Propaganda of the Ministry of Magic against Harry Potter and Albus Dumbledore
Albus Dumbledore informs Cornelius Fudge, the Minister for Magic of Voldemort’s return. Severus Snape even showed the Dark Mark on his arm to convince Minister Fudge.
However, Cornelius Fudge refused to hear Albus Dumbledore as he feared the unknown breakout of Bartemius Crouch Junior from Azkaban and the return of Lord Voldemort would cast his set as Minster. Cornelius Fudge starts propaganda against both Harry Potter and Albus Dumbledore.
First, Albus Dumbledore was removed as Supreme Warlock from the Wizengamot. Then by using the Daily Prophet, false articles by the press were published against both Dumbledore and Harry Potter.
Dementor Attack at 4 Privet Drive against Dudley and Harry
At the Dursley’s house, Harry Potter was suffering from the guilt of Cedric Diggory’s death. Harry Potter hasn’t been receiving much news from his friends Hermione and Ron as well that even frustrated him more. Harry was taking a walk out at the park and witnessed Dudley beating up a 10-year-old. Harry stayed out of business by Sirus’s advice and eventually Dudley Harry were walking back home.
They did pick up an argument as Dudley raised Cedric Diggory up to the conversation but Harry suddenly felt the atmosphere turned cold and dark. At first Dudley thought it was Harry trying to cast a spell on him, however it turned out to be two dementors attacking Harry Potter at Little Whinging.
The dementors started attacking Harry and Dudley. Harry barely summoned a Patronus and drive one away but another already fed on Dudley for so long. Dudley was drowned by the bad feelings as he was a selfish bad bully as his emotions were sucked by the dementor. Harry wards off the dementor by summoning another patronus.
Arabella Figg – Squib who has been watching over Harry Potter
Arabella Figg was a squib that was placing an eye on Harry Potter by Albus Dumbledore. In the novel Mundungus Fletcher should have been watching over Harry but he was off busy on his stolen goods business.
Harry Potter was both relieved and curious of the fact that his long old neighbor which he thought was a boring old cat lady was watching over him for a long time.
Summoning by the Ministry of Magic
Harry Potter soon receives a letter by Mafalda Hopkirk from the Improper Use of Magic Office informing Harry Potter that he shall be expelled from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for performing the Patronus charm in muggle territory as a violation of the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery.
Harry already had history of violating the International Confederation of Wizard’s Statute of Secrecy for the Marge Dursley floating incident.
Disciplinary Hearing of Harry Potter at Courtroom 10 at the Ministry of Magic
Harry Potter enters Courtroom 10 at the Ministry of Magic for the Disciplinary Hearing for performing a patronus charm in front of a muggle.
The whole Wizengamot was summoned for his hearing. Minister for Magic Cornelius Fudge attempted to discredit Harry Potter once and for all and make him a criminal. Percy Weasley was also working for Cornelius Fudge’s secretary and was present at the court as Court Scribe.
Defense of Harry Potter by Albus Dumbledore and Arabella Figg
Cornelius Fudge mentioned the violation of the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery during the time point of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets where Harry Potter used on Aunt Marge. Albus Dumbledore defended Harry Potter that he wasn’t accused back then and called Dobby for witness.
However, Cornelius Fudge dismissed him as he undermined house-elves. But as Arabella Figg testified the presence of the dementors and by the fair trial by Amelia Susan Bones, the head of the Magical Law Enforcement, Harry Potter was cleared of all charges.
Why Cornelius Fudge insisted on prosecution and indictment on Harry Potter
After even witnessing all the signs of the return of Lord Voldemort, Minister for Magic Cornelius Fudge refused to accept the truth as he feared the fall from power for the failure of maintaining security of the wizarding world. Cornelius Fudge started an extensive campaign to discredit Harry Potter and Albus Dumbledore.
The Ministry of Magic and the Daily Prophet were eager to discredit Harry Potter and Cornelius Fudge sought Harry Potter’s action against the dementor at Little Winging would have been a great opportunity.\
Albus Dumbledore’s effort against Lord Voldemort and the discredit attempts against him
As Cornelius Fudge refused to accept the truth that Lord Voldemort returned, Albus Dumbledore inevitably reassembled the Order of the Pheonix.
Albus Dumbledore lost his place as Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards, and there were attempts to renounce him from the Decoration of the Order of Merlin First Class. Albus Dumbledore didn’t care much as he was still listed on the Chocolate Frog card.
With Sirus Black’s offer, Albus Dumbledore sets 12 Grimmauld which was the Black Family’s house as the headquarters of the Order of the Pheonix which he himself became the Secret-Keeper by the Fidelius Charm.(This was the Peter Pettigrew used to hold for Harry Potter’s family).
Albus Dumbledore told Hermione and Ron to not send out word of the Ministry of Magic’s propaganda to him nor information of the Order of the Pheonix in fear of Harry Potter would attempt a rash movement.
He defended all he could for the Disciplinary Hearing on Harry Potter but tried not to talk with him as much as possible to protect him. Albus Dumbledore even didn’t appoint Harry Potter as prefect as Harry was already in so much pressure.
Amelia Susan Bones – Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement
Amelia Susan Bones was the female witch and Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement who led the Disciplinary Hearing of Harry Potter to a fair trial. Amelia Susan Bones or ‘Madam Bones’ was famous for her neutrality and natural sense of justice.
While the intense interrogation and defense between Cornelius Fudge and Dolores Umbridge vs Albus Dumbledore started to drift off, Madam Bones despite the pressure by Cornelius Fudge carefully examined the charges of Harry Potter and concluded that Harry Potter was innocent and held the rights to defend himself during such circumstances.
Amelia Bones was even impressed that Harry Potter was able to summon a Patronus at such a young age which he presented at court.
Percy Weasley and the conflict with the Weasley Family
Percy Weasley secured a position as junior assistant to Cornelius Fudge himself. Percy Weasley already held positions at the Ministry of Magic such as an attachment to Bartemius Crouch Senior who rarely recognized him.
However Cornelius Fudge believed that he needed a close eye on the Weasley Family so he offered Percy as an assistant to him. Percy Weasley had conflicts with Arthur Weasley and Molly Weasley as Percy discredited Albus Dumbledore and Harry Potter as well.
Percy Weasley pledged loyalty to the Ministry of Magic and renounced his father Arthur a betrayer. Percy’s conflict with the whole Weasley Family fumed and eventually Percy stood away from his family and cut all ties with the Weasley Family which Molly was especially heartbroken.
Even at the film, Percy works as a scribe for Harry Potter’s Disciplinary Hearing which Percy voted against Harry and pledged him guilty although his vote didn’t count as he was just a scribe and not a member of the Wizengamot.
