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Chapter 115 - Dolores Docked

Dimension: 1375 - Earth
Date: 25th November 2001 AD
Country: Britain - England
Location: London - Ministry Of Magic
Time: Early Afternoon

"I now invite each of the nominees to step forward and make a short speech, telling the Wizengamot why they

believe they are right for the job. After each speech questions may be asked of the nominee. We shall start in

the order of nomination. Lady McGonagall, begin when you are ready."

Stepping forward away from the other nominees who had all gathered on the main floor of the room around where

the restraining chair had been while Fudge and Malfoy had been seated in it.

"As you all know, I have served on this Wizengamot for thirty years, I have been a Professor at Hogwarts for

seventeen and Deputy Head and Head of House for twelve. During that time I have increased the average pass grade

at NEWT Transfiguration by twenty percent, I have helped to streamline the administrative processes behind the

school. If I am elected I will use these qualifications to speed up and simplify the processes of the Ministry.

Members of this assembly will also know that I have long been a supporter of the Chief Warlock in his efforts

fighting You-Know-Who. During this war I will push for a greater increase in Auror recruitment and training to

help us fight for our freedom."

There was applause as she stepped back into her space.

"Are there any questions for Lady McGonagall?"

No one spoke.

"Very well. Director Bones?"

"Like Lady McGonagall, I have served on this Wizengamot for many years; you will also know that I have been the

head of the DMLE for almost as long. During my time, in that position, I have halved the crime rates in this

country, I have increased the size of the Auror and L.E.O. forces and I have cracked down on repeat offenders.

It was only with the appointing of the former Minister Fudge, that my achievements in the field of law

enforcement started to slip due to budget and staff cuts. You are also no doubt aware that I am the last Bones,

as my niece was killed in a Death Eater attack a few weeks ago, so I have personally lost because of this war.

As Minister I would use the skills I have honed in the DMLE to combat the threat of You-Know-Who and bring a

swift end to his reign of terror."

A louder round of applause rang out.

"Are there any questions for Director Bones?"

No one spoke.

"Director Diggory?"

"Thank you Chief Warlock, to avoid these speeches sounding too repetitive I will not go on about my position in

this Wizengamot and my ministerial position as those points apply to the majority of the nominees. I will say

though that, as Director Bones stated, she is very capable at her job and no matter how qualified, I do not

believe that any successor would be as good at her job as she is. Also like Director Bones as one who has lost

his son to You-Know-Who, I understand the loss that victims and victims' families have suffered. If I were

elected, you would have a capable Director or the DMLE and a capable administrative Minister leading the fight,

that way I could deal with any administrative hold ups and let Director Bones do what she does best."

"That's clever," whispered Neville.

"He knows he's in a weaker position, so he promotes his opponents in such a way that they are not promoted,"

agreed Harry.

"Auror Scimgeour?"

"Thank you Chief Warlock. Like Director Bones I have skills well suited to the task as Minister, I am the

highest ranked person in the DMLE other than Director Bones and as Director Diggory pointed out she is the best

person to be running the department at this difficult time. I feel I must disagree with Director Diggory though

as regards his reasoning for his suitableness for the current conflict. A Minister who understands what must be

done as regards law enforcement is necessary at this time, in peacetime I would agree that Director Diggory or

Lady McGonagall would be ideal Ministers, but not during a time of war. If appointed to the position, I will do

all I can to insure the survival of our proud Wizarding history."

There was slightly less applause than after Amelia.

When Dawlish spoke he basically followed the same path as the others, stating why they should remain where they

are while he who had no department of his own and whose advice the previous Minister had ignored, which was no

doubt a lie, would best allow the smooth transition of government.

It came to the fist vote.

"Please vote on the scrolls that appear in front of you, I will remind you that the candidate's votes all count

towards their own nomination."

As the results were magically tallied there was nervous chattering amongst the Wizengamot members.

"The results are," announced Dumbledore, "Professor McGonagall, 14. Director Bones, 20. Director Diggory, 14.

Auror Scimgeour, 19. Advisor Dawlish, 24. Professor McGonagall, Director Diggory, you have tied on the least

votes; you are out of the running, thank you for your time."

Both former nominees returned to their seats. The next vote revealed similar results to the previous one.

"Director Bones, 30. Auror Scimgeour, 26. Advisor Dawlish, 35. Auror Scimgeour, you have the least votes; you

are out of the running. Thank you for your time."

Before he returned to his seat he spoke to the assembly.

"I request all those that supported me support Director Bones in the next vote. Thank you."

"Thank you, Auror Scimgeour," nodded Dumbledore. "The last vote is upon us. The winner of this vote will be

Minister of Magic for Great Britain and Northern Ireland."

"Merlin, I hope this goes the right way," muttered Neville, as he cast his vote.

"It all depends on whether those that were supporting Scimgeour wanted him for his political leanings or for his

skill as an Auror."

"The final results are," began Dumbledore, "Director Bones, 50. Advisor Dawlish, 41. Minister Bones is the now

the head of Her Majesties Magical Government of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Congratulations Minister."
________________________________________________________________________

There had been a lot of cheers as Amelia was elected. Her first act was to promote Rufus Scimgeour to her former

position and recommend to him that he promote Kingsley to his.

After she had been sworn in a break was called for a late lunch, in which many people tried to congratulate the

new Minister, but seeing the determination to reach someone else in her eyes, they decided to hang back. As she

marched up into the Wizengamot seating and moved towards Harry, her expression was anything but pleasant.

"Never have I wanted to curse someone so much, who I thought was on the same side as me," she growled.

"You're welcome, Minister. Congratulations."

"You knew that was going to happen, didn't you?" she demanded.

"If you mean, I knew that the Pure-Blood Racist was going to be in the final two, forcing you to stay in the

running to prevent him taking control. Then yes, I may have suspected it."

"You tricked me."

"Did I?"

"I don't want to be Minister, why would I want to be Minister, I like being head of the DMLE."

"LIKED being head of the DMLE, I think you mean," smiled Harry.

"I despise politics, why do you think I have nothing to do with them."

"HAD nothing to do with them," he corrected.

"Will you stop that!" she ordered, as loudly as she could while still whispering. "Why did you nominate me of

all people?"

"Because I knew that if you were elected I would not have to worry about fighting the Ministry anymore, as any

laws and decisions that were taken would be logical."

"You are assuming that I am going to do things the way you want."

"No, I'm assuming that you are going to do what you think is right, and between having things your way and

Fudge's power hungry ego way, I will take your way every time, as at least there will be a logical reason behind

every decision."

Before Amelia could come back with a response the DOM representative approached them and cleared his throat.

"I thought you might want to know Minister, that the information needed for the recent attacks on the students

homes came from the Minister's office, we have found traces of a poorly cast duplication charms on all the

documents, the same wand cast all the charms and having just tested the former Minister's wand I can confirm

they were his. We are now testing his wands signature against the scans taken by your department of the

personnel stationed in the magic detection room, but I would suspect that the signatures will match."

"Thank you," nodded Amelia, as the cloaked figure turned away.

"How can they be sure it's his wand?"

"If a spell is cast properly with a fully compatible wand, there will be little to identify which wand was used.

But, if the caster is either injured, drained, has suffered trauma or has had certain spells cast upon him, a

signature may develop. Damage to a wand or an incorrectly matched wand and wizard can also cause this. Think of

it like hand writing, everyone learns to write the same way, but certain quills and certain things that happen

to you, like a stroke for instance, could cause your hand writing to change and become distinctive. For most

people, including the DMLE, it is almost impossible to tell all but the most obvious signatures apart, which is

why when trying to work out if someone cast a spell, we can only use the previous spell charm on a wand to

identify if it was cast with it, but that will not tell us who cast the spell. Experts though can identify

individual signatures, either given off by the wand or the user and match them up; wand makers can usually do

this with those they have made, as can certain people in the DOM apparently."

"Will Fudge's sentence be extended?"

"Almost certainly. Assault on officers of the law, breach of data protection laws and probably even second

degree murder. The multiple counts will make that life imprisonment, and don't think I haven't noticed that

you've changed the- "

"The meeting is about to recommence," announced Dumbledore. "Everyone please return to your seats."

Harry grinned at Amelia as she scowled at him on her way back to her new seat, further along the Ministerial

bench.

"This meeting is back in session, we have now to discuss the guilt of Dolores Umbridge, Undersecretary to the

Minister."

"Former Undersecretary," corrected Amelia. "Her employment at the Ministry WILL be terminated at the end of the

session, regardless of the outcome."

"Very well, Minister Bones. Bring in the accused."

All eyes turned to her as Umbridge was brought in and chained into the chair in the centre of the room, her eyes

showed confidence at her ability to remain in control, though she looked slightly curious as to why Fudge wasn't

there to defend her.

"Who wishes to represent the prosecution?"

As Harry went to speak he was beaten to it by Neville.

"I do Chief Warlock."

"Very Well, Baron Longbottom. Who wishes to represent the defence?"

No one spoke, and the look on Umbridge's face fell slightly. No one was going to support her after what had

happened to Fudge, Malfoy and given what the new Minister had just said, no one was going to risk supporting

her.

"May I defend myself Chief Warlock?" she asked sweetly.

"You may, Miss Umbridge," nodded Dumbledore, making the accused twitch as her title was not used. "Prosecution

you have the floor."

"Thank you Chief Warlock," nodded Neville, walking down onto the floor. "Miss Umbridge, how would you describe

your time at Hogwarts?"

"A definite success, there were improvements in almost all students, teaching quality increased, the students

were smarter, they spent more time studying and less time on silly activities and clubs. The number of childish

pranks and misbehaviours fell and with the assistance of the more responsible students I was able to better

control or remove the more disruptive influences of certain students."

"Right," nodded Neville. "Let's examine some of those points. Teaching quality, as has been discussed before the

DADA grades for your class during that year were almost the lowest on record, with the exception of a limited

number of students, most of whom were involved in one of those ‘silly activities and clubs' known as the DA, all

of whom got outstanding results. The number of pranks went UP as the schools poltergeist almost religiously

pranked you and Mr Filch on a daily basis. And those disruptive influences would not happen to be referring to

the Weasley twins would they?"

"They are certainly some of them yes; they were a continuous and troublesome influence on the other students

until I forced them to leave."

"You mean until they decided to play one massive prank on you and on Mr Filch much to the elation of the rest of

the student body and left the school because of the new disgraceful teaching standards."

"Objection," interrupted a rather large, round member of the Wizengamot who had been sitting close to where

Parkinson had been. "That is a biased opinion and has no place in this enquiry."

"It is not an opinion when the teachers, students and grades all agree with it," countered McGonagall."

"Overruled."

"Teaching standards, which I stress are now back to a normally high level," continued Neville sending a nod at

his head of house.

"Who else would you consider to be a ‘disruptive influence'?"

"You, Potter, the Granger and Lovegood girls and the remaining Weasley's."

"All of whom were in the DA and got outstanding grades. What about well behaved students?"

"Mr Malfoy, Mr Crabbe and Goyle, Miss Parkinson, Miss- "

"That's already enough, thank you. All of whom got some of the lowest marks of the school year, all of whom were

in your so called ‘Inquisitor Squad' and all of whom have, consistently over my period at Hogwarts, lost some of

the largest number of points for their house than anyone else in Slytherin. The only exception being Mr Malfoy

this school term, where he has since become a model student."

"Objection," interrupted the Wizengamot member again. "Lord Longbottom is biased against the Undersecretary; all

of what he just said is opinion."

"All of what he says I can confirm to be true," replied the Headmaster. "Objection overruled, Baron Bullstrode."

"Also, is it not true that you tried to use Veritaserum illegally on students, without authorisation."

"Certainly not," Umbridge replied, outraged. "I would never do something like that."

"Despite the fact that several students, myself and Lord Potter included, heard you conversing with Professor

Snape, asking him for additional Veritaserum because you had already used up what he had already given you."

"Of course not."

"Does Baron Longbottom have proof of this?" asked Bullstrode senior, who once anyone knew who he was related to,

definitely showed the family resemblance. It was obvious that Millicent got her bad looks from her father.

"I have the pensieve memories of myself and Lord Potter, but simpler still, I request that the accused by given

Veritaserum, she clearly remembers things quiet differently than myself, Lady McGonagall and the Chief Warlock."

"Approved," nodded Dumbledore, as the new head of the DMLE administered a dose to a suddenly worried Umbridge.

Waiting a moment Neville resumed his questioning.

"Miss Umbridge, is it true that administered Veritaserum to Lord Potter?"

"No."

"Is it true that you administered Veritaserum to Harry Potter, now known as Lord Potter?" Neville corrected.

"No."

Neville obviously was not expecting that response so had not prepared for it.

Standing Harry came to the rescue.

"Is it true that you deliberately gave me a drink containing, what at the time you believed to be Veritaserum?"

"I did not give you Veritaserum," she replied.

"That is not what I asked," returned Harry. "Answer yes or no. Is it true that you deliberately gave me a drink

containing, what at the time you believed to be Veritaserum?"

"Yes," she strained, causing those in the Wizengamot who wanted to see her get off sigh slightly, after what

they thought was going to be their first triumph of the day shot down. Umbridge obviously has some experience

fighting the drug, either that or she had some limited Occlumency skill, but either way she could not lie and

she could not incorrectly answer a well constructed question.

Seating himself Harry nodded to Neville who continued.

"So you attempted to give what you thought was a restricted potion to an underage students, answer yes or no

only."

"Yes."

"Is it also true that, while you had myself and those other students who entered the DOM last year held at wand

point or physically restrained, that you attempted to cast the Torture Curse on Harry Potter."

"I did not cast the Torture Curse on_"

"Answer yes or no only to all questions, unless other options are given," interrupted Neville. "Answer my last

question."

"Yes."

"Is it not true that you are racist against non-human and part human magical species such as Centaurs and

Veela?"

"No."

"Answer that last question again using the following definition for racism, not your definition of it,"

rephrased Neville, quickly picking up on his mistake. "Being biased, rude, offensive or degrading to a magical

creature or person because of their colour, race or nature."

"Yes."

"What is the single most extreme thing that you have done which is against Ministerial policy or the laws of

this country which would come under my previous definition of racism, or which you did because you personally

believed it too be right, your answer to this question only must not be yes or no."

"Sending Dementor's to get rid of Harry Potter."

"So last year when, as I have been told, you asked Professor Dumbledore if he could possibly be referring that

either someone in the Ministry ordered the attack or that the Dementor's were out of control, it was actually

you who order the attack?"

"Yes."

It was probable that he did not need to continue, the Wizengamot was either completely on Neville's side or not

willing to risk support Bullstrode to save Umbridge, but Neville wanted to put the last nail in her coffin.

"How many students did you force to use Blood Quills during your time at Hogwarts, your answer to this question

must not be yes or no?"

"I do not know."

"Ok, did you force more than ten students to use a Blood Quill? Answer yes or no only."

"Yes."

"Did you force more than thirty students to use a Blood Quill?"

"Yes."

"Did you force more than fifty students to use a Blood Quill?"

Umbridge did not answer.

"Did you fail to answer the last question because you could not give a yes or no answer?"

"Yes."

"Do you think the answer ‘probably' would be correct in reference to the question before last?"

"Yes."

"Would you break the law to achieve your aims?"

"Yes."

"Did you start, before being interrupted, to cast an Unforgivable curse on Harry Potter in order to get

information from him?"

"Yes."

"Have you cast any of the Unforgivables on a living human being?"

"Yes."

Nodding in satisfaction, Neville returned to his seat.

"In light of this testimony, Dolores Umbridge will be held for further questioning by Aurors before being sent

to Azkaban to carry out a life sentence for use of a torture device on underage students and for casting an

Unforgivable on a human."

The Aurors stepped up and removed her before the potion had a chance to wear off.

"This meeting is now concluded."
________________________________________________________________________

AUTHORS NOTE: Those who want a copy of this story in a file, it is stored in my yahoo group in 4 chapter blocks

and several individual chapter files which will get concatenated into one file when I reach the end of this

section of the story. I am currently going through the story and improving the punctuation, the uploaded

sections will be updated in the yahoo group as I complete each, I am sure you can appreciate that if there is

just one spelling mistake in each chapter there would be over 300 chapters to upload again as this story is

posted on 3 sites. Someone did send me a properly punctuated file (thank you to that person) but I had since

updated several chapters and made some minor modifications since then so I am currently comparing it to my

corrections and merging them together.