Authors Note: 18th October 2020
Another chapter for you all. Hope you are all safe in these challenging times. Enjoy.
"Mother Magic?" Hermione scoffed, as though it was the most ridiculous thing she had ever heard of. This quickly drew disapproving looks from both German witches and the two Australian ones. While Fleur and Gabrielle both looked almost insulted at Hermione's statement.
"Why you speak almost as though Magic is sentient," Hermione stated with her disbelief evident in her voice. "That's just ridiculous". She exclaimed.
This turned out to be quite the worst possible thing to say. As the disapproving looks from both Natascha and Bridgette quickly turned into outright offence and they quickly got to their feet and regarded Hermione with cold, angry looks.
"I would advise you to think very carefully before you speak again." Bridgette stated quite coldly to Hermione, "As open disrespect for the Mother is not looked upon kindly." She advised Hermione who was quickly becoming angry herself.
"The Mother is the one who consented to bless you with your magic." Bridgette told her, "Those of us who are grateful for her blessing, do our best to honour her gifts and conduct ourselves accordingly." She said before walking away without looking back.
Natascha took her place and gave Hermione a long searching look before she spoke, "Have you never wondered how magical oaths actually work?" She asked Hermione. "If you hold to the 'traditional' Muggle-born beliefs that Magic is "just" a force of nature, I'd advise you to rethink it and VERY quickly. Especially considering the company that you are keeping." She cautioned.
Seeing Hermione about to speak, she quickly added, "If you think that Magic is 'just like Electricity or Gravity' ask yourself this. 'Can you make an enforceable oath on either one of those forces?'" She asked Hermione before following her friend.
Hermione turned to Shelly and Fireball, only to see similar cold looks on their faces.
"If you think we are going to agree with you, you're sadly mistaken," Shelly advised a now clearly angry Hermione.
"I will also caution you not to utter such disrespectful thoughts around my family. Especially my parents or brother." She stated quite forcefully.
"Why can't I speak my mind to them about this?" Hermione snapped, "Are they trying to cover something up? What is it that they don't want people to know about?" She demanded hotly.
"Non," Fleur stated, surprising bother Hermione and me. Although Shelly and Fireball looked like they had been expecting her to speak up.
"Well?" Hermione demanded, "Tell me why not."
"They are 'Lords of the Realm'." She stated calmly to Hermione.
"I don't understand." Hermione shot back, "What's a Wizengamot awarded title got to do with this?" She asked.
"The title 'Lord of the Realm', isn't awarded by the Wizengamot, or indeed any magical parliament," Fleur stated while deep in thought. It was as though she was trying to call up something from the depths of her memory, "It is awarded by Magic itself." She said before looking to both Shelly and Fireball for confirmation.
"Correct." Shelly replied, "To be awarded, that title requires the person to be judged by Magic." She told us.
"Then if they are judged worthy, they are required to swear several unbreakable oaths to Magic itself, not to any Magical parliament or governing body." She said.
"Before you ask, I cannot tell you the wording of the oaths that they take. Only those who have taken them or are about to take them can know them."
"What if they refuse?" Hermione asked.
"The consequences of refusing differ from country to country. As they are tied into the 'sacred bonds' that have been established in each magically recognised nation."
"I can tell you about my own country, though. In Magical Australia, you cannot hold an office of Earl or Higher without taking a Magically enforced oath to Mother Magic. If you refuse, your memory is wiped of any and all knowledge of the oath, and you lose your right to the office you were being considered for."
"Depending on the reason for your refusal, you can also lose your magic itself, or in rare cases, even your life." She told us.
"Has anyone ever refused an oath?" I asked before I could help myself.
"Sadly, yes." Fireball replied, "However not in recent memory, as candidates are always advised of their responsibilities in advance and what they will entail before being formally offered the opportunity to take the required oaths."
"What happened?" I asked just before Hermione could.
"In the early 1800s, a promising young candidate was offered the role to be the First 'Duke of Perth'. As the Crown had finally decided to colonise the Western part of the Australian continent. As the colony of Western Australia hadn't been formally declared at the time, he believed that he and his family were to be exempt from the required oaths."
"Later on, when his personal diary was discovered, it was learned that he planned to set himself and his family up as a Royal family of the new colony and plunder its resources for their own material gain."
"We can only assume that when he was judged by magic, his plans were discovered and that is why he, along with his wife, and three adult children all ended up being stripped of their magic and shortly after that died."
"After their deaths, there were not many who were willing to step up and take on the role of Duke for the newly planned colony." She said with a small smile.
"I can see why." I agreed with her.
"Eventually it was the family of the local Healer in the Swan River settlement who was offered and accepted the role of Duke and all that it implied. He and his descendants have held that position ever since, as they have always been faithful in their service to the Colony, Nation, Realm and of course the Mother."
"I think I'm beginning to understand." Hermione said, "Why are we not taught this?" She asked.
"To that, I can't say for sure." Shelly answered, "But I do have my own thoughts on the matter, and they are closely linked to the 'blood purity' movement here in this country." She stated.
"But we don't have time to go over that now, as I believe everyone is just about to head off to the press conference that has been organised." She said as she indicated the floor of the chamber and the line of people exiting it.
I could see dad on the floor of the chamber waving to us, to get our attention and once he saw me looking, he indicated for us to come down and follow him out. We waved back to indicate that we were on our way and started to head down the steps. But before we went too far, Hermione turned back to Shelly.
"I'm sorry for what I said earlier, it's just that since meeting you all it seems as though it has been one major shock after another. It's almost as though that all that I've learnt is wrong." She tried to explain…
"Apology accepted Hermione." Shelly stated, "However, I wouldn't say that all you have learned is wrong. More like a lot is missing, specifically the WHY's as to the WHAT's that you have learned. As there is almost always a reason for why things are the way that they are." She advised her.
"I would strongly suggest that instead of blurting information out like an overactive Xerox machine when you hear something, try asking 'why' if you are unsure about what you hear instead." She advised us.
"The world of Magic is an awesome and wondrous place. But it can also be a very confusing place as well. Even with all that I have learned and seen in my many travels, I still encounter experiences and beliefs that challenge all that I think that I know about Magic and its various forms." She advised us.
"I would also strongly advise you to seek out and apologise to our two friends who you had insulted earlier." Shelly strongly advised Hermione. "A difference of opinion is one thing, but openly ridiculing another's beliefs without explanation or proof is a recipe for disaster."
Hermione just nodded as she walked along deep in thought. Although this time she was paying closer attention to the stairs.
When we reached the floor of the chamber, I immediately looked for Harry. I quickly located him talking with a group of people I had not noticed before. Once I became aware that of this group were mostly women, I quickly made my way over to him. My thoughts were dwelling on what I had just learned and the only clear thought that I had in my head, was that I wanted to let Harry know how much he meant to me and how much I loved him.
I am honest enough with myself to admit that I might have had some 'territorial' thoughts running through my mind as I launched myself at Harry and plastered my lips to his. Given the way he responded to my enthusiastic kiss, I don't think he had too many complaints about it.
Gabrielle, it seemed had similar thoughts to me as I spotted her similarly plastered to Dave, (once I had released Harry from my kiss, that is). Looking around, I noticed several very amused individuals watching us. Including (rather annoyingly), my brothers Bill and Charlie.
Thankfully, most of the others in the group were much more focused on Dave and Gabrielle. As they hadn't yet 'come up for air' and seemed to be just enjoying their moment. Eventually, a very amused Fleur loudly cleared her throat to get her sisters attention.
When they both had returned to the same world as the rest of us, they were slightly embarrassed but recovered quickly with minimal blushing. I did notice Shelly looking at me with that golden tint in her eyes, and when she saw me looking at her, she winked at me in such a way that I could feel my cheeks heating up once more.
I was later to learn that my impromptu PDA with Harry apparently significantly strengthened our bond. Gabrielle and Dave had likewise also strengthened their own bond. But I'm beginning to digress.
Returning my attention to the gathered group, I saw several smiling faces and annoyingly more than a few quills and parchment at the ready. The realisation that I had just given Harry a thorough snogging in front of the press caused me to want to find a hole and jump into it and just hide. However, this was soon followed by the realisation that not only was Harry openly grinning at me but so were Dave and his sisters. Along with my ever-annoying brothers.
Something didn't feel right with this. None of that group had any 'love' of the press, and yet they were all quite happily talking with a group who were clearly reporters. I had to know more about who these people were and what was going on. Gabrielle also seemed to be thinking along the same lines as me, once she got her blushing under control, and was able to look the gathered crowd in the eye.
I was looking for a way to introduce myself without having to explain my actions when Shelly spoke up.
"Vic!", she called out as she quickly engulfed the woman with the dark curly hair into an enthusiastic hug, that was happily returned. Pulling back from the hug, she was grinning ear to ear. "What are you doing here?" Shelly asked her friend.
"I got here only yesterday, as I'm filling in for Phillip while he is on his honeymoon," Vic answered happily. "I had heard that you were working in these parts when I arrived, but I hadn't yet had a chance to send you a message to let you know that I was 'in the neighbourhood' as they say." She explained with a grin.
"I see." Shelly answered clearly excited to see her friend, "Well, let me introduce you to those who you haven't met as yet." She said, turning to face us all.
"Everyone, I'd like to introduce you to an old school friend of mine, Victoria Young." She said as we were all introduced to Vic. She had a ready smile, but her eyes held an open wariness that always seemed to be trying to 'look deeper'. She wasn't quite as tall as Shelly, and she definitely had a less athletic build, but she also carried herself with the air of someone who would be able to handle just about any situation.
Shelly also quickly introduced us to Vic's companion and assistant Nichole 'Nic' Lawson. It turned out that Vic was serving as the Press Attaché at the Australian Magical Embassy and Nic was her assistant.
They had been asked to attend today to help with the press conference that was going to be held shortly. As it turned out, they were enthusiastic supporters of the original plan that Drunkmouse had been working on. With the alterations to it that Hermione suggested their enthusiasm had only grown.
The other members of the group turned out to also been press representatives from several different Magical Embassies. There was Beau and Eliana O'Brien from the New Zealand embassy (although it was impossible to get this husband and wife team to agree on who was the actual Press Attaché and who was the assistant). There was Marietta Tarkowska, from the Polish Magical Embassy, Sofia Ordóñez the Press Attaché at the Spanish Magical Embassy and Kulibina Eudokia 'Dusya' Anatolievna the Press Attaché at the Russian Magical Embassy.
They had all agreed to lend a hand (if needed) with the press conference. Indeed, they had already been given an outline of the plan and the questions (and suggestions) of others to lead the questioning in the direction that we all wanted it to go. Not only to get the 'correct' story out to the broader wizarding public, but also to a more international audience as well.
As we were discussing who would ask what, Auror Graves came walking up to us and introduced the Press Attaché from the MACUSA Embassy in London. His name was Remington Charles Knox. He had the look of a 'professional cynic' as he liked to say. He could also 'talk underwater with a mouth full of marbles' as Kat would later tell us. However, his greatest skill was that he could 'hear between the lies' of politicians and other 'public figures' to get at what he liked to call 'the objective truth'.
He was also a willing volunteer for today's plan. Indeed, he had been responsible for recruiting the Press Attachés from the other embassies that we had heard talking earlier. Remington (or Remi to his friends and co-conspirators, as he jokingly told us), had a voice much like that of the late Professor Snape. It wasn't as cold or as full of malice as Snape's was, but he could effortlessly hold the attention of a crowd while speaking in a quiet but measured voice. I was sure there was some sort of magical trick to it. Sadly, I've not yet worked it out if there was, even after all these years of knowing him.
"Are we all assembled now?" Remi asked the group with a barely concealed smile.
"I believe we are," Vic answered. "Does everyone know their part?" She asked her colleagues who all indicated that they did.
"Excellent." She answered. "Are there any questions or last-minute adjustments?" She asked us.
"I have a late suggestion if I may." Remi offered, as Vic indicated for him to continue. "I've just recently seen that insult to professional journalism out in the main hall." He began, and we all knew instantly who he was referring to.
"She had a positively vicious grin on her face as she pushed her way to the front of the media area and snagged one of the reserved seats. It wasn't the one assigned to her either, I might add." He informed us with a small grumble.
"She seemed VERY sure of herself and whatever plan she has concocted for today, and she had a good supply of those hideous 'Quick-Quote' quills with her. To say that my already low opinion of her plummeted even further would be an understatement."
"In fact, I think my opinion of her might have even just begun to take up mining." He chuckled to himself, as the rest of us joined in.
"I'd dearly like the opportunity to thoroughly spoil her day even more than we had originally planned, if I may." He asked Vic and his assembled colleagues.
"I'm almost afraid to ask." Vic said with an apprehensive look, "But, just what do you have in mind for the cow?"
Remi flashed her a thoroughly evil grin and answered, "Nothing overly violent, or destructive, I assure you." He said, showing far too many teeth for someone with anything approaching honest thoughts. "But I do require the assistance of a willing accomplice or two." He asked.
Given the crowd of people I was currently surrounded by, I shouldn't have been surprised at the 'volunteers' who stepped forward. Although Dave and Harry were both quickly told that they already had their assigned jobs up on the stage and they were not going to weasel out of them.
There were a few choice comments from the two of them, about not wanting to be 'monkeys on display' for the entertainment of others. Or words to that effect (once you got rid of the 'colourful metaphors' that is).
It was my brothers Charlie and Bill who were only too happy to assist Remi with his plans for 'professional payback' against the object of Remi's ire. They were keen to help in any task that 'caused difficulties' for Rita Skeeter. However, once Remi explained his idea, they were both showing grins that could only be described as predatory. The rest of us might have been grinning as well, but we were nothing like those two. Well, except maybe my Harry that is.
"Where did you learn of that spell?" Hermione asked Remi with her usual curiosity on display. Now come on, did you really think that ANYONE else would really get a chance to ask a question like that before Hermione?
"Quidditch players." Was the surprising answer from Remi. "They have an almost unholy hatred of the things and have devised many 'creative' ways to deal with them. This one is simply the most suitable one for this scenario." He explained to us.
"Wouldn't you agree, my Lady?" He asked, looking at Fireball who surprisingly was fighting a blush from appearing on her cheeks.
"I'm not sure what you are talking about." Fireball answered while she tried to glare at Remi. However, something in her voice drew the attention of her fellow team members and her family. They definitely smelt 'blood in the water'.
"Are you sure?" Remi asked, once more displaying more teeth than he really should be.
"Quite." Fireball answered firmly.
"Come now, FB. You can't have forgotten about that press conference in KL already. It was quite a memorable event." Came a new voice.
We all turned to the new voice only to see Semi leading three ladies in our direction. From the smiles on Dave's face and the rest of his team, I assumed that they were known to him. The many hugs exchanged between them all only confirmed this. We were all then quickly introduced.
The voice we heard turned out to be Auror Rachel Ah Koy. Her companions were Auror Laisa Vulakoro and Auror Aurèlie Dubois. They were part of Semi's specialist surveillance unit that was attached to Dave's team. They were also 'smirking enthusiastically' at Fireball.
"Now as much as I'd love to stand around and discuss the many different methods that our little Fireball uses to defend her boyfriend from the press…" Semi said as he negligently flicked a fireball away from himself while smiling back at its caster (and namesake), "We do have a timetable to keep today, so we must get our two sacrificial lambs onto the stage and the rest of you to your positions." He suggested.
"As loath as I am to admit it, you are right mate," Dave replied with reluctance.
"Of course, I'm right." Semi replied happily, "I'm always right." He smirked at Dave.
"I wouldn't go that far," Dave answered with heavy scepticism. "I do, however, have another job for you and your team, if you haven't been given anything to do during the upcoming press conference," Dave suggested.
"If it gets us away from those parasites, we're in," Semi answered quickly with his fellow team members quickly agreeing as well.
"Excellent." Dave answered, "If you and your team, and Hermione will follow me, I'll fill you in." He stated as he led them and a slightly confused and curious Hermione over to Kingsley. We saw the group of them chatting to Kingsley as we headed out of the Wizengamot chamber and into the main entrance hall of the Ministry.
Remi and my two brothers were conversing in whispers that did nothing to quieten my nerves. When we reached the entrance hall, my brothers disappeared into the crowd with Remi. The other members of the press also left to their assigned stations.
Looking into the group of press that had gathered, I saw Mr Lovegood, who for once seemed extraordinarily focused and even eager for the conference to begin. Sitting next to him was Luna, who was reading a copy of the latest Quibbler magazine. Once she saw me, though, she was quick to smile and wave at me in greeting.
I could only smile and wave back as I moved off to join the rest of my family. There is just something about Luna that always brings a smile to my face. She just has the knack of always brightening my day, in ways that not even Harry can achieve. I was still thinking about this, as I joined my parents and the Delacour's.
Just as Kingsley had finished explaining the earlier events in the Wizengamot chamber, Hermione re-joined us. She was clearly pleased about something and greeted Ron quite enthusiastically. He didn't seem to mind in the slightest. Gabrielle and I shared a smirk as we both recalled our previous 'greetings' of our own boyfriends. Fleur also had a grin on her face.
Returning my attention to the stage, I was just in time to hear Kingsley explain his plans for reworking the Wizengamot, into a much more balanced organisation. Only a few of the press seemed to be mildly interested in this, as they clearly expected Kingsley to stack the organisation with his own supporters. Little did they know, however, that Kingsley planned to draw on what he had recently learned from the French and German magical governments and create a more representative and balanced organisation.
When the British wizarding press eventually caught onto the details of Kingsley plan, they were screaming for his head. However, the wizarding population was firmly behind their new Minister and quickly shut them up, through the simple expedient of simply not purchasing ANY of their publications. This forced the press to listen to the wizarding public for the first time, to find out what they actually wanted. And what they wanted seemed to be accurately reported news and insightful commentary on what was happening in their own country as well in the wider wizarding world itself.
It took them (or more accurately the bigoted owners who directed them what to print), a few months of almost zero sales before they started to (reluctantly) change their tune. We still have sensational stories in our newspapers to this day; however, it isn't anywhere the levels that it once was.
But I digress, so back to the story.
It was Remi who fired off the only intelligent question on this topic when he asked, "Who do you plan to install as Chief Warlock for this 'new look' Wizengamot?"
Kingsley seemed to think on the question for a few moments, before he answered, "I will not be announcing their name at this time, as I'm yet to complete negotiations with them. However, I can tell you that the person who I aim to have leading the Wizengamot as Chief Warlock is some who has a respect for the rule of law in their very Bones."
Kingsley appeared to have a struggle to keep himself from smirking as he delivered this answer. Remi also displayed a quick twitch to his lips that was gone almost as soon as it appeared before he thanked the Minister and took his seat, while quickly writing down some notes.
Kingsley then gave some background information on Dave before calling him to the stage.
It was a bit of a shock when he did appear next to Kingsley. As it was a very different Dave that stepped onto that stage than what we had met before. He hadn't changed his clothing, as he was still in his Auror uniform. It was more in the way he carried himself and his expression than anything else.
The Dave that was on that stage wasn't the happy and relaxed Auror that we first met at my parents. No this was the face of an Auror on a mission. It was also the face of someone who you don't want to cross.
Judging by the look on Gabrielle's face, it was also a bit of a 'turn on' as well. Although she might just be a little biased in her opinion of things when it comes to my cousin.
The expression on Dave's face alone was enough to quieten down the gathered press. It wasn't until they were entirely silent that he spoke. He thanked Kingsley for his introduction and for his efforts in working to bring about the recent events that had occurred in the Wizengamot chamber.
"I am Auror David Webb of the Australasian Auror Service, and I'm here under direct orders from my Minister to answer a couple of questions." He stated as he looked out over the press before he took a seat at the desk that had been set up.
This simple statement (as Hermione and Luna had predicted) ignited an avalanche of shouted questions from the gathered press. Some of the questions being shouted were absolutely ridiculous and had nothing even remotely to do with recent events. Even more, disturbingly, many of them had been predicted in advance during the planning session.
Looking around, I could see numerous bets being settled as specific questions were asked. Unsurprisingly many of these were amongst Dave's team. But I also saw Kingsley reluctantly hand my dad several items (that looked suspiciously like jellybeans), when one shouted question touched on the topic of the recent unrest being orchestrated by Kingsley simply to get himself elected Minister.
Dave and his family are undoubtedly responsible for introducing many bad habits to my family. But I'd never thought I'd see the day when my own father was caught fleecing the Minister during a press conference. I turned to mum to point out what I had just seen only to witness her 'pay off' Apolline with several jellybeans over a question that I had missed. Neither of them had the slightest trace of guilt on their faces either.
I looked to Hermione to get her view on this only to see her happily munching on something with Ron while smirking at a rather unhappy George. It was at this point that I realised that this gambling was getting out of control.
Although by far the most unscrupulous person in this whole sordid gambling ring ended up being Luna herself. I was later to learn that some of the most outrageous questions that were heard either shouted out directly by her or her own father. Rigging the betting like that though was too much, even for my (apparently) gambling mad family. This resulted in some (depressingly) loose 'guidelines' being implemented for future such events.
They certainly didn't stop Luna, though. She simply recruited other 'reporters' to ask the questions that she had been betting on. When she was caught out doing this, she simply got more devious in her 'recruitment' of her accomplices. It would eventually get to the point where Kingsley almost had to set in to try and keep her 'activities' under some sort of control.
Personally, I thought that the answer was far more straightforward, restrict her to betting in jellybeans (like the rest of the 'civilised' world) rather than in pudding. As the lengths that girl will go to, to get 'free' pudding borders on criminal at the best of times.
Getting back to the press conference, the reporters seemed to be getting more desperate to get answers to their 'important' questions, and Dave seemed to be reaching the limit of his patients. After a signal from Kingsley to Aunty Sandra, the shouted questions changed, and two questions suddenly stood out from the others.
"Are you really the brother of Harry Potter?"
"How do you feel about the entire Wizengamot being arrested?" rang out clearly in the hall.
Dave answered "No" and "Satisfied", before standing and beginning to make his way off the stage.
This nearly caused a riot amongst the now desperate press. As they all got up on mass from their chairs and surged forward to the stage. Dave turned back to face the crowd and drew his wand. Then together with several of the other Aurors in the hall, they all raised a shield to stop the advance of the press.
"Just what do you think you are doing!" Roared Chief Auror Roberts in his best drill sergeant's voice. This had the effect of bringing instant and complete silence to all gathered in the entrance hall. Taking a moment to appreciate his work, Chief Auror Roberts, then directed the assembled press back into their seats.
Once everyone was again seated, Kingsley returned to the stage and took the press to task about their unruly behaviour. This almost caused another riot, before Rita Skeeter jumped to her feet and exclaimed: "What do you expect when Mr Potter didn't answer our questions."
Kingsley was about to respond when Dave stepped forward, "There is no Mr Potter on this stage." He stated coolly to her, "Furthermore, I did answer a 'couple of questions', just as I stated that I would, as I had been ordered to do so by my Minister."
"Two questions hardly counts…" Rite started to complain before Dave cut her off.
"I don't give a Billywig's clacker what you think is fair." He snapped at her, as I heard several snickers close by and some more (muffled) laughter over my earpiece. I caught both Fleur and Gabrielle looking to Aunty Sandra for an explanation on just what a 'clacker' was. She seemed somewhat reluctant to answer them.
It was at this point that the ever-entertaining (and knowledgeable) New Zealand Ambassador the 'Honourable' Luke Whelan stepped in and explained just what a 'clacker' actually was. From the context, I could guess, but to have it confirmed in the Ambassador's diplomatic speak as a 'multipurpose tool, that was also highly specialised for the purpose of procreation and pleasuring one's partner' was certainly unexpected.
Fleur had a good laugh at learning this, while Gabrielle blushed well enough, I was considering giving her honorary membership into the Weasley family. She was clearly thinking about one particular 'clacker'. Something that I'm sure Fleur asked her about when she leaned in to whisper in her sisters' ear.
I was enjoying watching their interaction until Hermione (the traitorous witch that she is) asked me about my own blushing, loud enough that not only Fleur but my mother heard her (Aunty Sandra had sadly just educated my mother on that term and she used far fewer words than the NZ Ambassador). Before I could give voice to my thoughts on her traitorous comments, our attention was drawn back to the stage.
"I explained why I was here when I introduced myself." Dave continued, "It is not my problem that the best that the British press can come up with was the ridiculous questions that I answered. I would have thought that you would have all at least pulled your collective brain cells and attempted to ask something at least semi-intelligent."
I could see Rita's eyes flare at that comment and quickly fired back her own question while getting her Quick-Quotes quill out. "Why limit yourself to so few questions?" She demanded, "Do you have too many secrets?" she asked.
Dave gave her a cold smile before answering, "Two questions, is about all I can handle when surrounded by idiotic and unprofessional individuals such as yourself."
Before Rita could reply, her Quick-Quotes quill made a screaming noise and promptly exploded. This caused a 'small' amount of pandemonium in the press ranks as several others where caught in the explosion of ink that resulted.
When the ink stubbornly refused to be vanished (or otherwise cleaned off) from their expensive outfits, the members of the press pool began to direct almost murderous looks at Rita.
For her part, Rita hid her irritation quite well. She event drew out a second Quick-Quotes quill and set it up, before asking.
"You mentioned that you had too many secrets and that is why you wouldn't answer more than a couple of question. Are some of those secrets about your adoptive family and why you were abandoned and exiled to the colonies?" She insinuated before her Quick-Quotes quill once more gave a scream and exploded in another shower of ink.
This time the members of the press around Rita were able to protect themselves from the onslaught of ink. Several of them even began to quietly laugh at Rita's predicament. Dave, however, didn't bother to chuckle.
"I think you've exceeded the Hippogriff Shit limit on your quills there Miss Skeeter." Dave laughed while Rita tried in vain to remove the now copious amounts of ink that were covering her face and clothing.
I'll give her points for persistence though, as she stubbornly took out another Quick-Quotes quill and set it up. This time, several members of the press moved back and gave her plenty of space, as they didn't want to risk being in the 'blast zone' again.
Before she could ask another question, however, Dave spoke up. "If you are so instant on asking questions, Miss Skeeter, maybe we can organise a trade." He offered.
"Trade?" Skeeter asked with a greedy light in her eyes, "What sort of trade?"
"You answer my questions truthfully, and I'll answer yours?" Dave offered.
This caught the attention of all the gathered press. Dave's offer had also caught their attention as well. Rita quickly agreed obviously thinking that she could outsmart him and gain the better part of the bargain.
"Ok." She answered, "I accept. Now tell me about your…" she rattled off before Dave once more cut her off.
"Miss Skeeter." Dave admonished her, "I get to ask first, as the agreement was, that you were to truthfully answer my questions and then I'll answer yours." He reminded her, as she signalled to someone behind Kingsley.
Guz appeared on stage in his uniform carrying a document folder and handed it to Dave. Before quickly removing himself (he didn't seem to enjoy being on stage).
Dave meanwhile opened this folder and flicked through a few pages before finding the one he was after. Removing a small number of pages from his file, he looked at Rita and asked.
"Miss Skeeter, are you indeed a follower of the so-called 'Lord Voldemort', or were you simply taking advantage of the conflict in the Wizarding world to betray your colleagues and neighbours to their deaths for monetary gain?"
There was a stunned silence before the press pool once more exploded, and this time the questions were ALL directed at an incensed Rita Skeeter. Dave meanwhile was sitting on the stage with a self-satisfied look on his face.
Kingsley also looked to be very amused as did a great many of the Ministry staff around him. Looking around the hall, the only unhappy face seemed to be Rita herself. Remi looked like all his Christmases had come at once, and he actually forgot to take notes for a moment or two before his training kicked back in, and he began firing off his own questions.
This went on for quite sometime before Rita's Quick-Quotes quill once more exploded and caused the reporters currently surrounding her to cease their questions and shield against the rapidly expanding ink.
After the cloud of ink had dispersed, it revealed an even more enraged Rita Skeeter. "How dare you make such unfounded accusations against me." She snapped.
"Unfounded?" Dave replied, "I think not. See for yourself if you like." He almost crowed, while giving a negligent flick of his wand. Instantly everyone in the entry hall had a copy of the document that was in Dave's hand.
"Ooopppssss." Was Dave's only response as he smirked at Rita. "Um, that was only supposed to go to you. Don't worry though, I'm sure that your fellow journalists wouldn't dream of reading…." He tried to say before being drowned out by the sounds of several hundred people, journalists, ministry officials and gathered public all hurriedly scanning through the impressively detailed and well-researched dossier on Rita's activities during the recent war and exposing just about every personal detail of hers that it was possible to expose. Including her Animagus ability and form.
Rita herself went white as she read through the document and took in the murderous looks that were being directed her way by a significant portion of those gathered. It didn't take her long to realise that her only viable option left was flight, and that is just what she did. She exited the Ministry at a rapid rate and quickly disappeared into one of the many floo's that were available.
I was surprised at the lack of a pursuit that was mounted. However, a quick look at Kingsley and Chief Auror Roberts, or more specifically the self-satisfied looks on their faces and I had a very strong suspicion that Rita hadn't actually escaped. This was only further re-enforced by the evil chuckle that escaped from Pepper Church after she took in the expression on the face of her direct boss.
"So, I guess that means she isn't going to answer any of my questions then." Dave chuckled to himself, as there was a burst of accompanying nervous laughter amongst the gathered press.
"Does anyone else want to ask me any questions?" Dave asked the assembled press. Only for them to all quickly go quiet and shake their heads in the negative.
This caused an evil grin to appear on my mum's face that I hadn't seen before. I'm sure she was thinking of all the terrible articles that she had seen about Harry and our family in the various wizarding publications over the last few years. She certainly seemed to enjoy seeing the press being genuinely fearful for a change. Although it wouldn't last, I'm sure.
Soon Mr Lovegood raised his hand with an uncharacteristic serious expression on his face. He was quickly recognised, and Dave indicated that he didn't have a question for Mr Lovegood at this time, but that he was thankful for Mr Lovegood's assistance in making public the information that they had on the missing and rescued family members. He also indicated that he would be happy to do his best to answer any questions he might have.
"Auror Webb, can you give us any more details about the events that took place at Hogwarts during the recent battle that occurred there?" He asked, "There have been a large number of rumours and wild stories, and we would like to get an eyewitness report of what actually happened."
"Sadly, I can't answer your question, Mr Lovegood, as I wasn't there at the time of the battle," Dave answered, just as several shouted questions demanded to know just where he (and the other Aurors were). These questions were quickly ignored, although it was noted who asked them.
"I can, however, ask someone who was there to come out and answer your questions for you, if you'd like?" He offered. This offer was quickly accepted by Mr Lovegood and the other members of the press.
"Alright then, I'll go and see what I can organise if you will give me a moment or two. However, I will require you ALL to act professionally with no more of the frankly ridiculous question from earlier" He stated while locking eyes with several of the more rabid of the remaining press.
Getting no complaints, Dave left the stage.
"Now begins part two," I said to Hermione, who was starting to look a little nervous.
"Yes, let's hope it goes as well as part one." She said thoughtfully, as she looked to Mr Lovegood, who smiled back reassuringly.
After less than a minute, Dave returned to the stage with my Harry. I was a little shocked at Harry's appearance, as he wasn't wearing the clothes that he'd had on previously. Instead, he had been dressed in a set of robes that looked almost (but not quite) like an Auror uniform. I had to admit that he cut a fine figure dressed like that. A magnificent figure if I must say.
As he took his seat, with Dave standing behind him, he looked out over the assembled press and stated, "I trust that I don't need to introduce who I am to you all?" This caused a nervous laugh to come from many of the press, who had written the majority of the defamatory articles about Harry at the behest of the Fudge administration.
Hearing the nervous laughter, Harry graced the assembled press with that crooked half-smile that always makes my heart flutter. He indicated for Mr Lovegood to repeat his question. After hearing it, Harry launched into an explanation of what had occurred at the Battle of Hogwarts.
The assembled press were enraptured, pardon the pun, but they really were spell-bound by my Harry. He had them eating out of his hand, as he gave the story from his perspective. All the passion and skill that Harry displayed while teaching our DA classes was on full display.
I could see several of the press pick up on certain statements of Harry's as though they confirmed particular nuggets of information that they had clearly heard from other sources. Harry pulled no punches in his explanation of what had occurred, the sheer horror and brutality of the combat that had been engaged in.
It was at the point where he was describing the 'truce' that had been offered by Tom Riddle Jnr that I noticed Lee Jordan was one of the members of the press. Unlike the others, however, he wasn't taking notes. He was, however manning his announcer's microphone.
This surprised me until mum told me that it had been Percy's idea to broadcast the press conference over the wizarding wireless. It was this late addition to the plan that had brought harry fully onboard to tell his side of the events at Hogwarts. As it would be the quickest way to get the information out to the Wizarding population at large.
I could see the logic behind that decision.
Harry ended up talking for nearly an hour solely about the Battle at Hogwarts. This inevitably led to questions about events that occurred leading up to the Battle. This is where Hermione's part of the plan came into full effect. The 'international' press representatives were only too happy to ask the 'leading questions' about significant events, that resulted in Harry explaining about the prophecy and how it had affected his life.
The quest for Tom Riddle's 'dark artifacts' (although he never named what they were) and their destruction was also mentioned briefly. He explained about Umbridge and Fudge's interference at Hogwarts and how they had done their level best to handicap an entire generation of witches and wizards from learning how to truly defend themselves.
He was also able to explain about his Godfather Sirius Black and how he had been railroaded and left to rot in jail as an innocent man for nearly 12 years without even a trial. Harry took great joy in detailing how Fudge, Umbridge, Crouch and the Malfoy's had done all in their power to continue to deny Sirius a trial and clear his name.
When he described how Sirius died in the Battle at the Department of Mysteries, I don't think there was a dry eye in the entire hall.
Victoria Young then asked a question about the Tri-Wizard tournament and the 'strange events' that had occurred around it. This lead Harry into a detailed explanation of the bungled event and how he was forced to compete against his wishes.
During the Q&A that occurred for this, I noticed a pattern, every time an 'inappropriate question' was asked of Harry Dave would step in with a question of his own from his file that Guz had delivered earlier. The question that was asked was inevitably highly embarrassing to the journalist that it was directed to. After only three such attempts (and two journalists fleeing the hall in embarrassment) the questions were kept on the desired topic.
The real bombshell of the event though was Harry's explanation of the true origins of the self-styled 'Lord Voldemort'. Many of the press were unable to wrap their minds around the fact that he was indeed an illegitimate half-blood, who had hoodwinked the 'pure-blood' elite into bowing and scraping to him.
When Harry also explained, via some figures helpfully provided by the Ministry (I mean Percy), just how many 'old families' had met their ends at the hands of a half-blood pretender and his followers you could see the collective blood drain from their faces. It was beginning to sink in just how close magical Britain had come to wiping itself out.
The shock took a while to wear off from the assembled press, so Lee took advantage of the situation to ask some questions that had been 'owled' in. To the surprise of the assembled media, Harry quickly agreed.
These questions were, in fact, a few that we had expected to be asked but had not been. Lee (who was onboard with Hermione's plan) and George were taking turns feeding them to Harry.
It was in this manner that the true nature of the events was able to get out to the Wizarding public. The outrage and shock that resulted (once the wizarding population had come to terms with events) were almost frightening when they realised just how badly they had been deceived by the government who was supposed to be keeping them safe and secure.
Thankfully, my family were not in the country at the time of the main outburst of fury. However, Kingsley was able to navigate it with an incredible skill (the appointment of Madam Bones as the Chief Witch for the Wizengamot went a long way to bring the situation under control).
At one point, the questions changed to ones that I didn't recognise, and these turned out to be questions that had actually been Owled in. George and Lee were only too happy to keep on reading them out as they were enabling more the facts to get out.
After a time, the questions became less about the events leading up to the Battle and more about events after the Battle. This was the opening that enabled the activities of the Death Eater controlled Ministry to be fully exposed.
Dave once more came forward and sat next to Harry and answered question after question about the activities of his team and their allies. He was lavish in his praise of the assistance of the French Ministry of Magic or the 'Ministère des Affaires Magiques de la France' as Fleur quietly corrected him.
He also went out of his way to compliment and publicly thank the other Magical governments that had aided his team during their operations here. Many of these countries had their ambassadors present during this event, and they were all preening under the praise being directed their way.
Dave also went out of his way to publicly thank (without giving away any names) the many citizens of magical Britain that assisted his team and 'guests' (this caused some chuckles from several of the ambassadors) at significant personal risk to themselves and their families.
During this display, I began to see how Dave was able to garner the cooperation that he did. As you always knew where you stood with him, and he followed up on his promises (and his threats, but more on that later).
Things were going so well for us; I should have expected that an issue would have arisen. I mean I know that I have been made more aware of the need for 'balance' in nature and Magic, but sometimes it can be a real bitch.
In this case, the bitch's name was Patricia Smith. She was the elder sister of Zacharias Smith, and she was even more pretentious and annoying than he was.
"That was all fascinating, Mr Potter." She screeched in a voice that was like nails on a blackboard, "But what MY readers want to know is your thoughts about how the Weasley family manipulated your brother for their own ends."
The effect of this question was immediately apparent in both Harry and Dave. Their eyes flashed, Harry's a bright killing curse green, and Dave's a cold ice blue. Seeing them like that side by side, clearly angry would have been enough to have me looking for the nearest exit if I hadn't known them. Indeed, several of the press that had gathered were indeed backing up, away from them.
Dave was the first to gain a degree of control over himself, and he placed a hand on Harry's shoulder to try and calm him as well.
"You must have just arrived." Dave stated in a cold voice, "That can be the only reason for such an idiotic question."
"Oh no, I've been here the entire time." She snapped back, "As entertaining as your little show has been, I thought it was time to get to the real questions."
"Real questions?" Dave asked her, "How can that be a real question? It is so far from reality it is impossible to comprehend."
"So, you deny that your brother has been manipulated by the Weasley's then?" She demanded.
"First off, let me state for the record, that my only brother was Senior Auror, James Anthony Webb. He was killed in the line of duty here in this country. Doing his best to protect others from the embedded bigotry, hatred and vitriol that this country seems to thrive on." He snarled back at her with genuine heat in his voice.
I think it was at this point that Patricia Smith was starting to realise that she had bitten off more than she could handle.
"As for the Weasley's manipulating Mr Harry Potter?" Dave asked her, "I'd say that is pure Bunyip Shit."
"After talking to a great many people and learning what has been going on in this backwards country for the last several years, I'd say that the Weasley's are one of the few families that haven't gone out of their way to manipulate Harry."
"When this entire country believed the Hippogriff shit published by the poor excuses of print media that exist here, it was the Weasley's that did their best to support Harry and love him as one of their own."
"When your already corrupt ministry fell, and the entire country was actively hunting down Harry, the Weasley's stood by him and once again did what they could to support and aid him."
"What did you do in the recent troubles, Miss Smith?" Dave asked her as he reached for his folder. This caused a small amount of trepidation amongst the press, as Dave flicked through a few pages before removing several of them.
"Ah, here we have it." Dave exclaimed loudly, "You amused your self by writing articles 'speculating' on how Muggle-borns stole Magic, from those who were more 'worthy'." Dave sneered at her.
"When you got bored with that you then started to write an exposé on people who were trying to protect Muggle-Borns. Even after the Death Eater controlled, Ministry started to actively raid the properties of those that you named in your articles you kept at it. Even commenting on the raids and speculating on which of their friends or family had turned them in." He roared at her.
"Would like to see the results of your work?" Dave asked her rhetorically, as he flicked a photo into the air that showed the burnt remains of a house with something that looked like a head on a spike out the front (thankfully it was partially obscured), there was also a dark mark over the site where the house once stood.
Patricia turned a deathly white. "That was all that we found of the Thatcher family estate, after one of your articles," Dave advised her.
"If it wasn't for the fact that their youngest Grandson had been having a sleepover at his friends' house that family would now be extinct thanks to you and your efforts."
"So, while you were doing your best to assist in the depopulation of the magical portion of this country, Mr Harry Potter and his friends were out doing all that they could to save it."
"This despite you and your colleagues, doing your level best to demonstrate every day for years on end that you don't deserve to be saved."
"Your endless attacks on him for being an attention-seeking lying brat, when all he wanted was to grow up in a loving family, learn about the family he lost and all that he could about magic and the world that he had recently re-entered."
"Despite all of your best efforts, Mr Harry Potter never lost his faith that things could be better. Do you want to know why?" He challenged her, and everyone else in the hall. When he got no response, he continued on.
"It's because of them." He stated, as he pointed to my parents, Ron, George, Bill, Charlie, and Percy, "and especially her." He added, pointing at me. I gulped as I experienced the attention of the entire hall direct its focus onto me.
"Do you know why?" Dave demanded of her.
"It's because while you all were doing your best to try and tear Mr Harry Potter down, they were doing their utmost to show him what a family was like. A REAL FAMILY." He stated loudly.
"They showed him how a real family works, warts and all. A family with arguments, disagreements, sibling rivalry, financial troubles, you know real everyday family troubles. But they also showed him how a family loves and supports one another, even when they don't always get along."
"The Weasleys never tried to show Harry a 'perfect family', whatever that this. They showed him a REAL family, and they included him in that family."
"You know what happened because of their efforts?" Dave asked her and the hall at large (and the country to I'd guess), "He loved them for it." Dave stated as he smiled at my parents, brothers and me. I couldn't help the tears that followed. Neither could mum or dad. Even Charlie looked to be struggling.
"So, as far as I'm concerned this whole frigging country needs to get down on their hands and knees and thank not only Harry and those that stood with him through his trials and at Hogwarts. But also, the entirety of the Weasley family. Because without their lessons to Harry on family and love, I doubt that he would have been able to make it through the trials that he did."
"But you…" Patricia tried to say before she was cut off.
"I was here with my team under orders, doing my job." Dave roared at her, "Harry was doing what he was doing because he genuinely felt it was the right thing to do even after all the shit that you put him through."
"You should be thankful for that." Dave snapped, "Because if I had been in Harry's shoes, I'd have told you all to go and burn in hell." He roared in a voice that shook the hall before he disappeared in brilliant blue flames.
This caused a small amount of pandemonium in the entrance hall.
