The rest of the Summer practically flew by: Harry spent his days in Grimmauld Place, anticipating his return to Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Considering that he was very nearly expelled, his first reaction was to be thrilled to be returning to school.

However, Harry was beginning to feel a large rift between him and the others. No one in the order seemed to share his viewpoint that Makima of Public Safety had done quite a lot for him, and actively encouraged him to feel differently. Harry, feeling a little put off by their attitude, stopped mentioning the situation to others and spent the time he wasn't working on cleaning the house shut up in his room. Ron tried to talk to him, but it felt stilted and awkward. They had not, it seemed, rebuilt their friendship after Harry's first night at Grimmauld place.

Harry sat in bed, thinking deeply about the past few months. After since Cedric had died it had felt like he was barely treading water in a dangerous storm. He had been worried about the return of Voldemort all summer. He had worried about Cedric's death, about the people who could die, and about his role in it.

The lack of real information provided to him by his friends, and the isolation while living at home with the Dursleys, had made him angry and bitter. And his arrival at Grimmauld Place had done nothing to dissuade him of that. He had thought that Dumbledore would have had the situation well in hand. That he would have been actively involved with protecting the public and stopping Voldemort from gaining power.

But now that he was here… in the Headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix… know that he knew how they had failed to inform the public of Voldemort's return, how they were more concerned about the actions of the Ministry of magic, and how they were so determined to keep them out of the loop… it gave him the very strong impression that none of them had any idea what they were doing.

They had insisted when he first arrived that the Ministry wouldn't even tolerate any dissension when it came to Fudge's belief that Voldemort had not returned, but upon seeing the reality of the situation… how Makima of Public Safety was easily able to use her influence to force the topic onto them, Harry had doubts that the claim was true. If there was someone actively at the Ministry able to openly talk about Voldemort's return, able to circumvent Fudge's totalitarian rule… then what, pray tell, was the problem?

If anyone could put a stop to Fudge's stupidity, it was Makima. He was sure of it.

…

Dolores Umbridge gasped. Blood trickled out of her mouth in waves as Makima stood over her, adjusting her gloves. All around them the team of wizards that Umbridge had brought to her office were lying sprawled all over the floor.

"Did you really think you could intimidate me?" Makima asked condescendingly. Umbridge let out a pathetic gurgle.

"Don't… kill… me…"

"I know what you're like, Dolores." Makima said she stepped backwards, away from her, and sat on her desk. She pulled out a lighter and a cigarette, and lit it. "I wasn't joking when I said I knew it was you who sent those dementors."

She blew smoke out into the room. Her strange, spiral eyes were cold and empty.

"People like you have no place in government."

"The Minister… will have your head for this."

"The Minister?"

Makima again blew smoke out into the room.

"When Voldemort's return becomes more widely known, he will be removed from office." Makima said. "That is the true reason he is so adamant that it has not happened. He is a weak leader who only came to power in a time of peace."

"You-"

"Voldemort was never truly defeated." Makima continued, as if Umbridge had not spoken. "His fall from power was nothing but a set back for him and his followers. Your government is doomed to fail."

She smiled. Her spiral eyes were blank and empty. Umbridge coughed. More blood seeped out of her mouth.

"Then someone new will take power." She said. "And those of who have served the public loyally for our entire careers… will again take the reins. A government is more than just the one who holds the most power, Makima."

"Perhaps." Makima said. "But the government I intend to build would not allow you to run rampant, abusing your powers as you have."

She stood up. She walked back over to Umbridge, and stifled the cigarette in her mousy hair. Umbridge flinched.

"Even now, the Minister is making plans to sabotage the greatest asset the world has against Voldemort." Makima said. "The Ministry will regret its treatment of Harry Potter very soon, I think. He is not a man you should take lightly."

"Man?" Umbridge scoffed. "He is but a mere boy."

Makima smiled.

"I certainly don't think so."

She walked to the door.

"You can let yourselves out." She said. And then she was gone.

…

"So Makima has made her move."

Dumbledore sat in his office, his hands folded in front of him. He was in deep contemplation.

"That's right." Kingsley Shacklebolt said, his low, deep reassuring voice filling the office. "The Ministry is in a panic. The Devil Hunters are openly going around talking about how Voldemort has returned. Even the muggles know. It's been a disaster for them."

"What does Makima have to gain by doing this?"

"She's convinced more people at the Ministry in a week than we have in two months." Shacklebolt said, his voice grim. "She wasn't around last time, so it's possible she might be the new face of the resistance against Voldemort."

"We cannot allow that to happen." Dumbledore said, his voice cold. "She would have more people killed than Voldemort ever could."

"I quite agree." Shacklebolt said. "But the Minister believes us to be the threat."

"Yes." Dumbledore said. "Something needs to be done. If Cornelius had supported us fully from the onset Makima would not be a threat to us now."

"And what's worse." Shacklebolt continued. "Sirius says that Harry is quite taken with her."

Dumbledore snorted derisively.

"I thought he was wiser than that."

"She saved him from expulsion from Hogwarts." Kingsley said. "He does not understand what she's really like. He's too young, Dumbledore. He still believes the world is split between good people and Death Eaters."

"That is a lesson he will have to learn very soon." Dumbledore said, his voice grave. "It may be in our best interest to contact a Devil Hunter of our own. Yet most of the ones under Makima are her loyal dogs. Aki, Chainsaw, Power.. The very few who are not believe her to be too powerful to be destroyed. She is, in the eyes of most, a necessary evil."

He bent his head, his eyes narrowed.

"If War breaks out between the Devil Hunters and the Ministry, I daresay our government will be in shambles by the time Voldemort has fully returned to power."

"War?" Shacklebolt repeated. "You think that is likely?"

Dumbledore's glasses glinted.

"I do believe it has already begun."

…

Cornelius Fudge, Minister of Magic, dabbed at his head with a cloth. He had broken out in a cold sweat once he had gotten word of what had happened in Makima's office. She had single handedly dismantled the group he had personally assembled to take her out, no questions asked. If she so wanted, she was in the position to overthrow his entire Ministry now if she wished.

He expected to see her barge into the room, trailed by that ugly thing she called a dog, smiling that smug smile of hers as the dog tore him to bits.

No one came. Memos came and floated onto his desk, but he ignored them. Staring straight ahead at the door in front of him.

Even when he was completely expecting it, the loud crashing noise outside made him jump.

"Move, pathetic humans!"

His secretaries scrambled out of the way as the door was kicked open.

It was the Fiend. Although it was in the shape of a beautiful young girl, her eyes were wild and haughty, and she moved with extreme condescension of her surroundings.

"Are you the leader of these worms?" She demanded.

She and Fudge had indeed met before, but she had apparently completely forgotten. Fiends were not known for their mental faculties. Fudge nodded, timidly.

"The boss has a message for you." The girl said. She walked up to her desk, raised her leg, and slammed it back down. Fudge pulled his legs out from under it as it cracked in half. He had to stop himself from whimpering.

"What's the message?"

"Uh…"

She raised her arm and glanced at it. Fudge could make out a little note embedded into her sleeve.

"Check your memos." She answered. She turned and sauntered off. Fudge stared. He glanced at the numerous memos on what remained of his desk, and opened them.

Cornelius,

I have received confirmation that a new Devil has appeared in the U.K. As I have warned you previously, the fear of Lord Voldemort has remained very prevalent in your society since his defeat at the hands of the Boy Who Lived. As such, this collective fear as led to the birth of a 'Voldemort Devil.' That feeds off of this collective fear unique to this region.

This is, of course, a matter of utmost importance for Public Safety. Our priority therefore is to eliminate this Devil as soon as possible. We would very much your public support in this matter. Public Safety has this matter well in hand, but requests the Ministry's full support In this matter.

Albus Dumbledore, with his reputation as the only one that Voldemort has ever feared, will be a valuable asset in this endeavor. My recommendation would be to contact him as soon as possible and ask for his advice. Please do so as soon as possible.

-Makima

Fudge clutched the note in his hand. His head was swimming. Makima… Makima hadn't even bothered trying to overthrow him. She was straight up telling him what to do.

He needed to find a way to curb her influence in the Ministry. He would have to find some way to distract her from her agenda. His eyes flitted across his desk, desperately trying to find something he could use.

His eyes fell on the application for the Defense Against the Dark Arts position that Dolores Umbridge had filled it. He stared at it, the inkling of an idea welling up in his mind. He had already taken the necessary steps to force his servant, Umbridge, into a position of influence right under Dumbledore's nose. Perhaps…

He took out a quill and parchment.

Makima,

As Minister I have decided that in order to best combat this threat to the Ministry that you, the best Devil Hunter at our disposal, attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. This position will allow you to forge close bonds with Albus Dumbledore while teaching our nation's children about the evils of this Voldemort Devil. Closer ties with the school and with the Ministry should ensure the public that all is well.

On our behalf, please use every resource at your disposal to destroy this Voldemort Devil. You have my full permission.

Perfect. Fudge thought happily, marveling at his own cleverness, as he sent the memo back to Makima. If all went according to plan, Makima would be out of his hair for an entire year, at least. It would give him time, at least, to find and train SOMEONE to deal with her when she got back.

…

A/N

I have to say I was very pleasantly surprised at the positive reaction chapter 1 got. I'm used to posting new stories and waiting a couple of days for even one review, but you guys have been very supportive so far. Thank you!

I'm afraid I'm not completely 100% caught up on Chainsaw Man, so I'm a bit worried that I'm not doing the characters justice. (I had to look up the fact that Makima smokes, for example) but I'm trying my best.