Surprisingly, it was Madam Bones that spoke up next. "Unfortunately, Chief Wizard we do need to first answer the allegations made against Mr Potter. Under the current precedence of criminal charges, the crime of being an unregistered werewolf places higher than kidnapping of a minor - and as Madam Umbridge stated under the law no kidnapping was committed if in fact Mr Potter is a werewolf." Harry noted Susan's aunt seemed apologetic for disagreeing with Dumbledore but was forced to due to her role.
"We just saw the fact the Werewolf Reveling Charm did not result in the result as required by the law, madam," Dumbledore submitted gently. "Should that not be deemed sufficient?"
"Make him change!" Umbridge jumped in with a near shriek. "If he is a animagus he should be able to do it right now on demand!" The murmuring amongst the Wizengamot seemed to agree with the toad-like witch.
For his part, Harry merely shrugged and stood up.
"If that is all it takes, that's fine. Can I just say I find it disgusting that we were called here to discuss a group of people kidnapping me, sacrificing an entire family - a so-called Noble family at that - and using a dark rite to resurrect a Dark Lord but the possibility that I might be a werewolf is the most important question for you! Until you get your priorities straight you deserve to have to deal with Tommy-boy!"
Angry shouts broke out not only by the Wizengamot members but also with the witches and wizards sitting in the observers' area.
Harry had spent his last few years learning to supress the intensity of his gaze and the aura that went with it - first through the use of polarized glasses and then through mental training suggested by Padma. Now for the first time he released that control in a public setting. The din of the room suddenly dropped as they felt in the most primitive, instinctive portion of their brains the presence of an apex predator.
"You want to see me change? Then here you go!"
Screams of panic erupted when the Beast appeared. The new runes added to Harry's clothes by Padma and Hermione worked perfectly to banish the robes just like with a normal animagus. Harry stood with his head back and let out a tremendous howl. It was the sound of a predator ready for the hunt. Then he merely sat back down on his haunches and watched.
The observers bolted for the doors screaming their panic. The Aurors assigned as guards tried to fight their fear to draw their wands and respond to subdue the creature that had suddenly appeared but then they realized it was merely sitting there watching them. It seemed to be… amused.
When the Wizengamot members were coaxed out from under their desks, they found a smirking and perfectly dressed Harry Potter sitting comfortably with his godfather. Only Dumbledore had remained seated calmly with the Beast's appearance. A fact that didn't go unnoticed by many of the members.
As for Umbridge, the witch was huddled in a corner as far from Harry as she could possible get and curled up in the foetal position. She was almost catatonic but gibbering and pushing her fist into her mouth. A pair of Aurors quickly and discreetly floated the shocked witch out of the room.
It took five minutes for the Wizengamot and the remaining observers to return to their seats. Harry spoke before Dumbledore could call them back to order.
"So, you saw me change, stay completely in control and then change back. No full moon or potions involved," Harry said in a cold voice. He was still allowing his aura full play and many of the listeners felt a shiver at the contempt in his voice.
"You are correct, Mr Potter," Madam Bones in a still shaken voice.
"Then I suggest you people focus on the important points here: Voldemort is back and he's got his followers with him already. He doesn't care about your blood status; just his own power. I can guarantee you Theodore Nott didn't know he was sacrificing his life when he walked in to that ritual. And Voldemort might be the last scion of the Slytherin line but he's also a half-blood named Thomas Riddle. His dad was a Muggle and Tom was raised in a Muggle orphanage. So tell me how much cares about traditions he wasn't raised in.
"I hate to admit it but Tom and I have a lot in common. Both orphans of old magical lines raised in the non-magical world. Both of us have had blood-status thrown in our faces since the day we returned to the magical world. In his anger, Tom decided to destroy your little world and take power for himself. Well, you reap what you sow. Just don't go looking for the Boy-Who-Lived to save you when you can't even clean up your own bloody mess."
Harry stood up. "Let's go, Sirius. This was a waste of time. And we have other places to be." Sirius snorted his amusement as he rose from his seat. The two Marauders ignored the calls that followed them out of the hearing chamber.
Oddly enough, none of the Aurors seemed too interested in impeding their departure.
Albus Dumbledore couldn't supress a small smile as he watched Harry and Sirius depart the chamber. Harry had handled the Wizengamot as well as could be expected. Even he had not foreseen the "surrender" of one of the Death Eaters to serve as a witness to charges of Harry being a werewolf. But the lad had handled things better than many seasoned members of the magical political body.
Harry's final words about the Wizengamot members was unfortunate but somewhat amusing also. The boy was definitely a Potter. Those genes ran strong and deep in that family. Charlus Potter had been a few years behind Albus at Hogwarts but he'd known him well. The older Potter would have been cheering his grandson. It felt oddly soothing to see his old friend still alive in his grandson.
Then Albus pushed those thoughts aside. Young Harry had created chaos with his testimony and his parting shots. Now it was Albus's job to take advantage of that chaos. In chaos, there was opportunity.
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