In early 1992, a grieving father began meeting with an officer from a rather obscure department in MI5. In summer 1993, another grieving father joined their meetings. By the late spring of 1994, these men planned the first 'witch hunt' in modern times.
Sealed VaultsIn May 1994, Gringotts issued a press release that was printed in the Daily Prophet every day for a week. On 1 July, the bank would open a vault that had been sealed one thousand years earlier when a magical family had died out during the Viking invasions of Anglo-Saxon Britain. Rumors filled the paper about the horde of gold and other treasures that would be uncovered in the vault.
The Ministry for Magic made additional announcements about the treasure being appropriated to shore up flagging budgets, and any significant treasures being displayed in the Atrium for a time (before vanishing into private vaults of important members of the Wizengamot). There was a move to have the Minister of Magic and the Chief Warlock both present at the unsealing to represent the ministry. The Daily Prophet published an itinerary beginning on 25 June that included the assembly of the notables in Gringotts before ten in the morning, the opening and cataloging of the contents from 10:15 to 11:00, and then the minister and chief warlock assembling on the steps of Gringotts for suitable photographs of the day.
'Minister Cochrane and Chief Warlock Dumbledore can display selected items from the vault for the photographers to include in the pictures. Ministry experts expect there to be spears and shields, swords, and possibly magical staffs in the vault along with gold, amber, and jewelry.'
Director Amelia Bones assigned every available Auror to be present in Diagon Alley that day, with several posted on the roofs of the surrounding buildings to ensure no wizard attempted to fly overhead and attack the minister and chief warlock. Minerva McGonagall questioned the wisdom in making such a public appearance, but Albus Dumbledore dismissed her worries.
"So many of the Death Eaters and their sympathizers died a year ago, there are few who would even daydream of attempting to attack me. I am safer than I have ever been… and I can't allow Felix Cochran to collect all the notoriety at the opening of the vault. There could be bags of gold that disappear into his pockets without me getting my share."
Ignoring the headmaster's comments, McGonagall shook her head and went about her work, preparing for home visits to the muggleborn.
On the morning of 1 July, the minister and his undersecretaries arrived at the bank at 10:15, to oversee the opening of the vault though Dumbledore did not arrive until 10:30.
"Told you that Whiskers would stay true to form," a man said with a laugh as he peered through a telescope and watched the assembly in front of the bank three blocks away.
The second man grunted his agreement though he remained silent as he watched through his telescope.
"And these charmed lenses work perfectly," the first man said.
This time the second man looked up and fussed, "You're nervous. Rightly so but shut up."
Ignoring the direction for silence, the second man continued speaking, "They will be inside for an hour and then they will pose for photographs on the bank steps."
"Maybe… with Whiskers you can never be certain of anything."
Within Gringotts, Chief Warlock Albus Dumbledore, Minister Felix Cochrane, and the two undersecretaries were escorted deep underground to a sealed vault door where goblin workers stood with hammers and chisels prepared to break the final seals on the ancient door.
"Good goblin, why not use magic to remove the seals?" Dumbledore inquired.
"Goblins don't have much magic," Minister Cochrane snorted though the goblins frowned.
"We don't display our magic in front of wizards," Ironstream replied. "Besides, a strong hammer and chisel can break the seal."
"Then be about it," Dumbledore said, waving his hands as if he were in charge.
Ironstream delayed a full minute before motioning toward the seals left on the door and four goblin workers stepped forward. Two held chisels in place and two swung large hammers that broke the seals with one swipe.
"Not very strong seals it seems," Cochrane stated, the tone of his voice dismissing goblin magic. When the door was pulled open by the same four workers, fresh air was forced into the vault, while magical lights ignited and floated into the dark vault. Cochrane and Dumbledore followed the workers inside where they found two chests of golden coins from that time, many weapons, and a few magical wands.
"The Ministry of Magic hereby claims this treasure as abandoned by the… what were their names again?"
"Donaldmire," replied Ironstream.
"Abandoned by the Donaldmire family," Cochrane declared. "Gringotts collects a five percent fee but all other gold and treasure will be delivered to my office by close of business today."
"Certainly, Minister Cochrane," Ironstream replied. "We will inventory the contents and the treasure most accurately."
Cochrane lifted a heavy shield but dropped it almost immediately in favor of a spear that he could wield easily in the photographs. Dumbledore spotted a dagger with several pieces of amber set in the handle. He lifted it and imagined how attractive it would look on his belt.
"Come, Felix, let us return to the surface for the photographs and opportunity to speak to the reporters," Dumbledore said. Glancing at the goblin, he added, "Bring one chest of gold to the surface for the photographs as well."
"As you wish Chief Warlock," agreed Ironstream.
Outside the bank, a dozen photographers began snapping pictures as soon as the men reappeared through the doors of the bank. Cochrane made a speech, while Dumbledore positioned the chest of gold just so on the top step. There were poses around the chest for the minster and the chief warlock. Then one reporter called for the four wizards to assemble in front of the chest.
"This will be the last picture," Dumbledore announced. "I must return to Hogwarts before the Wizengamot meets this evening."
"Yes, tonight we shall pass the Muggleborn Concubine Act and ensure the growth of our population for the next century," agreed the minister.
"Felix, I truly believe a more appropriate name such as the Line Continuation Act would make the bill for palatable to the ladies in the Wizengamot. They must vote with you this evening," Dumbledore gently suggested.
"Oh, very well," the minister conceded. "But once it is passed, wizards may take as many concubines from among the muggleborn as they wish so long as they can afford to educate, clothe, and feed the resulting children who will all attend Hogwarts."
This was the first picture made off the steps and fully outside of Gringotts. Cochrane was in a fine mood–gold to fill his coffers and the mudbloods at his feet. Dumbledore rubbed his hand across the jeweled case that held the dagger–a treasure for his collection. The camera shutters clicked rapidly, and Dumbledore smiled to himself as he prepared to impress the average witch and wizard with his power. Lifting his arm, Albus began his apparition spell.
Examining his memory about an hour later, Auror Proudfoot remembered hearing a small splat and watching the top of Dumbledore's skull fly back onto the steps of Gringotts while the rest of the wizard vanished in the apparition. There were more three more 'splats' that left the minister and his undersecretaries splayed across the cobblestones with tiny holes in their chests and a chunk missing from their backs. Blood was splattered around and the Auror guards had no clue as to the type of spell that caused the wounds. The piece of Dumbledore's skull was all that was ever found of the wizard–the rest of his corpse never exited apparition. And the skull fragment was scooped up by the goblin guards as they vanished back inside the bank with the chest of gold.
Before Auror Proudfoot could make his report to Director Bones, alarms sounded in the ministry and shouts of "Surrender or die!" filled the air. Muggleborn soldiers, armed with long, heavy sticks appeared across the atrium and began to fight with wizards and witches. Some type of unknown spells sped across the atrium and put wizards who resisted on the floor, bleeding and never to rise again.
Dr. Richard Granger, DDSTwo blocks away, on the top floor of a hotel that overlook the area where Diagon Alley lay, Richard Granger disassembled the sniper rifle he'd used. The special rifle scope constructed by the Unspeakables to allow the assassin 'see' into Diagon Ally was disassembled, the lens smashed and packaged for shipment across England to a recycling company in Wales. Another man, peering through a telescope continued watching the scene in the alley.
"Aurors and reporters, curious bystanders, and several goblin guards," the second man in the room reported. "Doors to Gringotts just slammed shut. Targets are all dead. The Aurors covered the bodies with sheets."
"What about Dumbledore? I caught him as he began to disappear…"
"The top of his skull was lying on the steps of Gringotts. The shot must have disrupted his apparition spell and scattered him across the whole of Britain."
"I would prefer to have the body."
"We can't have everything we want. If he made it to Hogwarts, there'll be plenty of screams about the body making it there."
"Head shot on the old man, and one each for the ministry flunkies," Richard said. "It doesn't bring back my daughter or my wife, but it helps me deal with their deaths."
The man from MI5 nodded. "Our 'witch hunt' begins today. Too many children vanish into that world. We're going to stop it completely so more kids don't die."
Granger asked, "Do they come back? The muggle kids that survive going to school in that death trap come back to our world?"
Nodding the agent said, "Almost every one of them comes back because there's nothing there for them, no real jobs or opportunities. Some of the girls marry the bozos but their families lose touch with them."
"Thank you for letting me…"
"Don't thank me," the agent replied. "Your services are not done, Granger."
Nodding, Dr. Richard Granger departed the hotel room and strolled to the car park, placed the case with his disassembled gun in the boot, and drove to a post office to mail his package of broken and disassembled scope parts to a scrap yard in Cardiff.
The agent remained in the hotel room for the remainder of the day, working on a laptop to complete a spreadsheet with budgetary plans for his department for 1995. He ate his supper in the hotel restaurant and after a peaceful night's sleep, would leave the next morning before the regular check out time.
That evening, Richard Granger glanced over the headlines of the regular newspaper and then turned his attention to the Daily Prophet from that morning.
'I wonder what the headline will be tomorrow?' he mused before his memories returned to early November 1991, when he and his wife came home from their dental practice to find a brief letter from Deputy Headmistress Minerva McGonagall. In the single sheet of parchment, the witch wrote that their daughter had been killed in an accident. There was no mention of returning Hermione to them for burial or any information of what occurred. Grief stricken, Kate took her own life at the end of December, leaving Richard Granger even more devastated and furious with Magical Britain.
After three months of being branded as 'crazy with grief' by friends and acquaintances, he found some friends in the military who believed his wild story and three days later, a man from MI5 met with him away from the house and his dental practice. The stranger worked for a department that dealt with 'special internal problems' in the United Kingdom. Richard Granger soon sold his dental practice and vanished from his old life.
Daniel ClearwaterIn winter 1993, Daniel Clearwater, a rising star among the Unspeakables in the Department of Mysteries, found himself adrift for a period of months when his youngest child, Penelope, died while at Hogwarts. His wife managed the loss of their daughter better by visiting their two sons and their children. Daniel was thankful both of his sons immigrated to America, married witches there and raised their families far away from Britain. It took two months to get his hands on the confidential report from the Aurors that 'something' killed his daughter and several of her classmates within the halls of the castle as they walked from the library back to their dorms. A senior Auror and one lackluster professor completely vanished. Nothing was done, nothing reported, except that deaths had occurred, and 'Slytherin's Monster' was once again on the loose.
If not for Professor Flitwick's demands, Dumbledore might have cremated the bodies and swept the details under the rug. Nothing ever came of the investigation–no cause was ever found and the 'attacks' simply stopped in mid-winter. There was an explosion that cracked the foundation on one side of the castle but nothing else occurred. When Severus Snape poisoned most of the 'reformed' Death Eaters and their families at a Beltane Celebration, the deaths at Hogwarts vanished into the confusion and worries of so many pureblood families ending in a single night.
That summer, Clearwater ventured into the muggle world more frequently than he had since graduating from Hogwarts in the mid-1950s. He was a half-blood with ties to the Selwyn clan before The Dark Lord wiped them out in 1960. His wife was muggleborn and their three children were spaced far apart on purpose with Penelope being born in 1977. Being invited to join the Unspeakables, Daniel Clearwater pushed himself to provide outstanding service and develop new spells and techniques for applying magic to make Magical Britain safer.
Dumbledore preached that Hogwarts was 'the safest place in Britain'. But his daughter died in the hallways of her school and no one would tell him what happened. How was any of his work in the Department of Mysteries worth his time if his daughter wasn't safe in her school?
When he managed to arrange a conversation with Madam Bones concerning the various matters occurring at Hogwarts that year, he learned something new – two students were petrified before anyone vanished or died. The petrified students were restored from their petrified state by the application of a potion made with mandrakes. The only type of petrification that was reversed in this manner was one caused by filtering a killing gaze through a reflection such as water or glass. Daniel obtained the names of the two boys, both muggleborns, and set out to interview them about their experience.
On one journey into the mundane world, he had a meeting with the Finch-Fletchley and Creevey families, where Mr. Clearwater learned about the two boys were petrified after meeting the gaze of a basilisk through a camera lens on Creevey's part, and through the reflection of the water on the floor on the second floor for Justin Finch-Fletchley. Harry Potter had nothing to say about the situation at Hogwarts while he played with the younger Creevey children and ignored the adults.
After the Creevey family departed, loaded down with toys for the young children and books for Colin and his brother Dennis, Andrew Finch-Fletchley asked for a way to contact their visitor in the future.
"No," the wizard replied. "I am not a social creature and my work…"
Assuming the 'wizard' wanted nothing else to do with muddy people, Andrew shook his head and remained silent as Daniel Clearwater took his leave.
Three days passed before a flying paper memo from the Department of the Goblin Liaison appeared in Daniel's office in the Department of Mysteries.
Wizard, your presence is requested for an audience with Ragnok, Director of Gringotts London and War Chief of the Goblin Clan Skullsplitter at 2:30 tomorrow afternoon. Dress is specified as casual wizard or muggle.
Edward Stanhope, Deputy Under-Undersecretary for Goblin Affairs
Without mentioning the invitation (demand) to his fellow Unspeakables, Clearwater left the Department of Mysteries at 2:15, used a common floo to travel from the ministry atrium to the Leaky Cauldron, and then entered Diagon Alley, walking through the doors of the bank at 2:23. He was immediately escorted deep into the carved-out hallways until they came to a door made of expensive wood set into the granite walls. A large war ax with a pitted blade still bearing the dried blood of the director's last opponent, was attached to the door and one of the goblin guards slammed his fist against the door twice. From inside came a loud call, "Come!"
Several listening charms, tracking charms, health monitoring charms and other attempts to spy on Clearwater during his visit had fallen from his robes, hair, wand and body while he walked along the halls deep into the bank. Now, Daniel Clearwater stepped inside the office and found a formidable goblin seated behind a desk, with a dozen goblin guards scattered about the room, each armed with spear, battle ax, knives, and gauntlets. There was a plain, wooden chair positioned at the side of the desk closest to the door on the bare floor. On the far side of the desk, were two comfortable, padded chairs, placed on a rich, Persian rug. Seated in those chairs were Mr. Andrew Finch-Fletchley and Harry Potter. The blatant preference for the muggle and his ward was clear and purposeful.
The goblin began, "Unspeakable 74, your presence is required this afternoon to exchange information."
Surprised for his identity in the department to be known, Daniel began to ask, "How do you know…"
"Gringotts makes it our business to know many things," Ragnok replied. "Secrecy is often valuable, but today, we must ignore politics."
"So, was the summons for Unspeakable 74 or Daniel Clearwater?" Daniel asked.
It was the boy wizard who explained, "Mr. Clearwater, I asked the Director of Gringotts for his help to get a chance to talk to you. This isn't something I've done many times in my life."
"What do you mean, Mr. Potter?"
The boy confided, "I don't talk to many adults about anything. But Ragnok, Professor Sprout and the Finch-Fletchleys are teaching me that some adults are trustworthy, and family is worth fighting for."
"Family is of the utmost importance," the wizard replied.
"Take your seat, Clearwater," Ragnok instructed the man as he pointed at the plain chair. Once the wizard was seated, the goblin stood.
"The conversations in this room this afternoon are considered confidential by Gringotts and Clan Skullsplitter. Do not share this information with anyone, Daniel Clearwater or face the wrath of the Goblin horde."
Clearwater replied, "I understand and accept the conditions, Director Ragnok."
"Now, Heir Potter-Black, Mr. Clearwater obligated himself to secrecy about the information you will share," Ragnok explained. "You may tell him your story."
"I know things about what happened at Hogwarts this past year and when I returned 'home' this summer, I talked to my dad… Mr. Finch-Fletchley."
Andrew spoke up, "After some discussion, Harry agreed to share the information with Ragnok."
The goblin nodded his head but said nothing, so Andrew continued, "When you appeared at our home, my son and I wanted to share the information with you but your reluctance to hear more, made me decide to once again consult with Ragnok. He agreed that Harry's information was something you needed to know."
"It's something you deserve to know," Harry added to his adopted father's statement. "From everything the other kids at Hogwarts say, your daughter was a very nice person. She tried to help everyone in her dormitory. Professor Flitwick says she would have been Head Girl next year, and Percy Weasley mourns her. He wears a black arm band and never smiles anymore."
"I believe Penny saw her future with Mr. Weasley as well," Daniel replied.
Harry glanced at his 'Dad' who reached over to lay his hand on top of Harry's arm. The boy took a deep breath and began sharing his tale of watching Ginevra Weasley speak in parsel tongue in a man's voice with a giant snake-like creature while she carried a black book that seemed to radiate with evil magic.
"I was afraid, but I didn't trust any adult–who would believe me? Then the second time I saw her was the night after the students died, I watched her kill an Auror with the same young man's voice using the unforgiveable curse in parsel tongue."
"How do you know it was in parsel tongue?"
"I speak parsel tongue."
"And how did they not see you?"
"I have a brilliant cape of invisibility that hides my form, my scent, and any sounds that I make. It was returned to me at Christmas during my first year at Hogwarts."
Daniel Clearwater glanced toward Ragnok who frowned dangerously. The Unspeakable said, "The Department of Mysteries has tried twice to take that cloak from the Potters and each time, death and destruction have fallen hard on the Unspeakables involved in the attempt. No one will make the attempt to take your cloak for at least two more generations."
Andrew and Ragnok smirked, while Harry frowned. Then Clearwater asked, "What happened after the girl killed the Auror?"
Harry explained that he watched the witch levitate the body through the opening in the sink, but before she could jump in or summon the 'snake', he had stunned the girl. "I threw her wand and that black book down the hole. Then I told the sink to 'close' in parsel tongue, and I took my pruning shears and changed the carved snakes on the sink. I used magic to help me cut into the stone and gave them feet, wings, fur… anything that meant they weren't snakes anymore."
"Did that work?" asked Daniel.
"Yes, the sink wouldn't open again when I told it to in parsel tongue," Harry confirmed. "Then I levitated Miss Weasley to outside the infirmary, banged on the door, and hid under my cloak. Madam Pomphrey opened the door and took her inside. I heard she had lost a lot of her memories and had to go home."
"And the next day, there was a large explosion underneath Hogwarts that cracked part of the foundations," Clearwater said. "Something magical must have triggered the basilisk to explode…"
Ragnok growled, "I ache to think of the glory lost in a basilisk hunt and the profits that could have been made. But Gringotts believes Mr. Potter saved most of the school as well as Miss Weasley from possession by some dark lord's horcrux."
"Horcrux?" asked Clearwater. "Bloody stupid wizards!"
The man rose to pace for a moment but immediately returned to his chair and kept his hands in clear view on the arms of the chair when the goblin guards all presented their weapons when the wizard had risen from his chair. "My apologies, Director. This last news most certainly unsettled my mind…"
"And can you postulate which Dark Lord it was who made the horcrux?" the goblin asked.
"He-who-must-not-be-named, for certain," Clearwater replied after less than 30 seconds.
"We believe he made several of the cursed things," the goblin continued. "One was inside Heir Potter-Black's famous scar until last summer."
"WHAT?" shouted the Unspeakable, rising from his chair and moving toward the boy. A goblin cast the stupefy spell and the wizard collapsed onto the floor.
Ragnok grinned and said, "Stupid wizards."
Clearwater in GringottsAfter Finch-Fletchley and his ward had departed the office for home, Ragnok's healer cast the spell to wake up Daniel Clearwater. The wizard stood on shaky legs for a moment and then glanced around the room; the muggle and boy wizard were gone as were the comfortable chairs and rug. The plain wooden chair had been positioned in front of the chief goblin's desk and the Director pointed at the chair. "Sit down and listen to me."
"Yes, Director."
"The Department of Mysteries is the only group in the Ministry for Magic with anyone worth their salt," the goblin said. "But in the last twenty years, Algernon Croaker has begun to allow the pureblood philosophy to influence who is inducted into your membership. I believe there are six half-bloods and two muggleborn in your membership along with five purebloods, not counting Croaker."
Daniel made no comment about the accuracy of the goblin's numbers.
"The Ministry for Magic ignores the true state of Magical Britain at the peril of violation of the Statute of Secrecy. The Dark Lord's Insurrection was at the point of forcing the muggle government to intervene when Lord and Lady Potter banished him. Dumbledore knows the wizard is not gone but has done nothing to prevent his return. That befuddled imbecile turned his face away while the Dark Lord's followers bribed their way to freedom in show trials. Pureblood fanatics ran the government… still run the government today."
"Minister Cochrane will continue his agenda of subjugating the muggleborns into serfdom and bring about the destruction of Magical Britain at the hands of the British military." The goblin completed his statements by adding, "Gringotts expects trouble between the wizards and the muggles within five years."
"What kind of trouble?" asked the Unspeakable, who had a slightly longer timetable before the trouble would begin.
"Open warfare with the wizards of Magical Britain being slaughtered and their numbers vanishing from Britain within weeks. The ICW will not intervene because British wizards will bring this about themselves."
"That will destroy Gringotts as well."
"My clan has already diversified our portfolio," the goblin replied. "My children–like your sons–live among magical societies that are not a backwards as Britain. The clan will survive and prosper."
Daniel looked Ragnok in the eye and said, "I wish I had had foresight to send Penny to her eldest brother out of Britain."
The discussion thereafter focused on the 'horcrux problem' as Ragnok characterized it. Daniel was permitted to view the captured portion of Dark Lord Tom Riddle's soul removed from Harry Potter's scar, as well as the fabled cup of Helga Hufflepuff that had been confiscated from the vault of Bellatrix LeStrange.
"Two days after we removed the piece of his soul from Harry Potter, our magic users performed a ritual that identified the location of the remainder of the soul. We reached out to Minister Fudge and to Chief Warlock Dumbledore for their assistance but neither wizard ever responded. I have never wasted the parchment to send any letter to Cochrane. I doubt the wizard can read."
"Where…"
Ragnok listed the spots saying, "A house here in London that we cannot enter, a shack in Northern England that we did investigate but left in place – there are interesting curses on the ring for any wizard stupid enough to attempt it's retrieval. There remains one horcrux in Hogwarts, and there was one destroyed when Mr. Potter threw that black book down the basilisk hole at Hogwarts. We theorize the explosion of the basilisk destroyed it underneath the castle. The last piece moves about in Albania of all places."
"There is a large, natural magical forest there, with many magical creatures," Clearwater replied. "The soul piece would be moving between creatures, trying to find one strong enough to survive possession."
After a moment's thought, Clearwater asked, "What are your plans, Director?"
"Gringotts will take no steps against the horcruxes that are not in our possession and the two that we hold will remain here as bargaining chips against the return of the Dark Lord Tom Riddle."
"Tom Riddle? I thought Volde…" Clearwater stopped speaking as his intelligence connected the name Tom Riddle with the Dark Lord who called himself 'Voldemort' and he also recognized the corruption in the Department of Mysteries. "Croaker knows and hasn't shared the information with the rest of us."
"At least not the half-bloods and muggleborn Unspeakables," Ragnok said. "There is a Death Eater in your ranks named Angus Rookwood, Unspeakable 58."
Clearwater sat silently in the chair for a count of ten, before he rose, bowed and thanked the Director for sharing the information with him. "I shall mark this day as the beginning of my new education and understanding of the world."
Ragnok nodded and waved toward one guard and said, "Escort Mr. Clearwater to the lobby."
It was a week later that Daniel Clearwater's wife placed a muggle envelope beside his dinner plate at their dining room table. After the homecooked meal, she retreated to the kitchen to speak with their house elf about the meals for the next week, while Daniel read the strange letter.
'MI5? What is 'MI5'?' he wondered as he read the letterhead. The contents of the letter created even more questions as he considered that a branch of the muggle government was aware of the ministry for magic. 'Of course, they're aware. The Queen is our monarch too.'
'…discuss the careless deaths of children in the magical education system,' he read and recognized the attempt to manipulate his emotions.
"What was your strange letter, dear?" his wife asked.
"A government flunky asking about taxes we paid on our muggle properties," he replied.
By January 1994, events had progressed in the Department of Mysteries. Algernon Croaker, Unspeakable 14, couldn't put his finger on the cause of his uneasiness. All fourteen wizards who worked in the Department of Mysteries were bound by oaths to protect Magical Britain from harm and keep the department's secrets to themselves. A mishap in the chamber of love had sent Unspeakable 58 into a state of permanent bliss and unconsciousness – Rookwood was an ugly fellow so the smile on his otherwise vacant face had been disturbing. The Dark Mark on his arm infuriated several Unspeakables it seemed because they began questioning Croaker's directives more and more.
Argument and debate were necessary in their line of work but the muggleborn and half-blood members of the team seemed to align against the five purebloods more frequently in the next twelve months. Croaker would only admit that the 'others' controlled more magic than his recruits when forced by circumstances. Today, Unspeakables 43 and 51, both purebloods, wanted to conduct an experiment in the time chamber with a new time-turner they'd built without his knowledge.
Unspeakables 73, 77, and 82 opposed the test and the entire line of experiments. Croaker felt obligated to support his pureblood colleagues this time and he would speak to each of the others individually over the next week to bring them back into alignment with his guidelines.
"14, will you join us for this experiment?" asked 43. "We want to see if our attempt to view the past in a magic mirror will work."
"What day are you targeting?" Croaker asked.
"Halloween 1981," the other Unspeakable replied. The purebloods all entered the time chamber, closed the door, and engaged the time turner. There were bright lights for approximately ten seconds and then the entire chamber vanished.
Walking toward the general area of the previous time chamber an hour later, 43 smirked and when 51 asked, Daniel replied, "I think they landed in London on a night when the blitz was at its worst in 1940 or perhaps during the Great Fire back in 1660. Wizards did roam the streets of the city back then."
"There are eight of us now," Unspeakable 51 stated.
"We should all meet with MI5 at some point in the next week."
Her Majesty's Government ActsOnce spotters were certain that the Aurors had removed the bodies of the dead government officials from the alley, troops immediately moved on the ministry building itself, where they shot, tasered or arrested everyone, and took away their wands, portkeys, and rings. Lorries carried the wounded, insensate and handcuffed wizards and witches to an airfield where they were airlifted by helicopter to a deserted army base and had their identities established. By nightfall, the ministry was in the hands of the muggle military. In the Department of Mysteries, eight Unspeakables cast spells to remove the most important items to safe keeping in vaults especially prepared in the government storage facilities in the mountains of Wales and Scotland. In his last act in the building, Daniel Clearwater dismantled the magical pumps that kept out the river water and opened the pipes to flood the building. The entire underground structure would eventually fill with water. Clearwater remained hopeful that the Unspeakables would become a part of MI5 – he'd proposed the label 'MI5.5'.
Removal of needed records from the underground building took three days while the lowest level, the Department of Mysteries filled with water from the Thames. The first day, Madam Bones surrendered the DMLE to the British army. The wards put in place by the muggleborn wizards in the muggle military held despite all efforts to break them and the Aurors who refused to obey Amelia Bones' command to surrender, along with stubborn ministry employees, and department heads, drowned over the course of the next two days in the rising dark and cold water when their bubble head charms collapsed.
In the morning following the takeover of the ministry, army troops consisting of muggleborn and squibs moved against Diagon Alley, Saint Mungo's, and Hogsmeade. As the terrible news in the last edition of The Daily Prophet about the attack that killed the top officials in the government spread around Magical Britain, the floo system suddenly dropped out of service. Shortly thereafter, the roof of the Leaky Cauldron blew off in a pair of explosions. The wards that hid Diagon Alley since the late 1600's vanished. Immediately following the collapse of the wards, the goblins expelled all wizards and closed the doors at Gringotts. Wizards and witches in the shops and street felt new wards snap into place that kept them from apparating or using port keys.
Soldiers appeared in the alley and ordered everyone to surrender. Wizards who attempted to fire spells at the soldiers were shot and died in the street while the armored vests and helmets protected the soldiers from most of the spells. There were multiple deaths in the alley but before midafternoon, the British army held the alley and began demolition of many store fronts. The vampires died along with hags, and a half dozen trolls hidden underneath the street in a side alley. The hospital surrendered and transfer of patients, staff, records and supplies out of London began. The village of Hogsmeade was evacuated of all inhabitants for the time being.
The Clean Up BeginsAndrew Fitch-Finchley called Justin and Harry into his office at home and the boys arrived to find a guest, the sad man they had met a few times in the last two years, 'Mr. Granger'. Neither boy remembered his daughter–they'd had no classes with the young witch before her death at Halloween their first year.
"Boys, there's news we need to share with you," Andrew told his son and his adopted son. "The Ministry for Magic has been taken over by Her Majesty's government. The purebloods are all being arrested and many of them will be tried for crimes against the 'mudbloods' as they call us."
"Good," said Justin while Harry remained silent as Mr. Granger explained about the destruction of Diagon Alley, and the takeover of Hogsmeade and Saint Mungo's.
"What happened to the goblins?" asked Justin who had an interest in banking.
"They closed up shop for the time being and the government established communications with them through back channels yesterday."
"What about Hogwarts?" asked Justin.
"It has been isolated and will have to wait for a new headmaster to be appointed," Mr. Granger replied.
"Will Professor Sprout be alright?" asked Harry, his voice heard for the first time.
"I imagine so," Mr. Granger said. "The muggleborn Hufflepuffs only say good things about their head of house. And Professor Flitwick will be okay too."
Justin glanced at Harry before he asked, "What about Dumbledore?"
"He died the day the government began the takeover of the Ministry," Mr. Granger explained.
"Good," said Harry, uncharacteristically. "And Lady Longbottom?"
"She's not among the prisoners so she may be hold up in her home," the sad man replied once again. "Where is her grandson…"
"Neville died this spring," Andrew informed their visitor. "His grandmother drove him…"
"He wished himself dead because his grandmother convinced him he would never be as good a wizard as his father," Harry continued bitterly. "Our friend hated his life so much he wished his death to get away from it."
"How do you know this?"
"Madam Bones made the Daily Prophet print the truth. The whole Longbottom estate went to a cousin from America. When he took over the family, the first thing he did was throw out Neville's grandmother."
"What name did she have to go back to?" Mr. Granger asked. "The wizards don't let you keep a name when you're disowned."
Harry looked at Justin who shook his head. Leaving the room for a moment and then returning with a book that referenced the old pureblood families, Harry announced, "Augusta Rosier… her name was 'Rosier' before she married Neville's grandfather."
Mr. Granger withdrew up his mobile phone from a pocket and called a number where he suggested to someone on the other end that they look among their prisoners for 'Augusta Rosier', a witch to be investigated for child abuse.
News of the changes in Magical Britain was never hidden from the other magical governments or the muggle government of France and other nearby European governments. Several dozen wizards appeared in the foreign countries and claimed asylum though most of these unwelcome visitors were arrested and returned to the new Ministry for Magic in Birmingham, for a hearing on their status. Azkaban was emptied, the worst criminals sent through the veil that had been transported to a cave in Wales, and the others imprisoned with hopes of rehabilitation and release. The old prison was sealed with all the Dementors trapped inside.
A newspaper called 'The Daily News' appeared ten days later and was delivered for free to each magical home for two months with stories on the reorganization of the ministry for magic, the trials and sentences for many purebloods convicted of murdering muggles, muggleborns, half-bloods, and other purebloods. The Queen appointed a minister from among her muggleborn advisors for a period of two years, and Gringotts reopened to provide services to magical clients once again.
A wizard from outside of Britain (Australian) was accepted by the magic of Hogwarts as the new headmaster and the school was set to open on 15 September with several new staff members. Rumors spread that the now active wards of the castle captured a long-dead Death Eater attempting to masquerade as Alastair Moody. There were three articles in The Daily News about protests by Deputy Headmistress McGonagall when she was not made headmistress. That first week of September, the international papers were full of the story of the cancellation of the Tri-Wizard Tournament. The Daily News carried an exclusive interview with Headmaster Hammerfield who admitted he refused to complete the contract.
"There are too many new things to put in place at Hogwarts this year – new classes and new professors. I think the children will be better off without visitors from two other schools here for the entire year and the distraction of dragons and other magical creatures brought in for the contests."
Deputy Headmistress McGonagall decried the cancellation of the tournament saying, "This is a slap in the face to the memory of Albus Dumbledore. He labored for an entire year to bring the tournament back into existence and now his legacy is being swept away without a care!"
When pressed about Dumbledore's demise, McGonagall referenced the disappearance of Merlin as the precedent for Dumbledore's departure. The claims of the goblins to have a portion of the former headmaster's skull was denied or denounced by various voices in the old government. No one in the new administration took the time to discuss the former Chief Warlock and Headmaster.
Harry Potter rode the Hogwarts Express from London to Hogsmeade on 15 September with his brother and friends. If there were a few students who chose to go to other schools on the continent, no one particularly cared or noticed. The sorting feast was pleasant, and the sorting hat's song was joyous and welcoming of all students that year. Headmaster Hammerfield's welcoming speech was short but well-planned with announcements about Quidditch tournaments, new football teams, and new classes in etiquette, magical traditions and holidays, enchantments, and spell creation. Additional classes would be available for English, composition, mathematics, muggle science, and a combination of magical and muggle history.
Sirius Black and the Horcrux HuntWith the help of Daniel Clearwater, head of the New Department of Mysteries–MI5.5, Remus Lupin located his friend, Sirius Black. Once Lupin found Black, he convinced the wizard to check himself into New Saint Mungo's. The hospital had relocated to a deserted industrial park in Birmingham where the Azkaban escapee was treated for years of exposure to the Dementors (extinct) and was the final victim of their tortures to be 'treated'.
Amelia Bones enjoyed her new position as Chief Magical Prosecutor for the new Magical Courts and worked tirelessly to bring Magical Britain into alignment with British law. A hearing for Sirius Black was held at New Saint Mungo's where Bones produced all the evidence (none) and with testimony from the man after he was dosed with veritaserum, pronounced him cleared of all charges for a second time. The judge in the case, a muggleborn, issued his ruling and began a new era in magical justice.
During the first Hogsmeade weekend, Headmaster Hammerfield arranged for Professor Sprout to take Harry to meet with Sirius Black at Rosemerta's tavern. This meeting was only held after Professor Sprout and the headmaster received written approval from Mr. and Mrs. Finch-Fletchley.
Justin, Luna, Susan and Ernie tagged along and provided Harry with support at the meeting where former Professor Lupin and Professor Sprout exchanged pleasantries while Sirius shared several photos of himself and James Potter with Harry. Sirius and Harry agreed to meet during the winter break, and everyone felt this second meeting between the two was much better than the first in the Shrieking Shake.
During the late winter and early spring months of 1994, the goblins and Unspeakables hunted down and collected the other horcruxes left by Dark Lord Tom Riddle. The ring from the collapsing shack in the north of England was carefully collected by the wizards and goblins and stored in a vault in Gringotts. The diadem was located in the Room of Requirement during the holidays while the majority of students were at their homes. Sirius Black provided access to his family home in London where the last horcrux was hidden and he made peace with old house elf after learning that his brother turned against the Dark Lord. Lady Black's portrait was struck dumb upon hearing how her youngest son died defying the Dark Lord and never spoke again. The Unspeakables made a trip to the cave with the old elf and destroyed the infirni in the hidden, brackish lake.
The goblins used their spell to 'locate' the pieces of Tom Riddle's soul once again and discovered that the last piece of Tom Riddle was near the same shack in northern England where the ring had been hidden. A team of goblins, Unspeakables, and Muggleborn soldiers approached the rundown manor house carefully at mid-morning. A large snake advanced from the house to attack but was dispatched without casualties. Upon entry to the house, a deformed baby containing the last remanent of Tom Riddle's soul was found in the care of a squib under the imperious curse. When released, the man told his story of being kidnapped in his native Albania by a crazy wizard named Barnabus Crouch, Jr. and being forced to care for the monstrous child and snake while they traveled across Europe and returned to England.
"I just want to go home," the man explained. "Obliviate this memory from my mind!"
Along with each of his remaining Horcruxes, Dark Lord Tom Riddle was thrown through the veil on midsummer's eve 1995. The prophecy about Harry Potter and the Dark Lord was lost in the water filled Department of Mysteries and no one living cared if the globe turned dark or remained bright. In the darkness of the cold, river water, it did not seem to matter.
Thereafter, Harry Potter's years at Hogwarts were typical for a wizard learning to control his magic. The new government continued to bring Magical Britain into the modern world slowly. With the encouragement of his family and godfather, Harry prepared to attend university after graduation from Hogwarts where he would specialize in herbology and genome modification that benefitted the magical and muggle worlds.
Harry maintained a cordial relationship with Sirius Black his entire life, married once and raised four children. His sons were named Justin Andrew Potter and Neville James Potter. His daughters were named Lily Alice Potter and Luna Helene Potter. His children did attend Hogwarts, but the school was so different from when Harry attended, his children never believed his stories. At least they didn't until Aunt Luna Fitch-Fletchley showed them the carvings of the snakes from the secret door to the Chamber of Secrets; the alterations made by Harry with his pruning shears remained and Luna had found the stone when goblins were making additional renovations to the castle. Luna was the Enchantments Professor and her husband indulged her dedication to her job.
Final chapter to follow that explains Neville's Law of Transmutation.
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