Here you go!

Song for this chapter 'Law and Order: Full Theme Song' from Law and Order (obviously).

Idk why I chose this song! So cliche.

"Settle down, settle down!" Minister Fudge exclaimed, addressing the courtroom with a stern expression, "Settle down now! Quiet. Settle!"

The members of the Wizengamot hushed their talking, bringing their attention to the court and its inhabitants.

"Well then, let's start," he continued, "Disciplinary hearing of the twenty-ninth of November."

Fudge's voice carried across the room with a slight echo. Madame Bones next to the Minister sat with her back straight, a monocle on her eye, attentive as always. Next to Fudge sat a short, plump man with greying hair and squinted brown eyes. Once Fudge started speaking, he dipped his quill into the inkpot and fervently started noting everything down on the parchment in front of him, his brows furrowed in concentration.

I sat beside James, Sirius, Remus and Lily, arms together in my lap as I sat clad in a simple grey cloak.

A few days ago James had received a letter from Lily. He had read through it, his brows furrowing as it passed each line. Sirius had noticed and asked what it was about.

He had read the letter out loud. It was short and simple. As if Lily hadn't been sure how to write the letter.

She had written about a trial with she had been asked to attend. A trial against Umbridge and some members of her staff.

Which included Peter.

She had asked James to accompany her. For support and to ensure that she wouldn't do something she regretted later. James had looked miserable, clearly not wanting to face Peter again, but he needed to be there for Lily so he had agreed.

Sirius, Remus had hesitantly asked if them going along would be of any help to James, and so did I (being the great friend that I am). James had agreed.

And here we were.

"Into offences committed under the Ministerial Code of Conduct, Anti-Corruption Code of Conduct, the 4156 Penal Code, Treason Act of 1303, Anti-Discrimination Law and War Crime act of 1909 by Ms Dolores Jane Umbridge, Faeduscus Barney Selwyn..." He rattled off the names of a bunch of highly renowned ministry officials which were to be held in trial for the day. The last name that he said was the one that caused the four sitting beside me to stiffen, "And Mr Peter Phobus Pettigrew."

Remus let out a shuddering breath. Lily put a hand on his shoulder comfortingly in response.

The Minister then continued, "Interrogators: Cornelius Oswald Fudge, Minister of Magic; Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts and Supreme Mugwump of the Wizengamot; Amelia Susan Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law-Enforcement. Court Scribe, Apollo Brinjer."

"First Defendant, Ms Dolores Jane Umbridge!" Amelia announced, arranging the paper in front of her.

The woman was brought from the stands on the side of the room opposite to me. A chair was present in the middle of the room, magical shackles intertwined with it, which she was to sit on.

"Cornelius please- I didn't do anything, Cornelius, please! You know me. You know I wouldn't do this!" Umbridge pleaded as her protesting limbs were forced into the seat. She clutched the armrest when she finally sat down, her nails digging in, "Please Cornelius!"

"The charges" Fudge boomed coldly, interrupting the Umbridge, "against the accused are as follows: acceptance of bribes in the form of money and gifts from both members and non-members of the Ministry; falsifying and modification of official documents for personal interests; abuse of power as Minister of the Department of Care and Regulation of Magical Creatures and former-worker in the Office of Accidental Magic; discriminating against halfbloods, muggleborns and magical beings such as goblins, werewolves, vampires, giants, centaurs and minority groups like half breeds such as half-giants, half-elves, half-goblins among others," Fudge paused, taking a deep breath, "Forging illegal laws and regulations aimed at personal gain and at harming individuals and other minority groups; spreading disinformation around pre-existing laws and forged laws both illegally and legally; practising treason and anti-nationalism by assisting Death Eaters in the Second Wizarding War including breach of classified information."

He finally looked up. The members of the Wizengamot were looking between him and Umbridge with their eyes blown wide, murmuring amongst themselves with incredulity.

"IT'S A LIE! THAT'S ALL A LIE!" Umbridge screeched. She accusingly pointed a pudgy finger towards Amelia, shaking it with vigour, "SHE'S LYING-"

"Calm yourself Ms Umbridge," Fudge pronounced strictly, a frown on his face.

"You have to believe me Cornelius," Umbridge lowered her volume trying to sweeten it as it shook with desperation, "You have to. That old bat-" Umbridge spat out enormously, "is just jealous! She's jealous that I'm becoming your undersecretary and she's not. This is all a ruse! A PROPAGANDA! To pull me down, to bring me down! Please Cornelius! BELIEVE ME-"

"We ensure you Ms Umbridge-" Dumbledore finally spoke up, leaning forward in his seat, his white beard moving with the motion. The twinkle in his eyes was dimmer than usual (though still present) as he spoke in a calming tone, "that you shall be judged with the utmost fairness and caution."

"But Headmaster, you don't understand-"

"Surely an innocent woman, as you, should have no reason to panic," Dumbledore said. He then extended a hand towards the members of the jury, "Or do you question the wisdom of the members of the wizengamot?"

The members whispered amongst themselves, murmuring their agreement.

Ah yes. Cause the judicial system in the wizarding world is just fabulous, isn't it?

Like the lack of trials in the first wizarding war.

Or the lack of attorneys.

Or the vagueness of the procedure in a courtroom.

Just... fabulous.

"No," Umbridge said, her eyes darting nervously among the still whispering members, "of course not. But-"

"Then it's settled," Dumbledore said, "We should continue with the trial, shouldn't we Minister?"

Fudge sent the older professor a grateful look.

Amelia, who was sitting beside them, just looked bored of the whole ordeal as she (much like me) was impatiently waiting for the actual trial to start.

Fudge cleared his throat.

"Yes, yes," Fudge said, rubbing the tips of his finger together, "Very well then- let's start. Madame Bones, if you will."

"Yes Minister," Amelia said, rolling her eyes to basically scream 'Finally!' into the room without making a single noise.

She leaned forward, peering down at Umbridge from behind the table. The toad glared back at the woman, her fists clenched as she seethed.

"Let's start then," Amelia said, ignoring the steam billowing out of Umbridge's ears, "The first accusation against the accused-"

Sup!

Yeah, I put the author's note at the end of this chapter instead of the beginning. Why? Cause I didn't want to write this at the beginning and reveal the content of the chapter. So anyways...

I had wanted to write the whole trial portion, including Umbridge and Peter's portions, into one big chapter. But it turned into TOO long of a chapter. So I'll probably have to divide it into like 3-4 chapters.

Also, naming people is so much fun! It brings me endless joy. Like the scribe- Apollo. I just imagined like the PJO version of Apollo- young and lively and loud, and then use his name to name the most boring person in this trial. And then furthermore turn the scribe old and quiet. I laughed for 10 minutes straight after I thought of that (Idk why. I just have a weird sense of humour. Bear with me).

And making that one guy's middle name Barney. I just imagined the actual Barney in his place, ya know the purple dragon. And I laughed so hard. Too bad I couldn't make that his first name. It wouldn't sound pureblood-y enough.

Now let's talk about the Wizarding World's judicial system. It's so annoying that it makes my blood boil! It's like Rowling took the worst aspects of judicial systems all over the world and merged them into one. When I was reading it I felt like I was reading less of an actual trial, but more of what kids think a trial is supposed to be like. And there are no attorneys! WTH?! At first, when I was writing this (taking reference with the canon), I thought that Dumbledore was defending Harry. But then I reached that part of the book and Dumbledore literally introduces himself as the WITNESS! Now, I don't know much about judicial systems and stuff but I'm pretty sure the witness doesn't defend the accused unless it's in their official statement. They certainly don't strut around the courtroom as if they are a lawyer (now I've got an image of Dumbledore strutting and I just can't- ).

Anyways that's enough of a rant.

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