Disclaimer: All charcters and world concepts are property of J.K. Rowling

Disclaimer: This is not the work of CNG25 but that of Lilausty, originally published on harrypotterfanfiction-dot-com.

Chapter 38: The Earl of Stockholm

Everyone froze at the sound of a very angry male voice.

Turning calmly towards the door of the room Harry said, "Ah, Minister, so good to see you."

Scrimegeour glared at him before piercing McGonagall with a lethal stare, "Headmistress, please explain why you and the Order have your wands pointed at underage school children?"

She sniffed, "For the same reason that you probably will in a moment, to prevent their leaving Hogwarts. I have just expelled Mr Potter for his indecent use of magic last night, and he was preparing to leave. His 'followers' were attempting to escape with him."

The minister stared at her for a moment before turning his attention back to Harry, "Well Mr Potter, it would seem that your list of friends and allies grows thinner with each passing day." He gave a gleeful grin, "Please hand over your wand to my deputy here so that he can snap it immediately."

Harry burst out laughing, "Ah Minister, you crack me up. You are as daft as Fudge sometimes; do you honestly think that I intend to just hand over my wand to you?"

Scrimegeour started to turn red, "Indeed I do, unless you wish for yourself and your merry little band of school children to be arrested for altering the course of justice, underage magic as well as the use of the Dark Arts."

A snort came from Anthony as Susan muttered, "Do your worse you scum."

Obviously surprised at the language from the niece of one of his top judges Scrimegeour was silent for a moment. Harry took the pause to take the offence, "Minister, I was just telling the Headmistress that neither she nor you can expel me, convict me or control me without a trial. For the charges that you have laid upon the DA, a full court must be held to ascertain our guilt, you cannot just take the law into your own hands. And as far as snapping my wand goes, I think the Earl of Stockholm would have your head if you even tried."

Scrimegeour's eyebrows rose, "Been doing some reading into the Ministry legal system I see. But I was not aware that you were on speaking terms with one of the nobility. Very well, have it your way, but you are all still under arrest to be transported to Azkaban immediately pending your trial."

The smirk on his face which obviously signified his expectance for the students to plead with him not to send them to the prison was quickly wiped off when none of them said a word. However, the outcry from the Order members was enough to appease his ego.

"Minister! I must protest this decision of yours! Most of the students are underage, you cannot put them in such a place!" Molly exclaimed.

Scrimegeour shook his head, "I am sorry Molly, but they have said they are adults to make adult decisions, therefore they are old enough to face the consequences of their actions."

"But…the dementors!" Flitwick squeaked.

Harry chuckled, "What dementors? Haven't you been informed yet? Azkaban is completely dementor free, only a skeleton crew of student aurors guard the prison."

The minister paled, "How do you know that Potter? I demand to know!"

Rolling his eyes Harry replied, "You can demand all you like, but that doesn't mean you'll get an answer Minister. Now, are you going to hall us off in chains, or would you like to continue this delightful conversation?"

Obviously irate, Scrimegeour drew himself up to his full height, "Harry James Potter and members of the association called Dumbledore's Army, you are hereby arrested on charges of inappropriate use of magic in a muggle area, use of dark magic against another human being, altering the course of justice in the actions of apprehending Death Eaters and for those of you who are underage, the use of magic outside of school."

"Is that all?" Neville muttered.

Not even pausing the Minister continued, "For these charges you are to be taken to Azkaban immediately to await your trial in three days time. Any attempt to escape will be met with deadly force. Do I make myself clear?"

Harry glanced around at the DA members and was proud to see that none were the least bit apprehensive about their prospective stint in jail. If anything, most looked bored or annoyed with the whole proceedings. Turning back to the Minister Harry nodded, "You have made yourself perfectly clear Scrimegeour. You have also just put the final nail in your career's coffin, though you don't know it yet."

Furious at the cavalier attitude of the black haired teen, the Minister turned to his Auror head, "Gawain, take them away immediately!"

Nodding once, Robards looked at Harry, "Mr Potter, are you going to come quietly, or do I have to use restraints?"

Harry smiled at the obviously nervous man, "Oh don't worry, I am not going to make your job difficult. Just take us there, we won't try and escape."

Relief flitted over the Robards face as he gestured for them to exit the Room of Requirement. Harry looked back at McGonagall and the Order. Mrs Weasley was crying softly into her husband's shoulder, Mrs Longbottom still had a look of intense pride on her face and McGonagall simply looked triumphant.

Turning away, Harry muttered under his breath, "Enjoy that look Ma-am, because it won't be there for long."

"Well Harry, I don't know about you, but this is not where I expected us to spend the next couple of nights. I thought you had said the Hog's Head?" Ginny whispered, a mischievous twinkle in her eye.

Harry shrugged but before he could say anything, one of the guarding aurors snapped, "No talking! This is not a pleasure cruise!"

Harry rolled his eyes and tried to make himself more comfortable on the wooden seat to which he was chained. It was obviously standard procedure that any prisoner to be taken to Azkaban be tied to the seat on the boat. Harry knew it wasn't personal, but it still rankled to submit to them.

The boat ride only lasted two hours, but in that time, Harry's muscles had frozen up and when the aurors finally pulled him to his feet, he nearly fell over. Not giving him any time to re-awaken his legs, they half dragged him up the stone steps.

Hearing a half cry from behind him, Harry automatically turned towards the sound. Instantly five wands were trained on him, five sets of eyes watching him like a hawk. Harry ignored them and sought out the reason for the cry.

Lisa Turpin was being pulled to her feet where it was obvious she had fallen over. Her face was red with embarrassment as she locked eyes with Harry. A nod from her signified that she was ok and Harry allowed the aurors to lead him up into the prison.

Harry's first though as they pushed him in front of a camera with an identifying card was that he felt like he was in those old muggle crime films. His second thought was that the papers were going to have a field day with his arrest.

While the dementors had all left, Harry could still feel their miserable residue on the walls and he couldn't help but shiver. He glanced uneasily at some of the younger students, praying that they would be able to handle the despair for a couple of days.

"Damn you Scrimegeour." He muttered softly.

"What was that boy?" one of the aurors asked sharply.

"I was just saying that I hope that your Minister likes heat, because I'll be sending him straight to hell once I get out of here." Harry replied calmly.

"Silenco!' the auror snarled, "Now you listen here boy! Scrimegeour is one of the bravest and truest Ministers this country has ever had! I will not stand here and listen to you badmouthing him, you, a criminal who should have been locked away years ago."

Unable to say anything, Harry settled for rolling his eyes at the Auror, who could not have been much older than 20. Satisfied that Harry had been completely silenced, they led him to a cell on one of the upper floors and without further ado, pushed him into it.

The clang of the gate reverberated around the hall. Harry sat himself down onto the cot in the corner of the room. No sooner had he made himself comfortable, there was a flash of fire and Fawkes appeared.

"Well, you have done it this time Harry. I wonder what your parents would have thought if they could see you now." The bird said sarcastically.

Harry grinned, "probably would try to tan my hide would be my best guess."

"Are you going to be alright here for the next couple of days? I mean, you do have a fairly strong reaction to dementors."

"Yeah, but I more worried about some of the younger students. If you don't mind, do you think you could occasionally pop in on those that look to be handling it badly, just to pick their spirits up a bit?"

The beautiful phoenix bobbed his head, "Of course! It is simply madness placing children in this prison. I am still surprised that the Order didn't put up more of a fight to prevent it!"

Shrugging Harry replied, "Probably because McGonagall didn't say a word against it."

"Mmm, well, if I know Helga, I think she is going to be plotting some very ugly murders for the next couple of days."

Harry laughed, the sound so obviously foreign to the prison, "Well, make sure she leaves McGonagall and Scrimegeour to me, I owe them some pretty big kicks up the backside. I intend to take great pleasure from it!"

"Very well, I can do that."

Nodding his head in thanks, Harry lay down and closed his eyes, "Well, one good thing about being in here, at least I can just go to sleep and tell myself to wake up in three days time. No need to be bored spit less!"

"Just make sure you do set yourself to wake up occasionally, otherwise the guards will probably get nervous."

"And we wouldn't want that now would we?"

"Very funny Harry."

The three days passed relatively quickly, with Harry and Ginny being lucky enough to sleep most of them away. Harry did feel sorry for the other members, but knew that he would need all his wits about him to foil Scrimegeour and his plans.

The members of the DA were not allowed to see or speak to each other before the trial, and Harry had turned down the option of calling in Rom to defend them, preferring to do so himself.

As they were brought into the Wizengamot Harry smirked at the full court. Where Scrimegeour had obviously brought everyone in to see his fabulous triumph over Harry, the teen was going to use the full court to his own advantage.

The over-17's were all placed in the magical chairs with the chains quickly enwrapping them. The others were all seated in chairs behind Harry, all obviously confident in their leader's words.

"Hem hem!"

Harry's head snapped up to the dais where Madame Bones always sat. Instead of her strong jaw and monocle, Harry saw a frilly pink cardigan and a toad incarnated into a human.

Grinning slightly he muttered to Ron who was next to him, "Things just got a lot easier mate. Check out whose running proceedings."

The red head scanned the crowd before his eyes fell on Umbridge. He frowned, "How is that going to help us?"

"I bet all the gold in my vault that she doesn't know the first thing about the law. I am going to be able to make her look like a fool." Harry replied.

WHACK!

Umbridge thumped her hammer on her desk, "Hem hem, this court will now come into session. It is a grievous day when we must sit in judgement over so many of our younger generation." The gleeful smile on her face belied the sadness in her voice.

Harry refrained from rolling his eyes, but he could tell from the snorts that some of the other members gave that not everyone had. Focussing his attention on the talking toad he waited patiently for her to continue.

"Court hearing of the 8th of April for one Harry James Potter and the 37 other members of the association known as Dumbledore's army regarding the improper use of magic. Interrogators: Rufus Jasper Scrimegeour, Minister for magic; Dolores Jane Umbridge, Senior Undersecretary to the Minister, Minerva Ruth McGonagall, Headmistress of Hogwarts…"

Harry's head snapped up, trying to see where McGonagall was, for he hadn't noticed her when he was first brought in. Spying her sitting behind Umbridge he raised an eyebrow at her.

"…Court Scribe, Kenneth John Towler. Witness for the defence…?" Umbridge finished, her face twisted into a smirk.

Harry raised his head and for the first time let the authority that was in his blood shine through his voice, "Lord Harry James Austin Kinder Black Dumbledore Potter, Earl of Stockholm and heir to the four founders of Hogwarts."

Harry struggled to maintain his emotionless face, as the looks of astonishment, disbelief and complete bewilderment on all of the Wizengamot's faces was hilarious. Ron started coughing, but Harry could tell that he only did so to hide his own snickers.

Scrimegeour, first to regain his composure, managed to stutter out, "W-W-What? I-Imp-p-possib-ble!"

Harry's eyebrow rose again, "Hardly, I think I would know my own title. I have gone to great lengths since I discovered my heritage to keep it from public knowledge. But no more, you have pushed me, well, prepare to be pushed back." He smirked, "Now, before proceedings continue, please remove these chains from myself and my friends."

Umbridge, who was a mottled mix of white, green and red, snorted, "Mr Potter…"

"Lord."

"I beg your pardon?" she sneered.

"You should Madam! I am not Mr to you any longer. I am Lord Potter. Anything less is an insult to myself and my heritage." Harry snarled.

Umbridge glanced uncertainly at the Minister who gave a curt nod. Turning back to the black haired teen she narrowed her eyes, "Very well, Lord Potter, do not think that a few words attached to the end of your name will somehow excuse you from standard procedure in court! All over-age criminals are bound to the chair, such has been the law for centuries."

It was obvious to Harry that she was trying to show off her knowledge of the law. He smirked and muttered under his breath, "Big mistake." Piercing her with a glare, "Undersecretary, surely you are aware of the first amendment to the Law of Binding?"

She frowned, "Of course I do Potter!"

"Lord."

"Whatever, do not treat me like a fool. I know more about the legal system then you could ever possible hope."

At Harry's smirk, Scrimegeour started to looked worried, and hastily leaned over and whispered something into Umbridge's ear. However, she was so focussed on Harry's confident expression that she didn't even acknowledge her Minister.

"Ah Madam, if you are right, then why are you breaking the law?" Harry asked.

"I am not the one on trial here Lord Potter! Now, onto proc…"

"I asked why are you breaking the law? Perhaps if someone quotes the first amendment you will see where you are going wrong? Mmm?" Harry snapped, his eyes hard.

There was a giggle from one of the members of the Wizengamot and Harry knew that at least one of the jury knew what he was talking about and was enjoying seeing Umbridge being taken down a peg. A diminutive woman stood up, "The first amendment of the Law of Binding states that any of the nobility may not be bound to the chair in court unless decreed by the ruling monarch and that the same be held true for any and all individuals that are under the said noble's protection."

Harry smiled at the woman, "Thank you very much. That should surely clear up any confusion that the Undersecretary was feeling. So Madam Umbridge? I ask you again, release myself and my friends from these infernal chains! NOW!"

Looking ready to spit fire, Umbridge opened her mouth to snarl something but Scrimegeour cut in front of her, "Kingsley, please release Lord Potter and his followers. Then perhaps we can get this session under way. After all, I would like to be out of here by midnight."

Once Harry and the others had been unchained, Scrimegeour pulled out a sheet of paper, "Now, the charges are as follows, that the association called Dumbledore's Army, lead by one Har, sorry, Lord Harry James Potter did deliberately leave their place of learning and engage a group of Death Eaters in combat near St Mungo's in plain sight of muggles. They improperly used dark magic against fellow human beings. Those individuals who are under the age of 17 are also charged with underage magic."

Scrimegeour looked up from his paper, "Do you refute that you and your followers were at the said location on the night of the 5th of April?"

"No."

"Did you engage a group of Death Eaters on the said night?"

"Yes, and we kicked their butts."

Titters wafted around the room, but Scrimegeour was not impressed, "And did you or did you not use Dark magic against the Death Eaters?"

Harry shrugged, "What is Dark Magic Minister? If you can give me a detailed definition I'll be able to answer your question."

"Do not play games Lord Potter. Since you seem to have become quite learned in the legal system, I am sure that you are aware of the curses that are illegal. The Wizengamot is aware that you and your followers did not use any of the three, but there are still a multitude of other illegal spells that your wands tested positive for. So I ask you again, did you or did you not use Dark magic against a human being?"

Harry inclined his head, "Yes Minister, by the British wizarding law, we did use dark magic against human beings, if the Death Eaters can be called that."

"So you plead guilty to all charges then?" Scrimegeour looked triumphant, but McGonagall looked a little worried. For all of the faults, Harry knew that she was extremely intelligent, and she obviously knew that he wasn't just going to roll over and play dead, she knew he had something up his sleeve.

"Yes Minister, I and the DA plead guilty to all charges." Harry replied, deadpanned.

Exclamations of surprise circled around the room, looks of disbelief written on the looks of most of the Wizengamot. "Order! Order! Silence in the court!" Umbridge snapped, hitting her hammer on the desk.

"Well then, how very noble of you to not try and worm your way out of your predicament with lies. Since the defendants have pleaded guilty to all charges I will proceed straight to sentencing." Scrimegeour sneered. "Lord Potter, as you have been expelled from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, your wand is to be snapped effective immediately. Furthermore, you are to be taken to Azkaban prison where you will serve eight years in prison with no possibility of parole inside of the first five years. The same charge holds true for all of your followers over age. Those children who are still under 17 will be placed upon probation for the remainder of their schooling years. Any misdemeanours will be met with severe disciplinary actions and upon completion of school all will go into prescribed jobs as ordained by their probationary officer."

The jury sat silent, astonishment written in every face, McGonagall sat back, confused by what she had heard and Umbridge merely looked triumphant. Harry could hear shuffling behind him and he knew that some of the DA members were starting to feel a little nervous.

Putting them out of their misery he started to laugh. "Lord Potter, could you please explain to the court what you find so amusing?" Umbridge asked sweetly, her eyes glittering with hatred.

He nodded, "Of course Madam Undersecretary, though, I would have thought that with your huge knowledge of the legal system, you to would already be laughing!"

"Explain yourself Mr Potter!" McGonagall burst out.

"Lord."

She glowered at him, fury in her face and Harry shrugged "Fine, I was merely stating that due to the Second Law of Nobility laid down by King Richard III in 1483 I cannot be judged by any of you."

Scrimegeour looked thunderstruck but Umbridge rolled her eyes, "What sort of nonsense is this Potter? Do you truly expect us to believe that a monarch five hundred years ago laid down a law that would personally exempt you from any crime you may commit?"

He laughed, "Oh goodness gracious no! It is obvious you haven't read the law Ma'am. Shall I tell you what it says?"

"I doubt that we could trust your words on such a matter Lord Potter." Scrimegeour said dryly. He turned to the scribe, "Towler, go to the records hall and get the aid there to bring you the law that Lord Potter seems so eager to use."

The scribe shot to his feet and was out the door in a flash. The court momentarily forgotten, Scrimegeour started muttering furiously with Umbridge and McGonagall, obviously concerned about something. Harry turned to Ron and grinned, "So, what do you think? Should I be a lawyer in the future?"

Ron rolled his eyes, "You haven't gotten us off yet. And I have to admit, my heart nearly stopped when Scrimegeour started sentencing us and you didn't say a word."

Ginny spoke up from behind him, "If it wasn't for the fact that I know what you are doing, I think I would shoot you for scaring us all like that."

"Harry, I have done some pretty intense research into the law and I have never come across a Second Law of Nobility. Are you sure it exists?" Hermione asked, worried.

Harry nodded, "Yes Herm, you haven't heard of it simply because it has only ever been invoked once before. Even most of the nobles who are wizards do not know about the law. It was buried quite deeply by the Ministry two centuries ago as they couldn't revoke it but they didn't like it either."

The doors burst open and Towler walked back in, bearing a large scroll that looked like it was ready to disintegrate at the slightest touch. Passing it to Scrimegeour with a nod, he retook his seat, a faint frown visible on his face.

Not paying his scribe any more attention, Scrimegeour opened the scroll and started to read aloud, "The Second Law of Nobility as ordained by King Richard III of England on the 18th of August 1484 As King over this nation, I am monarch over all, both ordinary and magical. While fear drives many to hate what they don't know, I realise that those with Magical abilities are no different to those without. They have been a part of the nobility for as long as England has been a feudal society and as such, I create this law for them so that their own leaders cannot take advantage of their standing. No magical noble, from the lowliest baron to the Duke of York can be tried and convicted by any court except by one headed by the reigning monarch. The same law holds true for any individual or group of individual that the noble has given their official protection. This is my will, and the will of the Holy Father and as such it is beyond contestation."

Harry gave a calm nod, "Thank you for reading that Minister. So, I am hoping that clears up any misconception about your ability to put myself or my friends in jail, or even to expel us?"

Scrimegeour was white with anger and Umbridge looked like she had had the proverbial rug pulled out from under her feet. McGonagall raised an eyebrow, "Sure that law was abolished years ago? It would undermine our entire legal system." She looked in askance to the other members of the Wizengamot who shifted uncomfortably in their seats.

Harry spoke up, "No, since the law was written by a monarch, only a monarch can abolish it. King Richard III was the last of the House of York who were the last of the monarchs to recognise magic within their courts. After that, while some may have realised that their royal court held magic, they turned a blind eye. So the law was forgotten, and the magical ministry did their best to try and hide the law for it took power away from them, and they hated that."

"But, but!" Umbridge was sputtering, "Minister I must protest! Potter broke the law; he can't get away with this! Not again, I won't stand for it."

Ginny, obviously exasperated, burst out, "Madam, if you insult Lord Potter one more time by not calling him by his title, then I ask the Minister for you to be ejected from the court! Such crass behaviour has no place in the Wizengamot."

McGonagall's eyebrows rose and Harry swore he saw her mouth twitch upwards slightly at Ginny's furious stare. Apparently, whatever her differences with Harry were, she still hated the toad-faced woman. Umbridge was glaring furiously, "If you think, Miss Weasley, that I am going to grovel in front of a puffed up, egocentric teenage boy, just because he thinks he is better than the rest of us, you are wrong!"

"Madam! Control yourself!" Scrimegeour snapped.

Startled, Umbridge looked at him, "S-Sir?"

"We are civilised people here, not a rabble intent on mob justice. We must obey the law." He replied.

She started to turn a furious shade of red, "Minister, you cannot be serious! It is an obsolete law, no one would care if it disappeared! This, this, BOY is a threat to everything that we have worked for! He…"

"Be SILENT!" Scrimegeour roared.

Realising that her minister had been pushed to the edge of his patience, she quickly shut up and leaned back in her seat, her mouth working furiously as she glared at Harry. Scrimegeour turned back to the DA and frowned, "Well Lord Potter, it would seem that your luck just seems to never run out. I do not like having vigilantes running around my country, especially those who are dangerous and could conceivable bring down our society. However, I must uphold the law, no matter how foolish it may be." He sighed, "Very well, all charges against Lord Potter and Dumbledore's Army dropped, and Lord Potter's expulsion is revoked. Court dis…"

"HOLD IT!" Harry shouted, and for the first time, he let his ire show through.

Scrimegeour looked down at him and Harry could see a flicker of nervousness in the man's eyes. "Lord Potter? You wish to say something before this court adjourns? All charges have been dropped, what more do you want?"

Harry scoffed, "What more? You are joking aren't you? I told you that arresting me would be the final nail in your coffin and I intend to make good on that statement. I am lodging a formal complaint here and now with the elders of the Wizengamot against the Ministry of Magic and more specifically its Minister for arresting an Earl of the British nobility as well as 37 other people 21 of whom were underage and under his protection and placing them in prison. A minister that shows such disregard for the law should never have been allowed, but as of now, I move that the mistake be unmade and that Rufus Scrimegeour be removed from office and someone more worthy for the position be appointed."

Scrimegeour was white as he stared at Harry but Umbridge snorted, "And just who would you see as Minister Lord Potter? You?"

Harry rolled his eyes, "Don't be daft Ma'am, I have no intention of holding a position of authority. No, I was thinking more about Amelia Bones." Harry looked at each member of the Wizengamot in the eyes sternly, "She should have been Fudge's replacement, but you all seemed to think that a man would do a better job. Well, we have seen the foolishness of that decision! So this time, give it to a person who is deserving of the position."

One of the front-benchers stood up, "Lord Potter, the differences that have divided you and the Minister are hardly grounds for sacking. Your standing in society means that opinions of you are, ah, stronger than with anyone else. Perhaps the Minister has been a little heavy-handed with you and your peers, but in these terrible times, we need stability."

Hermione spoke up for the first time, "But don't we also need leadership? If the Minister abuses his power once and no one stands up to him, what happens the next time? Or the time after that? Or the time after that? The last thing the magical community needs is a Hitler as well as a Voldemort!"

The shudders that circled through the Wizengamot ranks were enough to make most of the DA roll their eyes. McGonagall spoke up, "You are one to talk Ms Granger, for is that not exactly what you are doing? Abusing your power? You know that you are above the law so you use it to your advantage!"

Hermione bit her lip and McGonagall smirked triumphantly but Ginny was already speaking, "Hardly Ma'am, we broke the law knowingly and if Queen Elizabeth II walks in here and demands retribution and throws us in jail then we would go willingly. We pleaded guilty to the charges, but I do not see Scrimegeour standing up and admitting that he has done wrong!" she looked pointedly at the silent Minister.

The Wizengamot members were still muttering amongst themselves obviously un-convinced so Harry spoke again, "Very well, in the interests of stability I will drop the complaint, if Scrimegeour publicly apologises to myself and my friends for this gross infringement of the law. I hardly think that is a hard task? Do you Minister?"

While the front-benchers looked satisfied with the proposal Scrimegeour whitened even more and McGonagall's eyes narrowed. Swallowing his discomfort Scrimegeour got to his feet, "V-v-very w-well, tomorrow at n-noon I'll ho-hold a press conference and deliver an apology." He sighed tiredly, "Is there anything else Lord Potter before I dismiss the court?"

Harry smiled and shook his head, "Nope, I think that about covers it."

Nodding once Scrimegeour said, "very well, court dismissed."

Umbridge immediately stood up and exited the court, her stance one of hatred and fury. McGonagall was not far behind, disappointment and confusion written on her face. Most of the Wizengamot members moved less slowly, some smiling at the DA and Harry.

Breathing a sigh, Harry got to his feet and turned to face his friends. He gave them a grin, and that seemed to be all the encouragement some of them needed, with Orla, Lavender, the two Patil girls and Hermione diving forward and enveloping him in a bone crushing hug. The rest of the DA crowded around them, patting him on the bag and hugging each other.

Seamus started laughing with relief and Harry found it infectious, starting to laugh along with him. Pretty soon they were all chuckling happily about the day's events. Harry started to move out of the court room, leading the DA out of the Ministry triumphantly.

As they exited out into the atrium, there was a flash of light, followed by a multitude of flashes and yelling. Harry eyed the massing reporters calmly as the DA stood in front of him. He held his hands up for silence and to his amazement, they quietened quickly, "I am not answering any questions regarding today's trial. Only one interview will be given and that will be to Mr Lovegood of the Quibbler due to his daughter's involvement. However, noon tomorrow the Minister for Magic will hold a press conference, and I would love for all of you to be there. Good day."

It was an effort to get through the crowds, the reporters were just not going to give up without a comment, but Harry and the DA were adamant. Finally though, they managed to get outside and the seventh years side along apparated all of the younger students to The Hogs Head.