Here is the next chapter. I hope you like it. Please read and review thanks love Hermione xxx
While they waited to hear back from Dobby Harry decided to reply to Hermione since the owl refused to leave without a letter. Typical she'd probably chosen the owl to behave that way. She had told him she was getting an owl of her own this summer to keep up with her parents. He took out his writing supplies and decided that a prank was in order.
Hermione,
I am safe and that should matter more than anything else to you right now considering how unsafe I've been before. For reasons I am not allowed to get into I know that Sirius is in great health. Did you really think he wouldn't wish to assure me of this? Did you really think he cared so little for me that he wouldn't give me a way to get in touch with him safely huh? I am happy and that is what matters most to me. Any money Dumbledore gave you from me was not authorised by me but stolen from me by him. I just thought you should know you've been spending stolen money. By the way what you choose to spend that money on doesn't truly matter. The fact is it was stolen and would be stolen no matter what you spend it on. The fact that you spent it all on books like a loser does not take from the fact that it was stolen. I hope you're proud of the fact that you stole money from an orphan and spent it on books. I may have needed that but you weren't thinking of that while you got off on your literary acquisitions were you? Some friend you are.
If you must know I have escaped this British hell hole and I am currently safe in a fideliused house in France where nothing evil can get to me. That means of course that the house is under the fidelius spell with a secret keeper that I trust more than life itself. I am smarter than my parents in this regard and actually make sure that who I trust is actually trustworthy. This doesn't mean however that I don't still love them more than life itself because I do. Tell anyone who should read this letter (as I know you simply can't say no to authority of any kind ever) that the secret keeper is without a doubt not who they are thinking of and it never would be. I hate him and that is the end of that. If this confuses you don't worry because Dumbledore will get it. He is right and that scumbag will never again harm another person as I have seen to it. Oh yes you don't fuck with Harry Potter.
Quite frankly no one has ever thought to ask themselves how I am doing. To be honest living with the Dursleys was hell and when I mentioned that repeatedly I was ignored. I have no idea why someone would ever think I would lie about being abused but they obviously did since nothing was ever done about it. If they had believed me I would have been taken from there like I asked to be. I am a lot of things but a liar I could never be. You are not as foolish as you sometimes look figure it out. Was it ever normal to you that when I first started school with you that I was so obviously smaller and malnourished or did you simply think I was meant to look that way what with being an orphan? You notice everything to the point of being ridiculous sometimes so don't try and tell me you didn't notice it because I won't ever believe you. That would be tantamount to me saying you cheated on an exam which by the way no one would ever believe either and I am right so don't challenge me on it because you will not win.
You are a stickler for the rules much like Percy Weasley. It's not bad it just is who you are. I would never dream of asking you to change because quite frankly I know it would get me nowhere. You are who you are and I expect you to fully own it Merlin knows I do. The truth is I'm gay. I'm not ashamed of it far from it. I will eventually find love with someone amazing one day in the future and who knows I'll probably marry him whoever he turns out to be. I wouldn't ask you to change who you are so do the curtesy of not asking me to change who I am. It will never happen. I am happy and safe and well and I would thank you to remember this fact. I have taken the time out to think of me and my safety first and if that seems selfish to you then I guess I am selfish. Just because I am determined to live should not offend anyone and if it does they are very sick in the head indeed. Besides which I know I am the only one who will ever care for my own safety because if others had cared about it I would not have been returned year after year to the hell hole number four Privet Drive. Then again freaks don't complain. I was told this every single day in case you don't get the fucking reference.
To be honest right now Neville is better than you and we know how badly he does at magic. I don't know maybe he should just get a wand of his own or something I'm not sure. How is it that he can be so crap at magic and is still a better person then you? I want you to think of that and become a better person. If Draco Malfoy has left why would I care about that? I hate him and while we're on the subject of him tell Severus Snape that he can suck my dick. I am not my father, I never will be and he will never be able to see that. I gather my father may have bullied him as a child and while I am sorry about it if it's true life sucks so suck it up buttercup. Something else I was often told at the hands of the Dursleys while they were beating me. I don't tell you this to make you feel guilt I tell you this because it is the truth no one will ever tell you.
Why does Molly Weasley suddenly care about me now when I was being abused left right and centre before and she never gave a damn? What is so special about me now? If you can't handle me at my worst you don't deserve me at my best. Tell Ron he never needs to live under my shadow that I never wanted in the first place anymore. He is richer than I ever could be with an actual loving family something I was never deemed important enough to deserve. Everyone loves me in theory but no one ever seemed to care about how I was raised or why I hated physical contact so much. Everyone called me ungrateful when I wouldn't accept their hugs but no one realised I had never once been shown love before coming to school with you all. No one had ever been tender with me before then. What was I supposed to do huh? I didn't come from a loving family like you did. I imagine your family was entirely stunned to discover you were a witch but accepted none the less. Lucky you. At least you had something semi normal I certainly did not. Think of this before you ever open your mouth in an ungrateful way ever again you stupid little girl!
Harry.
He handed the letter to the owl which flew off to headquarters with her response which arrived at the table as the current meeting was going on. Hermione was called into the room to open the letter and allow the headmaster to read it at the same time as her. She did so and as he read it his face paled. "I am sorry Miss Granger but I will need to question you and the Weasley children using veritas serum to determine who his secret keeper is. He is not safe at all!" he snapped as she blanched. They all gathered in a side room where Sirius and Mad Eye Moody were present and were all questioned revealing that none of them whatsoever was the secret keeper. He was bitterly disappointed in that although he had thought it would be the case. He had thought actually that Hermione herself would have been the secret keeper and not Ron over his actions last year. He needed to get Harry back and sooner than later. They could deal with his abuse later on. They decided that Dumbledore should head to number four which he did at once. Harry and Draco came outside to their driveway to watch as Mrs Dursley stepped outside onto her driveway to meet him looking amused.
"Hello sir how may I help you?" she asked as he smiled at her nicely. It wouldn't do to get angry and loose his cool now.
"Yes I'm here about Harry" he responded as she frowned.
"Harry who? No one with that name lives here! Are you sure you have the right house sir?" she asked him looking genuinely confused which stumped him.
"Harry Potter of course!" he said as she frowned again.
"He doesn't live here I assure you. My neighbour Harry lives at number nine but he's not a Potter he's a Montgomery. Maybe he's who you're looking for. I am sorry we couldn't be of more help to you!" she responded as he got desperate.
"What about Lily your sister?" he asked as she frowned again.
"I am very sorry but I don't know you and if she does then good for her. I haven't seen her in many years due to a mental illness she suffered from. If you'll excuse me I must go and finish the dinner now!" she said shutting the door in his face. Mad Eye moody turned up then and looked at the house.
"What is it? What do you see Alastair?!" he asked him as he rounded on him looking very confused indeed.
"The cupboard underneath their stairs has exceptionally old and dried blood in it. I can see it from here. Asides from that this house looks as though he has never lived in it. I take it you weren't successful in getting any information on his whereabouts from the aunt?" he questioned as Albus looked alarmed.
"No I checked her mind and she'd been tampered with but I haven't the faintest idea who did it. Her memory was erased and she has no idea who Harry even is. I am surprised but not only has she not seen Lily in years when I checked her memories they showed that Lily had a mental breakdown and ended up in a mental home years ago which we know is not true. Someone wants her to think that and moreover that this is the reason she never sees her" he responded as Mad Eye looked at him thoughtfully.
"Well then I'll check out the magical district of Monte Marte. You cannot live in Paris without eventually needing to visit it for supplies and things. Eventually he'll turn up there I have no doubt. I'll let you know what happens!" he said disapperating away as the DMLE head showed up looking furious.
"Albus what is the meaning of you doing magic in a muggle neighbourhood which is not allowed? Explain yourself at once!" Amelia snapped as he reeled in shock.
"I am sorry Amelia I came here looking for Harry Potter as he's gone missing!" he said as she shocked him by laughing.
"Albus it's the summer time and he's probably gone on holidays! Go home and relax for once" she said but then gasped as some dementors appeared there from out of nowhere. There were at least six of them.
She used her patronus to banish them stunned a howler came a moment later for Harry Potter having used underage magic and she fumed taking it with her to work. Something fishy was going on. Harry Potter was not even here and she had been the one to cast the spell. She flooed into work heading straight to the office of Mafalda Hopkirk at once.
"Mafalda explain this howler at once!" she snapped as Mafalda blanched.
"Mr Potter used underage magic against some dementors and therefore is expelled from Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry effective immediately!" she responded as Amelia bristled.
"How did you know there were dementors there in the first place?" she asked her looking highly unsure.
"Well why else would he use the patronus charm ma'am?" she asked as Amelia snapped.
"I used that charm you fool. I detected magic being cast in that area by Albus Dumbledore who didn't realise Harry Potter was on vacation and went looking for him. While I was there dementors attacked us and I myself performed the charm. Why did you have the area specifically monitored for magical use Mafalda? ANSWER ME!" she thundered as Mafalda paled considerably.
"I am so sorry Madam Bones but I…I can't tell you that. I'll lose my…my…my job!" she said as she burst into tears shocking Amelia who had not expected that answer.
"Was it Cornelius? Did he do this?" she asked suddenly very afraid of the answer.
"Absolutely not but I cannot tell you who it was. Please don't make me she threatened my job!" she said as Amelia stunned her and shoved some veritas serum in her mouth and revived her at once before stowing her wand away again.
"So Mafalda who sent those dementors?" she asked as Mafalda paled.
"Well she did say I will lose my job if I tell you and threatened me severely but it was Dolores Jane Umbridge ma'am!" she said as she was stunned and fed the antidote before she was once more revived.
"Was it Dolores Umbridge?" she asked as Mafalda shrieked.
"Please Madam Bones! I don't want to suffer or lose my job. I need it please don't tell her you know!" she said and then clamped her hand over her mouth in terror.
"Ok Mafalda tell me everything which happened please. You are not in trouble and I assure you that you will not be losing your job. Please be as honest with me as you can. This cannot be allowed to continue!" she said as Mafalda blanched still obviously terrified.
"Dolores said if he used an underage spell against the dementors she was sending after him he'd be expelled from Hogwarts and stop lying to everyone about the return of vol…vol…Voldemort!" she said desperately as Amelia raised her wand removing a copy of the memory of this conversation from her head.
"Thank you Mafalda. Please go home and do not answer the floo or door to anyone. If anyone asks tell them you are ill and to come back later. Only answer the floo if it's me!" she instructed as a terrified Mafalda left in a hurry. Amelia went up to the office of Cornelius Fudge smiling at Dolores as she walked past her.
"Cornelius we need to talk or better yet you need to look at this memory in your pensive please!" she instructed as he looked annoyed.
"Amelia I don't really have time for this so be quick!" he snapped watching the memory and emerging a few moments later pale as a sheet.
"Well then let's um fine Dolores heavily and promote Miss Hopkirk and let that be the end of it. Dolores no matter what she may actually say has no hiring or firing power that still rests with me. Miss Hopkirk should have known that and seen to it that she did not follow Dolores. Alas she did stupid fool!" he snapped as she rounded on him looking furious.
"You don't tell everyone that here. I know that but a lot of other people do not and she was one of them. As we can see she only did what she did as she needs her job and did fear losing it. Dolores has brought extreme shame on the ministry and you respectively. By acting like this she has proven that you want to silence Harry Potter and call him a liar which we do not know to be accurate. We don't know the truth and because of Dolores and her foolish actions we may never know the truth now. I want more done to Dolores then a mere fine!" she snapped as he groaned a headache forming quickly.
"I said that the fine would be a high one but I can see that will not be enough for you. I am intending to send her to Hogwarts this year to fill in the DADA position because I fear Dumbledore might try and start a war or raise an army of his own!" he said as she looked annoyed.
"I highly doubt he's going to do that. Please send Mafalda instead of Dolores. She wouldn't be able to handle the children and I will not subject them to that. Dolores come in here now please!" she asked as Dolores came in smiling sweetly. Cornelius could see what she'd done and even why but it was high time he grew some balls and started doing things properly.
"Dolores I am sorry but you must give me twenty thousand galleons from your account right now. I am fining you for attempting to attack Mr Potter at his residence. You were unsuccessful by the way. What was he to do if he had not cast that spell against the dementors huh?" he asked as she paled.
"Who told you these lies huh? Was it Mafalda? It's not true Cornelius I assure you!" she lied as he looked at her feeling sick.
"I know it's true now give me the money and cut the bullshit. Did you really think I wouldn't see that huh? While you're at it hand over your badge. I am sorry Dolores but you're fired!" he snapped as she cried out in horror removing her wand and stunning him so fast it made his head spin. She was instantly put in magical suppression cuffs and taken down to the offices of the DMLE where Auror Tonks was awaiting instructions.
"Auror Tonks this as you know is Dolores Umbridge. She just now attacked the Minister for magic himself because he fired her. Do with her as you like! I don't want to know about it until later on. I would personally suggest sending her to Azkaban whilst we review every single case she presided over!" she snapped as it was done. In the space of two hours Mafalda and Dolores were dealt with. At home Harry and Draco lay snuggled in their bed cuddling. They would hear from Dobby tomorrow and he would have lots to tell them.