[a/n]Sequel to #120 & #122. To be concluded. Much-pasted from Harry's trial. decor of the Ossuary brought to you by Gomez & Morticia.

Harry Does Different DXXIIIc

Malfoys Don't Kneel 3

It took two days after the Dementor attack for Albus Dumbledore to appear at The Ossuary. Being not his first visit, he was not surprised by the use of a skull as a door knocker, or the paired skeletal arms used as handles for the main doors. It was, however, a most frustrating visit. He was met by the official Head of the Family "Good morning, Miss Bones. I am pleased you are well after your year-end mishap."

"Auntie calls it, plausibly, an inter-House assassination attempt." Quipped the girl, apparently unaware of her Headmaster's disapproval "Madam Pomfrey was excellent, thank you."

He stroked his beard, and paused, then "I wonder if I might come in?"

"Actually, sir, Auntie has a rule about not admitting people I don't know well." She answered, while partway closing the door "I'm sure you understand."

He smiled benevolently "Nonsense, dear girl, you have been my pupil for four years."

"I mean no disrespect, sir, but in that time we've not exchanged a hundred words." Answered Susan, closing the door fractionally more "Auntie said she was in Hogsmeade today."

The smile faded "Actually, it was young Harry I wished to speak with. I understand he is here."

"Well, yes." She acknowledged readily enough "Auntie brought him here after the dementor incident. Though he's out now."

This caused a bit of magic to flare from Dumbledore "And where might THAT be?"

"Sorry, sir, couldn't say." Susan said with an unconcerned shrug "I slept in and he left early." Frowning at the expression on his face she complained "Harry's a guest in this house, not a prisoner. And I'm not a guard. Now, I have a lot of schoolwork to do, and since you're Headmaster, Chief Warlock and international rep you must have more on your plate than a mere schoolgirl. I mustn't keep you."

Stepping forward enough that the door would not close fully, Dumbledore spoke kindly "One of my primary duties is assuring the safety of my students, Miss Bones. You might invite me in for some tea while we wait for Harry to return."

"And you have the same concern for little Christopher Columbus? A First-Year Puff?" the young redhead asked rhetorically while smiling "Sir, I just activated the Bones wards with a ten second delay. I could also call my elf. Remember, you can find Madam Bones at Hogsmeade. Or, here in about three minutes. Good afternoon, sir."

Abcij

Professor Severus Snape had been on a similar mission, stepping through the fireplace at #12 Grimmauld, he quickly spotted his objective "You have any idea the inconvenience you caused, Potter? I have better things to do than floo all across Britain. Explain yourself!"

"Well good evening, Snivilus. How wonderful to see you." Sirius stood at the head of the dining room table with a false smile "Please join us. Regale the audience with your chipper whit. Summer going well?"

Hermoine looked disturbed at the hostility between the men. Of the Weasley kids present, Ginny hid a giggle, mostly; George chortled unrepentantly even after the silencing look from Molly "Enough of that! Both of you. And Sirius Black, for shame."

"Harry's put up with his abuse quite enough, Molly, especially being unable to retort." The host countered, uncaringly "He doesn't have to take it during summer. And certainly not in my house."

Ron came in stretching "Dinner ready yet Mum? AHHH! Wazzhee doin'ere?"

"Shut up Weasley." Snapped the visitor "Potter, you are to remain here until Headmaster Dumbledore has the time to deal with your irresponsible lawbreaking."

His response was a clipped "No."

"Harry Potter! No backtalking a professor!" Hermione was a syllable ahead of Mrs. Weasley.

Little did the boy know a near-identical conversation was happening elsewhere "I'm not a prisoner. Besides, I didn't break any laws. And he's not a warden. So, I repeat: NO. I have a lot to do this summer."

"Not least of which; seducing witches." Sirius chortled, eliciting an embarrassed groan "That's my boy. Something you never had much luck with. Eh Snivilus?"

This was a delightful tidbit to the Weasley kids. Except Ginny, who blushingly frowned.

"The Headmaster will be here at his convenience, Potter." Snape pulled his robe around himself "You will hold yourself available. I have made myself abundantly clear." And made his way to the fireplace.

Hermione did not quite ask "You're going to follow Professor Snape's instructions? Right Harry?"

"Of course he is." Answered Molly, firmly "Harry is a good boy. Not like SOME of mine."

Fred coming in only heard the last sentence "Love you too, Mummy dearest."

"Well, as the parental authority in this matter, I have ultimate say." Sirius made a show of putting on airs "Harry, I think you should go about where you wish, as you wish for the summer. Indulge yourself. Boy your age should be out."

Abcij

Minister for Magic Fudge was speaking from the podium in a clearly irritated tone"Well, as the accused has not even bothered to present hims - -"

From one direction, Arthur Weasley accompanied Harry Potter into Courtroom #10, coming from the opposite corridor, Susan Bones slipped through the door with the two wizards, Headmaster Dumbledore had to enter behind them due to sheer crowding.

"Apparently, we will have to go through this tired affair." The Minister was more angry "Make this short. Interrogators: Cornelius Oswald Fudge, Minister of Magic; Amelia Susan Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement; Dolores Jane Umbridge, Senior Undersecretary to the Minister. Court Scribe, Percy Ignatius Weasley —"

"— Witness for the defense, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore," said a quiet voice from behind Harry, who turned his head so fast he cricked his neck.

Madam Bones, at this moment stood, adding herself "Witness for the defense, Amelia Susan Bones also representing Witness for the defense, Susan Amelia Bones."

"Most irregular. Most irregular." This was VERY off-script for the Minister "The charges against the accused are as follows: That he did knowingly, deliberately, and in full awareness of the illegality of his actions, having received a previous written warning from the Ministry of Magic on a similar charge, produce a Patronus Charm in a Muggle-inhabited area, in the presence of a Muggle, on August the second at twenty-three minutes past nine, which constitutes an offense under paragraph C of the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery, 1875, and also under section thirteen of the International Confederation of Wizards' Statute of Secrecy. "You are Harry James Potter, of number four, Privet Drive, Little Whinging, Surrey?" Fudge said, glaring at Harry over the top of his parchment.

"Yes," Harry said.

"You received an official warning from the Ministry for using illegal magic three years ago, did you not?"

"Yes, but —"

"And yet you conjured a Patronus on the night of the second of August?" said Fudge.

"Yes," said Harry, "but —"

"Knowing that you are not permitted to use magic outside school while you are under the age of seventeen?"

"Yes, but —"

"Knowing that you were in an area full of Muggles?"

"Yes, but —"

Amelia adjusted her monocle and addressed the Minister "Perhaps, Cornelius, you might allow the boy, as you call him, to finish a sentence."

"I did it because of the dementors!" he said loudly, before anyone could interrupt him again.

"Ah," said Fudge again, smirking unpleasantly as he looked around at the Wizengamot, as though inviting them to share the joke. "Yes. Yes, I thought we'd be hearing something like this."

"Dementors in Little Whinging?" Madam Bones said in tones of great surprise. "I don't understand —"

"Don't you, Amelia?" said Fudge, still smirking. "Let me explain. He's been thinking it through and decided dementors would make a very nice little cover story, very nice indeed. Muggles can't see dementors, can they, boy? Highly convenient, highly convenient . . . so it's just your word and no witnesses. . . ."

"I'm not lying!" said Harry loudly, over another outbreak of muttering from the court. "There were two of them, coming from opposite ends of the alley, everything went dark and cold and my cousin felt them and ran for it —"

"Enough, enough!" said Fudge with a very supercilious look on his face. "I'm sorry to interrupt what I'm sure would have been a very well-rehearsed story —"

Dumbledore cleared his throat. The Wizengamot fell silent again. "We do, in fact, have a witness to the presence of dementors in that alleyway," he said, "other than Dudley Dursley, I mean."

Fudge's plump face seemed to slacken, as though somebody had let air out of it. He stared down at Dumbledore for a moment or two, then, with the appearance of a man pulling himself back together, said, "We haven't got time to listen to more taradiddles, I'm afraid, Dumbledore. I want this dealt with quickly —"

"I may be wrong," said Dumbledore pleasantly, "but I am sure that under the Wizengamot Charter of Rights, the accused has the right to present witnesses for his or her case? Isn't that the policy of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Madam Bones?" he continued, addressing the witch in the monocle.

"True," said Madam Bones. "Perfectly true." "

"Oh, very well, very well," snapped Fudge. "Where is this person?"

"I brought her with me," said Dumbledore. "She's just outside the door. Should I — ?"

"No — Weasley, you go," Fudge barked at Percy, who got up at once, hurried down the stone steps from the judge's balcony, and hastened past Dumbledore and Harry without glancing at them. A moment later, Percy returned, followed by Mrs. Figg. She looked scared and more batty than ever. Harry wished she had thought to change out of her carpet slippers. Dumbledore stood up and gave Mrs. Figg his chair, conjuring a second one for himself.

"Full name?" said Fudge loudly, when Mrs. Figg had perched herself nervously on the very edge of her seat. "Arabella Doreen Figg," said Mrs. Figg in her quavery voice.

"And who exactly are you?" said Fudge, in a bored and lofty voice.

"I'm a resident of Little Whinging, close to where Harry Potter lives," said Mrs. Figg. "I'm a Squib. So you wouldn't have me registered, would you?"

"A Squib, eh?" said Fudge, eyeing her suspiciously. "We'll be checking that. You'll leave details of your parentage with my assistant, Weasley. Incidentally, can Squibs see dementors?" he added, looking left and right along the bench where he sat.

"Yes, we can!" said Mrs. Figg indignantly "They went for Harry," said Mrs. Figg, her voice stronger and more confident now, the pink flush ebbing away from her face. he produced a Patronus, which charged down the first dementor and then, with his encouragement, chased away the second from his cousin. And that . . . that was what happened," Mrs. Figg finished, somewhat lamely

Fudge was not looking at her at all, but fidgeting with his papers. Finally he raised his eyes and said, rather aggressively "That's what you saw, is it?"

"That was what happened," Mrs. Figg repeated.

"Very well, You may go. Not a very convincing witness," said Fudge loftily.

"Oh, I don't know," said Madam Bones in her booming voice. "She certainly described the effects of a dementor attack very accurately. And I can't imagine why she would say they were there if they weren't —"

"But dementors wandering into a Muggle suburb and just happening to come across a wizard?" snorted Fudge. "The odds on that must be very, very long, even Bagman wouldn't have bet —"

She interrupted "Kindly allow me to finish a sentence, Cornelius."

In the complete silence that greeted these words, the witch to the right of Fudge leaned forward so that Harry saw her for the first time. He thought she looked just like a large, pale toad. She was rather squat with a broad, flabby face, as little neck as Uncle Vernon, and a very wide, slack mouth. Her eyes were large, round, and slightly bulging. Even the little black velvet bow perched on top of her short curly hair put him in mind of a large fly she was about to catch on a long sticky tongue.

"The Chair recognizes Dolores Jane Umbridge, Senior Undersecretary to the Minister," said Fudge.

The witch spoke in a fluttery, girlish, high-pitched voice that took Harry aback; he had been expecting a croak. "I'm sure I must have misunderstood you, Amelia. By use of the Minister for Magic's familiar name, you imply an equivalency that cannot possibly exist."

"Such as your use of mine, Umbridge?" the iron voice was a stark contrast "By this, I imply you are at a minimum, one step below me. Certainly in Ministry authority. Or several, as Malfoy implies by using a mere family name without honorific for our Minister. This is also true of comparative stature between our Fa- -"

On his feet in a rush, blond hair lashing the air, the Duke of House Malfoy roared "How dare you speak to me in that - -"

"Silence!" Madam Bones' tone was so authoritative the entire Wizengamot felt it "I shall attend to you, presently. And before you speak, remember your place."

Harry grinned at Susan as the outraged wizard looked around the room, and sat. No one would openly oppose arguably, the most powerful witch in the country.

"Now then, to address Minister Fudge's statements," She offered a slight incline of her head "Mrs. Figg's testimony was important, however, incomplete. Dementors were indeed present in Little Whining on the day in question. Nor was Harry Potter the sole caster of a Patronus. My niece and I were present, casting the spell as well. This obviates the conclusion by the Undersecretary, and Minister, there were no qualified witnesses."

Fudge paled *harrumph* "And what was the Head of Magical Law Enforcement doing in Surrey?"

"THAT we'll get back to when I address the Malfoy problem." Madam Bones said while producing a small scroll "This is the letter that arrived at the Dursley residence just before we left. Accusing Harry Potter of having used two Patroni, and an Impedementa on a Muggle. Considerable inaccuracy here. Actually three Patroni were cast in that time. Myself, Harry and Susan. I …not Harry… who cast the spell on his uncle. I did not approve of the leer either Dursley male was giving a defenseless girl, namely, Susan. Odd, it did not include the three Alohamoras cast between the Dementor incident and our departure. I will be discussing accuracy with Mrs. Hopkirk."

The Minister, and a certain Wizengamot faction, were less than pleased with the way this was going. The unpleasant looking witch was again recognized "I feel …Amelia... you are nit-picking the situation. And in fact, furthering the crime. Perhaps, mere expulsion is insufficient. We have, I think, adequate evidence to move this to a criminal level. To include, regrettably, young Miss Bones, and yourself. Adults must set a proper example, nor can we exempt, especially, the most senior among us."

"There are exceptions, Delores" Madam Bones spat the name "For example, I certainly cannot be prosecuted by ANY stretch of the imagination for violating an Underage Restriction." She had to pause for the laughing to stop, then concluded "Given the circumstances, any Junior Auror could have issued a summary waiver due to self-defense."

Susan looked quite relieved, because her Aunt had almost thrown HER under the bus on this, but the outcome was now obvious. The young witch patted her classmate's arm reassuringly. The vote to clear Harry was a foregone conclusion.

"Yes yes case dismissed." Minister Fudge was very much unhappy "No further business? This session is en- -"

The Director was shedding her Ministry garb, to reveal full Family regalia. She declared "As I am Amelia, Regent of the Noble and Moste Ancient House Bones, and in the presence of Susan …my liege… we seek satisfaction against the Moste Noble House Malfoy."

"Pardon me, Minister" said the squeaky-voiced witch "but I do believe you already ended the session. As such, no further business should be conducted. And even in session, Ministry members do not start fights. MOST particularly! With such an illustrious and unimpeachable member of our society as Duke Lucius."

Susan's voice lashed out "Why don't you listen to what happened?"

*Zeewooo* whistled Harry, as any current Hogwarts student might. Even he, who'd spent some time, lately, in the quiet redhead's company.

The angry retort came "Silence! Children should be seen and not heard!"

"Silence yourself, Umbridge." The young witch snapped back "My Head ring is all the authority I need!"

Amelia put out a restraining arm but smiled approvingly "According to the record, we have not formally ended the session. But, never mind that, by all means head out. Miss the possibility of a wee bit of excitement. Bloodshed if you're real lucky."

That stopped any movement to the exits. No one, regardless of allegiance, would leave after that announcement.