Harry Potter and the Hall of Justice

Chapter 16 A Visit to Hogwarts


Before Professor Dumbledore and Harry left the residence, Captain Stran had warned them of the presence of a reporter from the Daily Prophet in the courtroom below. Being that the old wizard had lived many years within the Hall of Justice as a youngster, he knew how to circumvent being seen by the reporter.

He took Harry straight down to the second basement level, which housed the Hall of Justice’s Security Force. From there, they walked to a far corner of the edifice where the old wizard showed Harry one of the many lifts used by the security officers to rush between floors.

“This level of the Hall of Justice is the largest in actual area,” the old wizard explained. “All along it’s perimeter and at other strategic locations, you will find lifts such as this one. Most will raise you to a site that has a hidden exit. Here, we will use this one.”

The two men entered the lift, and it brought them back up to ground-floor level near the corner of the huge anteroom. The door they exited, Harry noticed, blended in perfectly with the marble wall, as it quietly closed behind them. They then stepped out from behind an arch, which Harry saw belonged to some obscure school he had never even heard of before. From there they made their way quickly to the portkey at the Great Seal of Hogwarts. In a flash they found themselves standing along the left side of Dumbledore’s desk.

“Harry, I wish it were possible for you and your comrades to join our breakfast tomorrow morning. However, we can’t allow any of you to be seen. Let us hope the day will quickly come when we not longer have to keep our secrets,” the old professor said, looking into Harry’s face.

“It’s no problem, Professor. I’m sure I’ll be able to see Hermione often. That will help,” Harry confessed.

“Do me a favor, Harry, if you would. Please inform Minister Grime and Professor Priest of the happenings of the day. Tell them I will try my best to make it down for a quick visit after the evening meal.”

“Yes, sir,” Harry replied, turning to make his way to the conference room. From there, he made his quick journey down to Falcon’s Lair, realizing he had most likely missed the entire first day’s lesson from Professor Priest.

Professor Dumbledore straightaway left his office to inform his staff of the scheduled visit of the Lord Chief Justice and his entourage. Professor McGonagall was most excited and, without further ado, went busily about arranging everything to make sure they were perfectly ready for the formal visit.


* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *


Early the next morning, Professor Dumbledore found a pitcher of iced tea waiting alongside his crumpet at his desk. “My, my, ol’ Burty,” he smiled, as he lowered his first empty glass of the day to the tray. “You have made another perfect batch.”

Before seating himself at his desk, he went about straightening his robe and adjusting the old sorcerer’s hat sitting upon his wrinkled old head. He found it hard to contain the excitement he felt inside.

Professor McGonagall knocked lightly at his door before opening it slightly to peer inside his office. He smiled broadly and waved her in.

“Minerva, you have outdone yourself, as always,” Professor Dumbledore told his deputy, instantly noting her blushing at his praise. “I hope you have freed up your schedule today, so as to accompany us on our little tour?”

“Yes, Albus. It will be a great honor. I’ve never known a Chief Justice to have ever visited Hogwarts before. Do you recollect any mention of such an honor in the school’s history?” she asked.

The old headmaster paused to consider that. “I believe you are right. I don’t know if I have ever read of a Chief Justice visiting the school. Yes, this may very well be a first. I’m glad you brought that up,” he said, delighted with the information.

Dumbledore, sitting at his desk, had just finished polishing his glasses and placing them back atop his nose when Lord Chief Justice Webster, Hermione, Sarah and Martha appeared in a flash to the left of his desk.

Professor McGonagall nearly jumped out of her chair from fright - - - her normal response - - - and was furiously patting at her chest to regain control of her breathing. Webster reached down and patted the old witch lightly on her shoulder and smiled into her face.

“Professor McGonagall! How splendid to see you again!” the Lord Chief Justice exclaimed.

“I…I…Yes, Your Lordship,” she squeaked out, nearly hyperventilating.

Webster turned and shook Dumbledore’s hand before again turning to the old witch to introduce her to the Hall of Justice’s two newest employees. She nodded her head at Sarah and Martha and gave them each a feeble smile.

“Wonderful!” Dumbledore exclaimed. “Your timing is perfect, Your Lordship. Shall we make for the Great Hall so as to allow you to sample our cuisine?”

“Sounds great! I’m starved!” the Chief Justice exclaimed. “And the timing thing? That was all Hermione’s doing.” He turned and smiled down at the beautiful brown-eyed witch, giving her a wink.

Webster was wearing a short black robe over his shirt and pants. It was exactly what he had found lying across his bed after he came out of the bathroom an hour earlier. His pants were black, and he was wearing a light blue shirt under the robe.

Hermione, Sarah and Martha were wearing clothes of the same color scheme from the day before. This had led them to believe the blouse colors were somehow indicative of their position within the Hall of Justice.

Webster was amazed at the wide assortment of things Dumbledore had in his office. The old professor told him he would be glad to explain their significance later in the day, but it was important they hurry off to the Great Hall so as not to miss the start of the meal.

The Chief Justice was dumbfounded at the size of everything he was seeing, as they walked toward their destination. The architecture was unbelievable.

When they entered the Great Hall, Professor Dumbledore introduced the new Lord Chief Justice to the instructors seated at the head table on the side they entered from. A large, giant of a man approached Webster, after Dumbledore waved him over.

“And this is our Keeper of the Keys and Grounds here at Hogwarts, Your Lordship. May I introduce Rubeus Hagrid,” Dumbledore smiled at Webster’s reaction to the giant.

“Pleased to meet you, Rubeus,” he said, looking up into the huge, bushy face and slightly worried to be lifting a hand up in front of him, as if he were offering a piece of meat to a beast.

“Likewise, Your Lordship,” Hagrid said, seizing the man’s hand in his. Webster’s large hand completely disappeared within Hagrid’s fist. Looking up again at the man, he saw, in crystal clarity, the eyes of a gentle giant. The two of them exchanged large, genuine smiles.

The whole Great Hall was abuzz when Hermione entered, smiling and waving at classmates up and down the tables. She looked resplendent in her official court dress, and all eyes were on her as the Lord Chief Justice pulled a chair out from behind the massive table to help her seat herself.

Dumbledore had the four visitors seated at the table directly on his left side. He remained standing and lifted his two hands to silence the students who were raising quite a stir.

“Please, please!” the old wizard called out. “It is my great honor and privilege to welcome our new Lord Chief Justice, Daniel Milton Webster, to Hogwarts!”

The students all got to their feet and gave the Chief Justice a resounding round of applause. Again Professor Dumbledore raised his hands for quiet.

“And, of course, the Executive Assistant to His Lordship, Hermione Granger, Hogwarts very own,” he said.

Again they got to their feet. Large, proud smiles broke out all up and down the long tables.

“And!” the old professor continued. “And, to Hermione’s left is Court Clerk Sarah McPherson and Deputy Assistant Martha Snead. It is indeed an honor to have you all with us today. Now! May our breakfast begin?” Professor Dumbledore clapped his hands and huge amounts of breakfast foods instantly appeared on all of the tables in the room.

Webster almost jumped out of his chair at the sudden appearance, but Hermione, expecting it would give him a start, had reached over and placed a hand atop his left hand right as the food appeared. He looked over at her, smiled and lowered his head to her ear.

“Thank you,” he said. “That gave me quite a scare.”

Hermione smiled at that and raised her mouth to his ear. “I imagined it would. Now please eat. You need your strength,” she ordered with a smile.

The young wizards and witches gave no notice to the food sitting on the tables before them. Their eyes were focused on the interaction between the Chief Justice and Hermione. It was clear to everyone they had already started a very comfortable relationship, and it went without saying, Hermione looked absolutely beautiful and charming.

The handsome young justice mesmerized the young witches. It was impossible for them to believe such a young man could be selected to such a post. They found themselves totally jealous of Hermione’s position and in lust with the Chief Justice.

Hermione raised her eyes and looked down the Gryffindor table. She saw Ginny and motioned her to come to the table. Ginny quickly got up and ran to Hermione.

“Your Lordship, I would like you to meet my dear, dear friend, Ginny Weasley. Ginny, this is His Lordship Daniel Webster,” she said. Webster jumped to his feet and shook the girl’s hand.

“An honor to meet you, sir,” Ginny said. She turned to Hermione. “You look absolutely beautiful, Hermione. Where did you get those clothes?”

“They’re provided to us by the court,” Hermione said.

“They make you look so important. They are beautiful,” she said, her eyes beaming with great pride for her friend.

“After breakfast, I want you to come with us when we show the Chief Justice around Hogwarts, okay? I want to introduce you to Sarah and Martha, too,” Hermione said, looking over to the two girls. They nodded their heads at Ginny and smiled.

“Great! Okay! I’ll go back and finish breakfast. I’ll catch up with you later, then!” she said, again smiling largely and proudly at her old friend. Ginny excused herself and walked back to take her seat at the Gryffindor table.

Professor Dumbledore was all grins as he noticed the reaction of the students to the Chief Justice, and especially to Hermione. “My, my,” he thought. “What a wonderful day.”

Webster was famished and ate two large plates of breakfast foods. He believed it to be the best breakfast he had ever eaten. Professor Dumbledore had also seen fit to have a large pot of hot coffee placed on the table before them. They both drank large quantities of the black, hot beverage. Dumbledore smiled at the young man, raising his mug to toast the occasion.

Well into the meal, a large number of owls began entering the Great Hall and flying down the length of the tables. Webster was astonished as he saw the large birds dropping items in front of students. Some of them, he witnessed, actually alighting on the table right in front of the youngsters, who then went about untying small strings to remove a roll of parchment or even small packages.

Professor Dumbledore reached over and patted the Justice’s hand. “The mail!” he said with a big smile, pointing toward the tables.

One of the students rushed up and handed a small folded newspaper to Professor Dumbledore. He thanked the young wizard and unfolded the latest edition of the Dailey Prophet. He offered it to the justice and let out quite a loud laugh after Webster jumped in his seat when he noticed the pictures of them moving around on the front page, waving and smiling.

“This is incredible, Albus! How in the world do they do that?” he exclaimed, pointing a finger at one of the pictures.

“Simple magic, Your Lordship,” he said, with a comical look on his face. “Simple magic.”

Slowly, students began finishing their morning meal and leaving the Great Hall. Dumbledore introduced Webster to the rest of the staff seated to his right. At last the old professor spoke to Professor McGonagall, and they began their tour of Hogwarts.

Webster was astounded at every turn. The subject’s moving in the paintings gave him quite a fright, when he first noticed them. And he liked to have jumped out of his skin when he heard them speaking and making comments as they moved along.

“Why don’t we have paintings like those in the Hall of Justice, Albus?” he asked.

“You can have as many paintings you like, Your Lordship. Though, paintings such as these would not be animated within the Hall of Justice. The magic simply would not work, you see?” he pointed out to him.

“Oh yeah, of course,” he replied. “I forgot about that.”

Professor Dumbledore, Lord Chief Justice Webster and Professor McGonagall continued the long tour through Hogwarts. After a couple of hours, they exited the school and made their way to the Quidditch playing field. Behind that group, Hermione, Ginny, Martha and Sarah brought up the rear and were excitedly talking and laughing amongst themselves.

Webster could not, for the life of him, grasp the game of Quidditch but listened intently as the professors explained the nuances between it and the game of soccer. As they turned to return to the school, Professor Dumbledore promised to invite him to the first scheduled match.

Professor McGonagall was the first to notice the group of witches and wizards who bounded out of the doors of Hogwarts and were hurrying down the grassy slope toward them.

“Professor!” she exclaimed. “Were we expecting more visitors?” She motioned with her head at the frantic group heading straight for them.

“My!” Dumbledore exclaimed and began laughing out. “The Daily Prophet must have had an exceptional, record-setting day of circulation.” He turned his back to the group before continuing. “Minerva,” he whispered out. “We did seal the door to the conference room this morning, did we not?”

“Yes, Albus, thankfully we did. If we hadn’t, we would surely have a lot of explaining to do,” she assured him.

Minister Fudge was moving his pudgy little legs as fast as they could carry him down the slope. His hands were pumping largely at his sides, and he constantly reached up to steady the bowler rocking atop his fat, little head.

“Cornelius, how grand of you to visit. Hogwarts has been honored twice today, in fact, as you see, our Lord Chief Justice has dropped by for a little tour,” Dumbledore said with a large welcoming grin upon his face.

“Albus! You should have warned me of this! We could have more properly prepared an appropriate welcome for His Lordship! I trust we have not offended you, Your Lordship?” the little minister said, as if greatly upset over Dumbledore’s blundering of the whole affair.

“Not in the least, Minister Fudge. Professor Dumbledore and his staff have been most attentive hosts. I’ve been greatly impressed with the tour of this wonderful old school and wouldn’t want to change a single thing,” he said, smiling down at the flustered minister. “At least not so far,” he thought to himself.

“Yes, Professor Dumbledore is our most respected headmaster, Your Lordship. I don’t know what we would ever do without him,” Fudge replied, feebly attempting to mitigate his earlier outburst. “It would be a great honor, Your Lordship, if you could make a brief visit at the Ministry as well. You have many admirers there who would love to meet you, be assured.”

“Yes, I would love to do just that. Albus, why don’t we interrupt our day and take Minister Fudge up on his generous offer? I would love to see the welcome he has prepared for us,” Webster said to Dumbledore, giving him a wink.

“Your Lordship, just now, you see, we are not fully prepared for you at the Ministry,” Fudge almost shouted out. “Perhaps, say, first thing tomorrow morning. About the start of business hours?”

“Well, yes! That would be perfect, Minister Fudge. We’ll be there. Professor Dumbledore, I should hope you can join us there tomorrow?” Webster asked, wishing to see how the minister would react.

“Certainly, Your Lordship. It would be an honor,” the old professor replied in acceptance, knowing full well what the justice had on his mind, making such a big deal out of asking for his attendance in front of Fudge.

“Yes, well, I should not tarry, you see,” Fudge began again, nervously and obviously irritated by the Chief Justice’s insistence on keeping Professor Dumbledore within the loop. He wanted so desperately to arrange time alone with the man. It was well past the time he wanted to pass for him to begin laying down the ground rules he expected the justice to follow. He would not play second fiddle to the big muggle. Fudge would not allow that to happen. “It just so happens, I have a great number of very important meetings to attend to today. I really must be going. And, yes, Albus, please come along with His Lordship. However, the Chief Justice and I have many things to discuss in private, you understand? Hopefully we can get to them tomorrow. Put them behind us, so to speak.”

“Yes, Minister Fudge. I totally agree. We should have a powwow,” he said in reply.

Minister Fudge scrunched the folds of skin together between his beady, little eyes at that phrase. “Pow - - - what?” he asked.

“Oh! Of course! Powwow! It’s an American Indian word for a meeting or a gathering to discuss something,” Webster informed him.

“Yes, yes! Of course, a powwow! Yes, it is time for a powwow! Tomorrow morning, then?” he asked, looking up at the big justice.

“I’ll be there. Right after my breakfast,” he told the man.

“Very well, I’m off!” he exclaimed and turned to hurry back to the school.

A number of the ministers rapidly approached Webster and reached out to shake his hand. They also offered up large smiles and quick welcomes before themselves running to catch up with their portly, little minister.

Just as fast as the minister had appeared he was gone. Webster turned to Dumbledore and both laughed out.

“It was too obvious what you tried to do, Your Lordship. He was no more ready for a formal visit than he was for your response,” Dumbledore said, laughing loudly at the facial expressions the rotund little minister had made.

“I saw the truth of it as soon as the man spoke up, Albus. As you told me our first day, Fudge is now ready to lay down some rules. I could read it in his face. I’m glad it’s happening so soon. We need to get that meeting behind us,” Webster said, reaching up to clear the tears out of his eyes from the laughing. Keeping them dry was a problem, though, as the two men continued laughing for some minutes more.

The group resumed their tour and finally found themselves back in Dumbledore’s office. The old professor went about showing the justice some of the many items he had on his shelves. Webster marveled at the accounts the old wizard made about them. Some, in fact, he was unable to fathom, as they required knowledge of an area of magic in which he had not yet comprehended. In fact, there wasn’t much he understood about any of it. It seemed that every time he turned around something else became evident his mind was in no way prepared to grasp.

Ginny excused herself and bid a goodbye to Hermione and the two young witches. Hermione asked the Chief Justice if Sarah, Martha and herself could be excused to return to the Hall of Justice. Dumbledore leaned over and whispered to the justice.

“Hermione, if you would stay just a little longer, please. And yes, Sarah and Martha, you are excused. We will be along very shortly,” he told the girls. They both looked extremely relieved at his allowing them to leave.

As soon as they had left by way of the portkey on Dumbledore’s desk, the old professor went to his office door and sealed it. He then moved to his left and waved his wand in front of the wall. Two doors magically appeared. He motioned for the justice and Hermione to follow him into the room.

“This is the conference room, Your Lordship, which we will use to link between our secret dungeon, Falcon’s Lair, and the Hall of Justice. The two small figurines on the table are the portkeys. Please, if you two would join me, I would like to show you our training facility,” Dumbledore said, holding out his right hand and instructing them to join hands.

In a flash of emerald-green light the three appeared in Falcon’s Lair. At the time, Professor Drucila Priest was giving a demonstration to the group of young wizards. The old witch was quickly moving her wand at different targets placed around the cave, which were bursting into flames as quickly as she focused on each. The speed at which the old witch moved was truly an amazing thing to see. Dumbledore’s mouth spread into a wide grin. He had never seen his old friend perform at the top of her game before. It was a marvelous, awe-inspiring thing to watch.

Professor Priest lifted her wand to her shoulder as soon as she noticed the three standing behind her group of students. “Albus! How good of you to come!” she shouted out. The young wizards and Professor Grime quickly turned around to face their visitors.

“Please, Professor! Do not let us interrupt you!” Dumbledore called out.

“We were just about ready to take a break. We’ve been hard at our training all morning. I must say, you have provided us with some very attentive young masters,” she said, nodding and looking around at the young faces.

“Minister Grime, Professor Priest, Bruja Calderon and the rest of you fine wizards, please step forward and let me introduce you, at long last, to Lord Chief Justice Daniel Webster,” Professor Dumbledore said, as a way of introduction.

As the assembly stepped forward, Professor Dumbledore provided a lengthy introduction of the justice. He then proudly introduced the man to each member of the group, as he called them forward individually and pointed out their strong, unique attributes. As the old wizard lionized each before the Chief Justice, Webster greeted each as a peer. His personal interest and affable manner boosted the moral and pride of everyone present.

“Drucila, are you pleased with your beginning?” Dumbledore asked.

“Yes, we’ve made a very fine start. Our team is going to concentrate on several new tasks each day but will constantly return to prior incantations so they become as automatic and natural as breathing,” she said, smiling at her old friend.

“Wonderful! And you have everything you need?” he asked.

“We do. In fact, we’ve just received the first of a shipment of the new Nimbus Special Order brooms. They are quite distinctive, Albus. However, you will have to explain the additions to me. I can’t even begin to understand them,” she admitted.

“Yes, of course. We will have to practice with them in the very early hours of the morning until I reveal their true enhancements to you. There will also be other equipment arriving of great importance. After that, it won’t matter when we use them. I believe you will be very pleased,” he said with a big grin. “Now, might we sit around the tables for a quick talk?”

“Yes, certainly,” she said.

Hermione ran up to her former Gryffindor classmates and they each gave the girl a big hug. She walked with them over to the tables and went about quickly explaining some of what had happened to her over the last several days.

As the large group approached the tables, which were arranged closer to the living quarters, Dumbledore was pleased to note the trays and trays of iced tea waiting for them. Four long tables had been set in parallel with a long table running perpendicular at the head, several feet in front of the four.

Dumbledore, Priest, Grime, Hermione and the Chief Justice took seats at the head table. The old professor noted, with a smile, that everyone had already reached for a glass of the tea. As they each pulled out a chair to take a seat, Dumbledore remained standing.

“I’m certainly glad to see everyone has taken a liking to this wonderful beverage. It just so happens it comes to us directly from Merlin’s very own parchments. He used the specially blended tea to clear his mind and greatly enhance his endurance, I have been told. It is wonderful; that’s for sure. Now, before I begin,” he said, turning to look down at the seated Chief Justice. “Your Lordship, is there anything you wish to say to our assembled group before we begin?”

“No, please, Professor, continue!” Webster said, lifting a glass of the ice tea.

Dumbledore told the group about their morning tour and of Minister Fudge’s appearance. He told them about Vincent, leaving out the unnecessary details, and that he was going to continue his interrogation of the man. They whispered between themselves when he mentioned the man had confessed Voldemort was presently in the Balkans.

“That shouldn’t really surprise us. There has been quite an upheaval in that part of the world these last years, a great deal of political unrest and confusion. Voldemort will use that to his advantage. However, his location will also work to our advantage. I assure you, the last place he wants to be is in the Balkans. He would much rather be sitting at the Ministry or in the Hall of Justice, after declaring himself to be the Supreme Lord,” Dumbledore told them.

“I was there during Vincent’s interrogation, yesterday,” Chief Justice Webster spoke out, every eye turning to him. “During his ranting, he said Lord Voldemort would soon return to assume the position of Supreme Lord. In so many words, he led us to believe Voldemort was going to kill all who stood in his way before enslaving the world. It was quite a disturbing picture the man painted,” Webster told them, looking into the individual faces of those sitting before him.

“Yes, indeed! And as Vincent has quickly disappeared from Coldstream, we are hoping to see what comes of that fact. Very soon we hope to begin piecing together some of our missing puzzle. Time and training are of the utmost importance to every one in this room. Please, for all our sakes, take great care with each,” the old wizard said before finally taking his seat.

“Professor, is there a name we will use to refer to our group?” Sirius asked of the old man.

“Yes, forgive me. I meant to relate that to you yesterday, but we hurried along to other things. In Greek mythology, the goddess Athena is said to have sprang from Zeus’ head dressed in full armor. Athena is the goddess of wisdom and warfare, which is very fitting, I would think. Therefore, if it pleases everyone present, we shall refer to you all as Athena - - - nothing more - - - just Athena,” the old wizard informed them. “And, Remus, your group shall be referred to as Coeus, after the Greek God of intelligence.”

“When will they begin arriving, Professor?” Remus asked.

“I cannot say the day. Captain Stran will be bringing candidates to be interviewed to the Hall of Justice. Those chosen will be brought directly here. You understand, of course, they will be trained apart from Athena. In fact, you should choose and ready one of the large rooms here, which you will seal off from those not receiving the advanced training,” Dumbledore directed.

“I’ll begin tonight, after our training is over,” Remus Lupin replied.

“Now, we will leave you to your training,” Professor Dumbledore told them as he rose from his chair.

He walked over and spoke at length to Professor Priest and Minister Grime. Grime informed the old wizard he would, after the day’s training, make for his home one last time to give his family an excuse for his absence.

Once everything was agreed upon, Dumbledore, Webster and Hermione returned to the Hall of Justice. The old wizard and the justice went straightaway down to interrogate Vincent once more. The man had been placed in a rather large holding cell. Captain Stran told them Vincent had been ranting all day and screaming out insults to her officers. Dumbledore bound and gagged the man again, and he was dragged down to the room they were using for interrogations.

Once again, Vincent was trussed to the heavy chair. After his gag was removed, he immediately began shouting insults and cursing at everyone present.

“You should quiet yourself, man!” Dumbledore told him in a loud voice. “What possible benefit do you think you will gain from such behavior?”

“You old sack of moldy shit!” Vincent screamed. “How dare you! A lousy old muggle-loving fuck, you are! My master will make a stew out of your old bones to feed to his dogs! Release me, I say!”

“Do you realize, Vincent, you have told us interesting things about your master. You have betrayed him, you know. Yes, in fact, you told us where he has been hiding these past years,” Professor Dumbledore said, smiling down at the man.

“You lie! You lie! You bastard!” Vincent screamed and began crying out. Tears flowed from his eyes. But he realized the old professor had spoken the truth. He had informed on his lord and master. “You bastard! You had no right to force me! You will pay with your life for that!”

“The one who should be worried about his life, Vincent, is you!” Dumbledore fired back at the man. “Do you believe Voldemort cares anything about you beyond what you can do for him! Open your eyes, man! You are cannon fodder! You mean nothing to him, now! You became expendable the minute you joined the evil alliance!”

Jacque Vincent shoulders soon quaked from his crying. He was finished. The old professor had again spoke the truth, and he knew it. He threw his head back and bared his teeth. His situation was hopeless. There would be no exoneration.

“Are you now ready to consider your choices. You have but this one last time to accept our terms. If you resist, I will extract the information from you by force. You know I can do that. Then, after we are through with you, I can only promise a quick and painless death. However, with the authorization of Lord Chief Justice Webster, and with your full cooperation, we can promise you will be allowed to live out your life,” the old wizard explained to the desperate man.

There was a period of silence. The malicious man’s head rolled about in agony. “What do you want to know?” Vincent finally said, tilting his head over the back of the chair, staring at the ceiling of the room.

“Who are Voldemort’s associates at Coldstream?” the old professor asked.

“There are no associates at Coldstream. I’m the only one there,” he related. “Two of the school’s oversight committee members bare the mark. We are assigned our duties by Voldemort’s under-lord.”

“Under-lord?” Dumbledore asked.

“Lucius Malfoy! He is Voldemort’s second in Western Europe. Malfoy is in charge of overseeing and preparing for the master’s return,” Vincent said.

“And the names of the committee members at Coldstream?” the old wizard asked.

“Herbert Greely and Victor Chadelton,” he said. “They bear the mark of Voldemort. But only Greely meets with Lucius Malfoy.”

“Very good, Vincent. You have earned yourself a stay of execution, if your information is correct.”

“It is,” Vincent replied, his head falling forward to his chest.

Dumbledore and Webster exited the room and directed the officers to take the man back to his holding cell. They waited to insure the transfer of the prisoner was not a problem before leaving the basement and going back to the residence.

Webster expressed his concern to Dumbledore over the following days meeting at the Ministry with Cornelius Fudge. The old professor assured the man it wouldn’t be hard to persuade Fudge to stay out of the court’s business. He stressed the necessity of being firm and controlling with the minister. Fudge might throw a tantrum, but he is pretty much harmless, Dumbledore assured him.

After a couple hours of discussion, Dumbledore excused himself to head back to Hogwarts. He needed to put in an appearance at the evening meal. It was something he would need to do a lot, he explained to the justice. Best to not give prying eyes too much to write home about.

Dumbledore met Hermione again as he was leaving the judge’s chamber. She walked with him to the Hogwarts’ arch.

“Professor, is there anything specific we should worry about here at the Hall of Justice now that you are beginning to take actions against the dark lords?” she asked, Dumbledore noting the worried look on her face.

He stopped and turned to face his young protégée. “Hermione,” he began, in a reassuring voice. “I believe everything will be fine here. If Voldemort’s followers make an attempt on the life of the Chief Justice, I believe it will be while he’s away from the court. They have reason to believe he’s the most vulnerable away from here, as you can imagine. But they will be absolutely mistaken, I assure you. There are protective powers in his ring that very few know about, and even fewer can begin to fathom. I wouldn’t worry, but still, one should always be wary and attentive to what is going on around them. You understand?”

“Yes, Professor. Thank you for telling me,” she replied.

“It will be best if we keep that information just between us, too,” he said, peering down into her eyes over the top of the half-moon lenses in his glasses.

“I understand,” she said, nodding her head. “It seems there is much to do and very little time to do it.”

“Yes, and thus things shall be for some time to come, I fear. We are entering a very, very dangerous period of time, Hermione, which will require us to put forth our best efforts. I believe, in my heart of hearts, that we will see it through to its proper end,” the old wizard said. “Our world will be a much safer and happier place to be once it is done and behind us.”

Again, the young witch nodded her head thoughtfully. “Yes, I agree,” she said, raising her eyes to look up into the old wizard’s scholarly face.

After reaching the arch bearing the Great Seal of Hogwarts, Dumbledore gathered up his robe around him.

“See you tomorrow, Professor,” she said.

“Good evening to you, Hermione. And yes, you should accompany His Lordship to the Ministry tomorrow. You have a right to be there, you know,” he said with a proud smile.

“I’ll be there!” she exclaimed, watching the old wizard step up to the portkey and disappear in a flash of emerald-green light.