/AN This is as close as I have ever been to finishing a story and felt it was worth putting it out for anyone other than me to read. It takes place in a small pocket of space which is slightly AU. It is where things went different in a few places and drastically changed the outcome. I have 11 out of 12 chapters written and three epilogues mostly finished. It should be a little over 33,500 words. As I sit here writing the AN, my muse fires a thought across the bow for a new original story idea involving my hobby of Amateur Radio. It is trying to distract me. Please enjoy the story. Please remember I am not a Professional Writer, I am a retired Engineer. And I don't own Harry potter, either.
Chapter 1
Trial and Error
Mister Weasley had developed a slightly perplexed look to his face. Then it dropped to a frown as he tried to hurry Harry Potter from the DMLE office to the Ministry Courtroom where the hearing had been rescheduled to be held at the very last minute. Both the time and place had been changed without prior notice. Harry was very close to being late. Mister Weasley was confused and upset because the notification never got to Harry.
Mister Weasley opened the door, "This is as far as I can go, Harry." He then put his hand on Harry's shoulder and eased the young boy through to open doorway, allowing the door to close behind Harry.
As Harry stepped through to door he felt confused for just a brief second when the door closed behind him. That was when the realization hit him that he was standing before a full Wizengamot sitting as a Court. Turning his head he saw the galleries and press box was full of people. Everyone stopped whispering and talking among themselves and turned to stare at him. Minister of Magic gave him a confused look, followed by one of a total surprise that Harry was even there. Yes, both sides were in a totally confused state in the first few seconds of after Harry entered the courtroom.
A women sitting next to Minister Fudge started badgering him immediately for being late and delaying the trial, when he was a bit early or at the worst just in time.
When Harry retorted back without thinking, "The location and the starting time had been changed without any prior notice. I understand your own rules require a confirmation of a 24-hour notice of change. Didn't you just violate the concept of due process of law? I was under the impression that even the Ministry of Magic must follow the law? It is not my fault you can't put out timely notices as required for a hearing in front of a DMLE administration panel. I was after all summoned to appear before a DMLE Administration Board Hearing not a Trial in front of the Wizengamot. "
Then Harry turned to the clerk and asked a very pointed question, "Just when was the change notice owled to me and my Magical Guardian? Could that be why he is not here by the way, not that I really need him here? You do have the confirmed delivery certification from one of us?"
The court clerk started shuffling papers and a paper fell out of his stack and stated: "Here is the notice. It appears it was never sent."
Harry turned the lady all dressed in pink, "Madam before you speak, you need to be assured of your facts. Facts which I have the right to have."
Turning back to watch the Minister of Magic as he address another question to the court clerk, "Just who is the person which failed to do their duty to me and this court?"
The clerk looked and said, "It was Madam Umbridge which filed changed the venue and time. She stated that she would take care of all the notifications. Here is her affidavit where she certified sending notifications to all concerned parties."
The annoying tone from her caught him on his off foot. With her first annoying "Hem-Hem" and got worse with every word she spoke.
Looking at the scene in front of him, Harry realized rather than a simple hearing in front of Madam Bones and two other DMLE officers, Fudge and Ministry now had him on trial with the entire Wizengamot sitting as a jury and the trial started off with him being bullied for things beyond his control even when he wasn't late at all. He caught them in procedural errors. Sure, he stood all alone and had no one to stand as representative in his defense which would be the norm for a full trial.
It just wasn't fair and Harry felt as if he was being bullied. Harry really disliked bullies.
Harry with each beat of his heart, he slowly grew angrier. Not the blow you top off type of anger, it was more the cool calculated anger he recalled when he was caught in the graveyard by Voldemort. It was similar to when the coolly burning of outraged anger when Fakoody attacked him after he returned to Hogwarts. In that battle, Harry had used just seven overpowered spells which drove Crouch to the floor. His final spell was nothing more than a really over powered Stunner. It crashed though Barty Jr's shield and dropped him like a rock. After Harry had stunned him, it took three tries for the Aurors to revive him.
Harry was ready and rather than fight with wands and spells this time he fought with knowledge. Hermione had spent days prepping and drilling him to stand before a hearing board, not a full out, in your face trial. He had no defense representation. He shook inside at the thought for a moment.
Then it dawned on him. They were railroading him. Their real plan was to try him in absentia and he would be found guilty. They would snap his wand and expel him from Hogwarts. It was when he realized why Hermione had explained over and over again to him that he would have a hearing and not a trial. Her voice echoed through his mind: 'Trials are reserved by law only for adults which are accused of crimes, never underage minors. Minors are held for infractions and given administrative hearings. If a minor is accused of a high crime which requires a trial, their adult magical guardian is charged, because the guardian is held responsible for all the actions of their minor charge. If they were to have a trial, they couldn't charge you with Violating Reasonable Restrictions on Underage Magic. Any trial would automatically nullify the charges. Then double jeopardy would come into play and they could not charge you again with the crime a second time and take you before a DMLE administrative hearing for minors because they attempted to try the case as an adult once.'
It had been a close thing until he realized exactly what he knew and the fact they didn't know he knew. Harry gave a small crooked smiled. Not a funny smile. It was the smile of a hunter which has found it prey. A happy thought came to Harry that he had become the not the prey but the hunter and his former hunters was trapped in a public setting which they created and there was no escape for either of them.
When he realized that Fudge elected to place him on trial he nearly panicked. OK, he did panic for a few heartbeats. The last-minute change, left him confused and he all most missed the trial completely. The fact Mr. Weasley had not been allowed into the trial made him feel alone and unsupported. That was how Fudge had wanted him. But he had Hermione's prepping, he wasn't alone, he still had her guidance. Harry had an epiphany. Ever since he had started Hogwarts, Hermione was there, always without fail.
Then he realized that Fudge "Could not have it both ways". Those were the words Hermione kept using. He visualized the paper which Hermione had him study until he knew it like the back of his hand.
He was charged with a violation of "Reasonable Restrictions on Underage Use of Magic" and one count of minor being in Violation of the Statute of Secrecy. Both charges required a hearing, not a trial. By giving him a trial in front of the full Wizengamot, sitting as a court for underage magic nullified those very charges. Shot down in front of the very people that elected him, Fudge would rue this day.
The trial started. It was called to order by Minister Fudge, because Dumbledore wasn't there. Procedural Error number two: The trial should have been led by the Associate Chief Warlock.
One minute into the trial, the Ministry's clerk read the charges. Two minutes later Harry stated, "I will not enter a plea in this case, because the charges are null and void!" That simple was declaration left the Wizengamot silent. The clerk watched the quills transcribe the record reading the transcription before he realized what was said.
Just three minutes into the trial, Harry had both Madam Umbridge and Fudge on the ropes exposing their total incompetence and idiocy, for all to see. Even the Dark Families which generally supported Fudge were stifling their laughs behind their hands.
Ten seconds later Fudge stood right after the dead silence had descended in the court.
Seconds after Fudge stood speechlessly trying to answer the boy, when the toad-like woman, Umbridge, who was wearing an ugly pink sweater asked him, "Hem-Hem! Why do you feel 'the Charges are null and void' Mister Potter?" with a sneer and laugh.
So Harry explained it to her, in very simple words.
In just a few sentences Harry had brought up the facts for her and decimated the Ministry's case against him.
Harry started with a calm voice, "One: The Ministry through their own Tri-Wizard Tournament had declared me an of age wizard and forced me to compete when in the Ministry sponsored event. Ministry's own rules allowed only of age wizards and witches to enter and to be picked to compete. Since the charges were for violation of Reasonable Underage Restrictions, the charges didn't pertain to me, no more than it could apply to any other adult wizard. They just didn't apply to him, he was 'of age' by a declaration of a not just one but three representatives of the Ministry of Magic. Minister of Magic Fudge makes it a fourth Ministry Official when he gave me the prize money for winning the competition."
Taking a moment for the Wizengamot members to process that information, before moving on to the next point. Harry watched as most of the heads in the Wizengamot nodded in agreement with his argument and logic.
Taking a second breath and formulating the next argument, "Two: The Muggle that witnessed his magic was my own cousin. He is a member of the family with which I live. Those immediate family members are already cleared for knowledge of the magical world. So any charges for performing Magic in front of Muggles were also automatically 'null and void'. Would any member of this body tolerate being charged for performing magic in front of family members which were squibs?"
Taking a small pause for effect while allowing for the Wizengamot to think about what he just said, "Three: Madam Umbridge, is it? Reasonable Restrictions for Under Age Use of Magic charges are always taken care of in an administrative hearing in front of the three panel set of administrators from the DMLE. Only adults are charged and held to trial in front of the Wizengamot. Thus by just attempting to try me for this specific charge in front of the Wizengamot you have declared be again an Adult. Ergo any charges of Underage Magic are just 'null and void'. Just the same as the charges for performing magic in front of Muggles are just 'null and void'. Madam Umbridge and members of the Wizengamot, do you understand what the words 'You can not have it both ways' mean? "
The members of the Wizengamot roared with laughter at Umbridge and Fudge.
Harry then stated, "As a wizard of age, I charge that it is you and the Minister which should be investigated and charged with incompetence and corruption in attempting to bring charges against me in an attempt to expel me from school and ruin any future I have in the magical world."
Fudge pounded his gavel and ordered the charges dismissed. Harry counted and demanded the fact he was ever charged be expunged from his record and require a published apology for the Ministry and the Minister for wrongful prosecution in the Daily Prophet. The Wizengamot moved and voted for full a expunging of his record and the apologies by the Minister to issued and published.
Harry then attempted to offer up Vertiserum testimony or Pensive memories of the last event in the Tri-Wizard competition as well as testimony about the Dementors in Surry over the last month. That's when Umbridge screamed out, "Arrest him and immediate incarcerate him in Azkaban. We will teach the filthy half-blood to respect his superiors and betters"
Harry had enough, turning slowly toward the woman he raised his hand, and the Sword of Gryffindor appeared in his hand, glowing with a flash of red flame traveling down its length. His magic which always was near the surface within easy reach of Harry was now visibly pouring off Harry in waves.
Harry spoke calmly. "Madam Umbridge, do you truly wish a fight? Because that is exactly what you will get from me here and now! Do not call me a liar in public or private again or surely you will suffer the consequences. You may not insult me with impunity, Madam Umbridge. You have broken the rules of this body and the laws of this land, I stand ready to defend my honor, my very nations honor, do you?"
Madam Bones saw two Aurors advancing on Harry as ordered by Madam Umbridge and spoke" Aurors stand DOWN! You do not work for the Undersecretary, and she doesn't have the authority to have you arrest Lord Gryffindor or to send him to prison on her word alone. You will follow the law, and her words are not law. Especially when Mister Potter has just shown he was brought here to answer nothing but an absolute idiocy in the form of this trial. It is not his fault that our highly esteemed Minister and his Undersecretary made such a foolish blunder in front of everyone."
Madam Bones asked calmly. "How and when did you get that sword, Mister Potter."
Harry explained loud enough for all to hear him "I got it when I fought the Basilisk in my second year. I was without my wand and had been running from the Basilisk which had been blinded by Fawkes the Phoenix. The Basilisk had cornered me. As it raised up to strike me, the sword appeared in my hand. I slew the Basilisk with it by using the force of the Basilisk's strike to drive the sword through the roof of its open mouth."
Madam Umbridge snorted when she heard him say that he had killed a Basilisk with a sword.
Harry turned to her again, "Madam Umbridge, if that sound was made in an expression of doubt of my word about the fact that I did slay a basilisk, then I demand a public pensive viewing of that event, or you may retract your claim and apologize in public, now. Or maybe I should demand to be allowed to defend my honor in a Dueling Piste? It is your choice Madam."
Without missing a beat or waiting for an apology, Harry returned to his prior line of thought "I had left it with the Headmaster only because he told me that 'It belonged to the school.' I have since read it belongs to the person that actually had summoned it until they die. As Godric Gryffindor's heir, he had no right to lie to me. What he did was as good as theft of a family heirloom. The funny thing is sword will then hide itself away when I die, until a blood descendant of Godric Gryffindor, which is of good heart and in true need summons it again. I also read that no matter where it is it will return to me when I call it. I also know upon initially summoning it, I also became an adult that day. I also know I am Godric Gryffindor's direct descendant from my father and allotted a seat on this very body today. That means I am Lord Gryffindor and Lord Potter. I know am also the hold the seats on this body belonging to the Perevell line and Potter line and by right of conquest the House of Slytherin. That's at least four or five seats on this body, correct?"
Harry was interrupted with a lot of gavel pounding. Fudge suddenly adjourned the Wizengamot before anything more could come out in public on the record. He and his Undersecretary left quickly in a complete huff before he could lose anymore face in such a public place. As he left he realized today's debacle was in front of all the press that Delores had invited. The press box was full and the public gallery was full, too. Those two groups were very angry, almost as angry as the most of the Wizengamot.
Harry stood on the floor of the Wizengamot calling after Fudge "You are a coward, liar, and fraud. I still offer to show my memories to anyone which wishes to watch, so they will know the truth themselves."
Madam Bones nodded "I will see any memory you want to share Lord Gryffindor. Especially any memory from last June or of the Dementor attack in July. Because the Wizengamot trial has adjourned and we are done here for today, I can not bring it before the Wizengamot until later. I have tried in the past to speak to you, but at every turn, Dumbledore has blocked me." She looked around and called "Hammer, get Rufus. Then round up Shacklebolt and his trainee. Meeting in my office, ASAP. Have someone watch Fudge and Umbridge and their offices. Note all who visits them."
Connie Hammer smiled, "I can get Proudfoot and Lister on it."
Rufus Scrimgeour, standing at the back of the room, nodded in agreement with her selection. While he was in charge of the Auror Division, she was his Day Captain and was in charge of manpower assignments in general. Rufus liked to delegate when possible. He also like to stand in the background and watch his people work. One day Ms. Hammer would take his place.
"Mister Potter, er, Lord Gryffindor this way please," she said as they left the courtroom.
As they exited the courtroom doorway, the two of them picked up Mister Weasley, trailing behind them.
After a dozen steps Madam Bones stopped and asked, "What are you doing Arthur?"
Arthur spoke, "Albus detailed me with bringing Mister Potter to his hearing today and returning him back when it was over."
"Just why is Albus so concerned with one of his students during his holidays, when he couldn't even be bothered to attend the trial. Which brings up the question had Dumbledore been sent notice of change in a timely manner?" asked Madam Bones.
Arthur said, "I was not aware of any change notices. Because Albus Dumbledore is Harry's magical guardian."
Madam Bones spoke softly "Is that so Arthur? Today at his trial Mr. Potter established that the Ministry had officially declared him an adult when he was forced into a magically binding contract last year. A contract which only an of age adult wizard or witch could enter or be bound to compete by magical contract. Then there is another point Arthur, do you see that sword?"
Arthur nodded thinking he had seen that sword before.
"Do you know what him summoning that sword means?" Madam Bones asked with a slightly raised voice not waiting for an answer to her rhetorical question, "It means he is an adult. A full Adult, not emancipated juvenile. He has all the rights of an adult. He hasn't needed permission from Albus to do anything since he summoned that sword at the end of his second year." Madam Bones started sounding irate, "Now you have a job to do, don't you? Potter is no longer your or Albus' business. Go now, shoo!"
Arthur realized the importance of the sword, now and recalled when he had seen it before. He turned and walked quickly back to his desk, and went about his own business. Arthur Weasley spent most of the day thinking his place in the Ministry, the magical world and how he should reevaluate his duties and allegiances. He started worrying about conflicts of interests and how badly Dumbledore might have used him and his family. The fact he should have remembered Harry and that sword made him wonder why he had forgotten it.
Turning to Harry "Come along Lord Potter, we have a few memories to view."
Harry said, "Please call me Harry, Just Harry. I would really like to be just Harry." ask he walked alongside the head of the DMLE.
Madam Bones said as the rode the lift to her office "You will never be a 'Just Harry'. You will always be very remarkable person by your own rights. I saw remarkable in the courtroom today. I doubt many fully grown wizards would want to try to take on the Minister of Magic and his Undersecretary at the same time. However you did and were very successful. A lot of powerful people were there today and you made an impression that you are not a person which to be trifled. What you did was exactly how respect is earned. I brought you points out carefully. You used the rules of the chamber as proficient as the best orator we have. You didn't get overly elaborate. You gave time for your words to be carefully considered."
Harry thought for a minute as they walked, "Who in the Ministry actually has the responsibility for the control of the Dementors?"
Madam Bones replied "They are nominally controlled by DMLE via the Prison Warden, but the Minister has a few delegated to him as a part of his security measures. That is how why Fudge managed to get Crouch Jr kissed so quickly. Well before anyone could question him properly. Why he would have Dementors at the Tri-Wizard competition is still puzzling to many people."
Harry spoke up and said, "Dumbledore did questioned with him using Vertiserum or so he told me. I know Professor Snape is a master brewer and he all the time brewing stuff just for the Headmaster."
Madam Bones stumbled for a moment as she walked. She asked herself 'Did Dumbledore use Vertiserum? Was he having controlled potions made by Snape?'
Harry was thinking and spoke a few thoughts aloud "Could Umbridge have borrowed two Dementors and had them taken or sent to Surry two weeks ago?"
Madam Bones replied after a second of thinking "I will be looking into that now. Until this farce of a trial, I was frozen out of any investigation of the incident."
Joking as they walked along, Madam Bones tried to lighten the air in a joking way, "Just Harry, if I see in those memories half of what Susan has said was rumored to happen at Hogwarts, you are even more remarkable than most could imagine."
As they neared the office Madam Bones said to her secretary/receptionist "Mary, I sent Connie off to collect Rufus, Shacklebolt and his trainee. When they get here, send them right in."
"Right! And Boss, Mad-Eye is out of St Mungo's. He is waiting in your office." Mary replied.