Hey everyone,
Damn, the list just won't end! And I mean it, all the challenges that are roaming in my mind put together makes for almost an entire story as I currently have 18 challenges for you, 9 of which have already been put out before you and 9 that I still have in my mind and that will follow – including this one I have right here!
Now, this one is based on yet another clichéd little something called Independent!Harry. It has a feature in it that isn't very often used as a starting ground – and if it has I have yet to find it – and I personally think with how Harry can fight in duels, he should be able to handle what I am about to present to you all in here.
Okay, enough hints,

Venquine1990

Challenge #9
Holding Up The Law

"Charges?" That one word, that one question my headmaster, who is supposed to help me through this, asks to the Minister for Magic who rigged this entire Hearing into some stupid Wizengamot Trial, is enough for me to know that I am, yet again, on my own and that the man just can't be trusted with anything whatsoever.
Angered that the man is not even questioning how a Fifteen year old can be questioned by over thirty adults that usually only bother themselves with the worst of criminals – such as my supposedly criminal godfather – do I listen with an angered ear as Fudge states what I have supposedly done wrong and when he finishes, do I sneer:

"And you don't find it wrong, strange or suspicious that, of all the spells I have learned at Hogwarts, that is the one I use? You don't find anything wrong with that at all?" The man looks shocked and asks: "Well, why would you use that spell?" But I glare at the man, not willing to give him anything to use against me and retort:
"Why do you think?" Making many of those around me whisper and mutter amongst themselves and while Dumbledore tries to catch my eye, obviously wanting to tell me to leave this to him, do I ignore the ancient man as the redheaded young adult besides the Minister sneers at me and says: "You would do well to respect your elders, Potter."
But at this I send my glare from Fudge to the boy in person and spat back: "And you would do well to know where true loyalty is supposed to lie, with the family that actually cares for you, traitor." The boy reels back, his stance rigged with shock and his eyes wide before I turn to a random person in the crowd and ask:

"Excuse me, ma'am, but what, to you, would be a valiant reason to cast a Patronus spell?" The woman seems shocked that I addressed her, but then regains her bearings and while many of those around her now look at her, does she answer me curtly: "The only reason I would find worthy of that spell would be an attack by Dementors."
At this I nod, but then Fudge snickers and says: "Very well played, Potter, but Muggles can't see Dementors." To which I retort: "But I can. And thanks to you keeping them at Hogwarts after two attacks on my life, can I sense them coming long before they are even within a mile radius of my position, thank you very much."

This makes cries of outrage and distress be heard all over the room and I say: "When a Dementor comes near me, I feel as if all of my happiness – the little that I actually have – has been drained from my entire form. I feel as if Voldemort himself is walking on my grave. I feel as if I am being beaten down from deep within me.
I feel the cold winds that the Dementors exclude, I feel the way they seem to suck the very oxygen out of the air, I can hear their rattled breath, the way they – through their mouths – try to find their finest of victims. I have felt all of this when my cousin and I were walking home and if you were to question Dudley, he would answer the same.

Because while Muggles can't see Dementors, they can feel them and my cousin is terrified of magic. He thought I was the one using the magic caused by the Dementors and decided to punish me for it before he tried running. I have, here, the evidence of that punishment." And with that I show them the fading bruise.
Everyone looks at the fading mark on my chin, just under my jaw line in shock and I say: "Dementors are the only valiant reason anyone in this world would use a Patronus Charm and the fact that I stand before you all today proves that I cast one to protect myself and my cousin, which falls under the Clause of Self Defense."

"Or it proves that your entire story is false and that you're just remembering how they felt two years ago." Percy then spats at me, but I only glare at him and ask: "And why do you think that?" To which the redhead smirks and says: "Because no fifteen year old should be magically capable of producing a Corporal Patronus."
And while mutters of agreement now sound through the hall, can I only roll my eyes and say: "Unless they – as a third year – were taught the spell by a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher – or did a certain someone perhaps forget my private lessons with Professor Lupin in that year, Mr. Weasley." I sneer the name at the end.
The redhead sits back, the arrogance and sense of victory that he was exuding now gone as his face and ears are red with shame while Fudge asks: "Can anyone of that year confirm that you were taught that charm, Potter?" And at this I smile, feeling proud that I am winning my case without needing anyone's help and I answer:

"Only the entire Hogwarts population that was witness to the Gryffindor-Ravenclaw Quidditch match that year, Minister, as Draco Malfoy and his goons – in front of witnesses, I would like to add – attempted to disguise themselves as Dementors in an effort to make me fall off my broom and give victory to Ravenclaw."

At this the man sits back in shock and asks: "You – you can actually –?" I then turn to the woman from before and ask: "Permission to provide evidence to my statement, Ma'am?" The woman nods and says: "I hereby give Harry James Potter allowance for one underage casting of magic in this Wizengamot trial."
And while the ancient man besides me looks shocked and flabbergasted, a look he has been carrying almost the entire hearing, do I allow for the feeling of being reunited with my friends and godfather to fill me up from within as I grab my wand from my inner robe pocket and aim it straight in front of me, whispering with a clear voice:

"Expecto Patronum." And just like ten days ago, when I remembered the faces of my friends just when I believed all hope was lost, does the brilliant white stag, proud set of antlers, powerful hooves and lean, muscular form erupt from my wand, the creature itself whiter and stronger than ever before as it prances around.
Everyone looks at the being in shock, Dumbledore even being as wide eyed as the members of the Wizengamot beside him and I flick my wand as if calling the creature, the stag itself actually listening to my call and softly prancing over, bowing his head to my raised hand, yet – like before – vanishing before I can actually touch its face.
Feeling the same thing as before, as if this was only further evidence that I will never have my father back in my life, do I allow for the pain of losing the creature to fill me up again, but do I not allow for this pain to show on my face as I instead look at Fudge defiantly and say: "As you can see, Minister, every part of my story is the honest truth."
The man looks shocked and white, his hands trembling on the arms of his seat, while even more voices are now muttering around me, my ears picking them up and easily discerning that their uttered words are in my favor before I decide to end this stupid charade and make Fudge realize his mistakes once and for all and say:

"Then again, other than beliefs that are yours and not mine, what reason would you ever think of me to have to lie about anything, whether it be the soul-sucking ever terrifying monsters that are known as Dementors – or the monster that made me famous over losing the two people that actually loved me, my parents; James and Lily Potter."
And with that one question do I make Fudge turn into a ghost with how white his skin turns, do I make Percy drop the quill he was using to describe the trial, do I make Dumbledore stagger beside me and do I silence every single witch and wizard around me, the silence itself proving the power and truth behind my words.

Challenge rules:

Harry taking control of the Hearing

Harry winning the Hearing

Dumbledore cannot interfere with how Harry wins the hearing

Fudge realizing that he has no chance of winning

Harry proving that Fudge's words about him are lies

Guidelines:

Madam Bones emancipating Harry

Harry winning the trial for his godfather

Percy seeing the error of his ways

Umbridge getting caught for the Dementors

Dumbledore accepting Harry as the next Lord Potter

Fudge apologizing to Harry for his actions

Fudge standing up against Voldemort after the hearing

Forbidden:

Harry losing the Hearing

Dumbledore winning the Hearing

The Wizengamot turning against Harry, regardless of his evidence

There, done!
And really, why did no one in the OotP storyline ever come up with that question? Why was it never argued that Harry was considered a liar about his parents murderer? Why did Voldemort have to appear on screen before Fudge realized the terrible mistake he made? Does no one in that world think with common sense?
Anyway, as you can see, I have a lot of issues with the Wizarding World and I often use my stories to have those issues dealt with. No, they're not exactly the issues a child should worry himself with, but hey, Harry never really got to be a kid and I outgrew my childhood years ago and I still love the series as much as I did then.
Who cares, right?

Venquine1990
PS. I know that the challenge rules and such are all about the hearing, but read the bottom AN of the last challenge before this one.