As always, I'm only playing with JK Rowling's toys. All credit goes to JK Rowling, her publisher and all the other people involved in bringing her work to life.
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The shadows of the atrium hid many things over the years; secret couples engaging in trysts far from the eyes of their co-workers, corrupt back handed dealings, and on the occasion of Tiberius McLaggan being shown to the world as a victim of his own avarice and ill conceived choices the dark tiled corridors concealed the fugitive Peter Pettigrew.
The rat watched with perverse glee as the scene unfolded, until such a time as the three spectres proclaimed that magic its self had judged the man in the cage as unworthy to weld the power that wizard kind enjoyed. This was not something that he wished to relay to his master.
Wormtail lingered until the panic ran its course before he scurried away to deliver the news of this new development.
The head Auror, the Minister, and the Director of the DMLE appeared in the atrium from separate entrances. Various alarms were raised and three of the most senior members of the ministry were alerted to the commotion.
'By Toutatis!' exclaimed Fudge, his eyes as wide as saucers
Rufus Scrimgeour stood rooted to the spot, his eyes fixed on the figure in the cage, the shock evident on his face.
Amelia took a single look at the cage before pulling her wand out and casting a charm to cover the cage in a large blanket, she then started to co-ordinate the clean up operation to ensure that anyone that had been injured were attended to.
'You there' she called out to a young security guard that was sitting disorientated and unsure of what he should be doing.
The young man looked up and saw Director Bones bearing down on him.
'D...director' he managed to stutter before he attempted to stand.
'What happened here?' asked Amelia, her tone was soft and understanding.
'I don't rightly know, Ma'am. I was sitting here and then there was all this lightning all over the floor and walls. I ain't never seen nothing like it' said the young guard.
'Lightning?' she asked
'Yes Ma'am, then that big cage appeared with some poor bastard in. I think he might be a goner, there was a sign with some words that I couldn't understand and one that I knew. Torturer. Well I started to think that he was one of them Death Eaters like' said the guard, in one long breath.
Amelia placed a hand on his shoulder and said 'Please take your time, you are not in any trouble.'
The young man looked at her and said 'I'm sorry Ma'am, it's just I ain't never met you before and, begging your pardon but you're bloody scary.'
Amelia gave the young man a genuine smile and said 'We'll now that you have met me, I think you can relax a little. Tell me, did you see everything that was going on?'
The guard nodded and said 'I was watching this little brown rat over by that grate when I saw the lightning'
Amelia looked to where he was pointing; she pulled out her wand and asked 'would you mind giving me a copy of your memory? I would like to investigate what happened'
The guard blanched a little at the question.
'I promise, you are not in any trouble and taking a copy of the memory won't hurt, you'll simply feel a slightly cold puling sensation' said Amelia.
Feeling a little more at ease with this new information, the guard agreed and gave Amelia the memory from watching the rat to the smashing of the windows.
'Make sure that you get checked over by a medic, and then take the rest of the day off. I will make sure that your supervisor knows that it was me that ordered it' said Amelia.
Amelia helped the guard to his feet and saw him off in the direction of one of the medics. From what she had heard this was not a Death Eater attack, but until she could be sure no stone would be left unturned.
Fudge waddles over to Amelia and said 'This must be in retaliation for Black being freed. I know that it was a bad idea to let that trial go ahead.' He said
Amelia glared at the minister and said 'Sirius Black was imprisoned unlawfully. He was an innocent man that was condemned without trial. This has fuck all to do with him.' she replied in a tone that warned of trouble if this line of enquiry was maintained.
'How can we be sure?' asked the minister
'I will review the memory of the guard I was speaking with and we will follow the pre set procedures. I will personally lead this investigation.' Amelia explained
'Director, Minister do we know what caused this?' asked Rufus
'At the moment we don't know, it doesn't feel like an attack however we will proceed under that premise until further intelligence becomes available. Get Alpha section down here to interview the witnesses, get Bravo to head to St Mungo's to interview the casualties. In the meantime I will have the unspeakable do a finger tip search to ascertain cause and if there is a secondary device.' Amelia ordered
Rufus nodded and headed off to carry out his orders, his usual scowl on his face.
Fudge asked 'Is all of this really necessary Amelia? Surely the public will want this put to bed as soon and as cheaply as possible'
Amelia slowly turned her head to glare at the minister, who blanched and took an involuntary step backwards.
'This investigation will be carried out properly without any interference by you or your pink bulldog. Section four, paragraph three subsection B clearly states that any interference in a ministerial investigation by any member of the ministry will result in the immediate detention of any interfering party for a period of thirty days, a fine of five thousand galleons and immediate dismissal from their position at the ministry up to an including the sitting minister for magic. Do I make myself clear Cornelius?' said Amelia
Fudge nodded his head so vigorously that the sight of his flapping jowls was beginning to make her seasick. Amelia looked him up and down before turning on her heel and muttering about bloody incompetence.
##
"ATTACK AT THE MINISTRY! Yesterday, not long after the shock acquittal of Sirius Black, terror came to the very heart of our society. With at least one reported fatality and many more injured, we have to wonder if this attack was in retaliation of Black being declared innocent of all charges or was it an act of retribution from a wronged man that had been incarcerated with the worst of our citizens. The dead man has not been officially name, however sources within the ministry have revealed that his family have been informed."
Harry closed the paper before placing it on the table. The great hall was unusually subdued, normally after a huge news event the castle would be a hive of gossip, but today everything felt flat. When he had first walked into the hall holding Hermione's hand, every eye turned and looked in their direction.
Most of the girls looked at Hermione with gratitude in their eyes; the female population of the school could breathe a collective sigh of relief that a predator had been taken out. The boys looked at her with both fear and hints of admiration, it would be a long time before anyone tried to bully this lioness after she had bared her claws.
The looks that they gave Harry were something different, word had spread that his retaliation on the three students was swift and long reaching. While no one could disagree that they had it coming, most were now even more confused about this new assertive Harry Potter.
On one hand you had the likeable fourth year who went out of his way to help others as and when he could, who was a fierce friend, and who had seen beyond house colours to forge new friendships even with his most ardent rival.
On the other you had a very powerful individual that not only ended the first blood war, had now reduced THE Albus Dumbledore to nothing more than a minor figure in the Wizarding hierarchy, and was violently protective of people close to him.
To say that the school was unsure how to react was an understatement.
Harry selected a few items of food and placed them on his plate. He wasn't really in the mood for eating but he knew that Hermione would scold him for skipping breakfast so he ate.
The post owls had already delivered their loads for the day, so the appearance of a lone owl heading towards him caught the attention of the student population. The bird landed and offered its leg to Harry, who carefully unties the ribbon that held the letter in place.
Before he could even offer a snack, the bird took to the wing and departed as swiftly as it had arrived. He looked at the envelope and saw that it was addressed to both him and Hermione.
'Mia, this is for both of us.' He said as he showed her the envelope.
'Who's it from? I don't recognise the hand writing' replied Hermione
Harry opened the letter and read it quickly before handing the page to his girlfriend.
"Dear Mr Potter and Ms Granger,
The allegation of kidnapping and assault against you Mr Potter has been deemed to be false and as such no action will be taken against you. Please accept our sincere apology for any hurt of inconvenience that our actions may have caused you.
Ms Granger, I write to inform you that Mr Ronald Weasley will be released from out holding cells later on this afternoon, he has been cautioned and warned that any further incidents will result in a full criminal trial. I understand that that may cause you some distress, should you require any assistance please do not hesitate to make your concerns known to Madam Bones directly, she has advised that she will handle your correspondence personally.
Yours Sincerely
Rufus Scrimgeour – Head Auror"
'Well that is a how you ruin a perfectly crap morning' sighed Hermione.
'c'mon, I've lost my appetite' said Harry.
'Where do you want to go?' asked Hermione
'We could walk around the Loch' offered Harry
'Are you serious? Its seven miles long! That's a fourteen mile round trip. It'll take us about five hours' said Hermione
'You got anywhere important to be?' asked Harry
Hermione slowly shook her head 'Not really' she said
'Wait here for a moment' said Harry as he got up from the table and walked to the staff table
'Professor, Hermione and I have received this from the Auror department. As I am sure you can understand it has proven to be very distressing to Hermione. Can you please excuse us from lessons today? We will make up any course work that we miss but we really cannot be here.' Said Harry
Minerva looked over the letter and closed her eyes briefly.
'Your Grace, I understand that this is a troubling matter for both of you however you have missed a number of lessons this term. How do I justify this absence?' the deputy headmistress asked.
'I was almost arrested for something that I didn't do, mere hours after a very traumatic medical procedure, and to compound things this letter has come to me the day after I saw my godfather being acquitted and finding out that my girlfriend was attacked and almost gang raped. That is how you justify it.' spat Harry
'Professor, perhaps it would do the mood of the student population good to allow His Grace and Ms Granger a little leeway. They are currently top of their year, and whatever work they miss can easily be made up.' Said Professor Snape
The shocked transfiguration professor looked at her colleague, this was completely unexpected. After a moment she cleared her throat and said 'Perhaps you have a point Severus. While His Grace and Ms Granger don't open court trouble, it certainly has a knack of finding them. Ok I will allow this absence, please don't make me regret it.' said Minerva
'As you say professor Kitty' said Harry with a mischievous wink before he turned and walked back to his slightly concerned girlfriend.
'C'mon, let's go before she changes her mind.' said Harry.
Up on the staff table, the rest of the professors struggled to contain their laughter.
'Ya cheeky wee besom' she muttered with a wry smile on her face.