I do own Harry Potter, only the OC

Hello guys, Badger here. I am glad to see that people enjoyed the shock at the end of the previous chapter. Now, Harry will be taking center stage. Anyway, after the previous chapter was publish, I took a two day break from writing, in order to relax my brain to let my creative juices flow, as I was finding it difficult to write and I had to focus on my College Work. When the two day break was done, I was immediately began working on a new chapter. I think we have got something good with this one. I hope you enjoy.

Chapter 22

An old man's incompetence

Harry and Daphne couldn't believe what they were seeing. They wanted to think that this was just some kind illusion or a dream. But they knew it was real.

"We found the two of them in the library" McGonagall explained, before she picked up a small mirror that had Luna's name engraved on its handle "this was in their possession…do you know anything about this?"

"We don't know what happened but…we know why they were in the library" Daphne replied

"Please explain" McGonagall said

"We have been looking for information on what might be in the Chamber of Secrets" Harry explained, keeping his gaze on James' still form "James and Luna went to the library last night, to look through some books Luna owned on Magical Creatures…that was the last we saw of them…until now"

"I see…" McGonagall nodded, before she sighed "I will need to inform the rest of the school…do you wish to stay here with Mr Badger and Miss Lovegood?"

"Yes Professor" Daphne nodded, placing a gentle hand on Harry's shoulder, who's gaze still hadn't moved away from James

McGonagall nodded in return, before she left the Medical Wing. Harry and Daphne remained where they were, standing in silence, as they just stared at James and Luna, where Harry had to be guided into a seat, when his legs gave out from under him. They weren't sure how long they were there for, when the doors opened, where the Twins, Neville, Susan, Astoria and Tracey came in and rushed over to them.

"We heard what happened" Neville spoke up "H-how are you holding up?"

"How do you think?" Daphne replied in slight annoyance

"We just found out two of our friends have been petrified, we are just dandy" Harry added, the sarcastic tone in his voice evident of his own frustration

"What exactly happened?" Susan asked, holding her hands up in a calming manner

"They were found in the library" Daphne replied "Whatever it was, attacked them, when they were looking through Luna's books"

"So what do we do now?" Fred asked

"Before anything else, we need to send a letter to Amelia" Harry replied "The Ministry needs to get involved and it doesn't look like Dumbledore has done anything since Mrs Norris was attacked"

"I'll see to it Harry" Susan spoke up "Maybe you could use your Potter title and send a letter to the Minister as well…whilst I don't doubt my aunt, if you send a letter to the Minister, he will immediatley send all the Aurors he can, no questions asked"

"I hope so" Harry said "I'll have to send a letter to the Albrights as well"

"Who are the Albrights?" Tracey asked

"They are friends of James' parents" Harry explained "They helped raise James, after his parents died"

"Do you think they will get involved?" Daphne asked

"I can't say" Harry shrugged "Though I imagine they will be worried sick…"

"I think anyone would be" Neville replied "I know if my gran knew that I had been petrified, she would do whatever it took to see that the threat was sorted"

"Do you think she will help with our current situation?" Daphne asked

"Considering the Badgers and the Longbottoms are part of the Alliance, absolutely" Neville nodded "I'll send a letter to her tonight"

"Sis, should we send a letter to father?" Astoria spoke up "He helped Harry, do you think he will help with what's going on?"

"I imagine he will" Daphne replied "Harry, do you mind if a give Hedwig a letter to send to our father?"

"No, not at all" Harry said "Give it to me when you've done, I'll give her the letter along with my letter for the Minister"

Daphne nodded. Everyone in the room knew that things were definitely going to change, as soon as the Ministry arrive.

Harry and Daphne were sat at the Slytherin table during dinner, with Astoria sticking close to the two of them. Lessons had been cancelled for the day, so immediatley after leaving the Medical Wing, Harry sent his and Daphne's letter, whilst Susan sent her own letter to her aunt, with Neville doing the same, sending one to his gran. Since the school found out about the recent attack, those that believed, and accused, Harry of being the Heir of Slytherin apologised, when they saw him, as they knew him well enough to know that he wouldn't attack a friend, but not well enough to think he wasn't the Heir in the first place. Well, not everyone apologised. Ron Weasley still believed Harry was the Heir. Apparently, he believed that the attack is an act to drive away suspicion of Harry. Everyone looked, when the doors to the Great Hall burst open, where The Minister walked towards the Professors table, with Amelia Bones, Augusta Longbottom and Ignatius Greengrass walking alongside him. Behind them were a massive group of Aurors, who all had their wands out, as if they were expecting an attack.

"Cornelius, what is the meaning of your arrival?" Dumbledore asked, as he stood up

"I think you know Albus" Cornelius replied, glaring at the Headmaster "We have been told about a possible threat to this school, so we have decided to act and hopefully stop it…until we have stopped whatever is in this school, there will be Aurors on constant patrol throughout the castle"

"That will not be necessary" Dumbledore replied calmly, though it seemed forced "I have everything under control, I am doing what I can to stop the threat"

"I don't know what you are doing to stop the threat, but it clearly isn't enough" Cornelius retorted "considering that two of your students have now been attacked…one of them being the future Lord of the Ancient and Noble House of Badger, a family which, I'm sure you know, is part of the Alliance!"

"You can try and stop us Albus, but it won't work" Amelia spoke up "You should have done something when Mrs Norris was attacked…unlike you, Lord Potter requested that we do something about what's going on"

Harry watched as Dumbledore looked his way, in shock. He couldn't tell if the shock was for the fact that he was now Lord of his House, that he went behind the Headmasters back and informed the Ministry, or both. Whatever the reason, he didn't care. He liked to think that the old man was doing something about the situation, though it's obvious he has done anything but…and now his friends have paid the price for Dumbledores incompetence. He just hoped the cure was made sometime soon.

"Fair enough" Dumbledore sighed, knowing that nothing he could say, would change their minds "Though, may I ask why Ms Longbottom and Mr Greengrass are here?"

"I am part of the Alliance, Dumbledore" Augusta replied, coldly "We are allies to the Badgers, an attack on them, are an attack on us"

"I am here for the similar reasons" Ignatius added "Though we are not part of the Alliance, we are allies to the Badgers, and I have knowledge and influence in the Ministry which can prove useful in our investigations"

Dumbledore nodded, as he sat down, allowing Cornelius and Amelia to give orders to the Aurors. Everything was out of his control, so he knew he wouldn't be able to anything. After the attack on Mrs Norris, he hoped he would be able to sweep everything on the rug, and solve the case. Now that wasn't possible. Whilst the students began whispering about what was going on, Harry smiled at Amelia, as she gave him a smile of her own. He wasn't sure how long James and Luna will remain petrified, but hopefully it wouldn't be long.

Unsurprisingly, Harry found himself in the Headmasters office, sitting on the opposite side of the desk. He resisted the urge to roll his eyes, as Dumbledore looked at him with a disappointed look on his face.

"I must confess, I am disappointed Harry" the Headmaster said, after a moment

"May I ask why sir?" Harry asked, in a disinterested tone

"For going behind my back" Dumbledore sighed "Me and the other Professors had everything under control and were doing what we could to investigate everything involving the Heir of Slytherin and the Chamber of Secrets"

"Well, forgive me sir, but two of my friends were petrified, whilst everything was supposedly 'under your control'" Harry replied "And seeing as I haven't seen any kind of investigations, I decided to take matters into my own hands…well mine, and my friends"

"I can't accept that Harry" Dumbledore sighed, as he pinched the bridge of his nose "I expected you to at least talk to me, instead of getting the Ministry involved"

"Why, so you can sweep it under the rug?" Harry scoffed "Besides, after putting me with the Dursleys, I don't trust you enough to talk to you…I'm currently making an exception, because you called me up here and I imagine you wouldn't take no for an answer…may I go now, sir?"

Dumbledore sighed again. He was feeling mentally exhausted, so he only nodded, signalling that he could. He leant back in his chair, as he watched Harry leave. Whilst he could, to some extent, understand Harry's reasons for what he did, he wished Harry came to him first. Once word of this got out and into the hands of the Daily Prophet, there could be a lot of damage to the school and his reputation. Damage, that may be difficult to fix.

That night, Harry and Daphne were sat with James and Luna's petrified forms. Jinx was with them, as Harry had called her, believing she needed to know what had happened. When Jinx learnt of what the attack, she began sobbing into James' chest, holding onto him tightly.

"Don't worry Jinx" Harry said soothingly "He will be back to normal soon, along with Luna"

"Jinx hopes so, Jinx doesn't want to lose kind master" Jinx replied, shaking her head vigorously, pulling on her ears as she did so, as the thought entered her mind "Jinx already lost kind masters parents, Jinx does not want kind master to go too…Jinx will never allow that to happen"

"He will be alright Jinx" Daphne spoke up "Nothing will happen to him, he is too stubborn for that to happen"

Jinx let out a small laugh at that, though it didn't stop her worries. Harry and Daphne shared a look. They hoped that James would be okay, otherwise there is no telling what would happen to Jinx.

There we are guys, a new chapter. I hope you enjoyed.

The Ministry has gotten involved, which I feel right in saying should have happened in canon. Now that the Ministry are involved what do you think will happen. Will Hagrid be framed like he was in canon? Will Harry meet Aragog? I guess you have to find out. If you remember, I mentioned that Cornelius in this fanfic will be competent and not the bumbling idiot he is in canon. Expect changes from the canon story, some small, some large and also expect a few surprises and revealed secrets in the future.

I will have to admit, a part of me is regretting having multiple characters in the friend group, as it is a small struggle trying to fit them all into the story. Maybe if I do a sequel fanfic, I might have less characters. Hey, that's an idea. Let me know if you would like to see a sequel fanfic, when this one has ended...whenever that is.

Harry had another confrontation with Dumbledore. More distrust. Not looking good for the Headmaster, he won't be able to mould him into a martyr, what a shame. [Obvious sarcasm is obvious]. Seeing as Jinx hasn't been featured in a few chapters, I decided to have her featured at the end of this chapter. What did you think of her reaction to James' petrification? Was it a bit too over the top? Let me know.

I have also checked the votes on the poll. Its not looking good for one of the elves. Just in case there is any confusion: you are voting for the elf you want to see DIE.

That is all for now, I hope you enjoyed and I will see you in the next one.

Badger out.