Harry Potter and the Hall of Justice

Chapter 7 His Lord Chief Justice


Professor Dumbledore had gone straightaway to the Ministry of Magic at Daniel Webster’s request. There he met with Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge, a smallish man but with an ego fitting his lofty position. Over the last months, Fudge had aligned himself with Lucius Malfoy and other powerful wizards in a last ditch effort to table the selection of a new justice. Fudge didn’t share the ulterior motives of Malfoy and his associates; he simply didn’t want a seated justice during his term of office as it would lessen, not only the level of control he had over the ministry, but also his standing in their magical world. As it now stood, Cornelius Fudge had the final say over everything in their magical domain. A Lord Chief Justice would change that, and Fudge could not stand the thought of relinquishing any power to a muggle.

On the other hand, Lucius Malfoy and his cohorts had a darker objective. A Lord Chief Justice could easily be persuaded to target the devotees of Lord Voldemort and, therefore, impede the scheduling of their dark agenda. It had been in their evil interests to fight against the nomination and against Dumbledore’s persuasiveness; they had failed miserably.

Professor Dumbledore, along with a slim majority of ministers, had been greatly relieved when the final vote affirmed the selection of Daniel Webster as the new Lord Chief Justice. These ministers had no hidden agenda. All were in open agreement: it was time to act, at long last, against the wizards and witches aligned with the dark lords.

Before Dumbledore left him, Minister Fudge agreed not to delay his appearance at the Hall of Justice. Taking the opportunity while at the Ministry, the old professor had also been able to speak with a number of the ministers who had openly voiced their strong support of Webster, and each expressed a desire to attend the swearing in ceremony and felt great honor being asked.

The professor left the Ministry and went directly to Hogwarts, where he found Professor McGonagall beginning her first class of the new school year. She also felt very privileged when Dumbledore asked if she would accompany him to the ceremony.

With renewed energy, the old wizard then went in search of Hermione Granger, locating the student starting her first period. Calling her out of the class, he asked if she would mind missing her first day of lessons to attend the swearing in ceremony of the new Lord Chief Justice. Hermione’s eyes lit up when she heard his offer and squealed in excitement. Professor Dumbledore couldn’t help but laugh aloud at her exuberance.

Professor McGonagall was waiting in Dumbledore’s office. She smiled and nodded her head at the old professor when she saw a very cheerful Hermione Granger in tow.

“Hermione,” Professor Dumbledore said, “the crystal ball on my desk is a special portkey we use for transport to the Hall of Justice. You simply have to stand next to the desk, place a hand upon it, clearly utter the words ‘Justice Hall’, and in a flash you will be there. Now, if we will join hands. Are we ready?”

“Yes, I’m ready, Professor,” Hermione said, displaying a big, nervous grin. She grasped the right hand of Professor McGonagall who held Dumbledore’s right hand in hers. He gave them each a little wink and, after he placed his left hand on the crystal ball, he uttered the two words.

In a flash of emerald-green light, they appeared in the anteroom of the Hall of Justice in front of the Great Seal of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. A number of ministers, along with headmasters from various schools, were speaking excitedly outside the large doors leading into the courtroom. All greeted Professor Dumbledore with great enthusiasm, congratulating each other over the vote that finally made this day possible.

After a few minutes talking to various ministers and professors, Dumbledore turned to Professor McGonagall and Hermione and said, “Follow me! I want you both to meet someone.” He couldn’t help but smile. Even after many sleepless hours, the man felt twenty years younger.

A security officer opened one of the massive doors to admit the three into the courtroom. Professor Dumbledore heard Hermione gulp for air when she entered the huge courtroom. He motioned the two witches to walk with him to the dais where they then turned and followed him up its marble steps. Upon reaching the top of the dais, the old headmaster opened the door to the justice’s chamber and waved them both inside.

Daniel Webster was standing alongside his desk holding a large black judicial robe at arms length. He quickly laid the robe across the desk when he saw the professor, shaking his head and giving him a quizzical smile. “Professor, I’ve seen bed sheets smaller than that thing,” he said. “Are you sure it’s in my size?”

“I wouldn’t know, Mr. Webster, if they even come in sizes. Just black, I think,” was the reply. “Sir, if I may, I would like to introduce you to Professor Minerva McGonagall, my deputy at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and Miss Hermione Granger, a senior witch and stellar student at our school. Professor McGonagall and Hermione, it is my great honor to introduce you to our next Lord Chief Justice, Mr. Daniel Milton Webster who comes to us from the great state of Texas - - - that’s in the States.”

Webster walked forward and shook hands with McGonagall and Hermione. “It’s a pleasure to meet you both, and thank you for coming to the ceremony. Not even twelve hours ago, I had no idea your magical world even existed. I’m really sorry I’ve lived so many years and never knew of it.”

“Thank you for your welcome,” Professor McGonagall said. “Professor Dumbledore, I must say, has spoken very highly of you, Your Lordship. I am honored to be here.”

“As am I, sir,” Hermione spoke up, looking up into the face of the big man, feeling physically weak. She would never have expected such a ruggedly handsome man. He struck her as an outdoorsman, not a man who worked behind a desk. She noticed his warm hazel eyes most of all. They were strikingly pleasing to look into, yet piercing, as if he were reading her every thought. His face showed a great deal of character and intelligence. As he looked down into her face, she felt strange warmth, a feeling she was being looked at as a grown woman for the first time in her life. “He is a very handsome man,” she thought. “I hope I have a chance to talk with him later.”

Webster smiled at the teenage girl. He could feel her eyes analyzing his face and sizing him up, much as he had successfully done to so many people the majority of his life. “She is a beautiful girl,” he thought, “and there is more than a heap of intelligence in that little head of hers. I wonder why Dumbledore brought her along? Maybe she is his niece or something.”

“Have you both been here before?” Webster asked the two guests.

“I have been here twice before, Your Lordship. But that was nearly thirty years ago,” Professor McGonagall said. “This is the first time for Hermione.”

“Have you seen our library?” he asked. “I was most impressed with it.”

“You have a library?” Hermione asked, her eyes doubling in size.

“Yeah, a big one. Come with me,” Webster directed her, reaching out and taking her hand. “If you like libraries, you’re going to really like this one.”

He guided her to the library door and she almost collapsed when he opened it. Webster reached out and steadied her until she got her weight solidly back on her feet. “Wow,” he laughed out, “you must really like books, huh?”

Professor Dumbledore and McGonagall turned to face each other and exchanged big, knowing smiles. “You know, Minerva,” Dumbledore whispered, “I don’t think your talk with Hermione will take very long.” They each laughed out at that.

“Professor,” Hermione said, her voice sounding feeble, “You never told us about this!”

“I apologize, Hermione,” Professor Dumbledore said, still laughing. “Please forgive my omission.”

Hermione stepped inside the library and was completely taken aback by its immensity. “It must be at least a hundred times larger than our library at Hogwarts,” she exclaimed.

Not until this moment had Professor Dumbledore regretted never having brought students, like Hermione, who spent more hours in the library than in their own beds, to experience the edifice.

“Yes, Hermione,” Dumbledore said, “You are quite right. And Mr. Webster gave me about the same reaction last night when I brought him here. As I told him then, Hermione, what we are in is the largest depository of magic lore in our world. We maintain manuscripts and whole volumes of books here that go back as far as writing itself. There are artifacts cataloged here so old we simply have no true knowledge of their history or value.” The old professor then turned and whispered something to Professor McGonagall. He backed away from her and she nodded her head, affirming his request.

“Now, if you two would please excuse our absence, Mr. Webster and I must go see if the Minister of Magic has arrived. Are you about ready to meet him?” Dumbledore turned towards the man.

“Yes, Professor,” he said, “I guess it wouldn’t do to keep the man waiting.”

The two men walked back through the door into the judge’s chambers and left Professor McGonagall and Hermione alone. McGonagall motioned Hermione over to another door and they entered into office bearing a brass plate with “Executive Assistant” engraved on its door.

“Please, Hermione, sit down. I need to have a little chat with you,” McGonagall said. She noticed Hermione had a worried look on her face. “No, no. It isn’t anything you have done.” The old witch reached a hand out to the desk and eased into a chair. “Now, now, where to begin.”

Professor McGonagall appeared anxious and uneasy. Hermione remained quiet and began surveying the surrounding room while the professor caught her breath and organized her thoughts. The room contained an amazing assortment of contraptions, the like of which she had never seen before, and a great deal of cabinet and filing space hiding who knew what kind of delicious surprises. It was all quite impressive and, although she wished she had an hour free to nose around, her mind, however, was filled with visions of pulling books off of countless shelves in that library.

“Hermione,” the professor began at last, “you will find, soon enough, that time is fleeting and, most often, so to is opportunity. The muggles have a proverb about ‘seizing the day’ - - - living in the moment, making the most out of every offered opportunity and the like. But, here I go, teaching again when I should be discussing.”

McGonagall looked into Hermione’s face. “Such a fine and beautiful young woman you have become, Hermione,” she thought to herself. “You have matured so much these last two years. I so envy you, I do.”

Professor McGonagall straightened herself in her chair and continued, “Have you made any plans for what you will do after your final year of school, my dear?”

“I would one day so much like to be a teacher or work at the Ministry. I’ve been told, though, there isn’t much chance of that when one isn’t born to a wizard family,” she admitted.

“Each time a new Lord Chief Justice takes office, Hermione, there are many things which must be completed rather quickly. You see the Hall of Justice requires a rather large staff. And the first staff selection made by the newly seated justice is that of Executive Assistant. In most cases, the new assistant comes from one of our many schools and usually is a student in the last year of training. The headmasters submit names of students who are bright, industrious, hardworking and mature. Professor Dumbledore, with great confidence, believes you to be the best candidate for the position from our school,” McGonagall concluded.

“Me? But I haven’t finished my last year of school, Professor!” Hermione exclaimed.

“If you should be selected for the position, Hermione, your school days would be over. You would begin here immediately. It is a grand opportunity for a young student. I also believe, Hermione, you would be a perfect choice. Of course, it would be up to you to decide whether you want it or not. But first, and let me make this perfectly clear, there will most likely be other very qualified candidates. It will be his Lordship’s decision which student to fill the position with. You understand?” McGonagall said, pausing a moment. “Would you be interested in having your name submitted to His Lordship?”

Hermione looked down to her hands lying in her lap. She was flushed with excitement but overwhelmingly sad at the same time. Leaving Hogwarts in her last year before finishing her training was unconscionable. If she made a mistake, she would never be able to forgive herself.

“I was so looking forward to my final year, Professor,” she continued. “I would miss my friends and my studies so much. And I would miss living at Hogwarts.”

“Why would you miss your friends, my dear?” Professor McGonagall asked, shocked at her statement. “You would be free to use the portkey whenever you desired. Depending upon how you scheduled your work here at the Hall of Justice, you could visit Hogwarts every day and, with the permission of His Lordship, continue to take a class or two so as to continue your most important studies. I’m sorry I didn’t make that clear to you in the beginning. You should know, Hermione, and I believe you do, that we are entering a period of very troubling times, so I’m afraid you might be left with precious little free time.”

“I hadn’t realized that Professor,” she said. “Would I use the portkey to come to work each day? Where would I live?”

“You would live in his Lordship’s residence, Hermione,” the professor told her. “That is the way it has always been. The Executive Assistant is the Justice’s primary companion and makes sure he lacks nothing he desires. And you would be in charge of the entire staff. It would be for you to decide what supervisory staff to have under you and what powers you would delegate to them. It is a very great responsibility and an even greater challenge.”

Hermione was awestruck that such a demanding appointment would be entrusted to a student with little life and no work experience. She immediately had decided, if she were the Lord Chief Justice, a student would not be appointed to such a lofty position. It was outrageous and completely irrational.

“Professor, that is far too much responsibility to place in the hands of a young wizard or witch!” Hermione exclaimed, as a matter of fact.

“It most certainly would be, if a young student was tasked with such an obligation who did not possess a certain aptitude and mental attributes. It would be disastrous. However, Professor Dumbledore and I feel you excel in those areas and are the only right candidate for the position,” the professor said, looking at the young girl and feeling great admiration and pride for her.

“What about my parents? Surely they must be consulted first, Professor? How am I to know they would approve?” she asked worriedly.

“I will handle that myself. As your parents are not of wizard blood, I will take very simple and effective steps to assure their proud approval,” the old witch told her, quietly and in a comforting voice.

Hermione was still overwhelmed. It was all moving along too fast. “You said I would be his primary companion?” she asked. “Companion as in a friend or…?” She let the last of her question trail off, embarrassed to articulate what she felt the professor had really meant.

“My dear young friend, I can’t remember a single instance with past Justice’s, male or female, where children were not born between His or Her Lordship and their Executive Assistants. This, of course, does not automatically imply you will do the same but it would be very odd indeed if you and His Lordship do not initiate and maintain such a liaison. Every child conceived and born to His or Her Lordship is of wizard blood and has enhanced abilities and attributes. My dear, our much-revered old headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, is the child of a Lord Chief Justice and his Executive Assistant. Forgive me, Albus, old friend for saying this but he sees his own mother in you, Hermione. It is as if you were a reincarnation of her, you see?” The wizened old witch looked regretful, as if she had betrayed a sacred confidence.

“I never knew that!” she exclaimed.

“I’m somewhat afraid you were never meant to. I certainly hope Professor Dumbledore forgives my indiscretion, but I feel the circumstances give you the right to know. His mother was a very bright, self-reliant and headstrong young woman when she was appointed. She was your exact age, too. Until he started Hogwarts, he grew up in these very halls and spent much time here with his mother over the years. She was quite old when she passed away. And that brings me to the last thing I am compelled to point out to you. After residing here for several days, you will have more energy and your sensory perception will be enhanced. You will age slowly, too. It is believed Edward d’Mar’s charm produces that effect, whether it was intentional or not, it is an aspect of the charm. Now, we should go and catch up with the professor and His Lordship. It would not surprise me in the least if Minister Fudge takes ever part of a week to get here, though,” Professor McGonagall said with a huff.

“And by when must I decide, Professor?” Hermione asked, as they both got to their feet to leave the room.

“You will be asked by Professor Dumbledore if you wish to be considered for the position first, my dear. I do regret you don’t have more time to consider it but the selection of the Executive Assistant usually takes place within hours of the swearing in ceremony. His Lordship will most likely want to interview all the nominees. Saying yes to Dumbledore does not mean you have to say yes to His Lordship or that he will say yes to you,” she explained.

“I understand,” Hermione said. As they left the room she couldn’t help but look back one last time at the oddly equipped room but, as soon as she walked out into the library, she didn’t give it another thought.

Professor Dumbledore and Daniel Webster, after determining the Minister of Magic had yet to arrive, had returned to the private library of the residence to talk. A tea service had been placed on a table in the room with a large side tray of crumpets and jam. Dumbledore, at that moment, realized he had not eaten anything since the welcoming feast at Hogwarts the evening before. Even as hungry as he was, he ignored the toasted crumpets and quickly reached instead for another tall glass of iced tea. He lifted the glass to his mouth and, in no more than four gulps, emptied the glass. He felt instantly energized and years younger.

“Yes, Dan,” he said, “I have to agree with you. This is a most outstanding beverage. I still can’t understand why I never had it this way before. I must say, one can teach an old dog new tricks.” They both had a loud laugh over that and went about drinking tea and eating delightful crumpets for several minutes with not so much as a word between them.

Finally Dumbledore slid back deeper into his chair and relaxed with a sigh. He raised a napkin to his mouth and reached down to whisk crumbs from his long, white beard.

“That was wonderful, truly wonderful. If I were at Hogwarts, I should wish to take a long nap. But, alas, we have more to discuss before the Minister arrives. I have no doubt he will want to hurry things along once he gets here and not tarry long after the ceremony, as he will have us believe there are many duties he must perform and, of course, lives will be hanging in the balance,” Dumbledore said, grinning widely.

“I know the sort well, Albus. I’ve worked around them all my life,” Webster said in agreement.

“Now, Dan. Something I almost forgot to bring to your attention: We do not know how or why it happens but, from the minute you place the Justice’s Ring upon your finger, you will age more slowly. After several days, and possibly even the very next day, a man your age will feel he is reliving his twenties. In truth, it is different for each justice. Nevertheless, age will no longer be a great factor. You might even find yourself looking and feeling exactly as you did when you were in your mid-twenties. Such is the power of the ring. Any age-related ailments you might now suffer will simply disappear. Your senses will be sharpened and more sensitive. You will become much more spunky, if that is the word. Also, now how should I put this?” the professor stroked his beard, searching for an appropriate word or phrase. “One might say you will have increased desires of the carnal nature. It can be quite overpowering in some men and women, Dan, but the Lord Chief Justices’ have always coped fairly well. It would also be negligent of me not inform you of this fact also: Any children conceived and born to you will be of wizard blood, meaning they will be wizards, as I am. My father was a Lord Chief Justice many years ago and served for a long period of time. My mother was his Executive Assistant. Although never married, by your definition, they lived a very long and happy life together. He had children born of fourteen unions and all serve our world very well to this very day, as headmasters, professors, researchers or ministers. Of course, if you do not wish to have children, it is a simple matter to prevent. I apologize for bringing up such a sensitive and personal matter, but it was a detail you absolutely must be informed.”

“I understand, Albus. As you know, I never married and, I must say, I never gave much thought to children, honestly. Nevertheless, that carnal stuff sounds pretty good to me,” Webster said before laughing out loud.

Dumbledore joined him in laughter and decided he liked this man better the more he was around him. The old wizard knew in his heart he would become a good and true friend and, hopefully, an even better justice. With Webster’s limited knowledge of their world, the professor knew it would be impossible to accurately convey the dangers he faced. Just thinking about it made him feel quite old again. Although the years had been good to him, Dumbledore was getting as tired as he was ancient. He hoped he was up for the next great challenges they would face. It would test them all, and he knew only the truly strong would survive.

“And, what did you think of my student, Hermione Granger?” Dumbledore asked, again peering over the top of his glasses.

“A strange name, Hermione,” he said. “She’s a beautiful young woman, and it was very obvious to me she has a lot going on upstairs. Is she as intelligent as she looks?”

“Yes, very,” said Dumbledore. “She has been a brilliant student and absorbs things like a sponge. I expect many great things from her. She reminds me, Dan, so much of my own mother. Not physically, I mean, no, not that way but my mother was a very bright, self-starter with outstanding intuition and exceptional abilities that came to her naturally. I’ve never met another witch so much like her. Even as a young girl, Hermione had a certain spark and determination about her. Yes, early on I knew she was going to be special.”

“And she is old enough, Albus, well, for a relationship?” Webster embarrassingly asked.

“Ah!” Dumbledore exclaimed with a smile. “I should tell you this, too: Whomsoever you choose to live here in the Hall of Justice, within a very short time, well, how shall I put this delicately.” The old professor stroked his beard, again searching for a proper way to explain. “Well, I can’t. Let’s just say within a few days she will have an aching need to take your friendship to another level. There, you have it.” Both men blushed red and laughed at the professor’s description.

The professor then continued as he felt it needed further explanation. “You see, Dan, the same power the ring has is much the same as the charm which protects this hall. Maybe that is why you get a double dose of it. Who knows? Maybe no one ever will know. But, I warn you, truly, you will become lustful and will desire to do things far above any level you ever experienced living in your world.”

“You’ve certainly given me sufficient reasons, Albus, to say I’m glad I didn’t turn the job down,” he said, laughing again.

“No one is any happier than this old wizard,” Dumbledore said with a large smile. “I wish there was more I could tell you about the ring, Dan. D’Mar himself made it, but he is said to have destroyed most of his parchments before he died, which detailed his work. A very dear old friend of mine, Nicolas Flamel, spent many, many years trying to duplicate the power of the ring. He did succeed in making a stone, which held great power, but it fell terribly short of the magic that protects this Hall of Justice and which is concentrated in the ring. Flamel was a renowned alchemist and was a master of transformation. We studied and worked together for some years before I took my first post at Hogwarts. Although a number of marvelous stones were made and one ring, we never could master the powerful enchantment of the ring you will soon wear.”

The professor took the opportunity, before the Minister of Magic arrived, to enlighten Webster on other topics and of the civil and criminal matters that would be brought before his bench in the initial days. They then discussed the position of Court Clerk for a short while. Finally, though, the old professor came around to the only other positions he hoped the Lord Chief Justice would accept his recommendations on: The head investigative positions at the Department of Special Investigations. He told him of Sirius Black and Remus Lupin and the precarious circumstances the two men were in and why they were highly qualified to run the department. This also allowed him the chance to reiterate the powers of the Lord Chief Justice: to pardon, exonerate or reduce, by decree, prior orders issued by any court or authority. In short, Dumbledore provided Webster with all the specific details he would need to change the legal status of Black and Remus and allow them to serve the court as free wizards, without prejudice.

Shortly, a blue-caped security officer knocked on the door of the residence and told the two men Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic, had just arrived in the courtroom. Dumbledore slowly rose to his feet and ceremoniously bowed to Dan Webster.

“My Lord,” the old professor said, “I believe your audience awaits you.” He straightened up and smiled approvingly at Dan Webster. “May you have fond memories of this day for many, many years to come, Your Lordship.” The old wizard then slowly turned, walked to open the door for the younger man and they stepped into the judge’s chamber.