I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO BUY HIM.
FOR ABBY
Chapter 6 Betrayal.
HEADMASTER'S OFFICE, HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY, 0800 hrs.
Albus Dumbledore had just received Hermione's letter.
'Hell fire and damnation.' Dumbledore thought 'Stupid girl'
Things were not going well for Dumbledore. The previous day he, himself, was forced to go and speak with the Dursleys. Once he found out Remus Lupin had taken the boy he went directly to the Ministry in an attempt to start a man hunt, only to find out he had been removed to a place of safety under the Magical Law Enforcement approval, he began to fear the worst. He tried repeatedly to get in touch with both Tonks and Remus, but neither owls nor Fawkes were able to take his letters, meaning they were being magically hidden.
At least the Weasleys were co-operating. He was to meet them at the Ministry at lunch time to organise Ronald's international travel arrangements to Durmstrang. Unfortunately before that he was to attend a press conference to publicly accept Fudge's resignation.
POTTER MANOR, 0800 hrs.
Willy had brought Harry, Remus and Tonks to the Grand Study.
"This be the Master's study." Willy told them leading the way inside. "This be where all the Potter men be doing their Home work."
Willy led them to be a large thick book on a lecturn. The elf pulled a step ladder up to it. Harry glanced over the elf's head and read the cover;
"The Potter Trust."
"The Ledger be updating every morning at six am. After spotting the irregularities yesterday Willy be coming here to check. Looky what I's be finding." He squeaked opening the book. "This be the relevant withdrawl."
'3000 Galleons – School Fees Durmstrang Academy.
A. Dumbledore (OM)'
"School fees for Durmstrang?" Tonks asked in confusion. "Transferring, Harry?"
"No, not that I know of." Harry replied.
"Has Harry's Hogwart's fees been paid yet Willy?" Remus asked.
"The fees for Hogwarts were paid last week Mister Reemy." Willy confirmed. "I's be taking the libertys to set up a meeting with the Goblins at Gringygots this morning at eleven o'clock Master Harry."
"Thank you Willy." Harry replied, then turning to Tonks he said, "What time do we need to be at the Ministry?"
"The director will be in the office at nine. We can go any time from then. But if you are meeting the Goblins at eleven I would suggest we get there for bang on nine."
"Then I had better go and get dressed." Harry said.
"Saffi has laid out the Potter family robes for you Master Harry." Willy said as Harry headed for the door.
MINISTRY OF MAGIC, 0855 hrs.
One of the fireplaces in the Auror's office flared green and Tonks, dressed in her Auror uniform, led Remus and Harry into the office antiroom. She strode up to an Officer sitting behind a large desk.
"Auror Sergeant Tonks reporting in." She announced formally. "I have brought Harry Potter and Remus Lupin to give evidence on various counts of child abuse."
The Officer behind the desk straightened up.
"Mr Potter I Am Sergeant Eddy Roberts. Could you please hand me your wand?" he asked.
Harry handed over his wand and Remus followed suit.
"Thank you Sirs. Unfortunately in the current climate we are not allowing wands inside the Ministry." Sergeant Roberts explained placing the wands into wooden boxes. "Here are your receipts. No receipt, no wand." He continued passing them both a receipt. "The Director has just arrived, Tonks."
"Cheers Eddy." Tonks replied leading the way into the Aurour's office.
MINISTRY OF MAGIC, MINISTER'S OFFICE, 0900
Members of the Wizarding press had gathered in the Minister's office. Instead of the plush chair behind the ancient oak Desk of Office and the roaring fire there was a single podium infront of a silk black background adorned with the Ministry's logo.
Percy Weasley moved up to the podium and waved the room into silence.
"Good morning Ladies and Gentlemen. Thank you for coming today. The Minister of Magic and the Chief Warlock will give brief statements; there will be no questions." He said. "Ladies and Gentlemen be up standing for Cornelius Fudge, the Minister for Magic."
The assembled reporters and photographers stood and gave polite applause as Fudge entered the room from behind the banner, he strode up to the podium and set his trademark bowler hat down.
"Good morning." He began earnestly. "The past twelve months have been difficult for the entire Wizarding population of Great Britain. He Who Must Not Be Named has returned. He returned during the final task of the Tri-Wizard Tournament, murdering Cedric Diggory, one of the Hogwarts Champions. Before I go on, I would like to publicly extend my deepest condolences to the Diggory family.
"Albus Dumbledore tried to warn me, to help me, to prepare ,for the coming storm but, alas, I did not heed those warnings. Instead, burying my head in the sand and conducting a smear campaign against him. Something I can only hope my time in Office will not be remembered for.
"I have failed you, the wizarding people, and for that I am deeply sorry. These are dark and dangerous times, my friends, and I fear that they are only going to become darker. You deserve strong and decisive leadership, something I believe I am no longer equipped to provide." Fudge let this sink in for a few moments.
"As such last night I had a private meeting with Albus Dumbledore and Her Majesty the Queen, to whom I tendered my resignation." There were gasps around the room as photographer's flashbulbs illuminated his face, a single tear fell down one cheek as he began to speak again.
"My resignation is effective immediately, so in closing I would like to say it has been my greatest achievement and honour of my life to serve you the great people of Wizarding Britain these past sixteen years." He finished picking up his hat and leaving the podium to a chorus of questions yelled by the reporters.
MINISTERY OF MAGIC, MLE DIRECTORS OFFICE, 0915
Madam Bones' desk was piled high with files. The Director sat in her over stuffed green leather swivel chair reviewing the file handed to her a few moments ago by Auror Sergeant Tonks.
"Are you sure, Sergeant?" Bones asked removing her monocle.
"Yes Ma'am. As you can see Harry has been subject to years of physical abuse at the hands of his foster family."
"Yes sergeant. I can see that. But this intelligence about Albus Dumbledore allowing the abuse to happen?"
"It has been well documented that Professor Dumbledore was charged with insuring Harry's well being." Tonks argued. "Furthermore, I would like to draw your attention to Harry's Hogwarts Letter." she continued.
Bones re-inserted the monocle and picked up the envelope.
'Harry Potter
The Cupboard under the stairs
Number 4 Privet Drive
Little Whinging
Surrey'
"Merlins giant swinging cock!" The director exclaimed, her eyes bulging and her monocle fell to the floor smashing. "Damn!" She said pulling out her wand. "Repero. Is there anything else I should know about?"
"I have reason to suspect that Dumbledore has been stealing from the Potter Trust. I am accompanying Harry to review his accounts with Gringotts later this morning."
"All right Sergeant. Keep me informed of the investigation. Has Harry seen a Mind Healer yet?"
"He is with one now Ma'am." Tonks told her.
"Very well." Bones said. "Bring the Muggles in when your done at the bank." she ordered dismissing Tonks.
MINISTRY OF MAGIC, MINISTER'S OFFICE 0915 hrs.
Percy Weasley once again took the podium.
"Now Ladies and Gentlemen to give a statement on the election procedure, The Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot Professor Albus Dumbledore."
The applause given to Dumbledore as he took the podium was thunderous. The Professor waved for silence.
"Good morning. I will be brief. On the Sixteenth of September the polls will open. Those wishing to declare their intention to stand must do so in writing to the Ministerial electoral committee no later than two pm on the twenty sixth of August. The committee will deliberate and a shortlist will be announced in the morning edition of the Daily Prophet and the next edition of the Quibbler on the twenty eighth of August. The candidates will then be free to conduct their campaigns.
"In the meantime as the Chief Warlock I will preside over the affairs of state until the new minister is sworn in on the eighth of September. Thank you." he finished and left the podium.
MLE MIND HEALERS OFFICE, MINISTERY OF MAGIC, 0915hrs
Mind Healer Aurora had begun to trawl through Harry's memories, starting at early childhood. She had been deeply disturbed by what she had found.
"I am sorry Harry," She began. "You have suffered greatly in your life."
"and you have only seen up to my third birthday." Harry replied. "What happens now?" he asked as Tonks entered the room.
"I have copied the memories I have viewed so far and will place them into a Pensieve." Aurora told him. "However I cant remove any more, these memories are too disturbing to me and I assume the abuse escalated the more you grew?"
"It did." Tonks answered. "But we need those memories, as well as your testimony when this goes to trial."
"There is a way." Aurora said. "If Harry places a memory per day into a pensieve and we can meet once a week for him to walk me through the memories."
"How long will that take?" Tonks asked.
"I should have my report ready by the first of September." Aurora said. "Do you have a pensieve Harry?"
"I don't know. If I don't I'll be able to afford one." Harry replied, "When we're done here I'll just nip down the Pensieve Shop and Vernon is your obese Uncle and Petunia is your anorexic Aunt." He quipped.
Tonks thought about this for a moment.
"All right, tomorrow I'll sort out a pensieve for you from work." she said. "Do you have enough for one hell of a preliminary report?" she asked Aurora.
"I think so." Aurora replied. "It will probably write itself from what I have seen."
"Good. On my desk first thing tomorrow please."
"Of course sergeant."
Thanks Healer." Harry said as Tonks ushered him from the room.
GRAND CENTRAL LOBBY, MINISTRY OF MAGIC. 0930 hrs.
Dumbledore stepped off the Minister's elevator and began to walk across the lobby. He was greeted by a hoard of photographers and reporters barking questions at him.
At the same time across the lobby Harry, Tonks and Remus alighted from a different elevator.
"Look there!" a photographer called. "It's Harry bleedin' Potter!"
"Oh shit." Harry muttered as the throng of press converged on him.
Dumbledore strode behind the mob and forced his way to the front beaming at Harry.
"Remus, Nymphodora. Well done for locating our Mister Potter." He said eyes twinkling. "Now that you have been found I must insist you return to your Aunt and Uncle's home."
"I'm sorry Headmaster," Harry said bitterly. "I'm afraid I can't do that."
"And why is that?" Dumbledore replied slightly annoyed.
"I have an appointment at Gringotts." Harry spat.
"Very well, I shall accompany you and then escort you home." Dumbledore said beginning to lose his patience.
"I'm afraid that won't be possible Albus." Remus replied
"And why, may I ask, not?" Dumbledore asked, his annoyance evident.
"He has been removed from his relatives home to a place of safety Sir." Tonks explained. "Mr Potter is under the protection of the MLE until further notice. I'm sorry, we must be going." She said barging past the Headmaster leading Harry and Remus to the fire places.
GRINGOTTS, 1100hrs.
Harry, Remus and Tonks had been ushered into a meeting room by one of the bank's human employees, served coffee and told the account manager would be with them shortly.
After a few moments two Goblins entered the room accompanied by Bill Weasley.
"Good morning Mr Potter." The first Goblin said. "I am TanCrok. Chairman of Gringotts bank in the United Kingdom. This is my son SanCrock, he is the account manager of the Potter Trust and was made so by your Father."
"I am honoured Mr Potter." SanCrock said bowing deeply. "This is William Weasley, formally the greatest of our Curse Breakers, now assigned to my staff." he continued indicating Bill. "He will be responsible for the day to day matters of your accounts."
"I actually know Bill." Harry said.
"Very well." Said TanCrock. "I shall leave you in their more than capable hands." he continued as he left.
"Your House Elf told me you wish to discuss an irregularity of a recent transaction?" SanCrock asked.
"Yes." Harry began. "I appear to be paying two sets of school fees." He explained.
"Ah yes," SanCrock said. "This dose occasionally happen. You will of course be refunded immediately."
"You misunderstand me SanCrock. My Hogwarts fees have been paid as normal, however Professor Dumbledore also authorised a second payment for two years tuition at Durmstrang." Harry explained. "Please stop this payment."
"I am Auror Sergeant Tonks. I need to see a list of all the Transactions the Professor authorised since he took over guardianship of the Trust." Tonks demanded producing a scroll and handing it to the Goblin.
SanCrock read the scroll and passed it to Bill.
"Very well, this seems in order, if not slightly irregular. William please see to it." SanCrock ordered.
"Also, until this matter has been cleared up I must insist that guardianship of the Potter Trust be transferred to some one else." Tonks continued.
"Of course Sergeant. Whom do you suggest?" The Account Manager asked.
"Remus Lupin." Harry said without thinking.
"And we will wait for Mr Weasley to finish his search. This is a matter of extreme importance." Tonks explained.
"As you wish. Mr Potter I shall have the paper work drawn up within the hour. You may remain here until William returns."
"Thank you." Harry said.
"It is of no matter Mr Potter." SanCrock replied. "It is our calling. Come William." He said turning to Bill and leading him from the room.
AN: hope you all enjoyed this chapter, I had fun writeing it. Thanks as ever to my BETA myAngel. I'm aiming for one update per week, but it dose just depend on how much time I have to write. Thanks to those who reviewd: Texas Wookie, a shout is what brittish police officers call a call out. Tonks was going to investigate what had happend to Harry, so she was on a shout, hope that helps. Thanks also go out to Happy Lady, Paws and BEAST for their reviewas. Next chapter we will see Harry vs Dumbeldore in their first one on one encounter since the 'unplesentness' began