Harry Potter: Love's Second Chance

The written portion of Defense OWLS passed very quickly. It was a subject Harry got an O in the last time and still remembered everything he did for it. As they were leaving the Great Hall Madam Bones herself was waiting for them.

"Good morning Mr. Potter," She said curtly.

"Madam Bones," Harry returned the greeting.

"Undersecretary Umbridge is due to be questioned in front of the Wizengamot in four hours," Amelia said. "But I suspect Fudge will try to manipulate the time of the questioning to coincide with your practical exams. Though you are not required to give further testimony I would not put it past him to try something against your credibility to prevent Umbridge from having to be questioned. I want you there to prevent any possibility of that happening."

"But don't you have enough witnesses?" Harry asked. "With Flitwick and Snape and..."

"If he moves it up, as I suspect he will, Severus and Filius will be instructing classes," Amelia replied. "Even if I can successfully postpone it, it will allow more time for him to find another way to deflect attention away from her."

"But if I'm going to be in my OWLs..." Harry started.

Amelia nodded toward someone to her left, and Harry realized Professor Marchbanks was standing there. "Griselda will conduct your practical now if you're ready."

Harry nodded and then asked. "Can Hermione do hers as well? I would like for her to join me."

Amelia looked over at Professor Marchbanks who answered. "Certainly. Let me get one of the other Professors," She was back shortly with Professor Tofty.

Harry and Hermione worked flawlessly through the practicals. The defensive spells and counter-jinxes came second nature to both of them by now. When they had finished, Madam Bones who had been standing to the side and watching said. "That was very impressive Mr. Potter. Now I believe last summer you claimed you could perform a Patronus. Could I see it?"

Harry smiled. The last time he had stood in the hall and performed it for his OWL he had to imagine Umbridge being sacked. Now he had the actual event that he could recall. Pulling from that and the love he felt for his new wife...

"Expecto Patronum!"

The Silver Stag shot out of his wand and started cantering down the Hall only to be joined by a silver otter. Harry looked at his wife and winked as both of the Silvery animals faded into a mist.

"Miss Granger as well? Very well done," Amelia Bones replied. "Susan has been telling me about something called the DA."

Before Harry could answer, Hermione spoke up first. "It's not something we should discuss. As I understand it, the Educational Decrees are still in effect."

Amelia Bones nodded and smiled. "I understand. Now if you two are ready?" When they both nodded, she led them to the Headmaster's office where Professor McGonagall was busy looking over paperwork.

"Madam Bones, Mr. Potter and..." She delayed for a second, "Miss Granger."

"Just need to use your floo to go to the Ministry Professor."

"Of course," McGonagall replied. She turned to her two students. "When you return, I'd like a word if I may."

"Yes ma'am," Hermione answered.

It was an hour later while they were sitting in the well decorated office of the head of the Magical Law Enforcement that a small messenger paper plane came through the door. Amelia opened the plane and smiled as she read the note she had been expecting.

"Twenty minutes," She said looking at the two students in front of her. She then looked up at the clock. "Severus and Flitwick both would have had class starting right now," She called for her assistant and started giving directives.

"Make sure the following people have been notified..." She reeled off several names. "Also make sure courtroom ten is available. Right now he has courtroom three being used, but it will never hold the entire Wizengamot."

"Yes ma'am," Her assistant said and hurried out of the room. Amelia turned to Harry and Hermione. "Just a bit of politics being played. Very much like your hearing Mr. Potter. In this case though, he will have only his supporters there and just enough to make a quorum," She strolled over to the fireplace and after a bit of floo powder she said. "Hogwarts Headmaster's office."

"Yes Amelia," The voice of McGonagall said.

"Fifteen minutes in courtroom three," She said. "Can Severus or Flitwick make it?"

"Filius is right here. He rescheduled his class until later. Severus' class will be finished in twenty minutes. I'll instruct him to be there after that."

"Excellent."

When they entered courtroom three ten minutes later, Amelia instantly noticed Cornelius Fudge sitting in the Chief Warlock's chair. She immediately raised her voice. "Minister," she said and the room instantly quieted. Amelia became even more disquieted when she noticed Umbridge sitting beside Cornelius chatting with him. "Minister. You must recuse yourself from this trial. I also must insist that Dolores take the position of the accused."

"I'm sorry Amelia but if I were to recuse myself we would not have enough for a quorum. As you can see we have barely enough."

Amelia Bones smiled. "Fortunately you gave me enough time to ensure that would not be a problem," As she said those words the members of the Wizengamot whom she had notified of the change entered.

"I...yes well my schedule is quite full now and...and I had to make certain changes to get this ridiculous questioning completed," Cornelius said. "Madam Umbridge is an outstanding member of my staff and to have to face such a travesty of justice is absurd."

"As you say Minister," Amelia answered. "But Dolores Umbridge does stand accused and we must question her."

"Accused by Harry Potter, a boy who spins fantasies of dead people coming back to life?" Fudge snarled.

"Excuse me Minister, but it's crowded in here now. Shall we move to courtroom ten?" Amelia asked while making no comment on the Minister's accusation. "I made sure it was available before arriving."

Cornelius Fudge looked around and could see what amounted to the entire Wizengamot now in the room, many with no place to sit. "Yes…yes we should move there," He growled with a look of disgust.

The delay allowed Severus Snape to arrive. Just as he entered courtroom three, he immediately had to turn around and move to courtroom ten. It took every elevator to carry the entire Wizengamot to level nine.

As Harry and Hermione exited the elevator, their eyes fell upon the black door at the end of the hall that led to the Department of Mysteries. "We'll be back in a week," Harry said.

"I know," Hermione replied and Harry could feel the trepidation she felt.

....

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