Chapter 253
Harry heard the heavy courtroom door shut behind Mrs. Figg.
Fudge said coldly, "She wasn't a convincing witness."
Amelia Bones replied in her booming voice, "I don't know. She described the effects of a Dementor attack exactly. And I don't see why she would lie and claim she saw them if she hadn't."
Fudge snapped, "But Dementors wandering through a Muggle suburb and just happening to encounter a wizard? What a ridiculous story. Even Bagman wouldn't believe that."
Dumbledore spoke politely.
"Ah... I don't believe any of us assume the Dementors were there by coincidence."
The witch seated to Fudge's right leaned forward slightly, though her face remained hidden in shadow. The rest of the courtroom stayed completely silent.
Fudge asked icily,
"And what exactly do you mean by that?"
Dumbledore answered calmly,
"I mean that I believe they were sent there under someone's orders."
Fudge burst out,
"I'm sure we would have heard if someone had ordered two Dementors to take a stroll through Little Whinging!"
Dumbledore replied evenly,
"Not if the Dementors received their orders from someone who currently serves within the Ministry of Magic. I have already shared my opinions on that matter with you, Cornelius."
Fudge answered firmly,
"Yes, you have. And I have absolutely no reason to believe your opinions are anything more than nonsense, Dumbledore. The Dementors remain stationed in Azkaban and obey every order they are given."
Dumbledore nodded.
"Then we must ask ourselves why someone within the Ministry would order two Dementors to travel to that alley on the second of August."
An oppressive silence filled the courtroom.
During that silence, the witch seated to Fudge's right leaned forward far enough for Harry to finally see her.
She looked like a large, pale toad.
Her broad, wrinkled face, tiny neck that reminded Harry of Uncle Vernon's, and unusually wide mouth all contributed to the resemblance. Her large, bulging eyes, together with the black velvet bow perched atop her short, curly hair, made her appear like a toad ready to snap up a fly with its long sticky tongue.
Fudge cleared his throat.
"I present to the court Dolores Jane Umbridge, Senior Undersecretary to the Minister for Magic."
The witch spoke in a high-pitched voice that sounded strangely like a little girl's, completely at odds with her appearance.
She smiled unpleasantly.
"I'm sure I misunderstood you, Professor Dumbledore—how foolish of me. But for one fleeting moment I thought you were suggesting that the Ministry itself ordered an attack on this boy."
She laughed.
It was a cold, unpleasant laugh that made the hairs on the back of Harry's neck stand on end.
Several members of the Wizengamot laughed with her, though it was obvious most of them found no amusement in her remark.
Dumbledore answered courteously.
"If the Dementors truly obey only the Ministry of Magic, and if two Dementors truly attacked Harry and his cousin last week, then the logical conclusion is that someone within the Ministry ordered that attack... unless, of course, some Dementors are no longer under the Ministry's control."
Fudge interrupted angrily, his face turning brick red.
"There are no Dementors outside the Ministry's control!"
Dumbledore inclined his head politely.
"Then I have no doubt the Ministry is already conducting a thorough investigation into why two Dementors left Azkaban and attacked someone without authorization."
Fudge's face became even redder.
"It is not your place to tell the Ministry of Magic what it should or should not investigate, Dumbledore."
"Of course not," Dumbledore replied calmly.
"I merely wished to express my complete confidence that such a serious matter will not be ignored."
He glanced toward Amelia Bones.
She adjusted her monocle and returned his gaze thoughtfully.
Fudge spoke sharply.
"I would like to remind everyone that the behavior of the Dementors—assuming this boy's story isn't nothing more than a fantasy—is not the subject of today's hearing. We are here to determine whether Harry Potter violated the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery."
Dumbledore nodded.
"Naturally. However, the presence of the Dementors is directly relevant to this hearing. Paragraph Seven of the decree clearly states that a witch or wizard may perform magic in the presence of Muggles under exceptional circumstances. Those circumstances include situations where the life of the witch or wizard—or any nearby witch, wizard, or Muggle—is under immediate threat."
Fudge cut him off.
"We know Paragraph Seven perfectly well. Thank you."
"Of course you do," Dumbledore replied pleasantly.
"Then we are in agreement that Harry's use of the Patronus Charm under those circumstances was entirely lawful."
"That is only if there really were Dementors," Fudge argued.
"I remain unconvinced."
"But you heard the witness yourself," Dumbledore answered.
"If you still doubt her testimony, then call her back and question her again. I'm certain she would have no objection."
Fudge stumbled over his words while shuffling his papers.
"Well... that's... no... the matter is... I simply want today's hearing concluded, Dumbledore."
Dumbledore smiled gently.
"But surely you would not object to hearing a witness if the alternative is allowing an innocent defendant to suffer an obvious injustice."
Fudge raised his voice.
"An obvious injustice? Have you ever considered how many ridiculous stories this boy—and that other boy—have invented over the years, Dumbledore? Yet you constantly cover for him and excuse his misuse of magic at Hogwarts. I assume you've heard about the Hover Charm he supposedly performed three years ago..."
Harry interrupted.
"It wasn't me. It was a house-elf."
Fudge roared, pointing at Harry.
"You see? A house-elf inside a Muggle household? Do you hear this?"
Dumbledore replied calmly.
"The particular house-elf in question is employed at Hogwarts School. I can summon him immediately if you wish to hear his testimony."
He paused before continuing.
"And besides, you yourself argued that a fifth-year student could not possibly perform advanced spells. Yet only last year you personally witnessed a boy named Albert Black during the Triwizard Tournament performing Apparition."
Fudge hurriedly shook his head.
"N-no... that's not what I meant. Yes, I remember that. But I don't have time to hear testimony from house-elves! That isn't the— I mean... for heaven's sake!"
He accidentally inflated his own wineskin with magic and slammed his fist onto the judges' bench, knocking over an ink bottle.
As Fudge struggled to wipe the spilled ink from his documents, Dumbledore spoke softly.
"And in your generosity, you chose not to charge him with any crime at the time, accepting—as I believe—that even the finest witches and wizards cannot always control themselves in extraordinary emotional circumstances."
Fudge muttered,
"And I haven't even begun discussing what he gets up to inside that school."
Dumbledore's voice remained courteous, though noticeably cooler.
"The Ministry has no authority to discipline Hogwarts students for incidents that occur within the school. Harry's conduct at Hogwarts is entirely unrelated to today's proceedings."
Fudge scoffed.
"Really? You think what he does at Hogwarts is none of our concern?"
Dumbledore answered evenly.
"The Ministry has no legal authority to expel Hogwarts students, Cornelius, as I reminded you on the night of August second. Nor may it confiscate a wizard's wand before guilt has been established. I reminded you of that as well."
He paused.
"In your admirable haste to ensure justice, you appear to have forgotten a few details."
Fudge replied arrogantly,
"Laws can be changed."
Dumbledore nodded.
"Indeed they can. And you have introduced quite a number of changes, Cornelius. For instance, ever since my departure from the Wizengamot, it has somehow become acceptable to convene a full criminal trial over something as minor as an underage wizard's use of magic."
Several members of the Wizengamot shifted uneasily in their seats.
Fudge's face darkened further with anger.
Beside him, Umbridge simply stared at Dumbledore without the slightest expression.
Dumbledore continued,
"To the best of my knowledge, however, no law has yet been passed allowing Harry Potter to be punished for every minor breach of the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery that he has ever committed."
"He has been charged with one specific offense, and I am here to defend him against that charge alone."
"Now, all that remains is for us to await your verdict."
He calmly folded his hands once again and said nothing further.
Fudge glared at him furiously.
Harry stole a glance at Dumbledore, searching for reassurance.
He was no longer entirely certain everything Dumbledore had argued was enough to save him.
Yet once again, Dumbledore avoided meeting his eyes.
Instead, he kept his attention fixed on the members of the Wizengamot, who had broken into a series of tense whispered discussions.
Harry lowered his gaze to his shoes.
His heart pounded so violently it felt impossibly large inside his chest.
He had expected the hearing to last much longer.
He wasn't even sure whether he had made a good impression.
He had barely spoken.
He should have explained more—about the Dementors, how he had fallen, how one of them had nearly Kissed Dudley...
Twice he looked toward Fudge and opened his mouth to speak.
But the weight in his chest stole the air from his throat, and he found himself staring once again at his shoes.
At last, the whispers stopped.
Harry wanted to look up at the judges, but somehow it felt much easier to study the laces of his trainers.
Amelia Bones' powerful voice echoed through the chamber.
"Those in favor of dismissing all charges against the defendant, raise your hands."
Harry looked up.
Hands rose across the courtroom.
So many...
More than half.
Breathing rapidly, he tried to count them.
Before he could finish, Amelia Bones continued,
"Those in favor of finding the defendant guilty?"
Fudge immediately raised his hand.
Six other witches and wizards followed, including the witch seated beside the black-mustached wizard and the untidy-haired witch in the second row.
Fudge looked around the chamber.
For a moment it seemed as though something had lodged in his throat.
Then he lowered his hand.
After taking two deep breaths, he announced through clenched teeth,
"Very well... all charges are dismissed."
"Excellent," Dumbledore said brightly.
He rose to his feet, drew his wand, and with a casual flick vanished both chairs.
"Wonderful. I'm afraid I must leave at once."
"I wish you all a very pleasant day."
Without looking at Harry even once, he turned and walked out of the courtroom.
To be continued...