Disclaimer I do not own these characters. They are the property of J.K Rowling.
Chapter 4
Half an hour later Harry, was dressed in a semi-formal robe, it was black in color with silver trimming, a Crimson red, Dragonhide belt held the robe tightly at the waste and allowed it to move loosely with his own movements, and it was tighter fitting in the sleeves, Harry's Jet Black hair had grown longer his customary shaggy mop, and now as it reached just below his shoulders.
He found he could clip it formally back in a ponytail in an Elegant style, that was commonplace among the Lords of the Ancient Noble Houses. Harry found he like it this way so he clipped it back, with the Silver Serpent Clip he had found in a small jewelry box that now sat on his bedroom desk. The Desk as Harry discovered was made of Dark Walnut wood and had a number of secret compartments like the one he'd found the jewelry box containing the Serpent-Clip. Deciding he looked the part of a modest, but proper Lord-Of-House.
He apparated to a phone booth in muggle London not far from Diagon Ally, the old phone booth was forever ignored by Muggles as it had been declared out of order for ages, Harry stepped inside it, picked up the receiver, dropped a silver sickle into the coin slot, and dialed the number Mr. Weasley had taught him, a year ago when Arthur had escorted Harry to his hearing for the illegal use of a patronus charm while in the presence of his muggle cousin...
2-6-2-4-4-2... The receiver rang three times and then a cool Female voice spoke, though sounding as if it was coming from the phone booth itself rather than the receiver. "Hello thank you for contacting the Ministry of Magic, please state your business" Harry then spoke, clearly, Court Case, Between Albus Dumbledore and myself Harry Potter, dispute of self-defense. The Machine Clicked and out of the spare change slot, a button reading (Court Case. Albus Dumbledore V. Harry Potter) and the cool female voice, stated "please remember to keep your identification Button pinned visibly to the front of your robes for the duration of your visit."
Harry pinned the button to his robes as the the interior of the phone booth began sliding downward below the sidewalk like an elevator and stopped at level 6, The Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Harry stepped out of the lift, and into the main hallway of the DMLE, and made his way to courtroom 4 as was instructed by the Ministry's summons he'd received that morning. on his way there, he met DMLE Director Amelia Bones who warmly greeted Harry, "Good afternoon Harry, you're looking sharp today, I'll be the presiding judge for your court case against Dumbledore." Harry politely thanked her.
While making their way over to courtroom 4, inquired as to whether the Ministry had any updates regarding Death Eater activities. Amelia thought for a moment and decided what little they knew, wouldn't hurt the boy to know. "All we really have right now, is rumors of Death Eaters sporadically appearing abroad, in France, Germany and Italy, probably hoping to expand their ranks and gain influence throughout much of Europe. additionally those 5 we re-captured during the incident in the DOM, have yet to either succumb to the horrors of Azkaban or give up any useful information on their plans.
Here we are Harry courtroom 4, head on inside to the defendants box and we'll be getting started in 5 minutes." Harry did as asked, and went into the chamber making his way up to the defendants box. Courtroom 4 was much like the rest of the chambet courtrooms of the Ministry, Octagonal in shape, with a very high ceiling, that gave the impression of being at the bottom of an enormous well. Unlike the rest of the Ministry itself which had plush carpet nearly everywhere, people busily going about their jobs and papers of every color constantly flying about everywhere, the Courtroom Chambers offer little in the way of comfort and indeed, the tension was always very tight.
Director Bones, took the Judges stand, while Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, (as he was announced) stepped into the courtroom and made his way over to the Plaintiff's Box. Director Bones, called the court into session pounding the gavel on the surface of the stand. "Everyone please rise, this court is now in session. We are here now to settle this dispute as stated. Albus Dumbledore claimed that Lord Harry James Potter Black, had attacked him while attending a Christmas gathering at the home of the Weasley family. Lord Black, claims he was attacked first by the Plaintiff and responded in Self-defense, through the use of a Tongue-Tying Jinx.
Lord Black further claims the Plaintiff had attempted use of the Imperious Curse..." several gasps were heard among the members of the Wizengamot at this statement. "Not once, but twice in fact. The Imperious Curse is as we all know as one of the unforgivable curses and in a gross majority of cases involving the use of these curses result, in a life sentence in Azkaban Though Mr. Dumbledore claims this to be untrue. Now then will the Defendant please begin his statement?"
Harry nodded at Director Bones, and in a no-nonsense, business tone, stated, "Your Honor, I'd like to get this sorted away quickly, I am a busy man as I am sure all of you are as well, I think the best way to do this efficiently is simple and straightforward, I am willing to submit myself to interrogation under Veriteserum, and then calling my witness to present her testimony via, Pensive." Amelia Bones, looked at Harry, who's expression was one of confidence and mild disinterest in the court proceedings. "That is an acceptable request Lord Potter-Black, does the Plaintiff have any objections?"
Dumbledore looked calm outwordly, but inwardly he was cursing himself for his sudden stupidity, he had not expected the boy to come to court prepared, too late to back out now, he thought wryly. "No Objections your Honor" He replied. Director Bones, then stated, "Alright we will proceed in accordance with Clause 8 regarding the acceptable use of interrogation by force. Jr Undersecretary Percival Ignatius Weasley, shall administer the Veriteserum to the defendant as requested.
Percy walked over to Harry, and gave him the potion, when Harry, had taken it, Percy began the questioning. "On the Night of January 2nd, were you and Albus Dumbledore in fact attending a Christmas gathering at the residence of the Weasley Family, in Ottery Saint Catchpole?" Harry replied without hesitation "Yes" Percy recorded Harry's answer on a piece of parchment, before asking the second question. "Did you attack Albus Dumbledore unprovoked or otherwise?"
Harry answered again without hesitation "no" Percy continued recording the proceedings, "Last Question, were you attacked by Albus Dumbledore, and did he attempt to place you under the Imperious Curse?" Harry replied, "Yes, not only did Albus Dumbledore attempt to place me under the Imperious Curse, but he succeeded in his first attempt, I broke free of the Imperious curse through my own willpower and again Albus Dumbledore attempted to place me the Imperious Curse but I stopped the second attempt by use of a Tongue-Tying Jinx 'Langlock'..."
Percy finished recording the interrogation and administered the antidote to Harry. Director Bones nodded approvingly at Percy, then said, "Very well Lord Potter-Black, you may call your witness" Harry, then said "Ladies and gentlemen of the Wizengamot may I present my witness, Molly Weasley" Molly stepped forward and walked up to the witness stand, and touching the tip of her wand to her temple withdrew a silvery strand of memory, and placed it within the pensive, tapping the Pensive so that it projected the memory above it, large enough for the whole Wizengamot to see.
(Molly walked into the room to see her family standing around the edges of the sittingroom watching as Dumbledore drew his wand and Harry drew his own, Dumbledore pointed his wand at Harry muttered Imperio, Harry rolled sideways but was still hit, suddenly he shook off the Imperious Curse, but Dumbledore tried again with more power, muttering Imperio Maxima but before he got the words completely out of his mouth Harry had shouted "Langlock!" and Dumbledore's wand cancelled the attempted Imperious, Harry walked away and the memory ended)
Director Bones, then addressed the Wizengamot "You all have seen the evidence... now what is the verdict?" a few minutes Bartimus Crouch Sr. the representative serving as Chief Warlock, in place of Dumbledore stood up and said, "The Wizengamot finds Albus Dumbledore guilty of assault, and use of an unforgivable curse, furthermore Mr. Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, is hereby stripped of title of Supreme Mugwump, and relieved of all duties as Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, after seeing obvious proof that Lord Harry James Potter Black was in fact merely defending himself, it is only Dumbledore's status as a public hero that he will not serve time in Azkaban," Director Bones looked satisfied, pounded the gavel on the judges stand once more, and stated "This Court is now in recess." Harry smirked in satisfaction practically reveling in the knowledge that he had just taken Albus Dumbledore down a couple notches.
Dumbledore quickly realized the depth of his foolish decision, and reasoned with himself, that he could not get the boy to see things his way by force, so Dumbledore thought to himself as he headed back to Number 12 Grimauld Place, that he must gain Harry's confidence by showing Harry a bit of trust first, his mind made up, he made a detour and arrived at Black Manor and approached the gates as he had done several times at this point, and watched fascinated as ever as the iron contorted into a hideous imitation of a face and spoke in a loud clanging echoing metallic voice, "State your Purpose" to which Albus promptly replied, "I wish to speak with the Lord Of The House" the gate merely stated "enter" and returned to normal before allowing Dumbledore to go in.
From his study Harry had heard the wards notifying him of his visitor, and with a sigh of exasperation went to find out what the old man wanted this time. "Dobby" Harry called, and the Elf appeared with a loud crack, "Master Harry Be's wanting Dobby?" Harry looked at the little elf fondly before replying "Yes go ahead and bring the old man into the Main Hall, let him know I'll be out to see him shortly" Dobby then happily replied "Right away Master Harry." As Harry left the study and walked down the hall and downstairs admiring a small statue carved in the image of a Hippogriff, he had found in the attic and cleaned up before displaying on one of the many marble top end-tables in the Manor.
He saw Dumbledore waiting calmly by the front door of the manor, Dumbledore gave Harry an apologetic smile, and said warmly "Harry, Lord Black I wanted to apologize for dragging you through that whole incident in the Ministry, I must say you handled yourself rather well in the courtroom." Harry thought this over a bit before saying "Thank you, Professor." Dumbledore then cut to the chase, "Harry I've decided theres no point in keeping you in the dark about such things, and I can see you have learned quite a bit about the old magics, judging by that most impressive staff, you carry." Harry had indeed been carrying the staff with him, as he had been about ready to start his training for the day when Dumbledore came to see him.
"Thank you Professor, I have dedicated myself to learning as much as I can and I take my training quite seriously." Dumbledore nodded his agreement, then spoke in a reasonable tone, "I am wondering if you would like to formally join The Order Of The Phoenix, and apologize for not remembering that the house is legally yours, I do hope you'd join us, as we are of course a group dedicated to bringing down Voldemort. of course I'd ask your permission to continue using 12 Grimmauld Place as the Orders HQ if you join, however if you choose to decline my offer, I will respectfully move the Order to another location."
Harry took a few moments to consider this, he himself hadn't realized that legally he could kick Dumbledore out of 12 Grimauld Place if he so wanted, Harry also thought back to his Godfather's will reading, Sirius had warned him not to trust Dumbledore. on the other hand, it couldn't hurt to learn more about the on going events in the war and the Order would certainly be the most informative. So Harry decided to play along for the time being. "Very well Albus I can forgive a misunderstanding, I'd like very much to know whats going on. So I accept your offer."