Chapter 3: Potter v. Fudge
Today was the day that Harry went on trial to the Wizengamot to defend himself regarding his use of underage magic despite him using it to save a muggle woman from a dementor attack that happened the other day. Luckily Naruto decided to come along as he and Mr. Weasley knew what the court was like, a den of vipers when it came to situations like this. Harry was dressed as if he were ready to go to court, since he wore a dark brown jacket, a dark blue buttoned shirt, and some khakis, along with a pair of black leather shoes. Naruto wore an olive green short sleeved button up shirt, a white long sleeved shirt, some black jeans, and some vans. The two left the Black house with Mr. Weasley, after eating some breakfast. "How are you feeling?" Mr. Weasley asked Harry, who in response just shrugged. "It'll all be over soon," Mr. Weasley said bracingly. "In a few hours' time you'll be cleared." Harry said nothing. "The hearing's on my floor, in Amelia Bones's office. She's Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement and she's the one who'll be questioning you."
Naruto turns to Harry, "Don't worry mate, Amelia is alright, she'll hear you out. That's how I got her to allow the trial of Sirius Black to happen in our third year." Harry and Mr. Weasley turned to Naruto in surprise, "Wait, you managed to get her to allow Sirius' trial to happen?" Mr. Weasley asked in surprise, knowing that Amelia was a rather strict person who is dedicated to the law. "Well yeah, I mean like when I announced my heritage, I managed to convince her to appeal my case of my heritage to the court before I started my third year," Naruto said nonchalantly as he didn't see it was such a big deal anyway. Mr. Weasley shook his head, "Anyways Harry you need to listen to me. Don't lose your temper, be polite and stick to the facts." Harry nodded. "The law's on your side," said Naruto quietly. "Even underage wizards are allowed to use magic in life-threatening situations." Harry nodded at the two, as they arrived at a subway station, or as the Brits call it, the Tube.
They took the train and after a few stops, they finally arrived at their stop. The three walked further until they arrived at a phone box. "A phone box, really? What's this supposed to be, the TARDIS from Dr. Who," Naruto stated, as he used floo powder to get to the ministry. "I'm sorry, but who?" Mr. Weasley asked, genuinely confused. "It's a show muggles watch Mr. Weasley, but seriously a telephone box?" Harry asked as Mr. Weasley nodded. The three entered and it was rather cramped as these boxes can't fit three people. Mr. Weasley reached past Harry for the receiver. "Mr. Weasley, I think this might be out of order too," Harry said. "No, no, I'm sure it's fine," said Mr. Weasley, holding the receiver above his head and peering at the dial. "Let's see . . . six . . ." he dialed the number, "two . . . four . . . and another four . . . and another two . . ."
As the dial whirred smoothly back into place, a cool female voice sounded inside the telephone box, not from the receiver in Mr. Weasley's hand, but as loudly and plainly as though an invisible woman were standing right beside them. "Welcome to the Ministry of Magic. Please state your name and business." Mr. Weasley announces his, Harry and Naruto's names and the announcer accepts them, while providing instructions on what to do. "Visitor to the Ministry, you are required to submit to a search and present your wand for registration at the security desk, which is located at the far end of the Atrium." The floor of the telephone box shuddered. They were sinking slowly into the ground. Harry watched apprehensively as the pavement rose up past the glass windows of the telephone box until darkness closed over their heads. Then he could see nothing at all; he could only hear a dull grinding noise as the telephone box made its way down through the earth. After about a minute, though it felt much longer to Harry, a chink of golden light illuminated his feet and, widening, rose up his body, until it hit him in the face and he had to blink to stop his eyes from watering.
After that was over, they finally arrived at the ministry. They were standing at one end of a very long and splendid hall with a highly polished, dark wood floor. The peacock-blue ceiling was inlaid with gleaming golden symbols that were continually moving and changing like some enormous heavenly notice board. The walls on each side were paneled in shiny dark wood and had many gilded fireplaces set into them. Every few seconds a witch or wizard would emerge from one of the left-hand fireplaces with a soft whoosh; on the right-hand side, short queues of wizards were forming before each fireplace, waiting to depart. They soon passed a water fountain that was showing a group of golden statues and they looked pretty grandiose from a certain point of view. The three head to the registration booth to hand over their wands as it was for a security reason.
They soon passed by some of the different offices the ministry held based on certain affairs such as the department of magical transportation, department of magical games and sports, etc. But the most interesting building was the headquarters of the Aurors. This building interested the blond, as he heard many things about the aurors through some conversation with the order last night. Anyways Mr. Weasley showed the two boys his office and it wasn't much, though the office was much smaller than expected. Just then some old guy burst into Mr. Weasley's office with an urgent message. The message was shocking as Harry's trial time was changed and it was now. "Oh great heaven's! Come on boys, we're going to be late!" Mr. Weasley said as the two boys followed the man quickly. Soon they arrived at where they needed to be, as Mr. Weasley stumbled to a halt outside a grimy dark door with an immense iron lock and slumped against the wall, clutching at a stitch in his chest. "Go on," he panted, pointing his thumb at the door. "Get in there." Harry was confused, "Are you not coming?" he asked. "No, no, I'm not allowed. Good luck!" Naruto also wished his friend good luck, Harry's heart was beating a violent tattoo against his Adam's apple. He swallowed hard, turned the heavy iron door handle, and stepped inside the courtroom.
As the trial was going on, Naruto was waiting patiently with Mr. Weasley, as the boy was pacing around back and forth. "Calm down Naruto, I'm sure Harry will be fine," Mr. Weasley said, assuring the boy that everything will be fine. Naruto sighed, "I know, it's just that knowing the Wizengamot, they might eat Harry alive. Bones may not be enough to help defend him," Naruto said. Over at Harry's side of the situation, a surprise witness came to Harry's defense. "Witness for the defense, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore," said a quiet voice from behind Harry, who turned his head so fast he cracked his neck. Dumbledore was striding serenely across the room wearing long midnight-blue robes and a perfectly calm expression. His long silver beard and hair gleamed in the torchlight as he drew level with Harry and looked up at Fudge through the half-moon spectacles that rested halfway down his very crooked nose. The court was muttering with different reactions to Dumbledore's appearance in this session. "Ah," said Fudge, who looked thoroughly disconcerted. "Dumbledore. Yes. You — er — got our — er — message that the time and — er — place of the hearing had been changed, then?"
"I must have missed it," said Dumbledore cheerfully. "However, due to a lucky mistake I arrived at the Ministry three hours early, so no harm done." With all that said and done, Dumbledore took a seat and the court was back in business. However, it seemed that Dumbledore didn't even take a slight glance at Harry, not even for a second which raises a question for Harry, why was Dumbledore here defending him. Anyways some of the questioning from the Wizengamot was pretty annoying to Harry as it felt repetitive and borderline tedious. He was also asked about his patronus and he obviously responded by going into detail, which shocked and impressed the court. "It's not a question of how impressive the magic was," said Fudge in a testy voice. "In fact, the more impressive the worse it is, I would have thought, given that the boy did it in plain view of a Muggle!" Those who had been frowning now murmured in agreement, but it was the sight of Percy's sanctimonious little nod that goaded Harry into speech.
"I did it because of the dementors!" he said loudly, before anyone could interrupt him again. He had expected more muttering, but the silence that fell seemed to be somehow denser than before. "Dementors?" said Madam Bones after a moment, raising her thick eyebrows so that her monocle looked in danger of falling out. "What do you mean, boy?"
"I mean there were two dementors down that alleyway and they went for me and my cousin!" Harry said, trying to tell the court the truth. Fudge however wasn't having it as he was claiming that the boy was lying and was about to declare the boy guilty immediately when all of a sudden the door was kicked upon. It was Naruto, and he looked rather serious as he was marching to the courtroom. "Objection your honor, I believe my friend here is innocent," he said, crossing his arms. Fudge's eye twitches violently, "Boy a court session is happening, if you don't get-"
But before Fudge could say anything, Naruto silences him with a hand. "Keep your mouth shut Fudge and let me talk or else…" Naruto said as his eyes turned red with the black scleras appearing, while he threw some killer intent. The wizengamot felt that intent as they were cowering in fear. "Now then allow me to explain why my friend here is innocent." Naruto begins to go over the details, "Your honor, my friend here has been a hero to the wizarding community for what, about fifteen years or so after he vanquished your so-called dark lord. I mean come on, he is the HARRY POTTER we are talking about here. Your so-called messiah, prophet, legend, whatever you want to call him. AND he did stop most threats that happened in Hogwarts with the help of me along with our other friends. What's to stop him from defending a muggle from rogue dementors who somehow are supposed to be guarding Azkaban, yet they are not. What would you do if you knew someone you know getting attacked by a dementor for no reason, huh? Tell me!"
The Wizengamot was silent as they couldn't respond to the boy's claims. However Fudge being the bumbling idiot he is wasn't having it, "That doesn't prove anything boy-"
Luckily Dumbledore came in to help out Naruto, "I believe Mr. Uzumaki here is correct, what were the dementors doing in an area like this? This couldn't be a coincidence, so I believe the dementors were ordered there." Fudge raised an eyebrow, "I think we might have a record of it if someone had ordered a pair of dementors to go strolling around the area!" barked Fudge. "Not if the dementors are taking orders from someone other than the Ministry of Magic these days," said Dumbledore calmly. "I have already given you my views on this matter, Cornelius."
"Yes, you have," said Fudge forcefully, "and I have no reason to believe that your views are anything other than bilge, Dumbledore. The dementors remain in place in Azkaban and are doing everything we ask them to." There was a battle of words going on between Dumbledore and Fudge as the latter was speaking in a savage if not borderline irrational manner, while Dumbledore spoke calmly. Naruto had something to say, "You know Fudge, the way I see this whole situation, you and the rest of this council, well except for you Madam Bones, are a bunch of hypocrites. You say that Harry used underage magic illegally when he used it for self defense. Plus if he used magic illegally, there should've been minor notice, yet you guys treat this like a violent crime that deems worthy of expulsion. Plus there were some incidents regarding Harry using magic yet you overlooked them. The case about Harry using it back in the summer of 1992, that was the work of a house elf, who is by now working at Hogwarts. Also in the summer of 1993, Harry may have unintentionally used underage magic on his aunt even without the use of a wand, and yet you overlooked that."
Fudge stuttered and rambled some nonsense as Naruto raised an eyebrow. "I could also go on further. The ministry is forbidden to expel any students regardless of whether they did the crime or not as it is the job of the headmaster. So if anything, your words and actions towards Harry regarding the situation mean nothing and I really mean it, absolutely nothing. So go on…do it, accuse Harry, knowing that consequences will come. Do it, I dare you…bitch," Naruto said as he coldly smiled. "Is that a threat?!" Fudge nearly yelled. Naruto shrugged, "It could be a threat, but if you want I could make it a reality for you, and trust me you really don't want to go down that route as there are some things far more frightening than death." The words Naruto said brought a cold chill to the Wizengamot, as they knew Naruto wasn't messing around from the way he sounded. "Those in favor of clearing the accused of all charges?" said Madam Bones' booming voice. Harry's head jerked upward. There were hands in the air, many of them . . . more than half! Breathing very fast, he tried to count, but before he could finish Madam Bones had said, "And those in favor of conviction?" Fudge raised his hand; so did half a dozen others, including the witch wearing pink on his right and the heavily mustached wizard and the frizzy haired witch in the second row. Fudge glanced around at them all, looking as though there was something large stuck in his throat, then lowered his own hand. He took two deep breaths and then said, in a voice distorted by suppressed rage, "Very well, very well . . . cleared of all charges."
"Excellent," said Dumbledore briskly, springing to his feet, pulling out his wand, and causing the two chintz armchairs to vanish. "Well, I must be getting along. Good day to you all." And without looking once at Harry, he swept from the dungeon. "Wait professor…thank you," Harry said even though Dumbledore didn't hear him. "Come on Harry, let's get out of here," Naruto said as he and Harry left the courtroom. As they were walking Harry decided to ask, "So like was that threat you gave real or was it all just a bluff?" Naruto smirked, "You see Harry, it all depends on perspective, it could mean both ways, but I don't want to reveal it, as a wizard and a shinobi keeps his/her secrets." Harry raised an eyebrow, "I think you mean a magician?" he corrected. Naruto shrugs, "To each their own." They kept walking as they encountered Madam Bones talking with Arthur Weasley. "Hey Bones, fancy seeing you here, how are you doing?" Naruto said. Bones sighed, "I'm fine but honestly Mr. Uzumaki, that mouth of yours is going to get you in trouble one day, you know?" Naruto raised an eyebrow, but he smirked, "Well then, I'll be counting my days till the law catches up to me." Bones rolled her eyes, even though what Naruto said was pretty witty. "Thanks Madam Bones, for taking on this case and for thinking I'm innocent," Harry said gratefully. Bones smiled and nods at the boy as she turns to Mr. Weasley, "Well then Arthur, I must be off, tell your wife and the order I said hello," she stated before walking away. Mr. Weasley turns to the boys, "Come on you two, let's go home and tell everyone the good news!" he said excitedly as they left the ministry after getting their wands back. They finally returned home and told everyone the good news to which they celebrated with a nice victory lunch.