Chapter 10

Witness For The Defense

The next few weeks were a blur as Hermione and Mrs. Weasley rushed around preparing for the new school year, in spite, Harry thought, of anything they could actually do until they received their booklists. The only important date looming for Harry was his Apparition test coming up the second Saturday of August.

"I think she's gone mental," Ron muttered one evening while they were hiding up in Ron's room playing a game of wizard chess.

"Hermione, or your mum?" Harry looked up from deciding which of his pieces to sacrifice to a fork maneuver Ron had just tricked him into falling for.

"Take your pick," Ron said gloomily. "I thought Mum would have a fit when we told her we were going back this fall, she hugged me so hard. Both she and Hermione think we're going to be made Head Boy and Girl."

"You could, you know," Harry said encouragingly. "You've been a prefect the last two years."

"Yeah, well…" Ron shrugged, but he looked more confident after Harry's comment. "We'll see, when the letters get here."

They practiced Apparating, jumping back and forth between the garden and the paddock, both places being secluded from view of Muggle eyes, until finally both Harry and Ron felt confident they could Apparate, at least over short distances, with no fear of splinching.

Apparating would never get any more pleasant, but at least more exposure to it had acclimated them to some degree. Hermione had told them, after watching them flick back and forth, "I just try not to think about it at all, and concentrate on something pleasant. Before you know it, it's over."

"Sort of like being hit by a Bludger," Ron muttered to Harry after Hermione had gone. "It feels so good when it stops." Harry laughed.

By the date of the Apparition test the booklists and other information from the school had not yet arrived, but the Weasleys had decided to make a day of it in Diagon Alley while Harry and Ron attended the test at the Ministry.

"Should be a doss," Ron said bracingly. "I haven't lost an eyebrow once this past week."

However, since Ginny still could not Apparate, they once again got out the Floo Powder and made the trip to Fred and George's shop, who greeted them enthusiastically.

"Busy today," Fred said, coming into the back room just long enough to greet them before returning to the floor. "Lot of folks are in town today for that test, I expect."

The shop was busy, mostly with teenagers who'd come for the Apparition test and were distracting themselves by looking round the various shops of Diagon Alley. Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes was usually a huge draw for younger teenagers as well, especially now that the fall school term was only a few weeks away.

Soon it was time to leave for the Ministry, and Hermione hugged Harry and Ron goodbye. "Good luck," she added to Ron, giving him a kiss on the cheek. "Remember, Destination, Determination, Deliberation."

Ron smiled weakly at her, rolling his eyes as he turned away. Mr. Weasley, who was accompanying them to the Ministry for their tests, clapped his hands together and said, "All right boys, let's go get you your Apparition licenses!" They sat out toward the exit to Diagon Alley.

The Leaky Cauldron was much busier these days since Voldemort's apparent demise. Tom the barman gave them a cheery wave as he served drinks to a nearly packed house. The trip along Charing Cross Road was brisk; Mr. Weasley, as usual, was staring at the Muggles they passed rather more than was normal, eliciting some stares and frowns, in return. "Beautiful day for a walk, isn't it?" he would say to those who caught him staring, even though the day was hot and most people had beads of perspiration on their faces.

They entered through the visitors' entrance and were directed to Level Six, the Department of Magical Transportation, to the Apparition Test Center. "Will we have to wait long, d'you think, Dad?" Ron asked as they entered the elevator.

"I'm not sure how busy it'll be," Mr. Weasley mused. The elevator closed and began its rattling journey to the level. "August and September are not usually busy – everyone usually applies earlier during the summer, in June and July." They arrived at Level Six and took the corridor toward the Apparition Test Center.

The Ministry's Apparition Test Center was a broad, open expanse filled with rows of chairs for applicants, cubicles for Ministry personnel and a section set aside for the actual tests.

Ron was looking around in apparent bewilderment. "This isn't set up like what they had at school," he whispered to Harry.

As if he'd heard Ron's comment, Mr. Weasley said, "It's not quite as organized when they perform examinations offsite, as at Hogwarts, for example." He stepped up to a post with the sign "Take a Number" fastened over a peg with strips of parchment hanging from it. Taking two, he handed one each to Harry and Ron. Glancing at the parchment, Harry was surprised to see an older-looking witch smiling wanly up at him.

"Just have a seat, dear," the witch told him. "I'll be around to collect you shortly." Harry and Ron joined the ranks of applicants waiting their turn. It was hard to tell how long it was going to take; groups of two and three would get up from the chairs intermittently, as a witch or wizard from the Test Center would beckon them toward the examination section.

Mr. Weasley handed Ron a scrap of parchment. "What's this?" Ron asked, looking at it.

"It's your license fee," Mr. Weasley said, sitting down next to Ron. "I came down to pay for it yesterday so we wouldn't have to get in line." He indicated a row of people who had queued up in front of a desk labeled Cashier.

"Oh. Thanks, Dad," Ron said, and fell silent.

"Nervous, boys?" Mr. Weasley asked conversationally. Harry shrugged and Ron said confidently, "We've been practicing."

"Well, I don't want to hear about it," Mr. Weasley said, lowering his voice although he was still smiling jovially. "I'm supposed to report cases of unlicensed Apparition, you know." Ron opened his mouth to protest but Mr. Weasley held up a placating hand. "I didn't say I was going to, Ron. Let's face it, if I was that type Fred and George would probably be in Azkaban by now." Both Ron and Harry grinned at that.

But just then a familiar figure appeared in the corner of Harry's eye and he turned toward the examination section. With a gasp he came up out of his seat, his wand drawn. "Mr. Weasley, look!" Harry cried, pointing at a tall, pale boy walking in their direction. Mr. Weasley, startled, followed Harry's pointing wand, as did Ron and several other people sitting nearby.

"Malfoy!" Ron hissed, standing as well. And indeed it was Draco Malfoy, accompanied by his tall, coldly elegant mother Narcissa, walking out of the examination section, an Apparition license in his hands. They both stopped, seeing Harry, Ron and Mr. Weasley, who had stood as well, looking at them. Draco's hand went into his robe, but his mother put a hand on his shoulder to stop him.

"No, Draco," she said coolly, staring haughtily at the three of them. "There's no need for that. You have every bit as much right to be here as they do. The law is with us on this."

"Lower your wand, Harry," Mr. Weasley said quietly. Reluctantly, Harry complied. Narcissa walked directly up to them, handing a piece of parchment to Mr. Weasley with a cold smile on her lips.

"Just so you'll know, Arthur," she said, handing him a sheet of parchment, her arm extended as if she preferred to be no nearer to him than necessary. "Here is the Ministry order releasing Draco into my custody until his hearing. I wouldn't want you sending Aurors on a useless errand to try to detain us. Or anyone else." She looked directly at Harry as she said this.

Mr. Weasley scanned the parchment for several seconds, then handed it back to Narcissa. "It all seems to be in order," he said curtly. "As far as I can tell," he couldn't help but add.

"Good." She tucked the parchment away in her robe. "Come, Draco, let's be going." Draco, who'd stood just behind her, his arms folded across his chest with an arrogant sneer on his face, said smugly, "See you around, Potter. Maybe sooner than you think." He turned and walked after his mother.

Harry stared after him, almost in shock. He'd never expected to see Draco Malfoy again unless it was in a duel. In fact, he'd hardly thought of him at all – it was Voldemort, and Snape, that he'd been concerned with.

Ron was equally appalled. "How can he just walk out of here like nothing happened? Two months ago Harry chased him and Snape out of Hogwarts – now he and his mum walk about in here like they've got a free pass to the place!"

"That's not entirely true, Ron," Mr. Weasley said, but his tone wasn't encouraging. "We'd heard that the Wizengamot had released him into his mother's custody pending a hearing later this month –"

"A hearing about what?" Harry blurted out.

"Let's not discuss it here," Mr. Weasley said, his tone now low; several other people in the waiting area were watching and listening to them.

There was a small prick on his thumb, and Harry said "Ouch!" and looked at the parchment still in his hand. The witch there was holding up a needle, looking impatient. "Get a move on, will you?" she said irritably. "You're up next."

Distracted with thoughts of Malfoy and what the pending hearing Mr. Weasley spoke of might be about, Harry almost failed his Apparition test. The witch performing the examination had him Apparate along a series of stop points, which he had to complete in under the specified time. Harry missed one of the stops, but left behind no part of himself, not even an eyebrow.

"Acceptable," the witch said, sounding severe, but Harry merely mumbled an indifferent thanks when she handed him his license then wagged a stern finger at him saying, "Remember: Destination, Determination, Deliberation are the keys."

He met Ron and Mr. Weasley at the entrance to the Examination section; Ron had gone first and was holding his own Apparition license proudly. "Piece of cake, eh, Harry?"

"Yeah," Harry said, holding up his license as well. But his mind was now completely absorbed by the mystery of Draco Malfoy's seeming immunity to prosecution.

Another surprise awaited them in the Atrium. As they exited the elevator a tall, young Auror with dark eyes stepped in front of them and said, "Harry Potter?"

"Me," Harry replied, looking the young Auror over carefully. He was not much more older than Harry or Ron; he must've finished his Auror training fairly recently.

The Auror nodded and handed Harry a roll of parchment. "This is for you, Mr. Potter."

Out of the corner of his eye Harry saw Mr. Weasley make a motion as if to object, but he accepted the scroll and asked, "What is it?"

"It's an order to appear as a witness at a hearing next week before the Wizengamot," the young Auror said, and started to walk away.

"Wait a minute," Harry said. The Auror stopped and looked back at him. "A witness for what hearing?"

"I do not know," the Auror said. "It may be in the order." He walked away.

Harry unraveled the scroll and read,

You are hereby Ordered to appear and give testimony before the Wizengamot on August 14th, at 2:00 p.m. Failure to appear will result in charges of interference in a lawful inquiry being brought against you by the Wizengamot.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Rufus F. Scrimgeour

Minister of Magic

Without a word he handed the scroll to Mr. Weasley, who stood reading it for several moments. When he continued to say nothing Harry finally asked, "What do you think it's about, sir?"

"No idea," Mr. Weasley said, looking puzzled. "But if I had to hazard a guess, I would say it has something to do with that Malfoy boy. His mother said he had a hearing."

"And he did say that I might see him again sooner than I thought," Harry said, remembering.

"He seemed pretty confident for someone who's going to have you testifying against him," Ron said sourly, remembering Malfoy's smug expression. "Maybe he doesn't know you were there."

"Unless someone told him," Harry said grimly. At Ron's affronted look he added hastily, "Not you, Ron. Scrimgeour said they'd figured out someone was with Dumbledore when he landed on the Astronomy Tower that night. I didn't deny it was me. In fact, I pretty much admitted it.

"What I don't know," Harry continued, holding up the parchment. "Is whether I'll be testifying for Malfoy or against him."

Ron looked horrified. "How could you possibly testify for Malfoy?"

"I don't know. He wanted to kill Dumbledore, he even said so. He just couldn't do it, even when other Death Eaters showed up to encourage him. He admitted he fixed the Vanishing Cabinets so Death Eaters could use them to get into Hogwarts."

"Making him complicit in both Dumbledore's death and Bill's injuries," Mr. Weasley said stonily. He looked at both of them. "You two go on back to the shop; I want to check a few things about this hearing before I follow you." Leaving them, he strode back toward the elevators.

Harry and Ron exited the Ministry and wasted no time putting their new licenses into practice by Apparating immediately back to Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. There they were greeted by the cheers of the twins, Ginny Hermione and Verity, cheers that quickly dissipated as they told who they'd met before their tests and what Harry'd been given afterwards.

"Load of dung, if you ask me," Fred said flatly when Harry had finished his story. "Not even telling Harry what he's going to testify for."

"Unusual but not illegal," Mr. Weasley, who had joined the group while Harry was telling them the events of the day. "There are special cases that require the nature of the hearing to be kept quiet."

"Only in case of underage wizards or for security reasons," George put in. "Malfoy's seventeen, so he's of age; maybe it has to do with Hogwarts security, because Malfoy used the Vanishing Cabinets to get Death Eaters into the school."

"Possibly," Mr. Weasley admitted. "But that's moot now anyway; I know that Professor McGonagall had the Vanishing Cabinet in the Room of Requirement secured from further use, and she's had enchantments added to the school to prevent a reoccurrence with any other kind of vanishing device."

The "celebration" the day had started out to be was rapidly disintegrating. "Whatever the Ministry has in mind," Harry said, trying to sound confident, "I'll come in and testify. I certainly won't have any problem telling them what Malfoy did on the Astronomy Tower that night – I doubt if anyone could excuse that without looking like they're wholly on the Malfoy's side."

Encouraged by Harry's words, the group rallied and set out for something to eat, enjoying lunch at a newly reopened Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour, this one now being run by the son of the original owner, Philemon.

Hermione, sitting next to Harry at lunch, pested him for every detail of their visit to the Ministry, and not just to hear about his Apparition test. "Doesn't it seem strange to you," she remarked after he'd described the Auror who'd given him the Ministry order. "That the Auror knew you were going to be there at that time?"

"I hadn't thought so," Harry said, still trying to finish the pot pie he'd ordered. "If anything, Malfoy's mum went and told them I was there."

"I doubt it," Hermione said pensively. "They would have known the moment you checked in."

"But we'd just barely gotten in line," Ron protested from Harry's other side. "We hadn't even seen the examiner yet."

"Right," said Harry. "I remember, when we finally got to her, I almost forgot I had my certificate. I was going to go back and pay for it until Ron reminded me."

Hermione looked at him for a few moments, then shouted "The certificate!" so loudly that everyone at the table looked at her. "Sorry," she said, then leaned in closer to Harry. "That's it," she whispered excitedly. "The Ministry had issued that certificate to Mr. and Mrs. Weasley for your birthday present. They knew when you'd be in to use it – the very next time Apparition examinations were being given!"

"But so what?" Ron shrugged. "They know where he's been the last month – at the Burrow. If they wanted to give him something they could just pop in and do it without all this fancy footwork and such."

"It does seem like a lot of work to go to, now that I think about it like that," Harry told her, almost apologetically. "If they want me to come in and rattle off Draco Malfoy's crimes, I think I can oblige them."

Hermione didn't appear convinced, but she offered no more ideas about why things had gone as they did at the Ministry that day.

The afternoon of the 14th found Harry once again entering the Ministry of Magic and heading to court. He made his way to Security where Eric once again checked him for proscribed items and examined his wand. He then called for an Auror who took him, not to Courtroom Ten, but to the second level where an elderly wizard was apparently waiting for him.

"This is the Senior Bailiff of the Wizengamot," the Auror said to Harry as they stopped in front of his desk. The Bailiff was writing slowly on a parchment scroll; he didn't look up for several seconds until the Auror softly cleared his throat.

"Ah, there you are, Julian," the old man smiled. "And this must be Mr. Harry Potter." He jumped up with surprising alacrity and came around to shake Harry's hand. "Very good to finally meet you, young sir! Thank you, Julian," he said to the Auror. "I'll take him from here." Julian nodded and left.

"Now, let's see about getting you situated." The old man looked around his office, and Harry followed suit. The office was a study in carefully-controlled anarchy. There were piles of parchment scrolls in boxes stacked along the walls, a bookshelf crammed with both regular books and piles of parchment scrolls as well, and a large stand with cage hanging from it; inside the cage was perched a large owl, sleeping peacefully.

"Situated?" Harry echoed. "How long am I going to be here?"

The old wizard smiled softly and tapped his nose. "Good question, Mr. Potter, good question indeed!" He walked over and began emptying a chair of its contents.

Is he playing with me? Harry wondered, but as he thought it he realized that the old man was probably just eccentric and used to his way of doing things. Instead of an angry retort, he asked calmly, "Do you know how long I'm going to be here, sir?"

"Oh dear me, no, I'm afraid I don't," the wizard said, then gestured to the now-empty chair. "There you are, Mr. Potter!"

Harry sat down. The old man took his place behind the desk again, regarding Harry with a smile. "You know," he said, lowering his voice conspiratorially. "I daresay I've always wanted to meet the famous Harry Potter, but now it seems a bit of an anticlimax."

"Because of Neville Longbottom?" Harry asked, already guessing the answer.

"Indeed! Well," he added almost apologetically, "I mean no disrespect to you, young sir, but Neville Longbottom did finally vanquish You-Know-Who for once and all!"

Except for his Horcruxes, Harry thought. He decided to change tactics. "So, what's this hearing about, sir?"

The old man shrugged. "Blessed if I know, young Harry. And please call me Abelyard."

"Er – thank you, sir," Harry hesitated. "You mean to say, you're the Bailiff for the Wizengamot –"

"Senior Bailiff, if you please, Harry" Abelyard said with a wink.

"– Senior Bailiff, and yet you don't know what it's about?"

"Oh, I have my ideas," Abelyard said, waving a hand airily. "I've some keen deductive capabilities, mind you, no matter what Princess Dolores says about me –"

"You mean Dolores Umbridge?" Harry said quickly.

"The very one. You've heard of her, then?" Abelyard inquired.

"Yes, unfortunately," Harry said, trying to sound commiserating. "She taught at Hogwarts for a year."

"Ah, indeed!" Abelyard beamed. "Best year we had around here in ages, I can tell you! Now that You-Know-Who is gone, it would be capital if you could have her back for another year or two."

Harry shuddered and didn't respond; instead, he asked, "Is Umbridge in charge of this hearing?"

Abelyard chortled, "Oh no, young Harry, and that's thanks to you, you know."

"Me?"

"Oh my, yes. After that absolutely dreadful attempt she made to be quit of you and your two friends – the interoffice memo of that day was priceless, I'll take my vow on that! – she's been almost a perfect little angel around here. Well – at least for the most part," the old wizard averred. "She still thinks her dung doesn't smell, you know, but she keeps her toes in line when the Lion's around."

"You mean Scrimgeour?" Harry guessed.

"Righto. He's –" at that moment a parchment airplane landed in front of the old man. "Here now," he said, opening it and reading it carefully. "Well, that was quick."

"What?" Harry asked.

"They're ready for you." Abelyard looked up at him, a bemused expression on his face. "That was quick. Ah, well, tempus fugit," he shrugged, not noticing that the clock on the wall beside him suddenly began furiously spinning its hands. "Let's be off, then." He stood and motioned for Harry to follow him. They made their way back to the elevators and descended down to the Ninth Level, then made their way to the left, down the stairs, and along the dark, damp corridor that led to Courtroom Ten.

In front of the door that led to courtroom was an Auror, a stout, stone-faced man with light brown hair pulled back into a ponytail. "Here's young Harry Potter," Abelyard announced as they approached. "Ready to do his civic duty as a witness for the Wizengamot." He beamed at the Auror as they stood side by side.

The Auror, looking bored, said, "Thank you, Abelyard, I'll take him from here." Abelyard nodded and with a cheery wave turned and went back the way he came, leaving Harry and the Auror alone outside the courtroom.

The Auror opened the door and gestured to Harry. "In you go, then, they're waiting for you." Harry walked in. Courtroom Ten had changed very little since the last time he'd been in it. The rows of high benches on either side of him were empty, as they had been before, but on the benches before him were several dozen members of the Wizengamot in their plum-colored robes. In the very center of the front row sat Rufus Scrimgeour, staring down at him with an unreadable expression. Harry scanned the other faces; the only two familiar ones that he saw were the two elderly witches who had known Dumbledore, Elders Skuld and Norncombe. He met their eyes, but did nothing else.

"The witness being present," Scrimgeour said suddenly, as if starting in the middle of a speech. "Questioning will resume." Scrimgeour's yellow, piercing eyes fixed on him. "Take a seat."

Harry looked over at the chair in the middle of the room and froze. Seated there and looking at him was Draco Malfoy, wearing an expression that flickered between loathing at Harry's presence and amusement at the look of shock on his face. It wasn't exactly unexpected, but the reality of being a witness at a hearing for Malfoy took a bit to sink in. After a few seconds Harry recovered enough of his voice to say, "Where?"

"Ah." Scrimgeour's tone was mild irritation. He produced his wand and with a flourish produced a rather plain armless chair a few feet from where Malfoy sat. Harry sat down, noticing that the chains fastened to the center chair were not binding Malfoy.

Once Harry was seated and Scrimgeour's wand was away he looked to the end of the row and asked, "Are you ready?"

"Yes, sir," responded an unfamiliar voice. Harry had expected to hear Percy Weasley's, who'd been in court the last time he was here, but it was another young wizard Harry didn't recognize.

But there was no time to wonder about it as Scrimgeour turned to Harry and said, "Please state your full name."

"Harry James Potter," Harry said. He kept his gaze on Scrimgeour, knowing that Malfoy was staring at him.

"Were you present on the Astronomy Tower of Hogwarts school on the night Albus Dumbledore was killed?"

"I was," Harry replied, looking at Malfoy, who was now staring malevolently at him with narrowed eyes.

"How did you arrive there?"

"By broom. When we arrived at Hogsmeade, Madam Rosemerta saw us and pointed out the Dark Mark that appeared over the Tower. She let us borrow a pair of brooms so we could travel there quickly."

"Mr. Malfoy has stated that he and Professor Dumbledore appeared to be alone on the roof," Scrimgeour said. "How was it, then, that he couldn't see you?"

"I was wearing an Invisibility Cloak," Harry said.

Malfoy snorted. "Might've known you were skulking about under that thing," he muttered.

"Mr. Malfoy, please remain silent until you're asked to respond," Scrimgeour said sternly. Malfoy lapsed into a sullen silence.

"Why were you wearing an Invisibility Cloak in the first place, Mr. Potter?" The simpering, girlish voice came from behind him, and Harry looked around to see Dolores Umbridge in the row of benches behind him, to the right of the doorway. Next to her sat a hooded figure whose features Harry could not make out; the shadow cast by the hood was too deep.

Why was Umbridge seated there, away from the rest of the Wizengamot? Harry wondered. And who was the figure seated next to her? But before he could ponder more on those mysteries, Scrimgeour said impatiently, "Answer the question, Mr. Potter."

"I – Professor Dumbledore wanted me to get Professor Snape and bring him back to the Astronomy Tower without attracting any attention," Harry replied. He did not want to mention that Dumbledore needed Snape's help to recover from the effects of a potion he'd drank in the cave where they'd found the locket that had turned out to be a fake Horcrux. "But before I could leave we heard someone coming up the tower steps. Professor Dumbledore motioned me to step back and Malfoy burst through the door and disarmed him."

"Malfoy disarmed Dumbledore?" Umbridge said in a tone that hovered between astonishment and delight. "I wonder how a sixth-year managed to disarm a holder of the Order of Merlin, First Class?"

"Is that a question?" Harry asked pointedly. It was one he was actually anxious to answer. "It seemed to me that Professor Dumbledore allowed Draco to disarm him." He turned to look directly at Malfoy as he continued. "He knew Draco didn't have enough courage to kill him. He offered to protect Draco and his mother against Voldemort, but Draco couldn't decide what to do. He was afraid." There was a small, grim smile on Harry's face as he watched Malfoy's features twist at these words.

"Moving on, then," Umbridge said, ignoring Harry's expression. "What happened after that?"

"More of Voldemort's people showed up," Harry went on, noticing that several figures on the benches in front of him flinched upon hearing the Dark Lord's name. "The werewolf, Fenrir Greyback. Three other Death Eaters. Professor Dumbledore seemed to know them. They talked for a while. They were trying to get Malfoy to kill Dumbledore but he still couldn't do it, even with four Death Eaters behind him."

"And then what happened?" Umbridge pressed.

"Greyback wanted to kill the professor, but the large Death Eater stopped him with a spell that threw him against a wall."

"And then?"

"Then Snape showed up." Harry stopped to take a few deep breaths. He still grew angry thinking about this moment. "He stood before Professor Dumbledore. He looked angry and full of hatred. I – I thought the Professor was pleading with him at first, but he must have expected Snape to help him. Instead, he – he used the Avada Kedavra, killing him."

Nearly everyone in the row of benches in front of Harry lowered their heads for a moment, but Umbridge plowed on. "Mr. Malfoy has said that Dumbledore looked sick and could barely stand. Was something wrong with him?"

"He –" Harry hesitated. "He had been through a lot that evening; I suppose he was tired from all of it."

"All of what?" Scrimgeour put in. "What had you and Dumbledore been doing that evening?"

That was the question Harry had been dreading. He had no intention of telling anyone, not even the Wizengamot, what he and Professor Dumbledore had been doing, but it was going to be hard to refuse a direct question. What could he say?

"And how is that question relevant to the line of inquiry at hand?" another voice said behind him, and Harry looked back again. This time the voice had come from behind and to the right of him. Seated in the benches to the left of the door were Professor Lupin, who had spoken, and "Mad-Eye" Moody, both quite alone in their section. Lupin was staring intently at Scrimgeour, but Mad-Eye, catching Harry's eye, gave a wink.

"The relevance," Scrimgeour answered loudly, "Is that Professor Dumbledore was absent from Hogwarts several times over the course of the school year, and we know from Mr. Malfoy's testimony and from interviews of patrons in the Hog's Head that he was not there earlier in the night in question, although he told Madam Rosemerta that he was headed there for a drink."

"Poppycock," growled Moody. "Nobody in the Hog's Head remembered seeing Dumbledore in there that night. That's not the same as sayin' he wasn't there."

"Including the barman," Scrimgeour pointed out. "Who, I'm sure, would have remembered serving Dumbledore if he had been there."

Madam Skuld leaned forward. "Before we continue along such contentious lines, it might be best to hear any other pertinent details about the killing."

"Very well," Scrimgeour said reluctantly. His gaze returned to Harry. "What happened after Professor Snape killed the headmaster?"

"He told the other Death Eaters to leave quickly. I followed, trying to catch up to Snape."

"And did you?" one of the other members of the Wizengamot asked.

"Yes, out near Hagrid's cabin on the grounds."

"Did he attack you?"

What an odd question, Harry thought. "Of course he attacked me!"

"Are you sure about that, Mr. Potter?" Umbridge, from behind him, said in a simpering voice. "Are you sure he didn't just parry your attacks?"

"He attacked me!" Harry repeated angrily. "I called him a coward, and he screamed and attacked me. Bu – er, Hagrid's hippogriff Witherwings attacked him in return, and Snape ran out through the gates and Disapparated."

"You haven't answered the question," Umbridge said implacably, in her maddening, little-girl voice. "Did you attack him first?"

"I was trying to stop him from escaping after killing Professor Dumbledore!" Harry shouted.

"You were trying to kill him," Draco said viciously. "And you were trying to kill me as well!"

"If I wanted you dead," Harry retorted, "you wouldn't be sitting there right now."

"Order," Scrimgeour said sharply. Both Harry and Malfoy fell silent, looking at him. "Mr. Potter, after Professor Dumbledore was killed, you pursued Snape, Malfoy and the Death Eaters out of the castle and onto the grounds, is that correct?"

"Yes," Harry said.

"When you caught up with Snape, he told Mr. Malfoy to run then stopped to confront you, is that correct as well?"

"Yes," Harry said again. He didn't like where this seemed to be going.

"Did you attack him several times, with him simply parrying your attacks and not counterattacking?"

"He did attack me, after I called him a coward," Harry insisted. "He slashed his wand at me, and something hit me in the face and knocked me down, but before he could do anything else, er, Witherwings, Hagrid's hippogriff, attacked him and he ran for the gates and disappeared before I could find my wand again."

He fell silent, and murmurs and whispered comments could be heard throughout the courtroom. Harry couldn't tell what they were about, but after a few moments one of the members, Madam Norncombe as it turned out, asked him, "Mr. Potter, are you sure that is how the confrontation between you and Severus Snape ended?"

"Yes, I am," Harry said. The murmurings continued. Even Scrimgeour was conversing in whispers with people sitting near him. Harry turned his head to glance at Umbridge sitting behind him. Her expression was unreadable except for a ghost of a smile on her lips. The hooded figure sitting next to her seemed not to have moved at all. Looking over his other shoulder, Harry could see Lupin and Moody conversing in whispers as well. He stared for a few moments, trying to make eye contact with either of them, but they never looked his way.

"You don't have a clue what's going on, do you, Potter?" Malfoy whispered. Harry looked at him. Malfoy had a sneer on his pale, sharp face.

"I expect you don't either, Malfoy," Harry retorted.

"You'd be surprised what I know," Malfoy said, his face breaking into a smug grin. Harry turned away.

Scrimgeour was signaling for silence. When all the murmurs died away he addressed Harry. "Thank you for your time, Mr. Potter. You are dismissed."

Harry remained seated for several seconds; he wasn't really sure what had just happened. He stood up and walked slowly toward the door, looking at both Umbridge and the hooded figure next to her on his right, and Lupin and Moody, who were now studiously avoiding his gaze, on his left.

None of this had felt right. Malfoy was too smug, and he felt like it had something to do with Umbridge's presence. Was she advocating for him, somehow? And what were Lupin and Moody doing here in the first place? Did they have some reason to care what happened to Malfoy as well?

Whatever the underlying reasons, Harry was not going to find out, at least today, what they were. He opened the iron-shod door and passed through it and out of the courtroom, pulling it closed behind him.