Chapter 14
At about quarter past three the next afternoon, Harry was finally up and out of his hospital bed, though not before Madam Pomfrey had checked him over three times. He had decided to wear his Hogwarts robes, over his jeans and a t-shirt. They were the smartest clothes he owned and he wanted to make a good impression. It was not long before Ron and Hermione tuned up, both also in their Hogwarts robes, and they made their way down to the entrance hall. Harry couldn't stop his spirits from rising slightly. It had been a good long three days since he had been out of the hospital wing and he had missed Hogwarts, even if it did sadden him that he would not be returning. As they walked through the thankfully empty corridors (Lessons were in session) Harry's nerves began to tauten, though. He was not prepared for this, he wanted to see Snape go down but he hadn't thought about what he was going to say. He hadn't even thought about the fact that he was going to have to relive every tiny detail of that night again, something he hadn't even talked to Ron and Hermione about, let alone the entire Wizengamot and a lot more besides. His insides began squirming as they reached the entrance hall. McGonagall was already there, and she nodded curtly at them, along with Remus.
"Harry, how are you feeling?" Lupin asked, striding forward and clasping Harry's fore-arm warmly. He wasn't sure if Lupin was referring to his nerves or his term in the hospital wing. He nodded either way,
"Not too bad, thanks."
"We're just waiting for Nymphadora and Kingsley now." McGonagall muttered, glancing around. She looked at Remus pointedly, as if he was somehow responsible for Tonks' tardiness,
"I…er, I'm sure they'll be along in a moment." He said lamely. Harry smiled slightly. Suddenly the main doors burst open and a very worn out looking Tonks stepped inside, she was breathing very heavily, as if she had just run a mile.
"So…sorry we're…late, Professor!" She gasped out. McGonagall did not look impressed.
"'We'?" she asked, pointedly, Tonks looked behind her.
"Oh!" She muttered, "Well he was right behind me!" She cried, "I guess I just went too fast for him!" She chuckled, then spotted Remus, Harry, Ron and Hermione, all grinning at her.
"Remus!" She cried, and flung her arms around his neck, kissing him soundly on the lips. Lupin blushed more spectacularly than even Ron could have managed, but smiled all the same. She finally let go and turned to Harry,
"Watcher, Potter!" She grinned clapping him on the back,
"Hi Tonks," he smiled, glancing at her bubblegum pink, spiky hair. She shook Ron's hand, and hugged Hermione warmly. Harry was still staring at her hair wondering absently if she was going to keep it that way during the trial. She must have seen him looking and guessed exactly what he was thinking, because she grinned at him,
"Here, would you like to see how it's going to be during the trial?" She asked, turning back to him, Harry nodded, smiling. Tonks scrunched up her nose, a look of intensity on her face and suddenly her pink hair changed to a shocking greasy black, and grew in length until it was just above shoulder length. When it had finished changing Hermione gasped. Harry didn't know what to say. She had the exact same hairstyle as Snape. Ron whooped, and began laughing. Tonks winked cheekily,
"That's not all," she said mysteriously. She spun on her heels and shaved into the back of her head were the words, 'SNAPE SUCKS'. Harry let out a roar of laughter; he knew the silent message would drive the man wild with anger. It was just what he needed to keep the afternoon relaxed. "Not bad, huh?" She asked. Hermione was smiling slightly, "Come on Hermione," Tonks said, "You've got to admit, this'll get his back up!" Hermione gave up her battle and grinned outright. Ron clapped her on the back and said, "That's my girl!" Making Hermione blush, with what Harry could only assume was pleasure. Suddenly, Kingsley appeared in the doorway. He didn't look as worn out as Tonks had, at all.
"My apologies, Minerva." He said, turning to McGonagall, "Tonks was late and I did not feel it was necessary to run all the way up here, as she did." McGonagall merely nodded, and walked out through the doors, onto the grounds.
"Well thanks Kingsley, she's already in a mood." Tonks whispered to her auror workmate. Kingsley merely smiled at her,
"Nice hair." He commented and Tonks' irritation seemed to vanish.
"You okay, Harry?" Remus asked as they strolled down the lawn towards the gates. Harry nodded,
"Just a little nervous." Remus said nothing but put a comforting arm round Harry's shoulders as they walked. As they neared the gate that marked the boundary of Hogwarts' territory, Minerva, who was in front, stopped and turned to look at the assembled group.
"I doubt there will be any problems. This is a high security trial, so there are plenty of aurors around, but I want Potter surrounded at all times, understood?" Remus, Tonks and Kingsley all nodded. McGonagall moved next to Ron and Hermione, "Remus, you, Kingsley and Tonks apparate with Harry into the ministry atrium, we'll come in behind you." Everyone nodded their agreement, and continued to walk down through the gates in their groups.
"Okay, Harry, if you-"
"See any death eaters turn back, no matter what your circumstances," Harry completed in a mock bored tone.
"You have the boy well trained, Remus." Kingsley murmured in his deep voice, a twinkle in is eyes. Lupin smiled at the auror.
"On three then, chaps?" Tonks asked and Harry, Remus and Kingsley nodded,
"One, two, three…" Harry spun on his feet, concentrating on the ministry atrium, and when he opened his eyes, he was standing in the middle of Remus, Kingsley and Tonks, who all had their wands out, facing away from him.
"Clear!" Called Tonks,
"Clear!" Remus said,
"Clear!" confirmed Kingsley. Slowly all three lowered their wands, and turned to face the main atrium. Harry remembered it clearly from his fifth year. It hadn't really changed, though the statue of magical brethren had been destroyed when he had returned to 'save' Sirius, so that was no longer there. He sighed. He really did not want to be here.
"You okay?" Remus whispered quietly. Lupin was probably one of the few people that missed Sirius as much as he did, meaning he was acutely aware of what happened the last time Harry set foot in the ministry.
"Yeah…" Harry muttered in return, "I guess so. Let's get this over with." There was a crack as Ron, Hermione and McGonagall appeared next to them.
"Everything okay?" Ron asked, looking at aHarry HHHHHHHHHHH
Harry, who nodded back. Hermione checked her watch,
"It's just gone half past," she informed McGonagall,
"We need to get down to the courtroom, I believe we're in room 9, Minerva?" Remus asked her. The strict Professor nodded.
"This way then." Tonks said cheerfully, taking the lead. Harry didn't understand how she could be in such a good mood on a day like today, then again, perhaps the prospect of watching Snape get locked behind bars for the rest of his life was quite appealing to her. It certainly was for him. They all followed Tonks as she led them out of the atrium and into the lift. Harry watched absently as the paper memo's fluttered around the lift light, exactly as they had the time he had come for his own trial. He felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to look into Remus' concerned eyes,
"You look really pale, Harry, try to relax." Harry just nodded again. As the lift stopped (Harry wasn't even aware of what level they were on) Tonks walked out confidently, everyone else trailing along behind her.
"Left, Tonks!" Kingsley called, from just behind Harry. Tonks suddenly skidded to a halt and took a left down a few flights of stairs. Harry could hear her muttering to herself,
"Derr, why didn't I remember that?" At the bottom of the stairs was a hard wooden door with a plaque on that read, 'Courtroom 9- Criminal Trials Grade One'.
"Everyone ready?" She asked, her hand on the door knob. Harry nodded, though he didn't feel exactly ready. Tonks swung the door open, her Snape-esque hair style swinging slightly. Harry smiled to himself as he read the message in her hair. It made him feel slightly better. They all walked through the door into an amphitheatre style room. It looked almost exactly like the courtroom Harry had had his trial in, only newer and more modern looking. It didn't exactly comfort him. They entered the room on the bottom floor, where the prisoners chair was, the chains hanging loosely. Something Harry had seen in Dumbledore's penseive. He remembered with disgust that in that memory Snape had been accused of still being a deatheater and Dumbledore had vouched for him in front of the entire wizengamot. He was slightly relieved to note that Snape was not yet in here. The room was about half full, with wizards and witches scattered in small groups on different tiers of the courtroom. On the left tiers sat the entire wizengamot, there purple robes emblazoned with a majestic 'W'. Harry realised with a pang that this would be the first time they had all met in full since their chief warlock had died. It seemed fitting that they had met now for the first time to see that his murderer was brought to trial.
"We'll need to sit in the front row, seeing as some of us are part of the prosecution." McGonagall stated, moving to sit in the middle tier of seats, on the front row. Harry followed her and sat down on the cold stone bench. He didn't imagine he'd notice once the trial began, but these seats really were not all that comfortable. Ron plonked himself inelegantly down next to Harry,
"God, I swear my arse is going to turn into a bloody brick by the time this is all over!" He cursed, frowning as he tried to make himself comfortable. Harry grinned at his friend.
"Ron. Stop fidgeting!" Hermione snapped under her breath, as the door opened and a big group of wizards and witches came shuffling in. Once they had all sat down in various spots there was not much more room. Harry was beginning to get nervous.
"What time is it?" He whispered across Ron to Hermione,
"Quarter to," She whispered back, looking almost as nervous as he felt. Harry stared around, wondering when the minister would arrive and how long after that Snape would be brought in. The door opened yet again and in walked the other people Harry had been waiting for. In a line came Mr Weasley, Mrs Weasley, Bill, Fred, George, Charlie and to Harry's great surprise Percy, then Hestia Jones, Mrs Figg and many other members of the Order of the Phoenix. The entire room seemed to go still as they filed in, all looking extremely sombre, even Fred and George. Mrs Weasley spotted Harry, Ron, Hermione, Kingsley, Tonks, Lupin and McGonagall and pointed her husband over. Everyone followed and eventually they all stopped in front of Harry who was a little embarrassed to have such a large group all staring at him. The entire court room had all gone quiet and were looking down to the front row, with sombre faces that just masked their interest.
"Stand up Harry dear," Mrs Weasley murmured. Harry did as he was told, and Mrs Weasley almost knocked her husband over to give him a hug. There followed many hugs and handshakes for Harry. It seemed the entire Weasley clan and everyone else that had arrived with them seemed to want to wish Harry luck and tell him that his account was sure to bring Snape down. Far from making Harry feel better it made him even more nervous. Luckily though, as soon as the attention was off him, everyone began greeting McGonagall, Ron, Lupin, Tonks and Hermione, and Harry felt he could relax. Once the newcomers had taken their seats behind Ron and Hermione and the rest of his friends, Rufus Scrimgeour entered. He looked exactly the same as he had when he had spoken to Harry at Dumbledore's funeral, and Harry found that despite what he had called the wizengamot in for, he liked the man no more. He limped into the room and scanned the room, his piercing almost yellow eyes resting for a fraction of a second on Harry's emerald ones. The look told him at once that Scrimgeour was confident about this event, and for that Harry was grateful. The room silenced as Scrimgeour moved into the centre of the room, his purple robes swishing energetically as he limped.