The Purge

TW: Violence, sedition, and a smidgeon of teen drama.

Lessons to Frighten and Instruct

"Madam Bones?" came the nervous voice of Scrimgeour from outside the door.

"Come in, Rufus," Amelia said with a resigned sigh.

Scrimgeour cautiously opened the door and entered to find Madam Bones slumped over a desk littered with papers. She'd clearly been there all night.

"Let me guess," she added. "Another attack at Hogwarts, right?"

"Actually, ma'am, it's a new case," said Scrimgeour uncertainly. "At least, we think it might be new. It has the same elements of the Hogwarts attacks, but this one took place at a private residence. I was hoping you would look over the evidence with me. You always had the keenest eyes of any of us back in training."

"Flattery will get you nowhere, Rufus." She gave another short sigh. "I suppose I had better, though. The entire department seems to be focusing on this one mess. The sooner we solve it and get the killer behind bars, the sooner we can go back to the usual raids on Knockturn Alley and the tedious paperwork."

"Oh, joy," Scrimgeour muttered.

The two seasoned veterans vanished into the Floo, reappearing in the sitting room of the Nott family estate. It was a very old building as the Notts were second only to the Malfoys in wealth and status. However, Amelia doubted the Malfoys' living room was spattered in fresh blood and had a mutilated corpse in the center of the rug. At least, she didn't think it was just then.

"Auror Shacklebolt, report," said Madam Bones.

"The victim is Thaddeus Nott," Shacklebolt replied, visibly somewhat shaken. "From what the coroner said, it seems the man was dragged from his room during the night and restrained to that chair by the fireplace. His assailant apparently blinded him with a red-hot poker and then cut each of his fingers off. He was also, ahem…"

"What, Auror Shacklebolt?"

"He was, um…sodomized with the poker."

Amelia grimaced as she looked at the body to confirm that, yes, the eyes were bloody, puss-filled sockets and the hands reduced to gory stumps. She couldn't see the poker, though, as the body was partly covered in a white sheet. She was grateful for that; the last thing she wanted to see first thing in the morning was Thaddeus Nott's perforated rectum.

She also noticed another, very obvious thing the attacker did, even as Shacklebolt continued in his report. In very precise, very deep letters, the murderer had carved the words 'Daughter-raping, son-murdering, Death Eater bastard.' Shacklebolt explained that the man had still been alive when it happened.

The method of execution was being stabbed through the throat and left to bleed out. While seemingly merciful compared to what he endured during his torture, the blood-analysis showed that he'd been forced to take a potion that kept him conscious until his point of death. He'd been dead less than an hour before being discovered.

"What does the carving on Nott's chest refer to?" said Amelia. She had a deep feeling of dread. This wasn't just a random attack, the killer knew exactly who he was going after and why. The message itself was fairly self-explanatory, but she wanted all the facts.

"We were informed that something was amiss when Nott's two daughters appeared in St. Mungo's," said Shacklebolt. "We weren't aware that there was something seriously wrong until the eldest girl woke up."

"Right, it's almost 8.30 now," Amelia said thoughtfully. "What time did the girls arrive at the hospital?"

"At 5.30, ma'am. Francine Nott awoke at around 6.45 and, when asked where her father was, she said he wouldn't be hurting her anymore. The hospital informed us immediately and we were here just before 7.00."

"And then you began the investigation, after which Rufus came to find me. I see. Have the healers examined the Nott sisters?"

"Yes, Madam Bones. The eldest girl, Francine, has evidence of repeated sexual assault, as well as scarring on various parts of her body. Also, there were signs that she endured a magically-induced abortion three years ago. All this occurred over the course of the last ten years. The younger girl, Eleanor, has signs of malnutrition and bruising but, thankfully, no signs of sexual assault."

Amelia gave a deep sigh. It really was like the late seventies again. If Lily were there right now, she'd be making some scathing comment about how they should probably give the murderer a trophy for getting rid of a real monster. Amelia was almost disappointed in herself for mentally agreeing. Almost.

"What about the other claims in the…inscription?" she continued.

"A search of the house revealed a grave in the cellar," said Shacklebolt. "We're waiting on news from that, but we suspect the remains are those of Daniel Nott. The child went missing not long after his eleventh birthday. There were rumors he was born a squib and…well, you know how many of the older families treat squibs."

Amelia nodded. She'd had to deal with more than a fair share of those cases. Those were often the worst.

"As for the 'Death Eater' claim. We found a Dark Mark on his arm and a list of crimes the man admitted to was set over on the table there."

Again, Amelia gave a nod and dismissed Shacklebolt to his duties. She wished she could muster up the will to feel some measure of compassion for the victim, but to be honest she really couldn't and was actually rather satisfied with how Nott met his end. Not only had the man been a menace, constantly harassing her department and moving to cut their funding, she also had a personal issue with him.

Nott had been one of those who had claimed Imperius after the war and clearly had the funds to grease enough palms to secure his release. One of the accusations that had been levied against him before he was acquitted was suspected involvement in the murder of one of Amelia's brothers, Edgar Bones, and his family. In Amelia's opinion, turnabout was fair play.

She and Scrimgeour went back through the Floo to discuss the case, only to be met in her office by a frantic junior auror.

"Madam Bones! Head Auror Scrimgeour!" the girl said frantically. "Thank Merlin you're back! It's an emergency!"

"What is it?" said Scrimgeour. "Speak clearly, girl!"

"It's Hogwarts, sir!"

"Another murder?"

"No, sir. There's a riot!"


Even with all their years of experience, the aurors who marched into Hogwarts that day had never seen anything quite like it. Students from every house were on some sort of rampage, cursing each other and the professors seemingly at random. Though, when Amelia looked closely, she noticed some of the students were operating in teams.

It was only the fact that she was a hardened veteran with rock-like self-composure that prevented her from slapping her own face in embarrassment when she saw her niece, Susan, leading a group of Hufflepuffs while wielding a giant axe.

"SHOW NO MERCY!"

The aurors who knew who the crazed little redhead was (which happened, in that case, to be all of them) looked to Madam Bones in obvious apprehension. Not one of them was willing to point a wand at her niece, but young Susan and her team were clearly the most dangerous group at that time. Sighing in resignation, Amelia stepped forward and caught Susan by the scruff of her robes as she attempted to run by.

"Susan Bones," Amelia practically growled. "What do you think you are doing?"

"The revolution will not be defeated!" Susan declared as she struggled in her aunt's iron grip. "We shall be vindicated!"

Amelia pinched the bridge of her nose with her free hand and gave another deep sigh.

"What exactly are you fighting about?" she asked.

"Freedom from the dastardly Pink Toad! And to bring honor and glory to the White-Beared Wizard!"


Harry smirked to himself as he watched the chaos unfold in the Great Hall. He himself was safely concealed within a secret room beside the hall, observing the events through a window that was charmed on the other side to resemble nothing but an empty stretch of wall. Hermione, Luna, Sally-Anne, Tracey, Daphne, and Theo were also sharing his refuge so as not to get caught up in the insanity outside. Allies tend to be more cooperative when they're not used as props in a magical prank, after all.

It had been laughably easy arranging it. Ron had actually been a key in the whole thing. Harry and Hermione had convinced Ron that the only way to win back the school was to start an uprising, giving the ministry the very army they feared. An army loyal to Dumbledore. Ron was already a Dumbledore fanatic, all they had to do was layer on a couple extra Compulsions and give him a prod in the right direction and he was ready to launch a crusade.

The trickiest part had been convincing the house elves to allow them to spike the breakfast with loyalty potions. The house elves did agree, though, when they realized it was for a prank that would likely result in a monumental mess that would have to be cleaned up. Hermione had made a fuss about involving the house elves, but was silenced when Harry inquired of her if she could think of a better plan.

Ordinarily, loyalty potions were distributed in small doses so as to not be noticed. When applied in large quantities, they could cause delusions and even full-blown hallucinations. That was exactly what Harry needed. With the food heavily doused in loyalty potions (most tied to Dumbledore and a few to the ministry, the latter of which would be removed before the aurors got there so as to draw the focus solely to Dumbledore), the students would be ready for when Ron set off the proverbial powder keg the moment he walked into breakfast.

The result was more beautiful than Harry had ever anticipated.


"Let me see if I have all the facts straight," said Amelia.

Amelia and several members of the faculty were in the headmaster's office while the aurors continued to round up the rampaging students. Umbridge was in a terrible state and incredibly angry, the headmaster was looking thoroughly distraught, and Snape had a toilet seat still magically glued to his head. Only McGonagall seemed unfazed by the events.

"Everything seemed normal at breakfast," Amelia continued. "The students were maybe a little more energetic than usual, but nothing seemed suspicious. When a student, identified as one Ronald Weasley, entered the Great Hall, he launched into a tirade against the ministry and raised a wand to Professor Umbridge here. Is that correct?"

"I demand that boy be expelled!" the furious woman shouted. "He and that Potter boy! They're the ones behind this!"

"There is no proof that Harry Potter was involved in any of this," said McGonagall sternly.

"Potter and Weasley are friends. At the very least, the Potter boy should be interrogated."

"Please, calm down," said Dumbledore. "No one was severely hurt. Let us simply regard this as a well-intentioned but misguided prank. There's no need for alarm."

"Everyone!" an auror shouted as he came running into the office. "Come quickly! There's been another murder!"


Pansy Parkinson was dead.

In the midst of the investigation concerning the student rebellion, no one had noticed the girl go missing. The killer had taken advantage of the confusion to abduct her, torture her, kill her, and then dump the body in a corridor.

Well, 'dump' wasn't really the right word. Strung her up on a meat hook was more like it. Her death, while grisly, was not nearly as horrible as those of the male victims. However, she did have the word 'SCUM' carved into her chest and a list of crimes pinned to the remnants of her robes.

"This is the last straw!" said Umbridge. "Albus Dumbledore cannot be trusted to keep the students safe. I demand his immediate resignation!"

"Why didn't anyone realize Miss Parkinson was gone?" Snape said furiously.

"The school was in chaos, Severus," said McGonagall. "You yourself were under considerably heavy fire, if I remember correctly."

Snape grumbled to himself. Likely promising a dire retribution for the students who had dared to attack him.

"What I still don't understand," said Amelia, "is why the students went into such a frenzy over what one person said. They seemed almost delusional."

"I can answer that," said a voice behind them. It was one of the senior aurors, a man named 'Wilson,' who was also the team's forensics expert. "As the incident was instigated over breakfast, I felt the most sensible thing to do would be to check the food for potions."

"I take it that you found some, Auror Wilson?"

"Indeed, yes. High concentrations of a loyalty potion keyed to none other than Headmaster Albus Dumbledore."

All heads turned to a now very nervous headmaster.

"Um…I can explain?" he said.

"Arrest him!" Umbridge screamed.

"Sorry, Albus," said Amelia. "But I'm afraid the evidence is not in your favor. Cuff him, Wilson."

"Ah, yes, I was afraid we might hit this little snag," said Dumbledore. "You seem to be laboring under the delusion that I am going to – what is the phrase – 'Come quietly.' I am afraid I am not going to -"

He was cut off as Wilson shot him with a stunner, causing him to hit the floor with a loud "thud."

"You can't do this to the headmaster," McGonagall exclaimed.

"I think you'll find, Professor McGonagall, that we can and must," said Amelia. "It is our duty to detain him and if you interfere then I will have to arrest you as well. I hate to do this, but it's the law."

They were suddenly interrupted by Fawkes appearing in a flash of flames and then vanishing with the headmaster.

"What the bloody hell?" said Wilson. "That phoenix stole our suspect! Damn things can apparate and disapparate whenever they want. That's just not fair."

"Evading arrest," said Amelia. "This is really not looking good for the old man."

"You don't honestly think Albus had anything to do with this girl's death, do you?" said McGonagall.

"While I doubt he actually committed the murder, the potions in the students' food suggests he was involved. Even if indirectly. I am sorry, Professor McGonagall, but until there is any new evidence, Albus Dumbledore is our lead suspect in this case."

"I demand that a Kiss-On-Sight order be given to the dementors," said Umbridge. "That man cannot be allowed to run amok! Who knows what damage he could do?!"

"Well, maybe the worst is over for now," suggested Wilson hopefully. "I mean, he is supposed to be the most powerful wizard alive. If he's not the one orchestrating these murders, who else could possibly be behind them?"


Meanwhile, a young Gryffindor boy was escorting a young Slytherin girl to her dormitory.

"That was a pretty bold thing, killing Parkinson like that."

"I felt the spectacle needed something to top it off. You know, to drive the final nail into Dumbledore's coffin."

"Why 'SCUM', though? There were so many more interesting epithets you could have carved into her."

"I was strapped for time and it was fitting since she always called me that for having a half-blood mother," said Tracey.

"I'm just surprised you were the one to take the initiative," said Harry. "I would've expected it to be Sally-Anne or Luna who would add their own flair to the mix."

"Not Granger?"

"Hermione's only just getting involved in these antics. I may have accidentally traumatized her a little at the Nott residence."

"Thanks for inviting me to be a part of this."

"Thanks for getting rid of Parkinson for me. I admit that killing women is one thing I feel reluctant to do. I can kill blokes no problem, but women?"

"Double-standard, Potter."

"Only a little, Miss Davis. I may be a homicidal maniac, but I do still have my Gryffindor chivalry."

"If you were so interested in being chivalrous, then you would have challenged your victims to a fair duel."

"Good point. I'll try to keep your advice in mind in the future."

Tracey smiled quietly to herself, trying to ignore the warmth in her stomach when she glanced at him.