NOVEL NEXT Chapter 4: A Trial in Chains
August 12 – Mr. Weasley woke Harry up at 6:30 am – He was going to escort Harry to the Ministry for the hearing (which was scheduled for 9am), but he needed to go into the office a little early to send out some memos. After a quick breakfast, Mr. Weasley double-apparated them to the visitor's entrance to the Ministry (a red phone booth in the alley with graffiti'd walls). He went into the booth, motioning for Harry to do so as well, and closed the door.
It was a bit of a tight squeeze. Mr. Weasley then punched the numbers 6-2-4-4-2 on the panel of the phone. A woman's voice called out "Please state your name and purpose for visiting the Ministry of Magic today". Mr. Weasley responded with "Arthur Weasley escorting Harry Potter to disciplinary hearing". Two sticky labels appeared from the change bin and the booth then proceeded to sink into the ground! "Harry, put this label on your shirt. We will have to go through a security station where they will weigh your wand.
After that we will go to my office, the Office of Misuse of Muggle Artefacts which is on the 2nd floor. If we leave my office at 8:40am we should be at Ms. Bones' office for the hearing just before 9am. It's always better to arrive early." Mr. Weasley instructed Harry.
They just arrived at Mr. Weasley's office at 7:55am, where a memo was waiting for him. It was a notice of time and place change for the hearing, posted not 10 minutes prior! Mr. Weasley quickly applied a magical time stamp on the notice, grabbed Harry, and ran for the elevators. They were going to Courtroom 10! What were they thinking? Mr. Weasley pondered. Harry's nervousness meter was pointing straight up – mid-range.
They arrived at the courtroom at 8:05am. "….see, the boy shows little respect for the Ministry of Magic or the Wizarding world – he can't even come to the court for his hearing on time!" Minister Fudge was exclaiming from the podium, addressing the Wizengamot. "Excuse me Minister Fudge, but that is not accurate at all" interrupted Mr. Weasley, as they walked in. "We actually arrived at the Ministry over an hour and a half early, arriving at my office at 7:55 this morning. The hearing was originally scheduled for 9am in Madam Bones' office.
This memo here, which I applied a time stamp on, shows the Change of Time and Place memo was sent out only this morning – to my office, and was issued at only 7:45am." Mr. Weasley said. "Hmm…Hmm" huffed a squat blob of a woman in pink cardigan sweater. "Are you implying Mr. Weasley, that the Ministry had something to do with you and your charge being late?" "I am just stating for the record, Madam Umbridge, that our lateness was due to conditions out of our control, and that does not show a lack of respect toward the Ministry" Mr. Weasley replied. "That is all inconsequential" Minister Fudge stated. "Let's get on with this ..... Arthur – you are neither needed nor wanted here. Be gone! Boy! Sit in the Accused's Chair – that wooden one with the chains." Minister Fudge directed Harry. Harry's nervousness meter tilted more to the right – medium-high.
"Your name is Harry Janes Potter?" he was asked. "Yes" he replied hesitantly. "You reside at 4 Privet Drive in Little Whining, correct?" "Yes", he replied. "On August 2, 1995 did you attempt to cast a lumos spell and a Patronus Charm in front of muggles?" "Well. It wasn't an attempt – I did cast those but.." Harry began to reply. "No buts boy. And no excuses. So you admit to attempting to cast those spells in front of a muggle?" Fudge asked. "Yes, but.." Harry began. "And did you not perform accidental magic on your Aunt last year, requiring the reversal squad to visit your home?" Fudge shot back. "Yes" Harry scrunched his eyebrows quizzically.
"And did you not receive a letter just before your second year from the Ministry for also performing magic in front of and on muggles?" Fudge kept going. "I….that wasn't me" Harry responded. "Do you deny getting that letter!" Fudge demanded. "I did get a letter but…" Harry tried to respond. "Mr. Potter here has just admitted to performing magic in front of a muggle not once, not twice but three times!" boomed the Minister's voice.
"He has consistently shown a disregard for our laws." Fudge rolled on. Harry's nervousness meter just pegged maximum. Headmaster Dumbledore came in at that moment "Cornelius. A ....? For underage magic?..." Minister Fudge continued "I call for a vote of guilty and expelling this repeat offender!" Madam Umbridge quickly seconded the call for a vote. "All who vote for Guilty press the appropriate button with your wand." "Cornelius! You can't do this!" Dumbledore tried again. A second later "All those who vote Not Guilty press the appropriate button".
"Harry Potter, you have been found guilty of repeatedly ignoring our Statute of Secrecy by displaying magic to muggles. You are hereby expelled from Hogwarts, you are to have your magic bound and your memories of the wizarding world obliviated. Auror, take him away!" Fudge ordered with a smile on his face. The pest was finally gone! And a little extra gold in his pocket never hurt.