back to the bar.

"Did you read the latest Marv?" A man at the bar cackled in a half drunken shout.

"Eh! What you on about?" A squat fat man replied, spitting out some of his ale while he spoke.

"Heh heh, another pureblood shite was found butchered this morning…"

"Well deserved! I'll drink to that!"

There were several cheers throughout the bar as many raised their glasses in salute of the sentiment. Harry rubbed his eyes wearily. 'Hadn't there been enough death?' He sighed. Though the indiscriminant killing of purebloods had stopped, there was still the occasional murder. It saddened him that there was still many in today's new society that justified and even took pleasure in the death of a pureblood. It sickened and worried him.

After his third or was it his fourth shot of Ogden's Finest, he looked down at his wristwatch and noticed the time. "Damn, she's gonna give me hell if I'm late!" He stood quickly throwing on his cloak and tossed five galleons on his table, it was more than four times what his drinks had cost but he liked to leave Georgina a generous tip. She was always friendly and never pressed him about the war, unlike many others who wanted a blow by blow tale of his fighting in the last battle.

He hurried along the street to the public floo at the Leakey Cauldron. As he traveled to the ramshackle pub he shook his head at the people all around him. It had become a custom of sorts for both witches and wizards to have their forearms exposed when out in public. It was supposedly a means of demonstrating to everyone that you were not a Death Eater. It had inspired some curious fashions, such as sleeveless cloaks and robes. It was also taboo now to wear a hood of any kind.

A hooded person would be denied entry into any public building or shop and often they would be stopped and forced to reveal themselves by spontaneous mobs. It wasn't exactly legal to do so, but the Aurors who patrolled the public streets did not seem to lose any sleep over a person's right to privacy being violated in this manner, what with recent history.

Arriving through the back door of the Leaky Cauldron he made his way quickly to the floo. He tossed two sickles in to the tray and grabbed a handful of Floo Powder tossing it into the flames turning them green. He whispered his Ministry Authentication password and then stepped into the emerald flames.

"You're late!" A beautiful brunette woman in her late forties hissed under her breath, though nearly fifty she looked no older than a woman in her late twenties. "And you've been drinking! Merlin Harry, you're not drunk again are you?!" The woman exclaimed getting a whiff of his breath.

"I am not drunk Andi!" The twenty-one year old Harry Potter retorted. "I just needed a little something to deal with all this…this theatre!" He waved his hand at the courtroom that was quickly filling with Wizengamot members, press, and what public that had managed to find an open seat.

Andromeda Tonks sighed heavily and patted Harry on the knee. "I know it's trying Harry, but it is important that you be here, not only because you are a member of this body, but as a public figure, a hero of the war, our people need to know that you are here getting justice for them."

"I'm hardly the one doling out justice Andi. I am but one voice among many." Harry shook his head dismissively.

"You have more influence than you give yourself credit for." She replied to his self-deprecation.

"Undeserved influence. You of all people know how many others gave their lives in sacrifice to end that bloody war, those who unselfishly paid the ultimate price. Those are the true heroes, not me." He said bitingly.

Andromeda took Harry's hand in hers and squeezed it tenderly. "We have all suffered losses Harry." Andromeda swallowed thickly. "But you are a beacon of hope to many, even after four years people still look at you and they see hope, hope that things are getting better and that our world will be made whole again."

"I just don't see me condemning people to the veil or worse, day after day as being a beacon of hope, more like…the Grim Reaper." Harry replied scathingly rubbing his stubbly face in exasperation.

"You are helping to cleanse our society of a cancer that has festered for far too long. And I wouldn't call the things you are condemning…people. They are rabid dogs that need to be put down!" She replied, her chest was slightly heaving, unwittingly letting the painful past flare in her chest.

Harry wrapped his right arm around her shoulders realizing that she was about to have an anxiety attack, he pulled her to him to calm her down. He held her gently and spoke soothing words to calm her rising anxiety. She took several deep breaths to calm herself and then just took in his calming scent. She turned into his embrace and Harry pressed a comforting kiss to her temple. As he comforted her, Harry's mind drifted to those who were lost that horrific day.

The aftermath of the Battle for Hogwarts had been complete and utter chaos. A search for the wounded, the dying and the dead took nearly three days to sort out. Most of the Hogwarts students were accounted for on the first day, with the exception of nine students.

Some were believed to have been carried off by acromantulas, and others may have been blasted apart to such a degree that there was not enough left to identify them. Everyone had lost someone close to them; no one had been left untouched.

For Harry personally, he had felt the losses of Fred Weasley, his former Quidditch team mates Alicia Spinnet and Oliver Wood, Parvati Patil who had been his date to the Yule Ball in 4th year, and even Colin Creevey. The two most difficult deaths to take and they were the two losses that he shared with Andromeda Tonks, were the deaths of Remus and Nymphadora Lupin.

Remus was the last connection to his parents, and he had come to love Nymphadora as an adorable if not clumsy big sister. They had made him godfather to their son Teddy several months before the Battle of Hogwarts began.

Harry had been the one to go to Andromeda and inform her of her daughter's and son-in-law's death, she had lost her husband early in the war to Snatchers; they had killed him when he had fought back, though he did manage to take two of them with him before he was killed himself.

Andromeda had collapsed in gut wrenching anguish. Like him she had lost almost everything and everyone important to her. All they had left was Teddy, which gave them a common bond of sorts. Harry had held her through that first night so she would not be alone to mourn the loss of her daughter and Remus.

Harry had no issues in staying, he really had no place else to go at the moment. He did not want to return to Grimauld Place, there were just too many painful memories associated with the dark townhouse. The Weasley's were grieving because of their own family losses, and it would be too awkward since he and Ginny we're no longer together. Ginny, to his surprising relief, had resumed her relationship with Dean Thomas while he, Hermione, and Ron had been on the Horcrux hunt.

He did not blame her, he had known for some time before that he did not have romantic feelings for the fiery redhead, and it appeared that she no longer had those feelings for him either. It was a mutual understanding and there were no hard feelings. She and Dean had married a year after the Battle of Hogwarts and had moved to Sussex.

Hermione, days after the final battle had traveled to Australia with Ron to find her parents. Before the war had escalated, she had obliviated them and sent them to Australia for their own safety, but they had been found by Death Eaters who had been tracking down every lead to find the Gryffindor trio, who had been on the run.

It had been this final straw that snapped Hermione's stoic resolve. The war had taken its toll on the intelligent young witch. She had seen so much death and destruction; she had killed several Death Eaters herself and had suffered torture from the most evil witch in an age, Bellatrix Lestrange.

The death of her parents had been the final crack that brought her world crashing down. She was currently an outpatient at St. Mungo's Mental Health ward, seeing a therapist twice a week. Ron tried to be there for her but she would not let him get close to her ever again. Eventually Ron had given up trying and soon had rekindled his relationship with Lavender Brown, one year later they married.

Lavender suffered from Lycanthropy after being attacked by Fenrir Greyback, but received a lot of support from Ron and his brother Bill who was also suffering from the disease. It was a struggle but they seemed to be happy.

Hermione was currently working as the assistant Librarian at Hogwarts alongside Madam Pince who was nearing retirement, Hermione was given a small flat within the castle. The only person she still had any kind of relationship with outside of Harry, who refused to let her become a recluse, was with Neville Longbottom, who was apprenticing to take over Herbology from Professor Sprout.

Harry sighed heavily as his thoughts turned to his friends. Nothing in their current lives had turned out how they had imagined it would when they were young and naïve. Contact between the 'Golden Trio' was sporadic at best, each having moved on with their lives, such as they were.

Harry's attention was brought back to the present as he heard the gavel's loud banging calling the courtroom to order. Andromeda gave him a worried look but Harry just shook his head and gave her that 'it's nothing' look. She squeezed his hand supportively and he gave her an appreciative smile.

"So how was Teddy when you left?" Harry leaned over and asked quietly as people were taking their seats.

"He was playing happily with Winky. She has a marvelous way with children." Andromeda told him with an affectionate tone.

"She's been on me again about getting married and starting a family." Harry shook his head with a small chuckle, recalling the diminutive elf giving him a lecture on moving forward and getting married and making more babies for her to take care of.

"And what did you tell her?" She asked.

"I told her that why should I get married, I have you and Teddy in my life, I don't need anyone else." Harry replied solemnly.

Andromeda frowned at his response and tried to hold his gaze, but he had turned his head to avoid her stare. He always avoided this conversation, Andromeda thought sadly. She knew that it was partly her fault that he had not moved on and found someone else to love. 'No' she thought. It wasn't all her fault it was both of them.

They were each other's remedy and at the same time they were each other's poison. She had asked Harry to move in with her the day after he had informed her of Nymphadora's death. She justified the request by telling him that Teddy needed his godfather and a male presence in his life. With the loss of her daughter and Remus, and with the loss of her own husband a year before, she didn't think she could do it alone.

It was a half-truth. Teddy did need his godfather, but the real reason was because she needed comforting as well, she felt all alone and it terrified her more than she ever thought it would. Harry had of course agreed, he was just noble that way. He had become a life line that she clung to desperately.

He was attentive and caring and very handsome, and then one night several months after he had moved in, as they were sitting watching a movie cuddled up next to each other, she reached up and kissed him softly on the lips. He initially froze and she thought that she had crossed a line, but then he leaned in and kissed her back.

The kiss was soft and unsure at first, but within moments it had become firmer more assured. Andromeda leaned in to him pressing her chest against his. Her kisses became longing and needful and she slowly captured his lips deepening her kisses more and more, he returned the same hunger as his tongue sought entrance to her mouth and she happily responded.

They had made love that night, it had been his first time, and he had been eager and attentive. She remembered it fondly. He spent hours exploring her body and she relished the intimate attention. He was easy to guide and instruct on how to make love to her, and on how to please her.

They had become lovers, but did she love him? In her own way, she would say. She knew that she was not in love with him, and she knew that he was not in love with her. But there was love there, they felt something very special for each other and neither felt any guilt about their relationship.

But over the last four years she had come to realize that they were also each other's crutch. Harry did not date, he did not really socialize much with any other women but her, oh there were a few here and there, female aurors that he had worked with and a couple of other acquaintances but he always kept it friendly, casual never progressing further than a hug or kiss on the cheek.

He was young and the lord of two houses. He needed a wife and to have children and move on with his life. And though it would break her heart to lose that special relationship they had together, he needed to move on, and so did she.

A year after the war, Harry had bought a modest but very picturesque farm in the Welsh countryside. He built a large two story farm house, a barn, various animal pens, he had several acres of good pasture and farming land. His favorite place on the farm was the stables where he had housed five beautiful horses.

He had wanted out of the city and wanted a home where he could enjoy some anonymity. Of course he had Andromeda and Teddy move in with him; they were his family after all. He found his greatest joy in working the land and riding his horses with his godson.

He'd also had become one of magical Britain's greatest philanthropist, building orphanages, and donating thousands of Galleons to rebuild St. Mungos, and giving his time and money to many charitable organizations, and sponsoring magical primary schools. And as happy as he appeared in doing all these things, Andromeda knew that he was not whole…he was not complete.

He also worked with the Aurors as a Ministry Hit-Wizard he was occasionally asked to help in the capture of those Voldemort supporters who were still at large. He had a reputation of being unfeeling and at times ruthless when it came to taking down the fugitives. Aurors and bounty hunters alike knew that once Harry Potter had a target in his sights it was just a given fact that he would get his man.

But, there was a hole in him that could not be filled by his farm or his charities or bringing filth to justice. He drank often but not to excess, he liked to keep his wits about him. But she knew he was just trying to fill that emptiness with whatever he could find.

Andromeda knew that she and Teddy had their place in Harry's heart, but there was still that space that just could not be filled even with all the good he tried to do in the world. He needed to find that someone special, the one that completed him, he needed to fall in love and start a family.

"The court will rise!" Andromeda snapped out of her reminiscing and stood with the rest of the court as Amos Diggory entered the courtroom. Andromeda was Proxy for the House of Black while Harry stood for the House of Potter in these proceedings.

"His honor Lord Diggory, Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, and head judge presides at these proceedings." The courtroom herald announced.

The Chief Warlock took his seat and those in the gallery retook theirs. "My lords, my ladies, we are here today to resume the sentencing of members of the terrorist organization associated with the deceased Dark Lord Voldemort, heretofore known as Death Eaters, and those who were confederate in the illegal takeover of the rightful government and all activities heretofore classified as crimes against the state and crimes against humanity." Diggory proclaimed from his seat.

"Mr. Weasley, will you call the first case on the docket." Diggory asked Percy Weasley, who was acting as court scribe.

The once estranged son of Arthur and Molly Weasley stood up from his desk just to the left of the stand where the Chief Warlock sat.

"Case number 713-S, the Ministry vs. Delores Umbridge." Percy read.

Two red cloaked aurors opened up a door to the right of the stand. A squat woman dressed in grey and black striped prison garb waddled through the door with wrist and ankle manacles. She was escorted to a solitary wooden chair in the center of the courtroom. As soon as she had sat, the chains that were on the chair sprang to life and attached its self to the manacles she was already wearing, holding her firmly in place.

Harry stared darkly at the woman who had tortured him in his fifth year; she had also been the director over the Undesirables Department. She had been in charge of the secret courts that condemned muggleborns to the abomination that was the internment camps.

He remembered quite vividly watching her accuse a muggleborn witch of stealing magic from another. It had been when he, Hermione, and Ron, had entered the Ministry under the effects of Polyjuice potion to steal the Slytherin locket back from Umbridge. It was the locket that contained one of Voldemort's Horcruxes.

It had sickened him to see the vile pleasure in her face as she condemned the woman to the camps, which lasted up until they disrupted the hearing and attacked Umbridge for the locket and then helped the woman escape.

Umbridge's trial would no doubt be the most attended by the public, many husbands who had lost wives, and wives who had lost husbands during her tenure as 'judge' had come to see justice done for their loved ones who had never returned.

She had tried to claim the Imperious Curse, but all prisoners who claimed this, were administered Veritus serum. The court was outraged by what they learned of her true bigoted nature and that she actually took pleasure in condemning muggleborns to death.

"Dolores Jane Umbridge…" Diggory began. "You have been charged and found guilty of one hundred and sixty-seven counts of false imprisonment, ninety-eight counts of accessory to murder, conspiracy to commit genocide, and other crimes against humanity, and treason.

"You are here to receive your sentence. My lords and ladies there is but two choices in the sentencing of the accused. Your first option is immediate execution by Veil…" Umbridge gasped and looked frantically around at all the hardened faces scowling at her.

"The second is the binding of her magic and obliviation and removal of the accused from our world. The court will vote now by touching your wand to the appropriate crystal in front of you. The red crystal is for death by Veil, the blue crystal for binding and obliviation."

Umbridge yelled from her chair before the vote could take place. "I'D RATHER DIE THAN LIVE AS A FILTHY MUGGLE!"

Diggory pursed his lips and glared at the disgusting woman. "Is it your request then, Mrs. Umbridge that you be sent through the Veil?"

The toad like woman tried to appear defiant sitting in her chair, but the fear was obvious in her eyes and the quaver in her voice. "I-I do." She pronounced lifting her chin in an effort to look stoic.

"Let it be entered into the record that the accused has requested to be sent through the Veil. Are there any objections in granting her request?" Diggory asked.

Harry was tempted to speak up, feeling that a quick death was too good for the psychotic bitch. He thought it more fitting that she should spend the rest of her days as the thing she most despised. But then he thought that why should the muggle world be punished by her presence, in the end he did not voice an objection.

Diggory looked around the hall and seeing no objections, handed down the sentence. "Dolores Jane Umbridge, you are to be taken immediately to the Veil Room within the Department of Mysteries and sent through the Veil." He banged his gavel and two aurors entered and escorted Umbridge out of the courtroom along with an Unspeakable who would carry out the sentence.

"Mr. Weasley the next case." Diggory intoned at his clerk.

"Case number 827-S, The Ministry vs. Stanley Shunpike." Percy called. Again the same two aurors opened the door right of the bench. And a tall lanky man, with severe acne scars shuffled in, he like Umbridge had shackles on his wrists and ankles.

Harry shook his head sadly as the former Knight Bus attendant was placed in the defendants chair and the chains secured him in place.

"Stanley Shunpike, you were tried and found guilty of being a marked Death Eater, and of participating in the raid on the muggle residence of Lord Harry James Potter-Black on July 31, 1997, during said raid you and several other Death Eaters attempted to capture or kill Lord Potter-Black and during the attempt killed retired Auror Captain Alastor Moody.

"You have also been found guilty of being a member of the group known as Snatchers, and had participated in the attack on the residence of the muggleborn wizard Justin Finch-Fletchley, where five members of the Finch-Fletchley family were killed including a three year old child.

"My lords and ladies, there are three options in this case. Life in Azkaban, Magic Binding, or the Veil. Please vote now." Diggory announced. "The results Mr. Weasley?" He asked a few minutes later.

Percy cleared his voice and stood with the tabulated votes. "By a narrow margin, the court sentences Stanley Shunpike to life in Azkaban."

Harry observed the pitiful young man sob at the ruling. Harry didn't know how he felt about this particular case. Stanley had been incarcerated early in the war and at that time had indeed been innocent of the charges against him. When Voldemort had attacked Azkaban to release his followers, it didn't take much persuasion for the barely out of Hogwarts youth to join the Death Eaters. Anything was better than being left in that hellhole of a prison.

That decision now had come back to haunt the young man as now he would spend the rest of his life in that dark soul-sucking prison. He wondered if it would have been more merciful to send him through the Veil. Again the door opened and two aurors entered and escorted the sobbing young man back to a holding cell until his transfer back to Azkaban.

"Next case Mr. Weasley." Diggory stated rubbing his tired face.

"Yes, sir. The next case had been for sentencing, but we have received a petition for custodial probation, the case number 1001-P. Petition for custodial probation for the Lady Narcissa Druella Malfoy." Percy intoned. Murmuring immediately echoed through the court room.

Andromeda visibly stiffened as her sister's name was called. Andromeda had not forgiven her sister for her participation in the Battle of Hogwarts where Nymphadora was killed. Although it had been Bellatrix who had killed her only child, Andromeda held Narcissa just as guilty as if she cast the killing curse herself.

Harry rubbed Andromeda's shoulder comfortingly to get her to calm down, but it seemed to have little effect. Andromeda had already passed judgment on her sister and was ready to cast her vote for the Veil. Harry tensed even more as he thought about her reaction to what he was about to do.

Percy continued. "The sponsor making this request is…Lord Harry James Potter-Black!"

More gasps filled the chamber, Andromeda's head turned so fast to look at Harry, he could have sworn he heard bones snap. "What is the meaning of this Harry?!" She hissed at her lover.

"I-I had no choice Andi." Harry stated calmly, well as calmly as a shaking body could sound.

"W-what?! Is she blackmailing you?" She replied trying hard to keep her voice low but failing miserably.

"No, nothing like that." He answered.

"Lord Potter!" Amos Diggory called from his seat as the Chief Warlock. "Please explain why we should consider this petition. It has been proven that she supported Voldemort, helped him come to power, and even had imprisoned you and others in the Malfoy dungeons. So we must ask why you have made such a request."

Harry stood tall, his purple Wizengamot robes flowing down his tall form. Gone was the gangly boy with the round and perpetually broken glasses. Before them stood a tried and tested warrior, broad chested, thick neck and strong arms, his hair cut short in muggle fashion. In a word he looked intimidating, but to Andromeda who knew the real Harry, she knew him to be a kind and compassionate if not a shy man.

"Lord Diggory, I know that my petition seems out of character for me. As everyone in this court knows, I am passionate about justice being carried out upon all those who have wronged our society. I myself have put many of those criminals and terrorist behind bars.

"During the war and in particular, during the Battle of Hogwarts, there were many acts of courage and bravery that have been recognized and I believe there were many more that because of tragic circumstance will never come to light." He began.

"Forgive me Lord Potter, but what bearing does this have on your petition?" Diggory asked.

"I beg your indulgence Chief Warlock, I am getting there." Harry replied receiving a gesture of continuation.

"As you are all aware, I cast the spell that ended Voldemort's reign of terror on the grounds of Hogwarts. Indeed, I see many faces here today, that were there that night. And this body was made aware of the prophecy surrounding Voldemort and myself, and why only I could kill him. I don't put much stock in prophecies but I can't refute the fact that the two of us were linked either by fate, destiny, or prophecy. And that brings me to the reason for my petition." Harry paused and took a deep cleansing breath.

"We were losing; our numbers had been cut nearly in half. I saw the vacant stares of friends, classmates, professors, Order members. Many of you who were there may remember, Voldemort offered clemency to everyone should I turn myself over to him. This isn't in the official record of the accounts of that battle. But I did just that. I surrendered myself to Voldemort."

The courtroom was deathly quiet at Harry's confession. He looked down at Andromeda who had tears in her eyes. All eyes and ears were on Harry as he began to explain to the assembled multitude how Voldemort wasted no time and threw an "Avada Kedavra" at him.

Harry did not speak about the horcrux that had been living in him since the night his parents were murdered, but did speak of his spectral visitation with Dumbledore. It was a testament to the character and high opinion of Harry Potter that no one doubted his words.

Harry continued. "Voldemort was still concerned that I may yet be alive and asked for someone to check me. Narcissa Malfoy volunteered. I heard her approach and then felt her hand pressed against my chest. She knew immediately that I was still alive, and yet did not reveal this information to Voldemort.

"She asked about the welfare of her son, whether he was alive or not. I whispered that he was, and then she told me to stay still. She turned to Voldemort and told him that I was indeed dead. I heard Bellatrix Lestrange screech triumphantly at the news, and Voldemort pontificated about his decisive victory over the so called boy-who-lived. I even heard Hagrid wail in grief.

"It was then that Bellatrix suggested to the Dark Lord that he cut my head off and mount it on a pike as they marched to the castle. And show the "blood traitors and filth" what had become of their precious savior." Harry chuckled mirthlessly.

"Voldemort had agreed and walked toward me to do just that. I tried to think of something quick, but my mind could not come up with any recourse. Should I move and attempt to flee he would curse me before I could get to one knee, and I could not apparate from my prone position.

"I had resigned myself to death when I went into the forest, so I might as well die by trying to escape rather than lying there waiting for my head to be cut off. I began to tense my muscles in preparation for jumping up and running, but a voice stopped me before I moved.

"Narcissa Malfoy came to my aid once again. I remember her words. 'My Lord wait! Would it not be more dramatic, for him to be whole so that they could see his entire body? Make the giant carry his corpse in front of your army, the image would be quite demoralizing to the defenders." She had explained to him.

"I remember holding my breath waiting for Voldemort's response. It seemed an eternity before he spoke. And when he did I almost let out a sigh of relief when he agreed with her suggestion. I remember being levitated into Hagrid's arms and then feeling my wand slide up into my shirt sleeve. I risked a quick peek and saw that Mrs. Malfoy was the one giving me back my wand. She whispered to me and told me to save myself the first chance I got.

"My lords and ladies, the woman that we are about to sentence to have her magic bound and exiled, is the only reason why I was able to finally kill Voldemort. She saved my life…twice. And though I know that many of you find this petition objectionable, I ask that you show mercy to the woman that helped me defeat the worst Dark Wizard in a generation.

"I will be her sponsor and I will accept all responsibility for her. I will also provide her lodging and will make sure that her debt to society is paid through however many hours of community service that this body warrants and any other stipulations that this body decides should be assessed her.

"Thank you for your consideration of this petition; I humbly await the decision of this court and will abide by whatever decision is reached." Harry then retook his seat. He turned toward Andromeda but could not get a read on just what she was thinking. She refused to meet his eyes but he could tell that she was having a serious internal struggle. He just hoped he had not alienated himself from the one source of love and affection that he still had.

With a decision reached, the Chief Warlock motioned to the Aurors. Harry turned toward the door, the sound of the metal shackles scraped across the floor. Harry was shocked by what he saw when Narcissa Malfoy appeared through the door. Although Harry had never particularly liked the Lady Malfoy the one thing he could admit was that she was once one of the most beautiful women he had ever seen. Even Ron had admitted when they were still at Hogwarts that Malfoy's mom was definitely shaggable. It had been the consensus of all his dorm mates as well.

She was tall and had a Veela's perfect body, she had long flowing platinum hair, deep blue eyes, and full pouty lips that had been the naughty dreams of many of his dorm mates, Harry himself had a few wet dreams after meeting the Malfoy matriarch at the World Cup.

The biggest turn off though, had been her condescending attitude toward those she saw as beneath her and her overall haughtiness. She was of the elite of wizarding society and what's more she knew it, and let everyone else know it as well. In general she had not been a very nice person.

But what he saw now was a stark contrast to the highborn woman she used to be. He watched the emaciated looking woman being levitated in to the courtroom. Unable to stand on her own two feet she was placed into the defendant's chair. She wore the standard prison robes that hung like a shroud over a skeleton that barely looked like a woman at all.

Gone was her perfect long hair, in its place was a rat's nest that had been cut short and barely reached her neck. If you hadn't known what her hair color was before you would be hard pressed to identify the color now with all the grime now covering it.

Her eyes once deep expressive pools of blue were now a vacant grey. Her cheeks once rosy and youthful were sunken and ashen in color. Despite her contempt for her sister, Andromeda gasped at the visage of an obvious dying woman.

Harry surprisingly felt compassion for the woman he was looking down upon. Yes she had been a Voldemort supporter; her husband had financed much of Voldemort's war effort. She had stood by and watched as her sister Bellatrix Lestrange had tortured Hermione, though Hermione would never confirm it, he suspected that Bellatrix had done more to his best friend than just carve into her arm with a knife, judging by the state of her clothing when she was returned to the Malfoy Dungeon.

Yes, Narcissa Malfoy was guilty of many minor war crimes, but did she deserve the same punishment as her husband, who had been sent through the veil during the first week of trials. Every inner circle member that was taken alive was sent through the veil within the first month of the Death Eaters trials.

Harry looked back down at the woman who was slouched in the defendants chair; Azkaban had really taken a horrible toll on the once elite lady. She had been arrested with her husband and son, and although Lucius had a speedy trial because of his inner circle status, she like many others had been forced to wait until their cases were tried.

Harry had read the transcripts of her interrogation just days ago. And although she had given aid to Voldemort, it was learned that she had never cast a curse during the battle, and had never intentionally hurt anybody during Voldemort's reign. But the Malfoys' had financed him and Malfoy money had also been used to bribe and payoff Ministry officials.

Harry was vaguely aware of the beginning of the deliberation as his mind was torn about the fate of Andromeda's only other living family member. Was Narcissa evil…beyond redemption? He wasn't so sure. She had saved him…twice. If she was truly beyond help he would not hesitate to send her back to Azkaban.

Harry searched his own memory of the final battle, any instance where he may have seen the Lady Malfoy raise her wand in any manner against the students and defenders of Hogwarts. He could not; in fact he remembered her walking away from the battle after he had been carried by Hagrid back toward the castle.

"Is she conscious?" Diggory asked the Aurors.

"She has been in and out of consciousness since bringing her from Azkaban." The red cloaked man said with an unconcerned shrug.

Harry then noticed the right-side of the woman's face, it was just beginning to swell and Harry noticed a hand print quite clearly. Harry was just about to jump to his feet and let in to the Auror for abusing a prisoner, when Andromeda put a calming hand on his shoulder.

"Let it go, Harry." She whispered. We'll have the DMLE director look into it.

"Enervate her Auror Jacobs." Diggory ordered the Auror that had spoken earlier.

With the spell cast, a disoriented Narcissa Malfoy opened her eyes slowly and took in her surroundings, her face suddenly looked panicked and she began to hyperventilate.

"Narcissa Malfoy, you have been brought from Azkaban to face sentencing for your crimes as a supporter of the dark lord, Voldemort." Diggory began, staring accusingly at the once so called flower of Wizarding society.

Narcissa's faced paled even more if it were possible, and her skeletal body began to tremble uncontrollably. Harry looked at Andromeda, and saw silent tears running down her cheeks.

"You were to be sentenced to have your magic bound, and then exiled from our world. However, one has come forward and petitioned for you to remain in our world, but under his custodial supervision. This petition has been voted upon, and by a narrow margin has been granted.

"You will remain in his custody until such time that he, along with this court, deems that your debt to society has been paid and that you have truly reformed. You will be on custodial probation for no less than fifteen years, at which time your sentence will be reevaluated.

"You will not however, be permitted a wand for a period of no less than one year, and at which time your sponsors can petition for its return. Likewise he can recommend the opposite. You will also be subject to not only this court's restrictions, but whatever restrictions are placed upon you by your guardian. At any time the guardian feels that you are not following the requirements and orders of the court, you will be brought back before this court and the original sentence will be carried out.

"Any questions Mrs. Malfoy." Diggory finally asked. Dead eyes tried to lift to look at the Chief Warlock, but her strength was failing her. With much effort she gave a slight shake of her head.

"Very well. Lord Potter, the court requires a monthly report on your charges progress or lack thereof. The documents that will need your signature will be forwarded to you by the end of the day. That will be all, this court stands adjourned." Diggory gave his gavel a quick tap and then there was an immediate burst of noise as Wizengamot members, the press, and visitors began to talk about what had just transpired.

Narcissa Malfoy in her rattled dimming mind could not believe that of all people it was Harry bloody Potter that had saved her from a life devoid of magic. The implications of this, and that she was finally free of Azkaban and the Dementors, proved too much for her fragile state and she fell unconscious once again.

oooOOOooo

A/N2: Please let me know what you think, good, bad, or otherwise! Helpful criticisms always welcome, incoherent flames always ignored.