Chapter Forty-Six – Students and Teachers

Moody was finally starting to feel like himself. His jaw had healed and he could talk again. His arm was still in a sling. In addition to the fractures, several ligaments had been torn and the muscles in his arm badly sprained. That girl, Slayer she was called, was far stronger than she had looked.

The Muggles that ran this place were treating him well. Both Sinclair and Dumbledore had come to see him.

Moody shook his head. The two of them were working together again. He wasn't certain if that was good or bad. Merlin knew separately the two of them were sneakier than any ten other wizards. Together, Moody just shook his head again. At least their plans were directed against the Dark Lord and his ilk.

"Moody, sir" came a voice from the door. "How are you?"

"Sinclair," Moody replied. "As well as I can be. They're finally letting me move around on my own. With a guard of course. Still won't let me have my eye back."

"It can see through walls," his visitor replied. "Certainly you, of all people, can appreciate the need for security. They're just being prudent."

"I suppose they are," Moody looked his visitor over. "So this is why you quit the Aurors Sinclair. To work for Muggles."

"Yes," Jennifer answered. "I work for British Intelligence."

"Telling them all our secrets no doubt," Moody said accusingly.

"They knew most of them already," Jennifer answered. "Including a lot of the ones you don't even know."

"My best student in years," Moody said. "Could take down most dark wizards before they even knew you were there. Threw that away to work here."

"I didn't throw anything away," Jennifer replied forcefully. "I spent two years as an Auror. I know what it was like. The Ministry giving a nod and a wink to Wizards from prominent families who liked to play 'pranks' on people. Eliminating our authority to monitor former Death Eaters. They forced you out."

"I know what's happening in the Ministry lass," Moody said. "But coming here, to work for the Muggles?"

"I serve the Crown," Sinclair answered. "I admit I was reluctant when Grandfather broached the subject to me. But it was the best decision I ever made. You have no idea just how big the world really is. How amazing. I've seen a lot of it. Seen things even you would have a hard time believing."

"And attacking your own people", Moody said. "You helped them kill Remus."

Jennifer paused and spoke in a quiet voice. "I'm sorry. We were going after Black. We didn't know about the Order. We didn't know Black was innocent."

"Your damned grandfather playing his own games," Moody said.

"And Dumbledore's better," Sinclair said.

"Better than Sinclair," Moody said.

"Then where was he when Death Eaters were killing my parents?" Jennifer shot back. "Where was he while Riddle was murdering his way through our world? Up at his damn school, watching the action from a safe distance."

"The Order fought the whole time," Moody retorted. "We were doing a damn sight more than most."

"And it still wasn't enough," Jennifer said. "We got lucky with Potter. You have no idea how close it was. I do. They almost did it. The Crown. They almost pulled all our protections away. You would have seen the British army marching through Hogsmeade."

"It never would have come to that," Moody said.

"314 people confirmed killed by Death Eaters throughout Europe during Riddle's terror campaign," Jennifer said. "Most of them for loyalty tests, some just for fun. And that's the dead. That's not counting the injured. The tortured. The raped. That will not be allowed to happen again."

"314 Muggles?" Moody said. "We all knew it was bad. Didn't know it was that bad."

"Of course not," Jennifer said. "It was probably a lot more. As I said, those were the confirmed deaths. There are number of deaths classed as suspicious." Jennifer paused. "And I didn't say 'muggles' I said people. Did you know the Ministry refused to accept the Crown's evidence of Wizard involvement in those deaths? They were just 'Muggles' after all with the evidence coming from other ignorant 'Muggles.' We even had evidence of the first kill Lucius Malfoy did to cement his position among the Death Eaters. It wasn't conclusive, but it was good enough. You never heard it at his trial, because it came from Muggle sources."

Moody shook his head. "And that means they can charge in now?"

"Yes it does," Jennifer said. "The Ministry is paralyzed. Fudge is an idiot. You and your Order of the Phoenix are hanging out in the shadows."

"We've been working against the Death Eaters," Moody said.

"Doing what?" Jennifer asked. "We've captured five Death Eaters already. Given time we'll probably have the location of most of the Death Eater's major safe houses and good idea of their plans. That's about six months after we got confirmation of Riddle's return. What has the Order done during that time?"

Moody blinked. They've done that much. "We've been blocking the Dark Lords plans. Preventing him from getting the things he wants."

"Like what?" Jennifer said. "What's in the Department of Mysteries? We know Order members have been watching the entrance."

"I'm not telling you that," Riddle answered.

"Didn't expect you too," Jennifer said. "My guess is a prophecy."

"Guess all you want," Moody said. "I'm still not saying. He can't get it because of us. We've got almost all his Death Eaters pegged. We've done our part."

"And we'll do ours," Jennifer said. Her face tightened and she turned to leave. She stopped. "It was because they forced you out."

"What?"

"Why I left," Jennifer said turning back towards Moody. "When they forced you to 'retire.' That's when I knew Grandfather was right. The Ministry was no longer able or willing to do its job."

"Still good people there," Moody said. "You abandoned them."

"Of course there's good people there," Jennifer replied. "But they're hamstrung. Assaults against 'muggles' receive the lowest priority. Riddle's followers are allowed to roam unchecked. Crouch may have overreached in his prosecutions, but that's because he was forced to target too many low level people. He was blocked from going after prominent Death Eaters."

"I told them that," Moody said. "Letting Malfoy go. Imperious curses aren't that powerful. Forcing someone to do that many things against their will for that long leaves scars. Malfoy was the picture of health."

"And it got you tossed out," Jennifer said. "Here I can do something. I can help take out Riddle and protect our people far better than I ever could as an Auror. You even know I'm right. Otherwise you wouldn't have joined the Order of the Phoenix."

"I have plenty of reasons to join the Order," Moody said. "Maybe your right. The Ministry wouldn't use your talents. You could've come to me."

"Maybe I could have," Jennifer said. "But then I wouldn't be here. I like it here. These are good people. They let me do my job."

"I didn't teach you quit," Moody said.

"No, you taught me to fight," Jennifer said. "And that's what I do here. I fight to protect our people."

"You expect me to trust these people on your say so," Moody said.

"Of course not," Jennifer said. "You don't trust anybody."

"Then why did you come here?"

"I don't know," Jennifer said. "I guess I missed you. Always yelling at me about wand safety. You were one of the best teachers I ever had," she turned to leave again.

"You do keep your wand safe?"

Jennifer half turned again. She held out her arm and gave a quick flick of her wrist. A wand popped into her hand. "Holstered and ready for action at all times."

With that she left.

Voldemort sat in his throne room and pondered.

It would happen soon. He would strike out directly. It was sooner then he planned. But the betrayal of Malfoy and the others forced his hand. If all went as planned his old teacher would receive the blame.

So many years of planning, so many years spent studying, spent in patient learning. Soon it would truly begin.

He would free his people from the weakness that had overcome them. He knew the truth. The price the Wizarding world had paid for its 'peace.' They were weak. Their power was fading. His people were a pale shadow of their past glory. They were dying. Worse, they did not even know how close death was to claiming them. Polluted by outside blood. Weakened by their self-imposed prison.

Such power they once had. To craft the majesty that was Hogwarts. To build the Ministry of Magic in the heart of Muggle London. The power to restore life. Where was that power now? Such skills were lost.

He must act. He must first purify his people. Remove the weakness from their blood. Once done, they could begin to spread out. To take back what they foolishly surrendered all those centuries ago.

The fool Dumbledore and the others like him. They lived in fear. They wanted everything to stay the same. Unchanging forever. That path had led to weakness.

Slytherin had seen it. They flaw in the other's plan to 'save' their people. D'Karsh had been right in a way. Retreating from the world was not an answer.

The Muggle filth that infested the world. They at least grew and changed. His own people were frozen in time. Creating nothing truly new. Even to point of aping the 'Muggles' advances.

"Master," one of his followers entered the chamber and kneeled before him. "We are ready, Master."

"Fudge has been given the proper information?"

"As you ordered Master," his follower said. "I found what you sought among Wormtail's possessions."

"Excellent," Voldemort smiled. "Go now."

Another smile played across his lips.

Soon.

"Minister, you requested to see me," Amelia Bones entered Minister Fudge's office.

"Yes Amelia," Fudge said. He was doing this meeting one on one. Better to press the importance of the matter. "Have a seat. There are things I need to tell you."

"Is this about the investigation into Pritchard's death," Amelia said. "I can not find anything linking Dumbledore to the crime," she was uncomfortable with Fudge taking this active a role in the investigation. Bad enough he had yanked the Black investigation away from her.

"Some new information has come into my possession," Fudge said. "It means I now have to tell you why I told you to focus on Dumbledore. The man is growing far too dangerous."

"In what way sir?" she asked.

"Lucius Malfoy is not taking an extended vacation as has been reported," Fudge said. "He has disappeared."

"What?"

"He has disappeared," Fudge repeated. "A little over a month ago. According to his wife he was on his way to Hogwarts to confront Dumbledore."

"That's what some of Pritchard's friends say he may have been doing," Bones noted. "But we know Dumbledore was probably in the Castle at the time we believe the murder occurred."

"That is why I believe Black may be working for Dumbledore," Fudge said. "In fact he may have been working for Dumbledore all along."

"What are you talking about Minister?" Bones asked. "'All along.' Do mean before he went to Azkaban?"

"Possibly," Fudge said. "It looks like Dumbledore may also have been using You-Know-Who's presence to further his own ends even all those years ago. Look at this," he handed Bones a file.

Amelia looked through it. "There is a picture in here of Black with Dumbledore. Some other people here, the Potters, Lupin, Podmore and McGonagall. Is that Arthur Weasley?"

"Yes it is. It came into my possession from a trusted source," Fudge said. "It was taken when You-Know-Who was first coming into his power. It was a group Dumbledore put together. I don't know what they were called. It seems Dumbledore was quite close to Black back then."

"He betrayed a lot of people," Bones noted.

"Perhaps," Fudge said. "Or perhaps Dumbledore betrayed even more. When You-Know-Who fell, Dumbledore got almost as much credit as Potter. He had a lot of influence."

"He could have become the next Minister of Magic," Bones said. "He chose not to."

"Because he preferred power behind the scenes," Fudge said. "He tried very hard to dictate everything I did early in my administration. I admit I was weaker then and allowed him to push me harder than I should have. But I'm stronger now. He can no longer force his ideas down my throat."

"I still don't understand what any of this means Minister," Bones said.

"Dumbledore wants power," Fudge said. "Because of You-Know-Who he got a lot of power. Now he's faking You-Know-Who's return in order to get that power back. He thinks everyone will leap back to him. But he knows it's not enough to say You-Know-Who is back. We've got him blocked. No, he needs some kind of proof."

"He kidnapped Malfoy to create proof of the return of He-Who-Must-Be-Named," Bones said. "And he arranged for Pritchard's murder to create the same thing."

"Precisely," Fudge said. "Look at the picture. There's Mad-Eye Moody, who Crouch supposedly lived as for nearly a year. Right under Dumbledore's nose, mind you. The great Albus Dumbledore fooled by someone using polyjuice potion. There's Remus Lupin, another DADA teacher Dumbledore tried to force past the Ministry. All the people who support Dumbledore now, were backing him then. It's too coincidental."

"I see what you mean Minister," Bones said. "But one old picture is not proof of a conspiracy."

"Of course not," Fudge said. "But it's a place to start. I want you to find the people in this picture and keep tabs on them. Use only your most trusted people. The ones with no connection to Dumbledore or any of these people. Dumbledore has to be getting desperate. We've managed to keep people from panicking over his claims You-Know-Who has returned. Dolores almost has enought information to enable to Ministry to finally force him out of Hogwarts. He has to do something soon. Something big."

"It will take time Minister," Bones said. "Whatever you may think about him, Dumbledore is powerful. The man has eyes everywhere. Knows things there is no way he should be able to."

"That's why I delayed bringing you into this Amelia," Fudge said. "I've been collecting evidence on my own."

Bones nodded. That explained all the 'secret' meetings Fudge had been attending and messages he had only Weasley deliver.

"Thank you for the trust you are showing in me Minister," Bones said. "I will do everything I can to live up to it."

"Excellent," Fudge said. "Soon we can get rid of that dangerous old fool."

Deep in the cells of Azkaban ten people rose from their beds at the same time. They were weak, drawn. The effects of years in Azkaban. But recently the Dementors had been going easier on them. They practically left them alone. Ever since the Dark Marks had reappeared on their arms. They were getting stronger.

Their Master had returned. And he was coming for them. They would be free. And the Wizarding world would pay for what was done to them.

Around the Isle of Azkaban the Dementors waited. The Heir of Slytherin had returned. They allowed his followers to regain their strength. They could wait for a time. Soon the feast long denied would be theirs.

A/N - Sorry for the lengthy delay in updating this story. My muse has been taking some very odd turns of late (see for example yet another drabble added to my Legion of Superheroes crossover). I've had a very long talk with it and hopefully it will focus on finishing the stories I'm currently working on stop hanging out with all those plot bunnies and their bad influences.