Chapter 4 – The Council
Harry, Ron and Hermione exchanged half-worried looks, as if they were being led into the Headmaster's office for a scolding. Fred and George seemed to jump into chair almost in unison, as if they had been practicing all day. Dumbledore began before everyone else was seated.
"I am certain by now that you received an owl informing you that the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Wizardry has been altered so allow you to use magic earlier than expected. Allow me to explain before anyone stresses herself out with the thought that all the Ministry laws have gone to ruin." Dumbledore paused and snuck a look at Hermione who blushed in turn. "Fifteen years ago, after the Dark Lord, Voldemort was defeated, the Ministry convened a special council to put in place an emergency plan of action should a similar situation arise anytime in the future. Appropriately named The Council for Dark Wizard Contingency Planning was founded and consists of the heads of The Department of Magical Law Enforcement, the Department of Magical International Cooperation, the Department of Mysteries, and The Headmaster of Hogwarts, as well as the Arbiter of Azkaban Prison and the Minister of Magic. This council also reserved the right to declare a state of Dark Wizard Emergency, and thus enact and enforce any law by a vote of our council members. The same council is responsible for holding trials and sentencing Dark Wizards. After the events at Ministry last month, our Council was convened, in private, and declared an internal state of Dark Wizard Emergency, meaning the wizarding world at large, would not be informed of all the proceedings but the council did meet and enacted several new laws. Since these specific events are so closely tied to the students of Hogwart's, I proposed that Underage Wizardry be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and privileges to use magic be granted to any students deemed appropriate by the Headmaster. We approved it unanimously and thus all of you present here were given permission by the Ministry to use magic freely, but with one exception: you are not to apparaite or disapparaite until you are taught properly." Dumbledore raised his hand before Hermione could interrupt, "Apparaiting is one of the most complicated tasks for young wizards and witches to learn and until proficient, is easily detectable and traceable. It is quite possible that Dark Wizards, much like those in close with Voldemort, would be able to track your movements, and follow you to almost the exact spot where you decide to appear. It is, thus, my decree that you will not even attempt to do so, as a precaution to you." He paused again, looking around the table, and those standing behind, mostly elder Weasleys, surveying for question-askers.
He inhaled before continuing "Although I do not wish to ruin your summer by boring with the legal workings of the Ministry of Magic, I must inform you that many of you will be called upon in the upcoming weeks to testify before a Ministry panel about the events of the past year at Hogwarts, especially those occurring in the final days." Dumbledore scanned the young faces seated around the table, his bright blue eyes peaking clearly above his half-moon spectacles. "Since most of the Death Eaters are in custody, they will each have to be tried individually, and while most of them may seem inconsequential to you all specifically, I must warn you that some will be more intimate than I would ever wish for you."
"Who?" Harry asked plainly, trying to remain stoic, knowing who might be listed.
"Belatrix Black Lastrange, Peter Pettigrew, and Lucious Malfoy, among others" Dumbledore replied boldy. Hermione and Molly Weasley each widened their eyes and look at Harry concernedly. Ron just looked confused and wore an appropriate look.
"Belatrix killed Sirious. Pettigrew betrayed my parents, and Lucious Malfoy tried to kill me, on several occasions" Harry began to raise his voice as he leaned forward in his chair toward Dumbledore, who was likewise leaning forward.
"I know, Harry, I know. And I assure you The Council will do everything in our power to sentence any Dark Wizard accused of such crimes to a fate quite deserving, but remember that even when the rules are altered, there are still rules."
"What does that mean?" Harry began to raise his voice even louder, it squeaked as his nerves were obviously affecting his outward appearance. Arthur Weasley placed his hand firmly on Harry's shoulder, half-shoving him back into his chair.
"Your testimony is key in all three trials. Harry, you are at the center of a plot as dark as the Wizarding World has seen in centuries. As you have heard before on many occasions, you are the key to unlocking the mysteries of Lord Voldemort. And no one, not even the Minister or myself or Voldermort can tell you exactly what that means. But your testimony, Harry, and all of yours," he broke eye contact with Harry to motion to Neville, Ginny and the rest "will prove to be critical in the trials to come. I need to know now, if you can all handle that. I need to know now, that the Ministry can count on you to deliver this blow to Voldemort and his forces of darkness." Dumbledore sat back, calmly, as if he had asked something remarkably trivial.
Heads nodded around the table. Fred, George, in unison, Ron, Hermione, Luna, Neville, Ginny, somewhat frantically, and finally, very slowly as if to emphasize his burning desire to inflict Voldemort with the same pain he had suffered over the past 5 years, Harry nodded.
"You can count on me, Headmaster, you can count on me." Harry spoke slowly and somewhat cryptically, his eyes narrowed and Dumbledore bounced his eyebrows ambiguously.
"I have a question." Ron broke the silence with his question, and his arm flung up as if he were back in class. "How can we try Pettigrew if we don't have him? I mean, he got away, didn't he?"
"The state of Peter Pettigrew has been under some debate for the past 15 years. It would seem now as good a time as ever to establish an official decree as to whether or not he is alive, and if so, what his activities have been. Despite his known mischief, no one has been looking for Pettigrew or even understand his role in all this. Peter Pettigrew will be tried in absentia."
"There's going to be one more trial," a voice spoke from the opposite side of the room. The party at the table spun around to see Lupin holding a letter, the post owl who delivered it still standing perched on the banister. "This just arrived for you, Dumbledore."
Lupin reached over the table and handed the letter to Dumbledore, who read it quickly. He paused again, looked quickly at the Weasleys and Lupin. The younger wizards were all in great suspense.
"Sirius Black."
Harry felt his heart sink abruptly into his stomach. His eyes widened as he stared sharply at Dumbledore who returned the focused look. Ron broke the silence.
"But he died! This doesn't make any sense, how can you put a dead, innocent man on trial? Might as well go through the history books and find a bunch of random names, have a trial for them as well." Ron was babbling nervously, not to anyone in particular. He was focused at the ceiling and wasn't stopping to breathe between his quick-conceived thoughts. Hermione leaned behind Neville and slapped him on arm to shut up.
Dumbledore stood up and the room fell silent again. "We begin on Monday. I suggest you get some rest tonight and use tomorrow for something eventful. They say nice weather, perhaps, Arthur, you should take the kids shopping." Dumbledore seemed to be speaking in code to Arthur, who was by now wearing a suspiciously large smile at the sound of the word shopping. Molly caught on and now squinted her eyes accusingly at him, as did Ginny. Dumbledore exited the room into the kitchen, still holding the letter about Sirius' trial.