(A/N: Thank you to everyone who wished my mother a speedy recovery from her fall. Her ribs are mostly healed and she is back to her normal days. This chapter is a bit shorter than normal as I didn't have much time to write over the last three months. Also this chapter hasn't been to a beta so all mistakes are mine.)
Disclaimer: My house belongs to the bank, my work belongs to my boss, Harry Potter belongs to JK Rowling and this disclaimer belongs to DerLaCroix.
Tempest of the Fae
Chapter Thirty Five: Breakdown at the Ministry
0-O-0
Harry Hermione and Luna stood in the basement of Potter Manor in front of a large assortment of metal bits, coiled hoses, cylinders, tubes and gages. To Harry it looked like the pieces to the most complex distillery on the planet. "Alright, you need us to help you carve runes into the metal. But what is this for exactly?"
"Disposing of bodies?" Luna guessed.
"No, well I suppose parts of it could be… Something to look into I suppose but no. I'm going to make a Philosophers Stone." Hermione said proudly.
Harry and Luna looked at her in shock. "Hermione, is there something you want to tell us?"
"Well, after we found out the stone at Hogwarts was a fake and then the disappointment with the mirror I just got fed up and asked the room for any information on the Philosophers Stone. One of the books it produced was a journal by Nicholas Flamel! It was coded though and it took me a good deal of time to decode it." Hermione explained.
"And it told you how to make a stone?" Luna asked.
"Among other things yes. The first page was a warning that the stone wouldn't give you everlasting life, but it could heal just about anything. Looking over the process to make it I understand why." Hermione gestured towards the pile of metal. "A large amount of dragon's blood provides the base for a potion that will be distilled down into a Philosopher's Stone before a stabilizing agent is applied."
Luna nodded, her brow wrinkled in thought. "That makes sense; dragon's blood is the base of a number of healing potions. And they say whatever doesn't kill a dragon within five minutes probably won't."
"It would be useful. What about the gold?" Harry asked.
"A by product but not nearly as much as people would think. It would take nearly seventy years to make enough gold to pay for the materials alone." Hermione explained. "Now are you going to help me inscribe these runes or not?"
They spent the next three days working on the equipment that would, if Hermione was correct, create a Philosopher's stone. Having access to the strongest healing potion in the world would definitely help them. Phoenix tears were good but they only worked on physical wounds or poisons. Not curses. And there was the fact that Fawkes was still stuck at Hogwarts. A quick look at the bindings between Fawkes and Hogwarts hadn't done much good in finding a way to help the phoenix. The stone would just be more versatile and easier for them to use.
The first problem came when it was time to brew the potion. A dozen giant cauldrons were needed to hold the dragon's blood and the entire potion needed to be brewed in one go. Even with Sirius and Xeno's assistance they didn't have enough hands and finally decided to ask Remus for help.
They still didn't mention that they were from the future but informed him about their attempt to recreate the Philosophers Stone. Between the six of them and Dobby supplying the other ingredients as needed they managed to finish all the cauldrons within an hour of each other and poured them into the largest of the metal containers.
Once the process was set in motion there was nothing to do but wait for it to finish. Unfortunately that would take almost a year.
The three students spent a good deal of time over the proceeding weeks in the forest around Potter Manor. Testing their animus forms and becoming accustom to them. Harry found that running full out as a cat was almost as thrilling as flying. Crookshanks loved that there was another cat around, one that he could teach to hunt just as Hedwig had taught him. Sirius also assured him that his form would grow into a proper cat. It was only his age that caused him to come out as an adorable kitten rather than an adult cat.
Luna took to using her form a great deal when she wanted attention. Including during a sudden rain storm when she jumped into Harry's shirt to remain dry. Hermione also came to enjoy her form; it was fast, agile and didn't need to fly to be deadly. She had bought a number of muggle books that contained information on Secretary birds and learned that they were considered one of the closet descendants of raptors, at least in hunting methods. She was also easily the fasts on their runs, her long legs out pacing the two smaller animals. She tended to only use her wings when she wanted to get to the top of a tree, a single powerful beat of her wings could propel her to a great height. She was also rather pleased that her form was excellent at hunting snakes.
Unfortunately while they were able to accomplish a number of things from their list the most important ones were still out of their reach. When they dealt with Snape, even without needing to take down the wards and fight him, they had exhausted their magic and taken longer than expected to recover.
They could have possible gone after one other target but the risk of something going wrong wasn't worth it since their target wasn't going anywhere.
But the less magically intensive plans could be accomplished, which was why Harry and Sirius entered the Ministry of Magic one day in mid-July. The guard did a double take when he realized who they were. "Wands please, and purpose of visit?"
They handed over their wands, in Harry's case the wand he sued at school.
"Family business." Sirius said. It was a general all-purpose reason for visiting the Ministry and was never disputed.
They were waved past the guard and stepped onto the lift. It traveled down to level nine and they stepped off without anyone taking notice of them.
Harry was surprised to learn that the Unspeakable actually had an office across from the courtroom. They stepped into it to find a woman behind a desk; it all seemed far too ordinary. "Good morning, how may I help you?"
"Good morning, we believe that there is a prophecy about my god-son and would like to retrieve it." Sirius said.
"Very well, we will of course have to test him to insure that the prophecy is actually about him, otherwise the protections would do him a good deal of harm. Please fill out this form with all the information that you know to help us locate the proper prophecy." The woman slid a piece of parchment across to them.
So as not to reveal anything Sirius only wrote that it was about Voldemort and Harry Potter. "Here you go."
"Thank you. If you will wait in the hall an Unspeakable will be out soon to assist you." she said.
They stepped out into the hall and waited. True to her word an Unspeakable arrived not long after and escorted them down to the Hall of Prophecy. It was just as Harry remembered it; they had learned much later that most of the orbs were fakes. Why the Department of Mystery felt that they needed so many decoys was anyone's guess. Maybe it was just so if a Minister visited they'd think the department was doing something.
"Here we are, please stand next to the prophecy without touching it. I will cast the charm to insure that it is about you." The Unspeakable raised their wand and a series of lights fell over Harry. "Confirmed, you may remove the prophecy orb. Will you be listening to it here or taking it with you?"
"Taking it with us." Harry scooped up the orb and slipped it into an expanded pocket in his robes.
"Very well, please sign this receipt." The Unspeakable handed a piece of parchment to Sirius. The looked it over before they signed and left the Department of Mystery.
Harry breathed a sigh of relief as the lift arrived back on the main level of the Ministry; he should have realized that it was too soon to relax. They hadn't even reached the guard station when Dumbledore blocked their path. "Sirius, Harry, what are the two of you doing here?"
Sirius attempted to step around the Headmaster with Harry but the old man continued to block their path. "That is a family matter, as you are not family let us pass."
"I would very much like to know what you are doing here. If it is something that could pose a threat to Harry than I am afraid I must remove him from your care." Dumbledore said, his eyes shifting wildly. A hint of madness shone in them, replacing the once prominent twinkle.
"You don't have the authority to do that." Sirius reminded him. Numerous people had taken notice of the group and were watching with interest.
"Did James send you?" Dumbledore asked quietly. "Did you… you did didn't you?"
"Albus Dumbledore!" Sirius shouted. "Step aside and stop bothering us."
"What's going on?" it seemed that the aurors had finally taken notice of the disturbance. A pair of them made their way over. Dozens of eyes watched them, secretly hoping for something good to gossip about.
Dumbledore smiled as they approached. "Excellent, these two are attempting to steal Ministry property."
They looked between Dumbledore Sirius and Harry. "Sorry but we'll have to check, please empty your pockets."
"I am carrying a private family item." Harry said formally, glad that he'd been studying the obscure rights that certain families had. "As it is a family item, and of a delicate nature I am afraid that I can only comply with your request under the supervision of Madam Bones."
"Surely there is no need for tha…" Dumbledore began.
"It's their right. Come along and don't try anything. We'll see if she's free to handle this." One of the aurors said. Dumbledore frowned but followed behind the aurors with Harry and Sirius. They went back to the lifts and down to the auror department.
As luck would have it Madam Bones was free, or found them more interesting than what she was doing and moved everyone to an interview room. "Alright, now Dumbledore what exactly are you claiming this time?"
"Mr. Black and Mr. Potter are attempting to remove Ministry property from the building. If I am correct it is very dangerous and must be guarded carefully." Dumbledore actually puffed out his chest as he spoke much like Percy had taken to doing when he thought that he was important. Harry wondered just how far around the bend Dumbledore had gone.
"I am aware of the item Dumbledore speaks of, and I do have it. However he is incorrect that it is Ministry property. It is mine to do with as I please." Harry said carefully.
"Would you please show us the item in question?" Madam Bones asked.
"Of course." Harry slowly reached into his pocket and removed the prophecy orb. He sat it on the table.
Madam Bones looked at the orb with wide eyes. "Is that…?"
"Yes, it is a prophecy that concerns me and a dark lord, supposedly Voldemort. Though we can't be sure of that unless he was kind enough to stand next to it and someone used that charm the Unspeakable did." Harry said.
"Sirius I am very disappointed in you. Harry is far too young to be entrusted with such knowledge or responsibility. Madam Bones this makes it clear that Sirius is not fit to be Harry's guardian I demand that he is removed at once." Dumbledore said smugly.
Madam Bones wondered if she should ignore him or have him committed for observations by a mind healer. She chose the first option. "You signed the receipt for this I trust?"
"Yes Madam Bones. You can ask the Unspeakable if you like." Harry said.
Madam Bones sent a memo down to the Unspeakable and asked for a copy of the receipt, just to make sure Dumbledore didn't have a leg to stand on. Then turned her attention back to Harry. "Have you listened to it yet?"
"No, I just know that Voldemort heard part of it somehow and that was why he went after my parents." Harry lied.
"Amelia surely you must see that this is not the type of knowledge that a child should have, it lead to his parents death." Dumbledore pleaded with her to see reason.
Sirius glared at the old man. "Enough! Harry deserves to know why Voldemort keeps trying to kill him; maybe something in there can help us keep the bastard dead this time. Or is there something in it that you are afraid of?"
"What do you mean keep him dead?" Madam Bones demanded.
"Hogwarts business." Dumbledore said hurriedly.
"So Dumbledore didn't tell you that Harry was nearly killed when a professor posseted by Voldemort's spirit tried to steal the Philosopher's Stone?" Sirius asked, managing to sound both innocent and accusing at the same time.
"No, he didn't." Madam Bones turned her glare on the Headmaster. "Is this true?"
"It is Hogwarts business and as such…"
"It bloody well isn't! If you're harboring a Dark Lord it is a public safety violation not to mention child endangerment!" Madam Bones shouted. Her rant was interrupted by a memo landing in front of her. "The Unspeakable have confirmed that you legally remove the prophecy and it is yours. May I ask to listen to it as well?"
"I am sorry but no." Harry knew there really wasn't much to it but they had planned to use the prophecy later if they needed to put pressure on Dumbledore since the headmaster wanted to keep it secret.
"What?" Madam Bones was surprised by his answer.
"I don't know what it says yet, if there is information that I can use to protect my family I'm not about to reveal it in front of those that I don't trust." Harry gave a pointed look at Dumbledore. The prophecy was made to Dumbledore but Madam Bones didn't know that and the Headmaster didn't know that Harry knew it either.
"And if there is information that can protect everyone?" madam Bones asked.
"Then I will pass it on." Harry said.
Madam Bones desperately wanted to do something, to order them to let her hear the orb but the law was clear that whatever it said was their property. There was nothing that she could do. But at least she could deal with Dumbledore. "You two are free to go, Dumbledore you're coming with me."
"You can't just let them leave with the prophecy!" Dumbledore shouted.
"I don't have a choice." Madam bones admitted.
0-O-0
As Harry and Sirius left the ministry Madam Bones dragged Dumbledore into Fudge's office. But the meeting didn't go as she had hoped. Fudge refused to believe that Voldemort could still be out there in some way without proof. The Unspeakables confirmed that the Dark Lord wasn't named and even with Dumbledore's reluctant confirmation that Voldemort had been in Hogwarts the Minister wouldn't do anything.
Madam Bones left frustrated. Dumbledore remained to try and convince Fudge that Voldemort truly was back. It wasn't information that he wanted to get around but denying it now would make it that much harder when he did return.
"Enough Albus! I can't do anything without proof, you get me that, or make it, I don't care which. Then I can do something. Until then drop it!" Fudge practically kicked him from the office.
0-O-0
Dumbledore returned to Hogwarts, everything was falling apart. He needed a solution, something that could bring his plans back home. Put them back on track. But how? This would require all of his mighty intellect. Actually it would require beyond what he had, he needed more, he needed a new potion to help him.
Hathfojd watched as Dumbledore spent several hours scribbling down ideas. Fawkes gave a sad trill.
0-O-0
The part of the summer that they would spend together quickly approached its end. Madam Bones was less than pleased when they only provided her limited information on the prophecy, not nearly enough to force Fudge to actually do anything.
As Harry's birthday approached Hermione and Luna informed him that he would have a large party at the Luna's home with a majority of their year mates as well as some other Hufflepuffs. Harry recognized their determined looks and decided it was best for his health not to argue.
The day before his party though Harry Hermione and Luna went to celebrate Neville's birthday. To their disappointment Neville's grandmother had kept with tradition and invited mostly older people from the upper levels of society. But there were a few others their age around as well and Neville confessed that it was the best party he could remember.
0-O-0
Harry's party started off wonderfully. The only potential problem being that they'd had little choice but to invite the Weasleys, especially as they wanted the twins to come. That however meant the rest of the family showing up as well, worse Dumbledore had somehow managed to have the restraining order altered so that as long as neither Ron nor Percy actually slept in the same building as Harry they didn't violate it. Judge Cortus hinted that Dumbledore had paid several large bribes to get that around him.
Despite being the closet the Weasleys were the last to arrive and as soon as they did Molly began making a nuisance of herself. Making snide comments about how the party was set up and who was invited. Everyone was successfully ignoring her until there was a commotion by the refreshment table.
Everyone rushed over to find Dobby pinning another elf on the ground, he had one of her arms pressed tightly against her back while she tried to escape. Molly had shirked and cast a spell at Dobby who rolled out of the way and brought the other elf with him. Before she could try again Luna had snatched away her wand.
"Enough." Harry's voice carried a surprising amount of authority that stopped everyone but the struggling elf. "Dobby, what happened?"
"Dobby is catching other elf tampering with food." Dobby almost growled.
"I is being ordered to fix foody by Mummy!" The other elf squeaked out.
Molly glared at Luna. She wanted to snatch her wand back but the little girl was incredibly fast. "Of course I told it to fix the food, look at this disgracefully forging slop. It's not fit for a proper English boy like Harry. Now whoever owns that elf is going to be in a lot of trouble."
Harry couldn't believe her; she had never been this bad so early on last time. It was years before they saw this side of her. Was it just because things weren't going her way or was she so assured in her position that she didn't feel the need to play nice? "Considering he just answered me I think it is safe to assume that Dobby works for the House of Black." He had already explained to Dobby that this would be the story for now as it would result in less questions or issues from some people.
"Sirius Black you tell your elf to release ours this instant! I will have you before the DMLE for this." Molly shouted.
Luna half expected spit to fly from the woman's mouth. How could anyone think she was suited to raise children? Quietly she backed away to make sure the round woman wouldn't get her wand back.
"I would like to see you try. That elf had no reason to be here and no reason to start playing with the food and neither do you. I think after that little display you should leave, you're putting everyone off and breaking up a good time." Sirius said.
"How dare you!" Before Molly could continue her husband had put a firm hand on her shoulder and motioned for her to do as she was told.
"Well since I am leaving and Harry will be coming to stay with us soon why don't I just take him back now?" Molly offered all too sweetly.
"Not a chance, he doesn't have to go with you until tomorrow morning and you won't be getting him a second sooner." Sirius used a glare that his mother was fond of. It always put the fear of Merlin in him as a child.
A very angry Molly stormed away from the party and soon everyone was back to enjoying themselves. Luna had given Molly's wand to Arthur before she joined Harry and Hermione away from the others. "How much do you think it will cost Dumbledore to deal with Molly's rant?"
"No idea, but the more he has to spend the better for us. It'll also take up more of his time." Harry said.
"We'll have to change a few plans since they have an elf now." Hermione said.
"Dobby can still be doing, Dobby is sneakiest elf." Dobby assured them.
They returned to mingle with the others and enjoy Harry's last day of freedom. The twins apologized for their mum while Ron and Percy just stuck near the food and glared. Ginny refused to even look at them but they weren't sure if it was because of anger or embarrassment.
Once the presents and cake were finished, Luna had to be talked out of making one big enough for her to jump out of. The young girl only relented when Hermione promised to join her if they waited a few years. They returned to Potter Manor for a quiet evening together before they all went their spate ways.
0-O-0
Dumbledore had on a cloak designed to hide the wearer's identity. Along with a number of charms to do the same. He couldn't be too careful; it wouldn't do for him to be seen here among the dregs of society. The bar was set back no Knockturn Alley and was where he would find the people he was looking for. Severus, rest his sweet soul, had been useful for a number of unsavory deeds that still needed done.
Without him Dumbledore was forced to see to his needs in another way. There sitting at the back corner table were the people he needed, each had been a low ranking Death Eater and would not object to his request as long as gold was provided.
He took a seat at their table and ignored their glares. "I am in need of some muggle dealt with. I was told you could see to it."
"Maybe we can. You got anything to make it worth our trouble?" One of the men asked. They had no need to fear being set up, no DMLE scum would dare set foot in this particular bar.
"Isn't killing a few muggles its own reward?" It made Dumbledore sick but it had to be done. Granger was a big problem and could see their world destroyed unless she was out of the picture. Harry had to follow his plan and he was sure she was one of the main reasons that he was fighting her. Sadly by her own actions he had few choices in the timeframe that presented itself. He would weep for her.
"Sure sure, but we could do any of those animals. No shortage of them why should we go for the ones you want?" Another asked, leaning in closer.
His rancid breath washed over Dumbledore who had to resist offering him a mint. "Well I suppose for your trouble something could be arranged." He pulled out the bag of gold and put it on the table.
"Yeah, that'll do. Who you want us to do? Any requests?" The first asked.
"Quick and painless." Dumbledore said as he slid them a parchment with the Granger's address. He had decided on the date so that harry was safely at the Weasleys and wouldn't hear of it until school started. By then he would naturally turn towards them for comfort and it was all back on track. "Tomorrow night."
The men laughed. "Right, quick and painless, you got it."
"Excellent, our business is finished, good day gentlemen." Dumbledore stood and left. He was very proud of his plan. Thanks to his new mental boosting potion he had even thought to poison the gold so that those three would die in just two days. One less thing to link him back to the Granger's murder. Sometimes his mind impressed even him.
0-O-0
(A/N: Thank you for reading; I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I hope to get back into a normal updating schedule now that things have settled down. Though it seems every time I say that something else happens.)