Chapter 24 – Ministry Maladies

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Harry, Hermione and Ron picked tensely at their breakfasts, ignoring the jubilant chatter of the other students around them, until Harry finally stood up in frustration.  "I'm talking to Dumbledore.  I'll see you both later."

Hermione nodded and Ron gave him a weakly encouraging smile.  The festive exuberance around them felt at odds with their knowledge of Voldemort's plans.

Harry forged his way through the milling throngs of students heading home, and toward Dumbledore's office.  The old wizard had met Harry at the foot of his tower and invited him up immediately, not looking the slightest bit tired.  Harry wondered if Dumbledore really was omniscient within the walls of Hogwarts, because he didn't show any surprise when Harry told him of his strange dream.  Dumbledore merely listened silently to Harry's narrative, his long fingers steepled thoughtfully.

"I think we should call Rowan and Sirius in for this discussion."  Dumbledore said at length before he stood and crossed to his fireplace.  Dumbledore drew a pinch of glittering powder out of a jar on the fireplace and threw it into the flames."

"Rowan?  A word, if you don't mind."  Almost instantly, Professor Myfanwy's head appeared in the flames.  She looked rather confused.

"Yes, Headmaster?"

"Is Sirius with you, Rowan?"  Dumbledore asked.  Professor Myfanwy blinked in surprise,

"Right here, Professor."  Sirius appeared quickly beside Professor Myfanwy, both of them looking rather like a pair of seventh years being caught behind the greenhouses.

"I'd like a word with both of you."  Harry saw an amused look glint behind Dumbledore's spectacles.  The two heads disappeared momentarily.  Then a large shape appeared, revolving very fast.  Sirius clambered carefully through the fireplace before reaching back to politely assist Rowan through.

"You called, Professor?  Oh!  Hello, Harry," Sirius said, surprised to see his godson seated in front of Dumbledore.  Rowan attempted to brush the last bit of grey ash from her white robes, grumbling slightly when it wouldn't leave.

"Young Mr Potter has had another dream about Voldemort."  Dumbledore told them calmly as he gestured the pair into chairs before his desk.  "One that concerns you both."    Both adults looked surprised and Harry noticed as Sirius' hand instinctively threaded with Professor Myfanwy's.

"What did you see, Harry?"  Myfanwy prompted gently.

"Voldemort was punishing Wormtail for not bringing you back to him, Professor."  Harry reported.  "Wormtail said . . . he said the werewolves behaviour was a trap," he looked at Myfanwy.  "He knew you'd try to drive them off and they ambushed you."

She smiled sadly and nodded.  "Peter knows me very well, I'm afraid.  They must have charmed my memory.  I don't remember any of this."

"Avery did, after Wormtail used the Imperius curse.  He was looking for the Amulet of Achidnae."  Harry supplied.  Sirius looked livid at this news.  Myfanwy looked only slightly ill.  Then a thought occurred to Harry as he remembered their first Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson with Myfanwy.  "Wormtail must know that you've seen the Amulet before.  You said you had months ago!"

"Yes, Harry, I know what the Amulet looks like and Wormtail knew that, but I don't know where it is."  She glanced over at Dumbledore with a speculative look.  He merely gestured for Harry to continue.  Harry quickly told them the rest, everything he'd overheard, including the imminent contact they'd probably receive from Lucius Malfoy.

"Voldemort didn't want to kill you both, however," Dumbledore concluded after Harry.  "He thinks there's a way to permanently alter your memories."

"Confundus and Memory charms?"  Rowan glanced curiously at Sirius, who nodded grimly.

"It would have to be very precise, but it's possible."

"Lily could have done it."  Rowan pointed out.  Harry's ears perked at the mention of his mother.  Dumbledore watched the pair carefully for a moment.

"You're both taking this surprisingly well."  He noted.

"Not at all, Professor."  Myfanwy shook her head, a distinct growl creeping into her voice.  "We just found out that Voldemort wants to brainwash us into becoming his loyal minions."  She looked toward Sirius.  "He's done so well with Wormtail, I suppose Voldemort's decided to upgrade to the better model of Marauder."

"We're not worried, Professor, we're furious."  Sirius's eyes widened in alarm.  "Remus is in danger!"

"So is Morgaine."  Rowan concluded.  "Voldemort wants a Vox Veritas Argentum, but it's only a short matter of time before he finds out there's a Seer up for grabs as well.  We'd better them both into the castle.  Headmaster?" she looked to Dumbledore urgently.

"I'll have the house elves fix up a room for her.  Will you invite your grandfather as well?"

"I'll invite him," Myfanwy said hesitantly, "but I doubt he'll come.  I'll also write to Ger and tell him not to accept any field assignments for a bit and be extra careful.  He works in the Department of Mysteries, so he should be safe enough."

Harry started to ask a question when a small commotion erupted behind them.

"Minister Fudge!"  Professor McGonagall's voice echoed up from outside the office door.  "Professor Dumbledore is extremely busy at the moment."

"My dear woman, this is important!"  Fudge's voice snapped back, clearly coming closer.  Everyone looked at each other in slight panic.  They heard a faint *pop* as Sirius transformed into Padfoot and quickly moved to lie demurely beside Fawkes' perch.

"Dumbledore!"  Cornelius Fudge burst through the door like a pinstriped puffin.  "Where is . . . oh, Miss Myfanwy!"  Fudge drew up short as Professor Myfanwy rose from her seat and watched his entrance coolly.  Fudge bustled forward, firmly clasping Myfanwy's hand before she extracted it and nodded formally toward him.  Professor McGonagall glared severely at Fudge's back as she entered behind him and cast an apologetic look toward the Headmaster and Professor Myfanwy.

"You are looking for me, Minister?" 

"Ah yes, Rowan, however . . ." Fudge looked at Harry and frowned slightly.  "Professor McGonagall?  Would you be so kind as to escort Harry out?  I'm sure he's got packing to do."  Harry rolled his eyes, wondering where Fudge thought he was going.  Harry never spent the holidays away from Hogwarts.

"He may stay," Myfanwy cut him off, a slight glint of frost entering her voice and darkening her eyes.  "I was speaking to him before you arrived, Minister.  I am not finished yet, and I'm in no mood to chase them down later.  I'm sure you understand," she smiled sweetly, but the smile didn't quite touch her eyes.  Harry was reminded again, sharply, of Morgan le Fay, sister to the High King, nobility in her own right.

"Yes, of course," Fudge quailed slightly.  He coughed and changed the subject.  "As you can see from today's Daily Prophet," Fudge began, pulling the offending paper out of his robe pocket.  "We have a bit of a . . . situation."

"I've not seen the paper yet this morning," Myfanwy apologized airily and Fudge immediately handed her his copy.  She took it with a brief nod of thanks and scanned over the headline before handing it to Harry, trusting him to position it so Padfoot could read as well.  Harry felt a sickening lurch in his stomach.  The largest headline read:  "Azkaban Abandoned".

"I told you to remove Azkaban from the control of the dementors, Cornelius."  Dumbledore shook his head sadly.  "Now they are loose and have rejoined Voldemort's ranks!"  Fudge's face reddened

"You-Know-Who has not returned, Dumbledore!  I won't hear of it!  All you're accomplishing by believing this madness is panic!  We've enough problems as it is!"

Myfanwy stepped forward, pinning Fudge with a dark look.  "I fail to see what this has to do with me, Minister."

Fudge straightened importantly.  "Your . . . peculiar abilities are in great demand at the moment."

"They often are," Myfanwy noted coldly.  "But I don't work for the Ministry."

"Yes, yes, I know," Fudge waved her off.  Myfanwy pressed her lips in irritation at being interrupted.  "But at the moment you can hardly say 'no', now can you?"

"No."

"You see?"  Fudge beamed.  "I knew you'd see reason.  Come then, you'll be back before classes resume in a few weeks."

"I said, no."  Professor Myfanwy said, a trace of impatience entering her voice.  "I meant, Minister, that I won't be leaving Hogwarts.  I've given my word not to leave the grounds."

"Now see here, Myfanwy!  You're the only one that can communicate completely with these beasts!"  Fudge said sharply.  "It's your duty . . ."

"It is not!  I do not work for the Ministry, however, I am employed by Headmaster Dumbledore and under strict contract not to leave the grounds."  Professor Myfanwy snapped with all the irritation of a virtually sleepless night with too many high emotions preceding it.  Padfoot moved from his place near Fawkes and sat down next to Rowan in a show of emotional support.  "We've lost Azkaban."  Myfanwy continued.  "We're losing ground, Cornelius.  Whomever was left in Azkaban is worse than dead now.  Voldemort has returned and he's gaining power quickly!  If we don't act soon the wizarding world is going to blow up in our faces!"

"Well, it's not as though Black hasn't spirited away the worst of the Death Eaters already, my dear!"  Fudge blustered.  "The ones left over were expendable.  If anyone is setting themselves up as You-Know-Who reborn, it's Sirius Black!"

"No it wasn't!"  Harry protested, drawing Fudge's attention.  The hackles on Padfoot's back rose and he growled slightly.

"Who else could it be?"  Fudge demanded plaintively.

"Voldemort!"  Dumbledore, Rowan and Harry all cried at the same time.  Fudge winced and turned back to Professor Myfanwy.

"Rowan, be reasonable."  Fudge sighed.  "We don't want any innocents Kissed.  Simply come with me, assist us with the dementors, and then you can return!  You'll be perfectly safe, I assure you."

Myfanwy looked quickly to Dumbledore, biting her lip in exhaustion and worry, then turned back to Fudge.  "I . . . I will think on it, Cornelius.  That is all I will promise."

"I'll escort you out of the castle, Minister."  Professor McGonagall said sternly, stepping forward and nailing the Minister with a disapproving glare.  Fudge pursed his lips in frustration before nodding brusquely to them all, jamming his bowler hat on his head and marching out the door.

"Something is very wrong here."  Professor Myfanwy concluded, watching the door Fudge had just disappeared out of speculatively.  "And I'm not sure what . . ."

Sirius transformed back into himself and quickly gathered Rowan into his arms.  "What about the Express, Professor?"  Sirius asked.  "Are the students safe?"

"I've asked most of the Staff to ride with the Express today."  Dumbledore assured them.  "The students should be quite safe."

"Um . . . Professor Myfanwy?"  Harry ventured.  The adults quieted and turned to him expectantly.  "What did the Minister mean when he said you're the only one that communicate with the beasts?  What beasts?"

Professor Myfanwy smiled at him kindly.  "I'm a Vox Veritas Argentum, Harry.  That alone gives me some sway with most magical beasts.  Dementors, though?" she shuddered.  "Not likely."

"The dementors of Azkaban can speak without translation as well," Dumbledore noted. His long fingers steepled thoughtfully.  "A trap, perhaps?"

"You think Fudge is a Death Eater?"  Harry asked, surprised.  He thought back to Fudge's actions directly after the Triwizard Tournament.  Sirius pursed his lips.

"Not necessarily, Harry.  Maybe one of his aids or someone that has his ear."  Sirius raised an eyebrow at Myfanwy and Dumbledore.  "Either of you know the political waters better than I do.  Any known Death Eaters have Fudge's ear?"

Myfanwy's eyes lit up.  "Malfoy!  Lucius Malfoy donates huge sums of gold to St. Mungo's and other large charities.  He has a lot of influence in the Ministry.  Almost as much as I do."

"Wormtail was supposed to contact Malfoy."  Harry added quietly.

"And knowing that, we may be able to trap them in their own cleverness."  Rowan's smiled turned lightly feral and deviously mischievous.  The difference from his coolly regal Professor was startling.  It looked as though the Rowan Myfanwy of fifteen years ago was shining through and Harry recognized his first real glimpse of the clever Gryffindor Head Girl and the only female to ever fully entrap Sirius Black.  "It looks like your dreams are turning out to be invaluable, Harry.  Perhaps we should watch you and your friends for Seer ability."

This stopped Harry. "My friends?  I thought these dreams came because of my scar."

She laughed and agreed.  "Probably.  The only other explanation would be you or one of your closest friends being a true Seer.  Gory death predictions don't count."  She added as an afterthought, prompting laughter from the three men.

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The Reviews and the Author's note from Hades

Thank you's and smilies go to:  Lana Potter, HarryandGinny4eva, Viper2005, and Julephenia!

MoonSweety:  Thanks, and when I get around to it.  There should be some in the next chapter, I think.

Nell:  I'll try to work things in.  Rowan doesn't hate Snape.  She leaves that to Sirius.

Pudadingding:  Not gone, just shrunk. *evil smile*

Ferguspork:  I sing and play the cello. :)

Lia Snowstar:  Thank you, I really needed that.

Bucky:  I'm very glad you like the story.  However, this entire story is plotted out and I'm not deviating from that plot.  This is also my story and I'll write in whatever and whomever I want.  I could finish the entire story in one chapter and then call it that if everyone would prefer.  However, I warn you that you probably wouldn't like the ending.

I'm not upset with anyone, not at all.  But I do ask that everyone indulge my slight obsession with Sirius and Remus.  I can't do really good romance with Harry and Ginny or Ron and Hermione because they are simply too young and inexperienced, whereas Rowan and Sirius have a very complex relationship and a lot of emotional baggage to sort through.

Remember, they were five days from being married and they're members of what amounts to a (rather strange) wolf pack.  From that perspective, wolves don't understand 'engaged' so they were MATES!  And then Sirius and Rowan had a spectacular fight over their pack-brother Remus, Peter betrayed them all, the Potters died and they lost Harry to the Dursleys.  The pack was suddenly ripped down to two from seven.

Sirius spent 12 years in hell and Rowan had a full out nervous breakdown because she was still reeling from the loss of over 200 members of her family two years before.  It's amazing they're both sane.  That's not going to resolve itself in a few hours.  Actually, I'm probably moving a bit too fast.  I really apologise if I'm not pulling this story off well.  I am trying!

May 2002