The disclaimer is in the first chapter. Barchoke belongs to RobSt. Bernard and Bloodfist to me. If you find some similarities to Strugglemuggle's works. Then you realized I love his work too, and I sent him a heads up.
A big Thank You to the Higher Power. My love and gratefulness to my Mom and Son for humoring me and accepting my quirks.
I love writing, and my birthday is just around the corner. So, I gifted myself with a short sexy, and lemony Harmony story. Uh, not part of this Tale, but I promise I will deliver.
I want to say thanks to my team of super friends, Noppoh, SlytherinSal, Marc the Unruly, and most recently The Deathly Minion. For their help, on this story a hand to them, please. Minion, you have been cheering this story nonstop, and you even got me more readers. Thank you, dear.
A todos aquellos lectores anonimos que se sigan quejando de mi gramatica y ortografia, en Ingles. De antemano comparto que mi idioma materno es el Castellano (Spanish.) Asi que si estoy conciente de mis limitaciones, pero puedo poner este cuento en espanol y entonces seguro que lo van a entender mejor.
Special announcement. To all of those Guests (Anonymous reviewers) that continue nagging me on my English Grammar and Spelling, keep in mind that my native tongue is Spanish. I am quite aware of my shortcomings, but I could also share this story in Spanish altogether and I know all the malicious anonymous reviewers, TROLLS will understand the story better. There is that clear enough?
Distracted Trolls and malicious Trolls will be erased. And worry not I already took care of the last remark.
To the rest of you, enjoy!
I welcome reviews.
-oo0oo-
Chapter 10. Unveiling the enemies of Lady Black aka Mary Simmons.
1 October 1991
MOM
Wizengamot ordinary session.
London UK
8 am.
Lady Augusta Longbottom slammed her gavel three times as she declared the October session opened. She was acting as chief Warlock in absence of Albus Dumbledore.
The chamber became quiet at the sound of the gavel.
"Welcome to the October Session of the Wizengamot in the year of Nineteen Ninety-one. I would like to take note that this session seems to have fewer members than usual, but enough to have an equal footing on votes, a rare situation. One can only wonder what kept so many other members out unless they're uninterested in making a change or helping magical Britain."
Everyone present took notice of the other members, and true to her speech, the chamber seemed to contain McLaggen, Burke, Ogden, and Zabini for the traditionalists or Dark faction, Fortescue, Greengrass, Jones, and Olivander for the Neutrals or Grey, and Abbott, Bones, Diggory, and Longbottom for progressives or Light.
"Our first item on the docket is the reading of the will of James and Lily Potter on the clause of the Fidelius Charm applied to their cottage and the clearing of the name for the Secret Keeper. I have here the certified copy of the Potter's will, the document provided by the Godmother of the child Harry James Potter (presumed missing), Lady Alice Longbottom, we will focus only on the Fidelius Enchantment. Any objections?"
Everyone was mute at the reading since they all believed the Potter line deceased, regardless of the Boy-Who-Lived books. An urban legend. Still, everyone knew that the Secret Keeper was Sirius Black, this tidbit a public secret. Imagine everyone's surprise when it was revealed that the Potter's Secret Keeper was Peter Pettigrew instead.
Amelia Bones stood and said, "With the recent unlocking of the Potter's will and the knowledge that Sirius Black was never at fault, I would like to strike off the warrant for his arrest immediately as well as his wanted status. My question is, Lady Alice, what kept you from providing this piece of evidence before today?"
Lady Alice nodded and replied, "As you remember, Madame Bones, Frank and I were attacked shortly after the Potters and the Manor suffered a fire. The Goblins reached out recently and asked if we had agreed to let Albus Dumbledore take family heirlooms belonging to the Potters, as I am the godmother, and they provided a copy of the will in question. Apologies to Sirius Black for that terrible miscarriage of justice."
"Indeed, and if it was so easy to attack a pureblood name and a family, the way the late Potters, the Longbottoms, and Sirius Black all suffered, imagine how easily we can turn our eyes and ears away from aiding other families suffering in the same conditions and injustices? I second the motion proposed by Madame Bones," added Amos Diggory.
"Order!" Augusta banged her gavel again. "When I point to you, state your name and your vote yea or nay in the matter of the clearing of the name of Sirius Black and the annulment of the warrant for his arrest and wanted status in magical Britain. We'll start with you, Lady Abbott."
Everyone waited for the votes to be counted.
"I count twelve votes in favor, no nays. Scribe, please confirm?" asked Augusta.
"All members approved the motion. The votes were provided by McLaggen, Burke, Ogden, Zabini, Fortescue, Greengrass, Jones, Olivander, Abbott, Bones, Diggory, and Longbottom, for a total of twelve votes in favor. Aye, Chief Warlock."
"Motion to clear the name of Sirius Black and strike off his warrant for his arrest and wanted status in Magical Britain has passed." Augusta banged her gavel loudly to a smiling Alice.
"Next on the docket is the immediate trial In Situ for the Secret Keeper for the Potters, one Peter Pettigrew, followed by a sentence," said the Chief Warlock.
A bald and clean Peter Pettigrew in magic suppressing cuffs and a prisoner's shift was transported in a semi-petrified form to the chamber and chained to a seat. All he could move were his eyes. It wasn't difficult to see that the man was a Death Eater since he had his forearms out in the open. Even those dim enough could see that the man was straining to get away. The head Warlock's eyes grew glacial as she received a note from the scribe. She raised the note and read. "The captive Peter Pettigrew has been restrained and is in magical cuffs because he is an unregistered animagus; his form is a brown household rat. Thank you for the valuable information, Madame Bones."
After veritaserum and a confession, even the traditionalist faction wanted to hang Pettigrew by his genitals for such a terrible betrayal of the Potter family and the boy left an orphan. It was the fastest, most open and shut judgment of a traitor in magical Britain's recent history. Amelia acknowledged the order of execution and, after his confession, the man received a lethal dose of basilisk venom, an ancient yet effective method of killing traitors brought back from older times. After he perished, the remains were carried away to be cremated.
"The last item on the docket is the proposal by the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, to have an Inquisitor representing the Ministry in the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The candidate for the job would be one Dolores Umbridge, currently the undersecretary for the Minister, is that right?" read the Chief Warlock Augusta Longbottom.
"Hem, hem, hem," was heard from a seat to the side of the members. Everyone could see the Chief Warlock hated the aforementioned Umbridge and the sound of her voice. However, she kept her own voice level, turned her gaze to the undersecretary, and replied to her, "Yes, Miss Umbridge, we are talking about the Minister of Magic's proposal. But keep in mind that you are not part of this Assembly, therefore, you have no voice. Be silent or be thrown out, your choice?"
Dolores went pale with rage but nodded her agreement. Chief Warlock turned to a member next to Umbridge and said.
"Now, Minister Fudge, the reason that I'm questioning the idea that Miss Umbridge would be a sound candidate is that, according to a ministerial agreement, a worker for the ministry cannot have two different job assignments. Either she is an undersecretary or she is an inquisitor at Hogwarts, is that clear enough for you?" asked Augusta.
"Ah, well, I don't think we will have a problem then. She can be an inquisitor until the end of the school year, and after her summer report, she can resume her post of being my undersecretary," said a bumbling Minister.
"The question being, why is the Ministry so interested in Hogwarts now, compared to before?" asked Alice Longbottom.
"There are rumors that the castle is crawling with strange and dangerous creatures, and we need to make sure that they do not place the students in danger," answered Fudge.
"Correct me if I'm wrong, but they place an inquisitor to investigate the castle, the personal and security measures, and then he or she places a notice of the changes made by the inquisition on a board. That might have worked back in the dark ages, but it's nonsense nowadays. That was a procedure in use before the floo network or a press person," said Alice Longbottom. "This proposal is unnecessary. The school is independent of the ministry, and that is for good reasons. I would not want my son spouting platitudes supporting a government that is far from perfect. It seems to me that we would trade the blood supremacy movement, so popular in the seventies, for a totalitarian regime. Now, while that is said, I understand if the Minister is interested in the safekeeping of our children, and I can agree with that. I propose the ministry makes an official visit on Halloween, and yes, he can appoint Miss Umbridge to be that official ministry person, since that is the closest date to a social visit on the school calendar. It's just bad luck that Albus Dumbledore played hooky today," said Alice with a hint of annoyance.
Augusta was close to smiling and breaking her image of a stone lady, but her eyes radiated pride in her daughter-in-law. She nodded after her last statement and banged her gavel. "Order, I will ask and take votes for the proposal of the position of Inquisitor for Hogwarts, now please state your name and say yea or nay."
After counting the votes, Augusta said, "One vote for yes and eleven for nay, is that right scribe?"
"Yes, Chief Warlock. One vote in favor of the motion from Ogden and eleven votes from McLaggen, Burke, Zabini, Fortescue, Greengrass, Jones, Olivander, Abbott, Bones, Diggory, and Longbottom. For a total of eleven votes against the motion. Aye, Chief Warlock."
"The motion is denied. Next is the counter-proposal of an official visit on Halloween, by the minister's Undersecretary Miss Dolores Umbridge. Again I will ask your name and vote yea or nay on this matter."
After the counting of the votes.
"One vote against and eleven on yes, and again Mr. Ogden stands alone to an opposition of the rest of the chamber, is that correct scribe?" asked Augusta.
"Aye, Chief Warlock, McLaggen, Burke, Zabini, Fortescue, Greengrass, Jones, Olivander, Abbott, Bones, Diggory, and Longbottom said yes and Ogden said no."
"Very well, the motion is approved for the official visit from Miss Umbridge to Hogwarts at the end of the month of October. This concludes our ordinary session for the month of October in the year of Nineteen Ninety-One and I am looking forward to our next session. Ladies and Lords of the Wizengamot, invited guests and to the media, good day to you all."
The sound of the room became deafening after the closing of the session, as the press descended on Madame Bones and Lady Alice Longbottom. Questions that were deemed rude were asked of Minister Fudge, including his need to investigate children using a toad hag in pink to scare them. Just as Fudge was about to answer, Rita Skeeter blinked and waved to him. The Minister realized the nosy bint was close, and as she had a knack at catching him in embarrassing moments, the Minister decided that the best course was to retire and prevent a very possible blunder.
((((~o~))))
1 October 1991.
Diagon Alley
Gringotts
Goblin Offices of the Potter Accounts.
London, UK.
12 pm.
Bernardo and the Senior Administrator for the English Potter account, Barchoke, had feral smiles on their faces. The past decade had proven to be fruitful for both goblins. It was then that the administrator of the Black account knocked and was greeted by the two goblins.
"Bloodfist," said the two in the office as they greeted the newcomer.
"Barchoke, Bernardo, I have news. The reporter Skeeter just replied to my letter, stating that she will make a visit within a couple of hours," said Bloodfist.
"That sounds like a fantastic evening in store for you. Could we impose and provide the woman with a juicy tidbit so she can sink her teeth in further and make a bigger scandal for our enemies?" asked Bernardo.
"I can accommodate you, plus, I can't wait for those blood feuds to make a stand. As soon as Lord Black's name was cleared, the paperwork for the feuds was filed with the Ministry. Everyone was so busy with the Wizengamot, no one blinked at the content nor the messengers. As usual, the wizards rarely read the small print on the back page of the Daily Prophet, but as long as we make the feuds public, regardless of the size in the print, the information will stand," said Bloodfist.
"I can see why Lady Black is so fond of your method," said Barchoke.
"She is one in a million," said Bernardo.
"You met her first?" asked Bloodfist to Bernardo.
"I did, back then she walked into the Potter office with young Harry. With a cold manner and a powerful set of eyes, she cried for justice for the child, but then the boy asked for sustenance and all her coldness and anger melted and gently she uncovered her chest and began feeding the boy and something beautiful yet unique took place. Harry's magic manifested and the love the two displayed for each other made them glow. I wanted to cry. I thought magic like that was only a thing for goblins, but magic is for all who received the blessing from the gods, and I knew. I would help her with her quest, and bury anyone who stood against her or house Potter," answered Bernardo.
"You have to admire her dedication to the quest. She has neutralized almost all of the wandering Death Eaters. She has located the majority of the Horcruxes and she is ready to let all of her enemies reap their just reward. I can't wait," said Barchoke.
"She could have left the messy job to the blood-hungry like Sirius, Remus, or Frank, even Snape. But no, she is the type of witch that would be the judge, jury, and executioner when the time is ripe," said Bloodfist.
"And, the time has never been more ripe than today. She made a promise and so did I. Let the enemies of Potter and Black choke on their blood to pay what they took from magic, so mote it be," said Bernardo.
"So mote it be," answered in stereo, Bloodfist and Barchoke.
((((~o~))))
1 October 1991
Diagon Alley
London UK.
6 PM
Newspaper article in the evening edition of the Daily Prophet.
Special Edition.
The old King is dead, long live the new Queen! Or, how the women made the choices the men refused to take in the ordinary session of the Wizengamot.
Article by Rita Skeeter.
My darling audience, it is with great joy that I direct my trusty acid green quill on this extraordinary printing today. Now, before we continue, there is no old king and new queen. I was just overjoyed at the results of the Wizengamot Ordinary Session that I could not contain my happiness, which was a general feeling for all the media and news members attending on this the first day of October.
Now, let me tell you, imagine that for a second someone gains a bad reputation, and for years and years that person cannot defend because of circumstances beyond their control. That person, he or she remains in exile, in order to avoid being taken to Azkaban if he or she shows even their shadow. And, one day, a greedy little goat decides to steal from a seemingly dead family home, only to be stopped by the guardians of that patrimony at his malicious intent. The guardians of said fortune then contact the one person that can help sort everything out. Well, that is exactly what happened. You see, my darling readers, the first item on the docket for this seemingly ordinary session was to clear the name of one Sirius Orion Black, the alleged Secret Keeper for the Potter family.
I could not believe my ears, nor my eyes, when a partial certified piece of the last will of James and Lily Potter was brought out to be read at the Session. This piece of parchment revealed that Albus Dumbledore was the enchanter for the Fidelius spell and that Peter Pettigrew was the secret keeper, not Sirius Black. After the reading of that document, you could feel the tension in the hall amount to a thickness only found in treacle tart. It was then that the courageous Madame Bones asked for the annulment of search and wanted status of Sirius Orion Black. Afterwards, she asked Lady Alice Longbottom, the woman with the explosive information, to please explain why this bit of information was being unveiled only now. Lady Longbottom said that the Goblins had recently contacted her due to Albus Dumbledore being detained in Gringotts for trying to steal from the Potter belongings. I'm sure by now everybody understands the comparison between the old goat and the headmaster. Who, by the way, was not presiding over the Wizengamot session.
But, as I was saying, out with the old and in with the new. Lady Augusta Longbottom took the gavel and gave the world a lesson on how to handle annoying toads and bumbling ministry workers. Oh my, slip of a tongue, I mean Minister Cornelius Fudge, but who cares about him. Somehow, I was reminded of an old milk horse losing sight of the road and going left instead of right.
Where was I? Oh yes, then, the most amazing thing happened, because the next item on the docket was the trial and sentencing of Peter Pettigrew. Yes, my darling audience, the miserable rat who decided to sell the Potter family to He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named was actually caught and ready for sentencing. You might be wondering if I'm being rude with my description of that specimen, but the man in question, (BIG Question), was brought in a semi-petrified state and in magical cuffs because he was an unregistered animagus and his shape was a household brown rat. After the traitor took veritaserum, he made a horrifying confession of how he became a Death Eater, and no, he wasn't magically compelled on any level. The rat confessed he wanted to kill the Potters because it would mean he would get the spoils, but since his dark lord wanted the family first, he didn't oppose it and handed them over on a silver platter.
There wasn't a soul that wasn't affected by the blatant greed shown by Pettigrew. I was tempted to get a pike and a torch and burn the creep, but here is where the majestic Chieftainess Warlock in situ took the gavel and gave the chamber the chance to do something to honor the Potter's. The Assembly did a historic thing: they all agreed that the man was guilty and sentenced him to immediate death by basilisk poison. The sentence was carried out in place, and even though Pettigrew's demise will not bring the Potter Family back, everyone felt so much lighter and at peace after the facts and numbers prevailed in a just system we can all trust.
Again, it's my joy and privilege to write for you all, and feeling a bit more proud to be an English Witch, yours truly.
Rita S.
2 October 1991
Morning Edition of the Daily Prophet.
The lies and manipulations of Albus Dumbledore.
Article by Rita Skeeter.
My dear readers, it is with great sorrow that I write this piece today. Words seemed too little to describe the utter shock at unveiling a conspiracy and to have it all point back to one man who had for so many decades been held as a grand political person of interest.
I was contacted by the goblins and was given a preview of the evidence package being sent to the DMLE for processing. In this package was a certified copy of the last will of James and Lily Potter. In particular, the clause in which Albus Dumbledore signed the document acting as a witness of the last will and testament. After the will, there was a note highlighting the name of Peter Pettigrew as Secret Keeper. Sirius Black was a decoy. The package also contained a memory from the person that delivered baby Harry J Potter to Albus Dumbledore, and when he was left on a doorstep as nothing more than a bottle of milk on the first day of November in the year 1981. A basket, the same one in which the baby Harry Potter was taken to a strange home and a letter written by A. Dumbledore, the wizard who compulsed these items. The above items provided by the victims of the conspiracy, these last a couple of unwilling relatives of the late Lily Potter.
I cannot imagine the reasoning behind such a Machiavellian maneuver. But one thing is clear, Albus Dumbledore never does things without a reason. He was caught trying to steal from the lost Potter heir, and his behavior reminds me dearly of the deceased Pettigrew. Could it be that these two birds were of the same feather? The proof of the conspiracy was sent to the ICW, as well, and they responded swiftly. Will the Wizengamot do the same?
I feel sick. We lost the Potters and several others in the last war, but could we be so blind as to have trusted the wrong man for so long? The evidence points clearly to a culprit. Will he do the honorable thing and make a magical oath to clear his name, I wonder?
I leave you, my readers, with a heavy heart and a buzzing brain brewing with doubts.
Yours truly.
Rita S.
On the last page of the newspaper, in a small almost invisible font, a blood feud notice read, 'The Ministry of Magic acknowledges the blood feud between the ancient house of Black and the noble house of Potter against Tom M Riddle aka The Dark Lord Voldemort and all of his branded Death Eaters, Bartemius Crouch Sr., Cornelius Fudge, Albus Dumbledore, and Dolores Umbridge, for the crimes committed against their families.'
((((~o~))))
2 October 1991
The Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry.
Scotland UK
7 am.
Albus Dumbledore could hardly believe the newspaper or the letters he had received from the ICW informing him that he was no longer welcome in the post of Supreme Mugwump. The Wizengamot too had accepted his retirement letter from the post of Chief Warlock.
The magical newspapers announced to the four corners of the world the information on the investigation of a conspiracy and their proof against Albus Dumbledore.
The ICW said that they had received proof that Albus was part of a machination to eradicate the Potter family as Dumbledore was the one that cast the Fidelius Charm on their home. They said that he knew that Sirius Black was not the Secret Keeper, that he took the child from his godfather manipulating the young Black in his grief, and his attempt to compulse a couple of muggles to care for and hate the orphan baby Harry Potter, who disappeared without a trace on the first day of November on 1981. With that last statement debunking the Boy-who-lived series books.
The Wizengamot said 'thanks for all your kind help, but senility got the best of you and you and your practices are no longer welcome, have a great retirement.
To Albus Dumbledore, that they were all correct did not matter. Who actually spilled on his part of this plan, that was the question. The stupid goblins had confiscated his wand and James Potter's invisibility cloak after a routine visit to his vault.
While being held a captive of the goblins, the Wizengamot had a session and the press had gotten a hold of the certified copy of the Potters' will, and on a simultaneous wave, representatives of the ICW received the condemning evidence of his part in the plan to eradicate the young Potter family. To Albus, it was clear that nobody understood this was all for the greater good. There was a prophecy that needed to be met, and now everything was going down the drain.
What irritated Albus most, was that no one had blinked an eye at the fact that several families, families that were part of the sacred twenty-eight, and several others, all well-known death eaters, were missing. And all of a sudden Black was back, and now this group of leeches known as the School Governors had invited a wealthy witch, Emma Granger, to be part of the esteemed body of harpies and buffoons that produced nothing but headaches.
Now Minerva would barely see him, while Hagrid had lost any respect for him and decided to become a recluse in his cabin. But what really stuck in his craw was that the Assembly that was now the Wizengamot had a new leader of the light and her name was Augusta Longbottom. The fearsome Matriarch and mother of the next in line to be the head of the DMLE, Lord Frank Longbottom. Why couldn't Barty Crouch Jr. follow instructions? The plan was so simple and yet the death eaters perished in the fire, while the Longbottoms came back with an iron image.
Now, Albus had one job, one last opportunity to make a grand impression, and it had to work. The greater good counted on him.
((((~o~))))
Andy knew it was unusual for him to reach out to the Ground's Keeper. Still, his mother had said something that left an echo. Hagrid had no malice and having no malice meant that he would always confide in others without a care if the person was good or bad. In a way, Hagrid was a victim, but he had a difficult time figuring out what would be a good approach. It was Hermione who came up with a simple idea.
It was time for tea, and Hermione made a basket and pulled Andy along and knocked on Hagrid's door.
A booming dog bark, and another shout from Hagrid was heard. "Down Fang, I wonder who it could be?"
When Hagrid opened the door he had a sour disposition, not wanting any guests. But he soon improved as he saw a cute couple of kids with a huge wicker basket. Fang forgot to be down and went for Hermione, which got him a hex from Andy, and a consequent yelp from the dog.
"Now Fang, be a good boy and behave or no treat for you, sir?" said Andy, which made Fang whine and sit. "Apologies Mr. Hagrid, but I can't have Lady Granger falling on account of Fang smelling something good, now could I?"
Hagrid smiled and his beady black eyes seemed to lose their grump as he said, "It's just Hagrid, and I have to say, Mr. Simmons, that I'm impressed. The mutt doesn't even behave with me, but you have a thing for dogs."
"Yes, I do like dogs and cats, but I'm also interested in magical creatures. Are you familiar with Newt Scamander's books?" asked Andy as he gently pushed Hermione in and took the basket off her hands.
"I'm a fan. Oh, I'm afraid that my furniture is scarce, but I can bring a couple of chairs?" said Hagrid.
"Not to worry, that basket has a set of shrunken tables and chairs too. So, we'll just bring out two chairs, if it's no imposition?" said Hermione.
"None at all. You know, I just don't feel like going to the castle. It's difficult looking at the place where Lily Evans and James Potter were students. I'm also trying to make peace with what was said in the Prophet. I just don't have the stomach," said Hagrid.
"We thought you might be ill, so we brought you some soup and a bit of company. I just wanted to let you know how grateful I was to you helping us to the boats, your courtesy meant a lot to me," said Hermione.
"Even though Mr. Simmons was busy making you laugh all the way to the entrance of the castle?" asked Hagrid.
"Oh, I was just as scared, but I hid it better," said Andy.
Hermione got a thermos and asked Hagrid, "Do you have a decent size plate for yourself, Hagrid?"
"Uh, yeah, let me get one and some teacups."
Hermione nodded.
Soon, a big bowl of soup to feed Hagrid was served, and Fang's belly rumbled. Andy smiled and served Fang his own supersized plate of dog food. Afterwards, he washed his hands and went to sit next to Hermione.
After sharing a boulder cake, made for Hagrid, and filling up his cup with a strong brew, the half-giant said, "You two are something else. Only a very few students every once in a while come and share a cup of tea. I'm glad manners are still in place for you two. I feel a whole lot better, and I will return to my daily meals if only to see you are well. Thank you for your visit. I have to do a night round and figure out if the unicorns are hiding or there is some kind of animal stalking them."
"Can we visit you later in the week?" asked Andy.
"Course you can! And please tell your house-elf friend that made the boulder cake that it was a perfect piece of heaven?" said Hagrid.
"Oh, ah, Andy baked it; he says he wants to be a chef," said Hermione with pride.
"You don't say. Well, Andy, you are on your path to greatness. Good night kids," said Hagrid.
"Good night," answered Hermione and Andy in stereo. As the two walked back to the castle, Hermione stopped and looked into the Forbidden Forest. She said to Andy, "Something wicked is looking at us." Andy smiled and hugged her while saying into her ear. "I know, something wicked comes this way and we'll be waiting for it."
-oo0oo-
