Harry shook his head and laughed mockingly.
"Sorry, Mr. Fudge, but that is not for you to decide, nor is it for me. It will be decided by the final result of the hearing.
So now, Dumbledore will serve as the judge and determine whether Fudge may continue serving as Minister for Magic."
Dumbledore nodded and walked to the judge's seat. Then the familiar words rang out:
"The disciplinary hearing of August 12 is now officially convened to hear the case concerning Cornelius Oswald Fudge's misconduct. The examiner is Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore.
"The defendant, Cornelius Oswald Fudge, stands accused of concealing Voldemort's resurrection during his tenure as Minister for Magic, and of privately releasing a large number of Dementors into the Muggle World, resulting in the deaths of dozens of Muggles.
"Your actions have gravely violated the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy, the Anti-Dark Magic Act, the Wizengamot Charter, and the Regulations for the Handling of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes.
"Do you admit to these charges?"
"No! I did not!" Fudge sprang up from his chair, his fingers whitening with force. His voice was as shrill as a cat whose tail had been stepped on. "Voldemort was never resurrected! That was a lie spread by you and Harry Potter!"
Dumbledore was not at all surprised by Fudge's response. With a light wave of his wand, a witness entered the courtroom from outside.
The witness was an elderly wizard. He furtively glanced at Dumbledore, then looked fearfully at Fudge before lowering his head and saying dully:
"I saw Voldemort. He truly has returned. He is now in the outskirts outside London, Britain."
Someone had actually testified that Voldemort had returned. Fudge's eyes nearly split with rage as he threatened him.
"You had better think carefully before answering. Lying before