Title: Wisdom From The Dark 07
Author: Jyrnn
Spoilers: All four books.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter nor any of its characters. They are the sole intellectual property of J. K. Rowling and Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. I gain no monetary reward for this exercise and do not intend any copyright infringement.
Summery: A child has suffered enough, an intruder encounters unexpected resistance, and the careless words of Voldemort have the most unexpected results. Harry Potter is about to take a stand.
Chapter 7: A Pin Prick to the Ego
It was half past one when the department-wide meeting commenced. Minster of Magic Fudge waddled confidently to the podium and highlighted purpose for the meeting. He opened his monologue with an apology. 'I realize that this is a break in custom, but I feel it necessary to relate to you the serious events of the past week. Despite claims to the contrary by Dumbledore, Harry Potter has quick obviously gone mad. My aide, the much maligned Gavin Falstaff, made an innocent journey to the Dursley residence to gauge the mental state of the young man. Upon seeing Gavin, the boy went positively rabid and attacked him. Having not been trained in anyway to defend against physical attack, Gavin was subdued by the ambush. When he awoke he was garbed in robes that were not his own. Robes once worn by Death Eaters in service of He Who Must Not Be Named. It was sadistic and criminal of Harry Potter to traumatize my aide in this way. It was treason."
A muted gasp of shock escaped the crowd. The speech was quite effective and Fudge was nothing if not a consummate politician. But he continued on. "No doubt the misguided boy was attempting to gain attention for himself. Well he succeeded. He garnered both my notice and my concern. I pressed charges but the presiding magistrate made light of the threat the boy represented. Instead placing him in St. Mungo's where belongs, Judge Fletcher set him loose on the world. Percival Weasley please rise." The Minster commanded. When the red headed lawyer did so all saw he was seated near the rear of the room. "Come forward." Fudge ordered tyrannically. When Percy did so reluctantly the Minster continued with his oratory.
"I want you to fetch the boy for me now. The assembled Ministry deserves to know why he partook in such a seditious act. " Fudge waited expectantly. He would have to wait a long time before he saw Harry Potter again.
***
As was his custom with Floo travel, Harry was catapulted out of the fireplace. He and his trunk were propelled across a tiled floor until they both slowed to a painful stop. A few onlookers glanced his way, but after seeing he was alright they went about their business. Gathering his much abused trunk under his arm, Harry shook off the discomfort that magical travel inflected upon him. He was in a receiving area, a vast pulpit of fireplaces and platforms to receive travelers by Floo and Apparition. From thin air wizards of varying nationalities materialized, whole families and groups just popping into existence. It was actually pretty awe-inspiring. The place, the Hub as it was affectionately called, was unquestionably the crossroads of Magical Britain. All about Harry swirled mass of arriving and departing people. The Hub was easily a mile across with many different counters and signs. Everybody seemed to know where they were going here.
Breathing deep Harry began the long trek across hard floor to a desk labeled General Inquiries. Slipping in between the current and flows of human traffic, Harry dodged collisions and keep his head low. If he was recognized here he could be taken by a Death Eater or mauled by a group of fans. *I'd rather be taken by the Death Eater* Harry thought wryly. His concern was for not because moments later he stood before his destination. He sighed in relief. The man at the desk peered down curiously. "How might I help you Young Master?" The man was pleasant looking and his name tag read Thomas.
"Do you have a office where we could speak in a less exposed manner?" Harry asked in a low voice. Thomas seemed to pick up the boy's worried undertone and simply nodded in comprehension. Thomas merely put a "Closed" placard on tp of the desk and motioned for Harry follow him. He lead Harry into a backroom which served as a sort of lunchroom. A clock tolled eleven as they entered the room. The place was deserted.
"What's the problem?" He asked. In response to the man's inquiry Harry reached into his pocketed and pulled out a copy of his sentence. Thomas quickly skimmed the document and the man's eyes widened at the name of the defendant. He let out a choking gasp as he reached the part about the banishment. He looked up from the paper and squinted at the now apparent lightning scar on Harry's forehead. The man remained quiet until Harry chose to break the tense silence.
"As you can see I am required to leave Britain under pain of death. Can you or someone here help me?" Harry said with an air of urgency. The gravity of the situation seemed to sink into the man.
"This is ridiculous, Harry Potter banished! This a joke right?" Thomas asked hopefully. The flat look and arched eyebrow of Harry dissuaded him from thinking the matter was a joke. "Well do you have a passport?"
"No. I can't get one anymore either because I'm now officially an expatriate of Britain. If you can get me out I can settle things on my own. All I need is a Portkey to anywhere. Can you get it arranged.?"
Their was a pause. Thomas was obviously struggling with the difficult decision to breach regulations. "If it helps you any, technically I'm an emancipated minor. I have the legal status of an adult according to the statue regarding Banishment. Also I had leave somehow, if not by Portkey then by foot or by broom. Anyways when the Ministry tracks my movements to here you'll be sworn to secrecy." With more than a little bitterness Harry remarked, "Everyone else has." That cinched it. Thomas nodded in agreement and sent a note to a friend of his. Attached to the reply was a ticket.
A half an hour later after a quick two sickle brunch at the concessionaire Harry was mounting the platform for departure. It was noon on the nose of August 5 when Harry Potter left England.
***
Fudge purpled in the face before all the gathered Ministry officials. He started gasping for breath. It appeared that he was actually hyperventilating from rage. Whatever Percy said to the Minster seemed to send him into a fir of anger rarely experienced by mortal man. Through panting breaths and clenched fists the Minsters asked, "What did you say?"
"I can't do that sir." Percy had just decided that he really didn't like Minster Fudge anymore. The man was a touch too pompous for his tastes. Coming form Percy "Big Head Boy" Weasley that was quite an accomplishment.
"Why the bloody hell not?" demanded an irate Fudge.
"It's not within your rights to demand that." Responded Percy.
"Now see here son, you better listen to me" Blustered Fudge.
"No Minster, it is you who should listen. Harry Potter has been exiled. Apart from the people directly involved in his departure from of England, no one of our, meaning British, blood shall have any physical contact with him. To seek him out is immoral and illegal, punishable by imprisonment. He's out of all jurisdiction of any Department but Magical Law."
"Boy if you think.." Fudge started to threaten.
Percy didn't let him finish. He had witnessed a fifteen year old jumping into the unknown. A boy and friend who didn't deserve the abuse the Minster was heaping on him walking away from everything he had every known. "I don't think Minister, I know. It is my job to know. Besides I couldn't "fetch" him if tried. I don't know where he is. He left the office at ten o'clock this morning. He left for the Hub."
"H-He's gone!?" sputtered Fudge. "He had no right!"
"Yes he did, and he had on obligation to do so. He had week, that's what the court afforded him. He took his possessions and left right away claiming he did not want to be made a spectacle of. Such was his prerogative." On that note, Percy turned and left. All eyes followed him as he marched out of the assembly with his back ramrod straight.
End Chapter 7
Author's Notes:
Finally I've got this thing off the ground.
Thanks to my reviewers, Nighttime Sunshine, peeweepotter, Them Girl, Relle, Lady FoxFire, AJake and Cricket(). Since your all somewhat interested I'll keep writing.
Author: Jyrnn
Spoilers: All four books.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter nor any of its characters. They are the sole intellectual property of J. K. Rowling and Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. I gain no monetary reward for this exercise and do not intend any copyright infringement.
Summery: A child has suffered enough, an intruder encounters unexpected resistance, and the careless words of Voldemort have the most unexpected results. Harry Potter is about to take a stand.
Chapter 7: A Pin Prick to the Ego
It was half past one when the department-wide meeting commenced. Minster of Magic Fudge waddled confidently to the podium and highlighted purpose for the meeting. He opened his monologue with an apology. 'I realize that this is a break in custom, but I feel it necessary to relate to you the serious events of the past week. Despite claims to the contrary by Dumbledore, Harry Potter has quick obviously gone mad. My aide, the much maligned Gavin Falstaff, made an innocent journey to the Dursley residence to gauge the mental state of the young man. Upon seeing Gavin, the boy went positively rabid and attacked him. Having not been trained in anyway to defend against physical attack, Gavin was subdued by the ambush. When he awoke he was garbed in robes that were not his own. Robes once worn by Death Eaters in service of He Who Must Not Be Named. It was sadistic and criminal of Harry Potter to traumatize my aide in this way. It was treason."
A muted gasp of shock escaped the crowd. The speech was quite effective and Fudge was nothing if not a consummate politician. But he continued on. "No doubt the misguided boy was attempting to gain attention for himself. Well he succeeded. He garnered both my notice and my concern. I pressed charges but the presiding magistrate made light of the threat the boy represented. Instead placing him in St. Mungo's where belongs, Judge Fletcher set him loose on the world. Percival Weasley please rise." The Minster commanded. When the red headed lawyer did so all saw he was seated near the rear of the room. "Come forward." Fudge ordered tyrannically. When Percy did so reluctantly the Minster continued with his oratory.
"I want you to fetch the boy for me now. The assembled Ministry deserves to know why he partook in such a seditious act. " Fudge waited expectantly. He would have to wait a long time before he saw Harry Potter again.
***
As was his custom with Floo travel, Harry was catapulted out of the fireplace. He and his trunk were propelled across a tiled floor until they both slowed to a painful stop. A few onlookers glanced his way, but after seeing he was alright they went about their business. Gathering his much abused trunk under his arm, Harry shook off the discomfort that magical travel inflected upon him. He was in a receiving area, a vast pulpit of fireplaces and platforms to receive travelers by Floo and Apparition. From thin air wizards of varying nationalities materialized, whole families and groups just popping into existence. It was actually pretty awe-inspiring. The place, the Hub as it was affectionately called, was unquestionably the crossroads of Magical Britain. All about Harry swirled mass of arriving and departing people. The Hub was easily a mile across with many different counters and signs. Everybody seemed to know where they were going here.
Breathing deep Harry began the long trek across hard floor to a desk labeled General Inquiries. Slipping in between the current and flows of human traffic, Harry dodged collisions and keep his head low. If he was recognized here he could be taken by a Death Eater or mauled by a group of fans. *I'd rather be taken by the Death Eater* Harry thought wryly. His concern was for not because moments later he stood before his destination. He sighed in relief. The man at the desk peered down curiously. "How might I help you Young Master?" The man was pleasant looking and his name tag read Thomas.
"Do you have a office where we could speak in a less exposed manner?" Harry asked in a low voice. Thomas seemed to pick up the boy's worried undertone and simply nodded in comprehension. Thomas merely put a "Closed" placard on tp of the desk and motioned for Harry follow him. He lead Harry into a backroom which served as a sort of lunchroom. A clock tolled eleven as they entered the room. The place was deserted.
"What's the problem?" He asked. In response to the man's inquiry Harry reached into his pocketed and pulled out a copy of his sentence. Thomas quickly skimmed the document and the man's eyes widened at the name of the defendant. He let out a choking gasp as he reached the part about the banishment. He looked up from the paper and squinted at the now apparent lightning scar on Harry's forehead. The man remained quiet until Harry chose to break the tense silence.
"As you can see I am required to leave Britain under pain of death. Can you or someone here help me?" Harry said with an air of urgency. The gravity of the situation seemed to sink into the man.
"This is ridiculous, Harry Potter banished! This a joke right?" Thomas asked hopefully. The flat look and arched eyebrow of Harry dissuaded him from thinking the matter was a joke. "Well do you have a passport?"
"No. I can't get one anymore either because I'm now officially an expatriate of Britain. If you can get me out I can settle things on my own. All I need is a Portkey to anywhere. Can you get it arranged.?"
Their was a pause. Thomas was obviously struggling with the difficult decision to breach regulations. "If it helps you any, technically I'm an emancipated minor. I have the legal status of an adult according to the statue regarding Banishment. Also I had leave somehow, if not by Portkey then by foot or by broom. Anyways when the Ministry tracks my movements to here you'll be sworn to secrecy." With more than a little bitterness Harry remarked, "Everyone else has." That cinched it. Thomas nodded in agreement and sent a note to a friend of his. Attached to the reply was a ticket.
A half an hour later after a quick two sickle brunch at the concessionaire Harry was mounting the platform for departure. It was noon on the nose of August 5 when Harry Potter left England.
***
Fudge purpled in the face before all the gathered Ministry officials. He started gasping for breath. It appeared that he was actually hyperventilating from rage. Whatever Percy said to the Minster seemed to send him into a fir of anger rarely experienced by mortal man. Through panting breaths and clenched fists the Minsters asked, "What did you say?"
"I can't do that sir." Percy had just decided that he really didn't like Minster Fudge anymore. The man was a touch too pompous for his tastes. Coming form Percy "Big Head Boy" Weasley that was quite an accomplishment.
"Why the bloody hell not?" demanded an irate Fudge.
"It's not within your rights to demand that." Responded Percy.
"Now see here son, you better listen to me" Blustered Fudge.
"No Minster, it is you who should listen. Harry Potter has been exiled. Apart from the people directly involved in his departure from of England, no one of our, meaning British, blood shall have any physical contact with him. To seek him out is immoral and illegal, punishable by imprisonment. He's out of all jurisdiction of any Department but Magical Law."
"Boy if you think.." Fudge started to threaten.
Percy didn't let him finish. He had witnessed a fifteen year old jumping into the unknown. A boy and friend who didn't deserve the abuse the Minster was heaping on him walking away from everything he had every known. "I don't think Minister, I know. It is my job to know. Besides I couldn't "fetch" him if tried. I don't know where he is. He left the office at ten o'clock this morning. He left for the Hub."
"H-He's gone!?" sputtered Fudge. "He had no right!"
"Yes he did, and he had on obligation to do so. He had week, that's what the court afforded him. He took his possessions and left right away claiming he did not want to be made a spectacle of. Such was his prerogative." On that note, Percy turned and left. All eyes followed him as he marched out of the assembly with his back ramrod straight.
End Chapter 7
Author's Notes:
Finally I've got this thing off the ground.
Thanks to my reviewers, Nighttime Sunshine, peeweepotter, Them Girl, Relle, Lady FoxFire, AJake and Cricket(). Since your all somewhat interested I'll keep writing.