That is Enough!
By Jamnaz79
Notice: I do not own Harry Potter or any characters for the series. I am not looking to make money off of it or anything else but a bit of fun and writing.
End of Book 3 – Just after Sirius was captured
Harry stood there uncertain what to do. The Minister of Magic was at the doorway about to walk out of the clinic chambers of Hogwarts. His friend Ron was in a bed laying there in pain. His other friend Hermione was in shock over everything that had happened. Most importantly poor Sirius had been captured and would now be given the Dementor's kiss! This was typical for the life of Harry Potter, everything always went to hell and nothing good could come to him! But, you know what? This time it wouldn't happen that way! This time he would make a difference that actually mattered!
Harry started to walk forward no caring if the Minister was in a conversation with the Headmaster. Instead of bothering to wait he reached out to tug at the sleeve of the Minister of Magic. It was perhaps a bit rude to interrupt but Harry didn't care at the moment, he had enough. He was going to do everything in his power to make a difference! He cleared his throat and spoke up more firmly then he felt, "Minister Fudge, can I speak with you?"
The Minister stopped talking to the Headmaster about some nonsense provision for the Wizengamot and turned his eyes to Harry. The boy looked back up at the man staring into the pudgy face of the Minister with determination shining in his killing curse eyes. He reached up consciously and wiped his shaggy hair away from his scar. The eyes of the Minster were drawn to the scar as always happened with citizens of the Wizarding World of Britain. "Yes Mr. Potter?"
"I would like to speak with you a moment alone. I have something important to discuss but I can only tell alone Sir." Harry spoke firmly and confidently as he could. He puffed up his chest and raised his head slightly imitating how Malfoy would act towards others.
For a moment a bit of confusion touched the eyes of the Minister but behind those black eyes it seemed gears were working. After all if the boy-who-lived wanted to talk to him in private that could be a potentially useful thing. He did just capture the man out to kill the boy so perhaps this might be useful. "Very well Mr. Potter."
"Harry, I don't think the Minister wants to have his time wasted by students." The Headmaster butted into the conversation with twinkling eyes.
Harry looked up at the chin of the Headmaster and glared at the man for the insulting tone that the grandfatherly man tried to take. Harry shook his head once firmly, "I am not asking as a student but instead as a loyal citizen of the Ministry. I am sure the Minister will make time for the boy-who-lived. Correct Minister?"
The Pudgy man gripped his hat tightly and glanced back and forth between the boy and ancient wizard. The greed seemed to win out for the Minister as he suddenly stood a little straighter and nodded his head firmly, "Of course Mr. Potter, after all it is important that the Ministry of Magic listen to the members of her society no matter the age. Headmaster, Mr. Potter and I will take a walk before we allow the Dementor's to deal with the situation. Come Harry."
Harry quickly slipped under the hand of Albus Dumbledore who tried to reach out for Harry as the boy followed the Minster out of the room. Harry purposely closed the door behind him leaving the Headmaster there. He quickly walked beside the Minister of Magic to an unused classroom before opening the door. "In here Minister. It seems the Headmaster is against me having an opinion or wishing to talk to you."
The Minister stepped into the room and turned to look back at Harry with a smile, "I am sure he is just concerned for you. But, I remember how it was to grew up and want to become your own man Harry. It is a sign of maturity how you have handled this year. I am sure soon I will have you working in the Ministry under a internship."
"I would be honored for the opportunity to learn from such a man as you Sir. The reason I actually wanted to talk to you was three reasons." Harry paused a moment as he took deep breath before letting it out to calm himself. He knew this was going to be a subject he didn't like to talk about but for saving Sirius anything was necessary.
"Minister, I understand that my name carries a lot of weight in our world. It can be used for good press for the Ministry and especially yourself. Now I appreciate everything you have been doing for me this year trying to protect me. I feel like I can trust you." Harry paused for a moment again for effect then smiled sadly at the man. "I am sure you know that the Headmaster has decided where I must live over my summers Minister. He forces me to live with a group of muggles. Those muggle relations of my mother though are not good people. They have hurt me many times."
Harry slowly turned around and lifted his shirt showing numerous scars crisscrossing his back that appeared to be from a belt. He quickly lowered his shirt and turned back to look at the stunned Minister of Magic, "I told the Headmaster after the first year I didn't want to go back there but he forced me to do it Sir. He forced me again after the second year even though him and others knew I had been locked in my room with bars on my window like a criminal but only after being beaten and starved half to death."
The young man took a deep breath before letting out and continuing. "I didn't know I was a wizard till I was eleven. I didn't know my name till I first went to muggle school at six years old. Before that I thought my name was freak. I didn't see a picture of my mother or father till I was eleven."
Harry turned his gaze up at the Minister of Magic with tears in his eyes, "The Headmaster knew this and keeps forcing me back to those muggles sir. But, there is more. He knows that Peter Pettigrew is alive. He knows that Sirius Black is my godfather and is innocent but he doesn't care. I will do anything Sir if you help Sirius. I will become a spokesperson for the Ministry. I will tell the Daily Prophet how wonderful you have been to help me and how great you are. I swear Sirius Black is innocent of killing my parents. I saw Peter Pettigrew alive tonight and he confessed to me of being the betrayer of my parents! I swear it on my life and my very magic Sir!"
The boy glowed brightly after he spoke those words not understanding what a magical oath was or that he just undertook one. He glowed as tears ran down his cheeks. He whispered afterwards, "They call me the boy-who-lived. Please Minister save me from the Hell that my life has been and give me back my only family I have left."
If he was an altruist man that Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge could say that he did what he did for the boy. Though if he was honest with himself he did it because this was the boy-who-lived who promised him he would support him and he would be a valuable support. Not to mention the amount of dirt the boy just gave him on Dumbledore would be enough to have the old man forever out of his way for keeping Minister of Magic. The threat that Dumbledore would someday try to take his position would be gone. Plus add the fact that the Black family was very rich and he was certain that the boy's godfather would be very grateful financially and support in the Wizengamot as the man would have numerous seats there. Yes, the Minister of Magic was swayed by the child but he was practical and a smart man. You don't become a Minister by being stupid. So Cornelius did the only thing that made sense financially, legally, emotionally, and for once for the betterment of a life. He reached out and squeezed the shoulder of Harry with a sad smile, "I believe you Harry. I will do everything in my power to see this investigated and your godfather freed. You never to have to go near muggles again!"
Author note: You could go a lot of ways from this point. Fudge could free Sirius and Harry live with him. You could paint Dumbledore as a bad guy or just misguided. You could even have Sirius actually be a death eater before and Harry now be stuck with him. You could have Fudge take Harry's guardianship from Dumbledore and give it to a proper pureblood family. From here there are numerous ways to go with it and an interesting point in the books where Harry if he knew better would make a major difference how the book series would go. Your thoughts?