Chapter 4: Trial or hearing

When his hearing finally came Harry was so nervous he hadn't slept the night before. Barely ate breakfast and was pushed on the brink of an emotional breakdown when Mr. Weasley rushed him down to courtroom 10 at 10 minutes past 7 instead of 9 o'clock as his letter had stated.

'The accused has finally graced us with his presence.' Fudge said. 'Let us begin.'

'Disciplinary hearing of the twelfth of August.' Fudge said in a ringing voice. 'Into offences committed under the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery and the international Statute of Secrecy by Harry James Potter, resident at number 4, Privet Drive, Little Whinging, Surrey. Interrogators-'

'I have a question.' A voice interrupted. A voice Harry knew. His head snapped up and his eyes widened when he saw Sirius Black standing amongst the 50 members of the Wizengamot wand raised.

'Mr. Black, as this is your first time at a Wizengamot meeting-' Cornelius started.

'Precisely, Minister. Since when has it become common practice to hold a full court meeting for something like underage magic?'

'Mr. Black, you have been gone for a long time.'

'Obviously, last time I served in the ministry people were sent to Azkaban without a trial, now it seems you're swinging to the other extreme, holding trial for the smallest offences with every member present.' A few nervous coughs and fidgeting from the members of the Wizengamot.

'Be that as it may, we have notified Mr. Potter of-' Fudge started

'When?' Sirius interrupted.

'What?' Fudge asked confused.

'When have you notified Mr. Potter of this?'

'Just after he broke the law.' Fudge said annoyed.

'I have here the letter you sent back then stating that his hearing is to be at 9 o'clock in the office of the head of the DMLE. It is not yet 9 o'clock and this is not the office of the DMLE, unless Madam Bones likes an audience while she works.'

'An owl has been sent to him detailing the change of time and place of his hearing.' Fudge was red in the face and ignoring the audience part.

'When?' Sirius pressed on.

'Mr. Black, what difference is it to you-'asked Fudge fuming.

'Well, Minister, as Harry Potter's legal guardian I should have been notified as well.' Sirius said benignly.

'Which clearly you were since you are here!' Fudge almost shrieked.

'No, I wasn't. I was notified by magic to attend as a member of the Wizengamot. I however did not receive ANY letter about this in the official capacity as guardian.'

'You were out of the country were you not?'

'I was, yes. But any letter detailing such a change should have been able to reach me if indeed it had been sent as protocol dictates.'

'Protocol-'

'Protocol says the letter must be sent to reach the parties involved two days prior to the changes in time and place. I ask again, when was the letter sent?'

Harry felt like he was watching a tennis match back and forth from Sirius to Fudge and hadn't even seen Dumbledore enter the room.

Fudge mumbled something.

'I didn't hear your answer Minister, speak up. Or did you lose your voice?'

'This morning!' Fudge finally said.

'It's 7:30 in the morning and the trial was set for 7:00. At what hour in the morning did you send the letters?'

'We made an error, they were supposed to be sent two days ago!'

'I see, well it's human nature to make an error. And since we uncovered that error was on the ministry's side. I believe the ministry owes Mr. Potter an apology.'

Harry thought Sirius was pushing it. Fudge was close to blowing a fuse. But it wasn't Fudge that spoke next. It was a blond stern looking witch.

'Mr. Potter, on behalf of the ministry we owe you an apology for not notifying you on time of the changes in your hearing. Furthermore, as Mr. Black pointed out, it is very uncommon for a disciplinary hearing to take place here, but as you and your defence councillor are here. I want to ask if you prefer to start the hearing here or adjourn for the original time and place 9 o'clock in my office.' This had to be Madam Bones.

'Madam Bones, thank you for the offer. I believe it is best if we adjourn for 9 o'clock.' Dumbledore spoke calmly startling Harry who only now realized who his councillor was, he thought it was Sirius.

'Very well. Mr. Potter you are free to go and I will see you later.' Bones concluded. People were starting to move and talk. Harry looked up and saw Sirius coming towards him smiling.

Harry smiled too and then Sirius pulled him in a hug.

'Sorry I couldn't come sooner.'

'It's OK, well, not OK, you have a lot of explaining to do.'

'I'm not the one on trial for underage magic.' Sirius joked.

Harry's face fell.

'Hey, relax, it will all be OK. I'll be there with you.'

'You will?'

'I'm your guardian remember.'

'But how?'

'We'll talk more after. I know you have a lot of questions. But we'll have time after the hearing.'

'If…if I get expelled. Can I come live with you?'

'You'll come live with me either way. And don't worry about expulsion. It won't happen.'

Harry nodded but a weight lifted from his heart.

'Sirius, good to see you're back.' Dumbledore joined them as they got out of the courtroom.

'I only just arrived this morning. Got back to Grimmauld place only for a purple letter to drop into my hand as I entered the house saying I had to attend Harry's hearing.'

'Didn't anyone at headquarters tell you anything?' asked Albus

'I thing Molly Weasley started to say something, I assume she moved into headquarters after I left, as you had planned, but I was hard pressed to get here so I rather rudely disaparated mid-sentence and made it just in time.'

'Well then. I best tell Arthur and he can let the others know.' Albus nodded

'Yes, I'll take Harry to the cafeteria until it's time to talk to Bones.' Sirius said.

Dumbledore nodded and Harry let himself be guided up a few level until they reached the cafeteria. He saw Fudge talking to Malfoy but Sirius didn't stop to talk to them and the two did nothing but glare Avada-Kedavras at Sirius. As they entered the large table room in the cafeteria all conversation fell away and even one or two screams were heard. Harry looked at Sirius who simply ignored everyone and went to the bar to order. The witch behind the counter dropped the glass she was cleaning and backed away. Sirius sighed.

'You know, I thought that article about me being innocent came out a while ago Harry.'

'Maybe people at the ministry haven't learnt to read yet.' Said Harry trying to joke and succeeding as Sirius barked a laugh before ruffling Harry's hair.

'Good one kid.' Then he turned at the scared witch. 'Do you think we can get two coffees and two of those butter croissants that you have displayed behind you?'

The witch turned to see what he was talking about before turning back towards him as he was taking out his money pouch.

'Y-you want croissants?'

'Yes, I grew quite fond of them as breakfast lately. Why, do you recommend something else?'

'N-no, they are q-quite fresh.' The witch said as she relaxed but just a little and started to take out two croissants and put them on plates then witch a swish of her wand two steaming coffees joined the food.'

Sirius paid. 'Let's find a place to sit, pup.'

Harry spotted a free table a bit out of the way and they headed there. Everyone was still looking at them oddly and no conversation could be heard still. After taking their seats Sirius took out his wand and there was a general gasp and people getting up, but Sirius paid them no mind and just said Muffliato before his wand vanished behind his sleeve.

'What did you do?'

'Put a confidential spell around us so we can talk without being heard. I'll teach it to you later, it's quite useful.'

'I bet it is…if I can even use magic after today that is.'

'Harry, they won't expel you. I won't let them. Now drink your coffee, you look tired. Didn't you sleep last night?'

'Not really. I was kind of worried. What with the trial and you missing and not sending word.'

Sirius sighed 'I'm sorry about that. It all happened so fast and then the treatment took much longer than I'd expected…'

'Treatment?'

'Yes, I had to get myself sorted after everything that happened. Azkaban and being on the run weren't good for my health, can't imagine why.' Sirius tried to joke but Harry still looked at him worried.

'But you're fine now?'

'As fine as I'll get, which is a lot better than I was. I still need to put on some weight, but on the whole I'm much better.'

'Why didn't you write to tell me you were going?'

'I didn't know how it would all turn out. I didn't want to tell you in case it all went to hell.'

'And if it all went to hell?'

Sirius sighed 'I had a letter prepared to be delivered if I died.'

'If you died?'

'Yes well, it was a big gamble.'

Harry didn't know what to say to that. There was a mixture of horror and relief all packed in confusion and many questions. But there was not much time to spare for those until the hearing was over.

At 9 o'clock sharp the two entered Amelia's office where Dumbledore was waiting for them.

'Good to see you are in fact punctual Mr. Potter.' Bones said. 'And you have your guardian with you. Lovely. Please take a seat.'

Harry sat down in between Dumbledore and Sirius.

'I think we all know why you're here Mr. Potter. The question is, why you did what you did at 9:23 PM on the 2nd of August.'

'I was out on the street returning home and I was arguing with my cousin. I admit I took out my wand but I didn't hex him, and my cousin already knows about magic so it was no secret there. Then it became very cold, it was a warm summer night and the cold was unnatural, a few moments later I saw two Dementors rushing towards us. I told my cousin to run, but he ran in the wrong direction, he ran toward one of them. I tried to summon a Patronus and failed as one of the Dementors had Dudley pinned down and the other one was trying to do the same to me. I finally managed the spell and had the two Dementors pulling away.'

'Dementors in Little Winging?' Amelia frowned.

'It's never happened before.' Harry said.

'No, no it hasn't. Your cousin is a Muggle?'

'Yes, why?'

'Muggles can't see Dementors.'

'Oh.'

'There was another witness.' Dumbledore said.

'Was there another witch or wizard near you?' Amelia asked

'Er, well as the Dementors were flying away Mrs. Figg came and told me to get home fast. She er, she knows about our world too.'

'Arabella Figg is a squib.' Dumbledore explained. 'And she's waiting outside if you wish to question her Madam Bones.'

'Very well, call her in.'

Half an hour later Amelia Bones was convinced there had been Dementors in Surrey that night.

'Well, Mr. Potter, I can only say I'm glad you know the Patronus charm at such a young age or you and your cousin would be soulless at the moment.'

'Does that mean I'm not expelled?'

'I can't expel you or condemn you for saving lives. All charges against you are dropped and I will be launching a full investigation as to why two Dementors were so far away from Azkaban in the first place.'

'Thank you.' Harry managed to smile.

'Now, I trust your new guardian will be able to keep you safe and out of trouble for the rest of the summer.' She eyed Sirius.

'The new house should be ready for us to move in by the day after tomorrow or sooner.' Sirius said.

'New house?' Harry was confused, wasn't Grimmauld Place Sirius's house.

'So Mr. Potter will be with you for the rest of the summer?'

'Yes. I would also like to request that Harry be permitted to use magic outside school from now on.'

'You want the trace removed?'

'Yes.'

'That is very unusual and it requires an oath from the parent or guardian that the statue of secrecy won't be breached.' Amelia frowned 'and a valid reason for the request.'

'The oath is no problem. As for a valid reason, how about Voldemort is back and is likely to target Harry, is that valid reason enough?'

Harry had to hand it to Madam Bones, she had not shuddered at the name of the dark wizard as others did.

'I know that Mr. Potter claims the Dark Lord is back. But is there proof of that?' Amelia asked.

'You mean other than Cedric dying and I witnessing him come back to life?' Harry asked a bit annoyed.

'Yes, were there others present?'

'Peter Pettigrew was there, he performed the ritual that got Voldemort his body back.' Harry said 'Then he called his followers there, but I don't think any of them will admit to it.'

'Who were these followers? Do you have names?'

'Yes, Malfoy, Crab, Goyle, McNair, Avory, Nott.'

'I can't interrogate them without good cause.' Amelia said 'Three, no two of them actually, have permanent seats in the Wizengamon and the others are protected by them.'

'But you believe me?' Harry asked surprised.

'I believe something happened that night. I don't want to believe he is back, but I'd be foolish not to investigate.'

'I would advise caution when dealing with Cornelius.' Albus added.

'Yes, and Scrimgeor isn't a big fan either. I do think Shacklebolt might be able to investigate discretely.'

'I can offer you my memory of Barty Crouch Jr., before the Dementors kissed him.' Said Dumbledore.

'That would be helpful.'

'Erm, can I offer my memory of that night too?' Harry asked.

'It would have to be under the strictest security and under no way is it to be accessible by the public.' Sirius said.

'Of course Mr. Potter is entitled to his privacy and he is a minor. But if he's willing to give a memory that would help.' Amelia nodded.

'I want to help. People need to know.' Harry said fiercely. Sirius put a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

'In that case, can you spare another hour now, or?'

'Are you OK with staying another hour? I know you're tired and haven't slept…' Sirius added

'I'll sleep later. This is more important.' Harry said

'Very well, then.' Amelia signed a paper and put a magical seal on it before duplicating it and handing one to Harry and sending one through a tube somewhere. 'This is your acquittal.'

'Great.' She then sent a flying memo.

'I've asked Berty to bring a Pensieve from the DOM.' She explained. 'Anyone care for a drink while we wait?'

'I'll have some tea if it's not a bother Amelia.' Dumbledore said.

'Some orange juice would be nice.' Said Harry.

'Water.' Sirius finished. It didn't take 10 minutes for a snort white haired wizard to appear in the fireplace with a Pensieve floating in front of him.

'It is very rare for you to ask me for a favour Amelia dear. Albus, what are you doing here?'

'Berty I didn't know you still lived the way you never get out of your office makes one think the worst.'

'Oh come now, it's not that bad. Why I remember I left the office…three, or was it five days ago. Oh dear, Sirius Black and Harry Potter too.' The man finally saw Harry and Sirius who were from his perspective behind Dumbledore.

'Hello Croaker, glad to see you're as eccentric as ever.' Sirius grinned.

'Yes, well, eccentricity comes with age, just look at Albus…' Croaker waved a hand in dismissal and set the Pensieve on the table.

The next hour was a bit of a blur for Harry as Dumbledore helped him extract the memory and Amelia and Berty dived in with Dumbledore. Harry didn't want to relive it so Sirius stayed with him. After they saw Dumbledore's memory of Crouch Jr. both ministry officials looked white faced from Harry to Dumbledore and back.

The first to speak was Berty after collapsing in the chair Amelia provided for him.

'Merlin's balls.'

'I trust you are fairly satisfied with the authenticity of these memories Berty.' Dumbledore spoke softly.

'They are the real deal all right. I don't suppose you have a very talented group of students in a drama club enacting that memory we saw from Mr. Potter.'

'Sadly no drama group at Hogwarts.'

'Yes, I thought so.' He gulped and went for Amelia's beverage stand. 'I need something stronger.'

'Pour me a double Ogden too.' Amelia said.

'It's morning and you're at work madam Bones.' Smirked Black.

'Shove it Black.' And she took the glass Berty levitated to her and drowned half of it in one go.

'Er, I don't suppose showing this to Fudge will have the same effect.' Harry said.

'Unfortunately our dear Minister has thrown logic out the window lately. And with the laws he managed to pass in the past weeks the only people that can stand against him are the collective mass of the Wizengamon.' Amelia said

'And he will probably deny the truth with Voldemort staring him in the face.' Sirius sighed.

'So we'll still be operating in secret.' Albus sighed.

'You started something didn't you?' Amelia's eyes narrowed on Dumbledore.

'I did. But we can talk about that later.' Albus returned the memory to Harry but left his in the pensive.

'You can keep mine, I made a copy.'

'Thank you.' She turned to Harry 'And thank you Mr. Potter. Without you we wouldn't know. I'll take care of the trace. There won't be need of an oath, but a promise that you will be cautious and not expose our world to the Muggles.'

'I promise.' Harry nodded.

'Good. I'll send you a letter when it's done.' She said to Sirius.

'Well, that's our queue to get out of here.' Sirius smiled at Harry.

'I'll see you both later.' Dumbledore nodded at them and Sirius and Harry were off. They stopped by Arthur's office to let him know he got off.

'How are we going back?' Harry asked as the two exited the ministry.

'Well I can side-along-aparate you.' Sirius said.

'Aparate? But isn't that…'

'Side-along. You won't be doing anything, I will. I'll be like a Portkey for you.'

With Sirius back in England, the fun can now start. Let me know your thoughs so far, and have a nice week.