DISCLAIMER THE FIRST: "It is by JKR's writing alone I set my mind in motion. It is by the grace of coffee that thoughts acquire speed, the back acquires strains, the strains become a warning. The warning is that I make no money from this. It is by JKR's writing alone I set my mind in motion."
PITHY STATEMENT RELATING TO THIS CHAPTER: "The saddest thing about selling out is just how cheaply most of us do it for." James Bernard Frost – American writer and blogger – ?
LAST UPDATED ON: 04-19-2020
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STORY BUNNY NOTE: This story idea came about due to a review on Chapter 15 and how JKR's expects us to forgive a lot of evil for little in the way punishment. Aunt Petunia, IN CANON, took a whack at Harry with a frying pan. It missed because he ducked. In a fairy-tale type kid's story, you can get away with that. In a YA story, that's prison-time child abuse.
So (with apologies to Godwin's Law) it brought to mind that Hitler was radicalized as he was recovering from being gassed when the terms of the Treaty of Versailles came out. Here was Germany, with boots still on the ground in France, giving away the literal farm. Sadly, history shows that a LOT of Germans felt as Hitler did.
This made me think of what the Light families must have felt after the end of the Voldemort War. They were losing. A bit of fa-wanking but still, it's obvious the rest of Europe didn't care enough to help even if the Death Eaters were straining the Statue of Secrecy. So the rest of the world mostly washed their hands of Britain and then the people in power like Bagnold and Dumbledore obviously allow a lot of crap (and probably galleons being moved around) to happen in the interests of "to bind up our nations wounds" to quote Abe Lincoln.
The problem is that Lincoln could say that; he was the leader of the winning side facing down a defeated and exhausted foe. In Harry Potter, the Light got the crap kicked out of them, but due to a "Hail Mary Pass" and won by taking out the King with only a few of their own pieces left on the board. Even so, the bad guys pretty much got to write the peace treaty, and the Leader of the Light abetted them!
So again, what might some of those who had been fighting in the trenches, fending off lethal spells while restricted to stunners and the like, losing friends and family feel as the likes of Lucius Malfoy walk? Let's find out!
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NEVER AGAIN
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THE POUND, DIAGON ALLEY, LONDON – DECEMBER 11th, 1981 – MORNING
"I don't bloody well believe it! They're fucking doing it, Mooney!" Sirius snarled.
Remus didn't reply, but Sirius could see the yellow tint along the corner of his friend's eye. This rarely happened even as the full moon would rise that night. However, as Dumbledore's words spilled from the Wizard Wireless, Sirius could see his friend's grip on the wolf slip.
"We have had dark days; days filled with sorrow and despair. Yet now we have the opportunity to set aside the differences that divided us and work to heal together. The magic that runs through the blood of our nation must not continue to be spilled, but cherished and nurtured," Dumbledore said in a somber, measured tone.
"You bloody wanker! It was mostly due to you that we were stuck with stunners! It wasn't their blood being spilled!" Sirius said as he paced before he staggered and had to grab the kitchen table for support.
"Sirius! You aren't going to do Harry any good by killing yourself! You've still got weeks before the curse effects are gone! With Frank dead, Alice needs your help. Harry and Neville need you to be there!" Remus hissed out. Sirius had never been a good patient and the shitte the Ministry was promoting wasn't helping his friend's mood.
Given all the tension, Remus felt it was good that Harry was with Andromeda. With Longbottom Manor compromised and Alice still recovering from the attack that took her husband, the Tonks had taken her in to care for her and look after both Harry and Neville as well.
Sirius collapsed into his favorite chair. It once belonged to James but Lily had hated it. She personally moved it to his flat on his first day here. He moaned a bit as his chest felt like he had iron shavings in his lungs all courtesy of his cousin Bellatrix.
At least she was safely rotting in Azkaban with the others captured at Longbottom Manor. Sirius gritted his teeth in pain and in anger of that memory. If only he had gotten there sooner! Damn the treacherous Wormtail! And damn Albus bloody Dumbledore! Dealing with Hagrid had cost him time, time that cost the Longbottoms dearly!
Sirius knew he had had to secure Harry at the Tonks, but the delay still gnawed at him. Alice still had a bit of a stutter due to Cruciatus curse exposure. Still, as Ted pointed out to him, with Alice surviving her husband, at least Harry had his godmother and Sirius could take over for the late James in looking after Neville.
"Working hand-in-hand with Minister Bagnold, I pledge to you that we shall move rapidly to put the mistakes of war behind us. As the Yuletide season draws close, it is best to remember that no matter how dark it may get, the light will return. The dark of war is over so let us go forward into the light of peace. There is no greater form of patriotism than redemption, repentance and forgiveness. We all shall come out of this horrible time stronger," Dumbledore said before clapping from the Wizengamot drowned him out.
"Stronger?! Most of us are dead or maimed! Merlin on a bloody bicycle! I knew Dumbledore was a bit daft with all his turning the other cheek shtick, but this is rolling over and giving up! With Voldy put down so quickly, we could have struck hard while the Death Eaters were still thinking they were winning! This...this is appeasement of the worse sort!" Sirius said, feeling like he might vomit as the more clapping and calls of "hear, hear!" poured from the Wireless.
Remus's earlier attempts to calm Sirius down were forgotten as he snarled, "I'm betting he's worried the Dark will want to keep fighting. Well better that than this! I'd have like to see how they like fighting us without their precious Dark Lord! This is a betrayal to all of our lost! Fabian and Gideon, Edward, Neoptolemus and Botholio! What are we to tell, Harry, Neville or Susan when their older? What will the Weasleys and Luna think when they hear how heroic their uncles were and for what? How can we look them in the eye in the future when they ask why their parents had to die while Draco, Pansy, or Theodore's parents are still alive?"
Sirius ignored the pain in his chest as he leapt to his feet and shook his fist at the Wireless, "No! I'm not going to accept it! I refuse to accept this peace forced on us by the very leaders who led us to ruin! No! For James and Lily and all the rest; we cannot let this injustice stand.
Remus let out a wolf-like chuff of agreement which would have alerted even the most clueless of strangers that he was no mere human. "So what are we going to do?"
Sirius's face went blank for a moment before it took on a cold visage. "We're going to fight. We're going to fight them in the courts and we're going to fight them in the Wizengamot. We're going to keep looking for the traitors who got away and do the right thing. And if all of that doesn't work, then we're going to fight them in the streets if we have to. And this time, we won't be using stunners."
Remus nodded; the wolf in him almost relishing the idea of the fight to come.
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WIZENGAMOT CHAMBERS, THE MINISTRY, LONDON – JUNE 18th, 1983 – MORNING
"Order! Order! I will clear this court if we cannot have order," Dumbledore shouted over the din as he banged his gavel. Finally the room quieted down to muted whispering. Dumbledore looked down at the man who stared back up at him defiantly, "The defendant is counseled not to make more inflammatory remarks."
"And I would like to remind the Chief Warlock that not only am I not a defendant, I am Lord Black of the Ancient and Noble House of Black. You continue to act as if I am on trial, but I am here to remind you and others who hide behind the Ministry that there are those of us who remember our traditions, our laws, and OUR RIGHTS!" Sirius said, barking out the last.
Before Dumbledore could replied, Sirius turned and swept his hand up and past all the seats of the Greater Houses, "All of you there, looking down; heed me. For if I can be placed here, accused like a common criminal, then you could be as well. But I am here because of justice! Because I redressed a wrong that this Ministry has been foisting on us for almost two years now! It is up to you to stand up and push back against this encroachment on our way of life."
Dumbledore banged his gavel again, "Lord Black! You are to cease this base political oratory. You are here because you murdered one Severus Snape. The evidence is irrefutable and therefore you irrelevant claims of bias of the Ministry against you are just words on the wind!"
To the surprise of many, Sirius laughed at this. "And again I would remind you, Chief Warlock, that you are wrong and there is nothing the Ministry or the Wizengamot can do unless the Lords and Ladies here want to repudiate centuries of law and custom. I did not murder Severus Snape. Murder implies the illegal taking of a life. I executed Severus Snape and I did so according to established law and custom!"
Sirius again looked up and slowly made eye contact with the Wizengamot members and ignored the Ministry officials and press in the lower area of the chamber. "I am the godfather to Harry Potter, son of the late Lord James Potter of the Ancient and Most Noble House of Potter. When I was at odds with my family, it was the then Lord Charlus Potter who took me in, gave me comfort; made me family. It is my duty and pleasure to uphold the honor of that Great House while my godson is too young to avenge his parents. And that is exactly what I did!"
"Severus Snape is dead; your theatrics will not absolve you of murder, Lord Black," Dumbledore said in an irritated huff.
"Oh no? Well then maybe I best say that I was under the Imperius Curse at the time and we can all be out of here by lunch." The room erupted in a new round of whispers, this time there was a dark tone of menace to it. "But I fully admit to being in my right mind when I put down Severus Snape like the snake he was. Let us review the facts, shall we? By your own admission during the Trials, Severus Snape turned spy for the Order of the Phoenix. Therefore, by your own testimony, Snape was a Death Eater. He wasn't under the Imperius Curse and given he was an orphan, no one of his family was being threatened to keep him in compliance to the Dark Lord through fear of reprisals. Thus when he betrayed vital information to the Dark Lord, he did so because he was loyal to the Dark Lord. With this information he freely gave, it set up attacks not only on House Potter but on House Longbottom as well. These are the facts entered into Ministerial record!"
The muttering got louder, causing Dumbledore to bang for quiet again. This time, however, it was Minister Fudge who stood, "Severus Snape was acquitted for that act by Ministerial order for his service as a spy. Your argument does not hold up."
Sirius snarled, "Ah but there you go, my dear Minister. You acquitted him of betraying the Potters and Longbottom to the Dark Lord. Yet did you read the actual text of his acquittal? It doesn't mention anything regarding previous acts. Everyone just assumed it did and he went to Hogwarts under the Headmaster's protection. Yet I know what he did as a Death Eater and more to the point, I know what he did to gain his Dark Mark.
Sirius began to walk up and back, again addressing the Wizengamot members directly. "The Great Houses have always had the power to avenge themselves upon those who attack us. It is enshrined in custom and in law. To wit, Severus Snape was a Death Eater. Something that he not only took on voluntarily but murdered my fiancé Sarah Underhill to gain his Mark. If anyone is so inclined, I can show you the memory of him confessing, nay boasting of this before I took off his head. That right there, is grounds for me to execute him. House Prince murdered the intended of Heir Black. He then went on to give information which led to the deaths of Lord Potter and Lord Longbottom, both heads of Greater Houses and members of the Wizengamot!"
While the muttering continued among the press and Ministry officials, the Wizengamot members were silent and thoughtful.
"And let us not forget, as this body is so quick to do, all of the Muggleborn who died with no House to avenge them. How the Muggle victims of Voldemort's reign of terror are even now barely a footnote in the histories being whitewashed by the Ministry. War has consequences and the Dark lost. Yet so many of them are here today, in Wizengamot seats and in Ministerial robes. Yet where are the stalwarts of the Light? They are DEAD and only a measly few of their murderers suffer as they should in Azkaban. You have the GALL to point your fingers at me, one who went against my own family to fight for the Light, to fight for the RIGHT, and call me a murderer! Move on all you want. 'Work to create a better Magical Britain' all you want but there are those of us who remember. Who will NOT forget our dead and the travesty that continues to cheapen their sacrifices and has left so many of our sons and daughters practically orphaned!" Sirius roared out like the Lion he'd been sorted to be.
The chamber erupted at this. It was one thing to call out the Ministry's encroachment on the Great Houses; it was another to bring up the well-known, but rarely acknowledgment of how many galleons and favors traded hands to keep many in their plum colored robes instead of prison togs.
Sirius pointed to Fudge, "The Ministry can acquit all it wants, but the laws regarding how the Great Houses can deal with such attacks are clear. You all can quibble that I did not announce a formal duel. You can look down at me for not meting out this delayed justice in the public eye with an approved judge and seconds and you can certainly call for me to pay the 1,000 galleon fine to which I will gladly pay. However, I again ask you all, why are you allowing this travesty of justice? If the likes of Severus Snape can cause the death of two Lords of the Wizengamot and have the Ministry cover it up with a flimsy piece of paper that doesn't even cover all of Snape's crimes, who is to say that this might not happen to you?"
The chamber continued to be a riot of indignation and shaking fists, but this was quieted down with a canon-shot like blast from Dumbledore's wand. One of the Wizengamot clerks stood and began to outline the very laws that Sirius was invoking. Ted Tonks knew his law and Sirius was confident there would be no room for a worm like Fudge to wiggle out of it. During the reading, Fudge's face got redder as Dumbledore's face became a stony mask proving Sirius' faith in the Muggleborn lawyer had been warranted.
Finally, after some posturing from Fudge, the chairman of the Wizengamot called for new business since it was obvious that Sirius had legally, if poorly, executed Snape. Sirius smiled cheerfully as he gave a Gringotts certificate for 1,000 galleons to the sour-faced ministry clerk who look like she had issues with a botched toad animagus form.
As he did this, Dumbledore had quietly said, "Lord Black, I must say I'm deeply disappointed in you. I doubt James and Lily would have approved."
Sirius looked up and snarled, "Well we'll never know because of your late potions teacher, now won't we? I tell you what, Chief Warlock. When I find Pettigrew, I'll be sure to follow all the codes before I kill that traitorous rat as well."
Sirius stormed off to make his way to the House Black box where Andromeda waited with little Harry along with Alice and Neville. On the way, he made sure to lock eyes with the likes of Malfoy and Nott. Sirius wanted them to know that he had not forgotten and had not forgiven. Let them scowl in return. Sirius and Ted were working on a way to hobble Malfoy in a way that would hurt a lot of the other Dark houses in the process. That it would make him richer was just the cherry on top of his favorite Fortescue's sundae. Though he doubted the real Fortescue had a revenge ice cream flavor.
As he sat down and smiled as Harry babbled happily about his performance, Sirius was cold inside. Today was just one execution closer to the justice that was coming. Sadly it was looking like it would take a revolution to unseat the corrupted system that protected murders and rapists who even now acted like they were the pinnacle of society.
As he hugged Harry on his lap, Sirius knew if that is what it would take to give Harry and Neville and all the rest a better future, than if he had to burn it all down, he would.
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PLAYGROUND, ST. GEORGE'S MAGICAL SCHOOL OF ENGLAND, LONDON – OCTOBER 28th, 1991 – AFTERNOON
"You talk big when surrounded by all your cronies. Let's see how brave you are when we get to Hogwarts. We'll see if the Boy-Who-Lived is still so high and mighty then," Theodore Nott sneered as he faced down the three students in front of him.
"I'll still talk big. And you know what? I'll say it now, Theo; bring it the fuck on!" Harry said with his own sneer.
"Language, Harry!" Susan Bones said from beside him.
"Merlin take the language, Susan! This bloody wanker's father killed mine and yet day after day I have to listen to him whine about how mistreated he is because his father was under the Imperious Curse," Quincy Rivers said from the other side of Harry.
"Yeah, funny that," Harry said. "You constantly crow about how you and the other Traditionalists are so much better than us. Or you look down on the Naturalists like my friends the Weasleys because they aren't slaves to making galleons. Apparently your Sorcerous ideology is great for making money off of people you look down on but not so good at keeping you free of mental curses! I think I'd rather be considered poor and a Muggleborn than have to worry someone is going to sneak up on me and turn me into a murderer."
Theo's pale face flushed but before he could retort, one of the playground monitors called out, "Everything okay over there?"
Harry turned and waved, "Sure is!" He turned back to Theo, "As I said Theo, I look forward to Hogwarts. Hang out with Draco and his Thing One and Two. Invite Millie and Pansy, for that matter invite Tyra, Blaise and Daphne if you think you can swing them. We'll be there. Hannah, Neville, Morag, the Patil Twins and the rest will all be there. We haven't forgotten. We will never forget."
Harry turned to his friends, "Let's get out of here before Brian comes over and preaches more Ministry dragon-shit about getting along and putting the past behind us."
The trio walked over to where younger students were playing on swings or on the jungle-gym. Susan and Quincy sat on a bench but Harry just stood and watched the playing witches and wizards.
"What are you thinking about, Harry?" Susan finally asked.
Harry gestured towards the kids. Most were seven or eight. "Look at them. They don't know it but I'm betting their parents are so happy they were born into peace. When they get to Hogwarts age, the ones that go will have lots of friends. They'll fill the halls and classrooms. Us? Depending or not if Luna gets jumped into our year as an Heir, we'll be lucky if there is more than forty of us. Forty! Sirius told me his year had 124 in it!"
Harry turned to look at Susan, "We're already old. We're already having to deal with a war that cost us our families. It cost us all the friends who might have been. If it hadn't been from Severus Snape, there should have been an Heir Black right here with us. A lot of schools around the UK should have a lot more students than they have and the Muggles don't even realize it."
Susan and Quincy shared a look. Normally Harry was the soul of fun. His godfather hadn't helped in that department. But they also knew that Harry had a deep well of sadness and anger. It was like a cloak he always wore. The Boy-Who-Lived myth didn't help. It was like a vampire that refused to die no matter how many times Harry and Sirius tried to put a stake into its heart. Magicals loved their heroes and legends and clung to them rather than face bitter truths.
Harry sighed, "I feel it all the time, Susan. It's not just because of Sirius, Remus and Auntie Alice. It's everyone else. So many want to 'just get over it' like they can wave a wand and make us forget we're practically orphans. The other side? They talk up tradition and family lineage which is all well and good because tradition kept them out of Azkaban and they still have a lot more lineage left then we do. What am I thinking? I'm thinking that it's all going to start up again. Because nobody wants to do what is right because they'd rather take the easy way."
"Harry you know…look, I realize it's almost Samhain and that is always a bad time for you. Just remember that it's okay to be just a regular bloke like the rest. I know you're not but I think one of the reasons you feel old is you're not letting yourself be young," Quincy said quietly
Susan nodded, "He's right, Harry. Trust me, I know how you feel. With having the head of the DMLE as my auntie means I get it all like you do. I think Quincy is right…for once."
"Hey!" Quincy said with a swat at Susan's arm which she easily avoided.
"I'm just trying to say that picking fights now probably isn't the best time for it. Not talking about it doesn't mean we've forgotten. Because you're right, we'll never forget or forgive," Susan said with cold determination.
Harry sighed but nodded with a slight smile, "You're right. Sorry guys…yeah with the 31st coming up I guess I'm dreading another Boy-Who-Lived celebration. Merlin forbid they honor the two dead people who almost certainly ended Voldemort. So much easier to think that some miracle happened so they can focus on that instead."
Harry looked back at the happily playing kids, "I guess I'm tired of waiting. I want this over with so I can be young or whatever we'll able to be once this is through. It's like waiting for a storm. You know it'll be bad but you won't know till it breaks. The waiting around with all the people who refuse to see the approaching storm gets to me. It doesn't help the other side keeps getting away with murder."
Susan and Quincy shared another look. Harry was good friends with all the families from Ottery St. Catchpole. He'd almost talked Sirius into letting him go to St. Michael's School of Wizardry so he could go to school with them. Sirius had a lot of reasons to say no and in the end, even Harry realized going to school with Draco Malfoy would not end well.
The witch and wizard also knew that the death of Selene Lovegood two years ago had hit Harry hard as he was very good friends with Luna Lovegood. The recent death of Marius Black under even more suspicious circumstances than those of Mrs. Lovegood had made it worse. Their friend Sally-Anne Black hadn't come back to school yet. Supposedly the family was in mourning but the truth was Sirius was working on better protections for her. Since Sirius didn't have an heir of his body, Sally-Anne was the best candidate even if her great-grandfather Marius had been a squib.
Susan got up and hugged Harry briefly, "I know it's hard, Harry. I really do. But you're our leader. I know where young and we've got a long haul ahead of us, but we all look to you just as all of the adults look to Sirius and my Auntie. We can't afford you to burn out before it's our time to step up and avenge our parents."
Harry hugged Susan back tightly before releasing her and nodding at Quincy who gave him a smile and a look that seemed to say, "Anytime!"
Harry looked across the playground where Theo was talking with Zacharias Smith and Pansy Parkinson. Probably talking about how he and the rest of the 'Rebel' families were going to get it when the year all came together at Hogwarts. Harry's eyes narrowed and a cold, dark scowl marred his normally cheerful demeanor. The Dark had no idea what they would be facing. Let them think they would get a repeat of Dumbledore's soft tactics of the last war.
Harry fingered the phoenix pin on his tunic. Most people knew it was worn by those who lost friends and family who had been in the Order of the Phoenix. What they didn't know was those that wore them did so in defiance of the very wizard who had founded that Order. As Remus had once told him, drunk and sobbing one night on the anniversary of his parents death, that when it came time, it would be from the fire of the Dark that the light would be reborn from.
Harry looked at his right hand. It seemed to itch for a wand. Harry looked back at Theo and his group to find them scowling at him. The storm couldn't come too soon for Harry.
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GRAVEYARD, GODRIC'S HOLLOW, WALES – JUNE 21st, 1991 – AFTERNOON
"Don't get cocky. Don't play with your food, either. Sure, make it hurt, but don't forget that isn't Peter. That's not the kid we had to baby through Hogwarts. That's Wormtail the Death Eater who managed to betray us, trick us and then hide from us for a long time. Do not underestimate him," Remus said calmly but with steel in his voice.
Sirius nodded, "I know Remus. Now is not the time for pranks or showmanship. I cannot think of any greater insult to James and Lily then fucking this up today. Besides, Harry would probably conspire with Luna to raise me up so Harry could kill me again."
Remus chuffed at that. "That he probably would."
Remus checked his friend's outfit one more time. Everything had to be perfect. This time all the rules and protocols would be obeyed. The pair had waited for too long for this day to let some Ministry busy-body or Dumbledore himself to interfere. Nodding to Sirius, the pair left the tent to find Alice waiting for them. Remus watched as the pair locked eyes and stared at each other.
Finally Alice broke the silence, "For Frank. For Lily and James. It won't bring them back but at least they will rest easier in their graves."
Sirius clasped the phoenix pin on his left breast, "For the fallen."
Alice suddenly grabbed Sirius in a tight hug. Only Remus' werewolf enhanced ears heard Alice's desperate whisper, 'Don't become one of them."
Alice let Sirius go and both awkwardly readjusted their clothes. Inwardly Remus groaned. When were these two idiots ever going to let go of the past enough to see they loved each other? Frank and Sarah were long dead and Remus knew neither would have wanted Alice and Sirius to grieve to the point of never letting themselves be happy. Besides, Sirius was already Neville's dad in everything but name and blood. Nor would Harry care; Alice was as much of a mother to him as Sirius had been a father to Neville.
Remus gestured and Sirius nodded and they made their way towards the dueling area. They had purposely made it so they'd pass James and Lily's grave. The trio stopped and were silent for a minute or two.
Finally Sirius spoke up, "James. Lily. I've stood here many times. I wept while I apologize over and over. I have raged at the injustices. I have told you stories of how your son was doing. Now it's time to say that the man we thought was a brother, the one who betrayed you will die today."
Sirius looked at Alice briefly before turning back, "Lily…I know I've been an idiot for the last few years. I've heard your voice telling me that a lot. I know that all this time, you've been right. I have been a coward. I have used everything to run from living again. I've forgotten what Charlus told me when he took me in. Family is who we accept into our hearts regardless of what society says. I've been afraid of what other's might say and afraid to truly take up my own lineage. So I pledge to you, after I put down that traitorous rat, I will ask Alice to marry me."
Remus gasped but Alice just squealed and hugged Sirius and gave him a quick kiss. She then turned towards the graves, "I will say yes, Lily. I'm just like Sirius. I've been a coward too. Remus has been oh so patient with us. I think it was easier to be afraid of what people, what Frank might have said. But Remus has been right all along, Sarah and Frank would never want either of us to be unhappy. I hope this will make the two of you happy."
Sirius hugged Alice before Remus hugged them both. They had a communal moment of cathartic, shared emotion before Remus released them and lightly punched Sirius in the shoulder, "Come on Padfoot, you've got work to do before you can think about any future puppies."
"Remus!" Alice gasped out with a blush.
Sirius simply laughed. "To true. Time to put some of the past behind us so we can focus on the future afterwards."
Sirius turned and made his way to where a Ministry official was waiting to magically inspect Sirius prior to his duel.
Remus didn't pay much attention to this. He scanned the faces of all the attending officials and "interested" parties. He easily picked out Harry talking with Luna and Ginny. Ron was snickering at something the Twins had said. Susan was sitting with others of what had been known as the "Rebel" faction for quite some time now. All were excited except for Percy who still looked pale. He'd had that look ever since the news that his pet rat had been the notorious Death Eater Peter Pettigrew all along.
Remus smiled nastily at that. He had to admit Peter proved his Gryffindor sorting by being ballsy enough to hide at the Weasleys. The amount of information he had gleaned and presumably either passed on to the likes of Lucius or kept for the return of the Dark Lord was considerable. On the other hand, Peter had proven once again that he never thought things through. With Selene dead, almost certainly through Malfoy machinations, Luna was over at the Burrow far more than she might have been. Hiding out in an animagus form around a witch who, like her father, had a passion for zoology had turned out to hopefully be a fatal mistake.
Remus' eyes fell on Neville. He was sitting with Dame Longbottom. Both looked solemn. Remus knew the boy was probably worried about Sirius. Remus wondered if Dame Longbottom was secretly hoping the Rat would kill Sirius. The fights between the two were legendary since Dame Longbottom had been one of those to realize what was going on between Sirius and Alice even if they themselves hadn't. That and the dowager witch felt that as regent, she had more right to tell how Neville should be raised than his own mother. That hadn't gone well for her in the court of public opinion, however.
"You know, as happy as I am about things, I have to say it's a bit sudden," Remus said quietly to Alice.
The witch shook her head, "Not really. It's been building for a long time. The problem was, I think, is the more Sirius and I began to admit to ourselves how we felt, the more we ran from it. Actually Harry is the one that really got the ball rolling, I think. A few years ago, Susan confided to both of us that she was worried about Harry. You know how broody he can be."
Remus chuffed, "Oh I certainly do! I'm just hoping he's gotten all the angst out of the way early because if not he's going to be a right pain in the arse when he's a teen."
Alice chuckled, "We can only hope. Anyway, Susan told us something of what Harry said about how if Sarah hadn't died, Harry would have a Black cousin at his side. I think that really hit Sirius about how much he'd put his life on hold. It also got me thinking as well. We both know how hard it is to keep a baby the older a witch is. Neither of us are getting any younger and if we wait till this is all settled, well it may be far too late. I might have Neville from Frank, but why shouldn't he have some brothers or sisters as well? For all Sirius' philandering in school, he's still as much of a traditional Pureblood when it comes to love. Sarah was to be his wife and I think he needed to be reminded that he never wed and it's okay to love again. I think we both needed to be reminded of that.
Remus gave Alice a sour look, "I see; listen to your godson but not your old school chum who'd been harping on it for years!"
Alice chuckled. "No one likes a nag, Remus," she said with a sly grin.
The ministry official raised a green flag. An answering green flag from the dueling area caused a buzz of excitement. Sirius looked to him and Remus nodded. He made his way over to the same area to be checked. It had taken a bit of wrangling for him to be Sirius' second given he was a werewolf. In the end, the fact that Peter had, in a sense, betrayed him as well had helped get things going.
That and no one expected any way in Heaven or Earth that he'd be needed. The unofficial betting odds of Peter beating Sirius or something happening that would allow Remus to take his place were so long you could probably walk to France on them.
Finally, after more flags and posturing, a long-winded sermon from Dumbledore that was in terrible taste given the bulk of the audience's losses in the War, Sirius took his place facing Peter. The Ministry holding cells actually looked like they'd been good for Peter. Of course Sirius and Remus both felt that one could take it to Gringotts that the likes of Lucius had ensured that Peter got the best food and potions in the hopes that Peter might somehow pull out a win.
The red flag dropped and a purple spell ended that hope. Peter had barely gotten his wand in a position to cast whatever spell he had chosen before Sirius' spell struck true. To Remus' surprise, Peter simply staggered, gurgled a bit and then fell forward dead.
Remus went up to his friend and said loud enough to hear over the cheers, "That's two surprises for today!. How many times had you sworn to have Peter throwing up his entrails for what he'd done?"
Sirius face was stony but he turned slightly with a hint of a smirk, "Well there are kids present. Besides, I'm done letting Death Eaters like Peter hold me back. We are going to get our revenge for our fallen but they'd never want us to give up living just because they died. This isn't about revenge. It's justice. I lost sight of that and let my desire for vengeance blind me to the life I could have been having."
Remus clapped his friend on the shoulder, "Don't be too hard on yourself. I think you; Alice, Harry and Neville have had a good life together."
Sirius nodded, "Yeah but I should have done this earlier. Then, at least, Dame Vulture Hat couldn't have forced Neville into going to St. William's instead of going to St. George's with Harry and Susan."
Remus chuckled, "Well at least you pulled a prank on some of them. Now Harry and Luna won't be the only one to see thestrals next year!"
Sirius laughed and made his way over to the Ministry official beckoning to him along with a very unhappy looking Dumbledore.
Remus watched him go before turning to see Harry looking at him. Harry looked over to where Alice was sitting with Neville and then back to him. Harry gave him a grin and a thumbs-up.
Remus laughed. It was a long and powerful laugh. A laugh that let out so much pent up frustration and stress of the years past. One chapter had finally closed and now, finally, a new chapter would belatedly begin.
XxXxX
GRYFFINDOR COMMON ROOM, HOGWARTS – SEPTEMBER 2nd, 1994 – EARLY MORNING
Harry and Neville stretched in an open area away from the fireplace. Both were sweaty from their run. While both shared the vacant Gryffindor Head Boy suite on the ground floor, the two planned to use the stairs when the weather got bad to keep up their physical regime. The two 14-year-old teens were both fit even if they had different builds. Neville had a good 5cm lead on Harry and no one felt Harry would every have a growth spurt big enough to catch up. Neville was also heavier and stronger than Harry. In contrast, Harry was like a coiled spring, lithe and quick on his feet. Their 'dogfather' and 'hawkmother' both agreed that Harry took more after Lily physically as Neville did the same with Frank.
Both teens had been working out under Sirius and Remus since they were small. While Remus had the innate strength of the wolf, Sirius never stopped the sort of daily training and physical regime he had been under as an auror. Both wizards said that their physical strength saved them many times in the War. Remus had grinned like the wolf he sometimes was when explaining to the moaning teens doing push-ups that having magic do most things and house-elves to do the rest made the Death Eaters weak. Except for the odd wizard like Thorfinn Rowle, the Death Eaters might have had a lot of magical power but little in the way of physical staying power.
Both Harry and Neville couldn't wait for Flitwick's dueling club to start up. Draco and his cronies would soon learn the lessons many Death Eaters had died learning.
"I might be a bit homesick already, but I have to say at least we won't listen to Cassie and Lyra crying all night," Neville said while stretching out his hamstrings
Harry shrugged, "I can see Alice's point. Sure they could use a silencing spell and Kreacher can easily get there before them, but even as a baby I think both of us would rather be cuddled by your mum than Kreacher!"
Neville nodded at that. He'd never admit it, but he secretly liked the fact that no matter how much his mum had raised both of them, Harry always referred to her as 'your mum' or Alice. As much as they were a family together, even if mostly due to legality, Neville still felt good that Harry respected him wanting to keep a little bit back for himself.
Of course they now shared sisters in Cassiopeia and Lyra Black.
Harry grimaced, "I just want to know if somehow the twins are already trying to prank us. I mean you figure if one of them wakes up, why not the other? Oh no! We have to listen to both of them go off at different times!"
The teens lapsed back into stretching. Finally Neville asked, "So…what do you think of the Muggleborns?"
Harry huffed in irritation, "That, once again, I'm just as angry as Sirius that the Ministry continues to refuse to allow families to be brought into the secret as soon as their kid does accidental magic enough to be detected. I mean that Justin bloke had to go through 5 years of therapy being told there was nothing weird about him all to be unraveled when Professor McGonagall shows up to say just the opposite. Talk about a bloody mind-screw."
Neville nodded, "Yeah I thought that was messed up. I know Auntie Andrey was rather livid about it. I hope Uncle Ted can actually get some traction with that lawsuit. Do you really think that it can work?"
Harry shrugged, "Remus and Auntie Amelia seem to think so. Morag told me it had to do with some bit about the Ministry derives its charter from the Wizengamot which in turn was created out of certain oaths to the Crown. The big issue is that for a long time, no one has been sure if those oaths carried over to the House of Windsor. Both the Light and Dark didn't want to test it. Now, I think, is long past the time to get an answer."
"You've been spending a lot of time of late with Morag. You're going to make Luna, Ginny and Hannah jealous," Neville said with a sly grin so similar to his mother's.
Harry blew a raspberry at him, "Really? I think Susan might be a bit put out at how much attention you seem to be giving to that Hermione gal's behind."
Neville blushed before muttering, "It is a nice behind. Almost as nice as Morag's."
Harry had to chuckle, "Only you Neville! Only you could have a witch with one of the best baps in our year interested in you only for you to be an arse man!"
"Is this what all you wizards do when you're alone? Talk about our bits?"
Harry and Neville looked up and both blushed with embarrassment to see Parvati glowering at them.
"Would you rather us sit around and talk crap about girls like you do about boys?" Harry asked.
Parvati's scowl deepened before she broke into giggles, "Okay, you got me there. Oh and Neville, you might be looking south but Hermione actually wears sports bras to keep her bust line down. She told Lavender she didn't like you boys never knowing what her eye color was."
Harry nudged his adopted brother, "The whole package, Nev. Brains, baps and bum. You lucky dog."
Neville got up and affected a hurt look, "I am not going to stand here and be set upon by you uncouth ruffians! Good day!"
Both Parvati and Harry snorted at that as Neville went to grab a shower. Harry turned back to Parvati, "Hey Parv; sorry to see you get split up like that. We all knew it might happen, but still."
Parvati shrugged, "It's okay, Harry. I'd go nuts as a Raven and I'm sure Padma would go through with her threat to strangle Lavender with her hair ties if she talks about lipstick shades again. Plus, I figure it's best we're spread out as much as we can."
Harry sighed, "Yeah…although I hate to say it but I was sort of hoping Padma might squeak into Slytherin. All we have are Daphne and Blaise. While we all suspected they'd be snakes, it will take the second coming of Merlin to get them to quit striding the political fence."
Parvati shrugged, "I'm telling you, Harry. You keep ignoring Tyra's potential. She may be as cold as a glacier but I'll stick by my gossip network. She's a closet Muggle culture lover."
Harry shrugged, "So you say. Still, if I had an uncle like Thorfinn, I might pretend to be a bad Dark witch in training as well. How that maniac missed out of Azkaban is something I can't understand."
Parvati gave a humorless laugh, "He's good at doing the nasty jobs in the Ministry no one else will touch. There is always someone like him people in power keep around to do their dirty work for them."
Harry sighed, "Yeah, you're right. Still, that Paul Runcorn might be something to work within a few years. Sure his dad was as dark as they come, but he grew up as a Muggleborn. I'm betting after a year or two in the snake-pit will enlighten him to how low in the system he will be seen as."
Parvati nodded, "Draco will probably go out of his way to do us that favor without realizing it. It's been only one day and I'm already sick of him. Seeing him at functions was bad enough, but I wanted to murder him before we even got off the train. I really wish Mr. Tonks and Uncle Sirius had been able to get the Malfoy's marriage annulled and Mrs. Malfoy's dowry returned to House Black. That would have shoved a peacock feather up that wanker's arse."
Harry grinned, "It's a gift of his. Dora can change her form; Draco can cause everyone around him to hate him. I once overheard Pansy of all people bitching about him."
Parvati snickered, "She's just unhappy her parents want to give her to the Malfoys when she's pining for you."
Harry gave Parvati a sour look, "Don't start with that again."
"Why? The only person who checks you out and sighs when you're not looking as much as Pansy is Ginny." Parvati said with a wide grin.
Harry did a face palm, "Please don't bring up Gin-Gin. I'm just so happy Luna was able to jump into our year as an Heir so I don't have to put up with Ginny when I want to just goof off in the Lovegood library for a bit. Oh no, I have to listen to her and Ron carp about wanting to play Quidditch."
Parvati laughed, "How did you make it into Gryffindor again? You're such a nerd at times, Harry!"
Harry shrugged, "Blame my mum…and Remus. Plus when you grow up around Sirius Black, it pays to be able to research ways to get your pranking revenge. Well, I'm going to hit the showers. You ready to start sending feelers out?"
Parvati nodded, "I'll make sure everyone I'm assigned to gets there. I just hope that Luna's dad knows what he's talking about."
Harry got up and grabbed his water bottle, "I don't know. A room that can remake itself at Hogwarts seems to be one of the less weird things Xeno has brought up in my opinion."
XxXxX
ROOM OF REQUIREMENTS, HOGWARTS – SEPTEMBER 6th, 1994 – EARLY EVENING
Harry looked out at the 25 students sitting and waiting for him to speak. He had made the Room of Requirements make a simple room similar to a lot of the classrooms with tiered seating and a podium for him. The only flash was a large banner with the Order of the Phoenix symbol on it.
Harry took a deep breath and gave a bow to his audience, "I would like to say thank you all for coming. Many are friends going back a long way. Many are likewise allies. Many have suffered and believe as I do that we do not want our suffering to go unavenged. But most importantly, I want to thank all the rest for taking a chance and coming. You are new to our world and I'm glad you were willing to take a chance."
"After the Sorting, I'm sure you all know that I am Harry Potter, Heir to the Ancient and Most Noble House of Potter. Regardless of my wonderful family stitched together by love and trust, I am an orphan. Many in this room are, especially most of the Heirs here tonight," Harry said as he gestured to the likes of Susan, Luna, Neville and Morag."
"I want to be blunt, right up front. I am about to tell you things that are biased and held by only certain parts of our world. But I'm also going to tell you that the Ministry and a lot of people have worked hard to deny you Muggleborns the knowledge you need to make an informed choice about the Magical world."
Harry pointed at Hermione, "I'm going to tell you that no matter how smart you are, you'll never be allowed to get as far as a Pureblood." Harry pointed at a Hufflepuff he didn't know by name yet but who he had overheard his excitement for Quidditch during a meal, "I'm here to tell you that if you get on a professional team, you might seem to get the same pay as Purebloods, but that's because you won't be getting under-the-table bonuses and other deals. You have almost no chance of getting the same money for endorsements."
Harry made a sweeping gesture, "I'm known as the Boy-Who-Lived. It's a bullshit title because I didn't kill Voldemort. He's not dead. The Ministry, the media, the histories say he is, but I can tell you from very credible sources that he exists as a wraith. If he can get his body back, the war he started back before we all were born will start up again."
"I'm telling you this because when, and I mean when and not if, that happens that you and your families will be the first targeted. You don't have to believe my word. Not now. You'll soon learn it, day by day from the comments, the sneers and the dirty looks. The cruel pranks that will come and you're going to get very used to hearing the term mudblood used against you. I'm going to tell you tonight about a lot of things you don't have to believe right now. Yet every day after this, you'll start to see it, feel it, experience it. Some of you may have gotten a taste of it already."
Harry paused as he noticed a lot of the Muggleborns nodding, Hermione the most emphatically. "I'm not going to lie and tell you that I'm not trying to recruit you. I am. I am doing so because I feel that we didn't win the last war; it just got put on pause. And because we didn't win that war and our leaders took the easy road over the harder road, the just road, we're going to be called to finish the war that our parents fought in…and in too many cases died in."
"Again, take what I'm about to say with as much suspicion as you must. I would if I were you. I just want you to let me lay out what happened in the War and more importantly what was allowed to happen afterwards. Because not only has nothing changed, the Dark has grown stronger. When their Dark Lord Voldemort returns, he will return to a Wizengamot filled with people who bribed their way out of prison. He will find the Ministry filled with his people and those who feed off the bribes they get from Voldemort's followers. He will find a society that has done little to address the issues that brought about the war. In short, my parents sacrifice was almost in vain."
Harry paused and let that sink in. While many of the Purebloods in the room where allies, there were still many of them and many half-bloods as well that continue to vacillate politically. He was heartened to see them looking grim.
"My godfather, Lord Sirius Black of the Ancient and Noble House of Black, saw the 'reconciliation plan' done by the likes of then Minister Bagnold and Chief Warlock Albus Dumbledore, our Headmaster, for the appeasement it was. The Dark followed a madman who wanted to overthrow our way of life and killed hundreds, Muggles, Muggleborn and Purebloods alike. Yet after my parents sacrifice, they were allowed to get away with it."
Harry banged his fist on the podium, "But we will NOT let them get away with it! We will NOT remain passive and afraid. We will meet them and defeat them in any venue we find them. My godfather swore and oath that he'd keep fighting in the courts, in the Ministry, and in the Wizengamot for justice. Now, the signs are there that the Dark Lord Voldemort is returning. I am here to tell you that our Order of the Phoenix will not meekly meet them with stunners and platitudes. We will fight them in the streets and into their warded manors. We will strip them of the galleons they use to drip the poison of graft and corruption into our very way of life."
Harry thrust his hand out and pointed again at Hermione, "And we're going to fight so that people like you don't end up dead or fleeing the British Isles just to survive. That's what tonight is about. Our pledge to you, we will not let another generation of Magicals who's only supposed crime was to be born to non-magicals be wiped out. So, I ask you, lend me your ears for tonight. Let me lay out our plan to not forget what happened before and what is coming to happen again. To listen why I feel you must join with us and stand fast against those that have twisted the Traditions and the Dark into something evil."
Harry dropped his hand and gripped the podium, "Give me this one night. But know that even if you walk away, decide not to get involved, you have my pledge we will never give up on you. When the time comes, we will be there for you. I hope you will join me and be there for all of us.
XxXxX
DADA CLASSROOM, HOGWARTS – SEPTEMBER 8th, 1994 – EARLY EVENING
"Yes, Heir P-p-p-potter?" Professor Quirrell said as he pointed to where Harry had his hand raised.
Harry lowered his hand and surreptitiously swapped his wand from his left hand to his right. He'd already seen that all of the people he could count on already had their wands in hand. "I just have a general question before the class begins. The purpose of this class is to defend us from those that practice the Dark Arts. Magicks deemed to stain one's soul by using them. Is this correct?"
Quirrell blinked at this even as Draco's sotto voice could be easily heard saying, "Blood traitor and idiot all in one!"
Professor Quirrell took a breath, "Yes, that is cor-r-r-rrect, Heir P-p-p-potter."
Harry stood up and moved to an open spot before the professor's podium, "Then how is it being possessed by an evil entity going to affect your curriculum?"
Quirrell's eyes narrowed, "What?"
Everyone in the room, even Draco, noticed the dramatic shift in tone in the professor's voice. The room seem to have gotten colder as well.
Harry gestured with his left hand towards Quirrell's head, "You heard me and whoever is lurking under that turban heard me as well. Or should I say Tom Marvolo Riddle heard me?"
Professor Quirrell face took on a shocked look even as a muffled voice said, "Kill the boy now!"
Harry had to admit he was shocked when his spell, and all of the others cast by his allies all bounced off a shield that Quirrell somehow got up before any of the spells reached him.
Still, it was evident that the strain was tremendous as Quirrell was rocked back away from the podium and had to grab his desk to keep from falling. "Avada Kedavra!" he roared.
Harry had been expecting that spell and easily jumped out of the way. However, Vincent Crabbe, still sitting at the back of the class wasn't so lucky. He slumped onto his desk after the green bolt of death struck him in the shoulder.
Unaware of this, Harry made a decision. The classroom was small and all it would take was one area effect dark curse to kill or wound most of the class. He decided to take the chance on what Xenophilius had said after the bit of Voldemort's soul had been taken out of him by specialists at Gringotts. Luna's father had supposed that the very ritual that had destroyed the Dark Lord's body was still active in Harry's body. It had been what had kept Harry safe as a toddler from the effects of having a sliver of Voldemort's soul attached to him.
Harry knew that Xeno was considered to be just as touched in the head as poor Arthur Weasley due to spell damage from the War. He also knew that when Luna's dad was "on" his mind was still as sharp as when he was an Unspeakable. Harry had thought about what the wizard had said and done a lot of covert research on it himself and felt Xeno was right. It would explain why Harry was able to sense Voldemort's horcruxes.
They had already destroyed two, the one Kreacher had presented to them when the little House Elf had heard them plotting one night to rid themselves of the Dark Lord. The other had come about during a tour of Hogwarts last summer which had led them to the Come and Go room. Both horcruxes had been destroyed after being immersed in a bowl of Harry's blood, proving to Harry that Xenophilius had been right.
His parents had done some ritual, probably using James' family magic as the link to make the blood a powerful shield against the Dark Lord. It only worked due to the link between the families; Tom Riddle being the descendent of Antioch Peverell while Harry was descended from Ignotus Peverell. If there was one thing family magic and the Great Houses shared was various ways to keep family members from trying to kill each other to gain power. It was why Bellatrix had been so easily captured after she'd stupidly cast at Sirius. Magic's punishment for casting on the Lord/Lady or Heir of one's house, even if under another house by marriage, was swift and terrible.
So Harry felt that it was unwise as a First-Year to try and duel an adult wizard who was playing host to one of the worst Dark Lord's of the 20th Century. So he'd take a page out of one of his tutor's books. Mad-Eye Moody always said one never fought fair when fighting for one's life.
Harry used another volley from his friends to sprint towards Professor Quirrell. With a war-cry, he leapt threw the wizard's protective shield geared toward spells and grabbed his face. Harry was very glad to see that Xeno had been right as Quirrell's face began to blister and then burn.
"Master! What magic is this? I…I burn!" Quirrell shouted as his eyes were wide with fear and pain.
Harry focused his magical core into his hands. The Patils had sent for a friend of the family years earlier who had help teach the Rebel children techniques that were rarely used in Europe but made it easier for wandless control. Right now, Harry simply wanted to push as much of whatever his parents had done for him through their sacrifice into Quirrell. It wouldn't kill Voldemort, but Harry was hoping it hurt like hell.
It seemed to work like a charm as Quirrell screamed even louder and fell to the ground. Harry gritted his teeth against the pain in his hands, but he kept at it even as the wizard's head burst into flames. However, the dark flames must have been a magical manifestation as there was no heat. Still, Harry grabbed Quirrell's hand to keep skin-on-skin contact. This turned out not to be needed as the whole body was collapsing into the black fire.
The class was filled with screams and cries about what was going on. That and Pansy shrieking about Vincent being dead. All of that stopped as a dark mist rose out of the body. Harry took a step back even as a voice came out of the mist.
"This is only a setback, Potter! I am immortal and you and your allies will soon feel the wrath of Voldemort!" the voice hissed.
Harry shook his fist, "Bring it on Tom! We know what you did! We know all about what you've done. It doesn't matter! Get a body and I'll destroy that one too! Get a hundred bodies! We'll kill those as well and dump them into the pit with everyone wearing your Mark!"
"Foolish boy! Maybe I'll take your body now and end this, once and for all!" The dark, vaguely man-shaped mist dived towards Harry who stood defiant. This turned out not to be bravado as the mist recoiled away from Harry after the barest touch. The room was filled with a screech of pain and anger.
"Curse your mudblood mother! I will have my revenge Potter! You cannot escape me!" Voldemort cursed before flying out the window.
"Escape? I'll always be there, you bloody wanker! Ready to fight you and your minions!" Harry yelled. After a moment, Harry turned to find everyone staring at him wide-eyed. "What? It's like none of you have ever seen the wraith of the Dark Lord Voldemort before!
XxXxX
MINISTER'S OFFICE, THE MINISTRY FOR MAGIC, LONDON – OCTOBER 17th, 1995 – AFTERNOON
"Minister! I'm telling you that I cannot guarantee your safety if you stay here!" Auror Dawlish said as he pocketed a two-way mirror.
"Hogwash! I'm the Minister of Magic! I will not let the rabble push me out of power!" Fudge said even as he was sweating as he looked up from the reports he'd been reading. Dawlish knew none of them had good news.
One of the Minister's under-secretaries spoke up, "Minister, I do not think you understand the mood of the people right now. The revelation about the Dark Lord still being alive, even as a wraith…"
"Bentwhistle! I've told you enough times already. The Dark Lord is dead! Bring up anything to the contrary again and I'll have you sacked," Fudge almost hissed.
Percival Bentwhistle, however, simply nodded before continuing, "Be that as you may, the fact remains this latest debacle coming out of Hogwarts seems to be the straw that broke the thestral's back. Regardless of how you wish to spin this, your long association with Lord Malfoy is working against you. It hasn't helped that he has disappeared and thus cannot refute the charges that Lord Black and his cabal have brought forth to the Wizengamot."
"The people!" Fudge sneered! "I don't care what the mob thinks! I am their Minister! I know what's best for them. As for Lucius, he has told me that he feels he cannot get a fair hearing and will wait to disprove these baseless claims once this ridiculous situation is put down."
Bentwhistle finally snapped, "Put down? PUT DOWN? If you ever left this office and walked down Diagon Alley for a change, you'd know that you're one day away from being burned in effigy! There was a BASILISK at Hogwarts! The 20-meter carcass isn't some conjuration or trick. It's as real as the people who are calling for your head! And you know what? I'm not going to wait around for that day! I have enough relatives in France to remember the last time the so-called "mob" was this riled up. Good day, sir!"
Bentwhistle turned and almost knocked down the short, ugly witch who came bustling into the office. The wizard simply sneered at her and left.
"What now, Dolores?" Fudge asked.
"Cornelius! The Wizengamot is going to meet later today to put forth a vote on articles of impeachment!" the toad-like witch gasped out.
The other Fudge supporters in the room gasped. Fudge, however, was simply livid. "How dare they! Dolores! I want articles of prorougement drawn up! The Wizengamot is trying to interfere in the Ministry's authority to keep civil order."
Auror Dawlish blanched at this, "Sir…the Ministry derives its mandate from the Wizengamot, not the other way around."
"Nonsense! It's just an annoying body of wizards and witches who put themselves before the welfare of the good people of Magical Britain! The likes of Sirius Black cannot be allowed to pervert justice like he has," Fudge all but snarled.
"But sir, we've been skating a very thin line, legally, arresting as many of the half-bloods and Muggleborn protestors as we have," a witch from the legal team pointed out.
"Thin line? I AM THE MINISTER! I am the one who decides what is best for our people. Get out! All of you except for Dolores and Dawlish! I don't want excuses! I want results. I want this mob crushed and the Wizengamot hobbled. This charade of the Dark Lord's return is just Black's factions way of trying to take power away from me. I'll show them who has the power in England!" Fudge almost screamed.
As the witches and wizards filed out, mumbling darkly to each other, Fudge fumed. He'd show them all that while Magic was Might, the Ministry and the Minister was the one who directed that might.
OoOoO
"Cornelius Oswald Fudge. You have been charged and convicted by a jury of your peers of capital crimes against the people of Magical Britain. You have misused Ministerial power entrusted to you. You have attempted to circumvent the will of the people and the Wizengamot. Worse, you have worked to sabotage any and all planning on how to deal with the fact that the Dark Lord Voldemort is not fully dead. For these crimes, you have been judged. Before sentencing is carried out, do you have any last words?"
Fudge sneered at the black-hooded Unspeakable, "I will say what I've always said. I'm the rightful Minister and history will prove that I was unjustly thrown from my rightful power. The Dark Lord is not fully dead? Pah! You will rue the day you let Sirius Black take over Britain."
"Oh for the love of Merlin, toss that wanker through already!" came a cry from the back of the chamber.
The hooded wizard paused, shrugged and with a flick of his wand tossed a screaming Fudge into the Veil of Death.
XxXxX
MINISTER'S OFFICE, THE MINISTRY FOR MAGIC, LONDON – OCTOBER 30th, 1995 – AFTERNOON
Remus looked around as various workers took out the last of the garish decorations that Fudge favored. "Never would have thought a prankster like you would end up here."
Minister Black laughed, "I'm sure if my younger self could see me now, he'd probably throw himself off the Astronomy Tower or try to drown himself in the Black Lake."
Both chuckled at that before going silent in shared contemplation. Finally Remus spoke up, "This is just the beginning. We're in a good spot, sure. But we've already seen the reaction from the Continent."
Sirius nodded, "I know, Mooney. Moldyshorts could kill and maim Muggleborn and Pureblood alike while killing hundreds of Muggles in violation of the Statute of Secrecy. What did that get us? Less than a bored yawn. Throw down a corrupt system and start jailing murderers? Oh now they want to tell us how to run our country!"
Remus nodded, "You know…I hate to say it but after Harry does what the prophecy says he will, the problem won't go away. You know that. I know Harry knows it."
Sirius' face fell. He took a swig from his whiskey that Lord MacDougal had gifted him for his last birthday, "I know, Mooney. I know. Well, I guess I'll just have to be the Black my family always wanted me to be. Of course they'd be horrified what I'm planning to do. Funny how for all those years of looking up to Albus Dumbledore and here I am about to take a page from Grindelwald of all people."
Remus sighed, "It can't be helped. I'm just wishing it could be different. It's a sad, sad day when Harry has to be the one to suggest the road we have to take. I'm torn between being horrified and proud."
Sirius nodded, "Harry has always known he would be the standard-bearer in this fight. They all did. We allowed the peace to be stolen from us. Now our penance is to send our sons and daughters off to not only fix that mistake but to go further and ensure it doesn't happen again. Yes, I'm horrified as well, but Merlin damn it, at least the world Harry and the rest will build out of the ashes of the old one will be theirs. Old Houses will be cast down, new ones shall rise. The downtrodden will be raised up as their oppressors are thrown down."
Remus snorted, "It's our job to make damn sure we don't become the new oppressors. That's going to be difficult."
Sirius scowled, "Merlin be damned how hard. We lost our war. Now is our time to get it right. When Harry and the legions he's going to lead finally put down their wands of war and take up their wands of peace, we'll be there with a system we hope will make all this sacrifice worth it."
Sirius stood and turned to the magical "window" which gave a live view of London. He was silent for a moment before softly saying, "And even if we fail in this righteous endeavor, at least all of the fallen will rest easier knowing that the murderers and rapists of our War will have met justice at last."
Remus came up and put a hand on Sirius' shoulder, "For the fallen."
Sirius reached up and grasped Remus' hand, "For the fallen. For we never forgot…or forgave."
XxXxX
A/N: I think that I might continue this one, but not like a typical fic. I'm thinking that sort of like what I did in the Dido Chronicles, each of the above scenes would get a chapter which would be fleshed out more. Thus it wouldn't be a full, let's go through all of the backstory. It's a grind doing that, I'm sure anyone who has tried to write stories going from pre-Hogwarts through to Seventh Year can tell you.
The Future: I think most of you could see that Harry will march across Magical Europe and put down the old, Pureblood ways. A hero of the Light? Or just another conqueror willing to use violence to impose their view of order? Only history will say for certain!