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	The Order of the Phoenix.net Chapter 8

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Chapter Eight - The Hearing

Oh oh! As Harry entered this large dungeon, Harry had this sinking feeling of familiarity. But he has never been here before, or has he? Yes, he has been here before, when he saw the Lestrange trial inside Dumbledore’s Pensieve. This “room” was not warm! It was not cozy. It was totally the opposite. Dark, dimly lit, with scary dark shadows on either side of him. A cold male voice tells Harry he is late. Harry tries to explain but is told to sit down!

The benches around the room started to fill with witches and wizards until there were about 50 in all dressed in different colored robes. In the middle Harry recognized the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge. The panel of witches and wizards sitting in judgment of Harry were Cornelius Oswald Fudge, Amelia Susan Bones, Dolores Jane Umbridge, Senior Undersecretary to the Minister, and the Court Scribe, Percy Ignatius Weasley! Oh oh! Percy taking this all down for the ministry??

Then who is to present himself was none other than “Witness for the defense, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore”. The panel all could be heard to be whispering to themselves. After much muttering, the Minister of Magic finally took out a piece of parchment, took a deep breath and read the following charges:

“That he did knowingly, deliberately, and in full awareness of the illegality of his actions, having received a previous written warning from the Ministry of Magic on a similar charge, produce a Patronus Charm in a Muggle-inhabited area, in the presence of a Muggle, on August the 2nd at 23 minutes past nine, which constitutes an offense under paragraph C of the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery, 1875, and also under section 13 of the International Confederation of Wizards’ Statute of Secrecy.”

The Minister of Magic then starts to question Harry as do other members of the panel. Madam Bones seems pretty impressed that Harry has known how to do a Patronus Charm for over a year since it is considered a pretty advanced spell. Fudge dampens things by saying Harry should have not done it in front of a Muggle. Percy seems to agree with the Minister. Harry tries to impress upon the panel it was because of the Dementors that he did the spell and only because of the Dementors. Amelia Bones questions why in the world would there be Dementors in Little Whinging? Fudge pipes in that Harry has made up a convenient story to cover up for using this charm.

Harry jumps up and yells: “This is the truth!!” Finally Professor Dumbledore clears his voice in anticipation of speaking. (Yeah! Dumbledore finally is going to help Harry Potter!!!) Dumbledore reminds the panel that the accused has the right to present or call witnesses. A little flabbergasted, Fudge asks who is this witness. Fudge tells Percy to go get the witness.

The next thing you see is Mrs. Figg, the squibb, sitting in the witness chair telling the panel who she is and where she is from – Little Whinging. The panel quieted as Mrs. Figg described them with incredible detail: Large, dark, wearing cloaks, and when you get near them, well all happiness just vanished from the world, and her mind went to dreadful thoughts. She told them how these two huge scary dementors had started to go for the two boys. She then told them how Harry’s Patronus Charm saved his cousin’s life! Cornelius Fudge then dismissed the witness and thought loudly that she was not too convincing! (What planet is he on!)

Madam Bones mentions that the witness sure could describe a dementor very well. Dumbledore goes on to say he thinks these dementors were sent there on purpose and that he thinks the dementors are taking orders from someone “other” than the Ministry of Magic. Fudge protests back to Dumbledore that the dementors are in place at Azkaban prison and do the bidding of the Ministry. Dumbledore then quietly says to the panel, who would have ordered such an attack in a Muggle town?

Upon these words a new face makes “herself” known to Harry and the panel. Dolores Jane Umbridge, Senior Undersecretary to the Minister with a high-pitched girlish voice. Madam Umbridge made a comment to the effect that surely Dumbledore was not trying to say the Ministry of Magic ordered these dementors to attack these boys? She then gave such a cold, scary laugh that the hairs on the back of Harry’s neck stood up.

Professor Dumbledore goes on to try to explain again that these dementors must have been under the control of someone outside the ministry. Terribly offended, Cornelius Fudge exclaims there are “no dementors outside Ministry control!”. Professor Dumbledore quickly adds that perhaps the Ministry would like to investigate this matter to see who could have authorized them to leave Azkaban prison. Well, needless to say, Fudge did not like Dumbledore trying to tell them what to do! Fudge goes on to say to the panel that perhaps all this dementor business is merely a figment of Mr. Potter’s vivid imagination.

Dumbledore shoots back to the panel in a courteous and calm manner that Harry used the Patronus Charm under dire circumstances which should meet the criteria of underage wizards being able to use magic under exceptional circumstances. Fudge and Dumbledore continue to volley back and forth the merits of Harry’s case as he patiently listened to Dumbledore brilliantly defend his charge by stating the Ministry does not have the power to expel Hogwarts students or confiscate wands and furthermore holding a full criminal trial for a simple underage magic matter is a bit over the top.

Several of the wizards on the panel shifted in their chairs quite uncomfortable at Dumbledore’s words. The “toad like” witch on his right (Dolores Umbridge) say their motionless as Fudge turned every shade of red possible. Fudge brings up Harry’s past and Dumbledore basically batted them each down one by one. Dumbledore pleads with the “court” that they surely do not wish to punish Harry for being a wizard, for performing the little bit he has, only done of course as explained before. Perhaps a conspiracy??? The entire Wizengamot fell quiet into urgent whispers to themselves.

They finally vote and the verdict comes in that MORE than half vote acquittal with Fudge, the toad witch, and another witch voting guilty. Upon hearing the words Harry Potter is cleared of all charges, Dumbledore swept from the dungeon without looking once at Harry.
Editor’s Notes: What is up with Dumbledore?? Why is he being sooooo aloof to Harry? Harry must miss who he thought was his mentor! And boy was this kind of scary. That Umbridge woman sure wasn’t very pleasant. Isn’t that Amelia Bones related to Susan Bones of Hufflepuff? Is that right? Anyway, what a relief it is that Harry is not expelled from Hogwarts. But what is next? What does he do now?

Editor’s Notes: What is up with Dumbledore?? Why is he being sooooo aloof to Harry? Harry must miss who he thought was his mentor! And boy was this kind of scary. That Umbridge woman sure wasn’t very pleasant. Isn’t that Amelia Bones related to Susan Bones of Hufflepuff? Is that right? Anyway, what a relief it is that Harry is not expelled from Hogwarts. But what is next? What does he do now?