“He extricated a piece of parchment from the pile before him, took a deep breath, and read, “The charges against the accused are as follows: That he did knowingly, deliberately, and in full awareness of the illegality of his actions, having received a previous written warning from the Ministry of Magic on a similar charge, produce a Patronus Charm in a Muggle-inhabited area, in the presence of a Muggle, on August the second at twenty-three minutes past nine, which constitutes an offense under paragraph C of the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery, 1875, and also under section thirteen of the International Confederation of Wizards’ Statute of Secrecy.” “You are Harry James Potter, of number four, Privet Drive, Little Whinging, Surrey?” Fudge said, glaring at Harry over the top of his parchment. “Yes,” Harry said. “You received an official warning from the Ministry for using illegal magic three years ago, did you not?” “Yes, but —” “And yet you conjured a Patronus on the night of the second of August?” said Fudge. “Yes,” said Harry, “but —” “Knowing that you are not permitted to use magic outside school while you are under the age of seventeen?” “Yes, but —” “Knowing that you were in an area full of Muggles?” “Yes, but —” “Fully aware that you were in close proximity to a Muggle at the time? “Yes,” said Harry angrily, “but I only used it because we were —” The witch with the monocle on Fudge’s left cut across him in a booming voice. “You produced a fully fledged Patronus?” “Yes,” said Harry, “because —” “A corporeal Patronus?” “A — what?” said Harry. “Your Patronus had a clearly defined form? I mean to say, it was more than vapor or smoke?” “Yes,” said Harry, feeling both impatient and slightly desperate, “it’s a stag, it’s always a stag.” “Always?” boomed Madam Bones. “You have produced a Patronus before now?” “Yes,” said Harry, “I’ve been doing it for over a year —” “And you are fifteen years old?” “Yes, and —” “You learned this at school?” “Yes, Professor Lupin taught me in my third year, because of the —” “Impressive,” said Madam Bones, staring down at him, “a true Patronus at that age … very impressive indeed.”
