Chapter 21 – All My Trials Lord
Harry adjusted the new robe he had just put on for about the tenth time that morning. It was a black satin affair with his house colors along the neck line and the Potter crest embroidered on the right chest. It was Llasol who had completed the altering of the robe for Harry, Hermione and Ginny that morning when they had started to get ready to floo to the Ministry of Magic. She looked at the robes the three were wearing and made a wave with her hand to put the house crest on all three robes.
Llasol had shyly told the three that there would be a new elfling in the manor in the matter of weeks. She was instantly pulled into hugs and congratulations by Ginny and Hermione who pressed her for details about the pregnancy and the upcoming arrival. Harry took a look at the slightly panicked look on the elf's face and gently pulled both of them away from Llasol. Harry added his own good wishes instead and asked if there would be a time that she or Rettus would be unable to attend them. Llasol said that there would be probably two days for herself but Rettus would not be taking a break. Harry told Llasol to take what time she needed and that they could get by without her and Rettus for a few days. Llasol thanked Lord Harry for his generosity and promptly vanished with a smile on her face.
Harry was nervous about the trials coming up. It had been decided that some of the charges against Mr. Malfoy would be tried separately from the main charges of theft, bribery and corruption that he and Minister Fudge faced. Harry was going to have to testify on the charges of possession of Dark Objects and the serious offence of pulling a wand on a member of an Ancient and Noble House. The presence of Lord Slytherin would not be needed until the afternoon when the more serious charges against the Minister of Magic were presented.
Flooing to the Ministry of Magic, the three Potters were met by Arthur Weasley who escorted them through the check-in point to get their visitor passes. Harry was a little disappointed that Auror Nervish wasn't sitting duty at that post today but he calmly relinquished his wand for measurement and registration. He was passed through and pinned the witness badge to his robes and continued on toward the elevators. Mr. Weasley said that he would be watching from the general visitor area with Hermione but that Harry and Ginny would be seated in the witness box along with Dumbledore and any other people that were going to testify.
Dumbledore was waiting at the entrance to Courtroom #10 and they were escorted to their seats in the witness box by Tonks. Harry tried getting a rise from the Auror but she refused to talk to any of them. Harry got a shock when he reached the box itself. Sitting alongside the bench they were on were Draco Malfoy and an older witch that had blond hair, blue eyes and a narrow pinched-off mouth like she had smelled something bad. Dumbledore confirmed that the person was indeed Draco's mother, Narcissa Black Malfoy. Harry gasped a little at the maiden name and wondered what relation she and Draco had to his godfather. It was a question that Harry intended to ask Remus Lupin as soon as they were finished with court today. Madame Bones was also present in the witness box to testify as to what happened when they went to Malfoy Manor.
Mrs. Malfoy stared resolutely forward as the raised courtroom filled up with the members of the Wizengamot. Every witch or wizard of the legal body wore plum colored robes and had large silver 'W' affixed to their robes. Harry was surprised to see Draco turn and acknowledge the three new witnesses in their box. For once the sneer was gone from the boys' face and he appeared very nervous about the proceedings.
Undersecretary Umbridge (a most ungorgeous women) was the last person to appear and she walked to the tall podium at the middle of the group and banged on the gavel to order the Wizengamot in to session. The wizards and witches sat down as did Dumbledore and the rest of the witnesses.
"Bring the accused forward" announced the Senior Undersecretary. A door opened somewhere on the floor of the room and two Aurors (including Nervish, Harry noted) brought Lucius Malfoy into the room with shackles on his wrists and ankles. They marched him to a special chair in the middle of the floor and transferred his restraints to the chair itself. Malfoy sat quietly facing Dolores Umbridge who announced the charges.
"Lucius Malfoy you are charged with a number of crimes against the magical community of England and particular high offences against both Lord and Lady Potter; possession of Dark Objects and an attempted attack against the head of an Ancient and Noble House and his wife. How do you plead?"
"Not guilty by reason of being under the influence of the Imperious Curse." There was a shocked silence in the courtroom at Malfoy's words.
"The first witness for the prosecution is Lord Harry Potter."
There was a buzz from the members of the Wizengamot as Harry stood and walked down the steps to the floor of the courtroom. He felt at least fifty pairs of eyes on him from the court members as well as the attention of all the other observers in the courtroom. Harry turned as he reached the floor, faced the acting High Witch and raised his wand as he had been instructed. He then repeated a wizard's oath that he would testify to the truth before High Court.
Harry started his testimony of the journal of Voldemort by revisiting the day in Diagon Alley and the encounter between the Malfoys and Harry and Ginny. Madame Umbridge reminded the members of the court and the visitors of the confidentiality of both the case itself and the testimony of all the witnesses. Harry told the story of the monster at Hogwarts and the discoveries that he and his girlfriend at the time had made about the object in question.
Other members of the court occasionally broke in with questions of their own and Harry tried answering them to the best of his knowledge. Both Ginny and Hermione were encouraging him mentally and keeping him calm. A few of the questions were particularly sarcastic and almost insulting but Harry kept to his testimony.
When Harry described the scene of the Dark Lord standing over the unconscious bodies of the two girls, there were shocked gasps from most of the members of the body. Harry was challenged as to the identity of the memory but reminded everyone that he had sworn a wizard's oath to tell the truth. Harry concluded with his telling Madame Bones about the journal and their returning to Malfoy Manor with a warrant to search for other Dark Objects. Harry also spoke of his freeing a house elf of Mr. Malfoy and having the man pull his wand on him.
There was no cross examination from Malfoy himself or any of his friends. Malfoy was only allowed to call witnesses in his defense and that only after the witnesses for the prosecution were finished testifying.
Harry returned to his seat in the witness box as Dumbledore was called next to testify as to what Dark Objects were and what they were capable of doing. Since Dumbledore had fought against You-Know-Who before, he could and did testify that the magical signature of the journal belonged to the Dark Lord himself. That set off a very nervous rumbling in the members of the court as well as the many visitors that were present. Undersecretary Umbridge had to bang on her gravel for silence and then thanked Dumbledore for his testimony.
"The next witness for the prosecution is Lady Ginevra Weasley Potter."
Harry squeezed Ginny's hand briefly and stood to let her go by him and descend the stairs. He saw the look Malfoy gave her from the prisoner chair. Harry suddenly was staring at the frank hate that Mr. Malfoy held for him as their eyes met. And then the memory came unbidden to his mind:
Diagon Alley was burning and Deatheaters and Dementors were chasing down the people who were fleeing. There were bodies lying unmoving everywhere and Voldemort was cackling in glee as he watched the devastation that was happening according to his plans.
A Deatheater came and knelt before Voldemort, kissing the hem of his robe. "It is as you predicted my Lord. They are as sheep to scatter before a storm and your brilliance." "Quit groveling Lucius. Continue on with our work so that all of Magical England shall eventually bow down before me. The Ministry of Magic is helpless and unable to deal with my superiority."
The Deatheater bowed down again and his mask slipped, revealing the gloating face of Lucius Malfoy. Replacing his mask Malfoy stalked down the street torturing the wounded and distributing the killing curse as casually as if he was walking home from a pub. Lucius Malfoy was a willing follower of the Dark Lord and had plans of for the power and glory he would receive as the right hand man of Lord Voldemort.
Harry came to and realized that Dumbledore had been tugging on his arm for a while. He looked around the courtroom to see that everyone was staring at the images he had just thought of that were playing and replaying over the head of the accused wizard. Harry sat down suddenly to the banging of the gavel by the Undersecretary and the cries of panic in the courtroom. The vision finally stopped replaying over the head of the shocked senior Malfoy.
Madame Umbridge was calling for order as she announced that the Aurors would be checking everyone's wands during the adjournment. Lucius Malfoy was escorted from the prisoner chair and Ginny came flying back up the stairs as Harry lowered his head into his hands. "What did you do Harry?" came the question from Dumbledore.
"I did nothing Professor" Harry answered as Ginny leaned down to hug her husband.
"What was that Harry? I've never seen anything so awful." Ginny was trembling in fear and Harry held her very close. Another Auror that introduced himself as Shacklebolt approached the witness box and started performing the Prior Incantato spell on everyone's wand. There was no evidence of any spell of such magnitude coming from anyone's wand – including the two Malfoy's.
It took about a half hour before all the wands were checked and the court was reconvened. Ginny quietly confirmed to Dumbledore that Harry had not drawn any bond magic while the spectacle played. Harry thought that what they had seen might have come directly from Malfoy's memory – if that's what it really was. Dumbledore nodded cautiously at the guess.
Madame Umbridge's nasty voice voice was very cold as she ordered the prisoner brought back into the courtroom and strapped into the chair. When the Wizengamot members had settled back into their chairs, Ginny was called forward again to testify.
There were only a few questions directed at Lady Potter. The most important one was her identification of the person who possessed her and caused the problems at Hogwarts. Even Lucius Malfoy flinched when Ginny held her head up and quietly said 'Voldemort'.
After Ginny's testimony, Madame Bones testified as to their search of Malfoy Manor and the almost attack on Lord Potter. That ended the Ministry's case against Lucius Malfoy.
Malfoy senior took a long look around the room before he called his wife as a witness. Harry wondered how a wife was allowed to testify for her husband as it seemed like such a patented put-up. Narcissa Malfoy did raise her wand and swear an oath that she would tell the truth. Unfortunately for Lucius Malfoy she did; she testified that Lucius did in fact keep a number of Dark Artifacts from the time when he had been a Deatheater. Mrs. Malfoy refused to answer any more questions after she made that statement either in support or condemnation of her husband. Mr. Malfoy dismissed her and she regained her seat in the witness box next to her son.
Malfoy stared a long time at the witness box and one person in particular. He then called his son down as a witness. Harry and Ginny tightened their grip on each other's hands as Draco Malfoy stood and walked down to take his wizard's oath.
"Would you tell the court about this so called confrontation that happened in Diagon Alley last fall?" The question was intended as a means of clearing Malfoy senior from any wrongdoing.
Draco Malfoy never moved his gaze from Madam Umbridge as he replied. "I was instructed to insult Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley, who was carrying a cauldron at the time. My father told me his plan was to slip a Dark Artifact to Ginny Weasley so that she would be arrested, imprisoned and the Weasley family would be either ruined or destroyed."
The shock on Lucius Malfoy's face was mirrored by the entire Wizengamot, the spectators and the faces of Harry and Ginny Potter. Harry noticed however that Narcissa Malfoy was smiling and seemed proud of what her son had done.
"You'll pay for that you hear me? You ungrateful cur and your mother will pay!" Draco visibly flinched at his father's curses.
Madame Bones nodded and the Aurors forcibly shoved Malfoy back into the prisoner chair. Lucius Malfoy fell silent and Madame Umbridge dismissed Draco and declared that the defense was over. The Senior Undersecretary and the rest of the members of the Wizengamot filed out of the courtroom to deliberate.
'How about that?'
'Wow. Hermione, what's my Dad think about all this?'
"We're all stunned up here in the visitor area Ginny. You're dad murmured something about the first thing Slytherins were taught is survival. I still think it was pretty brave of Draco to stand up to his father.'
'Hey, what about your wife and husband?'
'Sorry Harry, you and Ginny we're absolutely fantastic and I'm proud of both of you. What happened with that vision? Everyone's still talking about it.'
'No idea whatsoever. It seemed like one of my flashbacks but they have never been displayed like that before. I didn't feel any magic, regular or bond coming from me – how about you two?'
'No – not from you.'
'I don't know where that came from Harry.'
Harry asked Dumbledore if they could get up and move around or go up and see Arthur and Hermione. He said it would be ok until the court reconvened so Harry and Ginny went over to the visitor's section. Arthur pulled Ginny into a hug while Hermione shyly put an arm around her husband's shoulders.
A small bell sounded and the door that the Wizengamot left through opened again. Harry and Ginny hurried to retake their seats in the witness box. The wizards and witches in the plum colored robes entered and took their places. Madame Umbridge was the last to reenter the courtroom and she went and stood at the podium. The Aurors unfastened Lucius Malfoy from the chair and he stood facing the Wizengamot.
"Lucius Malfoy, you have been found guilty of possessing and distributing Darks Objects. You have also found guilty of drawing a wand on the head of an Ancient and Noble House and endangering his wife. The Wizengamot sentences you to be imprisoned at Azkaban Prison for a period of 60 years. You will be held here at the Ministry pending the outcome of the other charges you face this afternoon. At the conclusion of that trial, whatever that verdict may be, you are to be immediately transferred to Azkaban to begin your sentence. This court is so adjourned."
Madame Umbridge pounded the gavel on the podium and the trial was finished. The members of the Wizengamot filed back out through the door and everyone else stood and began to talk. Harry kept a careful eye on Draco and Narcissa Malfoy as they walked away from the box and climbed the stairs to exit the courtroom. Harry and Ginny followed them at a discrete distance and were shocked to see the two meeting someone they knew outside the doorway to the courtroom.
Professor Snape was waiting for the pair and Narcissa and Draco wasted no time in going and talking to the Hogwarts professor. It seemed that there was some sort of familiarity between the three and Harry tried not to stare as he and Ginny waited for Hermione and Mr. Weasley to join them.
Harry finally had to turn his back to the unaccustomed sight of Severus Snape behaving in a reasonable and almost friendly manner to someone. He and Ginny were still waiting for the others when Harry surprisingly felt a tap on his shoulder. He and Ginny turned to find a subdued Draco Malfoy trying to find words to start a conversation. Ginny, knowing the history of the two young men around her, tried to keep the moment and her husband calm.
"Hello Draco."
The silver haired boy started at the sound of his first name. "Hello .. Lord and Lady Potter. My congratulations on your marriage and assumption of your Lordship. I…" The words trailed off as Draco floundered trying to continue. Hermione was coming up to the little group but stopped and put out a hand for Mr. Weasley to halt to. While she wanted to hear all this, she was holding her breath as the two looked at each other.
Harry broke the extended silence. "It's Harry and Ginny if you want it to be. We we're just talking about how unexpected and brave it was for your mother and you to turn in that testimony."
"It was just the truth, no matter how many threats were issued to compromise our testimony and help my father get off. It's way too late and you probably won't be believe me but I am truly sorry for all the difficulties that you had to go through because of something I helped my father do."
Ginny felt Harry's temper flaring up beside her and slipped her arm around his waist. "You have made at least partial amends with that testimony. Are you and your mother going to be safe from reprisals from your father's friends?"
Harry turned and stared down at Ginny. It had never occurred to him that the two Malfoy's might have to face Mr. Malfoy's supporters because of their actions.
"We are probably going to be spending some time with trusted friends before I head back for Hogwarts."
"You're returning to school then?"
"I spent a long time at the Durmstrang Academy unlearning things and being healed magically and hope I'm ready to resume classes with everyone else."
Hermione came up with Mr. Weasley at that time and Harry was surprised to see Draco acknowledge the witch with a sight bow of the head. "I've taken enough of your time but I wanted to add my and my mother's thanks for correcting a huge injustice. I am not at liberty to explain now but you probably just saved my mother's life and maybe mine."
Draco did a modest bow to the three of them and turned to walk away. He was surprised when Harry called out to him. He turned around and looked back to the foursome.
"Draco, I really don't understand any of this but if you really need someone to talk to when we get back to school - I'll try to listen objectively."
Incredibly Draco chuckled a bit. "I may take you up on that Potter – sorry Lord Potter. I'm sure my godfather will be terribly tired of hearing my voice by then."
Draco turned to catch up with his mother and Professor Snape as they walked away from the courtroom. Harry had two thoughts that struck him at the same time. The first was that Narcissa Malfoy had a noticeable limp that reminded Harry of how he had moved sometimes at the Dursleys. The second was almost harder to comprehend – was Professor Snape actually Draco's godfather? It would explain a lot about both persons.
Hermione was one to sum up the thought that was on all their minds. 'There's probably one heck of a story there. I wonder if we'll ever know what it is?'
Xxxx xxxx
Harry had lunch with Mr. Weasley and his wives but begged off on staying for the afternoon trial. While the three were invited by Dumbledore to be his guests, Harry complained loudly enough that he had a headache and needed to go home for some much needed sleep. He shook Arthur's hand and received brief hugs from Hermione and Ginny before he left the crowded Ministry cafeteria and got in the elevator to return to the reception area.
Disregarding a number of people who called out for him, Harry used the portkey to return to Potter Manor. He took enough time to change his footwear and get rid of the robe he had worn that morning. Harry donned another robe and walked back downstairs to go to the floo point. Harry took a full minute to compose and transform himself and it was Lord Slytherin who emerged from a floo in the reception hall of the Ministry of Magic.
The sight of Lord Slytherin was one that was not easily forgotten by the few witches and wizards that were busy arriving or departing from the Ministry of Magic. Lord Slytherin was tall and extremely thin. A gauntness hung about him like a shroud – except for his head. The head and face of Lord Slytherin was overlarge in contrast to his body. An impossibly long black handlebar mustache was waxed and hung out horizontally under a nose that looked like it had sniffed many a wine glass. Beady black eyes peered out from underneath very bushy eyebrows. There was only a fringe of black hair that formed a ring around Lord Slytherins' head and two or three strands of longer hair were combed over the top of his head in a feeble effort to cover the bald top.
Other people turned to look at that wizard as he walked with a heavy limp over to the check-in and registration point. The wizard was dressed most strangely, ever for a wizard. Knee-high fluorescent green boots were worn over black trousers and Lord Slytherin wore a dark green shirt with a strange vest that was a checkerboard of silver and black. An unfastened orange robe with silver lightning bolts that flashed on and off as he moved completed Lord Slytherin's ensemble.
"Name and business?" It was a standard request that was issued from the auror on duty
A thin, watery voice that seemed both funny and scary answered the auror. "Lord Slytherin. Witness for a trial against Minister Fudge and toadies."
"Could I have your real name sir?"
"Bah. Paperwork and rules; it's no wonder I haven't been in England in almost twenty years. Very well; my name is Mitty, Walter Mitty. Is that all you need? May I pass now?"
"I'm sorry Lord Slytherin. I am required to take your wand and register it. It is not an action designed to harass you; all visitors must have their wands registered."
"Very well but I must formally register a protest." Lord Slytherin reached into a pocket of his robes and brought out a quill and a small piece of parchment; with a line slowly forming behind him the wizard slowly wrote down his complaint and stowed away the writing instrument. He then slowly balled up the correspondence and floated it before him. Lord Slytherin made a gesture with his fingers and the ball of writing vanished.
Auror Crutchings looked at the Lord before him with a little trepidation. Every one of the aurors had heard what happened to Farley Nervish with his encounters with Lord Gryffindor; this Lord appeared and sounded very erratic. Maybe even mad. But he still had a duty to perform.
"I still need to see your wand Lord Slytherin."
A hand came down slamming the table right in front of the auror and he jumped back in surprise. He refrained from pulling his wand in response because he saw that a strange wand now lay on the check-in table. Crutchings picked it up and put it on the device that measured, weighed and registered every visitor's wand.
Nothing happened for about thirty seconds and then the official device started to smoke. It broke out into flames soon after and Lord Slytherin plucked his wand out of the top while Crutchings shouted out an "Aguamenti" spell and watched as the water issued from his wand to douse the flames.
Auror Crutchings turned to glare over the steaming device and wondered briefly if he would have to pay to have it fixed or replaced. Lord Slytherin held his wand up and started giving it a critical inspection to check for damages.
He waved it in the air once and ink, parchment and quills appeared on the check-in table. "I guess you'll have to do this the old fashion way. Sorry about that. My wand is Chinese banyan, 9 inches long, with a dual core of a Roc heartstring and Yeti hair. Got that?"
Crutchings scrambled to write down the description that the funny looking wizard gave him. He passed Lord Slytherin his labeled witness badge and told him the trial was taking place in Courtroom #4 in the sub-basement. Lord Slytherin patted the auror on the head and thanked him for his assistance. Crutchings watched the lord limp off toward the elevators and wondered if Nervish would like to share a glass of firewhiskey or two with him after duty hours.
Lord Slytherin hadn't quite made it to the elevators when a small sound caught his attention. "Psst." Taking a few more steps the sound came again to the heir of a Hogwarts founder.
"Hem, hem. Over here."
Looking up Harry saw pudgy hand beckoning to him from a small doorway next to the bank of elevators. Mentally notifying Ginny and Hermione that something interesting was happening on Lord Slytherin's arrival, Harry slowly opened the door and walked into the small cloakroom.
The door closed behind him and Harry turned to find a person staring at him that he immediately detested. The person before him was short and wide and her eyes bulged out like a toad's might. She was wearing a hideously shade of pink suit jacket with black pants and pink shoes. Harry opened up his eyesight and hearing to share whatever this impromptu meeting was with his wives.
A high-pitched grating voice came from the loose face of the women. "Lord Slytherin? My name is Dolores Umbridge and I am the Senior Undersecretary here at the Ministry of Magic. I have been waiting to meet and talk with you before the whole unpleasantness of this trial started this afternoon." She held out a limp hand to shake and Lord Slytherin looked down at it for a minute.
'You even touch that toad and we'll have to disinfect you thoroughly before we let you back into bed Harry.'
'Shush Ginny; we should at least hear what she has to say.'
Umbridge withdrew her hand but stared nervously up at Lord Slytherin's face. "I would like to discuss this misunderstanding about Minister's Fudge supposed involvement with the theft from your vault Lord Slytherin."
'Supposed involvement? He was caught red handed.'
'Ginny, let's listen to what she wants.'
"You have doubts about Minister Fudge's guilt Madame Unbleached?"
"Umbridge, Lord Slytherin. I have been fortunate to work closely and under Cornelius Fudge for a number of years and can attest to his fine character and honesty."
'Under Minister Fudge? Oh, the images in my brain now. Make it stop Harry, make it stop!'
"Yet the goblins gave me the information that the money from my vault ended up in the minister's private account."
"You would take the word of those half-creatures over your fellow human witches and wizards? You believe his guilt?"
"What I believe Madame Upbandage is hardly relevant to the trial. I am only required to give my accounting of the facts as I know them and it will be the Wizengamot that will determine his guilt or innocence."
"Could I at least persuade you to drop the charges against Minister Fudge and place the blame squarely on the head of the convicted criminal Malfoy?"
'Awful insistent isn't she Harry?'
"Again, Madame that is a matter for the full council to determine. I brought my complaint and my evidence to the DMLE and charges were generated by the people in Madame Bones' office."
"My apologies; I must have misunderstood. I don't think I caught your proper name Lord Slytherin."
"That's because I didn't throw it at you Madame Turnfridge. For what it's worth to anyone it is Walter Mitty."
"Well, Walter, the Minister and I would be very grateful for any assistance you might tend in presenting the facts in a certain way once you testify. It could be very beneficial for you in the long run."
Ginny and Hermione felt Harry's disgust and loathing at the words the Senior Undersecretary uttered.
"Are you trying to bribe me Madame Wreckage? With power? I have that. With money? That's the reason there's going to be a trial. Despite my title of Lord Slytherin, I do not take kindly to under the table deals or illegal activities. Is that clearly understood? And I never gave you permission to address me so familiarly."
"Oh, Lord Slytherin you totally misunderstand me. I was just stating my opinion that a fine public servant like Cornelius Fudge should not have his reputation besmirched by the actions of one or a few misguided and criminal wizards."
Harry just couldn't stand in the same room for this brown-nosing witch any longer. "I will see you at the trial Madame Spoilage. Do not give me any reason to have to bring this probably improper meeting to the attention of the full Wizengamot."
Dolores Umbridge finally recognized that she may have committed an error in trying to influence Lord Slytherin before the trial. She made a horrible attempt at a curtsey and was quiet as Lord Slytherin left the room.
Lord Slytherin slammed the door and then turned around when he was four angry strides away. He drew a little bond magic and sealed and really locked the door he had just come through.
Lord Slytherin 'heard' the laughter and approval of Harry Potter's wives as he continued toward the elevators and Courtroom #4.
'Harry, really? Walter Mitty?'
'I liked that movie when I saw it over the holidays with you Hermione. You can explain it to Ginny probably better than I can.'
Xxxx xxxx
Lord Slytherin looked around Courtroom #4 from the witness box he had been escorted to by one Auror Tonks. Harry had thrown an arm across the young ladies shoulders and asked her if she wanted a date after the proceedings. The shock on Tonks face caused Harry to laugh and he formally apologized for "overstepping the bounds that properly belonged to one Remus Lupin". Another hearty laugh came from the thin wizard at the look of puzzlement that came from the young Auror. Tonks excused herself and hurried back up the steps to regain her post at the doorway.
The only other person in the witness box that Harry knew was Madame Bones and Harry limped his way over to introduce himself. Bowing deeply to the head auror, Lord Slytherin painfully straightened up and held out a hand. "Madame Bones, it is a pleasure to meet you. Lord Gryffindor speaks highly of your integrity and honesty."
Madame Bones stepped closer as she took the proffered hand. "Harry?"
Lord Slytherin shook his head. "Walter Mitty. I am no more Harry Potter than you are. What a strange notion. That the heir of a founding house at Hogwarts would be a young lad with a scar on his head; how ridiculous." He smiled and winked an eye at Madame Bones.
A slow smile came to Amelia Bones face. "I look forward to your testimony 'Lord Slytherin'. We have a full crowd today; including the press."
The visitor galley was standing room only and Harry saw that this courtroom was much larger than the courtroom they had been in this morning. His glance around caught the sight of Hermione and Ginny as well as a number of people who had press passes along with their visitor badges. There were a certain number of witches present who had sketch pads like Ginny used. Lord Slytherin asked the head auror about them and she smirked as she gave her reply.
"The Senior Undersecretary found she couldn't keep the press out but she could ban the use of cameras in this courtroom. So free-lance sketchers are being employed by the various newspapers to catch the relevant moments and people of the trial. I imagine your face may grace the front page of The Prophet tomorrow; whether by sketches or the cameras that are outside the courtroom waiting for the results of the trial."
"Well, it's a good thing I am so handsome still. Maybe I can catch the eye of a beautiful young lady or two."
'We still hear you, beloved husband.'
'Good, who did you think I was talking about?'
'Nice save, man of many hats and rings.'
Harry blew a mental raspberry at his wives but then turned around as a bell sounded throughout the courtroom. Lord Slytherin turned and faced the front of the room as the Wizengamot filed in again. They all took their seats and Dumbledore mounted the podium. Before he could raise the gavel to call the trial to order, there was a late arrival. A small buzz went through the courtroom as Senior Undersecretary Delores Umbridge hurried to her seat, fastening her plum colored robe over her pink jacket. It took a tremendous effort for Lord Slytherin not to laugh and point.
Dumbledore, after a long look at Umbridge, banged the gavel and called for the accused to be brought forward. Lucius Malfoy was pushed into the room, still bound in the same chair he had been fastened to that morning. "Convicted criminals are always restrained in the courtroom" Madame Bones whispered to her companion.
Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge was led into the courtroom by a single auror and had a simple pair of handcuffs adorning his wrists. He was let stand as opposed to being fastened to the prisoner chair like Malfoy. Harry did not begrudge the Minister the measure of respect this entailed but wondered what would be the scene when or if he was convicted.
Dumbledore spoke loudly to be heard. "Cornelius Fudge and Lucius Malfoy. You are charged with theft, bribery, malfeasance, breach of public trust and corruption. How do you plead?"
"Not guilty" came the shout from Fudge.
Lucius Malfoy glared at Chief Warlock Dumbledore but did not open his mouth. "A plea of Not Guilty will be entered for the other accused" Dumbledore announced.
"The first witness for the Ministry will be Lord Slytherin."
Lord Slytherin stood carefully and held on to the nearest seat backs as he loudly clumped down to the floor of the courtroom. Lord Slytherin raised his wand but did not speak as Dumbledore asked for a wizard's oath. Dumbledore waited and then prompted Lord Slytherin again.
"On my honor as Walter Mitty, I swear a binding oath that I am about to tell the truth as I know it." The phraseology caused a small whisper around the courtroom but a look from Dumbledore brought silence back to the proceedings. The wand that Lord Slytherin held did respond with the proper signs of the oath being properly cast.
"Lord Slytherin would you tell us the circumstances that led you to believe that the accused were involved in the theft of money from your vaults?"
"Ahem."
Dumbledore turned sideways to look at the source of the sound. "Madame Umbridge, you have a question?"
"Just a procedural matter if you don't mind Chief Warlock. Members of this august body, myself included, would like some verification of Lord Slytherin's identity since he is the one to start this whole process."
"Madame Umbridge, I hardly think this is the time for…"
"I'm quite prepared to answer the questions of the Senior Underflunkie if she needs to find reasons to delay the trial."
"Very well then. Madame Umbridge?"
"Could you prove to the Wizengamot that you are really Lord Slytherin?"
"I have this House ring that nobody else seems to want to wear. Or the ability. A thief in Baghdad met a most unfortunate painful death when he put it on his finger. Would you like to try Madame Undersecrecy?"
Madame Umbridge rapidly shook her head no but did press the issue a further question. "Have you no other proof then that?"
"On the contrary, I have the best of proof. The Ministry of Magic recognizes me as Lord Slytherin."
"WHAT?" The outraged response from Madame Umbridge probably might have shaken some of the pictures hanging on the wall if anyone was looking that way. Everyone was looking at the glowering red face of the Undersecretary.
Lord Slytherin unclipped his visitors badge and held it up for everyone to see. "A very nice auror issued me this official piece of identification when I checked in as a witness this afternoon. It, and therefore the Ministry, says I am Lord Slytherin. Do you need any more proof than that Senior Underseminarian Umbridge?"
The gentle but firm reasoning of Lord Slytherin knocked Madame Umbridge back in her seat with a very confused look on her face. Dumbledore, seeing that Umbridge was not going to pose any more questions, repeated his original query to the first witness.
"Thank you. I have been travelling the world for most of the last eighteen years as a result of threats placed against me by a certain Dark Wizard. He acclaimed himself the heir of Slytherin and I quickly realized that the most direct way for this so called Lord Moldywarts –sorry, did I get that name wrong? I'm just terrible at names you know. He wanted to kill me and properly assume the title of Lord Slytherin. Anyway, I felt threatened to death by this Dark Wizard and fled England to preserve my life. Found I enjoyed travelling a lot. I've licked the Blabby Stone in Iceland (right painful that), peed on the pampas grass in Brazil, and had lunch at the world's largest hairball museum in Calcutta. Traveling is so stimulating; all those foreign customs and food."
"Lord Slytherin? The thefts?"
"I'm sorry Dumbledore. I returned to England recently as I realized that I couldn't remember receiving any mail for the longest time. Come to find out, my house elf had died about ten years ago and the mail had piled up in the most horrendous manner. Instead of reading all that pile, I banished it instead. I went to Gringotts to check on my vault and the goblins there gave me the most disturbing news. Someone had been accessing and removing money from my vault with forged signatures. It had been going on ever since that Harry Poster kid vanished or vanquished that Dark Lord. I told the goblins that the practice must immediately stop but that I would like the monies in my vault magically marked and followed at the next instance of theft."
"That Lucius Malfoy showed up not one week later to make a withdrawal and a transfer of monies. I have the official statement from Gringotts that most of that stolen money was put into either his account or Minister Fudge's personal account. And it wasn't the first time either. The statement I have says that the practice had been happening on a regular basis since before Fudge was elected Minister. I refrained from letting the goblins punish the parties involved and talked them into letting me complain to the proper authorities. That's when I went and talked to Amelia Bones and she went and searched the houses of both Malfoy and Fudge. Some of that traceable money was found in both those houses."
A witch with very long polished fingernails stood to ask a question. "Did the goblins give any indication that Minister Fudge had ever made any withdrawals directly from your account using forged signatures?"
"No."
"So those deposits could have been made without the minister's knowledge?"
"Maybe yes, maybe no. I've found out that most single wizards don't pay as much attention as to what's in their accounts as the ones that are married do."
"You'll not bring my wife into this mess." Minister Fudge was forced to sit in the unoccupied chair on the floor after his outburst but did not get fastened to it.
There were no other questions for Lord Slytherin and he was dismissed. The Head Auror was called next and Madame Bones described both her investigation and the search of Malfoy's and Fudge's houses to find some of that traceable money. Those facts led to the subsequent charges and arrest of the duo.
The obvious supporters of Minister Fudge had a lot of probing questions for Madame Bones and she had to defend the evidence and her investigation. Harry thought she had done a very credible job of it but he wasn't one of the fifty member body.
Minister Fudge called a lot of character witness in his defense and seemed to sway the audience a little. Lucius Malfoy, after the morning's debacle, called no one to testify for him and the Wizengamot members adjourned to deliberate the case.
It was a long and weary wait in the witness box for Lord Slytherin and Madame Bones. They ran out of topics to discuss after about the first fifteen minutes as they anxiously waited for the Wizengamot to return their verdicts. It was a little over an hour later when the bell sounded and the body of plum covered witches and wizards returned. Harry could not read any indication on Dumbledore's face when he called for the prisoners to stand.
"After due deliberation, the Wizengamot finds Lucius Malfoy guilty on all counts of the charges and tasks his estate to repay Lord Slytherin for all stolen money. His sentence is another 40 years in Azkaban. You may take that prisoner away."
"Cornelius Fudge." Everyone in the courtroom held their breath as the fate of the leader of the Ministry of Magic was about to be made public.
"Cornelius Fudge, you have been found guilty of harboring stolen money. You are required to repay Lord Slytherin for those deposits illegally made into your account. And additional fine of 2000 galleons is also imposed and you are placed on probation for a period not to exceed five years. You have been found innocent on all other charges."
The courtroom erupted in cheers and Lord Slytherin didn't have far to look for the lead cheerleader. Senior Undersecretary Umbridge was jumping for joy and hugging the people next to her. Harry had a very nauseous moment but did turn and thank Madame Bones for all her assistance.
"It was a long shot to convict Minister Fudge Lord Slytherin. He may not like you very much from here on."
"That is a problem I will have to deal with then. Maybe Lord Gryffindor or Harry Poster could put in a good word for me with the Minister.."
Amelia Bones threw back her head and had a hearty laugh. "Perhaps you are right Lord Slytherin, perhaps you are right. I will see you before Hogwarts starts up again?"
"If the stars and schedules align Madame Bones. Thank you again."
Lord Slytherin made his way out of the courtroom and bypassed the elaborate press conference Minister Fudge was holding out in the corridor. The number of flashbulbs going off was almost blinding but all ignored the lead witness in the trial and the wives of Harry Potter who were making their way slowly toward the same elevator.
'Let's go home ladies. We've done what we came to do today.'