Chapter 2: Infra dignitatem
Thanks to everyone who read and left a review. I assure you that there is a perfectly good explaination for everything in the fanfic... it's just a little warped, but I guess that's why it's called an AU. ;) Anyway, thank you so much for reading and commenting and I hope that you'll like this chapter.
Bladefanatic - I'm happy that you're happy that I'm writing Luna. And nicely spotted about the line, I love the way Tom Felton says it in the movie so I had to include it but in a different context.
elvencherry07 - Yes, evil is much more fun to read about and write. ;)
"I was told by the servants that you were here," Bellatrix said as she pulled down the hood of her dark blue robe. Her thin lips stretched into a smile that looked more like a smirk as she walked up to Harry. "How is my little boy?"
Without any warning Bellatrix drew Harry into a quick hug and an airy kiss on the cheek. Harry felt somewhat relieved when she pulled away from him. As much as he valued his adoptive other, he did not like being called little and hugged like he was still a child. Nonetheless, he forced a smile to his lips.
"Mother, please. I'm nineteen."
"If you say so, Harry," Bellatrix answered in an absentminded way that lead Harry to think that she'd still greet him the same way next time she came for a visit.
Harry crossed his arms and watched Bellatrix as she kept turning around to get a better look at the Great Hall. It occurred to him that Bellatrix had also gone to Hogwarts once. The thought of it was almost amusing, he could not imagine her running down the hallways or sitting in those now empty classrooms and practising simple levitation spells. For as long as Harry could remember Bellatrix had been strong and proud, to think of her in any other way was impossible.
"That used to be the Slytherin table," Bellatrix told, pointing to the long table placed to their right. "You would have made a fine Slytherin."
"So I've been told."
Bellatrix merely smiled and started to walk about the Great Hall.
"Why didn't you let me and Rodolphus know that you were coming back?" she asked.
"There wasn't any time to owl anyone," Harry replied. "Lord Voldemort requested my return immediately and I had hardly the time to finish my business before returning."
"So you're here to stay?"
Harry merely nodded and Bellatrix looked extremely pleased with his answer. As one of the dark lord's right hands, Harry doubted that Bellatrix had not known of his return. The fact that she came to visit him so soon made Harry suspect that Bellatrix had been behind his return. She had never been the ideal mother, one that took care of the household and lived for her husband and children. But she was proud, strong, tough and cared for him. That was enough for him to think of her as his mother, although she was not by blood.
"How is Rodolphus?" Harry asked.
"Alive," Bellatrix answered with a sigh. "He has gone off to France... to assist Rabastan he said. I'm perfectly sure that he's assisting Rabastan in a world of wine and women."
She did not looked that sad about it, more like resentful and jealous. Harry chuckled lightly, remembering the dozen arguments they had had from his childhood. It had not taken long for him to realise that his adoptive parents were simply like that, always challenging each other and never satisfying the other by backing down. But that did not mean that they were not one in spirit and soul. The Lestranges were more feared than respected and their partnership was one of the most valuable things to Lord Voldemort's cause.
"I am sure Rodolphus isn't doing anything..." Harry paused after a few seconds and only spoke again after doing some thinking. "I'm sure he's well."
"Well indeed," Bellatrix smiled and returned to his side to sit down at the nearest chair. "Now, enough about him. Sit down, talk... tell me what you have been up to."
"Don't you mean what I'm planning to do now that I'm back?"
"If you want to skip the small talk, then yes."
He knew Bellatrix too well and had guessed her intentions the very moment he had discovered that she was there in the Great Hall. She had a reason for coming and it was not to mother him and ask him to come to the house for a nice mother and son dinner. It was typical of her, but he wasn't complaining. Some of his classmates at Durmstrang had mothers like that and he wondered how they put up with that kind of smothering attention.
"I have no plans yet," Harry revealed. "I plan on getting things in order here first before deciding on something."
"I think some things have already been decided for you," Bellatrix smiled again and suddenly Harry felt worried. "Malfoy... Lucius, that is. He has pressed the issue for us to recruit more people. Personally I think it is unnecessary, there is no one standing in our way unless you count that puny Resistance faction."
"That's great but that does that have to do with me?"
"He's pulling strings in the media and thinks that if the public gets better information about us they are more likely to show us their support. Lucius wants you to be the face of this campaign."
Harry simply stared at Bellatrix, eyes a little wider than usual. He did not know whether to get angry or start laughing and ask Bellatrix to congratulate Lucius on his fine but weird sense of humour. If anything Bellatrix seemed amused by the whole thing and his reaction to it.
"Why... how the hell did he come up with that?"
"Oh, don't be surprised," Bellatrix laughed. "You are the only heir of the Dark Lord. He took you in despite of your mudblood mother. You are young, powerful and you will not walk in the same foolish steps your parents did. Who else would be a better candidate?"
"Anyone but me," Harry muttered.
As much as he was flattered by what Bellatrix had just said, the thought of becoming a spokesperson did not appeal to him. He was not one who sought and enjoyed attention, a reason why he had been grateful for Lord Voldemort arranging for him to study abroad.
"You could refuse," Bellatrix said casually. "But I suppose that you'd have to owl Lucius and tell him to cancel."
Harry looked at her curiously.
"Cancel what?"
"Just an interview for the Daily Prophet."
Unknown to Harry and everyone else in the castle, a lone figure slipped into a dark passage hidden by a statue. The darkness in the castle had been a great advantage to him, cloaking him from the eyes of a servant when he had accidentally dropped his invisibility cloak once. He was grateful that it was time to leave the castle, hiding around the shadows and trying to eavesdrop on conversations was not his idea of spending a Friday evening.
A little less than an hour later he was climbing up the hatch in the cellar of Honeydukes. He did not take time to see if he was alone. It was reckless, but to him just a waste of time. The owner of Honeydukes was aware of the passage and those who used it and could be trusted. He made the way through the shop and unlocked the door. Once he opened it, a powerful shower of rain met him. He stepped back momentarily, not expecting his body to be bombarded and soaked by tiny water drops, but then boldly headed outside.
The rain seemed almost violent, the way it came from down above with such force and in such quantity. Shivering with cold, he performed a simple locking spell on the door to Honeydukes. Once he was done, he turned around and ran as fast as he could. He stepped in muddy puddles as he ran and was well aware of the fact that he was drenched from head to toe.
Slipping around the corner, he got off the road to avoid anyone who might still be outside. Still, he thought it a little unnecessary since no one but him would be out in the rain and he was wearing an invisibility cloak. But it was faster that way and only a few minutes later he was standing in front of an old, shabby house with the windows firmly boarded up. In the dark and the rain the house was more frightening than ever, especially for a person who had grown up thinking that it was a house of terrible screams and dark forces. Forcing himself to stop thinking about it, he raised his hand and knocked on the two.
Two knocks, then stop and then another four knocks.
Three other knocks came from the other side of the door. He relaxed upon hearing them and shortly afterwards the door was opened by another young man who was only a few years older.
"Ron?"
Pushing past him, Ron quickly stepped inside the house and then slipped off his invisibility cloak. Upon Ron becoming fully visible, the other young man relaxed a little as well and closed the door.
"Glad you're okay. Five more minutes and I would have gone looking for you."
"I was fine, Cedric," Ron answered, trying to press the water out of the invisibility cloak by twisting it. When he realised that it was a lost cause, he just swung it over his arm. "Let's just get back to the others."
Cedric Diggory nodded and shortly afterwards they both disapparated from the house with a crack that was drowned out by the sound of the rain falling against the roof. A moment later they reappeared in a much warmer and not to mention safe place. Ron looked up slightly to see the familiar interior of the Burrow and almost smiled when the second thing he caught sight on was an old photograph taken one happy summer a few years ago. It did not mean anything special but there was something about coming home and seeing things that reminded him of what and who was important.
"Cedric, you're back!"
Ron turned around just in time to see a tall and slender girl with dark hair come running out of the kitchen and more or less throw herself into Cedric's arms. Cedric stumbled back and would have lost his balance if he had not fallen back against the wall. But when he had recovered from the surprise he simply smiled and whispered comforting words into the girl's ear.
The couple seemed to withdraw into their own little world with Ron standing there and watching them. However, it did not take long before he had someone else to turn his attention to. Another girl, this one with bushy hair, emerged from the kitchen looking extremely focused and determined.
"Ron! What did you find out?" Hermione asked immediately as she walked up to him from the kitchen. Ron frowned at her not very welcoming behaviour.
"Well, hello to you too..." Ron muttered, throwing both the invisibility cloak and his robe aside. They were both drenched and lay on the floor in a small puddle of water. Hermione paid no attention to his grumpy response.
"Well...?"
"We're in trouble," Ron started and walked through the hallway to get to the kitchen.
Once he entered the kitchen, he immediately caught sight of the rest of the group sitting around the kitchen table. Sitting closest to the window was Parvati Patil, who looked out the window and sipped a cup of tea once in a while. There was Neville Longbottom, who had taken the opportunity to read up on herbs and plants with healing properties, something that Ron had not seen him doing in a long time. Next to Neville was Ron's own sister, Ginny, who also happened to be the only one who did not officially belong to the group. If Ron had been the one to decide, she would not even belong to them unofficially.
"Ginny, get to bed," Ron simply ordered. He pulled out a chair and sat down, completely oblivious to Ginny's furious glares.
"You can't tell me what to do!" she called out.
"Mum and dad left me in charge!" Ron reminded. "We're going to talk here so go to bed!"
"Oh, let her listen, Ron!" a third voice broke in, revealing to be Hermione as she re-entered the kitchen. "She's heard everything we've said so far, might as well let her know this too. And you're dripping wet, why didn't you cast a spell?"
Ron opened his mouth to argue against both things Hermione brought up but a moment later found himself unable to say anything that could make both Hermione and Ginny back down. He closed his mouth and poured himself a cup of hot chocolate with a sour look on his face. Hermione simply rolled her eyes and sat down right across him on the other side of the table. Cedric entered the kitchen quietly, along with the girl, Cho Chang. They both sat down and eagerly waited for Ron to start talking.
"I eavesdropped on the servants," Ron told after a while. "Then I saw him myself. The rumours are true."
"Harry Potter is here?" Ginny asked, eyes wide.
Ron shot her a glare and Ginny just sat back quietly in the chair, knowing that she should just be quiet if she wanted to stay in the kitchen and hear what he had to say. After a large swallow of hot chocolate, Ron continued.
"Yes, he's here and he's turning Hogwarts into his private estate." Every word Ron spoke dripped of anger. "It's our Hogwarts, our school. And there he is, ordering his servants to tear things down and throw them out just because he doesn't like them!"
If he had not been holding his cup with both hands, he probably would have slammed one of his firsts against the table. Hermione, looking a little softer and more sympathetic, put her hand on Ron's shoulder.
"It's not fair," Neville said, his book already forgotten about.
"Hogwarts should have never been abandoned," Cho finished regretfully and glanced at Cedric, who just nodded.
"They'll get what they deserve for it," Parvati suddenly spoke, for the first time. Everyone looked at her and noticed how her voice was one of restrained anger. "There'll be hell to pay."
"Sign me up for that," Ron muttered and put down his empty cup on the table. "But that's not all. Lestrange was there, Bellatrix Lestrange. She was going on about this stupid campaign Lucius Malfoy has planned to get more people on their side and how Potter should be leading it."
Sighs seemed to echo around the kitchen with at least two or three pair of eyes rolling. Hermione looked the most frustrated of them all.
"Honestly, what are they going to say? 'Join the Death Eaters! Let us kill muggles and bond over getting glowing tattoos!' No one is going to fall for these... recruitings!"
"It's not going out and asking people to join, Lestrange said that they were using the media," Ron clarified. "They're fixing an interview with Potter in the Daily Prophet."
"I don't think it's been written yet."
Everyone suddenly looked towards the doorway, where the newest member of the group stood. They had yet to grow used to her presence, which was why no one had noticed that she was the only one missing. But everyone felt a collective pang of guilt for forgetting about her, except for Ron who had not had the opportunity to meet this new member yet.
"That's Luna," Hermione explained upon seeing a slightly puzzled look on Ron's face. He appeared to be staring at Luna and Hermione did not know whether to feel confused or jealous about it. "She's new."
"Okay..." Ron answered, still looking at Luna. "Are those radishes hanging from your ears...? OW!"
Hermione pulled back after pinching his arm and turned to back Luna, who calmly sat down next to Cho.
"Have you heard anything about this article?"
"No," Luna answered. "I've been working there for a week and no one has mentioned it."
"Good," Hermione said, obviously pleased. "Keep both eyes open for it and let me know as soon as you hear anything about it. If you can, find out who's going to write it."
Luna nodded and helped herself to a cup of chocolate and a biscuit. All was quiet for a while with no one having any further questions until Ginny, who had forgotten the whole part about being quiet, unexpectedly spoke.
"I don't understand, why is this article so important?" she asked, looking at Hermione. "Wouldn't it just be the same kind of things they print out anyway?"
"It's a bit more complicated than that," Hermione answered thoughtfully. "They'll probably make Potter look like some sort of blessed child, going on about how kind You-Know-Who was for taking him in despite his parents and how he has risen above his muggleloving parents! They'll praise him to the skies and by that they'll make every other Death Eater look good as well." Looking extremely irritated with things, Hermione got up from the chair. "I'm going to write to Mrs Jones and tell her. We should just call it a night."
Agreeing with her, the group decided for the meeting to be over. Shortly afterwards Cedric, Cho, Neville, Parvati and Luna flooed back to their own apartments, leaving Ron, Hermione and Ginny alone in the Burrow. After Ron had changed into dry clothes, he came back downstairs and to the kitchen. By that time Hermione had sent the owl and had spread all kinds of maps and charts over the kitchen table. She sat there and marked down different spots on a torn map, occasionally glancing at the charts. She did not look up when Ron entered the kitchen, but heard his footsteps.
"You shouldn't be so harsh on Ginny, you know," Hermione said. "She just wants to help out and do something."
"I'm not," Ron answered defensively. "She's not a part of the Resistance."
"She's is as good as," Hermione retorted. "She's been around for as long as you have and the only reason you and your family won't let her join is because you all think she's too little and that she needs to be protected!"
"She does!"
Ron glared at Hermione when she just rolled her eyes, hating her inability to understand his reasons. It was not that he wanted Ginny to feel left out whenever they had business to discuss, but it was too dangerous for her. She was the youngest, she had never battled against Death Eaters and the more she knew, the more at risk she'd be.
Why am I the only one who sees that?! Ron thought angrily and turned away from Hermione, who had taken a short break from her work. "Well, do what you like," Hermione muttered and said nothing more, but it was clear to Ron that she would bring the subject again some other time. He crossed his arms, childishly refusing to sit down next to Hermione and help her with the maps like he had promised earlier that morning.
She would be a whole lot nicer if she wasn't so...
He could never really find that one perfect and right word to describe her.
Mondays were always the busiest days of the week. At least that what was Luna had been told her entire life. She did not quite understand it. When she had still been at school, Mondays had been somewhat relaxing to her because all her favourite classes took place that day. Now, when she was writing for one of the largest newspapers in the wizarding world, she still did not think of Mondays as stressful. Sure, people were running around the office like mad because there were not enough red memos to send and the blue ones were too slow.
But in the Mysterious Affairs And Sightings department all was calm and especially in Luna's own little corner. Mrs Carter was drinking from one of her mysterious bottles again and only cough once every five minutes. It was an improvement since last weeks, so whatever she drank had to help. Luna sat behind her own little desk and had received her fair share of work. As much as Mrs Carter enjoyed going to parties and gatherings, she had little energy left afterwards to actually turn her notes into articles. Instead she had given Luna that task and so Luna had piles of meetings and gatherings to summarize and write about. But it was not nearly stressful and it was not until an orange memo flew into the office that Mrs Carter remembered that they had almost missed the staff meeting that took place on every Monday morning.
Five minutes later, after Mrs Carter had decided on bringing a bottle made of red glass for her coughing, she and Luna sat in the meeting room. The meeting room's only furniture consisted of only a long rectangular table and several chairs lined up on its sides. Most of the reporters and photographers working at The Daily Prophet were present along with their notepads and folders. Almost all of them had brought a cup of coffee with them and as if it was not enough, there was a huge pot of coffee at one end of the table and a few unused cups. Luna wondered briefly if there was some sort of rule about drinking coffee that no one had told her about.
"Right, I guess we'll start now," Mr Philips, the editor of The Daily Prophet, said and sat down on one end of the table. "What do we have this week?"
One of the reporters raised a quill up in the air and Mr Philips gave an approving nod. Luna listened attentively although with very little interest when one reporter after the other brought forth their ideas for articles to publish other than the ordinary daily ones. She hardly wanted to admit it to herself, but for being reporters who had worked for years they did not impress her. Her thoughts wandered briefly to her father and Vanaheim Kuriren, the newspaper he wrote for back in Sweden. It was just a local newspaper, not groundbreaking but their articles seemed more solid and generally better than the ideas that were being discussed. Since when had The Daily Prophet turned into what felt like a daily newsletter from the ministry and Lucius Malfoy?
It was at the mention of Lucius Malfoy's name that Luna snapped back to the present and the meeting. She looked at Mr Philips, who drank enthusiastically from his big coffee cup. There was that coffee thing again.
"The minister of magic has requested that we interview Mr Harry Potter," Mr Philips announced and several glances were exchanged between the reporters. Mrs Carter, however, just drank from her bottle and was completely oblivious to what had just been said. "As you may or may not know, Mr Potter has returned from Siberia and Minister Malfoy insists that we show him the public attention he deserves. Mrs Carter?"
Mrs Carter coughed briefly and looked up. Mr Philips looked very uncertain and almost frustrated in a way. Perhaps he would start tearing his hair off soon.
"I trust that you will conduct this interview... since it is your department?"
"Oh yes... yes, of course," Mrs Carter answered and smiled quite innocently for a woman her age. Mr Philips did not look that assured by her answer.
"Good... um, good," he said, not looking that convinced. "Take Timmy with you and get a few good pictures."
Luna turned her head to her right and spotted a young man with mousy brown hair sit on the other side. One could not mistake him, Timmy, for anything else than a photographer seeing as he had carried a rather large camera with him into the meeting. His face was the kind that usually looked happy and excited but upon hearing Mr Philips his face seemed to pale and there was a distinct look of fear. Timmy only nodded in response to Mr Philips, as if he was too shocked to speak. Luna looked at him curiously and wondered what could make him look that afraid.