Title: Venom, Tears and Potions

Author: Knife Hand

Feedback: Constructive feedback appreciated, flames unappreciated

Spoilers: Nothing Specific, general for first few books.

Rating: R

Disclaimer: I do not own Hermione, or Luna, or Ginny, or Cho, or... I would buy them all but I am broke.

Summary: Events during Second Year have far reaching consequences that no one could have foreseen.


Hermione could not help grinning as the monotonous and droning voice finished and a few seconds later the majority of the Members of the Wizengamont were shocked awake by the sharp retort of the large volume being slammed shut.

Harry and Hermione were in a 'Secured Observer' gallery to the side of the chamber that was in full view of Members Benches, with four Aurors standing guard around the gallery. Harry was sitting on the backboard of one of the benches in the gallery, his feet on the seat of the bench and his wings at a relaxed spread while Hermione was standing on one foot on the top of the tiny end post of the bench. Both Harry and Hermione were in the Greek style Armour they had worn at the Welcome Feast at the start of the year, with the exception of the helmets and the weapons.

The Article Two Trial had officially started three hours ago and had immediately been side-tracked when the pair of them had been led to the gallery by Lucius Malfoy objecting that they were not in chains in the Prisoner's Chair in the middle of the Chamber. That had prompted Director Bones to have the Archivist, a slight old man who looked almost twice Dumbledore's age to read Article Two in its entirety, hence the three hours and the sleeping Members.

"Let's get this over with." Umbridge said a few seconds after the book slam once everyone was awake. "I will prosecute, Minister Fudge will Judge…."

"Objection." Hermione said immediately, and all eyes swung to her. "As per Section fourteen, subsection Q of Article Two, there are no Judges or Prosecution. There is only the Adjudicator, who must be the most senior recognised Law Enforcement Officer, which is Director Bones."

"The Minister's authority supersedes… hers." Umbridge retorted.

"Not under…." Hermione began again only to be interrupted by Director Bones.

"Miss Granger, please." Bones said, causing Umbridge to briefly smirk. "Let others have some fun. Article Two, as just read for this Chamber, has strict definitions of Law Enforcement Officer, which only six people in this Chamber fulfill. Myself, the four Aurors guarding Mister Potter and Miss Granger, and Madam Longbottom as a former Auror, and her retired status puts her lowest on the list."

"This is unnecessary." One member grumbled. "We have other laws to deal with this stuff, but if we must let's hear it and make a determination."

"Oh, you must have misheard that section during the recitation, Member Hargrove." Bones said with a neutral expression. "Article Two supersedes all other Laws and Provisions, cannot be amended or nullified and if found to be broken will nullify Article One, which is the Article that sanctions the formation of the Wizengamont. In fact, the Members, apart from the Adjudicator, are forbidden from any participation or influence on an Article Two Trial in any manner."

"Then why in Merlin's name are we even here?" Daedalus Diggle exclaimed.

"Funny you should mention Merlin." Hermione said, deliberately flashing her cat fangs.

"As so many of you decided you needed beauty sleep during the reading of the Article, I will briefly recap. Article Two relates to what is knows as Zodiac Apotheosis. In the Trial, it is the Adjudicators primary responsibility to determine if Zodiac Apotheosis has in fact been achieved. If proven to have been achieved, any Zodiac Apotheosis will be granted the same position and authority as the one proven case prior to the writing of Article Two." Amelia Bones explained.

"And who was that?" Dumbledore asked, genuinely curious.

"Merlin." Amelia replied. "If proven to be Zodiac Apotheosis, Mister Potter and Miss Granger will both be granted the title of Arch Magus of the British Isles and will reclaim Supreme Authority over Magical Brittan that has been held in trust, in a limited fashion, by the position of Minister. This body will also revert from having the ability to make laws back to an administrative and advisory body, with membership and size to be determined by the Arch Magus position."

That caused outrage in the Chamber with a lot of shouting and arguing with no fewer than four spells being hurled at Harry and Hermione. The gallery the two teens were in was not called 'Secured' for nothing. A shield almost as strong as the Hogwarts War Wards popped into being around the gallery as soon as the first spell was cast. Minister Fudge was sitting with his head in his hands while Umbridge looked stunned.

Dumbledore and the four Aurors took a few minutes to calm down the chamber and confiscate the wands of the four Members who had cast spells.

"What happens if they are proven not to be Zodiac Apotheosis?" Madam Augusta Longbottom asked once calm had been restored.

"That depends on what crimes they may or may not have committed while using any authority conveyed by Zodiac Apotheosis." Bones replied.

"So, find them not this… thing and then let's get on with the real Trial of them being Creatures." Umbridge declared.

"Do you need a wax clearing spell for your ears?" Bones asked. "I said what crimes they committed using Zodiac Apotheosis authority."

"What is involved in determining if their Zodiac Apotheosis is real or not?" Dumbledore asked.

Amelia took a deep breath and began to explain the spell from Article Two.


"Hey Sis, have you seen the Archangel and the Sexy Catgirl today?" George asked, getting him a whack over the back of the head from Alicia.

"They got the Article Two Trial today." Ginny replied, giving Hedwig a scratch under her beak as she perched on Ginny's shoulder.

The snowy owl had become quite friendly with Ginny since her recent interactions with Harry and Hermione, and had gone flying with Ginny and Harry a few times after Quidditch Practice.

"What is this thing all about anyway?" Neville asked.

"The way Hermione explained it to me, the Ministry were being dicks so Hermione is slapping them down." Ginny explained.

"By getting put on trial?" Angelina asked.

By this time the entire Gryffindor Common Room was listening in.

"If things go the way Hermione expects, let's just say a lot of the unfair laws from the last few decades will be… negated." Ginny said.

"Oh, come on." Lavender Brown exclaimed. "You can't leave it at that. Details girl."

Ginny simply smiled and refused to say more.

TBC….