Okay, so it's not the next chapter of my main Harry Potter Story, but this one kept bugging me. I had just watched Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix before trying to write the next chapter of my story, but this just would not leave me alone, so here it is.
Disclaimer: No I don't own Harry Potter. That belongs to JK Rowling, Bloomsbury, Warner Bros etc. I make no money and just do this for fun.
Hijacking the Kangaroo Court
"Okay, just hold up for a second!"
Harry Potter had just spent the last few minutes listening to his name being dragged through the mud by this supposed court and he had had enough.
"Surely a pensieve would come in handy here? I mean you are all clearly doing your utmost to discredit me, but one memory in a pensieve is all that it would take to prove that my use of the Patronus Charm was justified."
"Memories are not allowed to be taken from underage witches and wizards." replied Fudge with a sneer.
Harry scowled "Rather convenient, don't you think? Especially when you consider that, as Professor Dumbledore just pointed out, underage witches and wizards do not normally face a trial by full Wizengamot, and yet here we are. Seems that you want to have your cake and eat it too, Fudge. Anyone might think that you have got something to hide."
"I have nothing to hide!" snapped Fudge.
"Oh really?" asked Harry "Prove it then. Fetch a pensieve and view my memory."
"My hands are tied by the law." replied Fudge, trying to reign in his temper.
"Never stopped you before." replied Harry "If it did, this hearing would be taking place in the office of Madam Bones, like it was originally supposed to be, and like every other case of underage magic. And I certainly would not have been in the Tri Wizard Tournament last year."
Fudge said nothing. In fact the entire courtroom remained silent. The Umbridge woman looked about ready to explode in anger, but everyone else looked mildly confused.
Meanwhile his own words had triggered an idea in Harry Potter's mind. The question was would it work? Well, there was only one way to find out.
Getting to his feet, Harry began to pace.
"It's interesting isn't it? Last year my name came out of the Goblet of Fire, and Barty Crouch Senior decided that I, a fourteen year old wizard at the time, had to compete in a tournament that the law stated could only be entered by wizards or witches who were of age. The other tournament officials, namely Ludo Bagman, Albus Dumbledore, Igor Karkaroff and Olympe Maxime, amongst others, made no objection to this and allowed my participation. And now, not even a full year later, the Wizengamot had deemed it appropriate to have me put on trial before them, something which the law states cannot happen to an underage wizard or witch."
He stopped his pacing and turned to face the Wizengamot.
"So I have been declared to be a legal adult by the former head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation, the former head of the Department of Sports and Games, the heads of the three leading magical schools of Europe, one of whom is also the now former Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot and the Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards, as well as the entire Wizengamot, which includes amongst them the Minister for Magic and his Senior Undersecretary, the Head of the Department for Magical Law Enforcement and the Governor of the Wizarding Examinations Authority as well as the heads of house for many noble and ancient families. Every last one of you, just like the organisers of the Tri-Wizard Tournament before you, have, by allowing me to be brought before you, declared me a legal adult, and yet you refuse to allow me to present my case in the way befitting an adult. Clearly you bend the rules as you please so long as you have enough gold."
He spun on the spot and returned to his seat, saying loudly "And this is the world that my parents gave their lives for? Definitely not worth it. Should've hopped in the first plane to Australia and taken their chances with all the venomous beasties and sharks."
Another long silence followed this, which was finally broken by Amelia Bones.
"You are, of course, correct Mr Potter." she turned to Fudge "We have no choice in this, Cornelius. In your eagerness to convict him, you yourself, along with the rest of us have broken are own laws. The only way to put that right, without me slapping the entire Wizengamot, including myself, with a twenty-five thousand galleon fine is to allow Mr Potter to present his case as an adult, and recognise him as such in all future dealings with him."
Fudge looked like he had swallowed a particularly disgusting Bertie Bott's Bean, but faced with a heavy fine if he did otherwise he nodded his approval.
Amelia turned back to the courtroom as a whole "For all of us to view Mr Potter's memory, we will require a projector pensieve. I am afraid that the Department of Magical Law Enforcement does not currently have one, and we will need to obtain one from the Unspeakables in the Department of Mysteries. Therefore I must order a two-hour recess whilst one is obtained. For now, I think that we can all agree that, due to the circumstances, whilst the charge for use of magic in the presence of a Muggle must remain, the charge for misuse of underage magic should be dropped."
Receiving a near unanimous cry of "Aye" (Umbridge was seething too much to notice, and Fudge merely muttered his unwilling agreement) Madam Bones officially dropped the charge and called the recess.
Dumbledore swept from the courtroom without so much as a glance in Harry's direction, not that the teenaged Wizard was going to let that bother him; I Dumbledore wanted to act more weird than normal, then so be it. Harry had something more important on his mind.
"Madam Bones?" he asked as the monocle-wearing witch was making her way past him with the other Wizengamot members. Seeing that he had her attention, Harry asked "Can I have a quick word?"
The Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement gave him a nod and led him from Courtroom Ten and down the corridor to Courtroom Five. A few of the other Wizengamot members gave them curious looks, but no one said anything.
"What is it that you want, Mr Potter?" asked Madam Bones, once the door was shut and she had put a silencing charm on it.
"Well," began Harry, suddenly feeling a little nervous "I was just wondering, now that I have convinced the Wizengamot to allow me to present a pensieve memory, could I abuse it a little?"
The corners of Madam Bones' mouth twitched slightly as she fought off a smile at his daring.
"Would this be referring to the incident surrounding the death of Cedric Diggory back in June?"
"Amongst other things." replied Harry "My name has been dragged through the mud by media over the past few weeks thanks to Fudge. I think it's only fair that I have the chance to regain my credibility."
Amelia Bones stood surveying him for a few moments before giving him a genuine smile "I'll go one better Mr Potter. Not only do I give you permission to add a few extra memories to the pensieve, I will invite a few people from the Daily Prophet, and all the Department Heads in the Ministry not already involved in the trial to attend. If you are going to regain your credibility, you will need then to see this first hand. And I'll bring as many Aurors as I can as well."
Harry nodded "Thank you. Perhaps you could get Amos Diggory to come as well?"
"Of course." replied Amelia, before turning and taking down the silencing ward on the door.
Both left the room after that and immediately ran into Mr Weasley.
"Harry," he exclaimed on seeing him "are you alright? What's happening?"
"Everything is fine, Mr Weasley." replied Harry "Nothing to worry about. I just convinced them to allow me to submit a pensieve memory. Madam Bones here called for a recess whilst one was obtained."
"Oh. Well, that's good." said Mr Weasley.
"Arthur, the trial will resume in just under two hours' time." said Madam Bones "I'd like all heads of department, office and commission to be present, yourself included."
Mr Weasley gave a nod.
"Mr Potter, if you could come to my office about a half an hour beforehand, we can put your memories in the pensieve."
Harry nodded to her and then turned to leave with Mr Weasley.
An hour and fifty minutes later, Harry, along with Mr Weasley and Madam Bones returned to Courtroom Ten, with a pair of Unspeakables following behind, one carrying the special projector pensieve, and the other carrying several stoppered vials containing Harry's memories. Harry saw that most of the Wizengamot was already seated, though Fudge and Umbridge were notable in their absence. Arthur's estranged third eldest son Percy was once again in position as court scribe. Dumbledore had also returned, sitting comfortably in his conjured armchair. Seats facing the Wizengamot members were now filled with various Department Heads, as well as Amos Diggory and his wife, numerous reporters from various Wizarding publications (Harry was certain he saw Barnabas Cuff, chief editor of the Daily Prophet sitting near the back.
At the front of all of them sat two rows of Aurors. Some looked none-too amused to be here, but Madam Bones had ordered it. Harry recognised the faces of Order of the Phoenix members Nymphadora Tonks, Kinglsey Shacklebolt and Hestia Jones amongst them.
Arthur went over and took a seat amongst the other Head of Office, whilst Madam Bones returned to her seat amongst the Wizengamot, and began engaging in a conversation with Griselda Marchbanks.
Harry meanwhile returned to the uncomfortable interrogation chair. The chains once again rattled threateningly at him, but Harry paid them no mind, knowing that he was not to be tied down. The two Unspeakables took standing positions behind Harry. Dumbledore still refused to look at Harry, so Harry decided to return the sentiments.
Gradually over the next few minutes the last few people trickled in, and finally, with ten seconds to spare, Fudge came blustering in, will Umbridge following on his heels like some kind of puppy. A very ugly puppy.
"Very well," began Fudge, dropping down into his seat "Let's get this over with… good gracious! What in Merlin's name are they all doing here?"
Apparently he had just caught sight of all the Aurors, reporters and higher-ups sitting on the other side of the courtroom.
"They are here at my request." explained Madam Bones "I felt that what was revealed here today would be better off being reported on accurately rather than by word of mouth."
Fudge scowled but decided against objecting to it. "Very well, Madam Bones, you have the floor."
Madam Bones addressed the court "After the recess was called, Mr Potter came to me to ask if he could supply a few extra memories to serve as background information to his case. I trust that, in the name of justice, no one objects to this?"
There were a few angry and/or reluctant faces around the courtroom, but no one said anything.
"Very well," said Madam Bones "Unspeakables, if you would?"
The two men stepped forward, the one holding the pensieve held it out and instantly a marble plinth appeared under it to support it.
The second Unspeakable then began handing the first the vials one at a time, and he poured the memories into the pensieve.
Once they were all in, and there were a lot of them, the first Unspeakable took out his wand and tapped it against several of the runes on the sides on the pensieve. Then both men took Harry by the arms and led him over to the side of the courtroom.
"Prepare to see everything." said Harry, and the pensieve flickered into life and sent a kind of 3D hologram into the air above it.
And see everything they did.
"Not Harry, please not Harry."
"Stand aside, you stupid girl."
"No! I won't let you take Harry."
"Avada Kedavra!"
There was a flash of green and a scream.
An evil face with red eyes appeared, and pointed a wand.
"Avada Kedavra!"
There was another flash of green, another scream, this one more primal, and the sound of a baby crying before everything went black.
There was an engine running.
There was a large man with lots of black hair on a motor bike.
There was wind whooshing past.
There was a startled yelp.
There was a woman gazing down with an expression of shock, fear and anger.
There was a black haired toddler on the floor, looking up at a fat blond toddler in a high chair. The fat toddler kept throwing things at the black haired toddler.
A young Harry Potter of about six was running through a play park. He had a swollen, bleeding lip and a black eye. The fat blond kid, now older, was chasing him, along with several other boys. Harry tripped over his trainers which were too big for his feet and crashed to the ground. The other boys immediately set upon him.
A badly beaten Harry staggered through the front door and was immediately screamed at by the woman from before for daring to get blood on her carpet.
A fat man came through the door drunk and began to strike Harry repeatedly. From his shouting it was clear that the fat man had missed out on a promotion, and apparently it was somehow Harry's fault.
Harry was on the grass in the garden having the leg of his oversized jeans ripped apart by a bulldog whilst the man, woman, boy and another woman, a fat one, laughed.
Harry was pinned against the wall by the fat man who was holding him by the throat and yelling at him for turning his teacher's hair blue.
Harry was being slung into the cupboard under the stairs by the fat man, who was yelling at him for appearing on the school roof.
Harry was being shouted at for the woman for burning the bacon. She clearly was unconcerned about the burn marks on Harry's hands and arms.
The fat man was dragging Harry along towards the cupboard under the stairs whilst ranting about freakishness at a zoo.
Harry, the fat man and the fat boy were fighting over a letter addressed to Harry.
The fat man threatened Rubeus Hagrid with a shot gun. Hagrid bend the thing in two.
Harry was sitting in the Potions classroom at Hogwarts. Snape was taunting him for not knowing things about potions that no first year student should know.
Harry and three other first years were nearly eaten by a Cerberus.
Harry and a red-headed boy were trying to rescue a girl with bushy brown hair from a rampaging Mountain Troll in the girls' bathroom Somehow they succeeded.
Harry was desperately clinging to his broom with was bucking wildly, most likely due to a curse being placed on it.
Harry, the red-headed boy and the bushy-haired girl were talking to Hagrid about the broom incident. The girl was insisting that it was Snape.
Hagrid let slip the name Nicholas Flamel.
The girl, apparently named Hermione, was relaying her discovery of the Philosopher's Stone to Harry and the red-headed boy, who seemed to be called Ron.
Harry and the son of Lucius Malfoy came across a dark figure drinking the blood of a dead Unicorn at night in the Forbidden Forest. Malfoy's son ran for it as the dark figure swooped towards Harry, who had to be saved by a Centaur, who revealed the figure to be Voldemort.
Hagrid revealed how he obtained the Cerberus.
McGonagall told them that Dumbledore has gone to the Ministry, and insists that the stone is well protected.
Harry thinks that Snape will go to get the stone for Voldemort that night. He, Ron and Hermione plan to get there first.
The trio barely make it past the Cerberus. Hermione saves Harry and Ron from Devil's Snare. Harry uses a broom to catch the key for the door. Ron gets them across the chess board whilst sacrificing himself. Harry and Hermione pass an unconscious Troll. Hermione easily figures out the riddle to the potions and goes back to get help.
Harry confronts Quirrel before the Mirror of Erised and obtains the stone.
Quirrel reveals that it was he, not Snape who curse Harry's broom in an attempt to kill him.
Quirrel removes his turban to reveal Voldemort.
Harry and Quirrel/Voldemort fight, resulting in the defeat of Voldemort, the death of Quirrel and Harry being knocked unconscious.
Harry awakens in the hospital wing and is told by Dumbledore that Ron and Hermione are okay, and that Voldemort can come back again.
Harry was confronted in his room by a House Elf called Dobby who gives a cryptic warning about a danger at Hogwarts. When Harry refuses to believe him, Dobby uses magic to try and get Harry expelled and in trouble with his relatives.
The fat man, Harry's Uncle, puts bars on Harry's bedroom window, many locks on his door and a cat flat through with he will get a little food.
Ron and two of his brothers arrive by flying car and help Harry escape.
Harry, Hermione and the Weasleys confront Lucius and Draco in Flourish and Blotts.
Harry and Ron cannot get through the barrier to Platform 9 ¾.
Harry begins hearing strange voices.
Harry and his group discover a cryptic message about the Chamber of Secrets on the wall, with a petrified cat beneath it. The rest of the school arrive, and fingers are pointed at the trio.
Professor Binns tells his class about the legend of the Chamber of Secrets.
Harry and Ron suspect Draco Malfoy.
Harry is chased by a rogue bludger during a Quidditch match and breaks his arm.
Lockheart vanishes all the bones in Harry's broken arm
In the Hospital Wing, Harry hears voices again, and has another confrontation with Dobby, who admits to sealing the entrance to the platform, and jinxing the bludger in an attempt to get Harry to go home.
Colin Creevey in brought in, petrified.
During the duelling club, Harry is revealed to be a Parcelmouth.
People begin to suspect Harry.
Harry discovers the petrified Justin and Nearly Headless Nick. He is caught at the scene and is blamed.
Harry discovers a book with the name Tom Marvolo Riddle on it.
Harry is shown a memory of when the creature of the Chamber killed before. Hagrid and his large pet spider get the blame.
The diary is stolen from Harry.
Harry and Ron are taken to the Hospital Wing by McGonagall, where they see a petrified Hermione.
Harry and Ron sneak out to Hagrid's to question him but have to hide when Dumbledore and Fudge turn up so Fudge can take Hagrid away. Lucius shows up and hands Dumbledore and order of suspension.
Harry and Ron encounter Acromantula in the forest. It is revealed that it was not Aragog who killed the girl fifty years ago.
Harry finds the piece of paper in Hermione's hand and realises that the creature is a Basilisk.
Harry and Ron overhear that Ron's sister Ginny has been taken into the Chamber. Both go to Lockheart to offer help, but end up having to take them at wand point when he tries to flee.
Harry questions Moaning Myrtle about her death. Using her information Harry discovers the entrance to the Chamber and they go down.
Lockheart pretends to feint, and then snatches Ron's broken wand. He attempts to obliviate Harry, but the spell backfires, causing him to lose his memories, and Harry and Ron to be separated by a cave in.
In the main Chamber, Harry finds Ginny and encounters Tom Riddle himself, who reveals that Ginny was the one opening the Chamber whilst possessed by him. Tom Marvolo Riddle reveals himself to be Lord Voldemort.
Harry, with help from Fawkes the Phoenix, the Sorting Hat and the Sword of Gryffindor slays the Basilisk, nearly dying in the process before being saved by the Phoenix. Harry uses the Basilisk fang to destroy the diary, and thus Voldemort, freeing Ginny from the curse.
Harry and Dumbledore confront Lucius about the diary. Lucius denies any wrong doing, but Dobby confirms it for Harry.
Harry loses his temper with the fat woman after she insults his parents and inflates her like a blimp.
Harry runs away and notices a big black dog.
Harry meets the Minister and is informed that he won't be punished for what happened.
Harry learns that Sirius Black might be out to get him.
On the Hogwarts Express, a Dementor enters Harry's compartment and attacks him, but Remus Lupin fends it off.
Harry learns about the Grim in Divination and remembers the black dog he saw.
Draco Malfoy antagonises a Hippogriff and is wounded for it.
During a Quidditch game, Harry sees the Grim again, and then is attacked by a swarm of Dementors and falls for over a hundred feet.
Harry sneaks into Hogsmeade and over hears a discussion about Sirius Black, revealing that he was the one who betrayed Harry's parents to Voldemort.
Sneaking around at night, Harry notices the name of Peter Pettigrew on a map.
Harry receives a new broom, though Hermione fears it may be from Sirius Black and gets it confiscated by McGonagall.
Remus Lupin begins teaching Harry the Patronus Charm.
Harry gets his broom back. It was not cursed.
Harry, Ron and Hermione watch the execution of the Hippogriff.
Ron is dragged off by the Grim. Harry and Hermione take on the Whomping Willow help him.
The Grim is revealed to be Sirius Black.
Lupin arrives and is revealed to be a friend of Sirius and a Werewolf.
Sirius and Lupin begin telling Harry about Peter Pettigrew when Snape shows up and threatens Sirius with the Dementors kiss.
Snape is knocked unconscious by disarming spells.
Sirius and Remus reveal that Ron's pet rat is Peter Pettigrew in disguise. Harry prevents Sirius and Remus from killing Pettigrew so that Sirius can be set free.
Outside the full moon comes out, turning Remus into a Werewolf. Sirius turns into a dog to fight him. Harry and Hermione run after them. Remus runs off.
Harry, Hermione and Sirius are attacked at the edge of the lake by a swarm of Dementors that are fought off by a mysterious person on the other side of the lake.
Fudge and Snape refuse to believe Harry and Hermione's insistence that Sirius is innocent, but Dumbledore does. At his prompting, Hermione breaks many laws to take her and Harry back in time to rescue both the Hippogriff and Sirius, with both escaping Hogwarts in the nick of time.
Harry has a dream involving Voldemort, Pettigrew, a gigantic Snake and a Muggle Caretaker, who is killed.
During the world cup, Death Eaters go on a rampage. The dark mark appears in the sky, and Harry, Ron and Hermione are blamed until Barty Crouch Sr. discovers a House Elf with a wand.
In Defence Against the Dark Arts, Moody demonstrates the Unforgivable Curses.
Harry's name comes out of the Goblet of Fire and he is told that he must compete.
Harry is quickly forced to conclude that the only person that he can currently trust is Hermione.
Moody suggests that Harry used his broom in the first task.
Harry overhears Snape and Karkaroff arguing about something getting darker.
Harry faces the Hungarian Horntail and barely manages to retrieve the golden egg.
Harry has another nightmare on the night of the Yule Ball.
Harry is competes in the Second Task, saving two hostages instead of one. He is nearly drowned by Grindylows.
Harry and Krum discover a rambling Crouch Sr. Harry goes to get help, but when he returns, both Crouch and Krum are gone. Dumbledore concludes that Crouch is dead.
Harry overhears an argument between Fudge and Dumbledore.
Harry sees the trial of Crouch's son in Dumbledore's pensieve.
Harry competes in the final task. Fleur gets knocked out. Harry and Cedric discover Krum under the Imperious Curse and knock him out.
Harry and Cedric grab the cup together and are whisked away to a graveyard.
Peter Pettigrew kills Cedric and ties Harry to a tomb stone. With bone of father, flesh of servant and blood of enemy, Wormtail brings Voldemort back to life. Voldemort calls his Death Eaters, including Crabbe, Goyle, Macnair, Avery, Nott and Lucius Malfoy himself. Voldemort himself confirmed that it had been Lucius that had given the diary to Ginny Weasley, and well as being involved in the riots at the World Cup.
Harry and Voldemort fought, their wands becoming caught in an epic battle of will power as Priori Incantatem forced Voldemort's wand to reveal the shadows of his most recent victims; Cedric Diggory, the Muggle Caretaker Frank Bryce, the mysteriously vanished Bertha Jorkins, and then James and Lily Potter, Harry's parents.
With the shadows of the dead providing cover, Harry managed to escape, taking Cedric's body with him.
As the crowd went wild with despair, Moody dragged Harry away. In his office, he reveals that it was he who put Harry's name into the Goblet. Before he kills Harry, Dumbledore arrives with Snape and McGonagall. Under questioning it is revealed that it's not Moody. The real Moody is found locked in his trunk.
Polyjuice potion wears off, revealing the fake Moody to be Barty Crouch Jr.
Harry is in the Hospital Wing with Hermione, Ron, Molly, Bill and Sirius in dog form when Fudge barges in demanding answers and dismissing the ones Harry gives. It is revealed that, through an act of incompetence, Fudge brought a Dementor with him, which instantly sucked out Jr.'s soul before Fudge could question him. Fudge refuses to believe Harry and storms out.
In Little Whinging, Harry and Dudley have a confrontation, during which Harry threatens Dudley with his wand.
Two Dementors show up and attack, nearly sucking out both boys' souls. Harry fights them off and is discovered by Mrs Figg, who helps him and Dudley home.
Several hours after they began, the memories finally ended.
The courtroom was silent, the Aurors, reporters and Percy had managed to write everything down, and now all sat in stunned silence.
After giving them a minute, Harry stood up and addressed them all.
"I'll trust that the charge for use of magic before a Muggle will be dropped. And that Sirius Black will be exonerated. I'll be looking forward to receiving all of your apologies. I'll see myself out."
And he left.
It was a few moments before Amelia Bones was able to raise her gavel and announce "Cleared of all charges." before giving it a bang.
Harry made his way up to the atrium where he threw a handful of floo powder into the fireplace and called out "Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place." before stepping into the green flames.
Stumbling out for the fireplace in the kitchen, Harry was instantly surrounded by people wanting to know how the trial went and if he was okay.
At the front of the group stood a familiar girl with bushy brown hair and a worried expression on her face. Watching all his memories play back, Harry had come to realise that there was one person who was always a constant for him; one person who was always there, at his side no matter what.
In an instant, Harry had her wrapped up in his arms and was kissing her. Hermione Granger froze up at first, but then melted into his embrace and returned the kiss.
When the broke apart, Harry gave her a loving smile and answered
"Everything's perfect."
A/N: Well there we go; I just had to get that out of my system. Let me know what you think. This is a one-shot for now, but there may be more to come later, depending on how inspiration hits.