CHAPTER 2

Dumbledore paced around his office, a deep crease in his brow. Minerva McGonagall watched him circling them, her head spinning barely listening to the podgy faced man stood in front of her.

"Albus we have to act...ministries under a huge pressure...if this information leaks out it will be the end of us, I just cannot risk a death." Fudge reached out and wiped the beads of sweat on his forehead away. "Albus, Minerva, the ministry...well ok, I haven't been completely honest with you. Last week, as you know, Lucius Malfoy was released...yes he said, although you don't agree with the...bargaining we did," He said glancing at Dumbledore "Lucius gave us something...priceless, something we would never have imagined could, or would have happened. Lucius gave us names."

Minerva sighed, "Yes minister, so did others last time...and they went crawling back to him didn't they?"

Fudge waved an impatient hand "Not names of death eaters! Names! Names of victims! Names of whom you know who was planning to murder first. Not just the names, also by whom, where, when..."

There was a stunned silence before Dumbledore spoke. "Minister, whom may i ask was on that list?"

"That, Albus, as I am sure you are well aware, is the purpose of my meeting here. The names were...well shocking. They were..."muggleborns", if you like, and what is more-children. There are 7 in total, all belonging to Hogwarts School." There was a silence "Yes, a bit much don't you think? This proves you know who was planning on making a big entrance. The deaths were...shall we say public, and well… unpleasant, so to speak. The plans to enter Hogwarts are just unthinkable." He sighed. "Then is one more detail that is shocking. There is one person whom we thought would be a target who has not been mentioned." Dumbledore drew a breath. "Harry Potter" Sighed Fudge "Was not even mentioned."

No-one spoke for a few minutes. "That," Dumbledore said calmly "Is very interesting."

END OF SECTION

The great hall fell into hush as a weary looking Dumbledore rose from his seat. Ron raised his eyebrows slightly. Harry knew what he was thinking - Dumbledore never made announcements at Breakfast. Hermione's smiled twitched as Dumbledore began to speak.

"I shall be brief." He sighed "The Daily Prophet, as many of you may know, have given fire to rumours of a muggleborn/"pureblood" separation is to take place at Hogwarts. For those who have not read this article it is on page twenty-one of the daily prophet and..." Harry stared-Page Twenty-one "...so after my meeting with Mr Fudge this morning, i can assure you that no such separation will take place." Harry glanced at Malfoy who was mouthing angrily at Dumbledore. "Voldemort," Dumbledore said calmly "Has attacked no-one. There is no evidence to suggest more attacks on muggleborns." Dumbledore held up a hand "The mere fact that he does not like them is insignificant. Voldemort does not like a lot of people, but has not attacked them." Harry saw a few eyes flicker in his direction. "Thank you, please continue eating." Dumbledore smiled.

Hermione beamed at Dumbledore. "Told you so. When has he ever let us down?"

Harry wasn't convinced. "Don't you think its strange Fudge even suggested a separation? They didn't do it last time Voldemort was in power did they? I know hens an idiot...but it seems so random."

"Exactly." Ron muttered "Exactly.