Ayame and her fellow Leaf ninja followed Mr. Weasley up to the three rooms that were set up for them. Once he headed back downstairs they gathered in the room that Kakashi, Neji, and Shikamaru were sharing. The other three boys and Akamaru were in another room and Ayame and Sakura were sharing a room being the only girls on the team.
"This mission is so troublesome," Shikamaru sighed.
"I agree with you on that," Neji said. "Tenten threw a set of kunai at me when I told her that I'd be gone for a year to a foreign country to protect a bunch of kids."
"That's probably because you're leaving her alone to rearrange your wedding," Sakura said chuckling.
"Shika's mainly upset he won't be able to be there for Kurenai-sensei when she gives birth," Ayame said leaning her head on Shikamaru's shoulder. He huffed and ruffled her hair slightly knowing she hated it. Ayame smacked his hand away and Kiba felt a surge of jealousy at the obvious affection between the two of them. "Anyway Kakashi-sensei, what are we going to do about Harry's trial tomorrow?"
"What did I tell you about calling me sensei?" Kakashi asked.
"That we're on the same level now so I don't need to call you sensei anymore. It's a habit I've had for years and will take longer than a week to break."
Kakashi quirked an eyebrow at her before saying, "We need to be able to know what's going on in case something happens and we need to interfere, however, we cannot physically be in the hearing even with a genjutsu."
"We could summon Pakkun, Gamakichi, or someone," Naruto suggested.
"While I'm surprised that something intelligent came out of your mouth for once," Sasuke said. "How would their presence be explained?"
"Pakkun could probably pull off the lovable stray that followed them," Sakurasaid.
"But there's the issue of us getting the information about an attack in time to get into the fight so we can do our job," Kibapointed out.
"We don't know what barriers are around their Ministry so using my Byakugan might be difficult," Nejisaid.
"What's your range with that jutsu Ayame?" Shikamaruasked.
"I can go around the village with it fairly easily but it's a little more difficult if I go underground with it," Ayamesaidafterthinkingforamoment.
"What jutsu?" Narutowondered.
"Why don't we test it out?" Kakashisuggested. "Arthur told me how he was planning on getting to work tomorrow."
"What jutsu?" Naruto whined. Ayame just rolled her eyes while Kakashi gave her the directions.
Ayame adjusted herself so that she was sitting cross legged on Shikamaru's bed. Her left hand rested palm up on her knee and her first two fingers on her right hand rested on her closed right eyelid. Sand gathered in her open palm swirling around until it formed an eyeball. As soon as the Third Eye was connected, she crushed the Eye into grains of sand. Ayame floated the sand out the window and along the route that Kakashi had given her. By the time she saw the telephone box that served as the entrance to the Ministry her vision was starting to go fuzzy around the edges. If she used more chakra it would clear up but now wasn't the time.
Ayame dismissed her jutsu and opened her eyes. "How'd it go?" Kakashiasked.
"I wouldn't be able to do it from here," Ayamereported." My vision was going fuzzy by the time I reached the entrance with the normal amount of chakra that I use. Plus the Ministry is underground so that complicates things."
"Alright so you'll go with them as far as the entrance and then follow them with your Third eye," Kakashisaid. Ayame nodded in agreement.
"You can do the Third eye?" Naruto asked. Ayame nodded and Naruto looked nervous as if he was worried he was spied on in the village.
"Don't worry I don't spy on you Naruto," Ayame said. When Naruto relaxed she smirked. "Though I wouldn't tell you if I did." Shikamaru and Kiba laughed and the terrified look on Naruto's face.
"Well now that that is taken care of we should probably get some rest to easier adjust to the large time difference," Kakashi said. Everyone headed off to their rooms.
In the morning Harry headed down to the kitchen expecting it to be empty but instead he saw Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Sirius, Lupin, Tonks, and two of the guards, Kakashi and Ayame as though they were waiting for him. Mrs. Weasley jumped up and headed to the fire as Tonks greeted Harry.
"I've b-b-been up all night," Tonks said yawning. "Come and sit down…" She pulled out a chair and the one next to it should have been knocked over as well but something caught it before it fell more than halfway. It then righted itself but no one had their wand out. Ayame though was watching the chair as it moved and when she saw Harry looking at her, she smiled slightly. He suddenly had the craziest idea that she had been the one to catch the chair but he couldn't see how since he could see both of her hands resting on the table.
"What do you want Harry?" Mrs. Weasley asked. "Porridge? Muffins? Kippers? Bacon and eggs? Toast?"
"Just- just toast, thanks," Harry said not really feeling like eating much.
"What were you saying about Scrimgeour?" Lupin asked Tonks and Harry saw Ayame turn towards his former professor. Mrs. Weasley placed some toast in front of him and he lost track of the conversation as he tried to eat it.
"How are you feeling?" Mr. Weasley asked Harry who just shrugged unable to say anything. "It'll all be over soon. In a few hours' time you'll be cleared. The hearing's on my floor in Amelia Bones' office. She's Head of the Department of Law Enforcement and she's the one who'll be questioning you."
Harry noticed the guards seemingly file that information away as Tonks said, "Amelia Bones is okay, Harry. She's fair, she'll hear you out."
"Don't lose your temper," Sirius said. "Be polite and stick to the facts."
"The law's on your side," Lupin added quietly as Harry nodded. "Even underage wizards are allowed to use magic in life-threatening situations."
After Mrs. Weasley tried and failed to make Harry's hair lie flat, Mr. Weasley checked his watch and said, "I think we'll go now. We're a bit early, but I think you'll be better off there than hanging around here."
"Okay," Harry said standing up. He was surprised when Ayame stood up as well.
"Ayame will be coming with us," Mr. Weasley explained and Harry felt a surge of irritation and anger. So the guards were there to guard him for why else would one of them be accompanying him to his hearing. The least they could do was be honest about why they were really there.
Ayame and Kakashi felt Harry's anger and exchanged a look. "Looks like he's noticed we're here to protect him and he isn't happy about it," Ayamesaid.
"Do try not to lose your temper with him," Kakashi said smirking under his mask.
Ayame cocked an eyebrow at him, "I highly doubt he'll push me that far." Kakashi smiled slightly knowing that was true. Few things could piss Ayame off and none of which Harry knew.
Ayame performed a quick genjutsu that would hide her from all those who hadn't seen her before. Harry said his goodbyes and Tonks, Lupin and Sirius wished him good luck before they left.
They headed to the Underground station where Harry was extremely surprised that no one even aw Ayame. Apparently she sensed his confusion as on the train she whispered in his ear that she had done an illusion so that only he and Mr. Weasley could see her. When they reached the visitor's entrance, after a heart stopping moment where Mr. Weasley seemed to be lost, Ayame stepped off to the side.
"This is as far as I'm going to be going," Ayame said as she sat cross legged by the heavily graffittied wall. "It would be for the best if I didn't physically enter the Ministry."
Harry was extremely confused and was even more confused when she shut her eyes, put two fingers over one eye, and sand of all things gathered in her open palm. He jumped back in shock when the sand formed an eyeball that looked right at him. Mr. Weasley stared in shock as well.
"You can head in now," Ayame said her eyes still closed. "Don't worry no one else will see the eye and you'll only see it if you're looking for it."
Mr. Weasley nodded and he led harry into the telephone box, the Third Eye following. Ayame watched as Mr. Weasley dialed six, two, four, four, two and Harry pinned the badge to his chest as they went underground. The Third Eye darted around taking everything in, including the fountain that Ayame found strange and Harry's security inspection. In the elevator the Third Eye was stabbed by a paper airplane that came out of nowhere and made Ayame's real eyes water. When almost everyone had left the elevator, Ayame's charge was led out of the elevator by Mr. Weasley. Ayame listened to Mr. Weasley's conversation with Kingsley, well rather read their lips, and learned that Kingsley was a member of the Order. Ayame started to get bored while Mr. Weasley and Harry sat in Mr. Weasley's tiny office, though the news of the regurgitating toilet was both gross and something she could almost see Naruto doing. Her boredom was shattered when Mr. Weasley's officemate showed up in a panic with the news that Harry's trial time and location had been changed.
They hurried to the lifts, with Mr. Weasley extremely harried. The Third Eye followed them down a dark hall at the depths of the Ministry until Harry and Mr. Weasley stopped outside a dark door with a large iron lock. Mr. Weasley explained that he wasn't allowed in so Harry walked in alone besides Ayame's eye that he'd looked for just to see if it was still there. It followed him to his seat where the eye drifted off, so that it could get a better spot to see everything, at least that's what Harry figured. It was strange but knowing that the guard was watching was almost comforting and he had the feeling that if something were to go wrong, Harry believed that Ayame would be where her eye was almost immediately.
Ayame watched the portly man in the center start speaking and immediately disliked him. "The accused being present – finally – let us being. Are you ready?" She looked over at who he was talking to and noticed a redhead that looked to be related to the Weasleys. Jackass, as Ayame called the man in the middle, continued speaking, "Disciplinary hearing of the twelfth of August into offense committed under the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery and the International Statute of Secrecy by Harry James Potter, resident at number four, Privet Drive, Little Whinging, Surrey. Interrogators: Cornelius Oswald Fudge, Minister for Magic-"
So that's his name, Ayame thought disgusted that such an idiot was leading the people.
"Amelia Susan Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Dolores Jane Umbridge, Senior Undersecretary to the Minister. Court Scribe, Percy Ignatius Weasley-"
So he is a Weasley, but what's he doing here in Fudge's pocket though?
"Witness for the defense, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore."
So that's our client, Ayame thought watching an old man with long silver hair and beard and spectacles enter the room. She watched the reactions of the court making note of those who seemed to be against or with Dumbledore. Fudge was completely flustered, Ayame noticed with satisfaction. She'd only read five sentences from his lips and already didn't even like him. They exchanged terse greetings, will Fudge was terse and sputtering while Dumbledore was cheerful.
Dumbledore conjured up a chair and sat down. After a moment Fudge composed himself and started to read the charges off a piece of paper. "The charges against the accused are as follows: That he did knowingly and in full awareness of the illegality of his actions, having received a written warning from the Ministry of Magic on a similar charge, produce a Patronus Charm in a Muggle-inhabited area, in the presence of a Muggle, on August the second at twenty-three minutes past nine, which constitutes an offense under paragraph C of the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery 1875, and also under section thirteen of the International Confederation of Wizards' Statute of Secrecy.
"You are Harry James Potter, of number four, Privet Drive, Little Whinging, Surrey?" Fudge asked before asking Harry several rapid fire questions without allowing the accused to explain himself. The witch that had been identified as Madam Bones asked Harry questions about his Patronus, whatever that was. Ayame just wanted them to get back on track as it didn't matter what form his Patronus took and it would've been better if that had stayed a secret so not to give his identity away when he used that spell.
Harry got them back on track by saying, "I did it because of the Dementors!"
"Dementors?" Madam Bones asked raising her eyebrows. "What do you mean boy?"
"I mean there were two Dementors down hat alleyway and they went for me and my cousin."
Ayame actually snarled when she saw Fudge start making it seem as though Harry was spinning a fanciful tale. She smiled dangerously when Dumbledore brought in a witness to support Harry's story who at first wasn't very convincing but then that all changed when she described what the Dementors did. Ayame didn't like the sound of those creatures even though she could block off her emotions, being forced to relive her worst memories did not sound appealing. She continued reading the pompous idiot's lips.
"But Dementors wandering into a Muggle suburb and just happening to come across a wizard?" Fudge snarled disbelievingly. "The odds on that must be very, very long, even Bagman wouldn't have bet-"
"Oh I don't think any of us believe the Dementors were there by coincidence," Dumbledore said.
"And what's that supposed to mean?" Fudge asked.
Someone ordered them there you nitwit, Ayame thought and would've rolled her eyes if they weren't closed. She smirked when Dumbledore told Fudge what she had just been thinking just without the insult.
"I think we might have a record of it if someone had ordered a pair of Dementors to go strolling through Little Whinging," Fudge snapped.
"Not if the Dementors were taking orders from someone other than the Ministry of Magic these days," Dumbledore said. "I have already given you my views on this matter Cornelius."
"Yes you have and I have no reason to believe that your views are anything other than bilge Dumbledore. The Dementors remain in place in Azkaban and are doing everything we ask them to."
"Then we must ask ourselves why somebody within the Ministry ordered a pair of Dementors into that alleyway on the second of August."
The witch to the right of Fudge, who had been leaning back in the shadows, sat forward and Ayame instinctively checked for Naruto's chakra as the woman looked so much like a toad she thought one of her teammate's summonings had gone wrong.
The woman, that Fudge identified as Dolores Jane Umbridge, said, "I'm sure I must have misunderstood you, Professor Dumbledore. So silly of me. But it sounded for a teensy moment as though you were suggesting that the Ministry of Magic had ordered the attack on this boy." She and a few others laughed.
"If it is true that the Dementors are taking orders only from the Ministry of Magic, and it is also true that two Dementors attacked Harry and his cousin a week ago, then it follows logically that somebody at the Ministry might have ordered the attacks," Dumbledore explained patiently. "Of course, these particular Dementors may have been outside of Ministry control-"
"There are no Dementors outside of Ministry control!" Fudge snapped and Ayame sighed in exasperation. This trial was taking forever and she was starting to feel the drain on her chakra. Ayame watched the trial growing increasingly frustrated as Fudge brought up old offenses but refused to listen to other witnesses or that he hadn't pressed charges for one of Harry's aunts being blown up. Ayame was curious as to what the story behind that one was.
Dumbledore, after telling Fudge that what Harry did at school was none of the Ministry's concern, said, "The Ministry does not have the power to expel Hogwarts students, Cornelius, as I reminded you on the night of the second of August. Nor does it have the right to confiscate wands until charges have been successfully proven, again as I reminded you on the night of the second of August. In your admiral haste to ensure that the law is upheld, you appear, inadvertently I am sure, to have overlooked a few yourself."
When Fudge countered that laws could be changed, Dumbledore said, "Of course they can. And you certainly seem to be making many changes, Cornelius. Why, in the few short weeks since I was asked to leave the Wizengamot, it has already become the practice to hold a full criminal trial to deal with a simple matter of underage magic! As far as I'm aware, however, there is no law yet in place that says this court's job is to punish Harry for every bit of magic he has ever performed. He has been charged with a specific offense and he has presented his defense. All he and I can do now is await your verdict."
Ayame was fighting the urge to transport herself into the courtroom to punch the imbecile who wanted to ignore the laws he had sworn to uphold just to convict a fifteen year old boy. She watched when Madam Bones called for a vote and took note of what the seven people, which included the toad and Fudge, who were the only ones who voted against Harry out of the fifty members.
"Very well, very well…" Fudge said controlling his anger. "Cleared of all charges."
