The Hearing

Harry enters the familiar dungeon courtroom and faces the Wizengamot, with Cornelius Fudge presiding, Amelia Bones beside him, and an unknown toadlike witch in shadow. The chains on the chair do not bind Harry. Fudge briskly lists charges of underage magic and secrecy violations, while Percy Weasley serves as scribe.

Dumbledore arrives unexpectedly, conjures a chair, and calmly participates. Fudge hammers at Harry’s prior warning and the Patronus use before a Muggle. Amelia Bones verifies that Harry’s Patronus is fully corporeal. Harry insists he acted because dementors attacked him and Dudley, prompting skepticism from Fudge.

Dumbledore asserts the right to present witnesses and produces Arabella Figg. Nervous but firm, Mrs. Figg testifies she felt dementor effects and saw Harry conjure a Patronus to save his cousin. Bones finds the account credible; Fudge disparages it. Dumbledore suggests the dementors were ordered, possibly by someone within the Ministry, provoking outrage and the introduction of Dolores Umbridge.

Umbridge coyly denies any Ministry role, while Dumbledore points out that if all dementors are under Ministry control, an inquiry is warranted. Fudge tries to refocus on the underage magic charge, but Dumbledore cites clause seven allowing defensive magic before Muggles in life-threatening circumstances and offers further witnesses if needed.

Fudge dredges up prior incidents; Dumbledore counters their irrelevance or provides exculpatory context. He notes the Ministry’s overreach in transforming a simple underage case into a full criminal trial and in attempting to confiscate Harry’s wand. The Wizengamot confers and votes to clear Harry of all charges. Dumbledore vanishes the conjured chairs and departs without meeting Harry’s eye, leaving Harry acquitted but wary of the strained dynamics and the Ministry’s stance.