Chapter 9 - Smiling at Death
The atmosphere in what had now become the family lounge at number twelve Grimmauld Place was so thick with tension you could have cut it with a knife. Emma was sitting on a large sofa with Hermione, Susan and Ginny. The group had tried to keep a conversation going but, as time had slowly dragged on, it just proved harder and harder to think about anything else - other than what could be happening on the mission.
Ron was siting supposedly playing games of chess against each of his twin brothers at the same time. While the twins were cheating almost every occasion Ron turned to the other board, none of the trio's hearts were really in the games. It was just something to do while they too waited on news. Their mum, dad and eldest brother were all involved in this mission tonight. All three brothers were silently swearing to work harder at their training, with the hope they would eventually be included in any missions too, because sitting here not knowing what was happening was torture.
Harry was long beyond the sitting stage. He was currently pacing up and down the room, and giving a fair impression of a caged tiger. Like everyone else in the room, his eyes would continually stray to the mobile phone sitting on the occasional table. All were waiting on news, and praying that the news would be good.
The phone managed one ring before Harry had it in his hand. "Sirius, you're on speaker. Tell us what happened? Is everyone okay?"
"What does 'on speaker' mean?"
"It means everyone can hear you, and will soon lynch you unless you tell us some news."
Apologising to more than his godson, Sirius spilled the beans. "Sorry folks, didn't mean to keep you waiting. The Order royally kicked Voldemort's arse tonight. He and his Death Eaters barely managed to get off a spell at us. We have no injuries at all while those Death Eaters still able to stand fled with Voldemort."
There was no celebratory cheering but the relief felt around the room was palpable. Harry was by no means the only one finally able to relax a little. "That's great news, Sirius. How about Tonks and the aurors?"
After a slight hesitation, Sirius had an admission to make. "Not really sure at the moment. Voldemort managed to sink the boat with one spell - just seconds before we opened fire. The whole fight was over in less than two minutes. I phoned you right away because I knew you would all be worried. I'm heading over to the dock but it's pitch black here now the sun's gone down. There are flares being set up so we can see what we're doing."
"We all really appreciate the call, Sirius, we were slowly going nuts here. Let us know if there's any news on Tonks."
As Sirius said goodbye, Harry noticed Ginny had moved over to join her brothers. Unusually for members of the Weasley family, no words were exchanged. Each brother simply taking a turn to hug their little sister in shared relief said all that was needed.
Harry dropped into Ginny's vacated spot on the sofa and soon found himself with Hermione's arms around him. It was Emma though who put into words their feelings. "That was horrible, sitting here not knowing what was happening."
Her arms shot out, grabbing Harry, Hermione and Susan for reassurance. "That feeling is going to be a hundred times worse if any of you are involved in a mission. I don't think I'm cut out for this."
A thoughtful Susan shared her opinion on the matter. "My Aunt Amelia is more than an aunt to me. She's my guardian, my surrogate mother, the last family I have left in the world. Ever since I've been old enough to understand what she did for a living, I've hated watching her leave for work. It's who my aunt is though, I couldn't change that."
With everyone now listening to Susan, she tried to explain why she was sitting there amongst them. "When my aunt tried to get us to leave the country I had to say no. She's an auror, a fighter, a member of a proud house. It would have eaten away at her if we were sitting somewhere safe while people were dying back here. Knowing she was only considering that option because of me, I had to say no. Everyone here has lost close family to these bastards. If we won't stand and fight, who will?"
Emma managed to give Susan the hug she so desperately needed. "There's a very big part of me that's struggling with the idea of teenagers fighting a civil war, especially teens I know."
The young man she was coming to consider more and more as part of her family responded angrily to that. "This is war, Emma, but there's nothing civil about it. Giving it such a title lends some justification to this bunch of murderers, rapists and arsonists. We have a Ministry who wouldn't deal with this the last time and Fudge doesn't exactly fill me with confidence that he's up to the job this time around. It looks as if we've won a battle tonight but the Ministry's reactions will determine who wins the war."
Sitting with her mouth agape at Harry's angry rant, Emma was struggling to see where he was coming from with this. "Surely the government now has all the evidence they need to take this fight to Voldemort and his Death Eaters?"
It was Hermione who tried to set her mother straight on the minefield that was pureblood politics. "Mum, Lucius Malfoy was a Death Eater who should have been serving a life sentence in Azkaban. He claimed to be under the imperius curse, paid for a new wing at St Mungo's, and not only escaped prison - he was considered a respected member of magical society. He used to have the Minister of Magic over to dinner, and even in death his reputation was being protected. It was only because news of the prophecy leaked, meaning the Ministry now needed Harry, that both Malfoys were hung out to dry. You witnessed what passes for justice in the magical community that night in our back garden. Harry was being sent straight to the worst prison imaginable without even a trial, just like Sirius."
While naive is not a word Emma would use to describe herself, she did believe that the British justice system was amongst the best in the world. To hear these opinions, coming from teenagers too, left her wondering what to believe. They wouldn't have to wait long to see if the kids were right.
-oOoOo-
Albus was walking along the stone jetty, trying to come to terms with the sheer number of cloth covered bodies laid out along it. "Too many witches and wizards died here tonight."
While really just muttering to himself, Shacklebolt and Moody heard the old wizard. An enraged Kingsley was stopped from saying anything by a more in control Moody, whose initial comments momentarily increased the Senior Auror's anger.
"I actually agree with you, Albus. Too many died here tonight. Fifteen dead is quite a high body count. Had it been fourteen, and Willie Samson was not lying there in the same condition as the rest of that filth, I would most heartily disagree with you. Losing one auror is too much, while we can never kill enough of these dark bastards. How long is their master back amongst the living? Yet we saw the mob who were all here tonight with him, ready to murder ten aurors on his orders."
Amelia approaching and muttering 'incoming' to the trio saved an argument developing, though didn't totally prevent it. The real target for most of that anger had just turned up.
As soon as they started portkeying the injured to St Mungo's, all had known it was only a mater of time before the Ministry turned up. Shacklebolt simply took charge of the initial aurors who had arrived on the scene, putting them straight to work in bringing the site under their control. This was also the signal for Order members to start fading into the night. By the time Umbridge made her appearance, there was only the group of four members still on site.
"Auror, I demand to know what happened here?"
Kingsley looked at the toad, deciding here was a target deserving of his anger. No one there even thought about trying to dissuade him. "Excuse me, Madam, but it's Senior Auror. I worked hard to earn that title, please use it. Short version, Voldemort and a bunch of his Death Eaters attempted to ambush the Azkaban prisoner transfer YOU set up. Wonder how he and his bunch of rabid animals got to hear about an auror mission?"
It would have been impossible to miss the anger in the Senior Auror's words, or the implication they contained. "I can only assume one of the aurors I briefed let the information slip…"
Cutting right across her, Shacklebolt pulled no punches. "Since you ensured none of the accompanying aurors were purebloods, I hardly think that they would be passing that information on to Death Eaters or Voldemort. What they did do was approach me with their legitimate concerns concerning a mission you planned and authorised. Since transferring the prisoners from the boat would be the ideal ambush point, I arranged some cover to be available in case it was needed. As you can see, we were needed. You have a former Master Auror, former Head of the D.M.L.E. and the current Chief Warlock here, all of whom not only witnessed Voldemort leading his scum but also fought in the battle that followed."
Trying to deflect the conversation away from how Voldemort discovered what was happening, Dolores tried to assert some control of the situation by asking what she thought was a pertinent question. She also managed to use Kingsley's title in an insulting manner. "Senior Auror, Shacklebolt, perhaps you could explain exactly how we took so many casualties?"
"Auror Samson was killed when Voldemort blew up the bow of the boat. As for the fourteen Death Eaters, it varies. Some of the prisoners were killed while attempting to escape, a couple drowned in their chains when Voldemort sank the boat. One was physically fighting with Auror Samson when Voldemort's spell hit them both. All ten prisoners are accounted for and lying under shrouds. Four others were part of the Death Eater force Voldemort brought with him, they were cut down in the battle that followed. Six more Death Eaters were incapacitated and unable to retreat with their master. They are currently at St Mungo's under auror guard."
She was shocked that her plan had not only spectacularly backfired, but had been so clearly deciphered beforehand by others. This revelation embarrassed Dolores and saw her shouting back at the auror who appeared to have forgotten just who was in charge here. "You had no authority to arrange tonight's fiasco. Nor do you hold the authority to place guards on pureblood wizards who were, in all probability, not responsible for their actions here tonight. You're treating them like criminals before any guilt has been established. Their lawyers will make mincemeat of the Ministry for that."
Shacklebolt's rebuttal of her argument was just as loud, their shouting attracting all the aurors who were currently on site. "Those wizards you are talking about turned up here tonight in full Death Eater regalia, and in the company of Voldemort. These same wizards then fired upon aurors yet, after they were legally taken down, your only concern appears to be for what any lawyer they have might say?"
It was time for Albus to intercede before Kingsley said or did something he would regret later. "Senior Auror Shacklebolt had my full backing for everything that happened here tonight. Unlike him, I do have the authority needed."
Waving away Albus' comments as unimportant, Dolores then told the quartet of her own actions tonight. "I have already dismissed those guards at St Mungo's and am standing here trying to decide whether to take his badge or not…"
She didn't have to make that decision, Kingsley saved her the trouble. Handing over his precious badge allowed the now former Senior Auror to say what he really thought. "You are either an incompetent arsehole or a dark bitch who planned the murder of ten aurors tonight. Either way, I can no longer work for you. When Voldemort comes for you, and he will, I hope you have a couple of those terrifying lawyers at your side. After your behaviour tonight, no self-respecting auror would lift a wand to try and protect you."
Before Dolores could blast back, she found herself being approached by four more aurors. None of them spoke as eloquently as Kingsley but all of them handed their badges over. When you couldn't trust your commander not to get you killed, each held their own opinion on whether it was deliberate or sheer incompetence, the four felt they were left without any other option.
A raging Albus also added to Dolores' woes. "A great victory against the dark forces was won here tonight, only for you to turn it into a defeat. With Voldemort now confirmed as having returned, the Ministry needs every single auror they've spent precious years and a lot of gold training. I intend to call an emergency Wizengamot meeting on this matter, and see whether the members agree with Senior Auror Shacklebolt's actions, or yours. I originally believed you to be a bad appointment to the post of D.M.L.E. Head. In the current position we now find ourselves though, I believe having you in that position is a liability. The brave people who battled against the dark tonight should not have that hard-earned victory looked down upon by an unmarked supporter of Voldemort such as you."
Seeing she had no support here, in fact Dolores found herself surrounded by hostility, she apparated away before any more of the attending officers could hand their badges in too.
Resting her hand on the tall black former auror's arm, Amelia attempted to offer her friend some comfort. "I'm really sorry it came to this, Shack. When I resigned, I half thought you would be my successor. Arranging this tonight, and your actions afterwards, clearly show why you weren't considered for the post."
This actually drew a smile from Kingsley. "I'm too much like the people who trained me. I don't kiss arse and do the best job I can. That was never gonna get me promoted under Fudge, and certainly not under Umbridge."
A clap on the back from Moody, along with a 'we trained him well, Amelia' was high praise indeed. It also meant more to Kingsley than any plaudits the Ministry could hand out. The way things were going lately, he might be lucky not to find himself up on charges for tonight's actions.
-oOoOo-
The Dark Lord had calmed down somewhat from his incandescent rage of last night, now his anger burned like a mere bonfire. While that anger was still more than hot enough to consume anyone who fell foul of it, today was all about discovering where his simple plan had gone so horribly wrong.
It was lunchtime before his spy was able to appear and kneel before him. That the Dark Lord had told no one about last night's raid until after he had summoned his followers for the attack should have ruled out any leaks from inside his organisation. He'd kept an especially close eye on Severus and was certain his spy had no opportunity to warn anyone. The Potions Master had also stood there last night fighting at his side, and been cut open with some of the stone shrapnel.
It was time to hear what Severus had picked up from Dumbledore this morning, since the event had yet to make the Daily Prophet.
"Well, Severus, what have you got for me? Did that spineless fool Fudge betray us?"
Keeping his head bowed, Severus was able to honestly provide what information he had to the Dark Lord. First though, he needed to ask a question. "Please forgive my presumptuousness, Master, but could I ask a question first? It would help with reporting what I've learned." Gaining permission, Severus asked what the Dark Lord's instructions to Fudge had been.
"I told the fool I wanted my most loyal Death Eaters brought to the mainland. I also advised using Black's recently discovered innocence as a reason to do so."
It was as Severus had expected. "I suspect in his understandable enthusiasm to grant your 'suggestion' Fudge, or possibly Umbridge, took things a step too far and created suspicion within the auror department. There were ten of your loyal subjects on that boat last evening, with only ten aurors guarding them. That those ten hand-picked aurors for this mission were either muggle born or half-blood was apparently enough to rouse suspicion and saw the Order of the Phoenix waiting for the boat to dock. I was here when the Order call came to Hogwarts, therefore had no knowledge of this to pass on."
"I gave that fool a simple task, and he couldn't even do that. He took my plan and bastardised it until what was left had all the subtlety of a tribe of charging giants. Have you heard how many of my subjects fell last night? We all saw Bella fall but how many more did I lose?"
With his head still bowed, Severus hated being the one to pass on this information. The Dark Lord did not appreciate hearing bad news, and usually vented his ire upon the messenger. There was nothing for it though, Severus couldn't lie about this. "All ten prisoners on the boat were killed. An additional four met their end on the dock, with another six injured and taken to St. Mungo's."
The silence that followed was another form of torture to Severus, his body trying to prepare itself for the curse that seemed certain to break the silence. The voice that eventually broke that strained silence came from a Dark Lord who was barely holding his temper. "Are you telling me that I lost TWENTY of my followers in last night's fiasco?"
Severus was quick to offer the little good news he had, all in an attempt to try and keep Voldemort's wand from cursing him. "Not quite, Master. Umbridge immediately cancelled the auror guards on your subjects sent to St Mungo's. She apparently claimed they were probably victims of the imperius curse. This did not sit well with the aurors on site. Five handed their badges to Umbridge there and then, with more aurors expected to follow their colleagues as the story breaks."
That was indeed a surprise outcome to the Dark Lord. "What is Dumbledore's position on this? I did not expect any force led by him to be casting lethal curses at opponents."
"As I have reported previously, Dumbledore's views are being repeatedly challenged within the Order. Black, Lupin, Moody and now Bones are really pushing him into areas he would never have ventured before, all in his attempt to retain control of the organisation. The Senior Auror who was responsible for providing cover in case you attack the boat last night is a member of the Order too. He also resigned from the Auror Corps last night, adding another hawk with a lot of time on his hands to the group of Order members pushing Dumbledore."
Since the curse had't come yet, Severus kept talking. "Dumbledore was trying to call an emergency meeting of the Wizengamot, with the view to getting Umbridge removed from her position as Head of the D.M.L.E. Should Fudge stand behind her, the Minister of Magic could find himself out of a job too. With your return now confirmed, the last thing the Ministry needs are aurors leaving because of incompetent leadership."
Voldemort had initially been delighted to see so many of his followers on that boat. He now realised that very fact had set people thinking. Instead of his Death Eaters springing a trap last night, they had walked right into one. What to do next though was his dilemma. The smart move would be to do nothing, and see how things played out. Since they were so soundly defeated last night, that wasn't really an option. People needed to fear him, not think that their Ministry had the situation under control.
Tonight he would take some of his Death Eaters and leave the Minister of Magic's official residence nothing more than a smoking pile of ash. The Minister and any of his aurors being present would certainly be a bonus, one that would strike fear in magical homes the length and breadth of the country. If the Minister of Magic's house wasn't safe, then theirs certainly wouldn't be if the Death Eaters' came calling.
Dismissing a surprised Severus, Voldemort settled down to think of how he could play these changes to his advantage.
Severus got out of there as quickly as good manners allowed. A thoughtful Dark Lord meant someone was going to feel his wrath. Severus said a silent prayer of thanks that it appeared not to be him in the Dark Lord's sights. Poppy had treated his injuries last night but getting punished by the Dark Lord would undo all her good work. Last night and today meant that Severus had been incredibly lucky twice in succession. He left wondering just how long his luck could last.
-oOoOo-
Cornelius was well acquainted with the phrase 'between a rock and a hard place'. As he sat at his desk with his face in his hands, oh how he wished that phrase applied here. Cornelius understood his situation was much worse than that, he appeared to be under attack from every side imaginable.
His only crumb of comfort was getting his wife to safety. She'd been dispatched to her sister's on the Isle of Wight, with enough gold to take her anywhere after that. Cornelius had first extracted a promise from his wife that she wouldn't contact him after she moved, just in case something had gone wrong with the task Voldemort had given him. Albus was at least right about something, Cornelius couldn't tell the Dark Lord information he didn't know.
That crumb of comfort was his only solace as Cornelius now faced up to the worst situation of his entire life. That the Dark Lord had been defeated last night would see the name Cornelius Fudge shoot straight to the top of Voldemort's shit list. That would be a very short list, since the people whose names were added to it never usually lived long after their addition.
The Ministry had won a great victory against the Dark Lord's forces last night, yet Cornelius couldn't even use that spectacular occurrence to deflect any of the shit coming his way. With one auror dead, and the other nine from the mission since having resigned from the Auror Corps, the Minister of Magic was going to be forced to downplay the event. With the story of what actually happened spread all over the Ministry, and even more auror resignations piling in, Cornelius now had some idea of how King Canute felt when trying to command the tide to halt.
With Dumbledore almost certain to gain the signatures he needed to call an emergency meeting of the Wizengamot, Cornelius couldn't see any escape from this situation.
Normally this would be the time when he would call for advice from his closest advisers. With Lucius dead, Albus after his head and Dolores embroiled in this mess up to her neck, even that option was now denied him. As Dolores was currently sitting across from him, Cornelius asked the question he really wanted the answer to. "Why?"
Shrugging her shoulders, Dolores told Cornelius the truth. "It's no secret I never wanted this job. I only took it on the premises that you sold it to me - guard Diagon and the Ministry and leave Potter dangling. When I received the order to transfer the prisoners, I assumed our position had changed. The mission would allow me to clean out my department of undesirables, while pleasing our new sponsor at the same time. That's why I increased the number of prisoners, and ensured the aurors were those of lesser blood. I had nothing to do with the ambush, and the Senior Auror who organised it is now no longer with us."
"Dolores, we've so far lost almost a quarter of the Auror Corps. Last night was a massive defeat for the Dark Lord, yet we have since lost more men than him - and I doubt if the resignations are over yet. You-know-who will now be looking for blood, and the only people who stand between us and him can't leave the Ministry fast enough."
"I thought we weren't going to stand up to him? That's Potter's job."
"Harry Potter is a fourteen year old schoolboy. As Minister of Magic, I can't cite him as our only defence against a marauding Dark Lord. That duty actually falls to us, as Minister of Magic and DMLE Head. Had you not interfered last night, we could have proclaimed a great victory and thrown our lot in with the light."
This confused Dolores. "When I received those orders, I thought you had already made up your mind?"
"I received a visit from the Dark Lord in the middle of the night, the original orders were his. Your changes means he'll be coming after at least me, and possibly you too. With a drastically reduced Auror Corps, and Dumbledore trying to get both of us kicked out of the Ministry for the way this was handled, you can perhaps see the trouble we're currently in."
A shocked Dolores finally got it. "You-know-who wants us dead and Dumbledore looks set to strip away what little protection from this murderer we have."
It was a sarcastic Cornelius who clapped that she had finally gotten the situation. "Now that you're finally up to speed, it's time for a wonderful suggestion that's going to save both of our arses."
Thinking out loud, Dolores gave him what she had. "I would much prefer being demoted compared with being dead. You can use the fact that I was not your first choice, but initial resignations forced you to look outside the department. You were trying to avoid more resignations but that plan backfired. I obviously don't want to be sacked, it would remove any protection working at the Ministry gives me. A demotion suits both of us but leaves the problem of who you replace me with. Asking the Wizengamot for suggestions on the matter might redirect a portion of their ire into something positive."
This was why Cornelius kept Dolores around. If she could ever overcome her hatred of those not of the right breeding, or even manage to disguise it in some form, Dolores Umbridge would be an unstoppable force in magical politics. She could be utterly brilliant but her blatant bigotry coloured everything she did or said. It was how to keep her, and himself, in the Ministry that would be the problem.
"Demoting you isn't a problem, the real fix here is getting someone in place in the D.M.L.E. who will appease Dumbledore, the Wizengamot and stop the resignations..." A smile started to form on Cornelius' lips. "Dolores, you are not going to like this but we both know what the alternative is."
-oOoOo-
A summons to the Minister's Office would normally have Arthur on edge, wondering what he had done wrong. This time he had a far more important concern, since Cornelius had sent his estranged son, Percy, to deliver that summons and escort him to the Minister's Office. That his son barely acknowledged he was family was breaking Arthur's heart.
The short journey in the lift, their was only one level between Arthur's an Cornelius' offices - although the were a world apart in importance to Percy - the father decided to confront his wayward son. "Percy, you backed the Ministry over your family. You can call me a liar if you like but last night there were three Weasleys firing curses at a man your Minister said was dead."
As the lift doors opened, Arthur strode out and left his shocked son behind. Marching straight to Cornelius' door, he knocked and entered.
"You wanted to see me, Cornelius?"
"Ah yes, take a seat, Arthur. Since the entire Ministry has heard what happened last night, and the aftermath, I'll cut right to the chase. I need a new D.M.L.E. Head, and am offering you the job. No one I approached in the department wanted the job, a few even resigned when I tried to force the issue. That was why I offered Dolores the job, which took us from one unmitigated disaster to another. You are a department head with a reputation within the Ministry for fairness and hard work. You are also prepared to battle for things you believe in - pushing bills that help muggles through the Wizengamot takes guts and determination. I also know you fought against you-know-who in the first war, and want you to use that experience to help defend the country from him again."
"Was Madam Umbridge sacked?"
"No. She should never have been given that job in the first place, which is why I'm demoting rather than firing her. The job as you know comes with a sizeable pay rise, and an Auror guard on your home. I fear with all the recent Auror resignations, the size of the force you will inherit might limit you to guarding the Ministry and Diagon Alley. There might be enough spare that you could form a response team but I would of course leave the planning of that up to you. What do you say Arthur?"
Having played the game long enough to see what was behind this move, Arthur nonetheless mentally weighed up the pros and cons in his head. While the extra gold certainly wouldn't go amiss, having Aurors guard the Burrow would be the real bonus there. Last night proved the Weasleys would fight Voldemort anyway. Wouldn't it be better to do so while having control of the country's Auror Corps too?
He didn't think taking the position would put his family in any more danger than they already were. Everyone knew the Weasleys were a light family, or blood traitors as the Dark called them. Their friendship and support of Harry Potter was also known throughout magical Britain. It could so easily been his family that the Malfoys visited, instead of the Grangers.
Arthur, always needing the extra money the overtime brought in, had participated on many raids with auror support. He understood how the system worked, and also had Amelia, Moody and Shackelbolt available to ask advice of. They were all on the same team, the one that wanted to see the end of Voldemort. With his youngest three sons now training so they could join the fight, Arthur thought this was a perfect opportunity to try and end this conflict before they were needed.
"Cornelius, I'll take the job."
Percy sat stoically at his desk while his father walked past him with a wide grin on his face. His wayward son had no way of knowing Arthur was trying not to laugh at the news Dolores Umbridge would now be working in the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office.
-oOoOo-
That news, along with Arthur's promotion, certainly added some extra cheer to the Order meeting called that evening. Arthur was asking Shack and a recovering Tonks, she had received a concussion and been thrown into the sea when Voldemort blasted the boat, if they would reconsider their resignations when Sirius interrupted.
"Excuse me, Arthur, but this was something I intended to bring up tonight anyway. The Lestrange line ended last night and Gringotts contacted me to say that their vault fell to the House of Black. I intended to use that gold to employ our own force, basically all the Aurors that have resigned. I was thinking Amelia or Shacklebolt could lead it, and that's as far as I got. If we could get Ministerial consent for this force to guard Diagon Alley, then that would free the Aurors under Arthur's control to go after Voldemort and his Death Eaters. What do we think?"
Albus let out a chuckle. "Signing off responsibility for guarding Diagon Alley is something Cornelius would jump at. It means he has a public scapegoat already in place if anything happens there."
While agreeing with Albus' opinion, Amelia added something else to the debate. "I don't see why Sirius should be out of pocket while the Ministry saves money on Auror salaries. What if Arthur makes a proposal that we accept this very generous offer in the short term, while using the saved salaries to spearhead an Auror recruitment and training drive? We need to bring the department back up to normal levels."
Arthur was keen to get behind that idea, but also had some questions for Sirius. "This isn't going to be cheap, Sirius. How long can you afford to pay these people, and what happens to them when that time is up?"
"Going by the number of resignations we've heard here tonight, and matching that to the gold available, I would say at least five years. By the end of that time, I'm going to assume we've kicked Voldemort's arse, whoever is in charge will surely have found openings where a force like this could prosper. I plan to put the gold into a start-up fund and the whole thing can be run as a business, only needing to think about turning a profit after Voldemort is gone for good. This force though will operate under the same guidelines for confrontations that we used so effectively last night. They protect the innocents by quickly and effectively putting the bad guys down."
With their victory last night, a new Head of the D.M.L.E. and now the promise of jobs for the three members of the Order who resigned from the Auror Corps, there was a mood bordering on euphoria taking hold at the meeting.
Sitting thinking it was hard to equate that this was the same group of people who were so despondent at the news Voldemort had returned, Albus had to admit to himself he could have been wrong. Firing curses at the Dark Lord and his Death Eaters, and seeing them retreat, had really installed a sense of belief inside the group. A belief they could actually do what almost all of them reckoned was impossible merely weeks ago. "We have an emergency meeting of the Wizengamot tomorrow. I think his latest round of manipulations will see Cornelius survive. It will also be a good time to push for anything that we want..."
It was Harry who interrupted this time. "Push all you want, he won't go after the Death Eaters. There are people who fired curses at Tonks last night, were put down by people in this room, yet will walk free from St Mungo's by simply saying they were under the imperius curse."
"Harry, I have tried to push the Minister on this point. It's a line he won't cross..."
"Well then I think it's time that we did. The brave people in this room risked their lives last night, only for the Ministry to let the captured Death Eaters go free. They were there, they fired on Aurors, does anyone here think they should be walking the streets? Walking straight back to Voldemort?"
Understanding where Harry was going with this, Albus tried to head him off. "Harry, the Order did its best last night..."
Harry was having none of it. "Professor, the Order were magnificent last night. They were then let down by a system that's structured to protect their own. It should be, they built and maintain control of it. The Wizengamot and the Ministry won't take action because they have family and friends on the other side. Barty Crouch went after them and ended up jailing his own son."
After an apologetic look to Sirius and Moody, both of whom had reason to hate that name, Harry continued making his point. "When the system doesn't work though, it's time to play by different rules. Mr Weasley can't send his Aurors after these people, the Ministry won't let him. If we don't do something about it, then these people will soon be back at Voldemort's side, killing and torturing as he orders. We have the names, we have the proof, we have the means, it's time to act. Delays can only cost lives."
Albus looked around the room and saw his answer reflected there. If anything, Harry's support on this particular matter had only grown within the Order. Even the likes of Molly was now supporting this action. With Arthur and the Burrow now prime targets, and having taken part in last night's mission, she obviously now wanted a permanent reduction in Death Eater numbers.
Discussions continued over how best to form this force, what its aims should be and who should lead it. No further discussion took place on Harry's proposal. It would seem the matter of hitting back at the Death Eaters had already been decided.
-oOoOo-
Edgar Clegg sat in the Leaky Cauldron, pushing his excellent lunch of beef stew around his plate with his fork. He really didn't want to be here, nor did he feel like eating such a hearty meal, his injuries sustained at the ambush last week were still healing. After getting out of St Mungo's as quickly as he could, it was now all about being seen out and about in the wizarding community. That was why he was sitting here at the busiest time, that and the fact his wife was currently in Madam Malkins buying a new robe.
His uncle had sponsored him for joining the Death Eater ranks and, after the pain of receiving his dark mark was over, Edgar had loved it. Just by putting on a mask, he held the power of life or death over their chosen victims, it was such a rush.
Last week Edgar got to see the other side of the coin. They were the ones being ambushed and he ended up getting injured. Even so, his blood status and connections were enough to ensure no charges were brought against him. In another few weeks he should be fit enough to rejoin his master's side, there was bound to be retribution for that ambush. Retribution beyond burning down an empty Minister's home.
A commotion at the bar had Edgar reaching for his wand, only to relax when he saw a wizard at the bar had been pranked by his now laughing friends. Edgar thought he was getting jumpy, while smiling at the prank that turned someone into a canary. He died smiling as the loud laughter in the pub easily covered the whispered spell an invisible Moody cast that stopped Edgar Clegg's heart. An examination would decide this was a heart attack, probably due to him being put under the imperius curse and getting seriously injured in last week's battle.
There would be a few more accidental deaths before some people would start putting things together. Things like the fact that these accidents kept happening to people who were Death Eaters.
Chapter 10 - No Party
It was a sore but satisfied Harry who took his seat for tonight's order meeting. Hermione snuggled into his side, leading Emma to comment that they were pushing themselves too hard with their training.
"Mum, thanks to the soon to be birthday boy here, we now have three days off. I will admit we pushed it a bit today because we knew that. Have you any idea what Sirius has planned? He's keeping tight-lipped about it to us."
"He hasn't told anyone, apart from possibly Remus, what he has planned. I'm just glad he insisted on the three day break."
Beating Hermione to the punch, Harry confirmed they both wholeheartedly agreed with Emma.
As the meeting got underway, Kingsley gave his report on the 'Phoenix Force', and that they continue to be welcomed with open arms in Diagon Alley. The licence that the Minister had issued authorised the group to work anywhere in Britain, except for within the walls of the Ministry of Magic.
They had made the case that the Phoenix Force could be used to supplement any aurors Arthur sent to Hogsmeade during the official Hogwarts student visits to the village. Fudge had been so pleased by that idea, he issued that wide-ranging licence.
"We asked the businesses in the Alley for a token contribution toward the force. This was dipping our toe in the water to see if this could be a viable option in the long run, with all the contributions we currently receive being donated to St Mungo's. Having our officers highly visible has led to record numbers of shoppers, with some businesses making far more profit than they thought possible. The wizarding public feel safe with our officers there, knowing they are all former aurors also helps. What happens if we are attacked will determine how that proceeds."
Taking out her supplied mobile phone, Tonks was extolling the Nokia 232's wonderful features to the entire meeting. "Each officer being able to instantly report what's happening, and call for backup if needed, is such a boon. This really makes our job so much safer."
Nodding in understanding, it was Emma who commented next. In an attempt to make herself useful, she had been working on the communications side for the Order, and the new force. "All muggle police forces have that communications ability, whether on their person or in their police car. We have been looking at supplying one per house for everyone here tonight, it's only the charging situation that's been holding that back. Tonks, and most of the force, actually already have at least some access to electricity. Sirius is now renting a muggle home, the deal was just finalised yesterday, and this has allowed us to issue phones tonight."
It was Sirius' turn to explain what was happening here. "Voldemort has been quiet since he burned down the Minister's house. With his followers having these unfortunate accidents, and a certain someone's birthday coming up, we think he'll make a move. Emma has set up two phones for emergency contact, both of those numbers will already be programmed into the phones we give you - and training will be provided."
This got a few nervous chuckles before Sirius continued. "The Phoenix Force has been a great public success but also has another side to it. Apart from those visibly on duty in Diagon Alley, there is at least a dozen officers on standby, ready to react to calls for help from their colleagues or us. Add in the Order members rushing to your side and we can have two dozen wands coming to your aid in a matter of minutes." Seeing the looks of disbelief, a smiling Sirius nodded to Emma.
She stood and walked to the front of the meeting, taking a boxed mobile phone with her. "For the purpose of this demonstration, Harry and Hermione have the emergency phones. They are marked red so none of us get them mistaken for our own. Molly, could you come up and help us with this?"
A bashful Molly was not something any of them had seen before. She certainly was a good choice though as Molly really didn't know anything about muggle technology. Handing Molly the device, Emma showed her the basic functions.
"Molly, press the 'M' key, followed by the '1' or '2' button." As Molly did this, the phone that Harry was holding at the back of the room started ringing. Emma showed Molly how to hold the phone to her ear, and encouraged her to speak normally.
"Now, if the Burrow were under attack, the family has a way to instantly call for help. A word of warning, these emergency numbers are set up for just that - emergencies. We can program in other numbers for you to use but want everyone to have the facility to call for help before we get to that stage." Molly had forgotten about everyone in the room, she was just standing there chatting away to Harry.
"We're going to assume Molly just called for help, which means we send out the signal…" Hermione then sent the text and beeps were going off around the room, with most people sitting close enough to someone who had a phone and able to read the text.
"Hermione just sent a 'code 1' alert text to the group we had set up for tonight. Code 1 means we have an attack, and to get to headquarters as quickly as possible. On arrival, they will be told where we're heading to. The Phoenix officers will report to their office in Daigon, with Kingsley getting phoned to tell him exactly where the attack is taking place."
Sirius then stood beside Emma, more pleased than he could say that she was helping them set this up. They were sadly lacking in this expertise and feeling useful again was helping Emma overcome the tragedy of Dan's murder. This though was now Sirius' area. "We are looking at sending an invisible scout in to see exactly what we are facing, and advise us on the best place to arrive, but that's not quite ready yet. We're hoping the people under attack will be able to give us some information, estimate number of attackers and the direction they are under attack from. A call to Shack and we can coordinate our attack, both the time and where we're going to apparatus to…"
It was Arthur who then got to his feet, his excitement not letting him sit any longer. "You could hit an attacking force from both sides simultaneously, all coordinated to the second. This is brilliant!"
"Yes, and no, Arthur. We have been busy testing and discovered that the Ministry and Hogwarts both have too much background magic for the phones to work. Emma told us there are also some more remote parts of the country with sparse or no coverage. Hogwarts we can reach from here by floo but the other situation leaves us totally in the hands of the muggle mobile phone companies. Each person who takes one home tonight will find clear instructions, written by Emma, on how to contact base - namely here. If you can't, floocall and let us know."
When they started handing out the phones, Emma had placed labels on the boxes signifying who got what, members were soon gathered around those who already had been issued with theirs. Discovering the devices weren't as complicated as they first thought, with Emma having done all the setting up and pre-programming numbers, all were confident the could at least place an emergency call to Headquarters.
Molly though had something else on her mind, and only one person present had the answers she needed. She homed in on him. "Sirius, Harry was telling me he has no idea what's happening for his birthday. A surprise party is fine, but you have to inform the guests of the where and when."
The jokey demeanour Molly had adopted over the matter let everyone know she thought Sirius hadn't considered that part of the arrangements at all - and she was right.
"I'm sorry, Molly, but there won't be any party. Harry isn't going to be available on his birthday."
This set Molly back on her heels. "I was getting ready to bake his cake. I just needed to know how many guests there would be, so I could make it big enough for everyone to get a piece. What about after his birthday, could we celebrate it later? We count him as family too, Sirius. A birthday is a big thing..."
A clearly worried Sirius was now nervously running his hand through his hair. "I'm sorry again, Molly, I can't give you an answer just now. I have things I need to discuss with Harry first..."
Molly wasn't for letting this go though, and all sense of joking was gone. "Call Harry over, we can settle this now."
"This is not the time, nor place, for that discussion. It will also be a discussion between me and Harry..."
"So none of the Grangers will be there?"
Molly's jealousy had just crossed the line of what Sirius considered acceptable. He was going to have a very difficult talk with Harry after this meeting, he wasn't about to let Molly start off on some crusade where she was the injured party. He slapped her down, perhaps harder than was strictly necessary but the woman couldn't take a hint. "Molly, that really is none of your business. Harry is my godson, I am his guardian and family. I have told you as much as I'm currently able to. Like you, my first concern is always Harry's welfare..."
"How can not having a birthday party be good for Harry's welfare?"
Their argument had now become the focus of those members still present, which was the last thing Sirius wanted. Arthur and Bill arrived quickly however, practically dragging an angry Molly away. Harry and Hermione said goodbye to their red-headed friends before approaching Sirius to see what the problem was. A nod and whispered 'later' saw them holding their questions, and they had more than a few of those.
All the Weasleys left, except Bill. He was apologising to Sirius but found himself being thanked for intervening. "I had forgotten all about that side of things. I should have anticipated your mother doing something like that. She means well..." Bill's chuckle meant Sirius didn't need to say anymore.
"I was going to invite your father to join us tonight. After that though I thought it would just inflame things further." Looking around the room, Sirius now had only one concern.
"Susan, I know we can trust you to keep what you hear tonight quiet. It helps these two to have someone their own age to talk about these things with. Bill, I would also trust Ron, except where your mother is concerned. She could have everything out of him in five minutes."
A smiling Bill said two, before Sirius asked everyone left to take a seat. Apart from those living in Grimmauld, that was Dumbledore, Snape, both Bones ladies, Bill Weasley, Moody and Shacklebolt. Albus still liked to delude himself he was running things here so made a suggestion.
"Perhaps we could hear from Severus first, before Sirius tells us what's got him so bothered."
The group just nodded so Severus gave his report. "The Dark Lord doesn't believe in coincidences, he was certain of foul play from the time the second Death Eater released from St Mungo's died. Now that four of them are gone, with the other two too afraid to leave their homes, he's demanding answers. I have passed on my suspicion that there is an inner group within the Order, and that they might be involved. When I informed him I suspected Black, Lupin and Moody to be the core of that group, he understood I wouldn't be getting invited to join. I have heard nothing of attacks to mark Potter's birthday, but agree with your assessment that there is a high possibility of that happening. Since he can't get at Potter or Granger that leaves one obvious target. Arthur's new position in the Ministry would also add to the likelihood of that happening."
This received a nod of acknowledgement from Bill. "That matches exactly what we thought. Charlie is actually coming home tomorrow for a few days. That will give us an extra wand without alarming mum..."
Harry couldn't keep quiet any longer. "If we suspect an attack, get them out of there. Wormtail lived at the Burrow for over ten years, he'll know that building inside and out. Houses can be bought, or rebuilt. Dead is forever. We've already found that out this summer, we don't need any more examples."
"I was going to talk to Moody, see if he thought Ron and the twins were ready for something like this. Ginny certainly won't be there, and I hadn't considered Voldemort would have that knowledge. Dad also has Auror guards assigned him…"
"Bill, Voldemort knows all this. He was caught out the last time on the prisoner transfer, he can't afford to make a mistake again. By all means set a trap, it's the Weasley bait I'm objecting to. Polyjuce some Order or Phoenix officers to look like Ron and the twins if you need to but consider this, Voldemort needs a victory so will leave nothing to chance. What defence do you have against a dozen Death Eaters turning up and casting Fiendfyre at the Burrow?"
There was more than Bill turned pale at that thought, while Hermione was quietly explaining to her mother just how destructive that spell was.
"The lad's just made some very good points, Bill." Moody was then even more glowing in his praise of Harry. "You can't think of a defence against that attack, because basically there isn't one. With no other structures nearby to worry about the fire getting out of hand, and the Burrow being mainly constructed from timber, an attack like Potter described would be devastating. With all the insider knowledge Voldemort has available, we have to consider something like that a possibility. Potter, I'm glad you're on our side."
Bill had finally found his voice. "I don't know if I could swing mum abandoning the Burrow…"
An emotional Emma still had her arm around Harry. She kissed the top of his head, proud at how concerned he was for his friends. That emotion then resonated in every word she spoke to Bill. "I would gladly give up everything I own, every single pound or possession, if I could have my Dan back. I wholeheartedly agree with Harry on this, get them out of there. With the amount of risk involved, we shouldn't even be needing to discuss this."
Mad-eye and Albus also agreed with Emma's opinion, and were determined to do something about it. "We'll accompany Bill to the Burrow, talk things over with Molly and Arthur. At the end of the day, this has to be their decision."
Wrapping her arm around Harry too, Hermione then voiced what everyone there knew to be true. "Molly may be stubborn about herself but Ginny, Ron and the twins will be out of that house so quick their heads will be spinning."
Seeing how close these two ladies were becoming to his godson always brought a smile to Sirius' features, and was also the reason Molly was so jealous. Harry was building his family, and Emma seemed more than happy to gain a son. Sirius wasn't in the mood to smile tonight though. "Keep your arms there, Emma and Hermione, Harry's going to need all our support. When the goblins went through the Lestrange vault, they found another horcrux. To say they were angry would be a gross understatement. They know exactly who Voldemort is, and went searching through Gaunt vaults. All they found were deeds to a tiny piece of land with a hovel of a shack built on it. Upon searching that hovel, they found another."
This was great news so they couldn't understand why Sirius was so dour. "Have they destroyed them?"
"Not yet, Albus. Let me tell everyone what the situation is before the questions start flying. Bill and I then approached them to see if they could help with Harry's problem."
Sirius had to raise his hand, palm out, in an effort to save Albus interrupting him again. "You've had over decade to research getting that thing out of Harry. If you have an answer for us, don't be shy, now's the time to tell. Remus has practically lived in the Black library since we discovered the problem, Emma, Hermione and myself have helped him with that research too. We've got nothing. Yes we risk word getting back to Voldemort by approaching the goblins with this, but I'm prepared to risk a lot more than that to get this abomination out of my godson."
It was Bill who placed a comforting hand on Sirius' shoulder. "After discovering Voldemort made horcruxes, the goblins would never do business with him. He won't find out anything from that source."
Somewhat back under control, Sirius then passed on their news. "They actually have a procedure that offers some hope. It's dangerous, will be as painful as hell for the one going through it, and they can't offer any guarantees. That is what we need to discuss here tonight. I'll say right now, we can all help Harry make his choice but the choice will be his to make."
Thinking now would be the best time to play one of his last cards, Albus did so. "That Tom took Harry's blood as part of that ritual created a bond between them. The only way I can see that being to Harry's advantage is if he were to let Tom hit him with a killing curse. That should destroy the horcrux, while leaving Harry alive."
It was now Albus' time to hold his hand up for silence as everyone appeared ready to shout at him. "I'm not saying this is a good idea, I think it's a terrible idea myself, but it's all I've got. As options go, this should be classed under utter desperation."
That Albus wasn't advocating this as a possible solution allowed Sirius to take a deep breath and push on. "Okay, I would be quite happy if that was never, ever mentioned again. Now the goblins also recognise this bond exists, they just do things a bit differently. Voldemort deliberately stole something from Harry, his blood, and they are proposing a ritual where Harry will try to reclaim it. The ritual is in two distinct parts, and both have to be completed or the consequences could be dire. The first part is a purification ritual, where Harry will have to fight to get that bit of Voldemort out of his head. After that, he then has to fight Voldemort himself for possession of his blood. While not physically in the same room, this will most certainly be a fight."
Spotting the problem immediately, Albus asked a question that got right to the heart of the matter. "How long can there be between phase one and two? Harry is going to be exhausted expelling the horcrux, and then left with having to face Tom."
This was the bad news. "There can be only minutes between them, and Harry won't be able to take any potions to help. A sugary drink for energy replacement is the best we can offer. There is a plan to weaken Voldemort too, just before Harry attacks him through the ritual. Three is a very powerful magical number. The goblins would then have three of Voldemort's horcruxes to hand. They intend to destroy them simultaneously, seconds before Harry begins the second phase."
Having not released her grip on Harry, Emma had a question she needed to know the answer to. "You keep using the word 'fight', Sirius. I know what a fight is but what does that mean in terms of this ritual? What happens to the winner, and the loser?"
"Think of it like the battle of wands and wills Harry had with Voldemort at the graveyard. Both will try to overcome the other. A defeated Voldemort will have lost three of his horcruxes, and possibly the body he currently inhabits. At the very least he will be crippled in some way." Sirius now directed his gaze solely to his godson. "If the ritual fails at the first part, there's a chance the horcrux could have some control of you. Should you expel the horcrux and then lose the second part of the ritual, no one really knows. This is all theory, it's never been done before - not like this."
Not liking the sheer number of uncertainties involved in this proposed ritual, Hermione was the first one present to urge caution. "Harry, there is so much about this we don't know. We have to think about this, discuss it thoroughly, before making any decisions." Harry's reply saw her relax, but not for long.
"You're right, but let's look at what we do know to give this problem some perspective. This thing in my head needs to come out, the sooner the better. Other than me standing and letting Voldemort hit me with a killing curse, we've got nothing else to even talk about. That instantly makes this ritual a very attractive option for me. Secondly, we've been training all summer yet the only person in this room we could currently beat in a magical fight is Emma. Can you honestly see the day when we're ready enough to physically face him? We're many years away from that, giving him and his Death Eaters time to get stronger too. That, with this ritual, it would only be my life on the line has me wanting to give this a try. You know I have an almost pathological need to keep those close to me safe. If this group went up against Voldemort today, we would certainly take casualties, and there is still no guarantee we would win."
No one there could dispute anything Harry had said so far, his calm reasoning and delivery leaving them no opportunity to object. He then unleashed his knockout punch.
"And the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not... and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives... This might be my power, Hermione. I hope so because I can't ever see the day when I could stand toe-to-toe against Voldemort and be confident of defeating him in a magical fight. I trust the people here so I would like to hear everyone's opinions on this, but Sirius is right. This is a decision that will be made between me, him, you and Emma."
Remus decided to go first. "Harry, I have scoured the Black library, and Albus admitted Hogwarts, and the Headmaster's private libraries, held no information that would help us get that out of your head either. Hermione and I had discussed in the loosest possible terms using the fact that Voldemort stole your blood against him. Our sticking point was always that horcrux in your head. Until that's gone, any ritual we could find wouldn't work because you have a part of Voldemort - and he has a part of you. Is this dangerous and more than a bit desperate? I would say yes. I know how badly you must want that out of you though, and there is no likelihood of any other options appearing on the table anytime soon. I instantly discounted Voldemort hitting you with the killing curse. Trying to engineer such a scenario throws up so many problems that it's not worth even considering. Something as simple as him using a different curse agains you means you're dead."
With his head no down, all heard the heartache in Remus' words. "I feel as if I've failed you again..."
Having none of that, Sirius was first to defend his friend. "Nonsense, Remus. You can't find what isn't there. My family owns one of the darkest libraries in the land, yet we found only three mentions of horcruxes in all of our research. Even the goblins acknowledged this was a unique situation."
Shack and Amelia both thanked Harry for asking their opinion, though neither felt they had the knowledge or expertise to properly form one. A tearful Susan summed it up when she promised to support them, no matter what their choice was. Bill did have what they sorely lacked so his opinion was keenly sought, he didn't disappoint.
"Destroying these horcuxes will seriously piss off Voldemort and his Death Eaters, yet that is what the goblins will do - whether or not you go ahead with this ritual. Anything happening to Harry will also seriously piss-off the Ministry, and most of magical Britain. The Goblin Nation is well aware of the position it suddenly finds itself in, yet the offer to aid Harry was still made. This would not have been done lightly, their Chief would certainly have been involved in reaching this decision. What I'm trying to say is that, while they would never say so out loud, the goblins will be quietly confident this ritual will work to at least some extent. They would not have made this offer otherwise. The goblins are already committed to destroying the horcruxes, making an enemy of the Ministry at the same time would be a disaster for them."
After Miss Granger's opening remarks, Albus couldn't believe the rest of the group weren't coming down hard against this idea. Bill Weasley had just made some very good points, points that clearly resonated with both Granger ladies. All witnessing that growing relationship knew exactly whose opinions would count the most when Harry came to make his decision - a decision Albus didn't want him even considering- far less making.
"There are so many unknowns here, I'm surprised we're even talking about it. Even if everything goes as we all hope it would, Voldemort wouldn't be finished off. Best case scenario, he would be once more a wraith. He would also know for certain we were aware he made horcruxes. This is a decision that will affect far more than just those sitting here tonight. I don't think it would be overly dramatic to state the fate of the entire country could hinge on this. Until all the horcruxes are destroyed, I believe this is a rash move. A move that doesn't need to be made..."
While not magical, no one was left in any doubt that Emma would have been a Gryffindor like her daughter. She tore into Albus like a lioness protecting her cubs. "Do you know how many he made? Do you know where any of them are? Do you have one in your head? We all know your answer is the same for all three questions, a big no. Can Voldemort murder anyone as a wraith? Can a wraith protect those followers who flocked back to his banner? Again, those are almost certainly no's. Will Harry defeating him again at least make any potential new Death Eaters reconsider their decision? I would say that was a yes."
Taking a deep breath to regain control, Emma managed to save herself from resorting to shouting at Dumbledore. "We will look into this in as much detail as possible before Harry makes his decision. I am grateful that everyone so far has given their honest opinion, thank you for that. I am not about to sit here and let anyone guilt trip Harry into seeing things their way. By all means you are entitled to your opinion but I don't see Harry possibly returning Voldemort to a wraith form as a bad thing. Does anyone else here?"
Moody's loud laughter broke the building tension. "You keep telling it like it is, lass - whether Albus likes it or not. Put yourself in Potter's shoes, Albus. He's not here bursting his arse training every day for your greater good shit. The lad wants that thing out his head, and Voldemort gone - who are we to deny him a shot at both? We've got nothing else to offer him, unless you're still holding out on us? Now would be the time. Sirius, what is the timeline on this?"
Albus didn't think putting the Elder Wand on the table would sway the current topic of discussion away from the track it seemed destined for. He shook his head in defeat.
Sirius had intended to take them all away for a few days relaxation on a tropical island, a godfather's treat, before all the plans dramatically changed. "The goblins believe that someone's birthday is their most important day of the year. They want to perform the ritual on the thirty-first..."
There was a sharp intake of breath, and everyone heard Hermione mutter 'I thought we would have more time...'
Lifting her chin, Harry gently kissed her lips. "If this is something we're doing, I'd rather it wasn't hanging over our heads for ages. We'll just have to wait and celebrate your birthday..."
Emma quickly kicked that idea in the head. "Harry, you pull this off and I can assure you we will be celebrating. Those celebrations might still be going on when Hermione's birthday comes along."
That did put a grin on Sirius' face. "Emma, when he pulls this off, the entire country will be celebrating until September."
Snape's deep baritone rang out as the potions professor offered his opinion, and his help. "The boy is a born Gryffindor, of course he's going to rush in and do this. I can produce a nutrient/energy drink that won't contain any magic. Could we discover what he can take, and what will specifically interfere with the ritual?"
This got a nod of agreement from Sirius. "We need to visit Gringotts tomorrow, go over all the details and then make a decision. I'd like to thank each of you for your input tonight, and ask that you respect that eventual decision - whatever it is. We'll pass on that decision when it's made, and now three of you have to go to the Burrow and convince Molly her home is in danger of attack. You'll have to excuse us from any response the Order is setting up to deal with this, I've a feeling we might be otherwise engaged."
A nodding Shacklebolt instantly agreed with that. "Emma has been working with a couple of Phoenix Officers, training them to man the phones. We'll cope if you're busy elsewhere."
Albus really didn't want to leave but had already volunteered to visit the Burrow. He felt Harry was being selfish with his decision here but his influence with the boy had waned to the point of almost being non existent. His opinion tonight had not only been ignored but shouted down, by a muggle no less, in an organisation he supposedly led. The thought of Voldemort gaining any kind of control over Harry terrified Albus, though that possibility seemed to be being ignored by everyone else.
He didn't know that was Harry's main worry with the entire ritual, and he would be talking to Sirius about it in private.
-oOoOo-
Arthur had been summoned to the Minister's Office, though this time Percy hadn't been sent to fetch him. With Bill and Charlie joining them for breakfast this morning, it seemed to highlight Percy's absence from the Burrow even more. Spotting his son at the desk outside his beloved Minister's door, Arthur once more rattled Percy's cage. Since Percy was family, his father knew just what buttons to push. It was a smiling Arthur who greeted his wayward son.
"Good morning, Percy. How are you today? I assume you know I have an appointment with the Minister?"
"Eh, I'm fine, and I know about the appointment. How's everyone..." A flustered Percy didn't know how to handle this type of approach from his father.
Arthur deliberately kept him off balance. "Oh, we're all fine. Bill and Charlie joined us for breakfast this morning, made your mother's day."
"Bill and Charlie are home?"
"Yes. Well, with Voldemort back, and it being Harry's birthday tomorrow, we suspect there will be an attack. Since I'm the D.M.L.E. Head, and all our younger children are friends with Harry, the Burrow will certainly be high on the list of possible Death Eater targets. Having their wands available will be a big help."
It was now a red-faced Percy who answered his father. "I said Potter would bring trouble to our family..." He was soon being cut off by Arthur.
"You also said Voldemort wasn't back, and that Harry was an attention-seeking liar. You can't have it both ways, Percy. The Weasley family will always be targets, regardless of Harry, since we will always oppose the Dark. Charlie's traveled back from Romania to do so, while Bill is going to be based in Britain for a while. With the auror guards assigned to me too, we should be fine. I'd better go through, Cornelius hates for anyone to be late."
Walking away, he left his son with no comeback. Entering the Minister's office, Arthur was surprised to see Dolores present with Cornelius.
"Good morning, Arthur. Dolores came to me with a problem your department seem to have missed..."
"I wasn't aware my department were responsible for the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts? We share a floor, nothing more."
Dolores didn't like being reminded of where she now worked. "Are you aware that, out of the six imperiused wizards injured on the night of the Dark Lord's attack, four are now dead?"
Shrugging his shoulders, Arthur asked a question he already knew the answer to. "Were they that seriously injured?"
"No they were not. Someone is killing pure-blood wizards..."
She was immediately cut off by Arthur. "That is a dangerous accusation to make. Have you any proof? Nothing has come across my desk."
"That is because they are being made to look like accidents, or natural causes. Two died from heart attacks, one choked to death in a busy restaurant while the fourth was hit by a falling chimneypot as he walked down Diagonal Alley."
"Ah, that last one I do know about. It was thoroughly investigated by my department and we found no signs of foul play. The entire chimney stack was badly in need of repair. It looked like a cat was raiding a bird's-nest that was woven into the rotting brick structure, knocking over the already lose chimneypot. It seems like pure bad fortune that someone was walking past at the time."
"You don't see any coincidence in these particular four deaths?"
Staring Umbridge right in the eyes, Arthur gave her a glimpse of the hard wizard beneath his rather meek exterior. "Had these wizards not been released from St Mungo's without charges being brought against them, who here can say whether they might still be alive - but in Azkaban."
"They were under the Imperius curse..."
"Again Madam, where is your evidence? You had none for releasing them yet expect my department to take action where no evidence of crimes being committed exist."
Switching his attention to the Minister of Magic, Arthur really twisted the knife in Dolores' gut. "Cornelius, due to my predecessor's total ineptitude at the job, I'm left with barely enough aurors to keep the Ministry safe. I certainly don't have any spare to investigate this fiction. If, and I stress the word 'if', someone is killing Death Eaters..."
"How do you know they were Death Eaters? These are respected pure-blood wizards." Dolores just couldn't let it go.
"The wizard hit by the fallen chimney pot bore the Dark Mark, as did the one who choked in the restaurant. I don't know about the other two, heart attacks would not come across my desk. It's called investigation Dolores, you should try it sometimes. With no crimes being reported, my department cannot become involved. If someone is taking out Death Eaters, yes Dolores, Death Eaters, my hands are tied until a crime is committed and reported. Cornelius, has a crime been reported?"
"Not to my knowledge, Arthur."
"Cornelius?" Dolores' voice was practically a whine as she begged for the Minister's support. It didn't come.
"Do you have any evidence of a crime being committed, Dolores? As Arthur rightly pointed out, these wizards were released because you claimed lack of evidence. We can't change the rules now, the other side have lawyers too." With Cornelius slamming the door in Dolores' face, she had no option but to shut up.
"Sorry for disturbing you over this, Arthur, I should have known you would have everything in hand."
Arthur couldn't quite hide the satisfied smirk that putting Umbridge in her place generated. He wished them both a good day and left the office, wondering if he should have another pop at Percy on his way out. Deciding that just smiling at his wayward son should work better, that's what he did.
The door had barely shut behind Arthur when Dolores exploded. "He knows all about it, probably in on it too! Why didn't you back me? Pure-blood wizards are being murdered, we need to do something."
Sitting back in his chair, Cornelius gave her the answer he knew Dolores wouldn't like. "Arthur and his aurors are the only thing standing between the Dark Lord and us. You want me to start messing with his department - without any evidence?"
"Surely you don't believe these deaths are accidental or anything other than unnatural?"
"No I don't." Dolores' joy at that admission from Cornelius was short-lived.
"Consider this though. These people died in broad daylight, and in public places, without raising any suspicion of the circumstances. It's only the frequency, and apparent selective nature, of these deaths that are now raising eyebrows. Whoever is doing this is very good. We already have a Dark Lord wanting to kill us, I'm forced to live in this bloody building day and night. The last thing we need is for whoever is doing this to be switching their attention toward us. To be honest, Dolores, the pureblood wizard I'm most worried about is Cornelius Fudge."
"Do you really think they would come after us?"
"Dolores, they are operating with a level of expertise and ruthlessness I've never seen before. The Death Eaters are mere thugs compared to whoever is behind this. All we can hope for is that they also have a plan to deal with the Dark Lord. Let's face it, we don't."
Dolores had no answer to that.