Disclaimer: The characters and settings, including any sentences taken directly or partly from the books or movies, of Harry Potter are the property of J. K. Rowling, Scholastic Books, Bloomsbury Publishing, AOL Time Link and Warner Brothers. I do not make money from publishing my story.
MINISTER CORNELIUS FUDGE (59) DIES AFTER HEART ATTACK
It is with deep sadness that we inform you that in the late hours of the 27st of August, Minister Cornelius Fudge passed away due to the consequences of a heart attack. The official statement released by his office states:
"It is our understanding that this will come as a shock to all who knew and respected him, but ask that the family be left in peace at this difficult time." The closed burial ceremony will take place in the morning of the 29th of August. All are invited to pay their respect to the family during the open ceremony which will take place later that afternoon at 4 pm in the Atrium of the Ministry.
KINGSLEY SHACKLEBOLT NEW MINISTER OF MAGIC
After several nights debating behind closed doors in the Ministry, the Wizengamot have elected former Head Auror Kingsley Shacklebolt (42) as the new Minister of Magic. Not only is Minister Shacklebolt, the third youngest Minister of Magic, but also only the second Head Auror ever to be appointed the position. The new Minister will officially instated Monday 5th of September.
"It seems Dumbledore got his way", Rudolphus Lestrange noted bitterly, folding the paper and placing it down on the table, before returning to his breakfast. Harry took the paper from him and too read the articles on the new changes in Ministry politics. Harry of course knew, that Cornelius Fudge had not succumbed to a heart attack, since he had heard Dolochov gloating about being the one to finish him off.
"I apologize for my failure once more, my Lord", Lucius said, addressing his Lord who sat at the other end of the of the table. Voldemort almost lazily raised his eyes from his own paper, before addressing him, "I hardly expected you to be able to outsmart the political mastermind that is Albus Dumbledore." And with that nicely packaged insult, the Dark Lord smoothly left the dining hall. "It seems Fudge might not have been so bad after all", Severus noted duly, also standing up, with Harry not far behind.
A few hours later Harry was impatiently waiting for Severus to return from a meeting with the Lord of the manor, more commonly known as the Dark Lord. The last week, Harry had been wondering whether he would be allowed to return to Hogwarts for his sixth year. Even though he was slightly worried about being that close to Dumbledore again, he felt he would be throwing away his future if he did not continue his schooling. Therefore, he was now quickly pacing the room, waiting for the door to open.
Several minutes later, an exhausted looking Potions Master stepped into the room, closing the door behind him. "You will not be returning to Hogwarts", Severus said in a tone that left no room for discussion, not that Harry left it at that though. "I can't believe he is locking me up inside this Death Eater infested manor!", Harry shouted, "Well, actually I can believe that he would do that, but I won't let him!"
However, despite Harry's many attempts at convincing and even blackmailing the Dark Lord to let him attend Hogwarts. He had accomplished nothing, besides having to dodge and shield for some well aimed blasting and cutting curses. Thus as September 1st came and went, Harry was still a permanent resident of Malfoy manor.
Fortunately, Harry was somewhat able to keep up with Hogwarts curriculum as Severus had taken it upon himself to school Harry in as many subjects as he was capable. In addition, the manor was warded against the detection of underage magic, meaning Harry was also free to practice the practical side, which is why as the Dark Lord entered the dining room early it was still in use as a duelling area and was then greeted with the site of Harry and Severus shooting well aimed spells.
As soon though as Severus noticed the spectator, he kneeled ,bowed his head and spoke a respectful, "my Lord". Harry still hadn't felt the need to greet the man in that way and therefore made use of this one opportunity to get one over on his mentor and cast a silent stupefy.
Before the spell could hit, though, a shield shimmered into its path. However, the shocked face of this mentor betrayed, that the shield had not been cast by him, but the only other occupant in the room. "I see, that you are slowly learning some Slytherin tricks, I am impressed", the Dark Lord said, moving towards the young man.
"Thank you, sir", Harry said, still a bit out of breath from duelling Severus, "Is there something wrong?" Harry continued, he couldn't imagine that the man was here just to see him being beaten, though he supposed the man could get some pleasure from that.
"Will you excuse us, Severus", the Dark Lord said, dismissing the man. There was brief eye contact between Harry and Severus, before the latter left the room.
"The southward equinox is coming up soon, Harry...", the Dark Lord began, while he waved his hand to move back the furniture to its original placement. "and as you asked me to enlighten you in the old ways, I believe this is an apt opportunity to do just that. The southward equinox is one of the few days in the year, where magical sacrifices are made in honour of Magic. You will participate in a small sacrificial ritual with me this equinox, to give you a glimpse of our traditions."
At the word sacrifice, Harry began feeling uncomfortable, as was seen by the Dark Lord immediately. "I won't kill anyone", Harry said resolutely, at which the Dark Lord only smirked. "It won't require a sacrifice of that sort. We will just release a bit of magic back into the earth, complete a circle if you will", the Dark Lord concluded, after which he left the room.
Not soon after that Severus strode back into the dining hall, straight to where Harry had seated himself. "What did he want from you, Harry?", Severus said kneeling down and laying one of his hands on the boy's knee. When said young man looked back at him sheepishly he quickly stood up and sat down in one of the remaining chairs.
"I get to do an equinox ritual with him, Severus", Harry said, barely capable of keeping his excitement, though he saw Severus' look darken a bit. "Be careful though", Severus replied, "don't lose yourself in the ritual, they are banned by the Ministry for a reason. Releasing too much magic into the earth will leave you nothing more than a foul squib."
"Thanks for your concern, though I think the Dark Lord will hardly be turning himself into a squib, don't you think", Harry joked, looking a Severus Harry saw that his mentor too was sporting a rare smile.
In the weeks leading up to the equinox Harry had been practicing with Severus to draw upon his magic as if he would be casting a wandless spell. Not to actually cast any, just draw on his magic and guide it through different parts of his body. Severus had told him that during the ritual he would have to draw upon his magic like that, but it would also involve combining that magic with the Dark Lord's. They had not practised that part, as Severus had told him that sharing and combining magic were very intimate affairs, only used during rituals or healing. Though sometimes pureblood families would share magic between them once in a while, especially when a family member was pregnant.
However, Harry and Severus, while they had grown closer, were neither family nor pregnant and therefore refrained from sharing their magic. Every time Harry drew upon his magic like that, he could feel the power tingling beneath his fingers. Sometimes he even thought he saw them shimmering slightly.
On the 28th of September the Southward equinox had finally arrived, an hour before sundown Harry and the Dark Lord had created their own ritual circle in a secluded part of the Malfoy gardens. Voldemort had begun drawing a runic circle with a liquid silver coloured fluid. While drawing the different runes in the circle, the Dark Lord kept explaining the significance of each rune, before finally he was finished and step into the circle inviting Harry in with him.
When finally the sun was setting, the Dark Lord brought up his pale bony hands up for Harry to grasp. Even though Harry was slightly put off by the feeling of those hands, it was quickly forgotten when he felt the other drawing on his own magic, as sign that Harry should begin to do the same.
While Harry had closed his eyes to focus on drawing on his magic, the Dark Lord was quietly watching the gathering of magic in their combined hands. The ritual, old as it was required no words only intent, which made it easier for Harry to concentrate on his task. As he felt his magic gathering in his hands he opened his eyes to a magnificent sight.
Sparks were going off around their combined hands and their hands glowed with the magic shared between them, inside he felt connected to everything around him and despite it being dark he was aware of every tree and every beast in the near vicinity. Slowly the Dark Lord bowed down on one knee and Harry followed suit. Together they placed their hands onto the grassy earth palms down. Harry slowly felt the gathered magic disappear into the earth and as he saw the Dark Lord pull his hands back so did he.
However, as this was his very first ritual Harry was not prepared for the reflux of magic that occurred after. The returning magic hit home to his very core, causing him to black out and fall backward. The Dark Lord had expected this though and was fully capable of catching the young man before he fell. Though something had occurred tonight which the Dark Lord had not expected. Harry and his own magic had sparked and merged gently, there were no conflicts, no barriers. In all his years of performing these rituals, there had never been a better match for his magic.