The Trial
Harry was sent into Courtroom Ten, the room where he once had his trial for underage magic. Dumbledore couldn't save him now... He was pushed to the chair in the centre, chains instantly snapped around his wrists and ankles and someone cast a Silencio on him. He looked around the gathered Wizengamot and public crowd; he recognised many familiar faces, parents and relatives of friends, even some older students from Hogwarts! What was happening here?
The muttering around the room ceased as Cornelius Fudge stood, cast Sonorus and shouted “Silence!” He continued, looking at Harry with deep disgust.
“Today, we are here for the hearing of Mr. Harry James Potter, for the charges of Treason against the Ministry, actively practising Dark Magic-” At this many people gasped, and some shouted horrified words at Harry, who was very confused. He wouldn’t even know where to begin with Dark Magic!
“Silence in court, wizards and witches! I understand your shock and horror at these charges, but please refrain from voicing it. Thank you. I will continue: Joining not one, but two illicit ‘vigilante’ groups, informing You-Know-Who of secret information, breaking countless prophecies from the sacred Hall, bringing members of his own ‘vigilante’ groups into the Ministry, being an Accessory to Blackmail, and finally: Muggle-Baiting.”
Once the list of charges were read, the gathered crowd erupted. Harry didn’t think he had ever heard anything so loud, abuse was screamed at him, even a few curses were fired but they deflected off some barrier. If he could speak, he would have protested the ridiculous charges, but he couldn’t. Him? Muggle-Baiting? Informing Voldemort of information? Treason? This was insane.
At last the din died down and one of the Aurors from before stepped forwards and removed the Silencio. “Mr. Potter, how do you plead?” Fudge asked.
“Not guilty! This is ridiculous!”
“Auror Sauvant, administer the Veritaserum. Auror Sidfor, silence the crowd and Wizengamot to avoid unauthorised questions.”
Harry’s mouth was opened and the colourless liquid was poured down his throat. He drank it gratefully, knowing that the charges were inane. Another Auror began the questioning.
“What is your full name?”
“Harry James Potter” He said, a feeling like the Imperius but far more powerful forcing him to answer.
“What is your sister’s name?”
“I don’t have a sister.”
“The Veritaserum is working. We shall begin with Treason. Mr. Potter, do you possess forbidden knowledge of Horcruxes?”
“Yes.” he wanted to say that if he didn't, Voldemort would still be alive right now, but the serum prevented him from saying anything that wasn’t a direct answer.
“Did you inform the Ministry of this knowledge?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because I felt that the Ministry was corrupt.”
“He is guilty of Treason!” Fudge shouted, writing it down. The Auror continued. “Next charge: Actively practising Dark Magic. Mr. Potter, have you cast any Unforgivables?”
“Yes.”
“Which ones?”
“The Cruciatus and the Imperius.”
“Why?”
“The Cruciatus for revenge and the Imperius so I could commit theft.” No no no no no! This was wrong! He needed to steal the Cup and Bellatrix killed Sirius! The Cruciatus didn’t work anyway!
“What did you steal?”
“Hufflepuff’s Cup and a dragon.”
“Where did you steal them from?”
“Gringotts Bank.”
“What did you do with Hufflepuff’s cup?”
“I destroyed it.” Because it was a Horcrux!!! Ask me why!
“He is guilty of Dark Magic, stealing from Gringotts, possessing a Class XXXXX Dangerous Creature, and destroying a Founder’s object.” Fudge said, hastily writing. Again, the Auror continued his questions.
“Mr.Potter, did you join any illicit ‘vigilante’ groups?”
“Yes.”
“How many?”
“Two.”
“What were they called?”
“The Order of the Phoenix and Dumbledore’s Army.”
“What was the Order of the Phoenix?”
“Dumbledore’s version of the Death Eaters.” What? No! He didn’t mean to say that! (But it’s true, isn’t it, Harry…..) No it isn’t!
“What was Dumbledore’s Army?”
“My secret Defence club to teach the skills the Ministry didn’t want us to know.” But Umridge wasn’t teaching anything!
“Did Dumbledore’s Army break any Educational Degrees?”
“Yes.”
“Which ones?”
“Number 68, All student organisations are disbanded until they get the approval of Hogwarts’s High Inquisitor.”
“He is guilty of joining an illicit ‘vigilante’ group, setting up an illicit ‘vigilante’ group, and causing mass breakage of an Educational Degree.” Fudge announced, still writing.
“Mr. Potter, did you or did you not provide He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named with information?”
“I did.” But I couldn’t help it! I was a Horcrux for Merlin’s sake!
“How did you do it?”
“Through our mind link.”
“When you say ‘our’, do you mean yourself and He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named?”
“Yes.”
“He is guilty of providing He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named with information.”
“Mr.Potter, did you break into the sacred Hall of Prophecies?”
“Yes.”
“With who?”
“A few of Dumbledore’s Army.”
“Just to clarify, Dumbledore’s Army is the illicit ‘vigilante’ group you set up?”
“Yes.”
“Did you and Dumbledore’s Army destroy any prophecies?”
“Yes.”
“How many?”
“A lot.”
“Who destroyed them?”
“We all did.”
“How did you destroy them?”
“With Reducto Curses”
“Were the other members of Dumbledore’s Army there under your command?”
“Yes.”
“Does that make you responsible for their actions?”
“Yes.”
“He is guilty of breaking countless prophecies from the sacred Hall and bringing members of his own ‘vigilante’ group into the Ministry.”
“Mr. Potter, did you know about any events of blackmail?”
“Yes.”
“Which events?”
“When my friend Hermione Granger blackmailed Rita Skeeter.”
“Why didn’t you inform anyone of this?”
“Because Hermione was my friend and the damned beetle deserved it.”
“By ‘damned beetle’, are you referring to Miss Skeeter?”
“Yes.”
“He is guilty of being an Accessory to Blackmail.” Fudge smirked.
“Mr. Potter, did you blow up your Muggle aunt in front of other Muggles?”
“Yes.”
“Did you want it to happen?”
“Yes.” But he hadn’t! Not really… although she deserved it… and it was funny….
“Did you threaten your Muggle relatives with magic?”
“Yes.” but he never followed through! (But you wanted to, didn’t you?)
“He is guilty of Muggle-Baiting! With thirteen proven charges, most very severe, Mr. Potter would usually be sentenced to Soul-Death by Dementor immediately. However, we must consider that Mr. Potter did once save us from You-Know-Who. With that in mind, I propose a life sentence in Azkaban instead of the Dementor’s Kiss. Auror Sauvage, please undo the Silencio. All those in favour of this generous leniency, say Aye.”
At once, every Wizengamot member shouted “AYE!” even those who had looked unconvinced at the start.
“And, just for formalities, anyone in favour of letting Mr. Potter off scot-free?”
There was a dead silence. “Very good! With a complete agreement, Mr. Harry James Potter is sentenced to life in Azkaban. Auror Sidfor, please administer the Veritaserum Antidote and take him away.”
The second he drank the antidote, Harry began screaming. “You can’t do this! I’m innocent!” (But are you, when every charge was true?) “I need to tell my side of the story! Let me go!”
Unfortunately, he was still encased in the Magic-resistant chains, and could do nothing as they led him away, his mother’s screams already echoing in his ears.