Not many things made a Dark Lord laugh. In bold type, the headline in the Prophet 'Dumbledore - a dark lord?' was like all his Christmas' come at once, he read and chuckled. Dumbledore had been arrested at Hogwart's by his own Death Eater spy. The photograph was of a very angry Severus Snape handing over the 'Dark Lord' Dumbledore to Aurors. This alone would secure the Potion's master the post of Headmaster. Tom Marvolo Riddle-Gaunt, Lord of Slytherin chuckled as he read the vindictive article. Every rumour and misdeed was listed including the long forgotten very close friendship with Gellert Grindlewald and his suspected murder of his own sister. Bathilda Bagshot had spun a tale of two wizards bent on World Domination. Dumbledore had hidden his true self for years. Overnight the sacked headmaster had gone from Leader of the Light to kidnapper, caster of unforgiveable curses and betrayer of all the good witches and wizards of Britain.
Trial by media was going to hang Dumbledore long before he stood before the Wizengamot. The Chamber of the Oldest and Influencial Families would rally behind Lucius Malfoy's whose poor son was most misused in Dumbledore's plots. Draco had fallen victim to the Imperious, so no child had been safe. The target of the assassination had originally been Ms. Hermione Granger, Harry's friend. Not that they were even corresponding now. However, her life in mortal peril and Harry would probably have thrown caution to the wind and gone straight to her, the clear and present danger forgotten. Straight into Dumbledore's trap.
Tom shifted in the bed and looked at the curled up form of his brother and prophesied vanquisher, sixteen year old Harry Potter, who was snoring softly in an exhausted sleep. The boy would sleep deeply for a while yet. Lord Slytherin noted Yoshio and his companions were camping near the edge of the wards to give the occupants of the two-room croft a bit of privacy. With victory would come stability and both Lords would continue to make policy as part of the Wizengamot and attend Ministry events. He had no desire to act as Dictator, directing all and sundry from a lonely throne. He, as any like minded head of house, would guide the policy makers to strengthen the Magical World, keep ahead of the threat of the technological advances of Muggles. They would have to adapt to continue to hide in plain sight. Stagnation and conventional values would destroy them.
He stroked the messy dark hair on his brother's head. His good fortune was due to his brother. Harry was his saving grace. Finding his seventh horcrux had changed him in many ways. No longer driven, insane, living through death and torture. The first war had almost destroyed everything. Now, with Dumbledore arrested, his Order in disarray, Tom could take stock, he could relax, take time to help his brother rest and recuperate. He looked outside, the air heavy with moisture. The clouds at ground level. He could not even see as far as the garden gate. The frost on the weeds made them beautiful. It was a typical winter's day. A day to be spent in bed reading the papers, both muggle and magical from home and abroad. He would get his newly acquired house-elf to supply comfort food, sweetmeats and delicacies to eat. He already had a pot of fine coffee to enjoy. Scotland had the worse weather, but this small hideaway offered sanctuary and a true safe haven.
...
Not everything was fine in the wider world. Narcissa had gone into labour as a result of stress of her firstborn son's cursing. Lucius was at his wife's side. As was Bellatrix and two of the best midwives brought in from Paris. Her son was delivered after a labour of only two hours.
Draco had woken to see his father holding his new brother. The guilt in Heir Malfoy's heart was unbearable. His fears over rejection, a natural uncertainty for an only child had been played on and intensified. His emotions used against him by that crack pot headmaster. Draco swore he would be a better son, a wonderful elder brother, as close as his uncles. Rodolphus was over ten years older than his sibling, Rastaban. Yet, they were almost inseparable. Draco's brother was a blessing for his mother, a mother who had left her confinement as soon as Draco was in trouble. She had put herself in danger for him. Draco had grown up with the delicate health of his mother, another fear that prayed on him. He had thought she was being selfish to jeopardize her well being for another unneeded child. He had to concede it was his mother who wanted a large family. She had been robbed of being a proper mother to Draco by her affliction. With her health restored by of all people Potter, she would be able to fulfil her dreams, and still have time for her first born.
...
The Holding Cells of the DMLE were on the third floor of the Ministry of Magic within the Offices of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Kingsley Shackholt knew he was possibly risking time in Azkaban but he had sworn oaths to Albus Dumbledore. He was duty bound to fight the rise of the Death-eaters, lead by Lucius Malfoy and his new ally, Lord Gaunt-Slytherin. The maintenance of the status quo meant there had to be a strong opposition to the threat of Dark Magic and the Pureblood agenda. Mundungus Fletcher had created a disturbance in Diagon Alley, most of the Auror Corps were investigating at Hogwarts or on call now. There was no one to stop him from allowing a prisoner to escape. It had happened before, when Death eater suspects had disappeared from holding. Kinglsley was off duty. Dawlish was now incapacitated. It had been far to simple. Tomorrow Kingsley would go over the wards, schedules and protocols for this loophole never to be exploited again.
The safe house was no more than a dilapidated garden shed. Inside it was warm, comfortable and with plenty of provisions. Albus Dumbledore would have to plan his next move very carefully. If he knew anything, the Heads of the Auror Department would cover up his escape to save their own livelihoods. Most considered him a senile old fool. He had let his guard down at Hogwarts, never believing he would loose control of that power base. He had been stripped of his control of the wards. The castle like a storehouse of generations of magic. The residual effect of the wards had kept him at his peak since his defeat of his lover Gellert.
Of all in the Order, Diggle, Shackholt and Doge were still loyal. Possibly Molly Weasley s well, but he could not risk a chance of being betrayed again. He was tempted to go after Severus for his duplicity, but he had to destroy the Riddle-Malfoy political faction. During the next Wizengamot meeting he would infiltrate the Chamber. He would triumph and all would see the power of the Hallows.
...
In the past two years, Cornelius Fudge had become a much more astute player in the Ministry. His demotion had shown him the truth that he had been a mere pawn, handed power to facilitate the plans of Albus Dumbledore. He had seen the Potter wills ignored, all to control a child. Harry Potter had spent the past year stating the whole myth of the Boy-who-Lived was just that, a myth. It had been the combined work of James Potter and his brilliant wife that had vanquished that Dark Lord. No baby could accomplish the destruction of a fully trained wizard. He had observed the boy, a healer, not the perceived threat nor the blindly loyal stooge of the Headmaster, all thanks to his steward, Lord Slytherin, that Riddle-Gaunt fellow. A charming man even if he had been brought up abroad.
He had come in to clear up the mess of Dawlish's stupidity. That Auror had no memory of anything out of the ordinary. There had been no attack, but Dumbledore was now free. He made up his mind to be a better man. The political climate was now one of taking control. He went up to see the Minister, Madam Bones.
"Ma'am, Dumbledore has escaped. I have ordered a full investigation and I now tender my resignation. Protocols have become lax and I take full responsibilty for all failings in my department."
Amelia Bones almost smiled at the sight of a contrite Cornelius Fudge. Maybe it was political manouvering, but she could not loose such a good administrator at the moment. "Now, Cornelius, I'll wait for Rufus' report in the morning. I think you should lead the investigation. Albus Dumbledore had powerful allies, in all departments. We will take precautions to ensure no more insiders work against justice. Thank you for alerting me straight away. I'm glad you have found your feet in my old stomping ground. We need to be strong. Dumbledore as you know is not the problem facing our society, but the whole of the Statute of Secrecy. I actually wanted to see you tomorrow. I will be attending the next ICW meeting. Policies need to change, hell our entire society needs to evolve in pace wit the muggles to stay in touch and be able to hide in plain sight. I want you to attend with me. You are good at details. I will also be taking Ted Tonks. You might want to liaise with him in the mean time as my schedule is rater full and it would be a great help if you both are fully aware of our international compatriots concerns."
Fudge was for once completely without an answer, not even his usual bluster. This was a sideways promotion. Maybe even an opening to become a full time ICW delegate. He got over his shock. "I am honoured you considered me. I will not let you down. Now I'll go back and go through the entry and exit logs for the Ministry this afternoon. I suspect an illegal portkey was used." A portkey meant there was now no way of tracing Dumbledore and his accomplices. He would be most thorough. He was still ambitious. Even if he stayed in place in the Ministry, he would serve out to his retirement. No one would catch him resting on his laurels again.