Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter
Chapter Two
Breaking the Bank
The paper was on the table when Ginny entered the kitchen the next morning. She took one look at it before scoffing and putting on the kettle.
Harry entered and read:
Minister's Son Blunders Again
Tyber Zann allowed to escape by incompetent leader
Harry shook his head and accepted the cup of coffee Ginny handed him. Hermione and Ron entered. Ron took one look at the paper, swore and stormed off to make a cup of coffee. Hermione took it and began to read.
"That Thornside woman is really getting on my nerves." Ginny complained as she ate her cereal.
"What's she banging on about this time?" Harry asked as Ron sat down grumpily.
"That Ron is a useless Auror and shouldn't be trusted with any responsibility. The same stuff she's been banging on about for the last two weeks. She's eroding all the confidence in the Minister's family basically. First she declares Ginny a mad mass murderer, Ron a useless waste of space, Mr Weasley himself a dictator in training and now shes going on to Charlie, it says at the bottom."
Ron stabbed his porridge sourly.
"Old cow." He grumbled.
Hermione rubbed his arm.
"I know."
Hedwig fluttered in, looking cheerful.
"Hello, what can we do for you?" Harry asked the owl as he stroked her.
She hooted happily. Harry stroked her and she helped herself to the milk in his bowl.
"I'm visiting Nott today, so don't bother waiting." Hermione said as she got her cloak.
Ron looked at her.
"Why don't you give it up with him? He attacked Flitwick, and you still think he's a good guy?"
Hermione nodded.
"Yes, I do. And I think I know why he attacked Flitwick."
"Really, why?" Harry asked as he went to get his and Ginny's cloaks.
"I think Lumiya or Voldemort made him do it. It wouldn't be the first time either of them took over someone's mind."
Ginny shrugged.
"Maybe."
Then there was a yell from the next room.
"Hedwig!"
Hedwig started to shake. Ginny saw that it was in laughter. The owl was laughing at something.
"What's wrong?" Ron asked.
Harry came through, an irritated expression on his face and Hedwig's cage under his arm. In the bottom of the cage was a single, white egg.
"Well?" Harry asked the owl.
Hermione, Ginny and Ron roared with laughter as the owl still shook in mirth.
"What do you have to say for yourself?"
Hedwig blinked at him reproachfully.
"Don't look at me like that. Dirty bird. You should be ashamed of yourself."
The others were of no help to anyone, as they were still roaring with laughter.
"Well? Who's the father?" Harry demanded angrily.
Hedwig looked at Ron. It was quite clear that she didn't give a damn that Harry was yelling at her.
"Pigwidgeon?"
Hedwig hooted in assent.
"Dirty bird. I don't suppose you care?"
Hedwig cooed.
Harry sighed. Beaten by his own owl. Dirty bird, but she was still his dirty bird.
"Oh, alright. But you look after it yourself. And get Pig to help."
Hedwig cooed and flew over to her cage, landing in it and sitting on top of the egg. Harry stroked her head.
"Congratulations Hedwig."
She cooed happily and Harry put her back on the wardrobe. He walked back into the kitchen were the others were still laughing.
"Your bloody bird cant keep his wand under control." Harry complained to Ron.
Ron roared with laughter. This had certainly improved his mood.
"Oh dear. Mind you, you can't have fish without the chips, I suppose. Pig gave the fish, Hedwig gave the chips." Hermione said, trying not to laugh and failing.
"Yeah. You cant fire off a wand without a target. Looks like Hedwig was the target." Ginny said, giggling.
Sirius' head suddenly appeared in the fire.
"You four are late." He said patronisingly.
"Be quiet Sirius. We've had a family crisis." Ginny said.
Sirius looked concerned.
"What's happened?"
Ron laughed.
"Hedwig's laid an egg, Pigwidgeon's the father, and Harry's hopping mad."
Sirius burst into laughter.
"Oh, I must tell everyone that. Harry Potter's owl cant keep her roost to herself. Congratulations Harry, you're going to be grandowner."
Still laughing, Sirius disappeared. Harry looked at the others sourly.
"Thanks. Now the entire office will know Hedwig's laid an egg and is an expecting mother!"
They all laughed and headed for the fire.
"Maybe that will change Thornside's angle. She'll go onto you next. 'Harry Potter cant control his owl's sexual life'." Ron said, laughing.
With that, and a swear word from Harry, the four went to work.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Zann looked at the report. More money was being siphoned off the Ministry's accounts than ever before. What a shame that would be when they found out. Also, his black market dealings were nearly complete. Which meant that his plan would soon be put into action.
Silri came up to him.
"Sykes and Xizor are coming this afternoon."
Zann smiled.
"Excellent. Then the time is coming."
Silri left, smiling.
"And then the Ministry shall begin to fall."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
As predicted, the story that Hedwig was expecting a chick had greatly amused the entire Ministry. Harry just grinned and beared it, all the while plotting some horrible revenge on Ron, Hermione and Ginny. The Auror department was the worst. They seemed to think it was prudent to get gifts, and came in with blankets for the chick when it was born, purely to annoy Harry. It was all good fun, and the Aurors were really enjoying themselves slagging Harry off. Harry was just waiting for the right moment to get revenge. But little did he know that his revenge would have to wait quite a long time.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"Excellent!" he called.
They were all finally ready. Thank god. Now, all the plans could be set into motion. It wouldn't be long now. All nine of them were fully able to join the ranks. And they would be used to set about events that would keep the Ministry occupied until they were ready to strike. The others had found this lot and had lured them into their ways. Meanwhile, they were also turning others to their will, either as part of their group or not.
"My Lord."
He accepted the note from the servant, and read it. One last recruit then. Thankfully, she wouldn't have to be trained.
"Excellent!"
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"So, if their demands are not met, we could sound them out as possible allies?" Fudge asked.
"Yes. It would work wonderfully if the Ministry didn't respond."
Fudge smiled at Dimala.
"And we know they wont." He said in triumph.
"Don't worry. Everything is going according to plan."
They both started to laugh.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Dawlish entered his office in a fury, angry at the way the court case had went. The Order had acted illegally, and had disabled several of his plans to get back at them and the Ministry. Once again, the Order had interfered. They were as much a pain in his side as they had been to his poor mistress Dolores Umbridge. She had crossed wands with them several times during the war, when all she was trying to do was improve the world. They had deposed her several times, not realising that she was only acting for the greater good. And then they had killed her. Forming an unholy alliance, the three main powers in the war, Harry Potter allied with Lord Voldemort and Lady Lumiya to destroy her. His poor mistress had been destroyed, and all her dreams of peace, a pure blood controlled society and a human only way of life had been dashed. Dawlish himself had been arrested that fateful day at the Ministry and taken to Azkaban. However, Umbridge had rewarded her most loyal follower. She had left a large amount of gold in his accounts before she had died, and as the other two of her most loyal followers had been killed, he became the sole inheritor. He had used that money to get himself out of Azkaban, and had used the rest to set his own plans into motion. He had planned to carry on her glorious crusade and destroy all half breeds, ending their threat before it matured, and put pure bloods back on top where they were meant to be. He had hired the best doctor in the business to create Sorocine, as a means of setting off the ever escalating tension between the centaurs and the werewolves, that would have started a war. The war would have continued, as Akryt had created a plague that would have wiped out the victor. The Ministry would be brought down, and Dawlish would step in to assume the throne. In other words, all Dawlish Labs had been accused of had been the truth, but the lack of evidence, the illegality of the Order's actions (which they had escaped unpunished for) and the Thornside woman had prevented them from being brought to trial. The public, outraged that the Order could do things whenever it wanted without fear of repercussion, were far more concerned about the ministry turning into a dictatorship to take much notice. However, Dawlish was still angry about the results of the trial. Several of his men dead because no one dared prosecute a member of the Order due to their role in winning the war. The public was already bleating on about corruption, and this was just more fat in the fire. They hadn't been given the treatment they deserved. He entered his private office and turned on the lights. He hadn't been in since the Order's illegal attack. He then jumped about a foot in the air when he saw who was sitting on his chair.
"Good morning Mr Dawlish. I trust my skills are rehired?" Akryt asked.
Dawlish grinned. Perhaps the Order's attack hadn't been such a bad idea after all.
"My friend. I'm glad to see you alive. Now, what say you to a little pay back?"
Akryt grinned.
"I would love some."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Kreacher snarled.
"Christmas is a week away. The Ministry has still not responded! I'm fed up of waiting!"
Crywolk surveyed the twisted, crippled elf. He could hardly blame him for wanting revenge. And Crywolk had just had orders. It was nearly time. Time to move on with the plan at last.
"Very well. I was clinging to the hope that this wouldn't get violent. But it's too late for that."
Kreacher smiled toothily.
"Send a message to the largest pressure groups. It's time for a conference."
Crywolk smiled. It was indeed time for a conference. It was time to see what progress had been made.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"Really quite shocking how quickly they voted for the new amendment." Lupin said as they exited the Wizengamot chamber.
Ghati, the only one who had exited the same time as Lupin, was a tall, black man, distantly related to Kingsley Shacklebolt. Deeply ethical, highly educated and very intelligent, he was a fine Undersecretary for the human wizards.
"It is indeed. However, I fear that a lot of power is being given to Intelligence that does not belong there." Ghati said in a soft voice.
Firenze trotted up beside them.
"This is true. They have a lot of things they shouldn't."
Ragnok, the Goblin Undersecretary, swept past.
"Once again humans getting favoured over other races." He grumbled as she moved by them.
"Is he ever happy?" Ghati asked.
"Doubt it." Dobby said as he appeared.
Zut looked at them sourly.
"Brisha will be even more insufferable. She is very smug."
Beatrice, the Hag Undersecretary sniffed.
"There could be a reason she seems smug to you, you jumped up French tart."
Zut whipped around, her wand in her hand. Beatrice, lowered her shoulders, ready to charge.
"Stop this both of you!" Crom, the Ogre Undersecretary yelled.
"This will not get you anywhere!" Ragnok yelled from the front.
The two growled then stormed off in opposite direction.
"Such a peaceful job, politics." Grawp commented, who's English had become a lot better since the end of the war.
Lupin looked at the retreating Undersecretaries in concern, as Brisha appeared.
"Well?" she asked.
Firenze turned to her.
"Congratulations. You now have the power to imprison suspected terrorists or Dark Art supporters without trial for thirty six days."
Brisha smiled.
"Thank you. You may not appreciate how much this helps, but I assure you it does."
Ghati frowned in concern.
"This is not right. We are gambling away the freedoms of the people in the name of security. Is that right?"
Lupin clapped the man on the shoulder.
"Few things are right in politics my friend."
Ghati frowned, then raised another point.
"Has anyone noticed that we seem to be giving Intelligence more and more power every month since the terrorist threat?"
The silence told him all he needed to know.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"No Abraxon! I do not want to start a group to destabilise the Ministry! I want to fins our daughter!"
Abraxon Bulstrode looked at his wife Cescilina. She had been in a state ever since their daughter, Eleanor, had fled from their home.
"My dear, I promise you. Eleanor has run away to get away from us. She wants what we want: revenge for the death of our dear Millicent."
Their other daughter, Millicent Bulstrode, had been killed during the war by Order of the Phoenix member Madam Rosmerta. Since then, the entire family had sworn vengeance on the entire lot of them.
Cescilina sobbed.
"What if something happens to her? What if she does something foolish?"
Abraxon patted his wife's back as she sobbed.
"Dear, I promise you. If we start our group, if she sees us in direct opposition to the Ministry of Magic, she will come to us. She will want to be a part of it, part of the group that will help destroy the Ministry."
Cescilina looked at him in horror.
"Destroy the Ministry?"
"Darling, look at this logically. Pressure and Dark Art groups are springing up all over the place. The Ministry will be ripped apart eventually. Then we must be able, and willing, to strike."
She smiled.
"Yes, you're right. Where do we start?"
Abraxon smiled.
"With the formation of the Blood Purity Group."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The sleek black car pulled up beside Zann's shack. Though the groups hated each other, they were known to occasionally meet if something threatened all the groups as a whole. Sykes stepped out of the car. He was a medium height, broad shouldered man, with thinning grey hair and a wrinkled face. Xizor was a tall, pale, and skeletally thin man, with a topknot. He was accompanied as ever by his beautiful, and lethal, bodyguard Guri.
Zann watched them as they took their seats at the table. Sykes, in his typical arrogant fashion, had come without a bodyguard. The man was exceedingly arrogant, and believed wealth, fame and power were his by birthright. He also thought that he could easily overcome any opponent. Xizor was extremely clever and cautious. Guri had been known to end many lives in the past four years since all the Dark Art groups had appeared on the scene. And he was quite the killer himself, having learned the secrets of poisoning before arriving in Britain.
"Welcome my friends." Zann said calmly.
Sykes looked at him in disgust.
"We are not your friends, Tyber Zann. We are united only by the same cause. Now, why have you brought us to this dung hill?"
Zann struggled to keep his temper in check. He was always close to losing his temper with the man. Xizor sent Sykes a quelling look.
"Sykes, I have better things to do than listen to you snipe at everyone. Let him say what he has to say, then we can get out of here."
The Syndicat, Sykes' group, and Black Sun, Xizor's group, were the two largest Dark Art groups, stretching to over two thousand across the world. Zann's Consortium was the third largest group, and they, between them, were technically the leaders of the Dark Arts, basically the Voldemort, Snape and Bella of the Dark Art groups.
"I plan to deal a killing blow to the Ministry's hold over the wizarding world. One last strike will totally demolish all power the Ministry has, ignite the pressure groups into open revolt and destroy all respect for the government the people hold."
Sykes' face was impassive, but that was nothing new. Xizor, however, looked interested.
"And how do you propose to do this, Tyber Zann?" Xizor asked delicately.
Zann smiled.
"Something that will infuriate the public and turn them against them. We will attack Gringotts."
Silence met these words.
"Gringotts? Are you mad?" Sykes demanded.
"It cannot be done Zann. It is folly. Give it up. It would be wonderful to strike such a blow against the Ministry, however the defences at the bank are far too powerful." Xizor said.
Zann pressed on.
"but if we join our three groups together, we could flatten those defences are take the treasures within Gringotts for our own. Make no mistake: it will be difficult. But think my friends! If we robbed Gringotts of most of its wealth, the people would declare open hostility for the government! Think about it!"
Sykes stood up.
"I, personally have never heard such rubbish. Rob Gringotts! You're mad! I will continue on my own course, and good day to you, you fool!"
And with that Sykes stormed from the shack, Silri and Uri glaring after him. Zann looked at Xizor.
"Well?"
Xizor sighed.
"Zann my friend, I agree with both of you. Sykes is right that it's madness, and you are right that it will certainly help our cause."
Zann sighed.
"So you wont help."
"I never said that. He's what I'll do. I'll provide you with some troops, three squads worth, intelligence, weapons etcetera."
Zann smiled and shook Xizor's hand.
"Thank you my friend."
Xizor smiled.
"If this works, it could be the start of a long friendship between Black Sun and the Consortium. And even better, Sykes will come running to you, begging to be let in."
Zann smiled and shook Xizor's hand vigorously.
"Indeed my friend."
Xizor left soon after.
"Now we can proceed with our plan."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Azkaban. The wizard prison. Once a name to inspire fear in the souls of the hardest of men, it was now no more than an ordinary prison. After Ginny had destroyed all the Dementors at the Battle of Hogwarts, the prison was a much better place. However, it was here, that four of the five remaining Death Eaters, were being kept. Crabbe, Goyle, and both Notts were incarcerated here for a variety of crimes. Hermione know that most of them were guilty. All of them had committed murder, and Crabbe and Goyle had attempted to rape Angelina Johnson Weasley and Katie Weasley, the twin's wives, at the Battle of Earth. But Hermione, along with Tonks and Professor Flitwick, and now Harry, thought that Nott Jnr, Theodore Nott, who had been in their year, was not, or at least not as guilty as people thought he was. He had done some questionable things under Voldemort, certainly, but only to avoid being killed, and he had never killed when he could help it. He also disliked the Cruciatus Curse. Flitwick had fought him during Operation Shadow Hand and at the Battle of Earth. Flitwick had been the verge of getting Nott to change sides when he had suddenly changed, and had attacked Flitwick. After that event, Hermione, Flitwick and Tonks had guessed that he must have went mad, but still believed he was innocent. And now Hermione was certain that she was right. He had been controlled, or possessed. As both of the two enemies capable of taking over someone's mind, Voldemort and Lumiya, had been uninvolved in any battle at the time, it was certainly possible, if not probable, that they would have taken over his mind to spite the Order by denying them an extra ally. Hermione entered the prison, nodding to the guard and sweeping in to the assembly hall. There were many prisoners in here, ranging from petty crimes like theft all the way up to murder. The Death Eaters, when in the hall, kept themselves to themselves, sitting in a corner away from the others. Theodore was normally apart from them, hiding in shadows, as his relationship with his father was extremely strained due to the fact that he was in frequent contact with a muggle born. A tall man sneered. He was an arsonist, a dangerous man, and was very Death Eater in his approach to muggle borns.
"Oh, look whos back. Come to visit the scum again?"
Hermione, being an Auror, was allowed to keep her wand, and when he moved towards her, she fired sparks at him. He snarled but retreated to the corner.
"Scumbag."
Nott looked up as she entered his shadowy corner.
"Hello Hermione."
"Hello Theo. How are you?"
Theo sighed.
"Surviving."
Hermione looked at him sympathetically.
"They don't trust me at all you know." He said, indicating the other Death Eaters.
Hermione sighed.
"I figured. Who's that guy who attacks me every time I come in?"
Theo looked across at the man.
"Ignus. Nasty guy. Kept blowing things up during the war and got stuck in here. The other prisoners look to him as a leader."
Hermione began awkwardly.
"Theo, I know you asked me to find Daphne Greengrass. I cant. Nobody knows where she is. She disappeared when the war ended and hasn't been seen since. I'm sorry."
Theo was still in love with Daphne. He had been since school, but had always put off asking her out because he was afraid she wouldn't like him. Although the most intelligent Slytherin they had come across, he wasn't very good with matters of the heart. Theo looked worried, and close to despair.
"I suppose I expected it. I always loved her Hermione. Always. But I suppose I was stupid to think she would just wait for me. I sort of hoped she had feelings, and that we could give them a shot, but Voldemort and the blasted war changed all that. And my father forced me to join the Death Eaters."
Hermione didn't know what to say. Theo looked so sad it was a surprise that he wasn't in tears.
"Your father made you join them?"
He nodded grimly.
"I didn't want to. I didn't want any part of that pure blood nonsense. But I had no choice. He threatened to harm my mother if I didn't do as he wanted."
Hermione was scandalised.
"That's barbaric!"
Nott sighed.
"Tell me about it. So, any hope this time?"
Hermione smiled.
"Actually yes. I think I know why you attacked Flitwick at the battle."
Theo shrugged.
"I don't know. But he's always been kind to me."
"As I said, if you let me finish, I think I know. I reckon someone took over your mind, purely to stop you joining us."
Nott seemed taken aback.
"But why would someone do that?"
Hermione looked at him.
"Only Voldemort or Lumiya could have done it. Voldemort would have done it because he wouldn't have wanted one of his Death Eaters helping us. Lumiya would have done it just to spite us."
"But how can you know which one it was?"
"By using Legilimency."
Theo looked apprehensive.
"I know you don't like lowering your barriers, but please. This may help clear you."
Theo sighed and did as instructed.
"Legilimens!"
Hermione entered his mind, and then felt a presence she knew all too well.
"Lumiya!" she hissed as she left Nott's mind.
"How do you know it was her?"
Hermione snarled.
"Remember, I killed her, and I know the way her mind worked. I know her ways. It was her."
Theo looked at her curiously.
"How does that help us?"
Hermione looked slightly put out.
"I don't know. I don't know how we can prove it."
Nott sighed.
"That reminds me. Have you lot all lost your minds?"
Hermione looked at him in surprise.
"What are you on about?"
Nott laughed.
"Are you all blind? Pressure groups springing up here there and everywhere, complaining about the way the Ministry's doing things! The Dark Art groups getting stronger and stronger! Are you all blind? Don't you see whats happening?"
Hermione looked at him in shock.
"What do you mean?"
"Do I have to spell it out? The Ministry is falling apart! Pressure groups demanding all sorts of things are eroding all confidence in the Ministry! The Dark Arts groups are getting stronger every day and you still aren't making any progress! People are believing the lies that Thornside woman is writing and are getting worried that the government is backstabbing them. They think its all a plot by the Order to stay in power. People are losing their faith in their heroes because of all the lies getting written about Ron and Ginny. They're getting worried that its going to develop into a civil war, and I cant blame them the way things are going. And they're worried that its becoming a police state because of all the power the stupid Wizengamot keeps voting more powers to Intelligence!"
Nott had reached the end of his rant.
"So, basically?"
"The Ministry is being ripped apart, and no one's doing a thing about it!"
Hermione sighed.
"We're in a bad position at the moment. And everything you said is true. And we are trying to fix it. But you don't know the half of it. There's rumours that a Separatist movement is going to spring up. And that will lead us to war. People are getting worried. I'm getting worried. I agree with everything you said, and it isn't good. I know the Ministry's being ripped apart."
Nott looked at her.
"Then why not do something about it?"
"Because we don't know where to start! We've never been in this sort of position before! I don't like it. Whatever's going on, it's eroding all faith in the Ministry. I don't like where this is heading. Or what I'm feeling."
Theo patted her arm.
"So you feel it too?"
"Yes. Something's happening. I can feel it."
Theo nodded.
"It's the Dark Arts. They're getting stronger. All the time."
Hermione frowned.
"Whatever's going on, I don't like it."
"Neither do I."
Hermione stood up.
"Well, I need to get back. And I promise I'll try to get Mr Weasley to try and sort whats going on."
Nott looked at her sadly.
"I've seen enough war. I don't want to see another one."
"Nor me."
She turned to go.
"That Intelligence Head, Brisha, has been popping in and out a lot of the time. What do you make of that?"
Hermione shrugged.
"She's maybe trying to find out what's happening. Or maybe she just likes to gloat. I don't know. She's clever, Brisha. She'll have a plan. See you later."
Theo watched her go. He wondered if he should have told her the truth. No. Too dangerous. Sighing in remorse, for he quite liked Hermione, and dread, for he knew what was going to happen to all those who had championed him, he went back to his book.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Ron was sitting on the window ledge. Hermione had been gone for a long time. It wasn't that he was worried. Well, he was, she was going in to close contact with a bunch of Death Eaters. But he was worried. Worried about himself. He didn't know what to think. Hermione spent a lot of time with Nott. She didn't have a deceitful bone in her though. Or did she? She wouldn't be able to do it. But, why was she with Ron? Ron wasn't that good looking, or at least he didn't think so. He lacked the charisma, intelligence and cunning of someone like Nott. And he was nowhere near her equal magically.
And Harry. Why did he bother with Ron? Ron wasn't as good a wizard as Harry was, or as good a man. And, no matter what the others said, it was always Ron who let Zann escape.
Ron didn't know what to think. He had never had these thoughts before. It was that blasted Thornside woman making him think like this. Sighing, he looked to the sky. He didn't know what to think. He then heard a popping noise. Hermione was back. Grinning guiltily, he went to meet her. She couldn't have gotten in and out that quickly. Smiling as his own foolishness, he went to meet her.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Ethel Thornside was a detestable woman. However, as long as she helped their cause by printing Akryt's story and helped erode yet more of the Ministry's power, Dawlish could stand her for a while.
"Let her in Rosetta."
Rosetta, the unfortunate woman Mrs Weasley had attacked when the Order had committed their illegal act, smiled. She was as game as the others for revenge against the Order.
"Certainly. Will she help?"
Akryt, sitting beside Dawlish in the reception room, grinned.
"Of course she will my dear. Let her in, and we will soon see what we what she cant do to help our cause."
The door opened to reveal a smiling Thornside.
"Let's get started shall we?"
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Lamleav looked at his deputy. Gerit Whitefang had been third in command of Lord Voldemort's werewolves before he had been killed by Mrs Figg during the Battle of Hogsmeade. Now his wife Thaedra Whitefang was helping Lamleav form the Board for Werewolf Equality which had been steadily gaining power for the last two years. Now, they were ready to make it become a major player in the power struggle, silent and invisible though it was, that was ripping apart the Ministry of Magic.
"This came this morning." Thaedra said.
"Thank you."
Lamleav was a tall, ruddy faced man, with a great long beard, that was tied into several ponytails.
"A conference for all the pressure groups, organised that blasted house elf who leads HELF. Shall we look in on it? Only they need our answer." Thaedra said.
"What do you think?"
Thaedra snarled.
"If it helps bring justice to the sort of scum who murdered my husband, then yes."
Lamleav smiled.
"Excellent choice. Write back at once."
Everything was going according to plan.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The headquarters for the Commission of Disabled Rights group was in a valley in Wales. There, its leader, a gaunt, pale, wheelchair bound man by the name of Inhl, was with his deputy, Dot Thornside. Dot was Ethel's sister, and just as irritating as her sister. She had been hit by a car when she was small, resulting in an injury that left her wheelchair bound. Now, they were both campaigning for better rights for disabled wizards, and they were determined to get it. They were determined to fix something that had been overlooked for centuries.
"A conference is being called of all the major pressure groups to discuss our future." Dot said.
"We aren't going anywhere near a blasted Ministry function." Inhl warned.
"Interestingly enough, its not being done by the Ministry. It's being done by a leader of another group."
Inhl turned his wheelchair to look at her.
"Really?"
"Yes. I think we should go. See what the other groups have to say on the lack of Ministry response."
Inhl nodded.
"Yes. It will be educational. Very educational."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Zann looked at the assemblage of troops Xizor had brought with him.
"Is this it?"
"Indeed. Do not despair Zann. These are the best in the business. They will not fail you." Xizor promised.
Zann looked at the men in front of him. They didn't look like the best Black Sun had to offer.
"Well, which one is the commander?" Zann asked.
"I am Zann." Xizor said.
"You?" Silri asked sceptically.
"Me. And Guri too of course. Do not worry. We wouldn't out ourselves in danger willingly. So, what's the plan?"
Zann grinned.
"Let's get started."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Harry and Ginny finished early that night. They went home, leaving Ron and Hermione to attend to the paperwork.
"You know, I hate paperwork." Ginny said, massaging her feet.
Harry sat down beside her and let her lie on his legs.
"I hate working. Maybe we should ask for a pay rise. That might make it worth it."
Ginny snuggled up to him.
"What nearly getting killed every time we fight Zann and then let him escape, and then we get a pay rise? Thornside would have field day."
Harry kissed her forehead.
"I checked her up on the MICE system. Nothing we can use."
The MICE system was created at the end of the war as a means of tracking everyone and knowing everything about all the people in the wizarding world. Mostly, it was just Intelligence who used it, however, the Aurors used it occasionally, like when they were chasing after Idalma and Akryt.
"Damn woman. You know, I think Ron's starting to believe her lies."
Harry grinned.
"Considering what you did when you made those muffins last week, I'd believe the rumours that you're a mad mass murderer too."
Ginny shot him a withering glare.
"It's not my fault. It said two hundred for two minutes."
"Yes, but you read it as two hundred for two hundred minutes. Those poor blueberries. Totally destroyed by a mad woman who cant read a recipe properly."
"I must admit, they didn't even look like muffins at the end."
"They didn't look like muffins at any end. They were totally cremated. They looked like lumpy beozoar stones."
Ginny stuck her tongue out and Harry grinned.
"At least I didn't get up in the middle of the night so sing to some chicken."
Harry roared with laughter. That had been a minor mistake by Ron. He had been marinating chicken for the tea the next day, and had read the recipe wrong. He though marinate meant serenade, and got up at half past two in the morning and started singing it a lullaby. It had been a long time before he had lived that one down, especially after Harry 'accidentally' told the twins.
"So there. But that's not the point."
"Yeah it is. She isn't writing lies about you at all. You are a murderer. Of blueberries."
Ginny shot him another glare.
"Not the lies about me, dummy, to get back on track. The lies about him. About him being useless. Have you seen the way he looks lately? It's killing his self confidence, which was never really much to go on about. He's starting to believe what the blasted woman is writing about him."
Harry hugged her. She was sweet when she looked out for her brothers.
"I've noticed. I'll talk with him."
"Good."
Ginny snuggled up beside him, and tried to go to sleep. It had been a long day, and filling in bloody requisition forms, which she hated, didn't improve her mood.
"I wonder if that mad cousin of yours will show up at Christmas?" Harry wondered.
Ginny smiled.
"MacWeasley? Mum would do her nut."
Harry smiled as he rubbed her arm. She was close to going to sleep. He took his glass of water and took a sip.
"Do you ever think about children?"
Harry jerked upright, knocking Ginny to the floor and he spat water from his mouth in shock. As Ginny cursed him and all life itself, he turned on her.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean children of our own."
Harry looked at her in surprise.
"Ginny, what's brought this on?"
Ginny stood up and looked at him.
"Answer the question."
Harry knew he was treading on thin ice. Harry knew she wanted children, but, well he didn't know. There were just reasons.
"Ginny, you know the reasons. I cant take the risk of what it will do to you."
During the final months of the war, during Operation Shadow Hand, Bella had hit Ginny with a curse that had tampered with her ovaries. Since Bella was evil, and malicious, it was a safe bet that if Ginny attempted to have a baby it would either harm the baby, harm her, or even worse, kill both of them.
"I get bigger, get morning sickness and scream a lot when it comes out. That's all Harry!"
She was already angry. Harry knew that this couldn't well.
"I remember what Bella did to you! Or have you forgotten the small fact that she blasted your ovaries!?"
"Is it cowardice? I'm not afraid!"
"You should be! It could kill you!"
"I'm not afraid!"
"That's your problem! You never get scared! Bella was evil and would love to stop you having babies! She knew how to cause harm! Look what she did to Neville's parents!"
"I don't care she did to my ovaries. We cant let her rule out our future because we don't know what happened!"
Harry glared at her.
"So, you would let your child grow up without a mother?"
"A baby would have you! They don't need a mother!"
Harry recoiled.
"Yes they do! I grew up without a mother Ginny! I don't want any baby we might have doing the same!"
Ginny was furious now. Her eyes were blazing, and her hair was crackling with suppressed anger. Harry was angry too. Now, this was about to get ugly.
"YOU REALLY ARE A COWARD!"
Harry lost his temper, just seconds after she had.
"HOW IS IT COWARDICE WANTING MY BABY TO GROW UP WITH A PROPER FAMILY? I DON'T WANT A BABY GOING THROUGH WHAT I HAD TO GROWING UP!"
Ginny glared at him in pure rage.
"A BABY WONT HAVE TO SUFFER WHAT YOU WENT THROUGH GROWING UP! THERE'S NO ONE LEFT TO MURDER US FOR A START! AND I DON'T REALLY SEE WHAT WAS SO BAD ABOUT YOUR CHILDHOOD!"
She had gone to far, and she knew it. She shrank back, and Harry sent her a hurt look. But she refused to back down any more.
"I KNOW YOU WANT CHILDREN GINNY! BUT NO MATTER HOW BAD YOU GET, I STILL LOVE YOU! I DON'T WANT TO SEE YOU GET HURT! WE DON'T KNOW WHAT HAVING A BABY WILL DO TO YOU, AND I DON'T WANT TO FIND OUT IF IT COULD KILL YOU! AND ALONG WITH THAT WE'RE TOO YOUNG!"
"OH, YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE ME HURT? HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN THAT BLOODY DIARY? BELLA? UMBRIDGE? THE TIARA? EVERYTHING ELSE THAT HURT ME DURING THE WAR? I ALWAYS GET HURT NEAR YOU? ANOTHER BIT OF PAIN WONT MAKE MUCH DIFFERENCE!"
"WELL EXCUSE ME FOR NOT WANTING TO SEE MY WIFE DIE! IM SO SELFISH, NOT WANTING TO SEE THE PERSON I LOVE MOST SUFFER! HOW RIDICULOUS OF ME!"
"YOU ARE BEING RIDICULOUS! WELL NEVER FIND OUT WHAT HAVING A BABY WILL DO TO ME IF WE DON'T TRY!"
"BUT IM NOT READY TO TRY YET! WE'RE TOO YOUNG! AND I DON'T WANT A BABY GROWING UP WITHOUT A PARENT! I DON'T WANT TO SEE YOU GET HURT! AND WHATS MORE I DON'T WANT TO SEE A BABY GO THROUGH WHAT I HAD TO IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO ME TOO!"
Ginny had reached the end of her tether now. This was the last straw.
"SO YOU DON'T WANT CHILDREN I TAKE IT?"
"NO!"
"FINE!"
And with that, she burst into tears, stormed up the stairs and locked herself in the bathroom.
Harry stood downstairs breathing heavily. He supposed he shouldn't have lost his temper so badly, but she just wouldn't listen to him. He would have to apologise to her later, but at the moment he was too angry to do much. And she was as much to blame as he was. He had issues with children. What had happened to him in his own childhood had scarred him. And Ginny refused to acknowledge that. And he didn't want to see her suffer. Knowing Bella, the spell she had used was obviously meant to either stop Ginny having children all together, or cause her a terrible amount of pain or even kill her if she did have them. But she always refused to see that he was only trying to protect her. He loved her too much to let her suffer. However, at the moment, they were both too angry at each other to talk. So Harry stormed upstairs and locked himself in their bedroom.
Hedwig gazed down at him.
"Don't look at me like that. You know what happened to me. And she's being difficult."
Hedwig cooed, however it sounded like she was merely agreeing to stop an argument. Harry looked up at her.
"It's probably you that started all this. Laying an egg you got her thinking, and now you've gotten me into trouble."
He sat down miserably on the bed. He hated fighting with Ginny. It always made the two of them feel worse. Hedwig checked her egg was safe and warm, then swooped down to his shoulder. She then huddled up beside his head, and cooed softly. Harry stroked her absently. He would make it up to Ginny later. If she would let him.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Diagon Alley at night was an entirely different affair than during the day. The garrison force patrolled the street, keeping an eye out for trouble makers. It was much darker and quieter than usual. Which suited Zann perfectly. He led the forces, quite considerable in strength and number, into the side street beside Gringotts.
"Ready Zann?" Xizor asked.
"Yes. Go."
Silri and Guri sprang out of the shadows, Silri's whip slicing one trooper apart, while Guri shattered the skulls of two more. Uri then leapt onto the two men who had run around the corner to see the commotion. His blades sliced their necks. Meanwhile Zann and Xizor, their troops covering them, walked to the front doors. The garrison was coming towards them all, their wands raised. The troops behind Zann got ready for battle while Zann pointed his wand at the door.
"Destructo." He said lazily.
The door was blown apart, and goblins rushed towards them.
"Avada Kedavra!"
The green spell lanced forth from wands in all directions, soldiers and goblins dropping dead left right and centre. Zann led his forces inside the bank, and then sealed the doors using a spell.
"Now what? We're trapped inside." Xizor snarled.
"Don't worry my friend. You will soon see."
The remaining goblins were rounded up, and forced to do their bidding. Zann and the others raided hundreds of vaults, accumulating a vast wealth in an hour. However, they weren't completely heartless. They left some gold in each vault. The goblins soon rebelled, and were brutally murdered by Uri and Silri. Zann and his goons then did their own work, blasting apart walls to get into vaults.
Another hour, and it was all done. Over three hundred vaults had been raided, and the rest were too tightly locked up to get much out of. However, the garrison troops had caught up.
"Get ready." Zann said.
The door was blown open and the troops rushed in, weapons firing. Zann and the others fired at the roof.
"Reducto!"
Massive chunks of rubble fell from the roof, crushing the troops as they rushed in. The survivors were left shaken and with a massive hole in their ranks.
"Attack!" Guri yelled.
She kicked one man so hard his ribs shattered. It could be heard from across the room. Silri sliced people apart with her whip, leaving their sliced bodies on the floor as the criminals cut their way to the exit. Zann calmly blasted the life out of people, leaving dead bodies strewn all over the place as they headed for the door. Uri and Xizor were just as lethal, Uri's blades ripping troops to ribbons while Xizor's wand blasted people out of the way with frightening ease. They murdered many people until they reached the door. They then got through, and before the heavy artillery could be brought in, they escaped. Gringotts had been robbed. And the world was a darker place by far.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The darkness was growing. Tyber Zann and Xizor worked together for the first time, creating history because two Dark Art groups were finally working together to achieve a common goal. The pressure groups were now changing from peaceful to militant tactics. Intelligence was being voted more and more power. Thornside's lies were being believed. The Dark Art groups were gaining in strength and power. The Ministry was being ripped apart by demands from the pressure groups, who were doing nothing to improve the lives of others and were only harming their own goals, the Dark Art groups who seriously wanted the Ministry brought down, corrupt politicians inside the Ministry who were exploiting the quiet chaos for their own ends and the public, who were furious with the way the Ministry was reacting to recent developments, were vigorously complaining and eroding the Ministry's power. It wouldn't be long before the Ministry had to succumb to the forces ripping it apart from all ends. And a dark threat was growing, and was exploiting the dark events that were, ever so quietly destroying the Ministry , to their own ends.
Well, that's that. The days are getting darker once again. Please read and review. All will become clear in time, such as what Nott knows that he doesnt tell Hermione. He becomes quite important later on. Watch what's going on, as it all plays a part later on in what happens. So, next chapter, more Kreacher( i hope you like seeing him back), more Intelligence (very important!), Akryt (someone's already figured it out, well done! Please keep it quiet though), and more groups getting more power. And Hedwig having a baby is because of two things: I needed Harry and Ginny to have an arguement (I think arguements are fun to write) and because JK Rowling killed off poor Hedwig in the book. Swine! Who cared about Mad Eye when Hedwig was dead!