As Harry, Hermione, Ginny, and Madam Bones watched the memory of Hagrid's first Care of Magical Creatures class, Madam Bones paid very close attention to how Hagrid introduced Hippogriffs.
"Hagrid did give the students proper warning not to insult hippogriffs," observed Madam Bones, "Was he ever charged with any wrongdoing?'
"No," answered Harry, "The committee did at least accept Dumbledore's assurances that Hagrid bore no responsibility for the incident. They strictly went after the hippogriff himself."
"Thank goodness, " said Madam Bones in a relived voice, "That's one less thing I have to deal with."
"Wow, Harry, you were really successful with Buckbeak, " said Ginny cheerfully as the memory continued.
"Harry is a good candidate to be successful with hippogriffs because he's such a respectful person, " explained Hermione, "The key to being successful with hippogriffs is respect. It's like dealing with phoenixes on a smaller scale."
Next nanosecond, Harry, Hermione, Ginny, and Madam Bones saw the part of the memory where Draco Malfoy had called Buckbeak "you great u*** brute."
Madam Bones was furious.
"First of all, " said Madam Bones, "That "u" word is one of the most offensive words in English and should NEVER be used. Furthermore, Mr. Malfoy knowingly and intentionally insulted a hippogriff. That was the one thing Professor Hagrid made it clear to the class that they should NOT do."
"Malfoy also greatly exaggerated his injuries, " Harry informed Madam Bones.
"I will be interrogating Mr. Malfoy with the Truth Potion known as Veritasiurium in a few minutes, " said Madam Bones, "If Mr. Malfoy's exaggeration of his injuries was in way to any extent an attempt to get Professor Hagrid unjustly fired and/or an attempt to get Buckbeak unjustly killed, he will be expelled from Hogwarts. If Draco did indeed attempt to get Professor Hagrid unjustly fired and/or Buckbeak unjustly killed, and if Lucius turns out to have aided Draco in any such attempts, he will lose any political position(s) he currently holds. Can you three stay in here while I go question Mr. Malfoy?"
"Yes, " chorused Harry, Hermione, and Ginny.
"There are some books for you to read in my absence, " said Madam Bones, pointing at a table.
"It doesn't look like there are any academic type books on that table, " sighed Hermione in disappointment, "May I go retrieve my copy of The Standard Book of Spells, grade 3?"
"No, " said Madam Bones firmly, "Sometimes it's good to relax and do some leisurely reading for enjoyment. Besides, Miss Granger, from your physical appearance and body language, you are already too stressed out from too heavy an academic load. I happen to know the secret arrangement you have with Professor McGonagall, and quite frankly, I think it's been bad for you. We will be discussing this later. For now, why don't you, Mr. Potter, and Miss Weasley do some leisurely reading while I go talk to Mr. Malfoy?"
"She's going to get it taken away, " muttered Hermione under her breath.
"Get what taken away?" asked Harry and Ginny.
"Can't tell you that, " said Hermione, "I promised McGonagall not tell anyone, "
"We may know soon enough anyway, " smirked Ginny.
"Madam Bones IS right, Hermione, you HAVE been attempting to do way too much this year."
Hermione scowled at Harry but was now resigned to doing some leisurely reading to pass the time.
Ginny saw to her delight that one of the books available for reading on the table was The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. Ginny picked up The Voyage of the Dawn Treader and began reading from where she had left off reading in her own copy of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader in the common room.
Harry saw a book called The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, a book that Harry had been yearning to read since he had finished another book he saw on the table, a book called The Magician's Nephew, which Hermione happened to pick to up by random choice.
Madam Bones, meanwhile, made her way down to the Slytherin Common Room.
"Is Draco Malfoy in here?" asked Madam Bones.
Draco, not realizing at first that it was the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement who had entered, actually walked up to her and said, "I'm here."
"Can we go up to your dormitory?" asked Madam Bones in a businesslike voice.
Draco, suddenly realizing who was speaking to him, felt suddenly gleeful. Now he could testify against Hagrid and Buckbeak directly to the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.
Draco led Madam Bones up to his dorm, which was empty.
Madam Bones closed the door and performed the strongest Locking Charm and Privacy Charm that she knew on the dorm.
Madam Bones stunned Draco and fed him three drops of Veritasiurium. She then woke him.
"Mr. Malfoy, please sit down on your bed, " asked Madam Bones and Draco did as he was told.
"Mr. Malfoy, would you please tell me about your first Care of Magical Creatures lesson?" grilled Madam Bones.
"I was slashed by a hippogriff, " said Draco instantly.
"Did you insult said hippogriff before it attacked you?" asked Madam Bones.
"Yes, " spilled Draco, "It deserved to be insulted after favoring Potter."
"Did Professor Hagrid warn the class against insulting hippogriffs?" inquired Madam Bones.
"Not that I remember, " replied Draco.
"Actually, " explained Madam Bones, "He did, but you weren't paying attention. At any rate, did you overstate the magnitude of your injuries?"
"Yes, " responded Draco carelessly, "Madam Pomphrey fixed my arm that very afternoon, but I pretended it took several months to heal. I had hoped to get that great oaf fired and that great u*** brute executed by making my situation out to be far worse than it actually was."
"Did you involve your father?" grilled Madam Bones.
"Yes, " smirked Draco, "His job was to pay members of the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures large amounts of gold in exchange for voting Buckbeak guilty. including on the inevitable appeal."
"That's all I need to hear, " said Madam Bones in disgust.
Madam Bones stunned Draco again and fed him the antidote to Veritasiurium.
Madam Bones waved her wand a sheet paper came out.
She woke Draco up and said, "Mr. Draco Malfoy, you are hereby expelled from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Lucius will be removed from all political positions he holds and will henceforth be ineligible to hold any political positions in Wizarding Britain for the rest of his life. The International Confederation of Wizards will be informed of this."
"That u*** hippogriff slashed me-"
"It was your own fault, Mr. Malfoy, " said Madam Bones coldly, "I will be dispatching an assistant to Malfoy Manor to explain the punishments to Lucius. You will be returned to Malfoy Manor and shall NOT set foot in Hogwarts ever again."
"Maybe father can get me into Durmstrang now, "snarled Draco, "I've heard it's a far better school. Their students actually learn the Dark Arts-"
"Silenco!" yelled Madam Bones as she pointed her wand directly at Draco's mouth.
Draco's mouth continued to move, but no words came out.
Madam Bones then took a piece of parchment and wrote to one of her assistants in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement and explained the situation surrounding the Malfoys and the assistant's job of informing Lucius.
As the head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Madam Bones had the power to override most people and departments at the Ministry of Magic, including the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures.
Madam Bones took out an official looking sheet of parchment with both the Ministry of Magic's and the Department of Magical Law Enforcement's seals on them and wrote.
"As the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, I hereby declare the hippogriff known as Buckbeak innocent of any wrongdoing and his trial canceled. While it is true that Buckbeak did attack a student in one of Professor Hagrid's classes, I have seen a memory that proves this was the student's own fault. Furthermore, the student in question admitted under the influence of Veritasiurium that he overstated his injuries in the hope of getting Buckbeak executed. The same student also admitted his father paid members of the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures large amounts of gold in exchange for voting Buckbeak guilty. The student in question., Mr. Draco Malfoy, has been expelled from Hogwarts. His father, Mr. Lucius Malfoy, will lose all of his political positions and be ineligible for any and all political positions in Wizarding Britain for the rest of his life and the International Confederation of Wizards will be informed of this. Any member of the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures or Ministry of Magic who wishes to view the memory I have of the class in question or my interview of Draco Malfoy may do so on request. Mr. Hagrid, if you are reading this, you may untether Buckbeak and let him live a normal hippogriff life again when you choose, though it would understandable if you are cautious for a few days. And a BIG thank you to Mr. Harry Potter for showing me the memory of Hagrid's first class. - Madam Amelia Bones."
Madam Bones sent out a few copies of this letter.
When Hagrid received his, he and Arthur sat stunned.
"Beaky!" cried Hagrid with tears of happiness coming down his eyes, "He's gonna be free. Though I'll keep him secure for a few days just in case."
"This is wondaful news, " said Arthur, "Justice for Buckbeak and now no need to worry about that trial."
"In essence, Harry showing Amelia that memory was Buckbeak's trial and it proved him innocent. Once the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement saw that, it set beaky up to be free. Oh, Harry."
Madam Bones returned to the Room of Requirement.
Seeing that Madam Bones had returned, Harry, Hermione, and Ginny set down their books and waited for news.
"Mr. Malfoy spilled the beans under Veritasiurium, " explained Madam Bones, "Draco Malfoy has been expelled from Hogwarts and Lucius Malfoy will lose all of his political positions, never being eligible for any political positions in Wizarding Britain ever again. "
"Good, " chorused Harry, Hermione, and Ginny.
"Maybe without Lucius's influence we'll see a fairer government in the Wizarding World, " said Hermione in a voice that gave off an aura of cautious optimism.
"And maybe without Draco here, there'll be less bullying at Hogwarts, " added Ginny.
"And what about Buckbeak?" asked Harry.
At that nanosecond, Madam Bones handed Harry a copy of the document she'd written to free Buckbeak.
"Excellent," smiled Harry, "Hagrid will be so happy and so relived."
"I'm glad justice was able to be done for Buckbeak, " said Madam Bones proudly.
Harry, Hermione, and Ginny all nodded and said, "So are we."
"But there's more justice to be done today," declared Madam Bones.I