When I woke up the next morning, it was a few moments before I remembered what was so significant about the day. Then it hit me like a stone, Harry's trial. Today was the day where I would find out if my boyfriend would continue his education or if I'd be forced to spend the majority of the next few years away from him. I sat up and looked at my watch. 8:30. The trial started at 9, so he'd already have left.

"Big day today" came Demelza's voice from the bunk below mine.

I jumped. "Oh shit, Demelza, you scared me! I thought I was the only one of us awake!" I said

"Nah, I've been awake since six. Been down for breakfast already, just been reading and waiting for you lot to wake up"

"Well at least you were able to sleep, I didn't get a wink last night!" said Hermione fretfully

"Why, you were the one who kept saying they surely couldn't expel him" Amy said while stretching.

"That was more to convince myself than anything. By their own laws, they can't, but you know what the Ministry is like, how corrupt they've become. I wouldn't be shocked if they do expel him!"

"Look, we're gonna have to find something to distract us today, we can't just spend the whole time worrying about Harry" I said.

The problem was, we'd finished cleaning the house now, so it was going to have to be something outside. Thankfully Mum agreed, on the condition that she come with us. At the end of the day we were still in a war, even if the Ministry wouldn't acknowledge it, but even so, couldn't just spend all day every day inside. My tattoo had only taken a couple hours, other than that, we hadn't left the house since we'd arrived.

We decided that we would visit the Houses of Parliament and Trafalgar Square, 2 major muggle tourist attractions, and hopefully be back at the house in time for lunch and Harry's return. The Houses of Parliament are right in the heart of the city, in a grand ancient palace, situated next to the river Thames, a bridge, and a square road junction. There's also a large clock tower attached to the buildings. They're across from Whitehall, the muggle street which I knew the Ministry was buried deep underneath.

"It's a bit unfair that the Muggles get this beautiful building for their government headquarters, whereas we have to settle for being deep underground in the doom and gloom" said Amy as we stood on Parliament Square, looking at the palace.

"Well the Muggles oppressed us before didn't they?" said Mum, "when the Statute of Secrecy came into play, we had to escape underground or to places difficult to access, for our own safety. The Ministry is a massive, complicated facility now, so there's no point moving it, much like a lot of other wizarding facilities"

"This building is split into 2 parts. The House of Commons is the lower house, and it's where all the politicians go to meet and debate stuff etc, and where laws get passed, though technically they all have to receive something called Royal Assent first, where the Queen approves it. She does have the power to say no, though she never has" said Demelza

"The House of Lords is the upper house and can also approve or reject laws, though it's very difficult for them to reject it if the Commons has already approved it" said Hermione.

"So that's the Big Ben thing is it?" I asked, pointing at the clock tower.

"Yes, said Hermione, "though it's really just the bell that's called that, everyone refers to the whole clock tower that way"

We walked up Whitehall, and past the sordid street where the visitors entrance to the Ministry is located, or well, was back then. It's obviously been changed since Joanne's books were published.

"Hey, why don't we go check on Harry?" I said, turning to walk down that street.

"Yeah" Ron added "I'll go down there and be the first to congratulate him when he walks out of the courtroom!"

"Don't be ridiculous" said Mum "we'll find out what happened later"

"So this was built to celebrate the UK's victory in the Battle of Trafalgar against the Spanish and French navies" said Hermione, when we reached Trafalgar Square.

"I've heard about that" Amy said "there were a lot of witches and wizards that took part, that's why we were able to win against 2 other navies combined. We had magic on our side"

"Lord Nelson had to get all the credit cause of the Statute though sadly" Demelza said

"What's with the Lions?" Mum asked. There are 4 black lion sculptures around the base of the column.

"Lions are a classic English symbol" said Hermione. "The national football teams are known as the Three Lions and Lionesses, as it's on the badge"

"But the UK isn't just England" said Ron

"I know" Hermione said, rolling her eyes "a lot of English people forget that"

We got back to Grimmauld Place, and now it was an anxious wait for Harry to get in and tell us the outcome of the trial. Eventually he entered the kitchen, and there were a few moments of tense silence, before Harry said "Cleared! Of all charges! Dumbledore even showed up as a witness. I didn't get to talk to him, but still, I'm ok, I'm going back to Hogwarts!"

"I knew it!" yelled Ron, punching the air. "You always get away with stuff!"

"They were bound to clear you," said Hermione, who had looked positively faint with anxiety when Harry had entered the kitchen and was now holding a shaking hand over her eyes. "There was no case against you, none at all. . . ."

"Everyone seems quite relieved, though, considering they all knew I'd get off," said Harry, smiling.

Mum was wiping her face on her apron, and Fred, George, Demelza, Amy and I were doing a kind of war dance to a chant that went "He got off, he got off, he got off —"

"That's enough, settle down!" shouted Dad though he too was smiling. "Listen, Sirius, Lucius Malfoy was at the Ministry —"

"What?" said Sirius sharply.

"He got off, he got off, he got off —"

"Be quiet, you five! Yes, we saw him talking to Fudge on level nine, then they went up to Fudge's office together. Dumbledore ought to know."

"Absolutely," said Sirius. "We'll tell him, don't worry."

"Well, I'd better get going, there's a vomiting toilet in Bethnal Green waiting for me. Molly, I'll be late, I'm covering for Tonks, but Kingsley might be dropping in for dinner —"

"He got off, he got off, he got off —"

"That's enough!" said Mum, as Dad left the kitchen. "Harry dear, come and sit down, have some lunch, you hardly ate breakfast. . . ."

But we kept going, as we were so delighted. We even increased the volume, so much so, that Mum eventually roared "SHUT UP!" right in our faces!