Cue No. 9

A noble chord change in the brass announces Dumbledore’s arrival at the Hearing, a warm moment quoted from the first two films. These chords continue to move around as Harry feels a moment of safety. A fragment of Fawkes the Phoenix plays as a heroic undercurrent to Dumbledore’s defense of Harry. This theme, though originally written for his pet phoenix, truly embodies Dumbledore as Harry sees him.

When Fudge begins his arguing, the Ministry theme slithers upwards as the excuses and corruption show themselves. Chords move around again, this time with darker intention. The Ministry theme dominates this section of the cue, moving in and out of different instruments and registers. When Harry silences the court with news of Dementors in Little Whinging, solo brass darkens the mood, and harp harmonics float around the texture. Solo horn plays another Ministry variation, and the beginning of the cue reprises itself when Dumbledore finally counters. A reprisal recalling back even further is the Double Trouble variation used over Mrs. Figg from Cue No. 2. This is slightly re-orchestrated and has a little bit more hesitance to it. A musical pause fills her description of how “it went cold. Like all of the happiness had gone from the world.” Fudge tries to convince the court otherwise, and the cellos pick up the Ministry theme again to aid his efforts.

A lady with a pink collar protruding from her robes interrupts Dumbledore. She is accompanied by a very slow and sinister turn of notes first played by the violas, then even lower in the cellos. These are the seeds of Professor Umbridge’s theme, which will be established in the coming cues, and gets quite a good amount of attention as this story unfolds.

Ominous brass, with the help of harp, continues underneath Dumbledore’s words. He walks towards Fudge, pleading as Fawkes is quoted once again. Out of his mention of “The Dark Lord” comes a sudden 3-note motif in the woodwinds, suggesting Voldemort’s return, but unsure of his whereabouts. The music meanders again until the court takes a vote. Pulsing repeated notes grow louder and louder as those who wish to sentence Harry put their hands up. The Ministry theme gets a last hurrah, and then the orchestra pauses for the overwhelming majority who vote to clear him of all charges.

The chords that began the cue return for a last time as Harry is let go, and strings swell in relief for him. Dumbledore leaves in a hurry and the camera lingers on Harry while Fawkes plays in the celesta. Dumbledore came and went. He did not even stop to say hello.