Chapter 7
It was an ashen faced Cornelius Fudge that left Amelia Bones's office with the knowledge that a young wizard had his career and even liberty in his hands, after watching those memories and hearing that Lord Potter –Black had also absorbed the Malfoy monies and lands the Minister had no problem granting the small request he asked.
Amelia watched as the Minister of Magic scurried out her office and idly wondered if he would scoot straight to Dumbledore for help now that his other confessor was no longer available, he might find Dumbledore had problems of his own.
It really irked Amelia that such a small minded, weak willed person managed to plot his way to the top but she didn't think he would be there for much longer as one of his support pillars was dead and the other politically damaged. She was as honest as the day was long and could admit to herself she wanted his job, not to line her own vaults or as a power trip but just to see the position filled the way she envisioned it should be.
Magical Britain was being left behind the rest of the world because a small minority were determined to keep the status quo where they ruled supreme, Fudge wasn't a leader but more of a figure head that was wheeled out to wave to the crowds and take the fall when things went pear shaped.
Amelia was sure the next minister would need the backing of Lord Potter-Black, that and the fact her niece was crazy about him had led to her offering the betrothal contract. When that blew up in her face she tried to ingratiate herself to him by introducing the Tonks family and Remus Lupin but he saw right through her and dismissed Lupin out of hand. She had underestimated them and now they would be careful around her until figuring out what she was up to, Amelia hated playing these games but wasn't naive enough to think you could become minister without mastering them.
She then got a break when Lord Potter-Black asked her if she could do something for him and Amelia immediately said yes, if this was a test to see how trustworthy she was then she intended to pass with flying colours. For the amount of political and financial power he held it was a very modest request but one that came from the heart and she would not fail him, not even a bug would get through the shields she was having very discreetly erected around the site.
-oOoOo-
Emma Granger had both arms tightly around her son-in-law as she had the ride of her life, her grip got even tighter as Harry took his birthday present from his wife into a power dive that had Emma screaming before he pulled up in the nick of time.
Since she was a little girl Emma had dreamed of riding on a broomstick but never had it been like this, no gentle glide above the rooftops but slaloming through trees at ludicrous speeds with gut-wrenching climbs and dives thrown in for good measure. Emma loved it and swore roller coasters were pedestrian compared to this, seat belts and harnesses were for wimps as she clung on tighter still and screamed loudly in Harry's ear.
A watching Dan was worried sick until Hermione giggled, "Dad, Harry's a natural at this. He normally has people firing large cannon balls at him while weaving in between hostile players, mum's perfectly safe though don't tell her that. I told Harry she was an adrenalin junkie as far as roller coasters were concerned and he's going to give her the full treatment."
This didn't help as the broom went into a tailspin and Emma's screams must have been heard for miles around but Harry again levelled off at the last second and flew over to where father and daughter were standing.
Hermione was trying not to laugh as her mother had to be helped off the broom, her hair looked even worse than her daughter's first thing in the morning and she could hardly stand on her rubbery legs but still managed to say "Brilliant!" at least once every five seconds.
Hermione climbed on as Harry took her on a gentle circuit around the grounds and buildings that were Potter Manor. They were here to relocate the library to New York and allow Harry some time on his new Nimbus 2001, Hermione was well aware flying calmed her husband and for what he had planned for later she knew he needed this now. No words were spoken or needed as she held him close while he guided the broom gently over their property.
She would be strong for him and hope that was enough, this was unknown territory for both of them and she was so glad her parents were going to be there as Hermione had a feeling they were going to need them.
-oOoOo-
Remus Lupin was having a strange time of it, first the news about Sirius being killed while escaping and then Amelia Bones claiming he was innocent with Pettigrew not only the secret keeper but still alive. Meeting Harry was like looking at a young James but then he had been dismissed out of hand, Remus couldn't really fault the lad as he should have demanded to be part of his life and would one day have to face his friends and explain why he wasn't.
Then he was stood in Madam Malkin's being fitted for new robes that were being paid for by someone who'd also set him up with an interview, the robes he was now wearing were black and more elegant than anything he'd ever owned. It was a different Remus Lupin who made his way back into Gringotts for his meeting and was presented with a portkey, which was how he came to be standing in front of one Harry Potter.
"Hello Mr Lupin, I'm sorry we got off on the wrong foot the last time but I needed to know just whose side you were on. My goblin friends tell me you're not on any side and are forced more and more into the muggle world to find work, there really is an interview for you but we have another task to accomplish first. I would also like to get to know you a bit better as the only information I have on my parents is that I look like my dad but have my mother's eyes, I'm hoping you can change that.
-oOoOo-
Nymphadora Tonks watched the scene with tears streaming down her face, she had managed to hold it together when they buried Sirius beside the Potters but when Harry started introducing his wife to the headstones engraved with his parents names her heart broke for the boy.
Here lay the three people who had wanted nothing more in the world than to watch him grow into the fine man he would become and he had no memory of them, Harry started to cry and dropped to his knees with his wife dropping down right beside him. Watching the memories of those two and their commitment to each other was a humbling experience for Tonks, they literally completed one another and Hermione was being his strength here.
Harry had arranged with Amelia for the body of Sirius Black to be released and buried next to his best friend, the location was heavily warded for their privacy and only those with an invite could enter. Her mother, Remus and Professor McGonagall had spoken some words about Sirius in lieu of a service because of the nine people present, four had never met him and Tonks and her dad had only seen him a couple of times many years ago.
It was when Harry approached the graves of his parents with flowers that the emotion of the occasion hit everyone like a bludger, he was explaining why his life was so much better now and he hoped they didn't mind that he was calling Emma mum when the dam burst and emotions that had been held back for years were released in a flood of tears.
Emma and her mum were now hugging them both while Dan, her dad and Remus stood back displaying body language that only men embarrassed by their own emotions can manage. Each secretly wanted nothing more than to hug the crying kids but they were too uncomfortable with public displays of affection to carry out their wish, she had no such barrier and quickly joined the group hug.
Harry could feel the love that was coming from his family and began to get his emotions back under control, his new family meeting his old one had proved just to much for him but the support system he had in place meant Harry could cope with things so much better now. He felt his parents would understand that he couldn't remember them and would be happy that he had Emma and Dan in his life, they already felt more like parents to him than Vernon and Petunia ever did while the girl cuddling both him and Hermione was definitely more what Harry thought a cousin should be.
He was helped to his feet and put both arms around the girl to give her a hug, "Thanks Nym, I just knew we were going to get along."
Her hair was cycling through all the colours of the rainbow until a grinning Hermione hugged her as well, she didn't even mind him shortening her name because of the way he said it she could feel it came from the heart and Nym wasn't going to argue with that.
The nine of them took a portkey but a quartet of witches and wizards were shocked when they arrived at their destination, "Were in New York?" Tonks asked?
"Yes, this is where you'll be living and going to school, is that Ok with you?"
Harry got his answer when the girl with the multi-coloured hair picked him up, spun him round and kissed him.
The 'hem-hem' caused her to freeze and look into the chocolate brown eyes that were boring into her, "Could you please put my husband down!"
Nym was stuttering and stammering before Hermione's resolve cracked and she burst out laughing, "You should see your face," she made it a three way hug before speaking again, "Nym you're family now and Harry get's as many hugs as possible from his family, we've a lot of years to make up for."
She couldn't believe she'd just been duped, "Why you little minx! Oh I think I'm going to love it here."
Hermione took her by the arm to show their latest schoolmate her new room, Hermione's old one since she now stayed with Harry.
Dan, Emma and Minerva gave the Tonks parents the grand tour leaving Harry and Remus alone, "Mr Lupin, please have a seat."
"Thanks Harry but could you please call me Remus, Mr Lupin makes me feel old."
"Ok Remus so straight to business before they all return, Minerva has been teaching us about the wizarding world and I now realise there's so much that I don't know about and you are in a unique position to help with this problem. I am head of two families and have just adsorbed a third yet I know nothing about them, I don't just mean the facts like grandparents names but I want to learn as much as possible what these people were like. There is hundreds of year's worth of family history to sort through as well as things like how did my parents meet? Did my dad change my diaper or was he hopeless and my mum had to do it? I want to employ you to be the family historian, dig through the facts and figures to find out what the Blacks, Potters and Malfoys were really like, I don't want a sanitized version but warts and all – if it ties into wizarding history so much the better. I want to meet once a week where we can go over what you've found and decide where the research goes next while at the same time learning about my parents from someone who shared a dorm with my father and godfather for seven years and was the Gryffindor prefect with my mother."
Remus was blown away, here was an offer of work that was custom made for him and so much more challenging than security guard or working in a warehouse, which is what he'd been doing to earn a living.
It was obvious Remus was more than interested so Harry pressed home his advantage, "Griphook will provide a list of properties we own so please just choose one as your base and live there, you will have access to all the properties, vaults and anything that won't allow you to open it then bring it with you to our next meeting. Dobby will look after you and help with everything you need, the little guy is brilliant but just gets too emotional around me so I want him working with some people who'll treat him properly and hope he'll eventually calm down. Griphook is already moving us out of any inherited businesses that are dark and though the search of Malfoy manor didn't throw up what we were looking for quite a number of dark objects were taken away to be destroyed. Any that your research uncovers should be passed to Griphook for disposal."
Remus found himself nodding, totally forgetting that he was dealing with a young wizard, that he'd yet to say yes or even that salary hadn't been mentioned. Interesting tasks with a place to live and a house elf to take care of him thrown in was more than he'd had at anytime since leaving Hogwarts, he was well and truly hooked though would get an even bigger shock the next time he visited his vault.
Their discussion ended abruptly when Tonks exploded into the room like a firecracker and was once again all over Harry, it took her mother entering for her to switch targets, "Mum, you just have to se this room, it's bigger than my old dorm with it's own fantastic bathroom and even a computer!"
Ted was amusedly shaking his head as his hyper daughter dragged his wife away, "Harry I notice that you have kept this place mostly muggle, was that deliberate?"
"Yes sir, Hermione is muggle born with me being muggle raised so why should I give up Ninja Turtles and Transformers when all the magical world has to offer is gobstones and wizard chess."
This had everyone laughing but Minerva and Harry didn't fancy trying to explain 'robots in disguise' to someone who didn't have a clue what a robot is far less what it's disguise was supposed to be.
The Tonks women returned just as the elves announced that dinner was served which was a delightful meal as hilarious stories of what Harry's father and godfather got up to at Hogwarts were told, Hermione had to thump her husband on the back as he nearly choked on hearing that they had made Snape's hair not only curly but bright pink.
After they had settled down and moved in from the terrace the Potters corralled the Tonks for a talk, "Andi I currently have three seats on the Wizengamot, the Potter, Black and former Malfoy seats and would like to pass the voting rights to you. I have no interest in politics but it would be stupid to ignore what has landed in my lap if we can use it to drag Britain into the new millennium. The Wizengamot would object to anyone of mixed blood and you're the only pureblood in the family."
Andi took a moment to think before answering, "Harry I really appreciate the offer and also the trust it implies but I stepped away from all that pureblood nonsense years ago and have no wish to return to it. Cissi on the other hand loves all the wheeling and dealing and would be a much better choice than me, she's a Black now who will gladly swear a loyalty oath so you can absolutely trust her to follow instructions and do what's best for our family."
"Have you any idea what Draco's going to do?" Hermione asked.
"No, he's spent most of his time alone in his room. Cissi has been in and out trying to talk to him but his father was a big influence in his life and we still don't know what he's going to decide."
Harry had his arm around Hermione for reassurance, "His father was an evil git who died by his own hand, and I don't want to cast Draco out nameless and penniless but will do it if he can't accept being a Black. The first impression I had of Draco was of a spoilt brat who revelled being in his father's powerful shadow, well that's now gone and he has more options than his father was giving us, if he can't handle it then tough!"
-oOoOo-
Draco was sitting alone in a bedroom at his aunt's house with his face in danger of wearing a permanent scowl as that appeared to be his favourite expression lately. He was struggling with a decision that really was no decision at all, swear an oath and become Draco Black or refuse and be a nameless pauper.
All the values his father had extolled offered the proud pureblood no assistance whatsoever while he lay dying in agony from his own poisoned blade. Had he made contact with Potter the goblins would have cut his father to pieces within seconds with both himself and his mother quickly meeting the same fate, because they were married Granger would inherit and wouldn't have lifted a finger to save them if her precious Potter was murdered.
On paper there was no choice to make but life wasn't lived on paper, Draco knew he would have to obey the loyalty oath or it would cost him his magic and perhaps even his life and there was his problem. Draco wasn't certain he could do it and the price of failure was very high.
His mother had been helping but he was going to have to forget everything his father ever taught him and start again from scratch with a halfblood and a mudblood as head of family. He'd received permission to write to his friends but to say he was disappointed with the answers would be a bit of an understatement, he was spitting tacks. Pansy had immediately used the fact that he was no longer Draco Malfoy to cancel their betrothal while Crabb and Goyle just said 'sorry' he knew they were thick but expected more than a one word answer.
It was the reply from his godfather that frightened him most, putting it bluntly he was to say yes then spy on Potter and pass the information onto Severus. The fact that this could cost him his life from the magical oath was conveniently overlooked and Draco couldn't help but think that was something his father would have done, he'd been taught the dogma that Malfoy's bow to no one yet his father's greatest wish was to have his master back. These inconsistencies were peppered throughout his father's 'teachings' and his actions in the bank that day was hardly behaviour becoming of a Slytherin.
His mother had told him that the Blacks were a far more wealthy and powerful family than the Malfoys, they hadn't been in the Weasley class but neither were they in the same league as the Blacks or Potters and only the money his father had got for their betrothal had allowed them to prosper as they had.
He'd been going round in circles for days but it all came back to the same thing, could he give his oath and mean it? His scowl deepened with the thought of being poorer than a Weasley without even his pureblood status to give him comfort, with no family name he would lose that as well. He decided to go over things one last time in his head to see if he could come up with another option though only one day remained of the deadline Potter had set, his mother was delighted she was going to be a Black again and leaning heavily on him to make the same decision.
Draco knew what needed to be done but just didn't know if he could live with the decision, Potter was right about one thing though, the games were now over and it really was life or death.
-oOoOo-
Albus had to concede to his guests from the press that the article in the Prophet was historically accurate, factually correct and the conclusions it drew could be devastating for the future of Hogwarts. The fabled chamber of secrets was reportedly opened before and a student had lost their life, he'd also been forced to admit they'd no idea what killed her or where it came from. His only defence against the accusation that, should the chamber be opened again the school would be defenceless was to state that Hogwarts was the safest building in Britain. His only comment on Lord Potter-Black's offer of financial aid to those who wished to attend school abroad was to thank him for his concern but reiterate there was no need for any students to look elsewhere for their magical education.
The reporters had barely closed his office door behind them when there was a cacophony of noise emanating from all the portraits of the former headmasters, Albus had to shout to restore some kind of order in the room but Phineas Nigellus Black was not for being quiet.
"Albus how could you? As headmaster of Hogwarts your first duty is always the safety of her students, you're handing out guarantees and you have no idea whether you can deliver on them."
"I never gave any guarantees; I simply stated that Hogwarts is safe."
"You know fine well if that chamber gets opened again then this castle will be anything but safe, Lucius Malfoy was dark enough to try and kill using a poisoned dagger in front of the goblin leader then he certainly wouldn't hesitate to release a monster on the school."
"There is no evidence to support that, only your new head of house Black stirring up even more trouble for the school."
There was also no evidence that it was possible to shock a portrait into silence but Dumbledore's remarks almost provided it, Phineas took a few seconds to reply, "The new head of the Black family is putting his reputation on the line and backing that up with his own gold, those are the actions of an honourable man Albus. This appears to be a concept you are becoming less familiar with year by year, there have been no Hogwarts investigations or contingency plans even considered far less planned. You're gambling student's lives to uphold the reputation of the great Albus Dumbledore and I find those actions disgusting and unsupportable."
Albus drew his wand to silence the rebellious portrait only to find he'd left his frame, on further inspection he became aware that every former head had left their frames and he was alone for the first time since acquiring this office.
With even the silver instruments that used to monitor Potter and the wards at Privet Drive no longer making a sound the unaccustomed silence forced Albus to re-evaluate the decisions that led directly to this situation.
On the evidence he now had there was no other option than to admit he'd made a momentous mistake in placing Harry with the Dursleys, that was the pivotal moment in time that everything led directly back to. Had Sirius taken baby Harry he would never have went after Peter and the boy would have been raised in a loving household and his godfather would still be alive, any justification he had for that decision turned to ashes upon viewing the boy's deplorable accommodation and living conditions. Unfortunately it also cost him his dearest and oldest friend.
His pride also took a massive hit with the realisation that the Grangers had played him for a fool, they showed Albus exactly what he wanted to see and it hurt to find out just how easily the muggles had duped him.
The only positive that he could cling to in this whole disaster was that Harry now has a loving family to help alleviate the ten years Albus sentenced him to at the Dursleys, should he have turned dark and joined forces with Voldemort then there would have been no hope for the world.
The family that were so successful in pulling the wool over his eyes would surely be capable of keeping him safe while enjoying the kind of upbringing he'd expected the boy to receive from his relatives.
The problem with admitting to one mistake though was that it opened the door for others to creep in, he couldn't deny that some of his recent staff appointments had been less than stellar and could only hope that he'd got it right this year with his new depute, defence professor and transfiguration / head of Gryffindor.
Even after speaking with the reporters today Albus expected to lose up to a quarter of the students this year and had already noticed a drop in the new first year intake. He was unsure if that was to do with the current situation or the fact that Severus now had the duty of informing families their son/daughter was magical. It never occurred to the smartest wizard of his day that muggles who were unaware their child was magical would hardly be reading about Hogwarts problems in the Daily Prophet.
-oOoOo-
The twins were in trouble, not 'detention' or 'get to your room' trouble but the kind that altered lives forever. The final kick up the backside was delivered by owl and the news that all three girls were leaving Hogwarts just added pressure to what was already a very tense situation. They'd done their homework and had all of their reasons lined up like ducks in a shooting gallery as both approached the most important meeting of their lives.
"Mum, can we talk to you?"
An icy shiver ran down her spine at this serious tone coming from her twins, her first thought was they were far too young to be fathers as she sat down at the kitchen table to discover what had brought about this unprecedented change in attitude.
Molly thought it was Fred that got things started, "Mum we have something very serious to ask and we would like you to hear us out before passing comment."
"Our main interests at Hogwarts are potions and Quidittch, potions is extremely difficult because the professor hates us while the Gryffindor team just lost it's three chasers as well as it's seeker."
"We would like to use the opportunity Harry has provided to broaden our horizons and go to school in another country."
"This would also take the pressure off the new head of Gryffindor as we do pull quite a few pranks throughout the year."
"And the new depute would be after our blood."
"Causing friction between him and our new head of house."
Molly thought for a minute as the relief that they hadn't yet got some girl pregnant washed over her, she always knew Severus was biased against the Gryffindors and especially her family. Apparently only Harry Potter received worse treatment than the twins down in the dungeons of Hogwarts.
Part of her wanted to scream 'NO' but the fact that she was the new head of Gryffindor staid her hand, Molly was aware that teaching and being head of house was going to make this year difficult enough but here was the chance to remove undoubtedly the two worse trouble makers in her new house if not the entire school.
She had no illusions that they would stop their pranks because their mother was head of Gryffindor, the boys would just be extra careful in ensuring they weren't caught while the whole of Hogwarts knew who was responsible.
The question of Hogwarts being safe never entered her mind; Albus had said it was so therefore that must be the case. She also wasn't concerned about not seeing them until the holidays, as this had been the usual practice with their children of school age since Bill first boarded the express.
She had thought she was going to be in the house alone from this year but Molly would now be earning nearly as much as Arthur and still getting to see Percy, Ron and Ginny every day, with Arthur flooing between the ministry and their married quarters in Hogwarts with the Burrow being put in stasis until Christmas break.
Molly could see no down side to this arrangement but decided to run it by her husband before giving a definitive answer, "I need to talk to your father about this and we'll let you know as soon as possible."
Both twins couldn't hide their grins and with shouts of "Thanks mum." headed outside, when they were far enough away from the house they grabbed each other by the arms and began jumping up and down on the spot. Both were well aware who made the decisions in their household and 'need to see your father' just meant a slight delay and gave their mother someone to blame if the decision turned out to be the wrong one.
The boys were ecstatic, with the Quidittch team in disarray, the girls going to France, greasy git now depute and their mother teaching transfiguration and head of Gryffindor the castle held no attraction for them anymore. They were still bouncing up and down but now chanting, "Bless you Saint Harry." while wondering how you pronounced that in French, Fred and George Weasley were going to Beauxbatons!
Chapter 8
Albus Dumbledore sat on his 'throne' as his new depute led the severely reduced line of first years into the Hogwarts great hall heading towards the sorting hat, the headmaster had no idea what the hat's greeting was this year as it required all his considerable concentration and experience to hold his temper from exploding. The trouble was that in whatever direction he glanced there were images to make his blood boil. If he looked to his left there was his new defence professor, dressed in robes that were outlandish even by Dumbledore's standards and already pissing off anyone who had to sit near the boastful bore.
The view in front of him was of the Hogwarts great hall containing less than half the students he would normally expect to be there on the first of September while to his right was the woman who had heaped fuel onto the fire that was the raging debate of whether Hogwarts was safe. He didn't know how they found out but the press had jumped all over the fact that his new head of Gryffindor was sending two of her children elsewhere to be taught, totally ignoring the fact that she still had three children at Hogwarts including the Head Boy.
For any parents swithering on their decision the fact that a Hogwarts head of House would let her children go abroad was the final nudge needed towards them making the same choice, even looking towards the ceiling brought no relief as it mirrored the storm that was brewing outside and also matching the mood in the hall perfectly.
Albus knew this was going to be a difficult year but mistakenly thought this was the low point, it wouldn't take too long for him to realise just how wrong he was.
-oOoOo-
Hermione was sitting between her husband's legs with her back leaning on his chest as Harry's arms encircled her while together they watched the sunset over New York harbour. It was the first of September and their thoughts had been drifting elsewhere all day.
"Have you any regrets love?" Hermione asked.
Harry looked deep in thought for a moment before answering, "The only things I'll miss about Hogwarts will be the Gryffindor Quidittch team, Hagrid and Neville. According to our latest information from Cissi the whole team has moved to France while Neville's gran is having him home schooled. That only leaves Hagrid and compared to what we have here even his size doesn't come close to tipping the scales in Hogwarts favour."
It was a mischievous Hermione who asked, "Were you taking into account the fact that Draco's staying with us now."
He kissed the top of her head, "I think our guest has had his eyes well and truly opened in the last few weeks."
Hermione was chuckling now, "I don't know about opened but his eyes just might end up square shaped if he watches any more of your 'Thundercats' tapes, he spends hours in his room with his eyes glued to the screen."
Harry held her tighter, "Believe it or not I know exactly where Draco is coming from, he's having to adjust to everything he'd been told up until now being considered as wrong. I sometimes wonder how things might have turned out had I shook his hand on the Hogwarts express a year ago, I could have been sorted into Slytherin and ended up just like him."
It was Hermione's turn to be deep in thought as she recalled the changes Minerva's visit had bestowed on her family's lives, "I have to believe you would still have raced after me into that bathroom but can't make my mind up whether Draco would have came with you."
"We have to give him time to settle into his new world, Draco Black will need to be a different person from Draco Malfoy or the oath he took could have serious consequences."
"I think he enjoyed the lessons today though not quite up to joining us in the gym every morning, I don't know if he's ready to see Nym in her exercise clothes yet."
Harry was glad Hermione couldn't see him blushing, Nym's exercise outfits and her teasing left him red faced each morning. Any time he tried to tease her back it was as if he just dug himself a deeper hole to sink into and of course his wife thought it was bloody hilarious. Just when Harry thought he was getting the hang of this teasing business the experience would be taken to a whole new level and he was left floundering once more, it was always in fun though and Nym's comment of 'that's what happens when you're the youngest in the family' had him smiling for days.
They'd met and instantly liked the instructors Griphook had arranged for them and, with the exception of Minerva they were all American. This would enable them to portkey in one day a week and the charms on their home would prevent any of the professors from remembering where it was.
"I think the idea of having one professor per day is really going to work, we can always pick up on other subjects later on but dropping herbology, astronomy and history leaves us free to concentrate on transfiguration, potions, charms, and defence with the addition of runes and arithmancy being taught by the same professor. After living here even Draco should be able to pass muggle studies giving us seven core subjects."
Hermione couldn't hide the excitement she got from learning new things, "This means we should be able to sit our exams earlier, we have Nym and Minerva to help us with anything we struggle at plus our own library. Draco is quite capable of keeping up with us so we should be able to tear through the courses, do you think Minerva would help us become animagi?"
Harry had to smile at how well he already knew Hermione, "I have asked her and she said our magic had to stabilise first but our bond should speed that process up. She's going to teach us meditation techniques that will help when we're old enough to begin training; apparently Nym can't because she's a metamorphous and the two are incompatible."
Hermione then asked the question that had been on all of their minds, "What do you thinks going to happen in Hogwarts?"
"I hope nothing," said Harry with a passion that belied his years, "I hope we're wrong and the press slaughter me for scaremongering or worse, I don't care about the gold it's costing. If we're right then there are students at Hogwarts who are going to get hurt. We don't much like Ron now but I still wouldn't wish any harm to him."
With that said both Potters headed off to bed, tomorrow would be another hard but satisfying day and they were now getting up at six to use the gym before breakfast.
-oOoOo-
The two red heads were thinking this must be some kind of record, even for them. They were shown into the Headmistress's office and they hadn't even attended a class yet, for about the first time they could remember both could truthfully claim they'd done nothing wrong.
The headmistress entered and both boys were sure Hagrid would be head over heels in love at first sight of this woman, she was, if anything taller than the Hogwarts keeper of the keys. She was dressed in a yellow robe and had accessorised with a bright yellow feather boa that must have required a full flock of birds for its construction. Her eyes held both twins in a gaze that would have them confessing any misdemeanours they'd pulled within seconds, they would have to seriously cut down on the pranking as Snape would have killed for a glower like hers.
Amazingly enough her voice was sweet and light but there was no mistaking the steel in her words, which, though in accented English was easily understandable and a lot better than their French.
"Ah gentlemen, please be aware your infamy precedes your arrival at my school. I will be totally honest with you both and say that behaviour, which may have been overlooked in Hogwarts, will not be tolerated here. Beauxbatons is running very near its full capacity of students and I won't stand for any disruptions due to childish pranks, any trouble and you'll both be shipped off to your mother at Hogwarts. Have I made myself perfectly clear?"
"Crystal Ma'am," they answered together.
"Good because I would hate for there to be any misunderstandings here, this is an education establishment and not a test market for pranks 'R' us!"
Both wizards left her office wearing expressions akin to religious fervour.
"What a brilliant idea!"
"Yea, don't like that name though, couldn't see that ever catching on."
"What about 'Weasley Wizard Wheezes', kind of catchy don't you think?"
"Oh yes but I think we should name our first product in honour of Madam Maxime, what was your impression the first time you saw her?"
George didn't hesitate, "Big bird, big yellow bird."
"Right," said Fred, "our first product will be something that transforms the victim into a big yellow bird."
George could immediately see a problem, "Do we really want to pull a prank on someone that makes them bigger than us?"
"Good thinking, so small yellow bird."
"A Canary?"
"And we can call them…"
Together the twins announced their first product to an unsuspecting world, "Canary Creams!"
A jubilant George proclaimed, "Zonko's won't know what hit them."
Fred was always the more ambitious one though, "The world won't know what hit it."
-oOoOo-
Cissi knew the approach was coming; she was just surprised they hadn't waited a week or so.
Edmund Parkinson sat beside her in the Wizengamot restaurant, "Madam Black, we were sorry to hear of your husband's demise and offer our condolences. However you are now a very powerful player in the Wizengamot and we would like to ascertain where your sympathies lie."
The blond Black's alarm bells were immediately ringing; this was too crude, too direct meaning she was dealing with amateurs or people so powerful they didn't need to bother with social niceties.
"Member Parkinson I accept your condolences in the spirit they were offered, as to my sympathies, since I'm voting by proxy they hardly matter. My Lord Potter-Black makes the decisions that affect my family."
"As was demonstrated by your husband, situations can change incredibly quickly." Edmond didn't say any more as Amelia Bones had joined them at the table but couldn't resist a parting remark, "Big changes are coming and I would hate to see you on the wrong side of them."
Amelia watched him walk away before speaking to Cissi, "Sorry for interrupting there but that looked pretty intense."
"It was," replied a thoughtful Cissi as she tried to evaluate the level of threat she'd just been delivered and didn't like her conclusions.
Amelia was pondering over his parting remark, "These people talk of change but the only changes they crave are one's that solidify their grip on the power they wield, any changes they are in favour of would not benefit the witches and wizards of Britain. Have you decided your position on this issue?"
Cissi nodded, "My son and I made our positions quite clear when we became Blacks and swore allegiance to our Lord, you must be aware of his position on these matters."
Amelia knew it was cards on the table time, "I know and completely agree with his position, our world stands at a crossroads and unless the correct path is chosen the magical population of Britain could find itself confined to the dark ages. I would like the opportunity to guide us down what we see as the correct path and offer an alliance between our houses with the aim of achieving this common goal. I have fought the good fight my entire adult life and cannot, no will not change my direction now."
Cissi again had a lot to chew over, Bones had just declared herself a player who opposed the darkness and wished an alliance with Harry, from her knowledge of the woman she was positive this was genuine and would be recommending the family accepted the offer.
"Thank you for such honesty and trust Amelia, I will of course pass this directly to Lord Potter-Black, we expected trouble from a selection of purebloods but apparently they have a timetable shorter than anything we had considered. Edmund's confidence is very worrying; it's almost as if their plans are all in place and just waiting for the right moment."
Amelia could see the woman was worried and trusted her assessment of the situation, "We're going to have to watch our backs and take care of our loved ones, can we change the subject for a moment?"
-oOoOo-
A CAT! a frigging cat, they did this to him over a cat.
Albus Dumbledore sat with only Fawkes and a rapidly diminishing bottle of firewhisky for company, the more he drank the sorrier he felt for himself and the more irate the beautiful phoenix became.
Albus was drowning in a firewhisky fuelled self-pity party as he could see his epitaph now, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, Order of Merlin, First Class, and Grand Sorcerer; Headmaster of Hogwarts; Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards; Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot; Conqueror of the dark wizard Grindelwald and discoverer of the 12 uses for dragon blood – SACKED because of a mangy moggie that was found petrified in a corridor.
After some more firewhisky he had to admit that Snape had played his part brilliantly, the governors had met the same night and he was unceremoniously given his marching orders and booted out the castle leaving the former death eater in charge.
Fawkes had quite enough of this; he knocked the remains of the firewhisky over onto the table before setting it aflame. Albus found himself jumping back and landing on the floor with a singed beard but his phoenix wasn't finished with him yet, perched on his chest the majestic bird began to fiercely screech at the prostrate wizard.
To Albus this was more potent than the strongest sobering charm and seemed not only to clear his head of the alcohol befuddlement but put everything else into perspective as well.
"Oh Fawkes, what have I done? The writing on the wall said 'beware' and they arrested Hagrid yet I'm lying here feeling sorry for myself. Those children are in terrible danger and my friend's in Azkaban but all I could think off was my damaged reputation." Albus Dumbledore cried like a baby while Fawkes sang a comforting song from his perch, his wizard was back on the path he'd been slowly but surely straying from.
-oOoOo-
The news from Hogwarts was not well received in New York; two people who would die to protect Hogwarts students had been removed from the castle leaving Snape in control.
"I don't know what else I could have done," Harry was sick with the thought of his friend in Azkaban, just confining Hagrid in an enclosed space would be bad enough without adding the dementors.
It was Amelia who spoke, "You got more than half the students out of Hogwarts and safe, that's more than my entire department could achieve. Fudge ordered Hagrid's arrest because he was apparently expelled the last time this happened and the incidents stopped. No investigation, no trial just directly to prison because the minister said so, our government is not supposed to work that way but my hands are again tied. It will appear in the Prophet tomorrow that Hagrid is a half giant so no tears will be shed or questions asked, it's Sirius all over again."
Hermione filled in the blanks for her parents and Harry, "Giants are considered dangerous, homicidal beasts, revealing that fact strips away all his support and rights."
Dan wasn't sure if Harry was going to explode with anger or cry, he'd heard them talking often about their large friend who had given Harry his two most precious gifts, Hedwig and his photo album. "So let me see if I've got this right, they won't take the threat to Hogwarts seriously because the warning came from an elf, when it looks to be coming true they arrest a man with no evidence to support it and, based purely on who one of his parents was they can get away with it?"
Minerva was nodding in agreement, "Not only that but they throw the most powerful wizard in the country out the castle and leave it to the tender mercies of that Slytherin, I shouldn't have left!"
Hermione tried to comfort the woman, "You're more than needed here, where does this leave us in Britain Cissi?"
"I think these incidents are going to be used to re-align the government even more towards pureblood philosophy, Fudge may not know it but he has staked his career to Hagrid being the bad guy with the attacks now stopping. We all know Hagrid's innocent so Fudge will be lucky if he's still minister by Halloween and I can't see any chance of him lasting until Christmas. I think they'll also move to get rid of Amelia here, I hope by sacking rather than an accident but they won't want her around asking questions or stirring up trouble."
Amelia had quickly come to respect the fact that this was no dumb blond, that title was reserved for her former husband. She was now certain who had the business head in that family and had to agree with her assessment that she would be next on the list behind Fudge, "Depending on how discussions proceed later I may just jump before I'm pushed, I could do more good with my reputation still intact."
Hermione agreed, "I think Griphook needs to speed up our withdrawal and I'd like to contact the Longbottom's to offer them at the very least another option. There's no way that we can help anyone at Hogwarts since the best minds in the wizarding world couldn't figure out what was doing the attacking far less where it's hiding."
Harry also added, "I think it's time for Cissi to get out to, what about the Tonks – do we need to get them out as well?"
Cissi conceded, "I'll talk to the Longbottom's then have a chat with Andi and Ted, I agree with Amelia that things could go bad very quickly and I don't really want to be around when it does."
Emma was quick to jump in, "We have plenty of space here and they're all welcome."
Hermione was trying not to get annoyed at her mother offering their home to everyone while Harry was delighted that she thought of the place as home enough to make the offer.
Harry and Hermione walked into there second meeting just as unsure of the situation as their first, Nym was there in her big sis role she revelled in so Harry got straight to the point.
"Draco, Susan you both know our backgrounds and I'm totally out of my depth here. I don't want to knock your customs but as head of Draco's house I won't let this betrothal proceed unless you both want this. I know this might be awkward for you but better that than married to someone you don't want to be with."
Draco answered quickly, "Thanks Harry, when my father made arrangements with the Parkinson's I was still a child so I really appreciate being consulted this time. Unlike Pansy, Susan is a beautiful, bright, bubbly girl who I would be delighted to get to know better."
It was a blushing Susan who replied, "I'm also glad of this opportunity to give my opinion, had it been Draco Malfoy I would have been using this chance to say no but I think I like Draco Black and definitely want to get to know him better."
It was a now much relieved Harry who had an easy decision to make, "Ok guys, as long as this is what you want I will give it my blessing as Lord Potter-Black."
Susan hesitated a second before asking a question, "Harry, could I ask a big favour, I understand from my aunt that you want me to come here for school and I think that would be great but could we include Hannah? She's been my best friend like forever and we do everything together."
Draco's eyes glazed over before a smack on the back of his head from big sis Nym set him right, "Mind, gutter, out!"
The laughter at Draco's predicament and the fact he accepted the ribbing with good grace cemented Susan's decision, next to Harry Draco had been the best looking guy in Hogwarts but with the worse personality. Having spent some time chatting, the change to him was a revelation, especially his attitude to all things muggle and if Hannah came here it would be perfect.
"Ok Susan, I'll talk to your aunt about getting permission from her parents to come here," the former puffs reaction told the Potters that they'd made the right decision, whether Draco and Susan would come to anything was entirely up to them as there would be no forced marriages in any house they were head of.
Amelia promised to talk to Hannah's parents and thanked them for even considering it; Harry asked the question he was terrified of the answer to.
"Can we do anything to help Hagrid or would we just be drawing attention to him, I can't help wondering if I hadn't intervened would Sirius still be alive?"
Amelia could see the cracks where the boy was desperately trying to become a man and once again had her decision to align her house with this wizard confirmed, there were people in Britain who had known Hagrid for years not as concerned about him as Harry. "Sirius was a high profile prisoner who could have brought careers grinding to a halt if he'd been found innocent, Hagrid is a simple soul who will be so glad of being released he would probably disappear into the forest and never mention it again. When Fudge goes they might just release him but if they know we're behind any movement to make this happen I think we would be lessening his chances"
Harry lay in bed holding Hermione; this was the best part of the day though waking up beside her ran it pretty close. Here he could be just Harry, the luckiest person in the world because he had Hermione in his arms.
She kissed him, "What's up love, worried about Hagrid?"
He held her tighter, "I desperately want to help him but the best thing I can do for him might be nothing and I hate that."
She could only hold her husband and hope this turned out alright, Hagrid was one of the most important adults in his life and she was worried what his reaction would be if anything happened to their friend at the hands of the ministry. "We both know Hagrid would never have left Hogwarts while Dumbledore was there, when he gets out we can make sure he's ok and give him a job looking after Potter manor."
The fell asleep wrapped in each others arms.
-oOoOo-
Albus had a glass of firewhisky in his hand for the first time in almost five years but this was a special occasion, Harry Potter turned seventeen today.
Gazing into the amber liquid the old wizard asked himself for at least the millionth time if he made the right decision telling Harry of his destiny that day in the Hogwarts infirmary, things had been going bad before that but seemed to accelerate out of all control from that day on.
He let his thoughts wander backwards as he seemed to do more and more these days; the attack at the castle when it came was swift and deadly leaving four students dead in a corridor. The school was closed and the evacuation began immediately, it was only then that they noticed the youngest Weasley was missing. Molly was hysterical and they had to physically drag her out of the castle. The elves, ghosts, portraits and teams of aurors searched the castle from top to bottom but her body was never found as Hogwarts now lay empty and abandoned.
The ministry's reaction was swift and predictable; Fudge was sacked being replaced with Dolores Umbridge. Amelia had resigned the week before citing 'irreparable differences' with the direction the ministry was taking. She proved to be more of a seer than Sibyll as just about everyone with a light connection lost their jobs, the only exceptions being Arthur and Amos who'd just lost children at Hogwarts so were spared for now.
Then the incident that changed everything for Albus, now that it was blatantly obvious that Hagrid had nothing to do with the attacks he began lobbying to get him released. The Prophet headline announcing Rubeus Hagrid had been killed while trying to escape from Azkaban nearly saw Albus sent there as his temper exploded in the ministry building, leading to his vault being confiscated to replace the statues and fountain he destroyed. The idea that Hagrid could sneak along a corridor was a sick joke that Albus didn't find funny in the least, the bastards had got away with murdering Sirius so couldn't see any reason why a half giant should be any different.
The laws soon started changing to favour the purebloods even more than they already did and an exodus began from people of mixed blood and muggle borns that the ministry appeared to be encouraging but all that came to an abrupt and sudden end then the killings began.
It started with the Creevey family, muggles who had three magical children but found themselves the first casualties of the new war and supplied Albus with his new calling. His underground railway helped witches and wizards escape the persecution in Britain being very successful in the beginning but the ministry got more and more vicious.
He had his suspicions that the ministry was now being run by someone else and after all the death eaters were released from Azkaban and quietly given jobs in the ministry he was pretty sure, Voldemort had returned and was running Britain from the background while Albus found himself declared an outlaw for working against the ministry. He was in good company as Harry already had that title though so far he appeared to be the only one who was at least one step ahead of the ministry.
Very early on they tried a smear campaign in the Prophet only to have it backfire spectacularly; their claim that Harry didn't give them enough information and was then somehow responsible for the attacks at Hogwarts was a lie too far. There were parents the length and breadth of the country thanking Harry Potter that their children hadn't been in Hogwarts at the time and weren't prepared to have their families saviour slandered like that; the aurors had to be called to protect the newspaper offices.
They then tried to confiscate the former Malfoy manor to replace Hogwarts only to discover that all his properties were protected by the fidelius charm, apparently Snape was fit to be tied as he fancied ruling the roost at the manor as headmaster of the new school.
A school had indeed been opened but was now more about teaching the purebloods their place in society and demonstrating to the rest what there's now was rather than any academic pursuits. Tales of purebloods leading the muggle borns around by means of a collar and lead were only the beginnings of deeds performed in the name of education. Harry's foresight had already got most of them safely out of the country as their parents clamoured to flee Britain and join them, needless to say Severus Snape was the only former Hogwarts professor working there.
Laws were then passed making it illegal for anyone other than a pureblood to be educated abroad and giving financial assistance to aid this branded you an outlaw.
They got an even bigger shock though when they finally gained access to the outlaw Potter-Black's vaults only to find them empty, Harry had already moved every Knut he owned out the country. The ministry was left looking like idiots again and whoever was giving the boy advice really knew their stuff. The real shock was when they tried for his family and friends to find them gone as well with even the Longbottoms being spirited out of St Mungo's, that had impressed the hell out of Albus and he figured the Dursleys would be safe as even he didn't know where Vernon's sister lived or whether they'd bought a new house since.
Harry had continued to help as people who Albus was trying to get out the country would suddenly find funds appearing in their muggle bank account or vault as whispers began to emerge of a new group calling themselves 'liberty' who'd begun fighting back.
Albus had finally made contact with them just over a year ago outside a small 'camp' though the memory brought a rye chuckle from the old wizard's throat.
Flashback
Albus watched from the undergrowth as the scene before him played out like something from the worst days of the Roman Empire, purebloods were gods who had the power of life and death over the chattel. Chattel being anyone else not of pureblood and in front of him was a conditioning camp, they were expected to be demure and obey their betters every whim and here they were taught the consequences of not carrying out that task.
He was waiting for darkness to fall in the hope of being able to rescue a couple of these prisoners, Albus was in all practicality working with his hands tied behind his back because the magical net that covered the country had been perverted to suit the ministry's new requirements. Accidental underage magic use could now see you and your whole family end up in a place like this if you didn't have the right bloodlines, it had also been specifically set to look for his magical signature so casting a single spell would have him up to his arse in ministry death eaters within seconds.
It was then he felt the wand point press into the back of his neck and only his recognition of the voice that whispered to him kept Albus still.
"You're getting a bit too old for this shit Albus, stay there and let the youngsters show you how it's done."
So he did and what he saw was a revelation, they moved like black ghosts as they swiftly and silently eased their way through the camp. Not a sound was made and no prisoners taken with the camp being overrun in minutes as they started to move the prisoners to a central area for transportation out of here, not one spell had been cast so the magical net was blissfully unaware that a ministry camp had just been wiped out.
"I would suggest you make yourself scarce old man, when we portkey these people out of here the magical detectors in the ministry are going to light up like a Christmas tree and this area would become extremely unhealthy to anyone with the last name Dumbledore."
He turned around to look into the eye of Amelia Bones, the scar tissue and eye patch told of a violent end to her monocle wearing days.
"Yes Albus, that's why I leave this to the younger generation and work in planning and observing now, seems we both picked the same spot to observe the action from. There's always a place in our organisation for a warrior of the light?"
"I'm flattered Amelia but prefer to work alone now, that way if I make a mistake it's only my life on the line. At one time I would have baulked at the methods used here tonight but that wizard died with my friend Hagrid, they want to turn the clock back centuries then so be it. You live by the sword then you die by the sword or whatever your people were using down there."
Albus heard a slight buzz and watched as Amelia removed a device from her pocket, then a voice sent the old wizards brain into hyperdrive, "Auntie, are you ok?"
"Sorry for alarming you love but just chatting to a very old friend here, code green so don't worry. Am ready to go when you are."
"Right, beginning countdown now!"
Albus felt a wave of hope pass through him that had the old wizard feeling better than he had in years, "Tell Harry he's back."
Amelia just nodded, "We know Albus and we're working on it now get the hell out of here."
As she and everyone else disappeared by portkey it was a rejuvenated Albus Dumbledore who took the good advice he'd been given and got his arse well away from there.
End of Flasback
It was only later that he recalled the insignia on her robes, a hand carrying a flaming torch but with a phoenix emerging from the flames. The significance was not lost on the old wizard, their country was going to have to burn away the darkness for them to emerge stronger into the light.
Half a century ago Albus had fought a war and, like any civilized person never wanted to repeat the experience again. He now realised they were wrong and hadn't dealt with the conditions that created a dark lord therefore promptly found themselves facing another, even if his original, somewhat naïve plan for Harry to defeat Voldemort had succeeded the conditions would still have been ripe for the next one to come along.
He also wasn't forgetting that the purebloods had gained total control of the government before Voldemort even appeared this time and that they were the bastards who murdered Hagrid and Sirius, with his supporters already in control of the ministry he could just walk right in and take over without anyone being the wiser.
Albus took another sip of his drink and the warm feeling that passed through his body was not entirely induced by the firewhisky, that Harry Potter was putting together a force to liberate Britain was a thought powerful enough to warm his old bones on even the coldest of nights.
He held up his glass in salute and said "Happy Birthday Harry" before draining the contents and smashing the glass into the fireplace, his next drink would be in a free Britain.
-oOoOo-
Edmund Parkinson hated entering the throne room because you were never sure which dark lord you were going to be faced with, the young man who considered everything carefully or the red eyed lunatic who was more likely to have you leaving the room carrying your bollocks in your hand, the voice bade him enter and his spirits immediately rose at the blue eyes which greeted his presence.
He knelt and gave his news, "My Lord, we have word of Potter. A booking has been made for a surprise birthday party in a muggle establishment to celebrate his coming of age." Edmund would never admit that it was entirely down to luck his daughter had discovered this from reading someone else's mail.
"Well people should get what they wish for on their birthday so if he wants a surprise then that is what he'll get." Voldemort's eyes suddenly had a decidedly red tinge to them as his hansom face contorted with rage, "Send a squad, kill everyone there but bring me back Potter. Damaged is permissible but he better be breathing or else you wont be."
"Understood my Lord," replied the death eater as he backed out the door, hoping against hope to escape without being tortured.
End of Part One