While You Slept

Lady Countryrose

Ch. 12

The Daily Prophet had come out and with it, a lot of mail. She had gotten one hate note from Rita Skeeter, saying that she would find dirt behind the adoption of Hermione Potter, if she doesn't get a follow-up question from the family soon. Dorea glared at the letter, only to reply with a short, 'Ministry, tomorrow, 3 pm.' Then sent it off. There was a reason that she would want Rita at the ministry during that time, it was also because of a meeting that the ministry had set up for her to show up.

The ministry had written with their own reply to the newspaper against them. Since they can't attack her for what was said, since she was hardly mentioned in the paper. But it was because of what Charlus had said, while he was asleep and Dorea had no power. That was what they were after her about. She had tattled on them.

As she found through the letters that she had a lot of support from many families across the United Kingdom. Even from families that she had never thought that she would get a letter from. People, like Narcissa Malfoy, had written to her as well.

Lady Dorea Potter,

I hope to have found you in an uplifting mood. If such a meeting were to take place. Would you be open to an invitation for my attendance?

In best regard,

Lady Narcissa Malfoy

PS

Glad to see you alive and well, dear auntie.

Dorea smiled, she may not have gotten a hold of her family. At least, as long as she could remember. But seeing Narcissa wanting to be a part of what's to come. Then that was something she couldn't wait to see.

She wrote back to everyone with the same information that she had given Rita Skeeter. Some with more words than the others. But she was happy, she felt alive. Alive with a drive to take the ministry by storm.

'Those big-headed males wouldn't know what hit them.'

The day passed with children laughing and plans of action. Dorea had found herself in the Ministry of Magic, with Charlus at her side. But many females of all walks of society in the main area. Each of them were waiting for her. In front of the lot was Rita Skeeter, with her paper and quill at the ready.

Dorea found Narcissa Malfoy walking towards her. She gave a slight bow towards her. Then came and kissed each of her cheeks.

"Good afternoon, Aunt Dorea." The blonde smiled up towards her. "You have yourself quite an army."

Dorea smiled knowingly. "You haven't seen anything yet, dear." She then led the masses through the ministry. Shouting that she was heading for courtroom ten. With that she pushed herself in an elevator with Charlus, Rita, and Narcissa with her.

"I am not letting you out of sight," Rita had growled out.

Dorea just smiled at her. "You do that, dear." Before the doors open. She led the wave, after wave, towards courtroom ten.

Once they had reached the doors. A man tried to stop them, only to see the anger in Dorea's eyes, before using her wand to push him out of the way. The doors slammed open, as they piled into the room. She stood in the middle, with those that were in the elevator with her. While the others had climbed into the gallery seats.

In front of Dorea, were the lords and the lawmakers of the ministry. Including the ministry, Millicent Bagnold. Headmaster Albus Dumbledore, for his seat as Chief Warlock. Then many others of the sacred twenty-eight.

Once everyone had sat down, before Millicent Bagnold could say anything. Albus Dumbledore had spoken up. "Lady Dorea Potter, what is the meaning for this grand meeting?" His voice may have sounded soft and kind, but people could hear the slight edge in his words.

"I didn't call for this meeting, headmaster." She gave a kind smile and shrugged her shoulders.

"Then, who did," he asked in disbelief.

"I did," spoke a female voice. Just as Minister of Magic, Millicent Bagnold, stood up. "I called her in, because I want to hear and understand the goings-on that happened for Lady Dorea Potter."

"Now, Millicent," the headmaster waved at her.

She picked up the grovel and slammed it on her desk. Causing everyone to be silent. "Now," she turned to Dorea. "Tell us your journey, since the night of October 31st of 1981."

Dorea gave a slight bow and told the people that were there, her story. From the moment of wishing her family off. Finding her husband and son survive and in a hospital. Finding out that Albus Dumbledore had sent Harry Potter to Lily's sister's home.

"Without informing me, I must say," she told the room with harsh tones in her voice. Before fighting not just the headmaster, but also Wizengamot for her right to raise Harry. Only to find herself to be denied each time.

"Saying that since my husband wasn't awake and my head of house through the Black's is jail. There was nothing that could be done."

People throughout the room had voiced out all at once.

"I never!"

"That's uncalled-for!"

"Blood testing would show her right to raise her grandson!"

Only before the minister to slam her gravel once more. "I have never thought something like this would make our world into mindless animals!" She glared at the men around her. "What gives you the power to demand a woman from raising her grandson?"

She then turned to Albus Dumbledore with a glare in her eyes. "Why didn't you inform Lady Dorea Potter of the placement of young Harry Potter?"

He looked into the minister's eyes. "I didn't think it was safe. Not when her family was in the hospital.

Dorea saw Rita writing a storm. Only to see her write a chilling line. 'If the headmaster thinks that a child isn't safe in the Wizarding World, would that mean, no child is? Until they start school.'

Dorea would have to give it to Rita. Once, she latches onto a bone of information. She would make it look like a valid point, not just for one, but all.

"You just contradicted yourself, headmaster." She turned to see the head Lord of the house of Malfoy. Only to see Narcissa seem slightly antsy where she stood. "Children, regardless of walk of life, have been safe in our world."

"Not when we still have followers of Lord Voldemort, laying and waiting, to strike." Albus pointed out, while many others had shivered in their seats.

Dorea would have to give it to Albus Dumbledore. He was a Drama Queen, when it came to having everything where he wanted them. But she wasn't going to roll over and allow things to happen. Not when it came to her family.

Before she could say anything, it was the head Lord of the House of Nott that stood up. "Now see here, Headmaster Dumbledore! You may have stopped Grindelwald, during his height of power. But where were you, when we had a Dark Lord here, in our backyards?"

"No where," many cried out.

Dorea sighed deeply. She knew where he was. Meeting in secret with others, but too afraid to strike. Not until she had heard about a prophecy. She had stumbled upon it, within the last year.

If she had known that he was betting the world on a fluke such as the prophecy that it was. She would have hidden her family away. Wiping all knowledge of her family from everyone that knew them.

The gravel was hit again. Millicent Bagnold looked annoyed, she turned towards the headmaster. "How long did Harry Potter live with his aunt and family?"

Albus Dumbledore gave a thought but didn't answer. Dorea had taken a deep breath. "Nearly seven years, Minister Millicent Bagnold."

The minister nodded her head. Then looked into the value eyes of the headmaster. "Who was here to tell Lady Potter?"

A man stood up. "The Houses of Nott, Avery, Crouch, and Yaxley, were the ones that voiced their strong no's, madam."

"Thank you, Lord Flint." She then turned to the men that were listed, with the headmaster. "Each one of you will award Harry Potter of his troubles, an allotted sum of two thousand galleons, each. Due to stress, not just on Potter, but also Lady Potter as well."

"WHAT," they heard many voices at once.

The minister had hit the gravel again. "Starting from this moment on, if a woman can prove the child is part of their family. They will be given authority, like any man, to win a chance to raise that child!"

"YEAH," women across the gallery cheered.

BANG!

"Another two thousand galleons each to award Lady Dorea Potter, for the stress she was under. During her time away from her grandson."

"THE BLOODY HELL!"

BANG

"Get used to it gentlemen, without women, there wouldn't be a society for you to fight over." She turned to Rita with heat in her eyes. "If any woman thinks that she was not heard, for any reason, come to me! No matter if I am in office or not, you will be heard!"

BANG

"The meeting of this ordeal has ended." Then the minister got up and left. Leaving behind a wake of disbelief, people.

After a time, Albus Dumbledore had made his way to her. "It is just money, but I stand by what I said. Harry isn't safe in the Wizarding World. Not without the blood of his mother nearby."

Dorea smiled knowingly. "Good thing that Petunia had moved next door to us." She simply told him. Seeing the cold, hard shock on his face. "Face it, Dumbledore. I had checkmate, you."

Albus bristled, "That may be true, Lady Potter. But there will come a time that he will have to face a serious issue."

"Are you talking about, neither one will live, while the other services? Albus, he is a child, not a God," she hissed at him. "Harry needs love and to have a reason to live and fight for. Not a cold, empty life. A life not worth living, not just fighting for!"

He nodded his head. "As you wish." Then he swayed his way out of the room. Only to hear Rita calling out, holding her paper in the air. "Treasured Few!"

Dorea shook her head. 'Good lord, what a statement indeed.'