AN/ Hey sorry it is so short and I'm not really sure that it is up to standard, but I didn't realise how much less time I would have this year…I've just started my AS levels, which I think is the equivalent of your sophomore year in high school, any way it is the Christmas holidays now so I should have enough time to write a couple of chapters
Chapter thirty seven
"Are we going then?" asked Harry as Fudge stalked out of the now much burnt and depleted briar, his normally red face now positively glowing under the number of scratches and surprisingly nettle stings that had mysteriously been inflicted upon him.
"Cuddington" bellowed Fudge, "Heal me, Frevic add that to the offences caused by the keepers"
"Sir" said the auror in question uncertainly; "charge of insulting the minister is already on the offences list"
"Injuring the minister" snapped Fudge, "cause of grievous bodily harm"
"You wouldn't know what grievous bodily harm was," muttered Harry"
"What was that spell?" screeched the Minster, "Frevic, Cuddington we are going back to the school to investigate
"Fudge" said Harry, "I think you are forgetting something"
"What is that?" growled Fudge
"The founders had every right to evict you from their property" said Harry, "and will do so again"
"No they won't" said Fudge, "I am the minister for magic"
Harry ground his teeth but didn't answer
"Now we have sorted out that little misunderstanding" huffed Fudge, "we will return to the ministry"
Harry rolled his eyes at the minister's memory span
One of the aurors held out a rubber chicken. Harry eyed it suspiciously.
"What the hell are you doing with that?" he asked.
"Now that you-know-who is back" said Hadding, "we need to ensure that our portkeys are not obvious."
"That, not obvious?" exclaimed Harry, "it's a dead duck, you might as well write ministry portkey on it and send it to Voldermort"
"Actually" said Fudge puffing himself up, "it is a dead chicken"
"It's a rubber chicken," drawled Harry
"What the hell is rubber?" asked Cuddington
"Rubber is a material made by muggles" said Harry, "which the dog toy you are holding in your hands is made from"
"Put you hand on the portkey immediately" spat Fudge, "or I will be forced to have one of my men stun you and…"
"Can't you do anything yourself?" asked Harry
"Of course I can," snapped Fudge, "but I am the minister for magic, I don't do menial labour"
"You wouldn't know what menial labour was if it slapped you across the face" sneered Harry
"Frevic" screeched Fudge, "stupefy him"
Fevic rolled his eyes in apology to Harry before pulling out his wand
"Wait a moment," said Harry, "let me retract my wings, after all I wouldn't want to damage my feathers while I was unconscious"
"Hurry up" snapped Fudge, "we don't have all day"
"Neither do I" said Harry as he placed his hand on the thin and scraggly neck of the rubber chicken
Hadding stared at Harry's hand before looking at Harry's face
"Weren't you shackled up?" he asked
"I think I was," said Harry
"Then" said Hadding, "explain why you aren't wearing any at the moment"
"Well" said Harry, "I needed to grab hold of everyone when we started flying you see, but the few moments it took for me to get rid of the shackles meant I wasn't able to catch the dear minister"
"B-but" stammer Fudge, "you aren't supposed to be able to do that"
"There may have been a fault in the cuffs," said Cuddington
"Well" said Harry, "you didn't take my wand off me"
"What do you mean?" asked Hadding, "we cast a wand detection spell…"
"Accio wands" said Cuddington causing all his colleagues wands including the minister's to form a neat pile at his feet"
"Well done" said Harry, "you have somehow managed to disarm all your allies"
"Oops" said Cuddington
"You incompetent fool" screeched Fudge
"Look who is talking" muttered Harry loud enough for everyone to hear
"Who do you think you are?" asked Fudge walking up to Harry and trying to look him in the eye, however this attempt was unsuccessful as he was a mere foot to short, he took a step backwards, "I am the minister for magic"
"And I am missing my own party" said Harry
Fudge spluttered
"Could we get this over with before new year?" said Harry
"We've just had a new year," said Frevic
"The next one" sneered Harry
"Very well" said Frevic, "portus"
"Welcome to the ministry, Potter" said Fudge, "as you can see we have been able to repair almost all of the damage caused by the Keepers unnecessary raid on the ministry"
Harry half listened to the monologue as he tweaked the fountain a little pulling the centaur's arms down so that instead of pouring water over the witch and wizard he was squirting it in the wizard's eye,
"The cost of the atrium alone was enough to out fit the entire aurors department" Harry caught as he dealt with the other offence of the fountain Harry twisted his wrist a little now instead of gazing adoringly at the witch and wizard the goblin now had its back to both of the human entities and was giving the centaur the thumbs up. He vaguely heard Fudge dismissing Frevic and Cuddington
"Come Hadding" called Fudge over his shoulder "and bring the prisoner…we have someone you might like to meet"
Harry raised an eyebrow
"Sorry," he said, "but I have already met you ego…however thank you for the invitation"
"Bring him," said Fudge as he walked over to the elevator
Out of the corner of his eye he caught hold of a person he had hoped never to meet again, he forced her into her animagus form and summoned her, her beetle form missed being trapped in the door by a few millimetres.
"The level you have requested requires full identification," said the feminine voice on the speaker
"Cornelius Gregory Fudge" snapped Fudge, "white Caucasian male, aged fifty eight accompanied by auror Fredric Damine Hadding white Caucasian male, aged thirty seven and Harry James Potter white Caucasian male, aged sixteen"
"Last identity incorrect" intoned the elevator
Fudge glared at the speaker
"Let me try," said Harry, "Harry James Potter, Caucasian male, sixteen"
"Identity is correct," said the speaker
"What spell did you just put on the elevator?" asked Fudge his face returning to an interesting shade of tomato
"I didn't" said Harry, "I just told it who I was"
"Welcome to the interrogation level, have a pleasant stay" said the elevator
Harry couldn't exactly say the sound of the words interrogation level seemed exactly comforting.
"Come on Potter" called Fudge over his shoulder as they walked into the interrogation level
As he followed the portly figure of the minister through the level Harry noticed that most of the rooms were equipped with the most peculiar implements of tortures, Harry was now very glad that he had brought that particular beetle with him
"Muggle torture methods?" asked Harry lightly, "Dated ones at that"
He eyed a rack that they were passing
"Do they even work?"
"Of course" said Fudge, "They are regularly used"
Behind the minister Hadding made a face.
Fudge slammed a door off the corridor open and marched in, Harry restrained a gasp as he caught sight of the figure at the end of the room
"It took us a while before we were able to find a translation charm which worked on him" said Fudge, "but we found one eventually"
Harry looked the angel over, the en's face was bruised and his bare torso showed signs of further abuse, he was relieved to see that his wings were retracted.
"I hope you are getting a full eyeful of this Rita," muttered Harry
The beetle nodded
"What right do you have to treat him like that?" asked Harry, "for that matter why is he even here? Who is he?"
"He is a member of the Keepers," said Fudge, "I had an unspeakable bag one of them after the attack on the ministry by your little militia"
"Mine?" asked Harry, "Fudge you appear to be thinking out of perspective, I am a school boy…"
"You are the boy-who-lived," said Fudge
"I got lucky once in my life" said Harry, "I probably accidentally summoned a mirror to come between me and the curse"
"You never had a stitched wand," said Fudge, "Therefore you must be different, Hadding"
Hadding approached Harry with a vial of Veriterserum
"What are you planning to do with that?" asked Harry
"What do you think?" crowed Fudge
"I have my rights," exclaimed Harry
"You are thinking like a muggle" said Fudge, "but here, in this building I am god"
"Sorry" said Harry, "but I've heard that talk from Voldermort so many times"
"So you are a death eater as well" Fudge rubbed his hands together gleefully
"No said Harry, "I just seem to have this people saving quality which seems to land me in the middle of numerous duels and being bored to death by his life story on too many occasions"
"Commence interrogation" said Fudge
Hadding walked up to Harry holding the bottle of Veriterserum, Harry pretended to struggle but eventually allowed the three drops of Veriterserum into his mouth.
"Are you Harry James Potter?" asked Hadding
"Yes" droned Harry
"Good" said Fudge
"Do you know the man on the other side of the room?" asked Hadding
"No" said Harry
"Dose up the other prisoner," said fudge
"Are you sure sir?" asked Hadding
"Of course he is" said Harry
"Shut up you" said Fudge striking Harry across the face
Hadding made a face and walked over towards the En on the other side of the room started to struggle against his bonds, Harry watched as the En started to convulse as the potion was poured into his mouth
"Do you know the man in front of you?" asked Hadding to the still convulsing En
"Y-yes" ground out the En
"Who is he?" asked Hadding
"Nagasi Harry Yaesra Mai" said the En, trying to stop his treacherous mouth talking
"What have we told you about talking in your funny language?" asked Fudge
"That I mustn't," said the angel, "or I will be punished"
"Yes you will," said Fudge, "Hadding"
"Etami" incanted the auror
The angel's screams rang around the room like peeling bells
"What did he say?" asked Fudge suddenly turning on Harry still
"Nagasi Harry Yaesra Mai" said Harry
"Is that your name?" asked Hadding
No" said Harry
"What does it mean?" asked Hadding
"I do not know," said Harry
"Than why does he say that you are called that?" asked Fudge, "why are you lying?"
He bore down on Harry raising a measly fist
"I am not lying, I am under the influence of veriterserum you twerp" said Harry still affecting a veriterserum induced monotone
"Fudge, we must accept that Mr Potter has not been affected in a similar manner to the raptor by the veriterserum, which would indicate that he is not involved" said Hadding
"Harry Potter is involved," snapped Fudge, "I know he is"
"Why?" asked Harry
"You expect me to believe that this boy is under the influence of Veriterserum?" asked Fudge, "who brewed this Veriterserum, whoever it was see to it that they are sacked"
"Perhaps the boy is speaking the truth," said Hadding tentatively
"I know badly brewed Veriterserum when I see it" said Fudge
Harry raised an eyebrow
Fudge turned to the other angel
"Who is the person opposite you?" he asked
The angel twisted violently
"Nersda yaesra mai" muttered the angel
"What did he say?" asked Fudge rounding on Harry
"Fudge" said Harry, "I will tell you once again I am not a member of the Keepers"
"Then would you care to explain why your aunt and uncle's house was used as the a shelter for the local muggle population during the little winging battle? Would you have to explain the wards around the house?" asked Fudge
"Dumbledore placed the wards around the house" said Harry, "to protect me, I was unaware that the Keepers had used their house as a shelter during the battle, I only knew about the battle through my scar, minister I can tell you for certain that Voldermort is not dead"
"What of the figure found in the downstairs seating area?" asked Hadding, "It contained a large amount of shielding energies"
"I do not know of this, it could be Dumbledore's intervention," said Harry
"Why was your bedroom used for the field hospital?" asked Fudge
"It was empty," said Harry, "it is the room that most people would choose on looking around the house"
"Where did you go over the summer?" asked Hadding
"America" said Harry
"And what did you do while you were there?" asked Fudge
Harry spaced out what the heck did people do in America, trust Moonshine…
………………………….
"Death!" exclaimed Harry as he landed in nowhere
"Hello Harry how are you? Long time no see," said Death
"I'm alive," said Harry
"But of course you are" said Death, "how can I help you O immortal one?"
"When we were in Potions at the beginning of term my potions teacher agreed to tell Grindlewald that I went to America over the summer, now I am being questioned by the ministry and they want to know what in Adacse's name I was doing over there"
"Well" said Death, "what do Americans do in the holidays?"
"That's what I came here to ask you," exclaimed Harry
"I'm Death," shouted Death, "how the hell would I know?"
"Well so much for the old in death all life's questions are answered," said Harry
"Well I never said I had all the answers" huffed Death
"So what do you know about America?" asked Harry
"That there is a place called Disneyland" said Death, "Oh and there was a civil war a couple of hundred years ago"
"How do you know about Disneyland?" asked Harry
"Oh!" said Death, "just this very talkative bloke I met who died of a heart attack on a roller coaster or something similar"
"So I went to Disneyland?" asked Harry
"If you say so," said Death; "after all they are more likely to believe that than the truth"
"Right" said Harry taking a deep breath, "wish me luck"
"Good luck," said Death, "but honestly what is the worse they could do to you?"
"Um…" said Harry, "they could kill my friends"
"Or keep you away from them until they died" said Death
"If Fudge even tries," growled out Harry
"By the way" said Death, "who is this delightful lady you have brought with you?"
"Who?" asked Harry looking around
Death reached forward and plucked the beetle from Harry's filthy quidditch robes
"Oh Rita Skeeter" said Harry, "I'd forgotten all about her"
The beetle in question became suddenly human
"What did I tell you about kidnapping women now Harry?" asked Death
"I didn't realise that you had mentioned it," said Harry, "but I wanted an insurance"
"As would anyone when dealing with the ministry" said Death, "So my dear lady, how are you?"
"I am fine," said Rita, she looked death up and down, "now who did you say you were again"
She reached towards her bag to pull out a piece of parchment
" You wouldn't want to write about me," said Death, "unless you became a regular writer for the quibbler"
"Really" said Rita, still scrabbling in her bag, "that is fascinating…so how has Harry managed to escape ministerial custody and why does he think that you will know the answers?"
"I am still in ministerial custody" said Harry, "but…well this meeting is officially impossible"
"Right" said Rita, "how so?"
"You wouldn't understand," said Harry, "I just want your oath that none of what I say in here will mysteriously find its way to Fudge's ears or that of the daily prophets"
"And if I refuse" said Rita
"I will retransform you into a bug an squish you" said Harry
"Very well" said Rita, "if you must be so unpleasant about it, I swear on my magic, life and soul"
"Good" said Harry
"So what do you want me to write?" asked Rita
"About the brutality displayed by the minister, the similarities twixt Fudge and Voldermort…I want you to show the wizarding world what is written on the wall," said Harry
"On what wall?" asked Rita
"It's a muggle saying" said Death
"Oh" said Rita somehow managing to sound snobbish
"It means to show people the truths which are right in front of their eyes," said Harry
"What truths are these?" asked Rita
"The corruption of the current government for one" said Harry
"What do you mean corruption?" asked Rita, "what corruption?"
"There is no freedom of press, or freedom of speech" said Harry, "the people are repressed, you saw what they were doing to that En…that was torture, they gave him the veriterserum even though they knew that it would cause him immense pain…they were prepared to give it to me to prove that I was of the same species…"
"He looked perfectly human to me," said Rita
"He's an angel," said Harry
"And the angels are with the Keepers" said Rita, "hence why Fudge wishes to investigate this man"
"And what have the Keepers done wrong?" asked Harry
"They were attacking the ministry," said Rita
"They protected the ministry," said Harry
"Are you still under Veriterserum?" asked Rita
"I still have it in my system" said Harry, not exactly lying
"Where are we?" asked Rita
"Nowhere" said Harry
"I'll take it by that answer that you wish the location of our meeting place to remain unknown" said Rita
"Officially" said Harry, "we are not having this conversation…so Death as we were saying…"
"Death?" said Rita, "what sort of a name is that?"
"Rita" said Death, "Harry and I are trying to have a conversation"
"So…that's that story straight" said Harry, "I went to Disneyland of the summer"
"Yes" said Death, "after all, as someone once told me it is 'the place that never ends'"
"I think" said Harry, "it's the place where dreams never end"
"So how has your life been lately?" asked Death
"I'll call back later," said Harry, "We've got to get back…Rita, could you change back into your adorable beetle form"
Rita hesitated
"Like now" said Harry
There was a pop and Harry felt a light weight on his shoulder
"See you" said Harry
"Good bye Harry" said Death with a wave.
…………………………
"I went to Disneyland," said Harry
"What is Disneyland?" asked Fudge
"I don't know," said Hadding, "it probably some muggle thing"
"Then bring Arthur Weasly down here immediately" bellowed Fudge
Instead of running as Harry had thought he would Hadding pulled a piece of parchment out of his robes and after scrawling a brief note on it he folded it into a paper aeroplane and threw it out of the door.
"Now while we are waiting" said Fudge he turned to the en in the seat opposite Harry, "who is this man?"
The en shook his head
"Answer me now" squealed Fudge in frustration before turning once more to Hadding, "give him more veriterserum"
"No" said Harry standing from his chair and pacing restlessly, "You can not do this"
"Why ever not?" asked Fudge
"You are poisoning him," said Harry
Hadding straightened up and looked Harry in the eye
"How would you know he is being poisoned?" he asked
"I am too" said Harry
Fudge turned to look at Harry
"You are being poisoned…good," said Fudge
"Sir" said Hadding; "Perhaps killing the boy-who-lived is not a good idea at this time"
"He has a point," said Harry
"Then answers the questions," snarled Fudge
"I have been" muttered Harry
There was a nervous tapping on the door
"Come in" said Fudge
Arthur Weasly stumbled in the paper aeroplane still clutched in his hand
"Y-you summoned m-me" he stammered
"Yes Arthur" said Fudge, "now, sit down"
"I would prefer to stand," said Arthur
"Very well, can you tell me what Disney land is?" asked Fudge
"D-disney land?" said Arthur, "I-it's a muggle place where people go to have fun"
"Are you sure it is not a muggle training facility?" asked Fudge
"Yes" said Arthur
There was a beeping from within the minister's pinstriped waistcoat
"I have a meeting" he said, then turned to Hadding, "Finish this, I want you to find out everything this child has ever done"
He them strutted out of the door
"What is happening here?" exclaimed Arthur once the door was closed
"The minister has become convinced that Potter is a member of the Keepers, you know what he is like" said Hadding
"What has made him think that?" asked Arthur
"Well" said Hadding; "This year Harry has been forsaking his broom during Quidditch match in favour of using his wings"
"Wings?" asked Arthur
Using the cover of this conversation Harry walked over to the en
"Are you alright?" he asked in Angelic
"Yes Sire" said the En gritting his teeth
"Now tell me the truth," said Harry
"I am close to death," said the En his head bowed
"Take this," said Harry handing the en a small portkey, "it will take you directly to Nagasi Mark of Moonshine"
"Thank you sire" said the en
"Goodbye" said Harry as he activated the Portkey
"What did you do to him?" asked Hadding behind Harry
Harry turned and saw that Hadding was staring at him, as was Draco…Harry blinked, then smirked and transformed into Ed
"Sorry" said Draco from behind the Auror, "But you really shouldn't bring children into the dispute between the ministry and the Keepers"
"We removed Harry from your custody in the atrium" said Harry, "he has been returned to his dormitory, we were unable to stop the trial of Ronald Weasly and Hermione Granger, but let us assure you that we will start to become angry if you keep trying to bring children into this petty dispute between the Keepers and the ministry"
"The Keepers must be punished," said Hadding
"What for?" asked Harry
Hadding was about to answer when the door crashed open to reveal Mad-eye Moody
"Minister tells me you are having problems pulling answers out of a school boy," growled Moody
"With good reason" said Hadding
"And what would that be?" asked Moody
"One of the Keepers switched with Potter when they were in the Atrium" said Hadding
"Let me guess," said Moody, "Fudge was giving his talk about he could have refitted the entire auror department for the cost of refitting the ministry"
"Yes" said Harry
"Ed" said Moody, "long time no see"
"Definitely" said Harry, "We should meet up more often"
"I'm sure we will meet up at the next battle," said Moody
"If the ministry actually arrives before the end of the battle," said Harry
"If indeed" said Moody
"The ministry arrived as soon as they were alerted," said Hadding stiffly
"And didn't even know there was a battle on when they arrived" said Harry, "I have I introduced to you to Draco?"
"Not officially" said Moody, "Though I do remember him"
"Hello Mad-eye" said Draco, "wonderful to see you again old man"
"Old man?" exclaimed Moody, "who do you think you are talking to?"
"Do you want to teach him a lesson?" asked Hadding
"I don't think you would be able to lay a finger on him if you tried" said Harry
"Is that a challenge?" asked Hadding
"No" said Draco, "I wouldn't want to challenge someone as insignificant as you, it would be unfair"
"Now, now Draco" said Harry, "Play fair"
"You sound just like my father," said Draco his lip twisting with distaste
"My apologies" said Harry
"It is alright," said Draco, "that man would not have known the meaning of fair if he had looked it up in the dictionary"
"I could have told you that" said Ed, "any way, we must be getting on with our lives"
"We haven't finished with you," exclaimed Hadding
"Well I don't know about you," said Moody, "but I think we must accept that neither of the people we were ordered to interrogate are here so therefore we have no work to be doing here"
"Apart from the fact" puffed Hadding, "that they are both on the most wanted list"
"Well" said Draco, "Is that a compliment?"
"No" said Harry, "It just means the list of people the ministry think they have a hope in hell of catching"
"Right" said Draco, "Well then we will just be going then"
He headed towards the door, but found that it was blocked by a contingency of aurors who parted to reveal Fudge
"There is an anti portkey, anti apparition ward around the room" he crowed. "Now give yourself up"
"Ed" hissed Draco, "cans you apparate out?"
"Yes" said Harry, "But I would kill the twenty odd people holding the ward in place"
"Throw your wands in the air" called an auror
"Right" said Draco, "so are we going to hand ourselves in"
"We may have to" said Harry
"I don't especially want to," said Draco
"Throw your wands in the air" called the auror
"Can you get to the demon realms?" asked Harry
"Yes" said Draco, "but without a properly written circle it is very difficult to carry passengers"
"You go" said Harry, "Can you make sure Harry is alright, I'm not sure what the ministry may have done to him before we were able to make the swap"
"This is your final order failure to comply with this request will result in stupefaction
"Of course" said Draco "well I'll be seeing you later then"
"In a couple of days perhaps" said Harry, "and don't worry about postponing the meeting"
"Stupefy!" bellowed twenty aurors at once
Harry jumped onto the ceiling as Draco disappeared
Once the dust settled, the aurors walked into the room, looking around somewhat puzzled
"Where are they?" exclaimed Fudge, kicking Hadding's prone form
"They appear to have disaparated" said Moody calmly, "well, one of them has"
"Where is the other one?" asked Fudge
Harry dropped down behind the minister
"I'm here" he said, "Sorry all those stunners gave be a start, I almost jumped out of my skin"
"Arrest him," screamed Fudge
"In fact" said Harry, "I almost disaparated. Which would have killed off all of your aurors currently holding the ward around the room, but I am sure that is only s minimal crime compared to that of insulting the minister"
"And causing grievous bodily harm to the minister" ground out Fudge
"Well" said Harry, "considering you even managed to irritate Helga, I think the founders had every right, I personally agreed with Harry's request"
"What do you mean?" said Fudge
"Well" said Harry, "as a founder of Hogwarts I agreed with Harry's request, as did Helga's sentience and Salazar's ghost"
"So if the founders of Hogwarts are in on this they are engaging in illegal activities and therefore forfeit ownership of the school," said Fudge
"The school is independent of the ministry," said Harry
"It is built on land owned by the ministry" huffed Fudge
"Again incorrect" said Harry, "the land is owned by the founders"
"Well" said Fudge "once we have tried you for your indiscretions it will be repossessed"
He turned to Moody
"I want this prisoner broken by any means," he yelled before stalking out of the door.
Moody beckoned in another three Aurors before shutting the door
……………………….
Meanwhile Draco had recently returned to Hogwarts
"What happened?" asked Ron
"Did the plan work?" asked Hermione
"Yes and no" said Draco sinking into a chair
"What do you mean?" asked McGonagall
"Harry is out of ministry custody," said Draco
"Good" said Hermione, "where is he?"
"That's the bad thing," said Draco, "Ed is now in ministerial custody"
""Right" said Ron, "how exactly did that happen?"
"I do not know," said Draco, "but so long as he his Ed then he will be fine"
"By the way" said Hermione, "what happened on the Quidditch pitch?"
"Harry invoked the five founders," said Peeves from the ceiling, "any pupil can do it, but us founders do not always have time to listen, for Harry of course it is easier, he had strong ties with Helga and myself, Hence why we listened to his request"
"So anyone could do that?" said Ron
"Yes" said Sal. "But we will not necessary answer"
"Right" said Hermione, "So what are we going to do about Harry?"
"What he told me to do," said Draco
"And what is that?" asked Ron
"Pose as him until he can slip ministry custody without killing multiple aurors" said Draco
"So you are going to pose as Harry?" asked Hermione incredulous
"Yes" said Draco
"Well this is going to be interesting," said Ron
"You don't say," said Peeves
………………………
AN/
Hey sorry it is so short and I'm not really sure that it is up to standard, but I didn't realise how much less time I would have this year…I've just started my AS levels, which I think is the equivalent of your sophomore year in high school, any way it is the Christmas holidays now so I should have enough time to write a couple of chapters
Any way have your self a merry little Christmas and a happy new year and don't have to many drams on Hogmanay
Lol
Just Don't Tell My Mum
P.S. due to the number of update or die reviews I have been getting this chapter has been left unbetaed, but I will send it to my beta and repost it once it has been betaed