DISCLAIMER: I don't own HP etc... etc...
The Destroyer
Fudge
The Burrow, somewhere outside Ottery St. Catchpole
Ronald Bilius Weasley wiped his sweaty brow with the back of his hand as he smiled triumphantly at the recently de-gnomed garden. He had de-gnomed the garden so much that he could do it without really concentrating on it, leaving his mind to think of something else. Yes, he did think.
Sure, he could be slow at times, but the only real reason he didn't do well at school was because he was lazy. He actually also observed a lot of things that most people would not see. Like, for instance, how he could sense something there between Hermione and his best mate, Harry. He also knew that his previous liking of his other best mate Hermione had already passed.
He chuckled to himself and wondered how he ever even thought of liking his best friend like that. Shaking his head, he ran a hand through his red hair and wondered what to do about the upcoming war. He was getting more and more involved with it and from what the twins have been saying coupled with what he overhears from his parents, the war was getting worse.
He had to be ready, not only to help protect his family but to be there for his best friend. Harry had told him about the prophecy, and if... no, when it happens he wanted to be there to help his friend. He didn't want Hermione to be the only one helping him again.
He had thought long and hard about everything that had happened over the past few years and finally saw the foolishness and stupidity that he had displayed. Hermione had been more of a best friend to Harry than he had and he vowed to change that. He would help out more, do more, and hopefully fit in more. He was always looked on as the one who didn't really do much, the friend who was there but also not.
That's all changed now.
They'll be stunned when they see the new Ronald Weasley. He smiled as he walked back inside the house and picked up the book he was reading on defensive spells.
No. 4 Privet Drive, two days later...
Harry opened his eyes, releasing himself from his meditation.
The dark owl was still there, watching his every move, and he nodded at it. It hooted back at him and then looked at Hedwig, who seemed to be looking at the dark owl with a littel jealousy and disdain.
She hooted at him and flew over to his shoulder before rubbing her head against his.
"There, there girl. You know I want only one owl and that it's you," he whispered to Hedwig.
She hooted and then flew back to the perch, keeping as much distance between her and the dark brown owl.
Chuckling at her actions, Harry threw on some of Dudley's hand-me-downs and quickly went downstairs, careful to avoid the creaking step. The Dursleys were watching a movie on their new flatscreen television and so the sound of the door opening would be masked, for the most part. He carefully unlocked the front door, opened it, and then closed it again.
He nodded to where he sensed there was someone and walked over to Mrs. Figgs house. He knocked on the door and waited a short while before the locks were pulled and it opened.
"Mr. Potter! What a pleasant surprise this is," she greeted him, "Would you like anything? Water? Tea? Coffee? Juice, perhaps?"
"No thank you, Mrs. Figg. I'm here to ask Dumbledore if I could go to Diagon Alley sometime," he told her, straight to the point.
Nodding, she beckoned for him to follow her, "Very well then, very well... Come here, Mr. Potter. Yes, that's it," she said.
She took some powder from a pot that hung from the wall and threw it into the fire. It turned bright green just as she said "Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts!" She then knelt down and stuck her head into the fire. It took a minute or so before she finally retreived her head and smiled at Harry before walking off.
"Ah, what can I do for you my boy?" asked the fiery green face of Albus Dumbledore.
Harry nodded at the headmaster before telling him of his request.
"Hmmm... and why is it that you wish to go to Diagon Alley?" he asked.
Harry was about to say "None of your business old man" but decided against it. He, instead, said that he wanted to buy his school supplies and possibly a few books and such.
"Now, now, Harry. We both know your school supplies list hasn't been sent yet. I cannot let you go just for books, Harry. You must understand that leaving the protection of Privet Drive makes you very vulnerable to attack. We cannot lose you, Harry, and it is of the utmost importance that you stay there until the enchantments wear off. By which time you will be moved to Grimmauld Place," said the old headmaster.
Harry kept his anger in check and bit back a retort, producing a fake smile.
"I understand, Headmaster. Can we have an arrangement, maybe? Can I just give someone a list of books that I would like to purchase and then can they be delivered over to me?" he asked.
Dumbledore shook his head and frowned, "Forgive me, Harry, but we are short-handed right now. I don't believe we have time for little shopping trips for you. Perhaps when you are able to apparate safely you can, but as of now I cannot help you. Now, if that is all...?"
Harry nodded, "Thank you Professor." Yes. Thanks for nothing.
The green fire died and the face of Dumbledore disappeared.
"Well, that answers that question. Good for nothing old meddling geezer..." he whispered to no one in particular, though in his head he continued his string of insults at the headmaster of Hogwarts.
He stood and walked towards the front door, only to be stopped by Mrs. Figg. She smiled at him and asked if everything was alright.
"Fine. Everything is fine," Harry replied, smiling.
Somewhere in Sweden
Voldemort hissed. The last guardian was somewhere in the mountainous northern part of Sweden, but he could not locate it. He could feel it there, he knew it was there, and yet he could not see it. He knew the old man must have somehow found out that he was trying to find them.
He flew up into the air to begin another search pattern over the area he knew the house was. He began muttering under his breath, waving his wand about, hoping that somehow he could find it.
He did not have much time.
Ministry of Magic
Cornelius Fudge sat silently before the Wizengamot, all of whom were talking in low voices amongst themselves. Here he was, the Minister of Magic, sitting in the seat where criminals that passed through this court had sat. For he was considered to be a criminal now too.
Silence suddenly engulfed the main chamber as Albus Dumbledore, Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, strode purposefully towards the central podium. His blue eyes were twinkling, though none knew if it was from delight or if it was just normal. He wore a long brown robe with gold lace that flowed behind him. His long, crooked nose held aloft his half-moon spectacles, which he moved up his nose with a finger.
He stood and fixed some papers that were on the podium, before his gaze sweeped along the gathered Wizengamot. Everyone who had a seat attended, showing the interest of the ruling party of the wizarding world in the matter. Every vote that could be cast would be cast today.
Satisfied that they were ready, he called the session to order.
"Today, we are gathered here for the trial and removal of Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge. The first matter we must deal with is his removal from his office, for he is still currently the Minister of Magic. If the person who called the no-confidence voting could please rise to be recognized by the body," Dumbledore spoke, his gaze looking around.
An old witch stood, nodding to those she knew, and then looked to Albus.
"Please identify yourself and then list the reason or reasons as to why you have called this vote upon the Minister," Dumbledore instructed her.
She identified herself as the Senior Undersecretary for Internal Affairs, an obscure post that few knew of. It handled observing the Ministry itself and rooting out any undesirables or anyone who may be doing wrong and such. Once she was finished, Dumbledore nodded to her, indicating that she may be seated.
Fudge deflated every moment the woman was talking as she told the Wizengamot the reasons as to why she was calling a vote of no-confidence in him, essentially stripping him of his title as Minister.
"All in favor of the no-confidence vote?" Dumbledore's voice boomed, interrupting the slight talking of the body.
Hands rose at once and it was evident that more than half of the body wanted him out. However, they had to wait for the official count for the records.
"It is done then. With a vote count of sixty-two to eleven, Cornelius Fudge is no longer the Minister of Magic. We may deal with the election of a new Minister after this trial is over," he added quickly, noticing a few murmurs start. He knew that they were debating on who to vote for now and more importantly who would run for the position.
Clearing his throat, Dumbledore looked down at the parchment before him and read very loudly and clearly, "Cornelius Fudge, you are hereby brought before this legal body to try you for the crimes you have committed. Said crimes being: extortion, bribery, acceptance of bribery, blackmail, treason, aiding Death Eaters and possibly Voldemort himself, breaking multiple Ministry rules, endangering the Wizarding community, and also blatant abuse of your power when you were Minister."
The chamber was silent, not a soul stirred, not even Fudge. Dumbledore looked up briefly and then looked back down at the parchment before him.
"Mr. Fudge, you have the right to be represented by someone else to this legal body. Who do you call upon for such a task?" he continued.
Fudge looked up then, defeat shining fully in his eyes. He shook his head, tears forming in his eyes. Everything he had worked so hard to achieve... ruined, broken, destroyed... he had nothing left... but perhaps...
"I plead guilty to said charges, however, I would like to exchange information for lesser punishment," Fudge proposed, blinking so that his eyes would clear slightly. The tears rolled down his cheeks and he felt humiliated, but he could not wipe them away for the chains of the chair bound him tightly.
Dumbledore looked pensieve as the members of the Wizengamot began to murmur amongst themselves.
"Attention!" cried Dumbledore, silencing them, "All in favor of this proposal?"
Almost all hands raised at this again. Dumbledore nodded, he could not vote on this, but his supporters and friends knew where he stood on the matter. "Very well then, Mr. Fudge if you would please begin. Speak slowly so that the records may be written and checked. If your information proves irrelevant, not useful, or even very incorrect, the punishment will be very severe," he warned.
Fudge almost smiled at that. His punishment for the aforesaid crimes were already severe enough to land him a lifetime in Azkaban or any of the other wizarding prisons. Perhaps even death would come to him if they so chose, but he knew the chances of that were slim.
Jogging his memory, he began to give them what information on Death Eaters and the like he knew about.
After a few minutes, he paused and at this Dumbledore looked up at him, "Is that all?" he asked flatly.
Fudge blinked and wondered if he had anything else, before spotting the man who had started it all. The man who had whispered into his ear and who he had followed like a blind mouse.
"Lucius Malfoy," as he said this the elder Malfoy squinted his eyes and rose in defiance, "I name him a Death Eater and close supporter of Voldemort! It was him who influenced me! He told me the information I know!" he yelled then.
"FOOL!" cried the aristocrat, suddenly disappearing in a cloud of smoke as spells tried to trap him.
Dumbledore sighed, he had hoped to catch the elder Malfoy, but alas Fudge was too slow to tell them. He could have bound him earlier, but then that would imply that he already knew the information and had not acted on it earlier. He rubbed his forehead, wondering what to do.
"Oh my! He's dead!!" cried someone off to his right.
Dumbledore went stiff and then looked around as the others began to talk loudly. Then he saw who they were pointing at. Cornelius Fudge was staring blankly up at Dumbledore, his mouth agape. True enough, Dumbledore sensed traces of the killing curse and cursed at himself inwardly for letting that happen. Under his bloody nose! The papers will be all over that.
"Aurors! Please return the body to his family. This trial is now ended and I call the Wizengamot to a break session until midafternoon, when we shall resume..."
Granger Residence...
Hermione thanked the owl as it dropped her today's edition of the Prophet. Splattered across the front page was written FUDGE DIES DURING TRIAL. The article went on to describe the charges brought against Fudge, his removal from office, his giving of information, and the escape of Lucius Malfoy, who was credited for the death of Fudge a moment later.
An interview with the Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, Albus Dumbledore (See page 2A for further details on history with Wizengamot), was turned down and the old headmaster was seen exiting the scene shortly after the death of Fudge. He was killed right under the supposedly most powerful wizard of the light and this is a mighty blow to his persona.
This reporter has uncovered a rumor that Dumbledore already had firsthand knowledge that Lucius Malfoy was a Death Eater. The source who describes Dumbledore as having heard information and accounts of Malfoy Sr.'s dealings further says that Dumbledore ignored this information. What could this possibly mean? Why did the leader of the light not act? (see page 3C for further details)
Shaking her head, she actually agreed with the reporter. Dumbledore had known all this time that Lucius was a Death Eater. Sure, he was a powerful and influential aristocrat, but Dumbledore was... well, Dumbledore! He could have had him arrested and his house searched. They would have probably found something to incriminate him.
She put it down to continue reading later and glanced over at one her last remaining homework assignments. It was one of a few a complex charms that they were supposed to learn and practice for the summer. They then had to write a a two foot-long essay on each of the charms describing what they did, what the spell looked like, and what it could be used for effectively.
She decided to read up on the charms again as well as continue reading some other books she had purchased before they had gone home. Hermione had a full schedule for next year, that was for sure. After all, she had passed all her OWL's and so could really take any classes she wanted.
Grabbing their 7th year Charms book, Charms for Champions: Advanced Edition. It was a rather thick book, though it thankfully was charmed to be lighter than it should have been. She bit her lip slightly before going into full concentration mode, her eyes scanning the pages fairly quickly while her mind comprehended, compiled, and filed away the knowledge.
After a moment, she began practicing some wand movements. An hour or so later, she took a break and put the book away. Putting her wand down, she massaged her wrist as she headed downstairs to get a snack. She was still, after all, human and thus needed food.
No. 4 Privet Drive
Harry had just finished his morning run and had already taken a nice hot shower. Just wearing a towel around his waist, he had begun to sort through his things again, hoping to find something to do to pass the time. He had already finished reading all of his old school books and any other books he possessed. It was then that Hedwig hooted, as if to tell him something, and after which there was a tapping at the window.
Quickly looking over, Harry smiled as he saw the familiar dark brown owl flapping its wings outside the window. Tied to its feet was a letter and a package.
Harry opened the window and the owl flew in, dropping the package onto his bed along with the letter. It then settled onto the owl perch, where it hooted at Hedwig, who merely huffed and turned away.
Smiling, he grabbed the letter and tore it open.
Mr. Potter,
We were glad to hear from you and do express our greatest apologies for not finding out that your mail was intercepted sooner. We are deeply ashamed and would like to extend to you any assistance you may need.
Your reply was satisfactory and expected, seeing as there are those who wish to exploit you Mr. Potter. Rest assured that the goblin nation stands by its allies, and there are very few of them. You will be pleased to know that you are among the few who hold that title. One hour before your appointment, a goblin will appear at your home.
Do not be alarmed for he will appear right inside of your room. Be ready by 8:00 am sharp for timing is key. Once you are taken, the goblin shall return and set up a spell that will make it so that anyone who is scanning to make sure you are still there will know you are there. He will also mask your magical trace and later on we shall do other things to secure you and your freedom.
We cannot discuss anything else, for now, and wait only for the appointed time.
Respectfully,
Harkray
Head of Gringotts Client Affairs
Diagon Alley Division
Harry nodded, satisfied with the arrangement. Though he was not sure what else they would do to secure him and his freedom, he could trust them for now. They had shown no signs of betraying him and as far as he knew they were not for the dark side. He looked at the calendar and willed for July 20th to come sooner.
An idea suddenly came to him and he quickly grabbed a quill, some ink, and a piece of parchment. He hastily wrote a letter back and gave it to the dark brown owl, who accepted it with an outstretched leg. Hooting, it spread its wings and flew off once more.
Author's Notes: Reviews are most welcome. Thanks for those who did.
