A/N Be thankful I resisted the incredible urge to cut this into different chapters each time the door opened. ;-
Mavidian I think Amos Diggory's intentions will become fairly clear this chapter.
Laura the stiletto thing is something that will be brought up a few times through the years. An explanation will eventually be implied for why she wears them.
Redwoman not to worry, answers are forthcoming in a few chapters. Honestly. I had to set the stage for it though. Despite this being 10+ chapters, in the character's life it is only been less than 2 full days. Soon Harry will incite Dumbledore to take a stroll through the past. Likely the chapter after next, even if I have to smush some things together to make it happen.
Thank you, thank you to Laura Kay, Redwoman, Dark Lulu, Minerva Dumbledore1, Insaneflautist, Tabbygirl, VoyICJ, and Mavidian for reviewing.
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"Dolores Umbridge is dead!"
All the conversations stopped immediately. It was odd. There was just this quiet. No one cried, no one screamed, it was just silence. Dolores Umbridge had never been a well-liked person, but still it was a shock for everyone.
Harry was still close enough to Professor Dumbledore and Moody to hear some of the details the auror gave them. Umbridge had been killed in her home by Death Eaters. It had been a prolonged and painful death.
Harry wasn't sure how he felt to be quite honest. Dolores Umbridge had been a pathetic excuse for a human being. It wasn't her toad-like features that had made her seem inhumane. It was her. It was just her that did it. From what Harry had seen of Umbridge, she never seemed capable of the higher emotions of compassion, and love. Her greatest joy seemed derived from bringing unhappiness to others. After all, wasn't she the one who had sent Dementors after him?
With all the things Dolores Umbridge had done, Harry found it hard to feel sorry she was dead. This was the woman who gave him detentions for speaking the truth. Detentions that included a quill that was clearly an object of dark magic. She banned him for life from Quidditch and confiscated his broom. She chased Dumbledore from the halls of Hogwarts. Umbridge not only tried to sack Hagrid, but she had sent aurors to do it. She sent one of four stunners at Professor McGonagall without so much as one word of warning. She had tried to give him Veritaserum. She had started to cast the Cruciatus curse spell on him before Hermione interrupted her. If she hadn't kept him from contacting his godfather, maybe Sirius would still be alive. Even her attempt to sack Trelawney bothered him. As Professor McGonagall demonstrated that night, even if you don't really like one of your own and put them down to others, you stand up for them to outsiders.
No, knowing all the things Umbridge had done, Harry found it hard to feel sorry she was dead. But not impossible. Even with all his hatred towards the woman, Harry felt sorry she was dead. No person, no matter what they had done deserved to die like that. Perhaps Dumbledore was right, love was what made us different from Voldemort.
Surveying the room, Harry saw similar looks of shock and revulsion on everyone's faces.
Dumbledore and the others left almost immediately to go investigate. Even Mr. Weasley and Charlie went. A solemn looking Hagrid tried to go, but a few quick words and a glance by Dumbledore made Hagrid nod and remain behind. Snape looked awkward, out of place, but knew he would look even more out of place at Dolores Umbridge's house. Amos Diggory was too stunned to be of any use and also remained behind.
Professor McGonagall had wordlessly fallen into a nearby chair when the news had arrived. She stood unsteadily on her feet as if to go as well. She sat back down when Dumbledore spoke to her softly.
"Is this really something you need to see, Minerva? Please just remain here with the children until I return."
And so when all was said and done, the only people remaining were Mrs. Weasley, Mrs. Longbottom, Professor McGonagall, Professor Snape, Hagrid, Amos Diggory, and six frightened children.
Afterwards, Harry liked to think, if only some more people had remained behind, things would have turned out differently. If Charlie or Mr. Weasley had stayed behind, they would have kept a clear head and helped the others to do the same. If only he had been more quick thinking, he could have done something to end it earlier. If only, he hadn't been so shocked.
If only Moody had not forgotten to deliver the new wand before he left.
But Harry was shocked. It was just too incredible. How quickly people could turn. How exceedingly fast mob mentality can take over. How swiftly people could revert back to their more basic instincts.
Mrs. Weasley didn't know what to do with her feelings. She upset and confused, did what she always did when distressed.
"I'm going to make some tea. And sandwiches." She nodded. "Sandwiches will be good."
Mrs. Longbottom needed something to do. Anything to take her mind off of what she just learned. So she followed after Mrs. Weasley to help.
Harry didn't bother to point out that none of them were hungry and after what the others were going to see, he doubted they would come back hungry.
Hagrid shuffled around uncomfortably for a few minutes. Suddenly all his 'I'd like ta's and Somebody aught ta's' were coming back to haunt him. Eventually he sought refuge upstairs with an old friend.
Professor McGonagall just sat quietly in her chair with a sad expression. One hand again found its way to her pendant, whole the other stole around her middle.
Snape leaned forward against the mantle. Keeping his face sheltered from view.
Amos Diggory hadn't moved since the news arrived.
The six children felt so lost and uneasy. Their earlier victory at the Wizengot was forgotten. In each of their faces, Harry could see something similar to his own earlier struggle. They didn't know how to react.
Everyone was still like that, off in their own little world, when the door to 12 Grimmauld Place opened again. Thinking it would be Professor Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall rose expectantly and crossed towards the door. Harry rather imagined she was looking to share another of those reassuring glances with her colleague. The glance that met her was anything but reassuring.
It was Cornelius Fudge who had entered. He was followed by several aurors.
"Where's Dumbledore."
Professor McGonagall tried to collect herself and answered Fudge's demand.
"There has been a Death Eater attack. Dolores Umbridge is dead. He went with everyone else to…" McGonagall trailed off. Even years of experience from the first war against Voldemort hadn't given her the vocabulary needed to express the end of that sentence.
"Good." said Fudge.
Harry's was not the only head to whip around at the unexpected response.
"That will make this easier. Dolores Umbridge's was not the only death today. Dawlish, Rhodes, and Spencer were murdered too."
Fudge paused dramatically, waiting for a response. When he didn't get one, he continued viciously. "What do you have to say for yourself?"
Professor McGonagall looked as confused as Harry felt.
"Don't tell me you didn't know this was going to happen. Don't tell me it's a coincidence which four people You-Know-Who picked. I see the connection!"
Professor McGonagall still looked so unlike her normal self, so confused.
"Cornelius, what are you talking about?"
"The four people who cast stunners at you!"
Professor McGonagall's eyes closed for a minute as her mouth opened to emit a small cry. Harry was sure she would have collapsed to the floor were it not for the suddenly mobile Amos Diggory behind her, supporting her by the forearms.
It took a moment for Professor McGonagall to compose herself just enough to reply. Harry would hardly call her stricken face composed.
"I never knew who it was. It was dark. I never got close enough to see. After, after I never asked who it was."
Fudge just continued glaring at her. When Mr. Diggory spoke, his hold on Professor McGonagall no longer had the illusion of being supportive.
"Don't believe her. She is one of his. She has always been one of his."
Fudge seemed to swell in size at Diggory's words of support. He nodded.
"I think that's always been clear to everyone but that crackpot old fool."
When Professor McGonagall tried to shift away from Amos Diggory, he tightened his hold on her considerably. His hands worked their way down to her wrists and pinned her arms behind her back.
"Check her for his mark."
As Fudge approached, McGonagall struggled against Diggory's hold. When Fudge tried to push up her sleeve, she finally called out in anguish.
"You do not touch me."
Whether her sleeve was too long or her struggling made it too difficult, Fudge gave up trying to push it up. Instead, he simply grabbed hold of the sleeve and pulled.
More than just the sleeve tore. Professor McGonagall had a full slip on underneath, so there wasn't really that much visible other than her arm and more of her neck than usual. It wasn't that anything was actually revealed, at least not about Professor McGonagall. It was more the degradation of it that made Harry look away. Moody was right this place wasn't secure anymore.
Something changed though. Professor McGonagall had stopped struggling. She hadn't gone slack, she was just standing there with her hands being held behind her back by Amos Diggory. Her eyes were blank, yet watching Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic, as his eyes roamed her body looking for the familiar dark mark.
Diggory frowned. "Maybe its some place else on her."
Snape stepped forward, finally someone was going to put an end to this. Before he could speak, Fudge nodded to Diggory. As his hand reached up to her dress again, he met Professor McGonagall's eyes.
Afterwards, Harry wouldn't have believed it had actually happened were it not for all the other children feeling the same way. It was so subtle that Harry hadn't even noticed it at first. It just felt like the room was getting warmer and the oxygen was getting thinner. It was hard to breath. His hand stole to his throat to loosen his tie before he realized he wasn't wearing one. Fudge's face was turning red again and this time not just in anger. It wasn't possible to move or try to intercede. It was hard enough just trying to breath.
Suddenly, Harry believed all the things Loki had said about the destructive powers of untrained wand-less magic.
Hagrid was half giant so things didn't effect him as easily, but even up several flights of stairs, talking with Buckbeak, he felt it. Magic, even wand-less magic, didn't effect him as much so he was still able to move. Hagrid came barreling down the stairs to see what was wrong. Hagrid was not always the quickest person to come to a conclusion, but what was going on here was so obvious, Hagrid's reaction was swift.
Amos Diggory was pitched halfway across the room into some priceless heirlooms of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black. Hagrid then positioned himself to be blocking Professor McGonagall from view and aim of Minister Fudge and the aurors.
"What da yeh think yer doing? What da bloody hell da yeh think yer doing?"
Just as quickly, the feeling was gone. After taking a few gulps of air, Fudge pointed at Hagrid. Referring to the form behind him, Fudge gasped out.
"She tried to kill me, you are all witnesses against her!"
Snape spoke. "What does the Ministry expect when they don't allow even rudimentary training in wand-less magic? You scared her witless. I suggest next time you don't provoke her."
Fudge was quickly grabbing hold of his senses and trying to downplay his own culpability. "We were merely checking her arm for the dark mark."
Snape moved closer to hiss in Fudge's ear.
"Think very carefully, Minister. What do you think it looked like to her?"
Fudge's eyes widened. He sputtered.
"That's that's ridiculous. For Merlin's sake there are children in the room!"
Snape's hiss replied. "Some people don't find that to be a consideration."
Fudge seemed to have deflated significantly, until he remembered his original purpose for coming here.
"It isn't a coincidence that You-Know-Who picked those four."
Snape didn't argue against that.
"No, it isn't. The Dark Lord has always had a special…fascination with Minerva. He has often done things in an attempt to curry her favor, that doesn't mean she asked for them or even wanted them. Dumbledore warned you before, the Dark Lord would not tolerate your letting Umbridge go unpunished. Now, I agree Minister, we are all witnesses. Tell me Minister, after what just happened to Umbridge and the others, do you really want to be doing this? Particularly, in front of all these witnesses?"
More witnesses arrived as the commotion finally brought Mrs. Weasley and Mrs. Longbottom out of the kitchen. Mrs. Weasley looked horrified by what had gone on. Mrs. Longbottom's expression went far beyond horrified.
Fudge was outraged. "You can not threaten me. I am the Minister of Magic. You are Death Eater filth."
Snape returned the other man's glare.
"Surely, you don't think the mere title will be enough to save you? I seem to remember hearing Grindelwald took great pleasure in killing six consecutive Ministers of Magic. He easily bypassed all the security and protections around them. Do you really think the Dark Lord with all his supporters a lesser force than that one man?
So Minister, putting aside Albus Dumbledore's reaction, I ask you again, is this really the treatment of Minerva McGonagall you want to get back to the Dark Lord?"
Whatever answer Fudge would have offered, he never got the chance. The door to 12 Grimmauld opened again and in rushed Albus Dumbledore.
If it didn't take Hagrid long to figure out what was going on, it would be an exaggeration to say it took Dumbledore any time at all. Indeed from the way he came rushing in and headed past Diggory, who was raising himself off of the floor, to go straight to Professor McGonagall, it seemed almost like it was what he expected to find.
He put a hand on her shoulder and spoke softly to her. "Are you alright?"
Harry thought Professor McGonagall looked almost small, like a child when she responded. Maybe it was just the moleskin overcoat Hagrid had draped around her that made her look no larger than Dennis Creevey the time he fell into the lake while crossing in the boats with the other first years. Now that Dumbledore was here and she could look into his concerned eyes, her voice sounded almost normal when she shrugged and said wryly,
"Never better."
Dumbledore frowned. "Minerva, I'm so sorry. I never should have told you to stay here. As soon as I heard Umbridge wasn't the only one, I came back. I knew…"
Professor McGonagall put her hand over his. It was so odd, after all that had happened to see her trying to reassure him. She used his first name, something Harry knew she seldom if ever did in front of the students.
"Albus, I am fine."
Dumbledore, reassured, turned to face Fudge. The loving, gentle expression was gone. The new expression was a combination of fury and outrage. It looked almost pained.
"You! What is wrong with you? Do you not realize this is exactly the reaction Voldemort wants? Can you really be this foolish? Minerva has never done anything but…"
It was McGonagall who silenced Professor Dumbledore. If Fudge had even tried, Harry didn't think even with an army of aurors he could have succeeded, but Professor McGonagall did it just by saying his name.
"Albus…"
Her voice was hesitant, her eyes frightened.
"There were six people that night. Only four cast on me, but what of the other two?"
Again, Dumbledore was in his earlier mode. The slightly hesitant quality to his voice was new though.
"Moody and the others went to check. Kinglsey was at the Wizengot all day. He only left a few minutes before we received the news so, it…"
Professor McGonagall allowed Dumbledore to guide her back to her earlier chair.
Harry saw Professor McGonagall's shoulders shake with something between a laugh and a cry as she spoke to Dumbledore.
"Someone aught to tell him, candy and flowers are the way to a girl's heart. Jewelry even. Not this."
Dumbledore tried to smile for her.
"Ah, but you dislike cut flowers and never eat candy. You wear very few pieces of jewelry. A young man has to do something to get your attention."
Fudge was fuming. He could tell whatever chance he had was lost.
When Moody walked in the door all eyes turned to him. When Moody looked to Professor McGonagall and both of his eyes went to the floor, unable to meet hers, Harry knew the worst had happened.
He was greatly surprised when a moment later a very shaken looking Kingsley Shacklebolt entered. Most of the earlier crowd wafted in as well.
It took a moment for Harry to notice the letter in Shacklebolt's hand. The script wasn't exactly the same, but given the circumstances, it was similar enough to the writing in a diary Harry once saw for him to realize who wrote it. Ginny's gasp told him she recognized it too. Only one word was written. That was all that was needed for anyone to know who it was intended for. Without at any point actually looking at her, Shacklebolt placed the envelope marked Kitten on the arm of Minerva McGonagall's chair.
Professor McGonagall just frowned and tried to ignore the letter.
Moody's growl wasn't right.
"All the wards at his flat were violated. No one was home, no one was hurt. Nothing was taken or damaged. The letter was just waiting in the center of the table when Kinglsey got home. He did it to show he could."
Fudge puffed up again. Before he could even begin, Dumbledore cut him off.
"If Voldemort simply wanted to get a letter or a message to Minerva, he could have sent it with Snape or an owl. Voldemort wanted to elicit a response by the rest of you. He wanted you to frighten her, not him. Congratulations, Cornelius, for playing perfectly into his plans."
Fudge scowled. "What does it say?"
When Professor McGonagall made no attempt to open the letter, Fudge stepped forward to open it himself.
Harry could tell it was only with reluctance that Dumbledore warned Fudge.
"You of course realize, it is cursed to only be opened by the intended recipient. Not that you don't deserve what ever you get from opening it."
Fudge released the letter immediately. Professor McGonagall was the only one who didn't watch as it fluttered to the floor.
Still reluctant, Dumbledore retrieved it. He held it out to Professor McGonagall. Her voice was a quiet sad, but it was calm.
"I do not want anymore of his letters."
"I know." was Professor Dumbledore's reply.
The room was as silent as when the news of Dolores Umbridge first arrived.
Moody was the one to break the silence.
"Minerva, we need to know what it says. It might be something important, something he intends us to know."
She didn't say or do anything for a long minute. Finally, she took it from Professor Dumbledore's still outstretched hand.
She broke the seal, but didn't open the letter to read it. Handing it back to Dumbledore, she spoke.
"I do not want to know what it says."
Dumbledore glanced at it only a moment before with a dark look he held it out to Moody.
Fudge took up the letter instead and gave a shriek of triumph. He paid no heed to what McGonagall had just said.
"There you see. It says
Bring the boy
Return to me now
All will be forgiven
See, she is going to kill the Potter boy!"
Mrs. Longbottom's big red handbag collided with Cornelius Fudge's head. Neville's grandmother was exasperated.
"Not even you can be that foolish, Cornelius!"
Fudge opened his mouth to respond, but when Mrs. Longbottom again raised the arm with the handbag, he closed his mouth.
Professor McGonagall stood. "I would like to leave now."
Dumbledore was still at her side. His voice was low, Harry knew he wasn't supposed to be overhearing this.
"Minerva, please stay. That's what he wants. He wants you to pull away. Stay. I don't want this to be like last time. He wants-"
Professor McGonagall interrupted him. Her eyes were wearing into his.
"What about what I want?"
Dumbledore hesitated for a moment and then nodded solemnly.
"Will you wait just a few minutes. I want to send Harry away from here. Then I will escort you home."
Professor McGonagall considered it for a moment and then nodded.
Harry turned when Snape gave a gasp of pain. His hand involuntarily went to his upper arm, clutching the dark mark.
'If you will all excuse me, I have somewhere else to be."
Moody stepped in front of him.
"Snape, you had no idea this was planned?"
Snape practically spat out the words.
"Of course not. What did you think I knew and since it was Dolores, just didn't think it was worth mentioning before?"
Moody frowned.
"My point is you didn't know about this. You didn't know about the attack on the Department of Mysteries or the attempt on Potter. Voldemort has removed you from his inner circle. I think it is fairly clear, Voldemort suspects you. To answer him is foolhardy. He may be summoning you just to kill you."
Snape met the older man's concerned gaze.
"Voldemort is aware my loyalties no longer remain with him. He believes me to currently be serving a new master, but still finds me useful to keep him up to date on pesky little problems like these."
Snape's eyes flickered to Cornelius Fudge, who flinched in response.
When Moody still made no attempt to move out of the way, Snape continued in a low, disdainful voice.
"Minerva has taken steps to ensure my safety."
Moody's natural eye widened in alarm. "You can't mean?"
Snape nodded and went past Moody to the door.
After Snape made it out the door, Harry turned back to see Cedric Diggory's father was approaching Professor McGonagall's chair from behind. Dumbledore was off to the side preparing port keys with Mr. Weasley and Mad-Eye Moody. Harry wanted to shout out a warning, but Neville started to move to intercept Mr. Diggory. Neither were necessary because before he could get closer, Professor Dumbledore whirled around to face Amos Diggory with a look of pure fury.
"Was there something else, Amos?"
Amos Diggory's eyes traveled from the back of McGonagall's chair to Dumbledore and back again. Professor McGonagall tried to ignore him, never turning to face him.
"Dumbledore may be here to protect you now, but he won't live forever. You would do well to remember what has happened to other women who liked to play at causing wars. When it was all said and done, remember what happened to Helen of Troy."
Moody escorted Diggory off of the premises while Dumbledore finished the port keys.
Harry thought it odd, but said nothing when Dumbledore suggested to Mrs. Longbottom that until the wards at her home were further fortified it would be best if she and Neville stayed with the Weasleys. Mr. Weasley and Mrs. Longbottom stayed behind to pack up the children's items.
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After the portkey to The Burrow had gone off , Mrs. Weasley went off to make new sandwiches to replace the ones left behind. Harry turned to Hermione.
"I know the Greeks won, but what happened to Helen of Troy after the war was over?"
Hermione looked down. "Her husband was supposed to kill her, but when he saw her, he couldn't. He brought her back to Sparta and they lived there happily for many years."
That wasn't quite the answer Harry had been dreading. That didn't sound like the kind of answer Cedric Diggory's father had been getting at.
Neville spoke up to finish the story. His voice was hoarse. "After her husband died, his successor cast her out for causing all that bloodshed. An old friend offered her refuge, but it was a trap. The friend had lost loved ones in the war and wanted revenge. Helen was crucified."
Mavidian I think Amos Diggory's intentions will become fairly clear this chapter.
Laura the stiletto thing is something that will be brought up a few times through the years. An explanation will eventually be implied for why she wears them.
Redwoman not to worry, answers are forthcoming in a few chapters. Honestly. I had to set the stage for it though. Despite this being 10+ chapters, in the character's life it is only been less than 2 full days. Soon Harry will incite Dumbledore to take a stroll through the past. Likely the chapter after next, even if I have to smush some things together to make it happen.
Thank you, thank you to Laura Kay, Redwoman, Dark Lulu, Minerva Dumbledore1, Insaneflautist, Tabbygirl, VoyICJ, and Mavidian for reviewing.
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"Dolores Umbridge is dead!"
All the conversations stopped immediately. It was odd. There was just this quiet. No one cried, no one screamed, it was just silence. Dolores Umbridge had never been a well-liked person, but still it was a shock for everyone.
Harry was still close enough to Professor Dumbledore and Moody to hear some of the details the auror gave them. Umbridge had been killed in her home by Death Eaters. It had been a prolonged and painful death.
Harry wasn't sure how he felt to be quite honest. Dolores Umbridge had been a pathetic excuse for a human being. It wasn't her toad-like features that had made her seem inhumane. It was her. It was just her that did it. From what Harry had seen of Umbridge, she never seemed capable of the higher emotions of compassion, and love. Her greatest joy seemed derived from bringing unhappiness to others. After all, wasn't she the one who had sent Dementors after him?
With all the things Dolores Umbridge had done, Harry found it hard to feel sorry she was dead. This was the woman who gave him detentions for speaking the truth. Detentions that included a quill that was clearly an object of dark magic. She banned him for life from Quidditch and confiscated his broom. She chased Dumbledore from the halls of Hogwarts. Umbridge not only tried to sack Hagrid, but she had sent aurors to do it. She sent one of four stunners at Professor McGonagall without so much as one word of warning. She had tried to give him Veritaserum. She had started to cast the Cruciatus curse spell on him before Hermione interrupted her. If she hadn't kept him from contacting his godfather, maybe Sirius would still be alive. Even her attempt to sack Trelawney bothered him. As Professor McGonagall demonstrated that night, even if you don't really like one of your own and put them down to others, you stand up for them to outsiders.
No, knowing all the things Umbridge had done, Harry found it hard to feel sorry she was dead. But not impossible. Even with all his hatred towards the woman, Harry felt sorry she was dead. No person, no matter what they had done deserved to die like that. Perhaps Dumbledore was right, love was what made us different from Voldemort.
Surveying the room, Harry saw similar looks of shock and revulsion on everyone's faces.
Dumbledore and the others left almost immediately to go investigate. Even Mr. Weasley and Charlie went. A solemn looking Hagrid tried to go, but a few quick words and a glance by Dumbledore made Hagrid nod and remain behind. Snape looked awkward, out of place, but knew he would look even more out of place at Dolores Umbridge's house. Amos Diggory was too stunned to be of any use and also remained behind.
Professor McGonagall had wordlessly fallen into a nearby chair when the news had arrived. She stood unsteadily on her feet as if to go as well. She sat back down when Dumbledore spoke to her softly.
"Is this really something you need to see, Minerva? Please just remain here with the children until I return."
And so when all was said and done, the only people remaining were Mrs. Weasley, Mrs. Longbottom, Professor McGonagall, Professor Snape, Hagrid, Amos Diggory, and six frightened children.
Afterwards, Harry liked to think, if only some more people had remained behind, things would have turned out differently. If Charlie or Mr. Weasley had stayed behind, they would have kept a clear head and helped the others to do the same. If only he had been more quick thinking, he could have done something to end it earlier. If only, he hadn't been so shocked.
If only Moody had not forgotten to deliver the new wand before he left.
But Harry was shocked. It was just too incredible. How quickly people could turn. How exceedingly fast mob mentality can take over. How swiftly people could revert back to their more basic instincts.
Mrs. Weasley didn't know what to do with her feelings. She upset and confused, did what she always did when distressed.
"I'm going to make some tea. And sandwiches." She nodded. "Sandwiches will be good."
Mrs. Longbottom needed something to do. Anything to take her mind off of what she just learned. So she followed after Mrs. Weasley to help.
Harry didn't bother to point out that none of them were hungry and after what the others were going to see, he doubted they would come back hungry.
Hagrid shuffled around uncomfortably for a few minutes. Suddenly all his 'I'd like ta's and Somebody aught ta's' were coming back to haunt him. Eventually he sought refuge upstairs with an old friend.
Professor McGonagall just sat quietly in her chair with a sad expression. One hand again found its way to her pendant, whole the other stole around her middle.
Snape leaned forward against the mantle. Keeping his face sheltered from view.
Amos Diggory hadn't moved since the news arrived.
The six children felt so lost and uneasy. Their earlier victory at the Wizengot was forgotten. In each of their faces, Harry could see something similar to his own earlier struggle. They didn't know how to react.
Everyone was still like that, off in their own little world, when the door to 12 Grimmauld Place opened again. Thinking it would be Professor Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall rose expectantly and crossed towards the door. Harry rather imagined she was looking to share another of those reassuring glances with her colleague. The glance that met her was anything but reassuring.
It was Cornelius Fudge who had entered. He was followed by several aurors.
"Where's Dumbledore."
Professor McGonagall tried to collect herself and answered Fudge's demand.
"There has been a Death Eater attack. Dolores Umbridge is dead. He went with everyone else to…" McGonagall trailed off. Even years of experience from the first war against Voldemort hadn't given her the vocabulary needed to express the end of that sentence.
"Good." said Fudge.
Harry's was not the only head to whip around at the unexpected response.
"That will make this easier. Dolores Umbridge's was not the only death today. Dawlish, Rhodes, and Spencer were murdered too."
Fudge paused dramatically, waiting for a response. When he didn't get one, he continued viciously. "What do you have to say for yourself?"
Professor McGonagall looked as confused as Harry felt.
"Don't tell me you didn't know this was going to happen. Don't tell me it's a coincidence which four people You-Know-Who picked. I see the connection!"
Professor McGonagall still looked so unlike her normal self, so confused.
"Cornelius, what are you talking about?"
"The four people who cast stunners at you!"
Professor McGonagall's eyes closed for a minute as her mouth opened to emit a small cry. Harry was sure she would have collapsed to the floor were it not for the suddenly mobile Amos Diggory behind her, supporting her by the forearms.
It took a moment for Professor McGonagall to compose herself just enough to reply. Harry would hardly call her stricken face composed.
"I never knew who it was. It was dark. I never got close enough to see. After, after I never asked who it was."
Fudge just continued glaring at her. When Mr. Diggory spoke, his hold on Professor McGonagall no longer had the illusion of being supportive.
"Don't believe her. She is one of his. She has always been one of his."
Fudge seemed to swell in size at Diggory's words of support. He nodded.
"I think that's always been clear to everyone but that crackpot old fool."
When Professor McGonagall tried to shift away from Amos Diggory, he tightened his hold on her considerably. His hands worked their way down to her wrists and pinned her arms behind her back.
"Check her for his mark."
As Fudge approached, McGonagall struggled against Diggory's hold. When Fudge tried to push up her sleeve, she finally called out in anguish.
"You do not touch me."
Whether her sleeve was too long or her struggling made it too difficult, Fudge gave up trying to push it up. Instead, he simply grabbed hold of the sleeve and pulled.
More than just the sleeve tore. Professor McGonagall had a full slip on underneath, so there wasn't really that much visible other than her arm and more of her neck than usual. It wasn't that anything was actually revealed, at least not about Professor McGonagall. It was more the degradation of it that made Harry look away. Moody was right this place wasn't secure anymore.
Something changed though. Professor McGonagall had stopped struggling. She hadn't gone slack, she was just standing there with her hands being held behind her back by Amos Diggory. Her eyes were blank, yet watching Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic, as his eyes roamed her body looking for the familiar dark mark.
Diggory frowned. "Maybe its some place else on her."
Snape stepped forward, finally someone was going to put an end to this. Before he could speak, Fudge nodded to Diggory. As his hand reached up to her dress again, he met Professor McGonagall's eyes.
Afterwards, Harry wouldn't have believed it had actually happened were it not for all the other children feeling the same way. It was so subtle that Harry hadn't even noticed it at first. It just felt like the room was getting warmer and the oxygen was getting thinner. It was hard to breath. His hand stole to his throat to loosen his tie before he realized he wasn't wearing one. Fudge's face was turning red again and this time not just in anger. It wasn't possible to move or try to intercede. It was hard enough just trying to breath.
Suddenly, Harry believed all the things Loki had said about the destructive powers of untrained wand-less magic.
Hagrid was half giant so things didn't effect him as easily, but even up several flights of stairs, talking with Buckbeak, he felt it. Magic, even wand-less magic, didn't effect him as much so he was still able to move. Hagrid came barreling down the stairs to see what was wrong. Hagrid was not always the quickest person to come to a conclusion, but what was going on here was so obvious, Hagrid's reaction was swift.
Amos Diggory was pitched halfway across the room into some priceless heirlooms of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black. Hagrid then positioned himself to be blocking Professor McGonagall from view and aim of Minister Fudge and the aurors.
"What da yeh think yer doing? What da bloody hell da yeh think yer doing?"
Just as quickly, the feeling was gone. After taking a few gulps of air, Fudge pointed at Hagrid. Referring to the form behind him, Fudge gasped out.
"She tried to kill me, you are all witnesses against her!"
Snape spoke. "What does the Ministry expect when they don't allow even rudimentary training in wand-less magic? You scared her witless. I suggest next time you don't provoke her."
Fudge was quickly grabbing hold of his senses and trying to downplay his own culpability. "We were merely checking her arm for the dark mark."
Snape moved closer to hiss in Fudge's ear.
"Think very carefully, Minister. What do you think it looked like to her?"
Fudge's eyes widened. He sputtered.
"That's that's ridiculous. For Merlin's sake there are children in the room!"
Snape's hiss replied. "Some people don't find that to be a consideration."
Fudge seemed to have deflated significantly, until he remembered his original purpose for coming here.
"It isn't a coincidence that You-Know-Who picked those four."
Snape didn't argue against that.
"No, it isn't. The Dark Lord has always had a special…fascination with Minerva. He has often done things in an attempt to curry her favor, that doesn't mean she asked for them or even wanted them. Dumbledore warned you before, the Dark Lord would not tolerate your letting Umbridge go unpunished. Now, I agree Minister, we are all witnesses. Tell me Minister, after what just happened to Umbridge and the others, do you really want to be doing this? Particularly, in front of all these witnesses?"
More witnesses arrived as the commotion finally brought Mrs. Weasley and Mrs. Longbottom out of the kitchen. Mrs. Weasley looked horrified by what had gone on. Mrs. Longbottom's expression went far beyond horrified.
Fudge was outraged. "You can not threaten me. I am the Minister of Magic. You are Death Eater filth."
Snape returned the other man's glare.
"Surely, you don't think the mere title will be enough to save you? I seem to remember hearing Grindelwald took great pleasure in killing six consecutive Ministers of Magic. He easily bypassed all the security and protections around them. Do you really think the Dark Lord with all his supporters a lesser force than that one man?
So Minister, putting aside Albus Dumbledore's reaction, I ask you again, is this really the treatment of Minerva McGonagall you want to get back to the Dark Lord?"
Whatever answer Fudge would have offered, he never got the chance. The door to 12 Grimmauld opened again and in rushed Albus Dumbledore.
If it didn't take Hagrid long to figure out what was going on, it would be an exaggeration to say it took Dumbledore any time at all. Indeed from the way he came rushing in and headed past Diggory, who was raising himself off of the floor, to go straight to Professor McGonagall, it seemed almost like it was what he expected to find.
He put a hand on her shoulder and spoke softly to her. "Are you alright?"
Harry thought Professor McGonagall looked almost small, like a child when she responded. Maybe it was just the moleskin overcoat Hagrid had draped around her that made her look no larger than Dennis Creevey the time he fell into the lake while crossing in the boats with the other first years. Now that Dumbledore was here and she could look into his concerned eyes, her voice sounded almost normal when she shrugged and said wryly,
"Never better."
Dumbledore frowned. "Minerva, I'm so sorry. I never should have told you to stay here. As soon as I heard Umbridge wasn't the only one, I came back. I knew…"
Professor McGonagall put her hand over his. It was so odd, after all that had happened to see her trying to reassure him. She used his first name, something Harry knew she seldom if ever did in front of the students.
"Albus, I am fine."
Dumbledore, reassured, turned to face Fudge. The loving, gentle expression was gone. The new expression was a combination of fury and outrage. It looked almost pained.
"You! What is wrong with you? Do you not realize this is exactly the reaction Voldemort wants? Can you really be this foolish? Minerva has never done anything but…"
It was McGonagall who silenced Professor Dumbledore. If Fudge had even tried, Harry didn't think even with an army of aurors he could have succeeded, but Professor McGonagall did it just by saying his name.
"Albus…"
Her voice was hesitant, her eyes frightened.
"There were six people that night. Only four cast on me, but what of the other two?"
Again, Dumbledore was in his earlier mode. The slightly hesitant quality to his voice was new though.
"Moody and the others went to check. Kinglsey was at the Wizengot all day. He only left a few minutes before we received the news so, it…"
Professor McGonagall allowed Dumbledore to guide her back to her earlier chair.
Harry saw Professor McGonagall's shoulders shake with something between a laugh and a cry as she spoke to Dumbledore.
"Someone aught to tell him, candy and flowers are the way to a girl's heart. Jewelry even. Not this."
Dumbledore tried to smile for her.
"Ah, but you dislike cut flowers and never eat candy. You wear very few pieces of jewelry. A young man has to do something to get your attention."
Fudge was fuming. He could tell whatever chance he had was lost.
When Moody walked in the door all eyes turned to him. When Moody looked to Professor McGonagall and both of his eyes went to the floor, unable to meet hers, Harry knew the worst had happened.
He was greatly surprised when a moment later a very shaken looking Kingsley Shacklebolt entered. Most of the earlier crowd wafted in as well.
It took a moment for Harry to notice the letter in Shacklebolt's hand. The script wasn't exactly the same, but given the circumstances, it was similar enough to the writing in a diary Harry once saw for him to realize who wrote it. Ginny's gasp told him she recognized it too. Only one word was written. That was all that was needed for anyone to know who it was intended for. Without at any point actually looking at her, Shacklebolt placed the envelope marked Kitten on the arm of Minerva McGonagall's chair.
Professor McGonagall just frowned and tried to ignore the letter.
Moody's growl wasn't right.
"All the wards at his flat were violated. No one was home, no one was hurt. Nothing was taken or damaged. The letter was just waiting in the center of the table when Kinglsey got home. He did it to show he could."
Fudge puffed up again. Before he could even begin, Dumbledore cut him off.
"If Voldemort simply wanted to get a letter or a message to Minerva, he could have sent it with Snape or an owl. Voldemort wanted to elicit a response by the rest of you. He wanted you to frighten her, not him. Congratulations, Cornelius, for playing perfectly into his plans."
Fudge scowled. "What does it say?"
When Professor McGonagall made no attempt to open the letter, Fudge stepped forward to open it himself.
Harry could tell it was only with reluctance that Dumbledore warned Fudge.
"You of course realize, it is cursed to only be opened by the intended recipient. Not that you don't deserve what ever you get from opening it."
Fudge released the letter immediately. Professor McGonagall was the only one who didn't watch as it fluttered to the floor.
Still reluctant, Dumbledore retrieved it. He held it out to Professor McGonagall. Her voice was a quiet sad, but it was calm.
"I do not want anymore of his letters."
"I know." was Professor Dumbledore's reply.
The room was as silent as when the news of Dolores Umbridge first arrived.
Moody was the one to break the silence.
"Minerva, we need to know what it says. It might be something important, something he intends us to know."
She didn't say or do anything for a long minute. Finally, she took it from Professor Dumbledore's still outstretched hand.
She broke the seal, but didn't open the letter to read it. Handing it back to Dumbledore, she spoke.
"I do not want to know what it says."
Dumbledore glanced at it only a moment before with a dark look he held it out to Moody.
Fudge took up the letter instead and gave a shriek of triumph. He paid no heed to what McGonagall had just said.
"There you see. It says
Bring the boy
Return to me now
All will be forgiven
See, she is going to kill the Potter boy!"
Mrs. Longbottom's big red handbag collided with Cornelius Fudge's head. Neville's grandmother was exasperated.
"Not even you can be that foolish, Cornelius!"
Fudge opened his mouth to respond, but when Mrs. Longbottom again raised the arm with the handbag, he closed his mouth.
Professor McGonagall stood. "I would like to leave now."
Dumbledore was still at her side. His voice was low, Harry knew he wasn't supposed to be overhearing this.
"Minerva, please stay. That's what he wants. He wants you to pull away. Stay. I don't want this to be like last time. He wants-"
Professor McGonagall interrupted him. Her eyes were wearing into his.
"What about what I want?"
Dumbledore hesitated for a moment and then nodded solemnly.
"Will you wait just a few minutes. I want to send Harry away from here. Then I will escort you home."
Professor McGonagall considered it for a moment and then nodded.
Harry turned when Snape gave a gasp of pain. His hand involuntarily went to his upper arm, clutching the dark mark.
'If you will all excuse me, I have somewhere else to be."
Moody stepped in front of him.
"Snape, you had no idea this was planned?"
Snape practically spat out the words.
"Of course not. What did you think I knew and since it was Dolores, just didn't think it was worth mentioning before?"
Moody frowned.
"My point is you didn't know about this. You didn't know about the attack on the Department of Mysteries or the attempt on Potter. Voldemort has removed you from his inner circle. I think it is fairly clear, Voldemort suspects you. To answer him is foolhardy. He may be summoning you just to kill you."
Snape met the older man's concerned gaze.
"Voldemort is aware my loyalties no longer remain with him. He believes me to currently be serving a new master, but still finds me useful to keep him up to date on pesky little problems like these."
Snape's eyes flickered to Cornelius Fudge, who flinched in response.
When Moody still made no attempt to move out of the way, Snape continued in a low, disdainful voice.
"Minerva has taken steps to ensure my safety."
Moody's natural eye widened in alarm. "You can't mean?"
Snape nodded and went past Moody to the door.
After Snape made it out the door, Harry turned back to see Cedric Diggory's father was approaching Professor McGonagall's chair from behind. Dumbledore was off to the side preparing port keys with Mr. Weasley and Mad-Eye Moody. Harry wanted to shout out a warning, but Neville started to move to intercept Mr. Diggory. Neither were necessary because before he could get closer, Professor Dumbledore whirled around to face Amos Diggory with a look of pure fury.
"Was there something else, Amos?"
Amos Diggory's eyes traveled from the back of McGonagall's chair to Dumbledore and back again. Professor McGonagall tried to ignore him, never turning to face him.
"Dumbledore may be here to protect you now, but he won't live forever. You would do well to remember what has happened to other women who liked to play at causing wars. When it was all said and done, remember what happened to Helen of Troy."
Moody escorted Diggory off of the premises while Dumbledore finished the port keys.
Harry thought it odd, but said nothing when Dumbledore suggested to Mrs. Longbottom that until the wards at her home were further fortified it would be best if she and Neville stayed with the Weasleys. Mr. Weasley and Mrs. Longbottom stayed behind to pack up the children's items.
************************************
After the portkey to The Burrow had gone off , Mrs. Weasley went off to make new sandwiches to replace the ones left behind. Harry turned to Hermione.
"I know the Greeks won, but what happened to Helen of Troy after the war was over?"
Hermione looked down. "Her husband was supposed to kill her, but when he saw her, he couldn't. He brought her back to Sparta and they lived there happily for many years."
That wasn't quite the answer Harry had been dreading. That didn't sound like the kind of answer Cedric Diggory's father had been getting at.
Neville spoke up to finish the story. His voice was hoarse. "After her husband died, his successor cast her out for causing all that bloodshed. An old friend offered her refuge, but it was a trap. The friend had lost loved ones in the war and wanted revenge. Helen was crucified."