Chapter 8: Terror
(I am dedicating this chapter to Holly because she has been a very loyal reader, and reviewer, of both stories in this trilogy so far, though she needs to read my other ones I feel a great sense of gratitude towards her, because she had done nothing but praise my work, she stuck with both my stories, even their boring beginnings, and I thank her by dedicating this chapter to her, Thank you Holly)
The next week went over fine; Bellatrix was allowed to bring the baby home.
And it seemed to be a normal healthy baby (by magical standards that is)
Harry was busy at work as usual, and Hermione and Bella became very close friends.
Finally, it was Election Day for the new Minister of Magic.
The rules for election were,
The Heads Of Department were the nominees and were not allowed to vote.
The crowd of witches and wizards of ages 17 and older would vote on who, out of the seven department heads, they wanted as their leader.
Security forces were positioned all over the place.
Harry was sitting with the Delegation from the ministry and the six other nominees for minister.
On his right were the current minister, Amos Diggory, and some Daily Prophet reporters.
On his left were the other department heads.
Albert Wilbur, head of the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes.
Cuthbert Mockridge, head of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures.
Percy Weasley, head of the Department of International Magical Co-Operation.
Marietta Edgecombe, head of the Department of Magical Transportation.
Cho Chang, head of the Department of Magical Games and Sports.
And, Gerald Croaker, head of the Department of Mysteries.
Even though Harry was part of the delegation, he still had a job to do; he was still on the lookout, surveying the crowd.
Problem was, nothing was wrong.
Witches and Wizards all filed in to vote, and nothing at all went wrong.
When the vote was tallied, Amos Diggory looked it over, then went to the podium at the edge of the stage.
"Votes have been tallied!" he said into the microphone, "Here are the results!
In last place, Percy Weasly with 1 vote" everyone roared with laughter at this.
Amos went through the list and ticked off names one by one, till he got to the last three.
"in third place, Albert Wilbur with 260 votes"
"in second place, Cho Chang with 262 votes"
"and our new minister for magic, is Harry Potter, with BY GEORGE, 93,312 Votes!"
Harry almost toppled out of his seat, "WHAT?" he yelled.
Amos turned around, "Harry, would you like to step up here and say a few words?"
Harry rose on shaky legs and walked to the podium.
He adjusted the microphone and centered his voice before speaking.
"Well, I must say I'm flattered to think that I would get that many votes, honestly I was thinking Cho would win"
Harry said, motioning towards her.
People laughed and Harry continued.
"I never thought, never in my wildest dreams, that I would get this job,
but I have to say I don't want it, give it to Albert, or Cho, I love my job and I want to stay as head of this department" he said.
A murmur ran through the crowd, but Harry had made up his mind.
He loved where he was.
"I don't want to be the minister, I just want to be what I am, I like being an auror" he said.
Harry bowed slightly, and backed away from the podium.
Amos made his way back to the mike,
"Ladies and gentlemen, the law says that if the elected minister refuses position, then the second runner up gets the job." He said, "looks like our new minister for magic is Miss. Cho Chang!" he said clapping.
Everyone in the crowd clapped lightly, except those who had voted for Cho, they gave true applause.
After the election celebration finished three hours later, Harry apparated home, exhausted.
"HONEY I'M HOME!" Harry bellowed, forgetting that Bellatrix's little girl was in the house.
Hermione came bustling down the stairs, "Shhh… Rebecca's asleep!" she said, pressing a finger to her lips.
"Oh… sorry" Harry said, and then he leaned into Hermione giving her a peck on the lips.
"I was watching the election on TV" she said, "You did a smart thing, rejecting that job"
Just then, Bellatrix crept down the stairs.
"You would have made a great minister Harry" she said.
"Thanks Bella, but I don't want that responsibility" Harry replied.
"I'm surprised Ron didn't attack" Hermione said.
Harry nodded his agreement, "So am I 'Mione, so am I"
After a minute or two of quiet, Bellatrix broke the silence.
"Anyone in the mood for a cuppa coffee?" she asked.
Harry and Hermione nodded and Bellatrix swept into the kitchen.
Arry and Hermione seated themselves on the large, lush sofa and waited for Bellatrix to come back with the coffee.
Harry flipped on the TV,
"Wreckage in upstate London near the house of the well known nobleman Draco Malfoy…" Harry flipped the TV off before the reporter could say anything more.
He swore under his
breath, getting a nasty look from Hermione.
"What? It's not
like you don't do it!" he snapped, and she looked hurt.
"Sorry" Harry apologized; he kissed her on the cheek and dissapparated.
This time as he walked into auror HQ, he was pleased to see everyone working.
"Southern Tunisia was just attacked by Giants" someone said.
"It's a global attack, we've got attacks in Bulgaria, Italy, Spain, America, and Africa" someone said to Harry.
"HEY!" He yelled over the commotion, "Can anyone tell me if the Malfoy's are all right?" he asked.
"Yeah boss, we've got it confirmed they weren't home when the explosion went off" someone said,
"But their house was destroyed, along with half the street, 15 muggle casualties"
"Damn" Harry muttered, "what about Dark Mark witnesses?" Harry asked.
Someone shoved a paper into his hand and bustled off.
Harry looked down, it was a crime scene report.
The Dark Mark above the Malfoy manor crime scene, was dissipated, though not
Before three muggles saw it, their memories were modified, and they were sent to
St. Mungo's for recovery from magical sustained injuries.
Harry discarded the paper, "Anything else I should know about?" he asked.
Someone rushed forward, "We found this at the crime scene sir" she said, pushing an envelope into Harry's hand.
Harry looked down at the envelope.
Harry Potter was written on the front.
He flipped the envelope over, the Dark Mark seal was fastened to the back.
Harry tore open the envelope and extracted the letter.
I am the lord of darkness; nothing can stop me Harry Potter.
I'm surprised you didn't take the job as minister, I made sure you won the election, but
I never figured a power hungry like you would turn down the job.
Darkness will forever rule the light, and nothing you can do will stop me, already I control every
Death Eater that lives, in case you didn't know, that includes every German wizard alive.
My army is more vast than any army you could ever create, Darkness overshadows light.
Thousands of Chinese, millions of Germans, thousands of British, and over half a billion Americans!
I wasn't stupid enough to try something at the election, with your guard there.
But from here on out you will not be able to predict my attacks.
Because they will come swift and decisive, and know, those who oppose me will be dealt with harshly.
I am sending this letter to you as a warning Harry, and to every other head of ministry in the world, as a threat, as a chance to join me, as a threshold for the new world I will usher in!
Sincerely yours,
Lord Xanatos, ruler of darkness.
Harry re-read the signature three times, Lord Xanatos?
Since when did Ron have a title?
Since when did Ron write letters like that?
Harry knew that as long as he was breathing, Britain would never join Ron.
But what if it did come to an all out war?
He would fight.
That was the only option, he would fight.
Harry gave the letter to the head of his forensics squad, I want it analyzed, and if possible, traced.
The man nodded and set off for his cubicle.
"OY! TONKS!" Harry yelled.
She poked her head out of her cubicle and looked around for Harry, who was motioning for her to join him in his office.
Tonks stood, and made her way through the throng of Aurors rushing every which way.
"Wotcher Harry, you wanted to see me?" she said.
Harry opened the door to his office, and motioned her inside.
Tonks was head auror, and Harry needed to talk to her.
He conjured her a chair and she sat.
"What're you gonna do boss?" she asked quietly.
Harry held up a finger, "Hold on" he said.
He walked to his office door and opened it, "OY! Ramsey, can I see that letter?" he called.
His head of forensics handed him the letter and Harry retreated back into his office.
He handed the letter to Tonks, "Read" he instructed.
Her eyes widened as she read the letter.
"Harry, you and I both know Ron couldn't have written that!" she said when she finished.
Harry banged his fist loudly on the desk,
"THAT'S MY BLOODY POINT! THIS IS NOT RON! I KNOW RON! AND THIS IS BLOODY WELL NOT RON!" He shouted, making Tonks flinch under his prowess.
"What are we gonna do?" she asked.
"WE'RE GONNA BLOODY FIGHT IF IT COMES TO IT!" Harry yelled.
Harry saw the look of fear on Tonks's face, and apologized.
"I'm sorry, just so many losses, I'm afraid Ron's going to get hurt, or hurt someone" Harry said softly.
Suddenly a pounding on his door hit his ears.
He flung the door open and got smacked in the face by someone's fist.
"WATCH WHERE YOU'RE BLOODY KNOCKIN' WILL YA!" He roared.
"Sorry" the young man squeaked, he looked no older than 17.
"What did you want so bad that you had to punch me in the face?" Harry asked.
He heard Tonks laugh behind him.
"Sorry sir, but I had orders to come give you a message from Director Wilbur" he said.
No sooner had the words left his mouth than Harry tore the letter out of his hands and ripped it open.
On it was a brief message.
Very regrettable incident, usually the American ministry would take care of this but there hands are full at the moment, renegade uprisings you know.
That big bridge in San Francisco, I forget the name, well anyway, it collapsed, and some reporter got a picture that we intercepted, you should see it.
Harry discarded the letter, and dumped the picture out of the envelope.
He looked at it for a minute.
The great Golden Bridge had been snapped in two, cars were crashing into the Pacific Ocean, and atop all the wreckage, once again, was the Dark Mark.
Standing below the bridge, on a little patch of land, was Ron himself.
"Damn it!" Harry yelled, "I gotta go Tonks, we'll talk later"
And he dissapparated with a Pop
"MRS. WAESLEY!" Harry yelled as he appeared in the kitchen of the Burrow.
After a second, Ron's mother bustled down the stairs.
Mrs. Weasley's hair had grayed over the last few years, and her age was starting to show.
"Harry dear!" she said, as cheerfully as ever.
Harry held up a hand, "Mrs. Weasley the nature of my visit isn't friendly" he said.
She suddenly stopped, "What is it?" she asked.
Harry sighed; this was not going to be easy.
"When was the last time you saw Ron?" Harry asked.
"Why? Has something happened? What's wrong?" she asked.
Harry sighed again, "Nothing's wrong I just need to know where he is" Harry said, Molly started to speak but Harry held up a silencing hand, and continued.
"Nothing is wrong with Ron, Molly this is going to be kind of hard on you, so please sit down" he said.
Molly pulled up a chair, and Harry pulled one up for himself, they both sat and Harry went on.
"The attacks that have been happening all over, those are connected Molly; they aren't just random attacks by different organizations. Yes Voldemort is dead…" she flinched and Harry continued,
"But a new Dark Lord has risen, and he's rallied more support than You-Know-Who ever even dreamed of, read this" Harry handed her Ron's letter.
She read and gasped, "Who…What is he?" she asked.
Harry handed Molly the picture, "Ron" he said simply.
She looked at the picture and gasped, "How could he?" she asked, before laying her head on the counter and bursting into sobs.
Harry laid his hand on her shoulder but she shook it off.
Harry took this as a sign that she wanted to be left alone, so he left.
"HONEY I'M HOME!" He yelled.
Harry knew what he had to do, and he was going to do it.
Hermione rushed into the living room and gave him a kiss.
She must have sensed his tension because she asked him what was wrong.
"I've got to leave for a few days" was his only answer.
He leapt up the stairs, three at a time and bounded into his bedroom.
He summoned a traveling bag.
He loaded some clothes, his cell phone, his laptop, his toiletries, a big bag of gold, and everything else he needed.
"Where are you going?" she asked as he slung his bag over his shoulder.
"To America" he said, handing her the picture of Ron, and his letter.
"Oh my gosh" she whispered, "you can't go alone"
Harry shook his head, "I'm not" he said, he kissed her goodbye and apparated back to his office.
"TONKS, RAMSEY, DRAKE, STROKER, CARPATHIS, STONE! YOU'RE COMING WITH ME!" Harry yelled.
No questions were asked as he instructed them on which airport to apparate to.
Harry followed and apparated to the airport where they would buy tickets.
Ok, I'm gonna write a short authors note here, I just want to thank all my readers and reviewers,
(Especially Holly!)
I'm sorry I haven't been writing a lot, Felecia had a car accident Friday night, and I've been at the hospital with her every day for as long as they would let me stay (she's ok) I brought my laptop with me and typed a little, but I just wasn't up to writing, seeing her like that.
She broke her leg and four ribs.
She got out today, so I wrote a little more, hope you like.
In addition, to Holly, you have a surprise coming in the next chapter.