Harry Potter and the Betrayal of the Phoenix

by LeTimbo

My guess on what Harry's sixth year will be like. This started off as one of the first 6th year stories out there, but took a year or two break. Expect OWL results, advanced classes, Vodlemort, and more! Pretty much abandonded at this point.

9. Chapter 9 The Big Fight

Harry Potter and the Betrayal of the Phoenix Chapter 9 - The Big Fight

For the first time in months, Harry Potter woke up screaming in the middle of the night.

"Harry?  You ok?" asked all of his dorm mates.

"Are the visions about Voldemort back?"

"No…I don't think so…this was a regular nightmare I think.  I can't make sense of it all…something about Foreign Currency Markets and Gross National Products and I don't even know what that Macroeconomics was…"

"Oh well Mate.  You might want to get your head checked out if you're dreaming about things that don't exist."

"Yah…ok…sorry all…see you in the morning"

The race for Minister was neck and neck between Weasley and Fudge with only two days left until those witches and wizards of age could vote for the new Minister.  Although Dumbledore's support of Weasley had initially helped propel Arthur into the lead, Fudge countered by getting Percy Weasley to publicly support him.  The scandal of Arthur's son supporting "the other side" looked really bad.  That morning, a familiar face walked up to Harry after his Defense and the DA class. It was Luna Lovegood.

"Hey Harry!"

"Hey Luna…what's up?  You seemed to get the spell just fine."

"Oh, its not about the lesson.  It's about the race for Minister of Magic.  The Weasley family has always been good to my family throughout the years, and I really want to see Fudge go down after all of those Goblin assassinations.  Tomorrow, Dad is going to publish a special Quibbler on the election, and I was wondering if you would write something about the election.  You do want Weasley to win right?"

"Of course.  I'll do anything to see Fudge crash and burn.  When do you need it by?"

"Midnight…so I can send it with an emergency owl so Dad gets it in time for the printing.  I'm sorry its such a late notice, but…"

"Its fine," interrupted Harry, "I'll get to you before midnight.  I can work on it during my next class and dinner, and if I'm not done by then I'll finish it as soon as I'm done with the practicum tonight."

"Thanks Harry."

"Oh, thank you for the opportunity Luna."

Harry ran to check in with Dumbledore on his meditation progress, and then headed to the library to work on the article for Luna.

"Why I support Weasley

By Harry Potter

If I could vote in this upcoming election, Arthur Weasley would be the ideal candidate for my vote, but seeing as I am only 16 this will have to do.

I haven't been in the magical world for very long, but I don't think I've ever met someone as incompetent as Minister Fudge.  Every time I have seen him, he has shown his incompetence.  The first time, he wasn't aware I was watching.  He blamed my good friend Hagrid, now the Care of Magical Creatures Professor, as responsible for letting a basilisk roam around the school, and threw him in Azkaban without a trial during my second year.

I met him again in my third year when I ran away from my Muggle relatives after accidentally using magic on my Uncle's sister.  He sat down, and patronized me by speaking to me like I was a three year old and let any punishment slide just because of my name.

My fourth year had his greatest blunder – at the end of the third task of the Triwizard tournament, he refused to believe that Voldemort was back and that the dark times were upon us once again, and he let Voldemort and his cronies wreck havoc across the country, covering it up from the public.

My fifth year he appointed the most incompetent person I have met outside of Fudge to be the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, and later kicked out Dumbledore and promoted this farce to Headmaster.  Without the student's initiatives against this farce, who knows where Hogwarts would be today.

On the complete opposite, let me introduce you to a man who took me in and practically made me a part of his family, Arthur Weasley.  Mr. Weasley never doubted that Voldemort was back, and joined Professor Dumbledore in doing their best to foil Voldemort's plans, even with Fudge's interference.  Mr. Weasley was even gravely injured in his duties against Voldemort, putting his life on the line, which is more than Fudge can say, or more than Fudge would ever do.

Mr. Weasley is the only candidate that I can say that I fully trust to do a good job and protect us from Voldemort and the Death Eaters, and I fully back his campaign.  I plead with you to save the wizarding world and vote Weasley for Minister of Magic."

Harry ran the letter by Dumbledore first, to make sure that everything was OK, and after his approval he ran the letter to Luna so she could OWL it off, and so Harry could enjoy the last ten minutes of dinner before the practicum.

Harry's article in the Quibbler was enough to lift Arthur Weasley over Fudge, and he was elected to be the Minister of Magic by more than five percentage points, which no one expected.  That night, there was a party that put all previous parties to shame in the Gryffindor tower, with Ginny and Ron at the center of attention.

"Harry, Dad asked me to invite you to the swearing in ceremony.  Its on Sunday…think you'll be able to come?" asked Ron near the end of the party.

"Ron…I think I'll pass.  I don't want to rain on the Weasley parade.  I really should hang back here at Hogwarts anyways."

At this, Ron stormed off, leaving a confused Harry in his wake.  "What was that all about?"

"Harry," replied Ginny from behind him, "Ron's still coping with Dad becoming minister.  It's been a big shock for all of all of us Weasleys.  We really do consider you part of the family and all…but if you don't want to go I completely understand…I'd rather not go but I'm forcing myself too.  Anyways, I'm going to bed.  Thanks for all you did for Dad…I doubt he would have won without your article in the Quibbler."

"Thanks Ginny.  Good Night."

Journal Entry: September 27th

The public, at least according to the Daily Prophet seems to fully be behind Mr. Weasley as minister now, because last night he, along with members of the Order and the Ministry, made a raid on a Death Eater hideout and captured 5 more.  Mr. Weasley says that his primary goal is to "get rid of Voldemort first, but not to forget who we truly are in the process," whatever that means.  Fudge left the ministry very disgruntled, and a few of his staunchest supporters left right along with him, including Professor Umbridge thankfully.  Percy's still there, but he got shifted in the Ministry shake up to work in the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts office…I heard he's livid but keeping his mouth shut.  One of Mr. Weasley's first acts was to kick out all of the Voldemort supporters and spies…all in all about a third of the ministry no longer works there.  Hopefully he'll be able to fill those positions soon.

Ron seems to be acting funny as of late…especially now that his father was elected Minister of Magic.  He seemed rather forced when he invited me to the swearing in ceremony, and even more upset when I declined to stay at Hogwarts and get some work done.  I wouldn't mind going, but my presence there would have distracted from Mr. Weasley and the whole Weasley clan…how could I explain to Ron that I didn't want to go because I didn't want to steal the spotlight that would rightly be given to the Weasleys?  I REALLY hope Ron doesn't hold this against me later.

Everything is going well with classes…and although I seem to be getting closer with Blaise (which seems inevitable with the teachers forcing us to pair together) but also me and Hermione seem to be studying a lot more together than we used to.  I've noticed that I'm not blowing up nearly as often as I used to, but that may be because I'm just too busy and worn out to feel any anger. 

It's a month into school, and I think its safe to say that I've learned more in a month this year than I ever have before.  I'm really excited about the classes…even potions!  Snape seems to be less hostile towards me than normal, and I suspect its because I managed to make it into the NEWT Prep class…it might be because I'm working with Blaise but I doubt that's the only reason.  So far my favorite class has been the Animagi class…I really hope I can nail down the Pigeon form before the end of term, so I can focus solely on Metamorphmagi, which is much harder, and the Basilisk form.

The Quidditch season is about to officially start, with Gryffindor vs. Hufflepuff.  Ginny's still seeker, and although it sounds like Ron has put together an OK team, I still wish I could be on it.  It just doesn't seem fair that I had to sacrifice Quidditch, on top of everything else.  Dumbledore said he didn't want to put any more pressures on me, at least he said that at the end of last year, but he never said anything about taking any the pleasures in my life.  Oh well…no use in complaining."

The day after the swearing in, everything exploded, and the trigger was the first test in Dueling and the DA.  Harry and Hermione were calling up the students one by one to demonstrate the spells that they had learned throughout the first month.  Everyone seemed to have an easy time; even Neville seemed to get all the spells right, everyone, that is, but Ron Weasley, who couldn't cast 5 of the spells properly.  Ron left the testing area, muttering something about lousy teachers, when Harry turned to Hermione and asked, "What should we do?"

"Harry…we have to do what's fair.  We have to give him a grade based on his performance today…and it was not acceptable.  I think he earned a…"

"A Poor…yah I know.  That's how we set up the grading system at the beginning of the year.  Who should break it to him, you or me?"

"I would…but I've got an Arithmancy test that I have to get to."

"OK Hermy…I'll do it.  Wish me luck."

Harry approached Ron in the Common Room, and asked to speak with him up in Harry's trunk for some privacy.

"Gee Harry!  Sure…lets go to your trunk so we can talk.  I think we should talk right here."

"Um ok Ron, if you're sure" Come on Harry…keep your temper under control.  "But don't say I didn't warn you that you'd rather hear this in privacy.  It;s about your Dueling and the DA class and the test you just got done taking."

"What?  I did fine!"

"No you didn't Ron…everyone else passed with flying colors.  You messed up five spells, and based of the grading scale we set earlier in the year that's gets a Poor grade."

"Poor?  POOR!?!"

"Sorry Ron"

"Look here...you say 'we' set the scale…"

"Yes, Me and Hermione."

"OH!  So you and Hermione.  What about Dumbledore?"

"What about him?  He approved of the scale like he's approved of everything else we've done in the class."

"Of, of course he would approve of whatever his golden boy thought…"

I don't think Meditation will work anymore.  "What do you mean GOLDEN BOY?"

"Anything you want you get.  You even weaseled your way into getting a phoenix somehow, when it's obvious you don't deserve one."

"How DARE you talk about Corning like that."

"And what's with you and Hermione?!?  Leading her on like that, when you are obviously interested in BLAISE!  A SLIMY SLYTHERIN!"

"She is NOT slimy.  She happens to be a Slytherin, yes, but what does that matter?  And what are you insinuating when you say I'm leading Hermione on?"

"Please!  I know you're interested in her and that you want to screw her.  Well LAY OFF…You've known I've been interested in Hermione since our fourth year at the Yule Ball…but you have to go and steal my glory there too."

"You have no IDEA what you're talking about!  Hermione and me are just FRIENDS.  Like me and YOU ARE."

"Yah, only you and me haven't had any romantic interludes"

"AND NOR HAVE ME AND HERMIONE."

"Sure Harry.  You're just leading her on, when you're so obviously in love with Blaise anyways.  A SLYTHERIN!  You're nothing but a TRAITOR to our house!"

"I'm NOT in love with Blaise you GIT.  A guy and a girl can be friends without having any romantic intentions."

"…Yah Harry, when Pigs fly…"

"And Syltherins and Gryffindors can be friends"

"Whatever"

"Did you NOT hear what the sorting hat said, you closed minded GIT?"

"How DARE you call me a git?  I'm the son of the Minister of Magic!  You can't talk to me like that!"

"Oh I can't?!?  Want to bet?  And he's only mister because of my words of recommendation!"

"You keep thinking that you egomaniac."

"And you know its true…and it's eating you up on the inside."

"I'm GLAD I wouldn't let you weasel your way back on to the Quidditch team.  I was right about you all along Potter."

"Why be on your team anyways when you'll fail miserably like you usually do."

"Don't talk about MY TEAM LIKE THAT."

"Both of you SHUT UP!  YOU'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BLODDY COMMON ROOM." Yelled Hermione as she stormed in through the portrait.

"I don't need to listen to you, Miss Know-it-All.  I'm a bloody prefect like you," yelled Ron as he stormed out of the Common Room, leaving a completely stunned Gryffindor House behind him.

"HARRY?  What HAPPENED?"

"I'm not going to talk about it.  Some one else clue her in, please.  I'm going to my room, and don't want to be bothered for the rest of the night.  I'm skipping the rest of the classes tonight.  Ill see you all tomorrow."

Harry immediately went into his trunk, to immediately be comforted by Corning.  "Corning…why did he have to be so…" and he broke down to tears in his trunk.

That night, Harry had a restless sleep, and when he woke up about midnight, Harry had an all too familiar feeling in his stomach.  Voldemort was extremely happy about something…and Harry would rather not know about what.

A/N:  Sorry!  I just couldn't resist throwing in the nightmare about my Macro final...hehehe.  Won't happen again and really has NO POINT in the plot whatsoever.  Let a man have his fun, will ya?  I hope the fight doesn't, well, piss too many people off out there!  Thanks for all the reviews.  I'll try to get another chapter up before the end of the weekend…but I've got a fun holiday weekend with my Beta reader, but Ill try to find some time :-)