Chapter 16
While the students had been a small part of why I had left they were still a continuing part. Even though we had returned to Hogwarts and to our quarters the students had a million questions.
Our exam schedules were handed out, in all their petrifying glory at the mornings breakfast. We heard…"as you can see," was heard as the heads of houses handed out schedules to their individual students Headmistress McGonagall was explaining …"your NEWT's are spread over two successive weeks. You will sit the theory papers in the mornings and the practice in the afternoons. Now, I must warn you that strong anti-cheating charms are placed around all of the areas of the NEWT testing area and will be strictly enforced."
The next event was the arrival of owls from parents, the Daily Profit and of course the Quibbler. I could only shake my head as I found there was a new Minister of Magic, Elphias Doge. He had made his acceptance speech. The part that I read could only be believed in some fiction novel. "I am assured that if You-Know-Who and his supporters are left in peace by both the Ministry and others who actively oppose them, they will cease to behave in such violent, anti-social ways. Live and let live, that is how I am offering my new policy."
Prime Minister of Magic
The Honorable Elphias Doge
I almost laughed as the girls almost were willing to not finish there meals before heading off to the library to study for NEWT's of course ignoring all the newspapers. I personally didn't care anymore. How can I fail testing with my left hand being what it was?
I exited the Great Hall and found an empty classroom change into my black phoenix. I then flashed to my quarters... "Hey Abilio I'm heading out of the castle do you want to get dropped off in a Forbidden Forest again?"
"Of course, I could always do with some fresh meat you dork."
I'm glad that a Phoenix can carry great loads as Abilio was becoming quite large and definitely heavy. We never made it into the forbidden Forest. As I flashed us high over the Forbidden Forest I couldn't believe what I saw approaching Hogsmeade village.
Corban Yaxley and a small group of death eaters had gathered a couple of giants and convince them to attack the village of Hogsmeade. After much bribery and hours of work giants were ready and the death eaters commanded them to attack.
Basically I was stuck to high off the ground. I couldn't just drop Abilio and attack the Giants so I flashed to an alley in Hogsmeade and gently put Abilio down behind some trash bins. This delay allowed most of the death eaters to enter the Main Street and start firing off destructive and lethal curses. The giants were being herded to the outskirts of the village.
I just didn't have it in me to leave Hogsmeade village to the loving care of the Giants and death eaters but what could I do. I could not take on everyone at once but once I was seen everyone there would try and take me on. Oh well! I can only try.
While I was not going to take a tape measure to measure how tall the two Giants were, I figured they were between 25 and 30 feet tall. And so my dance began.
I flashed to a few feet in front of the first giant. Reverting back to my human form I was able to fire off ice in the basic form of a spear, directly into its brain via its eye. As the ground was now rapidly approaching I transformed back into my phoenix form and flashed to the roof of one of the buildings. It appeared my plan worked as the giant toppled over crushing a couple of death eaters.
Not wanting to risk that there was one or two death eaters with some brains I attacked several death eaters before I attacked the second giant. One thing I picked up in my fights was to fling simple spells and charms along with serious curses. Most people could not identify spells and charms by their color assuming they had a color. Feeling the magic in the colorless spell was extremely difficult so everything heading at you had to be taken seriously. Smacking down the second giant I again headed toward some death eaters.
In my latest barrage of spells and curses… I suddenly felt weak as if my magic was being drawn from me. One of the death eaters fell to his knees just as the alley way started to fill up with Aurors. All the conscious death eaters 'apparated' or 'port-keyed' away. Abilio had been busy and a couple of death eaters lay dead just inside Abilio alleyway. As I took Abilio into the forest I made a mental commitment to finally sit with the pensive and my memories.
/Scene Break/
"From what you say and what I've seen in the pensive we may have a good option here. It's always been speculated that the dark Mark was some sort of protean charm." Daphne asserted.
"Rumor has it that he can not only call his servants but find them." Susan added.
"Good we put a virus into the dark Mark? Something lethal that could kill him or maybe all of them."
"We are to have to research protean charms Harry but it is an interesting idea." Daphne smiled.
The girl's research refuted that approach of using a virus. "Harry there are couple different types of viruses such as biological and electronic but we have not been able to find a magical virus that will work with the protean charm. The charm worked both directions and it made sense with his statment…"And I use their power as I wish. I draw power from all of my followers…"
/Scene Break/
BBC NEWS - BREAKING NEWS - BBC NEWS - BREAKING NEWS
In breaking news, a coordinated series of attacks has taken place across Great Britain. Tower Bridge, and Westminster Abbey in London, and numerous other locations incurred damage by some unknown force. Casualties are expected to be extremely high. Government investigators are even now trying to determine the extent and cause of the damage. As soon as the BBC has those answers we will pass them along to you our viewers.
/Scene Break/
Enough was enough. I asked the portrait to ask Lady Hogwarts if she could sustain a draconian attack. I then flamed to the office of the Prime Minister of England, hell I had seen the place many times on the telly.
/Scene Break/
The muggle Prime Minister was stunned when a black bird appeared in his office out of thin air and settled on his desk. He was awed that the bird offered its leg which contained a paper. He took and opened the paper. What he read was almost as shocking as the bird hopping off his desk and turning into a person. Yes he had seen the idiot magic of the minister of magic walk out of his fire place but this was a whole lot different.
/Scene Break/
"Hope I have not caused you too much angst. I am Lord Harry Potter and the note you read is correct, the self acclaimed Lord Sytherin is determined to rule the world which will start by the elimination of all who are not magical."
"What is stopping me from calling security and have you locked up as a…"
"Why this of course." I raised my left hand and secured the room. "Why don't you call security and have me arrested."
I'm sure he pressed a button but he also yelled into his intercom system…"Security RED Alert!"
"So now you and I can have a chat while security and others attempt to do their job."
The Minister was not like many that I had the unfortunate experience in meeting, he actually listened. As I explained and then I started answering his questions. Every once in a while a large bang or explosion could be heard along with the room vibrating from explosions. Silencing charms could only restrain so much noise but the wards were holding as we then moved on in our lengthy negotiations.
"So you say that the coordinated series of attacks that took place across Great Britain, Tower Bridge,Westminster Abbey, London, and numerous other locations that incurred damages by the hand of this Lord Voldemort? Hell the casualties were in the hundreds. AND your minister says live and let live?"
That about sums it up Minister. Now I believe you need to have your people stand down while I show you some of the powers of magic." The Minister called off the alert and had his people leave the area. He was well impressed as all the damage in the other offices got repaired. He also got a mirror so he could communicate with me. He also agreed to a number of actions and to forward my request to the appropriate people. I was surprised at how many already knew about magic and our hidden society. The Minister assured he would keep it that way.
/Scene Break/
Daphne and were sitting up late in front of the fire, on the floor, in the Slytherin common room. There were a few other couples scattered throughout the room. Daphne had her head on my shoulder while Abilio was spread across our laps enjoying the warmth from the fire not to mention his soft warm pillows. "What shall we do for Christmas?"
"Merlin! I may want to sit in front of the fire the whole time but there are the girls and their families, ask them what I will be doing and then just drag me along."
Suddenly the mirror with the muggle Prime Minister activated… Lord Potter
"Lord Potter, the royal family traditionally spends Christmas and New Year's at Sandringham house. The Queens Country estate is in Norfolk. There will be an unofficial party between Christmas and New Years for your group. This will allow you to meet and explain and hopefully get people like MOD, that is the Minister of Defense, on board. Feel free to bring guests, do you have an idea how many. We do know how large a family can be."
"Rough guess sixteen people."
"Jolly good, invitations will be arraigned later." The mirror went blank.
"Well that is something." I laughed… "Hear I was thinking of a quiet Christmas break."
What are you grumbling about? I am the one to make arrangements, insure every one is properly attired and know the proper etiquette in meeting the queen. So much for my restful break." Daphne grinned.
/Scene Break/
It indeed was not a restful break. There was some required etiquette and proper attire to obtain but that was not in the magical library. So the girls headed off to the London public library and came back befuddled. Oh they found what they were looking for but so much more. The quite break was
Quite interesting to watch and the questions that came at me made me laugh harder.
/Scene Break/
All the panic was for nothing as this was not some gala ball hosted by England's royalty. Tea was served at a large table in a rich room. The queen stopped by for a few words and departed. Later there was music for dancing followed by a lavish dinner. Somewhere in all this was the real reason, it was the meeting of the PM, the MOD and some ministers of parliament, in coordinating our actions and there ramifications.
/Scene Break/
"So Harry did you win? Daphne asked.
"Don't make me laugh my love. They had no choice. While we were all having a great time Riddle did another mass attack and muggle killings. That was reported in the middle of our negotiation. I also found that I was not breaking the International Statute of Secrecy. We are not as unknown as one might think."
"So you got what you wanted?" Daphne inquired.
"Yes I did, but that still doesn't put an end to old ugly snake face."
"Hay I take offence at that! Snake faces are quite handsome." Abilio hissed as his head appeared over my shoulder."
I just broke into hilarious laughter.
"When chuckles decides to return to earth we should discuss what was decide for New Year's." Susan added with a grin of her own.
"With the new goblin wards and Harry's refusal to open up his manor, but to a select few, it appears we're going to be going out for New Year's." Tracy grumbled.
"I'll go along with anything you all come up with." Luna giggled.
"Why don't we just spend a nice quiet New Year's here at the manor with Mr. Chuckles?" Hannah added but giggling as she knew what had been decided.
"And what about our parents?" Daphne queried and Harry quit laughing.