Fudge's lips parted, and all hope was lost. "You… you were at Stonehenge?"
Tonks smiled. "Yes."
Fudge blinked. "And what were you doing at Stonehenge?"
Tonks grinned. "I like it there. It's where I spend my evenings, sometimes."
Fudge faltered. "And you saw…"
Nymphadora Tonks stood before the most powerful witches and wizards of her age, nodding politely. And in that moment anyone that truly knew her saw mischief behind her eyes.
"I saw Dolores Umbridge meeting two large dementors. And I heard her commission the execution of Harry Potter. I can share the memory, if you'd like."
The room erupted, and for nearly three minutes Amelia Bones sat in silence, watching the world burn.
Finally she stood, and a hush fell.
"Given the nature of these accusations, I fear the primary and secondary interrogators must recuse themselves from the remainder of the hearing."
She turned to an Auror standing guard to her left, and nodded.
"And given the nature of the testimony we've just heard, I recommend Dolores Umbridge be held in custody until this body agrees on a path forward. Procedure demands a vote on both fronts."
A series of decisive votes and a few moments later, Fudge was escorted out of the room, and Dolores was bound and forcibly removed.
Amelia Bones returned her attention to the spritely young witch standing at the center of the lower chambers.
"Auror Tonks. I have several questions. The first of which bears personal consequence, given the nature of your career."
Tonks raised her eyebrows, maintaining a kind smile.
"If you indeed observed a senior member of this Ministry commission the execution of a child, why didn't you immediately report your observations?"
Tonks didn't miss a beat. "I did, Madam Director." She reached into her robe, withdrawing folded parchment and a glass vial. "I apparated to the Ministry as soon as the Dementors departed. I rushed to the DMLE offices right away, and drafted a report which I hand-delivered to my supervising officer. I supplemented the report with a detailed verbal account of my observations. I also submitted a vial containing the memory. I've brought a duplicate of my report, and a vial including my memory of the report submission and my supervisor's response."
Tension built in her shoulders as Amelia Bones processed Tonks' response. "And your supervisor is?"
"John Dawlish, ma'am."
The room stirred with the gravity of the implications.
Amelia Bones nodded meaningfully. "I see. And what was his response?"
Tonks shifted her gaze up and to her left, summoning the memory. "He looked upset at first. He told me that I'd unknowingly interfered with an important, confidential operation. He told me that any further action would compromise not only a significant investigation but also my personal career. After a long pause, he thanked me for the report, and told me that it was imperative that I didn't mention it to anyone else. And then he sent me home."
Amelia Bones brow furrowed, and she raised a hand to silence the hushed whispers.
"Are you aware of any further action taken by John Dawlish after the submission of your report?"
"No, Madam Bones. Just after arriving home I was formally notified that I'd been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of a special investigation."
Amelia Bones' right eyebrow adopted a sharp angle. "This notification proceeded from which office?"
The glowing ember in Tonks mischievous eyes lit aflame, and a shadow of a smirk tugged at the corner of her lips. "The office of the Senior Undersecretary to the Minister, Madam Bones."
At this, all hope for containing the ensuing chaos was lost. Several long minutes later, Amelia Bones shouted over the building outcry of the governing body.
"Order!" She shouted, once and then again. After a moment, she held her wand to her throat and immediately the room shook with her cry. "ORDER!"
An unsteady calm settled over the upper chambers. Amelia Bones shifted her stern disposition from her colleagues to the young wizard, still chained uncomfortably to an old, wooden chair at the center of the dungeon.
"The horrifying specter of this ministry's corruption has led us astray from the purpose of this hearing."
She smiled warmly at Harry Potter, and then scanned the upper chamber.
"Those in favor of clearing the accused of all charges?"
Every hand was raised but two.
"Let the record indicate that Harry Potter has been cleared of all charges." She directed her attention squarely on Harry. "I'm afraid, Mr. Potter, that you've been a victim of a malicious and violent conspiracy. This government has failed you. I have failed you."
She let the silence ring.
At last, she spoke. "I won't apologize, for no apology can atone for the trespass that stole the life of your cousin and threatened to stifle the hope of our generation. Instead, I stand here as a representative of those who won't stop until justice is done; and I commit to you that every ounce of my influence will come to bear against those tyrant fools that attempted to silence the symbol you've become. Release him immediately."
Relief washed over Harry as the chains which bound him were loosed. He stood, and turning found himself in Tonks' tight embrace. He laughed, and after a moment awkwardly patted the young witch.
She pushed him away, keeping hold of his shoulders. "Hi Harry. I'm Tonks. We're distant cousins, I think. Anyway, I've been worried sick about you for days." She winked. "Glad to see everything turned out okay."
He grinned. "Thanks to you lot. You were brilliant."
He turned to Dumbledore, who was standing beside him smiling warmly. "I can't thank you enough, Professor."
Albus Dumbledore waved him off. "Nonsense, Harry. It was the least I could do. And I think you'll find that this turn of events has actually worked in our favor. Unless I'm mistaken, the next few weeks will see the Ministry turned on its head."
At this, he pivoted to welcome the towering figure of Kingsley Shacklebolt into the conversation. "Harry, I'd like you to meet Nymphadora Tonks and Kingley Shacklebolt. They are… associates of mine in an organization with which you'll soon become very familiar."
He paused, noticing the attention of a half dozen witches and wizards looming above. "Why don't we retire to a more… suitable location?"
Dumbledore led them out of the lower chambers by way of a series of obscure hallways and not a few unassuming closets, altogether avoiding the press situated just beyond the Ministry's Atrium. A moment later, they apparated to the entryway of No. 12 Grimmauld Place.
"Harry!"
With hardly a moment to recover from the nausea of apparition, Harry was wrapped in Sirius' tight, unyielding embrace.
He pressed him away for just a moment, scanning quickly for any sign of harm. "But you're okay! I've been worried sick."
Harry grinned broadly. "Hi Sirius. I'm safe — and free, thanks to these guys."
Sirius exchanged warm welcomes with Tonks, Shacklebolt, and Dumbledore.
"I want to hear everything. Come — you must be starved and Molly's just finished lunch."
For over an hour, Harry recounted all that had unfolded since yesterday afternoon. Molly's eyes glistened with tears at the account of Dudley's fate. Tonks interrupted his account to vividly describe Harry's powerful spellwork and his resulting victory, while Harry blushed and pretended interest in the stew before him. After many congratulations, he picked up where Tonks left off; they were all furious when he explained the behavior of the aurors in the alleyway.
Dumbledore stepped in mercifully — for Harry was indeed quite hungry — to give a thorough account of the trial, and the remaining time was spent speculating about the fate of Umbridge. They all agreed that Fudge was likely drafting his resignation.
After dessert, Harry turned to Dumbledore. "Professor. The testimonies at the trial — I've been wondering how you managed to prepare it all."
Dumbledore smiled, his eyes alight with playful mischief. "Ah. Isn't it wonderful what can come together with a few day's advance notice? Yes, indeed, I agree the trial unfolded brilliantly. I cannot, in fact, imagine a more advantageous series of events."
His distant gaze shifted to Harry. "As to how? Well, as soon as I was made aware of Ms. Lovegood's vision, I suspected the involvement of Dolores Umbridge. She is, of course, the Senior Undersecretary — the Dementors' contract is managed directly by her office. Beyond this, she's recently set herself decidedly against us. The press efforts to undermine our testimony regarding Voldemort (of which, I think, you're happily unaware) have been chiefly influenced by Dolores herself. Indeed, all of the especially nefarious efforts which Fudge deems necessary for political advancement are handled almost exclusively by Umbridge, preserving plausible deniability and a layer of political insulation."
He smiled, gesturing to Tonks. "So I asked Ms. Tonks, our organization's most accomplished shadow, to trail her and take note of any unusual behavior. Given the nature of the vision, I understood the matter would resolve, in one direction or another, before the Wizengamot. Kingsley Shacklebolt's influence at the ministry would be fundamental to any defense. After we spoke, he placed several of his key associates at the interrogation and evidence chambers, to properly receive — and protect from destruction — any evidence submitted in relation to your hearing. It is our strong suspicion that Dawlish was instructed to eliminate the Dementor corpses and obliviate Petunia Dursley. The mere presence of key members of our association interrupted these efforts."
Harry nodded, reflecting, not for the first time, on Dumbledore's strategic brilliance. A moment later, he asked a question that had been itching at him.
"Sir, you keep mentioning an association?"
Dumbledore nodded, a gravity hovering over his kind expression. "Ah, yes. I'm referring, Harry, to the Order of the Phoenix." He paused, reflecting distantly. "Years ago, when the influence of Lord Voldemort's efforts spread beyond the tight circles of the most violent pureblood families, it became clear that a war was on the horizon — a war which would decide the fate of many magical generations. Some of the light's brightest and most capable witches and wizards united against the darkness under the banner of a Phoenix. Not many months after you received your scar, Harry, the fellowship disbanded, for the war was over. Alas, the evening after Tom Riddle stole the life of Cedric Diggory, the surviving members chose to raise the banner of the Phoenix yet again."
A moment of silence ensued. "Your parents, Harry, were among the Order's most beloved members. I hope you, too, will consider joining our fair fellowship. You have, indeed, done more to push back the darkness than perhaps any of us."
Tonks and Shacklebolt had left soon after dessert, and it was nearly two when the meandering conversation slowly stalled. Dumbledore waved his wand with some flourish and the dishes began washing themselves. Another flick and a handful of damp towels were wiping crumbs from flat surfaces. In a moment the kitchen was spotless.
As Sirius escorted the others to a dusty sitting room, he turned his attention once again to Harry. "Of course you must stay for tea, Harry. I've just read a fascinating article on dark artifacts and I think with your help I may be able to finally rid this home of dear mother." He winked with a mischievous smirk.
Harry smiled politely. "I'd honestly love to Sirius, but I swore to Luna that I'd visit as soon as I had an opportunity. Maybe tomorrow?"
Sirius nodded knowingly. "Go. She's saved us all from an outcome I sincerely cannot imagine. She's earned your time." He smiled kindly, pulling Harry into a warm embrace. "I'm glad you're alive, Harry."
Harry smiled broadly. "I am, too, Sirius. I mean it, I'll drop by tomorrow to help you with your… mother problems."
A moment later, he stood in the ashes before his fireplace. He took a deep breath, for a moment enjoyed the still silence, and promptly ran full speed out the door toward the far hedge of the local primary school. Out of breath, he picked up a rusty tin can, punctured on one end with a thread of loose string attached.
"Luna Lovegood."