"Weasley, I do not wish to be disturbed. Except by Madam Bones. Don't answer any questions from the press, do you understand? If anyone asks anything, you are to reply with 'No comment.'" Minister of Magic stared hard at Percy Weasley, who could only nod in response. Percy had only arrived a few moments before his new boss, and had not yet even had his morning tea, much less opened his case to retrieve the files he'd been studying the night before to prepare for the meeting with Germany's Minister that afternoon. In the few months he'd been working directly under the Minister, he'd never even heard Fudge so much as raise his voice. However, this morning it looked as if Fudge's head could explode at any moment.
"Damn that boy." Fudge snarled, slamming his office door behind him. He flicked his wand at the fire, igniting it. He mumbled curses at the famed Boy-Who-Lived as he took off his cloak and his bowler hat before stomping over to the fire and throwing a handful of Floo powder into the flames.
"Hogwarts, Defense Against The Dark Arts Office." Fudge shouted as he stuck his head in the emerald green flames. Fudge usually enjoyed the feeling of the flames tickling his face when he made Floo calls, but this morning, the fire could have been burning his face to ash, and he wouldn't have even blinked.
"Dolores? Dolores!" Fudge shouted. The woman had to be in her office, they always spoke at this time on Mondays. Umbridge would give her report about Dumbledore's activities, and wait to be advised on what she should do next. Fudge was seething as he called again for his Undersecretary to appear. The moment she did, Fudge felt boiling hot rage in his veins.
"Good morning, Minister."
"Do not 'Good morning' me. I thought you told me you had things in hand there."
Umbridge looked shaken. "What do you mean?"
"The Boy! Potter. He spoke to the press over the weekend. He accused you of using a Blood Quill. He's told his story about He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named's return."
"Surely there is nothing to fret about. The Editor of the Prophet won't run any story from the boy."
"He spoke to foreign press. Potter talked to reporters from the French and Bulgarian Newspapers, AND he's gotten Rita Skeeter to do an exclusive!" Fudge said between gritted teeth. "I've been hounded by reporters since late last night. The Minister of Germany was supposed to meet with me today, but cancelled saying he couldn't trust me if I'd lie about the innocence of Sirius Black. Can you believe it?"
"Sirius Black? What does the guilt of that murdering psychopath have to do with anything?"
"EVERYTHING! Potter's told the papers that Black was unfairly imprisoned, and that he never received a trail. He told them I had Barty Crouch Junior kissed by Dementors without being questioned. He's completely undermining everything I've built. We have to do something before things get out of hand."
"What do you suggest, Minister?" Umbridge gulped.
"I'm sending Aurors to search your property at the school. The first thing we have to do is show that the boy is lying by proving you do not have a Blood Quill. I'll be sending Amelia Bones. If she says you don't have one, people will believe her."
"Can't you just order her to say it to the press?" Umbridge stuttered.
Fudge shook his head. "She'll never agree to that. She believes in Dumbledore. No, she must see it for herself. I know you two don't get along, but she'll do her job without bias. Allow her to search whatever and wherever, is that understood?
Umbridge's already light pallor went a bit paler. Her pouchy eyes bulged a bit, and she looked as if she had just seen something to give her a serious fright. "Of course, sir. Is there anything else?"
"I've arranged for you to meet with several reporters this afternoon. You'll condemn the boy's actions as an obvious cry for attention. Bring up the lies he's spread around the school, and bring some of those loyal students to back your story."
Umbridge nodded, giving a smile. "It's clear that the boy was coached. You'll remember I told you about his sudden disappearance from the school, followed by Dumbledore's absence? Clearly the two of them set this up to discredit you."
"Clearly. I can't believe you allowed this to happen. I thought you had everything under control?
"My sincerest apologies, Minister, but I do not have the resources to monitor all the students all the time. Only the Headmaster has that ability, as you well know. Had you only listened to me from the beginning, we could have prevented this. Maybe it's time we take a firmer hand in how things are run in this school."
"Fine, Fine. If we manage to get through this crisis, I give you full authority to do whatever you need to make sure the boy is silenced!" So absorbed in his own misery, Fudge missed the malicious glint in Umbridge's eye.
Fudge stood up, ending the Floo call and sitting heavily in his desk. He took a few deep breaths, trying to calm himself. There was a knock on his door, and Percy Weasley stuck his head inside.
"Minister, Amelia Bones is hear to see you." Percy said, a look of utmost horror on his face. Fudge guessed the boy had just learned of the articles in the foreign press and that rag, The Quibbler.
"Send her in."
Amelia Bones was a tall woman, with piercing dark eyes, and a strong jaw. She wore a monocle in her left eye, and her dark hair was done in a tight bun. She exuded control, and she was one of the most decorated law enforcement officers the Ministry had ever seen, besides Alastor Moody.
"Quite a morning, eh, Minister?" She said with no hint of humor.
"Indeed. Amelia, I'd like you to take a group of Aurors to Hogwarts and search the High Inquisitors offices, and personal quarters. I want these lies shown for what they are. The pathetic cries for attention from a very disturbed young man."
"And if she is in possession of banned items?" Amelia posed the query.
"If, by some miracle, she is in possession of any banned items, well, carry out you're duty by the book."
"What of the Black situation?" Amelia asked, eyeing the Minster suspiciously.
"There is absolutely no evidence to support those claims. You yourself were there when Black was arrested. You saw how mad he was."
"Forgive me, Minister, but Black was never questioned. And the eye witnesses were all Muggles, they wouldn't have known exactly what they saw. And this business of Pettigrew being an Animagus. It deserves some investigation."
"NO! This is all a bunch of tosh fabricated by Dumbledore to shake the faith of the people. We are going to show them just how manipulative that old coot can be. Sirius Black is guilty of murdering Peter Pettigrew and all those Muggles. He is to be found and sentenced to the Dementor's kiss. Now, you have your assignment, please let me know what you find." Fudge shouted forcefully, his face becoming a deep shade of purple.
Amelia stood up, her eyes cold. "Very well, Minster. I shall see you upon my return." She turned and quickly left the office. Fudge pounded his fists on his desk. He was in a real mess at the moment. How had the boy even make contact with foreign reporters? So far as he knew, Harry Potter had no friends anywhere outside of England. Was it possible that he had forged some with the competitors of the Tri-Wizard Tournament? All of his intelligence suggested that the French woman and Krum had not even spoken to the boy during the tournament.
Perhaps he should have listened to Umbridge and charged the boy with Diggory's murder after all.
A series of images ran through his head of a highly publicized trial of a fourteen year old boy. The Boy-Who-Lived, no less. Dumbledore would have demanded the use of Veritaserum, and the public would have sided with him. And what if even under Veritaserum the story didn't change? What if all this time…
Fudge shook his head. He was going to conquer this, and show the people once and for all exactly who Albus Dumbledore was. A lying, manipulative, scheming old codger bent on ruling the country! And that was that!
Dolores Umbridge was more than a bit flustered after her conversation with the Minster of Magic. The first thing she did, when the Floo call finished, was run to her desk and throw the Blood Quill into the fire. With a bit of stoking from her wand, the quill became little more than ash in seconds.
She hated having to sacrifice the quill, but she had connections, and would have a new one delivered to her later in the week, once the hub-bub had blown over. Her only priority was to show her support of the Minister.
Next, she bustled down to her living quarters and went to her jewelry box where a large golden heart shaped locket rested. She opened the locket and made sure the Truth serum antidote was still inside. She was sure she would not be subjected to questioning, but one could not be to careful when Amelia Bones was involved. The two had a long standing rivalry.
Now, all she had to do was act surprised when the Aurors arrived.
The boy had proven resourceful, and even with her threats he had managed to tell his filthy lies. Now, her beloved Minister was in jeopardy, and it was once again up to her to save him. If only he'd listened to her before.
She thought about sending for Draco and a few of the other Inquisitorial squad members, but decided to wait. She thought it best to appear as if she were not expecting Madam Bones. Gathering her clipboard and her favorite pink quill, she headed for the Great Hall to await the Aurors, and perhaps put on a bit of a show for the students. The more those simple minded sheep believed her to be innocent, the more it would help the cause.
Dolores Umbridge had only one thought as she headed for breakfast. She was going to make Harry Potter pay for his crimes.
Hogwarts was a buzz with rumors regarding their Defense teacher. When the Aurors showed up at breakfast and demanded to see her office and Living quarters and that she was suspected of being in possession of banned dark objects, every single student began whispering frantically, all of them wondering what it was this Ministry stooge could have.
Not long after, a few subscribers of the Quibbler had their answers.
Luna Lovegood skipped over to the Gryffindor table and sat right next to Harry, handing him a copy of the magazine.
"Daddy sent this with his compliments. He felt it was important to get out a special edition."
Harry unrolled the magazine to see his picture, blinking back at him. It was a photo from the year before, right after the first task if the singed jersey was any indication.
"HARRY POTTER NAMES DEATH EATERS, TELLS OF MINISTRY CORRUPTION, YOU-KNOW-WHO'S ALIVE!"
"That was really fast." Daphne said, looking at the picture.
"I suspect the foreign papers got their stories out yesterday, and the Ministry is scrambling to save face." Neville said.
"I can't wait until they find that damned quill." Harry said just as Madam Bones was passing by, with Umbridge in tow. Umbridge shot Harry a cold glare as she sauntered by.
"Maybe if she gets sacked, the Gryffindor team could reform." Ron said happily.
"I'd just be happy to get rid of her goon squad." Daphne said, staring across the Great Hall to where Malfoy and the other Inquisitorial Squad all sat watching Umbridge leaving the hall. "He's so insufferable in the Common Room. Tracey and I just stay in our room all the time now. We only have to deal with Pansy."
"She's been rather quiet ever since Millicent told her off." Tracey nodded. "I'm starting to feel a bit sorry for her."
Harry was no longer listening, as his mind was imagining all manner of scenes where the Aurors opened the toad's desk and found that long velvet case where the Blood Quill resided and hauled the fat toad kicking and screaming out of Hogwarts for good. He wanted to contact Sirius right at that moment to announce his victory over the Ministry, but restrained himself. He decided he'd wait until he actually saw the toad being taken away.
"Come on." He said, rising from the table.
"Where are we going?" Neville asked.
"I want to get a good seat for when they haul her fat arse out of here."
Laughing excitedly, Harry and his friends left the Great Hall, and found spots to sit where they were guaranteed to see Umbridge's fate.
The search of the Undersecretary/Defense Teacher's property took very little time. The search turned up nothing more dark the a gray cardigan in the squat woman's wardrobe. The entire time her things were being riffled through, Dolores Umbridge simply stood with a warm smile on her wide, toad-like visage, watching as her things were tossed about and inspected.
Amelia Bones stayed with Umbridge, watching her carefully for any sign of nervousness, but the little woman barely even blinked. Madam Bones did not like Dolores Umbridge. The two had butted heads on policies for many years, but Amelia had never had a reason to suspect the Undersecretary of wrong doing.
It was true the Umbridge was very outspoken in matters of half breeds. Werewolves, vampires and the like, but she had never given any cause for anyone to suspect her of doing dark magic.
And yet, Madam Bones could not shake the feeling she was being fooled.
"We're done, madam." Kirkland said as he approached his superior. "The Undersecretary is clean."
"Very well." Amelia said. She turned to the shorter woman and gave a polite smile. "So sorry to have to do this."
"Not need to apologize, Amelia." Umbridge smiled. "You were just doing your job, and I would expect nothing less of you."
"Thank you for your patience." Madam Bones nodded. She watched as Umbridge entered her quarters, and with a quick wave of her wand began putting her space back in order. Amelia ordered her officers back to the Ministry and turned to follow them. When she was nearly to the Entrance Hall, she decided that perhaps she should have a few words with the Headmaster.
"Kirkland, Peters, I shall see you back at the office. I'm going to pay a visit to Dumbledore."
Her subordinates nodded, and Amelia quickly found the Headmaster's office.
"Amelia Bones to see Headmaster Dumbledore." Madam Bones said to the gargoyle guarding the staircase. She waited patiently as her message was being delivered. After only a few moments, the gargoyle stepped aside, revealing the spiral staircase that led up to the Headmaster's office.
"Madam Bones, a most pleasant surprise. Do come in." Dumbledore smiled.
"Apologies for coming unannounced, Headmaster, but I feel that we need to have a talk."
"I see. Have a seat. Can I offer you anything?"
"No. If it's all the same, I'd rather get right down to it. You know why I am here?"
"I believe it is because Minister Fudge is preparing to fight the allegations made by Mister Potter." Dumbledore said as he took his own seat.
"So far we are on the same parchment. Do you know if the boy is telling the truth?"
"I have never known him to lie, especially regarding something so serious." Dumbledore said seriously. Madam Bones mulled this over.
"We found nothing. If she did actually have a Blood Quill, it's clear she got rid of it. I could question him with Veritaserum."
"Amelia, we both know that Fudge, as the new head of the Wizengamont, would never allow that in court. Nor would he allow the submission of memories, as I'm sure he would convince everyone that they had been altered, likely by myself."
"Ok, so let's put that aside." Madam Bones said, realizing Dumbledore was right. "Sirius Black."
Dumbledore steepled his fingers, leaning forward on his desk.
"I have a sneaking suspicion that you know exactly where to find him."
Dumbledore said nothing, allowing Madam Bones to steer the conversation.
"The Minister has decreed that if he's found, he's to be kissed by the Dementors. No trail, no questions. The only way to clear him is to find Pettigrew."
"Am I to understand that you believe Harry's story?" Dumbledore asked, a bright twinkle in his sky blue eyes. Madam Bones stared at the old man for several long moments before sighing heavily.
"Albus, I don't know exactly what's going on here, but I do know that whatever it is has the Minister very afraid. His actions over the past months have proven that there is more going on than him just being afraid of you taking over the Ministry."
"Indeed." Dumbledore smiled.
"Albus, if you don't tell me what's going on, I can't help. I am not about to stand by and watch our society fall apart because Fudge is too afraid to do anything. Now, the time for secrets is past."
Dumbledore sat back in his seat, looking at the Head of the Law Enforcement division. He wasn't quite sure he could trust her, despite her extremely outstanding service record. He knew that the Order of the Phoenix could use more help, especially from the Aurors. The Death Eaters had an army, and the Order would need an army to fight them. Not to mention the help that Harry would need to accomplish his destiny.
"For the Greater Good." Dumbledore thought to himself.
"What I tell you must not be repeated. We do not yet know exactly who we can trust…"
"This is a serious infraction, Professor, you can not deny it." Umbridge said, her rosy pallor becoming something rather frightening to behold, and yet, Dumbledore merely smile back at her.
"As I have said, quite clearly to you, Harry Potter did nothing wrong. He merely spoke to reporters on his own time. He was not in school when he spoke to them. There have not yet been any rules written about what a student may or may not do outside these walls, nor do I think we would truly have the power to enforce such restrictions."
Umbridge's fat little fists clenched tightly. "He lied! He is spreading a disease of mistrust through our society. Even you can not deny …"
"Deny? My dear Professor Umbridge, so far as I know, Harry Potter knows he must not tell lies."
There was no mistaking it. Umbridge's boiling hot rage cooled somewhat as Dumbledore's usually sparkling blue eyes went, for just the briefest of moments, dark. She gasped at the words she knew were carved permanently into the boys hand, having watched him do it.
"You're playing a very dangerous game here, Headmaster." Umbridge snarled. "You can't protect the boy forever. He is going to face justice for his crimes."
"And exactly what crimes are those, Madam? Expressing his opinion? So far as I know, he still has the freedom, under our government, to say whatever he likes about whatever he likes. A freedom that we all share."
Umbridge's jaw was clenched so tightly that it was shaking. Her eyes were narrowed slits of displeasure.
"I think this meeting is finished." Dumbledore said, and with a wave of his hand, his office door opened. Umbridge gave one last look of dissent and left. She quickly bustled down to her office, where she had several new Educational Decrees to submit to the Minister of Magic.
As she walked, her mind mulled over everything that had happened today. She had been forced to destroy her Blood Quill, and she now knew she would be unable to replace it, as Madam Bones had let slip that Aurors would now be handing mail searches. Her dream of order was coming crashing down around her.
From the moment she had convinced Cornelius to put her in Hogwarts to be his eyes and ears, Dolores had begun harboring a new dream, one where she would rule over the students and mold their minds. She had begun to dream of a new society, where wizards and witches understood their place in the world, and Purebloods would once again reign over all lesser beings. Order to chaos.
But two people stood in the way of that now. Albus Dumbledore and Harry Potter. They had to be removed.
Dumbledore would be a tough nut to crack. He was quite powerful, and Umbridge still did not have enough support behind her to remove the old codger from his throne, so to speak.
Potter, on the other hand. Potter she could scrape off her shoe like so much owl droppings. She had only but to catch him. She believed he was leading a group of students in a rebellion against the Ministry. She knew they were meeting somewhere in the castle, though she had been quite flummoxed as to where.
She had originally wanted to get one of her Inquisitorial Squad in with that group, but other than Potter, Weasley and Granger, she was unsure who else was a part of it. Greengrass was, of course, how could she not be.
Umbridge was still at a loss to understand how the Greengrass girl, coming from such a noble and respected blood line, could sully her family's name by even associating with Potter. It was something else Umbridge felt needed to be remedied. Blood Traitors must be made to understand. They must all be…"reprogrammed", in order to protect their gifts.
Umbridge slammed her office door and sat heavily at her desk, her pouchy face in her fat little hands.
She had to catch the boy in the act in order to expel him. Once he was out of the school, he could be brought to trial for his numerous crimes against the Ministry. Boy-Who-Lived or not, no one was above the law.
Umbridge smiled to herself. If she could catch the boy, surely Dumbledore would try and aid him, and then, perhaps, she could kill two doxies with one hex. Then, she would be made Headmistress, and things would truly change. She had made two allies to her cause. Filch was easy to manipulate. Dolores guessed the ancient caretaker would throw himself to the lions if she asked. The promise of reinstituting corporal punishments swayed him easily. Perhaps if students knew there was something truly worth fearing in detention, they might actually behave themselves.
Snape had been a bit harder to sway, but in the end, the hope of teaching the subject he longed for proved too much. Snape had agreed to start making Veritaserum for her. The first batch would be ready in the next few weeks, and Umbridge could start inviting students for tea.
It was a plan that had begun forming in her mind shortly after the start of the year. Children were very guarded and it seemed most believed her to be some kind of watch dog. They kept their secrets hidden quite well, and most unfortunately, Umbridge was no Legillimens. So, she would question them all with a nice cup of tea, and then, she would begin to get her leverage.
Then, she would be on her way to her perfect world, with her being celebrated for saving wizarding kind from its own destruction at the hands of half-breeds and charlatans.