Chapter 21 Repercussions and Prophecies
(Hogwarts)
Everyone stood with mouths open in shocked silence for a few seconds before pandemonium broke out.
Professor McGonagall gripped the table and rose to her feet and if anyone had been listening they would have heard her moan "Oh Albus, what have you done" before she made her way out of the hall gripping a pendent of some sort that was around her neck but the confusion in the room was such that only Chandos and his son noticed her departure.
Fudge was yelling instructions to the aurors that had accompanied him to dinner one second and the next turning to Umbridge and asking her what he should do about this mess. The aurors waited in confusion not knowing what to do because of the conflicting orders they were receiving.
Umbridge was trying to talk Fudge into going back to the ministry until they could figure out what had happened but her real purpose was to get Fudge someplace safe so she could go meet with her new friends to report on the day's remarkable events.
It was perhaps the goblins reaction that was the most startling aside from Dumbledores. They encircled the two Kane men facing outward as if they were protecting them from an outside hostile force. Raveark made his way to Chandos and told him. "We need to get your son someplace safe so we can talk. There is much you don't know Mr. Kane."
With a quick grin down at his son Chandos put two of his fingers in his mouth and blew a piercing whistle. The room instantly quieted as all eyes turned to him. "I will come to the ministry in the morning and go over what has been going on here Minister Fudge but for now I'm taking my son someplace safe. Is nine in the morning good for you?"
Fudge started sputtering, "Now see here Kane. I don't…" His words dwindled off as he watched in shock as the two humans and eight goblins turned and walked calmly out of the hall. Turning to Umbridge he asked, "Did you see that? He ignored me. Me! The Minister of Magic and he just ignored me." Turning to the aurors deployed behind him he at last gave a coherent order. "Take those two into custody and bring them to a holding cell in the justice department. Move!"
About half of the aurors ran out the double doors in pursuit of the two Kanes but by the time they made it outside all ten were gone without a trace.
Fudge finally allowed Umbridge to convince him to return to the Ministry for his own protection and the remaining aurors, Fudge and Umbridge followed out the doors only to find the first aurors that had gone to make the arrest wandering around looking for the Kanes. With a disgusted snort he ordered everyone to return to the ministry.
(Gringotts later that same day)
The eight goblins and two humans portakeyed into a secured room in Gringotts and were greeted by Bill Weasley and Amelia Bones.
Ms. Bones did a double take after seeing Chandos, "I thought you were in custody. How did you manage to escape from a high security isolation cell?"
Chandos smirked at the woman. "I didn't. If you go look you will find me there most likely with soiled robes from Dementor visits. Umm, you may want to do that pretty quickly though. I'm not sure how long I can stand being around the things. Oh yah, when you spring me go ahead and cancel the glammor I'm wearing because I don't think that Mr. Jonathan Felis likes being me to much. At least once the potion I forced down his throat wore off."
"Oh my, umm, yes. I'll be back as soon as I umm, excuse me please." And with that largely unenlightened statement Madam Bones rushed out of the room.
"Mr. Raveark, you said you had a surprise for us? It was my dad wasn't it?" Shadow smiled at the goblin till Raveark shook his head no. With a look of surprise he said, "No? Not my dad? What was it then?"
"Actually what I brought was the complete prophecy that Dumbledore had been known to refer to from time to time. It was copied incomplete and was corrupted by Dumbledore. This corrupted prophecy has been used as an excuse to try to control and manipulate you and others Mr. Potter. We of the Fay were entrusted with the journals of Rowena Ravenclaw after her death. Dumbledore I am shamed to admit managed to corrupt one of us 16 years ago and due to a rather large bribe was able to read a portion of her last journal before we found out and put a stop to it. This is the one that had the prophecy as well as many notes about you in it." Raveark briefly closed his eyes and when he opened them he looked steadily at the teen. There was regret in his eyes. "We failed our trust and because of that you and your family suffered. We of the Fay are trying to make things right now by offering our support to you and yours."
Chandos gave a troubled look to his son before he turned to Raveark. "You think my son was Harry Potter? Why?"
Shadow reached out and put his hand on his fathers arm. "Dad, Mr. Snape brewed a potion called stemma –atis. When I took it the family tree listed my biological parents as James Potter and Lilly Potter. I don't trust Dumbles as far as I could throw him but according to records I've seen I was placed with my aunt and uncle. Their last name was Dursley." Chandos drew his son into his embrace, "They were never my parents. They weren't even really family" He drew back enough to look into his fathers face and smiled. "You and mom are my parents"
Chandos smiled down at his son with pride in his eyes before looking back at Raveark. "Ok, my son does not lie so it must be true. What is this corrupted prophecy you were talking about and what's the real one."
Raveark picked up a piece of parchment from a file on his desk and cleared his throat before reading. "The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches. Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies. And the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not. And either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives. The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies." He looked at the three humans in the room. "That is the corrupted prophecy." He reached for the slender book he had placed on his desk and carefully opened the age darkened pages till he found the spot he wanted. "This is the real prophecy.
Child of gold, precious beyond price
Ill used of those that should love him
He turns his back on family
The child of gold with the power to vanquish the Dark approaches
Born to those who defied evil, born as the seventh month dies
Scared by evil, equal of the dark at birth but he will grow into power the Dark knows not
Tempted by Gray the gold is tempered
With the love of those that should hate him he embraces with a shining love
Deal fairly with the gold that he might gain wisdom and strength
For his task is to defeat the Gray and the Black
Deal justly with the gold that he might learn to dispense justice
For only through the gold might the fay and mortal learn peace"
Raveark closed the book and handed it to Chandos. "Be gentle with it. It's very old"
Chandos took the book. "How do you know that this is about my son?"
Raveark tapped the book he had handed to Shadows father. "The only proof any of us need is on the last 10 pages of this book. He is the one."
Chandos laid the book down on the desk and opened it to the first of the last ten pages. On it was a drawing of a baby about two years old. It was Shadow. Chandos turned the pages and drawing after drawing of Shadow emerged. The pictures went from a two year old to a young man of about 20 years old. They were all of his son.
As the three humans studied the pictures and talked softly about what they had heard and seen Raveark ordered dinner for his small party. Two goblins brought in a table, four chairs and place settings. A large meal was set on the table and Raveark called to the others to come eat.
As they sat down to dinner Ms. Bones came back into the room with a very red face. Raveark clapped his hands and another setting was added to the table.
Chandos looked at her with an impish smile on his face. "Well, how was I doing?"
She tried to suppress the grin and looked down before it got out of control. After a few seconds she managed to say, "Well you were right about soiling your robes and you were right about Felis not wanting to be you anymore. One of these days you must explain to me how you managed to do that."
"Later" Chandos looked to Raveark, "O.K. now what do we do about Severus?"
Raveark grinned. "I would imagine the best course of action would be to wait for him to use the portakey he has to my office then listen to his report."
(An undisclosed location)
Dumbledore released Snape as the man stumbled.
"Are you mad Albus? What were you thinking of to do this" Snape demanded.
"I am sorry my boy, I had to get us out of there before they turned on us. We need to figure out a way to do damage control and get the boy back." Albus sat down on the couch in the room and wiped his face with the handkerchief he removed from his pocket. "I wanted to keep Harry away from Chandos. The boy doesn't understand that only I can protect him and train him for the task he has ahead of him."
Snape sat on an overstuffed chair. "What task is that?" he asked his one time mentor.
Albus looked surprised at the question. With a softly chiding voice he said, "Severus, you have heard the prophecy, you know what the boy has to do but to defeat Tom he needs to be trained up first. As I am the only wizard alive that has defeated an evil dark lord I am the only one competent to see to his training." He shook his head in sorrow. "I know Chandos loves the boy but without me teaching and guiding him the boy will surly die. He needs to be with me."
Albus got to his feet and went to a set of shelves in the room and picked up several sheets of parchment, a bottle of ink and a quill which he handed to the potion master. "Take notes for me if you don't mind." After handing the writing supplies to the other man Albus began to pace and talk. "First thing we need to do is regain control of the boy. After we do that we can modify his memory so that he believes his adopted father abused him. We can take that to the ministry and make a case for having the adoption set aside. I will apply for custody of the boy and adopt him myself. I obviously need to come up with a stronger ward to use on him or else isolate him from everyone till he has adapted to being under my control. Hmmm, perhaps I should just memory charm him into understanding that he has no choice but to turn to me." He glanced over to the younger man and was pleased to see him taking notes on what he was saying.
Severus glanced up at Albus, "The wards you used weren't strong enough? Which ones did you use?"
"A modified control ward. I don't know how the boy was able to break it but he did. Once we get him back I need to repower the memory charm I have on him. Its not working fast enough."
Severus raised his eyebrows at the headmaster. "What about some blocks on his memory?" he suggested.
"Perfect. That's what I should have done in the beginning. Hmmm, maybe I should just go in and obliviate any troublesome memories. The problem with that is you aren't always sure how much can be safely removed and still allow normal thinking. That's why I opted for the slower memory charm. It does not destroy the thought process."
Albus summoned an old house elf and ordered some tea and sandwiches for the two of them as they settled down to some serious planning.
(The Ministry of Magic)
Fudge could still not believe what had happened today at Hogwarts. That old man must be off his rocker to have tried to get away with kidnapping a boy to pass off as Harry Potter. Then to grab that death eater and port out. Unbelievable!
Umbridge was doing her best to calm her boss but he was having none of that. Pacing back and forth in his office he waved between outrage at the fraud that Albus had tried to commit and the outrage at the crimes he had tried to drag himself into.
Umbridge made soothing sounds between sentences like "A fake. Did you see that boy? Anyone would know he was a fake." And "Kidnapping! He tried to drag me into a kidnapping. It's an election year!" to "Manipulation of a minor. Merlin, I am going to kill that crazy old man."
After she got Fudge to sit down at his desk she started to write out a statement for the press. Reading what she had written so far she looked to the minister for approval. At his nod she continued writing. When she was finished she handed it to him for final approval and after glancing through it he signed his name with a flourish.
"See that the press gets this right away my dear."
"Of course Cornelius." With that Umbridge left the room and summoned Rita Skeeter into her office.
In a simpering little girl voice she told the reporter. "The minister has written out this statement which he wanted me to give to you. It should help the clear up the many questions I am sure you have about what happened today."
Rita took the parchment and read it. "I can print this with the story I file for tomorrow's paper?" At Umbridge's nod Rita started to grin. Another front page story here we come…
After she dismissed Ms. Skeeter Deloris made her way to the floo. She needed to make a report about this days happenings to her new friends. She was sure that they would be just as pleased with the way things had turned out as she was.
(Miscellaneous information)
Jonathan Felis was floo'ed back to the ministry where he was released. Still shaking he tried to stay downwind of everyone as he made his way to the atrium to catch a floo home. He needed a shower and a change of clothes badly. To hell with that, he needed at least an hours soak in his tub in some very hot water then about 18 hours of solid sleep. When he woke up would be time enough to deal with the fact that he had somehow found himself in Azaskaban with no memory of how he got there.
Minerva McGonagall could not believe what she had just witnessed. Albus was obviously cracking under the strain of his many responsibilities. She made her way to the infirmary to discuss the mental health of the headmaster with the school medi-witch. Maybe the two of them could get the support of the rest of the staff and force the old man to take a much needed vacation. They had better be able to or the ministry just might demand a long rest in Azaskaban for the headmaster.
Sirius Black was pacing back and forth in his living room. He had already sent for his best friend Remus. Remus would be able to figure out what was going on with his Godson. To have attacked the Headmaster like that. Merlin!