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The Afterlife and Times of Myrtle Potter	By : NormanCharles Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Harry/Hermione Views: 19696 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: Okay, okay. I'm NOT JK Rowlings, I do not own Harry Potter. I make no money from writing these stories, I do it because it's fun and other people seem to enjoy what I write - the best of whom write review and tell me when I get it right and

Chapter List
- 6
- 7
- 8
Chapter 7: Tribulations and
Trials

The sun was just breaking over
the mountains to the southeast as a very weary Harry and Hermione walked into
the great hall, which had been converted to a field hospital. �Gone were the
tables and benches; in their places were rows upon rows of hospital beds with
patients being tended to by a small army of Healers and Nurses.� The early
morning light streaming in through the windows gave the scene an eerie feeling
of tranquility.

�H-Harrry� a faltering voice
called out. �He looked down to see Sergeant Barlongo, her face a mass of
bruises, �is it true Harry; is he gone?�

Harry nodded.

�Good� the sergeant said, and
closed her eyes to rest.

Harry scanned the beds, seeing
too many familiar faces.

�Harry�s here!� a hoarse voice
shouted.� Then a single patient began to clap.� He was joined by many others
and soon the entire great hall was a cacophony of cheering, whistling and
applauding.

Harry�s face was hot, he was
proud to the core of his being, not because of anything he had done, but
because of all these brave souls here.� They had stood beside him, even when
there was no hope of victory, and fought until they could not fight any more.

�Shouldn�t they lie quietly�
Harry asked a nearby healer.

�Not at all, Mr. Potter, not
at all; best medicine in the world right here!�

Calls of �speech, speech!�
echoed through the hall; and Harry allowed himself to be led to the raised area
where the teacher�s tables would normally have been found.� He stepped gingerly
around the large cauldrons of potions brewing there.

The hall quieted as he faced
the rows of wounded.� He had no idea what to say, so he said so.

�I have no idea what to say,
so this will likely be short.�

Chuckles and spatters of
applause.

�I do know that I�ll never
forget today.� I will never forget how, on this day, you stood up to three
hundred death-eaters and three times that many dementors and, with the help of
some very good friends, beat em�!�

Applause and cheers.

I know I�ll never forget today,
and neither should any of you, tell your friends, your family, tell the world
never again, never again will we allow our peace, our world to be
threatened by any so-called dark lord.� Tom Riddle was just a man, a bigot with
power who should never have been allowed to become the threat that he did.� We
elect our leaders right?

A resounding �right!� echoed
through the hall.

Then elect leaders who will
serve our community, not just their own selfish interests!

�Harry Potter for PM!� shouted
one patient, to cheers of approval from all the others.

Harry smiled and waved for
silence, �no, I am no politician, but whoever does run will be under the
watchful eyes of the Order and the DA, right?�

�Right!�

�Let the ministry know, we
will not stand idly by and let things continue as they have, we will have
proper representation, proper laws, and proper enforcement!�

At just that time the Minister
of Magic, Rufus Scrimgeour, entered the great hall.� Which became very quiet.

�Harry, if I may?� the
minister asked.

Harry nodded and gave the
minister the floor.

�First off, I have to say,
well done all!�

There was a flash from a
photographer�s camera, which exploded when Scrimgeour leveled his wand at it.

�Sorry about that, Harry,
everyone� he said wincing, �comes with the territory I�m afraid, every word out
of the MoM�s mouth is newsworthy.� Well I for one refuse to use this as an
opportunity for political capitol.�

Harry�s respect for the man
skyrocketed at that point.

The Minister continued �good
people died today, and thirty seven Hogwart�s defenders are as good as dead,
kissed by dementors.� As of this moment Great Britain is no longer a
dementor-friendly zone � those soul-sucking demons are to be treated as the
pariahs they are.� No good ever came from employing them and this
administration will not perpetuate the disastrous policies of the previous one.�

Applause from the hospital
beds.

�Mister Potter said it best,
never again!� We will not tolerate the actions of terrorist cells with
delusions of grandeur.�� The next wizard or witch who tries to take on the
mantle of dark mage will do so at their own peril, their own mortal
peril!�

Greater applause from the
great hall.

�All those who fought today
will be recognized forever as the Champions of Hogwart�s, and will be asked to
wear the Hogwart�s crest on the lapels of their robes or clothes so that all
may know that we stood here today holding the line against evil while the rest
of the wizarding world hid beneath their beds.�

Applause

�As positions open in this
administration they will be filled with the most qualified people, but you
champions will be given preferred status by virtue of your actions here today.�
And any organization that does business with the Ministry of Magic or Her
Majesty�s government must, by law, follow the same guidelines!�

More applause

�Those whom Sergeant�s
Barlongo or Weatherford have certified may report to the Department of Magical
Law Enforcement at your earliest convenience to begin your careers as aurors,
welcome aboard erks!�

Applause punctuated by
laughter

A lone voice called up from
the back row �what about Jonesey and Cattral?�

The MoM�s face fell.

�They didn�t make it son, I�m
sorry.� But rest assured, their fine work in training you lot to be the
fighting machines you are was duly recorded in the office of the DMLE as well!�

The hall grew quiet again.

�The freedoms we enjoy today
have been bought at a terrible price, we will never forget that!�

No applause, but murmurs of
assent throughout the great hall.

�I�ve taken up too much of
your time, as your commander in chief I leave you with one order, get well soon
. . .�

The leonid man winked at Harry
and continued, �. . . cause we�re gonna� have one hell of a party as
soon as you do!�

Cheers all around

As he was preparing to leave
the hall the MoM pulled Harry aside �when you get a chance, we need to talk,
all right son?�

�Sure thing . . . dad.�

Scrimgeour looked shocked for
just a moment, and then chuckled; �cheeky git� clapped Harry on the shoulder
and limped away.

Harry called to one of the
healers and asked, �Who is in the worst shape here?�

He was escorted to a bed where
a young auror lay; he had been made as comfortable as possible and given a
sleeping potion then left with a single nurse in attendance.� Not for any lack
of care or concern for the young man, but his injuries were so extensive there
seemed little that could be done.

�He�s resting quietly,� the
healer said, �that�s all we can hope for.�� The healer rubbed his eyes and
continued, �We can mend or replace every broken bone in his body, but there is
just too much soft tissue damage.� His internal organs have been essentially liquefied;
he only has half of one working lung to keep on with.� It�s amazing he�s hung
on as long as he has.�

�What�s his name?�

�Pierce, Randall Pierce, he�s
a �probie,� just out of auror training,� he brightened as he said �as are you I
hear, congratulations Mr. Potter.�

�Harry, just Harry please� he
said as he concentrated on Auror Pierce�s wounds.� Holding the Ravenclaw stone allowed
Harry to �see� the internal injuries and the healer was right, his insides
looked like so much goo.

_____ooo000ooo_____

Randy Pierce was out on his
boat, as usual, looking through its glass underside at the sandy bottom trying
to spot some good lobstering spots.� He saw what looked like a jumble of flat
rocks stacked helter-skelter on the sea-bed at a depth of about 6 meters.� He
dropped the anchor and slipped on his fins before donning his mask.� He simply
stepped off the back of the boat and pointed his head down kicking with long
efficient strokes to have a look at the promising site.� He�d just equalized
the pressure in his ears for the second time when he heard a soft, feminine voice.

�Randy�

He looked around and saw a
beautiful young woman with chestnut brown hair wreathing her face.

�Hello Randy�

�Hello� he answered before he realized
he shouldn�t be able to talk underwater, �I am dreaming aren�t I?�

�Yes you are, and I need you
to tell someone something as soon as you wake up, alright?�

�Um, sure?�

�Good answer� the young girl
laughed.�

Randy noticed that the young
woman had become a twelve year old girl with frizzy hair and a slight overbite.

She looked far too serious for
one as young as she said �Friendship and bravery, alright Mr. Pierce?� Just
tell him friendship and bravery.�

_____ooo000ooo_____

Harry lifted the stone from
the young auror�s chest and used its properties to look again at what had been
massive thoracic trauma.

�What d�you think healer?�

�As the healer waved his wand
and peered through his crystal he was flabbergasted, he�s gonna make it, sweet
Merlin on a bike, he�s gonna pull through!�

�Take me to the next worse
case.�

As the healer began to walk
away Harry felt a cold hand grab his wrist.� He turned quickly; ready to hex
someone when he saw Auror Pierce staring into his eyes.

�Friendship and bravery� he
said, very clearly, �friendship and bravery.�

Harry was taken aback at the statement;
he remembered hearing it so many years before.�

�Where did you hear that?� he
asked, but the auror had already gone back to his healing sleep.

No one noticed the dark shape
of the dementor as it sank into the floor, returning to the kitchens through
the vent just beneath the young auror�s bed.

Harry took the Founder�s Jewel
to the worst of the casualties and was able to affect a cure, or at least
significant improvement in every case.� He asked about the dementor-kissed and
was led to a large classroom where about three dozen men and women sat, or lay
or walked about aimlessly.� Some of them had terrible wounds from spellfire but
seemed not to feel any pain.

�Poor sods,� said the young
healer bearing a name tag that read �Jones.�� His voice, heavy with sadness,
continued �truly better off dead.�

Hermione opened the door and
called softly �Harry?�

�I don�t think we need to
whisper here Hermione, I don�t think any of these guys care if we make any
noise.�

Hermione looked at the vacant
expressions of the people in the room and a single tear rolled down her face.

�I had a granddad, he was fun
and funny and oh so smart and one day he went away.�

Harry looked up from the last
of the injured soul-robbed casualties �he died, I�m sorry.�

�No, he didn�t die.� He had a
stroke, which left him in a state like � like . . .�

Harry stood and gathered
Hermione into his arms.

�It�s not fair,� she sobbed,
�they didn�t deserve this, oh god Harry, don�t let me become like this, please,
I�d prefer living in a bathroom for fifty years as a ghost to this . . .�

Harry thought for a moment,
�Myrtle?�

�Yes?�

Harry looked confused for a
moment, �no, I mean I�d like to find Myrtle.� It was her idea to possess the
inferi.� If I could I�d pin a medal on that sweet little specter, she really
came through for us today.�

Hermione smiled and wiped the
tears from her face, �she�ll be glad to hear that . . . Ron?�

Harry turned and saw Ron
Weasley shuffle toward them.� He stopped in front of them and stared past them
at a window.

�Ron?� he whispered.

The boy that had been Ron
Weasley looked at Harry, groaned, and then loudly fouled his pants.

The healer came over and
performed a cleaning spell on Ron and his clothing before the smell became too
overpowering.

�I�m afraid that�s about all
they can do,� the healer said by way of apology �it�s a full time job just
keeping this lot provided for; y�know, feeding and cleaning and the like.

�Isn�t there anything we can
do for them?� Hermione asked.

�I�m afraid not Miss, just
keep em� fed and cleaned until they just . . . stop.�

�How long before that happens?�
Harry asked.

�Depends, sometimes they just
last a few days, sometimes a lot longer.� There�s a story �bout a KPoA, y�know,
�Kissed Prisoner of Azkaban,� anyway the story goes he kept goin� for almost thirty
years before he just, well, realized he was dead and just laid down.�

�If they got their souls back
. . .� Hermione began.

�Never happens� the healer
interrupted.� The soul�s in a dementor, and near as we can tell they feed on
souls, they absorb the soul or �life force� or consciousness or whatever you
want to call it and that�s that.�

�Surely these people can be rehabilitated?�
Harry argued, �They�re not brain damaged, just brain drained, right?�

�Technically, that�s true� the
healer conceded, �but the real curse of the �kiss� is that it also steals a
person�s will to live.�

Another voice called from the
door, �then I�ll become their will, Healer Jones.�

Harry spun toward the door and
said �Ginny?�

Ginevra Weasley entered, her
head shaven, she wore what looked like black and white striped pajamas under a
thin grey cloak.� Her scalp was still red from Dean�s spellfire, but it didn�t
look as though it would scar.

�Yes Mr. Potter, but please
excuse me, I�m required to report to Healer Jones.�

�So they went for it did
they?�

�Yes Healer, I will be
responsible for the Kissed who were not marked by the Dark Lord.�

�And your magic?� the healer
asked.

�My magic has been bound to
the purpose of caring for the Kissed.�

�And the death eaters who have
been kissed?� Harry asked.

Ginevra winced �your
Israelites have already transported them to Azkaban, where they will be looked
after in the usual manner.�

Harry was thoughtful, �seems
to me there should be no difference between any of those who have been dementor
kissed.� The death eaters are going to suffer but will have no memories of why
they are being punished; seems pretty pointless to me.�

The youngest Weasley squeezed
tears from her eyes and whispered �Harry, please convince the Wizengamot.� I
tried to tell them but my voice counts for less than nothing now.� But you,
you killed the Dark Lord, they�ll listen to you.�

She took her brother�s arm and
led him to a chair where she began to speak very softly, as if to a baby,
�hello Ron, can you say Ron?� It�s Ginny, Ron; we�re going to make you better.��
She continued in that vein as Harry led Hermione from the room.

�Healer Jones?�

The young healer looked up
from his clipboard.

�What was that about in
there?� Harry asked.

�Oh, yeah� Jones replied, �I
was working on her burns, we had to shave her head to treat her scalp properly,
you know.�

Harry nodded.

While we were working on her
injuries I was commenting to the attending nurse that it was a shame that we
were going to have to commit nurses to care for the Kissed when they were so
desperately needed elsewhere and our patient up and asks �Why not me?�

�Why not you what?�

�Why not let me take care of
the Kissed, it can�t be that much different from child minding and I�ve done
that.�

�So I used a quik-quill� to
take dictation which I sent off to the Wizengamot proposing to allow Ginevra
Weasley to be committed to community service with the Kissed rather than have
her languishing in a cell in Azkaban.� Apparently they went for it, she�s in
the uniform of a �trustie� and she�s already working with the Kissed.�

�That was fast, no trial?�

�Not when the accused suggests
his or in this case her own sentence and that sentence if deemed
acceptable by the High Court.�

�What about Draco Malfoy?�

The healer shrugged, �don�t
know the gentleman.�

�He�s no gentleman, but I have
to say something at his trial, he gave us the break that defeated the
dementors.� Without him we�d all be like this lot in here, but without anyone
to care for us.�

�If you�re going to do it
you�d best go now, the trials are going on even as we speak.�

He spied a familiar pointed
hat from across the great hall and shouted �Headmistress McGonagall!�

�Yes Mr. Potter?�

�May I use your floo to get to
the Ministry building?�

�Of course, do you remember
the way?�

�Yes ma�am, thank you
professor.�

He turned to call for Hermione
and saw her asleep in a chair where she had sat just a moment before to �rest
her feet a bit.�

He touched his forehead to
hers and said softly, �get some rest, I�ll find you when I get back.�

He ran to the gargoyles both
of which slid out of his way without incident.

�Thanks� he said as he
ascended the spiral stair.

�Yur welcome� a gravely voice
replied.

Harry grabbed a handful of
powder and flung it into the fireplace called to the flames �Ministry of Magic�
and stepped through.

He spun out of the fireplace
in the lobby of the ministry building and ran to the security desk to present
his wand.

�Please go in Mr. Potter, as a
qualified auror you have unlimited access.�

Harry nodded and ran to the
lift.

�Floor please?� came the
pleasant female voice.

�Wherever the death eater
trials are being held� he said shortly.

�Tenth floor then.�

The lift was agonizingly slow
to descend but eventually clanked to a halt.

Harry ran down the now
familiar corridor and burst through the double doors.

The scene below was also
familiar, the chair, the chains, the full gallery of purple robed judges.� The prisoner
in the chair was barely conscious, his chin lolling on his chest, the half
singed platinum blond hair unmistakable.

Harry nearly spat the name
�Malfoy!�

Those nearest Harry looked up
in shock as the once again hero of the wizarding world stood at the top of the
stair.� One by one they stood and began to applaud.� Harry descended the steps
leading to the prisoner�s chair.� As other members of the wizengamot noticed
the young wizard they also stood to applaud.� Draco raised his head and focused
on the object of everyone�s adoration, his one good eye squinting in the harsh
light.� He didn�t really recognize Harry until he was nearly standing next to
him.

In a clear voice Harry called
out �Members of the Wizengamot, who represents this man?�

A short, plump, haggard
looking gentleman waddled up to the witness chair and said �Cyrano Cuthridge,
Mr. Potter, Public Defender.�

�Doesn�t the Malfoy family
have a law firm on retainer?�

�

�I�m afraid that law firm has
been disbarred.�

�Can the defendant have a
change of venue to allow his council to prepare a proper defense?�

�I am his council, Mr. Potter,
and Mr. Malfoy has already submitted his plea; nolo contendo, no
contest.�

�May I speak for the accused
Mr. Cuthridge?�

�Well, this is highly
irregular, but please proceed Mr. Potter.�

�Potter� Draco croaked, �don�t
do this, just let it be.�

�I can�t Draco,� Harry
smirked, �that�d be too easy.�

�Before you pass judgment on
this man, may I speak on his behalf?�

The Supreme Mugwump and Chief
Wizard of the Wizengamot gestured, palm up, for Harry to continue.

�You see before you one of the
worst examples of pureblood supremacists it has ever been my displeasure to
know.� He has gleefully assaulted me, my friends and anyone who didn�t spout
the same racist, purist tripe that he did.� He took the dark mark while still a
student at my school and made it possible for that school to be invaded by
Voldemort�s death eaters last year.�

�Please Potter, stop helping
me!� the blond boy rasped.

�In the past two months he had
repeatedly sexually assaulted another friend of mine, who was forced, under
great duress to accept the dark mark as well.�

�Why don�t you just kick me
through the veil now and be done with it Potter?� Draco hissed.

�Just one thing, though, and
this is very important.� If Draco hadn�t passed on vital information to the
defenders of Hogwart�s we would have been overrun by dementors, and instead of
sitting in judgment of this man, you would be having your own last stand
against those soul-sucking bastards!�

�Jeezus Potter, you just had
to do it didn�t you?�� Draco coughed up blood, and Harry was by his side the
healing stone in his hand.

�Draco, you�re all busted up
inside, why are you here when you should be in a hospital bed?�

�Because aurors figured I�d
just be a waste of resources, I�m going to be put through the veil in a few
minutes so it won�t matter.�

Harry stood, eyes blazing and
demanded �Members of the Wizengamot, who brought this man here in this
condition?�

Shuffling of papers ensued, and
the clerk announced �aurors Dawlish and Hart.�

�Is it the policy of the
Wizengamot to place a man on trial who could very well die before the
proceedings conclude?�

�No Mr. Potter, it is not� the
Wizengamot�s Chief Judge narrowed his gaze at a spot reserved for MDLE
witnesses.

�May we please place Mr. Malfoy
in medical custody until such time that he may be found fit to stand trial?�

The Judge struck the dais with
his staff and intoned, �So mote it be, Mr. Malfoy will be remanded to St.
Mungo�s criminal ward until he is cleared fit to stand trial by a competent
medical authority.� Court is recessed for a period of two hours, Mr. Dawlish,
Mr. Hart; I will see you in my chambers immediately.�

Two aurors approached the
witness chair �we�ll take him from here Mr. Potter.�

�Half a tick, please� Harry
said as he moved the healing stone over the worst of Draco�s injuries, �you
wouldn�t want him to die on you before you could get him to St. Mungo�s would
you?�

Both aurors nodded their
thanks.� They were evidently more professional or perhaps a bit more compassionate
than the two that had brought the burned and bleeding Malfoy in.

Harry turned to see Dawlish
and Hart leaving the judges� chamber looking thoroughly cowed, followed closely
by the Wizengamot�s Chief Justice.

�Sir, um, your honor?� Harry
called out in a half whisper, half shout.

�The judge recognized Harry
and strolled over to take his hand, �very good to meet you at last Mr. Potter,
although I have seen you here and about, we�ve never been introduced, I�m
Alfred Vance, I believe you�ve met my granddaughter, Emeline?�

�Yes sir, member of the Order,
is she, um, is she okay sir?�

�Oh yes, she was on the
battlements with some of the aurors, they all tell me you acquitted yourself
very well young man, very well indeed.�

�Thank you sir,� then changing
the subject, slightly, Harry asked �what will become of Draco Malfoy?�

�My personal opinion or my
legal opinion?�

�Both, either; whichever
you�re willing to share sir.�

The old barrister looked
thoughtful, �nothing good I�m afraid, he�s a marked death eater and you know
what that means?�

Harry nodded.

�He has blood on his hands,
and is legally culpable for the death of the former Wizengamot Chief, you
understand?� seeing Harry nod, he continued �add to that the accusations of
other death eaters today and Mr. Malfoy is in a very bad light.� Essentially he
had one foot in the veil before you gave us our impromptu recess, now he will either
face a lifetime in Azkaban or a very short life as I understand the young woman
he�s been sexually abusing this summer has a father and six brothers?�

�Five living, sir, and one who
was kissed� Harry explained.

�So that�s six male family
members who can, at any time, legally call out Mr. Malfoy to settle the issue
of rape.�

�By dueling sir?� Harry asked.

�No Harry, public flogging
followed by castration� the judge clarified.

_____ooo000_____

Author�s note: �Erk� is a Briticism
for rookie.
- 6
- 7
- 8
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The Afterlife and Times of Myrtle Potter