A/N: Hey all, know my updates have been a bit inconsistent and all. Honestly, I'm busy being a huge nerd, because I'm the dungeon master for a large group and we're getting ready to start a second campaign, so that's demanding a lot of my attention and focus. When I've not been busy with that, my church has a ton of stuff going on, and as the person in charge of the media ministry, I have to be involved in basically everything. So this has fallen into my "when I have time" category. However, I still intend to continue this story. Anyhow, thanks for understanding.

Chapter 26: Testimony

Harry stood and straightened his long robes, feeling more than a little nervous. He'd never done anything like this before. Even speaking at Sirius' hearing was relatively straightforward. He'd been instructed to wait until his name was called while the wizengamot examined the magical photos and bits of evidence that had been collected from Umbridge's office. So far, he felt they had a decent case, but it would be his job to address the court and clench it.

"The court will now hear from one Harry James Potter," he heard the minister say as the doors in front of him opened on their own, squealing loudly.

Harry walked into the large room, and mentally tried to keep track of who was looking at him with interest as opposed to his contempt. He had to play to his audience.

"Very well then," said the minister, dismissively. "You have the floor to speak on the events related to the placement of one Delores Jane Umbridge at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Mr. Potter."

"Thank you minister," said Harry, bowing slightly.

This caught several of those watching off-guard, including Fudge, and Harry knew none of them suspected he had taken his studies in wizarding law or society seriously.

"I appreciate you all hearing my words on the matter concerning us here today," he said, keeping his occlumency shields up and his voice impassive as he could. "I have no desire to waste any of your time, nor my own with false claims. So, when I say that the manner of punishment Delores Umbridge imposed upon students was uncommon and cruel, I hope you all take it as serious a matter as I do."

Lucius Malfoy stood and spoke out.

"Is there any reason we are to seriously take what this boy has to say into consideration? He has been publicly revealed as making far-fetched claims on more than one occasion."

Harry almost smiled. He'd expected someone would make that objection, and already had an answer prepared.

"My previous allegations are not on the agenda today, Mr. Malfoy, but if the court will permit, let's address your issue. You say that I have made false claims before. I would ask, exactly what claims is it that you're referring to? Was it my claims that a servant of Lord Voldemort was within the school halls and attempting to steal the sorcerer's stone? Or rather, my claims against you yourself, when it was discovered that you had put one particularly dangerous artifact of the Dark Lord's into the possession of one Ginny Weasley? Or was it my claims that my godfather, the Heir of the House of Black was actually an innocent man, as you now all know him to be? Or perhaps you are referring to my claims only last year that I was entered into a championship for which I was underage and underprepared for against my will, again as has now been proven? I am not a liar, Mr. Malfoy."

This put the blonde man off for a moment, but only just for a moment. He quickly recovered himself and shout out again.

"I am, of course, referring to the absurd claim that the Dark Lord has returned to life."

"And as I have pointed out, all-too-often I am proven to be right. I suggest your ask yourself a very hard question. If I am telling the truth, as I always have done, what will happen when I am proven right, yet again. Who else will have died? How many people will he have hurt because you wanted to believe in a comforting lie?"

He saw his words had several members of the council talking amongst themselves and he felt pleased, knowing he'd at least sowed doubt in their minds. It was more than he'd done up until now.

"Order!" shouted the minister, banging a gavel. "We will return our attentions to the matters at hand!"

"Very well minister," said Harry, turning to the council at large. "I have offered my own signed testimony and given an account of the events in question, as has a few other students from the school, including Daphne Greengrass. The ministry placed Madam Umbridge at the school in order to keep an eye on what has been going on, except that I have always been transparent about my own experiences. I have, as requested, given both verbal testimony and memories in relation to the events in question, multiple times. You all have a job to do here, and I urge you to follow it through. Do what is right, instead of what is easy."

A few members began nodding, until Malfoy spoke again.

"You are no member of this council, Mr. Potter. Do no presume to know our responsibilities."

"But I do presume, Mr. Malfoy," said Harry, staring him down. "I will take a seat on this council one day, and I have no intention of taking a comfortable path. I intend to fight for what I see to be right, not what I see to be comfortable. So, when times do change, and they eventually shall, would you rather be seen as some of the innovators of our times, or someone who merely shut up and let darkness nearly overtake our entire way of life. Umbridge may not be a death eater, but she is wrong and clearly in violation of the law. So do the right thing… When my time comes, I know I will."

Harry turned on his heel and walked out as the hall erupted. Daphne and Sirius smiled at him as he returned to the waiting room.

"Well?" asked Sirius.

"Nothing definitive," said Harry, nodding. "But they listened, and they're talking. It's better than it might've been."

"That's fantastic!" Daphne said, kissing him on the cheek. "I'm really proud of you Harry. I can't wait to read the papers tomorrow."

"All a product of your work and patience, my dear," he said, smirking at her.

She rolled her eyes and swatted at him playfully.

"Well," said Sirius. "I believe you two have earned a proper dinner before I have to return you to the castle."

"I'm sure that'll make Hermione happy," Harry muttered to Daphne. "She'll have to go with Hagrid to see Gwarp again tonight."

"I still say he's a bit crazy to try to hide a giant in the forest."

"What do you want him to do?" asked Harry. "It's his brother… Well, half-brother, anyway."

"I didn't say it wasn't sweet, or even right. Just said it was a bit crazy."

"Well… you're not wrong."

"So Harry," said Sirius, acting as if he couldn't hear them. "How are your defense meetings moving forward?"

"Not bad, Sirius," said Harry. "We're actually working on the Patronus right now, and once Umbridge is gone and it's a proper club, I think I get McGonagall to find us a boggart to use as a dementor."

Sirius shivered, and Harry almost kicked himself. Most of the time, it was easy to forget that Sirius was a man who had been forced to live with those creatures for over a dozen years, slowly losing every happy feeling he'd ever had. Honestly, Harry figured it was part of the reason Sirius acted so happy and boisterous all the time, and it was something he understood, to a point.

It was part of the reason he never talked about the Dursleys, but at least he had Daphne now. Sirius just had him and Lupin, and the Black heir never breached the subject of Azkaban with him. On one hand, Harry appreciated the care Sirius had with him, but Sirius also needed to stop trying to make up for his absence up to Harry's third year. Harry never held it against him, even for a moment, and even though Sirius never said it, Harry knew he held it as one of his highest mistakes.

Sirius took them to a nice restaurant Harry couldn't pronounce the name of if he'd tried, but luckily the menus were in English. Daphne and he had once eaten at a French restaurant where not a thing on the menu was in English and Harry had needed to resort to pointing at the menu. This was the moment he discovered that Daphne was apparently fluent enough in the language to vaguely understand what the menu said, and order what she wanted. She'd spent a good part of the evening laughing at him for that, and honestly now that he could look back on it, he also found it funny.

Sirius brought them back to Hogsmeade in time for them to catch a carriage back to the castle before curfew, and Harry walked Daphne down to the dungeons. She kissed him goodnight and he head back up to the Gryffindor common room to be greeted by a series of clapping and cheers.

"What's all this then?" he asked, smiling at Fred and George.

"Well Harry…" said George.

"Word has it…" Fred continued.

"That you've taken care…"

"Of a nasty infestation in our dear castle."

"So!" said Ginny firmly, pushing the twins aside. "We all decided to throw a party, since Hogwarts is going to be free of the menace soon! Besides, it's been ages since we could celebrate without wondering if the toad was going to burst in and punish everyone!"

"Well," said Harry. "I just did what I could. Daphne's as much to thank for this as anyone."

Some people in the room grew a little quieter at that and Harry could tell that the idea of giving a Slytherin credit for anything wasn't sitting particularly well. However, no one objected, and Harry took that as progress.

"All the same," he said, standing on a chair. "Let's recognize something."

The room immediately silenced completely and every set of eyes turned to him. A year ago, he would've clamed up and refused to speak. However, he'd been training and had already spoken to a courtroom full of people twice this year, and here he was among friends and allies.

"Hogwarts is our school, and it belongs to us. Not the ministry and damn sure not any psychotic would-be toads."

"Here here!" shouted several voices, and a few people threw their hands up in the air.

"Still," Harry said, holding up his hands. "We need to remember this night isn't just a victory for Gryffindor. This is a Hogwarts victory, and there's one way we're able to keep this up. I know I can rely on a few of the people in this house, but there are people in other houses I consider reliable friends, and yes, at least three of them are Slytherins."

The room began to mumble, and glance around confused.

"Slytherin isn't our eternal enemy. Sure, we compete against them in quidditch and for the house cup and in both of those, we'll squash them."

A cheer of Gryffindor came up from the back, which he silenced.

"But there is a school-wide threat from the ministry and others in the outside world. When dark forces and government ignorance threaten us, it threatens all of us. You may not like some students, that's fine. I'll never be friend with Malfoy or Smith, and I'm not asking you to be. However, I do expect you all to know who the real enemy is."

"Voldemort!" shouted someone from the back, and to Harry's surprise, most of the room began nodding.

"Exactly," he said, a little more softly before calling out again. "His return threatens a lot of lives. But more than that, it threatens our way of life. He wants us to huddle away in fear and terror. I don't know about you, but I have one response to that!"

He reached down and grabbed a butterbeer from the table, and held it high above his head.

"Fuck that!"

He took a long swig from the bottle and several of his housemates cheered, repeating his declaration and drinking too. He hopped off the chair while they began to shout and cheers against Voldemort went off here and there. Harry walked through the crowd and to his surprise, felt a strong hand on his shoulder, only to turn and see professor McGonagall.

"Oh," he said, a little sheepishly. "Hi, professor."

"I've, naturally, just arrived Mr. Potter. So I haven't heard your little speech just now, or I might have to punish you for certain language and behaviors. However, the message was good, and I'm pleased to see that Miss Greengrass has helped you develop some real character as a leader. I rather intend to have similar talk with the heads of the other houses, if perhaps a little less… vulgar. All the same, I'm proud of you, Mr. Potter. Never stop fighting."

"Thank you, professor."