Chapter 8 – The Trial

A while later the Dursleys appeared in a strange building before being led through a labyrinth of halls. When they finally entered a small room they could see only a few people, among them Harry sitting between a young man who seemed to only a few years older than him and an older looking woman. Next to the woman was a man of similar age who had a stack of papers in front of him. On the opposite site sat a man with three empty chairs next to him. At the front of the room was a middle aged man on a slightly raised floor and an elderly looking woman in front of parchment and feather that seemed to be raised on his own.

On of the aurors led them to the man with the three empty chairs, apparently their lawyer or whatever the wizards had in its place.

Both aurors remained at the door, seemingly guarding it. Not a second later their attention was on the man in the front who had raised his wand and was casting some spells. They couldn't understand what he was saying as he whispered the incantations to himself. A short look at the other table in their room where their nephew said revealed that he couldn't understand much as well, not that he was paying much attention. They could see with some satisfaction that he was slightly trembling and to their disgust, the man next to him hugged him while whispering something to him.

Dudley in the meantime was looking around himself fearfully and at the same time with interest. This looked like something out of a movie he once watched and yet all here were freaks like his cousin. Right now he didn't care whether he could watch his cartoon or not, but he was still hungry. He wondered if he could ask his parents to demand some food for him, when he saw that they were busy looking at his cousin in disgust.

Petunia didn't pay much attention to what went on, but when the judge, the man already sitting at the table had identified himself as their lawyer as well as the man casting the spells as the judge, finished with his preparations and sat himself behind the table, facing the room, and started the trial, she looked once again around the room. The group around her nephew seemed to look more serious than before and the man previously hugging Harry looked nervous but somehow glad.

Having missed what the judge said she was startled when said man suddenly stood up and went to a chair on the right side of the room. It was placed so he could see all people in attendance. He was given something to drink and shortly after his expression changed to emotionless and Petunia opted to pay more attention to what was said as her and her families future depended on what was said.

"Please state your name and current occupation," asked the woman in front of the feather that was writing on its own by now. At least Petunia thought that it was writing everything down.

"Oliver Charles Wood. First Reserve Keeper at Puddlemore United," was the emotionless answer.

"How do you know Harry Potter?" continued the judge with the questions.

"He started Hogwarts when I entered my fifth year and was sorted into my house."

"What is your current relationship with Harry Potter?"

"We are dating."

"When were you first told of the abuse done to Harry Potter?"

"During my fifth year at Hogwarts."

"Why didn't you say anything previously?"

"I swore upon m Blood Honour that I wouldn't reveal anything Harry told me."

"What were you told?"

"Harry told me that he was called a freak and that he used to sleep in a cupboard under the stairs. He also told me that he was punished for things he couldn't have done. These punishments would range from times without food to beatings and attacks with different utensils to rape."

Petunia was in a way surprised that none of the people present gasped at this the way she often saw in shows, but gathered that all present must already knew what the accusations were. And through what she had already heard she had to be glad that things hadn't come out sooner.

"Did he directly say who was responsible?"

"He started actively speaking about his relatives until the beatings anything worse than that he would only say he, implying a single person."

"What did you do after he told you?"

"I helped him as best as I could be sending him food and healing potions and being there for him during the school year when he needed someone to comfort him, especially after his nightmares."

"How often did he have nightmares?"

"In the beginning every night, but when I left Hogwarts he only had them on occasions but if he had one he would have at least one the following two nights."

"Did you notice any lasting effects of said abuse?"

"In the beginning he wouldn't let anyone touch him even now he only allows a select few to touch him and he is uncomfortable if there more than a few people, although he got used to the noisiness of the Common Room at Hogwarts."

"Thank you. You may go back to your seat. The next to be questioned is Poppy Pomfrey."

Once again the witch behind the quill asked after the name and occupation.

"Poppy Pomfrey, Hogwarts Mediwitch."

"When did you find out about the abuse and how?" continued once again the judge.

"I found out when he stumbled into the Surrey Hospital where I was for a course on Muggle ways of healing around a month ago."

"Why didn't you notice anything previously?"

"Although Mr. Potter is a frequent visitor in the Hospital Wing of Hogwarts he usually is there due to accidents during Quidditch or some of his other adventures. I put all of his injuries down to these events."

"What kind of injuries had Mr. Potter when he arrived at Surrey Hospital?"

"He was severely malnourished and had 3 broken rips, a punctured lung as well as a broken arm and leg. If he had arrived a few minutes later he most probably wouldn't have survived. Additionally his whole body was covered in scars of different age that were only discovered when his glamour charms failed shortly after he was taken to the wizarding part of the hospital. There were also traces of recent rapes."

Once again the witch was thanked and asked to return to her seat. Petunia knew that their chances were bad. She had heard the term Mediwitch before and knew that they were the doctors of the wizarding world. This was worse than she had thought.

She was startled out of her thoughts when Vernon was called to the witness stand. Apparently no one else was going to speak for Harry, who was once again trembling and hugged by his boyfriend. Petunia had to admit that they seemed to love each other by the way acted.

Forcing herself to leave these thoughts alone Petunia focused on the questioning of her husband.

"Please state your name and current occupation."

"Vernon Dursley, deputy chief of Grunnings."

"When and how did you first meet Harry Potter?"

"On November 2nd, 1981. He was placed on our front step with a letter explaining that his parents were dead and we his only remaining relatives."

"What is your opinion of Harry Potter?"

"He is a worthless freak who isn't worth the money we spent on him."

"You heard the accusations made. Did you do any of them in any form?"

"Yes, the freak needs to be punished and I swore myself that we'd beat the freakishness out of him."

"How did you go about this?"

This time Petunia could hear the disgust in the voice of the judge and knew for sure that her family would be taken apart. She could only hope that her precious Dudley wouldn't be hurt.

She was so deep in thought that she missed Vernons answer and the rest of the interrogation. In fact their lawyer had to fetch her out of her thoughts since she had missed being called.

Once she was sitting in the chair she was given a tasteless, but thick fluid to drink and shortly after she had gotten it down she felt herself disconnected from everything around her as if it wouldn't matter anymore. Nothing from her freak sister to her freakish son or the impediment doom that would rip her family apart mattered to her.

She could here the questions asked and answered without a second thought.

"Please state your name and current occupation."

"Petunia Dursley, Housewife."

"Which of the accusations done by your nephew have you done?"

"I placed him in the cupboard under the stairs when he would burn something or destroy something valuable or when he made Dudley do it with his freakishness or when he stole some of my Dudleys food. Also when he wouldn't do his chores and laze around. As punishment he wouldn't get any food."

"Burn something? What did he burn?"

"Our meals."

"Since when did he cook for you and how many chores did he have?"

"He cooked since he was old enough to be able to hold the pans and his chores included cleaning, cooking and gardening. Occasionally he had to paint things or wash the car."

"How many chores had your son Dudley?"

"He had more important things to do than do chores."

"Like what?"

"He had to play with his friends and his favourite series to watch and eat. He is a growing boy after all."

"And your nephew? Is he not a growing boy as well?"

"He is nothing but a freak! Just like my sister."

"If you felt like this about your nephew from the start then why did you not put him in an orphanage or tried to contact the person placing him with you?"

"They surely would have punished us for it."

"Did you ever regret what you did to him?"

"When he protected Dudley against the Dementors two years ago, I felt a bit guilty."

"Why didn't you change anything then?"

"Because he would have corrupted my son Dudley."

"Thank you. You may go back to your seat."

She still did not feel any emotions and went back to her seat, watching her son being called to the witness stand. She did not pay any attention to the interrogation of her son, not caring about it. After a few minutes she felt as if she was pushed forward and with her return to reality came her emotions and she started paying attention to her son, hoping that they wouldn't do anything to him.

"And your parents never did anything to correct your behaviour?" asked the judge.

"He is only a freak and I can do with him what I want."

"Why do you treat him that way?"

"Because my parents do that as well"

"Did you never question whether this was right or not?"

"My parents would never lie to me."

"Thank you. You can return to your seat."

When Dudley had taken his seat again the judge called for Mr. Pomfrey and Mr. White. Wondering for a moment why he suddenly called for two persons she realised that this must be the names of the lawyers as theirs stood up and the man next to Mediwitch that was questioned earlier. Apparently they were going to decide their future now. She could only hope that this wouldn't be too bad.

They seemed to talk forever with one of them nodding or shaking the head from time to time. Suddenly one of the aurors moved from his position next to the door and joined the group. After being told something he nodded and turned to them. A few steps later he was standing in front of Petunia.

"I was asked to check something and in order to do so I will need to cast a spell on you and your son. Don't worry it won't leave any after effects and won't hurt in any way," said the auror by way of explanation before saying something in what Petunia presumed to be Latin.

A red glow surrounded her before disappearing again and a few seconds later the same happened to her son, although the glow seemed to remain longer and was a slightly different red.

Once he was finished he returned to the group and they started their discussion once again.

A few minutes later everybody returned to their seats and in the case of the auror to his position next to the door. Judge O'Sullivan stood up and began, "After the questionings under Veritaserum Vernon Dursley and Petunia Dursley have been found guilty of child abuse and Dudley Dursley of serious bodily injury. After discussing the severity and awareness of this the sentences will be as following. Vernon Dursley will be getting the Dementor's kiss while Petunia Dursley looses all inheritance to Harry Potter, two month in Azkaban. She also will be declared unfit to raise any child, this also includes Dudley Dursley. We will watch you to make sure that no child will get in your care again. You will also pay Harry Potter in retrospect for all his chores done. Due to the fact that Petunia Dursley has magical abilities with which she managed to bind the magical talents of Dudley Dursley she will serve social hours at St. Mungos."

At hearing her sentence Petunia started to sob. Her precious son was not only taken away, but he was magical as well and even worse, she herself had some freakishness too and she now had to work to get through. And who knew what they'd do with her Dudley.

"The suppressed magic in Dudley Dursley will be released and he shall be educated by a specialised wizard. He will also send to a camp where his behaviour will be schooled to fit that of a socialised person. His final sentence shall be evaluated on the grounds of the effect this has. Furthermore will he be watched for any fall back in behaviour and a criminal file will be started for him. If he should father any children they will be closely watched to stop any mistreatment before it happens. Dudley Dursley and Petunia Dursley are also forbidden to get closer to Harry Potter than one mile without permission. Harry Potter will stay with Oliver Wood from this moment on."

Upon hearing Dudley's sentence Petunia was relieved and for the first time able to admit to herself that she had spoiled her own son too much and with her blindness encouraged him to hurt others. She had failed as a mother.

She missed the closing of the trial and the swearing of the Blood Honour Oath, in fact she wasn't aware of anything going around her until the aurors came to lead her and Vernon out of the courtroom, while their lawyer, who hadn't said much at all, took care of Dudley who was sitting there, confused on what went on. In this moment Petunia realised that her son at 17 years old was in no way prepared for the world outside their house in the way he should have been prepared. If this hadn't happened he might have ended up in a real prison real fast without either of them being able to do much.

A short look at her nephew showed his relief at never having to stay with them and this hurt her. She never would have thought it possible, but it hurt to know that her nephew, her sister's son didn't want anything to do with them. In this moment she fully realised what she had done and that she in fact deserved a much worse punishment.

Epilogue – Birthdays

A few days after the trial Harry was released from the hospital, with the sentiment to rest a lot and that Poppy would come and check whether he did or not.

He had written letters to Mrs. Weasley, Remus Lupin and Albus Dumbledore about his change in living arrangements and to question Poppy Pomfrey about anything else and now they were celebrating his birthday at the first party he ever had.

In attendance where Albus Dumbledore, Remus Lupin, Poppy Pomfrey and her husband as well as her brother in law, the Weasley with the exception of Percy, who was currently working, and Ron, who had shocked and angered his whole family at his explanation of why he wouldn't come.

He was nestled in the arms of his lover, while he was given one present after the other. So far he had received a pensive from Albus Dumbledore with a lengthy excuse about not checking up on him and allowing this happen. A picture band and several diaries of his mother from along with a compiled book of pranks done by the Marauders from Remus Lupin and lots f sweets and a cake from the Weasleys together as well as a card announcing him a honour member of the family and several other things from the individual Weasleys. From Poppy and Paul Pomfrey he had gotten a book on healing and its forms while he got a book on law from Theodore.

When Oliver questioned Harry whether he had still some space in his book collection he blushed when all looked at him surprised. After explaining his trained adaptation to first Dudley's intelligence level and later Rons while hiding not only his intelligence but his thirst for more knowledge, every one laughed. They ignored why he learned to hide his knowledge, but laughed because he had been able to hide it for so long and no one ever noticed. Shortly later the twins suddenly started worshipping Harry and Remus, when they realised that they had a Marauder and a second generation Marauder in front of them, asking Harry to borrow the prank compilation.

They had fun until late in the evening when Harry started yawning and Poppy started once again about Harry needing his rest.

Once everyone was gone again and Oliver had Harry safely in his bed, making sure that no nightmares would dare come over night, he allowed himself to think about the last month and a half. It was actually a wonder that no one at the hospital had talked about Harry Potter being there and how fast Harry had healed. He thought that Harry's magic was used to healing him, after all that must have happened before he started Hogwarts and his strong will to live and now he actually knew the support he had available, knew how much he was loved no matter what had happened in his live until now. Maybe he would start to show his true self that only he had seen. Oliver knew that the twins had seen a few glimpses, but by far not everything.

Hogwarts was in for a surprise if Harry decided to show his real self, a Harry that knew what he was doing and represented, a Harry Potter that no one ever thought existed. And if Oliver was honest he wouldn't be surprised too much if Harry showed Severus Snape that also he claimed not to treat him in any way special he did just that only in a different way than the rest of the teachers. But for now the future could only look brighter with the Dursleys out of the way.

END