Chapter 10.

Ministers & Aurors

A large barn owl swooped up to the head table and dropped a newspaper in front of the Headmaster as he was eating breakfast in the great hall with the few staff in the castle. He read the front page lead story and then turned to Minerva McGonagall and handed her the paper. "Please read the lead story Minerva."

She glanced a the banner. "Little Winging Clarion," she murmered. "Who sent you this, Albus?"

"Arabella Figg. See the lead headline."

Dursley family arrested! Young Boy's disappearance being investigated!

A picture of Vernon and Petunia Dursely handcuffed to hospital beds was right underneath.

Constables were called to Number 4 Privet Drive after an anonymous phone call about screaming was phoned into police. Upon arrival they found Vernon and Petunia Dursley confined in old fashioned Pillories. Their eight year old son (name withheld due to age) was found locked in a cupboard under the stairs. The frightened boy would not speak of what happened. The elder Dursley's were suffering from what appeared to be a severe canning to their backsides. Written in blood in several locations was a curious message to ask about how they treated their nephew Harry Potter. The boy was missing from the home. The Dursley had a fantastical story about magical beings that had descended on their home to torture them. "A "Freak" attacked us claimed Petunia. Magic Weilding evil beings!"

Petunia claimed a childhood friend had been responsible. Claimed a Severus Snape had broken in and tortured them. The on-going investigation has found records of a Severus Snape from Cokeworth. But no traces of the boy were found. A search of records indicted he had disappeared at age eleven and shortly thereafter both parents died. The mother was found beaten to death not far from her workplace and the father died of acute alcohol poisoning shortly thereafter. No further evidence of the boy was found. It remains an open cold case with the Cokeworth Constabulary.

Investigators found clear signs of abuse in the home and questioning of neighbors and the local primary school indicate something is very wrong. No trace of the Harry Potter mentioned was found. The investigation continues and the Dursley's are under arrest. The police ask that anyone with information call them.

Minerva tossed the paper down on the table as she got up to leave. She no longer fett like eating. "I told you they were the worst sort, Albus."

o0o0o0o

Harry had the weekend at the Burrow and was excited on Monday as he'd go to the castle to begin to learn how to manage his magic at 9:00 a.m. Harry was so nervous with anticipation that he had trouble eating. Ginny and Ron took Harry out in the garden to lounge in the sun and play with Paddy while they waited with him for his appointed time to leave for school. Just before nine, Molly took him and Paddy through the flu and popped out in Dumbledore's office.

"AH Molly, there you are. Harry, please go with Severus as he will be your instructor today".

"Yes sir, Mr. Dumbledore Sir; said Harry as he followed Professor Snape out the door and down the stairs.

Albus, I have to run so I'll be back at 2:00 to pick up Harry."

"Thank you Molly," said Albus as Molly disappeared back into the flames.

o0o0o0o

Albus Dumbledore was sitting in his office when an alarm bell rang and the Headmaster flicked his wand and said enter and two men in formal robes popped through the fireplace into the Headmasters Office.

Albus stood and asked; "To what do I owe this honor Cornelius Fudge, Minister of Magic and Rufus Srimgeour, Head Auror?"

"Albus there has been an incident and one of your teachers is allegedly involved and we are here to discuss the matter;" said Fudge.

"By all means sit down."

Albus called "Kaddy" and the house elf appeared almost before he finished her name. Bowing low she asked: "What may I provide Sir."

"Oh tea and biscuits for four Kaddy. Thank you."

"Who may I ask is allegedly involved?"

"Please call Severus Snape to the office for questioning."

"Oh yes," Albus stood up and his wand popped into his hand startling Fudge and Scrimgeour, but Albus cast a partonus and instructed it to "find Minerva McGonagall and tell her to go to the dungeon potion's lab and have Severus report to my office immediately for discussions with Minister Fudge and Auror Scrimgeour."

Minerva arrived in the Dungeon Brewing Lab and informed Severus.

"I suggest you take Harry to Molly and Arthur's and warn them that they may be questioned about dinner and her house guest who was to remain secret. Use the floo in my quarters. Go quickly now and then come back to watch the potions."

While the discussion continued in the Headmasters Office, Minerva brought Harry to the Burrow and returned immediately. "All set Severus, off you go."

"Why not send it directly to Snape," Albus; asked Rufus?

"He's brewing potions for the hospital wing and they cannot be left alone. It would ruin days of work for the school dispensary. Severus saves the school a considerable amount of gold by helping us Minister. Minerva is adept and can watch them while he's here."

"Oh right, must save Gold where we can Albus," replied Fudge.

"So some tea gentleman," asked Albus holding up the teapot?

"So why are you not asking about the allegations Albus," smirked Fudge?

"Because I'm pouring tea and thought it would be better for Severus to be here so we can discuss this once. Though I'm surprised that you are here on such a routine police matter Cornelius."

"Oh it is not routine and we will discuss that too."

Before Albus could reply Severus entered the office. "You called for me?"

"Where were you last Tuesday night," demanded Scrimgeour?

"Always dispense with the niceties, do we, Rufussss," stated Snape, drawing out the last s of his name with a hiss?

"Just answer the question Severus," asked Fudge in a conciliatory tone. "We all should be cordial here."

"Hmm, Albus the days run together when I'm brewing. Was that the day you dragged me out to dinner with the insufferable Weasley's?"

"Yes Severus."

"Scrimgeour, I was here until seven playing chess with Albus, whence we departed to Hogsmead and the Three Broomsticks for Dinner with Arthur Weasley and his harridan Molly. We stayed there to closing and then came back here and argued about chess and drank tea till about 3:00 a.m. Why do you want to know?"

"Albus, is this true? Do you vouch for him?"

"Of course, we were together. Go see Molly and Arthur. Go to the Three Broomsticks. Ask the headmaster portraits, they were quite put out with us."

"Don't worry; I will see that your stories are verified," sneered Scrimgeour.

"So what dribble has brought you here to impeach my reputation now, Rufussss"?

"OK Snape, to business then. We have a report from the Muggle Police that is quite disturbing. They thought that the story was quite fantastic but our liaison, thought that it was wise to forward it to us for review," stated Fudge.

"But what does it have to do with me?"

"That one Severus Snape, wizard, invaded a house at 4 Privet Drive, Little Winging, and tortured three muggles that night!"

"HAR, HAR, HAR," laughed Severus, turning red. "Why in blazes would I do such a thing?" You are making a joke at my expense are you not?"

"I think not Severus. What is your evidence Rufus and why is the minister here with you," asked Dumbledore?

"The muggles in question are Vernon and Petunia Dursley and their young son for starters. And it's because written on the wall was a question, "We are child abusers. Ask us what we did to our nephew Harry Potter."

Severus looked shocked and sat down. Albus Dumbledore had a look of extreme concern and aggravation as he looked at Fudge. Silence hung in the room for a long moment then the Minister continued; "The police received a call from a phone box, a citizen walking their dog heard screams from the house. When they responded they found the adults locked in pillory's, with the male's trousers pulled down and their shirts up and the female with her dress around her ears. The young son was locked in a cupboard. The adults had been caned severely. The adult male was also beaten severely along with having his back burned by a cigar. They were incoherent until they received medical treatment. The next day they gave a statement and the women claimed a wizard named Severus Snape visited them and did this to them because he hates non magical people. The police thought her a raving looney. I quote the investigating officer: "Completely barking mad at her ordeal." They are investigating the child abuse claims. Initial inquires reveal a dark haired boy with glasses and a curious scar lived with them but seems to have gone missing. Interviews with teachers have revealed that several were concerned about the boy's treatment and when they reported it they felt that Vernon Dursley used coercion and his connections to have them quashed."

The head Auror picked up from the Minister. "How would she know your name Snape and how is Harry Potter involved in this?"

Snape looked from Fudge to Scrimgeour to Dumbledore and back to the head Auror.

"I can answer the former but not the latter question. Though my answer may lead to an answer about. I know Petunia Dursley. We grew up in Spinners End, Cokeworth as neighbors. I was best friends with her sister, a muggle born witch, until I was about 16 years old. Petunia Dursley hated me. Thought I was a "Greasy Freak". That is what she called magical people. She blamed me for making her sister into a "Greasy Freak". I think perhaps someone visited her and punished her for something and since she did not know who it was she took the opportunity to make my life miserable again. Her sister is Lily Evans, Harry Potter's mother."

Minister fudge dropped his teacup, letting it fall to the floor and break. Albus flicked his wand and it restored itself and floated back up to eye level with Fudge. Fudge sputtered. "What about Harry?"

Albus cleared his throat and everyone looked at him.

"Minister, Harry was placed with his only living family to take advantage of the blood protection that his mother provided by giving her life. I never dreamed that they would mistreat the boy. But it is so." Albus stood and cast another patronus asking for Madam Pomphrey to come to the office with the Potter file. I was planning on visiting you and the Department of Child Welfare with Madam Pomphrey, Hogwarts Healer, later today so you have saved me a trip. And to be honest I'm not unhappy to hear they have had the same kind of treatment they have shown a defenseless child. We were going to file a complaint about his treatment. You see, Harry ran away from them approximately two weeks ago. He did not even know he was a wizard. He had been severely mistreated and in his weakened state he fell off a curbing and inadvertently called the Knight Bus. He was brought to a party who brought him here. Madam Pomphrey treated his injuries."

Just then the Healer walked in and said: "Good morning Minister, Rufus, I just finished my file and complaint forms." She waved her wand and created copies for all there and handed them out. Minister I'll summarize, Young Harry was beaten, starved and made to work as what amounted as a house elf. He had several broken bones. His arm needed to be operated on to make sure it would grow straight. He was also burned a number of times and was frequently canned as evidenced by the scarring on his back side. He is severely malnourished. I've documented all of his injuries and provided photographs. All the evidence is there. I think you should either let me go and punish them or refer to Muggle Authorities so they can try them and put them in jail for what they did."

"No Poppy I told you no violence. We cannot stoop to their level. We are going to let the Ministry handle this."

Madam Pomphrey glared at Albus Dumbledore and stomped out of the room.

"Ahem, Albus, she seems quite upset, could be a suspect," asked Scrimgeour?

Fudge looked at Albus.

"Don't be daft Rufus, you know Poppy is incapable of hurting anyone," replied Dumbeldore.

"Where is Harry now? I want to see him, now. Is he in the hospital ward," asked Fudge?"

"I'm sorry Minister; Harry is not in Scotland now. He's with a family far away where he will recuperate and be safe," answered the headmaster.

"I demand an answer Dumbledore," Shouted Fudge!

"Harry is no ward of the Ministry Cornelius."

"He's an orphan. You spirited him away seven years ago and now again. He's the responsibility of the ministry. We will place him in an appropriate wizarding family where he can grow up to be the great wizard he's meant to be."

"I could not disagree more. Wizarding law is clear; Harry's Godfather or designee is responsible for Harry not the ministry. You have no claim."

"No, No Claim," sputtered Fudge? "His godfather is missing and a wanted man in the killing of a number of muggles. He has not been seen for seven years. He's the ministry's responsibility and I demand you produce him."

Albus Dumbledore stood up and in a calm but firm voice stated: "No I will not. Sirius Black is the godfather, and Remus Lupin could take his place as named if allowed too, but the Ministry blocked Lupin's claim at the urging of Lucius Malfoy and your pink clad undesecretary Umbridge, so it falls to me as per Lily Potters letter which I have filed with the ministry and whose experts have verified the veracity of the same. I have no desire to see the boy put in with a pureblood family of the Ministry's choice, of which almost all were Voldemort supporters, to be brought up with notions about worthiness based on blood lines. The boy stays hidden so he may grow and be able to defend himself when Voldemort returns."

"You are an insufferable dimwitted old fart! Dumbledore, you spout this drivel about him coming back but I know you're just out for my job."

"Cornelious, I just want to teach. Do my job here at the school. If I wanted your job I would have it. I've turned it down three times already. I have no desire nor the energy for politics and the job has no meaning to me. I'm content to live out my old age here, so I'd appreciate you stop saying I want your job. It's getting tiresome. And if you deign to call me another insulting name I will call you out in a duel to maintain my honor."

The two men stared at each other for moment then Fudge looked away, color rising in his face.

"Now do you have any more questions, as I've got things to do? Right then, you should be off to question others so you can clear Severus of any wrong doing in this malicious charge by an old enemy. Why not start with the headmaster portraits. Let yourself out when you're done. Come along Severus, I want to see the potions lab and how the hospital stocks are coming along."

"You've not heard the end of this Dumbledore;" said Fudge.

o0o0o0o

"He's a stupid fool Headmaster, and the stupid ones are the most dangerous," said Severus when they had reached the corridor. You lied when you said he was out of the country."

"No I did not. Harry was not here at the castle in Scotland. He was in Devon at the Burrow. So I did not tell a false hood. And when they go to Devon he will be here and Molly can truthfully say Harry's not there. Not to worry Severus, this will blow over. We have nothing to fear from these baseless allegations. We were around people all day and all night the evening these people were assaulted. Rufus will see that by the time he finishes the investigation. They reached the dungeon and Snape's quarters and Albus cast a spell and said a password to open the wards through the floo. He then used the floo to fire call Molly and had Harry come back through the floo into Snape's Quarter's. He then passed his wand over Harry turning him into a red haired Weasley. Harry, at this time you are not leave the potions lab or Severus. If anyone comes in and asks who you are simply say Harold Weasley like we discussed before. You're a cousin and you're here for evaluation and then let Professor Snape do all the talking.