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Chapter 37: Ministerial Disarray

The next day was when the official proverbial hit the fan. Kingsley Shacklebolt had been called to 10 Downing Street and then joined the man on his journey to the palace for a requested audience. The bombshell had landed the missing Veela's petition to the High Court had set off more trouble. Kingsley had been a little shell-shocked when the PM advised him that the pair of them had an audience with Her Majesty. He had thought he would be having to deal with the man over the High Court petition but told he had to see the Queen clearly confirmed to Kingsley that he had definitely pissed off the Fates in one of his former lives.

Coming to the palace Kingsley could feel the presence of strong wards and there in the room where the meeting occurred Kingsley could see fierce looking soldiers wearing wicked looking blades and hooded unspeakables. He would have words with Gawain Roberts when he got hold of him. He could have at least warned him that it was that sort of trouble in the wind.

It certainly was not raining but rather it was pouring troubles for Kingsley. He had the international manhunt for Delores Umbridge. The flack from the magical community about Hermione Granger resorted to seeking sanctuary from the Goblin Nation was coming from all directions. The press pack outside the Diagon Alley Gringotts entrance was causing troubles for the Yule time shoppers. The merchants were complaining. It was keeping the fact that one of the golden trio was hiding away from the world she had worked hard to save constantly in the minds of the populous.

While he received the memorandum from the President of the International Veela Council, Henri-roi Kwiatserca, notifying that the Council was now satisfied and there was no further reasons for actions to be taken in relation to this matter. It had been carbon copied to the International Confederation of Wizardry and Witchcraft. There had even been the notice from the ICW that they had received the memorandum and that there would be no further action from this body. So he had that controversy sorted after more than six months pain in the preverbal but she still went ahead with lodging the petition. Why had she felt that it had been needed to be done? That was something he would be pondering on for a while but now he had to deal with the consequences of this act.

The nature of the meeting he had with the monarch had been a shock to Kingsley especially when he saw the Unspeakables present but the cherry on the top for him was when the Lord Chamberlain presented him with the Order of Privy Council. Talk about knocking him for six. The Lord High Justice was present and he went through item by item to make it abundantly clear what the Privy Council meant and what his responsibilities where along with the clear warning if he failed to implement how he would be removed.

Kingsley was not that much of a fool and he was an ex-Auror so had a healthy respect for the rule of law. After confirming he understood the legality of the document and his responsibility Kingsley Shacklebolt was rather glad to be dismissed from his audience. Returning to the Ministry Kingsley advised his office manager that he was cancelling all appointments as he had something critical to work on before locking himself in his plush office.

Sitting in the quiet Kingsley Shacklebolt had plenty of time to reflect on what had happened in the last couple of years, months and days.

o0o0o

The Yule holiday came quickly to the Romanian Reserve. Again Charlie and Max were the season kings. This time Charlie won the mock battle between the two of them, as he was the Holly King. As the Holly King Charlie would rule until the midsummer. Charlie was crowned and the group had a lovely evening mean on the 24th of December. The visitors to the Reserve now included an American couple staying in one of the guest suites.

Christmas morning came and with the unfettered joy of a small child all and sundry were woken up to ensure that Teddy and his Rosie could open their presents. As the not so awake adults met together in the communal recreation room with Charlie was present wearing his crown. Hermione found that around the tree she was seated next to her love. The whole of the reserve staff were up and about at the Yule time celebration. There were those who were cooking the traditional luncheon meal who flitted from the mass celebration below the large Christmas tree and their dishes in the communal ovens.

Charlie as the King of the celebration asked the American guests Mittap and Malis to be his helpers in the distribution of the Yuletide gifts. There were some labels that the pair found difficult to interpret and Max helped them out. Within the laughter and banter there were in jokes and lewd suggestions. Those with children like Tonks clapped their hands over the young impressionable ears. There was a moment of excitement when a goblin eagle appeared with a message. Thinking the worse Hermione braced herself for bad news only to be told that the second daughter of Bill and Fleur had put in an appearance in the early hours of the morning. One Dominique Patrice Weasley. Mother and child doing well. Grand parents ecstatic and father relieved. Sister disappointed she wanted a brother. Another round of mead was provided to all so that they could celebrate the new arrival and there was a couple of cheers that went up as the baby's head was wetted on the Dragon reserve.

o0o0o

The only good news for Kingsley Shacklebolt over the Yule break was his partner's new niece. The rest of the time he had been dealing with the effects of the Privy Council recommendations. The Daily Prophet had been going overboard with making half-baked proclamations in the press that he would then have to address with press releases and within the Wizengamot. The old pureblood factions were certainly very unhappy about the interference by the crown. Kingsley had been tempted to hex Albus Dumbledore if he popped into the Ministry one more time without an appointment he would do it and he really didn't care anymore that the man had defeated Grindelwald.

When Albus Dumbledore had attempted to apparate into Sandringham House. The security breach had created more paperwork than the Auror office was happy about. Dumbledore as the evening of the 25th December was currently enjoying a holding cell in Paddington Green Police Station as a high security prisoner. Given his long hair and beard it had been assumed by the police officers that had processed the famous wizard into the building that he was another Muslim cleric who was causing problems and had threatened the Queen.

The security team who brought him in had booked some strange evidence bags including one with what looked like a wooden stick. When Kingsley had been informed that there had been a security breach at the Queen's estate by Gawain Roberts he had wanted to throw the book at the individual. When Roberts had announced it was Albus Dumbledore he had squirmed in his seat. Let the Muggles deal with the man. Kingsley knew he was in enough trouble politically within the magical community let alone with the flack from the Muggle world.

Kingsley flooed into the new Burrow to meet up with his partner George where he found a very celebratory house given the arrival of the new niece. There was some flack about getting called in to the Ministry on Christmas Day but as he explained to George in their family suite within the Burrow it couldn't be helped. George had been shocked to hear that the Muggle anti termism police had arrested Albus Dumbledore. It was the supreme joke for him that he just had to share with his twin. It wasn't before long the rest of the brothers all present knew that Dumbledore was currently at Her Majesties gracious pleasure. Some pleasure a brown papered room with a TV and CD player. They would soon burn out if the man attempted to use any magic round them, as they would not have been shielded.

o0o0o

Dame Eliza's satellite phone went off during the post luncheon tranquil relaxing phase where people tried to sleep off the excessive consumption of the celebratory Yule time meal. Teddy had been put down for a sleep and many others had joined him in post gluttony napping. When Duncan passed on the news that the Headmaster was in her Majesties pleasure there was many a chuckle from those who were lounging round in the recreation lounge room area.

Hermione was not looking that happy and Charlie could feel her distress that she was trying to hide from the rest of their friends and colleagues. "You must see the funny side of this, Albus Dumbledore in his ever present I know what is best for the greater good attempted to get his own way and found that there is a higher power in the land. One Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor the constitutional monarch of the United Kingdom, some 16 sovereign states that make up the Commonwealth realms. Add the territories and dependencies she is also the head of 53-member Commonwealth of Nations. So the Supreme Mugglewump was top trumped by the Supreme Governor of the Church of England and Defender of the Faith. She just doesn't have as many Christian names as him but she beats him wands down with her official titles."

"What is going to happen now? Will they out me? Will it affect Kingsley obeying the Privy Council?" inquired Hermione to the more knowledge observers who were present in the lounge room.

Duncan Wood the Falcon of the Unspeakables spoke in his calming brogue "Child the Ministry of Magic are falling into her gracious Majesty's line. Kingsley Shacklebolt and the magical civil servants all know she can and will enforce her orders. There are many magical bans in place within the legal documents that created the Ministry that she can call upon as the crowned monarch. I am just surprised that Albus hadn't been put into the Tower of London".

No he is currently being treated as a high security terrorist. He is in the lovely cells at Paddington Green. I don't think Dumbledore will like the prison service issued boiler suit he will be currently wearing including the patches which indicate he is a suspected terrorist prisoner. Somehow I can see him complaining about the fit," explained Dame Eliza.

"What will happen?" queried Charlie hopping to get more information about the man so they understood where they were and what challenges they had to face.

"Likely he will be held under the 28 day rule and then he is likely to be charged for trespass on protected premises as the private estates of the monarch are declared designated sites, the wand will be a charge of carrying an offensive weapon and he could possible charges under the anti termism legislation. If we are very lucky he will get a minimum of 40 years and could be one of the first trials in the reformed Star Chamber."

o0o0o

During the rest of the Yule and New Years break Hermione had much time to become friendly and familiar with the Munney couple. The three had bonded and Hermione had become a replacement granddaughter for the two Cambodians. When Severus and Narcissa arrived for the New Year's celebration the women went into overboard in their planning for the Beltane bonding ceremony. Malis was determined to pass on some traditions so that they would be carried on.

While the two honorary mothers plotted and schemed one afternoon Charlie stole his bride from them. He brought Hermione into his new apartment. Opening the door suddenly Charlie then picked Hermione up and carried her over the threshold. After closing the door with his foot Charlie put Hermione down in the front hallway. Taking her hand Charlie led Hermione round the rooms where she found that they were currently in the blank neutral tone of ivory, magnolia and cream.

"Why haven't you made any changes Charlie? This apartment doesn't look like anyone lives in it."

"Well since this will be our home for a number of years I thought we should make the decorating the apartment together. Currently I am living in my tent in the spare room," he explained. In each of the rooms Charlie had items laid out items for her consideration. There were paint chips and after a detailed discussion that included some snogging time they had made some decisions about their apartment. The archive elf Paltin popped in when Charlie called and gave all their decorating decisions to the elf. Together whenever they had a chance over the next couple of months before Beltane they would be decorating their future home.

Hermione particularly liked the views from the windows that were on the outside walls. Their future living room had a patio doors that over looked an enclosed courtyard garden. Apparently their neighbours included Max and he was working in the garden area. From their patio terrace Hermione imagined sitting having coffee with Charlie.

The other view that Hermione particularly liked was one from one of the bedrooms. It looked out over the sweeping hillsides that made up part of the reserve. Hermione was able to get Charlie to agree that this would be their master bedroom. Their decorating was more through the selection of furniture while using neutral tones for the walls and floors. Charlie planned to build the library study for the pair of them over the rest of winter. The new workshop facilities would enable him to keep occupied while he was missing her when not on duty doing his scheduled shifts.

Hermione didn't know but many of her choices that afternoon would influence many of their wedding gifts. It was the tradition of the Reserve inhabitants to help kit out a new couple when they married on the Reserve. The lack of outside entertainment meant that many practiced traditional crafts to help escape from the boredom and isolation of the Reserve. From Hermione's leaving present she had already received a gift of exquisite needlework from Marie and Lexie.

The detail decisions made this afternoon would be communicated through the Reserve population so that everyone could prepare their gifts. It had become vary obvious since Hermione's leaving do that she would be coming back to the Reserve as a full time inhabitant. She and Charlie were obviously close even though the pair had previously declared just friendship. Many had seen the kisses and touches between the two and given the frequent disappearances by Charlie they had come with the equation of one plus one equals five. Charlie and Hermione must be having a passionate affair and they were going to bond when she finished her degree. It must be the case as Max had even offered her an apprenticeship and she was here on the Reserve. It was Yule and she seemed to always with Charlie. The last month of her stay he was always round her like a bad smell. The pair of them were always dancing around each other during the summer and now she always seemed to within 3 feet of Charlie. You couldn't turn round without stumbling over her. For all their secrecy the gossip network on the reserve had it pretty well pegged about the relationship status of the young couple.

The reserve got their confirmation of their conclusions during the New Year's Celebration party when Charlie got down on one knee to ask Hermione publicly to marry him. This time he had a pretty engagement ring that a low gem setting so it wouldn't catch on things while she was brewing. The stones included a sapphire, Hermione's birthstone. The ring easily slipped on to her finger. Amongst the celebration that tied into the New Year's party while dancing with Charlie he quietly advised that the ring would fit within her heart pendant if she didn't want to wear her ring at University.

o0o0o

The Muggle guests of the Romanian Reserve were all transferred out via road transfer to their outwards flights back to the UK in the second week of January. For the general public according to the Daily Prophet Hermione Granger was apparently still taking shelter with the goblins as the hunt was on for Dolores Umbridge. There had been no mention in the press as yet about Dumbledore's incarceration.

Albus Dumbledore hadn't been charged as yet by the Muggle Authorities but his presence had not as yet officially been missed. Yes the Professors knew, the Department of Mysteries knew and there were some Ministry of Magic high officials who knew but most were keeping it strictly confidential. Those whom did know about Dumbledore's arrest were keeping quiet but many were privately enjoying the fact he was currently enjoying her majesties pleasure. The twins had sent a card round their friends for the New Year with a cartoon pictorial of Dumbledore behind bars. There mother was not amused but she had a new Granddaughter to distract her.