Chapter 5
Harry, Hermione and Luna headed into the castle thinking they'd be early for breakfast and watch the fun, only to find out it had started before they even got there. Dobby and Winky had left a badge on every students bedside table and it appeared most of them were already here and wearing them, they'd obviously came to the realisation this would cause a stir and got down early so they wouldn't miss the show. Their badges currently cycled between Support Cedric Diggory, Support Victor Krum, Support Fleur Delacour and Trust-Honour-Profit. They all hoped there would be more to come and Harry didn't intend to disappoint them.
The show for the moment was an enraged Dumbledore arguing with his three heads of house, much to the amusement of the students though the more astute amongst them recognised that act two had just turned up. Dumbledore yelling "Potter!" clued everyone else in.
The three walked towards the staff table, "Good morning," was all Harry said.
"Are you responsible for these badges?"
Harry proudly answering "Yes" threw Dumbledore off track for a moment but he recovered well, "Would you kindly explain the meaning of them?"
"Oh they have all different messages on them, was there one in particular you wanted me to explain?"
McGonagall beat Albus to it, "I was wondering why your name doesn't appear along with the other champions?"
"I'm not really a champion professor, more a sort of social experiment the headmaster is conducting. The forth message is the code by which goblins conduct their lives."
Dumbledore was trying to regain control of the situation, his many years of experience allowed him to reign in his anger after the three heads of house had very publicly disagreed with his decision. He couldn't lose his temper with Harry no matter the provocation. "I would like you to explain why you made them in the first place."
"Well after Malfoy's dismal attempts were allowed yesterday, I decided to take the idea and do it properly."
It was an angry Flitwick who now butted in. "Precisely the point we were making to the headmaster before you arrived. He took no action yesterday, therefore we were questioning his decision to have them confiscated today."
"Oh that's an easy one Professor Flitwick, our potions professor can no longer gain entry into the castle so the headmaster is just deputising for him. Malfoy gets house points while my badges are confiscated, normal service has been resumed." Harry's badge then proclaimed 'Severus Ceases Slytherin' and all the other badges in the school switched to the same message, generating cheering throughout three quarters of the great hall.
Dumbledore proclaimed loudly, "Professor Snape is still head of Slytherin!"
Hermione was on him in a flash, "I'm sorry headmaster but it clearly states in 'Hogwarts a History' that all heads of house must reside inside Hogwarts grounds during term. Not even being able to enter the castle must surely call into question Professor Snape's ability to teach potions, far less be head of Slytherin house. How is he going to manage taking points from Gryffindor's while residing in Hogsmead?"
"This is a temporary situation Miss Granger and none of your concern."
"Ah but headmaster what if it isn't temporary? I had a question I so wanted to ask him too!" Dumbledore saw the gleam in Harry's eyes and wasn't biting but McGonagall was quite happy to play the straight woman. After hearing what was actually on Malfoy's badges she was livid but the little snake had got rid of the evidence by the time she caught up with him. Anyway, Minerva was quite enjoying watching Albus squirm.
"What was it you wanted to ask Professor Snape Harry?"
"Oh I just wanted to know how he does that cool billowing robe thing yet his hair never moves a millimetre." Minerva was struggling not to laugh when all the badges in the hall suddenly proclaimed 'I Hate Fudge!'
"Harry you've overstepped the mark now, I cannot have the students of Hogwarts walking around with badges insulting the minister of magic. You leave me no choice but to confiscate them."
"Minister of magic? Oh I think you may have misunderstood headmaster, fudge is a muggle confection that's sickly sweet and makes me want to vomit!" Harry removed a box from his bag and handed it to Dumbledore while Luna and Hermione dropped a few boxes on each house table. Minerva had trouble maintaining her trademark scowl at the picture of a highland cow on the box with 'fudge' written across it.
"There is also a nutty version and the one full of rum is particularly disgusting." The sniggering in the hall wasn't confined to just the students, quite a few of the staff were now finding the whole situation highly amusing.
Harry had made his point, "I now see how this could be misconstrued and will change it at once!" The badges now read 'Hogwarts isn't safe'
"How can you say that Harry?" Dumbledore actually looked hurt.
"Well the last three Defence Professors have all tried to kill me while the current holder of the post used an unforgivable Imperius curse on every member of the class. Why don't you just hit me with a Cruciatus and then I'll have the full set?"
Apparently the three heads of house only thought they were angry before, this was now the real thing as they all screamed at Dumbledore.
"You said he was only going to demonstrate them on a spider!"
"You allowed that vile curse to be cast on children in our care?"
"I'll be contacting the DMLE, even you have to obey the law Albus!"
Harry could have stood and watched this all day but it was now payback time. He tapped his badge again and the entire student population began roaring with laughter as their badges now displayed the question, 'Is Malfoy Gay?' the commotion distracted the senior staff from their berating of Dumbledore for a moment.
Draco was screeching like a girl, "Potter, I'm not gay!"
"Malfoy you have no idea how pleased I am to hear you say that. You, and those two strapping lads who're always by your side, have been following me around since first year. I was beginning to get worried." He put his arm around Hermione and spoke in a voice that clearly carried to every corner of the hall, "There dear, told you we had nothing to be concerned about. Just because he spends more time on his appearance than Lavender doesn't mean he's gay." A shout from the Gryffindor table had Harry offering a mock apology, "No offence intended Lavender, on you it looks good. On Draco, it's just too weird."
The blond Slytherin glanced round at his house table to see them all laughing at him as Crabbe and Goyle tried to subtly back away from their leader. Since subtly wasn't exactly the two behemoth's strong suit, it was blindingly obvious what they were attempting to do, and funny as hell.
Draco was desperate to go for his wand but here, in front of everyone with no Snape to back him up, he recognised the hopelessness of the situation. He'd tried to pull something off yesterday and failed miserably only to have the same scheme run against himself today with blinding success. That a quintessentially Slytherin move could be pulled off by a Gryffindor against him ended any hope of Draco ever running his house.
Albus may have had his hands full trying to placate three heads of house but Dumbledore was taking a wider view of Harry's actions and thought it was an exceedingly cunning plan, quite brilliantly executed. He sucked all the senior staff into a confrontation then beautifully destroyed Malfoy's credibility inside Hogwarts without casting a spell or saying anything that could get him into trouble, Salazar himself would have been proud of that one.
Harry, Hermione and Luna now sat at the Gryffindor table to a hero's welcome, though Ron looked desperate to laugh at Malfoy's demise but wouldn't because of who had brought it about.
Breakfast progressed normally though the silence coming from the staff table could only have been achieved by charms, McGonagall appeared ready to rip Dumbledore's beard out by its roots.
Harry was approached by a pair of red headed twins, "Doesn't your heart just fill with pride when your little prodigy stands on his own two feet George?"
"Just thinking we taught him everything he knows makes me all tingly inside Fred."
"If either of you two even think about dropping Hermione's name in there somewhere then I withdraw this offer," He touched their badges, both of which now advertised 'Coming Soon – WWW'
"Harry please don't joke about something like that, it's just too painful right now."
"Yeah, Ludo Bagman has a lot to answer for."
"Guys I may mess with your heads occasionally but never with your dreams. Come see me at the end of the week and we'll talk about it, I think you're worth investing in."
Both quickly agreed to the meeting but their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of the post owls, or more specifically the Daily Prophet carrying the banner headline:
Lord Who Must Not Be Named
Yesterday, in a move designed to prevent this newspaper from printing the truth, a writ was served on us that prevents pictures or the name of a certain wizard appearing in this paper. Lord Rotter will now be referred to by the pseudonym of The Lord Who Must Not Be Named and his picture replaced by the one opposite.
The image opposite happened to be a sack of potatoes sitting on a broomstick, the hall seemed to be holding its collective breath awaiting Harry's reaction. The play on words was making a direct link between him and another lord, he who must not be named! The sack of potatoes on a broom was also a direct insult to his flying skills.
Harry's reaction though was not what everyone expected, it started with a chuckle and built up to a full belly laugh. "And here was me thinking they were just a bunch of hacks, they must actually have some journalists working there. I love this, do you think I could get a framed, signed copy?"
"Are you sure you're alright Harry?"
"Luna I've never been better! Think about it, while the Prophet is coining stupid names and even stupider images for me, the Quibbler is about to blow the wizarding world's mind. The Prophet is too scared to print anything other than a stupid made-up name for Voldemort while your father will be asking questions the ministry can't answer. The Quibbler will be outselling the Prophet by Christmas, especially if we do an exclusive on Tom Marvolo Riddle."
Luna was beaming with pride and happiness, and that was before Harry pulled his last prank of the morning. "This one's for you Luna," as he touched her badge.
'Bullying is Stupid' appeared on her badge and every single one worn by members of Ravenclaw house, on seeing this Luna burst into tears and buried her head in Harry's chest.
Harry had his arms sportingly around her. "Luna I'm sorry, I never meant to hurt you. I would never hurt you."
Luna's tear stained face looked up at him with wonder in her eyes. "You didn't hurt me Harry, I'm just so grateful to you for doing this, no one's ever stood up for me before."
Harry pushed the girl's blond hair away from her face and behind her ear. "You've got us now Luna, we always look after our friends."
A smiling Hermione was standing beside her now. "That's right Luna so let's go and freshen up, meet us there Harry?"
He nodded as both girls made their way past a sheepish looking Ravenclaw house, Harry and Neville left right behind them.
Fleur had watched the morning's proceedings with great interest, more convinced than ever that Lord Potter would be the perfect catch for her. She was well aware that over half the girls here had the same thought but then again, they weren't Veela.
She'd sat at the Hufflepuff table this morning, much to the suspicion of its usual occupants and, while she ideally wanted Harry alone, this looked like the best opportunity she was going to get. Smoothing down her shortish skirt and loosening a few buttons on her blouse to show some cleavage, she was soon following the two boys. Fleur waited until leaving the hall before cranking up her veela charm.
Harry and Neville were standing waiting on the girls when he noticed his friend's eyes appeared to glaze over, before he could comment on it there was a voice behind him.
"Lord Potter?"
Harry turned to see the French girl, "Miss Delacour isn't it?"
Fleur had her pose just right to display her assets, her voice dripping with sexual promise and that accent which seemed to turn the British men's wills to jelly as all the blood rushed further south. "Please call me Fleur, I have been looking for a chance to apologise for my outburst at Halloween. We were all on edge and I didn't mean those words that I said, I hope you can forgive me?" She now had her hand on his bicep and her thumb was sensually rubbing his muscle in a circular motion.
About twenty feet away Sir Cardigan was battering his head against the closest portrait frame in a futile attempt to escape from the canvas so he could worship at this perfect example of womanhood.
Harry appeared far more concerned with Neville's rapidly deteriorating condition than anything Fleur was doing, his friend now had drool dribbling down his chin. "Eh don't worry about it Miss Delacour, already forgotten."
Fleur couldn't understand why Harry wasn't putty in her hands by now. She literally pressed ahead, pushing her body into Harry as she ran her hand up and down his arm. "Oh Harry I was hoping we could become friends, good friends!"
Harry was paying her no attention whatsoever, "No problem, Nev mate what's the matter, speak to me Nev!" He looked around panicky, searching for help when his eyes settled on his betrothed and his whole face lit up in relief. "Hermione I am so glad to see you, I need some help here please."
Hermione had come out the toilet to see that French trollop draped all over Harry. Every one of her insecurities went into hyper-drive, with the thought of how could Harry possibly want a bushy haired, bucked toothed bookworm when he could have this girl being top of the list. His expression upon seeing her, followed by his words rocked her world!
She was over there in a flash and Miss 'I'll whisper in my French accent and feel-up your betrothed while you're standing watching' Delacour found herself un-ceremonially dumped on her petite derriere as Hermione forcibly brushed the French champion aside to claim her wizard. With both hands behind his head she initiated a kiss that would curl his toes. Harry had no idea what he'd done to merit this reward but had no intention of asking until later, as his arms encircled Hermione his last conscious thought was much, much later.
By the time they came up for air, Fleur was long gone and Neville was well on the road to recovery. Luna though had a fit of the giggles at her friend's actions, "Hermione are you sure you are not part Veela? Harry's condition now resembles Neville's from earlier."
Harry was wearing a smile he thought nothing would shift, that was just tempting fate. "Luna, my Hermione is one hundred percent witch. She doesn't need anything else to charm me."
'But how were you able to resist while Neville was a gibbering idiot from only getting the periphery effects as she focused her Veela abilities on you?"
"Our rings protected me from that effect, leaving her just the same as all the others, unable to compete with the lovely Miss Granger."
Hermione almost grabbed him again but they would have been late for Charms, the three Gryffindors headed in that direction as Luna set off for the greenhouses and Herbology.
Filius was still raging at Albus and swore this wasn't over yet, he was far too professional an educator though to let this affect his performance in class. The lesson was progressing as planned until Mr Potter abruptly stood, "Luna's in trouble! Sir, we need you to come with us." The lad must have made a portkey out of his open book because, as he and Miss Granger thrust it into his chest, Filius felt the accustomed hook behind his navel effect as all three disappeared.
-oOoOo-
As usual Luna was at the end as the class made its way back into the castle but today she didn't mind in the slightest, she was so happy that she was skipping rather than walking. That all changed as multiple hands gabbed her and she swiftly found herself dragged into a nearby boy's toilet. Even though she was now held securely by Crabbe and Goyle, Luna was unsure if she could have moved anyway as her body seemed frozen with fear.
"Well Miss Lovegood, you are going to receive the honour of reporting back to your friend Potter with first hand experience that I'm definitely not gay." Draco ran his hand down her cheek before reaching to start unbuttoning her top, "You are actually quite pretty and a pureblood, who knows we might even make this a regular thing…"
Luna was in denial, thinking this couldn't be happening to her until she felt the bastards hands start to loosen her button. She began to struggle and was suddenly free as Malfoy went crashing into the opposite wall while both captors either side of her were now unconscious on the floor. "Luna?"
Standing there was Harry, Hermione and Professor Flitwick, all with drawn wands and murder in their eyes, she sprang at Harry as the realisation of what was about to happen hit home. The sobbing and shaking blond girl found herself cocooned in an embrace with her two friends, Hermione was whispering reassuring words in her ear but it was Harry who brought her back to reality.
"I told you this morning, you've got us now Luna, we always look after our friends!"
Filius watched the scene as his mind raced with the facts he had amassed, Harry made a portkey, one that worked inside Hogwarts. It also delivered them straight to Miss Lovegood, though he had no apparent way of knowing where she was, far less that she needed urgent assistance. Harry had blasted Malfoy into the wall without uttering a spell while he and Miss Granger had stunned the bookends, freeing the girl from their grasp. "Miss Lovegood should visit Madam Pomfrey to check she's ok."
Both felt Luna start to violently shake again, making Harry's mind up, "Professor, Luna is in my care and we will be returning to our accommodation. I trust you will deal with the garbage?"
Filius could see the calming effect Harry's words had on the girl so didn't object, she was clearly uninjured though he hated to think of what would have happened had they not arrived when they did.
Harry's hands gently fastened the one button the piece of filth had managed to loosen before they got here. "They'll never get near you again Luna, let's go home."
Hermione released Luna and then kicked the unconscious Malfoy as hard as she could in the groin. "Sorry Professor, my foot slipped." They portkeyed out leaving the little professor wondering if Miss Granger perhaps had the right idea and internally debated whether he should kick the little rapist bastard as well.
-oOoOo-
It was a distraught Xeno Lovegood who arrived with Winky at their accommodation to find his daughter wedged between Harry and Hermione while sipping tea. "Oh love, are you alright, I'll kill those bastards if I ever get my hands on them." Remus and Sirius appeared to agree wholeheartedly with those sentiments and were more than willing to render Xeno assistance in this endeavour.
Luna found herself comforting her father. "Dad I'm fine, Draco loosened one button before Harry blasted him into a wall. Hermione then made sure he wouldn't be bothering anyone again for a very long time, if ever! I actually heard a crunch as her foot connected with his equipment, she may have just ended the Malfoy line!"
Xeno was hugging his daughter while his expression towards Harry and Hermione conveyed his eternal gratitude more clearly than words ever could. There are simply not enough words in any language to communicate a father's feelings towards the people who saved his little girl from being forcibly violated.
Luna's tea had contained a mild calming draft so she was able to convey the entire morning to her father. She had just finished when an irate Dobby informed them that there were aurors at the door demanding Harry surrender himself for the attempted murder of Draco Malfoy.
The sense of disbelief was total, until Hermione's anger broke the stunned silence. "Tell them to piss off Dobby."
Before anyone could contradict her, the now grinning elf popped off to complete his assigned task. He returned a minute later, accompanied by Barchoke.
"Filius floo-called me and I can honestly say I've never seen him angrier. It would appear that young Mr Malfoy has multiple broken bones combined with internal injuries and a crushed groin, he must have hit that wall with considerable force."
"Not hard enough," grumbled Xeno.
"The three pure bloods are claiming after you publicly humiliated Malfoy this morning, Miss Lovegood was used as bait to entice them into that toilet where they were violently ambushed. They're also claiming Professor Flitwick was confounded by you to see what you wanted him to see."
Harry was livid, "It's the same shit his godfather Snape spouted at the summer that was going to see Sirius get kissed, the bastards probably think it worked before so why not again!"
"The incident is being portrayed as three well respected pureblood wizards being victimised by a half blood with delusions of grandeur and his muggle born girlfriend. The hapless Lovegood girl being nothing more than an unwitting accomplice."
"What's Dumbledore doing about this?" Sirius asked.
Barchoke's answer surprised them. "Absolutely nothing! Our best guess is that he's waiting for Harry to be in deep trouble then come to his rescue, citing that only by you being made his legal ward will he be able to oversee you properly. At the moment you're all perfectly safe as this is considered goblin soil, they cannot enter without being invited and I also brought another twenty guards in case they considered just the two you had an invitation. No one but Harry can make portkeys that pass through the wards with Dobby and Winky the only elves granted access, anyone else has to come through the front door."
Hermione gasped, "Harry, my mum and dad! We need to contact them right away."
It was Luna who explained the situation to the confused adults. "Harry made them portkeys and Dumbledore has already cast a spell on her dad, do you think he would hesitate to repeat that crime to get in here?"
"Wait, we may have the answer." Sirius bounded off his seat and raced up the stair, returning a minute later and handing Harry a small wrapped parcel. "Barchoke kindly got these out my vault, they belonged to your father and me. I was going to give you his then we could always talk to each other."
The parcel contained two mirrors, about five inches by three inches, Sirius took one and called for Dobby. "Give this to one of Hermione's parents when they're alone and tell them to say 'Harry Potter' into the mirror."
It was less than five minutes later that Harry felt the mirror vibrate in his hand, Sirius instructed him to say 'accept' and Emma Granger's face appeared in the mirror.
"Harry, How is this possible? Is everything alright?"
"Everyone's fine Emma, I'll hand you over to Hermione and she'll explain it."
As Hermione was talking to her mother, Sirius couldn't resist a jibe at his godson. "Emma? On first name terms already Harry? You don't half work fast with the ladies."
"Just my natural charm Sirius, something you obviously know nothing about!" This cracked Remus up.
"So you want us to return the portkey things love?" Emma asked after hearing the story and asking at least half a dozen times if Hermione was sure she was alright.
"No mum, I want you and dad to come straight here as soon as you finish work. Do not go home, just say your pass code and the portkey will bring you here. Dobby can fetch anything you need from the house. Even without knowing about the portkeys, they might try and use both of you to force Harry and me to come out."
Emma had to go as she had a couple of patients to treat then they would be along to see her, with a 'mirror off' they hung-up and went back to discussing how they were going to handle this situation.
It was less than ten minutes later though when the Grangers appeared, still in their dentist garb, and holding hands. "Hermione some men turned up and said you were in trouble, they demanded that we go with them immediately. Your father took my hand and activated his portkey ring to get both of us out of there."
Harry chuckled, "Oh I wish I could have seen their faces as Mr Granger shouted 'pureblood bigots' at them before disappearing."
Dan was also chuckling, "If were going to be staying here you should call me Dan. It also might help if you told everyone that was my activation code, it had to be something I wouldn't say by mistake."
Hermione handled the introductions, her parents had no trouble believing Sirius was innocent after their own treatment by wizards in the last few days. With the elves providing more refreshments the Grangers joined the brainstorming session but Sal was now hissing so loud everyone could hear it.
"What's he saying Harry?" Hermione asked.
"Both rings want me to take control of Hogwarts and force the situation to conclusion. It's not that I disagree with them, I just want to ensure the decision is mine. We need to see what our options are but I can't really see any alternatives. Does anyone disagree that Lucius Malfoy has the minister in his pocket and with Dumbledore playing his own game only in Hogwarts will we be safe. The showdown is coming and at the moment we can dictate the place and time, I think this is what we need to do."
Luna had an idea. "Daddy, when will the issue about Sirius be ready?"
Xeno guessed what his daughter was thinking. "If I could get some help with the presses and dispatching, I could have it ready for the morning…"
"I don't want Luna leaving here!" Harry butted in, "She was in danger because she's our friend, I think she should stay here for now."
"Harry, that could have happened to me at any time and who would have believed loony Lovegood. Instead I had friends rescue me and kick their arses, well Hermione kicked some other bits but you get the picture. This isn't your fault Harry. Draco is an animal who's been taught all his life that whatever he wants is his for the taking, with no consequences to be paid because he's a Malfoy. You humiliated him this morning and his father will be using this to protect the Malfoy name. Even Lucius must see how much of a prick Draco is but he's a Malfoy so the wizarding world has to be made to respect him, that's what this is all about."
"Ok so we need to take down Malfoy Snr and Jr, Dumbledore with all those titles and probably the minister as well. Any ideas?" Harry was smiling until Sal started hissing at him, "Sal says I should definitely have been a Slytherin with ambition like that but reckons I'll need Gryffindor's courage to pull it off!"
Remus offered to help Xeno any way he could and Barchoke insisted on providing a dozen goblin guards to ensure they were not disturbed in there work. That article should give Fudge something else to think about.
"Now the best way to get everyone where we want them is to tell them where I'll be, Dobby what's the situation like outside?"
"Only one step away from a battle, the aurors are being put under pressure to arrest you and Miss Moine."
"Tell them we will both be at breakfast in the great hall tomorrow, that should ease the tension a bit." A lot of people tried to say something but Harry held up his hand. "This is going to happen so let's do it where there are lots of witnesses and Hermione and I are protected. They will try and ambush us before we get there but only McGonagall, and now Flitwick know we can portkey into the castle. With a bit of luck most of their forces will be trapped outside and then the castle will deny them entry."
Dobby informed the Grangers that he had fetched clothes from their home for them before popping off to deliver his message. Remus and Xeno left to work on the Quibbler while Barchoke went to arrange guards for the pair, and the Grangers agreed to meet Sirius in the library after they had changed leaving the three teens to talk amongst themselves.
"I can't thank you both enough for what you did today but I still want to be there with you tomorrow as well. I am being depicted as a stupid girl who doesn't know right from wrong, I need to be there tomorrow so I can lay loony to rest once and for all."
"Luna, it will be very dangerous, Hermione and I are protected but you are not. We don't know who will be there or how they'll react and are counting heavily on Hogwarts help."
"Harry I suspect that hall will be full tomorrow so they won't start firing off curses, Dumbledore and the staff would be forced to act. I'll be in as much danger as the rest of the students, probably less as I don't intend moving more than a few inches away from you two."
Hermione hesitatingly asked, "Harry, could Luna get a ring that protects her as well?" She knew instantly she'd asked the wrong thing as he couldn't hide the hurt in his eyes.
"That ring only offers protection because of the way I feel about you Hermione. Without that, it's just another ring. I'm really sorry Luna but I just don't feel that way about you, you're my friend."
Luna kissed him on the cheek. "Harry I'm very happy with that, but I'm still going to be by your side tomorrow." She left as they both clearly needed to talk.
"When this is all over you can give me the ring back if you want, I know I sprung the whole situation on you and will understand."
"Harry, I'm sorry. I got so entangled in Luna's safety I wasn't thinking for a moment there, but listen very carefully because I have no intention of repeating myself. The only way you're getting this ring back is when you replace it with an engagement ring, understand?" Knowing that with Harry, actions always spoke louder than words she proceeded to reinforce that message by kissing him senseless. Totally ignoring the fact that her parents and Sirius were in their home, sometimes you just had to go with your feelings.
-oOoOo-
Albus sat in his office and thought he was in a no-lose position here. Should Harry find himself in serious trouble, he had the legislation in place to have his Lordship revoked and the lad placed in his care. Albus had no intention of pulling any strings to rescue Miss Granger from her fate.
In the unlikely event of Harry somehow escaping the situation, he could claim that his hands were tied as Lucius Malfoy controlled the minister. Albus tried not to think about that outcome too much as that achievement would place the boy almost out with his grasp.
No, Albus focused on the positive. He was sure that by this time tomorrow night, Harry would be once more ensconced in Gryffindor tower. Preferably without Miss Granger and free from all outside influence, once more his was the only voice Harry would be listening to.
The old wizard was so wrapped up in his own plots he couldn't sense the aroma of revolution that was in the air, and Hogwarts had no intention of informing the old git of what was brewing.
When Harry had asked Dobby to 'tell them' the little elf had outdone himself. He took 'them' to mean McGonagall, Flitwick, Sprout, Ginny and the twins, Neville, Susan, Hannah, Cedric, Tracy and Daphne before informing the aurors. There were heated meetings throughout the castle that Hogwarts herself was making sure the headmaster knew nothing about.
Staffroom
Filius was incensed, "If they arrest those children tomorrow for saving Miss Lovegood from being raped, then this will be my last night in this castle. When the Malfoy's rule Britain then it's time for me to leave."
Septima Vector wasn't so sure, "Can you say for definite that the girl was about to be raped Filius?"
"Well Septima, Crabbe and Goyle were holding the struggling girl by the arms as Malfoy was loosening her clothing while promising to make this a regular occurrence before Potter blasted him. If you can offer another explanation for those circumstances then I for one am willing to listen. There is not one shred of doubt in my mind that I participated in a rescue mission today."
Flitwick's description hardened everyone's attitude, though some like McGonagall didn't need it. "I have already written my letter of resignation and, should my Gryffindors be arrested for saving their friend, I will ram it right down the old bastard's throat!"
Pomona nodded in agreement. "As long as you leave room in there for mine Minerva. That boy has saved the school twice while Albus sat on his bony arse, now Harry's going to be abandoned to his fate because he had the audacity to stop that little shit Draco from raping a young girl. I will not be party to that!"
Gryffindor common room
Ron sat in a corner while the other three members of his family and all his year mates whipped the entire house up into a frenzy. In some part of his brain he recognised that he should be up there leading the whole thing as the evil Slytherin scum tried to escape their punishment by blaming two heroic Gryffindors. The same part of his mind screamed at him that, but for his stupid jealousy he would have been standing beside them today as they took care of the aforementioned scum.
Neither Harry nor Hermione had even glanced in his direction before disappearing with Flitwick to save Luna, that he had missed a chance to play the hero hurt Ron more than any punishment meted out by McGonagall or his mum could. The realisation that without Potter, Ron was just a no-friend nonentity was a bitter potion to swallow. He may have been in Potter's shadow but even shadows got to be in the light occasionally.
The decision that Gryffindor house would stand with two of their own was never in any doubt, if they wanted to take them from the great hall they would soon discover that Harry and Hermione had every wand in Gryffindor guarding their backs.
Hufflepuff common room
Puffs were notorious for their level-headed thinking and being slow to anger, earning them the unjust title of plodders. There was nothing plodding about the passion being displayed at the moment as Susan Bones rallied the house. "We can't allow this to proceed unchallenged, it's time for this house to stand up and be counted and I can't think of a more important issue than this. Not only must we protest the arrest of the innocents but, if Malfoy gets away with this there will not be a girl in the castle who's safe. This place is dangerous enough without removing its protector and unleashing the Slytherins to pick us off one at a time."
Hufflepuffs decision was finalised when Cedric stood and proclaimed, "I stand with Harry!"
Ravenclaw common room
Although not contacted directly, the fact that Harry and Hermione would be turning up tomorrow at breakfast spread through the school quicker than a dose of dragon pox. Roger Davies was one angry Ravenclaw as he ranted and raved at his housemates.
"Today I was embarrassed to be a Ravenclaw. Walking around the school with a badge declaring 'Bullying is Stupid' and then find out one of our own had to be saved by a couple of Gryffindors – again!"
"She's not one of us, loony left remember."
"Shut-up Cho, if anyone deserves kicked out of Ravenclaw it's you and your clique. My young sister starts here next year and now faces being bullied in her dorm with raped in the hallways as an additional extra if that little shit Malfoy gets away with this. What are these badges going to proclaim tomorrow, Ravenclaw's are cowards? I for one am going to stand for what's right, I stand with Harry Potter!"
There was never going to be total agreement but well over half declared their intention to follow Roger's lead.
Slytherin forth year girl's dorm
"So we're agreed? This can't be allowed to happen, if Draco gets away with this we would be next." Tracy said .
Millicent partially agreed with that assessment. "Well you and Daphne would be, I am probably destined to be Crabbe and Goyle's plaything. Not a future I had envisioned for myself."
Daphne was not alone shuddering from revulsion. "Even the thought of any of them touching my body makes me want to vomit, what can we do about it though?"
"We can see how many Slytherin girls agree with us, let's split up and canvas the other year groups." The other two agreed with Tracy and left to try and determine exactly where the female population of their house stood, a situation that would have been unthinkable even a few weeks ago.
Albus sat sipping his cocoa, so intensely focused on securing control of Harry again that he was totally oblivious to the school rapidly slipping away from him.
-oOoOo-
Dan Ganger lay awake in the luxurious bed with his wife snuggled in his arms, sleep would be a rare commodity tonight. His little princes was walking straight into the lions den tomorrow and there was nothing her parents could do about it. They themselves were now prisoners, confined here until this situation was resolved. The only reason he was not tearing his hair out in anguish was the young man who would be at her side, talking to Sirius had really opened their eyes towards Harry.
Sirius had been understandably emotional when he was describing how he was steeling himself to face death when the two kids had turned up to rescue him. This gave them even more insight into the bond between Harry and Hermione, though they could have done without the graphic description of what a Dementor was.
These kids had faced horrors they couldn't imagine, in the case of Dementors they couldn't even bloody see! Dan felt the dampness seep through his pyjama top where his wife's silent tears soaked into the material. All he could do was hold her tighter and pray that the castle's protection would be enough. He had no words of comfort for her, meaningless platitudes didn't work with the Granger woman and in this situation he had nothing else. For at least the millionth time he wondered what would have happened had he obeyed his first instinct and told that strange woman called McGonagall to piss off four years ago!
Chapter 6
It was quite a sombre group who sat at the breakfast table awaiting Hedwig's arrival with the latest Quibbler, they decided that would be their signal to leave for Hogwarts. The snowy owl was the only bird keyed to their accommodation as she swept in through a magical skylight to deliver these important papers to her wizard, holding her leg out to Harry as he relieved his familiar's burden. One look at the headline had Harry emitting a low whistle. "Luna, your dad has done us proud. This is going to blow the wizarding world wide open, and make our task this morning so much easier."
Sirius Black Innocent – Cornelius Fudge Guilty!
Sirius Black, the man who spent eleven years in Azkaban without a trial or even being charged is innocent!
Our esteemed minister of magic meanwhile was heavily involved in Black's illegal incarceration while filling his pockets with death eater gold so his 'friends' could avoid trial. No crimes were considered too evil, they just cost more in bribes to cover up.
Unlike the ministry under Fudge's tenure, this newspaper takes its responsibility to tell the truth seriously. Therefore has sent all of our evidence listed here to the head of the DMLE.
The case against the minister has been brought to our attention by an enraged goblin nation, angered by two specific events, their spokesperson had this to say.
"Goblins would normally not become involved in the affairs of wizards but events recently have left us without a choice. Our champion and even our way of life have been put under threat by the latest ministrations by the minster and his associate, Lucius Malfoy.
Yesterday Lord Potter, his betrothed and Head of Ravenclaw House, Professor Filius Flitwick, aborted the attempted rape of a thirteen-year-old witch inside Hogwarts castle by the Malfoy heir and two of his friends. Instead of being hailed as heroes, the minister has demanded Lord Potter and his betrothed's arrest for attacking a Malfoy while claiming Professor Flitwick was confounded by these two wizarding teenagers. This travesty of justice cannot be allowed to continue for two reasons. As the headline proclaims, Sirius Black is innocent yet still went to Azkaban. We will not allow this fate to befall our champion.
Secondly, and even more importantly, the idea that a couple of teenagers could confound someone of goblin decent is not only preposterous but insulting and very bad for business. Would you trust your gold to Gringotts if a simple charm like that could undo the guardian of your fortune?
Goblins are immune to this charm and anyone attempting to cast it on a member of Gringotts will find themselves cleaning out our dragon pens deep in the catacombs for a very long time.
Only this direct threat to our champion and goblin business empire have forced us to release the financial dealings of a corrupt minister of magic. Every large deposit listed here ties directly to a person escaping trial or a piece of legislation forced through the Wizengamot. Printed in this newspaper are the secret and underhanded financial dealings of an unscrupulous man, we leave the rest up to the wizarding authorities."
There then followed a list of quite substantial amounts deposited over a number of years, the last being yesterday as obvious payment for Draco's cover-up and Harry's arrest. The article continued its attack.
The amount of evidence for Sirius Black being innocent is in direct contrast to the total lack of any proof of his guilt, the real criminal is a very much alive Peter Pettigrew. This posthumous Order of Merlin winner has been living amongst us as an unregistered animagus, his form is rather ironically that of a rat who has actually had his picture printed on the front page of the Prophet! Pettigrew found himself confronted by Lord Potter and others this May in the infamous 'shrieking shack,' after having unrestricted access to Hogwarts for many years.
He was captured and confessed to his crimes before escaping as Lord Potter's party was attacked by an army of Dementors the minister had insisted be paced at a school. The same minister refused to believe anything other than Sirius Black was guilty and ordered the man, who'd never even been given a trial, kissed immediately.
Lord Potter had this to say -
"I was attacked by the ministry's Dementors on the Hogwarts express, again during a Quidditch match and finally on Hogwarts grounds last term. Yet throughout the minister maintained they were there for my safety? When we informed him that Sirius Black was innocent and Pettigrew alive, he claimed we were cofounded. Apparently I'm the one now doing the confounding!
Since the ministry refuses to believe that Pettigrew is alive, and therefore won't search for him, I'm offering one hundred thousand galleons for his capture. This is no gimmick as the gold is already in a Gringotts vault with the key awaiting whoever hands the murder over to the goblins. For obvious reasons, I don't trust the ministry under Fudge to deal with this.
If it takes parading Peter Pettigrew up and down the length of Diagon Alley for the entire wizarding world to realise the truth, then that is what I will do. This appears to be the only way to prove my godfather's innocence."
There was a picture of his rat form with the missing toe but also one featuring a very much alive Peter from the shrieking shack, Harry wondered how Xeno got hold of until Luna offered an explanation. "My father has a pensieve which he can take pictures in, that must be Professor Lupin's memory."
Hermione couldn't contain her glee, "Barchoke has also done us proud. This could finish Fudge and hurt Malfoy by association, and you know most of that gold had to come out of the Malfoy vault."
Harry stood up from the table. "If this has just been delivered to the great hall then I think it's time for us to make an appearance."
Hermione and Luna joined him before all three were grabbed by an emotional Emma Granger, she'd heard from Sirius that neither Harry nor Luna had a mother so engulfed the trio before kissing them on the cheek and extracting promises that they would be careful.
-oOoOo-
Luna's prediction had proved accurate. The great hall was packed as all staff and every student, including the two visiting schools and their heads were all at breakfast when Cornelius Fudge had made his grand entrance. With Malfoy strutting by his side and ten aurors behind him, the minister looked ridiculous when you considered they were here to arrest a fourteen-year-old boy.
Unbeknown to those in the hall, Cornelius had almost the entire auror corps between Potter's dwelling and Hogwarts He had no intention of letting the brat garner any sympathy by being dragged out the great hall with the entire school watching. Lucius wanted this done quickly and quietly, he had paid handsomely for that service and his job was to deliver it.
That idea disappeared like a puff of smoke in a hurricane when a flock of owls swept into the hall with the Quibbler, whose subscriptions had skyrocketed due to the Potter deal. Fudge was a political animal with finely tuned survival instincts that quickly picked up on the hostility starting to be radiated towards him, the headline almost had Cornelius vomiting in his green bowler hat before he screamed at the auror's present. "Go and arrest Potter now and don't take any shit from the goblins, we'll deal with this pack of lies later."
Dumbledore read the article as a state of dread began overtaking his body. If Harry's advisors could take down the minister, and possibly Malfoy with him, then Albus wouldn't have an earthly of regaining control of the boy. His gaze shifted towards the end of the Slytherin table where a theatrically bandaged Malfoy sat smirking with his two brainless buddies. It was quite noticeable that the rest of the house were trying to keep their distance from him with even Miss Parkinson sitting at the opposite end of the table. Albus also noticed a lot of activity amongst the students regarding those blasted badges but was too far away to read what they were saying now.
A couple of Ravenclaws had deciphered the charms used and quickly came up with a spell to alter them. Since the only things that travelled faster than light were rumours, scandal or secrets inside Hogwarts everyone soon knew it. The older students were assisting the younger ones as the badges were now proclaiming 'I stand with Harry!'
It was into this atmosphere that the trio portkeyed directly into the great hall, and the headmaster nearly fell off his golden throne in shock.
Fudge was livid, "Potter how did you get in here? You're under arrest!"
"That's Lord Potter to you and I would advise you not to reach for your wand, though Malfoy here is welcome to fire as many curses at us as he wants."
"I will ruin you boy, and the rag that printed these lies!" Malfoy was desperate to go for his wand.
"Well we could always claim we were under the Imperius curse, then fill Cornelius's bowler hat with gold. After all, it worked for you… WHAT THE FUCK ARE THEY DOING SITING THERE?" Harry had just caught sight of the three arseholes at the end of the Slytherin table, his 'question' was screamed directly at Dumbledore.
Albus shrugged his shoulders, "My hands are tied Harry, there's nothing I can do!"
"I think you'll find that was Luna's predicament." Harry pointed towards the enchanted ceiling and it began displaying the scene from yesterday. The entire hall watched on in horror as Luna was dragged into the toilet where Draco was waiting for her. As she struggled in vain to escape, he started to loosen the terrified girl's buttons while the mood inside the hall turned ugly. The cheering was deafening as Malfoy went flying off the 'screen' and Luna rushed into the arms of her rescuers.
"You must be so proud of your son Lucius? He really is a chip of the old block! Dumbledore you have let the students of Hogwarts down for the last time, your hands may be tied but mine aren't."
The gem counter for Slytherin house exploded, raining down semi-precious stones on the three stooges who sought shelter under the table. All Slytherin banners in the hall fell to the floor as trunks containing students belongings began to pile up at the doors. A massive crack started at Malfoy's end of the house table and quickly raced along the enormous block of wood, splitting the table in half as Draco was again squealing like a little piglet.
"Hogwarts stop!" Harry shouted, "I will not have the entire house punished because of some individuals." Every pair of eyes in the hall was now focused on him so it was time for the truth, "I am the Heir of Slytherin…" this was all he managed to say before being rudely interrupted.
Ron had watched this morning's proceedings and was on the verge of admitting to himself he might have been wrong about how he treated his friends when the red mist descended once more. Some things were unforgivable to the Gryffindor. "Potter you slimy Slytherin bastard, I took you into my home and now we'll need to fumigate it!" Two red headed twins pounced on their brother and dragged him to the ground as an embarrassed Ginny tried to apologise.
"Sorry Harry, you and Hermione are always welcome at the Burrow. Don't listen to this arse!"
Harry nodded in thanks. "As I was saying, I am the Heir of Slytherin by conquest! I have defeated the half blood bastard Tom Marvolo Riddle three times – for the Ravenclaws amongst us it's an anagram I'm sure you'll work out. I thwarted him as a toddler, only a sick puppy could aim a killing curse at a baby – you ever try that Lucius? I defeated him again when he was growing out the back of Quirrell's head, yes he taught here for a year thanks to our headmaster. The third time was in the chamber of secrets when a cursed diary was set on a first year by Lucius Malfoy. In response the minister sent Hagrid to Azkaban. Anyone else seeing a pattern here? Did you even get an apology Hagrid? "
The large man's "NO!" was more of a growl than anything else.
"Salazar Slytherin despises Riddle with unbridled passion for what he's done to his once proud house. He took the noble pursuits of ambition and cunning, bastardising them to cheating, lying, stealing, blackmailing, torturing and killing anyone who didn't agree with his views. Riddle believes that there is no good or evil, just power and those too weak to seize it! He told me this himself, just before I banished him for the second time. The house that bears his name has lost its honour and has until Christmas to regain it or Salazar will withdraw his support from Hogwarts all together. We've already been given a small taste of what that means."
The Bloody Baron approached Harry and bowed, for the first time in living memory the ghost spoke. "Thank you my Lord, I long for the day when my house can actually achieve something on its own merits rather than by the belittlement of others. I knew Salazar and can understand his shame as I too have felt it."
Harry's ring hissed loud enough for those around him to hear. "Salazar thanks you Phillip and asks for your assistance in rebuilding his house. He also suggests you speak to Helena, a millennium is a long time for both of you to be carrying this pain around."
The ghost's bow was even deeper this time as the Slytherin banners returned to their previous position while the table and house points indicator repaired themselves. All but three of the trunks returned themselves to the Slytherin dorms. "To help facilitate this change of direction Severus Snape is no longer head of Slytherin and he, along with Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle will never set foot in this castle again."
The cheering was rapturous but Dumbledore was on his feet, trying to shout above the noise, though eventually he needed a sonorus charm to achieve it. "Mr Potter I must object, I am headmaster here and you have no right to expel students or dismiss professors…"
Harry held his arm straight up and the sword of Gryffindor appeared in his hand. "I am the Heir of Slytherin by conquest but the Heir of Gryffindor by birth, the days of my enemies being allowed to wander freely around this castle ends now!" With that he drove the sword halfway into the floor of the hall and a flash spread out from the point of impact. The immediate consequences were that both Lucius Malfoy and Igor Karkaroff collapsed in agony, clutching their left forearms, somewhat surprisingly so did Professor Moody.
-oOoOo-
Barchoke was outside the Potter accommodation module and preparing his troops for battle, the aurors were determined they were going to gain access while the goblin force had no intention of allowing that to happen whilst one of them still stood. A glorious bloodbath looked imminent until the authoritative shout of "Aurors stand down!" saved many lives.
Amelia Bones came striding through and spoke to the auror in charge. "Dawlish, what in Merlin's name is going on here?"
"Madam Bones, I was given a direct order from minister Fudge to gain access to this building and arrest Potter. Those orders also included dealing with any goblin interference."
"You were about to decimate my auror force and plunge us into a war with the goblin nation! All to arrest a fourteen-year-old boy who's only crime would appear to be that he's more popular than Fudge. I have a warrant for the minister's arrest on corruption charges so you just lost your protection. I hereby suspend auror Dawlish, without pay, until complaints filed against him have been properly investigated. You no longer have any business here so leave now, do not attempt to leave the country though."
Amelia walked calmly towards the goblins and spoke to whom she reckoned was in charge. "I'm Amelia Bones, head of the DMLE, and I would like to apologise for what happened here this morning. We have no right to demand entry here no matter who gives the order. I would like to speak with those inside and am quite prepared to surrender my wand if allowed access."
Barchoke answered, "Madam Bones, you're renowned amongst the goblins for your fairness but all I can do is submit your request, Dobby!"
The little elf appeared and answered the question before even being asked. "The three have already left for the great hall, only Miss Mione's parents and the dog are here."
"Could I speak to her parents, I understand two of Fudge's lackeys went to their place of work and harassed them. I'm assuming they had been provided with emergency portkeys?"
Barchoke nodded before speaking to Dobby. "Please tell them we'll be coming in Dobby and to keep that mutt under control." The elf popped away to make sure it was Padfoot who greeted Madam Bones and not Sirius Black.
Amelia was very impressed by the interior but immediately spotted the apprehension from the two parents. "Mr and Mrs Granger I presume? Please accept my apology for those two goons who turned up at your work yesterday, you have my assurance none of your family are facing any charges whatsoever."
Emma was in no mood to accept platitudes from this stranger. "What about Harry, or Dumbledore using spells on my husband? Is Luna going to see justice done or is this boy's father going to be able to buy his way out of trouble again? All three of them are at present in that bloody castle and we're going nuts stuck here while wondering what's happening to them."
"That is my next port of call where I am going to arrest Cornelius Fudge. Neither Harry nor your daughter will get any trouble from me but Luna's case has to be brought to my department by the school. Hogwarts actually pre-dates the ministry and wizarding law doesn't always apply in the castle as it does everywhere else. I invite you to join me and on the way we can discuss what Dumbledore has been up to now."
-oOoOo-
Harry was certain the new wards would affect Lucius Malfoy because it prevented anyone with a dark mark entering the castle and caused great pain to any who managed to breech the defences. Karkaroff was a bit of a surprise but Moody was a total shock, Hermione as usual was first to formulate a solution. Knowing beforehand the wards Harry had erected were triggered by the dark mark, and that Professor Moody hated dark wizards with a vengeance, she summoned his ever-present flask.
One sniff of the contents was all she needed to confirm her suspicions. "It's polyjuice Harry, whoever that is they're not Professor Moody."
Harry stunned both Malfoy and the imposter before addressing the Drumstrang students. "That ward Hogwarts just erected reacts to people carrying Riddle's dark mark, I need to stun your headmaster until we can get this sorted out." The last thing he wanted was a war with the best students of Drumstrang in the middle of the great hall.
After stunning Karkaroff, Harry whirled to face Dumbledore. "Did you know their headmaster was a death eater?" Albus didn't have to answer, it was written all over his normally indecipherable face. Harry's temper was starting to get away from him. "So we have a visiting death eater headmaster, a death eater head of Slytherin, a death eater friend of the minister of magic and now a death eater impersonating our defence professor. Why didn't you contact Pettigrew and Riddle and they could have had a reunion? Slaughter all the non-pureblood first year's for old time's sake or just to get back into the swing of things. These people maimed, raped and murdered but were given a slap on the wrist and told not to be a bad boy again. Is it any wonder you have death eaters causing havoc at the world cup? You didn't deal with it last time and its coming back to bite you again."
Harry turned his attention to Fudge. "Was my godfather the only one to end up in Azkaban over this?"
Cornelius was hardly listening, he was too busy staring at the now stunned Malfoy who was still clutching his arm. That fact, combined with the financial irregularities printed today would see both of them finished.
Dumbledore tried to wrestle back control of the morning, he'd felt the wards leave him when Harry drove the sword into the stone floor but bluffing was something that came naturally to the old man. "Harry, you need to release these men now. This can all then be dealt with by the proper authorities."
"Albus Dumbledore, that is no concern of yours since you are no longer Headmaster of Hogwarts. Both Salazar and Godric consider you to be the worst headmaster in the history of the school. The wellbeing of the students inside this castle should always be the headmaster's main concern, you subjected them to years of bad teachers and repeatedly endangered every one of them because it suited your private agenda. For the greater good of wizarding Britain this can no longer be tolerated. The students in this hall are the future of our world and deserve the best, you may be a superb teacher and a great wizard but you're a shit headmaster."
Even the Hogwarts' staff were shocked by this statement, they may have privately agreed with it but none of them ever had the stones to say it to Dumbledore's face.
"Professor McGonagall, would you consider becoming the new headmaster?"
Harry's request dragged Minerva back to reality, she could have sworn the lad had just told Albus he was a shit headmaster, and she'd wanted to do that for years. "Under what conditions would I be working Harry? If I had to defer every decision to you then I don't think it would work."
Harry displayed his first smile of the morning, "Straight to the point as usual professor, it's so refreshing after dealing with your predecessor. I want the best teachers possible in the classrooms, a fair and just discipline policy that applies equally to all students with a clearly defined line that crossing gets you expelled. Those three over there are not your concern as they crossed way over the line before you were appointed and their punishment is to be expelled while being reported to the DMLE. I have no intention of trying to tell you how to do the job but Hogwarts has assured me she will offer you every assistance. The new improved wards are non-negotiable though."
"I would like to talk it over with you later but in principle I'll agree for now, would you have any objections to me retaining Dumbledore's services to teach potions?"
"As I have said ma'am, the professor was considered a superb teacher. If I remember my chocolate frog cards correctly, was an alchemist of some renown that worked closely with Nicolas Flamel. Let's face it, he's got to be an improvement on Snape. Not head of Slytherin though."
Albus sat just that little bit straighter, he was still in the game. When the wards left him he knew his tenure as headmaster was over but thought he was going to be banished from the castle like Severus. This gave him opportunities to try and win his way back into Harry's trust.
It was this moment that the polyjuice effect ran out on Moody, revealing Barty Crouch Jr. to gasps of astonishment from the staff who knew him.
"Albus, how is this possible? He's supposed to have died in Azkaban!" Minerva had her wand directed at the transformed death eater.
"I have no idea headmistress, like everyone else I thought he was dead."
"Can you people do nothing right?" Hermione's comment drew everyone's attention so she started counting them out on her fingers. "First we have our resident death eater Snape, then we had the chief death eater, the supposed dead Riddle teach here. Thirdly Malfoy's diary attack released a basilisk and brought Riddle back into the castle. Then we had the non death eater Sirius and the rat, supposedly deceased death eater Pettigrew. Now we have a headmaster whose a death eater and a professor whose not a professor but a dead and already buried death eater. This is meant to be a bloody school!"
While people contemplated Hermione's rant, Hogwarts informed Harry there were visitors at the door, he allowed them access since the Grangers were with them.
Amelia's attention was immediately drawn to the three prone figures as she entered the hall, her eyes did a double-take though as she focused on one of them. Her wand was in her hand before Amelia realised that she's just made a mistake, she stopped moving and slowly turned her head from side to side. A sea of pointed wands greeted her.
She was about to start barking orders when she discovered that one of those wands belonged to her niece. Susan may have had tears in her eyes while pointing her wand at her but there was absolute determination there as well, Susan may not like what she was about to do but that wouldn't stop her. "Susan?"
"I'm sorry auntie but we can't let you take him. That could just as easily have been me in that toilet and I can only pray that he would come to my defence just as quickly. If you arrest Harry for this then no girl will be safe in this castle. No one else will lift a finger to help because they could end up in Azkaban." Susan now had tears streaming down her face but her wand never wavered, Amelia had never been prouder of her niece.
"I am not here to arrest Harry Potter and commend you all for standing up, not only for your friend but for what is right. Could we please put the wands away though before we have an accident?" Susan rushed into her aunt's arms, her tears were now ones of relief as Amelia comforted her distraught niece. It was bad enough to have to draw your wand on an auror but when it was your guardian as well, it proved a bit too much for the young girl.
Harry was amazed and humbled by the show of support, even half of the Slytherins had stood in support of him, or at least against Malfoy. Hermione and Luna headed towards her relieved parents while Harry found himself joined by a black dog and Barchoke. Harry thought this was a prank worth of a marauder, the most wanted man in Britain to be led into the great hall by the head of the DMLE. That was until Padfoot took it to a whole new level by lifting his leg and pissing on the unconscious Malfoy, the Grangers physically had to hold both girls up as they were almost involuntary repeating said act due to the fact they were laughing uncontrollably. Sal's comment that this was revenge worthy of a Slytherin was not lost on Harry, he only kept himself together by imagining how distraught Moony would be at missing this.
Amelia was now by his side. "Lord Potter it would appear your dog is not housebroken." The humour in her voice was unmistakable.
Harry was still trying to hold it together as the big dog was now looking right into his face, the laughter in its eyes unmistakable. "He normally does his business on the compost heap, he obviously recognised Lucius here as garbage. Do you have any truth serum on you Madam Bones?"
Amelia glanced towards Albus before Harry interrupted her. "Professor Dumbledore is no longer in charge here, in matters of Hogwarts safety the school takes precedent over ministry laws. I am a duel founder's heir and want to know why we have three death eaters in the great hall, I am allowed to question them on activities relating to the school." Both fabled rings were now clearly visible on Harry's fingers, cementing his claim.
A shocked Amelia Bones was falling over herself in an attempt to get some serum there as quickly as possible, it was one of her greatest wishes to get three drops of that into Malfoy so her elf was back in seconds with phials of the restricted potion.
Harry was again speaking to the students of Drumstrang. "My intention is to ask your headmaster if he put my name in the cup and if he has any objectives here other than seeing Victor winning the tri-wizard tournament. I expect the answer to both of those questions to be no, at which point I will release him and quickly provide his exit from the castle, unfortunately never to return. I would like to ensure Drumstrang that this move is purely for the safety of those in the castle and unmarked staff and students will always be welcome in Hogwarts."
He dealt with Karkaroff first, figuring to get it over and refine their procedure. He was placed in a chair in front of the great hall before being revived, the veritaserum helped with the pain and two quick 'no's' later Harry handed the wizard a spoon from the table that he'd turned into a portkey. The Drumstrang headmaster left the hall to appear pain-free outside Hagrid's hut.
Now it was time to deal with Lucius Malfoy.
Lucius awoke to find himself bound to a chair with the sleeve of his robe missing, displaying his painful dark mark for everyone to see. He looked towards Fudge for help and quickly realised the bastard was trying to turn this whole thing around in the hope of saving his own worthless arse.
Amelia was taking her time, savouring the moment as well as the pain clearly etched on this bastard's face. Malfoy thought he was untouchable but was sitting here at her mercy, all she needed was enough to get the same position in front of the Wizengamot and she would be one seriously happy witch. She applied the three drops required to make Malfoy tell the truth.
Harry's first question almost granted her wish but by the end Malfoy was done for. She wanted to jump up and down like a teen at a Quidditch match whose team had just won the world cup, outside she may have been calm and business like but inside all she could think was 'Gotcha you murdering bastard!"
"Why are you in Hogwarts today?"
Malfoy's voice was devoid of emotion as the potion compelled him to speak the truth. "I bribed the minister to save Draco, the stupid arse can't even rape someone without getting caught. I came to make sure the job was done properly, with Potter and his mudblood arrested for daring to interfere!"
"Did you plan that the basilisk would be let loose in Hogwarts?"
"Yes"
The reek of dog pish wafting from Malfoy was probably the only thing stopping Harry from pouncing on the ponce and punching his face in. "Why?"
"I had two goals, to rid Hogwarts of the filth polluting it and discredit that disgrace Weasley."
Harry wanted there to be no ambiguity whatsoever, this slippery bastard was going down. "How were you going to end the pollution at Hogwarts?"
Malfoy condemned himself with his own words, "By killing all the mudbloods and half bloods, thus purifying the castle!"
The sword of Gryffindor shot out the floor and straight into Harry's hand. "Getting rid of the filth from Hogwarts is my job, that's why there will be no more Malfoy's in the castle – EVER!" Harry glowed brightly signifying the castle agreed with him and the decree had been passed, though it still hadn't been established if Hermione's actions yesterday left any ability for there to BE any more Malfoys.
"Madam Bones, please tell me you have enough to put this bastard in Azkaban, otherwise I'm going to kill him right here and now! After seeing the beast, everyone here now understands just what damage it could have done."
"Lord Potter, Gringotts doesn't contain enough gold to buy his way out of this one. Over half the Wizengamot had relations at Hogwarts during that fiasco, the whole incident will be investigated, including innocent people being shipped to Azkaban while this piece of filth strutted about as if he owned the place."
Harry still had his sword in hand when he had an idea, "Sir Nicolas?"
The Gryffindor ghost floated over. "I know what your greatest wish is my friend. This is a magical sword I have in my hand, would you like me to make the attempt?"
Nick quickly grabbed his hair and pulled until the remaining piece of sinew was stretched taut. After all, the worse that could happen was his head would be cut off.
Harry carefully placed the blade against the attached piece of Nick's neck and it parted at once, Nick was pulling it so tight though that his released head shot out his grip and travelled across the hall. His laughter plus the sight of his now headless body with its arms out in front of it, staggering about brought some light relief to the morning.
"Oh thank you my boy, that half-inch has ruined my death. I can't wait to give Sir Patrick my head though it's going to take a bit of getting used to first."
Not for the first time the great hall was interrupted by Peeves, but this was a different poltergeist. "Oh wee Potty, Peeves promises to be good. Don't use nasty sword on poor wee peevesy, I will be a good poltergeist. Peeves promises!"
Harry was laughing now. "Peeves, don't go making promises you can't keep. Stop picking on the first years and you won't have a problem with me."
Peeves actually saluted before shooting out of there.
Lucius Malfoy was now stunned, in magical inhibiting manacles and tightly bound. Amelia wasn't taking any chances. She replaced him in the chair with Barty Jr. "Lord Potter this man has already been sentenced to life in Azkaban and will be facing a dementor for escaping, would you mind if I carried out the questioning?"
"As long as we discover what his purpose was in the school I'm quite happy to defer to your expertise in this situation. The only reason I asked the others was that it would have been illegal for you to do so and I want this one here in prison. His plot nearly cost me, my betrothed and more than a few friends of mine their lives."
Amelia skilfully had Barty confessing how he escaped, first from Azkaban then his father's control, joining with his master and Pettigrew, putting Harry's name in the goblet and confirming his master had plans for Harry that he wasn't privy to. The entire hall was in shock at the level of corruption, conspiracy and just plain terror at the thought of Voldemort not being dead. Harry had spent the time whispering with Barchoke, Padfoot had been listening in and his wagging tail demonstrated his agreement.
A re-stunned Barty Jr. was wrapped up next to Malfoy as Amelia dispatched aurors to arrest Barty Snr. and free the real Mad-eye from his trunk.
"Madam Bones I would like to officially report three Hogwarts students for the attempted rape of another." Harry pointed his hand towards the ceiling and the scene played out again, if anything it was even more shocking for those witnessing it for the second time. Dan Granger had his arms comfortingly around both Hermione and Luna as his emotions ran rampant. One part wanted to strangle the three bastards that attacked Luna while the other wanted to get down on his knees and give thanks for the ring that kept his daughter safe. A quick glance at his wife showed shared sentiments concerning their daughter and her boyfriend. The fact that both privately thought that, had it been Hermione being molested, all three boys would have died at Harry's hands would never be spoken of.
The aurors were moving to arrest the three before Amelia gave the order. Cool, confident Draco had been replaced by a frightened and crying spoilt little boy, his two companions were too stupid to realise just how much trouble they were in.
It was a very nervous Harry who decided to go for broke. "Madam Bones, we have all heard that Pettigrew is alive. I, along with others in this hall have actually spoken to the rat, how can I get my godfather a trial?"
"Lord Potter he would need to surrender himself to the ministry and undergo questioning under truth serum. If that proved his innocence, I can see no alternative other than to grant him a pardon. Actually, I can't pardon him since he was never actually charged with any crime."
Harry pushed forward. "Since we have truth serum, the head of the DMLA, head of the Wizengamot and the minister for magic all present, would it be acceptable if he asked Hogwarts for sanctuary and we held the questioning here?"
"Yes but…" Amelia was about to say that she was here to arrest Fudge when those words died in her throat. The big black dog, whose head she'd been patting earlier, just turned into Sirius Black.
"I request sanctuary of Hogwarts!"
"Granted!" Harry very quickly placed Sirius under the castles protection, legally Amelia couldn't touch him now.
"I gladly submit to questioning under veritaserum, I've waited thirteen years on this happening." Sirius stuck out his tongue as Amelia pulled herself together. She was aware that she had rather beautifully been manipulated into this position but, since she was asking the questions and the serum would allow no lies, she administered three drops.
After establishing that he was indeed Sirius Black, the serious questions began.
"Have you ever been a death eater?"
"No."
"Were you the Potter's secret keeper?"
"No, that was Peter."
"Did you kill those twelve muggles?"
"No, that was Peter, the rat escaped down a sewer."
"How did you escape from Azkaban?"
"As a dog, Peter was in the Gryffindor dorm with Harry."
"How did you escape from Hogwarts?"
"My godson and his betrothed helped me."
"Madam Bones, I think we have all heard enough to establish my godfather's innocence."
Amelia administered the antidote as a beaming Sirius asked "Yes?"
"I can see no other course of action but to grant an immediate apology to Sirius Black and declare him a free man…" Barchoke handed her the appropriate paperwork awaiting signature.
Dumbledore signed it immediately, anything that made him appear in a good light to Harry was always going to get done now. Cornelius was delighted to be signing, unaware that this was his last act as minister of magic. Amelia rounded off a quite wonderful morning by signing the parchment, arresting Fudge, warning Dumbledore he was under investigation before leaving with six prisoners. She even got a farewell hug from Susan.
McGonagall noticed it was now approaching lunchtime but had no qualms about the students missing classes this morning, the happenings in the great hall had definitely been educational.
Victor was amazed at this boy and what he achieved here this morning, he now reckoned Harry Potter was his main competition in the tri-wiz and could only hope he didn't play Quidditch. Victor got the impression that this lad would bring the same intensity to everything that he did.
Cedric was delighted that everyone now knew for certain Harry didn't enter his name into the goblet, it could have been quite embarrassing if Hufflepuff house had shunned the lad because his name had come out the cup. The change in headmasters was a welcome one since the vast majority of the students only saw Dumbledore at mealtimes. Cedric had always felt the old wizard had too many irons in the fire and the school should actually benefit from having a full time headmistress, especially one who still taught students. Now all he had to worry about was the first task in a couple of weeks.
Fleur watched the proceedings and it only made Harry more attractive to her, he was already rich and powerful, add double Hogwarts heir with the ability to disregard her Veela charm and you had an individual that any of her kind would go crazy over. By their very nature, Veela were always on the lookout for the best mate, they would have to look long and hard to find a better candidate than Harry Potter. What Fleur failed to notice was the glares she was receiving from the Gryffindor girls, Neville had spoken of the corridor incident and no-one poached a boyfriend from a Gryffindor girl. Fleur was going to be having another corridor incident where a few facts of Hogwarts life would be explained to her.
Ron had no appetite, even watching Malfoy and his conies expelled couldn't improve his mood. If only he had waited until Potter revealed he was the heir of Gryffindor but no, he had to stand up and shout out in front of everyone again! Not only had this driven a wedge further between him and his former friends but the whole of Gryffindor would no longer be speaking to him. They now had proof Harry didn't enter his name so he had been wrong about everything since Halloween. Hearing that the Veela was after him and Harry wasn't interested baffled Ron more than anything, how could he choose Hermione over Fleur? Ron was going to give lunch a miss and concentrate on that problem, he felt the answer to that question would also provide answers to his problems.
Harry sat at lunch as Hermione introduced her parents to their friends, he was knackered and McGonagall had asked to meet with them after lunch. He enjoyed watching Sirius eat his first meal as a free man while chatting to the Gryffindors. He was obviously remembering better times spent at this table with another Potter but they couldn't look back, only forward to hopefully a better future.
-oOoOo-
Barchoke was back in Gringotts after reducing the number of guards at the module, he decided to leave the ones at the Quibbler for now. Young Miss Lovegood was already penning this morning's event for the next issue, an issue which should be just as explosive. The knock on his door was followed by a request for his presence on the bank main floor, the sight that greeted him was totally unexpected.
There were twenty seven witches and wizards, of all ages and every walk of life waiting on him. They all had two things in common though, the unmistakable gleam of greed in their eyes and a dead rat in their hands. They should have printed the fact that when an animagus is killed they revert back to their human form. Barchoke couldn't help but think the rat population in Britain was heading for a downturn in numbers.
-oOoOo-
Peter was staring at himself looking back at him from the front page of the Quibbler, the hundred thousand galleon reward almost caused him to throw up there and then. Most of the death eaters he'd met would sell their entire families for a lot less than that, even his rat form no longer offered him any protection. He was going to have to stick close to his master from now on, things were really bad when that was his safest option.