DISCLAIMER! This Harry Potter story was written for fun. All rights belong to the wonderful lady (JK Rowling) who gave the world Harry Potter to read and enjoy. New Movie coming in April! Hurrah! Yeah for Fanfiction – a great place to stretch your imagination and enjoy someone else's creativity too!

Harry Potter's summer gets exciting in July and August.

Chapter 3 A Trial Begin CHANGE SCENERY HERE: Dumbledore vs. Abbot

Theodore Tonks, successful business attorney and Hufflepuff alumnus, moved numerous folders from a bottomless bag and arranged them carefully on the table in the well of the Wizengamot chamber. His client, Samuel Abbot, stood beside him and didn't betray any nerves though Ted wondered if Abbot was as nervous inside as he was. In the gallery, he'd already spotted his wife with her colleagues, criminal attorneys. He noticed that she'd been arguing with several and smirked when he realized she was taking bets with them regarding his case. Ted also identified Professor Sprout, the unofficial head of the Hufflepuff Clan who smiled broadly at him and Abbot.

The door opened and allowed Albus Dumbledore to enter with his usual eye-blinding colourful robes and a broad smile on his face. Struggling not to smirk, Ted mentally checked off the first item on his list of objections.

'Dumbledore's attorney has a fool for a client,' Ted thought as Amelia Bones entered the chamber with Madam Griselda Marchbanks at her side.

"Ah, Griselda and Amelia, good morning, good morning," Dumbledore said to greet the two witches, both of whom were dressed in formal, black robes.

Madam Marchbanks frowned as she looked at Dumbledore's attire and compared it to Amelia, Ted, Samuel, or other wizards standing or sitting in the chamber.

"Albus, you are dressed inappropriately to present a case as an attorney before the Wizengamot," the elderly witch said. "To stand before the court as a solicitor, you must wear simple, flat black robes without any adornment."

She stepped closer and commanded the wizard, "Change…now."

"But Griselda, I am Chief Warlock and I always wear my colourful robes," he said to explain his attire.

The witch interrupted the headmaster's statements saying, "Today and for the duration of this case while you are representing yourself, you will be dressed like any other officer of the court."

"Now, now…this matter will be settled in five minutes and then I shall take my place as Chief Warlock."

Griselda looked at Madam Bones and nodded. Amelia smiled and said, "As an officer of the court, I find Albus Dumbledore to be in wilful violation of the rules of procedure. The fine is four galleons, payable immediately."

Affronted by use of his own parliamentary procedures to force members to wear the plum robes while sitting in judgement of any case, Dumbledore stammered, "I do not agree with the fine."

Marchbanks replied, "The fine will be forgiven this one time if the miscreant rectifies the inappropriate robes."

"But…"

"The fine is imposed once again," Bones said.

Marchbanks sighed and waved her wand toward Dumbledore, grabbed four galleons that flew from a pocket and then waved her wand again, and changed the tangerine and yellow robes into a flat black colour.

"My robes!" Dumbledore cried.

"Enough Albus! You are wasting this court's time with your robes and your perceived rights!"

Almost whining, Dumbledore said, "But Abbot is dressed in robes that aren't black."

"He's not acting as his own attorney so he can dress as he sees fit. Thank Merlin, Mr Abbot has the good sense to wear appropriate colours in public," replied Marchbanks.

"I take offence…" the headmaster protested. Ted smiled and waited patiently while Albus needlessly irritated the witch who would sit in judgement of this case.

Finally, Madam Marchbanks took her seat on a raised dais to hear the case of Dumbledore versus Abbot in the matter of a missing basilisk corpse. Director Bones took a seat in a chair beside the dais where she sat with her wand drawn.

"Good day, witches and wizards," Madam Marchbanks said to open her court. "Today, we are summoned to hear the preliminary case of Albus Dumbledore versus Samuel Abbot and his company, Abbot Potion Labs, in the matter of an allegedly stolen basilisk."

She continued, "As adjudicator in the court, I shall rule on all motions and objections, and once all evidence and testimony are provided, I shall render my verdict. The members of the Wizengamot in attendance for the whole of the trial will vote to support or overturn my verdict if either party questions my verdict."

"Why is Amelia seated there?" asked Albus, pointing toward the witch with her wand drawn and watching the tables for both attorneys.

"Director Bones volunteered to act as court enforcement for me today," Griselda explained. "Now, will you make your opening statement, or do I impose a fine of forty galleons to get your attention?"

Dumbledore glanced at Ted Tonks and Samuel Abbot, both of whom had adopted the pureblood mask of controlled emotions in a public setting and allowed a small smirk to appear on his own face.

"Madam Marchbanks, good wizards and fair witches, I grieve that I am forced to bring this wizard and his business before the Wizengamot to be shamed, fined and incarcerated for theft. Samuel Abbot is a graduate of my…our fine educational institution of Hogwarts and inherited a fine business of supplying potion ingredients to British potion brewers for the last century. However, he has stolen a basilisk from me…"

Dumbledore paused to evaluate the reaction of his audience and was disturbed to find no one seemed particularly moved by that last statement. He continued, "I ask the court to return the carcass, and any and all parts of the carcass that have already been sold as well as all financial gains made from the sale of the basilisk. And I ask – sadly – that the court impose additional fines and a prison sentence…"

"Objection to the opening statement," stated Ted rising from his chair. "The plaintiff cannot direct the court's ruling."

"Objection sustained," ruled Marchbanks.

"But…Griselda!"

"Are you finished, Albus?"

"One more moment, please."

"Certainly," she replied, waving for him to continue.

"Rather than waste anyone's time with a drawn-out case that will take most of the day, I ask that Griselda rule in my favour, return my basilisk, and issue fines…"

"Objection," stated Ted Tonks again. "Plaintiff is once again attempting to direct the court how to rule."

"Sustained," Marchbanks replied. "I warn the plaintiff against attempts to direct this court, and strongly warn him against familiarity with the court. I have seen you refuse to consider bills before the Wizengamot simply because the member did not address you by all your titles 'Grand Warlock' or whatever title suited you that day."

"Chief Warlock" Dumbledore interrupted Madam Marchbanks.

Griselda glared at Albus Dumbledore for a long moment before she turned to Ted Tonks and said, "Mr Tonks, you may make your opening statement."

Rising from his chair, Ted introduced himself and then introduced his client as the founder of Abbot Potion Labs in 1960. Then he said, "My client's business and family have been compromised by the wild accusations made by Albus Dumbledore in the press and repeated here this morning before this court. These statements have caused expenses and needless stress."

In the galleries, Andromeda Tonks smiled as her husband laid the groundwork for a countersuit against Dumbledore for defamation and slander. She wondered, 'Does Dumbledore have any gold left after the lawsuits last fall and this spring? I hear that Bones still wants his guts for garters.'

From beside Andromeda, Hiram Blake-Took leaned over and whispered, "I heard an interesting bit of news last night at Clear Lakes."

Recognizing the name of a fancy restaurant often patronized by the powerful attorneys in magical and mundane London, Andromeda moved her head just a bit in his direction, indicating an interest in hearing his news.

"News came to the DMLE late yesterday that Alastor Moody was arrested in France. The charge is attempted kidnapping of a child and he is locked up tighter than Umbridge's hope chest."

Andromeda's facial expressions reflected some true surprise at this news and then Blake-Took continued, "Director Bones refused to go to France or send anyone from her department. She said that Moody has a daughter who lives there and can aide her father with the matter."

Remembering the list of potential witnesses her husband had received from Dumbledore, Andromeda whispered, "Most excellent news. I appreciate you sharing."

"…the case is without merit, and we shall prove it," Ted said to complete his opening statement.

"Thank you, Mr Tonks," Madam Marchbanks stated. She turned to Dumbledore and asked, "Are you prepared to go forward Mr Dumbledore?"

"I am, Griselda," replied Dumbledore.

Madam Marchbanks frowned and proceeded to fine Dumbledore four galleons for acting too familiar with members of the court. This led to five more minutes of bickering and several members of the Wizengamot standing and leaving the auditorium.

"Come back! Come back!" commanded Dumbledore seeing several of his staunch supporters leaving.

A jinx cast by Madam Bones made Dumbledore flinch and turn to stare at the witch in disbelief. Madam Marchbanks said, "Mr Dumbledore, you will remember that you are the defendant in this case and under no circumstance during the trial, do you have the right to address a member of the Wizengamot. They would be immediately disqualified from sitting in judgement and I would also penalize you one hundred galleons per person!"

"Gus!"

Banging her gavel on the desk for the first time, Madam Marchbanks announced, "That will be a fine of eight more galleons for being overly familiar with a member of the court!"

'I don't understand why everyone is being so disagreeable today,' Albus whined in his head.

"Mr Dumbledore, begin presenting your case!"

Sighing deeply, Albus said, "With great humility, I call Alastor Moody to the witness stand."

SCENE CHANGE: Where is Moody?

It took several minutes before the Aurors informed the court that Alastor Moody was not on the floor of the ministry where the Wizengamot was located. And several more minutes passed before Director Amelia Bones received confirmation that Auror Alastor Moody (retired) was not present in any part of the Ministry for Magic.

Madam Marchbanks frowned and asked, "Mr Dumbledore, did you inform the wizard he was on your witness list? I am certain an Auror knows his presence is mandatory when he has been named as a witness in a trial."

"I am certain you are correct, Griselda, and only something momentous would prevent his appearance here today." Dumbledore paused and then suggested, "Perhaps we could delay the trial until he returns?"

"Eight more galleons for being overly familiar with a member of the court!" Madam Marchbanks declared. This time there were snickers heard all through the chamber as the members of the Wizengamot enjoyed watching Chief Warlock Dumbledore hoisted on his own petard of enforcing procedures to his benefit.

The witch asked, "Is Mr Moody your only witness?"

"No, but he is key to my case," replied the headmaster.

"What type of information will he provide?"

"He will reveal the contents hidden within Abbot's warehouse in Sackville-on-Avon. "

"Objection," called Ted Tonks. "The attorney is testifying while not under oath."

"Sustained," Marchbanks ruled. Again, she pressed Dumbledore, "What other witnesses do you have in place to call today?"

"Today? I believed that the testimony of Alastor Moody would convince the court that my position was strong enough to receive a directed decision by the adjudicator. We must have Alastor Moody here."

From the chair beside Madam Marchbanks, Director Bones said, "Madam, if I may provide the court with some information."

"Please," replied Marchbanks, curious to hear the witch's news.

"My office was informed last evening that retired-Auror Alastor Moody has been arrested in France. He is in the custody of the police and being held for questioning and trial. He will not be available to participate in Mr Dumbledore's case."

Marchbanks frowned and asked, "Is the Ministry for Magic protesting Moody's arrest?"

Bones shook her head and explained, "My office and the minister won't intervene – Moody entered France illegally. And Barty Crouch, Sr in the Office of International Relations has soured relations between Britain and France to the point we can't expect any cooperation."

Albus frowned as he wondered, 'What did Alastor do to be arrested? I counted on his report of viewing the carcass in the warehouse to be the final nail in the coffin for Abbot.'

Bones continued speaking, "However, Alastor Moody and two other members of Mr Dumbledore's Order of the Phoenix organization were arrested for breaking and entering into the Abbott Warehouse in June. They were questioned by myself and two senior Aurors. Those transcripts may provide the testimony that Mr Dumbledore seeks to present to the court."

Ted Tonks stood and said, "Madam Marchbanks, the defence will agree to use the transcript so long as the transcript from each suspect is read into the record as testimony in this trial."

Dumbledore considered his position regarding those interviews for only a moment – he'd not read the whole of Alastor's interview and had ignored Mundungus Fletcher or Sturgis Podmore's interviews completely. The moment for objection by Dumbledore passed and Madam Marchbanks banged her gavel on the desk to announce the court was in recess until the next day

"I object!" grumbled Dumbledore.

"Why do you object?" asked Madam Marchbanks with honest curiosity in her voice.

Smiling as if he could move the trial along now, Dumbledore answered, "We should proceed with the defence and settle this case today."

Ted Tonks stood and asked, "Will Mr Dumbledore agree to allow Harry Potter to come to the Wizengamot to testify? I can ask him my questions without any problem."

Waving away Ted's question, Albus said, "Mr Potter is on holiday with his family. He can't interrupt his summer for this matter. As his magical guardian, I can speak for him."

Before Ted could protest and argue with Albus, Madam Marchbanks banged her gavel on the desk and asked, "What do you mean Dumbledore? If Mr Tonks issued a valid subpoena for Mr Potter to appear, you can't prevent that!"

"But it isn't safe for Mr Potter to come to the ministry and loiter about all day. There are persons who wish him harm."

"Mr Dumbledore! You say you are Mr Potter's guardian, but he is on holiday which means you don't know where he is. Did he receive the subpoena to appear?"

"I doubt it," replied Albus. "He never receives any of his mail. An elf at Hogwarts handles…"

"What?" shouted Madam Marchbanks. "You interfered in delivery of the mail?"

Ignoring Marchbanks, Dumbledore repeated his earlier statement. "The defence should proceed so that we can settle this matter today."

"Without reading the interviews of your witnesses?" Marchbanks asked, incredulous.

"I know what they say – Abbot stole my basilisk!"

"Albus Dumbledore, I assure you that I am perfectly capable of reading three interviews tonight and reaching my own conclusions before morning," replied Madam Marchbanks. "We'll convene again tomorrow at nine."

Before Dumbledore could object again, Marchbanks banged her gavel on the desk and rose. The headmaster did not notice the Lady Longbottom waiting at the door of the courtroom and slipping a note to Ted Tonks. He also did not pay attention to the good spirits as Andromeda Tonks collected several galleons from other attorneys that Dumbledore would finagle the case and win in a single day.

End Chapter