Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all related names and places are the legal property of J.K. Rowling, Bloomsbury, and AOL Time Warner and have been used without permission.  No copyright infringement is intended.

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Harry stared at the owl tapping on his window.  He immediately recognized the parchment envelope clasped in its beak.  He rushed from bed and threw open the window allowing the bird to enter. "Thanks." He took the envelope in his trembling hands and the bird took off once more.  Inside laid his fate.  If he hadn't made it into Snape's class then his Auror career was just a dream.  He had never wanted to be in Snape's class so much before.  "Calm down Potter, it's just a letter. You've gotten one every year since you were 11." He said to himself.  A small nagging voice in the back of his mind interrupted. "Yes, but none of those determined your future did they?"

He ripped open the top and pulled out the thick parchment. 

Dear Mr. Potter,

Please note that the new school year will begin on September the first.  The Hogwarts Express will leave from King's Cross station, platform nine and three-quarters, at eleven o'clock.

Your list of required books for your N.E.W.T classes is enclosed.

Yours sincerely,

Professor M. McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress

He shook out the second piece of parchment and scanned down the list.  There were the usual books for his classes, only they had been upgraded to a more advanced level, but at the bottom he saw the title that made his heart leap.

Advanced Potions Brewing    by Arsenius Jigger

Harry could barely contain himself.  He threw on his dressing gown and bounded down the hall.  Hermione came running out of her own room and the pair collided with one another.  Both crashed to the floor and parchment sailed over the hallway.

"I just got my letter! Are you in Potions?" Hermione looked apprehensive and bit her lip.

Harry said nothing, but got to his feet and helped Hermione up.   He looked around as Ron came pelting up the stairs from his own room. 

"Well?  Are Potions a go for you this year mate?"  Ron looked exasperated.

Harry tried not to smile, but he finally faltered.  His face split into a grin and he nodded.

Hermione and Ron clapped and laughed.  "Well, looks like you two will be on your own.  I don't have anything that resembles a Potions book.  Oh well, I didn't need it anyway." Ron seemed to like the idea of not having class with Snape anymore. 

"Will you three keep it down out there?  Some of us are trying to sleep!"   Harry looked up and saw Ginny's unruly red-hair hanging over the banisters. 

"Sorry Ginny-girl!  We've just gotten our Hogwart's letters and Harry got into Potions!"

"Why on earth would anyone be happy about having class with that greasy git?" 

"Ginny!  Watch your mouth!" Mrs. Weasley yelled from the bottom floor.

"Sorry Mum!"  Ginny turned to head back to her room.  Suddenly she stopped and turned back to peer down at the three below her.  "Wait a minute did you just say Hogwart's letters?"

Harry nodded.

Ginny looked horrified.  "That was the owl knocking at my window then.  Oh no, it's still out here I'll bet!"  With a squeak and a flurry of red hair she tore back to her room.  Halfway there Harry saw her turn around and lean back over the banister.  "By the way, Harry, Happy Birthday!"  Then she tore back to her room and slammed her door.

Harry's mouth fell open.  He had forgotten it was his birthday.  He was 16 years old today.  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Harry sat at the kitchen table looking around at the presents piled in front of him.  Mrs. Weasley was using her wand to place various bowls and platters on the table.

"Well, are you going to open those or just sit and stare at them.  Just because you forgot your own birthday doesn't mean we did."  Ron laughed as he pulled the plate of bacon towards him.

Harry said nothing.  It wasn't the mound of presents in front of him that was keeping him silent.  It was the lack of one package that he knew should be here.  Though he had only spent two of his birthdays knowing his godfather, it now felt very strange that he was not there to celebrate this one.   Harry's mind wandered back to the Department of Mysteries and that wretched veil.

"Harry?  Harry, are you alright?"   Hermione voice barely filtered through the thoughts of Bellatrix's scream of delight as Sirius fell backwards through the veil.

"Hmm? Oh yeah I'm fine.  Thanks for all of this guys, but you really didn't have to."

"Well you didn't think we would ignore your sixteenth birthday, did you?"  Hermione smiled at him and buttered her toast. "Besides I figure I'd better get you something really great; my birthday is in September."  She raised an eyebrow and looked at Harry and Ron thoughtfully. 

Harry began to tear open the packages.  Hermione had given him "The Professional Quidditch Players Guide to Winning Strategies and Defensive Maneuvers." 

"Well, I thought maybe it would help to bring the team around.  Even if you aren't captain, you can share this with whoever is.  It's the newest edition there is.  Usually only the professional teams are given these, but I wrote to Oliver Wood and he managed to get his hands on an extra copy for me."

"Thanks a lot Hermione, this is great.  Looks like I'm going to have to do a lot of thinking about your present.  This is gonna be hard to top."

Ron had given him a large box of his favorite assorted sweets and a Chudley Canons pin.  "Now you can show that Cho Chang who the best team is."  Ron said with a smirk and almost immediately he let out a grunt as Hermione kicked him under the table.

Harry was afraid to open the box that had been sent by Fred and George.  He cautiously looked at the piece of parchment that had come with it.

Harry,

Don't worry; we swear this won't blow up.  At least not yet.  Use the enclosed items in good health.  Since we can no longer continue our quest to make as much mischief as possible in the halls of Hogwarts; we have deemed you, Ron, and Hermione the new "Mischief Makers at Large". As our original benefactor, it's only fitting that you take up this title.  Don't let us down mate!

Fred and George

Harry laughed as he opened the box and saw it was filled with a mixture of innocent looking candies and oddly shaped items. 

"Best not let Mum see that, or she'll have a fit."  Ron whispered as he read the note.

Harry slid the package out of sight before Mrs. Weasley noticed it.  Harry picked up a small rectangular package wrapped in scarlet colored paper.   A note on the top read: "Happy Birthday Harry from Ginny".

Harry looked at Ginny, but to his surprise she was not blushing or looking down at her feet.  He hadn't gotten used to this new bold and daring Ginny yet.  He still imagined her as the little girl who tripped over her feet and stuck her elbows in the butter dish at the sight of him.

"I really hope you like it.  If not we can take it back when we go to Diagon Alley to get our supplies."  

Harry smiled and ripped open the paper.  Inside was a black box with hinges.  He pulled open the box and inside laid a gold watch.  Removing the watch from the box, he looked at it.  The face was scarlet with a gold lion, which very much resembled the Gryffindor house mascot, in the center.  Two long gold hands were stationed in the center of the lion, pointing out currently at the numbers "9" and "7".  

Harry looked at Ginny in amazement.  "Well, I know you haven't had a watch since that second task of the Tournament.  I saw this one and just thought of you.  It really looks like the Gryffindor lion doesn't it?" 

Harry nodded and fastened the watch around his wrist.   "This is great Ginny, I love it." 

Harry tried very hard to be happy during the rest of the day.  That night heralded a great feast down in the kitchen.  Fred, George, and Bill arrived just in time for the celebration.   Harry joined in the conversation, and even laughed when Dobby and Winky carried out his chocolate birthday cake which swayed precariously between the two small elves.  In his bed that night, however, the thoughts of his godfather's absence drifted into his mind.  Also, and not for the first time on his birthday, Harry thought of how unfair it was that his parents were not here to celebrate with him and his friends.  How he would have loved for them all to be gathered in the house at Godric's Hollow, laughing and talking.  Sirius and James would no doubt be causing some sort of trouble.  Lily would be yelling at them to stop whatever it was.  Remus would no doubt be sitting somewhere reading...

Harry's thought's drifted into an uneasy sleep. 

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August the seventh had come at last.   The new fire that had ignited inside of Harry made him want to attend Umbridge's hearing.   Much to Ron's dismay, Mrs. Weasley had thought it was a wonderful idea. 

"I think you all should see how a proper Ministry should function.  Besides I think Harry here should tell them all that Umbridge did to him."  And with that the matter was settled.   They would attend the meeting that morning and spent the rest of the afternoon in Diagon Alley buying their supplies for the next term at school. 

Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had decided that taking the muggle underground to the Ministry was a bit too dangerous and decided to use the floo network.  One at a time the four Weasleys, Harry, and Hermione stepped into the fireplace and left for the Ministry.

Harry was the last to step out of the fire into the bustling Atrium.  His heart clenched in his chest as he looked around the room.  Only a little over a month before he had been right here in this very room watching Voldemort and Dumbledore do battle.  Here in this very room Voldemort had possessed him and he had begged Dumbledore to kill him so the pain would end.  He closed his eyes and tried to push back the urge to run as far as possible form this place.  A hand touched his shoulder and he opened his eyes.  Ginny was standing beside him, with her hand on his shoulder. 

"Come on, we shouldn't' stand here in the way."  She said simply and nodded around at the fire place which was filling with people.  Some had landed on their fellows because Harry was blocking the way out. 

"Oh sorry!"  Harry jumped out of the way and followed the group to the desk where the security wizard was situated.

Mr. Weasley was talking to the guard.  "Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, Ginny Weasley, and Harry Potter are here for Madame Umbridge's hearing." 

The guard shot a look at Harry, and then consulted a long roll of parchment.  "Yes, I've got the four of them down to testify against her.  Alright Potter's had his wand registered, but I still need the other three."

Ginny's wand was the last to be weighed.  "Alright, the hearing is being held down in the old courtrooms."  The guard misread Harry's look and said, "Well that was the only place big enough to hold everyone.  Lots of people are in an uproar about this whole situation.  We've even got some of the muggle parents here.  Can you believe it? Muggles here in the Ministry; never thought I'd live to see it."  He shook his head and Harry heard Ginny giggle, Mr. Weasley was bouncing up and down as if looking for the muggles in the crowd.  "Alright, you lot are to go through those doors over there.  There'll be a lift waiting of you.  It will take you directly down to the 7th floor.  We've had to use it to make sure all the people testifying actually make it to the courtroom."

Mr. Weasley left them at the doors to the left of the guard's table.  "Well, I'm off to work.  I'll see you tonight.  Molly are you sure you'll be alright taking them to Diagon Alley?"

"Yes dear, it's not as if I have to keep a leash on them like Fred and George."  Mr. Weasley smiled, kissed his wife, waved to the others, and turned to head for the other lifts.

A man stood at the gate of the lifts holding a roll of parchment similar to the guard's in the Atrium.  "Names, please."  Harry stared at his feet; he did not want to look around and see the black door at the end of the hall.  That door stood for everything he hated about his life at the moment.

Mrs. Weasley said, "Ron Weasley, Ginny Weasley, Hermione Granger, and Harry Potter."  As she said each name the man tapped the parchment with his wand.  With each tap a name tag appeared on the front of each person in turn.  "Madame, you may go ahead and be seated with the other visitors."  He pointed to several open doors and Mrs. Weasley headed for the closest one.

"Alright, you four go through there. The others are waiting, and you will be called into the courtroom to give your statements one at a time.  After you have given your statements to the Wizengamot, you will be taken through to another room.  This is to prevent any sort of coaching to the others.  After the verdict is reached you will be allowed to leave.  Due to the number of you testifying, your statements have been limited to three minutes each." 

Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny nodded and went through to the room to wait with the others.   The room was large, but due to the sheer number of people packed inside it seemed rather cramped.  Almost immediately they were accosted by people they knew form Hogwarts.  Lee Jordan came up explaining that he hadn't wanted to bother, but his mother was furious and forced him to come.  They were even surprised to see Fred and George had turned up.

"Well, you didn't think we'd just let that old bat forget us did you?  No way, we swore to make her life hell, and we intend to do just that!"  Fred said with an air of excitement.

The least surprise was seeing Professor McGonagall situated near the door.  "Well I'm glad to see you four here.  If anyone should have anything to say about Umbridge, it's you lot."

Names were called and people disappeared through the double doors.  As people left and did not return, the room seemed to grow larger.  Harry was just looking at a portrait of an old witch who had been on the Wizengamot in 1834, when he heard, "Ronald Bilius Weasley!"  The witch standing at the doors was looking over the crowd trying to find Ron.

Ron looked ready to faint. 

"Just answer their questions truthfully and it will all be over soon." Hermione whispered to him.

Ron nodded, straightened his shirt, and headed towards the woman.  Harry watched the time and counted the three minutes.   Almost immediately he heard the door open and the woman yell, "Genevieve Molly Weasley!"

Ginny groaned and closed her eyes.  "I can't believe she just called me that.  Why did she have to use my full name?"  Ginny slunk off to the doors and gave the witch a furious glare as she passed through to the courtroom.

Ginny's three minutes passed and soon "Hermione Jane Granger!" was shouted through the room.  Harry began to feel dread.  He knew his three minutes were coming.  He didn't necessarily relish the idea of appearing before the Wizengamot again.  Of course he wasn't facing expulsion this time, but he still didn't like them. 

"Harry James Potter!"  Harry felt his heart plummet to his toes.  Slowly he made his way through the few people left inside the room. 

"Just through here, dear.  Have a seat when the Minister asks you to and just answer the question as honestly as possible.  You will be given time to give a short statement at the end of the questioning."  The witch said in a kind voice. 

Harry nodded and walked into the courtroom.  The room was packed with people.  What people evidently thought were whispers, carried across the room.  Harry looked around and saw Umbridge sitting in a chair behind a desk to the left of the room.  She looked pale and scared.  Her eyes bulged when she spotted him, and Harry couldn't help but giving her a nasty smile.  "Bet you wish you hadn't put me in detention now do you, you old toad?"

"Have a seat Mr. Potter."  Harry looked around to see Fudge motioning to a high backed chair in the center of the room.  Fudge was wearing a kindly smile that Harry couldn't help but hate.  This man had spent the last year telling everyone that Harry was a liar and a mad delinquent.  Now he sat in front of him treating him like nothing had ever happened.

Harry sat in the chair and he could no longer see the crowd behind him or Umbridge. 

"Now Mr. Potter, you have come here to testify against Dolores Jane Umbridge concerning her behavior this past year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, have you not?"

"Yes, I have."

"Very well, just a few questions then.  Mr. Potter, for the record what year were you in Hogwarts during Professor Umbridge's presence at the school?"

"I was in my fifth year."  Harry watched as Percy gave him an encouraging smile and scribbled down his words.

"Alright, could you tell me if you ever served detention with Professor Umbridge?"

"Yes I did, on several occasions."  Harry heard several people snigger behind him. 

"And could you tell the Wizengamot what Professor Umbridge had you do during these detentions?"

"She made me write 'I will not tell lies' on a piece of parchment.  She gave me a special quill that she said did not require any ink.  When I began to write with the dry quill, the back of my hand seemed to be cut open.  The same words I was writing were being cut into my hand, and I looked at the paper and realized that the writing was appearing in my own blood."

Gasps issued throughout the room. Harry was surprised by this at first, and then realized that Lee Jordan had not testified yet.  Lee was the only other person Harry knew that has received the same punishment.

"How long did you Professor Umbridge force you to continue this punishment?"

"A few hours a night.  My first detention with her started on my first day of classes and did not end until that Friday night.  So I'd guess about four days, but I had detention with her a few other times.  Each night before she released me, she would look at my hand.  She said that when the message was etched deep enough perhaps I would stop telling such vicious lies."

Fudge looked at Harry sternly.  "What sort of lies was she accusing you of telling?"

Harry smiled. This was the perfect opportunity to get a bit of revenge on Fudge.  "Well sir, I was simply saying that Voldemort had indeed retuned.  And this was at the time when the Ministry was refusing to believe it."

Gasps and whispers filled the courtroom.  The Auror strewn around the room had to shoot sparks from their wands several times before silence was restored.   Harry looked up at Fudge whose face had gone red.

Fudge continued after silence had been restored, but there was a quaver in his voice.  "Well we have had several students tell us this story already, but I would like to hear your version.  Tell us about the time in June when Professor Umbridge attempted to use the Cruciatus Curse against you."

Harry swallowed.  Telling this story meant telling about Sirius.  The others had already told about it no doubt, but Harry wasn't sure whether he wanted to talk about it.  He swallowed and launched into the story of breaking into Umbridge's office to use her fire.   "...and then she pointed her wand at my forehead.  She had nearly gotten the spell out when Hermione stopped her."

"So Professor Umbridge admitted to you that she had sent the Dementors to attack you at your home?"  Fudge looked completely unnerved.

Harry sat up straight and glared Fudge.  "Yes, she said that some people had been looking for a way to silence me about Voldemort's return.  She said she had ordered them there without you consent."  Harry stopped for a moment wondering whether he dared to continue. Fury built up inside of him, and before he knew it he was shouting. "And she said that you had been most pleased about it.  She said you were grateful for the way of discrediting me!"

An almighty uproar filled the room at these words.  The Aurors tried their best to regain order.  Fudge fell back into his chair, looking aghast.  Harry knew his three minutes should have been up by now, but he was ready to continue all day long if he had to.

Madame Bones looked severely at Fudge and then leaned forward in her chair.  "Mr. Potter, is there anything else you would like to say before you step down?  Anything else pertaining to the trial of Dolores Umbridge?"  She stressed her final sentence and Harry knew he'd better not try his luck.

"Yes, there is.  I want to say that Umbridge was the worst teacher ever placed at Hogwarts.  An entire year of Defense Against the Dark Arts education was wasted.  If it hadn't been for the Defense group my classmates and I started, we would have surely failed out examinations."  Harry stopped and pointed to Umbridge. "That woman tried to kill me, have my friends and I expelled, and basically made our lives a hell for nine months.  And not just once, but over and over again." Harry finished and looked at Fudge.  He was sitting back in his chair, looking thoroughly ill.

"Very well Mr. Potter, you may go through to join the others.  You will be called as soon as we have reached a verdict."

Harry was led to a room identical to the first.  As he passed Umbridge, she gave him a filthy look, which he obligingly returned. 

"Harry, how was it for you?  They asked me all about that night in her office. I do hope they send that monster to Azkaban."  Hermione was talking non stop.

A half an hour passed and the rest of the people in the first room were brought into the second.  Finally nearly half an hour after Harry had finished his testimony, the doors opened and Fudge announced that the Wizengamot had come to a decision.