I simply don't understand why they aren't making the trial private. Accusations are public. Always. But trials can be held in camera. Abuse trials and similar stuff where displaying the facts in public would hurt the victims too much always have that option. Why didn't they insist on a closed session for this trial? It'S not so much that Harry'S emotions have to be guarded. Rather the impact Harry's reactions and the details of the trial will have on the his efforts to gather allies and the influence it will have on the war (there'S at least one death eater in the room who will certainly use the information she gathers to harm Harry) should be of concern not only to the ministry.

Well, brilliant! *scoff* Harry is going all emo! His feelings are taking the form of a lizard-bird with the help of his own magic and he starts hurting himself, cutting himself, actually. If that's not the epitome of emo, I don't know what is. And he doesn't even realize it! His feelings are trying to get his attention and his acknowledgement and he just continues to look away. well, maybe presenting itself as a magical being, a bound beast, is a clever ploy by his subconscious to get him to see that he needs to free his emotions.

oh! I want to know this vision!! Must be something really cool if Pansy can't put it into word.

AW! Peter's there!
And I really wonder why Harry is so comfortable with Regulus holding him and stroking his hair and he's even hugging him back when he can't stand physical affection from anybody else. And Peter, too! It's a normal human reaction to want to hug someone when you're really glad to see them and Harry certainly is glad to see Regulus and Peter, but that he would give in to the urge so easily! He's obviously made amazing progress!

gr, harry is a stupid git, too! The urge to talk to people about his conflicted feelings is normal! He should gibe in to it! That's the best thing he could do! His subconscious has gnawed it's way through his firm mindset. Deep down he knows that talking will help. Then why the hell is he fighting so hard?

oi! That Harry thinks he's in depth for people loving him is a bad flaw in his mindset.

haha, that'S rich! Henrietta claiming to love her daughter! What a big, fat lie!
Anyway, I don't think Harry would follow through with his plans on a rather violent revenge now he know's Henrietta's been blackmailing him and making his life hell. He won't let her off the hook just yet, though... I hope she gets what she deserves.

Well, that was fast! But Harry better see reason soon and realize that Dumbledore is not like the other people who put obstacles in his way because Dumbledore is simply too powerful to be allowed to oppose Harry any longer. People are getting hurt and continue to get hurt because of the old man's stupidity. Harry has to see that preserving Dumbldore is NOT an option.

WHAR! That **!! Would you please be so kind as to rid us of Dumbledore something like REALLY SOON? PLEASE!

**, Snape! What he did was foolish and extreme and at the same time incredibly brave. In JKR's universe full of unfair and illogical ideas of justice he'd go to prison for this but I believe you'll make him come through this more or less unscathed. He has a dozen eye-witnesses and his own memory as well as a Veritaserum-supportable confession. There is no way this can hurt him.
I hope.
It might take some convincing on Harry's part, though, that it was necessary to kill Gilbert.

anyway, FINALLY we are a few steps closer to catching Dumbledore working on more mischief. About time!

You know, all the obstacles you keep placing in Harry's way are starting to annoy me. Okay, granted, you need something to keep this story interesting, but I simply hate the thought of Harry having to fight against Dumbledore's compulsion, Henrietta's duplicity AND now a traitor amongst his closest confidants. Besides, Harry has enough problems with his conscious and his mind's structure and his missing hand. When will this stop? I'm getting bored.
heidi

I DO NOT, repeat: DO NOT think it's a good idea for Harry to show his rather unstable class curses that are designed for killing! Especially with someone as dangerous and stupid as Margaret in the room. That was very stupid of him! He can't expect these children to have the same self-control and foresight that he has! The might kill someone accidentally! 15-year-olds are frequently enraged and emotionally unstable. This is MADNESS!

And Harry IS NOT TO FEEL BAD about almost losing control! Other people do that all the time! It's normal! And yes, he can inflict far more damage than "normal people" if he loses control BUT that's not the point! He aught not to feel guilty about something that isn'T his fault! (well, it is, really. HE should have kicked out that stupid ** the moment she insulted him, but oh well!)

Anyway, I don't think Harry is like Acies in the aspect of losing himself to the wildness bit by bit until he drowns in it. He's just not.

heidi

I'm really looking forward to Harry "overcoming his training" in the respect of receiving and accepting touches and pleasure.
His rushed confession that he wanted Draco to touch him was so sweet, too! And the little "please" at the end! Aw! I think it would be better for Harry if he resolved to try and endure the touch while forcing himself to find something good in it, something aspect he enjoys. Facing his training that way would be most efficient, I think. A combination of trying to talk himself out of his reluctance for affection and at the same time gathering reasons why he likes being touched.
heidi

Harry aught to put a little more trust in Argutus, since, thanks to Dumbldore, the whole school IS plotting against him!

LOL! This scene is hilarious, despite the serious situation: When Harry just walks in on Draco's class and says without preamble “We’re going to do battle with the Dark Lord. Are you coming?”. It's like when your brothers walk in on you doing homework and say "We're having a snowball fight. You coming?" He says it so off-handedly! I wonder what all the other students and the professor think!

What I don't get is why Harry didn't concentrate on snapping Voldemort's wand! That would have been a more permanent measure than any other he could take on such short notice and it would have been worth the few seconds it would have taken Harry to will it broken.

Anyway, can't quite follow this story. Harry has drained Voldemort of all the magic he acquired over the years AND of some part of his innate magic and STIlL Voldemort is so incredibly strong? Stronger than Harry? I don'T understand that...

Well, for THAT kind of mass manipulation Dumbledore deserves Azkaban and the loss of his magic! That bastard!

oh. Now I see what Dumbledore did in that one brief moment he was conscious. Very disreputable.

Anyway, I'm really glad that Snape and Harry are reconciling. I would have loved it even more if Harry had given in to his urge to get himself a hug from Snape and/or cry but I guess that must wait.
I also like Snape's soft side. We should see more of it. (Speaking of which, I've finished the audio book nr. 7 (read by Stephen Fry. Ingenious!) today on the train and I really cried when Snape died. He's such a dramatic character!)

Well, enough rambling.
Nice work!
heidi