"Harry Potter," Minister Fudge said with a smile as Harry and Hermione were escorted into the very familiar courtroom ten. He held out his hand and when Harry accepted it, Fudge pulled him closer and then turned toward the photographer who snapped their picture. Only a sharp "Stay calm," From Hermione kept Harry from jerking his hand away from the Minister.
"We still need Fudge on our side," Hermione continued.
"This way," The Minister said, "I've arranged for you and your friends to sit near me. Can't be too careful with your safety."
"Safety?" Harry thought to Hermione. "He just wants us seen with him."
"Of course," Hermione replied with a mental shrug. "It's what Fudge does, but it also makes him vulnerable to our manipulations if we need something."
"I hate this," Harry groused.
"I know, but it's another reason to get rid of Voldemort...just so we can get rid of Fudge."
They had stopped as the Minister shook another important wizard's hand while making it perfectly clear that Harry Potter was with him.
"...Terrible business, though I'm glad Mr. Potter uncovered her treachery, I had already had my own suspicions of course..." The Minister was saying in response to a question from the Wizard.
"His own suspicions?" Hermione asked Harry. It was all they could do to keep a straight face.
Three more times the Minister stopped to shake hands but finally he led them to seats next to the Wizengamot. Neville and Luna were already there, as was Augusta Longbottom and Luna's father. Sirius and Remus were sitting just behind where the Minister indicated Harry and Hermione should sit.
Xenophilius Lovegood was holding some kind of contraption up to his eyes. He was jerking his head in various directions in quick, violent motions.
"Daddy," Luna said to her father who stopped his strange actions. "I want you to meet..."
Mr. Lovegood lowered the device from his eyes and Harry could see the slight cross-eyed look he'd seen before. Xeno reached out his hand and said "Hello young man. Has anyone ever told you that you look like Harry Potter?"
"Uh..." Harry started as he shook the man's hand. As he did he glanced from Xenophilius to Luna. "Yeah.." He finally murmured.
"He's going to be here soon, so try not to get yourself mixed up with him," Xeno continued as he raised the contraption back to his eyes and started jerking his head quickly back and forth once more.
"Daddy, this is Harry Potter," Luna exclaimed.
Xenophilius lowered the contraction once more. "Well why didn't you say so. Luna has been telling me all about you and you must be Hermione?" The last as Xenophilius had looked past Harry.
"Yes sir," Hermione replied reaching her hand out. "What is that?" She indicated the contraption in Mr. Lovegood's hand.
"It's a new invention of mine," Xenophilius said with pride in his voice. "It's going to allow me to see the..." He then noticed Minister's Fudge was still standing near Harry so he lowered his voice to a loud whisper, "Umgubular Slashkilters that Minister Fudge uses to steal secrets from his opponents minds."
"Now see here Mr. Lovegood," Fudge said. "I don't know what this Umbublar thing is, but as I told many people who asked about it when that article appeared in your magazine, I don't steal people's secrets."
"Just their galleons?" Harry mentally smirked to his wife.
"Donations you mean?" Hermione replied as she took a seat next to Luna who continued her father's explanation while he was busy arguing with the Minister. "An Umgubular Slashkilter burrows into people's minds and steals secrets. Daddy is sure that Minister Fudge will have them working in such a large gathering."
Hermione nodded as if she understood which prompted Luna to continue. "Of course they can only be seen in your peripheral vision so that's why Daddy made the visionscope. It freezes the peripheral vision for a second so you can turn and see what you could only see in your peripheral vision."
"At least that explains WHY he's jerking his head like that, but I'm quite certain there are no creatures like that," Hermione said to her husband.
Harry and Hermione were saved when Dumbledore stood up from his seat. "Silence..." He said in a voice that was gentle but carried throughout the entire courtroom. Almost immediately the cavernous courtroom fell into absolute silence. "Today we are here for the trial of Delores Jane Umbridge for unimaginable crimes against the Wizarding World," Dumbledore glanced over at the young man with horned-rimmed glasses sitting at the end of the bench. "Mr. Weasley are you prepared?"
"Yes sir," Percy Weasley replied as he dipped his quill into the inkwell and pulled a roll of parchment closer.
Harry and Hermione already knew that like last time, Percy was making no effort to make up with his family.
"Very well," Dumbledore said. "Aurors, please bring in the accused."
"GET YOUR HANDS OFF ME!" The voice of Umbridge said as two blue cloaked aurors escorted her through the door. "I AM the Senior Undersecretary to the Minister of Magic."
"Madam Umbridge, either take the seat of the accused voluntary or you will be forced," Dumbledore said.
"How dare you Dumbledore," Umbridge spat. "You are nothing. You're then one who should be in that chair. I am the Senior..."
....
Join my P*atreon to enjoy 60+ advanced chapters.
Link: p*atreon.com/ScarletRosee (Remove the *)
Free members can get 2+ advanced chapters FOR FREE.