Frederick Gamp was feeling quite pleased today. Why? Because today marked the moment when the Potter boy would finally face consequences for thwarting the Dark Lord's plans to return magic to its rightful owners: the purebloods. True, his trial was on different charges, but that hardly mattered. What mattered was that he would pay for his offenses against the rightful heirs of magic. Lord Gamp was utterly convinced that the boy would not escape punishment.
At twenty-four years of age, Frederick was neither striking nor exceptionally bright—his appearance was somewhat gorilla-like, and his intellect matched that of one. He possessed no remarkable talents. Yet, whenever he was within earshot, those with even half a brain were quick to extol his supposed good looks, intelligence, and various magical skills. No one dared to displease the lord of the Most Noble House Gamp, who was also poised to inherit the Malfoy fortunes through his union with that family's heiress.
As Frederick brooded over the looming trial of the Potter boy, he couldn't help but feel it was a shame that the charges amounted only to fraud. That meant the possibility of a life sentence in Azkaban or a "kiss" was off the table. However, he mused, if the right questions were posed during the interrogation, perhaps the list of accusations could be expanded. It would certainly be nice to cleanse the stain from magical Britain's noble and pure society once and for all...
~/ *** \~
At the same time, Harry Potter was approaching the Wizengamot chambers, his instincts telling him that the "invitation" he had received was far from a cordial affair. He arrived prepared to defend himself, both alone and with the assistance of Ms. Bridget, who walked closely behind him.
The first sign that this wasn't a routine Wizengamot meeting was the presence of several Aurors stationed at the chamber's entrance. As they approached, one Auror halted them and conducted a body search on Harry, while the other argued with Violet, insisting that only Lords were allowed to attend this session per the Minister's orders. With her characteristic stubbornness, Violet held her ground, leading to several minutes of heated debate. Harry finally intervened, reassuring her that he would be fine for now and promising to reach out if needed, even though he was uncertain how that would happen. Reluctantly, Ms. Bridget stood down, though she obviously didn't want to leave him unprotected.
"I'll be in the cafeteria," she said, her words laced with concern as she turned to walk away, deliberately slow, making it clear she was watching in case the Aurors attempted anything untoward.
Once she was gone, Harry was allowed into the Wizengamot chambers. However, as soon as he crossed the threshold, he was met with the debilitating effects of several stunning spells aimed at him from behind.
Soon after, he was roughly roused by an enervate spell, finding himself seated in a stone chair at the center of the chamber. He faced numerous Lords and Ladies, along with a particularly unpleasant, toad-like woman—the Minister for Magic—sitting nearby, flanked by a senior undersecretary and a scribe. Bound by magical chains, Harry felt the oppressive presence of a troop of Aurors looming behind him, their wands trained on him. Not an ideal way to wake up.
"Everything is in order, so let us begin," the Minister announced. "We're here today for the trial of Harry James Potter, concerning the major offense of fraud." He continued, listing the interrogators: Cornelius Oswald Fudge, Minister for Magic; Dolores Jane Umbridge, senior undersecretary; Amelia Susan Bones, head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement; and Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot. The scribe was identified as Julia Alice Runcorn. Clearly, they intended to remove him for good. Especially since they had denied him the right to bring a barrister, not that he would trust a stranger to defend him anyway. It was time he took matters into his own hands.
"Objection!" Harry exclaimed, trying to project confidence despite his apprehension. "If I'm being accused solely of fraud, then the chains shouldn't be used. According to Wizengamot trial policies, they can only be applied to those charged with murder or similar crimes." Amelia Bones shot a furious glare at Fudge, who looked momentarily flustered at being caught out.
"Aurors, remove the chains," she ordered. Moments later, the chains clattered to the floor.
"Ahem... Now, let us continue," Fudge stammered. "Potter, explain why you believe you have the right to claim the fame and other entitlements rightfully belonging to the chosen one! Answer now!" he nearly yelled.
"I maintain that I'm innocent of the alleged crime, as I never declared myself the chosen one," Harry responded, causing a stir among both the 'darkest' and 'lightest' factions in the Wizengamot, resulting in loud objections. However, Madam Bones quickly silenced them with a flick of her magic, establishing her authority.
"Please, elaborate, Mr. Potter," she urged.
"What if we examined the article titled 'The True Chosen One' published in the 'Daily Prophet' on August 7th?" Harry proposed. "In that article, Albus Dumbledore admitted he made a mistake when he labeled me as the chosen one after that fateful Halloween night in 1981. If that was indeed his mistake, why am I being charged with fraud?" His question reignited protests from the 'light' side of the Wizengamot, but one stern look from Madam Bones restored order.
"Scribe?" Amelia prompted. The scribe quickly rifled through papers on her desk until she located the critical article.
"It seems Mr. Potter speaks truthfully," she reported, her voice tinged with apprehension. Before Madam Bones could respond, Dolores Umbridge interjected with a deceptively sweet tone.
"Perhaps that's the case, Potter, but can you definitively say you haven't bewitched Albus Dumbledore? After all, it's plausible that you manipulated him into declaring you the chosen one," she said.
Harry frowned, unamused. "How could that be possible? I was merely fifteen months old at the time. Are you suggesting that an infant who lacked the capability for abstract thought or normal speech managed to deceive Albus Dumbledore, a renowned expert in occlumency and legilimency?" he challenged.
"Well, we can expect anything from someone who has defeated the Dark Lord..." Umbridge retorted, pausing for effect. "Scribe, add murder of a human magic user to the list of crimes. Aurors, chains!" she commanded. Once again, Harry found himself bound tightly in magical chains. "What do you have to say to this, Potter?" she asked in that syrupy voice of hers.
"Even if I were responsible, it would fall under self-defense, thus I would be legally entitled to respond with an appropriate level of force in reaction to the lethal threat posed by the Dark Lord," Harry replied. "Moreover, it isn't physiologically possible for a child under the age of eight to wield controlled magic; therefore, whatever transpired that night resulted from an external force, not my own magic."
"Very well," Amelia Bones declared. "It is clear that Mr. Potter is innocent of murder. Aurors, remove the chains..." Once again, Umbridge interrupted.
"Surely, you don't trust that liar, Madam Bones? If he can bewitch Albus Dumbledore, he is quite capable of murdering a pureblood wizard." The head of the DMLE cautiously regarded the senior undersecretary.
"That is circular reasoning, Madam Umbridge. Such logic cannot be employed as a valid argument," she countered. "Aurors, release him." And once again, Harry was freed from his restraints. "If there are no further comments," Madam Bones continued.
Albus Dumbledore, intent on capitalizing on Harry's ability as a parselmouth for financial gain to fund the impending war, found his voice stifled by an oath taken during their hunt for the monster in the Chamber of Secrets. Thus, he remained silent...
"As no further comments have been made, the court shall now submit its verdict," Amelia Bones said. "Mr. Harry James Potter is charged with major fraud..."
"Recommended punishment: total forfeiture of all assets, properties, and titles in favor of the offended party, Mr. Ronald Bilius Weasley, along with a year in Azkaban, followed by the sealing of his magic and erasure of all memories related to it, exiling him to the Muggle world," Cornelius Fudge interjected. Madam Bones coughed in surprise, before addressing the assembly again.
"...is charged with major fraud. Those in favor of conviction, raise your wands." A moment later, about thirty percent of Wizengamot members—primarily from the 'darkest' families and a few aligned with Dumbledore—raised their wands in approval, while the Minister and his sycophantic undersecretary did the same. The scribe counted the votes and noted the result before Madam Bones continued: "And those in favor of dropping the charges, raise your wands." This time, approximately sixty percent—including Madam Bones herself—raised their wands. After tallying the votes, she announced, "The court returns its verdict: Mr. Harry James Potter is cleared of all charges."
Fifteen minutes later, the young lord Potter-Slytherin entered the cafeteria and quickly spotted Violet, seated in a corner, sipping tea.
"Mr. Potter?" she asked, concern etching her features. "You were gone for quite some time. What occurred?" He took a seat across from her.
"They attempted to corner me with underhanded tactics related to 'major fraud,' but their plan failed," he explained. "Now, I have a new task for you." Violet nodded, poised to jot down the details. "I want you to file a lawsuit against the Ministry for violating their trial regulations—specifically, for denying me a proper defense—and for disregarding the presumption of innocence."
"I'll see what I can do," she responded. "The trial records are public, so I can obtain the transcripts, but considering the bureaucracy of the Ministry, this may take time." He nodded in agreement.
"Do whatever you can," he replied. "Additionally, I suspect that the Ministry may not let this go easily, so please prepare a defense against potential media attacks." Violet acknowledged his request, diligently adding it to her notes.
"Anything else?" she inquired.
"No, nothing else comes to mind at the moment," he replied. "If something arises, I'll reach out." Violet nodded, securing the parchment in her folder with the appropriate enchantments.
"Well, our business concludes here, then," she stated. "Shall we have lunch before heading home?" Being aware that Harry needed company after enduring such an unpleasant experience, she suggested warmth and companionship with the question. He nodded gratefully in response.
~/ *** \~
Harry didn't have to wait long for media backlash. The day after the trial, the 'Daily Prophet' published an article labeling him a fraud, accusing him of denying the chosen one his due, and alleging he had bribed his way out of rightful punishment. The piece was riddled with inconsistencies and half-truths, clearly penned by Ministry officials before being forced onto the paper. Unfortunately, the wizarding community seemed all too ready to believe the sensationalized claims, leading to an onslaught of howlers targeting Harry's residence. Thankfully, his wards neutralized the angry letters, reducing them to plain parchment.
Without a second thought, Harry burned each one with a fire lance spell, leaving no trace behind.
Violet responded to the media frenzy swiftly, sending a letter in the early afternoon. In it, she indicated that she had already filed a lawsuit against both the 'Daily Prophet' and the 'Wizarding Wireless' for character defamation against a member of a Noble House, citing the use of false information regarding the trial events.
Though the letter exuded positivity, Harry was no fool; he understood that the bureaucratic machinery at the Ministry would not yield quick reparations. Still, given that Madam Bones had sided with him during the trial, there was hope that Violet might win this case for him. For now, he resolved to let her handle it.
Madam Bones was far from pleased with the Ministry's attempts to undermine Harry's reputation, and she personally oversaw the inquiry into Violet's lawsuit. This meant that no lowly bureaucrat would dare brush it aside. By August 25th, Madam Bones had acted on both lawsuits—Harry's against the Ministry for trial violations and Violet's against the media outlets for slander—assertively ensuring swift action.
The outcome? Both the 'Daily Prophet' and the 'Wizarding Wireless' were ordered to pay young Lord Potter a hefty fifty thousand galleons each, accompanied by a public apology. They also received warnings for disseminating false information. However, progress regarding the lawsuit against the Ministry was less favorable, as Madam Bones lacked the authority to directly pursue action against the Minister or his undersecretary—the masterminds behind the attempt to frame Harry. Nonetheless, a stern warning from Madam Bones was expected to keep both of them in line, at least for the time being.
~/ *** \~
In other news, the wizarding community was reminded of the recent escapee from Azkaban, Sirius Black—serving a life sentence for his affiliation with the Death Eaters and alleged murder of thirteen people—who was reported to be at large. Authorities believed he might be headed for Hogwarts, reigniting fears over the safety of the children attending the school. "No need to worry; Hogwarts' wards have been reinforced. Moreover, on the orders of Minister for Magic Cornelius Fudge, a contingent of Azkaban guards will be stationed around Hogsmeade and the Hogwarts school," the illustrious Minister assured the public. "Not even a mouse will slip past undetected. Black has no chance."
The article in the 'Daily Prophet' on August 29th quickly descended into a fawning tribute to Cornelius Fudge, whose reputation had suffered due to the legal proceedings Harry had initiated against the Ministry. As the article continued, it focused largely on Fudge's promises to keep the chosen one—Ron Weasley—safe from the "evil" that was Sirius Black.
While Harry hoped that the so-called Azkaban guards mentioned were simply Aurors, he was pragmatic enough to dread the possibility of Dementors being deployed around a school filled with emotionally volatile children. With that in mind, he prepared himself for a confrontation that would likely be impossible to anticipate: facing a Dementor. Given that the main defense against their debilitating aura was the Patronus Charm—an enchantment most witches and wizards took years to master—he acknowledged how daunting it would be to achieve that skill in merely three days.