226 Chapter 223
"You did Harry," Dumbledore agreed warily, "However, it appears that the Grand Prosecutor has gained some sort of evidence that warranted a trial against Miss Turpin. A trial in front of Wizengamot with the charges being of murder, grievous injury, terrorism, and many more."
"She could get Dementor's Kiss if she gets convicted on even half of those charges," Perenelle muttered, looking stricken.
"Should I tell them? That she was possessed by Voldemort?" Harry asked, looking around worriedly.
Dumbledore sighed, taking off his glasses as he rubbed his eyes, "Harry, there were reasons I asked you to lie to the press. I told you not to tell the press about how you took down the Basilisk because even minor scrutiny on your methods could have exposed Nicholas. I told you to not tell them about Miss Turpin's possession because no one would believe you."
"You're joking," Harry muttered. He couldn't be serious. They wouldn't believe him?!
"You didn't see anything conclusive Harry. All you saw was an illusion. They have every reason to not believe you." Nicholas pointed out.
"Then why are you believing me?" Harry asked, turning to Dumbledore.
"Because the things you said that the illusion told you," replied Dumbledore, "You would not have known any other way. You heard things that only I and Lord Voldemort know. That is why I believe you. And that is why no one else will."
"But surely if you tell them-"
"Even if I do that, my word will not count for much at this point." Dumbledore said, "The amount of deaths that happened is making a lot of the families call for an investigation and trial. Therein lies the problem. There is little to no evidence protecting Miss Turpin in a trial. All there is, is your word. They have substituted me as the Chief Warlock until the case is over, claiming bias. Furthermore, I am going to be arguing for her in court, and that will render my testimony useless."
"But…" Harry said desperately, "Isn't there any symptom of her being possessed that we could show in the trial? Like Quirrell had a face behind his head? We won't have to tell anyone that Voldemort was involved at all. Just say that it was a malicious spirit or something."
"Hmm…" Dumbledore leaned back into his chair as he considered what Harry said, "A defense suggesting possession is possible, but the lack of any actual physical evidence makes me wary. And in answer to your question, no. She does not have any evidence of possession, more than likely because of who she was possessed by."
"What do you mean?"
"Lord Voldemort is well versed in the Dark Arts, and with as much time as he had as a student, he must have put Miss Turpin through some ritual or the other to make sure she did not show any evidence of possession."
This was starting to sound worse and worse.
"Making the situation even worse is that the entire ordeal ended up harming her in more ways than one. They won't be able to use Veritaserum on her, and they won't be able to have the Court Legilimencer interrogate her. I visited her in her Ministry cell today. Her mind was rendered impenetrable. Her magic…damaged. " Dumbledore gave a pained grimace as he said the last word.
"Damaged…like she was?" Perenelle asked, her tone full of a morbid curiosity.
Dumbledore nodded tiredly, resting his head in his hands.
Harry was confusedly looked back and forth between Dumbledore and the Flamels, whose expressions seemed to be stuck between pity and sorrow.
"Are you alright, Albus?" Nicholas asked gently, resting a hand on the aged man's arm.
Dumbledore nodded before looking up from his hands to Harry. "They will be starting the Trial within the next couple of days, and I will need your assistance more than anything, both inside the courtroom and outside. Can I count on it, Harry?"
Ping!
Quest Alert!
Help Dumbledore save Lisa's life!
Reward,
50,000 Exp
?
?
Failure,
Death of Lisa Turpin
YES/NO?
He had to accept this quest, and not just because of Lisa, but also for himself. He couldn't let Lisa Turpin die. Not when him saving her life had inadvertently resulted in the deaths of nine other people. Her life was worth more now. More than ever before.
She had to live.
With determination, Harry pressed yes, before saying to Dumbledore. "What do you need me to do?"
Four days before the day the Petrified victims woke up, in the warm confines of his manor's study, Wentworth Wright was looking through the same newspaper that Harry would be reading in the future, calculating and recalculating the possible fallout from the massacre happening as he sipped on his Darjeeling tea.
The severe blow to Dumbledore's power was obvious and imminent. Even if the old headmaster spun it the right way, it would significantly decrease his tout in the political community. He would most likely never be able to run for public office again.
The boy on the other hand…
He took another sip of his tea, before putting it down on the table beside his armchair and turning the page to look at the small blurry photo of the boy in question. The photo looked like it had been snapped in a hurry Harry Potter was turning out to be quite the unexpected force here. Not even thirteen yet, and he had a foot on every side of the camp, being at least casual acquaintances with Lucius Malfoy, Dumbledore, the Minister and even Bones herself. And now, with even more public goodwill on his side after this entire debacle, the boy was politically untouchable.
He had always been firmly entrenched in the Neutrals in the Wizengamot, leaning more towards Traditionalists, but seeing this rise to power in action was making him seriously consider choosing a side.
A small pop behind him distracted him from his thoughts. He turned to look at the house elf that had popped into the study.
"Tibby is sorry to disturb Master sir, but the goblins have Floo called from Gringotts are insisting on meeting Master.." the little creature stuttered out.
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