Rising From The Ashes

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Disclaimer: The Harry Potter series and every associated to it belongs to JK Rowling. No profit is being made from this either.

A/N: Thanks to my first two reviewers! Harry is ten going on eleven, to answer Mystical Witch's question.

I have changed the title and summary, to what I think is more suitable.

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Chapter Two: Exile

"You cannot be serious, Cornelius?" the aghast old wizard asked, watching as his companion, a portly man clad in lime-green robes with a matching bowler hat, paced up and down, wringing his hands.

"By Merlin! Harry Potter, the Harry Potter, killing his cousin? It doesn't seem possible. How could, Merlin's beard, how could it be? We have no choice but to proceed with the ruling." the man known as Cornelius Fudge, Minister for Magic, all but whined.

Albus Dumbledore sighed on his seat in the Minister's Office. Cornelius had a point, how could Harry have possibly garnered so much hatred for his cousin that he accidentally killed him with an outburst? He had never, as Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot for sixty-nine years, experienced such a case. Dumbledore had been talking to the boy an hour ago.He was so unfailingly polite and subservient; it pained his heart to see Harry actually waiting for him to give an order. Dumbledore was initially shocked upon seeing just how similar Harry looked like James. The only difference being the angelic-looking boy inherited his mother's emerald eyes, and that he was not stricken with the long-standing Potter curse. He had also received his mother's perfect eyesight, as it would seem.

Looking over the boy's physical condition and his attitude, there was no doubt to Albus on how Harry was raised. He knew he should never have left Harry with the Dursleys. It was probably one of the biggest mistakes on his part. "But still, Cornelius, exile? Harry is just a child, for Merlin's sake. How can you even consider it? It was purely an accident- his cousin had provoked him."

Dumbledore had explained roughly the workings of the Wizarding world to Harry. As far as he could tell, the boy had suffered a rude shock, being thrust into this world in a blink of an eye. Albus had left the room to delirious mutterings of "Wizarding? Magic? Hogwarts? Oh gods, either I am hallucinating or I have finally gone insane."

"It's, it's just a temporary measure for the boy. Can you imagine how the public will react upon hearing their symbol, their very symbol of light a murderer? They will turn upon the boy and demand a prosecution. Face it Dumbledore, if you remember, the last underage child who had committed murder, Liam Falkins was sentenced to a probationary cell in Azkaban! We cannot, of course, possibly throw Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived, into that place. A temporary exile is the best solution." Fudge was scratching his head, having taken off his hat.

"And don't think the matter can be covered up. I have tried it, Dumbledore," the bumbling Minister reminded him, "At least twenty patrol members had been on the scene. We would never be able to keep this under wraps. I'd say give it a day, Skeeter would have the boy's head on the Prophet by then."

To be fair, Albus had expected to be able to get Harry off the hook- A body scan of the boy had revealed slight abuse, probably by his cousin, and officials had discovered Dursley and a group of friends had cornered Harry last night. Also, the Minister himself had always fawned on Harry vocally, saying "He is like a son of mine". Too bad the Minister's view of public opinion was seriously beginning to cloud his judgement. It was a real bombshell for Dumbledore when Fudge had told him that Harry's punishment had been decided by a jury in a closed trial, with said punishment being banishment from the British Isles for 3 years, which in the Minister's view was long enough for the expected public outcry to die down. But he had to persist; he would not allow Harry to leave Britain without any kith or kin, not if he could help it.

"This is insanity, Cornelius, and you know it. Imagine a ten-year old boy, all alone with no overseas relations. How in Godric's name do you expect him to survive?"

"Don't be silly, Dumbledore, of course it has all been arranged. The boy is nearing eleven; he will be ready to start schooling soon. I have already contacted Igor. Durmstrang is willing to accept Harry," the Minister said, face starting to go red, "Now, now, see here Dumbledore. I do not want you making trouble. Do not forget your place. I am the Minister, not you. You do not have the power to override a ministry ruling," Here he seemed to drop his furious expression, "Do you think I want the boy exiled? I would not do this if I had another option."

Dumbledore turned just in time to see the door opening and Harry being escorted in by a couple of Ministry aides, one of which called out, "Minister, Professor Karkaroff is here."

"Excellent. Is he in the Atrium? Oh, invite him in now." The Minister yelped jovially.

"I beseech you to rethink your decision, Cornelius. Durmstrang is simply not a suitable place for young Harry to be, along with him having no relations in Bulgaria." Dumbledore was reaching the end of his line. Harry looked on with curiosity, unaware of his impending fate.

The door opened again, this time a tall man dressed in richly embroidered silver robes along with a thick fur overcoat, and sporting a neatly trimmed goatee entered.

"Good day, Minizter Fudge. And Dumbledore too; I'm muz zay I am zurprised to zee you here," Karkaroff then spotted Harry, who had been trying his best to look inconspicuous in this unfamiliar world. "Harry Potter… I have heard much about your…exploits."

"Welcome, Professor Kakaroff, welcome," Fudge practically pranced about, looking like a kid in a candy store, "Oh this is just too good. Take a seat, take a seat."

Harry meanwhile, seated on a small wooden-backed chair at the rear of the room, stared at the new arrival. What had this man, Kakalof or something, meant by exploits? Had news of his crime spread throughout Europe so fast? And what had the other two men, one he knew as Dumbledore, and the other he thought was called Corny-something, been talking about? What did exile meant? Harry was seriously starting to feel confused here. He liked the older wizard with the white beard well enough however. The mere presence of Dumbledore seemed to reassure Harry that he was in good hands, in this strange new world of magic and witchcraft.

Harry watched as Dumbledore opened his mouth, looking as if he wanted to protest at something, before shutting it. It was the newcomer who eventually broke the silence.

"Zo, Minizter, am I right in zaying that you want Mizter Potter here enrolled in Durmstrang for 3 years, with dezision to continue after that to be made by the boy himself?"

The Minister rubbed his hands together in glee, "Ah yes, yes, of course. Enrolment fees will be settled by the Gringotts branch in Bulgaria. I will give him the key to his trust fund now. Gringotts will hold the other one to the Potter Family Vault till Mr. Potter here comes of age." Under his breath, Harry could hear Corny softly muttering, "Finally settled".

"Now Cornelius, look here-"

"Dumbledore, it vould be vise if you do not poke your noze into matters that conzern you not." It must have been his imagination, or Professor Kakaroff seemed to be staring at his counterpart in contempt. "Zeeing as you haff settled the boy's custodial matters here, I vill take him now. Ve need to leave for Sofia now. There are things to purchase and matters to be explained."

Take me? Take me where? I don't think I want to leave. No, I do not want to leave Britain!

Harry finally spoke up, albeit in a timid voice, "Where am I going, Professor Dumbledore?"

"Do not worry, Harry. You are going nowhere-", the wise-looking wizard had started to speak, but was once again cut off by Fudge. "Oh, shut up Dumbledore," Fudge now cleared his throat, before speaking in a pompous tone, "Mr. Potter, you have been found guilty of your charge- the murder of one Dudley Vernon Dursley. Taking into consideration your age, the punishment will be 3 years of banishment from the Britain and the British Isles. You are not to set foot into these lands before that period is up."

"As a show of goodwill by the Ministry of Magic, we have arranged for you to live in Bulgaria, enrolling in Durmstrang Institute of Magic to ensure that you do not suffer any lapses in your magical education. Professor Igor Kakaroff, Headmaster of Durmstrang, will be your temporary guardian, until a suitable one could be found in the capital. You will stay at the Durmstrang hostels until that happens. Do you have any queries?"

Durmstrang? What is he talking about? I am being banished? Wait! I don't want to go to Bulgaria!

Panic began to set in. He had no idea he would be banished out of Britain. What on earth was he to do in, where, Bulgaria? He would sure he would not be able to survive in an alien country which he did not even know where it was located. Harry could not believe this was happening to him.

"Professor Dumbledore, I am sorry. I swear, it was an accident! I did not mean to kill Dudley. Please, you must believe me!"

Looking at the unfeeling stares of Fudge, and the remorseful sigh of Dumbledore, he started to get more frantic. "Professor! Please help me! I really didn't mean it!" He all but shouted.

Kakaroff looked on nonplussed, striding towards Harry and grabbing hold of his hands, and leading him towards a rustic homely-looking fireplace which did nothing to alleviate his turmoil. "I vill take him from here."

Kakaroff took a bit of some crystalline greenish powder from a small ornate bag, and threw it into the fire. A large green flame erupted with a 'Roar', slightly shocking Harry. Was he supposed to step in?

"Plovdiv Alley, Sofia." With that he all but pushed Harry into the fireplace.

Harry thus left Britain, but not without a last tear-filled angry stare at the two initial occupants of the room.

Cornelius Fudge now spun towards the Hogwarts Headmaster, eyes blazing angrily. His face was all puffy and red, as though he had trouble breathing. "What are you trying to do, embarrassing me like that? I will have, you know, Dumbledore, that I am the Minister. You have meddled too much in Ministry affairs. I will not allow this to continue! It would be in your best interests, to recall that the people voted me as Minister for Magic. You are but a mere Headmaster. Now get lost!"

Dumbledore sighed once again, before striding out of the office. He would have to find a way to help the boy. Yes, no doubt about that. Maybe it was time to start sifting through his Bulgarian contacts.


So I present an exiled Harry! Next chapter would be about Harry preparing to start his first year at Durmstrang. Sorry for the remarkably short and pretty much filler chapter, but I had to establish what happened after the wizards got hold of Harry. So review! More reviews, faster updates.

How did I do the accent? I have no idea what Bulgarian accents are like.