Vernon vs Lucius
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. He and his world belong to J K Rowling.
Dudley and Harry were becoming a handful. Harry could no longer be bullied so badly. If Dudley hit him and no one was looking Harry was apt to return the punch.
Vernon worried the about consequences from the wizards and he told Dudley, "Lay off some on Harry. I don't want that Hagrid freak back. Those freaks have spies. If Harry gets hurt they'll send Hagrid to tear up the house and put pig tails on all of us!"
This was not exactly true but Dumbledore had stopped Vernon on the street and warned that there would be consequences if Harry ever came back to Hogwarts hurt, starved or beaten. There would also be even more dire consequences if Harry did not come back and the wizard had to fetch him.
Vernon wisely decided not to press his luck.
July was hot and the two boys became a handful for Petunia. One hot night she asked for some time alone and asked Vernon to take both boys out for at least a few hours. She was going to steady her nerves and straighten the house.
Vernon asked the two boys to call a truce for the night and come with him while he did a night-time business errand. The boys agreed. Dudley's diet was suspended for the evening. After a bigger dinner than he usually got at the Dursleys, Harry sat in the back of the car by Dudley and they did not fight.
Vernon pulled up by a shabby looking building and parked.
"You boys sit here. This will only take a few minutes," said Vernon.
He took a box of drills and disappeared into the London night.
The car was sitting in front of St. Mungo's hospital. Lucius Malfoy came along and went inside. He was making a Malfoy public relations contribution to the Hospital.
"How did he do that Harry? He just disappeared into the building?" said Dudley.
"He is one of my kind. That building is a hospital for my kind." replied Harry.
"How do you know he is one of your kind," asked Dudley.
"He is a bad one of my kind. His name is Lucius Malfoy. He tried to do a spell to hurt me at school," said Harry. "He got my friend, Hagrid, sent to a prison for my kind and Hagrid was there two months. Hagrid is sorry about the tail, Dudley. He's actually very kind. At school there are people who could have set you right. Madame Pomphrey or Professor McGonagall would have fixed it."
"When dad took me into the hospital to have the tail amputated and they took my clothes off it was gone!" said Dudley. "We felt kind of confused."
"Accidental Magic Reversal at work!" said Harry. "They made you forget they put you right. They put Aunt Marge right when I blew her up. I didn't really know how to put her right. If I had, Dudley, I might have let her suffer for a while but even though I hate her I would have put her right."
"Dad's coming back!" said Dudley.
"Malfoy's coming out. Your Dad's mad and he's looking at Malfoy. Dudley I have a bad feeling about this!" said Harry.
The boys did not know that Vernon and Petunia hated Death Eaters and suspected Death Eaters even more than Harry. Vernon knew exactly what Lucius was but neither of the boys knew that.
"Get off our streets Death Eater!" yelled Vernon.
Lucius started to draw his wand but he was too close to Vernon and Vernon knocked the wand and snake head cane away.
"We fight on even terms Malfoy!" yelled Vernon.
"How dare you Muggle-"
Vernon's first blow cut Lucius off. It quickly developed into a full-scale Muggle street brawl. Lucius and Vernon swore and threw blows. At first it looked like an even fight but Vernon gained on Lucius and though he suffered a lot of blows, Vernon was slowly beating Lucius up.
Harry decided to retrieve Lucius's wand and cane to make sure Lucius didn't retrieve it and use the wand on Vernon so he stepped out of the car. He picked up the cane and wand and started to cheer Vernon on. Lucius was getting the worst of it but clearly not giving up.
"How dare you pick up a wizards wand, Muggle," snarled Lucius. Harry was excited now. He raised Lucius's wand, pointed it skyward and chanted "Periculum!" Red sparks flew into the London sky.
"Potter!" yelled Lucius. "Give me my wand!"
"After my Uncle Vernon has finished working you over!" yelled Harry.
Vernon started to punish Lucius harder while Harry cheered him on.
Dudley stepped out yelling, "Beat that Freak up, Dad!"
Draco came running up. "Stop hurting my dad, Muggle!"
Dudley went after Draco. He was sure he could beat him up. Harry told Dudley to throw Draco's wand away and he picked it up.
Dudley quickly had Draco crying and started calling him a baby. Draco was getting messy fast and Harry decided it wouldn't be fun if Draco really got hurt so he began to stop the fight. When Dudley released Draco he went after Harry. Harry was full of Adrenaline and he tied Draco up.
"Draco we've got to separate my Uncle and your dad or your dad's going to get hurt. Believe me I know how hard my Uncle hits. Let's you, me and Dudley pull them apart!" said Harry. "Dudley you and me will pull on your dad and Draco you pull on your dad."
The boys began to do this and just as they were separating the men up came three disgusted looking Aurors. Healers came running out of St. Mungo's and applied Essenes of Dittany to the four fighters. The green smoke fascinated Dudley.
"We're all going to the Ministry and getting fined!" said the lead Auror. "Muggle dueling in front of St. Mungo's. It's a disgrace to the wizarding world!"
"My Uncle and cousin are Muggles!" said Harry. "I'm a wizard as are the other man and his son."
They were led into the small courtroom.
"Five members of the Wizenagmot are on duty are judges each night to hear minor cases. They will hear your case now," said the Auror.
"Three wizards and two Muggles, who know about our world, were in disgusting Muggle duel in front of St. Mungo's. The boys were pulling the men apart but it looked like two of the boys had fought," said the Auror.
"Anyone want to tell me what happened said the lead judge."
"Harry Potter, sir. The wizards are myself, Lucius Malfoy, and his son, Draco Malfoy. The Muggles are Vernon Dursley and his son, Dudley Dursley. I won't pretend they is any love lost between me and the Malfoys. However the fight began between Lucius Malfoy and my uncle, Vernon Dursley. Uncle Vernon does not allow me to ask questions and I did not know that he knew who Lucius was. Without being able to ask him any questions I can only say there must be an old score between them."
"Which one of you men wants to tell me what caused the fight?" asked the lead judge.
"I know Malfoy was cleared but I know he is a follower of bloody You-Know-Who and you wizards know it, too. He was tried for it and cleared but he wasn't bewitched. He was a willing follower of You- Know-Who. He killed Harry's parents and we got landed with Harry. Do you know how hard it is to raise a wizarding boy with no manual and no telephone number to call when some of his Accidental Magic occurs?" said Vernon.
"If Malfoy's son has an accident he can fix it with magic or call contact Accidental Magic Reversal. You leave me with no help if something goes wrong with his magic so when it does Harry gets punished. I lost a business deal that would have made me a lot of money because on his Accidental Magic."
"How many times have I told you, Uncle Vernon, I did not do that Magic! It was done by Lucius Malfoy's House Elf, Dobby. He was acting under orders. I demand you, sir, clean up my record!" said Harry. "It is no longer a request. Do it or I will approach the Muggle Prime Minister. Too bad he knows so few of our dirty little secrets. You dragged me here and now you will clean up that record!"
"Calm yourself, Harry!" said the judge. "Somebody retrieve the record! We'll take a short break!"
During the break an Auror retrieved the record. Vernon and Lucius shot Harry dark looks. Harry got some pumpkin juice. He got some for Dudley, too. This made Dudley feel better. This cheered Vernon a little because his son felt better.
As court reconvened the judge was looking Harry's record over. "This is a bit of a mess. Nothing really serious. Fred and George make you look like a choir boy."
"You are contending that a House Elf and not you levitated the cake?"
"Yes, sir!" said Harry."
"What have you got to say about the flying car?"
"We used it to go to school because the House Elf, Dobby, sealed the barrier and Platform nine and three quarters. At that time we were unaware we could have simply called the Knight Bus. Ron panicked. I wanted to wait by they car for the Weasleys to come back.
"None of the car use would have happened if the Elf had not interfered. That Elf cost Uncle Vernon a very lucrative business deal. I had absolutely no wish to mess it up. I wanted it to work for him."
"We'll clean this up!" said the judge.
"Thank you!" said Harry. "I need to tell you a little more about the Elf. He went on to interfere with a Bludger at a Quidditch game. Both Draco and I were hurt. Then he came to my beside in the hospital wing and told me everything except the family he served. Toward the end of the year I got a big shock. The Elf walked into Professor Dumbledore's office with Mr. Malfoy. I tricked Mr. Malfoy into freeing him."
"He lost me my servant!" yelled Lucius and started to draw his wand.
An Auror restrained Lucius.
"Is that what he did at school?" asked the judge. "Did he speak any incantation?"
"He started to say 'AVA-' but the Elf knocked him down and backward," said Harry. "He got up and said my parents were meddlesome fools and I'd meet the same sticky end some day. He stomped off."
The judge gave Lucius a stern look.
"Did you attempt to kill Mr. Potter?" he asked.
"I don't have to answer that!" snapped Lucius.
"I can't do anything with it, but you just did. We will watch you, Mr. Malfoy. Step out of line and you'll be arrested," said the judge.
"Vernon, this is not the first time you and Malfoy fought. You had a fight some years ago and we gave you a small fine," said the judge.
"He yelled 'Mudblood' and both Petunia and Lily looked hurt. I thought he ment both of them so I defended my Petunia's honor and got fined for it. The stupid Muggle Prime Minister upheld it. I was just starting out. It took a lot of money to make up that five galleons! I had to forgo getting Petunia a gift I'd planned for her," said Vernon with a hurt look in his eyes.
"Don't either of you boys ever tell my wife she didn't get a gift because Malfoy used foul language."
"I thought Petunia was also a Mudblood!" said Lucius. "Then Dudley is not even a Squib? My boy was beaten by a Muggle! Draco we'll have to discuss this. Letting a Muggle make you cry like a baby."
"Father he is a clever and cunning Muggle. He would be in our house if he was one of us!" protested Draco.
The judge pounded his gavel hard.
"Malfoy, you will not punish your son! Is that clear? I get so sick and tired of you purebloods and your mania. You think you're better and stronger than Muggles and you aren't. Blood status does not matter in my book! As far as I am concerned a person's value as a human being is the same whether he is a wizard or a Muggle. We are all human beings. You all remember that. We separated ourselves for Muggles to stop the murdering inquisitors and witch hunters. You've lost sight of that."
Lucius shot the judge a dark look. Vernon shot him a puzzled look.
"Mr. Dursley that is why we set up the Statute of Secrecy. The witch hunters were killing innocent Muggles! It had to be stopped. We made our existence secret to protect you. We could magic ourselves out if we were taken," said the judge. "Finally, there is the matter that Dudley and Draco fought. Why was that?"
"Draco can running out and Dudley went after him. I told him to throw Draco's wand away and then I encouraged him. Dudley can hit hard and he had Draco crying and bloody in no time," said Harry. "Lucius was a mess. I liked the fight but I did not want anyone seriously hurt so I got Dudley to release Draco. Draco flew onto me but I was not angry with him for it. I just tied him up until he calmed down enough to convince him we need to pull Mr. Malfoy and my uncle apart. Draco pulled on his dad and Dudley and I were pulling on Uncle Vernon and we were getting them apart when the Aurors came and took us all here, after the Healers finished their Essenes of Dittany Treatment."
"Did you fight with anyone, Mr. Potter?" asked the judge.
"No but I did encourage my uncle and my cousin."
"Answer yes or no, did you throw any blows?" asked the judge.
"Potter, never answer a question like that, it is calling for you to make a confession. If you say yes they'll fine you. If you say no they'll say you're lying and fine you. If you say nothing they can do nothing," said Lucius.
"Judicially correct, but with ulterior motives, Mr. Malfoy. Of course I can do nothing if he chooses not to answer. Mr. Potter you don't have to answer. I have a statement from the Healers. They did not treat you. You were in the car when the fight started, is that correct?" asked the judge.
"It is," said Harry.
"Who threw the first punch?" asked the judge.
"Uncle Vernon but you must understand it was a continuation of the fight many years ago," said Harry. "There Lucius spoke a word that cut like a knife, 'Mudblood'. I never knew it was also used to refer to a Muggle."
"Normally it refers to a Mugle-horn. Some of these blood purity fanatics call Muggle-borns Muggles and that is even worse. No one should ever be ashamed of being a Muggle, Muggle-born, Squib or whatever. All you men remember that and you can disbelieve every thing else I say," said the judge.
"Lucius I'm disgusted with you! Maximun fine of five hundred galleons. Don't give me that wounded animal look. I know that is just pocket change for you."
"Must you insult my ears with Muggle terms?" snapped Lucius. "You have wandered from the old way. I have never renounced it!"
"Two hundred galleons more for contempt! You sit down Lucius! And while you're at it, please shut up!" yelled the judge.
"Draco nothing. Sit down by your dad."
"Vernon Dursley, Malfoy has done more damage to you than a fine. Sit down on the other side of the courtroom."
"Harry, nothing, sit down by your uncle."
"Dudley, we know that you like to hurt Harry and we know what you do with your friends. Stop hitting people while you are still out of prison. I've seen the Muggle prisons and there not much better than Azkaban!" said the judge.
"Now there is the matter of how you hit Draco and that you continued to do it after Harry asked you to stop. If you hit a wizard boy enough he will die. If you kill a wizard boy we will ask you Prime Minister for a life sentence at Azkaban. If you kill an Muggle you won't be much better off with your life sentence in a Muggle Prison. Five galleons fine for your serious lack of judgement, the biggest fine I can hand down to a Muggle."
"You can pay the fine now at Gringotts or the Secret Service will call on you in one month for collection. You call appeal to your Prime Minister and he can set the fine aside or uphold it. A form to appeal will be provided at Gringotts if you wish to appeal. The Aurors will escort you and Mr. Malfoy to Gringotts. This court is adjourned." said the judge as he tapped his gavel."
"Every one is free to go except Lucius Malfoy and Dudley Dursley," said the Auror. "They will be escorted to Gringotts to pay their fines, ask for a delay or appeal."
"You're bloody well not taking my son without me!" roared Vernon. "He'll end up in your bloody prison!"
"Actually we can't take him to prison without your Prime Minister's consent. If Dudley can't pay he fills out a form for delayed payment. If he wants to appeal there is a form for that. It usually takes your Prime Minister three months to rule on the appeal and that buys more time."
"I will get five galleons from my account and let Dudley pay his fine," said Harry, "but we'll have breakfast first. Sir, I am demanding that we go somewhere and eat. By wizarding law I can make that demand because you have had us in custody for over six hours and have offered no food to us."
The three of them sat down and had breakfast. The Auror ordered and paid with Muggle money. After breakfast they were taken into Gringotts. Harry spoke to Griphook and got the five galleons.
"Now Dudley we go the teller with the sign Ministry Fines. I'll give you the money you need for the fine."
"The fine parchment!" said the goblin and the Auror handed him a parchment.
"Mr. Dursley are you paying, asking for a delay or appealing?" asked the Goblin.
"I'm paying!" said Dudley, "thanks to my cousin."
Dudley paid the five galleons.
"Keep this parchment for one year. It is your proof of payment. Keeping it in your room will be sufficient. You do not have to take it to school and we would prefer that you do not."
"Those Muggle story books paint an awful picture of us! We consider them libel. Your Prime Minister does not agree and said pulling them would only draw attention to our world. It saddens me that so many Muggle children are frightened of us."
Goblins were clever and Harry thought if they were in Hogwarts they would all be in Slytherin.