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Chapter 84 - 84:
Harry actually let his incredulousness show. Rough housing? Rough and tumble? The coot was delusional.
"To take the boy from his only family would be a mistake. Harry needs to grow up in a place where he is treated normally, to grow up where he can hide away from his fame, to have a retreat."
Harry clenched his hands into fists before he realised his nails were starting to cut into his skin. How dare he? Dumbledore was staring intently at the crowd, looking both genial and humble, his periwinkle eyes twinkling behind his half-moon glasses. Harry saw as some of the crowd started to be swayed and he wondered just how many people Dumbledore had manipulated in his time. Remus and Sirius sure, but what about the rest...?
Seeing how some in the crowd looked like they agree with the old coot, Harry had to start going through all the exercises he'd read about to keep his magic locked and stop it from lashing out.
Dodge, however, didn't look ruffled at all and calmly passed Dumbledore as he re-took the floor.
"What Professor Dumbledore fails to see is that, family or not, the Dursleys are not only abusive but negligent and dismissive of Heir Potter-Black. They didn't and don't want to be his guardians in the first place and, according to them and in their own words, he was 'forced on them'."
A copy of the letter Flitwick received at Christmas appeared and Harry saw as the crowd read and, in some cases, re-read the note.
"You can clearly see that the Dursley family holds no concern or care for Heir Potter-Black," Dodge said once the majority of the crowd was finished.
"Growing up, Heir Potter-Black was subjected to physical, verbal, and mental abuse for things which, in a normal, happy, and healthy family, would have been celebrated. His accidental magic was met with physical violence and stretches of starvation. Something which we all hold sacred and celebrate resulted in him having broken bones."
Dodge waved his hand and Harry saw that his medical file was once again out, this time with Healers' notes attached, the notes holding their speculations on the age and cause of the injuries. There was also a note from Severus which Harry recognised, his elegant scrawl explaining how the Apollo's Tears ointment was obscure and only used for old wounds which were never given adequate medical attention.
Seeing this, Harry smirked internally but made sure to keep his outward appearance scared and reluctant. He wanted to appear like an unsure child. Having Severus in his corner would be a great aid as the man was both Dark and Light. Sure, his love for Harry's mother could be problematic with Tom, well, Voldemort killing her, but if Harry was willing to work through it, he was sure Severus could. His skills and power would be a great aid to the Dark.
"Even non-magical achievements were met with violence. Heir Potter-Black was told to hold himself back academically and was physically beaten whenever he achieved good results in his academics. He was forced to act as a mindless muggle as his so-called family didn't want him to out-perform their own son, who is the same age. Yes, these muggles also have a child; a child who, from investigation, is not only rude, abusive, and mentally uninspired, but who also took part in the violence against Heir Potter-Black."
The crowd looked shocked again and Harry internally applauded. He could see Dumbledore vibrating again, his face puckered like he ate a sour lemon as more and more evidence was shown. 𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑝𝘶𝘣.𝑐𝘰𝘮
"This is just the tip of the iceberg. How Heir Potter-Black survived and came out of that home as a well-mannered and magically gifted child is a miracle on the scale of Merlin. To force him back would not only be a shame, but a crime."
Dodge finished his speech by looking around the room, his blue-grey eyes boring into the crowd.
Dumbledore once again took the stage and Harry saw the maniacal gleam in his eyes. A feeling of dread entered his stomach but he refused to show it.
"I will admit that perhaps I was hasty in trying to reunite Harry with his family. I just find it so sad to separate them after eleven years of love. But clearly, Harry believes it for the best or else he wouldn't have produced such evidence."
The insinuation was clear, even a dead man would have heard it: Dumbledore was trying to convey that the evidence was fake. Silently growling, Harry had to place a hand on Sirius, who was straining to stand and launch himself at the brightly coloured manipulator. Sending his godfather a discreet look, Harry shook his head.
"However, if Harry isn't to be reunited with his family, then perhaps we should consider sending him to a family already known for their love and devotion to child rearing. As his magical guardian, I do feel that if Harry is not to return to the Dursleys, then he would be best off with a family I have known well for many years: the Weasleys."
The crowd was clearly split at this announcement; the Light families and those loyal to Dumbledore seemed happy with this while the Dark looked murderous. Harry noted that Lucius looked slightly green at the idea - hell, Harry himself was disturbed by it. If he was for some reason sent there, he knew he wouldn't be responsible for his actions. Eventual guilt aside, he would murder the traitorous redheads, he didn't care if he would suffer afterwards.
"Many of you know the family and I feel that if you will not consider sending Harry home to his true family, then the next best option would be to send him to them. I have spoken briefly with them and Mrs. Molly Weasley nee Prewett would be delighted to have Harry. I would have taken the boy in myself if I felt I would have adequate time for him, but with the combination of all my responsibilities I feel I must not. Truly, the next best option after his own family would be the Weasleys." By the time he was done speaking, Harry considered letting Sirius loose just to see him beat the old man to death. His godfather, no, he was more his father now with the adoption bond, was shaking with rage. Harry couldn't believe the gall of the man.
"The fact that Harry has been placed with a recently released criminal and a werewolf, a Dark and dangerous creature, is shocking. Harry needs to be with a Light family, a family who shares his views and the views of his late parents. The Weasleys are the best form of this. I'm sure that together they would achieve and grow to love each other very much. After all, although not his true family, they would be great substitute."
Finishing on this, Harry saw how the crowd was reeling, stuck on the word werewolf. He hated the prejudice and the corruption of the ministry.
Dodge once again stood, this time sending Dumbledore a dark look that was hidden from the crowd.
"I do not understand why Professor Dumbledore is insisting on mentioning family so much. Perhaps he wishes to sway you to see the Dursleys as Heir Potter-Black's only blood? I do not know. However, as it is family he so clearly wants to speak about, let us speak about Heir Potter-Black's family. Many of you have probably read the papers this week, so it is no surprise to you to see Heir Potter-Black here today, escorted by his godfather Lord Sirius Black - a Lord, who might I remind you, was wrongly imprisoned and is innocent of the charges laid against him. However, I digress. It was not publicised that Lord Black is more than Heir Potter-Black's godfather: Lord Black magically and blood adopted Heir Potter-Black as a baby with the permission of both the late Lord and Lady Potter. Meaning that magically and biologically, Heir Potter-Black is Lord Black's son and heir."
Harry saw the second Dumbledore realised his bindings had been broken and watched in satisfaction as his magic flared with anger and indignation. His body seemed to clench and his eyes narrowed. The crowd, however, exploded; blood adoptions were not common as they were irreversible and fully binding. Therefore, they were considered almost sacred - some of the wizarding world respected them more as it resulted in the adoptee having inherited magic from multiple parents. In this case, Harry had both the Potter and Black family magic as well as his mother's muggleborn magic.
Harry had to close his eyes to hide his bliss as he heard their shouts.
"Why is there even a trial? The boy belongs with his father!"
"Preposterous! The boy is a Black as much as he is a Potter!"
"A blood adoption, why, I never knew!"
"Explains why the boy practically drips with power - a Potter and a Black!" Eventually Lord Trilby regained order, having to bang his gavel a few times and use the sonorous spell.
"Continue Mr. Dodge, unless you're finished," Trilby said, once the room had quieted down.
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