Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all related characters and situations are
property of J.K. Rowling.
~Chapter 3~
Trouble at the Ministry
Scene: Dumbledore's Office
"Come in Harry," Dumbledore called from behind the oak door that separated his office from the spiral staircase that led up to it.
Harry turned the knob slowly and walked into the room. Dumbledore had a somber look on his face. Harry gulped down the knot in his throat and face Dumbledore.
"Harry, the Ministry of Magic has just put me on high alert. They have detected traces of Dark Magic only one hundred miles away. As you know Cornelius Fudge does not believe that Voldemort has regenerated. But now that word has spread and there is proof of his return Fudge is under much pressure for not informing the Ministry of what happened last year. Therefore he has fled." Dumbledore took off his glasses and wiped them with the hem of his robes. "I must suggest that you go somewhere that is protected with high security."
"Sir, I don't mean to be a pest but, you once told me that Hogwarts is the safest place for me, am I correct?"
"Alas Harry, you are correct, though soon I am not sure how safe it will be. We may even have to close down for some time."
"No!" screamed Harry.
"Harry, I am going away. I have been unanimously elected as the replacement Minister of Magic, and I cannot reject, for if I do I will loose my position at the school."
"But, they can't do that! You have to stay here!"
"Harry, I am truly sorry about this but I spoke with Sirius and he feels that it is best if you go to Muskeg."
"Muskeg?!"
"The swamp is protected by a powerful spell."
"Sir, I was told the same about the school, and what about the ball coming up next month? What will you tell the fifth year students?" Harry argued.
"The ball will still occur, but students will be put on alert." Dumbledore retaliated.
"Well, sir, would it be possible for me to stay until after the ball?"
"I would have to receive approval from the Ministry of Magic to remain at Hogwarts until the day after the ball. I'll call you back to my office later." Dumbledore dismissed Harry and began to write a letter.
Harry strode back to the Gryffindor Common Room in a daze. Not knowing how he arrived there he plopped down on a wing backed chair. Letting out a heavy sigh he began to rub his temples, a terrible headache threatening him.
"Harry?"
Harry opened his eyes to see a pair of eyes at his level.
"Hi Herm," Harry said with lack of enthusiasm.
"What's the matter?"
"Dumbledore is sending me to.Muskeg," Harry finished in a whisper.
Hermione clasped her hand to her mouth, her eyes wide.
"Harry, he can't send you there! I won't let him!"
"There's nothing he can do about it.he won't be here either."
"But, Hogwarts isn't safe without him." Hermione's face was filled with fright.
"I know. But there's nothing he can do, Fudge is gone and he has to take his place."
"Harry, what are we going to do?"
"I don't know Herm, I don't know," Harry sighed again, as Hermione sat down on the floor leaning against his leg.
"What about the Ball?"
"Dumbledore is writing to the Ministry officials to see if he can postpone his trip to London until the day after the ball."
"Oh, I do hope they say you can stay!" Hermione's eyes were filled with hope.
"Me too."
"Well if it isn't the two lovebirds!" came a sarcastic voice. Harry rolled his eyes, as did Hermione.
"Ron, we're not going out and you know that!"
"Oh Harry SHUT UP!" screamed Ron at the top of his lungs. "You've got everything! Now you've even got the girl! I can't believe how stupid I was to ever become your friend!"
By this time the stairwells were full of eavesdropping students. Some of the girls were exchanging weird glances.
"Ron, go away! It's your own damn fault, you know. If you had told me sooner how you felt we might still be friends, but we can't change the past so just GO!" Hermione turned from Ron's fuming face and looked pleadingly at Harry.
"Come on Herm," Harry said as he grabbed Hermione's hand and made for the portrait hole.
"Go to Hell Hermione!" screamed Ron as he turned and ran to his dormitory.
Outside the portrait hole Hermione burst into tears.
"Harry it's all my fault!" she sobbed. "If I hadn't gone with Viktor last year then none of this would be happening."
"It's okay Herm, it's not your fault." Harry tried to sooth her by bringing her into a hug.
"But it is!"
"No it's not. Listen to me, Ron is bull-headed and he feels like he's been betrayed right now, he'll cool off soon enough."
"I hope you're right, after all what will he say about the Ball?"
"I'm afraid to find out."
~Chapter 3~
Trouble at the Ministry
Scene: Dumbledore's Office
"Come in Harry," Dumbledore called from behind the oak door that separated his office from the spiral staircase that led up to it.
Harry turned the knob slowly and walked into the room. Dumbledore had a somber look on his face. Harry gulped down the knot in his throat and face Dumbledore.
"Harry, the Ministry of Magic has just put me on high alert. They have detected traces of Dark Magic only one hundred miles away. As you know Cornelius Fudge does not believe that Voldemort has regenerated. But now that word has spread and there is proof of his return Fudge is under much pressure for not informing the Ministry of what happened last year. Therefore he has fled." Dumbledore took off his glasses and wiped them with the hem of his robes. "I must suggest that you go somewhere that is protected with high security."
"Sir, I don't mean to be a pest but, you once told me that Hogwarts is the safest place for me, am I correct?"
"Alas Harry, you are correct, though soon I am not sure how safe it will be. We may even have to close down for some time."
"No!" screamed Harry.
"Harry, I am going away. I have been unanimously elected as the replacement Minister of Magic, and I cannot reject, for if I do I will loose my position at the school."
"But, they can't do that! You have to stay here!"
"Harry, I am truly sorry about this but I spoke with Sirius and he feels that it is best if you go to Muskeg."
"Muskeg?!"
"The swamp is protected by a powerful spell."
"Sir, I was told the same about the school, and what about the ball coming up next month? What will you tell the fifth year students?" Harry argued.
"The ball will still occur, but students will be put on alert." Dumbledore retaliated.
"Well, sir, would it be possible for me to stay until after the ball?"
"I would have to receive approval from the Ministry of Magic to remain at Hogwarts until the day after the ball. I'll call you back to my office later." Dumbledore dismissed Harry and began to write a letter.
Harry strode back to the Gryffindor Common Room in a daze. Not knowing how he arrived there he plopped down on a wing backed chair. Letting out a heavy sigh he began to rub his temples, a terrible headache threatening him.
"Harry?"
Harry opened his eyes to see a pair of eyes at his level.
"Hi Herm," Harry said with lack of enthusiasm.
"What's the matter?"
"Dumbledore is sending me to.Muskeg," Harry finished in a whisper.
Hermione clasped her hand to her mouth, her eyes wide.
"Harry, he can't send you there! I won't let him!"
"There's nothing he can do about it.he won't be here either."
"But, Hogwarts isn't safe without him." Hermione's face was filled with fright.
"I know. But there's nothing he can do, Fudge is gone and he has to take his place."
"Harry, what are we going to do?"
"I don't know Herm, I don't know," Harry sighed again, as Hermione sat down on the floor leaning against his leg.
"What about the Ball?"
"Dumbledore is writing to the Ministry officials to see if he can postpone his trip to London until the day after the ball."
"Oh, I do hope they say you can stay!" Hermione's eyes were filled with hope.
"Me too."
"Well if it isn't the two lovebirds!" came a sarcastic voice. Harry rolled his eyes, as did Hermione.
"Ron, we're not going out and you know that!"
"Oh Harry SHUT UP!" screamed Ron at the top of his lungs. "You've got everything! Now you've even got the girl! I can't believe how stupid I was to ever become your friend!"
By this time the stairwells were full of eavesdropping students. Some of the girls were exchanging weird glances.
"Ron, go away! It's your own damn fault, you know. If you had told me sooner how you felt we might still be friends, but we can't change the past so just GO!" Hermione turned from Ron's fuming face and looked pleadingly at Harry.
"Come on Herm," Harry said as he grabbed Hermione's hand and made for the portrait hole.
"Go to Hell Hermione!" screamed Ron as he turned and ran to his dormitory.
Outside the portrait hole Hermione burst into tears.
"Harry it's all my fault!" she sobbed. "If I hadn't gone with Viktor last year then none of this would be happening."
"It's okay Herm, it's not your fault." Harry tried to sooth her by bringing her into a hug.
"But it is!"
"No it's not. Listen to me, Ron is bull-headed and he feels like he's been betrayed right now, he'll cool off soon enough."
"I hope you're right, after all what will he say about the Ball?"
"I'm afraid to find out."