OLD MAGIC
Chapter 54: Wednesday Morning Upheaval
Before the upheaval at Hogwarts Tuesday morning, the people of the wizarding world were learning some disturbing news of their own from their wireless that Monday night.
Unlike muggles though, the wizarding world didn't hang out near their radios or carry them around so dissemination was, by necessity, slow. However, as Tuesday morning wore on into late afternoon, word had spread throughout the wizarding world, of the shocking news about the magical creatures they thought of as simple minded but dangerous animals were, in truth, as intelligent, powerful, and as capable of using magic as human wizards. And, more importantly, these magical creatures wanted and demanded to be accepted by wizarding kind as equals with the same rights and say in how they would be governed as the humans did.
The message was shocking, intriguing, and terrifying. The Daily Prophet hurriedly disseminated their paper faster than normal to try and discredit the message as someone's idea of a poor joke but no one listened. This was something new, exciting, even if it was scary and the people wanted to know more about it.
By Wednesday, the Quibbler had hit the newsstands with a more in-depth coverage of the story. The furor rose to a fever pitch as people snatched up copies, wiping out their outlets in minutes requiring reorders. Before even an hour had passed people were having earnest debates, arguments and fights about what these creatures wanted.
"How dare these beasts demand to be treated as equals?" Was the prevailing demand by many.
While others asked in more reasonable tones, "Well why not? If they be as intelligent as we are how could we justify treating them the way we have been?"
"But it just isn't done! Our ancestors should know what's right or not!" Decried others.
And on, and on went the arguments among intellectuals and fisticuffs among the less educated masses ... everywhere people congregated … pubs, eateries, stores, at work, at home, and on the streets of every hamlet, village, town, and city the debate raged. The Quibbler sold more that Wednesday than anytime in their history. And why not … next to the war they pretended had been over for some time now, this news was even more contentious than the continuing depredations of the still remaining Death Eaters.
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It so happened that Malfoy had decided that Tuesday afternoon to return to the Leaky Cauldron in hopes of hearing any new information. Settling in a corner seat near the fireplace, he ordered a butter beer then leaned back in his seat to scan the patrons. There weren't many, though that wasn't unusual being after lunch. No one gave him any notice or recognition as he had taken the time to alter his appearance again, changing his hair to a hazel color that went well with his ice blue eyes.
At the bar sat two gentlemen sharing a beer. They were dressed a bit better than the rest of the clientele so they may have been businessmen pausing to have a drink together or perhaps a meeting. Nothing of interest there. A table in the far back near the kitchen sat a group of four. Three were men dressed in stained work clothes and the last member was a rather shabby looking woman with a thick coat wrapped around her.
"I tell you I heard it this morn on the wireless," the woman was saying rather loudly. She seemed stressed and anxious.
Malfoy got the impression the group had been there for some time if the cluster of glasses before them were any indication.
"Aw Milly tha know some of that is all hogwash and nonsense to raise their ratings," one of the men with fair hair soothed.
"Aye, there be no way the beasties said any of that. Someone is havin' fun at the listeners expense," another of the men with a huge barrel-chest and head of curly hair scoffed, an Irish accent clear in his voice.
The woman shook her head angrily, took a deep guzzle of her drink then slammed the mug down. "You believe wha you want. Me... I grew up near the Forbidden Forest and seen many a thing that couldn't be so to you townees. The beasties aren't stupid nor weak in magic. Mark me words, this is real and it will shake up the wizarding world."
The rest continued to heckle her good-naturedly for about another ten minutes before they decided to leave as a group, the woman still swearing what she heard on the wireless was the God's truth.
Malfoy frowned as he finished his drink. Sounds as if the Elder Council has sent their message through the Wizarding Wireless rather than the ministry. Wonder if they are trying to drum up support? I think I best try and hear this message and see if it lines up with what that message we received match, he mused.
He paid for his drink and quickly left for his temporary hideaway. Inside the shrieking shack once more, Malfoy sat on the bed and listened to his wireless setup he had zapped from home. It looked nothing like a muggle radio as much as it did some kind of bizarre giant light bulb with a halo. It took more than thirty, frustrating minutes of fiddling with the controls before he finally managed to locate the station broadcasting the message the woman had heard.
The message was short but to the point and left Malfoy rather speechless. The prophecy wasn't mentioned at all but a plea instead asked the public to aid them in their fight to be treated as equals, not slaves or beasts, by the wizarding world. And, more importantly, they wanted equal status with wizards within the governing body. No more treating them as unintelligent cannon fodder. It was a powerful message and shocking to the more sensible wizards who for centuries never thought much of the non-human magical creatures of the world. Now those same creatures were telling wizards they would no longer stand being treated as animals. Madness!
Malfoy shook his head in disbelief and anger. How dare they presume to think they were on the same level as wizards! He was certain this was going to cause a tremendous uproar among the people. He didn't know if that be good or bad for his plans. On one hand, it did keep the populace occupied and the Aurors busy trying to keep the peace once this spilled out everywhere. On the other, however, it might backfire and draw more attention to their plans.
And, frustratingly, he still hadn't heard if the Aurors had warrants for their arrest. Irritated, he shut the wireless off and got up. He needed to hunt up a copy of the latest Prophet and see what it had to say. Surprisingly there hadn't been a copy to be had at the Leaky Cauldron so he went to the Hogshead Tavern and lucked out finding a discarded copy laying on the bar. He sat and had a whiskey and read through it.
After several minutes scanning the pages, he nearly spewed his mouthful of drink when he came across the rebuttal against the message on the wireless. It was the worst bit of drivel from the government denouncing the so-called beast message. No wonder the people were ignoring it. Even as he sat there in the fairly busy bar he could hear the rising voices of the patrons arguing about the Elder Council's message. A couple of the drinkers were nearly coming to blows.
Shaking his head, he thought it prudent he leave before the arguing turned into a riot. He had no desire to come under scrutiny of the Aurors.
As he walked down the street his mind was more focused on trying to find out what was happening at Hogwarts. All his messages to his son were being ignored. That wasn't normal for Draco who was diligent about responding.
He stopped walking and looked around. Staring down the lines of shops, he tried to think which ones might gain him a bit of gossip of the doings at Hogwarts. With that in mind he began to step in and out of a variety of businesses that catered to students. However, after a few fruitless hours, he'd heard nothing noteworthy. Sighing in disgust, he apparated to the Three Broomsticks for dinner then back to his hide away to rest.
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On Thursday, when Malfoy set out again to listen to the gossip around Diagon Alley, he was greeted by an uproar even greater than the wireless message from yesterday. He noted with some disgust, an unseemly and frantic urgency by the public for a copy of that rag known as the Quibbler. Wanting to learn what the fuss was about he managed to acquire a copy.
He found a quiet place in the Leaky Cauldron to read it in peace. When he came across the piece on the Elder Council, he barely skimmed it as it said nothing different than what was broadcasted on the wireless except for being a bit more in-depth. Despite that, the Quibbler managed to capture the public's attention more firmly than the announcement had because the ripple of shock, anger, and anxiousness were more heightened than yesterday.
Sighing, he tucked the paper into his coat and left to cruise the shops once more. This time, however, he managed to hear a shocking bit of news while in the Quality Quidditch Supplies Store.
"Aw, you're having me on, Buckley," A customer was saying to the proprietor, disbelief in his tone.
Pretending to peruse the latest Quidditch Magazine, Malfoy listened closely.
"Nay, I swear tis the truth. Me boy, Rys told me this morning that four of the Slytherin Quidditch Team were suspended until end of school year for daring to draw wands on one of their own," the owner insisted.
"Whist! What possessed the fools? What could have gotten them that riled up to be so stupid?" The customer demanded, sounding scandalized.
"It were the Malfoy whelp. He switched houses apparently."
"Say what! What ever possessed the lad?" The man was stunned by this news.
The store keeper shrugged his shoulders. "Me son had no idea but it did rile up those boys enough to attack him."
"Ack, that be not an excuse to try and fire a wand at the boy, though. How stupid!"
The store owner merely nodded his head but Malfoy was so shocked he dropped the magazine, to cover his appalled expression, he leaned down and picked it up then put it back on the rack. But his reaction had already caused the two men to drop the subject. Malfoy thought it wise to leave so he hurriedly shot out the door then turned into the space next to the shop to apparate away.
Arriving at the Shrieking Shack, he tossed his coat on the bed then paced the length of the bedroom in agitation. What was going on? Why did Draco change houses? He had to find out! But how? Now he thought he knew why he'd never heard from his son. Furious, he called out to his house elf. It didn't matter now that the elf would know where he was holing up.
"Dobby," he barked commandingly. To his shock no house elf appeared. "What the devil...why isn't he responding? What is going on?" He demanded of the air.
Suddenly, there was a loud hooting outside the boarded window. Startled, he stared for a moment before making a small hole for the owl to enter. It flew around a moment before dropping a message to the bed then flying out the hole again which Malfoy made disappear before snatching up the message.
"We need to meet asap! Have heard disturbing news!" It was signed by Mulciber.
Malfoy clenched his teeth in anger. "It better damn well be worth the risk of meeting so soon and more important than what I just heard about my son," he hissed aloud.
Burning the message, he apparated to Nuremgard. When he appeared there were already four others there and the last appeared only moments later. They all began to talk at the same time. Irritated and angry, Malfoy shouted, "Enough! Sit down then we'll talk."
They stared at him a moment, faces angry and in a few cases, worried. But they did take a seat. Mulciber sat down next to Malfoy making a point of their co-leadership.
"Since you called this meeting, Mulciber, what is it that has you risking our exposure by being here so soon?" Malfoy demanded. "And did you get that message to Yaxley off yesterday?"
Mulciber scowled but answered readily enough. "Yes!" He stared around at the group. "Have any of you heard the wireless or read the published message in The Quibbler on the beasts demands?"
"I haven't … is that why I saw so much uproar near the ministry today?" Crouch demanded.
"Of course."
"I haven't heard anything. So what did the wireless or paper say that caused such an uproar?" Karkaroff asked when Mulciber didn't elaborate.
But it was Malfoy who responded, "The infernal Elder Council has demanded they be granted the same rights and benefits as wizards, meaning they wish to be allowed to make their own decisions, use magic as they please, and to become members of wizarding government."
"What? That's preposterous! No one would agree to that," Crouch exclaimed.
"And why not?" Greyback suddenly snarled. "We have as much right as you do to be more than just fodder for the wars."
Bellatrix gaped at him then snorted in disbelief. "Why would you say something like that when the Dark Lord already included you in his plan to take over the wizarding world?"
He glared at her. "Oh aye, he said that were his plan but he still used us rather than included us in those grand schemes of his. But I went along because if he won I would be allowed more power and say in how my wolves be treated than I would if my kind remained under regular wizarding rules."
Bellatrix frowned and thought about that while everyone else shook it off as not important at the moment and began arguing about this strange, new state of affairs.
Though the subject was important in how they would direct the war, Malfoy needed answers on what was happening at Hogwarts including the status of his son.
"Quiet! I have something of more import to ask you all about," he shouted them down.
They snarled at him but quieted and waited to see what had him so furious.
"I just overheard the most shocking bit of gossip while in Diagon Alley. Apparently four Slytherin students pulled wands and tried to shoot my son because, for reasons unknown, Draco had changed houses. This news, if true, may make trying to find Pettigrew more difficult. Has anyone heard anything about this and know if it's valid or just rumor and if there's been any other news out of Hogwarts?"
Bellatrix gaped at him in shock. "Draco switched houses? Which one is he in now?"
"I have no idea," Malfoy snapped. "That's why I'm asking all of you. And furthermore, my house elf is missing."
"Huh, what has that to do with anything?" Karkaroff snorted in annoyance.
"If you would think a moment, no one can call my house servant away except a member of the family, so how could he be missing and more importantly, why?" Malfoy gritted, annoyed by Karkaroff's ignorant response.
There was silence for a moment while everyone absorbed this.
"Could mean your house has been broken into...the elf could be dead," Greyback suggested.
"If that be true then it would mean Malfoy Manor is no longer a safe place for any of us. Good thing we switched meeting places," Avery said, somewhat relieved.
Malfoy shot him an anger glare, "I highly doubt my wards have been breached. I would have known. So there has to be another reason for the elf's silence and it's a mystery that makes getting someone into Hogwarts even more important. I feel strongly that many of our answers lie within those walls!"
Looking very uncomfortable, Goyle spoke up. "I don't want to believe this but it's possible my son and perhaps Crabbe's were part of that attack. But, I suspect that smart mouth kid, Flint, was the instigator if this even happened. Don't have any idea who the fourth kid might be though. And I've still not heard from Greggory."
Crabbe looked like he'd eaten a lemon, face pinched tightly with anger but a tiny bit of concern glinted in his eyes. "I don't like the blame you're laying on my son, Goyle. But I too am concerned on what could be happening to our children since I too haven't heard from Vincent despite all the messages I've been sending. It's not like him to ignore me like this."
Avery dared to interject. "There is a small possibility that perhaps Draco has freed your elf? Remember all one has to do is give an item of clothing to free one."
"Why the hell would he do that?" Malfoy snarled.
Avery shrugged. "I wouldn't know but it is still a possibility unless you think Narcissa did it?"
Malfoy made a vicious swipe in the air. "No, not possible."
No one spoke.
"Well...I have more unsettling news that will add to your already unhappy state," Alecto suddenly said, a small snicker escaping her. This whole situation wasn't really funny but it was so ironic she couldn't help herself.
Everyone stared at the siblings expectantly.
"Yeah, it aint good news for sure. It appears our suspicions about Snape were spot on. He were a double agent for the Light and Dark. He may have even been partly responsible for the Dark Lord's death as well, but there's no proof of that. All we did hear was Snape has apparently been forgiven by those at Hogwarts but not necessarily anywhere the word has gotten out. I wouldn't be a bit surprised if he be working much closer with the forest dwellers than anyone suspects, even the almighty Dumbledore," Amycus added.
"How sure are you about this information?" Malfoy demanded, his ire rising with each new piece of bad news he was hearing.
"One hundred percent certain … no doubts at all. Heard it while in Hogsmead from sources we trust. There wernt a lot of gossip slipping out and about but this tidbit be high on everyone's lips. Alecto and I went checking further out from there and oddly enough there wernt a peep about it. Also, if any of you be thinkin' about trying to grab Snape then forget it. He's holed up in Hogwarts nice and snug, apparently on orders from Dumbledore," Alecto warned.
"We have to find a way into that castle!" Malfoy growled, his frustration high enough to make him want to pull his hair out.
"We've been wracking our brains for days trying to come up with a way but with all that has happened in recent weeks, security will be much tighter and any attempt to breach the wards will initiate an attack we just aren't ready to take on that level of effort at our current strength," Avery warned.
"You're stating the obvious now, Avery," Bellatrix snarled. The man simply shrugged.
"Still true though." He ducked when she made a fake move to hit him.
While everyone was throwing ideas and thoughts about for the next half hour, Karkaroff sat silent, his face brooding.
"Why don't we try to send another house elf in?" He said, his voice raised to be heard.
Everyone stopped talking to stare at him, frowning.
"I do realize not many of us have house elves and, you, Lucius seems to have misplaced yours but do any of you have at least one you know of you can order to spy for us?" Karkaroff suggested. "Also, if the elf can get in, it should go to Slytherin House and see for itself what is going on. As an outsider this elf can be caught by those that live there legitimately so it must be smart and quick to find out what we need to know then slip away quickly. This means we need to be specific with our instructions. I believe one of the most important is to find out which of the children might know of another way out of Hogwarts. Trust me, knowing children as I do, they can be very sneaky and if they want to get out of a place they can and do find a way. So there may be someone inside that does know an alternative route."
There was a rather stunned silence. Some were even kicking themselves for not having thought of this themselves.
"You may be on to something Igor," Bellatrix said, slowly, tapping her wand against her head as she thought. Then her face brightened with excitement, "Yes, I know just the elf. The Blacks have a rather nasty house elf remember, Lucius?"
Malfoy blinked then slowly nodded as he did indeed remember that particular house elf seen lurking about the Black's manor and when the Light took over the house, it left for Malfoy Manor but when the Dark Lord banished them all it was forced to leave. It's present location was unknown. Face more animated with hope than when this meeting started, he said, "Yes, a rather evil little thing with a vicious tongue. What was its name?"
Bellatrix frowned and thought a moment trying to come up with it. "Kreacher, that's what it was. It should listen to me as I am a Black through family ties."
"Give it try then, see if it will heed you," Malfoy asked excitedly.
"Kreacher!" Bellatrix called into the air. Some minutes passed with no response. "Kreacher, I am Bellatrix Black LeStrange and I call you to me. I need your help!"
Instantly a rather old, ugly house elf appeared. "You summon Kreacher," it asked scowling at Bellatrix.
"Yes, I did. We need your help to spy inside Hogwarts..."
"No! It be too dangerous. Dark Lord be dead, Kreacher would be killed," it shrieked at her.
"Be still. The Dark Lord is dead but his army is not. We will not give up his dream!" Bellatrix told it firmly.
It stared at her with suspicion and fear. It didn't look like it would help them at all. It wore no clothing so had no allegiance to anyone now. This would be tricky.
"Kreacher not certain it wants to keep fighting in this war," it said slowly, sounding tired and defeated.
Belle went closer and dropped to her knees so they were staring eye to eye. "If you help you will have a home and a purpose again. Wouldn't you like that?"
Kreacher frowned but said nothing for some minutes. Finally, "what would I be doing in Hogwarts?"
Malfoy felt his heart gallop. It disgusted him that they had to plead with this creature for its help but he dared not make a move or change his expression. It was at least considering to help.
"First, it is important that you do not get caught. Ensure you are not seen by anyone but those in Slytherin House that are still on the lord's side. Second, what we need to know is if there is another entrance in and out of Hogwarts..." she began before the elf held up a hand to stop her.
"That be not necessary. I know another entrance."
Everyone's eyes widened at this information. It was hard not to just jump on the creature about what it knew as it seemed it may know more than any of them could guess.
"Oh, well, that's wonderful. Would you tell me?" Bellatrix asked carefully. This was incredible news and annoying too. She should have thought of asking a house elf in the first place, after all, the creatures were everywhere so saw and heard a great deal of information wherever they were. Now I feel extra stupid for not having even thought of this house elf in the first place, Bellatrix cursed internally.
"There be a hidden tunnel reached by going through an old cleft in the Whomping Willow on Hogwarts grounds. However, it is vicious and wont let anyone near it. Unfortunately, Kreacher knows not the trick to make the tree halt its movements so one can enter, but did hear about that nasty werewolf, Lupin using that way to go into the shrieking shack for his transformations so there must be way in from shack."
"My God! He must have been doing that when we were all in school together. I didn't know he was a wolf at that time until we were adults," Malfoy exclaimed then gasped mentally as he realized he might be caught hiding in the shrieking shack if Lupin decided to return. He'd better restore the place to its original appearance tonight. And it looks like I may be staying here with Crabbe and Goyle myself. He grimaced at the thought.
"Well aint that perfect. So all we gotta do is enter by way of the shrieking shack then hope not to get brained by that willow's whip like branches," Greyback snorted, not thinking much of the idea.
"There is another solution to that," Bellatrix said as inspiration hit. "We get one of your kids to come out to that tree and just throw a message at them so no one knows they are talking to anyone and we get the answers we need and not lose our spy in the castle."
"That might work if we can get one of those kids to come to the tree," Amycus snorted.
"Kreacher, just speak to the children of Goyle, Crabbe, Malfoy, Nott ..." she paused and turned to the others. "You know any of the other kids names, Lucius?"
Malfoy blinked then slowly nodded. "There is Flint, Derrick, and the girls, Bulstrode and Parkinson that are on the side of the Dark Lord."
"Good. You got that Kreacher?" Bellatrix asked the elf.
"Yesss. Anything else?" It asked.
"Just stay long enough to get one of those named to come out to the tree, otherwise, listen carefully for any useful information on Professor Snape, Harry Potter, and what else might be going on within the school you think we should know then get out of there quickly," Bellatrix instructed.
"Might not be quick enough," it muttered worriedly more to itself then them. It thought a bit longer then disappeared.
Bellatrix rose to her feet and went to her seat and flopped down. "Now we wait. We should decide who's to go and meet the kids while the rest wait here."
"The children are more likely to respond to their parents more than a stranger, I would think," Avery ventured after a moment's thought.
"Not necessarily," Karkaroff interjected. "If the child is fearful of their parent they may not be that forthcoming."
"My kid isn't," Goyle snarled in affront.
"Nor mine," Crabbe, added growling.
"Don't think that will be a problem," Malfoy snorted.
"Heh... don't believe you know what you're talking about there, Lucius as it's your own son who has left Slytherin House," Alecto smirked. "Perhaps it would be better if Mulciber go as well as these three," She was including Nott. "After all we don't want too many people there to be seen or caught."
Malfoy wanted to argue but Alecto was right and he hated it. Sucking it up, he nodded at Mulciber. By his expression, it didn't look like the man wanted to go as much as Malfoy did.
"Fine, then let's be off. Don't anyone leave as we still have other matters to hash out, especially if we discover more unpleasant news," Mulciber grunted sourly. He rose from his seat as did the others leaving with him. From one breath to the next the group apparated to the shrieking shack.
"I will be back momentarily," Malfoy suddenly announced rising to his feet then apparating before anyone could stop him.
He appeared within the shack only seconds after the other four had.
"What are you doing here?" Mulciber demanded.
"I was staying here. Thought I better restore the place to the way I found it before Lupin appears and discovers our use of it," Malfoy said smoothly.
"You've been staying here?" Mulciber laughed. "Well to each his own I guess." His mirth vanished in the next instant. "See you back at the prison...oh by the way, since you've been staying here do you know where the entrance to the tunnel is?"
Malfoy blinked in surprise and realized he didn't. "Actually, I don't but I'm fairly certain it must be in the basement somewhere..."
"Humph, then check it we will, bye Lucius," Mulciber said beginning his search for a basement door. The other three spread out and searched as well.
Still seething that he couldn't go with them, Malfoy ascended the stairs. At the bedroom door, he pulled his wand out then restored the bedroom and bath to its original appearance of days ago. Satisfied, he returned downstairs and saw no one. Guessing the group had found the secret tunnel, he paused to restore all the dust and cobwebs to the living space before apparating back to the prison.