Harry Potter and the Head of Black

(A/N: Here we are, my faithful readers. Dumbledore's sins. Skeeter makes a cameo in this. Picture the movie form that took Harry into a broomcloset. Title comes from a season four episode of Stargate Atlantis. I told you, I'm a Stargate fan. As always, Read and Review, makes the author happy.)

Reader Reviews

Really? No reviews? Really? I was expecting at least a flame or three for that last chapter, but nothing? Should I take that to mean that it was so bad not even a flamer could sanely flame it? Did I reach a new low in fan fiction that I'm even safe from flames? Well I hope this is better.

Harry Potter and the Head of Black

Dumbledore looked around the room, his face a blank mask. He knew he needed to show calm, least the rank and file start to panic any more than they already were. While outside was the calm professionalism that was expected of him, inside he was feeling a rage he hadn't felt in years. The room was completely spotless, as well as able to be seen by those who didn't know the secret. He knew at could only happen when the secret being protected was no more.* He knew that meant Harry had been taken away. The fact that it happened right after he showed Severus the written location showed that it must have been him who had betrayed him.

The item that almost pushed him to his limit was the control bracelet that had once adorned his phoenix's neck. The aurors on the scene had no idea what it was, but he had known the moment he saw it. The item was a piece of clever transfiguration that he had truly prided himself in. It was designed to not melt when Fawkes had a burning day, as well as to only be removable by the owner of the phoenix. To find it lying here could only mean that the damnable overgrown turkey had chosen a bond mate. He only needed on guess as to whom said bond mate was as well.

The fact that he no longer knew where Harry was gave him another clue. He knew that the boy had now gotten himself free, as well the fact that his traitor was currently with them. He knew that he had just been pushed behind years by this one single action, and it left him in rage. The fact that the phoenix was now with Harry Potter was only the icing on the cake.

“I have a feeling that Severus may have been playing us a fool for years.” he said suddenly, already making changes to his plan. He noticed the aurors look at him. “I had sent him here to check on young Harry. He had sent me a message regarding a personal matter. Severus had been helping him with it, so naturally I sent him along. I'm now afraid that I may have just made one of my largest mistakes in my life.”

“So you're saying that Harry Potter is now dead?”

“No, I'm not saying he's dead.” he said in a grandfatherly voice. This much, at least, he knew to be fact. The devices tied to his health in his office proved as much to him. “I do, however, believe that he might now be in Voldemort's presence.” he continued, ignoring the flinch from the aurors. “What we need to do is attempt to find his most recent stronghold.”

“You want us to actively hunt down You-Know-Who!?” the lead auror yelled, looking at him. “Hey, just because you can fight him to a fucking stalemate doesn't mean the rest of us stand a chance in hell! That idiot Fudge has seen to that!”

“Minister Fudge will soon be out of office.” Dumbledore said, turning to look at the man. “The heavy restrictions that were placed upon you at the end of the war will be lifted, and the authorization to use the Unforgiveables will most likely be granted as well.” he finished, getting the group of aurors to stare at him.

“You really think they will simply let us go around using those things?”

“I do not see why not.” Dumbledore said, once again in a grandfatherly type of way. “This is a time of war.”

“And Crouch is dead.” another auror said. “It was an unpopular move back in eighty-one, what makes you think it will come out any better now?”

“Because I will back it.” he said simply before leaving the room. His plans had just been destroyed. He knew that it would be a matter of time before everything came crashing down on him. The only thing he needed to do now was to make sure that he had enough of a foothold in the government to keep himself from being executed.

That, after all, would make the plans even worse.

-

Hermione continued to stroke Harry's hair while she sat by his bed. After treating him for his injuries (something Severus had done alone), they had Tonks lead them to his room to let him sleep. Hermione had walked with them and stayed in the room, sitting by his bed. She noticed that Tonks seemed to be a bit off, though only assumed it was because Harry was hurt as badly as he was. At least, that was what she was telling herself.

As she continued to stroke his hair with one hand, her other hand was busy at work. She was writing down what she knew about Dumbledore. It was a lot she needed to write, as well as know how to properly word it. She also knew that she was going to need a big name to write it and push it. She let her mind wander to one of her least favorite people in the world. She hated the woman so much that, if placed in a room with Malfoy, Pettigrew, Voldemort, Dumbledore, and Umbridge, she wouldn't know whom to hex first.

“Hermione...” she heard a strained voice mutter weakly. She stopped writing and turned her head to see Harry's green eyes looking back at her.

“Harry!” she yelled, throwing her arms around him. She started to sob into his chest, the relief of his being alive finally crashing into her. She felt his arms go around her as well. She tried to stop the tears from falling, but she couldn't. She knew that she should be comforting him, and yet he was the one now stroking her hair and whispering soft words and random nothingness into her ear.

“I'm alright, Hermione.” he said finally, kissing her cheek softly. She pulled back slight, not once letting go of him. He gave her a small smile which she returned. She knew though that her next words would destroy that smile.

“Harry...what happened?” she asked, watching as sure enough the smile fell from his face.

“You know...I wonder what made Tom go dark.” he said suddenly.

“Harry?” she asked, looking down at him in confusion.

“He never went through everything that I have.” he said, looking at her. “He was never repeatedly beaten and raped as a child, never forced to do everything to run a household. Until we both started Hogwarts, there was the difference between night and day between us. And even then, there was still a large difference.”

“Harry, you know what changed Tom. He killed Myrtle when he was sixteen, not to mention Du-”

“No, he didn't kill her.” he said, looking at her. “The basilisk killed her. Even if it was on his command, it wasn't him physically killing her. I killed someone with my bare hands at the age of eleven. Does that make me worse?”

“No Harry!” she shouted, standing up quickly. “That does not make you worse.” she said more softly, sitting back down. She ignored the papers that had flown to the floor and instead took his hand in both of hers. “If anything, that was Dumbledore's fault that you had to go through with killing that man.”

“Which only fuels my point even more.” he said. “Tom saw Hogwarts like I did. I true home where we belonged. He didn't want to leave, just like I didn't. However, he didn't have the hell that I had to go home to. He went to an orphanage where he may have been treated badly, but never to the extent I was. He wasn't repeatedly raped and beaten within an inch of his life like I was.”

“Harry...” she said, trailing off.

“And then my rescue.” he said, looking back up at her. “Two people whom I would expect to not go out of their way to ever help me save my life. Dudley who had actively tormented me from day one and raped me many times after I started Hogwarts, and Snape! They both save my life!”

“The Dursleys were placed under some kind of enchantment.” she said suddenly. “Dudley has been having his mind altered since he was two. Snape found markers in the altering that point to Dumbledore.”

“Alterations?” he asked. “What kind?” he continued, his voice showing he knew just what kind they were.

“He had his mind altered to treat you like a slave, as well as to repeatedly rape you once you started to Hogwarts. He also had his magic bound at an early age, but something caused it to start showing as well as fighting the altering.”

“What?” Harry asked, sitting up. “You mean he's a fucking wizard like my aunt!?”

“He is.” she said. “He said that he overheard his aunt talking with a healer. She told the healer that it was a dementor, and thus he wouldn't be able to see it. He was talking with us in the room after you showed up and he brought that up. He told us that he could see it and it caused Remus to mention that you aunt was also a witch.”

“Did Snape say anything about that?” he asked, remembering his conversations with Remus the day earlier.

“He mentioned having no idea, though Remus is looking into seeing if Snape had his mind altered as well.”

“Just how far has the old bastard gone?” Harry muttered, lying back down. Hermione didn't answer, knowing that he wasn't expecting an answer.

“I was thinking, Harry.” she said after a few moments. “Snape told me that you wanted me to let out everything we know about Dumbledore, correct?”

“Yeah.” he said, turning back to her. “He also said that he could offer a few details as well about it. I'm planning on taking what he's offering and sending an offer to Rita Skeeter for an interview.” she said, hoping he wouldn't shoot down the idea on general principle.

“Everyone's offering to do anything to get back into my good graces after the fiasco of last year.” he said, letting out a small smile. “Send her a letter agreeing to an interview, as well as a letter to Griphook. Pen it and I'll sign it and authorize it.”

“What do you want the letter to Griphook to say?” she asked, picking up the papers. She pulled out a fresh piece of parchment and dipped her quill in the ink that had been sitting in a non-spill container.

“We'll need proof. The goblins offer a form of evidence in the place of a seal that can't be faked.” he said simply.

-

The interview was set to, once again, take place on neutral territory, this time The Leaky Caldron. Tom the Barman had offered them his back room, much to their pleasure. Harry and Hermione sat there waiting, drinking butterbeers and eating fish and chips while Tonks sat in corner by the door, drinking a bottle of butterbeer and eating a plate of fish and chips as well. When Hermione offered to let her sit by them, Harry had stepped in and told her that she was sitting there for several reasons, namely security and so Rita wouldn't question her. Hermione had agreed after hearing those reasons.

“Mr. Potter, Ms. Granger, your appointment is here.” Tom said, sticking his head into the room. Harry nodded his head and Tom left. A moment later, Rita Skeeter walked into the room, her notebook and quill in her hands.

“Ah, Harry, Ms. Granger, it is good to see you again.” she said, bashing her eyes at him while completely ignoring Hermione other than to mention her.

“Skeeter. Wish I could say them same.” he said coldly. “Granted, then I wouldn't be following this then, would I?” he asked, lifting up his hand with “I must not tell lies.” carved into it.

“I must...what?” she said, her bluster and uncomfortable flirting gone. “Who used a blood quill on you?”

“Dolores Jane Umbitch...I mean Umbridge.” Harry said, looking at her. “You're probably the first person to show any concern over this after Hermione and Ron.”

“She also tried to use the cruciatus curse on him at the end of year as well.” Hermione said, knowing that Rita would be someone who could really stick it to that ugly old toad for what she did to Harry.

“I see...” she muttered, looking at them. “I take it that this was not what you wanted to talk about?”

“Not really.” Harry said, lowering his hand. “We can, however, discuss it later if you wish.” he added, coming to the same conclusion that Hermione did. He knew that everyone was willing to anything to get back into his good graces. He knew that they would publicly crucify that toad for what she did to their hero.

“What we are here to talk about is Dumbledore.” Hermione said, opening a folder she had with her. “This is a list of charges from Gringotts.” she said, placing the piece of paper in front of the reporter. They watched as she read the list, and knew when she got to the last one.

“He was the one who created-!”

“Yes, he was.” Harry said, cutting her off. “So, shall we begin?”

-

Dumbledore was sitting in his office, drinking a cup of tea when he noticed the owl from the Daily Prophet fly in. The bird landed on his desk and held out his leg. He took the newspaper from the bird and opened it up, absently noting the bird flying off. He forgot everything in a spray of hot tea at the headline and his mug shot looking back at him.

DUMBLEDORE A FRAUD

BOY-WHO-LIVED TELLS ALL

by

Rita Skeeter

Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived, the Chosen One, and until very recently Dumbledore's Man

Through and Through, has reviled just why he is no long Dumbledore's Man. Readers might

remember how just a few days before, Albus Dumbledore had issued a plea for help in finding

out just where the Boy-Who-Lived had disappeared to. It was silently leaked from within the

Ministry that Harry Potter had been abducted by “reformed” Death Eater Severus Snape whom

teaches Potions in Hogwarts. This all happened following the reading of the late Lord Black's will.

The truth of what happened was revealed to this reporter last night in a meeting between the

Boy-Who-Lived and herself. Young Harry Potter was joined by his long-time girlfriend the

muggleborn Hermione Granger. With them was a list of crimes committed by the long-time

Leader of the Light. This list of crimes was not only a fabricated list of crimes that anyone

could write up. This was a list of crimes with the official Gringotts Goblin Seal at the top.

The full interview with these two most important individuals will be in the morning's edition

of the Prophet. For now, we have the list of crimes that Dumbledore is being accused of.

The list of crimes is as follows:

The illegal incarceration of the late Lord Sirius Orion Black

The ignoring of evidence proving the late Lord Black's innocence

Theft of roughly two trillion galleons from the Potter vaults

Ignoring the will of James and Lily Potter

Preforming major mind altering spells on muggles to make them abusive

Illegally placing Harry Potter in the care of said abusive muggles

Ignoring the need to inform Harry Potter about the Counsel of Old

Illegal selling of underage girls as concubines

Illegally preforming dark rituals involving human sacrifices

Created You-Know-Who

Dumbledore frowned, reading the list of crimes. He knew that if the goblins had their damned seal at the top of the list of crimes, a seal that no wizard could reproduce, himself included, then he knew he was done for. He knew that the masses would want his head for all of those crimes, especially the last three. He didn't know which one would be the one to get him more haters, though. While there had been talks amongst the so-called “old families” regarding the missing girls, he also knew that the general masses would be more shocked at the second-to-last item.

The last one, though, he knew would give pause to almost everyone. It was his molding of Tom into Voldemort that had almost caused his downfall. He knew that if Tom had continued to spread like he was, his own power base would fall to his once enforcer. Then Harry Potter destroyed him and was hailed as a hero. He was smart enough, however, to realize that he could use it to his advantage.

“Albus Dumbledore!” he heard yelled out. He looked up and noticed the ward on the entrance to his office going off. He checked it and saw it was a group of aurors. “Albus Dumbledore, you are under arrest! Open up!”

“Time to leave, I suppose.” he said, knowing that he was going to be forced to leave. He pulled his wand and gave it a wave, causing everything of his from the office to vanish. He walked over to the odd devices and tapped each of the them, causing them to vanish as well. He knew the prophecy was true. He knew that only Harry could destroy Voldemort and bring Tom back. Once that happened, he could make his move against both of them in their weakened state.

With one last look, he waved his wand at the door. He heard an explosion at the base of the staircase and knew that the ward had triggered, killing everyone outside his office staircase. With a small smile, he pressed his wand to his heart in a salute and vanished into thin air.

(A/N: Regarding the “*” again, if the Potter's residence was under a fidelus charm, then how is it that everyone knew they lived in Godric's Hollow years after their death? And yet, in Deathly Hallows, the Death Eaters supposedly couldn't see Number Twelve despite the secret [regarding the location of the Order of the Phoenix] no longer being true. It contradicts itself. But, JKR is good at that in her books, so who cares.

The idea for the illegal selling of underage girls as concubines comes from the story The Harem Wars over at FanFiction.Net. It is a HIGHLY modified response to this challenge. For those of you who prefer Harry treat his slaves as equals and so nice to the point of not harming one hair on the tops of their heads, go read it. For those who want sadism, don't bother. Still an interesting and long read though, but he writes like he/she's talking down to you. I doubt it will be explained or expanded on much here, but I figured what the hell and threw it in. More coals under Dumble's ass.)