Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling
"Mother, you have to be more careful!" Draco yelled. "Look at what happened to aunt Annie! You need to look out," he shifted in his seat uncomfortably.
"There's no need to panic. We are under the Order's protection. Besides, we don't know what Bella is planning yet," Narcissa replied, though she was clearly unsettled.
"Whatever she is planning, she is perfectly ready to murder her own kin over it! Now, imagine what she would do to her sister whom she brands a "traitor"..." Draco croaked. "I have to speak to Potter, I ha-"
"Don't worry so much, Draco, please. I will stay under the protection of the fidelius charm for the time being. You do the same before school. You will be protected once you are inside Hogwarts..."
"I don't know. I don't even know what to think now. Why go against her family now? I have no idea what's going on..."
"Neither do I, son. As much as I'd like to stay away from this, I might have to go to the Order to see what's going on more clearly," Narcissa shook her head.
"That would be the best, yes," Draco said, sighing heavily.
Narcissa leaned closer, caressing her son's cheek. "Don't worry, Draco. Whatever happens, I will stay with you. You got that?" she said softly.
Draco smiled uncomfortably. "I really hope so. I could never take what happened before again."
"I promise you, son, I will never allow that to happen, ever," Narcissa said.
"How can you promise me that, mother? This is aunt Bella we are talking about. Who's going to stop her, exactly?" Draco muttered.
"Yes, she is a very formidable witch, but she isn't invincible. I'm sure Fudge's bottom is on fire right now," Narcissa chuckled. "There is no way Fudge wouldn't dedicate all he feasibly could to tracking her down."
"But will it be enough?" Draco asked, looking worried.
"There's the Order too. I'm fairly sure Dumbledore's sights aren't just fixed on the minister. As I said, the more I think about this, the more I'm certain I need to go to the Order," Narcissa stated. "Of course, I will do my utmost to inform you about everything, son."
Draco nodded, though his worry didn't dissipate. "Be sure to."
Fudge looked furious. He threw the new issue of the newspaper to the wall, shooting a withering glance at the auror corps present. Journalists were all over the deaths of Andromeda and Ted Tonks.
"This is insane! I can't take this anymore!" the minister yelled. Aurors were all silent, avoiding Fudge's gaze. "First Dumbledore makes trouble, now this? What is that wretched woman doing?!" Fudge exclaimed, slamming his fist against his desk.
"I assure you, we made our task concerning catching her a priority-"
"I've heard enough! Give the minor tasks to hit-wizards, now! Promise them a higher salary in the future, promise them Order of Merlin, promise them a bloody luck potion, I don't care! I want that damned woman caught immediately!"
"Understood, sir."
...
...
"I must say, your term so far is not looking good. Far from it, in fact," Umbridge said, looking at the painting in Fudge's office.
"I don't exactly need a reminder of that, Dolores," Fudge whispered. "I've had it. Lobby the governors to get Albus kicked from Hogwarts. I'll talk to Ms. Skeeter so we can arrange some deal for the press."
Umbridge smiled at the suggestion. "Will do. Do you have enough confidence in Rita to do her job properly?" she asked.
"Yes. It's extremely risky, considering the unstable situation right now. But I need to do it before Dumbledore consolidates more power."
"Might I suggest something?"
"I'm listening."
"I could take up a position for the professor of Defense against the Dark Arts under the guise of "temporary evaluation". It would be easier to control matters when influencing them directly."
Fudge scratched his chin. "Mr. Black might have to resign himself due to the curse placed on the position, right?"
"Correct. It would look like the ministry is offering an employee because of the lack of staff. We haven't meddled in their affairs, but..." Umbridge shot Fudge a wide, toad-like smile. "With the current state of Death Eaters roaming the country... perhaps a qualified government official is justified in taking the position."
"Well enough. Begin the preparations."
"This way, I will be able to put a stop to the werewolf project too. They might have the formula, but they still haven't created the medicine completely," Umbridge said.
"Yes, I'm aware. I'll see what I can do to undo Dumbledore's damage. It won't stop them from completing the project, but it will slow them down," Fudge nodded.
"What about Harry Potter, sir?" Umbridge asked, raising her eyebrows.
"Study him, test him a bit. See how loyal he is to Dumbledore. Do not go overboard, do you hear?"
"Of course."
"As for other professors — see who is loyal to whom. That wretched McGonagall woman is not in Hogwarts right now, but she will return — put pressure on her especially. We need a clear picture of what's going on in that school."
"Anything else?"
"Handpick a group of employees to search the premises thoroughly. I very much doubt anyone would be able to destroy Dumbledore's enchantments, but it's certainly worth a try."
"Consider it done."
Sirius was preparing to envelop Grimmauld Place under the fidelius charm. His face grew dark at the sounds of wailing inside the residence. Dora was hugging Remus tightly, tears endlessly streaming down her cheeks. They were in one of the many rooms of the place.
"Why.. why did that woman..." Dora muttered. "Why now, and why them..." she continued. Her eyes were red from crying.
"I don't know, Dora. I have no idea," Remus looked at the distance dejectedly.
"Oh God..." she buried her face in Remus' chest, still sobbing. Remus gripped her firmly, himself on verge of tears.
"Please, Remus, don't go anywhere. Just... just stay here, just be here for now. Please..." she shifted her head to look at Remus.
"Don't worry. I'm not going anywhere. I'm staying right here, Dora... I'm not leaving you," Remus whispered.
...
"That should be it," Sirius stated. He gritted his teeth. " So, the miss wants to openly eradicate her own family, huh?" he whispered seethingly. "I wonder what her lord and savior has ordered her to do..."
Sirius' thoughts were dragged away to the sight of Harry's uncertain face as he told him what he and Ron saw. He sighed.
"God damn prophecies," Sirius pulled the pendant Kreacher gave him. He could see the barely perceptible glow of symbols on it, written in a circular pattern.
"Does it really have to be this way?"
His mind was driven once more to Harry's face. Sirius rubbed his forehead.
"But what will come of that disaster?" he asked himself. "Am I really capable of such a thing?"
With these thoughts in mind, he went back to Grimmauld Place, expecting a visit from a friend.
...
...
"Fidelius charm is proper, at least," Kingsley stated, nodding approvingly at Sirius.
"Come on, Kingsley, are you here to rate my magical prowess?" Sirius grinned uncomfortably. "Tell me how the situation is back at the ministry."
"Not good, Sirius." Kingsley sighed. "Not good at all. Fudge is getting panicked with Bellatrix out and about. He's got Gawain, Dawlish, Proudfoot, and Copper on the case. I think he will include more aurors that get freed, even if they are from the Order."
Sirius' mouth hung open. "Does this mean he might include Merula and Dora?"
Kingsley nodded gravely. "It is a possibility. I don't like their odds, you know. Even with Merula."
"Of course not!" Sirius yelled. "How can he be so reckless with his main body of law enforcement!? Kingsley, you know what Bellatrix is capable of. Why aren't you on the case yourself?!"
"I'm trying my best to free up time for it, Sirius. Believe me, I've already consulted with Fudge. I'm going to join in as soon as possible," Kingsley said.
"Please do that. Please, Merula and Dora are too young. Copper too. I can't have her... I can't even imagine them battling Bellatrix... Jesus..." Sirius pinched his nose.
"Calm yourself, Sirius. I told you—" before Kingsley could continue, Sirius gripped his shoulder tightly, shooting a glare at the auror.
"Kingsley. Don't let them get hurt. Make sure Order gets called before you approach Bella, you got it? If any auror affiliated with the Order gets close, let them know that they call in all of us. Please, please do that for me."
Kingsley looked at Sirius sympathetically. "I know, Sirius. I know. All I ask is that you trust me. I will do my utmost to ensure none of us gets hurt."
Sirius nodded, though he still had an uneasy face. "I'm sorry, King. I've been on edge recently. Sometimes I just lose myself..."
"Please, take care of yourself, Sirius. Talk to someone, and get some rest. For your own sake. You have been through enough as it is," Kingsley said meaningfully.
"I'll try, King..."
...
...
Dora and Remus didn't leave the room for the entire day. Not wanting to disturb them in any way, Sirius was sitting alone in the main room of the Grimmauld residence. He was looking at a moving picture of himself and Merula. Feeling happy for a brief moment, the weight of reality soon pierced his mind.
"Christ, my sleep was already crap. Here's to more fun nights..." he raised a glass of firewhisky to the gifted portrait Harry gave him. "I need to talk to her as soon as possible..."
"Robert Williams! It is an honor to meet you at last," A young, white-haired woman bowed. She was wearing a red robe, adorned with glistening yellow flower patterns.
"Akari Sato. The honor is all mine. Regrettably, we hadn't had a chance to meet sooner," Robert bowed in response. Both of them settled on two comfortable seats with a simple table between them. They were in a fairly secluded house on the outskirts of a small town.
Akari nodded. "Indeed. It is sad that it is usually misery that brings the leaders together," she smiled solemnly.
"How is running Mahoutokoro like? Having a hard time?"
"I suppose that alone is easier than running an entire ministry of the United States. But we both know that isn't the only thing that concerns people of our power," the woman sighed. "Only once I truly took up my position did I realize how much influence the famed Albus Dumbledore has."
Robert smiled. "That he does. Mostly positive, thankfully."
"Not all that grow powerful, however, have a positive influence."
"Indeed."
...
...
"India has been acting aggressively towards China for a while now. But more incursions are detected. More spies, more attacks. It's not looking good," Akari sighed. "Mr. Dumbledore might have been right."
"Are you sure you have a valid source of information? Beyond mere hearsay?" Robert asked, biting his lip.
"Yes. And if what Chinese have said is correct, internal affairs are not so amiable either," Akari replied.
"Unfortunately, I have seen similar reports going years back. Certain songs are sung over others, and certain values are preferred over others. Propel enough collective beliefs, mix them with "us against them" too, and you've got quite a package."
"What worries me is that, while the Indian minister has been quite brash during previous years, he has gotten much more aggressive in recent times. Have you heard he was going to announce retreat from ICW?"
Robert nodded. "He has antagonized us for a while, but this... I think other matters are involved."
Akari narrowed her eyes. "What other matters?"
"Albus has recently lost his spy to an unknown figure in India. Hell, he was basically openly taunted over it. The spy wasn't killed either, their magic was permanently sealed and he was returned back like a shipment to Britain," Robert said.
"That does sound like Indian runic magic. You think that figure has already enough power to meddle in foreign affairs?" Akari's face turned grave.
"In all likelihood, yes. Wei Jiang's little escapade has given them quite an inspiration, I believe. Chinese mountains are perfect for research on dragons," Robert scratched his head. "That sad bastard. Even when he's dead he's causing his country to suffer."
Akari frowned. "You don't think they would start a war over that? A war that could explode into a disaster?"
"Is it so hard to believe? China had a civil war over Jiang's experiments. That alone left it too weak to defend itself. India might pounce on the opportunity."
"Japan would not sit still on this, however. Surely they must be aware of this. Then, perhaps it is why matters are done in the dark," Akari said, fidgeting with a weird-looking emblem absentmindedly.
"That is my opinion too. At first, I wasn't exactly sure if what Dumbledore said is true. But now... in any case, we need tangible proof to ready ourselves and our countries for what's coming."
"Quite so."
Robert let out a mirthless laughter. "Both you and Albus with your archaic way of speech..."
Akari eyed him reprovingly. Robert stretched himself a bit before continuing. "Apologies. You both seem to have similar air about you, that's all."
"In any case, have you taken care to properly enchant everything? I certainly wouldn't like being overheard during this conversation," Akari looked around.
"What do you take me for? Of course, I have. Even Albus would have a hard time finding this location."
"Good. Then let's move on to matters in Scandinavia..."
"I must say, Mulciber, you've enjoyed quite a lavish life while your Lord was suffering..." Bellatrix uttered in wonder, admiring the decor of Mulciber's manor. "Fudge's government paying a hefty amount, I assume?"
"That's correct, Mrs. Lestrange," Mulciber said in a low voice, wary of every word.
"It will serve us quite well. Now, off to important matters. How many souls have you managed to recruit under yourself? The same question goes for all of you," She glanced at every Death Eater present.
"May I speak for all of us?" Macnair asked, seeming a bit more assertive than Mulciber.
Bellatrix shot him a long-lasting look. Most of the people in the room thought Macnair was going to regret that sentence for the rest of his life, though Bellatrix simply smiled and nodded. "That should be quicker, provided you have the correct information."
"Yes, I believe I do. Well, we have about thirty-seven affiliates, not including us present here. A few of them are influential in the government, but many are uncertain whether to join our cause since the Dark Lord hasn't returned yet."
Bellatrix nodded again. "That's to be expected. Admirable number to gather based solely on mostly empty promises."
"Thank you, Mrs. Lestrange," Macnair bowed his head. "May I ask where Rodolphus and Rabastan are right now?"
"You may. I think the last I heard of them was when they were in the Alps. Going unnoticed throughout Europe must be quite difficult in current times. Nevertheless, they should be reaching their goal soon."
"We all truly hope so," Macnair said.
"Fudge has got his knickers in a twist..." Bellatrix giggled. "I must say, this was quite a pleasant gift for his ministry, especially after everything that's happened to him during his term."
"He's ordered a huge auror force after you once he heard what happened," Mulciber added. "He can't risk drawing too much force since ministry is busy as it is, but they are not to be underestimated."
Bellatrix shook her head, smiling. "I couldn't care less about aurors. In fact, I'd like a stimulating fight anyway. What I do care about is avoiding the Order," she said seethingly. "I have no idea what saint Dumbledore is up to, and that's quite unsettling. Be sure to tell me anything of value on the Order's movements, do you understand?"
"Yes, Mrs. Lestrange."
"Have you taken care of Crouch?" Bellatrix asked Goyle, who shifted uncomfortably.
"Unfortunately no, Mrs. Lestrange. He has quite an enchantment on his residence, I'm so sorry, I wasn't able to-" Goyle started muttering quickly, while Bellatrix raised a hand.
"Enough. I will take care of it myself. It will be a pleasure to face the very man who declared my sentence all those years ago," she said gleefully.
Harry was hurrying towards the same spot where he became an animagus. He was doing his utmost to avoid any attention.
"Blasted professor duties! Why do I need to prepare a month before the classes even start?! Even when Minnie isn't here I'm given a hard time..." Harry huffed. "And I was about to read the newspapers too..."
Before he could come to himself, he was suddenly ambushed by a very excited honey badger and a very oversized Newfoundland dog. A bit surprised at first, Harry burst into a fit of laughter as the badger made a mess of his hair while the Newfoundland almost tripped him over as he jumped around him. After a short period of a playful tussle, the animals distanced themselves a bit and turned into Ron and Neville. Both of them were grinning. Without saying a word, the trio hugged. After separating, Harry started —
"Had to do it without me, huh?"
"Sorry mate, we couldn't wait," Ron sniggered. The group heard clapping behind them getting louder.
"Congratulations to all of you!" Arthur beamed. "You boys are crazy, honestly. I'm glad it all went well."
"We couldn't have done it without you, Art," Neville said. "Thanks for everything."
"No problem. Wouldn't want you crafting a dodgy potion to turn you into abominations now, would we?"
"Still though, a bloody badger? Was I supposed to be in Hufflepuff or something?" Ron yelled, unable to contain his excitement. "Why couldn't I be a lion instead, come on!"
"Badgers are some of the fiercest animals out there, you know. They are nearly fearless. Honestly, you should be proud," Arthur said.
Harry patted Ron on the back. "Don't worry, Ronny. I will provide protection from the skies while Neville will take care of you on the ground."
"Right! You are more like a bear than a dog! I hear Sirius is a very large dog too!" Ron shouted.
"I can see why you made a bird's nest out of Harry's hair..." Neville sighed, grinning. "Harry, an excited Ron, and a badger's form do not go well together, I'll tell you that..."
"We shall keep him in line. Make sure he doesn't dig anyone's eyes out," Harry laughed while Ron hit him in the shoulder.
"Just wait! I'll be the one to save your skin in the future, I'll bet on that!" Ron replied.
"Weren't you guys doing this for Hermione? Not to "save each other's skin"?" Arthur asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Well, there's Miney, of course. But there's also... many other very lucrative opportunities," Ron mused, his grin from ear to ear.
Harry elbowed him, cutting in. "Of course, it's for Hermione. Don't worry Art, we'll prevent this lunatic from doing anything risky. Believe me on that."
Arthur sighed. "Yes, yes, a likely story. Anyway, I'm glad everything went as planned. Now I don't have to worry about accidentally disfiguring you. I have to return to Snape; we'll be gathering some werewolves for blood samples soon. So, I'll leave you to yourselves — don't do anything rash!" he raised his hand, waving while he was going back to Hogwarts.
...
...
"Have you been registered?" Ron wondered.
"Strangely, Minnie hasn't pressured me into doing it. Has she told you anything?" Harry asked, puzzled.
"Not at all. It is a bit weird, but I think they are keeping us safer that way," Neville said.
"That makes sense. Minnie is a stickler for rules, but she can bend them when it comes to the pretty important stuff," Harry nodded. "Which means..." he shot a grin at Ron.
"Yes, it does..." Ron replied with a smirk on his face.
"Of course. This is what I expected..." Neville sighed again. "Where is Hermione now, anyway? You know, it is the summer break, so..."
"She's with Remus. You did see the newspapers, didn't you?" Harry noted, his face turning uneasy. "Dora lost her family to Bellatrix Lestrange..."
"Nymphadora Tonks? The auror?" Neville asked in a surprised tone.
"Yes. She's lost her mom and dad to Bellatrix. Apparently, Bellatrix murdered her own sister..." Harry said in a low voice. "Miney felt a bit compelled to help her grieve, and she's also pretty close to Rem anyway..."
"Yes, well, she did go through a very similar thing," Ron said soberly. "Blimey, tragedies just keep piling up, don't they?"
"I just hope Bellatrix gets caught soon. She-" Neville started, though he abruptly stopped.
"She what?" Harry asked.
"She was a very despicable person before Azkaban. A staunch follower of You-Know-Who. Probably the most hateful pureblood our country's ever had. She never had a problem with murder or even torture. Matter of fact, she relished in it, especially on muggles," Neville replied, a faint trace of hatred in his voice.
"I wouldn't count on a place like Azkaban making her any better..." Ron shuddered. "Why do you think she murdered her own family? There's plenty of muggle-borns to murder, honestly."
"Ron!" Neville yelled, exasperated.
"What? It's true. Just feels weird to go after her own family first, of all people," Ron retorted.
"Right, but you could have said it a little bit better, to be frank..." Harry said. "You're right. It does sound a bit weird."
"Saul Croaker. It is an honor to have a meeting with the Head of the Department of Mysteries." Minerva bowed her head slightly.
"Spare me the pleasantries, Minerva. I know why you are here already. I know what you will ask of me," Saul snapped. "I'll first ask you — are you out of your mind? Do you realize what you want me to do?"
"Yes I do, Saul. I perfectly understand what I'm asking of you. And I still have enough confidence and reason to believe you should," Minerva replied calmly.
"You think it's "reasonable" to move against the minister?" Saul croaked.
"Is this the same department that ignored the minister's demands in the past? Is this the same department that operated entirely independently and was largely resistant to any bribe, forgery, or breach?" Minerva raised her voice slightly.
"Yes, it is, Minerva. But it's also not a department that makes such a sudden, drastic move against the minister himself based on a simple conjecture," Saul replied.
"It is not just anyone's conjecture, Saul. Does Dumbledore and mine's word hold no weight around here?" Minerva asked, shaking her head.
Saul let out a long sigh. "That's not true. It's just... you are asking too much..."
"And what happens if, by some miracle according to you, we are actually correct? What happens then, Saul?"
"I admit, it would be quite a catastrophe..." Saul scratched his chin. "I do have the people I trust confidently to open an investigation. But I'll have to make damn sure it doesn't reach Fudge's ears. If it does, he will have time to cover everything up."
"Are you willing to do it, then?"
Saul rolled his eyes. "Yes, I must be insane to listen to you, but yes, I am willing to do it. I know this department has been largely autonomous in comparison to the rest of the ministry, but such a move is unheard of in its entire history, you know."
"I believe muggles have a saying for this — "there's a first time for everything". And what a time this is." Minerva chuckled faintly. "I trust your abilities will allow you to conduct a smooth investigation."
"I will try. But I can't promise you anything. I must admit, both of you are pulling some daring moves. Is there perhaps a grander plan in the making?" Saul asked.
"I'm afraid I can't disclose anything to you at this moment," Minerva replied.
"That's fine. Just make sure to let me know if there is a reason to... make preparations."
Minerva nodded. "Will do. It makes me glad the Department of Mysteries has retained its integrity."
Saul shook his head. "I'm not sure how glad I will be at the end of all of this, but good luck to us, I guess."