Proceedings (3)

September 1994

Ministry of Magic

Harry who heard all that the pink toad, almost went into a fit of rage and wanted nothing more than to jump down the edge from the visitor's gallery and fire a plethora of curses at her.

But rationality prevailed in his mind and he remembered what Amelia had told him earlier.

Although he let go at that moment, he instilled the toad's image in his mind.

Meanwhile, below in the courtroom, Amelia stared at Umbridge for some moments.

Dolores Umbridge, on the other hand lifted her chin in arrogance as if she has talked some kind of infinite wisdom.

Amelia finally broke the silence, "Do you understand yourself what are you saying?"

Dolores felt her confidence shattering and she stammered, "What do you mean?"

Amelia shook her head, "Since, the case is not related to the point you talked about, I would not delve into this matter. But some advice for you."

She continued, "Firstly, don't poke your nose into matters in which you have no standing especially when you are opposing the words of Lord apparent of Most Ancient and most Noble House of Potter."

She continued, "Secondly, Miss. Lovegood is of Lovegood family a Most Ancient house."

Dolores turned red faced at words of Amelia Bones and was about to retort, when Dumbledore banged the gavel on table, "I think we should continue with the case of matter at hand."

"Madam Bones, continue your argument," added Dumbledore further.

Madam Bones then ignored the pink toad and brought her attention back on her argument.

She started, "As I was implying, Mr. Snape made a very subtle attempt to alienate the image of Mr. Potter but the esteemed members of the council must keep in mind the fact that he did that action because those four students were trying to assault Miss. Lovegood."

She continued, "Keeping all these things in mind, I must conclude that it can be very clearly discerned that what Mr. Snape tried to imply is nothing but a twisted sense of perception. In no way he can justify his act of firing a bone breaking curse at the head of Mr. Potter."

"The most leverage Mr. Snape can ask is that he did his act instinct and had no such intention. But then, we have no means to verify its truth."

"And the council must remember the fact that a crime committed even instinctively is a crime. The accused cannot escape punishment by saying that what he did was in haste or was instinctively."

With her concluding remark, Amelia finished her argument and walked few steps behind.

Dumbledore had a frustrated look on his face, while the grin on Snape's face had faded a bit.

Even if he was going to get released today, his image was completely tarnished. Even if everyone votes in his favour, no is going to believe that he did not fire the bone breaking curse on Harry Potter with the intention to kill.

Dumbledore banged his gavel on the table, "Severus, do you have to say anything in your counter argument?"

Dumbledore asked this question just for formality as he had already discussed with Snape all what he would be saying in his defence and that was all Snape had mentioned in his defence.

But Snape had his mind clouded because of his hatred for Harry and the attack from Amelia further clouded his mind. He thought he had a chance to retrieve some what of his tarnished image and insult Harry Potter.

After Dumbledore's question, Snape stood up from his wooden chair. Dumbledore gave an intense narrow glance at Snape but the bat ignored it and walked forward to stand close to the members of the council.

He began, "I have few points to present so that the council could make an informed decision."

"The council must know about the behaviour and the character of Mr. Potter before it can reach an informed decision," added Snape.

Dumbledore was quick to interrupt, "Severus, I think you should stay on the merits of the case and not talk about things unrelated to the case."

The old coot indicated Snape to back down but the bat ignored it, "Headmaster, I believe all what I am about to say is quite related to the case and only then the council can make an informed decision regarding the case."

Dumbledore narrowed his gaze on Snape in annoyance. He wanted to bang the gavel on Snape's head so many times to make the idiot understand that Amelia Bones would chew him alive. This was best outcome he could have hopped for against a women like her.

Snape ignored everything and started, "Before the council could form a decision, the esteemed members must understand the behaviour of Mr. Potter so that we can have a clear idea about the seriousness of Mr. Potter's accusation against me."

"Mr. Potter is serial rule breaker since his first year. Breaking rules like roaming after the curfew, talking during class are not something which can even be considered to be rule breaking compared to Mr. Potter's standard."

"For instance, during his second year, Mr. Potter along with his friend Ron Weasley flew the car of Mr. Arthur Weasley into Hogwarts, ultimately crashing it into the Whomping Willow."

"During his third year, again, Mr. Potter sneaked out of the Hogwarts castle despite warnings from the headmaster about the presence of dementors around the castle and a mass murder on the run. This ultimately led to putting the lives of Mr. Potter and his friends in danger."

"These are just two of the numerous examples of Mr. Potter behaviour during his three years stay of Hogwarts."

He continued, "I would say that Harry Potter is an entitled and arrogant brat who considers everything beneath him. He has no considerations for rules and regulations."

"I would conclude that all this accusation Mr. Potter had levied against me is a mere symbolic representation of his arrogance. He broke rules, tortured four students and when I tried to stop him, he mocked me and then levelled this baseless accusation against me," concluded Severus Snape.

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