It was five in the morning and I already couldn't sleep any more.
Hedwig was peacefully slumbering in her cage with Crookshanks not far away from the snow owl and I silently watched them for a bit, the sweet sight in front of me calming my nerves.
Not only had I dreamt about the mysterious hall that Voldemort tried to find yet again, no, today was my hearing at the ministry and I was quite unnerved by it.
I took a cold shower and dressed for the day before I sat down at the small desk in my room and summoned my mother's diary with an accio.
Reading about my mother's thoughts and her problems in life was something I enjoyed a lot since Remus had given me the book for my birthday.
It was the closest thing I had to a conversation with my real, earthly mother and I found comfort in her tidy and neat handwriting, each letter graced with an elegance that I never even dreamt of achieving. MY handwriting definitely was influenced by my dear father.
What my father didn't pass on to me however was his tendency to prank people every ten seconds.
I already lost count of how many times my mother wrote about how annoying James and his stupid pranks were, making me think that it probably was one of his ways to show my mother that he loved her - no matter how strange that may seem.
"How did these guys end up with one another anyway?" I asked myself and wrinkled my forehead, not being able to think of a way how Lily Evans could marry my at this point still annoying father.
"I guess the only way of knowing is to keep reading, ey?" I thought as my eyes kept scrolling through the text that had already taught me quite a few things about myself as a person and even more importantly made me realize that I wasn't just called my parent's child: I had their traits, their looks.
I was impulsive like my father, kept the things that bothered me to myself like my mother and was living my life for a better world like both of them.
But there was one entirely different thing that might even be the most important lesson this diary had already taught me: That love can be found in even the most unexpected places.
It filled me with hope, knowing that I indeed might have a chance to find the answer to the second part of my prophecy: The power of love.
I still didn't know how love would help me defeating Voldemort, but it certainly wouldn't hurt finding out…
At six a.m. my stomach began grumbling and so I put my bookmark in the diary and packed it in my trunk before heading down to the kitchen to help myself to some kind of breakfast.
I knew that if I tried to eat something shortly before Hermione, Remus and I were to leave for the ministry, then my stomach would rebel. So I chose to prevent this unpleasant event from ever happening.
"I knew you wouldn't be able to sleep through the night." Sirius greeted me when I entered the conference room, feet on the table and a copy of the "Daily Prophet" in his hand.
"I didn't know you were an early bird." I remarked with a chuckle before I summoned a bowl and a package of cereal.
"Usually I'm not, it's just that this day is getting on my nerves as well. As your godfather I can't help but worry a bit.", He told me as I sat down next to him and he gave me a pat on the back, "But it's not like I really believe you have to be worried: I guess it's just part of this family instinct thing to worry."
"Yeah, that would explain why Mrs. Weasley wanted her children here with us for the rest of the holidays.." I mumbled as I added milk to my cornflakes and the animagus sighed.
"You're having a hard time with Ron?" His eyes checked me for any signs of discomfort but I shook my head.
"It's bearable. He and I don't see each other too often, so there's no way things could get ugly." I said and Sirius hummed.
"You know, as sorry as I might be that you've lost a friend, I can't help but think about that one saying: During hard times, people show you their truest self." My godfather said before taking a sip from his glass of pumpkin juice.
"I'd even say that hard times can teach you a lot about yourself as well." I added and Sirius flashed me a quick smile.
"Especially when one has a certain diary." He said and I chuckled mildly.
"Yeah, that's helpful as well." I mumbled with a full mouth.
"I don't want to know what Lily was writing in her diary, but would you mind telling me how it's helping you?" Sirius asked me and I took a deep breath, not knowing how to put my thoughts in one short answer.
"The most apparent thing probably is the sense of connection I get when I read about the similarities of my parents and me.", I told him, "But that's just covering the surface really."
"I know what you mean.. My parents might have lived when I was younger, but I still felt alienated. There really were few things that I could use to connect with my father and mother." Sirius told me with a sad smile.
"Doesn't it sadden you a lot to live your life in the one place you never felt home in?" I asked and my godfather chuckled lightly.
"It did when me and your dad were still going to school.. But now that you're here with me, well, I think we could make this place a home for both of us." He explained and I gave him a compassionate look.
"I think it would be wiser to not dream about this until I really can live with you. Remember, I'm just living here for two weeks, and only because I almost got killed to boot!" I exclaimed and Sirius sighed.
"You're right. So much is still uncertain.. Though if you could live with me, would you like to stay here in Grimmauld Place?" He smirked with a rakish gleam in his eyes and I grinned at his persistence.
"Only if we make some drastic changes to this house. Like painting the walls in another colour than black and removing the decapitated elf heads from the staircase. Hermione would kill us if we don't do it." I suggested and my godfather laughed heartily at my last comment.
"I think so too.." He scratched the back of his head, "Speaking of her, please remind me to thank her for all the things she has done for you if I forget it. This summer has shown me how responsible she is for your sanity."
"Yeah, no problem.", I smiled widely as I myself thought about how lost I would be in this world without my best friend, "She's probably the reason I made it through all the obstacles in my life at Hogwarts as well."
"I bet she is. Though I don't think I have to tell you how unique and deep that bond is you two share?" My godfather asked and I shook my head.
"No, if there's one thing I'm absolutely aware of then it's how precious our relationship is." I said and Sirius suddenly grinned slyly.
"Relationship? Have I missed something?", He gently elbowed me and when he caught my not-funny look he raised his hands, "I'm sorry, it's in a pranksters nature to tease."
"Why do you do tease us about that in a first place? When I look at her, all I see is my best friend and not my girlfriend or whatever you sometimes call us but you obviously seem to know more about that than me." I told him and had quite a hard time keeping a straight face when I used the term "best friend".
"Well, you don't have to tell him that you've got the hots for her, ey?" I thought to myself and decided that I would rather like to keep my godfather in the dark about my physical desires.
"I've seen loads of couples that don't last and only know a few that lasted for a lifetime. And all of those couples that lasted had the same chemistry that you and Hermione radiate.", His eyes were fixed on mine and I saw that he was serious about it, "I get it that you're "just" best friends. But you should know that the only difference between your friendship and a romantic relationship is that you don't snog and don't moan each other's name at night."
As he explained this, his grin widened with every word that he spoke, just as my blush intensified with every sentence.
"There is no guarantee we would last. You could be mistaken, Padfoot." I countered and my godfather raised a brow.
"You know that sounds like you ARE interested in her, don't you?" Sirius eyes sparkled with amusement.
"Well, I'd rather have her as my girlfriend than any other girl at school!" I responded without thinking about my words, and as soon as I realized what I had said the animagus raised his glass like he was toasting to me.
"Congratulations to that conclusion, Mr. Potter." He exclaimed before taking a big gulp of juice.
"Hey, are you trying to set us up?!", I asked with a high voice before a thought struck me, "Is that what your bet with Remus is about? If you can manage to make us a couple?"
"Well, that's partially true. Remus and I bet about you two, but not about if I can set you up." Sirius admitted and I narrowed my eyes on him.
"What are you betting about then?"
"That's a secret." He said in a sing-sang voice and I rolled my eyes with a groan.
"As always, Sirius Black proves once again to be a dork." I thought to myself as I continued my meal…
The dork luckily decided to leave me to my thoughts after that so that I could mentally prepare myself for the challenge that lay ahead of me and I tried my best not pondering too much about my godfather's previous confessions, the topic entirely inappropriate as long as I was still suspended from Hogwarts.
"Um, Sirius? Can I ask you something?" I almost whispered to my godfather who then raised his gaze from the newspaper he was reading.
"Of course, Harry."
"What will we do if I lose my case? I know, it's not that likely to happen, but still.. If the worst becomes true, what will happen to me?" I asked and Sirius gave me a small smile.
"Then I'd be more than willing to spend the rest of my days with you, Harry James Potter. You see, even the worst events won't make the world fall apart. It's always how we choose to deal with the situation we find ourselves in that defines the way we feel." He explained and I was slightly surprised to hear such wise words from the prankster, "I think you can find the light even in the darkest of scenarios, if you're willing to put enough effort in it."
"But the prophecy states that I will have to kill Voldemort. How am I going to do that without a wand?" I asked and Sirius shrugged his shoulders.
"As far as I know a wizard can resonate with more than one wand. I'm sure we could find you a new one." He stated and I shuddered at the imagination of having any other wand than my phoenix feather and holly wood wand in my hands.
"I'd still like to keep the one I've got right now." I nervously laughed as I absently fidgeted with my wand under the table.
"I think if destiny wanted you to have the wand that is a counterpart to Voldemort's, then destiny also wants you to keep it." Sirius concluded and gave me a strong pat on the back as a means to reassure me.
"I damn hope he's right about that.." I muttered to myself and prayed for the best to happen…
At seven a.m. the room gradually became more crowded as other people also got up and wished me good luck, and with every person that did so I felt more and more stressed as the clock inched closer to eight o'clock, the time that was my departure.
Soon enough my best friend entered the room as well and I found myself getting attacked by the bone-crushing hug of a brunette girl.
Her presence helped me keeping my cool, and suddenly the day promised to be a bit better than mere minutes ago.
Time seemed to pass quicker and before I knew it, it was time to leave for the ministry.
After one final reassuring hug of my godfather and a very dramatic "Thank you" in Hermione's direction, the trio that was Remus, my best friend and I stepped into the fireplace of Grimmauld Place 12 and flooed over to our destination's atrium.
The second we stepped out of one of many fireplaces in the ministry's entrance hall Hermione started babbling about all the things she had read about the ministry's architecture, but I didn't need to hear her words to FEEL the mighty aura the place radiated.
From it's tall structures to the polished perfectness that was every brick and every plank of the buildings, I thought that I suddenly knew why quite a few people wanted to govern over such a prestigious place.
Halfway down the hall was a fountain, with a group of golden statues amidst a circular pool of water and I could make out a wizard and a witch as well as a centaur, a goblin and a house-elf.
As I looked down to the bottom of the pool I saw several silver sickles and bronze knuts lying there, and I cursed myself for not bringing any money with me.
"A bit of extra luck never hurt anybody.." I mused to myself as Hermione next to me was telling Remus how much she hated the fountain and the message that it conveyed.
We then had to wait in a queue in order to be granted access to the elevators that lead to the different levels of the ministry, as Remus told us.
"State your business." A grumpy voice soon enough announced that it was our turn, and my ex-professor kindly smiled at the man behind the desk.
"Disciplinary hearing of Harry James Potter." He said and as soon as my name was uttered, the man looked up and locked eyes with my scar, like so many people had done before.
"I see." He muttered before looking through the many towers of parchment that lay atop his desk.
"You do realize that the hearing you want to attend starts in no more than five minutes, right Mr. Potter?" The bureaucrat evilly grinned at me like he was rejoicing in the sudden turn of events and I eyed my best friend with a look of horror.
"Excuse me, I was under the belief the hearing started at twelve and not at a quarter past eight." Remus remarked and the other man shook his head.
"If I were you I'd stop asking questions and start moving." His grin made my blood boil and I felt like punching that idiot in his wrinkly face.
"Ah, Mr. Potter!", He called after us when we had already passed him, "You have to hand over your wand to me."
I never thought that my hopefully temporary farewell to my wand would be as hectic and undramatic as it was, but it wasn't like I had much of choice. Somebody was plotting against me again..
"My god, what an arse." Remus cursed under his breath when the three of us were in an empty elevator and the werewolf practically smashed the button that would lead us to the courtrooms.
"Remus, does Dumbledore know about the change of schedule? Without him our chances are slim to get Harry cleared of all charges." Hermione asked and the marauder groaned.
"Of course not. Except a wonder happens and he already is here, which I highly doubt." Remus said and I gulped audibly.
"Oh, you're screwed, Potter." I mentally thought to myself as it dawned on me HOW bad my current situation was: I had less than three minutes to get to my hearing and the one person I put my trust in to help me win my case wasn't there to defend me because some twat decided to mess with the schedule.
"They probably knew I'd be relying on Dumbledore." I hissed silently as the elevator rattled and rattled as various levels passed by in a flash, and although I assumed those elevators were quite fast I wished they were even faster. Time was running out.
My eyes nervously darted across the little space to my sides and in front of me before they narrowed on a little sign with the caption "Department of Mysteries" and I actually felt tempted to push the button that would lead me there. If I took the prophecy now, Voldemort would never get it into his dirty hands..
A metallic screeching sound pulled me out of my thoughts and the next thing I knew was that the three of us were wildly running through the corridor ahead of us in search for the chamber in which the Wizengamot meets.
People in black robes and black hats were already walking towards me as they spotted me, so I quickly turned around to bade a quick farewell to Remus.
"What are you actually doing now since you can't watch the hearing?" I asked him and the werewolf shook his head with a small grin.
"I think that's not of importance now, is it? Remember: Don't talk unless you're asked to do so and just stick to the truth. You'll be out of here in no time, believe me." He gave me a hearty pat on the shoulder before he lead Hermione away from me, probably in search for the registration of witnesses or however they call it.
Our eyes locked and I didn't need to hear her words to know what my favourite witch wanted to tell me: You'll be alright, no matter what.
Her belief in me caused a swell of confidence inside of me that no other person could even dream of achieving and as I was lead into the Wizengamot I didn't even process half the things I saw, Hermione's "words" a dose of magic that catapulted me straight into the forth dimension.
I sat down in a black, wooden chair in the centre of an octagonal chamber with dozens of witches and wizards sitting around me on a raised structure that made it easy for them to have a good look at the accused, and I recognized the room to be the place where Igor Karkaroff had exposed the truth about Barty Crouch Junior many years ago.
Directly in front of my view was a single lectern, behind it sitting no other than the minister of magic himself.
Fudge looked at me like he couldn't believe that I was sitting where I sat, and I assumed it was him who tried to convict me by disabling me from attending my own trial. I met his gaze and narrowed my eyes in a challenging manner.
"Nothing is lost until it's over." I thought to myself as the minister called the Wizengamot to order with his gavel.
"Disciplinary hearing of the twelfth of August 1995 into offences committed by Harry James Potter, born on the thirty-first of July 1980, currently residing in Privet Drive Number 4, Little Whinging, Surrey. Interrogator is Cornelius Oswald Fudge, Minister of Magic. The charges against the accused are as follows: That he did knowingly, and in full awareness of the illegality of his actions, perform the patronus charm in a muggle suburb. Do you deny performing such a charm?" Fudge didn't lose any time getting to the point.
"No, I don't. But it.."
"And you were aware that you are forbidden to use magic outside of school whilst under the age of seventeen?"
"Yes, I was but.."
"Witches and Wizards of the Wizengamot. The accused has confessed his guilt and is hereby.."
"I WAS ONLY DOING IT BECAUSE OF THE DEMENTORS!" I shouted, not caring any more that I wasn't supposed to speak up whenever I felt like it. This was about my life, and as long as I had a saying in it, then this was NOT over.
The members of the Wizengamot gasped and silently whispered things to the people next to them, some of them moving uncomfortably in their seats as well.
"Dementors. In Little Whinging. Do you really think you can trick the highest magical court in Great Britain with such a cheap lie?" Fudge had a mocking grin on his face and I clenched my fists in anger.
"Yes, I do. Besides, it's not a lie. I'm sure if you put enough effort in it you would know that two Dementors were away from Azkaban last Sunday." I retorted and the minister laughed at me.
"Enough. We don't need to hear more of what probably would have been a very well rehearsed.." He stopped mid-sentence and I heard the doors behind me swinging open as a murmur went through the entire hall.
"Witness for the defence: Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore." My headmaster introduced himself and when I realized that I was in the process of a near religious experience, I couldn't suppress grinning like an idiot.
"That really is a plus point for him." I mentally noted as I watched the minister's head taking on a shade of red that would have made my uncle very proud.
"I see you've found out about the change of time for this hearing?" Fudge more stated than asked and Dumbledore folded his hands in front of his body.
"As I am still a member of this court, to some people's dislike of course, I get notified whenever the schedule gets changed. Just like you do, Cornelius." He stated and I knew Fudge didn't like the way Dumbledore was playing with him.
"I'm aware of the charges, there is no need to repeat them for an old man like me." The headmaster said when he saw the minister's mouth opening again. Then Dumbledore took a deep breath.
"As the wizarding law states, magic can be used by an underage wizard if he finds himself in a life-threatening situation, no matter alone or in the presence of a muggle. Since Harry used a patronus charm to defend himself against two dementors.."
"Is it true that you can produce a corporeal patronus, Mr. Potter?" A woman with a feather and clipboard in hand interrupted and I nodded with determination.
"Yes, Professor Remus Lupin taught me how to defend myself against the dementors when I was thirteen." I stated and another gasp went through the crowd.
"A corporeal patronus in his third year? That's impossible!" I heard a few of them whispering as they looked at me with a mixture of disbelief and amazement.
"Order!" Fudge bellowed from his high seat and the courtroom went silent shortly afterwards.
"You do realize that since you cannot bring forward any witnesses of the event.."
"Pardon me minister, but actually there is someone who can bring evidence to this highly important matter." Dumbledore cut Fudge off and like on cue the doors swung open yet again, revealing my brilliant, cunning and so very awesome best friend.
"State your name." The woman with the clipboard said as she grabbed a new piece of parchment, probably meant to archive every witness and what he or she stated.
"Hermione Jane Granger." Hermione answered without a second of hesitance.
"Go get 'em, 'Mione.." I thought to myself and the slightest of grins formed on my face.
"Can you tell us something about the attack that Mr. Potter claims has taken place on last Sunday near Little Whinging?" She asked and my best friend nodded.
"Yes, I can. In the afternoon of the fourteenth of August 1995 Harry and I went for a jog and when we stopped at a playground in Little Whinging to catch our breath, we encountered two dementors. At first we only felt how the world around us got cold and darker, but Harry knew what it meant so we ran back to his house. On the way we passed an underpass of the motorway, and that's where the dementors attacked us. As I am not capable of producing a patronus charm, I only survived because Harry cast it. Without him I wouldn't stand here in front of you." She explained with a confident voice before she briefly glanced at me when she reached her conclusion.
"Now, young lady, dementors don't just wander into a muggle suburb and attack two teenagers without authorization. The odds are astronomical!" Fudge tried to defuse the situation but I could only shake my head at his plain stupidity.
"So you admit your fault in the incident, minister?" Hermione retorted with a voice that left no room for any discussion and I so badly wanted to whistle in approval.
"What. A. Badass." I thought to myself and couldn't wait how the minister would recover from that.
"Ahm. Ahm." A new voice spoke up, belonging to a woman that couldn't be described as anything but disgusting:
From her over-the-top pink clothes to her sausage-like fingers to her toad-like face and exaggeratedly sweet smile, I knew that I had found another nemesis besides Voldemort.
"I'm sure I must have misunderstood you, Miss Granger, but for a second I thought you told this court that the ministry had ordered the attack on Mr. Potter and you." Her voice was just as carcinogenic as the rest of her persona, "I'm sure you know that dementors are magical creatures under the control of the ministry."
"Indeed it would be disturbing if the ministry had given authorization to the described attack, but of course there is someone else.. that could be behind the attack." Dumbledore paced through the room until he dramatically stopped with his innuendo, making the room erupt with countless whispers.
The headmaster walked closer to the minister's seat, and in contrast to Dumbledore, Fudge looked far more unsettled.
"Cornelius. I'm begging you. The evidence that the dark lord has returned is undeniable." His voice truly was that of a plea, but the minister just slammed his fist on the lectern.
"HE IS NOT. BACK!" Fudge growled with a tone that showed how desperately he clung to the lie he himself had disseminated.
With a deep sigh and a sad smile Dumbledore turned away from the minister before he winked at me and continued defending my innocence.
"As already mentioned, Harry was in the right to cast a patronus charm when he and Miss Granger were attacked on the fourteenth of.."
"Laws can be changed, Dumbledore." Fudge interrupted and the headmaster put his hands on his hips.
"You would change a law to make an act punishable that serves the purpose of preserving a human being's life? I ask this court: What is this madness?!", The headmaster was infuriated by Fudge's statement, "But why am I even surprised it has come to this, when a fifteen-year-old boy is framed a necromancer by the press whilst the real dark lord is out there, thriving because of your ignorance!"
Now there was no way to undo the damage Dumbledore's words had done as the entirety of the Wizengamot seemed to be on their feet, loudly shouting all kinds of things as a clearly upset Fudge tried to regain control of the situation. Which took five minutes or so. Five minutes I thoroughly enjoyed for some odd reason.
And when the chamber was quiet again, it was time for the vote that would change my life forever.
"Those in favour of conviction." The witch with the clipboard said and I almost sighed in relief when there weren't many hands up in the air, but of course Fudge and the toad witch wanted me in Azkaban.
"Not today, you bastards.." I thought to myself.
"Those in favour of clearing the accused of all charges." Her words made my body tingle with anticipation and when I saw the vast majority of the Wizengamot was voting for my innocence, I didn't want to suppress my grin any more.
I met Fudge's eyes with a triumphant expression as he hit the lectern with his gavel.
"Cleared of all charges."
Author's note:
And? What do you think about the hearing? I originally wanted to leave the hearing out (or make it a really short scene) of the story when I started planning, but yesterday I just felt like writing it, so I did. And I don't regret it, I had so much fun. Hope you liked it as well.
Also, Harry had quite an important conclusion in this chapter, don't you think? Things definitely promise to get more interesting now...
I also wanted to give Harry and Sirius some serious dialogue in this chapter since I think Harry would definitely turn to his only parent-like figure in his life in such a situation. Why didn't they have such a scene in the books? Or have I just forgotten? Who knows.
Last but not least the chapter title is an innuendo to the "Trial by Combat" in George R.R. Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire" / "Game of Thrones". If you've read the previous AN's, you know I love the world of Westeros and Essos. Also, the title is quite fitting, don't you think?
Anyway, please leave a review if it doesn't steal too much time of your precious life and 'til the next time!
NewOrderFan05
P.S: We're soon at 20k views. I don't know what to say any more, it's just ungraspable for me. But thank you so much for your support. I know, not the most eloquent expression of gratitude, but it will have to be sufficient ;-)
