Untitled Part 8
Harry gasped; he could not help himself. The largedungeon he had entered was horribly familiar. He had notonly seen it before, he had been here before: This was theplace he had visited inside Dumbledore's Pensieve, theplace where he had watched the Lestranges sentenced tolife imprisonment in Azkaban.
The walls were made of dark stone, dimly lit by torches.Empty benches rose on either side of him, but ahead, in thehighest benches of all, were many shadowy figures. Theyhad been talking in low voices, but as the heavy door swungclosed behind Harry an ominous silence fell.
A cold male voice rang across the courtroom.
"You're late."
"Sorry," said Harry nervously. "I-I didn't know the timehad changed."
"That is not the Wizengamot's fault," said the voice. "Anowl was sent to you this morning. Take your seat."
Harry dropped his gaze to the chair in the center of theroom, the arms of which were covered in chains. He hadseen those chains spring to life and bind whoever satbetween them. His footsteps echoed loudly as he walkedacross the stone floor. When he sat gingerly on the edge ofthe chair the chains clinked rather threateningly but didnot bind him. Feeling rather sick he looked up at the peopleseated at the bench above.
There were about fifty of them, all, as far as he could see,wearing plum-colored robes with an elaborately workedsilver W on the left-hand side of the chest and all staringdown their noses at him, some with very austereexpressions, others looks of frank curiosity.
In the very middle of the front row sat Cornelius Fudge,the Minister of Magic. Fudge was a portly man who oftensported a lime-green bowler hat, though today he haddispensed with it; he had dispensed too with the indulgentsmile he had once worn when he spoke to Harry. A broad,square-jawed witch with very short gray hair sat on Fudge'sleft; she wore a monocle and looked forbidding. On Fudge'sright was another witch, but she was sitting so far back onthe bench that her face was in shadow.
"Very well," said Fudge. "The accused being present —finally — let us begin. Are you ready?" he called down therow.
"Yes, sir," said an eager voice Harry knew. Ron's brotherPercy was sitting at the very end of the front bench. Harrylooked at Percy, expecting some sign of recognition fromhim, but none came. Percy's eyes, behind his horn-rimmedglasses, were fixed on his parchment, a quill poised in hishand.
"Disciplinary hearing of the twelfth of August," saidFudge in a ringing voice, and Percy began taking notes atonce, "into offenses committed under the Decree for theReasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery and theInternational Statute of Secrecy by Harry James Potter,resident at number four, Privet Drive, Little Whinging,Surrey.
"Interrogators: Cornelius Oswald Fudge, Minister ofMagic; Amelia Susan Bones, Head of the Department ofMagical Law Enforcement; Dolores Jane Umbridge, SeniorUndersecretary to the Minister. Court Scribe, PercyIgnatius Weasley —"
"— Witness for the defense, Albus Percival Wulfric BrianDumbledore," said a quiet voice from behind Harry, whoturned his head so fast he cricked his neck.
Dumbledore was striding serenely across the roomwearing long midnight-blue robes and a perfectly calmexpression. His long silver beard and hair gleamed in thetorchlight as he drew level with Harry and looked up atFudge through the half-moon spectacles that restedhalfway down his very crooked nose.
The members of the Wizengamot were muttering. All eyeswere now on Dumbledore. Some looked annoyed, othersslightly frightened; two elderly witches in the back row,however, raised their hands and waved in welcome.
A powerful emotion had risen in Harry's chest at the sightof Dumbledore, a fortified, hopeful feeling rather like thatwhich phoenix song gave him. He wanted to catchDumbledore's eye, but Dumbledore was not looking hisway; he was continuing to look up at the obviously flusteredFudge.
"Ah," said Fudge, who looked thoroughly disconcerted."Dumbledore. Yes. You — er — got our — er — message thatthe time and — er — place of the hearing had beenchanged, then?"
"I must have missed it," said Dumbledore cheerfully."However, due to a lucky mistake I arrived at the Ministrythree hours early, so no harm done."
"Yes — well — I suppose we'll need another chair — I —Weasley, could you — ?"
"Not to worry, not to worry," said Dumbledore pleasantly;he took out his wand, gave it a little flick, and a squashychintz armchair appeared out of nowhere next to Harry.Dumbledore sat down, put the tips of his long fingerstogether, and looked at Fudge over them with anexpression of polite interest. The Wizengamot was stillmuttering and fidgeting restlessly; only when Fudge spokeagain did they settle down.
"Yes,"
said Fudge again, shuffling his notes. "Well, then.So. The charges. Yes."He extricated a piece of parchment from the pile beforehim, took a deep breath, and read, "The charges againstthe accused are as follows: That he did knowingly,deliberately, and in full awareness of the illegality of hisactions, having received a previous written warning fromthe Ministry of Magic on a similar charge, produce aPatronus Charm in a Muggle-inhabited area, in thepresence of a Muggle, on August the second at twentythree minutes past nine, which constitutes an offense underparagraph C of the Decree for the Reasonable Restrictionof Underage Sorcery, 1875, and also under section thirteenof the International Confederation of Wizards' Statute ofSecrecy.
"You are Harry James Potter, of number four, Privet Drive,Little Whinging, Surrey?" Fudge said, glaring at Harry overthe top of his parchment.
"Yes," Harry said.
"You received an official warning from the Ministry forusing illegal magic three years ago, did you not?"
"Yes, but —"
"And yet you conjured a Patronus on the night of thesecond of August?" said Fudge.
"Yes," said Harry, "but —"
"Knowing that you are not permitted to use magic outsideschool while you are under the age of seventeen?"
"Yes, but —"
"Knowing that you were in an area full of Muggles?"
"Yes, but —"
"Fully aware that you were in close proximity to a Muggleat the time?"
"Yes," said Harry angrily, "but I only used it because wewere —"
The witch with the monocle on Fudge's left cut across himin a booming voice.
"You produced a fully fledged Patronus?"
"Yes," said Harry, "because —"
"A corporeal Patronus?"
"A — what?" said Harry."Your Patronus had a clearly defined form? I mean to say,it was more than vapor or smoke?"
"Yes," said Harry, feeling both impatient and slightlydesperate, "it's a stag, it's always a stag."
"Always?" boomed Madam Bones. "You have produced aPatronus before now?"
"Yes," said Harry, "I've been doing it for over a year —"
"And you are fifteen years old?"
"Yes, and —"
"You learned this at school?"
"Yes, Professor Lupin taught me in my third year, becauseof the —"
"Impressive," said Madam Bones, staring down at him, "atrue Patronus at that age ... very impressive indeed."
Some of the wizards and witches around her weremuttering again; a few nodded, but others were frowningand shaking their heads.
"It's not a question of how impressive the magic was,"said Fudge in a testy voice. "In fact, the more impressivethe worse it is, I would have thought, given that the boy didit in plain view of a Muggle!"
Those who had been frowning now murmured inagreement, but it was the sight of Percy's sanctimoniouslittle nod that goaded Harry into speech.
"I did it because of the dementors!" he said loudly, beforeanyone could interrupt him again.
He had expected more muttering, but the silence that fellseemed to be somehow denser than before.
"Dementors?" said Madam Bones after a moment, raisingher thick eyebrows so that her monocle looked in danger offalling out. "What do you mean, boy?"
"I mean there were two dementors down that alleywayand they went for me and my cousin!"
"Ah," said Fudge again, smirking unpleasantly as helooked around at the Wizengamot, as though inviting themto share the joke. "Yes. Yes, I thought we'd be hearingsomething like this."
"Dementors in Little Whinging?" Madam Bones said intones of great surprise. "I don't understand —"
"Don't you, Amelia?" said Fudge, still smirking. "Let meexplain. He's been thinking it through and decideddementors would make a very nice little cover story, verynice indeed. Muggles can't see dementors, can they, boy?Highly convenient, highly convenient ... so it's just yourword and no witnesses. ..."
"I'm not lying!" said Harry loudly, over another outbreakof muttering from the court. "There were two of them,coming from opposite ends of the alley, everything wentdark and cold and my cousin felt them and ran for it —"
"Enough, enough!" said Fudge with a very superciliouslook on his face. "I'm sorry to interrupt what I'm sure wouldhave been a very well-rehearsed story —"
Dumbledore cleared his throat. The Wizengamot fellsilent again.
"We do, in fact, have a witness to the presence ofdementors in that alleyway," he said, "other than DudleyDursley, I mean."
Fudge's plump face seemed to slacken, as thoughsomebody had let air out of it. He stared down atDumbledore for a moment or two, then, with theappearance of a man pulling himself back together, said,"We haven't got time to listen to more taradiddles, I'mafraid, Dumbledore. I want this dealt with quickly —"
"I may be wrong," said Dumbledore pleasantly, "but I amsure that under the Wizengamot Charter of Rights, theaccused has the right to present witnesses for his or hercase? Isn't that the policy of the Department of Magical LawEnforcement, Madam Bones?" he continued, addressing thewitch in the monocle.
"True," said Madam Bones. "Perfectly true."
"Oh, very well, very well," snapped Fudge. "Where is thisperson?"
"I brought her with me," said Dumbledore. "She's justoutside the door. Should I — ?"
"No — Weasley, you go," Fudge barked at Percy, who gotup at once, hurried down the stone steps from the judge'sbalcony, and hastened past Dumbledore and Harry withoutglancing at them.
A moment later, Percy returned, followed by Mrs. Figg.She looked scared and more batty than ever. Harry wishedshe 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 hadperched herself nervously on the very edge of her seat.
"Arabella Doreen Figg," said Mrs. Figg in her quaveryvoice.
"And who exactly are you?" said Fudge, in a bored andlofty voice.
"I'm a resident of Little Whinging, close to where HarryPotter lives," said Mrs. Figg.
"We have no record of any witch or wizard living in LittleWhinging other than Harry Potter," said Madam Bones atonce. "That situation has always been closely monitored,given ... given past events."
"I'm a Squib," said Mrs. Figg. "So you wouldn't have meregistered, would you?"
"A Squib, eh?" said Fudge, eyeing her suspiciously. "We'llbe checking that. You'll leave details of your parentage withmy assistant, Weasley. Incidentally, can Squibs seedementors?" he added, looking left and right along thebench where he sat.
"Yes, we can!" said Mrs. Figg indignantly.
Fudge looked back down at her, his eyebrows raised."Very well," he said coolly. "What is your story?"
"I had gone out to buy cat food from the corner shop atthe end of Wisteria Walk, shortly after nine on the eveningof the second of August," gabbled Mrs. Figg at once, asthough she had learned what she was saying by heart,"when I heard a disturbance down the alleyway betweenMagnolia Crescent and Wisteria Walk. On approaching themouth of the alleyway I saw dementors running —"
"Running?" said Madam Bones sharply. "Dementors don'trun, they glide."
"That's what I meant to say," said Mrs. Figg quickly,patches of pink appearing in her withered cheeks. "Glidingalong the alley toward what looked like two boys."
"What did they look like?" said Madam Bones, narrowingher eyes so that the monocle's edges disappeared into herflesh.
"Well, one was very large and the other one rather skinny—"
"No, no," said Madam Bones impatiently, "the dementors... describe them."
"Oh," said Mrs. Figg, the pink flush creeping up her necknow. "They were big. Big and wearing cloaks."Harry felt a horrible sinking in the pit of his stomach.Whatever Mrs. Figg said to the contrary, it sounded to himas though the most she had ever seen was a picture of adementor, and a picture could never convey the truth ofwhat these beings were like: the eerie way they moved,hovering inches over the ground, or the rotting smell ofthem, or that terrible, rattling noise they made as theysucked on the surrounding air ... A dumpy wizard with alarge black mustache in the second row leaned close to hisneighbor, a frizzy-haired witch, and whispered something inher ear. She smirked and nodded.
"Big and wearing cloaks," repeated Madam Bones coolly,while Fudge snorted derisively. "I see. Anything else?"
"Yes," said Mrs. Figg. "I felt them. Everything went cold,and this was a very warm summer's night, mark you. And Ifelt ... as though all happiness had gone from the world ...and I remembered ... dreadful things. ..."
Her voice shook and died.
Madam Bones' eyes widened slightly. Harry could see redmarks under her eyebrow where the monocle had dug intoit.
"What did the dementors do?" she asked, and Harry felt arush of hope.
"They went for the boys," said Mrs. Figg, her voicestronger and more confident now, the pink flush ebbingaway from her face. "One of them had fallen. The other wasbacking away, trying to repel the dementor. That was Harry.He tried twice and produced silver vapor. On the thirdattempt, he produced a Patronus, which charged down thefirst dementor and then, with his encouragement, chasedaway the second from his cousin. And that ... that was whathappened," Mrs. Figg finished, somewhat lamely
Madam Bones looked down at Mrs. Figg in silence; Fudgewas 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," said Fudge. "You may go."
Mrs. Figg cast a frightened look from Fudge toDumbledore, then got up and shuffled off toward the dooragain. Harry heard it thud shut behind her.
"Not a very convincing witness," said Fudge loftily.
"Oh, I don't know," said Madam Bones in her boomingvoice. "She certainly described the effects of a dementorattack very accurately. And I can't imagine why she wouldsay they were there if they weren't —"
"But dementors wandering into a Muggle suburb and justhappening to come across a wizard?" snorted Fudge. "Theodds on that must be very, very long, even Bagman wouldn'thave bet —"
"Oh, I don't think any of us believe the dementors werethere by coincidence," said Dumbledore lightly.
The witch sitting to the right of Fudge with her face inshadow moved slightly, but everyone else was quite still andsilent.
"And what is that supposed to mean?" asked Fudge icily.
"It means that I think they were ordered there," saidDumbledore.
"I think we might have a record of it if someone hadordered a pair of dementors to go strolling through LittleWhinging!" barked Fudge.
"Not if the dementors are taking orders from someoneother than the Ministry of Magic these days," saidDumbledore calmly. "I have already given you my views onthis matter, Cornelius."
"Yes, you have," said Fudge forcefully, "and I have noreason to believe that your views are anything other thanbilge, Dumbledore. The dementors remain in place inAzkaban and are doing everything we ask them to."
"Then," said Dumbledore, quietly but clearly, "we mustask ourselves why somebody within the Ministry ordered apair of dementors into that alleyway on the second ofAugust."
In the complete silence that greeted these words, thewitch to the right of Fudge leaned forward so that Harrysaw her for the first time.
He thought she looked just like a large, pale toad. Shewas rather squat with a broad, flabby face, as little neck asUncle Vernon, and a very wide, slack mouth. Her eyes werelarge, round, and slightly bulging. Even the little blackvelvet bow perched on top of her short curly hair put him inmind of a large fly she was about to catch on a long stickytongue.
"The Chair recognizes Dolores Jane Umbridge, SeniorUndersecretary to the Minister," said Fudge.
The witch spoke in a fluttery, girlish, high-pitched voicethat took Harry aback; he had been expecting a croak."I'm sure I must have misunderstood you, ProfessorDumbledore," she said with a simper that left her big,round eyes as cold as ever. "So silly of me. But it soundedfor a teensy moment as though you were suggesting thatthe Ministry of Magic had ordered an attack on this boy!"She gave a silvery laugh that made the hairs on the backof Harry's neck stand up. A few other members of theWizengamot laughed with her. It could not have beenplainer that not one of them was really amused."If it is true that the dementors are taking orders onlyfrom the Ministry of Magic, and it is also true that twodementors attacked Harry and his cousin a week ago, thenit follows logically that somebody at the Ministry might haveordered the attacks," said Dumbledore politely. "Of course,these particular dementors may have been outside Ministrycontrol —""There are no dementors outside Ministry control!"snapped Fudge, who had turned brick red.
The witch spoke in a fluttery, girlish, high-pitched voicethat took Harry aback; he had been expecting a croak.
"I'm sure I must have misunderstood you, ProfessorDumbledore," she said with a simper that left her big,round eyes as cold as ever. "So silly of me. But it soundedfor a teensy moment as though you were suggesting thatthe Ministry of Magic had ordered an attack on this boy!"
She gave a silvery laugh that made the hairs on the backof Harry's neck stand up. A few other members of theWizengamot laughed with her. It could not have beenplainer that not one of them was really amused.
"If it is true that the dementors are taking orders onlyfrom the Ministry of Magic, and it is also true that twodementors attacked Harry and his cousin a week ago, thenit follows logically that somebody at the Ministry might haveordered the attacks," said Dumbledore politely. "Of course,these particular dementors may have been outside Ministrycontrol —"
"There are no dementors outside Ministry control!"snapped Fudge, who had turned brick red.
Dumbledore inclined his head in a little bow.
"Then undoubtedly the Ministry will be making a fullinquiry into why two dementors were so very far fromAzkaban and why they attacked without authorization."
"It is not for you to decide what the Ministry of Magicdoes or does not do, Dumbledore!" snapped Fudge, now ashade of magenta of which Uncle Vernon would have beenproud.
"Of course it isn't," said Dumbledore mildly. "I was merelyexpressing my confidence that this matter will not gouninvestigated."
He glanced at Madam Bones, who readjusted hermonocle and stared back at him, frowning slightly.
"I would remind everybody that the behavior of thesedementors, if indeed they are not figments of this boy'simagination, is not the subject of this hearing!" said Fudge."We are here to examine Harry Potter's offenses under theDecree for the Reasonable Restriction of UnderageSorcery!"
"Of course we are," said Dumbledore, "but the presenceof dementors in that alleyway is highly relevant. Clauseseven of the Decree states that magic may be used beforeMuggles in exceptional circumstances, and as thoseexceptional circumstances include situations that threatenthe life of the wizard or witch himself, or witches, wizards,or Muggles present at the time of the —"
"We are familiar with clause seven, thank you verymuch!" snarled Fudge.
"Of course you are," said Dumbledore courteously. "Thenwe are in agreement that Harry's use of the PatronusCharm in these circumstances falls precisely into thecategory of exceptional circumstances it describes?"
"If there were dementors, which I doubt —"
"You have heard from an eyewitness," Dumbledoreinterrupted. "If you still doubt her truthfulness, call herback, question her again. I am sure she would not object."
"I — that — not —" blustered Fudge, fiddling with thepapers before him. "It's — I want this over with today,Dumbledore!"
"But naturally, you would not care how many times youheard from a witness, if the alternative was a seriousmiscarriage of justice," said Dumbledore.
"Serious miscarriage, my hat!" said Fudge at the top ofhis voice. "Have you ever bothered to tot up the number ofcock-and-bull stories this boy has come out with,Dumbledore, while trying to cover up his flagrant misuse ofmagic out of school? I suppose you've forgotten the HoverCharm he used three years ago —"
"That wasn't me, it was a house-elf!" said Harry.
"YOU SEE?" roared Fudge, gesturing flamboyantly inHarry's direction. "A house-elf! In a Muggle house! I ask you—"
"The house-elf in question is currently in the employ ofHogwarts School," said Dumbledore. "I can summon himhere in an instant to give evidence if you wish."
"I — not — I haven't got time to listen to house-elves!Anyway, that's not the only — he blew up his aunt, for God'ssake!" Fudge shouted, banging his fist on the judge's benchand upsetting a bottle of ink.
"And you very kindly did not press charges on thatoccasion, accepting, I presume, that even the best wizardscannot always control their emotions," said Dumbledorecalmly, as Fudge attempted to scrub the ink off his notes.
"And I haven't even started on what he gets up to atschool —"
"— but as the Ministry has no authority to punishHogwarts students for misdemeanors at school, Harry'sbehavior there is not relevant to this inquiry," saidDumbledore, politely as ever, but now with a suggestion ofcoolness behind his words.
"Oho!" said Fudge. "Not our business what he does atschool, eh? You think so?"
"The Ministry does not have the power to expel Hogwartsstudents, Cornelius, as I reminded you on the night of thesecond of August," said Dumbledore. "Nor does it have theright to confiscate wands until charges have beensuccessfully proven, again, as I reminded you on the nightof the second of August. In your admirable haste to ensurethat the law is upheld, you appear, inadvertently I am sure,to have overlooked a few laws yourself."
"Laws can be changed," said Fudge savagely.
"Of course they can," said Dumbledore, inclining his head."And you certainly seem to be making many changes,Cornelius. Why, in the few short weeks since I was asked toleave the Wizengamot, it has already become the practiceto hold a full criminal trial to deal with a simple matter ofunderage magic!"
A few of the wizards above them shifted uncomfortably intheir seats. Fudge turned a slightly deeper shade of puce.The toadlike witch on his right, however, merely gazed atDumbledore, her face quite expressionless.
"As far as I am aware, however," Dumbledore continued,"there is no law yet in place that says this court's job is topunish Harry for every bit of magic he has ever performed.He has been charged with a specific offense and he haspresented his defense. All he and I can do now is to awaityour verdict."
Dumbledore put his fingertips together again and said nomore. Fudge glared at him, evidently incensed. Harryglanced sideways at Dumbledore, seeking reassurance; hewas not at all sure that Dumbledore was right in telling theWizengamot, in effect, that it was about time they made adecision. Again, however, Dumbledore seemed oblivious toHarry's attempt to catch his eye. He continued to look up atthe benches where the entire Wizengamot had fallen intourgent, whispered conversations.
Harry looked at his feet. His heart, which seemed to haveswollen to an unnatural size, was thumping loudly under hisribs. He had expected the hearing to last longer than this.He was not at all sure that he had made a good impression.He had not really said very much. He ought to haveexplained more fully about the dementors, about how hehad fallen over, about how both he and Dudley had nearlybeen kissed. ...
Twice he looked up at Fudge and opened his mouth tospeak, but his swollen heart was now constricting his airpassages and both times he merely took a deep breath andlooked back at his shoes.
Then the whispering stopped. Harry wanted to look up atthe judges, but found that it was really much, much easierto keep examining his laces.
"Those in favor of clearing the accused of all charges?"said Madam Bones's booming voice.
Harry's head jerked upward. There were hands in the air,many of them ... more than half! Breathing very fast, hetried to count, but before he could finish Madam Bones hadsaid, "And those in favor of conviction?"
Fudge raised his hand; so did half a dozen others,including the witch on his right and the heavily mustachedwizard and the frizzy-haired witch in the second row.
Fudge glanced around at them all, looking as thoughthere was something large stuck in his throat, then loweredhis own hand. He took two deep breaths and then said, in avoice distorted by suppressed rage, "Very well, very well ...cleared of all charges."
"Excellent," said Dumbledore briskly, springing to his feet,pulling out his wand, and causing the two chintz armchairsto vanish. "Well, I must be getting along. Good day to youall."
And without looking once at Harry, he swept from thedungeon.
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