Title: Retrograde
Author: Knife Hand
Feedback: Constructive feedback appreciated, flames unappreciated
Spoilers: Nothing Specific, general for first few books.
Rating: M
Disclaimer: I do not own Hermione, or Luna, or Ginny, or Cho, or... I would buy them all but I am broke.
Summary: Harry's trial before fifth year goes differently because someone knows more than they should about Harry. Time Travel Fic.
Deception at Hogwarts penetrates the Ministry.
Special Report by Rita Skeeter.
The name of Professor William 'Harry' Tenor is well known throughout Magical Brittan, be it as the current Defence Professor, or from the legends during our own time at Hogwarts, or more recently as the Husband of the new Minister, Amelia Bones.
Famous as one of only a handful of students to ever Transfer into Hogwarts; and for gaining an O in Ancient Runes OWL after a single year of study and the last apprentice of the Legendary Terrance Miller, one of the greatest Defence Against the Dark Arts Masters of all time. At first glance, William Tenor seems the perfect person to teach our children and be the spouse to the Minister. Too perfect.
While the small Academy on 'William's' transfer documents did exist and did indeed close just prior to his transfer to Hogwarts, from what records remain there is no evidence that anyone by the name of 'William Tenor' ever attended the Academy. This brings into question the claim that 'William' never studied Ancient Runes prior to attending Hogwarts, given the level of competence obtained in such a short time.
More concerning is that it seems that 'William' showed an early and potentially unhealthy interest in Amelia Bones, daughter of a prominent Light Ancient Noble House. Was this a ploy to gain influence in a prominent House, or a plan to subvert the future Minister? Until we can find out the entire history of 'Professor Tenor', we have to assume the possibility of nefarious intentions. The Daily Prophet will bring you, our dear readers, updates as the come to hand on this disturbing mystery.
Dear Daily Prophet Editor,
I am writing to respond to your article 'Deception at Hogwarts penetrates the Ministry' published in yesterday's edition. I am a Seventh Year at Hogwarts and I frankly find your biased reporting on Professor Tenor to be the worst kind of muck raking and pandering to former Minister Fudge I have ever seen.
In the last few months, Professor Tenor has taught me more to deal with my NEWTs and how to deal with life in general that every other teacher in the entirety of Hogwarts has done in the last seven years. You are insinuating that because a few missing childhood records, Professor Tenor is trying to undermine the fabric of our society, so let's look at the other Defence Against the Dark Arts Professors over the last seven years, as this is seemingly the most vital posting in the entirety of Wizarding Brittan, and how the Daily Prophet has viewed them.
First was a Drunk and Violent Pureblood who was fired for breaking a female Professor's jaw in seven places and putting her into a coma for three weeks. According to the Prophet he was a 'fine Wizard who was discriminated against by subversive elements'. Next was a stuttering fool who could not be understood most of the time, is suspected of endangering the entire School by allowing a dangerous creature into the halls of the Castel and then disappeared at the end of the year. No comment from the Prophet on this Professor.
Third was a narcissistic fraud, who may have abused some of the students; is well known to have committed illegal obliviations on dozens, if not hundreds, of brave Witches and Wizards and now is in St Mungos long term spell damage ward for accidentally obliviating himself under mysterious circumstances in the middle of a serious crisis. The Daily Prophet's response was a coupon for 20% off their next purchase of one of his lie filled books.
The fourth was one of the most engaging and informative Professors prior to Professor Tenor. Practical Experience that year was both useful and realistic while the theory was more than rote learning of facts. Without this professor, almost none of my year level would have passed their Defence against the Dark Arts OWLs the following year. Despite not harming a single student over the entire year, or even placing a student in the remotest possibility of danger, it was deliberately leaked by the most obnoxious; biased and verbally bullying Professor at the school that the DADA Professor had an illness that some consider to be 'Dark Magic' and was pressured to resign. According to the Daily Prophet this Professor was 'one of the most evil things on the planet and it was a miracle that entire School population had not been slaughtered'.
The fifth was Terrorist thought long dead pretending to be a paranoid Ex-Auror, who used transfiguration as a punishment; demonstrated the Unforgivable Curses in Class and was directly responsible for the death of a Student involved in the Tri-Wizard Tournament. This Professor was illegally subjected to the Dementor's Kiss by direct order of former Minister Fudge before any Auror Investigation could commence, let alone be resolved. The Daily Prophet's response was basically 'ignore everything, including testimony that You-Know-Who has returned, that hundreds of people witnessed at the Final Task of the Tri-Wizard Tournament, instead believe that a student dropped dead by their own accord and the DADA Professor sucked his own soul out. Oh Look, Squirrel!'.
Then we come to last year's DADA Professor. A Ministry appointed Ministry Official with zero credentials, capability or intention to actually teach the subject. I was in my Sixth Year, with myself and several of my Year Mates seriously considering a career as an Auror, and we were told we would be taught no spells because 'No one will ever try to attack you so it is unnecessary' and the textbook for the year, which appeared to be intended for Pre-Hogwarts children, basically said 'do nothing by contact the Ministry. You may die before they arrive, but that is better than casting even a single spell.' Every Year Level, including OWL and NEWT Students, were given this same text. Anyone who questioned the Professor in any way was tortured with writing repeated lines with an illegal Blood Quill. During their short tenure, until they were hospitalised in January after which the Headmaster took over the class himself, the Professor was described by the Prophet as 'The best thing that has ever happened to Hogwarts, bringing order and sensibility to the chaos of the School'. Once the Professor was Hospitalised and their crimes came to light, the Prophet was silent on the matter.
I do not write this on my own behalf solely, instead I write this on behalf of the Hogwarts Student Body as a whole, with a very few individual exceptions, from the First Years all the way through to my fellow Seventh Years. We are disgusted at how our school and staff have been inaccurately portrayed in Daily Prophet and will no longer stand it. I have been able to confirm that over 97% of Daily Prophet Subscriptions amongst the Student Body are being cancelled, with the cancellation forms attached to this letter, starting at the end of the week. We will also be strongly encouraging our parents and older siblings to also cancel their subscriptions.
This gives you three days to not only print this letter, in its entirety on the front page of the Daily Prophet, but to retract the 'Deception at Hogwarts penetrates the Ministry' Article. If we do not see this done by the time our subscriptions are cancelled, this letter; along with other documentation and evidence of the lies that have been printed by the Daily Prophet will be sent to every single domestic and international news outlet, as well as the DMLE; ICW and every other possible location we believe will hurt your circulation, reputation and/or finances.
Be warned, we are Hogwarts. We are the future. Cross us and we will destroy you.
The Voice of Hogwarts.
Barnabas Cuffe was metaphorically shitting bricks as he read the letter to the Editor from this 'Voice of Hogwarts'. It was indeed accompanied by a large sheaf of subscription cancellation forms, nearly three hundred, and there was a small pile of other cancellation forms with similar names from relatives. This was an unmitigated disaster. Hogwarts alone was 46% of the Daily Prophet's circulation. Now he had a choice. Publish the letter, which would ruin his reputation; probably end the paper and cause several benefactors who had been 'generous' in the past, including Malfoy and Fudge, to be annoyed to say the least or he could not publish it and, if they did what they said, would certainly end the paper and prevent him and almost all of the staff ever getting another job as Journalists ever, and possibly lead to criminal charges.
That was a tough choice, but there is one thing he was going to do no matter what.
"Jamie." He called out to his secretary. "Get Skeeter up here."
"Right away, Mister Cuffe." Jamie replied.
Skeeter had always walked the line, but her articles also often increased circulation. Now she had gone too far. He would have the pleasure of firing the bitch before he made his decision. This paper was his life and maybe he could save it. Maybe. But it was clear his career was over either way but he was taking Skeeter down first, no matter what. She thought she was safe as she had some dirt on him, but that did not matter now.
"Hello, Barny." Skeeter said arrogantly.
Barnabas smiled and Skeeter involuntarily shivered. She had thought she was a Shark, now she would find out she was a Minnow.
TBC….