Even though the unexpected search of the dorms took up a little over an hour of the Slytherins sleeping time, they were all slightly sleep deprived the following morning as they headed into breakfast. Even after they'd gone back to their dorm rooms, they'd found their rooms were a mess and needed tidying, although no-one had done so in the middle of the night. However, even without the tidying up it hadn't been easy for the Slytherins to settle down and get all the rest they should have had.
Hermione had even risen early to write to her father, informing him of what had happened the previous evening. However, she had yet to post the letter as everyone else wanted to write to their parents and it was just as easy to all head up to the owlery together. Besides, Hermione thought it would make quite a statement if all their parents received owls at roughly the same time.
However, the Slytherins tiredness quickly evaporated once they were in the Great Hall and the rumours surrounding Ron began to circulate. Unsurprisingly the Gryffindors couldn't wait to spread the stories about how Ron had woken all of Gryffindor Tower with his dramatics.
"Wow, these Gryffindors have no loyalty do they?" Theo chuckled as the gossip spread around the Great Hall like wildfire. "They couldn't wait to humiliate Weasley."
"Can you blame them, it sounds hilarious," Blaise remarked. "I wish I could have witnessed it myself. I can just imagine Weasley almost pissing himself in fear."
"Yeah, but if the same thing had happened down in the dungeons, no-one outside of Slytherin would know about it," Theo argued. "Take last night for example. Other people must have heard what happened, but yet not one word had slipped out into the wider population."
"Maybe they're too scared of Hermione to gossip about her," Blaise chuckled.
"I'm not scary, am I?" Hermione questioned, throwing Blaise her most innocent look.
"Terrifying," Blaise replied in a deadpan voice.
"I don't think Hermione has anything to do with the lack of gossip coming from the dungeons," Draco offered. "Unlike the Gryffindors, us Slytherins stick together. It's us against the rest of the school, and we don't turn on our own."
"Not unless they deserve it," Hermione remarked, letting her eyes drift towards Pansy who was still sitting on her own at the end of the table.
"I think it's safe to say Pansy is an exception to the rule," Draco agreed. "But on a whole Slytherins are loyal to one another."
Hermione found she had to agree with her boyfriend. In her time down in the dungeons she'd experienced much more loyalty than her four years with the Gryffindors. You just had to look at how Harry and Ron had taken the easy option of blaming their friends for recent events as a perfect example of how loyalty worked within Gryffindor.
Wondering if things were any different in Gryffindor Tower now Dumbledore seemed to be onto her games, Hermione turned her attention to her former friends. For the first time in a while, Harry and Ron were sitting with the other sixth years, and while Hermione obviously couldn't hear what was being said, it appeared as though things were returning to their normal state. Although that being said, things clearly weren't completely sorted as Neville in particular seemed reluctant to be in Harry and Ron's company. But only time would tell if the Gryffindors would ever get back to normal, or if Harry and Ron had done irreparable damage to their friendships.
Leaving Ron to be the school laughing stock, the Slytherins headed back to their dorms to write quick letters to their parents. They then sent the owls off, and just had to sit back and wait for the fireworks to begin.
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Hermione got a reply from her father almost immediately, promising action. She then got a second letter informing her that they'd decided to go down the official route and all the parents had banded together to place an official complaint against Dumbledore with the Ministry of Magic. Voldemort then informed her that a hearing at the Ministry was due to take place, and on the day of the hearing, Hermione and the Slytherins were all giddy at the prospect that Dumbledore might suffer the indignity of losing his job before he lost his life.
One the day of the hearing, Dumbledore was mysteriously absent from breakfast, and walking behind the Gryffindors to the first lesson of the day, Hermione and Draco couldn't help but wind her former friends up.
"Today is going to be a good day," Draco announced loudly as he placed his arm over Hermione's shoulders.
"Do you think so?" Hermione asked.
"I know so," Draco replied with confidence. "You read Father's letter yesterday, everyone is looking forward to today. They're all just lining up to have their say about the incompetent Headmaster we've been stuck with for years."
"I hope they do more than have their say," Hermione said. "I hope they take his head."
"Figuratively?" Draco questioned with a laugh.
"Literally would be good too, but I doubt the Minister would allow that," Hermione chuckled, watching as in front of them Harry and Ron exchanged puzzled looks.
"If you two have something to say, then say it," Draco said to the two Gryffindors. "We know you're listening to our conversation."
"It'll be bloody hard not to, you're talking loud enough," Ron retorted as he and Harry came to a halt and turned to face the Slytherins.
"It's funny you mentioning people talking loudly, you woke the whole school with your screaming the other day," Draco laughed. "Save me, save me, a spider," he mimicked in a girly voice.
"I did not wake the whole school," Ron hissed, turning bright red.
"You woke all of Gryffindor Tower, which to be fair, is virtually the same thing," Hermione pointed out.
"Sod off Granger," Ron hissed. "This is all your doing anyway. You've been behind everything that's been happening this year."
"Prove it," Hermione retorted with a smug smirk. "Oh wait, Dumbledore did try and prove it and look what's happening to him."
"What do you mean?" Harry asked with a frown. He hated to ask Hermione for anything, but it was clear that the Slytherins knew something they didn't.
"Don't you know?" Draco laughed. "Didn't your precious Dumbledore tell you about the mess he's in?"
"He's down in London, at the Ministry," Hermione explained sweetly. "Our parents have banded together and put in an official complaint against him. Even as we speak, he's at a hearing fighting for his job."
"No," Harry said, shaking his head. "You're lying."
"Am I?" Hermione retorted with an arched eyebrow.
Clearly not sure what to believe, Harry and Ron turned their backs on the Slytherins and continued onto the first lesson of the day, which happened to be Transfiguration. Even though they claimed not to believe Hermione, she noticed that the first thing they did upon entering the room was ask McGonagall why Dumbledore hadn't been at breakfast that morning.
"Professor Dumbledore has an urgent meeting with the Ministry today," McGonagall answered with a concerned frown, not noticing the horrified look Harry and Ron shared.
"Told you so," Hermione taunted at the two Gryffindors took their seats. "Soon it's going to be goodbye, Dumbledore."
"More like goodbye Voldemort," Harry shot back. "You won't win, Hermione."
"I guess we'll see, won't we Potter?" Hermione retorted as she turned away and took her seat next to Draco, hoping that things went well down in London.
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Dumbledore was not at all impressed to be summoned to the Ministry, but unless he was going to hand in his resignation and walk away from Hogwarts, he knew that he had to attend the meeting and fight his corner. The Minister hadn't explained just how many parents had made a complaint against him, but Dumbledore was unsurprised to enter the conference room Fudge had chosen to hold the meeting in, to find parents, all fathers, from almost all the Slytherins in sixth year in attendance. From what he could see the only people missing a parent in the meeting were Pansy and Blaise.
"Sit down, Albus," Fudge said, gesturing to the only empty chair, situated on the opposite side of the table to the Slytherin parents. The Minister himself was sitting at the head of the long table to indicate that he was in charge of the meeting.
Taking a seat, Dumbledore bristled to find Voldemort merrily settled in the Ministry. It still galled him to think that after everything he'd done, he'd still been able to buy and talk his way out of trouble. Dumbledore even knew that Fudge seriously considered him a threat, but without solid proof of any wrong-doing, any arrest the Ministry might make would only serve to anger The Dark Lord and escalate a war that so far was merely simmering in the background of everyday life. Even understanding that the Minister's hands were tied, Dumbledore still found it hard to swallow that he was the one fighting for his future while Voldemort sat opposite him looking like nothing more than a concerned parent.
"I take it you know why we're meeting," Fudge began.
"No, not really," Dumbledore lied. Even though he knew full well what had prompted the complaints, he wasn't about to admit any wrong-doing.
"I have formal complaints from every parent of the sixth year Slytherins," Fudge said, tapping a Manila folder on the desk in front of him.
"Every one?" Dumbledore interrupted with a questioning scoff. "Because I don't see any parent of Miss Parkinson, or Mr Zabini."
"I have a complaint from the Parkinsons, but Mr Parkinson is unable to be here today," Fudge said.
"It was an unavoidable schedule clash," Voldemort remarked lightly, even though everyone around the table, including Fudge and Dumbledore, were aware that the Parkinsons were out in the cold and had likely been banned from the meeting by Voldemort himself.
"And Mrs Zabini?" Dumbledore asked.
"Out of the country," Lucius replied. "But she's also registered a formal complaint, and has given me permission to speak on her behalf."
"So what exactly is the problem?" Dumbledore asked Fudge, still playing the innocent.
"Is it true you searched the sixth years dorm rooms in the middle of the night earlier this week?" Fudge asked.
"It was hardly the middle of the night," Dumbledore argued. "But I agree, it was possibly slightly too late to conduct such a search."
"Then why did you?" Fudge demanded.
"Over the last few weeks several incidents have occurred in relation to two of the Gryffindor students," Dumbledore explained. "These boys have been victimised and their friends framed for the incidents. We have come to believe that the real perpetrators are Miss Granger and the other Slytherins. I was merely searching for proof of their wrong doing."
"And what evidence did you have to lead you in their direction?" Lucius questioned.
"That is a very good question," Fudge said with a nod. "What evidence did you have, Albus?"
"None," Dumbledore admitted with a slight wince. "But who else would want to target Harry Potter and Ron Weasley?"
"Anyone who met them," Lucius sneered. "I've met both boys and neither are blessed with any charm."
"Why would my daughter want to target her former friends?" Voldemort questioned. "She's left that life behind. She is very happy with her new friends, and is not interested in her former house-mates."
"That is just bull," Dumbledore snorted. "Of course she is interested in the boy who is destined to defeat you. Harry is your downfall, and she knows that."
"Idle speculation," Voldemort said with a dismissive wave of his hand. "As I'm sure the Minister will inform you, Professor, I am merely a family man looking out for my daughter."
"We all know that's just lies," Dumbledore spat. "Everyone in this room knows what you are, Tom. If they could the Ministry would have already arrested you. They know you're still rallying the Death Eaters and you're behind these attacks that are taking place."
"Prove it," Voldemort hissed, leaning across the table so he was virtually face to face with the headmaster.
"I will," Dumbledore swore. "And I will bring you down, Tom. You and your daughter."
"Enough," Fudge called, slamming his hand down on the table. "You're not helping yourself, Albus. In fact, you've pretty much just admitted to having a vendetta against Miss Granger. From where I'm sitting, it looks like you searched her room out of nothing more than pettiness. You clearly targeted her because of who her father is."
"I targeted her because she was behind what has been happening," Dumbledore insisted.
"And did you find proof?" Lucius asked with a smirk which told Dumbledore that he already knew the answer to his question.
"Well, Albus?" Fudge prompted when Dumbledore didn't answer and just glared at Lucius.
"No," Dumbledore admitted.
"Then I'm afraid my hands are tied," Fudge said with a weary sigh. "We cannot have the headmaster of Hogwarts victimising the students. You had no right to search the Slytherin dorms without good reason, and I don't believe you had one, Albus."
"So what? All my years of dedication to Hogwarts is going to be thrown away because of one bad decision?" Dumbledore demanded.
"But it's not just one bad decision, is it?" Lucius mocked. "There's been nothing but bad decisions for years. Over the last few years we've had werewolves, fake Aurors and wizard so incompetent they obliviated themselves, teaching in that school. Not to mention that half-giant oaf who brought a dangerous creature into his lessons and almost killed my son. I would say you've been skating on thin ice for a long time now, Dumbledore."
"Every one of those incidents have been dealt with," Dumbledore muttered, shifting uncomfortably in his seat.
"Yet they still happened," Lucius retorted. "And they are proof that this incident is not just a one-off. It shows your judgement is seriously lacking."
"Lucius does make good points," Fudge remarked.
"Points I'm sure the rest of the governors will support me with," Lucius said, smirking at Dumbledore. "I'm sure if we voted on your position as headmaster, a vote of no confidence would win the day."
"Are you threatening me, Lucius?" Dumbledore asked in a hiss.
"Just pointing out that even if you wangle your way out of trouble here, you've still got the governors to contend with," Lucius said with a shrug.
"I think it's becoming increasingly clear that your position at Hogwarts is untenable, Albus," Fudge said softly.
"What are you saying, Cornelius?" Dumbledore asked quietly, a sinking feeling settling in his stomach.
"I'm saying that it is the recommendation of the Ministry that you're relieved of your duties as Headmaster of Hogwarts," Fudge said decisively. "Of course we can't force you out, but we are going to go on record and state that the Ministry believes you should be replaced."
"And the governors will back that recommendation," Lucius said.
"And with the Ministry and Hogwarts governors against you, you'll have no choice but to step down," Fudge concluded.
"So I'm being sacked?" Dumbledore whispered. He was trying his best to think of his way out of the mess he'd found himself in, but he was trapped and he couldn't see any way out.
"Yes," Fudge replied with a nod. "But as you say, you've been Headmaster for a long time and for most of that time, you've been an exemplary leader. I'm willing to allow you to stay at Hogwarts until the end of term. You can help decide on your replacement, and they will take over at Christmas. It's the best I can offer, Albus."
"In that case, I should get back to school," Dumbledore said stiffly as he rose to his feet.
"Oh, and Albus. Stay away from Miss Granger and her friends," Fudge warned. "Don't make us remove you before the holidays."
Feeling totally and utterly defeated, a feeling not helped by the smug smirks on Voldemort and Lucius's faces, Dumbledore swept from the conference room and bolted from the Ministry. Even though he'd just lost his job he wasn't about to give up the fight. Voldemort still had to be dealt with, and whether he was headmaster of Hogwarts or not, he was going to be leading the fight. And when they did defeat Voldemort, and of that Dumbledore had no doubt, he would regain his position as Headmaster of Hogwarts and all would be right with the world.