490Chapter 16: Lawyer Potter
Harry for once landed without making a fool of himself. Perhaps it was because he wasn't dreading the landing? Perhaps it was because his mind was too preoccupied at the moment?
Harry ignored the gaping stares. He ignored the admired shouts of his name. He ignored the reporters clamming around for a story. He ignored the mindless sheep milling around. He ignored everyone. Even the security guard meant to take his wand. None of them mattered. Harry was too far gone in his bid to get to Draco to give a damn about what was happening around him.
Harry felt the pull of the bond guiding him to the courtroom that Draco was at. Harry stopped for a moment upon seeing the same one that he was tried at in the summer before his fifth year. How fitting that the trial would be held here. Fate sure loved irony. There was two Auror guards standing beside the closed doors. They were there to stop any late bloomers from entering. Well they better stand aside.
The Aurors stood up straighter when they saw someone approaching. "Sorry but the courtroom is closed now. You will have to wait in the lobby with everyone else who came late." One of them said.
"I am a witness that needs to be in there." Harry said with a hard glint to his voice that sent shivers down the spines of the Aurors. When it looked like they were going to argue, Harry pulled out his wand at shot off two stunners and a bombarda to open the blockade they set on the door. The Aurors if you could call them that, were too stunned to block the spells. Constant vigilance must not be something they teach Aurors anymore. Pity. They landed on their sides slumped over. One of them hit his head on the way down, Harry couldn't have been bothered to care.
The chatter of noise that Harry had heard on the other side of the door died down instantly when the bombarda made contact. Harry grinned ferally. Good, dramatic entrances always helped make a scene. That was definitely one thing Voldemort taught him.
Draco who had been sitting stock still between his parents froze when a loud crashing noise hit against the courtroom door. What on earth was that? Who could want to get in so badly that they had to cast against the door. It's not like they were that important to warrant an immediate entrance. The outcome of the trial would be reported in the papers after all.
The doors were thrown open with such force that they clanged against the wall brutally. The whining of the hinges screamed its protests at the harsh treatment. A man was standing there with his head bowed and his arms thrown wide from pushing the doors open. He was panting harshly and Draco caught a glimpse of feet in the corner of the door outside. Must be the guard. The Ministry sure has fallen if the Aurors couldn't even protect a simple door.
The man lifted his head and Draco leaned back in shock. It was Harry! Harry was here. He didn't know what to think. He was thrilled to see him but was saddened that Harry would be seeing his trial. If he was found to be guilty, that wasn't an image he wanted to have Harry see. But just having Harry here was enough to lessen the panic that had been gripping his insides.
Harry lifted his head and locked eyes with Draco. He could see the tremors that rocked Draco's form when they made eye contact. Harry sent Draco all the love and reassurance that he could possibly muster before slamming his shields shut with such force Draco flinched. Why was Harry blocking him? He would have worried what that would mean for them if Harry hadn't sent him a wave of love. Was Harry angry? The sheer force of the shield dimmed the bond. Draco didn't like it. He wanted to feel Harry. Draco may not know much about their bond, but he knew enough to know that it should never be dimmed. It was unnatural.
Harry ignored the shocked audience of the crowd. He could care less who decided to show up to the trial. They were unimportant. They didn't matter. Most of them were probably there to see the Malfoy's get their just desserts. Well they would surely be disappointed. As Harry stepped all the way into room, the doors sprang shut instantly. Harry turned his back on the audience, therefore missing the surprised looks of Snape, Pansy, Blaise, even Mr. Weasley and Kingsley Shacklebolt.
Harry turned and glared at the members of the Wizengamot. Harry nearly growled when he saw Umbridge on the bench. Was the Ministry really that incompetent to allow her access to the Wizengamot? Did they honestly believe that she should be working for the Ministry? Harry really did let out a growl when he saw Fudge in the Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot spot. He couldn't believe Fudge would be trying the case. He had known coming into it that the man would be here but it was another thing to actually see it in person. What in the sans hell was Kingsley thinking allowing this man near any position of power? The man was utterly useless. A spineless waste of space. Goyle could probably do a better job than him! And that is a disturbing thought!
"Mister Potter what are doing here?" Fudge asked in what Harry guessed was supposed to be a pleased voice. Right, like their bad history was a thing of the past. Harry snorted to himself. Dream on delusional man. Dream on.
"Sorry that I am late but I am here as a witness." Harry said stunning Fudge. Harry shot a quick glance to the Malfoy's lawyer, Mister Dirkley, who nodded discreetly. The look didn't go unnoticed by Lucius or Draco. Lucius narrowed his eyes at his lawyer and Draco furrowed his brows in confusion.
"A witness for the prosecution. Oh well that's all right my boy. Right on time. The prosecution has already laid out their case but that's alright." Fudge said excitedly. Harry raised an unimpressed eyebrow.
"No…" He said slowly and deliberately like he was talking to a child. "I am here as a witness for the defense." Gasps could be heard all around the courtroom and Harry had to bite his cheek to stop the smirk from forming. Could they be any more predictable?
"Now see here! You can't just show up unannounced and demanding to be a witness. That's not how this works." Fudge said outraged. Other members of the Wizengamot shared concerned looks. Why would Harry Potter be championing for the Malfoy family?
"You were ready to take me unannounced for the prosecution but not for the defense? That sounds a little unethical if you ask me." Fudge spluttered but didn't bother rebutting a reply. "No matter I am not here to discuss your ethics or rather lack of them." Harry wrinkled his nose in disgust. Fudge's face grew red in embarrassment. "As it so happens, I am not here unannounced." Harry waved his wand and he conjured a brief case. "I filed the necessary paperwork a month ago. I was under no obligation to announce my name in the legal work. Under the Wizengamot rules, paragraph three of the right to appear in court section, it clearly states that if the witness fears a negative reaction to his name or it could affect the outcome of the trial they may be entered into the record anonymously until the time of the trial. As you all know, my name would have affected the proceedings in a negative way. It would have infringed upon the Malfoy family's rights. I have followed the law and filed the correct paperwork in a timely manner. You cannot bar me from testimony no matter how much you may want to." Harry said firmly narrowing his eyes daring Fudge to argue.
Draco didn't know what to make of this. Harry was stunningly beautiful in his anger and determination. His heart filled with his love for Harry but at the same time he was worried what this would mean for Harry's name. Him testifying for his family would surely get his name thrown into the mud. Everyone would be wondering if he was now a dark wizard. They would think that they had cast a spell on him compelling Harry to testify. Harry would be under public scrutiny, more so than he was before. To Draco this spelled bad news. The last thing he wanted was for Harry to take the hit for testifying.
Fudge opened and closed his mouth a couple times repeatedly before conferring with the rest of the members of the Wizengamot. While they wasted time, Harry sent a wink to Draco who had to fight down the urge to smile. Draco could feel the weighted eyes of his father on him but he pointedly ignored that. He couldn't give his father any answers, he didn't know them himself. It wasn't like he knew Harry was going to do this.
"Very well, since you were late you are the last witness we will hear for the case." Fudge said rudely as he conjured the chair that was designated for the witnesses in the center of the room. Harry stepped up to it and graciously sat down staring unnervingly at Fudge.
Mr. Dirkley stood up and waited for the go ahead before he could start his line of questioning.
"Mister Potter why are you here as a witness for the defense?" Dirkley asked the question everyone wanted to know. Harry looked up at the man so innocently that Draco had to hide his amusement. That look wouldn't work on anyone who actually knew Harry. "Why because they are innocent sir." Harry said biting his lip to keep from laughing at the outraged yelling that took place at his statement. Harry wouldn't or couldn't look towards where Draco and his parents sat. If he saw surprise on Lucius's face he wouldn't be able to keep the charade up. He would lose it. Cracking up would most likely negatively affect the trial. Harry forced himself to keep looking at their lawyer instead.
"What makes you so certain?" Harry sighed. "The Malfoy family saved my life. If it weren't for them I wouldn't be here." Harry said beaming with false cheeriness that he hoped came off as genuine. Draco was impressed, Harry certainly knew how to act. If he hadn't known Harry as well as he does he would have bought into it.
The noise level in the room rose to a dramatic deafening. Fudge slammed his gavel down. "Silence! What is this rubbish Mister Potter?" Fudge said angrily as his face turned an ugly magenta. "I think Mister Potter should be forced to use Veritaserum." Umbridge spoke up grinning in triumph. Harry growled in outrage, causing some members to flinch back.
"It is not rubbish." Harry said his voice going low and dangerous. "Are you insinuating that I am lying? Under the Protection for the Witness Act of 1920, you are not allowed to request that I use Veritaserum unless you have proof that I am lying. Do you have proof that I am lying? No. I thought not. The Act came about so that witnesses would be more comfortable testifying, if they knew that the Ministry wouldn't force them into saying things that could be deemed as irrelevant. I can volunteer to take Veritaserum if I was feeling inclined to do so. But considering the way you lot have already treated me today that option is long gone. Perhaps if you hadn't insinuated that I am a liar Umbridge, I may have taken Veritaserum. You only have yourself to blame for that." Harry grinned at the thunderous looks the rest of the Wizengamot was giving Umbridge. Harry cleared his throat drawing attention back to himself.
"While fighting off deatheaters and snatchers, I was captured and brought to where Voldemort lived." Harry smirked internally at the way they all flinched at his name. "Draco Malfoy was forced into the room and asked if I was indeed Harry Potter. I was under the influence of a spell that was intended to distort my facial features. He lied to them and told them I was someone else. If he had been honest I would have died right then and there and Voldemort would have won the war and who knows if the Ministry would even be standing." Harry answered narrowing his eyes. Completely leaving out the fact that Voldemort's living area was Malfoy Manor. It's not like they needed to know that, right?
While everyone was stunned speechless, Harry decided it would best to hurry this along. "Later on in the war while Voldemort cast the killing curse and it hit me, Lucius and Narcissa were asked if I was still alive. They lied and said no. Which paved the path to me being able to defeat Voldemort later on in the battle." Harry smiled sweetly at the faces of the Wizengamot. Harry had heard the surprised intake of one of the Malfoy's behind him when he lied about Lucius helping. Draco couldn't believe it. Harry was lying for his father. This had to be an alternate universe. Helping him and his mother for their part in it made sense but lying for his father? That was something else. Draco wanted to know why.
Harry could have worded that without mentioning that he had survived the killing curse… again. But he wanted them to fear him, wanted them to remember that he was not like everyone else. He wanted them to keep that in mind while they listened to his story.
"So you see, the Malfoy family has done me a great service. Why you could almost say that without them I wouldn't have won the war." The gobsmacked faces of the Wizengamot was a treat for Harry. "And I do mean I, seeing since the Ministry didn't do a damn thing to help. You all sat at home on your arses while I risked my life time and time again. I was out fighting Voldemort while you lot set me out as the undesirable number one! Cowardly hypocritical wankers the lot of you! The Malfoy family who you have put on trial did more to help the cause then the Ministry ever has." The silence in the courtroom was deafening. He wondered if anyone was even breathing. Surely it was unnatural how silent it was.
The gobsmacked face on Umbridge's face was so worth saving Lucius's pitiful existence from Azkaban. That face will be a proud memory of Harry's for the rest of his life. If he had had a camera the photo would be framed up above the mantle. Revenge really is served best cold.
"Be that as it may, that doesn't excuse them from being deatheaters!" Someone in the Wizengamot yelled. Harry tilted his head to the side. "Who said they were deatheaters?" If Harry had thought the last silence was the height of how quiet it could get he would be wrong. This silence was almost debilitating.
"Lucius Malfoy and his son have the marks to prove it!" Umbridge said in triumph. Harry nodded along with her. "Yes, you are right. But do remember that Lucius Malfoy received his dark mark during the first war when he was imperiused into following Voldemort." Fudge spluttered in panic.
"Do remember that the Wizengamot acquitted him of all charges during his first trial. So him having the mark now wouldn't be proof of being a deatheater during this war. Mentioning any prior bad acts from acquitted trials is grounds for dismissal. I would be careful where you take your line of questioning." Harry warned pleasantly folding his hands in his lap. Gods this was fun.
"As for the witnesses that have no doubt testified to saying they saw Lucius Malfoy fighting on the opposite side during the war, I believe he was once again imperiused. Once a victim always one." Harry had to pause a moment to ensure that he didn't smirk at the outraged growl that no doubt came from Lucius.
"Voldemort knew how sensitive he was to the curse and used it once again to make sure that he kept Lucius under his spell. He needed the influence that Lucius could gain as a politician and his close ties to you Fudge when you were Minister. And we all know how well that turned out." Harry said smirking at the gasps that could be heard.
Some members of the Wizengamot were looking at Fudge with distrust and open distaste. Others were looking at Harry with thoughtful looks, like they were considering his words.
"What about when he was caught in the roundup during the break in at the Department of Ministries?" Fudge asked grasping at straws.
"I do believe him being imperiused would cover any of that but I'll indulge you. Did you know that the Malfoy family has a prophecy in the hall of records?" By the looks on the Wizengamot faces they did not know that. Good.
"As you all know that only the people who are prophesized in a prophecy can touch them. But once all parties of the prophecy are deceased anyone in the family can have access to the prophecy. Lucinda Malfoy had a prophecy in her name during the late 1890's. So Lucius Malfoy being caught in the Department of Ministries is not a crime. I would say it was just a horrible coincidence. The time of night that he was there was against Ministry rules but for a first offense, punishment is just a warning. I checked the records, it was his first time. So actually, the imprisonment of one Lucius Malfoy that night was illegal. Did you know he wasn't given a trial? You must since none of you were present for one. You assumed he was a deatheater because of happenstance but didn't even bother asking if he had a legitimate excuse for being there. My my that is a shame. I imagine if I was him I wouldn't be feeling too generous with the Ministry. I know if it was me I would sue." Harry smiled at the gulps on the Wizengamot members. Draco choked on his tongue. What the hell was Harry playing at?
"I would sue for wrongful imprisonment. I would sue for all profit that he missed out on by being wrongfully imprisoned. I would sue for any mental distress caused by the dementors. I would sue for the tarnished name that the Ministry's papers issued. But then again that's just me. Who knows what Mr. Malfoy would do." Harry managed to hide his smirk behind a cough but could not contain the glee of seeing their white, pale faces. They were screwed. So utterly screwed and he was enjoying every minute of it.
Draco dropped his mouth open in shock. Harry wasn't just lying for his father he was saving his father. He was saving more than just his imprisonment. He was saving his name, his money and his life. But the question he couldn't figure out was why?
"Narcissa Malfoy doesn't even have a dark mark, so for her to have been brought in on charges that are completely found less is once again illegal. You only brought her in here due to who her husband is. You didn't even care that she didn't fit the perfect picture of a deatheater. Her husband was one so therefore she must be as well. How far the Wizengamot has fallen. And here I thought you were the defenders of the innocent. Not charging whoever you want as long as it fits your political agenda." Harry spat out angrily.
"You have not one shred of reliable evidence on her but yet you insisted on trying her with her family. That's another odd thing now that I mention it." Harry saw Fudge begin to sweat. "Since when does the Wizengamot try an entire family? I checked the law and unless they committed a known crime as a family with eye witnesses it is against the law to try them together." Harry said scratching his head.
"They had the mark! What were we supposed to think?" Fudge said indignantly.
"Mrs. Malfoy doesn't have the dark mark as I have already stated. Did you know that possessing the dark mark is not against the law? I checked. Being a part of a dark organization is not against the law unless the individuals are personally witnessed doing wrong. Just because Voldemort was doing horrible horrible things it is not the fault of his followers unless they as the individuals are seen doing those same acts. So you trying them as a family on the basis of having the dark mark is once again illegal. I didn't know the Wizengamot was in a habit of illegally trying people." Harry said sighing in disappointment. The members of the court shifted uncomfortably.
"You should have tried them all separately. Mrs. Malfoy shouldn't have been brought up on charges at all considering you don't have an ounce of evidence against her. Mister Malfoy has been proven to be easily duped into the imperio curse as the Wizengamot acquitted him the first time around. And given the likelihood that he was being used again it is common sense that he was being used during the final battle. Discarding the break in at the Ministry since I have given you a plausible reason why he would have been there. Besides the final battle, you don't have a single instance where Mister Malfoy was caught doing any wrongdoing. Same goes for Draco Malfoy. Other than the dark mark he has zero witnesses claiming they saw him do any wrong doing. The only thing it seems he has done is get an ugly tattoo. I would like to point out once again that possessing the dark mark is not a crime. So with the mountain of zero evidence on the defendants, the legitimate alternative theories, and my personal accountings on how they saved my life on two occasions, I do not see how you can possibly convict them." Harry finished a little out of breath but thoroughly pleased with himself.
Draco had to admit that Harry was doing a better job at defending them then their lawyer had. Hopefully his father wasn't paying the man much, he surely didn't deserve it. The way Harry spoke so passionately was enchanting. Draco could see the audience and the members of the Wizengamot listening raptly. Even if they didn't like the words he was saying they still listened. Harry could have been feeding them the utterly mad things Lovegood spouts and they would have been eating out of the palm of his hands.
The whisperings of the audience were growing louder with each passing moment the Wizengamot said nothing. Mister Dirkley stepped forward. "Thank you Mister Potter." Dirkley turned towards the Wizengamot. "As Mister Potter has finished giving his accountings of what happened, I would like to announce the closing of the defense. We await your decision." He bowed slightly and made his way back to the Malfoy's table. Harry didn't bother moving, he stayed in the witness chair.
Fudge stepped away and started conversing with the rest of the Wizengamot. Harry looked to the side at Mister Dirkley and was surprised at the impressed look on his face. Harry wondered if the man would have been able to get them off without Harry's help. He highly doubted it. Harry put on a bored expression and spent the time the Wizengamot debated what to do, looking at his nails. He could feel Draco's eyes on the back of his head. It took everything in him not to turn around and run to him. He had to force even breathing to appear at ease. Could they hurry up and decide?
Once they were all seated, Fudge banged the gavel. Which Harry thought was unnecessary considering the moment they sat down all conversations halted. But he supposed Fudge felt superior in doing so. Stupid git.
"The Wizengamot has come to a unanimous vote." Whispers broke out. There hadn't been a unanimous vote in 50 years. "Lucius Malfoy, Narcissa Malfoy and Draconis Malfoy have been found innocent of all charges and will be released immediately." Harry breathed a sigh of relief. All the worry and all the fear he had been feeling ebbed away. He felt like he was going to burst into happy tears and do a little dance. Best not do a dance, he didn't want to horrify anyone with his awful skills.
Fudge banged the gavel once again as the noise level was near bursting. Harry looked at the hammer in disgust. He was beginning to hate the sound of that thing. "There is another matter that we must discuss." Fudge said with a smirk. Harry narrowed his eyes in suspicion. What could Fudge possibly say now?
"There is still a matter of restitution. Whether Lucius Malfoy was being used against his will or not he still has to pay for his part of the damages that both wars caused." Fudge said with glee.
Harry raised his eyebrows and cleared his throat. "I thought this might be an issue." Harry said as he pulled out another parchment from his brief case. "Did you know that when someone is forced to pay restitution that any amount of money paid to the community or to charity can be counted? Seeing as that is where the money would have gone to anyways." When Fudge was floundering for a response Harry charged right along.
"I am sure you are aware of this considering you are the Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot. I am sure you know that there is a statute of limitation against an individual required to pay restitution. You can only go back ten years. You are seven years too late to be demanding Mister Malfoy to pay restitution for the first war. Now for the second war that is still up for grabs." Fudge sat up straighter.
"Did you know that in the past twenty years Mister Malfoy has donated a considerate amount of money to countless charities? Even if you were to apply the same ten year statute that the law for restitution requires and were to only look at the past ten years of money Mister Malfoy has donated, you would find that Mister Malfoy has donated well over triple the amount of money that you could reasonably even ask of him. I don't know about you but that is highly commendable. What an outstanding member of the community." Harry had to try really hard to not let his sarcasm show through. Someone in the audience must have picked up on it because he heard a faint snort.
"And not to lay any blame here but I am sure you must know that you cannot ask for restitution in the same trial as the crimes. You would have to retry the defendants regarding the separate issue and since you have found them innocent of all charges, retrying them would show that they were innocent and the amount of restitution would be called into question." Harry had to pinch his side at the thunderous look on Umbridge's face.
"Would you like to see the paperwork on the many commendable charities Mister Malfoy has donated to?" Harry asked holding out the paper. Fudge shrank away.
"No that is quite alright Mister Potter. You were right in stating that we would have to have a separate trial for the restitution and at this time we are not going to be troubling the Malfoy family further." The head of the Law Enforcement department spoke up. Fudge spluttered but had no choice to follow along unless he wanted to make a spectacle of himself. More than he already was that is.
"The trial is over. The defendants are free to go." Fudge said slamming the gavel down hard enough to crack the handle. He didn't even bother to fix it. Harry thought that was rather rude.
Harry slumped back in the chair boneless. He did it. He actually did it. He wanted to jump for joy or weep in relief. Oh gods that was intense. He had been so certain that something would go wrong. He watched as the courtroom slowly disappeared. Harry wanted nothing more than to run over to Draco and hold him close and never let him go. But he knew that would be unwise with all these witnesses. They may question why exactly he spoke so passionately for them.
Harry looked around and saw that the only people left were the Malfoys, Pansy, Blaise, Snape and surprisingly the twins. He hadn't even known they were going to show up. Harry was about to run over to Draco who was being smothered in a hug by his mother when a *hem hem* that boiled his blood was heard. Harry stood so rapidly it drew the attention of everyone else.
Sure enough Umbridge was standing a couple feet away from Harry. Umbridge hadn't changed at all since the last time he had seen her. Still as ugly, nasty and toad like as ever. Anger was radiating off her in waves of fury. Harry raised an eyebrow in question.
"I am not sure why you did it Mister Potter, other than the fact that you have always been a difficult child." She began. Harry's magic sparkled in anger as he took a step towards her. He smirked vindictively when she stepped away from him.
"I do not think it is any of your business what I do Umbridge. I have followed all letters of the law to a tee. Which is more than I can say for your precious Ministry and your oh so wonderful Fudge." Harry spat out. Umbridge's eyes lit up in fury.
"Listen here-" Harry held up his hand silencing her as he took another step forward loving the fact that she retreated another step.
"Oh no. I am through listening to you. I will have you know that there is not a damn thing that you can say to me right now that will hold any weight. I did some checking into you though." Harry smirked as her eyes widened.
"Would you like to know what I found out?" She stiffened but didn't say a word. "No, well I'll tell you. I found some very interesting donations you have received from proven deatheaters. If this information were to come to light it would be very detrimental to your career, wouldn't it?" Umbridge paled drastically. Harry smirked taking another step forward.
"Not to mention the illegal blood quill you used against me during my fifth year. I have the scars to prove it and the memories to back up my claim. You were in a positon of power as a teacher and the undersecretary to the Minister at the time. You cannot plead ignorance nor can you claim that Fudge asked you to do so since you admitted to me that he was unaware. You have no leg to stand on. Did you know just one instance of making a victim use a blood quill is one year in Azkaban? Now I personally was forced to use it so many times I lost count. But if I was pushed I think I could find out exactly how many times it was. Not to mention finding many other victims as well. So whatever it is you think you can say to me, I would reconsider." Umbridge swallowed heavily and took a step back. Which Harry took that as another win considering he hadn't moved.
"I will end you." She promised with conviction. Harry threw his head back and laughed. The sound was not warm nor with any actual humor in it. She took another step back causing Harry to smirk.
"You think I am afraid of you? Do remember who exactly it was that killed Voldemort." Umbridge flinched taking another step back. "I was the only one in all of England capable of killing him. Do you think that was because I am the type of person who would cave easily to your obviously empty threats? If you thought so then you are sorely mistaken. If you would like to cross me then I will show you exactly why I was the only one capable of killing him. I will gladly prove to you what I can do. And by the way, you don't become an enemy of the Darkest Wizard of all time without picking up some of his tactics." The last bit was staged whispered. The room echoed his threat for all to hear.
Umbridge winced and backed out of the room so fast Harry wondered if he had imagined her being there in the first place.