This marked the beginning of the trial.
Even though he was mentally prepared by Voldemort, Harry found it hard. After Cornelius Fudge announced the start of the trial, every gaze was upon him.
It has been such a long time since a trial involving the Unforgivable Curses has taken place. In fact, the last time it happened was due to the followers of He who must not be named. Ironically, the person who was responsible for stopping such a dark Lord was now in the same place, accused of killing Muggles and the use of Unforgivable Curses.
Fudge gave the parchment to Percy and continued.
"The accused, Harry Potter, has been apprehended and brought before the Wizengamot for a fair and impartial trial. The evidence against him is significant, and today, we shall seek justice for the crimes committed under the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy. Let the trial begin."
Everyone was silent, attentively listening to the Minister of Magic.
"Our first evidence," he said as he turned toward his left. The witch next to him was going through the pile of paper.
Harry's attention was on that woman. Someone he has never seen before. Then Harry remembered the interrogators that Fudge declared.
She was the Senior Undersecretary to the Minister for Magic, Dolores Umbridge.
She was squat and wide like a toad. Her face was broad and pale, her eyes bulging behind a pair of thick spectacles on her nose. Her short, mousy hair was pulled back in a tight bun, revealing a neck adorned with a necklace of what appeared to be kittens crafted from some sparkly pink material.
The most striking thing about her, however, was her attire.
How could someone wear so much pink? Even among all these wizards, she was the most colourful one. Maybe that was her goal. To grab attention. And it was a kind of pink that Harry had never seen anyone wear. Even the bow was pink.
Despite the childishness of the outfit, there was something undeniably menacing about her.
Harry watched as Dolores Umbridge gave the Minister one parchment from the pile.
Fudge took the parchment and announced it to the chamber.
"The Ministry presents its first piece of evidence against Mr. Potter.
On the thirty-first of July, 1995, at precisely eight thirteen PM, within the Department of Improper Use of Magic Office at the Ministry of Magic, the trace typewriter registered an activation. The trace, as we all know, is a magical safeguard that detects underage magic. The activated typewriter, in this instance, documented the following: 'Harry James Potter has used the killer curse at 4 Privet Drive in Little Whinging, Surrey'.
Then at eight fourteen PM, the trace registered another activation, declaring once again: Harry James Potter has used the killing curse, a second time. After a few minutes, at eight sixteen PM to be precise, the trace recorded that Harry James Potter used the Cruciatus Curse."
Fudge paused.
Even though the news was already well known by this time, some wizards were still shocked by the revelation. It was not just one use of Unforgivable Curse but three.
Fudge folded the parchment and gave it back to the undersecretary, and took a small piece of paper.
"To confirm everything that I have just said, we have among ourselves the wizard who was working at that time, who read the notice from the Trace typewriter and informed his supervisor."
Fudge looked at the name written on the paper. "Mr Davies Henderson, would you please confirm if what I have just said is correct?" Fudge tilted his head to his right and watched as the man in question rose from his seat.
Davies Henderson, a middle-aged wizard with thinning hair and a nervous demeanour, stood up and cleared his throat. He cast a sly glance at Harry before turning his attention to the Wizengamot.
"Yes, Minister Fudge, it's correct," Henderson stammered. "I was on duty at the Department of Improper Use of Magic that evening, and the trace typewriter did indeed register the activities mentioned. I promptly informed my supervisor and Madame Bones, and the necessary procedures were initiated."
Fudge nodded in satisfaction and, with a hand signal, l asked the man to sit. Henderson returned to his seat, avoiding eye contact with Harry.
"Now I believe you all can associate with exactly what happened. The first two killer curses that Harry Potter used were the ones that killed the Muggles, Petunia Dursley and Venom Dursley. As for the Cruciatus Curse that was used, it must have been done on the survivor, the Muggle Dudley Dursley."
Ahem
Just then, a cough interrupted Fudge. Everyone was quick to turn their attention to the source. Who could be interrupting the Ministry at this time?
Harry also turned. Of course, it was him.
Albus Dumbledore.
What sort of manipulation did that old fool have now?
Rita Seeker had a smile on her face. She knew the clash that was happening between the Ministry and the old Wizard. This was perfect. She was already imagining titles she would write tomorrow between Dumbledore and Fudge.
Fudge watched as the Headmaster rose from his seat. He knew that Dumbledore was likely to go against him during this trial.
"I must interject, Minister Fudge," Dumbledore began. "While it has indeed been presented that young Mr Potter cast Unforgivable Curses... an accusation that, on the surface, carries grave implications. I implore this council to consider the context, rather than the mere fact of the spells themselves. Throughout wizarding history, we have seen instances where individuals were proven to be under the Imperius Curse, forced against their will to cause harm."
His eyes moved deliberately to Lucius Malfoy, who was in the room.
"Throughout wizarding history, we have seen instances where individuals were proven to be under the Imperius Curse, forced against their will to cause harm. Some even within these very walls."