AN: Formatting and I are trying to get along, but I fear that it may never happens. What that means to you dear readers, is that my stories will likely have strange bolding and spacing (as seen in my last 2 attempts).
Thank you for your comments & all of you who have added me to your alerts. Some of you have mentioned how short and all over the place my writing is, this is unlikely to change much. I'm writing in between hospital tests and online school assignments. Maybe when I'm finally healthy again I'll plan out chapters and make them lengthy. Seeing as I've been sick for over 3 months I wouldn't expect those changes to happen soon. Enough of this, on to the story. =-)
Chapter 3
Chaos in the world brings uneasiness, but it also allows the opportunity for creativity and growth. -Tom Barrett
Wizarding England
Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, Order of Merlin 1st Class, Grand Sorcerer, Chief Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, and International Confederation of Wizards was stumped. Upon entering his office after a particularly lovely breakfast in the Great Hall he noticed one of his trinkets was not acting as it usually did. One of his pendulums was spinning at an alarming rate, and he couldn't for the life in him remember what it was for and why it would be spinning so quickly.
A quick mental connection to Hogwarts' wards assured him that the castle was not under siege, and the words were not being threatened. Further analysis indicated that Peeves had flooded the 4th floor boy's bathroom, and the stairs were redirecting students so as to lead them away from the floor. Students were making their ways to 1st morning classes, and 6 students were in the infirmary still after the events of that last Quidditch game, honestly the Hufflepuffs never stood a chance against those nefarious Slytherins.
In any case a precursory glance at his faithful friend Fawkes indicated that nothing was bothering the chipper phoenix, and there were no awaiting floo calls... So what was wrong?
Popping a lemon drop in his mouth, Albus nearly chocked when a sudden wave of insight hit him. Of course, he'd set that particular whirligig to activate when
Harry Potter had been away from his home for over 4 days. Could that be right? He wondered, he hadn't heard anything from Arabella lately, perhaps it was time to drop in and say hello to the squib.
Normally Albus hated having anything to do with the woman and all her Merlin-forsaken cats, but he was in need of information quickly. Yes, he'd pop by right around tea time. It may just be a false alarm; yes Harry and his family might just be on vacation, or perhaps a muggle camp, yes there was no need to be worried. He decided he'd put off the horrid tea visit for a few more days.
Albus quickly disabled the whirling pendulum and sat back at his desk enjoying a fine cup of tea and several more lemon drops, as he quickly put the matter out of his mind.
Wiltshire England, Malfoy Manor
Lucius Malfoy was not happy. Scratch that, he was incensed at the buffoonery he had been forced to witness since the wake of the Dark Lords disappearance.
Lucius knew of course that the Dark Lord was somewhere; there was no way that a tiny brat of an infant could ever have permanently killed his master. He had a special diary in his library that made sure of that.
In any case Lucius' primary concern for the last 6 years had been damage control to the Malfoy name. In the wake of his sham of a trial, and his 'I was imperioused' defense, he'd been holding Charity events, offering bribes, using black mail, etc. Lucius had been in the thick of it for so long now that he had become a primary fixture at the Wizengamot and at Fudge's side.
Cornelius Fudge, the Minister for Magic, the man repulsed Lucius. To be that weak willed and prone to suggestion, it was shameful. But still, the man had his uses... as long as Lucius was the highest bidder.
With Fudge safely in his back pocket, and things relatively stable in England, Lucius was thinking of taking a vacation. Or rather an expedition to find his missing Dark Lord under the guise of a family vacation. Yes, a vacation sounded just about right, and this way Narcissa would get off his back about a lack of culture in their lives.
The plan was brilliant if he did say so himself, those pesky Aurors wouldn't suspect a thing. Their annoying observation of him and his family, since they were "prone to the Imperious curse" was getting old. Surely the Aurors wouldn't follow them on vacation, they would never be able to afford to stay at those resorts, nor could they obtain legal permission from all those countries. Political amnesty was a beautiful thing, and Fudge would never risk stirring the pot with the other magical communities.
It's a brilliant plan. Well of course it was, after all he was a Malfoy.
Next time: What are the Dursleys and Harry up to?