Civil Duty
"Mum what am I going to do?" a boy was sat at the table, his head buried in oversized hands as a number of documents in front of him detailed the exact situation he was in. To his left was a red headed woman, slowly comforting the tall muscular boy before her. He looked up with worried blue eyes, though as he did so a visible scar exposed itself to the room. An oddly shaped lightning bolt on his otherwise clear rounded face, he looked a mixture of depressed and terrified.
"I'm sure it will all work out sweetie." Lily Potter soothed her son's trembling hand by overlapping her soft slender one around it. Her other hand pulling him close and wrapping him in a half hug, she was trying to smile but failing; her trembling face gave it all away. She was even more worried than her son and her slender frame was practically clinging to the chair for support. Her usually sheet white skin was sickly and a lack of sleep had caused bags to form under her eyes.
Though she was not the only one worried, across from her was a tall, striking fellow who looked like a much older version of the boy in the middle. Silver rimmed spectacles were resting on his nose and while age had loosened his face it still held a look of encouragement. Though his jet black hair like his son's was a rambling mess which reflected the current state of his mind.
Daniel Potter, he was their first son. Though he was going to be at trial in a week for underage magic, Dementors had attacked while they had completed their annual hour of seeing Petunia. Daniel Potter had been outside at the time and he had saved Dudley Dursley's life, though in the process he had violated the law and now the Minister was seeking to purse a prosecution.
"See son, Dumbledore even has your defence," James pointed at another document and as he spoke another boy entered the room. A thinner, more pointed version of his twin with emerald green eyes. Ones which bore into the very sole and merited a smile from both his parents as he glanced at the documents.
"That's one hell of sound prosecution. Fudge has this in him?" Harry Potter looked at what James's had been pointing to. A faint look of shock overcame him.
"That's my defence," Daniel pointed out dryly, citing a Dementor attack had been reported and ridiculed on a national scale and there was no evidence of such an attack. Harry however frowned, creasing his otherwise smooth skin.
"Oh thank God, I thought the minister had achieved competence," he said nothing more and walked over to the centre of the wooden table and helped himself to toast. They were in Grimmauld Place for both protection and Order meetings;
"Harry's just teasing," Lily scolded but her attempt fell on deaf ears.
"No he's right, I'm going to be expelled for sure." Daniel looked defeated.
"And imprisoned if the Judge feels like it," Harry muttered to himself, glancing at the paper in order to avoid his parent's scathing glares.
"No you won't," Lily tried again but she doubted her son was listening. He was currently the laughing stock of the Wizarding World and while that didn't bother him, the fact the court was going to be against him was. He loved Hogwarts and losing it would be... there were no words.
"Just tell the Judge you were attacked, I mean why would you be in serious trouble over a second offence?" Harry questioned with a shake of his head.
"He's not being tried by a Judge, he's going in front of the Wizengamot." James pointed out. Words could no longer describe Harry's movements then, the paper was on the table in a blink and in another he looked ready to explode into joyful.
"The entire Wizengamot?" He asked again with a twine to his voice his parents did not understand.
"Yes Harry! It's not something you should be excited about," Lily reprimanded wondering just why he was acting this way. Harry for his part was unmoved.
"So your trial, the main news event this month is going in front of an entire court. So say hypothetically someone was to embarrass themselves it would go nationwide correct?" Harry continued, though he wasn't really asking a question. Indeed it was like Daniel had answered a question of his.
"Yes and that's going to be me." Daniel muttered in a disgruntled voice,
"Why didn't you just say so? This couldn't be better! Mr Wealsey are you going into the ministry today?" Harry directed his question to the finely dressed red haired man who had come into view.
"Umm yes why?" Arthur asked, his smiling face entering the dining room.
"I have to meet someone there, it's nothing important, could I go with you?" Harry asked with a gleam in his eye, that was excitement.
"Of course, I'm not leaving for ten minutes do you want to get ready?" Arthur was surprised. He hadn't expected Harry to have such a sudden interest and nor did his parents judging by their quizzical stares.
"Great, it should take me just that long to organise the meeting, ten minutes." He smiled almost skipping out of the room, much to the surprise of his family.
"What's he doing?" James was confused.
"Maybe he's had an idea, Harry's always been politically active." Lily suggested, indeed it was something neither her nor her husband understood Harry's political involvement. All they knew was how to encourage him.
"Maybe he might get me off?" Daniel began hopefully. Lily and James said nothing, how could Harry do that?
Ministry Of Magic
"Percy!" a dry voice exclaimed and the puzzled face of Percy Weasley looked up to see Harry Potter before him. It was his first week working as a junior assistant.
"What are you doing here?" his tone of anger and disgust were plain, he had a serious falling out with his family recently and hoped Harry was not here to patch it up. Though he noticed someone was different about him.
"Nothing much," Harry smiled, then Percy clocked it. He was a wearing flowing black robes, ones which trailed down to the floor and covered his arms; only leaving a V neck as the fabric crossed. In that small space was a white item, half a tie and half a scarf.
"Why are you wearing that? It's reserved for the Minister's Civil Advisors only! Are you trying to embarrass me?" the Weasley demanded furiously, looking around for anyone coming. The room outside the office was of course small, with only a desk adjacent to the door; guards were kept outside of course.
"Percy you're working for the Minister of Magic, just try to embarrass yourself more? Now as lovely as it is to see you I have a meeting to attend." Harry said dropping his smile and talking in slightly lower tones.
"Good go," Percy ordered as Harry turned and walked straight through double wooden doors and into the minister's office. Percy gaped and contemplated calling security, though his jaw nearly hit the floor when he heard the warm welcome Harry received.
"Good morning Harry,"
"Morning minister, how are you today?" Harry walked into the grand office, reserved only for the Minister of Magic himself and found the short plump man was busy eating rather than working. A pile of forms were thrown around his desk but they were evidently unused.
"Perfect well thank you, what are you doing here? I thought you only came in on Tuesday's through Thursday and Friday afternoons?" The minister asked realising it was neither term time nor one of those days in question.
"Very perceptive minister," Harry began in a tone that a select few would call patronising, though the minister had never noticed it. They had been "friends" for years and he had never noticed it.
Harry and Fudge had met first when Harry was five years old, the minister was always trying to meet the Boy Who Lived but Daniel had never ever, held any interest in politics. So the five year old Harry had made innocent conversation, Harry had also written asking how the ministry worked and after a number of letters, and a few years Harry began to understand.
In his first year he had managed to help Dumbledore cover up just who Professor Quirrel had been sharing his turban with, Fudge had found and had been impressed. In his second year Harry had been invited a few times to talk to the minister and thanks to the efforts of a person who realised just how valuable he could be, he had advised he minister on crucial policy. Policy he could now understand.
His third year had seen an increase in his ministry visits and before he knew it he was meeting the top advisors, Civil Servants and power makers. He had managed to advise the minister on the Peter Pettigrew situation, something that been easy when the minister's chief advisor; Dumbledore had fallen out of favour over the fact a certain rat had been hiding in his school since its escape from Azkaban.
In his fourth year he was an unofficial top Civil Servant who had been told by a vast majority of people they had their eyes on him and there was a chance he would join the more secretive governmental service quickly after his education. Though now it was a guarantee. He had even been given the robes as a gift, they couldn't be bought anywhere.
"Anyway how can I help you my boy?" Fudge asked with a smile.
"Well it's about my brother."
"No I am not stopping the trial, I am afraid due process must take its course," Fudge silenced quickly unaware he was playing right into Harry's hands.
"Minister I would never suggest such a thing, in fact I was going to suggest the opposite," Harry smiled before handing over a number of brown envelopes to the minister. They looked bulky and the man in question looked up; alarmed.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"Well you have enough evidence to prosecute for performing underage magic but at worse you can only expel him and at the moment you have a... political focus," Harry spoke slowly, softly wanting the minister to both understand and be confused.
"Oh I see," Fudge nodded though it was quite evident he did not. Harry's smile was now that of a shark.
"Well you see if he is expelled then there is no reason for the press to use him as a reminder that the ridiculousness of the situation he and Dumbledore is attempting to convey to the ministry and people, far outweighs any potential care they have for him," Harry said quickly, wanting to speed past this bit.
"Ok," Fudge nodded.
"So instead you charge him with something that will grab headlines and keep him free," Harry suggested with a subtle grin and Fudge suddenly looked interested.
"What sort of thing?"
"Well minister, I was thinking along these lines," Harry pointed to the third brown envelope he had handed to the minister; Fudge turned it over and his eyes lit up.
"Harsh!" Fudge remarked "Plus he is your brother,"
"Oh family has very little to do with politics, this is a matter of stability," Harry turned on his false charm and his tone once more became patronising. Fudge was just too easy to manipulate.
"We still can't prove it."
"We don't need to, the moment you charge him with this the papers will go insane. They'll love the story and yet when it comes to trial the head of law enforcement will have no choice but to dismiss."
"A politically damaging move." Harry's eyes shot up in alarm at the comment and for a second he wondered if Fudge had caught on, thankfully he had not.
"Daniel Potter will get off but the whispers of this trial will haunt him everywhere, his name will exist side by side with this crime. He will be completely without support and all this nonsense about Voldemort returning will be quashed." Harry explained and he knew Fudge had already agreed to it.
"Pass this on to Dolores, I think she may be able to enact this idea." Fudge nodded with an evident grin.
"Speaking of Dolores what's going on with the inquiry Madam Bones is launching," Harry asked. The power of undersecretaries was the latest target of the ever reforming Madam Bones. Though Dolores Umbridge was a delicate case, she had been the one to introduce him to the real face of government and if she was caught then he wasn't far behind.
"Nothing yet, but just between you and me I'm thinking of putting her on gardening leave until it's all blown over,"
"Of course Minister, it's just between you and me and this proposal will go straight to her,"
Thank you Harry my boy, I'm glad to know at least one Potter is on my side."
"Yes Minister," Harry almost broke out in laughter as he left the room.
Civil Servant's discussion room
Harry relaxed on a soft black leather chair with a glass of butterbeer in his hand and a roll of parchment in the other. He was waiting for Arthur Weasley to escort him back but it would be an hour or so and thankfully his unofficial position granted him a few official privileges.
"So anyway, no sane person would attempt to undermine the actions of the minister's undersecretary just after suffering a huge political loss," Harry smiled at the woman in front of him. It was a false smile to the extreme, in all honesty he did not care for her and neither did she care for him. Though they were both means to an end for the other, Harry could advise from a younger perspective and transmit any needed views. To him she was a doorway into a world where actual politics took place.
"Good, Madam Bones has already begun assembling the committee,"
"This should put her out of action Dolores, remember if they find anything on you they find it on me," Harry muttered taking a sip of his drink.
"I know, though after this I have a feeling the power base will be secure," Umbridge grinned, a horrible sight given the fact her robes were vibrant pink and they made her look even more like a toad.
"Speaking of that, Minister Fudge was asking if your garden needed any work done," Harry said simply as if it was nothing but Umbridge's attention snapped towards him.
"Oh really?" they couldn't discuss it openly here, there were other civil servants, secretaries, undersecretaries and permanent ones who would not hesitate to use this. Though she got the hint, gardening leave was given to people whom may go under investigation.
"Yes and you may want to make some preparations, speaking of which the contact?" Harry asked cryptically and was delighted for the first time when the toad smiled at him.
"It's going through," she nodded. Yes a contract to buy a number of items usable only for defence, it was almost like the ministry was preparing for combat for some reason that Harry knew quite well. He knew for sure that a number of people in the real ministry did not dismiss some ideas entirely out of hand.
"Perfect, this is just perfect. Finally something that will guarantee security and open up ties with a charming company. Now does the minister know?" Harry asked also knowing the answer.
"I believe I slipped it in, in fact it is on page six hundred and three of an eight hundred page proposal,"
"Is that the one on magical influence on farming communities in South Wales?" Harry grinned, Umbridge knew how to do her job. Keeping the minister entirely in the dark was the only one.
"Yes, attached to an eight page proposal on muggle farming, which is subject to nine reports all signed by Dumbledore."
"Perfect," Harry chuckled "He won't read that in a hundred years,"
"He's an elected minister; he could go back to Hogwarts and still wouldn't be able to read it in a hundred years."
"A hundred years Dolores? You seem to have a resurgence of faith. A Minister for Magic being able to read? perish the thought," Harry chuckled deeply.
Boy Who Lived to be charged with Conspiracy to Undermine the Ministry
"What!" Sirius Black demanded throwing down the paper with a reddened face, breakfast the following morning had turned out to be a much more social affair. Daniel however was looking horrified and Harry saw his parents looked ready to be sick.
"How can they do this?" Daniel asked, he hadn't tried to do this! It was just made up.
"They can't," Harry muttered a little too loudly, all eyes were suddenly on him. Remus, Sirius and his family were thankfully the only ones at the table.
"Well I heard yesterday Fudge is more interested in getting to you than getting you," Harry looped the question and wondered if it would be enough.
"What does that mean?" Daniel asked, he didn't understand politics, then again who did without seeing it first hand?
"He's saying Fudge doesn't care about the truth he just wants you," James simplified, his eyes had darkened in anger.
"They want to tarnish any reputation you might still have." Remus realised. He was suddenly alert and Harry prayed the conversation would end quickly.
"So they're going to send me to trial for this, just for fun?" Daniel was aghast and Harry rolled his eyes.
"No the case will be dismissed; it's a stupid idea really. Whoever's in charge of Law Enforcement will have to dismiss," Harry reasoned
"A very unpopular, public move," James was suddenly eyeing his son with a frown, Lily connected the dots to. Harry didn't even look up.
"Indeed." He said eventually and all eyes were on him.
"Who was your meeting with yesterday?" Lily asked quickly, Harry looked up and with a faint smile looked at her.
"What meeting?"