Harry Potter Alternate Universe: Year Three
Disclaimer: I own nothing you recognize and some of the stuff you dont.
A/N: Only the outfits of Steph and Luke were described because Steph was the one doing the actual defending and Luke, I kinda want him to be a pretty boy, so it makes sense he would dress up. And the truth about Harry's gift to Hermione, I couldnt think of one that had a double meaning, you know, like one that says I like you but not at the same time. And that will probably be the last of Hermione's parents, sorry. And Becca's IOU was just a little funny, at least I thought it was. And about all the Steph-Luke stuff, I kinda like to think that they're what Harry-Hermione could be. Luke's charming, protective and Steph is smart, loyal and kinda protective. BTW the court scene was concocted from diffent ff, I read their ideas than built on that to shape it into my own.
Hagrid, Becca, Hermione, Harry, Steph and Luke made their way over to the telephone box that visitors used to enter the Ministry. Luke picked up the phone.
"Full name and state your business." An automatic female voice spoke, Luke nodded to himself.
"Lucas Black, Stephanie Blane, Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Rubeus Hagrid and Rebecca Black, for the hearing of the Hippogriff Buckbeak." Luke stated, both Steph and Becca cringed at their names.
"Thank you." The female voice replied. There was a clattering sound before six nametags fell into the coin change slot. They put them on and the floor beneath them started to lower and they found themselves being led down the shaft until they finally arrived at the Ministry building. They quickly made it to the correct room. They walked in and saw a large stadium like set up. The seats around the front of the room were filled with Ministry workers in dark blue and pink robes. Fudge was sitting at the high podium. They saw Lucius Malfoy sitting at a table facing the minister with Pansy next to him. Harry, Becca, Luke and Hermione wished Steph and Hagrid good luck before sitting themselves behind them. Luke grabbed Steph's arm before she walked in. "Steph, you'll do great." Luke kissed her lightly before walking away. Steph took a deep breath before walking over to sit by Hagrid.
"Please announce yourself and your positions." The Minister stated, the door opened again and Lupin slipped in before seating himself beside Harry. Lucius stood up, straightened his black robes and cleared his throat.
"Lucius Malfoy. I'm here to prosecute the Hippogriff for attacking this young woman, Pansy Parkinson. My intent is to prove that it is a dangerous creature and should be sentenced to death." Lucius said before sitting back down, Steph took a deep breath before standing up.
"S-Stephanie Blane." Steph started, you couldn't tell she was extremely nervous. "I'm here to defend the Hippogriff, Buckbeak. My intent is to prove Miss Parkinson avoided regarding clearly stated warnings and wishes to pass the blame of her lack of understanding onto an innocent creature." Luke smiled proudly at his girlfriend and Steph sat down.
"Please defend your cases, Miss Blane, if you will?" Fudge said, Steph shook her head.
"I insist Mr. Malfoy start. He is after all the professional." Steph stated politely, Lucius smirked as he stood up and stepped forward.
"Ministry, Miss Parkinson was in her Care of Magical Creatures class when Professor Hagrid," He practically spit out the word professor. "Brought in a Hippogriff. Miss Parkinson had been given a book for the course but was never told how to open the book – the Monster Book of Monsters." Lucius held up the book that had a belt wrapped around it. "She had went to stroke the Hippogriff when it had viciously attacked her, leaving her with a lame arm. This creature should be put to death; we should not have a dangerous creature like that free to roam and attack students at their school. Professor Hagrid should be relieved of his position because of incompetence and negligence." Lucius sat back down with a small smirk, Pansy had one too convinced they'd just won.
"Mind if I fill the holes in your story Mr. Malfoy?" Steph asked as she stood, just as Hermione had predicted the women in the jury had loved Steph. "First of all, I, myself, told Miss Parkinson how open the book. I even demonstrated how. Second, the attack was not unprovoked. Miss Parkinson had insulted Buckbeak, when the book and Professor Hagrid clearly stated not to insult the creature to its face, for it maybe the last thing you ever do. Even if that wasn't enough, Mr. Harry Potter had demonstrated how to approach a Hippogriff. I'm sorry if that wasn't clear enough for Miss Parkinson, or maybe she just wasn't paying attention, which leaves the negligence on her part." Steph said it with such suave that had memorized most of the jury before she took her seat and let out a breath.
"Minister, if this creature was to live, he would attack another student. This time we were lucky it was only an injury was the result. What happens if the next attack results in death?" Lucius asked, he knew he was running out of arguments but refused to let a thirteen year old girl get the best of him.
"What Mr. Malfoy is suggesting is merely hypothetical, unless he's hiding the ability to see the future, there is no proof that Buckbeak would ever attack another student. What Mr. Malfoy is doing is wasting your valuable time, time that should be spent on more important issues." Steph said passionately, Becca and Hermione were memorized.
"Your girlfriend is so hot right now." Harry said to Luke, Luke shrugged with a smile.
"Let me ask you this," Steph started with a softer voice. "Are you willing to let an innocent creature get put to death for defending himself when he was insulted? Its not as if he is able to comprehend that attacking someone is bad, he is an animal. Its in his nature, something Miss Parkinson had known yet she still insulted him. Animals aren't like Humans, they cant walk away from someone they judge as a danger to them. Don't punish a creature that was defending himself the only way he could to a threat." Steph sat down and took a deep breath, Luke was smiling proudly at her and Hagrid patted Steph on the back lightly.
"We, the committee, will retire to our chambers where we will discuss the case as well as the arguments presented today. You may return to your schools or homes and you will be contacted about the action that will be taken via owl." Fudge informed them as he stood up with the rest of the committee. Steph let out a breathe before standing with Hagrid and made their way out of the room, where she was bombarded with congratulations.
"Steph, that was awesome!" Harry said patting his friend on her back, Steph nodded with a smile.
"I just hope it was enough." Steph said, Hagrid smiled down at him.
"You did great, Steph. No matter the outcome, I couldn't have picked a better person to handle this case." Hagrid said, Steph smiled at the praise before turning to her boyfriend.
"You did great, Steph." Luke said, he kissed her lightly before pulling her into a hug. Steph smiled until she saw Lucius smirking at them, Steph pulled away but kept her eyes on Lucius.
Harry was flying high as he searched the sky for the snitch, he had to hurry up. He didn't know why, but he had a feeling something was going on today. He turned his head slightly to see Cho Chang, the opposing Seeker. She was a year older than him, had sleek black hair and brown eyes. The sight of her made his stomach feel funny, like it had done with Hermione. Harry moved faster and he saw two Dementors gliding toward him. Harry pointed his wand toward them.
"Expecto Patronum!" Harry shouted as a bright light shot out of his wand and hit the two Dementors. Harry swerved around and grabbed the snitch. As soon as he touched ground, he had Gryffindors cheering and congratulating him. What surprised him was when Cho came up.
"Good game, Harry." Cho said and kissed him on the cheek, Harry turned red.
"Thanks, y-you t-too." Harry stuttered, she smiled before walking away. Harry turned to see Hermione fiddling with her hands, he knew she had seen it. He walked over to her, Becca, Ron, Luke and Steph.
"Oh, and those Dementors were Slytherins trying to sabotage us." Steph said quickly, Harry smiled at her.
"Great game Harry." Ron said slapping him on the back, Luke nodded in agreement. Harry smiled but for some reason didn't feel so happy anymore.
Harry was in the boy's dormitory later that night searching under his bed for his broom servicing kit when he heard someone come in. Luke was laying on his bed looking at his promise ring, which hung around his neck on his silver chain.
"Hey Ron, have you seen my broom serving kit? I cant find it." Harry asked coming out from under his bed.
"Isn't it in your trunk?" Ron asked, Harry nodded and searched his trunk. "You haven't seen Scabbers have you?" Luke looked over at them while Harry came out of his trunk and threw the kit on his bed.
"Come on, lets ask the girls if they've seen him." Harry said as they opened the door before walking out, Luke dropped his ring with a sigh.
"Hey guys." Becca greeted as she looked up from the book she and Hermione were reading.
"Hey, have you seen Scabbers? Ron's lost him." Harry said, Becca shook her head before smiling at Ginny as she came up.
"Hey Hermione, where's Crookshanks?" Ginny asked, Hermione didn't look up from her book.
"Off somewhere." Hermione replied distractedly, Ginny looked a little put out before walking away.
"Great." Ron muttered picturing his rat getting eaten by Hermione's cat. "I'm gunna go see if anyone else has seen Scabbers." Becca stood up.
"I'll go with." Becca said as she grabbed Ron's hand. He smiled at her.
"Remember, only pecks." Harry said with a smirk as both went red.
"Shut up, Harry." They both said shoving Harry lightly before exiting the common room. Harry smiled as he sat down in Becca's vacated spot.
"Hermione, when was the last time you saw Crookshanks?" Harry asked, Hermione thought about it for a second but never took her eyes off her book.
"Yesterday morning." Hermione said quickly, Harry looked a little confused.
"And you're not worried?" Harry asked, Hermione rolled her eyes and finally turned to him.
"No, I know he's coming back because he's eating all his food." Hermione said before going back to her book.
"Hermione, are you angry with me?" Harry asked, Hermione slammed her book closed before turning to him.
"No, Harry, I'm not. You're free to kiss anyone you like!" She said before standing up with a sigh. "I'm sorry. Its just...stuff piling up." Harry nodded before standing up.
"I'm really sorry about your mom, Hermione. And you're dad. I wish you could've said goodbye." He said before pulling her into a tight hug.
"You know I love you, right?" Hermione muttered, he smiled.
"Yeah, I love you too." He said, though both admitted it, neither could tell that the other meant it more than friendship.