I picked up the book from the shelf for the umpteenth time and ran my hand through the pages, breathing in the scent. I turned it over to one of my favorite parts, the final battle at Hogwarts.

"I hate Voldemort. He was the worst villain I've ever seen," my friend commented out of the blue.

I immediately flipped around, glaring at him.

"Whatever Lord Voldemort did was for a cause. He wasn't exactly someone who killed senselessly. All that was a craving for power and as we know, power blinds. I think Lord Voldemort could definitely be pardoned," I objected.

My friend looked at me with an expression which said, "Are you mad?"

Explaining my point to foolish and blind Harry lovers was a waste of time, so I stormed out of the library, walking home fast.

I stopped abruptly as an eerie green halo surround me and I found myself falling.

To my utter surprise, I landed in a big hall with a gallery of spectators.

Looking around, my heart pounding, I saw a very familiar figure just inches from me.

He threw back the dark cloak and looked at me. He had slits for nose and narrow red eyes which had a predatory gleam.

"VOLDEMORT!" I screamed, unable to believe that he really exists.

He gave me a smile which chilled me to the bones. Unknowingly I backed off two steps to be held firmly by a pair of strong hands.

I turned around to be face to face with a man, with a lightning scar on his forehead.

"Harry Potter," I whispered, still unable to believe my own eyes.

"Just take your seat," he motioned me.

I saw Ron and Hermione talking in excited whispers to some with in a purple cloak. She had a wrinkled face, withered hands and yet had a commanding air about her.

"But where am I and why am I here? I'm utterly confused," I pleaded.

"You're in the Tribunal of Magic, headed by the Ministry of magic and today is the trial of Voldemort for his deeds," Harry explained, dragging me to where the others were, "We need one witness from the muggle world to actually witness the trial, to ensure that a fair judgement is imparted. We've assessed many and found you as the only one with the absolute knowledge about our world, thanks to Rowling."

I was too dazed to reply.

"When can I go back from this magical realm?"

"Once this is over," Hermione interrupted, "Voldemort will defend his cause."

My reverie was broken by the announcer, "We give you only one chance to present your defences of the heinous crimes you committed, Mr Voldemort. This includes murder of your father, then of Miss Myrtle, not to forget Lily and James Potter and trying to murder Mr Harry Potter."

I looked at the judge. Cornelius Fudge, Minister of Magic. He was listening intently.

"Your Honor, Judge Cornelius Fudge, respected jury members and the prosecuting party, I, Lord Voldemort, present to you the following defending justifications, for my deeds,"Voldemort spoke with confidence.

The entire gallery fell silent.

"As a child," he began," I had a supreme fear of death. I was interested in the idea of eternity.  I enquired from my teachers about it and thus he came to know about the horcruxes, which were pieces of one’s soul sealed in objects. There is nothing wrong with the desire to live forever. Plus, I was willing to make the horcruxes out of his own soul.  Your honor can  question the teachers at Hogwarts School,  specifically Professor Slughorn, who was responsible for putting ideas into my mind, at that age."

The crowd gasped. Harry shifted in his seat.

"As a child, I faced a lot of problems," his voice was cold and distant. My father left my mother just because he came to know that she was a witch. My mother died giving birth to me. These situations. Are me think and I created a negative perception about the muggles. My fellow students mocked me, called me a creep. Even the teachers at Hogwarts weren't supportive, except maybe Dumbledore, who was too good for my own comfort. Of course at such a young age such traumatic events would naturally affect a person’s mind. I'm no exception."

"Strong argument," muttered Hermione, earning a glare from  Harry.

"I wanted the ultimate power," his eyes gleamed, "There is nothing wrong with the idea of striving for the best. It calls to mind the philosophies of Albus Dumbledore and Gilderwald. Even Mr. Dumbledore was looking for the same power. The only difference was I was successful whereas Dumbledore was not. Otherwise it’s plausible there was a great chance that Mr. Dumbledore, himself, would have turned to the dark side. My loveless life is what turned me to seek refuge in the darkness."

Cornelius nodded his head.

"I was striving for knowledge which may have been a bit bad, but everything has a good and a bad side and to understand something fully, one needs to know everything inside out. I would also like to say that the restricted section of libraries at Hogwarts School is not fully protected. Students at times sneak in for fun or out of curiosity and we all know Mr Potter entered the restricted section under an invisibility cloak only in his first year. Just like me. Hogwarts needs to look into these matters of what type of information should be accessible to what age group of students. I would also like to question the authorities at Hogwarts School about the division in the houses. How can an old hat with a segment of brain out of the long gone founders of Hogwarts decide how a new student’s mind works? People change with time and even if, hypothetically, we believe it works, the idea of putting labels on students, like that Gryffindors are the bravest and that people with brains are in Raveclaw, that Huffflepuffs are the average students and Slytherins are the competitive ones and perceived as the house of evil-doers is not justified. It creates a divide amongst students and creates stereotypes and judgments."

I had never expected Voldemort to have had such deep thoughts. He definitely had a strong argument.

"I didn't hate mud bloods or muggle-borns. I just wanted less interaction for them with the human world. Interacting with the muggle is definitely derogatory for us wizards," he looked straight at me, "They are narrow minded and could actually decimate our population and create havoc if they come to know about the human world. You people never thought that before bringing a muggle in."

His fingers were pointing at me. A chill ran down my spine.

"That is just a formality, none of your business Tom," Cornelius interrupted.

"Fine," he grimaced, continuing his speech.

"Professor Trelawney should be questioned about her visions. Who is she to declare that one will survive out of the two? She is responsible for creating this idea in the heads of both the parties. We all know that Miss Trelawney’s has a habit of exaggeration, even Mr. Potter, Miss Granger and Mr. Weasley has the same views. According to the prophesy, I would be challenged by a boy, and 'neither can live, while the other survives'. My life was under threat and the all the steps I took was to save myself. According to the law, it is legal to defend one’s life; if one feels that it is in danger, " he pointed out.

There was pin drop silence.

"He'll win," Hermione cursed under her breath.

"It can't be," Ron protested.

Harry was looking sick.

"Because of Mr. Harry Potter, I was made to live a life of misery for 11 years in hiding, surviving all alone in the woods. While Mr. Potter got away with just a scar on his forehead. My  loyal death eaters – were arrested without any case. Mr. Harry Potter should be questioned about his acts and the Order of Phoenix should questioned too," he screamed.

"Excuse me," Harry interrupted, "If I've done anything wrong, it's for the court to decide, but how do you justify your merciless killings?"

Voldemort looked straight at him, "I killed my father because he was indirectly responsible for my mother's death. Myrtle came in the way, same for Diggory. I still regret their death. Lily died to protect you. That's a motherly love, not my fault. I just wanted to destroy the boy whose parents defied me thrice. The prophesy forced me to do it. I never wanted to die. It could have been Neville Longbottom too. Choosing you was the worst decision, which led to my downfall."

Fudge frowned.

"I just wanted a better life for wizards and wanted to protect them from extinction. I demand justice for myself," Voldemort ended his defense as the jury dived into an extensive discussion.

I sat there looking at a man, a character whom I'd definitely never again underestimate.

A/N  1500 words completed.
Written for the Devil's Advocate contest by Fantasy.... Hope you like it... It's a repetition of another story but a bit different.