Part X
"Lord Voldemort was giving him instructions, Cornelius."
Arthur heard Dumbledore's voice. He opened an eye. There seemed to be people gathered all around Harry's bed – one of which was a very irate Minister of Magic.
"These people's deaths were mere by-products of a plan to restore Voldemort to full strength again. The plan succeeded. Voldemort has been restored to his body."
Arthur sat up, but Francis, who had been sitting at his side and stroking his hand, shook his head.
"They say that Mr. Crouch's son – a Death Eater rumoured to have died in Azkaban – impersonated Professor Moody all year long and directed Harry to Voldemort, thus completing the rebirth process," Francis murmured.
"That's dodgy," Arthur murmured, leaning back and looking at Francis. "Where's Alfred and Nat?"
"Last time I saw them Alfred was arguing with Ivan. Oh, and Madeline's broken up with Ivan… seems like it's for good this time."
"That must be terrible news to you." Arthur chuckled, squeezing Francis's hand. The Frenchman chuckled and kissed Arthur's knuckles.
"Terrible indeed."
Over at Harry's bed, news that were even more terrible were handed to Fudge.
"As Minerva and Severus have doubtless told you," Dumbledore was saying, "we heard Barty Crouch confess. Under the influence of Veritaserum, he told us how he was smuggled out of Azkaban and how Voldemort – learning of his continued existence from Bertha Jorkins – went to free him from his father and used him to capture Harry. The plan worked, I tell you. Crouch has helped Voldemort to return."
"See here, Dumbledore. You – you can't seriously believe that. You-Know-Who – back? Preposterous!"
"It's not, Minister!" Arthur suddenly called from his bed. Somehow, he felt as if it was time to tell the truth. "I felt him come back, too. Harry's not lying."
"Mr. Kirkland, this is none of your concern!" Fudge spun around to look at him incredulously.
"It is my concern, Minister. I…" he stopped, and shot a look at Harry, Hermione, and the Weasleys. "I'm the personification of England, Minister. Voldemort is, quite technically, born in me. He is also someone who murdered my people."
"Personification of a nation? Preposterous!" Fudge coloured. "Dumbledore, are you really prepared to believe that Lord Voldemort has returned on the word of a lunatic murderer, a boy who claims to be England, and another who… well…"
"You've been reading Rita Skeeter, Mr. Fudge," Harry said quietly.
"And if I have?" Fudge bristled. "If I have discovered that you've been keeping certain facts about the boy very quiet? A Parselmouth, eh? And having funny turns all over the place…"
"Just because he's a Parselmouth doesn't mean he's untrustworthy, Minister!" Arthur butted in. "Just because I'm a Slytherin doesn't mean I'm evil!"
"Keep your nose out of things that don't concern you, foolish boy!" snapped Fudge. Francis sprang up.
"Arthur isn't foolish!" he growled. "He's telling the truth. Almost every single person in fifth year is a persona of a nation. Arthur is England. He felt Voldemort come back! I saw his reaction – he was twitching all over the ground and no actor, however talented, could have acted in such a way!"
"You told me that you found my name odd, Minister," Arthur added quietly. "You said you've heard it before."
"Sheer coincidence that must have been!" Fudge said, looking affronted.
Dumbledore's eyes narrowed slightly. "Cornelius, listen to me. Arthur and Harry are as sane as you and I. If you look closely at any list of participants in any major historical event in England, you will find Arthur's name. It is no coincidence that his birthday is St. George's Day, that his wand is of royal oak with unicorn hair, or that his Patronus is a lion. National symbols and holidays make each Nation unique. As for Harry, that scar on his forehead has not addled his brains. I believe it hurts him when Lord Voldemort is close by, or feeling particularly murderous."
Dumbledore listed out the things that Fudge had to do now; Fudge was looking mutinous.
"You – you cannot be serious! If the magical community got wind that I had approached the giants – people hate them, Dumbledore – end of my career –"
"You are blinded, Cornelius, by the love of the office you hold. I tell you now – take the steps I have suggested, and you will be remembered, in office or out, as one of the bravest and greatest Ministers of Magic we have ever known. Fail to act – and history will remember you as the man who stepped aside and allowed Voldemort a second chance to destroy the world we have tried to rebuild!" He paused. "If your determination to shut your eyes will carry you as far as this, Cornelius, then we have reached a parting of the ways. You must act as you see fit. And I – I shall act as I see fit."
Fudge turned a lovely shade of puce. He looked at Dumbledore and Harry with narrowed eyes. "I don't know what you're playing at, Dumbledore, but I've heard enough. I've no more to add and I will be in touch tomorrow to discuss the running of this school." He dropped a bag in front of Harry. "Your winnings. One thousand Galleons. Normally there'd be a presentation ceremony, but under the circumstances..."
He swept from the room. Arthur sat back down. With some coaxing from Francis, he lay down as well.
"Thanks for standing up for me, Francis," he said quietly.
"De rien," Francis whispered. "Dors, mon lapin."
Arthur closed his eyes.
The last few days passed by remarkably fast. Arthur was out of the infirmary soon, but he walked around the brightly lit castle with a heavy heart. Francis, Alfred, and Nataliya all knew why.
They just didn't understand.
"I believe you and Harry," Alfred said quietly as they sat by the lake. "Voldemort's back and you need a hero to protect you. That's what I'm here for."
"You're so corny," Arthur muttered, but he kissed the American's cheek. "Thanks for the offer."
"It's not just an offer, Artie. I'm going to fight Voldemort, too! Like Harry. That's why I was arguing with Ivan the other day. Ivan's joining the Death Eaters!"
"You can't be serious!" Arthur sprang to his feet. "He – he can't be serious, right?"
"Actually, I am," said a cool voice. It was Ivan. "I was nearly sorted into Slytherin, because outside my friendly, warm exterior there was always a strain of ambition, you see... and with Voldemort on the rise..." his face contorted into a very ugly smirk. "Soon, all will become one with Russia..."
Arthur gaped. "You know," he breathed.
"I have known ever since dear sister Nataliya found out," Ivan said in a shadow of his usual cheerful tone. Behind him, Nataliya stepped out, her face paler than usual.
"Nat, don't!" Arthur exclaimed.
"I go where Brother goes," Nataliya said, her voice sounding detached. "He will join the Dark Lord, and I will join with him."
"But what about Yekaterina? Toris?" Alfred exclaimed.
"They will become one with us," Ivan drawled. "Ukraine, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Vietnam, Hungary, and Prussia will all become Death Eaters."
Alfred opened his mouth, but no sound came out.
"Prussia and Hungary?" Arthur exclaimed. "Surely you jest..."
"No, he's not," said Alfred quietly. "It's the Cold War all over again, Arthur. I see how it is... all the Communist countries must stick together, huh? Birds of a feather flock together..."
Arthur had never seen such hatred shine in the American's eyes as he stared at Ivan, who stared coolly back.
"Yes," said Ivan quietly. "We'll be at war, Mudblood."
He swept away. Nataliya stood there, breathing heavily and blinking as if she had never seen the sun before.
"Nat, you don't have to... just because you're Belarus..." Arthur looked at her imploringly. "You're our friend, Nat."
"I can't be your friend anymore, Arthur," she said softly. "My loyalty lies to my brother and his Master."
Arthur ran forward and embraced her, sobbing. He could hear soft sniffles on her part... he could smell her violet perfume...
"Don't forget us," he said throatily as they broke apart.
"I won't," she whispered, and kissed him on the lips. "I won't forget you."
And then she was gone.
"We're at war," Arthur said to Francis, his voice quiet. "We're up against Ivan and the Warsaw Pact."
Francis nodded. "I know," he said quietly. "It'll be you, me, Alfred, Matthew, Ludwig, and Feliciano..."
"They know?" Arthur asked. Francis shrugged.
"Matthew might know. But the thing is... it's us against the Warsaw Pact, isn't it? It's the Cold War all over again, isn't it? Only now... it's personal."
Arthur nodded and looked out the window of the Room of Requirement. "I wish Voldemort hadn't come back," he said after a while.
"None of us do, Artie," Francis murmured, wrapping his arms around the Brit's waist. Arthur leaned his head against Francis's chest, feeling it rise and fall gently.
He looked up at him; Francis looked down with a smirk. Their lips met.
"Je t'aime, Arthur," Francis breathed against his lips. "Je t'aime toujours."
"The end," said Professor Dumbledore solemnly at the Leaving Feast, "of another year."
The Great Hall was draped in black for Cedric. Arthur looked at Nataliya, who refused to meet his gaze.
"There is much that I would like to say to you all tonight, but first I must acknowledge the loss of a very fine person who should be sitting here enjoying the feast with us. I would like you all to stand, please, and raise your glasses to Cedric Diggory."
Arthur stood up with the rest of the school. "Cedric Diggory," everyone said, their voices sombre.
"Cedric was a person who exemplified many of the qualities that distinguish Hufflepuff house," continued Dumbledore. "The Ministry of Magic does not wish to tell you of how he died, but I think that you have the right to know the truth.
"Cedric Diggory was murdered by Lord Voldemort."
A low murmuring spread through the hall. People stared at each other in horror and disbelief.
"Any attempt to pretend that Cedric died as the result of an accident, or some sort of blunder of his own, is an insult to his memory," said Dumbledore as the entire Hall focused its attention on him once more. "There is somebody else who must be mentioned in connection with Cedric's death. I am talking, of course, about Harry Potter."
Heads all turned towards Harry.
"Harry Potter managed to escape Lord Voldemort and risked his own life to bring Cedric's body back to Hogwarts. He has shown the sort of bravery that few wizards have ever shown in facing Lord Voldemort, and for this, I honour him."
Once again, a toast was held. This time, not everyone stood up. Draco Malfoy and several other Slytherins, not to mention the Nations in the Warsaw Pact, did not stand up. Nataliya remained seated, but she raised her glass slightly and mumbled his name.
"The Triwizard Tournament's aim was to further and promote magical understanding. In the light of Voldemort's returns, these ties are more important than ever before. Every guest in this Hall, will be welcomed back here at any time should they wish to return. I say to you all, once again, that in the light of Lord Voldemort's return, we are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided. We must not only forge strong ties to our fellow Nations –" here he looked at Francis and Arthur – "but we must also blur the House lines. Inter-House unity is even more important now that Voldemort is back, because his strongest weapons are discord and enmity. By friendship and trust, we can fight him. Differences in our languages and habits are nothing if hearts are open and aims are identical."
He paused. "We are facing dark and difficult times now. Some of you in this Hall have already suffered directly at the hands of Lord Voldemort. Many of your families have been torn asunder. Last week, a student was taken from our midst. Therefore, I beg of you all to remember Cedric. When the time comes for you to choose between what is right and what is easy, remember what happened to a good, kind, and brave boy who just happened to stray across the path of Lord Voldemort. Remember Cedric Diggory."
"Francis! Arthur!" Fleur cried, running over and hugging them. "Eet 'az been a pleasure meeting you!" Smiling, she turned to Francis. "Ecris-moi, s'il te plaît?"
"Ouais," Francis said. "Tu peux toujours de me rendre visite à Nice."
"Je vais, merci." She turned to Arthur again. "I 'ope to see you again! I am getting a job 'ere to improve my Eenglish."
"Your English is quite good, actually," Arthur said with a smile.
"Merci," she replied, blushing prettily. "Au revoir, mes amis!" And with that, she was off to the carriage, silvery hair shining in the sunlight.
The Hogwarts Express departed at the same time that the Beauxbatons carriage took flight for France and the Durmstrang ship set sail for Russia. On the train, Arthur, Alfred, and Francis all sat together in a compartment.
"What's our summer plans this time?" Arthur asked as he continued to stare out the window at the scenery flying past.
Francis shrugged. "Nataliya had invited us to Ivan's house... but that was before Voldemort returned."
"Yeah," said Alfred. "I still can't believe that Elisabeta and Gilbert are on Ivan's side..."
"Neither can I, really," agreed Arthur. "Have you heard anything from Yao, though? China is a Communist country."
"I think he's the only one that defied the call," Alfred noted. "And that's because he's head of the Asian branch of some secret anti-Voldemort society..."
"What?" Francis and Arthur asked together.
"The Order of the Phoenix, haven't you heard?" Alfred looked at them incredulously. "Dumbledore started it years ago... Yao's a friend of Dumbledore's and he hates the Dark Arts... he really does. He's going to put in some effort to halt Voldemort's eastward expansion – I mean; Voldemort doesn't just want to rid Great Britain of Muggle-borns and Muggles, right? He wants world domination."
"I suppose that you'll join the Order at the first chance you get, right?" Arthur asked with a chuckle.
"Of course! I'm a hero! I can't just stand around and let bad things happen; I've got to act on them!"
They pulled into King's Cross. Arthur hugged the two of them.
"Stay safe, alright? Because if you wander off and Voldemort somehow doesn't kill you, I will."
Alfred chuckled. Francis rolled his eyes.
"Now, now, why would we ever do that?"
END YEAR FIVE
Notes: Things are going to get dramatic from here on, aren't they? 8DDDD Oh Voldy, you dramawhore /shot
Order of the Phoenix I will start tomorrow at the latest~
