Court Room 3 – Thursday 09:45 a.m.
Soon it would begin. Soon all his efforts would pay off and his godfather would be freed. On his left-hand side sat Tonks and her family in their best dress robes, which was funny since Tonks had managed to get away with wearing a pair of black jeans. This was even after her mother had demanded that she change them and laid out another outfit which she deemed more suitable.
He himself was wearing a pair of black dragonhide boots, the same pair which had previously been stolen by Tonks. Also, black jeans with a black silk shirt, his Potter house ring on his hand, and a silver chain hanging around his neck with the Peverell ring on it.
His hair was laid back, since he was already starting to grow it out because it was traditional for Lords and heads of house. It publicly stated one's position and rank, plus it made his hair less messy and appear to be more intentional, which Tonks approved of, claiming it was 'stylish.'
All of it was finished off with a black outer robe, which bore the Potter crest and other complex decorative rune patterns. These served no real purpose at all, just added a twist to the robe.
In short, he made himself the image of the model heir, because frankly his picture was going to be all across the papers. Also, first impressions counted and he wanted to make a good one.
Taking off his glasses and cleaning them before slipping them back on, soon he wouldn't need them based on the Mediwitch report, since his eyes were regenerating rapidly now with healthy living.
So in a year or two's time he would have perfect eyesight. He planned to keep wearing glasses anyways, but change them to just standard lenses, since everyone would assume he had a weakness if he wore them, not knowing that he would be fine without them. After all, in several of his duels with Tonks, she had summoned his glasses, giving her an advantage and winning the fight.
Plus, they made him look more knowledgeable, which fit with the image he was working on creating.
Also, he was currently having a pair of new glasses crafted by a specialist with several charms on them, such as being able to see body heat, which would allow him to see past Disillusionment Charms, which would be useful. A night vision charm would also be added, allowing him to see clearly in darkness, as long as it wasn't magically made. It was costly, but he could afford it, so why not.
Looking over to the door, he saw Rita arriving in the outfit he had chosen for her. She was wearing a knee-length skirt, a form-fitting white blouse with a black jacket over the top, and completed with a pair of nice, stylish black heels. Her horn-rimmed glasses were gone, replaced with an artistic black pair similar to his, but more feminine in design. He eventually planned to try to have them charmed so he could see through her pair, effectively allowing him to see what his own spy could see.
After all, those glasses could be left in an office by accident after she left, and he would be able to watch the whole meeting as if he was there in person. How many oaths could he get around like that? The simple fact was that knowledge was power, if one knew how to use it effectively.
"Is that Rita Skeeter?" Andromeda asked her husband.
"I believe so, dear. Frankly, what she's wearing is an improvement, far better than that hideous green outfit she usually wears. Now I might actually take her seriously as a reporter," Ted stated, examining her with approval.
"Ted dear, you better not be looking where I think you're looking," Andromeda stated dangerously, with a sickeningly sweet smile on her face.
"Of course not, dear," he said a bit too quickly, before looking at his wife. This caused Harry to chuckle at Ted's actions, even as Tonks looked on between shock and amusement that her father was openly checking out Rita's ass.
"I wonder how she found out about this?" Ted questioned as Rita moved to the reporter's box, where she was the only reporter present, since traditionally all big cases didn't start until after midday.
"Maybe Madam Bones invited her," Andromeda offered.
"I invited her," Harry said, looking over the courtroom to find it was less than a tenth full. "I got agreeable terms," not mentioning she now worked for him. "Ms. Skeeter and I already have an article drafted and ready with all the facts and information," he explained.
"I felt it would be good to control the press, since she is the only reporter here we will get a front-page story that tells the story the way we want it to be told. We also worked on several other stories for tomorrow's edition; I've planned this out to a T," he ended with conviction, as they seemed to examine him once again.
"A lot of thought went into this," Andromeda said approvingly, before adding, "It almost feels Slytherin."
"Indeed, madam, the Sorting Hat said that I would do well in Slytherin. Plus, I have several friends in Slytherin," Harry said, letting out a little secret about himself to his relatives. "There is only one newspaper in Britain that matters: the Prophet. I want our agent telling the story, not some half-wit on the payroll of the Ministry trying to spin it in his employer's favor. By controlling this first article, we set the tone for the rest of them."
"You never mentioned you could have been sorted into Slytherin," Tonks probed.
"It wasn't important, because we all have traits of other houses; cunning and ambition just happen to be a couple of my stronger ones. After all, think how many Slytherins should actually be Puffs, due to how loyal they are to their families," he said to his cousin, who nodded at the idea.
"Also, think about this: the Sorting Hat also takes into account personal desires and negative traits.
Its whole purpose is to sort you into the house you are most comfortable with and where you can be successful. So if you believe that Slytherin is the best, you will be sorted into that house even if in truth you prefer to read, learn, and have all the traits of a scholar. This is why it's common for children to follow their parents, since they were brought up with the values of their parents and have the impression of that house being superior to others.
If I had been brought up with my parents, then I would be a lion for sure, because those values would have been instilled in me from birth and I would be under the illusion of that house being superior to others. Ultimately, the Sorting Hat matches you to people who have similar ideas and concepts as you, and this changes each year as the Hat adapts to pair similar-minded people together," he explained to the group.
"How do you know this, then?" Ted said, butting in on Tonks, who looked ready to ask the same question.
"My mother's journal in part, because she looked into it trying to find out how a hard-working, studious student like herself got sorted into Gryffindor when she thought of herself more as Ravenclaw material. I also asked my head of house, Professor Flitwick, about it, and he himself had discussed it with the Headmaster, who had such theories, but they're only theories," Harry ended.
"It makes sense," Ted stated.
"Well, I'll ask you this: if I said to you, 'Which house do you think is the best?', what would you say?" he probed. None of them answered. "See what I mean," he said before seeing the rear doors open and Madam Bones walk in with two other gentlemen on either side, flanking her like bodyguards.
After giving an official statement of why they were here, Madam Bones announced, "Trial case number 146, of the 426th year since the creation of the Ministry of Magic.
Sirius Orion Black, on charges of conspiracy to commit murder and betrayal of the Potter family, due to being their Secret Keeper, and betraying their location to Death Eaters. As well as the murder of 12 Muggles and the wizard Peter Pettigrew," causing the sleepy courtroom to start whispering in excitement at the news. The two other judges tried to start talking to Madam Bones, who seemed to be ignoring them.
Then, the double doors opened again, and his godfather was brought through. Even from his vantage point in the stands, he could easily see that the last decade had been hard on the man, based on his lack of weight and the heavy bags under his eyes. But there was a spark in his eyes, which made it clear the last two weeks of rather healthy living had made some impact on the man.
The trial lasted less than an hour in total, even with several members of the court suggesting to delay it until the entire Wizengamot could be gathered.
However, the idea went nowhere, due to Madam Bones's ruthless pursuit of the truth. Also, several other minor political figures saw it as their chance to gain some status and respect, rather than sending it up the political chain. Like any politician, they were looking out for themselves.
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