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Echos chapter ten.

June 25th, 1995

Pre Dawn.

Cornelius Fudge walked out of his home and was preparing to go to work when he saw, something he wasn't quite expecting. There were dark horses flying above where he lived. His eyes had to focus a moment. He realized they were not winged Pegasus- they were as dark as the night sky and their wings were membrane stretched between fragile wings. They turned on wing and headed towards the direction of Hogwarts. It took him a full moment to recover before he stepped into his house again and pulled out his copy of fantastic beasts and where to find them. It took him another moment to find the entry of Winged Horses. He didn't like what he found.

In a heartbeat he knew who was keeping that number of Thestrils, against what the ministry would have allowed. While he remembered Alberforce Dumbledore had – something for animals- those were of the smaller variety something this large – as a herd would require the handling of someone very fond of monsters. Hagrid. He stayed in a moment more to draft a letter via his personal owl an advisement to those seeking employment at Hogwarts that working at the school would diminish their chances of future employment at reputable establishments.

Albus Dumbledore would find it now very difficult to hire a new DADA teacher. Impossible, actually. He grimly regarded the photo of his staff that hung on his wall. There was one he could trust to do what he wanted- to seek out and find out what was really going on. Fudge knew though- after all these years, Albus had decided to unseat him and be the new Minster of Magic. All this balderdash of He Who Must Not Be Named return was just a ploy to get the students to go home and discuss the return with their parents. Then the wonder Boy, Harry Potter- would be Dumbledore's touch stone- that which people would follow- because of who he was.

Not on his watch. Taking a breath Fudge went out again. He had tried to arrive at the Ministry early enough to avoid the reporters. Well, Speaking with the reporters was the best thing he could do, just then. He would show Albus who was in charge, one way or another…

Fudge knew the people. Knew it was easier for them to accept Harry had gone mad and Albus was protecting him than to accept the stories that would be generated out of hand if it were left unchecked. If anything that he had learned from the Muggle politicians was, avoid the issues by creating new scandals.

The summer papers saw such a flurry of wild stories about Harry Potter; the unexpected death of Cedric became back page news. Oddly Rita Skitter had declined to write about Harry, or Albus- Fudge wasn't sure why she was taking a stand against the paper, but dismissing her with a wave of his Ostrich quill took care of that. He found to his satisfaction that Delores Umbridge would be more than happy to assist him in every way to discredit Harry Potter.

August 2nd.1995. Evening.

Delores Umbridge hurried to the Minister of Magic office with the parchment he had been waiting for. Proof that underage Harry Potter had not only used magic, but in front of a muggle as well. Something about a fight, and that he threatened the boy with his wand, and then used magic. Of course, proving exactly what happened- what had caused the magic to be used – well, the muggle who was there wouldn't know- and as far as anyone else was concerned it was just Potter, trying to prove the rules didn't apply to him. She paused at the Ministers door and regarded the name on the glass. Someday, soon, that name would be her name.

It was all about- control. Doing what needed to be done to maintain control. Very soon, the wizarding world would know Albus Dumbledore had no control over Harry Potter… Grimly she smiled making herself look more like a toad. After that, the world would know that Fudge had no control over the headmaster, and it was a simple step to let people know he was not in control of the wizarding world… especially those whom they feared the most- the dementors.

Owls began to fly. Albus arrived in his office as expected, and while Fudge was not able to get him expelled that night because of the way the law was written- he was, to his satisfaction, able to arrange for a hearing that would send a clear message to Albus Dumbledore… Fudge would do what ever it took to get the world to see what a fraud Harry Potter was- and to get him as far away from Albus Dumbledore as possible. Until then, Fudge went back over the law that in his opinion was antiquated, and needed a firm hand in revising it. His.

Thursday, August 12th ,7am.

Fudge paced his office. He knew Albus was going to be there for the boy, he was headmaster, how could he not be? His eyes narrowed as he wrote on several memos reminding the wizards who would sit for the trial, which the time was at 8am. He sent off the messages, then began a slow walk to court room 10 savoring every step. Today he would be rid of Albus Dumbledore's prize. Today the nonsense would end. He rubbed his hands with glee. By arranging the judges to arrive an hour before Harry, and then be able to rule summarily against him, Fudge had avoided a nasty confrontation with everyone. No one would be the wiser. He was sure when Albus arrived with Harry at 9 am that there would be some argument, of course, but, as everyone was notified, there wasn't anything that he could do.

He made a note, to send a reminder note to Harry with the past time after the hearing. It wouldn't get there in time, of course. But it would be sent, and Harry would not be able to say he didn't get it. Simple really. He thought to himself. He hummed a nameless tune as he approached the courtroom.

Fudge had no idea if there were others loyal to Dumbledore in his office. Umbridge would be able to tell him that. He suspected there may be one or two, but they would be in such low positions they would have no influence over the outcome of the trial. If they were in any position they would have used their influence to prevent what had already happened. Only an owl master could refute the time that the messages were sent, the ministry didn't have one at that time- He would play just as baffled as the rest of them when Harry didn't show up, and then voice his contempt for the Headmaster who wouldn't show as well to discuss his own student. If things went well, as he expected- he could remove Albus at the same time as he discredited Harry.

But it didn't go as expected. He would have the hide of the person who let the time of the trial out to Harry- and to Dumbledore who – had arrived three hours prior. Fudge swallowed. If as he informed the Tribunal, that everyone received the time at the same time, then, the messenger owl should have found Albus two hours prior- with in the ministry and time for him to notify Harry of the time change. They didn't ask. They were more impressed with his corporeal Patronus. The word of a Squib saved Harry. She had seen, and felt the Dementors too. Fudge sat back in his chair. It would have been very simple for Albus to create the diversion using Boggarts. It was common knowledge that Harry saw them as Dementors. Fudge didn't bother looking any farther for the explanation. He went to his window and looked down upon the courtyard He saw Albus walk out alone – walk to a tree where something dark was waiting. He saw Albus give it a pat, and then in a single move climbed on its back and effortlessly it took wing and flew out of the courtyard.

It was a Thestril. He knew what he had seen before wasn't a trick of the early sun in his mind. Albus had flouted once again, the ministry decrees and were keeping Thestrils on the grounds of Hogwarts. He had to think for a moment. Information on Thestrils was limited, but with discreet inquiries he learned that you had to experience death before, more than likely that you would see them. It had to have been the death of the young boy. He didn't know, why Albus would have allowed such a dangerous tournament, or why Barty Crouch would do something to kill Cedric, that would explain why he saw such things now. He was surprised he wasn't having nightmares from everything that Albus was doing.

In ten days it wouldn't matter. The best laid plans of Albus Dumbledore had fallen as one of the ministry officials was appointed as the DADA teacher and given special discretionary powers to see that the students were taught properly and given discipline. He would see every single one of the students that were faithful to Albus Dumbledore broken-

Perhaps, having just pure blood wizards at the school could be instituted. There would be a separate school created, of course for the half bloods, and those born by non-magical parents. But the crown jewel of the schools could be his. He could appoint a new head master, and then train the students as future Ministry officials. He knew he would have to move carefully. There was too much public opinion on the side of Albus, but with help from his hand picked ministry official, those who were – unworthy would be weeded out.

Starting at the top he would take steps to replace, or reduce the effectiveness of the people who were loyal to Albus Dumbledore. It was simple really, very simple. Clearing his desk he took a breath and then pushed a button sending his voice into the next room.
"Please send Prof. Umbridge into my office"

He watched as the toady woman entered with her honey sweet smile. Albus had said a war was beginning. He was right. Just not one that he would know what ever hit him.

Outside the rain began to fall as a lone being sat under a tree, waiting for the right moment. A swish of a wand collapsed the being down into a rat that scurried past the guard in the ministry's entry chamber.

Some things were just too easy.