New Beginning's

Chapter 4

The Consequences of ones actions - The Ministry Know


While Severus and Harry slept unaware in the dungeons, after much needed rest from either emotional turmoil or actual pain. The Ministry of Magic was in an uproar, Fudge was practically radiating fury, and the Death Eaters who worked in the Ministry were smirking. Harry Potter was dead, and this had caused many different reactions all around the world. Shock from those who knew him as the 'boy who lived' fear for those who were in high ranking positions in case they were blamed. Death Eater's were practically walking on clouds, although they couldn't show it. Cornelius Fudge soon collected his wits and began barking out orders. He had to know what was going on, if the book had malfunctioned or Harry was dead. He rather wanted the book to be malfunctioning thank you very much; this wasn't good news at all! Although he could rub it in Dumbledore's face, or rather just keep it to himself, he didn't want to get on the wrong side of Dumbledore. He had much too influence on everyone, if he wanted to remain Minister he would have to go along with whatever Dumbledore suggested.

"Moody! Get some Veritaserum, then gather the Aurors together quickly and follow me," said Fudge. He wanted to seem on top of the case. He could not afford to sit around at his desk - he needed to appear to be in control, at least to the public, they were going to need all the reassuring they could get. Harry Potter was dead, and he needed to find out what had happened. He didn't care just how many Muggles' needed Obliviated to accomplish it. Even as he was thinking that he prayed to whatever deity watching over him, that the book, please be malfunctioning.

"Aye," said Mad-Eye Moody, limping away. His magical eye rolled, someone else might have fetched it faster came to him, he had a wooden leg for Merlin's sake "but Fudge would not have the sense to realize that," he grumbled under his breath, as he limped to the Restricted Potions room in the Ministry dungeons. He didn't have any bite in his muttering, he had liked the Potters, and he also knew Harry was important - to Dumbledore anyway.

"Here," wheezed Moody, as he limped hurriedly back to the impatient Fudge.

"Good. Well? Move!" yelled Fudge completely flustered.

Fudge had been shocked to finally know the address of one Harry James Potter when he looked at the book. For years he had stared at the name, stared at the place where his address should be to find it blank. The wards Dumbledore had put up on the house proved to be all too good for the magical book to sense. It was showing it now which didn't go well with the foreboding feeling he was already experiencing. He address was passed around, set on fire before they apparated away. It was risky apparating blindly, but in situations like these they had no choice.

They didn't apparate onto the street that was just too risky, they apparated straight into number 4 Privet Drive, Surry. Harry Potter had only been dead a matter of two hours now and they were determined to get answers. They were surprised to see the hugest, ugliest man they had ever seen in their lives. Being overweight wasn't a problem in the wizarding world - there was a potion for that. So it was rare to find a fat Wizard or Witch unless they were muggle born. Even at that he was HUGE! How he could stand up so quick was anyone's guess. They were astonished at what came out of his mouth, why was he calling them freaks? They had raised their nephew.

"Freaks! Go away!" Vernon had yelled the second they apparated in, despite the yell he was terrified they had found out what he had done to his freakish nephew.

"Vernon, be quiet," whispered Petunia shakily, she was still on her backside, cowering.

Petunia was quaking; she knew enough about wizards to not want to rouse their anger. It was foolish to call a person with a wand in his hand a freak. If they wanted to survive this, they would have to keep silent. She regretted telling Vernon to deal with the freak; she knew this was going to go dreadfully wrong. He didn't understand just what they were capable off, but she knew, she had heard, that Snape boy and Lily talking. She refused to actually realize she had been spying on them, eavesdropping not just accidentally overhearing anything.

Azkaban and Dementor's scared her the worst, she had, had nightmares for months afterwards.

"Don't let the freaks scare you, pet," snarled Vernon standing up his five chins wobbling dangerously. They wouldn't attack them, he was sure of it they weren't allowed. Petunia had said they weren't allowed to do it in front of Muggles. However, she had been talking about her sister, an underage Witch, not a bloody Ministry official or an adult, fully trained, witch or wizard.

"We would like to question you," said Fudge, stepping up to do the talking.

"Go away, freaks, before I call the authorities!" snarled Vernon.

"We are the authorities! Oh, just stun him!" yelled Fudge impatiently. He needed to have all the information there was, before Dumbledore came and tried to weasel in.

"Stupefy!" said Moody lazily.

Moody grabbed Vernon as Petunia tried to get up, to help him but she was just grabbed by one of the Aurors. His wand pointed at her dangerously, causing her to freeze in fear swallowing sharply. The potion was administered, and she could only listen in horror as their secrets were revealed in the brusque interrogation. Whatever that Potion was, it was ruining their lives, and they would be arrested for sure. She was shaking in fear; her son was still at his friends thank god for that.

"What is your name?" asked Fudge, who had taken control of the questioning.

"Vernon Baron Dursley," replied Vernon.

"How old are you?" asked Fudge.

"Thirty-six," said Vernon monotonously.

"Who is Harry Potter?" asked Fudge.

"My nephew," said Vernon emotionlessly.

"Where is he?" asked Fudge.

"Dead, the freak is finally dead," said Vernon

"Freak?" gaped Fudge "Explain!"

"A wizard, a freak and a burden," replied Vernon as if Fudge was an idiot.

"How is he a burden?" asked the shocked Fudge.

"We never wanted the brat! We would have given him to an orphanage if you freaks hadn't stopped us with your bloody magic! Now you may regret giving him to us!" said Vernon dispassionately.

There were gasps all around. Moody wanted to curse the bastard. Harry Potter was not a burden! He had killed Lord Voldemort and had lived! He was destined to be one of the most powerful wizards in the world, someday, after the right training. Or at least he would have been.

"What did you do?" asked Fudge, wondering if he even wanted to know.

"I killed the brat, and left the room to make arrangements to dispose of his body. When I remembered I had a meeting, I remembered it had been cancelled half way there, and I drove back home, he was gone, disintegrated like you lot probably do" replied Vernon his distaste not showing.

"What?" choked Fudge utterly stunned, Harry Potter was dead, and Vernon couldn't have lied under the Veritaserum.

Vernon repeated his statement calmly.

"Are you sure he is dead?" whispered Fudge desperately.

"Yes. He had no pulse," said Vernon.

"Give him the antidote," said Fudge, looking sick. It looked like there wasn't even a body to prepare for a burial. He couldn't be put beside his parents and given the rest he deserved.

Moody complied, administering the potion roughly. The latest Potter death had hit the embittered Auror hard.

"Vernon Dursley, you are arrested for child abuse, and the murder of Harry James Potter. May you burn in hell," said Fudge coldly. The Aurors restrained the enormous man easily by stunning him. His bulk made it necessary for three wizards to cast a levitation spell on him though.

"Petunia Dursley, you are arrested for child neglect and conspiracy," said Fudge. The Aurors subdued her before she could screech her protests, for she knew what Azkaban was and knew what guarded it. Now more than ever, she regretted losing her temper with Harry for breaking a few cheap lawn ornaments. Her entire form was shaking as she was side along apparated.

The Aurors dressed as police officers went to the station, they couldn't leave them as 'missing' could they. They had laws they had to obey; the Muggle world now knew they were in prison for murdering a child in their care. The Auror's also Obliviated Dudley Dursley of any knowledge he had off magic, and then dropped him off in the care of the Muggle people who called themselves 'Social services'.

Of course, the neighbours got in touch with the Police when they didn't hear from the Dursley's. They had been told that the police had dealt with the situation, after being told what had happened. The gossip at Privet Drive raged more wildly than ever. They wrongfully assumed the officer was speaking about Dudley Dursley, their son, as they didn't remember the lonely brown haired boy, who could always be seen doing the garden.

Cornelius Fudge walked some distance along Privet Drive, and screamed in frustration before Disapparating. With a sigh, he went to his office and began writing out the information. Then he had to go and issue an official statement to the press. He reiterated a ragged "No further comment" at the torrent of questions and speculations that followed the statement.

The press had gone utterly mental at him. As if he was to blame for what happened, if they could think back, it was him who had wanted Harry Potter to remain in the wizarding world. So what if he had other agendas at least the child would still be alive. No this was all down to one man, one man who's popularity was about to take a dive. Albus bloody Dumbledore, the man who could do no wrong, the man who everyone adored.


Severus Snape woke up abruptly as always, looking at the time he realized he would be late if he didn't move now. As Head of Slytherin house, he had to attend every meal in the great hall, unless of course he was sick. Then another Head of house would pick up the slack for him, most times it was Flitwick. Flitwick was the ones his Slytherin's trusted the most, after him of course. He suddenly remembered the previous day's events, looking down he was relieved to see Harry still asleep. He brushed the hair off the sleeping boy's face, the scar; curiously enough identifying him as one Harry James Potter had all but disappeared. He could see it, he was a vampire, and he could see things normal humans couldn't. Just yesterday it had been red and very visible, most scars that had been there for years remained. Unfortunately Severus wouldn't realize the significance for at least a year yet.

Severus gently caressed Harry's cheek, his smile slightly when Harry leaned into his touch. He couldn't deny Harry was growing on him, and he wasn't even awake yet. He hadn't ever really had anyone depending on him, relying on him. He suddenly felt excited at the prospect; it should be great to have someone relying on him. Spelling Harry so he would know when he woke up, he left, knowing he was expected at the Great Hall, and he was already late.

He took five minutes to dress, perform his morning rituals before leaving his quarters, after once more checking on Harry. Despite the fact he had the spell on him to alert him of when he woke up. Stalking like a bat out of hell, causing all but Slytherin's to flee from him; he finally saw the doors to the Great Hall.

He entered the Great Hall reluctantly. He normally looked forward to needling them with his sarcastic humour, even Dumbledore and McGonagall, who had taught him as a student. Today however, he wanted to be as far away from them as possible. He just wanted to remain in his dungeons and be there the second Harry woke up.

"Ah, Severus! How are you, and how is your charge?" asked Dumbledore hiding his fear that Harry might not be alright.

As he sat down to eat he realized, that he would soon need to free Harry of various myths. Vampires could eat and they did not die from exposure to sunlight. Although the stake through the heart would, then again it wasn't just a vampire it would kill. Stake anything through the heart and it would die, even a blood wizard.

"I'm fine, but I'm not so certain about Harry," replied Severus.

"What do you mean? How did the change go?" asked Dumbledore, terrified immediately.

"He survived if that's what you are referring too," said Severus dryly.

Dumbledore was about to defend himself against that statement, just as the Daily Prophet was delivered.

"Albus!" shrieked McGonagall at the top of her lungs.

"What is it, Minerva?" asked Dumbledore.

She seemed incapable of speech. Shaking, she thrust the paper at Dumbledore who began to read it slowly. Severus read over his shoulder. Dumbledore lost his twinkle, and Severus carefully schooled his face into a blank mask. Obviously Minerva hadn't been told, she would be eventually he knew that, Dumbledore kept nothing from her.

When the uproar that had greeted the news finally died down, the teachers trickled dismally from the Great Hall until only Severus and the Headmaster were left sitting there. Just then, a letter with a Gringotts seal arrived for Severus. Frowning, he opened it and his eyes widened in astonishment. He couldn't believe what he was reading, why was he now the owner of the Potter accounts? It made no sense to him.

"What is it?" asked Dumbledore curiously after seeing Severus' astonishment.

"I am now the legal owner of the Potter, Evans and half the Black accounts," said Severus shocked to the core. The only way that could have possibly happen, was if Lily had convinced James into it but there was no way he would give his inheritance to him. There was something wrong with this, what the hell was he missing? It made no sense to him at all.

"Congratulations on your newfound wealth," said Dumbledore hiding his fury, how dare they give it away.

Severus could barely believe it, why would they give him the money when Harry died? Why hadn't it gone to Lupin or well anyone they had known really. He swallowed the bile in his throat, apart from Dumbledore he was the only person alive that really knew Lily. The rest were dead or insane by the Cruciatus curse and had a permanent bed in St. Mungo's in the magical maladies department. Lily or James couldn't have known that, it was impossible.

At least he could give it back to Harry, when he was seventeen of course. Until then he would give Harry what he needed from his own accounts. He had made a lot of money brewing potions, despite being stuck at Hogwarts.


Will i have McGonagall knowing in this version? so what do you think? better edited? R&R