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Chapter 65
Tom poured over reports and international law documents. The task force was created in two weeks. He had top aurors tracking any rogue Grindelwald followers. They caught Thorfin Rowle and Carax Merrythought underground in Sussex. There were a few international wizards who were deported to their countries.
Azkaban received Bellatrix, Rabastan and Rodolphus Lestrange. Life sentences. They were tried by the Wizengamot. The evidence clear, in front of them. Druella Rosier committed suicide at home once she learned of the events at the Ministry. Abraxas Malfoy wept and raged. His only son laid dead at age twenty-three.
Grindelwald's death was ruled an act of defense. The three wizards' wands were examined with priori Incantatem and revealed defensive spells only. Tom knew better. He was aware that Albus recited the spell, a spell one Severus Snape created, simple, not a wand needed. Albus need only say the words and Grindelwald's nose and mouth stopped taking in air forever. A simple death. The final ruling was that Grindelwald was weakened by age and the three disarming spells.
What a beginning to his career as Minister of Magic. He had to admit that loss of life was terrible but their losses were minimal. Lucius was their only casualty. Narcissa was beside herself with grief. She was of age and Cygnus' debtors preyed down on the small fortune Cygnus left to his only unmarried daughter. She was an adult by wizarding law. Narcissa's prospects looked dark until Lucius' will was read. His mother left him money and a house elf. He left it all to Narcissa. Dobby went to live with her. She would finish her seventh year at Hogwarts without problems, as Cygnus paid tuition. There was the problem of where she would stay. It was solved by none other than Walburga Black. She decided that they would take her in. She needed a home and no relative of hers would spend Christmas at Hogwarts. Tom nodded, he knew that Sirius spent last Christmas at the castle but remained quiet. It was not his place to point that out.
He finished his work for that day and flooed home. Minerva sat by the living room waiting for him. "Where are they?"
"Sleeping. Is something the matter?" Minerva asked him immediately.
"Nothing much. Narcissa has relocated to 12 Grimmauld Place. Orion and I will have lunch next week. They found a few rogue wizards in the Soviet Union. Abraxas is asking me to interrogate Narcissa with veritaserum. He thinks she was in on the Ministry attack. He is also trying to stall Narcissa's inheritance."
Minerva frowned, "what did you say?"
Tom helped her from her chair and led her to their bedroom. "I said no of course. She is barely an adult and I have no doubts that she knew nothing of this. Severus also vouched for her."
He undressed and brushed his teeth. "I want to sleep for a week."
Minerva kissed his cheek. They were side to side when they heard the moans. Minerva rolled her eyes and waved her wand around.
"They've gone at it for hours." Minerva whispered.
"Oh, to be young and in love." Tom kissed her hand.
"Tell me about Dumbledore." He continued. Minerva frowned and spoke softly, "he is seemingly fine but I saw him going to the mirror of Erised. He goes every night. I think he keeps seeing him. I don't know why he feels so guilty. It could have been your wand or Severus' wand." Minerva said sadly. She did not know that it was Albus. It had been Albus who whispered the words. Tom remained quiet. Minerva did not need that burden. That was between Albus, Severus and him.
"I owled him earlier. I invited him over for dinner next week." He said. Minerva hugged him "Thank you my love."
He kissed her lips gently and sought to undo her dressing gown. Minerva kissed him back. "Now."
"Now." He rasped at her and locked the door and waved his wand to make sure they would not be heard.
He sought refuge in her. Tom kissed down her neck and moved to undo her knickers. Minerva moaned when he entered her. Tom kissed her deeply and moved in and out of her. She grabbed his hair and massaged his scalp as he kneaded her belly. "Did you take the potion?"
Minerva nodded, "I did, come inside." She squeezed her tights around him. Tom growled and trembled above her.
"Thank you" he gasped and rolled them so that she could lay on top of him. He slept better that night.
The following weeks were a nightmare but he found that the wizarding community rallied behind him. They found that they not only had a politician but a fighter. The Daily Prophet extoled his dueling abilities. Dumbledore was once again asked to head the Wizengamot. Tom would approach the subject with him once again. He had resisted the position far too long. It was time.
Tom went home late early August. Minerva went to visit her parents for the weekend. Hermione went to visit Lily overnight. Severus remained back as Harry Evans absolutely refused to let a boy sleep in his home. He was surprised to see Dumbledore seated across Severus and found that they were both drinking firewhisky.
"What a surprise." Tom said. He was tired and preferred to have Dumbledore kilometers away from him. He tolerated him for Minerva's sake and often needed her as buffer between them. It was foreign to see Severus sitting so comfortably with one Albus Dumbledore.
"Oh Tom. So glad that you are here." Dumbledore said and offered him a firewhisky.
He sat down and waited for Severus to take the lead. "He does not trust you."
Severus said openly, "maybe he never will, not after what happened with Bilbo."
The older man nodded, "old scars, never healed."
"It is time they healed." Severus said. Tom thought that he was a complete hypocrite given the fact that he could not stay near Sirius Black or James Potter for more than twenty minutes without making a snide remark or hexing them.
"Young Severus and I were discussing the road ahead." Albus said with a half-smile.
"Albus has done some traveling." Severus said calmly. "He's done some private investigation with a few of his collaborators."
Tom frowned, "why was I not informed?"
"Dear Tom, surely you must know our ministry does not have the best track record." Dumbledore said in a patronizing tone.
"I do not like your implication." Tom started to hiss.
"Do not be so defensive. Listen to the information at hand." Severus continued.
Tom glared at him and remained quiet, "we grew complacent. It is your fault as much as it is mine. He still has followers, none strong in England, at least that we are aware at the moment. But you know all of this. It is the East, that is where we should continue to focus. I believe that we should send trained aurors to help the local authorities." The older man pronounced.
Tom felt a sick pleasure when he said the words, "that was done the night after the attacks in London. Do you think I am so incompetent as to not think of that?"
"It is not a matter of competence. It is matter of inexperience. Albus and I went through a war trying to stop Grindelwald." Severus said.
"I think it is time we stopped underestimating Tom." The older man said in that passive voice of his.
Severus drank more of his firewhisky, "that is a good step forward. Albus has some names you should strongly consider."
"I have Savage, Mckinnon and Selwyn and Robards." Tom said, disliking the way the two men looked at him.
"You need to include Alastor Moody and Theseus Scamander. Theseus is an old friend. I spoke with him. He is waiting your Patronus. Do not rely on owls. Alastor will be your point person." Dumbledore pointed out.
"Moody is a bit unorthodox. He is known to go rogue." Tom replied.
"You may need rogue." Severus stated clearly. "Theseus will keep the reins tight. It is time to trust Albus."
"You two have to work together if you want this to end as soon as possible. These groups are like weeds, they can grow unchecked and killed the other plants. Had Albus worked more closely with the ministry during the first rise, things would not have run so long." Severus said. The young man stood up.
"Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a concert to go to. Tom, do not wait up. I'm staying in Cokeworth with the girls." Tom noticed that he wore black jeans and a white top with a band name on it.
"I thought Mr. Evans did not want you to stay with them." Tom called out.
"What Harry doesn't know won't hurt him." He said and apparated away.
Dumbledore remained in his kitchen. "What do you say we continue our conversation? Severus is correct. We need to work together."
So, Tom sat down with the older man and heard what he had to say. He ruefully agreed to add Moody and send a Patronus to Scamander.
"Any relation to Newt Scamander?" Tom asked as Dumbledore prepared to apparate.
"Older brother." Dumbledore bade him goodbye. "We'll meet again next week."
Tom nodded and poured himself a last drink before he turned to bed.