Chapter 25 – Family Court Decisions
Harry joined Ron who was staring between a letter from home and the Daily Prophet.
"Ron?"
"Did you see this Harry?" Hermione said holding up the paper, they had both arrived uncharacteristically later than usual for breakfast.
"Ron what is it?" Harry asked knowing full well what Ron was speechless about.
"Minister and Illegal Squad Captured" Proclaimed the front of the Daily Prophet.
"'Minister of Magic United Kingdom Cornelius Fudge was arrested during an illegal incursion onto an American magical community, Advisor Delores Umbridge was also arrested together with" Hermione paused staring before continuing. "…personal attaché to the Minister Percy Ignatius Weasley…" Hermione trailed off.
"Oh…Ron."
"Mum got a floo early this morning from the American ministry…they said he'd been present during this…" Ron glanced at the Prophet. "I know he's a prat and everything but…"
"What?" Hermione said.
"Mum said…even the Prophet said, Fudge and Umbridge will get…" Ron trailed off.
"The Death Penalty…" Hermione stared at Harry as he stated their fates calmly.
"What about Percy…?"
"Mum asked the American Law Enforcement guy…she spoke to Percy, he said 'I was following and doing what the minister said, he was right!', that's what makes me so angry the prat, he still won't admit that he was wrong!" Ron threw down the Prophet.
Harry looked at Ron whilst spooning honey onto his porridge. Hermione stared at him.
"Harry you're very calm." Hermione looked at him, Ron also looked up. Harry glanced to both of them.
"Umbridge caused enough suffering and anguish last year, I'm not going to shed a tear over that woman, Fudge put me on trial in front of a full Wizengamont, he could have stopped a lot of deaths if he had pulled his head out of his arse and told the world about Voldemort earlier…"
"But they're going to execute them! Plus what about Percy?"
"The git that he is…he shouldn't die for following a bigger idiot than him." Ron muttered.
"The Americans are very liberal…except when you're prosecuted as guilty for a crime…" Harry trailed off knowing full well that Hermione had written an essay in History of Magic on legal systems in their 4th year.
Hermione was staring off into space "Yes…we did it in History of Magic!"
"We did?" Ron asked.
"You did 'Honeydukes: Inventors of the Chocolate Frog? Discuss'."
"That's right, pretty tasty too, got an E for that one." Ron said grinning again.
"For your intimate knowledge of the subject material Ron do doubt…" Harry added.
"How are they convicted Hermione? What happens in Percy's situation?" Ron asked Hermione genuinely interested in her knowledge of…stuff.
"They, the accused are put in front of a court, it's usually recorded so others can receive copies…we should ask Madam Pince to request a copy, they report to the court, statements are given by the arresting officers who are questioned, the accused give their statements and may be placed under a truth serum which may or may not be Vertiserum…" Hermione recited furrowing her brow. "There's usually a council representing all magical communities."
"All, wouldn't there be just wizards?" Ron asked.
"No, the council has equal numbers of all magical communities, that's everyone from werewolves through goblins to veela, centaurs and anyone else, to ensure they are given a fair trial."
"Umbridge is screwed then." Harry blurted out, Ron laughed.
"So what happens to Percy?"
"I'm not sure Ron, most of the books just stated that it depends on the severity of the crime, all the most extreme cases which include invasion of magical communities and many of the things that Fudge and Umbridge are up for is the death penalty…Percy was closely linked to Fudge…but if he didn't do anything, he may get a lenient sentence."
The rest of breakfast continued on quietly, late in the morning Dumbledore stood up looking rather annoyed.
"Dumbledore looks pissed." Harry muttered to Hermione.
"Yes…I wonder why, wouldn't he want Fudge out of office?"
"Not necessarily…"
Ron looked up from his only 5th piece of bacon of the morning.
"If Dumbledore is annoyed that Fudge has been captured…that means that Dumbledore has wanted Fudge to be Minister…otherwise he would of gotten rid of him sooner…" Ron said slowly as feeling the words out as he said them, Harry and Hermione stared at him.
"Given the…recent departure of Minister Fudge and…others, classes will be cancelled whilst various departments within the ministry are re-assessed." Dumbledore sat down.
"That was odd." Harry muttered, Hermione was flipping through the Prophet.
"Page 8 Harry, Ron!"
Harry flipped through his copy and smiled a knowing smile, it was expected…
"Next Minister of Magic"
"Hey Ron your Dad's in here!" Seamus called out across the table startling Ron. Scrimgeour
"Huh? What?"
Hermione started to read "Nominated for minister by some radicals within the Ministry Arthur Weasley currently heading up Mis-Use of Muggle Artefacts is considered by most to be more suited in his current position as frequent mis-uses on his own part have proven…" Hermione frowned and looked at Ron who shrugged.
"Dunno, Dad wouldn't like it any way, he likes playing with his muggle stuff, keeps asking me what a rubber duck is for."
"So who else is in line for the top job Hermione?"
"Rufus Scrimgeour, Current head of the Aurors, Amelia Bones…you know her Harry, Amanda Doolittle associate professor to the department of spell craft it seems she fought in the last war, Paul Sinclair inter-magical relations officer, he works with other magical governments. Professor Albus Dumbledore is also tipped for Minister…" Hermione finished reading.
"It'll be Bones…probably." Harry said looking up.
"Why?"
"Doolittle could take it, Scrimgeour could supposedly he's very anti-Dumbledore, nice and hard line which would be better. But Bones may have a higher chance because Dumbledore will back her, but she knows how to handle him and will give just enough leeway for him to run his little army …"
"And he wouldn't want the job because he wants to work behind the scenes…" Ron finished. Harry, Neville, Hermione and Ginny stared at Ron.
"It's chess, strategy, power, deceit…let's go ask Pince about those records."
The following two weeks passed without any much further mention in the news.
Then on Friday word arrived with a picture splashed across the front of the Daily Prophet a picture which had obviously been taken from some distance away, everyone who had paid the slightest attention in History of Magic recognised the image, two figures standing up tied to a stake with flames dancing around them…
Later that day found Harry, Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Dean, Seamus Neville and surprisingly Luna in the library; in front of them was a large book the size of a broadsheet newspaper and a record player in front of them.
"Ok so how does this go?" Harry asked, he standing by the record player, Ron, Ginny and Hermione were sitting directly in front of the book.
"You put the record on and then open the book, there are photos of the trial with notes and other pictures." Seamus supplied for the mildly confused Harry.
"Right, what I wouldn't do for a video camera and a TV." He muttered, only Hermione understood him nodding.
Harry set down the needle.
This is the court events of the trial of Cornelius Fudge, Delores Jane Umbridge…The record went on to name all the people in Fudge's party including Percy.
Turning the pictures as the record went on, and on, Harry found it fascinating seeing such a large and balanced council.
Cornelius Fudge…you are found guilty of 25 counts of illegal activities on American soil, you are sentence to death by burning at the stake…Delores Jane Umbridge you are guilty of 30 counts of illegal activities, inflictions and vilification within the court you are also sentenced to death by burning at the stake, take them away to prepare for their sentence…
Harry flipped the record over at Seamus's prompt.
...Jacob you and your associates who of your own volition cast spells without orders from the Minister or Ms Umbridge shall have your wands destroyed, you may not return to America or any of her protectorates for 50 years…on pain of death…
…and now for the all participants who did not practise and spell craft towards the magical community in question…Percy Ignatius Weasley…
Harry looked down at the photo, there was Percy he was looking at the prosecutor with an odd sense of contempt, Ron also noticed this and scowled.
…given your ignorance of the events that transpired, but ignorance is not an excuse your wand shall not be snapped…however you will join 4 of your fellow workers assisting those at Purgatory in all methods…for 12 months of continual service.
Seamus and Neville frowned especially, Ron and Ginny seemed to recognise the name, Luna looked worried.
Harry and Hermione exchanged a look.
"What's Purgatory?" Harry said breaking the silence.
"It's place where people go to die…" Ron stated.
"That's not just it…"
"It's where people go…when they've got out of Azkaban, some run to the New World, half dead, some tortured by the Ministry, some have nothing to live for, their magic depleted, or they might just be insane…those in Purgatory are… it is a place of suffering and of peace, peace for those who spend their last months or years trying to recover…" Luna said solemnly.
"And all methods?" Hermione asked.
"Me mum said, some people give their magic…to others that they might recover, it leaves you feeling…worse than death, you can't be forced to give it though."
"So this Purgatory its…a hospital…?"
"For people who have escaped our Ministry's prisons, torture from other countries including ours…" Luna stated again neutrally. "People volunteer, weeks, a month at a time at most…"
"So this is to teach them…?" Hermione trailed off.
"Compassion." Harry said simply.
Harry wandered off up to the owlery he found both Hedwig and Vespero, he asked one or both of them to go to Night Wolf for him, they both decided to go, to save Dumbledore's curiosity should another letter arrive via transmat.
Later that day following a late lunch Harry dragged his two friends out to the lake, it was starting to cool but in the sun it was still warm.
Harry was thinking he might go and see Braeson and the others at some point over the weekend.
"Harry it's a little brisk, how come we're out here?" Hermione wrapped her cloak around her more wriggling a little closer to Ron.
Harry smiled at the pair.
"Just to get outside the castle…after everything today I thought a breath of fresh air was in order." Harry breathed in a big lungful of air expressively, his friends gave him a look.
"Oh…kay…"
"Plus I thought I would explain my disappearance."
"Disappearance?"
"Again?" Hermione muttered Ron looked puzzled.
"The other week Ron…?"
"What was I doing?" Hermione sighed.
"Playing Quidditch." Ron's face lit up with recognition.
"Should I ask this time Harry where you're going or is it again one of those 'don't ask don't tell' situations. I'm starting to sound like Professor Moody." Hermione muttered to herself.
"Who wasn't ever a Professor let's remember."
"Deflecting the subject is something you're getting good at Harry." Hermione dead panned.
Harry sighed.
"I'll just be outside…regaining a bit of balance."
"You're not mad Harry! Well not compared to..." Ron said before he was hit in the shoulder be Hermione. "Oww…"
"Not that sort of balance, just something between instinct and me, between my other form and this…"
"Where outside Harry?"
Harry nodded towards the forest.
"But that's dangerous Harry!" Hermione her eye broys shooting up in concern scolded.
"We could tell McGonagall…"
"You could I suppose Hermione…but then considering you just told be that you're going to do that, then I'd have to stick around to make sure you didn't." Harry watched Hermione sit back smug and stunned.
"However…then you would have to put up with my fluctuating personality and the desire to shag you rotten when ever we're inside Hogwarts." Hermione screwed up her nose, Ron looked relieved.
"That last bit applied to you as well Ron…" Harry grinned as Ron's look of relief dissolved into horror.
"I think we should let him go don't you?" Ron said quickly.
Hermione seemed torn.
"Fine, Harry, but you seemed more interested in your own dorm than mine. Maybe I should keep you around…" Hermione giggled. Ron stared at his girlfriend as she broke down into full blown laughter.
Harry meanwhile was patting down his pockets, he had a thick shirt on for him by Christophe and Lyle the first of a few many that had arrived the other day.
"If you've finished Hermione?" Harry said with a smile. Harry pushed a crystal into the dirt in front of them.
"You know Latin is really complicated…" He muttered to himself. "Water is a very useful substance…"
"Harry am I going to get wet?" Ron looked at him sceptically.
"No." Harry continued "Water is a useful substance, it hydrates you, it will grow things, you can use it in potions, in tea…."
"Harry what are you…"
"Watch…" Harry closed his eyes opening a palm to the lake and pointing the other upwards.
"Element to element, energy to energy, substance to substance, heat become, incend, aquas…" Three things happened, there was a minor explosion from the lake, and the trio would have gotten wet however there was a burst of heat and air and suddenly there was a thick mist around them and the lake. "Be seeing you." Harry nodded to his friends, grabbed the crystal and then changed into his Raven form and flew off into the forest.