Chapter 5
The Ministry of Magic
Alaw stared into her bowl of porridge, feeling as if she'd throw up if she dared take another bite. Instead she took a gulp of tea, her hand shaking slightly as she reached for the mug. Hermione was going through the documents they'd compiled over the past few days, placing them carefully into a folder in the order they would be needed and naming each aloud as she did so. Her mantra helped sooth Alaw's nerves a little.
"Are you sure you won't eat anything else dear?" Mrs Weasley asked as Alaw finally pushed the porridge away from herself.
Alaw shook her head, not trusting herself to open her mouth. Sirius wasn't eating much either, but glowering into his coffee. He was clearly very angry with Dumbledore for leaving so suddenly the night before, without so much as a word to Alaw about the hearing. Mr Weasley came into the kitchen at that moment wearing a bomber jacket and a pair of ripped jeans. Despite her feeling of numbness, Alaw couldn't help but share a bemused glance with Hermione. Mrs Weasley took in her husband's appearance with a long suffering sigh.
"You aren't planning to go to work like that are you, Arthur?" she asked.
"I'll have to take the girls on the underground, Molly, so I need to blend in. Don't worry I have my normal work clothes to change into once we get there," Mr Weasley reassured her.
Choosing what to wear for the hearing had been tricky for Alaw. She didn't really want to remind everyone of her background by wearing something overtly muggle, she'd gotten in trouble in the past for 'indecent' attire. But on the other hand, since she was being accused of under-age magic, perhaps to was best to be as unmagical as possible. In the end she'd opted for a smart shirt a knee length skirt and sensible flat shoes. It wasn't really her style but it was at least tidy and presentable. Hermione, who was coming with her to act as a witness, was similarly dressed.
"Well, I suppose it's time we were off," said Mr Weasley, checking his watch. "I know the hearing isn't until nine but it gives us plenty of time to get to the Ministry."
Alaw stood up on weak legs and accepted a firm hug from Sirius.
"It'll be alright," he said quietly. "You've done nothing wrong and Amelia Bones is fair, through and through."
"If – if something does go wrong, can I stay here with you?" Alaw mumbled. She hadn't wanted to ask but she couldn't stop the fear slipping out. Sirius just gave her one last squeeze before letting go.
"It won't come to that," he said firmly.
Ron and Neville waved them off in the hall, whispering words of encouragement that Alaw didn't know how to respond to. She followed Mr Weasley and Hermione out onto the street in a kind of daze, not really watching where her feet were taking her. Alaw sat on the tube in silence. Mr Weasley was trying to look as muggle as possible by reading the paper like all the other passengers. Only he wasn't following tube etiquette and kept asking Hermione to explain the articles to him. Alaw tried to distract herself by scrolling through her phone but there was obviously no signal underground so eventually there was nothing to do but stare off into space.
At long last they pulled into Westminster station and they joined the throng heading for the escalators. Once again Mr Weasley broke social protocol by gripping both banisters tightly and blocking the way for people who were trying to walk up the left hand side.
"What's their hurry?" he asked in surprise as a besuited man huffed his way past.
"It's London, everyone's in a hurry," Alaw explained tonelessly.
When they emerged from the station they rounded the statue of Boudicca and left the houses of parliament and much of the crowd behind them. Mr Weasley took them down a few side streets towards Whitehall until they finally came to halt in a dirty alley which had nothing in it except a skip and an old telephone box with smashed windows. Glass crunched underfoot as he crossed towards the telephone box and opened the door.
"Um, this is the entrance to the Ministry?" Hermione asked uncertainly.
"It's the visitor's entrance, the main gate is a few streets away. But most people just apparate to work, or take the Floo. I know some of the high ups have their home fireplaces connected directly to their offices. Now come on, you both need to be in here with me."
Still wearing sceptical looks, Hermione and Alaw squeezed into the telephone box whilst Mr Weasley picked up the receiver and dialled a number. Then, a disembodied voice echoed around the box.
"Welcome to the Ministry of Magic. Visitors must please state their names and business."
"Alaw Jones, I'm here for a disciplinary hearing with Amelia Bones."
"Hermione Granger, um, here to support her."
They heard a whirring noise, and then something small and silver clattered into the tray where returned coins would normally appear.
"Visitors must pin the badge provided to the front of their robes. Thank you!"
Alaw picked up the badges and looked at them. Hers read, Alaw Jones, Disciplinary Hearing. The other said, Hermione Granger, Moral Support.
"Visitors must report to the Security Desk located at the far side of the Atrium. We hope you enjoy your visit to the Ministry!"
The floor beneath their feet suddenly jerked and the box began to sink into the ground. The dirty street disappeared above their heads and a light bulb flickered on to illuminate the small space. Their journey was shuddering but thankfully short and soon the box jolted to a halt. Mr Weasley opened the door and Alaw caught her first glimpse of the Ministry of Magic. The Atrium was a long room with a high ceiling and it was brimming with witches and wizards in smart work robes carrying briefcases. Alaw picked nervously at the hem of her shirt as they walked among them towards the other end of the hall. The walls, which were tiled in emerald green, had floo stations along each side. Every few seconds there was a whooshing sound as someone emerged from one of the left-hand fireplaces, and short queues were forming in front of the right-hand ones.
When they managed to push their way through the crowd, the girls found themselves in front of a huge golden fountain which held several larger-than-life statues at its centre. There was a witch and a wizard, standing proudly with their wands in the air, and around them were grouped several magical creatures. There was a centaur, a goblin, and a smaller being Alaw couldn't place, but assumed must have been some kind of leprechaun. These last three were gazing up at the humans in soppy adoration and Alaw pulled a face.
"Well, that's not patronising at all," she said scathingly and Hermione nodded in agreement.
A goblin who carrying several rolls of parchment under his arm gave the fountain a disgusted look on his way past and tisked loudly.
"Girls!" Mr Weasley called. "Come on, over here."
He beckoned them over to a booth to the left of the fountain were a bored looking watch wizard was reading the Daily Prophet. Mr Weasley coughed pointedly and the wizard looked up.
"What?" he asked grumpily.
"I'm escorting these young ladies to a hearing. I believe they need their visit registered?"
The wizard climbed out of his chair with a sigh, lifted the barrier next to his desk and came out, holding a long, golden rod.
"Arms up," he commanded and the girls' complied. The wizard passed the Secrecy Sensor up and down their bodies. When it didn't tremble, he returned to his desk and held out his hand.
"Wands."
Alaw and Hermione handed them over and the wizard dropped each in turn on a set of scales. After a few moments two slips of paper shot out of slot at the base and he squinted at them.
"10 and a three-quarter inches, vine wood, dragon heart-string core, been in use two years, right?"
"Yes," said Hermione and her wand was handed back to her. The wizard turned to the second piece of paper.
"Ten and a half inches, Hornbeam, unicorn hair, also been in use two years."
"That's right," Alaw confirmed, and she accepted her wand and returned it to the little purse she was wearing over her shoulder. No need to display the thing at a time like this.
The watch wizard was giving her a hard look, particularly gazing at her name badge.
"Oooh, I heard about you, you're that muggle-born that was in the papers a couple of years ago. The one who was put in Slytherin by mistake?"
"It wasn't a mistake," Alaw said coldly before turning her back on the wizard and following Mr Weasley towards a smaller hall behind the fountain. This had lift banks all along the walls and they joined the queue to use one which had just rattled into its cage.
"Why does everyone think it's an accident that I ended up in Slytherin? I wanted to be there! The Hat doesn't make mistakes," Alaw grumbled as the gates rolled closer and they began to ascend.
They stopped at several floors on their journey and the other occupants of the lift slowly trickled out. Some said hello to Mr Weasley, or looked curiously at the girls in their muggle clothes. Their stares made Alaw uncomfortable so she watched a bunch of paper aeroplanes fly around the swinging lamp. Professor Flitwick had taught them to make a magical memo at the end of first year, in case any of them ever went on the work for the Ministry and they were quite handy for sending messages around Hogwarts without having to track down whoever you needed to talk to.
Finally the voice over in the lift chimed,
"Level two, Department of Magical Law Enforcement, including the Improper Use of Magic Office, Auror Headquarters, and Wizengamot Administration Services."
Mr Weasley gave the girls each a small push in the back and they left the lift. They found themselves in a wide corridor with dark wood panelled walls and doors at regular intervals. When they reached the end Alaw looked to her left and caught a glimpse of an open area filled with cubicles. It was full of activity and the brass plate on the half open door read 'Auror Headquarters'. But Mr Weasley gestured down a much shorter corridor on the right, this time lined with portraits, and with a single door at the end.
"This is Amelia Bones' office," he said whilst checking his watch. "You still have about forty minutes so why don't I show you where my office is and then you can wait –"
But the door of the office had opened and a witch came out holding a file, much like the one Hermione was carrying, under her arm. She had a stern, no-nonsense face, close clopped grey hair and a monocle. Her robes were plum coloured and had a stylised W sewn over the left hand side of the chest.
"Morning Arthur," she said, striding towards them. She looked down at Alaw and nodded to herself. "You must be Miss Jones, Amelia Bones."
She held out her hand which Alaw shook.
"You're cutting it a little fine you know," Madam Bones said sternly. "The hearing starts in ten minutes."
Alaw's eyes widened in alarm and she checked her watch.
"But, it's only twenty past eight! The hearing isn't until nine."
Madam Bones frowned and shook her head.
"No no, the hearing has been moved to half past eight. Didn't you get the owl telling you about the change? And it isn't in my office any more, for some reason Cornelius wanted to hold it downstairs in Courtroom Ten."
Alaw's heart dropped to the region of her stomach and she thanked God that they'd decided to come to the Ministry so early. Mr Weasley was looking at Madam Bones in shock.
"Courtroom Ten, down on level nine? But they haven't used those old rooms in years! Not since, well, not since the clean up after the war."
Madam Bones shrugged.
"I don't know what Cornelius is thinking these days. He said something about it being a waste not to use them. Maybe he's right, but this is just a simple case of underage magic for goodness sake. It can be handled in fifteen minutes. Anyway, I'll walk you down Miss Jones. And who is this you have with you?"
Hermione stuck out her own hand.
"Hermione Granger, ma'am. I'm going to be a witness for the case."
Madam Bones shook her hand and raised an eyebrow, but didn't make any further comment. She escorted the girls back towards the lifts and Mr Weasley followed. They didn't make any small talk on the way down to level nine. Alaw tried to gage Madam Bones' mood but it was impossible as she was reading through her file with a passive expression on her face. Fifteen minutes she'd said, was that good or bad? It was hard to tell. There wasn't a single person besides themselves left in the lift by the time it rattled to a halt and the voice said,
"Department of Mysteries."
The grate slid open and yet another corridor lay before them, only this one was dark and somewhat forbidding. The walls were covered in black, glassy tiles, as was the floor and there was not a single door accept for the one at the far end. It was even darker than the tiles and didn't have a handle. Alaw assumed that this would be their final destination but Madam Bones turned immediately left down a short set of stairs and they left the marbled corridor behind. The stretch they were now it was much more like the dungeon passages at Hogwarts, with stone walls and torches.
"Here we are, Arthur, I'm afraid the public gallery is closed today," Madam Bones explained and Mr Weasley's shoulders slumped. He sighed and then sat down on a stone bench opposite the door to courtroom ten.
"I'll just wait here then," he said. Madam Bones turned to Hermione.
"When the time comes for witnesses, Miss Granger, we will call you in. Until then, you can also wait here."
Hermione didn't look too pleased about this but she didn't complain. Instead, she hugged Alaw tightly and handed the file to her.
"Just explain it all clearly and stick to what's in here. You'll be ok, you've done nothing wrong," she said encouragingly.
Alaw couldn't reply. There was nothing to say. Madam Bones opened the door for her and she went inside, trying not to let her terror show on her face. She found herself in a circular room, surrounded on all sides by high benches rising towards the ceiling. The seats were filled with witches and wizards dressed just like Madam Bones who had been talking quietly amongst themselves until the door opened. Now they looked over, and a few muttered to their neighbours at the sight of Alaw. She saw many sneers of contempt.
"Ah, Amelia, we were worried you would be late," said Cornelius Fudge.
He was sitting in one of the front benches next to a squat little witch Alaw didn't recognise. Her eyes quickly swept the crowd, estimating there to be about fifty of them, and tried to see if she recognised anyone. Barty Crouch was unmistakable, she picked out his toothbrush moustache in moments among the front benchers, and there were a few familiar faces further up the tiers, people who had attended some of the Quidditch games at Hogwarts the previous year.
"There's still three minutes to go, Cornelius," said Madam Bones and there was a definite bite to her voice. "I came across Miss Jones waiting outside my office. Apparently she did not receive the letter informing her of the changed time and place."
"That is not the Wizengamot's fault," said Fudge haughtily. "An owl was sent to her home address this morning."
Given that her home address was all the way in Wales, and the letter had only been sent that very morning, Alaw could see no way for her to have made it to London on time. She shuddered, and once again thanked her lucky stars for Mr Weasley's foresight.
"I've been staying in London for a few days," she explained and all eyes fixed on her. "I'm sorry, I should have sent the Ministry the address of my hotel."
Madam Bones climbed up a set of stairs and made her over the front bench before sitting down beside Fudge. He shuffled some papers in front of him and glanced up at Alaw over the top of his specs.
"Take a seat, Miss Jones."
Alaw looked at the centre of the room where there was a single chair, whose arms and back was decorated with chains. She stared at this for a moment, her heart thumping hard, and wondered if it was possible to refuse. But she didn't want to start the hearing on hostile terms so she sank gingerly onto the very edge of the chair. The chains clinked, but didn't bind her.
"Very well, let us begin. Weasley, are you ready?"
"Yes sir!" said a voice Alaw recognised and she looked to her right in astonishment.
There, sitting at a desk lower than all the benches, was Percy. He had a typewriter in front of him and he appeared to be poised to take notes. Alaw couldn't understand it, the last she'd heard, Percy had been working as Crouch's assistant in the Department of Magical Cooperation. So what was he doing scribe work at the Wizengamot for? He hadn't been to any Order meetings that she knew of, but she'd assumed he'd been busy at work. He didn't look at Alaw when she tried to catch his eye, but kept his gaze on the parchment before him.
"Disciplinary Hearing on the 20th of July, into offences committed under the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery and the International Statute of Secrecy by Alaw Awen Jones, resident at Cefn-Y-Bedd, Beddgelert, Snowdonia. Interrogators: Cornelius Oswald Fudge, Minister for 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."
Fudge looked down at Alaw who had never felt so small in her life. The Minister extricated a piece of paper from the file in front of him and read it out for the court to hear.
"The charges against the accused are as follows: 'That she did knowingly, deliberately and in full awareness of the illegality of her actions, having been informed of our laws upon entering the Wizarding World two years ago, produce a Patronus Charm in a Muggle-inhabited area, not far from Monpazier wizarding village in the Dordogne, in the early hours of the morning of the 13th of July, which constitutes an offence under Paragraph C of the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery, 1875, and also under Section 13 of the International Confederation of Warlocks' Statute of Secrecy. Do you deny the charges, Miss Jones?"
"Yes," said Alaw, firmly, and clearly. There was a great deal of muttering at this and a few people shook their heads scornfully. Fudge's expression was grim.
"You deny that you preformed the Patronus Charm on the morning in question?"
"I performed the Charm, but it was in self-defence." More muttering, some scoffs and jeers, and Alaw opened her file to the first page. "With the court's permission, I have prepared a short statement that I would like to read for you now?"
"Very well, let us hear what you have to say for yourself," Fudge sneered.
Alaw took a deep breath and dropped her eyes to the file.
"I was holidaying in France with my friends, Hermione Granger, Ronald Weasley and Neville Longbottom, camped beside a lake not far from Monpazier Wizarding village, a few weeks ago. We took our wands with us only as a precaution. At about four o clock in the morning on the 13th I went to the toilet, and on the way back to my tent I saw a Dementor coming towards me."
There was a torrent of whispers at this and Fudge gave a bark of laughter.
"You expect us to believe that a Dementor simply wondered into a random French campsite, and just happened to come across you?" he demanded. Alaw kept her cool and looked up at the Minister.
"May I finish my statement?" she asked calmly. Madam Bones glanced at Fudge and then waved a hand.
"Please continue, Miss Jones."
Alaw carried on.
"I ran to wake up my friends and the four of us got into our car and drove away, hoping to draw the Dementor away from the muggles and to escape. The car broke down after about ten minutes and the Dementor caught up to us. We decided to stay in the car and lock the doors, but a second Dementor appeared and smashed one of the back windows. The first Dementor smashed the windscreen and grabbed me, pulling me out of the car. I tried several times to produce a Patronus, and eventually I managed it. My Patronus destroyed the Dementor holding me and then chased off the second Dementor. We then got the car running again and drove back to the campsite where we were taken in custody by Captain Chevalier of the Monpazier Auror Department."
When Alaw finished her statement she slid the duplicate copy she had printed out of its plastic sleeve and stood up to approach the bench.
"This is a copy of my statement, uh, shall I, um," She looked up at the three judges and faltered. It was far too high for her to pass up to them, even on tip toes. "I'm sorry, I really prepared my case envisioning a desk between us."
There were a few titters from the Wizengamot and Fudge's mouth twisted sourly.
"Give it to Weasley," he snapped and Alaw turned to place the statement on Percy's desk. Percy promptly made his way up the stairs behind him to hand the document to Fudge.
"Alright then, so this is your story is it?" he asked contemptuously. "And I don't suppose you have a shred of proof?"
Alaw remained on her feet and pulled a second piece of paper from her file.
"This," she said, holding it up. "Is a statement from Captain Chevalier. I wrote to him when I got back to the UK, asking him to provide one for my defence. I have the original letter here in French, and also an English translation. The Captain also said he would write directly to the Ministry?"
She looked anxiously as Madam Bones who frowned.
"I have received no such letter, Miss Jones," she said and Alaw felt her heart jolt horribly. She swallowed.
"Well, I've included the address of his Auror Station on here in case the court would like to verify his statement."
She handed the letters to Percy who again took them up to the front bench. As Fudge glanced over it Alaw summarised for the rest of the court.
"Captain Chevalier confirms in his letter that the last spell my wand performed was the Patronus Charm, and that the damage to our car matched my version of events, and that the remains of a Dementor were discovered on the road where the incident took place."
"The remains of a Dementor could be little more than a few scraps of cloth," Fudge objected, as he handed the letter to Amelia Bones for her to read over. "That is hardly sufficient evidence."
Alaw ignored this and opened the clasp of her purse.
"I've brought my wand with me today for the court to perform their own Reverse Spell, if that is required?"
She looked questioningly up at Madam Bones who nodded curtly. Alaw duly handed over her wand to Percy who took it up to the judges. Madam Bones performed the spell, putting her wand and Alaw's tip to tip.
"Prior Incantato," she said clearly.
As before, a small push of silvery smoke rose from the point where the two wands met and twisted into the form of a dragon. There were murmurs from the Wizengamot, but this time they sounded impressed.
"You can perform a fully-fledged Patronus? And such an unusual form," said Madam Bones, looking animated for the first time. "When did you learn to do this?"
"In my first year at Hogwarts. Professor Lupin taught me privately."
"But why?"
"Because –" But Alaw had to catch herself and she glanced slyly at Fudge. "I'm sorry," she said mildly. "But I'm not able to tell you why. I'm bound by magical contract to secrecy. If you'd like the details you'll need to speak to Rufus Scrimgeour."
That would tell the Wizengamot all they needed to know. When a Dementor had been set loose at Hogwarts during Alaw's first year, the Ministry had done its best to hush it all up. None of the students had known what exactly was haunting the corridors at night, except from the victims, and Alaw, who had killed the creature. All of them had been forced to sign non-disclosure agreements by Scrimgeour but Alaw had got around the jinx by signing with her right hand. She had then sent an anonymous tip off to the Daily Prophet and the whole Wizarding community had been in uproar about it for months afterwards.
The look Fudge was giving her now was poisonous. He had always suspected Alaw to be behind the leak but had never been able to prove it. Feeling that this was dangerous ground, Alaw tried to move on.
"I have one other piece of evidence to present," she said. "A witness. Hermione Granger is waiting just outside."
"We don't have time to listen to more of your nonsense," Fudge snapped. "Just take your seat so we can get on with the vote!"
"But," Alaw flipped through her notes urgently. "Under the Wizengamot Charter of Rights, I'm allowed to present witnesses, aren't I?"
"Quite right, that has been Wizengamot policy for decades. Or has the law changed so drastically since I left?"
Alaw whirled around and gaped as Professor Dumbledore swept into the courtroom, his robes swishing about him and a serene expression on his face, as if he was expected. Alaw wasn't the only one flustered by his sudden appearance, Fudge too was looking ruffled.
"Ah, Dumbledore, you received our letter then?"
"Actually I must have missed it. But luckily I arrived in the Ministry three hours early, and heard about the change from one of your charming secretaries Cornelius. I hope I'm not too late?"
"Miss Jones has already given us her statement, and was just about to present a witness," said Madam Bones when Fudge appeared unable to speak. She turned to look down at Percy. "Mr Weasley, if you'd be so kind as to fetch the witness. She's waiting just outside the door."
Percy leapt up to obey and swept past Alaw and Dumbledore without glancing at them. Alaw tried to catch Dumbledore's eye, seeking some kind of reassurance, but he was gazing resolutely up at Fudge. Alaw resumed her seat as Percy led Hermione inside. Dumbledore conjured two extra chairs for himself and Hermione and they both sat.
"And your name is?" Fudge asked curtly.
"Hermione Jean Granger," Hermione replied in a clear voice, not flinching under his glare. "I'm a student in Alaw's year at Hogwarts and her friend. I was with her in France when the Dementors attacked."
"Alright, tell us your story," Fudge said boredly. Hermione recited her statement which was pretty much exactly the same as Alaw's and ended it by handing it over to Percy. Madam Bones was watching Hermione closely.
"Miss Granger, please describe the Dementors, their appearance, their behaviour."
"They were big, cloaked, and they floated along the ground towards us. The air went cold when they got close, terribly cold, and I felt drained and weak. Like all the happiness was gone from me. And their hands were dead and rotten."
Hermione gave an involuntary shudder as did many of the Wizengamot.
"You sound as if you've had dealings with Dementors in the past," said Madam Bones shrewdly and Hermione nodded.
"I have, ma'am."
When she didn't elaborate, Madam Bones raised her eyebrows.
"Can I ask when?"
"I'm sorry, ma'am, I'm not able to say. I'm bound by magical contract."
Alaw did her best not to smile. She had to look as neutral as possible. Fudge, obviously, was not pleased with how this trial was going so far. He'd obviously hoped to have her kicked out of Hogwarts within the first five minutes.
"Very well, that will be all. Go and wait outside," Fudge told Hermione coldly. Hermione stood, nodded to Alaw, and left the dungeons.
"Well, her statement was hardly more credible that Miss Jones'," Fudge sneered. "I mean for goodness sake, why would a couple of Dementors be wondering around the French countryside? They are all confined in Azkaban prison. The odds of two wild Dementors just stumbling on four witches and wizards are astronomical!"
"Oh I don't think the Dementors were there by accident Cornelius," said Dumbledore mildly. "I think the only sensible explanation is that they were sent by someone."
Alaw turned her head to give Dumbledore a disbelieving look. So this was the reason he had come, not to help her, but to convince the Ministry once again that Voldemort had returned. He was going to hijack her perfectly straightforward case, turning it into a political stunt! And seriously jeopardising her future. Madam Bones was frowning at the headmaster, Fudge rolled his eyes, but the witch sitting on his other side leant forward for the first time.
"The Chair recognises Dolores Umbridge, Senior Undersecretary to the Minister."
"Thank you Minister," said the witch in a high, girly voice that made Alaw cringe. "And I'm sorry Professor Dumbledore, so silly of me, but it sounded for a tiny moment like you were accusing the Ministry of ordering an attack on this girl! Which of course is ridiculous."
Alaw frowned up at the woman, her words beginning to turn the cogs in her mind. She had thought Voldemort was the prime suspect for the attack, but it wasn't impossible that the Ministry had ordered it. They wanted her out of the way, and what better way to ensure her silence than a couple of Dementors. Either she would be Kissed, or expelled.
"That would be a ridiculous accusation indeed, madam undersecretary," said Dumbledore gravely. "Of course, it is entirely possible that the Dementors might be taking their orders from someone other than the Ministry these days. You will all remember how willing they were to do Voldemort's bidding last time he rose to power."
There was the usual shudder at the mention of Voldemort's name and Fudge's face was white with anger.
"Dumbledore, your wild, unfounded theories were what had you ousted from this court in the first place. And they have no relevance here!"
"On the contrary, they are highly relevant," Dumbledore countered. "If you accept that the Dark Lord has returned to full strength, then that would neatly explain why the Dementors were there."
Alaw couldn't stop herself from sighing and giving Amelia Bones a desperate look. This was all going wrong, she'd been doing fine before Dumbledore turned up. Madam Bones seemed to understand her pleading expression and cut across the two men.
"Miss Jones, you wish to say something?"
"Yes!" Alaw said gratefully, getting quickly to her feet and walking to the centre of the room. "Yes, I do. We aren't here to discuss whether or not the Dark Lord has returned. I only want to clear my name. I think I have presented sufficient evidence to support my case. The Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery clearly states that I may use magic in defence of my own, or others', lives. And I ask you, why would I, a muggle-born, perform such a spell just for fun? Knowing that convictions for muggle-borns who break the decree are much harsher than they are for purebloods? Why would I risk everything?"
These words obviously made many in the room uncomfortable and there was a lot of shifting and muttering. Madam Bones gave Alaw an appraising look.
"Those in favour of clearing the accused of all charges," she said suddenly and Alaw's eyes widened. She hadn't expected them to call a vote so quickly. She looked around the room and people slowly began to put their hands up, including Madam Bones herself. She tried to count them, it looked like more than half, but she couldn't be sure before Madam Bones called,
"And those in favour of conviction?"
Fudge put his hand up, and so did Umbridge and many others. But now it was clear that Fudge didn't have a majority. He looked disgusted and he banged his gavel furiously.
"Cleared of all charges," he snarled.