Murders and Ministers

It was the last day of November, and snow had begun to fall over the castle. Tigs was up earlier than usual, strolling through the frozen grounds with a cigarette in her hand. She had her grey coat wrapped tightly around her and she found her feet leading her steadily back towards the Quidditch pitch where she had played only a few weeks earlier. It had been a long and rough game, as games against Slytherin often were. Just looking at the pitch made Tigs' bruises twinge. The Gryffindor seeker, Aidan Lynch, had been violently knocked off his broom half way through by Avery, the Slytherin seeker, and was still recovering in the hospital wing. The game had lasted for over four hours before Avery, who was an awful seeker, finally caught the snitch. Thankfully, it made no difference to Gryffindors lead, and they won by one goal. There was to be another match this weekend, and she felt thankful that at least the Gryffindor game was played before the snow set in. She stubbed out her cigarette in the frozen ground and headed into the castle. Despite her detour, she was still very early to breakfast and got there before breakfast was even on the table. A single owl swooped in and flew towards her, dropping her copy of the Daily Prophet and holding out its leg for payment. She paid it, all the while pondering why the owl had arrived so early. The Prophet didn't usually come in until at least 8:30, and it was only 7:45. When she unravelled the paper, all became clear. She didn't know why she'd got up so early. She didn't know why she hadn't spent longer on her makeup, or why she hadn't smoked two cigarettes. She didn't know why she'd not met up with James as she usually did. But all of these occurrences meant that she was stood alone in the Great Hall when she read the paper that morning.

Lily woke up to find the dormitory deserted. She checked the time on her alarm clock. 7:30. The usual time she woke up, if anything a little earlier as she usually snoozed for a while. Tigs was never there when she woke up, but the others usually were. The sound of water could be heard from the bathroom so someone must've been taking a shower. That only accounted for two of her roommates though, there was no telling where the others were. However, she didn't question it too much. She got changed into her uniform under the sheets as the cold air seeped in from outside. She had just pulled her hair up into a high ponytail and was about to apply some mascara when she heard a light tapping at the window. She walked over to see a small brown owl waiting to be let in. She opened the window and the owl flew in, dropping the Daily Prophet on Amelia's bed. Lily paid it and it flew away. She watched it, perplexed. The Daily Prophet always came in time with the morning post. She had never known it to come at any other time. In fact, she struggled to recall a time when any post had been directly delivered to their room, apart from Tigs' monthly copy of MME (Magical Musical Express). Curious, she picked up the paper and unrolled it. Amelia had just come out of the bathroom in a towel dressing gown and wet hair. All of Lily's curiosity drained away and was replaced by fear as her eyes moved unbelievingly across the front page.

"Lily are you okay?" asked Amelia.

Lily didn't know why she hadn't chosen to sleep in that morning. She didn't know why she hadn't continued to re-read Pride and Prejudice as shed done every other morning that week. All she knew was that she would never forget the moment she read that headline.

RIIIIIIIINNNNNGGGG

James fumbled about for his alarm clock, groaning. He finally found it and thumped it to make it quiet. He rolled over, trying to catch his sleep again. He'd been having a brilliant dream that he was captain of the English Quidditch team. He screwed his eyes up tight, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't get back to sleep. The dream was gone. He sat up, yawning and admitting defeat. He looked over at the opposite bed where Peter was having a similar battle with sleep. Moony and Padfoot had gone already, probably down to the Common Room to get warm, though James. He got up slowly, wincing as his feet touched the cold stone. Rubbing sleep out of his eyes he flicked on the wireless, but more or less ignored as he picked out his clothes for the day. Then something caught his ear.

"Peter, get up," he said, firmly. Peter groaned and rolled over. "Now," shouted James, and the Marauder woke up.

"What-" he began.

"Shut up and listen to the wireless,"

Sirius and Remus were sat by the fire in the Common Room, idly playing exploding snap. Dorcas and Emmeline sat on the sofa opposite, watching the game absentmindedly. Remus was about to win when the game was interrupted by a manic, pyjama-clad James.

"Moony, Padfoot get up here," he said frantically, "You have to hear what they are saying on the wireless. Dorcas, Em you too." He then turned on his heel and headed back up the steps to the dormitory. The four looked at each other, confused. Sirius shrugged.

"Come on then," he said, and the others obliged. They entered the dormitory, where James and Peter were gathered around the radio. James had his head in hands, and Peter was just staring blankly at the bed frame. Remus was about to ask what had happened when a woman's voice on the radio cut through the still air.

"Aurors discovered a massacre at a muggle campsite this morning. It is estimated that there are 112 dead. This just breaking- amongst the victims were three Hogwarts students who were holidaying with their parents. More details and names will be released as soon as the station hears more."

The voice rang out through the cold air. The ensuing silence engulfing every one of them. Though none of them spoke, they all knew they were each thinking the same thing. Who? The silence was broke by the sound of the door swinging open. Tigs entered through it, a newspaper clutched in her hands.

"I guess you've just heard then," The whole room nodded.

"I just can't believe it," she continued, "Oliver and Daisy, and god poor little Sam,"

"What?" asked James, the whole room had just turned to Tigs in shock, "How do you know it's them?"

"Daily Prophet published the names this morning," she held up the paper, "It's Oliver and Daisy Marshall, and Sam Collins, all muggleborns. Their families had gone on holiday together.

"Shit," breathed James.

"We had potions with Oliver,"

By early morning, the Marauders had moved the wireless down into the common room, and the whole of Gryffindor house huddled around it silently. A few students were crying, or had gone to their dormitories to do so, many had been friends with the victims. Tigs sat with her head resting on James' shoulder. The seventh years all sat together, all in a state of mutual shock and mourning. The Head Girl, Marlene McKinnon, had been in to inform that classes were postponed until further notice. There had been no new information in over an hour, so when the woman's voice came back on the radio announcing breaking news, the relative hush amongst the Gryffindors dropped even lower.

"It has been confirmed by aurors that this was a hate crime committed by the extremist group known as the Death Eaters." This came as no real surprise, but everyone felt their stomach drop at those words. Everyone understood what it meant.

"Furthermore, the Minister for Magic has released a statement that he intends to place more aurors on this investigation." Silence filled the air again. Tigs jaw dropped in disbelief. She had not expected the newsreader to stop there.

"No," she said suddenly, and rather loudly. The room turned to look at her.

"That can't be the Minister's statement, it can't be," she shook her head, "He can't continue to sweep this under the rug, the Death Eaters are committing atrocities out there every day and he never addresses it with anything more than the claim to put more aurors on the case or more dementors in Azkaban. Not this time," She stood up angrily and stormed up the stairs to the dorm her friends, and most of the room, watching her go.

"I can probably get most of sixth and seventh year, there will be plenty of younger ones who will want to come but I don't think we can really let them," Tigs talked on the phone very quickly, "Yes, no, in the atrium? But we won't be able to get in, I know, but as long as it gets attention, what about Diagon alley? No I see your point, well- hold on I've got an owl tapping at the window-" Tigs balanced the phone on her shoulder and tore open the letter.

Hey Tigs,

Its Frank, we met at Siobhan's party in the summer. Siobhan told my wife Alice about your plans and I think there's a way I can get you into the atrium. Half of you can floo from my house and my mate Oswald said he will take the other half, as long as you stagger the amount of people flooing it shouldn't be a problem.

See you there,

Frank Longbottom

The two addresses were written neatly at the bottom of the page. Tigs folded the letter neatly and put it in her pocket.

"Nate, we've got a way in,"

It was late afternoon before Tigs returned to the common room, after various attempts by her friends to check up on her. She strode over to the fireplace and cleared her throat. The room turned to look at her.

"For the last few hours I have been conversing with various witches and wizards from across the country, and we have come to the decision that the Minister's response to this massacre has not been appropriate. We will not give into fear. Today we have lost classmates, and for some of you, you have lost close friends. We cannot let them be forgotten. Tonight I will march in peace with other witches and wizards to the Ministry of Magic, and any sixth or seventh years who wish to join this memorial are welcome. We will meet here at 5, floo to London and then on to the Ministry. We cannot let hatred win. We will no longer allow the Dark Lord to murder our friends. We will not give into fear."

"Okay next 10," announced James, and the next group of students moved forward. After Tigs' speech, the Marauders and her roommates had all helped her to petition the other houses and the response was tremendous. Oliver had been a Hufflepuff and the other two Ravenclaws, so both houses had turned out in full. There was even a reasonable number of Slytherins attending. They all stood in the Gryffindor Common Room, which was more full than it had been in the day, and full of energy. Everyone knew what they were doing was completely against the rules and the law, but no one care. They had a higher cause.

"They're through," shouted Lily from the dorm, where she was on the phone to Alice Longbottom.

"They're through James," relayed Tigs, and James beckoned the next group of students to the fireplace. It wasn't long until the last students had all gone and all who remained in the common room were the sixth year Gryffindors.

"Ready?" asked Tigs.

"Ready." Replied her friends in unison.

Tigs was the last person, apart from Frank and Alice, to floo into the Ministry. The atrium was packed with witches and wizards of all ages and Tigs grinned. This was her doing, she had managed to rally people against the Minister, in the face of prejudice, and she had never been prouder. She began to walk through the crowd and James dropped in step next to her.

"Wow Tigs this is amazing, there must be over 500 people here," he said, in awe.

"I know I can't believe it either,"

"How did you do it?"

"I have some pretty good connections I guess," she replied vaguely, and James frowned, trying to work out who she meant.

"Hey Tigs!" a boy a few years their senior came running through the crowd to greet Tigs.

"Nate!" she exclaimed, and the pair hugged. James couldn't help feel a twinge of jealousy.

"We need you desperately…." James lost the rest as the pair walked off. He watched her go and although he wanted her to stay, returned back to his friends.

Reporters. Aurors. Members of the Wizengamot. Ministry workers. Singers. Authors. All of them called there by Tigs. She stood up on the Fountain of Magical Brethren. She took a deep breath. She was going to make the first public speech of her life to over 500 people. She slowed her breathing. They're all here because of you.

"Ladies, gentlemen and everyone in between," the crowd fell silent as her magnified voice cut through the din, "We are gathered here today for a reason. We have lost three members of the magical community today. They were all too young. They all deserved more. They all deserved more, all 112 of the dead. And even though I stand here today on the fountain of magical brethren, I'd like us all to remember the members of the non-magical community who fell today. They were all innocent. They were all important. But their lives were taken from them by someone who believes they don't have the right to exist. This cannot be allowed to carry on. Everyone in this world has the right to exist, and to have that existence respected. Black, white, straight, gay, man, woman, pureblood or muggleborns. We are all humans. We are all one community. And the Death Eaters, no matter how hard they try, can never stop us from loving one another." This was met with uproarious applause.

"I now request that we all raise our wands as a sign of respect to those we've lost, something that was not demonstrated by the Minister for Magic today. For Oliver, for Daisy, for Sam, and for those whose names we may not know, we will remember you,"

"Frank, Nate get the Hogwarts students out now!"

"But Tigs-"

"I don't give a shit, do it now!"

Aurors flooded the auditorium, arresting the protesters. The once peaceful room had turned to utter chaos. Tigs searched the room with her eyes. Nate and Frank were getting the students out, but they weren't going to be quick enough. They needed help. Something to distract the aurors. Tigs didn't even think about it. Her heart raced. She climbed back on to the fountain, magnifying her voice again and shouted

"Hey dickheads!" The aurors all whirled around to look at her. She drew her wand.

"Bombarda maxima," she said calmly and the windows in the ministry offices all shattered at once.

Hello faithful readers!

I promised you I wouldn't take a year to update this time and here you go :) I really enjoyed writing this chapter, so please please let me know what you think! Reviews give me life! I left it on a bit of a cliffhanger here because I decided to split this chapter in two when it started to get too long, please let me know what you think might happen next! Won't be long until next update,

Thanks for reading my imagination,

ImagineHP