The Trial Before the Wizengamot

    Sunday morning, Professor McGonagall found Harry in the Great Hall with Ron and Hermione. 'Professor Dumbledore wants to see you,' she informed them crisply. They stared at her in surprise.

    'Er … why, Professor?' asked Harry.

    'I believe that it has something to do with the Wizengamot, Potter,' said Professor McGonagall. 'I suggest that you go now. Professor Dumbledore told me to send you as quickly as possible,'

    Harry nodded, and got up, but McGonagall called him back. 'Oh, and Potter, the password has been changed,' she informed. 'It is now Doppelganger Candy,' she looked like she was trying to hide a smile, and walked away. Harry, puzzled, turned to Ron and Hermione.

    'What's Doppelganger Candy?'

    'Oh, it's ruddy brilliant,' said Ron brightly. 'Fred and George brought it the other day. You eat the sweet and you can produce a twin. It doesn't talk of course. Fred fooled the first years into thinking that George was his doppelganger,'

    Harry grinned, and left the Great Hall. When he reached the stone gargoyle to Dumbledore's office, he told it the password, and went through when it jumped out of the way. He saw Dumbledore chuckling at a mirror image of himself, and realized that the headmaster had just eaten a Doppelganger Candy. 'Ingenious,' he said to Harry. He snapped his fingers, and the Doppelganger vanished.

    'Professor McGonagall said you wanted to see me, Professor?' said Harry.

    'Yes, Harry, I did,' said Dumbledore, turning serious. 'Please sit down,'

    Harry sat down.

    'I think you know,' said Dumbledore, 'of the trouble Cornelius Fudge has been having with the Wizangamot?'

    'Yes,' said Harry, who still didn't understand where this was going. 'The International Confederation of Wizards are angry at him for not telling the truth about Voldemort,'

    'Precisely,' said Dumbledore. 'And I am one of the members of Wizengamot, and I am a part of his trial. The thing is, Harry,' he fixed the boy with an intent stare, 'I cannot vouch for what happened at that cemetery at the end of your fourth year. Nor can I fully explain the events of the Department of Mysteries last year. I need you to appear, maybe along with Mr. Weasley and Ms. Granger, and tell the court what happened,'

    Harry felt his throat dry up. 'You—you want me to tell them about Voldemort?' he asked tentatively.

    'Yes,' said Dumbledore. 'It is crucial that you do this. You could very well be the one to unseat Fudge, and that is our goal,'

    'But why?' asked Harry. 'Fudge is on our side, isn't he?'

    Dumbledore sighed. 'I'm afraid that I have … misgivings about Fudge's governing capabilities,'

    Harry frowned. 'What kind of misgivings?'

    'Harry, I shall tell you everything in due time,' said Dumbledore. 'But now I need you to promise me that you will do this,'

    Harry realized that he would have to relieve the two worst years of his life if he went through with this. But how could he refuse? He nodded in response, not trusting himself to speak.

    'Very well,' nodded Dumbledore. There was a sharp rap on the door, and Snape walked in, carrying a vial.

    'I have it Dumbledore,' he said.

    'Ah, thank you, Severus,' said Dumbledore. 'Set it down here. Arabella is ready?'

    'She has been preparing,' said Snape. He didn't look at Harry, but Dumbledore turned to him.

    'I wonder, Harry, if Mrs. Figg could borrow your father's cloak?' asked Dumbledore.

    'Er, yes,' said Harry, caught off-guard. 'Why?'

    Dumbledore and Snape shared a look, and Dumbledore nodded. 'The Wizengamot is bound to give you Veritaserum, and we can't allow that to happen. Professor Snape here has created a fake,'

    'Very dilute Veritaserum,' said Snape. 'The Ministry is bound to check if it's real, and when they do, they will know that there are traces of magic in it, and won't suspect that it is a fake. The water cancels out the serum though, so you shall have full control over your words,'

    'Why don't you jus use water?' asked Harry.

    'As I said, Potter, the Ministry is bound to check for magic. If I use mere water, they will know that there are no traces of magic, and call it a fake. Their spell won't tell them that the serum is dilute, nor that there are water molecules present. It is the perfect bluff,'

    'The Ministry has its own supply of Veritaserum, and it has to be replaced,' said Dumbledore. 'Arabella must use your Invisibility Cloak to enter the courtroom before the trial and replace it with Professor Snape's fake,'

    'But why doesn't Mr. Weasley do it?' asked Harry. 'Or Tonks or Shacklebolt?'

    'They are representatives of the Ministry, and are not allowed in,' Snape said for Dumbledore. 'I can't do it, and neither can Professor McGonagall, as we have to stay in Hogwarts. Lupin is currently on a mission, Hagrid is too big to fit under your cloak, and Sturgis Podmore is currently suspected as a Death Eater,'

    This caught Harry by surprise. When was Sturgis Podmore suspected as one of Voldemort's servant?

    'During the summer,' said Dumbledore, as though reading his mind, 'Sturgis was suspected as being one of Voldemort's Death Eaters. Everyone thought that he escaped along with the Death Eaters from Azkaban which you help put. He's been hiding here ever since. But Harry, you must listen to what I tell you. You must not tell them about Sirius or the Order,'

    Dumbledore had put such a strong emphasis on it, that Harry was stunned. 'Why?'

    'There are complications,' said Snape coldly. 'Just keep your mouth shut about the Order and Black,'

    Harry wanted to retort, but nothing came to mind at the moment, so he settled for glaring.

    'You may return to your friends, Harry,' said Dumbledore. 'Please tell Mr. Weasley and Ms Granger that their assistance may be required,'

    'Right, Professor,' nodded Harry. 'When's the hearing?'

    Dumbledore looked tired. 'Tuesday morning,'

*

    'And he's telling you the plan today?' asked Ron disbelievingly.

    'Yes,' said Harry. 'I don't know why he kept it so late,'

    'Maybe he didn't want to throw off your game for Quidditch,' reasoned Hermione.

    'No Quidditch match is more important than this,' said Harry. All around them, the school—except the Slytherins—were celebrating Gryffindor's amazing win over Slytherin.

    When they got back to the Gryffindor Common Room, they saw Seamus flicking his wand. 'Marmor!' he was chanting, as he flicked it. The quill burst into flames, and Seamus jumped backward to get out of the reach of the flames. Fortunately, a seventh-year was close by, and doused it with a spell.

    Seamus blushed when he noticed that Harry was watching him, an amused smile on his face.

    'I didn't know you were interested in schoolwork,' said Harry.

    'Well, it was either that, or watching the house-elves making me biscuits,' Seamus shrugged his shoulders.

    Harry laughed, but Hermione narrowed her eyes.

*

    Harry went to sleep that night with disturbed dreams. Sirius was there, and he was talking to Harry, but he called him James.

    'There it is,' said Sirius, his eyes lighting up. Harry wanted to know what, but couldn't open his mouth to ask. There was a moment of silence, and Sirius said, 'Don't be silly, Moony. Of course it's a good idea. I have to remember to thank Filch for sending me to wait for him in his office last week, or I would have never seen it,'

    'Are you sure you know what you're doing, Padfoot,' Harry heard himself ask. 'You researched it?'

    Sirius let out an impatient sigh. 'Yes, Mother, I did,'

    Sirius took a step to something, but Harry couldn't see what it was. He couldn't see anything apart from Sirius. Everything else was pitch black. Only when Sirius held it in his hand, which was covered with dragonhide gloves, did Harry see that it was a big white ball, similar to the crystal balls they used in Divination, except bigger.

    'It's not a moon, Remus,' said Harry, though he didn't intend to. It was as though he had no control whatsoever over his mouth or any other parts of his body.

    'When we throw it at Snivellus, he won't be able to resist picking it up,' said Sirius. 'What's that, Wormtail?' There was a pause. Then Sirius hissed, 'Filch! Hide!'

    Harry felt his legs move, ducking underneath and object which he realized was Filch's desk. There was a pause, and then Harry pulled the Invisibility Cloak and draped it around himself and Sirius, who was beside him.

    After a while, Harry got up, and saw Sirius do the same, and they left Filch's office accompanied, no doubt, by Lupin and Wormtail. Harry followed Sirius, who was in the lead it seemed, back to their dorm. Something about the path from Filch's office to the bedroom seemed extremely familiar.

    The scene disappeared, and Harry was running, Sirius by his side. Sirius was holding the Orb in his right hand, which donned dragonhide gloves, and then he turned back and said, 'Hey, Snape! Catch!' and threw the Orb behind him.

    They burst into laughter, probably at something Snape said. 'Oh, this is just priceless,' Harry heard himself say.

   'And Snivellus can't take it off himself because he doesn't have gloves,' Sirius had tears in his eyes from laughing so much.

    There was silence, and Sirius said, 'Probably Malfoy will, don't worry Wormtail. One of the teachers will get it off, if not he Slytherins. Probably Dumbledore,'

    Then Sirius disappeared, and Harry was surrounded in darkness.

    He sat upright in bed, gasping. Sirius. He knew he was slipping in and out of time, as he had last time. Dumbledore had already told him that this would happen, but that didn't make it easier to handle.

    He groaned and lay back in bed, but he couldn't go to sleep. So once again, Harry found himself amongst the early risers. Lorena was there in the Ravenclaw table, and she nodded at him in acknowledgement, before returning to her bowl of cereal.

    Harry heard a flutter of wings, and Hedwig came down to him, carrying a letter. Harry opened it and saw an unfamiliar scrawl.

Potter—

    He's told you about the hearing. This is your chance to get rid of the filth in the Ministry. I will meet you in a location known only to Dumbledore, and instruct you on what to do, and you will follow. Don't show this anyone.

It was unsigned.

    The hairs on the back of his neck stood up, and he pocketed the letter. Harry looked up, and saw Lorena, who had a questioning look on her face, as if to ask who the letter was from. Harry shrugged in response, and saw to his surprise that Malfoy was at the Slytherin table again, and he was watching Harry and Lorena with narrowed eyes. At Harry's shrug, Malfoy got up quickly, and exited the Great Hall. Harry wondered where he was going, but didn't care too much.

    After breakfast, he got up, and Lorena did too. 'So, how's it going?' she asked conversationally.

    'Oh, okay,' said Harry. 'Do you know where Malfoy's going?'

    'I don't really care,' said Lorena.

    Harry nodded.

    'Going back to Gryffindor Tower?' asked Lorena.

    'Yeah,' said Harry. He didn't really feel like talking. Lorena seemed to get that vibe, and nodded.

    'Anyway, I have to go,' she said. 'See you,'

    'See you,' said Harry vaguely.

    Classes that day went by in a blur. Harry blocked out most of what the teachers were saying. He thought that he may have gotten a detention at one point, but he didn't know for sure, nor did he know who gave it to him. In the end, he told Ron and Hermione about his dream.

    'See Professor Dumbledore,' they said instantly, so Harry decided to take their advice, and once again, found himself at the stone gargoyle standing before the office.

    'Doppelganger Candy,' said Harry flatly. The gargoyle jumped out of the way, and Harry went in.

    Dumbledore was frowning at a paper on his table when he went in, but the Headmaster looked up at him and smiled serenely. 'Ah, Harry. What can I do for you?'

    'I—I had a dream,' said Harry. His eyes landed on Fawkes, who yawned, before trailing back to Dumbledore. 'About Sirius,'

    'I see,' said Dumbledore. 'I knew this would happen. As I said previously, you are—'

    'Slipping between time,' interrupted Harry. 'I know. But there's something I wanted to ask you,'

    Dumbledore waited.

    'What's the Orb of Confusion?'

    Dumbledore looked surprised, but quickly composed himself. 'Well, Harry, the Orb of Confusion is a sort of weapon, created by Merlin in the twelfth century. Why?'

    'Sirius had it,' said Harry. 'And the rest of the Marauders. They found it in Filch's office. What's he doing with it?'

    'The Orb of Confusion was passed to the Headmaster of the school in the eighteenth century,' said Dumbledore. 'It was used a while back, and was given to Mr. Filch for safekeeping,' Dumbledore informed Harry. 'Why do you ask, Harry?'

    'Actually, I've been wondering if I could … use it?' he asked tentatively.

    Dumbledore raised his eyebrows. 'Oh?'

    'Yes,' said Harry. 'If Voldemort is planning something, confusion would be a good distraction,'

    Dumbledore paused, considering it. Finally he nodded. 'Very well,' he said. 'If you will just give me a moment.' He took his wand, muttered a spell, and the tip of the wand glittered green. 'Argus Filch!' said Dumbledore to the tip. The wand glowed green, then returned to its normal color, the tip still sparkling green. 'Argus, I want you to do me a favor. Harry Potter is going to go down to your office soon, and I want you to give him the Orb of Confusion,'

    Harry was surprised to hear Filch's voice in the room, as though he were there. 'Yes, Headmaster,' said Filch. The sparkles disappeared from Dumbledore's wand tip, and Dumbledore set it back down on his desk. He smiled contentedly at Harry. 'I think you remember a similar charm at the Visitor's Entrance of the Ministry of Magic, Harry?'

    Harry realized that the spell Dumbledore had just cast did remind him of the enchanted telephone which Harry and Mr. Weasley had encountered on the day of Harry's hearing more than a year ago. Dumbledore allowed him to go, telling him that Filch would be waiting for him. Indeed, Filch was waiting outside his office, holding the Orb in a gloved hand. Apparently, Flitwick had taken pity on the Squib, and removed the swamp that Ron and Seamus had created outside the office. Filch leered at him.

    'Uh-oh,' he said in a mocking tone. 'Looks like you forgot your gloves. Can't hold the Orb without them, you can't,'

    Harry realized that this was true, but at that moment, he heard Fawkes's cry, and the phoenix flew to him, gloves held in its talons. It dropped the gloves into Harry's hands, and Filch watched, dumbstruck, as Harry pulled them on and petted the bird on its head, before it flew away. 'I'm ready for the Orb now,' he smirked.

    Filch gave him a nasty look, but handed him the Orb anyway. As Harry walked away, he heard the caretaker muttering to his cat, Mrs. Norris.

    In Gryffindor Tower, Hermione inspected it interestedly. Ron stared at it with a stupid expression. 'I don't know why you want it,' he said to Harry. 'It's like having a little piece of Trelawney in our room,'

    'Ugh,' said Harry. 'It's a good battle weapon, I'm sure,'

    'Oh, yes,' said Hermione. 'Harry, do you know what you have here? It's a real treasure. One-half of the Orbs Merlin ever made. Imagine the history!'

    'One-half?' asked Harry in surprise.

   'Oh, yes,' said Hermione earnestly. 'But I suppose it will forever be one-half. I read about this. Merlin created the Orb of Confusion, and the Orb of Clarity. Real advantages during battle, but the Orb of Clarity was lost,'

    'How?' asked Ron, interest piqued. Hermione narrowed her eyes.

    'You two just don't listen in History of Magic, do you?' she asked accusingly.

    'Well, it's very hard, as we don't take the class anymore,' said Ron.

    Hermione waved her hand impatiently. 'I mean when you two took the class. The Orb of Clarity played a very important role during the Sorcery Wars in the sixteenth century. That's how the wizards won the first war. Unfortunately, the Orb of Clarity was dangerous to someone who didn't know how to use it. It drove two people insane. But in the end, it told the wizards how to win the war, and the Orb was lost,'

    She checked her watch. 'I have to go,' she said abruptly, and got up.

    After she was gone, Ron turned to Harry. 'Why is it that I don't remember a single thing from that class except for the Goblin Rebellion?' he asked. Seamus came over and took Hermione's place. He was covered in mud.

    'Nice ball,' he said, looking at the Orb. 'Did you sneak that from Divination or what?'

    'No,' Harry shook his head. 'Dumbledore told me to take it from Filch,'

    'Really? Why?' asked Seamus.

    'Oh, it's a good—no! Don't touch it!'

    Too late. Seamus gripped it in his right hand, and his eyes went blank. Surprisingly, he looked like Goyle. Seamus raised his hand, and slapped Ron on the cheek.

    'Ow!' cried Ron.

    'Bitch! Why didn't you tie her hair with the pink bow?' Seamus hissed. Ron looked bewildered.

    'Seamus,' said Harry, 'let go of the Orb,'

    Seamus stared at Harry, then grabbed his cheek and pinched it. 'Let's make biscuits!' he said.

    Harry pulled away, his cheek stinging. 'Get my gloves,' he instructed Ron. 'They're on the table,'

    'Right,' said Ron, rubbing the place where Seamus had slapped him. 'Right. Thanks a lot, Seamus. Now people are going to think I hit myself with a doorknob or something,'

    Seamus tossed his head back and laughed, as though it was the funniest thing he had ever heard of. Ron left to get the gloves, and returned with them a second later. Harry pulled them on, and gently removed the Orb from Seamus's hand. After placing it on the floor beside him, Harry watched as Seamus came out of his trance. Ron was still glaring poisonously at him, his cheek red. 'Wow, what happened to you?' asked Seamus.

    'I happen to bruise easily from slaps,' said Ron venomously. Seamus looked confused, and shrugged. Ron rolled his eyes.

    'So, what is that?' asked Seamus, his eyes once again on the Orb beside Harry.

    'The Orb of Confusion,' said Harry. 'A weapon,'

    'A weapon?' Seamus repeated. 'You mean against You-Know-Who?'

    Harry nodded.

    Seamus whistled in appreciation of Harry's audacity.

    The next morning, Harry was met by Professor McGonagall, who told him that he had been excused from all his classes today for the hearing, and that he was to go up to Professor Dumbledore's office immediately. On the way there, he ran into Professor Snape, whose lip curled, but didn't say anything. Harry guessed that he wasn't too happy about not having Harry to torture.

    Dumbledore was waiting there for him, dressed in blue robes, the exact same color of his twinkling eyes. Mrs. Figg, whom Harry had found out only last year that she was a Squib, was wringing her hands together. She looked very frightened. 'Ah, Harry,' said Dumbledore. 'Ready to go, I hope? Did you bring your cloak?'

    Harry realized only then that he had left his cloak in the trunk in his bedroom. However, thinking quickly, he pulled out his wand. 'Accio!' he said, and waited. Within seconds, they heard a soft thump on the door. Harry opened it to see the Invisibility Cloak lying on the floor. He heard a strange, loud sound, as if someone on four feet were running. The stone gargoyle protecting Dumbledore's chambers came bounding to them. 'Nothing may pass without the password,' it was growling.

    'There, there,' said Dumbledore. 'It means no harm,'

    The gargoyle looked at Dumbledore reproachfully, then galloped away.

    'I never knew that the gargoyle was alive,' said Harry after a moment of silence.

    'Oh, yes,' said Dumbledore. 'It's meant to protect the Headmaster or Headmistress at all costs. Godric Gryffindor was the one to bring it to life, after Salazar Slytherin had tried to attack the school,'

    Harry nodded. They went back in.

    'Well, Arabella, you know what to do?' inquired Dumbledore.

    Mrs. Figg tried to put on a brave front, Harry saw. 'Yes, Dumbledore,' she said. 'I know what to do. Use the cloak to get in, make the exchange, get out,'

    'Yes,' nodded Dumbledore. 'Make sure that no one bumps into you. I shall try to stall the Wizengamot, if necessary,'

    'Right,' said Mrs. Figg.

    'Very well,' Dumbledore turned to Harry. 'Harry, you are ready?'

    Harry felt butterflies flying in his stomach, but he nodded. 'How will we get there?' he asked.

    'Professor Flitwick has been kind enough to make us a Portkey,' said Dumbledore. 'Cloak on, Arabella,'

    Mrs. Figg threw the cloak on herself, and disappeared before Harry's eyes.

    'Everyone hold on to the scroll now,' said Dumbledore, indicating the scroll sitting on his table. He and Harry, and Mrs. Figg too, he supposed, reached out and grabbed it. Almost instantly, Harry felt the familiar rush that only a Portkey could give, and felt something hook onto the back of his navel. Everything was blurring, and spinning, and then it stopped. Harry opened his eyes to see the fountain in front of him. The larger-than-life golden statues were back in place, and spouting water.

    Dumbledore went in to the left, and Harry followed. 'The Wizengamot are residing in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Harry,' he said, reaching the elevator. The doors opened, and they stepped in. They were the only ones there, and Dumbledore pressed the buttons 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9. Harry looked at him with an eyebrow raised, but Dumbledore just smiled.

    'Level Two, Department of Magical Law Enforcement, including the Improper Use of Magic Office, Auror Headquarters and Wizengamot Administration Services,' said the cool female voice Harry had heard the last time he was in the Ministry of Magic. The doors opened, and Dumbledore stepped out, and Harry did too,'

    'It would look too suspicious if we pressed Level Two, and then Level Nine,' said Dumbledore softly. 'This way, we can fool the Ministry officials into thinking that there is a child loose who likes pushing all the elevator buttons,'

    Harry had to admit that that made sense. Dumbledore stopped at a door that was marked: Wizengamot Administration Services, and went in. Inside, there were two doors. The one on the left had a plaque reading: Wizengamot Chambers. The one on the right read: Preparation Room. Dumbledore ignored the door on the right, and walked straight to the left.

    Inside, Harry saw there were many wizards talking amongst themselves quietly. Harry saw Amelia Bones, who had served as judge during his hearing last year, sitting on a couch, dressed in black robes. The others were dressed in brightly colored robes, and they looked up when Harry and Dumbledore came in.

    'Oh, Dumbledore,' said a white-haired witch, smiling pleasantly, 'hello. And this must be Harry Potter. How do you do?'

    'Er, hi,' said Harry awkwardly.

    'I'm Laurie Bugoda,' she said, extending her wrinkled hand. Harry shook it. 'I was present at your hearing during the summer before your fifth year. I'm sorry we had to meet at such a grim occasion,'

    A man that looked vaguely familiar came beside Laurie Bugoda. 'Dedalus Diggle,' he introduced himself. 'We've met before, Mr. Potter,'

    'Yeah, I remember,' said Harry, who had met Diggle for the first time on the street beside a Muggle supermarket, and then once again during his first time in the Leaky Cauldron before his first year.

    Before anyone else could come up to him, however, the door opened. Everyone looked up to see a woman with glasses. 'The Courtroom is ready,' she announced. 'The Wizengamot have to report to the Preparation Room to get dressed and have their wands checked. Mr. Potter has to come and wait in the Atrium for access into the courtroom, and Judge Bones has to await in her chambers,'

    Everyone stood up. Only Madam Bones and Harry left with the woman, while everyone else went into the Preparation Room. As Harry was led to the Atrium, outside Courtroom Ten, Madam Bones was allowed to go in, as her chambers were inside.

    It seemed like an eternity in which Harry spent wondering if Mrs. Figg managed to change the Veritaserum in time before he was allowed to go in. He was the only one there, and the woman told him to sit down somewhere in the benches provided. He saw a vial of clear liquid, and wondered if it was the real Veritaserum or the decoy.

    'You'll be the first to come up, I'm sure,' the woman said. The doors opened, and Harry saw the witches and wizards of the Wizengamot trot in. They had changed their outfits and were now dressed in the purple robes with the large W in the middle. They took their seats, and slowly, more people came in. Harry saw a man holding a camera with a flashbulb, which he knew from experience would produce purple smoke when used. There were people who looked grim, some shaking their heads, and some talking excitedly amongst themselves.

    Harry found himself beside two women who were chattering excitedly, and a man who looked bored and sleepy. The doors opened once more to reveal Percy, who looked very pompous. Harry realized that Percy thought that with Fudge out of the way, he'd probably be the next Minister. Behind him, was an old man that Harry only knew from sight. He let out a small gasp. 'The Reedy Man,' he whispered softly, so that no one else would hear. The Reedy Man was a Ministry official who had come to Hogwarts during Harry's third year to witness Macnair kill Buckbeak the Hippogriff.

    Percy took a seat right in front, but The Reedy Man went to the defendant's table and sat down there instead. Dumbledore was watching everything from the Wizengamot table. Everyone was there except the most important person. Just as he thought this however, the doors flew open one more time to reveal Fudge. He stomped to the front, ignoring everyone, and glaring at Dumbledore. 'Let's get on with it then,' he barked.

    'All rise for the honorable judge, Judge Bones,' said a beefy wizard in the back, whom Harry supposed was the bailiff. Everyone got to their feet.

    The door in the back opened, and Madam Bones stepped in, looking very serious indeed. She took her place, and sat down, and so did everybody else. Fudge remained standing. Madam Bones cleared her throat. 'Case,' she said.

    'The public versus Minister for Magic, Cornelius Oswald Fudge,' read the bailiff.

    'Cornelius Fudge has been accused of hiding information regarding the return of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, is that correct,' asked Madam Bones.

    'Yes, Your Honor,' said the bailiff.

    'Counsel, please rise,' Madam Bones instructed, and Harry momentarily wondered why he hadn't received a lawyer for his hearing last year. The Reedy Man rose, and so did Dumbledore. Fudge's eyes widened.

    'Wait a minute!' he spluttered. 'Dumbledore cannot be an attorney!'

    'Actually, Minister,' said Dumbledore pleasantly, 'Clause Nine in the Decree of Wizarding Rule and Regulaion, Paragraph A states when in full trial, the Wizengamot has the power to oversee conduct, and step in when necessary. It also states that the members of the Wizengamot have the power to act as attorneys at law, should there be no other choice, or if the Wizengamot members decide to pose a member as an attorney. This law has been passed circa 1852, when the Wizengamot was first formed,'

    Fudge's lip curled.

    'Proceed,' said Madam Bones. Dumbledore went up. 'For my first witness, I would like to call upon Harry James Potter,'

    Harry stood up and immediately felt lightheaded. After collecting himself, he made his way to the chair which had chains connected to it. He sat down, and eyed the chains reproachfully, but just like last time, it did not attack him.

    'We will require Veritaserum,' Dumbledore turned to Madam Bones, who had the bottle of Veritaserum on her desk. She passed it to the bailiff, who passed it on to Dumbledore. 'Wait,' said Madam Bones, and for a heart-stopping moment, Harry thought that she had figured out that it was fake.

    'We have to test it,' she continued.

    'Of course,' said Dumbledore, who handed it back to her. She took it, and pulled out her wand. She flicked it, and it momentarily turned gold, before turning back to its original clear color.

    'It passes the test,' she announced, giving it back to the Headmaster. 'You may administer it,'

    Dumbledore nodded, and uncorked the vial. He passed it on to Harry, who looked at it, then swallowed it in one gulp. He didn't feel any different, but wasn't sure that he was supposed to. 'Now, let us proceed,' said Dumbledore. He looked straight into Harry's eyes. 'Are you Harry James Potter?' he asked.

    'Yes,' said Harry.

    'Where do you live? Please exclude the house address. Merely tell us the street,'

    'I live with my aunt, uncle and cousin in Privet Drive,' said Harry tonelessly.

    'And you are a student of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry?'

    'Yes,'

    'You claim to have seen Lord Voldemort rise. Is this true?'

    'Yes,'

    'Please tell us the exact events,'

    Harry took a deep breath. 'It was during the final term of my fourth year. I was taking part in the Tri-Wizard Tournament, even though I was underage—'

    'And why were you in the tournament?' interrupted Dumbledore.

    'The Goblet of Fire was use,' said Harry. 'A strong Confundus Charm had been used on it. The Goblet knew that there were only three schools registered, but after the charm was used, it was made to believe that there were four. I was registered as the only student in the fourth school, so the Goblet had no choice but to give my name,'

    'And who hexed the Goblet of Fire?' asked Dumbledore.

    'The Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher,' said Harry.

    There was a gasp from everyone except Harry, Dumbledore and Fudge.

    'You mean to tell us that Alastor Moody is the one who entered you in the tournament that resulted in the rise of the Dark Lord?' asked Madam Bones sharply.

    'No!' Harry exclaimed. 'It was Barty Crouch Jr. Mr. Crouch's son. He had attacked Moody during the summer and kept him locked up in his enchanted trunk. He cut out Moody's hair throughout the year to create the Polyjuice Potion. He was in league with Voldemort—' there was another gasp, '—the whole time,'

    'Impossible,' said Madam Bones immediately. 'Bartemious Crouch Jr. is dead. He was buried outside Azkaban by the Dementors themselves,'

    'I would love very much to ask Harry that question, Madam Bones,' said Dumbledore, bowing slightly, 'but I think it would help my case even more if I ask the Minister, who will be my next witness. He was told the truth immediately after the tournament,'

    Madam Bones considered a moment. 'I will allow this,' she conceded. 'Continue,'

    'What happened during the third match, Harry?' asked Dumbledore.

    Harry took a deep breath. 'I was in the maze, and Moody was going around watching everything. He eliminated some obstacles so that it would be easier on me. He Stunned Fleur Delacour and put Viktor Krum under the Imperius Curse in attempt to get rid of him and Cedric Diggory. But I found them, and we Stunned Krum. Cedric and I then left to continue the maze. We fought the giant spider, and got to the trophy at the same time. We—we grabbed it together and …' he paused. This was still hard for him. However, he saw Dumbledore shake his head, trying to be indiscreet, and saw the urgency in his blue eyes.

    'We grabbed it together, and were teleported to a graveyard,' said Harry quickly. 'Moody had taken it to the centre of the maze that evening and transformed it into a Portkey. There was a Death Eater there, and he killed Cedric,' he rushed on, hoping that if he said it quickly, he wouldn't show emotion. 'He killed Cedric, and tied me to a gravestone. He took out this giant cauldron and he took a bone from the grave I was tied to. It was the grave of Voldemort's father,'

    By this time, everyone was so entranced by the story, they forgot to gasp. Harry plunged on. 'He threw it into the cauldron, and said 'Bone of the father, unknowingly given,' then he cut his hand off, and said 'Flesh of the servant, willingly given' and finally, he pierced me with a dagger, and said 'Blood of the enemy, forcefully taken', and he dropped it into the cauldron,'

    'What happened then?' asked Dumbledore.

    'Voldemort rose,' said Harry softly. 'He rose, and he was robed, and he summoned his Death Eaters to him,'

    'And who was this Death Eater who helped Lord Voldemort rise to power?' asked Dumbledore. Harry glanced at him, trying to mask his surprise. Dumbledore had told him not to mention Sirius or the Order, and Harry had assumed that that meant that Wormtail was out too.

    'Wor—Peter Pettigrew,' said Harry.

    All hell erupted. The reporters swarmed up to Harry, taking his picture, asking for quotes and trying to agree to a date for an exclusive interview. The Wizengamot members began talking amongst themselves in loud tones, and one of the witches whom Harry had sat next to had fainted, while her friend was trying to revive her. Percy looked taken aback, and Fudge looked rather ill. Finally, Madam Bones took her wand-tip to her mouth and boomed, 'Silence! Silence, everyone!'

     No one paid attention, and she raised her wand, and loud explosion was heard. Harry half-expected the Knight Bus, a violently-painted purple bus for witches and wizards, to appear, but it didn't. Nevertheless, it had achieved its goal. Everyone fell silent. 'Now,' said Madam Bones, 'I want everyone to get back to their respective positions. Anyone found making noise will be thrown out. I shouldn't have to say this again.' After everyone shuffled back to their seats, she turned to Dumbledore. 'Continue with the questioning, Dumbledore,' she ordered.

     'Harry, I want you to tell this courtroom what happened that night in the Shrieking Shack after your exams in your third year,' commanded Dumbledore.

    Harry nodded. 'Ron, Hermione and I had gone down to Hagrid's hut because he told us that the Hippogriff was going to be killed,' he said. 'He was crying, and we made him some tea, and Hermione found the rat belonging to Ron. Its name was Scabbers. We left soon after, and Scabbers was trying to get away from Ron. Then, Hermione's cat, Crookshanks appeared,'

    Harry didn't know if he should tell the court about Sirius being an Animagus, but he saw Dumbledore give a tiny nod, so he continued. 'Crookshanks was being followed by a big dog, which I had previously thought was a Grim. It pushed Ron to the ground, and dragged him inside the Whomping Willow, which Crookshanks had stilled,'

    Dumbledore turned to the court. 'The Whomping Willow was built to protect the students from a fellow schoolmate,' he said. 'It led to the Shrieking Shack, and can only be frozen when a knot at the bottom is touched.' He turned back to Harry, who continued the story.

    'Hermione and I followed them, and we found out that the dog was actually Sirius Black in Animagus form. He said that there was going to be a murder tonight and I thought he meant me, but he actually meant Scabbers. Then Professor Lupin came in and told us the story; he was a werewolf, and Sirius, Pettigrew and my father had learned how to turn into Animagi so that he would have friends by his side. They became unregistered Animagi and had adventures. When my parents got married, they placed Sirius as Secret-Keeper to protect themselves from Voldemort. Sirius had another idea.

    'Voldemort knew that Sirius and my father were best friends, and Sirius thought that Voldemort would be sure to go after him. He decided that it would be the perfect bluff if he went into hiding, drawing Voldemort to him, while having Pettigrew as the Secret-Keeper. Voldemort would never suspect that they would use him as the Secret-Keeper. So they made the switch. But Pettigrew was a Death Eater. He betrayed my parents to Voldemort in barely a week. After Voldemort's downfall, Pettigrew ran for it, but Sirius, who had discovered the betrayal, chased him. They finally got to the Muggle street, and Pettigrew cut his index finger off, all the while screaming about how Sirius betrayed my parents. Then he blew up the street.'

    'Black?' asked Madam Bones in a hushed tone.

    'No. Pettigrew,' said Harry. 'Sirius got arrested, and sent to Azkaban. He wasn't guilty and that wasn't a happy thought, so the Dementors couldn't steal it away from him. When he saw a picture of my friend, Ron, in the Daily Prophet, he saw Pettigrew in disguise, and he escaped to track him down and kill him. Lupin and Sirius then forced Wormtail to turn back into human form. They wanted to kill him, but I refused. I didn't want them to kill someone just for filth like him. We were going to hand him over to the Dementors, but then Snape got in the way. He tried to tie up Sirius and Lupin and send them to the Dementors, but Ron, Hermione and I knocked him out.

    'We went out, but it was a full moon, and Lupin had forgotten to take his Wolfsbane Potion. He transformed, and Pettigrew escaped. Sirius fought him, but Lupin ran off, and we met the Dementors. They were too strong, but I managed to get them to back off with a Patronus. However, I fainted, and Snape took us back to the Hospital Wing. Dumbledore then told us that the Dementors had been ordered to give the Dementors the Kiss. The next day, however, we found that Sirius had escaped,'

    'I see,' said Madam Bones. 'That's right, you do have a talent for the Patronus Charm, don't you? What happened to Pettigrew?'

    'He set off to find Voldemort,' said Harry. 'He took Bertha Jorkins, who had seen him in human form, to Voldemort. The Dark Lord got her to talk about what was happening in Hogwarts, and that was how he found out about the Quidditch World Cup and the Tri-Wizard Tournament. He found out that Crouch Jr. was still alive and got him to pose as Moody. In the end, he was resurrected and we battled. I managed to escape using the Portkey, carrying Diggory's body,'

    'And what happened during your fifth year?' asked Dumbledore.

    Harry took another deep breath. 'Nobody believed what happened, so Voldemort and the Death Eaters had the element of surprise on their side. They were going after something in the Department of Mysteries, but I didn't know what. It turned out to be a prophecy about me and him. Voldemort had heard only part of the prophecy last time, and that had led to his downfall. Now, he was trying to find out the full contents of the prophecy, thinking that it would tell him exactly how to get rid of me,'

    'Hang on,' said Madam Bones. 'There's something I don't understand. Last year, You-Know-Who took your blood for his potion. What does this mean?'

    'It means, Amelia, that Harry no longer bears the power within his blood to burn Voldemort,' said Dumbledore. 'The Ministry, of course, remembers the events I told them five years ago at the end of Harry's first year? The love his mother gave him ran in his blood, and gave him the power to burn Professor Quirrel with his touch. Voldemort shares that same power now,'

    There was an almighty gasp. 'Why, this is terrible!' exclaimed Madam Bones, and Harry suddenly remembered something very strange. Dumbledore had appeared triumphant when Harry had told him about this.

    'Professor,' he said tentatively.

    'Yes, Harry?' asked Dumbledore, turning to face him.

    'When I told you about this at the end of my fourth year, I noticed that for a moment you seemed … happy about it,' said Harry.

    Silence.

    'Is this true, Dumbledore?' asked Madam Bones finally.

    'Yes, Amelia, it is,' said Dumbledore, smiling. 'I'm glad that it was brought up. Harry, you know of Voldemort's ability to look at the big picture that sometimes he forgets to go over the details, don't you?'

    'Er, yeah,' said Harry, not sure what this had to do with anything.

    'Well, the blood that runs in your veins, which allows you to burn your adversaries, now runs in Voldemort's veins as well. True, you cannot burn him with your touch, but this also means that he can't touch his supporters without killing them,'

    It suddenly dawned on Harry that this was true. He had given up a great power, only to have it multiplied thanks to Voldemort. No wonder Dumbledore had looked triumphant, if only for a moment. 'No further questions, Your Honor,' said Dumbledore. He walked back to his seat, but Harry didn't know if he was allowed to.

    'Counsel, you may cross-examine the witness now,' said Madam Bones. The Reedy Man was staring dumbstruck, not moving. 'Counsel,' Madam Bones said again, 'you may cross-examine your witness now,'

    Fudge nudged The Reedy Man. 'Go,' he ordered. 'Ask him your questions,'

    The Reedy Man finally moved. 'He already eliminated all my questions, Fudge,' he hissed. Fudge's eyes widened.

    'What?' he yelped. 'You cannot be serious!'

    'Oh, but I am,' said The Reedy Man. 'It's not looking good for you, Minister,'

    Fudge stood up. 'I need a new lawyer,' he said.

    Madam Bones narrowed her eyes. 'It's the middle of a trial, Mr. Fudge. You can't fire your lawyer now,'

    'Then I demand that we reschedule,' said Fudge.

    'From my point of view, Minister, this is a very simple case,' said Madam Bones. 'We all know that the Dark Lord has returned, and you have been accused of hiding information. After what Mr. Potter has said—under the influence of Veritaserum, I might add—any doubt of your innocence has been erased from my mind. The reason we are even here today is because you asked for a fair trial. Now, if your lawyer doesn't have anything to ask, he must be convinced too. So either he cross-examine the witness, or this case is closed,'

    Fudge turned angrily to The Reedy Man, who shrugged helplessly. 'I can't think of anything, Minister,' he said. 'Veritaserum has been used to eliminate lies, so it must all be true,'

    Fudge looked ready to explode. 'M—my lawyer is a crackpot!' Fudge yelled, turning to Madam Bones.

    Madam Bones readjusted her glasses. 'First of all, Minister, you will not speak in that tone, especially to me, in my courtroom. Secondly, he's been your lawyer for almost fifteen years, and not once have I heard complaint from you. As a matter of fact, I recall you fired your first lawyer because he wasn't competent enough,'

    Fudge didn't know what to say to this, and he opened and closed his mouth, reminding Harry of a fish, and he tried not to laugh. Madam Bones, on the other hand, seemed to be very irritated by this behavior. 'It seems that the defendant has nothing to say for himself,' she told the court. She slammed her gavel on the desk. 'Guilty as charged! Mr. Fudge, please pack up your things from your office. You will be asked to leave the Ministry by the end of the week, and you have until then to train your successor. Although not too closely, I hope,' she smiled malevolently. 'We wouldn't want a carbon copy of you, now would we? Your successor will be determined by the International Confederation of Wizards and the Wizengamot tomorrow morning. Court adjourned,'

    Everyone filed out, except for Fudge. He stood there, frozen, and as Harry passed him, he couldn't help but feel sorry for the man.

    When Harry got back, everyone was dying to know where he had been. Ron and Hermione rushed up to him. 'Where were you?' asked Ron. 'You missed all your classes, and Snape didn't even mind when you didn't show up for Potions!'

    Only then did Harry realize that he hadn't told anyone that he had been asked to appear in court. He was getting very forgetful these days. He told the entire story to them, and they remained quiet, but Hermione looked very worried. 'Oh, Harry,' she shook her head when he finished, 'I'm afraid you didn't handle that very well,'

    'What do you mean?' Ron asked, nonplussed. 'Fudge is fired, isn't he?'

    'Yes, but Ron, Harry showed too much emotion,' said Hermione in a grave tone. 'Veritaserum is supposed to make you emotionless. I'm very surprised no one called him on it,'

    'Maybe they decided not to,' said Harry optimistically. 'I mean, they want Fudge out of office even more than I do, and if they called me on it, it would have ruined their chances, right?'

    'I hope so, Harry,' said Hermione. 'I really hope so. Otherwise you and Dumbledore could be in a world of trouble,'

    They sat there in silence, each wondering what would happen to Harry if the people present at the hearing suspected that the Veritaserum was a fake. Finally, Ron said, 'So who do you think will get the position of Minister?'

    'I don't know,' said Harry, 'but from what McGonagall said, Percy won't be favored just because he's Junior Assistant,'

    'Good. That might actually be a step down from Fudge,' said Ron in a relieved voice.

    Hermione frowned. 'Ron! He's your brother!'

    Ron ignored her.

    'Maybe it will be The Reedy Man,' said Harry thoughtfully.

    'I doubt it,' said Hermione. 'He couldn't defend Fudge today, so I don't think anyone would vote for him as the new Minister. Maybe it will be Dumbledore,'

    'That would be horrible!' said Ron.

    'Not really,' said Hermione loftily. 'As Headmaster, Dumbledore can protect everyone in Hogwarts. As Minister, he could protect everyone in town from Voldemort. It would be a greater position,'

    'Dumbledore wouldn't just leave us,' said Ron, not sounding as though he quite believed it himself. 'I mean, not with Harry here and everything, would he?'

    Harry shrugged. He suspected that if Dumbledore was offered the position again he would turn it down, just like he did the last time, but he wasn't exactly ready to bet everything he had on it.