Chapter Forty Five – The Power of Suggestion

Daily Prophet –

WIZARD FOUND DEAD IN HOGSMEADE

The body of Basil Pritchard was found late last night on the outskirts of Hogsmeade. The body was discovered by Banky Scrivenshaft the owner of Scrivenshaft's Quill Shop while he was returning home. Scrivenshaft reported that he saw several animals milling about just off the trail and went to investigate.

"A couple of foxes were digging a whole in the dirt," Scrivenshaft said. "I figured they were digging up some old animal bones or something then I saw a hand."

Scrivenshaft contacted the Aurors who immediately secured the scene. Pritchard was believed to have been killed several days earlier and his body buried to cover up the crime. Sources within the Aurors report that Pritchard was bludgeoned to death. One source noted that Pritchard was known as a skilled duelist. "It would have taken a very powerful Wizard to do that kind of damage."

For past several months Pritchard has been active in the campaign to reform the curriculum at Hogwarts, where his nephew is a student. He testified at the Ministry that, "Albus Dumbledore's time has past. He clearly no longer is in touch with the needs of the modern wizard. His paranoia has made him see monsters in every shadow. It is only a matter of time before he lashes out"

Amelia Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, promised swift action to track down the person responsible. "We have several promising leads," she informed the Daily Prophet.

Some suspect the involvement of Sirius Black who was known to have tried to infiltrate Hogwart's grounds soon after he escaped Azkaban. Sources within the Ministry refused to comment on the record who is under investigation.

---

"So what do you make of this Sir Ian?" Lady Aydin asked, setting down the transcript of the Daily Prophet.

"Riddle is about to make a serious move," Sir Ian replied. "And seems Sinclair is correct, he's going to set up Dumbledore to take the fall for whatever he's planning."

"What do you base that on?" Lady Aydin asked. "I will concede the article does imply that Dumbledore had a reason to go after Pritchard, but that is a long way away from a frame up. Just what do we know about this Pritchard anyway?"

"Very little," Sir Ian answered. "His name is on the list of recently recruited Death Eaters provided by Dumbledore. Although according our agent in the Aurors there was no sign of Dark Mark on the body. My working theory is Riddle is purging his ranks. After the Council's attack he suspects treachery from within. As to the frame up, the article is just one part," Sir Ian said. "That's yesterday's Daily Prophet. Fudge had a meeting with his little cadre yesterday afternoon. Our Mole managed to record it."

"How many members of his 'secret' group are Death Eaters?" Lady Aydin inquired.

"We believe only one," Sir Ian answered. "The rest are sympathetic to Riddle's cause. Think Muggle's are useless and that the Wizarding world needs to remain 'pure', whatever that means," Sir Ian paused. "What is striking is the level of paranoia that Fudge is displaying. He's absolutely convinced that Dumbledore is planning a violent revolution against the government. This is out of character even for him. He already believes Dumbledore killed Pritchard. He's directed Bones to find proof. Our contacts within the Ministry report that the sentiment is shared to a greater or lesser extent among much of the staff."

"Interesting."

"On a similar note," Sir Ian continued. "Fudge's little group has already theorized that Dumbledore is connected to Black."

"How did they come to that conclusion?" Lady Aydin asked.

"As it stated in the article it is known that Black tried to infiltrate Hogwarts grounds," Sir Ian explained. "There is even evidence that he succeeded in getting past the Dementors. It was argued that such a thing could only have been done with the aid of Dumbledore. Add to that neither Potter nor Black has spoken about the need to capture Black in two years. Fudge finds that suspicious. The Death Eater in his ranks encourages that view."

"Not surprising," Lady Aydin said. "I have a theory I'd like to share with you Sir Ian."

"A theory My Lady?"

"Bare with me for a moment. There has been another up tick in 'pranks' across the continent over the past month," Lady Aydin noted. "I've been thinking about Dawn's analysis of the Wizarding world."

"I fail to see the connection."

"The recent spate of pranks began at about the same time the Chamber of Secrets was believed to have been reopened," Lady Aydin noted. "The increase in severity corresponds to when Riddle was fully restored."

Sir Ian began to nod his head. "Yes I think I see the pattern now. The Council attacked Riddle a little over a month ago. Their attack made it seem that several Death Eaters may have turned traitors. Riddle's natural paranoia has to have been inflamed."

"And Fudge's paranoia goes up at the same time," Lady Aydin completed the thought. "Plus an increase in assaults on Muggles."

"You said that Dumbledore explained the Wizarding world's isolation as a sort of 'suggestion' spell, yes?" Sir Ian said.

"Which begs the question, who is making the suggestions?" Lady Aydin said.

"Have you spoken with Dawn or Willow about this?" Sir Ian asked.

"I plan on sharing my thoughts with them soon," Lady Aydin said. "But I have been waiting to see if their analysis of the situation leads them to the same conclusion. Thus far the path they are following seems to be leading in the same direction."

"I'll run this by Jerry when he has time," Sir Ian said. "He is focusing his attention on the interrogation of the Death Eaters."

---

Lucius Malfoy. I am Lucius Malfoy. He kept repeating the mantra in his mind. It was the only thing keeping him sane at moment.

Malfoy had finally deduced that he was in a muggle hospital. A fact that made him sick to his stomach. It also meant he couldn't tell anyone about where he was from. The secrecy laws forbade it. Muggles were not to learn of the Wizarding world.

He had been in and out of consciousness. He wasn't sure how much time had past since he was ambushed. Days, weeks, it all blended together.

He still had no idea how he got here or why everyone insisted on calling him Louis Malone. The doctor had shown him some kind of identification card that had his picture on it. It said his name was Malone. They proceeded to show him pictures from his wallet. Pictures of someone who looked like him fishing from a boat in a river. It had to be a trick. But how could muggles trick him like this?

He had to get out of here. But how? He had no idea what happened to his wand. His clothes were gone. He did not have any charms on him. No portkey. His head still felt groggy. His chest was bandaged. His right arm was in a cast. He still could not feel his legs. The doctor said something about 'shock' to the 'spinal column.' The injury might correct itself once the swelling goes down. He didn't understand any of what was being said to him.

The door opened again and Dr. Abernathy came into the room. Another man that Malfoy didn't recognize followed him.

"Mr. Malone," Dr. Abernathy said. "This is inspector Cromwell. He needs to ask you a few questions."

"My name is Malfoy," Malfoy said in a forceful tone. "I don't have to answer any of your questions."

"Mr. Malone," the man identified as Cromwell said. "You were involved in car accident. A fatal car accident. Three people are dead. Don't think by pretending to be somebody else you can get out of dealing with that."

"What are you babbling about?" Malfoy demanded. "I've never driven a car in my life. Filthy devices. If you are a inspector than you should already know that I'm not this Malone person you all keep talking about."

"You see inspector," Dr. Abernathy said. "I don't believe this is an act. Mr. Malone …"

"MALFOY!!!"

The doctor gave him a sympathetic look. "Shall we step outside inspector?'

"Very well doctor," Cromwell acknowledged. The two stepped through the door. The doorstop flipped down and the door was left ajar. Malfoy could hear what the two were discussing.

"I'm not buying this bastards act Doctor," Cromwell said.

"As I said inspector," Abernathy said. "It's not an act. Mr. Malone experienced an extreme trauma. His mind has found refuge in the fantasy world he created in his books. He's convinced himself that he is the powerful Wizard Lucius Malfoy."

Malfoy blinked. He never told these muggles he was a wizard. How did they know?

"So he thinks he's the hero of the books he writes?" Cromwell said. "Not going to cut it doc. The man got drunk. Got behind the wheel of the car and killed three people. The couple in the other car and his own son."

Draco. Malfoy was shocked. Something happened to Draco. No its part of the trick.

"That's why he has retreated into the hallucination," Abernathy explained. "Drew Malone was the last family he had left. And he knows he's responsible for what happened to him. So rather than deal with that he's decided to become Lucius Malfoy. A man who can just wave a wand and make the world better. When he first awoke he demanded to see 'Minister Fudge,' the character in the books who runs the Wizarding world. He's mumbled about needing to find his wand in his sleep."

"So how do you snap him out of his hallucination?" Cromwell asked.

"It's a delicate process inspector Cromwell," the doctor answered. "We've tried showing him his ID, some pictures from his life. We're going to try showing him the books he's written tomorrow."

"Why can't you just knock some sense into the bastard?" Cromwell asked.

"Inspector Cromwell," Abernathy began. "Mr. Malone may be a suspect to you. But he is my patient. If we push him too hard he may retreat permanently into his hallucination. Or worse we could trigger an even more severe reaction. The man might go catatonic. Give us time to work with him."

"Very well doctor," the inspector said. "I'll defer to your judgment for now. What are the chances he'll snap out of it?"

"Very good right now," the doctor answered. "Thus far he's only really claimed to be Malfoy. He has not claimed openly to be a wizard or that magic is real. He hasn't called any us 'muggles.' He's still clinging to some part of reality. That means the real Louis Malone is still in there."

Malfoy was couldn't process what was happening. These idiot muggles thought he was this Louis Malone that Lucius Malfoy was some kind storybook character. It had to be a trick. He closed his eyes. I am Lucius Malfoy. I am Lucius Malfoy.

The Dark Lord would come for him soon. His wife would report his disappearance. Fudge would have every Auror in England looking for him.

I am Lucius Malfoy. I am Lucius Malfoy.