Author's Note(s):
You'll have to forgive me as I struggle to write this chapter because I don't believe that I can portray realistic reactions/feelings for characters. I, also, struggle, but I'm trying to widen my writing from other characters points of views and feelings. It's exceptionally hard because such things don't come easily to me.
Ch. 13 Repercussions
The sound of something crashing to the floor awakened Harry with a start. His eye opened to find Tonks had tumbled out of bed and two sheepish looking wizards having noisily let the cottage door slam into the wall. A drunk Sirius and Remus had finally stumbled home as Harry spotted the break of daylight peaking over the island behind them.
Andromeda rushed out of the bedroom followed and admonished. "Sirius Black! I should have known you would stumble in drunk at the break of day."
"Shhh! Dromeda not so loud," Sirius half whispered sheepishly.
"Sorry, Andromeda," Remus said as he steered Sirius to the dining table. The smell of food cooking drawing the two wizards like bears to honey. In the kitchen, Harry spotted Dobby and he guessed Winky busy frying up a full English breakfast.
"What's going on, Aunt Andromeda," Draco appeared rubbing sleep from his eyes.
"Nothing to be concerned with Draco dear," Andromeda glared at the two noise makers. "Just some uncouth wizards finally deeming us the honor of their presence."
"Now come along, Draco, you can have the bathroom first before Nymphadora takes up half the morning to get herself ready for the day." Andromeda turned her nephew around and headed in the direction of the shower.
"Hey," Tonks cried in dismay, "I don't take that long…not compared to some of the girls I shared the Hufflepuff dorms with," she hollered. She stood from the floor, tangled in the mess of bed sheets.
The metamorph tripped up by the sheets started to fall over only to be caught by Harry's quick reflexes. "Thanks, Wotcher Harry," Tonks blushed at feeling his strong arms wrapped around her.
"I'm always happy to help a lady in distress," he replied with roguish grin.
Sniggering interrupted the pair drawing their attention to drunk wizards. Harry turned his attention on the pair as Tonks reluctantly extracted herself from the strong wizards arms. "Where have you to been?" he asked as Dobby sat food on the table.
Sirius sat the empty bottle of Irish whiskey on the table. "I needed to do something, or I would have killed the Lestrange brothers, so Remus took me for a walk, and we found the quarry and decided to have target practice…" Sirius said. His eyes falling on the empty bottle, he cheerily added, "We also may have drunk a few bottles of your fine Irish whiskey."
"So, I see," a flash of gold swirled in Harry's eye and two bottles of sobering potion appeared in front of both wizards.
The grateful wizards showed the appreciation by chugging the bottlers before diving into the delicious spread of food laid on the table before them. Harry joined them at the table with Tonks. As the member of House Black at breakfast and got ready for the day; elsewhere, around the British Isles hundreds of owls carried a special Friday morning edition of the Daily Prophet to the newspapers subscribers. While an increasingly angry Dark Lord attempted to summon four members of his inner circle and one sniveling rat.
Scene Change
In a towering lopsided home of a magical family of wizards, the matriarch of the family, Molly Weasley, currently hummed as she made breakfast for her large brood, well not so large anymore, she thought with dismay. It was nice to have Bill living at home, once more, but the home was much quieter now that, her fourth and fifth sons, the twins, Fred, and George, had moved into the flat over their shop in Diagon Alley in protest of Molly's disparaging words about Harry Potter. Her first and third child, Bill, and Percy, both had a flat in a magical building in London, so that they could be closer to their respective jobs at Gringotts, or the Ministry of Magic and Charlie was still in Romania taking care of dragons.
This left only her two youngest children, Ron, and Ginny, still living at home along with their friend from school, Hermione Granger, though over the last year Hermione seemed to have become more of Ginny's friends as she and Ron seemed to have a falling out. The sound of shoes on creaking stairs alerted her to the children being up. She turned in time with a hot plate of sausages and bacon to see Ron entering the room flowed by Ginny and Hermione at a more sedate pace.
Ron sat at the table and began to pile food on to his plate.
"Good morning, Mrs. Weasley," Hermione greeted politely as she took a seat at the table.
"Morning, mum," Ginny greeted too as she sat across from her brother.
Sitting the plate full of food on the table she greeted, "Morning dears, did you sleep well?"
An owl flew in through the open window and dropped the extra heavy edition of the Daily Prophet on the kitchen table. Molly found a coin to pay the bird and gave it a piece of bacon which the bird happily gobbled up before it turned and flew out the window. While Molly was tending to the newspaper owl, Hermione unrolled the newspaper to find the headline…
"Harry Potter Makes Triumphant Return!"Was written in big letters followed by article by Rita Skeeterand a picture of the tall dark hair wizard wearing an eye patch standing in front of the Chief Witch and Minister Bones at the Wizengamot meeting.
"Harry's alive!" Hermione exclaimed putting the paper in front of Ginny.
"What!" Ron spoke around his mouthful of food.
"The most amazing thing happened yesterday, dear readers, as your favorite reporter sat in the press gallery covering what had started out to as a routine session of the Wizengamot was called to order by Chief Witch Augusta Longbottom when in a dazzling display of phoenix fire erupt on the floor of the legislative hall to the astonishment of the crowd. I watched, along with the crowd, as the fire receded to reveal one, Lord Harry Potter-Black, standing in the middle of the meeting hall. All wands were pointed at the new arrival, but in an effortless and controlled display of wandless magic Lord Potter-Black quickly disarmed the hall…
…I can assure you readers that the once scrawny and bespectacled figure of the boy-who-lived was not the same wizard who now stood before us. Instead, this reporters attention was drawn to the tall and commanding wizard who was reminiscent of the late James Potter and his father the l Lord Charlus Potter. The young Lord Potter-Black cut a powerful and intimidating presence in the legislative hall this day. It seemed that I was not the only one to be found flushed faced by the young lord, for I noticed that our dear Minister for Magic Amelia Bones, a witch who has been known to intimidate many a wizard with her quick wit, intelligence and deadly wand work in her long and prestigious career as an Auror and then as the Director of the Magical Law Enforcement, seemed to be found just as affected by the powerful wizard as I would come to find out many a witch who interacted with Lord Potter-Black this day…
…The new mysterious, roguishly handsome, and now older appearing, Lord Potter-Black, made for desirable eye candy for any witch in an expensive tailored suit and outer wizarding robe. His dark full head of hair cut short and elegantly styled, a rarity for anyone who knows the Potter men's signature wild and messy hair and wearing an eye patch over one of his mesmerizing green eyes that spoke of what one would imagine was injured in some painful manner. As Lord Potter-Black stood before the Chief Witch's private box and presented the Chief Witch Augusta Longbottom and Minister for Magic Amelia Bones with documented proof of his identity and right to claim both house seats obtained through a heredity test done at Gringotts Wizarding Bank…
…Then, to the assembly's continued astonishment, the young lord, proceeded to claim his innocence for which he was convicted the previous summer (see page 3 for article on trial of Harry Potter) and spoke a wizards oath on his magic that would see him loose his magic if her were guilty. I can tell you dear readers that he was not guilty for another dazzling display of wandless magic Lord Potter-Black returned the wands of Chief Witch and the Minister from the pile of wands that now lay at his feet…
…With magic seeming to approve Lord Potter-Black's innocence and the declaration by who-must-not-be-name's admission of guilt in front of witness in Diagon Alley the prior week. Minister Bones dropped the charges against Lord Potter-Black and set aside the guilty verdict before ordering restitution in the sum of one million galleons be paid to Lord Potter-Black." Hermione read the article out loud to the Weasleys.
"Bloody hell," Ron cussed, "How much more money does the git need."
"Ronald!" Molly admonished, "Watch you language."
Arthur entered through the burrows back door to find his wife, youngest children and friend gathered around the breakfast table. He spotted the newspaper in Hermione's hands. "Oh, dear, I was hoping to maki it home before the morning edition of the Daily Prophet arrived."
Arthur took off his wizarding hat and sat it along with his briefcase on the kitchen table. "Arthur, is what Rita said true, dear, is Harry alive and innocent?"
"It would appear so, Molly," Arthur said, taking a seat at the table. His work at the Ministry had kept him busy processing a stash of muggle items that had been bewitched before being sold to unsuspecting muggles.
"Percy was in the Wizengamot chambers when Lord Potter-Black made his appearance," Arthur buttered some toast as he spoke. "He came to my office to use the private floo to speak with Albus personally. The headmaster used my floo to enter the Ministry instead of using the public floo access in the Ministry lobby."
"They should have never replaced him as Chief Warlock." Molly tutted, as she switched her wand at the cookware in the sink setting them to wash themselves.
"Perhaps, Molly dear, but Albus did allow the Ministry to convict an innocent teenage boy to a life in Azkaban." Arthur said before taking a sip of tea.
Molly pursed her lips in thought. "There had to be some reason." She shook her head sadly. "I'm sure that Albus wouldn't have done that to Harry if he had knowledge that Harry was innocent…"
Arthur shrugged, "Albus was as close to Harry as a grandfather." He sighed, "I can't believe that Albus would let an innocent boy suffer exposure to Dementors either, but it seems he did and what's more Harry seems to believe that Albus abandon him too."
Arthur found four sets of eyes on him, so he clarified, "Can I see the paper?"
Hermione handed the paper to the Weasley patriarch as the wizard unfolded the paper to show a second headline and picture. "Lord Potter-Black and Albus Dumbledore Have Falling Out" article by Rita Skeeter. The picture showed the bewildered headmaster watching as his phoenix flame travels his formal pupil out of the Ministry lobby.
"Dear readers, in another, surprise twist, it seems that Lord Potter-Black is on the outs with his former headmaster, Albus Dumbledore. I, found myself, in perfect placement to overhear the heated words exchanged between Lord Potter-Black and the esteemed headmaster of Hogwarts, Albus Dumbledore, in the lobby of the Ministry of Magic. Albus Dumbledore, had somehow found out about the events in the Wizengamot chamber that took place yesterday. He arrived in time to interrupt a Minister Bones and Chief Witch Augusta Longbottom's joint interview being given to the press in the atrium of the Ministry as they discussed the appearance of Lord Potter-Black…
…My fellow reporters and I were caught by the haggard and breathless appearance of the revered wizard. To everyone, I spoke to seemed to believe headmaster Dumbledore was unaware that his once protégé was even still alive. This puzzled many witnesses and me given that Lord Potter-Black arrived via phoenix flame travel. The only phoenix known to be in Britain is said to belong to Headmaster Dumbledore…
As the three talked in whispered words being blocked by Auror's from the press. One of the ministry lift's doors opened to reveal the wizard in question. Albus Dumbledore, in a burst of speed, that belied his age intercepted Lord Potter-Black as he stepped off the lift after making a detour to the Registry of Magical Creatures where Lord Potter-Black had registered a claim for a bounty on killing a 5X creature, a basilisk, at the end of his second year, for more information see my article on page 5. Now, more about the bitter exchange of words between the illustrious Albus Dumbledore and Lord Potter-Black. My fellow, witches and wizards, watched as wall of invisible magic sprung up between the two wizards keeping, but I was lucky enough to be close enough to be included in the magical field and thus privy to the conversation…"
"I'll bet I know how Skeeter managed that," Hermione muttered sourly thinking of the reporter's animagus form of a beetle.
Arthur continued reading, ignoring the witch. "I can report that Albus Dumbledore was persistent in trying to persuade Lord Potter-Black to accompanying him to a private place where they could talk and that there were things that Dumbledore need to explain to him. Lord Potter-Black rebuffed the headmaster refusing to hear the old wizards words. The Potter-Black lord then informed a surprised Dumbledore that he already knew whatever he wished to tell before informing Dumbledore that he had twenty-one years minus a year in hell (Azkaban) that he blames Dumbledore for sending him to, in which, he has trained in several magics…
…More outstanding was that the phoenix, Fawkes, which has been known to be the familiar of Albus Dumbledore for many decades, seemed to answer an unspoken call from Lord Potter-Black to aid him in escaping Dumbledore's presence. I, ask you, dear readers since a phoenix is known to be such a magical creature of the light and Fawkes seeming abandonment of Albus Dumbledore. Does this, dear readers, mean that Albus Dumbledore fallen from grace and is no longer the leader of the light…" Arthur finished reading the article.
"I don't believe it," Molly shook her head vehemently. "We need Dumbledore…He's the only wizard that he-who-must-not-be-named fears." Molly cleared the table of dishes. "I'm sure that he and Harry will work out their differences."
Arthur shook his head. "Maybe Molly, love," Arthur said kissing his wife affectionately on the forehead.
Ginny and Hermione shared a look before sneaking away from the table. They headed up the stairs to Ginny's room. Ron watched his sister and former friend leave the kitchen before tucking into the last of the breakfast.
Scene Change
At Hogwarts, the teachers were eating breakfast in the Great Hall when the owls arrived with the morning edition of the Daily Prophet. One look at the headlines and glance through articles saw both Minerva and Snape rushing to the headmasters office.
Albus had barely had time to say, "enter," before the door to his office burst open.
"Albus is this true?" McGonagall exclaimed in her thick Scottish brogue.
Albus eyed the newspaper headline that was clutched in Minerva's hand. He saw the hopeful expression lighting up her eyes and noticed a similar look of hope in Severus's dark eyes.
"Yes," he answered his eyes flashing to the empty golden perch mournful of the loss of his familiar.
"I spoke with Harry myself," Dumbledore admitted. In fact, he had thought of nothing else all night.
The seeming dismissal by Harry and the power he felt rolling off the other wizard spoke of the fact that his blocks on the boy's magic had been shattered. Once more, the dark magic that he had sensed coming from the boy's scar ever since in the early hours of the November morning was no more. The headmaster's ca5refully constructed plans were completely in tatters.
"And Albus, how did the boy look," McGonagall asked?
Albus turned his attention to his deputy and potions professor. "He appeared to be in excellent health…" he frowned, "if not older and having come into his full magical inheritance."
Severus's lips turned into a sour frown. "What do you mean older and inheritance."
Albus looked to the man as he replied, "I mean that Harry looks like a double for his late father except for the one green eye he inherited from Lily. He has also reached his final magical maturity and claimed his family titles as Lord Potter and Lord Black."
Minerva took another look at the headline before seeing the pictures that she had ignored in her excitement. "Oh," she said as she took a closer her look. "Circe! What bloody hell happened to him?" she cussed in her thick brogue.
Albus flashed his gaze on a suddenly quite Severus. "From the reports from Alister – Voldemort and his followers – gave Harry a birthday party that saw the boy tortured by the Lestrange brothers and Bellatrix. The dark witch is personally responsible for removing Harry's eye upon Voldemort's request because he didn't like the defiant look in the boy's gaze."
Minerva paled at Albus's description and what her own imagination could fill in various details of what the torture included from her time as an Auror and member of the Order during the first wizarding war with Voldemort. The deputy headmistress collapsed in the chair close to Albus desk. "The poor boy," she whispered mournfully.
A fire erupted in her at the treatment of her lion cub, but then the sadness swept through her for all times she had failed him and his parents. "What do we do now, Albus?" she asked, "Surely, Harry, will not be wanting anything to do with us."
"He has too, Minerva," Albus said with conviction. "The boy must be made aware of his role in the fight against Voldemort. He has to be brought back into the fold."
Severus gave a derisive snort. "I don't see how that is possible. The boy is beyond your manipulative control now Dumbledore." The headmaster sent the potions master a nasty glare. "According to what you just said he is a fully recognized of age wizard in the eyes of magic and the Ministry. He's claimed his titles and taken his seats in the Wizengamot. He's beyond your control now…"
A righteous fury swept through Dumbledore. "I CANNOT allow that…the boy MUST see reason…I'm the only one who can prepare to fight Voldemort. The prophecy MUST be…" He slammed his fists on his desk brutally shocking his former students.
"The prophecy – what Dumbledore?" Severus sneered.
Dumbledore held up his finger in warning. "DON'T Severus!" he spoke dangerously low. "Lest you forget what role you played in making the prophecy come to pass."
Minerva observed the argument between the two wizards with confusion. "Very well, Albus," Severus decided to retreat for now. "I have lessons to prepare."
The potions master turned with a flourish of his robes before exiting the room. Minerva didn't know what to make of what she had witnessed but made her own excuses to leave. Unknown to Albus but both of his teachers had plans to write a letter to Harry in hopes of making amends in some way and in the case of Severus perhaps finding redemption for himself with Lily's son. He also hopes to finally free himself from the two masters he found himself growing tired of serving.
Next chapter: We see Tonks deliver her Harry's message and packages to Minister Bones and Chief Witch Augusta Longbotton.