Hey everyone,
Okay, so if I were to believe the current tallies, CharliexTonks is definitely a certainty, yet NevillexKairi is still a little in the air as there is only one vote for that pairing and I know there have been plenty others that have read the chapter. Please people, consider whether or not you want the pairing and let me know.
Thanks in advance,

Venquine1990


Chapter 22
A Trial? Maybe Not

12th of August 1995
Ministry for Magic
Harry's POV

Mum, dad, Lea, Sora, Riku and I have been spending most of the last 48 hours of thinking out all kinds of possible scenarios as to how my hearing – soon to probably be trial – could go and we even asked the advice of both Kingsley and Alastor Moody from time to time and now we feel completely ready for all of Fudge's craziness.
Moody had definitely tried keeping his paranoia at a more reasonable level, yet I hadn't blamed him for the few times it ran away with him as it must be an after-effect of the many months he had been kept stuck as a prisoner in his own trunk and further evidence had come from the fact that I didn't see said trunk during the move.

The last few hours of last night's meeting had been spent making sure we had our main plan at the front of our minds, that everyone remembered their main roles and that we had the robes and accessories to prove that we do indeed take both this hearing and our roles in the Wizarding world very, very seriously.
Professor Dumbledore had been a little hesitant with the idea of letting Sora, Riku and myself in on Family Politics and how the higher society circles worked, yet Sirius had silenced his arguments as he said: "If we don't teach them this, Albus, then we give the advantage to Fudge. And I won't let that happen anymore."
Dumbledore had nodded in agreement and told us he would wait outside the trial room and that he would stand by as a possible witness for whenever we would need one as well as be our bridge between the trial room and Potter Manor by making sure Fawkes would flame in whoever we could consider necessary.

"We have everything covered, I just know it." Is something that has been going through my mind practically since we left Potter Manor for the Ministry, yet even with that – and with how incredible the Ministry looks, both the Atrium as well as everything else – can I not help but have a queasy feeling go through my body.
Lea and the others have definitely noticed my discomfort and dad took care of it on the way here as we had taken a limo to the Ancient House Entrance and the man had transformed into Snuffles before lying himself on my lap, his huge form feeling like a protective cocoon ready to surround me and keep my safe from harm.
And once we had reached the entrance and once we had passed through it and made sure to take the more private route – even though I did get to take a peek at the Atrium as we passed it – had Lea taken over from where dad left off and had he helped me walk by keeping one hand heated up with fire power and against my lower back.

Then we enter the hallway where the courtrooms that were used during the last war had taken place and we all stand close together, mum, dad and Lea standing around me in such a way that they tell those passing us without uttering a word to not try anything with me as they will attack and crush anyone who would dare to.
"Hey, what are you doing here?" A shocked voice asks and when we look up, we see Fudge, a woman that I can only assume is Umbridge thanks to her looks fitting the book's description as well as Percy, the first two looking a mix of shocked and angry, while Percy just looks shocked and Sirius shrugs as he says:
"Just waiting for the Minister to stick his nose where it doesn't belong, is all. This the one you picked, Fudge? Cause I do believe I can hear Augusta's sweet tones ringing through that tick as oaken door." And the man turns to the door besides us in even greater shock before Umbridge asks: "And why did she go there unsummoned?"
To which Riku steps forward with a stern look on his face that really reminds me of his grandmother and seems to do the same for two of the three adults in front of me before he says: "She is here because the Wizengamot has other more important things to do than get involved in a feud between its leader and a 15 year old boy.

Such as witnessing the official union of two Most Noble and Most Ancient Houses and the recognition of three heirs to three Most Noble and Most Ancient Houses, the former two included. Now if my mate by Veela nature, Sora Arturo Black, will excuse me, I will go and join my grandmother to accept Heirship to House Longbottom."
And while the astonishment is clearly visible on the faces of those standing in front of me, does Sora play his part perfectly as he accepts the kiss Riku gives his cheek with a smile that is so filled with love, one would almost feel as if they are watching a husband kiss his wife goodbye before he leaves for work or something.
"That –that – that –." Percy stutters, again proving how easily he loses his professionality if faced with something unexpected and I strongly state: "The son of Frank and Alice Longbottom and the brother to Neville Franklin Longbottom. And this is my brother, Sora Arturo Black, son of the Most Noble and Most Ancient House of Black.
And finally, I am Harry James Potter, son of James Potter and the Veela Sirius Orion Black, the brother to Sora Arturo Black and Heir to the Most Noble and Most Ancient House of Black.""You youngsters just don't know when to stop lying, do you?" Umbridge then tries to sweetly asks me, yet I keep calm and retort:

"Dare to try and find out for yourself?" And while waiting for no more response other than the woman taking a step back in shock at hearing me challenge her like that, do I nod at my parents and kiss Lea on the cheek in the same way Riku did to Sora earlier, the man responding by caressing my cheek before I motion Sora to follow.
And while leaving Fudge, Umbridge and Percy sputtering and leaving Lea, mum and dad proudly smiling in my wake, do I keep the door open as I pass into Courtroom and strongly state: "Madam Bones, Lady Longbottom, thank you both very much for accepting our request for you to come here this – potential morning."
And while I can tell that Sora and Riku, by now, have a bit of trouble keeping to the plan without breaking face, do the two women nod at me before Madam Bones says: "Naturally, Heir Potter, especially after the most peculiar message your owl left at my desk early last night." At which I smile and reply calmly:

"Of course, this may be a most beneficial day for my House and Family – if the Wizengamot can prove to be as helpful as I believe it can, of course." The woman nods and then Fudge, who had practically shot into the room when he heard me thanking Madam Bones for being here as well, splutters and says:
"Just wait a minute, why was I not informed of this Wizengamot meeting?" And to my delight does Madam Bones say: "We have been trying all night, Cornelius. It's not our fault you have been constantly saying not now whenever we tried." And the man seems disgruntled that he himself caused this issue before Percy asks:
"And what exactly are the topics that will be brought up in this meeting, huh? More lies?" And while I silently wonder: "Has he actually decided to ignore the whole meeting he had with the queen only a few days ago?" Do I calmly answer: "House Potter will report its meeting with Her Grace a few days ago as well as other things."

The man cringes at hearing this, proving my earlier thoughts right and then Sora says: "Minister, seeing how you got our last Chief Mugwump dismissed, I do believe you would benefit us all if you take your designated seat. There are many topics that need discussion and even magic does not make time pass slower, you know."
This makes Fudge stumble before he huffs and indeed takes his seat before I want to roll my eyes as he says: "Well, now that we are all here anyway, I guess this is the perfect time to start something of utmost importance." Yet while I can see Percy hesitate and see Umbridge practically shiver with hidden glee, do I smile and say:

"I couldn't agree more, Minister." And instantly the man sputters as he halts his speech before I take over and say: "Ladies and Gentlemen, witches and wizards of the Wizengamot, I owe you all – an apology." Everyone looks shocked and I try to keep my smile polite and professional instead of victorious as I say:
"I have been raised in the Muggle World and inheritances there are something families take care of always very recently after the passing of a member's death. Therefore, I never inquired into my own family's inheritance at any of the few times I visited Gringotts, nor did I ever know that my inheritance linked me to other things.
One such being the Wizengamot, another being the Royal House of her Grace and the final even being something that my original birth father kept secret from everyone bar my original birth mother and his friends out of fear for his own mother and her influence in his life. Ladies and Gentlemen, I – am of Veela descending."

And this shocks the whole hall before Sora steps forward and says: "And so am I, ladies and gentlemen, and if you wish evidence, I have a bond formed between myself and Heir Riku of the Most Noble and Most Ancient House of Longbottom.""AHA!" A voice suddenly shrilly shouts and I cringe before Umbridge says:
"Aha! You're lying! There never was a son of House Longbottom named Riku. The only son –." But then Madam Longbottom interrupts her and says: "There was indeed a Riku Longbottom, Lady Umbridge, but even the Unspeakables were unable to locate him after he had vanished on the day of his birth; the 27th of February 1978."
This shocks the pink-clad woman and then Madam Bones asks: "So you two are the missing kids that were both taken and replaced by a fruit that even our finest experts on missing witches and wizards and Herbologists couldn't identify?" And Sora and Riku nod before Madam Bones says: "Then your claim to House are indeed legit."

And I smile as Riku steps up and says: "I will go first, if that pleases the court." And bar Umbridge, Percy and Fudge, does the whole hall nod before a square formed pedestal made of marble and rocks raises itself from the very center of the circular room, the same place as where I know an accused's chair is usually set.
The top of the pedestal is made of two cylinders that are right next to each other and as Riku sets his hands into them, do the two cylinders change until they shape his hands perfectly and as the boy stands there, do I see several of those in the three factions around us tilt their bodies forward in very badly hidden anticipation.
Then Riku speaks and says: "I am Riku Longbottom, son of Franklin Longbottom and Alice Longbottom née Brown, brother to Neville Franklin Longbottom and Primary Heir to the Most Noble and Most Ancient House of Longbottom. I pledge my magic, my skill and my heart to my family creed; fide vivit."

And while this seems to still shock the three at the front row of the Judge's part of the crowd, do others now seem to have even more trouble hiding their excitement as the pedestal turns pure white with a strong magical light before many of those on the Light faction of the crowd cheer as it turns grass green; Longbottom's House color.
Riku smiles at this and pulls his hands out of the molds, which change back into cylinder shapes before Sora takes his place and Riku again kisses Sora on the cheek as he passes, which causes for some eyes around us to widen before the eyes of the Dark faction turn back to my older brother in great anticipation.
Sora takes his place at the pedestal and lies his hands on the cylinder shapes, allowing them to mold to his hands before he waits a few seconds and then says: "I am Sora Arturo Black, son of Veela Sirius Orion Black and James Christian Potter, brother to Harry James Potter and Primary Heir to the Most Noble and Most Ancient House of Black.
I pledge my magic, my skill and my heart to my father's definition of my family creed: Tojours Pur." And again the pedestal turns white for a few short seconds before it turns silvery black, which dad explained us is exactly right as pure black would have been the pedestal denying Sora his right, silvery was the family color.

Sora smiles at this and then pulls his hands off before slamming one of his hands onto the center of the pedestal as he says: "Domum videretur migrare, Bonded Vita. Symbolis et diligere, venerari, et superbia. Fide Vivit et Tojours Pur." And this shocks the whole hall, yet this time the pedestal starts to shine a myriad of colors.
And to Riku, Sora and my delight are the colors a perfect blend of grass green and silvery black, proving that the inner magic of the Wizengamot has accepted the bond between Sora and Riku before Lady Longbottom says: "Know it one, know it all, House Longbottom has joined bonds with House Black. Know it one, know it all."

And this makes me head for the pedestal myself in utter delight, loving how everything is going according to plan and I happily lie my own hands on the pedestal, yet as I wait the few seconds for the pedestal to take a drop of my blood through a needle pricking my left hand, do I then remember a lesson dad taught me and say:
"I am Harry James Potter, son to Veela Sirius Orion Black and James Christian Potter, brother to Veela Sora Arturo Black and brother-in-law to Riku Longbottom of House Longbottom. I am the Secondary Heir to Most Noble and Most Ancient House of Black and Primary Heir to the Most Noble and Most Ancient House of Potter.
I pledge my magic, my skill and my heart to my father's definition of my family creed: Familia super omnia. Furthermore, do I hereby accept the rights of conquest, rightfully mine as of the 31st of October 1981 and with it accept Headship to the Most Noble and Most Ancient House of Slytherin. Potentia vero circuit omnem."
And while this shocks the entire hall, do I then feel a prick of blood being taken from my right hand at the same time that the pedestal turns white and while I know very well that I am taking a huge risk with this all, thanks to Voldemort's resurrection, do I then release my own tense breath as two colors rise from the pedestal.

A golden hue like that of the tail end feathers of a phoenix and a green that was once similar to my own previous eye-color and this makes me smile widely before a ring made of silver snakes appears on my left ring finger and while this shocks many of those in the Dark Faction of the room, do I then continue and say:
"Domum videretur migrare, Bonded Vita. Symbolis et diligere, venerari, et superbia. Familia Super Omnia et Vinculis Cor aeternum ardebit." And while I can tell that I have confused everyone as Lea made his family creed over the course of the last few days, a creed that her Grace accepted only yesterday after an urgent meeting.
Everyone looks confused and then mum walks in and says: "Know it One, Know it All, House Potter has joined bonds with House Flare. Know it One, Know it All." And while many look at each other confused, do I look at mum inquiringly as he promised me he would approve or deny the usefulness of my next move.
The man nods and I nod back before I speak and say: "Domum videretur migrare, Bonded Vita. Symbolis et diligere, venerari, et superbia. Familia Super Omnia et Diversum, sit tibi, Diversum, sit tibi." And while this shocks everyone around, does my family's golden color then get joined with a very familiar bright shade of red.
"Know it One, Know it All, House Potter has joined bonds with House Weasley through twin sons, Fred and George Weasley." And with that do the two of them move past him from each side together with Lea, all three of them coming to stand with me as they say: "Domum videretur migrare, Bonded Vita. Symbolis et diligere, venerari, et superbia. Familia Super Omnia et Vinculis Cor aeternum ardebit et Diversum, sit tibi, Diversum, sit tibi."

Everyone in the Wizengamot looks shocked and I think: "Now try and put me in front of this court for a bit of magic. I dare you, Fudge. I dare you." Yet I don't voice this as instead I turn my face to each of my mates, each of them kissing me on one cheek, Lea and Fred on my right and George on my left before I say:
"And now Ladies and Gentlemen, I'd like to present you with the report of the visit her Grace the Queen made to Potter Place and the trial of my father, Sirius Orion Black, that followed this visit." And with that do I begin my tale, speaking of the entire event that marked the greatest changes brought to my life.
The entire time I make sure to mention Fudge and Percy, but not speak of their behavior or words and while I do so, do I notice them constantly tense in feared anger before turning shocked when they realize that I am including them in my tale, but not insulting them or calling them out on anything that could damage their reputation.
And while I wonder what I ever did to make either of them – especially Percy – think so low of me, do I keep this wondering and the pain that it causes to myself and do I focus on those standing around and near me as I tell my tale to the Wizengamot and instead focus on one thing. Operation A Trial? Maybe Not devised by Moody.


And that is that!
Merlin's Beard, that was hard! At first, I wanted to go for the most common thing; a fake trial by Fudge gets crashed by Houses Potter, Black and Longbottom and it ruins all the credibility of Fudge and co. But while the idea of making them true characters that you love to hate, this twist just felt funnier and better.
Now, the trial may be over, but the gang won't be returning home to start back up on the reading right away. There are still things that need to be done and people that need to either be spoken to, have appointments be made with and even one very significant one who needs to be told about the shenanigans of his mother and sister.
Sounds like fun, right?

Venquine1990