As soon as she saw both turn their attention to her, she said, "Lord Peverell, we asked you to join us to give a statement describing what happened... what led to the death of Lor―" She suddenly paused and gestured to the body of Riddle. "Tom Riddle."
"Oh, him," said Harry, as if he'd only just figured that out. "He sent a triplet of his bully-boys out to my girlfriend's place to... shall we say... collect me. They then, whether I wanted to go or not, took me back to Malfoy Manor in Wiltshire; Riddle's supposedly super-secret hideout.
"While there and while surrounded by thirteen of Riddle's thugs... including the Chief Thug Riddle himself... I was fortunate to be able to defend myself long enough to free myself of their... let's say... unwanted and unappreciated company.
"In the process of accomplishing that, Riddle and his top thugs... otherwise known, I believe, as his Inner Circle... were all killed."
"You killed them," she stated.
"He murdered them!" declared Dumbledore.
Harry looked at him and grinned for a moment before he returned his attention to Bones. "See? I told you he'd immediately claim I'd murdered them. You owe me a sickle... Ameeeelia, my dear guurrll." After a quick glance back at Dumbledore, Harry said, "In self defence I killed them, yes. And... as you would know and as is according to magical Britain's laws, Madam Bones... the use of lethal force in defence of self when lethal force is being applied towards yourself is lawful."
"Yes, Lord Peverell, it is," she firmly stated, scowling at Dumbledore as she did. "As such, no charges will be levelled towards you regarding the deaths of Tom Riddle or his supposed Inner Circle."
After another glare at a fuming Dumbledore, she asked, "And, Tom Riddle?"
"During the fight and recognising him to be the greatest threat to my life, I was luckily able to get a shot through his defences." Indicating the body, he said, "The piercing to the forehead of his body, there, is the result of that. "I think I managed to get through the defences of most of the other thugs... Inner Circle... when they were momentarily shocked I was able to get through Chief Thug Riddle's defences.
"I consider myself both very lucky and very fortunate I'm still standing."
With a nod she added, "And, as Tom Riddle was already declared a dark lord... even if using his sobriquet of Lord Voldemort... there was a kill on sight order out on him and his followers, anyway. As such, there could never be a charge of manslaughter lawfully directed upon you."
Standing up proudly, he declared, "I... the one you should call Alby-Walby Above-the-Law Dissemblemore, Headjob of Pig Pimple School of Prankcraft and Trickery, Dictatorial Head of the Order of the Flaming Flamingo, Leader of the Bright..." Again and just as suddenly as the first time, his hat unfurled straight up and, as the red pom-pom on top appeared to rattle a little, it gave the sound of a loud raspberry. Then it again immediately rewound down and tight. "... have slayed the beast, Tom Marvolo Riddle, and his bully-boy thugs known as his supposed Inner Circle... and won the war for the forces of the BRIGHT!"
In an imperious and self-gratifying tone he added, "You may... applaud!"
In the Wizengamot chamber, quite a few people actually did start to applaud. That surprised Harry, quite a bit. He was going for comedic flippancy and the people in the chamber took him serious.
Out in the rest of Magical Britain, those who were listening in on the Wizarding Wireless Network, heard the applause slowly start, before it turned into what was nearing a full ovation.
It lasted for about half a minute before the Chief Warlock, Ogden, brought his gavel down for a couple of short and sharp raps on the little wooden disk on the bench before him. He wanted silence and quickly got it.
Harry was grinning at him.
Choosing to ignore the young man standing on the floor before him, Ogden turned to Madam Bones. "Madam Minister?" he asked. "Does what Lord Peverell shared with us match your own knowledge of the events?"
"It does, Chief Warlock," she firmly replied. "I was present and one of the first on the scene after the battle Lord Peverell had with Riddle and his Inner Circle. Other than having covered the bodies with clean white sheets... as he'd had to lead two previously kidnapped children out of a hidden chamber down behind a wall cabinet in the room in which it occurred and he didn't want the children to see the bodies... our forensic investigators from within the Auror Corps and from Saint Mungo's confirm what Lord Peverell has told us. "A forensic examination of the scene showed that Lord Peverell was standing in the middle of the floor of the room and was surrounded by a ring that comprised all thirteen of Riddle's latest Inner Circle; with Riddle, himself, sitting on a throne-like chair on a low platform. At least three of the Inner Circle had, as their most recent casts reflected on examination of their wands, cast Killing curses at Lord Peverell during what was obviously a battle. Others had also cast dark or otherwise lethal curses at him.
"An examination of Lord Peverell's wand also shows he did not cast any dark curses back. However, what he did cast back was clearly effective and match what killed Riddle and the Death Eaters."
On an apparent roll, she continued, "It is the recommendation of the Minister's Office that Lord Peverell be awarded the Order of Merlin, First Class, for his actions in destroying both the dark wizard known as the Dark Lord Voldemort, together with the entirety of his Inner Circle; and, therefore and as he claimed, ending the war. As you would know, the Order of Merlin, First Class, is always awarded to one who def―... who kills a dark lord, saving society from their depredations.
"However, Lord Peverell claims he will refuse any such award until such time, as he sees it, where previous such awards were awarded in error or not awarded as they should have been, are corrected."
"What, in Merlin's name, does that mean?!" barked Ogden right back, first and loudest to respond. Almost the entirety of the Wizengamot were apparently just as incensed as they were just as vociferous.
Before Bones could say anything, Harry firmly stated, "Perhaps you should direct your question to me... the Leader of the Bright!... considering I'm the one who said it and I'm standing right here." As the Members quieted down again, amidst a great deal of muted anger and denunciations, the Chief Warlock turned his angry countenance on Harry. "Well?" he barked.
Harry's knee-jerk reaction was to go for flippant and answer, 'Yes, I am; thank you for asking', but he could see that would only make matters worse.
"The Order of Merlin has, in my opinion, become a joke," he replied, turning serious. "At least, to whom and why it is awarded in magical Britain at least."
.
.
.
👓☕️Consider supporting me and enhance your reading experience with the ready-to-read PDFs I have on my Ko-fi.☕️👓
🎯https://ko-fi.com/cmrowling🎯