OCT 15, 2006

7 KNUTS

POTTER IMPRISONED

After his long waited trial, Potter finally was escorted from Azkaban back into the Ministry of Magic, where he stood trial for treason, homocide and breaking into Azkaban and the damages it incurred.

He looked wild, dirty and his eyes looked empty. He was not the beloved 'Boy Who Lived' we once knew. It was a sad sight to see, how far he had fallen from the hero we once thought he was. But was he ever a hero? Throughout his years at Hogwarts, he was known for breaking rules a lot of the time, including putting himself into the Triwizard Tournament. He demanded special treatment and always had a problem with authority.

Now in the Ministry of Magic, under brightly lights and surrounded by the good witches and wizards of the Wizengamot, his pale face looked dark and gloomy. It was clear to everyone in the room he was no hero anymore.

The proceedings lasted three and a half hours. There were witnesses called in who used to be in the Order of the Phoenix with Harry, who confirmed that he had led the attack on Azkaban. The same people who came forward and admitted to the Ministry that Harry had planned on killing the Minister were also brought to the stand. Evidence was shown to prove that the letter the Ministry received by Potter on the day of the assassination was indeed in his handwriting.

Harry's defense was based on his faulty alibi. He explained that he ran away from fear of injustice as whoever allegedly framed him clearly had already convinced the Ministry. He proclaimed that someone obviously framed him and impersonated him to carry it out. The Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot replied saying that that was a sad excuse for a defense and all a little too convenient. He clearly got that from Giovanna Nero's case, thinking that it would work for him. But unfortunately, copy cat defenses didn't hold up in the court of law.

By the end, it was proven by majority that Harry was guity of treason by plotting to assassinate the late Minister of Magic, Stuart Thawley, the murder of Stuart Thawley, as well as leading the attack on Azkaban prison. Harry Potter was sentenced to a lifetime imprisonment in Azkaban and $10,000 Galleons due to the damages on Azkaban prison. While Azkaban prison had already been fixed in the past couple of years since the break out, the money would be put towards doubling their efforts on the security on Potter in his cell there as well as putting funding back into the Ministry for programs for troubled youth. A couple of Wizengamot members spoke up that they believed this could have been avoided if they had taken care to realize how troubled he had been since a young child.