Harry woke up the next morning to the smell of bacon cooking downstairs. 'I had better hurry and get ready or Ron will have eaten everything before I get down there.' Harry thought as he grabbed some clothes and headed towards the shower.
As the trio and Ginny calmly sat eating breakfast everyone else who was awake was a bundle of nervous energy.
"Where is everyone?" Bill asked as he came down the stairs yawing.
"Fred and George are going to apparate from the shop. Lupin isn't up yet. I imagine Tonks and Moody are already there. Your Father is outside," Mrs. Weasley replied from her place in front of the stove.
"Where's Kate?" Hermione asked.
"She's already at the Ministry," Lupin replied from the front door. "Everyone needs to be ready to leave soon,"
"Why don't I get to go? If I don't get to go Ginny shouldn't be able to either." Gabrielle yelled from outside the kitchen doorway.
"Ginny gets to go because she is important to the trial and you don't get to go because your not," Moody said from behind Lupin.
"I thought you were at the Ministry," Bill asked confused.
"I was. Kate sent me back here to get all of you."
"Oh okay," Bill replied.
"Boy you're really not that with it in the morning are you?" Sirius asked from the top of the stairs.
"You never used to be either," Lupin told Sirius with a smile.
"That was before we were thrust into the middle of a war."
"True. Is everyone ready," Lupin looked around the room seeing that everyone was done eating. After receiving nods from everyone he said "Alright then let's go."
Upon arriving at the Ministry, which brought back several bad memories for everyone, they were shown to the room where Harry had had his hearing not so long ago. Only the room had changed, it looked like a muggle courtroom except the judge's bench had been expanded to fit several people. Moody had them all sit in the first two rows.
"What do you mean we need to do all of this today? Damn it this is going to take forever and I blame you Megan," Kate's voice was heard from behind the door behind the 'judges' bench.
Another voice was heard replying but they couldn't make out what it said.
"No I didn't have any coffee this morning, or tea. Why?" Kate said as she came into the room, a pile of folders floating in front of her, with a group of parchment in her hands.
"I was just asking, besides it wouldn't have taken as long if you didn't insist on having it all done in one day," Megan, Harry assumed, replied.
"I have more important things to do than this for the rest of my life," Kate replied absently as she sat down in the middle of the 'judge's bench', the folders landing in two neat piles in front of her.
"I think Kate's sitting in the wrong place," Ginny whispered to Lupin.
"No she's in the right place," He replied "You'll see," He said in reply to her blank look.
"We're starting
in five minutes," Kate announced not looking up from her parchment.
"Megan will you please go make sure that everyone else is on their
way."
"Of course," She said and walked out of the room. She
returned with in a few minutes Fudge, Umbridge, Scrimgeour, and a few
more ministry officials that Harry didn't know.
"Alright then let's get started," Kate said as she stood up. "First the rules. I will not tolerate anyone interrupting me or talking all at once. There will be no threatening of anyone or anything. There will be no use of magic except the select few I have granted permission to. They know who they are. Second we are here today to deal with several issues including but not restricted to the issue of Hogwarts remaining open, when the O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s will be taken and the innocence or guilt of certain prisoners. We will begin with the issue of testing. Are there any suggestions?" Kate asked sitting back down and folding her hands on the desk in front of her.
"August, it gives the student's who haven't been studying a chance to do so," The lady at the end of 'the bench' said.
"Any objections?" Kate asked. Upon receiving none she said "Alright then O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s will take place on August 3rd. Next will be the issue of Stan Shunpike. He has been accused of being a death eater. What is the evidence to support this?"
"Well, his behavior was very suspicious," One of the aurors answered.
"I see and did anyone check for a dark mark?" Kate asked a slight frown on her face.
"Umm excuse me but how would that help? I mean what if he was under the impervious curse?" Hermione asked.
"Because you can not receive the dark mark if you are completely willing, if you have not made the conscious decision to do so. If you are under the impervious curse you have no free will. There by you have no choice. You can not make your own decisions. You are only a death eater if you have the dark mark." Kate replied.
"I see but what if you are a death eater but you have no mark or are trying to become one. Or you were put under the impervious curse and made to do something."
"The only way to be a death eater is to have a dark mark; Voldemort will not let you near him if you don't. I don't know what happens when you are trying to become a death eater but once you're in you receive a mark. As for the impervious curse several people that I know of can tell if you are under the curse. A few of them are in this room now. And if that's all did anyone check to see if he had the dark mark?"
"No we did not specifically check to see if he did, but he does not have one." The same auror answered
"And how do you know this?" Kate asked
"He is wearing short sleeves in Azkaban."
"I see, he will be released immediately unless some proof of his guilt be brought forth." Kate announced. When there was none she turned to the auror closest to the door. "See to it then and on to the next case Sirius Black. It has been brought to my attention that he never received a trial. We shall no give him one."
"But Black died two years ago," Fudge stated.
"I am aware of this Mr. Fudge but it is not very just that he receive no trial and I will allow no one and I mean no one to be sentenced to Azkaban with no trial. Now he was accused of killing a street full of people with a lesser known 'crime' that was never charged that of helping to kill Lily and James Potter. I now request that the following people give their account of the day, for lack of a better term, Sirius Black was almost captured more than three years ago. Ronald Weasley, Hermione Granger, Harry Potter, and Remus Lupin. With your permission we will access your memories and play them before the court. Do you agree to this?"
"Yes," They all said in unison.
"Very well then," Kate said nodding to one of the aurors. The auror came up to the four 'witnesses' and extracted their memories of that night. There were gasps issued and tears shed as the memories were played.
"Well I believe that that is concrete proof that Sirius Black is innocent of all charges. Now on to another issue that of let's call it idiocy. Mr. Fudge please come forth. Is it true that when Harry returned to the maze he told you and Professor Dumbledore and several others that Voldemort had returned?" Kate asked staring Fudge directly in the eyes.
"Yes," Fudge replied.
"Is it also true that Harry and Serverus Snape offered you undeniable proof that this was the truth?"
"Yes,"
"Now I understand that fear is a powerful motivator but why on earth did you not believe them?"
"The boy could have been seeking attention or… or he could have gone crazy or… " Fudge trailed off running out of reasons.
"I see, you thought a fourteen year old boy would somehow make a port key out of a trophy, kill another student and claim that one of the evilest wizards of all time was back because he was attention deprived," Kate questioned angrily almost yelling. "A boy that had spent the better part of that year all over the newspapers and being watched by hundreds at the tasks needed more attention. Or a scar that only two days before had been the sign of a hero was now a sign of mental instability?" Kate questioned angrily and with out waiting for an answer she continued. "Do you realize that if you had not refused to believe Harry that you could have had a whole other year to prepare for this war? We would all be in much better shape than we are now. If not for Dumbledore Voldemort would already have won this war. And instead of preparing for war you decided to run a smear campaign against Harry and Dumbledore. You are sentenced to one year of guarding, cleaning and performing other duties at Azkaban beginning next week. Now for the next case Dolores Umbridge please come forth. It has been brought to my attention that you were the defense against the dark arts teacher at Hogwarts two years ago, Harry's fifth year. Is that correct?"
"Yes"
"I see, is it also true that you had no practical lessons"
"As long as you have studied the theory hard enough, there is no reason why you should not be able to perform the spells."1
"Oh really and who was the genius that told you that? Anyway is it also true that you, in an effort to make everyone believe that Voldemort had not returned, had more than twenty rules made. Including a rule that and I quote 'teachers are hereby banned from giving students any information that is not strictly related to the subjects they are paid to teach.'"2
"Yes"
"Is it also true that when given detentions at least two students were made to use a quill that would carve whatever they were writing into their hands.
"No of course not,"
"Do I need to remind you Ms. Umbridge that perjury is against the law. I have before me a sworn statement from a Mr. Lee Jordan that states you did just that to him and Harry Potter. I believe Mr. Potter that you still posses the scars on the back of your hand do you not?"
"Yes ma'am I do," Harry answered
"Well I believe that proves that your previous statement was a lie. Now is it also true that you were the one that sent the dementors to number four Pivet drive. The same dementors that caused Harry to perform underage magic in order to protect him and his family?"
"Yes," Umbridge said resignedly, realizing that Kate would know if she was lying.
"I see. You will share in the sentence given to Mr. Fudge and you will also for an hour a day study a textbook given to you by a ministry official at the end of that hour you will be required to perform the spell you have just studied, if you are unable to do so to the satisfaction of said ministry official you will be stripped of all ministry rank and title. Oh yes and before I forget you will also have this, " Kate said waving her hand.
"Ow," Umbridge exclaimed loudly. Barely visible from where Harry was sitting, on Umbridge's hand were the words, faintly outlined in red, I must not be an incompetent bitch. Harry was having trouble containing his laughter and so to were the others from the look of things
"As your punishment for your treatment of Hogwarts students Harry Potter and Lee Jordan," Kate continued as if Umbridge had not spoken. "And now on to the subject of Hogwarts. As I'm sure you all know last year the death eaters infiltrated Hogwarts and during the fighting Dumbledore lost his life. The issue pertaining to the court is this should Hogwarts remain open to any student wishing to return or should Hogwarts close?"
"Hogwarts should close, it's no longer safe for the students if death eaters can just barge in," The lady from before announced.
"Yes, I mean not only is the safety of the children an issue but a new headmaster must be appointed and new teachers found and repairs must be made to the castle and grounds," A man on the opposite side of the bench from the lady stated.
"I see and do any of the students have any opinion on this?" Kate said looking towards Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny.
"Who cares about their opinions they are only students after all," A man with a beard to the right of Kate said. Lupin frowned seeing look appearing on Kate's face.
"Only the students who attend the school in question. Only the students who risked their lives to defend the school against death eaters. In fact I think their opinions matter more than any of ours. So Harry? Ron? Hermione? Ginny? Do you or anyone else want to state your opinions on this? And before anyone answers I think I should clarify something. If Hogwarts closes it closes for good."
"What?!" Several outraged voices exclaimed at once.
"How can we make this kind of decision now, in the middle of a war?" some other lady with a weird hat asked.
"There's no way it can remain open with everything in the condition it's in right now." The lady from earlier said
"But Hogwarts can't close not forever." Ginny said
"Where would we go then?" Ron asked
"I think Hogwarts should close. At least until Voldemort's gone. Students should be more worried about homework and Quidditch and tests than whether or not Voldemort's going to attack the school the next day," Harry called above the noise everyone else was making.
"A very wise opinion Harry. And one I share. Therefore I decree that Hogwarts remains closed until the war is over. However students wishing to learn defensive and defensive spells only will be able to do so with off duty aurors at the ministry buildings at anytime," Kate announced vanishing the pile of parchment in her hands.
"Only defensive spells?" Hermione asked.
"Yes, however defensive spells also include most jinxes a few charms and some transfiguration."
"Oh,"
"Will it be safe?"
"Of course it will be. Why would I have suggested it if it wasn't. There are several safe and protected rooms that I know for a fact Voldemort or any of his death eaters can not enter. Ever. The 'classes' will be held there. Now if that's all court is closed."
Everyone except Harry's group stood up and filed out of the room. Harry looked around the room and saw Scrimgeour heading towards them.
"Oh crap what does he want," Ginny said. Apparently Harry wasn't the only one to see him. But before Scrimgeour could reach them Kate was in front of him; blocking his path.
"Just where do you think you're going Scrimgeour?"
"I just want to have a little chat with Harry."
"I see, however before you talk to him I have a little statement for you. We are all Dumbledore's men through and through. And if you say anything that in anyway annoys or angers or does anything to Harry I will personally see to it that your ass is kicked to the far reaches of space and when it eventually lands back here I will not hesitate to curse you with in an inch of your life. Do we understand each other?"
"Yes of course," Scrimgeour replied petrified.
"Good."
"She's only slightly protective of Harry," George stated sarcastically. Harry sat there completely flabbergasted, barely blinking.
"You haven't seen anything yet. This is nothing," Lupin replied completely serious.
"You know, on second thought, I think what ever I have to say can wait." Scrimgeour stated backing away from Kate slowly.
"Alright suit yourself," Kate said shrugging as she walked over to everyone. "Well I don't think he's going to bother you about helping the ministry anymore Harry."
"No I don't suppose he will, feeling a little defensive today Kate?" Moody asked.
"I have a question." Hermione stated.
"That's nice," Kate replied raising an eyebrow.
"Why did Scrimgeour let you threaten to him like that with out you getting in trouble? And why didn't he have any say during the trial?"
"Because he's always been afraid of Kate and besides she sort of outranks him with these sorts of matters," Lupin replied.
"How?" Ginny asked.
"That is an explanation for later," Kate answered.
A/N:
1: pg 244 of the American version of OotP.
2: pg 551 of the American version of OotP.
