Princess of Death
Chapter 17
You Mortals play your little games, we Gods play ours.
September 1st 1995
The students of Hogwarts walked into a very different Great hall the food was already there completely fresh the benches of the table were far more comfortable and traditional Nordic music could be heard.
To those who followed the old gods it was wonderful, to the students and staff in general it was amazing the school seemed so different, so much warmer is what many of the students would call it if you asked them.
The Throne remained Empty, but that was to be expected the summer holidays had been a nightmare for nearly everyone within the Magical world, Dumbledore despite being banished from the territory of Hogwarts still tried to return to convince Haralda that Voldemort had returned.
The man had supported Ron Weasley in his claims that he saw the dark-lord return to full power, but the Ministry of Magic had denied this saying there was no proof except the word of a delusional boy ho had shamed his school and county during the final task of the TWT.
During the entire summer, the ministry ran a smear campaign against both Dumbledore and The Weasley Family, gaining the information that Dumbledore had tried to pass a marriage contract to the Ancient and revered House of Potter-Black.
Unfortunately, Albus Dumbledore was still chief Warlock of the Wizengamot and publicly declared in the Wizengamot that Voldemort was back and the nation was in danger, the people who remembered those dark days were in panic refusing to leave their homes or trying to leave the country.
The Magical British economy started to spiral out of control it was only the quick work of Lady Haralda that stabilised the economy by bailing it out at the cost of 50 million Galleons, this all happened within the first 2 weeks of the summer holidays, and the Wizengamot was forced to hold an emergency meeting.
(FLASHBACK WEEK 3 OF THE SUMMER HOLIDAY)
Wizengamot Chambers
Ministry for Magic
London
Albus Dumbledore, stood before the Wizengamot once again tried to convince the lords and ladies to hunt Voldemort and that of course caused the Minister to lose his mind completely. "He's not back! Dumbledore, your bloody crusade has brought the nation to near-total economic collapse if it wasn't for Lady Haralda we would be bankrupt."
The Wizengamot broke into huge arguments between the light factions that supported Dumbledore and the Dark faction that supported Voldemort by proclaiming that Dumbledore was lying, the only group that was silent was the grey faction that was all staring at Lady Haralda who had summoned a box of popcorn while watching the arguments.
It didn't take long for the rest of the Wizengamot to notice what Haralda was doing confusing the lot of them. "Umm Lady Haralda, you seem to not really be interested in the debate as much as you should after all you will have to fight Voldemort," Albus asked her only to see her sigh and vanish her popcorn so she could stand up.
"My fellow Lords and Ladies of the Wizengamot, for over 13 years our nation has enjoyed one of the longest periods of peace in its history why is it only now that Dumbledore has been disgraced and stripped of his position as Headmaster and a boy whose family are known Dumbledore loyalists proclaims the Dark Lord that he himself said to the very August body was dead has returned."
Looking at her loyalists such as Lord Greengrass who nodded she continued. "I have spent a fortune to protect the economy of this nation from collapsing and yet our Chief Warlock once again tries to cause instability. As such I Lady Haralda Helasdottir lady of the Ancient and Revered House of Potter-Black put forward a motion to remove Albus Dumbledore as Chief Warlock of the August Body."
It was quickly seconded by House Greengrass, and after an hour the vote was passed and Dumbledore was removed from the Wizengamot chambers and the papers had a field day especially when a speech that Haralda made after Albus left the chambers was published in the evening.
DUMBLEDORE SACKED FROM WIZENGAMOT
DECLARATION FROM LADY HARALDA
BY RITA SKEETER
You have read that right my Dear readers Albus Dumbledore has been removed as the British Wizengamot on the basis of his scaremongering that the Dark Lord has returned after 13 years which prompted a mass panic from the British public leading to the near-collapse of the magical Economy had it not been for Lady Haralda bailout.
After the vote, Lady Haralda addressed her fellow Nobles about the so-called return of the Dark Lord.
(My fellow Lords and Ladies of the Wizengamot, I stand here to tell you that there is no possible way that Voldemort (I was told to write his name) has returned there is no proof.
But even so, I publicly declare here that any member of My House that joins any Political or Rebel Factions that threaten the security of this nation will be disowned.
However, it appears the Headmaster believes in a Prophecy that was made just shortly after I was born this is what it said.
"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 them as his equal, but they 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..."
(FLASHBACK OVER)
Malfoy Manor
Lord Voldemort looked at his Followers, he had started gathering as many people as he could to his banner what annoyed him however was he could gain no support in the Grey Factions who were fully under the Banner of Haralda the Girl-who-lived.
"My lord, we attempted to gain the support of the Greengrass and Davis Families as you commanded." Lucius Malfoy spoke from his position on his knees before his master.
"Well let me guess Lucius, you failed I am not surprised the grey faction seems to be completely under young Haralda's banner."
Lucius fell to the ground in pain as his master cast the Cruciatus Curse on him for failing in his task to gain more support, the pain only stopped when Voldemort saw his agent within Hogwarts Severus snape he however looked like death had claimed him. (oh, the irony)
"Severus, I was wondering where you were, tell me what's the news from Dumbledore's camp and within Hogwarts." The smile on Voldemort's face vanished as Severus continued to speak as his anger and confusion as Severus told him if the shocking turn of events for both sides.
Lady Haralda had made all staff of Hogwarts swear an oath of Loyalty to Hogwarts and to her a part of the oath was to swear not to support any faction that threatened the safety of Hogwarts that was the Death Eaters and the Order of the Phoenix.
"My Lord I was not given the chance to take the oath, she said my services were no longer needed and she fired me just before the students were to arrive."
"However, when I went to see Albus at the Weasley home he had a map of Hogwarts and it's surrounding lands, he stated that he would be able to convince Haralda to support his war otherwise he would have to take the school by force for the greater good."
That took Tom by surprise, Albus Dumbledore was showing an unusually aggressive approach to his moves looks like he would have to be aggressive too he would step up his plans and attack Azkaban and break out his diehard loyalists.
October 31st 1995
Hogwarts school
Great hall
The students had enjoyed a new era at Hogwarts, Professor Slughorn was a brilliant potions master and a fair head of House the House of Slytherin, he punished Draco Malfoy who had been given the status of prefect by Severus when he caught him abusing his authority by stripping him of his prefect Badge and gave him a month of detention.
Draco Malfoy was an angry young man and set word to his father demanding he do something as a member of the board of governors to convince Lady Haralda who he personally was still trying and failing to gain the affections off to give him back his badge and rightful place as Prince of Slytherin.
You see the most politically important student would hold the title of Prince of Slytherin Draco had claimed the title in his first year after his father had signed the oath of neutrality was still one of the richest families. But over the years House Greengrass and Davis had gained large financial boosts being close allies to Haralda.
The letter Draco received was not from his father but his mother what she had written however was not what Draco had wanted to hear.
Draco Lucius Malfoy
We have warned you not to antagonise people now that Dumbledore is gone, Lady Haralda has no time for your childish attempts at politics within her domain, the board of governors have been disbanded,
It seems Minister Fudge tried to place his undersecretary as the DADA teacher only to hear that the post had been filled by the young Auror Tonks.
Just behave yourself
Your mother
Lady Narcissa Malfoy.
That was the last blow in Draco's claim as the Prince of the House, a title that was now taken by Daphne Greengrass as she claimed the head of House title from under him it was an insulting issue but there was nothing they could do.
Later that week the Daily Prophet evening headlines were shocking to the students and staff.
MASS BREAKOUT FROM AZKABAN PRISON
BY RITA SKEETER
word has come that from the Island Prison of Azkaban that the prison was attacked allowing over 200 prisoners to escape with 12 of them being from the high-level security section, the Muggle prime minister has been alerted to the danger.
Lady Haralda placed the Castle and its territory under high alert in order to protect her students, not that she actually cared for them but it looked good on her end, it was almost time both factions according to her (spy's) their recruitment was hyping up just as she wanted.
Soon she would end the war and all those who would stand against her would be sent to Helheim, she would however wait a few more months before giving the go-ahead on her plan for both factions to battle it out in the final between the light and the dark.
December 24th 1995
Despite the tensions and attacks across magical Britain within Hogwarts, it was business as usual for the students' many students however who's parents were followers of Voldemort or Dumbledore were waiting for there parents to contact them, you see the Ministry had decreed that for safety all Muggleborn students were to stay at the castle for Christmas.
However, both the Death Eaters and Order had called their children home or left them at the school believing they would be best if they stayed there, they would regret that as it would be the day Haralda would begin her final plans.
Malfoy Manor
Voldemort was meeting with his inner circle and representatives of his allies on launching a full-scale invasion of the Ministry and Dumbledore's Order, he didn't expect Severus to rush in. "My Lord Dumbledore plans to move the entire Order to occupy Hogwarts by force."
Via the rune on his chest Tom agreed to move his entire force to invade Hogwarts, he could kill two birds with one wand he could kill both Dumbledore and Haralda not to mention the large population of Muggleborns he would turn into slaves or just kill dismissing Severus and his inner Circle he looked at the items he had managed to gather and remove the most important thing within them.
His soul anchors, well the ones he could get Severus had taken the Diadem before he left the castle, the Cup he gave Bellatrix was lost to him and just like his diary he felt it was destroyed, his Diary was long gone and the neckless was stolen by Regulus Black.
But it mattered not he still had two of them giving him a large magical boost, in what he believed would be enough to defeat his enemies, as he planed his move however Severus had made his way to the Burrow.
"Albus, the Dark Lord has gathered his forces to attack Hogwarts to kill everyone who is not on his side."
The Order was in complete shock both Sirius and Remus had joined the order much to James and Hela's disappointment, both had decided to try and convince James and Lily to have Haralda support them it failed, even Auror Kingsley Shacklebolt had difficulty in getting any of his fellow Aurors to support him, not even Director Amelia Bones could be convinced.
That night the perimeter wards alerted as the Death Eaters landed just north of the village of Hogsmeade, Haralda Ordered the Students and staff to the lower levels of the Castle as well as the Citizens of Hogsmeade who had taken their emergency portkeys.
Altering the wards just so it allowed the Order who arrived 10 mins later to appear near the Black Lake to be greeted with Thousands of Voldemort's forces marching towards the bridge to the school.
Meanwhile, Haralda sat on her throne the Castles Knights stood ready on the battlements, she waited for the fighting to begin. "time to show these Mortals a proper lesson in slaughter after I have my tea of course."
Authors Note: well, we are almost there the next Chapter will be called the Massacre at Hogwarts.
Until then enjoy.
Revan Shan 2077