er 16

Harry was a little annoyed.

Madam Pomphrey had insisted that Harry see a mind healer. Not that Harry didn't respect the profession but did he really need one. According to the professors and Mrs Figg; yes, he did.

She was a nice lady the mind healer; a muggle born witch by the name of Abigale Hale. She finished Hogwarts then studied Phycology at Muggle University before Training at St Mungo's.

However, Harry found it completely unnecessary. She noticed that Harry was unhappy but wasn't discouraged. He had to go every week now; she would come to him in the holidays. There was really no escaping her.

It didn't help at all with his impending trial. He was worrying himself sick; he didn't really want to face the Dursley's on the stand. He knew he would have to but what would happen to him after that. At least Voldemort was gone for now. He was lucky his friends didn't hate him after what he put them through; it was actually the opposite. Hermione was bragging about placing the dark lord in a full body bind. Of course the whole school already knew long before she had even mentioned it.

"Harry it'll be okay." Hermione hugged him; he had just gotten back from his meeting with Abigale Hale.

"I know, I know. Would you watch Zana for me?"

"She'll be fine with us Harry." Hermione insisted.

"I hate them so much."

"So do we mate." Ron encouraged. "You know you never told us what your nightmare was about."

"Ronald." Hermione scolded.

"It was a memory Ron. I remembered this one time that my uncle was hitting me with a metal pipe. I was about six, it was just after I turned my teacher's hair blue. I didn't know how I did it; but…" Harry just shrugged as he lied. It was a memory but a half lie. He had been beaten after turning his teacher's hair blue but his nightmare was one of the future. He was beaten nearly to death when he was almost fifteen; he hadn't even known what his uncle was angry at.

"Destroy them Harry." Draco gripped his friends shoulder. "Make them suffer."

"I just want this over Dray."

"All you have to do is tell the truth." Hermione told him. "And they'll never be aloud within a hundred feet of you ever again."

Professor Snape was bringing him to the Ministry. Professor McGonagall needed to be at the School as Dumbledore was already at the ministry. Harry felt restricted in the dress robes but followed dutifully.

"You're Gran will be there Harry." Professor Snape told him. "I will try to stay too. Although Professor McGonagall may have to call me in."

"Thank you Professor."

"It's no trouble Harry. I just hope you put them away."

"Everyone says that."

"We're all on your side Harry." Harry just nodded and let the professor lead him into the crowd of Aurors. The Journalists had gotten wind of this story and were waiting for him.

He was led straight through to the chamber with the professor. There wasn't a large amount people in the chamber for this trial. The professor sat next to Mrs Figg. Harry smiled over at her and she gave a comforting nod back; a nod that said that she was here for him.

One of the Aurors led Harry to his own seat. Professor Dumbledore was his juvenile council. His job was to ensure an eleven-year-old wasn't on trial by himself.

A man stood up and began to speak into a self-writing quill. "Trial name: Wizard Child abuse by Muggle (non-magic) Personal guardians. Victim name: Harry James Potter; preferred name Harry James Evans-Potter. Guardian names: Vernon Andrew Dursley and Petunia Jane Dursley."

The Dursleys looked red and extremely uncomfortable. They had been explained the circumstances of the trial by the muggle liaison officer.

"Trial led by Wizengamot Members." The man gave the names of the five wizards and Witches in attendance. These trials were made to be as small as possible to keep the Victim as comfortable as possible. Harry didn't like being called a victim.

"Also in attendance Muggle officer of law; Peter Jones. Connection to wizard world; Wife and Son. Second officer of Law; Tony Dockery. Connection to Wizard word; Daughter. Final officer of law; Hilary Newton. Connection to Wizard world; Brother, Husband, Two Daughters and one Son."

A wizard walked up with a set of files. "These files are held as documentation in support of this trial. Documentation from Mrs Arabella Figg; Potion Master Severus Snape; Mediwitch Poppy Pomphrey and Mediwitch Mind Healer Abigale Hale. These have been read and verified as evidence in support of the Case for Harry James Evens-Potter."

Harry eyed the files, he wondered what had been written in each of the files.

The head of this trial stood. "The charges set to the party named Dursley. Abuse of a Wizard Child. Veritaserum will be administered to one of the parties."

"One of the parties will now be administered Veritaserum."

A lady dressed in smart clothes came up to Harry. "Mr Evens-Potter, would you be willing to take the Veritaserum?"

Harry looked over at the Dursleys. "Yes." He nodded. The lady nodded and placed the small crystal vile on the table in front of him. Harry picked it up and unstoppered it. He then lifted it to his lips and swallowed.

"Are you okay Mr Evans-Potter?"

"I'm not hurt but I miss my cat." He then moved his hands over his mouth in shock. He thought the serum would make him answer truthfully but no one had asked abut Zana.

"It is clearly working. Now I will ask you questions in front of the court and they will be written down."

"Okay but can you call me Harry- or maybe Mr Evans. I like it better than Evans-Potter and just Potter makes me feel like I'm in trouble."

"Why is that Harry?"

"My uncle used to call me Potter if he was angry with me or boy or freak. Actually even when he wasn't angry with me. It's hard to tell he always seems to be angry about something." Harry hated being forced to tell the truth but he had promised lots of people he would. He had lied enough already this year. Harry shrugged. "He used Potter as if it was an insult. As if my father's name was an insult."

"I see." She tried to hold her face still. "Would he do anything else if he was angry?" She asked.

"He would hit me; or lock me in my cupboard without meals." Harry shrugged; this was his life he had made peace with it in another life.

Another deep calming breath came from the woman. "How long would he make you go without meals?"

"The longest was five or maybe six days one summer holiday. At primary school I get lunches so they never fed me in term time at all."

She took a breath and looked down at her paper. "Harry why did they keep food from you; on that day?"

"I was healing too fast."

"What do you mean?" Her eyes widened for a single moment.

"I had performed accidental magic- I didn't know I did. My aunt shaved my head and it grew back over night. So my uncle used an ash tray to try and" Harry hiccupped his body was shaking now. "Beat the freak out of me. He tried to get rid of my magic. Then because I was healing too quickly they locked me in my cupboard without food. So I would start healing more slowly. More normally."

The muggle police officers were looking furious with the Dursleys. The lady had to turn away to compose herself. Harry turned and noticed the Dursleys were inside a silencing charm.

The head of the trial nodded to the woman; quills were moving swiftly across the paper all around the room.

"Okay Mr Evans, how often did something like this happen?"

"Umm. The food maybe only once a mouth; sometimes less. I would probably do something that involved correction often so I got hit most days. Usually I would just work a lot and hide in my cupboard. They were always happier when they couldn't see me."

"You mentioned a cupboard a lot?" Her voice was shaking now ever so slightly; but her face held none of the emotion.

"The cupboard under the stairs that's where I sleep. Can I stop talking now please? Just for a moment."

"Yes Mr Evens; we have enough now. You can stop." The head shook his head; that would have to be enough for the muggles. He wouldn't make the child speak anymore.

"Thank you."

The Wizengamot members spoke for a moment. The head stood up. "Case goes to Harry James Potter. Muggle Guardians will be incarcerated in a muggle prison."

"What!" Vernon exploded now that the charm was down. "Don't we get a side; the little bastard was lying?!"

"Mr Dursley. He had taken the most powerful truth serum in the world. It would have impossible for him to lie." The head wizard tapped the gavel down. "Dismissed. Gentleman; ma'am take them away. Please." The word came as a slight venom.

Wizards were ever so slightly more likely to respect children. They had fewer children as a rule and less wizards in general. The punishments of child abuse were beaten out in harshness only really by murder. Even some forbidden types of magic were treated more lightly.

Harry watched as the three Police officers cuffed his aunt and uncle then dragged them away. Vernon was screaming Petunia however was white and silent.

Harry drank the antidote with a daze; he currently had no guardians. The ministry needed to give him a place to stay as soon as possible