Chapter 8 Order of the Phoenix: The Hearing. Harry remembers this courtroom from the trial of the Lestranges, when they were sentenced to life in prison at Azkaban. It is the Wizengamot that is trying him, and the full group is there. Cornelius Fudge is the Minister of Magic and is presiding. Percy Weasley is there acting as secretary. Dolores Jane Umbridge is the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Luckily for Harry, Dumbledore arrives to help out.
The group tries to harass Harry into just saying he did magic without cause but he finally gets in that he did it because of dementors. Cornelius implies that Harry is making this up, but Dumbledore says there was a witness and brings in Mrs. Figg, a Squib. She says that she saw the dementors.
Dumbledore says they need to find out why the dementors were there, and Cornelius first says that they are all under the control of the ministry - then realizes this means that someone in the ministry would have sent them into a muggle area. So he tries to say it will be looked into.
Finally the group votes on the issue, and they vote to clear Harry. Dumbledore immediately leaves without talking to Harry.
Order of the Phoenix Chapter Listing
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Review
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix at Amazon.com
