Chapter Ten: The Prince is Dead, Long Live the Prince

"The old man looks sick, Mr. Solis. Is he?"

"On the contrary Mr. Llewellyn, Minister Fudge is in excellent health, having just returned from a vacation to the United States."

Lewis hid a smirk as he stared at his mentor Diego. Diego Solis was in his element here, sitting just behind the Minister of Magic as both his press secretary and a trusted aide. Solis had been with Fudge since the start of his political career and was considered one of Fudge's closest friends. His post as Press Secretary came as a result of Solis' vivid and passionate reports during the Dark Times when he openly battled with Skeeter and her ilk in print over the exact power and size of the Dark Lord's armies. He had ripped away the myth and mystery behind the dramatic titles like Jack the Ripper and Dark Prince to reveal as nothing more then petty criminals, easily encountered and defeated.

But according to rumors, this ardent pacifist had become a supporter of an open war against Voldemort and his Prince. Some claimed that this new stance was a result of his Auror wife, Becka Stallens, and because of that Diego was beginning to be viewed as weak and ineffective.

"There are some who believe that Minister Fudge's visit to America was to meet with high ranking officials from Hecate Compound and discuss a Hecate's possible return to self-rule."

"You're fishing, Lewis." Diego said, softly. The man was smiling even though his face remained a clear, emotionless mask, as he appeared to be listening to the arguing of the politicians. "A good reporter usually doesn't have to. They come right out and say it."

"Fine, is Fudge going to vote today to support a release of Hecate powers?"

"The Minister understands that this is a difficult and delicate subject to deal with and will take all stipulations into consideration before going to the International Wizardry Confederations and voting on Hecate sovereignty."

"I'm not going to get anything else out of you, am I?"

"Not a chance, but Becka sends her love."

Lewis smiled and nodded, turning back to the main arena. His smile faded as he studied the faces of each screaming politicians. On their faces were rage mixed with fear, courage merging with desperation and memory clashing with instincts. Never before had he seen such fierce division over something that could make or break the country.

Today England would choose to support Hecate in going to war.

It was a difficult choice to be sure, even in peacetime. Hecate was crying foul over the events of the past two years, the Dark Prince's Silent Night and the Azkaban breakout, they claimed the Christmastime attacks on the English Ministry of Magic, Godric's Hallow, Hecate, and at Hogwarts was symbolic of a new proactive agenda that the Death Eaters were employing.  They said that even though they had been give permission to use the Unforgivable Curses, they needed the power to act without seeking warrants and or judicial permission before making arrest or raids. They needed the ability to answer to no one in order to protect the world like it needed to be protected.

Supporters said that the IWC had overstepped its bounds 20 years ago when Hecate was seized by severe information leaks by limiting their power. They said the main supporters for the bill hadn't faced the Dark Prince or score of other super villains that had come in the wake of it. But the opposition was just as passionate saying that giving absolute power corrupts absolutely and without policing Hecate would become no better then the villain it sought to destroy.

All Lewis knew is that he wouldn't want to be in Fudge's place right now for all the gold in the world.

Cornelius Fudge rested his head in his hands tiredly as the drama played out before him. He had been England's Minister of Magic for almost two decades now, helping the country recover from the ravishing of the Lord Voldemort and his brutal Dark Prince. He had fought, bleed and cried for the country a hundred times over- attempting to regain the peace Voldemort and his Prince had stolen away from it. He loved England and did all he could to preserve it's fragile peace.

Only now could he see his terrible folly. Three years ago he had been asked by Albus Dumbledore to join forces with the giants and anyone else who would answer a call to peace to fight against the return of Voldemort. Instead, Fudge had chosen to ignore the old man's counsel and pretend nothing had changed. That day in spring had seen the life taken of a boy, Cedric Diggory, and Fudge had shamed his death by ignoring it. Now, his own daughter had gone to keep Cedric company. With her and Cedric lay Victoria Hawke, Harrison Delacroix, the Crouch family and a score of other names he couldn't bring himself to remember at this time.

And he felt tired suddenly…and very weak.

"Minister?" He heard a voice call. "Minister, you must continue."

Fudge looked up and saw that Diego had risen from his seat to help him. Diego was watching him, concerned but silent amid the voices of heated fighting all around him with that same, simplistic trust he placed on Fudge to do what was right. Fudge sighed heavily and rose, leaning on Diego's arm as he stood. He glanced around the room of the Ministers from each department as they bickered and quarreled among themselves about what to do concerning the war.

"Hecate will become nothing but an occupying force if given the leeway they seek!"

"Hecate has already expressed her intentions to go through with her war plans, even without the IWC's blessing."

"They must obey the IWC's or risk the consequences!"

"And what consequences are those, Madam Minister?"

"Who would dare challenge Hecate?"

"Hecate isn't the real issue here, it's Hogwarts! To fully ensure peace for England we must close the school!"

"Close Hogwarts? Are you mad? We can't do that!"

            "We have no other choice! The School Governors are looking to us to protect their children, how can we do not that if we close the school?"

            "Send away Harry Potter!"

            "Dumbledore would never allow that and besides, Potter may be our only chance!"

            "He's the reason our children aren't safe!"
            "Our children aren't safe because You-Know-Who seeks to destroy those he can't recruit, Potter or no, he will come!"

"Give him Potter! Give him what he wants and he'll go away!" Shouted one woman, an aged Minister of the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts. "I say we let the IWC control Hecate and handle this supposed war!"

"Here, here!" The Minister for Magical Transportation shouted. "Besides we've done our part!"

            "Done our part?!" Demanded a bellowing voice from the back. It was Benjamin Laud, the Minister of Magical Law. He stood to his full height, his eyes narrowed in cold hatred. Beside him stood one of Hecate's ghosts, a Kaga female. She was watching but doing nothing for her one-armed charge. Laud seemed to have things well under control. "Ministers! I employ you to look beyond your fear and panic and do what needs to be done!"

            "This war is the IWC! We are only England!"

            "And who do you think gave birth to this viper?" Laud asked softly.

            "The Dark Lord is not our doing!" The Transportation Minister shouted again.

            The Muggle Artifacts woman was shouting. "Here, here! We've done our part! Leave this to Hecate!"

"Hecate cannot stand alone, and unarmed!" Laud pleaded. Fudge could tell he was losing. Laud was not a politician; he was an Auror. He knew only that sacrifices must be made to achieve peace. He had lost his arm and family to that peace. He couldn't understand why these Ministers weren't willing to do the same.

            And that's the way it was in war, the young died while the old men bickered and did nothing. Fudge sat down again. He was feeling weak.

"You yourself are a Hecate man, Minister Laud." The woman was saying. "You have proclaim the Auror's Academy ready for war, now their time has come! Let them stand and fight, what they are suppose to do!"

"They cannot do it alone!"

"Then let them find other allies, not us!" She screamed. "Let them close some other school, not Hogwarts!"

"You would have us all wait?" He asked. He was shaking from anger. The Kaga had moved to touch his shoulder but he shrugged her off. "You would have us wait and be slaughtered!"

"The war is the International Wizardry Council's problem, not ours!"

"It's all of our problems!"

"You Aurors are nothing more then war-mongers, seeking glory and gain for your own selfish wants. This is nothing but a vendetta! Your failure to capture the Dark Lord has made you bitter and angry and you'll damn us all to get revenge!"

"I lost my desire for glory and gain when I lost my arm!"

"You're nothing murdering butchers!"

            "I have never done anything but ensure your freedom, your peace, and now you would throw what I have bleed for, what others have died for, away for fear!"

"Better alive and afraid then brave and dead!"

"Don't you hear yourself!" Laud asked. "Don't you understand what you are saying…"

Fudge could see the anguish and rage in Laud's eyes. He motioned with one hand to someone and watched as the Kaga took a step forward and ease Laud away from the platform. Fudge sighed, relieved. In a way, he was grateful to have the Kaga so near. Among their many tasks, guarding the Ministers and working as their aids was a common practice. He looked to his own Companion, a male they called Wade Hecate. Wade glanced at him and smiled gently before returning to full attention and Fudge shivered from the shadow's grin. There was no emotions behind that gesture and that made the smile mocking and almost terrifying.

"Minister Fudge!" Laud was saying. "I must ask for you to say something regarding this issue. We've been fighting among ourselves for most of the week. Come and speak now. We are all listening."

Fudge had to admit he was a little amused by the silence that engulfed the room but he understood it. The Ministry was looking to him for guidance, as was all England, and now he would have to be the man they wished of him. He exhaled and walked the short distance to his podium, thinking in vain for some words of comfort to give to the people now. He could think of none. He opened his mouth to speak.

"If I may," Interrupted a voice that rang clear through the auditorium. The Ministers, their aides, reporters and the on-lookers that were present all turned and searched for the voice.

It came from a man, walking from the spectators' seats regally, his black boots echoing eerily against the stone floor. "I humbly ask permission to speak."

The crowd milled around, and Fudge felt all eyes turn to him. He regarded the man before him and nodded. The man bowed deeply, and smiled. "You are gathered here today to discuss wrongs that should have been redressed three years ago my sirs and madams. Three years ago, the Dark Lord Voldemort returned from the grave, two years ago, Hogwarts, Godric's Hallow, this Ministry itself and even the invincible Hecate was attacked, and one year ago Azkaban was destroyed…"

Diego shifted in his place and turned to Wade, motioning for him to move closer. The Kaga obeyed, hand falling to his wand as he did. Lewis saw this and pulled a pen to begin writing.

"…Three would-be mortal blows that could have destroyed England and the world and yet you still all stand here today. Do you wish to know why?"

There was a murmuring in the crowd. No one was paying much mind to the people that had begun to mill around the exits, blocking them.

"It is because the Dark Lord's greatest weapon had already been dulled from time and misuse. I bring you good news today, my Ministers, the Dark Prince is dead."

The crowd began to chatter rapidly among themselves, hoping against hope that this news was true. Laud had begun to finger his wand nervously, eyes focused on the speaker. The Kaga were also alert; Wade inched even closer to Fudge. Diego turned directly to Lewis and met his eyes, "Hey son, why don't you go get me something to drink from the store across the street."

Lewis couldn't believe his ears. "And leave now?"

"Just do it lad," Diego was saying strangely, arm still clutching Fudge's. "for me."

Lewis nodded and stood to leave, glancing back to watch Fudge. He was still watching the man, entranced.

"In his stead, however, a new terror has arisen, a Black Prince who does not make the nations tremble…but rather reduces them to ash." The man threw back his hood, and met Fudge's eyes with violent, wine colored eyes that shook the Minister to his soul. "And this Ministry's end shall be his coronation."

"Avada Kedreva!" Shouted a woman less then three feet away from Lewis, taking out Laud first.

The Ministers were panicking now, rushing to the nearest exits only to be plowed down by the Death Eaters and Radella's magic tricks. Diego had thrown Fudge to the ground, calling to Laud's female and pulling his wand. On his face was the look of a man prepared to die fighting. He shouted for Wade to back him up but the Kaga would not listen to a civilian, choosing instead to dive towards the man and engage. The man wrapped his hands around Wade's neck and snapped it like a twig, never faltering in his advance towards Fudge.

Lewis ducked from a spray of green light sent by the woman who was blindly shouting out the Killing Curse. He tore away from his place and took a dive near the stairs. He clung to the side of the wall, under the stadium seating and beneath limp bodies, watching the scene go past him in devastating slow motion.

"You're a smart man not to hide, Minister." He heard the man praised, removing a small dagger from his belt. "I wish I could offer you a death that is painless but what fun would that be?"

"Let my Secretary go. His death will gain you nothing." Fudge said softly, pushing Diego away from him. "It's me you want."

"I won't leave your side, Minister." Diego said.

"Diego, think of your wife."

"I am. She wouldn't leave you when you need her most, and neither will I."

The man arched an eyebrow, nodding in admiration of Diego's courage. Fudge smiled, despite himself, grateful for the boost of courage Diego's words gave him. Taking Solis' hand, he turned back and looked deep into the man's eyes. "As you can see, Prince, we are not afraid to die for a cause, and even as we die…others, like my successor, still live…and they will fight you."

"I'm hoping on it." The man drawled. "Take whatever comfort you can from your heroes death, Minister. It's the last thing you'll feel."

A sound pierced the haze of reality and brought Lewis crashing back to the present. He screamed as the knife plunged into the throat of the Minister of Magic and then, like a cruel afterthought, into Diego's stomach. It happened so fast, with jerk and recoil of the man's hand, then it resting at his side that Lewis thought for a moment he hadn't seen right. It didn't seem right, watching Diego fall to his knees, clutching at his stomach as a small stain of purple began to stain his light blue shirt. His lips were pursed into a prefect O but there was only the echo of pain on his face before Diego bucked like an animal because of failing nerves before collapsing completely.

Mordred slipped his dagger into his belt and turned to watch as his Death Eaters finished off the Ministry. The politicians never had a chance. He smiled, watching as they ran screaming for their lives only to be cut down. It was like watching an ant nest set on fire. His eye caught something, and caused him to turn towards Radella and Mayon who were ripping a man to his feet from his hiding place near the stairs.

"Who is he?" He asked, walking over.

Mayon turned, "A dead man, my lord."

"And what is this dead man's name?" Mordred asked, sweetly. He waved his hand and  Mayon dropped him unceremoniously on the ground. Smiling, Mordred kneeled down, and picked up the man's chin. "What's you name, son?"

"…Lewis Llewellyn..."

"Well, Lewis." The man purred. "I am letting you live, but not for mercy's sake. I want you to tell the world what you see here today. Tell them the Dark Prince was a dream compared to what I will do. Tell them that the Ministers were cut down like cattle before your eyes…and that their families- wives, husbands, children, pets were prepared in advance to greet them. Tell them the Ministry is dead. Tell them the age of peace and freedom is over. You tell them first the Ministry has fallen and soon all England." The man stood. "Tell them the Black Prince is preparing his master's throne."