Chapter Five - Wizengamot

When Harry arrived for the Wizengamot appointment three days later, Neville was already waiting for him. Upon their acknowledging each other, he said flat-out, "I assume you know why I asked you here."

Neville nodded. "I think so. Because of what I saw the day Ginny was kidnapped."

"Right. And I want you to tell the Wizengamot exactly what you saw that day, just as you told it to me."

As they made their way to the room where the august group was waiting for them, Harry couldn't help thinking of the last time he'd been here, when he'd nearly been kicked out of Hogwarts for using magic to save himself and Dudley from dementors. He had been chained to a chair, and it had taken Dumbledore and Mrs. Figg, the neighbor on Privet Drive who had turned out to be a Squib, a non-magic person born of wizarding parents, to get him off the hook.

This time, however, he was here for a far different...and better...reason ... to see to the punishment of Draco Malfoy for what he had done to Ginny...and by association, his lowlife cousin, Dudley. If Harry had his way, literally nothing and no one would have the power to save either him or Draco from serious jail time ... especially if the authorities managed to find incriminating evidence of additional sex crimes hidden in Dudley's room. Harry frankly wouldn't put it past his aunt and uncle to know such things about Dudley and cover them up, which prompted him to make a mental note to observe their behaviour once the rape case was made public...and Harry intended to see that it was.

Harry fully expected to need bodyguards, at least for a time, especially if he managed to get Draco convicted and Lucius vowed revenge. Because the elder Malfoy was a Death Eater, Harry would have to be on his toes on that score ... or if he managed to get Dudley arrested and convicted, Vernon and Petunia might vow revenge on him and maybe even try to kill him themselves. He wasn't too worried about them, though...not as long as he could see them coming. He knew enough defensive spells by now that they wouldn't be able to touch him ... at least not physically. But if he could get enough people to believe in him, he'd be well on the way to accomplishing his goal of getting revenge for himself as well as Ginny.

And he was close enough to his seventeenth birthday that it didn't matter if he was kicked out of number four, Privet Drive anyway. In fact, he had already cleared out his belongings from there; they were all in Fred and George's old room now. He knew the Weasleys would take him in at a moment's notice (already had, in fact), and guards could be placed on the Burrow as had been on number four, Privet Drive, another thing he would have to speak to the Ministry about ... and Harry would be well rid of his evil relatives once and for all. And best of all, he would be near Ginny.

It was at this point that Harry and Neville arrived at the lower-level room where the Wizengamot awaited them. Once they arrived and stated their business, chairs were provided for them, with no chains this time, thankfully ... although Harry frankly hoped to be able to see Draco chained to a chair one day soon and grilled as he had once been.

They took Neville first, since he had only come to make his formal statement as to what he had seen the day of Ginny's abduction.

"Mr. Neville Francis Longbottom, we are given to understand that you were a witness to Miss Ginevra Weasley's abduction on the afternoon of June 18, 1997. Please tell us exactly what you saw, from start to finish. It will be recorded."

"Yes, sir," Neville returned quietly. With that, he began. It took roughly fifteen minutes for him to re-tell his story; then the panel of wizards and witches thanked him and said he was free to leave upon finishing. Just before he did, though, he put a reassuring hand on Harry's shoulder, which prompted him to look up to receive a reassuring smile and a whispered, "Good luck. I hope my statement helps you."

Harry returned the smile and a whispered, "I'm sure it will. And for the record, both Ginny and I appreciate it." Once Neville had gone and the panel was conversing among themselves, discussing Neville's statement before taking Harry's, Harry had a moment to think about having finally learned his fellow Gryffindor's middle name. It really shouldn't have surprised him, since Harry knew that Neville's father was named Frank (the informal version of either "Francis" or "Franklin") Longbottom, a noted Auror who had been tortured by the Cruciatus Curse when Neville was a very young child, just over a year old.

Because his parents had been driven insane and were now permanent residents of St. Mungo's, Neville had been raised by his paternal grandmother, Mrs. Augusta Longbottom. From what Harry had surmised, it seemed to be a common practice in the wizarding world to give sons their fathers' Christian names for middle names. That must have been at least one reason why he had "James" as his middle name.

The voice of the head of the Wizengamot, a kindly-looking wizard which reminded him somewhat of Dumbledore, rang out softly but firmly, bringing Harry's head up with a jerk. "Mr. Potter, we are prepared to take your statement now."

"Thank you, sir," Harry returned respectfully.

"Your friend, young Mr. Longbottom, said he saw a tall blond male point something at Miss Weasley and render her unconscious."

"Yes. I believe the person in question was Draco Malfoy."

"Are you quite sure of that? The Malfoys are a very well-known, and well-heeled, pure-blood wizarding family."

"They tend to follow the Dark Arts, too. If you'll recall, Draco's father, Lucius, is ... or rather, was, a Death Eater. They were also both Sorted into Slytherin House. In addition, Draco is the only person I know of that description."

"There could be many people who answer that description, Mr. Potter. Have you considered that?"

"I have, sir ... and ask you to consider this: How many people of that description are wizards?"

The older wizard seemed taken aback at Harry's quick response, albeit impressed. "You have a point there, young man."

Damn bloody right I do, Harry thought, but said, "I also believe he took Ginny ... my girlfriend ... to the Malfoy home and held her prisoner there. During that time, he sexually assaulted her."

"Have you proof of that?"

"I'm taking steps to obtain that proof now. It will be several days before the tests come back," Harry told the panel quietly but with conviction. "If you like, I can bring you the Healers' reports when I receive them."

"That would be appreciated," came the reply. "Have you any other statements to make?"

"I do, sir. I also have reason to believe that Draco Malfoy had a Muggle accomplice who also sexually assaulted Ginny."

"Have you any idea how and where he met his alleged accomplice?"

"A very good idea, sir. The accomplice was my ... cousin Dudley Dursley. I believe Draco traveled to Privet Drive, Little Whinging, Surrey, where my ... relatives live, met him somehow, told him about Ginny and me...and that was when they decided to join forces against me by going after her."

"You are a half-blood, are you not?"

"Yes, sir. My father was a pure-blood wizard, but my mother was a Muggle-born witch. Dudley's mother is her sister, and she cannot abide anything having to do with magic or the wizarding world."

"It must have been ... very difficult for you, having to be with them all these years, knowing how they felt about you and your parents."

"To put it mildly! But it doesn't matter what they've done to me so much as what they have done...or rather, what Dudley has done...to Ginny. My main concern is obtaining justice for her in any and every way I can."

"We'll do all we can to assist you, Mr. Potter. Is that all you have to say?"

"Two last questions, if I may."

"Go ahead."

"When you ... interrogate crime suspects, do you ever use Veritaserum in order to ensure that you get the truth?" Harry held his breath, hoping for the answer he wanted but could not count on.

He could scarcely believe his ears when he heard, "Routinely. It saves a lot of time and money, not to mention manpower."

"Does that mean you would use it on Draco should he be ... arrested?"

"Definitely," came the reply. "Although we cannot make a final decision as to whether or not to do so before all the evidence you mention is in our hands."

"I understand, sir. I will do everything I can to see that you receive that evidence at the earliest possible time."

"Very well. If I may say so, Miss Weasley is a very fortunate young woman to have a boyfriend who cares so much about her well-being."

"She is one of the few people I know who deserves my ... high regard, sir...and I intend to do everything I possibly can to...retain hers. May I go now?"

"Of course. We will be in touch with you should we have further questions ... and feel free to return, if not owl us, should you have further questions."

"Thank you, sir." With that, Harry stood up and left the room, closing the heavy metal door behind him as quietly as possible because he noted that the panel now seemed to be discussing his admittedly incredible (but nonetheless true) statements. He had now set the ball rolling; if the results of the tests on the DNA samples taken from Ginny's body showed what he thought they would, Draco would be up to his slimy neck in trouble ... and not long after that, his scumbag cousin.

Fortunately Harry had a far more pleasant thing to look forward to...Ginny had agreed to go on a study date with him the following day, and she and Molly would make a picnic lunch for them to take along. He had already chosen the spot where they would set up the picnic, fairly close to the Burrow but still far enough away so that they would have privacy.

He could only hope to have the strength to control himself so that Ginny would begin to feel safe around him again. It would be very difficult, but she was worth the effort. Of course, it would also be nice to be able to snog for a while, too ... maybe even more than once ... but he had to make sure not to overdo it, if only to ensure that his overtures didn't frighten her.

The main thing he needed now was to get a good night's sleep, although he thought he might feign sleepiness at some point, if only to see if Ginny would be willing to cradle his head in her lap...or allow him to rest his head on her breast, then stroke his hair as it rested there. Whatever happened, however, he would cherish because it meant being alone with her ... and if he played his cards right, she would belong to him not only for a few hours, but a lifetime. For the time being, though, he had to play it by ear, take it slow...or least as slow as he possibly could.