Chapter 28: Confrontation with Albus
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The next day was uneventful, however the day after was full of headlines. The one above the fold was: Fudge On The Take. The article that followed was all about the bribes he had taken during the course of his time in office. It listed who had given them and who had taken them. Not only that, but the money he had lined his pockets with from the ministry funds. Fudge's time in office was over.
It did state that there would be an emergency Wizengamot meeting on Friday, which was four days from then. That would be the same day of the raid, perfect in Tom's eyes. During that meeting they would call for a Vote of No Confidence on Fudge. Tom would put his hat in the ring then.
Lord Marvolo Slytherin was given credit as the whistleblower of the bribery going on at the Ministry. The small interview that Rita did was printed with the article, and his platform was given along with his bid for Minister.
The one below the fold was: Dumbledore's Dalliances, which told of his time with Grindlewald and a few of his other less notorious lovers. He had not been quite a celibate as he liked others to believe he had been. While not quite loose in his morals, he did like them young. In their mid-thirties.
It didn't help his reputation that all of his past lovers were what you would call bad boys. Every man Albus had been with had a record with the Aurors of some sort. Even if it was something petty like thievery.
Tom thought all this was hysterical. He laughed loud enough to set the Malfoys on edge. He decided it was time to see what was going on at the ministry. He needed to be seen there more often anyway.
He told Crabbe that he was headed there and had no need of him this day. Making his way to the ministry was an easy feat. He wandered around talking to anyone who caught his eye. He was replenished in some nice robes. Nothing like what he had met the minister in, but nice.
He talked to many people, including some Wizengamot members. He made sure to answer questions on how and why he did what he did. It was mostly lies, but he would just say that he wanted to come into a clean office and keep it that way.
A good deal of the politicians were all worried. Some of their friends were named in that article and they had never known that they were accepting bribes, or giving them, whichever the case may be.
"I never knew that he could do that," one witch said, Gabriella Damola, dabbing her elderly eyes with a handkerchief. "I've known him for years," she wailed, putting her head in her hands.
Tom did his best to comfort her and patted her back, with as little skin contact as possible. "I'm sure he is still a nice man," he tried to comfort her.
"How did you find out?" she asked him, having read it in the paper.
"Believe it or not, from the Minister himself. He was foolish enough to let me look at his books," Tom said, telling the partial truth. "He thought he was showing off, when in truth he was digging his own grave," he said, a chuckle played in his tone.
"I guess, the man is not a smart without his advisors," Gabriella said, wondering what ever happened to the two people who had held the minister's leash. Without them, the man was completely lost.
This was a scene that played out a few times, when he decided that he had done enough politicking for the day. He was making his way to the floo when… "Marvolo," he heard his name being called familiarly, making him turn. It was Black.
"Sirius," he said, looking around for Harry. He was disappointed not to see the teen. He knew it was unrealistic to see him every time he saw Black, but still.
"Harry isn't here," Black said, knowing that was who he was searching for. "He'll be with his friends in the Alley," he added, holding his hand out in a friendly gesture. He had just come from Bones' office. They had been going over some last-minute things for the raid. Sirius would be here that day, and they wanted to know where Remus would meet the group. He couldn't be seen coming here.
She was going to give Moody a portkey for him and Moony. The two of them would meet with the Aurors at the ferry. They would go to the island before the Death Eaters and wait for them in the prison. They would ambush them there. Remus and Alastor would then be responsible for holding off Albus and his group.
That was the plan as of now. He needed to tell Tom about it, so he was glad they had run into one another. He would take him with him to meet Harry and the kids. Then tell him on the sly.
Tom took the hand and shook it. "A day with his friends," he said, his tone inquiring. "It is about time he got out for a while," he added, thinking the boy had been cooped up too long.
"Yes, Neville and Luna are now good friends with him. Neville's birthday is the day before Harry's and it's coming up soon," Sirius said, reminding him that the summer was moving along. It was actually a few weeks away, but one couldn't plan too soon.
"Ah, I had forgotten," Tom admitted, not one to remember birthdays.
"They are just wandering around today," Sirius said, going towards the floos.
"Aren't you worried that a certain headmaster will try to kidnap him?" Tom asked, moving with him towards the exit, intent on finding the boy now.
"Remus is with them. He's got his three friends with him too," Sirius said, not as worried as Tom seemed to be. He was concerned about it, but not even Dumbledore would be that crazy, would he? "I was about to head that way anyway," he added, which was true. He had only stopped when he saw Tom.
"Did you not see the paper this morning?" Tom asked, looking at the man questioningly. "Albus might not be in his right mind right now," he explained when he got a blank face.
"Amelia must have felt the same way. She sent Tonks to oversee them as well," Sirius said as they made it to the public floo. Tom threw the floo powder in and went to the Leaky Cauldron. Sirius followed. "They should be in the bookstore," he said, leading the way.
They made their way to the store and found Remus with his eyes amber and glowing. He was staring down the street at none other than Albus Dumbledore.
"Where's Tonks?" Sirius asked, not seeing the Auror anywhere.
"I haven't seen her," Remus said, looking at Albus with pure hatred. He had once admired the man, but the closer he got to his wolf the more disgusted he felt with himself and angry he felt with the old man. He felt used and abused.
Albus was calmly walking down the street as if his love life had not been bandied about by the paper. A lot of gossiping was going on in his wake. There was whispering and finger pointing. He seemed to be immune to it. Tom thought that, knowing Albus, the old man thought they were whispers of admiration. He would not put it past the headmaster to think that.
Tom took up his position in front of Remus, making the werewolf fall to his right, and Black to his left. They stood in front of the store where the kids were inside watching the confrontation. Everyone seemed to feel the tension rising and were stopping and watching the coming conflict.
"Tom Riddle," Dumbledore said, pulling his wand, making everyone around him run and hide behind the nearest convenient thing. They didn't seem to go far, just behind posts or in stores. Like the windows would offer them protections.
"Marvolo Slytherin," Tom corrected with a nod of his head. He just stood there calmly as if he didn't have a wand pointed at his head.
"Sirius Black," Sirius said, making Tom and Remus chuckle. "What? I thought we were introducing ourselves," he said, looking around at all the hidden people.
"Not now, Sirius. Do you know who this is?" Albus asked, looking at Tom like he had a Yule present given to him early.
"Yes, this is Marvolo Slytherin," Sirius said, putting a hand on Tom's shoulder.
"Yes, as I said, I am Marvolo Slytherin, at your service. Though after reading this morning's paper, not all of your services," he felt compelled to add. "I don't swing that way," he said, keeping any form of disgust out of his tone. He could care less who Albus lay with, it was just the man was so old. The thought of it made him shudder.
"You may try to tell people a false name, but I know who you really are," Dumbledore said, his arm getting tired, but he would not put it down. However, he could not fire on a man who had not taken up his wand. "You are Tom Riddle," he stated, like everyone around him knew who that was.
"I am Marvolo Slytherin. I have all the paperwork that says I am," Tom said, looking around to all the listeners. "I have been to Gringotts, and they tell me that I am the last heir of Slytherin."
"So, you admit that you are Voldemort," Albus said triumphantly, ready to fire a spell at any second. His arm seemed to find strength again. He was prepared to fight to the death.
The uttering of the name Voldemort cause many to gasp and a few weaker people to shriek. They didn't understand why the headmaster was accusing this man of being the Dark Lord, he looked nothing like You-Know-Who. This was a distinguish man, not some bald no nose man who looked like a serpent.
"I never said any such thing," Tom denied, which was true he didn't say that. "I am not Voldemort," he added, his face completely blank, making the crowd gasp and shriek again.
"Come now, Tom, there is no need to hide now. I know who you are," Albus said, his arm started to lower from lack of strength. He noted that the teens were watching him from the store, and he knew that he had to get Harry out of here. "Sirius, get Harry and get out of here," he ordered the other man.
"Bugger off," Sirius said, not moving an inch.
"Don't you see the danger that he is in?" the old man said, desperate to get the teen from here. It was not time for the two to meet.
It was then that Harry came out of the store and stood next to Tom. "He's not Voldemort," he declared, putting his hand on Tom's shoulder. "Voldemort makes my head hurt. My head doesn't hurt when I'm around him," he said, looking around at all the people who were starting to come out of their hiding places. "This man is Marvolo Slytherin and a good friend of mine," he finished, looking defiantly at Dumbledore.
"Harry, you should have stayed in the store," Tom chastised softly. He turned his back on the headmaster. "You know there are people who are trying to kidnap you," he added, pointing to the man behind him.
"Not in front of all these witnesses," Harry said, his smile cheeky. "Besides, you needed someone to speak for you. Who better than the Boy-Who-Lived?" he said, still smiling like he was an imp.
"There is that," Tom said, pushing the boy to the side and then turning around and stepping in front of the teen.
By this time, Hermione, Luna, and Neville had come out of the store too. They took their places around the adults, mostly behind them, but to the side, enough to see what was going on. Hermione was torn. She was biting her lip with indecision. She had no idea what was going on or who to believe.
"Harry, come away from that man," Albus said, putting his wand down and trying for his grandfatherly tone. He failed; his fear was just too great. He was very concerned that his plans were falling apart, with Harry on Voldemort's side. That was the way to disaster.
"No, I don't think I will," Harry said, not moving from where the three adults were surrounding him. "I trust these three," he added, pointing to each man, who were all but baring their teeth at the old man. Well, Remus was baring his teeth.
"But that is the Dark Lord," Dumbledore protested, lifting his wand once again. He would fight them all to get the boy away from here.
"No, he is not," Harry said, trying to get to the front again, seeing that Tom was being threatened again. "Like I said, he is a friend of mine," he said, pushing at Sirius's arm to move.
"No, Harry, stay where you are," Tom ordered, keeping his cool. He never raised his voice or his wand. "Headmaster Dumbledore, have you completely lost your mind? You cannot go around accusing people of being Dark Lords without proof," he reprimanded, pointing his finger at the man like he was a toddler. "I have done nothing lately that would be construed as 'dark'." He said, lying through his teeth. Still, there was no proof.
"I'll vouch for him," someone said from the side. The crowd that had gathered, parted. Amelia Bones walked through. "I know Marvolo Slytherin," she said, glaring at Albus for pulling her from her office for disturbing the peace. "He is running for Minister," she added, having gotten that bit of news earlier.
"But, Amelia, he's the Dark Lord," Albus said, dropping his wand arm like it had been turned to stone. He knew he was in trouble if she was here. She never left her desk unless it was important.
"He's been nothing but a model citizen since I met him," she disagreed, giving the man a glare. "You, on the other hand, are wanted for questioning. Come along, Albus," she said, grabbing for his arm.
"Amelia, you cannot be serious," Albus said, jerking his wand back up to fire off a spell.
Bones took the wand from his hand and cuffed him in one motion. "You are disturbing the peace. I was having a nice quiet day at the office, when the call comes in that the man, we have been trying to corner, is making veiled accusations about one of our newer citizens and pointing his wand at him in public. Now, I have to take you in for questioning. You are not an Auror, it is not your job to apprehend criminals," she said, putting his cuffed hand down and linking it to his other hand.
"Amelia," Albus whinged, wondering if her snatching his wand out of his hand constitutes as beating him. He didn't think so, but he would not know for sure until he holds his wand again. "You cannot do this," he said, moving along with her as she moved along the street, the crowd moving out of her way. He could escape right now if he wanted to, but he wanted his wand back. He would see if he could talk his way out of it for now.
"I just need to ask you a few questions," she assured him. "You are not under arrest as of yet," she said, leading him to the apparation point.
"Then why have you cuffed me?" he demanded, yanking his cuffed hands apart to show everyone that they were indeed linked together.
"Because you are a runner," she answered him in a bland tone. "We have asked you to come in for questioning for a week now," she said as they got to where they were going. She took him by the elbow, and they disappeared.
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Harry and his group all took a deep breath and sighed. They hoped that Amelia threw the book at the man, but they didn't really hold out hopes that that would happen. Albus Dumbledore had a way of talking his way out of anything.
"Well, that was fun," Harry said, going to the front of the group. "Let's get some ice cream," he said, moving to the ice cream shop.
"I don't think it's a good idea to hang around much longer," Hermione said, looking around like someone else would jump out and accost them.
"Why?" Harry asked, not sure why she was scared.
"They just took the headmaster," she said, like it was a crime that the man had been taken in for questioning.
"He's been asked to come in for questioning for a while," Sirius pointed out as Tonks came up to the group. "Where have you been?" he asked his cousin.
"I got held up catching a purse snatcher. Why? What did I miss?" she asked, sidling up between Harry and Neville and throwing an arm around both of their shoulders. They both blushed. It made her day when she could embarrass them.
"Albus accused Tom of being Voldemort," Remus said, laughing at the teen boys' faces. He knew that Tonks like to get a rise out of the boys.
"And I missed that?" Tonks said, pouting, but letting the boys go to go and order their ice cream. She was replaced by Luna, who linked her arms with theirs. They didn't blush near as hard when she did it though.
"What I don't understand, is why he would do that?" Hermione said, giving Tom the side-eye. There must be something wrong with him if the headmaster didn't like him.
"He knew me from before," Tom explained, not mentioning that he attended Hogwarts. "We did not see eye-to-eye," he added, making sure to put some laughter in his tone. Like it was a friendly rivalry on his part.
"But he's the headmaster," she said, unsure why someone would question the man.
"And I am Lord Marvolo Slytherin," Tom said, like he was important. "That doesn't make me always correct," he said, his voice firm. "The headmaster is human. And once you get that through that pretty little head of yours, the better your life will be," he added, then moved to order some peanut butter and chocolate ice cream on a chocolate cone. He felt like something sweet right now.
Hermione was affronted. She had never been spoken to that way from an adult. She had had other kids tell her things like that, but never an adult. They liked to tell her that adults were to be respected and listened too. She would be keeping an eye on this man. She ordered a plain vanilla cone and moved off to join the other teens, who all seemed to have elaborate sundaes of different sorts. There were even fairies flying around Luna's.
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Amelia took Albus to an interrogation room. She took the cuffs off and had him sit. She took out a quill, ink, and parchment from the drawer and placed them on the table. She did all the legal jargon and started asking questions.
"Albus, why did you potion Harry Potter?" she asked, looking at him with inquisitive eyes. Her monocle was gleaming in the light.
"I never said that I did," Dumbledore tried to deflect. He wouldn't look her in the eye. He just glanced around the room like there were things to see in there, which there weren't. It was a plain room with a table, two chairs and a mirror.
"There were loyalty potions geared towards you and the youngest two Weasleys. Are you stating that they had something to do with it?" she asked, jotting down his answer, and what his demeanor was. Evasive.
"I can not confirm or deny what the Weasleys do," Albus said, once again deflecting the question. His eyes were still shifting everywhere but towards her.
One would think as accomplished a liar as him, he would be better at it. There was something definitely off about Albus. Amelia made sure to put that down as well. She was beginning to think that maybe there were a few ingredients missing in his cauldron.
"Albus, I am getting tired of your deflections. If you don't give me a straight answer, I will have no choice but to pour Veritaserum down your throat. Do not make me do that," she snarled, not liking having to threaten someone she once respected.
"I am the Headmaster of Hogwarts," Albus said, sitting up to his full height.
"That does not preclude you from the law," she snapped, writing it all down. "And you are suspended, remember. If we don't get to the bottom of the potioning then you will lose that title too."
"I am not guilty of anything nefarious," Albus protested, not believing he did anything wrong. In his eyes it was the right thing to do.
"I believe you believe that," Amelia said, writing that down. "However, what you believe and what the law is are two different things," she pointed out, then said, "Potioning a minor to be loyal to you and others is against the law." She glared at him and made him squirm.
"He needed to be loyal to me," Dumbledore stated, getting angry that she wasn't just taking his word for it. "He needs to be controlled by someone powerful. There is no one as powerful as me," he said, puffing out his chest.
"That may be true, but it's still illegal," she said, jotting that down too. "You just confessed to potioning a minor," she stated, taking the cuffs back out and going around the table. "You are therefore being placed under arrest." She went to put the cuffs on him, thinking he would let her like he had when she brought him here.
Instead, he ducked around the table and yelled, "Fawkes!" A flash of fire erupted in the room and the phoenix flamed in. Albus grabbed its tail, and they flamed out.
"Dammit!" Amelia exclaimed, slamming the cuffs on the table. There were no wards against phoenixes. Even if she had gotten the cuffs on him, he would have just escaped anyway. They were going to have to talk to the bird and explain to him that his friend was a lawbreaker. He would understand and not let him escape.
She knew that Albus was going to be at the raid, so she would get him when he was there. At least she still had his wand.