A Hop Skip And A Jump Away

Facing the Wizengamot or Queen? King!

Harry practically slept through the next two days with the help of potions, greatly reassuring both Severus and Voldemort as they arranged for their very public trip to stand before the Wizengamot. Death, figuring they might like to talk to him about the up coming session/trial and very much approving of the rest Harry was getting wandered in and out as he performed his duties. They also took the chance to send someone to "invite" the Dursleys to visit, doing nothing to them for the moment except transfiguring them into three turtles and kept in a portable terrarium. Knowing how Harry might feel about what they had done the turtles were very well taken care of and they planned to present the Dursleys both as evidence and for judgement at the Wizengamot session. The worrying actions of Dumbledore and Ginny Weasley were examined again as they plotted what would happen at the Ministry. Both of them were alternately bothered and delighted by the fact that Dumbledore, an intelligent and powerful wizard, seemed to be scrambling to maintain control of the overall situation. They would have to tread carefully to counter Dumbledore's latest move in this dangerous apocalyptic chess match across the magical world.

"The Daily Prophet seems to have decided to withhold judgement on the entire issue but there is a mention of Skeeter being at the session. How she will manage that when its a closed session I'd dearly like to know," Severus muttered as they ate breakfast on the day of the Wizengamot session.

"She's an unregistered beetle animagus," Harry pointed out, not even bothering to look up from his breakfast.

"Well, at least we can ensure she gets the best seat in the house," Voldemort said with a smirk, handing off a note addressed to Rita to a house elf with instructions for the woman to make sure she didn't get caught.

"I just hope I don't fall asleep during all of this," Harry said with a minor amount of self disgust.

"Harry, the amount of magic you used that day should have killed you. I don't know about you but I'm insanely grateful that you're only constantly exhausted and show signs of getting better rather than a pile of dust," Severus shot back in a disapproving tone. Chastised Harry blushed in embarrassment and bit back another yawn before drinking the remainder of his second cup of tea.

"Do you want to help him dress or get the turtles?" Voldemort asked, completely ignoring Harry's indignant spluttering at needing to be dress like a small child.

"You have the better fashion sense and I need to collect certain potions for the upcoming session in any case," Severus answered calmly.

"Treat me like an infant and you are both sleeping on the couch. I'll seal every single bedroom if I have to," Harry growled at them before stalking off to get dressed, completely forgetting to ask about the turtles.

Severus and Voldemort shared a smirk when Harry stalked from the room, fully confident that even if he did follow through they would still be able to join him in bed that evening. True to their word not only were they both ready by the time Harry was Voldemort had the turtlefied Dursleys in his pocket and Severus had his complement of potions. It didn't take them long to walk out the door and apparate to the ministry. Harry once more had fun with the charm that produced ID badges for visitors calling himself King of the World, Severus got Dungeon Bat, and Voldemort got Darkest Lord of all Time. His fiances were loath to wipe away Harry's happy smile so soon so allowed the badge assignments with only minor grumbling.

"So, where do we go?" Harry asked looking around the atrium in a mixture of nostalgia and sadness.

"You don't know?" Voldemort asked curiously. He had presumed that Harry had been to at least one Wizengamot session.

"Due in part to the Ministry's location it was one of the first places lost as was Diagon Alley. Harry essentially ran our world from Malfoy Manor, partly because Lucius is a security nut and partly because Narcissa managed to corner him with some help," Severus explained as he led the way over to the security desk for them to check in.