The Hammer couldn't trust the magic diary. He knew that much. Seeing Tom Riddle's testimony compared to everything else surrounding the case made him more suspicious of it than ever. He needed to figure out more - going back to Hagrid was his next best option. Hopefully his friend would tell him the finer details about it now that he knew more about the incident. He considered it a matter of urgency.
Hermione and Neville hadn't made much progress on their work either, the true nature of the Chamber of Secrets and its monster still eluded them - Neville had come up with a list of things that seemed to be decent defences but a lot of the possible countermeasures were still well above their level for second year students. Hermione's list of possible causes filled up a few feet of parchment and didn't seem to be stopping - Harry felt like he hadn't seen her in so long because she had been disappearing to the library every day after classes. The Hammer was a little worried she would start developing grey hair from how hard she was working. Hopefully once Hagrid fessed up, they could narrow down her list.
A few days later, the Hammer pulled his cloak of invisibility out and put it on before sneaking out of the Ravenclaw common room and out of the castle to Hagrid's hut. In the distant light, the Hammer made out silhouettes headed to the same place he was. One of them was immediately recognisable as the Chief, the other was a more portly silhouette wearing what looked like a bowler hat. The Hammer sped up when he saw Hagrid answer the door, his crossbow in hand.
"-very bad business. Had to come." The Hammer paused nearby to listen while the portly man spoke. Up close, he cut a strange look with a pin-striped suit, a scarlet tie, a long black cloak, and pointed purple boots. The bowler was lime green. Hagrid looked worse for wear, his complexion pale and the sheen of sweat coming off him glistening in the firelight. "Three students attacked already. Things've gone far enough. The Ministry has to act."
"I never," Hagrid spoke, looking imploringly at Dumbledore, "you know I never, Professor Dumbledore, sir…" Harry watched the sad display through the window.
"I want it understood, Cornelius, that Hagrid has my full confidence," Dumbledore spoke, frowning at the portly man.
"Look, Albus," bowler-man spoke but didn't look anyone in the eye, "Hagrid's record's against him. Ministry has got to make an example - the school governors have been in touch."
"Yet again, Cornelius, I tell you that taking Hagrid away will not help anyone in the slightest," The Chief spoke with a fire that Harry had never seen before.
"Look at it from my point of view," the bureaucrat said, fidgeting with his bowler, "I'm under a lot of pressure. Got to be seen doing something. If it turns out it wasn't Hagrid, he'll be back and no more said. But I've got to take him. Got to. Wouldn't be doing my duty-"
"Take me?" said Hagrid, "take me where?'
"For a short stretch only," the Ministry man still didn't meet anyone's gaze, "not a punishment, Hagrid, more a precaution while we look into it. If someone else is caught, you'll be let out with a full apology…"
"Not Azkaban?" Hagrid croaked.
Before Cornelius could answer, there was another loud rap on the door. Dumbledore answered it and Harry bit his lip. Lucius Malfoy strode into Hagrid's hut, swathed in a long black travelling cloak, smiling a cold and satisfied smile. Fang started to growl.
"Already here, Fudge," he said approvingly, "Good, good…"
"What're you doin' here?" Hagrid yelled, "get out of my house!"
"My dear man, please believe me, I have no pleasure at all in being inside your -er - d'you call this a house?" Malfoy said, sneering, "I simply called at the school and was told the Headmaster was here?"
"And what exactly did you want with me, Lucius?" Dumbledore spoke politely, but from the look in his eyes, he was still incensed.
"Dreadful thing, Dumbledore," Malfoy senior spoke lazily, taking out a long roll of parchment, "but the governors feel it's time for you to step aside. This is an Order of Suspension - you'll find all twelve signatures on it. I'm afraid after discussing it over the holiday we feel you're losing your touch-"
The Hammer had enough of it right then and there. He stepped aside from the window, taking off his cloak and shoving it into his mokeskin pouch as the adults continued to talk politics.
"Now look, Lucius, if Dumbledore can't stop them-" Fudge said as Harry stepped up to the door, taking in a breath, "I mean to say, who can?"
"That remains to be-" Harry slammed open the door, making everyone but Dumbledore jump in surprise. Hagrid's head brushed the ceiling.
"Now listen here you two-bit bureacurats! Hagrid was framed by some bimbo named Tom Riddle! Tell him, Chief!"
"Dear lord, who is-" Fudge began.
"Harry Potter. You-" Lucius started speaking at the same time.
"Go chase yourself, Lucy! Sick of all your damn lies!" Harry pointed an angry finger at Lucius.
"Language, Harry." Dumbledore spoke. It broke the Hammer's momentum like a wave crashing onto a breakwater.
"But Chief, you know he's lying! There's no reason for this! This Fudge nonce is just rounding up the usual suspects! You were there! Just tell him about Tom!"
"I'm sorry, is this Harry Potter?" Fudge asked again, a quaver in his voice.
"Yes Cornelius, Harry this is Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic." Harry eyed him like the droppings in the owlery.
"Dear, dear, Mister Potter. It seems the things my son has said are more true than he realizes. All accusations and not a shred of proof." Lucius Malfoy unfurled the parchment he had in hand, showing the official declaration with its twelve signatures.
"If the governors want my removal, Lucius, I shall of course step aside."
"But-" Fudge stuttered.
"No!" Hagrid growled.
"You can't-" The Hammer felt an icy chill. He doubted whoever was next in line would deal with his antics quite the same way. He doubted anyone but the Chief had the big picture. Dumbledore hadn't taken his bright blue eyes off of Lucius Malfoy's cold grey ones.
"Damnit, Chief! If you're not the headmaster, you don't have any loyalty to the office, just tell them about Tom Riddle!"
Dumbledore held up his hand to Harry, "My boy, there is, as always, more to it. My loyalty to this school and her students will not waver, and I'm sure we will find that I will only truly have left this school when none here are loyal to me. Help will always be given at Hogwarts to those who ask for it."
Harry had never been more frustrated by Gryffindors.
"Damn it, Chief! Anything that can be destroyed by the truth deserves to be!"
"Now, now, Harry. Language. I do hope you won't mind Lucius, but my final act as Headmaster will be to give Harry detention. With Professor Lockhart. Professor McGonagall will be in touch for the exact day. Students shouldn't be wandering the grounds after curfew." He said with a twinkle in his eye.
The Hammer stood with his mouth agape. Lucius smiled his smug, condescending smile. Harry rubbed his forehead and sighed.
"Y'know what, fine. We'll do this your way, enjoy your stupid games." The Hammer stormed out the door and back into the night.