Chap. 10: The meeting, an ol' lady and Daniel Davis, a book, and a visit.
Harry thought back to his meeting the day before with Minister Scrimgeour, and it had gone swimmingly.
Dolores Umbridge was caught red-handed stealing ministry funds, taking bribes, using an illegal blood quill on students, the threatened use of an unforgivable on a student, use of a controlled substance on students, and sending two Dementors to Little Whinging after using an unforgivable on, and obliviating, an Azkaban guard that controlled them, which led to an attempted murder charge for an heir of an ancient house as well. Harry looked for her arrest to be in the Prophet, today.
It was amazing what a little Veritaserum would accomplish, when placed in one's tea, in front of not only the current Minister for Magic but the preceding one as well, much as she did with several students. Harry had sat under his invisibility cloak and watched it all unfold.
Fudge, of course, who was now under Rufus and Harry's thumb, had known of some of it, such as the bribery and absconding with funds, but he was actually blind to many of her actions at Hogwarts, and at Azkaban. Harry's memories brought the hammer down upon her. Harry and Rufus were keeping Fudge to deal with the "Muggle PM," in order to allot their time to the war.
Here, Harry had to chortle out, as he had learned that she was no pureblood as she claimed. Oh, no, she was from common stock. Dolores' father was Orford Umbridge, a wizard who was a janitor at the ministry, and her mother was a muggle named Ellen Cracknell. Her younger brother was a squib, who she didn't claim, but Dolores was a witch, though a weak one in many branches of magic.
Her father, though, had her lack of morals and agreed to disappear from the public eye, if Dolores would pay him a stipend, thus, the missing ministry funds. Dolores' mother, on the other hand, left her father and took her brother back to the muggle world.
Harry didn't know if Orford was related to the Selwyns, or not, but if he was, that might explain the family's lack of morals. He would find out, though.
Scrimgeour agreed to let The Magic Eye out her, and it would be glorious! Oh, the scandal, Harry thought!
The new minister had also obtained the truth from Headmaster Dumbledore, surprising him greatly. The headmaster was dying, Harry learned, from a slow-acting curse.
Rufus had taken Gareth with him to the meeting, and when confronted about Tom's past, and that they knew about horcruxes, Albus sighed and spilled the beans, including how he was cursed. He had also told them of Harry's scar, and his plans for Harry, which caused Gareth to anger quickly. He informed Albus that it would be safely removed without Harry having to sacrifice himself to do it, but refused to tell him how. Rufus had backed Gareth up, and there wasn't much Albus could do but look ashamed. That was when Rufus scolded Albus for keeping things hidden from the right people, but Albus then claimed that nobody at the ministry would believe him.
The truth came out about the journal that Ginny had, and about the Gaunt's ring. When Gareth examined it, under the pretense of checking it to make sure the soul piece was gone, he noticed the rough engraving of the Hallows on the black basalt, though highly polished, stone. It was set into a rather clumsily-cast gold ring, which had been made by the Gaunt family shortly after marrying into the Peverells.
The headmaster told them that he thought Tom had used valuable artifacts from the founders as the vessels, as Merope Gaunt had once worn Salazar Slytherin's locket. That led to the memory of Tom visiting Hepzibah Smith, where the locket had ended up, along with Hufflepuff's cup, and both had gone missing. Mrs. Smith ended up dead, Tom went on the run to Eastern Europe, and then to Albania, Albus thought.
Why Albania, Harry wondered. He had a quick look at Albania's history and found that a few years after the dissolution of Arbanon, Charles of Anjou cut a deal with the Albanian rulers, where he promised to protect them and their ancient ways. In 1272, Charles established the Kingdom of Albania and then conquered several regions back from the Despotate of Epirus, which was after the founders' time, but was about the time of his ancient ancestors, Linfred of Stinchcombe and the Peverels, where the later, supposedly, had been Normans, though Harry's line came from the magical side of the family, which spelled their surname as Peverell. There was conjecture about the true origins of the Peverells.
However, if he remembered correctly from his History of Magic class, Rowena Ravenclaw was supposedly from the lands that became Albania, and that was something that he would have to research since it could be tied to the horcruxes. There was, during that time, a slave trade from Britain to areas around Albania and Turkey, where many Brits were enslaved.
Albus also mentioned that upon Tom's return, where the ritualistic dark magic had already started to change Tom, he asked for the DADA position at Hogwarts, which Albus assumed was to be used to recruit from. He had shown up with several later Death Eaters, and all had been from the Knights of Walpurgis, which Tom had taken control of. Albus told Rufus that "they were a motley collection; a mixture of the weak seeking protection, the ambitious seeking some shared glory, and the thuggish gravitating toward a leader who could show them more refined forms of cruelty." (JKR on the HBP)
The minister had also obtained the names of other Death Eaters, such as the Carrow siblings and Yaxley. Yaxley had rung warning bells with the new minister since the man was implanted inside the DMLE, and they were now setting a trap for him. Harry remembered casually mentioning to Rufus that they should make Yaxley simply disappear, and blame it on Voldemort. The mercs could do it. Harry had also told the minister that everyone should be checked for the Dark Mark, and arrested if they had it. "That is treason," Harry remembered stating, "plain and simple."
Rufus had told Albus that he would be allowed to keep his pet Death Eater for a while, as long as he kept him on a very short leash. Harry looked for Severus to do a runner, especially after he found out that Harry was now pulling the strings from behind the curtain, and not Albus.
What Harry had found out about the Carrows, though, made his stomach churn, but he would out the brother and sister in The Magic Eye, along with their incestuous ways. A good photo of the two coupled-up, and maybe in a barn, would do the trick, he figured. They were no better than barnyard animals, after all, Harry thought. Maybe even show Alecto standing posed with a randy and large male dog attached to her leg, which would insinuate certain things.
Yaxley would be nailed to the wall as well, but he needed a hair sample. He could see Yaxley as a rapist, a muggle one at that, and oh, underage would really sell it. Yes, Corban would become dirt to the public at large, just like Lucius. He'd have to wait until Yaxley was out of the ministry, though, to push that.
Harry was fully intending on showing the British wizarding public how black propaganda could be put to good use. The Prophet was an amateur when it came to it.
Harry then asked about the mercenaries, and Rufus had told him that fourteen were hired from the states, and would be in Britain within the month. Maybe, Harry would drop some details about Yaxley and a few others to them. Whether they were true, or not, didn't really matter as long as the objective of disappearances was achieved.
When Harry had left, he told Rufus to study the grudge and friction between Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton in the states. Harry remembered telling Rufus of what Jefferson had stated about Hamilton, who was a monarchist and tied to British politics and merchants in a very strong way. Jefferson was speaking about the banking allies of Hamilton, who were in politics for their own profit, and had informed Washington that "Hamilton was not only a monarchist but for a monarchy bottomed on corruption." Harry then told Rufus that this was what they were also, still, facing in Britain and that it would be a "bloody fight." The Goblins would be involved, and help Tom's people succeed if allowed.
As Harry was leaving, Rufus had told him about an elderly lady that loved gossip and stated that he should contact her. Last, Rufus mentioned Daniel Davis as an artist and photographer. They needed someone to paint an image of Tom from pensieve memories, and he was recommended, thus, that afternoon, Harry sent off two owls from the post at Diagon Alley before returning to No. 4.
Harry was now sitting in his room at No. 4 reading the replies from the elderly lady and Daniel Davis.
Daniel was interested, as he was in need of money, and stated that he had no problem signing a non-disclosure contract as long as his name was kept out of it, and his identity protected.
Daniel said that he could paint a portrait by viewing memories, and that was exactly what Harry needed. The public needed to see the grotesque thing that Tom had become.
The young wizard had also said that he was very experienced with muggle photography, and could develop film. Harry, now knowing that Daniel had family ties to his fiancée, would suit the job just fine, and he was a moderate Slytherin.
The elderly lady's owl was a delight to read, making Harry chortle out several times. She told him that she had always wanted to sit down with him, especially since he was friends with her great nephew. Merlin bless these old witches, Harry thought.
Harry would visit her this afternoon, but he would have to take the dreaded Knight Bus, as he had never been to her home, which was just outside Bath.
Maybe, over afternoon tea at three o'clock, he could talk her into becoming one of his gossip queens. This, especially, if she would be able to gossip with Bathilda and Skeeter, who was now firmly in the bag.
Yes, Harry well remembered, Rita was brought in, and outed as an illegal animagus in front of Rufus and Harry. When Rita noticed the two aurors that suddenly appeared at the doors leading to the minister's conference room, she cut a deal, and Harry handed her a contract, which she grudgingly signed with a blood quill. It was now magically binding, until the time that Harry released her from her service.
On her way out, Rita had said, with a scowl, that Azkaban might have been easier on her, and that You-Know-Who would now see her as a target if he could figure it out that her pen had smeared him. Harry didn't much care, to be honest.
Next, Harry brought out a muggle composition college-ruled notebook and Biro and began to write the article about Tom. He would use facts about Tom as he knew them, and from viewing the interview with Albus in the pensieve. He also needed a photo of a younger Tom, between fifth and seventh year if he could obtain one, from either Hogwarts or the Prophet. He would hate to have to commission another portrait of that, too.
Daphne made her way to the library, where she found her mother and father talking about Umbridge's arrest and all the charges against her. Well, she figured, Harry was vindicated, yet, again.
"Mother, father, I have something for you to read," Daphne stated, and handed her father Plunker's book. "Pages 58 to 63 have the pertinent material."
Here, Daphne sat down and made her some tea just as Astoria walked in, and did the same.
Cyrus quickly found the chapter, though he gave Daphne an inquisitive look before he began to read.
During this time, Daphne, Helen, and Astoria began discussing Daphne's new photo that had appeared in today's Prophet, which embarrassed the young witch to no end. She explained that it was just merely a quick kiss goodbye and that the Prophet was trying to make it out to be much larger and scandalous than it appeared.
This, then, brought up her trip to Harrods with Harry on the 31st, where she was told that Helen would chaperone the two, and Astoria demanded that she be brought along as well. Tracey had invited herself along, so her soon-to-be husband was going to be at the mercy of three extra witches that day, and she wondered if they would ever see any alone time, for, well, you know, a good long snog. That, and maybe a little heavy petting, or something very close, she thought.
Their conversation was suspended when Cyrus finished the chapter, and when he cleared his throat.
"So, daughter," Cyrus said to Daphne, "you believe that the magic of the contract is affecting you and Harry? Is that right?"
"What?" Helen snapped.
"I do, and so does Harry, father," Daphne explained. "That was why he purchased the book, and then gave it to me. Harry has been having night-long dreams, like me, and they are far from tame."
Helen had to cover her mouth at this, as she did smirk, but Astoria belted out a laugh.
"It's not funny," Daphne said with a pout, and she gave a little stomp of her small foot while still seated. "It's making me tired over not having enough deep sleep, and it is making me confused and rattled through the day! What will I do when I'm at Hogwarts?"
Cyrus sighed, and wiped his hand over his face as he studied Daphne. "It could be the magic, and it could be from you and he as well. Did you ever think of that?"
Astoria laughed out loud, again.
"Well," Daphne said with a whine, "what are we supposed to do since we're being pulled together? Can we be married now?"
That gobsmacked everyone in the room.
Finally, Cyrus shook his head. "No, Daphne, you cannot; not until Harry comes back from New Orleans, and that's final."
This caused all three witches to turn their stares at him, which forced him to look away.
"What do you mean, Cyrus?" Helen asked.
"I will tell you later. Gareth isn't going to like it that I've told you," he answered, and he still refused to look any of them in the eye. After all, if they knew what was to happen to Harry, which could cause havoc with the magic already involved if they knew, then things could end very badly. Cyrus had to word the addendum very carefully to leave a loophole to allow it, and Harry had to be kept in the dark, or the young wizard would never forgive them. He was afraid that the magic could punish them as well.
Rituals required a payment, and for Harry to be relieved of that parasite, he had to pay the literal piper first. Cyrus, nor Gareth, would be able to interfere, and they would be placed outside, and unseen during the ritual. Baron Samedi was not someone you dicked with after you had called him.
"Father," Daphne asked, and she now had a tear in her eye, "what am I to do? I can't continue like this, or it will drive me loopy!"
Cyrus merely shook his head, and he would not look at them. Helen, though, knew what she was going to have to allow, and that meant a trip to the apothecary. She would have to teach her daughter several spells as well, as the pull would become too unbearable. Those Blacks and their magic, she scoffed internally!
The Knight Bus appeared with a small crack on a smaller road just outside Bath, where it rolled to a stop in front of a gate. Behind that sat an older brick manor house, but it was smaller and was probably built in the late 1700s or early 1800s.
Here, Harry stepped off the bus at 3:20 PM, opened the gate, and made his way to the front door, where he clapped the knocker a few times. Eventually, it was opened by a house-elf named Tally, who told him that "Mrs. Muriel would bes seeing him for tea."
So, Harry walked into the stately old home and was led to the parlor by Tally to have tea with Molly's great aunt, who was of the Prewett family.
Hopefully, she would make up one of the trio of his gossip queens. He just hoped that Molly never found out!
A/N: I finally received everyone's reviews, and I thank each of you for them. Just a short chapter, for now, to set everything up.