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 3 – More Horrific Surprises

Voldemort just sat there with a big smile on his face waiting for the elves to return with refreshments. He admitted to the assembly that he was peckish and could use a stiff drink. "I know you're always up for a stiff drink Minnie Damnest especially since you sold your soul to Dumbledick. Ever regret it?"

Of course she couldn't talk due to being spelled but she could and did glare almost as much as Hermione Granger. The girl refused to believe anything the disgusting, lying, evil Dark Lord said. She would always be faithful to Albus Dumbledore even if it cost her life. There was nothing that could dissuade her from defending and believing in her hero and mentor and she would do it with her last breath. She was positive that was the opinion of all Order members and all decent people in the entire Magical World and absolutely nothing would change. Until it did.

A door slid open and out walked a lone almost familiar looking figure. "Hermione and the old Hag won't believe you, or at least they won't until they die and go to hell."

Had Hermione been able to talk she would currently be screaming "HARRY JAMES POTTER EXPLAIN YOURSELF THIS INSTANT – BUT FIRST KILL THAT MONSTER LIKE YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO DO."

Yes it really was the "late" Harry James Potter who had just walked into the room and flopped down on the comfortable chair next to Voldemort. The next thing he said was to ask Voldie to remove the silencing spell off of everyone – except for Hermione – because most of them would be asking questions of him which he wouldn't answer but they could ask. Except for Hermione as he would just be wasting his time answering any of her questions that is if she even gave him a chance to answer – which she wouldn't. He knew her too well while she really didn't know him at all.

"Oh and you better remove those spells on Neville, the ones some Order member placed on him to make him forget certain things. The elves couldn't remove them."

So Voldie removed the illegal magic off of Neville and only then did he un-silenced everybody – except for Hermione. The elves had brought the refreshment and Voldie had already poured himself a large glass of single-malt whiskey and one for Minnie McGonagall. Whether she would get it would depend on how she behaved. She started out badly by channeling her inner Hermione Granger.

"TOM MARVOLO RIDDLE HOW DARE YOU SLANDER ALBUS DUMBLEDORE IN SUCH A…A…DISGRACEFUL WAY. AND WHY ARE YOU STILL ALIVE? HARRY WAS SUPPOSED TO KILL YOU PERMANENTLY THIS TIME AND THEN WE WOULD ALL BE…."

"Betrayed, imprisoned and/or killed if you were lucky" Harry replied. "At least you lot would be as Dumbles left specific orders to 'punish those who weren't with him' and to punish you just because he could and had wanted to do it for years."

Minnie would have responded with a vicious remark but "Tom" had silenced her again after saying "No whiskey for you Minnie. Do you want it Poppy?"

"Oh yes please – unless it was poisoned to suit Minnie's current personality. She's become a real uber bitch since she sold out to Dumbledipshit."

Poppy's arms were released and a table was set in front of her for her to eat some of the lovely tea sandwiches, cakes, biscuits and fruits set before her. Voldemort released Sprout, Flitwick and Fleur's arms and they were served food and the beverage of their choice.

"I think Fleur would prefer wine, Sassy" Harry informed one of the elves "and Neville might like to try a glass also and I know Luna would take one – heavily watered down."

Both Minnie and Hermione were having a fit upon hearing this and it only got worse when the drinks were served and Neville and Luna imbibed as did Harry. Everybody was quiet for a time while they hungrily ate the food and had a restorative drink or two. If looks could kill the ones Tom, Harry and for some reason Fleur were receiving from the two furious witches would have killed them – after torturing them unmercifully first, casting unspeakable dark magic on them, shredding their bodies before burying them ten feet under in a cesspool, then digging them up, resurrecting them and starting the entire process all over again. But the three recipients didn't give a damn and concentrated on their snack.

After the snacks were consumed and more drinks poured the elves cleared the tables even the uneaten meals of Hermione and Minnie. Then Harry asked "I guess you are all wondering why I didn't do my 'duty' and off the most evil, dark, disgusting, etc., etc. Dark Lord in the whole world aren't you? Yes? Well that's because Snapie did it last year when he oft Dumbledoodoo."

More glares from the two witches were sent and ignored as Tom explained to the rest of them all that had happened in regard to Dumbledore's "master plan" and presumed death. He began by explaining exactly what a Horcrux was and the reason why he had so foolishly made the first one and how it came to be that he had made the others. All were entranced by the tale – except for the two witches who refused to believe any of it.

But since it had been a very long day – consisting of several days actually for some of them, Tom announced that they should all have a good night's sleep.

"For your own safety, the elves will be taking you to secure rooms as…well I don't truly trust some of my Death Eaters, none of the Order members and – well everybody else who fought in the last battle. Besides, I don't want the fact that Harry is still alive to become common knowledge as that will be saved for the proper moment."

So Poppy, Sprout, Fleur and Luna were taken to one room while Flitwick and Neville went to another. They would stay there until further notice. That just left Tom, Harry, Minnie and Hermione, the latter two who still wanted answers.

It was Harry who addressed Hermione and told her of her impending fate. He stated simply "I know what you've done. I've always known. I can even understand the reasons why you did what you did and why you betrayed me. That doesn't mean I will forgive you or ever forget. You get to live but not for the reasons you think. However, you WILL BE PUNISHED for your sins but mostly for your stupidity in believing Dumbledastard's lies and promises. Old idiotic Minnie did the same in her time…but she did it longer and her sins are…unforgiveable – as well she knows."

McGonagall was noticeably uncomfortable when he said that but Hermione didn't notice as she was too busy glaring out her utter hatred at him. But then Tom said "Tomorrow's another day so we'll see you then." He then did them a kindness and cast a spell which took care of their current problem. It was one used in a hospital situation and basically vanished any urine and other unwanted bodily excretions from a patient's body. However, after he did that he and Harry just got up and left the two still bound to their chairs and silenced. That would begin the first of their punishments. A very mean looking house elf was left to guard them.

Harry went to bed in his prepared quarters after having a long hot shower. He collapsed and finally got to sleep the sleep of the just, something he had been denied for most of his life. Voldemort went to check on his Death Eaters who had been misbehaving despite being given very specific orders not to do some of the things which they had been doing.

Some of his Death Eaters would also be meeting a very bad fate. People like Fenrir Greyback and the Carrows siblings would be dying because although they had had their uses while the war was ongoing, they were the true dregs of the earth and too evil and depraved to be allowed to live. He had only recruited them when he had been under "extreme duress" and now that the war was over, they would be put down.

Unfortunately for them, they would have gotten to live a bit longer had they not so blatantly disobeyed their Master's orders. The Carrows apparently couldn't wait for the rewards they knew they would be getting for being such faithful and excellent examples of what a Death Eater should be (in their minds at least). So they just helped themselves and found a few Muggleborn children and decided to "finish the job" or rather start the beginning of the end for all such filth.

In the hour and 15 minutes Voldemort had been away, the Carrows had slowly and horribly tortured three children to death. They were in the middle of finishing off Dennis Creevey when Voldemort arrived. He barely managed to save the boy's life and ordered that he be healed and saved or else heads would roll. The Carrows were surprised that their Dark Lord would bother himself with such filth and Amicus had actually asked Voldemort – THE VOLDEMORT AND HIS MASTER AND DREAD DARK LORD – if he had suddenly gone soft for saving a Mudblood. At least all of the others – even Bellatrix – had the good sense to freeze in place and wait for his punishment to begin.

"YOU DISOBEYED MY DIRECT ORDERS AND I WILL NOT TOLERATE SUCH A THING EVEN FROM A MEMBER OF MY INNER CIRCLE." The Carrows were not members of the Inner Circle but this was also meant for Bellatrix as a warning. With that said Voldemort, in all of his terrible glory, stunned both Carrows and in the presence of all in the Great Hall both Death Eater and civilians, he made an example of the siblings in the most horrible way possible.

Crucioing them would be too much of a mercy and he was not in a merciful mood despite the success of the day. He started out by casting a spell in parsel tongue. Naturally no one knew what it was but it was one of the worse curses in his inventory of pain. The victim was set on fire and it slowly and painfully burnt their skin off layer by fiery layer. It then worked its way into the sinews and muscles until finally going into the bones. The victim should have died long before this but the spell caused them to live in excruciating pain until their bones turned to ashes. It was horrible to behold but a wonderful example of dark magic in all of its terrible glory and all in the Great Hall who witnessed it – even the small children – watched on in silent awe - and of course horror and fear.

But then the silence was broken by applause. A young Half-blood Hufflepuff who had been treated horribly by the Carrows and who had watched her classmates suffer terribly under their rule had started to applaud. Everybody was shocked and no one spoke except the girl who said "Thank you. Thank you for punishing them. They were so wicked and cruel and deserved to die and go to hell and be with Dumbledore."

You could have heard a pin drop it was so very silent. Then the dread Dark Lord really shocked the hell out of everybody (maybe even himself) as he smiled slightly, gave the girl a very slight nod and replied "You're welcome." Bellatrix Lestrange nearly soiled herself but even she knew better to behave and keep her mouth shut as she was in enough trouble with her Lord due to certain information he had only recently found out about.

Not missing a beat Voldemort announced "I trust this example will serve to make it perfectly clear that my orders are TO BE OBEYED TO THE LETTER. No deviations will be tolerated…unless you wish to suffer a similar fate. Does everyone understand? Good."

He then gave further orders and assignments and the house elves were called and allowed to serve food and drink. People settled down for the night but reliable guards were placed and Voldemort finally allowed himself to go to bed. Tomorrow would be another very busy – and memorable – day.

Hogwarts was still in lockdown and no news had gotten to the outside world except the news which Voldemort wanted known. He awoke the next day, showered, had a good breakfast, wrote a few notes and sent out special owls to certain people. Other than that Hogwarts would remain silent until a few needful things were done.

At exactly 9:00 a.m. the "Day of Reckoning" as it would be known in the history books, began. Voldemort had brought his own chair a very simple throne but a throne nonetheless. He would not use Dumbledore's throne because (1) Dumbledore had sat in it for over 50 years and (2) he knew who and where Dumbledore had stolen it from. Tom didn't want to contaminate his new body with anything that had held the mangy carcass of the old $*#$** * for so many years. He did publically destroy Dumbles' throne and then as an afterthought and for the hell of it set fire to the entire head table because he also knew where and from whom Dumbledore stole it from.

"We will be starting anew" he told the assembly. He placed his throne up against the wall where he had an excellent view. A pensive used in the courtroom of the Ministry of Magic was brought in. It acted much like a Muggle film viewing screen and he had had it enlarged so that everyone present could see it and hear and view the memories which would be shown that day.

Unknown to anyone, even the Death Eaters, another row of seats had been placed in the Great Hall off to the side near to where Voldemort sat in all his glory. It was disillusioned as were the people who were sitting in it.

All of the prisoners and Order members had been scourified and fed, except for those who would be dying today. Then the first of the pensive memories were shown. After Voldemort and Harry had left, Voldemort's personal house elves lifted certain memories from Hermione and McGonagall. They were the first to be shown. They shocked even the most hardened of Death Eaters and infuriated all of those who had sought refuge or fought in the Battle of Hogwarts. It was a very good thing for the two witches that they were "safe" from the audience and sat (still silenced) at the disillusioned table.

These memories were the last personal instructions that Dumbledore gave to Minerva and Hermione. If people thought they were bad – whoa Nellie just wait until they saw Harry's and Fleur's pensive memories of the times they dosed Ron with Veritaserum. And they did and Ron, who had been dragged before the assembly bound with chains on a stake next to the rest of his family and now he was hearing the wrath of all in the hall. It was far worse than even Minerva's and Hermione's had been as Ron had been dosed with Veritaserum many times and he knew more about Dumbledore's orders than they did. The night before many of Ron's most pertinent memories had been taken from him as well as the memories of Molly, Ginny, Bill and Percy.

Showing Ron's memories took up most of the morning. Again even some of the Death Eaters were shocked and sicken at the depth of the betrayal of Ron and his family. Voldemort then surprised everybody by stating that a small piece of parchment and a self-inking quill were going to be passed around to every (except those on trial) and he then announced a contest.

"I want you to write down suggestions as to how this true piece of utter filth and traitor, not only in blood but in vassalage and morals, should be executed. Prizes will be given for the most creative and even if the spell doesn't exist – yet – it can be researched and if not used today or during the trials then it will be on future traitors. Your submissions will be judged by a panel chosen by me and the ten best and/or most inventive NEW tortures/means of execution will win prizes. Lunch will be served and your submissions will be collected after lunch and before the beginning of the afternoon evidence. The winners will be announced tomorrow morning after breakfast and used for the first of the executions."

Then Voldemort left to have his lunch in private and to hold a meeting with the "judges" while the elves passed out parchments, pens and lunch to everybody. Death Eaters as well as the captives were all given an opportunity and the Chief House Elf was in charge of seeing that no Death Eater (especially certain ones like Bellatrix) hurt and/or tried to intimidate or steal somebody else's ideas. Although the suggestions were to be submitted after lunch if anyone thought up something else after witnessing the afternoon testimony they could still submit it for consideration by giving it to a house elf who would pass it on to the judges.

Naturally Bellatrix thought her suggestions would win as who could possibly be more creative than someone with her talents and experience. Several other Death Eaters thought the same thing but the next morning would prove them wrong as some of the best suggestions were multi-layered and not just an old Cruciatus or two or the tried and true torture spells which many Death Eaters had learned and used whenever they got the chance.

The afternoon testimony consisted of the remainder of the Weasley Family and the revelations again angered people to the point of disbelief and exhaustion. Several people submitted more suggestions and after dinner the prisoners were given a quick scourify and allowed to sleep. The conditions were not ideal but a lot better than one received at Malfoy Manor, Azkaban and the various Ministry of Magic holding cells.

The judges consisted of Voldemort, Harry, Poppy, Sprout, Fleur, Luna, Flitwick and Neville. Hermione and Minerva had been at the hearing but both witches were still silenced and now roomed together. They hadn't eaten all day but were finally given a meal and parchment and ink and were allowed to enter the contest. However, both witches were strongly advised to contribute punishments to the Weasleys and NO ONE ELSE. If one – just one – thing was written other than a suggestion for a Weasley execution, such as commenting on Harry Potter and what he should have done and chastisement for not doing it…well the person writing it would have her hands burnt off by magic followed by her tongue. Voldemort would do it himself and Minerva spent a lot of time convincing Hermione that HE WOULD DO IT and probably much more.

"I'm going to die anyway so why shouldn't I use my last breath to tell Harry just what a $*#&$ * #& * * &*& * &*# * * * HE IS AND THAT HE SHOULD BURN IN HELL WITH VOLDEMORT AS PROFESSOR DUMBLEDORE IS SURELY IN HEAVEN WHICH IS WHERE WE WILL BE GOING TO JOIN HIM."

"Because lass," her teacher told her "Harry said you would be punished – he said nothing about you dying. Your punishment could last 100 years and consist of long empty days filled with torture – physical and mental. Remember what happened to Gellert Grindelwald."

"Humpfff" sniffed the stubborn girl. "He made all of that up, he had to because Professor Dumbledore would never…."

"GET CAUGHT doing some of the things he did" came the bitter reply. "Moody told me years ago that Grindelwald was still alive and he found out why. Albus liked to visit his former lover – yes lover as there had always been whispers – and he did it to taunt Grindelwald. Albus told the few who knew he kept him alive and let him live and visited him in an attempt to 'convert' him to the path of the Light. Moody found out from reliable sources that Albus did no such thing but simply went to taunt him and remind him that Grindelwald had lost while Albus had won. Once he even bragged that he had found both of Grindelwald's children and their children and "saved them" from going down a dark path the only way he could – he had them killed."

"MOODY WAS LYING! Professor Dumbledore would never do such a thing anymore than he'd 'sell the souls" of the Order members to Satan. You of all people should know that Satan doesn't exist. He is just a myth invented by religions to frighten and control the masses."

"Some say that Magic is just a myth, yet we know it's real" Minerva said sadly.

"But Magic is different from the superstition of religions. Professor Dumbledore explained it to me in the various special tutoring he gave me throughout the years, because he knew that few people could truly understand the difference. I was one of the very few students who he knew could comprehend all of the complexities and appreciate the various philosophical nuances" the girl stated smugly.

Minerva McGonagall responded by laughing at the girl much to Hermione's great indignation. Hermione flushed red before lashing out at her favorite teacher.

"He said you could never understand no matter how hard he tried to explain it to you," she snapped out hoping to wound the older witch. "You're just jealous that I can understand, can believe, can see and use the knowledge he imparted to me and you…."

"Oh lass" McGonagall said sadly. "Believe what you want because you will anyway. You weren't the first 'student' Albus told such things to. 'Satan's Nephew' as Tom said was also called – by those who really knew him – the 'Nephew of Lies' but by the time you found it out…well it was too late to do anything about it. You were trapped. I was and so were many others. The 'lucky ones' were those who went to their graves believing it all. They wouldn't find out the truth until they died."

Hermione refused to listen and wanted to have a 'philosophical debate' with her "misguided teacher" but McGonagall would have none of it. Instead she called out for an elf and said "save this fool from herself" and the elf, who had apparently been briefed about the probable situation, stunned her. McGonagall snatched up the parchment, read it and asked if the elf would be merciful enough to remove some of the things written and because he was a good elf and had served McGonagall faithfully for years, did as she bade. He then took the edited suggestions to the judges for last minute submissions.

Minerva turned in for the night leaving the girl still stunned on the floor because she needed her sleep and didn't have access to a wand. Tomorrow would be a very long and frightening day.