Harry Potter versus Ministry Officials Ch.2
Disclaimer: Don't own it, and after book 6, not quite as sure if I want it.
A/N: Speaking of which, in light of book 6, this is now AU.
A/N the second: As I'm waiting on my beta to work out a couple of chapters I sent him, I decided this story could use an update. I don't want to overwhelm him. grin
"All rise. For this trial, Head of Wizengamot Albus Dumbledore presiding. The case of Harry Potter versus Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge."
"The charges against Mr. Fudge are as follows: slander, libel, gross incompetence, abuse and misuse of privilege and power, bribery, coercion of the press, and aiding and abetting known felons. Mr. Fudge, if you are found guilty of all these crimes, an added crime of treason will also be added."
The courtroom was stunned. What a list.
"In order for this session to go on, Mr. Potter's original list has been narrowed down to the current charges. Otherwise, listing them alone might take several hours."
A giggle was heard from somewhere in the audience.
The Auror looked around. "Part of the testimony will be Pensieve based, so I suggest that everyone settle in for a long wait."
No one got up to leave, so the Auror shook his head. "Just warning you, folks."
Dumbledore's gaze swept over the crowd, and he sat down. The rest of the courtroom sat after him.
"Mr. Fudge. Based on the number and kind of accusations against you, it has been requested that you take Veritiserum. Would you?"
Fudge shook his head. "I refuse. This is a farce of a trial, to try to oust me from my elected position."
Dumbledore nodded. "So noted. Please understand that the charge of abuse and misuse of power will be the first to be brought up. If dismissed, we will go onto the next charge. If it is not, you will be required to submit to Veritiserum to ascertain exactly how far said abuse has gone."
Fudge shrugged. "Either way. I'll be proven innocent, or you will force me to take it and have to take my proof that nothing has happened."
The prosecuting attorney stood up. "Mr. Fudge. Do you have a Gringotts account?"
Fudge nodded. "Yes, every wizard does."
"Not quite every wizard, but close enough." He looked at the papers in his hands. "Would you care to tell the court what Vault number 873 was set up for?"
Fudge looked thoughtful for a moment. "Emergency Funds, in case of loss of stability at the Ministry, if I remember correctly."
"And has this vault ever had use?"
"Once, when He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named stormed the Ministry. It took two months to get everything back together. The vault was used to pay employees and contractors to rebuild."
"Do you happen to remember the name of the contractors used?"
Fudge shook his head. "No, I'm sorry. I don't."
The attorney smiled. "Don't worry, I have it. I believe it was WWMC, Witches and Wizards Magical Contructions."
Fudge nodded. "That sounds familiar, it probably was them."
"Yes, I have documentation to that point. But did you know that WWMC is a subsidiary company of another?"
Fudge looked slightly nervous. "No, I didn't."
"They were a subsidiary of WMD, Wizards of Market Development."
Fudge's attorney rose. "I object. This has no purpose in finding Minister Fudge's guilt."
The prosecuting attorney shook his head. "I'm getting there."
Dumbledore nodded. "Objection denied. But please do get to your point."
He nodded. "Now, I happened to be doing some checking into WMD, and it seems that 95 percent of the stock is being held by a trust. The trust is GWB, Godfrey Weatherby Bonds. And did you know, GWB is ran by none other than Mr. Fudge here."
Dumbledore's eyes raised.
"So, Fudge brought his own company in to do the repairs. I guess that wouldn't be bad, so long as a fair price was paid. But I have a copy of the bill, and ladies and gentlemen, the bill came to over six million Galleons."
A gasp rose from the crowd. Fudge lowered his head.
"So in reality, Fudge made himself several millions Galleons, and still cut corners on the reconstruction. Which required WWMC to be brought back three times, each to the tune of several hundred thousand Galleons to fix their mistakes."
Fudge had slumped into his seat by this time.
"So, Fudge managed to embezzle about 4.5 million Galleons, the rest of which went to actually pay for the reconstruction."
Dumbledore nodded. "Auror, please administer the Veritiserum to Mr. Fudge."
The Auror stepped up. Fudge glared at him. "When this trial is over, and I am back as Minister, you will be fired." He hissed at him.
The Auror shrugged, and put three drops of the Veritiserum on Fudge's tongue.
The effect was immediate, as Fudge's eyes glazed over.
Dumbledore looked out to the crowd. "The rest of this will be word testimony from Mr. Fudge, with the Veritiserum being re-administered if it begins to wear off."
Dumbledore turned to Fudge. "Please state your name, place of Residence, and current occupation."
"Cornelius Oswald Fudge. 123 Birch St, Willowswoods. Minister of Magic."
"We'll start with the top of the list then. Mr. Fudge, have you ever knowingly said untrue statements about anyone in the courtroom today, for any reason?"
"Yes."
"Who and why please."
"Albus Dumbledore, I wanted to discredit him a few years back about the return of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Harry Potter, for the same reasons as Albus Dumbledore. Several Ministry workers present, but I do not know their names, in an attempt to discredit their work."
Dumbledore raised an eyebrow. "Was there anyone not in the courtroom that you have done the same too? If so, who and why as well."
Fudge started rambling off a long list of names, with reasons why. Finally Dumbledore had to stop him, 20 minutes later. "Enough. We'll get the whole list from you later. Please re-administer the Veritiserum, as we still have other charges to go through."
It was done, and Dumbledore asked his next question. "Have you ever had anything printed that was knowingly untrue in an effort to undermine them?"
"Yes." Fudge's monotone voice said.
"Please list just the names. We'll be able to look these up."
"Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, every member of the Weasley family, Percy Weatherby, Bartimus Crouch Sr., Amelia Bones," Fudge went on and on, the list incompassing just about every person that was either a part of the old Order of the Phoenix, or against Voldemort.
Dumbledore looked at him. "Considering the list of names, I must ask. Are you, or have you ever been a Death Eater?"
"No."
"Have you ever had Death Eater sympathies, or wanted to become one."
"No."
Dumbledore frowned. "Have you ever accepted large monetary or other contributions from a Death Eater?"
"No."
Dumbledore was confused. "Alright… Have you ever accepted monetary or other contributions from someone convicted of being a Death Eater, regardless of whether or not you think they are?"
"Yes."
A smile. "Alright, who please."
"Lucius Malfoy, Draco Malfoy, Bartimus Crouch Jr."
Dumbledore waved his wand at Fudge, and said a word. "Silencio" He then looked at the courtroom. "Considering everything we have heard, Mr. Fudge has met the terms for gross incompetence. Even after the trials, he still assumed they were not Death Eaters. Also, as they have been sentenced, he is also guilty of aiding and abetting known felons."
He removed the silencing spell from Fudge, and looked at him. "One last question then, Mr. Fudge. Have you ever in any way made a newspaper write something that at least one person did not want to have written?"
"Yes."
Dumbledore looked to the Auror bailiff. "Please give him the antidote to the Veritiserum."
The Auror did, and as Fudge's eyes came back into focus, he cringed at the thought of what he'd said.
"Mr. Fudge. The court finds you guilty of all charges. If I may remind you, also adds the charge of treason, in which you are found guilty. You are removed from your position of public service, and will serve two consecutive life sentences in Azkaban. Accordingly, the court appoints Department of Magical Law Enforcement Amelia Bones as interim Minister until a new election can take place."
Dumbledore rapped his gavel on the bench. "Court dismissed."
