Harry's eyes narrowed as he worked to keep his anger in check. "NO SIR!" He said quite loudly. "The Ministry spent two years running him into the ground with his picture in every paper around," Harry felt Alain's hand on his shoulder but he wasn't finished. "That's after you falsely imprisoned him for years," He was glaring at the Minister now.
"Arry be careful," Fleur said. "E is ze Minister of Magic."
"I DON'T care!" Harry exclaimed to her.
"Don't put 'im in a corner," She warned. "You still might need 'is 'elp."
"But Sirius..."
"Doesn't care 'ow 'e is cleared. But if it really matters to you zen make it 'appen. Ze Minister wants something from you and if you give eet, 'e can survive ze damage from publicly announcing Sirius is innocent."
"My support? But he's been paid off..."
"You can always withdraw your support later," Fleur said. "But I think you need to consider zat if ze Minister loses support right now, it could disrupt ze entire Ministry. Zey need to be concerned about Voldemort not political infighting to who gets to be ze new Minister of Magic."
The Minister was watching the Boy-Who-Lived wearily. He knew that he was in a difficult position politically no matter which way he turned. He had hoped that by making today happen; to publicly bring Pettigrew to trial he could garner Potter's support. His eyes hardened as he thought that if he was forced out of office, he'd take a lot of people with him.
Harry Potter sighed finally and continued. "Sir, I know the Ministry and you in particular might be hurt politically by a public announcement for Sirius, but maybe if I was willing stand by your side and thank you in such a case, maybe even give my support to you..." He let the offer linger. Harry felt he'd done the right thing when he felt Alain give his shoulder a squeeze, though he still didn't like it.
Cornelius Fudge wasn't the sharpest wizard around, but even for him it only took a few seconds for him to realize what the offer would mean to his career. A sense of relief flooded his mind. "Maybe it is for the best to have a public announcement for Mr. Black in that case."
"Thank you sir," Harry said. "The sooner the better. Today in fact."
"Yes...eh we'll see," Fudge replied. "Now I must have a word with..." His words faded as he turned and walked away.
When Cornelius had disappeared back through the door, Alain spoke up. "Very well done 'Arry," He said. "I thought you were about to lose your temper."
"I did sir. Fortunately Fleur was there for me," Harry replied. "It still felt wrong."
"It often does when you're 'aving to choose ze lesser of two evils as zey say," Alain explained. "But your Minister is a known entity and to force 'im out right now could result in conflict within ze Ministry itself, at ze very least political maneuvering zat could take away from ze fight zat everyone needs to concentrate on and possibly it would open ze door to Voldemort 'imself."
"We need to start getting ready," Dumbledore said. "The trial is to begin in fifteen minutes," He gave a small smile to Harry and then turned and walked through the door to the Wizengamot room as well.
With nothing to do but wait, Alain Delacour and Remus settled into seats. Alain pulled out several sheets of parchments and started reviewing them. Harry sat down but after only a couple of minutes he grew restless and started pacing as he waited for the trail to begin.
It was another minute when the Wizengamot door opened and Madam Umbridge came out with Percy Weasley beside her. She was carrying something in an open container.
"Now Mr. Weasley you need to take this container to Department of Mysteries and have them tell us what it is..." She was saying as her eyes swept the room.
"But can't it wait until after the trial?" Percy asked.
"No!" She snapped, but at the same time she seemed to trip. The contents of the container went flying and most of it landed on Gabrielle. The bright greenish liquid covered a good portion of her robes.
"Why did you trip me Mr. Weasley," Umbridge almost shouted at her assistant.
"I...I didn't," Percy replied desperately looking at the mess on Gabrielle and then around for someone to support his claim.
Gabrielle was just standing there in disbelief as the liquid poured off her. A smell started rising from the liquid.
Fleur had pulled out her wand but her cleaning spells were having no affect on the liquid stains.
"Come with me young lady," Umbridge said to Gabrielle. "I'll make sure you're cleaned up since it was my assistant's fault."
"No Ma'am," Tonks said immediately, placing herself between the Undersecretary and the door. "I'll take her."
"Nonsense," Umbridge replied. "There is no need for security in this matter. I'll make sure she's cleaned and back in no time," She tried to put her arm around Gabrielle and guide her toward the door.
"I'm sorry ma'am, but these people are under our protection."
"Do you think I, the Senior Undersecretary to the Minister, am a threat to this lady's safety Miss...what is your name Auror?"
"Tonks Ma'am," Nymphadora answered. "But..."
"Then move aside so I may assist this young person so we can start the trial," Umbridge stated in her sickly sweet high-pitched voice.
"I'm sorry ma'am," Tonks tried again, but was looking nervous. "I can't do that."
"Ze Auror is quite correct," Alain Delacour said to Dolores Umbridge as he rose from his seat. "She and 'er Aurors 'ave been been assigned our protection and of course a 'ighly placed person with your responsibilities can't be expected to deal with accidents," He turned to Tonks. "Miss Tonks if you could make sure my daughter is taken care of it would be appreciated."
"Yes sir," Tonks replied with a look of relief as she led Gabrielle out of the room.
Umbridge watched the two leave the room with pursed lips. Before the door closed the Auror with the patch over her eye entered and took up the spot near the door. Dolores turned to her assistant and snarled in bad temper. "Get out Weasley. Get out and plan on cleaning out your desk on Monday."
"But...but..." Percy started but then nodded. He turned and left the room.
"Hem...Hem," Umbridge cleared her throat when she noticed everyone staring at her. "I need to take care of other business then," She said as she also disappeared out the door into the courtroom.
"ARRY!" A mental scream came from Gabrielle five minutes later. "TONKS..." But her voice in his head trailed off.
"Something's wrong with Gabrielle!" Harry shouted to everyone around him. As everyone scrambled to their feet, Harry closed his eyes and concentrated on his youngest bondmate to try to see what was wrong. As he touched her mind he found himself experiencing a familiar floating sensation. There was a whisper, but he couldn't make out what it was saying.
"Arry..." Gabrielle's voice called again but it was much fainter, as if she was in a deep hole.
"Gabrielle!" Harry called out to her.
"Zere's a voice calling to me..." Gabrielle called to her bondmate as her voice came even fainter.
....
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