Harry's Sixth Year

Chapter One, The Hearing

"Harry, c'mon, we're going to be late!" Ron yelled, forcing Harry out of bed. "You heard what my mum said, and I quote, 'This is a very important day for your father, and we will not be late'," Ron said impersonating his mum.

Harry rolled his eyes. "What about everyone else?"

Ron laughed a little. "Well dad's gone, and mum's making breakfast, Ginny's still in the bathroom, and the twins are out flying or something like that."

"What about Per--your family is talking to Percy now, right?" Ron shook his head, and handed a letter to Harry in Percy's handwriting. It read:

Weasley Family;

I just heard about you taking in the young Potter boy. It's insane I tell you. You-know-who will make you all his next target and you know it. Do you really want to endanger all the Weasleys? Well, not me, of course, because I am not involved with any of this silly Potter boy stuff. My suggestion is to kick him out onto the streets, I am sure he can go live with someone else, just not us, well you guys because he's not living with me. I was just thinking about the family and what's best for the family is to stop ALL contact with the Potter boy. Yes, I know I must sound a bit harsh calling him "The Potter Boy" but in my opinion it's better than calling him "The Boy Who Lived" because if you think about it, the proper title should be "The Boy Who Lived Because He Lets Other People Die For Him". Well just think about it, and trust me it's in your best interests.

Signed,

Percy

"Ouch, he really doesn't want me to live with you, does he?" Ron sighed shaking his head. "Not to mention he doesn't want to have anything to do with you while you all are still even writing to me."

"Aww, Harry don't take it so personally," Ginny said. She looked absolutely gorgeous in a green halter-top dress, and her hair tied up in a bun with some strands falling around her face.

Harry's mouth dropped open but he quickly got himself put back together. "I didn't know that this was a formal occasion." Ginny giggled and nodded. "Ron, you got any suits, or do we have to wear our dress robes?"

"Mum said slacks and black robes." Harry nodded looking for any slacks and a nice white t-shirt. "Aren't you ready yet? Mum's not going to be very happy if we're late, we have to take some cars the Ministry's providing for us. No Floo Powder this time. So changing this rather boring conversation were I talk and you pretend to listen...did you hear what happened with the Death Eaters?"

"Yeah, but I don't think Azkaban was the best place. I mean if you think about it, Dementors really are kind of like the first thing Voldemort is going to call into his army and you and I both know that they will go without hesitation to Voldemort."

"Do you have to say his name?" Ron asked throwing his cape on.

"Yes, yes I do. And if you don't like it then, too bad!" Harry said taking off his nightshirt and putting on his white t-shirt. "I can't believe you still have problems with his name, I mean even Hermione is saying it now, you'll be the only one in the group who's too chicken to say it. Plus, think about it like this: every time you can't say his name you're letting him win just a little more."

Ron sighed. "I suppose I could try to get used to hearing it said, but do I really have to say it myself?"

"Nah, just having you put up with the name is the best we can do for now." Ron nodded in thanks as the two boys walked down into the kitchen.

"Well it's about time! You'll have to take some toast with you and eat it in the car. Now go on, they're here!" Mrs. Weasley said running out to the huge car that was there to take them to the Ministry.

Ron's eyes widened in amazement and he said, "Wow! I didn't know that Muggles could make cars longer!"

"It's called a limo, but this one is a white stretch limo these are top of the line. Although I think black ones mean that whoever is riding in it is extra special but just the fact the you guys have a stretch limo is pretty awesome in its self."

"They have different names for different cars?"

"Yes. I personally like Blazers or Saturns."

"Wait, like, Saturn, like the planet?" Ron asked bemused.

Harry rolled his eyes. "Yes, Ron, like the planet. You know Muggles study the planet right?" Ron shook his head in amazement. "Well, they do I think the people who make it their career are called Astronomists, or something like that." Ron's eyes were widened in fascination.

"HARRY, RON! C'mon, we're going to be late." Harry ran out the door with a piece of toast in his hand while Ron had two biscuits and three pieces of toast. "What in the world?"

"I'm a growing boy mum, I need all the food I can." Everyone rolled their eyes as they were escorted into the limo. "Wow, this place is bloody awesome!" Everyone rolled his or her eyes, yet again. "So mum, why are we going to the Ministry, is dad getting some sort of reward or something like that?"

Mrs. Weasley sighed simply saying, "Or something like that. Now would you look at yourself, crumbs all over the place!" Mrs. Weasley waved her wand vanishing all the crumbs. "What am I going to do with you?"

"Put me up for adoption!"

"It really isn't that fun you know," Harry said in the shadows.

"Oh, gosh, Harry. I'm sorry I forgot." The rest of the ride was silent, until they came to a stop and the driver came around to open the door for everyone, Harry was the first one out and he rubbed his eyes under his glasses, yawning and scratching his head furiously.

Everyone laughed at how he reminded everyone of a dog, and a certain one with that, Sirius. Harry stopped when he realized everyone was laughing at him. "C'mon now. Inside right in here, we get to take the front door in, don't you all feel so special?" Ron walked through the doors first, then Ginny, then the twins, and then Mrs. Weasley.

Just as Harry was about to walk through as well, something caught his eye, it was an odd sight two hooded figures talking together outside a store. Harry walked a bit closer to hear what they were saying, "Oh, come on, it's not going to be that bad by going into a simple store." It was a girls voice and Harry took a step closer but quickly retreated as he felt a burning on his forehead.

The other hooded figure replied this time in a mans voice, "I'm not going to go in there, you know that I hate Quidditch."

"Just because you were bad at it?"

"I was not bad at it!" Harry shook his head going back towards the Ministry building and walking through the doors. It was just as he had remembered it to be, he really didn't like it the statues now creeped him out even though they had saved his life.

"Harry! There you are, we thought that we lost you, now, now come along," Mrs. Weasley said pulling Harry by his sleeve into a huge room. It was an odd shape, from what Harry could make out it was shaped like a pyramid but before Harry could begin to marvel at the odd shape he was quickly pulled into another door and into a room with a huge glass window that was slanted towards the ground to make on-lookers queasy. "Right over here, we have a front row seat!" Harry just tried to smile, but couldn't help from starting to feel sick. He looked into the room through the window and saw Mr. Weasley standing on a circular platform that was being held up by chains from the ceiling, Harry watched completely confused.

Until a voice that seemed almost inside his head started talking, "Arthur Weasley is your name, am I correct in thinking that?"

"Yes," came Mr. Weasley's voice.

"I understand that during the past year you were greatly involved with Albus Dumbledore?"

"Yes."

"That you went against what you were supposed to do?"

"Yes."

"That you got a snake bite from helping Dumbledore?"

"Yes."

"You were found unconscious on the ground from the snake bite?"

"Yes."

"How did anyone know where to find you or that you were injured?"

At this Mr. Weasley paused to reflect upon the question and Harry held his breath wondering what he was going to say and then the answer came, "I suppose I was just lucky that night." Harry let his breath out.

"I see," the voice paused. "Have you heard of the DA?"

"Well what does DA stand for, sir?"

"I will be the one asking the questions!" Replied the voice angrily, "We were told by a teacher at the school that DA stood for Dumbledore's Army, is that correct?"

"Well, sir, if I remember correctly that teacher who told you this information went...mad," Mr. Weasley replied with an unchanged tone but putting great emphasis the word "mad" at the same time.

"Yes...but...WAIT! I'm supposed to be asking the questions here!"

"I understand that, but who says that she wasn't having a...oh, gosh, I can't put my finger on the word...um...ahh, yes she was having hallucinations, am I correct?"

"Yes, yes, that is true. But we even had a student testify as well."

"Alright you have a point there, but are you positive that it DA was supposed to stand for Dumbledore's Army. I mean the girl said that the group was called the DA, am I right?"

There was a pause, "True, but Dumbledore said so himself, and--"

"You know that Dumbledore just likes to protect his students. Maybe if you thought about it, since someone did testify what was going on in the DA, they were practicing Defense Against the Dark Arts. And I might note that it was because of the teacher that the Ministry picked was their reasoning, all she had them do in those classes were read. And correct me if I'm wrong in thinking that how are students supposed to learn how to perform what they are reading if they do not either see it done, or do it themselves."

"Yes, you are correct, it would have been best if she had, had some interaction with the students. And yes that could have prevented all this DA stuff from happening...this case is now closed! I will have a talk with my fellow jurors and get back to you with our decision."

Harry looked around in confusion. "What is going on here?"

"Before they can allow Dumbledore to continue being Headmaster they must decide if everything that he did was completely rational. Also, if all goes well in the next case with Dumbledore, then you will be allowed to be back on the Quidditch team." Harry's eyes brightened, and Mrs. Weasley could tell he was trying to say "Really?" so she just smiled and nodded meaning "Yes."

After about 30 minutes the voice came back and said, "We have made a decision, Albus Dumbledore will remain Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!" Harry jumped up and started doing a victory dance. "This case is now officially closed, one hour until the next case of Harry Potter's flying ban begins."

Everyone was staring at Harry funny as he was screaming things like, "Yes!" and "Dumbledore's back!" and "Let's get this party started!" Until Mrs. Weasley tapped him on the shoulder and said, "C'mon, we're supposed to meet Hermione at the Leaky Caldron, come along now." Harry lowered his head blushing slightly as everyone was looking at him funny.

"I wasn't going that crazy was I?" Mrs. Weasley smiled rolling her eyes. "Okay, so I probably did go a little overboard, but I couldn't picture a whole year without Dumbledore, Mr. Weasley was AWESOME!"

"Yes, well, too bad that we were a bit late and didn't get to hear the beginning, but trust me we'll hear all of the next case."

"Was that like wizard court in a way, because it's different than what I remember, when I had to testify about me using under aged magic."

"Well, that one was a closed hearing, unlike this one which was an open hearing for the public."

"Wait, so my whole being banned thing is public?"

"Yes," was all that Mrs. Weasley said, and from the tone of her voice he could tell that she didn't want to talk about it. They walked into the Leaky Caldron and saw Ron, the twins, Charlie, Bill, and Hermione sitting at a table drinking Butterbeers.

"You were going so crazy!" George said half hugging Harry, "It was a great show!" Harry turned red and sat down. "It's not that bad, we all have our 'moments' yours was just public." Everyone laughed and Harry ordered himself a Butterbeer.

After about fifteen minutes of everyone catching up there lunch came. "Now hurry up, we have to get back in about fifteen to twenty minutes." Fifteen minutes later. "C'mon we've got to go!" first went the twins, and then Ron, and Hermione next. Mrs. Weasley and Ginny, then the two oldest Weasley boys, Harry rolled his eyes taking one last sip of his Butterbeer and leaving with the others.

On his way out he noticed the two hooded figures he saw earlier. "You were so funny!" Said the girls voice, "You should have seen yourself, you were acting like a little puppy going in for its bath."

Harry closed his eyes and opened them again once outside. He caught up with the others as they walked through the front doors of the Ministry, then back into the funny odd shaped room and into the little hidden rooms, just as they sat down the voice came back, "The case of Harry Potter's flying ban is now in session. First up is Albus Dumbledore!" after the voice said that the familiar platform lowered down into view. "Albus Dumbledore is your name, am I correct in thinking that?"

"Yes," Dumbledore said calmly.

"You have just been redeemed of your duties at Hogwarts?" the voice said it was clearly a statement that the voice decided to make into a question.

"Yes." As always Dumbledore was calm and knew exactly what the voice meant.

"You were relieved of your duties as Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because I had supposedly been accused of forming my own army, by--" but the voice cut him off.

"No need to point fingers, so you were falsely accused of starting up your own army. But am I correct that you yourself said the DA stood for Dumbledore's Army?"

"Yes, that was t--" once again, the voice cut him off.

"I don't want to hear excuses, so you did have an army then?"

"No."

"No? What do you mean by no?"

"Umm...I mean, 'no'..." Dumbledore said while keeping his cool.

"I see, so you were willing to risk your own neck so the students would not be in too much trouble, well, in doing so you nearly lost your job. Would you have done the same thing again, I mean, let's say if secret clubs were still banned and this same group were caught again would you still stick up for them?"

"Let's not play a what if ga--"

"Yes or no, Albus."

"Yes."

"Thank you, now please tell me...do you have any clue who was the leader of this organization?"

"It was Harry Potter who was teaching the class, but I--"

"Thank you, so Harry Potter was clearly the reason for this 'club' and the only reason why he would be able to teach the Dark Arts is because of all the experience that he has had?"

"Yes."

"Clearly this boy is a discipline problem, letting him do all the things that he has done, letting him get away with everything that he has. The reason for his ban from flying is because of violence at school am I correct?"

"Yes."

"So therefore considering that in his first year he was given a spot on his house team was because he was flying when he wasn't supposed to be. In his second year he had used under aged magic and had been suspected of being Slytherin's heir, which he could be. In his third year he snuck to Hogsmeade, and had been sneaking around in the middle of the night with an invisibility cloak and been caught with Sirius Black himself but told everyone that the person who should have been put in Azkaban for life with poor little DEAD Peter Pettigrew. In his fourth year he had been picked for the Triwizard Tournament and had supposedly been transported to you-know-who's father's graveyard where you-know-who killed poor Cedric Diggory and came back to full strength and power. In his fifth year started an illegal club, punched young Draco Malfoy, left Hogwarts to go to the Ministry where Fudge himself saw you-know-who in the flesh and then he tore up your office. Clearly each year it's getting worse? Why should he not finally pay for everything that he has done?"

Dumbledore took a moment to thoroughly ponder this then said, "Because he is only a child. In his first year he was just sticking up for his classmate, in his second year neither, of which were his fault. In his third year there is no proof that he was in Hogsmeade or anywhere near it and he was telling the truth and saying good-bye to a dear friend, Buckbeak. In his fourth year it was not his fault a Death Eater had put his, Harry's, name into the Goblet and again he was telling the truth. In his fifth year he felt, as well as others, that they should be doing more than just reading out of a book; no excuse for punching young Malfoy, but he went to the Ministry to protect a friend who he thought was in danger, and him destroying my office is my business and if I had felt like he shouldn't have done so then I would had stopped him."

"So basically you're justifying everything this boy has done?"

"Yes, with the exception of punching Malfoy, he should have been punished but I do not agree with banning him from flying, maybe a weeks worth of detentions and points taken away from their house, but being ban from flying."

"We get the point," the voice said sounding aggravated. "Tell me, why do you think that every year something happens to the Defense Against the Dark Arts teachers? Not to mention the fact that it only started happening since the young Harry Potter had started coming to school."

At this a smile spread across Dumbledore's face and he chuckled. "Some people say that the job is simply...jinxed. But I must say that Harry definitely has nothing, nothing to do with it."

"Very well. You may go now." The platform raised up and then the voice said, "We will have a ten minute recess."

"What in the world?" Harry asked, "How did they know about some of those things?"

"Because, they're the Ministry of Magic, they know these things," Mr. Weasley said walking into the room. "Sorry, dear. I had some important things to attend to. Harry, I think I should tell you now, before you're humiliated that you will be testifying next."

"WHAT! Why didn't they tell me?"

"Like I said 'before you're humiliated', they want to make fun of you that you 'forgot' about it." Harry rolled his eyes. "Follow me, I'll fix everything. Don't worry about it." Harry followed Mr. Weasley up two flights of stairs, and then Mr. Weasley said, "You just stand right there and don't worry, just answer the questions and nothing more you hear?" Harry nodded slightly confused. He stood there feeling like an idiot for two minutes until he felt himself being lowered down.

He held his breath knowing what was coming next. "Harry Potter is your name, am I correct in thinking that?"

"Yes," Harry said trying to keep an even tone.

"Are you nervous, boy?"

Harry was surprised by this question but then again it did make sense seeing as how he was acting. "A little."

"But after teaching around twenty students for several months wouldn't you figure that stage fright might have left?"

"No," he answered simply.

"Why not?"

"Because"

"I see. Tell us, do you enjoy all this attention that you get?"

"No," he said, a little put off.

"Any ordinary child would absolutely love having all the attention that you have, aren't I correct?"

"Yes, but--"

"Thank you. So why would your case be any...different?"

Harry rolled his eyes. "Because I'm not an 'ordinary' child, now am I?"

"No, I suppose not. You grew up in a...cupboard," the voice said chuckling a little. "Aren't I correct?"

"Yes," Harry said, gritting his teeth.

"Hmm, now that is definitely not ordinary, but considering that you were shun out of the spot light for eleven years even some spot light might make you a bit...big headed?"

"No."

"Why not?" said the voice and it was clearly trying to challenge Harry.

"You could call it the way I was raised."

"But you weren't really raised by Muggles were you?"

"Yes," Harry said shifting his weight from his left foot to his right.

"I'm sorry, that must have damaged you, you, the Boy Who Lived." Harry tightened his fists, but closed his eyes and breathed slowly and unclenched them. "Well then, we'll stop beating around the bush and get to the point." Harry rolled his eyes and shaking his head. "Why did you do it?"

"Do what?"

"Don't sass talk me! Why did you punch Draco?"

"He was," Harry paused. "He was asking for it, at first I protected him but then he insulted my family and I don't like it when people insult my family so you do the math."

"He was...asking for it?" the voice said laughing fully now. "What did he say something like, your Mudblood mum?"

"Yes," Harry said holding his temper.

"I see, but you were able to contain your anger when I said it?"

"You were just giving an example."

"I see. This case is now closed," the voice said aggravated.

"BUT!" No use. "Arg! This isn't fair!" Harry screamed out.

One minute later the voice was back, "The jurors and myself have decided...