Disclaimer: So maybe I don't own it I do however own the the new plot twists.
Chapter 4: The Ministry
Harry shifted from foot to foot while he stood in the small phone booth with Mr. Weasley.
Everything is going to be alright Harry, there is just no way they can expel you, Ginny told him in a soothing voice. She had somehow managed to escape her mother so she would be able to listen to the trial.
How do you know that? I did use magic.
If you didn't you'd be dead!
"Welcome to the Ministry of Magic. Please state your name and business."
"Er, Arthur Weasley, Misues of Muggle Artefacts Office, here to escort Harry Potter, who has been asked to attend a disciplinary hearing..."
"Thank you. Visitor, please take the badge and attach it to the front of your robe." There was a click and a rattle as he saw something slide out of the coin slot area. He took the badge.
They headed down the hall and twists and turns.
I have a bad feeling about this.
I am the one who gets the bad feelings. Harry everything is going to be fine I promise, besides I am right behind you.
I want you here but I think this is good enough. Did you tell Fred and George?
Yep sure did and they were beyond excited that they stormed off to get to work on it immediately. I don't really know if they have it yet but there have been a few explosions lately.
Ah well I do hope that they remember how to do it later. Right now I really don't want to be going in there. Is there anyway I can get out of this?
Not to my knowledge but it will be alright Harry.
"Courtroom ten, there it is. Go on, get in there," Mr.Weasley said giving Harry a slight shove to the door.
"You're not coming with me?"
"I can't but good luck."
Harry took a deep breath and turned the heavy iron door handle and stepped into the courtroom. It was cold and felt distant to Harry. It was a large dungeon that he had been in before, in Dumbledore's Pensieve. With a deep, shuddering breath Harry moved further into the room.
"You are late."
"I am sorry I didn't know of the time change."
"Take your seat."
"Disciplinary hearing of the twelfth of August," Fudge called, "into offences committed under the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery and the International Statue of Secrecy by Harry James Potter, resident at number four, Privet Drive, Little Whinging, Surrey. Interrogators: Cornelius Oswald Fudge, Minister for Magic, Amelia Susan Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Dolores Jane Umbridge, Senior Undersecretary to the Minister, Court Scribe, Percy Ignatius Weasley-"
"Witness for defense, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore," said a quiet voice behind him.
Everyone turned to stare at him. Dumbledore! Ginny gasped in his head. Fudge cleared his throat and motioned for Percy to bring him a chair but Dumbledore waved him off.
"The charges are as follows," Fudge continued. "That he knowingly, deliberately, and in full awareness of the illegality of his actions, use magic in a Muggle-inhabited area in front of a muggle. And also violated the Underage law. You are Harry James Potter of number four Privet Drive?"
"Yes."
"You received our official warning on not using magic?"
"Yes."
"And yet you conjured a Patronus on the second night of August.
"Yes but-"
"Knowing that you are not permitted until you are seventeen outside of school."
"Yes but-"
"And in an are where Muggles could be seen."
"Yes."
"And you produced a fully-fledged Patronus?"
"Yes because-"
"A corporeal Patronus?"
"A what?"
"You Patronus had a clear form did it not?
"Yes its a stag, it has always been a stag."
"Always?" boomed Madam Bones. "You have produced them before?"
"Yes, I've been doing it for over a year."
"And you are fifteen years old?"
"Yes and-"
"And you learned this at school?"
"Professor Lupin taught me in my third year."
"Impressive, very impressive," Madam Bones said.
"It was to save my cousin and I from Dementors!" Harry said by now completely annoyed.
"What?" Fudge said. "That is impossible no muggle can see them!"
"My cousin did."
"But still in a muggle inhabited area! It is impossible!"
"We have a witness," Dumbledore said.
"A what?"
"Shall I go get her, she is right outside-"
"No Percy go get her."
Mrs. Figg was soon led into the room. Dumbledore gave her his seat and conjured up another one.
"Full name?" Fudge boomed.
"Arabela Doreen Figg," she said in a shaky voice.
"And you are who exactly?"
"I'm a resident of Little Whinging, close to where Harry lives."
"We have no record of any witch or wizard living in the area where Harry does. That is closely monitored," Madam Bones said.
"I'm a Squib so of course you don't have that recorded!"
"And you can see these Dementors?" Fudge asked.
"Yes!" After a bit of questioning they finally allowed Mrs. Figg to leave.
"That does not explain why Dementors were in Little Whinging to begin with."
"It seems that they were ordered there by someone within the Ministry."
"That's preposterous!"
Then a woman leaned forward. She was large and pale which reminded Harry of a toad. She was kind of squat with broad, flabby face, little neck, and a very wide mouth. Her eyes were large and round. "Are you proposing that someone of the Ministry sent these Dementors to attack this boy?"
"That is the only logical explanation Ms. Umbridge. That is unless some of the Dementors have escaped the Ministrys-"
"None have," Fudge cut in.
"Then it must have been by the Ministrys orders. I suppose then since we have heard all we need to this should be resumed quickly. This is after all a serious mischarge of justice," Dumbledore said in a calm voice.
"Serious mischarge! Have you forgotten his Hover Charm he used three years ago-"
"That wasn't me it was a house-elf!"
"You see! A house-elf in a muggle house!"
"That house-elf is currently employed at Hogwarts. Now as far as I am aware 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 offence and he has presented his defense. All he and I can do now is to await your verdict."
The judges soon began whispering and Harry became increasingly nervous. Calm down Harry they can't charge you for anything.
I know but it is still hard not to worry.
"Harry Potter," Madam Bones boomed, "has been cleared of all charges." Harry let out his breath and he could hear Ginny screaming happily.
A/N: wow I thought these chapters were supposed to be longer, oh wait I think thats the next few chapters, they get longer. Bad news all, I am leaving tomorrow for my month long vacation, which just means the updates will take longer, I only have eight chapters actually done. So just to be nice I am going to post chapter 5 sometime today. I will do my best to keep the updates coming but they may take a bit longer. Well thanks for reviewing everyone!
Seritha
