A/N: I don't own this.
Chapter 10- The Snake Exposed
Harry woke up in a hospital and saw Raven, Grady O'Bannon, Alegro and David Conner surrounding his bed.
"Harry, are you okay?" Raven asked and Harry nodded.
"Mr. Potter, on behalf of the American Ministry of Magic, I would like to thank you. There will be a special awards ceremony this afternoon at twelve noon and I want you to be there," Conner said.
Harry looked around and saw a clock nearby and saw it was 10:44 AM. Conner and O'Bannon left and Harry was left alone with Raven and Alegro. He groaned as he remembered Heidgrimm was dead.
"Harry, when you get dressed, I'm supposed to take you to the banquet room for the ceremony," Raven said.
Harry got up and started to change into jeans, a t-shirt and his robes. "Will I be able to speak at the ceremony?" he asked.
"Of course you will, Harry. Conner is using this for publicity really. He'll say how good you are and get his face all over the newspapers," Raven asked.
"I know what you're going to do Harry. You're going to expose Conner and put her in as Minister," Alegro hissed.
"How did you know?" Harry asked.
"I can read minds and your Occulumency skills can't stop me," Alegro replied.
"Well Harry, are you ready?" Raven asked after he was done changing.
"Yeah, I'm ready," Harry replied.
"Come on," she said. Harry followed Raven to a beautiful room full with reporters, Fallen Saints and other people. Conner saw Harry enter then he went up to the podium.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we are gathered here today to honor a special wizard. A wizard who is only 21 years old but he has defeated two dark wizards already. In honor of his recent accomplishments including defeating the evil wizard known as Heidgrimm, the Ministry of Magic has decided to award Harry Potter two awards. In recognition of Mr. Potter's courage, we present the Golden Heart and in recognition of his defeat of Heidgrimm, we award Mr. Potter with the prestigious Honor Order first class. Now a few words Mr. Potter," Conner said as people started to clap.
Harry went up to the podium nervously. Public speaking was not one of his strengths but this was important. "Ladies and gentlemen, I thank you for your wonderful support. However, there are some people I would like to thank for helping me defeat Heidgrimm. First of all, I would like to thank Miss Raven Thunderbird, who has helped me in many ways. I would also like to thank my family and friends in England. Without their love and support I could not have done this. I would also like to thank Mr. Grady O'Bannon and the rest of the Fallen Saints," Harry said.
As the audience started to cheer, David Conner rose from his seat and two wizards came up to Harry with his awards. Conner presented the awards to Harry and they shook hands. As they did this, cameras started to go off in the crowd. People started to clap and Conner went up to the podium. He raised his hands and the crowd immediately became silent.
"Ladies and gentlemen, if nobody else wants to speak, then this award ceremony is over," Conner said.
Harry went up to the podium. He knew it was now or never. "Ladies and gentlemen, it hurts me to say this but you are not safe yet," he said. Immediately, the crowd gasped and Conner went pale. Conner then walked up to the platform.
"Mr. Potter, you must be mistaken. Of course we are safe," he said.
"Ladies and gentlemen, that man standing before you, the man known as your Minister of Magic is the reason why you are not safe," Harry said.
"That's preposterous!" someone screamed out.
"Unfortunately, it's the truth ladies and gentlemen. Your government covered up the unlawful imprisonment of innocent Navajo Indians and the systematic rape and slaughter of some of them. In addition, you Minister made a deal with Heidgrimm himself," Harry said.
"Mr. Potter, I know you have suffered severe blood loss and may not be in good health but these accusations are completely false!" Conner cried.
"If the public will allow me to present some evidence," Harry started.
Conner angrily walked over to Harry. "You may have defeated Heidgrimm but this is not England! We do things differently!" Conner screamed, turning a shade of red that would have made Uncle Vernon proud.
"Ladies and gentlemen, may I ask why your Minister is screaming and blushing red when he says he has nothing to hide?" Harry asked.
"Mr. Potter! I have had enough of this nonsense! As of right now, your awards are to be taken away and you are formally under arrest!" Conner screamed. Conner then turned to some Fallen Saints behind him. "Arrest this man!" he yelled.
Grady O'Bannon and Raven then walked up. "You want to get him, you have to go through me," they said.
Conner looked furious. "FINE! The two of you can rot in jail just like Potter here! Now arrest all of them!" Conner yelled.
Suddenly, a man stood up in the back. "I believe in Harry Potter," he said loud enough for everyone to hear. People started murmuring and soon the whole room was full of people standing.
"WE ALL SUPPORT HARRY POTTER!" they yelled.
Conner looked absolutely livid. "ARREST THEM!" he yelled to the Fallen Saints, pointing at Harry, Raven and Grady O'Bannon.
Suddenly, one of the Fallen Saints spoke. "Minister Conner, with all due respect sir, I refuse to arrest them." Harry recognized the voice as Steven James and Conner looked like he was going to explode.
"Are all of you traitors?" Conner asked.
"Minister Conner, when we took the job we took an oath to fight for justice. That was our primary concern," Raven said.
"Look at you now you traitor! You're not fighting for justice!" Conner yelled.
"Sir, we do not see how Harry Potter is a criminal," O'Bannon said.
"I'll tell you how he is a criminal. He comes out and criticizes me in front of everyone. He is accusing me of things I have never done," Conner said.
"Then you wouldn't object if I presented the audience with some evidence?" Harry asked as the audience started to cheer.
"Mr. Potter, you are already under arrest!" Conner yelled. He then turned to the Fallen Saints. "Why don't you arrest him already?" Conner yelled.
The Fallen Saints looked at Conner. They then took out their wands and pointed it at Conner. Minister Conner, I think you should hear Mr. Potter speak first," they said.
Conner took deep breaths and then spoke. "Fine, speak," he said.
"PENSIVUS MEMORIA," Harry whispered and the memory of the interview with Ernest Wilson appeared. Wilson then spoke about how if Harry was killed, Conner would release all of Heidgrimm's followers from prison and how Conner was a follower of Heidgrimm. "Ladies and gentlemen, do you want a man like that to be your Minister?" Harry asked. A chorus of boos echoed around the ballroom.
"Now wait just one minute!" Conner screamed.
"What do you have to say now Minister? You want to confess that you have done more wrongs than this?" Harry asked.
"Mr. Potter, you may be a hero here but you forgot one thing. If you nominate a Minister for removal, you must have a candidate to replace me so the public can vote," Conner said with a smirk.
Harry looked thoughtful for a minute then looked over at Alegro, who gave Harry a nod. "Minister Conner, I actually have a candidate in mind. Ladies and gentlemen, please meet the person I feel would be a responsible Minister and someone who would fight for the people. Ladies and gentlemen, Miss Raven Thunderbird," Harry said, as the audience started to cheer.
"Harry, what exactly are you doing?" Raven asked in surprise.
"I think you'll be a better Minister than Conner. Anyway, its my way of saying thanks for everything," he said with a wink, leaving the podium.
Raven then turned to the cheering audience in front of her. She saw Harry wink from the side and she began to address the audience.
A/N: Please read and review.