Chapter 1 - Words said in Anger
Hermione had both arms locked around the big dog's neck, holding on for grim life while her tears soaked into the mutt's black fur. Only her tight headlock was stopping the dog attacking its chosen target. The large dog was still making his intentions known though - the room reverberated to his deep barks and fierce growls.
As the door finally closed, both girl and dog slumped to the floor. All the fight had now gone out of them. The dog may have been whining but Hermione was heartbroken, she sobbed uncontrollably as the dog now tried to offer a modicum of comfort.
"Oh Snuffles, what have I done? This is all my fault…"
He just couldn't let that pass without comment. The most wanted criminal in all of Britain was now sitting on the Hogwarts infirmary floor, attempting to comfort the distraught witch. "Hermione, there is more than enough blame for tonight to cover everyone. This certainly wasn't your fault."
"If only I would learn to keep my mouth shut, this wouldn't have happened…"
-oOo- earlier -oOo-
Hermione had been living on her nerves all day, Mrs Weasley throwing her dirty looks because she believed everything written by Rita Skeeter didn't help. Today was the final task though, and it was Harry she was really worried about. He'd somehow survived the first two tasks but this one just felt different, Hermione couldn't shake the feeling something bad was going to happen.
She had no fingernails left, after sitting staring at those boring hedges. Fleur, and then Viktor, getting led out of the maze injured didn't improve her disposition in the slightest. Hermione couldn't care less who won this stupid tournament, she just wanted Harry to be alive at the end of it.
The tension steadily mounted as everyone could now sense this was taking far too long, the crowd of spectators were really getting restless before a battered and bleeding Harry arrived by portkey with the cup. The cheering ended before it had time to really begin, Harry had a dead Cedric with him too.
When Harry was eventually helped away from all the resulting madness by Professor Moody, Hermione knew there was really only one place her best friend could end up. Harry Potter was no stranger to the Hogwarts infirmary - and you didn't need to be a genius to deduce he would need Madam Pomfrey's ministrations again tonight. Grabbing Ron by the sleeve of his robes, Hermione began dragging her redheaded friend toward the castle. Mrs Weasley and Bill eventually followed them to the infirmary. Hermione wasn't interested in any speculation or small talk as they waited on Harry's arrival. All her attention was focused on the infirmary doors.
When he did finally arrive, Professor Lupin was practically carrying Harry. Padfoot was at his side as the headmaster took the totally unnecessary step of telling them Harry had a hard night, and not to badger him with questions. As Dumbledore then left, he had some grieving parents to comfort, Madam Pomfrey began her ministrations. She worked on his wounds before finishing with some dreamless sleep potion and Harry's eyes slowly closed. Hermione was sitting at the side of his bed, Harry's hand held in hers. She could feel the tremors passing through her best friend, this she now knew was the result of being under Voldemort's torture curse. As Harry lay sleeping, Professor Lupin had quietly explained to them what the young injured wizard had endured earlier tonight.
Their group's whispered conversations were soon being drowned out by a loud argument that appeared to be heading in their direction, or should that be Harry's. The screens currently around Harry's bed prevented them seeing the approaching commotion but all recognised the voices of Professors Snape and McGonagall. There was also no doubt about who they were rather loudly arguing with, the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge.
The screens were pulled back just as Dumbledore returned to the infirmary, he too began berating the Minister for his rash actions over having Barty Crouch Junior kissed by a dementor. Despite all evidence to the contrary, the Minister simply refused to believe Voldemort could have returned. Even Professor Snape showing him the now livid dark mark on his arm couldn't convince Cornelius otherwise.
It was then Harry spoke, no one had even realised he was once more awake.
"It's true, Minister. He's back."
The Minister was originally sympathetic to Harry, that sympathy heavily leaning toward condescending. Fudge rather contemptuously assigning the boy's ordeal earlier tonight for Harry believing that such a bizarre and outrageous story could possibly be true. That all changed when Harry began naming the death eaters he had seen summoned to the graveyard by Voldemort.
To Fudge, these names were all upstanding citizens, ministry employees - and a few were even personal friends. He practically called Harry a liar to his face, claiming the whole thing was some grand conspiracy Dumbledore had dreamed up to discredit his ministry. He was the Minister of Magic, and certainly not about to be fooled by this rubbish - he stormed away.
Fudge had almost reached the door when he paused. He turned around, strode back down the infirmary, and stopped at Harry's bed.
"Your winnings," he said shortly, taking a large bag of gold out of his pocket and dropping it onto Harry's bedside table. "One thousand Galleons. There should have been a presentation ceremony, but under the circumstances …"
He crammed his bowler hat onto his head and began walking out of the room.
It was then Hermione finally snapped. Harry had been called a liar and a cheat by everyone since Halloween, with even Ron originally getting in on the act too. Now here was the Minister of Magic continuing that trend, a trend that would soon be blazed all over the Daily Prophet's pages. Displayed there for everyone to read, and then follow the Minister's lead.
"You're calling Harry a liar, yet still handing him a thousand galleons for winning the tournament? You say Voldemort can't be back but who do you think killed Barty Crouch or Cedric? How does your conspiracy theories explain that, Minister Fudge?"
Cornelius had stopped as if petrified. When he turned around though, the sly smirk he was now wearing warned everyone this would not be good. They just had no idea how bad it was going to get.
After calling for the aurors who were stationed outside the door, Cornelius then turned to Albus. "The young lady is of course correct. I have two dead wizards and the ministry needs to be seen to be doing something. Aurors, arrest Mister Potter. By his own admissions, he's been involved with both of these wizards dying. We'll soon get to the truth of this matter, and end this you-know-who has returned nonsense once and for all."
Hermione was shocked but when Padfoot left her side to attack the minister, she acted without thinking. With both arms locked around the big dog's neck, the pair watched helplessly as Fudge refused to listen to any arguments - and Harry was practically dragged out of bed by the aurors. As the infirmary door closed behind Harry, that was when Hermione collapsed sobbing to the floor.
-oOo- present -oOo-
Hermione was sobbing so hard, she missed all the commotion Sirius revealing himself caused. After Dumbledore had somewhat calmed the adults, informing them Sirius was innocent of all charges certainly helped, it was time to get down to business.
"Severus, you know what I must ask of you?" The professor in question solemnly nodded before leaving the infirmary, still glaring at Black.
"Molly, I hope I can count on your family's support?" Receiving another nod, Dumbledore's attention switched to Bill. "Will you inform your father of what's happened here? Since Cornelius refuses to see the truth, we'll need to reform the old crowd. Arthur will know what I need him to do."
As Bill then left, it was Sirius' turn to receive instructions. "I expect Fudge will be having Hogwarts watched, we'll really need to meet elsewhere. Sirius, can we use your family property for that?"
"No."
"Sorry?"
"I said no, Albus."
"Sirius, I know this was a shock tonight, and we'll get Harry back. We need to concentrate on Voldemort though..."
"Fuck Voldemort, and the hippogriff he flew in on. You can enter my house when Harry is at your side, not before. If you need my house so badly, perhaps you'll get your finger out and do something about this..."
Hermione was getting herself back off the floor, she was done crying. Hermione Granger was now one angry witch, a witch who just had her deference to authority figures well and truly crushed. She reckoned having the Minister of Magic drag your injured and innocent best friend out off a hospital bed on manufactured charges of murder would do that every time.
"Don't hold your breath, Sirius, Dumbledore never does anything..."
"Miss Granger, show some respect. I know you're upset but that outburst merits an apology to the headmaster." The head of Gryffindor though was about to discover she was dealing with a different Hermione Granger.
"Don't expect any help from McGonagall either. We discovered back in out first year we were basically on our own. You'll notice we haven't come to you for help since, Professor."
She may have added a touch of sarcasm to the title, professor, but Hermione was saving her real ire for the headmaster. "Our second year, you let that same small-minded man put Hagrid in Azkaban - even though you knew Hagrid wasn't responsible for the attacks. Third year, the same man had dementors posted around a bloody school! You were going to let Fudge administer a dementor's kiss to a man again you knew was innocent. It was Harry and I who had to save Sirius, in your own school. Tonight we have Cedric dead, and Harry dragged off to Merlin knows where - and it's your fault. Since Halloween, you all knew this tournament was a trap for Harry, but Hogwarts had to play by the rules..."
The tears were now back in force as Hermione tried to finish what she started. "The most powerful wizard in the country let that little shit of a minister drag Harry out of here because Albus Dumbledore plays by some set of rules. When the other side don't follow those same rules, that leads to what happened here tonight. You failed us, again."
Jumping back in before her head of house could interrupt, Hermione verbally cut the legs out from under McGonagall. "Save your detentions and points deductions, I don't care about them anymore. With his precious dark lord returned, his father once more back at Voldemort's side and Harry arrested by the ministry, Malfoy and his cronies will now be dangerous. We've seen first hand for the last four years that neither you nor the headmaster will protect us, so I will be leaving Hogwarts at the end of term."
She tried to hold her head up as she left the infirmary but all could see the silent sobs that still racked Hermione's body.
Witnessing that just hardened Sirius' attitude so Dumbledore looked toward Remus for support, only to find an unexpected rebuttal waiting there. "I agree with everything Hermione just said. You could easily have stopped Fudge tonight but chose not to. You play your games, Albus, and people keep dying..."
"You think this is a game?" Dumbledore let his frustration show but the marauders were not impressed, and certainly not intimidated. It was Sirius who answered him.
"We know this is not a game, it's our friends and family who are doing the dying. Come on, Remus, time to take a dog for a walk." He had one more thing to say though before they left. "Get Harry away from Fudge, Albus, then we'll talk. I think Hermione has got the right idea, we should all get out of Britain. Some things just aren't worth trying to save. Fudge left here with the only person in this world I give a damn about, you'd better get him back."
Sirius became Padfoot as they headed out the castle. With Peter now confirmed to be back alongside Voldemort, news of his animagus form would soon be circulating amongst the wrong people. He was going to have to stay holed up in Grimmauld Place.
-oOoOo-
Harry awoke to discover this wasn't a nightmare after all, he really was in a ministry cell. Looking around didn't take long, a self-emptying bucket being the only item in his tiny new accommodation.
That wasn't strictly true though, Harry glanced at what had caused him to wake. A tray had been slipped in through a hatch on the door, it contained breakfast and a copy of today's issue of the Prophet. Boy-who-lived arrested for Murder was the main headline, blazed across the top of the thing that called itself a newspaper. Harry ignored both it and the tray as he took stock of his situation.
Having been raised in a cupboard under the stairs, one where he was locked in more often than not, this cell held no fears for him. The bed was as basic as could be but was still more comfortable than the thing he had to sleep on in Privet Drive. He didn't even need to beg to be let out for the toilet, this cell came with his own bucket. Harry had spent the summer after his first year locked in a room almost as small as this, with bars on the window and meagre rations of food being passed through a newly fitted cat-flap.
This time he at least knew Hedwig would be looked after, either Hermione or Hagrid were sure to care for his familiar. He also didn't have to worry about Dudley spitting in his food or water, though Harry wouldn't put it passed the ministry to slip something else in there. Eat your breakfast and by lunch you would be proclaiming Fudge as the greatest Minister of Magic Britain has ever known. Harry understood he could probably make all his problems disappear by doing that very thing but that was never going to happen. He was too much of a Gryffindor to hand Fudge an easy victory.
The newspaper too was a ploy Harry was well used to. For years, his aunt and uncle would leave flyers for the circus, newest theme park or their latest holiday brochure lying where he couldn't fail to notice them. They would then derive great pleasure from informing him that of course it was only Dudley they were taking, freaks like him got to stay with Mrs Figg. He had found early on that ignoring these devices of mental torture denied Vernon and Petunia their delight at rubbing his nose in his exclusion from whatever they had dreamed up for their spoiled son. Living with the Dursleys, small victories like these were really all Harry had to keep himself going.
Fudge had no idea who he was dealing with here. Placing a pampered prince like Draco Malfoy in this situation would see them crack under the solitude and lack of life's luxuries. Harry was left counting his blessings - no Dursleys, no chores, Hedwig was safe and they apparently weren't going to starve him.
While checking over the new scars on his arm and leg, Harry knew he was going to have to wait this one out. It just wasn't in him to privately or publicly kiss Fudge's arse, meaning his only way out of this cell would be if outside pressure forced the door open. The problem he could see with that scenario was the Prophet had been effectively assassinating his character all year, starting with Skeeter dragging him into that broom cupboard for her exclusive. Her fabricated and poisoned follow-up articles resulted in most of the magical community thinking he was already some deranged, attention seeking nutter. With the Prophet securely in Fudge's pocket, that cell door wouldn't be getting forced open anytime soon.
Harry ignored the offered tray, preferring instead to lie there and think what he would do with his life, when and if he got out of here. He clearly remembered Hermione having a stranglehold on his dogfather, Remus eventually having to help too. Ron stood there totally gobsmacked but Harry really couldn't blame his mate for that. Mrs Weasley, Professors McGonagall and Dumbledore had all objected on his behalf, Fudge had simply forged ahead and done exactly what he wanted. Harry now joined Sirius and Hagrid in the ranks of those who had been flung in prison, simply because politically powerful people wanted them there.
This was not a country in which Harry wanted to live his life, hopefully even raise a family one day. There were decisions to be made, and only him here to make them. It was going to be a different Harry Potter who left this cell. He had no idea just how true that thought was.
-oOoOo-
If anything, Hermione had a worse night than Harry. Sleep wouldn't come as she mentally tortured herself by replaying her actions over and over again in her head. The last thing she needed this morning was an episode with Malfoy and his cronies, it appeared though that's just what she was about to get. Draco and his posse had clearly been waiting on her as she hadn't yet entered the great hall for breakfast.
"Hey Granger, looks like your nutter of a boyfriend has finally been caught out. Two murders! Even Dumbledore won't be able to get his precious golden boy out of this."
Giving no acknowledgement or reaction, Hermione just pushed past the Slytherins. This didn't please Draco. "Hey Granger, I'm talking to you..."
Hermione neither listened or stopped, until a now enraged Draco chased after her and grabbed her shoulder. She'd been expecting something like this and her wand slid into her hand. Helping Harry train for the tournament had improved her own skills too, not to mention her confidence.
She spun around and her wand poked Draco in the groin. His friends couldn't see what was happening and Hermione whispered so they couldn't hear either.
"Listen worm, I've had more than enough of your shit to last me a lifetime. I'm leaving Hogwarts at the end of term, which is the only reason I'm offering this deal. You promise to leave me alone, and I won't cast a cutting curse. Do we have a deal?"
Draco was looking into Hermione's eyes from a distance measured in inches. What he saw reflected there was a mixture of revulsion and determination, leaving no room for doubt that she would carry out her threat. With a gulp, he managed to get his heart back into his chest before saying 'okay'.
Hermione's wand shot back up her sleeve as she walked away, leaving a startled Draco now being questioned by a jealous Pansy.
"What did that thing want, Dray?"
Thinking on his feet, he soon had something suitably derogatory manufactured. "Oh, she's missing her boyfriend and looking for a suitable replacement to keep her company. I told her I wouldn't poke a mudblood with a broom." Seeing Pansy's shocked reaction had the smirk back on Draco's face, that story would be all over the castle by lunchtime. He may be staying away from Granger, that didn't mean he couldn't make her last eight days in Hogwarts an absolute hell.
Hermione had barely made it into breakfast when Dumbledore stood to speak, she had no idea he'd been delaying this speech until she arrived.
"Students of Hogwarts, and our visiting friends. Last night we lost one of our own." With a wave of his hands, Dumbledore had all the banners hanging in Hogwarts turning to black.
"There is a lot of speculation around what happened last night, I'm here to tell you the truth - even if certain people don't want you to hear it. Harry and Cedric reached the cup at the same time, both urging the other to take the trophy. Neither would, so they finally decided to share the victory - they clasped it together.
Albus Dumbledore was a masterful orator, and was talking here about people and events that mattered to everyone in the hall. He had their complete attention.
"Unfortunately the cup was a trap, they were portkeyed hundreds of miles away to a cemetery where a dark ritual was being prepared. Cedric Diggory was murdered almost immediately, while Harry was tied to a gravestone and had some of his blood forcibly removed as part of this ritual. That ritual was successful, Lord Voldemort has returned."
This resulted in some screams, lots of tears and a few students momentarily fainting. It took a couple of minutes before Albus could continue. "After his rebirth, the dark lord summoned his loyal followers before proceeding to torture Harry. With guts, bravery, and not inconsiderable skill, Harry was able to engineer his escape. He also, at great personal risk, managed to return his fellow champion's body to us."
Holding up a copy of today's Prophet, Albus drove home his point. "There are those that don't want people to know the truth, and will go to any lengths to avoid the truth getting out. Harry Potter refused to lie about what happened last night, and was arrested to stop his version of events being heard and believed. Soon, all of us will be faced with some difficult choices. As an educator it is partly my responsibility to equip you with the tools and information needed to make those difficult choices. That is what I am doing here this morning, giving you the information needed. Sometimes we must do what is right, not that which is easy."
Hermione couldn't miss Dumbledore was staring at her as he said that last part, she didn't care. Hermione was still intent on speaking with Madame Maxime directly after breakfast finished. She was also far more interested in the witch who had shakily just stood at the Ravenclaw table.
The silence soon became total as everyone in the hall wanted to hear what Cho Chang had to say.
"Harry approached Cedric just before the first task and told him they would have to face dragons. His only reason for doing so was because all the other champions apparently already knew. Cedric then returned the favour by offering Harry a clue on how to solve his egg. Harry was first to reach the hostages under the lake, yet refused to leave any of the hostages behind and finished last."
Cho was surrounded by her friends, their support allowing her to finish what she wanted - no, needed to say. "I can certainly see both of them deciding to share the victory and grabbing the cup together, I can't see any situation where Harry would deliberately murder Cedric. Having spoken to both of Cedric's parents for hours last night, I know they think the same. Those two wizards were far more likely to help one another than harm each other..." A tearful Cho sat back down amongst her friends, unable to say anymore. It was then left to Dumbledore to break the respectful silence that had descended over the great hall.
"I too spoke at length with Amos and Tabitha Diggory, I can confirm Miss Chang's assumptions as being totally accurate. I would ask everyone now to stand and raise a salute to a fine Hogwarts student, champion, and an outstanding young wizard, Cedric Diggory."
Even the Slytherins stood for that, Cedric was a Hogwarts champion - and a pureblood.
Hermione's gaze was now locked on another target, one that was hard to miss. As Madame Maxime began to leave, Hermione's half-eaten breakfast was forgotten about as she chased after the witch she hoped would be her new headmistress come September.
-oOoOo-
Lord Voldemort was having a rather more pleasant time than expected. He'd raged for hours last night at how Potter had escaped him, only for one of his returning death eaters to bring the wonderful news that Potter had since been arrested.
Snape's excuse that Dumbledore was watching too closely for him to slip away almost cost the potions master his life, until Severus released that unbelievable titbit of news. That the dark lord had lost one of his most loyal death eaters was also a blow, but Harry Potter in prison was priceless.
"Well Wormtail, it would appear you're now two for two. First Black and now Potter, both put in prison for crimes you committed. Lucius, I want you to pander to Fudge's ego, tell him this is a fabulous decision. Promise Fudge anything, just keep Potter rotting in jail. When we're ready to take over, we won't have to go looking for him. Fudge is doing our job for us, I might even let him live after the ministry falls to me. Brilliance like that deserves a reward, even if it's only to live in Potter's former cell."
Sitting in the luxury of Malfoy Manor while having that news confirmed by the Prophet had certainly brightened up the dark lord's day.
-oOoOo-
Hermione's day was looking a little brighter, spending all morning, and most of the afternoon, chatting to Madame Maxime about switching schools almost had a smile back on her face. The Beauxbaton's headmistress didn't believe Harry was guilty either, and Hermione swore to try and convince her best friend to make the switch from Hogwarts too.
Any semblance of that better mood vanished as she walked into the Gryffindor common room. Silence descended and she soon found all eyes now upon her. Cormac McLaggen boldly strode out to intercept Hermione's route through the room.
"Granger, if you needed a wizard to keep you company with Harry gone, there's no need to approach snakes. We lions take pride in looking after our own. I think you'll find I'm more than up to the job..."
Cormac had now invaded her personal space and, while her peripheral vision spotted three redheads racing to intervene, Hermione could cope with this buffoon. As his hands reached out to touch her body, Hermione's Petrificus Totalus spell had Cormac as stiff as a board. A slight nudge from her saw him topple over backwards and slam into the stone floor. Hermione wasn't finished with this prick though, not by a long shot.
Hermione placed her foot carefully on his throat, more concerned this bastard couldn't see up her robes than she was about not hurting McLaggan. "Listen carefully, McLaggan, it's your only warning. Depending what version of events you believe about last night, Harry either committed murder or fought Voldemort to a draw before escaping. Do you honestly think those are shoes you could ever fill?"
Cormac could only move his eyes but that was enough for Hermione to see he was terrified, her wand was pointing right between his eyes too.
"I don't know what anyone has heard but Harry is simply irreplaceable. Try laying hands on me again and I won't be so lenient, I might even let the Weasleys get their hands on you..."
"Me too, Hermione. He wasn't getting near you..."
"Thanks Neville, never saw you there behind me."
Hermione then spoke to the entire common room. "I was there when Harry got arrested, it was a disgrace. Fudge presented Harry with the prize money, while calling him a liar. I called Fudge an idiot, he then arrested Harry just to prove me right. Harry forgave a lot of people who earlier in the year thought he was a cheat and a liar, I can't see him being so generous to those who accuse him of being a murderer."
With that, Hermione turned and left the common room.
It was about fifteen minutes later when Ron found her in the library. He could see through her facade, Hermione was close to the edge.
"Hey, it's Harry we're talking about here. He'll be fine, and certainly won't blame you for Fudge being an idiot." This earned Ron a weak smile so he continued along the same lines. "It's the ministry that has him, Hermione, they will have to follow their own rules. They won't be able to do much more than keep throwing questions at him. You being his friend for the last four years will have him easily able to deal with that."
The tears were forming at the corners of Hermione's eyes as Ron asked how she was feeling. "I'm worried sick about Harry. I've had to draw my wand on two wizards today, and spoke with Madame Maxime about switching to Beauxbatons in September. So, just a normal day for Hermione Granger at Hogwarts..."
"Hermione, you're really leaving us?"
"Yes, Ron, and I'll be doing everything I can to convince Harry to come with me. Some of those people in our common room have known me for four years, yet seemed more than ready to believe whatever the latest rumour is about Hermione Granger. I'm assuming it was Malfoy who started it..."
"Was he the other wizard you pulled your wand on?"
"Yeah, I threatened to end the Malfoy line with a cutting curse."
"Oh wow, and I missed it. Still can't make up my mind what my best memory of Hogwarts is. It's between the incredible bouncing ferret or you smacking him one back in third year. I think third year just edges it because I could see the expression on his face after you hit him." Seeing a slight smile from Hermione pleased Ron no end. He'd abandoned Harry earlier on in the year, when his mate really needed him too, that wasn't going to happen again. He knew Hermione would blame herself for what happened in the infirmary, only Harry being released and forgiving her would ease that pain. His job would be to stick close to their friend and try to stop her sinking into despair.
"Ron, you need to work on making some better memories - preferably ones where you're actually in them."
He then changed the subject totally on her. "Have you guys been holding out on me? When did you become his girlfriend?" It was now Ron's turn to smile as he'd made Hermione blush.
"You know we're not. Everyone just assumes that we are, and me denying it just now would feel like I was abandoning Harry. You know I could never do that. We've spent a lot of time together this year and gotten even closer, I guess that's what people are picking up on. In all honesty, I was too worried Harry wasn't going to survive that bloody tournament to think about anything else."
Ron had known this, he also knew his friends might have taken steps along that path after the tournament - only for Fudge to ruin that for them too. Harry just couldn't catch a break. "I don't know what I'll do next year without you two at Hogwarts, Ginny will be heartbroken."
Ignoring the Ginny remark, Hermione focused on what else Ron had said. "Do you really think Harry will leave Hogwarts?"
"Hermione, sometimes you can be really dense. You said you would never abandon Harry, I know that's true. Do you think this same Harry is going to let you go all the way to France on your own?"
She couldn't help but smile at her sometimes clueless friend, and hope he was right about Harry. "Ron, you do know that Beauxbatons is closer to London than Hogwarts is?"
"Aw Hermione, that just can't be right..."
-oOoOo-
Albus was at the ministry, trying to drum up support to get Harry freed. He wasn't having much luck. Cornelius had blocked Albus from seeing his student so he was having to use different routes.
"Amelia, surely you don't support this?"
"Of course I don't. Neither me nor my department are being allowed to intervene, or get near the boy. By using a ministerial decree, Cornelius has effectively blocked all interference."
"But Harry's underage, this shouldn't be allowed."
The Head of the D.M.L.E. had some very bad news for the headmaster. "They have thought of that too. Since Harry was allowed to compete in a competition where you had to be of age, Fudge has used this fact to push the lie Harry is now an adult through the ministry. In our community, Harry James Potter is now declared of age, and will face whatever charges Fudge finally brings against him as an adult wizard."
She took Dumbledore's shocked silence as a cue to continue. "Fudge has Harry in a secure isolation cell, no visitors of any sort. I'm hearing rumours of Voldemort's return but am denied access to the one person who can tell me more about it. I'm being stopped from doing my job, and I think this is deliberate. If Voldemort is back, we need to begin making preparations and taking some action now. Fudge just point-blank refuses to contemplate the possibility of Voldemort's return, something those he listens to will certainly approve of."
Albus seemed to age decades as he sat and contemplated what Fudge's actions could mean. He reached out and lifted a small silver framed picture of Amelia's niece, Susan Bones, from her desk and cast the portus spell on it.
"Amelia, I fear dark times are ahead of us. Voldemort will be quietly recruiting those who will help with his planned endeavours, before starting to eliminate anyone who stands in his way. I am well aware you fall squarely into the latter category, it's only a matter of time before you are paid a visit. This emergency portkey will take you, and anyone else holding it, straight to my office in Hogwarts. I trust you won't let it fall into the wrong hands."
She gratefully accepted the gift, more for the girl in the picture than herself. Amelia would sleep easier at night knowing she now had a method of ensuring Susan's safety.
-oOoOo-
Hermione wasn't looking forward to this but knew it had to be done. Calling on all her courage, she knocked on McGonagall's door and entered when invited to do so.
Minerva's tone was icy as she stared at the young witch in front of her. "What can I do for you, Miss Granger?"
"I would like a copy of the form needed to transfer my schooling. I am hoping to have it completed and authorised before the Beauxbaton's students leave, Madame Maxime could then receive my Hogwarts records in person."
"So, you really are determined to leave us?"
"Yes, Professor. Could I have a copy of the form for Harry too? I intend to do my utmost to convince him it would be in his best interest to transfer schools as well. For obvious reasons, I have no idea when I'll see him next. Having a copy of the form means I can at least be prepared for when I do."
Minerva waved her wand as a couple of forms made their way from the filing cabinet onto her desk. "I doubt whether these forms will accept a certain godfather's signature, it will need to be Harry's guardians. There is also the matter of tuition fees. Harry's parents set up an account to pay for his attendance at Hogwarts, I doubt very much if the Dursleys will be allowed to change that arrangement at Gringotts..."
Both witches had been so busy staring daggers at each other, they had missed Dumbledore entering. "That will not be a problem, Minerva. Because of his participation in the tournament, the ministry have declared Harry an adult."
"That means Harry will be able to make his own decisions..." Hermione's jubilation then crumbled as she realised what the other side of the coin brought to the situation. "...it also means the ministry can charge him as an adult. I read juveniles couldn't be sent to Azkaban, Harry, as an adult wizard, now could be. You know the effect dementors have on him, what are you doing about this?"
"I'm sorry, Miss Granger. The Minister of Magic has decreed Harry can have no visitors or letters. It's also impossible to change the decision about his age, the magic involved won't allow Harry to take a step back like that - even if he wanted to..."
"This is your fault, again. You were the ones that forced a fourteen year old to compete in this tournament, and now Harry could end up in Azkaban over it. Now you stand there and tell me there's nothing you can do about the situation. If and when I see Harry again, you better believe I will be doing my damnedest to have him leave Britain with me. At least he'll never have to go back to the Dursleys..."
Dumbledore's head went down at that. "The Dursleys' residence is no longer safe for him anyway. Harry being declared of age will see the wards I placed on that house come crashing down. With Voldemort's return, that family are now vulnerable. We will need to visit and tell them this. The Dursleys can no longer stay in Privet Drive."
Hermione stood and stared at Dumbledore for a moment before she could find her voice. "Harry told me his relatives used to scream at him they weren't given a choice about raising him, he was just left on their doorstep with a letter. Now, because of that, they are going to lose their home. What gives you the right to make these decisions, Headmaster?"
McGonagall wasn't going to stand for that. "Miss Granger, that is quite enough..."
Hermione wasn't cowed in the slightest. "No it bloody isn't, it's nowhere near enough. When it suits him, the headmaster plays god with people's lives. When it doesn't, he stands back with his hands in his pockets and says he can't do anything - meanwhile Harry gets dragged out of a bed in the infirmary and sent to prison. I'll ask again, Headmaster, what gives you the right to make those decisions?"
"Alas, Miss Granger, that is a question I can't answer at the moment."
"Yeah, not that I expected an answer. Just don't be making any decisions about me. Have you told Sirius this news?" A glance was all that was needed to tell that was a no. "I'll have Hedwig drop a note off when she's taking this form home for my parents to sign." With that, Hermione left McGonagall's office.
"Albus, if Miss Granger asks, Mr Potter would follow her to the ends of the earth. No matter what happens now, we're going to lose both of them."
"I know of Harry's affections for Miss Granger, Minerva, just as Miss Granger effectively ripped her headmaster and head of house to pieces in defence of Mr Potter. I came to ask if you would accompany me to the Dursleys? This is going to be even more unpleasant since Miss Granger is once more correct, I left them no choice in the matter of their nephew."
As she picked up her traveling cloak, Minerva managed to resist saying she told him so with regard to the Dursleys. Her mind was moving in a different direction. "Miss Granger seems to have the ability to cut right to the heart of the matter."
"That she has, Minerva. Losing both her and Harry from the country would be a catastrophe, one I currently have no idea how to prevent."
With that, both set off for what was sure to be an unpleasant encounter in Little Whinging.
-oOoOo-
Harry had lain on his bunk for hours. He'd barely moved, and certainly not touched anything that had been pushed through the door. He had spent that time looking back at events in his life, and not liking where these thoughts were taking him. Since Halloween, his outlook on studying had to undergo a radical rethink. When you weren't studying to pass exams though, rather survive what was coming your way, Harry found that situation to be far more motivating.
Without the distraction of Ron or quidditch, Harry also found he liked being able to keep up with Hermione. His friend was in his thoughts as the door began to open. Harry had known the approach would be coming soon. A night and day in a cell was supposed to soften him up, only Harry was anything but soft.
He just continued to lie on his bed, staring at the ceiling and totally ignoring his visitors.
"Hem, hem. Show some respect, Boy. You should stand when the Minister of Magic enters a room."
Harry left her hanging for a moment before gracing that comment with an answer. "Respect is earned, that is why I have none for Fudge. I have nothing but contempt for him, basically because his actions are contemptible."
This immediately got under the skin of whoever this was that Fudge had brought with him. "You are not helping your case here, Mr Potter. The Minister holds your fate in his hands..."
"Look, I don't know who you are but you obviously kiss Fudge's arse, not something I'm prepared to do..."
The squat witch exploded at that. "I am Madam Dolores Umbridge, Senior Under-Secretary to the Minister of Magic..."
"Okay, sorry. So you're Fudge's chief arse kisser?"
The minister tried to intervene before a war broke out here. It was also rather disconcerting to see this young wizard lying back there as if he hadn't a care in the world. He hadn't altered the volume nor the relaxed tone of his voice once, even when so cruelly slapping Dolores down. "Harry my boy, I don't think you appreciate the seriousness of your situation here."
"First, I never have been, nor ever will be, 'your boy'. Secondly, I believe it's you who severely underestimates the situation you are in..."
Dolores couldn't resist that. "Oh, so you know better than the Minister of Magic? You are right, Cornelius, the BOY is delusional."
Even her deliberate attempt to needle him didn't break through Harry's indifference. He calmly explained what the minister and his toad-like assistant were so oblivious to. "Voldemort didn't expend all that time and energy on being reborn, just so he could then go for a holiday to the Bahamas..."
Harry just quietly lay there, letting them get their protestations that he wasn't back out of their systems before continuing. "You stating that he can't be back doesn't make that true - I actually wish it did. Here's the thing though, sooner or later Voldemort will make his move. At that point, the entire country will know I was right - and that their Minister of Magic is a lying bastard who locked up a fourteen year old to cover his own arse. Once that happens, you and anyone connected with you will be run out of the ministry..."
With both Fudge and Umbridge standing there with their mouths open, Harry calmly finished what he had to say. "All I have to do is lie here and wait, wait while you're committing political suicide. Every article in the Prophet, every time you deny Voldemort's return, every day longer you keep me in here - those are all nails in your political coffins."
Harry then slowly sat up on his bed, wanting to make sure there could be no misunderstandings here. "If I walk out of this cell with you, we can shake hands and call this all a terrible mistake. This is a one-time offer that vanishes as soon as that door closes behind you. After that, I will make sure the entire country knows exactly why you placed the boy-who-lived in jail - purely to stop the British magical community knowing the truth."
He could see Fudge was wavering. The thought of being able to put this behind him, call it a misunderstanding, and have a publicity picture with the boy-who-lived was very tempting. His under-secretary though had other ideas.
"Don't be preposterous. You-know-who isn't back so why should we release you?"
Harry lay back down and stared at the ceiling again, he still answered her though. "Because the Under-Secretary to the Minister of Magic, and the Minister of Magic himself, can't even say Voldemort's name. I've now fought him four times - and never lost. Lord Voldemort is just an anagram too, his real name is Tom Marvolo Riddle. He told me that himself when I was in second year, just before I defeated him again." In the silence that followed, Harry finished what he wanted to say.
"Oh, I'll even help the ministry save some money. Stop pushing the Daily Prophet through my door. I simply refuse to read the lies in that excuse for a newspaper. Please shut the door on your way out, it's draughty in here with it open."
He'd known that his strategy was a gamble, and one that didn't have a great chance of success. Harry would now have to play the waiting game, hoping that if Voldemort attacked the ministry they would at least let him out to fight.
-oOoOo-
It was a nervous Fudge who sat sipping an exquisite single malt in his office, Dolores had her usual sickly-sweet sherry. "I need that boy broken, broken and bent to my will - not Dumbledore's. There was obviously some bluffing going on in that cell but I just can't see keeping him in there achieving the result I need."
Having witnessed Potter's performance, Dolores really had to agree. "Dumbledore has the boy convinced you-know-who has returned. Under those circumstances, he would be correct in his assumptions. If you-know-who was ever to be sighted, what he claimed would come to pass. We have to undo all Dumbledore's brainwashing, and that won't happen by keeping him in that cell."
"What are you suggesting?"
"I'm suggesting you leave it to me, I'll break him."
Cornelius had just been handed the politician's dream answer to his problems, along with deniability if those dreams turned into nightmares. "Okay, Dolores, he's all yours. I don't need to know the details, just let me know when you have the result I want."
A cruel smile may have been on her lips but it never reached her eyes. She would have this little bastard screaming for forgiveness over his arse-kissing remarks. Dolores now just needed to buy the time needed to achieve that result. "This won't be quick, Cornelius. Dumbledore has had years to work on the boy."
"Take all the time you need, Dolores. I'll keep feeding the Prophet stories about Potter and Dumbledore, that will neutralise any and all attempts to have him freed. We'll use Potter to bring Dumbledore down, that will end the old fool's attempts to have me removed as minister. I'll show him who really runs magical Britain, and it's not Albus Dumbledore."
-oOoOo-
After a few days, Harry was getting bored with just lying on his bed. He never thought he would miss painting Uncle Vernon's shed, or weeding between Aunt Petunia's roses. There was no natural light in his cell, and they were placing food in his room at irregular intervals of time. Harry no longer knew what day it was, or if it was day or night.
It was actually three in the morning when his cell door opened to reveal the toad-like woman standing there again. The minister was nowhere in sight, and it soon became blindingly obvious why. Fudge would want nothing to do with this.
"Potter, you seem far too comfortable here so we're switching your room. You'll even be able to receive visitors in your new accommodation. I'm told the dementors on Azkaban like to spend as much time as possible with the ministry's specially invited guests.
Chapter 2 - Spirit Rover
Albus was just holding the dram of whisky Minerva had given him earlier, he was still too shocked to drink it. "How could I have been so wrong... The Dursleys were delighted to hear Harry had been arrested, and ready to start celebrating when I told them their own nephew wouldn't be back."
"At least they're going to move from Privet Drive..."
"Oh they can't wait to do that. They claimed it was my fault they were still living there, but those wards could have easily been transferred to a new property. Harry just needed his family staying in their home to anchor the wards, that home didn't have to be in Privet Drive."
Minerva felt she was stating the obvious here but it had to be done. "Albus, did you ever take the time to explain that to the Dursleys?"
Both already knew the answer to that question. Albus now sipped his malt whiskey as his thoughts wandered. "More and more, Miss Granger's angry words are coming back to haunt me. I'm reminded of a phrase I once heard as a young wizard, 'the road to hell is paved with good intentions'. I have the best of intentions, Minerva, but either fail to follow through or get it totally wrong in the first place. I certainly have failed Harry, and Miss Granger too."
"What can we do, Albus?"
"At the moment, very little. Please keep a close eye on Miss Granger, it's easy to see she still blames herself for what happened to her best friend. She'll need support to get through her final days with us."
-oOoOo-
It was easy for Minerva to see how accurate Albus' prediction proved to be when Hermione arrived in her office a couple of days later. The young witch appeared as if she had the weight of the entire world on her shoulders.
"Professor, I have my completed and signed transfer form here. Hedwig returned with it this morning, along with a letter from Remus. A certain big black dog was set to charge the ministry and personally rip Fudge's throat out. Is there any more news?"
Taking the form from the young witch, Minerva had no comfort to offer. "I'm sorry, Miss Granger, there isn't a peep escaping the ministry about Harry. I'm also sorry to see you leave Hogwarts..."
"Professor McGonagall, the worst terrorist this country has known in the last fifty years just returned from the dead, and the head of the government threw a fourteen year old wizard in prison to cover that fact up. What choice do I have?"
Hermione needed a couple of deep breaths to steady herself before she could continue. "My parents are muggles, I need to get them out of the country before the killing starts. Malfoy is well aware of who I am, and my relationship with Harry, they'll eventually be coming for me and my family. Neither you nor the magical government can protect us, the government won't even acknowledge there's an actual problem in the first place. What am I supposed to do?"
Minerva was finding that, once again, she had no answers for one of the best young students she had ever taught. That this student was also one of her Gryffindor cubs just made the pain of having no answers to give all the more acute. "I shall personally hand your school records to Madame Maxime, and I promise to let you know if I hear any news about Mr Potter."
"Thank you, Professor. I'm sorry it had to come to this too, I just don't see any other alternatives. Voldemort will be getting organised, while Fudge buries his head in the sand. I've read his death eaters went after the muggle borns during the last war, I need to protect my parents. My mum and dad wouldn't hurt a fly yet these death eaters would torture and kill them, simply because I'm their daughter. I can't allow that to happen. The headmaster was right to say what he did, I just wonder how many people really listened."
A rather dejected Hermione then left, leaving her head of house feeling just as demoralised as her student that things had come to this. Minerva couldn't fault her student's logical conclusions, nor Hermione's desire to protect those she loved. That she had no other options to offer the young witch was what really hurt.
She was going to have to talk with Albus. They would be failing their students if they didn't specifically warn the muggle borns and their families of what could happen next. Since that would place Hogwarts on a collision course with the ministry, it would be Albus' decision to make.
-oOoOo-
Harry was provided with a robe that seemed at least three sizes too big, very Dudley-esque, the hood then being forcefully pulled up over his head by Umbridge. It was obvious they didn't want him being recognised while he was frog-marched from the ministry building. Since the ministry appeared deserted, the robe became an unnecessary precaution - as were the wrist manacles he was also forced to wear. Umbridge had two aurors with her so slapping on the manacles was clearly designed more to frighten him, rather than preventing any serious threat of escape. He refused to give the bitch that pleasure and just ignored her - and the manacles. It wasn't until they left the ministry building that Harry discerned it was the middle of the night, a portkey journey later and they were standing at a tiny harbour.
Seeing the small boat sitting there, clearly waiting on their arrival, evoked memories of his first trip on a boat. Uncle Vernon had dragged them all off to that little cottage on a desolate piece of rock, only for Hagrid to kick the door in at midnight - and become the first person Harry could remember wishing him a Happy Birthday. He didn't think his large friend would be coming to rescue him this time, Harry also clearly remembered Hagrid's terror at the mere mention of Azkaban.
Harry's indifference though was having an effect on Umbridge. As the little craft left the dock, she increased her efforts to provoke a reaction out of him.
"Azkaban is such a terrible place, those dementors are some of the foulest creatures on the planet. They suck every good thought right out of your head…"
"I take it they don't affect you then?" That Harry's droll question caused both aurors and the boatman to laugh really set Umbridge off.
"You will be going straight into the high security wing, where all the worst of the criminals go - and also the location inside Azkaban that has the highest concentration of dementors. We'll see if you're still as cocky then, you'll soon change your story."
"I think your arm should be checked for a dark mark. You are supposed to be one of the good guys, yet don't even try to hide your delight at the prospect of an innocent fourteen year old being tortured. Voldemort could stroll into the ministry anytime and be welcomed - it's full of kindred spirits." That Harry wasn't ranting and raving meant his words were having a far greater effect. He wasn't finished either. "No wonder you needed me to save you the last time. Guess what - this time around you can all bugger off! That a pair of aurors and a ministry official could be part of this conspiracy, organised by the minister himself, means I won't lift a finger to help you - and Voldemort is most definitely back."
He sat quietly with his hood up as the toad-like witch verbally vented her wrath. Harry was glad of the hood now as it blocked most of the spittle her manic ravings were throwing in his direction. Harry was too busy watching the boatman and the pair of aurors. Fudge and Umbridge could call him a liar all they wanted, his words had certainly reached the other three on the boat.
There were obviously those in magical Britain who would believe the word of the boy-who-lived over that of a politician, especially Cornelius Fudge, hence why Harry was being shipped off to Azkaban. Deciding he had nothing to lose, Harry spoke directly to the three other occupants of the boat not named Umbridge.
"Fudge is sending me to Azkaban to hide the truth. He's also trying to oust Dumbledore, the only wizard Voldemort is supposed to be afraid of..."
Harry didn't get to say anymore as Umbridge hit him with a silencing curse. "We can't have you spreading any more of your lies, boy. We'll see if you're still spouting that same rubbish after a few days in your new accommodation."
He just sat there quietly and smirked at her. By casting that silencing charm, toad woman had just convinced the other three that Harry was telling the truth.
It took a couple of hours before the boat made Azkaban Island. After being stuck in that cell, Harry actually enjoyed the pleasant journey. He just sat quietly and watched the sun beginning to rise out of the sea, not knowing when he would see this again. The aurors were now gentler in their handling of Harry as the group made its way up to the fortress prison. The boatman was wisely staying with his craft, leaving just the four of them to make their way inside the imposing structure.
It may be the month of June but Azkaban seemed to have its own microclimate - this winter and next winter. The black granite building jutted almost organically from the rocky island. It also appeared to leach heat as well as happiness out of anyone unfortunate enough to pass through its doors. There were two prison guards waiting on their party in what was clearly some sort of reception area. Harry threw his hood back and deliberately made sure his scar would be visible. He hated his fame but Harry intended to use everything he had to fight this injustice. At the moment, this was all he had available.
What he had however proved to be very effective, both guards recognised him at once.
"That's Harry Potter, that is - in chains too. What's he doing here?"
The older of the two guards stared right at Umbridge. "I saw in that excuse for a newspaper that he'd been arrested, it never said nothing about his trial - or him being found guilty. Just what is going on here? The boy-who-lived is not even of age to enter Azkaban."
Dolores was not about to stand here and answer questions coming from mere prison guards. "All you need to know is that these orders here are signed by the Minister of Magic, now do the job you are paid to do."
Jock snatched the papers out of Umbridge's hand, one glance had him furious. "You're putting this lad in the high security wing - along with the Lestranges and the other filth…"
"If you have a problem with that, say so now. We can easily get new prison guards because your careers are over if you do." Dolores was confident her usual threat would be enough to see her orders carried out, she was dealing with different people here though.
"This isn't a career, it's the shittiest job in the world. You can take my job and shove it where the sun don't shine." Jock then turned to Harry. "I was drunk for three days when you defeated him, what a celebration that was. I wish I could do more here…"
"He's back, that's why Fudge is doing this…" Dolores hit Harry with another silencing curse, since the last one had obviously worn off over time. The damage was done though, Jock clearly believed him.
"Fudge never had too much up top - I certainly never voted for the fool. You coming Derek?"
The younger guard seemed torn. "I want to, Jock, but I've got a family to support…"
"Yes, including a daughter at Hogwarts who has Harry Potter pictures all over her bedroom wall. What will she think of a father who locked her hero up in Azkaban?"
Jock knew Derek doted on his Abi, never stopped talking about how proud he was of her. This was exactly the right thing to say as Derek then offered his immediate resignation too.
Dolores swore retribution on them before almost blowing a gasket as a manacled and silenced Harry Potter had both the now ex-guards smiling by shaking their hands in thanks. Dolores was now going to be forced to enter this prison properly, and then deal with whoever was in charge. That was certain to exacerbate her already terrible mood. She had no way of knowing plans were currently being made to make that mood a hundred times worse.
Jock was trying to hurry Derek along but the younger man was now riddled with doubts, had he done the right thing? "What's your rush? We'll just be sitting on the boat waiting on them anyway."
"Not after I have a word with Salty, we'll be pushing off the moment we set foot on his boat - the sooner the better."
Derek liked the idea of not sharing a boat back with Umbridge, but worried about it to. "Won't he get into trouble for leaving them here? It's a five hour round trip, and that's assuming he returns straight away."
"Naw, Salty will just blame me. He'll make up some story to cover himself, and I'm already out of a job so they can't touch me. We need to get a move on, and then you have a letter to write."
-oOoOo-
Hermione knew she was putting out 'do not disturb' vibes while sitting forlornly staring at her lunch. She thought it might be a tad overdone when a little first year Hufflepuff approached with tears in her eyes, only to discover she was in no way responsible for those tears.
"Miss Granger, my father works in Azkaban. They've just put Harry in there, how could they do that to him?" At that, the young girl's tears overwhelmed her and Hermione had an arm comfortingly around the now distraught witch.
"They're putting him in something called the secure wing, that doesn't sound good..." The girl's shoulders then squared and Hermione couldn't miss the pride in her voice. "My father refused to put Harry in prison, he quit his job and wrote to me. How can we help Harry?"
Hermione's insides were in knots at the thought of Harry in that place but she was trying to hold it together for this brave young witch. "What's your name?"
"Abigail, Abigail Hendry - but my friends call me Abi."
"Well Abi, any friend of Harry's is a friend of mine. Just call me Hermione..."
"Oh, I'm not a friend of Harry's..."
Hermione managed to force a smile for the brave girl. "Abi, you are now. We need to let the headmaster know this news." Taking the now nervous girl by the hand, Hermione headed for the staff table.
Quite a few pairs of eyes had been watching the drama unfold, that changed immediately to everyone in the great hall as Dumbledore let an angry roar out of him. A Phoenix flamed into the hall and then used the same fiery method to take Dumbledore wherever he was going. The few who had heard the conversation between Hermione and Abi soon had the news spread throughout the hall.
One glance toward the Slytherin table made Hermione's mind up, she would spend the rest of today studying in the library. She was one Malfoy remark away from starting a war, and in no mood to take any prisoners.
-oOoOo-
Albus hit the ministry like a whirlwind, and wasn't quiet about why he was there. Fudge was quaking in his boots though managed to stand his ground. Lucius had warned him this confrontation was inevitable and, more importantly, promised to defeat any move against him if this was brought to the Wizengamot. Knowing the influence Lucius had in the chamber gave Cornelius the courage to say what he needed to.
"You yourself declared the boy an adult when you forced him to compete in your tournament. I have dead wizards whose deaths are unexplained, and Harry Potter is my chief suspect, our laws say I can hold him for ninety days while our investigation proceeds. After that, we must bring the suspect to trial or release him."
"Amelia Bones knows nothing about this, how can you claim an investigation is being carried out?"
"My Senior Under-Secretary, Madam Dolores Umbridge, is in charge of this case. I fully intend to get to the bottom of this matter, a matter on which you have made your position clear. Stay away from this investigation, Albus, otherwise I'll have you arrested for trying to pervert the course of justice."
"Cornelius, you are playing a dangerous game, one that could see our country fall..."
"Don't be ridiculous, Albus. Harry Potter is not above the law, no one is. Justice must be seen to be fair, and carried out in the proper manner."
"Does that apply to everyone, Cornelius? Including the wizards who aren't even being questioned about certain events - simply because you say so..."
"Enough, Dumbledore. I'm the Minister of Magic, and a busy wizard. I've listened to your rantings, now it's time for you to leave."
Before going, Albus pinned Cornelius with a stare. "This is the moment that will define your tenure as Minister of Magic, Cornelius. You are taking our country to the very edge of darkness. If we manage to pull it back, it will be because of Harry Potter and I. How do you think we'll portray your part in this fiasco? You're finished Cornelius, I just hope I can prevent you taking the rest of the country down with you."
He left the minister's office to find Amelia waiting on him. "Has that idiot really put the boy in Azkaban, and then placed Umbridge in charge of this investigation?" A nod from Dumbledore was all she needed to storm into Fudge's office.
Amelia didn't think she would be any more successful than Albus, she was determined to register her protest though. The minister was using criminal law to lock Harry Potter in Azkaban, and then not using the D.M.L.E. to investigate the case. Fudge would claim his ministerial decree gave him the power to do that but she wanted to hear him say the words, before publicly hanging him out to dry.
She fully intended to release a departmental statement to the Prophet, just to dispel any rumours rushing around the country. By tomorrow, every witch and wizard in Britain would know what had happened to Harry Potter - and exactly who was responsible for this situation. It wasn't going to help Harry much, but it was the best Amelia could do at the moment.
-oOoOo-
Prisoner Harry Potter being led through the corridors of Azkaban was an unbelievable event to its other residents, news that was swiftly shouted from cell to cell. By the time they reached his new home, the news of Harry's arrival had proceeded him.
"Wee baby Potter, all alone in our midst. Don't worry, we'll take good care of him for you. When our master comes to release us, and he soon will, I promise Potter will die screaming for mercy."
Bellatrix's ravings had the pair of aurors hesitating but Umbridge stepped forward and pushed Harry through the open cell door. She didn't even allow the manacles to be removed, slamming the door shut the moment he was through it.
"Lock him in, and double the dementor presence in this wing."
The prison boss just looked at her, and then the orders in his hand. "It says nowt about that here..."
"I'm telling you to do it, are you questioning me?"
"If it ain't writ' down, it doesn't happen. You gimme that in writing, signed in front of witnesses mind, and your order will be carried out. Otherwise, it's your word agin' mine."
That was not something Dolores wanted to do, needs must though. She headed off to this cretin's office to give him his written orders. Potter needed to be broken.
Harry had landed on his knees, narrowly avoiding hitting the cell's back wall when he was shoved in here. This was certainly a step down from his previous accommodation inside the ministry.
The dark brown peeling paint on the cell walls wasn't exactly welcoming either, and the bed was lumpier that his cot in Privet Drive. The taunts coming from his fellow inmates on this wing were also of a far different nature than the ones the Dursleys would hurl in his direction, being called a freak now didn't seem so bad. Harry would readily admit he was sexually inexperienced but he thought the last couple of taunts were physically impossible, unless witches and wizards were different that way too - and of course no one had bothered to tell him.
The temperature dropping meant their special guards had arrived, this quickly stopped the taunting but Harry would now have welcomed those shouts. There was no escaping the dementor effects, he could already hear his mother screaming for her son to be spared. There was also no way to fight against this attack, not without having his wand in his hand. At least he could draw some comfort from the fact the ministry didn't have that. It had been under his pillow in the infirmary when they dragged him out of there. He was sure Hermione would have it, he certainly trusted her to keep it safe.
This line of thought had a strange effect however, Harry noticed that thinking of Hermione appeared to lessened the power the dementors were having over him. Harry remembered Sirius telling him that knowing he was innocent helped ward off some of the despair caused by the dementors. Harry was not only innocent, he was thrown in here purely so this Umbridge bitch could bend him to the Minister of Magic's will. That his best friend was still trying to protect him even in here almost transformed his grimace into a grin. Without his wand he couldn't summon Prongs to keep the dementors at bay, but Hermione appeared to be acting like his own personal patronus. She may not be able to chase the dementors off but any form of protection from those horrors was more than welcome.
It didn't take Harry long to figure out the more he thought about Hermione, the less the dementors affected him. Since thinking about his best friend wasn't exactly a hardship, that's precisely what Harry did. He went right back to their very first meeting on the Hogwarts Express, their date with the troll and the trip through the forbidden third corridor. Holding Hermione as she told him he was a great wizard was his best memory of that year - his best memory up until that time.
Seeing her petrified the following May was certainly his worst of second year. Even lying in the chamber dying from basilisk poison, the knowledge that she would be safe helped him face the unfaceable. Then Fawkes cried into his wound, and Hermione had finally raced into the great hall - practically jumping into his arms.
Third year they fell out, over a stupid bloody broomstick too. She was still there for him though, Harry well remembered Hermione throwing herself in front of him like a human shield when they faced Sirius Black. Then, even although she was afraid of heights, Hermione had climbed on behind him as they flew Buckbeak up to save his godfather. Hermione holding on tight that night offered some compensation for having to return to his Aunt and Uncle in Little Whinging.
This year had been an unmitigated disaster. They had certainly spent a lot of time together but the only good memory he could muster was seeing Hermione at the Triwizard Ball, she was simply stunning. Her eyes had sparkled with mirth at his reaction to her, that wild hair of hers had been tamed - and framed her beautiful face. That's when the realisation began to dawn, he was head-over-heels in love with his best friend.
The warmth this epiphany pushed through his body was strong enough that it almost blocked the effect of the dementors. The more Harry thought about the situation, the more he realised the truth of the matter. He loved his best friend, and could now only hope she felt the same about him. He spent hours lying there going over their last four years together, the pleasant memories deflecting a fair percentage of the dementors' debilitating affects.
Suddenly, something in Harry radically shifted. Memories that mere moments ago had offered him comfort were now becoming twisted and altered to cause him the maximum amount of pain and terror. Racing into that toilet and discovering they were too late, the troll had left a broken and bloody Hermione lying dead on the floor. Harry sat with Hermione's battered head on his lap and wept like never before. In second year, the basilisk now killed rather than petrified Hermione. There was no wonderful hug in the great hall. Third year saw the dementors killing both Hermione and Sirius, right in front of him. His patronus only managing to protect himself, no matter what he did. Fourth year, Hermione drowned under the Black Lake at the second task - despite his frantic efforts to save her.
..and the horrors kept coming and coming. Hermione kissing Krum at the ball, and agreeing to be the Bulgarian seeker's girlfriend was particularly painful to watch - at least she survived that one though. Every good memory he had of Hermione warped into a horror movie so realistic, Harry could practically taste the blood.
He couldn't think what had changed. Memories that had so recently offered him some comfort now tortured him worse that the dementors ever had before. It was as if his mind was stuck in some sort of sadistic loop too, playing these personal horrors over and over again. No matter how often he tried to tell himself Hermione was safe and well, watching helplessly as she died time after time was having a crippling effect on him. Harry had blood dripping down his chin as he bit his bottom lip in an effort to stop himself screaming out loud.
Since this was different from any dementor attack he'd ever faced, this time there was no defence from this sadistic torture - and no escape either. This torture was relentless, and more painful to Harry than Voldemort's cruciatus.
He was getting prepared to hit his head off the cell wall, figuring only unconsciousness would offer any release from the pain, when the strangest thing happened. His head shot toward the cell wall …and passed straight through the impenetrable granite. He then returned to his cell to see the strangest sight, Harry James Potter lay collapsed onto the bed. Where seconds ago he'd been thrashing about in agony, there was now nothing more than the occasional twitch, and a grimace on his face.
Harry had no idea what he'd done, or even what he was now. There was no ghostly hands or body for him to see, yet Harry felt as if he was looking through his own eyes - except his eyes were closed and still attached to the body on the bed. In amongst all this mystery there was at least one thing he did know, those terrible memories were no longer torturing him - and he couldn't feel any effects from the dementors either. Whatever this was, Harry had absolutely no intention of fighting against it.
Being again stuck in a cell, he once more had no appreciation of how much time had passed since he'd been unceremoniously pushed in here. Harry then began to wonder if he needed to stay here, in this cell beside his physical self. In this form, whatever it was, his head had easily slipped through the wall earlier. Could he actually get out of here?
A quick experiment saw Harry passing through the wall to find himself in an adjoining cell, but the occupant didn't see him. This was nothing to do with whatever his form was however, the prisoner was currently lying on their bed with a blanket pulled over their head. Doubling the concentration of dementors was obviously effecting the secure wing's usual residents too. He kept moving from cell to cell, having no wish to pass into a corridor and come face to face with a dementor. Harry eventually ran out of cells and passed through the prison's outer wall - he was free from Azkaban Prison.
He still had no idea what was happening to him, or how this could be possible. There was only one place he could think of that might possibly hold the answers though, the place Harry had thought of as home for the last four years - Hogwarts.
As the sun was beginning to set, Harry seemed to know instinctively which direction the castle was. He no sooner had wished for his firebolt than he was racing across the North Sea without the aid of his broomstick, leaving the horrors of earlier far behind. Harry wanted to go faster, and simply did. The sea below lent him some idea of what speed he was actually traveling, it was way beyond anything a mere broom could ever hope to achieve. With no wind buffeting him, Harry actually didn't feel as if he was flying at all. The sun had barely set when he hit landfall, soon leaving the coast far behind.
The lights of Hogwarts Castle were like beacons welcoming him home, and Harry knew exactly where he wanted to go. He passed through the stone wall and into the Gryffindor fourth year boys' dorm, finding it full of his friends. Seamus and Dean were busy winding Ron up.
"Does it still hurt, Ron?"
"I wonder if you'll still be able to see the handprint in the morning…"
"All I said was Harry wouldn't be needing his firebolt over the holidays, and I could find a good home for it. Mental she is… There was no need for Hermione to smack me one."
After hearing that, Harry was out the door. He thought Ron had changed but apparently not. Hermione wasn't in the common room, very few Gryffindors were, it appeared to be really late. Harry had no intention of entering the girls dorms to look for her, there was no telling who or what he would see. It was time to head for Dumbledore's office.
Had Harry stayed in his dorm just a little longer, he might have heard how the rest of the drama played out.
"You of all people should know better, Ron. Hermione is hurting over Harry now being stuck in Azkaban."
"Neville, I tried a joke to see if I could cheer her up. It either wasn't a very good joke, or Hermione has no sense of humour. She certainly has some right arm on her, no wonder Malfoy is staying well away. I'll need to apologise tomorrow. I was trying to coax a smile out of her, not make her cry."
Harry simply passed through the gargoyle guarding the stairs to Dumbledore's office, he stopped at the door however to listen to the raised voices coming from inside. One of them was certainly McGonagall's.
"Albus, we can't leave Harry in that place, we simply must do something."
"Minerva, I have no choice. Fudge holds all the cards at the moment so Harry's going to have to stay there for now."
Harry didn't hang about to hear anymore, which again was a pity as Dumbledore explained his reasoning to his concerned friend.
"Lucius Malfoy and his associates are telling Fudge this is a wonderful idea, and that fool is listening to them. Between Malfoy's natural supporters, their threats to others - not forgetting buying certain members off with sacks of gold, taking this to the Wizengamot would be a pointless exercise. Handing that public victory to the dark won't help Harry, or those of us who are light."
"Is there nothing we can do?"
"Fudge is just waiting on me doing something illegal, like trying to snatch Harry out of there. Our Minister of Magic would take great delight in filing criminal charges against me, I would be on the run - with Lucius Malfoy's gold deciding who would be the next headmaster of Hogwarts. I have to protect all the children, Minerva, not just Harry Potter."
"We know he's strong, Albus, but dementors have such an affinity to him. I'm really worried about Harry."
Albus thought he knew why the dementors were so attracted to the boy, he was certainly worried too.
Meanwhile a disconsolate Harry was aimlessly meandering along some darkened corridor, it now being well past curfew. Hearing those conversations tonight certainly cemented his beliefs that Harry Potter would really need to leave Hogwarts, leave Britain for that matter, if he ever wanted to have some kind of normality in his life.
A voice from the darkness startled him.
"Harry Potter, aren't you supposed to be in Azkaban?"
It was really too dark for Harry to see more than an outline of a person. That outline was certainly a student, and Harry was sure a witch. The speaker casting a lumos confirmed both, allowing Harry his first glimpse of the little blonde witch wearing a Ravenclaw robe.
"I'm Luna, Luna Lovegood. I didn't know you could spirit roam? My daddy told me it was very rare."
"You can see me? Can you hear me?"
Luna eagerly nodded before answering. "I can see your spirit, and I hear with my mind - rather than using my ears. I can spirit roam too. Oh dear, This is your first time, isn't it?"
"Yes, I've never even heard of this before…"
At that admission, Luna sprang forward and kissed him. It was the strangest feeling Harry had ever felt, like being passed through the neck of a bottle. Those strange feelings kept coming though as he was apparently now looking through different eyes. It was his hand that now held the wand, though that hand was obviously female.
"Luna, what just happened?"
"I invited you in, Harry. Spirit roaming is incredibly dangerous if you don't know what you're doing - you clearly didn't."
"You mean I'm inside your body?"
"Yes. When I first spirit roamed, it was because of a severe trauma. I'd just watched my mum die and wanted nothing more than to go with her. Thankfully my daddy found me and did the same as I just did to you. Your spirit can enter someone through their mouth, and leave the same way. That's why a dementor kisses you there. By kissing my lips, my Daddy was able to return my spirit home. He then spent the next few years guiding me on how to do it properly. He can't do it himself but learned a lot from my mother, it's a trait I've apparently inherited from her."
While thinking over his situation, Harry got to see Luna's memories of the event she described. "It was the same for me, I just had to get away…"
As Harry thought of what had happened in that cell, Luna got to see it too. "We have a problem, Harry. I don't think they'll let me into Azkaban to kiss you, I'm going to have to guide you back…"
"No, Luna, I don't want to go back there."
"Harry, you must. That figure lying in the cell is the real you. If anything happens to the real you, your spirit will die too! You need to return, if only to eat and drink. You have to maintain your body, then you could leave again."
He could see the sense in her arguments, Luna then went on to explain their problem. "When I go with you, my body will really need someone to keep an eye on it. There isn't anyone I trust in Hogwarts who could do that for us…"
She smiled as one name popped straight into her head, Harry clearly trusted her with their lives. "Okay Harry, we'll talk to Hermione in the morning."
Harry felt his anger rise as he got to see why Luna was walking around the corridors at this time of night, bullies in Ravenclaw had locked her out of the dorm. He also got to see how this girl had been bullied since her early days in the castle, and how it had gotten worse as she got older.
"Harry, it's alright…"
"No, Luna, it's not. No one has the right to take your things, or lock you out from your bed. I can get us into Gryffindor but I don't see how that would help, I really don't want to go looking for Hermione at this time of night."
"Harry, I'm used to it now. At least it's summer…"
Seeing memories of Luna shivering alone in the cold castle had Harry's anger exploding. He'd just met Luna but could sense nothing but kindness and warmth from the girl, she shouldn't be getting picked on like this. Harry then thought of one other person in the castle who could possibly help them, and also be relied upon to do so discreetly. "Luna, call for an elf named Dobby."
"I don't think a castle elf would help us, Harry."
"Dobby is a free elf though, Luna. He just works here. Mentioning my name will see him help you."
Luna did as Harry asked, a bleary eyed elf soon appeared before her.
"Why is Miss calling for Dobby?" The elf stopped, rubbed his eyes again before throwing his arms around Luna. "Harry Potter sir is escaping that horrible place, Dobby always knew Harry Potter was a great wizard."
"You can see Harry is with me, Dobby?"
"Oh yes, Miss. Dobby would know Harry Potter anywhere."
"My name is Luna, Dobby. Harry asked me to call you and see if you could help us… Harry, would it be easier if I gave you control for a moment?"
"You can do that?" Hearing his words coming out of Luna's mouth answered his own question. He then spoke directly to his little friend. "Dobby, Luna has been deliberately locked out of her dorm. Do you know anywhere we could stay? Preferably somewhere we won't be easily found, or disturbed."
"Dobby knows the very place, Harry Potter, the come and go room. Harry Potter's Luna can make the room anything she wants, and only those allowed will find it. Dobby will take you there."
As Dobby was dragging Luna along by the hand to show them this room, Harry had one last thing to say before relinquishing control. "Dobby, her housemates keep stealing and hiding Luna's stuff, could you find it for her."
"Dobby will do that. People will not steal from Harry Potter's Luna, Dobby will see her belongings returned."
"Thank you, Dobby, you're the best."
Luna was now back in control, and chatting away to Dobby as they headed for the seventh floor. She had seen Harry's memories of their previous meetings, including Dobby being freed from the Malfoys, and now understood why the little elf was so fond of Harry.
They reached an empty piece of corridor and Dobby instructed Luna to walk up and down three times, thinking of the room she wanted. Harry had the strangest sensation of feeling Luna's tears running down her cheeks after she opened the door. "What's the matter, Luna, didn't it work?"
"Oh it worked perfectly, Harry. This is my bedroom from home, I've really missed it."
Luna kicked her shoes off, enjoying the sensation of her bare feet on the light blue rug in her bedroom. Harry noticed her shoes were odd. That they appeared at the bottom of Luna's bed, now with their matching partner, meant Dobby was already on the case.
With her arms spread wide, Luna flopped backward onto her bed - letting out a sigh of contentment as the mattress cushioned the impact. "This not only looks like my room at home, it feels and smells the same way too."
She stared at her favourite picture on her bedside table, a younger Luna held in her mother's arms. "I brought that picture to Hogwarts back in my first year, it went missing. It only reappeared the day before we got the express back home. I never brought it again, and I really miss it when I'm here. I thought I was going to have to wait another five days before I saw it again, this is wonderful."
Harry's anger flared briefly, anxiety quickly choking the life out of it. The cause of that anxiety was Luna standing and beginning to remove her robes. "Luna, what are you doing?"
"I'm getting ready for bed, Harry. You know, take clothes off, have a wash and brush teeth, nightdress on then into bed. Isn't that what you do? Apart from the nightdress part of course, that would just be silly."
"You're right, Luna, that's basically what I do. I'm inside you though, seeing, hearing and feeling everything you do - how is that going to work?"
"Well I can't walk about with my eyes shut, Harry. You're just going to have to see what you see..."
"I feel as if I'm peeking on you, I'm not like that..."
"I know, Harry. From having you inside me, I can tell you're a good person. I'm not Hermione, Harry, but the both of us will just have to make the best of this situation. It almost feels like I've got a friend..."
"Luna, whatever happens, you most definitely are now my friend."
A little later, Luna was lying contently in a perfect copy of her own bed when her new friend spoke to her.
"Luna, being here with you like this, It's easy to tell you are a beautiful person. Can I just say, you're easily as beautiful on the outside as you are on the inside."
"Thank you, Harry, that really means a lot to me." For the first time ever, Luna Lovegood went to sleep inside Hogwarts with a wide smile on her face.
-oOoOo-
Hermione didn't sleep much last night, no change there though. All throughout the build-up to the final task, Hermione had struggled to get more than a couple of hours a night as she'd been worried about Harry. Since then, well a couple of hours sleep would now seem like heaven.
This morning Hermione supposed she resembled death warmed up, and actually found out she didn't care. She didn't really care about the blonde Ravenclaw who slipped into one of the empty seats next to her either. Since everyone was too busy devouring the news in today's Prophet of just who had placed Harry in Azkaban, no one was paying Hermione any attention - until now.
Ignoring her obviously wasn't going to work as the girl started speaking to her.
"Hermiome, I'm Luna Lovegood. I need to talk to you, Harry needs our help."
This was the witch the entire school called 'loony', Hermione could certainly have done without this. "I'm sorry Luna, I have no idea how to help Harry."
"Oh that's alright, I do. What? Are you sure...okay, I'll try that."
Hermione was now stuck sitting next to this girl who was talking to herself, could this morning get any worse? Her blood ran cold though at the girl's next words.
"Me, books and cleverness. There are more important things — friendship and bravery."
"H-hhow could you possibly know that?"
"You really didn't want him going on without you..." Luna seemed to stare into space for a moment as tears began to run down her cheeks. "He could really have done with you there. Get Harry to tell you about it sometime. I'll warn you now though, he won't want to - and it's pretty horrible. A werewolf, dementors and a time turner, oh my! No wonder he trusts you with his life, you were the first name he thought about."
"Luna, what are you talking about? How can you know this?"
"Not here, Hermione. There's a life at stake, and that life is Harry's. We need to go somewhere private and talk, I'll tell you everything then."
With that, Hermione grabbed Luna by the arm and practically dragged her out of the great hall. First empty room they came to, they were both in there and Hermione was casting spells at the door to ensure they wouldn't be disturbed - or overheard. "I think you should tell me now, Luna."
"It's probably easier if I just show you."
Hermione thought she was ready for anything, that was until Luna grabbed her and kissed her on the mouth. That her first 'adult' kiss was with Luna Lovegood was not something Hermione had ever remotely considered. She was about to seriously lose her temper when Hermione felt the strangest sensation. It was like a cool gentle breeze running down her spine.
Luna ended the kiss and Hermione was ready to give the girl a piece of her mind, that all changed when she discovered her own mind had a visitor. Hermione would know that voice anywhere, even inside her head.
"Hi Hermione. Don't be angry at Luna, she needed to do that..."
Luna watched as Hermione's anger instantly disappeared. Her eyes nearly popped out her head as she shouted 'HARRY!'. Those same eyes then rolled in her head as Hermione promptly fainted.
Catching Hermione before she hit the ground, Luna voiced her thoughts on what just happened. "Maybe it would have been better to warn her first..."