Hey everyone,
So with this chapter, we're going to make a time jump to the actual hearing/trial that Harry had in the OotP book, only this time, because Harry is Rin-Gin, is he already prepared for the shenanigans of his enemies, so he – to put in a really bad pun, given the situation – pulls a Dumbledore and arrives early.
Sorry, bad pun,
Venquine1990
Chapter 09
Who Do We Prosecute?
Rin-Gin's POV
"Fudge is such a simpleton. As if he expects me to be three hours late to my own hearing. What? Does he think I think so high of myself that I even own enough of the Ministry to decide when I want to have my hearing? Who does he think I am? Dumbledore?" Yet this thought makes a shiver of cold run down my spine.
After Uncle Murray knocked out Snape and Uncle Bentley took out Dumbledore with a Stun Dart on his Dart Pistol, did we drug the both of them with a heavy dose of Bentley's self-invented Sleep gas, which has been keeping both of them asleep and in dream land for the last several days, which allowed us to plan ahead.
At first a few members of our new Cooper Order desired on revenge for the sleighs made against their leader and my family, yet this time I decided to chose my mother's side of the family over my father's and after some convincing, did the rest of the Cooper Order agree, Sirius being the first and doing something terrific.
The man actually used the same statement I had used to keep him from killing Pettigrew and that had done the job. None of the Cooper Order members wanted to smudge up the memory of my adopted parents and none of them believed that either Lily or James would have wanted them to kill, not even in their name or honor.
Of course, I have no doubt that Snape probably thinks different, believing that Lily would love anyone standing up for her like that and that James would have been arrogant enough to order others to do so, yet the beliefs of the soon to be ex-Potions Master mean nothing to me anymore – unlike his more recent future.
And that brings me back to where I am now, standing in a lift with the glamour back on my person, but then enchanted to fit a simple bracelet I am wearing on my wand arm, while in my wand hand I actually hold James' invisibility cloak, complete with a little surprise for the Ministry, of which the results still astound me.
It had been something decided by all of us, because while I was willing to use my mum's side of the family when it came to justice, was I still my father's son and together with Uncle Bentley and Remus, who over the last few days I have come to know enough to be on first name basis, did we come up with a mean little scheme.
By now I have no doubt that the end result of this scheme will rock the wizarding world as we speak and while I strongly believe that Fudge might try and work this into his own benefit, do I only care for two things; to get revenge on those who have wronged me, but to keep to every aspect of the law while I'm at it.
And being the son of a famous Master Thief and the best Inspector the people of Interpol have ever seen definitely helps with that, yet I show none of this as I step out of the elevator, nod at Mr. Weasley who pretended to be my guide while he actually guided more than just me and then enter the courtroom appointed to me.
"You're late." I instantly hear, the triumph coming through the voice making me squint my eyes with glee as I say: "Actually, according to the information I received from those in control of my case, I am exactly –." A quick peek at my new watch as I say: "Seven minutes and – twenty-four seconds early. Sorry, Minister."
And while the man himself sputters at my precision of timing, do I smirk and walk into the courtroom, giving curt nods to those of equal parties to my own family beliefs and polite, acceptable ones to those whose families had long ago made alliances with the Potter line, but then the fun begins for me as a woman asks:
"Potter, what are you carrying there?" And while I have to work real hard not to snicker as I decided to take both my cloak and a – ahem – backpack with me, do I then raise my arm holding the cloak and ask: "What, this? Just a little gift from me to the world, but that's not important yet, my dear lady, so no worries. No worries."
The woman nods, apparently a little thrown off by how friendly and calm I sound as I speak to her and then the one boy who will soon wish he was Pettigrew at the wand's ends of Sirius and Remus, speaks up and asks: "And that backpack of yours? Did you by chance think you could come here with some evidence or something?"
"Yes." I say, the single word sounding simple, yet resounding through the entire room and silencing the honing, laughing tone the boy had spoken with and then I turn to Fudge as I say: "Furthermore, do I not recall any reviews on cases where the court scribe actually spoke, so please tell yours to refrain from doing so."
The man looks shocked, whereas the boy himself looks furious, but I ignore this as I turn to the people in the courtroom and say: "Ladies and Gentlemen, like I said. I have evidence to fight my case and prove my innocence. And yes, I know what you are all thinking. What kind of evidence could that be. Well, allow me ask a question back.
What purpose has the Patronus charm?" Everyone looks at each other and I smile as I say: "The only, currently known purpose – is a Dementor. And yes, Minister, I know your thoughts, yet I have a counterstatement to your statement that Muggles cannot see Dementors. They cannot see them, but they can feel their effects."
At this the Minister looks flabbergasted, whereas the woman wearing the worst set of pink robes the world of color designing has ever seen suddenly turns tense with a strange sense of worry that my keen eye picks up on before I fake to pull something from my backpack. Fake as I actually get handed the item by my backpack.
This makes me hold back a large grin with great trouble, yet while I had hung the Invisibility Cloak on one of the chains on the chair in the middle of the room before turning to the people around me, do I now unroll the roll of parchment that was handed to me and say: "I have here, for you all to read, Dudley Dursley's statement."
And instantly it looks as if all air has left the two people sitting next to Percy Weasley who has wide eyes as he looks at the scroll in my hands before looking between me and his boss, as if asking the man for guidance when his only job is to scribble down everything that happens here, making me want to shake my head at him.
Yet instead of that, do I happily remember how I got this scroll and that is thanks to my so-called backpack as the backpack, Alastor Moody, Bill and Professor McGonagall had travelled together to Privet Drive to get this statement in return for the revelation that I will never return to them as I no longer belong with them.
The three Muggles had almost bodily thrown my backpack and co out of the house after hearing this, yet Dudley had stopped them and proven me that the Dementors had actually done a number on him as he had convinced his parents to let my backpack and friends stay before giving his full statement – which I now have with me.
I then take a deep breath and say: "I'm not quite sure why our esteemed Minister seems shocked that I have something like this, but I can already tell you, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Wizengamot; this is a very legitimate witness statement and my backpack will be the one to prove that to you." Rattling and confusing those around me.
Yet these words are also a cue to my backpack itself and to the shocked eyes of everyone around me, does the item itself unfurl itself from my back and from around my arms and change into my gorgeous fox of a mother, who had used the finest of yoga to keep herself portraying as my backpack in order to sneak in with me.
It had been something my mother was none too pleased with, yet I had convinced her that a united approach from both my parental sides would work best and because we both knew my father would either lose his cool before the cue or get arrested for his crimes, had the fox settled for going with me instead of my dad.
She then climbs off my back and gives me a kiss on the cheek, which shocks quite a few of those around us and then, before anyone can really comprehend what is happening, has she flashed them her Interpol Inspector's Badge and says: "Inspector Carmelita Montoya Cooper Fox of Interpol, official Inspector for this here client."
And just by a single look at the front row at the top part of the audience do I feel like I've already won, cause the two who are probably the cause for all of this – especially the woman as no sane person should be able to stand wearing that much pink – look as if they were Death Eaters on Halloween Night.
By now I really want to shake my head at the both of them, but then one of the elder looking gents catches onto the little hint my mother threw into her opening statement, the little bit of bait that she threw at them, and asks: "Forgive me for asking, Inspector Cooper-Fox, but – ehm – well, don't you mean case instead of client?"
My mother shakes her head and says: "No, because Interpol has already taken the case onto their shoulders, researched and reviewed it all and claimed this boy here innocent of all charges, under guise of the Clause for Self Defense in Case of Emergency or Danger. The boy's case is cleared, his record cleaned up.
However, I travelled with him, because of his little gift to all of you. Ladies and Gentlemen of the Wizengamot, I am here today on orders of Chief Charles Barkley to address to you a case that Interpol itself has dubbed worthy of Fiendish Five level of dangerous and that Interpol has requested by dealt by both parties of justice today."
"And you think you can just barge in and expect us to accept these so-called orders?" Fudge suddenly asks and mum retorts: "No, I think I can come in here and prove you that you have an even bigger enemy than some fifteen year old you think yourself powerful enough to slander, which Chief Barkley wants to speak with you about."
"Is that a threat? Are you threatening me?" The man now almost shouts, yet mum remains calm, which I find incredible seeing her actual temper and she asks: "Depends. Are you the same person who is calling a teenager a liar on the return of he who cost said boy his parents? If so, then yes, I guess I am."
And while my mum actually admits to the so-called threat, does this fall on deaf ears as practically everyone in the room turns stiff with shock when they realize the truth behind my mum's words, making me hit myself on the head and feel relieved that I won't be meeting anymore wizards during my upcoming years of training.
Then mum returns to the seat with the chains and starts to undo the knot that allowed me to carry it and its little package as she says: "And now ladies and gentlemen, as I present you the evidence to prove we have a case of much greater altitude on our hands than some Underage magic, I can only ask you this."
And with that, does she untie the knot, making a sleeping Dumbledore and strongly snoring Snape, which makes me glad for the soundproof charm we had casted on the cloak beforehand, roll out of the cloak and onto the stone floor, causing all eyes around me to widen in incredulity and shock as my mum calmly asks:
"Who do we prosecute?"
Cornelius' POV
"This is possibly the biggest and most confusing turn of events I could have ever expected. How did Potter get in contact with Interpol? And why didn't Interpol just send one of their human Inspectors to support Potter's case? And most importantly – why – why would Potter want to see Dumbledore prosecuted of all people?"
This is just a turn of events I had really never expected seeing how the two have been trying to install fear into the public for some time now with their ridiculous notions of You-Know-Who's return and so I can only ask one thing: "Mr. Potter, I – I don't get it. Why – why would you turn from the one man supporting your lies?"
To which, while the female vixen glares at me for some reason, the boy simply looks at me and says: "Because of two reasons. One, I never asked Dumbledore to use my name to further the claims of Voldemort's return, yet that is the only thing he has been doing for the past two months, believing he has my consent, which he does not."
This alone shocks me and while I wonder what else the man could have used to convince the public of this lie, does the boy go on: "Second, there is so much behind me and Dumbledore – and the Potters – that you don't know – well, I felt it only right to prosecute the man that didn't just ruin my reputation – but their lives as well.
And now that we are on the topic. Minister, what reason exactly should I have to lie about the man that killed Lily and James Potter, the same Lily and James Potter who died saving my life?" And with that, that one single question, that one single fact put into an inquiry, do I feel not just like an idiot, but like an absolute bully.
The whole hall turns silent after gasping as even those who had been supporting me instead of Dumbledore – and even a few of those I had suspected were supporting Dumbledore instead of me – actually realize that the boy really doesn't – couldn't – have any reason to lie about a person who committed a crime like that.
This in itself makes me slowly move my head down until it lies in the palm of my hand, my eyes closed and my conscience screaming at me that I need to make this right. Yet it seems I don't even need to do anything to make amends as Potter's voice rings through the silent hall with a comforting tone as he says:
"Minister, you may have forgotten that my past with Voldemort is linked with their deaths as well, but you didn't even really know Lily and James Potter. Dumbledore did and the fact that he used my words – without my consent – instead of their noble sacrifice to convince people proves how little he cares for exactly that; their sacrifice.
He is the bigger culprit in this picture and Interpol has seen and recognized this fact and now requests of you and the Wizengamot to take action against this fact. And Snape? Well, it's no secret that he, James Potter and I hate each other, yet even when Interpol released the truth of Dumbledore to us, he still supported the man.
So Interpol arrested him alongside Dumbledore and now – it's your turn." And with just those three words does Potter prove me something I could have never hoped for; even though I have been slandering and mocking him for a month and a half straight, the boy still trusts in me to do the right thing – and I won't fail him.
I look up from where I buried my face in my hand and gaze around the Wizengamot with determination, the same emotion shown all around me as I gaze at everyone seated around me, while Potter has moved to stand besides the vixen Interpol Inspector and I turn my gaze from my people to her as I say:
"Lady Fox, you can be assured that these two will get the full brunt of the Wizengamot on their person." And while the fox grins at me with feral acceptance for this, making me suppress a small shiver, does she then shock everyone in the room for yet a second time since her unexpected arrival as she says:
"Good, I expected no less for the man that dared to kidnap my son and turn him into your little hero." And while my eyes are wide with shock, do we all see the same thing happening before our very eyes; Harry Potter changing from his human looks into something that looks like a perfect mix of the female fox – and a male raccoon.
Okay, that happened!
So, Carmelita has taken care of Rin-Gin's case, Fudge has realized his mistake regarding Rin-Gin's parents and Dumbledore and Snape – are in a ton of problems; Dumbledore especially. Next chapter will be Dumbledore's POV and will be the case itself. Of course he will try to talk himself out of trouble, but – yeah.
Have fun trying,
Venquine1990
