So here we are, people

So here we are, people. Chapter fourteen. Isn't it wonderful? This chapter is full of humour – or what I hope will pass as humour anyway – to counter the darkness of the last few chapters. And wow! Another ten people joined my list! Thanks so much! I don't know who it was since I can't get to my reviews, but someone asked if I was an Isobelle Carmody fan – Hell yes! Great Australian fantasy author people, check her out. I also recommend Terry Pratchett and David Eddings. While I'm recommending things I would suggest reading 1984 by George Orwall – if I recall correctly, and listening to some David Bowie can never do any harm…^_~. And now, some quick messages for a few people –

Tygrestick – Could you please give me the address for the new HP fan fiction archive? Some people have been asking, so I'll post it on my list and Bio.

Pleiades – Umm…we just got a new ISP and I kinda lost your email address…and I can't get to your bio for some odd reason…could you please send it to me again? Please??

BTW – if you are reading this on my list you will already know about the situation with 'whezzel'. I would like to thank all the people who have given me support and informed me of what she has been doing. Thanks a lot. *reads back over what she typed* That sounded awful, didn't it? Oh well. And this will eventually be going on at ff.net, which is why I have all those notes up their.

IMPORTANT!!! I will be posting chapters of my fic on my Yahoo list, as well as on ff.net. Backup, I guess. Don't want to go back on my word!

The Yahoo list address is

http://groups.yahoo.com/innlefarseeker

Chapter Fourteen

The next day dawned, and Harry slowly dragged himself out of bed, pulled on his robes, attempted to flatten his hair ("You still haven't figured it out yet, have you dear," The mirror asked him sleepily), and splashed some water onto his face before heading down towards breakfast. He picked at his food, not really wanting to eat anything. Suddenly he felt a hand fall on his shoulder. He started and turned to find Professor McGonagall waiting for him.

"Is it time to go?" He asked, and sighed when she nodded before standing.

"We will be travelling by floo," She told him as they walked. "Just say you want to go to the Diagon Alley Wizarding Court, and make sure you don't get out until you stop, or you might end up in Knockturn Alley, or God knows where else."

Harry nodded as they turned into her office. Professor McGonagall motioned for him to go first, and handed him some floo powder. He took it and threw it into the fire, stepped in and said, "Diagon Alley Wizarding Court." In a loud, clear voice. The fireplace began to spin and blur, and Harry closed his eyes in an effort to battle the oncoming nausea. After a moment he stopped moving and stumbled out of the fireplace, blinking in the sudden light. Professor McGonagall followed soon after, and guided him towards the front desk, where a bored looking secretary was seated. As she noticed them approaching she pasted a fake smile on her face and straightened slightly

"Welcome to Diagon Alley Wizarding Court, how may I help you?" She chimed, sounding exactly like the voice recordings muggle companies put on the line because they're too cheap to pay a real person to do it.

"We are here to attend a trial," McGonagall told her. The secretary pulled out a wad of official-looking papers, and flicked through them.

"Trial of?"

"Vernon Dursley."

"Are you witnesses, jury, or spectators?"

"Witness and Guardian."

"Names?"

"Harry Potter and Minerva McGonagall."

At this point the secretary looked up.

"Uh huh, and I'm in the Ministry of Magic and working here under-cover."

"Are you suggesting I'm lying?" McGonagall demanded, and glared at the secretary, who looked straight back at her, unimpressed.

"Yeah, I am. That kid doesn't look at all like someone who could defeat You-Know-Who. Look at him! He's the scrawniest kid I have ever seen! And besides, if he really was Harry Potter, he'd have the scar, wouldn't he?" She sniffed, studying her fingernails. At this Harry lifted his fringe and coughed politely. She looked up slightly, then fell off her chair. She scrambled back on immediately, and gaped at Harry.

"You really are Harry Potter! Who'd have thought it! Harry Potter, here!"

"Would you please just finish filling out the form and let us pass?" McGonagall asked, clearly feeling more then a bit peeved.

"O-of course!" She scribbled quickly onto the piece of paper, then handed it to Harry, winking and smiling at him as she did so. As they walked away Harry unfolded the piece of paper. It was a form applying for permission to enter the court, and looked fairly normal, except for something scribbled in the corner, 'Call me: 21308932'. Harry stared it for a second, feeling fairly disgusted, before moving slightly closer to Professor McGonagall.

"Professor, how old would you say that woman was? Around twenty-six?"

"About that...me lying, really. I never lie! Well, not unless the situation calls for it, that is..."

Harry handed her the piece of parchment quietly. She read over it then snorted.

"Shameless hussy. ' Call me' indeed! I have half a mind to report her, coming onto a fifteen year old boy like that..."

As Minerva continued her muttering, they reached an ornate door. A man standing to the side opened it, and they walked through, entering a large room. There were several benches arranged on either side of an aisle that headed down the middle of the room. In front of the benches was a fence-like structure, and then three more seats on either side. At the front was a large chair sitting on a platform with an enormous mahogany desk in front of it and to the side of that was another chair and desk sitting on a smaller platform. There were several small groups of people in the courtroom; all talking rapidly in extremely hushed voices. Several of them stopped for a moment to glance at Harry and Professor McGonagall, before continuing with their conversations. Minerva and Harry walked silently up to the front, and took their places in the front row of the benches, and waited. They did not have to wait long. After about ten minutes a tall man with a curly beard, a smiling face and a judge's wig came in. Everyone stopped speaking, and the ones who had been sitting stood for a moment, before reclaiming their seats.

"I'm sorry, but you will have to wait a little longer," Said the man with a chuckle. "Mr. Vernon Dursley has gotten stuck in the fireplace."

Several people chuckled at this, and the man – who Harry was almost sure was the Judge – smiled and walked out. A little while later one of the men who had been in the group sauntered over to them.

"Hey, I'm Thomas. I'm the Sketcher here," He said. "Did you hear what the trial's about? Apparently the guy is Harry Potter's Uncle, and he's up for abuse! I heard the poor kid had a broken arm and bruises all over his face!"
" Three breaks in the right arm, one hairline fracture in the left, a shattered kneecap and broken leg, severe bruising covering seventy percent of the body, severe lacerations on the back and chest, dehydration, extreme weight loss and memory loss," Harry murmured absently.

Thomas looked at Harry strangely. "How'd you know that? Friend of his or something?"

"Well, not…" Harry stuttered, his voice slightly embarrassed.

"Well, did you see him or something? You are a witness, aren't you?"

"Well, yes, but – "

"Who are you then?"

Harry looked helplessly at McGonagall. Her lips were twitching slightly. Harry realised that she wouldn't be of any help, and turned back to the inquisitive man.

"If I tell you, do you promise not to yell, or stare, or do anything out of the ordinary?" Harry asked in a quiet tone.

The man rolled his eyes. "Okay, okay! I promise!"
"Umm…well you see…I am Harry Potter…"

The man stared at him for a moment, and Harry was just beginning to think that he did not believe him, when the man's lips began to move.

"Muh…muh…abliwah?" The man muttered, before keeling over quite calmly.

Several people turned as they heard Thomas hit the floor, and came running over. They picked him up and carried him over to another bench, and proceeded to attempt to wake him up.

"What did you say to him?" One of the women who had come over with the group asked. Harry shrugged in what he hoped was an innocent-like fashion.

"All I did was tell him my name," He told her. She stared at him for a moment, before walking away muttering about high-strung people needing to be locked up before they did themselves a damage. At that moment the Judge walked back in, followed by two brawny men in large robes, who were hauling along Vernon Dursley, who was glowering and straining at the ropes that bound his hands.

The Judge walked up to the larger platform and sat in the chair, before coughing politely.

"The trial of Vernon Dursley is now in session."

During this Harry had sunk lower into the bench in an effort not to be noticed by Vernon, who was glaring at everyone in the crowd. It had been working, but then something completely unexpected happened. Thomas woke up.

"HARRY POTTER!" He yelled, pointing directly at Harry. Immediately everyone's eyes swung towards Harry, including Vernon's.

"YOU!" He bellowed and, somehow slipping out of the grip of the two guards began to charge toward Harry, breaking through the barrier in front of him through the sheer velocity of his body.

Harry had closed his eyes as soon as Vernon had swung those terrible red eyes in his direction, and begun to pray. He didn't know what the security in this place was like, but he knew that most Wizards underestimated Muggles, and was certain that Vernon would find some way to get to him. He heard thunderous footsteps crashing towards him, and realised with a sick feeling that he was right. He opened his eyes and stood up suddenly, determined to show that he would not let Vernon dominate him.

"You won't touch me!" An angry voice echoed through the hall, and somehow through the fear and anger clouding his mind, Harry realised that the voice was his own. As the words left his mouth Vernon was sent flying against the wall. He slid down it, and stayed there for a moment, before struggling back to his feet, confusion filling his piggy eyes. The world seemed to swirl strangely in front of Harry's eyes, before fading completely, and he too slid to the ground.