Of Mice and Men

The five elderly wizards looked up from the chairs they were seated in along one wall in the High Council Chamber as the door opened, wanting to see who else had answered the summons for this Council hearing. They were hoping for at least the Heads of four more families from the oldest bloodlines. They needed least nine Councillors to conduct the trial that was to take place in about an hour, otherwise all they would be able to do was censure the man who had nearly brought about the destruction of the Wizarding world, and that really wouldn't be much of a punishment.

They didn't need to see the man's face to know who it was. The staff in his hand told them who this Councillor was, since there was only one wizard currently using a staff… Harry Potter.

Inclining his head slightly, the Lord Kieran rose and greeted the newcomer. "Welcome Lord Potter to the High Council of Wizarding Britain. I am Lord Kieran."

"I received three of these letters several days ago summoning me here." Harry held up three pieces of parchment looking none too pleased at being there. "Why was I summoned?"

Lord Perrivor was the one who hurried to explain, not wanting Lord Potter to bring down the wards and spells on this old chamber. They were there for a reason and would be needed later. "Lord Potter, I am Lord Perrivor. You were summoned here along with the rest of us to sit in judgement on a case of High Treason against the people of Wizarding Britain. Those letters are sent out magically to the heads of those Houses when a Councillor feels that a case coming before the Wizengamot needs to be handled by the High Council instead. We are the highest level of law in magical Britain."

"I'm surprised Fudge didn't try and get my hearings held before you then." Harry muttered.

"He wouldn't have known about the High Council." Lord Altren joined in the conversation, as the other two Lords led Lord Potter to the chair that had appeared when he entered the room. "I am Lord Altren by the way. The Council hasn't needed to sit in judgement on a case in over two hundred years. The only ones who know about the High Council these days are the Heads of Houses that can trace their lineage back at least one thousand years and their heirs, for those are the First Families to bring magic to the Isle of Britannia and maybe a few of the older wizards who were told about the Council by their parents. After Merlin left us, the High Council held all the power and authority, including the making of laws and dispensing of judgements. Around the time of the Muggle Queen Elizabeth I when the Muggle government started changing and our ancestors were finalising the arrangements to separate the magical and muggle worlds, the High Council at that time decided to start giving more authority to the younger families and created the Ministry and the Wizengamot. They did however retain their rights and they can be exercised to take back that authority if needed. The only reason we haven't is there are too few of us to govern adequately."

"Not to mention the chaos that would erupt if a previously forgotten group of people tried to take power away from the Ministry." Harry put in. "You would've been labelled Dark Lords."

"Exactly!" The ancient wizard was pleased at how quickly the younger Lord had grasped the situation. "My name is Lord Longrim. You said you received three letters… May I ask to whom they were addressed?"

Harry looked down and read the names off. "The first was addressed to the Head of the House of Potter. The second was addressed to the Head of the House of Black. And the last was addressed to the Head of the House of Magwren."

The five lords looked pleased. They only needed one more for a quorum.

Lord Perrivor asked very formally, because they couldn't coerce his co-operation here. "Lord and Head of the Houses of Potter, Black, and Magwren, we your brethren of the First Families ask if you will join us in rendering judgement in a matter of High Treason against Cornelius Oswald Fudge?"

Harry smiled and it wasn't a pleasant smile. "I thought Fudge had already been removed from office."

"I was part of the Wizengamot hearing a week ago that was to possibly remove him from office, but when I saw the list of charges, I realised that Fudge's actions had endangered us all." Lord Perrivor told him. "I called for a recess and went to my office to use the spell that summoned the Council to hear the case. Once it was activated, the spell took control over the case away from the Wizengamot."

"I'll bet Fudge wasn't too happy about that." Harry commented. "I think he owns most of them and of those he doesn't control others, that he does control, do."

"That was part of the reason, I did it." Perrivor admitted. "I've managed to stay free of such entanglements since I took my seat about forty years ago, but I didn't want that fool to get off with just the loss of his position as Minister. Will you join us, Lord Potter?"

"Before I decide whether or not to take my place on this Council, I have one more question to ask." Harry told them his expression serious.

"And that is?" Lord Keiran was curious.

'Will Dumbledore be sitting on this Council as well?" Harry's expression was grave.

Well aware of Lord Potter's dislike of Albus Dumbledore, even though the man was considered one of the greatest wizards of all time, Lord Kieran carefully answered, "While Albus Dumbledore will indeed be at this hearing, he does not have a seat on the Council. His family is not one of the First Families. He will only be here as a witness and he will have no power over any of these proceedings."

The Councillors waited in silence for the Boy-Who-Lived to decide what he was gong to do. They were well aware from the Daily Prophet articles, among others, of the young man's anger toward the people of Wizarding Britain and those in authority in particular. They just hoped that he wouldn't let that anger keep him from doing the right thing by doing his duty in this matter.

"Yes, I will take my place on the Council and render whatever judgement is needed." As Harry said those words, he felt calm and no longer angry as if his emotions had been set at a distance. He also noticed that his robes had turned to black silk edged in silver with the badges of the three houses he had been linked to showing in white and silver. Instantly suspicious, Harry demanded to know "What just happened to me?"

Well aware of the spells that were placed on Councillors once they agreed to sit in judgement Longrim had a good idea of what he was talking about. Lord Potter was no doubt suspecting some treachery had just been perpetrated on him. His great-grandfather's journal had detailed the spells on the High Council chamber so they wouldn't be forgotten. "Do not worry Lord Potter you are merely feeling one of the spells that have been placed on this room taking hold. None of the spells in this room will compel you to do anything you do not want to do. My great-grandfather called this particular spell Cerridwen's Guidance, since it allows you to render a fair judgement without your emotions getting in the way."

"What other spells are on the room?" Harry asked curious.

"There is a truthfulness spell that compels witnesses to tell the full truth without the addition of things they suppose or don't know but only heard from someone else." Longrim listed off the spells. "Spells to keep the accused and any witnesses from attacking each other or the Councillors and spells that insure all present can be understood by the others, since at the time this room was originally built, people still spoke different languages. There is also a spell on the room that will provide us with whatever is needed like food, private facilities for rest or other needs if the hearing runs longer than a few hours. The room will also provide evidence from other places, if necessary, since once all necessary parties have arrived the most important spell insures that no one can leave until the hearing is over."

"Oh, it acts like the Room of Requirement at Hogwarts." Harry decided.

"Room of Requirement?" Lord Altren had never heard of such a room during his time at Hogwarts.

Harry had just finished explaining how the Room of Requirement at Hogwarts worked when the door he had come through opened again. This time a slender man with dark brown hair entered the room.

"Hello, my name is Liam Dantes," the man introduced himself when he was close enough not to have to shout. "Can one of you tell me why I received two summons to come here today?"

"I will be more than happy to explain, if you will answer one question for me first." Lord Perrivor told him.

When Dantes nodded, he asked, "What were the names on the letters asking you to come today?"

"One was for the House of Weyland and the other for the House of Ravenclaw."

All the Lords except for Potter rose to their feet stunned. One to the heirs to the Founders had been found! It had been thought for the longest time that between Grindelwald and Voldemort all the remaining heirs to the Founders of Hogwarts had been killed. Somehow it was very appropriate that one of the Founder's lines was going to sit in judgement on Minister Fudge, since some of his crimes had been against the school.

After Perrivor had explained the purpose of the summons and Dantes had agreed to sit in judgement, the configuration of the room changed. A curved table with seven high backed chairs each bearing the badges of the Houses the Lords represented appeared at one end of the room. The table had parchment and quills and a number of other things necessary for one of the tribunal judges to make notes and keep a trial on course. Three slightly smaller tables also appeared a few feet in front of it. Two with a pair of chairs each were set at a slight angle so they would be able to see each other and the table the seven Lords would sit at. The third was situated halfway between the curved table and the two smaller tables. On it there were three piles of parchment and quills. Behind the smaller tables about two dozen chairs appeared. Harry guessed they were for the witnesses who were to be called.

The Councillors took their places at the curved table and Lord Altren requested, "Lord Ravenclaw, since you represent the Oldest House here, you are by Law the Head Councillor, so would you please say 'We are ready to begin'? That will summon the remaining participants."

"We are ready to begin." Dantes announced in a clear, calm voice.

Harry watched in amazement as the three quills rose and were each poised over of a piece of parchment.

"That's a recording table. The High Council, Defender, and Protector will each receive a copy of the hearing, in case there are questions during or after the trial." Perrivor told him seeing Potter's amazed expression. "It's the only one in magical Britain. When the High Council was also a lawgiving body, sometimes the debates over proposed laws would go so fast and furious that the scribes couldn't keep up and this table was created as a result of that. It also had the advantage of allowing secret debates to remain just that… secret."

"I can see where that would be a good thing in some instances." Dantes commented.

A door appeared in the rear wall and the first person through it was a tall, slender, distinguished-looking wizard and he was followed by a slightly younger wizard, who looked as if he was still trying to outgrow that all elbows and knees phase of his life.

"That is Alesandre Delacour." Lord Perrivor identified the man to the other members of the council. "I was very surprised when he showed up in my office a few days ago to accept the position as Protector for this hearing. I had expected the magic that governs these proceedings would select Madame Bones the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement to be the Protector for the wizarding world. She has an excellent record of remaining impartial and is interested in getting to the truth."

"Delacour," Harry looked thoughtful. "Is he by any chance related to Fleur and Gabrielle Delacour?"

"He is their Uncle, I believe." Lord Altren replied.

"Greetings my Lords," Alesandre Delacour looked up at the table where the High Council members were seated and spotted a potential problem. He double-checked his list of witnesses just to be sure. "My Lords we seem to have a bit of a dilemma."

"What is it?" Dantes asked since he had been told he was to be the Head of the Council for this hearing.

"Lord Potter is going to have to excuse himself from his seat on the Council." Delacour told them. "He is on my list of primary witnesses for this hearing."

Harry raised a single eyebrow in surprise. "I'm sorry Mr. Delacour, but did you say I am a witness?"

"That is correct, Lord Potter." Delacour replied. "Did you not receive the notice we sent to all witnesses?"

"No, I'm afraid I did not." Harry sighed.

"I think I know why you didn't receive your witness notification, Lord Potter." Longrim spoke up. "Given you had already been summoned to render judgement that took precedence over being a witness, given that at least a two-thirds majority of councillors are needed to even begin a trial for high treason."

Harry looked back and forth between the older members of the council and Delacour. "If I must step aside, then how will we have enough to make the required number for the Council to sit in judgement? Or is it possible for me to choose not to be a witness and remain on the Council?"

"It is possible for you to decline, since you are also a member of the Council," Delacour responded after looking over a section of the procedures that governed these types of hearings that had been handed to him by his assistant, "but the case against Cornelius Fudge would be stronger if there were two main witnesses… you… and Albus Dumbledore."

The older members of the Council conferred for a few moments before Perrivor told him, "While it hasn't been done in some time, even on the Wizengamot, you can choose to appoint a proxy to cast the three votes you hold. As for who would be your Proxy, you simply choose one of the other members of the Council and they will cast your votes for this issue only."

Harry sat there in thoughtful silence for several minutes then said, "Very well, given I do not wish Fudge to be able to wriggle out of this, I yield my votes to Lord Weyland."

As soon as Harry said those words his robes returned to the state they had been in when he entered the room.

Getting up from the curved table, he took one of the chairs in the first row behind the Protector's table.

As soon as he was seated the door opened again and this time two people came in. Harry recognized them as Madame Bones and Fudge. He couldn't believe that Fudge had chosen to wear that horrid lime green robe. The man clearly had no sense of taste. As Fudge passed by him, Harry couldn't resist humming a funeral dirge out loud.

Fudge stopped intending to berate the person who would dare treat him like the condemned, but the words never left his mouth as he realised it was Harry Potter. Potter just smiled at him, but it wasn't a friendly smile, In fact Fudge felt like he'd just been put on someone's dinner menu. Fudge felt relieved when the boy's attention turned to Madame Bones.

"Nice to see you, Madame Bones." Harry greeted her pleasantly. "Were you assigned prisoner escort detail? If so I must say you seem to have come down in the world from the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement since last I saw you."

Amelia smiled enjoying the look of discomfort on Fudge's face as Lord Potter called him the prisoner. "No actually, I received notice I was to be his Defender at this hearing."

"Ouch, that's even worse than doing prisoner escort duty. No offence intended Madame Bones, but unless you have a really big surprise waiting to be sprung, then the defendant should get ready to lose everything… especially if I have anything to say about it." Harry told her.

"How could you possibly have anything to do with it?" Fudge bristled, annoyed that the brat wasn't showing him the proper respect he was due. He was still Minister by Merlin and deserved to be treated with respect.

Harry's smile became even more menacing as he told the petty bureaucrat, "I'm one of the chief witnesses against you. And if you weren't told before the charge is High Treason against the magical world." Harry just loved the horrified expression on Fudge's face at that bombshell.

Harry glanced at Madame Bones and saw the smirk on her face. "I take it he didn't know the real charges?"

"I didn't want him trying to make a break for it." Amelia told him. "I told him the hearing was about his being removed as Minister, which was true, I just didn't mention the rest of the charges. If he'd known he was to be charged with High Treason, he would've disapparated so fast his clothes would've been left behind."

Fudge seemed to be hyperventilating and then there was a sudden pop and he was no longer beside Madame Bones. There was a second popping sound at the far end of the room near the door. Fudge tried pulling the door open, but it wouldn't budge. He vanished with a pop but reappeared a moment later in a different corner of the room. A third popping sound was heard and he appeared back in the original corner.

Grinning. Harry pointed his staff at Fudge and a bolt of blue light shot from the stone at the tip, hitting Fudge as he disappeared again. When he reappeared, he had a tail, furry ears that would've looked at home on a mouse or rat, a long twitchy nose, and a pair of huge buckteeth protruding from his mouth.

"It's like watching a mouse try and get away from a cat isn't it?" Harry commented to Amelia as she watched Fudge pop from one corner to another, unaware of how ridiculous he looked.

"Fudge!" Dantes finally shouted, after Fudge's tenth attempt to leave the room. "Stop right where you are! You can't get out of this room. It is useless to continue trying. You will face long overdo justice for your actions if you are found guilty. Now act like a man instead of a mouse."

Fudge reluctantly took the seat at the other table. Madame Bones joined him a few moments later.

"Lord Potter, would you please undo the spell you placed on Mr. Fudge?" Dantes requested.

"Do I have to?" Harry whined like a little boy. "He makes such a cute mouseman."

"Yes." Dantes was firm, though there was grin on his face.

Looking disappointed, Harry pointed his staff at Fudge's back and another bolt of light shot from it. This time it was yellow and once it hit the Minister the mouse features returned to normal human ones.

The door at the rear of the room opened again and this time a stream of people came through. Harry recognised some of them, but not all of them. The Weasleys were there including Ginny the dog having come in right behind Dumbledore. Surprisingly Snape and Umbridge were there as well, though they were both under guard by a pair of Aurors each. Harry guessed that they were all witnesses since this didn't seem like a trial where you would want a visitor's gallery to witness it.

Ignoring the Weasleys, which was easy to do since they hadn't seen him yet, Harry studied Snape and Umbridge. It was an interesting study in contrasts. Snape was still wearing the robes he had been arrested in and they were beginning to look a little worn, but he still looked as arrogant as ever. Harry was willing to bet his tongue was still as sharp as ever too. Umbitch on the other hand standing there, looking like someone had just killed her kitten. Harry doubted she was even aware of her surroundings, since she was staring at the ground and not really responding to anything. Harry couldn't help wondering if she were trying to pretend she was insane so she could get moved to St. Mungos Psychiatric ward. The two prisoners were led to chairs that had appeared on the far side of the room near the Defence table.

As Umbridge passed the Defence table, she reacted to Fudge and Amelia's presence with a squeal of glee, like a teenager who had just seen her favourite rock star. "Minister! I knew you would make them see they were wrong to send me to Azkaban! I'm finally going to be exonerated and freed! I knew that you believed in what we were doing!"

Fudge looked as if he were going to be ill as Umbridge gushed about how she was glad to be getting back to work as his assistant and that she would help him set things right the way they were supposed to be.

"Madam!" Dantes' voice cut through her mindless chatter like a knife. "Please cease your caterwauling. I'm afraid you are mistaken as to the reason you are here. You see the Minister is the one on trial here. If you received anything remotely like a fair trial then I am sure you deserve to be in Azkaban for whatever crime you committed."

Umbridge stared at the young man seated at the table as if she couldn't believe he'd had the audacity to say that. Drawing herself up, Umbridge said, "How dare you suggest that the Minister should be on trial? Who do you think you are? It is quite clear to me that you are a nothing. … A nobody. If you were someone of importance then you know about all the good the Minister has done for the magical world."

"Actually madam that is where you are wrong." Dantes smiled, but it wasn't a pleasant smile. "Based on my family's lineage, I am one of the most important people you will ever meet."

Trying to avoid a situation, Fudge begged his former assistant. "Delores, please sit down. We have to let them have their moment, but I am certain I will be vindicated."

Umbridge stared at the unknown young man and sniffed loudly, before doing as she was asked.

"Could everyone please take their seats we are ready to begin?" Lord Altren requested.

Longrim picked up the sheaf of parchment and prepared to read out the list of charges against Minister Fudge, when a woman's voice demanded shrilly. "Harry James Potter, you get over here right now and change my daughter back!"

"Ah Mrs. Weasley, once again you are making demands." Dantes identified the speaker. "And why do you feel compelled to interrupt these proceedings?"

"I demand that this august body force Potter to restore my daughter Ginny to her original form and to do it this instant." Molly ignored his question.

"And what pray tell does you're your daughter's transformation have to do with the business before this Council?" Altren asked the question in a tone that made it clear he expected an answer.

"It has nothing to do with this Council," Molly admitted, "but he shouldn't be allowed to get away with transforming her into a dog. He should be forced to change her back and right this minute."

"And why did you bring your daughter the dog to this hearing?" Lord Kieran wanted to know.

"My daughter's presence was ordered at this hearing as a witness to the events the night He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named returned." Molly told the panel.

"Moldyshorts has been dead six months and they still can't say his name." Harry commented loudly to the ceiling.

"Is there a Ginny Weasley on the witness list, Delacour?" Lord Perrivor asked.

"Yes, my lord," Delacour confirmed. "Though according to the documentation I have she is just one of the witnesses for the same event."

"Lord Potter, why did you change Miss Weasley into dog?" Lord Altren wanted to know.

"Punishment." Harry told the council flatly. "Miss Weasely attacked fellow student Luna Lovegood and nearly killed her. There was no reason for the unprovoked attack other than the warped idea she had that I belonged to her. I had told the female Weasel repeatedly that I wouldn't have anything to do with her, even if she were the last female of any species on this earth."

Harry paused in his explanation for a moment and smiled, though it wasn't a pleasant smile. "And if you are planning on ordering me to reverse the spell, I'm afraid that would be impossible, even for me. I purposely cast it so that it could only be undone in a specific place and at a specific time. Any attempt to try and undo it before then will not be successful and might do more harm than good."

"What time and place?" Dantes asked.

"The Great Hall at Hogwarts two days from now." Harry informed the room at large. "If she stands on the same stone she was transformed on at the same time she was transformed, she will be returned to what passes as normal for her."

"And if she isn't standing on that exact spot at the right time?" Dumbledore was beginning to get worried.

"Then she will remain a dog forever." Harry said simply.

"Harry!" Dumbledore protested. "It is wrong to apply a permanent transfiguration to someone without their consent."

"It was wrong of the littlest Weasel to attack Luna for no reason other than her warped idea that she was some how a threat." Harry countered. "If she had waited until I was out of sight to attack, Luna would've died. Very few people go near Moaning Mrytle's bathroom and even if they had found her, they wouldn't have been able to get her to Madame Pomfrey in time. According to Madame Pomfrey, Luna is so allergic to bees that if she doesn't receive treatment within fifteen minutes, she will die. She should be happy all she's had to be is a dog for a few weeks. She could've been on trial for murder, only she really would've been guilty… unlike me."

"Gentlemen, I think we are getting off topic here." Lord Kieran interrupted the pair before they could get started. "We need to determine if Miss Weasley can give testimony or not."

Both men went silent, though Harry looked slightly annoyed that he'd been interrupted.

After a quick conference with the other five seated at the tribunal table, Lord Kieran wanted to know. "Protector Delacour is it possible for the questions asked to Miss Weasley to be phrased as yes or no questions? Or would all witnesses be required to give detailed answers."

Delacour looked thoughtful. "If she is the last one called for the incident she witnessed. We can ask her questions that will simply confirm or deny what the others reported."

There was another whispered conference at the main table before Dantes as the tribunal head looked at the small red poodle in Mrs. Weasley's arms, "Miss Weasely, you will be called last for the incident you are to give testimony on. Your answers will be one bark for yes and two for no. Do you understand?"

There was a growl followed by a short bark signifying 'yes'.

Handing Ginny off to her father, Molly stormed up the table where the tribunal judges were seated. "My Lords, I can't believe you aren't going to force Potter to change my daughter back! I can't believe that you would be that cruel to her!"

"Madam," Dantes spoke up before any of the others could. "Your daughter according to Lord Potter attacked and nearly killed another student simply because she thought she was taking away her man. I think a few weeks as a bitch is a relatively minor inconvenience when she could've been in Azkaban for the crime of murder."

"My daughter is not a bitch!" Molly sputtered, not understanding the reference.

"Oh has she taken a sex change potion then?" Harry couldn't resist saying.

"Lord Potter please," Dantes requested, not wanting the flames fanned any higher. "Mrs. Weasley, Lord Potter also made it clear that any attempt to undo the spell before the appointed time and in the appointed place could cause your daughter harm. Is that what you really want?"

"He was lying." Molly said with certainty. "He hates my family because we made a mistake over a year ago and he is unwilling to forgive us for it."

"He is not lying, madam." Lord Kieran told her. "He has already taken his oath since he was originally supposed to be one of the High Lords making a ruling in this case, but since he is a primary witness he had to relinquish that role. But his agreeing to be here, allowed the magic within these chambers to place a truth spell on him. The same spell that will be placed on everyone within this room once the hearing starts. He can not lie if asked a question by either Protector, Defender, or one of the High Lords of the Court."

"He might've found a way around it." Molly insisted. "He's a very devious person. He's a parselmouth by Merlin's beard. It is well-known that they can't be trusted."

"And you wonder why I can't forgive you." Harry commented dryly. "Next you'll have me as Moldyshort's replacement."

"Madam, our judgement has been rendered on this matter." Dante told Molly Weasley firmly. "Take your seat now or be bound and gagged in your chair until the time comes for your testimony."

Molly glared at the youngest Lord on the High Council, clearly wanting to say more and from the expression on Dantes' face he was waiting for her to do so almost gleefully so he could carry out his threat.

"Molly," Arthur finally called, "Take a seat. We know that Ginny will be returned to normal in two days and we can wait that long."

Molly glared at Dantes and then Potter one more time, before joining her husband.

Lord Kieran rose to his feet. "We are here today to sit in judgement on a case of High Treason against the people of magical Britain and by extension the rest of the magical and non-magical worlds. These charges are being brought against the person of Cornelius Oswald Fudge, the current Minister for Magic of Great Britain. Are all assembled from the Accused to the Witnesses for both sides?"

Delacour checked his list and after a few moments, announced, "They are my Lords."

Madame Bones rose to her feet after checking her list also and confirmed, "They are my Lords."

"Then let this room be sealed until these proceedings are concluded so that none may enter or leave." Kieran uttered the required phrase solemnly.

A deep blue glow covered the walls of the room and doors.

"You can't do that!" Ron spat getting to his feet. "We have the right to leave whenever we want to. We are not prisoners here."

"He is right you know." Hermione put in getting to her feet and standing beside Ron. "Even in the Wizarding World keeping someone captive is called kidnapping."

"Are you saying, young sir and miss that you do not wish to do your civic duty and give testimony in a case where you have been called as a witness?" Lord Altren asked. There was a warning note in his voice.

"No, we're not saying that at all" Hermione protested, "but there is no reason to hold us captive."

"It's so sad to see how poorly the young are being taught about the history of their world." Altren shook his head. "The traditions and history that made our people great once upon a time are being forgotten or ignored, but I supposed that's only to be expected when the only thing a magical history teacher will teach is about the Goblin Rebellions. Young lady there are many laws and traditions that can be traced back to the when the magical world was founded. A number of those laws concerned how cases of crimes against the magical world were conducted. This sealing is done for your protection. In the past, it was not unknown for a witness who left the chamber to be killed before their testimony could be given, thereby altering the outcome of the trial."

"However if you two do not wish to participate in this hearing, then you may leave, but understand it will be noted in the file kept on you at the Ministry that you refused to do your duty when called upon to do so" Lord Perrivor put in. "And such a refusal could affect your future prospects for employment… among other things."

Hermione looked horrified at the thought, while Ron looked mutinous, but they both sat back down and didn't say another word.

Lord Perrivor looked over the occupants of the room. "Does anyone else among the witnesses which to depart?"

None of the others spoke up or stood up.

Speaking with great solemnity, Perrivor said, "All who are to give witness shall now be bound to tell the truth. There will be no evasions or half truths."

A white glow surrounded all seated at and behind the Protector and Defender's tables.

Lord Longrim as the oldest member of the Council got to his feet and read the list of charges. "Cornelius Oswald Fudge, you are here before us facing the charge of High Treason against peoples of magical Britain and the magical world. The allegations making up the primary charge are: It is alleged that you did take bribes from known Deatheaters and allowed them into positions of power within the government so that they could further their racist agenda. That you abused the power of your office in the following ways: Imprisoning the man Ruebus Hagrid in Azkaban without a trial and no proof that he was the guilty party involved in reopening the Chamber of Secrets and that through you, the Ministry has failed to this day to compensate Hagrid for that false imprisonment. That you failed to give a new trial to Sirius Orion Black when possible evidence came to light that he might be innocent or even delay his execution until that evidence could be examined as is required by law. That you did abuse your position on the Wizengamot to have a simple charge of underaged magic heard before the full panel, when it should have only been heard a before a three member panel from the Department of Magical Education. Also it is alleged that you changed the time of this hearing but failed to notify the participants until the last minute so that Lord Harry James Potter would be expelled from Hogwarts for failing to show up at the appointed time. That you deliberately covered up the actions of the Dark Lord in his attacks against both magical and muggle-born families, leaving us defenceless if he chose to attack in full force. And you did knowingly violate the treaty between the magical and muggle government of Great Britain by doing so. As a further abuse of your power it is alleged that you did allow and encourage the Daily Prophet to print lies and slander about Lord Potter and Albus Dumbledore in an attempt to discredit them so no one would believe their claims that He-Who-Must-Not-be-Named was back. That you did place your Undersecretary Delores Umbridge at Hogwarts as Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, even though she was not qualified to teach the position and this was done in an effort to silence Harry Potter and those who believed the claims about Voldemort's return."

Longrim paused for a moment looking up. "How do you plead to these charges?"

Fudge got to his feet. "I plead not guilty to all the charges and I also hereby declare that this court has no authority over me."

Longrim sat down as Dantes ordered, "Protector Delacour, call your first witness."

"Lord Harry James Potter." Delacour called.

As Harry rose from his seat, a comfortable looking straight-backed chair appeared between the tables.

"Lord Potter, how long have you been a part of the wizarding world?" Delacour asked, once Harry had taken the witness seat.

"Approximately seven years," Harry answered calmly.

"Prior to your introduction to the Wizarding World by Rubeus Hagrid, you lived in the muggle world, is that correct?"

"Existed might be more accurate," Harry answered after a moment's though on how to phrase it, "but yes, I resided in the muggle world."

"When did you first meet the Minister Fudge?" Delacour wanted to know.

"Do you mean when were we first introduced, or when did I first see the man? They aren't necessarily the same thing." Harry explained.

"When were you first introduced to him? And where?" Dleacour clarified the question.

"I was introduced to Minister Fudge in the summer before my third year at Hogwarts. He met me at the Leaky Cauldron when I went there to get away from my family after accidentally blowing up Marge Dursley." Harry told him.

"That was the summer Sirius Black escaped from Azkaban." Delacour commented then asked. "Was it an accidental meeting?"

"No, he was waiting for me inside the Leaky Cauldron."

"And why was the Minister of Magic, who I am sure was at that time a very busy man waiting there for you?"

"He came to chew me out for running away from my Aunt's house. He told me that I had caused them a lot of bother, but that they had smoothed all over and I would be welcome back at my Aunt and Uncle's the next summer." Harry told him. "Though he was polite abut it, he tried to make me feel as if it were my fault that I'd put the Ministry to so much trouble to fix things, even though Marge deserved it."

"And you didn't think it was odd that the Minister of Magic had come to do that himself? He could've sent an underling to make sure you were ok."

"Given that I wasn't raised in the Magical world I had no idea how things worked. I was just glad he wasn't there to arrest me, so I didn't really give it much thought." Harry admitted. "I mean I had seen him have Hagrid arrested on nothing more than suspicion and rumour about the Chamber of Secrets the previous spring so I was expecting the worst."

Delacour led Harry through the events where he had contact either directly or indirectly with the Minister.

"So the Minister didn't believe you when you told him that Pettigrew was alive?" Delacour inquired.

"No sir, he thought Granger and I were confounded by Sirius." Harry told the tribunal. "He wouldn't listen to a thing we said. He acted like we were five year olds who'd just had an encounter with a boggart. I have never been a child. Growing up with the Dursleys saw to that. Fudge chose to believe Snape, even though he had to know that Snape loathed Sirius and my Father and would like nothing better than to get back at them. It was a well known fact at Hogwarts during the time they attended school."

Harry decided to add some additional information for the Tribunal's consideration. "I did some checking over this past summer and I found that my godfather never received a trial after his arrest. He was condemned to Azkaban without trial. The only record showing at the Ministry of Magic regarding his trial is a single page that says trial is pending. That means that by not even being willing to listen to Granger and I, Fudge had condemned someone who hadn't even been subjected to the wizard world's idea of a trial to the Kiss."

"That is a lie!" Fudge burst out. "Black was tried and found guilty."

"Oh really?" Harry countered in a drawling voice. "Then why did he retain access to his vaults afterwards? I mean according to a fifty year old law that Gringotts is required to honour, if a person is condemned to life in prison or the Kiss, then all their assets either are given to or held in trust for their heir and if there is no heir, then they are given to the family of the person harmed. The thing is the Goblins before they will comply with this have to have proof the person was convicted. Sirius had no heir at the time he was sent to Azkaban and his assets were never placed in trust for me, so he was never convicted of any crime."

"Gentlemen, we are getting off the subject here." Dantes spoke up.

"Actually, I think does go to point out just how incompetent Fudge has been throughout his entire ministerial career." Harry countered. "But you are right in that it has no bearing on charges of high treason."

Delacour spoke up before Fudge could make any more comments. "All right Lord Potter lets move on to your fourth year after you returned from completing the third task in the Tournament with the body of Cedric Diggory. What happened when Fudge came into the Hospital Wing of Hogwarts?"

"Fudge and Professor McGonagall were arguing about something Fudge had brought into the castle without Dumbledore's permission. I got the impression that it was something the Headmaster would not have approved of. Then he demanded to know where Dumbledore was."

"Did you ever learn what it was that had Fudge brought into Hogwarts?" Delacour wanted to know.

"It was a Dementor." Harry reported. "Fudge defended his actions by saying it was his right to bring protection along when he was going to be questioning a potentially dangerous prisoner."

"And just who was this potentially dangerous prisoner?"

"Barty Crouch Jr who had been impersonating Moody as the Defence against the Dark Arts teacher all year."

There were gasps from those who had been unaware of this fact.

"Barty Crouch Sr at the request of his dying wife, got him out of Azkaban." Harry added. "She took his place under polyjuice and was buried as her son when she died."

"And did Minister Fudge question Crouch about his activities?" Lord Perrrivor inquired.

"Not according to what McGonagall and Snape told the Headmaster." Harry informed him. "She said the minute the Dementor saw Crouch it swooped over and Kissed him."

Fudge leaned over and whispered something quietly to Madame Bones. She shot him a look of disgust because of it.

"So Crouch was never interrogated?" Bones inquired.

"Not by Fudge. He called the death of Crouch before he could be questioned, 'no great loss.'" Harry informed her. "Dumbledore had questioned him under Veritaserum though before sending for Fudge. And found that he had helped arrange things so that Moldyshorts would get his body back, using my blood along with a few other things."

"Did the Minister ever question you about the events surrounding the Dark Lord's return or Cedric Diggory's death?" Bones wanted to know.

"Nope. Dumbledore didn't want me questioned that night, but the Minister never tried at any other time either." Harry told her. "Because of the articles written by Rita Skeeter as revenge, because I wouldn't give her the interview she wanted and the fact that I am a parselmouth, Fudge believed I was nuts and that anything I said would about as believable as a Dementor winning a muggle beauty pageant. When Dumbledore tried to tell him that Voldemort was back, he called it preposterous. At one point he even told Dumbledore 'He can't be back, Dumbledore, he just can't be…' I even named the Deatheaters that responded to Voldemort's summons to the graveyard and all Fudge said was that I could've learned their names in transcripts of the trials."

"Did you ever see transcripts of the trials?" Bones spoke up before Delacour could ask his next question.

"And where would I have gotten my hands on copies of those?" Harry wanted to know. "Prior to my fifth year, the only parts of the wizarding world I had ever spent a lot of time in were Diagon Alley, Hogwarts, the Burrow, and Hogsmeade. I doubt that Ministry records are kept in any of those places."

"What else occurred in the Hospital wing the night the Dark Lord returned?" Delacour asked.

"Dumbledore made some recommendations that included removing the Dementors from Azkaban, since they would follow Moldyshorts in heartbeat, given that he would allow them more freedom than they were getting from the Ministry. He also suggested sending envoys to the Giants." Harry told them. "Fudge accused all of us of wanting to destabilise the Ministry and destroy the peace that the magical world had enjoyed for the last thirteen years."

"So to sum it up," Dantes concluded. "The night the Dark Lord returned, Minister Fudge, who is supposed to be in charge of helping to defend the magical world, stuck his fingers in his ears and sang nursery rhymes to himself hoping this would all go away. Would that be an accurate assessment, Lord Potter?"

"I couldn't have put it better myself." Harry smiled.

"I will not stand for this!" Fudge shouted out from where he sat at the table. "How dare you compare me to a child! I have always done what is best for the wizarding world! If it were not for me, the magical world would be in chaos right now."

Harry let out a snort of laughter at that last claim. "You actually think you did a good job of protecting the magical world? What kind of drugs are you on?"

"Gentlemen," Dantes spoke up before Fudge could respond. "We are getting off the topic again."

"Actually," Harry mused, "it may be very much on topic, but only time will tell."

"I take no medications other than the ones my healers prescribe for me." Fudge huffed.

"Then I would see about getting a new healer Fudgie," Harry couldn't resist commenting. "They are obviously doing nothing for your delusions, if you thought you were doing a good job as Minister."

"Gentlemen." Dantes' voice contained a note of warning. "Proceed Protector Delacour."

"Lets move on to your hearing regarding the use of underaged magic outside of school." Delacour requested. "Please tell the court what happened."

"It started with a pair of Dementors that Under-Secretary Umbridge later admitted setting on me in hopes that they would Kiss me." Harry began. "They nearly Kissed me and my cousin Dudley, not that him being Kissed would've been a great loss. Nor would anyone would've been able to tell the difference with him, given he sits on his arse all day long, when he's not beating up on those younger or smaller than he is. I drove them off with the Patronus Charm I had learned in my third year, since they seemed to want to kill me then as well."

Harry paused for a moment reliving the terror he'd felt that night. "I then got a letter telling me someone was coming by to destroy my wand because I'd been expelled from Hogwarts and that I would face a disciplinary hearing at 9 am on August 12. Then I got another letter saying they weren't going to destroy my wand but I still had to attend the hearing. Arthur Weasley took me to the Ministry early intending to show me around a little and it was a good thing he did, because we found out that the time of the hearing had been changed to 8 am, but I was never notified, nor was anyone else who could've helped in my defence. We also found out that the location of the hearing had been changed to courtroom 10, instead of in the Improper Use of Magic office. We just barely made it to the hearing room in time and I found I was going to have to defend myself in front of the whole Wizaengamot."

"You mean to tell me that not only was the time and place of the hearing was changed, but that they failed to notify you or anyone else of the change?" Lord Altren sounded incensed. "And you had no defender to walk you through the proceedings? That is a violation of the law. A defender should have spoken with you well before the hearing to get an idea of what had happened so a defence could be prepared."

"That's right," Harry agreed. "And then Fudge made it sound like it was my fault I was a couple of minutes late, even though I'd only found out about the change in the hearing time ten minutes before and we had to go all the way down to courtroom ten from where the hearing should have been in the Improper Use of Magic Offices. Fudge then attempted to control the hearing from beginning to end but he got a rather rude surprise when Dumbledore appeared in Courtroom 10 and brought with him Arabella Figg the squib who he'd placed in the neighbourhood to keep any eye on me"

"I gather that the hearing went in your favour since you returned to Hogwarts for your fifth year." Lord Perrivor commented.

"Yes it did," Harry agreed then muttered to himself, "but I'm not so sure that was a good thing. Fudge basically ended the hearing when he realised he wasn't going to be able to get me expelled and he didn't want other things coming to light."

"Lord Potter, after the hearing ended, did you have any further contact with the Minister prior to you going to the Department of Mysteries at the end of your fifth year?" Delacour asked.

"If you mean direct contact, then no." Harry answered after a few moments thought. "I did have indirect contact through all those educational decrees he and Umbridge cooked up that basically turned Hogwarts into a Concentration camp."

"Come now Lord Potter. Isn't that a bit extreme? I can hardly imagine how Hogwarts could be compared to a Nazi Concentration camp." Bones commented. "After all no one died there, and they certainly did in those muggle concentration camps."

"Maybe no one died, but people were certainly tortured under Umbridge's reign at Hogwarts. That's why she's now enjoying all that quality time at the Azkaban spa remember?" Harry countered, then conceded. "Okay, maybe a concentration camp is a bit extreme. One of the old Soviet re-education camps might be nearer to the mark. There were more than a dozen educational decrees created during my fifth year to control what kind of groups could be created within the houses, insuring that our mail was censored so that nothing got out that Umbridge and Fudge didn't want getting out, governing what we were allowed to read and what our teachers could teach us. Umbridge created an Inquisitorial Squad solely out of fifth to seventh year members of Slytherin house and the majority of them were the children of now known Deatheaters. Umbridge brought a Blood Quill into school and used it to torture students who refused to go along with the party line that Moldyshorts wasn't back. And while there were no deaths, we certainly were not allowed the freedom of expression we as British subjects had previously enjoyed."

"Lord Potter," Delacour wanted to finish up Potter's questioning. "What can you tell us about Minister Fudge's involvement in your trial for the murder of Neville Longbottom?"

"Not much, I'm afraid." Harry admitted. "There were Dementors around my cell day and night and when I was dragged into the courtroom in chains I was still trying to recover from the effects of them, so I couldn't put on a very good defence."

"What do you mean you couldn't put on a very good defence?" Lord Altren demanded. "Surely you were provided with a defender to speak for you?"

"No sir, I was not," Harry told them. "Or if I was then Fudge probably tried the change of hearing time trick again. I certainly don't remember speaking to anyone about my defence. Nor do I remember anyone speaking up on my behalf. I wasn't even given Veritaserum, which would've cleared me."

Lord Perrivor looked over at Fudge. "It looks as though we may have another charge to add: Interfering with a court case to insure that Lord Potter did not receive the fair trial he was entitled to under British magical law."

Fudge paled slightly.

"Is there anything else you would like to add to the evidence you have presented today, Lord Potter?" Delacour asked.

Harry shrugged. "Not much, except to say that Fudge should never have been elected to the Office of Minister of Magic. I realise it is foolish to expect a politician not to be a self-serving git, but Fudge carries it to the extreme. I mean what kind of idiot would be willing to risk the entire future of the magical world on the hope that I was lying about Voldemort."

abc 123 abc 123 #

The trial resumed after a brief recess so everyone could take care of personal needs given that Harry's testimony had taken several hours to go through. The next up was Dumbledore.

Harry didn't pay much attention to Dumbledore's questioning until Delacour asked, "Given that you were head of the Wizengamot, why did you not push for a delay of Black's execution and a retrial or as we now know it should've been his first trial?"

Dumbledore looked very thoughtful. He could feel the bindings of the very powerful truth spell on him and knew he had to choose his words with care, because the spell wouldn't allow him to lie. "You have to understand Cornelius doesn't like to appear weak in front of anyone. By the time the children came to and told us that Black might be innocent, the Minister had already sent for the Dementor to administer the Kiss and he was not about to delay the sentence."

"Why didn't you order it delayed?" Delacour persisted. "As Head of the Wizengamot, you do have that power."

"I had planned on doing so," Dumbledore hedged and he would have if the children hadn't succeeded in getting Black away. "I had hoped however to make Fudge listen to reason, without forcing such a break between the two branches of our government. Unfortunately all Fudge could see was the acclaim he would get for Black's capture and removal and he would not have liked my interfering no matter how justified it may have been in the end. It was his belief that the Ministry mustn't appear as weak now that they had caught one of the Dark Lord's greatest supporters. If he had persisted in his intention I would have forced the issue before the Dementor could Kiss Black. With Black's escape that intention became a moot point."

Curious Dantes asked, "As Head of the Wizengamot why did you not exercise your authority to push for a new trial for Black once you suspected he might be innocent?"

"I would have once he was recaptured." Dumbledore hedged. "Once he got away, I had the Kiss order rescinded, but giving him a new trial would've had to wait until he was back in custody so that he could be questioned under Veritaserum and the truth learned once and for all."

Rather loudly from where Harry was seated there was heard, "*cough* bullshit *cough* bullshit *cough*."

"You disagree with some aspect of Headmaster Dumbledore's testimony, Lord Potter?" Dantes inquired. "You know he can not lie."

"No," Harry agreed, "he can't lie, but he can step very carefully around the truth."

"What are you saying?" Madame Bones demanded.

Harry met Dumbledore's gaze coldly. "I am saying that Dumbledore knew exactly where to find Sirius anytime he wanted to. He could've ordered a new trial at any time and then had Sirius brought in for it, but he didn't." Harry told her. "In fact in my fifth year he all but had Sirius under house arrest at one of the Black family properties, at least until Sirius came to my rescue in the Department of Mysteries and was knocked through the Veil there by his cousin Bellatrix. But that wouldn't have fit in with Dumbledork's plan of keeping me at my relative's because if Sirius were free, by Wizarding law he could take over guardianship of me and Dumbledore couldn't have that."

"And why would Dumbledore want you kept at your muggle relatives if there were someone else with more of a right to take you according to wizard law?" Lord Longrim inquired.

"Who knows why he does anything." Harry shrugged. "My personal opinion is that he wanted me so beaten down, not necessarily physically, though that would've helped is plans., so that I would do whatever he and the wizarding world wanted because I craved their acceptance."

"As fascinating as this is," Dantes put in, "Dumbledore isn't the one on trial… right now."

"You're right my Lord," Amelia agreed. "I will have my people look into it at a later date."

"Please continue Protector Delacour." Dantes requested.

"Headmaster Dumbledore, let's move onto the end of the Triwizard Tournament, where you advised Minister Fudge that the Dark Lord was back." Delacour moved on to his next set of questions. "How did the Minister take the news?"

"He refused to believe it." Dumbledore answered that question honestly. "He accused me of putting young Harry up to it and of trying to destabilise the Ministry, when I made some recommendations on the courses of action he needed to take to try and cut off Voldemort's potential sources of allies."

Between Delacour, the High Council, and Bones, Dumbledore's testimony went on for another hour. Nothing earth shattering came out of it, just more proof as far as Harry was concerned that Fudge wanted to go through life with blinders on if he could. The man should never have been made Minister, because while he loved the title and the prestige that came along with the job, he clearly couldn't handle the responsibilities and he wasn't able to make the hard decisions when needed and those decisions he did make were usually the wrong ones. The kind meant to enhance his public image rather than do what was right for the magical world.

The next witnesses were the Weasleys and Snape and their testimony went fairly quickly since the only thing they were questioned about was the incident in the Hospital Wing. Harry couldn't help smiling as Ginny gave her testimony. Her barking wasn't all that different from her normal voice as far as he was concerned. He just hoped she learned her lesson and would leave him alone.

After another brief recess, the next witness called was Delores Umbridge.

"Madam Umbridge," Everyone could hear the contempt in Delacour's voice as he addressed the toadlike woman. "According to Educational Decree number twenty-two which was passed August 30, 1995, the Minister appointed you as the Defence Against the Dark Arts Teacher when Headmaster Dumbledore was unable to find a suitable candidate. Can you tell us why he felt the need to interfere in the running of a school that had been turning out fine witches and wizards for over a thousand years? And more importantly, can you detail what masteries and qualifications you had that made you uniquely qualified to teach Defence Against the Dark Arts?"

Simpering like a schoolgirl and smiling what she no doubt thought was a pleasant smile, but it actually made everyone who saw it a bit nauseous, Umbridge said, "The Minister felt it was high time that the Department of Magical Education and the Ministry take a firmer grip of the reins of Hogwarts. The teachers who had been teaching there in the last few years were an unmitigated disaster. I mean Dumbledore hired a werewolf… Can you think of anyone who should have less contact with children and be less likely to teach impressionable minds well?"

"Actually madam," Delacour felt compelled to interrupt. "It is a well recorded fact that that the students who took their OWL's and NEWTs the year Professor Remus Lupin, the werewolf as you call him, taught were among the highest for the school in the last fifty years."

"The Minister's point exactly. We should have far more qualified teachers teaching these impressionable minds." Umbridge hurried on. "It isn't right that a werewolf could outdo a regular pureblood wizard in a teaching position."

"Given that claim madam, then I presume you hold a Mastery in Defence against the Dark Arts?" Delacour inquired with a smile. "Which was why Minister Fudge who really had no idea what was required for the position chose you."

When Umbridge remained silent, he went on. "Surely madam, you must have demonstrated your competence at teaching and at Defence Against the Dark Arts in particular to have gained this position. Or were you perhaps appointed for some other reason…? Like to make sure that the truth about the Dark Lord's return never made it beyond the school. In other words to silence Lord Potter and the Headmaster as well as silence anyone else who might speak out against the Ministry?"

"I had an Acceptable in my NEWT level Defence Against the Dark Arts class." Umbridge told him stiffly. "That more than makes me qualified to teach the class."

"I would have thought to teach at such a prestigious institution like Hogwarts, you should have at least an O Level if not years of experience." Delcaour commented. "Do you perhaps have years of experience in defending the magical world from the Dark Arts? I see nowhere in your records that you served at any time as an Auror. Did you perhaps gain this experience elsewhere, like out of the country perhaps?"

Umbridge remained silent.

"Enough of this dancing around, madam." Delacour was growing tired of playing with the toad. "Why were you and not someone from the Department of Magical Law Enforcement appointed to teach Defence Against the Dark Arts?"

Umbridge looked at the High Council and said with a certain amount of defiance. "The Minister said he chose me because I was exactly the person needed for the position, so that the children would learn what the Ministry needed for them to know so they could survive in the magical world."

"So the Minister wanted the children of the wizarding world unable to defend themselves." Delacour sounded surprised.

"That it what Aurors are for." Umbridge countered. "They defend the people of the wizarding world from those who want to kill them. The people of the magical world should only have to worry about defending themselves from Boggarts and the like."

"But Aurors can't be everywhere," Lord Perrivor pointed out. "Not to mention the fact that new Aurors have to be trained and they need to know the basics of how to defend themselves from more creatures than simple boggarts. You taught no practical spell casting so how were the children to learn the spells. Merlin help the magical world if you had managed to last more than a year."

"They can read, that gave them all they needed to know." Umbridge persisted. "Besides, the students who took their OWLs and NEWTs scored the highest Hogwarts ever had during my tenure."

"Only because of the DA," Harry put in, unwilling to let the toad claim all his hard work. "I can prove that the only ones who scored exceptionally well on either the OWLs or NEWTs were those in the DA. The rest failed or barely passed and that's probably because they had prior training at home."

Umbridge just glared hatefully at Harry, but made no comment.

"Umbridge, where did you get the Blood Quill from?" Delacour asked his next question. "It is a Class 1 Restricted item. It is used solely for magical contracts requiring a blood signature and as such only the Ministry's Legal offices and Gringotts are allowed to be in possession of one. Was it supplied by the Minister?"

"No, the Minister did not supply it. I took it from the Auror evidence lockup. It had been there for over fifty years, so I knew no one would miss it." Umbridge admitted. "I knew I was going to need something to control the more stubborn children and pain has always been a powerful motivator."

"So Fudge didn't suggest you bring anything to as you said control the more stubborn children?" Delacour wanted to know.

Umbridge tried to avoid answering, but the truth spell forced her to. "No, the minister knew nothing about how I intended to control the more stubborn children like Potter. I think he expected the decrees to keep them in line since no one wanted the stigma of being expelled from Hogwarts following them around. I knew better though. I've seen children like that brat Potter before. You have to rule them with fear to keep them in line."

"I think that we all on the council are pleased that no matter how drunk with power and love of his position Fudge was he at least didn't stoop to knowingly condoning the torture of children." Lord Longrim put in. "Though he should have picked his underlings better. This makes what three members of your staff Cornelius, who have proven to be a liability?"

(AN: I promise Fudige's trial is not ending here, but due to file size limitations on some sites this story is posted on, I have to stop this section of the trial here so that all postings would be the same.)