The Contract

Chapter 48

"I do so sincerely hope that he doesn't get 'time served' and declared free." Corvus stated firmly, as he claimed his seat in the courtroom. Today was the trial for Albus Dumbledore, he'd spent so much time as a member of the wizengamot these days. Harry's law had not yet been passed, as amendments were being written out and added to the law with suggestions and fighting over those amendments but considering how they usually were…it had been quite peaceful compared to the passing or vetoing of other laws.

"You and I are in complete agreement," Antonio agreed quietly, he quite detested the colour of the robes for the wizengamot. Thankfully, he was only having to endure wearing it for actual courtroom trials. On his breast pockets, his right had his own coat of arms, and atop of his left, the Potter insignia with a crown at the top, displaying his regent status. It had appeared the moment he had signed and agreed to be the Potter regent.

"His past actions and former popularity will not save him," Voldemort assured them, making a mental note to suggest that the colour of the robes and the robes themselves be updated. They were remarkably old fashioned and made the entire wizengamot look like clowns.

"I think you're right," Lord Shacklebolt agreed, "I hope we can get this dastardly laziness gone before my son passes his Auror training." laziness was one way to put corruption that Harry seems to be seeking to destroy.

"Will any of the rumours about Heir Potter be put to the question today?" Dowager 'Lady' Longbottom questioned, normally she would never even contemplate speaking to anyone that so much as conversed casually with Lord Lestrange, spite and bitterness getting the better of her. However, she liked Shacklebolt and Lord Slytherin, they were both very kind and diligent in their work.

"That is something only the Minister and Madam Bones can answer," Lord Slytherin said softly, "I do hope so, what has been done to the young heir is…diabolical. He should have been safe in Hogwarts…it's all terrible business. It makes me feel rather blessed that I didn't attend the school. It's below us to listen to rumours, I know, but there's always a kernel of truth in those rumours."

"I quite agree," Dowager agreed, nodding along immediately, "My Neville has told me some rather troubling things also. I think I shall speak to Amelia, please excuse me," with that she got up off her seat and made her way towards the woman, who was talking away with one of the clerks, with a bundle of files in her hand.

"Will your son be taking over from you, Lord Shacklebolt?" Voldemort asked, more and more children were electing to have a career first, before they stepped into running their family estates. Modernisation at its greatest, instead of being asked to begin running the estate at seventeen. In fact most families were actively encouraging it.

Lord Shacklebolt chuckled, "Not for another decade at least," he said entirely amused, "My son has always wished to be an Auror from a young age. I was resigned to it, but I agreed to it, if he attends to lessons with me. On how to run the estate, he's unfortunately, not been able to for the past few months, the end of his Auror training is rather exhausting once it's over hopefully, we'll get back to normal." They needed to learn how to run the estate, if anything happened to him, he had to know his son would be well equipped on how to deal with everything. The Shacklebolt family was a big one, and he had a lot of relatives to oversee if anything happened.

"Yes, it's a strenuous undertaking," Lord Slytherin agreed, "Particularly outdated, but why change something that is not broken?"

"Other than the fact more wizards and witches don't have the mettle to manage to see through the course?" Corvus said wryly, "The amount of Aurors that are passing or even signing up are getting smaller each year. I do believe only one person passed last year, Nymphadora Tonks. I do believe we only have five sign up in Shacklebolt's year, and three of them have already failed, another is going the same way." It was extremely worrisome, to see less and less people joining the academy.

"That low?" Lord Shacklebolt asked, looking deeply disturbed, how could he have not known this? It was something they definitely needed to bring up at one of the wizengamot meetings. Things had to change, he thought, even as he revelled in the fact his son was passing the course with flying colours…doing what others could not. That his son had the mettle to endure.

"Indeed," Lord Slytherin, nodding sagely, and now he didn't need to bring it up himself, no, Lord Shacklebolt would do it for him. He was too new to be trusted entirely, and if he brought up too much too soon, people would rebel against anything he proposed.

"I'll need to look into it," he murmured quietly, greatly disturbed.

Voldemort's smug smirk was subtle, as he turned to face the courtroom, which was steadily filling up with people. Not just journalists, but people who wish to see the outcome of Dumbledore's trial or be there for him. Noticeably absent was…Minerva McGonagall, he could not see her at all. She may be still recovering from Azkaban, but it was unlikely.

"Veritaserum has been agreed to, hasn't it?" Dowager Longbottom made a reappearance, as Bones sat on her seat, to the left Dumbledore was brought out from the prisoner entrance – and incidentally exit – to be seated on the single chair in the middle, the chair did not wrap its chains around him nor did the 'cage' get lowered. He wasn't considered 'insane' and thus it wasn't used.

"As far as I am aware, yes, there's been a motion to see it used every trial," Lord Shacklebolt, "And I must admit, I like the sound of it, but only if the ones doing the questioning are experts at asking the right questions."

"As do I," Dowager Longbottom insisted, "I want that law passed," so that the Lestranges could not and would not end up freed after they got a trial. Barty Crouch Junior wouldn't be getting one, naturally, since he'd long since passed a few years into his sentence.

"I think most of us do, especially in aid of this new legislation looking to be passed," Lord Shacklebolt, giving Corvus an apologetic look. It was nobody's surprise that Corvus was one of the loudest to agree with Heir Potter's proposed law, even if it had nothing to do with the Lestrange brothers and everything to do with making sure nobody suffered such a miscarriage of justice like Sirius Black.

"Definitely," Dowager admitted, as though something foul had been placed under her nose. She definitely didn't want to see the Lestrange's released from Azkaban on a technicality.

Corvus remained silent, if he had not known exactly what Harry and Tom were up to…he would have protested most vehemently. However, he had been let in on everything, during his dinner with Tom the evening after the law was proposed. Tom was actually doing experiment's to see if it would work. Using a Muggle-born who wouldn't be missed by anyone. He would have preferred him using Umbridge, the woman was a menace. He had yet to see the results of that experiment, but considering two of the brightest minds were on it, he knew it would turn out well.

All as one, they straightened up once the introductions were over, paying attention to the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge. Who Lord Slytherin personally detested, he was a man without spine, and had contemplated killing him in a million different ways, but decided to wait until re-election. Killing the Minister would bring down too much attention, plus what was one more year? Although, having someone who could be controlled was a good thing, Lucius did well with him especially in the light of Dumbledore's arrest. He would still rather have someone of his own running for office and actually succeeding in becoming the Minister for magic.

"Albus Dumbledore you are here on charges of here hundred child endangerments, tampering with Hogwarts wards, the illegal use of Obliviate to obscure a job ill-done, theft, embezzlement and resisting arrest how do you plead?" the Minister for Magic intoned, staring at Dumbledore blankly, no sign of anger, disgust, betrayal on his face, impeccably doing his job.

"Not guilty," Albus replied, his voice hoarse but mostly coherent due to the fact the dementors were only in Azkaban for a few hours each day. He knew he had Harry Potter to thank for that, the boy had begun his political career and he was furious over it. The boy wasn't meant to know about his estate let alone have political aspirations…everything he'd done for the boy…and this was how he was repaid? None of his people could get close to the brat to start up a relationship to find out more either.

"Albus Dumbledore, we see fit to warn you that the use of Veritaserum is being set to be used. Is this your final answer?" if he pled guilty his sentence could have been reduced, but since he was going to insist on not being guilty…they were going to have to punish him to the fullest extent of the law. Not that they were surprised by his answer, it had been the same one he continued to insist throughout the questioning he'd been through before he was put to Azkaban awaiting trial.

"I did not consent to the use of Veritaserum," Albus stated firmly, "To do so is against the law," he warned them, the first hint of panic consuming him.

"The charges make it legal," Bones insisted, anything to do with Oblivation's were treated as heinous acts and were insistent on Veritaserum being used. They had to get to the bottom of it and find out just how often he had been using such a spell. The spell was only legalised for a certain department and was used only when strictly necessary. He could have destroyed their minds, had them in St. Mungo's utterly insane with their minds wiped or scrambled. For those spells alone he was looking at a long stretch in Azkaban, never mind all the other crimes he'd allegedly committed.

Albus looked to his lawyer who grimly nodded, it was true, the charges he was being charged with did make it so that the use of Veritaserum was legalised. Not that it looked to matter, since the newest pieces of legislation proposed to the wizengamot were looking to make Veritaserum used in court of law mandatory. Whether it went through or not, well, that was anyone's guess.

The wizengamot watched Dumbledore closely, wondering if he would change his plea now. It would indeed be the smart thing to do, and Dumbledore was a smart wizard. Unfortunately, Dumbledore was also a desperate man, and the wrong belief that 'Occlumency' could shield you from the potion…was entirely wrong and printed despite knowing that, in order to trip up any potential wizard or witch thinking they could beat the law.

"Not guilty," Dumbledore insisted, thanking his lucky stars that the dementors presence hadn't completely destroyed his mental shields. He had made sure to meditate every single day while in Azkaban. To strengthen his mind shields, to prevent the Dementors from sucking out all his emotions, but it had done nothing against the memories, which he'd been forced to endure. Arianna was the only thing he regretted in his long life, and thus, it consumed him the entire time the Dementors were nearby.

"Very well, let's begin," the Minister stated, "The Ministry of Magic Vs Albus Dumbledore trial will begin, administer the Veritaserum." Giving a nod to the head potions Master they had, normally they worked with the Unspeakables and such, but today he was here.

"He's much too relaxed, he has something up his sleeve," Corvus murmured low enough for only Tom to hear, watching Dumbledore with hawk eyes. Barely listening to the Minister naming everyone of importance during the trial. Barely refraining from rolling his eyes the way Cornelius puffed up proudly stating his name for the record.

"Are you Albus Dumbledore"

"Yes,"

"At Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry, number 1 Hogsmeade?" stating the address of the school, which Dumbledore had lived full time and put on all his forms and considered his permanent resident, which by the way wasn't allowed. It was a school, not a private residence.

"Yes,"

"Did you tamper with the Hogwarts wards?" wards that had been up since it's conception! With only wards getting added to it over the years, doing what no Headmaster had ever dared…the danger he'd put the students in still had them all reeling.

Dumbledore began to struggle, trying to stop himself answering with a 'yes' when he desperately wanted to hold onto his reputation and stop himself ending up in prison for numerous years. Yes, it had changed, it was quite tolerable as far as prisons go. He was grateful personally, for the changes that it had undergone, but he did not wish to remain there. He had work still to be done. Which was extremely difficult to do in Azkaban.

"He's trying to fight the potion," Lord Slytherin argued, leaning forward, pursed lips, playing indignant and furious. Well, there wasn't much 'playing' to be done, he was angry at the thought that Dumbledore might actually succeeded in fighting the potion.

"Silence," Cornelius Fudge ordered, giving Lord Slytherin a quelling look, unaware of whom he was ordering around…otherwise he would have curled up in a ball whimpering and quivering for forgiveness.

Corvus' eyes widened and a choke broke through his shock at the actions of the dim-witted wizard. Merlin help him, for nobody else would, quite frankly he wouldn't be surprised if the Minister found himself in a spot of trouble that he wouldn't live through.

Voldemort just gave a short cut nod of apology, his face a charming mask of sheepishness, as he imagined the wizard writhing under his wand hand, that had just spat out a Crucio at him. It calmed the fire burning within him to end the piece of filth who thought he was Merlin himself.

"Did you tamper with the Hogwarts wards?" Fudge repeated himself, stressing out the words, watching Dumbledore struggling, fascinated in a horrified way, by the way the old man was starting to sweat, as if the effort was extremely and physically difficult.

"Yes," in the end Dumbledore was unable to successfully stop himself revealing the truth to the world.

There was no gasps of shock, horror or disgust, they'd all already known Dumbledore's culpability. If he had been innocent he would have gotten in touch with the Ministry the second he realized the wards were just fundamentally wrong. It had taken a surprise inspection for the wards problems to be uncovered…and if it had not been…well shudder to think. Considering how powerful he was…it had to have been known what was going on.

"Were you aware of the danger you were putting the children under your care through?" the Minister retorted, anger blazing in his stance and eyes. The thought of what would have happened if not for Strauss finding those problems. An entire generation of dead children…or worse squibs, all because the parents had sent them to Hogwarts to be educated.

"Yes," how he managed to sound defeated nobody knew, since the potion had you speaking in a monotone. Perhaps it was the arch of his shoulders, the lack of twinkle that Dumbledore was known for? Or perhaps it was just that they were imagining it.

"Did you Obliviate those who came to you for a surprise inspection of the school?" Fudge asked.

"Yes,"

"So that we would be unaware?" Fudge pressed on.

"Yes,"

"So you would get away with what you were doing?" Fudge added, making sure it was wilful, that way the charges would be more severe.

"Yes,"

"Did you embezzle funds from vaults belonging to the school?"

"Yes,"

"Did you steal from Harry Potter while you were his magical guardian?"

"Yes,"

"Did you endanger Harry Potter?"

"Yes,"

"Objection! He's not here on charges against Harry Potter!" the lawyer cried out, protesting this line of questioning.

"The Wizengamot will disregard the last two answers," Fudge waved it away as inconsequentially but the damage had already been done.

"Why did you endanger the students of Hogwarts? What could have been so important that you would do such a thing?" Bones questioned, unable to keep silent.

"Silencio!" the lawyer cried, silencing Dumbledore's answer, giving Bones a look of pure rage, "That is not allowed." It wasn't, they could ask yes or no questions, but they couldn't demand answers from someone for why they committed the crime. Free of Veritaserum, they could yes, but never with such a potion.

Bones didn't even have the grace to look apologetic.

"The wizengamot will now deliberate and return with a verdict." The Minister declared, giving a nod to Chief Warlock Ogden. Ignoring the staring contest between Dumbledore's lawyer and Bones, who had acted rather out of character…but her niece was all she had, so he couldn't say he was overly surprised that she'd be more invested in this case than others.

-0

"Anyone else find that particularly anti-climactic?" was the first thing spoken after the fifty members of the wizengamot took their seats.

"Quick, yes, but anticlimactic, no, what he's done cannot be gaged by the length of his trial," Lord Slytherin said solemnly giving Lord Bagman a look. "The danger that children were put in…such a thing, it cannot be described."

"I completely agree," Lucius said smoothly, anyone with a child attending Hogwarts…not just a child but heirs…would be saying the exact same thing.

"Is it known how much has been embezzled from the Hogwarts vaults?" Lady Abbott questioned, a frown marring her features. Everyone was looking at Lucius, here, since he was the one that uncovered that particular crime.

"He's been systematically doing it under various different funds, sponsorship fund, the funds to help those that could cover the tuition but unable to afford the money for books and robes and such. Claiming money for teachers and classes that doesn't exist, specifically the ghost Binn's it takes extensive time to uncover what's genuine and what's stolen. I've gone back three decades, it's been happening since he was Deputy Headmaster…and I'm still uncovering more. To put it bluntly…he's amassed at least 600, 000 galleons, and that's all thus far, I think the reality is double that at least." Lucius explained, not at all surprised to see them horrified by what they'd just learned. He had reacted quite similarly if he was honest, it was the equivalent of three million pounds.

"Having his financial details would have greatly helped," Lucius added with a slight grumble to his voice. Unfortunately, in this case anyway, Gringotts, even when someone was imprisoned did not and would not give out financial details. Any other time he was grateful that Gringotts and the Ministry weren't intertwined. The Ministry wouldn't try to force the issue lest they end up with a goblin war on their hands again.

"It's unfortunate, then that it cannot be gotten," Dowager agreed, "Even then, it would have been difficult to know what was genuine and what was stolen. What of the Potter Estate?" here she looked at Lord Abbott.

"Don't look at me, I have control of the seats per Heir Potter's stipulations, but the rest of his estate is not known to me." Antonin refuted their belief that he would know. He was also getting tired of the underhanded tactics they were attempting to get answers out of him. Even if he did know he would not reveal private information.

"It's unfair that they expect us to come up with an ideal punishment when we don't know all the facts."

"It would be horrific to think he might get off easy,"

"This is his first crime, he won't receive a big sentence anyway,"

"Three hundred counts of child endangerment," was promptly reminded.

"Still his first crime,"

"We shouldn't add in the theft from Potter or the fact he hurt him, we were told to disregard it and we will."

"We aren't,"

"I mean come on! What could Dumbledore gain out of his actions?"

"He might have fixed it before they reached critical phase,"

"They were already critical!"

"ENOUGH!" the Chief Warlock called out, using his wand to emit three loud blasts from his wand. "Now is not the time to begin arguing, now let's calmly and rationally discuss sentencing, first for reckless child endangerment of three hundred students," this was why he was here, to keep them all focused.

"There isn't a sentence we could give today that will allow Dumbledore to ever see the outside again." Lord Slytherin explained calmly. "All child endangerment cases I've read, all as teachers, have had at least three years imprisonment…if we times that by three hundred…he will receive a life sentence."

"We aren't going to enforce that? No child was actually hurt,"

"Even if we make it only a year with each student…make the punishment fit the crime, he will not live three hundred years in Azkaban." Corvus pointed out.

"He endangered every single student in Hogwarts, our heirs, we cannot let him off with a slap on the wrist!"

"Even just making sure he doesn't go around children isn't enough!"

"He has to pay!"

"The evidence is irrefutable! He did it wilfully, he needs to pay!"

"He's guilty, that's not up for debate, I say we give him three hundred years imprisonment, for everything he's done. You're quite right, he's never going to see the outside of the prison again." Antonin Abbott put out. "Three hundred years is quite lenient considering all the charges against him."

"The least we could give him is six months for each student," the Chief Warlock agreed, nodding, very familiar with the law, even while it was changing. "The danger he put them in I think one year is adequate, raise your hands if you agree to the term?" normally at this point they'd still be debating guilty or innocent, perhaps the use of Veritaserum would move things along better.

Immediately everyone raised their hands, despite the arguing, they knew they had to go along…otherwise word would get out and they would be shunned. It would definitely get out, most of the wizards and witches here were extremely vindictive when wronged.

Fifty out of fifty immediately agreed.

"Is there any point to adding more to the charges?" a wry retort from Corvus asked, hiding his smug satisfaction.

"There are only the ones for Obliviation charms, which we don't know how many he cast over the years. The lest we can give him for performing it once is five years, since no permanent harm befell them, we know there was at least four cast on the two that had been tending to the school inspections for the past few years. St. Mungo's has proof of that. That's twenty years easy, but the damage was systematic over the years, they weren't just all damaged within the last year…Lord Strauss how long would you say he had been obliviating those that come to inspect the school?"

Strauss grimaced at the term, he really did prefer Auror Strauss, at least it was earned. "One of the oldest wards to be tampered with is nearly five decades old." He didn't get a lot of impressions, everything all muddled up, the tampering hindered any real gleam of dates and times.

"Right after he became Headmaster?" Lord Shacklebolt grimaced, "We all attended the school, they could have come crashing down at any time. We could have been affected."

"And embezzlement?" Chief Warlock, "Given the amount fifteen years and a large fine…but I doubt very much we will ever see any of that money again."

"His estate can be sold off, anything and everything of Dumbledore's," Lord Slytherin pointed out, "It might not give us the entire amount back but every little helps in replenishing the coffers he so wilfully stole. Hogwarts has seven boxes of Dumbledore's personal items still awaiting collection."

"All in agreement?" Chief warlock glanced around the room, the folders still unopened, filled with the evidence they'd accumulated.

Fifty out of fifty people agreed to the charges.

"Then let us return with the verdict," Chief Ogden declared, "Excuse me," with that he left the room first, preparing to find Cornelius Fudge and inform him that a decision had been made.

The Wizengamot members glanced at each other, a heavy silence filling the air. Despite the swiftness in the case, it had been one of the most difficult they'd had to endure in a decade. Then once Corvus stood, everyone began to shuffle to their feet, making for the door, sliding through, they all claimed their seats, the court was naturally empty, as it usually was while they reached a decision.

The double doors were open just waiting for everyone to fill back in.

Bones, Fudge, the Auror and Dumbledore were the first to return, Dumbledore, now free of the effects of the Veritaserum did not look confident as he had earlier. If anything he looked sick to his stomach and pale.

The others began flooding in as Chief Warlock Ogden reclaimed his seat.

All of them stalwart and resolute, they did not regret their decision.

The group observing were all leaning forward as if they would hear the verdict quicker.

Nobody seemed to be there for Dumbledore, not even Minerva McGonagall.

"Has a verdict been reached?" Bones questioned the Wizengamot.

"There has," Ogden declared, "We find Albus Dumbledore…guilty."

Cheers and whooping rose from the gallery.

"SILENCE" Cornelius Fudge boomed, giving them all a quelling look.

Other than a few grumbled complaints, everyone went silent. Watching and just waiting for the verdict they'd come here for.

"And the sentence is?" the Minister prodded, even he didn't know, the wizengamot worked differently from the Muggle courts.

"Three hundred and forty-five years imprisonment with no possibility of parole," came Ogden's declaration.

A strangled noise left Dumbledore's lips as he gaped in horrified shock. Eyes bulging, heart pounding, shaking his head wordlessly, opening and closing his mouth with nothing to say. He couldn't believe this was happening and he'd gotten so long. He refused to go back to that….that prison. Gathering his scattered wits, he managed just one word. Just. One. Word.

"FAWKES!"

I was right, there wouldn't be 6K for Dumbledore's trial after all bu half K isn't all that bad :) at least it wasn't six chapters long am I right? :) Well, will Dumbledore get away? Or will he end up in prison were he belongs? It's definitely time to update some of my other stories! Teen Wolf ones have been neglected for ages so for those waiting for an update...coming soon to a screen near you ;) hehe R&R please!