Ninja Wizard IV: Goblet of Fire 05
By David
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. JK Rowling has that honor.
Author Notes: These marks [] indicate Japanese spoken.
Ninja Wizard IV: Goblet of Fire 05
'Harry vs. Dumbledore I'
"HARRY POTTER!" Dumbledore shouted in a rage.
Harry sat there frozen in shock as he slowly realized what had just happened. Dumbledore had just pulled his name out of the goblet. The hall was silent. People were looking at Harry as he sat there. He turned to look at Dumbledore and noted the rage on the headmaster's face. Any goodwill Harry had been feeling towards Dumbledore suddenly disappeared as Harry had the idea that this was one of Dumbledore's tricks. He got angry and rose from his seat.
"No," Harry snarled as he started towards Dumbledore. "Oh no you don't. No way are you gonna trap me into this!"
Harry reached Dumbledore and got into his face yelling at the old man. Dumbledore got pissed and started yelling back. For the next few minutes the people in the great hall watched in stunned silence as Harry and Dumbledore carried on a screaming match. It was ended a few minutes later with a loud bang, making every one jump including Harry and Dumbledore. Both of them looked to see who had done that and was surprised to see a scowling Karkaroff standing there with his arms crossed glaring at them.
"Gentlemen, there is a much better way to resolve this thing than to stand there screaming at each other like little two year old children. Now, if you both can stop your squealing at each other, we can attempt to resolve this," Karkaroff said.
Harry backed off still smoldering from the heat of his anger. He paced back and forth for a few minutes and then abruptly turned to face Dumbledore. He pulled the Ollivander wand and pointed it at Dumbledore.
"I, Harrison James Potter, the son of Lord James Potter and the Lady Lilly Potter, do solemnly swear an oath on my life and magic, that I did NOT, in any way, shape, or form, enter my name into the Goblet of Fire, nor did I ask or compel ANYONE to enter my name into the Goblet of Fire, so mote it be!" Harry shouted.
A bright golden glow came out of Harry and lit up the room for a moment and faded away. Then to prove that he still had his magic, Harry whipped his wand upward and pointed it at the ceiling. A thin purple light burst out of the tip of the wand and streaked upward to suddenly explode in a burst of light and sound, the colored sparks going everywhere. There was silence in the hall as Crouch stepped forward and motioned for Harry to go into the smaller room the other champions were in. Harry nodded and went to the small door and went through it into the other room.
It was unlike any room Harry had ever been in. There were tapestries hanging from the ceiling. Curio cases lining the walls with all kinds of things inside of them. Harry noted a bottle in one of them and looked at the label. It was a bottle of hundred year old fire whiskey. Harry opened the cabinet and took out the bottle. He opened it and drank down a bit of it before Cedric grabbed it from him. The first thing that happened was Harry felt a burning sensation from deep down inside of him. He felt steam venting out of his ears. The burning sensation moved upward and Harry knew he was about to upload. Cedric knew different as he quickly pulled Fleur out of the way. Harry opened his mouth and spat out a stream of fire that reached clear across the room. Then it disappeared and Harry belched loudly.
"Oops. Pardon me," Harry exclaimed. "Hey, that stuff's great!"
Cedric sighed. "Okay Potter, what's going on out there?"
Harry sighed and sat down in a nearby chair and told the three of them what had happened out there. The three of them looked surprised.
"We're gonna have trouble over this," Cedric sighed just as the door opened and the tournament officials walked in, Crouch leading them.
Crouch walked straight up to Harry and looked him straight in the eyes. He nodded after a moment and turned to the group spread out in front of him.
"If Mr. Potter says he did not put his name in, I believe him. Apparently someone wants him in the tournament. For what reason, I don't know. Be it as it may, Mr. Potter's name came out of the Goblet of Fire. Therefore he has to compete, or lose forever his magic. I am sorry, Mr. Potter," Crouch said.
Harry knew Crouch was being sincere when he looked into those black eyes and saw no deception of any kind. Harry sighed and sat back down as the tournament officials began talking amongst themselves once more. Harry decided to take a walk. He moved around the perimeter of the room towards the far door, collecting the bottle of hundred year old fire whiskey and a heavy cloak. He slipped out the door and wrapped the cloak around him as he went down the slender hall to another door. It opened out into the grand foyer and the main doors. Harry went out the main doors and went down to the lake to another dock in a corner of the lake. He sat there for a time watching the Durmstrang ship moving at anchor. He took shots off the bottle, belching flame out over the lake every so often. His mind felt sluggish the more he drank.
Harry snapped to. Had he passed out? Harry raised his head and immediately regretted it as the morning sun was up, the bright light causing him pain. Harry immediately closed his eyes and turned back to the dock he was laying on, his face downward. He crawled to the end of the dock and put his head under water. The numbing cold water was a shock to his system, it woke him up. Harry was so out of it he didn't feel the vibrations of footsteps coming towards him on the docks. His first indication that someone was there was when he felt hands grasp his ankles and lift him up off the dock and then drop him into the water. Harry felt himself moving downward towards the bottom of the lake. He thrashed a bit and managed to get himself going in the right direction, upward. His head broke the surface and he gasped for air. Once his vision cleared he saw who it was that was responsible for his early morning freezing cold bath. Hagrid stared down at Harry. He leaned over and grabbed the back of Harry's shirt and lifted him straight up out of the lake and onto his feet.
"Good morning Hagrid," Harry said.
"Good morning to you Harry," Hagrid said.
He picked up the now empty bottle and examined it for a moment and then slipped the empty bottle into his coat as Harry picked up the heavy cloak and wrapped it around him.
"I am not going to say anything to yeh as it's not my place to," Hagrid started. "I understand that you're angry right now. Don't know the situation between you and Dumbledore as that is your private business with him. Do know that Flitwick is planning words with you and you better listen. I assume this is the last time you go off drinking on your own."
Harry moved and regretted it as he grabbed his head. "Yes. Most definitely yes."
"Good," the half giant growled.
Harry took his time in getting back to the castle. By the time he got back to the castle his head was starting to clear up a bit more. He gritted his teeth as the noise of people moving round him hurt even more. He decided to skip breakfast and just go back to Ravenclaw tower and face Flitwick and get it over with. He hoped the diminutive professor would go easy on him. Harry was wrong.
"Idiot!" Flitwick yelled as he brought his hand down on a stack of books on the desk next to him, making Harry jump as fresh new pain rolled through his head.
"Moron!" Flitwick yelled once more as his hand descended on the same stack of books, the thunder echoing painfully inside Harry's head.
"Baka!" Flitwick shouted once more as he slammed his goblet down on the wood surface of his desk as Harry winced from the loud noise.
"Please sir, mercy. My head hurts," Harry whimpered.
"It should!" Flitwick yelled into Harry's right ear.
Harry leaned back as far as he could to get away from Flitwick's anger. Flitwick may be a small person, but he had the lungpower that couldn't be matched by anybody. This was a guy who had a lot of power within him, and right now he was steaming mad. Beyond pissed, really. Harry held his head and whimpered as the pain raced around his head.
"You are confined to quarters for a week. You will be escorted to classes by a prefect. You are not to go anywhere without clearing it with me first. Am I understood?" Flitwick growled.
Harry nodded. "Yes sir."
"Get out."
Harry got out.
He headed out into the common room and got glares from everybody there. Harry knew that he was in for a rough time because of what happened. Harry headed to his dorm room and was not prepared for what he found. Harry found his bed messed up, 'cheater' written on every inch of the privacy curtains, and what clothes he had out including his robes were torn up and 'cheater' written on them as well. The only thing not written on was his trunk thanks to the security spells he had on it. Harry decided to ignore it and floated his trunk out of the door room and down the stairs to the front door. He went out the door and out into the area in front of the Ravenclaw front door.
[Hey kid, over here,] a voice said from Harry's left.
Harry turned to look and it was a Samurai waving to him. Harry went over to the painting to see what he wanted.
[Meet me on the third floor in the far corridor. I'll explain everything there,] the Samurai told him and disappeared.
Harry shrunk down the trunk and put it in his pocket and headed off to the third floor. He walked into the third floor area and headed into the far back corridor that nobody ever seemed to use. The classrooms were on the other side of the third floor including the girl's bathroom that Moaning Myrtle haunted. He found the samurai waiting for him in a large picture nearly at the end of the far corridor and he opened up to let Harry inside. The torches and the fireplace inside the room flared to life and Harry was now able to see what the room looked like. Harry had to smile as it reminded him of the house he grew up back home in Japan. He felt much more comfortable in here. Harry turned to another picture frame to see the samurai there. The man bowed.
[Potter-san, I am Tamotsu Miyamoto. I am honored to meet you,] he said.
Harry returned the bow. [I am Potter Harry here in England, Yamada Tadeo when in Japan. I am honored to meet you, sir.]
Miyamoto nodded. [The reason I have brought you here is because Flitwick-san has asked me to give you shelter in the event you were ever run out of Ravenclaw House. It appears that time has come. I am aware of what happened to you yesterday. I am angry that they have treated you that way. So I have created this place of safety for you. Before you ask, Dumbledore does not know of this place. Flitwick-san is the secret keeper of this place and he will never give up the secret. Now you must be tired, so I suggest you go and get some sleep in the bedroom through that door. The door next to that one is a smaller bathroom. Go through that open doorway and there is the kitchen.]
Harry opened the first door and found the bedroom. As he stepped into it, a door in the back wall opened up and a futon came rolling out of it. Harry smiled and turned to say something to Miyamoto but he had left. Harry stripped off down to nothing and got down on the futon and pulled the sheet and the blue comforter over him and went to sleep. He was in need of rest.
Harry had his dinner in his new room. He was feeling much better after having slept most of the morning. He took his time with dinner as he read a book he found on one of the shelves the history of the TriWizard's Tournament. It indeed did stretch way back into history like Dumbledore had said. It also gave a complete listing of the events and who had participated, and the names of the competitors who had died, as well as the spectators who had died when one of the beasts in one tournament broke loose and went charging into the crowd. Harry hoped that the officials in this one would have really good protections in place.
[Harry-san, Flitwick-sensei has come visiting,] Miyamoto announced.
Harry set aside his book as Bustah appeared to clear away dinner and leave a pot of tea. He popped away and Harry nodded to Miyamoto.
[Thank you. Please let him in,] Harry said.
Filius Flitwick entered to find Harry sitting at a low table in kimono with his swords in a stand within reach. He wondered if Harry was returning to his Japanese roots and decided to proceed carefully. The last thing he needed was to upset Harry as he had been through enough today.
"Good evening Mr. Potter," he said as he stepped inside, the painting closing behind him.
Harry inclined his head. "Professor."
Flitwick sat down on a small round cushion at the table across from Harry.
"I would be honored to pour a cup of tea for my guest," Harry said.
Flitwick inclined his head. "I would be honored to accept a cup of tea from you."
Harry reached for the pot of tea and poured tea into a cup in front of Flitwick. Harry then poured one for him self and set the pot of tea back in its place. Flitwick picked up the cup and tasted the tea and nodded.
"Very tasty. Thank you," he said politely.
Harry smiled. "Thank you sir."
Now that the niceties were observed and out of the way, both of them knew they could speak freely now. Flitwick was the first to break the silence.
"I see Miyamoto found you and brought you here," he said.
"He did, and thank you for giving me a place of safety," Harry said.
Flitwick sighed. "How do you intend to deal with this situation?"
"Not sure yet. I need a bit of time to think and plan something," Harry said.
"You certainly shocked everybody by going after Dumbledore and again with your oath. It was the subject of conversation at breakfast this morning. I know for a fact that nearly every teacher discussed Wizard and Witch's Oaths this morning. Your going down to the docks and getting drunk also made the rounds as well. That too, was a subject of discussion as well. All of us teachers discussed the consequences of drinking as well and I think a lot of the students will think twice before they drink," Flitwick said.
"Glad to see that I was used as an example as to why a person should never get drunk," Harry snorted.
"I do know for a fact that Dumbledore is a mite pissed off at you right now," Flitwick said.
"Oh really," Harry said. "Is he upset that I messed up his plans to force me under his control?"
Harry had messed up his plans, as Dumbledore had nearly jumped for joy when he saw Harry's name on the slip of parchment that had come out of the goblet. All he needed to do now was to figure out a way to bring Harry to heel and he would be fully back in control of the Potter brat. What he didn't expect was Harry doing what he did, calling him out and then accusing him in front of a roomful of people of trying to control him and then getting into a screaming match with the boy. Dumbledore had gone back to his office in a blinding rage and threw a few things around while drinking himself stupid. Dumbledore was now on the warpath, and he was going to do everything he could to bring Harry to heel, consequences be damned. He would be the bright star of the Wizarding World like he had back in the late forties after defeating Grindelwald. He wanted to be the king of the Wizarding World, and he would do anything to accomplish that goal, and he saw Harry as his key in doing it. If a few people objected to his plans, he would sweep them aside. Nobody was going to get in his way of his goals. It was all for the 'Greater Good'. Harry knew he had to move cautiously if he wanted to disrupt Dumbledore's plans. He needed a few days to think about this and discuss things with Ragnock as he was sure the old goblin would have ideas on how to deal with this situation. Harry simply needed something to open the whole ball of wax over Dumbledore's head. But how to do it?
"What are you planning, Mr. Potter?" Flitwick asked.
"I've got some ideas, but I've discarded them as being impractical," Harry said. "I need to think of something. It has to be airtight. It has to be something good."
"I can't help you there as Dumbledore doesn't take me into his confidence," Flitwick admitted. "I hope you are able to come up with something good. In the meantime I suggest you go to classes like usual and watch your back."
Having said that, Flitwick left the flat leaving Harry to his thoughts. He turned to his trunk. Time to send out letters and get advice. Harry went down into his trunk and went into his study and got to work writing his letters. The first one was to Ragnock and Griphook. The second one went to family. Then he went back to his book about the TriWizard Tournament. He was looking for any kind of loophole he could exploit.
Hermione approached him the next day in charms class as it let out prior to lunch. Harry hugged her to him and sighed. He needed this and knowing that Hermione was on his side helped a lot.
"Are the Gryffindors treating you okay?" Harry asked.
Hermione sighed. "Not really. Other than the silent treatment they haven't done anything yet. I'm okay for now."
"Good," Harry was relieved. "Has Dumbledore approached you?"
"No, and I'm constantly checking myself for tracking and listening spells so he knows he can't use those as he knows I would find them and move them off me. The talk about you is terrible, Harry. The things that are being said…" Hermione shivered.
Harry sighed. "I'm sorry you have to go through this, Hermione. I really am. If you want to walk away from me I'll understand."
Hermione stepped back and stuck her right index finger in his face. "If you think I am going to walk away from you Mister Potter, you don't know me very well. I am not abandoning you. I will be right here for you."
Harry smiled. "Thanks love."
"I am reading the TriWizard's Tournament rules in an effort to find some kind of a loophole you can use to escape it," Hermione said.
"If anyone can find something its you," Harry grinned.
"I will find it, count on that," Hermione said.
"Good," Harry said. "For now we do what we have to and watch our backs."
"I heard you moved out of the Ravenclaw Tower," Hermione said.
Harry nodded. "You heard right. I can't tell you where I'm at. Just know that I am very safe there. The less people know the better."
"I'll trust you on that, Harry. Be careful," she said.
Harry nodded. "I will."
Hermione left and Harry used a secret passage back to his new quarters to have lunch there. He had lunch while looking at his mail. The letter from Ragnock had him smiling. Ragnock had found the perfect way to go after Dumbledore and Harry liked it. Harry returned his letter.
"Sir, sharpen your knives, sharpen your swords, sharpen your battle axes, sharpen your claws, and sharpen your teeth. We go to war against the Great Wizard Dumbledork. Lord Harry Potter," he wrote.
Ragnock was in a meeting with his advisors when Harry's letter arrived in his personal letterbox. He read it out loud and the goblins present cheered loudly. The plotting and planning began. Dumbledore would never know what hit him. Harry went about his classes for the next few days. He kept cool and calm, knowing that when the goblins messaged him he would have to leave Hogwarts and meet them to discuss how to do this. Harry hoped that they had a plan. Harry was going to suggest bringing suit against Dumbledore for allowing a minor to participate in such a dangerous event. He messaged them with that idea and got no response. Harry had the thought that they had something planned but wouldn't tell him until the very last moment in case Dumbledore managed to find out. Late Sunday evening Harry finally got the message he wanted to see. Up to that moment he had been reading his father's last journal and came across the evidence he needed to free Sirius Black. It was all there. The final discussion as to what his parents wanted to do, the arguments for switching to Peter Pettigrew, and the spell cast a week in advance before Dumbledore was to do it as they didn't trust him, and the discussions between his parents in regards to the wills and who the magical guardian was to be. It was all there. Harry immediately packed a small black backpack with what he would need and slipped out of the castle at one in the morning. He slipped through the shadows to the main gate and noted the wards there to keep people in. He turned and headed for the Forbidden Forest. He got outside the wards at what he knew was a weak spot having found it days ago when he went rambling inside the forest. He portkeyed out of there and to the Gringotts reception room. The goblins on guard there escorted him to a room for the rest of the night. He met Ragnock and the goblin legal team over breakfast and the plan was revealed to Harry. Harry had given Ragnock the right kind of opening and Dumbledore would be served the papers as he arrived to preside over the Wizengamot session scheduled for this Monday morning by one of the Wizengamot officials and it would be on the schedule of events. There was no way Dumbledore could dismiss it before anyone could see it listed on the docket.
They arrived at the Wizengamot chambers and waited in a smaller room off to the side. Ragnock was confident they would win. The plan was set. It was a matter of waiting for the right moment to attack, and attack they would. One of the Wizengamot aides knocked on the door and walked in. He led them out and to open seats in the front row on the floor. Then the session was opened.
"Good morning all," Dumbledore said, looking very calm.
Harry knew better as he could tell that Dumbledore was seething in anger underneath the calm exterior. The scribe to the Wizengamot rose.
"Good morning Chief Warlock. There is new business this morning," he announced as he looked at the sheet of parchment in his hands.
"And what would that be?" Dumbledore asked calmly.
"Mr. Harry James Potter has brought suit against you," the scribe said.
Dumbledore's face twitched for a moment. "This suit is without merit and I order it dismissed. Mr. Potter is to be returned to Hogwarts under Auror guard."
"And why is this suit without merit, Chief Warlock?" the smooth cultured voice of Lucius Malfoy questioned.
"Because he claims that I, his magical guardian, is placing him in danger," Dumbledore said as he tried to keep a grip on his temper.
That was the opening Harry needed. Now to act.
"I beg your pardon, sir. You are not my magical guardian," Harry said loudly.
He felt his nerves suddenly calm down and settle. He felt a calmness settle over him as if he was ready to battle. He put his emotions away and got ready to fight.
"Can you prove that, Mr. Potter?" a lady's voice called out. "I am Amelia Bones, director of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement."
Harry nearly smiled. "I can, Madame Bones."
One of the goblin lawyers stepped forward. "I am Gring, Mr. Potter's legal representative. If I may, I can answer that question. We can prove Mr. Potter's statement because we have in our possession certified copes of the wills left behind by the late Lord and Lady Potter."
Dumbledore stood up immediately. "They are forgeries!"
"Ladies and Lords of the Wizengamot, I move that Albus Dumbledore be made to step down for the duration of this suit as I believe he will attempt to misuse his authority as Chief Warlock in his efforts to stop these legal proceedings. Mr. Potter's suit and his evidence to support this suit must be heard," Lucius Malfoy stated.
Harry had not counted on Lucius Malfoy coming to his rescue but he welcomed it. Now he hoped for other people to back him, and they did not disappoint.
"Hem, hem," a lady's voice called out.
People turned to look and saw a lady in bright pink stand up. Harry recognized her as Delores Umbridge.
"I second Lord Malfoy's motion before the Wizengamot," he said in a very high sweet sugary voice.
"Dame Augusta Longbottom, of the House Longbottom. I third the motion and ask for the vote," she said.
Dumbledore was trembling in anger but he managed to keep a grip on it as the vote was carried out. It did not go his way. He had to vacate his seat and take the chair in front of the Wizengamot as he had been accused of a crime. Dumbledore was replaced by a man named Amos Diggory.
"Please present your evidence," Diggory said to Gring.
"I accuse Mr. Potter of presenting forgeries to the Wizengamot," Dumbledore spoke up as the goblin moved to the podium.
"Madame Bones, I am aware that you have in your employ, wizards and witches who are specialists in various positions within your department. May I ask if you have such a person that is a specialist in revealing forged documents?" Gring asked.
Dumbledore suddenly began to shift nervously in his chair as Madame Bones look at Dumbledore. She was a tall witch that appeared to be in her late seventies that wore a monocle over one eye.
"I do, Mr. Gring. I shall call for him immediately," she said and produced a bit of parchment and a quill.
She wrote a note and it turned into an airplane and flew off. Harry nearly smiled at the sight of it but remained calm. They did not have to wait long. The doors at the end of the chamber opened to admit a short wizard. He stepped into the light and Harry could see him much better now. He appeared to be very slender and wore a pair of round glasses. He had the look of a nerd about him.
"Good morning Ladies and Lords. I am here to assist you in any way I can. My name is Dirk Preston," he said as he inclined his head.
"You are needed to examine a pair of wills that were left behind by the late Lady and Lord Potter," Amelia Bones told him.
Gring handed them over after Preston set down his satchel. He examined the envelopes first and then pulled his wand and began casting spells over them. Gring turned to the Wizengamot as the wizard began his examination of them.
"As to how we came to have them, the late Lady and Lord Potter requested us to make copies of the wills. One set was to go to the ministry, one set was to be placed in our legal department," Gring said. "The ministry officials who accepted their copies immediately put them into a small box in their file room."
A man stepped up next to Gring having arrived in time to hear what the goblin had said.
"I remember accepting the wills as I was just a junior clerk at the time. I placed them in the box as per department regulations. When I returned later that day to secure the room for the night prior to my leaving, I found an official Wizengamot seal on the box. If I remember correctly, only the Chief Warlock can remove that seal. If I were to remove that seal I would be sent to Azkaban," he said.
"Was there a signature on the seal?" Diggory asked.
The man nodded. "There was."
"The name please, Mr.…?" Amelia Bones asked.
"Proudfoot, Mark Proudfoot is my name. The name on the seal was one Albus Dumbledore," he said.
Dumbledore groaned as people began shouting in anger. He knew now that things were not going to go his way. If Potter was able to produce the certified copies of the Potter wills from Gringotts, they would be read and he didn't want that. He needed to stop all of this and right now.
Dumbledore spoke up. "I placed those seals there on that box for the express purpose of protecting the Potter wills."
"Really now, Mr. Dumbledore. Do you really believe that we would believe that?" Gring said. "Protect the Potter wills from whom? Mr. Potter?"
That made Dumbledore angry but he managed to keep his peace. He turned back to Proudfoot and watched him examine the parchment inside the envelopes. He wished he could influence the man but couldn't as the use of magic was severely curtailed inside the Wizengamot chamber. After a time the man looked up at Madame Bones and nodded.
"Madame Bones, these documents are genuine. They are not forgeries. The magical signature of the late Lord and Lady Potter are present as required on a will," he announced to the chamber.
Gring rose. "If it pleases the Wizengamot, I hereby ask that the scribe read the wills."
"Very well. The scribe will now read the wills of the late Lord and Lady Potter," Diggory ordered.
Dumbledore knew he was done for. After today nobody would respect him. He sat there and listened to the wills being read. Both wills called for Harry to be placed with Lord Sirius Black, or Alice and Frank Longbottom, or Minerva McGonagall. Under no circumstances was Albus Dumbledore to be Harry's magical guardian. Under no circumstances was Harry to be placed with Petunia and Vernon Dursley as both of them had repeatedly time after time demonstrated their hatred for anything and every thing magical. If nobody was available to raise Harry, then Harry was to be placed with a 'light' family. Failing that, Harry was then to be awarded emancipation and to be taught by Ragnock himself how to manage the Potter Estate. Harry looked in time to see a look of relief on Fudge's face. He made eye contact with the man and nodded slightly. Fudge nodded back and turned his attention back to the issue at hand. One look at McGonagall and people knew she was beyond furious. Augusta Longbottom was angry as well. She rose and looked down at Dumbledore.
"I find it rather interesting that Lord Sirius Black went to Azkaban. I find it rather interesting that my son and my daughter in law were attacked," she began. "I find it rather interesting that Professor McGonagall was kept in the dark. Who were the witnesses to the wills, scribe?"
"Lord Sirius Black and one Remus Lupin," the answer came back.
"I see," she said. "I am aware that Sirius Black is on the run at the moment for his crimes against the Potters. Is Remus Lupin here? Can he be found and escorted here to testify?"
A man stepped out of the shadows and approached the table that Harry sat at. "I am prepared to testify to witnessing the wills."
Harry smiled as Remus nodded to him. Dumbledore rose and addressed the Wizengamot and Harry wondered what he had up his sleeve.
"I object to this man being here as he has been classed a Dark Creature according to Madame Umbridge's Bill regarding dark creatures," he said.
Harry glanced over at Umbridge and she looked pleased.
"We are aware of that bill, Dumbledore. If the Wizengamot is willing to overlook the bill for the time being and hear Mr. Lupin as his testimony is important. If my memory serves me correct, this bill went into effect long after the wills were witnessed by Mr. Lupin," Diggory said.
Dumbledore mentally cursed himself for having forgotten that little fact. He watched Remus step into the witness box.
"Are you Remus Lupin?" the scribe asked, beginning the interrogation.
Remus answered the question and a few others before getting to the question people wanted to know.
"Yes I did witness the wills as they were written in the offices of the will department of Gringotts," Remus replied.
People knew Remus had told the truth as the witness box he was standing in was spelled to indicate if a witness lied or told the truth. Veritaserum was used in criminal cases and as Dumbledore hadn't been charged with a crime just yet so it wasn't used.
"Lords and Ladies of the Wizengamot, we have very important evidence that proves that Sirius Black is innocent of the charges of murder and betrayal of the Potters," Gring began, knowing he was really stepping out on very thin ice.
Dumbledore was on his feet. "Evidence no doubt manufactured by Mr. Potter."
That set off the Wizengamot until Diggory called for silence.
"Do you have this evidence, Mr. Potter?" Diggory asked.
Harry stood and nodded. "I do, sir. It is the last journal kept by my father."
"And how did you come by this journal?" Dumbledore snarled.
Harry remained calm. By doing so he knew the Wizengamot would look at him favorably and it would prove his maturity. Besides that, it would piss off the old man.
"When you were so kind to 'escort' me to my relatives the Dursleys the summer after my first year, I discovered my parent's trunks in their attic. I was able to access them and in the process of looking through the trunks discovered their journals. Both of my parents wrote about their lives all the way up to the… day they died. However, I discovered my Dad's last journal was missing. When I went to the graveyard in Godric's Hollow where they had been laid to rest I had the feeling that I should go to the house where my parents went to hide from… him at Dumbledore's insistence, I went. I felt compelled to search the room in which my Dad obviously had his office as he was an Auror and discovered the missing journal. He wrote about a dozen pages in the last journal he had, and in those dozen pages is information that I believe will exonerate Sirius Black. I would ask that Mr. Proudfoot examine the journal and then ask the scribe to read those pages," Harry stated.
"I forbid it!" Dumbledore stated.
"I order Mr. Proudfoot to examine the journal and then turn it over to the scribe for reading," Diggory stated. "Your demands have no place here, Dumbledore."
Albus Dumbledore was not happy with that.
He watched as he seethed in rage as Proudfoot began his examination of the journal. After a time Proudfoot looked up at the Wizengamot as the journal floated to the scribe to give his report.
"The journal is genuine. The magical signature of the author matched the late Lord James Potter," he announced.
Attention now shifted to the Wizengamot scribe as he began to read the journal. Remus slowly cracked his neck muscles as the plan to protect the Potters was revealed and their suspicions about Dumbledore's intentions were discussed. The plan to use Sirius as the secret keeper was revealed. Then the revelation of switching secret keepers to Peter Pettigrew at the last minute was revealed. The arguments for and against it. The plan to use Sirius as the secret keeper decoy. The spells cast by James Potter using Peter Pettigrew as the secret keeper done a week in advance of Dumbledore's planned spell casting. People could tell that Dumbledore was pissed when it was revealed that Sirius Black was never the secret keeper for the Potters. The last entry brought out emotions in people as James described the Halloween evening prior to the attack, how Sirius had shifted into his dog form and how proudly he pranced with head up as Harry rode him around the neighborhood to collect candy. There were a few chuckles at the description of Sirius carrying Harry on his back in his dog form. Harry had put his head down trying to keep a grip on his emotions as Gring and Remus rubbed his back. The last bit spoke about how James was so happy about being a Daddy and that he was happy his friends had come together to help them. There was silence in the Wizengamot chambers for a moment. Then Fudge rose from his seat.
"What I have heard is the truth. There is no possible way that any of this could have been faked. Chief Warlock, we must bring in Sirius Black and get his testimony, both memories and under Veritaserum," Fudge said.
"Mr. Potter, do you know where Sirius Black is?" Madame Bones asked.
Harry stood up. "No I do not."
"I do," Gring said, standing up. "Lord Black has asked me to get him a temporary reprieve so he can come here and testify to the events leading up to that night and to the events afterwards as the Aurors never interrogated him."
"Sirius Black shall have safety in these chambers for the purpose of presenting testimony," Madame Bones declared.
A man in a black cloak stepped forward out of the shadows and removed his hood revealing him self to be Sirius Black. He smiled as people gasped.
"Good morning everybody. So nice to see you all," Sirius beamed.
Dumbledore snarled at him and Sirius smiled. "So nice to see you too, Albie. So, how do you folks want to do this?"
"Your memories first, then the Veritaserum," Madame Bones said.
Sirius went to sit down and another man approached Sirius to collect his memories. Liam Hudson was a wizard who, like Gilderoy Lockhart, was an expert on memory charms and spells, and could tell in a moment if a memory had been tampered with. He examined each memory as it went into the pensive in front of him. He played each memory as if they were videos to the people in the Wizengamot chamber. Each memory backed up the journal that had been read out loud to the Wizengamot and Dumbledore knew he was done. There was no recovering from this, ever. Then Sirius was given the Veritaserum and answered the questions put to him, ranging from asking if he had ever worked for the Dark Lord to betraying the Potters. Sirius gave truthful answers to the questions and the Wizengamot knew they had an innocent man wronged before them. Fudge immediately called for a vote on Sirius, and got a majority of the Wizengamot declaring him innocent.
Sirius Black was now a free man.
"On behalf of the Ministry, I'd like to offer my sincerest apology. If the Wizengamot is in agreement, your titles and rights are restored, your vaults and properties returned to you immediately," Fudge declared as Sirius beamed.
"Thank you sir," Sirius Black bowed.
Dumbledore rose to his feet. "Now that is all settled, I move that this session of the Wizengamot be closed."
"Ah ah, Dumbledore, there is other issues to be discussed," Gring said.
Dumbledore frowned as he turned to look at Gring.
"And what would those issues be?" he asked sternly.
Gring showed off his very pointy sharp teeth as he smiled, sending shivers down the spines of the on lookers.
"The theft of funds and property from Lord Potter."
People in the room gasped and Dumbledore knew he was dead.
To Be Continued