42 Ministry interference

Harry walked into Courtroom Ten and looked up at the assembled witches and wizards. Seated in rows a dozen or more deep, the entire courtroom was filled with purple robed individuals, all staring at him as he walked to the center of the room. He saw several familiar faces and noted a few missing that should have been present, his magical guardian among them. Both actually, as Dumbledore still tried to claim it, but he was more concerned that McGonagall seemed to have been denied entry.

"Well, I see this is being blown well out of proportion," Hermione commented by his side, then raised her voice to address the room. "I see someone forgot a chair for his council, or were you expecting him not to have any?"

"Council?" Minister Fudge asked from the large desk at the center of the horse shoe, "You're not even out of school, run along miss."

"There is no age requirement nor licensing required to be council Minister," Hermione responded levelly.

"This is a simple case of underage magic use," Fudge sneered dismissively. "No council is required."

"And yet we appear to be before the entirety of the Wizengamot," Hermione countered, arms swinging wide to encompass the room. "Or at least most of it anyway. A bit much for 'a simple case of underage wizardry' isn't it?"

"This body is not in the habit of explaining itself to little girls," Fudge growled. "Now leave!"

"So you are denying the basic rights of Mr Potter then? This should be easy, any ruling will be automatically invalid due to barring Mr Potter his basic rights," Hermione grinned. "As this is the case, we shall go, since no verdict will be legal. Come along Harry."

"Wait," the Minister sighed. "If he wishes to be defended by a mere girl still in school, that is his right, you are correct in that. Be seated." He grinned as the only chair present was a hard backed, chain wrapped chair obviously reserved for violent criminals.

"Thank you," Hermione said brightly as she pulled her wand out and conjured a pair of nicely padded office style chairs. The desk before them was a fine oak table, with writing pads and a steaming cup of tea for each of them. Mutters were heard as she performed the advanced magic.

"The judiciary hearing of one Harry James Potter is now in session. The accused is present, Acting Chief Warlock is the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Oswald Fudge. Prosecutors for the Ministry Cornelius Oswald Fudge, Minister for Magic, and Delores Jane Umbridge, Senior Undersecretary to the Minister for Magic. Speaking for the accused is… What was your name again miss? Harmony Grangy?"

"My name, for the record, is Hermione Jean Potter."

"That is impossible," Madam Umbridge declared. "Even if it were legal for a creature such as yourself to marry, the only remaining Potter is Mr Potter here before us and he is too young to do so. Tell us your real name you trollop."

"Madam Umbridge," Harry's icy voice cut through the murmurs of the seated members. "That is my wife you just insulted, as well as myself. I advise you apologize before an honor duel becomes necessary."

"It won't be," Fudge cut in, "While it may not have been phrased the best, the fact remains that you are too young to be married."

"By the Ministry, yes, however we were bonded by magic herself," Harry declared, turning as he spoke to face every member. Stopping at a familiar face, he continued. "Madam Bones, on the first of August, you had a delivery made to you containing instructions pertaining to this matter. As the originator of that document, I now permit you to divulge the contents of that message and what you found when following its instructions."

"Thank you Mr Potter," Amelia rose. "The letter was a directive to review a particular file in the hall of records. I took an available auror and pulled the file. It was a magically generated Marriage Certificate, dated November 24th, 1994. Certifying the marriage by magical bond between Harry James Potter and Hermione Jean Potter nee Granger."

"Impossible," Umbridge declared hotly., "They are too young."

"Not for Magic, Madam Umbridge," Madam Bones countered. "Upon reading this, I asked a St. Mungo's certified healer to accompany myself and my auror to Mr Potter's place of residence, where we verified the existence of this bond. It is real. They are married."

"Very well, we shall address annulling this marriage after the trial," Fudge decided. "Court scribe, please read the charges."

"The charges are as follows:" Percy Weasley's voice called clearly. " Knowingly violating the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Wizardry. The accused knowingly cast a Patronus charm while in a muggle area, during the school break."

"Very well, how do you plead?" Fudge asked accusingly of Harry.

"Not guilty," Harry declared evenly.

"Very well, so noted." Percy scribbled away as Fudge accepted the plea. "We shall begin…"

"Point of order, if I may," Hermione interrupted. "Why is Mr Potter being charged with violating the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Wizardry?"

"I beg your pardon?" Fudge was nonplussed at the question, but he recovered and simply stated. "He performed magic out of school."

"But this restriction only applies to underage wizards," Hermione pressed.

"Which applies to Mr Potter you silly girl," Umbridge snarled.

"No, it does not," Hermione stated simply. "On October 31st of last year, Harry Potter was entered into the TriWizard tournament, a tournament I remind you that your Ministry declared only open to 'of age' wizards. That night, there was a representative of Magic; the Goblet of Fire, a representative of the Wizengamot; Chief Warlock Albus Dumbledore, and a representative of the Ministry; Bartemious Crouch Sr. All three agreed that Harry had to compete. As such, the three highest powers of magic in Britain declared that Harry Potter was of age to compete in the TriWizard tournament, which was only for 'of age' wizards. Therefore, Mr Potter should be considered of age and incidentally not constrained by the Reasonable Restriction for Underage Wizardry."

"That's preposterous," Fudge denied. "He is not seventeen."

"That is true," Hermione agreed. "However, it is not the Reasonable Restriction of Under Seventeen Wizardry, but of underage Wizardry. As Magic, the Ministry, and the Wizengamot all declared him to be of age, this restriction no longer applies."

"Fine, you want to play it that way?" Fudge's malevolence was evident in his tone. "Very well, the Ministry drops the charge of Underage Wizardry and instates a charge of breach of the Statute of Secrecy."

Shocked silence filled the room. The statute, the most sacred of their laws, carried an automatic sentence in Azkaban if found guilty. To inflict that on a fifteen years old boy…

"Very well Mr. Fudge," Hermione's voice was now ice. "Present the so-called evidence you have."

"Madam Umbridge, if you please," Fudge grinned dismissively.

"Hem hem," Umbridge cleared her throat and began in a sweet, simpering voice. "It is entered into evidence that on July the 23rd, Mr Potter did knowingly and in view of muggles cast a Patronus charm…"

"Objection, what evidence is there that the charm was cast, and who saw Mr Potter cast it?"

"What? I just told you it was entered into evidence," Umbridge looked confused.

"Really? I saw no evidence," Hermione countered snappishly. "Where is it? Did you expect to just tell everyone he was guilty?"

"Shut your mouth you ungrateful little tramp," Delores snapped back. "I said it was in evidence and it is."

"I still do not see it," Hermione stated. "If all I have to do is state it's evidence, then I enter into evidence he did not."

"You can't do that," Delores shrieked. "You must prove it!"

"Exactly," Hermione grinned ferally. "Now please do so. Or are you afraid to show this evidence? Does it simply not exist?"

"Why you…"

"I too would like to see this evidence," Madam Bones stated,. "I also question how these charges are legal as they did not go through my department."

"They went through mine, Amelia," Fudge declared. "The evidence is quite compelling."

"So show it to us," another voice called from the other side of the horseshoe.

The cries got louder and more demanding as Fudge and Umbridge leaned close to confer. The members of the wizengamot were getting near riotous before they separated, though Harry and Hermione merely sat back in their chairs and waited.

"Very well, the first piece of evidence is the recording of the Ministry's magic detection grid." Fudge turned to Madam Bones. "I trust you have no objection to this evidence?"

"Of course not."

"Scribe?" Fudge prompted, as Percy scrambled through his stack of parchment for the proper form.

"Here it is sir," Percy declared. "At 8:34 pm on July the 23rd, magic was detected in the alley off Magnolia Crescent, the closest wizard being Mr Harry James Potter of no. 4 Privet Drive, and there being no other wizards nearby, he is charged as the caster and informed of his expulsion from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry forthwith, this being his fourth such incident."

"Two problems with that," Hermione called. "First, I see no evidence of there not being another wizard or witch nearby, and second, Mr Potter has not been a resident of Privet Drive since July of last year. Madam Bones, you were present and took the relevant forms and filed them correct?"

"I did," Madam Bones confirmed.

"So why is Mr Potter still shown as a resident in a place he hasn't lived in over a year?"

"There is no other address for Mr. Potter," Percy declared. "Therefore, this is his residence."

"Not so," Madam Bones corrected. "Mr Potter has been the target of much strife in our world, therefore the decision of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement was that his address shall be restricted. All available information on Mr Potter refers any inquiries to my department, specifically to me. Only three locations have his current address. My personal files as Director, at Hogwarts in the restricted files of the Deputy Headmistress, and Gringotts, a sovereign territory. The Ministry Records are sealed and require my personal approval to unlock any current information. Whoever pulled that information used either out of date files, or deliberate misinformation."

"Regardless, the patronus was seen," Fudge declared. "Mr Potter is the only one with a reason to be there, and he shall pay for violating the law."

"You said the patronus was seen?" Hermione asked sweetly, pulling a stack of papers from her bag. "I find that odd because I have a copy of the Obliviators office activity records for that night, as well as the DMLE shift reports. Not one of them mention obliviating anyone anywhere that night, much less any response to Magnolia Crescent. This would be standard procedure if a non-magical saw a patronus. If they weren't Obliviated, that would make them magical and eliminate your claim of no other wizards being present. You can't have it both ways. Care to explain which it is?"

"I do not," Fudge declared. "It was seen and he violated the law. It doesn't matter what you say, you can't prove that Mr Potter did not cast his patronus, the stag was seen, and therefore HE IS GUILTY."

"A stag you say?" Hermione grabbed the bone the Minister had inadvertently given her. "Well then, there is a simple way to prove this was not my husband. His patronus is not a stag."

"Wait," an older voice called from the edge of the horseshoe. "You mean the boy can actually cast a corporeal patronus?"

"I can, I have been able to since third year," Harry confirmed, then turned to the two aurors standing behind them. "I am going to remove my wand and cast my patronus, please don't stun me."

"Aurors," Amelia's voice cut through the thrum of side conversations with authority. "Allow Mr Potter to cast his patronus."

"If he touches his wand you will stun him!" Fudge bellowed. "I will not allow such a security risk to occur."

"Fine, you are that afraid to allow a fifth year student to cast a spell in front of over fifty trained witches and wizards? That intent on denying him any avenue to defend himself from being railroaded?" Hermione growled, getting irritated at the Minister now. "Fine, I was willing to leave you your dignity but you've forced my hand. Madam Bones, I call you as a witness for the defense."

Once Madam Bones had made her way to the witness box and been sworn to tell the truth, Hermione began.

"Please inform the Wizengamot where you were the night of July 23rd."

"I was having dinner with you, your husband, your parents, and Minerva McGonagall, Mrs Potter," Amelia declared. "I was at your house from just before seven in the evening till shortly after nine."

"And at any time did myself or my husband leave?"

"I think you used the restroom once, I don't think your husband did though."

"And were you present when the notice of expulsion was received?"

"I was."

"And your reaction?"

"I was rather confused about how an expulsion, which requires the Headmaster and Deputy's endorsement, could have occurred with said Deputy sitting next to us."

"And did you ever discover what happened that night?"

"Not with the notices, apparently they did not originate from the underage magic office or Hogwarts, but instead the Minister's office. They have been less than cooperative. The incident in Little Whinging however, I did figure out."

"And are you able to share those results?"

"Yes, an off duty auror was assisting a friend," Amelia began, once again having mixed feelings about one Albus Dumbledore and his meddling. "They encountered a dementor and used their patronus to chase it away. They made sure no one saw the encounter, then apparated to the Ministry and filed a report in the department."

"A dementor? Aren't they under Ministry control?"

"Hem hem," the sickly sweet voice of Umbridge interrupted. "I do believe I misheard you miss."

"It's Missus."

"Whatever, I'm more concerned with your attempt to blame the Ministry for this incident, instead of your so-called husband."

"I wasn't aware of any accusation, I was merely trying to figure out how a dementor got from Azkaban to Little Whinging if the Ministry had them under control. It was a dementor Director? You were able to confirm this?"

"I was, I reviewed the memory he submitted and verified it myself."

"Again you go accusing the Ministry," Delores riled. "I've had about enough of your unfounded accusations."

"I have made none," Hermione pointed out. "You however, with information to the contrary, pushed ahead with this farce of a trial. Why? I don't know, but we have an admission from another, with a witness to prove my husband's innocence and you still are on a crusade to see him convicted. It's almost like you don't consider your employees reliable."

The grumbling and rumbling of the now equally hostile Wizengamot finally cut through Fudge's brain. Not enough for him to realize it was hostile to him, but enough to make him think calling a vote was a good idea. The look on his face when the vote was overwhelmingly for not guilty was one Hermione intended to savor for a long time.

"Harry James Potter," the Minister sighed. "The Wizengamot has found you not guilty of breaking the statute of Secrecy."

"Thank you Minister," Harry said pleasantly. "Now, about your attempt to annul a marriage consummated by Magic."

"What?"

"You declared at the beginning of my trial, though I believe you called it a hearing despite being in front of a quorum of the Wizengamot," Harry grinned predatorially, "that you would see about annulling my marriage later. This is later and I'd rather not have you hanging that over my head."

"I am the Minister of Magic, I will not be dictated by the likes of a boy," Fudge snarled.

"You are the Minister for Magic," Hermione corrected. "You couldn't dictate to Magic even if you were. There is a simple way to fix this however."

"And what is that?" Delores simpered. "Just let you do as you wish?"

"No," Hermione smiled sweetly, though the smile never made it to her eyes. "Madam Bones is proficient in the spell to verify bonds, I suggest we allow her to cast it and allow all of you to see the quality of our bond."

"What bond?" Delores simpered. "You are both far too immature and lack common courtesy to form a meaningful bond."

"Then this would prove it, wouldn't it?" Harry countered, trapping the pink toad-cum-woman. "This spell would confirm all you are saying, so let's get on with it."

"I didn't… you can't…."

"In Vincula Revelare" Madam Bones' strong voice rang through the hall as she cast the spell at the pair.

A pulse of Golden fire spread out from the couple, rolling over everyone in the room in a wave. Each member felt a wash of power sweep over them, tingling their nerves as it passed. The fire swept out, then swept back towards the pair who were basking in the fire of magic surrounding them. They had simply closed their eyes, allowing the magic to permeate their being as it acted. The fire congealed, forming first a pair of panthers, prowling the floor, then morphing into a dragon and a gryphon, then to a phoenix and a unicorn before they coalesced into a burning golden bar between their hearts.

"My word," the muttered exclamation from the back of the gallery summed up the shocked expressions throughout the room.

"This changes nothing!" Umbridge declared once she regained her voice, "These things can be faked, which you've obviously done."

"A regular bond, even a marriage bond, can indeed be faked, though even then there are indicators which we do not show. What we have is beyond that, and unable to be faked," Hermione explained softly, her quiet voice reaching out and pulling her audience in. "There is no known way to fake or even pretend to have a golden heart bond."

"It still doesn't matter," the sickly voice of the pink toad continued. "Cornelius is the Minister, and if he says you aren't married, then you aren't married."

"The proclamation of one man does not make something true, even the Minister since he is not a dictator," Hermione said. "And even if we are young, we aren't the youngest to ever be married. Why, I do believe your grandfather was married at thirteen Minister, was he not?"