Chapter 15: Surprises

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Harry Potter was mad. It had been six hours since the Marauders and the surviving members of the Order had returned to Hogwarts after confronting Voldemort's forces at the Ministry of Magic and at Azkaban. Professor Dumbledore was resting comfortably in the school hospital under the watchful eye of Madame Pompfrey. Though gravely wounded during his duel with Lord Voldemort, he was expected to make a full, albeit slow, recovery. Madame Pompfrey had insisted on giving every one of the Marauders a complete examination when they returned. She didn't seem to believe them when they told her they hadn't been injured.

Harry supposed he should be thankful that Dumbledore was going to be all right. He should be thankful that although the Order suffered heavy losses, they had inflicted a great deal more losses on Lord Voldemort's forces and had succeeded in repelling the attack against the Ministry. But he was not. First, Azkaban had fallen, with the Dementors and the former prisoners now rallying under Lord Voldemort's banner. Second, and at the moment more infuriating to Harry, was the fact that Lord Voldemort had run away after Harry and the rest of the Marauders had confronted him.

The Marauders were currently sitting in the Gryffindor Common Room, having only an hour ago finished telling the story of the battle to the rest of Gryffindor house. Ron and Hermonie were snuggled up against each other on one couch, with Harry and Ginny on the couch opposite of them. Fred, George, and Neville were sitting in oversized armchairs. All were gazing into the fireplace, lost in thought.

I wish the bastard had stayed. Then we could have finished this. Harry thought to himself.

"So do we." The rest of the Marauders said aloud, all at the same time. Harry looked at them confusingly.

"You do what?" he asked. Now it was the rest of the Marauders who looked confused.

"You were just saying how you wished Voldemort had stayed around at Azkhaban, so we could have finished things." Ron said.

"And we agree." Fred said.

"But…I didn't say it. At least not out loud." Harry answered. Hermonie's eyes widened. Harry turned towards her. "Yes I'm sure I didn't say it!" he snapped. Then realization dawned on him.

"Well this is certainly an interesting turn of events." Harry thought to himself.

"Yes it is." Hermonie agreed.

"What's going on?" Neville asked nervously.

"Apparently we've developed the ability to communicate telepathically." Ron answered.

For the next several minutes the group continued to experiment with this newfound power. They discovered that not only could they talk to each other, but that they could all drop one another from the link, so that one or more of the group could have a private conversation.

"This should come in real handy during class." Ron said to Harry. Harry smirked. Hermonie and Ginny looked at Harry and Ron.

"Don't even think about using it in class." They said in unison.

"How did you know that! I turned the link off to you!" Ron said.

"Because, dear brother, we know the two of you all to well." Ginny answered.

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The mood of the school the next day was somber. The Daily Prophet was reporting the full results of the battles, including the discovery of Minister Fudge's body in the uniform of a Deatheater. The editorial page of the newspaper was filled with rage over the betrayal of Fudge and over the audacity of Voldemort's forces in staging the attacks. It was also filled with a sense of foreboding. After all, both the Ministry and the Order had suffered terrific casualties during the raids. Several articles lamented over the apparent lack of planning and coordinating between the Ministry and the Order and the fact that for all the protections around the Ministry and Azkaban, for all the vaunted training of the Aurors and the Order, it was a group of students from Hogwarts who had saved the day.

Harry threw down the paper in disgust. The same people who were now beating their chests about the lack of preparedness for the attacks were the same spineless jelly fishes that only a few weeks before were ridiculing any notion of Voldemort's return. And yet, as much as he hated to admit it, they did have some valid points. Certainly there was no excuse on the part of the Order for not being prepared. Though it hadn't bothered him at the time, he now couldn't help but wonder about why the Order had not recruited more members or conducted any pre-emptive strikes against Voldemort's forces. Indeed, it seemed that they were reacting rather than acting.

"You're right Harry, I've been thinking the same thing." Ron said through their telepathic link. The rest nodded in agreement also. Harry was about to say something when a giant owl flew into the Great Hall and landed at the Head table. Professor McGonnagall took the letter that was attached to its leg and opened it. After a few moments she finished reading the note and stood up.

"May I have everyone's attention please!" she shouted. The hall grew quiet. "As you all know, Minister Fudge was killed last night when he, along with several of Voldemort's Deatheaters, attacked Azkaban prison. As a result, the Ministry of Magic held an emergency session this morning to select a new Minister."

"I wonder who it's going to be." Hermonie said. Professor McGonnagal l surveyed the room, then broke into a slight smile.

"It is my privilege to announce that by a vote of 150 to 45, the new Minister of Magic is none other than Professor Dumbledore."

A thunderous applause arose throughout the hall. The Gryffindor table arose to its feet and was clapping the loudest. Gradually the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff tables also rose to their feet. The Slytherin's on the other hand, looked livid at the news. Malfoy in particular seemed to greet the news with much distaste; his face scowling up at the Head table.