Chapter 7- What have I done
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Wendy was back to full strength and soon the summer was over and Wendy and I stepped onto platform 9 ¾ with our gorgeously tanned bodies. Sirius had decided to remain on the island rather than face the dementors of England. After we had told him about Dumbledore Sirius wasn't interested in being used and then being tossed away on some Dumbledore plan, besides the colonies girls were just a short 'Apparition' away. He did say he would keep in touch.
Wendy and I just settled in to our compartment of the Hogwarts express to find Daphne Greengrass and Tracy Davis joining us in the compartment along with Luna Lovegood.
"Thanks for letting us join you Harry, Malfoy is really becoming a pain and insisting on me and my parents signing that marriage contract." Daphne look like the world was ending.
"I must be horrible to be forced into a marriage contract." Wendy stated with disgust.
"Especially with Draco being such an arrogance snot. Not to mention him and his two goons need to take a bath once in a while." Tracy said as she wrinkled up her nose. "Hair jell and cologne only go so far."
"Well the Thistleburs are determined to show Harry about a number of contracts this year." Luna gave a Luna explanation as she stared out the window.
Draco bashing was the theme in the compartment until Creevey raced by with his camera at the ready shouting, "Riot in the second car!" as he raced in that direction with his camera. This of course causes the majority of our coach to empty towards the action. Wendy and Tracy also the exodus and raced off to join the looky-loo's.
I attempted to get Luna to explain about me and what contracts but I got more information about Thistleburs than information on contracts. Later Wendy and Tracy return to bring an up-to-date on the Draco, Ron, Crabbe, Finnigan, Goyle, Longbottom, Thomas and Nott's donnybrook.
/Scene Break/
Wendy, Luna and I had just settled in at the Hufflepuff table but even so we could hear Ron Weasley clear across the hall moaning how he was hungry. This of course was not usual except for his two black eyes. Bruises and black eyes seem to be the in thing at the Gryffindor and Slytherin tables.
Professor McGonagall brought in the new first years and the hat had his singing and sorting act.
Finally Dumbledore got to his feet smiling and asked for our attention. Ending in, "Tuck in."
After the meal Dumbledore again rose and smiled around all the students and finally dropped a verbal bomb, "It is also my duty to inform you that the inter-House Quidditch cup will not take place this year. Starting in October we will be hosting the tri-wizard tournament."
Just then the great doors of all were flung open as two Aurors charged in and started surveying the Hall. They spotted me and approached only to say, "Harold Wilhelm Smythe handover your wand, you are under arrest for the murder of Alex Scabior."
The stupid jerks just took my wand I handed to him and he then did a "Accio wand" on my person. He then proceeded to put on magical handcuffs and escorted me out of Hogwarts. I was side along 'apparated' to the Ministry of Magic where they chucked me into a holding cell.
If things weren't so serious I would've been laughing. Magical's didn't appear to have any common sense whatsoever. As they remove the magical handcuffs they were saying I was nothing but a stupid muggle born having no great training or aptitude. They were even laughing at my Muggle Lordship title and how I was going to get mine in my trial for killing a pureblood and starting the riot outside of Gringotts.
The reason I was laughing to myself and mentally calling them stupid was I was thrown into a minimum security cell. Minimum security cells were not heavily warded. Furthermore, they failed to remove my focus ring on my finger and my magical belt around my waist. This had the smell a Fumble-up Fudge and some of his elite group of incompetent followers. So a couple hours after a pathetic dinner which was slid under the door I transformed into my Phoenix form and flashed to Gringotts.
"Harry what are you doing here at this late hour?" Knifethruster appeared to be on the night shift.
"Well let's see, I need a lawyer to represent me in front of the Wizzengemot for the murder of a pureblood and causing a riot here at Gringotts. Of course I could use some help legally getting out of holding cell at the Ministry. They threw me into a cell a few hours ago which does not resemble a suite at the Savoy."
"I don't believe Bank Manager Ragnot is going to appreciate being interrupted at this late hour. BUT, I do believe he's going to be happy once again with dealing with Fudge and the Ministry."
"Harry, Knifethruster has told me what's going on. You need to get back to the holding cell with this box. When you get there put a drop of blood on the seal then tap it with your focus ring. That will make the box a two-way portkey. Now get back to that holding cell and do what I've told you."
I flashed back to find that nobody had missed me. When I tapped the box with my focus ring it disappeared. Not long afterwards the box reappeared with instructions inside. The box was kept busy over the next several months.
It appeared that Fudge was keeping me incognito and my Goblin lawyer was being stonewalled. News of my arrest had not reached the papers nor had I received a date for my trial. This would have been the least of my worries had not been for the Gblin box. I had neither change of clothes nor any shower facilities. The so-called food provided once a day was pathetic and made meals I received at the Dursley's look like a feast. With no idea why they were doing all this I wasn't going to eat any of their potion laden food. They did replace my chamber pot periodically. That is where I deposited the Ministry's scrumptious meals as they were not about to inspect and outgoing chamber pots' contents.
The little box provided three satisfying meals per day and communications with Gringotts. So besides the 'Scourgify charm and my box the stay was not that bad.
/Scene Break/
The Goblins were unsure what was going on except they saw a lot of money heading into Fudge's vaults. While bribing Fudge was normal there had been a large uptick in the amounts. The Goblins leaned toward my problems being caused by my claiming to be Lord Slytherin. Dumbledore's actions had caused the Goblins to come down on Fudge last year was thought to be a contributing factor. So all and all it was all guesswork.
More time had passed when suddenly Fudge let everything happen at the same time. The Daily Profit reported me as the despicable Muggle murderer of an upstanding pureblood and a usurper of a lords title (They didn't name the title).. My lawyer would be allowed to meet me for the first time in courtroom ten a moment before the trial was to begin.
I was hustled down to the ninth floor, then down the stairs towards the Department of mysteries and courtroom ten.
At the bottom of the steps was a corridor stretched out and held a great resemblance to Snape's dungeon at Hogwarts. It extended for good ways with its rough stone walls and floor. I was dragged along pass torches in brackets and heavy wooden doors sporting bolts holding steel cross members to the wooden doors.
Entering the courtroom I found empty benches which rose on either side of me, but ahead, were the highest benches, containing many shadowy figures. There was a chair in the middle of the room which had its arms covered in chains. They sprang to life and bound me as I took a seat. This made me feel exceptionally happy as I looked up at the people seated at the high bench.
Must've been sixty or more individuals wearing plum covered robes with elaborate silver W on the left hand side of their chest. They did not look like the friendliest of people. In the middle in the front row sat Cornelius Fudge, Minister for Magic, who had left his lime–green bowler hat at home. Madam Bones sat on Fudge's left while on his right sat a woman who resembled a toad.
"Very well," said Fudge. "The accused being present, the let us begin. Are you ready?" he called down to a redheaded scribe.
"Yes sir." Came the reply.
"This is a murder trial," started Fudge in a raised voice. "into the horrendous offence committed upon the person of Alex J. Scabior that being of the cold-blooded murder of said pureblood by the hand of Harold Wilhelm Smythe, resident of… Gringotts? Smyth living at… Gringott's bank?" Fudge stumbling over his words, glaring at me over the top of a parchment he held, he bellowed, "What is this rubbish?"
My lawyer stood up and stated, "Those documents were provided per your request and have been certified by the Goblins." He then sat down.
"Oh very well, Interrogators: Cornelius Oswald Fudge, Minister for Magic; Amelia Susan Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement; Dolores Jane Umbridge, Senior Undersecretary to the Minister. Court Scribe, Percy Ignatius Weasley . "
"Lawyer representing the accused Harold Wilhelm Smythe, is Lord I.R.A Cheatum."
"The charges against the accused are as follows: That he did knowingly, deliberately and in full awareness of the illegality of his actions, commit murder on one Alex J. Scabior and further causing a riot to ensue in front of Gringotts bank in Diagon alley by maliciously killing a pureblood…How do you plea?"
Cheatum leapt to his feet and forcibly said, "Not guilty". Cheatum continued, "I further submit that this trial be thrown out for insufficient evidence. You cannot prove that the curse the killed Scabior was cast by my client. Further he was dressed in Death Eater costumes signifying that he was part of an illegal organization. Lastly any spells or curses cast by my client was in self-defense or the protection of others and is legally classified as self-defense."
"Irrelevant, the curse that was cast killed a pureblood and he deserves Azkaban." Fudge was on a roll.
About that time Ragnot seemed to materialize next to my lawyer.
"What is a goblin doing in here? Aurors remove this trash from our courtroom." Fudge appeared to be having enough of the unnecessary interruptions in his courtroom before a just verdict of guilty could be affirmed.
"I am Bank Manager Ragnot here to inform you that you are in the process of violating the treaty. Harold Wilhelm Smythe falls under Gringotts bank and per the treaty is authorized to protect the bank and its customers. If this trial proceeds further the Goblin nation will consider you to be in violation of the treaty and take appropriate action." Ragnot then sat back down as the yelling and screaming started.
/Scene Break/
Before I was released the delegation from Beauxbaton and Durmstrang arrived in October as if a normal year at Hogwarts had commenced. I had missed the arrival of MadEye Moody as the new DADA professor but at that time I was being proved not guilty of murder. Hagrid had introduced Blast-Ended Skrewts which resembled armor plated hotdogs that shot fiery explosions from one end. Moody introduced the unforgettable curse "imperio" in his classes. So when I got to Hogwarts and heard what I had missed it made the Ministry's holding cells look a little bit better in the scheme of things. After I arrived Professor Moody did turn Draco into a pure white ferret for tempting to curse me in the back. Draco did get a little upset over the Hogsmeade village weekend where I got to show him a spell up close and personal.
Flashback:
It was Hogsmeade village weekend and I was by myself. Wendy was going on a date with Justin Finch-Fletchley. While I was happy for her it really struck home how much of a loner I really was. Oh I had plenty of company in the common room and then there were classes during most of the day. Then there was a study group in the library and then it all started all over again. With Wendy dating and feel of being alone was back in my life.
I just picked up a bag of sweets at Honeydukes and was currently browsing the shelves in Tomes & Scrolls when I bumped into Daphne Greengrass all alone like myself.
"What's a beautiful girl like yourself doing here without a date on a Hogsmeade weekend?" It was kind of a jab but then again a serious question as she was quite a beautiful girl.
"Tracy's got a date today and Draco is scaring off all the guys in Slytherin that might ask me out. Guys in other houses are not too interested in being around us Slytherin snakes."
"Well if you want somebody to talk with I'm all alone and a good listener." I gave her a large grin.
"I'd like that but if Draco and his goons see us together he's bound to try to have his boys run you off."
"Well if you go to someplace like the Three Broomsticks that's possible but I know of a small little place I'm sure Draco would never lower himself to a enter." Daphne offered me her arm which I was happy to take and lead her to Rosa Lee Teabag.
While my attention was definitely on Daphne I couldn't help notice a couple of phoenixes fly by the large glass window during my chatting with Daphne. There always seem to be a Phoenix or two around but neither of those two seem to be Hedwig or Fawkes, curious.
We had tea and scones and a very nice conversation when Daphne asked, "So Harry who are you going to ask to the ball?"
"I'm missing something here, what ball?"
"Haven't you done any reading about the tri-wizard tournament? AND do not think that I haven't noticed some of the books you read in class, many of them have no relation to our lessons or for this school. They are way advanced than any NEWTs courses, but I'm getting off subject. Dumbledore hasn't announced it yet but there is always a ball connected with these tournaments."
"Oh! No I'm sure I won't be going; besides I don't know how to dance."
Daphne started laughing which wasn't making me very happy but she suddenly turned serious and started to apologize, broken with intermittent giggles. "Harry I'm not laughing at you (giggle) I just had a really great idea (giggle). I'm not going to let Draco take me to the ball and Draco is not going to let anyone take me to the ball (giggle). How would you like to play a joke on Draco seeing he is always so mean to you?(Giggle, giggle) why don't we go to the ball together."
"It's not going to be very enjoyable for you as I can't dance and Draco will probably try to occupy all your time on the dance floor." Girls were one subject I was not familiar with so reading a book in bed was better than being embarrassed at some balls dance floor.
"We'll have to hide our getting together but I can teach you to dance before the ball. AND! (Giggle) even though were going as friends we can act like boyfriend and girlfriend.(Giggle, giggle) Draco will probably have a fit right there on the dance floor. AND he won't be able to do a thing with all the teachers around."
Here I had a beautiful girl, happily giggling over being with me...I guessed that this was lesson number one on girls sooo…"You have a date Miss Greengrass and I must say, I like the way you scheme." We both broke into laughter at that point.
We had barely stepped back onto the street and were planning on heading in different directions but the Fates had decided differently.
"Smythe what are you doing with my betrothed?"
I looked up to see Draco, Pansy, his two goons and three other Slytherin students. Draco drew his wand which made me draw mine which made the rest of the Slytherins draw there's. I've been raised being told I'm nothing and while I'm no master dueler I am smart and retain what I read and what I found in the libraries. The Goblins had not been wasting their time with providing me tutors.
"Daphne, please let me handle these losers!" I shouted as I put up a 'Protego Totalum' with my focus ring protecting myself and Daphne and then I drew out my fifteen inch elder wood wand to wave around. The Slytherin's were hurling dark curses and hexes but I was able to maintain my shield using wandless magic. Once erected it took very little mental energy to magically maintain a shield. I mostly used stunners with my focus ring on the Slytherins but I saved a light 'Expulso' exclusively for Draco. The spell sent him hurtling backwards, with arms flailing into a stores wall. The best part was when the Aurors showed up moments later and check everyone's wands. Daphne was still standing with her wand raised and her mouth open. Daphne and I were not in trouble as all the Aurors found on our wands were school spells.
End flashback:
Daphne had borrowed a wizard wireless and I found an isolated unused classroom off the beaten track. The first main object was not to be stepping on Daphne's toes. I proceeded in learning the steps for a half dozen dance routines but then came the hard part, "Harry relax and flow with the music." Slowly dancing practice was replaced with studying to occupied our time. The goblins made sure I knew a gazillion spells but my capabilities in Transfiguration wasn't the best and we both could use some practice for our Charms class. At least that was the excuse the both of us used to continue meeting.
With the Durmstrang and Beauxbaton students settled in to Hogwarts the fun for the rest of the year commenced. To start with the Yule ball was announced entering Ron and Draco in the staring roles of arrogant losers. At least one of the girls from Beauxbaton was a Veela and it was fun watching the arrogant Draco having a high-pitched little girl hissy fit when she said, No little boy!
Ron approached the Veela only to drool, get lockjaw and race away. However the Great Hall got further entertainment as Ron asked Hermione one evening at the Gryffindor table. She was laughing so hard that her fellow Gryffindor's had to help her off the floor. Not taking the hint... "You are supposed to be my girl friend and if you wish to remain my girl friend you will accompany me to the Yule ball." This got Ron a fist to his face from the girl of his affection.
"Oh that was just too funny but the jerk deserved it and more." Wendy was giggling.
I looked over at the high table to see if any the professors were going to take any action but as usual the whole thing was ignored. I did notice that the red and black phoenixes that belonged to Dumbledore was perched in the back of Dumbledore's throne. Fawkes, I was beginning to notice, was hanging around the Great Hall with Dumbledore a lot lately. My curious observation was interrupted…
"Say Harry have you quit messing around and asked somebody go to the ball with you?" Wendy asked with a big smile on her face.
My only response was, "HUH!" If I said no I was going to be harassed if I said yes then she would want to know who I was taking. Wendy had already said yes to Justin.
