Heart of Magic

To Minister Fudge

The Parliament of the Byzantium Alliance has decided that your country is an enemy to peace and we have occupied Azkaban prison. Our reasons are simple, we have watched your government oppress its people for too long and no longer will your regime be tolerated by the international community. The Alliance has decided that you must abide by the following

All house elves must be freed and their owners must stand trial

All Dementors must be removed from Ministry Employment

The Ministry Of Magic must be dissolved and replaced by a democratic government of our design

You must stand down as Minister and stand trial for corruption.

These demands must be met and our empress must be informed when she visits tomorrow, you will give your response then and if your refuse then steps must be taken to ensure your oppressive regime cannot continue.

Sincerely

Empress Juliana IX

Prime Minster Olivia Denol

Azkaban

The aurors guarding the prison of Azkaban were not in a good mood tonight, the Dementors seemed extra lively today and they had no idea why.

"Sir," a voice cut through the evening air like a knife

"What is it?" another man barked angrily, he had not had a good day and all he wanted to do was go home, something he couldn't do yet until his shift was over.

"Look!" the aurror pointed and when the man looked he gasped, the air was alive with purple smoke which hit the ground and formed into fully armed soldiers. All were dressed in purple body armour with some kind of crest on the chest plate, all were armed with either a wand or sleek black gun. A few were on brooms while some had large vehicles with cannon like appendages which were pointed at the prison. These were soldiers of the Byzantium Alliance who were told to occupy the island to make a point to the ministry, the empress was going to give an ultimatum while they set up a base here, it would give them a starting point and also a chance to remove Dementor presence from the island.

"Sir what should we do?" one of the aurors asked sounding slightly afraid, there was an army outside after all and there was only a handful of them. Their commander looked unsure, this was not covered during training

"Attention occupants of Azkaban Prison, this island is now under the command of Empress Juliana the ninth of the Byzantium Alliance, your are ordered to leave the island within the hour," a voice demanded, the aurors looked to their commander. Who fainted

"So it's up to us," the first auror sighed, he already knew the answer, they had to go and quickly.

Meanwhile

"After you Mr representative sir," Dobby squeaked holding the door open for the tall imposing elf who looked furious, Ron was following on behind looking terrified and Juliana walked with her usual grace but Harry could tell she was disturbed. Stories of brutality in Britain had always been through of as exaggerated by some but the order disagreed and now for the first time the truth was exposed "He needs to go Azkaban, he ripped Ron's magic out and made him to some kind of twisted slave for that filthy elf..." Hermione's voice filled his ears as they stepped through the door and a low growl protruded from Ostari's mouth and Harry sighed. He forgot to block the floo and Dumbledore must have decided to hold the meeting tonight instead, this was not a good thing

"Excuse me?" Ostari growled in a voice that could freeze ice as he walked into the room, the entire order leapt back and drew their wands

"Enough!" Harry demanded stepping forward but he was not surprised to find that Hermione, Molly and Ginny did not lower their wands.

"Guards!" Juliana spoke first and moving as a blur three of the black armoured figures zoomed forward, the first pulled Hermione forward, snatched the wand out of her hand and threw her into Molly. The second twisted Molly's hand snatched the wand while the third fired a spell into Ginny which sent her into the wall, some others moved for their wands but the sight of the empress's bodyguards stopped them.

"Let's all calm down!" Dumbledore requested before a brawl could break out, Juliana nodded and her guards returned to their normal position, her eyes narrowed as she scanned the room.

"This is Empress Juliana the ninth accompanied by Representative Ostari of the Elven nation," Harry introduced but a loud snort cut him off, Hermione was obviously still angry and Harry realised this was the moment. This was the moment she would do something very bad, very bad indeed

"Oh or God's sake, ok so you tell us another lot of lies and you bring six people all dressed up, one in a purple dress and the others masked from head to toe in black and you expect to believe this. A representative from the Elven nation, ridiculous, the only place elves belong is in the kitchen serving..." her sentence was cut short by a loud bang which sent her smashing into the wall with representative Ostari looking at her with fury

"How dare you! You dare insult my people, you contemptible little girl you know nothing of the outside world and you speak with an authority you do not have, I swear by the blood of my ancestors that you and all those who have helped mistreat my kind will meet their deaths!" He roared in a voice which silenced the entire room and sent waves of fear through Hermione.

"I think this meeting is over," Juliana suddenly suggested darkly knowing that if this continued it was going to get bloody.

"And what gives you the right to order us around? You're not in charge of us your majesty," Ginny spat having got up off the floor by this time and was looking at the empress with pure contempt.

"I own this house let's not forget and as the order is allies with our dear Empress then her word is law on my property now all of you go before this gets a lot worse, I warned you all and a few of you helped, a few of you have only condemned yourself," Harry announced icily. The display of powerful magic by the bodyguards and the elven representative meant the decision to leave was almost unanimous, Dumbledore muttered something about continuing it another time and they all moved to leave. Ostari however pointed a finger at Hermione

"Listen to me girl, you think this is over? I know what you did and when I send my report tonight just know that there will be a thousand people demanding your blood, and look forward to the day you are sent to us to face justice," he hissed lowly causing Hermione to go pale. Then she was gone

"Cardinal Mage Potter I think we need to have a long talk," he suggested in a shaky voice obviously trying to conceal some of his rage,

"I agree, Dobby could you please get Ron out of here? I don't thing spending the night here for him is a good idea," Harry suggested, Dobby nodded.

"Go home!" the elf ordered, his words twisted and Ron felt something like a tether attach itself to him, it was Dobby's natural magic and he was pulled against his will back to the burrow.

Later

"You know the Elven nation is not going to be happy, when they hear about this," Juliana sighed, her room had been made up already and she sat in the master bedroom of Grimmauld place. However the Byzantium Flag was hung from the wall, the bed was draped in purple quilts and curtains and the fireplace was roaring. Harry had made quite an effort tonight

"He made that clear about eighteen times," Harry smiled, he was sat opposite her and he was relived the night was over. Ostari was furious and he had vowed to help Juliana in her upcoming war with magical Britain, luckily he had calmed down slightly now

"Tomorrow when I give my speech I have a feeling he's hoping the Wizengamot reject the ultimatum, in fact he's probably going to go mental," Juliana sighed softly knowing that they would reject it, this meeting was just a formality and she would have to make a declaration of war

"But I think we've discussed politics for long enough, tell me Harry how have you been? I've been worried about you since I found out you came back here, you told me enough about your past life for me to know that you would be upset or hurt," she asked gently. Harry nodded and told her about the things he had learned, what he had accepted and how he had moved on,

"It's good to hear," she smiled and then a sly smirk crossed her face,

"But I do have a bone to pick, you didn't write as much as I wanted you to," she smiled and Harry would have been confused, he had written almost every day but he knew what she was getting at. She moved slowly towards him

"You need to make it up to me," she grinned and Harry kissed her, it was a slow passionate thing and she let out the first it what would be many noises throughout the night.

Meanwhile

Voldemort was concerned, he had heard of the vote in the Wizengamot and obviously he hated the idea but he worried about something Harry Potter had said. He had threatened war and he was obviously supported by powerful people, he had already taken at least three of his follower's magic away and Voldemort was worried that he had no way of defending against Harry Potter's newfound powers.

"My lord," Snape's dry voice cut into the air and Voldemort was sat in the dining room of Malfoy manor, Lucius had vanished when he had sent him to Italy. He already knew the man had been killed or "excommunicated" as Potter had put it.

"What?" Voldemort hissed ready to curse the man if this was a waste of time

"It seems I was wrong, a woman has arrived in Grimmauld place and it seems what Harry Potter said was true, her robes were of the same flag of the soldiers now occupying Azkaban," Snape informed him darkly. Voldemort looked up

"So this empress has declared war on Britain?" he asked coldly, Snape nodded

"And the death eaters?" Voldemort wondered

"There is a vote going on now in the Byzantium Parliament about whether or not to name us enemies of the state," Snape answered, Voldemort suddenly frowned.

"How do you know this?" he demanded coolly

"Because the empress asked to see me and I am afraid to say that it is likely you will be named an enemy," Snape began and Voldemort cackled.

"Let them come I am stronger than any army!" he boasted hoping to fool Snape into trusting him

"Unfortunately not, I am here to tell you I'm out," Snape smiled darkly and pulled his sleeve up, the dark mark was gone.

"I was granted exoneration I think it's called which mean I get a fresh start, I let my hate of James Potter blind me for so long I didn't see how much like Lily Harry really is, I'm here to let you know that if you turn yourself in then it would be easier, but I need to go now," Snape grinned vanishing before Voldemort even had time to speak. He was stunned, his magic of the dark mark had been undone something he thought was impossible; maybe he was dealing with someone more power... no not a chance. Harry Potter was still weak and tomorrow he would prove it, he would kill that empress in the ministry and then Potter would die. Yes that is what was going to happen and there was no way he would be stopped.