The Ministry

"Harry wake up mate," Ron said while shaking his sleeping friend, "come on Harry Mum says its time to get up and get ready."

"What time is it Ron," Harry asked reaching for his glasses."

"7:30," replied Ron while trying to stifle a yawn, "we don't have to be at the Ministry until nine but she wants us downstairs for breakfast." Ron and Harry both jumped as they heard two loud pops as Fred and George Apparated between the two beds. They were both already dressed in new formal robes that they had bought with money from the Weasley's Wizard Wheezes shop they opened on Diagon Alley.

"Oh good you two are up finally," Fred said looking at Harry wondering if maybe Harry really was awake.

"Yeah mum wanted us to check on you before we left," George added.

"Before you left? Where are you going," Harry asked finally standing up out of bed. "Aren't you coming to the Ministry with us?"

"Yeah we are coming," Fred spoke first.

"We are going early with other members of the Order to make sure everything is secure," explained George.

"Well see you guys," the twins said in unison and with another pop they had vanished from the room.

Harry was the first to finish getting showered and dressed. Harry pulled the dress robes that Mrs. Weasley got him out of his wardrobe and his mouth dropped. His robes were amazing, when he first saw them he thought that they were black and didn't think much of them. He realized though, once they were out of the wardrobe they were a brilliant emerald green that matched his eyes exactly. Ron walked in and pulled his robes out of his wardrobe. Harry had expected them to be hand me down robes but he saw that these were also brand new just like Fred and George's. Ron's were silver, lined with scarlet. Ron saw Harry looking at his robes.

"Mum said that since this is such an important day for you that we all needed to wear new robes," Ron said smiling, "so thanks Harry."

"Er, anytime Ron," Harry replied.

Ron and Harry were just about to open the door when it opened, Ginny and Hermione came in dressed in their robes and the boys almost fainted. Ginny was wearing a light golden robe that flowed elegantly down her body, hugging her curves in just the right places. She wore her hair in tight curls that outlined her beautiful face that she had put just the slightest hint of make-up on. Hermione was wearing a midnight blue robe that also showed more curves than she normally does. She wore her hair down and completely straight which Ron thought had to taken a very long time to get the curls out of.

"Er, um, uh you two look," Harry searched for the word he was looking for, "Wonderful." Ron looked at Harry and then nodded his head in agreement. Both girls blushed at this then turned to go down stairs.

When they got down stairs Mrs. Weasley and Alastor were the only two there. They all sat down to eat breakfast, at which time Mrs. Weasley told them all how wonderful they looked. Alastor nodded in agreement while his wild blue eye roamed around in circles in his head. Harry was sure that he was looking for Kreacher.

"Ok everybody, its time to go Harry you first dear the others will be waiting for you," Mrs. Weasley said while leading them to the fireplace.

Harry took a handful of Floo powder and threw it into the fireplace and stepped into the green flames. The flames tickled Harry as he stood there then he said clearly, "Ministry Atrium," and suddenly he felt himself spinning around while traveling the Floo network. He looked out of other fireplaces as he zoomed past them and then without warning he landed firmly in a fireplace. Looking in at him was Albus Dumbledore and Harry's Order of the Phoenix guard. Lupin walked over to him and helped him brush off the soot.

"Thanks," Harry said as the rest of his friends arrived.

"No troubles I assume, Harry?" Professor Dumbledore asked with a warm smile on his face.

"No sir, it was fine," Harry replied looking around the room where his last battle with Voldemort had taken place. The gold statue was back in place, but this time the non-human creatures didn't have looks of admiration on their faces. All the figures in the statue seemed to be equals and friends, no one worshipping the other. The room was lined with fireplaces that had green flames in them with different wizards and witches coming out of them heading to work.

"NO! NO! NO! Dumbledore! I told you that this would not take place here! Now kindly take your group elsewhere," Harry looked to his right where the voice was coming from and saw that it was the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge. "Your Wizengamot may have approved of it but I am the Minister of Magic and this is my Ministry."

"Cornelius, this is not your Ministry, it is the Ministry of the people. And all but you have agreed to have the ceremony here," Albus said with no anger in his voice. "Now if you will excuse us we have a meeting to attend."

Harry began following Professor Dumbledore when he heard Fudge running to catch up with them. Fudge stepped in front of them and pulled out his wand.

"I told you to leave! Now take your group and the little mud blood out of my Ministry," Fudge said this last piece looking straight at Hermione.

"You mind your manners Minister Fudge," Harry shouted as he stepped out from behind Professor Dumbledore, "Hermione is the smartest witch I know, pureblood or not! You might not like me and I don't care, but if you would have listened to me a long time ago Voldemort might not have gained so much power. You are a damned selfish, power hungry GIT!" Harry opened his mouth to say some more but before he could Fudge began casting a spell.

"Crucio," Fudge said with his wand pointing at Harry, "You will not use the Dark Lord's name in my presence!" Harry hit the floor in agony and screamed, Ginny ran to his side to try to help him. Hermione and Ron ran to the Minister and took him by the arm trying to make him stop. A second later Fudge pushed them off of him and Hermione found herself landing on top of Ron on the floor holding the torn sleeve of Fudge's robes. There was a gasp from everyone watching the event, and Hermione looked up. That was when she saw it, the Dark Mark glowing brightly on the arm of the Minister of Magic himself.

"Traitor!" Arthur Weasley yelled, and a second later before anyone else could react they heard Dumbledore cast a spell they had never heard.

"Exigo Oratio!" Then there was a bright flash of white light. When everyone could see again, Fudge lay dead on the floor, and Professor Dumbledore was lowering his wand.