Harry Potter and the Hall of Justice

Chapter 4 Return to Hogwarts


Harry, Ron and Hermione soon found an empty coach compartment on the Hogwarts Express and sat down for another late summer ride to school. This trip was bittersweet, however. It would be their seventh and final ride together as students on the old steam engine train. Once that fact was mentioned by Hermione, their three large smiles sagged in unison as that fact washed over them. After a few moments contemplation, their faces registered the poignant significance of this moment in their lives.

“You know,” Hermione began, “I can clearly recall every time we’ve been on this train. We’ve been through a lot together, haven’t we?”

“Don’t start getting all emotional on us, Hermione.” Ron quickly quipped. “Harry and I wouldn’t want to kick you out of here because you’ve gone and gotten yourself all worked up.” Ron winked at Harry and a large smile returned to his face. “Where did Ginny wander off to, anyway?”

“She said she might be along later. Some of her classmates were wanting to do a little gossiping, I suppose,” Hermione huffily replied.

Harry turned to look out of the coach’s large window as the train pulled out of the station. Staring off into space, small snippets of memories ran through his mind like an unorganized slide show. And Ron couldn’t fool him either, he thought. Harry was well aware that Ron, too, was affected, much more than he would ever admit, by the significance of this final trip. The three had certainly been through a lot together over the last six years; from childhood to adulthood; young apprentice students to well grounded, near masterful practitioners of all things magical; and, each would very soon cross the threshold separating school-day practice of the magical arts to the adult world filled with their everyday application.

“I overheard my dad whispering something to my mom this morning before we left home,” Ron said to no one in particular, fingering at a patch on the right knee of his pants. “Something is going on at the Ministry. Sounded to me like maybe something big is fixin’ to happen.” Ron paused and looked at Harry who had turned his head away from the window. Ron arched his red eyebrows and said, as if worried, “I think it has something to do with a muggle.”

“A muggle?” Hermione reiterated.

“Yeah, I think so. Something about a Big Justice or Chief Justice or something,” Ron said with a quizzical expression uniquely his own.

“Lord Chief Justice!” Hermione intoned, annunciating each word loudly and precisely, as if she was a teacher beginning a class on the subject. “There hasn’t been a Lord Chief Justice for over twenty years. In fact, I’ve heard there are some at the Ministry who would like nothing better that to do away with the high court altogether.”

“What is a Lord Chief Justice?” Harry asked, already knowing full well if anyone could recite verbatim the exact definition, position description, knowledge, skills and abilities of such an animal Hermione would certainly be the one to do it.

“Like I said, there hasn’t been a Lord Chief Justice for at least twenty years,” Hermione said with a smirk. Exchanging little more than a smile, Harry and Ron mutually acknowledged Hermione was on a roll and, short of stuffing something into her mouth, or depending upon how much had been written on the subject of a “Lord Chief Justice”, most of their trip to Hogwarts would be a complete and formal discourse on the topic.

“Has either of you ever read the History of Magic?” she scolded. “If you had, you would know the position of Lord Chief Justice has been around since Edward d’Mar was head of the Council of Magic almost a thousand years ago. He separated what was then the Council into its current law making and enforcement bodies. However, he argued it was necessary to have a separate judicial house to pass final judgments and settle civil disputes. And I’m quite sure, much to the chagrin of the Malfoy’s and his associates, the judicial position of Lord Chief Justice can only be held by a muggle.”

“What?” Ron exclaimed.

“A muggle!” Hermione continued. “A muggle, d’Mar and his cohorts demanded, free from allegiances to the great houses of wizard family lines and not under the influence of dark masters. If I remember correctly, the selection process is so grueling and exacting that many years have passed, in some instances, between the passing of one Lord Chief Justice and the installment of the next. I’ve actually wondered if we would ever see a seated justice in our lifetime. However, if what Ron overheard is correct, maybe they have found a candidate.”

“Not to worry Hermione,” Ron said. “I’m sure we’ll know soon enough. I doubt it will have any effect on us, anyway.”

“It will have great influence. Especially against those wizards constantly displaying total contempt for the laws of the Ministry of Magic, and particularly those practicing the Dark Arts. As it stands now, the Minister and his chosen body are only deciding judicial cases where something must be done in the extreme, like sentencing someone to Azkaban. The ministers chosen to sit in judgment are rightfully fearful of retribution from the family and supporters of the accused. Therefore, many of the most powerful Dark Lords escape justice as they are never charged,” Hermione stopped to take a breath.

“Wouldn’t a muggle have even more to worry about?” Harry interjected.

“D’Mar was a very powerful and brilliant wizard, Harry. It is said he protected the Hall of Justice with a magical charm so strong and unique it prevents any form of magic from being used inside it; however, I believe there are said to be some exceptions. Even a powerful potion taken inside has little more effect than pure water once it enters the field of the charm. How he did it or how permanent it is, nobody knows. But to this day it is said to be as strong as it ever was. Also, a ring is placed on the Lord Chief Justice’s left ring finger when he or she officially takes office. It is said to impart a field of its own; one even as powerful as the Hall of Justice has. And it is also said to bestow a fairly long and healthy life on the bearer. However, it can only be placed on the finger of a muggle. The ring means instant death to anyone touching it other than a muggle while it is not being worn. And when it isn’t worn, it is kept in a gold box and is presented to the Lord Chief Justice using a pair of gold tongs. The stone set in the head of the tongs matches the stone in the ring. No one knows what the stone is made of but it is said to glow a different color and intensity with each justice. It might foretell how powerful, effective and fair the justice will be. Only the ministers know the significance. I do know the tongs are only used by the Minister of Magic to either present it to the new Chief Justice or to remove the ring from a dead justice’s hand.” Hermione stopped to breath some much needed oxygen after her lengthy lesson and noted the attention each of her traveling companions was giving her. “Too bad they haven’t been this attentive these last six years,” she thought to herself. “They would have had a much easier go of it.” She smiled at the notion.

“We’re certainly glad you stopped to take a breath, Hermione. You were turning all blue,” Ron said with a chuckle. “I still don’t understand why it has to be a muggle?”

“Again, Ron, a muggle would have no alliances or allegiances with the magical world. If the right person were chosen, one would think they would be free of prejudices and biases towards any specific person or group. But what I’m most fascinated of is the power of ring and what other powers might be present in the Hall of Justice.” Hermione related.

“I wonder why they waited so long to fill the job?” Harry questioned.

“Yeah, and why would anyone at the Ministry not want it filled?” asked Ron.

“The process probably takes that long, Harry. And, of course, knowing our Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge like we all do, it would be something he’d resist. His ego is bigger than Hogwarts and relinquishing any authority to a muggle would be absolutely unconscionable to him,” said Hermione. After a pause, she began again, as if speaking her thoughts aloud, “However, the real losers would be the dark lords and their disciples. Yes, of course, the Ministry has avoided bringing many of those working outside the law to justice because they are afraid of retributions. In the absence of a Lord Chief Justice, the Ministry is left to prosecute such cases and they have not been doing it.”

“Where is the Hall of Justice?” Ron asked.

“I don’t know but it is said a portkey is located at each school and at the Ministry,” she said.

“A portkey? At Hogwarts? That is impossible, a portkey can’t work inside Hogwarts, can it?” asked Harry.

“One of the things my six years of education has taught me is there are exceptions to almost every rule. If Hogwarts has a portkey connected to the Hall of Justice, I would imagine it would be accessible from Dumbledore’s office,” Hermione replied.

“That I’d like to see!” exclaimed Ron.

“Yeah, me too,” said Harry. “I can’t remember seeing anything in Dumbledore’s office that stood out but he’s got a lot of stuff in there. Anything could be a portkey.”

Harry once again turned his attention to the world outside the coach’s window and, more than at any other time in memory, was captivated by the beauty of the countryside flying by. As evening turned to night, he pondered how a Lord Chief Justice might really change their magical world. One thing was sure: he vowed to do more reading on the subject.

Hermione and Ron put on their robes as they neared the end of their journey. Ron annoyingly nudged Harry and brought him out of his stupor so he could do the same.

“Sorry ‘bout that, old man,” Ron said. “Our little holiday has come to an end. Can’t wait to get some food in me.” He grinned largely before reaching up and ruffling the mess of dark, unwieldy hair on Harry’s head.