A/N: This is a little plot bunny that popped into my head and wanted out. It definitely has the potential to be turned into something bigger, but for now this is it. Yet another take on Harry not just letting the Ministry put him on trial for trumped-up charges.
A/N #2: The italics are taken verbatim from Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, p.127, pp.128-129 and p.142 (Bloomsbury Edition).
Thursday, 12 August 1995
"So it's agreed. I'll meet you at the Goodge Street station, and we'll go from there," said Harry, matter-of-factly. If anyone had been listening in on the conversation, they might have been surprised at the steel in his voice.
"Yes, Harry," replied Sirius. "I still don't like your idea, but I honestly can't come up with a better one, and I'm in full agreement with your reasons. We both have to get out of Britain before it kills us." He looked into Harry's eyes for a moment, nodded, then pulled him into a hug. A moment later they heard Mrs. Weasley shouting for Harry to come for breakfast, and they quickly separated. "Wash your hands and go," said Sirius, I'll come out when she's gone. He then flushed the toilet and slipped on Harry's cloak.
Harry washed his hands and came out a moment later, said good morning to a smiling Mrs. Weasley, and headed downstairs to eat. It was the first day of the rest of his life.
"Disciplinary hearing of the twelfth of August," said Fudge in a ringing voice, and Percy began taking notes at once, "into offenses committed under the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery and the International Statute of Secrecy by Harry James Potter, resident at number four, Privet Drive, Little Whinging, Surrey.
"Interrogators: Cornelius Oswald Fudge, Minister of Magic; Amelia Susan Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement; Dolores Jane Umbridge, Senior Undersecretary to the Minister. Court Scribe, Percy Ignatius Weasley —"
"— Witness for the defense, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore," said a quiet voice from behind Harry, who inwardly groaned but was prepared for it nonetheless.
"Actually," interjected Harry, before anyone could say anything about Dumbledore's sudden appearance, "Mr. Dumbledore does not speak for me, though I may call on him after I have spoken." His immediate rejection of Dumbledore as his voice caused a near instantaneous pause, as everyone tried to comprehend what they had just heard.
"Did I hear you correctly," asked the witch with the monocle, "that you do not want Dumbledore to speak for you?"
"You did," answered Harry. "In fact, I don't want anyone to speak for me other than me!" This caused a twitter among the Wizengamot, and Dumbledore tried to object.
"Harry, you don't know what you're doing," said the Headmaster, but the witch stopped him there.
"Mister Potter was quite clear on what he wanted, and whether or not he knows what he's doing is irrelevant. If, after he has stated his case, we feel that you have anything to add, you will be given a chance to speak then. Understood?" The glare she gave Dumbledore left no room for argument, and he nodded his acquiescence in spite of the look of glee on the Minister's face.
"Very well," said the Minister, "The charges against the accused are as follows: That he did knowingly, deliberately, and in full awareness of the illegality of his actions, having received a previous written warning from the Ministry of Magic on a similar charge, produce a Patronus Charm in a Muggle-inhabited area, in the presence of a Muggle, on August the second at twenty-three minutes past nine, which constitutes an offense under paragraph C of the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery, 1875, and also under section thirteen of the International Confederation of Wizards' Statute of Secrecy"
Before he could continue, Harry spoke up. "Is that all?"
The Minister, and everyone in the room for that matter, started at him in shock. "Young man, these are serious charges!" said the woman with the monocle.
"Yes, they are," replied Harry, "and not one of you has thought to question why I cast a Patronus that night, have you? I'll tell you why. Because two dementors came after my cousin and I, and nearly kissed him before I cast it. And by the way, that Muggle you speak of was my cousin, whom I live with and has know about Magic since I got my Hogwarts letter. But, again, you don't care. No point in admitting the truth about one thing when you're trying to cover up the truth about another."
"Young man -" interjected the Minister, but Harry was on a roll now and ignored him and everyone else who tried to interrupt him.
"You're so scared about the possibility that Voldemort is back that you'll do anything to get rid of me. Slander, false charges, heck, I wouldn't put it past you to try and kill me. Oh wait, you already did with the dementors. Fine, you win. You want me gone, I'm gone. You don't have to convict me to snap my wand, I'll do it myself!" And with that, he drew his wand and broke it cleanly in half.
"NO!" shouted Dumbledore, but it was too late. With a flash of sparks, the holly and Phoenix feather wand was no more, as it flamed into dust like a Phoenix on burning day. "What have you done, Harry?" asked the Headmaster, his voice filled with defeat.
"Just giving the masses what they want," answered Harry, "and what they deserve."
As Dumbledore looked on dumbly, the monocled woman asked, "What do you mean by 'what they deserve?'"
Harry smiled, but this time it was anything but nice. "Oh, just that. Voldemort is back, and his supporters who all claimed to be Imperiused last time have all returned to him. And sooner or later you're going to have to deal with all that. But not me. I'm not part of your society anymore, and I'm not planning to stick around to be a part of it either. AMF-YOYO!"
He turned to leave as the woman replied, "AMF-YOYO?"
"You'll figure it out," said Harry, heading for the exit. "Or you won't. In the meantime, why don't you ask Dumbledore why Voldemort keeps coming after me. He keeps telling me I'm not old enough to know, but by the looks of some of you he doesn't have that excuse here. Goodbye," and he walked out the door. "And good riddance," he added, under his breath.
Dumbledore tried to follow him, but as the door closed, Harry heard an elderly voice call out, "Where are you going Albus?" and he hurried on back to the lift. As he approached it, Harry spotted Lucius Malfoy lurking in the corridor. "Well, well, well … Patronus Potter," drawled the Death Eater.
Not wanting to start anything yet, Harry gave the elder Malfoy his most neutral look as he said, "Good morning Mr. Malfoy. Excuse me," and he continued on to the waiting lift. As the gate was about to close, he added, "Oh, and give this message to your lord and master." Seeing Malfoy turn he hardened his face and said, "I'm leaving Magical Britain, permanently. He can have it for all I care, but if he tries to hurt me or mine again, he'll regret it. Goodbye." With that, the lift finished closing and Harry headed for the exit as quickly as he could. He had a train to catch.
The Daily Prophet
Friday, 13 August 1995
Harry Potter Leaves Britain!
Says Voldemort Can Have It!
Printed below is the letter that I received yesterday afternoon from Harry Potter, printed verbatim with absolutely no changes. While we at the Prophet normally would not do this, I was required to give an Unbreakable Vow that I would do exactly that before I was permitted to even read the letter, let alone make a copy of it. And after reading it, I must admit that I don't know what to believe, and so I present it without any editorial comments and leave it to you, the readers, to decide what it means.
Thursday 12 August 1995
Undisclosed Location
Dear Magical Britain,
I am Harry James Potter, the so-called Boy-Who-Lived and godson of the innocent Sirius Black, who was framed for his crimes and sent to Azkaban without a trial. I am also the one who has fought Voldemort three times since I began my schooling at Hogwarts, and witnessed his return in June as well as the return of his followers to his side. I am the one who you have alternately hailed as your savior, or jeered as a delusional attention-seeking madman. I am neither.
What I also am not, anymore, is a citizen of Magical Britain. Earlier today I was tried before the entire Wizengamot for using Magic outside of Hogwarts while being underage. Never mind that I would have been kissed by a dementor if I hadn't, that didn't matter to them. Before the trial could get started in earnest, I voluntarily snapped my own wand, renounced Magical Britain, and left. Voldemort is not my problem anymore, he's yours – whether you believe he's back or not.
You all wanted me gone, and now you're going to get it. Just remember the old adage, "Be careful what you wish for." And in case you decide you still need a savior, try Albus Dumbledore; he's done it before with Grindelwald, and he knows a lot more about Voldemort than he's been willing to tell me, but maybe he'll tell you if you ask real nicely. Or not, but again, not my problem anymore.
In parting, I say to you what I said to the Wizengamot just before I left. AMF-YOYO!
Sincerely,
Harry James Potter
Editor's note: When I asked the individual who delivered the letter what AMF-YOYO meant, he laughed and said, "Adios My Friend, You're On Your Own. Though in this case I think the MF stands for something else." He then left before I could ask for further clarification.
END (maybe?)
A/N #3: I'm leaving this open ended because that's as far as my muse had really thought of things, and because I don't want to paint myself into a corner in the event that I do come up with a longer plot that this can be the start of. If someone else wants to take this and run with it, be my guest! All I had in my head is that Harry and Sirius plan to take the Chunnel train to France, and from there who knows. Also, there's the question of Harry's wand – did he really snap it, or was it a fake? Either way, it fooled the people who saw it, and that was all Harry needed at the time...