25. Resurrection

Although Amelia had informed the minister of what the interrogation of the impostor brought out, he simply refused to believe most of it. "The man has spent years in Azkaban and then a few more years under Imperius. His mind must be in shambles. I can't accept anything he says as truth, even if he fiercely believes it is."

Amelia suspected that he simply didn't want to lose the financial support that he was getting from some marked death-eaters, especially Lucius Malfoy. The minister's reasoning was still logical, even if false. She couldn't really fight him. Nevertheless, she had all the arrest warrants ready along with the plan to arrest all suspects at once, so none would escape, yet she could do nothing without the minister's approval. It was an extremely frustrating situation.

Harry was blissfully unaware of this. Back at school, after the winter holidays, he felt quite content to continue his studies and even more so, to cuddle with Hermione while doing homework. He was content that their relationship was starting to become more physical, yet he didn't feel like rushing it. Just being together, feeling her warmth close to him, was making him happy. With the threats of the tournament and the impostor removed, it turned into quite a pleasant year.

\/\/\/\/\/

At his hideout, Voldemort was not happy at all. He had lost his servant and had to make a new plan. What unnerved him even more was the fact that somebody had played a prank on his plan in such a way that made it look childish. Had he been wrong to trust this plan to that servant? The man had seemed quite competent, though. He had managed to capture Moody and to fool the headmaster for quite a while, and it was somebody else who eventually made the truth surface. Voldemort only wished he knew who and how. Such a person could become a valuable asset in his service.

Well, nothing to it. He would use whatever he got to reach his goal. Although he would have liked to use the Potter brat for the ritual, also removing the threat that the boy seemed to present, he could use another. Any of his enemies would do. Dumbledore would be perfect, if only he could capture him, yet he couldn't trust his remaining servant to capture such a powerful wizard. Well, one of the leading officials at the ministry could also do. He would need to find someone who was too arrogant to stay well protected. That might hopefully still be within the rat's capability.

\/\/\/\/\/

Madam Bones had her plans ready. The only obstacle in her way was the minister, who wouldn't hear about anything that might incriminate the former Death-Eaters. He infuriated her to no end, and yet she knew that once something happened – anything that could make the public doubt him – he would agree to everything that could take the blame off his shoulders. She only needed patience. She still didn't take her job lightly. Once she had all the information analysed, she went to talk with the minister.

"According to the intelligence we managed to gather, all top officials may be a target to kidnapping attempts. As the top official at the Ministry, you are probably in most danger. I'd like to improve your protection, adding a few more Aurors, to guard you whenever you're out of the Ministry's building."

Fudge seemed furious. "You've already tried other methods to get a rise in budget, and now this. I can't approve of any more Aurors. Actually, I think I don't really need two Aurors to guard me at all times. One is quite enough, as we're living in peaceful times, and once I'm going home, I trust my wards to be more than enough. You can use the Auror I release from guarding me for whatever you wish."

"Let me reinforce your wards, at least," she tried to insist.

"Lucius has recently checked them, finding them more than good enough. No need to spend your limited budget on that. You'd do much better if you concentrated on some shady characters spotted near Diagon Alley."

Madam Bones shook her head sadly as she left that office. She was bound by her vows, but she was sure that the minister would not stay in office for long. She doubted he'd stay alive either.

\/\/\/\/\/

Voldemort was quite satisfied with the latest report from Wormtail. The minister had relaxed the security around his house, making it almost too easy to capture him and use him for the ritual. He only needed to wait for the right time. It could even turn much better for him than the initial plan. The best time to do the ritual, as he had found out, was during summer solstice. The last task had originally been planned for three days later, and he thought he had to compromise. With the new plan, they could do it right on time. It would go perfectly!

\/\/\/\/\/

'I need to get an exterminator,' Fudge thought, seeing yet another rat in his garden. He had lately seen rats almost daily, either when coming home or leaving it. This time, he was coming home after attending a charity ball. He was already at the door when he felt a wand pressed to his back. He didn't even manage to say a word, as he found himself petrified.

Voldemort was quite pleased with the catch, "Start the ritual," he ordered the rat-man. He would soon show his enemies what high a cost they would pay for standing in his way!

Amelia had been informed of the kidnapping almost immediately. Unknown to the Minister, she had cast a tracking charm on him and had it monitored closely whenever he was left without Auror escort. She wasn't really surprised that it happened. She only thought it would have happened sooner. Still, once her charm informed her where the minister was, she assembled the small Auror force that she had readied for such missions and led it to the cemetery at Little Hangelton. As they were approaching the place, they all used disillusionment and silencing charms on themselves, allowing them to come close to the huge boiling cauldron without being detected.

She wondered if they hadn't come too late. Mr. Fudge was tied to a headstone, his arm bleeding profusely. She hoped he wasn't dead, although she didn't feel any pity towards him. She was appalled when seeing the other man. She had no problem recognizing him as Peter Pettigrew, only his hand was missing and the stump was still bleeding. A stunner took care of him, and one of her Aurors used other spells to stop the blood loss and to prevent Animagus transformation. He also took the man's wand away.

With no other danger found, Amelia ordered the Aurors "Remove the disillusionment charms," after becoming visible herself. "Give the minister first aid," she told another Auror. Fudge didn't seem to lose much blood, but he was in deep shock. She sent him to St. Mungos with a portkey. Another portkey took Peter to a holding cell at the Ministry. Madam Bones also found two wands resting on one of the headstones. She recognized one as the minister's. She took them both.

Her attention returned to the cauldron, as the fire under it seemed to burn out and a bit of movement became visible in the liquid. "Take cover!" she said. The Aurors disappeared behind some headstones, aiming their wands at the top of the cauldron.

They didn't need to wait for long, as a figure seemed to stand out of the cauldron, with a horrible snake-like face. "Robe me!" it said, expecting its servant to act as ordered. As nothing happened, the figure, now recognizable as Voldemort, looked around, trying to find that errant servant. He only found several stunners hitting him all at once.

Minister Fudge signed the papers Amelia had given him later that night, while still at the hospital. He resigned a few days later, citing "health problems" as his reason.

A few tens of families had the Aurors visit them that night, taking away one or more members of the family, yet no word leaked to the press until the next day, when an official announcement was made by Madam Bones, "We've been gathering information since the impostor was found at Hogwarts. Under Veritaserum, he gave the information of how one got marked, proving that one needed to want the dark mark and do some horrendous crimes to prove 'worthy' of the mark. This made all the claims for 'Imperius' irrelevant. Therefore, we collected all known Death Eaters and had them interrogated. The Minister approved the use of Veritaserum, and they all confessed to having willingly done the dark lord's bidding. They will be put on trial during the next few weeks."

Another announcement appeared, hidden in the middle pages. "The Aurors had disrupted a ritual intended to resurrect the dark lord. The perpetrators were put to trial and punished according to the law." No further details were given.

\/\/\/\/\/

Harry stayed blissfully oblivious to most of these facts. He noticed some Slytherin students seeming quite worried, a few leaving school before the end of term, and then he saw the headlines. He only thought it was about time the Ministry did something about the information gotten from the impostor.

Draco also seemed to be among those who left early. Harry didn't really mind. Despite the life debt, Draco continued being a very unpleasant company. Harry was sure that whatever fate Lucius Malfoy met, it was still less than just repayment for the man's crimes.

Dumbledore seemed sad. Harry couldn't know why, although he suspected that the headmaster knew much more about the events. He still didn't care too much. His thoughts were going to the summer vacation, to the time he would spend with Hermione on the beach, possibly in the company of Neville and Susan as well.

He was quite glad that they spent the train ride with these two, sparing them Ron's company. They talked about what they'd like to do during the summer and where they would like to visit. With such pleasant company, the ride seemed to take no time at all.

As usual, Liz was waiting for him at the train station, along with the Grangers. Harry was surprised to see Amelia Bones waiting there as well, accompanied by an Auror, yet she first rushed to hug Susan closely and look her over.

"Each time you come home, you seem more mature and more beautiful. You remind me so much of your parents!" she told her niece.

Susan smiled, seeming proud.

Liz was glad to meet Harry, as always. She hugged him tightly and then looked him over. "You're growing up; you're almost a man already!"

She then turned her gaze to Hermione, who was being welcomed by her parents. "Have you…?" she asked reluctantly.

"We're not rushing anything," Harry replied. He really didn't feel like accelerating the pace and getting more physical, although he was quite sure it would happen soon, maybe even during the summer.

Once all the hugs and kisses ended, Amelia approached them. "I expect to be quite busy for a few more weeks, but Susan will join you on your vacation from the start. The Grangers were kind enough to invite her to stay with them until then. I hope I can join you all with only a few days' delay." She then turned to Liz. "May I join you for a short visit. There are a few things I'd like to tell your husband."

Liz smiled. "I'm sure he won't oppose such a visit, but I don't think he'd like your escort."

Amelia smiled. "Oh, I believe he will. They used to be quite close during Auror training, and Shack knows he needs to keep it secret."

James was really happy to meet his friends. After the initial surprise, Shack was also quite content. Amelia enjoyed the family reunion, as Harry got a very warm welcome from his siblings. The love they all shared was very evident.

We're approaching the end. Now. despite having it all written, I'm not quite happy with what I've written as the last few chapters and I'm open for suggestions. I don't promise to accept and implement every or even any of the suggestions, but hopefully, some can help me rewrite the end of this story in a more satisfying way.

And as always, Please Review!