Dear Harry,
Glad to know you're alright mate, the Order went spare when they realized you'd gone to Andromeda instead of headquarters; mum was on a warpath until Professor Lupin calmed her down, she's been torn on writing you a Howler for having Gabby in the house without adult supervision and sending you a care package of comfort foods.
What was Gabby doing there anyways? Just wanted to see you? Hermione reckons something happened but I'm sure you'd have written to us if it was anything bad. I hope you write back soon, give mum and me some peace of mind.
Hermione's getting impatient so I better finish up the letter so we can send it off, stay safe out there mate, hope we can see you before you have to go tell the Wizengamot to sod off.
Your friend,
Ron.
Harry,
I hope you and Gabrielle are alright, Dung made it sound like you two went through something horrid! I knew your relatives were the worst!
Everyone here's been in a tizzy since you disappeared, most are of the mind that you need to be brought straight to headquarters, but Professor Lupin, Tonks, and surprisingly even Mad-Eye all think you're better off where you are, and I truly hope that that's the case, otherwise I don't know what we'll do.
We're hoping you'll come by after your court date, and if not maybe we can visit where you are? Until then please stay safe and try not to stray too far!
Hermione.
Harry read over his friends' letters with mixed feelings.
On the one hand, he was happy they had written to him, that they were still the same people he remembered from school.
On the other hand he was still angry about the radio silence the two had kept over the first half of the summer, still mad that all they'd told him for months was to keep his head down. Always hinting and alluding to the fact that they were both staying in the same spot, but never saying where.
"Are you alright?"
Harry glanced up at his girlfriend, it was late, almost three in the morning, she was sitting up in bed, hair tousled and poofy, eyes half closed and full of sleep, a drool line staining her cheek.
Gods he was a lucky bloke.
"I'm fine…couldn't sleep." Harry said softly, "Go back to sleep.
"It's too cold for that," Gabrielle slowly climbed out of the bed, stepping up behind him from where he sat at the writing desk and lazily wrapping her arms around his chest, laying her head atop of his, "what's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong." Harry said dismissively, wincing when her hand came up and flicked his forehead.
"You wear your heart on your sleeves mi amore.' she whispered, kissing his temple, as her hands settled back on his chest, "what's wrong?"
Harry sighed, his hand coming up to rest on hers, "Ron and Hermione wrote." he said softly, "and I don't know how to respond."
"They are your friends non?"
"They have a funny way of showing it." he muttered bitterly, "they ignored me most of this summer, answered my initial letters with the bare minimum and didn't send me anything again until I'm in trouble with the government…it's irksome."
Gabrielle hummed, "things have been difficult Harry." she whispered, kissing his temple again, "there's a reason I showed up unannounced on your doorstep, even Papa thought it would be dangerous to write to you."
Harry sighed again, and Gabrielle rolled her eyes fondly, "you're moping love." she cooed.
"Maybe I am." He grumbled petulantly
She giggled, kissing his cheek, "write to them, but don't tell them everything, they can be fully informed when we celebrate your win in court, now please, come to bed.'
Harry smiled and allowed Gabby to lead him back to the bed, soon both were asleep, the letters from Hermione and Ron lay on his desk, forgotten, for now.
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The days leading up to his court case were, for the most part, peaceful; the two fifteen year olds settled quite easily into domestic life, the morning would start with either Harry or Gabrielle waking up early to make breakfast, both trying to beat the other to the kitchen to start. After breakfast Harry spent the morning with Sirius going through the ledger and trying to understand all the business talk that he now had to learn while Gabby would flitter around the house, cleaning, reading or doing homework. In the afternoons they'd take a walk around the grounds, familiarizing themselves with the land; when they found a pond surrounded by fronds and trees they immediately staked their claim, spending the hottest days of the summer floating in it's cool waters or roughhousing with Sirius and Tonks.
All in all, things were looking up for the young couple, there were still fights, of course there were, no relationship is perfect, but the two never went to bed angry with each other; always talking out their problems before settling in for bed that night.
The morning of the hearing sparked another fight.
"You're not going."
"The hell I'm not!"
Sirius sighed as he looked between the two, Harry was dressed in a nice dark green button up and blue jeans, a set of silk robes over, he had his arms crossed and was standing resolute against Gabby, likewise dressed casually with soft blue robes over a nice blouse and skirt, eyes furious and mouth set in a hard frown.
"I am a key witness Harry, you can't stop me from going-"
"-everyone in that room bar a handful want to see me ruined, I'm not putting you in the crossfire." he said firmly.
"But it's okay to put yourself there?" she demanded to know, "I will NOT be sitting home all alone waiting to find out if you're coming home or not. I WILL be going or you'll have to find comfort on the sofa!"
Sirius snickered, watching as Harry spluttered and tried to recover his argument, "you've already lost pup," he chuckled, "besides, she's a grown witch, she can take care of herself."
Harry sighed in defeat, "I just don't want you hurt." He mumbled, smiling softly as she kissed his cheek and intertwined their hands.
"It's not me you should be worried about." she retorted, "if I get my hands on whoever pressed these charges…" she trailed off, muttering angrily in french for a bit before composing herself, "lets go, Papa should be waiting for us."
Sirius morphed into Padfoot and followed the two to the floo, soon they were in the Atrium, where a nervous Arthur weasley stood with Antony Delacour. "Harry, so good to see you." Arthur said as he hugged the boy who was practically a son to him, "how've you been holding up son?"
"Good Mr. Weasley," he said with a smiled before stepping back and presenting Gabby, "this is Gabrielle Delacour, my girlfriend.'
"But of course! We met at the final task last year." he said with a beaming smile, shaking her hand, "You had some interesting ideas about enchantments for my new car."
"I still want to take a look at your original notes," she said leaning forward eagerly, the hearing all but forgotten in the face of a surprise passion of Gabby: Muggle cars, "the invisibility booster itself must have taken ages to work out!"
"Only if you don't keep track of the rune sequence in the engine," Arthur chuckled, taking a peak at his watch and sighing, "it's time, Harry, you'll be in the defendants chair with Antony, we'll be in the crowd, if anything happens we'll get you out, understand?"
"Yes sir." Harry said, his anxiety spiking once more as they began walking, only alleviated by Gabby giving his hand a reassuring squeeze, there was a minute of panic when they found out his hearing had been moved up and moved down to a larger court room. Luckily they had come in early.
They only separated when they reached the court room, the cold black marble that made up the stands and benches doing nothing for his nerves. The chair Antony lead him to was covered in chains, which twitched when he sat down, but thankfully didn't wrap around his arms. Antony nodded to a man a few steps away from them, older with balding gray hair. A pot belly pushing the confines of his robes and the victorian-like suit underneath. "Lord Raxus Sutton," Antony explained, "Assistant head of the Department of Magical Law, he's a fair man, likes his port a bit more than is kind,and much too close to the goblins for my taste, but a fair man."
Slowly more and more people trickled in. people in elaborate wizengamot robes sat in the high rise benches, staring down at him with curiosity, excitement, hatred, and even fear. What they had to fear Harry had no clue.
"All Rise for the Minister of Magic, Minister Cornelius Fudge!"
Harry stood alongside Antony as the Minister walked in, the man gave Harry a stink eye while the human toad walking in behind him gave a nasty grin.
"Let's begin." Fudge said as he took his seat, "we gather today to decide the fate of one Harry James Potter, charged with underage use of magic, breach of the statute of secrecy by using said magic in front of a Muggle, and assault causing bodily injury of a Muggle by magical means, prosecutor being Lord Sutton of the Department of Magical Law, how do you plead?"
"Not guilty your honor.' Antony said, stepping forward.
"And who might you be?" Fudge asked rudely.
"Forgive me for not alerting the court sooner, however seeing as the court failed to inform us of the hearings time changing, I'm sure this too can be overlooked, I am Antony Delacour, Attorney at law, representing young Mr. Potter."
"We were not informed that Mr. Potter had hired a solicitor-" Fudge started to say-"
"Well if the ministry hadn't sent back my many letters, then they would have been duly informed two weeks ago." Antony said dryly, "as is, every single one of my letters have been sent back so I assumed you did not need to be informed, hence why i am here now."
"This can't possibly-"
"-Antony Delacour is recognized as Mr. Potter's solicitor,' Madam Bones interrupted, glaring imperiously at Fudge, "If you want to continue this over reaction of a trial, then I suggest you grant Mr. Potter his right to be represented."
"Er…quite right, Madam Bones," Fudge spluttered, making Harry hide a smile, "if there is nothing else-'
"-there is something else, Minister Fudge," Antony said as he strode forward, "I motion for the court to dismiss this case on the grounds of self defense!"
"Objection! There's no proof-" the Minister tried to shout, Lord Sutton raising an eyebrow at the Minister, folding his hands over his stomach as his mouth thinned.
"-once again if you hadn't turned my letters away then you would know that proof comes not only in the form of Mr. Potter's testimony but that of one Mundungus Fletcher, a passing Wizard who entered the scene during the assault as well as the testimony of one Gabrielle Delacour."
A quiet whisper sprang up in the gathered Wizengamot while Fudge shifted uncomfortably, "we were not aware of other wizards being present-'
"-i'm assuming that little fact was in the letters you didn't take." Madam Bones said dryly.
"Hem, hem."
Harry found himself looking over to a toad-looking woman sitting beside the Minister, she was giving him a not so friendly smile as she addressed Monsieur Delacour, "do excuse me, but I noticed you said the girls name is Gabrielle Delacour, would it not be a conflict of interest for you to represent Mr. Potter if you are related to one of the witnesses?"
"Were I representing Mademoiselle Delacour you may have a Point, Madam Umbridge, However, I am Representing Mr. Potter, a young man who's magical guardians contacted me on the matter."
"Agreed." Madam bones said, "you will be allowed to present your witnesses after the prosecution has presented their own, Lord Sutton, Your witness."
"Thank you Amelia." Lord Sutton said graciously, muttering under his breath, "at least someone knows who the prosecutor is' with a slight glare at the Minister.
"They brought my relatives here?" Harry asked Antony as he sat down beside him.
"No, your aunt and uncle were deemed too…unwieldy for a wizard courtroom." Antony whispered back, "their sole witness is an Auror who claims to have seen you on the scene.:
"Who's the Auror-"
"-Auror John Dawlish, please approach the stand."
Harry watched as a Tough looking wizard with short wiry gray hair walked in, dressed in the red robes of an Auror nad walking with a purpose to the stand.
"Auror John Dawlish, Second Grade, you were the first on the scene after the ministry was notified, yes?" Lord Sutton asked.
"Yes sir." he said with a nod, "I was first on scene with Savage."
"And what did you find?"
"I found a walrus sized man embedded in the wall and unconscious and his wife unconscious on the floor, do to stun charms I assumed, a quick Ennervate had them both up and screaming, quite unpleasant people, though they did say that it was their nephew and his…girlfriend that had assaulted them."
"And did they state the name of their nephew and his girlfriend?" he asked.
"They didn't know the girlfriend, called her a lot of unsavory names that i'd rather not repeat, but they stated repeatedly that their nephew Harry Potter was the one that had started everything after they returned from vacation seeing the husbands sister. Why they didn't take either boy in the house with them is currently unknown."
"Did you collect any memories from the two before they were obliviated?" Lord sutton asked.
"They adamantly refused to the point of the husband almost assaulting me when I asked, and they weren't obliviated, as the guardians of a half-blood they have the right to keeping their memories of the magical world."
"I see, was anything else said? About what had occurred?" the old solicitor asked.
"Only that the young lady had stolen a dress? Though finding clothes in what the muggles call a dryer lead me to the conclusion that she didn't have any other clothes and was simply borrowing the dress, sadly I couldn't question her as she as well as potter had left the scene, probably for the best mind you."
"Would you like to elaborate on that?" Lord Sutton prompted.
"...I've dealt with a lot of Muggles in my years as an Auror." Dawlish began carefully, "and in all of my years of dealing with Muggles these two were some of the most disrespectful I've ever dealt with; they continually insulted and disrespected myself and my partner until we left, bad mouthed the Potter Boy and his girlfriend as well, all around horrid people."
"Thank you Auror Dawlish, nothing further." Lord Sutton called, returning to his position.
"Defense, he's your witness." Madam Bones said.
"Thank you Madam Bones." the frenchman said as he stood up, "Auror Dawlish you stated that both Dursleys were rude and degrading to you and your partner yes?"
"Yes sir." Dawlish confirmed.
"And you also stated that the two were muttering curses at their nephew and his young girlfriend yes?"
"Yes sir, it's in the report."
"Yes it is, so is it completely reasonable to believe that Young Mr. Potter used magic in defense of himself and his girlfriend."
"It's definitely possible." Dawlish admitted, "It wouldn't surprise me if that man had swung on either of them."
"And did the two speak of Mr. Mundungus Fletcher being there?" he asked.
"The wife said something about a vagabond being there, I thought she was referring to Mr. Potter."
Harry let out a quiet snicker, quickly schooling himself as the Minister fixed him with a glare, "This is no laughing matter, Mr. Potter."
Harry couldn't help himself, "it's fairly apparent considering we're in court."
A ripple of laughter went through those in attendance, save for the ones in the Ministers corner, Fudge pounded his gavel, "Order!"
Quickly everyone went silent as Antony approached Dawlish once more, who was hiding his amused grin behind a cough, "Auror Dawlish, in your investigation, did you find any tracews of spell-fire that could be considered harmful or deadly?"
"From what residue was left in the house I was able to conclude that a stun charm, a knock-back Jinx, and a disarming charm had been used, none of them to levels that could be considered deadly."
"Thank you Auror Dawlish, Nothing further from the defense." Antony said, returning to his seat.
"Lord Sutton, would you like to re-examine the witness?" Fudge asked hopefully.
"The people rest your honor." Sutton said with a nod.
"Indeed…thank you Auror Dawlish, you are dismissed." FUdge said in disappointment, obviously disappointed that Dawlish hadn't given them anything to suggest Harry had done this maliciously, "Defense, call your first witness."
"I call to the stand, Mundungus Fletcher." Antony stated as Dung stood up from where he sat in the crowd, dressed in a moth eaten brown suit and leather cloak, he stumbled up to the stand, sitting down while he wiped his watery eyes.
"Mr. Fletcher can you please tell the court, in your own words, what happened that day?" Antony asked.
"Sure can." Dung said, "it was crazy it was, here I was going to go see my old frien' Ms. Figg when I 'ear screaming and shouting, now I"m no model citizen so I was just gonna move along, let the muggles deal with their muggle problems, never knew why Ol'Figgy moved there-" he paused when seeing Antony give him a look, "a-any how, I was about to move off see, and I suddenly 'ear a BANG!-" Here he slammed his hand against the chair he sat in, making several jump, "and then I heard someone yell out 'flipendo!' so I told meself, 'dung' i said 'the muggles are trying to kill a wizard, don't you got yerself a moral obligation to help?' and I told meself, 'self' i said 'that's a load of dung and we should hightail it out of there.' but I coudln't resist sticking me nose into some drama, so I entered the house, crazy ol' horseface was brandishing scissors and threatening some kids, so I disarm her; crazy broad then shrieks, you're one of them!' she said and ran at me, lucky one of them kids got their wand and stunned her, otherwise I'd be black and blue!"
"And what exactly were you visiting your old friend Ms. Figg for?" he asked.
"We're ol' bridge buddies, back when Ol'Figgy could clean out a table with a single hand." he said with a laugh.
"And did you know just who it was you were running to defend?"
"Not at all, blew me friggin mind when I found out it was Harry Potter who was bien' attacked, thought he was livin' it up in some castle somewhere."
"Did the children decide to leave on their own?"
"That was my decision, seee, i've had some…run ins with our esteemed Aurors and the Ministry, knew wha' they'd do to a person of interest like tha', so I took them to Figgy's. Good woman tha' figgy, makes damn good tea too.'
"Thank you Mr. Fletcher, no further questions." Antony said as he walked back.
"Lord Sutton, your witness." Fudge prompted.
"Thank you Minister." Sutton said, walking towards Mundungus, "Now Mr. Fletcher, what was it you were doing in Privet Drive?"
"I was going to go see ol'Figgy." Dung said again.
"Mhmm, but she lives on Wisteria Walk, not Privet Drive."
"Well I gotta walk through Privet to get to Wisteria." Dung said with a shrug, "I don' take the Knight Bus, hurts me back, and Apparating makes me sick, can' do anythin' if I do it, so I go muggle for most of my gettin' around."
"Mhmm, and did you see anyone else out on the street while you were on your walk?"
"Oh loads, it was a saturday see, people always around."
"So why didn't anyone else go running andi instead just call the police?"
"Hmph, ain' no muggles I know that are gonna run into tha' situation." Dung scoffed, "them muggles in tha' area only care about wha' the other neighbors can' see, they ain' gonna go runnin' to anyones defense, they'll gossip about it all day mind you, but they won' go snoopin' unless it ain' any risk to them."
Lord Sutton slowly nodded, "during this time did Mr. Potter express in anyway that he had caused the altercation? That he meant any harm to his relatives?"
"You kiddn'? Kid was more worried about his bird then he was anythin' else at that moment."
"Thank you Mr. Fletcher, no further questions."
"You may step down, Mr. Fletcher." Fudge muttered.
Dung skipped off the stand, shooting Harry a wink as he walked by.
"Final witness, will Ms. Delacour please approach the stand.
Harry tensed a bit as Gabbi walked tot he stand, staring dead ahead as she walked and daintily sitting in the chair.
"Ms. Delacour." Antony began, his voice professional, "please explain in your words, what transpired that day."
"I had arrived at Number 4 Privet Drive last night around two." she began, "I had something urgent I needed to discuss with Harry, I spent the next morning with Harry, we were taking a nap on the couch when his relatives arrived."
"And how did that confrontation begin?" Antony asked.
"It began when Harry's Uncle-Vernon-threw the door open, it made a loud bang when it hit the wall and he demanded Harry go help them with their bags; Harry stood in front of me when they entered, I did not know why until later…he…was not Happy that I was there, he called me a trollop and his wife was angry that I had one of her dresses on."
"And why were you wearing one of her dresses?"
"My other got soaked while we were washing dishes." she said with a slight blush, "I tried to tell her I'd change when my clothes were washed, but she tried to attack me, Harry pointed his wand at her and thats when his Uncle sent him flying against the fireplace, he broke his arm-" her voice quivered here a bit, barely containing her rage and sadness, "his uncle tried to attack him while he was down so I sent him flying with a jinx, I was going to take Harry out of the house when his Aunt grabbed a pair of scissors and threatened us, that's when Monsieur Fletcher came in."
"Thank you Ms. Delacour." Antony said, "nothing further. The defense rests.'
"Lord Sutton, your witness."
Lord Sutton stood up, "truthfully I think we're done here," he said, looking around as everyone began murmuring in confusion and a bit of shock, while Fudge began to turn red, "I do have a few questions to clear up some things that have been bothering me…Ms. Delacour, have you ever thought Mr. Potter to be a violent man?"
"No sir." she said immediately, "he is the kindest, sweetest man I've ever met."
"And do you think he is suffering from…how did the prophet describe it again? Unstable?"
"The Prophet writes lies," Gabrielle muttered pointedly, "they are lucky Harry hasn't sued for Defamation of character."
"Mhmm…and what is your relationship with the defendant?"
"I am his girlfriend, we've been going out since the Yule Ball."
"And why were you visiting him so late at night?"
Gabrielle blushed a bit, "that is a private matter, monsieur." she said.
Lord Sutton looked at her for a bit, then smiled, nodding a bit, "No more from the prosecution."
"Thank you, Ms. Delacour." Madam Bones said as Gabrielle left the booth, "Prosecution, you may now begin your closing arguments, Lord Sutton, you have the floor."
"Thank you Madam Bones." he sais, standing up, "Now, the young man sitting here before us, is a national icon and hero; not only did this young man defeat He Who Must Not Be Named, but he also won the Tri-Wizard Tournament just last year. I thought I would be meeting a young man who had finally broken, who'd crumbled under the pressure, that he had snapped and attacked relatives without any regard for their or his safety." Lord Sutton sighed, turning to look at Harry, "then I sat through this trial, and all I have been able to see, is a young man who had to defend himself against his relatives, relatives who not only showed a prejudice against their own nephew, but a prejudice against the very officers who went to help them. I listened, and I watched, and I can conclude that Young Mr. Potter is simply a young man who has been dealt a difficult hand, and I believe-despite my job as a prosecutor-that he is innocent, and I advocate that his charges be dropped." with that Lord Sutton sat back down, nodding to Antony, who nodded back.
"Defense, your closing statement."
Antony stood up, fixing his coat as he did and clearing his throat as he stared directly into Fudges eyes, the Minister shifted uncomfortably under the mans sharp blue eyes, "Nothing Further, Madam Bones." Antony said cooly as he sat back down.
"Thank you, now, we shall conduct a vote including all the participating lords and ladies of the wizengamot." Madam Bones proclaimed, "all those in favor of declaring the defendant guily, raise your wand."
Immediately around twenty five lords-most of them Death Eaters, harry noted-raised their wands, Madam Bones counted the wands and nodded, "all those in favor of clearing the defendant of all charges, raise your wands."
Overwhelmingly the remaining Lords raised their wands, with a nod Madam Bones stood up and proclaimed, "Mr. Harry James Potter has been found Not Guilty. This court is adjourned."
Several people in the viewing stands exploded into cheers, and for the first time Harry realized that Mr. Weasley was there with Hermione and Ron, both giving him large smiles that he returned with a small one before he was enveloped by a bone breaking hug from Gabrielle, "I knew you would win." she whispered into his ear, making him laugh.
"You never doubt me." he said fondly, giving her a soft kiss as Antony clasped both of their shoulders.
"This was a lucky trial," he said quietly, "Lord Sutton knows me from several cases in France and Belgium, he's a fair man." he stopped speaking as the wizengamot members walked past, several giving Izuku glares as they walked past, "and with the wizengamot stacked as it had been, this was a boon." he began leading them to the door, "we have a standing invitation from Mr. Weasley, they want to throw you a congratulations party."
"I think we should go." Gabby said, rubbing his arm comfortingly when Harry's expression went a bit stony, "you need to talk to your friends."
He sighed, putting an arm around her, "as always, you're right love."
She smiled, "not always, chere." '