Magical Love 2

The Hearing

       Harry had his hearing with the Ministry of Magic the next day after arriving at Grimmauld Place. Cedric and I, as well as Amos, wanted to travel with them to London. Our curiosity was piqued about where our fathers worked and we wanted to find out what it was like. Mum told us as we walked outside, "Don't forget to wear your coats!" Cedric and I realized we had forgotten ours, so he used "Accio" to get them since I wasn't old enough to use magic at home. Since it was raining, I wore my favorite pink coat with a white beanie. Taking the Muggle bus to London, we stepped into a red phone booth; I've heard about phones from my father who thought they were the most fascinating things in the world! I remember Ron yelling into one while talking to Harry, and I thought it was hilarious! After Dad inserted some Muggle money into the coin slot, we began to descend like an elevator. There were hundreds of witches and wizards going to work in what looked like an underground city beneath the streets of London. Harry and Dad went to the courtroom, and the rest of us followed.

There was a jury of black-clad people and red-clad people, it was the Wizengamot. Cornelius Fudge, Minister of Magic, stood on the podium looking stern and cold. He did not appear like the friendly gentleman we saw at last year's Quidditch World Cup. I'm afraid I'm not allowed inside. Good luck, Harry." Dad waited while we went inside.

"I'm sorry, but no one else can enter." Fudge stared at us coldly. "My son and his girlfriend wanted to see what a real life trial was like. Think of it as educating future ministry employees." Amos said on our behalf. Fudge's expression did not change as he stated, "Very well, as long as they don't cause any distraction." After Amos left, only Harry, Cedric, and I remained in the room.

In the corner of the room, Cedric and I stood watching Harry. It was intimidating to have so many people staring at us.

"Disciplinary hearing of the 12th of August into offenses committed by Harry James Potter, resident at No. 4 Privet Drive, Little Whinging, Surrey. Interrogators: Cornelius Oswald Fudge, Minister of Magic" suddenly Professor Dumbledore walked into the room, "Witness for the defense, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore." Cedric and I watched him in awe. Neither Fudge nor the jury were able to hide their wonder, "You did get our message that the time and place had been changed did you?" "I must have missed it. I arrived three hours early by pure chance." Dumbledore answered nonchalantly. "The charges?" "The charges of the accused are as follows: that he knowingly and in full awareness of the illegality of his actions produce a Patronus charm in the presence of a Muggle." one of the members of the Wizengamot said. "Do you deny producing said Patronus?" "No, but..." Harry tried to defend himself. "And you were aware that you were forbidden to use magic outside of school while under the age of seventeen?" he questioned. "Yes, I was, but..." Harry tried to get his rebuttal in, but was rudely cut off by the Minister. "Wizards and witches of the Wizengamot..." he was about to pronounce the verdict when Harry finally got a word in. "I was only doing it because of the Dementors!" gasps erupted throughout the room. "Dementors?" "In Little Whinging?" "That's quite clever." "Muggles can't see Dementors, can they, boy?" "Highly convenient." "I'm not lying. There were two of them, and if I hadn't..." Harry protested. "Enough." he was cut off once again. Fudge looked bored out of his mind and just wanted to get the hearing over with. "I'm sorry to interrupt what I'm sure would have been a well-rehearsed story, but since you can produce no witnesses of the event..." "Pardon me, Minister, but as it happens, we can." Professor Dumbledore said. Just then an older lady named Mrs. Figg was escorted into the room, she was wearing a gray hat and coat. She was a Squib, someone that could see magic and be aware of it, but not be capable of using it.

"Please describe the attack." "What did they look like?" "Well, one of them was large, and the other was rather skinny." Mrs. Figg replied. "Not the boys, the Dementors." one of the Wizengamot members corrected. "Oh, well, right, right. They were big. Cloaked; everything went cold, as if all the happiness had gone out of the world." "Now look here, Dementors don't just wander into a Muggle suburb and happen across a wizard." they were all looking at Harry as if he had two heads. "I don't think anyone would believe... the Dementors were there by coincidence Minister." Professor Dumbledore said. "I'm sure I must have misunderstood you, Professor. Dementors are indeed under the control of the Ministry of Magic, and it's so silly of me, but for a moment as though you suggested the Ministry ordered the attack on this boy." a lady on the Wizengamot piped up. Her eyes were cold blue on a friendly looking face. She looked like a kind aunt, but would punish you unquestionably. I clutched Cedric's hand like a lifeline, and he stroked mine. "It'll be okay," he whispered. "That would be quite disturbing indeed Madam Undersecretary, which is why I'm sure the Ministry will be mounting a full-scale inquiry into why the Dementors were so far from Azkaban and why they mounted an attack without authorization," the Minister said. The Wizengamot chattered among themselves, while Professor Dumbledore thought for a moment, "Of course there might be someone behind the attack." "Cornelius, I implore you to see reason." "The evidence of the Dark Lord's return is incontrovertible." Professor Dumbledore added. "He's not back." Fudge shrugged the implication off. I instantly got angry, Voldemort was indeed back and Harry, Cedric, my family, and I all knew it. "In the matter of Harry Potter, the law clearly states that magic can be used in before Muggles in life-threatening situations." Professor Dumbledore inquired. "Laws can be changed if necessary, Dumbledore." "Clearly, has it become practice to hold a full criminal trial... to deal with a simple matter of underage magic?" the headmaster always had a way of making people think about what they're doing. An awkward silence followed. "Those in favor of conviction?" Fudge and a couple of Wizengamot members including the rude old lady raised their hands. "Those in favor of clearing all charges?" The remaining members of the Wizengamot raised their hands, including the witness, Cedric, and me. Even though our votes probably didn't count, we still wanted to show our support. Soon, the majority of the room had their hands raised. Fudge seemed disappointed, "Cleared of all charges." Harry wasn't expelled from Hogwarts, and the tension seemed to disappear after the verdict was revealed. Suddenly, Professor Dumbledore instantly walked out of the room with Harry following behind confused. Why was he avoiding Harry after he had just helped him?