Trinity; Chapter 3 – The Hearing
A/N: Hello, welcome to Chapter 3 of this tale. This is an alternate parallel to the chapter of the same name in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. I hope you enjoy it…
"You're late," called Fudge as Harry entered the Wizengamot chamber.
"We were only just told that the time and location had changed." Harry responded, he sounded irritated.
"That isn't our concern. Take your seat." Harry's eyes fell on the chair in the centre of the chamber, its arms covered in chains. He uneasily took his seat, the chains didn't bind him. Harry looked up at the people sat in galleries around him. It was like being on the stage. Fudge was sat at a podium directly in front of him.
"Now, seeing as the defendant has shown us the courtesy of actually arriving before us…are you ready?" Fudge called out to his right.
"Yes, sir," called Percy Weasley from the right of the podium.
"Very, well. I hereby call this disciplinary hearing of twelfth of August into actions committed by Harry James Potter of Little Whinging, Surrey, to order. The indictment reads as follows; on the second of August, Harry James Potter cast the patronus charm in the presence of his Muggle cousin. By doing so he violated the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery and the International Statute of Secrecy. Interrogators for today's hearing are myself, Cornelius Oswald Fudge, Minister for Magic; Amelia Susan Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement; Delores Jane Umbridge, Senior Undersecretary to the Minister. Court Scribe – Percy Ignatius Weasley-"
"Witness for the defence, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry," called the esteemed warlock quietly from behind Harry. Harry turned to look at his headmaster, he stood serene. Dumbledore was dressed in flowing midnight blue robes, his silver beard and half-moon spectacles glinting in the torchlight.
The reaction of the members of the Wizengamot was mixed. Harry heard muttering from the body of witches and wizards in front of him. Some looked annoyed, others were looking worried, whilst two elderly witches at the back smiled and waved in welcome at the former Chief Warlock.
For Harry, this was an entirely unexpected development, but a welcome one nonetheless. It gave him strength for what was about to happen next. Fudge looked flustered.
"You – er – got our – er – message that the time and – er – place of this hearing had – er – changed then?"
"I must have missed it but due to a series of fortunate coincidences, I found myself at the Ministry some two hours early on other business. It's good to see you looking so well Harry, if we could have a word when all of this is over."
Harry nodded.
"Yes – well – I suppose we need another chair. I don't suppose – Weasley if you could – "
"Not to worry, not to worry," Dumbledore said pleasantly before conjuring a squashy chintz armchair out of thin air.
"Ah – yes – um – where were we – the charges, the charges are as – "
"Witness for the defence; Anthea Mary Morgan, employee of Gringotts Bank."
Anthea conjured herself an exact replica of her office chair before taking her seat. "Madam, I am sure that this body would like to know how you are relevant to this case?" asked Dumbledore, surprised at this latest development.
"I was told not to tell you about it, but I'm here as a character witness for Mr Potter."
"Told by whom?" asked Dumbledore and Fudge almost simultaneously.
There answer came from behind Harry's seat as the doors to the Wizengamot chamber opened for the second time since the hearing had begun.
"She was told by me. Witness for the defence; Pogrook Pronick, Director of Gringotts Bank, London; Councillor to his Imperial Majesty Ragnuk XVII, Foreign Minister of the Goblin Nation etcetera."
There was a look of unease shared between the members of the Wizengamot as the half a dozen goblin body guards accompanying Pronick assembled two chairs, placing them level with Harry's on the floor of the chamber before standing respectfully behind them.
"His Imperial Majesty sends his greetings Minister Fudge. We have come to see justice being done. I am also here as a character witness for Mr Potter, that is after we have settled a minor matter of bureaucracy which I'll come to in a moment."
Harry looked around the chamber for the third person he had been expecting but saw nobody.
"Hem, hem. Director Pronick, I request that you dismiss your associates," called a small, toad faced woman wearing a pink bow in her hair in a high pitched girlish voice whilst indicating the body guards. "You have no authority to bring them here."
"On the contrary, Madam Undersecretary, I have as much authority to bring them here in the interests of my friends as you do to take up the position of Defence Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts this coming year, despite your lack of experience in the subject and the small matter of failing your OWL when you yourself were a student."
Umbridge looked like she had just swallowed sour milk but pressed on in her high pitched voice; "In the interests of the school, the students and the Ministry, I was the best qualified candidate but, do tell us the identity of this friend you wish to protect."
"That would be me," a disembodied voice echoed throughout the chamber. Harry had to suppress a smile as the Wizengamot looked around for the source of the voice, for a brief moment, Dumbledore's serene look vanished. "Thank you, my Lords, Ladies and gentlemen. Particularly to Director Pronick here for his assistance in bringing me here today and to his lovely assistant Anthea in organising this outing," the voice called jovially, as if he was here to win an award. "It's been too long, to think that last time I was in this room, Harry was still in nappies," the voice reminisced. "Amelia, you are looking well, we must go for a drink in the Leaky Cauldron after this. Minister, it's been a long time since we met face to face, I should thank you for keeping me informed about the world while I was away. Madam Umbridge, how high you have risen, you weren't even a deputy department head when I last was in this wonderful establishment. You'll have to tell me how you find your new job at Hogwarts, a friend of mine recently said it was some of the best time of his life," the voice mocked Umbridge.
"Who are you?" she retorted.
"Oh so impatient…they don't appreciate the wonder of performance. By the way, Mulciber, Parkinson, Avery, Nott, please send your master my greetings upon his return from his fourteen year exile. I hope he's enjoying his new body and his new friend in Wormtail. But to business and I believe that Madam Undersecretary Umbridge asked of my identity, so like a courteous Lord I shall answer, in time. But let me just finish renewing old acquaintances.
Albus, it's good to see you! Tell Molly that to all intents and purposes I'll be home for dinner. I'm so sorry for not telling you about this in advance! Harry, I'm here as promised, so let's begin shall we?"
"My Lords, Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, I present – "
Ever the showman, the newcomer removed his invisibility cloak with a flourish and materialised in the middle of the body of witches and wizards that ruled Magical Britain and with his voice still amplified, announced himself.
"- Witness for the defence; Sirius Orion Black, Lord Black, Head of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black, Friend of the Goblin Nation. I'm here to claim my family seat, to emancipate my godson, to clear my name and then go to have a drink at the Leaky Cauldron with your charming head of the DMLE. Let's begin then shall we? I thought this body made laws and enacted justice, not sat dumbstruck at the sight of a newcomer. So what do you want to do first?"
Harry wanted to hug his godfather.
The first thing Fudge wanted to do was shout "seize him" before appearing triumphantly appearing on the front page of the Daily Prophet under the headline "Minister captures mass murderer!"
Dumbledore wanted to give Sirius a good telling off and send him back to Grimmauld Place with his tail between his legs.
Umbridge wanted to call the Dementors and have the intruder kissed.
Amelia Bones didn't know whether to be shocked or amused.
Pronick and Anthea, both having some experience of the Muggle world, wanted to leave and get some popcorn before returning to watch the drama unfold.
Fudge acted first.
Fudge acted first without remembering the presence of Pronick's bodyguards.
Fudge shot a stunner at Sirius but it was wide of the mark. Sirius erected a shield with a lazy wave of his wand. The goblin body guards formed defensive ring of steel around their Director and Sirius. "Really Minister, you need practise and attacking a Lord, your social superior, in front of the Lords and Ladies of this land? That is nothing but bad form Cornelius." Sirius said with mock incredulity, though he had been expecting it. "I expected a better welcoming committee, no matter, I can make do."
"The only welcoming committee you should expect, Black, is from the Dementors at Azkaban who are flying here as I speak, on my orders." Umbridge spat at him before sending a patronus message.
"Oh, so you have the authority to direct the Dementors?" Sirius looked like he'd just learnt a new word for the first time. "I would warn you though, they have no prerogative to detain me."
"They have every prerogative, you are an escaped convict."
"You'll find, if you consult the official records, I was never charged and I was never convicted of any crime or sentenced to any length of time in Azkaban. As I was never convicted of any crime, by definition I can't be a convict, escaped or otherwise. Escaping from Azkaban, it may interest you to know, isn't a crime either. I'm an innocent man, with a seat on the Wizengamot and I'm here to provide some help to my godson and my friends among the goblins. His Imperial Majesty is such an interesting fellow, it would do you all some good to arrange a meeting with him.
If you do summon the Dementors, I believe my godson can defend me quite adequately, or are you under the delusion that he is just telling stories? A delusion, no doubt propagated by our esteemed Minister who also insists that Voldemort is still as dead as a doornail. But to business…"
There was an uneasy silence in the chamber before a Ministry interdepartmental memo whizzed into Umbridge's hands.
"It may interest you to know, that the Dementors are coming down here from the Atrium. I'm sure they'll be pleased to see you."
"Not as pleased as I will be to see my godson's patronus." The door opened behind him and a cold sensation enveloped the room. "Ah, perfect timing. Come and get me!"
"EXPECTO PATRONUM!" shouted Harry, speaking for the first time since the hearing had officially started while imagining punching the triumphant smirk on Umbridge's face.
Prongs sprang forth and circled the room at a canter before charging down the Dementors who fled. The ethereal stag then stood sentry in the door way.
"Just in case there was any doubt or confusion, my god-son who is only fifteen, just cast a corporeal patronus before your very eyes."
"Now before we continue this charade of a hearing, I believe Lord Black has a motion to propose," announced Pronick.
"Indeed Director," Sirius gave a short bow. "The Ancient and Most Noble House of Black requests that the Ministry recognise its ward Harry James Potter of the Ancient and Most Noble House Potter as a legal adult."
"On what grounds?"
"On the grounds that you have already unofficially accepted him as an adult," said Pronick.
"We did not. When?"
"When, Minister you gave him his one thousand galleons prize money for winning the Triwizard Tournament the night Cedric Diggory was murdered by Lord Voldemort. As you know, the tournament is specifically for adults, by rewarding him for his efforts in the competition, you inadvertently recognised his adult status, and this is something that magic previously decided when the Goblet of Fire produced his name last year."
"Preposterous."
"Minister, I'm am afraid that upon reflection, Director Pronick is merely recounting the facts." Dumbledore said, looking weary.
"What would be the effect of his emancipation, if it were to be formalised today?" asked Madam Bones.
"His emancipation has already been formalised, I have the appropriate documentation here," replied Sirius, handing Dumbledore, Amelia and Fudge copies of the document.
"We are only asking the Ministry to recognise it. The letters of emancipation have already been recognised by the Goblin Nation. The Goblin Nation would advise that you follow our lead. If you insult Mr Potter or Lord Black or should you refuse to recognise the facts, there will be dire consequences for those involved. Not just of a financial nature."
"You have no right to make demands in this chamber, goblin," called Umbridge.
"That would be 'Director Pronick' to you madam. I am not making demands, I am sending you a warning, from his Imperial Majesty himself. Do not take it lightly. Ignore us at your peril."
Fudge and many members of the Wizengamot saw visions of empty vaults, sneering goblins and resignation letters followed by a new peace treaty. Fudge saw an opportunity and took it.
"Of course Director, we would not wish to offend his Imperial Majesty and we recognise Mr Potter as an adult. He will be treated as such by this chamber."
"I guess that voids the charge on underage magic." Sirius said to nobody in particular.
"Strike it from the record Weasley."
"Yes, Sir."
"Now, seeing as the dramatics are over, let us continue."
"If I might request an adjournment Minister?" Dumbledore asked cordially.
"No Dumbledore, I have a schedule to keep." For once, Harry was on Fudge's side, he was enjoying keeping his headmaster in the dark for once rather than the other way around. Fudge turned to look at Harry. "Mr Potter, you conjured a patronus in front of your Muggle cousin on the night of August the second did you not?"
"Yes, but-"
"In full knowledge that you were acting contrary to Section 13 of the International Statute of Secrecy?"
"Yes, but-"
"You were aware you were in a Muggle area?"
"Yes, but-"
"You were aware that you were in close proximity to a Muggle?"
"Yes, but I only did it because-"
But Harry was cut off again by an irate Minister. "Now I'm sorry I'm going to have to curtail a carefully rehearsed story but-"
"I ONLY DID IT BECAUSE OF THE DEMENTORS!" Harry roared, the magic cascading off him like waves on a pond. Sparks of magic came from his fingertips.
"Dementors? In Little Whinging?" queried Amelia Bones.
"That's absurd." Fudge insisted. "Why would Dementors be in Surrey of all places? Dementors are under Ministry control."
"Are they really Minister? Then who ordered the attack on my god-son, was it the Ministry or was it somebody else?" Sirius declared.
"You have no witnesses, highly convenient that Muggles cannot see Dementors isn't it."
"We do in fact, have a witness, other than young Dudley Dursley."
"I haven't got time to listen to any more absurdities. I want this over as quickly as possible."
"The Wizengamot Charter of Rights clearly states the right of the accused to present witnesses in their defence. Does it not Madam Bones?"
"Indeed."
"Oh very well. Who is this person? Have you brought her with you? I can't be sitting here all day."
"She is waiting outside, shall I-"
"No, Weasley, go and bring her in."
Percy returned moments later with Mrs Figg in tow, who was still wearing her carpet slippers.
"Full name please."
"Arabella Doreen Figg," she said in a quavery voice.
"And who exactly are you?" Fudge asked in a bored and lofty voice.
"I'm a resident of Little Whinging…"
"Not a very convincing witness," Fudge announced after Mrs Figg's testimony.
"She accurately described a Dementor attack. Why would she come forward if it had never happened, she knows of our world and what is in it." Amelia Bones retorted.
"Madam Bones, two Dementors in a Muggle suburb just happening across a teenage wizard? The odds are astronomical."
"I don't think anybody here is assuming it is a coincidence. Why would two Dementors be so far south if they are meant to be guarding a prison in the North Sea?"
"What are you implying Dumbledore?"
"That they were ordered there."
"Dementors are only take orders from the Ministry." Fudge said confidently.
"If it is true that Dementors only take orders from the Ministry and it is also true that two Dementors attacked Mr Potter in Little Whinging then the only logical conclusion is that a person or persons within the Ministry ordered the attack. Of course, they could have been sent by somebody else." Dumbledore left the supposition hanging in the silence of the chamber. "Cornelius, I implore you to see reason." Dumbledore retorted.
"He's not back Dumbledore." Fudge replied, he sounded strained. Dumbledore sighed, dismayed at Fudge's persistence.
"If you are willing to ignore the fact that Voldemort has returned then you must ask yourself who ordered the attack, that is why the House of Black will be expecting a full, thorough and independent investigation into why, two Dementors were so far from home and so close to Harry Potter and his Muggle relatives." Sirius declared.
"The Goblin Nation will carry out its own investigation into the matter. If Dementors can freely come and go from Azkaban then our safety is at risk," declared Pronick.
"All Dementors are under Ministry control, following Ministry directives."
"So undoubtedly, the Ministry will be conducting a full scale inquiry into why they were so far from Azkaban and attacked without authorisation." Dumbledore said genially.
"It is not for you to decide what the Ministry does or doesn't do," snapped Fudge.
"Of course not," Dumbledore said mildly, "I am merely expressing my confidence that this matter will not go uninvestigated."
"I would like to remind everyone that we are here to investigate Mr Potter's actions, and not the actions of Dementors under Ministry control that may or may not have been present on that night. The Dementors are irrelevant."
"Of course they are relevant Minister. Section Thirteen, Subsection Seven of the International Statute of Secrecy clearly makes allowances for the use of magic before Muggles in life threatening situations."
"We are familiar with that particular piece of legislation thank you very much," snarled Fudge.
"So you'll have to agree that the use of the patronus charm in this case falls under said piece of legislation."
"If there were Dementors."
"You've heard it from an eye-witness."
"If you like, I can provide testimony as well," said Pronick.
"What would the Director of Gringotts Bank have to do with this?"
"I reviewed the echo of Mr Potter's magical signature after the events of August the second using Goblin magic on Mr Potter's wand. I can of course replay it for you."
"Do it. If an eyewitness account isn't enough…" Sirius said, exasperated at the inability of Fudge to believe the truth.
Pronick asked Harry to place his wand on a dais Sirius had conjured for such a purpose before waving his long bony fingers over it while muttering in Gobbledygook. The members of the Wizengamot were then faced with a life-sized projection of the events of August the second. They watched as the projected Dementors attempted to kiss Dudley Dursley, only to be charged down by Harry's patronus. The echo ended with the arrival of Mrs Figg.
"As you can see, there were Dementors that night in Little Whinging and Mr Potter cast a patronus charm with the intention of saving his Muggle cousin." Pronick summarised before replaying the echo.
"Why should we believe you, goblin?" Umbridge called.
"Madam that would be 'Director Pronick' to you, and you should believe what is being shown before you because it is undeniably the truth."
"Are you satisfied?" asked Sirius.
"Memories can be falsified." Cornelius declared.
"This is no memory. It's a magical echo, the likes of which I have never seen before. It is a remarkable piece of magic." Dumbledore exclaimed while studying the projected echo. "This is much more effective than our own efforts at spell replication, such as with Priori Incanto."
"If you doubt this new evidence, I'm sure that Mrs Figg wouldn't object to being questioned again." Sirius said, furious at the fact that Fudge was trying to find facts to fit whatever story he had planned for Harry's demise.
"I'm sure she would be quite happy to." Dumbledore chimed in.
"It's – I want this over today Dumbledore – and there's the small matter of Britain's most wanted man appearing before us."
"Oh come on Minister. If I wanted Harry dead, he would have died two and a half years ago. But then he is also my god son. Why would I want to kill my god son? And if I was in league with Voldemort, well he'd be here already, seizing power from you. Focus on the truth, and the facts please."
"Have you heard the amount of cock-and-bull stories that have come from his mouth Black? The hover-charm performed at his house four years ago-"
"That was a house-elf!" Harry exclaimed.
"You see? A house elf, in Muggle suburbia? I ask you."
"The house elf in question is currently employed at Hogwarts. He can be summoned in an instant."
"I have not got the time to listen to house elves…then there's the matter of him blowing up his aunt two years ago."
"If I might remind you Minister, you very kindly decided not to press charges in that case."
"And I haven't even got on to what happens when he's at school."
"Harry's education, and his actions at Hogwarts have no bearing in this case. It is not Ministry business to punish students for misdemeanours committed at school."
"Not our business? Really."
"Neither does the Ministry have the power to expel Hogwarts students, nor does the Ministry have the authority to confiscate wands without charges against the accused being successfully proven. I reminded you of these facts on the night of the second of August. In your admirable attempts to uphold the law, you seem to have inadvertently broken laws yourself."
"Laws can be changed if necessary."
"Indeed they can. Why in the few short weeks since I left the Wizengamot, it's become common practise to hold a full scale criminal trial before the entire Wizengamot to deal with a small matter of breaking the Statute of Secrecy in front of a Muggle whose late maternal aunt was a witch and whose nephew who now lives with him is a wizard!" Fudge was now turning purple.
"And just as laws can be changed, so can currency, I would like to remind you that under the treaties of 1707 and 1720, the Goblin Nation has full control over the distribution and value of the galleon. Should we lose faith in the British Magical Government, we would look to invest our gold elsewhere. Your currency would be devalued as quickly as you could say 'guilty', your government would cease to function within hours, your economy would collapse by dinner time and Voldemort would return within days. Magical Britain would be ruined. You have ceased to care about your goblin neighbours, we can look after ourselves, but if we stopped caring about you wand bearers, you would be finished." Pronick said, menace filling his words.
"Let's hope things don't get as bad as that. I for one would be disappointed, along with most of the civilised magical community." Sirius added as an afterthought.
Fudge looked like a giant raspberry.
"All I can add is that it is not the job of this body to judge Harry on every spell he's ever cast, every charm he has performed and every hex he has ever fired. We have presented his defence and we now await your verdict." Dumbledore finished, before putting his fingertips together and rested his chin upon them, whilst the Wizengamot held whispered conversations. Dumbledore was watching Harry carefully before turning his attention to Pronick. Sirius was glaring at Umbridge.
Harry mentally debated with himself whether he should have said a bit more to prove his case instead of relying on others, he hadn't really said much.
Fudge checked a small gold fob watch before clearing his throat. "All those in favour of finding the accused guilty of the charge on the indictment?"
Umbridge, and around a dozen other witches and wizards in the chamber raised their hands. Anthea made a brief note of their names.
"And all in favour of clearing the accused of all charges?"
Most of the remainder of the chamber raised their hands.
"Any abstentions?"
A dark haired wizard three rows back and a cluster of witches on the far right raised their hands. Fudge looked very uncomfortable.
"Very – very well. You have been found not guilty by this chamber Mr Potter. You are free to go."
"Excellent." Dumbledore declared, vanishing his armchair. Sirius punched the air. Harry could only feel relief, it was like he had stopped holding his breath and relaxed.
"I must be going. Harry, Anthea will help you with any arrangements with your properties and the like, I place her at your disposal. She is yours to command. I would like to meet with you again before the end of the week, Professor Dumbledore, Lord Black, the same applies to you. Expect an eagle from me, sometime today." Pronick declared, Anthea nodded and moved to stand with Harry while Pronick's guards dismantled the chairs and marched out after their Director.
"I must also be elsewhere. Harry, I'll be in touch, I believe Molly is expecting you both back at Headquarters, Sirius." Dumbledore followed Pronick with a swish of his robes. The old wizard was deep in thought. He desperately wanted a meeting with Pronick, the engineer of the disruption of Harry's hearing. But the goblins appeared to be on Harry's side, protecting him. It couldn't hurt to have more allies against the Dark Lord. The goblins were fierce fighters who were happy to take calculated risks. Yet it upset the grand plan…
Harry hugged his godfather before Sirius was called over by Madam Bones, her eyes twinkling behind her monocle.
"Welcome back Lord Black. Before you go, if you wouldn't mind stopping in my office, you need to provide a statement of your innocence under Veritaserum."
"Charming as ever Amelia. Only if we go to the Leaky Cauldron afterwards." He shot her a grin.
"How presumptuous. Make it lunch and you're on."
"Half-past one suit you?"
"Fine by me, the sooner we get you completely exonerated, the more time I'll have to eat."
"Best get going then."
"Anthea, do my god-son a favour and take him shopping. He's the head of an Ancient and Most Noble House and he's dressed in a borrowed linen suit which I know for a fact has a large hole in the breast pocket. Let's all meet up for lunch." And then the showman departed.
"Looks like we are stuck with each other then. Madam Malkin's, Twilfit and Tattings or somewhere else?" Anthea asked.
"Apart for school uniform, I've never been clothes shopping in my life…"
"There's always a first time."
"Do we have to go to Diagon Alley?"
"I'm afraid so, if anything we need to reopen your family vault and if you want to go shopping in Muggle London then we'll have to go to the Bank to change your galleons into sterling."
"Let's get this over with then, but let's go shopping in Muggle London, I've never really seen it."
"We'll start shopping after lunch then, otherwise we won't manage to meet your god-father."
"Sounds like a plan."
A/N: Well what do you think of that? Personally I think it's one of the better chapters I have written. Chapter 4 to come as soon as it can be written. Please leave some feedback using the buttons and boxes below!
