Chapter Eight: The Public Conference
For the next two weeks, all that was talked about was the Gryffindor's match and Draco's crash. The Slytherins were very angry about it and Snape was taking points off for moving. But all in all, Harry was all right.
Harry and Ron had finished a Quidditch practice and had sat down to eat breakfast. Ginny and Hermione smiled. "Good morning you two."
All they got was a Mph in return. Harry then realized he had forgotten about the ball and Ginny. "So, er, Ginny, um, did, um…"
Ginny and Hermione laughed. "Yes Harry. I did like it and it fit perfectly. I just sent it for cleaning, so I'll give it back soon."
Now it was Harry's turn to laugh. "And what am I going to do with a girl's dress robes, high heels and jewelry?"
Fred just only caught what Harry had said. "Harry, if you really want clothes, we'll let you borrow ours. You don't have to resort to that."
Everyone laughed. Ginny hit her brother. "I can't accept it Harry. It is so beautiful and expensive."
"Ginny be quiet and keep it. Or Fred will be giving me clothes and I am too afraid just to think about what they might be able to do." They all laughed and got up to go to class.
"Thank you Harry. Thank you." She gave him a kiss on the cheek and left. Harry, who had turned bright red, followed a laughing Ron and Hermione to History of Magic.
***************
Nothing of the unusual happened and the trio spent their weekend doing their piles of homework due that week.
"Finally I'm finished. How about you?" Ron asked with relief.
"I finished ages ago. Just checking Harry's work." Hermione said without looking up.
"I was referring to Harry, as I already knew you would have finished before you even got the homework."
Harry had just finished and really did not need to of his best friends to not speak to each other again. "Yeah I am and hungry."
Hermione ignored Ron. "It's dinner time anyway. Let's go eat something."
After putting their books away, the trio entered the already packed hall and piled their plates high with food before eating.
Soon when his or her plates were clean and everyone was full, Dumbledore stood up and everyone fell silent. "I have an announce that will make everyone happy. Well almost everyone anyway.' Everyone laughed because the teachers did not at all look amused. 'Tommorow, some of you might be aware that against Minister Fudges' reluctance, there will be a public conference to discuss last years events and the events that took place during Halloween. A lot of teachers as well as students will be attending this meeting.' Harry looked at his plate as everyone looked at him and whispered to eachother. 'No classes will take place and you may do what you like as long as it is not against the school rules. The head boy and head girl along with prefects and the students who have been chosen by their heads of houses will watch the students. There will be teachers, so don't think you can get away with anything.' A few laughed. 'Alright off to bed.'
He sat down again and started talking to Professor Sinistra.
Ron stood up but Harry and Hermione stopped him. Hermione read Harry's mind. "Ron, I think we should talk to the headmaster about tommorow. Remember we were there so we are the students."
"Alright then. But lets hurry up. I want to get as much sleep as I can." The trio walked up to the still full staff table.
The teachers all looked at them. Hermione spoke up. "Professor Dumbledore, are we the students who will be attending the public conference tommorow?"
Dumbledore and McGonagall nodded. "Yes you are. You will meet us at the entrance hall at 9:00am. You are to wear full school uniforms and wands."
Snape noticed Harry was not too happy and pointed it out to Dumbledore. Dumbledore nodded. "Harry, are you all right to do it?"
Harry looked up and noticed everyone in the room looking at him. "Who me? Of course I am. A wise man once told me: No good sittin' worryin' abou' it, what's comin' will come an' we'll meet it when it does."
Everyone turned to Hagrid who just spat out his pumpkin juice and puffed his chest out properly. Hagrid knew that the wise man was him self.
McGonagall laughed before turning back to the students. "Well you three better get to bed because you will have a very long day tommorow. Goodnight."
The trio bid the teacher's goodnight and headed for the Gryffindor tower. Ron spoke first. "We're not on trial are we?"
Hermione looked at him like he grew a head. "Ron! It's a conference, not a court room."
Harry spoke up. "But what if it does. I mean, it would have never happened if I didn't make, didn't make Cedric touch the cup."
Ron and Hermione looked at each other uncomfortably. Ron finally spoke up. "It's not your fault Harry. You did not know that would happen. Think about it Harry, did you really know that the cup was a portkey? Harry it will be alright, okay?"
"Yeah alright." They reached the fat lady who gave Harry a sympathetic smile and let them in. they bid eachother good night and Harry did not remember when he went to sleep, but he saw the sun rising.
**************
"Harry, we're gonna be late. Oh my God. Hurry up Ron. Harry get up." Hermione opened Harry's curtains and pulled his covers off him. Harry tried to grab them but Hermione grabbed his arm and pulled him off the bed.
Harry looked at the frantic Hermione. "You're not suppose to be up here." The other boys were telling them to be quiet. They were to asleep to notice a girl in their room.
"Well I wouldn't have to come up if you two were not so stupid and sleep in. Ron are you ready?"
"Yeah. I can't find my other shoe though." Ron was looking under his bed.
Hermione picked up his shoe by the shoelace. "Would this be it by any chance?"
Ron looked up and said excitedly. "Yes it is. Thanks. Harry are you going down like that?"
"No. How many minutes do we have?" Harry was pulling on his robes. At that moment, he did not care that Hermione was in the room.
"Ten minutes. And if you don't hurry up we might get expelled for disobeying teachers orders!"
Harry looked at her like she had an extra head. "Yeah of course. Expulsion. Better than a public conference. You know the whole Ministry will be there and the public community and the media. Oh god, I so hope that Skeeter woman listens to you."
"She will. I don't think she wants a bad name. What I could do is far worse than what she has done to most wizards." As Harry fixed his robes, Hermione and Ron were forced to put on his shoes.
They grabbed their wands and ran out of the common room and down stairs, corridors and tapestries. They ran down the grand stairs just making it. Professor Dumbledore, Professor Snape, Professor McGonagall, Professor Moody, Dobby and Winky were there.
"Dobby, what are you doing here?" Hermione asked in surprise.
"Dobby is here with Winky. Winky has asked to talk about her former master. Winky think it will help her former master rest in peace."
"Harry, Hermione, Ron, with me please. Quickly, we have a tight schedule." They followed Professor Dumbledore into a carriage. "Minerva, Severus, Winky and Dobby will meet us there." They watched as the others went into another carriage. When they reached outside, the teachers and elves climbed out and dissapperated.
The carriage was heading towards Hogsmeade but then it lifted up and took for the sky. Dumbledore laughed at the shock faces. "You really didn't expect for us to ride all the way. There would be no way we would make it in time. This only takes thirty minutes. Aren't I right Ron?"
Ron blushed. "Yeah."
"Well I think I should tell you what you are expecting. The Daily Prophet wrote yesterday that there would be a public conference. Here you read it, you'll understand better." Dumbledore reached into his breast pocket and pulled out a folded up piece of parchment and handed to Harry. Hermione leant forward and Harry read.
MINISTRY OF MAGIC HAS ORDERS A CONFERENCE!
1 By Rita Skeeter
The minister of magic, Cornelius Fudge has just announced that there will be a full public conference about the events that have taken place since the Triwizard Tournament at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Fudge says that it will involve He – who – must – not – be – named and the boy who lived Harry Potter.
As we all know, Harry was only one year old when the Dark Lord killed his parents and when he had tried to kill Harry using the killing curse, the curse rebounded off Harry leaving a lightning bolt scar. It rebounded to you – know – who and he vanished without a trace, though not dead.
But since then Harry has met you – know – whom many times since then. In his first year, it was reported that he over took the young body of the late Defence against the Dark Arts teacher Professor Quirrell in order to steal the Philosophers Stone. But Harry was able to use the magic he possessed and risked his own life to stop this from happening. The headmaster was just able to save Harry and the Dark Lord fled once again.
In Harry's second year, the chamber of secrets opened and it was rumored that Harry was the Heir of Slytherin as he could speak Parseltongue. But Harry again risked his own life to save his best friend's little sister, Ginny Weasley when the heir took her into the chamber. It was later revealed that an old diary of Tom Riddle or you – know- who was what caused havoc in Hogwarts. Harry risked his life once again and killed Tom Riddle and the diary.
Than just last year, under reasons unknown, Harry was placed in the Triwizard Tournament. When Harry and Cedric Diggory both touched the trophy at the same time they were whisked away. The Triwizard cup was actually a Port key.
Rita Skeeter, your correspondent actually heard what happened.
Harry and Cedric were taken to a graveyard. Cedric was killed by no other than Wormtail or better known as Peter Petigrew. But he's dead you would say. Well people had their doubts and here is the proof. Petigrew was an unregistered Animagus and when Sirius Black went to confront him, Petigrew cut off his middle finger and exploded the whole street. He than transformed into his Animagus, a rat and ran through the sewers. Not known that he was Petigrew the Weasley family took him in as a pet. But, three years ago, when Black escaped and caught up with Petigrew, he escaped and searched for his master.
Petigrew did a spell using the Dark Lord's dead father's bones, Harry' blood and Petigrew's hand. Harry witnessed the rebirth of the Dark Lord. You – know – who then forced Harry to duel and a Prior Incantem took place. Harry and he – who – must – not – be – named have brother wands. Harry watched as ghosts of the people who the Dark Lord killed come back. Harry than saw his mother and father come out. His father' ghost told him to grab the cup. The ghost of Cedric asked Harry to take his body back to his parents.
So once again, Harry escaped the Dark Lord and returned Cedric's body to his parents. Then just this past Halloween, Harry dueled the Dark Lord when the students were to attend the Hogsmeade Ball.
The conference will take place tommorow at midday. All Welcome.
"Well at least she told the truth. This might convince everybody that Sirius is innocent." Harry smiled at the thought of being able to finally live with his godfather.
"Well we must not mention him as we could get into trouble, for his sake anyway." Dumbledore looked at them three. As you can see it will be a big crowd. The whole ministry of magic, the wizarding community and the media. Hopefully Voldemort will not interfere."
He won't. I had a dream and he was talking to Lucius Malfoy and said it would be very stupid to do anything. He told Mr. Malfoy to put Mr. Fudge under the Imperius Curse and tell them we're lying. So I told Hermione to help me put a shielding charm so the curse would rebound to the performer of the spell."
Hermione continued. "Ron and I got a piece of parchment and wrote Be careful. But I added a charm on the piece of parchment that would immediately place a shield on the person who touched it. But I don't know if will work."
Dumbledore smiled proudly. "That is very good. I am proud of all three of you. You work well in a team and will protect good even though that good might be stubborn. Well I will place another shielding charm for extra protection. If we are able to keep him on our side, than he will be able to easily convince the others to follow suit."
"Harry, Hermione and Ron this is how it will be going. We will be on stage in front of the public and media. The media is from all around the world. Ignore them. Concentrate on stage. The ministry will be on stage. Cornelius will call the meeting to order. A point's wizard will read out the first point to cover. To my knowledge it is the Triwizard Tournament. I will speak first covering the time from when your name was called to the third task. Then he will ask you to talk about what happened during that time until the end of year feast, okay?"
"Alright. Ron and Hermione will be with me right?" Harry pictured him self- sitting on a wooden chair, a spotlight on him and two detectives questioning him. He watched something like that at the Dursley's.
"Of course. We will be sitting together. Winky will give her speech. After the recount, the ministry will ask questions to clear things up. The point's wizard will read the next point to cover. To my knowledge it will be Colin Creevy. The same process will go again. All three of you will give accounts, as will the teachers who came with me to the Town hall. Than they'll talk about Halloween. Ron and Hermione will give their accounts After all that; the public may ask questions. I want you three to answer truthfully. Even though you might change your story a little, it could be a disaster. Is that understood?"
Three heads nodded vigorously. There was then a bump and the door flew open. The passengers climbed out. Hermione and Harry looked at the white stone building in awe. It reminded them of Buckingham Palace. When they finished gaping, they followed an amused Ron and Dumbledore up the marble stairs and into the glass doors.
For the next two weeks, all that was talked about was the Gryffindor's match and Draco's crash. The Slytherins were very angry about it and Snape was taking points off for moving. But all in all, Harry was all right.
Harry and Ron had finished a Quidditch practice and had sat down to eat breakfast. Ginny and Hermione smiled. "Good morning you two."
All they got was a Mph in return. Harry then realized he had forgotten about the ball and Ginny. "So, er, Ginny, um, did, um…"
Ginny and Hermione laughed. "Yes Harry. I did like it and it fit perfectly. I just sent it for cleaning, so I'll give it back soon."
Now it was Harry's turn to laugh. "And what am I going to do with a girl's dress robes, high heels and jewelry?"
Fred just only caught what Harry had said. "Harry, if you really want clothes, we'll let you borrow ours. You don't have to resort to that."
Everyone laughed. Ginny hit her brother. "I can't accept it Harry. It is so beautiful and expensive."
"Ginny be quiet and keep it. Or Fred will be giving me clothes and I am too afraid just to think about what they might be able to do." They all laughed and got up to go to class.
"Thank you Harry. Thank you." She gave him a kiss on the cheek and left. Harry, who had turned bright red, followed a laughing Ron and Hermione to History of Magic.
***************
Nothing of the unusual happened and the trio spent their weekend doing their piles of homework due that week.
"Finally I'm finished. How about you?" Ron asked with relief.
"I finished ages ago. Just checking Harry's work." Hermione said without looking up.
"I was referring to Harry, as I already knew you would have finished before you even got the homework."
Harry had just finished and really did not need to of his best friends to not speak to each other again. "Yeah I am and hungry."
Hermione ignored Ron. "It's dinner time anyway. Let's go eat something."
After putting their books away, the trio entered the already packed hall and piled their plates high with food before eating.
Soon when his or her plates were clean and everyone was full, Dumbledore stood up and everyone fell silent. "I have an announce that will make everyone happy. Well almost everyone anyway.' Everyone laughed because the teachers did not at all look amused. 'Tommorow, some of you might be aware that against Minister Fudges' reluctance, there will be a public conference to discuss last years events and the events that took place during Halloween. A lot of teachers as well as students will be attending this meeting.' Harry looked at his plate as everyone looked at him and whispered to eachother. 'No classes will take place and you may do what you like as long as it is not against the school rules. The head boy and head girl along with prefects and the students who have been chosen by their heads of houses will watch the students. There will be teachers, so don't think you can get away with anything.' A few laughed. 'Alright off to bed.'
He sat down again and started talking to Professor Sinistra.
Ron stood up but Harry and Hermione stopped him. Hermione read Harry's mind. "Ron, I think we should talk to the headmaster about tommorow. Remember we were there so we are the students."
"Alright then. But lets hurry up. I want to get as much sleep as I can." The trio walked up to the still full staff table.
The teachers all looked at them. Hermione spoke up. "Professor Dumbledore, are we the students who will be attending the public conference tommorow?"
Dumbledore and McGonagall nodded. "Yes you are. You will meet us at the entrance hall at 9:00am. You are to wear full school uniforms and wands."
Snape noticed Harry was not too happy and pointed it out to Dumbledore. Dumbledore nodded. "Harry, are you all right to do it?"
Harry looked up and noticed everyone in the room looking at him. "Who me? Of course I am. A wise man once told me: No good sittin' worryin' abou' it, what's comin' will come an' we'll meet it when it does."
Everyone turned to Hagrid who just spat out his pumpkin juice and puffed his chest out properly. Hagrid knew that the wise man was him self.
McGonagall laughed before turning back to the students. "Well you three better get to bed because you will have a very long day tommorow. Goodnight."
The trio bid the teacher's goodnight and headed for the Gryffindor tower. Ron spoke first. "We're not on trial are we?"
Hermione looked at him like he grew a head. "Ron! It's a conference, not a court room."
Harry spoke up. "But what if it does. I mean, it would have never happened if I didn't make, didn't make Cedric touch the cup."
Ron and Hermione looked at each other uncomfortably. Ron finally spoke up. "It's not your fault Harry. You did not know that would happen. Think about it Harry, did you really know that the cup was a portkey? Harry it will be alright, okay?"
"Yeah alright." They reached the fat lady who gave Harry a sympathetic smile and let them in. they bid eachother good night and Harry did not remember when he went to sleep, but he saw the sun rising.
**************
"Harry, we're gonna be late. Oh my God. Hurry up Ron. Harry get up." Hermione opened Harry's curtains and pulled his covers off him. Harry tried to grab them but Hermione grabbed his arm and pulled him off the bed.
Harry looked at the frantic Hermione. "You're not suppose to be up here." The other boys were telling them to be quiet. They were to asleep to notice a girl in their room.
"Well I wouldn't have to come up if you two were not so stupid and sleep in. Ron are you ready?"
"Yeah. I can't find my other shoe though." Ron was looking under his bed.
Hermione picked up his shoe by the shoelace. "Would this be it by any chance?"
Ron looked up and said excitedly. "Yes it is. Thanks. Harry are you going down like that?"
"No. How many minutes do we have?" Harry was pulling on his robes. At that moment, he did not care that Hermione was in the room.
"Ten minutes. And if you don't hurry up we might get expelled for disobeying teachers orders!"
Harry looked at her like she had an extra head. "Yeah of course. Expulsion. Better than a public conference. You know the whole Ministry will be there and the public community and the media. Oh god, I so hope that Skeeter woman listens to you."
"She will. I don't think she wants a bad name. What I could do is far worse than what she has done to most wizards." As Harry fixed his robes, Hermione and Ron were forced to put on his shoes.
They grabbed their wands and ran out of the common room and down stairs, corridors and tapestries. They ran down the grand stairs just making it. Professor Dumbledore, Professor Snape, Professor McGonagall, Professor Moody, Dobby and Winky were there.
"Dobby, what are you doing here?" Hermione asked in surprise.
"Dobby is here with Winky. Winky has asked to talk about her former master. Winky think it will help her former master rest in peace."
"Harry, Hermione, Ron, with me please. Quickly, we have a tight schedule." They followed Professor Dumbledore into a carriage. "Minerva, Severus, Winky and Dobby will meet us there." They watched as the others went into another carriage. When they reached outside, the teachers and elves climbed out and dissapperated.
The carriage was heading towards Hogsmeade but then it lifted up and took for the sky. Dumbledore laughed at the shock faces. "You really didn't expect for us to ride all the way. There would be no way we would make it in time. This only takes thirty minutes. Aren't I right Ron?"
Ron blushed. "Yeah."
"Well I think I should tell you what you are expecting. The Daily Prophet wrote yesterday that there would be a public conference. Here you read it, you'll understand better." Dumbledore reached into his breast pocket and pulled out a folded up piece of parchment and handed to Harry. Hermione leant forward and Harry read.
MINISTRY OF MAGIC HAS ORDERS A CONFERENCE!
1 By Rita Skeeter
The minister of magic, Cornelius Fudge has just announced that there will be a full public conference about the events that have taken place since the Triwizard Tournament at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Fudge says that it will involve He – who – must – not – be – named and the boy who lived Harry Potter.
As we all know, Harry was only one year old when the Dark Lord killed his parents and when he had tried to kill Harry using the killing curse, the curse rebounded off Harry leaving a lightning bolt scar. It rebounded to you – know – who and he vanished without a trace, though not dead.
But since then Harry has met you – know – whom many times since then. In his first year, it was reported that he over took the young body of the late Defence against the Dark Arts teacher Professor Quirrell in order to steal the Philosophers Stone. But Harry was able to use the magic he possessed and risked his own life to stop this from happening. The headmaster was just able to save Harry and the Dark Lord fled once again.
In Harry's second year, the chamber of secrets opened and it was rumored that Harry was the Heir of Slytherin as he could speak Parseltongue. But Harry again risked his own life to save his best friend's little sister, Ginny Weasley when the heir took her into the chamber. It was later revealed that an old diary of Tom Riddle or you – know- who was what caused havoc in Hogwarts. Harry risked his life once again and killed Tom Riddle and the diary.
Than just last year, under reasons unknown, Harry was placed in the Triwizard Tournament. When Harry and Cedric Diggory both touched the trophy at the same time they were whisked away. The Triwizard cup was actually a Port key.
Rita Skeeter, your correspondent actually heard what happened.
Harry and Cedric were taken to a graveyard. Cedric was killed by no other than Wormtail or better known as Peter Petigrew. But he's dead you would say. Well people had their doubts and here is the proof. Petigrew was an unregistered Animagus and when Sirius Black went to confront him, Petigrew cut off his middle finger and exploded the whole street. He than transformed into his Animagus, a rat and ran through the sewers. Not known that he was Petigrew the Weasley family took him in as a pet. But, three years ago, when Black escaped and caught up with Petigrew, he escaped and searched for his master.
Petigrew did a spell using the Dark Lord's dead father's bones, Harry' blood and Petigrew's hand. Harry witnessed the rebirth of the Dark Lord. You – know – who then forced Harry to duel and a Prior Incantem took place. Harry and he – who – must – not – be – named have brother wands. Harry watched as ghosts of the people who the Dark Lord killed come back. Harry than saw his mother and father come out. His father' ghost told him to grab the cup. The ghost of Cedric asked Harry to take his body back to his parents.
So once again, Harry escaped the Dark Lord and returned Cedric's body to his parents. Then just this past Halloween, Harry dueled the Dark Lord when the students were to attend the Hogsmeade Ball.
The conference will take place tommorow at midday. All Welcome.
"Well at least she told the truth. This might convince everybody that Sirius is innocent." Harry smiled at the thought of being able to finally live with his godfather.
"Well we must not mention him as we could get into trouble, for his sake anyway." Dumbledore looked at them three. As you can see it will be a big crowd. The whole ministry of magic, the wizarding community and the media. Hopefully Voldemort will not interfere."
He won't. I had a dream and he was talking to Lucius Malfoy and said it would be very stupid to do anything. He told Mr. Malfoy to put Mr. Fudge under the Imperius Curse and tell them we're lying. So I told Hermione to help me put a shielding charm so the curse would rebound to the performer of the spell."
Hermione continued. "Ron and I got a piece of parchment and wrote Be careful. But I added a charm on the piece of parchment that would immediately place a shield on the person who touched it. But I don't know if will work."
Dumbledore smiled proudly. "That is very good. I am proud of all three of you. You work well in a team and will protect good even though that good might be stubborn. Well I will place another shielding charm for extra protection. If we are able to keep him on our side, than he will be able to easily convince the others to follow suit."
"Harry, Hermione and Ron this is how it will be going. We will be on stage in front of the public and media. The media is from all around the world. Ignore them. Concentrate on stage. The ministry will be on stage. Cornelius will call the meeting to order. A point's wizard will read out the first point to cover. To my knowledge it is the Triwizard Tournament. I will speak first covering the time from when your name was called to the third task. Then he will ask you to talk about what happened during that time until the end of year feast, okay?"
"Alright. Ron and Hermione will be with me right?" Harry pictured him self- sitting on a wooden chair, a spotlight on him and two detectives questioning him. He watched something like that at the Dursley's.
"Of course. We will be sitting together. Winky will give her speech. After the recount, the ministry will ask questions to clear things up. The point's wizard will read the next point to cover. To my knowledge it will be Colin Creevy. The same process will go again. All three of you will give accounts, as will the teachers who came with me to the Town hall. Than they'll talk about Halloween. Ron and Hermione will give their accounts After all that; the public may ask questions. I want you three to answer truthfully. Even though you might change your story a little, it could be a disaster. Is that understood?"
Three heads nodded vigorously. There was then a bump and the door flew open. The passengers climbed out. Hermione and Harry looked at the white stone building in awe. It reminded them of Buckingham Palace. When they finished gaping, they followed an amused Ron and Dumbledore up the marble stairs and into the glass doors.
