A/N: Hope everyone had an enjoyable holiday. Happy New Year!
Sorry about the time it took to update, but life got a lot more hectic for me during the holidays. I post review responses on a bulletin board. The link is in my profile. I expect to have Chapter 22 out within the week - this is the chapter many of you have been waiting for…Sirius' fate.
Twenty-two should finish out OotP. There have been a couple questions about HBP and canon. Once OotP is over I will only be using HBP as inspiration - what happened in HBP is not canon as far as this story goes. This will prove especially true with how the Horcruxes are explained. The change will be very evident.
Disclaimer: Duh…like not mine.
Chapter 21: Consequences of News
Dumbledore's words were prophetic. The day before the quartet was due to return to Hogwarts, the Daily Prophet published an article describing the trial. Instead of portraying the charges as frivolous, the paper focused on how Harry Potter, with the aid of the increasingly senile Albus Dumbledore, had the charges dismissed on technicalities.
Surprisingly, the next day revealed that it was not Harry who was taking the brunt of the paper's criticism, but Dumbledore. The editors were now calling for his removal, citing his support for Harry and his attempt to challenge Fudge to a duel as evidence of his unstable behavior. Harry threw the paper on the floor of the floor of the compartment, disgusted with it. Ginny leaned against him and he wrapped his arms around her.
"People aren't going to believe this rubbish!" proclaimed Ron. Everyone but Hermione looked at Ron in disbelief.
Hermione was staring at the paper. She tore her gaze from the paper and looked at Harry, then at Ron, and then back at the paper. "I've got an idea!" she exclaimed loudly. "Can I use Hedwig?" Harry nodded and Ginny opened Hedwig's cage. Hermione was already writing furiously. No one had even seen where she had gotten the quill and parchment.
"Hermione – what are you doing?" ventured Ron. Hermione gestured for him to be quiet and kept on writing. Finally, she finished and attached the letter quickly to Hedwig's leg. The owl looked at the open window and seemed to sigh before launching herself into the train's slipstream.
"What was that about?" pressed Ron now that she had finished.
"Maybe nothing, but…you'll find out if it works out," replied Hermione.
Ron frowned, "Tell us! You don't need to keep secrets!"
"Keep secrets? That's rich coming from you!" Hermione quarreled back.
Ginny stood and mentally sent as she left the compartment, I've got something to talk about with Fred and George.
Harry nodded and decided that it was a good time to use the loo. He suspected Ron and Hermione would be bickering for at least a good ten minutes.
He took extra time to wash his hands. Indeed, he had washed them three times before exiting the loo. Sadly, Harry did not think it was enough time for Hermione and Ron to finish their argument. The corridor was empty and Harry began walking slowly back to his compartment, hoping to stall long enough for them to finish their quarrelling. A cold, drawling voice caused him to pause. Malfoy was talking, not a spectacularly unusual thing in itself, but his words made up for it..
"Yes, father said that it won't be long now – not after perfect Potter's trial," Malfoy said. It was followed by a voice too low to decipher, which could have been either Crabbe or Goyle. "When that happens then we'll have run of the school! We'll make them pay – all of them, Potter and the mudbloods!"
Harry edged past the compartment quietly, not wanting to alert Malfoy he had been there. He then quickly made his way back to the compartment, all the while thinking that it was definitely time to focus his attention on Malfoy.
Leave him to me, came Ginny's voice. I just need to iron out a few details…her attention returned to the twins.
Harry smiled as an image formed in his head of what Ginny had planned. His smile turned wicked, I've got an addition.
As he approached the compartment that Ron and Hermione were still in, his smile faded as he heard loud voices escaping the closed door.
"YOU HAVE THE EMOTIONAL RANGE OF A TEASPOON!" yelled Hermione.
This seems remarkably familiar, thought Harry.
"WHAT'S THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN?" was Ron's response.
Harry took a deep breath and opened the compartment, "Will you two stop fighting – you're going to drive me barmy!"
Both Ron and Hermione jumped and blushed in embarrassment. "Sorry," mumbled Ron; although, it was unclear to whom he was apologizing.
An uncomfortable silence settled over the compartment until Hermione broke it, "Can I help you with your animagus transformation Ron – I want to learn as much as I can about the process so that it does not take me long after I finish my potion," asked Hermione.
Ron looked surprise and a tad fearful, but he responded affirmatively anyway, "Yeah, that would be a great help."
A week later Ron was probably regretting his decision to allow Hermione to help him. While Harry and Ginny were pleased with Hermione taking the lead, as they had grown rather frustrated with Ron's lack of progress, Ron now had precious little free time as Hermione had expanded the original weekly animagus sessions to daily lessons. Ron had complained that he did not have the time since he would also have homework and quidditch practice. Hermione, however, only took that as a challenge and had drawn up a schedule that allowed him to do everything…that is, so long as he did not procrastinate.
Consequently, Ron spent most of the first week being hounded by Hermione. Privately, Harry thought that Ron's marks were going to improve if Hermione was able to keep him on the schedule, even for only a few weeks.
The fallout from the trial and his portrayal in the papers meant that most of Hogwarts' population was back to whispering and pointing whenever Harry drew near. However, by the end of the second week of classes most people had stopped pointing and whispering when Harry's was in view or, more accurately, when Ginny was in view with him. After one sixth year and two fourth years had fled in terror with bat bogeys clawing their faces, everyone else became remarkably polite.
If the students were now being polite, Umbridge had reached unparallel levels of vindictiveness. Harry had asked for more of the twins' toad powder. They had promised to make some, but had said they had several other products they were working on for their joke shop. It seemed the twins had taken advantage of the two weeks without Hermione either scaring off customers or seizing their products.
"Is there any way for her to spend more time with Ron?" pleaded George; with Hermione spending so much time ensuring Ron complied with her schedule, she had little time to harass the twins about their less-than-safe products.
"We've made nearly fifty galleons!" added Fred. "Don't worry, we'll start on the powder, my boy, but we're doing all we can to keep up with demand and still keep inventing!"
George winked at him before saying, "Besides, Ginny has us working on her special project. You wouldn't believe how hard it is to mix a Permanent Sticking Charm and a Summoning Charm together correctly!"
Harry's thoughts moved from Umbridge to Malfoy, "Do you think you could add a Shrinking Charm?"
The twins frowned in unison, while their eyes glinted in understanding, "It's possible, but…" started Fred.
"But, it will take us longer…" George paused considering, "Another week or so probably - we can probably have it for you in three weeks."
You know, Umbridge banning them from Quidditch was probably her worst move, noted Ginny who was serving detention.
How do you figure that? Harry was still more than a little bitter over the ban.
Now Fred and George don't have anything better to do other than invent jokes and pranks…Could you imagine what they would be like if they weren't afraid of being expelled?
Harry smirked, considering it, You mean they are afraid of being expelled?
Actually, I think they're more afraid of what Mum would do to them. You've heard them talking - they already have premises in Diagon Alley. They are just here to appease Mum.
Your Mum is scary…teased Harry.
You know it! replied a serious Ginny.
Harry peaked over his shoulder. Filch was looking in the other direction, but Mrs. Norris was watching him (from behind Filch's leg). Smirking evilly, Harry wrapped his nails on the cold, hard stone that Filch was making him scrub. Mrs. Norris' eyes grew wide and, after a few unsuccessful attempts to gain traction with her nails, practically flew in the opposite direction.
At least I get some satisfaction out of this…
Umbridge had given him detention for looking at her in a "malicious" manner. Harry had not even been looking at the evil toad at all - he had been absently staring out the window, but Ginny had and Umbridge was still tentative about punishing her…so she usually gave Harry the detentions that she would have normally given Ginny. Rolling his eyes, Harry returned to the floor. He scrubbed it slowly, as it did not matter how much of the stupid floor he actually cleaned. Umbridge's detention was supposed to last all day, not just the night. So Harry found himself after lunch, on a Friday no less, scrubbing until it was time for Care of Magical Creatures.
Several loud thumps and a high-pitched scream drew both his and Filch's attention. Filch rushed toward the Great Hall followed closely by Harry.
In the middle of the Great Hall was Professor Trelawney. Two trunks were at the bottom of the stairs, which they had obviously fallen down. Trelawney was swinging her arms widely and held a bottle in one hand. Umbridge was at the top of the stairs, looking down malevolently at the professor.
Professor McGonagall rushed over to Trelawney and placed an arm around the woman's shoulders while her other hand removed the bottle from Trelawney's grasp. "It's alright Sybil; you'll be able to stay - Hogwarts is your home."
Harry watched the proceedings in shock. He was not sure what was happening, but it looked like Trelawney had been sacked. He had also never seen McGonagall ever be this civil with the Divination Professor - the only time he had seen them interact at all was during the Christmas dinner during his third year. He had gotten the impression then that the two professors did not interact or care for each other.
"Sybil Trelawney is no longer a teacher here at Hogwarts. She will not be staying!" said Umbridge in a loud, clear voice. Trelawney let out cry of anguish that was half-anger and half-sobbing.
"Actually, Ms. Trelawney can stay at Hogwarts as long as she desires," announced a voice from the vicinity of the doors leading into the Great Hall. Dumbledore stood framed in the doorway. He made an impressive image with the sun high behind him causing a halo-like effect around his body.
"Wh-What?" croaked Umbridge.
"As Headmaster of Hogwarts, I may grant anyone shelter here," responded Dumbledore calmly. McGonagall took this as all the authority she needed to quietly lead Trelawney out of the Great Hall and back toward her rooms.
The comment angered Umbridge, causing a livid flush to rise from her neck, "Then acting in my position as Hogwarts High Inquisitor, I hereby appoint…"
"Please, madam, do not be hasty!" Dumbledore's voice was still stately and calm, but there was no mistaking the steel behind it. "I have already found a replacement for Ms. Trelawney…"
"Then SHE cannot stay. The new professor will need her space!" announced Umbridge victoriously.
"Again, you are being overly hasty. Firenze will not require Ms. Trelawney's spaces. A classroom on the ground floor is far more preferable to him," said Dumbledore. Firenze the centaur walked in gracefully, his hooves echoing on the stone floor. Umbridge paled either in indignation or disgust.
The next day a new Educational Decree was issued declaring the Ministry had the power to appoint or dismiss the Headmaster of Hogwarts with the consent of the majority of the Wizengamot and the Hogwarts Board of Governors. The Decree had caused a great deal of commotion and gossip among both the teachers and the students.
During breakfast Malfoy had snidely said as Harry passed, "Just wait Potter - soon Dumbledore won't be able to protect you!"
Harry had nearly hexed Malfoy on the spot, but Ginny had grabbed his wrist and forced them to keep walking.
How can you just ignore him? demanded Harry, too irritated to think properly.
Ignore him? Please! Don't worry, he'll get what's coming to him - you know that. Besides if you do anything in the Great Hall you'll only end up in detention again.
It would be worth it, Harry grumbled as he sat down at the table.
Yes, but it is even better to make a fool out of Malfoy and get away with it. Don't you think so? Ginny gave her patented mischievous smile as she began piling food onto her plate.
Harry looked over at the Slytherin table before replying, I suppose. But I'm going to ask Fred and George to hurry. I've been doing some research and I think I can add the Summoning charm and Shrinking charm myself - I just need them to finish with the goo.
Dumbledore surveyed the house tables with some amusement at the sheer amount of commotion the Educational Decree had caused. His eyes twinkled brightly at the smiles Harry and Ginny shared. If he was not mistaken, the school was in for a show soon. He wondered if whatever those two had planned would be sufficient for the Ministry to try and dismiss him. Dumbledore smirked. If whatever they had planned did not do it, then he was sure that eventually one of the Weasley twins' products would.
The Ministry had unwittingly played directly into his hands. He had expected that it would have taken Fudge a much longer amount of time to convince both the Wizengamot and the Board of Governors to allow this particular Decree. The press coverage had probably added weight to his request, Dumbledore mused. Dumbledore needed to leave Hogwarts without raising suspicion as to why he was leaving. There were many things to do; things he had put off for too long. Frowning, Dumbledore chided himself; he should have done this almost three years ago. It was such a simple task really, but Dumbledore was afraid he would find proof that would validate his suspicions.
If he found what he was looking for, then there was the matter of testing his theory. Dumbledore felt a chill run down his spine. He would have to make sure Severus had a strong healing potion ready, just in case.
Harry and Ginny watched the entrance to the Great Hall with great anticipation. Despite getting to bed very late - not only had there been a D.A. meeting last night, but they had put the finishing touches on their prank - they had arisen extremely early in order to ensure they managed to get prime seats for the spectacle that would happen.
Fred and George had been quite disappointed when they entered the Great Hall to find all the seats with a view of the entrance already taken. Neither had said anything as they had immediately turned around and walked out of the Hall. No one noticed two pairs of small, beady Weasel eyes from underneath a large display case.
Five minutes later Draco Malfoy walked through the entrance way and stopped. "What the…" Malfoy exclaimed as he pulled on his right foot and then his left trying to get them off the floor. His exclamation drew the attention of most of the Hall. Precisely two seconds later, the Summoning Charm activated and forcefully summoned every article of clothing that he wore to the floor. While the Summoning Charm had been ripping Malfoy's clothes off his body, the targeted Shrinking Charm had also activated.
The Great Hall, which had at first been laughing at Malfoy's inability to move, went deathly silent. Then a girl from Ravenclaw, neither Harry nor Ginny knew who, called out loudly, "Malfoy! You blush all over!" The Great Hall exploded into laughter, which only caused Malfoy's large blush to deepen. Adding fuel to the fire, several students were now commenting on Malfoy's shortcomings. It took five minutes for Snape to free him from his predicament.
Harry was just returning to his meal when he heard a Hufflepuff behind him say, "…and to think I fancied him - he's not really much to look at without his fancy robes!" The remark sent the Gryffindor table into another gale of laughter.
"Oh yes, today is going to be a good day!" said Harry to no one in particular.
You just don't know how good - Fred and George will have some more of the toad powder ready by the end of the week! sent Ginny as she smiled at him.
Pity, they think she's building up a tolerance to it.
For the rest of the day, and except for classes the next day, Malfoy kept to the Slytherin dormitory. Umbridge, however, was in a disturbingly good mood. Her mood lasted for the rest of the week and, by Friday, Harry was becoming very concerned. Umbridge being happy only worried him slightly less than Voldemort being happy. He looked at Snape and breathed a sigh of relief; at least that slimy git wasn't happy. Harry was sure that that would be a tell-tale sign of the apocalypse.
"What's with Umbridge?" he questioned over the breakfast table.
Ron gave him a perplexed expression before glancing at the professor's table and then shrugging. Hermione, however, frowned, "It can't be anything good."
Ginny only smiled wickedly and thought, She won't be smiling after dinner tonight.
Harry gave her a smile. Umbridge was going to spend some quality time as a toad soon.
Hermione had just closed her mouth when a large barn owl dropped a letter in Harry's lap. His name was written in large, loopy handwriting. Unsealing the parchment, he found the letter was from Dumbledore requesting that he come to the Headmaster's office after classes.
All through classes there was a strange atmosphere of foreboding. After dinner, Harry left for Dumbledore's office while Ginny and the others went to the Room of Requirement for a D.A. session. When he arrived at the gargoyle that guarded Dumbledore's office, he stopped, realizing that Dumbledore had not given him the password.
"Er…Ice Mice? Acid Pops? Pumpkin Pasties? Cauldron Cakes?" Harry was getting frustrated. "Will you just move?" he pleaded with the indifferent gargoyle. "Chocolate Frogs? Lemon Drops? Peppermint Toads? Cockroach Clusters? Fudge Flies?" The gargoyle sprang to the side. "You have got to be kidding! Fudge Flies?" Harry shook his head and started up the spiral stairway leading to Dumbledore's office.
When he reached Dumbledore's closed door, he raised his fist to knock, but was stopped by Dumbledore's voice, "Please, come in Harry."
Dumbledore was seated behind his desk in his usual pose of steepled hands and benevolent smile. His eyes were twinkling madly - far more than usual Harry noted. It was similar to the expression the headmaster had worn at the trial. "Sir, you wanted to see me?" He stuffed his hands into his pockets absently and began rolling the bag of toad powder in his pocket.
"I did. I fear changes, temporary changes, are coming to Hogwarts. There are things I want to inform you of before I am…indisposed," concluded Dumbledore. "First, you must trust Professor Snape," Harry opened his mouth to protest, "I understand what it must look like to you--and Professor Snape has hardly cultivated a better image of himself, but you can—indeed, you must-- trust him!"
Harry nodded his understanding, he was not going to be able to change Dumbledore's mind about Snape, but he did not care what Dumbledore said - Snape was a Death Eater. "Secondly, you must be on your guard! Lord Voldemort is after two things right now - you and the prophecy. If you have any visions or surges of feelings from Voldemort, go to one of the members of the Order of the Phoenix. They will know what to do." Dumbledore looked down at his complicated watch and frowned, "Hmmm…I had hoped for more time. We will talk again after I have settled matters with the Ministry."
Almost at the same moment Dumbledore had finished speaking, a loud knocking reverberated from closed door. Several muffled voices could be heard through the door, although their voices were indiscernible, their tones clearly said those outside were not happy.
Dumbledore waved his hand and the door creaked open. On the other side of the door stood an extremely irate Professor McGonagall. Harry took an instinctual step backwards. It was never a good sign when the stern professor's lips became thin, but now they had practically disappeared to be replaced by two almost nonexistent lines. Behind McGonagall, looking flustered, but determined was Professor Umbridge, Minister Fudge, and two other wizards. When the five entered the office, Harry recognized Kingsley Shacklebolt as one of the men with Fudge. The Auror gave his head a nearly imperceptible shake to warn Harry off from recognizing him.
Harry shifted to the side so that he was facing the newcomers and his back was to Dumbledore, who was now standing to his left. "Minister Fudge, Professor Umbridge, Aurors Shacklebolt and Dawlish, how good to see you. Is there something I can do for you?" Nothing in Dumbledore's tone suggested that he was anything but pleased at their presence.
Minister Fudge gave a slight huff, puffed himself up, and took a step forward. When he did, Harry noticed a sixth individual: Percy Weasley. Percy gave him the smallest of awkward smiles, which was strange for Percy - Harry could hardly ever remember him smiling at all and most of those were because of his prefect or Head Boy badges.
Percy's embarrassed! Announced Ginny, who was at the D.A. meeting. Percy only smiles when he's embarrassed. I wonder if…OUCH! WHAT THE BLOO…BATES MOCOS--
Harry shivered in sympathy for the unfortunate Colin, who had just been subjugated to Ginny's notorious Bat-Bogey Hex. He had been partnering Ginny at the meeting and had hexed her while she was concentrating on Harry.
"Yes, Professor Dumbledore, we are here to remove you from the position of Headmaster of Hogwarts!" Fudge gleefully proclaimed.
Dumbledore's eyes increased their twinkling and he asked, "Really, Minister? On what grounds?"
Fudge's jubilant face did not waver, "You are under investigation for your inability to ensure the safety of your teachers and students! Aurors, take him into custody pending hearing!" The grin on his face could not have been larger.
"Since when?" Dumbledore asked simply, still maintaining his clam demeanor. McGonagall, however, was turning an alarming shade of red.
"Since when?" echoed Fudge seeming to lose track of what he was saying as Dumbledore peered directly into his eyes.
"Since the beginning of this school year!" said Umbridge taking over for Fudge, "The pranks that have been pulled have been absolutely reckless and dangerous! Why just recently young Mr. Malfoy was stripped in front of the entire school!"
"Ah yes," backed up Fudge. "Then there is the matter of turning professors into animals! Human transfiguration is incredibly dangerous and cannot be allowed to continue!" Harry stopped fiddling with the bag of powder in his pocket and did his best to look innocent.
The corners of McGonagall's mouth moved ever so slightly and Dumbledore's beard twitched. "You are planning on taking me into custody because of pranks?" asked Dumbledore serenely and with a trace of underlying humor.
"There is no planning about it! We have the approval of both the Wizengamot and the Board of Governors! So let's finish this, come on Dumbledore let's go!" said Fudge waving his hand to the door. The Minister obviously did not expect Dumbledore to resist.
"This is outrageous!" interrupted McGonagall. She was about to continue when Dumbledore held up his hand.
"I quite agree Minerva; and I regret to inform you, Cornelius, that I will not be accompanying you," Fudge paled at the statement, Umbridge smiled wickedly, and the two Aurors shifted uncomfortably.
"What do you mean?" wheezed Fudge, his eyes now locked on Dumbledore's wand hand.
"It is very simple, Minister. I will not be accompanying you - willingly or otherwise," Dumbledore's eyes shifted to the Auror on Fudge's right, "I would not do that if I were you Dawlish - as I recall, while your Defense Against the Dark Arts marks were always more than satisfactory, you were always slow on the draw." Dumbledore's eyes hardened and the room filled with charged energy, "I am not."
The Auror's hand, which had been moving toward his wand, stopped in mid-gesture and he turned to look at Fudge, whose previously pale expression was now grey. McGonagall moved toward her own wand at this point; this, too, Dumbledore saw, "Don't Minerva - I need you here at Hogwarts with the students." The aged professor looked like she wanted to protest, but put her drawn wand back.
She's a quick draw! thought Harry, looking at the professor with even more respect than usual.
Remind me never to cross McGonagall, agreed Ginny. Her voice was then followed by a feeling of pain, probably from a Stinging Hex, which was quickly followed by, COLIN! IF YOU HEX ME ONE MORE TIME, I'M GOING TO SHOVE YOUR CAMERA…
Harry shook his head to clear the echoes of Ginny's screaming and returned his focus on the Minister.
Fudge opened his mouth and uttered a few unintelligible words. Umbridge took one disgusted look at him and entered the fray, "Enough of this! Aurors, take him into custody."
Dumbledore was a quick draw. Harry was not sure if the Headmaster had sent one or ten spells, but he had done it all without saying a word. Within a span of no more than a few seconds, Fudge, Umbridge, Percy, and the Aurors were all lying unconscious on the floor.
"It appears we have run out of time. Minerva, Harry, I will be in touch as soon as I can," Dumbledore said as he kneeled down and checked the prone victims. "It is a pity that I had to hex Kingsley, but it would have been suspicious if I had not. Please apologize to him when you can," he said, addressing McGonagall who nodded curtly.
Dumbledore then turned to a still stunned Harry, who was wondering how he was going to manage at a Hogwarts that was ruled by Umbridge. "Don't worry too much; soon, Fudge will rue the day he dislodged me from Hogwarts." With twinkling eyes, he then added, "I trust that Madam Umbridge will not find Hogwarts very peaceful."
At that, Harry smiled remembering the powder in this pocket, which he then took out. Very carefully he spread some of the fine particles around Umbridge's hands so that when she moved to push herself off the ground she would have to touch some of it. "No, sir, I don't think Hogwarts will be very peaceful at all." For the first time in Harry's life, he saw McGonagall give a full, unrestrained smile.
Peering at the powder, Dumbledore answered, "No, I don't think so either. Remember if you need help, talk to Professor McGonagall or one of the other members of the Order of the Phoenix." He looked down at his watch again and then said, "I must go - they will wake soon. Fawkes! Are you ready for a journey, old friend?"
The phoenix gave a positive sounding trill and wiggled his tail feathers. In a flash of fire phoenix and professor were gone.
Dumbledore gave a small cough and then sneezed. Everything in the cottage was covered in layers of dust. He had not visited the cottage in almost five decades. It held many memories. Too many memories. None of the memories were bad, but they were painful. The professor, now looking his age, gave a reluctant wave of his wand. The layers of dust disappeared.
The cottage had several articles and, perhaps most of all, one book that he needed. He had acquired the book from Grindlewald's personal library and not even the Ministry of Magic had a copy. It was terribly old and described only the vilest of the Dark Arts - most of which had been forgotten over the passage of time. Heaving a great sigh, Dumbledore removed the book from its shelf, a shelf that he had placed under the Fidelius Charm so many years ago. He opened the book to the appropriate page and goosebumps rose on his flesh. At the top of the page was the heading: Fissionem Anima, Ars Horcrux.
Snapping the book shut, Dumbledore's face hardened and he disapparated without a sound. It was time to go hunting.
Harry had not even made it back to the common room before he was being pelted with questions about what had happened in Dumbledore's office. The Hogwarts Rumor Mill had rushed into high gear and it seemed the entire castle was abuzz with talk about Dumbledore's removal.
Get back now! pleaded Ginny, They are going to drive me nuts!
Harry ignored the questions being yelled at him by a few Ravenclaws and continued on his way to Gryffindor Tower. Hermione and Ron were harassing Ginny for information.
"Tell us what happened!" hissed Hermione in Ginny's ear.
"Is Dumbledore really gone?" asked Ron, who was sitting on her other side.
Ginny shoved her brother away from her ear, stood, and then rounded on the two older students, "I don't know! I was too busy getting hexed by Colin," Ginny felt a tad of shame rise up as she remembered that Colin was still in the Hospital Wing, "…to pay close attention to what happened in Dumbledore's office!"
Hermione, however, was undaunted and then demanded in a barely audible voice, "Why don't you just ask Harry now?"
Before Ginny could retort to Hermione, the twins took up positions on either side of her, "So little Ginnikins…" started George.
"What's the news?" finished Fred.
Ginny shot the twin on her right, George, a disgusted look. George took a step back, but Fred pressed the issue, "Don't tell us you don't know, little Gin-Gin. We know for a fact that you know everything that happens around dear little Harrikins!"
"I'm going to kill Dumbledore for telling you," muttered Ginny. "Why don't you ask him yourself?" she said as Harry opened the portrait hole. The rush by Ron, Hermione, and the twins to get to him aroused the attention of the other Gryffindors in the room, who also rushed toward him eager to hear if the rumors were true.
Thanks Ginny…
"Did you really curse the Minister of Magic?" squealed a first year.
"Is Dumbledore gone?" asked several voices.
"Did Umbridge really turn into a toad again?"
Harry was only able to escape to his dormitory after he had given his recount of had happened in Dumbledore's office three times. Luckily, no one had questioned why Harry had been in Dumbledore's office. When he made it to his bed, he deftly drew the curtains, reached under his pillow, and drew out the mirror Sirius had given him.
Good idea! intoned Ginny.
"Sirius? Sirius, are you there?" Harry spoke into the mirror.
The mirror's surface turned black, like the surface of a lake at night. Small ripples could be seen before Sirius' face appeared.
"Harry! How are you doing?" Sirius asked. His appearance looked better than it had before Christmas, but Sirius looked like he had not shaved for a couple of days.
"Dumbledore just left! He hexed Fudge, Umbridge, and some Aurors!" gushed Harry.
Sirius face turned very serious, "Slow down, Harry. Tell me what happened."
For the fourth time that night, Harry related the tale.
"Dumbledore has been expecting something like this ever since your trial - he knew Fudge, or maybe it's more due to Umbridge, would want to gain control of Hogwarts," responded Sirius.
What's so important about Hogwarts? Asked Ginny.
"What's so important about Hogwarts?" echoed Harry.
A brief expression of amusement crossed Sirius' face, "Fudge thinks Dumbledore is trying to build an army! You should have seen some of the reports we got after Umbridge found out about your DADA club…" Sirius stopped talking to chuckle. "It confirmed their worst fears."
"Then it's our fault that Dumbledore's gone," Harry said dejectedly.
"Nonsense," retorted Sirius, "It's only an excuse, besides Dumbledore has been trying to find a way to spend time away from Hogwarts without suspicion. He won't tell anyone what he wants to do - he's been very coy about it."
Seeing Harry still looked ashamed, Sirius went on, "Look at it this way - wait is Ginny listening?" Harry nodded, "Good, think of it like this: you now have carte blanche to make Hogwarts a personal hell for Umbridge! Imagine the pranks you could pull if you didn't have to worry about getting expelled!" Sirius said, his face gaining a dreamy look - obviously thinking about how the Marauders would have handled the situation.
He's right and Dumbledore did imply…Oh! This is going to be so much fun! As Ginny talked, several images of Umbridge in peculiar and dangerous situations passed through Harry's mind
Shaking his head to clear it, Harry asked, "Has Dumbledore come there yet?" Harry imagined that Grimmauld Place would be the natural first place for Dumbledore to go to.
"No, in fact, Dumbledore has been about far less than I expected him to be since we had our last meeting," Sirius said and then took on a dejected tone, "Not that I can blame him. This place is awful - a lot better since Dobby and Winky cleaned up a bit, but it's going to take a long time to rub out the evil that used to be here." Sirius shrugged at his predicament, making his head in the mirror bob up and down. "But the house is getting better - Kreacher is getting better. He is still foul, just not as evil."
Harry felt sorry for his godfather. He knew that he would not like to be cooped up in a dingy house with a crazy house elf as his only company. "Are there any other Order member about?" he asked hopefully.
"Only Dung is around a lot; he's an okay chap, but not terribly good for coherent conversation," Sirius said with a smirk. "Moony stops by when he can, but Dumbledore has him out most of the time talking to other magical creatures or doing research. Right now it's just me and wherever Kreacher has gotten off to."
"Oh…sorry."
Sirius' face smirked at him, "Don't feel too bad - you're the one who has to study! You've got your O.W.L.s soon so, besides pranking Umbridge and Slytherins, I want you to keep your mind on your studies and not on pretty little redheads!" Harry's face blushed crimson at the suggestive tone of Sirius' voice.
Barking a laugh, Sirius added, "Merlin! I can't believe it! I sound like Lily - 'James you should study more and prank less.'" Sirius laughed again, "I mean it though. Don't follow Fred and George's example. Those two are brilliant, but they really did have horrid O.W.L. scores." Sirius shivered, Harry did not think the twins' marks had been that bad, but then Sirius continued, "You should hear Molly talk about it. You really are brave - if Ginny gets half as mad as Molly does…wow." He seemed to give a small shiver at the thought.
This time it was Harry who laughed.
Sirius face turned serious again. "Harry, there's something you need to know now that Dumbledore's gone. It probably won't affect you, but you should know just in case." Sirius' head pivoted as he looked around, evidently checking to make sure no one could hear him despite the fact he was the only one there. "A group of Death Eaters escaped from Azkaban some time ago. The Ministry has kept it under wraps, but it won't keep for too much longer."
Harry felt chills go down his spine. In her own dormitory, Ginny sat up straight on her bed.
"Who?" asked Harry.
"The three Lestranges, Antonin Dolohov, and Augustus Rockwood are the ones I know, but there are seven in all" Sirius spat out. "You should also warn the Longbottom boy. He deserves to know the Lestranges are out after what they did to his parents."
From the expression on Sirius' face, Harry was not sure he wanted to know, but he asked anyway, "What happened?"
Sirius gave a great sigh and the image in the mirror jiggled as he moved to a different position. "Not too long after Voldemort disappeared, a group of Death Eaters - the three Lestranges and Barty Crouch Jr. - captured the Longbottoms. They were both excellent, well- respected Aurors." Sirius sighed heavily before continuing, "And the Death Eaters tortured them into insanity, trying to find Voldemort's hiding place. They are both living in St. Mungo's, if you can call it that," he finished sadly and with bitterness.
Harry and Sirius said their good-byes before Harry stuffed the mirror back under his pillow and took a few deep breaths. It was beginning, he knew it. Voldemort now had his most faithful followers. The Wizarding world was at war and it did not even know it.
Damn Fudge.
When do you want to tell everyone? asked Ginny
Might as well do it now - grab Hermione and I'll get Ron and Neville.
Ron and Neville were just getting ready for bed when Harry emerged from his curtained bed. "Ron, Neville, we need to talk. Come on." It must have been something in Harry's tone that compelled both boys to look immediately worried. They followed without a word.
Ginny and Hermione were waiting downstairs in the common room. Most of their fellow Gryffindors had already retired for the night, but there were a few still up. Dean and Seamus were playing a game of exploding snap, Parvati and Lavender were in a corner giggling, and Colin was sitting at the largest table, which he had spread photos out on. Harry felt a pang of jealousy watching them. They had no idea of the threat that was building.
"Let's go, Harry," Ginny said quietly. She placed her hand on his elbow and guided him out of the common room.
Ten minutes later, Harry closed the door to the Room of Requirement. "I've got some news," he said simply. "Just after term started there was a mass breakout from Azkaban; seven Death Eaters escaped."
"Why hasn't it been in the paper?" asked Hermione
"Who?" questioned Neville, who looked out-of-place.
"I only know five of their names: Rockwood, Dolohov, and the three Lestranges," answered Harry.
Neville grew very pale, "A-a-all three of them?" Harry nodded. Neville sat heavily in one of the chairs provided by the Room.
Ron broke the intervening silence, "It really has begun again, hasn't it? Mum and Dad told us some stories about what it was like during the war - you couldn't trust anyone and people were dying everyday. Mum lost her two brothers."
Harry looked up at that, "Moody said they died like heroes, that it took five Death Eaters to kill them." Ron smiled sadly, proud that his uncles had acquitted themselves well.
"Will he attack Hogwarts now? All the books I've read said that he didn't last time because Dumbledore was here. What's to stop him now that Dumbledore's gone?" asked Hermione and then her eyes widened in obvious horror, "What am I going to tell my parents?"
Ron gave her an incredulous look. The two had been spending a lot of time together since Ron was, surprisingly, still following Hermione's schedule. "Why does telling your parents about You-Know-Who being back frighten you more than Him attacking Hogwarts?" Hermione cast him a sidelong glance and began to respond when Ron cut her off, "You did tell them about You-Know-Who returning last year?" Hermione blushed deeply. Ron only shook his head.
That was rather perceptive of Ron, said Ginny in disbelief.
He has been spending a lot of time with her…you don't think that they…well…um…are going out now, do you? asked Harry tentatively.
Please! Between the two of them, one of them would let something slip when they were fighting! I don't think they even realize they like each other yet. Well Hermione might know she likes Ron, but Ron…well, Ron's a bit thick. He really does have the emotional range of a teaspoon.
Harry coughed to cover the laugh that threaten burst out.
Neville moved slightly and then said something that could not be heard. Hermione, grateful for the shift of attention, asked him, "What did you say Neville?"
"Why did you tell me?" he asked. From the look on his face, he was afraid of the answer.
Harry cast a pleading look at Ron and Hermione, hoping they would not press the issue. "I know what happened." Neville seemed to collapse into himself.
"Okay, thanks for telling me," he said in a whisper and then louder, "I mean it. Thanks." He then, very slowly at first, proceeded to tell them what had happened to his parents.
Sirius' guess that the story was going to break soon was accurate. The two days later, the Daily Prophet's front page story was the mass breakout from Azkaban. Included in the story were descriptions of the past crimes each of the seven had done, or so Hermione told them over breakfast as she had not yet relinquished the paper.
"I can't believe them! They're making it sound like Dumbledore had something to do with the breakout because the Ministry tried to arrest him two days ago. They don't even say when the breakout occurred. How stupid do they think people are? Everyone knows that Dumbledore would never help Death Eaters!" She stopped talking and was now staring at the story with a very intense look.
"I've got it!" she exclaimed. Everyone exchanged confused looks and waited for Hermione to explain. She did not. Instead, she stood, handed the paper to Harry, and then said, "I need to send an owl." She then scurried off out of the Great Hall.
"Why can't she just take a minute to explain?" asked a very exasperated Ron.
Ginny took the paper from Harry's unresisting hands and began scanning the story. "Oh Neville, I'm so sorry." She handed the paper to Neville, who looked down at the story and quickly found the headline that read, 'Frank and Alice Longbottom.'
Neville was not the only one to receive additional attention thanks to the article. Several other family names had been mentioned in the article. By the end of the day, Susan Bones, whose uncles had been killed by Death Eaters, had told Harry that she now knew what it felt like to be him. The repercussions for Harry were surprisingly positive. People were now considering that he was telling that truth.
The Death Eaters' escape from Azkaban gave Hogwarts an oppressive and dark atmosphere. Without Dumbledore's presence everyone seemed edgy and less confident of their safety. The twins had noticed the changed atmosphere too. "The place needs something to liven it up," they had confided in Harry. He could not wait until whatever the twins had planned came to fruition.
B/N: PhoenixAeternum asked me to make a note that any faults with the Latin are his. I say no worries...it gets the job done.