AN: Damn, finally got this chapter posted. I'm sorry it took so long, but I've been busy doing other things for other fandoms, and irl stuff like being promoted at work, and almost finishing Uni. (one more semester, baby!)
But anyway, I wanna thank y'all for sticking with this story. (it's actually gonna be two years old next month)
Remember to R&R
"The Board is coming today?" Hermione asked with wide eyes, her voice quiet as Harry spread the information to her. "What does that mean for you? Will they single you out?" Having felt apprehension at that same thought, Harry shook his head.
"I was worried about that too, but Severus told me that if they do have any questions for me, they'll pull me aside for a private conversation." The green-eyed wizard explained, feeling relieved as well. "Even then, they shouldn't ask me too many questions. I was told if they do ask me anything, it should be about the information I already provided when I filled the restraining order."
That's a relief at least." Hermione mumbled; her eyebrows furrowed in thought. "I wonder what they'll do after they gather all of their evidence?" She questioned softly, biting her lips. "There's no way the Board will let Dumbledore get away with this incident completely unscathed. They'll find some way to punish him." Her friend nodded in agreement, thinking the same thoughts.
"I was thinking the same thing," Harry admitted, casting another wandless privacy spell for an extra layer of protection. "If something happened that was less serious, he might have received a slap on the wrist at most…" Harry trailed off. "But having a magical restraining order go into immediate effect? The Board isn't taking kindly to that."
"No School Board would." Hermione pointed out. "Receiving a restraining order is bad enough, but the fact that a student filed it against an authority figure here is bad enough." The bushy-haired witch frowned deeply, clearly thinking hard. "The reason I bring this up is that the Board of Governors holds a lot of power and influence. They take their jobs seriously."
"You think they would force him out immediately?" Harry asked, earning a nod from his friend. "I didn't think about that," He admitted, realizing his mistake. "If they force him out now, Dumbledore will head to Grimmauld, only to realize he can't access it."
"Exactly. It would give him enough time to relocate somewhere else. But," Hermione snapped her fingers, shaking her head. "From what I know about the Board as well, Lucius Malfoy and Amelia Bones are the leaders. You and I both know that Malfoy is a death eater and wants to bring Dumbledore down as well. Perhaps if you explain your plan, he could persuade the Board to keep Dumbledore until the end of the term?"
Harry chuckled, pulling his friend in for a hug.
"Thank Merlin I have you on my side, Mione. I'd be lost without you," That earned a playful swat to his arm, but Hermione still hugged her friend back.
"You and I both know you could have come up with that plan yourself, Harry." She teased, pulling away after a moment. "Is there any way you could talk to Malfoy privately before the Board arrives? From what I read about their inspections, they typically split up with one other member accompanying them. Since Malfoy holds a position as chairman, I wager that Amelia Bones would also be there." Harry considered that as he gave a nod.
"I don't know much about Amelia Bones either, but Severus informed me that she is neutral. If they plan on talking to me personally, I think I can also persuade her to not remove Dumbledore yet. Not until…" Harry paused, an even more devious thought coming into his mind. Hermione rose an eyebrow, unable to hold her question at bay.
"What are you planning, Harry? I know that look all too well." There was an intelligent glint in those emerald eyes.
"I just had a thought. If Lucius Malfoy and Amelia Bones are adamant about forcing Dumbledore out, what if I can convince them to do it during the Winter holidays?" Harry questioned out loud, causing Hermione to pause in thought as well.
"Honestly, that would have a lot of merit to it." She admitted. "He lost his seat as Chief Wizengamot in our fifth year, and they never reinstated him."
"He also lost his title of supreme mugwump." Harry reminded with a smirk. "Now that I think about it, he lost it around the same time. That all aside, now he's potentially losing his position as the headmaster. He won't hold any amount of power after this."
"It would also mean he has to move out," Hermione reminded. "During the Summer Holiday, the Headmaster is obligated to stay at Hogwarts, unlike the other professors. He lives here, so he would be losing that as well." Harry grinned as he withheld a chuckle, nodding at the information.
"Exactly," He emphasized, eyes lighting up again. "Dumbledore is going to play it safe for a while. If they decide to force him out, I bet he'll seek me out right before it's time for him to leave. He's obsessed with defeating Tom and finding the rest of his Horcruxes. He won't leave without trying to convince me to 'fulfill my destiny and be the chosen one.'"
"He has been desperate to get that idea into your head," Hermione frowned at how desperate the once highly esteemed wizard was becoming. "I thought last year, and this summer was bad enough, but he keeps proving how far he's willing to go." The memory of the other night made a chill go down Harry's spine, an uneasy feeling settling in his stomach.
And it wasn't because he feared Dumbledore's power or doubted his own abilities, but for the simple fact that the man was willing to do whatever it took.
There was no denying that Albus Dumbledore was dangerous, not just because of his power, but his intelligence and perseverance. While they were great qualities to have, Dumbledore's use of them was threatening.
"Harry? Are you okay?" There was a concerned look in the brown eyes, and Harry took a deep breath, wanting to admit to his trepidation. Hesitantly, he nodded.
"Yeah, sorry. It's really hard to explain it, I guess. I'm not afraid of Dumbledore but seeing how far he's willing to go terrifies me. There's a certain level of unpredictability in the way he seeks me out that is hard to account for. There's no pattern to it-he just does it randomly." It was a smart tactic to use, but with what happened the other day, he felt more on guard than ever.
"I know what you mean. You can't plan for whenever he decides to strike, and that's what makes you the most apprehensive." Hermione inferred, a cautiousness to her demeanor. "…I can't imagine what that must feel like," She confessed, frowning more. "He's made your last year here horrible." Harry took her hand and gave a gentle squeeze.
"It's true that I've been on guard more than ever, but this year hasn't been horrible. I've had a lot of help from you and all of my other friends. 'Detention' with Severus every night has also made this year bearable." Severus in general had made the year bearable. Slowly, her frown lifted and transformed into a small smile, giving a small squeeze in return.
When Harry pulled away and checked the time, it was still early in the morning. Breakfast would start to be served in the next hour, and it gave him time to plan a meeting with Lucius before the other members would arrive.
Severus, I have a plan. It took only moments for the other wizard to respond.
Should I be concerned about this plan?
I need to meet with Lucius before the other Board members arrive. Do you think I could use your quarters as a meeting place?
Of course. What do you hope to gain with this plan?
I can't be certain what the Board will find and how they'll react to everything today. I know that Dumbledore won't be getting out of this without something more serious than a warning. They might decide to place him on probation or give him a term limit. Depending on how much they uncover, they might even want his immediate expulsion. If that's the case, I want to try and talk with Lucius beforehand and recommend his expulsion during Yule.
There's more to your plan. Harry couldn't help but smirk, a warm feeling rushing through his chest at how well Severus knew him and how deep his plans could be.
Dumbledore is hard to predict because there is no pattern to the way he seeks me out. However, I can tell he's becoming more desperate. He'll be playing it safe for the next few weeks, but once Yule comes closer, he'll be more desperate than ever to get to me. This means before his expulsion, he will seek me out and therefore break the restraining order in doing so. If this happens, he'll not only be dealing with the Board but he'll be called into Wizengamot for breaking the restraining order.
Harry, how long have you been planning this? Even though he couldn't hear Severus, his face warmed up, already imagining the barely concealed awe and praise.
Would you believe me if I said I just came up with the idea a few moments ago?
Knowing how your brain works, yes. Harry couldn't help but smile, green eyes soft as he looked at the complement.
As soon as I get into contact with Tom, I'll head over. Thank you for letting me use your quarters, Severus.
"Severus is open to letting me use his quarters to meet with Lucius. Now I just need to message Tom again." Harry opened the other two-way journal and grinned as he started his message.
:Hey, Tom. Do you want to do me a favor?: A few moments later, Harry received a message that made him chuckle.
:Not particularly, but what do you need?:
:Lucius.:
:Lucius? Why do you need him? As far as I know, he will be there with the other members around eight or nine.:
:Exactly. I need to talk to Lucius beforehand. I was telling Severus, but I have a plan that might ensure Dumbledore falls so hard that he won't be able to get back up. But in order for it to work, I need to speak with Lucius privately.:
:Usually, I would be hesitant to follow a plan that is last minute, but you have proven to be unconventional.: Harry smirked at the offhanded compliment, humming.
:I guess that's the closest thing to a compliment that I'll get from you.: Harry wrote, a teasing undertone to the written words.
:Nonsense. I am thankful to have your wonderful mind working against Dumbledore. It makes my goals all the easier to implement. I can send Lucius right away. I assume you will be meeting in Severus quarters?:
:Yep! Severus has already agreed to this. He actually really likes my plan. I'll tell you what it is after I meet with Lucius. There's no guarantee this will work, but it will make taking Dumbledore down a lot easier.:
"Tom's also agreed to it," Harry spoke, the excitement obvious in his voice as he tried to control his magic, which almost crackled with enthusiasm. With a wave of his hand, his cloak and other belongings came to him, settling against the side.
"This is great!" Hermione beamed, her own excitement starting to shine through. "I don't think it will take much to convince Malfoy, after all. The hard part will be making the other agree." Harry sighed and nodded.
"I agree. That's why when Lucius and Amelia both pull me aside for questions, I will have to tell them the complete truth about what's been going on. I'll have to explain how often this has happened, and I'll also have to tell them why the restraining order went into immediate effect." Hermione paused and nodded slowly.
"What Dumbledore did the other night was enough for an immediate expulsion. If you tell them what he did, they won't have an option to let him remain as Headmaster…I'm sorry, Harry. I know you didn't want to tell them that just yet."
"It's okay. If it means getting rid of Dumbledore sooner and helping ensure this plan goes through, I'm more than willing to set aside my own discomfort. This plan was better than the one I had originally thought of. My last plan would have involved Dumbledore seeking me out at an undisclosed time. This one helps limit that gap." As Harry gathered the rest of his things, he gave Hermione a small smile. "I'll see you later, Mione." With that, he apparated to Severus' quarters.
"Thank you again for letting me do this, Severus," Harry spoke once he had safely apparated into the Wizard's quarters, additional safety charms placed. "Lucius should be here soon. Tom said he would send him immediately. I don't think it will take much to convince him."
"No, it won't," Severus smirked lightly, taking note of the excited gleam in Harry's emerald eyes. "Amelia Bones will be quick to request Dumbledore's expulsion as well. Their obstacles will be the other board members." Harry nodded at that, having already given that thought.
"Which is why I'm going to share the full story." He admitted. "Originally, I was going to omit the part about Dumbledore using his words as compulsion magic. However, if I tell them the truth, it will likely lead to everyone turning against him."
Before Severus had a chance to respond, the floo network came to life and Lucius emerged from the flames, not a single hair out of place. He met Severus' gaze and gave a cordial nod.
"Severus. Our Lord instructed me to come here as soon as I could regarding the issue with-" His eyes met Harry's, who was smirking. "Lord Potter." Turning to give his full attention to the younger wizard, Lucius moved closer. "Apparently this will be a crucial meeting."
"Lord Malfoy," Harry began, "Feel free to call me Harry. I don't use the title of Lord when I'm attending Hogwarts. I know the Board is doing their inspection today, and honestly, there's no way Dumbledore will get out of this without being removed from his position. Not if I tell the Board the entirely of what happened." Lucius quirked an eyebrow at that, interested in the information as he sat down.
"Is that so? The Dark Lord said you had a plan about handling this."
"Kind of. It's more so an idea. The real power of the plan will rest in your hands, as well as Amelia Bones."
"I see. What makes you certain that the investigation will go so well?"
"Not only has Dumbledore been harassing me for the past two years, but he cornered me the other night and tried to use a compulsion spell on me. It was why the restraining order went into immediate effect." His words had done the job because Lucius's eyes widened at the tidbit that would certainly tip the scales. "Now I could be wrong, but something tells me that's a serious offense against a student from the headmaster," Harry spoke with a devious grin, making Severus smirk at the sight.
"That is more than enough for an immediate expulsion." Lucius breathed out, starting to understand why the younger wizard was so confident.
"As much as I want Dumbledore gone now, I think it would be wiser if he isn't removed until Yule." Lucius's confusion was evident, so Harry continued. "He's getting desperate. I've lost count of the number of times he's sought me out and tried to convince me to fight Voldemort." If Lucius was unreeved about the name being used, he hid it well. "That attack he tried the other night was from frustration. I keep rejecting his offer and it's starting to get to him. That attack was reckless and clearly not thought through completely."
"I see your point, but why continue to subjugate yourself to the harassment and potential assault? If he is truly getting this desperate, what if his next attack is a more serious one?" Harry sighed.
"I was worried about that, but that is something I am counting on, to be honest." He confessed, knowing there was no use in denying it. "I know it sounds risky, but it is a risk that I'm willing to take. If the Board sets the expulsion date the day when Winter Break starts, Dumbledore will become even more desperate to seek me out. If he was willing to take such measures last time, he will try even harder to get to me before he's forced to leave." Lucius looked unsure; his eyebrows furrowed in concern.
"Dumbledore will play it safe for a few weeks because he'll be afraid of the Board finding out, but the closer he gets to his expulsion date, the closer he will be to snapping. He's obsessed with making sure I join his side in the war. And when he snaps and tries to get me to join a final time, he'll be breaking the restraining order, which is another serious crime."
"You expect that he'll use a similar means to attack you, if not something worse." As dangerous as the plan was, Lucius couldn't deny the ingenuity of it. If there was ever a time to ensure Dumbledore fell, it would be now. While there was no guarantee it would work, it was better than missing a chance to let Dumbledore walk into his own trap.
"I do. Again, I'm kind of counting on that. The more desperate he is, the further he is willing to go. Besides, I already figured a reason you could keep Dumbledore until Yule."
"And what reason would that be?" Lucius inquired.
"Well, if Dumbledore is gone, that leaves McGonagall to fill the spot. But that would also mean you would need to find a new transfiguration professor, appoint a new head of Gryffindor, as well as appoint a new Deputy Headmaster or Headmistress. Do you really want to worry about all of that at once? If you wait until Yule, you can already have people in mind for the position. And it would let Dumbledore finish the last term without too much of an uproar from him, or the rest of his supporters." There was an incredulous look on Lucius's face, and Severus couldn't stop smirking again.
"That is a great plan, Harry," Lucius mumbled, not bothering to deny it.
"It was a last-minute plan I came up with this morning." Harry waved it off. "Besides, I also didn't want the minister getting involved. If Dumbledore were forced to leave immediately, Fudge would no doubt make his appearance known, and I really don't want to deal with that." Lucius's lips twitched into what appeared to be an amused smirk.
"I can't say I want to deal with that either." The blonde admitted. He dealt with Minister Fudge enough when he was at the Ministry. He hated it but being in the Ministers' good books had its privileges. "Lucky for us, he is easy to manipulate. That is the only reason he remains in office. Once one of our own, or the Dark Lord runs for Minister, Fudge will be removed."
It was strange hearing the phrase one of our own used because he felt as if that phrase was also directed at him. It raised the question about the other Death Eaters seeing him as being on their side.
Merlin, he was on their side, wasn't he? While he had joked with Tom about giving some thought to officially joining, it seemed that along the way, he had crossed over to the dark side.
"And if Dumbledore does attack me again near the Winter Holiday, it's possible that he'll be sentenced to Azkaban for a while." Lucius merely smirked.
"No, it is certain that he will be sentenced if he attacks you again. Breaking a restraining order, attacking a student, attempting to place a compulsion on the student, and attacking a Lord of-" Lucius raised an eyebrow when he saw more than one Lordship ring. "-multiple houses. By themselves, those are serious actions. Together, it will ensure his indictment."
"Do you think Amelia Bones will agree to wait until Yule? I've heard that she takes her job seriously and doesn't hold back." Lucius let out a soft chuckle at the way the other leader of the Board was described.
"She is tenacious and unrelenting, but she is also one to see reason. Like you, Amelia wishes to keep the Ministry out of Hogwarts. She will do anything to ensure that this matter is taken care of with care and haste, even if it means we need to wait until a better time to act." Harry nodded, a wave of relief flowing through him. He let out a breath, not realizing how apprehensive he had been.
"I'll take my leave now. Amelia and I will meet with you at some point later in the day." Lucius headed towards the floo, giving a nod to Severus. "Thank you for allowing the use of your quarters, Severus." The blonde said. "And Harry," Lucius smirked at the younger wizard. "I can see why The Dark Lord speaks highly of you." With that said, the blonde wizard stepped into the floo and vanished.
Harry blinked in surprise at the last comment, chuckling.
"Tom really is desperate to get me to join his side, isn't he?" Harry chuckled. "Even after I agreed to give it some consideration." He wasn't annoyed, though, Unlike Dumbledore, Tom had never tried to force him or manipulate him into joining.
"Unlike Dumbledore, The Dark Lord values people for their insight above all else. He admires your resourcefulness, as well as your cunning nature. He rarely creates a plan alone, instead, his most trusted help advise him and give their own input."
"I noticed that." Harry chuckled, thinking back to all the paperwork he had seen on Tom's desk. "I can't say that Dumbledore follows the same leadership style." Severus barely withheld a sneer at the mention of Dumbledore's leading abilities. "When I used to be a part of those meetings, he was the one planning everything and telling everyone what they needed to be doing. There was no debate or options to discuss it. It was either you followed his plan, or you weren't part of it." Thinking of those days nearly made his blood boil.
"I'm sorry that you've been forced to deal with it for longer than I have. I don't see how you haven't murdered him yet." Hearing the chuckle from Severus helped diminish any of the lingering anger. "I would have snapped at this point."
"I've debated on lacing his tea on numerous occasions." The potions professor confessed, a barely-there smirk on his lips.
"You know, if this plan doesn't work, we can poison him before he leaves." Harry joked, although he did give the idea some thought. "Is there a spell that can check if someone has been poisoned?" Harry asked, thinking more of the idea.
"Only for specific poisons. Numerous potions attempt to test if the person has been poisoned, but the process takes too long and is rarely used. In order for someone to see if the poison has been administered, they need to test for specific poisons one at a time." Harry suddenly understood why the process likely took so long.
"There are hundreds of poisons." He said, making a face. "With that sort of test, it could take months to figure it out." Harry snorted suddenly. "The region would also play an important key. There are specific plants that wouldn't be thought of automatically. A healer here likely wouldn't check, or even have on hand something from another country."
Severus enjoyed these moments more than he would ever admit.
Watching as Harry worked around an interesting problem, thinking to himself, and coming up with unique solutions was something that he would never tire of.
The sound of a bell broke Harry from his concentration, and he sighed softly. That was the first bell to signal the start of breakfast, but the Seventeen-year-old wasn't hungry.
However, it would be suspicious if he didn't show up, and he didn't want to leave Hermione to eat alone.
"I better go. If I don't show up, Dumbledore might get suspicious." The last thing he wanted to do was leave Hermione to deal with the senile man, should he choose to single her out instead. That thought alone made him pale for a moment until he remembered she was safe under his Lordships.
"Harry?" Severus called out to him, breaking the younger wizard from his thoughts.
"Sorry. I was thinking about Hermione. I was worried that Dumbledore might try and bother her now, but she's also protected under my Lordships." Harry admitted, relaxing at the reminder. Severus hummed, recalling the information he had learned a few months prior.
"Yes. You performed a blood adoption on her, to claim her as a sister, correct?" Severus asked, clearing his table with a wave of his wand.
"I did," Harry confirmed. "She's under my protection. For Yule, I'm giving her a necklace with protection charms from all four lordships. The House of Black and Gryffindor had something similar to an heirship ring, but it wasn't quite it."
"They wouldn't. The House of Black and Gryffindor only allows the Male to run the estate and claim the Lordship. Ms. Granger is still protected but will be unable to ever claim the status of Lady." Harry nodded at that, having researched as much as he could after claiming his lordships. He wanted to talk with the man more, but he had to get to breakfast soon, otherwise, Dumbledore would become suspicious about his absence when the Board of Governors made their appearance.
"I'll see you later, Severus. Don't harass the first years too much," He teased, appariting out of the room. Severus fondly rolled his eyes, a small smile on the man's face.
"I have to admit, I am worried for these students." Amelia confided in Lucius as they made their way to Gryffindor tower, where they were set to meet Lord Potter in McGonagall's office. There was a privacy charm around them, making their conversation safe from prying ears. "There are valued courses that they are not being taught."
Lucius had known about the lacking courses from Draco, but seeing it firsthand was truly worrisome.
"I agree. The only time there was a dueling class was in my son's second year. That's five years ago now." Lucius commented with a frown. "When we attended, the dueling class was taught yearly."
"It makes me wonder about this generation. Will they know how to fend for themselves if they are attacked? If Dumbledore," She spat the name like it was a disgrace. "-is truly worried about Voldemort, why does he keep his students from learning valuable materials?" She shook her head. "And what of the Wizarding etiquette class? Why is there a muggle studies class, but no etiquette class for the muggleborns?" It made no sense to have a class about muggles for the half-bloods and purebloods, yet no class to help the muggleborns adapt to the new world they were in.
"That alarms me as well." Lucius truthfully had no idea there was no Wizarding etiquette class being taught. Draco and most other pureblood children had been taught about their customs before entering Hogwarts. The Muggleborns weren't offered that same luxury, which was why the class was offered in the first place.
"How does he expect the muggleborns to integrate with the rest of the wizarding world if the class is not taught? Once they graduate Hogwarts, they are going to realize that the real world is nothing like it is here. This is setting them up for failure."
Lucius dealt with years of bias from his upbringing, but even he saw the issue in secluding the muggleborns. They would likely return to the muggle world once they left Hogwarts, and it was possible that it would create a population surge of witches and wizards populating the muggle world if they continued to return.
"This could cause a lot of issues in the long run. If muggleborn witches and wizards find themselves unable to integrate within our world, they will return to theirs." It wasn't uncommon for muggleborns to chose to go back to the muggle world, but it was alarming that a huge number would potentially do so. "If most of this generation's muggleborn population returns to their world, what will happen when they have children, and when their children also return there? How many muggles will we have to obliviate to keep the wizarding world a secret?" The thought made both of them wince.
The ministry already suffered enough with Fudge running it. What would happen if they were to be discovered?
"I know it is impossible to stop some from leaving. They still have their families in the muggle world." Amelia understood their desire to visit and stay with them, especially when they had no family in the wizarding world. "But the fact that there is no measure to help integrate them is alarming. If they wanted to stay in the first place, they are at a further disadvantage."
"That's not the only issue." Lucius sighed. "I fear there are a few professors here that are…unqualified to teach." He admitted to which Amelia was quick to nod.
"Something I noticed as well," Amelia responded with a sigh of her own. "Watching Professor Trelawney teach was," She paused, trying to gather her words. "Interesting." Amelia settled, causing Lucius to smirk.
"It would seem we have more issues than we originally thought."
As they finally reached Gryffindor tower, McGonagall was waiting for them, giving a court nod when they arrived.
"Lucius, Amelia." The elderly woman offered a small smile to them, leading them to her office.
"Minerva." Amelia felt her lips curl into a small smile as well. "It is wonderful to see you again, but the circumstances are unfavorable."
"An understatement, my dear." The Head of Gryffindor sighed. "Mister Potter will be getting out of class shortly. Would you like some tea while you wait?"
"Tea would be nice, thank you." Lucius nodded.
As the tea was served, Amelia was the first to speak up.
"Minerva, can you be unbiased with us? Can you tell us how you believe the school is running?" Amelia questioned after taking a sip, raising an eyebrow as the older woman let out a humorless chuckle.
"I'm afraid we would be here all day if that were the case," Lucius smirked a bit, nodding.
"How about something more specific? Do you believe that there are certain professors here who are unqualified to instruct?" Minerva nearly winced as she took her own sip of tea, giving a forlorn nod.
"I'm afraid so. While I am the deputy Headmistress, there is only so much I can do to ensure everything is running smoothly. Most of the hiring is done by Albus, which I am sure you are aware of." She sat her cup on the saucer, frowning. "I assume your own investigation has led you to make this discovery."
"Yes. We were quite surprised at the teaching style of Professor Trelawney." It was slightly amusing to see the way Minerva roll her eyes at the name.
"I have no idea what possessed Albus to hire her. I've had multiple students drop her classes and elect to self-study. The same goes for Cuthbert Binns." Lucius broke character and grimaced.
"With all due respect," He began, crossing his arms. "Cuthbert Binns should have been fired years ago. I remember his teaching being subpar when I was in his class. I can't imagine it's gotten any better."
"If it were up to me, I would have found replacements for them years ago," Hearing the admission made Amelia hum. "Truthfully, there are two other professors that are worrisome as well. Rubeus Hagrid means well, but he lacks the proper education to teach the students here. As an assistant professor, I think he would do well, but not as the main instructor for Care of magical creatures."
"Wasn't his wand snapped?" Amelia looked aghast. "Why is he the main instructor if he can't perform magic to protect the students if something were to go wrong?" Lucius felt a twitch in his jaw at the reminder of what happened to Draco.
"I tried to convince Albus to hire someone else for the position, but he was unrelenting. I'm not fond of having someone without an education teach the students, even if this is his passion."
"Are there other professors or staff members you would change?" Amelia asked, observing the way Minerva reacted to the questions.
"The Librarian. Her name is Irma Pince, but I find that she is too possessive of the books. I've had many upper years complain to me about her. She is often unwilling to let them leave the library with the book they need."
"A librarian who is unwilling to let the students check out books." Amelia covered her face, feeling a migraine forming at the back of her head. "Dear Merlin, this place is in more trouble than I thought."
"I won't keep my voice silent any longer. Albus has caused severe problems for this school, and for the students. The brunt of these issues has been shoved upon Mister Potter." Amelia perked up at that, nodding at Lucius who proceeded to conjure a clipboard and write down what Minerva had to say.
"Can you give us an example of what the headmaster has done to Harry Potter? We hope your words will not only give us more insight on the matter but convince the other members about Albus' flaws."
"Of course," Minerva nodded. She would have smirked, but the words she was about to say left a bitter taste in her mouth. "I will admit that I failed Harry in numerous ways because I was blind to the manipulations until last year. Harry would return late from the Headmaster's office, looking more and more stressed as the year went on. It was around the end of May when I overheard an exchange between them that disturbed me greatly."
"What happened?" Lucius asked, narrowing his eyes.
"Mister Potter was yelling at the Headmaster, telling him he didn't want to fight in the war. He was distressed when Dumbledore kept pressing the matter, telling Harry that he was the only one that could defeat Voldemort." Amelia was listening with wide eyes. "Mister Potter refused to go back into the Headmaster's office and told him to find someone else to fight his battles."
"He was trying to get an underage student to fight the Dark Lord?" Amelia looked ill.
"And he was trying to dictate his life. After that encounter I witnessed, I started to wonder how well I truly knew my student. This year, I questioned him again about his career path. As I suspected, he only said he wanted to be an Auror in his fifth year because that was the path Dumbledore tried to make him follow."
"Yeah, I wasn't a fan of that either." The three adults turned to look at the younger Wizard who had managed to enter the office undetected. "I never wanted to be an Auror, but Dumbledore had it in his head that I wanted to be." Harry shrugged.
"Mister Potter," Minerva made to stand, but Harry stopped her.
"Professor, if it's alright with you, I would like you to stay for this. You have a right to know what happened." Harry had a suspicion that once Dumbledore was gone, it was going to be McGonagall to take his place. He didn't have a problem with that, but he wanted her to be aware of what was going on.
As Harry moved to take the unoccupied seat, he held back a sigh. Despite being ready for the plans to be set into motion, he dreaded reliving the events.
"As you're aware, I filled a restraining order against Headmaster Dumbledore." Now that information was something Minerva was unaware of, and she had to withhold her gasp. "And it went into immediate effect." Amelia Bones peered up at him, nodding.
"Yes. Those are rare," She reminded, having only seen it a handful of times herself.
"The reason the restraining order went into immediate effect was because of what the Headmaster did. He cornered me twice that day and," Harry paused, taking a breath. "The first time made me uneasy. There was something about him that made me uncomfortable. Then that night…" Harry swallowed thickly. "I could feel his magic coming from his voice, and there was something dark about it. I managed to excuse myself from him as I fled to the Dungeons to meet Professor Snape for one of my detentions."
Even though Lucius already knew about the events, hearing Harry speak about it made a chill go down his spine.
"I didn't want to tell Professor Snape, so I waited until early the next morning to sneak out and go to Gringotts myself." He gave a sheepish smile to his head of House. "Sorry about that, Professor. I just didn't see another alternative at the time."
"Harry," She gave him a sad smile. "I just wish you had told me from the beginning. I had no idea he was overstepping his bounds at this level." Harry winced, biting his lips.
"That wasn't the only reason the restraining order went into immediate effect." The green-eyed wizard breathed out, turning away for a moment. "At Gringotts, the Goblin watched my memory and came to the realization that Dumbledore's magic had been a compulsion. He was using his words to try and form a magical compulsion around me, so I would listen to him."
It was at that moment, that Amelia Bones knew there was no going back after this.
"Excuse me? He what?!" Amelia actually gasped, along with Minerva. "Lord Potter, you are telling me that the Headmaster attempted to attack you that night, with his words acting as a compulsion spell?"
"I can show you the memories if you don't believe me. I can also retrieve Jagrofth if you need him. He was the overseer of the restraining order." Amelia Bones quickly composed herself, shaking her head.
"There's no need, Lord Potter. The evidence of the Goblins sending us the letter is all we need. The fact that your restraining order was answered by magic itself is more than telling," She explained, setting her paper down. "All formalities aside, this is a grave issue. That information you just disclosed is enough to remove Dumbledore immediately. Even if the other members are uncertain, they will quickly agree once they know the truth."
"I know," Harry nodded. "I figured the Headmaster would be removed once I told the truth about what happened the other night." He hesitated for a moment. "This might be an odd proposal, but would you consider waiting until Yule break?" Amelia blinked in surprise at the request.
"You want us to remove Dumbledore during Yule break?" Amelia asked, entirely confused and cautious of the request.
"If possible, yes. Speaking as myself, I would prefer this matter be handled discretely. If you remove him today, I worry that the ministry would step in." Amelia paused at the words, leaning back in her chair. "It's no secret that Minister Fudge isn't fond of Dumbledore, and while I'm obviously not a fan of the headmaster, I'd rather not deal with the minister on top of everything else."
"I have to agree with Lord Potter, Amelia." Lucius cut in. "If we act now, Minerva will take the place of the headmaster. However, that also leaves us with the responsibility of finding a new transfigurations professor and appointing a new deputy." Closing her eyes, Amelia nodded.
"As much as it pains me to do this, I have to agree. If we remove Dumbledore now, I can already imagine the chaos our inept Minister would cause. Like Lord Potter, I would also like to avoid that at all costs." She said with a sigh, suddenly feeling more tired than ever before. Her eyes landed on Harry's again, feeling a wave of sadness wash over her.
Had this poor wizard not been through enough?
"We will search for a suitable transfiguration professor in the meantime," Amelia promised the two. "And we will be further investigating other professors as well. Rest be assured, Hogwarts will be going through numerous changes in the following months."
That following night at dinner, Albus was wary when he and a few other professors received a glowing letter. The owls usually didn't run this late unless it was an emergency or official business.
With a deep sigh, he opened the letter and unfolded the parchment carefully.
Dear Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, after our initial investigation this morning, the Board of Governors has come to a decision. As of right now, your tenure as Headmaster at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry will be nullified starting the 22nd of December.
On the 22nd of December, please have all of your belongings packed and arrangements made to leave no later than eleven pm.
A member of the Board of Governors will be placed to ensure your removal by the given time. Failure to comply with these orders or attempting to avoid the chosen member will result in your immediate arrest and confinement.
Again, be ready to leave no later than eleven pm on December 22nd
An Official Statement from The Board of Governors, Chairman Lucius Malfoy, and Chairwoman Amelia Bones.
The number of gasps that went around the table was enough indication that he wasn't the only one to receive such a letter. His pale face and cold eyes swept across the table, noting all the professors who had a letter in their hands.
Irma Pince, Sybill Trelawney, and Rubeus Hagrid.
Everything was crashing down around him. All of his carefully thought-out plans were crumbling to dust, the wind carrying them away.
Cold and calculating blue eyes scan the students next, nearly widening when he finds a pair of emerald eyes boring into his own. They stare deep into him, causing the unfamiliar sensation of dread to build in the pit of his stomach.
Slowly, the seventh year Gryffindor smiles at him, and Albus has the sudden feeling that he needs to run for his life.