Chapter 46: An Old Man's Resolve
Anyone near Grimmauld place that night would've thought that there was some kind of battle going on inside. And if not for all the protection wards they put up around it, the neighbors would've surly heard everything that was going on.
All night it had gone into a kinda war with Molly and Sirius actually working together to give Mundungus a piece of their minds—they might've cursed him to within an inch of his life if the other Order members didn't take their wands—though they too were furious. But it wasn't until late, and it was pitch black outside, when Dumbledore finally arrived. He had spent most of the night at the Ministry, trying to prevent anyone from expelling Harry. And when he found Mundungus there, he waited for him to stutter out an explanation to where he was tonight.
"N-now," Mundungus stuttered fearfully as Albus stood over him. "I-if I k-k-kn-knew that D-Deme-dementors wou-would've attacked the b-boy, I ne-never would've left! B-but you see…"
"You mean to tell me," Albus said slowly and carefully, his voice as cold as ice as anger and power seemed to flow out of him. He stood over Mundungus, who shrank back, as if hoping that he could just disappear into the floor. "That you left your post for some old cauldrons?!"
"Now, I k-know it lo-looks bad," he stuttered, practically curled into a fetal position.
But Albus didn't want to hear anymore. He spoke, his voice louder than usual, though not a shout, and his expression terrifying—anyone looking at Albus at that moment could feel it… the sudden drop in temperature that sent shivers down your spine and that feeling of suppressed rage that was so thick in the air you could feel it.
"Don't you realize what you've done tonight, Mundungus Fletcher?" he asked him, his voice dangerous and frightening as Mundungus coward in his seat.
"You've put my student in terrible danger, you've abandoned a post set to you by the Order, and you've lost any of my trust you may have had in the past. You are just lucky that no one was hurt or else you wouldn't have lived to regret it. Now leave here," he said menacingly. He watched with some satisfaction as Mundungus practically crawled across the floor as he fled the kitchen. He stopped to take several deep breaths, not even noticing Ron and Hermione staring transfixed at him from the hall.
'Your temper,' he told himself as he left the house after that. 'You need to keep it under control… you don't know what could happen if you don't…'
It had been a long time since he let his anger out like that, but when he heard what almost happened this night scared him so badly…
He ducked down behind an alley and put his hand up to hide his eyes as he took steadying breaths.
He thought back to that terrified, shell-shocked boy who sat in his office mere weeks ago after the Third Task. Harry sat in his office with Sirius and told him of Voldemort's return. He remembered how he was shaking and how his eyes gazed blankly at nothing in particular, the image of what could've happened to that same boy tonight flashed vividly before his eyes.
That could've been Harry tonight.
At that moment, Albus felt true terror course through him, turning his blood ice cold. 'No!' he thought firmly, shaking his head almost violently. He always swore that he would never let his guard down again… not after what happened with Arianna…
Even though he hadn't even seen Harry since he departed from Hogwarts a month ago, but thinking back, it was almost painful to look at him, even in the aftermath of the Third Task. Every time he looked now, he saw both himself, and his little sister… it was terrifying to him… sometimes he expected the green eyes to turn to that same bright blue that Ariana had.
To him… he wasn't sure which was more torturous to him… seeing a shadow of Ariana in those eyes, or the chance that Voldemort might be looking out instead.
Dementors showing up at Privet Drive were only the tip of the iceberg in the mess that came up. Before he arrived at the Ministry, he sent the Howler to Petunia Dursley, reminding her of what she promised to do, to keep Harry inside the house for his safety. Judging how Harry hadn't left the house since then, and no other signs of magic, he could only conclude that it worked. He was just lucky the boy knew how to repel the monsters or they would not even have a wizard to go and rescue.
After arguing with Fudge for what felt like hours, he finally managed to get Harry a trial and the weight on his shoulders lessened a little; and letting some of that bottled-up anger out on Mundungus made him feel so much better. Once he was done with Fudge, he returned to Headquarters and let his anger out on the person who was supposed to be watching Harry. Sirius, Molly, and Remus were just as mad, they were about to curse him when he told them that he would handle it. Hopefully now, Mundungus would think twice about a business deal again.
Still breathing hard, he turned and left, feeling older than he had in years.
Over the next few days, plans were being made to pick Harry up and to bring him here for the remainder of the holidays and almost everyone in the Order wanted to be there to get him. Albus wanted to go there as well, but he had to keep reminding himself that had to stay away from him.
After three days, Albus saw Alastor off, entrusting with him the parchment, telling were the Headquarters for the Order was, and his own Deluminator for added measure… however, he couldn't help but lament the fact that it was all he could do.
Once they left, he briefly returned to Hogwarts finishing up work, now anxious that he couldn't find anyone other than Severus to take the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts. Nevertheless, he would worry about that later.
He returned to Grimmauld Place later that evening for, yet another, meeting.
"I've been keeping guard all night, Dumbledore," Arthur explained as they looked over a map of the Department of Mysteries. "But so far nothing's happened. The only people who came through the door are Unspeakables. And even if they were Death Eaters in disguise, they wouldn't be able to take the Prophecy now would they?"
"Yes," Albus nodded. "I wouldn't have expected Voldemort to try and take it this early, but I rather not take any chances."
"I'd be more than happy to take guard duty tomorrow night," Sirius offered as Severus snorted from the other end of the table.
Albus looked over at him, and said, "Sirius…"
"Just thought I'd offer," Sirius snapped, leaning back in his chair irritably.
Albus was really beginning to dread these meetings, but hopefully when Harry is here, Sirius will calm down slightly. So, at the moment, he looked up to Bill Weasley and asked, "How are the Goblins taking to the idea of joining us?"
Bill shrugged. "They're still not too keen on the idea of joining forces with Wizards," he confessed. "Though that's not surprising. They aren't that fond of us at the moment…"
"And what about Hagrid?" Molly interrupted worriedly. "It's been a month, but you haven't heard from him or Madame Maxime all that time?"
"Oh, I know that they are more than capable of taking care of themselves," Albus answered with a slight bow of his head. "And we can't expect them to convince the giants to come and fight with us overnight, especially with how the Ministry has treated them. These things take time."
It was at that moment, they heard something at the front door. Molly, who was closest to the door, got up and went to go and answer it. A moment later, Alastor, Remus, Dora, and all the others of the guard had entered the room, all of them looking half-frozen.
"What happened to all of you?" Sirius asked, his eyebrows raised, as Remus took out his wand to perform a Warming Charm.
"Ask Alastor," he answered as graciously as always when Alastor shoved past him and took a chair near the end of the table.
"Don't know why you all are looking at me," he said grumpily as Tonks rolled her eyes. "And I can see when you do that you know!"
"Yeah," Tonks said annoyed. "But if we kept going like you wanted to, we all would've frozen to death before we got here!"
"How did it go?" Albus asked her.
"Could've been better," she muttered, now trying to get the strands of ice out of her hair. "What a night. Flying in the air in the freezing cold in the pitch dark! It was madness! Perfect for Mad-Eye then now that you think about it."
Alastor's magical eye fixed itself on her threateningly as she went on bitterly, "The only way it could've been worse is if it started hailing out there."
"But you all made it here in one piece?" Albus asked her.
"Oh, yeah," she said, sitting down next to Remus, after tripping over her chair, "Nothing life-threatening happened if that's what you're asking. Molly's showing him upstairs."
At her words, Sirius was looking to the door anxiously and Albus knew that he wanted to go and see him, so he decided that they would try to end this meeting so that he could. He could understand—when they told him that Harry got here safely and without incident he couldn't help but give a sigh of relief at those words.
"So what do we tell the kid?" Sirius asked him gruffly, not looking away from the door until Molly came back in.
Albus gave him a dark look, already telling him what he thought of that. "We can't tell him more than he needs to know, Sirius."
"And what do you mean by that?" Sirius asked coolly as Molly took her seat with her husband, looking at them both worriedly.
"I mean, anything about the Order," Albus answered calmly. "We've talked about this before."
"Why not?" Sirius asked darkly, the rest of the Order was now watching the two of them anxiously. "I mean, if I found out that I was being watched 24/7 and that everyone else knew about it but me, I'd be pretty upset and want to know why. I mean, don't you think that he deserves to know why?"
"They're children," Molly hissed at him. "They shouldn't have to be dealing with anything like this before they've even left school!"
"Why not?" Sirius asked. "They're gonna find out sooner or later. Voldemort—" flinches and shudders went around the table but he ignored them, "—isn't going to be hiding forever now is he? And let's not forget that Harry was the one who saw him come back! I think that if there's anyone here that needs to know what's happening…"
"And would you want to tell him what I told you about the prophecy?" Albus asked him calmly, taking great care not to look at Severus as he said those words. Sirius stopped talking at once, as if he had been struck.
Albus hated to use such a low-handed tactic, but he had to keep all of this secret from Harry. And if he knew Sirius as well as he thought that he did, then he would never want to be the one to tell him what was hidden at the Department of Mysteries. He sighed and explained, "I know that this is unfair to Harry, Sirius. But it's too dangerous now to tell him."
"So… what?" Sirius demanded. "That's it? What am I supposed to tell him? You honestly think that he's not going to bother asking any of us what's happening? Fifty galleons say that he's questioning the others upstairs right now."
"Fair enough," Alastor smirked, obviously comfortable and Albus knew that Alastor thought that a successful meeting never happened unless there was conflict and arguing. But Albus didn't even look at him as he gave Sirius a firm look. "It's up to all of you to decide what to tell Harry and the others. But…" he added firmly, "You can't tell him more than he needs to know."
Not long after that, the meeting ended and he quickly left, not wanting to risk running into Harry. He was quite glad to get back to his office and relax. At least until…
"Why are you making me watch my own house?" demanded an annoyed voice on his right.
Albus sighed as he looked up. "Evening Phineas."
"It's bad enough that my worthless great-great grandson is back in the house that he's unworthy of inheriting, but you're making me watch Potter there as well?" he asked.
"Please," Dilys called exasperated. "You haven't watched him since second year when you broadcast to the whole school that there was an attack."
"Why do you ask, Phineas?" Albus asked tiredly, feeling old, "Is something happening?"
"Well, they told the boy some things," he answered with a shrug as if it wasn't worth telling about.
"I thought as much," Albus said. "So long as they didn't tell him to much…"
"Mrs. Weasley and my great-great grandson had this huge row," he said grinning, obviously enjoying it. "I could hear them arguing from the hall."
"About exactly what to tell him?" Albus asked knowingly.
"They didn't tell him much to be honest," Phineas said in a drawling voice. "Just that you're looking for new members, and my worthless great-great grandson let slip about the weapon."
Albus looked up sharply. "He mentioned the prophecy?" he asked at once.
"Well, he didn't come right out and say what it was," Phineas yawned as if bored. "Just that there was a weapon that both sides are trying hard to get their hands on."
Albus groaned, taking off his glasses and rubbing his tired eyes.
"But seriously," Phineas went on. "You think that boy would show more gratitude. Heard him yelling at his friends from my other portrait. He sure isn't happy with you, I can tell you that."
Albus sighed, "He was angry then?"
"Well, the yelling kinda clued me in," Phineas said grinning at him. "For some reason, he didn't seem happy with your protection."
"I expected no less," Albus said grimly. "So he now knows for certain?"
"That everyone else knew that he was being watch except him?" Phineas asked him. "Yep. But instead of being grateful, he was furious with you. Honestly, the way he was yelling, it almost made me go deaf." As if to prove his point, he stuck a finger in his ear to clean it out. As he did he went on, "Youth, always thinking that they can look after themselves when they really have no clue. Said that he was glad that Dung left, because you would've left him there all summer. He's got you down to a T."
Albus tried hard not to listen, but it was very difficult. Phineas seemed unusually pleased to tell him everything.
"But still," Phineas went on. "The way he was yelling—I'm surprised that you all couldn't hear him. So angry with his young friends—thinking that they were holding out on him. Like they would know what was going on…"
"Not that they would be able to tell him much anyway," Albus sighed, knowing that was his fault for keeping him in the dark as well.
"Really though, he sounded like a child the way he was yelling," Phineas said. "He went on and on about fighting dragons and everything else that happened last year, and he was stuck without news. Really, don't know why he was so upset."
"Phineas," Albus said wearily.
"Your name came up as well," Phineas said happily. "Not in a flattering way."
"If that's the worst I get then I'll be a happy camper," he said firmly.
"Your Order members might want to be more careful though," he went on. "Those brats had been eavesdropping on your meetings. They heard about your guard duty but don't have the slightest idea what it is."
"How?" Albus asked.
"Those ear things those two monsters invented," he answered.
"Ah," Albus said simply, having heard about the Extendable Ears that the twins created and how Molly had been set on destroying them. He flipped open the evening copy of the Prophet—not at all surprised to see that there wasn't a word about the Dementors attacking Harry.
"Anymore rubbish in there?" Dexter asked sarcastically before holding up his hands and said dramatically, "Let me guess: The Boy-Who-Lies will be expelled before his trial even begins?"
"Someone's told them to keep that quiet," Albus answered bitterly. "I can't deny that a party of me thought that they would. After everything else they wrote to make him… Well, I see that they want to wait until they think that they've got him expelled."
"Not that you're going to let them?" Everard asked shrewdly.
Before he could answer, he heard Phineas muttered furiously, "Do they have to talk so loudly?"
"Who?" Albus asked politely.
"Potter and Weasley," he answered grumpily. "They're talking and—oh, great! Now the twins are there. They're talking about the weapon."
"And what do they think?" Albus asked.
"Just trying to figure out where it is," he said. "They think that you're keeping it."
Albus chuckled. "If it were up to me, I'd have destroyed it myself. But it's safe were it is at the moment."
He turned over the paper, and saw with mild surprise about the advertisements for the Weasley's mail-order service at the moment. He had a sneaking feeling that Molly didn't know, and made a mental note to forget about it.
*A couple weeks later*
For the next few weeks, he avoided Grimmauld Place like a plague; only going there for two Order meetings in the evenings and always left quickly. But on the night before the Hearing, he had to drop by to see Sirius—who had been asking him if he could go to the Ministry as Padfoot to be there for Harry. But he had to put a stop to it.
"Why not?" Sirius demanded with a cold voice. "You mean I can't even be there to support my own godson?"
"Sirius," Albus sighed, trying to explain once again why this was a terrible idea. Some of the Order members were already in the kitchen talking and he was out in the hallway with Sirius. "First of all, the Ministry won't just let a giant dog go walking through the front doors. And even if they did, you're surrounded by countless people who think that you're a mass-murderer."
"Yeah, but they don't know that I'm an Animagus now do they?" Sirius challenged him.
"You are forgetting that Lucius and other Death Eaters will be there," Albus sighed exasperated. "And they surly know. Wormtail would've told them everything. Sirius, I know that this is difficult for you, but please… you mustn't go."
"And what if he's expelled?" he asked at once. "What will happen? If Fudge had his way, he'd probably have sent Harry to the Closed Ward at St. Mungo's before now! And I don't want him going back to Privet Drive! Look what happened last time! Dementors! And you said that house was safe for him. Look, can he come and live with me if he's expelled?"
Albus could see that there was slight hope in Sirius's face at that. While he knew that Sirius didn't want Harry expelled, the idea that his godson would be able to live here with him full time was something that he desperately wanted.
Albus gave him a sad look. "I won't let them expel him."
Molly, who had just come down from downstairs, looked started to see them there.
"Sirius, it's not safe for you to go," Albus said hurriedly. "If you're caught, then it would only make things more difficult for Harry now wouldn't it?"
Sirius stopped for a moment, though he was looking livid.
"Sirius," he said again, "I promise that I won't allow them to expel Harry. I will ensure that he will be cleared of all charges."
Sirius glared at him before he went slumping off in the direction of the kitchen.
"Dumbledore?" Molly asked him uncomfortably, coming down the last few steps to stand next to him.
"I know," Albus sighed at her. "He means well, but he's frustrated and he feels helpless here. I feel bad for keeping him locked in this house, but it's for his own good."
Molly shook her head, and he could clearly see that she was still hesitate about trusting Sirius. "It's bad enough that the children are constantly trying to eavesdrop on the meetings," she muttered. "But he's not helping to keep this all quiet."
"He's restless," Albus answered her before he glanced up to the upper levels. "Is everyone asleep?"
"Everyone who's still at school is," she said tiredly. "I just checked. I think that they're all worried about tomorrow and…" She stopped for a moment and asked, "Are you sure that Harry will be alright?"
Albus gave her a comforting smile. "I promise that he'll get off. The Ministry may be corrupted, and Fudge is willing to sink as low as possible to discredit Harry, but even he has to obey the law."
"You know as well as I do that he hasn't been following them lately," she said angrily.
"No, but this is a case of underage magic and it will be Amelia Bones who's judging him," Albus reminded her. "She's fair, and sure to understand the circumstances."
Though he didn't dare tell her that he had a bad feeling that Fudge will do something to try and make sure that doesn't happen. But he kept that quiet, knowing that he would take care of it tomorrow. She gave him a tiny smile as she went into the kitchen where everyone else was. He gave her a reassuring smile in return and turned to leave… or at least they thought he did.
He wanted so badly to see the boy, to assure Harry that it would be all right; that it was a case of using magic in defense and that he would surly get off.
But he knew that he couldn't. If he acted like Harry meant no more than any other student to him, then if Voldemort ever did discovered the connection between them, he would be discouraged to try and use against them. And so he pushed the boy away, ignored him in hopes it would deter Voldemort.
But he couldn't help himself as he slowly went upstairs to the room when he and Ron were asleep, just to see him that he was alright with his own eyes would be a welcomed relief. Once he found the right room, he opened the door, careful not to let it squeak, and stepped inside.
There was Harry, fast asleep. He lay with his back to the door, the blanket pulled up to just to his waist. He quietly approached, it was the first time he'd seen him since the leaving feast over a month ago.
His dark unruly hair lay across his pillow, he looked restless, and he was muttering slightly in his sleep as he buried his head deeper in the pillow. He could tell right away that he hadn't been getting much sleep—at least judging from the dark shadows underneath his eyes.
And very soon, if he hadn't figured it out by now, Harry would realize that he was ignoring him, and he would surly grow to hate him for it. But at least he was alive and safe…
Sighing, Albus gently pulled the blanket up a little higher to the boy's shoulder before he left the room and the house.
*The Next Day*
He had a sneaking suspicion that Fudge would pull something like this—which was why he decided to arrive three hours early. They were determined to try and keep him from helping him… but still… to sink this low?
Not only have they changed the time of the hearing three hours early and venue it so that it was now at eight and in Courtroom Ten. He couldn't believe that Fudge was this afraid of Harry that they would resort to his. They haven't used those old Courtrooms since the Death Eater trials. What do they think they're doing using it for Harry's 'underage magic' trial?
He shook his head in outrage. They're trying to make him look bad by making sure he's late… and most likely to intimidate them by putting him before the entire Wizengamot.
"Department of Mysteries," said the cool female voice once he left the lift and strolled down the dark and windowless hallway until he reached the plain black door set at the very end of the corridor.
To his relief, Arthur was already there, pacing back and forth restlessly.
When he heard him coming, Arthur looked up and seemed to be just as relieved to see him. "Dumbledore! They changed the time and—"
"I know," he answered. "It'll be ok."
He strolled passed him and through the door just in time for him to hear, "Interrogators: Cornelius Oswald Fudge, Minister for Magic…"
Albus shook his head; of course that man would make this about him. "Amelia Susan Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement; Dolores Jane Umbridge, Senior Undersecretary to the Minister. Court Scribe, Percy Ignatius Weasley -"
"Witness for the defense, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore," he called out quietly, but still his voice still echoed across the room so that no one could miss it. As soon as he spoke, Harry, who was now sitting in the chair whose arms were covered in chains, turned back to look at him.
Albus was relieved to see that the chains weren't keeping him bounded there.
Doing his best not to look at Harry, he looked up to every single one of them, wearing their official Wizengamot robes, and all of them looking down their noses at them. Did they really have to go through all this to feel they were better than a fifteen-year-old?
All of them were muttering, all eyes on him now. Some looked annoyed that he had the nerve to show his face here. But two very dear friends, Griselda Marchbanks and Tiberius Ogden were waving at him which he nodded politely in return and even managed a slight smile at them.
He then turned back to Fudge, who was looking taken aback—clearly thinking that he had outwitted him.
"Ah," said Fudge jerkily, now looking upset. "Dumbledore. Yes. You - er - got our – er - message that the time and -er - place of the hearing had been changed, then?"
"I must have missed it," he answered him cheerfully. "However, due to a lucky mistake I arrived at the Ministry three hours early, so no harm done."
Better to be early than late… especially when you're dealing with people like this.
He could see a muscle going in the Minister's temple, and his eye was actually twitching horribly, as though he was envisioning unpleasant things happening to him. "Yes - well - I suppose we'll need another chair - I - Weasley, could you -?"
"Not to worry, not to worry," he answered as pleasantly as he could before he took out his wand squashy chintz armchair appeared out of nowhere next to Harry. He sat down, put the tips of his long fingers together and surveyed Fudge with an expression he hoped was polite interest instead of smug know-it-all. The Wizengamot was still muttering and fidgeting restlessly and so he patiently waited until Fudge spoke again, shuffling his notes, obviously tense, "Yes, well, then. So. The charges. Yes."
He found a piece of parchment from the pile in front of him, and read out, "The charges against the accused are as follows: That he did knowingly, deliberately and in full awareness of the illegality of his actions, having received a previous written warning from the Ministry of Magic on a similar charge, produce a Patronus Charm in a Muggle-inhabited area, in the presence of a Muggle, on the second of August at twenty-three minutes past nine, which constitutes an offence under Paragraph C of the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery, 1875, and also under Section 13 of the International Confederation of Warlocks' Statute of Secrecy."
Albus resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Really, just get to the point already.
"You are Harry James Potter, of number four, Privet Drive, Little Whinging, Surrey?" Fudge said, glaring at Harry over the top of his parchment.
'You know he is,' Albus thought privately. 'You were the one who always wanted to meet him after all and get in his good graces.'
"Yes," Harry said at once.
"You received an official warning from the Ministry for using illegal magic three years ago, did you not?" he went on.
"Yes, but -" Harry began.
"And yet you conjured a Patronus on the night of the second of August?" said Fudge quickly before Harry could finish.
"Yes," said Harry once again, "but -"
"Knowing that you are not permitted to use magic outside school while you are under the age of seventeen?" Fudge kept going.
"Yes, but -"
Albus fought the frown threatening to come. He saw where this was going. They were obviously going to steamroll through the confession in hopes of cementing a bad impression of Harry because technically, the boy did cast the spell he will have to answer yes, thus they will simply use that to try and convict him without letting him get a word in edge ways.
"Knowing that you were in an area full of Muggles?"
"Yes, but -"
"Fully aware that you were in close proximity to a Muggle at the time?"
"Yes," said Harry now starting to sound angry, "but I only used it because we were -"
"You produced a fully-fledged Patronus?" Amelia called down, looking down at him with great interest, almost causing Albus to smile knowing that she was impressed.
"Yes," said Harry at once, looking glad that someone other than Fudge was asking the questions. "because -"
"A corporeal Patronus?"
"A - what?" said Harry, off guard.
"Your Patronus had a clearly defined form?" she explained in her booming voice. "I mean to say, it was more than vapour or smoke?"
"Yes," said Harry called out almost desperate to be able to complete a sentence, "it's a stag, it's always a stag."
"Always?" she boomed again, her eyes popping slight in astonishment. "You have produced a Patronus before now?"
'Now she's really impressed,' Albus thought. This was good…
"Yes," Harry answered, "I've been doing it for over a year."
"And you are fifteen years old?" she asked almost before he even stopped talking.
"Yes, and -" Harry called, and once again, he was being interrupted before he could finish.
"You learned this at school?"
"Yes, Professor Lupin taught me in my third year, because of the -"
And he also put in a good word in for Remus as well…
"Impressive," said Amelia, staring down at him, "a true Patronus at his age… very impressive indeed." Some of the wizards and witches around her were muttering again; a few nodded, but others were frowning and shaking their heads. It was easy to tell who's side they were on. That's the thing with government officials… they were so easy to read… and thankfully, just as easy to cut off guard.
"It's not a question of how impressive the magic was," said Fudge in a testy voice, "in fact, the more impressive the worse it is, I would have thought, given that the boy did it in plain view of a Muggle!"
Those who had been frowning now murmured in agreement, but suddenly, Harry called out loudly before anyone could interrupt him again. "I did it because of the Dementors!"
Silence.
'Well,' he thought to himself. 'That got their attention.'
"Dementors?" said Amelia after a moment, her thick eyebrows rising until her monocle was about to slip out of place. "What do you mean, boy?" she asked, not understanding what he was talking about.
"I mean there were two Dementors down that alleyway and they went for me and my cousin!" Harry called. Albus chanced a glance at him from the corner of his eyes. So that was what really happened.
"Ah," said Fudge again, smirking as though he had just heard an amusing joke. He glanced around at the room as though he thought that he already won the case and called out, "Yes. Yes, I thought we'd be hearing something like this."
"Dementors in Little Whinging?" Amelia said, in a tone of great surprise, looking around as if hoping someone could explain how this could've happened. "I don't understand -"
"Don't you, Amelia?" Fudge asked, that pompous smirk on his face was starting to irritate Albus so much, that for a moment, ached to cast a curse to wipe it off. "Let me explain. He's been thinking it through and decided Dementors would make a very nice little cover story, very nice indeed. Muggles can't see Dementors, can they, boy? Highly convenient, highly convenient… so it's just your word and no witnesses…"
Albus shook his head slightly. Does he really think that anyone would truly buy that?
"I'm not lying!" said Harry loudly, over another outbreak of muttering from the court. "There were two of them, coming from opposite ends of the alley, everything went dark and cold and my cousin felt them and ran for it -"
"Enough, enough!" Fudge cried out, as though he had just caught a child doing something naughty. "I'm sorry to interrupt what I'm sure would have been a very well-rehearsed story -"
Albus heard enough of him and cleared his throat.
"We do, in fact, have a witness to the presence of Dementors in that alleyway," he said to them all coolly, "other than Dudley Dursley, I mean."
It looked to him—or maybe he hoped—that all the hot air in his head was deflating at those words. He stared down at him stunned for a minute before he said self-importantly, "We haven't got time to listen to more tarradiddles, I'm afraid, Dumbledore. I want this dealt with quickly -"
"I may be wrong," Albus said, addressing Amelia directly. "But I am sure that under the Wizengamot Charter of Rights, the accused has the right to present witnesses for his or her case? Isn't that the policy of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Madam Bones?"
"True," she answered, nodding to him at once. "Perfectly true."
"Oh, very well, very well," Fudged snapped, clearing getting angry, and Albus couldn't deny that he was rather enjoying making him so uncomfortable. "Where is this person?"
He cheerfully explained that he brought her with him, and watched as Percy Weasley ran down to get her. Albus waited patiently until he brought Arabella back with him, and he gave her his chair, while he conjured a new one for himself.
"Full name?" said Fudge loudly, with an air of incredulously, as though disbelieving that she could give him any real information. Arabella gave them her name timidly, but she held her head high as he continued to ask her questions.
She gave her evidence, and when Fudge told her to go, she looked from him to Albus nervously before she left.
"Not a very convincing witness," said Fudge loftily.
Albus rolled his eyes. 'Yes, well you wouldn't find anyone convincing even if the Dementors themselves came in and confessed if they could.'
"Oh, I don't know," said Amelia, in her booming voice. "She certainly described the effects of a Dementor attack very accurately. And I can't imagine why she would say they were there if they weren't."
"But Dementors wandering into a Muggle suburb and just happening to come across a wizard?" snorted Fudge. "The odds on that must be very, very long. Even Bagman wouldn't have bet -"
He left himself wide open here and Albus took advantage of that mistake by saying, "Oh, I don't think any of us believe the Dementors were there by coincidence."
"And what is that supposed to mean?" Fudge asked icily.
Albus shrugged innocently before he answered, "It means that I think they were ordered there."
"I think we might have a record of it if someone had ordered a pair of Dementors to go strolling through Little Whinging!" barked Fudge.
"Not if the Dementors are taking orders from someone other than the Ministry of Magic these days," he answered calmly, now enjoying how furious Fudge was at him. "I have already given you my views on this matter, Cornelius."
"Yes, you have," he shouted down at him. "And I have no reason to believe that your views are anything other than bilge, Dumbledore. The Dementors remain in place in Azkaban and are doing everything we ask them to."
Once again, he left himself wide open. "Then," he answered back, "we must ask ourselves why somebody within the Ministry ordered a pair of Dementors into that alleyway on the second of August."
To his displeasure, Dolores Umbridge leaned forward. Now he knew that he should never feel any displeasure about any of his students, former or current, but she was never one of his favorites.
"The Chair recognizes Dolores Jane Umbridge, Senior Undersecretary to the Minister," said Fudge, and Umbridge spoke in her fluttery, girlish, high-pitched voice that made him think of poisoned honey.
"I'm sure I must have misunderstood you, Professor Dumbledore," she said, with a simper that didn't fool him. "So silly of me. But it sounded for a teensy moment as though you were suggesting that the Ministry of Magic had ordered an attack on this boy!"
Albus looked at her suspiciously, suddenly having an uneasy feeling in the air, though not a hundred percent sure why. But he answered anyway, "If it is true that the Dementors are taking orders only from the Ministry of Magic, and it is also true that two Dementors attacked Harry and his cousin a week ago, then it follows logically that somebody at the Ministry might have ordered the attacks. Of course, these particular Dementors may have been outside Ministry control -"
"There are no Dementors outside Ministry control!" snapped Fudge, who had turned brick red.
Albus merely bowed his head politely. "Then undoubtedly the Ministry will be making a full inquiry into why two Dementors were so very far from Azkaban and why they attacked without authorization."
Though a part of him was now wondering whether or not if it had been a Ministry official who sent them now… but he pushed that out of his thoughts as soon as Fudge snapped, turning bright red in his anger, "It is not for you to decide what the Ministry of Magic does or does not do, Dumbledore!"
Albus raised his eyebrows, "Of course it isn't, I was merely expressing my confidence that this matter will not go uninvestigated."
He glanced at Amelia, who readjusted her monocle and stared back at him, frowning slightly.
"I would remind everybody that the behavior of these Dementors, if indeed they are not figments of this boy's imagination, is not the subject of this hearing!" said Fudge. "We are here to examine Harry Potter's offences under the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery!"
Really… did he honestly think that would work? Of course the Dementors were the subject of this hearing! If not for them, why else would Harry be forced to use the Patronus against them?
"Of course we are," Albus answered him civilly, though starting to feel like he was beating his head against the wall having to deal with people like this. Really, some of these people in government couldn't handle a single intelligent conversation…
"But the presence of Dementors in that alleyway is highly relevant. Clause Seven of the Decree states that magic may be used before Muggles in exceptional circumstances, and as those exceptional circumstances include situations which threaten the life of the wizard or witch him - or herself, or any witches, wizards or Muggles present at the time of the -"
"We are familiar with Clause Seven, thank you very much!" snarled Fudge, sounding like a dog.
"Of course you are," he answered courteously. "Then we are in agreement that Harry's use of the Patronus Charm in these circumstances falls precisely into the category of exceptional circumstances the clause describes?"
"If there were Dementors, which I doubt…" Fudge began again, but Albus cut him off, "You have heard it from an eyewitness. If you still doubt her truthfulness, call her back, question her again. I am sure she would not object."
"I - that - not -" blustered Fudge, fiddling with the papers before him. "It's - I want this over with today, Dumbledore!"
"But naturally, you would not care how many times you heard from a witness, if the alternative was a serious miscarriage of justice," he said firmly. This was a matter of the law… it shouldn't matter if this takes all day. None of this would've happen if he didn't insist on having a trial that was meant for a criminal in the first place.
"Serious miscarriage, my hat!" Fudge shouted, sounding like an angry child now. "Have you ever bothered to tot up the number of cock-and-bull stories this boy has come out with, Dumbledore, while trying to cover up his flagrant misuse of magic out of school? I suppose you've forgotten the Hover Charm he used three years ago -"
"That wasn't me, it was a house-elf!" Harry called out at once.
"YOU SEE" roared Fudge, gesturing flamboyantly in Harry's direction. "A house-elf! In a Muggle house! I ask you."
But Albus was aware of this—he had become very good friends with Dobby over the last year. A while back, he remembered, that during the Chamber of Secrets scare, that Dilys had reported to him that Dobby came to visit Harry in the Hospital Wing. When he asked what it was about, the little elf let this slip. "The house-elf in question is currently in the employ of Hogwarts School," he answered, feeling the need to point out that this had less than nothing with the hearing here and now. "I can summon him here in an instant to give evidence if you wish."
"I - not - I haven't got time to listen to house-elves! Anyway, that's not the only - he blew up his aunt, for God's sake!" Fudge shouted, banging his fist on the judge's bench and upsetting a bottle of ink, now throwing a tantrum.
"And you very kindly did not press charges on that occasion, accepting, I presume, that even the best wizards cannot always control their emotions," Albus reminded him, knowing that Fudge had just proved that case to him and everyone perfectly here.
"And I haven't even started on what he gets up to at school," he went on, now grasping at straws, determined to find some reason to punish him.
"But, as the Ministry has no authority to punish Hogwarts students for misdemeanors at school, Harry's behavior there is not relevant to this hearing," Albus answered, now feeling angry, having a bad feeling where this was going.
"Oho!" said Fudge, pointing a dramatic finger down at him. "Not our business what he does at school, eh? You think so?"
"The Ministry does not have the power to expel Hogwarts students, Cornelius, as I reminded you on the night of the second of August," Albus reminded him of their conversation that night—to keep him in line and that just because he was Minister of Magic, didn't mean he could do whatever he wanted. At least not without doing paperwork…
"Nor does it have the right to confiscate wands until charges have been successfully proven; again, as I reminded you on the night of the second of August. In your admirable haste to ensure that the law is upheld, you appear, inadvertently I am sure, to have overlooked a few laws yourself," Albus answered. Which was true—they were treating Harry as though he had committed murder or something terrible.
"Laws can be changed," said Fudge savagely.
"Of course they can," he agreed, inclining his head. "And you certainly seem to be making many changes, Cornelius. Why, in the few short weeks since I was asked to leave the Wizengamot, it has already become the practice to hold a full criminal trial to deal with a simple matter of underage magic!"
And he knew then that they had it won. A few of the wizards above them shifted uncomfortably in their seats; most of them now frowning over at Fudge—who was so red that he looked ready to explode.
"As far as I am aware," Albus finished up, "there is no law yet in place that says this court's job is to punish Harry for every bit of magic he has ever performed. He has been charged with a specific offence and he has presented his defense. All he and I can do now is to await your verdict."
He put his fingertips together again, not bothering to say another word, Fudge glared at him, evidently incensed and Albus didn't have to guess that he was most likely imagining horrible things happening to him. He continued to look up at the benches where the entire Wizengamot had fallen into urgent, whispered conversations. He chanced another glance at Harry out of the corner of his eye and saw that he was looking down at his sneakers nervously. But Albus wasn't worried… after Harry said he could do the Patronus charm, he knew that Amelia was impressed and that was his ticket to freedom. If he could show he was capable in their eyes, impress them…
"Those in favor of clearing the witness of all charges?" Amelia called out and he looked back up. And as he thought, more than half of the members raised their hands.
He smiled, as the few who voted for conviction knew that it was pointless now. Fudge glanced around at them all, looking as though there was something large stuck in his throat, then lowered his own hand. He took two deep breaths and said, in a voice distorted by suppressed rage, "Very well, very well… cleared of all charges."
"Excellent," he called briskly, springing to his feet, pulling out his wand and causing the armchairs to vanish. "Well, I must be getting along. Good-day to you all."
And that was it.
He left the room so quickly that he knew it looked suspicious—but he couldn't risk it… He didn't dare to look at him. He didn't dare make face-to-face contact with him and so he had no choice but to ignore him like he wasn't there.
He rushed out of there so quickly, that he didn't even hear Arthur's voice calling out to him. All Albus knew for sure was that he made sure not have any contact with Harry as he left the Ministry of Magic.
*A couple days before the school year*
Albus was furious.
Just a few hours ago, he received the visit from Cornelius telling him about the new Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor, which he wanted and would have placed in Hogwarts. Since Albus had been unsuccessful in finding a teacher, they stepped in to solve that problem—but Albus knew better—it was to try to get him under their control.
But of all the people they could've had, they couldn't have picked a more awful person.
Dolores Umbridge was a vile woman, and he felt no shame in admitting that. He remembered that even at the young age of eleven, and was sorted into Slytherin, Albus could see the greed and hunger for power in her toad-like gaze. And while he took some comfort in the fact that she would never join the Death Eaters—for she was to above getting her hands dirty in the ministry to do such a thing—he knew that it was a small comfort.
He knew the students would hate her and learn nothing from her—for according to Kingsley, Cornelius had reached a whole new level of paranoia. Apparently he was now afraid that Albus would try and forge an army of his own with the students so now they were going to try and prevent that from happening.
Now Albus had heard tell of many strange things in his life, but this had to be the most ridiculous thing he'd heard yet. Him… try and force students to join an army merely to overthrow Fudge? While it did sound very tempting, what kind of person did Fudge take him for?
But there wasn't much he could do about it now. Now, thanks to Fudge, his students would be made to suffer for their minister's stupidity, and not learn anything this year. And he also knew that his staff would find her as annoying as they did when she was a girl and distrust would be maximized in the castle.
While they try to say that they were doing this for the sake of the students, he knew that it was just another attempt to get rid of him and discredit Harry in the middle of all this. Fudge would surly give Umbridge power that no one else ever had over Hogwarts and try to find an excuse to expel Harry, along with anyone else who believed him.
Oh, he knew that Fudge would love nothing more than to sack him so he knew that he must act, and quickly at that. He didn't know how long he would have, but he knew he must pick out the students who believed Harry and himself from those who didn't and remained completely loyal to the Ministry.
It would be tedious but if it helped the cause than he was all for it.
Sighing, he looked down at the two pieces of parchment that had been waiting for him when he arrived back at his office. At first he couldn't think of what they was, but then he remembered that he was supposed to look over the request list for the Prefects and for the new Head Boy and Girl. The heads of Houses each chose one male and one female student from their fifth years at the beginning of each year to act as prefects, and would continue to be prefects in their sixth and seventh years until they leave school. Albus looked over the Prefects list first, knowing that the final decision was given to him.
The requests for Prefects this year were…
Gryffindor:
Harry Potter
Hermione Granger
Ravenclaw:
Anthony Goldstein
Padma Patil
Hufflepuff:
Ernest Macmillan
Hannah Abbott
Slytherin:
Draco Malfoy
Pansy Parkinson
He gazed long and hard at the list. He had no problems with their decisions… except for…
His eyes lingered on Harry's name. Before this year, he wouldn't have hesitated but now… he glanced up at the cloudy sky. He couldn't bring himself to do it.
With so much happening, the poor boy had enough responsibility to deal with didn't he? And with the ministry going out of their way to make his life miserable, and make him out as a liar and a show-off, the last thing that Harry needed was to worry about Prefect duties. And so, instead, he changed the name to Ronald Weasley before he looked at the suggestions for the Head Boy and Girl.
*Later*
He spent the rest of the day and most of the next day getting everything ready for the students that were to arrive, until, the eve before school started, he had actually fallen asleep in his chair and didn't wake up until it was dark.
"You don't look well, Dumbledore," Dilys said worriedly as Albus sat up in his seat, looking around. "Maybe you should go and take something…?"
"I'll be fine," Albus told her as he got wearily up from his seat, thinking longingly of his bed when he heard Phineas speak slyly, "First sign of madness, talking to your own head."
Albus looked up at him and said, "I didn't say anything."
"Not you," Phineas said, jerking his thumb to the side of his painting. "Potter. He's talking to his scar."
Albus looked at him in surprise, and turned around fully to look at him. "What are you talking about?"
"He's rubbing his head, telling it to 'cut it out'," Phineas said, making air quotes with his fingers. "You know, that Prophet might know what they're talking about if he's talking to himself like that."
"No, Phineas," Albus sighed. "Rather, I think that it is his scar hurting him."
He had a feeling what the scar was… what it meant… especially considering how Harry had been able to tell some of what Voldemort had been thinking the previous year, and if he was correct…
He shook his head violently to get the horrible thought out of his mind and focused only on going to bed. A chance to escape reality would be a great relief to him.
But as he left the office, and even as he made his way to his soft bed, he also made a silent vow that he was going to protect Harry… at all costs.
(Sorry for the wait again, but I'm stuck doing finals for collage, that's why I haven't been able to update lately, but I really hope that you all enjoyed this last chapter. But what scenes should I do next? Does anyone have any suggestions? Because with every chapter I write here… it's like pulling teeth out of my head. It's becoming painful…)
