Disclaimers: I do not own any part of the Harry Potter universe and no money is being made from this story.
Getting Back to Azkaban
A/N # 1: Obviously I write AU. If you want canon turn back now because you are going to be severely disappointed.
Chapter 8: The Wizengamot Convenes
"I did manage to pull that off successfully, didn't I?" Harry asked. "Honestly though, it was a good thing that Grimtooth anticipated that move and had me learn that little speech." He shuddered a few times before admitting, "I hope this is one of those things I grow into because it felt like I was taking a test and I didn't know any of the answers."
Dudley laughed and punched his arm good naturedly, "You sounded just like one of those pompous old windbags ranting in the House of Lords. I'm sure it went over well."
After finishing their ice creams the group split up. Vernon took Dudley and headed out to the car. Petunia and Harry were finishing up a bit of shopping for new wardrobes before heading out into Charring Cross Road to catch Vernon on his way back to Surrey.
Petunia and Harry were still in Diagon Alley when the owl informing them of the date and time of the Wizengamot session was delivered to them. Along with it Dumbledore had sent a note which doubled an apology and a request that Harry meet with him so they could discuss their differences and make some headway toward settling those differences before the case went to trial.
The only response to reading the letter was Harry shaking his head and handing the note to Petunia. She read the note and frowned at Dumbledore's blatant attempt at manipulation. "I think we need to go back to Gringotts and discuss this with Grimtooth."
Harry decided to ask, "Why? I know that Grimtooth helps us out a lot but isn't he our accountant?"
Petunia gave her son one of her rare smiles. "He is our accountant. But, he is also our 'Man of Business'."
"Please explain that one to me." He gave her his arm and escorted her down the street to the huge white building that loomed crookedly at the end.
His could swear she was outright laughing at him over that. "Harry, goblins tend to live very long lives if they are not at war with either other warrens or races of magical beings. Surely you paid attention when he said that he had met your great-grand father back in 1901. He might have just been starting out as our accountant back then, but he would have already completed his educational degree and served his apprenticeship. Grimtooth is probably some 150 years old which for a goblin is starting to enter the upper end of middle age. During the time he has been our 'Man' he would have continued with his education to include such areas of study as Global Politics, International Legal Issues, and any number of the Arts."
"So, we have a true Renaissance man working for us." The statement was said with a smile on Harry's face as Grimtooth made his presence known to them.
The goblin smiled at Harry and returned his bow of greeting. "You honor me, Azkaban, but I am not technically a Renaissance man."
Harry laughed at him. "You only quibble because you do not want to be labeled as a man!"
"Well said!" The goblin agreed promptly. He lost a bit of his good humor when he read the letter from Dumbledore. He asked them to wait while he met with one of his associates and then disappeared for a few minutes. He soon returned and admitted that he had contacted their main solicitor who had advised them not to have any contact with Dumbledore leading up to the trial, but to direct any further correspondence through him.
The ride home was quiet, but pleasant. Compared to most of the road trips Harry had been forced to endure with the Dursleys the trip was complete nirvana. He was even more surprised when he heard Petunia tell Vernon that she was going to use the cell phone to call the pizza shop on the corner rather than waiting for Harry to cook something. He sank back into the car seat with a deep sigh that had everyone else grinning.
Home was quiet and felt alien after being gone for so long. None of them felt like worrying too much though. Since it was getting late, they ate their dinner and went up to bed. Time enough tomorrow to start getting ready to deal with Dumbledore.
The trial itself was of little pleasure to either Petunia or Harry. It was merely a means by which they could accomplish most of their goals. They intended to neutralize Albus Dumbledore's influence over them, take their rightful place in the wizarding world, and send a message to the rest of the world that they would no longer hide and be pawns to others.
Petunia was dressed as Petunia Dursley and her demeanor was at odds with most of the courtroom. If she had not been flanked by her solicitor on one side and Harry on the other she was sure she would not have been allowed within the halls of the Ministry of Magic, let alone be allowed down in courtroom number 10 where the full Wizengamot met.
Her solicitor was incredibly brilliant though and she trusted him. With the amount of money he had been paid over the years to maintain the Azkaban trust he would have been a fool to advise her incorrectly. It would be necessary to start with what everyone was familiar with and then move to the unknown. Everyone knew that Petunia Dursley was Harry Potter's muggle aunt…
Albus knew that things would not go well for him as soon as the charges began being listed by the court scribe, Percy Weasley, under the direction of Madame Amelia Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.
He sunk his head down on the desk in front of him and wished that he could die of embarrassment by the time the second charge had been posted. The list was long and disturbing to say the least. Among the charges were:
Aiding and abetting a (presumed) squib with providing mind-control substances used to suppress a magical person's free will.
Obliterating and memory charming a magical person.
Modifying the memory of a squib for personal gain
Kidnapping and modifying the memory of a muggle for personal gains.
And Line theft- two counts:
a. Denying Harold Sothis Black his rightful place in society by means of kidnapping, core-tampering, and abandonment in the muggle world.
b. Denying Abraxis Orion Malfoy his rightful heritage by means of kidnapping and core tampering, and abandonment in the muggle world.
The Wizengamot was in an uproar by the time the fifth main charge was read. The man on trial was the most highly decorated wizard in hundreds of years.
Percy merely finished his list and sat back down. Amelia had to rise and use her gavel to restore order. "I will remind everyone that idle chatter and speculation will not be tolerated here. The charges you have just heard have been submitted and have various pieces of evidence attached to them for your consideration by the Honorable Munford Bowersley of the law firm Bowersley, Brooks, and Critcheon, Attorneys at Law, and representing the Duke of Azkaban, his honorable mother, Lady Azkaban, and Abraxis Orion Malfoy as primaries in this law suit.
Because of the nature of the case secondary individuals would also be eligible to present their cases at this time. Their legal representation would also be represented by Bowersley, Brooks, and Critcheon. Three secondaries already slated for the docket are Arabella Dursley Figg, Vernon Dursley, and Marge Dursley aka Celestia Jade Rockwood.
Amelia glared the gossiping Wizengamot into submission and proceeded to give them their instructions. After making sure they knew what was expected of them, she then turned to Harry. Speaking to the older gentleman beside him she asked, "Mr. Bowersley, are you ready to present your case to the court?"
The gentleman rose from his seat and proceeded to approach the bench. Once he was even with Madame Bones he turned to the courtroom and began speaking. "We are here before you today to seek justice for the Dursley Family regarding their treatment at the hands of Albus Dumbledore. You have heard several charges read out and we intend to not only prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Albus Dumbledore committed all the crimes for which he his being charged, he did so with little forethought to the end results of his manipulations."
The crowd maintained their silence. Bowersley was a riveting speaker, he rarely embellished any of his cases and only then when a point needed clarification. For him to say they intended to prove Albus Dumbledore had committed atrocities against muggles whom he claimed to honor and respect as individuals was enthralling.
Albus knew he was pretty well sunk and the only way to get out of paying serious reparation was to get the trial finished as soon as possible so not everything would come to light. "I admit that I have made some mistakes regarding the Dursley household, but there were extenuating circumstances."
Bowersley murmured, "The road to hell is paved with good intentions. But, that is neither here nor there. We shall begin with analyzing the relationship between Mrs. Arabella Dursley Figg and yourself."
Albus blanched but sat there maintaining a composed front.
"Tell me, Albus Dumbledore, what were your objectives when you started down this path? You seduced a married woman then helped her husband punish her and your child while you went on to do whatever you wanted to. What was the reasoning behind you helping Thaddeus Figg bind his wife's magic? Then for you to let him do the same to your son? Your only son that we know of since the Dumbledore line does not have a legitimate heir?"
Albus looked at Amelia with haunted eyes. "I have made so many mistakes. I swear on my magic that I never had the intention of deliberately hurting anyone. I have a horrible habit of trying to do what I think is best for everyone and I forget sometimes that I need to let others do things for themselves."
The Wizengamot watched in fascination as the oath he had just sworn swirled around him and left him with his magic intact. Amelia continued with the questioning, "How did you become involved with Arabella Dursley Figg?"
Albus gave Arabella a sad smile as she sat there rigidly staring at the man who had changed her life so drastically from what it could have been. "When I first met Arabella she was already married. Her mind fascinated me because she was a Potions Master already at a very young age and I became intrigued, then enchanted with her. Somewhere in our professional association lines were blurred then crossed and we found ourselves being lovers in love with a child on the way."
The only indication that Arabella was processing his speech was the fact that her clenched hands spasmed periodically. Otherwise, she remained a statue. Those who knew her and usually laughed at the crazy cat lady persona were chilled to note her rigidity.
He continued on, "Thaddeus Figg did not want Arabella, but he did not want me to have her either since he knew that some years before I had an unfortunate love affair with a man."
There were no gasps of surprise at this because most everyone knew about Gellert Grindelwald. Most of the Wizengamot did turn to stare at Thaddeus Figg though.
Albus stared straight at Thaddeus Figg as he continued speaking, "I think he was most vexed about the fact that I was enamored with Arabella because he wanted to become intimate with me. His immediate reaction to finding us together in a compromising position was to demand satisfaction." Here a smile crossed his face, "But, then he recovered his senses and recognized the error of his ways. Thaddeus agreed to let Arabella live if she allowed him to bind the magics of her and our child."
Thaddeus merely smirked as he remarked, "That statement is mere conjecture on the part of the defendant."
At this statement tears began to silently roll down Arabella's face. It was agony to sit there are listen to her ex-husband and the great love of her life speak of her shortcomings as if she were nothing but a harlot in Nocturne Alley.
And then Albus admitted to everyone his mistakes because of misguided intentions. "At the time I convinced myself that letting Mr. Figg bind Arabella's and Vernon's magic was for the best because they were still alive and I would be able to be with them most of the time." His voice almost choked out though when he confessed, "But, I could not be with them often after all because we discovered early on that they were both sensitive to magic and it caused what the muggles call an allergic reaction. We were able to stabilize Arabella's health by having her adopt several cats. We could not find anything to help Vernon and it became apparent at the beginning that the ambient magic was causing him to put on too much weight for a healthy body. "
Albus turned back to Amelia because watching Arabella cry was too much. "I was there when he bound their magic and sent them away from his home. Arabella was allowed to keep her memories, mainly because Thaddeus Figg wanted her to experience the shame of being an unwed mother. He has had his revenge for over thirty-five years now and I would ask the Wizengamot to unbind their magics at this time. I am prepared to accept your course of reparation regarding the matter."
Figg stood up and requested that he be allowed to defend his position. There were some sympathizers to Figg's plight, but even they could not justify binding a magical core because of an illicit love affair. Most everyone viewed sex as a recreational pastime unless they were bonded, but most marriage contracts differentiated between house alliance marriages and formal bondings, or love matches.
The court noted that Figg objected to Vernon Dursley having his magic unbound because he could then become the magical heir of Albus Dumbledore while he still did not have an heir to his own house. It was finally agreed that the marriage contract between Thaddeus Figg and Arabella Dursley would be scrutinized and a legal interpretation by a neutral party would be given.
The court would have a two hour recess while the document was scrutinized by the Department of Magical Inheritances. After that, a ruling would be made regarding the release of Arabella's core. Vernon would be considered here but he was expected to plead his own case before the court ended.
