I do not own Harry Potter. I do own some cool christmas Gonks though. we call the big one Geronamo

Chapter 38

Harry arrived at the Ministry of Magic a full hour before the start of Hermione's trial; he was accompanied by Dumbledore and Sirius Black. Sirius looked incredibly statesman like dressed in the robes of the Head of the Most Noble and Ancient House of Black, Dumbledore was dressed in splendid robes of deep purple with silver twinkling stars moving around at random and Harry was feeling rather self conscious in his own head of house robes.

"I think this thing wears me rather than I wear it." Harry complained.

"Do not worry My Lord." Dumbledore smiled down at the young Lordling. "Most Heads of House think the same for the first few years. In time those robes will become like armour to you. You will come to find that people who you meet dressed like this do not merely see Harry Potter, who, if you don't mind me saying so, is quite a thing in of itself, they in actual fact see Lord Potter, Head of the Most Ancient and Noble house of Potter. The occupier of the robes is immaterial to them. To your friends in the Chamber they see an ally, to your enemies they will come to see a formidable foe. You will grow into your role as well as your robes Harry."

"Thanks." Harry muttered.

"We go this way." Sirius told Harry leading him to an anti chamber with a Clerk outside checking off the arrivals. "I am Lord Sirius Black and I am here to adjudicate on the Granger trial."

"Very good my Lord." The Clerk said noting down Sirius's arrival.

"I am Albus Dumbledore, head of the Minor house of Dumbledore and Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards. Here to adjudicate on the Granger Trial."

"Very Good Professor." The Clerk checked his list and then looked somewhat embarrassed. "I am afraid Professor that you have been disqualified from sitting on this trial because you are the Head Master of Hogwarts and because the Ministry fears interference from the ICW."

"That is unprecedented." Dumbledore exclaimed. "Very well but I would like my objection noted."

"I have made such a note and it will be read into the record." The Clerk told him.

"I am Lord Harry Potter." Harry said following the others example "Hear to adjudicate on the Granger Trial."

"Ah yes my Lord." The Clerk said. "I have been asked to pass on this note to you." he said, handing Harry the small scroll sealed with wax.

Harry stepped aside and quickly read the note then passed it to Dumbledore who nodded in agreement.

"It would appear I must take my leave of you, My Lords." Dumbledore said loudly and ostentatiously. "It is a very sad day for British justice when the Supreme Mugwump is barred from attending. I will see you both anon." he continued and strode away toward the public gallery the stars on his robes twinkling as he retreated into the distance.

"This way My Lords." The Clerk said as he opened the door.

Inside the anti chamber many Ministry officials and members of the Wizengamot milled around. Yaxley and Malfoy stood alongside Minister Fudge whispering quietly. All three glared at Harry and Sirius as they entered the room.

Harry and Sirius nodded to Mister Weasley and went to speak to Lady Longbottom as they waited to be summoned into the chamber.

Hermione's experience upon arrival at the Ministry was somewhat different. Once she and Ted cleared the visitors desk they were directed to the court rooms. Once they were there, a low ranking Hit Wizard somewhat rudely relieved Hermione of her wand and locked it away for, in his words, safe keeping before she was escorted to a sparse holding cell.

"This is outrageous." Ted complained to the Hit Wizard.

"I don't make the rules mate." The Hit Wizard said. "But when you go around murdering pure bloods you can hardly be expected to be held at the Ritz can you?"

"My client has not murdered anyone."

"Tell it to the Inquisitor mate. She will be held there before the trial begins. You can go into the courtroom if you like."

"You haven't heard the last of this." Ted muttered as he went to take his seat in the courtroom.

Harry was led out into the courtroom. The Wizengamot jury was seated behind the presiding Inquisitors Bench. Harry sat between Augusta and Sirius towards the back of the high rise seats as he watched others make their way into the chamber. Three rows in front of him he watched coolly as Malfoy and Yaxley took their places and in front of them, the Minister sat directly behind the Bench. If Harry hadn't been glaring so intently at the back of the blond death eater's head he would never have noticed the subtle wand movement. Had Lucius Malfoy just cast a spell on the Minister of Magic? Surely he wouldn't be so brazen as to do something like that in full view of the Wizengamot as well as all the people Harry saw in the public gallery opposite including Dumbledore. Finally after twenty minutes of waiting Amelia Bones entered the room followed by a bailiff and a stenographer. Bones took her place besides the Minister and the stenographer sat to the left of the bench, the bailiff stood to the right.

"Bring in the accused." the Bailiff announced.

A door to the back of the circle room opened and Hermione was lead into the room in manacles. She was shown to a simple wooden chair in the middle of the room. Once she sat down her manacles were removed by the Hit Wizard who led her into the room.

"All rise!" the bailiff announced as Umbridge made her way through a different door to the left of the courtroom. She took her time ascending to her Bench dressed in pale pink pastel judicial robes with a sickly sweet smile on her face.

"Court is now in session." The bailiff continued, "The Right Honourable Dolores Umbridge is the presiding Inquisitor."

Umbridge took her seat then slowly and carefully arranged parchments and quills in front of her.

"All may be seated." the bailiff instructed again. "This is the matter of Hermione Granger vs the Ministry of Magic the charges being murder and line extinction. Before proceedings may begin, is there anyone on the jury who wishes to recuse themselves?"

Harry stood up.

"I, Lord Potter, wish to recuse myself. As the defendant is my intended and under the protection of the Most Noble and Ancient house of Potter."

Once Harry finished speaking there was a murmur around the courtroom from both the jurors and the public gallery. If the defendant was indeed under the protection of House Potter everyone would definitely have to think carefully before voting to convict lest they make a very powerful enemy.

"Very Well my Lord Potter." The bailiff acknowledged. "You are excused. The Clerk outside will show you to the witness room."

After Harry left the Bailiff addressed Umbridge for the first time.

"Your Honour, we are ready to begin proceedings at your convenience."

"Very well." Umbridge began. "I am Dolores Umbridge. I hold the position of Senior Undersecretary to the Minister of Magic. I will act as Inquisitor in this matter."

Ted Tonks stood up from his table.

"I Am Edward Tonks, representing the defence." He announced. "I would like it noted for the record that this Inquisitor has some sort of vendetta against my client after a wrongful arrest, and quite frankly illegal interrogation on September the first of this year. Therefore I move that she recuse herself and this matter be adjourned until such time an impartial inquisitor can be found."

"HOW DARE YOU!" Umbridge shouted. "Those are unfounded accusations and as such they will be stricken from the record and the jury are instructed to disregard them."

Ted knew the motion would be denied, although the Inquisitor had not followed correct form in denying them, all evidence Ted would use to secure a mistrial or appeal.

"We are here today because Hermione Granger did knowingly and deliberately cause the death of one Peter Pettigrew, a pure blood wizard and Order of Merlin holder I might add, and not only that, as the poor late Mister Pettigrew did not have any family left ended the pure blood line."

"Objection!" Ted called, rising to his feet again. "Move to strike! My client has been charged with those crimes, but not yet convicted."

"Overruled." Umbridge dismissed the motion. "Everyone knows she did it. Miss Granger's views about Blood Purity are well known at Hogwarts."

The Bailiff whispered in Umbridge's ear.

"Oh very well. It is alleged that Miss Granger murdered Peter Pettigrew and ended the pure blood line. How do you plead Miss Granger?"

"I plead Not Guilty by way of self defence." Hermione stated calmly.

"Very well Miss Granger, I warn you I will not be lenient with you if you waste my time on this matter." Umbridge snapped. "You may present your case Mister Tonks."

Tonks stood up and moved from beside his table to in front of Hermione's chair, forcing people to look at him not his client.

"My Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Jury. It is my intent today to allow the tail of what happened that fateful day in Newcastle to finally come to light. I will call witnesses to this court who will testify that not only did Miss Granger act in self defence but she acted in such a way as to save the life of Harry Potter, who was already gravely injured after duelling with He Who Must Not Be Named. My client had no training in use of the alleged murder weapon, indeed it was the first time she had ever operated a gun. She did not bring the weapon into the field of battle and has never owned a gun" Tonks said plainly. "Further to this Peter Pettigrew while, yes a pure blood wizard and yes the last of his line was also a death eater, an oath breaker and was directly responsible for the return of He Who Must Not Be Named."

"Very Well Tonks." Umbridge smiled sweetly. "Call your first witness. But be warned I will not put up with any legal tomfoolery in this court."

"I would not endeavour to engage in such." Tonks acknowledged. "The Defence's first witness is Remus Lupin."

Lupin entered the courtroom from the same door as Hermione and walked up to a box adjacent to Ted's table. The bailiff moved to Lupin.

"Raise your right hand." he said Lupin complied. "Do you swear the testimony you are about to give to be the truth to the best of your knowledge?"

"I Do." Lupin agreed.

"The Witness is sworn in your Honour."

"Proceed." Umbridge said, waving her hand.

"Mister Lupin," Ted Tonks began. "Before we speak about the day in question, I wonder if you would be able to answer some preliminary questions."

"By all means."

"How well do you know the accused?"

"I taught Hermione as the Defence against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts two years ago, I have recently returned to the same post and teach Miss Granger in OWL defence."

"Very good." Ted nodded. "And if I may, how well did you know the deceased?"

Remus's face darkened as he thought about Pettigrew and his betrayal.

"I knew Pettigrew very well indeed. We were in the same year at Hogwarts. Same house even. We became friends. He along with Lord James Potter, and Lord Sirius Black learned the Animagus transformation in order to keep me company when I would suffer my monthly lycanthropy transformations. After school we all joined in the fight against Voldemort." Remus continued.

"That's right. I remember reading that at the time Mister Pettigrew sided with Dumbledore and the Order of the phoenix."

"So we thought." Remus spat. "Once word reached the Order that Voldemort intended to murder the Potter's Dumbledore offered to protect them by casting the Fidelius charm."

"Describe the Fidelius Charm if you could Professor?"

"Charms is not my area of expertise," Remus apologised. "But as I understand it. The charm acts as a sort of invisibility spell over a person, or I suppose in this case a family. The spell removes all knowledge of the family's whereabouts from everyone's mind, almost as if they did not exist. The only person who retains this knowledge in the Secret Keeper."

"And what is a Secret Keeper?"

"That is a person who is keyed to the charm, the only person who is able to reveal where the hiders are."

"I see. And who was the Potters Secret Keeper?"

"It was Peter Pettigrew. They allowed people to think that it was Sirius, I mean Lord Black, but it wasn't."

"And so when Voldemort went to Godric's Hollow on that fateful night…"

"It was because Peter Pettigrew had told him where the Potters were hiding."

"Spilling the secret so to speak?"

"Exactly." Remus acknowledged.

"So what happened next?"

"Sirius knew Peter was the true Keeper." Remus said. "He went after Peter. He caught up with him and they duelled. Peter somehow managed to get the drop on Sirius and disappeared for twelve years."

"Indeed. How did he accomplish this?"

"His Animagus animal was a rat. He simply transformed and fled." Remus told the court.

"How did you come by this knowledge?"

"I learned what really happened when I went to Hogwarts to teach. Lord Black escaped Azkaban and tracked Peter down posing as a pet rat for a Gryffindor student at Hogwarts. Once he was discovered the coward fled back to his Master and somehow helped him regain corporeal form. Voldemort rewarded Pettigrew with a silver hand for his troubles."

Tonks then asked what Remus remembered about that night in Newcastle. Once Remus answered all of his questions Tonks again addressed Umbridge.

"That is all the questions I have for this Witness your Honour."

"Very well. I would like to cross examine the witness." Umbridge declared. "You are a half blood are you not?"

"Yes I am." Lupin confirmed. "My father was a wizard and a former employee of the Ministry of Magic."

"And your mother is a muggle?" Umbridge asked, contempt dripping from every word.

"Why yes, I suppose she was." Lupin answered

"And you yourself are a dark creature are you not?"

"I suffer from Lycanthropy, if that's what you mean?"

"A werewolf." Umbridge spat. "A werewolf at Hogwarts teaching our children no less. Is it not true that Wereloves are considered dark creatures? In Fact during his first rise to power your kind flocked to The Dark Lords side did they not?"

"Many did yes." Lupin answered. "But I did not. I remained loyal to the Ministry of Magic and to my friends."

"So you say. But if you are a Dark Creature how can you be believed? The truth serum does not work on you does it?"

"No." Lupin admitted. "But If you wish I would swear an oath here and now."

"Your oaths mean nothing werewolf." Umbridge continued. "It is an abomination that you should even enter this courtroom. I have no further questions for you!"

"You are excused." The bailiff told Lupin who quickly left.

"Do you have more witnesses, Tonks?" Umbridge asked.

"I do, your honour." Tonks confirmed. "My next witness is Alastor Moody."

Moody was quickly led in and sworn in.

"Before I begin Mister Moody, would you tell the court your previous occupation and your rank?"

"I served as an Auror lad, as you know. Before it was all said and done I was an Inspector. That was after Voldemorts first defeat. During that time I held a special rank known as a Sergeant-at-arms."

"And what dose that mean?"

"It meant that I lead a squad of fighters. We weren't really used as criminal investigators at that time, more akin to the Muggle Army's elite squad like the 22nd SAS."

"So you were a soldier." Tonks pressed.

"That's right. A damn good one at that I was."

"Indeed." Tonks agreed. "I believe you are a recipient of the Order of Merlin?"

"Indeed I am." Mad-eye pronounced proudly. "First Class as well!"

"Thank you Inspector Moody." Tonks pressed on. "What can you tell us about what happened in Newcastle?"

"Well Potter did some sort of strange magic to dispel the Dark Mark." Moody told them. "I don't know how he did it, after he did Voldemort appeared again and they duelled. Potter managed to wound him and the coward fled. Pettigrew disarmed that American Auror, and began to cast the Killing curse at Potter. Granger caught the weapon and fired at Pettigrew."

"So Miss Granger saved Lord Potter's life?"

"She did." Moody agreed. "And quite possibly everyone else's."

"Your Witness." Tonks said to Umbridge.

"Very good." Umbridge sneered down at Moody. "Can you tell us how your career as an auror ended, Moody?"

"I retired." Moody said sheepishly.

"Did you really?" Umbridge asked sweetly. "I seem to remember that you retired rather abruptly. Is it not true that your retirement was rather forced upon you?"

"Aye, that it was." Moody agreed.

"In fact is it not more accurate to say that you jumped before you were pushed?"

"I don't know that I would go that far." Moody muttered

"Objection!" Tonks called out. "You are badgering the witness. Alastor Moody retired as a decorated Auror in good standing with an Order of Merlin first class to his credit."

"Silly me. I withdraw my question." Umbridge giggled. "But if I may, such a decorated Auror indeed, how is it that you were taken by surprise by the alleged attack from Mister Pettigrew, a fellow Order of Merlin holder?"

"I was tending to Potter. He had lost his arm, you know."

"So much for Constant Vigilance then." She smirked. "Very well you are excused Mad-eye."

Her use of Moody's nickname was not accidental. Tonks knew she was trying to discredit the witness in any way she could.

"My next witness is Special Auror Agent Pritchard of the Federal Bureau of Aurors of the Magical Congress of the United States of America." Tonks announced.

Pritch entered the courtroom dressed in standard Federal Issue black suit and was sworn in by the bailiff.

"Special Auror Agent." Tonks said. "Thank you for agreeing to testify here today. As you know, due to your diplomatic immunity you are not compelled to appear before this court."

"I am happy to be here." Pritch smiled.

"Very good." Tonks acknowledged. "Perhaps it would be beneficial for you to give the court your title and qualifications as I understand they differ somewhat from what is standard in this country."

"Happy to oblige. I am a Special Auror Agent of the Federal Bureau of Aurors. That means I hold an equivalent rank to your Inspectors here I believe. However to be an Auror in the Bureau you must also pass the Non-Magical Federal Bureau of Investigations stringent application process. Not only have I graduated from the Salam Institute of Magic, I have also graduated from Texas State University with a Masters degree in Criminology. Further to this I have undergone rigorous training in both magical and non-magical combat at Quantico, the headquarters of the FBA and the FBI training academy."

"Very impressive." Tonks acknowledged.

"Thank you sir." Pritch nodded. "I hold all of the currently required marksmanship, both magical and non-magical training certificates and I am also a small arms instructor at Quantico."

"Meaning you are an expert on non-magical weapons?"

"In general yes, but most specifically I specialise in hand guns."

"I see." Tonks mused. "So the weapon in question is yours then?"

"That is correct Sir. Standard issue Bureau side arm."

"As I am sure you are aware Agent Pritchard we do not really have a full understanding of guns in Magical Brittan. I wonder if you can explain it to us?"

"Of course." Pritchard smiled again drawing her firearm. "It is currently unloaded and poses no threat. This is a Glock semi-automatic hand gun. It carries fifteen rounds and is capable of firing .40 calibre bullets. That is to say it fires quickly and it has the capability to kill."

"Thank you." Tonks nodded. "Is that the weapon in question?"

"No that particular weapon has been returned to the Bureau via the US consulate, as is standard procedure after any weapon is discharged in the line of duty."

"And you where issued with a new gun after your last one shot and killed someone?"

"Of course. The kill was, what we call, a righteous kill. Meaning the perpetrator left us with no other alternative that to discharge the weapon."

"I see. Can you explain how the weapon came to be in the hands of Hermione Granger?"

"Of course. It is in my report to the Bureau, a copy of which has been made available to your own Department of Magical Law Enforcement, and to my knowledge has not been asked for. The Perpetrator began to attack after Lord Potter fought the one you call Voldemort. As I brought my weapon to bear he got the drop on me and used a disarming spell. I lost control of the weapon. Once I was disarmed the perp pointed his wand at Lord Potter and began to cast the killing curse. Young Miss Granger happened to catch the weapon and discharged it, that is to say she fired it at the perpetrator which resulted in his death."

"Do you think that Miss Granger could have done anything differently?"

"I regret that Miss Granger was ever in that position at all. By rights it should be me sat in your dock. My weapon, my kill."

"No further questions."

"All Right Miss Pritchard." Umbridge began.

"With respect your Honour, It is Special Auror or Agent. Not Miss. I have earned my rank."

"All right then Agent." Umbridge snapped. "How is it that your weapon was even at the scene of the crime?"

"As you will no doubt be aware as the current Senior Undersecretary," Pritch began, noting with pride the subtle dig hit home when Umbridge winced at the term current senior undersecretary. "I came to the United Kingdom as part of the ICW task force intent on discovering the true nature of the breaches of Statute of Secrecy and if the UK does indeed have a dark wizard problem. As the event in Newcastle Upon Tyne that night definitely fell into the purview of that investigation I was assigned to visit the site. Once their Lord Potter did whatever it was he did and then fought Voldemort."

"Are you saying that if you had had the opportunity you would have fired your weapon and murdered Peter Pettigrew?"

"I am saying that if I had the opportunity I would have fired my weapon at a marked Death Eater who was attacking me." Pritchard stated professionally. "I have the right to defend myself by any means necessary as you well know your honour. Miss Granger acted swiftly to defend us. Hell back home Miss Granger would be up for a medal for defending us, not on trial for murder."

"Unfortunately for Miss Granger she is not in your country." Umbridge remarked snidely.

"You said it." Pritch said under her breath.

"I have no further questions for you. You are excused Agent." Umbridge dismissed Pritchard. "I am getting rather tired of this farce Mister Tonks. So far all you have told the court is Granger did in fact shoot Pettigrew and kill him. Despite her pleas of not guilty you have undoubtedly proven her guilt to me, and everyone else behind me."

"I object!" Tonks said. "This trial is an absolute farce!"

"Be Careful Tonks, or I shall find you in contempt." Umbridge warned. "I am inclined to call these proceedings to a close. Behind me sits one hundred members of the Wizengamot, to obtain a conviction I simply need a majority. As Inquisitor if there's a hung jury my vote will act as a decider. By simply holding your wands in the air, who votes guilty?"

Hermiones heart was in her throat. It was too close to call.

"By way of wand raising, who votes not guilty?"

The Clerk took a few moments to magically tally the votes before giving a rolled parchment scroll to Umbridge.

"The defendant will stand." The Bailiff announced. Both Hermione and Tonks stood to receive her fate.

"In the Matter of Granger vs the Ministry of Magic the defendant has been found…" Umbridge began, a wicked smile across her face until she read the scroll. "What? This can't be! Check again!" she ordered the Clerk who simply shook his head. "Oh fine. You have been found not guilty Granger. Despite admitting your crimes. Disgraceful. You will not have heard the last of this!" she snapped at the jury behind her and stormed off.

"This court is adjourned." The Bailiff announced. "Miss Granger you are free to go."

"Thank you!" Hermione said. Tears streaming down her face. "Thank you so much Mister Tonks."

"You're most welcome Hermione. I believe Lord Potter will be waiting for you when you have been properly processed."

Hermione was quickly released from custody and her wand returned to her. Harry met her in the atrium and the pair returned to Hogwarts together. All memory of Lucius casting a spell on Fudge was completely forgotten in all of the excitement.

Authers Notes:

This chapter just tumbled out of my fingers on to the keys and I really enjoyed writeing it.

Appologies for those who get email notifications that will have double notifications, this is due to this chapter being posted hot off the press as it where from my Beta, and substituteing out the previus unbetad chapter with its corrected version.

Thank you to every one who has followed and liked, i do appreciate you all.

Thank you to Kevin my Beta, you help me appear so much better than i actually am.

Hudy Leak613: Thank you very much. I appreciate your appreciation. And hear it is the next chapter just for you (and every one else)

Andrew Lee Haughton: 2 Reveiews, thank you very much Sir. Fudge is really stupid, and it dose appear as though he is on his way out. How will he leave? will he do right on the way out? who knows? I dont. (I do)

N. A. Wennerholm: Trust me, Fudge and Umbridge will get their comuppance.

Charlee56: Thanks for your reveiws and your PM. I suppose being british I dont understand the American cultrues obsission with fire arms. Just yesterday I was watching a report on the BBC News of yet another school shooting and i waunder why you all allow such barbarisom in your country. I appologise if I have gotten any technicalities of gun use, gun ownership or gun licenceing wrong, This I suppose, is because I have no real experiance with fire arms, automatic, semmi automatic or other wise and I hope that I can continue to say that.

Blind-Phonix: Wow, so many reviews. Where do I start? First of all thank you for your remarks about how much you have enjoyed reading my work. Also to the point of the queen not useing the plural when speaking of her self, I realise that is probably the case, but I did it because its a generaly recognised trait of aristocracey and in particular royals through out litriture to speak about ones self in the third persons when one exacutes their duties as Monarch. to your other reviews where you went to grate length to point out my inadaquaceys as a writer, publicly no less, dont do that. Their is no need for that. You upset me quite a bit i am ashaimed to admit. I dont mind constructive critisisum but critisiseing spellings? assumeing my race? who the hell do you think you are? I have dislexia, publishing like this is hard. it is scarey to open my self up like this. For your information I am English. i live in the North East just out side of Newcastle. if you review again nit picking spelling of a free fan fiction I will simply remove your reivews.

thats it from me, i doubt i will have another update this year, so i will say Merry Christmas to those who celabrate and a Happynew Year to All!