When Dumbledore opened up the Daily Prophet after approving the 'home-school transfer' applications for a pair of brothers, he had no idea of the shock he was about to get.
Potter speaks out! Dumbledore uses Boy-Who-Live's name to stir up trouble!
In a surprise visit by the Boy-who-lived, Harry Potter, we learned the TRUE events at the end of the last Tri-Wizard tournament.
According to Potter, who openly submitted to a veritaserum questioning by Madame Bones herself, he had been kidnapped by someone claiming to be a Death Eater to be used in a dark ritual. This ritual was either flawed or failed, as the creature that appeared did not bear any resemblance to He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named according to any known pictures of You-Know-Who.
Potter has apparently been out of Europe most of the summer, and had no knowledge of the fact that headmaster Dumbledore has been using his name to spread fear and hysteria. He was quick to assure the Minister that the only person he saw was a man wearing Death Eater regalia and has no knowledge of You-Know-Who being back. Further evidence that Potter did not see the 'resurrection' of the Dark Lord came from a viewing of the end of the Tournament, when he returned via an illegal portkey with Cedric Diggory's body.
To quote Potter a 'Death Eater, or someone claiming to be a Death Eater made the goblet into a portkey with the goal of attempting to resurrect an unknown third party'.
One can only speculate how Potter's supposed close friendship with the headmaster will survive the attack on his reputation.
For more of Dumbledore's bungle, page 3
For more on Potter's exploits, page 5
Dumbledore KNEW Voldemort was back, as Snape had been forced to entertain the Dark Lord in Malfoy's manor.
So the fact Harry actually went to the Prophet, alone and unescorted and stated he had NO knowledge of that fact was more than a bit disheartening. Clearly the boy needed to learn there was a time and place for lying.
More importantly they needed to retrieve the boy before the Death Eaters kidnapped him and brought him before Voldemort.
"So they've suddenly changed their tune overnight, just like that?"
Ed was absolutely disgusted with the sudden one-eighty attitude change.
From giving "Harry" the cold shoulder to suddenly saying they knew all along he wasn't a liar...it was little wonder Angel hated it here. The complete lack of logic would drive any alchemist nuts.
"As I tried to warn you before, the sheeple that make up the majority of the magical community don't like it when someone tries to stir things up."
"So why did you have to go to this...newspaper...and tell them he wasn't back?"
"At some point he's going to make a move and go public, and I've only ever seen one picture of him before his 'death'. The thing that came out of the cauldron looked nothing like him, and I've only ever seen Death Eaters in full costume last year. I made it very, very clear to the reporters that I have only ever seen You-Know-Who from historical photographs, and never in person so I've never seen what he actually looks like. For all they knew, I saw a Death Eater reviving one of their fallen."
"So instead of wasting time telling them you saw him come back and be called a liar, you tell them you saw someone you didn't know and wait for him to blow his own cover," said Al.
"Exactly. Less frustration and it means they'll leave me be."
"So... any idea who this Professor McGonagall is?"
"Please tell me she's not the one they're sending to show you around and help you get school supplies," said Angel, pinching her nose.
"According to this they're sending a former Professor to come visit us, since our letters were addressed to a 'muggle' address."
"Which means they're likely to send Remus. This is going to be hilarious if it is him."
"Why?"
"He's sensitive to lavender, and I have some lavender oil to hide my scent."
"...Sensitive to lavender?"
"He's a werewolf, but he's rather sensitive to it because there's a prejudice against them, even if they're only furry once a month."
"Werewolves are real?"
"And cats absolutely hate them."
Ed suddenly looked at Alphonse's pet, a cat he named Blue because it's fur when hit in the right light turned this blueish color. He had an evil grin on his face too.
"So why are you using lavender oil?"
"Because if they find out I'm with you, and if it's Remus they're sending they will figure it out, then I have no doubt that Dumbledore will immediately send someone to put us under his 'protection', which knowing my luck will include dealing with Mrs. Weasley and her son."
"Why is that bad?"
"One, it includes Ron, who is officially on my shit list after last year. Two, Molly Weasley is a harpy of the worst order, and her voice is quite strident. And three, because I don't trust Dumbledore's idea of 'protection' since he's stuck me with that horse-faced hag every summer claiming blood wards despite the fact that the family wants nothing to do with me and makes my summer absolutely miserable."
Ed and Al winced.
"So if it is Remus, then we should either move into a new hotel, or be prepared to be taken to whatever Dumbledore thinks is an acceptable safe house and deal with his nonsense."
Angel made sure they had everything on hand in case they needed to leave in a hurry. No way was she giving up the best summer in her life to deal with Dumbledore's bullshit.
Especially since she knew for a fact if she had to deal with Mama bear Weasley, then she would inevitably be stuck rooming with Ron again.
Then Ed noticed something.
"Why do you have Mystic's leash with you?"
"I'm taking him to the vet to get vaccinated and checked over. He's already been fixed, but they have this thing called a microchip that goes under the skin and acts as an identifier in the event he gets loose. That way even if he loses his collar they'll know he has an owner."
While he had gotten a basic inspection by the people who checked the military dogs, it was always a good idea to have a second opinion from someone with advanced machines that could see inside without having to cut open.
Angel and a leashed Mystic left the hotel room (it was one of the few that allowed pets, provided they were on leashes at all times) and went to one of the elevators. Hedwig was still in Angel's "room" sleeping off the meal she had gotten, while Al was currently putting Blue into his carrier just in case it was Remus who came to help them get school supplies.
He had no idea Angel had already helped Ed and Al out and even gotten them trunks with special security features. They were ready for Hogwarts.
They spent most of their time picking out which books from the 'muggle' side to buy, and weeding out the ones that were just repeating the same things.
This was more of a chance for Ed and Al to poke fun at Hogwarts in general.
Especially since Angel had handed Ed a vial of lavender extract to drive Remus nuts with.
"Well Ms. Potter, I'm happy to say that Mystic here is in perfect health...even if he was a feral before," said Dr. Blake.
Angel scratched Mystic's ears, who sat panting on the floor.
"The receptionist will give you the tags and if you could hold Mystic we'll get him the microchip," said Dr. Blake.
Angel held Mystic, who liked needles about as much as Ed did. He viewed them as weapons.
With the microchip in place and her registration filled out, Angel went outside and got the tags, which she promptly put onto his collar.
It wasn't until she got back to the hotel room that she noticed something...not off, per say, but amusing nonetheless.
Poor Remus was strung out on the couch with the worst sneezing fit you could imagine, and the brothers were snickering too much outside of getting him some 'fresh' tissue papers.
"Overdid it with the extract?" she asked.
"He couldn't even get out the door once I 'spilled' the bottle."
The second Remus saw "Harry", he tried to get up but ended up having to hold his poor abused nose from a fresh wave of sneezing.
"Honestly, why the hell didn't you just apply a bubblehead charm to get rid of the smell until you could leave the room?" asked Angel exasperated.
"He tried, but his sneezing made that impossible," Al informed her.
"Ed, hold Mystic while I take him out of the room and into some fresh air."
Ed took firm hold of Mystic's collar with his right arm, while she carefully lead Remus out to the balcony down the hall. After about five minutes of being able to breathe, she made sure that his wand was clearly visible in her hand. He had been too busy trying to regain his breath to notice her stealing it.
"Let me make this absolutely clear Remus. If you try to take me or my friends to whatever place the 'headmaster' thinks is secure I will not hesitate to snap this in half. And that's before I have Mystic maul you."
"What...what are you doing here with the transfers?"
"Who the hell did you think helped them get the papers filled out and their supplies? Ed and Al are friends of mine, which is more than I can say for any of the students currently in Hogwarts," said Angel sharply. Remus winced, having heard part of the story of what Ron did and the fact Hermione had transferred to France because she was an outcast in Hogwarts for trying to stand up for him.
Still, it was quite a shock to find his missing 'pup' with a pair of transfers.
"Why did you go to the Prophet and say You-Know-Who wasn't back?"
"You're kidding, right? Fudge is practically in the pockets of the Death Eaters, who definitely wouldn't want to admit their master is back. Only an idiot would parade around the fact Riddle is 'alive' again without any proof," said Angel in disgust.
Dumbledore was supposed to be intelligent. Instead he only proved what a horrible tactician he was by trying to blow the fact that the Dark Lord was back when no one wanted to believe him.
He should have waited until Riddle did something to force the Ministry to acknowledge he was back first before trying to get the sheeple to give up their comfortable peace.
When Remus finally left, the boys and Angel all started packing for a quick move. She had little doubt the second Remus reported he had found her, that Dumbledore would attempt to bring her in for her own safety.
She made sure to leave a note stuck on a knife stating exactly what she felt about Dumbledore's idea of 'security'.
Having Mystic, Blue and Hedwig with them might have limited their options...if Angel was an idiot like Ron.
Angel was a brilliant young woman with funds and a basic idea of where Hogwarts was. She also knew that no one would expect a fifteen year old with a muggle bank card could waltz into a shop and leave with a yacht that she planned on sailing straight into Hogwarts.
"So...why didn't we just move onto the yacht to begin with?"
"Had to wait for the papers to clear. Boys, welcome to the Prometheus," said Angel.
"Why Prometheus?" asked Ed.
"Prometheus was a titan that stole divine fire from the gods and brought it to humanity, and was punished for it by the gods who sent an eagle down to eat his liver every day for hundreds of years before they let him go in Greek mythology," said Angel.
"Wait, how could it eat his liver every day?" asked Al.
"He was a titan. Having his liver eaten wouldn't kill him because it would simply grow back," shrugged Angel.
"Graphic," said Ed grimacing.
Ed and Al stashed their trunks, while Hedwig immediately took her spot next to the captain's wheel.
"So where are we going then?"
"Hogwarts, or at least the Black Lake. Funnily enough, the lake outside the castle is actually called the Black Lake, just in highland Scottish. Took me about three minutes to find it because I had a basic idea of where the castle was. The forest itself was a dead giveaway."
Hermione had unwittingly given her the clue to locate Hogwarts on a map. Even without the coordinates, it had taken little time to find it, because of the Forbidden Forest and the mountain range.
So yes, she fully planned to sail into the Black Lake just to piss Dumbledore off.
Besides, there was no way in hell Riddle would be able to find her out in open water and be able to land without them taking pot shots at the idiots.
It took Angel five minutes to figure out the controls, and by that time they were sailing off in the Thames.
Moody was among those who had gone to retrieve Potter...only to find a knife with a piece of parchment stabbed through it.
He took it off the wall and after reading it his respect for the teen only grew.
He called Dumbledore out on his major blunders as someone leading the "Light" side of the war.
To Whomever was sent by the idiot that runs the castle
Congratulations! You've missed us by hours! Only a fool would stick around if they know they've been found by someone they wouldn't trust with a flobberworm.
Dumbledore has no doubt sent you all to 'retrieve' me. Guess what?
I trust his idea of safety about as much as I trust Ron to actually do his own homework and not get half of it absolutely wrong.
Sorry boys (and gals) but this little owl has flown the coop. Oh, and I'll be bringing the transfers with me since I really don't fancy the idea of leaving my new friends to the tender 'mercy' of Molly Weasley's voice.
And since I'm going to take a wild stab in the dark and say he sent Remus after me, be sure to tell the idiot headmaster that next time a dark lord comes back and the only eyewitness is a student that people can't seem to make their minds up about, then keep the fact the dark lord is alive to yourself.
Only a complete fool or a novice tactician would attempt to force the sheeple and a Minister who would rather keep his head in the sand to face reality without waiting for said dark lord to slip up and reveal that fact himself.
Have fun trying to track me down, if you can!
On the bottom was a hand with the middle finger clearly extended.
"Dumbledore's not going to like this," said Moody.
"Forget him, imagine how Molly's going to react when she finds out Harry's gone and run off before we could retrieve him!" moaned Remus.
Every who heard him grimaced in agreement. Molly was sure to be extra loud and strident when she found out they almost had Harry, but lost him because it had taken so long to gather up the people to bring him back.
Sirius would probably love the fact Harry took the time to flip off his 'escort' though.