Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter!
Rated M = Mature, sex, language, drugs, ...
Updated: 10/5/09
Runic Animagi
Chapter 28: Wizarding World Turned On It's Head
By the time Daphne and I sat at the Slytherin table and began reading my early edition of the new and improved Daily Prophet, hundred of owls flooded the Great Hall bearing copies of the paper that hadn't been seen for over a month. Gasps of surprise quickly followed as my fellow students read the six front page articles in rapt attention along with much of the staff. At one point, and I have a pretty good idea which one, Ron jumped up onto his chair and cheered like the Chudley Cannons had just won the cup, or more likely that Draco was disgraced and imprisoned for two whole years.
Daphne and I garnered several incredulous looks and whispers from those stunned by the news of our engagement, but as predicted most were interested in the many other more informative stories on the front page that ours probably got the least attention for which I was grateful. Daphne was more than happy to take the glamour off her engagement ring when people started asking to see it, but most were infinitely more interested in the de-naming story of Voldemort written weeks ago by yours truly ...if you couldn't guess. Dobby did a bang up job on the paper's re-release, and I knew it was only going to get better tomorrow since that news would shake things up even more than Voldemort's half-blood heritage.
Almost nothing got done that Wednesday morning in DADA because everyone kept asking Remus questions about Azkaban, the Dementors, the Ministry, Aurors, and Voldemort ...although only Hermione, Daphne, and myself actually used his name. That was probably one of the greatest benefits of the voice of the Daily Prophet, if the people were inundated with the name enough, it would lose some of the power it held over them ...or at least that was the thought. Remus shot me too many curious glances for me not to realize that he knew I was Evan Jameson, but luckily only a select few others would ever make the connection and I wasn't too worried about those that did ...or would find out soon enough.
Even less got accomplished during Hagrid's Care of Magical Creatures class since he was bombarded with questions about his very public exoneration and what he remembered about the boy named Tom Riddle. I made a note to tell Dobby to do a Hagrid interview further exonerating him and vilifying Tom at the same time, judging just from my class that people wanted to know the whole story, and I could fill in any of the gaps and questions. Hagrid too gave me many looks, but his only held pride and love knowing it was my discovery of the Chamber of Secrets and defeat of the diary that had truly exonerated him and freed him from the horrors of Azkaban.
Dinner that night was still spent talking and speculating on the fallout of the Daily Prophet articles. Most at the SLytherin table where I was sitting with Daphne, had mixed looks and reactions to everything. They did however all agree on one thing, that the Dark Lord was going to go after and kill this Evan Jameson character ...well, he's been trying that already for years. I wasn't too worried since the Daily Prophet building is protected by something he could and would never understand, the house elf love bond of protection. Is it just me or do I have some horny house elves.
Apparently Winky didn't want to spread out her many wanted children, and since they already did the ritual with me, the magic was still in Winky's womb so I thankfully didn't have to be present again. Now, only house elves could could enter or exit the building at all ...talk about the ultimate protection plan for as long as Dobby and Winky planned to procreate. Since only house elves worked there now, it was fucking brilliant and out of everybody's reach, both the Ministry and Voldemort. The perfect place to run an unbiased media outlet even if the protection only lasted about six months until Dobby and Winky's second child was born. I was promised that many other elves in my employ would be willing to continue the house elf protection wards, but I was hoping I wouldn't have to witness another one of those rituals any time soon.
"Hey Harry, are we having the DA tonight?" asked Justin Finch-Fletchley as he and fellow teaching assistant Zacharias Smith approached me as the clock neared seven.
"I promised Madam Pompfrey that I wouldn't participate this week, but if you two want to run it you have my permission," I answered sincerely, having come to really depend on the two very different Hufflepuffs that switched DA classes to play Quidditch, and helped me teach all the younger students and feeling they were up to the new challenge.
"Really, are you sure?" asked Zacharias both excited and nervous at the responsibility and trust he was being given.
"Of course, you guys can do it," I answered encouragingly, "you have my full confidence."
"Thank you Harry," answered a smiling Justin as Zacharias just nodded speechless as his dorm mate pulled him toward the Great Hall's exit to make an announcement. "Beginning DA is optional tonight, but for those that want to, Zack and I will be leading class tonight."
Only maybe four or five out of the sixty plus that attend the beginning DA didn't follow the two Hufflepuff teaching assistants up to the Room of Requirement, showing just how well the two were liked and respected. The few others most likely had homework to catch up on, and used the opportunity to get it done sooner. I looked to the Head table to see Albus' twinkling and amused eyes, and Madam Pompfrey's hard glare ensuring I was not attending the DA tonight ...I had more fun things to do with my fiance anyway.
After another 'cough' restful 'cough' night in my own bed with Daphne I felt completely reenergized. Even the two castings of the love based runes of protection on Daphne didn't tire me out as much as usual that following morning. She left soon after to start her day in her dorm with her friends, and Dobby and I were able to meet for our usual morning toke on the balcony where he hand delivered this morning's Daily Prophet with a smug smirk on his face that made me very proud. I only took a quick glance at the front page for my smirk to match his, and then rushed to say goodbye and get down to the Great Hall for the post's arrival.
When I reached the Great Hall, I waved to Daphne and her friends but went to sit with the Gryffindor's who didn't seem as bothered with my absences lately since they too were all happily coupling and didn't hold it against me even if they were still a bit suspicious of Slytherins in general. We still saw each other and talked a bit in classes, but it was weird not spending all my meals with them at some level even though I've been in my own room and out of the dorm all year. Again, as I sat down for breakfast, the post owls arrived and after loading my plate with food I unfolded my own copy and read along with everyone else around me.
Voldemort's Death Eaters Outed
After intensive investigations into the Dark Lord Voldemort and his followers, we at the Daily Prophet obtained visible proof of every single living Death Eater currently in Voldemort's service. They can each be identified as Tom Riddle's followers by a dark magic tattoo of a skull with a snake protruding from it's mouth, better known as the dark mark inked on their left forearms forever binding their magic and very lives to the half-blood Voldemort's service. These findings were given to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement yesterday, and they assured us steps would be taken before it's general publication in today's paper to apprehend them and keep the public informed of their findings in the immediate future.
Inner Circle Members: Matthias Avery, Alecta Carrows, Amycus Carrows, Antonin Dolohov, Lord Jonathan Gibbons, Stephen Jugson, Former Lord Lucius Malfoy, Walden McNair, Former Lord Theodore Nott Sr., Lord Peter Parkinson, Peter Pettigrew, Augustus Rookwood, and Xavier Yaxley. (Lord denotes Wizengamot member)
Other At Large Death Eaters: Benjamin Baddock, Lord Wendell Banks, Joseph Banks, Auror Recruit Julie Bremmer, Auror Andrew Briggs, Lord Matthew Burke, Vincent Crabbe Sr., Vincent Crabbe Jr., Auror Anthony Dawlish, Lord David Edgecombe, Maria Edgecombe, Lord Jeremiah Flint, Marcus Flint, Former Minister Cornelius Fudge, Gregory Goyle Sr., Gregory Goyle Jr., Auror Recruit Jason Haverty, Zachary Jensen, Zenia Jensen, Nigel Renner, Sean Renner, Sarah Renner, Severus Snape (Spy), Former Daily Prophet Owner Levy Strainer, Auror Mason Stromberg, Former Undersecretary Delores Umbridge, Craig Warrington, Samantha Warrington, Lord Warren Worthington, and Tiberius Wulfton.
Imprisoned Death Eaters: Matthew Borgin, Jacob Gibbons, Draco Malfoy, Timothy Welty, and Thomas Wulfton.
Ministry and Wizengamot members on Voldemort's Payroll (Galleons per year): Katie Baddock Apparition Office (1000), Asel Branton Auror Department (1000), Carl and Christine Haberl Records Department (5000 combined), Jennifer Hazelton Port Key Registration (2000), Jim Holmes Floo Registry (1000), Adam Johns Disposal of Magical Creatures (1000), Craig Stellman Education Department (2000), Eli Watts Magical Sports & Games (500), Lord Elton Barnsby (5000), Lord Darnell Coolidge (5000), Lady Lucienta Lundberg (5000), Lady Ellouise Perks (5000), Lord Maximus Rabisi (5000), Lady Justine Stillman (5000), and Lord William Whitfield (5000).
"Now that's news," I spoke loudly after finishing the front page and enjoying the gasps and wide eyed shock of those reading around me and especially the reactions from Snape, Crabbe, and Goyle who were all instantly under heavy scrutiny from those who already finished the article and saw their names listed, as well as the family members of other Death Eaters listed.
"Did you know about all these Harry?" asked Hermione in stunned shock, one of the first at our table to finish after me.
"I probably knew more than most ...but obviously not all of these," I responded honestly before trying to catch Daphne's eyes and giving her a small and amused smile that was quietly returned before her friends returned to their reading and speculating.
I turned my gaze up to the Head table where Snape seemed livid while the others were mostly in shock and still reading, only Dumbledore maintained his mask of blankness although I could still see his own amazement if I looked carefully. Our eyes met for a brief moment before we were both interrupted by the banging feeling on Hogwarts' wards, and knew that it was time to face the music. He reluctantly nodded and I felt him allow entrance to the team of Aurors on their way up to the school, and knew he was worried about Snape and his students. Within minutes the Great Hall doors burst open to reveal the dozen Aurors walking in purposefully, as their leader Auror Shaklebolt approached the Head table as the others split off to guard both the entrance and their supposed targets. After the Head Aurors brief discussion with Albus, he spun sharply on his heals and spoke in his loud baritone voice.
"Vincent Crabbe Jr. and Gregory Goyle Jr., you are both under arrest by the authority of the Minister of Magic. You will be shown leniency only if you surrender your wands and leave with us in full cooperation," he bellowed out for all to hear, which was pretty easy since nobody had spoken a word since the Aurors' arrival wondering what would happen. "Also, the following students are being asked to come in for questioning ...Theodore Nott Jr., Pansy Parkinson, Sally-Ann Perks, Marietta Edgecombe, Christopher Warrington, Jessica Hazelton, Michael Stromberg, and Stephanie Coolidge ...if you cooperate we will make this as painless as possible.
Nobody could speak or move except the few students called out to surrender their wands and join the group traveling back to the DMLE. Luckily, the two Junior Death Eaters and children of Death Eaters or Voldemort's supporters didn't act foolishly by attacking the Auror contingent and were lead quietly out of the school and off the grounds to growing whispers of those who remained. I could see several quietly contemplating older students who would be leaving school in a few months, hopefully reconsidering pledging their lives to such a cause as Voldemort. There were one or two however that seemed somewhat angry about everything that just went down, one of whom was a seventh year Slytherin I had often wondered about, and heard a few rumors about from Daphne and her friends but could never remember the idiots name.
Likewise, classes that day were a little strained as most people in the school quietly contemplated how vast Voldemort's support spread, and what would come out of the very public outing of his followers, not to mention how the Daily Prophet was able to gather all that information and if it was really true. McGonagall was one of the few who tried to fight and teach through the contemplative melancholy that settled over most students, and I was only too happy to liven the mood and participate. By the end of our double Transfiguration class I had earned over sixty points for Gryffindor, and by coaxing Daphne to be my partner she had earned another thirty for her house as well by demonstrating a variety of transfiguration we had used in practicing dueling and workable shields.
I spent my free afternoon working on the panther runic seal for Luna and also starting on a Thestral and Hippogryff to add to my own growing collection. Daphne didn't mind me working on the animal runic seals on my own as long as I taught them to her, but she insisted on being present for any work on the Rune class bracelet aspect of the project and I felt it a fair trade since I much preferred the animals over the jewelry. The panther was really just a big cat and was easy to solve, but I wanted something extra and wondered if I could give it wings or fire breath or venom to make it even more dangerous ...who knows, I guess I already have the dragon and basilisk for those things, but Luna didn't.
Only Pansy didn't return in time for dinner as the others all called into the Ministry for questioning about their Death Eater parents or sympathizers were back at their house tables quietly trying to eat a wonderful Hogwarts dinner. I spent another meal with my Gryffindor friends since Daphne and her friends showed up late, and enjoyed listening to Ron and Hermione's continued bickering which wouldn't be stopped no matter how much in love they were with each other. Hermione also spent a good part of the meal trying to get me to confess to being Evan Jameson, but I resolutely denied her claims knowing she didn't believe me in the slightest but not wanting to ever really reveal that secret.
"I'm just curious about who the Ministry was able to arrest from that list in the Daily Prophet?" I asked, finally just hoping to get her latched onto a different and safer topic for me.
"I bet Evan Jameson knows," she retorted in challenge.
"He probably does ...it's his job," I answered with a smirk.
"Hey Harry ...is the DA still cancelled tonight?" asked Dean from his spot on the other side of Ginny as it was quickly approaching seven.
"Yeah, Madam Pompfrey's orders," I shrugged, but was definitely okay with it since it gave me time to catch up on my missed homework and get back ahead so I could continue working on different animal runic seals, not to mention my relief that with everything happening with the Daily Prophet, most seemed to forget about my rumored recharging of Hogwarts' wards.
The night proved relatively productive, and despite Daphne and her friends showing up, I was able to get caught up in my missed classes and get the homework finished for next week a whole day earlier than usual. They for the most part all sat around double checking their potion assignments due in class tomorrow morning and talked about all the speculating Slytherins wondering about their parents, relatives, or friends. I asked about their house's reaction to Daphne's and my engagement, and wasn't surprised to hear they were split into two camps. The larger one consisting of Daphne's group, the younger years, and DA members were all positive and felt it a good match but not very newsworthy with everything else going on, while several of the older students were quite vocal and thought her to be a disgrace to the noble serpent house.
"Will most of the house be awake when you all go back tonight?" I asked her friends with a smirk and idea slowly forming as I remembered my few times inside the Slytherin Common Room.
"What are you thinking Harry ...I know that look, and it spells trouble," replied an accusing Daphne as she gave me a hard glare.
"If you can answer one question completely honestly, I'll tell you my plan," I offered and got her short nod to continue, "is there a risk that any member of your house would attack you, or through Voldemort or their own desires use you to get to me?"
"I would say the risk is much less with Draco and his goons gone, but ...yes there is a risk," she sighed in slight defeat, unable to deny the looking over her shoulder when among Slytherins outside of her group and not wanting to admit not being completely capable of dealing with it herself. "So, what are you planning?"
"To have a little chat with Slytherin's portrait ...and appeal to his snake speaking heritage to help me," I answered with a a lopsided grin. "If hissing in parceltongue to their house's founder doesn't put the fear of Merlin in them ...I may have to take more drastic and personal actions."
"He's got a good point ...the few times I've heard him talking to snakes scared the shit out of me," added Blaise with a slightly embarrassed smile at admitting his fear in front of me, but I just laughed it off.
"It's so weird ...it has always just sounded like English to me," I shrugged easily, "but it will also let me into the Slytherin Common Room whenever I want so I can't complain ...and it might help my cause by proving I have unlimited access to any of them."
"Okay, now you're just starting to creep me out," laugh Blaise sarcastically, and causing the rest to laugh along as well.
"How many times have you been in the SLytherin Common Room?" asked Tracey after their laughter died down and she thought more on what I said.
"Not too many," I answered easily, "once in second year with Ron, but I didn't use parceltongue that time. I only found that out in fifth year ...and have probably only been in their three times since then."
"Do I even want to know why you've been in our Common Room so much?" asked Tracey continuing her questions.
"As lame as it sounds ...mainly just to spy on Malfoy," I shrugged.
"You know," started Sophia slowly, and getting everyone's attention, "there would be even more people in the Common Room if we went now before some of them went to bed."
"Now it is," I answered grandly, and stood and swept on my basilisk cloak complete with Gryffindor's Sword before giving a lopsided grin to the four Slytherins watching me in various states of amusement, "you all want to be there for the show?"
"Of course," answered the three girls in unison, while Blaise reluctantly nodded and they all quickly packed up their things and began to lead the way towards the dungeons until I stopped them.
"Come on, there is a shortcut through here, and Snape's on his way up to Gryffindor tower" I interrupted their talking and moved aside a tapestry of a beautiful waterfall and tapped the wall with my wand causing a door to appear, and lead them down a winding set of stairs that brought us just down the hall from their Common Room in seconds.
"That's a brilliant short cut," spoke Blaise when we exited, completely shocked at how quick it was and how close it got us to our destination.
"Yeah, why are we just learning this now?" questioned Daphne with a mock glare that was spoiled by her sparkling and amused eyes at learning more of the castle's secrets.
"This is also the first time you've invited me to spend the night in your dorm?" I answered back with raised eyebrows holding back a grin.
"When did I do that?" she challenged back with a beautiful smirk.
"How about right now?" I asked back smiling and trying to hold back my laughter and desire to kiss her.
"Humph ...only if you're good in there," she answered back still smirking as she gave me a quick blown kiss and wave before darting into her Common Room after her friends and letting it seal behind her so I could make my grand entrance ...so, she wants a show!
"Open" I hissed in Parceltongue and not making the small opening for students, but a grand archway that instantly brought everyone in the Common Room's attention on me, "Hey Daph, I forgot to ask if you still have my lucky boxers ...I can only seem to find your underwear in my room."
The instant widening of her eyes and reddening face made her look even more attractive, and for a second I thought she would be the first Slytherin to want to attack me. Her angry glare though quickly turned into a pouting scowl at me getting her back while most in the room still seemed oblivious to anything I said, and were gawking and glaring at me with mixed expressions of like and hatred, but all with a healthy bit of fear and awe for showing my face here of all places. I took a brief survey of where people were and how many were currently present and I guessed close to forty or about two-thirds of the Slytherin house as I boldly made my way into the Common Room.
"What the hell are you doing here Potter?" shouted a seventh year whose name I think is Steven or is his last name Stevens ...it doesn't really matter I guess, only that he always seemed to be watching Daphne and her friends whenever I saw him.
"Oh ...I just came to threaten you all," I answered with a lopsided grin and most looked at me like I was crazy.
"You and what army?" asked a smirking seventh year named Jessica, someone that Daphne had often complained about being the head bitch of her house.
"Rise my snakes and do my bidding, bind my enemies," I hissed in Parceltongue making several people gasp until every snake motif on every piece of Common Room furniture came alive and quickly wrapped up about twelve Slytherins around me making most scream out in absolute fear. "If a snake is not attacking you, then it shows you mean Daphne and I no harm and I have nothing against you. Snakes are impeccable judges of character, and you twelve hold bad intentions against me or Daphne and I wont have it. You have two choices as I see it, you can either get over it and leave Daphne and I alone, or you don't and suffer my consequences squeeze them"
"You ...can't do ...this," panted out Steven or Stevens as his snake tightened around him and several other painfully.
"I can't," I asked with an amused smirk and raising of my eyebrows, "what say you Salazar?"
"You speak the noble tongue of the serpents, yet carry the Sword of Godric, my brother in all but blood ...I will help the serpents watch over your intended," spoke the hard looking man in the portrait above the fireplace, so all in the Common Room could hear. "I would watch out for young Stevens, he holds terrible thoughts and intentions towards Misses Greengrass and Davis and has tried several times to force himself on them both."
"Ah ...so you're the one," I spoke severely and quite angry, before closing the distance between us very quickly, "you can accept meeting me in a duel to the death tomorrow at noon, or you will die a coward at 12:15 sharp by my hands if you refuse ...that is my promise to you Mr. Stevens."
"Y-you don't have ...w-what it t-takes t-to k-kill someone," he gasped out as he still struggled to get out of the tight grip the inanimate snake I controlled had him in.
"You will find out tomorrow won't you," I answered with a hard glare that he couldn't even keep for seconds before turning away. "I will place the proper announcement notification in the morning's Daily Prophet ...I bid you a peaceful final night on this planet ...Daphne, want to stay in my room instead?"
"Sure Harry," she whispered and quietly came over to take my hand to lead me out of her Common Room before I did something else, but not without letting me get in one final word.
"I hope by tomorrow the rest of you held by snakes realize the error of your thoughts or you too will suffer the same fate as young Stevens," I spoke harshly, and many of them paled at my words including the arrogant asshole who was going to be taught a very painful and permanent lesson tomorrow before I turned and left the Common Room with Daphne on my arm.
Hedwig swooped down into the Great Hall only minutes before the rest of the post owls that next morning, but instead of coming to me who had a hand delivered copy of the Daily Prophet from Dobby already, took the paper and dropped it on the plate of Alexander Stevens starting a quick spread of excited and nervous whispers up and down the Slytherin table. The other three house tables including the Head table looked on in confusion that my well known owl would deliver an early edition of the Daily Prophet to a virtual unknown older Slytherin. When the Slytherin seventh year opened the paper and saw the small boxed announcement highlighted on his gift copy of the Daily Prophet's front page, under the DMLE arrest results he chocked on his pumpkin juice and paled dramatically before getting up and running from the Great Hall.
The question of why he left was soon answered as the rest of the morning post owls arrived with the many copies sent to the students and faculty of Hogwarts, several gasps were heard throughout the Hall as people read the informative and positive news dominating the front page but for a small announcement of a Wizarding Duel of Honor between Lord Harry Potter-Black and Heir to House Stevens, Alexander Gene Stevens to the death. Thankfully only a few like my friends and the teachers were really interested in the dueling announcement, and most were captivated by the story of the last few days.
Death Eater Tips Yield Eighteen Captured Death Eaters
The tip off of the Ministry by the Daily Prophet the other night yielded very positive results indeed. The capture of three Inner Circle members Augustus Rookwood, Peter Parkinson, and Theodore Nott Sr. topped the list of eighteen captured Death Eaters being held for questioning. Other notables included former Minister Cornelius Fudge and former Undersecretary Delores Umbridge, Lords Edgecombe, Flint, Worthington, Banks, and Burke; all three Aurors and two Auror Recruits. Every Death Eater listed and apprehended has indeed bore the dark mark of the half-blood Voldemort. "I don't know who came up with all the proof against those on the lists ...but they have been dead on down to the last detail so far," praised Head of the Department of Law Enforcement Rufus Scrimgeuer, who assured us that all questioning is being done under the influence of veritaserum to ensure accuracy, and any information learned will be properly released to the Daily Prophet. For complete lists of the captured and the suspected evidence against them see pages 13-15, for a list of wounded Aurors see page 16.
"Brilliant," I smiled happily after reading the article and again looking at the small honor duel announcement in anticipation to ending a potential threat I would take no chances with.
"Harry ...why are you having a duel to the death with that random Slytherin?" asked a red faced and nervous looking Hermione as she gave me her patented angry scowl at my smiling face, trying to make me realize the seriousness of my situation. "Do you know how dangerous that is?"
"Do you not realize how truly dangerous I am?" I asked her back with a hard voice and glare that even she wouldn't hold for long, "today ...Stevens pays for his crimes and mistakes."
AN: Sorry if you think this is out of character for Harry, but you have to consider that he would be viciously protective of his fiance with everything he has gone through in his short life, and how much her love means to someone who never knew love previously.
