Disclaimer: The only thing I currently own in this story is my dear sweet reporter. Other than that credit goes where it is due, J.K. Enjoi
Chapter 4
The Ministry Burns
By: Molestia Baiulus
It is a sad day for the Wizarding world of Britain. Today He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named let his full presence be felt in a full scale surprise attack on the Ministry of Magic itself. What many consider the mind of our world, the structure of our society, is even now nothing more than burning rubble. (See Picture Below) Along with the symbol of the Wizarding world crumbling many lives were lost as well. Most names are being withheld until family members can be notified, but we here at The Daily Prophet have learned that Cornelius Oswald Fudge has been slain in the attack, he was fifty three. Without a Ministry, and without a Minister, the magical world does seem currently lost.
Even now in the middle of tragedy, one has to wonder what is next. If You-Know-Who has attacked our mind, when will he strike the heart? The heart of our world is Hogwarts in this reporter's opinion. How long will it be safe for the children of the community to attend?
In the coming months the opposition of the Dark Lord will not only have to face the upcoming battle, but also the task of rebuilding a system of order for life to be able to continue. The Headmaster of Hogwarts, Albus Dumbledore, was unavailable for comment. The Boy-Who-Lived Harry Potter too has not been seen or heard of in the past few weeks. With the heroes of our world missing where can we turn? Where is our hope?
Harry threw the paper down in disgust. His mind rejecting being a hero so hard that it managed to push itself into a mild depression.
"Maybe I should write a column for them. Bloody Boy Who Lives Lives Through the Killing Curse Again! Only Now, HE Cast It!!" sarcasm dripping off his voice.
"Maybe you should!" Ginny snapped at him.
"I never asked to be a hero."
"I never asked to be possessed by Voldemort for a year but I was. Deal with it."
Harry sat in miserable silence. Then, with malice in his voice, he muttered, "Well, at least I won't have to deal with using an unforgivable while underage and out of school."
Ginny gave him a dirty look. Her bottom lip trembled slightly. Instead of saying something, she left the room.
Ron and Hermione sat on the lumpy couch decidedly not looking at each other. The silence meant neither was they talking. Something felt like it had been taken away from them, yet neither knew what our why. All they truly knew, was they would try anything to get it back.
Suddenly Ginny streaked by the silent occupants of the room. Hermione noticed the tears streaking her cheeks, and didn't waste a second to try and go to comfort the girl. Ron looked up the staircase to see Harry's door slightly ajar. With Hermione and Ginny gone, the rest of the adults either not present or at least occupied, this was his chance.
Sadness enveloped him as he put his foot on the first stair. It gave way on his second step, now replaced by anger.
Nymphadora Tonks was frantically searching through the rubble that was the ministry of magic. Ash and soot streaked her face; her hands were bloody as she kept tearing at the burning debris. She wanted to use magic but couldn't risk impaling any survivors by moving the remains with her wand. Her world was crumbling; she could not find her friend. Her Auror robes were torn and bloody. She happened to be on a mission at the time of the attack, but Kingsley wasn't. As her hands became more and more cut up memories flashed into her mind. Kingsley training her, taking up for "the new kid", him taking her on her first mission, he had protected her and saved her more than once. And now, he was in his office when the attack came. She could only guess he was still in the building when it collapsed onto itself. She gasped when she moved a wanted sign for Sirius Black when she saw his face.
Ron entered Harry's room to find a very downcast Harry. His anger wavered…slightly.
"Alright Harry?"
"I've been better."
"I bet," Ron almost smiled.
"Was there something you wanted?" Harry asked not really wanting to talk.
"Yeah, there is, how fuckin' selfish are you?"
"Sure Ron, I was the selfish one, sure Ron, I'll be the bad guy if that's what you want."
"Oh, you weren't being selfish? You were thinking about us when you tried to kill yourself? You had the best intentions right? You wanted what was bes-"
"YES!" Harry screamed then looked down.
"What?"
"Yes Ron," Harry looked into his friend's eyes, "Voldemort," Ron flinched disgusting Harry, "wants me dead. He'll stop at nothing to kill me. Therefore all my friends are main targets. Then on top of that I endanger all of Hogwarts when I return there. Doesn't seem so selfish to me," Harry finished in a whisper.
"Why death? Why not go into hiding?" Ron asked, all anger deflating from his voice.
"My parents, my Godfather, I wanted to go to them."
"Oh…" Ron said not knowing what to say.
One Hundred and Ninety Dead
By: Molestia Baiulus
This special edition of The Evening Prophet is a sad one indeed. With so few Aurors left it has become our sad duty to report the names of those found dead as a service to those who have lost loved ones. Currently the number is one hundred and ninety, but those numbers have been growing over the past few hours. With this list this reporter, me, I am sending out a call. To anyone willing to fight please prepare yourself and do so. Albus Dumbledore has sent me assurances that anyone needing a refuge that a wing of Hogwarts has been set aside for those in need. 'Salvation' as it is being called will be opened by the time this reaches our readers. I personally, along with The Daily Prophet would like to send our condolences to anyone who has lost a loved one or friend. We hope for the quick downfall of Lord Voldemort (yes, that is his name, and I no longer fear someone who resorts to such cowardly acts to reach their means). These are unsafe times, please go with caution, and may hope remain.
Molly Weasley was sitting at the kitchen table of Grimmauld Place. She quickly turned to those who had died. Amelia Bones, a good woman. She scanned and scanned, Kingsley Shacklebolt, member of the order, always a nice guy. Order members piled up, each name she scanned her heart sank a little lower. Arthur Singleton, she almost lost it when she read his first name, and it did when she read Percy Weasley. She began to cry for her fallen son. Silent tears fell, they had parted on such bad terms, but he was still her son.
Then her poor heart stopped. Arthur Weasley was counted as one of the dead.
"Are you ok Ginny?" Hermione asked the sobbing girl.
"He's lost, he's lost, he's gone, Harry doesn't make sense."
"What's wrong with Harry?"
"He…He…made a joke about the ministry being attacked. What is wrong with him? The Harry I know would never joke about people dying. Why Hermione, why?"
"Harry's just confused right now I think. He doesn't know how to deal with everything so he's doing things he would never do. It's like a defense mechanism."
"It doesn't give him the right, he doesn't get to change, not Harry, he was perfect. What happened to Harry?" Ginny finished muted.
Hermione was saved from responding as the two girls were interrupted by a loud sob from the kitchen. They both decided to see what happened.
"This is my loyalty to you," Ron told Harry rolling up his sleeves. The scars from the attack of the brains at the Department of Mysteries were as visible as the day he got them. Slender lines ending in a spade shape stopping on his forearm, two on his left forearm, three on the right.
"Ron…I…" Harry stammered.
"It's ok Harry. I don't mind. It's just I'd die for you mate. It really hurt when you tried to kill yourself. You know?"
But their moment ended when Ginny stormed into the room.
At the top of her lungs she began yelling, "I FUCKING HATE YOU HARRY POTTER! YOU FUCK! YOU JOKE? YOU KID? IS IT FUCKING FUNNY NOW!"
Her arms flailing around as she tried to hit Harry. He blocked most of them, but some slipped through his defense.
"Ginny! What are you talking about?" Harry asked panicked because of his friend.
"HE'S FUCKING DEAD!" Ginny cried as she slumped against her brother who had restrained her. "Ron, Percy is dead," she sniffed and finished, "Dad is dead."
Ron slumped to the ground with Ginny still in his arms. She continued to cry, as Ron's eyes went unfocused.
The Order of the Phoenix
By: Molestia Baiulus
The Salvation Wing of Hogwarts is not only the housing of survivors of yesterday's attacks. After the fall of the Ministry, Voldemort and his Death Eaters attacked homes of wizards and witches in seemingly random order. Those left without a home have been invited to Hogwarts until this war is over and rebuilding can begin. Also housed in the Salvation Wing is The Order of the Phoenix. This is the only cause left to go head on with Voldemort. I for one encourage anyone who can fight to do so. Enquire about the Order; join if you feel it is right. The fight of the Phoenix is a noble one, and a cause even the most stoic can stand behind. In my last two articles I asked where our hope was, and I prayed for hope to remain. Now my dear readers I finally have found an answer that suits me. We have to create our own hope, for that is the only hope we have, and that is something I can live with.
Ok, another short one, sorry bout that. Anyway, new project on the horizon, The Tales of Knockturn Alley is being put together, anyone who wants information about writing for it email me at JPx at fanfiction dot net.
BlurryFuture: Thanks for reading, and for the review.
Tenolian: Thanks for the review. Yes, I'm going to have Ron in a bigger role in this one, I hope you all like him.
neni potter: Thanks for the reviews. I thought it was a nice scene to give Harry and Ginny, this is going to be a bumpy ride.
fanastygirl721: Thanks for the review and compliment. Voldie will figure out Harry is still alive soon, I'm not sure when, but soon. I'll try and keep the updates coming.
Luna Lovegood2: Thanks for the review. Ron and Ginny aren't going to have a very good sibling relationship. I just wonder what Hermione is gonna do with all these sides going on...
