Dark Days Pass But Are Never Forgotten
by: LogicalRaven
Right on time. No lengthy author's note this time. I'm sending this chapter off to be beta read as we speak. I am just trying to get it up before my own deadline. Hope you guys still are enjoying this tale. The end is now closer than the beginning.
A New Minister
"HAVE YOU READ THE PROPHET? DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT ME!" Fudge roared as he slammed a copy of the Daily Prophet down in front of Dolores Umbridge.
"Minster, I was protecting your interest," Umbridge argued in her sweetest girly voice.
Fudge let out a hump, "My interest. I specifically told you not to go after Potter. I told you he'd ruin me. They're going to calling for my head before it is all said and done over this. The people think you know who is back, Potter has to be around or they'll be a panic."
"He's not the savior the wizarding community wants to believe," Umbridge argued, "And that monster, girl."
"IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT THEY WANT TO BELIEVE," snapped Fudge, "The only thing that matters is they do believe. I'm not going to have a choice. I'm going to have to surrender power and restart the election. Potter is going to steal my job thanks to you."
"Don't be ridiculous, Cornelius, who would vote for a child like Potter?" Umbridge snickered.
Fudge slammed his hands down on his desk again, "Did you ever bother to look at the polls? He's winning. People don't trust me, and it is because I have idiots going after Potter when I specifically told them not to."
"Now see here," Umbridge started, rising to her full form.
Fudge shook his head, "You're fired. I can't have you around tarnishing my reputation any longer. I gave you a chance, and a second. You just can't leave it alone; you have to go after Potter every time. I covered for you after you send the Dementors to Surrey after Potter, I covered for you after you tried to use an unforgivable on Potter at Hogwarts, but I cannot cover for you anymore. I sent you to the Academy to watch over things, not to mess everything up."
"Cornelius, I did this for you. You should be angry with that Skeeter woman, or Dumbledore. I did nothing but honor your reputation. Vampires attacked you Minister. I was just weeding them out of positions that could endanger you," Umbridge said softly.
Fudge shook his head, "Chang is Potter's girlfriend, or fiancé or whatever the heck they are. You knew going after Chang would cause a reaction from Potter. If you didn't then you're dumber than I gave you credit for."
"Potter is dangerous," Umbridge hissed, "Soon people will see that Potter can't be trust. Associating himself with vampires and werewolves."
Fudge narrowed his eyes, "I'm removing you from the Academy, and Chang and O'Riley are to have all charges dropped against them and reinstated immediately."
"But Minster," Umbridge interrupted.
"And Potter, Bones and O'Riley are all to be released from Azkaban at once," Fudge added, "You're lucky I'm not removing you from my board of advisors."
Harry could barely keep his eyes open as complete exhaustion had overtaken him. He was vaguely aware that he was being dragged by his arms, down a dark corridor. He could hear the taunts of the captured Death Eaters, screaming for his death and torture.
"Kill Potter! Long Live the Dark Lord!"
Harry's eyes flickered open as the dim light burned into them. Suddenly his captor stopped and flung him inside a cold room, where he met the floor with a hard thud.
"Harry."
Harry tried to speak but his dried cracked lips wouldn't allow words to escape. He felt a small tap on his face and then the world went black.
Hours must have passed before he finally awoke. The room he was in was different than the one he faintly remembered.
"You're awake," Noel said sharply as she passed him a dip of water from a nearby bucket.
Harry gulped the entire scoop down in one swig and coughed.
"You were only in solitary for about 28 hours," Noel informed him, "It was probably the dehydration that was getting to you."
Harry sighed as he rubbed the back of his head, "Or the concussion from being flung against the wall."
Noel rolled her eyes as she snatched the dipper out of Harry's hands, "I mended that for you."
Harry glanced at the door and shuddered, "Can't imagine what this place was like with Dementors."
"Couldn't have been much worse," Noel commented as she tried to pour some water down Susan's throat.
"She still has woken up yet?" Harry asked, suddenly concerned as his eyes fell on Susan Bones.
Noel shook her head, "I've tried everything, but I can't do much without a wand."
Harry touched the back of his head in puzzlement.
"Wandless magic, don't you ever pay attention in class?" Noel said in a frustrated tone.
Harry went to the door and tried to jar it open, "HEY, WE NEED A HEALER!"
"I've already tried that," Noel sighed, "They don't care. They just assume us to die in here."
Harry hit the door in frustration, "This is ridiculous. I'll kill Malfoy."
Noel lowered her head, hoping the subject of Malfoy would be avoided as Harry's eyes fell on her.
"What did that prat say to you after I left," Harry asked quickly.
Noel shrugged, "He tried to cut me a deal to get out of here."
"What?"
"I didn't take him up on it. He even sent guards to escort me out this morning, but I wasn't leaving without you and Susan," Noel added in a flat tone.
"That miserable little git," Harry snarled, "LET ME OUT OF HERE!"
"It isn't going to do any good," Noel sighed, "At least they brought you out of solitary confinement. Malfoy was probably afraid of the trouble he'd be in once we've been released."
"I'm going to kill him," Harry said viciously under his breath.
Noel placed a hand on Harry's should and pushed him away from the door, "Calm down, Potter. There is no point in getting all worked up while were stuck in here. They'll be plenty of time for revenge once we get out. Right now we need to help Susan."
Harry closed his eyes and took a deep breath, he couldn't believe that Noel was actually making sense and being civil.
Harry followed Noel back over to Susan's form and placed his hand on her forehead; "She's freezing."
Noel nodded, "I noticed that to. I don't remember reading anything about charms reacting this way, but it is possible she took the full brunt of the spell."
"Do you think she'll be alright?" Harry asked as she took Susan's hand in his own.
Noel shook her head, "I don't know. I'm not sure which spell they used, but is obviously was a powerful one if it rendered all three of us unconscious."
"I wouldn't put it past Umbridge to use something illegal," Harry said bitterly. "Come on, Susan, wake up."
"She's dehydrated," Noel said as she tried to slowly tip some more water into her mouth.
Harry glanced at the door, "Madame Bones is going to be pretty angry about this."
Noel slowly brushed Susan's hair back as she studied her face.
"This is a new side to the bitter Noel I'm use to," Harry commented.
Noel suddenly stiffened, "I am a human being, I do have compassion."
Harry grinned, "You just don't show it very often."
Noel turned her eyes away and moved her hand off of Susan's face; "Why are you always judging me?"
"I'm not," Harry protested, "I'm simply commenting it's nice to have a civil conversation with you."
"Implying I'm normally not civil," Noel snapped.
"Honestly?" Harry dared.
Noel narrowed her eyes and started to speak, but Harry was quicker.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that, but you always put up such a shell. It is impossible for anybody to get to know you."
Noel bit her lip, "Apology accepted, and you're right. I do put up a shell."
"Are we becoming friends now?" Harry pushed.
Noel darted her eyes, but for once they looked amused, "Don't test your luck, Potter."
Noel moved her eyes away from Harry's as heat filtered into her face and she quickly turned her attention back to Susan.
"Bloody hell," Harry swore as he got to his feet and approached the door again.
Just as he was about to commence with his beating, the door opened and in hobbled the one person they least expected to see.
"Master Moody," Harry said suddenly, looking quite taken back.
"Brilliant deduction there, Potter, glad you're learning something," Moody said sourly.
"We need to get Bones to St. Mungo immediately," Noel interrupted.
Moody hobbled over and roughly knelt beside Susan's broken form, "I'll take her."
"How do we know you're really Alastor Moody?" Harry demanded.
Moody smiled widely, "Good, bout time you asked that question."
"Answer it," Noel snapped.
Moody drew a scroll from his hip belt, "You three have caused quite a stir. Not that December attacking Umbridge didn't help also… Fudge has ordered your release, effective immediately. He's also reinstated the election. The election minute owls are delivering the ballots as we speak. I have orders to bring you three straight to Dumbledore."
"Who's orders?" Harry demanded.
"Why Dumbledore's of course," Moody barked, "He has something he wants to ask you."
"You still haven't proven your really Alastor Moody," Noel hissed, as she eyed the old man.
Moody let out a frightful laugh, "Constant vigilance—Potter, what did I show you at Grimmauld Place right before you left for Hogwarts for your fifth year?"
Harry raised his eyesbrows, "I don't remember."
Moody let out a few words of expression before barking out his disbelief, "Don't remember. What kind of wizard are you? An Auror never forgets those who have fallen in battle."
"The picture of the original…"
"Shhh… don't say it out loud. You don't know who's listening through these walls," Moody croaked.
"Err, right," Harry conceded for argument.
Moody bent over and picked Susan off the floor and hobbled towards the door; "Are you two coming or would your rather stay in Azkaban?"
Harry and Noel quickly followed in Moody clanking footsteps as they scurried down the corridors of the prison.
"Odd feeling being on the inside, aye?" Moody asked as his magical swiveled around to get a look at the two young Aurors. "Now you can have some peace when you send those Death Eaters in here. You know it isn't just easy punishment. The River Trolls can be brutal, I prefer their methods to the Dementors."
Harry didn't feel very keen in participating in Moody's conversation; he personally felt the River Troll's methods were barbaric.
It was night when they reached the outside of the fortress and Moody took a rugged breath of air in. "You both are familiar on how to get to Dumbledore's. I'll take Miss Bones to St. Mungo."
"I want to go with Susan," Noel snapped.
Moody's magical eye locked onto Noel, "Orders Miss O'Riley."
With that a loud crack sounded and Moody and Susan were gone.
"Bloody old fool," Noel swore.
Harry sighed, "We best get to Dumbledore's before those River Trolls change their minds and throw us back behind bars."
Noel rolled her eyes at Harry's reasoning.
"Have you ever been to Dumbledore Manor?" Harry asked.
Noel shook her head, "Once."
Harry reached out and grabbed Noel's hand in his; "In case you don't remember how to get there, this way we can disapperate together."
Noel stiffened and her body quivered slightly under Harry's touch.
Harry noticed; "Err, on the count of three?"
Noel nodded still staring at her hand, which was folded perfectly into Harry's
"One…two…."
The next moment they were fighting the brisk breeze against their face as they proceeded to their destination. They arrived in the parlor with a loud crack and Noel quickly pulled her hand out of Harry's grasp.
"Hello?" Harry bellowed out.
"Thank Merlin… you were suppose to be released hours ago," Remus said as he made his entrance from the kitchen.
Noel recoiled back at Remus figure, as she tried to fight back her look of disgust. Thankfully Harry didn't notice.
"Are Cho and December here?" Harry asked quickly and Remus pulled him into a hug.
"Yes, yes… Cho is upstairs sleeping and December is meeting with Dumbledore as we wait for the election results to come in," Remus replied. "Where is Susan and Alastor?"
"Susan was taken to St. Mungo," Harry answered, "We think she may have taken the worst of the charm Umbridge used to bring us in."
Remus nodded, "Get yourselves something to eat in the kitchen. I'm going to go let Amelia know about Susan."
Remus diappearated quickly, ignoring the cold glare coming from Noel's direction.
"Harry!"
Harry had barely turned around when he caught sight of Cho rushing down the stairs.
"We were so worried," Cho cried as she engulfed him in a tight embrace, "I told Mario not to let you do anything stupid."
"You know me," Harry sighed as he returned Cho's hug.
"He was ready to kill Umbridge to defend your honor," Noel said acidly as she stared unhappily at the couple.
"Harry, you can't always try to be my hero," Cho cried as she buried her head into his shoulder, "What if something happened to you, what if you had gotten hurt."
"Or arrest?" Harry supplied.
Cho frowned; "Exactly."
"I'm fine," Harry promised as he let his hand cup her cheek, "I have a right to defend your honor."
Cho blushed slightly, "Oh, Harry."
Noel's face twisted with anger and fury as she left the couple alone in the parlor to relish in each other company. The sight was just too sickening to watch.
"This is pointless," Ron hissed as he and Dean disappareated for the twenty time.
"Old Madama Hooch," Dean said as they arrived, "never thought her vote would be so important."
"What is she doing in Hogmeade anyway, and how did Dumbledore know she was going to be here?" Ron asked bitterly as they watched their former flying instructor seal her ballot and send it off.
"Haven't you learned that Dumbledore knows everything," Dean said with a grin.
Ron shook his head in disbelief, "I can't believe that our duties are to follow this stupid little owls around and make certain everybody is getting a chance to vote. I mean that is impossible, we can't make sure everybody is voting."
"Ron, stop complaining," Dean laughed, "At least we don't have some duty where all we do is sit and watch. This of this as a good way of meeting girls."
"I don't have any desire to meet girls. Besides, it's kinda hard to meet girls when we can't talk to them," Ron snapped.
Dean waved his hand, "I'm scooping, it's better this way."
"What did my sister ever see in you?" Ron said bitterly as he crossed Madame Hooch off their observation list.
"Same thing she probably sees in Wood," Dean replied causally.
Ron narrowed his eyes, "Don't make me break your nose again."
Dean faked fear as he made a dramatic reach for his nose.
"Only four more names on the list then we can said we're done," Ron sighed as he gave Dean an assertive nod.
The two whisked away and arrived right outside Olivanders.
"This is so pointless. Mr. Olivander is a wand master. Someone would have to be a fool to attack him," Ron whined.
Dean shrugged, "Dumbledore has his reasons."
Ron seemed to not be listening as he stretched out his neck to peek into the window of Olivanders.
"Got it?" Dean asked.
"I can't tell, he's definitely filling something out," Ron replied as he tried to balance himself on Dean's shoulder.
"Well, here comes Hermione and Padma," Dean announced as Ron stumbled slightly, causing him to almost lose his balance.
"What are you two doing?" Hermione hissed as he roughly grabbed Ron's arm.
"Ouch, what does it look like were doing?" Ron snapped.
"Dumbledore said to be discrete," Padma added gently.
"We were being discrete," Ron replied as he rubbed his arm where Hermione had grabbed him.
"What are you lassies doing here anyways?" Dean asked with a grin.
"Madame Smiglee," Hermione replied pointing toward Quality Quidditch.
Padma scanned the street, "We best be going, Harry should be arriving at Dumbledore's soon."
"Forget Harry," Dean said lightly, "In just a few hours, we're going to have a new Minister of Magic."
NEXT UPDATE: 01-02-05