"Order in the court room. Members of the Wizengamot. Today we have gathered here to witness the trials of eleven witches and wizards. They were torturing the Welbourne family when Heir Harry James Potter-Black witnessed the scene and subdued them with force. These people are: Vega Rowlatt, Hardwin..." Dumbledore proceeded to take all the eleven names.
"How do you plead?" Dumbledore asked each one of them. 6 of them pleaded guilty knowing that they had no hopes of being proved innocent as they had been caught red handed and by Harry Potter of all people. But, the rest 5 pleaded not guilty. It was foolish to do so but they did it.
"And on what grounds were you not guilty?" Madame Bones asked in a dangerous tone.
"I was under the imperious curse. I wasn't in control of my actions!" One said and the rest nodded in unison.
Harry sneered at them. That excuse had worked for likes of Notts, Avery, Mcnair due to their political clout and for Malfoy due to his money. Some death eaters were never even convicted due to the lack of evidence especially the lower level death eaters. It was a good thing that Voldemort's most loyal death eaters, his inner circle- Lestranges, Selwyn's, Dolohov, Rookwood, Carrow Twins, Yaxley etc. were caught and were in Azkaban. A couple like Igor Karkaroff had sold out their fellow death eaters for a short term in Azkaban. Of course, there was Snivellus who had been vouched for by Dumbledore.
He was currently in the Wizengamot chamber in courtroom 10. A couple of days ago he had given statements to Madame Bones regarding the capture of the eleven Death Eaters and Barty Crouch. Now, he had to testify in court against them. Their sentences would be decided today. Madame Bones had found four of them guilty for casting unforgivable curses, so their life sentence was assured. Also, those four had confessed guilty already. Unfortunately, Barty Crouch wasn't proved guilty due to the lack of evidence. The house elf was dismissed and Crouch was free to go. But, he lost his position as the Head of Foreign Affairs this time at least.
Frankly speaking all eleven of the death eaters were no one of importance to the wizarding society unlike people Lucius Malfoy, the Notts etc. who had bought their way out of prison and were Voldemort's inner circle death eaters. These were lower level death eaters, nothing more. These 5 couldn't buy their way out as they had little political cloud and money, being from lesser pureblood families. Harry didn't know why they even bothered to put up a fight.
"Is that your final stance? Remember that if you are proven guilty, your sentences would be harsher." They all nodded at Fudge's question.
"I would like to call Mr. Apollo Welbourne to ask him questions." The prosecution lawyer spoke. The defense lawyer was sitting quietly. Mr. Welbourne was the patriarch of the family he had saved. He gave a summary of the attack on them and then how Harry had turned up and saved them. After that a similar procedure was followed with Mrs. Welbourne. Thankfully the kids weren't called to testify.
"I would like to call Harry Potter and ask him a few questions." The prosecution lawyer said.
"Permission granted." Madame Bones, who was the interrogator said. Harry got up and descended the steps.
"Heir Potter-Black, can you give us the version of events that took place after the quidditch match ended."
"Yes, we were sleeping in the tent, my Godfather Sirius Black and I when we got up due to the sounds of screaming from outside. We immediately took our wands..." Harry related the events that had taken place. "... Seeing the last of his buddies go down, the death eater shouted the words 'safe base' but the portkeys failed due to the anti-travel field I had erected as I mentioned before. I stunned him and then bound everyone in in magic restraining chains, after taking away their wands and portkeys. After that the aurors arrived at the scene." Harry finished.
"And what of the methods you used to subdue them, Mr. Potter?" The defense lawyer spoke for the first time since the proceeding had begun. Christopher Jugson, the defense lawyer, wasn't proved to be a death eater and hadn't even been accused as one. But his elder brother was killed by the Aurors in a raid the death eaters had done on Hogsmeade in November 1979. So, he definitely had ties with the Death Eaters and Voldemort, even if he wasn't a death eater himself.
"What of it?"
"I feel that it was exceedingly violent and as we can see, three people are missing limbs, one is badly burned and electrocuted, one had a spike in their abdomen and the others had various injuries varying from broken bones to nasty cuts. Some of them are now cripples for life since you cauterized their wounds. That much violence was unnecessary!"
"My, my, Mr. Jugson, exceedingly violent?" Jugson flinched at the tone. "You do realize that I was within my rights to kill some of this lot due to their use of Unforgivable curses against me? And if you forgot, your clients outnumbered me 11 to 1. It wasn't exactly easy to subdue these death eaters especially when they were hell bent on killing me. I can offer you the memories to be shown in this courtroom, Madame Bones has already seen it. Then we can determine whether my actions were unnecessarily violent or appropriate."
"I suggest that we see the memory Heir Potter has too offer. It will make it easier to know what the death eaters were exactly doing." One member said.
"I agree. Please bring in the pensive. We will take a 10 minute break till the pensive is set up." Dumbledore said.
Harry went back to his seat and sat next to Lord Greengrass. "I don't understand why these people are bothering to defend themselves. They were caught red handed by you." He said to Harry. Harry shrugged in response.
After ten minutes the court settled down once more and the memory started playing after it was ensured that the memory was untampered. People gasped and let out ooh's and aah's at appropriate places. They cheered when a death eater went down. By the end of it, people were looking at Harry in awe. Harry just sat there with a bored expression on his face.
"Do you still feel that my actions were unnecessary and exceedingly violent, Mr. Jugson?" Harry questioned after a few moments of silence.
"N-No Heir Potter-Black."
"Good. Now, can we decide their punishment and go home?" Harry asked.
"You have already decided our guilt! We weren't in control of our actions! We were under the imperious curse!" One of the death eaters said.
"That isn't a problem. I have proof that they were free of any sort of mind magic. Here is the report from the healers at St. Mungo's." Madame Bones said waving her wand at a paper and duplicating it. The copies were passed around and everyone saw the proof that all were free from all sorts of mind magics.
"Do you have anything else to say Mr. Wilkes?" Amelia asked.
"I- I..." He stuttered before falling quiet.
"Very well. So you admit that you tortured the Welbourne Family, spread terror at the Quidditch World Cup and attacked Harry Potter?" Dumbledore asked.
"Ye-yes" One said and the others reluctantly nodded.
Soon their sentences were decided. Four got life-sentences due to unforgivable curse usage. Rest all got 47 years in High security wing in Azkaban.
"I declare-"
"Wait a second, Chief Warlock. I have an announcement to make to the Wizengamot."
"Yes, Minister?"
"Dear members of the Wizengamot. Today we all saw the memory of the fight between Heir Potter-Black and the eleven Death Eaters. He bravely fought them, putting his own life on the line to save a family he didn't even know. Does anyone think that his actions were any less than that of a hero? So, the Ministry has decided to award Harry James Potter the Order of Merlin, First class for his brave actions and the subduing of the miscreants who caused terror at the Quidditch World Cup." Fudge declared. Whispers filled the chamber before people started clapping. Harry sat there in stunned silence. He hadn't expected an Order of Merlin, First Class for his actions.
Harry tiredly walked into the study in the chamber of secrets. After he thanked the minister for the award, it was announced that the ceremony would take place during the usual New-year Ball at the ministry. So, Harry needed to attend it. He hadn't gone the previous year because he didn't know how to dance and neither he had a date. 'I still don't know how to dance. Another thing I need to learn.' Harry thought ideally.
After that, he was hounded by the press once again. The prophet was already singing his praises since the incident at the Quidditch World Cup. He was being called a true hero as the Harry Potter stories described. Harry would have taken them off market but he was receiving royalties for each book and other products, something that was set up by Dumbledore and his account manager. He would be able to access it once he came of age apparently. Also, he had seen his 'Dueling champion; figurines in a few shops after he came back from France. In the last few days the sales of 'Harry Potter products' had seen a rapid rise according to the Goblins. Ragnok had written him a letter exclusively informing him of several more deals he had made for Harry Potter product sales.
"Congratulations Harry! Order of Merlin, First Class!" Helga greeted as he entered.
"Yes, Congratulations. It was indeed unexpected that you would receive that award. You would also become the youngest person in History to receive the award. You are amassing quite a few titles."
Harry groaned. "Unfortunately. People are giving me a shit load of titles. This just adds one more."
"You should be proud of your achievements Harry. Not many can claim to have done so many things at such a young age. Actually, I believe that no one can. Your parents would be proud of you." Helga said.
Harry nodded, imagining the smiling faces of his parents like he had seen in the Mirror of Erised.
"Anyhow, You now have 2 additional votes on the Wizengamot." Salazar said. Harry looked at him in shock before he remembered the privileges with the award. An Order of Merlin First Class got 2 votes on the Wizengamot while a second class awardee got 1 vote. The third class award was for namesake.
"Oh... that means that I have 16 votes. And an additional title."
"Yes." Salazar replied.
"Anyways, can you teach me to dance? I need to attend the new year ball at the ministry."
"You need a partner to dance. So, unless you find a way for Helga to come out of her portrait, we can't teach you that. And I am not going to do dancing" Salazar stated.
"Yes Harry, Salazar is correct. You need a proper instructor to learn dancing. Perhaps one of your girlfriends could practice with you."
"You know, I still can't believe that he has two girlfriends." Salazar muttered.
"You are just jealous that I accomplished something that you had only fantasized about." Harry said with amusement. Helga giggled.
"Oh, you also have a yule ball at Hogwarts this year."
Harry frowned. "Why?"
"As of a couple of days ago, it was finalized that the Triwizard Tournament would be reinstated this year."
"What's that?"
"The Triwizard Tournament was a magical contest held between the three largest wizarding schools of Europe: Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Durmstrang Institute, and Beauxbatons Academy of Magic, each school being represented by one champion. Each Champion had to complete three tasks which were designed to test magical ability, intelligence, and courage. It was held every five years, until it was discontinued due to the increasing death toll during the tournament."
"Death toll?"
"Yes. When the tournament was last held about 80 or so years ago, due to a Wyvern going on rampage, it resulted in death of all the three champions and some of the audience too. Several were grievously injured. Due to this incident the competition was discontinued. Now, it has been reestablished and Hogwarts is going to host it again this year." Helga informed.
"What else do you know about the tournament? Like what's going to happen this year. Tell me everything"
"Well... I don't know everything about it. This year safety standards have been increased. There will be experts and hit-wizards present for safety. They have introduced an age criteria too. Three tasks as usual. First task contains creatures as far as I know... which, I don't know. They have kept it all hush-hush and held talks in secure rooms."
"Okay. I am glad that the age criteria is present... And a bit disappointed too as it does sound interesting and challenging."
"I assure you that it is a competition amongst the best. And if you did participate, you will win." Salazar said.
"How can you be so sure?"
"You are my student and are hand-trained by me, Salazar Slytherin. Obviously you would win."
"Also, you yourself are an exceptional wizard. You have proved yourself to be the best time and again Harry. We just guided you to be the best instead of exceptional." Helga added after shooting a brief glare at Salazar.
"Well... Thank you. Anyways, what are we studying today?" Harry asked and his usual study for the day started.