The next morning before the hearing was quite nerve wracking for the brothers, and Brooklyn didn't even want to touch his breakfast. After a few people wished them luck, Harry and Brooklyn left with Mr. Weasley.

They took the underground subways to a small London Town, where Harry had to show Mr. Weasley how to use a ticket booth, which was quite hilarious for Brooklyn to watch him trying to get past the security gate.

Eventually they came to an old red telephone booth, where the three of them managed to fit inside, Brooklyn was surprised the small box was even able to hold someone his size. Mr. Weasley punched in the passcode number, and a woman's cool voice spoke.

"Names and business, please." Brooklyn found the voice to be a little creepy.

"Arthur Weasley, Harry Potter, and Brooklyn, summoned to a Disciplinary Hearing."

"Thank you. Take the silver badge and place it on the front of your robes," the female voice spoke, and there was a clinking sound, and Brooklyn saw in the coin slot three silver badges coming out. Mr. Weasley handed his and Harry's. He read the front:

Brooklyn

Disciplinary Hearing

He rolled his eyes. Nice badge, tch. He could've put something cooler or more pleasant under his name, but he guessed this was fine for now.

"The Ministry of Magic wishes you a pleasant morning," the voice then spoke in the same cool tone.

Yeah, to you too, grouchy woman, Brooklyn thought as he felt the telephone box begin to move, and it started to sink downward like an elevator. Eventually the London village sank out of sight, and they were in a completely different place. The Ministry of Magic.

Mr. Weasley opened the door, and Brooklyn couldn't help but stare open mouthed in amazement. To him it was like a small underground village, the entrance lined with floo powder fireplaces as witches and wizards appeared in the green flames, magic paper airplanes zooming about in groups, delivering messages he guessed, and a large fountain of a Wizard, a witch, along with a Centaur and a house elf, who appeared to be praising the bigger statues. The water was filled with money to be donated to the hospital that Brooklyn had yet to see, St. Mungos.

The trio approached security, who asked for their wands, and cleared them to go on ahead, even though he kept staring at Brooklyn's appearance.

After walking along, jostled by the crowd, they entered an elevator with other people crowded between them. One or two people looked a little nervous about being near Brooklyn, who tried to ignore them, for earlier, he saw more newspapers with the same headline, including one that said: Dumbledore: Daft or Dangerous?

"Morning, Arthur," called a Wizard with a large beard, holding a crate in his arms. Brooklyn noticed that there was trails of smoke coming out.

"What have you got there, Bob?" Mr. Weasley asked.

"We're not sure, we thought it was a bog standard chicken until it started breathing fire. Looks like a serious breach of the Ban on Experimental Breeding to me."

Now Brooklyn made a mental note to not mention this fire breathing chicken to Hagrid, who would want one for his collection, as the paper airplanes from earlier zoomed over his head. They were purple with a gold M stamped on it.

"Just Interdepartmental Memos, Brooklyn and Harry. We used to use owls, but the mess was unbelievable." Mr. Weasley said softly to the two of them.

Brooklyn nodded. "Gotcha," he muttered, imagining owls doing their business on people's desks, and it made sense to him that they'd switch to paper airplanes.

Kingsley suddenly arrived, whispering into Mr. Weasley's ear. He looked flabbergasted.

"Something wrong?" Brooklyn asked. Mr. Weasley looked over to them in worry.

"They changed the time of your hearing, it is now in five minutes in Courtroom Ten," he said. Brooklyn was in disbelief. Seriously? They couldn't wait another minute longer?

The lift took them down to the Department of Mysteries, where the trio stepped out, and walked along to courtroom ten. Brooklyn felt unnerved about this place, as if there was some secret magic behind it, especially from a closed door with a big doorknob. Fudge and Lucius were there, murmuring under their breaths. Harry and Brooklyn both stopped, wanting to listen in, but Mr. Weasley moved them along.

The group then arrived at the doorway to the courtroom, and Brooklyn then absentmindedly took hold of Harry's hand, feeling his heart fluttering again. He couldn't stand the idea of them being convicted, and thrown into Azkaban!

Mr. Weasley wasn't allowed to go in. He encouraged the brothers to stay calm and stick to the facts. He even threw in a Muggle saying, 'Truth Will Out', and wished them luck.

The door opened, and the brothers walked in.

Brooklyn stared in horror at the room they were in, it was the exact same courtroom that he witnessed in the Pensive, where the Lestrange had been sentenced to Azkaban!

He felt himself breathing fast, staring around some more at the circular stone walls with no windows, and the many faces of the jury looking down at them. Fudge was there in the front, glaring at them. Brooklyn could see Percy there, scribbling things down on a clipboard, and his anger at the boy rose.

"You're late," he snapped.

"Sorry, I-I didn't know the time had been changed—." Harry stammered, while Brooklyn glared at Fudge.

"That's not the Wizengamot's fault. Now take your seat, Potter." Harry sat down in the chair, but thankfully the chains didn't bind him, while Brooklyn stood on the right side of the chair.

He flinched at some of the looks the crowd gave him. Most of them were either scared or glaring. One or two looked over at Harry with interest, but it was an unlikeliness for Brooklyn's predicament, since he wasn't human, and being called a lie spreading devil.

Fudge called to order. "Disciplinary Hearing on the Twelfth of August, charges sentenced to Harry James Potter resident of #4 Privet Drive, charged against using illegal magic in front of a Muggle, his gargoyle brother Brooklyn, is here to be one of the witnesses to speak the truth about what had happened, even though he started helping him spread lies about You-Know-Who supposedly returning last year..."

That's a load of bulls—! Brooklyn screamed in silent anger, nearly spitting out a curse word. He couldn't stand all this from the man who had said in his first year here that had announced he wasn't dangerous! Why couldn't the Minister see that he wasn't spreading lies, but warning of the return of evil instead? Why?

"Interrogators, Cornelius Fudge, Minister of Magic—."

"Second witness for the defense, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore!" Called a familiar voice, and a flicker of relief rose in Brooklyn, as Dumbledore strode in, but didn't look at Harry for some reason.

"You got our message about the time change?" Fudge said, his eyes somewhat terrified of Dumbledore there, who nodded.

"I must've missed it, but by a happy mistake, I arrived three hours early. Charges?" Brooklyn stared in some disbelief. Dumbledore had actually waited for three hours? Seriously?

"Like we have stated at the beginning, Potter and Brooklyn had produced the Patronus Charm in the presence of a Muggle, do you deny this?"

Harry looked irritated. "No, but—"

"Were you aware that you are not allowed magic outside school while under the age of 17?"

"Yes, he was!" Brooklyn snapped, while he spotted one witch in the crowd with a toad's face giving him a simpering warning smile. Fudge glared. "You won't speak unless permitted to," he demanded, pointing his finger. Brooklyn glowered, but looked down. He hated this, and he wanted to get out of here! But like Mr. Weasley said he couldn't lose his temper, or else there would be a cell in Azkaban waiting for him.

Madam Bones gazed over at Brooklyn in curiosity.

"You and Potter can cast a Patronus?" She questioned. Brooklyn was somewhat taken aback by this off topic question.

"Yeah, we can," he answered in a stiff tone.

"A full corporeal Patronus?"

"Yes. Mine's a stag, Brooklyn's is a Phoenix. We've both been taught in my third year," Harry responded. Bones was quite impressed, and when she heard that Brooklyn's Patronus was a Phoenix, she was surprised. For Dumbledore's was also Phoenix, and she hadn't heard of anybody else with that form until now, especially a non human.

"Impressive, advanced magic at your age, and very interesting that a gargoyle can do it, too..."

Fudge cleared his throat irritably. "If we can focus on the trial at hand, Miss Bones, is that Potter had done illegal magic, and that we have no choice but to—."

Harry interrupted. "I only did it because of the Dementors!" He yelled. Brooklyn saw Madam Bones look surprised again.

"Dementors? In Little Winging?"

Brooklyn nodded. "I was keeping an eye on Harry, when it suddenly got cold, and was forced to show myself to him. The three Dementors showed up and attacked us. Harry and I cast our patronuses to ward two of them off, then Harry used his to save his cousin from the third, and after I obliviated his cousin's memories of it." He said in the calmest clearest voice he could. Dumbledore nodded at him in approval, but still didn't look at Harry.

Fudge made a disbelieving snort. "Huh, such an inventful story, gargoyle. Must've rehearsed before you got here? And Muggles can't see Dementors, can they boy? Highly convenient for you two."

Brooklyn growled slowly, making some of the wizards in the back scuttle back against their chairs, while the toad faced witch continued to stare at him as though she had seen a fly.

"Me and Brooklyn weren't lying! He was telling the truth!" Harry cried out. Fudge held up his hand.

"Enough! I heard plenty from you two. No more wild stories. And since you can't produce any other witnesses of the event, I'm afraid that—."

Dumbledore interrupted. "I believe we can, Minister." He stated. "She's right outside, should I let her in?"

Fudge gave an exasperated sigh. "Very well, but be quick about this! I want this trial done! Weasley, fetch her for us, please?"

Percy immediately got up and went to the door.

Brooklyn looked around, to see the door open and reveal Mrs. Figg, clutching her purse nervously as she stared up at the crowd before her. Dumbledore summoned a chair for her and she sat down.

"Full name?" said Fudge loudly, when Mrs. Figg had perched herself nervously on the very edge of her seat.

"Arabella Doreen Figg," said Mrs. Figg in her quavery voice.

"And who exactly are you?" said Fudge, in a bored and lofty voice.

"I'm a resident of Little Whinging, close to where Harry Potter lives," said Mrs. Figg.

"We have no record of any witch or wizard living in Little Whinging, other than Harry Potter," said Madam Bones at once. "That situation has always been closely monitored, given... given past events."

"I'm a Squib," said Mrs. Figg. "So you wouldn't have me registered, would you?"

"A Squib, eh?" said Fudge, eyeing her closely. "We'll be checking that. You'll leave details of your parentage with my assistant Weasley. Incidentally, can Squibs see Dementors?" he added, looking left and right along the bench.

"Yes, we can!" said Mrs. Figg indignantly.

Brooklyn grinned at her bravery. Despite her being a batty old woman, he guess he didn't mind her too much. She did give him respect when he first saw her that one night.

Fudge looked back down at her, his eyebrows raised. "Very well," he said aloofly. "What is your story?"

"I had gone out to buy cat food from the corner shop at the end of Wisteria Walk, around about nine o'clock, on the evening of the second of August," gabbled Mrs. Figg at once, as though she had learned what she was saying by heart, "when I heard a disturbance down the alleyway between Magnolia Crescent and Wisteria Walk. On approaching the mouth of the alleyway I saw three Dementors running -"

Brooklyn winced from her description. Just saying it like that could be the key to land him and Harry behind bars, as he shook his head wildly at her.

"Running?" said Madam Bones sharply. "Dementors don't run, they glide."

"That's what I meant to say," said Mrs. Figg quickly, patches of pink appearing in her withered cheeks. "Gliding along the alley towards what looked like two boys. And a gargoyle who was hiding in a bush near them."

"What did they look like?" said Madam Bones, narrowing her eyes so that the edge of the monocle disappeared into her flesh.

"Well, one was very large the other one rather skinny, and the third was red with wings and a beak -"

This is embarrassing, the gargoyle groaned mentally, wanting to disappear into the floor, feeling everyone's eyes on him.

"No, no," said Madam Bones impatiently. "The Dementors... describe them."

"Oh," said Mrs. Figg, the pink flush creeping up her neck now. "They were big. Big and wearing cloaks."

Not a good description of those monsters so far, he thought, seeing a couple people in the crowd whispering and smirking at each other.

"Big and wearing cloaks," repeated Madam Bones coolly, while Fudge snorted derisively. "I see. Anything else?"

"Yes," said Mrs. Figg. "I felt them. Everything went cold, and this was a very warm summer's night, mark you. And I felt... as though all happiness had gone from the world... and I remembered... dreadful things..."

Her voice shook and died.

Now that felt more of a realistic approach to the event for Brooklyn, as he too shivered softly from remembering how those things have their power on him.

Madam Bones's eyes widened slightly. Brooklyn could see red marks under her eyebrow where the monocle had dug into it.

"What did the Dementors do?" she asked, and Brooklyn felt hope spark. If it was like his story, word for word, they could be cleared!

"They went for the boys and gargoyle," said Mrs. Figg, her voice stronger and more confident now, the pink flush ebbing away from her face. "One of them had fallen. The gargoyle and the other boy both backed away from two of the dementors, the gargoyle Brooklyn almost being taken by his. But he fought back, producing his Phoenix patronus after the first two attempts, then used his to save Harry. Harry then used his third successful patronus to ward away the last one from his cousin. Brooklyn erased the cousin's memory after, and that's what happened," Mrs. Figg finished, somewhat lamely.

Madam Bones looked down at Mrs. Figg in silence. Fudge was not looking at her at all, but fidgeting with his papers. Finally, he raised his eyes and said, rather aggressively, "that's what you saw, is it?"

"That is what happened, and I believe Brooklyn had told you the same story earlier, if you want him to say it again," Mrs. Figg responded in her brave voice.

Brooklyn grinned again. He could see the Minister's face coloring red from her comment, and Madam Bones giving her a small smile. In your face!

"No, that won't be necessary, you may go," Fudge said.

Mrs. Figg cast a frightened look from Fudge to Dumbledore, then got up and shuffled off towards the door. Brooklyn heard it thud shut behind her.

"Not a very convincing witness," said Fudge loftily.

"Oh, I don't know," said Madam Bones, in her booming voice. "She certainly described the effects of a Dementor attack very accurately. And I can't imagine why she would say they were there if they weren't."

"But Dementors wandering into a Muggle suburb and just happening to come across a wizard?" snorted Fudge. "The odds on that must be very, very long."

"Oh, I don't think any of us believe the Dementors were there by coincidence," said Dumbledore lightly.

The witch sitting to the right of Fudge, with her face in shadow, moved slightly but everyone else was quite still and silent.

"And what is that supposed to mean?" Fudge asked icily.

"It means that I think they were ordered there," said Dumbledore.

"I think we might have a record of it if someone had ordered a pair of Dementors to go strolling through Little Whinging!" barked Fudge.

"Not if the Dementors are taking orders from someone other than the Ministry of Magic these days," said Dumbledore calmly. "I have already given you my views on this matter, Cornelius."

"Yes, you have" said Fudge forcefully, "and I have no reason to believe that your views are anything other than bilge, Dumbledore. "The Dementors remain in place in Azkaban and are doing everything we ask them to."

"Then," said Dumbledore, quietly but clearly, "we must ask ourselves why somebody within the Ministry ordered a pair of Dementors into that alleyway on the second of August."

Complete silence fell abruptly, and Brooklyn saw the toad faced witch smile again, rather squat looking with a black velvet robe on her hair. She had been looking at Brooklyn closely the whole time and it made him uncomfortable. When she spoke, it was in a high pitched girlish voice that took Brooklyn aback, who had expected a croak.

"I'm sure I must have misunderstood you, Professor Dumbledore," she said, with a simper that left her big, round eyes as cold as ever. "So silly of me. But it sounded for a teensy moment as though you were suggesting that the Ministry of Magic had ordered an attack on this boy!"

She then laughed in a silvery voice that made Brooklyn realize this was gonna be another one of those humans, as the hairs on the back of his neck stood up from the witch's girly laugh. Some others joined in with her. Dumbledore simply gave her a cool smile.

"That would be disturbing indeed, Madam Under Secretary Umbridge, which is why I'm sure the Ministry would be mounting a full scale inquiry as to why the three dementors were so far from Azkaban, and why they've mounted an attack without authorization." He walked towards Fudge. "Cornelius, I implore you to see reason. The evidence that the Dark Lord has returned is incontrovertible."

Fudge shook with anger in his seat. "He is not back!" He snarled. Brooklyn reacted, growling.

"Just open your eyes! Don't you see evidence? Or have you been hiding it?!" He yelled, while Harry tried calming his brother down, looking scared.

"Speak one more time out of turn, or else you're going to Azkaban!" Yelled back Fudge to an angry Brooklyn, whose hands were clenched. Madam Bones wasn't really angry with Brooklyn's outburst, rather, she admired his bravery.

Seething, Brooklyn remained quiet afterward.

After a time, Dumbledore spoke again. "In the matter of Harry Potter, the law clearly states that magic may be used before Muggles in life threatening situations!"

"Laws can be changed if necessary, Dumbledore!" Fudge claimed.

"Clearly! And has it become a practice to have a full scale inquiry for a simple matter of underage magic?" Dumbledore asked. Fudge then couldn't respond to those words, his red face turning magenta, and silence rose for a time. Brooklyn waited with bated breath.

Madam Bones adjusted her monocle and notes. "Those in favor of conviction?" Umbridge, Fudge, and four people raised their hands.

"And those in favor of clearing the accused of all charges?"

Brooklyn stared, in shock, as Bones, and practically everybody else raised their hands.

Fudge's face returned to normal, but he looked really disappointed. "Cleared of all charges," he grumbled. "Court dismissed!"

Brooklyn sighed with complete relief, that they weren't going to prison. He saw Harry trying to get Dumbledore's attention, but the Headmaster just walked out, not even speaking to Brooklyn, either. He frowned, wondering why he wasn't talking to them even though Dumbledore spoke with him that three weeks ago.

He put an arm around his brother's shoulder and they walked out, getting a congratulations from Madam Bones who shook Brooklyn's hand and they met up with Mr. Weasley who took them back to Grimmauld Place.