Harry's Murder

It was the day of the trial in front of the Wizengamot.

All of the suspects filed in and sat down. They sat in hard chairs that bound them with chains, as though they were already culprits!

The Order had sent Severus Snape to Lord Voldemort. Snape was to find out whether or not Voldemort had Harry Potter killed.

Of course, after the Ministry finally figured out that Dumbledore was telling the truth and that Lord Voldemort had returned, the Order was not needed as much as before.

But they were still a good option, since Voldemort knew of the Ministry, but not of The Order of The Phoenix.

Following the suspects were the Inspectioners. They carried the evidence in a magical container.

The evidence was only the dagger, as well as, to Hermione's disgust and horror, Harry's blood, found on the dagger.

And the trial began.

First to be questioned was Draco Malfoy.

Cornelious Fudge looked down at him. Fudge had already realized that Lucius Malfoy and his son, as well as his wife, were very loyal Lord Voldemort supporters. "Draco Malfoy, where were you in the early hours of February 22?"

Draco turned pink. "I was..." He trailed off, embarrassed.

"You were...?" Fudge prompted. "Where?"

"I-was-on-a-date," Draco muttered quickly.

"Excuse me?" Fudge asked. "Repeat that please, I didn't hear you."

"I was on a date," Draco announced, frustrated that Fudge made him say it louder. "Well, a date in my dormitory."

"With...?" Fudge asked. Malfoy deserved it.

Draco exhaled deeply, and said, in a rush, "Pansy Parkinson."

"Ahh...I see," Fudge said slyly.

"And how are you connected to Mr. Potter?"

"I despise the horrid, evil, mudblood-loving little- er, I mean to say," Draco sputtered. He almost didn't catch himself. How would Fudge have reacted if he had said that word? "I mean to say, sir, we were not the best of friends."

"Ahh," Fudge said again. "That will be all."

He turned to the next suspect on the list, besides Lord Voldemort. Neville Longbottom.

"And, Mr. Longbottom, where were you during the early hours of February 22?"

Neville gulped nevously. "I was in bed asleep, sir."

"I see," Fudge said. "And how are you connected to Harry Potter?"

"I-well, I'm in his dormitory and he was my-my friend," Neville stuttered.

"I see," Fudge said again. "Thank you."

He turned to Seamus Finnigan. "And you? Where were you at the time of this crime?"

"I was...well..." Seamus looked embarrassed. "I-er...fell asleep in the common room."

"Yes," Fudge said, smiling the tiniest bit. "And how are you connected to him?"

"I was his dormitory mate and his renewed friend."

"Thank you, Mr. Finnigan," Fudge consulted his list. "Dean Thomas, where were you during the murder?"

Dean looked confident. "I was asleep, sir."

"And you are in his dormitory?"

"Yes sir, and I am also his friend."

"Thank you," Fudge looked again at the list.

Hermione looked up at him. Why wasn't he asking them all more questions??? This was ridiculous. Fudge was supposed to find the culprit, not talk to them all casually like this!

"Ronald Weasley? Where were you in the early hours of February 22?"

"I..." Ron looked up at him. "Not to be rude, but it's Ron. And I was asleep as well."

"And how were you connected to Mr. Potter?"

"I was his best friend and dormitory mate."

"Yes, I see." Fudge glanced at Percy Weasley, who was taking notes. Percy, who still thought ill of his family, glanced at Ron and then at the dagger.

Ron saw Percy. What was wrong with Percy, the evil git? Ron was his brother!

Fudge and everyone else thought Ron seemed pretty suspicious. "And...Ron," Fudge added. "Can you please describe what your last conversation was with Harry?"

"Well," Ron said, suddenly nervous, "I was...sort of frustrated about...let's just say a girl. I really, really like her, and she always waved at Harry, smiled at him, and ignored me. We had an argument, actually."

"I see," Fudge glanced again at Percy, but he was too busy scribbling to look up.

Hermione looked up again. She knew she was next.

"Hermione Granger?" Fudge asked. "Where were you?"

"In my dormitory, looking at pictures from our first date," Hermione said.

"Uh-huh," Fudge said, glancing yet again at Percy. "And you are his girlfriend?"

"Yes, and his other best friend. We planned to get married after school."

She could not be the one. "Thank you, Ms. Granger."

"You may go," Fudge added. The chairs loosened their grips with the chains. "Hermione? Could I have a word?"

He sounded just like Harry when he asked her out for the first time. She smiled at the thought. "Yes, Minister?"

"I know you must feel very upset about Harry," he told her. "I just wanted to tell you know that everyone, including myself especially, was very fond of him. I'm very sorry."

Hermione looked at him, surprised. "Thank you, Minister."

And she was gone.

To be continued later...