Chapter 3-Lucius Malfoy's Trial

Harry found Buckbeak still in Sirius's mother's old bedroom, but couldn't find any sign of Kreacher. Later, he asked Hermione about Kreacher.

Hermione said, "Well, all I heard from the conversation between Dumbledore and Lupin was that Kreacher had gone to the Malfoys'."

Harry said, "But wouldn't that mean Narcissa could find out where the Order is?"

Hermione said, "Well, you'll just have to trust Dumbledore on that."

Harry didn't feel like playing chess with Ron that afternoon. He sulked in the bedroom, missing Sirius's voice, when a voice interrupted Harry from his thoughts.

"Am I interrupting anything, Harry?"

Harry turned around to find Ginny standing in the doorway, and Ginny had grown a little taller since the last time Harry saw her.

Harry said, "Oh, no, Ginny, what can I do for you?"

Ginny said, "Everyone is worried about you, especially Ron and Hermione. You didn't come down and play chess with Ron. That's unusual of you. Is something wrong?"

Harry felt guilty about not being honest with Ginny. "Oh, no, there's nothing wrong."

Ginny said, "Oh, well, Okay, but Mum wanted me to tell you that you got a letter from the Ministry of Magic."

Harry said, "Oh, ok, thanks, Ginny." He ran out the door, leaving Ginny looking a little worried.

Harry got to the kitchen, and Mrs. Weasley was bustling around getting dinner ready, and she saw Harry looking around for his letter, and she put her hands in her apron pocket, and took out a parchment.

Mrs. Weasley said, "Here's your letter, dear."

Harry ripped open the letter, and the letter read:

Mr. Potter,

The Ministry of Magic has asked you to please testify at Mr. Lucius Malfoy's trial on August 22nd at 10 am. You'll need someone to escort you to the courtroom. It can't be Professor Dumbledore, because he'll be presiding over the trial, since he's on the Wizengamot. I suggest you ask one of your friends to go with you. The Ministry has taken extra security measures ever since the Minister has been kicked out, and that You-Know-Who is on the loose. Please send an owl back, and let us know if you can attend that day. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Mafalda Hopkirk

Mrs. Weasley said, "Yes, so what did the Ministry have to say?"

Harry said, "The Ministry asked me to testify at Lucius Malfoy's trial. Can you believe it? At last, I'll be able to tell my story!"

Mrs. Weasley said, "That's great, dear."

Harry ran out of the room, and went searching for Ron and Hermione to inform them of the good news, but he couldn't find any sign of them. He finally found Ginny in the hallway, and asked, "Do you know where Hermione or Ron is?"

Ginny giggled, and said, "Yes, but if I show you where they are, you better not tell Hermione I told you. You see, they have gotten together."

She led Harry to a closet, and she pointed to a peek-hole, and Harry looked in the peek-hole, and he saw Hermione and Ron snogging.

Harry decided that it was not a good idea to tell them right away, so he went to the living room. Moody was sitting in an old chair, yelling, "Constant Vigilance!" at some doxies who were passing by.

Harry said, "Moody, can I ask you something?"

Moody perked up from his seat and said, "Yes, what did you want, Potter?"

Harry said, "You see, I have kind of a problem, and I'm not sure what I should do."

Moody said, "What's the problem?"

Harry shoved the parchment in Moody's grizzled hands, and Moody took the parchment, and read it. After a moment or so, Moody looked up and said, "So, what's the problem? You get to testify at Lucius Malfoy's trial! That's good news."

Harry said, "Yeah, but you see, I'm afraid that if I do that, either Mrs. Malfoy or Draco will try something on me."

Moody chuckled and said, "Not if you have Alastor Moody with you! Constant Vigilance!"

Harry said, "You mean, you don't mind going with me at all?"

Moody said, "Oh, of course not! I have been waiting for this day!"

Harry said, "Ok, I'll go and send an owl back right now."

Moody said, "Ok, but remember, CONSTANT VIGILANCE!"

Harry nodded, and ran out of the room. He found Hedwig sitting on his bed.

Harry said, "Hedwig, I know you're hungry, but I need you to take this to the Ministry."

Hedwig hooted annoyingly, and fluttered out of the window with the parchment in her beak.

The day of the trial came by faster than Harry thought it would be. On that morning, Mrs. Weasley woke Harry up at 7 am, and said that it was time for his breakfast, and that Moody was supposed to be by soon. Moody arrived around 9 am, and Mrs. Weasley wished Harry good luck.

Harry asked Moody, "How are we getting to the Ministry of Magic? Mr. Weasley and I had to take the Underground station last year."

Moody said, "We won't have to do that." He led Harry to a turquoise Ford Anglia, and it reminded Harry of Mr. Weasley's old Ford Anglia that he and Ron had busted in their 2nd year.

Harry said, "Isn't that the Weasleys' Ford Anglia?"

Moody said, "Yep, after your incident with Aragog, Dumbledore sent the car back to Mr. Weasley, and had it fixed for him."

Harry said, "Yeah, but why didn't Ron tell me that they got their Anglia back?"

Moody said, "What do you think? Molly probably hid it from Ron, because of what happened."

Moody and Harry got in the car, and Harry was scared to see how Moody's driving was.

During the trip, Moody had almost hit 2 old women walking on the road, and Moody yelled, "Constant Vigilance!" after they passed by.

At the Ministry of Magic, Moody and Harry were escorted to the courtroom, which was the same courtroom that Harry had his hearing at. They entered the courtroom, and Harry saw Dumbledore sitting at the front of the Wizengamot, and Madam Bones right beside him, and to his surprise, Professor McGonagall, who was taking notes. Harry figured that Percy probably had been fired, and Dumbledore had asked McGonagall to fill in for today. Moody picked a seat in the aisle. Harry took a seat at the defendant's table. Just then, the doors opened, and Narcissa Malfoy entered, holding a handkerchief. Narcissa Malfoy was a thin woman, and had platinum blond hair, and she looked like she had something under her nose. She took a seat behind Moody.

Dumbledore rose from his seat, and announced, "Time for the prisoner to come in now."

Two dwarfs hopped out of nowhere, and went to the back, where they opened a door, and dragged Lucius Malfoy in. Lucius Malfoy was chained all over. Harry heard Narcissa starting to cry. The dwarfs put Lucius Malfoy in the same chair that Harry sat in last year.

Dumbledore began, "Ok, let's get to business. Albus Dumbledore, presiding over the trial, Amelia Bones, interrogator, Harry Potter, witness, Minerva McGonagall, court scribe." Dumbledore then dismissed the guards.

Dumbledore looked at Mr. Malfoy and said, "How do you plead?"

Lucius Malfoy gave a smirk and said, "What do you think, Dumbledore? How do you think you can prove anything?"

Dumbledore said, "Silence! I asked you how you plead."

Mr. Malfoy said, "Innocent."

Dumbledore said, "Ok, Amelia, why don't you begin by interrogating him?"

Madam Bones said, "Ok, alright, Mr. Malfoy, how long have you been in league with Voldemort?"

Harry noted that Madam Bones had said Voldemort's name.

Lucius Malfoy said, "Never! That Potter boy is nothing but a troublemaker. Look what he has done to Narcissa!" He pointed to Narcissa, who was sobbing.

Madam Bones said, "Well, then how do you explain Sirius Black's murder? I know that you were involved somehow."

Mr. Malfoy said, "Why would I kill Sirius Black? Sirius Black is nothing but a murderer."

Harry rose and yelled, "No, Sirius was not a murderer!"

Lucius Malfoy smirked, and Dumbledore said, "Mr. Potter, if you don't stay calm, we will have to kick you out of the courtroom."

Dumbledore said, "I guess we won't need Mr. Potter to testify after all. Since Mr. Malfoy won't tell us anything, it's back to Azkaban for him."

Just then, Narcissa ran to the front of the courtroom and said, "NO! NO! Not Lucius! Lucius, you have to tell them everything!"

Lucius said, "Get off me, Narcissa." The dwarfs took Mr. Malfoy out.

Mrs. Malfoy turned to Dumbledore and said, "Don't think that this is the last time you have seen Narcissa Malfoy!" She stormed out of the room. Professor McGonagall gasped, her eyes wide with shock.

To Be Continued….